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Northeast Brazil, November 2008,
CONTENTS
General Information
References
Itinerary (summary)
Sites
Daily Log
Systematic List of Birds
Systematic List of Mammals
INTRODUCTION
Home to more than 1,600 species—almost a fifth of the world’s birds, 175 of them endemics—Brazil offers one of the most varied avifaunas of any country on earth. Brazil is vast and even the northeast of Brazil is a huge region within which there is a substantial diversity of habitats and landscapes supporting a very varied avifauna.
This report covers an 18 days trip to northeast Brazil in November 2008. Having visited Brazil already two times we decided to visit north-eastern Brazil, a must for the serious global birder.
The far north-eastern edge of South America harbours one of the most poorly known avifaunas in the Neotropics. This remote corner of Brazil was until recently a seldom-visited part of the country, but birders are nowadays drawn from far and wide with the discovery of many new species, not least of these being the superb recently described Araripe Manakin.
North-eastern Brazil contains an amazing list of more than 100 Brazilian endemics, representing more than a half of Brazil’s endemics species. This immense, arid interior is dominated by a unique habitat known as caatinga, an association of thorn scrub, columnar cacti, and huge terrestrial bromeliads, but this gives way to evergreen Atlantic Forest near the coast.
Only small patches of these Alagoas rain forests remain in northeast Brazil, but when you find them they are absolutely teeming with rare and endemic birds. This region harbours a constellation of “mega birds” that includes some of the least known and most endangered species of birds on the South American continent.
FLIGHT AND VISA
We booked our flight from Brussels to Fortaleza for € 1000 with TAP Portugal. This flight took approximately 9 hours and went via Lisbon. The flights were punctual and trouble free.
As with most South American countries you do not need a visa for Brazil if you intend to stay no more than 90 days.
MONEY
The unit of currency in Brazil is the Brazilian Real. The exchange rate in November 2008 was about 2,60 to the €. One can easily change Euros everywhere in the cities. Credit cards: Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted in the large shops of Fortaleza and the more expensive hotels.
ACCOMMODATION
Hotel accommodation is usually of quite a reasonable standard and in the largest cities; there is a wide range of places to stay. There is no shortage of accommodation in Brazil; any reasonably sized town will have a range to suit most tastes. Hotels along the coast and near the major tourist attractions are expensive.
FOOD AND DRINK
Food was generally fine, reasonably varied and of good quality. Drinks can be found anywhere.
MEDICAL PRECAUTIONS
No vaccinations are officially required to visit north-eastern Brazil per se. Immunisation against polio, typhoid, cholera and hepatitis however is recommended, although vaccinations should not be treated as a substitute for careful eating and drinking habits. Malaria is apparently not a problem in the areas we visited, we did not take any anti-malarial treatment.
Mosquitoes, biting gnats and biting or simply annoying flies can be locally numerous (particularly in the lowlands), and especially in the wet season - another reason to visit during the dry season.
Chiggers, one of Brazil's many interesting South American affinities, can be a real pest, and you can pick them up in the field, often when you least expect it. Although there is no complete answer to the problem, as precaution wear long trousers tucked securely into your socks and spray insect repellent liberally on your clothing and boots!
Finally, beware of the sun. Hats and long-sleeved shirts is essential kit.
SAFETY
Brazil has a bad reputation as a high crime area; this reputation is probably not deserved. Brazil is a friendly country and at present a fairly safe place to travel. Forget the crime-and-violence headlines. Outside the tourist areas, you don’t need to worry, people are very nice and friendly
We travelled for nearly three weeks had nothing stolen and never felt threatened or even uncomfortable and where in the world is safe these days. We were not hassled or bothered while birdwatching around the country. Still, in the larger cities you should take precautions against pickpockets and other theft. Lock your car at all times; never leave valuables in open sight.
LANGUAGE
Portuguese is almost all you’ll hear off the beaten path. With very few exceptions Brazil is a country were English is not spoken widely (some of the larger hotels have one or more employees who speak English) and very little Spanish, so at least a rudimentary command of Portuguese or a Portuguese dictionary will be helpful.
WEATHER
All year round is good. August to March is the least rain along the coast. Most birding trips go to the northeast from October till June.
Most of the time during our trip, it was extremely hot and dry and we hardly had any rain. However in the rest of Brazil it was very bad weather with a lot of rain.
Daylight hours were generally 06.15 – 17.45.
TRANSPORT AND ROADS
The area is vast and requires long drives through almost deserted countryside. Road conditions in Brazil vary, but are generally good, make getting around easy. All the main roads are sealed, but at Canudos and Pedra Talhada are poor-quality dirt. However at Murici one definitely need a 4-wheel drive. We used a minibus, with driver, throughout our time in Brazil, except at Murici where we used a 4-wheel-drive the last kilometres of the drive.
NOMENCLATURE & TAXONOMY
I have decided to follow the English names of James F. Clements (Birds of the World, A Check List, Sixth Edition, 2007).
Species in brackets are the English names in “All the Birds of Brazil” by Deodato Souza, but only mentioned when these differ significantly from the Clements Check List.
COMMON BIRDSPECIES
The following list of birds we saw frequently and if you spend any sort of time in the right habitats you will too:
Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Cattle Egret, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, Roadside Hawk, Southern Caracara, Wattled Jacana, Southern Lapwing, Ruddy Ground-Dove, Smooth-billed Ani, Guira Cuckoo, Swallow-tailed Hummingbird, Glittering-bellied Emerald, Yellow-bellied Elaenia, Common Tody-Flycatcher, Masked Water-Tyrant, Great Kiskadee, Social Flycatcher, Tropical Kingbird, Grey-breasted Martin, Southern Rough-winged Swallow, Chalk-browed Mockingbird, House Sparrow, Bananaquit, Sayaca Tanager, Burnished-buff Tanager, Pileated Finch, Red-cowled Cardinal, White-browed Blackbird, Shiny Cowbird.
USEFUL ADDRESSES
BOUTE EXPEDITIONS - Birdwatching, Natural History & Photo Safaris.
Home page: www.boute-expeditions.com
E-mail: boute-expeditions@uol.com.br
Phone & Fax: + 55 65 3686.2231
Várzea Grande(Greater Cuiabá) - Mato Grosso – Brazil
Again I was very impressed with Paulo as a guide. He is a very professional guide and his ability with voices must be amongst the best in Brazil and he has a deep knowledge of the birds and the birding scene in Brazil.
BOOKS
Field guides are a problem area for Brazil, but improved with the published "All the Birds of Brazil" by Souza, in English and with the recently published “Aves do Brasil Oriental. Birds of Eastern Brazil”.
Nigel Wheatley's "Where to watch birds in South America" is also useful at the planning stage.
REPORTS
Moira & Graeme Wallace. North East Brazil (Baturité, Araripe, Jeremoaba and Murici), 7th June-16th June 2007.
SOFTWARE
BIRDBASE & BIRDAREA
Since 1996 I use this software to keep track of the birds I have seen and to make lists of any country, labelling endemics and birds previously seen in that country, outside it, or both.
BirdArea can produce checklists of the birds of any country of Clements’ world birds.
October 31 Chaam – Brussels – Lisbon – Fortaleza CEARÁ
November 1 Fortaleza - Serra do Baturité
November 2 Serra do Baturité
November 3 Serra do Baturité – Quixada – Morada Nova – Crato (Chapada do Araripe)
November 4 Chapada do Araripe
November 5 Chapada do Araripe
BAHIA
November 6 Crato – Petrolina - Canudos
November 7 Canudos
November 8 Canudos – Jeremoaba – Simão – Lagarto – Estância
SERGIPE
November 9 Estância – Del Crasto - Estância
November 10 Estância – Arapiraca – Quebrangulo (Pedra Talhada)
ALAGOAS
November 11 Quebrangulo – Pedra Talhada - Quebrangulo
November 12 Quebrangulo – União dos Palmares
November 13 União dos Palmares – Murici Atlantic Forest - União dos Palmares
November 14 União dos Palmares – Murici Atlantic Forest - União dos Palmares
November 15 União dos Palmares – Recife – Bayeux – Praia da Pipa
RIO GRANDE DO NORTE
November 16 Praia da Pipa
November 17 Praia da Pipa – Fortaleza – Lisbon
November 18 Lisbon – Brussels - Chaam
For a detailed report of species and numbers please refer to the systematic list at the end of this report.
Species in bold are endemic species to Brazil.
CEARÁ
SERRA DO BATURITÉ
Accommodation: We stayed at Pousada Le Monte Christo. The Alto da Serra Hotel is nearby.
Located 2 hours south of Fortaleza, the 800 m high Serra do Baturité massif is a sky-island of tropical moist forest, being a well-defined patch of Atlantic Forest surrounded by the caatinga dry forest of northeast Brazil. If it weren’t for the mountains, this whole area would be desert.
Serra do Baturité contains a number of sub-species that, because of their isolation from the original populations, show significantly different characteristics that may merit full species status. Important species here include White-browed Guan, Rufous (Caatinga) Gnateater, White-eared (Grey-breasted) Parakeet, Gould’s Toucanet, White-throated Spadebill, Ochraceous Piculet, Band-tailed Manakin, Buff-breasted Tody Tyrant, Spot-winged Wood-Quail, Rufous-breasted Leaftosser. If you are very lucky you may see the rare Moustached Woodcreeper.
Birds seen during our visit:
Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Roadside Hawk, Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle, Grey Hawk, Laughing Falcon, Spot-winged Wood-Quail, White-browed Guan, Ruddy Ground-Dove, White-eared (Grey-breasted) Parakeet, Blue-winged Parrotlet, Plain Parakeet, Yellow-chevroned Parakeet, Squirrel Cuckoo, Sick’s Swift, Fork-tailed Palm-Swift, Rufous-breasted Hermit, Planalto Hermit, Swallow-tailed Hummingbird, Black Jacobin, Ruby-topaz Hummingbird, Glittering-bellied Emerald, Fork-tailed Woodnymph, Versicoloured Emerald, Gould’s Toucanet, Ochraceous Piculet, Little Woodpecker, Green-barred Woodpecker, Wing-banded Hornero, Ochre-cheeked Spinetail, Sooty-fronted Spinetail, Grey-headed Spinetail, Lesser Woodcreeper, Great Antshrike, Variable Antshrike, Plain Antvireo, Black-capped Antwren, Rufous (Caatinga) Gnateater, Band-tailed Manakin, Yellow Tyrannulet, Yellow-bellied Elaenia, Planalto Tyrannulet, Guianan Tyrannulet, Buff-breasted Tody-Tyrant, Common Tody-Flycatcher, Yellow-olive Flycatcher, White-throated Spadebill, Yellow-rumped Flycatcher, Euler’s Flycatcher, Tropical Pewee, Masked Water-Tyrant, Great Kiskadee, Boat-billed Flycatcher, Social Flycatcher, Tropical Kingbird, Grey-breasted Martin, Southern Rough-winged Swallow, Moustached Wren, House Wren, Rufous-bellied Thrush, Pale-breasted Thrush, House Sparrow, Red-eyed (Chivi) Vireo, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Tropical Parula, Golden-crowned Warbler, Bananaquit, Orange-headed Tanager, Guira Tanager, Palm Tanager, Violaceous Euphonia, Red-necked Tanager, Burnished-buff Tanager, Blue Dacnis, Red-cowled Cardinal, Yellow-bellied Seedeater, Pectoral Sparrow, Epaulet Oriole, Campo Troupial.
MORADA NOVA
En route from the Serra do Baturité to the Chapada do Araripe we made a stop at the small town of Morada Nova. A local landowner can show you the way to Fazenda Serratinho where endemic Pygmy Nightjars can be found at their daytime roost on the rocks. It is very hot in this area and the birds have to sit on the eggs in order to keep them cool.
Birds seen during our visit:
Scaled Dove, Pygmy Nightjar, Spot-backed Puffbird, White Woodpecker, Green-barred Woodpecker, Caatinga Cacholote, White Monjita, Chalk-browed Mockingbird, Chestnut-capped Blackbird, Solitary Cacique.
CHAPADA DO ARARIPE
Accommodation: Hotel Encosta de Serra in Crato.
This is the mecca for the only recently discovered Araripe Manakin. The Araripe Manakin is classified as critically endangered and there are probably only 800 individuals left in this very restricted range. This stunning strawberry-and-cream megabird is of course the main priority for most birders.
This gorgeous bird can be found at a huge leisure complex, Arajara Park - a sort of tropical “Wet and Wild”. However we found 3♂♂ and 1♀ in the dry forest at the base of the red and grey cliffs of the Chapada do Araripe, only 2 kilometres behind our hotel in Crato.
But there are plenty of other birds to see in this area. In the Floresta Nacional de Chapada do Araripe
a number of caatinga species can be found, such as Caatinga Parakeet, White-browed Guan, Tawny Piculet, Spotted Piculet, Red-shouldered Spinetail, Great Xenops, Silvery-cheeked Antshrike, Stripe-backed Antbird, Caatinga Antwren, White-browed Antpitta, Lesser Wagtail-Tyrant, Ash-throated Casiornis, White-naped Jay, Pale-bellied Tyrant-Manakin, Grey-eyed Greenlet and White-throated Seedeater.
