THE BLUE AND GOLD MACAW

By: Rachel Hagara

Classification Kingdom: Animalia; all living animals Phylum: Chordata; vertabrates and animals with a

notochord Class: Aves; all bird vertebrates Order: Psittaciformes; birds including parrots, amazons,

cockatoos, lorikeets, lories, macaws, and parakeets Family: Pssittacidae; the African parrots and the

Neotropical parrots Genus: Ara; Central and South American macaws Species: Ararauna; dark colored macaw Common Name: Blue and Gold Macaw

Distribution This remarkable bird

lives anywhere in Panama, and tropical South America from Venezuela and Columbia south to Brazil, Trindade, Bolivia, and Paraguay

Habitat Nests by swamps and ponds Canopy trees in Rainforests Nests in M. flexuosa palms

Conservation Status IUCN Redlist: least concern Slowly decreasing in numbers

Physical Characteristics Blue, yellow/gold, white, brown, black,

green, and red colors appear in the plumage.

Physical Characteristics The tiny feather patterns on

the face are unique to the individual bird and can also be used to prove identity if a bird escapes or are stolen.

These macaws also have black around chin and cheeks, and the naked skin of cheeks is pinkish-white with lines of very small, isolated black feathers.

Physical Characteristics Average length of the bird ranges from

33-36 inches including tail. Their wingspan is about 40-45 inches

wide. Their clutch size is about 2-3 eggs. The average weight ranges from 2-

2.7lbs.

Male / Female Differances Males have brighter coloring than

females

Reproductive Characteristics The mating system is basically males

attracting females with their vibrant colors Sexually mature anywhere from 2-4

years after birth, depends on the bird Female typically lay 2-4 eggs per year

Parental Care Leave nest about 6 months after

hatching, but tend to “visit” parents up to a year after leaving the nest

Both parents provide care for babies

At 8 weeks old

Longevity and Mortality Typically lives for about 80 years in wild Has lived up to 100 in captivity No known difference in longevity

between males and females

Seasonal Patterns Behavior does not change during

different times of the year Does not undergo hibernation, torpor, or

migration

Diet Fruit, berries, nuts, seeds,

vegetation, flowers and small insects and bugs.

Lots of foods are poisonous to them such as chocolate, cherries, avocado, and caffeine.

Also they eat clay, which scientists think might help to neutralize the poisons in some foods.

Predators Biggest predators are humans and

machines Numbers are slowly decreasing because

of machines logging the rainforest

Prey The only prey is insects and small bugs Doesn’t eat a whole lot of animals

Human Relationships Make great pets Thrive in safe captivity, somewhat help

numbers increase

Fun Facts!!! They can screech up to 105dB. Being a Rainforest animal, they love to

bathe. Can also “blush” because their white

cheeks turn pink when they get excited. One of the most photogenic birds Live in flocks of up to 100

Works CitedAlderton, David. Caged and Aviary Birds. 2nd ed. London: Lorenz Books, 2003. Prrint

All Macaws. Chris Petrosh, n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2013. <http://www.allmacaws.com/ frameset.html?bluegold.html~mainFrame>.

ANIMAL BYTES. SeaWorld, n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2013. <http://www.seaworld.org/ animal-info/animal-bytes/animalia/eumetazoa/coelomates/deuterostomes/chordata/ craniata/aves/psittaciformes/blue-&-gold-macaw.htm>.

Animal Diversity. University of Michigan, n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2013. <http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/animal-bytes/animalia/eumetazoa/ coelomates/deuterostomes/chordata/craniata/aves/psittaciformes/ blue-&-gold-macaw.htm>.

Blue and Yellow Macaw. Ducksters. Animals for kids, Mar. 2013. Web. 24 Mar. 2013. <http://www.ducksters.com/animals/blue_and_yellow_macaw.php>.

CITES. CITES.org, n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2013. <http://www.cites.org/eng/resources/ species.html>.

Critters on Things. Critters on Things, 2006. Web. 24 Mar. 2013. <http://www.crittersonthings.com/Macaws.htm>.

Davies, Nicola. Birds. New York: Kingfisher, 2012. Print. Discover Science.

Forshaw, J. M. Parrots of the World. New Jersey: T.F.H. Publications Inc., 1978. Print.

Kalhagen, Alyson. "Blue and Gold Macaws." about.com. Alyson Kalhagen, n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2013. <http://birds.about.com/od/macaws/p/blueandgold.htm>.

Marrison, C., and A. Greensmith. Birds of the World. New York: Dorling Kinderslay Inc., 1993. Print.

Perrins, C. The Encyclopedia of Birds. New York: Facts on File Publications, 1985. Print.

Any Questions??????