Brazil & Argentina: The Pantanal, Cerrado & Iguazú Falls Trip Report, September 2022

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21 SEPTEMBER – 05 OCTOBER 2022

By Eduardo Ormaeche

Brazil birding report

Hyacinth Macaw, an iconic bird of the Pantanal (photo Eric Schroeder).

Overview

In September 2022 I traveled to Brazil to lead a Birding Ecotours tour with the Golden Gate Bird Alliance. After a two-year absence due to the pandemic, I was more excited than ever to return to one of my favorite destinations in the Neotropics! This trip was designed to give participants the opportunity to explore three important and iconic ecosystems in Brazil: Firstly, the Pantanal, the largest seasonal wetland in the world, home to a vast number of birds and wildlife, and famous for its Jaguar-viewing opportunities. Secondly, the Cerrado, a unique habitat of deciduous scrub and tropical savanna, which is unfortunately threatened due to deforestation and fires. Finally, the Atlantic Forest, a vast and diverse forest that extends across much of Brazil and within which the mighty Iguazú Falls, on the Brazil-Argentina border, is found.

Brazil birding report

The Devil’s Throat of Iguazú Falls from Argentina.

During this fantastic two-week birding tour, we recorded numerous fantastic species including Hyacinth Macaw, Sungrebe, Sunbittern, Greater Rhea, Jabiru, Roseate Spoonbill, Agami Heron, Zigzag Heron, Helmeted Manakin, Red-ruffed Fruitcrow, Green-headed Tanager, Black Jacobin, Great Dusky Swift, Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper, Red-billed Scythebill, Rufous-capped Motmot, Surucua, Black-throated and Blue-crowned Trogons, Araucaria Tit-Spinetail, White-eyed Foliage-gleaner, Black-fronted Piping Guan, Great Rufous Woodcreeper, Blond-crested Woodpecker, Common and Great Potoos, Toco Toucan, White-rumped and Fulvous Shrike-Tanagers, and many others. In addition to our birding encounters, we had a variety of mammals, including four of Brazil’s ‘Big Five’: Jaguar, Giant Anteater, Lowland Tapir and Giant (River) Otter.This was a superb trip for birders, wildlife enthusiasts and adventurous travelers alike.

Detailed Report

Day 1, 21st September 2022. Arrival in São Paulo, and transfer to Argentina

The group met at the Guarulhos International Airport in São Paulo, before connecting with a domestic flight to Foz do Iguazú in the Brazilian state of Paraná. In Foz de Iguazú, we were welcomed by Pocho, our excellent Argentinean local guide who would be with us while in Iguazú. We arrived at the Argentina-Brazil border, which is easy to navigate for international travelers visiting the Urugua-í Park and its stunning waterfalls. This was the first time many of our group members had traveled to Brazil, Iguazú or the Pantanal, which added to the excitement of the adventure that awaited us.

We then traveled to our accommodation where we would stay for the next four nights, the Selva de Laurel Lodge, which is conveniently located near ‘600 Hectares’, a famous birding hotspot in the Argentinean state of Misiones. The crisscrossing of borders meant that we could immediately start adding birds to both our Brazilian and Argentinian country lists. We birded along the roads and around the immigration offices which produced Squirrel Cuckoo, Southern Lapwing, Picazuro Pigeon, Plumbeous Kite, White Woodpecker, Yellow-chevroned Parakeet, Crested Caracara, Turquoise-fronted Amazon, Sayaca Tanager, Saffron Finch, Grey-breasted Martin, and Rufous Hornero. These were the first birds we could officially add to our Argentinian bird list. After an exciting first day, we returned to our accommodation and prepared for the following day.

Brazil birding report

Great Dusky Swifts at Iguazú Falls (photo Carl Wang).

Day 2, 22nd September 2022. Birding the Iguazú Falls and Jardin de los Picaflores

The next day we started birding around the lodge before leaving for Iguazú National Park which opens at 8 a.m. We heard Rufous-capped Motmot calling before dawn, but they were rather distant. We then saw Yellow-fronted Woodpecker, Chestnut-eared Aracari, Planalto Woodcreeper, Eared Pygmy Tyrant, Fuscous Flycatcher, Chestnut-bellied Euphonia, Plush-crested Jay, Golden-crowned Warbler, Swallow Tanager, and Red-rumped Cacique. We heard Ochre-collared Piculet, which unfortunately did not show for us, however the stunning Blond-crested Woodpecker was seen by everyone.

After a few hours of birding around the lodge we left for Iguazú National Park. We arrived at the park, and after dealing with the long lines and crowds, we made our way to the spectacular Devil’s Throat, which at a height of 269 feet (82 meters), is the largest waterfall of the Iguazú Falls. From the cliffs, we were able to get amazing scope views of Great Dusky Swifts roosting, as well as flying above the mighty waterfalls.

Along the boardwalks and above the waterfalls, we enjoyed sightings of Snail Kite, Neotropic Cormorant, Chestnut-vented Conebill, Saffron Finch, Red-rumped Cacique, and Scaly-headed Parrot. We also had some interesting wildlife encounters, with great views of South American Coati, Black-capped Capuchin, Iguazu Lava Lizard, Black Tegu and Granulated Catfish.

Brazil birding report

Black Jacobin, an Atlantic Forest hummingbird special (photo Carl Wang).

The rain arrived at midday, and by now we were ready for a meal at the restaurant in Iguazú National Park, which turned out to be one of the best meals of the trip. We then headed to the Jardin de los Picaflores, a hummingbird garden in Puerto Iguazú. Here, we enjoyed our first sightings of these beautiful and unique avian jewels, and seeing as this was the only hummingbird feeding station we would visit on the trip, we appreciated our time here even more. We had a wonderful time at the bird feeders, enjoying views of Black Jacobin, Black-throated Mango, Glittering-bellied and Versicolored Emeralds, Violet-capped Woodnymph, White-throated and Swallow-tailed Hummingbirds, Gilded Sapphire, Planalto and Scale-throated Hermits, as well as Violaceous Euphonia and Variable Oriole. After a great day at the Iguazú Falls, we returned to the lodge to get some well-deserved rest, in preparation for the next day.

Day 3, 23rd September 2022. Exploring the Brazilian side of Iguazú Falls      

Today we left Puerto Iguazú and crossed the border to visit the Brazilian side of Iguazú Falls. Before we even got out of the bus, we spotted a Black-fronted Piping Guan, an Endangered Atlantic Forest endemic, which everyone was able to see. Shortly afterwards, we saw our first Toco Toucan, as well as the beautiful Green-headed Tanager. Seeing Black-fronted Piping Guan, one of the trip highlights, on the Brazilian side of the Iguazú Falls was an amazing start. Although the Argentinian side of the Iguazú Falls is better in terms of walking trails and convenient birding sites, the Brazilian side produced some unexpected surprises, and gave us even more spectacular views of the waterfall.

