Birder's Guide to Bahia, Brazil: 6 - 26 Oct 1994
Section 3 - Birding sites (part 2)


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Section 1 - Introduction, logistics, itinerary and general information.
Section 2 - Birding sites (part 1).
Section 3 - Birding sites (part 2).
Section 4 - Birding sites (part 3).
Section 5 - Annotated checklist.

Curaçá

The small town of Curaçá in north-west Bahia, has become the mecca for those wishing to find Spix's Macaw - the last wild individual of which occurs in Caraiba gallery woodland near the town. In a last-ditch effort to save the species from extinction a project, backed by several international conservation bodies, has been established in an attempt to reintroduce a viable population into the wild. The project base, about 20 kilometres from Curaçá, includes a large holding cage which, in October 94, held a single female of wild origins. (This female was subsequently released in 1995). Visitors wishing to try for Spix's Macaw must first obtain permission from the project director Iolita Bampe at IBAMA-Brasília and, when in Brazil, contact Marco do Ré, the project field director in Curaçá. It should be stressed that without a permit, and the assistance of Marco it would be nigh-on impossible to locate the Macaw. Even with these, a good deal of luck is required. As the bird covers large distances during any day, we considered ourselves extremely fortunate to find it within two days.

The best accommodation in Curaçá, the Hotel Casa Grande, is adequate, though somewhat basic, and cost $20 per night for a triple room. The Gato Restaurant, just around the corner from the hotel, serves excellent food and appeared to be the best place by far to eat. During our time at Curaçá, Marco took us to various points where the Spix's Macaw might be seen flying over or feeding, as well as introducing us to the local people and showing us the project headquarters, and the captive female bird. Although plagued by the over-grazing of goats, the habitat around Curaçá makes for good birding. Whilst spending long sessions standing around hoping for Spix's to fly over, many other good species were observed, including Bicoloured Hawk, White-browed Guan, Red-legged Seriema, Blue-winged Macaw, Pygmy Nightjar, and Crimson-throated Tanager. The area is also good for nightbirds. Apart from time spent looking for Spix's Macaw we also birded two dried-up water-courses near Curaçá. The best was around 13 kilometres from Curaçá on the main road to Juazeiro (no road number), where we saw several Greater Wagtail-Tyrant. On leaving Curaçá we spent a few hours, on Marco's recommendation, along the large, dried-up water course 20 kilometres out on the dirt road to Barro Vermelho. This dirt road, which forms a short cut to Canudos, starts two to three kilometres out of Curaçá on the Juazeiro road, just after the first road culvert - also identified by a large IBAMA sign on the left (east).

Species recorded from Curaçá:

Small-billed Tinamou 1h
Cattle Egret
Striated Heron 1
Black Vulture c
Turkey Vulture c
Bicoloured Hawk 4+
Crane Hawk 2+
Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle
Roadside Hawk 10+
Crested Caracara 6+
Laughing Falcon 2
American Kestrel 4
White-browed Guan 3
Limpkin
Red-legged Seriema 4+3h
Southern Lapwing
Picazuro Pigeon c
Eared Dove c
Scaled Dove c
Ruddy Ground-Dove 1
Picui Ground-Dove c
White-tipped Dove
Grey-fronted Dove 2h
Spix's Macaw 1
Blue-winged Macaw 4
Blue-crowned Parakeet 60+
Caatinga Parakeet 60+
Blue-winged Parrotlet 3
Blue-fronted Parrot 16
Dark-billed Cuckoo
Smooth-billed Ani
Guira Cuckoo 2
Tropical Screech-Owl 3+
Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl 2+4h
Burrowing Owl 1
Least Nighthawk 4+
Lesser Nighthawk 15+
Pygmy Nightjar 1
Scissor-tailed Nightjar 2
Fork-tailed Palm-Swift 3
Swallow-tailed Hummingbird 10
Glittering-bellied Emerald 4

