BRAZIL:  THE SOUTHEAST ATLANTIC RAINFOREST 2006

 

“Our first full day in a forest patch near Teresópolis was indicative of the diversity of the bird species that we were to enjoy on this short trip to southeast Brazil.  New birds kept appearing each time we made an attempt to return to the bus to drive on to a new site.  And what birds we enjoyed on this day as we acquainted ourselves with Brazilian birds!  Heading the list of course would be a couple of the stars of the day, including Three-toed Jacamars and a Crescent-chested Puffbird, but no less enjoyable were the two Red-legged Seriemas, the Wing-banded Horneros, the Long-billed Wren and the multitude of other species that had us all struggling to stay awake as we finished the long checklist that night.

 

Rain may have dampened our birding in Serra dos Orgãos National Park but the Sharp-tailed Streamcreepers seemed to have found their element in the rain and our views of Brazilian Antthrush along the trail were superb.  Never will any of us forget the call of the Hooded Berryeater that we tried to entice in the rain and that finally a few of us enjoyed close encounters with on a final try before leaving the park. 

 

The grounds of Itatiaia National Park our first morning was another of those perfect birding experiences as bird after bird, lifer after lifer kept appearing.  White-throated Hummingbirds, Red-breasted Toucans, Saffron Toucanets, Brazilian Ruby, Black Jacobin and Golden-chevroned and Green-headed Tanagers were just a sampling of the many species that were to keep us returning to the front garden time after time to enjoy the birds at the feeders and in the nearby fruiting trees.  Hotel Simon offered close proximity to trails that would offer up some of the bamboo specialists including White-collared Foliage-gleaners and Rufous Gnateaters (a new family for many of the group).  And the feeders and hot coffee at the nearby Hotel do Ypê provided excellent bird viewing with less than ideal weather conditions. 

 

A day in the higher levels of Itatiaia showed the difference a change in altitude can make in these forests.  Although Diademed Tanagers had been sighted around our hotel at the lower levels, the numbers seen at the higher levels were staggering.  Itatiaia Spinetail, Araucaria Tit-Spinetail, Large-tailed Antshrike, Black-capped Piprites, Mouse-colored Tapaculo, Shear-tailed Tyrant and Serra do Mar Tyrannulet were just a few of the species enjoyed on this very changeable weather day.  A brief clearing of the clouds allowed us to enjoy the spectacular views of the surrounding area before fog descended once again as we started our descent to lower levels. 

 

A morning spent along a seldom-walked trail in the park provided us an opportunity to see a White-bearded Antshrike, Drab-breasted Bamboo-Tyrant, Black-billed Scythebill and many other park specialties.  Those who persevered in the search for Tawny-browed Owl enjoyed scope views with the last-minute sighting just as we were giving up on seeing the species this year.  Even marginal areas can reap large rewards in southeast Brazil as was proven at the almost dry marsh where we had superb views of Streamer-tailed Tyrant, a South American Snipe, Rufous-sided Crakes and Blackish Rails. 

 

Having paid our penance to the weather gods with poor weather in the first part of the trip, our time along the coast was enhanced with excellent weather.  Black-hooded Antwrens and Buff-throated Purpletufts added to our list of endemic sightings during our morning at Perequê.  And the flashes of color from Brazilian and Red-necked Tanagers had many of us begging for more of the same.  

 

Our morning at Fazenda Angelim in Ubatuba gave us the opportunity to sight yet another tapaculo, Spotted Bamboowren, while Sharpbill put in a brief but excellent appearance.  A Squamate Antbird required a brief foray into the forest but gave excellent views, while Tufted Antshrike and a White-eyed Foliage-gleaner provided a bit more of a challenge.  And our time here also gave us opportunities to enjoy prolonged views of Buff-throated Purpletuft. 

 

The hospitality of the Brazilians that had been shown in our hotels from Day One continued throughout the trip as restaurants opened early to accommodate our schedules, hotels provided early breakfasts, and local cuisine was offered along with explanations of how it was prepared.  Our afternoon enjoying Jonas’ hospitality will not be forgotten, and neither will the incredible show that included both Frilled and Festive Coquettes, Saw-billed Hermits, Black Jacobin an assortment of tanagers and several other species, all stunning in the afternoon light. 

 

Southeast Brazil – a place that gives sensory overload with a kaleidoscope of tanager and hummingbird colours, auditory confusion with the calls of yet another lifer close by, writer’s fatigue with the number of species to be recorded each day, and infinite pleasure through enjoyable birding hour by hour, day by day.  This year’s trip may have challenged us at times with inclement weather, but it provided the unforgettable birding experience that has made this area of Brazil a must-visit place for any birder interested in the Neotropics!”  Judy Davis

 

 

Bird List:

 

Column A = number of tours out of eight this species has been recorded
Column B = number of days recorded on the 2006 tour
Column C = greatest daily total on the 2006 tour
H = heard only
(H) = mostly head but seen at least once
N = nesting evident

 

A                                                                          B          C                                             

                                                           

8

Brown Tinamou

1

2

H

Crypturellus obsoletus

8

Tataupa Tinamou

1

1

H

Crypturellus tataupa

8

Magnificent Frigatebird

4

20

 

Fregata magnificens

5

Brown Booby

1

15

 

Sula leucogaster

8

Neotropic Cormorant

3

20

 

Phalacrocorax brasilianus

1

Anhinga

 

