This discussion was first published on Dec 1 2010 as part of the 2010-2011 Red List update, but remains open for comment to enable reassessment in 2013.
Link to BirdLife species factsheet for Hyacinth Macaw
Hyacinth Macaw Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus is currently listed as Endangered under criterion A2c,d because the population has undergone very rapid declines in the past and the threats of illegal trapping for the cagebird trade and habitat loss persist. The rate of past declines has been estimated to be in the range of 50-79% over 45 years (estimate of three generations).
The last population estimate took place in 2003, when it was noted that the populations in east Amazonia and Gerais had declined by around a third since 1986 (Anon. 2004). However, the largest portion of the total population in the Pantanal has shown signs of increasing since 1990 (Pinho and Nogueira 2003, Anon. 2004). It is now unclear whether the population as a whole is still declining at a rate of 50-79% over 45 years. Furthermore, improved knowledge of the species’s life history means that the population trend should be estimated for a period of 31 years (revised estimate of three generations).
Up-to-date population estimates and information on threats and likely population trends are invited to help clarify this species’s current status.
Anon. (2004) The Hyacinth Macaw makes a comeback. Partners Wetl. Q.: 14-15.
Pinho, J. B. and Nogueira, F. M. B. (2003) Hyacinth Macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus) reproduction in the Northern Pantanal, Mato Grosso, Brazil. Ornitol. Neotrop. 14: 29-38.
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A small population remains in Concepción department, Paraguay, but at best numbers a handful of birds. Their continued survival depends on the goodwill of private landowners, with trapping continuing to pose a threat. Despite signifficant fieldwork in the Pantanal of Alto Paraguay department, there have been no observations to substantiate reports by local people.
I visited a Pantanal cattle ranch in February 2011 near San Matias in Bolivia to review the site for Hyacinth Macaw Bolivian tourism. Four pairs lived in the area, which were very tame. The local ranchers told me in the dry season there are many more in the area, often flying over from Brazil. They say there are a lot more now, then 15 years ago. There was no interest in trapping, or killing the birds.
Our illegal pet trade monitoring did not find Hycinth Macaws travelling through on market to Lima, Peru, like outher species. There appears to be almost no illegal trade in Bolivia.
There was a reported sight record of this species in Eastern Colombia
Ref: Rodriguez–M., J.V. & Hernández–C., J.I. 2002. Loros de Colombia. Conservation International Tropical Field Guide Series. Conservación Internacional Colombia, Bogotá.
However, it is now considered highly doubtful:
http://www.scielo.org.ar/pdf/hornero/v24n1/v24n1a06.pdf
We did not include it for Colombia in the recent McMullan et al. (2011, 2012) field guides as a result of the latter publication.
The Colombian record / possible range should be excluded for purposes of distribution assessments until such time (if any) as a confirmed record comes to light.