The distribution of macaws is mostly in Central America and the northern part of South America. They generally inhabit forests and tall palms growing in swamps or alongside rivers. Macaws usually live in pairs and a number of pairs may congregate with others to form a flock of several hundred individuals. There are regular roosting sites and in the early morning the flocks fly some distance in search of food. They return to spend the night in the roosting trees just before sunset, flying above the forest canopy.
Food is obtained using the beak.
The beak is strong and is used to crush the seeds and nuts, while the thick fleshy tongue is used to move the food around. Very hard nuts are cracked open after the macaw files down the thickness of the shell in one place. This is done with the lower part of the beak. Although their diet consists mainly of fruits, seeds, nuts, leaves and bark, they also feed on small animal life. Macaws are monogamous.