Volume 15, Plate VI / Ornithology (Birds)

Blue and Yellow Maccaw

Macrocercus ararauna

A beautiful species about 39 inches long, the tail alone near 24, with a very large black bill, white nearly naked cheeks crossed by a black band, rich blue upper plumage passing to green and violet, and saffron-yellow underparts. Native to tropical America, it haunts swampy palm-woods and feeds on their fruit, keeps in pairs or large screaming flocks, and nests in hollow trunks, laying two eggs.