Animal-World > Birds > Macaw Types > Large Macaw Parrots > Blue and Gold Macaw

Blue and Gold Macaw
Blue and Yellow Macaw

Family: Psittacidae

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Blue and Gold Macaw - "Simba"Ara araraunaPhoto © Animal-World. Courtesy: David Brough

     Simba, a handfed baby Blue and Gold Macaw, came to us at the age of about 4 months and quickly became everybody's favorite... as is typical for a Blue and Gold Macaw!

     Not only is the Blue and Gold Macaw one of the most beautiful, but has one of the best all around personalities of the large macaws. They are affectionate, inquisitive, and intelligent. They make them a great companion not only for a single person but when well socialized are friendly with everyone, even other birds.

     Though sweet tempered, this is a lively bird that loves to play and interact. Blue and Gold Macaw's are eager learners. They can be taught a variety of tricks and are one of the most talented macaws when it come to talking. A Bue & Gold can learn about 15 to 20 words or phrases. But like all macaws it has a loud call, and it may be quite vocal at times.

     The Blue and Gold Macaw, sometimes called the Blue and Yellow Macaw, is one of the most readily available of the large macaws. They are also one of the least expensive. But like all macaws, they do require good socialization and consistent training to make good pets.

For information about the care of Macaws see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Macaw

Scientific Name:      Blue and Gold Macaw - Ara ararauna

Distribution:      The Blue and Gold Macaw's natural habitat runs from eastern Panama in Central America south across northern South America, extending to Bolivia, Brazil and Paraguay.

Description:      Blue and Gold Macaws are among the most strikingly beautiful of the Macaw Family. They are a full size Macaw and can learn to talk with a general vocabulary of about 15 or more words or expressions. Although some Macaws are one-person type birds, the Blue and Gold is right at home in a family type situation also.

Size - Weight:      A full sized macaw, they can get over 2 lbs. Lengths up to 86 cm (34 inches).

Care and feeding:      A roomy cage is required unless the bird is to be let out for extended periods. Many birds can spend most of their time on a play pen or parrot perch. They eat a variety of seeds, nuts, fruits, and commercial pellets, as well as the same nutritional foods humans eat. See About Macaws: Housing and About Macaws: Care and Feeding for more information.

Social Behaviors:      The Blue and Gold Macaw is known to be a good family type bird. They are a very gentle bird that will get along with more than one person. But they are a typical macaw and can be cranky at times and may prefer only one person or only one gender.      To have a well rounded bird that enjoys more than one person, make sure it is well socialized with lots of folks. See About Macaws: Social Behaviors for information on developing a well rounded friendly macaw. (Also information on handling and activities)

Breeding/Reproduction:      The usual clutch consists of two or three eggs which incubate for about 28 days. The babies will fledge after about 3 months in the nest. Feed the parents plenty of greenstuffs, corn-on-the-cob, carrots, and fruit laced with food supplement while they are rearing the youngsters.

Sexual differences:      No visible differences.

Potential Problems:     Can be noisy (as can all macaws).   See About Macaws: Potential Problems for information on illnesses.

Availability:      The Blue and Gold Macaw is generally available, and are easy to obtain.

