150 decibels

"A macaw's scream can be as loud as 150 decibels. That's the same as popping fireworks and can cause permanent hearing damage."

Discover in real life
blue-and-yellow macawMacaw ararauna
  • Habitat:

    tropical forests and grasslands in northern South America

  • Food:

    seeds, nuts and fruits

  • Lifespan:

    50 years

  • Weight:

    0.9 to 1.8 kilograms

  • Number of young:

    2 to 4 young

  • Incubation period:

    25 to 30 days

  • IUCN status:

    Safe

  • EEP:

    no

About the blue-and-yellow macaw

The blue-and-yellow macaw is a large parrot with a long tail and a strong, curved bill. Males and females look about the same. They are very social animals. They live in pairs, but are also often seen in groups. blue-and-yellow macaws make many different sounds and can even mimic human language.

Habitat and threats

blue-and-yellow macaws live in grasslands, tropical and subtropical rainforests in northern South America. blue-and-yellow macaw is not an endangered species. It is not known how many live in the wild, but it is reasonably certain that numbers are declining. The birds still have a fairly wide range, which is one reason they are not in danger of extinction.

There are two major threats to the macaws; loss of habitat and the illegal pet trade. The rainforest where the animals live is getting smaller and smaller, due to logging. In addition, blue-and-yellow macaws are kept as pets all over the world. Many animals and eggs are taken from the wild to sell as pets.

Drie blauwgele ara's zitten samen op een tak bij Eindhoven Zoo.

Species conservation in Eindhoven Zoo

Fortunately, the status of the blue-and-yellow macaw is safe. But unfortunately, many of the species you see in the park are endangered and struggling in their original habitats. Did you know that worldwide more than 4,000 animal species are threatened with extinction are endangered? Together we can help them, with big, or small steps. Want to know how?

More information about the blue-and-yellow macaw

Meet the other animals in Eindhoven Zoo