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 humanity. But a large blue macaw is a rarity in residential apartments. It is huge in size, has a strong beak, and screams loudly, which is not very acceptable for living quarters.
Appearance
In nature, at the beginning of the twentieth century, there were already about 250 small blue macaws. Unfortunately, now this species is almost never found. Big and small blue macaw are listed in the Red Book (International). Often poachers hunt for these birds.
They are considered large parrots, they have a large and strong beak, at the bottom of which is a golden colored strip. 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, actually dark brown
. Blue Macaw - a parrot that has a gullible and affectionate nature. The bird is very curious and intelligent. The weight of the blue macaw is about 1.5 kilograms; birds live up to eighty years old. To distinguish where the female, and where the male, can be size. The blue macaw of the female genus is much smaller than the male one, there are no differences in color, they are the same.
Living in the natural environment
The parrot lives in Central and South America: in Bolivia and Brazil. Currently, there are very few blue macaws; there are about three thousand individuals. Birds live in palm and savannah forests, but frequent deforestation and capture of individuals by poachers reduce their population. In addition, parrots of the Ara species do not breed very actively.
Bright blue plumage, a large beak, expressive eyes - these are the hallmarks of a blue macaw. Photos of these parrots are always very colorful and often adorn the
signboards of pet stores. The cost of such birds is very high, exceeds two thousand dollars. People call the blue macaw a "royal" parrot due to its bright color and noble appearance.
The favorite food of colorful birds is fruits (ripe and immature) and seeds, nuts and flowers, insects and berries, mangoes and shoots. Every day, parrots fly for walks, during which they feed on soil with useful minerals. Their properties neutralize harmful substances that are contained in unripe fruits.
Captive
Blue Macaw is rarely found 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).
Blue macaw cages need to be made of durable material, not 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, calls and pouches. Do not forget that all toys should be designed specifically for large birds. It is also very important to change the water in the drinking bowl daily, clean the contents of the feeder and give fresh food. The cage must be washed at least once every seven days.
Food at home
A person who lives in a blue macaw should know how to feed his pet. Food should contain fats and low protein. Feeding a parrot is 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, sprouted grain. Occasionally, but regularly fed with oatmeal and rice porridge, young chicken meat, low-fat cottage cheese, boiled egg.
When parrots begin a breeding season, it is worth diversifying their food. You can add vitamins D and B, calcium supplements, and 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. Blue-and-yellow Macaw is very popular. These parrots are easy to learn, imitate sounds. Their friendly nature manifests itself immediately, the birds are very gullible and restless. In captivity, it is better to keep in an aviary, where there is much more space than in a cage. You need to educate a blue-yellow macaw, with proper training, a parrot can remember about seventy words. The diet should include fruits and vegetables, cereals and fruit tree branches, top dressing from minerals.
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. A loud voice is the hallmark of all kinds of Ara. But the blue-yellow parrots just do not scream, but only if necessary. These birds are very sociable, keeping them just for beauty will not work, you need to pay attention and communicate with them.