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ARGENTINA:


December 2-12, 2005


ANNOTATED LIST OF SPECIES


By Francis Toldi (with John Toldi)


Latin names taken from Avibase, Bird Checklists of the World, accessed via Denis Lapage’s Bird Links to the World, http://www.bsc-eoc.org/links/links.jsp. Common name boldface are FT lifers.


Location abbreviations:

BA = Buenos Aires (all Costanera Sur unless indicated otherwise) (Dec. 8, 2005)

Iguazu = Iguazu National Park, Puerto Iguazu and vicinity (most birding at Macuco Trail, along paved road to the Sheraton, along Road 101, a paved road leading into Iguazu National Park not far from the airport, a small woodland area near Puerto Iguazu, and the Hummingbird Garden in Puerto Iguazu; full details on these sites in the accompanying trip report)(Dec 3-6, 2005)

Ibera = Edge of Esteros del Ibera, northeast of Carlos Pellegrini in Corrientes Province; set odometer to “0” at the junction of Road 40 and Highway 14 (see further details in trip report) (Dec. 6-7, 2005)

San Luis = Private Ranch in Southeastern San Luis Province (see trip report for details) (Dec. 9-10, 2005)


Terms such as “abundant”, “common” or the like are used loosely, and not with any precise definition. Generally, “Abundant” means very common in large numbers and easily encountered in the location identified; “common” means easily seen every day but in smaller numbers; “fairly common” means seen easily, but not every day; for species less common that those I usually identify the actual number seen.


Thanks to Alvaro Jaramillo for his review of this list and resulting comments and corrections. I’m sure those who go on HIS trips don’t have so many conundrums and missed “mystery” birds as we did when on our own!


Total of 301 bird species noted, including “Dowitcher sp.” and lumped Golden-breasted and Green-barred Woodpeckers (10 of total “heard only”).


English Name

Latin Name

Comments

RHEAS

 

 

   Greater Rhea

Rhea americana

Ibera: 3 grazing in a field at Km 27.8

San Luis: 1 adult followed by 13 young!

TINAMOUS

 

 

   Brown Tinamou

Crypturellus obsoletus

Iguazu, heard only

   Red-winged Tinamou

Rhynchotus rufescens

1 seen in San Luis

   Brushland Tinamou

Nothoprocta cinerascens

1 well seen in San Luis; probably others among the many small, unidentified tinamou objects (“UTO’s”)

   Darwin's Nothura

Nothura darwinii

1 well seen in San Luis, undoubtedly others among the UTO’s were this species

   Spotted Nothura

Nothura maculosa

Ibera, San Luis; the most common of the UTO’s

   Elegant Crested Tinamou

Eudromia elegans

1 in San Luis was a bit of a surprise (not expected this far to the southeast)

GREBES

 

 

   White-tufted Grebe

Rollandia rolland

BA, San Luis

   Silvery Grebe

Podiceps occipitalis

BA, San Luis

CORMORANTS

 

 

   Neotropic Cormorant

Phalacrocorax brasilianus

Iguazu, Ibera, BA

ANHINGAS

 

 

   Anhinga

Anhinga anhinga

Flyovers at Iguazu

HERONS, EGRETS

 

 

   Whistling Heron

Syrigma sibilatrix

A few scattered individuals at Iguazu, Ibera and San Luis

   Cocoi (White-necked) Heron

Ardea cocoi

Ibera, BA

   Great Egret

Ardea alba

Iguazu, Ibera, BA

   Snowy Egret

Egretta thula

Iguazu, Ibera

   Cattle Egret

Bubulcus ibis

Ibera

   Striated Heron

Butorides striata

Iguazu, Ibera, BA

   Black-crowned Night-Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

Iguazu, Ibera, BA

 STORKS

 

 

   Wood Stork

Mycteria americana

Ibera

   Maguari Stork

Ciconia maguari

Ibera; the most common stork

   Jabiru

Jabiru mycteria

1 at Km 12.3 in Ibera was the only one noted

IBIS AND SPOONBILLS

 

 

   Buff-necked Ibis

Theristicus caudatus

3 flew by the main pond at San Luis, but didn’t land

   Bare-faced Ibis

Phimosus infuscatus

25+ in field at Km 3.3, Ibera (evening only)

   White-faced Ibis

Plegadis chihi

BA

   Roseate Spoonbill

Platalea ajaja

As expected in Ibera, a surprise were 20+ at BA

FLAMINGOS

 

 

   Chilean Flamingo

Phoenicopterus chilensis

A few at Ibera; 40+ at San Luis

SCREAMERS

 

 

   Southern Screamer

Chauna torquata

1 in BA took some careful searching of the far bank of the main waterfowl pond

DUCKS, GEESE AND SWANS

 

 

   Fulvous Whistling-Duck

Dendrocygna bicolor

20+ in BA

   White-faced Whistling-Duck

Dendrocygna viduata

Ibera, BA

   Black-necked Swan

Cygnus melanocorypha

Surprisingly, none in BA; common at San Luis

   Coscoroba Swan

Coscoroba coscoroba

The inverse—common in BA, only 3 at San Luis

   Brazilian Teal (Duck)

