Blue-and-Yellow Macaw

Blue-and-Yellow Macaw
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Psittaciformes
Family:	Psittacidae
Genus:	Ara
Species:	Ara ararauna

The Blue-and Yellow Macaw (Ara ararauna), also called the Blue-and-Gold Macaw, is a large, well-known member of the parrot family. They are popular in aviculture due to their sharp intelligence and striking appearance.

Appearance

30 to 34 inches long, with a weight of 1.9 to 3.3 pounds, the Blue-and-Yellow macaw has vivid blue wings, back and tail, with a dark blue chin and light green forehead. Their featherless face is white, with small black contours forming "stripes". The beak is very dark gray to black, and is extremely powerful - it can put on 200 pounds of pressure per square inch, meaning that a Blue-and-Gold could easily break human fingerbones if it needed to. 

Behavior

The Blue-and-Yellow macaw eats nuts, seeds, and fruits in the wild, occasionally claylicking to promote digestive balance. The adult macaws are often aggressive in the wild, but young fledglings are rather playful. Adults lay 2 to 3 eggs after breeding. They are native to South America.

Captivity

In captivity, these birds are popular due to their colors and ability to talk or learn tricks. However, while an educated person can humanely and legally keep one, their size, strength, longevity and emotional needs make them lifetime commitments, often more than pet owners can handle. A pelleted diet usually works best in captivity, along with supplemental seeds, nuts, and dried or fresh fruits. They're very social, and bond strongly to caretakers. Indeed, they can provide a talkative, sweet, and beautiful companion for humans for 80 years or more.

Gallery

captive Blue-and-Gold Macaws.