Blue-throated Macaw
Critically endangered, deeply affectionate — one of the rarest macaws in the world
Origin
Bolivia (Beni savanna region only)
Lifespan
50-80 years
With proper nutrition & care
Size
33 inches (85 cm)
600-1000 g (21-35 oz)
Quick Facts
| Origin | Bolivia (Beni savanna region only) |
|---|---|
| Size | 33 inches (85 cm) |
| Weight | 600-1000 g (21-35 oz) |
| Lifespan | 50-80 years |
| Care level | Advanced |
| Noise level | Loud, though quieter than Scarlets or Green-wings. Not appropriate for apartments or homes with shared walls. |
| Talking ability | Moderate. Many birds learn 10 to 25 words; clarity is reasonable but not exceptional. Not a talking species. |
| Beginner-friendly | 1/10 |
The Bird
Blue-throated Macaw at a Glance
The Blue-throated Macaw is one of the rarest parrots in the world and one of the most important conservation stories in modern aviculture. Adults stand roughly 33 inches from beak to tail tip, weigh 600 to 1,000 grams (lighter than a Blue and Gold despite a similar body length), and carry teal-blue upperparts, golden-yellow underparts, and the distinctive turquoise throat patch that separates the species from its more common cousin. The wild population fell to fewer than 200 birds in the early 2000s, and although focused conservation work in Bolivia has stabilized numbers, the species remains Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
Honest reality up front: the Blue-throated Macaw is not a pet bird in any normal sense, and Kalyn does not breed or actively place this species. Captive birds in the United States are rare, expensive (typically $7,000 to $15,000 from the small number of established US breeders), and almost always sourced through specialized waiting lists. Most ethical placements go to other breeders working on captive population stability or to experienced macaw keepers committed to the species' conservation. This page exists to inform serious researchers, not to drive sales.
For the right home with deep macaw experience and a serious commitment to the species, the Blue-throated is gentle, intelligent, and quieter than other large macaws. Many people who have lived with the species describe it as the most affectionate and emotionally connected of the large macaws. The scarcity is the bottleneck, not the bird's pet quality.
Blue-throated Macaws are widely considered among the most affectionate and gentle of the large macaws. Owners and breeders consistently describe the species as eager to interact, less moody than a Scarlet, less reserved than a Green-winged, and quicker to bond closely with their core people than most macaws. The species often presents as emotionally engaged in a way that resembles a cockatoo more than a typical macaw, including head-bobbing greetings, leaning into scratches, and sustained eye contact during interaction.
That emotional sensitivity has a flip side. Blue-throats can struggle visibly with major routine disruptions, prolonged isolation, or the loss of a primary caretaker, and the species is known among experienced macaw keepers for being more prone to stress-related behaviors than its close relatives. Stable routine, consistent daily engagement, and a household that does not regularly travel for extended periods are all meaningful factors in long-term success with the species.
Selective bonding is moderate in this species, less intense than a Scarlet but more pronounced than a Green-winged. Active socialization across multiple family members from day one keeps the bond pattern open, and most well-raised Blue-throats accept handling from multiple people throughout life. The bird is generally gentle and not prone to defensive biting, but the same body-language reading skills required for any large macaw still apply; a startled or frightened Blue-throat can deliver a serious bite, and respect for warning signals is mandatory.
Vocalization & Talking
Blue-throated Macaws are quieter than Scarlets, Green-wings, or Blue and Golds, though "quieter" still means very loud in any absolute sense. Their calls are slightly higher pitched and shorter than the large macaws' typical contact calls, and the daily pattern follows the standard parrot rhythm of dawn and dusk peaks with intermittent calls during the day. Owners with experience across multiple macaw species typically describe the Blue-throat as the easiest large macaw to live with from a noise perspective, though the difference is relative.
The species is still not appropriate for apartments, condos, or townhouses with shared walls. A detached single-family home with reasonable space buffers is the realistic minimum, and rural or large-lot suburban properties remain the most successful settings.
On talking, Blue-throats are decent but not gifted talkers. Many individuals learn 10 to 25 words and short phrases with delivery that owners describe as clearer than a Hyacinth's but less crisp than an Amazon's. Some birds become reasonable talkers; many remain primarily non-vocal except for natural calls. Talking ability should not factor into a decision to pursue this species.
Diet
Build the daily diet around a high-quality formulated pellet such as Harrison's, TOPs, or Roudybush at roughly 60 to 65 percent of intake. The Blue-throated Macaw has dietary needs similar to a Blue and Gold or Scarlet, with a moderate fat requirement higher than smaller parrots but lower than a Hyacinth. Seed-based diets cause the standard cascade of vitamin A deficiency, fatty liver disease, and atherosclerosis that show up across the macaw family with depressing regularity.
