Blue-headed Macaw
Primolius couloni
Blue-headed Macaw (Primolius couloni) — Parrots & Cockatoos of South America.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Blue-headed Macaw (Primolius couloni) is a member of the Psittacidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 250 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Psittaciformes
- Family Psittacidae African & New World Parrots
- Genus Primolius
- Species couloni
Quick facts
- Weight
- 250 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Psittacidae
- Order
- Psittaciformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Blue-headed Macaw is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Blue-headed Macaw is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Blue-headed Macaw (Primolius couloni) is a species of bird in the Psittacidae family, part of the order Psittaciformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA w Amazonia.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 250 g, with a wing length of about 22.2 cm and a tail of around 21.9 cm.
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 649,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Blue-headed Macaw?
The Blue-headed Macaw is a large bird that weighs around 250 g.
Where does the Blue-headed Macaw live?
The Blue-headed Macaw is found across South America with a range covering SA w Amazonia, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Blue-headed Macaw belong to?
The Blue-headed Macaw (Primolius couloni) belongs to the Psittacidae family, in the order Psittaciformes.
What does the Blue-headed Macaw eat?
The Blue-headed Macaw is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Blue-headed Macaw migrate?
The Blue-headed Macaw is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Blue-headed Macaw endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
What sound does the Blue-headed Macaw make?
1 real field recording of the Blue-headed Macaw — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Blue-headed Macaw's range?
The Blue-headed Macaw has a mapped global range of about 649,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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