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BRAZIL  --  SOUTHERN

26 April  - 13 May 1995

by R.W.Goldbach

Bird observations done during visits to the Pantanal, Brasilia and Parque Nacional Itatiaia, in connection to a business trip.

Itinerary:

April 26/27 Amsterdam - Sao Paulo. Connecting flight to Cuiaba (Matto Grosso). Arrival at 11.20h a.m.. Drive by car via Pocone, to the Pantanal. Birding on route (Greater Rhea, Red-legged Seriema, etc.). Arrival at hotel Pousada das Araras (Transpantaneira, km 29) at 18.30h.
April 28 Pantanal: birding along Transpantaneira between km 29 - 50.
April 29 Pantanal: birding along Transpantaneira (Giant Anteater at km 37) till Pixaim. Transfer by small boat across river (bridge broken by heavy floods). Birding on trails and in fields around Pixaim.
April 30 Pantanal: birding around Pixaim, return to Pousada das Araras.
May 1 Pantanal: walk of 8 km through marshes, E. of Pousada. At 13.00hr return to Cuiaba. Late afternoon flight to Brasilia (arrival 18.55hr)
May 2 - 5 Brasilia: Stay at campus of Universidad de Brasilia. Birding limited to short walks over campus area and on May 4 (06.45 - 9.00hr) in Parque Nacional de Brasilia.
May 5 Transfer by car to Lavras (Minas Gerais), 850 km.
May 6 Arrival in Caxambu (MG), Hotel Gloria
May 6 - 9 Congress in Caxambu. Every day short walk (1 - 1.5hr) in rather bird-productive Parque das Aguas and adjacent cloud forest
May 9  Transfer by car to Parque Nacional Itatiaia. Stay at hotel do Ype (alt. 1250m)
May 10-11 Parque Nacional Itatiaia
May 12 After spending the morning at Itatiaia transfer by public bus to Rio de Janeiro (12.30 - 15.30hr). Short visit with colleagues to Parque Nacional Tijuca (several hummingbirds, Planalto woodcreeper), and downtown Rio. Late evening flight to Amsterdam (arrival May 13, 17.00 hr)

The Pantanal

This area needs little introduction. Rich birdlife (egrets, ibises, raptors, parrots and many small birds), which can be easily observed from the Transpantaneira "highway". My visit took place just at the beginning of the dry season. Due to heavy rainfalls the Pantanal was still flooded for the major part. Therefore birds were scattered all over the area, and only few Capybara's were observed. The bridge over Pixaim river was broken and not yet restored. Birding was therefore limited to the traject Pocone - Pixaim, but all Pantanal birds can potentially be seen along this stretch, including Hyacinth Macaws. Three and a half days of birdwatching produced over 180 species.

Brasilia

The capital is situated in the cerrado region (Brazilian savannah). Although birding was confined to short walks, the visit to Brasilia produced some typical cerrado species (a.o. Burrowing Owls, Blue-black Grassquit on university campus). Best birding was in the Parque Nacional de Brasilia, near the entrance around the "old swimming pool". Both typical cerrado habitat as well as some gallery forests (Helmeted Manikin, Long-tailed Tyrant).

Caxambu

After closing the casinos the hotels here are mainly used to host scientific congresses. Short walks in the Parque das Aguas (many sources of different kinds of mineral water) produced a good birdlist. The adjacent cloud forest gave some good and elusive bird species (Spectacled Owl, Tawny-breasted Leafscraper).

Itatiaia

This National Park encompasses vast areas of cloud forests. The best way to see the forest birds is to stay at Hotel do Ype (1250 m alt.) and to make short walks. The less you walk the more birds you will see. Birding needs patience here. The trail between Hotel do Ype and Hotel Simon was quite bird-productive. However, birding starts already at the area of Hotel do Ype. Birds seen from the dining room of this hotel included Ferruginous Pygmy Owl, Tawny-breasted Owl, Blue-billed Black Tyrant, Short-tailed Hawk, Red-bellied Toucan, Saffron Toucanet, 9 Tanager species, 5 Hummingbird species, Chestnut-bellied Euphonia and Blue-naped Chlorophonia.

