Hyacinth Macaw look-alikes
Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus
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Open the appSeveral birds can be mistaken for the Hyacinth Macaw. Compare the key differences below to confirm your sighting.
Birds to compare
Lear's Macaw
Anodorhynchus leari
Key differences
Lear's Macaw is smaller (approx. 70-75 cm) and has a slightly duller, more greenish-blue plumage. Its yellow facial patch is restricted to a crescent-shaped area at the base of the lower mandible, lacking the yellow orbital ring of the Hyacinth Macaw. Its range is also much more restricted to a specific area in Bahia, Brazil.
Glaucous Macaw
Anodorhynchus glaucus
Key differences
The Glaucous Macaw is now considered extinct. Historically, it was similar in size to Lear's Macaw (approx. 70 cm) and had a more greyish-blue plumage. Its yellow facial patch was also restricted to the base of the lower mandible, similar to Lear's, but its overall coloration was distinct from both Hyacinth and Lear's.
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