Hyacinth Macaw

Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus

The largest macaw, a bright blue parrot of central South America with yellow rings around its eyes.

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About the Hyacinth Macaw

Hyacinth macaws live in tall trees and palms in swamps, forests and along rivers in southern Brazil and western Bolivia. They are about 100 cm (39 inches) long, making them the largest macaws, and they can fly up to 35 miles per hour. They eat seeds, fruits, nuts and berries using a strongly hooked beak.^[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name: Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus^[1]
Size: About 100 cm (39 inches) long.^[1]
Weight: About 1,550 to 1,600 g (3 to 3.5 pounds).^[1]
Lifespan: 30 to 50 years or more.^[1]
Diet: Seeds, fruits, nuts and berries.^[1]
Habitat: Tall trees and palms in swamps, forests and near rivers.^[1]
Where it lives: Southern Brazil and western Bolivia.^[1]
Babies: 2 or 3 eggs, which hatch after about 29 days.^[1]
Conservation status: Vulnerable (IUCN Red List, assessed 2016). About 2,500 to 10,000 remain.^[1][2]

Fun facts

The hyacinth macaw is the largest macaw species.^[1]
Hyacinth macaws can fly up to 35 miles per hour (56 km/h).^[1]
Bare yellow rings circle a hyacinth macaw's eyes, and it has a yellow chin.^[1]

Vocabulary

macaw: A large, long-tailed parrot from Central and South America.
pet trade: Buying and selling animals as pets; taking wild animals for it can harm them.
hooked beak: A beak that curves down to a sharp point.
palm: A tropical tree with a tall trunk and large leaves at the top.
vulnerable: A conservation label meaning a species faces a high risk of dying out in the wild.

See it in person

Montgomery ZooMontgomery, Alabama · South AmericaSee this area on the zoo's website ↗

These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.

Sources

[1] SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment Animal Info. “Hyacinth Macaw.” https://seaworld.org/animals/facts/birds/hyacinth-macaw/ (accessed 2026-10-02)
[2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus (Hyacinth Macaw).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22685516/93077457 (accessed 2026-10-02)