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Field Guides Tour Report
Brazil: Great Rivers of the Amazon II 2015
Oct 26, 2015 to Nov 7, 2015
Bret Whitney & Pepe Rojas


Seeing the bizarre Bald Parrot, only recently described to science, was certainly among the top experiences for everyone on Field Guides' inaugural "Exploring the Madeira-Tapajos Interfluvium" tour to this region! (4K video copyright Bret Whitney)

Field Guides’ inaugural run of the “Great Rivers of the Amazon: Birding the Madeira-Tapajos Interfluvium” tour might be described as a complicated success. Complicated in a “mother-naturedly” kind of way, as the tour was preceded by nearly three months of extraordinarily dry conditions that dictated we alter our route quite dramatically. Successful in that we generated a fine list of specialties of the central Amazon, made some exciting discoveries about what occurs where, went birding in numerous places no one had ever before investigated, and had a whole lot of fun living on the boat for nigh on two weeks.

Trouble started just before the tour got underway: the entrance to the interfluvium on the Rio Uraria (often spelled Araria), a narrow waterway near the town of Nova Olinda do Norte, had dropped to levels too low for our big boat, the Cichla Ocellaris, to get in. So, I arranged for the Cichla to depart Manaus two days early to make the huge loop around to Maues thence back west to the Madeira while Pepe and I took the group to Borba, an old town on the right (east) bank of the Madeira a couple of hours above Nova Olinda do Norte. I’d been to Borba three times over the years and knew we’d find good birding in the vicinity, while giving the Cichla time to get around to the upper Uraria. Plan B worked to perfection… but the fires had not been put out. Literally. People all across the Madeira-Tapajos region had been taking advantage of the very dry conditions that had prevailed for many weeks to set fire to forest and fields on a massive scale. Thus, a pallor of smoke hung over the landscape and rivers and settled over the towns all along the east bank of the Madeira. The loss of primary forest during this period, especially around towns with significant human populations (like Nova Olinda do Norte and Borba), was devastating, and heartbreaking to witness. This included a large amount of forest that these people had not intended to destroy, lost in the spread from burning fields and second-growth. Our first morning at Borba was the worst. Every bird was colored orangey-brown by the bright sun attempting to shine through the haze, and every breath we took carried the smell and taste of the smoke. There was no escape from it; all we could do was carry on and try to find some unburned forest and campina habitat to have a chance at finding the many great birds inhabiting this region of Amazonia. Sadly, good habitat near town that I’d worked as recently as October, 2013, was completely wiped out in the fires. Fortunately, we eventually managed to access both campina and tall terra firme forest to find a number of “Mad-Tap specialties”, particularly the little-known Brown-breasted Barbet, Hoffmann’s Woodcreeper, and the rarely seen Pale-faced Bare-eye at an army ant swarm – but what a fantastic bird to see, surely among the “most hoped-for” on everyone’s list. Unfortunately, there was no sign of White-breasted Antbird there (darn!). Despite monumental effort, we could do no better than a shape flying overhead and lots of song from the as-yet-undescribed species of shrike-vireo I discovered not far from Borba in July, 2010. The campina yielded brief but good, close views of the distinctive (species-level) form of Least Nighthawk we have been working on for years now (it’s “getting there”, don’t worry!), and truly superb studies of a pair of Amazonian Scrub-Flycatchers.

As we departed Borba on the speed-launch, headed down the Madeira to Nova Olinda do Norte, I quietly but ardently hoped that we’d arrive in a couple of hours to make the short (10 kilometers) overland drive to the Uraria, and there find the Cichla Ocellaris waiting for us. This was a HUGE unknown, really, because any number of things (key miscalculations in speed of the Cichla on the Amazonas and/or parana dos Ramos, or the Uraria by us; accidents; “acts of God”) could easily delay her arrival by hours, or a day or more. I won’t keep you in suspense. On arrival at Nova Olinda do Norte, we learned that the Cichla had dropped anchor at the prescribed meeting point a mere two hours ahead of our arrival, having motored some 45 hours non-stop from Manaus. HALLELUJAH, baby! And just like that, we were perfectly back on-track with the planned itinerary. Depressingly, however, widespread burning had left this entire region under smoke just as dense as we’d seen at Borba. There was nothing to do but head down the Uraria, planning to wake up next morning on the lower Rio Abacaxis. We did indeed make that run, but awoke to yet more deep purple smoke on the waters ;-) Then, to add insult to injury, two weird things happened: our local guide got fouled up with his directions getting us to the main birding trail and, amazingly, a sudden, fairly hard rain came up, the first the locals had seen in about three months. Thus, that morning produced little of much interest (except for a dynamite pair of Glossy Antshrikes and a few other river-edge birds), and we got drenched getting back to the Cichla. But then, we were on the Cichla, in a wild part of the Amazon, and you just can’t have a really bad day, ever, on those boats! That afternoon we got in some very productive birding with the scopes set up at the edge of tall forest, and enjoyed seeing toucans, woodpeckers, and a variety of flycatchers. Unfortunately, however, it rained hard the next morning, shutting us out of birding a fine terra firme forest trail that I’d very much wanted us to work. When rain hadn’t let up by late morning, we had to move on, and so turned the bow back east and motored on to the Rio Paracuni, a small tributary of the Urariá that looked promising on satellite imagery. The rain followed us along. The long dry period was over, we would soon discover, as rain or the threat of it accompanied us for much of the rest of the tour. This had the very welcome effect, however, of washing the smoke out of the atmosphere, and just a couple of days later we were seeing little of the haze that had so dominated the air for the first five days.

That morning on the Paracuni was a real beauty. Except for the fact that we were in a place that no one (including me!) had ever birded, the day started like most mornings in the Amazon, with a walk into tall, fairly quiet forest, not a lot happening right off the bat. This was a brand-new trail, opened an hour earlier by our crew of woodsmen. First came a couple of encounters with mixed-species flocks that produced nice views of several understory species. Listening to a distant canopy flock, I heard a nice surprise: a dawn-singing Glossy-backed Becard, unknown (but not really unexpected) in this area. We managed to pull in the pair of becards for good views on dead branches high overhead, and a pair of Red-necked Aracaris and a Bar-breasted Piculet also graced the scope. Further along the trail, Yellow-throated, Golden-green, and (magnificent!) Red-necked woodpeckers all showed up. Then a pair of Bald Parrots, a spectacular Mad-Tap endemic described to science less than 20 years ago, rocketed overhead. I hollered to “Look up!”, but there was no chance to see them through the dense rainforest canopy. I mentioned to folks that it was a good sign, just hearing them, and that we’d “stay tuned” as we walked further into the forest. We didn’t have to go too far before I heard the distinctive calls of a perched Bald Parrot. The bird was dreadfully far off, but I told folks, “Occasionally, these birds will actually fly in and land close in response to playback, so please hold very still in case that happens.” I played a loud recording of calls several times over a period of a couple of minutes, then suddenly, a pair of Bald Parrots blasted in to perch a mere 20 feet in front of us, exactly where we were all silently praying they would appear! It was a stunning moment, and every single person present did exactly the right thing: they looked at the birds quietly, without pointing or saying a word, as they raised their bin’s slowly. The pair of parrots, shocked to find a bunch of gringos at very close range, simply froze in place, barely moving a muscle, and stayed put for more than three minutes. They were so close that we dared not move to put the scope on them (and they were literally too close for the scope), but as they calmed down over the next several minutes, and moved around us curiously (they may never have seen a human being at close range) we all enjoyed repeated scope studies of these gorgeous, bizarre parrots. Check out the video embedded in the triplist, below!

