22 August - 13 September 2001

by Garry George

Participants: Joseph Brooks, Garry George

Private tour organized by Joseph Brooks & Garry George.

Guides:      Edson Endrigo for Avesfoto
                 Luís Fábio Silveira for Avesfoto

References:

Bird Life International, Threatened Birds of the World, 2000, Lynx Edicions

Taxonomy:

Clements, Dr. James, BIRDS OF THE WORLD: A CHECKLIST, www.ibispub.com

Helmut Sick, Birds in Brazil, Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ

Ridgeley & Tudor, Birds of South America Vol I and II, University of Texas Press

Handbook of the Birds of the World, BirdLife International and Lynx Editions

http://worldtwitch.virtualave.net/ of course as a source of great information on everything

There is currently no field guide for Brazil but rumors persist of the pending publication of one authored or co-authored by Brazilian resident Bret Whitney.

Itinerary:

Day 1-Arrive Sao Paolo from Los Angeles (11 hours), drive to Serra da Canastra NP with stop at Sao Sebastio do Paradiso

Day 2-Serra da Canastra NP (Upper)

Day 3–Serra da Canastra NP (Lower)

Day 4-Drive to Parque Natural da Caraca with stops in Belo Horizonte and Serro do Cipo

Day 5–Parque Natural da Caraca

Day 6–Parque Natural da Caraca

Day 7-Drive to Sao Paolo with stop in Belo Horizonte

Day 8–Drive to Intervales State Park south of Sao Paolo

Day 9- Intervales State Park

Day 10-Intervales State Park

Day 11-am Intervales State Park, drive to Ubatuba

Day 12-Ubatuba

Day 13-am Ubatuba pm drive to Araruama with stop in Pereque

Day 14-drive Araruama to Reserva Biologica do Linhares (Vale do Rio Doce)

Day 15-Reserva Biologica do Linhares

Day 16-am Reserva Biologica do Linhares, pm – Sooretama Reserve

Day 17-am Drive to Caratinga Reserva Biologica, pm drive to Conceiao de Castelo

Day 18-Pindobas IV Forest, Conceiao de Castelo

Day 19-Drive to Serra dos Orgaos with stop in Carmo

Day 20-am Serra dos Orgaos, pm Parque Nacional da Itatiaia

Day 21-Parque Nacional da Itatiaia

Day 22-am Parque Nacional da Itatiaia, pm Campos do Jordao

Day 23-am Campos do Jordao, pm Serra da Cantareira State Park, Sao Paolo

Day 24-Fly to Los Angeles

Background and Overview:

Brazil is a large, biologically rich country with 1,685 species of birds (7.6% of the world’s currently known species), 191 of them endemic.  SE BRAZIL’s Atlantic Forest covers approximately 1.306 million square kilometers, about 15 per cent of Brazilian territory.  Its original area of natural occurrence incorporates seventeen states of the federation either entirely or partially: Alagoas, Bahia, Ceará, Espírito Santo, Goiás, Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso do Sul, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Piauí, Paraná, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Sergipe and São Paulo.

The habitat includes coastal, araucaria (native pine), deciduous and semi-deciduous interior forests, as well as and associated ecosystems such as oceanic islands, sandbanks, mangrove swamps, coastal forests, high-altitude meadows and high-altitude marshland and Cerrado habitat according to the definition approved in 1992 by CONAMA, the National Council of the Environment and incorporated into Brazilian environmental law in 1993.  At present (1998 data) the Atlantic Forest survives less than 95,000 square kilometers.

The principal remaining fragments are concentrated in the states of the South and the Southeast, covering parts of the Serra do Mar and the Serra da Mantiqueira, where occupation has been impeded by the irregular topography and lack of infrastructure.  According to the results of the latest study by the SOS Mata Atlântica Foundation and the National Institute of Space Research (INPE) published in 1998, over one million hectares of forest were destroyed between 1990 and 1995 in nine states in the South, Southeast and Centre-west, which contain approximately 90 per cent of what remains of Brazil's Atlantic Forest.  This area equals 714,000 football fields, literally eliminated from the map in just five years, at a rate of one football field destroyed every four minutes.

The rate of destruction is proportionally three times greater than that measured in the Amazon in the same period.  Adding these figures to the 1985-1990 period we may conclude that a total of 11 per cent of the Atlantic Forest was destroyed in just ten years.  This means that there has been a decline from 8.8 per cent to 7.3 per cent of primary forest and secondary forest in an advanced stage of regeneration estimated to remain in Brazil.  If destruction continues at this rate, practically all that is left will have been destroyed in fifty years from now, with only parks and other protected areas remaining ranking SE BRAZIL as one of the three most critically endangered habitat locations in the world along with the Philippines and Madagascar.

The remaining patches of SE Atlantic forest like the Philippines and Madagascar is also one of the top regions in the world for endemism with at least 50% of the 191 endemics species of bird in Brazil found there.  Of the 202 animal species on the official list of endangered species of Brazil, 171 are from the Atlantic Forest (IBAMA Regulation [Portaria] No.  1,522, 19 December 1989).  This number is on the increase.  For example, a study recently published in the prestigious British journal Nature, reveals that 88 species of the birds endemic to the Atlantic Forest are endangered.  The authors believe that four species are already extinct and at least another 60 are imminently threatened with the same fate.

Our guides live in Sao Paolo and were recommended to us by Guy Kirwan, Managing Editor of COTINGA, the journal of the Neotropical Bird Club http://www.neotropicalbirdclub.org/, for which Luis Silveira has written many articles on Brazil.  Guy is also leader of trips to SE Brazil for Ornifolks.  All major tour providers include SE Brazil in their itineraries but we wanted to customize our trip.  Edson is an amazing photographer and eager and well-informed guide with excellent taping skills.  Luis, an ornithologist currently working on his masters degree in Sao Paolo on cracids is studying conservation of the Brazilian Merganser and is a skilled and well-informed guide.  Partly due to the critical impending extinction rate, there is currently a great deal of study of the birds of SE Brazil by local and international ornithologists leading to ongoing exciting discoveries and rediscoveries of species.

Brief Summary/Highlights

We saw 400 species of birds in 24 days, 70 of them endemic and 240 species new to me.  I have previously birded east and west slopes of Ecuador and Peru and north, east and south Venezuela.  Heard birds were not counted.  Our sightings included 5 species of Tinamou, 3 species of duck, 24 species of raptor, 3 cracid, 5 rail, 14 parrot, 4 cuckoo, 4 owl, 4 nightjar, 24 hummingbird, 6 toucan/toucanet/aracari, 13 woodpecker, 27 furnarid, 7 woodcreeper, 40 antbird, 4 tapaculo, 10 cotinga, 8 manakin, 66 flycatcher, 30 tanager, 24 finch and 8 blackbird.

3 of the species we sighted are critically endangered: Brazilian Merganser(not Endemic due to old sightings in Argentina), Cherry-throated Tanager(Endemic) and Muriqui (Wooly Spider Monkey).
13 are endangered: Red-billed Curassow(Endemic), Red-browed Parrot(Endemic), Vinaceous Parrot, Three-toed Jacamar(Endemic), Cipo Canastero (Endemic), Striated Softtail (Endemic), Band-tailed Antwren (Endemic), Restinga Antwren (Endemic), Black-hooded Antwren (Endemic), Buff-throated Purpletuft (Endemic), White-winged Cotinga (Endemic), Wied’s Tyrant-Manakin(Endemic), Fork-tailed Tody-Tyrant(Endemic).
 

40 other species we saw are Vulnerable, Threatened or Near Threatened:

Greater Rhea, Solitary Tinamou, White-necked Hawk (Endemic), Mantled Hawk, Black-fronted Piping-Guan, Blue-winged Macaw, Golden-capped Parakeet(Endemic), Blue-throated Parakeet(Endemic), Saw-billed Hermit(Endemic), Hyacinth Visorbearer(Endemic), Saffron Toucanet, Yellow-browed Woodpecker, Araucaria Tit-Spinetail, White-browed Foliage-Gleaner, White-bearded Antshrike, Spot-breasted Antvireo, Salvadori’s Antwren, Unicolored Antwren(Endemic), Rufous-tailed Antbird (Endemic), Ochre-rumped Antbird (Endemic), Spotted Bamboowren, Slaty Birstlefront (Endemic), Brasilia Tapaculo(Endemic), Swallow-tailed Cotinga, Black-and-gold Cotinga(Endemic), Hooded Berryeater(Endemic), Black-headed Berryeater(Endemic), Cinnamon-vented Piha(Endemic), Bare-throated Bellbird, Black-capped Piprites, Southern Bristle-Tyrant, Oustalet’s Tyrannulet(Endemic), Serra do Mar Tyrannulet(Endemic), Bay-ringed Tyrannulet, Gray-capped Tyrannulet(Endemic), Sharp-tailed Tyrant, Gray-backed Tachuri(Endemic), Cock-tailed Tyrant, Ochre-breasted Pipit, Brown Tanager(Endemic), Azure-shouldered Tanager(Endemic), Buffy-fronted Seedeater, Temminck’s Seedeater, Pale-throated Serra-Finch(Endemic), Yellow-billed Blue Finch.

