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Hyacinth Macaws are common near the lodge at Porto Jofre, but this does not mean we got tired of seeing them! Photo by guide Marcelo Barreiros.
This year’s tour was hands down one of the best I have ever had. The weather was perfect as a cold front had gone through just a few days before the tour and brought some much needed rain. The temperature was ideal for birding in the tropics and we had a great group of birders that spotted great birds.
The tour started at Chapada dos Guimaraes, where we nailed a great number of specialties with Horned Sungem, Collared Crescentchest and Coal-crested Finch taking the prize, but supported by a great variety of great birds such as White-banded and White-rumped Tanagers, Rufous-winged Antshrike, Plain-crested Elaenia and many more to set the pace for the days that would follow in the Amazon. Once in the Amazon we were not disappointed by the quality of the birding, or the quantity of birds seen. The mixed species flocks were quite active, and we found a great birds such as Saturnine Antshrike, Rose-breasted Chat, a myriad of Antwrens that included White-eyed, Long-winged and Gray, but the real reward for the many hours of birding on forest trails came in the form of Ant Swarms that had been triggered by the rains a few days earlier, yielding great looks at Dark-winged Trumpeters, Bare-eyed Antbird, Black-spotted Bare-eye, Black-banded Woodcreeper, and Strong-billed Woodcreeper. The towers and the Serra Trail were equally productive, and we scored looks at great birds that included Black-girdled Barbet, Ringed Woodpecker, Tooth-billed Wren and Yellow-shouldered Grosbeaks between looks at macaws, parrots and raptors. The Pantanal did not disappoint either, and held up to the expectations associated with its name as we saw thousands of water Birds, hundreds of Chachalacas and more Hyacinth Macaws than you can shake a stick at, but there were also some rare migrants such as the Subtropical Doradito and White-naped Xenopsaris, as well as scarce birds such as White-fronted Woodpeckers, Black-bellied Antwren, Great-rufous Woodcreeper and a very obliging pair or Zigzag Herons displaying just a few feet away from our faces!
And yet all of this seemed irrelevant when that Jaguar came out of the bushes in perfect light and ran into the water in a failed attempt to kill a Caiman. The Jaguar left sad, and we were left ecstatic knowing that this was a tour that would leave us thinking about it for a long time to come.
I hope you enjoyed the experience as much as Marcelo Barreiros and I did, and I hope our paths cross again some day on a forest trail somewhere.
All the Best,
Marcelo Padua
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
Rheidae (Rheas)
GREATER RHEA (Rhea americana) – A common species in the crops near Chapada dos Guimaraes and in the open fields of the Pantanal where we got particularly nice looks at them.
Tinamidae (Tinamous)
UNDULATED TINAMOU (Crypturellus undulatus) – Great looks at this shy forest dweller as we managed to bring one out into an open field on the last morning of the tour.
BRAZILIAN TINAMOU (Crypturellus strigulosus) [*]
RED-WINGED TINAMOU (Rhynchotus rufescens) [*]
Anhimidae (Screamers)
SOUTHERN SCREAMER (Chauna torquata) – Seen several times in the Pantanal where we even saw one with chicks.
Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl)
WHITE-FACED WHISTLING-DUCK (Dendrocygna viduata) – Far less numerous than the Black-bellied, but we managed to see a few of them on the last morning in the Pantanal.
BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK (Dendrocygna autumnalis) – The most common species of duck in the Pantanal.
MUSCOVY DUCK (Cairina moschata) – It is always nice to see a bird that has been introduced to so many places in its native habitat.
BRAZILIAN TEAL (Amazonetta brasiliensis) – Better than usual looks this year, with several individuals seen in flight displaying their wing speculum.
We'll never forget seeing this Jaguar. It appeared along the bank of the 3 Irmaos River, and we watched it for a while as it hunted and tried to capture a caiman. What an amazing experience! Photo by participant Tim Liguori.
Cracidae (Guans, Chachalacas, and Curassows)
CHACO CHACHALACA (Ortalis canicollis) – The people of the Pantanal say that this is the alarm clock of the Pantanal, and we found out the reason early in the morning at Rio Claro Lodge.
SPIX'S GUAN (Penelope jacquacu) – Seen in the scope from the Ted Parker Tower at Cristalino Jungle Lodge, and Monique, Tim and Doris had a very close individual on a trail as they headed back to the lodge earlier one day.
CHESTNUT-BELLIED GUAN (Penelope ochrogaster) – Common in the Pantanal where they even visited the feeders at Rio Claro Lodge.
BLUE-THROATED PIPING-GUAN (Pipile cumanensis) – This is the species that is found in the Pantanal.
RED-THROATED PIPING-GUAN (Pipile cujubi) – These are the birds we saw at Cristalino Jungle Lodge.
RAZOR-BILLED CURASSOW (Mitu tuberosum) – This is a species that we do not see on every tour but this year we saw them three times, including one that stuck around the river's edge for a long time, allowing us to get some of the best views ever on this tour.
BARE-FACED CURASSOW (Crax fasciolata) – A pair of birds hangs around the clearing at Cristalino Jungle Lodge, but it was nice to see several of them in the Pantanal where they seemed a bit more "wild" than the ones at Cristalino.
Ciconiidae (Storks)
MAGUARI STORK (Ciconia maguari) – Usually a hard bird to find in the Pantanal, but this year they were present in good numbers, and we saw one on the day we arrived in the Pantanal and six of them on our last afternoon.
JABIRU (Jabiru mycteria) – This impressive stork is the largest in the Americas and can weigh up to 19 lb. Its name comes from Tupi-guarani language and means swollen neck.
WOOD STORK (Mycteria americana) – This species migrates to the Pantanal in the dry season to breed and we saw several of them at Cristalino migrating to the Pantanal, where we saw hundreds of them.
Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants and Shags)
NEOTROPIC CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax brasilianus) – A common sight along the bodies of water in the Pantanal.
Anhingidae (Anhingas)
ANHINGA (Anhinga anhinga)
Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)
ZIGZAG HERON (Zebrilus undulatus) – This was certainly one of highlights of our tour. After devoting quite a bit of time to trying to find one around Cristalino and even hearing one that did not come into view, we managed to find a displaying pair of birds in the Pantanal.
LEAST BITTERN (Ixobrychus exilis) – A couple of individuals were flushed during a boat trip at Piuval Lodge.
RUFESCENT TIGER-HERON (Tigrisoma lineatum) – Several adults seen and a few young individuals sporting the plumage that resembles the plumage of a Fasciated Tiger-heron.
COCOI HERON (Ardea cocoi) – Formerly known as White-necked Heron.
GREAT EGRET (Ardea alba) – Common in the Pantanal.
SNOWY EGRET (Egretta thula)
LITTLE BLUE HERON (Egretta caerulea) – Found in small numbers in the Pantanal but seen almost daily while we were there.
CATTLE EGRET (Bubulcus ibis) – Found in good numbers anywhere we had open areas and livestock on the tour route.
STRIATED HERON (Butorides striata) – Closely related to the Green Heron from North America.
WHISTLING HERON (Syrigma sibilatrix) – Seen several times on the tour, but the pair of birds we saw displaying on the very first morning in the Pantanal was certainly memorable.
CAPPED HERON (Pilherodius pileatus) – A daily occurrence along the Cristalino River.
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (Nycticorax nycticorax) – Seen daily in the Pantanal.
BOAT-BILLED HERON (Cochlearius cochlearius) – One single individual roosting was seen extremely well during a boat outing from Porto Jofre.
Snail Kites were very common in the Pantanal. Guide Marcelo Barreiros got this great portrait of one showing off its talons and bright red eye.
Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills)
GREEN IBIS (Mesembrinibis cayennensis) – This species is sometimes under appreciated, as it often looks simply like a black ibis, but we had them in perfect light at Piuval lodge showing their glittering green plumage.
BARE-FACED IBIS (Phimosus infuscatus) – The most abundant species of Ibis in the Pantanal.
PLUMBEOUS IBIS (Theristicus caerulescens) – Great looks at this handsome ibis that has a small world range and is something of a Pantanal specialty.
BUFF-NECKED IBIS (Theristicus caudatus)
ROSEATE SPOONBILL (Platalea ajaja) – This species migrates to the Pantanal and nests here during the dry season. We saw several adult individuals displaying their brightly colored plumage.
Cathartidae (New World Vultures)
BLACK VULTURE (Coragyps atratus)
TURKEY VULTURE (TROPICAL) (Cathartes aura ruficollis)
LESSER YELLOW-HEADED VULTURE (Cathartes burrovianus)
GREATER YELLOW-HEADED VULTURE (Cathartes melambrotus)
KING VULTURE (Sarcoramphus papa)
Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
WHITE-TAILED KITE (Elanus leucurus) – A pair of birds seen hovering early in the morning at Chapada dos Guimaraes.
HOOK-BILLED KITE (Chondrohierax uncinatus) – Rick spotted a perched individual from the outlook on the Serra trail at Cristalino Jungle Lodge and we got great scope views of it.
GRAY-HEADED KITE (Leptodon cayanensis) – A distant individual seen soaring above the road as we returned to Alta Floresta from the Cristalino Jungle Lodge.
SWALLOW-TAILED KITE (Elanoides forficatus) – Several individuals seen in Alta Floresta.
BLACK HAWK-EAGLE (Spizaetus tyrannus) – We spotted an individual perched low at the edge of the Teles Pires River.
BLACK-COLLARED HAWK (Busarellus nigricollis) – Regularly seen near water in the Pantanal. This species feeds almost exclusively on fish.
