Anodorhynchus leari
The Lear's Macaw, *Anodorhynchus leari*, is a magnificent and critically endangered neotropical parrot distinguished by its striking deep cobalt blue plumage, measuring approximately 70-75 cm (27-30 inches) in length and weighing between 800-950 grams (1.8-2.1 pounds). Its most distinctive field marks include a conspicuous bare, bright yellow patch of skin at the base of its massive, heavy black beak, forming a crescent-shape, and a less prominent yellow ring around each eye. Taxonomically, i...
This macaw exclusively inhabits the dry thorn scrub and semi-arid caatinga biome of northeastern Brazil, nesting and roosting on specific sandstone cliff faces and foraging in adjacent Licuri palm groves.
The diet of Lear's Macaws is remarkably specialized, consisting predominantly of the hard-shelled nuts of the Licuri palm (*Syagrus coronata*), supplemented with seeds, fruits, and flowers from other caatinga plants.
Lear's Macaws are highly gregarious and diurnal, spending their nights roosting in large communal flocks on inaccessible ledges and crevices of tall sandstone cliffs, departing at dawn to forage. Their foraging strategy is highly specialized, primarily involving cracking open the extremely hard n...
The Lear's Macaw has an extremely restricted geographic distribution, endemic to a very small area within the dry caatinga biome of northeastern Bahia, Brazil. Its entire global range encompasses primarily two known population centers: the Raso da Catarina Ecological Station and surrounding priva...
Endangered
- The Lear's Macaw was named after the celebrated English poet, author, and artist Edward Lear, who was also a keen ornithological illustrator. - Despite their large size and striking blue color, they were only scientifically described in 1856, a surprisingly late discovery for such a prominent s...