Birds seen during our visit:
Small-billed Tinamou, Cattle Egret, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, White-tailed Kite, Sharp-shinned (Rufous-thighed) Hawk, Roadside Hawk, White-tailed Hawk, Southern Caracara, Barred Forest-Falcon, American Kestrel, Ruddy Ground-Dove, Caatinga Parakeet, Squirrel Cuckoo, Striped Cuckoo, Rufous Nightjar, Sick’s Swift, Planalto Hermit, Swallow-tailed Hummingbird, Ruby-topaz Hummingbird, Glittering-bellied Emerald, Glittering-throated Emerald, Blue-crowned Trogon, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Tawny Piculet, Spotted Piculet, Little Woodpecker, Sooty-fronted Spinetail, Red-shouldered Spinetail, Grey-headed Spinetail, Rufous-fronted Thornbird, Great Xenops, Red-billed Scythebill, Silvery-cheeked Antshrike, (Caatinga) Barred Antshrike, Planalto Slaty-Antshrike, Stripe-backed Antbird, Caatinga Antwren, Black-capped Antwren, White-browed Antpitta, Araripe Manakin, Mouse-coloured Tyrannulet, Yellow-bellied Elaenia, Lesser Wagtail-Tyrant, Tawny-crowned Pygmy-Tyrant, Pearly-vented Tody-Tyrant, Common Tody-Flycatcher, Euler’s Flycatcher, Boat-billed Flycatcher, Ash-throated Casiornis, Brown-crested Flycatcher, Boat-billed Flycatcher, Tropical Kingbird, Moustached Wren, Chalk-browed Mockingbird, Pale-breasted Thrush, Creamy-bellied Thrush, White-naped Jay, House Sparrow, Grey-eyed Greenlet, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Tropical Parula, Golden-crowned Warbler, Bananaquit, Cinnamon Tanager, Orange-headed Tanager, Guira Tanager, Hooded Tanager, Palm Tanager, Purple-throated Euphonia, Violaceous Euphonia, Red-necked Tanager, Burnished-buff Tanager, Blue Dacnis, Pileated Finch, Blue-black Grassquit, Red-cowled Cardinal, Yellow-bellied Seedeater, Pale-throated Serra-Finch, Pectoral Sparrow, Rufous-collared Sparrow, Ultramarine Grosbeak, Shiny Cowbird, Epaulet Oriole, Campo Troupial.
BAHIA
CANUDOS
Accommodation: Most birding companies stay at Jeremoaba. We stayed at Hotel Brasil in Canudos, a basic hotel with very good food.
A must on every itinerary, as it is the last site on earth where Lear's Macaws still roam.
The small town of Canudos is the base for exploration of the area of Estacao Ecológica do Raso da Catarina. The whole Canudos-Jeremoaba area is known as Raso da Catarina, home of the critically endangered Lear’s Macaw. The road between Jeremoaba and Canudos offers the best chance to observe the beautiful and endangered Lear’s Macaw, which has made a great comeback in recent years thanks to the work of local conservationists. However we did not see the macaws here, but saw them at a ranch a few kilometres from the cliffs where they roost.
But there are plenty of other birds to see in this area. In the dry forests a number of caatinga species and other species can be found, such as Red-legged Seriema, Blue-winged Macaw, Caatinga Parakeet, Broad-tipped Hermit, Stripe-breasted Starthroat, Scissor-tailed Nightjar, Spotted Piculet, Red-shouldered Spinetail, Caatinga Cacholote, Pectoral Antwren, Long-billed Wren, White-naped Jay, Grey-eyed Greenlet, Red-cowled Cardinal and the rare Scarlet-throated Tanager.
Birds seen during our visit:
Little Tinamou, Pied-billed Grebe, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Cattle Egret, White-faced Whistling-Duck, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, Crane Hawk, Harris’s Hawk, Roadside Hawk, White-tailed Hawk, Southern Caracara, Yellow-headed Caracara, Laughing Falcon, American Kestrel, Grey-necked Wood-Rail, Common Moorhen, Red-legged Seriema, Wattled Jacana, Southern Lapwing, Picazuro Pigeon, Eared Dove, Ruddy Ground-Dove, Picui Ground-Dove, White-tipped Dove, Lear’s Macaw, Blue-winged Macaw, Blue-crowned Parakeet, Caatinga Parakeet, Blue-winged Parrotlet, Squirrel Cuckoo, Smooth-billed Ani, Guira Cuckoo, Striped Cuckoo, Burrowing Owl, Least Nighthawk, Scissor-tailed Nightjar, Broad-tipped Hermit, Glittering-bellied Emerald, Stripe-breasted Starthroat, Green Kingfisher, Pale-legged Hornero, Ochre-cheeked Spinetail, Sooty-fronted Spinetail, Red-shouldered Spinetail, Caatinga Cacholote, Narrow-billed Woodcreeper, (Caatinga) Barred Antshrike, Stripe-backed Antbird, Black-bellied Antwren, Yellow Tyrannulet, Greater Wagtail-Tyrant, Pearly-vented Tody-Tyrant, Common Tody-Flycatcher, Cliff (Swallow) Flycatcher, White Monjita, Black-backed Water-Tyrant, Masked Water-Tyrant, Cattle Tyrant, Great Kiskadee, Tropical Kingbird, Grey-breasted Martin, White-winged Swallow, House Wren, Chalk-browed Mockingbird, Tropical Gnatcatcher, White-naped Jay, House Sparrow, Grey-eyed Greenlet, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Bananaquit, Scarlet-throated Tanager, Orange-headed Tanager, White-lined Tanager, Sayaca Tanager, Purple-throated Euphonia, Burnished-buff Tanager, Pileated Finch, White-throated Seedeater, Red-cowled Cardinal, Rufous-collared Sparrow, Black-throated Saltator, Ultramarine Grosbeak, Bay-winged Cowbird, Shiny Cowbird, Epaulet Oriole, Campo Troupial.
SERGIPE
DEL CRASTO (ESTÂNCIA)
Accommodation: Hotel Magnus in Estância
A lovely patch of remnant Atlantic Forest is situated near Estância. Drive to the county of Santa Luzia de Itanhi and from there take the dirt road to Del Crasto, which is a fishing village. Along the road you will find a nice forest patch, where you will have the chance to find the extremely rare Fringe-backed Fire-eye. Other birds seen in this area are Red-shouldered Macaw, Golden-capped Parakeet, Golden-tailed Parrotlet, Sooretama Slaty-Antshrike, White-fringed Antwren, Blue-backed & White-bearded Manakin, Stripe-necked Tody-Tyrant, Pale-bellied Tyrant-Manakin and White-winged Cotinga.
Birds seen during our visit:
Magnificent Frigatebird, Pied-billed Grebe, Neotropic Cormorant, Cocoi Heron, Great Egret, Little Blue Heron, Snowy Egret, Cattle Egret, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Brazilian Teal, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, White-tailed Kite, Pearl Kite, Snail Kite, Savanna Hawk, Roadside Hawk, Southern Caracara, Yellow-headed Caracara, Laughing Falcon, American Kestrel, Common Moorhen, Wattled Jacana, Southern Lapwing, Semipalmated Plover, Whimbrel, Solitary Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper, Red-shouldered Macaw, Golden-capped Parakeet, Peach-fronted Parakeet, Orange-winged Parrot, Smooth-billed Ani, Guira Cuckoo, Pauraque, Rufous Nightjar, Glittering-bellied Emerald, White-tailed Trogon, Amazon Kingfisher, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Red-breasted Toucan, Little Woodpecker, Rufous Hornero, Yellow-chinned Spinetail, Sooretama Slaty-Antshrike, White-flanked Antwren, Fringe-backed Fire-eye, White-bearded Manakin, Red-headed Manakin, Yellow Tyrannulet, Forest Elaenia, Stripe-necked Tody-Tyrant, Bran-coloured Flycatcher, White-headed Marsh-Tyrant, Great Kiskadee, Tropical Kingbird, Brown-chested Martin, White-winged Swallow, Black-capped Donacobius, Moustached Wren, Chalk-browed Mockingbird, Pale-breasted Thrush, House Sparrow, Red-eyed (Vireo) Vireo, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Bananaquit, Violaceous Euphonia, Burnished-buff, Red-legged Honeycreeper, Buff-throated Saltator, Red-rumped Cacique, Chopi Blackbird.
ALAGOAS
RESERVA ECOLÓGICA DE PEDRA TALHADA
Accommodation: We stayed at the basic Pousada Central de Quebrangulo.
The Atlantic rainforests represent the most threatened rainforests in South America and provide the last remaining hope for such species as Seven-coloured Tanager, Alagoas Antwren, Alagoas Foliage-gleaner and many others. Once this was the birding hotspot of Alagoas, but deforesting and difficult access make this site far less popular these days. Most birders in recent years go to Murici as this is the only other (accessible) site for the four Alagoas specials. Pedra Talhada is the only site for the critical endangered Forbe's Blackbird in the northeast Brazil and only a few sites remain in Brazil for this endemic. You need a permit from IBAMA to enter this reserve. There is an office of IBAMA at Quebrangulo.
Birds seen during our visit:
Cattle Egret, Striated Heron, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, Roadside Hawk, Southern Caracara, Yellow-headed Caracara, Laughing Falcon, Peregrine Falcon, Blackish Rail, Wattled Jacana, Southern Lapwing, Ruddy Ground-Dove, Grey-fronted Pigeon, Ruddy Quail-Dove, Red-shouldered Macaw, Blue-winged Parrotlet, Squirrel Cuckoo, Smooth-billed Ani, Guira Cuckoo, Long-tailed Woodnymph, Burrowing Owl, Swallow-tailed Hummingbird, Black-throated Mango, Glittering-bellied Emerald, Glittering-throated Emerald, Black-eared Fairy, Amazon Kingfisher, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Wing-banded Hornero, Sooty-fronted Spinetail, Pinto’s Spinetail, Yellow-chinned Spinetail, Rufous-fronted Thornbird, Streaked Xenops, Great Antshrike, Planalto Slaty-Antshrike, Rufous-winged Antshrike, Black-capped Antwren, Black-belled Antwren, White-fringed Antwren, Orange-bellied Antwren, White-backed Fire-eye, Rufous Gnateater, Black-cheeked Gnateater, Screaming Piha, Southern Beardless-Tyrannulet, Mouse-coloured Tyrannulet, Grey Elaenia, Yellow-bellied Elaenia, Ochre-faced Tody-Flycatcher, Common Tody-Flycatcher, Yellow-breasted Flycatcher, White-throated Spadebill, Whiskered Flycatcher, Cliff (Swallow) Flycatcher, Masked Water-Tyrant, White-headed Marsh-Tyrant, Cattle Tyrant, Short-crested Flycatcher, Great Kiskadee, Boat-billed Flycatcher, Piratic Flycatcher, Tropical Kingbird, Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Green-backed Becard, Crested Becard, Brown-chested Martin, Grey-breasted Martin, White-rumped Swallow, Southern Rough-winged Swallow, Moustached Wren, House Wren, Red-eyed (Chivi) Vireo, Grey-eyed Greenlet, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Golden-crowned Warbler, Flavescent Warbler, Bananaquit, Orange-headed Tanager, Guira Tanager, Hooded Tanager, Flame-crested Tanager, White-lined Tanager, Sayaca Tanager, Red-necked Tanager, Burnished-buff Tanager, Blue Dacnis, Blue-black Grassquit, White-throated Seedeater, Wedge-tailed Grass-Finch, Red-cowled Cardinal, Buff-throated Saltator, Black-throated Grosbeak, White-browed Blackbird, Bay-winged Cowbird, Shiny Cowbird, Epaulet Oriole.
MURICI ATLANTIC FOREST
Accommodation: We stayed in the excellent Quilombo Park Hotel in União dos Palmares.
It is pleasantly situated with plenty of birds in the grounds, including Seven-coloured Tanager.
The Murici Forest is like Pedra Talhada a fragment of the Atlantic forest that once covered much of eastern Brazil. Rampant deforestation of Brazil’s Atlantic Forest has been the primary source of pressure on Murici and left some species perilously close to extinction. The reserve is with 3000 hectares, the largest single remaining fragment out of a total of some 5000 hectares.
This small but critically-important reserve is one of the last bastions for several endangered species such as: Orange-bellied Antwren, Alagoas Tyrannulet and Alagoas Foliage-gleaner and it hosts a total of 13 globally threatened bird species including White-collared Kite, Pinto’s Spinetail, Alagoas Foliage-gleaner, Alagoas Antwren, Orange-bellied Antwren, Scalloped Antbird, Alagoas Tyrannulet, Buff-throated Purpletuft, White-winged Cotinga and Seven-coloured Tanager.
Murici is in fact a slight misnomer because the forest is now many kilometres from the town of Murici. The forested ridge of the main remaining forest fragment is accessed by very bad tracks through many kilometres of low productivity cow pastures and sugarcane fields. Without precise directions you will in all probability get lost. To get to the IBAMA reserve, Fazenda Bananeiras, take a dirt road to the right off the BR104 (signposted Fazenda Serra Nova); 700m north of the entrance to Murici. The way is complicated with many tracks to the right and left. Keep to the main road. At a T-junction with another main dirt road, turn left.