"OK, what’s next?" somebody fairly innocently asked. I said (as I usually do), “Who knows, that’s what’s so fun about birding, especially in places where nobody has ever birded!” It didn’t take too long to get to what was next: a fabulous, perched White-browed Hawk! The bird flew before all could get onto it, but a recording soon brought it back for superb scope viewing, relatively low in the forest midstory. Onward. We eventually came to the end of our trail. Looking at the spot, it struck me as right-on for Black-bellied Gnateater, so I said, “I’m gonna just toss out a little bait for Black-bellied Gnateater, looks great for it here.” Almost instantaneously, a dashing male bounded out of the understory. Most folks weren’t ready for it (especially so quickly!), and it was tricky getting everyone into position without spooking the bird, but we soon had all bin’s properly trained, and he eventually performed even better, allowing prolonged viewing for most of us. Black-bellied Gnateater is high on my list of Amazonian favorites, and we were really happy to find this pair (a couple of lucky folks got to see the female as well) and get everyone a good view. Not to be greedy, but we’d sure been hoping for a nice swarm of army ants, where we might be able to make up the lost shot at Harlequin Antbird on the lower Abacaxis. There was still plenty of time…

We made our way eastward to the town of Maues, and, after a stop to refuel and re-provision the galley, we headed south into the night, ascending the ocean-wide Rio Maues-acu. It was Halloween, and Kathy ably assumed the role of Mistress of Ceremonies, getting everyone ready for festivities that evening by showing up in costume (any costume one might scrape together) for the checklist session/happy hour. It was great fun, and hard to pick a clear winner among the complement of imaginative outfits around the dining room, as you will see in the video! October 31 was also a landmark birthday for Linda, which we celebrated with a top-deck cookout under starry skies. We awoke next morning as we made our way slowly up a narrow sidestream of the main river. It was a beautiful morning and the sun was mostly at our backs as we scanned the banks and near-range treetops for birds and other wildlife. We saw at least seven Sungrebes (and more than 50 on the whole trip!), mainly because the water was so low that these skulkers were exposed to view instead of hidden behind river-margin shrubbery. Pepe picked up an adult Agami Heron, and skillful maneuvering of the Cichla got us into position for a good scope angle. We spent a night there, which allowed us to put in a couple of terra firme forest trails to explore that afternoon, and the next morning.

We were now well into the range of the spectacular, yet rarely seen Golden Parakeet. I decided the best strategy for spotting these birds might be to tie up to the east bank, in a shady spot, and do a post-breakfast “big sit” for an hour or so, to watch for parakeets and other birds waking up to the rising sun, in perfect light across the stream. Good call! Our plan worked really nicely, as aracaris, toucans, jacamars, trogons, raptors (including another White-browed Hawk!), and parrots seemed to appear in procession… but there was no sign of Golden Parakeets. The mega-highlight that morning was Pepe calling out, “Bret! Look at this bird!” I immediately got to the scope, and Pepe was right, he had spotted a fabulous (if very distant) adult male White-tailed Cotinga! The bird stuck for a couple of minutes, but not really long enough for everyone to get soul-satisfying views. After a hiatus of perhaps 10 minutes (during which a trio of Red-fan Parrots showed up), we found the cotinga again, this time considerably closer, and all got to scope it at length. This fancy cotinga is endemic to lower Amazonia, east of the Rio Madeira, but its distribution is poorly known, especially relative to the other two members of the genus Xipholena (Pompadour and White-winged cotingas).

It was now time to hit the trail, barely 07:00(!), as we made our way into tall, undisturbed forest that, once again, no biologists or birders had ever investigated. We enjoyed numerous fine sightings of birds that morning, but two species were outstanding: a super-cooperative male Banded Antbird that stood on a log right in front of us for several minutes (check out the video, below; we walked away from him!), and, after considerable effort chasing around a canopy flock, the newly described Sucunduri Yellow-margined Flycatcher. I had discovered this bird, and recognized its distinctive song as representing an undescribed, species-level taxon, back in 1995. But it was not until 2013 that Brazilian colleagues and I managed to gather enough data to present its formal description, christening it Tolmomyias sucunduri in the Special Volume (#16) of The Handbook of the Birds of the World (see taxonomic notes in the triplist, below). Three additional days in this general area were also very productive, particularly a morning on a clandestine logging road we found. I’m sure you all remember well that very steep climb up from the river to the terra firme terrace (the video will “refresh” you ;-), and the parrot that rewarded us! This and all other steep riverbank ascents were greatly facilitated by our trusty boat crew, who installed steps and handrails for us. Another event I know all of you will never forget from that day was our twilight canoe trip along that haunting stand of ancient Eshweilera trees, with caprimulgids all around us, Band-tailed and Lesser nighthawks overhead, and displaying pairs of Ladder-tailed Nightjars cutting circles around the boats.

At this point in the tour, I’d hoped that we’d have found Harlequin Antbirds (restricted to the eastern half of the Mad-Tap interfluve), and, of course, Golden Parakeets – yet both remained at large. We were quickly counting down to blast-off for the return trip to Manaus as well. I made a decision to ascend another small tributary, where we’d stand a good chance of hearing and seeing fly-over Golden Parakeets (which I could bring down to perch with playback) as well as open trail into tall terra firme forest, here deep in the range of Harlequin Antbird. We would have the balance of the afternoon, and the following early morning, then hightail it downriver. The sun beat down relentlessly as we gingerly pushed upstream on the narrow igarape (small Amazonian stream). Only a mile or so above the mouth, the water became too shallow to proceed (we actually got stuck for a half-hour). After lunch and a siesta (which was our rhythm every day of the tour), we started another big-sit vigil for parakeets. It was so sunny on the top deck, however, that I gave up after an hour and a half, and called for everyone to board the canoes for exploration upriver, as far as we might be able to go. Not 20 minutes later, as we drifted beneath shading trees along the narrow stream, we heard a flock of Golden Parakeets screaming from the area back toward the boat! Daggummit, that flock of parakeets would have been in perfect view from the top deck, but it was invisible to us, in the canoes. Our trail-choppers put in a good path for us late that afternoon. Near dusk, most of us had returned to the mothership to clean up for dinner, but Pepe, Jesper, and Harry stayed in the canoe that went to pick up the choppers – and were rewarded with a flock of a dozen Golden Parakeets flying over the ridge above the stream – congratulations, you lucky rascals! I figured these sightings boded well for a big sit early next morning.