Amazonetta brasiliensis

3 at Km 5.2, 2 at Km 19.5 in Ibera

   Chiloe (Southern) Wigeon

Anas sibilatrix

5 at San Luis only; none found in BA

   Speckled Teal

Anas flavirostris

BA, San Luis

   Yellow-billed (Brown) Pintail

Anas georgica

BA, San Luis

   White-cheeked Pintail

Anas bahamensis

Very common in San Luis

   Silver Teal

Anas versicolor

BA, San Luis

   Cinnamon Teal

Anas cyanoptera

2 in San Luis only

   Red Shoveler

Anas platalea

5+ in San Luis; none found in BA

   Rosy-billed Pochard

Netta peposaca

BA, San Luis

   Black-headed Duck

Heteronetta atricapilla

2 in BA only; required very careful searching on the main waterfowl pond, possible but difficult without a scope; this one would have been easy to miss

   Lake Duck

Oxyura vittata

Small numbers in BA, San Luis

NEW WORLD VULTURES

 

 

   Black Vulture

Coragyps atratus

Iguazu, Ibera

   Turkey Vulture

Cathartes aura

Iguazu, Ibera

   Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture

Cathartes burrovianus

1 picked out for sure in Ibera at Km 12.2

HAWKS, EAGLES AND KITES

 

 

   Swallow-tailed Kite

Elanoides forficatus

Iguazu

   Snail Kite

Rostrhamus sociabilis

1 at Km 18.2 in Ibera

   Plumbeous Kite

Ictinia plumbea

The most common raptor in Iguazu; common along roadside until Corrientes border

   Long-winged Harrier

Circus buffoni

1 gorgeous dark phase at Ibera Km 7.6; 1 light phase at Km 9.2;

   Rufous-thighed (Sharp-shinned) Hawk

Accipiter erythronemius

Roadside Misiones Province near San Ignacio

   Savanna Hawk

Buteogallus meridionalis

1 at Ibera Km 2.1; not as common as I thought it would be

   Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle

Geranoaetus melanoleucus

1 at Ibera Km 30.5

   Roadside Hawk

Buteo magnirostris

Iguazu, Ibera

   White-rumped Hawk

Buteo leucorrhous

1 juvenile at Ibera Km 35.3

   White-tailed Hawk

Buteo albicaudatus

1 juvenile at Ibera Km 4.6

FALCONS AND CARACARAS

 

 

   Southern (Crested) Caracara

Caracara plancus

Roadside Misiones; Ibera, San Luis

   Yellow-headed Caracara

Milvago chimachima

Roadside Misiones, Ibera

   Chimango Caracara

Milvago chimango

Ibera, San Luis

 

   Spot-winged Falconet

Spiziapteryx circumcinctus

2 at San Luis

   American Kestrel

Falco sparverius

Ibera

   Aplomado Falcon

Falco femoralis

1 roadside along Highway 14 near Ibera turnoff

QUAIL

 

 

   Spot-winged Wood Quail

Odontophorus capueira

1 standing on Macuco Trail at Iguazu in late afternoon

LIMPKIN

 

 

   Limpkin

Aramus guarauna

1 at Ibera Km 18.8 (evening only)

RAILS, GALLINULES AND COOTS

 

 

   Rufous-sided Crake

Laterallus melanophaius

Heard only, 1 at Ibera Km 2.1, 1 at Km10

   Gray-necked Wood-Rail

Aramides cajanea

2 at BA

   Giant Wood-Rail

Aramides ypecaha

Very conspicuous in Ibera—1 running along road at Km 2.7

   Blackish Rail

Pardirallus nigricans

Heard only, Iguazu

   Common Moorhen (Gallinule)

Gallinula chloropus

3 at BA; 1 adult and one juvenile at San Luis

   White-winged Coot

Fulica leucoptera

The most common of the coots at BA (not present in San Luis)

   Red-gartered Coot

Fulica armillata

BA, the most common coot at San Luis

   Red-fronted Coot

Fulica rufifrons

A few picked out in San Luis; probably overlooked in BA

JACANAS

 

 

   Wattled Jacana

Jacana jacana

Ibera, BA

AVOCETS AND STILTS

 

 

   White-backed Stilt

Himantopus melanurus

Ibera, BA, San Luis

PLOVERS AND LAPWINGS

 

 

   Southern Lapwing

Vanellus chilensis

All locations

SANDPIPERS

 

 

   Dowitcher sp.

Limnodromus sp.

3 for sure in BA; we thought there were more, but didn’t take particular note of them not realizing that this is an unusual species for Argentina. We originally noted these basic-plumaged birds as “Long-billed” based solely on their inclusion in the field guide. We have since learned that Short-billed may be the expected Dowitcher in Argentina. Since we heard no vocalizations these now become “Dowitcher sp.” I hope some experienced local birders also saw and identified these birds more carefully than we did.

