Large blue macaw

Anodorhynchus is a genus of large blue macaws from open and semi-open habitats in central and eastern South America. Of the three species in the genus, two are endangered and one is probably already extinct. Additionally, a hypothetical extinct species has been postulated based on very little evidence. At about 100 cm in length the Hyacinth Macaw is the longest parrot in the world. The three species mainly feed on the nuts from a few species of palms (notably Acrocomia aculeata, Attalea phalerata, Butia yatay and Syagrus coronata).

Taxonomy
There are three well established species of the genus, Anodorhynchus Spix, 1824 :


 * Glaucous Macaw, Anodorhynchus glaucus (Vieillot, 1816) – probably extinct
 * Hyacinth Macaw, Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus (Latham, 1790)
 * Lear's Macaw or Indigo Macaw, Anodorhynchus leari Bonaparte, 1856

Besides the three recognised species, there is the Oné Couli, Anodorhynchus purpurascens, which was described by Rothschild and featured in his book, Extinct Birds published in 1907, but there is very little evidence to support it as separate species and it should be regarded as a hypothetical extinct species. In the absence of a specimen, Rothschild scientifically described and named it as a separate species based on the evidence that violet macaws were said to have inhabited the island of Guadeloupe; however, they were probably Hyacinth Macaws imported from the mainland of South America.

Species
The three well established species are monotypic: