The Lear’s macaw is a large parrot endemic to Northeastern part of Bahia in Brazil. It is named after Edward Lear, a famous British artist cum poet who painted macaws, and wrote rhymes about them.
For a long time, the macaw remained elusive in the wild. It was in 1978 that it was accepted as a distinct species by naturalist Helmut Sick.
Typically, Lear’s macaws are very noisy and social. Their diet comprises of fruits, seeds, and nuts. The overall grayish-blue plumage, long wings and tail, and a distinct vibrant yellowish-orange colour that encircle the eyes-altogether make the bird beautiful.
The most serious threat faced by the macaws is illegal trade. It is said that collectors of these birds pay high prices in the international pet market to own them.
Another threat is the reduction in the number of licuri palms which the birds mostly feed on. Together, these have all contributed to the decline of Lear’s macaws.
Picture credit: google