Justification This species qualifies as Endangered because the population has undergone very rapid reductions in the past and the threat from illegal trapping for the cagebird trade plus habitat loss remains.

Family/Sub-family Psittacidae

Species name author (Latham, 1790)

Taxonomic source(s) SACC (2005 + updates), Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993), Stotz et al. (1996)

Identification 100 cm. Huge, blue macaw with yellow facial skin. Intense cobalt blue coloration with black underwings, bare yellow orbital area and lappet bordering the lower mandible. Long tail and huge bill. Immatures have shorter tail and paler yellow bare facial skin. Older adults have lighter grey or white legs. Similar spp. Lear's Macaw A. leari is much smaller and only escaped birds could occur in the range of A. hyacinthinus. Voice Loud, raucous croaking and screeching calls, less harsh than Ara, often given in pairs.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

6,500

decreasing

539,000 km²

No

Range & population Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus occurs in three areas of Brazil: east Amazonia (along the rios Tocantins, Xingu and Tapajós, and possibly persists in Amapá), the Gerais of Maranhão, Piauí, Bahia, Tocantins, Goiás, Mato Grosso and Minas Gerais, and in the Pantanal of Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul and marginally into east Bolivia (Santa Cruz), and Paraguay (Concepción with local reports from Alto Paraguay²). Throughout the 1980s the species suffered major declines as an estimated 10,000 birds were illegally captured for the pet trade and widespread habitat destruction and hunting caused a further reduction in numbers¹². The majority of the population is now located in the Pantanal, where since 1990 the species has shown signs of a recovery and expanded its range^10,12, probably in response to conservation projects. Populations in east Amazonia and the Gerais have continued to decline, from an estimated 1,500 individuals in 1986 to 1,000 in 2003. The total population was estimated at 6,500 individuals in 2003, of which 5,000 were in the Pantanal¹² and around 200 in Bolivia¹⁴.

Important Bird Areas Click here to view map showing IBAs where species is recorded and triggers any of the IBA criteria.

Ecology: It occurs in várzea and savanna adjacent to tropical forest in east Amazonia, campo cerrado, caatinga and palm-stands in the Gerais, and palm-savannas in the Pantanal. It feeds mostly on the hard fruit of a few regionally endemic palm species⁹ (Scheelea phalerata and Acrocomia aculeata in the Pantanal¹¹). Nesting is from July-December in large tree-cavities (primarily in Sterculia apetala in the Pantanal¹) and on cliffs (in the north-east). Two eggs are usually laid, but only one chick normally fledges⁹.

Threats There has been massive illegal trade in the species. At least 10,000 birds were taken from the wild in the 1980s, with 50% destined for the Brazilian market⁵. In 1983-1984, over 2,500 were flown out of Bahía Negra, Paraguay, with an additional 600 in the late 1980s⁷. Although these numbers are now much reduced, illegal trade still continues (e.g. 10 passed through a pet market in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, between August 2004-July 2005, where birds were changing hands for US$ 1,000 and were destined for Peru¹³). There is some local hunting for food and feathers. In Amazonia, there has been habitat loss for cattle-ranching and hydroelectric power schemes on the rios Tocantins and Xingu. In the Pantanal, only 5% of S. apetala trees have suitable cavities^1,4. Young trees are foraged by cattle and burnt by frequent fires⁶. The Gerais is being rapidly converted to mechanised agriculture, cattle-ranching and exotic tree plantations³.

Conservation measures underway CITES Appendix I and II, protected under Brazilian and Bolivian law and banned from export in all countries of origin. Many ranch-owners in the Pantanal (and increasingly in the Gerais) no longer permit trappers on their properties. There are several long-term studies and conservation initiatives^eg.12. At the Caiman Ecological Refuge in the Pantanal the Hyacinth Macaw Project has used artificial nests and chick management techniques and raised awareness among cattle ranchers¹².

Conservation measures proposed Study the current range, population status and extent of trading in the different parts of its range⁸. Assess the effectiveness of artificial nest-boxes⁸. Enforce legal measures preventing trade. Experiment with ecotourism at one or two sites to encourage donors⁸.

References Collar et al. (1992). 1. Johnson (1996). 2. R. P. Clay in litt. (1997). 3. Conservation International (1999). 4. Guedes (1993). 5. Mittermeier et al. (1990). 6. Newton (1994). 7. J. Pryor in litt. (1998). 8. Snyder et al. (2000). 9. C. Yamashita in litt. (2000). 10. Pinho and Nogueira (2003). 11. Antas et al. (2006). 12. Anon (2004). 13. Herrera and Hennessey (2007). 14. M. Herrera in litt. (2007).

Further web sources of information

Fully detailed species account from the Threatened birds of the Americas: the BirdLife International Red Data Book (BirdLife International 1992). Please note, taxonomic treatment and IUCN Red List category may have changed since publication.

Recuento detallado de la especie tomado del libro Aves Amenazadas de las Americas, Libro Rojo de BirdLife International (BirdLife International 1992). Nota: la taxonomoía y la categoría de la Lista Roja de la UICN pudo haber cambiado desde esta publicación.

Text account compilers Phil Benstead (BirdLife International), David Capper (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International), Rob Williams (BirdLife International)

Contributors Rob P Clay (Guyra Paraguay), Mauricio Herrera, J Pryor, Carlos Yamashita

IUCN Red List evaluators Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 9/2/2010

This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.

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