Blue-and-yellow Macaw

The Blue-and-yellow Macaw is one of the most recognizable parrots in the world, a large, long-tailed macaw of Neotropical lowland forests. It is widespread and relatively common across much of its extensive range.

The upperparts, wings, and long tail are a rich turquoise-blue, while the underparts, underwing, and undertail are bright golden-yellow. The face has bare white skin marked with lines of small dark feathers, framing a black chin and throat, and the crown is green. The heavy black bill is well suited to cracking hard palm nuts.

Key field marks

• Blue back, wings, and tail contrasting sharply with yellow underparts
• Bare white facial skin with fine dark feather lines
• Black chin patch and large black bill
• Long, pointed blue tail

Similar species

No other widespread macaw combines blue upperparts with yellow underparts, making this species largely unmistakable within its range. It differs from the Blue-throated Macaw, a rare and geographically restricted species, by having a black rather than blue throat and much broader facial feather lines.

Range

The Blue-and-yellow Macaw occurs from Panama through much of tropical South America east of the Andes, including the Amazon Basin, and locally in Trinidad.

Habitat

It favors humid lowland forest, forest edge, gallery forest along rivers, and swampy areas with stands of Mauritia and other palms, whose fruit is a key food source.

Movements

Generally non-migratory, though pairs and flocks make regular daily flights between roosting sites and feeding areas, and may shift locally to track fruiting palms.

Social behavior

Blue-and-yellow Macaws are usually seen in pairs or small family groups, sometimes gathering in larger flocks at communal roosts, feeding areas, or clay licks where they ingest mineral-rich soil.

Voice

Calls are loud, harsh, and far-carrying, including deep growling squawks and screeches given in flight and at the roost.

Feeding

They feed in the canopy on a wide variety of fruits, nuts, and seeds, using their powerful bill to crack open hard palm nuts other animals cannot access, and often use one foot to hold food.

Nesting and breeding

Pairs nest in large tree cavities, often in dead palms, laying clutches of 2-3 eggs. Macaws form strong, long-term pair bonds and mates often stay in close contact, perching side by side and allopreening.