Days 1-3 – SERRA DA CANASTRA

Still jet-lagged from an early morning arrival in Sao Paolo from Los Angeles, I find myself sitting once more in the seat of a moving object, this time on the ground as I watch the traffic in Sao Paolo turn into deforested hills for the three hour drive to Serra da Canastra NP, one of the last remaining high plains Cerrado habitats in SE BRAZIL.  We are accompanied on this part of the tour by guide Luis Silveira who heads a program studying Brazilian Merganser, the most critically endangered duck in South America if not the world.  We will be searching the small stretch of the San Francisco River that is the last unpolluted habitat for the Merganser high in the Serro do Mar.  It is estimated that only 200 of the Mergansers remain.

We stop on the way at Sao Sebastio do Paradiso in Sao Roque de Minas for Yellow-rumped Marshbird (Pseudoleistes guirahuro) but then continue non-stop to Barcellos Hotel (+55.37) 3433.1216 just outside the park where we stay for 2 nights.

One day and a morning we drive through the highest plateau of dry grasses and distant vistas of the Upper Canastra including stops at all views of the river from the road and we climb up the rocky paths looking for finches, tyrant flycatchers and recent austral migrant arrivals.  The only hope for tinamous and nothuras is if they cross the road or flush from the grass, and they do.  Luis tells the story of watching a Maned Wolf hunt and capture a rare Dwarf Tinamou beside the road.  We are thrilled when we see a Maned Wolf on the opposite hill and watch in our scope for a while and we spend an hour with a Giant Anteater who is oblivious to our presence as long as we stand downwind.  Three Greater Rhea run away from us down the slope as we drive by.

We drive as far as a burnt out area where 6 White-tailed Hawk hunt above the ashes.  We find a migrant Ochre-breasted Pipit calling at our feet and capture it on video in closeup.  We walk any trail beside the river where we might get a glimpse of the Merganser, and finally find a family of eight sunning on a rock.  They immediately splash into the river and swim away, watching us cautiously over their backs, male on the right female on the left and six sub-adults in between, captured on video.  It was cloudy and kind of dark so we did not see the red feet that are photographed so beautifully by Arthur Grosset in a rare photo I find after I return to the States (http://www.arthurgrosset.com, click “S.American birds”).  Another day is spent in the gallery forest of Lower Canastra and the secondary habitat along the road.

GREATER RHEA (Rhea Americana)–NEAR THREATENED
Red-winged Tinamou (Rhynchotus rufescens)
Spotted Nothura (Nothura maculosa)
BRAZILIAN MERGANSER (Mergus octosetaceus)-CRITICALLY ENDANGERED
Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
King Vulture (Sarcoramphus papa)
Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle (Geranoaetus melanoleucus)-pair feeding
young
White-tailed Hawk (Buteo albicaudatus)
Crested Caracara (Caracara cheriway)
Yellow-headed Caracara (Milvago chimachima)
Laughing Falcon (Herpetotheres cachinnans)
American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)
Gray-necked Wood-Rail (Aramides cajanea)
Red-legged Seriema (Cariama cristata)
Southern Lapwing (Vanellus chilensis)
Rock Dove (Columba livia)
Picazuro Pigeon (Columba picazuro)
Pale-vented Pigeon (Columba cayennensis)
Ruddy Ground-Dove (Columbina talpacoti)
Scaled Dove (Columbina squammata)
White-eyed Parakeet (Aratinga leucophthalmus)
GOLDEN-CAPPED PARAKEET (Aratinga auricapilla)-ENDEMIC, VULNERABLE
Peach-fronted Parakeet (Aratinga aurea)
Yellow-chevroned Parakeet (Brotogeris chiriri)
Smooth-billed Ani (Crotophaga ani)
Guira Cuckoo (Guira guira)
Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia)
Scissor-tailed Nightjar (Hydropsalis torquata)
Sooty Swift (Cypseloides fumigatus)
Great Dusky Swift (Cypseloides senex)
White-collared Swift (Streptoprocne zonaris)
Ashy-tailed Swift (Chaetura andrei)
Planalto Hermit (Phaethornis pretrei)
White-vented Violet-ear (Colibri serrirostris)
Glittering-bellied Emerald (Chlorostilbon aureoventris)
Fork-tailed Woodnymph (Thalurania furcata)
Sapphire-spangled Emerald (Polyerata lacteal)
Glittering-throated Emerald (Polyerata fimbriata)
STRIPE-BREASTED STARTHROAT (Heliomaster squamosus)-ENDEMIC
Amethyst Woodstar (Calliphlox amethystine)
Amazon Kingfisher (Chloroceryle amazona)
Rufous-tailed Jacamar (Galbula ruficauda)
White-eared Puffbird (Nystalus chacuru)
Toco Toucan (Ramphastos toco)
White-barred Piculet (Picumnus cirratus)
Green-barred Woodpecker (Colaptes melanochloros)
Campo Flicker (Colaptes campestris)
Rufous Hornero (Furnarius rufus)
Chicli Spinetail (Synallaxis spixi)
Firewood-gatherer (Anumbius annumbi)
Streaked Xenops (Xenops rutilans)
Buff-fronted Foliage-gleaner (Philydor rufus)
Russet-mantled Foliage-gleaner (Philydor dimidiatus) aka Planalto F-G
Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper (Lochmias nematura)
Variable Antshrike (Thamnophilus caerulescens)
Rufous-winged Antshrike (Thamnophilus torquatus)
Plain Antvireo (Dysithamnus mentalis)
BRASILIA TAPACULO (Scytalopus novacapitalis)-ENDEMIC, NEAR THREATENED
White-bearded Manakin (Manacus manacus)
Helmeted Manakin (Antilophia galeata)
PIN-TAILED MANAKIN (Ilicura militaris)-ENDEMIC
Southern Beardless-Tyrannulet (Camptostoma obsoletum)
Yellow-bellied Elaenia (Elaenia flavogaster)
Highland Elaenia (Elaenia obscura)
Sooty Tyrannulet (Serpophaga nigricans)
White-crested Tyrannulet (Serpophaga subcristata)
PLANALTO TYRANNULET (Phyllomyias fasciatus)
SHARP-TAILED TYRANT (Culicivora caudacuta)-NEAR THREATENED
GRAY-BACKED TACHURI(Polystictus superciliaris)-ENDEMIC, NEAR THREATENED
Southern Antpipit (Corythopis delalandi)
White-throated Spadebill (Platyrinchus mystaceus)
Cliff Flycatcher (Hirundinea ferruginea)
Gray Monjita (Xolmis cinerea)
White-rumped Monjita (Xolmis velata)
Crested Black-Tyrant (Knipolegus lophotes)
Masked Water-Tyrant (Fluvicola nengeta)
White-headed Marsh-Tyrant (Arundinicola leucocephala)
COCK-TAILED TYRANT (Alectrurus tricolor)-VULNERABLE
Short-crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus ferox)
Brown-crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus tyrannulus)
Great Kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus)
Tropical Kingbird (Tyrannus melancholicus)
Greenish Schiffornis (Schiffornis virescens)
Brown-chested Martin (Progne tapera)
Gray-breasted Martin (Progne chalybea)
White-rumped Swallow (Tachycineta leucorrhoa)
Blue-and-white Swallow (Pygochelidon cyanoleuca)
Tawny-headed Swallow (Stelgidopteryx fucata)
Southern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx ruficollis)
Hellmayr's Pipit (Anthus hellmayri)
OCHRE-BREASTED PIPIT (Anthus nattereri)-VULNERABLE
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)
Chalk-browed Mockingbird (Mimus saturninus)
Rufous-bellied Thrush (Turdus rufiventris)
Pale-breasted Thrush (Turdus leucomelas)
Golden-crowned Warbler (Basileuterus culicivorus)
White-rimmed Warbler (Basileuterus leucoblepharus)
Cinnamon Tanager (Schistochlamys ruficapillus)
Rufous-headed Tanager (Hemithraupis ruficapilla)
Ruby-crowned Tanager (Tachyphonus coronatus)
Black-goggled Tanager (Trichothraupis melanops)
Sayaca Tanager (Thraupis sayaca)
Gilt-edged Tanager (Tangara cyanoventris)
Burnished-buff Tanager (Tangara cayana)
Blue Dacnis (Dacnis cayana)
Swallow-Tanager (Tersina viridis)
Blue-black Grassquit (Volatinia jacarina)
Yellow-bellied Seedeater (Sporophila nigricollis)
Grassland Yellow-Finch (Sicalis luteola)
Stripe-tailed Yellow-Finch (Sicalis citrine)
Wedge-tailed Grass-Finch (Emberizoides herbicola)
Great Pampa-Finch (Embernagra platensis)
Grassland Sparrow (Ammodramus humeralis)
Rufous-collared Sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis)
Green-winged Saltator (Saltator similes)
Black-throated Saltator (Saltator atricollis)
YELLOW-BILLED BLUE FINCH (Porphyrospiza caerulescens)-NEAR THREATENED
Crested Oropendola (Psarocolius decumanus)
Yellow-rumped Marshbird (Pseudoleistes guirahuro)
Chopi Blackbird (Gnorimopsar chopi)

119 Species
4 Endemics

MAMMALS

Giant Anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla)
MANED WOLF (Chrysocyon brachyurus)
Crab-eating Fox (Cerdocyon thous)
Marmoset (Callithrix pennicilata)

Day 4 - BELO HORIZONTE, SERRA DO CIPO

Long drives are common in SE BRAZIL and it’s a lucky day when they are broken up by a stop or two. Today was a lucky day as we stopped in Belo Horizonte and drove around Lake Pampolha looking for reed beds, then to a park where Luis, raised in Belo Horizonte began his birding career.

