Spix’s Macaw
Cyanopsitta spixii
Sky-blue and slender-tailed, the Spix’s Macaw once soared through the gallery forests of Brazil’s Caatinga. Revered for its grace and rarity, it vanished from the wild in 2000—driven to near-extinction by habitat loss and illegal trade. But hope glimmers. Reintroduction efforts, fueled by captive breeding and forest restoration, are underway. With each flight, the Spix’s Macaw soars towards revival, proof that extinction doesn’t have to be final.
Critically Endangered
Population: 180 (functionally extinct in wild)
Years Until Extinction: 0 (extinct in wild in 2000)
Habitat
Riparian forests, dry shrubland near water
Main Threat
Habitat destruction & illegal pet trade
Description
A luminous sky-blue parrot with a pale face, long tapered tail, and slender black beak. Smaller than most macaws, its elegant silhouette and gentle expression make it among the most distinctive parrots.
Wingspan: 24 inches
Diet: Seeds, fruits, nuts, native flora
Nesting: Cavity nests in old Caraibeira trees
Mating: Gentle mutual preening and synchronized calls
The Spix’s macaw was once extinct in the wild but has recently begun returning to its natural habitat through reintroduction efforts. The dance reflects the bird’s cautious reawakening: light footwork, soft head tilts, and quiet alertness capture its intelligence. The costume is a sleek, cobalt-blue dress with dark trim and a gently hemline that evokes the bird’s elegant tail.
The star of the movie Rio was inspired by the Spix’s Macaw—bringing global fame to a bird most had never seen.
Learn the Dance
Choreography Suggestions:
Wing sweeps: wide arm arcs that open/close like long blue wings
Perch hops: light side-to-side steps with quick head turns
Beak pecks: sharp forward jabs with hands together at chest level
Buoyant and curious; medium tempo with quick, playful accents
Not a dancer? Co-create with AI!
Costume Ideas: Sky-blue leotard/top with darker blue arm drapes; small gray headband “beak.”
Prompt Ideas: Full-body photo of a human dancer mid-leap mimicking a Spix’s Macaw, wide arm “wings,” sky-blue costume with darker blue drapes, tropical backdrop, crisp studio lighting.
