Blue-and-yellow Macaw - different varieties

Notice of 18.12.2018

Blue-and-yellow Macaws/Blue and Gold Macaws,

probably of Bolivian origin.

The Blue-and-yellow Macaw/Blue and Gold Macaw (Ara ararauna), has a very wide range in its natural habitats in South America. Brazil in particular is home to a large population of this - in relation to keeping it in human care - absolutely most widespread large Macaw species.

Despite its large population and vast range, science has yet to find evidence to recognize subspecies of this perhaps the most brightly colored and popular large Macaw species.

Nevertheless, obvious differences occur between specimens of this species depending on where they come from in the wild. It has been known for many years among aviculturists that there exists a few different varieties of the Blue-and-yellow Macaw. One of these varieties originates from the country of Bolivia and specimens that come from this country are particularly characterized by being very large and by the fact that the birds' blue feathers (which is a so-called "structural colour") completely lack the greenish - or rather turquoise tinge - which is seen in the vast majority of Blue-and-yellow Macaws.

When I "came across" such a pair a while ago, I was amazed by their large size and the pure blue colour of the plumage, which is especially clearly visible in daylight, and I immediately jumped at the chance and bought them.

Blue-and-yellow Macaw/Blue and Gold Macaw,

probably of Bolivian origin.

Generally speaking, the Blue-and-yellow Macaw is probably the biggest icon among the large Macaw species of the parrot family and thus the world's best-known Macaw.

It can normally be an incredibly tame and very affectionate bird that - but when it reaches sexual maturity - it completely changes its nature, and especially when breeding, where both sexes become very aggressive towards their surroundings, including their keeper.

Part of cementing its world-renowned reputation as an icon is the fact that you often can come across this impressive bird in countless feature films, e.g. the James Bond movie "For Your Eyes Only" from 1981 with the late Sir Roger Moore in the lead role, where the Blue-and-yellow Macaw, "Max", is in the cast and even plays a decisive role in James Bond is able the world once again. In this film, "Max" proves to be a much more useful ally than several Bond girls. The moral of the movie: Don't have any confidential conversation within earshot of a talking Blue-and-yellow Macaw.