Blue-and-Yellow Macaw

Blue-and-Yellow Macaw
ルリコンゴウインコ
Character Data
AKA		Blue-and-Gold Macaw
Romaji		Rurikongō Inko
Debut		Kemono Friends 3
Animal Data
Scientific Name		Ara ararauna
Distribution		South America
Diet		Herbivore
Avg. Lifespan		Around 30 years in the wild, around 65-70 years in captivity
Read More		Blue-and-yellow macaw
Conservation

Blue-and-Yellow Macaw

KF3

Gallery

Blue-and-Yellow Macaw is a type of bird Friend that first appeared on official merch before debuting in Kemono Friends 3.

Appearance

Blue-and-Yellow Macaw has short hair with a variety of colours, mostly blue on the outside with yellow on the inside, especially on the wings, white hair framing her face with black stripes as it comes down between her eyes. She wears a two-tone sweater-dress with a yellow chest and blue sleeves, reminiscent of the bird's blue wings and yellow body.

She has soft blue eyes and sports two bracelets on her right wrist, one blue and one yellow. She wears light blue sandals that come up to bows above the ankle.

Series Appearances

Appearances In Kemono Friends Media

Media		Role
2019	Kemono Friends 3	↪ Minor character, playable

In Real Life

Blue-and-yellow Macaw in the Walsrode Bird Park, Germany. Photo by Quartl, 2009.

The blue-and-yellow macaw (Ara ararauna) is a large Neotropical parrot native to forest, savannah and woodland habitats of tropical mainland Central and South America, encompassing regions stretching from Venezuela to Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil, and extending into portions of Panama, with a population also recognized in nearby Trinidad. They are named for their striking blue and yellow plumage, which is accompanied by a black and white mask and a gradient of green atop the head. They are large even among the macaws, being able to reach lengths of up to 91.5 cm and wingspans of 114 cm, and may reach weights of nearly 2 kg. They have large, sturdy hooked bills which they use to break tough nutshells and pick apart plant material such as fruit, and have even been known to use it for scaling trees and hanging from branches. Their predominantly-herbivorous diets also include bark, leaves, and seeds,, but they may rarely supplement this with animal protein in the form of small invertebrates, such as insects and snails.

Wild blue-and-yellow macaws are gregarious and highly social, exhibiting strong social bonds and forming tight-knit groups. Active during daylight hours, small, noisy flocks gather in the early morning to search for food, eventually seeking shade by midday. Flock members may also engage in activities such as playing and bathing together; it might be considered unusual to see such a macaw by its lonesome. Communication among these birds is primarily facilitated through loud screams and squawks, which can carry a great distance and convey various signals. Blue-and-yellow macaws are notably vigilant birds, swiftly taking flight and emitting loud calls at the slightest hint of danger. This can also be a boon for other species that might be threatened by mutual predators, giving them a warning to seek shelter when they see and hear the macaws scramble.

Despite their proclivity for social behavior, blue-and-yellow macaws forgo the flock lifestyle and pair off during the breeding season, allowing each pair of parents to focus on rearing their hatchlings. Blue-and-yellow macaws form monogamous partnerships, with mating pairs remaining loyal to one another for life. Their breeding season spans from January to July, with breeding occurring annually or biennially. Nests are typically constructed in elevated tree hollows, often having been fashioned by other animals. Typical clutches consist of two to three eggs, with hatchlings initially lacking feathers and sight; their plumage begins to emerge around 10 days after birth. Both male and female macaws diligently care for their offspring, cooperating to rear their young and exhibiting high levels of aggression towards any perceived threats to their nests.

Renowned for their vibrant plumage, impressive vocal abilities—which include the ability to mimic human speech—, widespread availability in the pet trade, and strong affinity towards human companionship, these birds are highly sought after in aviculture circles. This has led to them being one of the most common pet parrots, and consequently means they have large captive breeding numbers. While this helps to ensure security for the species, extensive logging and development of their wild habitat is pressuring the species across its native range by the day. As of this article, it is listed as a Least Concern species per the IUCN Red List, but with the caveat that its wild populations are on a trend of declination. Blue-and-yellow macaws are important seed distributors for fruit-bearing plants of their tropical forest habitats, enabling their spread and propagation by eating the fruits of these plants and dispersing their seeds via their droppings, often carrying them great distances in the process. This means the wild macaws exert considerable influence on forest dynamics and plant life propagation; thus, while the species may not be at risk on the whole thanks to captive breeding, the protection of wild populations is important for the health of ecosystems across its native range.

Trivia

• Blue-and-yellow macaws generally live for about 30 years in the wild, but in captivity they can live for far longer, sometimes as much as 75 years.

• When a macaw pair isn't able to find their own nest, they may usurp another bird's nest, killing any hatchlings and driving their parents away.

• Mating pairs can be easily spotted within a flying flock, as they stay very close to each other—often flying so closely together that their wingtips nearly touch.