Whistling Heron (Syrigma sibilatrix)
Great Egret (Ardea alba)
Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea)
Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)
Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)
Brazilian Teal (Amazonetta brasiliensis)
Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
Roadside Hawk (Buteo magnirostris)
Crested Caracara (Caracara cheriway)
Yellow-headed Caracara (Milvago chimachima)
Southern Lapwing (Vanellus chilensis)
Picazuro Pigeon (Columba picazuro)
Smooth-billed Ani (Crotophaga ani)
Guira Cuckoo (Guira guira)
THREE-TOED JACAMAR (Jacamaralcyon tridactyla)-ENDEMIC, ENDANGERED
Campo Flicker (Colaptes campestris)
Brown-chested Martin (Progne tapera)
Blue-and-white Swallow (Pygochelidon cyanoleuca)
Hooded Tanager (Nemosia pileata)
Blue Dacnis (Dacnis cayana)
Chestnut-capped Blackbird (Agelaius ruficapillus)
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)

23 species
1 endemic

Next stop rocky, red-soiled Serra do Cipo for three endemics including the recently described canastero [Cipo Canastero (Asthenes luiza) described by Pearman (1990) Bull. BOC 110: 145-153, and Vielliard (also 1990, Ararajuba 1:121-122)], and a Collared Crescentchest (Melanopareia torquata) was heard and couldn't be coaxed out of the rocks near the entrance to Serra do Canastra National Park, not Serra do Cipo.

Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
Crested Caracara (Caracara cheriway)
Yellow-headed Caracara (Milvago chimachima)
Swallow-tailed Hummingbird (Eupetomena macrourus)
Glittering-bellied Emerald (Chlorostilbon aureoventris)
Fork-tailed Woodnymph (Thalurania furcata)
Sapphire-spangled Emerald (Polyerata lacteal)
HYACINTH VISORBEARER (Augastes scutatus)-ENDEMIC, NEAR THREATENED
Amethyst Woodstar (Calliphlox amethystine)
Campo Flicker (Colaptes campestris)
Rufous Hornero (Furnarius rufus)
Pale-breasted Spinetail (Synallaxis albescens)
CIPO CANASTERO (Asthenes luizae)-ENDEMIC, ENDANGERED
Southern Beardless-Tyrannulet (Camptostoma obsoletum)
Mouse-colored Tyrannulet (Phaeomyias murina)
Yellow-bellied Elaenia (Elaenia flavogaster)
Plain-crested Elaenia (Elaenia cristata)
Planalto Tyrannulet (Phyllomyias fasciatus)
White-rumped Monjita (Xolmis velata)
Crested Black-Tyrant (Knipolegus lophotes)
Brown-chested Martin (Progne tapera)
Blue-and-white Swallow (Pygochelidon cyanoleuca)
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)
Rufous-bellied Thrush (Turdus rufiventris)
Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) aka Chivi Vireo
Cinnamon Tanager (Schistochlamys ruficapillus)
Pileated Finch (Coryphospingus pileatus)
PALE-THROATED SERRA-FINCH (Embernagra longicauda)-ENDEMIC, NEAR
THREATENED
Grassland Sparrow (Ammodramus humeralis)

30 species
3 endemic

We ended the day driving through the gates of Parque Natural do Caraca
where
we were greeted by a Scissor-tailed Nightjar (Hydropsalis torquata) on
the road.

Days 5-7 - SERRA DO CARACA

Parque Natural do Caraca is in the southern area of the Espinhaço mountain range, in the state of Minas Gerais.  Habitat ranges from rocky cliffs to montane forest.  Accommodations are in a monastery at a cathedral and the location is famous for a bizarre evening ritual starring a hesitant Maned Wolf gingerly climbing the wide stairs to a plate of raw chicken and an onslaught of flashbulbs and gasps of tourists.  Mornings were spent cooking our own breakfast on hot bricks over a fire.

La Scatinha, La Cascatona and Tanque Grande trails proved productive.  We ventured a short way into the grasslands off the main, flat trail but aborted when we noticed the intense amount of little ticks on our pants.  We heard a flock of Biscutate Swift swoop out of the forest but didn’t see them.  We waited in the evenings in the open in hopes that the Swifts would return to the mountains but we never saw or heard them again.  In the early morning, a pair of Blackish Rail were audible and visible around the pond behind the parking lot.  We spent over an hour on an endemic Such’s Antthrush aka Cryptic Antthrush.  We heard it in the bamboo below us so we crawled down into the bamboo and sat in the middle in the darkest spot and played a tape.  Sure enough, the Antthrush entered the dark dome created by the stand of bamboo, circled us slowly calling all the time, and lept up onto a rock forty feet away to stand erect like a chicken and alternately preen and call while we watched, rapt.

Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
Gray-headed Kite (Leptodon cayanensis)
Crested Caracara (Caracara cheriway)
Yellow-headed Caracara (Milvago chimachima)
Dusky-legged Guan       (Penelope obscura)
Blackish Rail (Pardirallus nigricans)
Pale-vented Pigeon (Columba cayennensis)
Scaled Dove     (Columbina squammata)
Squirrel Cuckoo (Piaya cayana)
Scissor-tailed Nightjar (Hydropsalis torquata)
Scale-throated Hermit (Phaethornis eurynome)
Planalto Hermit (Phaethornis pretrei)
White-vented Violet-ear (Colibri serrirostris)
Glittering-bellied Emerald (Chlorostilbon aureoventris)
White-throated Hummingbird (Leucochloris albicollis)
Sapphire-spangled Emerald (Polyerata lactea)
BRAZILIAN RUBY (Clytolaema rubricauda)-ENDEMIC
HYACINTH VISORBEARER (Augastes scutatus)-ENDEMIC, NEAR THREATENED
Amethyst Woodstar (Calliphlox amethystina)
Surucua Trogon (Trogon surrucura)
Green-barred Woodpecker (Colaptes melanochloros)
Rufous Hornero (Furnarius rufus)
Rufous-capped Spinetail (Synallaxis ruficapilla)
Gray-bellied Spinetail (Synallaxis cinerascens)
PALLID SPINETAIL (Cranioleuca pallida)-ENDEMIC
Buff-browed Foliage-gleaner (Syndactyla rufosuperciliata)
Buff-fronted Foliage-gleaner (Philydor rufus)
Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper (Lochmias nematura)
Olivaceous Woodcreeper (Sittasomus griseicapillus)
TUFTED ANTSHRIKE (Mackenziaena severa)
LARGE-TAILED ANTSHRIKE (Mackenziaena leachii)
Variable Antshrike (Thamnophilus caerulescens)
Black-capped Antwren (Herpsilochmus atricapilla)
SERRA ANTWREN (Formicivora serrana)-ENDEMIC
OCHRE-RUMPED ANTBIRD (Drymophila ochropyga)-ENDEMIC
Dusky-tailed Antbird (Drymophila malura)
White-shouldered Fire-eye (Pyriglena leucoptera)
WHITE-BIBBED ANTBIRD (Myrmeciza loricata)-ENDEMIC
SUCH'S ANTTHRUSH (Chamaeza meruloides)-ENDEMIC aka Cryptic
Rufous Gnateater (Conopophaga lineata)
CINNAMON-VENTED PIHA (Lipaugus lanioides)-ENDEMIC
Blue Manakin (Chiroxiphia caudata)
PIN-TAILED MANAKIN (Ilicura militaris)-ENDEMIC
WIED’S TYRANT-MANAKIN (Neopelma aurifrons)-ENDEMIC, ENDANGERED
Southern Beardless-Tyrannulet   (Camptostoma obsoletum)
Forest Elaenia (Myiopagis gaimardii)
Lesser Elaenia (Elaenia chiriquensis)
White-crested Tyrannulet (Serpophaga subcristata)
Gray-hooded Flycatcher (Mionectes rufiventris)
Mottle-cheeked Tyrannulet (Phylloscartes ventralis)
Drab-breasted Bamboo-Tyrant (Hemitriccus diops)
HANGNEST TODY-TYRANT (Hemitriccus nidipendulus)-ENDEMIC
Ochre-faced Tody-Flycatcher (Todirostrum plumbeiceps)
YELLOW-LORED TODY-FLYCATCHER (Todirostrum poliocephalum)-ENDEMIC
Bran-colored Flycatcher (Myiophobus fasciatus)
YELLOW-RUMPED FLYCATCHER (Myiobius mastacalis)-ENDEMIC
Tropical Pewee (Contopus cinereus)
VELVETY BLACK-TYRANT (Knipolegus nigerrimus)-ENDEMIC
Crested Black-Tyrant (Knipolegus lophotes)
Long-tailed Tyrant (Colonia colonus)
Great Kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus)
White-winged Swallow (Tachycineta albiventer)
Blue-and-white Swallow (Pygochelidon cyanoleuca)
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)
Rufous-bellied Thrush (Turdus rufiventris)
Pale-breasted Thrush (Turdus leucomelas)
Creamy-bellied Thrush (Turdus amaurochalinus)
White-necked Thrush (Turdus albicollis)
Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) aka Chivi Vireo
GRAY-EYED GREENLET (Hylophilus amaurocephalus)-ENDEMIC
Rufous-browed Peppershrike (Cyclarhis gujanensis)
Golden-crowned Warbler (Basileuterus culicivorus)
Bananaquit (Coereba flaveola)
Magpie Tanager (Cissopis leveriana)
Hooded Tanager (Nemosia pileata)
Ruby-crowned Tanager (Tachyphonus coronatus)
Black-goggled Tanager (Trichothraupis melanops)
Sayaca Tanager (Thraupis sayaca)
GOLDEN-CHEVRONED TANAGER (Thraupis ornata)-ENDEMIC
BRASSY-BREASTED TANAGER (Tangara desmaresti)-ENDEMIC
GILT-EDGED TANAGER (Tangara cyanoventris)-ENDEMIC
Burnished-buff Tanager (Tangara cayana)
Yellow-bellied Seedeater (Sporophila nigricollis)
Double-collared Seedeater (Sporophila caerulescens)
PALE-THROATED SERRA-FINCH (Embernagra longicauda)-ENDEMIC, NEAR THREATENED
Great Pampa-Finch (Embernagra platensis)
Rufous-collared Sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis)
Green-winged Saltator (Saltator similis)
Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis)
Red-rumped Cacique (Cacicus haemorrhous)
Crested Oropendola (Psarocolius decumanus)

