Blue-throated Macaw
(Ara glaucogularis; previously Ara caninde)

Blue-throated Macaw (Ara glaucogularis; previously Ara caninde) is a bird endemic to a small area of north-central Bolivia known as Los Llanos de Moxos. Recent population and range estimates suggests that ca. 120 individuals remain in the wild. The main cause of their demise is capture for the pet trade to supply the aviculture in USA and Europe. It is currently considered critically endangered by BirdLife International. Several breeding and conservation schemes in zoos have now been set up to save this species. Other projects have been started to protect the remaining wild population, but at present numbers are still decreasing.

It is not a forest dwelling bird, but lives in the savanna of the Beni Department of Bolivia, nesting in "Islas" (islands) of palm trees that dot the level plains. It weighs ca. 750 g (27 oz) and is 85 cm (33 in) long. Their colours are vivid with turquoise-blue wings and tail, and bright yellow underparts. They have a large black bill, a long tail, a bare blue-streaked white face, and dark grey irises. It can be separated from the similar-looking Blue-and-yellow Macaw by the blue (not black) throat, the blue (not green) forehead and the lack of contrast between the remiges and upperwing coverts. In the wild these species often compete over nesting-holes, with the Blue-throated Macaw typically losing due to its slightly smaller size.

The Link
Blue-throated Macaw - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Range & population Ara glaucogularis is known from the Llanos de Mojos in north Bolivia, being concentrated east of the upper río Mamoré, Beni1,6, where the wild population was discovered in 1992. The total population is estimated to number 250-300 individuals occupying a range of c.4,000 km2, with 70 individuals in one recent count12. Surveys indicate that the population may now be increasing slowly following dramatic declines during the 1970s and 1980s. An estimated 1,200 or more wild-caught birds were exported from Bolivia during the 1980s, suggesting that the population was formerly much higher6.

The Link
Blue-throated Macaw (Ara glaucogularis) - BirdLife species factsheet


In the wild, the Blue-Throated Macaw is a social bird who is often seen in the company of Blue and Gold Macaws. In captivity, these birds are friendly and curious and tend to be surprisingly calm in social situations. They enjoy human and avian interaction and will be extremely mellow and docile when keeping your company, loving hours of attention in their keeper's lap or arms. They rarely ever bite, choosing to flee rather than fight if they feel threatened. They relate to the world by chewing on it, and explore everything with their tongues and beaks, including you. Left to their own devices, Blue-Throated Macaws will entertain themselves for hours with spontaneous acrobatics and one-bird circle races! Blue-Throated Macaws are also quite quiet; they have a squawk, which they emit with surprise or as greeting, but usually prefer to "chat" for hours in a quieter voice. They can be taught English and will talk to themselves if left alone. In the wild, Blue-Throated Macaws eat the pulp of palm fruits, scraping out the mesocarp with a specially adapted beak, and will eat other fruits in addition to insects and larvae. In captivity, Blue-Throated Macaws need plenty of wood to chew on to help prevent boredom. If they are to be housed in an aviary they will need a very large metal and mesh enclosure: a 24 by nine by six foot space with an nine by six by six foot enclosed shelter from the elements will work nicely. Provide a nesting box as well, and be sure the opening is large enough for your Blue-Throated Macaw to squeeze through. Do not let the Blue-Throated Macaw's aviary temperature drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Blue-Throated Macaws love to interact with other birds, but may get aggressive toward like-size birds in the mating season, February, and have even been known to show aggression toward their keepers at this time. In the wild, they build nests in palm trees and breed between August and September. Blue-Throated Macaws are friendly, loving, and undemanding, and make great beginners' or apartment dwellers' birds.

The Link
Birds » Parrots » Macaw - Blue Throated Main Page

FUN FACTS
1. This species was unknown to aviculture until the 1970s and still today a limited number of ornithologists are unsure if it is truly a separate species, but rather a subspecies of the blue and gold macaw (Ara ararauna).

2. Macaws are monogamous, remaining bonded for life. They are often seen flying in large flocks and the bonded pairs fly close together, their wings nearly touching.

3. In the wild, macaws often flock to mountains of clay known as "macaw licks".

4. When disturbed, these bright birds screech loudly and circle overhead with their long tails streaming.

5. Macaws are playful and inquisitive and are able to mimic human vocalizations very well.

6. Macaws are extremely messy eaters - their incredibly strong beaks are perfectly adapted for eating all sorts of nuts and seeds, as seen in their ability to crack open incredibly hard-shelled nuts with ease.

7. Macaws are able to reach speeds of up to 35 mph.

The Link
ANIMAL BYTES - Blue-throated Macaw

What a beautiful bird.

That describes our Mango. He loves socializing and his favorite sport is chewing on a skewer of wood. He thinks he's a "big" macaw and doesn't retreat because of his size. He holds his own with the largest of the macaws.

Attached Images

Mango-head-web-2.jpg (60.0 KB, 4 views)

Oscar is our social butterfly. When I have them out on their stands he is always the one that I find "visiting" with a friend. He can't understand why they don't want to share their stands with him.

We have some of those in an aviary at our local zoo.. they are SO fun to watch! They always look like they have a very important agenda of tinkering with whatever they can find. Thanks for posting!