Having a pet parrot is a massive commitment, as we all know, as they can live for decades in captivity.
So, I began to wonder, how long do blue and gold macaws live?
Blue and gold macaws can live up to 30 to 35 years in the wild. In captivity, as pets, or in zoos, these birds can live upwards of 60 years old! They often live longer in captivity as they can escape the worry of falling prey to predators.
Large parrots like blue and gold macaws are known for their long lives.
In this article, we look at how long blue and gold macaws live and why!
Without wasting anymore time, let’s get started!
The difference between captivity and the wild
Blue and gold macaws often live longer in captivity as they can escape the worry of falling prey to predators or any other dangers.
Deforestation could mean many of them to have to flee their habitat.
For many, they are forced into smaller areas where food sources are depleted which impacts their reproduction.
Captivity offers the care and comfort that is often not available in the wild.
Blue and gold macaws will have treatment, an accessible diet, and good care that can make them last throughout the decades, especially when they are owned by a dedicated and caring owner.
In some cases, blue and gold macaws can outlive their human family meaning that when adopting one you have to plan ahead.
In a few rare cases, some blue and gold macaws have been seen living into their hundreds, like Charlie the blue and gold macaw.
What is the oldest living macaw?
The oldest living blue and gold macaw is stated to be Charlie who lived well into her hundreds, celebrating her 120th birthday in 2019.
It was believed that she hatched in 1899.
Many people state that she was owned by Winston Churchill, but this fact has faced heavy debate.
At what age is a blue and gold macaw fully grown?
Blue and gold macaws grow their full set of feathers by the time they are 10 weeks old, and they continue to stay with their parents for a few months after that.
Blue and gold macaws will start to present adult behavior around the age of 2 to 3 years old.
Although, they will not fully mature until they are 5 to 7 years old.
Why do blue and gold macaws live so long?
Birds, in general, have a high metabolic rate, and high resting glucose which would normally decrease an animal’s life.
However, many specialists believe that parrots, and birds, have something that protects them from aging.
Oxidative stress, which humans struggle with, does not impact birds and blue and gold macaws as much.
Many birds have mechanisms that allow the damage of oxidative stress to be lessened.
Health care is the most important reason for the longevity of the blue and gold macaw.
Their life spans can be improved greatly when their owners are aware of common illnesses that blue and gold macaws can experience like; allergies, gout, infections, Macaw wasting disease, papillomas, and parrot fever.
Owning a blue and gold macaw comes along with the necessity of requiring an infinity of knowledge about their health and lives.
By being aware of the contributing factors of their longevity, an owner will be able to create a great life for their blue and gold macaw.
What can impact a blue and gold macaw’s lifespan?
However, the lifespan of a captive blue and gold macaw can be massively impacted by their nutrition, housing, and environment.
For many pet macaws, they are fed a diet of nutrient deficient, high fat diet that mostly consists of seeds.
This diet can lead to many health problems for the blue and gold macaw.
The size of their cage can also greatly impact their overall health as it can lead to a lack of movement and be a major contributor to the state of their health.
Being kept inside can also have a massive impact upon your blue and gold macaw as they are not getting their dose of vitamin D due to the lack of sun.
Also being inside can make them susceptible to respiratory issues due to inhalation of cleaning products or other toxins.
Their environment can have a massive impact on their lifespan due to obstructions within the room, or other pets that may cause harm.
Many of these things are avoidable when an owner is aware of the right care needed for a blue and gold macaw and any hazards.
What does this mean for owners?
When purchasing a blue and gold macaw owners have to be aware of and understand the lifetime commitment of owning a blue and gold macaw.
By buying a blue and gold macaw they commit to a new member of the family who cannot be replaced, which is only emphasized by their long lifetimes.
It also means that as your blue and gold macaw ages alongside you, you will need to learn how to take care of an elderly bird.
This will often involve yearly examinations of their overall health no matter what.
Also, considering their diet and making sure that your blue and gold macaw gets the nutrients it needs.
All in all, it just means being the dedicated owner you have been for the previous decades.
Blue and gold macaws live for a long period of time, possibly living to the age of 50.
So, they need an owner dedicated to caring for them for decades.
It will mean you need adaptability as blue and gold macaws withstand the test of time.
Also, along with the longevity of the blue and gold macaw, they need an owner who will be fully knowledgeable about the care needed.
Their life can be impacted by a variety of things, and blue and gold macaws are known for their long lifespans.
For captive blue and gold macaws, these lifespans are heavily dependent upon their owners.