Hyacinth Macaw

Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus

African and New World Parrots · Psittaciformes · Rare

The Hyacinth Macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus) is a rare african and new world parrot found in 4 countries, weighing about 1.3 kg. The hyacinth macaw, or hyacinthine macaw, is a parrot native to central and eastern South America.

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About the Hyacinth Macaw

The hyacinth macaw, or hyacinthine macaw, is a parrot native to central and eastern South America. With a length of about one meter it is longer than any other species of parrot. It is the largest macaw and the largest flying parrot species. While generally easily recognized, it could be confused with the smaller Lear's macaw. Habitat loss and the trapping of wild birds for the pet trade have taken a heavy toll on their population in the wild, so the species is classified as Vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List, and it is protected by its listing on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora…

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

How to identify it

The largest parrot by length in the world, the hyacinth macaw is 1 m (3 ft 3 in) long from the tip of its tail to the top of its head and weighs 1.2–1.7 kg (2 lb 10 oz – 3 lb 12 oz). Each wing is 38.8–42.5 cm (15+1⁄4–16+3⁄4 in) long. The tail is long and pointed. Its feathers are mostly blue, lighter above, the neck feathers can sometimes be slightly grey, large parts of the underwing and undertail are black. The ring around the parrot's eyes and the area just underneath the beak are a strong, vibrant yellow.

Where it lives

Recorded as a rare visitor in United States.

When to see it

Best months: May, June, July, August, September, October, November, with peak activity in August. It is a variable species across most of its range.

Easily confused with

Quick questions

How do you identify a Hyacinth Macaw?
The largest parrot by length in the world, the hyacinth macaw is 1 m (3 ft 3 in) long from the tip of its tail to the top of its head and weighs 1.2–1.7 kg (2 lb 10 oz – 3 lb 12 oz). Full identification notes are on this page.
How big is a Hyacinth Macaw?
The Hyacinth Macaw is a large sized bird weighing about 1.3 kg.
Where can you see a Hyacinth Macaw?
The Hyacinth Macaw occurs in 4 countries, including Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia.
What birds look similar to a Hyacinth Macaw?
The Hyacinth Macaw is most easily confused with the Lear's Macaw.
Is the Hyacinth Macaw endangered?
The Hyacinth Macaw is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.

Learn the Hyacinth Macaw for real

BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.

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