Birds seen at Quilombo Park Hotel:
Great Egret, Cattle Egret, Striated Heron, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, Roadside Hawk, White-tailed Hawk, Wattled Jacana, Ash-throated Crake, Blackish Rail, Southern Lapwing, Ruddy Ground-Dove, Red-shouldered Macaw, Blue-winged Parrotlet, Smooth-billed Ani, Burrowing Owl, Swallow-tailed Hummingbird, Black-throated Mango, Glittering-throated Emerald, Ringed Kingfisher, Golden-spangled Piculet, Little Woodpecker, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Sooty-fronted Spinetail, Yellow-chinned Spinetail, Rufous-fronted Thornbird, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, Buff-throated Woodcreeper, Southern Beardless-Tyrannulet, Forest Elaenia, Yellow-bellied Elaenia, Planalto Tyrannulet, Ochre-faced Tody-Flycatcher, Common Tody-Flycatcher, Yellow-olive Flycatcher, Masked Water-Tyrant, White-headed Marsh-Tyrant, Short-crested Flycatcher, Great Kiskadee, Boat-billed Flycatcher, Social Flycatcher, Piratic Flycatcher, Tropical Kingbird, Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Crested Becard, White-winged Becard, Grey-breasted Martin, White-rumped Swallow, Southern Rough-winged Swallow, Barn Swallow, Pale-breasted Thrush, Common Waxbill, Red-eyed (Chivi) Vireo, Chestnut-vented Conebill, Bananaquit, Orange-headed Tanager, White-lined Tanager, Sayaca Tanager, Palm Tanager, Burnished-buff Tanager, Buff-throated Saltator, Wedge-tailed Grass-Finch.
Birds seen at Murici Atlantic Forest and surroundings including Estacão Serra do Ouro:
Great Egret, Cattle Egret, Striated Heron, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, White-tailed Kite, Roadside Hawk, Southern Caracara, Yellow-headed Caracara, American Kestrel, Merlin, Ash-throated Crake, Common Moorhen, Wattled Jacana, Southern Lapwing, Ruddy Ground-Dove, Red-shouldered Macaw, Jandaya Parakeet, Blue-headed Parrot, Smooth-billed Ani, Guira Cuckoo, Striped Cuckoo, Burrowing Owl, Scissor-tailed Nightjar, Sick’s Swift, Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift, Reddish Hermit, Swallow-tailed Hummingbird, Sombre Hummingbird, Black Jacobin, Black-throated Jacobin, Ruby-topaz Hummingbird, White-tailed Goldenthroat, Red-stained Woodpecker, Wing-banded Hornero, Yellow-chinned Spinetail, Plain Xenops, White-eyed Foliage-gleaner, Rufous-winged Antwren, Narrow-billed Antwren, White-fringed Antwren, White-backed Fire-eye, Scalloped Antbird, Black-cheeked Gnateater, Black-headed Berryeater, Screaming Piha, White-bearded Manakin, Blue-backed Manakin, Red-headed Manakin, Yellow-bellied Elaenia, Alagoas Tyrannulet, White-bellied Tody-Tyrant, Masked Water-Tyrant, White-headed Marsh-Tyrant, Short-crested Flycatcher, Cattle Tyrant, Great Kiskadee, Boat-billed Flycatcher, Piratic Flycatcher, Tropical Kingbird, Thrush-like Schiffornis, Grey-breasted Martin, White-rumped Swallow, Barn Swallow, Yellowish Pipit, Black-capped Donacobius, House Wren, Chalk-browed Mockingbird, Long-billed Gnatwren, Red-eyed (Chivi) Vireo, Guira Tanager, Yellow-backed Tanager, Flame-crested Tanager, Sayaca Tanager, Violaceous Euphonia, Chestnut-bellied Euphonia, Seven-coloured Tanager, Red-necked Tanager, Burnished-buff Tanager, Blue Dacnis, Red-legged Honeycreeper, Grassland Sparrow, Buff-throated Saltator, White-browed Blackbird, Bay-winged Cowbird, Shiny Cowbird, Giant Cowbird, Epaulet Oriole.
RIO GRANDE DO NORTE
PRAIA DA PIPA
Accommodation: We stayed in the Pousada Daladeira.
En route from Murici to Fortaleza we made a stop at Praia da Pipa, a beach destination South of Natal and North of Recife, on the North Atlantic coast. Praia da Pipa is an old fishermen villa, which has been transformed into a tourism centre by its pretty beaches and charming atmosphere due to its excellent restaurants, bars and nocturnal life.
We mainly visited this place, because we needed a stop en route to Fortaleza, to find the target species: Little Wood-Rail, Plain-bellied Emerald, and Pectoral Antwren.
Birds seen during our visit:
Magnificent Frigatebird, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Cattle Egret, Striated Heron, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Roadside Hawk, Southern Caracara, American Kestrel, Ash-throated Crake, Black-necked Stilt, Southern Lapwing, Collared Plover, Short-billed Dowitcher, Lesser Yellowlegs, Solitary Sandpiper, Ruddy Turnstone, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, White-rumped Sandpiper, Baird’s Sandpiper, Sandwich Tern, Ruddy Ground-Dove, Scaled Dove, Jandaya Parakeet, Smooth-billed Ani, Planalto Hermit, Swallow-tailed Hummingbird, Glittering-bellied Emerald, Blue-chinned Sapphire, Plain-bellied Emerald, Ringed Kingfisher, Amazon Kingfisher, Green Kingfisher, Rufous-winged Antshrike, Pectoral Antwren, Yellow-bellied Elaenia, Common Tody-Flycatcher, Masked Water-Tyrant, Cattle Tyrant, Great Kiskadee, Social Flycatcher, Tropical Kingbird, Grey-breasted Martin, White-winged Swallow, Moustached Wren, Tropical Gnatcatcher, House Sparrow, Grey-eyed Greenlet, Buff-throated Saltator, Bananaquit, Epaulet Oriole.
Friday October 31
Our trip started with a TAP flight from Brussels via Lisbon to Fortaleza. We landed around 19.45 local time (4 hours time difference with the Netherlands) in Fortaleza, the capital of the Brazilian state of Ceará. After arriving in Fortaleza we met Paulo Ricardo our driver, who was to look after us very well for the next few weeks. We were being whisked away to the luxurious Blue Tree Towers Hotel, not far from the beach of the North Atlantic Ocean. We drank a few Kaiser beers here and then went to bed.
Saturday November 1
At first light we were up and made a stroll to the nearby beach where we saw our first birds of the trip amongst them Common Tern, Swallow-tailed Hummingbird and Masked Water-Tyrant.
When we returned to the hotel we met Paulo Boute at the breakfast table. Two years ago he was our guide in the Pantanal, a very successful trip. After buying a map in the centre of Fortaleza we set off on a two hour drive to the Serra do Baturité, a tiny isolated range with many interesting species.
En route we encountered a selection of open country species such as Rufescent Tiger-Heron, Great Black-Hawk, Wattled Jacana, Ringed Kingfisher, Yellow-chinned Spinetail, Masked Water-Tyrant and White-browed Blackbird.
At 10.30 a.m. we arrived in the town of Baturité, which lies at the foot of the Serra. Half an hour later we arrived in these low isolated hills, where we checked into the comfortable Pousada Le Monte Christo, situated right on the edge of some montane forest. We immediately made a stroll in the surroundings of the hotel and the first birds we saw upon entering the dry forest were the endemics Wing-banded Hornero and Red-cowled Cardinal and a very obliging male Great Antshrike.
After an excellent lunch we headed to Alta da Serra, where we birded along a wide entrance track.
New birds came quickly and among the many good birds here were, Black Jacobin, the stunning Ruby-topaz Hummingbird, Ochraceous Piculet, Variable Antshrike, the recently split Guianan Tyrannulet, Moustached Wren, Red-necked Tanager, Pectoral Sparrow and Campo Troupial.
Hereafter we set off for the village of Pacoti where we visited a nearby small trail into a valley and waited for the critically endangered Grey-breasted Parakeet to come into their roost at a nearby nest site. This they duly did just as the sun was going down and we had scoop views of this rare parakeet. Other good birds of the forested valley were an immature Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle, Fork-tailed Woodnymph and Chivi Vireo. We also managed to see here the local atlantidus sub-species of Lesser Woodcreeper. This bird is probably going to be elevated to the status of a full species in the near future. After an early dinner we collapsed into bed at 21.00 hours after a very long and fairly successful day.
Sunday November 2
We eagerly set off the next day and dawn found us again at the Alto da Serra, where we spent a while on the wide entrance track. Here, among many other species, we found Rufous-breasted Hermit, Versicoloured Emerald, Little Woodpecker, the endemic Grey-headed Spinetail, Black-capped Antwren, Rufous Gnateater of the local race cearae, the pretty endemic Buff-throated Tody-Tyrant and Whiskered (Yellow-rumped) Flycatcher.
Then we were off to the nearby Hotel Remanso which has some excellent trails through the forest.
We spent a few hours along the Trilha do Vale, a trail around the hotel complex.
Slowly walking the trail we found more good birds including great views of a pair of Gould’s Toucanet,
Planalto Hermit, Ochre-cheeked Spinetail, Band-tailed Manakin, Yellow Tyrannulet, White-throated Spadebill and Golden-crowned Warbler. A bird that not was so co-operative was a Tawny-throated Leaftosser that we heard but did not come to the tape. We also heard Spot-winged Wood-Quails call very close to the trail, but these shy birds kept their distance. Luckily I had seen the birds a few years ago at Serra dos Orgãos NP.
In the late afternoon a short drive took us to Refugio de Vida Silvestre, where Paulo had seen White-browed Guan. We managed to see 3 birds, although it was almost dark when we finally spotted a group of these rare birds. Great looks were had by all – this is a rare species, which is seldom seen – luck was really with us! Other birds we encountered were Grey Hawk, Sick’s Swift, Ochraceous Piculet and Grey-headed Spinetail. We had dinner at a café along the road, near our hotel.
Our evening owl activities were not successful, when we tried to lure the Buff-fronted Owl to the iPod.
Monday November 3
Breakfast at 5 o’clock and we then drove south to our next port of call, Chapada do Araripe, for a 3 nights stay in southern Ceará. After a few kilometres we had to stop for a single White-browed Guan in the trees along the road.
En route to southern Ceará we passed through our first caatinga habitats. In this dry and thickly wooded landscape, with quite a few ponds, we made regular stops in the vicinity of Quixada, a town set amidst a strange landscape of rocky mounds.
Most noteworthy of the birds seen here were Bare-faced Ibis, Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, Pearl Kite, Limpkin, Picui Ground-Dove, Peach-fronted Parakeet, Guira Cuckoo, Tropical Gnatcatcher, our first flock of the endemic White-naped Jay, Pileated Finch and the endemic White-throated Seedeater. We also saw a few Side-necked Water-Turtles in the ponds.
At noon we arrived in the small town of Morada Nova, where Paulo contacted the local owner of Fazenda Serratinho. The attraction of Morada Nova is the daytime roost of Pygmy Nightjar.
The landowner, Sr. Sinaldo, showed up amazingly quickly, to lead us with his motorbike out to his land. After a short and very hot walk, we had stellar views of 6 pygmy nightjars on a rocky outcrop in the middle of farmland at their daytime roost. It was remarkably similar to the type of site used as a roost by Blackish Nightjar. We saw and photographed quite a few birds
While driving back to Morada Nova we encountered some bird species including Spot-backed Puffbird, White Woodpecker, the recently split Caatinga Cacholote, White Monjita, Solitary Cacique and a large group of Chestnut-capped Blackbirds.
After a snack at a petrol station, we set of for the Chapada do Araripe. Leaving at mid-afternoon we made the long drive to the city of Crato close to Juazeiro do Norte.
In Juazeiro do Norte we saw the very large statue of Father Cicero, where this priest’s fame as a miracle worker continued to spread, so much so that today people all over Brazil, the country with the largest Roman Catholic population in the world, believe him to be a saint.
We checked into the Encosta de Serra Hotel in Crato around 17.30.
Tuesday November 4
With a pre-arranged early breakfast, we headed to the Floresta Nacional de Chapada do Araripe in search of the regional endemics. We spent a few hours on top of the plateau at an IBAMA protected area, where there is good caatinga. We stopped by some good looking roadside caatinga high on the plateau and birded a sandy track. In these stunning dry forests one of the birds we saw was the endemic Ash-throated Casiornis. The real prize here however was the unique Great Xenops which gave a superb show.
After a short time we explored a more open scrubby area of caatinga a few kilometres further on.
In a couple of hours birding we saw most of local specialities amongst them Caatinga Parakeet, the unique Red-shouldered Spinetail, the red-eyed (Caatinga) Barred Antshrike, Caatinga Antwren, Cinnamon Tanager and only a glimpse of a White-browed Antpitta. A real surprise however was the immature Pale-throated Serra-Finch, a bird that I did not expect to find here.
Amongst the other birds we encountered here were Barred Forest-Falcon, Grey-headed Spinetail, Planalto Slaty-Antshrike, White-naped Jay and Purple-throated Euphonia.
After we birded this section of the plateau we then set off for the Arajara Water Park - an unlikely site at which to see the Araripe Manakin, THE place to find the stunning Araripe Manakin.
A new road from Barbalha to Crato has been built, giving access to the park. The manakins were in the trees along the two streams that flow from the spring at the foot of the hill and appear unperturbed by living on a building site. It took some time for a few of us, but we found an outstandingly beautiful adult male and two female plumaged birds.
