Mini-macaws are a loosely defined group of small-to-medium-sized macaw species within the tribe Arini.
The term has no fixed taxonomic meaning and is principally used in aviculture to describe a small macaw belonging to one of a number of different genera, with overall length being the sole criterion for inclusion.
Additionally, the "mini-" prefix may be added to the species name when describing the bird in question (e.g. "red-shouldered mini-macaw").
[1] Mini-macaws are explicitly demarcated from large macaws in the Portuguese language by the term "maracanã", as opposed to "arara".
[1] However, most mini-macaws (aside from the red-shouldered macaw, which is parakeet sized) are still fairly large parrots and only "mini" in comparison to their larger relatives.