Fresh vegetables should make up 20 to 25 percent of intake. Focus on dark leafy greens (kale, Swiss chard, romaine, dandelion), sweet potato, butternut squash, bell peppers in every color, broccoli, carrot, and snap peas. Cooked legumes (lentils, chickpeas, black beans) provide useful protein two or three times a week. Fruits in modest amounts, primarily berries, apple, melon, and papaya, round out the plate.
Nuts in shell make up the rest at roughly 10 to 15 percent of intake. Three to four in-shell nuts daily, rotating among walnut, almond, Brazil nut, and pecan, is appropriate for an adult Blue-throat. Avoid daily macadamias and limit Brazil nuts to two or three per week given their selenium load. Provide fresh water daily and replace it the moment the bird fouls the bowl. Avocado, chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, onion, garlic, and salty human food remain off-limits as for all parrots. Calcium supplementation via cuttlebone or mineral block is appropriate, particularly for breeding-age females.
Health & Lifespan
A well-kept Blue-throated Macaw lives 50 to 80 years in captivity, with documented individuals approaching the upper end of that range. Establishing care with a board-certified avian vet through the Association of Avian Veterinarians directory in the first month is essential, and annual wellness exams with full bloodwork every two to three years should be standing appointments given the species' rarity and the value of catching issues early.
The two health concerns most commonly seen in this species are Proventricular Dilatation Disease (PDD), a viral neurological condition that requires careful quarantine and testing of any new bird before introduction to existing flocks, and stress-related feather damaging behavior, which appears more often in Blue-throats than in some other large macaws given the species' emotional sensitivity. Once established, feather plucking is genuinely difficult to reverse, and prevention through stable routine, consistent engagement, and rich enrichment is the only reliable approach. Weekly weigh-ins on a digital scale remain the most reliable early-warning tool for general health changes; the species masks illness as effectively as any parrot.
Housing
Minimum cage dimensions are 48 inches wide by 36 inches deep by 72 inches high with 1.25 to 1.5 inch bar spacing in heavy-gauge powder-coated steel. A 60-inch-wide flight cage or a converted bird room is a meaningful upgrade for a bird that will live four to eight decades in your home, and most experienced keepers go larger than the minimum. The species' relatively lighter build (compared to a Green-winged) means it is more aerial within the cage, and horizontal space matters as much as height.
Equip the cage with three to four perches of varying diameter and material, including natural manzanita and a flat platform perch for foot health, plus a constantly rotating set of destructible toys, foraging puzzles, and foot toys. Blue-throats chew through wood, leather, palm fiber, and cardboard at the typical large-macaw pace, and the species' emotional sensitivity makes consistent enrichment more important than usual; understimulated Blue-throats develop stress behaviors faster than other large macaws. Place the cage in a social room well away from the kitchen; non-stick cookware fumes are acutely fatal to all parrots and the precaution is non-negotiable.
Plan for 3 to 5 hours of supervised out-of-cage time daily, more if the Blue-throat is the only parrot in the home. Apartments and small homes are not appropriate. Outdoor aviary access in safe weather is a meaningful enrichment upgrade where local conditions allow.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why is the Blue-throated Macaw so rare?
The species is endemic to a small region of the Beni savanna in northern Bolivia and was severely reduced by habitat loss and historical pet trade. Wild numbers fell below 200 birds in the early 2000s. Focused conservation work has stabilized populations, but the species remains Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, and captive populations in the United States are small. The combination keeps both wild and captive birds rare.
- How much does a Blue-throated Macaw cost?
Captive-bred Blue-throats from the small number of established US breeders typically run $7,000 to $15,000, with multi-year waiting lists. The price reflects the species' Critically Endangered conservation status, the small captive breeding base, and the slow reproduction rate of large macaws. Lower prices generally indicate problems with documentation, health, or origin and warrant skepticism.
- Are Blue-throated Macaws gentler than other large macaws?
On average, yes. The species is widely considered among the most affectionate and emotionally engaged of the large macaws, less moody than a Scarlet and quicker to bond closely than a Green-winged. The trade-off is that the species is also more emotionally sensitive to routine disruptions and prolonged isolation, and stress-related behaviors appear more readily than in some other macaws.
- How long do Blue-throated Macaws live?
Fifty to eighty years is typical with proper care. The species will likely outlive its first owner, and estate planning for the bird should be a written conversation before bringing one home. Succession plans, lifetime trusts, and pre-arranged secondary placements are normal in the macaw community for any large species, and they are non-optional for a Critically Endangered bird with this kind of expected lifespan.
- Should I get a Blue-throated Macaw as a pet?
Realistically, only if you have substantial prior macaw experience, the financial means to support a 50-to-80-year commitment, the housing setup to accommodate a large macaw long-term, and a serious interest in the species' conservation. Most ethical placements go to other breeders or to experienced keepers committed to the captive population. A first-time bird owner choosing this species would not be a placement Kalyn would support.