Dawn found us at the breakfast table, on the top deck of the Cichla. It was a fine morning and bird activity was good, among the highlights being another fine male White-tailed Cotinga that performed multiple aerial displays for his (unseen, by us) desired mate. I tried to make a little video of that bird, which I’ll drop into the list, below. But no Golden Parakeets showed on the scene. Finally, we needed to get onto the newly cut trail. It was a great trail, for sure, but we saw few birds of note (not many new species) and no ant swarm. This stung, for sure, because it meant closure to our hope of finding Harlequin Antbird. Thus, strangely(!), we missed both White-breasted and Harlequin antbirds on the tour, but had a great encounter with the (generally much more difficult) Pale-faced Bare-eye. Such are the highs and lows of one’s birding life!

Studying the maps at this juncture, we reckoned we had time for two good morning birding sessions and two afternoon bouts before we needed to be back in Manaus for international flights. But I also wanted to get us back there in time for a quick late-afternoon dash to the Ducke Reserve at the edge of town, where Marcelo Barreiros had found a nesting Rufous Potoo several weeks earlier; I’d learned that the fast-growing chick was still on the nest. Potential snafus were many, mostly having to do with low water levels north of Maues impeding our passage to the main trunk of the Rio Amazonas. Should we find that the waterways were now too shallow, we’d lose perhaps a full day to rerouting the Cichla. Information from local river pilots of vessels of similar size was, “Yep, it’s real low and dropping, but you’ll probably be ok if you go through in the next 1-2 days.” Of course, we didn’t pass along all of this information to you beloved passengers, it only would have raised fears of a late arrival in Manaus, with the associated anxiety. So, I decided to simply go for it, and we sailed straight along into the night…

Happily, we awoke next morning at precisely the point I’d marked with my GPS. The sky was heavily overcast and it was spitting rain as we boarded the canoes and did a swing around some open areas, seeing Lesser and Wing-banded horneros, Orange-fronted Yellow-Finches, and assorted other species as I sussed out a propitious spot for a landing that might produce a wealth of “whitewater” birds new for our trip. In this poorly known area (I had never been through this part of our route), we might well find several species new for the Mad-Tap interfluve… if we could access the proper habitats. I spotted a house set back from the river edge, on a low bluff, high enough that it probably would not flood every year. As we pulled the canoes up and started to make the steep ascent to the level of the house, the owner of the place came out to meet us. I immediately struck up a friendly conversation with him, and quickly realized that here was a heart of gold, a caboclo (river-person) who was ready to accept these unheralded visitors with open arms and lead us back through his watermelons, beans, and corn to the distant forest edge I had indicated was what we wanted. Light rain accompanied our single-file procession through the tangle of agriculture and second-growth, and then, amazingly, it stopped just as we stepped foot under the canopy of tall, seasonally flooded (= varzea) forest. Birds were zipping around and singing everywhere in there! We tallied something on the order of 50 species in an hour, all in a scope of 100 yards. Highlights included Varzea Piculet, White-throated Woodpecker, Scaled Spinetail, and Plain Softtail, all essentially unknown from the region. All three of the flooded-forest woodcreepers – Striped, Straight-billed, and the little-known Zimmer’s – came into the same set of treetrunks, right in front of us, for perfect comparisons. We even pulled up the distinctive but enigmatic C. t. snethlageae “subspecies” of Red-billed Scythebill, a bird very few people have seen – fantastic!

The balance of the tour played out as we returned to Manaus, as the boat crew had to deal with a series of low-water detours and a new round of thick smoke from the burning of forests east of Manaus. We had dropped some four hours behind schedule, but still managed to make it to Manaus with just enough time to dash out to Ducke. A quick stop on the way in, at a place I’d had pretty good luck with Black-faced Hawk (sister-species of White-browed Hawk) over the years, paid off bigtime as a fine adult called back to us a couple of times then flew in for a minute or so of scope viewing – excellent! And the Rufous Potoo chick, a fascinating little creature, was indeed “home”, sitting stock-still on its stub, awaiting nightfall for a feeding from its parents, who we were unable to locate on their day roosts that must have been in the immediate vicinity. After a relaxed final dinner aboard the Cichla and lots of heartfelt good-byes from all, we made our way to the airport in plenty of time for flights home.

What a grand tour this was! I’m so thankful to all of you for trusting us to get it right – a true exploratory journey in the heart of the Amazon. We’ll do another run in 2017, moving the dates to August, when water levels will be high enough to guarantee easy passage. And I think I’ll keep Borba in the route, having appreciated our three days there despite the widespread burning and significant loss of forest near town. Pepe and I greatly enjoyed birding with all of you, and send our best wishes for an enlightening and safe 2016 ahead! I'll make relatively few comments in the body of the following list, and try to get it online for you promptly now, after a long, year-end delay (thanks for you patience!).

Com grandes abraços para todos voces! -- Bretche


KEYS FOR THIS LIST
One of the following keys may be shown in brackets for individual species as appropriate: * = heard only, I = introduced, E = endemic, N = nesting, a = austral migrant, b = boreal migrant


BIRDS
Tinamidae (Tinamous)
GRAY TINAMOU (Tinamus tao) [*]
WHITE-THROATED TINAMOU (Tinamus guttatus) [*]
CINEREOUS TINAMOU (Crypturellus cinereus)
LITTLE TINAMOU (Crypturellus soui) [*]
UNDULATED TINAMOU (Crypturellus undulatus) [*]
VARIEGATED TINAMOU (Crypturellus variegatus) [*]
Anhimidae (Screamers)
HORNED SCREAMER (Anhima cornuta) – Four of these incredible birds spotted after we'd turned the bow back toward Manaus.
Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl)
BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK (Dendrocygna autumnalis)
MUSCOVY DUCK (Cairina moschata)
BRAZILIAN TEAL (Amazonetta brasiliensis)
Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants and Shags)
NEOTROPIC CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax brasilianus)
Anhingidae (Anhingas)
ANHINGA (Anhinga anhinga)
Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)
RUFESCENT TIGER-HERON (Tigrisoma lineatum)
COCOI HERON (Ardea cocoi)
GREAT EGRET (Ardea alba)
SNOWY EGRET (Egretta thula)
CATTLE EGRET (Bubulcus ibis)
STRIATED HERON (Butorides striata)
AGAMI HERON (Agamia agami)
CAPPED HERON (Pilherodius pileatus) – These elegant herons were spotted several times.

