Blue-and-yellow Macaw, Blue-and-gold Macaw

A long, tapered tail feather displaying the iconic bright blue of one of the world's most recognizable parrots. The bird itself is large, reaching up to 34 inches, with a stunning contrast of blue upperparts and golden-yellow underparts.

Vibrant cerulean to turquoise blue on the dorsal (upper) surface. The ventral (under) side is likely duller or golden-yellow, which is characteristic of the species.

Primarily pennaceous with tightly interlocked barbs. The base shows some plumulaceous (downy) structure. The barbs are slightly frayed, indicating wear.

Smooth and glossy on the blue vane surface. The rachis is stiff and rigid, providing structural integrity for flight and steering.

Distinctive brilliant blue coloration, extreme length-to-width ratio, and a sturdy pale rachis. Unlike blue jay feathers, this lacks black barring.

Tropical rainforests, humid woodlands, and swampy forests. Prefers areas near rivers or high in the canopy.

Native to South America, spanning from Panama south to Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay. Frequently found in captivity worldwide.

Important seed dispersers within the rainforest ecosystem. They use their powerful beaks to crack nuts that other animals cannot access.

Blue-throated Macaw (Ara glaucogularis) feathers are very similar but the bird is critically endangered and rarer. Hyacinth Macaw feathers are a deeper cobalt and much larger.

These birds are known for their intelligence and can live up to 50-70 years. They mate for life and often fly in pairs, with their wings almost touching.

Fair to Good. There is visible separation of the barbs (zipper-like effect) near the tip and edges, likely due to physical handling or natural molting stress.