NORTHEAST BRAZIL TOUR REPORT 2024

10 January - 3 February 2024

by Leonardo Garrigues

Northeast Brazil offers a combination of rare endemics, endangered species and some of the most iconic birds in South America. The tour has a wide variety of habitats in three different biomes being the dry Caatinga, the Cerrado and the diverse Atlantic Forest. Also, we visited different localities of the Pernambuco endemism centre, where some of the most threatened bird species of Brazil occur. The 2024 Northeast Brazil tour was a very successful tour with all major specialties seen and we also recorded a large number of species (545 species). Iconic species of the tour like Lear’s Macaw, Araripe Manakin, Hooded Visorbearer, Banded and White-winged Cotinga, Pink-legged Graveteiro and Seven-colored Tanager (just to mention some examples) all gave us really good views.

Some other highlights of the tour (in taxonomic order) included Small-billed Tinamou, White-bellied Nothura, Comb Duck, Southern Pochard, East Brazilian Chachalaca, Rusty-margined and White-browed Guan, Least Nighthawk, Pygmy Nightjar, Ocellated Poorwill, Sooty Swift, Hook-billed and Broad-tipped Hermit, Horned Sungem, Frilled Coquette, Stripe-breasted Starthroat, Long-tailed Woodnymph, Plain-bellied Emerald, Pearly-breasted Cuckoo, Ash-throated, Russet-crowned, Yellow-breasted, Rufous-sided and Gray-breasted Crakes (all of them seen), Spotted, Blackish and Mangrove Rail, Little Wood-Rail, Least Tern, Red Knot, Least Bittern, White-collared Kite, Black Hawk-Eagle, East Brazilian Pygmy Owl, Stygian Owl, Black-capped Screech-Owl, Atlantic Black-throated Trogon, Crescent-chested Puffbird, Black-necked Aracari, Gould’s and Spot-billed Toucanet, Golden-spangled, Spotted and Ochraceous Piculets, Yellow-throated, Cream-colored, Ochre-backed and Ringed Woodpeckers, Barred Forest Falcon, Golden-tailed Parrotlet, Red-browed Amazon, Caatinga, Ochre-marked, Grey-breasted, White-eared, Jandaya and Golden-capped Parakeets, Rufous-breasted Leaftosser [cearensis], Plain-winged Woodcreeper [taunayi and turdina subspecies], Moustached, Ceara and Scaled Woodcreepers, Black-billed and Red-billed Scythebills, White-collared and Pernambuco Foliage-gleaners, Great Xenops, Striated Softail, Pallid, Grey-headed, Ochre-cheeked, Red-shouldered, Bahia, Pinto’s and Cinereous-breasted Spinetails, Caatinga Cacholote, Salvadori’s, Band-tailed, Streak-capped Orange-bellied, Narrow-billed, Sincora, Star-throated, Bahia, Caatinga and Pectoral Antwrens, Silvery-cheeked Antshrike, Plumbeous Antvireo, Stripe-backed, Slender, Willis’s, Rio de Janeiro, White-bibbed and Scalloped Antbirds, East Amazonian and Fringe-backed Fire-eyes, Rufous-capped and Short-tailed Antthrushes, White-browed Antpitta, Rufous, Hooded, Ceara and Black-cheeked Gnateaters, Bahia and Diamantina Tapaculos, Collared Crescentchest, Reiser’s, Alagoas, and Bahia Tyrannulets, Grey-backed Tachuri, Rufous-sided Scrub Tyrant, Lesser and Greater (Caatinga) Wagtail-Tyrants, Sharp-tailed Grass Tyrant, Drab-breasted Bamboo Tyrant, White-bellied, Hangnest, Buff-breasted and Fork-tailed Tody-Tyrants, Eared and Pernambuco (an undescribed species) Pygmy Tyrants, White Monjita, Ash-throated Casiornis, Grey-hooded Attila, Black-headed Berryeater, Swallow-tailed Cotinga, Cinnamon-vented Piha, Pale-bellied and Wied’s Tyrant-Manakins, Pin-tailed and Kinglet Manakins, Sharpbill, Brown-winged and Greenish Schiffornis, Buff-throated Purpletuft, Rufous-brown Solitaire, Cocoa Thrush, Yellow-faced Siskin, Pectoral and Sao Francisco Sparrows, Forbes’s and Chestnut-capped Blackbirds, Yellow-green Grosbeak, Scarlet-throated Tanager, Serra and Blue Finch, Sooty Grassquit, Dubois’s, White-throated and Copper Seedeaters, Bicolored Conebill, Stripe-tailed and Orange-fronted Yellow Finches , Red-cowled Cardinal, and Cinnamon, Turquoise (White-bellied) and Opal-rumped (Silver-breasted) Tanagers.

Our tour started at Recife, where we left our hotel before dawn, to use the early hours of the morning at some lowland forest fragments which was quite productive. We got several major specialties like the Pernambuco Foliage-gleaner which showed nicely for our group, also the Willis’s Antbird which everyone saw and the unexpected Golden-tailed Parrotlet Another bird of interest heard was Brazilian Tinamou, on the first part of the morning. Other species of our birding session included Black-throated Mango, Blue-chinned Sapphire, Blue-crowned Trogon, Red-stained Woodpecker, Ceara Woodcreeper, White-lored Tyrannulet, White-bellied Tody-Tyrant, Pale-bellied Tyrant Manakin, Blue-backed and Red-headed Manakin, Pectoral Sparrow and Flame-crested Tanager. After our morning session we continued to Tamandaré, a coastal town where we were going to look for the localized endemic Forbes’s Blackbird. The habitat in the area is coconut groves near marshy pastures. After some searching, we managed to find a couple of Blackbirds who gave us great views. Other birds of interest where the Jandaya Parakeet which showed nicely for our group, as well the Caatinga Puffbird eating a cicada. The rest of our afternoon we visited other locations to try specifically for White-collared Kite and Yellow-faced Siskin. We didn’t see any of these rarities on this occasion but we complemented our day list with other birds like Fork-tailed Palm Swift, Striped Cuckoo, Little and Lineated Woodpecker, Cobalt-rumped Parrotlet, Red-shouldered Macaw, Straight-billed Woodcreeper, Rufous-fronted Thornbird, Sooty-fronted Spinetail, Great Antshrike, Ochre-lored Flatbill, Black-tailed Tityra, Moustached Wren, and Sayaca, Burnished-buff and Red-necked Tanagers.

The following day we visited Pedra D’Anta Reserve, which is a private reserve on the Serra do Urubú, where several species of the Pernambuco endemism centre occur. We left our hotel early to take a ride with 4×4 vehicles which drove us to the reserve. We spent the rest of the day with the help of our local guide Allan. Despite some rain for some moments of the day, we did really well, where the main specialties that we saw at Pedra D’Anta Reserve included Critically Endangered species like Orange-bellied Antwren and Alagoas Tyrannulet, as well endangered species such as Pinto’s Spinetail and Scalloped Antbird. Other specialties of the Pernambuco endemism centre included the Long-tailed Woodnymph, the endemic subspecies of Plain-winged Woodcreeper [taunayi] or the stunning Seven-colored Tanager. Other species we saw during our day here included the East Brazilian Chachalaca, Black Jacobin, Rufous-breasted and Reddish Hermits, Black-eared Fairy, , Swallow-tailed Hummingbird, Versicolored Emerald, White-chinned and Blue-chinned Sapphires, Black Hawk-Eagle, Lettered Aracari, Golden-spangled Piculet [pernambucensis], White-throated Xenops, Silvery-flanked, Black-capped Antwrens, Variable Antshrike, Black-cheeked Gnateater, Sepia-capped Flycatcher, Pale-bellied Tyrant-Manakin, Variable Oriole, Sooty Grassquit, Brazilian Tanager and Yellow-bellied Seedeater.

The following day we did another daytrip but to the Frei Caneca Reserve, which is also part of the Serra de Urubú. We had several highlights on this morning, one of those was the White-collared Kite flying across a valley, which is one of the hardest species to see for our tour. The other main highlight was to see the undescribed species of Pygmy Tyrant (Myornis), suggested as “Pernambuco” Pygmy Tyrant (Myornis sp.nova), which probably is a Birdquest Lifer. Other specialties seen during the morning included the East Amazonian Fire-eye and the Smoky-fronted Tody-Flycatcher. Besides them, we also added Rufescent Tiger Heron, Short-tailed Hawk, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, Rufous-margined Antwren, Plain Antvireo and White-throated Spadebill and better views of Sooty Grassquit. The afternoon session was more in open areas, where we managed to see Glittering-bellied and Glittering-throated Emeralds, Red-shouldered Macaw, Rusty-backed Antwren, Planalto, Yellow Tyrannulet, Bran-colored Flycatcher, Short-crested Flycatcher, Tropical Gnatcatcher, Violaceous Euphonia, Flavescent Warbler, and Guira and Orange-headed Tanagers.

After a very successful start of the tour with the specialties of the Pernambuco endemism centre, it was time to continue to the city of Fortaleza. We took an internal flight from Recife to Fortaleza and we arrived at Fortaleza around noon, where our driver Reginaldo was waiting for us. After a nice lunch we continued our journey to the Caatinga areas, to finally arrive to the city of Sobral, which would be our base for the next few days. We met up with our local guide André, who knows the area very well. We did an owling session during our first night to try for Buff-fronted Owl, but we managed to see a Tropical Screech Owl instead.

During our full day at Sobral, we visited a metropolitan park which still holds really healthy wetlands, with different species of crakes and rails, among other wetland species. The highlight was to see the Spotted Rail, Grey-breasted and Rufous-sided Crakes and also good views of Least Bittern. Other birds which complemented our morning were the Fork-tailed Palm Swift, Limpkin, Least Grebe, Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, Caatinga Parakeet, Band-tailed Hornero, Caatinga Cachalote, Yellow-chinned Spinetail, Black-backed Water Tyrant, Masked Water Tyrant, White-headed Marsh Tyrant and Orange-fronted Yellow-Finch. After our session at the lake, we spent time in ‘Carnaubal’ habitat (areas with semi-open Caatinga dominated with Carnauba palm tree), where our main target was to see the Moustached Woodcreeper. We didn’t see the Moustached Woodcreeper but we saw Greater Ani, Burrowing Owl, Ochraceous Piculet, Ochre-backed Woodpecker, Cobalt-rumped Parakeet, Pale-legged Hornero and Solitary Cacique. We also spent time at the Serra da Meuroca, on the hilly forest, to look for another target: the endemic Hooded Gnateater, that we managed great views of. We also saw other species like the Grey-headed and Ochre-cheeked Spinetails, Southern White-fringed and Black-capped Antwrens, Barred Antshrike (the Caatinga subspecies capistratus), Large Elaenia, Yellow Tyrannulet, Pectoral Sparrow, Variable Oriole, Grey Pileated Finch, Orange-headed Tanager and Red-cowled Cardinal. During the afternoon we visited a couple of different lagoons where we got to see the Yellow-breasted Crake (with nice views in the open), White-faced Whistling Duck, Comb and Muscovy Ducks, Hook-billed Kite and Pale Baywing. We came back to the Serra da Meuroca before dusk to give another go for the Buff-fronted Owl. On the way to the place that we were going to try for the Owl, we heard a pair of Little Wood Rails singing on the trees just before they went to sleep. We waited until dark for the owl but nobody was home. Meanwhile, I went to the area where the Wood Rails were and found the roosting place through a small window in the dense scrubby thicket. This was a very interesting sight as this species comes to nest on areas away from the coast and spends the rest of the year in mangroves.

