Glaucous Macaw (Anodorhynchus glaucus)
Justification This species is either extinct or on the verge of extinction. Only persistent rumours that it is still extant prevent a formal classification as Extinct. It is therefore listed as Critical, since any remaining population must be tiny.
Identification 70 cm. Large blue macaw. Pale turquoise-blue with large greyish head. Proportionally long tail and massive bill. Yellow, bare eye-ring and half-moon-shaped lappets bordering mandible. Similar spp. Lear's Macaw A. leari has a bluer head and is not sympatric, but specimens in trade could be confused. Hyacinth Macaw A. hyacinthinus is considerably larger and bulkier, more violet-blue in coloration and yellow lappets extend along the base of the mandible. Also not sympatric. Voice Unknown
Range & Population Anodorhychus glaucus was formerly widespread but clearly very local in north Argentina, south Paraguay, north-east Uruguay and Brazil from Paran&state southwards. It was endemic to the middle reaches of the major rivers (Uruguay, Paran&and Paraguay) and adjacent areas, with most records coming from Corrientes, Argentina. It became rare before or early in the second half of the 19th century and there were only two acceptable records in the 20th century, one direct observation (in Uruguay in 1951) and one based on local reports (in Paran&in the early 1960s). It has been generally treated as extinct, but persistent rumours of recent sightings, local reports and birds in trade indicate that a few birds may still survive.
Ecology It was reported mostly along major rivers, but this may reflect travellers' dependence on river transport rather than the species's true habitat requirements. It appears to have been adapted to consume palm nuts as its staple, and therefore presumably wandered into palm-savannas and potentially lightly wooded areas. The only palm in its range with the appropriate size and type of nut is the Yatay (or Chatay) palm Butia yatay. It nested on cliffs and the average clutch-size was probably two eggs.
Threats Settlement of the major river basins within its range was presumably accompanied by the widespread loss of palm-groves, either through direct clearance for agriculture or the suppression of regeneration by colonists' cattle. The size and appearance of the bird probably made it a significant target for hunters, and even the taking of young as pets could have been important. There is some evidence that it was traded, but little to support various claims that there has been recent trade in live specimens. Any current trade in eggs, skins or live specimens would obviously be extremely harmful.
Action CITES Appendix I and II and protected under Brazilian law. There have been various attempts to rediscover the species.
