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DISTRIBUTION
The Blue and Gold Macaw's natural habitat runs from eastern
Panama in Central America south across northern South America,
extending to Bolivia, Brazil and Paraguay from riverside forests
to open savannah lands. Gradually disappearing from the edges
of its range due to trapping for the caged bird trade and
loss of habitat. It disappeared from most of South East Brazil
in the 1960s and the Nariva Swamp, Trinidad in the 1980s. |
| Thousands have been exported
over the years: 18,000 from Bolivia in 4 years from 1981 -1984,
2,000 a year from Guyana until 1993, while it has virtually
disappeared from the Orinoco Delta, French Guiana and Surinam. |
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DESCRIPTION
The forehead and front top of the crown, in the Blue and Gold
Macaw, is an emerald green, which blends into a bright blue
for the rest of the head. The throat has a black "beard" and
the rest of the underside of the bird is a bright, saffron
yellow. The cheeks of the bird are bare (as are the cheeks
of most macaws) with black stripes of tiny feathers. |
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| The primary flight feathers
of the Blue and Gold are a dark, almost royal blue, the tail
coverts (Macaw tails are longer than the body) are a light
electric blue, the bill is black, tand he feet are dark grey.
Adult s have blue eyes. |
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BEHAVIOR
Macaws are wary birds and usually avoid
human contact. In the forest, they can be found in communal
roosting sites at night. At dawn, they leave their roosts
to bask in the sun and feed. The macaw's plumage blends in
with the rays of sunlight and the blue sky. They are completely
dependent on trees for their food. |
| Large flocks
often travel great distances each day for food. They can fly
as far as 15 miles to feed. The macaw has a massive beak which
is hinged to allow it to crush the toughest nuts. |
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The macaw also uses its beak to help it climb.
Its feet have toes that point forward and backward, which enable
it to grasp food and to grip while climbing. The long tail is used
for balance. |
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Macaws each fruits, seeds,
berries, and nuts. In their tropical and subtropical habitats, different
trees bear crops at different times of the year, so food is always
plentiful. |
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| Very little is known
about the breeding habits of the Macxaw in the wild. They
probably do not breed until they are 3-4 years old and most
likely pair for life. They nest high above the ground in cavities
found in large, dead trees. Only two white eggs are laid with
the female incubating for 25 days. The
young are born blind and featherless, developing their full
plumage by 10 weeks and fledging at 3 months. |
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