91 species
19 endemic

Mammals:

Guianan Squirrel (Sciurus estuans)
Masked Titi Monkey (Callicebus peronadus negrifrons) aka Black-fronted
Brown Capuchin (Cebus apella robustus)
 

Days 8-10 - INTERVALES

Parque Estadual Intervales is a 49,000 hectare State Park and part of the Mata Atlantica Biosphere Reserve, declared an International Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO-MAB in 1991, inscribed as a World Heritage site in 1999.  It is not a common destination by tour companies but it should be.  The forest there is fairly undisturbed and they are actually adding to the forest by purchasing adjoining forest.  The park is run beautifully by Management and staff.

Accommodations are comfortable with exceptional food.  The money and employment generated by ecotourism aid in the maintenance of the preserved area.  The guides of the Park were hunters and today they are aware of the importance of their activity as bird guides.  You cannot enter the park unaccompanied by a park guide.

Our park guide Luis was exceptional.  We shared facilities with a group of herpetologists who were excited every evening over the frogs they had discovered that day.  Avian rarities seen there include Shrike-like Cotinga aka Elegant Mourner (Laniisoma elegans)but not by us.  Migrant Swallow-tailed Cotinga regularly nest there.  In our first hour on the road after seeing a perched Mantled Hawk we had a dead tree top with 9 Swallow-tailed Cotinga, a Sharpbill and a Bare-throated Bellbird.  Across the road at the same time was a calling male White-bearded Antshrike.  We didn't know where to look.  We heard Variegated Antpitta every day and saw it twice, once twelve feet high in a tree where it flushed at dusk and once hiding behind helliconia.  Long-trained Nightjar were seen every night and I even captured the tail feather display of a male on video.  Later we would find and video a pair of Swallow-tailed Cotinga building a nest.

This was our favorite destination of the tour and we would welcome another stay in this park about 250 km from Sao Paolo, a three hours drive South.

Telephone:  (55) 15-542-1511/15-542-1245

Whistling Heron (Syrigma sibilatrix)
Black Vulture   (Coragyps atratus)
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
Rufous-thighed Kite (Harpagus diodon)
Rufous-thighed Hawk (Accipiter erythronemius)
Mantled Hawk (Leucopternis polionota)-NEAR THREATENED
Black Hawk-Eagle (Spizaetus tyrannus)
Dusky-legged Guan (Penelope obscura)
Black-fronted Piping-Guan (Pipile jacutinga)-VULNERABLE
Slaty-breasted Wood-Rail (Aramides saracura)
Southern Lapwing (Vanellus chilensis)
Picazuro Pigeon (Columba picazuro)
Ruddy Ground-Dove (Columbina talpacoti)
Maroon-bellied Parakeet (Pyrrhura frontalis)
Blue-winged Parrotlet (Forpus xanthopterygius)
PLAIN PARAKEET (Brotogeris tirica)-ENDEMIC
Pileated Parrot (Pionopsitta pileata)
Squirrel Cuckoo (Piaya cayana)
Smooth-billed Ani (Crotophaga ani)
Long-trained Nightjar (Macropsalis forcipata)
Gray-rumped Swift (Chaetura cinereiventris)
Scale-throated Hermit (Phaethornis eurynome)
Swallow-tailed Hummingbird      (Eupetomena macrourus)
Violet-capped Woodnymph (Thalurania glaucopis)
White-throated Hummingbird      (Leucochloris albicollis)
Versicolored Emerald (Agyrtria versicolor)
BRAZILIAN RUBY (Clytolaema rubricauda)-ENDEMIC
Amazonian White-tailed Trogon (Trogon viridis)
Black-throated Trogon (Trogon rufus)
Surucua Trogon (Trogon surrucura)
Rufous-capped Motmot (Baryphthengus ruficapillus)
White-eared Puffbird (Nystalus chacuru)
CRESCENT-CHESTED PUFFBIRD (Malacoptila striata)-ENDEMIC
SAFFRON TOUCANET (Baillonius bailloni)-NEAR THREATENED
Ochre-collared Piculet (Picumnus temminckii)
Yellow-fronted Woodpecker (Melanerpes flavifrons)
White-spotted Woodpecker (Veniliornis spilogaster)
YELLOW-BROWED WOODPECKER (Piculus aurulentus)-NEAR THREATENED
Campo Flicker   (Colaptes campestris)
Blond-crested Woodpecker (Celeus flavescens)
Lineated Woodpecker     (Dryocopus lineatus)
Robust Woodpecker (Campephilus robustus)
Rufous Hornero (Furnarius rufus)
Rufous-capped Spinetail (Synallaxis ruficapilla)
Streaked Xenops (Xenops rutilans)
Sharp-billed Treehunter (Heliobletus contaminatus)
WHITE-BROWED FOLIAGE-GLEANER (Anabacerthia amaurotis)-NEAR THREATENED
Pale-browed Treehunter (Cichlocolaptes leucophrus)
Ochre-breasted Foliage-gleaner (Philydor lichtensteini)
Black-capped Foliage-gleaner (Philydor atricapilla)
WHITE-COLLARED FOLIAGE-GLEANER (Anabazenops fuscus)-ENDEMIC
White-eyed Foliage-gleaner      (Automolus leucophthalmus)
Buff-throated Foliage-gleaner (Automolus ochrolaemus)
Rufous-breasted Leaftosser      (Sclerurus scansor)
Olivaceous Woodcreeper (Sittasomus griseicapillus)
White-throated Woodcreeper (Xiphocolaptes albicollis)
Scaled Woodcreeper (Lepidocolaptes squamatus)-with different face
Lesser Woodcreeper      (Lepidocolaptes fuscus)
Black-billed Scythebill (Campylorhamphus falcularius)
Giant Antshrike (Batara cinerea)
Tufted Antshrike (Mackenziaena severa)
WHITE-BEARDED ANTSHRIKE (Biatas nigropectus)-VULNERABLE
Rufous-capped Antshrike (Thamnophilus ruficapillus)
SPOT-BREASTED ANTVIREO (Dysithamnus stictothorax)-NEAR THREATENED
Plain Antvireo (Dysithamnus mentalis)
STAR-THROATED ANTWREN (Myrmotherula gularis)-ENDEMIC
FERRUGINOUS ANTBIRD     (Drymophila ferruginea) -ENDEMIC
Bertoni's Antbird (Drymophila rubricollis)
Streak-capped Antwren (Terenura maculata)
White-shouldered Fire-eye (Pyriglena leucoptera)
SQUAMATE ANTBIRD (Myrmeciza squamosa)-ENDEMIC
Variegated Antpitta     (Grallaria varia)
BLACK-CHEEKED GNATEATER (Conopophaga melanops)-ENDEMIC
Mouse-colored Tapaculo (Scytalopus speluncae)
SWALLOW-TAILED COTINGA (Phibalura flavirostris)-NEAR THREATENED
HOODED BERRYEATER (Carpornis cucullatus)-ENDEMIC, NEAR THREATENED
CINNAMON-VENTED PIHA (Lipaugus lanioides)-ENDEMIC
Red-ruffed Fruitcrow (Pyroderus scutatus)
BARE-THROATED BELLBIRD (Procnias nudicollis)-NEAR THREATENED
Blue Manakin    (Chiroxiphia caudata)aka Swallow-tailed Manakin
PIN-TAILED MANAKIN (Ilicura militaris)-ENDEMIC
Southern Beardless-Tyrannulet (Camptostoma obsoletum)
Yellow-bellied Elaenia (Elaenia flavogaster)
White-crested Tyrannulet (Serpophaga subcristata)
Sepia-capped Flycatcher (Leptopogon amaurocephalus)
OUSTALET'S TYRANNULET (Phylloscartes oustaleti)-ENDEMIC, NEAR THREATENED
Mottle-cheeked Tyrannulet (Phylloscartes ventralis)
BAY-RINGED TYRANNULET (Phylloscartes sylviolus)-NEAR THREATENED
GRAY-CAPPED TYRANNULET (Phyllomyias griseocapilla)-ENDEMIC, NEAR
THREATENED
Eared Pygmy-Tyrant (Myiornis auricularis)
HANGNEST TODY-TYRANT (Hemitriccus nidipendulus)-ENDEMIC
Cliff Flycatcher (Hirundinea ferruginea)
Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus)
Streamer-tailed Tyrant (Gubernetes yetapa)-outside the park
Yellow-browed Tyrant (Satrapa icterophrys)
Shear-tailed Gray Tyrant (Muscipipra vetula)
GRAY-HOODED ATTILA (Attila rufus)-ENDEMIC
Sirystes (Sirystes sibilator)
Swainson's Flycatcher (Myiarchus swainsoni)
Great Kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus)
Social Flycatcher (Myiozetetes similis)
Three-striped Flycatcher (Conopias trivirgata)
Greenish Schiffornis (Schiffornis virescens)
Chestnut-crowned Becard (Pachyramphus castaneus)
White-winged Becard     (Pachyramphus polychopterus)
Sharpbill (Oxyruncus cristatus)
Blue-and-white Swallow (Pygochelidon cyanoleuca)
Southern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx ruficollis)
Rufous-bellied Thrush (Turdus rufiventris)
Pale-breasted Thrush (Turdus leucomelas)
Creamy-bellied Thrush (Turdus amaurochalinus)
White-necked Thrush     (Turdus albicollis)
Rufous-crowned Greenlet (Hylophilus poicilotis)
Rufous-browed Peppershrike      (Cyclarhis gujanensis)
Hooded Siskin   (Carduelis magellanica)
Tropical Parula (Parula pitiayumi)
Golden-crowned Warbler (Basileuterus culicivorus)
Magpie Tanager (Cissopis leveriana)
RUFOUS-HEADED TANAGER (Hemithraupis ruficapilla)-ENDEMIC
Ruby-crowned Tanager (Tachyphonus coronatus)
Black-goggled Tanager (Trichothraupis melanops)
Red-crowned Ant-Tanager (Habia rubica)-flock leader
Sayaca Tanager (Thraupis sayaca)
AZURE-SHOULDERED TANAGER (Thraupis cyanoptera)-ENDEMIC, NEAR THREATENED
GOLDEN-CHEVRONED TANAGER (Thraupis ornata)-ENDEMIC
Diademed Tanager (Stephanophorus diadematus)
Purple-throated Euphonia (Euphonia chlorotica)
Violaceous Euphonia     (Euphonia violacea)
Chestnut-bellied Euphonia (Euphonia pectoralis)
Green-headed Tanager (Tangara seledon)
Red-necked Tanager (Tangara cyanocephala)
Blue Dacnis (Dacnis cayana)
BUFFY-FRONTED SEEDEATER (Sporophila frontalis)-VULNERABLE
TEMMINCK'S SEEDEATER (Sporophila falcirostris)-VULNERABLE
Double-collared Seedeater (Sporophila caerulescens)
Black-throated Grosbeak (Saltator fuliginosus)
Green-winged Saltator (Saltator similis)
Yellow-green Grosbeak (Caryothraustes canadensis)
Yellow-rumped Cacique (Cacicus cela)
Red-rumped Cacique (Cacicus haemorrhous)
Golden-winged Cacique (Cacicus chrysopterus)