A medley of videos and photos pre-Halloween (copyright Bret Whitney).
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills)
GREEN IBIS (Mesembrinibis cayennensis)
BUFF-NECKED IBIS (Theristicus caudatus)
Cathartidae (New World Vultures)
BLACK VULTURE (Coragyps atratus)
TURKEY VULTURE (Cathartes aura)
LESSER YELLOW-HEADED VULTURE (Cathartes burrovianus)
GREATER YELLOW-HEADED VULTURE (Cathartes melambrotus)
KING VULTURE (Sarcoramphus papa) – Harry spotted a couple of King Vultures for us.
Pandionidae (Osprey)
OSPREY (Pandion haliaetus)
Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
SWALLOW-TAILED KITE (Elanoides forficatus)
ORNATE HAWK-EAGLE (Spizaetus ornatus) – Carol managed to see one the rest of us could hear as it circled high over the canopy.
SLENDER-BILLED KITE (Helicolestes hamatus) – Two birds calling loudly, but rather far off, refused to come in for views. [*]
DOUBLE-TOOTHED KITE (Harpagus bidentatus)

The closest of our two White-browed Hawks (Copyright Bret Whitney).
PLUMBEOUS KITE (Ictinia plumbea)
SLATE-COLORED HAWK (Buteogallus schistaceus)
SAVANNA HAWK (Buteogallus meridionalis)
GREAT BLACK HAWK (Buteogallus urubitinga)
ROADSIDE HAWK (Rupornis magnirostris)
WHITE-BROWED HAWK (Leucopternis kuhli)
GRAY-LINED HAWK (Buteo nitidus) [*]
BLACK-FACED HAWK (Leucopternis melanops)
Eurypygidae (Sunbittern)
SUNBITTERN (Eurypyga helias)
Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots)
GRAY-BREASTED CRAKE (Laterallus exilis)
GRAY-NECKED WOOD-RAIL (Aramides cajaneus)
RUSSET-CROWNED CRAKE (Anurolimnas viridis) – We had a pair responding to playback, right in front of us, but only Virginia managed to spot one.
Heliornithidae (Finfoots)
SUNGREBE (Heliornis fulica) – As mentioned in the intro -- lots of Sungrebes seen this trip!
Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings)
PIED LAPWING (Vanellus cayanus)
SOUTHERN LAPWING (Vanellus chilensis)
COLLARED PLOVER (Charadrius collaris)
Jacanidae (Jacanas)
WATTLED JACANA (Jacana jacana)
Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies)
SPOTTED SANDPIPER (Actitis macularius)
SOLITARY SANDPIPER (Tringa solitaria)
Laridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)
YELLOW-BILLED TERN (Sternula superciliaris)
LARGE-BILLED TERN (Phaetusa simplex)


Sungrebe! Check out those fancy feet! (copyright Bret Whitney)

BLACK SKIMMER (Rynchops niger)
Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)
ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia)
PALE-VENTED PIGEON (Patagioenas cayennensis)
SCALED PIGEON (Patagioenas speciosa)
PLUMBEOUS PIGEON (Patagioenas plumbea)
COMMON GROUND-DOVE (Columbina passerina)
RUDDY GROUND-DOVE (Columbina talpacoti)
WHITE-TIPPED DOVE (Leptotila verreauxi)
Opisthocomidae (Hoatzin)
HOATZIN (Opisthocomus hoazin) – A bunch of Hoatzins encountered on one day.
Cuculidae (Cuckoos)
SQUIRREL CUCKOO (Piaya cayana)
BLACK-BELLIED CUCKOO (Piaya melanogaster)
GREATER ANI (Crotophaga major)
SMOOTH-BILLED ANI (Crotophaga ani)
Tytonidae (Barn-Owls)
BARN OWL (Tyto alba)
Strigidae (Owls)
AMAZONIAN PYGMY-OWL (Glaucidium hardyi) – Nice views of one of these little predators. We did little owling this trip, due mostly to weather problems and difficulty of access to terra firme trails (hard enough to scramble up to during the day!).
Caprimulgidae (Nightjars and Allies)
LEAST NIGHTHAWK (Chordeiles pusillus)
LESSER NIGHTHAWK (Chordeiles acutipennis)
SHORT-TAILED NIGHTHAWK (Lurocalis semitorquatus)
BAND-TAILED NIGHTHAWK (Nyctiprogne leucopyga) – We enjoyed superb (incredible!) views of both distinctive, species-level song types, here and there. Watch for our eventual publication straightening out the species-limits and taxonomy of the Nyctiprogne nighthawks.
BLACKISH NIGHTJAR (Nyctipolus nigrescens) – A male found during the day allowed fabulous viewing.
COMMON PAURAQUE (Nyctidromus albicollis)
LADDER-TAILED NIGHTJAR (Hydropsalis climacocerca) – Males chasing females around our canoes, with long, forked tails twisted to 90 vertical degrees, looking like huge fish floating through the air, right behind females -- magnificent stuff!!
Nyctibiidae (Potoos)
COMMON POTOO (Nyctibius griseus)
RUFOUS POTOO (Nyctibius bracteatus) – We squeezed in two visits to the Rufous Potoo nest found by Marcelo Barreiros at Reserva Ducke in Manaus, one on the day most folks arrived in Manaus, and another on the last day of the tour. I'll drop in a video of the chick "before" and "after".
Apodidae (Swifts)

Here's the Rufous Potoo chick on the day before the tour (when several of us were in Manaus, so we ran over there), and then on the last day of the trip, when it had grown considerably (and we were all present). We believe it successfully fledged about 12 November. Copyright Bret Whitney.
SHORT-TAILED SWIFT (Chaetura brachyura)
BAND-RUMPED SWIFT (Chaetura spinicaudus)
GRAY-RUMPED SWIFT (Chaetura cinereiventris)
FORK-TAILED PALM-SWIFT (Tachornis squamata)
Trochilidae (Hummingbirds)
WHITE-NECKED JACOBIN (Florisuga mellivora)
NEEDLE-BILLED HERMIT (Phaethornis philippii) – Close views a couple of times.
LONG-TAILED HERMIT (Phaethornis superciliosus)
STREAK-THROATED HERMIT (Phaethornis rupurumii amazonicus)
REDDISH HERMIT (Phaethornis ruber)


A male Long-tailed Hermit displaying on its lek (copyright Bret Whitney).