 

 

Anhinga anhinga

1

White-faced Whistling Duck

1

4

 

Dendrocygna viduata

4

Brazilian Teal

 

 

 

Amazonetta brasiliensis

6

Whistling Heron

1

1

 

Syrigma sibilatrix

6

Little Blue Heron

1

1

 

Egretta caerulea

8

Snowy Egret

4

4

 

Egretta thula

3

Capped Heron

 

 

 

Pilherodius pileatus

7

Cocoi Heron

2

2

 

Ardea cocoi

8

Great Egret

6

200

 

Casmerodius albus (Ardea alba)

8

Cattle Egret

7

100

 

Bubulcus ibis

4

Striated Heron

 

 

 

Butorides striatus

2

Black-crowned Night-Heron

1

1

 

Nycticorax nycticorax

1

Roseate Spoonbill

 

 

 

Ajaia ajaja

8

Black Vulture

8

00s

 

Coragyps atratus

8

Turkey Vulture

4

10

 

Cathartes aura

1

Hook-billed Kite

 

 

 

Chondrohierax uncinatus

3

Gray-headed Kite

 

 

 

Leptodon cayanensis

1

Pearl Kite

 

 

 

Gampsonyx swainsonii

2

White-tailed Kite

2

3

 

Elanus leucurus

1

Rufous-thighed Kite

 

 

 

Harpagus diodon

2

Rufous-thighed Hawk

 

 

 

Accipiter erythronemius

2

Bicolored Hawk

 

 

 

Accipiter bicolor

4

Crane Hawk

1

1

 

Geranospiza caerulescens

2

White-necked Hawk

1

1

 

Leucopternis lacernulata

1

Mantled Hawk

 

 

 

Leucopternis polionota

6

Savanna Hawk

2

4

 

Buteogallus (Heterospizias) meridionalis

1

Crowned Eagle

 

 

 

Harpyhaliaetus coronatus

1

Black-collared Hawk

 

 

 

Busarellus nigricollis

8

Roadside Hawk

9

6

 

Buteo magnirostris

7

Short-tailed Hawk

 

 

 

Buteo brachyurus

8

White-tailed Hawk

1

1

 

Buteo albicaudatus

1

Black-and-White Hawk-Eagle

 

 

 

Spizastur melanoleucus

3

Black Hawk-Eagle

1

1

 

Spizaetus tyrannus

8

Southern Caracara

7

10

 

Caracara (Polyborus) plancus

8

Yellow-headed Caracara

4

4

 

Milvago chimachima

4

Laughing Falcon

2

2

 

Herpetotheres cachinnans

4

Barred Forest-Falcon

 

 

 

Micrastur ruficollis

2

Collared Forest-Falcon

 

 

 

Micrastur semitorquatus

8

American Kestrel

3

3

 

Falco sparverius

4

Aplomado Falcon

 

 

 

Falco femoralis

1

Peregrine Falcon

1

1

 

Falco peregrinus

8

Dusky-legged Guan

5

20

 

Penelope obscura

5

Spot-winged Wood-Quail

 

 

 

Odontophorus capueira

6

Rufous-sided Crake

1

2

 

Laterallus malanophaius

2

Gray-necked Wood-Rail

1

2

 

Aramides cajanea

8

Slaty-breasted Wood-Rail

4

2

(H)

Aramides saracua

3

Ash-throated Crake

 

 

 

Porzana albicollis

6

Blackish Rail

1

2

 

Pardirallus nigricans

3

Common Moorhen

1

1

 

Gallinula chloropus

2

Limpkin

 

 

 

Aramus guarauna

5

Red-legged Seriema

1

2

 

Cariama cristata

7

Wattled Jacana

2

5

 

Jacana jacana

8

Southern Lapwing

7

30

 

Vanellus chilensis

1

South American Snipe

1

1

 

Gallinago paraguaiae

8

Kelp Gull

3

5

 

Larus dominicanus

5

Royal Tern

1

5

 

Sterna maxima

2

Sandwich (Cayenne) Tern

1

5

 

Sterna sandvicensis

7

Picazuro Pigeon

7

30

 

Columba picazuro

7

Pale-vented Pigeon

3

10

 

Columba cayennensis

8

Plumbeous Pigeon

5

4

(H)

Columba plumbea

2

Eared Dove

 

 

 

Zenaida auriculata

1

Plain-breasted Ground-Dove

 

 

 

Columbina minuta

8

Ruddy Ground-Dove

7

20

 

Columbina talpacoti

1

Picui Ground-Dove

 

 

 

Columbina picui

7

White-tipped Dove

1

3

(H)

Leptotila verreauxi

4

Gray-fronted Dove

4

1

H

Leptotila rufaxilla

4

Blue-winged Macaw

1

15

 

Ara (Propyrrhura) maracana

5

White-eyed Parakeet

3

20

 

Aratinga leucophthalmus

2

Peach-fronted Parakeet

 

 

 

Aratinga aurea

8

Maroon-bellied Parakeet

5

20

 

Pyrrhura frontalis

8

Blue-winged Parrotlet

3

25

 

Forpus crassirostris

8

Plain Parakeet

3

75

 

Brotogeris tirica

8

Scaly-headed Parrot

8

30

 

Pionus maximiliani

1

Blue-bellied Parrot

1

4

 

Triclaria malachitacea

8

Squirrel Cuckoo

4

2