Scarlet macaws are a symbol of fidelity and virtue to many people because they are thought to mate for life—but it turns out that they also "play favorites" when feeding their young, making them excellent ...

Researchers have discovered that scarlet macaws purposefully neglect feeding the youngest chicks in most broods, even when resources are plentiful. This results in only one or two chicks being able to fledge -- the process in which parents teach their young to fly and survive on their own -- even though broods may contain up to four chicks.