© GW - monacoeye • All rights reserved • Brazil, Aug 2011

Bird name: White-banded Swallow
Latin: Atticora fasciata
Other: Golondrina fajiblanca (Es) • peitoril, andorinha-de-cinta-branca, andorinha-de-faixa-branca (Br), Hirondelle à ceinture blanche (Fr)
Family: Hirundinidae • Swallows & Martins
Range: Amazonia: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyanas, Peru, Venezuela
Similar:

The White-banded Swallow was a typical swallow found on and near small tributaries of the Amazon. I saw them in Ecuador and Brazil. Easy to recognise - all dark with white band on underside.

Below, White-banded Swallows, Rio Azul Lodge, Brazil, 2011


Below, White-banded Swallow in flight, Liana Lodge, Ecuador, Mar 2011
More photos...

© GW - monacoeye • All rights reserved • Brazil, Aug 2011

Bird name: White-winged Swallow
Latin: Tachycineta albiventer
Other: Golondrina aliblanca (Es) • (Br), Hirondelle à ailes blanches (Fr)
Family: Hirundinidae • Swallows & Martins
Range: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, to Brazil, N Argentina
Similar: Tree Swallow

I saw the White-winged Swallow in the same places as the White-banded Swallow, even sharing the same perches: Upper Napo in Ecuador and Parà in Brazil. All white underside, with white rump and some white on wings.

Below, White-winged Swallow in flight, Liana Lodge, Ecuador, Mar 2011


Below, White-winged Swallow perched with White-banded Swallows, Ecuador, Mar 2011
More photos...

© GW - monacoeye • Pantanal, Brazil, August 2011 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Anhinga
Latin: Anhinga anhinga
Other: Snakebird. Anhinga d'Afrique (Fr)
Family: Anhingidae • Anhingas, Darters
Range: Brazil, Amazonia, Central America, Mexico Gulf, S USA to Florida
Similar:

Good views of Anhingas along the Rio Claro in the Pantanal, from Curicaca Lodge or Rio Clarinho Lodge.

Unmistakable by its long neck and pointed bill; often with cormorants. I often seemed to see juveniles or females (light neck). Adult males have black necks.

Female ? Anhinga - long snake-like neck, Pantanal, Brazil, August.


Male Anhinga silhouetted overhead, Pantanal, Brazil, August
More photos...

© GW - monacoeye • Gamboa, Panama • 25 April 2010 • All rights reserved.

Bird name: Striated Heron
Latin: Butorides striata
Other: Green-backed Heron (Helm). Mangrove Heron, Little Heron. Garcita azulada (Es), Socozinho (Br), Héron strié (Fr)
Family: Ardeidae • Herons
Range: Tropics worldwide
Similar: Green Heron

The adult Striated Heron has a black cap and a pinkish grey throat, with white stripes. It has light markings on its sides which are diagnostic - each dark feather tip has a light surround - and yellow irises. The Striated Heron was formerly grouped with the Green Heron as the Green-backed Heron.

The adult Striated Heron above was standing on a pier by the Chagres River in Panama after a big storm. In the Brazilian Pantanal in August, Striated Herons, though quite numerous, often retreated quickly when seen.

The juvenile, pictured directly below, is browner and more mottled than the adult, and has its own distinctive wing markings which form parallel lines near the wing edge. It was seen by the river edge.

Also seen in the Gambia (see comments section).

Below: Juvenile Striated Heron in the Pantanal, Brazil, Aug 2011
More photos...

© monacoeye. All rights reserved. Pantanal, August

Bird name: Great Egret
Latin: Ardea alba
Other: Grande Aigrette (Fr) • Kotuku (NZ) • Great White Egret • Common Egret • Garça-branca-grande (Br)
Family: Ardeidae • Herons, Egrets
Range: Worldwide
Similar: Little Egret, Intermediate Egret, White Stork

The Great Egret is a prominent large heron with all-white plumage, large wingspan, yellow bill, dark feet. Neck retracted in flight. In breeding plumage (see below in Romania), bill can be black, lores green, tibia red.

Seen regularly by rivers, lakes etc. France, Brazil, Africa etc.

The subspecies Ardea alba alba (Europe) (see “more photos”), Ardea alba egretta (Americas), Ardea alba melanorhynchos (Africa) and Ardea alba modesta (Asia & Australasia) were split by the IOC and then relumped.

Great Egret standing on tree, Pantanal, August


Great Egret in flight showing streamers, Mostardas, RS, Brazil, November


Great Egret in breeding plumage, green lores, black bill, red tibia. Danube Delta, May.
More photos...

© GW - monacoeye.com, all rights reserved • Cattle Egret, Camargue, March.

Bird name: Western Cattle Egret
Latin: Bubulcus ibis
Other: Héron Garde-Boeuf (Fr) • Garcilla bueyera (Es) • Garça-vaqueira (Pt) • Airone guardabuoi (It)
Family: Ardeidae • Herons, Egrets
Range: North America, South America, Africa, Southern Europe to Central Asia
Similar:

The IOC (1.6) split the Cattle Egret into Western and Eastern forms, the latter being found in Australasia.

The Western Cattle Egret has a short yellowy orange bill, hairy under bill, yellow iris, orange patches in breeding plumage. Smallest of the white egrets. Often follows cattle and large mammals. Abundant in some areas. Hundreds at Kotu, Gambia.

Cattle Egrets roost, Regua, Brazil, September.


Cattle Egret, Gambia, February 2013.
More photos...

© GW - monacoeye • Brazil • Sep 2011 • All rights reserved.

Bird name: Least Grebe
Latin: Tachybaptus dominicus
Other: Zampullín común (Es)
Family: Podicipedidae - Grebes
Range: SW USA to Argentina
Similar:

Above, a diminutive Least Grebe swims past a pair of Brazilian Teal at Regua in Rio de Janeiro state.

The Least Grebe is recognised by its yellow irises.

Least Grebe (back) swims past 2 Brazilian Teals, Regua, RJ, Brazil, September 2011


Least Grebes, Regua, RJ, Brazil, September 2011
More photos...

© GW - monacoeye.com, all rights reserved. Brazil, August.

Bird name: Muscovy Duck
Latin: Cairina moschata
Other:
Family: Anatidae • Ducks
Range: Mexico to South America
Similar:

Some rather ugly feral Muscovy Duck hybrids are found throughout the world, but the original pure breed of Muscovy Duck, as found in Amazonia and the Pantanal is rather beautiful, with a single line of red around the face. The male, above, has a crest.

The Muscovy Duck is bred for poultry and has escaped into the wild in many parts of the world. It comes in all sorts of strange variations of colours and sizes.

Female Muscovy Duck, Pará, Brazil
More photos...

© GW - monacoeye.com, all rights reserved. Gambia, Mar 2013

Bird name: White Faced Whistling Duck
Latin: Dendrocygna viduata
Other: Irerê (Br) • Suirirí cariblanco, Suirirí de la pampa, Iguasa careta (Es)
Family: Anatidae • Ducks, Whistling Ducks
Range: South America and sub-Saharan Africa
Similar:

The White-faced Whistling Duck is a large duck, easy to identify by its white face.

Found in both South America and Africa. Sizable group at the Kartong Bird Observatory in the Gambia. Regua in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. Also in the wetlands of Rio Grande do Sul.

White-faced Whistling Ducks, in flight, Regua, RJ, Brazil. Sept 2010.


White-faced Whistling Ducks, Regua, RJ, Brazil. Sept 2010.



White-faced Whistling Ducks, Kartong Bird Observatory, Gambia, Mar 2013
More photos...

© GW - monacoeye.com, all rights reserved. Lagoa do Peixe, RS • November 2009

Bird name: Yellow Billed Pintail
Latin: Anas georgica
Other: Marreca-parda (Br) • Pato Maicero, Pato Piquidorado (Es)
Family: Anatidae • Ducks
Range: S America
Similar:

The Yellow-billed Pintail was the most common duck in the area of Mostardas when I visited in November. Also seen in Papallacta, Ecuador

It is a plain duck with yellow bill with small markings and has a white and green/purple speculum (wing “badge”). The only other duck in Brazil with a yellow bill is the smaller Speckled Teal, which has a yellow (not white) stripe in the upper part of its speculum.


Below, Yellow-billed Pintail, Lagoa do Peixe, RS • November 2009


Below, Yellow-billed Pintail, Ecuador, March


Below, Yellow-billed Pintail with ducklings, Lagoa do Peixe, RS • November 2009
More photos...

© GW - monacoeye.com, all rights reserved. Brazil, September.

Bird name: Masked Duck
Latin: Nomonyx dominicus
Other: Pato fierro (Es), bico-roxo (Br)
Family: Anatidae • Ducks
Range: Mexico to South America
Similar:

We only saw female-type (non-breeding?) Masked Ducks at Regua in September. A small duck, see size comparison with Common Gallinules nearby. Shy.More photos...

© Robert P - monacoeye • Everglades

Bird name: Purple Gallinule
Latin: Porphyrio martinica
Other: American Purple Gallinule • Frango d’água-azul (Br)
Family: Rallidae - Rails, Swamphens
Range: Americas
Similar: Common Gallinule

Thanks to Bob for sending the above photo of an American Purple Gallinule seen in the Everglades in Florida.

Further, below, a couple of juveniles seen on the banks of the Chagres River in Central Panama. Also Regua, Brazil.

Not technically in the Gallinule family.

Purple Gallinule in flight, Regua, RJ, Brazil, September.
More photos...

© GW - monacoeye • RJ, Brazil.

Bird name: Blackish Rail
Latin: Pardirallus nigricans
Other: Râle noirâtre (Fr), gallineta negruzca (Es), saracura-sanã (Br)
Family: Rallidae - Rails, Swamphens
Range: W Amazonia, E, SE South America
Similar:

A fleeting record shot of a Blackish Rail seen in upstate Rio de Janeiro.

© GW - monacoeye, all rights reserved • Brazil, September

Bird name: Rufous Sided Crake
Latin: Laterallus melanophaius
Other: Râle brunoir (Fr), Burrito común (Es), sanã-parda (Br)
Family: Rallidae - Rails, Crakes
Range: South America
Similar:

A couple of record shots of Rufous-sided Crake in the reeds at Regua, RJ, Brazil.More photos...

© GW - monacoeye • All rights reserved, Lagoa do Peixe • November 2009

Bird name: American Golden Plover
Latin: Pluvialis dominica
Other: Batuiruçu (Br) • Batuíra-do-campo (Br) • Chorlito dorado chico (Es) • Chorlo pampa (Es) • Other Pt: Tarambola-dourada-pequena • Tarambola-dourada-americana
Family: Charadriidae • Lapwings & Plovers
Range: Arctic tundra: Canada, Alaska, migrates to S America, mostly Patagonia.
Similar: Grey Plover

The photo above was taken in southern Brazil in November, so in non-breeding plumage.

The American Golden Plover has a strong white eyebrow, dark legs. Relatively, smaller bill and bigger eye than the sandpipers. A medium-sized bird, but smaller than a Southern Lapwing.

Below, a rare vagrant American Golden Plover in the Kartong Wetlands, Gambia.

Below, vagrant American Plover, Gambia, Mar 2013.
More photos...

© AW - monacoeye • Iceland, May.

Bird name: Semipalmated Plover
Latin: Charadrius semipalmatus
Other: Batuíra-de-bando (Br) • Chorlo Semipalmado (Es)
Family: Charadriidae • Lapwings & Plovers
Range: Arctic, migrating S to US and S America
Similar: Common Ringed Plover

Semipalmated Plover look very similar to Common Ringed Plover so treat these IDs with caution.

Above Semipalmated Plover in Iceland ?

Although the Semipalmated Plover is marked as a vagrant to Brazil in some guides, it is in fact present the length of the Brazilian coastline.

The (presumed) Semipalmated Plover below were photographed on the beach near Lagoa do Peixe in Rio Grande do Sul, in southern Brazil, in November.

They were identified by their collar, small amount of yellow at base of bill and yellowish legs.

Semipalmated Plover migrate from Arctic breeding grounds to the US and South America during the northern winter.

Lagoa do Peixe, RS • November 2009
More photos...

© monacoeye • All rights reserved, Lagoa do Peixe • November 2009

Bird name: Sanderling
Latin: Calidris alba
Other: Bécasseau Sanderling (Fr) • Maçarico-branco (Br) • Correlimos tridáctilo (Es) • Playerito blanco
Family: Scolopacidae • Sandpipers, Curlews
Range: Worldwide
Similar:

Another long distance migrant, the Sanderling breeds in the Arctic Circle and then heads to southern Europe, South America, Africa and Australia during the Arctic winter. I’ve seen one in Nice, in May, presumably migrating north.

The photo above was taken in Mostardas in southern Brazil in November. The Sanderling in non-breeding plumage has tones of light grey, with a dark shoulder and a wide white wing bar, which is visible in flight. The head is light, and chest and belly white. Breeding plumage is different … darker and more rufous.

Sanderlings feed on the beach just beyond the breaking wave, running back and forth as the water advances and recedes.

Below, Sanderlings in Gambia, Feb.


Below, Sanderling at sunset, Zaandvort, Holland.
More photos...

© monacoeye • All rights reserved. Mostardas, RS • November 2009

Bird name: Lesser Yellowlegs
Latin: Tringa flavipes
Other: Maçarica-de-perna-amarela (Br)
Family: Scolopacidae • Sandpipers
Range: Americas
Similar: Greater Yellowlegs

The Lesser Yellowlegs breeds in the boreal forest between Alaska and Quebec and migrates to South America in the northern winter. It can be found throughout Brazil during this time.

Quite a tall bird, it’s a bit slimmer than the similar looking Greater Yellowlegs. The Lesser Yellowlegs also has a proportionately smaller bill. In flight its white rump can be seen, which gets darker at the tip. Its feet protrude past the tail in flight too.

