Birds diurnal

Blue-throated Macaw

Ara glaucogularis

A rare jewel of the Bolivian savannas, the Blue-throated Macaw is one of the world's most endangered parrots. Discover how to identify and protect this vibrant 'natural patrimony' in its native palm groves.

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Quick Identification

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Size

Length: 85 cm (33 in); Wingspan: 90–100 cm (35–39 in); Weight: 600–800 g (1.3–1.8 lbs)

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Colors

Turquoise-blue upperparts and crown, bright yellow-orange underparts, and a distinct large blue throat patch. Sexes are monomorphic (look identical).

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Key Features

Distinctive large blue throat patch extending to the chin
Turquoise-blue forehead and crown (lacks the green of similar species)
Bare white facial skin with rows of tiny dark blue feathers
Long, tapering tail with blue upper feathers and yellow undersides

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern diurnal

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Peak hours 6:00 AM – 9:00 AM and 3:30 PM – 6:00 PM

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Season Year-round, with peak visibility during the dry season (May–October) when they congregate near water.

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Diet Primarily a specialist feeder on the nuts of the Motacú palm (Attalea phalerata). They also consume seeds, fruits, and occasionally nectar from other tropical savanna plants.

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Habitat Seasonally flooded savannas (Los Llanos de Moxos), palm groves, and forest islands (islas de bosque) near water sources.

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Behavior

The Blue-throated Macaw is a highly social and intelligent bird, typically observed in monogamous pairs or small family groups. They are known for their loud, raucous vocalizations that help maintain contact between mates and flock members while flying across the vast Beni savannas. Unlike some of their more widespread cousins, they are relatively sedentary, remaining close to reliable food sources and nesting sites throughout the year.

Foraging usually occurs in the early morning and late afternoon, where they use their powerful, hooked beaks to manipulate palm nuts with surgical precision. While naturally shy around human settlements due to a history of being hunted for their plumage, they have shown remarkable resilience in protected areas. They are obligate cavity nesters, often competing with other parrots and even large toucans for the best hollows in decaying palm trees.

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Camera Tips

To capture the elusive Blue-throated Macaw on a trail camera, location is everything. These birds are almost entirely dependent on the Motacú palm for both food and shelter. Look for 'forest islands' within the Beni savanna that contain mature palms. Positioning your camera near a cluster of ripening palm fruit—which looks like large bunches of yellowish-brown grapes—is your best bet for foraging shots. Because these birds spend most of their time in the canopy, you will need to mount your camera significantly higher than usual, ideally 10 to 15 meters (30-50 feet) up, using a specialized tree mount.

If you are monitoring a known nesting site, place the camera on an adjacent tree facing the cavity entrance at a distance of at least 3 to 5 meters to avoid disturbing the pair. Use a high-speed trigger setting; macaws are surprisingly fast when they decide to take flight, and a slow camera will result in a blur of blue and yellow. Because the tropical sun can be harsh and cause 'white-out' on the birds' pale facial patches, try to angle the camera lens slightly downward or ensure it is shaded by the canopy to minimize direct glare.

Video mode is highly recommended over still photos for this species. Their social interactions—allopreening (grooming each other), vocalizing, and the dexterous way they use their feet to hold food—are best captured in 10 to 20-second clips. If your camera allows, set the recording to a high frame rate (60fps) to capture the fluid motion of their wings. Ensure you use a high-capacity, high-speed SD card, as the movement of palm fronds in the wind can trigger many 'false' captures in the breezy savanna environment.

Finally, timing is critical. Blue-throated Macaws are most active in the 'golden hours' just after sunrise and before sunset. Ensure your camera's PIR (passive infrared) sensor is set to high sensitivity, as the temperature difference between the bird and the warm tropical air can sometimes be minimal. Avoid using heavy scents or lures; instead, focus on the natural attraction of a water source or a particularly productive fruiting palm during the peak of the dry season.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Blue-throated Macaw.

Blue-and-yellow Macaw

Has a black throat patch and a green forehead, whereas the Blue-throated has a blue throat and blue forehead.

Hyacinth Macaw

Much larger and entirely deep cobalt blue without the yellow underparts of the Blue-throated Macaw.

Frequently Asked Questions

Blue-throated Macaws are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day. Their peak activity occurs in the early morning shortly after sunrise (around 6-9 AM) and again in the late afternoon (3-6 PM) as they move between feeding grounds and roosting sites.

Unless you live within a very specific region of the Beni Department in Bolivia, you won't find these birds in your backyard. For those in the region, preserving mature Motacú palms and providing large, safe nesting boxes are the most effective ways to support and attract them.

Their diet is highly specialized, consisting almost entirely of the fruit and nuts of the Motacú palm. They use their powerful beaks to strip the outer husk and crack the hard inner nut to reach the nutrient-rich kernel.

No, they are critically endangered and extremely rare. They are endemic only to the Los Llanos de Moxos in north-central Bolivia and are mostly found in remote savanna palm groves rather than suburban settings.

The easiest way is to look at the throat: the Blue-throated Macaw has a large turquoise-blue patch that reaches the chin, while the Blue-and-yellow Macaw has a black throat. Additionally, the Blue-throated has a blue forehead, whereas the Blue-and-yellow has a green forehead.

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