Before it started raining and was covered in mist, participants took the opportunity to photograph the waterfall. I felt sorry for those who arrived later and missed this photographic opportunity, but in terms of our birding successes, we were very content.

Brazil birding report

The Endangered Black-fronted Piping Guan, one of the highlights of Iguazú (photo Carl Wang).

In the evening, we went outside the lodge to try for Black-capped Screech Owl,which we heard, but unfortunately never saw. Although we tried hard for this bird, the bad weather and elusive nature of this individual meant that our efforts went unrewarded. This was a pity, but we returned to the lodge looking forward to the next day at the Urugua-í Park.

Day 4, 24th September 2022. Exploring Urugua-í Park

Urugua-í Park, named after local conservationist, Dr. Luis Honorio Rolon, protects habitat around the source of the Uruguaí River, which originates in the highlands of the Misiones Province. At 2,470 acres (84,000 hectares), this is perhaps one of the best places to see Black-fronted Piping Guan, as well as many other species. The birding started off slowly, with a few species showing well, including Green-backed Becard, and we had a great sighting of Chestnut-crowned Becard building a nest right next to the parking lot. We then had a Campo Flicker, and our first flock of Maroon-bellied Parakeet.Other species seen included the widespread Great Kiskadee, Streaked and Piratic Flycatchers, Red-rumped Caciques and Swallow Tanager. Despite it being quiet in the humid and misty Atlantic Forest, we soon found a Red-ruffed Fruitcrow.

Brazil birding report

Red-ruffed Fruitcrow in the Urugua-í Park (photo Carl Wang).

In the forest interior we found Surucua Trogon, Southern Beardless and Greenish Tyrannulets, Sepia-capped Flycatcher, Southern Bristle Tyrant, White-necked Thrush, Golden-crowned Warbler, Tropical Parula, Red-crowned Ant Tanager, Ruby-crowned Tanager, Green-winged Saltator, and Riverbank Warbler, and with some local knowledge and good luck, we saw White-eyed Foliage-gleaner, a bird that does not always show well.

We left the forest and tried for a another sought-after Furnarid from this part of the world, the secretive Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper – a bird which is found in the Atlantic Forest, in the humid mountains of the Andes. We looked along the main road, and were lucky enough to be able to feast our eyes on this small and mysterious stream skulker. We heard a Black-fronted Piping Guan in the distance, but were unable to see it, so I was especially pleased that we had seen one on the previous day on the Brazilian side of Iguazú Falls. We saw Scaly-headed Parrots of the race melanoblepharus, distinguishable from the race maximiliani (which we later saw in the Pantanal) by the absence of a white eye ring.

After a great picnic lunch, where Pocho provided a variety of ‘Argentinean empanadas’ to keep our spirits up, we left Urugua-í Park and investigated an Araucaria woodland where we got great views of another special, Araucaria Tit-Spinetail,and we heard a Blacksmith Thrush which only a few participants had seen at Urugua-í Park.

We decided to have dinner outside of our accommodation seeing that Puerto Iguazú has many restaurant options, which Pocho helped us to choose from. After a great day of birding, we returned to the lodge to get ready for our last day in Iguazú.

Brazil birding report

The secretive White-eyed Foliage-gleaner at the Urugua-í Park (photo Carl Wang).

Day 5, 25th September 2022. Morning flight to São Paulo, with a connecting flight to Cuiabá

Today we returned to the Foz do Iguazú Airport in Brazil. We said goodbye to our Argentinian team and prepared for a long day of travel. Before we left Iguazú, on the way to the airport, we managed to see a pair of Burrowing Owls, which made several people very happy, especially Carl who had never seen one before. The first flight was from Foz do Iguazú to São Paulo, which was then followed by a connecting flight to Cuiabá, our rendezvous for the Pantanal and Cerrado trip. We arrived at Cuiabá and were transferred to our accommodation at Hotel Slaviero. Despite the heat and humidity, we were very excited about the prospect of exploring the Pantanal and the Cerrado over the next few days.

Day 6, 26th September 2022. Transfer to Chapada dos Guimarães, with birding en route

We left Cuiabá and birded en route as we headed towards Chapada dos Guimarães National Park and were immediately impressed with the red cliffs and mountains of this new landscape. Our first stop was near an impressive cliff known as ‘Hell’s Gate’, and along the way we encountered some interesting scrub species including Red-and-green Macaw, White-tailed Hawk, Ferruginous Pygmy Owl, Toco Toucan, Cliff (with more grey than white on the head, compared to the Andean tropical foothills population) and Boat-billed Flycatchers Burnished-buff and White-lined Tanagers, Chalk-browed Mockingbird, as well as one of the specials here, Blue-winged Macaw.

After having lunch in town, we moved to Pousada do Parque, our base for the next three nights, which was conveniently located on the outskirts of the Chapada do Guimarães National Park. Here, we had Guira Cuckoo, Southern Lapwing, Chopi Blackbird, Red Pileated Finch, and we saw a Planalto Hermit feeding in the flowers around the reception and pool.

We spent the rest of the afternoon birding around the scenic lodge grounds. Other species which showed well during the afternoon included Scaled Pigeon, Ruddy Ground and White-tipped Doves, Smooth-billed Ani, White-vented Violetear and Glittering-bellied Emerald, Amazonian Motmot, Swallow-winged Puffbird, Lettered Aracari, Yellow-tufted, Little, Lineated and Green-barred Woodpeckers, Creamy-bellied Thrush, Double-collared Seedeater, Black-faced Tanager, Small-billed Elaenia, and Masked Tityra. We also had Rufous Hornero, the Argentinean national bird, and Rufous-bellied Thrush, the Brazilian national bird.

Day 7, 27th September 2022. Chapada dos Guimarães National Park and Pousada do Parque

We spent the first hours of the morning birding along the main track on the way to the entrance of the Chapada dos Guimarães National Park. Along this road we found some interesting and widespread species such as Blue Dacnis, Amazonian Motmot, White Woodpecker, Narrow-billed Woodcreeper, Rufous Casiornis, Rufous Hornero, Helmeted Manakin (female), Short-crested Flycatcher, Masked Tityra, Sayaca Tanager, Flavescent Warbler, Red Pileated Finch, and Black-throated Saltator.