Also seen in the mountains in Ecuador

More photos...

© monacoeye • Pantanal, Aug 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Solitary Sandpiper
Latin: Tringa solitaria
Other: Maçarico-solitário (Br) • Andarríos solitario, pitotoy solitario, tigüiza (Es)
Family: Scolopacidae • Sandpipers
Range: North America migrating to South America - Brazil etc
Similar: Spotted Sandpiper

The Solitary Sandpiper has uniform brown wings (no bars) in flight, differentiating it from the Spotted Sandpiper. Spots on back and mottled around neck.

This Solitary Sandpiper was seen near Curicaca Lodge in the Pantanal.More photos...

© monacoeye • All rights reserved. Mostardas, RS • November 2009

Bird name: Pectoral Sandpiper
Latin: Calidris melanotos
Other: Maçarico-de-colete (Br) • Pilrito-peitoral • Pilrito-de-colete• Playerito pectoral (Es)
Family: Scolopacidae • Sandpipers
Range:
Similar:

The Pectoral Sandpiper is an Arctic migrant. It has a strongly demarcated line across its chest, hence its name. Its bill curves downwards slightly and is light brown at the base. It has yellowish legs and a weak supercilium. It is a small wader but large for a Calidris.More photos...

© monacoeye • All rights reserved. Mostardas, RS • November 2009

Bird name: White Rumped Sandpiper
Latin: Calidris fuscicollis
Other: Erolia fuscicollis • Maçarico-de-sobre-branco (Br) • Pilrito-de-uropígio-branco
Family: Scolopacidae • Sandpipers
Range:
Similar:

The White-rumped Sandpiper is another long distance migrant. Groups were seen feeding on the beach near Lagoa do Peixe in November. Below, you can see White-rumped Sandpipers are about the same size as Semipalmated Plovers.

The white rump is diagnostic in flight (see below). Otherwise a long wing projection, dark legs and white supercilium are other features. I’ve included a few different birds showing colour variations, at the same time of the year.



More photos...

© monacoeye • All rights reserved. Mostardas, RS • November 2009

Bird name: Buff Breasted Sandpiper
Latin: Tryngites subruficollis
Other: Maçarico-acanelado (Br) • Correlimos Canelo (Es)
Family: Scolopacidae • Sandpipers
Range:
Similar:

The Buff-breasted Sandpiper is a long-distance migrant, breeding in the Arctic tundra, and “wintering” (spending the southern hemisphere summer) in southern South America. In Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul is the best place to see it.

Not really sure what the key diagnostic features are (I asked someone to ID these) other than yellow legs and dark bill, but bill length and colour are sure to play a part.


More photos...

© GW - monacoeye, all rights reserved, Pantanal, Aug 2011

Bird name: Large Billed Tern
Latin: Phaetusa simplex
Other: Trinta-réis-grande (Br), Sterne à gros bec (Fr)
Family: Laridae • Terns
Range: S America
Similar:

The Large-billed Tern is big and has a large yellow bill and dark primaries (upperside).

I saw several Large-billed Terns at one drying pool heaving with Jacarés (Caiman yacare) beside the Transpantaneira highway in the Pantanal in August. Otherwise just the odd one flying about, also in Mostardas, S Brazil.

Large Billed Tern showing dark primaries, Pantanal, August.
More photos...

© GW - monacoeye, all rights reserved, Brazil August

Bird name: Short Tailed Swift
Latin: Chaetura cinereiventris
Other: vencejo ceniciento (Es), Martinet à croupion gris (Fr)
Family: Apodidae • Swifts
Range: Nicaragua etc, Amazonia, S Brazil
Similar:

Just a record shot of this Grey-rumped Swift in Pará.

© GW - monacoeye, all rights reserved, Pantanal, Aug 2011

Bird name: Scaled Dove
Latin: Columbina squammata
Other: Colombe écaillée (Fr), Tortolita escamosa (Es), Fogo-apagou (Br)
Family: Columbidae • Pigeons, Doves
Range: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Paraguay, Trinidad Tobago, Venezuela.
Similar:

Beautiful design on this dove. Seen at Pouso Alegre in the Pantanal and elsewhere.More photos...

© GW - monacoeye, all rights reserved, Gambia, Feb 2013

Bird name: Long Tailed Ground Dove
Latin: Uropelia campestris
Other: rolinha-vaqueira (Br), columbina colilarga (Es)
Family: Columbidae • Pigeons, Doves
Range: Bolivia, Brazil
Similar:

Cute little dove with long tail and yellow around eye. Seen in the Pantanal.

More photos...

© monacoeye • All rights reserved: Pantanal, Aug 2011

Bird name: Picui Ground Dove
Latin: Columbina picui
Other: Rolinha-picui (Br) • Torcacita (Es)
Family: Columbidae • Pigeons, Doves
Range: W, S, NE Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay.
Similar:

two parallel black lines on the closed wing. A broad white patch near the larger black line. Dark bill with darkish line running to eye. Light iris. No other Brazilian pigeon or dove has a similar configuration of two black lines on the closed wing. In flight, two broad white bands are visible on either side of its tail.More photos...

© monacoeye • All rights reserved, Lagoa do Peixe • November 2009

Bird name: Dark Billed Cuckoo
Latin: Coccyzus melacoryphus
Other: Papa-lagarta-acanelado (Br), Coulicou de Vieillot (Fr), Cuclillo Canela (Es)
Family: Cuculidae - Cuckoos
Range: Colombia to Brazil, Argentina
Similar:

The Dark-billed Cuckoo is found in much of South America, including all of Brazil, though it only migrates to Rio Grande do Sul in the austral summer.

It is in the same genus as the Lizard Cuckoos, which eat lizards. This group of new world cuckoos are generally not brood-parasitic.

The Dark-billed Cuckoo has a distinctive yellow chest and belly, a grey-brown cap which runs below the eye to bill level, and brown back and upperside of wings. It is grey-white on the side neck area with a fully black bill.More photos...

© monacoeye, all rights reserved, Lagoa do Peixe • November 2009

Bird name: Guira Cuckoo
Latin: Guira guira
Other: Anu-branco (Br), Pirincho, Coco guira, Serere (Es)
Family: Cuculidae - Cuckoos
Range: E & S Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, NE Argentina
Similar:

The Guira Cuckoo is unmistakeable by its pale spiky haired appearance. Its long tail has a very broad brown band bordered by white, but the two central feathers are all dark. Irises are yellow or orange.

Guira Cuckoos can use communal nests where several birds all lay up to 20 eggs in one nest. Guira Cuckoos are often seen in groups (see further below). In RS they were mostly in ones and twos, near farmland.

© Guira Cuckoo, Lagoa do Peixe • November 2009


Below, Guira Cuckoos in flight, Mostardas, RS, Brazil
More photos...

© monacoeye • All rights reserved • Pantanal, Aug 2011

Bird name: Squirrel Cuckoo
Latin: Piaya cayana
Other: Alma-de-gato (Br)
Family: Cuculidae - Cuckoos
Range: Mexico to Brazil
Similar: Little Cuckoo

The Brazilian Squirrel Cuckoo (above) has a red eye ring. In fact all South American birds have the red eye ring, but Central American birds (below) have a yellow ring.
Long tail, with white and black underneath.

Seen in central Panama and Chiriqui. Again in Ecuador and widespread in Brazil. Seen in most wooded areas.

Below, Squirrel Cuckoo, Piaya cayana thermophila, Panama, showing yellow eye ring.


Below, Squirrel Cuckoo, San Isidro, Ecuador


Below, Squirrel Cuckoo with yellow throat, Curicaca Lodge, Pantanal, Brazil


Squirrel Cuckoo, Brazil
More photos...

© monacoeye • All rights reserved • Ubatuba November 2009

Bird name: Smooth Billed Ani
Latin: Crotophaga ani
Other: Ani de pico liso (Es), Anu-preto (Br), Glattschnabelani (De)
Family: Cuculidae - Cuckoos, Anis
Range: Florida to Argentina
Similar: Greater Ani

No mistaking the Smooth-billed Ani with its prehistoric profile. Found in most of South and Central America excluding Chile and the southern tip. A gregarious bird in the cuckoo family, often found near humans and farms.

The Smooth-billed Ani has dark eyes, unlike the Greater Ani. It can also use communal nests with many females laying eggs in one large nest.

Below: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Gamboa, Panama, April 2010

Above: Ubatuba November 2009 More photos...

© GW - monacoeye, all rights reserved • Brazil, 2011

Bird name: Scissor Tailed Nightjar
Latin: Hydropsalis torquata
Other: Engoulevent à queue en ciseaux (Fr), atajacaminos tijera (Es), bacurau-tesoura (Br)
Family: Caprimulgidae • Nightjars
Range: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay
Similar: Long-trained Nightjar

Scissor-Tailed Nightjar at Regua.

Below, Scissor-tailed Nightjar, Regua, Brazil, 2011
More photos...

© GW - monacoeye, all rights reserved • Brazil, 2011

Bird name: Blackish Nightjar
Latin: Caprimulgus nigrescens
Other: bacurau-de-lajeado (Br), chotacabras negruzco (Es), Engoulevent noirâtre (Fr), roetnachtzwaluw (Nl)
Family: Caprimulgidae • Nightjars
Range: Amazonia, Guianas.
Similar:

Blackish Nightjar in Pará near Rio Azul Lodge.More photos...

© monacoeye All rights reserved. Serra dos Tucanos, RJ • Sept 2011

Bird name: Maroon Bellied Parakeet
Latin: Pyrrhura leucotis
Other: Tiriba-de-testa-vermelha, Tiriba-de-orelha-branca (Br),
Family: Psittacidae - Parrots, Parakeets
Range: E Brazil: Rio to Bahia
Similar:

The Maroon-bellied Parakeet was the most abundant parrot near the hotels in Itatiaia, though other types were glimpsed and heard, while walking around. The above photo was taken at Serra dos Tucanos Lodge.

The Maroon-bellied Parakeet, which is found in Eastern Brazil, is mostly green, with white eye-ring, light yellowish neck and chest, greyish ear coverts, some red on the belly and reddish tail. Bill black with light band at top and sometimes red visible just above.

The White-eared Parrot, which is sometimes lumped together, extends into Venezuela.

© Below, Maroon-bellied Parakeet, Serra dos Tucanos, RJ • Sept 2011
More photos...

© monacoeye All rights reserved. Serra dos Tucanos, RJ • Sept 2011

Bird name: Orange Winged Amazon
Latin: Amazona amazonica
Other: Orange-winged Parrot. Curica, Papagaio-do-mangue (Br), Amazone aourou (Fr), loro guaro del Amazonas (Es)
Family: Psittacidae - Parrots, Amazons
Range: Brazil E Coast then Amazonia, Colombia to Peru, Trinidad & Tobago
Similar: Turquoise-fronted Amazon

I saw the Orange-winged Amazon (Orange-winged Parrot in van Perlo) several times in the Pantanal, Pará and Regua (RJ).

The Orange-winged Amazon has pale blue lores which extend around the eye, unlike the Turquoise-fronted Amazon, which has yellow around the eye.

© Below, Orange-winged Amazons flying over Rio Azul Lodge, Pará,• Sept 2011
More photos...

© monacoeye All rights reserved. Serra dos Tucanos, RJ • Sept 2011

Bird name: Turquoise Fronted Amazon
Latin: Amazona aestiva
Other: Blue-fronted Parrot. Papagaio-verdadeiro (Br), Amazone à front bleu (Fr), Amazona sudamericana (Es)
Family: Psittacidae - Parrots, Amazons
Range: C Brazil incl Pantanal, Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina
Similar: Orange-winged Amazon

I saw the Turquoise-fronted Amazon (Blue-fronted Parrot in van Perlo) several times in the Pantanal, especially at Curicaca Lodge. One had been domesticated there.

The Turquoise-fronted Amazon has yellow around the eye, and a turquoise forehead, while the Orange-winged Amazon has pale blue lores which extend around the eye.

© Below, Turquoise-fronted Amazon at Curicaca Lodge, Pantanal, Aug 2011


© Above below, Turquoise-fronted Amazons at Curicaca Lodge, Pantanal, Aug 2011
More photos...

© GW monacoeye • All rights reserved. Rio Azul Lodge, Pará, Brazil, Sept 2011

Bird name: Chestnut Fronted Macaw
Latin: Ara severus
Other: Arara-canindé (Br) • Guacamayo azul y amarillo (Es)
Family: Psittacidae - Parrots, Macaws
Range: Panama south into Amazonian Brazil and northern Bolivia.
Similar:

I saw the Chestnut-fronted Macaw on a couple of occasions in Pará. Not as easy as some of the other parrots to see - you just have to be lucky and run into a group.

Below, Chestnut-fronted Macaw perched. Pará, Sept 2011
More photos...

© GW monacoeye • All rights reserved. Pará, Brazil, Sept 2011

Bird name: Red Bellied Macaw
Latin: Orthopsittaca manilata
Other: maracanã-do-buriti (Br), Guacamayo de vientre rojo (Es), Ara macavouanne (Fr), Rotbauchara (De), roodbuikara (Nl), Ara panciarossa (It)
Family: Psittacidae - Parrots, Macaws
Range: Trinidad, Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, NW Brazil, Amazonia
Similar:

I saw very large groups of Red-bellied Macaws in Pará getting ready to leave for their feeding grounds. Incredible sight. Apparently roosts and feeds on buriti or moriche palms Mauritia flexuosa.

Below, Red-bellied Macaw in flight. Pará, Sept 2011




Above & below, Red-bellied Macaws in flight. Pará, Brazil, Sept 2011
More photos...

© GW monacoeye, All rights reserved . Pouso Alegre, Pantanal, Aug 2011.

