Blue-throated MacawCaninde Macaw, Wagler's Macaw

Scientific name:     Blue-throated Macaw - Ara glaucogularis (previously Ara caninde). It is also known as the Caninde Macaw or the Wagler's Macaw

Distribution:      The Blue-Throated Macaws are found in a very small geographic region in central Bolivia and occasionally in Argentina. It is also thought that they once existed in Paraguay. There are very few in the wild and they are threatened with extinction due to the natives burning much of the rainforest and extensive trapping for the pet trade. They inhabit humid dense lowland forests and palm groves.      There are very few Blue-throated Macaws in the wild, probably only a couple of hundred, and they are threatened with extinction. But today they are being successfully bred in captivity and are available as a pet, though they are still quite rare and expensive.

Blue-throated Macaw - "Raena" Photo  © Animal-World: Courtesy Cheryl Galloway

Description:      The Blue-throated Macaw use to be thought of as a subspecies, or a juvenile, of the Blue and Gold Macaw. They are similar in color to the Blue and Gold Macaw with upper parts that are all blue and underparts that are an orange-yellow.      The blue coloring of the Blue-throated Macaw is a bit more aqua toned than the Blue and Gold Macaw, having a greenish tinge, They also have a blue band across the throat, thus the name 'Blue-throated'.      Their bare facial patch is also a bit smaller than the Blue and Gold's. It is also lined with blue feathers rather than the black feathers seen on a Blue and Gold Macaw's facial patch. The tail is long and tapered and the legs are gray. The beak is a gray-black and the eye is yellow.       A younger bird will be similar to the adults but have a shorter tail and dark brown eyes.

Size - Weight:      The Blue-throated Macaw is a full sized macaw, though they are a bit smaller than Blue and Gold Macaw. These birds are about 33 inches (85 cm) in length.

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. The Blue-throated Macaw is an avid chewer and should be provided with plenty of natural branches and wooden toys.      In the wild their food consists of fruits, nuts, and buds, especially palm nuts which they scrape out with a specially adapted beak. They eat a variety of seeds, nuts, fruits, commercial pellets, insects and larvae.      See About Macaws: Housing and About Macaws: Care and Feeding for more information.

Social Behaviors:           In the wild the Blue-throated Macaws are very social birds, often seen in the company of Blue and Gold Macaws. In captivity, these birds are mellow, friendly, and inquisitive. They enjoy interaction with people as well as other birds. They rarely ever bite, though they do explore their surroundings with their tongue and beak. They are happy to entertain themselves as well; playing in their cage, talking to themselves, and chewing on toys.      See About Macaws: Social Behaviors for information on developing a well rounded friendly macaw.

Breeding/Reproduction:      In the wild the Blue-throated Macaw will build its nest in palm trees. They were first bred in captivity in 1984 and are found to be ready breeders, though the babies are a bit difficult to hand feed, especially when very young. The usual clutch consists of two to four eggs which incubate for about 26 days. The babies will fledge after about 3 months in the nest. Feed the parents additional high-fat seeds, like sunflower seed, during the breeding season. The young will also require a high-fat diet as well as additional protein.      See About Macaws: Breeding/Reproduction for information on breeding.

Sexual differences:      No visible differences.

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

Availability:      Blue-throated macaws are not common in captivity. They are however being successfully bred and are available as a pet, though they are still quite rare and expensive. .

Author: Clarice Brough, CAS