Amazon Kingfisher 1
Campo Flicker 3
Crimson-crested Woodpecker 1h
Olivaceous Woodcreeper 3+
Narrow-billed Woodcreeper 12+
Pale-legged Hornero 10+
Sooty-fronted Spinetail
Rufous Cacholote 13
Pearly-vented Tody-Tyrant 2
Common Tody-Flycatcher 8
Southern Beardless Tyrannulet 2
Southern Scrub-Flycatcher 5+
Campo Suiriri Flycatcher 6+
Greater Wagtail-Tyrant 6+Yellow-breasted Flycatcher 3+
White Monjita 6
Masked Water-Tyrant 10+
Cattle Tyrant 1
Brown-crested Flycatcher c
Tropical Kingbird 2
Boat-billed Flycatcher 1
Rusty-margined Flycatcher 14+
Great Kiskadee 12
White-naped Jay 17
Rufous-browed Peppershrike 3
Rufous-bellied Thrush 2
Chalk-browed Mockingbird c
House Wren c
Tropical Gnatcatcher c
Grey-breasted Martin 4
Southern Rough-winged Swallow 1+
House Sparrow 20
Red-cowled Cardinal 20
Bananaquit 5
Scarlet-throated Tanager 2
Sayaca Tanager c
Purple-throated Euphonia c
Pileated Finch 30+
Saffron Finch 10+
White-throated Seedeater 20+
Epaulet Oriole 12+
Troupial 6

Canudos

Canudos, previously named Cocorobo, is situated within a large caatinga area known as the Rasa da Catarina in northern Bahia. A variety of dry habitats are found within the general area, together with a large man-made reservoir, providing a permanent water habitat, adjacent to the town. Both access roads to Canudos (BR116, BR235) are dirt, which although sandy in places were readily passable to our two-wheel-drive whilst there.
We stayed at the small but friendly, family-run, Hotel do Brazil in town (see map), which was one of the nicest places we stayed throughout our trip, and which we highly recommend. Breakfast, dinner and one night's accommodation worked out at $45 for the three of us. Our best birding was along a wide track running east from the main BR116 Canudos to Euclides road, south of town. The track starts 2.4 kilometres south of the BR235 turnoff. Scrub around the reservoir was also briefly investigated, but held little of interest.

Canudos map


Canudos became known to the ornithological world following the discovery of Lear's Macaw in the area in 1978, and IBAMA now has a several staff and wardens living and working in the area. As a consequence it is very unwise, as a foreigner with binoculars, to walk around the area without a permit from IBAMA-Salvador. On our first evening in the bush we were almost immediately intercepted by a party of suspicious, well-armed IBAMA staff who insisted on taking our photo.

Without a permit we would probably have been taken back to Canudos for questioning.

Previously, visitors wishing to see Lear's Macaw required only a permit from IBAMA-Salvador. However, continuing collecting pressure, resulting in a still diminishing number of birds, has been taken seriously by the project director in Belo Horizonte, who now must be contacted in advance. We found him extremely helpful, and in addition to granting us permission to seek Lear's Macaw, provided the necessary clearance to enter the private land on which they were currently roosting, and permission to use the organisation's only four-wheel-drive and driver. He also requested that we not to divulge details of our observations of Lear's Macaw. From our experiences it appears likely that future requests for permits might be denied in the interest of limiting knowledge of the species whereabouts. Once having obtained all the necessary authorizations, it is necessary to contact Antônio Florêncio da Costa in Canudos (ask at the hotel), one of the SEMA wardens who will accompany you to the site. Note that as the birds have several feeding and roosting sites, camping equipment might well be necessary.

Working any of the caatinga around town should produce the threatened Red-shouldered Spinetail, which appears to be fairly common in semi-dense caatinga, 2-3 metres high. We saw several individuals along the track outlined above. Another good area appears to be around the village of Cen Cinquenta, five kilometres out along the Jeremoabo road.