SNAIL KITE (Rostrhamus sociabilis) – The most abundant species of raptor in the Pantanal. Despite much of the literature saying that they feed almost exclusively on snails, we saw several of them feeding on crabs as well as snails.
DOUBLE-TOOTHED KITE (Harpagus bidentatus) – A brief view of a bird that flew over us at one of the salt licks at Cristalino Jungle Lodge.
PLUMBEOUS KITE (Ictinia plumbea) – Tim spotted a couple of individuals around our hotel in Alta Floresta.
LONG-WINGED HARRIER (Circus buffoni) – A scarce bird in the Pantanal and one that we saw twice on the tour while visiting Piuval.
CRANE HAWK (BANDED) (Geranospiza caerulescens gracilis) – A pair of birds seen in flight from the boat at the Tres Irmaos River in the Pantanal.
SAVANNA HAWK (Buteogallus meridionalis) – Seen regularly in the Pantanal and one of the first birds we saw when we arrived in the Pantanal.
GREAT BLACK HAWK (Buteogallus urubitinga) – Seen several times but much less numerous than the other common raptors of the Pantanal. This species is a generalist and feeds on anything from fish to birds and even fruit.
ROADSIDE HAWK (Rupornis magnirostris) – Seen in all the three biomes we visit on this tour.
We saw the spiky-feathered Guira Cuckoo all over the Pantanal, even near our lodges. Photo by participant Tim Liguori.
WHITE-TAILED HAWK (Geranoaetus albicaudatus) – Great looks at one individual soaring low over the water in the Pantanal.
WHITE-BROWED HAWK (Leucopternis kuhli) – We had great scope views of an individual that perched close to the Chip Haven Tower at Cristalino Jungle Lodge.
GRAY-LINED HAWK (Buteo nitidus) – Monique found us a perched individual at Chapada dos Guimaraes. This used to be considered the same species as the Gray Hawk that occurs in southern US but was split a couple of years ago.
SHORT-TAILED HAWK (Buteo brachyurus) – Several sightings in the two days we spent in Alta Floresta.
ZONE-TAILED HAWK (Buteo albonotatus) – Joe spotted one of these guys soaring with a Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture in the Pantanal. Many authors believe that this species evolved to mimic vultures in order to surprise their prey when they attack.
Eurypygidae (Sunbittern)
SUNBITTERN (Eurypyga helias) – It was specially nice to see the individuals at Cristalino that perched on rocks and flew off as we approached them, exposing the ornate pattern on their wings.
Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots)
YELLOW-BREASTED CRAKE (Hapalocrex flaviventer) – A tricky bird to see, but after some work we managed to get everyone on it.
GRAY-BREASTED CRAKE (Laterallus exilis) [*]
GRAY-COWLED WOOD-RAIL (Aramides cajaneus) – Formerly known as Gray-necked Wood-Rail.
ASH-THROATED CRAKE (Mustelirallus albicollis) [*]
PURPLE GALLINULE (Porphyrio martinicus) – Several individuals seen, including a few juveniles. These are sometimes mistaken for Azure Gallinules, but we even had a young Purple Gallinule sitting next to an Azure Gallinule, giving us an excellent opportunity to compare the two birds and point out the differences in size and plumage
AZURE GALLINULE (Porphyrio flavirostris) – A seasonal visitor that can sometimes be completely absent around this time of the year but was seen in good numbers this year at the lake at Piuval lodge.
Heliornithidae (Finfoots)
SUNGREBE (Heliornis fulica) – Another bird that is often hard to find, but this year we found three of them with good looks at both the male and female.
Aramidae (Limpkin)
LIMPKIN (Aramus guarauna) – One of the most common birds in the Pantanal in the dry season.
Psophiidae (Trumpeters)
DARK-WINGED TRUMPETER (Psophia viridis) – One of the highlights of the tour was watching about five of these shy (although you would never tell based on the individuals we saw) birds actively foraging on an antswarm for over one hour.
Recurvirostridae (Stilts and Avocets)
BLACK-NECKED STILT (WHITE-BACKED) (Himantopus mexicanus melanurus)
Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings)
PIED LAPWING (Vanellus cayanus) – Several individuals seen along the sand banks of the Cuiaba River and the Teles Pires River.
SOUTHERN LAPWING (Vanellus chilensis) – A common bird of the open areas of Brazil and one that is even commonly seen in cities.
COLLARED PLOVER (Charadrius collaris) – A pair of birds seen on a sand bank on the Cuiaba River.
Jacanidae (Jacanas)
WATTLED JACANA (Jacana jacana)
Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies)
SOUTH AMERICAN SNIPE (Gallinago paraguaiae) – On our last morning in the Pantanal, we rode through a marshy area and had great looks at one of these shy snipes.
We had a great view of this lovely Red-throated Caracara at the Cristalino Jungle Lodge. Photo by guide Marcelo Barreiros.
Laridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)
YELLOW-BILLED TERN (Sternula superciliaris) – We witnessed several males offering fish to the females as a part of a courtship feeding ritual in the Pantanal.
LARGE-BILLED TERN (Phaetusa simplex) – Another species seen regularly on the boat outings out of Porto Jofre.
BLACK SKIMMER (Rynchops niger)
Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)
ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia) – An introduced species that is readily seen in cities all over Brazil.
PALE-VENTED PIGEON (Patagioenas cayennensis)
SCALED PIGEON (Patagioenas speciosa)
PICAZURO PIGEON (Patagioenas picazuro)
PLUMBEOUS PIGEON (Patagioenas plumbea)
RUDDY PIGEON (Patagioenas subvinacea)
RUDDY GROUND-DOVE (Columbina talpacoti)
SCALED DOVE (Columbina squammata) – This is a close relative of the Inca Dove from North America.
BLUE GROUND-DOVE (Claravis pretiosa) – Seen several times around Cristalino Jungle Lodge. This species prefers drier habitats like forest edge and the granite outcrops at Cristalino.
WHITE-TIPPED DOVE (Leptotila verreauxi) – We saw several individuals along the rivers in the Pantanal and even had a few visiting feeders in the Pantanal.
Opisthocomidae (Hoatzin)
HOATZIN (Opisthocomus hoazin) – A monotypic family and we took a special boat trip to see them while we were at Cristalino Jungle Lodge.
Cuculidae (Cuckoos)
GUIRA CUCKOO (Guira guira) – A common species in open areas and even in towns. We even saw them around the gardens of the lodges in the Pantanal.
SMOOTH-BILLED ANI (Crotophaga ani)
STRIPED CUCKOO (Tapera naevia) – More often heard than seen, as its high pitched two-toned song carries a long ways, but we managed to bring one individual into view in the Pantanal.
LITTLE CUCKOO (Coccycua minuta) – Unlike the Squirrel and Black-bellied Cuckoos that prefer forest, this species favors wet areas like marshes and riverine forest.
SQUIRREL CUCKOO (Piaya cayana) – Seen in all three areas we visited on this tour.
BLACK-BELLIED CUCKOO (Piaya melanogaster) – A canopy specialist from the Amazon that we inspected closely from the Chip Haven tower at Cristalino Jungle Lodge.
Participant Tim Liguori got this great photo of a Nacunda Nighthawk in flight.
Strigidae (Owls)
TROPICAL SCREECH-OWL (Megascops choliba) – A great look on our last evening in the Pantanal.
TAWNY-BELLIED SCREECH-OWL (AUSTRAL) (Megascops watsonii usta)
CRESTED OWL (Lophostrix cristata) – We brought one in for a brief look as we walked back to the lodge at Cristalino Jungle Lodge one day.
GREAT HORNED OWL (Bubo virginianus) – The birds we saw belong to the subspecies nacurutu and they are quite different from the North American birds, as they have a dark caramel-colored iris and a different song.
AMAZONIAN PYGMY-OWL (Glaucidium hardyi) – This one really made us work for it, but after searching for it on more than one occasion and some considerable bush-whacking, we found one in Alta Floresta and enjoyed nice scope views of it.
FERRUGINOUS PYGMY-OWL (Glaucidium brasilianum) – Far easier to see and more abundant than its Amazonian counterpart. We found several individuals in the Pantanal.
BURROWING OWL (Athene cunicularia)
Caprimulgidae (Nightjars and Allies)
NACUNDA NIGHTHAWK (Chordeiles nacunda) – One of the truly iconic experiences of the Pantanal is seeing hundreds of these birds take flight in the pinkening evening skies of the Pantanal.
SHORT-TAILED NIGHTHAWK (Lurocalis semitorquatus) – Seen flying over the Cristalino River at dusk on a couple of days.
BAND-TAILED NIGHTHAWK (Nyctiprogne leucopyga) – The perfect crowning of a perfect day in the Pantanal was seeing dozens of these Nighthawks taking the skies against a dramatic sunset on the Tres Irmaos River.
BLACKISH NIGHTJAR (Nyctipolus nigrescens) – A pair of birds has been roosting on the roof of the buildings at Cristalino Jungle Lodge for years and we got great looks at them.
COMMON PAURAQUE (Nyctidromus albicollis) – Common indeed and we saw them repeatedly throughout the tour. Especially so in the Pantanal.
LITTLE NIGHTJAR (Setopagis parvula) – Great looks at one individual at Chapada dos Guimaraes. This species is a migrant and usually arrives in the area a little later in the year so we did not expect to see it.
LADDER-TAILED NIGHTJAR (Hydropsalis climacocerca) – Marcelo Barreiros found a roosting individual on a river island on the Teles Pires and we got a nice look at it before it flew out of sight.
