Blue and Gold Macaw are intelligent and affectionate friends
Blue and Gold Macaw are probably the most popular large Macaws kept as pets.
Blue and Golds are said to be more sociable, calm, and friendly on average than some of the other Macaws.
Blue and Gold Macaws are known to have one of the best personalities in general out of all the large Macaws. They make wonderful companions and are intelligent, eager to learn, affectionate, and one of the better talkers of the Macaws as well.
However, like all large Macaws, if not properly raised and handled well, Blue and Gold Macaws can become aggressive birds. For this reason, they are best for experienced bird owners. You need to establish stiff boundaries with Blue and Golds right when you bring them home. Otherwise, they will learn to scream, bite, or manipulate you in order to suit their needs.
Blue and Golds are known for being very intelligent and social (when raised correctly). They are definitely trainable–they aren’t the best mimics, but you can teach them to talk and learn tricks fairly easily.
Fast Facts
| Name | Blue and Gold Macaw (Ara ararauna) |
| Origin | Central and South America |
| Size | 33 in., 1000 grams |
| Average Cost | $800-2000 |
| Lifespan | 50 years on average |
| Noise | Loud |
| Living Arrangements | Because of their vocal abilities, size, and the size needed for their cages and other accessories, these birds are best kept in a house. |
| Qualities | Blue and Golds are intelligent, affectionate, inquisitive, social, loving, can be aggressive, and can become feather pluckers. Macaws in general have the intelligence of a 3-8 year old child, emotional range of a 2 year old child, may throw tantrums to get attention, great sense of humor, can tease you and other members of your family (including other pets), require a lot of attention, can be very demanding, need to be kept busy with attention, toys, and training, love to chew, love showers, some are described as clownish, energetic, playful, like to roughhouse, some can be nippy and aggressive, some love to cuddle. |
| Abilities | Excellent–they can learn to talk and learn tricks. |
| Interaction/Time Requirements | High–These birds do need a lot of attention and will scream and become very aggressive if they don’t get the attention and time from you that they need. |
As pets
The vibrant coloring and talking ability makes the blue and yellow macaw a good choice for a pet. But owners have to be dedicated in your interaction with the bird to get the best companionship out of it. Also, the loud vocalizations and large size make it a wrong choice as an apartment pet.
Blue and Gold Macaw Pet
Blue and Gold Macaw in the Wild
Housing
They will require a roomy cage, at least 3’x2’x5’. Provide sturdy perches, toys, both for playing and chewing. You can dedicate a room in your house for your bird, or you can put it in an outdoor aviary. Let it spend some time, preferably a minimum of 2-3 hours outside the cage.
Temperature
A blue and gold macaw is usually comfortable with temperatures ranging between 70°F-80°F (21°C-27°C).
Temperament
They make an ideal family bird because of their gentle personality, usually having a rapport with more than one person, although they may prefer someone slightly over others. As with all macaws, they do get aggressive and nippy sometimes. Their strong beaks can easily sever off a finger or two. You must socialize your bird with as many people as possible to get the best behavior out of it in different situations.
Blue and Gold Macaw
Blue and Gold Macaw Babies
Feeding
Give your blue and gold commercially made pellet and seed mixes specially prepared for macaws. They also may like something that you’re having, and you can feel free to share as long as the food is nutritious. Chicken can be a good source of protein and also falls in the favorite foods category.
Avoid feeding the bird chocolate and avocado as both of these are toxic to them.
Care
Replace the food and water dishes daily with clean ones. The floor of the cage needs to be washed every other week, while the perches and toys should be washed every week.
Do a complete disinfection of the whole cage at least once a year.
Bathe your pet every day either with a mist spray or a bird bath and let it dry out in the sun.
Care & Feeding
In the wild, most macaws, including blue-and-gold macaws, eat a variety of seeds, plant material, fruits, and nuts. The wild macaw’s diet tends to be high in fat, which is acceptable for a bird that spends its day flying through the rainforest, finding food, nesting, and rearing chicks.