Although there is extensive Cerrado habitat outside of the park, we were able to find some of our target species in more accessible areas, such as Água Fria and the Geladeira Road, as well as the road that takes you to Stone City, where it is possible to see the Endangered Yellow-faced Amazon. Unfortunately, the road is not always in good condition, and it sometimes requires a 4×4 vehicle, depending on the time of year one is traveling.

We spent some time at the famous Bride’s Veil Waterfall, which is created by several streams that run down the slopes of the plateaus (Planalto in Portuguese) and discharge into the Cuiabá River and the Pantanal. Here, we managed to see flocks of White-eyed Parakeet, Red-and-green Macaw, Cliff Flycatcher, Blue-winged Macaw, and Cindi spotted a Great Dusky Swift roosting, which was great to see. We tried forCrested Black Tyrant, but unfortunately did not see one today.

Brazil birding report

Bride’s Veil in Chapada dos Guimarães.

We then visited Vale de Benção, one of the few remaining pockets of forest in the Cerrado, where it is possible to find interior forest species, and to find shade as the heat intensifies. As soon as we arrived, we had Amazonian Motmot, Black-fronted Nunbird, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Lettered Aracari, Red-shouldered Macaw, Yellow-tufted Woodpecker, Swallow-tailed Hummingbird, Large-billed Antwren, Crested Oropendola, Variable Oriole, Buff-throated Saltator, Pale-breasted Thrush, and for the second time on this trip, we saw Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper.

Later that afternoon we explored the open areas of the Cerrado, finding birds such as Red-legged Seriema, which gave us a great performance as it crossed the road. Other bird sightings included Chapada Flycatcher, Rusty-backed Antwren, Large Elaenia, Plumbeous Seedeater, Black-throated Saltator and Peach-fronted Parakeet. Red-winged Tinamou was heard,but we were unfortunately unable to see it on this occasion. We then returned to the Pousada do Parque Lodge to relax and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.

Day 8, 28th September 2022. Chapada dos Guimarães and Pousada do Parque

Today we left very early in the morning to explore the open areas of the Cerrado. Close to the Estrada Água Fria, we found some interesting Cerrado specials such as Black-faced and Shrike-like Tanagers, and we saw White-rumped Tanagers doing a territorial display. We added several of the usual suspects, including great views of White-eared Puffbird and Campo Flicker.However, Collared Crescentchest proved elusive this year. After a morning of birding the Cerrado, we moved back to the lodge before a rainstorm descended upon us, with such strong winds that some tables and chairs blew off the ground. Some people went inside to get some rest, while others stayed outside to see the few birds that could endure the storm, which produced Chopi Blackbird and Purplish Jay. The rain continued for most of the afternoon, but eventually stopped and allowed us to continue birding around the lodge.

Brazil birding report

White-eared Puffbird at Chapada dos Guimarães.

We had productive birding within the lodge grounds, with Yellow-tufted, Lineated and Green-barred Woodpeckers Black-crowned Tityra, Barred Antshrike, White-lined Tanager all seen in the vicinity. We were also fortunate to see a Narrow-billed Woodcreeper building a nest which was interesting to watch. Beautiful Red-and-green Macaws are always a pleasure to see flying above the Cerrado and are a sign of hope in the face of the many threats this special habitat faces. Perhaps the most exciting sighting was the secretive Red-winged Tinamou,which was seen well by everyone as itwalked shyly above the grass along the fence-line.

Just before dusk we got to see Nacunda Nighthawk, as well as alarge number of bats emerging from a building that they had been nesting in. During our stay in Pousada do Parque, we did not see any Brazilian Cavy, and the small family group living in the lodge grounds was nowhere to be seen, possibly having been predated on by Crab-eating Foxes which are widespread in the Pantanal and Cerrado. The other culprit could have been the similar-looking Hoary Fox,a seldom-seen Brazilian endemic, which inhabits the Cerrado and can be tricky to tell apart at night, especially with brief views.

Day 9, 29th September 2022. Transfer to the Pantanal (Pouso Alegre), and birding en route

The next morning, those who were up early enough saw a male Scissor-tailed Nightjar near the pool. We then left the lodge and were transferred to the Geodesic stakeout, where we added another Red-winged Tinamou, Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, White-collared Swift, Grey Monjita,as well as the other usual suspects, but we didn’t see any Crested Black Tyrants. Sadly, it was time to leave Chapadados Guimarães, and we headed back to Cuiabá to begin exploring the Pantanal.

Staying at Pousada do Parque is a highly recommended and worthwhile stopover, as it is located within the national park itself. This means that birds and wildlife are easy to find, and we also had easier access to nocturnal birds on our night drives. After some time birding at Iguazú and the Atlantic Forest, our time in the Cerrado was equally productive, with clients birding in the early  mornings, enjoying a rest during the heat of the day, before more birding later in the day.

On the way back to Cuiabá, we stopped at a municipal park where we saw a few species we had already seen, but we were especially pleased when a Helmeted Manakin (male) showed well for us, which is very lucky, as the bird often only shows when play-back is used. We took our time to enjoy this bird, and then headed back to the restaurant at Cuiabá for a tasty lunch. After our lunch, we headed to Poconé with high expectations, and our first stop on the way was at a marshland, where we had a great number of aquatic species such as White-faced Whistling Duck, Brazilian Teal, Rufescent Tiger Heron, Wattled Jacana, Black-necked Stilt, Little Blue and Striated Herons, Yellow-chevroned Parakeets and Brown-chested Martin, amongst others.

Brazil birding report

A variety of aquatic species in the Pantanal (photo Ricardo Boschetti).

We then continued our journey to Piuval Lodge, our base from which we would explore the Pantanal. After a quick check-in, we had time to bird in the lodge vicinity, as well as in the seasonally flooded grasslands where we had Jabiru, Wood Stork, Cocoi Heron, Black Skimmer, Great, Snowy and Western Cattle Egrets, Bare-faced and Plumbeous Ibises, and Roseate Spoonbill. We were fortunate to spot a Crane Hawk, one of the less abundant open-country raptors in the Pantanal, and everyone had brilliant scope views of this individual. This was followed by Campo Flicker, White-eyed Parakeet, Rufous Cachalote, Red-crested Cardinal, and Fork-tailed Flycatcher. The Pantanal is also famous for having the world’s largest population of Capybara, and it was here that we had our first sighting of this large rodent. 

After dinner we went on an open-vehicle 4×4 drive, finding our first Marsh Deer, as well as a few pairs of Crab-eating Foxes. In addition, we saw several Little Nightjars and Pauraques, giving participants the chance to see the differences between the two species, without having to rely on the call differences to separate them.

