Brazil, South - April-May 1995 trip report - Birding the Americas Trip Report Repository

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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