Little Tinamou
Small-billed Tinamou
Tataupa Tinamou
Spotted Nothura
White-bellied Nothura 2h
Pied-billed Grebe 6
White-faced Whistling-Duck
Comb Duck
Brazilian Teal
Snowy Egret
Great Egret
Cattle Egret 20
Striated Heron
Least Bittern
Black Vulture c
Turkey Vulture 1
Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture 5
White-tailed Kite
Crane Hawk
Savanna Hawk
Harris' Hawk
Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle 1
Roadside Hawk
Crested Caracara 4
American Kestrel 1
Aplomado Falcon 1
American Purple Gallinule
Common Moorhen
Red-legged Seriema 1h
Wattled Jacana
Lesser Yellowlegs 3
Black-necked Stilt 2
Southern Lapwing 65
Feral Pigeon 2
Scaled Pigeon 14
Picazaro Pigeon
Eared Dove
Plain-breasted Ground-Dove 2
Ruddy Ground-Dove
Picui Ground-Dove 30
Blue Ground-Dove
White-tipped Dove 4
Lear's Macaw 50+
Blue-winged Macaw 30
Blue-crowned Parakeet 60
Caatinga Parakeet 20
Blue-winged Parrotlet 10
Blue-fronted Parrot 20+
Squirrel Cuckoo
Smooth-billed Ani
Guira Cuckoo 4
Striped Cuckoo
Tropical Screech-Owl 2h
Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl
Burrowing Owl 5
Grey Potoo 1h
Least Nighthawk 2
Lesser Nighthawk 5
Pauraque
Little Nightjar
Planalto Hermit
Broad-tipped Hermit 2
Swallow-tailed Hummingbird 4
Ruby-topaz Hummingbird
Glittering-bellied Emerald 8
White-chinned Sapphire
White-tailed Goldenthroat
Glittering-throated Emerald 2
Stripe-breasted Starthroat 1
Ringed Kingfisher
Green Kingfisher
Spot-backed Puffbird
White-wedged Piculet
Spotted Piculet
Little Woodpecker
Green-barred Woodpecker 1
Crimson-crested Woodpecker 1h
Olivaceous Woodcreeper 2h
Straight-billed Woodcreeper
Narrow-billed Woodcreeper 10

Pale-legged Hornero 4
Chotoy Spinetail
Sooty-fronted Spinetail
Pale-breasted Spinetail
Red-shouldered Spinetail 5+
Yellow-chinned Spinetail
Common Thornbird
Rufous Cacholote 3
Barred Antshrike 3h
Stripe-backed Antbird
Pectoral Antwren 3
Black-bellied Antwren 1+1h
Swallow Flycatcher
Pearly-vented Tody-Tyrant 8+
Common Tody-Flycatcher
Mouse-coloured Tyrannulet
Southern Scrub-Flycatcher
Campo Suiriri Flycatcher 8
Large Elaenia
White-crested Tyrannulet
Greater Wagtail-Tyrant
Lesser Wagtail-Tyrant 3
Tawny-crowned Pygmy-Tyrant
Bran-coloured Flycatcher
Black-tailed Flycatcher
Tropical Pewee
White Monjita
Velvety Black Tyrant
Black-backed Water-Tyrant
Masked Water-Tyrant 2
Cattle Tyrant 1
Ash-throated Casiornis
Brown-crested Flycatcher 6
Tropical Kingbird 4
Variegated Flycatcher
Boat-billed Flycatcher
Streaked Flycatcher
Rusty-margined Flycatcher
Great Kiskadee 2
White-naped Jay 12
Rufous-browed Peppershrike 4
Pale-breasted Thrush
Rufous-bellied Thrush
Chalk-browed Mockingbird c
Long-billed Wren 1h
House Wren 6+h
Tropical Gnatcatcher c
White-winged Swallow 2
Grey-breasted Martin 2
Southern Rough-winged Swallow
House Sparrow c
Yellowish Pipit 2
Tropical Parula 1
Rufous-collared Sparrow 6
Grassland Sparrow
Red-cowled Cardinal 10
Bananaquit
White-lined Tanager 4
Scarlet-throated Tanager
Orange-headed Tanager
Hooded Tanager
Sayaca Tanager 6
Purple-throated Euphonia
Burnished-buff Tanager
Pileated Finch 14+
Misto Yellow-Finch
Blue-black Grassquit 4+
Lined Seedeater
Yellow-bellied Seedeater
White-throated Seedeater 10+
White-bellied Seedeater
Capped Seedeater
Black-throated Saltator
Ultramarine Grosbeak
Epaulet Oriole
Troupial
Chestnut-capped Blackbird
Chopi Blackbird
Shiny Cowbird

Boa Nova

Boa Nova must rate as one of the most important forest areas of the Atlantic coast. Unfortunately, as none of the habitat here is afforded any protection, clearance and wood cutting continues unabated. Although small in extent, due to its great habitat diversity, the area holds many important species; including the Red-data book Hook-billed Hermit, Striated Softtail, Slender Antbird, Narrow-billed Antwren, and Rio de Janeiro Antbird. The current species list for the area - nearly 400 - is impressive, with new species being discovered at almost all visits by birders. Two new species to science have recently been documented from Boa Nova; Bahia Tyrannulet (Gonzaga and Pacheco, 1995), and an, as yet, undescribed Synallaxis Spinetail (Gonzaga et al., 1995). At least four to five days are required to just-about adequately cover the area, and up to a week would be beneficial. Access to Boa Nova is along the well-paved road running east from the BR116, about 62 kilometres south of Jequié.