BLACK-EARED FAIRY (Heliothryx auritus)
WHITE-TAILED GOLDENTHROAT (Polytmus guainumbi) – Seen well, if briefly, in the Borba campina.
BLACK-THROATED MANGO (Anthracothorax nigricollis)
BLUE-TAILED EMERALD (Chlorostilbon mellisugus)
BLUE-CHINNED SAPPHIRE (Chlorestes notata)
GRAY-BREASTED SABREWING (Campylopterus largipennis)
FORK-TAILED WOODNYMPH (Thalurania furcata)
OLIVE-SPOTTED HUMMINGBIRD (Leucippus chlorocercus)
GLITTERING-THROATED EMERALD (Amazilia fimbriata)
RUFOUS-THROATED SAPPHIRE (Hylocharis sapphirina)
Trogonidae (Trogons)
BLACK-TAILED TROGON (Trogon melanurus) – Seen well a couple of times, for good measure ;-)
GREEN-BACKED TROGON (Trogon viridis)
AMAZONIAN TROGON (Trogon ramonianus)
BLACK-THROATED TROGON (Trogon rufus)
Alcedinidae (Kingfishers)
RINGED KINGFISHER (Megaceryle torquata)
AMAZON KINGFISHER (Chloroceryle amazona)
GREEN KINGFISHER (Chloroceryle americana)
AMERICAN PYGMY KINGFISHER (Chloroceryle aenea) – Excellent views of these little gems on a couple of occasions.
Bucconidae (Puffbirds)
WHITE-NECKED PUFFBIRD (Notharchus hyperrhynchus hyperrhynchus)
BROWN-BANDED PUFFBIRD (Notharchus ordii) – Good scope views of a pair up high on bare snags one sunny early morning.
PIED PUFFBIRD (Notharchus tectus)
BLACK-FRONTED NUNBIRD (Monasa nigrifrons)
WHITE-FRONTED NUNBIRD (Monasa morphoeus)
SWALLOW-WINGED PUFFBIRD (Chelidoptera tenebrosa)
Galbulidae (Jacamars)
GREEN-TAILED JACAMAR (Galbula galbula) – Muchos
BRONZY JACAMAR (Galbula leucogastra)
PARADISE JACAMAR (Galbula dea)
GREAT JACAMAR (Jacamerops aureus)
Capitonidae (New World Barbets)

It was a good woodpecker trip! Here are four nice ones (copyright Bret Whitney).
BROWN-CHESTED BARBET (Capito brunneipectus) – It took a fair amount of maneuvering on that first, smoky morning at Borba, but we eventually had them in the scope! This handsome barbet has a very limited world distribution in the lower Mad-Tap interfluve.
Ramphastidae (Toucans)
BLACK-NECKED ARACARI (Pteroglossus aracari)
CHESTNUT-EARED ARACARI (Pteroglossus castanotis)
RED-NECKED ARACARI (Pteroglossus bitorquatus) – Nice spotting, Dona Katerina!
GOULD'S TOUCANET (Selenidera gouldii)


Yep, the Scarlet-shouldered Parrotlets were waaay up there and moving fast, but this shot shows you the red better than we could see it in the field! (copyright Bret Whitney).

TOCO TOUCAN (Ramphastos toco) – What a surprise, to see a pair of these monster toucans!
WHITE-THROATED TOUCAN (Ramphastos tucanus)
CHANNEL-BILLED TOUCAN (Ramphastos vitellinus)
Picidae (Woodpeckers)
BAR-BREASTED PICULET (Picumnus aurifrons)
VARZEA PICULET (Picumnus varzeae) – Fabulous looks at a family group.
YELLOW-TUFTED WOODPECKER (Melanerpes cruentatus)
LITTLE WOODPECKER (Veniliornis passerinus)
RED-STAINED WOODPECKER (Veniliornis affinis)
WHITE-THROATED WOODPECKER (Piculus leucolaemus) – Also seen superbly, in an area where not previously recorded.
YELLOW-THROATED WOODPECKER (Piculus flavigula)
GOLDEN-GREEN WOODPECKER (Piculus chrysochloros)
SPOT-BREASTED WOODPECKER (Colaptes punctigula)
SCALE-BREASTED WOODPECKER (Celeus grammicus)
CHESTNUT WOODPECKER (Celeus elegans)
LINEATED WOODPECKER (Dryocopus lineatus)
RED-NECKED WOODPECKER (Campephilus rubricollis)
CRIMSON-CRESTED WOODPECKER (Campephilus melanoleucos)
Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)
CRYPTIC FOREST-FALCON (Micrastur mintoni) – One seen by Virginia, Harry, and Jesper as it flew across a narrow stream ahead of the Cichla -- way to go!
BLACK CARACARA (Daptrius ater)
RED-THROATED CARACARA (Ibycter americanus)

A possible Crimson-bellied Parakeet nest site! (4k video copyright Bret Whitney).
SOUTHERN CARACARA (Caracara plancus)
YELLOW-HEADED CARACARA (Milvago chimachima)
BAT FALCON (Falco rufigularis)
PEREGRINE FALCON (TUNDRA) (Falco peregrinus tundrius) – A couple of gorgeous tundrius Peregrines were spotted along the Rio Amazonas on the return trip to Manaus.
Psittacidae (New World and African Parrots)
SCARLET-SHOULDERED PARROTLET (Touit huetii) – The video I attempted to shoot as that small flock wheeled around for a repeat fly-over actually shows the red shoulders/underwing coverts pretty well (I'll try to pull a frame to drop into the list here).
SAPPHIRE-RUMPED PARROTLET (Touit purpuratus)
TUI PARAKEET (Brotogeris sanctithomae)
WHITE-WINGED PARAKEET (Brotogeris versicolurus)
GOLDEN-WINGED PARAKEET (Brotogeris chrysoptera)
BALD PARROT (Pyrilia aurantiocephala)
DUSKY PARROT (Pionus fuscus)
BLUE-HEADED PARROT (Pionus menstruus)
SHORT-TAILED PARROT (Graydidascalus brachyurus)
FESTIVE PARROT (Amazona festiva) – Lots and lots of these guys along the waterways.


Red-and-green Macaws! (Copyright Bret Whitney).

YELLOW-CROWNED PARROT (Amazona ochrocephala) [*]
MEALY PARROT (Amazona farinosa)
ORANGE-WINGED PARROT (Amazona amazonica)
GREEN-RUMPED PARROTLET (Forpus passerinus)
RED-FAN PARROT (Deroptyus accipitrinus fuscifrons)
CRIMSON-BELLIED PARAKEET (Pyrrhura perlata) – Fine views of a small group of these gorgeous parakeets.
RED-BELLIED MACAW (Orthopsittaca manilatus)
BLUE-AND-YELLOW MACAW (Ara ararauna)
SCARLET MACAW (Ara macao)
RED-AND-GREEN MACAW (Ara chloropterus) – Red-and-greens far outnumbered all the other macaws up until we made it to whitewater, where the Chestnut-fronteds took over first place.
CHESTNUT-FRONTED MACAW (Ara severus)
GOLDEN PARAKEET (Guarouba guarouba) – I feel we had particularly bad luck crossing paths with Golden Parakeets this trip. Let's hope for many more of them around on the next (2017) run!
WHITE-EYED PARAKEET (Psittacara leucophthalmus)
Thamnophilidae (Typical Antbirds)
ASH-WINGED ANTWREN (Euchrepomis spodioptila) – We heard them several times, and had a pretty decent view of a pair on the Rio Paracuni. Until quite recently, this and a few other closely related antwrens were in the genus Terenura (which now holds only two species, Streak-capped and Orange-bellied antwrens).
FASCIATED ANTSHRIKE (Cymbilaimus lineatus)
GLOSSY ANTSHRIKE (Sakesphorus luctuosus)


Long-winged Antwren (Copyright Bret Whitney).