Species List

Occurrence is given per locality. Abbreviations and symbols are as follows:

Locations

Pan = Pantanal
Bra = Brasilia (mainly Parque Nacional)
Cax = Caxambu
Ita = Itatiaia

Abundance

1,2,3,... = actual number observed
+    = fairly common (up to 10 records per day)
++   = common ( more than 10 records per day)
*    = on traject Itatiaia - Rio de Janeiro
 
No Species Scientific Name  Pan Bra Cax Ita
1 Greater Rhea Rhea americana 18      
2 Neotropical cormorant Phalacrocorax brasilianus + +    
3 Anhinga Anhinga anhinga 4      
4 Great Egret Egretta alba ++ +    
5 Snowy Egret Egretta thula ++ +    
6 Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis ++ + +  
7 Whistling Heron Syrigma sibilatrix 3   3  
8 Capped Heron Pilherodius pileatus 2      
9 White-necked Heron Ardea cocoi ++      
10 Striated Heron Butorides striatus ++ 1    
11 Bl.-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax +      
12 Rufescent Tiger Heron Tigrisoma lineatum ++      
13 Wood Stork Mycteria americana ++      
14 Maguari Stork Ciconia maguari 5      
15 Jabiru Jabiru mycteria ++      
16 Plumbeous Ibis Harpiprion caerulescens ++      
17 Buff-necked Ibis Theristicus caudatus +      
18 Green Ibis Mesembrinibis cayennensis 2      
19 Bare-faced Ibis Phimosus infuscatus ++      
20 Southern Screamer Chauna torquata 2      
21 Bl.-bellied Whistling Duck Dendrocygna autumnalis +      
22 Muscovy Duck Cairina moschata 4      
23 Comb Duck Sarkidiornis melanotos 2      
24 Brazilian Duck Amazonetta brasiliensis 10      
25 Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura ++      
26 Lesser yellow-headed vulture Cathartes burrovianus +      
27 Black vulture Coragyps atratus ++ + ++ 4
28 Swallow-tailed Kite Elanoides forficatus       1*
29 Pearl Kite Gampsonyx swainsonii +      
30 Snail Kite Rostrhamus sociabilis ++      
31 Black-shouldered Kite Elanus leucurus   3    
32 Osprey Pandion haliaetus 1      
33 Short-tailed Hawk Buteo brachyurus       1
34 Crane Hawk Geranospiza caerulescens 1      
35 Gray Hawk Buteo nitidus 2      
36 Great Black Hawk Buteogallus urubitinga 2      
37 Savannah Hawk Buteogallus meridionalis ++ 2   1*
38 Black-collared Hawk Busarellus nigricollis ++      
39 Roadside Hawk Buteo magnirostris +     1*
40 White-tailed Hawk Buteo albicaudatus 1     1*
41 Mantled Hawk Leucopternis polionota       2
42 Crested Caracara Polyborus plancus ++ +    
43 Yellow-headed Caracara Milvago chimachima     +  
44 American Kestrel Falco sparverius 1 1 1  
45 Barred Forest Falcon Micrastur ruficollis       1
46 Chaco Chachalaca Ortalis canicollis ++      
47 Dusky-legged Guan Penelope obscura       +
48 Blue-throated Piping Guan Aburria pipile 3      
49 Bare-faced Curassow Crax fasciolata 1      
50 Limpkin Aramus guarauna ++      
51 Gray-necked Wood Rail Aramides cajanea +      
52 American Purple Gallinule Porphyrula martinica 1      
53 Red-legged Seriema Cariama cristata 2      
54 Wattled Jacana Jacana jacana ++      
55 Black-necked Stilt Himantopus mexicanus 1      
56 Pied Plover Vanellus cayanus +      
57 Southern Lapwing Vanellus chilensis + + 2  
58 Collared Plover Charadrius collaris +      
59 Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria 1      
60 Large-billed Tern Phaetusa simplex 2      