Boanova map overview

Boanova town map

Accommodation is available at the small, but comfortable, family-run Hotel Solar in Boa Nova, where the owner, accustomed to birders, even provides early breakfasts and packed lunches. Prices are $20 per room (up to three people). Address: Pousada Solar, Rua Duque de Caxias 39, Centro, CEP 45250 Boa Nova, BA. Tel (073) 433-2181. Our total five days including all accommodation, meals and drinks came to $350 for three people. The hotel is located just off the main plaza in town. Birding can be concentrated in two areas; dry forest just east, and wet forest 11 kilometres east, of Boa Nova. Other scrub and semi-arid habitats in the area can be accessed from roads and tracks by those with more time. Undoubtedly this would produce some interesting surprises.

Wet Forest. See Boa Nova (Wet forest) map. Three of our four full days were spent in this forest type. Although lying at the same altitude (800 metres) and being only a mere ten kilometres east of the dry forest, rainfall is considerably greater, and one should take into account that birding here could be rained-out for the greater part of any day. Evidently, many changes have occurred to access here in the last few years, as the apparently well-drawn map we had bared no resemblance what-so-ever to the situation we found. We therefore tried as many trails as possible on a trial-and-error basis, until we found good forest. Good forest is restricted to remnant patches on the ridges, with only secondary growth near the main track.

From the bridge at Boa Nova, drive eastward 9.0 kilometres and take the wide dirt-track on the left. This turn off is 0.4 kilometres past a house on the left with a large white sign reading "Sitio Casa Branca". As this track is not passable to two wheel-drive-vehicles after rain, it is safer to leave the car at the first fork, two hundred metres in from the road, and walk. The left track of this first fork leads to a house and pig farm after about a kilometre, above which coffee shade-forest and a forested ridge are found. For those with plenty of time, his area could well be worth exploring. The best forest we discovered is accessed via a gate on the left 1.9 kilometres from the main road. This spot can most easily be recognised by the small pond visible about 100 metres down-hill from the track. Additionally this is the point where the high voltage power lines pass closest to the road on the right (south) side.

The area adjacent to the pond is quite marshy, and would certainly warrant exploration with a pair of rubber boots, as Blackish Rail and Ash-throated Crake have both been recorded. After passing the pond, the path swings right, then left and passes a gallery forest strip about 400 metres from the gate. One hundred metres past the gallery strip, an old, over-grown logging road (subsequently referred to as the OLR) branches in from the right. Wedge-tailed Grass-Finch occurs around this intersection. At this point you have the choice of continuing straight-on or taking the OLR. Initially it is probably better to take the OLR, as access into the forest directly from the plantations (where the straight-on path leads) may be difficult to find. The OLR, evidently cleared many years ago, initially climbs slowly through open grassland for about 500 metres, and then enters the forest. We found that the old secondary growth along the OLR, within the main primary forest, provided the best species diversity - particularly for antbirds. Species seen along this trail but not elsewhere included Hook-billed Hermit, Ochre-rumped Antbird and White-bibbed Antbird. Within the forest, the OLR runs steadily up-hill in the straight line for about 500 metres, levels-out on top of the ridge, and ends a 150 metres further. From here it is possible to follow a narrow trail, but this rapidly deteriorates. However, along this trail was the only place we saw Pale-browed Treehunter.

Boa Nove wet forest map

Finding the ridge trail from the OLR could be tricky, as its start is blocked from view by a tree-fall. It starts on the left (west) just after the point where the OLR levels out completely. The ridge trail, at 1,000 metres altitude, passes through dense cloud forest, and runs for about 600 metres after which it emerges into open grassland. The trail can be still be followed across the grassland, and enters the next patch of (secondary) forest, a kilometre or so away, where it still appears to follow the ridge (we didn't explore this section). From within the cloud forest a steep trail leads downward, through good forest to the plantations, the start of which is fairly obvious, two-thirds of the way along the ridge trail from the OLR to the open grassland. Rio de Janeiro Antbird was only seen along this trial, and a pair of Variegated Antpitta have a territory near the bottom of the trail.

