Justification Although this species exists in several captive populations, the last known individual in the wild disappeared at the end of 2000, and no others may remain, primarily as a result of trapping for trade plus habitat loss. However, it cannot yet be presumed to be Extinct in the Wild until all areas of potential habitat have been thoroughly surveyed. Any remaining population is likely to be tiny, and for these reasons it is treated as Critically Endangered (Possibly Extinct in the Wild).

Family/Sub-family Psittacidae

Species name author (Wagler, 1832)

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

Identification 55-57 cm. Delicate, blue-grey macaw with long tail and wings. Pale ashy-blue head, distinctively square shaped. Pale blue underparts. More vividly blue in upperparts, wings and long tail. Voice Strong, clear cra-á cra-á cra-á.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

<50

unset

-

Yes

Range & population Cyanopsitta spixii was known for over 150 years, from small numbers of traded birds and a hunted bird taken by von Spix, until it was traced in 1985-1986 to near the rio São Francisco in north Bahia, Brazil. Only three birds remained and these were captured for trade in 1987 and 1988. However, a single male, paired with a female Blue-winged Macaw Propyrrhura maracana, was discovered at the site in July 1990. A female C. spixii was released from captivity in 1995 and initially paired with the male. Unfortunately, the female disappeared from the release site after seven weeks and is suspected to have collided with a power-line². The wild bird was still paired with the female P. maracana in January 2000¹ but neither bird has been seen since the end of that year. In 2000, the total number of publicly declared birds in captivity was 60, but 54 of these were captive-bred⁴. In 2008 the known captive population was 78 individuals, having increased at c.11% per annum since the mid 1980s⁶. There are occasional local reports, including from Serra da Capivara National Park, which provide some hope the species may be extant⁷.

Ecology: It apparently requires gallery woodland dominated by caraiba Tabebuia caraiba trees for nesting, but feeds mainly on two regionally characteristic Euphorbiacae plant species. Breeding occurs during the austral summer. Two or three eggs are laid in the wild (up to five in captivity). The wild bird and the P. maracana have apparently produced infertile eggs¹.

Threats The decline of Spix's Macaw has generally been attributed to two principal factors. First, long-term destruction of the specific gallery woodland habitat on which the species apparently depended, the result of the colonisation and exploitation of the region along the Rio São Francisco corridor during more than three centuries. Secondly, trapping for the illegal live bird trade in recent decades pushed the species towards extinction. In addition, the colonisation of the distributional range by introduced aggressive African bees, and the building of the Sobradinho hydroelectric dam above Juazeiro may have contributed, perhaps significantly, to the species's decline in the 1970s and 1980s. Direct hunting is considered a factor of minor importance in the overall decline, even though several reports of shooting are on record.

Conservation measures underway CITES Appendix I and II and is protected under Brazilian law. There are a variety of community conservation programmes, that will pave the way for future reintroductions^1,2. The establishment of the Brazilian government's Permanent Committee for the Recovery of Spix's Macaw and cooperation between holders of birds resulted in annual increases in the captive population but has subsequently been dissolved after disputes between the body and private breeders⁵. Subsequently, IBAMA have established a Working Group for the Recovery of Spix's Macaw⁶. This group is responsible for coordinating the captive breeding programme and there will be on-site reintroduction facilities later followed by on-site breeding facilities. Important captive populations totalling 78 individuals are currently held by Al-Wabra Wildlife Preservation and Martin Guth⁶, with up to 120 individuals thought to exist in captivity worldwide. Successful breeding has occurred within these facilities and in some zoos, including two chicks reared by Loro Parque in Tenerife in 2004⁸, where a new breeding centre opened in 2007⁹. A captive management and species recovery handbook is in preparation for this species. In February 2009 Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) announced the purchase of the 2,200 ha Concordia Farm in Bahia state, Brazil, site of one of the last recorded sightings of wild Spix's Macaw, in October 2000¹⁰. Concordia Farm was also the base of the Spix's Macaw field project, which operated throughout the 1990s until completion in 2002, and release site for the only captive Spix's Macaw yet to be released back into the wild, in 1995. It is planned to allow Concordia Farm to return to a more natural state by removing domestic livestock, with the long term goal of the site proving to be a valuable habitat resource for future reestablishment of a wild population.

Conservation measures proposed Identify a suitable release site for the potential annual release of captive-bred birds starting between 2013 and 2030 depending on the success of captive breeding efforts⁶. Protect and improve habitat at the identified release site⁶. Establish a well-resourced on site re-introduction facility at Praia do Forte under IBAMA ownership⁶. Introduce captive-bred fledglings and ensure protection from trappers. Continue cooperation between holders of captive birds. Continue ecological studies to assess the need for habitat management³.

References Collar et al. (1992). 1. Y. de Melo Barros in litt. (1999, 2000). 2. Caparroz et al. (2001). 3. Snyder et al. (2000). 4. Schischakin (2000). 5. Anon. (2001). 6. de Soye and de Melo Barros (2006). 7. Tobias et al. (2006). 8. Reinschmidt (2004). 9. Anon (2008). 10. Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (undated).

Further web sources of information

Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE) species/site profile. This species has been identified as an AZE trigger due to its IUCN Red List status and limited range.

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), Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International)

Contributors Y. de Melo Barros

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

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Cyanopsitta spixii. 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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