Photo: Hans Hillewaert / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Parrots

Blue-and-yellow Macaw

Ara ararauna

Blue-and-yellow Macaw (Ara ararauna) — Parrots & Cockatoos of South America.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Argentina Birds of Australia Birds of Brazil Birds of Colombia Birds of Costa Rica Birds of Germany Birds of Ecuador Birds of Spain Birds of France Birds of the United Kingdom

By family

Parrots, Cockatoos & Allies of Argentina Parrots, Cockatoos & Allies of Australia Parrots, Cockatoos & Allies of Brazil Parrots, Cockatoos & Allies of Colombia Parrots, Cockatoos & Allies of Costa Rica Parrots, Cockatoos & Allies of Germany Parrots, Cockatoos & Allies of Ecuador Parrots, Cockatoos & Allies of Spain Parrots, Cockatoos & Allies of France Parrots, Cockatoos & Allies of the United Kingdom

See what's near you right now

The Blue-and-yellow Macaw (Ara ararauna) is a member of the Psittacidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 1.1 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Psittaciformes
Family Psittacidae African & New World Parrots
Genus Ara
Species ararauna

Where it lives

Amazonia and south-central

South America

Quick facts

Weight: 1.1 kg
Diet: Omnivores
Family: Psittacidae
Order: Psittaciformes
Habitat: Woodland

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Blue-and-yellow 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-and-yellow Macaw is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

The Blue-and-yellow Macaw (Ara ararauna) is a species of bird in the Psittacidae family, part of the order Psittaciformes. It is found across South America. Its distribution covers SA Amazonia and sc.

It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.1 kg, with a wing length of about 38.1 cm and a tail of around 49.3 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

Its mapped global range covers an estimated 7.8 million km².

Songs & calls

Blue-and-yellow Macaw — Call

Recorded by Fabrício Grigolin Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Blue-and-yellow Macaw?

The Blue-and-yellow Macaw is a very large bird that weighs around 1.1 kg.

Where does the Blue-and-yellow Macaw live?

The Blue-and-yellow Macaw is found across South America with a range covering SA Amazonia and sc, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.

What family does the Blue-and-yellow Macaw belong to?

The Blue-and-yellow Macaw (Ara ararauna) belongs to the Psittacidae family, in the order Psittaciformes.

What does the Blue-and-yellow Macaw eat?

The Blue-and-yellow Macaw is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.

Does the Blue-and-yellow Macaw migrate?

The Blue-and-yellow Macaw is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

Is the Blue-and-yellow Macaw endangered?

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

What sound does the Blue-and-yellow Macaw make?

1 real field recording of the Blue-and-yellow Macaw — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Blue-and-yellow Macaw's range?

The Blue-and-yellow Macaw has a mapped global range of about 7.8 million km².