Blue-and-yellow macaw
The blue-and-yellow macaw is a striking bird, easily identified by its vibrant blue wings and tail, bright yellow body, and distinctive green forehead. Native to the tropical forests of Central and South America, this member of the parrot family thrives in environments near rivers and swampy areas. Measuring up to 34 inches (86 centimeters) in length, with a tail that accounts for nearly 20 inches of that total, its colorful plumage serves as effective camouflage against the natural backdrop of sky and sunlight.
These macaws are social creatures, often seen flying in flocks and forming strong pair bonds for life. Their diet primarily consists of nuts, seeds, fruits, and berries, which they skillfully extract using their strong, hooked beaks and long toes adapted for gripping branches. Nesting occurs high in dead trees, where the female lays two to three eggs that are incubated by both parents. Young macaws achieve independence after several months and typically reach maturity around three to four years of age.
While the blue-and-yellow macaw can live up to 60 years in captivity, it faces threats from habitat destruction and the illegal pet trade. Despite some population declines, the species is currently not considered threatened or endangered, highlighting the importance of ongoing conservation efforts.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Blue-and-yellow macaw
With its green forehead, bright yellow body, and blue wings and tail, it is easy to recognize the blue-and-yellow macaw as a member of the parrot family. Surprisingly, its bright blue and yellow colors camouflage it against the blue sky and yellow sunlight in its tropical forest home in Central and South America.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Psittacidae
Genus: Ara
Species: Ararauna
The blue-and-yellow macaw inhabits the forests both along rivers and in swampy areas throughout large parts of Central and South America. Each day the macaw flies up to 15 miles (24 kilometers) to find food. Its large, thick, hooked, downward-curving, black beak crushes the nuts and seeds it finds. The macaw also eats such soft items as fruits and berries. Its long toes and large, sharp talons, or claws, help it hold its food as it eats.
As a member of the parrot family, the blue-and-yellow macaw looks similar to many other species in this family. It has a large, upright and colorful body with a large, hooked bill. From the tip of its bill to the tip of its tail, the blue-and-yellow macaw measures up to 34 inches (86 centimeters). The tail is 20 inches (50 centimeters) of this total length.
The blue-and-yellow macaw is a very colorful bird. The bird's name suits it well, since the underside of its body is bright yellow, and its head, back, wings, and tail are all blue. A green patch covers its forehead above its white, black-striped face and black beak. Surprisingly, these colors actually help camouflage the macaw in the forest. Its blue plumage blends with the blue sky, and its yellow plumage blends with the bright sunlight.
The large flight feathers make this bird a strong flyer. When it is not flying, the macaw climbs skillfully among the trees. It uses its strong beak to grip branches as it moves, and its long tail provides balance. The long toes on its feet point both forward and backward so the macaw is able to grip branches easily.
The blue-and-yellow macaw is a social bird which roosts and feeds in flocks. It nests in a hole high in a large, dead tree. A male and female form a pair for as long as both of them are alive. They often show affection for each other and preen, or clean, each other's plumage. After mating, the female lays two or three white eggs and incubates them for 24 to 28 days until they hatch. The male helps the female guard the nest and eggs. The flight feathers of the young grow after 10 weeks, and they fly from the nest for the first time within the next two weeks. After several months the young macaws are independent. They are able to mate for the first time when they are three or four years old.
A blue-and-yellow macaw may live as long as 50 or 60 years in captivity. Its life span in the wild is between 30 and 35 years. The greatest threats to its existence are habitat destruction and being captured for zoos and pet stores. Although some populations of blue-and-yellow macaw are declining, the species is not considered threatened or endangered.
Bibliography
“Blue-and-Gold Macaw - Facts, Diet, Habitat & Pictures on Animalia.bio.” Animalia, 2024, animalia.bio/blue-and-gold-macaw. Accessed 21 Mar. 2024.
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology. “Blue-and-Yellow Macaw - Ara Ararauna.” Birds of the World, 4 Mar. 2020, birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/baymac/cur/introduction. Accessed 21 Mar. 2024.