We left Sobral early to go to Guaramiranga. We did a brief stop on the way, somewhere in the middle of nice Caatinga forest, and we got a brief entertained Caatinga birding session that included Glittering-bellied Emerald, Laughing Falcon, Caatinga Parakeet, Narrow-billed Woodcreeper, Fulvous-crowned Scrub Tyrant, White-naped Jay, Grey Pileated Finch and White-throated Seedeater. Once at Guaramiranga, we were on an isolated Atlantic Forest on the hills of the Serra da Baturité. Just arriving to the area, we were lucky to see Yellow-faced Siskin on Pine trees near Guaramiranga. After lunch we visited the Grey-breasted Parakeet Reserve; we were lucky to see some Parakeets perched on fairly close trees. Ceara Gnateater was another specialty which performed really well for our group, as well as the Rufous-breasted Leaftosser [cearensis]. Another highlight of the afternoon was to see Short-tailed Antthrush, which has a very isolated population at the Serra da Baturité. Other species seen during the afternoon included Sick’s Swift, Reddish Hermit, Fork-tailed Woodnymph, Ochraceous Piculet, Grey-headed Spinetail, Buff-breasted Tody-Tyrant, White-throated Spadebill, Band-tailed Manakin, Pectoral Sparrow, Campo Troupial, Golden-crowned Warbler and Burnished-buff Tanager. In the evening, we got to see a Spectacled Owl as well.

The next morning wouldn’t bring much new as there was not much left to see, and we focused on seeing Gould’s Toucanet, which we saw during the first section of the morning. As we got the Toucanet we spent some time of the morning trying to see the Yellow-faced Siskin again, but we didn’t succeed with that. Other birds seen during the whole morning included East Brazilian Chachalaca, Planalto Hermit, Black-capped Antwren, Purple-throated Euphonia, Blue Dacnis and Red-necked Tanager. During the afternoon we visited the coast at Icapui, where we got nice views of the Mangrove Rail and the Plain-bellied Emerald. Several new birds for our tour included White-cheeked Pintail, Grey and Semipalmated Plover, Short-billed Dowitcher, Red Knot, Stilt Sandpiper, American Oystercatcher, Laughing Gull, Least and Gull-billed Tern, Black Skimmer, White-rumped Swallow and Bicolored Conebill. A nice dinner with caipirinhas to celebrate was a perfect way to end our day.

The next morning, we were heading to another location with ‘Carnaubal’ habitat to look for the Moustached Woodcreeper, and we succeeded with our quest, resulting in really good views of this localized woodcreeper. We also saw some Caatinga birds like the Caatinga Puffbird, Campo Flicker, Red-legged Seriema, Narrow-billed Woodcreeper, Greenish Elaenia, Pearly-vented Tody-Tyrant, Brown-crested Flycatcher and a nice male of Scarlet-throated Tanager. In the afternoon we arrived at Pedra dos Ventos, to explore the rocky Caatinga forest. The endemic Pygmy Nightjar was the first bird that we looked for, which roost on the rocks around here. Some other Caatinga birds that we saw included the White-browed Guan, Ochre-backed Woodpecker, Black-bellied Antwren, Barred Antshrike, Ochre-lored Flatbill, the endemic Ash-throated Casiornis, Crested Becard, White-naped Jay and Long-billed Wren.

The next day we were enjoying a delicious breakfast in the company of White-browed Guans, after that we continued our journey. On the way to Crato we checked some lagoons near the road where we saw several (+15) Southern Pochards. We arrived to Crato just in time for lunch. After lunch we visited the Arajara Water Park, located on the slope of Chapada do Araripe, which is the home of one of the most iconic birds of the tour: the Araripe Manakin. Seeing the Manakin didn’t give us many complications, but to get a nice photo was a bit trickier. With a bit of patience, we got good views and some photos of this fancy manakin. Other birds of interest at the park were the Planalto Hermit and the Black-tailed Myiobius. We continued our journey to Potengi, at Sitio Pau Preto, where we did our first try for the White-browed Antpitta but it eluded us on this first attempt. Just before dusk we saw some Least Nighthawks to end the night with.

We tried a different territory for the White-browed Antpitta on the following morning, and this time we managed excellent views of this Caatinga specialty. We had our best quality Caatinga birding session of the trip during this morning, where the repertory of birds included another sight at dawn of Least Nighthawk, Green-barred and Ochre-backed Woodpeckers, Great Xenops, Red-shouldered Spinetail, Stripe-backed Antbird, Black-bellied and Caatinga Antwrens, Silvery-cheeked Antshrike, Bahia and Greater Wagtail-Tyrants, White-winged Becard, White-throated Seedeater and Orange-headed Tanager. A long drive to Canudos was waiting for us, so we had to move on! During the afternoon we did a stop to look for Blue-winged Macaw, at a known site at the Salobro River. We got really good views of the Blue-winged Macaws and we got other species like the Swallow-tailed Hummingbird, Turquoise-fronted Amazon, Caatinga Cacholote, Suiriri, Cliff and Swainson’s Flycatcher, White Monjita and White-throated Seedeater. We arrived at the town of Canudos in the late afternoon where we spent the night.

We left our accommodations at Canudos to visit the Canudos Biological station, at 4:30 am, in order to be at the cliff tops in the first part of the morning where the Lear’s Macaw roost every day. It was a majestic show, to see these incredible birds on the first light of the morning, just magical. Our group enjoyed prolonged views of approximately 25 individuals of Lear’s Macaw who were coming and going on the area of those cliffs. At some stops on the way back to Canudos we saw Broad-tipped Hermit, Ruby-topaz Hummingbird, Dark-billed Cuckoo, Caatinga Puffbird, Spotted Piculet, Red-shouldered Spinetail, Southern Mouse-colored Tyrannulet, Bahia Wagtail-Tyrant, Long-billed Wren and Ultramarine Grosbeak. After our birding session at Canudos, we continued our way to Jeremoabo, where we saw another localized species: the Pectoral Antwren. This species of antwren likes the tall Caatinga woodland and didn’t took long to find it. Besides the Pectoral Antwren we also managed to see the first Red-billed Scythebill of the tour. After seeing our target, we continued our drive to Crasto Forest where we did our birding session during the afternoon. The Crasto Forest is an Atlantic Forest located near the coast in the Sergipe State, where our main target was the localized Fringed-backed Fire-eye. Our strategy to find this bird worked out quite well, and luckily everyone managed to get good views of a male. Other birds seen during the afternoon included the Blue-chinned Sapphire, Picazuro Pigeon, Limpkin, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Orange-winged Amazon, Planalto Woodcreeper, Silvery-flanked Antwren, Sooretama Slaty Antshrike, Stripe-necked Tody-Tyrant, White-headed Marsh Tyrant, Moustached Wren, Guira Tanager and Red-legged Honeycreeper.

We had another early morning at Crasto Forest, where we checked the mangrove areas and marshy areas, as well as areas of coconut groves. The best bird of the morning was the Ash-throated Crake, which gave us good views and the whole group saw it. Other birds seen during that morning included the Black-crowned Night Heron, King Vulture, Blue-crowned Trogon, Channel-billed Toucan, Golden-spangled Piculet, White Woodpecker, Campo Flicker, Jandaya Parakeet, Red-shouldered Macaw, Stripe-necked Tody-Tyrant, Greyish Mourner, Black-capped Donacobius, Red-rumped Cacique and Brazilian Tanager. The rest of the day was another long drive to reach the town of Lençois at Chapada Diamantina area, where we stayed for two nights. At the grounds of the pousada we saw a pair of Rusty-margined Guans, in the last minutes of daylight.

After enjoying an impressive breakfast that Don Alcino gave to us, we went to Chapada Diamantina National Park, on an area with ‘campos rupestres’ vegetation. Here our main target was the Hooded Visorbearer which was showing up regularly and gave us superb views. Sincora Antwren and Serra Finch were other specialties of the area which showed nicely. The ‘campos rupestres’ area wasn’t as diverse but we managed to see Glittering-bellied Emerald, Spix’s, Pale-breasted and Sooty-fronted Spinetails, Rufous-winged Antshrike, Plain-crested and Small-headed Elaenias, Hooded Siskin, Purple-throated Euphonia, Chopi Blackbird, Green-winged Saltator, Dubois’s and White-bellied Seedeater and Cinnamon, Burnished-buff and Gilt-edged Tanagers. After our ‘campos rupestres’ session, we went to an area of dense forest above Lençois where we added other species like Surucua Trogon, Planalto Slaty Antshrike and Helmeted Manakin to the list. The afternoon session at the Remanso Road produced Little and Crimson-crested Woodpeckers, White-shouldered Fire-eye, Grey-headed Elaenia, Ochre-faced Tody-Flycatcher, Sibilant Sirystes, Black-tailed Tityra, Green-backed Becard, White-naped Jay, Blue Dacnis and White-lined Tanager. We tried for Rufous Nightjar at night, but only managed views in flight; same as for Common Potoo.

We left Lençois early in the morning to visit the area of Palmeiras, which has dense Caatinga forest. This is the place where we look for Sao Francisco Sparrow. It was very tricky today and just one person managed to see it; the rest of us only heard it. Other birds that we saw at Palmeiras were the East Brazilian Chachalaca, Broad-tipped Hermit, Ruby-topaz Hummingbird, Glittering-bellied and Glittering-throated Emeralds, Silvery-cheeked Antshrike, Planalto Slaty Antshrike, Caatinga Antwren, White-crested Tyrannulet, Grey-eyed Greenlet, Flavescent Warbler, Ultramarine Grosbeak, Hooded Tanager and Dubois’s Seedeater. As we went south, we entered Cerrado habitat, where we saw very good quality Cerrado species like Horned Sunbeam, Collared Crescentchest, Rufous-sided Scrub Tyrant, Blue Finch and Stripe-tailed Yellow Finch. Other species seen at the Cerrado areas included American Kestrel, Black-throated Saltator, Plumbeous Seedeater and White-rumped, Shrike-like and Sayaca Tanagers. We drove by several marshy areas where we saw other interesting species like Blackish Rail, Yellow-browed Tyrant, Masked Water Tyrant, White-headed Marsh Tyrant, Brown-chested Martin, Pale Baywing, Chestnut-capped Blackbird and Copper Seedeater. During the last section of the afternoon we tried for Diamantina Tapaculo, at some areas of ‘campos rupestres’ near Mucugê, which gave us excellent views. Not much birds to see in the area but we saw several individuals of Sooty Swift (+15) flying low and doing vocalizations. Another bird that we saw during our stake-out was Cinnamon Tanager. After that, we went to our hotel, to have some rest and enjoy a delicious dinner.

