The blue macaw is a bird that belongs to the species of the genus Ara. She lives in Central and South America. The parrot is one of the most beloved birds in mankind. But a large blue macaw is a rarity in residential apartments. It has a huge size, a strong beak, screams loudly, which is not very acceptable for a living space.
Appearance
In nature at the beginning of the twentieth century, there were already about 250 small blue macaws. Unfortunately, this species is almost non-existent now. Large and small blue macaw are listed in the Red Book (International). These birds are often hunted by poachers.
They are considered large parrots, they have a large and strong beak, at the bottom of which is a golden stripe. Long pointed tail, the color is very beautiful and bright, attracting attention. On the head there is a patch of skin, it is located from the ear holes to the beak. An interesting shade of eyes: at first glance black, in fact, dark brown. The blue macaw is a parrot that has a trusting and affectionate nature. The bird is very inquisitive and intelligent. The weight of the blue macaw is about 1.5 kilograms, the birds live up to eighty years. Distinguish where the female is and wheremale, can be in size. The female blue macaw is much smaller than the male, there are no differences in color, they are the same.
Living in nature
The parrot lives in Central and South America: in Bolivia and Brazil. Currently, there are very few blue macaws left, there are about three thousand individuals. Birds live in palm and savanna forests, but frequent cutting and poaching of individuals reduce their population. In addition, Ara parrots do not breed very actively.
Bright blue plumage, large beak, expressive eyes - these are the distinguishing features that the blue macaw has. Photos of these parrots are always very colorful and often adorn the billboards of pet stores. The cost of such birds is very high, exceeding two thousand dollars. People call the blue macaw parrot "royal" due to its bright coloration and noble appearance.
Colorful birds' favorite foods are fruits (ripe and unripe) and seeds, nuts and flowers, insects and berries, mangoes and sprouts. Every day, parrots fly for walks, during which they feed on soil with useful minerals. Their properties neutralize harmful substances contained in unripe fruits.
Captive living
The blue macaw is rarely kept at home, mostly it can be seen in zoos, circuses or at exhibitions. These parrots love to live in pairs, they do not tolerate cold temperatures (during the day it should be up to 20 degrees Celsius, at night - at least ten).
Cages for bluemacaws need to be made of durable material, and not from ordinary wire. These birds have a strong beak, with which they can easily break thin rods. Parrots are very fond of a wide variety of entertainment. For example, ladders and mirrors, tree branches and perches, bells and bags. Do not forget that all toys should be designed specifically for large birds. It is also very important to change the water in the drinker daily, remove the contents of the feeder and give fresh food. The cage should be washed at least once every seven days.
Food at home
A person who has a blue macaw should know how to feed his pet. Meals should contain fats and low protein. It is worth feeding a parrot once or twice a day: give fruits, sunflower and nut seeds, vegetables, celery leaves, dandelions, plantain. Blue macaw loves to peck branches and shoots of fruit trees, germinated grain. Occasionally, but regularly feed oatmeal and rice porridge, young chicken meat, low-fat cottage cheese, boiled egg.
When parrots have a breeding season, it is worth diversifying their diet. You can add vitamins D and B, calcium supplements, eggshells are great. Coconuts and honey are also welcome.
Blue and yellow macaw
The appearance of this Ara is very beautiful and bright. The coloring has blue, orange and yellow colors. The parrot loves communication, therefore it is better to keep a couple of birds so that they do not get bored. The blue and yellow macaw is very popular. These parrots are easy to train, imitate sounds. Their friendly nature is immediately apparent,birds are very trusting and restless. In captivity, it is better to keep in an aviary, where there is much more space than in a cage. It is necessary to educate a blue-and-yellow macaw; with proper training, a parrot can remember about seventy words. The diet should include fruits and vegetables, cereals and branches of fruit trees, mineral supplements.
The length of the parrot reaches ninety-five centimeters, the bird has an impressive tail (about half a meter), body weight - from 900 to 1300 grams. The loud voice is a hallmark of all Ara species. But blue-yellow parrots do not just scream, but only when necessary. These birds are very sociable, keeping them just for beauty will not work, you must definitely pay attention and communicate with them.
