Interesting Facts

• Like many macaws, their bright colors, high intelligence, and ability to “talk” makes blue and gold macaws popular as pets. However, they are rather difficult to care for. Macaws require a great deal of attention and they can be noisy, messy, and destructive. They also need a substantial amount of space.
• Their beaks can almost be thought of as a “third foot”. Macaws can use their beaks to help them climb through trees while searching for food. Macaws also use their powerful beaks to crush the hard shells of the nuts they eat such as brazil nuts.
• Like all parrots, these macaws are “zygodactyls”, meaning their feet have two toes pointing forward and two toes pointing backward. This adaptation allows them to grasp and manipulate branches and objects.

Conservation Status

Threats

Like many macaw species, they are threatened by habitat loss and the pet trade.