   Hudsonian Godwit

Limosa haemastica

1 at BA

   Greater Yellowlegs

Tringa melanoleuca

BA, San Luis

   Lesser Yellowlegs

Tringa flavipes

BA, San Luis

   Solitary Sandpiper

Tringa solitaria

5+ at BA

   Spotted Sandpiper

Actitis macularia

1 at Ibera Km 45.8, along Rio Aguapey

   Pectoral Sandpiper

Calidris melanotos

Many at BA; 1 at San Luis

   White-rumped Sandpiper

Calidris fuscicollis

2 picked out at BA, probably many more

   Stilt Sandpiper

Calidris himantopus

Many at BA

   Wilson's Phalarope

Phalaropus tricolor

BA, San Luis

GULLS

 

 

   Kelp Gull

Larus dominicanus

1 fly-by adult at BA

   Brown-hooded Gull

Larus maculipennis

Very common at BA; never could find convincing Gray-hooded

SKIMMERS

 

 

   Black Skimmer

Rynchops niger

3 skimming along at BA were a surprise

PIGEONS AND DOVES

 

 

   Rock Pigeon

Columba livia

Iguazu, Ibera, BA

   Picazuro Pigeon

Patagioenas picazuro

All locations

   Spot-winged Pigeon

Patagioenas maculosa

A few individuals at San Luis

   Pale-vented Pigeon

Patagioenas cayennensis

Iguazu

   Eared Dove

Zenaida auriculata

All locations

 

 

   Plain-breasted Ground-Dove

Columbina minuta

1 by roadside at intersection of Highways 12 and 105 near town of Villalonga in Misiones; very rare in Argentina, but appears to be regular in the border region between Misiones and Corrientes

   Ruddy Ground-Dove

Columbina talpacoti

Iguazu, Ibera

   Picui Ground-Dove

Columbina picui

Ibera, BA, San Luis

   White-tipped Dove

Leptotila verreauxi

Iguazu, 1 in Ibera; we never could convince ourselves that we had seen a clear Gray-fronted Dove

PARROTS

 

 

   Blue-crowned Parakeet

Aratinga acuticaudata

A single bird in San Luis

   White-eyed Parakeet

Aratinga leucophthalmus

A small flock perched close enough to identify in Iguazu

   Reddish-bellied (Maroon-bellied) Parakeet

Pyrrhura frontalis

Many flocks whizzing by in Iguazu, with one lingering long enough to see the yellow-green on the upper side of the tail; some trip reports claim Green-cheeked at this location, but the range maps in Narosky suggest that it isn’t in the area

   Monk Parakeet

Myiopsitta monachus

Ibera, BA and San Luis; a nesting colony at San Luis was particularly entertaining to watch

   Blue-winged Parrotlet

Forpus xanthopterygius

Not hard to find at Iguazu

   Scaly-headed Parrot

Pionus maximiliani

We convinced ourselves that some of the many fly-by parrots were this species in Iguazu

   Turqouise-(Blue-) fronted Parrot

Amazona aestiva

1 well-seen fly-by in Iguazu

CUCKOOS

 

 

   Dark-billed Cuckoo

Coccyzus melacoryphus

1 bird allowed quick but convincing views in shrub cover at Ibera Km 19.0

   Squirrel Cuckoo

Piaya cayana

Iguazu

   Greater Ani

Crotophaga major

A few in a small wetland area near the entrance gate to Iguazu

   Smooth-billed Ani

Crotophaga ani

Widespread Iguazu, Ibera

   Guira Cuckoo

Guira guira

Ibera, BA, San Luis, roadside throughout; is this the easiest cuckoo to see in the world?

   Striped Cuckoo

Tapera naevia

1 heard only, San Luis

OWLS

 

 

   Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl

Glaucidium brasilianum

1 responded to imitations of its call (which were being used to stir up other species) and even appeared on a nearby branch, in Iguazu; 1 heard at San Luis, but there seems to be considerable debate on the correct taxonomy for this and Austral Pygmy Owl in that part of Argentina—what we heard SOUNDED like a fairly typical Ferruginous, but I have no experience with Austral

   Burrowing Owl

Athene cunicularia

A few scattered individuals at Ibera and San Luis, not common

NIGHTJARS

 

 

   Nacunda Nighthawk

Podager nacunda

1 flying across road at dawn outside of Puerto Iguazu

   Pauraque

Nyctidromus albicollis

1 poorly seen bird near Puerto Iguazu in abandoned retreat center was very likely this species

   Band-winged Nightjar

Caprimulgus longirostris

1 flushed from side of road pre-dawn in San Luis

   Scissor-tailed Nightjar

Hydropsalis torquata

1 around ranch buildings in San Luis, seen well just before dawn

SWIFTS

 

 

   Great Dusky Swift

Cypseloides senex

Abundant at Iguazu Falls; despite forewarning from the many previous descriptions, I was still astonished to watch thousands of these birds flying in and around the falls; also present away from the falls overhead

