# Blue-and-yellow Macaw (*Ara ararauna*) The Blue-and-yellow Macaw is a stunning parrot with bright blue wings and a golden-yellow belly. It's very playful and loves to hang out with friends! - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Tropical rainforests - **Also known as:** Ara Macaw ![Blue-and-yellow Macaw](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426713/objects/4633.jpg) ## Appearance The Blue-and-yellow Macaw has a striking appearance with brilliant azure-blue feathers covering its back, wings, and long tail, contrasting sharply with its golden-yellow underside. Its face features bare white patches lined with small black feathers, distinguishing it from other large parrots. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Psittaciformes - **Family:** Psittacidae - **Genus:** Ara ## Interesting facts - Blue-and-yellow Macaws typically choose one partner and stay together for their entire lives! - Macaws often fly in pairs or small family groups, but gather in huge noisy flocks to sleep! - Their super-strong beaks can even crush a brazil nut like it's a peanut! - They visit clay licks in the Amazon to eat special soil that helps them digest poisonous foods. ## Special abilities - **Nutcracker Beak:** Blue-and-yellow Macaw has an incredibly powerful hooked beak that helps them crack open the toughest nuts and seeds. - **Acrobatic Grippers:** Blue-and-yellow Macaw can use its strong zygodactyl feet to expertly grip branches and climb through dense forest canopies. - **Forest Megaphone:** Blue-and-yellow Macaw can produce extremely loud squawks that help them communicate with other macaws over long distances. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 76-86 cm - **Wingspan:** 104-114 cm - **Weight:** 0.9-1.5 kg - **Lifespan:** 30-50 years - **Speed:** 56 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 1-4 - **Incubation:** 24-28 days ## Diet & Feeding These vibrant birds enjoy a diet rich in fruits, nuts, and seeds from various rainforest plants. - **Primary Foods:** Palm nuts, Brazil nuts, Mangoes, Guava, Berries, Clay - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Harpy Eagle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/harpy-eagle) (*Harpia harpyja*) — A powerful raptor that preys on large birds and mammals. - **Eats:** Brazil Nut Tree (*Bertholletia excelsa*) — Cracks open the hard shells of its large, nutritious seeds. - **Shelter:** Kapok Tree (*Ceiba pentandra*) — Uses large tree hollows for nesting and roosting safely. - **Eats:** Milk Fig (*Ficus insipida*) — Feeds on the sweet, fleshy fruits found in its forest habitat. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Climbing/Vine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/climbing-vine): Climbing or vine plants are characterized by a growth habit that allows them to ascend upwards by twining, tendrils, or adhesive roots. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Rainforest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rainforest): This habitat trait refers to species found in tropical rainforests, characterized by high annual rainfall, high biodiversity, and dense tree cover. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Watch quietly from a distance and never try to feed or chase wild animals. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Blue-and-yellow Macaw? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Blue-and-yellow Macaw? 76-86 cm ### What is Blue-and-yellow Macaw's wingspan? 104-114 cm ### How much does Blue-and-yellow Macaw weigh? 0.9-1.5 kg ### How long does Blue-and-yellow Macaw live? 30-50 years ### How fast can Blue-and-yellow Macaw move? 56 km/h ### What does Blue-and-yellow Macaw eat? These vibrant birds enjoy a diet rich in fruits, nuts, and seeds from various rainforest plants. ### Where is Blue-and-yellow Macaw usually found? Tropical rainforests ## Where to spot - [Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fairchild-tropical-botanic-garden) — Florida, US · Botanical Garden - [Pinecrest Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/pinecrest-gardens) — Florida, US · Botanical Garden - [The Kampong](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/the-kampong) — US · Botanical Garden - [Tierpark Dessau](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tierpark-dessau) — Sachsen-Anhalt, DE · Zoo - [Tierpark Herford](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tierpark-herford) — Nordrhein-Westfalen, DE · Zoo - [Tierpark Finsterwalde](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tierpark-finsterwalde) — Brandenburg, DE · Zoo [View all places to see Blue-and-yellow Macaw](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/blue-and-yellow-macaw) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Blue-and-yellow Macaw: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-and-yellow-macaw)