We had a pre-breakfast session of low vegetation Cerrado near Mucugê where we saw some interesting species like the Grey-backed Tachuri and the Sharp-tailed Tyrant, with good views of both of them. Other species included Horned Sunbeam, Pale-breasted Spinetail, Rufous-sided Scrub-Tyrant, White-banded Tanager, Grassland Yellow-Finch and Black-throated Saltator. We heard Spotted Nothura and we tried to look for it but without success. After breakfast we continued to Boa Nova. On the way we stopped to look for White-eared Puffbirds and other birds like Grassland Sparrow and Serra Finch. By the afternoon we arrived at Boa Nova, after a short break we went to Mata do Charme, a good locality of Atlantic Forest on the east side of Boa Nova. We spent the rest of the afternoon at Mata do Charme where we got to see White-tailed and Zone-tailed Hawks, Spotted Piculet, Lesser Woodcreeper, Black-billed Scythebill, Striated Softail, Bahia Spinetail, Spot-breasted Antvireo, Tufted Antshrike, Fork-tailed Tody-Tyrant, Yellow-lored Tody-Flycatcher, Pin-tailed Manakin, Southern Yellowthroat and Gilt-edged Tanager. At dusk we did a try for Giant Snipe, but we just heard it. At least we did see Short-tailed Nighthawk flying around!

Our second day at Boa Nova we visited the Serra do Arrapio (a transitional forest) with Mateus, our local guide. We hiked a moderate steep trail to reach the ridge of the mountain where we were going to look for the localized Reiser’s Tyrannulet, that we managed to get good views of. Another important target was the rare and local Wied’s Tyrant-Manakin, which Mateus showed to us. Other species seen at Serra do Arrepio were Hook-billed (brief views) and Reddish Hermits, Little Woodpecker, Maroon-bellied Parakeet, Scaled Woodcreeper, Streaked Xenops, Pallid, Ochre-cheeked Spinetail, Narrow-billed Antwren, Planalto Slaty Antshrike, Variable Antshrike, White-shouldered Fire-eye, Planalto and Grey-capped Tyrannulets, Large Elaenia, Euler’s Flycatcher, Blue Manakin, Greenish Schiffornis, Grey-eyed Greenlet, Pectoral Sparrow, Yellow-green Grosbeak, Rufous-headed and Gilt-edged Tanagers. We visited a different area, on a hilly road with Atlantic Forest remnants, where we got other specialties as the Bahia Tyrannulet. Other species that we saw in the area were the Violet-capped Woodnymph, Swallow-winged Puffbird, Swallow-tailed Cotinga (a rarity for the tour), Buff-throated Purpletuft, Sooty Grassquit and Azure-shouldered Tanager. For the last section of our afternoon, we went to Mata do Charme again, where we got to see Rio de Janeiro Antbird. We tried again at dusk for Giant Snipe, but again, no luck. We did see Stygian Owl with the scope before we went back for some sleep.

On our last full day at Boa Nova, we visited the ‘mata do cipó’ (liana forest), a very unique habitat with transitional forest (Caatinga-Atlantic Forest) with high density of terrestrial bromelias, in the first part of the morning. This is the perfect habitat for the localized endemic Slender Antbird, which gave us superb views. We also saw the Hangnest Tody-Tyrant at the ‘mata do cipo’ and several other common birds. On the open fields we got to see a White-bellied Nothura, nicely spotted by Kathy while we were driving. The rest of the morning we visited the Mata do Charme again, to try to add more species to our list. Some of the birds that we saw during the morning were the Frilled Coquette, Violet-capped Woodnymph, White-chinned Sapphire, Atlantic Black-throated Trogon, Crescent-chested Puffbird, Yellow-throated Woodpecker, Striated Softail, Pallid and Bahia Spinetail, Rufous-margined Antwren, Ferruginous and Rio de Janeiro Antbirds, Rufous Gnateater, Yellow-lored Tody-Flycatcher, Blue, Pin-tailed, White-bearded and Kinglet Manakin, Whiskered Myiobius, Red-crowned Ant Tanager, Black-goggled and Golden-chevroned Tanager. We had a relaxing afternoon at the Lajedo dos Beija Flores, a private reserve with hummingbird feeders and seed feeders to attract other birds too. We saw some good species during the afternoon which included Small-billed Tinamou, White-bellied Nothura, Black Jacobin, Hook-billed Hermit, Ruby-topaz Hummingbird, Black-throated Mango, Stripe-breasted Starthroat, Sapphire-spangled Emerald, Caatinga Parakeet, Stripe-backed and Slender Antbirds, Silvery-cheeked Antshrike, Grey Pileated Finch, White-lined Tanager, White-throated Seedeater, Saffron Finch and Red-cowled Cardinal.

We departed early from Boa Nova towards Itacaré, in the lowlands near the coast of Bahia State. On route we stopped in a small marsh where we saw Brazilian Teal, Blackish Rail, Rufous-sided Crake, Harris’s Hawk, Yellow-chinned Spinetail and Wedge-tailed Grass Finch. Our next stop was to look one of the main targets of the tour: the Pink-legged Graveteiro. We got great views of a pair working on their nest on Erythrina trees. We also saw an East Brazilian Pygmy Owl in the area. During the afternoon we visited the Serra do Condorú State Park, but we had to deal with rainy conditions. Despite the rain we managed to see some birds like the Black-eared Fairy, Sombre Hummingbird, Golden Spangled Piculet (the nominate subspecies from Bahia area), Scaled Antbird, White-crowned Manakin, Black-capped Becard and the Opal-rumped Tanager (Silver-breasted T. – cyanomelas ssp.).

Next morning, we visited several localities near Itacaré. First, we visited the wet lowland forest on the hills of Itacaré, where we got to see the restricted endemic Bahia Tapaculo, who showed really well for our group. The morning was quite active and we got to see several mixed-species flocks. We left the area before the rain came to avoid complications on the road. Some of the birds that we saw in the morning session included Reddish Hermit, Versicolored Emerald, Grey-lined Hawk, Green-backed Trogon, Swallow-winged Puffbird, Black-necked Aracari, Plain Parakeet, Bahia Antwren, Ochre-bellied Flycatcher, Bright-rumped Attila, White-crowned Manakin, Green-backed Becard, Chivi Vireo, Thrush-like Wren, Violaceous Euphonia, Red-rumped Cacique and Yellow-backed, Flame-crested, Brazilian Tanager, Turquoise (White-bellied) and Opal-rumped (Silver-breasted) Tanagers. We also visited open areas with pastures where we saw Russet-crowned Crake, Cinereous Spinetail and Chestnut-bellied Seed Finch. The afternoon session we were hoping to see tricky birds as the White-winged Cotinga or the local subspecies of Blue-headed Parrot of ‘Mata Atlantica’ (Reichenow’s P. reichenowi). We didn’t see any of the last ones but we managed to see other species like Plain-winged Woodcreeper (the nominate subspecies of ‘Mata Atlantica’ turdina), Chestnut-backed Antshrike, White-lored Tyrannulet, Bran-colored Flycatcher, Yellow-lored and Common Tody-Flycatchers, Piratic, Streaked, Variegated and Short-crested Flycatchers, Red-headed Manakin, Green Honeycreeper and Yellow-bellied Seedeater.

After breakfast we left Itacaré to continue to Camacã, to visit the Fazenda Paris. On the way we did some random stops to scan for cotingas and look for Mantled Hawk, which we managed to see perched on a tree in an open field! The Fazenda Paris with shaded coffee fields and many açai palms attracts different species of Pyrrhura parakeets. Besides these parakeets the place is a known location to look for the Critically Endangered Banded Cotinga, which is one of the rarest and localized cotingas of the world. During the time that we spent at Fazenda Paris we managed to see at least four different individuals of Banded Cotinga, where we saw a female, two different young males and a stunning adult male. We also saw three different species of Pyrrhura parakeets (White-eared, Ochre-marked and Maroon-bellied), as well as Golden-capped Parakeet. Some other species that we saw at Fazenda Paris included Grey-rumped and Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift, Violet-capped Woodnymph, Swallow-tailed Hummingbird, Versicolored Emerald, Rufous-throated and White-chinned Sapphire, Scaled and Pale-vented Pigeons, Crane Hawk, Swallow-winged Puffbird, Black-necked Aracari, Channel-billed Toucan, Yellow-fronted, Red-stained and Cream-colored Woodpeckers, Yellow-chevroned Parakeet, Scaly-headed Parrot, Black-tailed Tityra, Buff-browed Purpletuft, Chestnut-bellied Euphonia, Yellow-rumped and Scarlet-rumped Caciques, Giant Cowbird and Golden-chevroned, Green-headed and Red-necked Tanagers. It was time to take a short 4×4 ride to get to the hills of our lodge, where we stayed two nights. We explored the system of trails of lush Atlantic Forest, as well as the entrance road and the area around the rooms and restaurant, where we spent significant time because of the feeders as well as the caipirinhas. A very nice surprise was to see a Margay which showed up around the buildings near the restaurant on of the afternoons. Regarding birds we got a diverse list of Atlantic Forest birds which included Brown Tinamou (seen well), Short-tailed Nighthawk, Scale-throated Hermit, Mantled Hawk, East Brazilian Pygmy Owl, Crescent-chested Puffbird, Spot-billed Toucanet, Barred Forest Falcon, Maroon-bellied Parakeet, White-throated and Lesser Woodcreeper, Black-billed Scythebill, Streaked Xenops, White-collared, Black-capped, and White-eyed Foliage-gleaners, Striated Softail, Pallid Spinetail, Salvadori’s Antwren, Star-throated Antwren, Spot-backed Antshrike, Ferruginous Antbird, White-bibbed Antbird, Rough-legged Tyrannulet, Sepia-capped Flycatcher, Drab-breasted Bamboo Tyrant, Yellow-olive Flatbill, Grey-hooded Attila, Cinnamon-vented Piha, Blue, Pin-tailed and Kinglet Manakins, Sharpbill, Green-backed, Chestnut-crowned and White-winged Becard, Lemon-chested Greenlet, Rufous-brown Solitaire, Yellow-legged and White-necked Thrushes, Chestnut-bellied Euphonia, Rufous-headed Tanager, Black-throated Grosbeak and Azure-shouldered, Green-headed and Red-necked Tanagers. We also had a rare boreal migrant in the form of two different individuals of Blackburnian Warbler: even a new bird for Carlos in Brazil!