BARRED ANTSHRIKE (Thamnophilus doliatus)
PLAIN-WINGED ANTSHRIKE (Thamnophilus schistaceus)
WHITE-SHOULDERED ANTSHRIKE (Thamnophilus aethiops)
AMAZONIAN ANTSHRIKE (Thamnophilus amazonicus) [*]
SATURNINE ANTSHRIKE (Thamnomanes saturninus) – Good views for all, with persistence!
CINEREOUS ANTSHRIKE (Thamnomanes caesius)
PLAIN-THROATED ANTWREN (Isleria hauxwelli) – Gorgeous little birds!
SPOT-WINGED ANTSHRIKE (Pygiptila stellaris)
WHITE-EYED ANTWREN (Epinecrophylla leucophthalma)
PYGMY ANTWREN (Myrmotherula brachyura)
SCLATER'S ANTWREN (Myrmotherula sclateri) – Nice views on a couple of occasions.
AMAZONIAN STREAKED-ANTWREN (Myrmotherula multostriata)
KLAGES'S ANTWREN (Myrmotherula klagesi) – Really nice and close (low!).
WHITE-FLANKED ANTWREN (Myrmotherula axillaris)
LONG-WINGED ANTWREN (Myrmotherula longipennis)
IHERING'S ANTWREN (Myrmotherula iheringi) – Exciting to get this one on this trip!
GRAY ANTWREN (Myrmotherula menetriesii)

This male Banded Antbird really performed beautifully for us! (4K video copyright Bret Whitney).
LEADEN ANTWREN (Myrmotherula assimilis)
BANDED ANTBIRD (Dichrozona cincta)
DOT-WINGED ANTWREN (Microrhopias quixensis)
WHITE-FRINGED ANTWREN (Formicivora grisea)
SPIX'S WARBLING-ANTBIRD (Hypocnemis striata implicata)
GRAY ANTBIRD (Cercomacra cinerascens)
BLACKISH ANTBIRD (Cercomacra nigrescens) [*]
ASH-BREASTED ANTBIRD (Myrmoborus lugubris femininus)
BLACK-FACED ANTBIRD (Myrmoborus myotherinus)
BLACK-CHINNED ANTBIRD (Hypocnemoides melanopogon)
FERRUGINOUS-BACKED ANTBIRD (Myrmeciza ferruginea) – We saw the subspecies lutea, endemic to the Mad-Tap interfluve (I think I told y'all this on the tour, but I'm not sure).
XINGU SCALE-BACKED ANTBIRD (TAPAJOS) (Willisornis vidua nigrigula) – Dang, refused to show itself. [*]
BLACK-SPOTTED BARE-EYE (Phlegopsis nigromaculata)
PALE-FACED BARE-EYE (Phlegopsis borbae) – HooRAYY!! It was an exciting moment, when these big guys came bombing in, snarling, tails pumping, and then gave a couple of encores!
Conopophagidae (Gnateaters)
BLACK-BELLIED GNATEATER (Conopophaga melanogaster) – I wish I could have made better video, but we really couldn't shift position for risk of spooking it!
Grallariidae (Antpittas)

Black-bellied Gnateater, there he is! (4K video copyright Bret Whitney).
VARIEGATED ANTPITTA (Grallaria varia) [*]
THRUSH-LIKE ANTPITTA (Myrmothera campanisona) [*]
Rhinocryptidae (Tapaculos)
RUSTY-BELTED TAPACULO (Liosceles thoracicus) – One called us in (well off the trail!) for close views ;-)
Formicariidae (Antthrushes)
RUFOUS-CAPPED ANTTHRUSH (Formicarius colma) – This one sauntered right up, trailside!
Furnariidae (Ovenbirds and Woodcreepers)
SPOT-THROATED WOODCREEPER (Certhiasomus stictolaemus) – Just one good sighting of this elusive, understory woodcreeper.
OLIVACEOUS WOODCREEPER (AMAZONIAN) (Sittasomus griseicapillus amazonus)
LONG-TAILED WOODCREEPER (Deconychura longicauda) – Seen well on a couple of occasions.
WHITE-CHINNED WOODCREEPER (Dendrocincla merula olivascens) – Best at the Borba antswarm.
PLAIN-BROWN WOODCREEPER (Dendrocincla fuliginosa)
WEDGE-BILLED WOODCREEPER (Glyphorynchus spirurus inornatus)
CINNAMON-THROATED WOODCREEPER (Dendrexetastes rufigula monileger)
LONG-BILLED WOODCREEPER (Nasica longirostris) – What a fabulous bird!
AMAZONIAN BARRED-WOODCREEPER (PLAIN-COLORED) (Dendrocolaptes certhia concolor)
HOFFMANNS'S WOODCREEPER (Dendrocolaptes hoffmannsi) – First was a juvenile, which stuck around for several minutes (but which didn't look like people were expecting), then much later in the tour, we found a full adult.

A brief clip of one of the Long-billed Woodcreepers we saw, always an amazing bird! (4K video copyright Bret Whitney).
RED-BILLED WOODCREEPER (UNIFORM) (Hylexetastes perrotii uniformis) – Just one good sighting, despite lots of looking for them.
STRIPED WOODCREEPER (Xiphorhynchus obsoletus)
OCELLATED WOODCREEPER (Xiphorhynchus ocellatus) – Stay tuned for future work on the systematics and taxonomy of the Ocellated group; we made a point of seeing them well several times.
BUFF-THROATED WOODCREEPER (DUSKY-BILLED) (Xiphorhynchus guttatus eytoni)
STRAIGHT-BILLED WOODCREEPER (Dendroplex picus)
ZIMMER'S WOODCREEPER (Dendroplex kienerii)
RED-BILLED SCYTHEBILL (Campylorhamphus trochilirostris snethlageae) – Excellent to pick this one up, and to see it so well! This was a heckuva good tour for woodcreepers!
PLAIN XENOPS (Xenops minutus)
RUFOUS-TAILED XENOPS (Microxenops milleri) – One good view (formerly thought to be a member of the genus Xenpos, but it turns out to be closer to some of the foliage-gleaners).
WING-BANDED HORNERO (Furnarius figulus)
LESSER HORNERO (Furnarius minor)
RUFOUS-RUMPED FOLIAGE-GLEANER (Philydor erythrocercum)
CHESTNUT-WINGED FOLIAGE-GLEANER (Philydor erythropterum)


Red-billed Scythebill (C. t. snethlageae, likely to elevated to species status when the complex gets a proper study) Copyright Bret Whitney.

