Blue-and-Yellow
Macaw
Ara ararauna
Biological Information
This species seems to prefer nesting in swamps and various species of palm trees, but can also nest in forests and the nest cavities of other species. It is theorized that these birds exhibit facial blushing to communicate, as well as using the position of their head feathers.
Conservation Status
This species is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Redlist.
Countries we work in
Guyana and Suriname
Regional Tidbit
The genus name for this species is derived from ará, which means "macaw" in the Tupi language of Brazil. The word is an "onomatopoeia" (a word associated with a sound made by what is named) and is based on the sound of macaws' calls. In other countries, macaws are called guacamayas (in Mexico and many other places), guaras (Honduras), ara (Suriname) and gua'a (Paraguay). All of these names are Indigenous-based, onomatopoeia words.