61 Picazuro Pigeon Columba picazuro ++ + 2  
62 Plumbeous Pigeon Columba plumbea       3
63 Eared Dove Zenaida auriculata +      
64 Ruddy Ground Dove Columbina talpacoti ++ ++ ++  
65 Picui Ground Dove Columbina picui +      
66 Plain-br. Ground Dove Columbina minuta     1  
67 Scaled Dove Scardafella squamata +      
68 Long-tailed Ground Dove Uropelia campestris 2      
69 White-tipped Dove Leptotila verreauxi +      
70 Gray-fronted Dove Leptotila rufaxilla       1
71 Hyacinth Macaw Anodorhynchus hyacinthus 5      
72 Blue and yellow Macaw Ara ararauna 2      
73 Golden-collared Macaw Ara auricollis +      
74 Blue-crowned Parakeet Aratinga acuticaudata +      
75 Dusky-headed Parakeet Aratinga weddellii +      
76 Peach-fronted Parakeet Aratinga aurea ++      
77 Reddish bellied Parakeet Pyrrhura frontalis       ++
78 Monk Parakeet Myiopsitta monachus ++      
79 Plain Parakeet Brotogeris tirica       2
80 Canary-winged Parakeet Brotogeris versicolurus ++   ++ +
81 Scaly-headed Parrot Pionus maximiliani 2     ++
82 Turquoise-fronted Parrot Amazona aestiva 2      
83 Orange-winged Parrot Amazona amazonica +      
84 Squirrel Cuckoo Piaya cayana 1     1
85 Little Cuckoo Piaya minuta 3      
86 Guira Cuckoo Guira guira ++ +   1*
87 Smooth-billed Ani Crotophaga ani ++ +   +*
88 Greater Ani Crotophaga major   1 1  
89 Spectacled Owl Pulsatrix perspicillata     1  
90 Tawny-browed Owl Pulsatrix koeniswaldiana       1
91 Burrowing Owl Speotyto cunicularia   5    
92 Ferruginous Pygmy Owl Glaucidium brasilianum 2     1
93 Band-tailed Nighthawk Nyctiprogne leucopyga 2      
94 Nacunda Nighthawk Podager nacunda ++      
95 Great Dusky Swift Cypseloides senex   2    
96 White-collared Swift Streptoprocne zonaris       +
97 Planalto Hermit Phaethornis pretrei 2     +
98 Cinnamon-throated Hermit Phaethornis nattereri       1*
99 Black-throated Mango Anthracothorax nigricollis 2 3    
100 White-vented Violet-ear Colibri serrirostris   4    
101 Swallow-tailed Hummingbird Eupetomena macroura 3 2 +  
102 Black Jacobin Melanotrochilus fuscus       2
103 Amethyst Woodstar Calliphlox amethystina   1    
104 Fork-tailed Woodnymph Thalurania furcata     1  
105 Violet-capped Woodnymph Thalurania glaucopis       +
106 Gilded Sapphire Hylocharis chrysura 2      
107 Glittering-thr. Emerald Amazilia fimbriata 2     1
108 Versicolored Emerald Amazilia versicolor       +
109 Brazilian Ruby Clytolaema rubricauda       +
110 White-tailed Trogon Trogon viridis       2
111 Black-throated Trogon Trogon rufus       1
112 Blue-crowned Trogon Trogon curucui 2      
113 Ringed Kingfisher Ceryle torquata ++ +    
114 Amazon Kingfisher Chloroceryle amazona ++   1  
115 Green Kingfisher Chloroceryle americana +      
116 Pygmy Kingfisher Chloroceryle aenea 1      
117 Rufous-capped Motmot Baryphthengus ruficapillus       1
118 Rufous-tailed Jacamar Galbula ruficauda + 1    
119 Black-fronted Nunbird Monasa nigrifrons 1      
120 Toco Toucan Ramphastos toco +      
121 Chestnut-eared Aracari Pteroglossus castanotis 1      
122 Saffron Toucanet Baillonius bailloni       +
123 Red-breasted Toucan Ramphastos dicolorus       +
124 White-barred Piculet Picumnus cirrhatus       2
125 White Woodpecker Leuconerpes candidus 4      