Bird name: Blue Winged Macaw
Latin: Primolius maracana
Other: maracanã-verdadeiro (Br) • Maracaná cara afeitada (Es), Ara d'Illiger (Fr), Rotrückenara (De)
Family: Psittacidae - Parrots, Macaws
Range: Pantanal, Brazil, Paraguay Argentina
Similar:
Status: Near-threatened

I saw Blue-winged Macaws driving into Pouso Alegre at dusk. Then again in northern Rio de Janeiro state.More photos...

© GW monacoeye • All rights reserved. Rio Clarinho Lodge, Pantanal, Aug 2011.

Bird name: Golden Collared Macaw
Latin: Primolius auricollis
Other: Yellow-collared Macaw. Arara-canindé (Br) • Maracaná de cuello dorado (Es)
Family: Psittacidae - Parrots, Macaws
Range: Pantanal etc: Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia
Similar:

My only shot of the Golden-collared Macaw was a fly-over at Rio Clarinho Lodge in the Pantanal.More photos...

© GW monacoeye • All rights reserved. Pará, Brazil, Sept 2011

Bird name: Madeira Parakeet
Latin: Pyrrhura snethlage
Other: Santarem Parakeet. Tiriba-do-madeira (Br) • perico santarém (Es)
Family: Psittacidae - Parrots, Macaws
Range: SW Amazonian Brazil: Pará etc
Similar: Santarem Parakeet

In the Ber van Perlo fieldguide this bird is the Madeira Parakeet, though he mentions it might be classed as a subspecies of Santarem Parakeet. I’ll add an entry for both on the site.

My guide told me in 2011 that Madeira Parakeet had been elevated by one body (SACC?) to species level. I haven’t checked its current status with the IOC.

Anyway a group of them perched directly above us on a walk through the forest at Rio Azul Lodge, making photos almost impossible. The Madeira Parakeets were interested in the cecropia seeds.More photos...

© GW monacoeye • All rights reserved. Pantanal, Brazil, Sept 2011

Bird name: Monk Parakeet
Latin: Myiopsitta monachus
Other: Quaker Parrot • Caturrita, Catorra, Cocota (Br) • Cotorra monje, Cotorra argentina, Cotorrita verdigris (Es)
Family: Psittacidae - Parrots, Parakeets
Range: Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia
Similar:

The Monk Parakeet is seen here in its true wild location, the south of Brazil, Argentina etc. However there are many other large feral populations, living elsewhere in Brazil, USA, Europe etc.

Above, a Monk Parakeet by the entrance to a large collective nest in the Pantanal. I saw a group of Monk Parakeets which had made their nest in a palm tree. It looked like there were several nests each with its own entrance, together well over two metres across. Monk Parakeets are the only parrots to build nests from sticks - most nest in tree holes.

Below, Monk Parakeet in the Pantanal, Aug 2011.
More photos...

© GW monacoeye. All rights reserved. Chapada das Guimarães, Mato Gross, Aug 2011

Bird name: White Eyed Parakeet
Latin: Aratinga leucophthalma
Other: Periquitão-maracanã (Br), cotorra ojiblanca (Es), Conure pavouane (Es)
Family: Psittacidae - Parrots, Parakeets
Range: Amazonia to Argentina, incl Brazil etc
Similar:

Note red and yellow under wing, otherwise mostly green.

Also seen in the Upper Napo, Ecuador.

Below, White-winged Parakeet showing underwing pattern, Mato Grosso, Aug 2011
More photos...

© GW - monacoeye. Chapada das Guimarães, Brazil, Aug 2013. All rights reserved.

Bird name: Peach Fronted Parakeet
Latin: Aratinga aurea
Other: jandaia-coquinho (Pt), aratinga frentidorada (Es), Conure couronnée (Fr), Goldstirnsittich (De)
Family: Psittacidae - Parrots, Parakeets
Range: Pantanal, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Suriname
Similar:

I saw this Peach-fronted Parakeet in the open landscape of Chapada das Guimarães, in the state of Mato Gross, Brazil.


Below, Peach-fronted Parakeet in Chapada das Guimarães, Mato Grosso, Brazil, 2013
More photos...

© monacoeye • All rights reserved. Pouso Alegre Lodge, Pantanal, Brazil, Aug 2011.

Bird name: Hyacinth Macaw
Latin: Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus
Other: Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus (Br) • jacinto, guacamayo azul (Es), Hyazinth-Ara (De), Ara hyacinthe (Fr)
Family: Psittacidae - Parrots, Macaws
Range: Pantanal: Brazil etc
Similar:
IUCN status: endangered

It’s hard to do the beautiful cobalt hues of the Hyacinth Macaw justice. Most of these photos were taken around dawn when they are awake but haven’t yet flown off to their feeding grounds.

Magnificent large macaws. The largest of parrots - one metre from bill to tip of tail. Like many other parrots and macaws very affectionate with each other, often in pairs and grooming. Pouso Alegre Lodge in the Pantanal was an excellent place to see them.

Hyacinth Macaw Pouso Alegre Lodge, Pantanal, Brazil, Aug 2011


Below, Hyacinth Macaws at sunrise.
More photos...

© monacoeye • All rights reserved

Bird name: Blue and Yellow Macaw
Latin: Ara ararauna
Other: Arara-canindé (Br) • Guacamayo azul y amarillo (Es)
Family: Psittacidae - Parrots, Macaws
Range: Amazonia: Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Venezuela, Guyanas and Colombia
Similar:

The fabulous Blue and Yellow Macaw seen here in Pará on farmland. Unfortunately the Blue and Yellow Macaw is often seen in zoos or captive - wonderful here to walk up to a beautiful wild pair.

They were chewing on an old stump in the early morning in a section of fields in Para that was a large roosting ground for parrots of various different sorts, and just getting ready to fly to their feeding grounds further north for the day.

The Blue and Yellow Macaw is a large bird, yellow-orange on the underside, blue on the upperside, large black bill, long tail - no other bird like it.

Below: A wild Blue-and-Yellow Macaw in flight, Para, Brazil, Sep 2011
More photos...

© monacoeye. All rights reserved • Chapada das Guimarães, Brazil, Aug 2011.

Bird name: Yellow Chevroned Parakeet
Latin: Brotogeris chiriri
Other: Periquito-de-encontro-amarelo (Br) • Chirirí (Es), Toui à ailes jaunes (Fr), Kanarienflügelsittich (De)
Family: Psittacidae - Parrots, Parakeets
Range: Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina
Similar:

Yellow-chevroned Parrots have yellow on bend in wing (chevron visible in flight), a little blue on wing tips, white eye-rings, dark irises, pale bill. Otherwise green, no red in wing.

These photos show one cheerful fellow tucking into a fig, early in the morning in Chapada das Guimaraes.
Also seen several times in the Pantanal, at Curicaca and Pouso Alegre (pic further below).

Apparently there are populations from released birds in several US cities, such as Miami and LA. Also in Rio de Janeiro.More photos...

© monacoeye. All rights reserved. Serra dos Tucanos Lodge, RJ • September 2011

Bird name: Plain Parakeet
Latin: Brotogeris tirica
Other: Periquito-rico, periquito-verde (Br), Touï tirica (Fr), Tirikasittich (De), parrocchetto disadorno (It)
Family: Psittacidae - Parrots, Parakeets
Range: East coast of Brazil: Sao Paulo, Curitiba, Rio de Janeiro etc
Similar:

Plain Parakeets are green, with some darker and bluish hues, with a bright leaf-green front. They have a white eye ring and pale buffish bill. Blue in the tail feathers and wings.

Plain Parakeets are endemic to the east coast of Brazil. I got the best views of this bird at Serra dos Tucanos, where they came to eat bananas at the feeders. I think these photos were taken from the garden hide.

Also seen at Hotel Ypê in Itatiaia. More photos...

© GW - monacoeye • RJ, Brazil, Sep 2011. All rights reserved

Bird name: Red Legged Seriema
Latin: Cariama cristata
Other: Cariama huppé (Fr), seriema de patas rojas, cariama crestada, socori (Es), Cariama cristata (Pt)
Family: Cariamidae - Seriemas
Range: Brazil south of Amazon, to Uruguay, N Argentina
Similar:

We saw these Red-legged Seriemas at some distance on a day trip up into northern Rio state from the Serra dos Tucanos Lodge in Cachoeiras do Macacu. They seem to like these open grasslands. Unmistakable large, vociferous birds, but they blend into the background.

A new family for this site - Cariamidae!

© Below, Interesting calling behaviour of Red-legged Seriema, Sep 2011
More photos...

© GW - monacoeye • Brazil - All rights reserved

Bird name: Black Girdled Barbet
Latin: Capito dayi
Other: Cabézon du Brésil (Fr), Cabezón Brasileño (Es), Kehlbinden-Bartvogel (De)
Family: Capitonidae • New World Barbets
Range: Bolivia, W Brazil
Similar:

Record shots of the Black-girdled Barbet, seen at Rio Azul Lodge in Pará.

Male, above, has red cap. Female, below, black cap. Both have a beige throat, white chest, black band on belly and red vent. The female’s girdle is not closed at front.

Female Black Girdled Barbet, Pará Brazil.
More photos...

© monacoeye • Brazil, 2011 • All rights reserved

Bird name: White Barred Piculet
Latin: Picumnus cirratus
Other: Br: Pica-pau-anão-barrado
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers, Piculets
Range: SE Brazil, Pananal, Amazonia
Similar: Bar-breasted, Golden-spangled, Ochre-breasted Piculet

A wonderful little piculet with barred underside. Seen at the Regua reserve in RJ state. Males have the red forecrown, females not. In Regua, the White-barred Piculet is the only piculet with barred underside, so it’s a good place to see them.

Below, male White-barred Piculet, Regua, Brazil, 2011
More photos...

© monacoeye • Pará, Brazil, 2011 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Bar Breasted Piculet
Latin: Picumnus aurifrons
Other: Br: Pica-pau-anão-dourado
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers, Piculets
Range: Brazil Amazonia south of Amazon
Similar: White-bellied Piculet

The Bar-breasted Piculet has a horizontally-barred chest. This female was seen at Rio Azul Lodge in Pará - the male has a dark red forecrown. The Bar-breasted Piculet is the only Piculet with such markings on its underside in most of its range, but there are several piculets near Belem, some of which hybridize with it. As with all piculets, fast-moving!More photos...

© monacoeye • Chapada das Guimarães, Brazil, 2011 • All rights reserved

Bird name: White Wedged Piculet
Latin: Picumnus albosquamatus
Other: Br: Pica-pau-anão-escamado
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers, Piculets
Range: SW Brazil Pantanal, Chapada das Guimarães, Bolivia, Paraguay
Similar: Piculet

The White-wedged Piculet is identified by arrow-shaped marks on its underside, dots on shoulders. Males have a red forecrown, females not. Seen here in Mato Grosso. Very fast moving !

Below, male White-wedged Piculet, Brazil, 2011
More photos...

© monacoeye • Amazonia, Brazil, 2011 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Yellow Tufted Woodpecker
Latin: Melanerpes cruentatus
Other: Es: Carpintero Penachiamarillo; Br: bendito, pica-pau-de-barriga-vermelha
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers
Range: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela
Similar:

A generally unmistakeable, small, mostly black woodpecker with bright yellow “spectacles” and nape (male). Each time I saw them in the Amazon regions of Ecuador and Brazil, there were several, very visible on dead trees in exposed flooded areas. But a little far for detailed photos. Pretty sure they had nested in one of the dead trees.

Below, Yellow-tufted Woodpecker, Pará, Brazil, 2011
More photos...

© monacoeye • Itatiaia November 2009 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Yellow Fronted Woodpecker
Latin: Melanerpes flavifrons
Other: Br: Benedito-de-testa-amarela • Es: Carpintero de frente amarilla
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers
Range: Argentina, SE Brazil, Paraguay
Similar: Yellow-tufted Woodpecker

The female Yellow-fronted Woodpecker is easily identifiable in these shots from yellow neck and throat, combined with red chest (red crest in male), yellow above bill, yellow iris, otherwise back head and back, striped belly.More photos...

© monacoeye • Serra dos Tucanos, Brazil, 2011 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Yellow Browed Woodpecker
Latin: Piculus aurulentus
Other: Es: carpintero dorado verdoso, carpintero cejigualdo, carpintero verde; Br: pica-pau-dourado
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers
Range: Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay
Similar: Golden-green Woodpecker

I saw this Yellow-browed Woodpecker in the garden at Serra dos Tucanos Lodge in upstate Rio de Janeiro. Striped head diagnostic - (from top, red, yellow, olive, yellow, red, yellow) Striped front and plain olive back.

Below, Yellow-browed Woodpecker, RJ state Brazil, 2011.
More photos...

© monacoeye • Regua, Brazil, 2011 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Yellow Throated Woodpecker
Latin: Piculus flavigula
Other: Es: carpintero gorgigualdo, carpintero cariamarillo, carpintero de cuello amarillo; Br:
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers
Range: Amazonia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Guyanas, Venezuela
Similar: White-throated Woodpecker, Yellow-browed Woodpecker

A fleeting view of a Yellow-throated Woodpecker on one of the trails at Regua. This is Piculus flavigula erythropis, the SE Brazil subspecies, which has a red throat. There are two other separate populations in Bahia and Amazonia.More photos...

© monacoeye • Pantanal, Brazil, 2011 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Little Woodpecker
Latin: Veniliornis passerinus
Other: Es: carpintero chico, carpinterito oliváceo, carpintero oliva chico, carpintero ribereño; Br: Picapauzinho-anão
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers
Range: E of Andes: Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Venezuela, Guyanas, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, N Argentina
Similar: Red-stained Woodpecker

The Little Woodpecker should have a red cap and nape, light supercilium and darker cheek, with a few yellow spots on the wing, slightly indistinct barring below, olive upper parts.

The lowest photos, in a mixed flock on a river island in the Upper Napo region of Ecuador, show a bird without a red nape, which doesn’t fit this description, but still looks more like a Little Woodpecker than any other similar woodpecker, such as Red-stained Woodpecker, so I’ve included it on this page.