We left after breakfast to continue to the last destination of the trip in the coastal lowlands of Porto Seguro. Here we visited the Veracel Reserve, which protects a large stretch of white-sand lowland Atlantic Forest. During our afternoon session we tried some forest roadside birding and saw the threatened subspecies of Ringed Woodpecker [tinnunculus], Silvery-flanked, Band-tailed and Rufous-margined Antwrens, Black-cheeked Gnateater, Yellow-olive Flatbill, Screaming Piha, Red-headed Manakin and Brown-winged Schiffornis. We tried for Red-browed Amazon, searching for it from the clearings, hoping to see it flying on the way to their roosting place. The strategy paid off as we saw three birds flying by. At dusk we did our first try for White-winged Potoo, but we only managed to hear it. We did get really good views of Ocellated Poorwill at close distance.

During our full day at Porto Seguro, we visited Veracel Reserve early in the morning and we had a field breakfast while we were searching for the White-winged Cotinga at some Restinga habitat areas (also called ‘Musununga’ habitat). It took a while to find the first individual, but after about an hour we spotted a female in the scope. We kept scanning the area and we saw five different individuals including a full adult male. After the cotingas we focused on the Hooded Berryeater, so Carlos took us to a different trail where they have territories. After a while we spotted a silent couple foraging in the area. Other birds seen during the morning included the Hook-billed Hermit, Amethyst Woodstar, Rufous-throated Sapphire, Green-backed Trogon, Rufous-capped Motmot, Yellow-throated Woodpecker, Red-browed Amazon (but this time perched in a tree), Ochre-marked Parakeet, Silvery-flanked, Band-tailed and Rusty-backed Antwrens, Sooretama Slaty Antshrike, Eared Pygmy Tyrant, Greyish Mourner and Turquoise (White-bellied) Tanager. We also heard the localized Cinereous Mourner, but we didn’t manage to see it. We had a rest during the hot time of the day, before we came back in the afternoon, mostly with the intention to do a night birding session, but this time we would try for the White-winged Potoo in a different area. We didn’t see much during the afternoon, but we got to see a Pearly-breasted Cuckoo which is a good bird for the tour, as well as Yellow-green Grosbeak was appreciated for the ones who missed it on previous days at Serra da Arrepio at Poçoes. We waited until dark and then we tried for the White-winged Potoo. Again, we just managed to hear it in the distance and didn’t see it. A Black-capped Screech Owl was a new bird for several members of our group, so it didn’t all go to waste!

On the last day we still had the chance to do another birding session during the morning, but as we did so well on previous days, there wasn’t much left to see. It was nice to do birding without pressure and try to see the hardest species like Racket-tailed Coquette. We did split the group as Kathy needed to see the Hook-billed Hermit, so Carlos stayed with Kathy and they managed to get excellent views of this localized species of hermit. Besides the hermit they got to see a Rufous-capped Antthrush very close. The others stayed with me in the main road in the Musununga area, trying for whatever could show up. We got to see Grey-crowned Flatbill as well as seeing White-winged Cotinga and Bahia Antwren again. After our last birding session, we went back to our hotel to pack our stuff and take a shower before taking our local flights at Porto Seguro airport.

It was a great tour with many highlights and special birds, and despite some long-distance drives on some of the days, it was very rewarding birding. Many thanks to Reginaldo for driving us around safely, as well as Carlos for his superb local knowledge of his country. Many thanks to all our local guides, as well to the members of our group!

SYSTEMATIC LIST OF SPECIES RECORDED DURING THE TOUR

Species marked with the diamond symbol (◊) are either endemic to the country or local region or considered ‘special’ birds for some other reason (e.g., it is only seen on one or two Birdquest tours; it is difficult to see across all or most of its range; the local form is endemic or restricted-range and may in future be treated as a full species).

The species names and taxonomy used in the bird list follows Gill, F., Donsker, D., & Rasmussen, P.(Eds). 2024. IOC World Bird List (v14.1).

Where the subspecies seen is/are known, these are often given in parentheses at the end of the species comment.

1. Lear’s Macaw
2. Hooded Visorbearer
3. Hooded Gnateater
4. Banded Cotinga
5. Araripe Manakin
6. White-winged Cotinga
7. Pink-legged Graveteiro
8. Slender Antbird
9. Moustached Woodcreeper
10. Ruby-topaz Hummingbird

BIRDS

Solitary Tinamou ◊ Tinamus solitarius Heard only at Veracel Reserve.

Little Tinamou Crypturellus soui One bird crossed the road at Mata do Charme, Boa Nova.

Brown Tinamou Crypturellus obsoletus Good views at Serra Bonita.

Brazilian Tinamou Crypturellus strigulosus (H) 

Yellow-legged Tinamou ◊ Crypturellus noctivagus (H) Endemic. We tried hard for this one but we just managed to herd it.

Variegated Tinamou Crypturellus variegatus (H) Heard only at Veracel.

Small-billed Tinamou Crypturellus parvirostris Excellent views in the open at Lajedo do Beija Flor, at Boa Nova.

Tataupa Tinamou Crypturellus tataupa (H) 

Red-winged Tinamou Rhynchotus rufescens (H)

White-bellied Nothura ◊ Nothura boraquira Good views at Boa Nova area, where we saw in two different occasions.

Spotted Nothura Nothura maculosa (H) Heard only at Mucugê.

White-faced Whistling Duck Dendrocygna viduata

Black-bellied Whistling Duck Dendrocygna autumnalis

Comb Duck Sarkidiornis sylvicola Seen at Sobral.

Muscovy Duck Cairina moschata Seen at Sobral.

Brazilian Teal Amazonetta brasiliensis Seen on route to Itacaré, and at Itacaré.

White-cheeked Pintail Anas bahamensis Seen at the shrimp ponds at Icapuí.

Southern Pochard Netta erythrophthalma Only seen on one occasion in lagoons on the way to Crato.

East Brazilian Chachalaca ◊ Ortalis araucuan Endemic. Seen on different opportunities during the tour.

Rusty-margined Guan Penelope superciliaris Seen at our pousada at Lençois.

White-browed Guan ◊ Penelope jacucaca Endemic. Seen at Pedra dos Ventos Hotel.

Least Nighthawk Chordeiles pusillus Seen at Potengi, also on the way to Canudos.

Lesser Nighthawk Chordeiles acutipennis (LO) Seen by leader, during the late afternoon at the mangroves near Crasto Forest (write in for the tour).

Short-tailed Nighthawk (Semi-collared N) Lurocalis semitorquatus Seen at Mata do Charme and Serra Bonita.

Pygmy Nightjar ◊ Nyctipolus hirundinaceus Endemic. Excellent views at Pedra dos Ventos Hotel.

Pauraque Nyctidromus albicollis

Little Nightjar Setopagis parvula Seen at our accomodations at Canudos.

Band-winged Nightjar Systellura longirostris An unusual sight for the tour. One bird appeared at the main town of Boa Nova, right across the street of our hotel. Spotted by Reginaldo. (Write in for the tour).

Ocellated Poorwill Nyctiphrynus ocellatus The best views I ever had of this species, at Veracel.

Rufous Nightjar Antrostomus rufus Seen briefly at Lençois.

Common Potoo Nyctibius griseus Seen at Lençois.

White-winged Potoo ◊ Nyctibius leucopterus (H) Heard only at Veracel Reserve.

Sooty Swift ◊ Cypseloides fumigatus Close views at Mucugê near rocky areas, with vocalizations.

Great Dusky Swift Cypseloides senex Some individuals flew over Lajedo dos Beija-flores.

Biscutate Swift ◊ Streptoprocne biscutata Big groups flying at Chapada Diamantina.

Grey-rumped Swift Chaetura cinereiventris

Sick’s Swift ◊ Chaetura meridionalis

Fork-tailed Palm Swift Tachornis squamata

Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift Panyptila cayennensis Seen at Fazenda Paris and Veracel Reserve.

Black Jacobin ◊ Florisuga fusca

Hook-billed Hermit ◊ Glaucis dohrnii Endemic. Seen at 3 different localities, Serra do Arrepio, Lajedo do Beija Flor and Veracel Reserve.

Rufous-breasted Hermit Glaucis hirsutus Best views at Pedra D’Anta Reserve.

Broad-tipped Hermit ◊ Anopetia gounellei Endemic. First seen at Canudos, also seen at Palmeiras.

Reddish Hermit Phaethornis ruber

Planalto Hermit Phaethornis pretrei Best views at Arajara Water Park.

Scale-throated Hermit ◊ Phaethornis eurynome Excellent views at Serra Bonita.

Great-billed Hermit ◊ Phaethornis [malaris] margarettae (H & LO) This one was heard it at Serra do Condoru, and around Itacaré. Seen by leader too.

Hooded Visorbearer ◊ Augastes lumachella Endemic. What a bird!! One of the iconic birds of this tour, who gave us great views at Chapada Diamantina.

Horned Sungem ◊ Heliactin bilophus Seen on different opportunities on the Cerrado habitat on route to Mucugê, also the morning at Mucugê.

Black-eared Fairy Heliothryx auritus

Ruby-topaz Hummingbird Chrysolampis mosquitus Seen at different localities, best views at Lajedo do Beija Flores.

Black-throated Mango Anthracothorax nigricollis

Frilled Coquette ◊ Lophornis magnificus Endemic. Seen at Mata do Charme, Boa Nova.

Stripe-breasted Starthroat ◊ Heliomaster squamosus Endemic. Seen at Lajedo dos Beja Flores.

Amethyst Woodstar Calliphlox amethystine Seen at Veracel Reserve.

Glittering-bellied Emerald Chlorostilbon lucidus

Fork-tailed Woodnymph Thalurania furcata Seen at Guaramiranga.

Long-tailed Woodnymph ◊ Thalurania watertonii Endemic. Good views at Pedra D’Anta.

Violet-capped Woodnymph Thalurania glaucopis Seen on different localities of Atlantic Forest.

Swallow-tailed Hummingbird ◊ Eupetomena macroura

Sombre Hummingbird ◊ Eupetomena cirrochloris First seen at Pedra D’Anta, also at Mata do Charme and Serra Bonita.

Versicolored Emerald Chrysuronia versicolor

Plain-bellied Emerald ◊ Chrysuronia leucogaster Seen at the Icapuí mangroves.

Glittering-throated Emerald Chionomesa fimbriata Seen at Frei Caneca and Palmeiras.

Sapphire-spangled Emerald Chionomesa lactea Seen at Lajedo do Beija Flores.

Rufous-throated Sapphire Hylocharis sapphirina Seen at Fazenda Paris and Veracel Reserve.