141 species
18 endemic

Mammals:

Brown Capuchin (Cebus apella robustus)
Brown Howler Monkey (Alouatta fusca)
Forest Rabbit (Tapeti) (Sylvilagus braziliensis)
Capybara (Hydrocheris hydrochaeris)
 

Days 11-13 - UBATUBA

Ubatuba is on the coast between Sao Paolo and Rio.  Little habitat remains and is privately protected by the owners of fazendas (ranches) Angelium and Capricorn.  But the small patches have some wonderful species not found anywhere else in Brazil.

There are many hotels in this seaside resort but we stayed in a quiet one off of the main street.

We were lucky to find a new trail near Fazenda Capricorn that leads to a soccer field by the river.  The river was low when we were there, and we could cross it.  The trail on the other side of the river gave us some good species.

Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)
Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
Yellow-headed Caracara (Milvago chimachima)
Slaty-breasted Wood-Rail (Aramides saracura)
Picazuro Pigeon (Columba picazuro)
Ruddy Ground-Dove (Columbina talpacoti)
Maroon-bellied Parakeet (Pyrrhura frontalis)
Scaly-headed Parrot (Pionus maximiliani)
Striped Cuckoo (Tapera naevia)
Gray-rumped Swift (Chaetura cinereiventris)
SAW-BILLED HERMIT (Ramphodon naevius)-ENDEMIC, NEAR THREATENED
Reddish Hermit (Phaethornis ruber)
SOMBRE HUMMINGBIRD (Campylopterus cirrochloris)-ENDEMIC
Swallow-tailed Hummingbird (Eupetomena macrourus)
Festive Coquette (Lophornis chalybeus)-male perched
Violet-capped Woodnymph (Thalurania glaucopis)
Versicolored Emerald (Agyrtria versicolor)
Amazonian White-tailed Trogon (Trogon viridis)
WHITE-NECKED PUFFBIRD (Notharchus macrorhynchos)-ENDEMIC ssp.
Buff-bellied to be split
SAFFRON TOUCANET (Baillonius bailloni)-NEAR THREATENED
White-barred Piculet (Picumnus cirratus)
Blond-crested Woodpecker (Celeus flavescens)
RED-EYED THORNBIRD (Phacellodomus erythrophthalmus)-ENDEMIC
White-throated Woodcreeper (Xiphocolaptes albicollis)
Scaled Woodcreeper (Lepidocolaptes squamatus)
Spot-backed Antshrike (Hypoedaleus guttatus)
SPOT-BREASTED ANTVIREO (Dysithamnus stictothorax)-NEAR THREATENED
STAR-THROATED ANTWREN (Myrmotherula gularis)-ENDEMIC
SALVADORI'S ANTWREN (Myrmotherula minor)-VULNERABLE
UNICOLORED ANTWREN (Myrmotherula unicolor)-ENDEMIC, VULNERABLE
Rufous-winged Antwren (Herpsilochmus rufimarginatus)
SCALED ANTBIRD (Drymophila squamata)-ENDEMIC
Streak-capped Antwren (Terenura maculata)
Rufous-capped Antthrush (Formicarius colma)
Variegated Antpitta (Grallaria varia)-great views perched in a tree
SPOTTED BAMBOOWREN (Psilorhamphus guttatus)-NEAR THREATENED
SLATY BRISTLEFRONT (Merulaxis ater)-ENDEMIC, NEAR THREATENED
BUFF-THROATED PURPLETUFT (Iodopleura pipra)-ENDEMIC, ENDANGERED
White-bearded Manakin (Manacus manacus)
Yellow Tyrannulet (Capsiempis flaveola)
FORK-TAILED TODY-TYRANT (Hemitriccus furcatus)-ENDEMIC, ENDANGERED
YELLOW-LORED TODY-FLYCATCHER (Todirostrum poliocephalum)-ENDEMIC
YELLOW-RUMPED FLYCATCHER (Myiobius mastacalis)-ENDEMIC
Long-tailed Tyrant (Colonia colonus)
Swainson's Flycatcher (Myiarchus swainsoni)
Great Kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus)
Social Flycatcher (Myiozetetes similis)
Chestnut-crowned Becard (Pachyramphus castaneus)
Green-backed Becard (Pachyramphus viridis)
Blue-and-white Swallow (Pygochelidon cyanoleuca)
Southern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx ruficollis)
LONG-BILLED WREN (Thryothorus longirostris)-ENDEMIC
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)
Yellow-legged Thrush (Platycichla flavipes)
Rufous-bellied Thrush (Turdus rufiventris)
Creamy-bellied Thrush (Turdus amaurochalinus)
White-necked Thrush (Turdus albicollis)
Long-billed Gnatwren (Ramphocaenus melanurus)
Flame-crested Tanager (Tachyphonus cristatus)
Ruby-crowned Tanager (Tachyphonus coronatus)
Brazilian Tanager (Ramphocelus bresilius)
Green-headed Tanager (Tangara seledon)
Red-necked Tanager (Tangara cyanocephala)
BRASSY-BREASTED TANAGER (Tangara desmaresti)-ENDEMIC
Blue Dacnis (Dacnis cayana)
Blue-black Grassquit (Volatinia jacarina)
Yellow-green Grosbeak (Caryothraustes canadensis)
Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis)

69 species
14 endemic

Day 14 – PEREQUE, ARARUAMA

Today a long drive from Ubatuba to North of Rio in Espirito Santo state stopping in Pereque between Sao Paolo and Rio, and Paraiaseca North of Rio near Araruama. Very little habitat in little patches and only a small patch of coastal restinga habitat in Paraiseca near Araruama.

The road along the coast affords beautiful views of the ocean but surprisingly very few seabirds. We stopped in a small town of Pereque and drove to a patch of forest behind the town for one species but were rewarded with another.

FRILLED COQUETTE (Lophornis magnificus)-ENDEMIC, a male on verbena beside the path
BLACK-HOODED ANTWREN (Formicivora erythrontos)-ENDEMIC, ENDANGERED

2 species
2 endemic

Another stop at dusk on the Paraiaseca just in time as we ran over the dunes and inside the restinga dodging spider webs and giant orb weaver spiders.

RESTINGA ANTWREN (Formicivora littoralis)-ENDEMIC, ENDANGERED

1 specie
1 endemic

We stayed the night just north of Araruama.

Day 15 - LINHARES

7.5 hours from n.of Araruama is the town of Linhares, described on their website as “the earth of the ponds.  It is a progressive municipal district of the North of the State (of Espirito Santo).  It produces 60% of the petroleum and 90% of the gas of the State (data of 1994): 330 thousand cubic meters of gas a day, distributed by a tube with 235 kilometers of extension in the underground of the municipal district.” Linhares is also the location of the forest reserve of the Company Vale do Rio Doce with the largest reservation of Atlantic Forest of the state at 220,000,000 square meters, and an accompanying reserve not far away named Sooretama.  How the reserves were created is uknown to me, but I believe that the companies who exploit the gas and oil were required to establish them.