OCELLATED POORWILL (Nyctiphrynus ocellatus) – We called a bird in during a night outing at Cristalino and got textbook views of the bird perched on a vine.
Nyctibiidae (Potoos)
GREAT POTOO (Nyctibius grandis) – Seen both at night and in the daytime on our tour.
COMMON POTOO (Nyctibius griseus) – We found one on our very last night in the Pantanal and brought it in for a close inspection.
Apodidae (Swifts)
WHITE-COLLARED SWIFT (Streptoprocne zonaris) – Seen around Chapada dos Guimaraes.
SHORT-TAILED SWIFT (Chaetura brachyura) – The distinctive shape of this species makes it one of the easiest species to recognize in the genus.
GRAY-RUMPED SWIFT (Chaetura cinereiventris) – Seen particularly well from the tower and from the granite mountain around Cristalino.
PALE-RUMPED SWIFT (Chaetura egregia) – Another species that is somewhat easy to recognize provided you see its rump, which is purely white.
This Sunbittern posed nicely for us. Photo by guide Marcelo Barreiros.
Trochilidae (Hummingbirds)
WHITE-NECKED JACOBIN (Florisuga mellivora) – A bird was seen on our last morning at Cristalino Jungle Lodge.
RUFOUS-BREASTED HERMIT (Glaucis hirsutus) – Seen feeding on the Heliconia flowers around the rooms at Cristalino Jungle Lodge.
WHITE-BEARDED HERMIT (Phaethornis hispidus) – One of the local guides at Cristalino had a nest staked out for us,so we had it in the scope on a couple of occasions during the tour.
CINNAMON-THROATED HERMIT (Phaethornis nattereri) – A single individual showed up around the lek of the Buff-bellied Hermits.
REDDISH HERMIT (Phaethornis ruber) – Seen zipping by a couple of times on the tour, and Monique got particularly nice looks in Alta Floresta while the rest of of searched for Amazonian Pygmy-owl.
BUFF-BELLIED HERMIT (Phaethornis subochraceus) – Several birds on a lek in the Pantanal.
HORNED SUNGEM (Heliactin bilophus) – A nice adult male seen in the scope on the very first day of the tour around Chapada dos Guimaraes.
BLACK-EARED FAIRY (Heliothryx auritus) – Seen multiple times around Cristalino Jungle Lodge.
FIERY-TAILED AWLBILL (Avocettula recurvirostris) – Fabulous looks at this scarce hummingbird at Cristalino Jungle Lodge.
BLACK-THROATED MANGO (Anthracothorax nigricollis) – Seen several times and in every biome we visited on the tour.
BLACK-BELLIED THORNTAIL (Discosura langsdorffi) – A rare and scarce hummingbird that we saw extremely well on our last morning at Cristalino Jungle Lodge before heading out to Alta Floresta.
LONG-BILLED STARTHROAT (Heliomaster longirostris)
BLUE-TUFTED STARTHROAT (Heliomaster furcifer) – This species has an eclipse plumage and the individual we saw was not very colorful but it was still very distinctive.
AMETHYST WOODSTAR (Calliphlox amethystina) – Brief looks at this tiny hummingbird that has the fastest wing beats of any species of hummingbird.
GLITTERING-BELLIED EMERALD (Chlorostilbon lucidus)
GRAY-BREASTED SABREWING (Campylopterus largipennis)
SWALLOW-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD (Eupetomena macroura)
FORK-TAILED WOODNYMPH (Thalurania furcata) – The most common species of hummingbird in the forested areas of the Pantanal.
GLITTERING-THROATED EMERALD (Amazilia fimbriata) – This species is also common in the Pantanal but it prefers forest edge and dense scrub.
WHITE-CHINNED SAPPHIRE (Hylocharis cyanus) [*]
GILDED HUMMINGBIRD (Hylocharis chrysura) – Great looks in the Pantanal. We even got to see the hints of a golden color that gives this species its name.
Spangled Cotinga is common around Cristalino, but we didn't tire of seeing these gorgeous creatures. Photo by participant Tim Liguori.
Trogonidae (Trogons)
BLACK-TAILED TROGON (Trogon melanurus) – Nice scope views shortly after we came down from the Ted Parker tower at Cristalino Jungle Lodge.
GREEN-BACKED TROGON (Trogon viridis) – Formerly known as White-tailed Trogon.
AMAZONIAN TROGON (Trogon ramonianus) – Another species that has had its name recently changed from Violaceous Trogon to Amazonian Trogon.
BLUE-CROWNED TROGON (Trogon curucui) – This is the only species of trogon that occurs in the Pantanal.
COLLARED TROGON (Trogon collaris)
Momotidae (Motmots)
AMAZONIAN MOTMOT (Momotus momota) – Its name was recently changed from Blue-crowned Motmot to Amazonian Motmot.
Alcedinidae (Kingfishers)
RINGED KINGFISHER (Megaceryle torquata) – This is the largest of the species of Kingfishers occurring in South America and the most conspicuous one in the Pantanal where they are often seen perched on the power lines along the road.
AMAZON KINGFISHER (Chloroceryle amazona) – Another very conspicuous species that was seen regularly on the tour, especially along the rivers in the Pantanal and Cristalino.
GREEN KINGFISHER (Chloroceryle americana) – This species resembles the Amazon Kingfisher but it is much smaller and less numerous. Nevertheless, we saw many of them on the tour.
GREEN-AND-RUFOUS KINGFISHER (Chloroceryle inda) – A scarce and shy species that inhabits smaller streams and flooded areas in the forest and is therefore a hard one to find. We had great looks at one on one of the tributaries of the Cuiaba River in the Pantanal.
AMERICAN PYGMY KINGFISHER (Chloroceryle aenea) – This minute species is often hard to detect due to its size and the fact that it prefers to perch in the vegetation rather than on open branches, but that did not stop us from seeing it a few times on the tour.
Bucconidae (Puffbirds)
WHITE-NECKED PUFFBIRD (Notharchus hyperrhynchus) – This large puffbird is a canopy specialist so it is no surprise that we managed to spot a pair of birds from one of the towers at Cristalino.
BROWN-BANDED PUFFBIRD (Notharchus ordii) – Another canopy dweller, but one that is usually much harder to find. However this year we had stellar looks at a pair of birds at Cristalino Jungle Lodge.
PIED PUFFBIRD (Notharchus tectus) [*]
EASTERN STRIOLATED-PUFFBIRD (TORRIDUS) (Nystalus striolatus torridus) [*]
WHITE-EARED PUFFBIRD (Nystalus chacuru) – Great looks at this cerrado specialty at Chapada dos Guimaraes.
RUFOUS-NECKED PUFFBIRD (Malacoptila rufa) – The genus Malacoptila consists of several species that inhabit the understory of forest, and their presence is usually hard to detect as their songs are subtle and they sit motionless for long periods of time. This year we heard one on the Brazil Nut Trail at Cristalino and managed to get great scope view of it.
BLACK-FRONTED NUNBIRD (Monasa nigrifrons) – Common in the Pantanal and in the varzea forests around Cristalino.
WHITE-FRONTED NUNBIRD (Monasa morphoeus) – This species is scarcer than the Black-fronted Nunbird and it prefers terra firme forest. We had great looks at them from the Chip Haven Tower at Cristalino Jungle Lodge.
SWALLOW-WINGED PUFFBIRD (Chelidoptera tenebrosa) – A constant presence along the rivers of the Amazon, where they perch on exposed branches and sally out to capture insects and glide back to their perches. As they are often seen gliding over rivers in the hottest parts of the day, the indigenous name for them means little vulture.
We had some very nice views of courting Yellow-billed Terns in the Pantanal. Photo by guide Marcelo Barreiros.
Galbulidae (Jacamars)
BLUE-CHEEKED JACAMAR (Galbula cyanicollis) – This little gem of a Jacamar was seen nicely on one of the trails at Cristalino Jungle Lodge.
RUFOUS-TAILED JACAMAR (Galbula ruficauda) – This species is common and widespread occurring in all three biomes we visited on this tour.
BRONZY JACAMAR (Galbula leucogastra) – This species favors white sand forest and flooded forest and we knew just where to look for one, resulting in nice views of a pair of birds.
PARADISE JACAMAR (Galbula dea) – Seen nicely from the Serra Trail at Cristalino Jungle Lodge.
GREAT JACAMAR (Jacamerops aureus) – This species showed up briefly and sadly took off before everyone could see it.
Capitonidae (New World Barbets)
BLACK-GIRDLED BARBET (Capito dayi) – Nice looks at this southern Amazonian specialty. We even had one foraging close to the ground over an ant swarm which was a surprise for me as this is a canopy species.
Ramphastidae (Toucans)
BLACK-NECKED ARACARI (Pteroglossus aracari) – A very brief look from one of the towers at Cristalino Jungle Lodge but sadly the birds flew out of sight before everyone could see them.
CHESTNUT-EARED ARACARI (Pteroglossus castanotis) – A common species in the Pantanal.
CURL-CRESTED ARACARI (Pteroglossus beauharnaesii) – After distant and frustrating looks from the Serra Trail we were able to get close looks from the Ted Parker Tower at Cristalino, allowing us to see well its unique crest and all the features that make this such an iconic bird.
RED-NECKED ARACARI (Pteroglossus bitorquatus)
GOULD'S TOUCANET (Selenidera gouldii) – A couple of fly by views but we never got a great look at one this year.
TOCO TOUCAN (Ramphastos toco) – This species is common but it is always a pleasure to see it. We had multiple great looks in the Pantanal, especially so around our lodge at Porto Jofre.
