Little Blue Macaw or Spix's Macaw

Cyanopsitta spixii

Order : Psittaciformes

Family : Psittacidae ;

Biometrics :

Size : 56 cm
Wingspan : 64 cm
Weight : 295 à 400 gr

Longevity : 28 years

IUCN conservation status :

Extinct

Threatened

Least
concern

Extinc
in the Wild

Near
threatened

Not
evaluated

EX EW CR EN VU NT LC NE

Geographic range :

Synonyms : Spixara (sv), Guacamayo de Spix (es), Ara di spix (it), Spixara (al), Spix' Ara (nl), Little Blue Macaw or Spix's Macaw (en)

Family description :
Psittacidae is a large family, including several races of parrots of different sizes and colours, but with almost similar behaviour throughout their wide range. We find two main kinds of birds, the Cockatoos and the Parrots. The Cockatoos are large to medium-sized, with strong bill and conspicuo... to be continued

Physical description :
Spix's Macaw is an extinct species in the wild, but several captive birds are protected and conserved through important breeding programs.
This Macaw was collected by the German naturalist Johann Baptist von Spix in dry north-east of Brazil, around 1819.
Adult has blue plumage. Back, wings and graduated tail are darker blue.
Underparts are pale blue, more blue-grey. On the underwings, flight feathers are grey, as undertail.
Head is pale blue-grey, with grey washed blue forehead, cheeks and ear coverts.
Hooked bill is blackish-grey. Eyes are pale straw colour in adults, with grey eye-ring and more or less bare dark grey lores. Legs and feet are grey-brown.
Both sexes are similar.
Juvenile resembles adults, but its plumage is slightly darker, and bare facial area is rather whitish-grey than grey. It has shorter tail than adults. Its eyes are dark, and become gradually lighter.

Voice : Spix's Macaw utters screeching notes, and sharp, rolling 'kraa-aark' ending in more high-pitched tone.

Habitat : Spix's Macaw lives in woodland galleries within 'caatinga' (scrubby, thorny, flat land along seasonal waters), with several varieties of trees, cacti and other plants, particularly 'Tabebuia caraiba'.
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE: Spix's Macaw was formerly in Río Sao Francisco valley, in north-eastern Brazil. Today, this species is extinct in wild, but several birds survive and breed in captivity.

Behaviour : Spix's Macaw is resident in its range, but this species can perform some movements, according to food resources and availability of nesting habitat. It can move in response to rainfalls.
Spix's Macaw uses Tabebuia trees for nesting and roosting. This tree is about eight metres tall, with yellow flowers at the end of dry season. For this dependence to this tree species, Spix's Macaw has very restricted natural range.
Spix's Macaw can be seen in pairs or in small groups. It is a shy bird, taking off if intruder approaches.

At this moment, Spix's Macaw is extinct in wild, but there is a very active breeding program for protecting this species, with the hope to reintroduce this macaw into its natural habitat.
The captive population managed for recovery of the species includes 78 (January 2008) macaws. For example, the Loro Parque Fundación of Tenerife (Canary Islands - Spain) has one breeding pair on loan from the Brazilian Government which produced four young in the last three years. Adults are under high protection, including those in two Brazilian institutions.
There are thought to be about another 42 birds, which also breed, in private collections.
The last known Spix's Macaw in wild disappeared at the end of 2000.

Flight : Spix's Macaw performs flapping-flight. It is easy to identify when flying, with its distinctive silhouette and long tail.

Reproduction-nesting : Breeding season occurs from November to March, during rainy season.
Spix's Macaw nests in holes in trees, particularly in Tabebuia trees. The same nest is reused year after year.
Female lays 2 to 3 eggs, at two-day intervals. Incubation lasts about 26 days.
Young are fed by both adults and fledge about two months after hatching. They remain with parents for three months more, before to leave the nest.

Food habits : Spix's Macaw feeds mainly on seeds and fruits, particularly on Euphorbiaceae plants species. It also consumes flowers and leaves.

Protection / threats : Spix's Macaw is extinct in wild, due to habitat loss, illegal trade and persecution. At this moment, 78 birds are maintained in the official captive program, including one breeding pair protected at Loro Parque Foundation in Tenerife.
This species lived in very restricted range, and the almost total loss of its nesting habitat with Caraiba woodlands, played an important role in its extinction.
These beautiful birds have been trapped for illegal cage bird trade.
Introduction of 'killer bees' Africanized honey Bees involved competition for cavity nests, and bees killed incubating Macaws at nest.
Spix's Macaw always was a rare bird. Few numbers lived in wild before their extinction.
Captive population includes birds which are closely related, and they need new blood, in order to add new genes, and to produce healthy birds for reintroduction in their native range.
At this moment, suitable range for this species is about 30 km2, with only three river basins. Before extinction, this species lived in four original basins, depending on the Sao Francisco River.
Hope is in breeding programs.

Other links :
Iucn
Birdlife

Specification sheet created by Nicole Bouglouan

Qui sommes-nous ? L'association | Mentions légales | Sources | Contacts | Print version
Updated on 2008/05/05 05:34:55 - © 1996-2008 Oiseaux.net