White-chinned Sapphire Chlorestes cyanus Seen at Pedra D’Anta, Mata do Charme, Itacaré, Fazenda Paris and Veracel.

Blue-chinned Sapphire Chlorestes notata Seen at Pedra D’Anta, Crasto Forest, Itacaré and Veracel.

Guira Cuckoo Guira guira

Greater Ani Crotophaga major Seen at Sobral.

Smooth-billed Ani Crotophaga ani

Striped Cuckoo Tapera naevia Good views at Tamandaré.

Squirrel Cuckoo Piaya cayana

Dark-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus melacoryphus Seen at Canudos Biological Station.

Pearly-breasted Cuckoo Coccyzus euleri Good views at Veracel Reserve.

Rock Dove (introduced) Columba livia

Scaled Pigeon Patagioenas speciosa

Picazuro Pigeon Patagioenas picazuro

Pale-vented Pigeon Patagioenas cayennensis

Plumbeous Pigeon Patagioenas plumbea (H) Heard only at Mata do Charme and Serra Bonita.

Scaled Dove Columbina squammata

Ruddy Ground Dove Columbina talpacoti

Picui Ground Dove Columbina picui

Ruddy Quail-Dove Geotrygon montana (H) Heard only at Mata do Charme.

White-tipped Dove Leptotila verreauxi

Grey-fronted Dove Leptotila rufaxilla (NL) Non leader, at Serra Bonita.

Eared Dove Zenaida auriculata

Ash-throated Crake Mustelirallus albicollis Excellent views at Estancia.

Spotted Rail Pardirallus maculatus Excellent views of a pair at Sobral.

Blackish Rail Pardirallus nigricans Seen at marshes near Guinê, and at Itagibae.

Uniform Crake Amaurolimnas concolor (H) Heard on both afternoons at Boa Nova.

Little Wood Rail ◊ Aramides mangle Seen roosting at night at Serra da Meuroca, Sobral.

Grey-cowled Wood Rail Aramides cajaneus Seen at Sobral.

Mangrove Rail Rallus longirostris Excellent views at Icapuí.

Common Gallinule Gallinula galeata

Purple Gallinule Porphyrio martinica

Russet-crowned Crake ◊ Rufirallus viridis Seen at Itacarê.

Yellow-breasted Crake Laterallus flaviventer Seen at Sobral.

Rufous-sided Crake Laterallus melanophaius Seen at Sobral.

Grey-breasted Crake Laterallus exilis Great views at Sobral.

Limpkin Aramus guarauna

Least Grebe Tachybaptus dominicus

Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus Podiceps

American Oystercatcher Seen at the coast of Icacuí.

Black-necked Stilt Himantopus mexicanus

Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola

Semipalmated Plover Charadrius semipalmatus

Southern Lapwing Vanellus chilensis

Wattled Jacana Jacana jacana

Hudsonian Whimbrel Numenius hudsonicus

Short-tailed Dowitcher Limnodromus griseus

Giant Snipe ◊ Gallinago undulata (H) Heard only at Boa Nova.

Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius

Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria

Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes

Willet Tringa semipalmata

Ruddy Turstone Arenaria interpres

Red Knot Calidris canutus Seen on the coast of Icacuí.

Stilt Sandpiper Calidris Himantopus At shrimp ponds at Icapuí.

Sanderling Calidris alba Seen on the coast of Icacuí.

Least Sandpiper minutilla

Black Skimmers Rynchops niger At shrimp ponds at Icapuí.

Least Tern Sternula antillarum At shrimp ponds at Icapuí.

Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica At shrimp ponds at Icapuí.

Laughing Gull Leucophaeus atricilla

Wood Stork Mycteria americana

Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata magnificens

Neotropic Cormorant Nannopterum brasilianum

Rufescent Tiger Heron Tigrisoma lineatum Seen at Frei Caneca.

Least Bittern Ixobrychus exilis Good views at Sobral.

Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax Seen at Crasto.

Striated Heron Butorides striata

Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis

Cocoi Heron Ardea cocoi Seen at Potengi.

Great Egret Ardea alba

Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea

Snowy Egret Egretta thula

King Vulture Sarcoramphus papa Seen at Crasto Forest, Fazenda Paris and Veracel Reserve.

Black Vulture Coragyps atratus

Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura

Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture Cathartes burrovianus

White-tailed Kite Elanus leucurus

White-collared Kite ◊ Leptodon forbesi Endemic. Showed up nicely at Frei Caneca, one of the tricky ones of the tour.

Hook-billed Kite Chondrohierax uncinatus Seen at Sobral.

Black Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus tyrannus Seen at Pedra D’Anta and Frei Caneca.

Plumbeous Kite Ictinia plumbea Seen at the base of Serra do Arrepio, Poçoes.

Snail Kite Rostrhamus sociabilis Seen on different lagoons on route.

Crane Hawk Geranospiza caerulescens Seen at Fazenda Paris.

Savanna Hawk Buteogallus meridionalis Several sights on Caatinga zone.

Roadside Hawk Rupornis magnirostris

Harris’s Hawk Parabuteo unicinctus One was seen at small marsh at Itagibae.

White-tailed Hawk Geranoaetus albicaudatus We saw one hunting a Smooth-billed Ani in one of our drives.

Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle Geranoaetus melanoleucus Seen at Canudos Biological Reserve.

Mantled Hawk ◊ Pseudastur polionotus Seen during our drive to Camaça, also at Serra Bonita.

Grey-lined Hawk Buteo nitidus

Short-tailed Hawk Buteo brachyurus

Zone-tailed Hawk Buteo albonotatus Seen at Boa Nova.

American Barn Owl Tyto furcata Heard only at our hotel in Itacaré.

Burrowing Owl Athene cunicularia

East Brazilian Pygmy Owl ◊ Glaucidium minutissimum Seen at Serra Bonita, and at the Graveteiro stake out.

Ferruginous Pygmy Owl Glaucidium brasilianum

Stygian Owl Asio stygius Seen at Boa Nova.

Tropical Screech Owl Megascops choliba Good views at Serra da Meuroca.

Black-capped Screech Owl ◊ Megascops atricapilla Good views at Veracel Reserve.

Spectacled Owl Pulsatrix perspicillata Seen at Guaramiranga.

Tawny-browed Owl ◊ Pulsatrix koeniswaldiana (H) Heard only at Veracel.

Mottled Owl Strix virgata (H) Heard only at Veracel.

Green-backed Trogon Trogon viridis Good views at Itacaré and Serra Bonita.

Blue-crowned Trogon Trogon curucui

Surucua Trogon ◊ Trogon surrucura Seen at Lençois.

Atlantic Black-throated Trogon Trogon chrysochlorus Good views at Mata do Charme.

Amazon Kingfisher Chloroceryle amazona

Ringed Kingfisher Megaceryle torquate

Rufous-capped Motmot ◊ Baryphthengus ruficapillus Seen at Veracel Reserve. A write-in for the tour.

Rufous-tailed Jacamar Galbula ruficauda

White-eared Puffbird ◊ Nystalus chacuru Seen on route from Mucugê to Boa Nova.

Caatinga Puffbird ◊ Nystalus maculatus Endemic. First seen at Tamandaré, but also in other Caatinga localities.

Crescent-chested Puffbird ◊ Malacoptila striata Endemic. Good views at Mata do Charme and Serra Bonita.

Swallow-winged Puffbird (Swallow-wing) Chelidoptera tenebrosa

Lettered Aracari Pteroglossus inscriptus Seen at Pedra D’Anta and Frei Caneca Reserves.

Black-necked Aracari Pteroglossus aracari Seen at Itacaré, Fazenda Paris and Veracel Reserve.

Gould’s Toucanet ◊ Selenidera gouldii One bird seen at Guaramiranga.

Spot-billed Toucanet ◊ Selenidera maculirostris Seen on two different days at Serra Bonita.

Channel-billed Toucan Ramphastos vitellinus First seen at Crasto Forest.

Golden-spangled Piculet Picumnus exilis We saw two different subspecies of the species, the Pernambuco form [pernambucensis] at Pedra D’Anta and Frei Caneca. From the area of Coastal Bahia (Itacaré and Fazenda Paris and Veracel) we saw the nominate form of the species [exilis].

Spotted Piculet ◊ Picumnus pygmaeus Endemic. First seen at Canudos Biological Reserve, also in Boa Nova.

White-barred Piculet Picumnus cirratus (NL) It was seen on the grounds of our hotel at Porto Seguro.

Ochraceous Piculet ◊ (Tawny Piculet) Picumnus limae Endemic. First seen at Sobral, also at Quixada and Arajara Water Park.

White Woodpecker Melanerpes candidus Seen at Estancia area.

Yellow-fronted Woodpecker ◊ Melanerpes flavifrons Seen at Fazenda Paris.

Little Woodpecker Veniliornis passerinus

Red-stained Woodpecker Veniliornis affinis

Yellow-throated Woodpecker Piculus flavigula Seen at Mata do Charme and Veracel Reserve.

Green-barred Woodpecker Colaptes melanochloros First seen at Caatinga habitat at Potengi.

Campo Flicker Colaptes campestris

Ochre-backed Woodpecker ◊ Celeus ochraceus  Endemic. Seen at Sobral, Quixadá and Potengi.

Cream-colored Woodpecker Celeus flavus Good views at Fazenda Paris. A write-in for the tour.

Ringed Woodpecker ◊ Celeus [torquatus] tinnunculus Seen at Veracel Reserve.

Lineated Woodpecker Dryocopus lineatus

Crimson-crested Woodpecker Campephilus melanoleucos Seen at Remanso Road, Lençois.

Red-legged Seriema Cariama cristata

Crested Caracara Caracara plancus

Yellow-headed Caracara Milvago chimachima

Laughing Falcon Herpetotheres cachinnans

Barred Forest Falcon Micrastur ruficollis Good views at Serra Bonita.

American Kestrel Falco sparverius

Aplomado Falcon Falco femoralis (NL) Spotted by one of us during the drive to Crato.

Bat Falcon Falco rufigularis

Golden-tailed Parrotlet ◊ Touit surdus Endemic. Seen our first morning near Recife, sadly not everyone managed to see it due its camouflage on the tree.

Plain Parakeet ◊ Brotogeris tirica Endemic. First seen at Ubaitaba, also in Itacaré and Fazenda Paris.

Yellow-chevroned Parakeet Brotogeris chiriri Seen at Guaramiranga.

Pileated Parrot ◊ Pionopsitta pileata (H) Heard only at Serra Bonita.

Scaly-headed Parrot Pionus maximiliani Seen at Fazenda Paris.

Blue-headed Parrot ◊ Pionus [menstruus] reichenowi (H) Heard only at Veracel Reserve.

Red-browed Amazon ◊ Amazona rhodocorytha Endemic. Great scope views at Veracel Reserve.