WHITE-THROATED TOUCAN (Ramphastos tucanus cuvieri) – This race of White-throated Toucan is sometimes treated as a separate species, as it has a black bill instead of the mahogany colored bill that the nominate birds have.
CHANNEL-BILLED TOUCAN (YELLOW-RIDGED) (Ramphastos vitellinus culminatus) – Another species that is sometimes treated as a different species. This bird looks a lot like the White-throated and is most easily separated by the song and the proportion of the bill in relation to the bird.
Picidae (Woodpeckers)
BAR-BREASTED PICULET (Picumnus aurifrons) – A couple of birds seen moving along with an understory flock at Cristalino Jungle Lodge.
WHITE-WEDGED PICULET (Picumnus albosquamatus) – This species replaces the later in the Pantanal and we had great looks at them. The males of this species sport a red forehead while the male Bar-breasted has a yellow forehead.
WHITE WOODPECKER (Melanerpes candidus) – A common woodpecker in disturbed areas.
YELLOW-TUFTED WOODPECKER (Melanerpes cruentatus) – We saw this species at the southern limit of its range around Chapada dos Guimaraes as well as on the grounds of our hotel in Alta Floresta.
WHITE-FRONTED WOODPECKER (Melanerpes cactorum) – This is a very localized species in the Pantanal and we found a pair of birds around Piuval Lodge in the Pantanal.
LITTLE WOODPECKER (Veniliornis passerinus) – A common species in the Pantanal.
Our intrepid guides, Marcelo Padua and Marcelo Barrieros, pose in front of a giant jungle tree. Photo by participant Tim Liguori.
RED-STAINED WOODPECKER (Veniliornis affinis hilaris) – This subspecies does not have as much red as the nominate birds.
YELLOW-THROATED WOODPECKER (Piculus flavigula magnus) – The Yellow-throated Woodpecker has many subspecies and is a strong candidate for future splitting so it is always a good idea to keep track of which subspecies you have seen.
GOLDEN-GREEN WOODPECKER (Piculus chrysochloros) – Great looks from the boat dock at Rio Claro Lodge.
GREEN-BARRED WOODPECKER (Colaptes melanochloros)
CAMPO FLICKER (Colaptes campestris) – This species is more closely related to a flicker than a woodpecker.
RINGED WOODPECKER (Celeus torquatus) – This great looking woodpecker was seen on a couple of different occasions at Cristalino Jungle Lodge.
CREAM-COLORED WOODPECKER (Celeus flavus) – Seen well around Piuval Lodge.
PALE-CRESTED WOODPECKER (Celeus lugubris) – A Pantanal specialty that was seen nicely around Rio Claro Lodge.
LINEATED WOODPECKER (Dryocopus lineatus) – A common and widespread species species that we saw well on a number of days of the tour.
RED-NECKED WOODPECKER (Campephilus rubricollis) – This massive woodpecker was seen nicely from the Chip Haven Tower at Cristalino. We also heard its characteristic double knock on a couple of occasions.
CRIMSON-CRESTED WOODPECKER (Campephilus melanoleucos) – Another large woodpecker that was seen well on three different days of the tour.
Cariamidae (Seriemas)
RED-LEGGED SERIEMA (Cariama cristata) – With only two species in the genus, the Cariamidae Family is endemic to South America and this species which we saw so well at Chapada and in the Pantanal was a lifer family for most folks on the tour.
Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)
CRYPTIC FOREST-FALCON (Micrastur mintoni) [*]
BLACK CARACARA (Daptrius ater) – Seen regularly from the boat dock at Cristalino. This species likes to perch close to water.
RED-THROATED CARACARA (Ibycter americanus) – This ornate species specializes in eating wasp larvae. We had one perch less than 10 feet away from the Ted Parker Tower at Cristalino Jungle Lodge, allowing us to inspect it well before it flew off.
SOUTHERN CARACARA (Caracara plancus) – A generalist species of open areas. So it should come as no surprise that we saw it regularly at Chapada and the Pantanal but not at all at Cristalino Jungle Lodge
YELLOW-HEADED CARACARA (Milvago chimachima) – Seen around Chapada and in the Pantanal but far less common than the Southern Caracara.
LAUGHING FALCON (Herpetotheres cachinnans) – Although more widespread than the Red-throated Caracara, this Falcon also has a highly specialized diet, focusing on snakes as its main prey item.
AMERICAN KESTREL (Falco sparverius) – A couple of birds seen along the road side.
APLOMADO FALCON (Falco femoralis) – A nice look at one perched at Piuval Lodge.
BAT FALCON (Falco rufigularis) – A common sight along the Cristalino River where we had exciting views of birds hunting for Bats and Owl Butterflies at dusk on a couple of days.
Psittacidae (New World and African Parrots)
MONK PARAKEET (Myiopsitta monachus) – It is always nice to see a bird that has been introduced to so many places in its natural habitat.
YELLOW-CHEVRONED PARAKEET (Brotogeris chiriri) – An abundant species in the Pantanal.
GOLDEN-WINGED PARAKEET (Brotogeris chrysoptera) – This Amazonian species is far less common than the Yellow-chevroned Parakeet. We had good looks at perched birds and flying birds, which was nice as the "golden wing" is only visible on flying birds.
ORANGE-CHEEKED PARROT (Pyrilia barrabandi) [*]
SCALY-HEADED PARROT (Pionus maximiliani) [*]
We saw several Great Black Hawks in the Pantanal. Photo by guide Marcelo Barreiros.
BLUE-HEADED PARROT (Pionus menstruus) – Seen in large numbers and great light from the towers and the Serra Trail at Cristalino Jungle Lodge.
YELLOW-FACED PARROT (Alipiopsitta xanthops) – This species is endemic to the Cerrado and is Endangered. We had a fly by view of birds at dusk near Chapada dos Guimaraes.
YELLOW-CROWNED PARROT (Amazona ochrocephala) – This species replaces the Turquoise-fronted Parrot in the Amazon.
TURQUOISE-FRONTED PARROT (Amazona aestiva) – This is the most common species in the Pantanal.
MEALY PARROT (Amazona farinosa) [*]
KAWALL'S PARROT (Amazona kawalli) – A couple of sightings of distant birds through the scope.
ORANGE-WINGED PARROT (Amazona amazonica) – Nice views around Piuval where they seem to be more common than in the rest of the Pantanal.
DUSKY-BILLED PARROTLET (Forpus modestus) – Seen right around the clearing of the Lodge at Cristalino Jungle Lodge.
WHITE-BELLIED PARROT (Pionites leucogaster) – Marcelo Barreiros spotted a few of them from the Chip Haven Tower at Cristalino Jungle Lodge and we got great scope views of them.
RED-FAN PARROT (Deroptyus accipitrinus) – The Latin name of this species refers to its unique shape that resembles an accipiter hawk.
CRIMSON-BELLIED PARAKEET (Pyrrhura perlata) – Sadly, we could not get them to perch for us, but we had them fly over 3 times showing well the extensive red they have on their bellies.
SANTAREM PARAKEET (SANTAREM) (Pyrrhura amazonum amazonum) – This species was split from Painted Parakeet a few years ago.
HYACINTH MACAW (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus) – Undoubtedly one of the stars of this tour, the Hyacinth Macaw is abundant around the lodge at Porto Jofre and we enjoyed their company every day while we were there.
PEACH-FRONTED PARAKEET (Eupsittula aurea) – Common around Chapada dos Guimaraes and in the Pantanal.
NANDAY PARAKEET (Aratinga nenday) – This is species is quite localized in the Northern Pantanal, and Rio Claro Lodge is certainly the best place to see them along the Transpantaneira.
RED-BELLIED MACAW (Orthopsittaca manilatus) – This species is closely associated with the presence of Mauritia flexuosa palms.
YELLOW-COLLARED MACAW (Primolius auricollis) – I have to admit that it took us a bit longer than usual to see this Pantanal specialty, and I was starting to get a bit nervous about it, but in the end it was seen remarkably well.
BLUE-AND-YELLOW MACAW (Ara ararauna) – The most common of the species of macaws seen on the tour.
SCARLET MACAW (Ara macao) – Great looks from the towers and on the boat rides at Cristalino Jungle Lodge.
RED-AND-GREEN MACAW (Ara chloropterus)
CHESTNUT-FRONTED MACAW (Ara severus) – Great fly by views from the towers at Cristalino Jungle Lodge.
RED-SHOULDERED MACAW (Diopsittaca nobilis) – Seen at Chapada dos Guimaraes early on the tour.
WHITE-EYED PARAKEET (Psittacara leucophthalmus) – Abundant and common.
Thamnophilidae (Typical Antbirds)
FASCIATED ANTSHRIKE (Cymbilaimus lineatus) – We had a very nice look at one foraging near the ground on the Castanheira Trail at Cristalino Jungle Lodge.
GREAT ANTSHRIKE (Taraba major) – Great views in the Pantanal where we saw both the male and the female, both with ruby red eyes.
Red-billed Scythbill is an amazing woodcreeper with a long, curved bill. Photo by participant Tim Liguori.
GLOSSY ANTSHRIKE (Sakesphorus luctuosus) – Always found close to water.
BARRED ANTSHRIKE (Thamnophilus doliatus) – One of the most widespread species of antbird, occurring all the way from eastern Mexico to Southeast Brazil.
RUFOUS-WINGED ANTSHRIKE (Thamnophilus torquatus) – We had excellent scope views of this cerrado specialist.
CHESTNUT-BACKED ANTSHRIKE (Thamnophilus palliatus) – Another species that is found along the riverside in the Amazon.