   Gray-rumped Swift

Chaetura cinereiventris

A few overhead in Iguazu National Park away from the falls

   Ashy-tailed (Sick’s) Swift

Chaetura andrei

Overhead in Puerto Iguazu along the Parana River

 

 

HUMMINGBIRDS

 

 

   Planalto Hermit

Phaethornis pretrei

1 at feeders in the “Hummingbird Garden” in Puerto Iguazu; very shy, came in to feeders only once or twice in the hour we were there

   Black-throated Mango

Anthracothorax nigricollis

Easy to see at the feeders in Puerto Iguazu

   Glittering-bellied Emerald

Chlorostilbon aureoventris

Iguazu, BA; the most common hummingbird seen away from feeders

   Violet-capped Woodnymph

Thalurania glaucopis

A few regular at the feeders in Puerto Iguazu

   Gilded Sapphire

Hylocharis chrysura

1 or 2 seen in Iguazu away from the feeders; common at the feeders in Puerto Iguazu; 1 at BA

   Versicolored Emerald

Agyrtria versicolor

A few at the feeders in Puerto Iguazu including a tiny little juvenile still begging for food

TROGONS AND QUETZALS

 

 

   Black-throated Trogon

Trogon rufus

1 seen along Macuco Trail in Iguazu; several more heard throughout the Iguazu forest

   Surucua Trogon

Trogon surrucura

Easy to see and hear throughout the Iguazu area

KINGFISHERS

 

 

   Ringed Kingfisher

Ceryle torquatus

Ibera

   Amazon Kingfisher

Chloroceryle amazona

Ibera

MOTMOTS

 

 

   Rufous-capped Motmot

Baryphthengus ruficapillus

Heard only, Iguazu

TOUCANS

 

 

   Chestnut-eared Aracari

Pteroglossus castanotis

2 seen along Road 101 in Iguazu

   Spot-billed Toucanet

Selenidera maculirostris

1 seen along Macuco Trail in Iguazu

   Toco Toucan

Ramphastos toco

Very common and conspicuous at Iguazu, including right outside the Sheraton Hotel

WOODPECKERS

 

 

   Ochre-collared Piculet

Picumnus temminckii

Quiet, but not too hard to find, in Iguazu; a few individuals seen along Road 101 and on Macuco Trail

   Yellow-fronted Woodpecker

Melanerpes flavifrons

2 on dead snag along Road 101 in Iguazu

   Checkered Woodpecker

Picoides mixtus

2 at San Luis

   White-spotted Woodpecker

Veniliornis spilogaster

2 along Road 101 at Iguazu

   Golden-breasted Woodpecker

Colaptes (melanochloros?) melanolaimus

2 at San Luis; Narosky still has this as a separate species from the next one, but Avibase (and Clements) have it lumped

   Green-barred Woodpecker

Colaptes melanochloros

1 at Iguazu along Road 101

   Campo (Field) Flicker

Colaptes campestris

All locations

   Lineated Woodpecker

Dryocopus lineatus

1 along Macuco Trail, Iguazu

   Robust Woodpecker

Campephilus robustus

1 on same snag as held Yellow-fronted Woodpeckers, along Road 101 at Iguazu; a magnificent bird

OVENBIRDS

 

 

   Rufous Hornero

Furnarius rufus

All locations; is there anywhere in northern and central Argentina where you CAN’T find this endearing species?

   Crested Hornero

Furnarius cristatus

1 at San Luis

   Tufted Tit-Spinetail

Leptasthenura platensis

Common in San Luis

   Sooty-fronted Spinetail

Synallaxis frontalis

1 seen well in BA in outermost area at Costanera Sur, in shrubs beyond the pampas grass fringe

   Pale-breasted Spinetail

Synallaxis albescens

1 at San Luis

   Olive Spinetail

Cranioleuca obsoleta

1 along Macuco Trail in Iguazu

   Stripe-crowned Spinetail

Cranioleuca pyrrhophia

Common at San Luis

   Yellow-chinned (-throated) Spinetail

Certhiaxis cinnamomea

1 at Iguazu was a bit of a surprise; more expected were 2 at Ibera at Km 19.0

   Short-billed Canastero

Asthenes baeri

Fairly common at San Luis, where distinctive call helped locate individuals

   Little Thornbird

Phacellodomus sibilatrix

2 in Ibera at Km 10.0, feeding young

 

   Greater Thornbird

Phacellodomus ruber

A few at various points along Road 40 in Ibera, such as at Km 0.8

   Lark-like Brushrunner

Coryphistera alaudina

At least 2 in San Luis

   Brown Cacholote

Pseudoseisura lophotes

Common at San Luis

   Streaked Xenops

Xenops rutilans

1 along Macuco Trail in Iguazu

   Plain Xenops

Xenops minutus

2 along Road 101 in Iguazu

   Buff-fronted Foliage-gleaner

Syndactyla rufosuperciliata

Individuals seen at various points in forest around Iguazu

   Ochre-breasted Foliage-gleaner

Philydor lichtensteini

Throughout forests in Iguazu, but always in lesser numbers than Buff-fronted

   White-eyed Foliage-gleaner

Automolus leucophthalmus

2 seen along Macuco Trail in Iguazu; persistent and distinctive call got us on the bird

