From Opus

The species Spix's Macaw is extinct in the wild.

Alternative Name(s): Little Blue Macaw

Cyanopsitta spixii

Artwork by chico

[edit] Identification

Blue-grey with long tail and wings. It has a pale ashy-blue head, square shaped, and pale blue underparts. Its upperparts, wings and long tail are a more vivid blue. Underside of the open wing is black.

[edit] Distribution

Extinct in the wild due to a combination of habitat change and capture for the pet trade. A project for captive breeding with the long term goal of reintroducing the species into the wild consists of 78 birds; the total number of birds currently alive may go as high as 120.

[edit] Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species.

[edit] Habitat

Was limited to Caraiba gallery forest along the São Francisco river in an otherwise arid part of Brazil.

[edit] Behaviour

Food consisted of fruits from several different local trees. Nesting took place in natural holes in trees and could produce up to two nestlings.

[edit] Reference

• A fact sheet about Spix's Macaw from Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation

[edit] External Links