Below, Little Woodpecker, Pouso Alegre, Pantanal, 2011.
More photos...

© monacoeye • Amazonia, Brazil, 2011 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Red Stained Woodpecker
Latin: Veniliornis affinis
Other: Br: pica-pau-fura-laranja
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers
Range: Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Venezuela, Amazonia etc
Similar: Red-rumped Woodpecker, Little Woodpecker, Choco Woodpecker etc

Just saw this one female Red-stained Woodpecker in Pará, Brazil. The male has a red cap. Slight red spotting to wing diagnostic. Barred underside.

© monacoeye • Itatiaia November 2009 • All rights reserved

Bird name: White Spotted Woodpecker
Latin: Veniliornis spilogaster
Other: Es: Carpintero oliva manchado, carpintero manchado, carpinterito barrado • Picapauzinho-verde-carijó (Br)
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers
Range: Argentina, S Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay
Similar: Checkered Woodpecker, Yellow-eared Woodpecker

This presumed White-spotted Woodpecker was more difficult to identify. Note spotted back and barred front.

The White-spotted Woodpecker can be found in the southeast of Brazil and Uruguay etc.

Below, presumed White-spotted Woodpecker, Itatiaia, BrazilMore photos...

© monacoeye • Lagoa do Peixe, RS, Brazil, November 2009 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Green Barred Woodpecker
Latin: Colaptes melanochloros
Other: Pica-pau-verde-barrado (Br) • Pájaro carpintero real (Es)
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers
Range: Argentina, Bolivia, S Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay.
Similar:

This Green-barred Woodpecker was easy to hear but not so easy to photograph, in Rio Grande do Sul.

The Green-barred Woodpecker is identified by its red cap at the back of the head, and black cap from near bill to behind eye. Light spotted breast and dark yellow-green and black back. The above photo is of a male, evident from teh red moustachial stripe - females have black moustachial stripes.

More photos...

© monacoeye • Mostardas, Brazil, 2009 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Field Flicker
Latin: Colaptes campestris campestroides
Other: Colaptes campestroides • Campo Flicker • Br: Pica-pau-do-campo, Chanchã, Chanchão, Pica-pau-de-manga, Pica-pau-malhado • Es: Carpintero Campestre
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers • Flickers
Range: S Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, NE Argentina
Similar: Campo Flicker

The Field Flicker is a southern subspecies of Campo Flicker with white throat. Males may have red moustaches (below) and females black moustaches (above).

Below, Field Flicker, showing white throat and reddish moustache, Mostardas, Brazil, 2009
More photos...

© monacoeye • Transpantaneira, Brazil, 2011 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Campo Flicker
Latin: Colaptes campestris
Other: Field Flicker • Br: Pica-pau-do-campo, Chanchã, Chanchão, Pica-pau-de-manga, Pica-pau-malhado • Es: Carpintero Campestre
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers • Flickers
Range: Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, NE Argentina
Similar:

The Campo Flicker, is a widespread type of flicker, or woodpecker, found in Brazil. Often walks on the ground or perches not far from it, sometimes in exposed areas like lawns or roadsides. Often seen in pairs or groups. Not very timid.

Pictured above is the nominate subspecies, Colaptes c. campestris, which has a black throat, and perhaps more orange than yellow around the throat - photographed here in the Pantanal. Males have a red moustachial stripe and females a black one.

Pictured below is the southern white-throated subspecies, Colaptes campestris campestroides, also called the Field Flicker - photo in Rio Grande do Sul in southern Brazil, perched on a rather uncomfortable looking cactus.

Below, Field Flicker, showing white throat, Mostardas, Brazil, 2009
More photos...

© monacoeye • Pantanal, Brazil, 2011 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Pale Crested Woodpecker
Latin: Celeus lugubris
Other: Es: Carpintero lúgubre, cabeza pajiza, copete pajizo, cabeza blanca • Br: Pica-pau-louro
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers
Range: C Bolivia, Brazil Pantanal, C Paraguay, N Argentina
Similar: Blond-crested Woodpecker, Ringed Woodpecker

A superb woodpecker with a wonderful shock of white hair. Seen around the compound at Curicaca Lodge in the Pantanal especially, often climbing tall thin trees. Similar to the Blond-crested Woodpecker seen further east in Brazil. The male (above) Pale-crested Woodpecker has a red cheek, the female’s (further below) is dark brown.

In Brazil, only found in the extreme central west region, encompassing the Pantanal, Chapada das Guimaraes etc.

Below, male Pale-crested Woodpecker in flight, Curicaca Lodge, Pantanal, 2011
More photos...

© monacoeye • Regua, Brazil, 2011 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Blond Crested Woodpecker
Latin: Celeus flavescens
Other: Es: carpintero amarillento, de cabeza amarilla, copete amarillo, de cresta rubia • Br: Pica-pau-de-cabeça-amarela
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers
Range: E Brazil, SE Paraguay, NE Argentina
Similar: Pale Crested Woodpecker, Ringed Woodpecker

The Blond-crested Woodpecker is another beauty with a shock of “blond hair”. I only saw them on very misty mornings at Regua, so the photos are dull. Similar to the Pale-crested Woodpecker which lives in the Pantanal but separated geographically but Blond-crested Woodpecker has a blacker body.

The male’s moustachial stripe is red and the female’s black.

Below, male Blond-crested Woodpecker, upstate Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2011.
More photos...

© monacoeye • Para, Brazil, 2011 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Scaly Breasted Woodpecker
Latin: Celeus grammicus
Other: “Scale-breasted Woodpecker” (Ridgely & Greenfield/Ecuador) • Es: carpintero rojizo, carpintero culiamarillo • Br: Picapauzinho-chocolate • Fr: Pic de Verreaux
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers
Range: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Peru, Venezuela.
Similar: Chestnut Woodpecker, Cinnamon Woodpecker

Just record shots of the Scaly-breasted Woodpecker in Pará, Brazil.More photos...

© monacoeye • Para, Brazil, 2011 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Crimson Crested Woodpecker
Latin: Campephilus melanoleucos
Other: Br: Pica-pau-de-topete-vermelho • Es: picamaderos barbinegro, carpintero marcial • Fr: Pic de Malherbe
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers
Range: Panama to northern Argentina
Similar: Lineated Woodpecker

The Crimson-crested Woodpecker is a large woodpecker, similar-looking to the Lineated Woodpecker. One main difference is that the two white stripes on its back are narrow and converge in a v, unlike those of the Lineated Woodpecker which are widely spaced.

The Crimson-crested Woodpecker male (further below) has a mostly red head, with a black and white “badge” on the ear coverts. The female (above and below) has a broad white stripe on face and black forehead. Throat black, underside swirly stripes.More photos...

© monacoeye • Central Panama, April 2010 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Lineated Woodpecker
Latin: Dryocopus lineatus
Other: Br: Pica-pau-de-banda-branca • Es: picamaderos listado, carpintero crestirrojo, carpintero real, carpintero de garganta estriada, pito negro listado
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers
Range: Widespread Latin America
Similar: Crimson-crested Woodpecker, Guayaquil Woodpecker, Powerful Woodpecker etc

The Lineated Woodpecker is found throughout most of South and Central America north of Argentina, including all of Brazil. Was seen fairly frequently in Panama, Ecuador, Brazil.

The Lineated Woodpecker has a red crest, and white face stripe, relatively thin usually, which extends down neck - red malar stripe (see below) on male, dark on the female (photo above). The chest is dark, with variable amounts of horizontal barring on underside, depending on race.

The Lineated Woodpecker usually has two widely-spaced white vertical bands on its back, differentiating it from the Crimson Crested Woodpecker which has narrow bands which meet in “v”. It also has a large dark grey patch behind the eye unlike most of the Campephilus woodpeckers.

Below, male Lineated Woodpecker, Pantanal, Brazil, showing red facial stripe
More photos...

Copyright: RN/monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Iguazu, July 2010

Bird name: Plush Crested Jay
Latin: Cyanocorax chrysops
Other: Urraca de cresta alborotada (Es) • Gralha-de-crista-negra (Br)
Family: Corvidae • Crows, Jays
Range: Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, NE Argentina, Pantanal.
Similar:

A beautiful Plush-crested Jay on the Argentinian side of Iguazu falls. Bluish black upperside and yellow belly.
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Brazil, August 2011 • All rights reserved.

Bird name: Chopi Blackbird
Latin: Gnorimopsar chopi
Other: Tordo chaqueño, tordo charrúa, guira-hú (Es) • Vira-bosta, pássaro-preto (Br)
Family: Icteridae • New World Blackbirds
Range: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay
Similar: Shiny Cowbird, Screaming Cowbird, Forbes’ Blackbird

The Chopi Blackbird is a completely black bird but can be distinguished from Shiny Cowbirds by its grooved lower mandible. It also often seems to have spiky head feathers.

We saw Chopi Blackbirds in the Pantanal, Chapada das Guimaraes and upstate Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil.

Below, Chopi Blackbird clearly showing grooved lower bill
More photos...

Copyright monacoeye • Itatiaia November 2009

Bird name: Shiny Cowbird
Latin: Molothrus bonariensis
Other: Vira-bosta (Br) • Tordo (Es), Tordo común, Tordo renegrido
Family: Icteridae • Cowbirds
Range: SE USA though C South America, Brazil etc
Similar: Bronzed Cowbird, Screaming Cowbird, Chopi Blackbird

The Shiny Cowbird is one of a few entirely black birds to be found in Brazil. The photo above is a presumed female - the adult male (below) is deep blue-black and shiny.

The Shiny Cowbird’s range covers much of Latin America and has recently extended into Chile and Florida.

It’s usually seen in groups but not always. It tends to walk around on the ground and looks more relaxed than the male Ruby-crowned Tanager. The Chopi Blackbird has a more peaked head and has a grooved bill.

The Shiny Cowbird, not beloved by many birders, is a brood parasite, like the European Cuckoo, laying its eggs in the nests of other birds, and in some cases endangering host species survival.

Below, the bird on the right looks like a male Shiny Cowbird, Pantanal, Aug 2011
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Pantanal, August 2012 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Crested Oropendola
Latin: Psarocolius decumanus
Other: Japu-preto (Br) • Oropéndola crestada, conoto yapú, conoto negro (Es)
Family: Icteridae • Oropendolas
Range: Panama to northern Argentina, incl Brazil, Ecuador etc
Similar: Chestnut-headed Oropendola, Band-tailed Oropendola

The Crested Oropendola is the most common Oropendola, often seen at feeders in the Pantanal, Brazil; huge numbers seen returning to roost each evening in the Upper Napo region of eastern Ecuador (photo below); also seen as far west as Chiriqui, Panama (photo lowest) - it is currently expanding northwest into Honduras etc.

The Crested Oropendola has a pale yellow bill, bright blue irises, black body with long yellow undertail feathers, which extend past the 2 black central feathers, and chestnut vent and rump.

Charismatic birds which make wonderful noises and calls and a spectacular display (pic below).

Brazil

Below, Crested Oropendola at fruit feeder, Curicaca Lodge, Pantanal, Aug 2011


Below, presumed juvenile Crested Oropendola (dark iris), Curicaca Lodge, Pantanal, Aug 2011


Below, Crested Oropendola displaying at Rio Clarinho tower, Pantanal, Aug 2011
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Rio Clarinho Lodge, Brazil August 2011 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Solitary Cacique
Latin: Cacicus solitarius
Other: Solitary Black Cacique • Boyero negro (Es) • Iraúna-de-bico-branco (Br)
Family: Icteridae • Caciques
Range: Argentina, Bolivia, Brasil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela.
Similar: Red-rumped Cacique juvenile etc

The Solitary Cacique is a black cacique with pale yellow bill and dark irises. The dark irises are a good identifier, though other juvenile caciques may also have dark irises.

As the name suggests, the Solitary Cacique is likely to be seen singly or in pairs, but not flocks. I saw this individual near Rio Clarinho Lodge in the Brazilian Pantanal.

Below, Solitary Cacique, Rio Clarinho Lodge, Pantanal, August 2011
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, May 2010

Bird name: Yellow Rumped Cacique
Latin: Cacicus cela
Other: Xexéu (Br), japi, japim
Family: Icteridae • Caciques
Range: Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Amazonia, Brazil, Peru etc
Similar: Northern Mountain Cacique, Golden-winged Cacique

Yellow-rumped Caciques tend to build a colony of nests beside an active wasp nest (picture below).

Yellow-rumped Caciques were common in central Panama (top pics). Also frequently seen in Pantanal, Brazil (lower pics). Again at Chapada das Guimaraes. Also in Ecuadorian Amazonia (lowest record pics).

Panama

Below, Yellow-rumped Cacique displaying, central Panama, May 2010


Below, beautiful Yellow-rumped Cacique, central Panama, May 2010
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Lagoa do Peixe • November 2009 • All rights reserved

Bird name: White Browed Blackbird
Latin: Sturnella superciliaris
Other: Polícia-inglesa-do-sul (Br) • Pecho colorado (Es)
Family: Icteridae • New World Blackbirds
Range: Costa Rica to Brazil, Trinidad and expanding to Nicaragua etc.
Similar: Red-breasted Blackbird

The male White-browed Blackbird has a characteristic red breast, red spot on shoulder and white brow. The female is striped brown but still shows the light supercilium. I’m not sure if the two photos below are of females or juveniles.


More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Para, Brazil, August 2011 • All rights reserved.

Bird name: Red Breasted Blackbird
Latin: Sturnella militaris
Other: Tordo pechirrojo (Es), Polícia-inglesa-do-norte (Br)
Family: Icteridae • New World Blackbirds
Range: Costa Rica to Brazil, Trinidad and expanding to Nicaragua etc.
Similar: White-browed Blackbird

I saw a flock of Red-breasted Blackbirds in a field in southern Para, Brazil. The male, pictured above, has a red breast. Females are borwn and yellow, streaked.