Several other trails branch off the OLR. We briefly tried all we discovered. The two trails branching off right (east) provide access through continuous forest to the next forested ridge. However, they are evidently little used, as due to tree falls, they become difficult to follow after several hundred metres. The first (lower) trail on the left (west) descends through extensive bamboo and emerges from the forest to follow the fence down to the plantation area. As such it can be used as a short-cut to the start of the forest trail above the plantations. Another good trial, which we had insufficient time to investigate thoroughly, starts on the left (north) side about 600 metres from the main road, and about 200 metres before the two houses (see map). This wide trail winds up through heavily cut-over, old secondary growth, and we suspect that it connects with the ridge trail eventually. It was along this trail, (600-700 metres from the track) that we discovered Buff-fronted Owl in tall trees on the left, having responded, in daylight, to an imitation of its whistle. This trail was also the only place we saw Variable Antshrike and Planalto Woodcreeper.

Although only secondary forest remains, birding along the along the main track is decidedly worthwhile. We encountered several species not seen elsewhere, including Scale-throated Hermit, Ruby Topaz Hummingbird and the endangered Striated Softtail. The softtail was seen on two occasions in dense tangles immediately adjacent to the left (north) side of the track just at the base of the valley below the two houses.

Dry Forest. See Boa Nova (Dry forest) map. One to two days should be sufficient to find the specialities within this habitat, though the Pale-headed Spinetail may now prove difficult, as we failed to find it in areas previously encountered by others. Leave Boa Nova eastward on the main road, and cross the bridge just east of town, where the paved road ends. Within the next couple of hundred metres or so the road passes the only house on the left, after which a wide, driveable, dirt track winds up the hill into dry forest. A simple barbed wire gate bars access to this track, though whether this is merely to keep cows in or visitors out is unclear. In view of the number of local people entering, we presumed the former and drove 1.3 kilometres along this track and parked at the next gate (gate C on map). Alternatively one could just climb over the fence (as do the locals) a few meters to the right of the gate and walk up through the dry forest. An alternative, and probably better, shorter access is provided by entering via gate B which is 1.0 kilometres from the bridge.

Slender Antbird (marked SA on the map) appeared to be fairly common around ground bromeliads that occur in the higher-elevation parts of the dry forest. Narrow-billed Antwren and Pallid Spinetail were found in the same area. Slender Antbird was also singing in forest adjacent to gate C. It is noteworthy that supposed Pileated Antwren seen in this area differ markedly from other populations in Bahia, and may represent a different form or species (see annotated checklist for a full discussion). Note: the map shows the situation as we found it. As clearance, burning, cultivation and construction of fences proceeds, changes may well occur in access tracks and trails. The situation on-the-ground is further complicated by an abundance of paths and trails created by cows and horses grazing the area. Only principle tracks have been drawn on the map, and visitors may well find other accesses to good forest.

On our drive away from Boa Nova, 19.5 kilometres south of Ibitupâ (itself about 55 kilometres east of Boa Nova), we passed an excellent small lake where we saw Brazilian Teal and Black-crowned Night-Heron. No doubt the dense reeds surrounding this lake held numerous crakes and rails. We also noted that ridges around the town of Ibicarai were extensively covered with coffee shade-forest, and would almost certainly hold many species of interest. Ibicarai, 100 kilometres south-east of Boa Nova, is a sizeable village so basic accommodation should be available.

Boa Nova dry forest map

Species recorded from Boa Nova: (w) = species of wet forest. (d) = species of dry forest.