WOODCREEPERS

 

 

   Olivaceous Woodcreeper

Sittasomus griseicapillus

1 along Road 101, 1 along Macuco Trail in Iguazu

   Planalto Woodcreeper

Dendrocolaptes platyrostris

1 seen and heard along Road 101 in Iguazu

   Lesser Woodcreeper

Xiphorhynchus fuscus

1 heard only along track just off Road 101 in Iguazu; guide worked hard to bring it in with a tape, but it wouldn’t cooperate

   Narrow-billed Woodcreeper

Lepidocolaptes angustirostris

1 in trees just inside northern entrance gate at Costanera Sur, BA; common around ranch buildings at San Luis

TYPICAL ANTBIRDS

 

 

   Spot-backed Antshrike

Hypoedaleus guttatus

1 called in by guide with tape; heard frequently throughout Iguazu forests; this, and the following antbirds noted as taped below, would have been nearly impossible to see without the tape

   Tufted Antshrike

Mackenziaena severa

Heard only; would not come in to tape, in Iguazu

   Variable Antshrike

Thamnophilus caerulescens

4 seen well, all with tape; many more heard only in Iguazu

   Plain Antvireo

Dysithamnus mentalis

Heard only along Macuco Trail in Iguazu; did not attempt to bring in with tape

   Rufous-winged Antwren

Herpsilochmus rufimarginatus

1 taped in along track off Road 101 in Iguazu; 2 others heard only in same general area

   Bertoni's Antbird

Drymophila rubricollis

1 taped in near Road 101 in Iguazu

   Streak-capped Antwren

Terenura maculata

1 seen without tape along Macuco Trail in Iguazu

   White-shouldered Fire-eye

Pyriglena leucoptera

Pair brought in by tape along track near Road 101 in Iguazu; we could never see the male but the female was too close for the binoculars

ANTTHRUSHES AND ANTPITTAS

 

 

   Short-tailed Antthrush

Chamaeza campanisona

Heard only along Macuco Trail in Iguazu; did not attempt to bring in with tape

   Variegated Antpitta

Grallaria varia

Heard only along Road 101 in Iguazu; did not attempt to bring in with tape

PLANTCUTTERS

 

 

   White-tipped Plantcutter

Phytotoma rutila

Common at San Luis; easy to see and hear; we loved the “creaky” call, like a branch creaking in the wind

MANAKINS

 

 

   White-bearded Manakin

Manacus manacus

Several seen along the Macuco Trail in Iguazu; the loud snap alerted us to the birds’ presence

   Blue (Swallow-tailed) Manakin

Chiroxiphia caudata

3 fairly high up in a tree along the Macuco Trail in Iguazu; at first glance we thought they were tanagers!

TYRANT FLYCATCHERS

 

 

   Southern Beardless-Tyrannulet

Camptostoma obsoletum

Iguazu, BA, San Luis

   Yellow Tyrannulet

Capsiempis flaveola

Common at Iguazu; easier to locate once we learned its song

   Yellow-bellied Elaenia

Elaenia flavogaster

Iguazu

   White-crested Elaenia

Elaenia albiceps

All at San Luis. We had a little confusion over this and the next species. All of the many birds of these two species that we saw had very prominent, triangular white patches on the crest and nape, leading us to call them all White-crested. We also heard many vocalizations from less-well-seen birds that perfectly match the call of the more common Small-billed. With some hesitation, then, we’ll claim both, but put it on the list to observe more carefully next time

   Small-billed Elaenia

Elaenia parvirostris

See comments above. Probable migrants, as we saw one large flock of 7 birds in one tree that were probably this (and not the previous) species.

   White-bellied Tyrannulet

Serpophaga munda

At least 3 separate birds noted in San Luis

   White-crested Tyrannulet

Serpophaga subcristata

Ibera, San Luis

   Bay-ringed Tyrannulet

Phylloscartes sylviolus

1 seen well in forested area near Puerto Iguazu

   Planalto Tyrannulet

Phyllomyias fasciatus

2 along Road 101 in Iguazu

   Greenish Tyrannulet

Phyllomyias virescens

1 along Road 101 in Iguazu

   Rough-legged Tyrannulet

Phyllomyias burmeisteri

1 along Macuco Trail in Iguazu took us quite some time to eventually work out

   Southern Scrub-Flycatcher

Sublegatus modestus

1 in San Luis

   Greater Wagtail-Tyrant

Stigmatura budytoides

Fairly common in San Luis

   Eared Pygmy-Tyrant

Myiornis auricularis

2 along Road 101 in Iguazu

   Southern Antpipit

Corythopis delalandi

Heard only along Macuco Trail; call was very distinctive; bird must have been 5 feet away and we couldn’t quite get a clear look