126 Little Woodpecker Veniliornis passerinus +      
127 Golden-green Woodpecker Piculus leucolaemus 1      
128 White-spotted Woodpecker Veniliornis spilogaster     3  
129 Green-barred Woodpecker Chrysoptilus melanochloros 1      
130 Campo Flicker Colaptes campestris + 4 1  
131 White-browed Woodpecker Piculus aurulentus       1
132 Lineated Woodpecker Dryocopus lineatus       2
133 Crimson-crested Woodpecker Campephilus melanoleucos 1      
134 Planalto Woodcreeper Dendrocolaptes platyrostris   1   +
135 Buff-throated Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus guttatus 2 1    
136 Olivaceous Woodcreeper Sittasomus griseicapillus 1     +
137 Lesser Woodcreeper Lepidocolaptes fuscus       1
138 Great Rufous Woodcreeper Xiphocolaptes major 1      
139 Narrow-billed Woodcreeper Lepidocolaptes angustirostris 3      
140 Scaled Woodcreeper Lepidocolaptes squamatus     1  
141 Red-billed Scythebill Campylorhamphus trochilirostris 2      
142 Black-billed Scythebill Campylorhamphus falcularius       2
143 Pale-legged Hornero Furnarius leucopus 5      
144 Rufous Hornero Furnarius rufus ++ + 2  
145 Plain Xenops Xenops minutus     2  
146 Streaked Xenops Xenops rutilans     1  
147 Sharp-billed Xenops (Treehunter) Heliobletus contaminatus       2
148 Chotoy Spinetail Schoeniophylax phryganophila +      
149 Rufous-capped Spinetail Synallaxis ruficapilla     1 1
150 Rusty-backed Spinetail Cranioleuca vulpina 2      
151 Yellow-chinned Spinetail Certhiaxis cinnamomea 1      
152 Greater Thornbird Phacellodomus ruber 1      
153 Tawny-breasted Leafscraper Sclerurus mexicanus     2  
154 Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper Lochmias nematura       1
155 White-collared Foliage-gleaner Anabacerthia fusca       1
156 White-browed Foliage-gleaner Anabacerthia amaurotis       1
157 Buff-fronted Foliage-gleaner Philydor rufus       +
158 Rufous Cacholote Pseudoseisura cristata 2      
159 Great Antshrike Taraba major 1      
160 Barred Antshrike Thamnophilus doliatus 1      
161 Tufted Antshrike Mackenziaena severa       1
162 Plain Antvireo Dysithamnus mentalis     1 +
163 Spot-breasted Antvireo Dysithamnus stictothorax       2
164 Rufous-backed Antvireo Dysithamnus xanthopterus       1
165 Star-throated Antwren Myrmotherula gularis       7
166 Rusty-backed Antwren Formicivora rufa 1      
167 Streak-capped Antwren Terenura maculata       1
168 Band-tailed Antbird Hypocnemoides maculicauda 2      
169 Ochre-rumped Antbird Drymophila ochropyga       1
170 Ferruginous Antbird Drymophila ferruginea       1
171 White-shouldered Fire-eye Pyriglena leucoptera       3
172 Rufous Gnateater Conopophaga lineata       2
173 Southern Beardless Tyrannulet Camptostoma obsoletum       1
174 Mouse-coloured Tyrannulet Phaeomyias murina     1  
175 Mottle-cheeked Tyrannulet Phylloscartes ventralis       2
176 White-crested Tyrannulet Serpophaga subcristata 1      
177 Yellow-bellied Elaenia Elaenia flavogaster 1   1  
178 Cliff Flycatcher Hirundinea ferruginea       4
179 Scrub Flycatcher Sublegatus modestus 1      
180 Gray-hooded Flycatcher Pipromorpha rufiventris       3
181 Sepia-capped Flycatcher Leptopogon amaurocephalus 1      
182 Stripe-necked Tody-tyrant Hemitriccus striaticollis 1      