PLAIN-WINGED ANTSHRIKE (Thamnophilus schistaceus) – Good views of a female, and they are every bit as plain as its name suggests.
NATTERER'S SLATY-ANTSHRIKE (Thamnophilus stictocephalus) [*]
PLANALTO SLATY-ANTSHRIKE (Thamnophilus pelzelni) – Seen nicely at Piuval in the Pantanal. Together with Natterer's Slaty-Antshrike, this species is part of a complex of birds formerly known simply as Slaty Antshrike which was split into several species a few years ago.
AMAZONIAN ANTSHRIKE (Thamnophilus amazonicus) – A resident of the seasonally flooded varzea forest.
PLAIN ANTVIREO (Dysithamnus mentalis) – Good looks at Chapada dos Guimaraes.
SATURNINE ANTSHRIKE (Thamnomanes saturninus) – An obligate member of mixed species flocks.
CINEREOUS ANTSHRIKE (Thamnomanes caesius) – This is the nuclear species of understory mixed species flocks.
PLAIN-THROATED ANTWREN (Isleria hauxwelli) – One of very few species of antbirds that forages and lives close to the ground. A much appreciated break for our necks.
SPOT-WINGED ANTSHRIKE (Pygiptila stellaris) – An antshrike of the canopy, and therefore always a tricky one to see. Unfortunately only Jesse and Jean got on it before it moved on with the flock.
WHITE-EYED ANTWREN (Epinecrophylla leucophthalma sordida) – Oddly this sub-species does not have a white eye. We had great looks at them moving along with a mixed species flock at Cristalino Jungle Lodge.
PYGMY ANTWREN (Myrmotherula brachyura) – A minuscule antwren that inhabits the canopy so it was very hard to see and only three people got their binoculars on it.
SCLATER'S ANTWREN (Myrmotherula sclateri) [*]
AMAZONIAN STREAKED-ANTWREN (Myrmotherula multostriata) – An ornate small antwren that is found along Amazonian rivers. We had great looks at one along the Cristalino River.
LONG-WINGED ANTWREN (Myrmotherula longipennis) [*]
GRAY ANTWREN (Myrmotherula menetriesii) [*]
BANDED ANTBIRD (Dichrozona cincta) – This gorgeous antbird walks about the forest floor, where it blends in perfectly with the leaf litter. We managed to bring one very close for a thorough inspection of its intricate plumage pattern.
LARGE-BILLED ANTWREN (Herpsilochmus longirostris) – Replaces the Rufous-winged Antwren in the Pantanal.
RUFOUS-WINGED ANTWREN (Herpsilochmus rufimarginatus) [*]
DOT-WINGED ANTWREN (Microrhopias quixensis emiliae)
WHITE-FRINGED ANTWREN (Formicivora grisea) [*]
BLACK-BELLIED ANTWREN (Formicivora melanogaster) – This species barely makes it into the Pantanal and there are few known places to see it along our tour route, so we were very pleased to get good looks at a pair of birds around Piuval Lodge.
We saw this Boat-billed Heron on its roost on one of our boating trips. Photo by guide Marcelo Barreiros.
RUSTY-BACKED ANTWREN (Formicivora rufa) – Far more common and widespread than the Black-bellied Antwren.
STRIATED ANTBIRD (Drymophila devillei) – A bamboo specialist that is always very hard to see.
SPIX'S WARBLING-ANTBIRD (Hypocnemis striata) [*]
GRAY ANTBIRD (Cercomacra cinerascens)
MATO GROSSO ANTBIRD (Cercomacra melanaria) – This species is usually high above the ground and lives in vine tangles, so it is usually hard to see, but this year we found a very cooperative bird that showed itself nicely.
WHITE-BROWED ANTBIRD (Myrmoborus leucophrys) – Great looks at one right on the grounds of our hotel in Alta Floresta.
BAND-TAILED ANTBIRD (Hypocnemoides maculicauda) – Found both around Cristalino where we saw it on our way into the lodge and in the Pantanal.
SILVERED ANTBIRD (Sclateria naevia argentata) – We found one bird foraging along the Cristalino river on our way to the lodge.
CHESTNUT-TAILED ANTBIRD (PALLENS) (Sciaphylax hemimelaena pallens) – Another species of antbird that was seen nicely on the grounds of our hotel in Alta Floresta.
BLACK-THROATED ANTBIRD (Myrmophylax atrothorax) – One of the great advantages of Cristalino Jungle Lodge is that it is right in the forest and there is good birding right from the lodge. This species, for example, was found by the restaurant before we headed out on a trail.
BARE-EYED ANTBIRD (Rhegmatorhina gymnops) – A highly localized species and one that is very hard to find as it is an obligate follower of ant swarms. This year we got extremely lucky and found an active antswarm that eventually resulted in great looks at this species for the whole group.
DOT-BACKED ANTBIRD (Hylophylax punctulatus) – An ornate antbird that lives in varzea forest. We had one in the scope at a short trail at Cristalino Jungle Lodge.
BLACK-SPOTTED BARE-EYE (Phlegopsis nigromaculata) – Another obligate ant swarm follower that was seen attending an ant swarm on the trail to the Tower.
Melanopareiidae (Crescentchests)
COLLARED CRESCENTCHEST (Melanopareia torquata) – A cerrado specialty and a member of a very distinctive family of birds, we saw this one very well at Chapada dos Guimaraes.
Conopophagidae (Gnateaters)
CHESTNUT-BELTED GNATEATER (SNETHLAGE'S) (Conopophaga aurita snethlageae) – A very distinctive subspecies that has a lot more black on the chest than other birds.
Grallariidae (Antpittas)
ALTA FLORESTA ANTPITTA (Hylopezus whittakeri) [*]
THRUSH-LIKE ANTPITTA (Myrmothera campanisona) [*]
Furnariidae (Ovenbirds and Woodcreepers)
OLIVACEOUS WOODCREEPER (AMAZONIAN) (Sittasomus griseicapillus transitivus) – This species will likely be split into several taxa one day. Always good to track which ones you have seen. These were the birds at Cristalino.
OLIVACEOUS WOODCREEPER (OLIVACEOUS) (Sittasomus griseicapillus sylviellus) – The Pantanal "flavor" of Olivaceous Woodcreeper.
LONG-TAILED WOODCREEPER (Deconychura longicauda) [*]
WHITE-CHINNED WOODCREEPER (Dendrocincla merula) – Brief looks at a bird attending an ant swarm.
PLAIN-BROWN WOODCREEPER (Dendrocincla fuliginosa)
WEDGE-BILLED WOODCREEPER (Glyphorynchus spirurus inornatus) – This is a very common species in the Amazon but they were surprisingly quiet this year and we only saw one individual.
CINNAMON-THROATED WOODCREEPER (Dendrexetastes rufigula moniliger)
LONG-BILLED WOODCREEPER (Nasica longirostris) [*]
BLACK-BANDED WOODCREEPER (Dendrocolaptes picumnus) [*]
The White Woodpecker is a striking bird when seen well. Photo by participant Tim Liguori.
STRONG-BILLED WOODCREEPER (Xiphocolaptes promeropirhynchus)
GREAT RUFOUS WOODCREEPER (Xiphocolaptes major) – This massive woodcreeper is always a treat to see. We found them at Piuval at the end of the tour.
STRIPED WOODCREEPER (Xiphorhynchus obsoletus) – A varzea specialist that we found on a stop along the Cristalino River.
ELEGANT WOODCREEPER (Xiphorhynchus elegans) [*]
SPIX'S WOODCREEPER (Xiphorhynchus spixii) [*]
BUFF-THROATED WOODCREEPER (LAFRESNAYE'S) (Xiphorhynchus guttatus dorbignyanus) – This species has two representatives that on this tour. This taxon is the one found in the Pantanal.
BUFF-THROATED WOODCREEPER (DUSKY-BILLED) (Xiphorhynchus guttatus eytoni) – This is the Amazon representative of the species.
STRAIGHT-BILLED WOODCREEPER (Dendroplex picus) – A common and generalist woodcreeper, so it was a bit surprising that we only saw it towards the end of the tour.
RED-BILLED SCYTHEBILL (Campylorhamphus trochilirostris lafresnayanus) – Always a fascinating bird to see with its enormous thin bill.
CURVE-BILLED SCYTHEBILL (TAPAJOS) (Campylorhamphus procurvoides cardosoi) – We found an individual moving along with a mixed species flock on the way to the Chip Haven Tower at Cristalino. Always a tough bird to get a good look at.
NARROW-BILLED WOODCREEPER (Lepidocolaptes angustirostris) – A common woodcreeper in the Pantanal.
LAYARD'S WOODCREEPER (Lepidocolaptes layardi) – This is a recent split from Lineated Woodcreeper. A canopy species that we saw at Cristalino Jungle Lodge.
STREAKED XENOPS (Xenops rutilans) – Nice looks at intriguing bird at Chapada dos Guimaraes.
POINT-TAILED PALMCREEPER (Berlepschia rikeri) – This species is only found in one Mauritia Palm grove on this tour, so I was very relieved to find it quickly on our way to the lodge.
PALE-LEGGED HORNERO (Furnarius leucopus) – A riverside specialist that we saw well in the Pantanal.
RUFOUS HORNERO (Furnarius rufus) – Omnipresent in the cerrado and in the Pantanal. The family is called ovenbirds due to the characteristic nest built by this species that resembles a dutch oven.
DUSKY-CHEEKED FOLIAGE-GLEANER (Anabazenops dorsalis) – A shy and hard to see bamboo specialist, but we found a very responsive individual and brought it out for great views.