After a good lunch at a churrascaria in Crato we returned to our hotel for a siesta. The temperature at midday was 380 C!
In the late afternoon we headed back to the plateau where we explored another area of caatinga.
Of course we saw quite a few birds we had seen this morning, but this area produces a few new ones: Blue-crowned Trogon, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Grey-eyed Greenlet and Pileated Finch. We sadly only heard the Spotted Piculet.
Wednesday November 5
Dawn again found us on the upper part of the tableland. We saw many of the birds of the previous day. Small-billed Tinamou, Silvery-cheeked Antshrike, a very obliging Stripe-backed Antbird, an adorable White-browed Antpitta behaved very well and a Lesser Wagtail-Tyrant were the most notable additions to our list, though we also saw birds such as Striped Cuckoo, Great Xenops, Tawny-crowned Pygmy-Tyrant and Pileated Finch.
Hereafter we headed back to our hotel for breakfast. After breakfast we drove to the nearby red and grey cliffs of the Chapada do Araripe, just 2 kilometres behind our hotel.
Exploring only a very small part of the rain forest in a few gullies at the base of this hills we saw no less than 4 Araripe Manakins. Other birds we encountered were Little Woodpecker, Golden-crowned & Flavescent Warbler, Blue Dacnis, Pectoral Sparrow and Tropical Gnatcatcher. We also saw here our first mammal, the White-tufted Marmoset.
It was exceedingly hot and after a long mid-day break, we ventured out again and explored another part of the plateau, but didn’t add much in the way of new species.
As dusk fell we again visited the Chapada do Araripe near our hotel, where we heard the Rufous Nightjar distantly.
Thursday November 6
A travelling day. At 4.30 we checked out of the hotel and set off for the long drive to Canudos and the Lear’s Macaw. We made a few stops on the tableland, where we added Rufous-thighed Kite, White-tailed Hawk, Red-billed Scythebill, Mouse-coloured Tyrannulet, Hooded Tanager and Ultramarine Grosbeak to our list.
We drove south to Petrolina on the north bank of the São Francisco River, crossing cattle country with a number of wetlands.
We had lunch at Petrolina and hereafter we drove east via Uauá on an appalling road to the tiny village of Canudos. We traversed wide expanses of caatinga. We stopped regularly to scan the caatinga and picked up widespread birds like Harris’s Hawk, Yellow-headed Caracara, Rufous-fronted Thornbird, Cattle Tyrant, Red-cowled Cardinal and the Campo Troupial, only recently split from the Troupial and some rarer birds like Red-legged Seriema and White-naped Jay.
At 16.30 we arrived in Canudos in the heart of the caatinga, where we checked into the Hotel Brasil.
The last hour before dusk we spent on a dirt road not far from the cliffs where the macaws roost, hoping to see Lear’s Macaw, but luck was not with us. As dusk fell and we drove to Canudos, we saw Least Nighthawks and a Scissor-tailed Nightjar hunting over the scrub and we also saw a few Burrowing Owls. When we returned in Canudos we saw a White-tufted Marmoset on the wires on the outside of the village. We had an excellent dinner in our hotel with an ample supply of ice-cold beers.
Friday November 7
Breakfast at 4.30 and we left Canudos at 5.00. We headed to a fazenda, where we had a lookout over the valley, hoping to see the macaw. At dawn we heard and saw a Small-billed Tinamou on the road. Regular forays into the thorny habitat produced good birds like Crane Hawk, Blue-winged Macaw, Caatinga Parakeet, the endemic Broad-tipped Hermit, Red-shouldered Spinetail, Caatinga Cacholotes with their sticklike nests, Stripe-backed Antbird, Greater Wagtail-Tyrant, Pearly-vented Tody-Tyrant, Long-billed Wren, White-naped Jay, Grey-eyed Greenlet, White-lined Tanager, Black-throated Saltator and no less than 7 Ultramarine Grosbeaks (3 together on the dirt road).
At midmorning we arrived at the fazenda and suddenly without any warning sound a few pairs of Lear's Macaws came flying right above our heads. They were a sight to behold, almost luminous in flight and loud calls filled the air. This very rare species has made a great comeback in recent years thanks to the work of local conservationists. Seeing flocks of these fantastic parrots only a few years after they were nearing extinction was a touching experience
Hereafter we visited a few other fazendas and the adjacent ponds. Amongst the birds seen here were Pale-legged Hornero, Yellow Tyrannulet, Common Tody-Flycatcher, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Bay-winged Cowbird and Epaulet Oriole. Our most exciting bird though we saw at the last fazenda we visited. Suddenly a group of Scarlet-throated Tanagers appeared above our heads and landed in a nearby tree. We enjoyed smashing views of this really rare bird, who behaved more like an icterid then a tanager. In the heat of the day we returned to Canudos for a lunch and a very welcome siesta.
The late afternoon hours found us on the same dirt road, but we did not add any new species to our list. At our hotel we again had an excellent dinner and we celebrated our successful day with a couple of beers.
Saturday November 8
We had a very early breakfast. According to some reports I had read, offered the dirt road between Canudos and Jeremoaba the best chance to observe the endangered Lear’s Macaw. At every stop we were captivated by the sheer "birdiness" of the caatinga and by the ease of viewing conditions in this land of deciduous, stunted woodland and desert.
En route we were treated to great views of Laughing Falcon, Burrowing Owl (35+), Stripe-breasted Hermit, Green Kingfisher, Red-shouldered Spinetail, Caatinga Barred Antshrike, Black-backed Water-Tyrant and Masked Water-Tyrant in one pool, Orange-headed Tanager and Ultramarine Grosbeak.
We made a stop at a hacienda with stands of licuri palm. The nuts of these palm tree form a prominent part of the diet of the macaws and we hoped to scope the bird here. We searched for the macaw to no avail, although we did see a few White Monjitas here. When I was trying to photograph a Burrowing Owl, a White-tailed Hawk grabbed the unfortunate bird right before my eyes!
At midday we arrived in Jeremoaba, where we had lunch. Hereafter we headed to the small state of Sergipe. In the late afternoon we arrived in Estância and checked into the Hotel Magnus, where Paulo’s wife Marluce was waiting for us.
Sunday November 9
Breakfast at 5 a.m. and we then spent a full morning in the reminiscent areas of coastal Atlantic forest near Del Crasto. Our stroll produced a great diversity of species and a high bird list including White-tailed Trogon, Red-breasted Toucan, Sooretama Slaty-Antshrike, White-flanked Antwren, White-bearded & Red-headed Manakin, Stripe-necked Tody-Tyrant, Forest Elaenia, Red-legged Honeycreeper and Red-rumped Cacique.
After this forest patch we reached a palm tree plantation and here we obtained good looks of the endemic Golden-capped Parakeet and Red-shouldered Macaw.
However we still had not seen our target bird, the ultra-rare Fringe-backed Fire-eye. At midday we returned to our hotel for a siesta. In the late afternoon we again headed to the forest patch and almost immediately we located a pair of Fringe-backed Fire-eyes and all obtained very good views.
On the ponds along the road near the fishing village we saw amongst others Pied-billed Grebe, Little Blue Heron, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron and Black-capped Donacobius. We checked the shore at Del Crasto and it was low tide. Amongst the migrant shorebirds seen were Semipalmated Plover, Whimbrel, Solitary Sandpiper and Spotted Sandpiper.
At dusk we returned to Estância and en route we saw no less than 6 Rufous Nightjars.
An early breakfast again and at 6 a.m. we left Estância and started our journey north to the state of Alagoas. The only bird of note on the drive was a Peregrine Falcon and at 11.00 a.m. we arrived in Quebrangulo, our base for the next 2 nights.
Before we checked into our hotel we headed to the local IBAMA office to get permission to enter the nearby Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada. Hereafter we checked into the small Pousada Central, which offered gracious hospitality.
At 14.00 we left Quebrangulo and headed to the former well-known reserve. It took almost an hour before we arrived at reserve. We spent quite some time in the open area before we entered the real reserve.
The main reason for coming here was in order to find the rare and localised Forbe’s Blackbird, because nearly all the other rare species, we could see at Murici. We scattered and searched the area a long time to no avail. The delightful Ochre-faced Tody-Flycatcher responded well to the tape although this method was less successful with the Black-bellied Antwren, which remained resolutely in the thick forest. Other birds of note we did see were Black-throated Mango and Rufous Gnateater,
To reach Pedra Talhada at dawn we had a rather early start and en route we surprised a Blackish Rail along the dirt road and we had good views of a Green-backed Becard.
We again spent a long time near the entrance of the park hoping to find Forbe’s Blackbird, but alas we did not see the bird. We then explored the forest and we came away with a list of goodies, which included Long-tailed Woodnymph, Pinto’s Spinetail, Black-bellied Antwren, Black-capped Antwren, the rare Orange-bellied Antwren high in the canopy, Grey Elaenia, Rufous Gnateater, Black-cheeked Gnateater and Ochre-faced Tody-Flycatcher.
Paulo heard a Black-throated Grosbeak and used the iPod and the species surrendered itself eventually and we were treated to some great views as the bird posed for us nicely in the top of a tree.
At midday it was scorching hot and we had lunch and a siesta in a deserted house near the warden’s place. The remainder of the day was spent in the Forbe’s Blackbird area and although we added Black-eared Fairy and Rufous-winged Antshrike to our list, we did not find our target species. I have seldom if ever, felt so chastened, but the goddess of fortune, was clearly not on our side. Very disappointed we returned to our hotel, where an ample supply of ice cold beers and very friendly Brazilian girls could not cheer us up.
At 6.30 we left Quebrangulo and saw us driving to the famous Murici Reserve. The only bird of note on the drive was a Yellowish Pipit and at midday we arrived in Uniao dos Palmares.
We checked into the nice Quilombo Park Hotel and were very surprised when we saw a young Maned Wolf on the lawn. It turned out that the owner had found this young mammal on the nearby cane fields and saved it from the fires.
We had lunch here and after a siesta we spent the afternoon birding the lovely gardens where goodies included Striped Cuckoo, Golden-spangled Piculet, Piratic Flycatcher, Common Waxbill and Wedge-tailed Grass-Finch. In a nearby marshy area we heard a Blackish Rail and with a little help from the iPod we managed to entice a very responsive Ash-throated Crake from the long grass.
Thursday November 13
We eagerly set off at 3.30 a.m. with minibus and four-wheel drive in order to get to the Murici Reserve at pre-dawn to catch the early morning bird activity. We then drove to Murici and on the edge of town turned off to drive to the forest remnant at the Murici Ecological Station in what was once the Fazenda Bananeira.
The forest everywhere has been systematically destroyed for cow pastures, which now covers the hillsides in all directions and especially the last few kilometres it was a rough and difficult drive to reach the forest. We arrived (2 hours and 10 minutes driving) just after dawn at the forest.
Inside the forest the trail was not particularly active and birds proved somewhat elusive. Plenty of Scalloped Antbirds were calling but they showed no interest in playback but we eventually had good views of a male.
Activity was quite low and by 12.00 we had seen a few birds, but no target species. Amongst the birds seen were Red-shouldered Macaw, Reddish Hermit, White-eyed Foliage-gleaner, White-backed Fire-eye, Rufous-winged Antwren, Black-cheeked Gnateater, White-bellied Tody-Tyrant and displaying White-bearded and Blue-backed Manakins.
We were leaving the forest by car, when Luc yelled and led us back up to the high point of the track.
4 beautiful Jandaya Parakeets were perched in a dead tree nearby. While watching the parakeets a Merlin flew over our heads. We had lunch at a fazenda not far from the forest, where we saw 5 Yellowish Pipits. After a short siesta we headed to the nearby Estacão Serra do Ouro, where Paulo had seen the Seven-coloured Tanager a year ago. We did not find the tanager here, but the endemic Narrow-billed Antwren was the main highlight.
We walked a few kilometres along the road here and had good views of Black Jacobin, Red-stained Woodpecker, White-fringed Antwren, Yellow-backed Tanager and Flame-crested Tanager amongst many others. Hereafter we returned to Uniao dos Palmares. The swimming pool at the hotel was a welcome relief from the heat and dust of the day.
Friday November 14
We again left at 3.30. On our last full day in Murici the pressure was on and we worked relentlessly the trails in the forest. We heard a Black-headed Berryeater in the distance, but we failed to find the bird.
The forest produced Alagoas Tyrannulet, which unfortunately only gave a tantalising brief glimpse to a few of us. Other birds of note included Thrush-like Schiffornis, Plain Xenops, Red-headed Manakin, Long-billed Gnatwren. I was the only one who saw a Seven-coloured Tanager in a mixed flock of birds appearing high in the canopy. We of course tried for the other endemics, but to no avail. Everyone was very disappointed that we dipped species like Willis’s Antbird, Alagoas Foliage-Gleaner and Alagoas Antwren.
At midday it was scorching hot and we again had lunch and a very welcome siesta at the fazenda.
We then headed to Estacão Serra do Ouro, where we finally had mega looks at 3 beautiful Seven-coloured Tanagers. Other birds we did see here amongst others were White-tailed Golden-throat, Red-necked Tanager, Red-legged Honeycreeper and Epaulet Oriole.
In the late afternoon we returned to our hotel, where we immediately headed to the swimming pool.