Solitary Tinamou
Little Tinamou 4h (w)
Brown Tinamou
Yellow-legged Tinamou
Variegated Tinamou
Small-billed Tinamou 1h (d)
Tataupa Tinamou
Red-winged Tinamou
White-bellied Nothura
Least Grebe 1 (w)
Pied-billed Grebe
Neotropic Cormorant
Anhinga
Snowy Egret
Western Great Egret
Cattle Egret
Striated Heron
Black Vulture c
Turkey Vulture
Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture
Grey-headed Kite
Pearl Kite
White-tailed Kite
Double-toothed Kite
Snail Kite
Crane Hawk 1 (d)
Rufous-thighed Hawk
Mantled Hawk 2 (w)
Roadside Hawk 4 (d)
White-tailed Hawk
Zone-tailed Hawk
Crested Caracara 1 (w)
Yellow-headed Caracara
Laughing Falcon
Barred Forest-Falcon 1h (d)
American Kestrel 2 (w)
Aplomado Falcon
Speckled Chachalaca 2 (w)
Rusty-margined Guan 1+ (d,w)
Spot-winged Wood-Quail 5+ (d,w)
Rufous-sided Crake 2+h (w)
Grey-necked Wood-Rail
Ash-throated Crake
Blackish Rail
Common Moorhen
American Purple Gallinule
Wattled Jacana
South American Snipe
Southern Lapwing
Feral Pigeon
Picazaro Pigeon
Plumbeous Pigeon. 2h (d)
Plain-breasted Ground-Dove
Ruddy Ground-Dove 10+
Picui Ground-Dove 4 (d)
Blue Ground-Dove 1h (w)
White-tipped Dove
Grey-fronted Dove 6+ (d)
Violaceous Quail-Dove
Ruddy Quail-Dove 2 (w)
Blue-winged Macaw 8 (w)
White-eyed Parakeet 6+ (w)
Golden-capped Parakeet
Peach-fronted Parakeet
Caatinga Parakeet 10 (d)
Blue-throated Parakeet
Maroon-bellied Parakeet 3 (w)
White-eared Parakeet 10+ (w)
Cobalt-rumped Parrotlet 14 (w)
Plain Parakeet
Golden-tailed Parrotlet
Pileated Parrot
Scaly-headed Parrot
Red-browed Parrot
Pearly-breasted Cuckoo
Dark-billed Cuckoo
Squirrel Cuckoo 1 (w)
Smooth-billed Ani 4 (d)
Guira Cuckoo
Striped Cuckoo 2h (d)
Rufous-vented Ground-Cuckoo
Tropical Screech-Owl
Spectacled Owl
Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl
Burrowing Owl
Buff-fronted Owl 1 (w)
Nacunda Nighthawk
Pauraque 3 (w)
Ocellated Poorwill
Little Nightjar
Scissor-tailed Nightjar 3+ (w)
White-collared Swift
Grey-rumped Swift 20+ (w)
Fork-tailed Palm-Swift
Rufous-breasted Hermit
Scale-throated Hermit 1 (w)
Planalto Hermit 1 (w)
Broad-tipped Hermit
Reddish Hermit  2 (w)
Hook-billed Hermit 2 (w)
Swallow-tailed Hummingbird 5 (w)
Black Jacobin 8 (w)
Black-throated Mango
Ruby-topaz Hummingbird 1 (w)
Frilled Coquette
Glittering-bellied Emerald 4 (w)
Violet-capped Woodnymph 2 (w)
White-chinned Sapphire
Glittering-throated Emerald
Sapphire-spangled Emerald 1 (d)
Plain-bellied Emerald
Sombre Hummingbird 2 (w)
Black-eared Fairy
Long-billed Starthroat 1 (w)
Stripe-breasted Starthroat
Amethyst Woodstar
White-tailed Trogon
Collared Trogon
Atlantic Black-throated Trogon 6 (w)
Amazon Kingfisher
Green Kingfisher
Rufous-capped Motmot
Rufous-tailed Jacamar
Spot-backed Puffbird
Crescent-chested Puffbird
White-fronted Nunbird
Swallow-wing
Black-necked Aracari
Channel-billed Toucan 2 (w)
Spot-billed Toucanet
Saffron Toucanet
Golden-spangled Piculet
Spotted Piculet
1 (d)
Green-barred Woodpecker 2 (w,d)
Little Woodpecker 4 (w)
White-spotted Woodpecker
Red-stained Woodpecker
Yellow-eared Woodpecker
Yellow-throated Woodpecker 1 (w)
Campo Flicker
Blond-crested Woodpecker
Lineated Woodpecker 4+ (d,w)
Robust Woodpecker
Thrush-like Woodcreeper 1 (w)
Olivaceous Woodcreeper 4 (w)
White-throated Woodcreeper
Planalto Woodcreeper 1 (w)
Straight-billed Woodcreeper
Buff-throated Woodcreeper 2+h (w)
Narrow-billed Woodcreeper 6+ (d)
Scaled Woodcreeper 1 (w)
Lesser Woodcreeper 5 (w)
Red-billed Scythebill
Black-billed Scythebill 4 (d,w)
Wing-banded Hornero
Pale-legged Hornero c (d)
Rufous Hornero
Spinetail sp. nov.
Rufous-capped Spinetail
Sooty-fronted Spinetail c (d,w)
Pale-breasted Spinetail 1 (d)
Spix's Spinetail 2 (w)
Grey-bellied Spinetail
Ochre-cheeked Spinetail
Grey-headed Spinetail
Pallid Spinetail
Yellow-chinned Spinetail 4+ (w)
Striated Softtail 4+ (w)
Common Thornbird 4+ (d,w)
Firewood-gatherer
Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper
Rufous Cacholote
Pale-browed Treehunter 1 (w)
Ochre-breasted Foliage-gleaner
Buff-fronted Foliage-gleaner 3+ (w)
White-collared Foliage-gleaner 6 (w)
White-eyed Foliage-gleaner 10+ (w)
Plain Xenops 2 (w)
Streaked Xenops 1 (w)
Spot-backed Antshrike
Tufted Antshrike
Great Antshrike 2 (d)
Silvery-cheeked Antshrike 6+ (d)
Barred Antshrike
Chestnut-backed Antshrike
Eastern Slaty Antshrike 6+ (d)
Variable Antshrike 3 (w)
Rufous-winged Antshrike
Spot-breasted Antvireo 5+ (w)
Plain Antvireo
Plumbeous Antshrike
Cinereous Antshrike 2+ (w)
White-flanked Antwren
Band-tailed Antwren

