Blue-Throated Macaw

Blue-throated macaws are the rarest species of macaws in the wild. They are rather popular in the pet trade and are kept as pets widely because of the vivid coloring and friendly characteristics.

Blue-Throated Macaw

Scientific Classification
Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Psittaciformes
Superfamily	Psittacoidea
Family	Psittacidae
Subfamily	Arinae
Tribe	Arini
Genus	Ara
Scientific Name	Ara glaucogularis

Quick Information
Also known as	Wagler’s macaw, Caninde macaw
Size	Length: 33 inches (85 cm) Wingspan: 36 inches (91cm)
Weight	32-39 ounces (900-1,100 g)
Color	Turquoise blue on the crown, throat, back and upper sides of the wings and tail, blue throat patch and cheeks, and bright yellow elsewhere. The bill is black and the irises yellow
Distribution	Beni Department of Bolivia
Habitat	Savannah, palm groves and sometimes in gallery forests
Sounds and calls	Loud and screeching ‘rraaaaaar,’ they use soft caws to communicate with each other
Clutch size	1-3
Incubation period	Around 26 days
Fledging	91-98 days
Breeding age	5 years
Breeding season	Northern population: August to November Southern population: November to March
Lifespan	Usually 30-35 years; some captive individuals have lived for 50 years
Diet	Palm fruits, seeds and nuts
IUCN conservation status	Critically Endangered

Blue Throat Macaw

Blue Throated Macaws

As pets

These beautiful birds are highly sought after as pets. They are inquisitive, intelligent and cheerful. The finer nuances of how to deal with a pet blue-throated macaw are discussed below.

Housing

These large macaws need to be provided as large a cage as one can afford. Their 3 feet long wingspan necessitates a spacious enclosure with a lock or an escape proof latch. They need to have enough room to move about freely. Minimum dimensions are 5’X5’X8’, but the larger, the better. The cage should be built with strong wiring. Provide perches, toys, chewable and regular, chewable branches for the bird’s enrichment. Let the bird out of its cage for at least 2 hours a day.

Temperature

The ambient temperature around the blue-throated macaw should never be below 50°F (10°C).

Temperament & Behavior

They are a very social bird in the wild and hold on to this trait even when kept as a pet. They enjoy being in the company of people as well as other birds and rarely seen getting aggressive. They are also very self-sufficient and can keep themselves entertained for long hours. They are suitable as a family bird as they can gel well with all members of the family. They do, however, retain some macaw instincts and can be nippy on seldom occasions. Socialize your bird with many people from a young age so that it stays friendly.

Blue Throated Macaw Pictures

Baby Blue Throated Macaw

Feeding

Blue-throated macaws should be given a pellet or seed mix on a daily basis. You can also feed them any nutritious food you eat. Occasionally giving them chicken can fulfill their need for protein. Do not give them chocolate and avocado as those can prove fatal for the bird.

Care

They come from a humid habitat in the wild, so ensure that they are bathed every day either in a birdbath or through a mist spray, you can also take them with you when you take a shower. The water should be at room temperature.

Clip the nails and beak every two months.

Clean the food and water dishes in the cage with regularity.

Health problems

Blue-throated macaws are usually hardy birds, some of the ailments they might suffer from are:

Psittacosis
Proventricular Dilation Disease
Feather picking
Infections (bacterial, fungal and viral)
Kidney disease
Papillomas
Allergies
Heavy metal poisoning
Flight and tail feathers chewing
Lipomas

Regular visits to a vet, a balanced diet, and a healthy lifestyle can keep most of the above illnesses at bay.

Blue Throated Macaw

Blue Throated Macaw Bird

Price

They cost between $2,000 and $3,000.

Interesting fact

The captive population of blue-throated macaws is around 1,000-1,100 individuals while the wild population is believed to be around 350-400 and on an upswing thanks to a concerted conservation project.