In "Rio" what type of bird is Pedro?

In “Rio,” Pedro is a cardinal. More specifically, he is portrayed as a red-crested cardinal, a lively Brazilian bird who becomes one of Blu’s friends after Blu arrives in Rio de Janeiro.

Pedro is voiced by musician will.i.am and is introduced alongside Nico, a yellow canary voiced by Jamie Foxx. The pair help Blu adjust to life in Rio and bring the film’s musical energy to the story. Pedro is especially associated with samba, rap, and a confident, streetwise personality.

A common mix-up is confusing Pedro with Blu or Jewel, the two blue Spix’s macaws at the center of the film. Pedro is not a macaw; he is a cardinal, while Nico is the canary. The movie uses several recognizable bird types, including Rafael the toco toucan, Nigel the sulphur-crested cockatoo, and Luiz the bulldog, making the characters easy to confuse.

The red-crested cardinal is a real South American species, although Pedro is a stylized animated character rather than a scientifically exact depiction. His species helps connect the film’s colorful cast to Brazil’s diverse birdlife and Rio’s vibrant cultural setting.