Stripe-backed Antbird 2 (d)
Black-capped Antwren 3 (d)
Pileated Antwren 10+ (d)
Rusty-winged Antwren
Narrow-billed Antwren 10 (d)
Black-bellied Antwren 4 (d)
Ferruginous Antbird 7 (w)
Ochre-rumped Antbird 4+ (w)
Scaled Antbird 4 (w)
Streak-capped Antwren
Rio de Janeiro Antbird 2 (w)
White-shouldered Fire-eye 10+ (w)
Slender Antbird 6+ (d)
Scalloped Antbird
White-bibbed Antbird 4 (w)
Rufous-capped Antthrush
Short-tailed Antthrush 4+h (w)
Variegated Antpitta 1+h (w)
White-browed Antpitta
Rufous Gnateater 4+ (w)
Black-cheeked Gnateater
Mouse-coloured Tapaculo 5+h (w)
Cinereous Mourner
Hooded Berryeater
Black-headed Berryeater
Screaming Piha
Cinnamon-vented Piha 1+ (w)
Swallow-tailed Cotinga
Banded Cotinga
Red-ruffed Fruitcrow
Bare-throated Bellbird
Sharpbill 1 (w)
Blue Manakin 10+ (w)
Pin-tailed Manakin 6+ (w)
White-bearded Manakin 2 (w)
Wied's Tyrant-Manakin
Sepia-capped Flycatcher 1+ (w)
Drab-breasted Bamboo-Tyrant c (w)
Fork-tailed Tody-Tyrant
Hangnest Tody-Tyrant 5+ (d)
Pearly-vented Tody-Tyrant 7+ (d)
Ochre-faced Tody-Flycatcher 4 (d)
Yellow-lored Tody-Flycatcher 4 (w)
Common Tody-Flycatcher
Planalto Tyrannulet 4+ (w)
Rough-legged Tyrannulet
Southern Beardless Tyrannulet
Southern Mouse-coloured Tyrannulet c (d)
Yellow Tyrannulet 4 (w)
Southern Scrub-Flycatcher
Campo Suiriri Flycatcher
Yellow-bellied Elaenia
Large Elaenia
White-crested Tyrannulet 2+ (w)
Tawny-crowned Pygmy-Tyrant 2 (w)
Oustalet's Tyrannulet 3 (w)
Bahia Tyrannulet
Eared Pygmy-Tyrant
Eastern Olivaceous Flatbill
Yellow-olive Flycatcher 1+ (w)
Grey-crowned Flycatcher
Yellow-breasted Flycatcher
White-throated Spadebill
Swallow Flycatcher 2 (w)
Bran-coloured Flycatcher 4+ (d,w)
Sulphur-rumped Flycatcher 1 (w)
Black-tailed Flycatcher
Fuscous Flycatcher
Euler's Flycatcher
Northern Tropical Pewee
Grey Monjita
White Monjita
Shear-tailed Grey Tyrant 1 (w)
Masked Water-Tyrant 2 (w)
White-headed Marsh-Tyrant
Yellow-browed Tyrant 2 (d)
Long-tailed Tyrant 10+ (w)
Cattle Tyrant
Grey-hooded Attila 4+ (w)
Greyish Mourner 3+ (w)
Sirystes 3 (w)
Short-crested Flycatcher
Dusky-capped Flycatcher 1+ (w)
Brown-crested Flycatcher c (d,w)
Tropical Kingbird c (d,w)
Variegated Flycatcher 1 (d)
Boat-billed Flycatcher
Three-striped Flycatcher
Streaked Flycatcher
Rusty-margined Flycatcher
Social Flycatcher 4 (d,w)
Great Kiskadee 4+ (d,w)
Thrush-like Schiffornis
Greenish Schiffornis 2h (w)
Green-backed Becard
Chestnut-crowned Becard 6 (d,w)
White-winged Becard
