Is the Spix's macaw extinct?

The Spix's macaw still exists, but it is critically endangered.

Spix's macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii), also known as the little blue macaw, is a macaw native to Brazil. It is a member of Arini tribe in the subfamily Arinae (Neotropical parrots), part of the family Psittacidae (the true parrots).

It had a very restricted natural habitat due to its dependence on the tree for nesting, feeding and roosting.The IUCN regard the Spix's macaw as critically endangered and possibly extinct in the wild. Its last known stronghold in the wild was in northeastern Bahia, Brazil and the last known wild bird was a male that vanished in 2000. The species is now maintained through a captive breeding program at several conservation organizations under the aegis of the Brazilian government. It is listed on CITES Appendix I, which makes trade illegal except for legitimate conservation, scientific or educational purposes.

The bird is a medium size parrot weighing about 300 grams (0.66 lb), smaller than most of the large macaws. Its plumage is various shades of blue, with a grey-blue head, light blue underparts, and vivid blue upperparts. Males and females are almost identical in appearance, however the females are slightly smaller on average.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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18 Comments

Fred Zeb Fudpucker

Yea, the thumbs down are 42 to 27. DISLIKES WIN! 01/13/2019

Glenn Harshman

As noted before, the Spix's macaw in now extinct in the wild. It can still be found in captivity. Trick question both answers are correct.

Mona Lunke

As of the news yesterday-jan. 11,2019 it is extinct in the wild.

Ken Jackson

Luis Manuel Reyes Tejera, There's nothing ambiguous about the question - the bird is either extinct or it isn't. And, as there are still some alive, it isn't.

George Oliver Prince

Several sites say yes,

Julie Allen

Jhan Schmitz, In June 2018, the population of the species numbers 158 individuals. In the same year, an agreement signed between the Ministry of the Environment of Brazil and conservation organizations of Belgium (Pairi Daiza Foundation) and Germany (Association for the Conservation of Threatened Parrots) established the "repatriation" of 50 Spix's macaws back to Brazil. It is expected that the animals will be in national territory in the first quarter of 2019. The Spix's Macaw is expected to be reintroduced into nature by 2021.

Luis Manuel Reyes Tejera

Ambiguous questions should not be allowed

Grant McIntosh

The IUCN regard the Spix's macaw as probably extinct in the wild. Its last known stronghold in the wild was in northeastern Bahia, Brazil, and sightings are very rare. After a 2000 sighting of a male bird, the next sighting was in 2016. So probably extinct in the wild.....but not definitely.

Ian Swindale

The wording of the question is bad as the bird is extinct in the wild. Surely that has to be the measure that counts

Jhan Schmitz

I saw a report from September 2018 that it is now confirmed as extinct. IT'S EXTINCT ! https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=12&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiwt7jpvqrfAhUK2VQKHZYmBSEQFjALegQIDBAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.birdlife.org%2Fworldwide%2Fnews%2Fspixs-macaw-heads-list-first-bird-extinctions-set-be-confirmed-decade&usg=AOvVaw1X-7_9pehAtCrgilaOryrd