Bird
Spix's Macaw
Cyanopsitta spixiiAlso known as Little Blue Macaw, Blue Macaw
Spix's macaws are famously recognizable by their delicate light blue body plumage, pale grey face, and deep blue wings and tail. Native to the arid Caatinga scrubland of northeastern Brazil, they relied heavily on riparian corridors dominated by caraiba trees for nesting and roosting. While intense habitat loss and illegal trapping pushed them to extinction in the wild, international captive breeding programs have initiated historic reintroductions into their native landscape.
ArborealRareVibrant
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Extinct in the WildConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXExtinct in the WildRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyCaraiba Seeds, Favela Seeds, Pinhão Seeds
Predators
- Raptors
- Snakes
- Small Carnivores
ThreatsHistorical habitat destruction, poaching for wildlife trade, and invasive nest competitors
HabitatsArid Caatinga scrubland, gallery forests, and caraiba tree groves
Life span20–30 years in the wild; up to 30–40 years in captivity
Classification
- OrderPsittaciformes
- FamilyPsittacidae
- GenusCyanopsitta
- SpeciesCyanopsitta spixii
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe from a respectful distance.
- What to notice
- Look for a medium-sized macaw with a pale grey head, delicate blue body, and long blue tail.
- Support conservation
- Maintain a strict distance from release enclosures and wild birds, and never disclose precise GPS coordinates publicly.
Responsible observation
- Observe quietly: Avoid sudden movements or loud noises around release sites to avoid startling reintroduced birds.
- Respect protected areas: Remain on designated trails within Caatinga reserves to safeguard fragile nesting sites.
- Report sightings: Log observations with official conservation teams to assist ongoing reintroduction tracking.
Nest Competitor (c) Diogo Luiz, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Diogo Luiz · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Nancy Overholtz, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Close Relative "Hyacinth Macaw" by eflon is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Rama, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
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