CHESTNUT-WINGED HOOKBILL (Ancistrops strigilatus)
PLAIN SOFTTAIL (Thripophaga fusciceps obidensis) – Fine studies of this one, at a new locality.
RUSTY-BACKED SPINETAIL (Cranioleuca vulpina)
SCALED SPINETAIL (Cranioleuca muelleri)
PALE-BREASTED SPINETAIL (Synallaxis albescens) [*]
DARK-BREASTED SPINETAIL (Synallaxis albigularis)
RUDDY SPINETAIL (Synallaxis rutilans) [*]
WHITE-BELLIED SPINETAIL (Synallaxis propinqua)
PLAIN-CROWNED SPINETAIL (Synallaxis gujanensis)
Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers)
WHITE-LORED TYRANNULET (Ornithion inerme) [*]
SOUTHERN BEARDLESS-TYRANNULET (Camptostoma obsoletum)
MOUSE-COLORED TYRANNULET (Phaeomyias murina)
YELLOW TYRANNULET (Capsiempis flaveola)
YELLOW-CROWNED TYRANNULET (Tyrannulus elatus)
FOREST ELAENIA (Myiopagis gaimardii)
GRAY ELAENIA (Myiopagis caniceps) [*]
YELLOW-CROWNED ELAENIA (Myiopagis flavivertex)
YELLOW-BELLIED ELAENIA (Elaenia flavogaster) [*]
PLAIN-CRESTED ELAENIA (Elaenia cristata)
RIVER TYRANNULET (Serpophaga hypoleuca)
MCCONNELL'S FLYCATCHER (Mionectes macconnelli) [*]
GUIANAN TYRANNULET (Zimmerius acer)
AMAZONIAN SCRUB-FLYCATCHER (Sublegatus obscurior)
AMAZONIAN TYRANNULET (Inezia subflava)
SHORT-TAILED PYGMY-TYRANT (Myiornis ecaudatus) [*]
SNETHLAGE'S TODY-TYRANT (Hemitriccus minor) – We probably saw more than one taxon in this species-complex, but it's not possible to be sure (at this point).
ZIMMER'S TODY-TYRANT (Hemitriccus minimus) – With perseverance, we managed to move one into pretty good view.
BUFF-CHEEKED TODY-FLYCATCHER (Poecilotriccus senex) – Fabulous looks at an individual that approached quite closely as we sat in the canoes.
RUSTY-FRONTED TODY-FLYCATCHER (Poecilotriccus latirostris)
SPOTTED TODY-FLYCATCHER (Todirostrum maculatum)
OLIVACEOUS FLATBILL (Rhynchocyclus olivaceus) [*]
YELLOW-OLIVE FLYCATCHER (RIVERINE) (Tolmomyias sulphurescens insignis)
SUCUNDURI FLYCATCHER (Tolmomyias sucunduri) – Tolmomyias sucunduri is currently considered a subspecies of Yellow-margined Flycatcher, T. assimilis, by the SACC, for reasons I brought up in the description that the committee overweighted (strong possibility of hybridization/introgression with other populations). I am quite certain that T. sucunduri will be universally recognized as a species once the genetic data are fully understood – as a species currently experiencing introgression with another species. How this introgression will play out, I cannot predict, but it is going to take a long time because the populations involved are huge (widespread). The SACC also stubbornly culled the English name from Sucunduri Yellow-margined Flycatcher to Sucunduri Flycatcher, thus abandoning the important information on lineage association of the bird.


A Buff-cheeked Tody-Flycatcher (which should be called a "tody-tyrant") conributed by tour participant Kathy Brown (thank you, Dona Katerina!).

GRAY-CROWNED FLYCATCHER (Tolmomyias poliocephalus)
WHISKERED FLYCATCHER (Myiobius barbatus)
EULER'S FLYCATCHER (Lathrotriccus euleri)
FUSCOUS FLYCATCHER (FUSCOUS) (Cnemotriccus fuscatus fuscatior) – This is the form endemic to whitewater river islands.
RIVERSIDE TYRANT (Knipolegus orenocensis)
WHITE-HEADED MARSH TYRANT (Arundinicola leucocephala)
RUFOUS-TAILED FLATBILL (Ramphotrigon ruficauda) [*]
BRIGHT-RUMPED ATTILA (Attila spadiceus) [*]
GRAYISH MOURNER (Rhytipterna simplex)
DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus tuberculifer)
SHORT-CRESTED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus ferox)
LESSER KISKADEE (Pitangus lictor)
GREAT KISKADEE (Pitangus sulphuratus)
BOAT-BILLED FLYCATCHER (Megarynchus pitangua)
RUSTY-MARGINED FLYCATCHER (Myiozetetes cayanensis)
SOCIAL FLYCATCHER (Myiozetetes similis)
YELLOW-THROATED FLYCATCHER (Conopias parvus) – That was the first nest I'd ever seen of this species, and may be the only known nest!
THREE-STRIPED FLYCATCHER (Conopias trivirgatus)
ISLAND STREAKED FLYCATCHER (Myiodynastes [maculatus] sp. nov.)
PIRATIC FLYCATCHER (Legatus leucophaius)
VARIEGATED FLYCATCHER (Empidonomus varius)
SULPHURY FLYCATCHER (Tyrannopsis sulphurea)
TROPICAL KINGBIRD (Tyrannus melancholicus)
FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER (Tyrannus savana)
Cotingidae (Cotingas)
SPANGLED COTINGA (Cotinga cayana)
SCREAMING PIHA (Lipaugus vociferans)

Halloween and Linda's birthday were nicely celebrated on the boat, great fun! (copyright Bret Whitney).
POMPADOUR COTINGA (Xipholena punicea) [*]
WHITE-TAILED COTINGA (Xipholena lamellipennis)
Pipridae (Manakins)
DWARF TYRANT-MANAKIN (Tyranneutes stolzmanni)
SNOW-CAPPED MANAKIN (Lepidothrix nattereri) – A couple of nice males, including one named Harry!
RED-HEADED MANAKIN (Ceratopipra rubrocapilla)
WING-BARRED PIPRITES (Piprites chloris) [*]
Cotingidae (Cotingas)
AMAZONIAN UMBRELLABIRD (Cephalopterus ornatus) – Kathy and Harry provided convincing details of one they saw fly across the river while the rest of us were otherwise occupied (probably sleeping kkk).
Tityridae (Tityras and Allies)
BLACK-TAILED TITYRA (Tityra cayana)

A male White-tailed Cotinga performs his dramatic aerial courtship display, which is similar to displays given by the other two members of the genus Xipholena. (4k video copyright Bret Whitney).
BLACK-CROWNED TITYRA (Tityra inquisitor)
MASKED TITYRA (Tityra semifasciata)
BROWN-WINGED SCHIFFORNIS (Schiffornis turdina) – A fabulous view of one on the Banded Antbird trail.
WHITE-BROWED PURPLETUFT (Iodopleura isabellae) – Darn, couldn't get it to move to a visible perch. [*]
Pipridae (Manakins)
BLUE-BACKED MANAKIN (Chiroxiphia pareola regina) [*]
Tityridae (Tityras and Allies)
CHESTNUT-CROWNED BECARD (Pachyramphus castaneus)
BLACK-CAPPED BECARD (Pachyramphus marginatus) [*]


Nice documentation of this male Glossy-backed Becard on the Rio Paracuni (Copyright Bret Whitney).

