Description
Spix's Macaw is 55–57 cm (21.5–23.5 in) long with a tail length of 26–38 cm (10.2–15 in), weighs 318 gm (11.4 oz) (males), 288 gm (10.2 oz) (females) and has a wingspan of 64 cm (25.2 in). It is various shades of blue, including a pale blue head, pale blue underparts, and vivid blue upperparts, wings, and tail. The underside of the wings and tail are black. In adults there is a bare area of grey facial skin and the legs and feet are almost black. In adults the beak is entirely grey-black and the irises are yellow. The species is easy to identify being the only small blue macaw and also by its grey bare facial skin. The external appearance of the male and female are identical. In common with many parrots, they have zygodactyl feet with two forward facing and two rearward facing toes.
Juveniles are similar to the adults, but they have a white stripe along the center of the top of the beak (along the culmen), which is also seen in juvenile Red-bellied Macaws. In juveniles the bare facial skin is pale grey and the irises are brown.
Its lifespan in the wild is unknown; the only documented bird (the last wild male), was older than 20 years. The eldest bird in captivity died at age 34 years.
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