   Yellow-olive Flycatcher

Tolmomyias sulphurescens

1 along Macuco Trail at Iguazu

   Bran-colored Flycatcher

Myiophobus fasciatus

2+ at San Luis

   Euler's Flycatcher

Lathrotriccus euleri

Seen briefly along Macuco Trail in Iguazu, but call clinched the ID

   Vermilion Flycatcher

Pyrocephalus rubinus

San Luis; I’m never sorry to see this familiar bird

   White Monjita

Xolmis irupero

1 in Ibera at Km 45.8 (bridge); Common at San Luis

   Black-and-white Monjita

Xolmis dominicanus

1 in Ibera at Km 9.2

   Blue-billed Black-Tyrant

Knipolegus cyanirostris

2 from the roadside near San Martin in Misiones, an area mentioned in Wheatley and other finding guides

   Spectacled Tyrant

Hymenops perspicillatus

1 in BA; 3 in San Luis

   White-headed Marsh-Tyrant

Arundinicola leucocephala

1 in Ibera at Km 10.0

   Yellow-browed Tyrant

Satrapa icterophrys

3 in BA

   Long-tailed Tyrant

Colonia colonus

Iguazu, Ibera; no offense to this lovely little bird, but I would have traded in a few of these for some of its strange-tailed cousins!

   Cattle Tyrant

Machetornis rixosus

Iguazu, Ibera, San Luis

   Sirystes

Sirystes sibilator

2 along Road 101 in Iguazu

   Swainson's Flycatcher

Myiarchus swainsoni

3 along Road 101 in Iguazu

   Great Kiskadee

Pitangus sulphuratus

All locations

   Boat-billed Flycatcher

Megarynchus pitangua

1 only at a small wetland near the entrance to Iguazu National Park

   Social (Vermillion-crowned) Flycatcher

Myiozetetes similis

Iguazu

   Three-striped Flycatcher

Conopias trivirgata

1 definitively identified, undoubtedly others overlooked or passed off as Social Flycatcher without a careful look

   Streaked Flycatcher

Myiodynastes maculatus

Iguazu, Ibera, BA

   Piratic Flycatcher

Legatus leucophaius

1 in small woodland near Puerto Iguazu

   Variegated Flycatcher

Empidonomus varius

A few in scattered areas around Iguazu

   Crowned Slaty Flycatcher

Griseotyrannus aurantioatrocristatus

1 near San Martin; 2 at San Luis

   Tropical Kingbird

Tyrannus melancholicus

All locations

   Fork-tailed Flycatcher

Tyrannus savana

Iguazu, Ibera, San Luis

   Greenish Schiffornis (Manakin)

Schiffornis virescens

1 well seen along Macuco Trail in Iguazu

   Chestnut-crowned Becard

Pachyramphus castaneus

1 not-so-well seen along Macuco Trail in Iguazu, but well enough for ID; vocalization helped confirm ID

 

SWALLOWS

 

 

   Brown-chested Martin

Progne tapera

1 well seen in entry area at visitor center in Iguazu National Park

   Gray-breasted Martin

Progne chalybea

Iguazu, Ibera, BA

   Southern Martin

Progne elegans

3 at San Luis

   White-winged Swallow

Tachycineta albiventer

Many flying around bridge area at Ibera Km 45.8

   White-rumped Swallow

Tachycineta leucorrhoa

All locations; the most common swallow seen on the trip

   Blue-and-white Swallow

Notiochelidon cyanoleuca

A few noted at bridge at Ibera Km 45.8; probably others overlooked in Iguazu

   Black-collared Swallow

Atticora melanoleuca

A few noted near visitor center at Iguazu NP

   Tawny-headed Swallow

Alopochelidon fucata

1 clearly seen at Iguazu near falls; others noted at Ibera and San Luis

   Southern Rough-winged Swallow

Stelgidopteryx ruficollis

Iguazu, Ibera

WAGTAILS AND PIPITS

 

 

   Yellowish Pipit

Anthus lutescens

3 walking on the road at Ibera Km 5.4; 2 at San Luis

   Ochre-breasted Pipit

Anthus nattereri

1 along road at Ibera Km 2.1, Another at 2.5

WRENS

 

 

   House Wren

Troglodytes aedon

All locations

MOCKINGBIRDS AND THRASHERS

 

 

   Chalk-browed Mockingbird

Mimus saturninus

All locations; very common in BA alongside roads, parks, etc.