Saturday November 15
Next morning birding in the hotel grounds was excellent with large numbers of birds coming in to the flowering bushes. Wandering around the hotel we spotted Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, Planalto Tyrannulet, Yellow-olive Flycatcher, Short-crested Flycatcher, Crested Becard and Chestnut-vented Conebill to name but a few.
At 8.45 a.m. we left the Quilombo Park Hotel for our drive to Praia da Pipa. In the late afternoon after a very long day's drive through 4 states (Alagoas – Pernambuco – Paraiba – Rio Grande do Norte), we arrived in Praia da Pipa, a beach destination south of Natal and north of Recife, on the North Atlantic coast. We checked into Pousada Daladeira.
Sunday November 16
Before breakfast we made a stroll along the coast and added Plain-bellied Emerald to our list of most wanted birds. Hereafter we visited nearby coastal mangroves where we had time to see migratory nearctic waders and wetland species along the coast. Amongst the waders seen here were Collared Plover, Short-billed Dowitcher, Lesser Yellowlegs, Ruddy Turnstone, Semipalmated, Least, White-rumped & Baird’s Sandpiper. Unfortunately we searched in vain for the Little Wood-Rail in the mangroves, one of our target birds here.
At the small “Sanctuário Ecologico de Pipa” we had good looks at the endemic Pectoral Antwren. Other good birds we saw today were Magnificent Frigatebird, a pair of Jandaya Parakeets!, Rufous-winged Antshrike and Blue-chinned Sapphire.
On our last night, sitting outside in the warm air at a beachside seafood restaurant, we had time to reflect on all the beautiful birds we had seen, as we watched the sun dip into the North Atlantic Ocean.
Our final day was again warm, sunny and calm. We left Praia da Pipa and headed to Fortaleza.
The long drive back to Fortaleza was an unavoidable anticlimax. En route of this eight hours drive we stopped a few times near marshy areas and most noteworthy of the birds seen was our first Spot-flanked Gallinule of the trip.
At 16.45 we arrived at the airport, where we said goodbye to Paulo. The plane was on schedule and the following day we arrived at Brussels Airport at 13.50.
The entire trip went very smoothly with no rain and no car troubles. It was also a fairly successful trip.
We had good views of most possible endemics and near-endemics. However birding in Murici was very disappointing and it seems that November (dry season) is not good for birds. We dipped here target species like Alagoas Foliage-gleaner, Alagoas Antwren, Orange-bellied Antwren, White-winged Cotinga and White-collared Kite, although the White-collared Kite is extremely difficult to find.
We ticked 307 species and I finished this trip with 54 lifers, this in spite of having spent quite a lot of time in Brazil. My ten best birds of the trip? Lear’s Macaw, Pygmy Nightjar, Gould’s Toucanet, Red-shouldered Spinetail, Great Xenops, Silvery-cheeked Antshrike, Fringe-backed Fire-eye, White-browed Antpitta, Araripe Manakin and Seven-coloured Tanager, endemic birds and lifers all of course and all these birds were seen at incredible close range!
Chaam, 21 March 2009
If you need any help or further information, contact me at the following address and I'll try and help if I can!
Jan Vermeulen
Bredaseweg 14
4861 AH Chaam
The Netherlands
Telephone: 0161 - 491327
E-mail: jem.vermeulen@wxs.nl
This list follows the taxonomy, names and sequence of James F. Clements (Birds of the World, A Check List, Sixth Edition, 2007, including updates July 2007 – November 2008). This sixth edition is based primarily on the higher taxonomic sequence outlined in the “Handbook of the Birds of the World” series published by Lynx Edicions.
The Dutch names follow the translated "Complete Checklist of Birds of the World" (Complete Checklist van Vogels van de Wereld) of Michael Walters.
Numbers quoted are estimates of the minimum numbers seen.
NF = National Forest
H = heard
* = endemic species
10+ = minimum 10 birds
1. SMALL-BILLED TINAMOU, Crypturellus parvirostris, Kortsnaveltinamoe
2 at the Araripe National Forest (H) and 1 at Canudos.
2. LEAST GREBE, Tachybaptus dominicus, Amerikaanse Fuut
10+ en route Baturité – Quixada, 3 en route Crota – Petrolina.
3. PIED-BILLED GREBE, Podilymbus podiceps, Dikbekfuut
Singles near Fortaleza and Canudos, 2 at Del Crasto.
4. NEOTROPIC CORMORANT, Phalacrocorax brasilianus, Bigua-aalscholver
Common on lakes en route Baturité – Quixada and Crota – Petrolina and 10+ at Del Crasto.
5. MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD, Fregata magnificens, Amerikaanse Fregatvogel
A single one along the coast at Del Crasto and 3 at Praia da Pipa.
6. COCOI HERON, Ardea cocoi, Sokoireiger
A single sighting at Del Crasto.
7. GREAT EGRET, Ardea alba, Grote Zilverreiger
This widespread species was regularly seen.
8. LITTLE BLUE HERON, Egretta caerulea, Kleine Blauwe Reiger
20+ at Del Castro.
9. SNOWY EGRET, Egretta thula, Amerikaanse Kleine Zilverreiger
A rather common and widespread species.
10. CATTLE EGRET, Bubulcus ibis, Koereiger
A very common and widespread species.
11. STRIATED HERON, Butorides striatus, Groene Reiger
Regularly observations of the nominate race.
12. BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, Nycticorax nycticorax, Kwak
10+ at Del Crasto.
13. YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, Nyctanassa violacea, Geelkruinkwak
A single sighting at Del Crasto.
14. RUFESCENT TIGER-HERON, Tigrisoma lineatum, Rosse Tijgerroerdomp
1 en route Fortaleza – Baturité and 2 near Quixada.
15. BARE-FACED IBIS, Phimosus infuscatus, Maskeribis
3 in the vicinity of Quixada.
16. WHITE-FACED WHISTLING-DUCK, Dendrocygna viduata, Witwangfluiteend
25+ en route Baturité – Quixada and 10+ en route Praia da Pipa – Fortaleza.
17. WHITE-CHEEKED PINTAIL, Anas bahamensis, Bahamapijlstaart
3 at Canudos and 2 en route Quebrangulo - União dos Palmares.
18. BRAZILIAN TEAL, Amazonetta brasiliensis, Amazonetaling
2 en route Fortaleza – Baturité, 25+ in the vicinity of Quixada and 8 at Del Crasto.
19. BLACK VULTURE, Coragyps atratus, Zwarte Gier
A very common and widespread species.
20. TURKEY VULTURE, Cathartes aura, Roodkopgier
A rather common and widespread species, but less common than the previous species.
21. LESSER YELLOW-HEADED VULTURE, Cathartes burrovianus, Kleine Geelkopgier
Regularly observations of this low-flying savanna specialist.
22. PEARL KITE, Gampsonyx swainsonii, Parelwouw
Single ones near Quixada and at Del Crasto.
23. WHITE-TAILED KITE, Elanus leucurus, Amerikaanse Grijze Wouw
3 en route Crota – Canudos, 1 near Jeremoaba, 1 at Del Crasto, 2 near Hotel Quilombo and 2 near Murici.
24. SNAIL KITE, Rostrhamus sociabilis, Slakkewouw
3 en route Baturité – Quixada, 1 at Del Crasto, 1 near Quebrangulo and 5 en route Praia da Pipa – Fortaleza.
25. SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, Accipiter striatus, Amerikaanse Sperwer
A single one at the Chapada do Araripe. This form erythronemius is sometimes considered a separate species: Rufous-thighed Hawk, Accipiter erythronemius.
26. CRANE HAWK, Geranospiza caerulescens, Langpootkiekendief
A splendid sighting at Canudos.
27. GREAT BLACK-HAWK, Buteogallus urubitinga, Zwarte Arendbuizerd
Single ones en route Fortaleza – Baturité and en route Quebrangulo - União dos Palmares.
28. SAVANNA HAWK, Buteogallus meridioinalis, Savannebuizerd
1 en route Fortaleza – Baturité, 1 at Del Crasto and also 1 en route Quebrangulo - União dos Palmares.
29. HARRIS' S HAWK, Parabuteo unicinctus, Woestijnbuizerd
2 en route Crota – Canudos and 4 in the Canudos area.
30. GREY HAWK, Asturina nitida, Grijze Buizerd
A splendid observation at Refugio de Vida Silvestre (Serra do Baturité).
31. ROADSIDE HAWK, Buteo magnirostris, Wegbuizerd
Up to 5 a day throughout the visited areas.
32. WHITE-TAILED HAWK, Buteo albicaudatus, Witstaartbuizerd
1 at the Chapada do Araripe and 3 at Canudos.
33. BLACK-AND-WHITE HAWK-EAGLE, Spizaetus melanoleucus, Zwart-witte Kuifarend
A splendid sighting of an immature bird at the Serra do Baturité.
34. SOUTHERN CARACARA, Caracara plancus, Zuidelijke Caracara
A very common and widespread species.
35. YELLOW-HEADED CARACARA, Milvago chimachima, Geelkopcaracara
Regularly encountered nearly every day of the trip.
36. LAUGHING FALCON, Herpetotheres cachinnans, Lachvalk
1 in the Serra do Baturité, 1 en route Canudos – Jeremoaba, 1 at Del Crasto and 2 at Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada (H).
37. BARRED FOREST-FALCON, Micrastur ruficollis, Gestreepte Bosvalk
A single one at Chapada do Araripe.
38. AMERICAN KESTREL, Falco sparverius, Amerikaanse Torenvalk
Regularly sightings throughout the visited areas.
39. MERLIN, Falco columbarius, Smelleken
A single one near Murici.
40. PEREGRINE FALCON, Falco peregrinus, Slechtvalk
A single one en route Estância – Quebrangulo.
41. * WHITE-BROWED GUAN, Penelope jacucaca, Witbrauwsjakohoen
3 birds at Refugio de Vida Silvestre and 1 sighting elsewhere in the Serra do Baturité of this rarely observed species.
42. SPOT-WINGED WOOD-QUAIL, Odontophorus capueira, Grijze Tandkwartel
We heard a group in the Serra do Baturité at close range (H).
43. LIMPKIN, Aramus guarauna, Koerlan
A single bird en route Baturité – Quixada.
44. GREY-NECKED WOOD-RAIL, Aramides cajanea, Cayennebosral
1 en route Canudos – Jeremoaba (H).
45. ASH-THROATED CRAKE, Porzana albicollis, Witkeelporseleinhoen.
2 seen in a marshy area near Hotel Quilombo, 2 en route União dos Palmares – Murici (H) and 1 at Praia da Pipa (H).
46. BLACKISH RAIL, Pardirallus nigricans, Rouwral
1 seen near Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada and 1 near Hotel Quilombo (H).
47. PURPLE GALLINULE, Porphyrio martinica, Amerikaans Purperhoen
Regularly observations en route.
48. COMMON MOORHEN, Gallinula chloropus, Waterhoen
A fairly common species.
49. SPOT-FLANKED GALLINULE, Gallinula melanops, Zwartkopwaterhoen
2 seen en route Praia da Pipa – Fortaleza.
50. RED-LEGGED SERIEMA, Cariama cristata, Kuifseriema
A single sighting in the caatinga near Petrolina and 1 heard en route Canudos – Jeremoaba.
51. WATTLED JACANA, Jacana jacana, Leljacana
Very common on ponds and lakes.
52. BLACK-NECKED STILT, Himantopus mexicanus, Zwartneksteltkluut
25+ in the Quixada area and 6 near Praia da Pipa.
53. PIED LAPWING, Vanellus cayanus, Cayennekievit
2 near Quixada.
54. SOUTHERN LAPWING, Vanellus chilensis, Chileense Kievit
A very common species, seen every day of the trip.
55. SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, Charadrius semipalmatus, Amerikaanse Bontbekplevier
7 at Del Crasto.
56. COLLARED PLOVER, Charadrius collaris, Kraagplevier
10+ near Praia da Pipa.
57. SHORT-BILLED DOTWICHER, Limnodromus griseus, Kleine Grijze Snip
2 at Praia da Pipa.
58. WHIMBREL, Numenius phaeopus, Regenwulp
2 at Del Crasto.
59. LESSER YELLOWLEGS, Tringa flavipes, Kleine Geelpootruiter
5 near Praia da Pipa.
60. SOLITARY SANDPIPER, Tringa solitaria, Amerikaanse Bosruiter
2 near Quixada and 2 at Del Crasto.
61. SPOTTED SANDPIPER, Actitis macularia, Amerikaanse Oeverloper
1 en route Fortaleza – Serra do Baturité, 2 at Del Crasto and 1 near Praia da Pipa.
62. RUDDY TURNSTONE, Arenaria interpres, Steenloper
15+ near Praia da Pipa.
63. SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, Calidris pusilla, Grijze Strandloper
20+ near Praia da Pipa.
64. LEAST SANDPIPER, Calidris minutilla, Kleinste Strandloper
Small numbers near Praia da Pipa.
65. WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, Calidris fuscicollis, Bonapartes Strandloper
Small numbers near Praia da Pipa.
66. BAIRD’S SANDPIPER, Calidris bairdii, Bairds Strandloper
6 near Praia da Pipa.
67. SANDWICH TERN, Sterna sandvicensis, Grote Stern
A single one at Praia da Pipa.
68. COMMON TERN, Sterna hirundo, Visdief
10+ along the beach at Fortaleza.