Turquoise-fronted Amazon (Blue-fronted A) Amazona aestiva

Orange-winged Amazon Amazona amazonica Seen at Crasto Forest.

Cobalt-rumped Parrotlet Forpus xanthopterygius

Ochre-marked Parakeet ◊ (Blue-throated P) Pyrrhura cruentata Endemic. Seen by some at Fazenda Paris, and Veracel Reserve.

Maroon-bellied Parakeet (Reddish-bellied P) Pyrrhura frontalis Good views at Fazenda Paris and Serra Bonita.

Grey-breasted Parakeet ◊ Pyrrhura griseipectus Endemic. Great views at Guaramiranga.

White-eared Parakeet ◊ Pyrrhura leucotis Endemic. Seen at Fazenda Paris.

Lear’s Macaw ◊ (Indigo M) Anodorhynchus leari Endemic. One of the main stars of the tour. Amazing experience at Canudos Biological Station.

Peach-fronted Parakeet ◊ Eupsittula aurea Seen at Crasto forest, Itacaré and Camacan.

Caatinga Parakeet ◊ (Cactus P) Eupsittula cactorum Endemic.

Jandaya Parakeet ◊ Aratinga jandaya Endemic. Seen at Tamandaré and Crasto Forest.

Golden-capped Parakeet ◊ Aratinga auricapillus Endemic. Seen in flight at Boa Nova, better views at Fazenda Paris.

Blue-winged Macaw ◊ Primolius maracana Like a dozen were seen at Salobro River.

Red-shouldered Macaw Diopsittaca nobilis Seen at Pedra D’Anta, Frei Caneca, and Crasto Forest.

Blue-crowned Parakeet Thectocercus acuticaudatus Seen at Canudo Biological Reserve.

White-eyed Parakeet Psittacara leucophthalmus Seen near Fazenda Paris.

Rufous-breasted Leaftosser ◊ Sclerurus [scansor] cearensis Endemic subspecies (potential split).Great views in the open at Guaramiranga.

Olivaceous Woodcreeper Sittasomus griseicapillus

Plain-winged Woodcreeper ◊ Dendrocincla [turdina] taunayi Endemic. Seen at Pedra D’Anta and Frei Caneca Reserve.

Plain-winged Woodcreeper ◊ Dendrocincla [turdina] turdina Seen at Itacaré.

Wedge-billed Woodcreeper Glyphorynchus spirurus Seen at Veracel Reserve.

Planalto Woodcreeper ◊ Dendrocolaptes platyrostris Seen at Remanso Road, Lençois.

Moustached Woodcreeper ◊ Xiphocolaptes falcirostris Endemic. Amazing views at Fazenda Juá, in Carnaubal habitat (Caatinga with Carnauba palm trees).

White-throated Woodcreeper ◊ Xiphocolaptes albicollis Nice views at Serra Bonita.

Lesser Woodcreeper ◊ Xiphorhynchus fuscus

Ceara Woodcreeper ◊ Xiphorhynchus atlanticus Endemic. Seen near Recife and Frei Caneca Reserve.

Buff-throated Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus guttatus

Straight-billed Woodcreeper Dendroplex picus

Red-billed Scythebill Campylorhamphus trochilirostris Seen at Jeremoabo.

Black-billed Scythebill ◊ Campylorhamphus falcularius Good views at Mata do Charme.

Narrow-billed Woodcreeper Lepidocolaptes angustirostris

Scaled Woodcreeper ◊ Lepidocolaptes squamatus Endemic. Seen at Serra do Arapio, Poçoes.

White-throated Xenops Xenops minutus Seen at Pedra D’Anta, Mata do Charme and Itacaré.

Streaked Xenops Xenops rutilans Seen at Poçoes and Serra Bonita.

Band-tailed Hornero ◊ (Wing-banded H) Furnarius figulus Endemic.

Pale-legged Hornero Furnarius leucopus

Rufous Hornero Furnarius rufus

White-collared Foliage-gleaner ◊ Anabazenops fuscus Endemic. Good views at Serra Bonita.

Great Xenops ◊ Megaxenops parnaguae Endemic. Seen at Potengi.

Pale-browed Treehunter ◊ Cichlocolaptes leucophrus Endemic. Seen at Serra Bonita.

Black-capped Foliage-gleaner ◊ Philydor atricapillus Good views at Serra Bonita.

Pernambuco Foliage-gleaner ◊ Automolus lammi Endemic. Seen near Recife.

White-eyed Foliage-gleaner ◊ Automolus leucophthalmus Good views at Serra Bonita.

Rufous-fronted Thornbird Phacellodomus rufifrons

Pink-legged Graveteiro ◊ Acrobatornis fonsecai Endemic. Seen at the hummid lowlands at Ubaitaba.

Striated Softtail ◊ Thripophaga macroura Endemic. Seen at Mata do Charme and Serra Bonita.

Pallid Spinetail ◊ Cranioleuca pallida Endemic. Seen at Poçoes, Mata do Charme and Serra Bonita.

Grey-headed Spinetail ◊ Cranioleuca semicinerea Endemic. Seen Serra do Meuroca and Guaramiranga.

Caatinga Cacholote ◊ Pseudoseisura cristata Endemic.

Yellow-chinned Spinetail Certhiaxis cinnamomeus

Ochre-cheeked Spinetail ◊ Synallaxis scutata Seen at Serra do Meuroca and Serra do Arrepio.

Red-shouldered Spinetail ◊ Synallaxis hellmayri Endemic. Good views at Potengi.

Bahia Spinetail ◊ Synallaxis cinerea Endemic. Seen at Mata do Charme.

Pinto’s Spinetail ◊ Synallaxis infuscata Endemic. Seen at Pedra D’Anta.

Cinereous-breasted Spinetail ◊ Synallaxis hypospodia Good views at Itacaré.

Spix’s Spinetail Synallaxis spixi Seen at Chapada Diamantina.

Pale-breasted Spinetail Synallaxis albescens Best views at Mucugê, also at Chapada Diamantina.

Sooty-fronted Spinetail Synallaxis frontalis First seen near Tamandaré, also at Palmeiras, heard at more localities.

Stripe-backed Antbird ◊ Myrmorchilus strigilatus Great views at Potengi and Lajedo do beija flores.

Silvery-flanked Antwren ◊ Myrmotherula luctuosa Endemic. Seen at Pedra D’Anta, Crasto Forest, Mata do Charme and Veracel.

Salvadori’s Antwren ◊ Myrmotherula minor Endemic. Seen at Serra Bonita.

Band-tailed Antwren ◊ Myrmotherula urosticta Endemic. Seen on different occasions at Veracel.

Streak-capped Antwren ◊ Terenura maculata Seen at Mata do Charme.

Orange-bellied Antwren ◊ (Alagoas A) Terenura sicki Endemic. Several individuals were seen at Pedra D’Anta.

Narrow-billed Antwren ◊ Formicivora iheringi Endemic. Seen at Serra do Arrepio.

Southern White-fringed Antwren Formicivora grisea Seen at Serra do Meuroca, Sobral.

Black-bellied Antwren ◊ Formicivora melanogaster Seen in Caatinga habitat at Quixada and Potengi.

Rusty-backed Antwren ◊ Formicivora rufa Seen outside Pedra D’Anta and the Musununga (Restinga) habitat at Veracel.

Sincora Antwren ◊ Formicivora grantsaui Endemic. Good views at Chapada Diamantina.

Star-throated Antwren ◊ Rhopias gularis Endemic. Good views at Serra Bonita.

Cinereous Antshrike Thamnomanes caesius (H) Mata do Charme.

Silvery-cheeked Antshrike ◊ Sakesphoroides cristatus Endemic. Seen at different Caatinga localities.

Bahia Antwren ◊ Herpsilochmus pileatus Endemic. Seen at Itacaré, also on the last morning at Veracel.

Black-capped Antwren ◊ Herpsilochmus atricapillus Seen at Pedra D’Anta, Sobral and Guaramiranga.

Pectoral Antwren ◊ Herpsilochmus pectoralis Endemic. Seen at Jeremoabo.

Rufous-margined Antwren Herpsilochmus rufimarginatus

Spot-breasted Antvireo ◊ Dysithamnus stictothorax Endemic. Seen at Mata do Charme and Serra Bonita.

Plain Antvireo Dysithamnus mentalis

Plumbeous Antvireo ◊ Dysithamnus plumbeus Endemic. Everyone saw it at Serra Bonita.

Barred Antshrike ◊ Thamnophilus [doliatus] capistratus

Chestnut-backed Antshrike Thamnophilus palliatus Seen at Itacaré.

Planalto Slaty Antshrike ◊ Thamnophilus pelzelni

Sooretama Slaty Antshrike ◊ Thamnophilus ambiguus Seen at Crasto Forest and Veracel Reserve.

Variable Antshrike Thamnophilus caerulescens Seen at Pedra D’Anta and Poçoes.

Rufous-winged Antshrike ◊ Thamnophilus torquatus Good views at Chapada Diamantina.

Caatinga Antwren ◊ Radinopsyche sellowi Endemic. Seen at Potengi and Palmeiras.

Great Antshrike Taraba major

Tufted Antshrike ◊ Mackenziaena severa Seen at Mata do Charme.

Spot-backed Antshrike ◊ Hypoedaleus guttatus Seen at Serra Bonita.

Ferruginous Antbird ◊ Drymophila ferruginea Endemic. Seen at Mata do Charme and Serra Bonita.

Scaled Antbird ◊ Drymophila squamata Endemic. Seen at Itacaré.

Willis’s Antbird ◊ Cercomacroides laeta Seen near recife, heard at Frei Caneca Reserve.

Rio de Janeiro Antbird ◊ Cercomacra brasiliana Endemic. Seen at Mata do Charme.

Scalloped Antbird ◊ Myrmoderus ruficauda Endemic. Seen at Pedra D’Anta.

White-bibbed Antbird ◊ Myrmoderus loricatus Endemic. Seen at Serra Bonita, heard only at Serra do Arrepio.

East Amazonian Fire-eye ◊ Pyriglena leuconota Seen at Frei Caneca Reserve.

Fringe-backed Fire-eye ◊ Pyriglena atra Endemic. Seen at Crasto Forest.

White-shouldered Fire-eye Pyriglena leucoptera

Slender Antbird ◊ Rhopornis ardesiacus Endemic. Seen at ‘Mata do Cipo’ at Boa Nova, also at Lajedo do Beija Flores which is the same habitat.

Rufous-capped Antthrush Formicarius colma (LO & H) Heard at Serra do Arrepio.

Short-tailed Antthrush Chamaeza campanisona Seen at Guaramiranga.

Variegated Antpitta Grallaria varia (LO & H) Serra Bonita.

White-browed Antpitta ◊ Hylopezus ochroleucus Endemic. Seen at Potengi.