   White-banded Mockingbird

Mimus triurus

2 only, at San Luis

THRUSHES

 

 

   Rufous-bellied Thrush

Turdus rufiventris

Iguazu, BA; the most common thrush in BA, with many in city parks and along wooded avenues

   Pale-breasted Thrush

Turdus leucomelas

Iguazu; we had some confusion about how to distinguish this from the next, largely from reliance on poorly reproduced pictures in Narosky

   Creamy-bellied Thrush

Turdus amaurochalinus

Iguazu; 2 noted at BA, but much harder to find there

   White-necked Thrush

Turdus albicollis

1 adult and 1 juvenile along the Macuco Trail, Iguazu; it took some looking to finally find this species

GNATCATCHERS

 

 

   Creamy-bellied Gnatcatcher

Polioptila lactea

1 along Road 101 in Iguazu

   Masked Gnatcatcher

Polioptila dumicola

Ibera, common in BA

CROWS AND JAYS

 

 

   Plush-crested Jay

Cyanocorax chrysops

Very common and conspicuous at Iguazu, including birds watched while we drank coffee in the Sheraton bar

STARLINGS

 

 

  European Starling

Sturnus vulgaris

Numerous in BA, especially at domestic airport

OLD WORLD SPARROWS

 

 

   House Sparrow

Passer domesticus

Iguazu, BA, San Luis

VIREOS AND ALLIES

 

 

   Red-eyed (Chivi)Vireo

Vireo olivaceus

Iguazu, San Martin area

   Rufous-crowned Greenlet

Hylophilus poicilotis

1 heard well but only poorly seen along Macuco Trail at Iguazu

FINCHES, SISKINS, CROSSBILLS

 

 

   Hooded Siskin

Carduelis magellanica

Ibera, BA, abundant in San Luis

WOOD WARBLERS

 

 

  Tropical Parula

Parula pitiayumi

Iguazu

   Masked Yellowthroat

Geothlypis aequinoctialis

Common at Iguazu; not hard to find in BA

   Golden-crowned Warbler

Basileuterus culicivorus

Iguazu

BANANAQUIT

 

 

   Bananaquit

Coereba flaveola

Iguazu

TANAGERS AND ALLIES

 

 

   Chestnut-vented Conebill

Conirostrum speciosum

Iguazu

 

   Magpie Tanager

Cissopis leveriana

Not common, but easily seen when present throughout forest in Iguazu

   Guira Tanager

Hemithraupis guira

3 along Road 101 at Iguazu

   Ruby-crowned Tanager

Tachyphonus coronatus

Very common throughout Iguazu; never saw ruby crown

   White-lined Tanager

Tachyphonus rufus

1 seen along track near Road 101; possibly some of what we called Ruby-crowned were actually this species

   Black-goggled Tanager

Trichothraupis melanops

Common throughout Iguazu forests

   Red-crowned Ant-Tanager

Habia rubica

A few individuals noted along Road 101, Iguazu

   Sayaca Tanager

Thraupis sayaca

At Hummingbird Garden in Puerto Iguazu, Ibera, San Martin

   Blue-and-yellow Tanager

Thraupis bonariensis

2 at San Luis

   Purple-throated Euphonia

Euphonia chlorotica

Fairly common in forested areas at Iguazu

   Violaceous Euphonia

Euphonia violacea

Fairly common in forested areas at Iguazu

   Chestnut-bellied Euphonia

Euphonia pectoralis

Less common, but not hard to find with persistence, in Iguazu

   Blue-naped Chlorophonia

Chlorophonia cyanea

3 in forested area near Puerto Iguazu; 1 along Road 101

   Blue Dacnis

Dacnis cayana

Iguazu

   Swallow-Tanager

Tersina viridis

Very common throughout Iguazu

BUNTINGS, SEEDEATERS, ALLIES

 

 

   Red-crested Finch

Coryphospingus cucullatus

2 at small wetland near entrance station at Iguazu NP; 1 right along road near Sheraton

   Long-tailed Reed-Finch

Donacospiza albifrons

1 only at Ibera Km 19.0

   Common Diuca-Finch

Diuca diuca

Fairly common at San Luis

   Black-and-rufous Warbling-Finch

Poospiza nigrorufa

Very common at BA, including begging young

   Black-capped Warbling-Finch

Poospiza melanoleuca

2 at BA

   Blue-black Grassquit

Volatinia jacarina

Ibera

   Double-collared Seedeater

Sporophila caerulescens

All locations

   Dark-throated Seedeater

Sporophila ruficollis

1 male in wet weedy area just off Sheraton Road between Macuco and Yacaratia trails

   Marsh Seedeater

Sporophila palustris

6+ at Ibera 18.5, but only in this immediate stretch of the road

   Chestnut Seedeater

Sporophila cinnamomea

Common along Road 40

   Chestnut-bellied (Lesser) Seed-Finch

Oryzoborus angolensis

4 near entrance to Iguazu NP

   Blackish-blue Seedeater

Amaurospiza moesta

3 noted in Iguazu alongside road to Sheraton, in location described for Dark-throated Seedeater

   Saffron Finch

Sicalis flaveola

All locations

   Grassland Yellow-Finch

Sicalis luteola

Ibera, San Luis

   Wedge-tailed Grass-Finch

Emberizoides herbicola

Not hard to find along Road 40, Ibera, e.g. Km 2.1

   Lesser Grass-Finch

Emberizoides ypiranganus

Various points along Road 40, e.g. Ibera Km 2.7

   Great Pampa-Finch

Embernagra platensis

Common along Road 40 in Ibera (starting right at Km 0.8); also fairly common in San Luis

   Red-crested Cardinal

Paroaria coronata

Ibera (junction of Road 40 and Highway 14, i.e. Km 0.0); BA

SPARROWS, TOWHEES, JUNCOS

 

 

   Saffron-billed Sparrow

Arremon flavirostris

2 at first light along Road 101, Iguazu

   Grassland Sparrow

Ammodramus humeralis

Very common along Road 40 in Ibera, e.g. Km 3.3)

   Rufous-collared Sparrow

Zonotrichia capensis

Ibera, BA, San Luis; strangely, never saw one in Iguazu!

