Blue and Gold Macaw

Country of origin: Central and South America (including the island of Trinidad)
Also known as: Blue-and-yellow macaw; blue-and-gold macaw
Adult size: About 81–86 cm long; roughly 1 kg (varies by individual)
Care requirements: High (long-lived, powerful, noisy, intelligent, and destructive if under-stimulated)
Lifespan: Often several decades; 50+ years is realistic with excellent care
Best suited as: A long-term companion for experienced keepers with time, space, and strong noise tolerance

People usually search “blue and gold macaw” when they’re trying to confirm what the bird is really like to live with: how big it gets, how loud it is, what it eats, and whether that famous “talking parrot” reputation matches real life. The stakes are practical. These macaws can outlive a mortgage, chew through furniture in an afternoon, and unravel quickly if their days are too small.

Below is a clear, grounded guide to the blue-and-yellow macaw (Ara ararauna): what it looks like, where it comes from, what it does in the wild, and what it needs in captivity. Where popular claims drift into myth, they’re tightened back to evidence.

Identification and physical characteristics

The blue-and-yellow macaw is one of the classic “large macaws”: long-tailed, broad-winged, and built around a heavy black beak designed for cracking hard nuts and seeds. Adults are typically about 81–86 cm from bill to tail tip, with much of that length in the tail, and weigh around a kilogram.¹

Colour is the field mark: rich blue upperparts, bright yellow underparts, and a greenish wash on the crown. The face is mostly bare white skin with fine black feather lines, a pattern that helps distinguish it at close range.¹

Habitat and distribution

This species is native to the Neotropics, ranging widely through parts of Central and South America, and it also occurs on Trinidad.¹ In the wild it uses several habitat types, including forest edges, gallery forest and savanna-woodland mosaics, as long as there are tall trees for feeding and nesting hollows.²

In Australia, blue-and-yellow macaws are not wild birds. You may see them in aviaries, sanctuaries, and private collections, but any free-flying individuals are escapees rather than an established native population.

Diet and feeding habits

In the wild, blue-and-yellow macaws feed largely on plant material: fruits, seeds, and nuts. They may also take other items opportunistically, but the daily pattern is built around seasonal fruiting and the hard, energy-rich foods their beaks can open.¹

A well-kept captive diet is varied and measured, not constantly “seeded up”. A base of a quality formulated pellet with daily fresh foods is commonly recommended by avian veterinary guidance, with nuts used thoughtfully (often as training rewards) rather than as the bulk of the diet.³

Clay licks (geophagy): what’s going on?

Wild macaws are known to visit clay banks. This behaviour is generally understood as a way to obtain minerals (notably sodium) and, in some cases, to bind plant toxins eaten in unripe or defended seeds and fruits. It’s a real behaviour, but it’s not a substitute for good diet management in captivity.⁴

Behaviour and temperament

Blue-and-yellow macaws are highly social parrots, often seen in pairs or small groups, with larger gatherings around food sources. In captivity they commonly seek frequent interaction and can become loud, persistent, or destructive when their environment is predictable but unstimulating.

They can learn to mimic sounds, including some words, but “talking ability” varies widely between individuals. More reliable than speech is their talent for pattern-learning: routines, cause-and-effect games, and the quick association of your movements with their preferred outcomes (food, attention, access to a shoulder).

Noise and chewing are not behaviour problems

These are normal macaw traits. The beak is a working tool, and the voice is a long-distance signal system. Expect:

• Daily periods of loud calling (often morning and late afternoon).
• Relentless chewing: timber, leather, soft metals, door frames, cabinetry.
• Strong opinions about routine changes, visitors, and household movement.

Breeding and life cycle (wild and captive basics)

In the wild, blue-and-yellow macaws typically nest in tree cavities, including cavities in palms. They commonly lay two to three eggs, with incubation around 28 days, and chicks fledging roughly three months after hatching (timing varies by conditions).¹

Sexual maturity is generally reached between about 3 and 6 years of age.¹ In captivity, breeding should be approached cautiously and ethically: parent birds need appropriate space, nutrition, veterinary oversight, and a plan for long-term outcomes for any chicks.

Health and care in captivity

Care is “high” in the ordinary, daily sense: this is a big parrot that needs room, structure, and things to do with its beak. Many welfare problems come from good intentions paired with cramped cages, long hours alone, and a diet that is heavy on seed and light on variety.

Practical essentials

• Space: a large, sturdy enclosure plus daily time outside the cage in a bird-safe area.
• Enrichment: chewable toys, foraging opportunities, varied perches, and rotated materials.
• Diet and weight control: measured portions; nuts as high-value items, not a constant bowl-topper.³
• Veterinary care: regular check-ups with an avian vet, and prompt attention to feather changes, appetite shifts, or breathing noise.
• Bathing and feather care: many individuals benefit from frequent misting or showers.

Conservation status and wildlife trade reality checks

The blue-and-yellow macaw is currently assessed as Least Concern globally, though local declines can occur where forests are cleared and trapping pressure is high.⁵ It is also listed under CITES Appendix II, which means international trade is regulated and requires appropriate permits and documentation.⁶

A common misconception is that this species is listed as “threatened under Australia’s EPBC Act”. The EPBC threatened species list is for native species and ecological communities; the blue-and-yellow macaw is not an Australian native species.⁷ That said, trade and import rules can still apply through Australia’s wildlife trade framework and biosecurity requirements.

Australia note: importing and keeping macaws

If you’re dealing with a bird across borders (or considering importing one), Australia’s requirements can involve both environmental permitting and biosecurity conditions, and they are specific about what can be imported and under what circumstances.⁸ Always check current federal and state/territory rules before making plans.

Common myths (and what to believe instead)

Myth: “A smaller cage is fine if it gets attention.”

Attention helps, but it doesn’t replace physical space and daily movement. A macaw kept in tight quarters often redirects energy into screaming, pacing, or chewing the cage itself.

Myth: “They need a very high-fat diet.”

Macaws do use fats in nature, but captivity changes the equation: less flying, more reliable food, and easy access. A balanced, veterinarian-informed diet with controlled rich foods is safer than constant fatty mixes.³

Myth: “They’re always gentle if you raise them right.”

Even well-socialised macaws can bite. Hormones, fear, startle responses, and frustration all play a role. Good handling reduces risk, but it never removes the beak from the equation.

Final thoughts

A blue-and-yellow macaw is not a decorative pet. It’s a wide-ranging forest parrot, built for flight, noise, and hard foods, with a mind that notices patterns and tests boundaries. In the right home—steady routine, space, enrichment, and careful diet—it can be a durable, fascinating companion for decades. In the wrong one, its talents turn inward, and the household will hear the difference.

References

1. Birds of the World (Cornell Lab of Ornithology) – Blue-and-yellow Macaw (Ara ararauna)
2. Animal Diversity Web (University of Michigan) – Ara ararauna
3. MSD Veterinary Manual – Psittacine birds (husbandry and nutrition overview)
4. Gilardi, J.D. et al. (1999) Science – “Biogeography of a specialized neotropical herbivore: chemical defense and clay consumption by parrots”
5. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species – Ara ararauna (Blue-and-yellow Macaw)
6. CITES – Ara ararauna listing (Appendix II)
7. Australian Government DCCEEW – Threatened species under the EPBC Act
8. Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry – Importing your pet bird (biosecurity and permit pathway)