Day 10, 30th September 2022. Birding around the lodge, and transfer to Hotel Mato Grosso

Before dawn, we were out exploring the lodge surroundings when one of the ‘Big Five’ of Brazil, and one of the most desirable species of South America, the Giant Anteater was spotted. We were fortunate enough to have amazing views of this remarkable creature, which is still found in South American grasslands, savanna, and the Amazon Rainforest.

Then, without needing to return to the lodge at 730 a.m. for breakfast (which is customary at Pantanal and Cerrado lodges), we were able to take advantage of having the additional time to bird around the lodge at this productive time of day. We had a great time birding inside the lodge grounds in the open-vehicle 4x4s, affording us great views of birds we had seen regularly. We also had Sunbittern, Grey-cowled Wood Rail, Chaco Chachalaca, White-throated Piping Guan [White-throated Piping Guan (Pipile grayi) is a recent split from Blue-throated Piping Guan (P. cumanensis) based on differences in plumage, the shape and color of the wattle, and limited hybridization in contact zones in southeastern Peru], and Bare-faced Curassow. The Pantanal contains a healthy population of Bare-faced Curassows, making them particularly easy to see here compared to other parts of the New Word. 

The moment we had all been waiting for on the tour finally arrived when the highly desirable Hyacinth Macaw, which is considered the largest parrot species, was seen flying above the beautiful Pantanal landscape, followed by an even closer view of a pair at the top of a tree. Everyone had great scope views of this obliging pair, and this was when Eric took the photo that appears on the cover of this trip report. Although other lodges have Hyacinth Macaws roosting in their gardens, the experience of seeing a pair attending a natural nest is simply magical and watching this species flying over the Pantanal woodlands is the best way to see these magnificent birds. 

We continued birding for the rest of the morning, finding great species such as Pale-crested Woodpecker and Little Woodpeckers, Campo Flicker, Toco Toucan, Ferruginous Pygmy Owl, White-lored Spinetail, Southern Scrub Flycatcher, Rufous Casiornis, Cattle Tyrant, Streaked Flycatcher, Masked Gnatcatcher, White-browed Blackbird, Orange-backed Troupial, Yellow-billed Cardinal, Chestnut-vented Conebill, Pale-breasted and Rufous-bellied Thrushes, Black-fronted Nunbird, and Great Black and Savanna Hawks. The bird that elicited the most excitement from the group must have been the impressive Red-billed Scythebill, which seemed to be playing a game of hide-an-seek at first, but then gave us fantastic views. We then had a Great Potoo roosting at its daytime roost, followed by White-vented Plumeleteer, Fork-tailed Woodnymph, White-vented Violetear, Picui Ground Dove, Turquoise-fronted Amazon, Red-legged Seriema and our first Monk Parakeet. Later that morning, we retreated to the lodge, but not before we had a glimpse of a family of Azara’s Capuchins.

Brazil birding report

Red-billed Scythebill, a great find in the Pantanal.

After we checked out and had our lunch, we headed along the famous Transpantaneira Road, which is a 90-mile (145 kilometer) dirt road connecting Poconé to Puerto Joffre and contains over 120 bridges. This road crosses the northern Pantanal and is a paradise for birds and wildlife, as well as hosting several lodges, restaurants, and recreational activities along the way. Many of these lodges were once cattle ranches (fazendas in Portuguese) which have now been repurposed for ecotourism.

While driving along the Transpantaneira Road, we saw plenty of aquatic species, including a few new species for the trip including Maguari Stork, Capped Heron, Black-collared Hawk, Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, Ringed and Green Kingfishers, Yellow-chinned Spinetail, White-headed Marsh Tyrant, Black-backed Water Tyrant, Rufescent Tiger Heron, Spotted Sandpiper, as well as Jabiru at a nest.

As soon as we entered the Pantanal, we had a better understanding of the type of species that are typical of this habitat, starting with a large gathering of Yacare Caiman around the last-remaining lagoons and wetlands of the dry season. Yacare Caiman are now considered common in the Pantanal, and are classified as a species of Least Concern, but from 1970 to 1996 they were classed as ‘Endangered’ due the illicit trade of their skins. Today, Yacare Caiman are one of the main dietary sources of Jaguars, and as such are a critical part of the Pantanal’s ecosystem.

We arrived at Pouso Alegre where we found the endemic Chestnut-bellied Guan, Greater Rhea, Hyacinth Macaw, Bare-faced Curassow, Amazon Kingfisher, and Chaco Chachalaca. It was very hot when we arrived at the lodge, so we decided to rest and bird around the lodge grounds before we went on the open-vehicle 4×4 drive. Along the drive we saw Great Horned Owl, Common Potoo, Little Nightjar, Common Pauraque, and a roosting Toco Toucan. No new mammals were seen, but the lodge grounds provided good views of Crab-eating Foxes, and once we got back to the lodge itself, we had Lowland Tapir, anindividual which had become habituated, and would often sneak into the lodge vicinity to look for food.

Day 11, 1st October 2022. Birding around the lodge, and transfer to Mato Grosso Lodge

Today we took an early walk around the lodge, and in the woodland and scrub habitat we found White-lored Spinetail, Caatinga Cacholote, Narrow-billed Woodcreeper, Swainson’s Flycatcher, Flavescent Warbler, Thrush-like Wren, Ferruginous Pygmy Owl, Turquoise-fronted Amazon, Scaled Dove, Bare-faced Curassow, Blue-crowned Trogon, Greater Rhea, Chaco Chachalaca, Chestnut-bellied Guan, South American Coati and had further great views of Hyacinth Macaws flying over. We also had perhaps one of our best sightings of Great Rufous Woodcreeper,which was new for the trip.

Brazil birding report

Greater Rhea is found in the Cerrado and grasslands of the Pantanal.

After some productive birding, we headed to Mato Grosso Lodge, located next to the Pixaim River which provided access to a variety of habitats, including woodlands and gallery forest. In the afternoon we embarked on our much-anticipated boat ride, which allowed us to explore the Pixaim River. We saw widespread species such as Anhinga, Neotropic Cormorant, Cocoi Heron, Jabiru, Wood Stork, Green Ibis, Rufescent Tiger Heron, Black-collared Hawk, Boat-billed Heron at a daytime roosting spot, and although American Pygmy Kingfisher took some time to find, we eventually had great views of this cute, little bird. We also had Band-tailed Antbird skulking in the low vegetation, as well as Chestnut-eared Aracari, Pale-legged Hornero, Lesser Kiskadee, Rusty-backed Spinetail and Pale-vented Pigeon. We got very excited when we had our first Sungrebe, which was not easy to find at first, but we all eventually had superb views.

