The blue-and-gold macaw is a large South American parrot with blue top parts and yellow under parts. It is a member of the large group of neotropical parrots known as macaws. It inhabits the forests and woodlands of tropical South America. They are popular in aviculture because of their striking color, ability to talk, ready availability in the marketplace, and close bonding to humans.
These birds can reach a length of 30–34 inches and weigh 2–3 lbs, making them some of the larger members of their family. They are vivid in appearance with blue wings and tail, dark-blue chin, golden under parts, and a green forehead. Their beaks are black. The naked face is white, turning pink in excited birds, and lined with small, black feathers. Blue-and-yellow macaws live from 30 to 35 years in the wild.
The blue-and-gold macaw is on the verge of being extirpated in Paraguay, but it still remains widespread and fairly common in a large part of mainland South America.
Did You Know?
Baby macaws stay with their parents for around one year.
