Blue and Gold Macaw

Known as the blue and gold or blue and yellow macaw, this beautiful, intelligent and captivating bird is one of the most popular large parrots in the world.  They are one of the most recognizable birds in the birds and they are known for their personality.  They are great pets for experienced pet bird owners who have the room and the time the blue and gold macaw demands.

Besides the prominent colors of blue and gold thus their name, they typically have a green forehead with a teal blue covering their nape, back, tail and wings.  The chest, underside of the wings and belly are a golden yellow.  They have a large black beak and black feathers underneath their beaks.  Their eyes are surrounded by white feathers which also cover the majority of their face.  Other species which are near to the looks of the blue and gold macaw are the Bolivian blue and gold, a slightly larger variation with a darker blue color, the blue-throated macaw which has a teal blue throat instead of black.

It is very difficult to distinguish between the male and female version of the bird.  Many believe the male as a flatter head while the female a narrower beak.

The blue and gold macaw is native from Panama in Central America all the way to the southern tip of South America with population in every country of that continent.  They tend to live in forests near small bodies of water. They often travel in pairs but are also known to gather in large groups in certain times of the year or even daily to help each other look for food.

Their friendly personality makes the blue and gold macaw a great pet for those who are ready to commit to this stunning bird.  They are known to be intelligent, willing to learn and to possess better than average abilities to talk.  If the bird is allowed to socialize, it can adapt to different scenarios and people.  They can learn complex tricks and many owners compare their disposition to that of a dog looking to stay near their owners and seek out attention.

The blue and gold macaw is known to resort to feather plucking to show they feel neglected or bored.  A well-balanced diet and enough exercise help to keep a happy bird.  In the wild blue and gold macaws eat seeds, plants, fruits and nuts. As pets the diet should remain relatively the same.  Never feen a macaw avocado, chocolate or rhubarb, those are toxic to birds.

Like other macaws of their size the bird is known for very loud calls which can cause problems with neighbors in close proximity.  Despite of that, the bird is known as a great vocalizer and can learn a variety, up to 20, of words and phrases.