These were the only ones we saw in Brazil, since we didn’t visit this kind of habitat much in the north, but it looked like it might be quite a common bird around farms.

Red-breasted Blackbirds are the northern equivalent of the White-browed Blackbird, which occurs further south.

Below, a flock of Red-breasted Blackbirds flushed as we drove past. Para, Brazil, Aug.
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Pantanal, Brazil, August 2011 • All rights reserved.

Bird name: Orange Backed Troupial
Latin: Icterus croconotus
Other: João-pinto (Br) • Matico (Es)
Family: Icteridae • New World Orioles, Troupials
Range: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru.
Similar:

The Orange-backed Troupial is a real stunner, quite regularly seen in the Pantanal and reasonably approachable. The bird above was the first one I saw, on day three of my Pantanal trip, as I was driving along the Transpantaneira. Too good to be true that this bird was feeding on a tree with similarly-coloured flowers! Of couse I stopped the car for a good fifteen minutes. I’d like to know what tree this is.

Below, Orange-backed Troupial feeding, Pantanal, Brazil, August 2011
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Pantanal, August 2011 • All rights reserved.

Bird name: Unicolored Blackbird
Latin: Agelasticus cyanopus
Other: Unicoloured Blackbird (UK) • Varillero Negro (Es) • Carretão (Br)
Family: Icteridae • New World Blackbirds
Range: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay
Similar:

The adult male Unicolored Blackbird is entirely black and the female is streaked brown above and streaked yellow underneath. I saw these in and around water. Often seen in pairs.

Below, female Unicolored Blackbird perched on water plants, Pantanal, Aug 2011.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Pantanal, August 2011 • All rights reserved.

Bird name: Epaulet Oriole
Latin: Icterus cayanensis
Other: Boyerito (Es) • Encontro (Br)
Family: Icteridae • New World Orioles
Range: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname.
Similar: Variable Oriole, Moriche Oriole

These Epaulet Orioles were seen in the southern part of the Brazilian state of Pará. See Variable Oriole for photos of similar birds in the Pantanal - a 2010 split.

There are a few subspecies - the epaulet can be yellow or orange-brown.

The Epaulet Oriole is a blackish bird with small patch of yellow or chestnut on shoulder.

Below, Epaulet Oriole feeding on some Cecropia fruit, Para, August.
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Pantanal, August 2011 • All rights reserved.

Bird name: Variable Oriole
Latin: Icterus pyrrhopterus
Other:
Family: Icteridae • New World Orioles
Range: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Pantanal
Similar: Epaulet Oriole, Moriche Oriole

I’m now classing these as Variable Oriole, which is a c. 2010 split by IOC & SACC from Epaulet Oriole. I’ve been told birds in the Pantanal are Variable. Also seen in Rio Grande do Sul wetlands.

The Variable Oriole is a black bird with small patch of yellow or chestnut on shoulder.

Below, Variable Oriole, Pantanal, August.
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Pantanal, August 2011 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Baywing
Latin: Agelaioides badius
Other: Bay Winged Cowbird • Asa-de-telha (Br) • Tordo músico (Es)
Family: Icteridae • New World Blackbirds
Range: Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Uruguay, Paraguay
Similar: Juvenile Screaming Cowbird

The Baywing is predominantly grey with rufous wing edges and black eye and bill.

Above, seen on the Transpantaneira highway, in the Brazilian Pantanal.

Baywings were easy to see at Pouso Alegre, where they joined Saffron Finches to feed on corn given to the animals. Not uncommon in open country.

These are not Cowbirds, in that they are not brood parasitic or in the genus Molothrus. In fact they are parasitised by Shiny Cowbirds, whose juveniles look very similar.More photos...

Copyright monacoeye • Iguaçu, Brazil 2006

Bird name: Giant Cowbird
Latin: Molothrus oryzivorus
Other: Iraúna-grande (Br) • Tordo Gigante (Es)
Family: Icteridae • Cowbirds
Range: S Mexico through N South America
Similar: Great Tailed Grackle

The Giant Cowbird is a brood parasitic icterid, laying its eggs in the nests of oropendolas, caciques and some other birds such as jays. It is found from Central America to the northwestern half of South America and to a lesser extent the southern part of Brazil.

The Giant Cowbird is a large bird (40 cm) - it looks a bit similar to the Great-tailed Grackle in Panama, but the latter has a thinner bill. The adult male is larger and shiny blue-black, the female browner and smaller. Irises can be red or yellow, depending on regional differences, also in some regions males tend to have red irises and females yellow irises.


Below, a Giant Cowbird with red eye in the Canal zone of Central Panama, 2010
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Lagoa do Peixe • November 2009 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Chestnut Capped Blackbird
Latin: Chrysomus ruficapillus
Other: Garibaldi (Br) • Turpial de gorro castaño (Es)
Family: Icteridae • New World Blackbirds
Range: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, French Guiana, Paraguay, Uruguay.
Similar:

The Chestnut-capped Blackbird is often seen around Lagoa do Peixe in large groups of several dozen birds, standing in fields or perched by roadsides or in trees.

The adult male is quite easily recognisable - all black with dark red throat and cap. But the red is very dark and can be difficult to see. The females and juveniles are more difficult, mostly brown with the red replaced by ochre. Pictured below is one with yellow spots and red - perhaps a juvenile male?

The Chestnut-capped Blackbird is found in much of eastern South America and Colombia. In Brazil it lives in the south and east of the country.

More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Mostardas

Bird name: Brown and Yellow Marshbird
Latin: Pseudoleistes virescens
Other: Dragão (Br) • Pecho amarillo chico (Es), Pecho amarillo común, Dragón
Family: Icteridae • New World Blackbirds, Marshbirds
Range: Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay
Similar:

The Brown-and-yellow Marshbird has a yellow breast and the rest of the bird is dark brown - it has no yellow on its back unlike the Yellow-rumped Marshbird.

The Brown-and-yellow Marshbird is found only in the very south of Brazil, and neighbouring countries. More photos...

Copyright monacoeye • Amazonia, Brazil, August.

Bird name: Black Caracara
Latin: Daptrius ater
Other: Gavião-de-anta (Br) • Caracara negro (Es), chupacacao negro, cacao negro
Family: Falconidae • Falcons, Caracaras
Range: Amazonia: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela.
Similar:

I saw Black Caracaras in Amazonia in Brazil and Ecuador. Adults are black birds with red-orange face masks, juveniles have a yellow face. Unmistakeable. Like other caracaras, often in groups.

Below, a perched Black Caracara in Para, Brazil, August.
More photos...

Copyright monacoeye • Amazonia, Brazil.

Bird name: Red Throated Caracara
Latin: Ibycter americanus
Other: Gralhão, cancão-grande (Br) • Chupacacao de vientre blanco (Es)
Family: Falconidae • Falcons, Caracaras
Range: Mexico to Brazil
Similar:

The Red-throated Caracara is a great looking bird - I only saw them once and at some distance, so just record shots here. They were very vocal.

Unlike other caracaras the Red-throated Caracara mostly feeds on bee and wasp larvae, also other insects and fruit.

Below, group of Red-throated Caracaras in Para, Brazil.
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Lagoa do Peixe • November 2009

Bird name: Southern Crested Caracara
Latin: Caracara plancus
Other: Southern Caracara • Caracará, carancho (Br) • Carancho, caricari, caracara moñudo, carcaña, guarro, moñudo. traro (Es)
Family: Falconidae • Falcons, Caracaras
Range: South America, south of the Amazon, excluding highlands.
Similar:

The Southern Crested Caracaras near Lagoa do Peixe flew above the marshes, which are densely populated with nesting birds, such as swallows, lapwing and other waders. The one above, which was flying around with a stolen egg, was being mobbed by Southern Lapwing and sheltered by a fence, where they were unable to dive-bomb him, as he tucked in to his breakfast.

Another pair were seen nesting on the top of the largest tree around.

They are quickly identifiable by their large orange-red and blue bill area, barred chest, some barring on wings, light patches at end of wings, but tips dark. White lightly-barred tail with dark band at end. Yellow legs. Further below a Southern Crested Caracara with yellowish bill, seen in the Pantanal - I think this must be a young adult.

Southern Crested Caracaras visited feeders at Curicaca Lodge in the Pantanal every day. They were often visible around the lodge, eating scraps or finding carrion.

Below, Southern Caracara has raided an egg, Mostardas, RS, Brazil, November.


Below, Southern Crested Caracara, Pantanal, Brazil, Aug 2012
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Lagoa do Peixe • November 2009

Bird name: Chimango Caracara
Latin: Milvago chimango
Other: Chimango (Br) • Chimango (Es), Caracara chimango, Tiuque, Chiuque
Family: Falconidae • Falcons, Caracaras
Range: Southern states of Brazil and southern parts of South America
Similar: Yellow-headed Caracara juvenile

The Chimango Caracara was the most common caracara near Mostardas. Seen flying above marshes, mobbed by swallows and lapwing, perching on posts with food, standing in road.

The Chimango Caracara is mottled brown, with a stripe behind the eye, like the Yellow-headed Caracara but not as strong or long. Indeed the Chimango is darker in the head and body than the Yellow-Headed Caracara.

It has white patches near the ends of the wings, fingers are white underneath but tips dark seen from above. Tail is light and faintly barred with a dark terminal strip. Bill can show pinkish-red colour at base.

Below, Chimago Caracara, Mostardas, Brazil, November
More photos...

Copyright monacoeye • Lagoa do Peixe • November 2009

Bird name: Yellow Headed Caracara
Latin: Milvago chimachima
Other: Carrapateiro (Br) • Chimachimá (Es)
Family: Falconidae • Falcons, Caracaras
Range: Central and South America; widespread Brazil.
Similar: Juvenile Chimango Caracara

Near Lagoa do Peixe in November the Yellow-headed Caracara was much less common than the Chimango Caracara and seemed to stay near wooded areas rather than open marshland. It is associated with farmland.

Its distinguishing feature is a dark line running behind the eye. Its body and head is mostly light yellowish brown. Lower areas of underside of wings are barred and there are white panels near the end of wings with dark fingers. Upperside of wings is dark brown with white panels. Tail is lightly barred with dark tip. Immature Yellow-headed Caracaras are more barred on body and neck.

The Brazilian name Carrapateiro is derived from Carrapato, which means tick, as the Yellow-headed Caracara is known to pick ticks off cattle.

Below, Yellow-headed Caracara, Brazil


Below, Yellow-headed Caracara, Panama, March
More photos...

Copyright monacoeye • Pantanal, Brazil, August.

Bird name: Laughing Falcon
Latin: Herpetotheres cachinnans
Other: Acauã (Br) • Halcón reidor (Es), halcón guaco, halcón risueño, guaicurú, guaco
Family: Falconidae • Falcons
Range: Mexico, Central America, South America, Brazil to Argentina
Similar:

No mistaking the Laughing Falcon, with its light underside and large black eye mask. When perched it appears to have a “flat-top” haircut. A specialist snake-eater. Seen in the Pantanal at Pouse Alegre.

More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Serra dos Tucanos, RJ, Brasil, September 2011

Bird name: Creamy Bellied Thrush
Latin: Turdus amaurochalinus
Other: Sabiá-poca (Br) • Sabiá común, Zorzal mandioca, Chalchalero, Tordo sabiá (Es)
Family: Turdidae • Thrushes
Range: SC, SE South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay.
Similar: Pale-breasted Thrush

The yellow bill with pale belly are key features of the Creamy-bellied Thrush, but the bill can be greyish. The Creamy-bellied Thrush looks a bit stern because of its dark lores and curved upper mandible. The dark lores distinguish it from the Pale-breasted Thrush. Head and back are generally uniform dark grey or brownish. Dark vertical lines on the throat. Legs pale pinkish grey.

The Creamy-bellied Thrush is found in much of Central and South America, is resident in the south of Brazil and migrates north in Brazil in the southern winter. Can be seen in parks and gardens. The bird pictured above was in the grounds of Serra dos Tucanos Lodge.

Below, greyish Creamy-bellied Thrush • Serra dos Tucanos, RJ, Brasil, September 2011
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Regua, RJ, Brazil, Sep 2011

Bird name: Pale Breasted Thrush
Latin: Turdus leucomelas
Other: Sabiá-barranco, sabiá-do-barranco (Br)
Family: Turdidae • Thrushes
Range: Eastern South America, incl Brazil
Similar: Creamy-bellied Thrush

The Pale-breasted Thrush has a grey head and olive brown body, unlike the more uniform Creamy-bellied Thrush. It does not have dark lores - CBD does.

Below, a partially leucistic Pale-breasted Thrush seen at Regua in September 2011.

Further below, a couple of presumed juveniles. They stayed on the ground mostly, in the shade of orchard trees, occasionally perching about a metre off the ground.

Below, partially leucistic Pale-breasted Thrush at Regua, RJ, Brazil, Sep 2011.
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Serra dos Tucanos, RJ, Brasil, September 2011

Bird name: White Necked Thrush
Latin: Turdus albicollis
Other: Zorzal gris (Es) • (Br)
Family: Turdidae • Thrushes
Range: Colombia to E Brazil & N Argentina
Similar:

I spotted this White-necked Thrush at the feeder on arrival at Serra dos Tucanos - found out later it was uncommon there! Unfortunately not much light for the photo.

© monacoeye • All rights reserved, Brazil

Bird name: Marbled Wood Quail
Latin: Odontophorus gujanensis
Other: Tocro de Guyane (Fr) • corcovado común (Es), uru-corcovado (Br), gemarmerde tandkwartel (Nl)
Family: Odontophoridae - New World Quail
Range: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela
Similar:

Just a record of this Marbled Wood Quail we saw at Rio Azul Lodge in Pará, Brazil.

