At a glance
- IUCN category
- EN · Endangered
- Animal group
- Birds
- Population trend
- Increasing
- Last verified
Conservation overview
Lear's macaw is a deep-blue parrot of Brazil's caatinga, once on the edge of extinction. It is assessed as Endangered, having recovered with protection.
It depends heavily on the nuts of licuri palms for food.
Range & habitat
A small area of dry scrubland (caatinga) in north-eastern Brazil.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Past trapping for the pet trade
- Habitat loss
- A very small range
Why it matters
A blue macaw brought back from the brink, Lear's macaw is both a conservation success in progress and a flagship for Brazil's distinctive dry caatinga habitat.
Sources
Sources for Lear's Macaw
- IUCN Red List — look up Lear's Macaw (authoritative status)
- BirdLife International
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Lear's macaw eat?
It relies heavily on the nuts of the licuri palm, so protecting these palms is central to the species' survival, alongside curbing trapping.
Why is Lear's macaw Endangered?
Published assessments cite past trapping for the pet trade, habitat loss, and its very small range, though protection has helped numbers recover. See the IUCN Red List.
Last updated: