Taxonomy The taxonomic status of this species was disputed until fairly recently. The blue-throated macaw was previously considered an aberrant form of the blueand- yellow macaw (A. ararauna), but these two species are known to occur sympatrically (in the same location) without interbreeding (Kyle 2007a; del Hoyo et al. 1997). Common names in Spanish for the blue-throated macaw include guacamayo barba azul and guacamayo caninde.