Two distinct breeds of ara exist: those with bright scarlet plumage and those with bright iridescent blue. Though interfertile, the two breeds tend to mate with those of similar plumage, keeping the groups separate. Ara communities tend to be one or the other, but from time to time families join in a single community that has both types. Some observers note that sapphire ara tend to be spellcasters who favor clerical and druidic spells, while scarlet ara are more likely to take a role as defenders of the community, but this appears to be more out of tradition than anything else, and both groups are equally capable.