183 Gray-necked Tody-tyrant Idioptilon striaticolla       2
184 Common Tody-tyrant Todirostrum cinereum   1    
185 Yellow-olive Flycatcher Tolmomyias sulphurescens       +
186 Bearded Tachuri Polystictus pectoralis 1      
187 Fork-tailed Flycatcher Muscivora tyrannus     1  
188 Euler's Flycatcher Lathrotriccus euleri     1  
189 Bran-coloured Flycatcher Myiophobus fasciatus       1
190 Suiriri Flycatcher Suiriri suiriri 1      
191 Vermilion Flycatcher Pyrocephalus rubinus ++      
192 Sirystes Sirystes sibilator       1
193 Gray Monjita Xolmis cinerea   +    
194 White-rumped Monjita Xolmis velata 2      
195 Eared Pygmy Tyrant Myiornis auricularis       7
196 Masked Water Tyrant Fluvicola nengeta     + 1
197 Long-tailed Tyrant Colonia colonus   1 2 2
198 Blue-billed Black Tyrant Knipolegus cyanirostris       2
199 Crested(Black)Tyrant Knipolegus lophotes       1*
200 Velvety(Black)Tyrant Knipolegus nigerrimus       1
201 Wing-barred Water-tyrant Fluvicola albiventris 2      
202 White-headed Marsh Tyrant Arundinicola leucocephala 1      
203 Yellow-browed Tyrant Satrapa icterophrys 1      
204 Cattle Tyrant Machetornis rixosus ++   +  
205 Rufous Casiornis Casiornis rufa 1      
206 White-eyed Attila Attila bolivianus 1      
207 Gray-hooded Attila Attila rufus       1
208 Tropical Peewee Contopus cinereus     1  
209 Short-crested Flycatcher Myiarchus tyrannulus 1      
210 Brown-crested Flycatcher Myiarchus tyrannulus 1 1    
211 Great Kiskadee Pitangus sulphuratus ++ + + 2
212 Lesser Kiskadee Pitangus lictor +      
213 Boat-billed Flycatcher Megarhynchus pitangua 1   1  
214 Three-striped Flycatcher Conopias trivirgata     +  
215 Rusty-margined Flycatcher Myiozetetes cayanensis 3   +  
216 White-throated Kingbird Tyrannus albogularis +      
217 Tropical Kingbird Tyrannus melancholicus ++      
218 White-winged Becard Pachyramphus polychopterus 2      
219 Green-backed Becard Pachyramphus viridis 1      
220 Black-tailed Tityra Tityra cayana       1
221 Helmeted Manakin Antilophia galeata   2    
222 Swallow-tailed Manakin Chiroxiphia caudata       4
223 White-winged Swallow Tachycineta albiventer +      
224 Tawny-headed Swallow Alopochelidon fucata   6    
225 White-rumped Swallow Tachycineta leucorrhoa 4 2    
226 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica 2      
227 Gray-breasted Martin Progne chalybea ++ ++ +  
228 Brown-chested Martin Phaeoprogne tapera 1      
229 Blue-and-white Swallow Notiochelidon cyanoleuca   ++ ++ ++
230 Yellowish Pipit Anthus lutescens +      
231 Black-capped Donacobius Donacobius atricapillus ++      
232 Thrush-like Wren Campylorhynchus turdinus ++      
233 House Wren Troglodytes aedon   1 + +
234 Buff-breasted Wren Thryothorus leucotis   1    
235 Chalk-browed Mockingbird Mimus saturninus ++ +    
236 Yellow-legged Thrush Platycichla flavipes       +
237 Andean Slaty Thrush Turdus nigriceps   3 1  
238 Rufous-bellied Thrush Turdus rufiventris 2 + + +
239 Pale-breasted Thrush Turdus leucomelas     1  
240 Creamy-bellied Thrush Turdus amaurochalinus 1   ++ +
241 Masked Gnatcatcher Polioptila dumicola 2      
242 Rufous-collared Sparrow Zonotrichia capensis   +   +
243 Grassland Sparrow Ammodramus humeralis 1 +    
244 Uniform Finch Haplospiza unicolor       1