SALTATORS, CARDINALS AND ALLIES

 

 

   Grayish Saltator

Saltator coerulescens

1 in BA was a bit of a surprise

   Green-winged Saltator

Saltator similis

Common at Iguazu, various locations

   Black-throated Grosbeak

Saltator fuliginosus

2 very conspicuous along Macuco Trail in Iguazu

   Ultramarine Grosbeak

Cyanocompsa brissonii

1 along Road 101, another along Macuco in Iguazu

   Glaucous-blue (Indigo) Grosbeak

Cyanoloxia glaucocaerulea

Another nice surprise at BA was 1 of these in the far outer region at Costanera Sur

BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES, ETC.

 

 

   Saffron-cowled Blackbird

Xanthopsar flavus

1 seen well at Ibera Km 9.2 (a.k.a. “Blackbird Acres”)

   Yellow-winged Blackbird

Agelasticus thilius

Fairly common at BA

   Unicolored Blackbird

Agelasticus cyanopus

We picked out 3 of these on the lawn at the main visitor’s center in Iguazu NP; probably more among unstudied “blackbirds” that we whizzed by in the car

   White-browed Blackbird

Sturnella superciliaris

Many of these stunners in Ibera, e.g. Km 2.1, 9.2, 29, etc.)

   Long-tailed Meadowlark

Sturnella loyca

San Luis

   Bay-winged Cowbird

Molothrus badius

Ah, the cowbirds. We worked out a few definitive Bay-wingeds at BA and San Luis, but watch out for juvenile Screaming Cowbirds mixed in the flocks at this time of year!

   Screaming Cowbird

Molothrus rufoaxillaris

Iguazu, San Luis; again many more within “cowbird sp.” flocks

   Shiny Cowbird

Molothrus bonariensis

Presumably the most common of the cowbirds, specifically noted at Iguazu, BA and San Luis

   Epaulet Oriole

Icterus cayanensis

Iguazu, BA, San Luis

   Red-rumped Cacique

Cacicus haemorrhous

Abundant at Iguazu and San Martin

   Golden-winged Cacique

Cacicus chrysopterus

Fairly common along Road 101 in Iguazu

   Yellow-rumped Marshbird

Pseudoleistes guirahuro

The more common of the black and yellow blackbirds along Road 40 in Ibera, e.g. at Km 2.1, 9.2

   Brown-and-yellow Marshbird

Pseudoleistes virescens

5 seen at “Blackbird Acres”, Ibera Km 9.2 (only location where seen)

   Chopi Blackbird

Gnorimopsar chopi

A small flock identified along Highway 12 in Misiones

 

 

MAMMALS, HERPS

 

I have limited information on mammals and herps in Argentina. The following is a “best guess” at what we saw, in no convincing taxonomic order, drawn largely from accounts in two primarily Spanish language pamphlet books available for Iguazu and Ibera in the “Vida y Color” series. Not listed are a multitude of beautiful and varied butterflies that we saw throughout the trip, especially on one sunny afternoon in Iguazu.

 

English Name

Latin Name

Comments

Rattlesnake

Crotalus sp (?)

1 very thick but relatively short (3 feet?) rattlesnake dozing in the middle of a track near Road 101; easily nudged aside with a long piece of cane (but watch your step!)

Tegu Lizard

Tupinambis teguxin (?)

Iguazu, Ibera, including some very large individuals

Arboreal Lizard (?)

Tropidurus catalensis

1 on grounds of Sheraton, Iguazu; not sure of proper English name (Lagarto arboricola in Spanish)

Brown Capuchin

Cebus apella

1 group along Road 101 in Iguazu; another along the Macuco Trail

Pampas Gray Fox

Dusicyon gymnocercus

1 adult and 2 young at a den along Road 40 in Ibera

Cavy Guinea Pig

Cavia aperea

A few along grassy verge on Sheraton entrance road, Iguazu; also along Road 40 in Ibera; also some in BA!

Azara’s Agouti

Dasyprocta azarae

Several seen along Road 101 and Macuco in Iguazu

European Rabbit

?

1 smaller, non”hare” at San Luis; probably an introduced European Rabbit as it is probably too far south for Brazilian Rabbit, Sylvilagus brasiliensis

European Hare

Lepus europaeus

1 along Road 40 in Ibera (introduced species)

 

Francis Toldi

701 Walnut Avenue

Burlingame, CA 94010


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