About this species
Spix's macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii), also known as the little blue macaw, or simply blue macaw, is a macaw species that was endemic to Brazil. It is a member of tribe Arini in the subfamily Arinae (Neotropical parrots), part of the family Psittacidae (the true parrots). It was first described in 1638 by German naturalist Georg Marcgrave when he was working in Pernambuco in Dutch Brazil. It is named for German biologist Johann Baptist von Spix, who collected a specimen in 1819 on the bank of the São Francisco River near Juazeiro. This bird has been completely extirpated from its natural range, and following a several-year-long survey, the IUCN officially declared it extinct in the wild in 2019.
Where it occurs
Palm groves of northeastern Brazil (northern Bahia); on verge of extinction.
Conservation record
AviList v2025b records this species as extinct in the wild, with the checklist noting Extinct in the Wild. Assessments and taxonomy can change; follow the source checklist for updates.