Rufous Gnateater ◊ Conopophaga lineata Excellent views at Mata do Charme.

Hooded Gnateater ◊ Conopophaga roberti Endemic. Seen at Serra do Meuroca, Sobral.

Ceara Gnateater ◊ Conopophaga cearae Endemic. Seen at Guaramiranga.

Black-cheeked Gnateater ◊ Conopophaga melanops Endemic. Seen at Pedra D’Anta and Veracel.

Bahia Tapaculo ◊ Eleoscytalopus psychopompus Endemic. Good views at Itacaré.

Diamantina Tapaculo ◊ Scytalopus diamantinensis Endemic. Good views in the open at Mucugê.

Collared Crescentchest ◊ Melanopareia torquata Seen at Cerrado habitat at Guiné.

Planalto Tyrannulet ◊ Phyllomyias fasciatus

Rough-legged Tyrannulet Phyllomyias burmeisteri Seen at Serra Bonita. A write in for the tour.

Reiser’s Tyrannulet ◊ Phyllomyias reiseri Seen at Serra do Arrepio.

Grey-capped Tyrannulet ◊ Phyllomyias griseocapilla Endemic. Seen at Serra do Arrepio.

Grey-headed Elaenia Myiopagis caniceps Seen at Remanso Road, Lençois.

Greenish Elaenia Myiopagis viridicata Seen at Fazenda Juá and Potengí.

Yellow-bellied Elaenia Elaenia flavogaster

Large Elaenia ◊ Elaenia spectabilis Good views at Poçoes and Mata do Cipo habitat (Boa Nova).

Plain-crested Elaenia Elaenia cristata Seen at Cerrado areas like Chapada Diamantina and Guiné.

Small-headed Elaenia ◊ Elaenia sordida Good views at Chapada Diamantina.

White-lored Tyrannulet Ornithion inerme Best views at Itacaré, also near Recife.

Southern Beardless Tyrannulet Camptostoma obsoletum

Suiriri Flycatcher ◊ Suiriri suiriri Seen at Salobro River.

White-crested Tyrannulet Serpophaga subcristata Seen at Palmeiras, also at Mata do Cipo in Boa Nova.

Southern Mouse-colored Tyrannulet Nesotriccus murinus Seen a Potengí, Canudos and in Mata do Cipo at Boa Nova.

Yellow Tyrannulet Capsiempis flaveola

Grey-backed Tachuri ◊ Polystictus superciliaris Endemic. Excellent views at Mucugê.

Fulvous-crowned Scrub Tyrant Euscarthmus meloryphus Seen at Caatinga habitat.

Rufous-sided Scrub Tyrant ◊ Euscarthmus rufomarginatus Seems to be quite reliable at the Cerrado near Guinê and Mucuge. Normally is a tricky Cerrado species.

Bahia Wagtail-Tyrant ◊ Stigmatura bahiae Endemic. Great views at Quixadá.

Greater Wagtail-Tyrant ◊ Stigmatura [budytoides] gracilis Seen at Quixadá.

Guianan Tyrannulet Zimmerius acer Seen at Pedra D’Anta Reserve, heard near Recife.

Alagoas Tyrannulet ◊ (Long-tailed T) Phylloscartes ceciliae Endemic. Seen at Pedra D’Anta Reserve.

Bahia Tyrannulet ◊ Phylloscartes beckeri Endemic. Seen near Poçoes.

Ochre-bellied Flycatcher Mionectes oleagineus Seen at Itacaré.

Sepia-capped Flycatcher Leptopogon amaurocephalus

Southern Scrub Flycatcher Sublegatus modestus  Seen at Potengi.

Bran-colored Flycatcher Myiophobus fasciatus Seen at Frei Caneca.

Sharp-tailed Grass Tyrant ◊ Culicivora caudacuta Good views at Mucugê.

Drab-breasted Bamboo Tyrant ◊ (D-b Pygmy T) Hemitriccus diops Seen at Serra Bonita.

White-bellied Tody-Tyrant Hemitriccus griseipectus Seen near Recife.

Stripe-necked Tody-Tyrant ◊ Hemitriccus striaticollis Seen at Crasto Forest.

Hangnest Tody-Tyrant ◊ Hemitriccus nidipendulus Endemic. Seen at Mata do Cipo in Boa Nova.

Pearly-vented Tody-Tyrant Hemitriccus margaritaceiventer Seen at Caatinga areas.

Buff-breasted Tody-Tyrant ◊ Hemitriccus mirandae Endemic. Seen at Guaramiranga.

Fork-tailed Tody-Tyrant ◊ Hemitriccus furcatus Endemic. Seen at Mata do Charme.

Eared Pygmy Tyrant ◊ Myiornis auricularis Seen at Veracel.

Pernambuco Pygmy Tyrant ◊ Myiornis sp. nov. Endemic. Seen at Frei Caneca. A write-in for the tour and should be a Birdquest lifer.

Ochre-faced Tody-Flycatcher ◊ Poecilotriccus plumbeiceps Seen at Remanso Road, Lençois.

Smoky-fronted Tody-Flycatcher ◊ Poecilotriccus fumifrons Seen at Frei Caneca Reserve.

Yellow-lored Tody-Flycatcher ◊ (Grey-headed T-F) Todirostrum poliocephalum Endemic. Regular bird in Mata Atlantica (Mata do Charme, Itacaré and Serra Bonita).

Common Tody-Flycatcher Todirostrum cinereum

Yellow-olive Flatbill Tolmomyias sulphurescens

Grey-crowned Flatbill Tolmomyias poliocephalus Seen our last morning at Veracel.

Ochre-lored Flatbill Tolmomyias flaviventris

White-throated Spadebill Platyrinchus mystaceus Seen at Frei Caneca and Guaramiranga.

Cliff Flycatcher Hirundinea [ferruginea] bellicosa

Euler’s Flycatcher Lathrotriccus euleri Seen at Arajara Water Park and Poçoes.

Southern Tropical Pewee Contopus cinereus Seen at Mata do Charme and Serra Bonita.

Yellow-browed Tyrant Satrapa icterophrys Seen near Guiné, on marshes areas.

Velvety Black Tyrant ◊ Knipolegus nigerrimus (LO) Endemic. Seen by leader at Chapada Diamantina. We also saw another Black Tyrant during our morning at Mata do Cipo (Boa Nova) which possibly was a Velvety Black Tyrant.

White Monjita Xolmis irupero Seen on the way to Canudos and Boa Nova.

Black-backed Water Tyrant Fluvicola albiventer

Masked Water Tyrant Fluvicola nengeta

White-headed Marsh Tyrant Arundinicola leucocephala

Long-tailed Tyrant Colonia colonus

Cattle Tyrant Machetornis rixosa

Piratic Flycatcher Legatus leucophaius

Social Flycatcher Myiozetetes similis

Great Kiskadee Pitangus sulphuratus

Three-striped Flycatcher Conopias trivirgatus (H) Serra Bonita.

Streaked Flycatcher Myiodynastes maculatus

Boat-billed Flycatcher Megarynchus pitangua

Variegated Flycatcher Empidonomus varius

Tropical Kingbird Tyrannus melancholicus

Fork-tailed Flycatcher Tyrannus savana

Greyish Mourner Rhytipterna simplex Good views at Crasto Forest.

Sibilant Sirystes (Eastern S) Sirystes sibilator Seen at Remanso Road, Lençois.

Ash-throated Casiornis ◊ Casiornis fuscus Endemic. Seen at Caatinga forest at Quixadá.

Swainson’s Flycatcher Myiarchus swainsoni First seen at Salobre River.

Short-crested Flycatcher Myiarchus ferox

Brown-crested Flycatcher Myiarchus tyrannulus Seen at different localities of Caatinga forest.

Grey-hooded Attila ◊ Attila rufus Endemic. Good views at Mata do Charme, Fazenda Paris and Serra Bonita.

Bright-rumped Attila Attila spadiceus Seen at Itacaré.

Black-headed Berryeater ◊ Carpornis melanocephala Endemic. Seen at Veracel.

Swallow-tailed Cotinga ◊ Phibalura flavirostris Seen at Poçoes.

Screaming Piha Lipaugus vociferans Seen at Veracel Reserve.

Cinnamon-vented Piha ◊ Lipaugus lanioides Endemic. Seen at Serra Bonita.

Bare-throated Bellbird ◊ Procnias nudicollis (H) Itacaré, Fazenda Paris and Serra Bonita.

Banded Cotinga ◊ Cotinga maculata Endemic. Good views at Fazenda Paris, at least 4 different individuals.

White-winged Cotinga ◊ Xipholena atropurpurea Endemic. We saw 5 different individuals during the morning at Veracel, in the Musununga forest (Restinga forest type).

Pale-bellied Tyrant-Manakin ◊ Neopelma pallescens Great views at Pedra D’Anta and near Recife.

Wied’s Tyrant-Manakin ◊ Neopelma aurifrons Endemic. Good views at Serra do Arrepio in Poçōes.

Araripe Manakin ◊ Antilophia bokermanni Endemic. One of the most wanted species, nice views at Arajara Water Park.

Helmeted Manakin ◊ Antilophia galeata Seen at Lençois.

Blue-backed Manakin Chiroxiphia pareola Seen at Frei Caneca and near Recife.

Blue Manakin ◊ Chiroxiphia caudata

Pin-tailed Manakin ◊ Ilicura militaris Endemic. Seen at Mata do Charme and Serra Bonita.

White-bearded Manakin Manacus manacus

Band-tailed Manakin ◊ Pipra fasciicauda Excellent views at Guaramiranga.

Kinglet Manakin ◊ Machaeropterus regulus Endemic. Excellent views at Mata do Charme, also at Serra Bonita.

White-crowned Manakin Pseudopipra pipra Seen at Conduru State Park, Itacaré.

Red-headed Manakin Ceratopipra rubrocapilla Seen at Pedra D’Anta and Itacaré.

Sharpbill Oxyruncus cristatus Fairly common at Serra Bonita.

Whiskered Myiobius (W Flycatcher) Myiobius barbatus Seen at Mata do Charme.

Black-tailed Myiobius (B-t Flycatcher) Myiobius atricaudus Seen at Arajara Water Park.

Black-crowned Tityra Tityra inquisitor

Black-tailed Tityra Tityra cayana

Brown-winged Schiffornis Schiffornis turdina Seen at Veracel.

Greenish Schiffornis ◊ Schiffornis virescens Seen at Serra do Arrepio, Poçōes.

Cinereous Mourner Laniocera hypopyrra (H) Hear only at Veracel.

Buff-throated Purpletuft ◊ Iodopleura pipra Endemic. Seen near Poçōes and Fazenda Paris.

Green-backed Becard Pachyramphus viridis

Chestnut-crowned Becard Pachyramphus castaneus Seen at Serra Bonita.

