Photo: Joseph Smit / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Spix’s Macaw
Cyanopsitta spixii
Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) — Parrots & Cockatoos of South America.
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The Spix’s Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is a member of the Psittacidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 200 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Extinct in the Wild.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Survives only in captivity or well outside its natural range.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Psittaciformes
- Family Psittacidae African & New World Parrots
- Genus Cyanopsitta
- Species spixii
Quick facts
- Weight
- 200 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Psittacidae
- Order
- Psittaciformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Critically Endangered
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Spix’s Macaw is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Spix’s Macaw is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Spix’s Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is a member of the Psittacidae family, within the order Psittaciformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA e Brazil.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 200 g, with a wing length of about 27.7 cm and a tail of around 35.2 cm.
It is listed as Extinct in the Wild on the IUCN Red List. Extinct in the Wild means it survives only in cultivation, captivity or outside its natural range.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Spix’s Macaw?
The Spix’s Macaw is a large bird that weighs around 200 g.
Where does the Spix’s Macaw live?
The Spix’s Macaw is found across South America with a range covering SA e Brazil, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Spix’s Macaw belong to?
The Spix’s Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) belongs to the Psittacidae family, in the order Psittaciformes.
What does the Spix’s Macaw eat?
The Spix’s Macaw is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Spix’s Macaw migrate?
The Spix’s Macaw is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Spix’s Macaw endangered?
It is listed as Extinct in the Wild on the IUCN Red List Extinct in the Wild means it survives only in cultivation, captivity or outside its natural range.
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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