RUFOUS-RUMPED FOLIAGE-GLEANER (Philydor erythrocercum) – Seen foraging with an understory mixed species flock at Cristalino Jungle Lodge.
BUFF-THROATED FOLIAGE-GLEANER (Automolus ochrolaemus)
GREATER THORNBIRD (Phacellodomus ruber) – Often found near water and common in the Pantanal.
RUSTY-BACKED SPINETAIL (Cranioleuca vulpina) – A riverside specialist that is particularly common along the rivers of the Pantanal.
RUFOUS CACHOLOTE (Pseudoseisura unirufa) – Common in the Pantanal but a nesting pair right by the boat dock at Rio Claro Lodge was particularly memorable.
CHOTOY SPINETAIL (Schoeniophylax phryganophilus) – The only member of its genus and a particularly striking species with its yellow and black throat.
YELLOW-CHINNED SPINETAIL (Certhiaxis cinnamomeus) – Abundant in the Pantanal.
SOOTY-FRONTED SPINETAIL (Synallaxis frontalis) – A scarce bird on our tour route but we found a pair at Piuval Lodge.
CINEREOUS-BREASTED SPINETAIL (Synallaxis hypospodia) – A bird of the marshy areas of the Pantanal.
PLAIN-CROWNED SPINETAIL (Synallaxis gujanensis) [*]
WHITE-LORED SPINETAIL (Synallaxis albilora) – We had great looks at one but seeing white lores requires a bit of imagination.
In the spirit of "you can never see too many...", here's another photo of a Hyacinth Macaw, by participant Tim Liguori.
Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers)
WHITE-LORED TYRANNULET (Ornithion inerme) – A common canopy bird from Cristalino Jungle Lodge.
SOUTHERN BEARDLESS-TYRANNULET (Camptostoma obsoletum) – Tyrannulets often pose quite a challenge to identify, but this species can be easily recognizable by its typical behavior of moving the body from one side to another.
SUIRIRI FLYCATCHER (Suiriri suiriri burmeisteri) – Great looks at Chapada dos Guimaraes.
SUBTROPICAL DORADITO (Pseudocolopteryx acutipennis) – A migrant flycatcher that breeds high in the Andes and winters in the Pantanal.
YELLOW-CROWNED TYRANNULET (Tyrannulus elatus) – Common in open areas and edges of forest in the Amazon.
FOREST ELAENIA (Myiopagis gaimardii) – A common and widespread species that is most often detected by song.
GRAY ELAENIA (Myiopagis caniceps) [*]
GREENISH ELAENIA (Myiopagis viridicata)
SMALL-BILLED ELAENIA (Elaenia parvirostris) – An austral migrant that shows up in the Amazon during the austral winter.
PLAIN-CRESTED ELAENIA (Elaenia cristata) – A cerrado specialist. The crest despite, being quite long and pointy, has no white and therefore it is called Plain-crested Elaenia.
SEPIA-CAPPED FLYCATCHER (Leptopogon amaurocephalus) – Seen at Chapada Dos Guimaraes. This species has the interesting habit of flicking one single wing up from time to time.
GUIANAN TYRANNULET (Zimmerius acer) – A recent split from Slender-footed Tyrannulet.
SOUTHERN SCRUB-FLYCATCHER (Sublegatus modestus) – This species resembles a miniature Myiarchus flycatcher with a stubby dark bill.
PLAIN TYRANNULET (Inezia inornata) – A Pantanal specialty.
AMAZONIAN TYRANNULET (Inezia subflava) – This species is found on recently formed river islands and we knew exactly where to look for it.
RINGED ANTPIPIT (Corythopis torquatus) – Despite the name, the bird is a flycatcher that walks around the forest floor looking for insects.
SHORT-TAILED PYGMY-TYRANT (Myiornis ecaudatus) [*]
HELMETED PYGMY-TYRANT (Lophotriccus galeatus)
WHITE-BELLIED TODY-TYRANT (Hemitriccus griseipectus) – We found one near a clay lick at Cristalino Jungle Lodge.
STRIPE-NECKED TODY-TYRANT (Hemitriccus striaticollis) – Great looks at this handsome Tody-tyrant in the forest near Porto Jofre on the day we started to make our way back to the beginning of the Transpantaneira.
PEARLY-VENTED TODY-TYRANT (Hemitriccus margaritaceiventer) – This golden-eyed Tody-tyrant is easily found in the cerrado and in the Pantanal. We found it on the last couple of days of the tour in the transition from the cerrado to the Pantanal at Piuval lodge.
ZIMMER'S TODY-TYRANT (Hemitriccus minimus) – Always a tricky bird to see as it is often unresponsive to tape, but we found a responsive bird on the Serra trail at Cristalino Jungle Lodge.
RUSTY-FRONTED TODY-FLYCATCHER (Poecilotriccus latirostris) – Seen often in the Pantanal.
COMMON TODY-FLYCATCHER (Todirostrum cinereum) – Not as common on this tour route as the name would have you think, but we got great looks in the Pantanal.
YELLOW-BROWED TODY-FLYCATCHER (Todirostrum chrysocrotaphum)
We saw a few Red-crested Cardinals in the Pantanal. Photo by participant Tim Liguori.
YELLOW-MARGINED FLYCATCHER (Tolmomyias assimilis) – Brief looks at one individual moving through with an understory mixed species flock at Cristalino.
WHITE-CRESTED SPADEBILL (Platyrinchus platyrhynchos)
ROYAL FLYCATCHER (Onychorhynchus coronatus) – Nice looks at one individual that was building a nest over a clay lick behind the lodge at Cristalino Jungle Lodge.
RUDDY-TAILED FLYCATCHER (Terenotriccus erythrurus) – Not particularly responsive to tape and a bit higher than usual but eventually we all got to see it.
EULER'S FLYCATCHER (Lathrotriccus euleri) [*]
FUSCOUS FLYCATCHER (Cnemotriccus fuscatus)
VERMILION FLYCATCHER (Pyrocephalus rubinus) – An austral migrant that had just arrived.
CRESTED BLACK-TYRANT (Knipolegus lophotes) – A pair of birds seen near a restaurant where we had lunch at Chapada dos Guimaraes. One of them even caught an insect and we watched as it dismembered it and swallowed it whole.
DRAB WATER TYRANT (Ochthornis littoralis) – Seen along the Cristalino River.
YELLOW-BROWED TYRANT (Satrapa icterophrys) – This species is very quiet and therefore is hard to find but we found one perched at Campos do Jofre and had great looks at it.
WHITE-RUMPED MONJITA (Xolmis velatus) – A couple of birds seen in the Pantanal.
BLACK-BACKED WATER-TYRANT (Fluvicola albiventer) – This elegant species is a common sight in the Pantanal along the larger ponds and lakes where there is a lot of vegetation.
WHITE-HEADED MARSH TYRANT (Arundinicola leucocephala)
CATTLE TYRANT (Machetornis rixosa) – A common sight in the gardens of our lodges in the Pantanal.
LARGE-HEADED FLATBILL (Ramphotrigon megacephalum) – A bamboo specialist seen nicely at Cristalino Jungle Lodge.
RUFOUS-TAILED FLATBILL (Ramphotrigon ruficauda) – Particularly well seen along the bamboo trail at Cristalino Jungle Lodge.
DUSKY-TAILED FLATBILL (Ramphotrigon fuscicauda) [*]
DULL-CAPPED ATTILA (Attila bolivianus) – Sometimes called White-eyed Attila. We had good looks at one in the Pantanal.
BRIGHT-RUMPED ATTILA (Attila spadiceus) – Heard quite often but a hard bird to see. We ended up seeing one in the forest behind our Hotel in Alta Floresta.
SIBILANT SIRYSTES (Sirystes sibilator) – This species was formerly known simply as Sirystes but a recent split has divided it into several species.
RUFOUS CASIORNIS (Casiornis rufus)
GRAYISH MOURNER (Rhytipterna simplex) – Heard first at Cristalino Jungle Lodge and later seen in the Pantanal.
SHORT-CRESTED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus ferox)
LESSER KISKADEE (Pitangus lictor) – Seen along rivers in the Pantanal and Cristalino Jungle Lodge.
GREAT KISKADEE (Pitangus sulphuratus) – Seen regularly but the one Doris found building a nest in Alta Floresta was particularly nice.
BOAT-BILLED FLYCATCHER (Megarynchus pitangua)
The Wattled Jacana is found in wetlands across much of South America. Photo by participant Tim Liguori.
RUSTY-MARGINED FLYCATCHER (Myiozetetes cayanensis) – Common along the water in the Pantanal.
DUSKY-CHESTED FLYCATCHER (Myiozetetes luteiventris) [*]
PIRATIC FLYCATCHER (Legatus leucophaius) – Named after its habit of stealing other bird's nests.
VARIEGATED FLYCATCHER (Empidonomus varius)
CROWNED SLATY FLYCATCHER (Empidonomus aurantioatrocristatus) – An austral migrant.
SULPHURY FLYCATCHER (Tyrannopsis sulphurea) – A Mauritia Palm specialist that was seen well on our way to Cristalino.
TROPICAL KINGBIRD (Tyrannus melancholicus) – One of the most common birds of the tropics.
Cotingidae (Cotingas)
AMAZONIAN UMBRELLABIRD (Cephalopterus ornatus) – One of the most memorable moments of the tour was seeing a few males displaying on a lek.
SPANGLED COTINGA (Cotinga cayana) – The most common of the cotingas seen around Cristalino, but still a stunning bird that always leaves a long lasting impression.