GLOSSY-BACKED BECARD (Pachyramphus surinamus) – The form we heard quite well but saw only as a shape darting overhead is actually an undescribed species. We are working on it, and will let you know when the description is published!
PINK-THROATED BECARD (Pachyramphus minor)
Vireonidae (Vireos, Shrike-Babblers, and Erpornis)
RED-EYED VIREO (RESIDENT CHIVI) (Vireo olivaceus solimoensis)
GRAY-CHESTED GREENLET (Hylophilus semicinereus)
BUFF-CHEEKED GREENLET (Hylophilus muscicapinus)
SLATY-CAPPED SHRIKE-VIREO (Vireolanius leucotis)
RUFOUS-BROWED PEPPERSHRIKE (Cyclarhis gujanensis) [*]
Hirundinidae (Swallows)
SOUTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW (Stelgidopteryx ruficollis)
PURPLE MARTIN (Progne subis)
GRAY-BREASTED MARTIN (Progne chalybea)
BROWN-CHESTED MARTIN (Progne tapera)
WHITE-WINGED SWALLOW (Tachycineta albiventer)
BANK SWALLOW (Riparia riparia)
BARN SWALLOW (Hirundo rustica)
Troglodytidae (Wrens)
SCALY-BREASTED WREN (Microcerculus marginatus) – Frustratingly stubborn little waifs, refused to appear. [*]
HOUSE WREN (Troglodytes aedon)
MOUSTACHED WREN (Pheugopedius genibarbis)
BUFF-BREASTED WREN (Cantorchilus leucotis)
Polioptilidae (Gnatcatchers)
LONG-BILLED GNATWREN (Ramphocaenus melanurus)
TROPICAL GNATCATCHER (Polioptila plumbea)
Donacobiidae (Donacobius)
BLACK-CAPPED DONACOBIUS (Donacobius atricapilla)
Turdidae (Thrushes and Allies)
PALE-BREASTED THRUSH (Turdus leucomelas) – Bloody little evidence of ANY thrushes on this tour (notwithstanding that they are most vocal in the rainy season and it had been dreadfully dry up to the beginning of this trip). [*]
BLACK-BILLED THRUSH (Turdus ignobilis)
Thraupidae (Tanagers and Allies)
RED-CAPPED CARDINAL (Paroaria gularis)
BLACK-FACED TANAGER (Schistochlamys melanopis)
RED-BILLED PIED TANAGER (Lamprospiza melanoleuca)
HOODED TANAGER (Nemosia pileata)
ORANGE-HEADED TANAGER (Thlypopsis sordida)
FLAME-CRESTED TANAGER (Tachyphonus cristatus)
FULVOUS-CRESTED TANAGER (Tachyphonus surinamus)
RED-SHOULDERED TANAGER (Tachyphonus phoenicius)
MASKED CRIMSON TANAGER (Ramphocelus nigrogularis)
SILVER-BEAKED TANAGER (Ramphocelus carbo)
BLUE-GRAY TANAGER (Thraupis episcopus)
PALM TANAGER (Thraupis palmarum)
OPAL-RUMPED TANAGER (Tangara velia)
BLACK-FACED DACNIS (Dacnis lineata)
YELLOW-BELLIED DACNIS (Dacnis flaviventer)
BLUE DACNIS (Dacnis cayana)
SHORT-BILLED HONEYCREEPER (Cyanerpes nitidus)
PURPLE HONEYCREEPER (Cyanerpes caeruleus)
RED-LEGGED HONEYCREEPER (Cyanerpes cyaneus)
BICOLORED CONEBILL (Conirostrum bicolor minus)
PEARLY-BREASTED CONEBILL (Conirostrum margaritae)
SPOTTED TANAGER (Tangara punctata)
ORANGE-FRONTED YELLOW-FINCH (Sicalis columbiana)
BLUE-BLACK GRASSQUIT (Volatinia jacarina)

Here's a fun medley of photos and video of our trip, post-Halloween. (Copyright Bret Whitney).
LINED SEEDEATER (Sporophila lineola) – A nice adult male was neat to see well.
CHESTNUT-BELLIED SEEDEATER (Sporophila castaneiventris)
CHESTNUT-BELLIED SEED-FINCH (Sporophila angolensis)
WING-BARRED SEEDEATER (Sporophila americana)
YELLOW-BELLIED SEEDEATER (Sporophila nigricollis)
BANANAQUIT (Coereba flaveola) [*]
BUFF-THROATED SALTATOR (Saltator maximus)
GRAYISH SALTATOR (Saltator coerulescens)
SLATE-COLORED GROSBEAK (Saltator grossus)
Emberizidae (Buntings and New World Sparrows)
YELLOW-BROWED SPARROW (Ammodramus aurifrons)
Cardinalidae (Cardinals and Allies)
RED-CROWNED ANT-TANAGER (Habia rubica)
YELLOW-GREEN GROSBEAK (Caryothraustes canadensis)
Icteridae (Troupials and Allies)
RED-BREASTED BLACKBIRD (Sturnella militaris)
ORIOLE BLACKBIRD (Gymnomystax mexicanus)
YELLOW-HOODED BLACKBIRD (Chrysomus icterocephalus)
SHINY COWBIRD (Molothrus bonariensis)
GIANT COWBIRD (Molothrus oryzivorus)
ORANGE-BACKED TROUPIAL (Icterus croconotus)
YELLOW-RUMPED CACIQUE (Cacicus cela)
GREEN OROPENDOLA (Psarocolius viridis)
CRESTED OROPENDOLA (Psarocolius decumanus)
OLIVE OROPENDOLA (Psarocolius bifasciatus)
Fringillidae (Finches, Euphonias, and Allies)
PURPLE-THROATED EUPHONIA (Euphonia chlorotica)
RUFOUS-BELLIED EUPHONIA (Euphonia rufiventris)

MAMMALS
LONG-NOSED BAT (Rhynchonycteris naso)
WHITE-LINED SAC-WINGED BAT SP. (Saccopteryx perspicillifer)
LARGE FRUIT-EATING BATS (Artibeus spp.)
GREATER BULLDOG BAT (Noctilio leporinus)
TASSEL-EAR MARMOSET (Callithrix humeralifer) [*]
MAUES MARMOSET (Callithrix (Mico) mauesi) – One fine sighting of this rarely seen little marmoset, fairly recently described to science.
PRINCE BERNARD'S TITI MONKEY (Callicebus bernhardi) – One pair seen toward the end of our time on the Maues-acu.
BLACK HOWLER MONKEY (Alouatta caraya) [*]
BROWN CAPUCHIN (Cebus apella) [*]
WHITE-BELLIED SPIDER MONKEY (Ateles belzebuth chamek) [*]
AMAZON RIVER DOLPHIN (Inia geoffrensis) – Lots of both species of river dolphins along the way -- always great to see them!
TUCUXI (Sotalia fluviatilis)


ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Other neat creatures:

Black Piranha

Peacock Bass

Green Iguana

Black Caiman

Spectacled Caiman

Cane Toad

Smoky Jungle Frog

Gladiator Tree Frog

Sphinx Moth Caterpillar


Totals for the tour: 374 bird taxa and 12 mammal taxa