Blue-headed Macaw
Ara couloni
ON EXHIBIT: River Journey -
Ranger Rick's Backyard Safari gallery 
FUN FACTS
Blue-headed macaws are also known as “mini” macaws. Until the middle 1990’s Blue headed macaws were unknown in aviculture.Their heads are a blue-grey color and the beak is pale. The facial skin is grey and the eyes are bright yellow with red rings around the iris. The tail is long and tapered and is blue and green. Mini macaws are lively boisterous birds and require generous living space. They are playful and love to chew - especially wooden blocks and branches from non-toxic trees. In the wild these birds will eat soil at ‘clay licks.’ It’s believed that this behavior provides a source of sodium and protects the birds from toxins in their natural diet.
CONSERVATION
Listed as vulnerable due to over-collecting for pet trade.