245 Blue Finch Porphyrospiza caerulescens   2    
246 Saffron Finch Sicalis flaveola +      
247 Grassland Yellow Finch Sicalis luteola   3    
248 Blue-black Grassquit Volatinia jacarina   ++   1**
249 Rusty-collared Seedeater Sporophila collaris +      
250 Double-collared Seedeater Sporophila caerulescens 1      
251 Yellow-bellied Seedeater Sporophila nigricollis   +    
252 Common Waxbill Estrilda astrild   +    
253 Red Pileated Finch Coryphospingus cucullatus 3      
254 Red-crested Cardinal Paroaria coronata +      
255 Yellow-billed Cardinal Paroaria capitata ++      
256 Buff-throated Saltator Saltator maximus 2      
257 Green-winged Saltator Saltator similis       1
258 Grayish Saltator Saltator coerulescens +      
259 Black-throated Saltator Saltator atricollis   1    
260 Guira Tanager Hemithraupis guira 1      
261 White-lined Tanager Tachyphonus rufus   1    
262 Black-goggled Tanager Trichothraupis melanops       +
263 White-rumped Tanager Cypsnagra hirundinacea   1    
264 Chestnut-headed Tanager Pyrrhocoma ruficeps       1
265 Silver-beaked Tanager Ramphocelus carbo 2      
266 Sayaca Tanager Thraupis sayaca +   ++ ++
267 Palm Tanager Thraupis palmarum +      
268 Gilt-edged Tanager Tangara cyanoventris     ++ ++
269 Swallow Tanager Tersina viridis       2
270 Golden-chevroned Tanager Thraupis ornata       ++
271 Brown Tanager Orchesticus abeillei       2
272 Violaceous Euphonia Euphonia violacea     1  
273 Purple-throated Euphonia Euphonia chlorotica 1      
274 Chestnut-bellied Euphonia Euphonia pectoralis       5
275 Blue-naped Chlorophonia Chlorophonia cyanea       2
276 Magpie Tanager Cissopis leveriana       +
277 Green-headed Tanager Tangara seledon       +
278 Brassy-breasted Tanager Tangara desmaresti       +
279 Burnished-Buff Tanager Tangara cayana   3 3 +
280 Ruby-crowned Tanager Tachyphonus coronatus       1
281 Blue Dacnis Dacnis cayana     + +
282 Bananaquit Coereba flaveola 4   + 2
283 Tropical Parula Parula pitiayumi     1  
284 White-striped Warbler Basileuterus leucophrys 1      
285 Golden-crowned Warbler Basileuterus culicivorus     + +
286 White-bellied Warbler Basileuterus hypoleucus   3    
287 Chestnut-vented Conebill Conirostrum speciosum 5      
288 Rufous-browed Peppershrike Cyclarhis gujanensis 1      
289 Lemon-chested Greenlet Hylophilus thoracicus     1  
290 Ashy-headed Greenlet Hylophilus pectoralis 3      
291 Yellow-rumped Cacique Cacicus cela +      
292 Red-rumped Cacique Cacicus haemorrhous       +
293 Solitary Cacique Cacicus solitarius +      
294 Epaulet Oriole  Icterus cayanensis +      
295 Troupial Icterus icterus +      
296 Yellow-rumped Marshbird Pseudoleistes guirahuro     +  
297 Unicoloured Blackbird Agelaius cyanopus +      
298 White-browed Blackbird Leistes superciliaris 1      
299 Chopi Blackbird Gnorimopsar chopi + + +  
300 Bay-winged Cowbird Molothrus badius ++      
301 Shiny Cowbird Molothrus bonariensis +      
302 Giant Cowbird Scaphidura oryzivora +      
303 House Sparrow Passer domesticus + + +  
304 Purplish Jay Cyanocorax cyanomelas +      
305 Curl-crested Jay Cyanocorax cristatellus   +   1
R.W. Goldbach,
Hollandseweg 159,
6705 BC Wageningen,
The Netherlands;
Rob.Goldbach@medew.viro.wau.nl

 

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