We stayed in the accommodations at Linhares which were very fancy and much like a golf course.  We were assigned a guide every day and the guide was allowed access to roads on which we were told that day visitors weren’t allowed.

One hour after arriving we were walking on a road in the back of the reserve and the course of one and a half hours saw and videotaped five Red-billed Curassow.  This reserve and Sooretama are the last locations known for this species.  In the back of the reserve is a river with reedbeds which might deserve further study for rallids.

SOLITARY TINAMOU (Tinamus solitarius)-NEAR THREATEND
Little Tinamou (Crypturellus soui)
Muscovy Duck (Cairina moschata)
Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)
Plumbeous Kite (Ictinia plumbea)
Dusky-legged Guan       (Penelope obscura)
RED-BILLED CURASSOW (Crax blumenbachii)-ENDEMIC, ENDANGERED
Spot-winged Wood-Quail (Odontophorus capueira)
Purple Gallinule (Porphyrula martinica)
Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)
Wattled Jacana (Jacana jacana)
Scaled Pigeon (Columba speciosa)
Picazuro Pigeon (Columba picazuro)
Gray-fronted Dove (Leptotila rufaxilla)
BLUE-WINGED MACAW (Propyrrhura maracana)-VULNERABLE
White-eared Parakeet (Pyrrhura leucotis)
PLAIN PARAKEET (Brotogeris tirica)-ENDEMIC
Scaly-headed Parrot (Pionus maximiliani)
RED-BROWED PARROT (Amazona rhodocorytha)-ENDEMIC, ENDANGERED
Mealy Parrot (Amazona farinosa)
Squirrel Cuckoo (Piaya cayana)
Smooth-billed Ani (Crotophaga ani)
Tawny-browed Owl (Pulsatrix koeniswaldiana)
Least Pygmy-Owl (Glaucidium minutissimum) aka Brazilian
Pauraque (Nyctidromus albicollis)
MINUTE HERMIT (Phaethornis idaliae)-ENDEMIC
Rufous-tailed Jacamar (Galbula ruficauda)
Swallow-wing (Chelidoptera tenebrosa)
Black-necked Aracari (Pteroglossus aracari)
Red-stained Woodpecker (Veniliornis affinis)
Rufous Hornero (Furnarius rufus)
Streaked Xenops (Xenops rutilans)
Black-capped Foliage-gleaner (Philydor atricapilla)
Scaled Woodcreeper (Lepidocolaptes squamatus)
SOORETAMA SLATY-ANTSHRIKE (Thamnophilus ambiguous)-ENDEMIC
White-flanked Antwren (Myrmotherula axillaris)
BAND-TAILED ANTWREN (Myrmotherula urosticta)-ENDEMIC, ENDANGERED
BLACK-CHEEKED GNATEATER (Conopophaga melanops)-ENDEMIC
BLACK-HEADED BERRYEATER (Carpornis melanocephalus)-ENDEMIC, VULNERABLE
WHITE-WINGED COTINGA (Xipholena atropurpurea)-ENDEMIC, ENDANGERED
White-crowned Manakin (Pipra pipra)
Eared Pygmy-Tyrant (Myiornis auricularis)
Cattle Tyrant (Machetornis rixosus)
Grayish Mourner (Rhytipterna simplex)
Great Kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus)
Blue-and-white Swallow (Pygochelidon cyanoleuca)
Thrush-like Wren (Campylorhynchus turdinus)
Cocoa Thrush (Turdus fumigatus)
Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) aka Chivi Vireo
Red-crowned Ant-Tanager (Habia rubica)
Palm Tanager (Thraupis palmarum)
Turquoise Tanager       (Tangara mexicana)
Blue Dacnis     (Dacnis cayana)
Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis)
Red-rumped Cacique (Cacicus haemorrhous)

55 Species
8 endemic

Mammals:

Forest Rabbit (Tapeti) (Sylvilagus braziliensis)
Brazilian agouti (Dasyprocta leporina)

Reptiles:
Botrix Viper “Jararaca”

Day 16 - SOORETAMA

We spent one day at Sooretama Reserve, less than an hour’s drive from Linhares.  We were told that over 1/3 of the reserve had burned in a fire set by hunters and security was very tight.  We had to use keys to get in the gate and register with the Manager before and after our visit.  We traveled the main road only and we noticed the intense numbers of species in such a small space.  We were lucky to see endangered Striated Softtail and Pale-browed Treehunter next to each other for comparison.  White-flanked Antwren and Band-tailed Antwren were very difficult to separate and required close study.  The white flanks are actually more like silver slashes on these birds and both species have white on on the end of the tail.

Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)
Roadside Hawk (Buteo magnirostris)
Short-tailed Hawk (Buteo brachyurus)
Southern Lapwing (Vanellus chilensis)
Ruddy Ground-Dove (Columbina talpacoti)
Blue-winged Macaw       (Propyrrhura maracana)
BLUE-THROATED PARAKEET (Pyrrhura cruentata)-ENDEMIC, VULNERABLE
PLAIN PARAKEET (Brotogeris tirica)-ENDEMIC
Tawny-browed Owl (Pulsatrix koeniswaldiana)
Ocellated Poorwill (Nyctiphrynus ocellatus)
White-fronted Nunbird (Monasa morphoeus)
Black-necked Aracari (Pteroglossus aracari)
Channel-billed Toucan (Ramphastos vitellinus)-ssp. Ariel Toucan?
White Woodpecker (Melanerpes candidus)
Yellow-throated Woodpecker (Piculus flavigula)
Robust Woodpecker (Campephilus robustus)
STRIATED SOFTTAIL (Thripophaga macroura)-ENDEMIC, ENDANGERED
Streaked Xenops (Xenops rutilans)
PALE-BROWED TREEHUNTER (Cichlocolaptes leucophrus)-ENDEMIC
Black-capped Foliage-gleaner (Philydor atricapilla)
Planalto Woodcreeper (Dendrocolaptes platyrostris)
Buff-throated Woodcreeper (Xiphorhynchus guttatus)
Scaled Woodcreeper (Lepidocolaptes squamatus)
SOORETAMA SLATY-ANTSHRIKE (Thamnophilus ambiguus)-ENDEMIC
Cinereous Antshrike (Thamnomanes caesius)
White-flanked Antwren (Myrmotherula axillaris)
BAND-TAILED ANTWREN (Myrmotherula urosticta)-ENDEMIC, ENDANGERED
Red-headed Manakin (Pipra rubrocapilla)
Greenish Schiffornis (Schiffornis virescens)
Crested Becard (Pachyramphus validus)
Gray-breasted Martin (Progne chalybea)
Southern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx ruficollis)
Long-billed Gnatwren (Ramphocaenus melanurus)
Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) aka Chivi Vireo
Tropical Parula (Parula pitiayumi)
Yellow-backed Tanager (Hemithraupis flavicollis)
Red-crowned Ant-Tanager (Habia rubica)
Violaceous Euphonia (Euphonia violacea)
Green-headed Tanager (Tangara seledon)
Blue Dacnis (Dacnis cayana)
Saffron Finch (Sicalis flaveola)
Red-rumped Cacique (Cacicus haemorrhous)

41 species
6 endemic

Day 17 – CARATINGA

Another long drive from Linhares in Espirito Santo to Caratinga Reserve in Minas Gerais near the town of Ipanema.  Joseph had researched this location as the site of the largest group of the critically endangered Muriqui, or Wooly Spider Monkey, the largest primate (except for homo sapiens) in the Americas.  We were surprised at how small the reserve is when we could walk from border to border in an hour, and surprised that there were two farms in the reserve.  The research station was the only other building on the property and we spent time with the researchers who were vague about the location of the troop.  We watched Capuchin monkeys and Brown Howler Monkeys at close range, both abundant.  Finally we found a troop of Muriqui, around twenty, and watched and videotaped them for about three hours.  It is estimated that there are only around 65 individuals in this reserve, and about the same amount scattered in small patches throughout Brazil.  This incredible species with a prehensile tail and long arms and legs is a wonder to behold and well worth the extra drive that took all day.

All known populations are isolated from one another.  There is no gene flow among these populations and their habitat is surrounded by development and deforested land.  Surveys are necessary to locate other remnant groups, but these small, isolated populations are not viable over the long term and, if located, translocation or reintroduction to other protected areas may be necessary.  Survival of this species will depend on protection of remaining populations and habitats.  It is extremely difficult to maintain woolly spider monkeys in captivity since little specific information is known about their dietary requirements.  I don’t believe any have survived in captivity.

After the Muriqui, we stopped in the town of Ipanema and enjoyed our best meal of the trip in a noisy café where a rhythm carnival band played and everyone was celebrating.  We had “dog’s t.v.” or rotisserie chicken (because the dogs sit in front of it like they are watching a television).  The drive through the dusty back roads to our next stop was much better than the freeway.

