The Blue-and-yellow Macaw is a large parrot, 32–36 in (81–91 cm) long, with a bright blue back and golden-yellow chest. Native to tropical Central and South America, it also has a small wild breeding flock in the Miami area of Florida, descended from escaped birds. It's the most commonly kept macaw in the world, and pet owners often call it the Blue-and-gold Macaw.
Appearance
- Appearance
- About 32–36 in (81–91 cm) long and 2.2–3.3 lb (1–1.5 kg). Blue wings and tail, yellow-orange underparts, and a greenish forehead. The bare white face has thin lines of black feathers, and the bill and throat are black.
- Voice
- Very loud, raucous calls. Pet birds can learn to mimic words.
Look-alikes
Blue-throated MacawAra glaucogularis
Its throat is turquoise blue instead of black, and its bare face has 5–6 rows of feather lines instead of 3. It's also a bit smaller.
Why they get mixed upBoth have a blue back and a yellow chest, and both are kept in zoos and aviaries.
Where it lives
- Typical habitats
- swamp forests
- open woodlands
- savannas
- city neighborhoods (Florida)
- Range
- Native from Panama across much of tropical South America. In the US, a small population has lived in Miami-Dade County, Florida, since the mid-1980s, and another introduced flock breeds in Puerto Rico.
- Preferred conditions
- In the wild it lives in seasonally flooded forests, palm swamps, open woodlands, and savannas.
Behavior
- Diet
- Mostly nuts, seeds, and fruit, plus bark and leaves. Its powerful bill cracks hard nutshells.
- Social life
- Pairs usually stay together for life. Birds may blush their bare white face when interacting with people.
Life cycle
- Nest
- Nests almost entirely in cavities of dead palms.
- Clutch size
- 2–3 eggs
- Incubation
- About 28 days
- Fledging
- About 97 days after hatching
- Time to maturity
- 3–6 years
- Lifespan
- 30–35 years in the wild; more than 60 years recorded in captivity.
Growing it
- Care
- It's loud, chews constantly, and needs lots of space. Captive birds have lived more than 60 years, so it may outlive its owner.
Conservation
- IUCN Red List
- LCLeast ConcernLow risk of extinction
- Status
- Wild numbers are declining. International trade is regulated under CITES Appendix II.
More species to explore
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