Lowland Tapir, the largest mammal in South America, gave us a great performance when it approached the shore and submerged itself in the water to cross the river. It was amazing to follow the trace of air bubbles as it made its crossing, before its head eventually emerged. By sunset we witnessed flocks of Band-tailed Nighthawks above the water, and we tried for the very secretive and seldom-seen Zigzag Heron, which although difficult to find elsewhere, is relatively easy in the Pantanal. It was great to be able to give all participants views of this most-wanted species.

Brazil birding report

Lowland Tapir gave us a great performance (photo Eric Schroeder).

Day 12, 2nd October 2022. Birding Mato Grosso Lodge, and transfer to Porto Joffre

We spent the early morning birding the lodge grounds, including the adjacent marsh and the gallery forest, enabling us to add several new birds to the trip list. The old airstrip is always a good place to start, and we had good views of Nanday Parakeets flying over. We then had excellent sightings of Chotoy Spinetail, Peach-fronted Parakeet, and Scaly-headed Parrot, of the Pantanal race siy, which shows white orbital skin, in comparison to the Atlantic Forest race which we saw around Iguazú. We then had White-bellied Seedeater, Buff-bellied Hermit, Bluish-grey Saltator, and Variable Oriole, followed by a handsome Marsh Deer watching us from the grasslands.

Once on the trail, we continued birding which produced Mato Grosso Antbird, Ashy-headed Greenlet, Flavescent Warbler, Blue-crowned Trogon, Buff-throated Woodcreeper, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Pale-crested Woodpecker, Black-fronted Nunbird, Pearly-vented and Stripe-necked Tody-Tyrants and Yellow-olive Flatbill.A final visit to the marsh near to the lodge allowed us to find Long-tailed Ground Dove,which took some effort, but we all eventually managed to see it.  We left Mato Grosso Lodge and continued along the Transpantaneira Road on the way to Porto Joffre, stopping at a few strategic places on the way, allowing us to find species such as Scarlet-headed Blackbird, Rusty-collared Seedeater, Black-capped Donacobius, Large-billed Tern, Black Skimmer, Southern Screamer, and Unicolored Blackbird.

Brazil birding report

The start of the Transpantaneira Road.

We arrived at the Hotel Pantanal Norte in Porto Joffre where we checked in and had a tasty lunch. After a short respite, we met at the lodge’s jetty to begin our journey by speed boat along the Cuiabá River where we hoped to find the highly prized Jaguar. This river flows to the Paraguay River, and then into La Plata in Argentina, eventually ending up in the Atlantic Ocean. The rivers of the Pantanal contain the largest concentration of Jaguars in the world, and the high numbers of Capybara and Yacare Caiman in the Pantanal provide the Jaguar population with a reliable food source. Jaguar sightings are therefore relatively easy, especially during the region’s dry months when the riverbanks are exposed. We were lucky to have our first encounter with Jaguars on the first afternoon on the riverbank, when an individual emerged from the bush, allowing us to have magnificent views. We also had encounters with birds such as Collared and Pied Plovers, Black-bellied Whistling Duck, and Large-billed Tern.

Day 13, 3rd October 2022. Jaguar viewing by boat and birding around Porto Joffre

We had another full morning to explore the Cuiabá River and to look for more Jaguar. We were extremely fortunate to see an adult female with two almost fully mature cubs, which was a very special wildlife encounter. We then had an awesome encounter with another most-wanted mammal in the Pantanal, the charismatic Giant (River) Otter, resulting in outstanding views of a family which demonstrated the species’ full repertoire of social and fishing behaviors. We then returned to the lodge to have lunch and to take a break, before heading out into the field for the afternoon.

Brazil birding report

We had wonderful Jaguar views in the Pantanal (photos Eric Schroeder).

In the afternoon, we explored the surrounding area of the Transpantaneira, where we found Solitary Cacique, Barred Antshrike and Striped Cuckoo.We tried hard for Grey-breasted Crake, which came close, but did not show.We also worked hard for Cinereous-breasted Spinetail,which took some time to find, but was eventually seen by everyone. The day ended on a high note when we saw Undulated Tinamou, which Freya spotted through the thick bush, while it was calling and sitting motionless. Everyone was delighted to have scope views of this elusive bird that we had heard so often in the Cerrado and Pantanal, but due to its shy-nature had not been seen until now. 

Brazil birding report

We had wonderful Jaguar views in the Pantanal (photos Eric Schroeder).

Day 14, 4th October 2022. Birding the Transpantaneira Road, and transfer to Cuiabá

Today was our last day in the Pantanal, which was essentially a transfer day back to the city. We had planned a couple of strategic stops, including a lunch-stop. Although we were not expecting anything new, we enjoyed a few final photo opportunities of the Pantanal along with many of the wonderful birds we had seen previously on the trip. Perhaps the best surprise was when we spotted a young Yellow Anaconda disappearing from the road into the bushes, providing us with a glimpse of most of the snake. We finally reached Poconé and saw about three Blue-and-yellow Macaws, as well as a few more regularly seen species. We finally arrived at the hotel, and had supper at our favorite restaurant in town where we celebrated the end of a truly fantastic two-week birding trip of Brazil and Argentina.

Day 15, 5th October 2022. Departure from São Paulo

On our final day, participants were transferred to the Cuiabá Marechal Rondon International Airport to catch their connecting flights back to São Paulo where they eventually departed, bringing the tour to its conclusion.

Brazil birding report

Giant (River) Otters in the Pantanal (photo Ricardo Boschetti).

Bird List – Following IOC (13.1)

Birds ‘heard only’ are marked with (H) after the common name, all other species were seen.

The following notation after species names is used to show conservation status following BirdLife International: VU = Vulnerable.