White-rumped Hawk       (Buteo leucorrhous)
Black Hawk-Eagle (Spizaetus tyrannus)
Crested Caracara (Caracara cheriway)
Dusky-legged Guan       (Penelope obscura)
White-eyed Parakeet (Aratinga leucophthalmus)
Scaly-headed Parrot (Pionus maximiliani)
Channel-billed Toucan (Ramphastos vitellinus)
YELLOW-BROWED WOODPECKER (Piculus aurulentus)-NEAR THREATENED
Scaled Woodcreeper (Lepidocolaptes squamatus)
Scaled Antbird (Drymophila squamata)
Chestnut-crowned Becard (Pachyramphus castaneus)
Blue-and-white Swallow (Pygochelidon cyanoleuca)
Chestnut-vented Conebill (Conirostrum speciosum)
Green-headed Tanager (Tangara seledon)
Red-rumped Cacique (Cacicus haemorrhous)

15 species

Mammals:

Muriqui (Brachyteles arachnoids)-CRITICALLY ENDANGERED
Brown Capuchin (Cebus apella robustus)
Brown Howler Monkey (Alouatta fusca)

Day 18 – CONCEICAO DO CASTELO

Cherry-throated Tanager re-discovered (by José Fernando Pacheco, from Cotinga 9, Spring 1998.) http://www.neotropicalbirdclub.org/feature/cherrythroatedtanger.html

Forty-seven years after the last report and nearly 130 years after the only specimen was collected, the Cherry-throated Tanager (Nemosia rourei) has been rediscovered in Espirito Santo State, Brazil.  The bird was previously known from the type-specimen collected at Muriaé, Minas Gerias state in 1870, a flock of eight seen in 1941 in the Limoeiro-Jatiboca area, Espirito Santo (2) and a possible sight record at Nova Lombardia Biological Reserve, Espirito Santo in 1992 (1).  The species was found on private land in the mountains of Conceição do Castelo municipality (20 19'S 41 17'W, 1,100 m), with up to four individuals seen, tape-recorded and photographed on 22 and 24 February 1998.  The birds were observed for 20 minutes on the first day and 75 minutes on the second day by.  The discovery was made by six Brazilian Researchers: Claudia Bauer, José Fernando Pacheco, Ana Cristina Venturini, Pedro Rogério de Paz, Mariana Pacheco Rehen and Luciano Petronetto do Carmo.

We joined Ana and Pedro and BirdQuest guide Mark van Biers early in the morning to drive to the mountains of Conceicao do Castelo and look for this rare species.  Mark had been there two days hoping for a sight of the birds.  It was expensive to hire Ana and Pedro for the day, but they are the only ones who have access to the property owned by a Brazilian industrialist who travels the property in his Range Rover with armed bodyguards.  We met him late one night.

The birds are confined to two small tracts of forest that are separated only by a cut gap in the forest.  There is only one banded bird.  That bird has been seen on both sides of the gap.  One group of six birds has been sighted on one side of the gap, and another group of five birds have been sighted on the other side.  It is unknown if it’s the same group.

Pedro plays the tape of the bird much too loud and expects the birds to respond.  They don’t.  Rather they travel in flocks with other species usually led by Syristes and ignore the tape.  If they did respond, you wouldn’t hear them as the tape is too loud.  We spent the morning with no success, moved to the second patch in the afternoon, hiked down through a coffee plantation to the edge of a forest with visibility up the hill, and finally heard them first and saw them as specks on the hill on the other side, traveling in a flock with other species.  We could make out the white and the movement, and we could hear the sound.  Occasionally, one would come into view on a perch outside the canopy, then disappear within.  Two of us actually saw the red on the throat.  They were not the best views.

We stayed in a Texaco station that had a clean hotel attached.

Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)
Gray-headed Kite (Leptodon cayanensis)
Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus)
Crane Hawk (Geranospiza caerulescens)
Barred Forest-Falcon (Micrastur ruficollis)
Dusky-legged Guan (Penelope obscura)
Plumbeous Pigeon (Columba plumbea)
Scaly-headed Parrot (Pionus maximiliani)
FRILLED COQUETTE (Lophornis magnificus)-ENDEMIC
Glittering-bellied Emerald (Chlorostilbon aureoventris)
White-throated Hummingbird (Leucochloris albicollis)
Spot-billed Toucanet (Selenidera maculirostris)
YELLOW-BROWED WOODPECKER (Piculus aurulentus)-NEAR THREATENED
Lineated Woodpecker (Dryocopus lineatus)
Giant Antshrike (Batara cinerea)
SPOT-BREASTED ANTVIREO (Dysithamnus stictothorax)-NEAR THREATENED
WHITE-BIBBED ANTBIRD (Myrmeciza loricata)-ENDEMIC
SUCH'S ANTTHRUSH (Chamaeza meruloides)-ENDEMIC
Rufous Gnateater (Conopophaga lineata)
CINNAMON-VENTED PIHA (Lipaugus lanioides)-ENDEMIC, VULNERABLE
Blue Manakin (Chiroxiphia caudata)
Blue-and-white Swallow (Pygochelidon cyanoleuca)
Creamy-bellied Thrush (Turdus amaurochalinus)
CHERRY-THROATED TANAGER (Nemosia rourei)-ENDEMIC, CRITICALLY ENDANGERED

23 species
5 endemic

Mammals:
Three-toed Sloth (Bradypus torquatus) aka “Maned Sloth"
 

Day 19 - SERRA DOS ORGAOS

To Serra dos Orgaos in Rio de Janeiro state with a stop at Carmo in the hopes of seeing Rio de Janeiro Antbird, heard only at noon in the dry habitat.  We did however see Three-toed Jacamar (Jacamaralcyon tridactyla) again in this site.

Serra dos Orgaos is the site where ornithologist and guide Ricardo Parrini rparinni@hotmail.com rediscovered the Kinglet Calyptura (Calyptura cristata) on 27 October 1996, the first record in over twenty years and not seen since despite the expeditions of many hopeful birders.  An interesting article on the rediscovery can be found at

http://www.neotropicalbirdclub.org/feature/kingletcalyptura.html

It is also the site for the rare Gray-winged Cotinga (Tijuca condita) found only at the uppermost reaches of the steep mountain.  We climbed a rise in altitude of 1000 meters in two hours in the hopes that we might get a glimpse of the Cotinga at the top.  Despite clear weather and no wind there was no sound or sight of the bird.  We did however have great views on the way up of other species.  We hiked down in the dark with flashlights, dodging bats.  This hike is not for the unfit.

Accommodations are plentiful in the city Tersopolis.

Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
WHITE-NECKED HAWK (Leucopternis lacernulata)-ENDEMIC, VULNERABLE
Dusky-legged Guan (Penelope obscura)
Spot-winged Wood-Quail (Odontophorus capueira)
Barn Owl (Tyto alba)
Ashy-tailed Swift (Chaetura andrei) aka Sick's
PLOVERCREST (Stephanoxis lalandi)-male displaying!
Sapphire-spangled Emerald (Polyerata lactea)
BRAZILIAN RUBY (Clytolaema rubricauda)-ENDEMIC
THREE-TOED JACAMAR (Jacamaralcyon tridactyla)-ENDEMIC, ENDANGERED
PALLID SPINETAIL (Cranioleuca pallida)-ENDEMIC
WHITE-BROWED FOLIAGE-GLEANER (Anabacerthia amaurotis)-NEAR THREATENED
Rufous-breasted Leaftosser (Sclerurus scansor)
Variable Antshrike (Thamnophilus caerulescens)
Plain Antvireo (Dysithamnus mentalis)
RUFOUS-BACKED ANTVIREO (Dysithamnus xanthopterus)-ENDEMIC
FERRUGINOUS ANTBIRD (Drymophila ferruginea)-ENDEMIC
RUFOUS-TAILED ANTBIRD (Drymophila genei)-ENDEMIC, NEAR THREATENED
BLACK-AND-GOLD COTINGA (Tijuca atra)-ENDEMIC, NEAR THREATENED
Mottle-cheeked Tyrannulet (Phylloscartes ventralis)
Blue-billed Black-Tyrant (Knipolegus cyanirostris)
Blue-and-white Swallow (Pygochelidon cyanoleuca)
Creamy-bellied Thrush (Turdus amaurochalinus)
Rufous-crowned Greenlet (Hylophilus poicilotis)
Rufous-browed Peppershrike (Cyclarhis gujanensis)
Golden-crowned Warbler (Basileuterus culicivorus)
Bananaquit (Coereba flaveola)
Chestnut-headed Tanager (Pyrrhocoma ruficeps)
Ruby-crowned Tanager (Tachyphonus coronatus)
Diademed Tanager (Stephanophorus diadematus)
BRASSY-BREASTED TANAGER (Tangara desmaresti)-ENDEMIC
Burnished-buff Tanager (Tangara cayana)
BAY-CHESTED WARBLING-FINCH (Poospiza thoracica)-ENDEMIC
Thick-billed Saltator (Saltator maxillosus)

35 species
8 endemic

Day 20-22 - ITATIAIA

Just north of the Rio-Sao Paulo highway, Itatiaia is the site of Brazil's third-highest mountain, the Pico das Agulhas Negras at 9,144 feet.  The park is SE Brazil's best known birding destination.

We stayed at Hotel Simon http://www.hotelsimon.com.br/ Email: hsimon@resenet.com.br and enjoyed the rooms and the food.  It was here that we would hear about the attack on the World Trade Center after a morning of birding.  It was eerie to be the only ones in the hotel on a foggy day watching a television with terrible videos narrated in Portuguese.

We spent time on all the trails around the hotel and took early morning drives to the higher portions of the park by driving down the highway before ascending to Aguas Negros and the Jeep Trail where we found different habitat and different species including the endemic Itatiaia Thistletail.

