# Hyacinth Macaw (*Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus*)

> The hyacinth macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus) is the world's largest flying parrot — a cobalt-blue giant of Brazil's Pantanal, Bolivia, and Paraguay. Adults weigh about 1.5 kg, crack extremely hard palm nuts with their beak, and are listed Vulnerable after trapping for the pet trade and loss of nest trees.

- **Category:** Bird
- **Conservation status (IUCN):** Vulnerable
- **Range:** Pantanal wetlands and dry forests of Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay.
- **Canonical page:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/hyacinth-macaw/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Scientific classification

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Aves
- **Order:** Psittaciformes
- **Family:** Psittacidae
- **Genus:** Anodorhynchus

## Facts at a glance

| Attribute | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus |
| Diet | Herbivore (nuts and fruits) |
| Habitat | Palm groves, gallery forest, and wetlands |
| Lifespan | Around 50 years in the wild (varies by population and captivity). |
| Weight | About 1.5 kg typical adult mass (sex and region vary). |
| Top speed | Up to roughly 50 km/h when moving at speed. |
| Conservation status | Vulnerable (IUCN) |

## Largest flying parrot

Length can approach 1 m including the long tail. Bare yellow skin frames the eyes and lower beak, contrasting with intense blue plumage. The bill is among the strongest of any parrot.

## Palm-nut specialist

Favoured foods include nuts of acuri and bocaiuva palms that few other animals open. Pairs often feed in small groups along gallery forest and cattle-ranch palm stands.

## Pantanal and dry forests

Palm groves, gallery forest, and wetlands of the Pantanal and adjacent dry forests in Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay. Across its range it is tied to palm groves, gallery forest, and wetlands, and field accounts emphasise this species’ distinctive ecology rather than generic habitat labels.

## Vulnerable to trade and nest theft

IUCN lists hyacinth macaws Vulnerable. Illegal chick trapping and cutting of nest trees drove historic crashes; ranchers' nest-box programmes in the Pantanal have aided local recovery.

## Frequently asked questions

### Is the hyacinth macaw the biggest parrot?

It is the longest and heaviest flying parrot; the flightless kākāpō can be heavier.

### What nuts can hyacinth macaws crack?

Extremely hard palm nuts such as acuri and bocaiuva that defeat most other birds.

### Why are hyacinth macaws Vulnerable?

Past pet-trade trapping and loss of large nest trees sharply reduced numbers.

### Where do hyacinth macaws live?

Pantanal wetlands and dry forests of Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay. Native range summary: Pantanal wetlands and dry forests of Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay.

### Do hyacinth macaws need nest boxes?

In cattle country, purpose-built nest boxes replace scarce natural cavities and boost breeding success.

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/hyacinth-macaw/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.