69. ROCK DOVE, Columba livia, Stadsduif
Common in towns and villages.
70. PICAZURO PIGEON, Columba picazuro, Picazuroduif
Only one seen at Del Crasto.
71. PALE-VENTED PIGEON, Columba cayennensis, Rosse Duif
2 en route Baturité – Chapada do Araripe.
72. EARED DOVE, Zenaida auriculata, Geoorde Treurduif
2 en route Baturité – Chapada do Araripe, small numbers en route Crota - Estância and en route Estância – Canudos.
73. RUDDY GROUND-DOVE, Columbina talpacoti, Steenduif
A common species in Northeast Brazil.
74. PICUI GROUND-DOVE, Columbina picui, Picuiduif
A common bird in the drier habitats.
75. SCALED DOVE, Columbina squammata, Zuid-Amerikaanse Incaduif
3 at Morada Nova, 2 en route Hotel Quilombo – Murici and 3 near Praia da Pipa.
76. WHITE-TIPPED DOVE, Leptotila verreauxi, Verreaux' Duif
2 near Canudos.
77. GREY-FRONTED DOVE, Leptotila rufaxilla, Grijskruinduif
A single one at Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada.
78. RUDDY QUAIL-DOVE, Geotrygon Montana, Bergkwartelduif
A single sighting at Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada.
79. * LEAR’S MACAW, Anodorhynchus leari, Lears Ara
Fantastic flight views of a total of 14 birds near Canudos (Rasa da Catarina).
80. BLUE-WINGED MACAW, Primolius maracana, Illigers Ara
6 at Canudos (Rasa da Catarina).
81. RED-SHOULDERED MACAW, Ara nobilis, Roodschouderara
10+ at Del Crasto, 6 at Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada, heard at the Quilombo Park Hotel and 10+ at Murici.
82. BLUE-CROWNED PARAKEET, Aratinga acuticaudata, Blauwkoparatinga
35+ at Canudos and 4 en route Canudos – Jeremoaba.
83. * JANDAYA PARAKEET, Aratinga jandaya, Jandayaparkiet
7 at the Murici Forest and 2 near Praia da Pipa.
84. * GOLDEN-CAPPED PARAKEET, Aratinga auricapilla, Goudkaparatinga
12 at Del Crasto.
85. PEACH-FRONTED PARAKEET, Aratinga aurea, Goudvoorhoofdparkiet
2 en route Baturité – Crato and 6 at Del Crasto.
86. * CAATINGA PARAKEET, Aratinga cactorum, Cactusparkiet
Fairly common in the caatinga habitat.
87. WHITE-EARED PARAKEET, Pyrrhura leucotis, Witoorparkiet
6 seen at Serra do Baturité. The form griseipectus is sometimes considered a separate species: Grey-breasted Parakeet, Pyrrhura griseipectus.
88. BLUE-WINGED PARROTLET, Forpus xanthopterygius, Spix' Muspapegaai
10+ at Serra do Baturité, 50+ at Canudos, 10+ at Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada and a few at the Quilombo Park Hotel.
89. * PLAIN PARAKEET, Brotogeris tirica, Tiricaparkiet
3 at Serra do Baturité.
90. YELLOW-CHEVRONED PARAKEET, Brotogeris chiriri, Chiririparkiet
9 at Serra do Baturité.
91. BLUE-HEADED PARROT, Pionus menstruus, Zwartoormargrietje
2 at the Murici Atlantic Forest.
92. ORANGE-WINGED PARROT, Amazona amazonica, Oranjevleugelamazone
2 at Del Crasto.
93. SQUIRREL CUCKOO, Piaya cayana, Eekhoornkoekoek
Singles at Serra do Baturité, Canudos, Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada, Praia da Pipa and 2 at Chapada do Araripe.
94. SMOOTH-BILLED ANI, Crotophaga ani, Kleine Ani
A very common and widespread species.
95. GUIRA CUCKOO, Guira guira, Guirakoekoek
A fairly common and widespread species.
96. STRIPED CUCKOO, Tapera naevia, Gestreepte Koekoek
Single ones at Chapada do Araripe, en route Canudos – Jeremoaba and en route from the Quilombo Hotel to the Murici Atlantic Forest.
97. BURROWING OWL, Athene cunicularia, Holenuil
Common in the Canudos area, 4 en route Quebrangulo – Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada and a few en route Quilombo Hotel – Murici.
98. LEAST NIGHTHAWK, Chordeiles pusillus, Kleinste Nachtzwaluw
2 in the Canudos area.
99. PAURAQUE, Nyctidromus albicollis, Pauraque
A single one at Del Crasto.
100. RUFOUS NIGHTJAR, Caprimulgus rufus, Rosse Nachtzwaluw
1 at Chapada do Araripe (H) and excellent views of no less than 6 birds near Del Crasto
101. * PYGMY NIGHTJAR, Caprimulgus hirundinaceus, Spix' Nachtzwaluw
Smashing views of 6 birds roosting on the rocks at Morada Nova.
102. SCISSOR-TAILED NIGHTJAR, Hydropsalis brasiliana, Spiesstaartnachtzwaluw
Single ones at Canudos (Rasa da Catarina) and en route Quilombo Hotel – Murici Atlantic Forest.
103. SICK’S SWIFT, Chaetura meridionalis, Sicks Gierzwaluw
Small numbers at Serra do Baturité, Chapada do Araripe, Del Crasto and in the Murici area.
104. FORK-TAILED PALM-SWIFT, Tachornis squamata, Braziliaanse Palmgierzwaluw
Common at Fortaleza and small numbers at Serra do Baturité.
105. LESSER SWALLOW-TAILED SWIFT, Panyptila cayennensis, Cayennegierzwaluw
2 en route Quilombo Park Hotel – Murici Atlantic Forest.
106. RUFOUS-BREASTED HERMIT, Glaucis hirsute, Roodborstheremietkolibrie
3 at Serra do Baturité and 1 at Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada.
107. * BROAD-TIPPED HERMIT, Phaethornis gounellei, Oranjestuitheremietkolibrie
3 in the Canudos area (Rasa da Catarina).
108. PLANALTO HERMIT, Phaethornis pretrei, Brilheremietkolibrie
2 at Serra do Baturité, 2 at Chapada do Araripe and 1 at Praia da Pipa.
109. REDDISH HERMIT, Phaethornis ruber, Rode Heremietkolibrie
2 at the Murici Atlantic Forest.
110. SWALLOW-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD, Eupetomena macrourus, Zwaluwstaartkolibrie
Small numbers seen nearly every day of the trip.
111. * SOMBRE HUMMINGBIRD, Aphantochroa cirrochloris, Sombere Kolibrie
A single one en route Quilombo Park Hotel – Murici Atlantic Forest.
112. * BLACK JACOBIN, Melanotrochilus fuscus, Rouwkolibrie
1 at Serra do Baturité and 4 at Estacão Serra do Ouro near the Murici Atlantic Forest.
113. BLACK-THROATED MANGO, Anthracothorax nigricollis, Zwartkeelmango
1 at Quebrangulo, 3 at the Quilombo Park Hotel and 2 at Serra do Ouro near the Murici Atlantic Forest.
114. RUBY-TOPAZ HUMMINGBIRD, Chrysolampis mosquitus, Muskietkolibrie
8 at Serra do Baturité, 6 at Chapada do Araripe and 3 at Murici Atlantic Forest.
115. BLUE-CHINNED SAPPHIRE, Chlorestes notata, Blauwkeelsaffierkolibrie
2 at Praia da Pipa.
116. GLITTERING-BELLIED EMERALD, Chlorostilbon aureoventris, Goudbuiksmaragdkolibrie
A quite common bird during the whole trip.
117. FORK-TAILED WOODNYMPH, Thalurania furcata, Vorkstaartbosnimf
2 at Serra do Baturité.
118. * LONG-TAILED WOODNYMPH, Thalurania watertonii, Langstaartbosnimf
A single one at Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada.
119. WHITE-TAILED GOLDENTHROAT, Polyhmus guainumbi, Witstaartgoudkeelkolibrie
1 at Serra do Ouro near the Murici Atlantic Forest.
120. PLAIN-BELLIED EMERALD, Amazilia leucogaster, Gmelins Amazilia
5 at Praia da Pipa.
121. VERSICOLOURED EMERALD, Amazilia versicolor, Regenboogamazilia
3 at Serra do Baturité.
122. GLITTERING-THROATED EMERALD, Amazilia fimbriata, Franjeamazilia
3 at Chapada do Araripe, 1 at Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada and 1 at the Quilombo Park Hotel.
123. BLACK-EARED FAIRY, Heliothryx aurita, Zwartoorfeeënkolibrie
2 at Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada.
124. * STRIPE-BREASTED STARTHROAT, Heliomaster squamosus, Gestreepte Sterkeelkolibrie
A single one en route Canudos – Jeremoaba.
125. WHITE-TAILED TROGON, Trogon viridis, Witstaarttrogon
1 seen and 1 heard at Del Crasto.
126. BLUE-CROWNED TROGON, Trogon curucui, Blauwkruintrogon
2 at Chapada do Araripe.
127. RINGED KINGFISHER, Ceryle torquata, Amerikaanse Reuzenijsvogel
1 en route Fortaleza – Chapada do Araripe, 3 near Quixada, 3 at Praia da Pipa and 1 en route Praia da Pipa – Fortaleza.
128. AMAZON KINGFISHER, Chloroceryle amazona, Amazoneijsvogel
Singles at Del Crasto, near Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada, at Praia da Pipa and en route Praia da Pipa – Fortaleza.
129. GREEN KINGFISHER, Chloroceryle Americana, Groene IJsvogel
1 en route Canudos – Jeremaobo and 2 at Praia da Pipa.
130. RUFOUS-TAILED JACAMAR, Galbula ruficauda, Roodstaartglansvogel
7 at Chapada do Araripe, 1 at Del Crasto, 2 at Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada and 4 at the Quilombo Park Hotel.
131. SPOT-BACKED PUFFBIRD, Nystalus maculates, Vlekrugbaardkoekoek
2 at Morada Nova.
132. GOULD’S TOUCANET, Selenidera gouldii, Goulds Pepervreter
Smashing views of a pair on the Trilha do Vale at Serra do Baturité.
133. RED-BREASTED TOUCAN, Ramphastos dicolorus, Roodborsttoekan
A single bird at Del Crasto.
134. GOLDEN-SPANGLED PICULET, Picumnus exilis, Kleine Dwergspecht
A pair at the Quilombo Park Hotel.
135. SPOTTED PICULET, Picumnus pygmaeus, Gevlekte Dwergspecht
A single one at Chapada do Araripe (H).
136. * TAWNY PICULET, Picumnus fulvescens, Bruine Dwergspecht
A single one at Chapada do Araripe (Arajara Park).
137. * OCHRACEOUS PICULET, Picumnus limae, Okerdwergspecht
6 at Serra do Baturité.
138. WHITE WOODPECKER, Melanerpes candidus, Witte Specht
A pair at Morada Nova.
139. LITTLE WOODPECKER, Veniliornis passerinus, Musspecht
3 at Serra do Baturité, 1 at Chapada do Araripe, 1 at Del Crasto and 1 at the Quilombo Park Hotel.
140. RED-STAINED WOODPECKER, Veniliornis affinis, Roodvlekspecht
A single one at Estacão Serra do Ouro near the Murici Atlantic Forest.
141. GREEN-BARRED WOODPECKER, Colaptes melanochloros, Groenbandgrondspecht
3 at Serra do Baturité.
142. PALE-LEGGED HORNERO, Furnarius leucopus, Bleekpootovenvogel
Only 2 seen near Estância.
143. * WING-BANDED HORNERO, Furnarius figulus, Witbandovenvogel
10+ at Serra do Baturité and 2 en route Quilombo Park Hotel – Murici.
144. RUFOUS HORNERO, Furnarius rufus, Rosse Ovenvogel
Small numbers at Estância and Del Crasto.
145. OCHRE-CHEEKED SPINETAIL, Synallaxis scutata, Goudoorstekelstaart
Single sightings at Serra de Baturité and Canudos.
146. SOOTY-FRONTED SPINETAIL, Synallaxis frontalis, Roetkruinstekelstaart
1 at Serra do Baturité, 1 at Chapada do Araripe, 2 at Canudos, 3 at Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada and 1 at the Quilombo Park Hotel.
147. * PINTO’S SPINETAIL, Synallaxis infuscate, Pinto's Stekelstaart
A splendid observation of a bird at Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada.
148. * RED-SHOULDERED SPINETAIL, Synallaxis hellmayri, Roodschouderstekelstaart
3 at Chapada do Araripe, 1 seen and a few heard at Canudos.
149. * GREY-HEADED SPINETAIL, Cranioleuca semicinerea, Grijskopstekelstaart
3 at Serra do Baturité and 1 at Chapada do Araripe.
150. YELLOW-CHINNED SPINETAIL, Certhiaxis cinnamomea, Geelkeelstekelstaart
Commonly seen and heard in marshy habitat.
151. RUFOUS-FRONTED THORNBIRD, Phacellodomus rufifrons, Roodkapstekelkruin
3 at Chapada do Araripe and small numbers in the Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada area.
152. * CAATINGA CACHOLOTE, Pseudoseisura cristata, Kuifcachalote
2 at Morada Nova and 8 in the Canudos area.