Common NameScientific Name
 Rheas (Rheidae)
Greater RheaRhea americana
  
Tinamous (Tinamidae)
Undulated TinamouCrypturellus undulatus
Small-billed TinamouCrypturellus parvirostris
Red-winged TinamouRhynchotus rufescens
  
Screamers (Anhimidae)
Horned ScreamerAnhima cornuta
Southern ScreamerChauna torquata
  
Ducks, Geese, Swans (Anatidae)
White-faced Whistling DuckDendrocygna viduata
Black-bellied Whistling DuckDendrocygna autumnalis
Muscovy DuckCairina moschata
Brazilian TealAmazonetta brasiliensis
  
Chachalacas, Curassows, Guans (Cracidae)
Chaco ChachalacaOrtalis canicollis
Chestnut-bellied Guan (Endemic) – VUPenelope ochrogaster
White-throated Piping GuanPipile grayi
Black-fronted Piping Guan – ENPipile jacutinga
Bare-faced Curassow – VUCrax fasciolata
  
Nightjars (Caprimulgidae)
Nacunda NighthawkChordeiles nacunda
Band-tailed NighthawkNyctiprogne leucopyga
PauraqueNyctidromus albicollis
Little NightjarSetopagis parvula
  
Potoos (Nyctibiidae)
Great PotooNyctibius grandis
Common PotooNyctibius griseus
  
Swifts (Apodidae)
Great Dusky SwiftCypseloides senex
White-collared SwiftStreptoprocne zonaris
Sick’s SwiftChaetura meridionalis
Grey-rumped SwiftChaetura cinereiventris
  
Hummingbirds (Trochilidae)
Black JacobinFlorisuga fusca
Scaly-throated HermitPhaethornis eurynome
Buff-bellied HermitPhaethornis subochraceus
Planalto HermitPhaethornis pretrei
Black-throated MangoAnthracothorax nigricollis
White-vented VioletearColibri serrirostris
Blue-tufted StarthroatHeliomaster furcifer
Glittering-bellied EmeraldChlorostilbon lucidus
Fork-tailed WoodnymphThalurania furcata
Violet-capped WoodnymphThalurania glaucopis
Swallow-tailed HummingbirdEupetomena macroura
Sapphire-spangled EmeraldChionomesa lactea
Versicolored EmeraldChrysuronia versicolor
White-throated HummingbirdLeucochloris albicollis
Glittering-throated EmeraldChionomesa fimbriata
Gilded SapphireHylocharis chrysura
  
Cuckoos (Cuculidae)
Guira CuckooGuira guira
Greater AniCrotophaga major
Smooth-billed AniCrotophaga ani
Striped CuckooTapera naevia
Squirrel CuckooPiaya cayana
  
Pigeons, Doves (Columbidae)
Rock Dove (Introduced)Columba livia
Scaled PigeonPatagioenas speciosa
Picazuro PigeonPatagioenas picazuro
Scaled DoveColumbina squammata
Ruddy Ground DoveColumbina talpacoti
Picui Ground DoveColumbina picui
Blue Ground DoveClaravis pretiosa
Long-tailed Ground DoveUropelia campestris
White-tipped DoveLeptotila verreauxi
Eared DoveZenaida auriculata
  
Finfoots (Heliornithidae)
SungrebeHeliornis fulica
  
Rails, Crakes & Coots (Rallidae)
Grey-cowled Wood RailAramides cajaneus
Grey-breasted Crake (H)Laterallus exilis
  
Limpkin (Aramidae)
LimpkinAramus guarauna
  
Stilts, Avocets (Recurvirostridae)
Black-necked StiltHimantopus mexicanus
  
Plovers (Charadriidae)
Southern LapwingVanellus chilensis
Collared PloverCharadrius collaris
Pied PloverHoploxypterus cayanus
  
Jacanas (Jacanidae)
Wattled JacanaJacana jacana
  
Sandpipers, Snipes (Scolopacidae)
Spotted SandpiperActitis macularius
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitaria
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipes
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleuca
  
Gulls, Terns, Skimmers (Laridae)
Black SkimmerRynchops niger
Large-billed TernPhaetusa simplex
  
Sunbittern (Eurypygidae)
SunbitternEurypyga helias
  
Storks (Ciconiidae)
Wood StorkMycteria americana
Maguari StorkCiconia maguari
JabiruJabiru mycteria
  
Anhingas, Darters (Anhingidae)
AnhingaAnhinga anhinga
  
Cormorants, Shags (Phalacrocoracidae)
Neotropic CormorantNannopterum brasilianum
  
Ibises, Spoonbills (Threskiornithidae)
Plumbeous IbisTheristicus caerulescens
Buff-necked IbisTheristicus caudatus
Green IbisMesembrinibis cayennensis
Bare-faced IbisPhimosus infuscatus
Roseate SpoonbillPlatalea ajaja
  
Herons, Bitterns (Ardeidae)
Rufescent Tiger HeronTigrisoma lineatum
Agami Heron – VUAgamia agami
Boat-billed HeronCochlearius cochlearius
Zigzag HeronZebrilus undulatus
Black-crowned Night HeronNycticorax nycticorax
Striated HeronButorides striata
Western Cattle EgretBubulcus ibis
Cocoi HeronArdea cocoi
Great EgretArdea alba
Capped HeronPilherodius pileatus
Whistling HeronSyrigma sibilatrix
Little Blue HeronEgretta caerulea
Snowy EgretEgretta thula
  
New World Vultures (Cathartidae)
King VultureSarcoramphus papa
Black VultureCoragyps atratus
Turkey VultureCathartes aura
Lesser Yellow-headed VultureCathartes burrovianus
  
Ospreys (Pandionidae) 
Western OspreyPandion haliaetus
  
Kites, Hawks, Eagles (Accipitridae)
Swallow-tailed KiteElanoides forficatus
Plumbeous KiteIctinia plumbea
Black-collared HawkBusarellus nigricollis
Snail KiteRostrhamus sociabilis
Crane HawkGeranospiza caerulescens
Savanna HawkButeogallus meridionalis
Great Black HawkButeogallus urubitinga
Roadside HawkRupornis magnirostris
White-tailed HawkGeranoaetus albicaudatus
White HawkPseudastur albicollis
Grey-lined HawkButeo nitidus
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterus
  
Owls (Strigidae)
Burrowing OwlAthene cunicularia
Ferruginous Pygmy OwlGlaucidium brasilianum
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianus
Tropical Screech OwlMegascops choliba
Black-capped Screech Owl (H)Megascops atricapilla
  
Trogons (Trogonidae)
Blue-crowned TrogonTrogon curucui
Surucua TrogonTrogon surrucura
Black-throated TrogonTrogon rufus
  
Kingfishers (Alcedinidae)
Amazon KingfisherChloroceryle amazona
American Pygmy KingfisherChloroceryle aenea
Green KingfisherChloroceryle americana
Green-and-rufous KingfisherChloroceryle inda
Ringed KingfisherMegaceryle torquata
  
Motmots (Momotidae)
Amazonian MotmotMomotus momota
Rufous-capped MotmotBaryphthengus ruficapillus
  
