Which critically endangered macaw is endemic to Bolivia's Los Llanos de Moxos?

The critically endangered macaw endemic to Bolivia’s Los Llanos de Moxos is the blue-throated macaw.

Also called the Caninde macaw, it lives in the Beni Department’s seasonally flooded grasslands. Rather than nesting throughout dense rainforest, it often uses palm-tree “islands” scattered across the plains. Its tiny, fragmented range makes habitat loss especially damaging.

The species declined because of nest competition, predators, trapping, and historical hunting for feathers used in Moxeño ceremonial headdresses. Bolivia designated it a natural patrimony in 2014, and international trade is restricted under CITES Appendix I.

It is often confused with the blue-and-yellow macaw, which is larger and has yellow underparts. The blue-throated macaw is distinguished by its blue throat and mainly blue plumage. Recent estimates suggest only a few hundred adults remain in the wild.