Their beautiful blue and contrasting yellow feathers have attracted people all over the world for many years. They look as if they were entirely blue before someone dipped their bottom half in yellow paint. Everything on the upper half of the bird – their heads, back, wings, and top of the tail – is blue. Everything on the under side – their chest and belly, under their wings, and under their tail – is yellow. They have a green forehead, and the same pale, fleshy face as all Macaws. Their white faces make the black feathering stand out, and give them a zebra-like pattern on their cheeks.
Average Lifespan: 40 – 60 years
Sexing: Sexing these birds requires a DNA test, as they are not sexually dimorphic and you cannot tell the sex just by looking at them.
Origin: South America ( Specifically, Panama south to Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay)
Train ability: As with most of the large Macaws, Blue and Golds are not for everyone. They are mischievous and can become quite destructive if bored. They tend to bond very strongly with their primary caretaker or other favorite person, and can be aggressive towards strangers if they are not properly socialized. We recommend purchasing a weaned, handfed baby. Birds naturally fledge from the nest and their mothers, so hand-feeding a baby you intend to keep for life is not the best idea. It will only cause more aggression later when the bird becomes confused and frustrated that it cannot leave the “nest.” Blue and Gold Macaws learn quickly and are easy to train with a little effort. They typically develop good vocabularies, and can be taught to perform tricks on cue. Sam, our resident Blue and Gold Macaw, will stand on his head, upside down, in the palm of your hand when prompted correctly. It’s quite amazing to see! It is one of the few Macaws that we will suggest as a first bird as they accept new people quite readily, have a great personality, and posses a great combination of friendliness and speaking ability. It is one of our favorite birds.
Loudness: Like all Macaws, the Blue and Gold Macaw can be pretty vocal at sunrise and sunset. Because of this, we don’t recommend them (or any of the large Macaws) for Apartment living. If you feel that a quieter, smaller bird is more appropriate for you, there are still many species to choose from.
Pricing: Blue and Gold Macaws are relatively inexpensive. Minimum cage size is 26″ x 38″ x 66″ with 7/8″ – 1 1/4″ bar spacing, minimum 5mm bar thickness. Stainless Steel cages are preferable.
Catalina Macaw
Health Guarantee of Our BirdsWe have the strongest bird guarantee in the country, and more importantly, we stand behind our guarantee. The guarantee is simple: We guarantee that we are selling you a perfectly healthy bird. To verify that guarantee, within five days you need to go to an Avian Vet and get any and all testing you prefer to do on your bird, at your expense. We can guide you as to the tests we suggest. If the results are not perfect but the bird can be easily treated, then we pay for all medications and all treatment. If the results are unacceptable then we either replace your bird or refund 100% of the purchase price of your bird, at our option.Bird Guarantee only lasts for the first five daysSince we have 100% control over the bird’s environment at our store, but have no control over the bird once it leaves, we can only guarantee the bird for the first five days. We guarantee that when the bird leaves the store that it has been properly socialized, and that it is 100% healthy. Your new bird has been given an excellent start and it is now your responsibility to properly care for your bird. We are always here to help you take the best care of your bird with the biggest variety and best quality bird products available in the world.Lifetime Guarantee on our BirdsWe guarantee that if during your lifetime, you are no longer able to properly care for your bird, or give your bird the attention it need’s, we will accept the bird back on consignment and will find another great home for your bird. We do take a 40% commission and charge a nominal daily fee to feed and clean, but you can rest assured that you always have a place for your bird should the need arise.