© GW monacoeye • All rights reserved. Pará, Brazil, Sept 2011

Bird name: Santarem Parakeet
Latin: Pyrrhura amazonum
Other: Tiriba-do-madeira (Br) • perico santarém (Es)
Family: Psittacidae - Parrots, Macaws
Range: SW Amazonian Brazil: Pará etc
Similar: Santarem Parakeet

In the Ber van Perlo fieldguide this bird is the Madeira Parakeet, though he mentions it might be classed as a subspecies of Santarem Parakeet. I’ll add an entry for both on the site.

My guide told me in 2011 that Madeira Parakeet had been elevated by one body (SACC?) to species level. I haven’t checked its current (2013) status with the IOC.

Anyway a group of them perched directly above us on a walk through the forest at Rio Azul Lodge, making photos almost impossible. The Madeira Parakeets were interested in the cecropia seeds.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Lagoa do Peixe • November 2009

Bird name: Grassland Sparrow
Latin: Ammodramus humeralis
Other: Tico-tico-do-campo (Br) • Cachilo Ceja Amarilla (Es), Manimbe, Chingolo de Ceja Amarilla
Family: Emberizidae • New World Sparrows
Range: South America widespread
Similar:

The Grassland Sparrow is recognised by that yellow mark above the lores on the face. It is found throughout Brazil and much of South America.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Itatiaia, RJ, Brazil • November 2009

Bird name: Rufous Collared Sparrow
Latin: Zonotrichia capensis
Other: Tico-tico (Br) • Chingolo, Chincol, Cachilo, Copetón, Pichitanca (Es)
Family: Emberizidae • New World Sparrows
Range: South and Central America, Panama western highlands
Similar:

The Rufous-collared Sparrow is found throughout South and Central America, often near human habitation.

These birds in Itatiaia would feed at dawn on the great numbers of insects that collected around the hotel lights at night. With the aid of the geckos and a few other birds the whole compound was cleaned up by about 7.30!

Adults Rufous-collared Sparrows have a characteristic rufous collar, whereas juveniles lack this and have streaked underparts.

Seen frequently in Itatiaia, Ubatuba and Mostardas. In Panama, only seen in Chiriqui highlands in the west (lowest photo on next page).

Below, Rufous-collared Sparrow, Brazil


Below, Rufous-collared Sparrow, Brazil

More photos...

Copyright monacoeye • Pantanal, Brazil • August 2011

Bird name: Red Crested Cardinal
Latin: Paroaria coronata
Other: Cardeal-de-topete-vermelho (Br) • Cardenal de cresta roja, Cardenal copete rojo (Es)
Family: Emberizidae • Cardinals
Range: Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, Argentina, Uruguay
Similar:


The Red-crested Cardinal is found in the southern South American countries, including Rio Grande do Sul and the Pantanal.

Unmistakable in its range by its red crest, white front and grey back. Much less common than the Yellow-billed Cardinal.

Below, Red-crested Cardinal, Pantanal, Brazil • August 2011
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Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Pantanal, Brazil, 2011

Bird name: Yellow Billed Cardinal
Latin: Paroaria capitata
Other: Cardenilla, cardenal sin copete (Es) • Cavalaria (Br)
Family: Emberizidae • Cardinals
Range: Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, Argentina
Similar:

I saw great numbers of Yellow-billed Cardinals at Pouso Alegre lodge in the Pantanal, where they would come to feed on grain for the animals. They have orange bills, adults have red heads and juveniles pale or blotchy heads - many examples below. Also seen elsewhere in the Pantanal.

Below, Yellow-billed Cardinals with Saffron Finches, Bay-headed Cowbirds etc


Below, two ages of juvenile Yellow-billed Cardinals.
More photos...

Copyright monacoeye • Amazonia, Brazil • September 2011

Bird name: Red Capped Cardinal
Latin: Paroaria gularis
Other: Cardeal-da-amazônia (Br) • Cardenal bandera alemana, cardenal pantanero, cardenal gorrirrojo (Es)
Family: Emberizidae • Cardinals
Range: Amazonia - Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyanas, Peru, Bolivia, Trinidad
Similar:

A fleeting shot of a Red-capped Cardinal from a moving boat!

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Chapada das Guimaraes, August 2011

Bird name: Red Pileated Finch
Latin: Coryphospingus cucullatus
Other: Red-crested Finch • Brasita (Es) • Tico-tico-rei (Br)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers etc
Range: Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina, Guyanas, Brazil, Uruguay
Similar:

The dry scrubland, known as cerrado, on the Chapada das Guimaraes plateau was a good place to see the Red-pileated Finch in late August. I saw them just after dawn on a couple of occasions.

The male Red Pileated Finch (or Red-crested Finch) is bright red, with white eye-ring and darker wings and tail. The large crest was not raised in display when I saw them. The female (below) is duller but still has the white eye-ring.

Below, female Red Pileated Finch, Chapada das Guimaraes, Brazil
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Panama, May 2010

Bird name: Red Legged Honeycreeper
Latin: Cyanerpes cyaneus
Other: Mielero dorsioscuro, Mielero patirrojo (Es) • Saíra-beija-flor, saí-azul-de-pernas-vermelhas (Br)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers, Honeycreepers
Range: Mexico to Brazil
Similar:

The Red-legged Honeycreeper was a typical fruit feeder bird in Canopy Lodge, El Valle, Panama, and also seen in forest outskirts.

The male (above) has bright red legs, electric blue cap, sometimes crested, black eye mask, and the rest intense blue. The female, directly below, is greenish with reddish legs.

Below, female Red-legged Honeycreeper, Panama
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Rio Azul Lodge, Brazil, 2011.

Bird name: Purple Honeycreeper
Latin: Cyanerpes caeruleus
Other: Certiola de patas amarillas, tucuso morado, mielero cerúleo (Es) • Saí-de-perna-amarela (Br)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers, Honeycreepers
Range: Amazonia - Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru, Brazil, Guyanas, Venezuela, Trinidad
Similar:

Record shots of male Purple Honeycreepers. The bright yellow legs are diagnostic.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Rio Azul Lodge, Brazil, 2011.

Bird name: Short Billed Honeycreeper
Latin: Cyanerpes nitidus
Other: Mielero mielero piquicorto, mielero pico de tuna, copeicillo pico corto (Es) • Saí-de-bico-curto (Br)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers, Honeycreepers
Range: Amazonia - Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru, Brazil, Guyanas, Venezuela
Similar:

A record shot of a couple of Short Billed Honeycreepers which were in a mixed flock with a Yellow-bellied Dacnis. The male is blue and black, the female pale with yellow-green

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Brazil, Panama

Bird name: Green Honeycreeper
Latin: Chlorophanes spiza
Other: Mielero verde (Es) • Saí-verde (Br)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers, Honeycreepers
Range: Mexico to Brazil
Similar:

The Green Honeycreeper is a fairly common visitor to Jonas’ fruit feeders in Brazil. The male, above, has a distinctively shaped black hood on a turquoise body. The female, directly below, is leaf green. Both have yellow lower half of bill and red irises.

A juvenile male is pictured further below, showing a mixture of male and female plumage.

The lowest photo, taken in Panama on the observation deck of the Canopy Tower hotel, shows a female on a Cecropia with darker olive wing markings than the Brazilian birds I saw.

Below, a female Green Honeycreeper, Brazil.
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Brazil, November 2009

Bird name: Blue Dacnis
Latin: Dacnis cayana
Other: Turquoise Honeycreeper • Saí azul (Br) • Dacnis azul, mielero turquesa (Es)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers, Dacnises
Range: Nicaragua to Bolivia, Argentina, Brazil
Similar:

The Blue Dacnis is a widespread tanager found in much of South and Central America, including nearly all of Brazil. It will visit fruit feeders and sometimes even tries nectar feeders. Also seen on Cecropia from observation deck of Canopy Tower in Panama.

The Blue Dacnis has pink legs, and a black wedge-shaped mask. Plumage is electric blue in the male (above) with black on back, wings and black bill. The female (below) has a green body and blue head.

The lowest photo shows a bird which may be a very young Blue Dacnis, but shows little of the usual colouration.

Below, female Blue Dacnis.

More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Liana Lodge, Ecuador 2011

Bird name: Yellow Bellied Dacnis
Latin: Dacnis flaviventer
Other: Saí-amarela (Br) • Dacnis ventriamarillo (Es)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers, Dacnises
Range: Amazonia - Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Venezuela
Similar: A passing likeness to some orioles

Record shots of Yellow-bellied Dacnis, seen in Pará, Brazil, September, and Oriente, Ecuador with a mixed flock. Yellow and black with red irises.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Panama, Chiriqui, May 2010

Bird name: Bay Headed Tanager
Latin: Tangara gyrola
Other: Tángara cabeciroja (Es) • Saíra-de-cabeça-castanha (Br)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil through N, W Amazonia
Similar:

More bright colours. The Bay-headed Tanager has a chestnut head, light blue underparts and green upperparts. The female is similar to the male but duller.

There are variations in race. In Para, Brazil, Bay headed-Tanagers had more yellow on neck and shoulders (pic below). In Mindo, Ecuador, they had much yellow on wing (pic below).

More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Itatiaia November 2009

Bird name: Chestnut Bellied Euphonia
Latin: Euphonia pectoralis
Other: Ferro-velho (Br) • Fruterito alcalde, tieté, tangará alcalde (Es)
Family: Fringillidae • Finches, Euphonias
Range: Atlantic Rainforest, Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay
Similar:

The Chestnut-bellied Euphonia is very beautifully coloured, with a royal blue coat, yellow shoulder and rust-coloured underparts. The female (further below) is greenish on top with an indistinct blue cap and only a small patch of chestnut underneath near the tail.

The Chestnut-bellied Euphonia was not common at the feeders in Itatiaia and seemed only to appear when all other tourists had left. It lives in southeastern South America, mostly in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest.

Also seen at Serra dos Tucanos Lodge.

Below, male Chestnut-bellied Euphonia at Ypê, Itatiaia, Brazil


Below, male Chestnut-bellied Euphonia at Serra dos Tucanos, Brazil
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Brazil, November 2009

Bird name: Blue Black Grassquit
Latin: Volatinia jacarina
Other: Tiziu (Br) • Mochuelo (Es), Negrillo, Comesebo
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers, Seedeaters, Grassquits
Range: Widespread Latin America
Similar:

The Blue-black Grassquit adult male is entirely a dark blue-black colour. The eclipse or juvenile is more mottled (see photos). The female is brown with a streaked chest.

The Blue-black Grassquit is found throughout Brazil and much of South America, often in the same sort of habitat as the Double-collared Seedeater. Also seen in Panama.

Below, female or juvenile Blue-black Grassquit, Para, Brazil.

More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Panama, Chiriqui, May 2010

Bird name: Yellow Bellied Seedeater
Latin: Sporophila nigricollis
Other: Espiguero capuchino, espiguero vientriamarillo, espiguero corbatita amarillo (Es) • Papa-capim-capuchinho, Baiano (Br)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers, Seedeaters
Range: Costa Rica, Panama to Bolivia, Brazil
Similar: Female Variable Seedeater

The male Yellow-bellied Seedeater above, seen at Finca Hartmann, is pale, but there is considerable individual variation in the amount of yellow on the belly. Pictured below, a Yellow-bellied Seedeater from Mindo, Ecuador, which is more yellow. Male Yellow-bellied Seedeaters are easy enough to identify by their dark hood.

The presumed female Yellow-bellied Seedeater, directly below, looks much like the female Variable Seedeater, so ID should be treated with caution.

Below, presumed female Yellow-bellied Seedeater, W. Panama.
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Lagoa do Peixe • November 2009

Bird name: Saffron Finch
Latin: Sicalis flaveola
Other: Canário-da-terra-verdadeiro (Br) • Canario de tejado (Es), Jilguero dorado
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers, Finches
Range: South America, Caribbean
Similar:

The Saffron Finch is now classed with the Tanagers (Thraupidae) rather than the Buntings (Emberizidae).

The male is distinguished by a bright yellow front and orange/saffron glow above and sometimes below the face - there are various races.

The race pictured above is probably subspecies pelzelni, from location. Females and juveniles are hard to distinguish - they lack most of the yellow colouring and therefore look similar to other females. I’m going here on the striped chest as a distinguishing feature, but treat my IDs with caution.

As you can see below, the Saffron Finch takes advantage of the Rufous Hornero’s great nest-building abilities. Rufous Hornero’s typically build a new nest every year, so there are plenty of empty ones to be squatted.

The Saffron Finch is found throughout much of South America and the Caribbean, often near farm land.

Below, adult Saffron Finch, Pantanal, August.
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Regua, Brazil, September 2011

Bird name: Hooded Tanager
Latin: Nemosia pileata
Other: Cachaquito gigante, trinadora pechiblanca, frutero cabeza negra, f. de coronita (Es) • Saíra-de-chapéu-preto (Br)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Brazil to Venezuela and neighbours.
Similar:

I saw Hooded Tanagers quite frequently in mixed flocks around the lake at Regua in September.

The male Hooded Tanager (above) is black above, white below, with yellow irises, white lores, orange legs. The female (below) is grey and white, sometimes with orange colouring on chest etc.

At first sight Hooded Tanagers didn’t look like typical tanagers as they’re quite small with pointy bills.

Below, female Hooded Tanager, Regua, September.
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Brazil, 2011

Bird name: Chestnut Vented Conebill
Latin: Conirostrum speciosum
Other: Figuinha-de-rabo-castanho (Br) • Picocono culicastaño (Es)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers, Conebills
Range: South America, incl Brazil etc
Similar:

A couple of distant shots of Chestnut-vented Conebills. In certain areas, like the Regua ponds, they can be quite common, but they don’t stand out and I probably missed them often in mixed flocks with Hooded Tanagers etc. They are small fast moving and I was unable to get a good picture.

