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WWF
A large blue and yellow bird soaring against a blue sky.

© Andrés Unterlasdtaetter / WWF-Bolivia

Macaws

The Amazonian rain forest is a bird lover's paradise, home to over a thousand different species, including the blue-and-yellow macaw. Macaws are highly intelligent, mate for life and can live up to 60 years. The vibrant color and pattern of their feathers make them a popular species in the illegal pet trade, which has devastated populations of wild exotic birds. WWF supports efforts to phase out importing wild birds to the United States and encourages captive breeding as an alternative to illegal capture.

Macaw facts

Scientific name
Ara ararauna

How you can help

Up close image of grasslands landscape

© George Walsh

Strengthen the Endangered Species Act

More than 99% of the species listed under the Endangered Species Act have avoided extinction due to the law’s protections. Today, those protections are under threat — at the exact moment wildlife needs them most.

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