SCREAMING PIHA (Lipaugus vociferans) – This species is undoubtedly the sound of the Amazon, and its song is far more impressive than the bird itself, but we managed to see a couple of them.
POMPADOUR COTINGA (Xipholena punicea) – Unfortunately they were not present in good numbers and we only got a brief glimpse of a distant bird.
BARE-NECKED FRUITCROW (Gymnoderus foetidus) – Common around Cristalino.
Pipridae (Manakins)
DWARF TYRANT-MANAKIN (Tyranneutes stolzmanni) – Every bit as impressive as its name suggests. But we got good looks at it.
HELMETED MANAKIN (Antilophia galeata)
SNOW-CAPPED MANAKIN (Lepidothrix nattereri) – Tim found this beauty for us and we ended up getting great looks at it through the scope.
FLAME-CROWNED MANAKIN (Heterocercus linteatus) – This species is found along the river. It was a bit tricky getting one to show itself but after a bit of work we pulled one into view.
BAND-TAILED MANAKIN (Pipra fasciicauda) – Nice looks at this little gem around Chapada dos Guimaraes.
FIERY-CAPPED MANAKIN (Machaeropterus pyrocephalus) [*]
RED-HEADED MANAKIN (Ceratopipra rubrocapilla) – Great scope views of birds displaying on a lek at Cristalino Jungle Lodge.
WING-BARRED PIPRITES (Piprites chloris) [*]
Tityridae (Tityras and Allies)
BLACK-TAILED TITYRA (Tityra cayana) – Good views around our hotel in Alta Floresta.
BLACK-CROWNED TITYRA (Tityra inquisitor) – Also seen in Alta Floresta.
MASKED TITYRA (Tityra semifasciata) – The most common of the three species around Cristalino Jungle Lodge.
VARZEA SCHIFFORNIS (Schiffornis major) – This species is restricted to seasonally flooded forest and is quite scarce around Cristalino. We found one individual way upstream where we found the Hoatzins.
BROWN-WINGED SCHIFFORNIS (Schiffornis turdina) – One of five species that were united under the name Thrush-like Schiffornis until recently.
The Zig-zag Heron is cryptic and difficult to find, but we worked hard and were rewarded when we found a displaying pair in the Pantanal. Photo by participant Tim Liguori.
CINEREOUS MOURNER (Laniocera hypopyrra) [*]
WHITE-BROWED PURPLETUFT (Iodopleura isabellae) – This species used to be placed in the Cotinga family but was recently placed with the Tityras. We had multiple good looks at them at Cristalino but the ones seen on the Serra trail were particularly nice.
WHITE-NAPED XENOPSARIS (Xenopsaris albinucha) – This species looks like a miniature becard and is an austral migrant that visits the Pantanal in the winter. We had great looks at one on our first day in the Pantanal.
WHITE-WINGED BECARD (Pachyramphus polychopterus) – Good looks around our hotel in Alta Floresta.
BLACK-CAPPED BECARD (Pachyramphus marginatus) – Great views of one individual moving through the understory with a mixed species flock on our way back to the lodge from the Ted Parker Tower.
Vireonidae (Vireos, Shrike-Babblers, and Erpornis)
RUFOUS-BROWED PEPPERSHRIKE (Cyclarhis gujanensis) [*]
ASHY-HEADED GREENLET (Hylophilus pectoralis) – Greenlets tend to be rather dull, but this one is quite handsome and we got great looks at it in the Pantanal.
GRAY-CHESTED GREENLET (Hylophilus semicinereus) – An ever present sound along the rivers in southern Amazon.
SLATY-CAPPED SHRIKE-VIREO (Vireolanius leucotis) [*]
TAWNY-CROWNED GREENLET (Tunchiornis ochraceiceps) – This is a canopy species that travels with flocks. We managed to pull one out of a flock for close inspection at Cristalino.
Corvidae (Crows, Jays, and Magpies)
PURPLISH JAY (Cyanocorax cyanomelas) – A common species in the Pantanal. The purplish color is only seen in perfect lighting conditions.
CURL-CRESTED JAY (Cyanocorax cristatellus) – A cerrado specialist that was seen nicely around Chapada dos Guimaraes.
Hirundinidae (Swallows)
WHITE-BANDED SWALLOW (Atticora fasciata) – A common sight along the Cristalino River.
SOUTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW (Stelgidopteryx ruficollis) – Common and widespread. We saw many of them nesting on the banks of the rivers in the Pantanal.
GRAY-BREASTED MARTIN (Progne chalybea) – Seen perched on the radio tower of our lodge in the Pantanal.
WHITE-WINGED SWALLOW (Tachycineta albiventer) – A common sight along rivers both in the Pantanal and in the Amazon. We even saw several of them perched on the bridges of the Transpantaneira.
Troglodytidae (Wrens)
TOOTH-BILLED WREN (Odontorchilus cinereus) – A canopy specialist that is endemic to southern Amazonia.
HOUSE WREN (Troglodytes aedon) – A very common bird, so it was a bit surprising that we only saw it once on the tour.
THRUSH-LIKE WREN (Campylorhynchus turdinus hypostictus) – This subspecies is found in the Amazon and has very bold spotting on the body.
THRUSH-LIKE WREN (Campylorhynchus turdinus unicolor) – This is the Pantanal representative of the species and as its name suggests it is rather uniform with no prominent markings.
MOUSTACHED WREN (Pheugopedius genibarbis) – Seen at Chapada dos Guimaraes early on the trip.
BUFF-BREASTED WREN (Cantorchilus leucotis) – Seen along the rivers in the Pantanal.
FAWN-BREASTED WREN (Cantorchilus guarayanus) – We barely made it into the distribution of this wren, that occurs roughly from the area around Porto Jofre towards the south.
Polioptilidae (Gnatcatchers)
LONG-BILLED GNATWREN (Ramphocaenus melanurus) [*]
MASKED GNATCATCHER (Polioptila dumicola) – Common in the Pantanal, where it is often one of the first species to show up in response to the Ferruginous Pygmy Owl tape.
This fish-eating Black-collared Hawk was seen in the Pantanal. Photo by guide Marcelo Barreiros.
Donacobiidae (Donacobius)
BLACK-CAPPED DONACOBIUS (Donacobius atricapilla) – This handsome species used to be considered a wren but was recently placed in its own family.
Turdidae (Thrushes and Allies)
PALE-BREASTED THRUSH (Turdus leucomelas) – Seen early on the tour around our lodge at Chapada dos Guimaraes.
HAUXWELL'S THRUSH (Turdus hauxwelli) [*]
RUFOUS-BELLIED THRUSH (Turdus rufiventris) – It comes as surprise to most people that this is the National Bird of Brazil.
Mimidae (Mockingbirds and Thrashers)
CHALK-BROWED MOCKINGBIRD (Mimus saturninus) – Seen around Chapada dos Guimaraes early on the trip.
Motacillidae (Wagtails and Pipits)
YELLOWISH PIPIT (Anthus lutescens) – We saw this bird well on some recently harvested fields near Chapada dos Guimaraes.
Parulidae (New World Warblers)
MASKED YELLOWTHROAT (Geothlypis aequinoctialis)
GOLDEN-CROWNED WARBLER (WHITE-BELLIED) (Basileuterus culicivorus hypoleucus) – Some authors consider this to be a separate species from the nominate form.
Thraupidae (Tanagers and Allies)
RED-CRESTED CARDINAL (Paroaria coronata) – Found in small numbers in the Pantanal.
RED-CAPPED CARDINAL (Paroaria gularis) – The Amazonian representative of the genus on this tour.
YELLOW-BILLED CARDINAL (Paroaria capitata) – A very common bird in the Pantanal, often visiting bird feeders.
MAGPIE TANAGER (Cissopis leverianus) – Seen only by Tim.
WHITE-BANDED TANAGER (Neothraupis fasciata) – A cerrado specialty that was seen nicely around Chapada dos Guimaraes.
RED-BILLED PIED TANAGER (Lamprospiza melanoleuca) – This canopy specialist is sometimes hard to find, but a fruiting tree near the Chip Haven Tower at Cristalino Jungle Lodge ended up producing some wonderful close up views of these handsome birds.
ORANGE-HEADED TANAGER (Thlypopsis sordida) – Only seen by myself and Tim from the boat at Porto Jofre.
WHITE-RUMPED TANAGER (Cypsnagra hirundinacea) – It is always a pleasure to see this species displaying its white rump from the tops of trees in the Cerrado.
GRAY-HEADED TANAGER (Eucometis penicillata)
FLAME-CRESTED TANAGER (Tachyphonus cristatus) – Seen regularly with canopy flocks at Cristalino Jungle Lodge.
WHITE-SHOULDERED TANAGER (Tachyphonus luctuosus)
WHITE-LINED TANAGER (Tachyphonus rufus) – Great views around Chapada dos Guimaraes.
SILVER-BEAKED TANAGER (Ramphocelus carbo)
BLUE-GRAY TANAGER (Thraupis episcopus) – Seen in the Amazon.
SAYACA TANAGER (Thraupis sayaca) – This species replaces the Blue-gray Tanager towards the south and it was a common sight around Chapada dos Guimaraes and the Pantanal.
PALM TANAGER (Thraupis palmarum) – Particularly abundant in the Mauritia Palm groves seen in the Amazon.
BURNISHED-BUFF TANAGER (Tangara cayana) – A handsome tanager that is common in the Cerrado.
BLUE-NECKED TANAGER (Tangara cyanicollis) – Great spot by Rick at the hotel grounds in Alta Floresta.
