Blue and Gold Macaw — breed guide
A 50-year commitment that regularly outlives its first owner — plan for it in a will.
At a glance
- Group
- large parrot
- Size
- Large
- Life span
- 50–60 years
- Coat
- Blue above, gold below; very large
Living with a Blue and Gold Macaw
- High energy — needs real exercise every day, not a stroll.
- Light grooming — a brush now and then.
- Light shedding.
- Exceptionally trainable — among the easiest to teach.
- Very vocal.
- Good with children.
- Gets along with other dogs.
- Only with secure housing and no unsupervised contact with a cat.
- Not well suited to a flat — space, exercise need or voice works against it.
- Better with previous experience behind you.
- Average heat tolerance.
- Feels the cold.
Temperament
Loud · Intelligent · Bonded · Demanding
Health to watch
- Feather plucking
- Proventricular dilatation disease
- Aspergillosis
Owner-logged information shared via Leash Life is not veterinary advice; ask your vet about screening for these.
Questions people ask
Is a Blue and Gold Macaw good with kids?
Generally yes. Blue and Gold Macaws are usually good with children when raised with them and given their own quiet space.
Can a Blue and Gold Macaw live in a house with a cat?
Only with care. Secure housing, separate space and no unsupervised contact — a cat's hunting instinct is not something training removes.
How much exercise does a Blue and Gold Macaw need?
An hour or more of proper exercise every day.
Can a Blue and Gold Macaw handle hot weather?
About average — use normal hot-day sense.
Leash Life keeps a Blue and Gold Macaw's day — walks, meals, meds, weight — in one shared feed for the whole household, and warns on the walk weather this breed can't take. Free to start.