Movie Rio Tinto is the touching story of Blu, a Spix’s macaw, who embarks on an adventure to Rio de Janeiro to mate and save his species. Along the way, he meets many colorful and quirky bird friends native to tropical habitats. Vibrant and cheerful, the film keeps viewers curious about this unique species. See the types of birds featured in the Rio film and learn about their habitat, diet and behavior.
Spix’s Macaw

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Released to audiences in 2011, Rio de Janeiro revealed the critically endangered and extinct Spix’s macaw in the wild. Their species have suffered adverse impacts due to habitat loss and illegal poaching. As of 2022, only 160 Spix’s macaws will remain in captivity. These birds are endemic to Brazil, where they inhabit a very limited natural habitat: the woodland gallery of the riparian Caraibeira. It relies on this South American native tree for nesting, foraging and roosting. They rely on tree nuts and seeds for their nutrition.
toco toucan

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The toco toucan is the largest and most common toucan species.Toco Toucan Raphael is a supporting role in the first and second parts Rio Tinto Movie. These birds are common in zoos around the world, but their home is in Central and South America. They live in semi-open habitats such as woodlands and savannas. You’ll find them in the Amazon, but only in open areas, usually along rivers. They eat fruit, insects, reptiles and small birds with their huge beaks.
red and green macaw

The red and green macaw, also known as the green-winged macaw, is the largest of its kind. They are native to North and central South America, where they inhabit many forests and woodlands. Populations of these birds have declined due to habitat loss and illegal capture. However, they are considered the species of least concern due to reintroduction efforts. This macaw mates for life and feeds on seeds, nuts, fruit and flowers.
Gold cone

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The golden conure is a dazzling and graceful parakeet native to the Amazon Basin in northern Brazil. They have bright golden yellow plumage and dark green plumage. These birds live in dry upland rainforests and face significant threats from deforestation, flooding and illegal trapping. Their species is listed as “vulnerable.” They are social species that live in groups. Their diet consists of fruits, flowers and seeds.
Scarlet Macaw

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When most people think of macaws, they think of scarlet macaws. This bird is native to Mexico, Central and South America. They live in moist evergreen forests and their numbers have declined due to deforestation. However, their species remained stable. This bird is popular in the pet industry for its striking plumage and intelligent personality. They live alone or in pairs in the forest canopy and feed on fruits, nuts, seeds, flowers and nectar.
Crested Ibis

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The scarlet ibis is another tropical bird native to South America, but they also live in the Caribbean. Ibis are large wading birds, and the scarlet ibis is a bright red-pink color. These birds are plentiful throughout their range and live in large flocks in wetland habitats. You’ll find them on mudflats, coastlines, and rainforests. They spend their days wading in shallow water, poking their long beaks into muddy bottoms in search of aquatic insects, fish, and crustaceans.
Sulfur Cockatoo

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These large white cockatoos are native to Australia, New Guinea and Indonesia. They are popular in the pet bird trade and are often found in American homes. They have a reputation for being demanding but very intelligent. This species inhabits tropical and subtropical rainforests, where they live in large groups. They eat seeds, grains, and insects, and have learned how to open trash can lids to eat human waste in the suburbs. It’s not uncommon to see videos of sulfur cockatoos dancing and talking on social media.
pink spoonbill

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The pink spoonbill is an unmistakable sight, with its bright pink plumage, large wings and long beak. These wading birds belong to the same family as ibis and forage in similar ways in shallow freshwater and coastal waters. They are most commonly found in Central and South America, but you’ll find them as far north as Texas and Louisiana. These birds typically inhabit swamps and mangroves, where they feed on crustaceans, insects and fish.
Keel-billed Toucan

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The keel-billed toucan lives in the canopy of the tropical jungles of Mexico, Central America, and South America. These birds are rarely seen alone. They are very gregarious, living in groups of 6 to 12 and living together in tree hollows. Their family is playful, throwing fruit like a ball and even dueling with their beaks. They eat fruit, insects, lizards, eggs and chicks. They swallow the fruit whole by throwing their head back. This species spends most of its time in trees, jumping from branch to branch and flying only short distances.
blue and gold macaw

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As the name suggests, blue and gold macaws are bright golden yellow and vibrant aqua. These large parrots inhabit the varzea forest (the seasonal floodplain of the Whitewater River), woodlands, and savannas in tropical South America. They are also a popular species in aviculture because of their brightly colored plumage and close-knit relationships. These birds can live up to 70 years (longer than their owners) and are known for their screams to attract attention.
green bee

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The green bee is a small bird belonging to the tanner’s finch family. They are native to tropical regions of the Americas, from Mexico to South America. They live in the forest canopy, where they build small nest cups and forage for fruit, seeds, insects and nectar. Males have a blue-green body with a black head and bright yellow beak, while females have a grass-green body with a white throat.
Red Crown Bishop

© რობერტ (Robert), CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons – License
The red-crowned cardinal is another member of the tanager family. Despite its name, they are not related to real cardinals. These birds are native to South America and live in tropical dry scrub. You can also find them in heavily degraded forests. Look for them along rivers, lakes, and swamps, where they swarm the ground for seeds and insects.

I am broadly interested in how human activities influence the ability of wildlife to persist in the modified environments that we create.
Specifically, my research investigates how the configuration and composition of landscapes influence the movement and population dynamics of forest birds. Both natural and human-derived fragmenting of habitat can influence where birds settle, how they access the resources they need to survive and reproduce, and these factors in turn affect population demographics. Most recently, I have been studying the ability of individuals to move through and utilize forested areas which have been modified through timber harvest as they seek out resources for the breeding and postfledging phases. As well I am working in collaboration with Parks Canada scientists to examine in the influence of high density moose populations on forest bird communities in Gros Morne National Park. Many of my projects are conducted in collaboration or consultation with representatives of industry and government agencies, seeking to improve the management and sustainability of natural resource extraction.