Spix’s Macaws Coming Home

Spix's macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii), also known as the little blue macaw, is a Macaw species that was endemic to Brazil.

            In 1819, during his expedition in Brazil, Johann Baptist Ritter von Spix discovered a beautiful, blue macaw. Two hundred years later, the Spix’s macaw had disappeared in its natural habitat. Due to poaching, the species got extinct in the wild in 2000. The last wild birds were sighted in Bahia about 20 years ago. At this time, only 53 Spix’s Macaws lived in captivity worldwide. So there was only small hope for the conservation of the species.

Last Spix’s Macaw in the wild

However, things may be improving for this species, thanks to a global collaboration between scientists, conservation biologists, veterinarians, aviculturists and local Indigenous peoples. After decades of planning and work, eight adult captive-bred little blue macaws were released back into their former range in Brazil on 11 June 2022, and another 12 individuals are being prepared for release in December 2022. These parrots are the first wave in a captive breeding and reintroduction program that is set to take place over the next 20 years

 Blue Spix’s Macaw breeding and reintroduction program