macaw

Any of a group of large, brilliantly coloured, long-tailed tropical American parrots, such as the blue and yellow macaw Ara ararauna. They can be recognized by the massive beak, about half the size of the head, and by the extremely long tail. (Genera Ara, Aratinga, and Anodorhynchus.)

Spix's macaw is one of the world's most endangered species; between 1987 and 1995 only one existed in the wild, and 32 in captivity. In 2000 there were 60 Spix's macaws in captivity owing to the success of a breeding programme. There remains only one living in the wild, but the breeding programme includes a plan to release 5 captive birds into the wild.