Spix's Macaw
The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii), or Little Blue Macaw, is a large all blue parrot, a member of the group of large Neotropical parrots known as macaws. It was native to the Caatinga dry forest climate of interior northeastern Brazil. It is known as ararinha-azul (Portuguese pronunciation: , lit. "Little Blue Macaw"), in parts of the Brazilian state of Bahia. It is called 'little' because there are several other larger blue macaws with overlapping ranges (see for example Hyacinth Macaw). It has a very restricted natural habitat due to its dependence on the Caraibeira (Tabebuia aurea) tree for nesting. The bird was extremely rare in the wild as well as in captivity throughout the last century.
 |
| Spix's Macaw |
image source: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Robert01
They are critically endangered, probably extinct in the wild (IUCN 3.1) It is listed on CITES Appendix I, trade forbidden except for legitimate conservation, scientific or educational purposes. The last known wild specimen vanished in 2000. The species is conserved through several captive breeding programs under the auspices of the Brazilian government.