White-winged Becard Pachyramphus polychopterus

Black-capped Becard Pachyramphus marginatus Seen at Condurú State Park, Itacaré.

Crested Becard Pachyramphus validus Seen at Sobral.

Rufous-browed Peppershrike Cyclarhis gujanensis

Grey-eyed Greenlet ◊ Hylophilus amaurocephalus Endemic. Seen at Palmeiras and Serra do Arrepio.

Lemon-chested Greenlet Hylophilus thoracicus Seen at Serra Bonita.

Chivi Vireo Vireo chivi

White-naped Jay ◊ Cyanocorax cyanopogon Endemic.

White-rumped Swallow Tachycineta leucorrhoa Seen at Icapuí salt pannes.

White-winged Swallow Tachycineta albiventer

Blue-and-white Swallow Pygochelidon cyanoleuca

Southern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx ruficollis

Brown-chested Martin Progne tapera First seen in Cerrado habitat near Guiné, Itacaré and on the way to Fazenda Paris.

Grey-breasted Martin Progne chalybea

Black-capped Donacobius Donacobius atricapilla Seen near Tamandaré and Estancia area.

Thrush-like Wren Campylorhynchus turdinus Seen at Itacaré and Fazenda Paris.

Moustached Wren Pheugopedius genibarbis

Long-billed Wren ◊ Cantorchilus longirostris Endemic. At Pedra dos Ventos Hotel, Potengí and Canudos.

House Wren Troglodytes [aedon] musculus

Trilling Gnatwren (Long-billed G) Ramphocaenus melanurus

Tropical Gnatcatcher Polioptila plumbea

Tropical Mockingbird Mimus gilvus

Chalk-browed Mockingbird Mimus saturninus

Rufous-brown Solitaire ◊ Cichlopsis leucogenys Good views at Serra Bonita.

Creamy-bellied Thrush Turdus amaurochalinus

Yellow-legged Thrush Turdus flavipes

White-necked Thrush Turdus albicollis

Pale-breasted Thrush Turdus leucomelas

Cocoa Thrush Turdus fumigatus Seen at Veracel.

Rufous-bellied Thrush Turdus rufiventris

House Sparrow (introduced) Passer domesticus

Common Waxbill (introduced) Estrilda astrild

Hooded Siskin Spinus magellanicus Seen at Chapada Diamantina.

Yellow-faced Siskin ◊ Spinus yarrellii Endemic. Seen at Guaramiranga.

Purple-throated Euphonia Euphonia chlorotica

Violaceous Euphonia Euphonia violacea

Orange-bellied Euphonia Euphonia xanthogaster

Chestnut-bellied Euphonia ◊ Euphonia pectoralis Seen at Fazenda Paris.

Grassland Sparrow Ammodramus humeralis Seen at Cerrado near Guiné.

Pectoral Sparrow Arremon taciturnus Good views near Recife, Frei Caneca and Guaramiranga.

Sao Francisco Sparrow ◊ Arremon franciscanus Endemic. Only Katherine managed to see it, the rest of the group just heard it at Palmeiras.

Rufous-collared Sparrow Zonotrichia capensis

White-browed Blackbird Leistes superciliaris

Crested Oropendola Psarocolius decumanus

Solitary Cacique (S Black C) Cacicus solitarius First seen at Sobral.

Yellow-rumped Cacique Cacicus cela

Red-rumped Cacique Cacicus haemorrhous

Campo Troupial ◊ Icterus jamacaii Endemic.

Variable Oriole Icterus pyrrhopterus

Giant Cowbird Molothrus oryzivorus

Shiny Cowbird Molothrus bonariensis

Forbes’s Blackbird ◊ Anumara forbesi Endemic. Seen at Tamandaré, and near Saltinho Reserve.

Chopi Blackbird Gnorimopsar chopi

Pale Baywing ◊ Agelaioides fringillarius Endemic. First seen at Sobral.

Chestnut-capped Blackbird Chrysomus ruficapillus Seen at Lençois and Guiné.

Southern Yellowthroat Geothlypis velata

Tropical Parula Setophaga pitiayumi

Blackburnian WarblerSetophaga fusca A vagrant for Brazil. Two different individuals (of different plumages) shown up in the same mix-species flock at Serra Bonita. Write-in for the tour.

Flavescent Warbler Myiothlypis flaveola

Golden-crowned Warbler Basileuterus culicivorus

Red-crowned Ant Tanager Habia rubica

Yellow-green Grosbeak Caryothraustes canadensis Seen at Serra do Arrepio and Veracel.

Ultramarine Grosbeak Cyanoloxia brissonii Seen at Canudos and Chapada Diamantina.

Hooded Tanager Nemosia pileata Seen at Serra do Arrepio.

Scarlet-throated Tanager ◊ Compsothraupis loricata Endemic. Seen at Fazenda Juá, in Caatinga forest.

Serra Finch ◊ Embernagra longicauda Endemic. Great views at Chapada Diamantina.

Wedge-tailed Grass Finch Emberizoides herbicola

Blue Finch ◊ (Yellow-billed B F) Rhopospina caerulescens Seen at Cerrado habitat near Guiné.

Green Honeycreeper Chlorophanes spiza

Yellow-backed Tanager Hemithraupis flavicollis Seen at Itacaré.

Guira Tanager Hemithraupis guira

Rufous-headed Tanager ◊ Hemithraupis ruficapilla  Endemic. Seen at Serra do Arrepio and Serra Bonita.

Red-legged Honeycreeper Cyanerpes cyaneus

Blue Dacnis Dacnis cayana

Black-throated Saltator ◊ Saltatricula atricollis Seen at Mata do Charme and Serra Bonita.

Green-winged Saltator Saltator similis

Buff-throated Saltator Saltator maximus

Black-throated Grosbeak ◊ Saltator fuliginosus Seen at Cerrado habitat.

Bananaquit Coereba flaveola

Sooty Grassquit ◊ Asemospiza fuliginosa Good views at Frei Caneca and Pedra D’Anta, also near Poçōes.

Blue-black Grassquit Volatinia jacarina

Black-goggled Tanager* Trichothraupis melanops Seen at Mata do Charme.

Flame-crested Tanager Loriotus cristatus

Grey Pileated Finch (Pileated F) Coryphospingus pileatus

White-lined Tanager Tachyphonus rufus

Brazilian Tanager ◊ Ramphocelus bresilia Endemic. Seen a Pedra D’Anta, Crasto Forest and Itacaré.

Yellow-bellied Seedeater Sporophila nigricollis

Dubois’s Seedeater ◊ Sporophila ardesiaca Endemic. Seen at Chapada Diamantina.

Chestnut-bellied Seed Finch Sporophila angolensis Good views of a male at Itacaré.

Plumbeous Seedeater Sporophila plumbea Seen at Cerrado habitat.

White-throated Seedeater ◊ Sporophila albogularis Endemic. Seen at several Caatinga localities.

White-bellied Seedeater ◊ Sporophila leucoptera

Copper Seedeater ◊ (Capped S) Sporophila bouvreuil

Orange-headed Tanager Thlypopsis sordida

White-rumped Tanager ◊ Cypsnagra hirundinacea

Bicolored Conebill Conirostrum bicolor Seen in mangroves at Icapui and Estancia.

Chestnut-vented Conebill Conirostrum speciosum

Stripe-tailed Yellow Finch Sicalis citrina Seen in Cerrado near Guiné.

Orange-fronted Yellow Finch Sicalis columbiana Seen at Sobral. A write in for the tour.

Saffron Finch Sicalis flaveola

Grassland Yellow Finch Sicalis luteola Seen at Mucugê.

Shrike-like Tanager ◊ (White-banded T) Neothraupis fasciata Seen in Cerrado habitat.

Magpie Tanager Cissopis leverianus (LO) Seen by leader at Fazenda Paris.

Cinnamon Tanager ◊ Schistochlamys ruficapillus Seen at Chapada Diamantina and Mucugê.

Red-cowled Cardinal ◊ Paroaria dominicana Endemic.

Sayaca Tanager Thraupis sayaca

Azure-shouldered Tanager ◊ Thraupis cyanoptera Endemic. Seen at Serra Bonita.

Golden-chevroned Tanager ◊ Thraupis ornata Endemic.

Palm Tanager Thraupis palmarum

Burnished-buff Tanager Stilpnia cayana

Seven-colored Tanager ◊ Tangara fastuosa Endemic. Seen at Frei Caneca and near Pedra D’Anta.

Green-headed Tanager ◊ Tangara seledon

Red-necked Tanager ◊ Tangara cyanocephala Endemic.

Gilt-edged Tanager ◊ Tangara cyanoventris Endemic. Seen at Chapada Diamantina and Mata do Charme.

White-bellied Tanager ◊ Tangara brasilensis Endemic. Good views at Itacaré and Veracel.

Opal-rumped Tanager ◊ (Silver-breasted T) Tangara [velia] cyanomelas Good views at Condoru State Park and Itacaré.

MAMMALS

Margay Leopardus wiedii A rescued individual was released at Serra Bonita, we were lucky to see it one of the days that we stayed there.

Crab-eating Fox Cerdocyon thous One seen at Sitio Pau Preto, Potengi.

Tayra Eira barbara Seen at Conduru State Park, Itacaré.

Southern Red Bat ◊ Lasiurus blossevillii One individual seen at day time in Fazenda Paris.

Common Marmoset ◊ (White-tufted M) Callithrix jacchus Seen near Recife, Frei Caneca and Crasto Forest.

Wied’s Marmoset ◊ Callithrix kuhlii Seen at Itacaré.

Coimbra-Filho’s Titi*** ◊ Callicebus coimbrai (H) Heard only at Crasto Forest.

Southern Bahian Titi*** ◊ Callicebus melanochir (H) Heard only at Itacaré.

Rock Cavy ◊ Kerodon rupestris

Pernambuco Dwarf Porcupine ◊ Condou speratus Seen at Hotel Fazenda Trapiche.

REPTILES

Spotted Anole Anolis punctatus

Peter’s (Neotropical) Lava Lizard Tropidurus hispidus

Giant Ameiva Ameiva ameiva

Argentine Black-and-white Tegu Salvator merianae

Red-footed Tortoise Chelonoidis carbonarius

Yellow-footed Tortoise Chelonoidis denticulatus

SNAKES

Central Cipo Chironius quadricarinatus Seen at Fazenda Paris.

Royal Ground Snake Erythrolamprus reginae Seen at Veracel Reserve.

AMPHIBIANS

Cururu Toad Rhinella diptycha

Venezuelan Snouted Tree Frog Scinax signatus

ARTHROPODS

White Witch Thysania agrippina

Green-banded Urania Urania leilus

Brazilian Salmon-pink Bird-eating Tarantula Lasiodora parahybana

Amazon Thorn Spider Micrathena schreibersi