Black-capped Becard
Crested Becard 2 (w)
Black-tailed Tityra
Black-crowned Tityra
Tityra sp. 2+ (w)
Rufous-browed Peppershrike c (d,w)
Red-eyed Vireo
Grey-eyed Greenlet 8+ (d)
Lemon-chested Greenlet
Rufous-brown Solitaire
Rufous-bellied Thrush c (w)
Pale-bellied Thrush 1 (w)
Creamy-bellied Thrush 2 (d)
Cocoa Thrush 1 (w)
White-necked Thrush 4+ (w)
Chalk-browed Mockingbird
Black-capped Donacobius
Thrush-like Wren
Moustached Wren 6 (d,w)
Long-billed Wren
House Wren 7+ (d,w)
Long-billed Gnatwren
Tropical Gnatcatcher 2 (d)
White-winged Swallow
Brown-chested Martin
Grey-breasted Martin c (d,w)
Blue-and-white Swallow 6 (w)
Southern Rough-winged Swallow c (d,w)
House Sparrow c (d)
Common Waxbill
Yellowish Pipit
Tropical Parula 2 (d)
Masked Yellowthroat 3 (w)
Golden-crowned Warbler 3 (w)
Flavescent Warbler 4 (d)
Neotropical River-Warbler
Rufous-collared Sparrow c (w)
Grassland Sparrow
Pectoral Sparrow 1 (w)
Red-cowled Cardinal
Bananaquit c (w)
Chestnut-vented Conebill
Swallow-Tanager
Cinnamon Tanager 4 (d,w)
Scarlet-throated Tanager
Orange-headed Tanager 5 (d,w)
Rufous-headed Tanager 4 (w)
Hooded Tanager
Flame-crested Tanager
Ruby-crowned Tanager
White-lined Tanager 2 (w)
Black-goggled Tanager 3+ (w)
Red-crowned Ant-Tanager c (w)
Brazilian Tanager c (w)
Sayaca Tanager c (w)
Golden-chevroned Tanager
Palm Tanager c (w)
Purple-throated Euphonia 2 (d)
Violaceous Euphonia 2 (w)
Golden-rumped Euphonia
Orange-bellied Euphonia
Chestnut-bellied Euphonia 2 (w)
Red-necked Tanager 2 (w)
Silvery-breasted Tanager
Gilt-edged Tanager c (w)
Burnished-buff Tanager 6 (d,w)
Blue Dacnis 6+ (d,w)
Green Honeycreeper 4 (w)
Red-legged Honeycreeper
Pileated Finch 10 (d)
Stripe-tailed Yellow Finch
Saffron Finch
Wedge-tailed Grass-Finch 3 (w)
Blue-black Grassquit c (d,w)
Yellow-bellied Seedeater c (d,w)
Dubois' Seedeater
White-throated Seedeater
White-bellied Seedeater 9+ (w)
Capped Seedeater 2 (w)
Great-billed Seed Finch
Lesser Seed Finch
Yellow-green Grosbeak 8+ (w)
Black-throated Grosbeak 1 (w)
Buff-throated Saltator
Green-winged Saltator c (w)
Ultramarine Grosbeak
Crested Oropendola
Yellow-rumped Cacique
Red-rumped Cacique
Epaulet Oriole
Troupial
Chestnut-capped Blackbird
White-browed Meadowlark
Chopi Blackbird c (d,w)
Bay-winged Cowbird
Shiny Cowbird c (w)
Giant Cowbird

Section 1 - Introduction, logistics, itinerary and general information.
Section 2 - Birding sites (part 1). .
Section 4 - Birding sites (part 3).
Section 5 - Annotated checklist.