DOTTED TANAGER (Tangara varia) – Marcelo Barreiros picked up on the extremely high pitched sound of this scarce species from one of the towers at Cristalino and we had great looks at one.
TURQUOISE TANAGER (Tangara mexicana) – Another handsome tanager that was seen well at Cristalino.
Participant Tim Liguori captured this great image of a Great Black Hawk carrying a fish.
PARADISE TANAGER (Tangara chilensis) – The birds in the genus Tangara are all spectacular and brightly colored, but this one probably takes the prize as the most ornate species.
OPAL-RUMPED TANAGER (Tangara velia) – Nice views from the Ted Parker tower at Cristalino.
BAY-HEADED TANAGER (Tangara gyrola)
BLACK-FACED DACNIS (Dacnis lineata) – Close up views of a a male and a female feeding on a fruiting tree near the Chip Haven Tower.
YELLOW-BELLIED DACNIS (Dacnis flaviventer) – Seen only once at Cristalino Jungle Lodge.
BLUE DACNIS (Dacnis cayana) – The most common of the three species of dacnis possible on the tour.
PURPLE HONEYCREEPER (Cyanerpes caeruleus) – A couple of individuals seen on tour, with their brightly colored yellow legs.
GUIRA TANAGER (Hemithraupis guira) – Seen on the very first day of our tour around Chapada dos Guimaraes.
YELLOW-BACKED TANAGER (Hemithraupis flavicollis) – Great looks at one moving through the canopy with a mixed species flock.
CHESTNUT-VENTED CONEBILL (Conirostrum speciosum) – Very aptly named.
STRIPE-TAILED YELLOW-FINCH (Sicalis citrina) [*]
SAFFRON FINCH (Sicalis flaveola) – A common sight around our lodge at Chapada dos Guimaraes and in the Pantanal.
BLUE-BLACK GRASSQUIT (Volatinia jacarina) – Abundant around Chapada dos Guimaraes and around the flooded fields near Porto Jofre.
WHITE-BELLIED SEEDEATER (Sporophila leucoptera) – Nice looks at this resident seedeater in the Pantanal.
DOUBLE-COLLARED SEEDEATER (Sporophila caerulescens) – An austral migrant that had just started to show up in the area for the year.
PLUMBEOUS SEEDEATER (Sporophila plumbea) – Another resident species that was seen nicely around Chapada dos Guimaraes.
RUSTY-COLLARED SEEDEATER (Sporophila collaris) – This one is a resident of the Pantanal.
RED-CRESTED FINCH (Coryphospingus cucullatus) – Nice looks early on the trip around Chapada dos Guimaraes and near the end of the tour when we were in the ecotone between the Cerrado and the Pantanal.
BANANAQUIT (Coereba flaveola) – A common and widespread species that was seen on a couple of occasions on the tour.
YELLOW-SHOULDERED GROSBEAK (Parkerthraustes humeralis) – Nice looks at this unique canopy specialist that is the only member of its genus.
BLACK-THROATED SALTATOR (Saltator atricollis) – A cerrado specialty that is probably more closely related to Arremon sparrows than to Saltators.
BUFF-THROATED SALTATOR (Saltator maximus) – Seen on the first day at Chapada dos Guimaraes as we birded the grounds of our lodge.
GRAYISH SALTATOR (Saltator coerulescens) – Common in the Pantanal.
SLATE-COLORED GROSBEAK (Saltator grossus) – Nice views at Cristalino.
Emberizidae (Buntings and New World Sparrows)
GRASSLAND SPARROW (Ammodramus humeralis) – Seen nicely around Chapada dos Guimaraes. This species is closely related to the Grasshopper Sparrows from North America.
PECTORAL SPARROW (Arremon taciturnus) [*]
SAFFRON-BILLED SPARROW (Arremon flavirostris) – Nice looks at this ornate sparrow in the dry forests of Piuval Lodge.
RUFOUS-COLLARED SPARROW (Zonotrichia capensis)
Cardinalidae (Cardinals and Allies)
HEPATIC TANAGER (Piranga flava) – A nice find at Chapada dos Guimaraes. This species is an austral migrant and is rarely seen on this tour.
RED-CROWNED ANT-TANAGER (SCARLET-THROATED) (Habia rubica hesterna) – Seen once moving around with an understory flock at Cristalino.
ROSE-BREASTED CHAT (Granatellus pelzelni) – Up until recently this species was placed with the warblers in the Parulidae family, but genetic studies have called for a transfer to the Cardinals family.
Icteridae (Troupials and Allies)
RED-BREASTED MEADOWLARK (Sturnella militaris) – Formerly known as Red-breasted Blackbird.
CHOPI BLACKBIRD (Gnorimopsar chopi) – A melodious blackbird that is readily seen and heard in the Brazilian Cerrado.
SCARLET-HEADED BLACKBIRD (Amblyramphus holosericeus) – Most certainly one of the most spectacular members of the family. This species favors papyrus marshes and we saw it well on our way to Porto Jofre.
UNICOLORED BLACKBIRD (Agelasticus cyanopus)
GRAYISH BAYWING (Agelaioides badius) – This species used to called Baywing Cowbird but it has been shown that this is not a cowbird, as is does not parasitize the nests of other birds, and the species was also split into two taxa.
SHINY COWBIRD (Molothrus bonariensis) – Common around the lodge at Piuval Lodge.
GIANT COWBIRD (Molothrus oryzivorus) – A parasite of Oropendola's nests.
EPAULET ORIOLE (Icterus cayanensis) – This species was recently split into two taxa and this is the one found at Cristalino Jungle Lodge. For more information visit the following link https://neotropical.birds.cornell.edu/Species-Account/nb/species/epaori1/overview
VARIABLE ORIOLE (CHESTNUT-SHOULDERED) (Icterus pyrrhopterus pyrrhopterus) – This is the other taxa resulting from the recent split of Epaulet Oriole. Visit the link bellow for some information regarding this species. https://neotropical.birds.cornell.edu/Species-Account/nb/p_p_spp/overview?p_p_spp=763416
ORANGE-BACKED TROUPIAL (Icterus croconotus) – This species is closely related to the North American Orioles.
SOLITARY BLACK CACIQUE (Cacicus solitarius) – Unlike most members of the genus, this species is not a colonial nester and that is where they get their name.
YELLOW-RUMPED CACIQUE (Cacicus cela) – A colonial nester that has the habit of nesting around wasps nests as a form of protection.
GREEN OROPENDOLA (Psarocolius viridis) – Seen a few times around Cristalino Jungle Lodge.
CRESTED OROPENDOLA (Psarocolius decumanus) – The most common of the oropendolas seen on this tour.
OLIVE OROPENDOLA (Psarocolius bifasciatus yuracares) – Seen only once on the tour but easily identified by its bright pink cheek patch.
Fringillidae (Finches, Euphonias, and Allies)
PURPLE-THROATED EUPHONIA (Euphonia chlorotica)
THICK-BILLED EUPHONIA (Euphonia laniirostris)
GOLDEN-BELLIED EUPHONIA (Euphonia chrysopasta) – A rather dull looking species of euphonia that we saw well around Cristalino Jungle Lodge.
WHITE-VENTED EUPHONIA (Euphonia minuta)
RUFOUS-BELLIED EUPHONIA (Euphonia rufiventris)
Passeridae (Old World Sparrows)
HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus)
MAMMALS
LONG-NOSED BAT (Rhynchonycteris naso) – Several individuals roosting in the day time on the under side of a tree trunk.
GREATER BULLDOG BAT (Noctilio leporinus) – It is always memorable to see them fill the skies in the late afternoon in the Pantanal.
LESSER BULLDOG BAT (Noctilio albiventris) – Seen in good numbers with the Greater Bulldog Bats in the Pantanal.
DUSKY TITI MONKEY (Callicebus moloch) [*]
RED-HANDED HOWLER MONKEY (Alouatta belzebul) [*]
BLACK HOWLER MONKEY (Alouatta caraya)
WHITE-NOSED BEARDED SAKI MONKEY (Chiropotes albinasus)
BROWN CAPUCHIN (Cebus apella)
WHITE-BELLIED SPIDER MONKEY (Ateles belzebuth) – This is the species found around Alta Floresta.
WHITE-WHISKERED SPIDER MONKEY (Ateles marginatus) – This is the species found around Cristalino.
CAPYBARA (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris)
AZARA'S AGOUTI (Dasyprocta azarae)
RED-RUMPED AGOUTI (Dasyprocta agouti)
CRAB-EATING FOX (Cerdocyon thous)
CRAB-EATING RACCOON (Procyon cancrivorus)
SOUTH AMERICAN COATI (Nasua nasua)
GIANT OTTER (Pteronura brasiliensis) – Great looks on the boat outings out of Porto Jofre.
JAGUAR (Panthera onca) – Certainly one of the highlights of the tour was watching a jaguar hunting along the banks of the 3 Irmaos River in the Pantanal. We could not have hoped for better looks.
BRAZILIAN TAPIR (Tapirus terrestris)
COLLARED PECCARY (Tayassu tajacu)
WHITE-LIPPED PECCARY (Tayassu pecari)
RED BROCKET DEER (Mazama americana)
Herps
GOLDEN TEGU (Tupinambis teguixin)
YELLOW ANACONDA (Eunectes notaeus) – Marcelo Barreiros spotted one sunning itself on a sand bar in the Pantanal.
PARAGUAYAN CAIMAN (Caiman yacare)
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Indigo Snake ( Drymarchon couperi)
Totals for the tour: 492 bird taxa and 22 mammal taxa