The Chick Of A Spix’s Macaw, Declared Extinct In the Wild, Has Hatched At A Zoo

Declared extinct in the wild decades ago, a newborn Spix’s macaw hatchling at a European zoo is offering the species fresh hope. The rest of this article is behind a paywall. Please sign in or subscribe to access the full content.

The Spix’s macaw ( Cyanopsitta spixii ) is a brilliantly blue parrot once native to the dry tropical forests of northeastern Brazil. With its vivid cerulean plumage and paler gray-blue head, this striking bird is perhaps best known as the inspiration for the 2011 animated movie Rio .

The species was officially declared extinct in the wild around 2018/2019, although the last wild bird was seen in 2000. Today, a small number of Spix’s macaws survive only in captivity, housed in zoos and breeding programs around the world. Two adult Spix’s macaws chilling