Blu (Jesse Eisenberg) is a rare species of blue macaw resident at a bookstore in Moose Lake, Minnesota, who is the last of his kind. When scientists learn that another macaw was spotted in South America and that the macaw, Jewel (Anne Hathaway) is female, they take him out of Minnesota and send him to Rio de Janeiro to meet her. While there, he learns to confront his fear of flying in order to win her heart. Along the way, they get kidnapped by poachers to sell them to get a fortune. After they escape, they try to avoid the thieves and their pet cockatoo Nigel (Jemaine Clement) with help from Rafael, a wise Toucan (George Lopez); Luiz, a bulldog (Tracy Morgan); Linda, Blu's owner (Leslie Mann); Flora, a whooping crane (Wanda Sykes); Pedro, a redhead bird (will.i.am); and Nico, a small yellow canary (Jamie Foxx).