Cocoi Heron (Ardea cocoi)
Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
Aplomado Falcon (Falco femoralis)
Dusky-legged Guan (Penelope obscura)
Spot-winged Wood-Quail (Odontophorus capueira)
Slaty-breasted Wood-Rail (Aramides saracura)
Southern Lapwing (Vanellus chilensis)
Picazuro Pigeon (Columba picazuro)
Plumbeous Pigeon (Columba plumbea)
Gray-fronted Dove (Leptotila rufaxilla)
Maroon-bellied Parakeet (Pyrrhura frontalis)
Scaly-headed Parrot (Pionus maximiliani)
Rusty-barred Owl (Strix hylophila)
White-collared Swift (Streptoprocne zonaris)
Gray-rumped Swift (Chaetura cinereiventris)
DUSKY-THROATED HERMIT (Phaethornis squalidus)-ENDEMIC
Black Jacobin (Florisuga fuscus)
Violet-capped Woodnymph (Thalurania glaucopis)
White-throated Hummingbird      (Leucochloris albicollis)
Versicolored Emerald (Agyrtria versicolor)
BRAZILIAN RUBY (Clytolaema rubricauda)-ENDEMIC
Amethyst Woodstar (Calliphlox amethystina)
Black-throated Trogon (Trogon rufus)
Ringed Kingfisher (Ceryle torquata)
SAFFRON TOUCANET (Baillonius bailloni)-NEAR THREATENED
Red-breasted Toucan (Ramphastos dicolorus)
White-barred Piculet (Picumnus cirratus)
Campo Flicker (Colaptes campestris)
Rufous Hornero (Furnarius rufus)
ARAUCARIA TIT-SPINETAIL (Leptasthenura setaria)-NEAR THREATENED
ITATIAIA THISTLETAIL (Oreophylax moreirae)-ENDEMIC
Plain Xenops (Xenops minutus)
WHITE-BROWED FOLIAGE-GLEANER (Anabacerthia amaurotis)-NEAR THREATENED
Black-capped Foliage-gleaner (Philydor atricapilla)
Olivaceous Woodcreeper (Sittasomus griseicapillus)
Large-tailed Antshrike (Mackenziaena leachii)
Variable Antshrike (Thamnophilus caerulescens)
Plain Antvireo (Dysithamnus mentalis)
Brazilian Antthrush (Chamaeza ruficauda)
Speckle-breasted Antpitta (Hylopezus nattereri)
Red-ruffed Fruitcrow (Pyroderus scutatus)
BLACK-CAPPED PIPRITES (Piprites pileatus)-VULNERABLE
Sepia-capped Flycatcher (Leptopogon amaurocephalus)
SERRA DO MAR TYRANNULET (Phylloscartes difficilis)-ENDEMIC, NEAR THREATENED
Mottle-cheeked Tyrannulet (Phylloscartes ventralis)
Greenish Tyrannulet (Phyllomyias virescens)
Brown-breasted Bamboo-Tyrant (Hemitriccus obsoletus)
Ochre-faced Tody-Flycatcher (Todirostrum plumbeiceps)
Cliff Flycatcher (Hirundinea ferruginea)
Tropical Pewee (Contopus cinereus)
Gray Monjita (Xolmis cinerea)
White-rumped Monjita (Xolmis velata)
Blue-billed Black-Tyrant (Knipolegus cyanirostris)
Crested Black-Tyrant (Knipolegus lophotes)
Long-tailed Tyrant (Colonia colonus)
Cattle Tyrant (Machetornis rixosus)
Gray-breasted Martin (Progne chalybea)
White-rumped Swallow (Tachycineta leucorrhoa)
Blue-and-white Swallow (Pygochelidon cyanoleuca)
Yellow-legged Thrush (Platycichla flavipes)
Rufous-bellied Thrush (Turdus rufiventris)
Golden-crowned Warbler (Basileuterus culicivorus)
Chestnut-vented Conebill (Conirostrum speciosum)
BROWN TANAGER (Orchesticus abeillei)-ENDEMIC, NEAR THREATENED
Magpie Tanager (Cissopis leveriana)
Chestnut-headed Tanager (Pyrrhocoma ruficeps)
RUFOUS-HEADED TANAGER (Hemithraupis ruficapilla)-ENDEMIC
Ruby-crowned Tanager (Tachyphonus coronatus)
Black-goggled Tanager (Trichothraupis melanops)
Sayaca Tanager (Thraupis sayaca)
Golden-chevroned Tanager (Thraupis ornata)
Diademed Tanager (Stephanophorus diadematus)
Fawn-breasted Tanager (Pipraeidea melanonota)-possible split?
Chestnut-bellied Euphonia (Euphonia pectoralis)
Green-headed Tanager (Tangara seledon)
BRASSY-BREASTED TANAGER (Tangara desmaresti)-ENDEMIC
Blue Dacnis (Dacnis cayana)
BAY-CHESTED WARBLING-FINCH (Poospiza thoracica)-ENDEMIC
Red-rumped Warbling-Finch (Poospiza lateralis)-
Rufous-collared Sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis)
Red-rumped Cacique (Cacicus haemorrhous)

83 species
8 endemic
 

Day 23 - CAMPOS DO JORDAO

Campos do Jordao is a mountain retreat near Sao Paolo crowded with second homes but there are still some patches of habitat and a nice grove of Araucaria trees favored by Vinaceous Parrot and Araucaria Tit-Spinetail.  Edson was saddened to find his traditional location for Lesser Grass Finch had been burned in a fire but we were comforted by astounding looks at a pair of Uniformed Finch nearby.

We were entranced by the song of a migratory Eastern Slaty Thrush who typically hide near the trunk of a tree and use their considerable ventriloquist skills to confuse birders.  It took us two hours to finally track one down for views.

We stayed in a family-owned accommodation that was perfect our early morning requirements.  www.valeverdehotel.com.br

Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
Yellow-headed Caracara (Milvago chimachima)
Aplomado Falcon (Falco femoralis)
Dusky-legged Guan (Penelope obscura)
Plumbeous Pigeon (Columba plumbea)
Gray-fronted Dove (Leptotila rufaxilla)
VINACEOUS PARROT (Amazona vinacea)-ENDANGERED
Guira Cuckoo (Guira guira)
ARAUCARIA TIT-SPINETAIL (Leptasthenura setaria)-NEAR THREATENED
Rufous-capped Spinetail (Synallaxis ruficapilla)
Black-capped Foliage-gleaner (Philydor atricapilla)
Blue-and-white Swallow (Pygochelidon cyanoleuca)
Eastern Slaty-Thrush (Turdus subalaris)
Rufous-bellied Thrush (Turdus rufiventris)
Plush-crested Jay (Cyanocorax chrysops)
Rufous-crowned Greenlet (Hylophilus poicilotis)
Rufous-browed Peppershrike      (Cyclarhis gujanensis)
Ruby-crowned Tanager (Tachyphonus coronatus)
Diademed Tanager (Stephanophorus diadematus)
Uniform Finch (Haplospiza unicolor)
Red-rumped Cacique (Cacicus haemorrhous)

22 species

DAY 24

We stopped several times on the road out of Serra do Jordao in agricultural fields to look for Great Pampa-Finch (Embernagra platensis) and White-browed Blackbird (Sturnella superciliaris) which we found.

When we got to Sao Paolo we spent the afternoon in SERRA DA CANTAREIRA Park in the middle of Sao Paolo.  We were surprised at the excellent habitat in the higher altitude of the park accessible only by automobile by park staff and researchers only.  There was no worry about safety since most visitors to the park were confined to the lower altitudes.  Eye-ringed Tody-Tyrant has been reported on the road and we searched for it but didn't find it.

Tataupa Tinamou (Crypturellus tataupa)
Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)
Dusky-legged Guan (Penelope obscura)
Slaty-breasted Wood-Rail (Aramides saracura)
Blackish Rail (Pardirallus nigricans)
Maroon-bellied Parakeet (Pyrrhura frontalis)
PLAIN PARAKEET (Brotogeris tirica)-ENDEMIC
Scaly-headed Parrot (Pionus maximiliani)
Scale-throated Hermit (Phaethornis eurynome)
BRAZILIAN RUBY (Clytolaema rubricauda)-ENDEMIC
Red-breasted Toucan (Ramphastos dicolorus)
White-spotted Woodpecker (Veniliornis spilogaster)
Olivaceous Woodcreeper (Sittasomus griseicapillus)
White-throated Woodcreeper (Xiphocolaptes albicollis)
Scaled Woodcreeper (Lepidocolaptes squamatus)
Plain Antvireo (Dysithamnus mentalis)
Red-ruffed Fruitcrow (Pyroderus scutatus)
Gray-hooded Flycatcher (Mionectes rufiventris)
Sepia-capped Flycatcher (Leptopogon amaurocephalus)
SOUTHERN BRISTLE-TYRANT (Phylloscartes eximius)-NEAR THREATENED
Eared Pygmy-Tyrant (Myiornis auricularis)
Yellow-olive Flycatcher (Tolmomyias sulphurescens)
Blue-and-white Swallow (Pygochelidon cyanoleuca)
Rufous-bellied Thrush (Turdus rufiventris)
Creamy-bellied Thrush (Turdus amaurochalinus)
White-necked Thrush (Turdus albicollis)
Ruby-crowned Tanager (Tachyphonus coronatus)
Diademed Tanager (Stephanophorus diadematus)
BRASSY-BREASTED TANAGER (Tangara desmaresti)-ENDEMIC
Great Pampa-Finch (Embernagra platensis)
White-browed Blackbird (Sturnella superciliaris)

31 species
3 endemic

Mammals:
Brown Howler Monkey (Alouatta fusca)
 

Garry George
Los Angeles, California
garrygeorge@msn.com