Birds
Blue-And-Gold Macaw
Ara ararauna · also called blue-and-yellow macaw
Gathering at a riverside clay lick alongside dozens of other macaws, a blue-and-gold macaw eats mineral-rich earth to settle a stomach full of unripe seeds, its sky-blue back and golden chest flashing as it wheels overhead in a tight, lifelong pair.
Overview
The blue-and-gold macaw, Ara ararauna, is a large, vividly coloured parrot native to rainforest and wetland habitat across a broad range spanning northern and central South America. Its bold blue-and-yellow colour split, habit of gathering at mineral-rich clay licks, and lifelong pair bonding make it one of the most recognisable and behaviourally well-studied macaw species found anywhere in the Amazon basin and beyond.
A familiar face at the clay lick
Few sights capture the social side of macaw life as vividly as a riverside clay lick at dawn, where blue-and-gold macaws gather alongside other parrot species to eat mineral-rich earth, a shared ritual that offsets the toxins in some of their favourite unripe foods.
Status
Least Concern, remaining widespread across suitable rainforest and wetland habitat throughout northern and central South America.
Blue-And-Gold Macaw: common questions
Why does the blue-and-gold macaw visit clay licks?
This species gathers at riverside clay licks alongside other macaws and parrots, eating mineral-rich clay thought to help neutralise toxins found in some of the unripe seeds and fruit that make up part of its diet, a behaviour shared with several other large parrots of the region.
Do blue-and-gold macaws mate for life?
Yes, this species typically forms a lifelong pair bond with a single mate, with paired birds frequently seen flying and perching close together throughout the year, a strong pair bond common among the larger macaw species.
How can you identify a blue-and-gold macaw?
This species has a sky-blue back, wings, and tail sharply contrasting with a golden-yellow chest and underside, a bold two-tone colour pattern that makes it one of the most easily recognisable large parrots in South America.
Is the blue-and-gold macaw endangered?
No, this species remains one of the more widespread large macaw species and is not currently considered to be of significant conservation concern overall, although local populations have declined from trapping and habitat loss in some parts of its range.