The chestnut vent under the tail is a good indicator for this bird.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Serra dos Tucanos, September 2011

Bird name: Red Eyed Vireo
Latin: Vireo olivaceus
Other: Vireo ojirrojo (Es) • Juruviara (Br)
Family: Vireonidae • Vireos
Range: Canada through Amazonia, South America
Similar:

The Red Eyed Vireo has a red iris, thin black stripe above white supercilium, light underparts, yellowy green upperparts.

There are resident North American and South American populations, both migrating. A South-American resident group is called Chivi Vireo - birds have brown eyes and yellow vent.

The Chivi Vireo pictured above was seen at Serra dos Tucanos Lodge near Rio in September. Red-eyed Vireos are seen in many forests of South America, many for example in Oriente, Ecuador, in March. We saw a migrant Red-eyed Vireo at the Finca Hartmann in western Panama, in May (further below).More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Itatiaia, Ubatuba • November 2009

Bird name: Golden Chevroned Tanager
Latin: Thraupis ornata
Other: Sanhaçu-de-encontro-amarelo (Br)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Brazil: principally Minas Gerais, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo
Similar:

The Golden-chevroned Tanager can look a little grey and muddy, depending on the individual, the angle and the light. Females and juveniles are certainly duller than adult males. Some are good-looking, bright and colourful birds.

The Golden-chevroned Tanager is basically a blue bird with a little yellow patch, or golden chevron, on the wing. It’s the only bird in the region with such a mark, so easy to identify. Females are paler than males, especially underneath. Some individuals have dusky lores, but others not so much.

The Golden-chevroned Tanager is endemic to a fairly small strip of the southeast coast of Brazil but is one of the most common tanagers around, so not hard to find.

Below, Golden-chevroned Tanager, Brazil
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved: Brazil November 2009

Bird name: Ruby Crowned Tanager
Latin: Tachyphonus coronatus
Other: Tiê-preto (Br)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina
Similar: Shiny Cowbird, White-lined Tanager

The male Ruby-crowned Tanager is all black and thus not dissimilar in aspect to the Shiny Cowbird and others. It can show a little white on the shoulder (see below). Occasionally you can spot the small red crest, but usually this is not visible.

It’s more nervy in behaviour than the aforementioned cowbird and more likely to be seen taking turns at a fruit feeder with a female, and other tanagers, than walking around calmly on the ground or collecting in groups.

The female is light brown with streaked chest and neck. The lower half of bills of both seem to show an indication of the white patch which is characteristic of many tanagers, such as the Brazilian Tanager.

Below, adult female Ruby-Crowned Tanager visits fruit feeders, shows streaked chest
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Brazil November 2009

Bird name: Brazilian Tanager
Latin: Ramphocelus bresilius
Other: Tiê-sangue (Br)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Brazil: Paraiba to Santa Catarina
Similar:

The male Brazilian Tanager is a very intense red. The above photo has 100% magenta saturation in Photoshop.

The male also has bright white patches on its lower bill which is otherwise black, and dark wings and tail. The female (below) is brown with a buff underside and red patch on rump and dark bill. The immature male (see further below) is like the female but with bright patches of red, especially on face, and white patch on black bill.

The female has no streaking on its chest, unlike the female Ruby-crowned Tanager. The former is also darker above than the latter. Both male and female Brazilian Tanagers have a slight overbite, where the upper bill is a bit longer than the lower.

The Brazilian Tanager is endemic to the southeast coast of Brazil, where it is fairly easy to find, and very easy to spot.

Below, adult female Brazilian Tanager.

More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Para, Brazil, September 2011

Bird name: Silver Beaked Tanager
Latin: Ramphocelus carbo
Other: Sangre de toro apagado, toche negro (Es) • Tie-sangue (Br)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyanas, Peru, Paraguay
Similar: Female Guira Tanager

The Silver-beaked Tanager is quite common over its range. It seemed to be the default tanager approaching Tena and into the Upper Napo region of Ecuador. Also the most common tanager in the Pantanal in August, where it was often seen beside rivers and in fruiting trees. Also seen in Parà.

The male Silver-beaked Tanager (above) is easy to identify - dark red with bright lower bill. It can look black in weak light.

Females (below) are browner - but still reddish - with less contrast on the bill. They look similar to female Brazilian Tanagers, but fortunately the two ranges do not overlap.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Regua, Brazil, September 2011

Bird name: Yellow Backed Tanager
Latin: Hemithraupis flavicollis
Other: Pintasilgo de buche dorado (Es) • Saíra-galega (Br)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyanas, Peru,
Similar: Female Guira Tanager

The male Yellow-backed Tanager (above) is a small tanager, black above, white below, with yellow throat, rump and lower face up to bill. The female (below) is plainer, yellow below and olive above.

Regua in September seemed a good place to see this bird - they visit the feeders and were frequently seen in mixed flocks near the lake.

There are quite a few subspecies, with slighty different colouring.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Itatiaia, RJ • November 2009

Bird name: Magpie Tanager
Latin: Cissopis leverianus
Other: Moriche blanco, frutero overo, tangará urraca (Es) • Tietinga (Br)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Widespread South America
Similar:

There’s no mistaking the Magpie Tanager, with its strong black and white markings, which are reminiscent of the European Magpie, its large size, long tail and bright yellow irises. Its distribution is split into two parts, one comprising southeastern Brazil.

Also seen in Ecuador near Tena and the eastern lowlands.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Itatiaia November 2009

Bird name: Black Goggled Tanager
Latin: Trichothraupis melanops
Other: Frutero de anteojos negros, frutero corona amarilla (Es) • Tiê-de-topete (Br)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina - Peru, Bolivia
Similar:

The Black-goggled Tanager has yellowish buff underparts, dark brown-black upperside, especially black around the eyes, yellow crest sometimes visible. The female has less pronounced markings. Lives in southern half of Brazil and neighbouring countries.

Below, probably female Black-googled Tanager
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Ubatuba • November 2009

Bird name: Red Necked Tanager
Latin: Tangara cyanocephala
Other: Saíra-militar (Br) • Tángara de cuello rojo (Es)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina
Similar:

The Red-necked Tanager is easy to identify in the adult form by its red neck. It also has a blue cap, green body, with some yellow on wing and black on back and on face around bill. The female, directly below, has less yellow on wing, less black on back and a duller, more orangey neck.

The juvenile Red-necked Tanager, seen above feeding from an adult male, and more examples below in “more photos”, is predominantly green with tell-tale flecks of adult colour, such as red neck and blue cap, with black face.

The Red-necked Tanager is endemic to the south-east Atlantic Rainforest corridor in Brazil, with another pocket in the north-east of the country, with a paler blue head and blue fleck on tail.

Below, female Red-necked Tanager
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Brazil 2011

Bird name: Swallow Tanager
Latin: Tersina viridis
Other: Azulejo golondrina, tángara golondrina, tersina/frutero golondrina (Es) • Saí-andorinha (Br)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Panama to Argentina, incl Brazil
Similar:

The male Swallow Tanager is distinguishable by its barred flank, black mask, bright blue colour (above). Females are green and yellow (see below).

The Swallow Tanager can be found throughout much of Brazil and neighbouring countries. This group were seen north of Rio in open country.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Rio Azul Lodge, Brazil 2011

Bird name: Red Shouldered Tanager
Latin: Tachyphonus phoenicius
Other: Frutero de hombros rojos (Es) • Tem-tem-de-dragona-vermelha (Br)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Amazonia - Brazil around Para state, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyanas
Similar: White-lined Tanager, Ruby-crowned Tanager

The male Red-shouldered Tanager is an entirely black bird - the red shoulder is generally not visible. This bird was identified on range - the only one of several similar black tanagers to inhabit this area of southern Para. The female is quite different - light underparts.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Serra dos Tucanos, Brazil • 2011

Bird name: Azure Shouldered Tanager
Latin: Tangara cyanoptera
Other: Sanhaçu-de-encontro-azul (Br)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: SE Brazil - Atlantic forest
Similar: Sayaca Tanager

The Azure-shouldered Tanager is very similar to the Sayaca Tanager, but in practice quite easy to differentiate. It has dusky lores (Sayaca doesn’t) and a bright blue shoulder mark. There is no overlap with Blue-grey Tanager.

Serra dos Tucanos Lodge north of Rio was a good place to see the Azure-shouldered Tanager - it visits the fruit feeders.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Brazil • 2011

Bird name: Black Faced Tanager
Latin: Schistochlamys melanopis
Other: Sanhaçu-de-coleira (Br) • Frutero cara negra, chovy estero, pizarrita sabanera (Es)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyanas, Peru, Venezuela, Bolivia, Paraguay
Similar:

The Black-faced Tanager lives in dry habitats - savanna, cerrado etc. These were seen in Chapada das Guimaraes.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Ecuador • 2011

Bird name: Blue Necked Tanager
Latin: Tangara cyanicollis
Other: Tangara capuchiazul (Es) • Saíra-de-cabeça-azul (Br)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Brazil, Ecuador, …
Similar:

Blue-necked Tanagers have bright blue heads, with black mask, dark bodies, and orange on shoulder. Underfeathers are actually blue and green but in normal lighting the body looks blackish.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Para, Brazil, September

Bird name: Flame Crested Tanager
Latin: Tachyphonus cristatus
Other: Tiê-galo (Br) • Frutero de cresta rojiza, parlotero crestado, tangara crestiflama (Es)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyanas, Peru, Venezuela, Bolivia
Similar:

The Flame-crested Tanager showing its main markings: a red crest, generally black body and buff patch on chin. Also white shoulder. Female is brownish.

The Flame-crested Tanager lives in two distinct populations, one on the southeast coast of Brazil - at Regua, for example - the other further northwest - eg at Rio Azul Lodge.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Brazil • 2011

Bird name: Green and Gold Tanager
Latin: Tangara schrankii
Other: Tangará carinegra, tangara verdidorada (Es) • Saíra-ouro (Br)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Amazonia - Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela
Similar:

I only glimpsed Green-and-gold Tanagers a couple of times, at the Rio Azul Lodge, in Para, Brazil.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Brazil • 2011

Bird name: Fulvous Crested Tanager
Latin: Tachyphonus surinamus
Other: Tem-tem-de-topete-ferrgíneo (Br) • Tangara crestifulva (Es)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Amazonia - Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyanas, Peru, Venezuela
Similar:

A couple of record shots of the Fulvous-crested Tanager at Rio Azul Lodge. A blackish tanager with brown patches on shoulders and sides.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Itatiaia, Ubatuba • November 2009

Bird name: Green Headed Tanager
Latin: Tangara seledon
Other: Saíra-sete-cores (Br)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Southeast Brazil - Atlantic Rainforest
Similar: Seven-colored Tanager

The colourful Green Headed Tanager is a frequent visitor to bird tables in the Atlantic Rainforest (Mata Atlantica) region.

Although the Green-headed Tanager is called Saíra-sete-cores in Portuguese, the English-named “Seven Colored Tanager” is a different bird found in the northeast of Brazil:Tangara fastuosa - Pintor-verdadeiro.

The immature Green Headed Tanager, pictured further below, is predominantly yellow and green.

Below, Green-headed Tanager, Serra dos Tucanos.


Below, juvenile Green Headed Tanager, is predominantly yellow and green.
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Brazil, March.

Bird name: Shrike Like Tanager
Latin: Neothraupis fasciata
Other: White-banded Tanager (old) • Cigarra-do-tempo (Es)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: NE Paraguay, NE Bolivia, Brazil cerrado
Similar: White-rumped Tanager, Black-faced Tanager

The Shrike-like Tanager adult (below) is grey and white with black face. White wing band. Juveniles (above and further below) are browner. Shrike-like Tanagers were one of the most common tanagers in the very dry cerrado, which was drier than the Sahara when I visited, at Chapada das Guimaraes.

Below, an adult Shrike-like Tanager in Chapada das Guimaraes, Brazil, August.
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Mato Gross, Brazil, March.

Bird name: White Rumped Tanager
Latin: Cypsnagra hirundinacea
Other: Bandoleta (Es)(Br)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Brazil, Bolivia, Suriname, Panama
Similar: Shrike-like Tanager juvenile

The White-rumped Tanager was seen on several occasions in cerrado at Chapada das Guimaraes, Brazil.

The adult (above) White-rumped Tanager has a dark orange throat, is light below, dark above, with two white wing marks and white rump. The juvenile (below) is browner, with lighter throat and more colour.

Eats insects mostly.

Below, juvenile White Rumped Tanager, Chapada das Guimaraes, Brazil
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Serra dos Tucanos Lodge, September

Bird name: Fawn Breasted Tanager
Latin: Pipraeidea melanonota
Other: Saíra viúva (Br) • Tangara pechianteada (Es)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay; and SE S America
Similar:

The Fawn-breasted Tanager is buff or orange below with blue upper half and red irises. Found in the Andes and in montane habitats in southern Brazil and bordering countries.

I saw Fawn-breasted Tanagers in Mindo and San Isidro Lodge in Ecuador and at Serra dos Tucanos Lodge in Brazil.

The male Fawn-breasted Tanager has deeper colours than the female and the Brazilian Fawn-breasted Tanager (above, male) apparently had richer colours than the Ecuadorian birds (below).

Below, Fawn Breasted Tanager, Ecuador, March.
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Serra dos Tucanos Lodge, September

Bird name: Burnished Buff Tanager
Latin: Tangara cayana
Other: Saíra amarela (Br) • Tangara cayana, pechinegro (Es) • Rufous-crowned Tanager
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Guianas, Venezuela, E Colombia, Paraguay, NE Argentina, Brazil
Similar:

The Burnished Buff Tanager male has a buff body, with black markings below and on face, and turquoise wings. The female (see next page) has less black.