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Latest Comments
I just adopted a 14 year old blue and gold macaw named Rocky. He is the funniest little man I have ever owned. I'm still learning his personality, and his "bad manners" which aren't that bad. He loves music and to be talked to all the time. Rocky loves to eat pasta and pistachios. The one thing that I do appreciate that he doesn't do a lot is squawk. His time is between 11 in the morning to 7 at night but it isn't constant (maybe like 5-7 times a day). I can't wait to see what else he comes out with. These are the smartest birds I have yet to meet. crystal 2009-09-10
I have a blue gold macaw and he is 16 years old. My family has had him for quite a while, well since before I was born. He went well with my parents till last year. We came back from vacation and he attacks them. He bites his legs when he sees him and screams, but hes really well with me and my sister. He gets out of his cage and destroys things like furniture. We put newspaper in his cage whenever he uses the bathroom and recently hes been tearing it up, so we decided to switch to cardboard but he continues. We bought toys to see if thats the problem but he continues. What I want to know is that natural for this kind of bird or is it just that bird. abner 2009-08-05
Hi, my names Kenna and I am thinking of getting a Blue and Gold Macaw. I think it would be fun to have a talking bird. Anonymous 2009-06-30
I have a beautiful Blue and Gold Macaw, and she has been part of the family for 20 years now, her name is Lacy. When I first looked at her at the pet store it was love at first sight. I spent every Sunday at the pet store to visit and feed her, even though there was "Do Not Touch Signs" BIRD WILL BITE, (she had several differnt homes (5) and they would always bring her back due to biting) all over her cage.Each Sunday she would eat out my hands and we became close. Then one Sunday the manager at the pet store came to me and told me I would never see her again because she was going to shipped to another store because this store was closing. Needless to say she became part of our family that day, the pet store deliverd her, cage, food and vet. visits for 1 year that afternnon. The love grew, and she greets me with hello every afternoon when I get home from work. Lacy is very spoiled by my husband and I and we love her very much, so proud to have her in our family. Lannette Lannette 2009-05-09
I was very fortunate to have a blue and gold macaw at one time. Her name was Jammie and she was my world. I was fortunate enough to live across the street from a man who raised macaws and was responsible for training Officer Bird. I worked for a vet who was an avian vet and had acquired my first macaw who was very very deformed and was not expected to live more than 2 months. He was given to me and named Mikey due to the fact he loved food...."give it to Mikey, he'll eat anything" Mikey live to a ripe old age of 11 months and he had a wonderful life. But I was crushed when he left me so I cried all the time and was very depressed. I started being drawn to the neighbor across the street due to the fact he raised macaws, amongst other birds. He started teaching m how to train them and how to deal with their behaviors. Very very much to my surprise, one day him and his wife called me into their livingroom and had a tiny 4 wk old baby and asked what I thought.....well, I was so happy to be able to play with a tiny baby. They then told me that she was mine....they were going to allow me to buy her. I told them I couldn't afford her but thank you. They told me that they would take $300 for her and payments of whatever I could afford. I was so shocked and thankful and agreed to pay them off as soon as possible. They allowed me to take her at that time. I was so scared for some reason after losing Mikey I was afraid I would do something wrong that would make her die. I kept her in a box on my bed next to me and for the first 2 weeks I think she hated me or so it seemed. We came to finally love each other and what a relationship that was. She and I would talk to each other all the time and every night when I got home from work we would have an hour of playtime. That belonged to her....always. Times got rough and I had to have a "friend" watch her for me and while watching her....she decided to move and then make her number unlisted. I miss Jammie so much and would give anything to find her. I will never forget her ..... Cathy 2009-02-13
Some of the coolest comments:
We have had birds for a year and a half now, but just got our baby blue and gold about a month ago. He is a totally different experience. He is such a joy to be with. He is seven months old and so loving. He loves for you to hug him and kiss him. He will lay on his back for you to tickle his belly and laughs. He follows us around like a little puppy. Our family says we talk about our birds more than most people do about their kids. I tell them that is alright because they are our kids. kathy 2004-03-10
My husband and I have 2 Blue and Gold name Gina 9 yrs,and Sunny is 1yr. These 2 birds have been a joy to have. They are extremely smart birds. Gina and Sunny will eat just about anything we eat. They are very playful and can say a few words. Gina loves to yell momma and Sunny practice her words at night when we put her to bed. When she says hey her eyes will always flash and she will get right up to you and say Hey! They are the joy of our life!! Lisa and Derrell Williams 2004-01-23
Comments Dr Jungle REALLY Likes to Hear!
This is a wonderful site. The photos are beautiful, especially of the blue and gold macaw. I can see why people become bird enthusiasts. RAM Savannah, GA reva 2007-06-10
Hi,I have a B&G Macaw. He is 4 Months old and we are having so much fun. What a wonderfull Bird :-) Thanks to Animal World for the free Information that they share on Macaws. This website helped alot, Thank you Jeremy Stevens 2006-09-03
i have many birds and other animals that i take care of and this site helped me alot with learning more about them. Sammy 2006-03-05

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