spix's macaw

The Spix's Macaw, made famous by the movie "Rio," is considered by some the world’s rarest bird, and it´s one of the most endangered parrot species in the world. Spix’s Macaw is a medium‑sized blue parrot, known for its striking coloration: soft grey‑blue head, pale blue underside, vivid brighter blue upperparts, wings, and tail. It has bare grey facial skin around its eyes, a dark grey beak, and yellow irises in adults. Juveniles have paler facial skin and brownish irises, with a white stripe on the top of the beak (culmen).

Historically, the species was confined to a narrow corridor of Caraibeira gallery woodlands along seasonal creeks of the São Francisco River in the Caatinga of Bahia, Brazil. Because of its extremely limited range, habitat destruction, and trapping, its wild numbers shrank dramatically over the 20th century. By 2000, it was declared extinct in the wild. Through intensive captive breeding, there are now ~177 individuals in captivity, and reintroduction efforts beginning in 2022 have led to the release of dozens into restored habitat. Its survival remains tenuous, facing challenges from climate, habitat restoration, and ensuring adequate genetic diversity.