Jacamars (Galbulidae)
Rufous-tailed JacamarGalbula ruficauda
  
Puffbirds (Bucconidae)
White-eared PuffbirdNystalus chacuru
Black-fronted NunbirdMonasa nigrifrons
Swallow-winged PuffbirdChelidoptera tenebrosa
  
Toucans (Ramphastidae)
Lettered AracariPteroglossus inscriptus
Chestnut-eared AracariPteroglossus castanotis
Channel-billed Toucan – VURamphastos vitellinus
Toco ToucanRamphastos toco
  
Woodpeckers (Picidae)
Ochre-collared Piculet (H) 
White-wedged PiculetPicumnus albosquamatus
White WoodpeckerMelanerpes candidus
Yellow-tufted WoodpeckerMelanerpes cruentatus
Yellow-fronted WoodpeckerMelanerpes flavifrons
Little WoodpeckerVeniliornis passerinus
Green-barred WoodpeckerColaptes melanochloros
Campo FlickerColaptes campestris
Pale-crested WoodpeckerCeleus lugubris
Blond-crested WoodpeckerCeleus flavescens
Lineated WoodpeckerDryocopus lineatus
  
Seriemas (Cariamidae)
Red-legged SeriemaCariama cristata
  
Caracaras, Falcons (Falconidae)
Crested CaracaraCaracara plancus
Yellow-headed CaracaraMilvago chimachima
Laughing FalconHerpetotheres cachinnans
American KestrelFalco sparverius
Bat FalconFalco rufigularis
  
African & New World Parrots (Psittacidae)
Monk ParakeetMyiopsitta monachus
Yellow-chevroned ParakeetBrotogeris chiriri
Cobalt-rumped ParrotletForpus xanthopterygius
Scaly-headed ParrotPionus maximiliani
Blue-headed ParrotPionus menstruus
Turquoise-fronted AmazonAmazona aestiva
Orange-winged AmazonAmazona amazonica
Maroon-bellied ParakeetPyrrhura frontalis
Maroon-tailed ParakeetPyrrhura melanura
Hyacinth Macaw – VUAnodorhynchus hyacinthinus
Peach-fronted ParakeetEupsittula aurea
Nanday ParakeetAratinga nenday
Golden-collared MacawPrimolius auricollis
Blue-winged MacawPrimolius maracana
Blue-and-yellow MacawAra ararauna
Red-and-green MacawAra chloropterus
Red-shouldered MacawDiopsittaca nobilis
White-eyed ParakeetPsittacara leucophthalmus
  
Ovenbirds (Furnariidae)
Olivaceous WoodcreeperSittasomus griseicapillus
Plain-winged WoodcreeperDendrocincla turdina
Wedge-billed WoodcreeperGlyphorynchus spirurus
Planalto WoodcreeperDendrocolaptes platyrostris
White-throated WoodcreeperXiphocolaptes albicollis
Great Rufous WoodcreeperXiphocolaptes major
Buff-throated WoodcreeperXiphorhynchus guttatus
Red-billed ScythebillCampylorhamphus trochilirostris
Narrow-billed WoodcreeperLepidocolaptes angustirostris
Plain XenopsXenops minutus
Streaked XenopsXenops rutilans
Pale-legged HorneroFurnarius leucopus
Rufous HorneroFurnarius rufus
Sharp-tailed StreamcreeperLochmias nematura
Black-capped Foliage-gleanerPhilydor atricapillus
White-browed Foliage-gleanerAnabacerthia amaurotis
Ochre-breasted Foliage-gleanerAnabacerthia lichtensteini
White-eyed Foliage-gleanerAutomolus leucophthalmus
Araucaria Tit-SpinetailLeptasthenura setaria
Rufous-fronted ThornbirdPhacellodomus rufifrons
Greater ThornbirdPhacellodomus ruber
Rusty-backed SpinetailCranioleuca vulpina
Grey-crested CacholotePseudoseisura unirufa
Yellow-chinned SpinetailCerthiaxis cinnamomeus
Chotoy SpinetailSchoeniophylax phryganophilus
White-lored SpinetailSynallaxis albilora
Cinereous-breasted SpinetailSynallaxis hypospodia
  
Antbirds (Thamnophilidae)
Streak-capped AntwrenTerenura maculata
Rusty-backed AntwrenFormicivora rufa
Large-billed AntwrenHerpsilochmus longirostris
Plain AntvireoDysithamnus mentalis
Barred AntshrikeThamnophilus doliatus
Spot-backed Antshrike (H)Hypoedaleus guttatus
Mato Grosso AntbirdCercomacra melanaria
Band-tailed AntbirdHypocnemoides maculicauda
  
Antthrushes (Formicariidae)
Short-tailed Antthrush (H)Chamaeza campanisona
  
Tyrant Flycatchers, Calyptura (Tyrannidae)
Greenish ElaeniaMyiopagis viridicata
Large ElaeniaElaenia spectabilis
Plain-crested ElaeniaElaenia cristata
Lesser ElaeniaElaenia chiriquensis
Southern Beardless TyrannuletCamptostoma obsoletum
Mouse-colored TyrannuletPhaeomyias murina
Southern AntpipitCorythopis delalandi
Southern Bristle TyrantPogonotriccus eximius
Sepia-capped FlycatcherLeptopogon amaurocephalus
Chapada FlycatcherGuyramemua affine
Southern Scrub FlycatcherSublegatus modestus
Bran-colored FlycatcherMyiophobus fasciatus
Stripe-necked Tody-TyrantHemitriccus striaticollis
Pearly-vented Tody-TyrantHemitriccus margaritaceiventer
Eared Pygmy TyrantMyiornis auricularis
Common Tody-FlycatcherTodirostrum cinereum
Yellow-olive FlatbillTolmomyias sulphurescens
Cliff FlycatcherHirundinea ferruginea
Fuscous FlycatcherCnemotriccus fuscatus
Vermilion FlycatcherPyrocephalus obscurus
Grey MonjitaNengetus cinereus
Black-backed Water TyrantFluvicola albiventer
White-headed Marsh TyrantArundinicola leucocephala
Long-tailed TyrantColonia colonus
Cattle TyrantMachetornis rixosa
Piratic FlycatcherLegatus leucophaius
Rusty-margined FlycatcherMyiozetetes cayanensis
Social FlycatcherMyiozetetes similis
Great KiskadeePitangus sulphuratus
Lesser KiskadeePhilohydor lictor
Streaked FlycatcherMyiodynastes maculatus
Boat-billed FlycatcherMegarynchus pitangua
Variegated FlycatcherEmpidonomus varius
Tropical KingbirdTyrannus melancholicus
Fork-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus savana
Rufous CasiornisCasiornis rufus
Swainson’s FlycatcherMyiarchus swainsoni
Short-crested Flycatcher 
White-eyed AttilaAttila bolivianus
Bright-rumped AttilaAttila spadiceus
  
