Blue-Throated Macaw

Blue-throated macaws are native to north-central Bolivia and are one of eight extant species of long-tailed macaws. Turquoise and bright yellow, they have 5 or 6 horizontal stripes of blue feathers which are unique and can be used to individually identify adults. Juvenile Blue-throated macaws have brown irises, which turn yellow as the birds mature, the amount of gold increasing with age after the age of 10.

This species prefers gallery forests featuring the Motacú palms, which are critical for its survival due to feeding and nesting in these trees. Instead of eating seeds and nuts like other macaws, Blue-throated macaws primarily eat the fruit of the large palms, in particular the Attalea phalerata, Acrocomia aculeata and Mauritia fleuxosa species. They are important seed dispersers for these trees. 

A fairly monogamous bird, they tend to travel in pairs, but can occasionally be found in small groups. Choosing to construct their nests within the cavities of large palms, the Blue-throated macaw breeds once a year, provided environmental conditions are favourable. The female will lay 1 – 3 eggs and will incubate for 26 days.