1. By: Rachel Hagara

2. Classification  Kingdom: Animalia; all living animals  Phylum: Chordata; vertabrates and animals with a notochord  Class: Aves; all bird vertebrates  Order: Psittaciformes; birds including parrots, amazons, cockatoos, lorikeets, lories, macaws, and parakeets  Family: Pssittacidae; the African parrots and the Neotropical parrots  Genus: Ara; Central and South American macaws  Species: Ararauna; dark colored macaw  Common Name: Blue and Gold Macaw

3. Distribution  This remarkable bird lives anywhere in Panama, and tropical South America from Venezuela and Columbia south to Brazil, Trindade, Bolivia, and Paraguay

4. Habitat  Nests by swamps and ponds  Canopy trees in Rainforests  Nests in M. flexuosa palms

5. Conservation Status  IUCN Redlist: least concern  Slowly decreasing in numbers

6. Physical Characteristics  Blue, yellow/gold, white, brown, black, green, and red colors appear in the plumage.

7. Physical Characteristics  The tiny feather patterns on the face are unique to the individual bird and can also be used to prove identity if a bird escapes or are stolen.  These macaws also have black around chin and cheeks, and the naked skin of cheeks is pinkish-white with lines of very small, isolated black feathers.

8. Physical Characteristics  Average length of the bird ranges from 33-36 inches including tail.  Their wingspan is about 40-45 inches wide.  Their clutch size is about 2-3 eggs.  The average weight ranges from 2- 2.7lbs.

9. Male / Female Differances  Males have brighter coloring than females

10. Reproductive Characteristics  The mating system is basically males attracting females with their vibrant colors  Sexually mature anywhere from 2-4 years after birth, depends on the bird  Female typically lay 2-4 eggs per year

11. Parental Care  Leave nest about 6 months after hatching, but tend to “visit” parents up to a year after leaving the nest  Both parents provide care for babies At 8 weeks old

12. Longevity and Mortality  Typically lives for about 80 years in wild  Has lived up to 100 in captivity  No known difference in longevity between males and females

13. Seasonal Patterns  Behavior does not change during different times of the year  Does not undergo hibernation, torpor, or migration

14. Diet  Fruit, berries, nuts, seeds, vegetation, flowers and small insects and bugs.  Lots of foods are poisonous to them such as chocolate, cherries, avocado, and caffeine.  Also they eat clay, which scientists think might help to neutralize the poisons in some foods.

15. Predators  Biggest predators are humans and machines  Numbers are slowly decreasing because of machines logging the rainforest

16. Prey  The only prey is insects and small bugs  Doesn’t eat a whole lot of animals

17. Human Relationships  Make great pets  Thrive in safe captivity, somewhat help numbers increase

18. Fun Facts!!!  They can screech up to 105dB.  Being a Rainforest animal, they love to bathe.  Can also “blush” because their white cheeks turn pink when they get excited.  One of the most photogenic birds  Live in flocks of up to 100

19. Works Cited Alderton, David. Caged and Aviary Birds. 2nd ed. London: Lorenz Books, 2003. Prrint All Macaws. Chris Petrosh, n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2013. <http://www.allmacaws.com/ frameset.html?bluegold.html~mainFrame>. ANIMAL BYTES. SeaWorld, n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2013. <http://www.seaworld.org/ animal-info/animal-bytes/animalia/eumetazoa/coelomates/deuterostomes/chordata/ craniata/aves/psittaciformes/blue-&-gold-macaw.htm>. Animal Diversity. University of Michigan, n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2013. <http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/animal-bytes/animalia/eumetazoa/ coelomates/deuterostomes/chordata/craniata/aves/psittaciformes/ blue-&-gold-macaw.htm>. Blue and Yellow Macaw. Ducksters. Animals for kids, Mar. 2013. Web. 24 Mar. 2013.. CITES. CITES.org, n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2013. <http://www.cites.org/eng/resources/ species.html>. Critters on Things. Critters on Things, 2006. Web. 24 Mar. 2013.. Davies, Nicola. Birds. New York: Kingfisher, 2012. Print. Discover Science. Forshaw, J. M. Parrots of the World. New Jersey: T.F.H. Publications Inc., 1978. Print. Kalhagen, Alyson. "Blue and Gold Macaws." about.com. Alyson Kalhagen, n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2013.. Marrison, C., and A. Greensmith. Birds of the World. New York: Dorling Kinderslay Inc., 1993. Print. Perrins, C. The Encyclopedia of Birds. New York: Facts on File Publications, 1985. Print.

20. Any Questions??????