First photographic records of aberrant white feathers in the threatened Lear’s macaw Anodorhynchus leari, with further notes on its breeding behavior

The Lear's macaw Anodorhynchus leari is a globally threatened species, native to the sandstone cliffs of the Caatinga biome in northeastern region of Bahia, Brazil. The population in Canudos consists of a large breeding subpopulation and is protected by the local authorities. In August 2022 and January/February 2025, we obtained the first documented records of white aberrant feathers in three apparent breeding adults of the endangered Lear's macaw during short visits to the breeding grounds. Here, we provide photographic records from the field along with other anecdotal observations concerning reproductive behavior, adding unpublished information from captive individuals to complement possible knowledge gaps about the breeding biology and sexual behavior of the species.