Cotingas (Cotingidae)
Red-ruffed FruitcrowPyroderus scutatus
  
Manakins (Pipridae)
Helmeted ManakinAntilophia galeata
Band-tailed ManakinPipra fasciicauda
  
Tityras, Becards, Sharpbill (Tityridae)
Black-crowned TityraTityra inquisitor
Black-tailed TityraTityra cayana
Masked TityraTityra semifasciata
Green-backed BecardPachyramphus viridis
Chestnut-crowned BecardPachyramphus castaneus
  
Vireos, Greenlets, Shrike-babblers (Vireonidae)
Ashy-headed GreenletHylophilus pectoralis
Chivi VireoVireo chivi
  
Crows, Jays (Corvidae)
Purplish JayCyanocorax cyanomelas
Plush-crested JayCyanocorax chrysops
  
Swallows, Martins (Hirundinidae)
White-winged SwallowTachycineta albiventer
Blue-and-white SwallowPygochelidon cyanoleuca
Southern Rough-winged SwallowStelgidopteryx ruficollis
Brown-chested MartinProgne tapera
Grey-breasted MartinProgne chalybea
  
Black-capped Donacobius (Donacobiidae)
Black-capped DonacobiusDonacobius atricapilla
  
Wrens (Troglodytidae)
Thrush-like WrenCampylorhynchus turdinus
Fawn-breasted WrenCantorchilus guarayanus
House WrenTroglodytes aedon
  
Gnatcatchers (Polioptilidae)
Masked GnatcatcherPolioptila dumicola
  
Mockingbirds, Thrashers (Mimidae)
Chalk-browed MockingbirdMimus saturninus
  
Thrushes (Turdidae)
Blacksmith ThrushTurdus subalaris
Creamy-bellied ThrushTurdus amaurochalinus
White-necked ThrushTurdus albicollis
Pale-breasted ThrushTurdus leucomelas
Rufous-bellied ThrushTurdus rufiventris
  
Old World Sparrows, Snowfinches (Passeridae)
House Sparrow (Introduced)Passer domesticus
  
Finches, Euphonias (Fringillidae)
Purple-throated EuphoniaEuphonia chlorotica
Chestnut-bellied EuphoniaEuphonia pectoralis
Violaceous EuphoniaEuphonia violacea
  
New World Sparrows (Passerellidae)
Saffron-billed SparrowArremon flavirostris
Rufous-collared SparrowZonotrichia capensis
  
Oropendolas, Orioles, Blackbirds (Icteridae)
White-browed BlackbirdLeistes superciliaris
Russet-backed OropendolaPsarocolius angustifrons
Crested OropendolaPsarocolius decumanus
Solitary CaciqueCacicus solitarius
Yellow-rumped CaciqueCacicus cela
Red-rumped CaciqueCacicus haemorrhous
Orange-backed TroupialIcterus croconotus
Variable OrioleIcterus pyrrhopterus
Epaulet OrioleIcterus cayanensis
Giant CowbirdMolothrus oryzivorus
Shiny CowbirdMolothrus bonariensis
Scarlet-headed BlackbirdAmblyramphus holosericeus
Chopi BlackbirdGnorimopsar chopi
Greyish BaywingAgelaioides badius
Unicolored BlackbirdAgelasticus cyanopus
  
New World Warblers (Parulidae)
Southern YellowthroatGeothlypis velata
Tropical ParulaSetophaga pitiayumi
Flavescent WarblerMyiothlypis flaveola
White-rimmed WarblerMyiothlypis leucoblephara
Riverbank WarblerMyiothlypis rivularis
Golden-crowned WarblerBasileuterus culicivorus
  
Cardinals & Allies (Cardinalidae)
Red-crowned Ant TanagerHabia rubica
  
Tanagers & Allies (Thraupidae)
Swallow TanagerTersina viridis
Blue DacnisDacnis cayana
Green-winged SaltatorSaltator similis
Blue-grey SaltatorSaltator coerulescens
Buff-throated SaltatorSaltator maximus
BananaquitCoereba flaveola
Blue-black GrassquitVolatinia jacarina
Black-goggled TanagerTrichothraupis melanops
Red Pileated FinchCoryphospingus cucullatus
White-lined TanagerTachyphonus rufus
Ruby-crowned TanagerTachyphonus coronatus
Fulvous Shrike-TanagerLanio fulvus
Silver-beaked TanagerRamphocelus carbo
Rusty-collared SeedeaterSporophila collaris
White-bellied SeedeaterSporophila leucoptera
Plumbeous SeedeaterSporophila plumbea
White-rumped TanagerCypsnagra hirundinacea
Chestnut-vented ConebillConirostrum speciosum
Saffron FinchSicalis flaveola
Fawn-breasted TanagerPipraeidea melanonota
Black-faced TanagerSchistochlamys melanopis
Red-crested CardinalParoaria coronata
Yellow-billed CardinalParoaria capitata
Sayaca TanagerThraupis sayaca
Palm TanagerThraupis palmarum
Burnished-buff TanagerStilpnia cayana
Bay-headed TanagerTangara gyrola
Green-headed TanagerTangara seledon
  
Total Seen325
Total Heard5
Total Recorded330

Mammal List

The following notation after species names is used to show conservation status following the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: EN = Endangered.

Common nameScientific name
Giant AnteaterMyrmecophaga tridactyla
CapybaraHydrochoerus hydrochaeris
Azara’s AgoutiDasyprocta azarae
South American CoatiNasua nasua
Crab-eating FoxCerdocyon thous
Hoary FoxLycalopex vetulus
JaguarPanthera onca
Giant OtterPteronura brasiliensis
Azara’s CapuchinSapajus cay
Black-capped CapuchinSapajus apella
Black-and-gold Howler MonkeyAlouatta caraya
Red BrocketMazama americana
Marsh DeerBlastocerus dichotomus
Lowland TapirTapirus terrestris
Collared PeccaryPecari tajacu
Total seen14

Reptile List

The following notation after species names is used to show conservation status following the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: VU = Vulnerable.

Common nameScientific name
Yacare CaimanCaiman yacare
Yellow Anaconda Eunectes notaeus
Iguazu Lava LizardTropidurus catalensis
Black TeguTuginambis teguixin
Total seen4

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