Blue-and-Gold Macaw

Description:

The Blue-and-Yellow Macaw (Ara ararauna), also known as the Blue-and-Gold Macaw, is a large blue (top parts) and yellow (under parts) South American parrot, a member of the large group of Neotropical parrots known as macaws. These birds can reach 76 to 86 cm (30 to 34 in) long and weigh 900 to 1500 grams (1.9 to 3.3 lbs), making it one of the larger members of its family. They are vivid in appearance with blue wings and tail, dark blue chin, golden under parts, and a green forehead. Beaks are black. The naked face is white, turning pink in excited birds, and lined with small black feathers. There is little variation in plumage across the range. Some birds have a more orangey or "butterscotch" underside color, particularly on the breast. This was often seen in Trinidad birds and others of the Caribbean area. The Blue-and-yellow Macaw uses its powerful beak for breaking nutshells, and also for climbing up and hanging from trees.

Habitat:

Venezuela south to Peru, Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay. It extends slightly into Central America, where it is restricted to Panama. The species range formerly included Trinidad, but it was extinct there by 1970 as a result of anthropomorphic activities. Between 1999 and 2003, wild caught Blue-and-Gold macaws were translocated from Guyana to Trinidad, in an attempt to reestablish it in a protected area around Nariva swamp.