153. * GREAT XENOPS, Megaxenops parnaguae, Reuzenxenops
Excellent views of 3 birds at Chapada do Araripe (Araripe NF).
154. PLAIN XENOPS, Xenops minutus, Sparrmanns Xenops
A pair at the Murici Atlantic Forest.
155. STREAKED XENOPS, Xenops rutilans, Gestreepte Xenops
3 at Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada.
156. WHITE-EYED FOLIAGE-GLEANER, Automolus leucophthalmus, Witoogbladspeurder
A splendid sighting at the Murici Atlantic Forest.
157. * RUFOUS-BREASTED LEAFTOSSER, Sclerurus scansor, Roodborstbladkrabber
1 on the Trilha do Vale at Serra do Baturité (H).
158. OLIVACEOUS WOODCREEPER, Sittasomus griseicapillus, Grijze Muisspecht
A single one at the Quilombo Park Hotel.
159. BUFF-THROATED WOODCREEPER, Xiphorhynchus guttatus, Geelkeelmuisspecht
A single one at the Quilombo Park Hotel.
160. NARROW-BILLED WOODCREEPER, Lepidocolaptes angustirostris, Wenkbrauwmuisspecht
3 in the Canudos area.
161. LESSER WOODCREEPER, Lepidocolaptes fuscus, Kleine Muisspecht
2 at Serra do Baturité.
162. RED-BILLED SCYTHEBILL, Campylorhamphus trochilirostris, Kolibriemuisspecht
A single one at Chapada do Araripe.
163. GREAT ANTSHRIKE, Taraba major, Grote Mierklauwier
2 at Serra do Baturité, 1 en route Baturité – Quixada and 1 at Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada.
164. * SILVERY-CHEEKED ANTSHRIKE, Sakesphorus cristatus, Camposmierklauwier
Excellent views of 3 birds at Chapada do Araripe (Araripe NF).
165. BARRED ANTSHRIKE, Thamnophilus doliatus, Gebandeerde Mierklauwier
2 at Chapada do Araripe and 3 in the Canudos area.
The form capistratus is sometimes considered a separate species: Caatinga Barred Antshrike, Thamnophilus capistratus.
166. PLANALTO SLATY-ANTSHRIKE, Thamnophilus pelzelni, Planalto Gevlekte Mierklauwier
6 at Chapada do Araripe (Araripe NF), 3 at Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada.
167. * SOORETAMA SLATY-ANTSHRIKE, Thamnophilus ambiguous, Sooretama Gevlekte Mierklauwier
Excellent views of 3 birds in the forest patch at Del Crasto.
168. VARIABLE ANTSHRIKE, Thamnophilus caerulescens, Grijskapmierklauwier
3 at Serra do Baturité.
169. RUFOUS-WINGED ANTSHRIKE, Thamnophilus torquatus, Roodvleugelmierklauwier
1 at Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada and 2 at Praia da Pipa.
170. PLAIN ANTVIREO, Dysithamnus mentalis, Bosmiervireo
4 at Serra do Baturité.
171. WHITE-FLANKED ANTWREN, Myrmotherula axillaris, Witflankmiersluiper
1 at Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada.
172. STRIPE-BACKED ANTBIRD, Myrmorchilus strigilatus, Witbaardmiervogel
2 seen at Chapada do Araripe (Araripe NF) and a few heard in the Canudos area.
173. * CAATINGA ANTWREN, Herpsilochmus sellowi, Caatingamiersluiper
4 at Chapada do Araripe (Araripe NF).
174. BLACK-CAPPED ANTWREN, Herpsilochmus atricapillus, Zwartkopmiersluiper
2 at Serra do Baturité and also 2 at Chapada do Araripe.
175. * PECTORAL ANTWREN, Herpsilochmus pectoralis, Borstbandmiersluiper
A splendid sighting at Sanctuário Ecologico de Pipa at Praia da Pipa.
176. RUFOUS-WINGED ANTWREN, Herpsilochmus rufimarginatus, Roodvleugelmiersluiper
6+ at Murici Atlantic Forest.
177. * NARROW-BILLED ANTWREN, Formicivora iheringi, Dunsnavelmiersluiper
A single bird at Estacão Serra do Ouro near the Murici Atlantic Forest
178. WHITE-FRINGED ANTWREN, Formicivora grisea, Witbandmiersluiper
2 at Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada and 6 at Estacão Serra do Ouro near the Murici Atlantic Forest.
179. BLACK-BELLIED ANTWREN, Formicivora melanogaster, Zwartbuikmiersluiper
Single ones at Canudos and at Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada.
180. * ORANGE-BELLIED ANTWREN, Terenura sicki, Oranjebuikmiersluiper
Neck breaking views of a single bird high in the canopy at Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada.
181. WHITE-BACKED FIRE-EYE, Pyriglena leuconota, Witrugvuuroog
1 at Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada and 2 at Murici Atlantic Forest.
182. * FRINGE-BACKED FIRE-EYE, Pyriglena atra, Swainsons Vuuroog
Smashing views of a pair of these very rare birds in the forest patch at Del Crasto.
183. * SCALLOPED ANTBIRD, Drymophila genei, Roodstaartmiervogel
Common at Murici Atlantic Forest, but it took quite a while before we did see the bird well.
184. * WHITE-BROWED ANTPITTA, Hylopezus ochroleucus, Vlekborstmierpitta
Extraordinary views of this antpitta in the dense caatinga at Chapada do Araripe (Araripe NF).
185. RUFOUS GNATEATER, Conopophaga lineata, Rosse Muggeneter
5 at Serra do Baturité and 2 at Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada.
The form cearae is sometimes considered a separate species: Caatinga Gnateater, Conopophaga cearae.
186. * BLACK-CHEEKED GNATEATER, Conopophaga melanops, Zwartwangmuggeneter
Single ones at Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada and at the Murici Atlantic Forest.
187. * BLACK-HEADED BERRYEATER, Carpornis melanocephalus, Zwart-groene Besseneter
1 at the Murici Atlantic Forest (H).
188. SCREAMING PIHA, Lipaugus vociferans, Schreeuwpiha
2 at the Murici Atlantic Forest.
189. WHITE-BEARDED MANAKIN, Manacus manacus, Bonte Manakin
1 in the forest patch at Del Crasto and 4 at the Murici Atlantic Forest.
190. BLUE-BACKED MANAKIN, Chiroxiphia pareola, Prachtmanakin
6 at the Murici Atlantic Forest.
191. BAND-TAILED MANAKIN, Pipra fasciicauda, Bandstaartmanakin
A single one on the Trilha do Vale Trail at Serra do Baturité.
192. RED-HEADED MANAKIN, Pipra rubrocapilla, Roodkopmanakin
1 in the forest patch at Del Crasto and 3 at the Murici Atlantic Forest.
193. * ARARIPE MANAKIN, Anthilopia bokermanni, Araripemanakin
Splendid views of this astonishing strawberry-and-cream megabird! 2♀♀and 1♂ at Arajara Park and 3♂♂ and 1♀ in the forest just behind Encosta de Serra Hotel at Chapada do Araripe.
194. SOUTHERN BEARDLESS-TYRANNULET, Camptostoma obsoletum, Zuidelijke Chaparralvliegenpikker
Singles at Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada and at the Quilombo Park Hotel.
195. MOUSE-COLOURED TYRANNULET, Phaeomyias murina, Wenkbrauwvliegenpikker
Singles at Chapada do Araripe and at Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada.
196. YELLOW TYRANNULET, Capsiempis flaveola, Gele Looftiran
3 at Serra do Baturité, 1 at Canudos, 1 at Del Crasto and 5 at Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada.
197. FOREST ELAENIA, Myiopagis gaimardii, Boselenia
Singles in the forest patch at Del Crasto and at the Quilombo Park Hotel.
198. GREY ELAENIA, Myiopagis caniceps, Grijze Elenia
A single one at Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada.
199. YELLOW-BELLIED ELAENIA, Elaenia flavogaster, Geelbuikelenia
A fairly common and widespread species in northeast Brazil.
200. * ALAGOAS TYRANNULET, Phylloscartes ceciliae, Langstaartlooftiran
A single sighting at the Murici Atlantic Forest.
201. PLANALTO TYRANNULET, Phyllomyias fasciatus, Schubkopvliegenpikker
10+ at Serra do Baturité and 1 at the Murici Atlantic Forest.
202. GUIANAN TYRANNULET, Zimmerius acer, Guyanavliegenpikker
A single sighting at Serra do Baturité. Until recently, it was considered a subspecies of the Slender-footed Tyrannulet, Zimmerius gracilipes.
203. LESSER WAGTAIL-TYRANT, Stigmatura napensis, Kleine Kwikstaarttiran
A single bird at Chapada do Araripe (Araripe NF).
204. GREATER WAGTAIL-TYRANT, Stigmatura budytoides, Grote Kwikstaarttiran
3 in the Canudos area.
205. TAWNY-CROWNED PYGMY-TYRANT, Euscarthmus meloryphus, Witbuikdwergtiran
2 at Chapada do Araripe (Araripe NF).
206. WHITE-BELLIED TODY-TYRANT, Hemitriccus griseipectus, Witbuiktodietiran
3 seen and a few heard at the Murici Atlantic Forest.
207. STRIPE-NECKED TODY-TYRANT, Hemitriccus striaticollis, Streepnektodietiran
A single sighting in the forest patch at Del Crasto.
208. PEARLY-VENTED TODY-TYRANT, Hemitriccus margaritaceiventer, Witbuiktodietiran
1 at Chapada do Araripe (Araripe NF) and 2 in the Canudos area.
209. * BUFF-BREASTED TODY-TYRANT, Hemitriccus mirandae, Geelborsttodietiran
3 at Serra do Baturité.
210. OCHRE-FACED TODY-FLYCATCHER, Todirostrum plumbeiceps, Bruinkeelschoffelsnavel
2 at Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada and 1 at the Quilombo Park Hotel.
211. COMMON TODY-FLYCATCHER, Todirostrum cinereum, Geelbuikschoffelsnavel
Commonly encountered throughout the trip.
212. YELLOW-OLIVE FLYCATCHER, Tolmomyias sulphurescens, Groenkapbreedbektiran
2 at Serra do Baturité and 3 at the Quilombo Park Hotel.
213. YELLOW-BREASTED FLYCATCHER, Tolmomyias flaviventris, Geelbuikbreedbektiran
A single one at Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada.
214. WHITE-THROATED SPADEBILL, Platyrinchus mystaceus, Witkeelbreedbektiran
2 at Serra do Baturité and 1 at Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada.
215. BRAN-COLOURED FLYCATCHER, Myiophobus fasciatus, Roesttiran
A single one in the forest patch at Del Crasto.
216. WHISKERED FLYCATCHER, Myiobius barbatus, Geelstuittiran
Singles at Serra do Baturité and Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada. The form mastacalis is sometimes considered a separate species: Yellow-rumped Flycatcher, Myiobius mastacalis.
217. CLIFF FLYCATCHER, Hirundinea ferruginea, Zwaluwtiran
5 in the Canudos area and 2 at Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada. The form bellicosa is sometimes considered a separate species: Swallow Flycatcher, Hirundinea bellicosa.
218. EULER'S FLYCATCHER, Lathrotriccus euleri, Eulers Tiran
3 at Serra do Baturité and 2 at Chapada do Araripe.
219. TROPICAL PEWEE, Contopus cinereus, Spixpiewie
A single one at Serra do Baturité.
220. WHITE MONJITA, Xolmis irupero, Witte Monjita
1 at Morada Nova and 6 en route Canudos – Jeremoaba.
221. BLACK-BACKED WATER-TYRANT, Fluvicola albiventer, Zwartrugwatertiran
A single sighting en route Canudos – Jeremoaba.
222. MASKED WATER-TYRANT, Fluvicola nengeta, Maskerwatertiran
Commonly seen at ponds and marshes.
223. WHITE-HEADED MARSH-TYRANT, Arundinicola leucocephala, Witkopwatertiran
Regular encounters at ponds and marshes.
224. CATTLE TYRANT, Machetornis rixosus, Veetiran
Small numbers almost daily.
225. * ASH-THROATED CASIORNIS, Casiornis fusca, Grijskeelcasiornis
An excellent observation at Chapada do Araripe (Araripe NF).
226. SHORT-CRESTED FLYCATCHER, Myiarchus ferox, Kortkuiftiran
2 at Serra do Baturité and singles at Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada, Quilombo Park Hotel and the Murici Atlantic Forest.
227. BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER, Myiarchus tyrannulus, Cayennetiran
A single one at Chapada do Araripe.
228. GREAT KISKADEE, Pitangus sulphuratus, Grote Kiskadie
A very common and widespread species.
229. BOAT-BILLED FLYCATCHER, Megarhynchus pitangua, Bootsnaveltiran
Seen most days in fair numbers.
230. SOCIAL FLYCATCHER, Myiozetetes similis, Roodkruintiran
A fairly common and widespread species.
231. PIRATIC FLYCATCHER, Legatus leucophaius, Piraattiran
Single ones at Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada and Murici Atlantic Forest, 2 at the Quilombo Park Hotel.
232. TROPICAL KINGBIRD, Tyrannus melancholicus, Tropische Koningstiran
A very common and widespread species.
233. FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER, Tyrannus savana, Vorkstaartkoningstiran
1 near Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada and 2 near the Quilombo Park Hotel.
234. THRUSH-LIKE SCHIFFORNIS, Schiffornis turdinus, Bronzen Schiffornis
Great looks at this bird in the Murici Atlantic Forest, 3 birds seen.
235. GREEN-BACKED BECARD, Pachyramphus viridis, Groenrugbekarde
A single one near Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada.
236. WHITE-WINGED BECARD, Pachyramphus polychopterus, Witvleugelbekarde
A single sighting at the Quilombo Park Hotel.
237. CRESTED BECARD, Pachyramphus validus, Kuifbekarde
2 at Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada and 2 at the Quilombo Park Hotel.
238. BROWN-CHESTED MARTIN, Progne tapera, Bruinborstzwaluw
Small numbers at Del Crasto and Estância.
239. GREY-BREASTED MARTIN, Progne chalybea, Grijsborstpurperzwaluw
Everywhere, common and widespread.
240. WHITE-WINGED SWALLOW, Tachycineta albiventer, Witbuikzwaluw
Regular encounters always near water.
241. WHITE-RUMPED SWALLOW, Tachycineta leucorrhoa, Witstuitzwaluw
A pair at the nest in Quebrangulo, a few en route União dos Palmares – Murici.
242. SOUTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW, Stelgidopteryx ruficollis, Zuid-Amerikaanse Ruwvleugelzwaluw
A fairly common and widespread species.
243. BARN SWALLOW, Hirundo rustica, Boerenzwaluw
25+ en route Fortaleza – Baturité, a few en route União dos Palmares – Murici.
244. YELLOWISH PIPIT, Anthus lutescens, Gele Pieper
1 en route Quebrangulo - União dos Palmares and 7 en route União dos Palmares – Murici.
245. BLACK-CAPPED DONACOBIUS, Donacobius atricapillus, Zwartkopdonacobius
1 at Del Crasto and a pair en route União dos Palmares – Murici.
246. MOUSTACHED WREN, Thryothorus genibarbis, Knevelwinterkoning
Several superb sightings (Serra do Baturité, Del Crasto, Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada). Many others were heard.
247. * LONG-BILLED WREN, Thryothorus longirostris, Langsnavelwinterkoning
1 seen and 1 heard at Canudos.
248. HOUSE WREN, Troglodytes aedon, Huiswinterkoning
A rather common species.
249. CHALK-BROWED MOCKINGBIRD, Mimus saturninus, Camposspotlijster
A very common and widespread species.
250. RUFOUS-BELLIED THRUSH, Turdus rufiventris, Roodbuiklijster
9 at Serra do Baturité and 2 at Chapada do Araripe.
251. PALE-BREASTED THRUSH, Turdus leucomelas, Vaalborstlijster
15+ at Serra do Baturité, 4 at Chapada do Araripe, 2 at Del Crasto and 2 at the Quilombo Park Hotel.
252. CREAMY-BELLIED THRUSH, Turdus amaurochalinus, Crèmebuiklijster
A single one at Chapada do Araripe.
253. LONG-BILLED GNATWREN, Ramphocaenus melanurus, Zwartstaartmuggensluiper
A pair at the Murici Atlantic Forest.
254. TROPICAL GNATCATCHER, Polioptila plumbea, Amazonemuggenvanger
1 at Quixada, 5 a day at Chapada do Araripe (Araripe NF), 15+ in the Canudos area and 2 at Praia da Pipa.
255. * WHITE-NAPED JAY, Cyanocorax cyanopogon, Witnekgaai
3 at Quixada, 6 at Chapada do Araripe (Araripe NF) and 4 at Canudos.
256. HOUSE SPARROW, Passer domesticus, Huismus
Common in cities and villages.
257. COMMON WAXBILL, Estrilda astrild, Sint-Helenafazantje
3 at Quebrangulo and 8 near the Quilombo Park Hotel.
258. RED-EYED VIREO, Vireo olivaceus, Roodoogvireo
Sometimes regarded as a separate species: Chivi Vireo, Vireo chivi.
Fairly common all over the circuit.
259. * GREY-EYED GREENLET, Hylophilus amaurocephalus, Grijsoogvireo
2 at Chapada do Araripe (Araripe NF), 1 at Canudos, 2 at Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada and 1 at Praia da Pipa.
260. RUFOUS-BROWED PEPPERSHRIKE, Cyclarhis gujanensis, Roodbrauwpeperklauwier
1 at Serra do Baturité, 1 at Chapada do Araripe, 2 at Canudos, 1 at Del Crasto and 2 at Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada.
261. TROPICAL PARULA, Parula pitiayumi, Maskerparulazanger
A single sighting in the Serra do Baturité.
262. GOLDEN-CROWNED WARBLER, Basileuterus culicivorus, Goudhaanzanger
2 at Serra do Baturité, 1 at Chapada do Araripe and 3 at Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada.
263. FLAVESCENT WARBLER, Basileuterus flaveolus, Amazonezanger
2 at Chapada do Araripe and 6 at Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada.
264. BANANAQUIT, Coereba flaveola, Suikerdiefje
Up to 7 a day during the trip.
265. CHESTNUT-VENTED CONEBILL, Conirostrum speciosum, Roodbuikspitssnavel
3 at the Quilombo Park Hotel.
266. * CINNAMON TANAGER, Schistoclamys ruficapillus, Kaneeltangare
5 at Chapada do Araripe (Araripe NF).
267. * SCARLET-THROATED TANAGER, Compsothraupis loricata, Roodborsttangare
A party of 15+ birds around a pond at a fazenda in the caatinga near Canudos (Rasa da Catarina).
This rare endemic species is currently classified as a tanager, but is certainly more reminiscent of an icterid than a tanager.
268. ORANGE-HEADED TANAGER, Thlypopsis sordida, Oranjekoptangare
5 at Serra do Baturité, 1 near Canudos, 3 at Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada and 1 at the Quilombo Park Hotel.
269. GUIRA TANAGER, Hemithraupis guira, Guiratangare
6 at Serra do Baturité, 2 at Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada and 1 at Estacão Serra do Ouro.
270. YELLOW-BACKED TANAGER, Hemithraupis flavicollis, Geelstuittangare
10+ at Estacão Serra do Ouro near the Murici Atlantic Forest.
271. HOODED TANANGER, Nemosia pileata, Kaptangare
1 at Chapada do Araripe and 4 at Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada.
272. FLAME-CRESTED TANAGER, Tachyphonus cristatus, Vuurkuiftangare
2 at Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada and 1 at Estacão Serra do Ouro.
273. WHITE-LINED TANAGER, Tachyphonus rufus, Zwarte Tangare
Fairly common in the Canudos area and at Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada, 1 at the Quilombo Park Hotel.
274. SAYACA TANAGER, Thraupis sayaca, Sayacatangare
A common and widespread species.
275. PALM TANAGER, Thraupis palmarum, Palmtangare
A common and widespread species.
276. PURPLE-THROATED EUPHONIA, Euphonia chlorotica, Purperkeelorganist
2 at Chapada do Araripe and 2 at Canudos.
277. VIOLACEOUS EUPHONIA, Euphonia violacea, Violette Organist
A few at Serra do Baturité, Del Crasto and Estacão Serra do Ouro.
278. CHESTNUT-BELLIED EUPHONIA, Euphonia pectoralis, Kastanjebuikorganist
A single one at the Murici Atlantic Forest.
279. * SEVEN-COLOURED TANAGER, Tangara Mexicana, Turkooistangare
Brief views of a bird in the Murici Atlantic Forest, but smashing views of 3 birds at Estacão Serra do Ouro.
280. * RED-NECKED TANAGER, Tangara cyanocephala, Roodnektangare
4 at Serra do Baturité, 3 at Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada, 5 at the Murici Atlantic Forest and 5 at Estacão Serra do Ouro.
281. BURNISHED-BUFF TANAGER, Tangara cayana, Sabeltangare
A fairly common and widespread species.
282. BLUE DACNIS, Dacnis cayana, Blauwe Pitpit
A common and widespread species.
283. RED-LEGGED HONEYCREEPER, Cyanerpes cyaneus, Blauwe Suikervogel
A pair in the forest patch at Del Crasto and 2 pairs at Estacão Serra do Ouro.
284. PILEATED FINCH, Coryphospingus pileatus, Grijze Kroongors
Rather common in the caatinga, but very common in the Canudos area (50+ daily).
285. BLUE-BLACK GRASSQUIT, Volatinia jacarina, Witbrauwgrasgors
A fairly common species throughout.
286. YELLOW-BELLIED SEEDEATER, Sporophila nigricollis, Geelbuikdikbekje
15+ at Serra do Baturité and a few at Chapada do Araripe.
287. * WHITE-THROATED SEEDEATER, Sporophila albogularis, Witkeeldikbekje
10+ at Chapada do Araripe, 10+ near Petrolina and 5 near Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada.
288. WEDGE-TAILED GRASS-FINCH, Emberizoides herbicola, Wigstaartgrasgors
Single ones near Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada and at the Quilombo Park Hotel.
289. * PALE-THROATED SERRA-FINCH, Embernagra longicauda, Langstaartgors
A real surprise! An immature bird at Chapada do Araripe.
290. * RED-COWLED CARDINAL, Paroaria dominicana, Dominicanerkardinaal
A common, but spectacular north-eastern Brazilian endemic.
291. PECTORAL SPARROW, Arremon taciturnus, Olijfruggors
10 at Serra do Baturité and 1 at Chapada do Araripe.
292. GRASSLAND SPARROW, Ammodramus humeralis, Graslandgors
6 en route União dos Palmares – Murici.
293. RUFOUS-COLLARED SPARROW, Zonotrichia capensis, Roodkraaggors
A few at Chapada do Araripe and at Canudos.
294. BUFF-THROATED SALTATOR, Saltator maximus, Bontkeelsaltator
2 at Del Crasto, 1 at Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada, 1 at Quilombo Park Hotel and a few at Estacão Serra do Ouro.
295. BLACK-THROATED GROSBEAK, Saltator fuliginosus, Dikbekkardinaal
2 at Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada.
296. BLACK-THROATED SALTATOR, Saltator atricollis, Zwartkeelsaltator
5 at Canudos.
297. ULTRAMARINE GROSBEAK, Cyanocompsa brissonii, Ultramarijnbisschop
1 at Chapada do Araripe (Araripe NF), 7 at Canudos and 1 en route Canudos – Jeremaobo.
298. CHESTNUT-CAPPED BLACKBIRD, Agelaius ruficapillus, Bruinkaptroepiaal
50+ at Morada Nova.
299. WHITE-BROWED BLACKBIRD, Sturnella superciliaris, Witbrauwsoldatenspreeuw
Many sightings of this bird throughout the trip.
300. BAY-WINGED COWBIRD, Agelaioides badius, Bruine Koevogel
Rather common near Canudos, a few near Quebrangulo and en route União dos Palmares – Murici.
This form is sometimes considered a separate species: Pale Cowbird or Pale Baywing, Agelaioides fringillarius.
301. SHINY COWBIRD, Molothrus bonariensis, Glanskoevogel
A fairly common and widespread species.
302. GIANT COWBIRD, Molothrus oryzivorus, Grote Koevogel
Singles near Jeremaobo and en route União dos Palmares – Murici.
303. EPAULET ORIOLE, Icterus cayanensis, Roodboegtroepiaal
4 at Serra do Baturité, 6 near Canudos, 4 at Reserva Ecológica de Pedra Talhada, a few at Estacão Serra do Ouro and near Praia da Pipa.
304. CAMPO TROUPIAL, Icterus jamacaii, Campotroepiaal
1 at Serra do Baturité, 3 en route Crato – Canudos, 15+ at Canudos.
305. RED-RUMPED CACIQUE, Cacicus haemorrhous, Roodstuitbuidelspreeuw
5 at the forest patch at Del Crasto.
306. SOLITARY CACIQUE, Cacicus solitarius, Zwarte Buidelspreeuw
A single bird at Morada Nova.
307. CHOPI BLACKBIRD, Gnorimopsar chopi, Chopitroepiaal
25+ at Del Crasto.
This specific treatment follows “Neotropical Rainforest Mammals”, a field guide by Louise H. Emmons.
1. COMMON GREY FOUR-EYED OPOSSUM, Philander opossum
1 en route União dos Palmares – Murici.
2. ROCK CAVY, Kerodon rupestris
2 at Canudos.
3. MANED WOLF, Chrysocyon brachyurus
An immature one at the Quilombo Park Hotel.
4. BRAZILIAN FREE-TAILED BAT, Tadarida brasiliensis
Small numbers at Serra do Baturité and Chapada do Araripe and at Praia da Pipa.
5. BULLDOG FISHING BAT, Noctilio labialis
An excellent observation at Del Crasto.
6. LONG-NOSED BAT
8 at the Quilombo Park Hotel.
7. WHITE-TUFTED MARMOSET, Callithrix aurita
6 at Chapada do Araripe, 10+ at Canudos and 2 near Quebrangulo.
8. COIMBRA-FILHO’S TITI MONKEY, Callicebus coimbrai
We heard the distinctive loud calls in the forest patch at Del Crasto.
9. RED BROCKET DEER, Mazama americana
A single sighting near Canudos.
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