The Blue-and-Yellow Macaw, is a large neotropical parrot from South America. Its striking blue and light yellow/orange plumage, with green hues on the head, makes it a favorite among bird enthusiasts and a common sight in aviculture. These macaws, which can reach a length of 30 to 34 inches and weigh between 2 and 3 pounds, are among the larger parrots. They have a lifespan of 30 to 35 years in the wild and reach sexual maturity between 3 and 6 years of age. Their natural habitat includes forests, especially varzea, woodlands, and savannahs across tropical South America, extending into Panama in Central America. The species' distribution covers Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Paraguay. They have faced challenges in Trinidad, where they were nearly eradicated due to human activity in the 1970s, but reintroduction efforts have been made. Notably, some birds have adapted to urban environments, breeding in ornamental city palms. Additionally, small introduced populations exist in Puerto Rico and Miami-Dade County, Florida​​, and Rondonópolis in Brazil, where they nest in ornamental palms. The species has been heavily trapped for the pet trade, with over 60,000 birds reported in the trade as of 2015. Despite these pressures, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists the Blue-and-Yellow Macaw as of Least Concern. A well raised and trained macaw can make a good pet under the proper conditions. You have to restrict where they can go, because unsupervised they will bite and destroy anything they can reach. They will make an awful screeching scream, sometimes early in the morning or when they are in need of company (that's you), which means you need a very large yard, so they can be away from your neighbors and bedroom. You can buy a very young hand-fed macaw for under $100 dollars in Colombia. The outdoor markets will sell (normally illegally) all types of exotic colorful birds and animals.