They nest almost exclusively in large cavities of old Manduvi trees and were historically widely spread across Brazil.
Also known as the Blue Macaw and the protagonist of the film Rio, this strikingly blue parrot (and the largest flying parrot in the world) faces growing threats and pressure as its natural habitats and resources continue to shrink from land clearing. They nest almost exclusively in large cavities of old Manduvi trees and were historically widely spread across Brazil. Today, they’re found mostly in small pockets in the Amazon, most notably in central Pará, where human activities have led to 203,460 hectares of tree loss in 2019 alone. Aside from deforestation, the parrot has suffered other threats such as poaching for its unique feathers and the exotic pet trade. Though the animal is still considered only “vulnerable” by the IUCN, many environmentalists believe the species is at the precipice of becoming endangered.