The Burnished Buff Tanager is found in Brazil, to some extent neighbouring countries, and there is a separate population in northern South America. The subspecies in SE Brazil, where these photos were taken, is Tangara cayana flava.

Very subtle colours.

Below, male Burnished Buff Tanager - with flash, Serra do Tucanos Lodge, Brazil


Below, male Burnished Buff Tanager - ssp flava, Ubatuba.

More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Summit Gardens, Panama • April 2010

Bird name: Harpy Eagle
Latin: Harpia harpyja
Other: Aguila harpía (Es) • Harpia (Br)
Family: Accipitridae • Eagles, Birds of Prey
Range: Central America and tropical South America to Brazil
Similar:

The top pics are of a captive Harpy Eagle eating at the Summit Gardens zoo - further below there are a couple of pics of a wild bird in Brazil, sent in by Paula.

The Harpy Eagle is the largest and most powerful raptor in the Americas, with much larger talons than a Golden Eagle. Somehow, close up it didn’t look quite as big as I had expected. A rare bird, classed as Near Threatened, it is being reintroduced in several locations, including Soberania National Park in Panama.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Rio de Janeiro • Sep 2011

Bird name: White Tailed Hawk
Latin: Buteo albicaudatus
Other: Gavião-de-rabo-branco (Br) • Gavilán coliblanco, aguilucho alas largas (Es)
Family: Accipitridae • Hawks, Birds of Prey
Range: Americas: Texas to Argentina
Similar: Red-backed Hawk

We saw this pair of White-tailed Hawks attending chicks in a nest, in northern Rio de Janerio state. One was a light morph (above), the other a dark morph (below).More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Lagoa do Peixe, RS • November 2009

Bird name: Savanna Hawk
Latin: Buteogallus meridionalis
Other: Heterospizias meridionalis • Gavião-caboclo (Br) • Gavilán cangrejero colorado, Busardo sabanero (Es)
Family: Accipitridae • Hawks, Birds of Prey
Range: Panama to Argentina, incl Brazil
Similar:

The Savanna Hawk is a handsome bird, in tones of sienna and grey, with a light head and dark band running along the back of wings. The back is dark grey, with some grey extending into the upperside of the wings. The wings and body seen from below are mostly uniform finely-barred light rufous and grey, with dark fingertips.

The tail has one thick white band bordered by dark bands of brown, with some white at the tip. The Savannah Hawk has distinctive rufous “trousers”, yellow legs and yellow bill base with black tip.

Seen here on farmland, the Savannah Hawk is present throughout most of Brazil and is present in South America from Panama to Argentina. Seen frequently in the Pantanal in August.

Below: Savanna Hawk watching road, Pantanal, 2011


Below, Savanna Hawk flying low over field with wings swept back, S Brazil.
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Para, Brazil • Sep 2011

Bird name: Grey Headed Kite
Latin: Leptodon cayanensis
Other: Gray-headed Kite (US) • Milano cabecigrís (Es) • Gavião-de-cabeça-cinza (Br)
Family: Accipitridae • Kites, Birds of Prey
Range: Mexico to northern Argentina, incl Panama, Brazil
Similar:

The Grey-Headed Kite has a pale grey head with white body contrasting with dark wings and barred flight feathers. Two narrow white bands on tail (a third sometimes visible). Bill bluish.

Also seen in the mountains of Valle de Anton in central Panama.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Pantanal Aug 2011

Bird name: Great Black Hawk
Latin: Buteogallus urubitinga
Other: Gavião-preto (Br) • Gavilán cangrejero grande, urubitinga (Es)
Family: Accipitridae • Hawks, Birds of Prey
Range: Mexico to Southern Brazil
Similar: Common Black Hawk, Zone-tailed Hawk, Snail Kite

I saw this Great Black Hawk on the Transpantaneira in the Pantanal. All black except for white tail band, massive bill.

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Ecuador • March

Bird name: Plumbeous Kite
Latin: Ictinia plumbea
Other: Sovi, gavião-sauveiro (Br) • Milano plomizo (Es)
Family: Accipitridae • Kites, Birds of Prey
Range: Latin America: Mexico to Argentina, incl Ecuador
Similar:

A Plumbeous Kite flying through the trees in Ecuador, March. Note rufous wing tips and banded tail. Also seen at Floresta Amazonica in Alta Floresta, Brazil.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Pantanal, August 2011

Bird name: Black Collared Hawk
Latin: Busarellus nigricollis
Other: Gavião-belo (Br) • águila colorada (Es)
Family: Accipitridae • Hawks, Birds of Prey
Range: Mexico to Uruguay incl Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Venezuela etc
Similar: Savanna Hawk

I saw Black Collared Hawks regularly during my week in the Pantanal (but nowhere else). Difficult to drive down the Transpantaneira highway without seeing one.

The Black Collared Hawk is an attractive hawk, and reminded me of the Savanna Hawk, but was easy to identify by its black collar, even in the juvenile (see further below). Head white. In adults body is mostly rufous tones with blackish flight feathers, but juveniles have light patches - especially on chest - and are browner. Often by roadsides or riversides. Takes up similar positions to Roadside Hawks.

Below: Adult Black Collared Hawk taking off, Pantanal, Brazil, Aug 2011


Below: Juvenile Black Collared Hawk, Pantanal, Brazil, Aug 2011
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Serra dos Tucanos, September 2011

Bird name: Blue Naped Chlorophonia
Latin: Chlorophonia cyanea
Other: Bonito-do-campo, Bandeirinha (Br) • Tangará bonito (Es)
Family: Fringillidae • Finches, Chlorophonias
Range: Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Venezuela
Similar:

The riotously colourful Blue Naped Chlorophonia at the Serra dos Tucanos Lodge feeders in September.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Pantanal, Brazil, August 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Amazon Kingfisher
Latin: Chloroceryle amazona
Other: Martim-pescador-verde (Br) • Martín pescador amazónico (Es)
Family: Alcedinidae • Kingfishers
Range: Mexico to Argentina, including all Brazil
Similar: Green Kingfisher

The Amazon Kingfisher is a large river kingfisher. The male Amazon Kingfisher (pictured directly below) has a rufous chest. The female Amazon Kingfisher (above) has white and green markings. They are much larger than Green Kingfishers and have less white wing spotting than the latter.

Several near Curicaca Lodge in the Pantanal in August, above ditches beside small roads and above rivers.

Also seen in Amazonia above river banks and in Rio Grande do Sul on telephone wires above wetlands.

Below: a male Amazon Kingfisher in the Pantanal.


Below: a female Amazon Kingfisher in the Pantanal, August.
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Pantanal, Brazil, August 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Ringed Kingfisher
Latin: Megaceryle torquata
Other: Martim-pescador-grande (Br) • Martín pescador grande, Martín pescador de collar (Es)
Family: Alcedinidae • Kingfishers
Range: Texas to Tierra del Fuego, including all of Brazil
Similar:

The Ringed Kingfisher is a large kingfisher, which seemed abundant on the banks of the Rio Claro, in the Pantanal, in August; one was perched every few hundred metres in some places. A large, dominant and vocal bird. Also seen beside roads near drying pools, and in by the river in Napo, Ecuador.

The female Ringed Kingfisher (directly below) has a grey chest, while the male (above) is rufous right up to the white neck line. Bill has a light yellow patch on lower base. Rufous belly, grey wings, white collar, large white patch in front of eye; grey plumage is diagnostic.

Below: female Ringed Kingfisher in the Pantanal, Brazil, 2011.
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Pantanal, Brazil, August 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Green Kingfisher
Latin: Chloroceryle americana
Other: Martín pescador verde (Es) • Martim-pescador-pequeno (Br)
Family: Alcedinidae • Kingfishers
Range: SW USA to N Argentina
Similar: Amazon Kingfisher

The male Green Kingfisher (above) has a white neck, rufous chest, green head and back, white-spotted black wings and white underneath. The female (below) lacks the rufous colouring.

A smaller bird than the Amazon Kingfisher. Seen regularly in the Pantanal on the banks of the Rio Claro, at Curicaca Lodge, for example. Also Ecuador in the Oriente and Panama in the Canal Zone.

A presumed female Green Kingfisher at Pousada Curicaca.
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Pantanal, Brazil, August 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Green and Rufous Kingfisher
Latin: Chloroceryle inda
Other: Martín pescador verdirrufo (Es) • Martim-pescador-da-mata (Br)
Family: Alcedinidae • Kingfishers
Range: Nicaragua to Brazil
Similar: American Pygmy Kingfisher

Just one poor shot of a Green and Rufous Kingfisher in the Pantanal on the banks of the Rio Claro, at Curicaca Lodge. I saw them a couple of times but they seemed less common than the other kingfishers.

Rufous on the entire underside extending to the tail differentiates them from the American Pygmy Kingfisher, which is also much smaller. Some orange on the throat. Females have some green on the upper chest

Copyright: monacoeye • Pantanal, Brazil, August 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Rufous Tailed Jacamar
Latin: Galbula ruficauda
Other: Jacamará colirrufo (Es) • Ariramba-de-cauda-ruiva (Br)
Family: Galbulidae • Jacamars
Range: Southern Mexico, Central America to Brazil (south of Amazon)
Similar:

I was pleased to see Rufous-tailed Jacamars on several occasions during my 5 days in the Pantanal.

Sometimes they would swoop in front of me, while I was walking on a forest path alone, and then alight on a nearby bare horizontal branch of medium thickness.

They would then perch calmly, or if I got too close, move to another similar spot. They seemed confiding and were good subjects and very photogenic. Sometimes seemed to be in mixed flocks too.

The male Rufous-tailed Jacamar, above, has a white chin and rich rufous belly, while the female, pictured directly below, has a paler belly and pale chin.

Curicaca Lodge in the Pantanal was very good for this bird. There was one at the start of the path behind the lodge (near the killer bees!) with a fair amount of light coming through the trees there.

Below, female Rufous-tailed Jacamar at Pouso Alegre, Pantanal, Brazil, August.
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Rio state, Brazil, September 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Three Toed Jacamar
Latin: Jacamaralcyon tridactyla
Other: Cuitelão (Br)
Family: Galbulidae • Jacamars
Range: SE Brazil, Rio de Janeiro state
Similar: Brown Jacamar (not much overlap)

We saw this pair of Three-toed Jacamars in the north of Rio state on a long excursion from Serra dos Tucanos. They’re now classed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red list, due to habitat loss, and probably extinct from Sao Paulo state.

The Three-toed Jacamar is slightly browner around the head than one might expect from some illustrations. Note dark bill and white underparts including chest differentiate it from the Brown Jacamar.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Para, Brazil, September 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Bronzy Jacamar
Latin: Galbula leucogastra
Other: Jacamará bronceado (Es) • Ariramba-bronzeada (Br)
Family: Galbulidae • Jacamars
Range: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, Venezuela
Similar:

Just record shots of this Bronzy Jacamar in Para state, Brazil. Note white neck and bronzy chest.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Para, Brazil, September 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Paradise Jacamar
Latin: Galbula dea
Other: Ariramba-do-paraiso (Br) • Jacamará colilargo, jacamar del paraíso, jacamar negro (Es)
Family: Galbulidae • Jacamars
Range: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Guyanas
Similar:

The Paradise Jacamar has a long thin tail but is very dark, with a white collar and long straight bill. Seen here at Rio Azul Lodge in southern Amazonia.

Copyright: monacoeye • Para, Brazil, September 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Blue Necked Jacamar
Latin: Galbula cyanicollis
Other: Blue-cheeked Jacamar • Jacamará cariazul, jacamar de cuello azul (Es) • Ariramba-de-mata (Br)
Family: Galbulidae • Jacamars
Range: Amazonia south of the Amazon: Bolivia, Peru, Brazil
Similar: Yellow-billed Jacamar, Rufous-tailed Jacamar.

The Blue-necked Jacamar is similar to the Yellow-billed Jacamar but lives south of the Amazon while the latter lives north of the Amazon.

The Blue-necked Jacamar has a yellow bill, no green on chest. More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Rio Azul Lodge, Brazil, Sep 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Swallow Winged Puffbird
Latin: Chelidoptera tenebrosa
Other: Swallow-wing • Urubuzinho (Br) • Buco golondrina (Es), chacurú golondrina, monjita culiblanca, aguantasol
Family: Bucconidae • Puffbirds
Range: Amazonia: Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru, Guyanas; E Brazil
Similar:

There were a good number of Swallow-winged Puffbirds near the cabins at Rio Azul Lodge, in Para, Brazil, mostly visible around midday, often on telephone wires. This Amazonian bird burrows in the ground and can be seen throwing sand out of its burrow (photo below). Not too shy at midday.

Swallow-winged Puffbirds are often referred to by the name Swallow-wings. They are mostly blackish, with a red patch on the lower belly and white vent and underwings. The Brazilian name is Urubuzinho, which means little vulture.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Pantanal, Brazil, August.

Bird name: Grey Necked Wood Rail
Latin: Aramides cajanea
Other: Gray-necked Wood-rail • Saracura-três-potes (Br) • Chiricote (Es), Rascón cuello gris, Chilacoa colinegra
Family: Rallidae - Rails, Wood Rails
Range: Mexico to Argentina, incl Brazil etc.
Similar:

Grey-necked Wood-Rails were one of the most frequently seen birds in the Pantanal in August - always in or near water. The riverbanks around Curicaca Lodge usually produced one or two, often near jacarés, and once beside a capuchin monkey which was drinking from the river.

Grey-necked Wood-rails are medium-sized colourful birds with red legs, rufous underparts, grey neck, yellow-green bill and red irises. The grey neck is diagnostic. They are found throughout Central America and South America east of the Andes.

Below, close-up of a Grey-necked Wood Rail, Pantanal, Brazil, August.
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Canopy Tower, Panama April 2010

Bird name: Turkey Vulture
Latin: Cathartes aura
Other: Urubu-de-cabeça-vermelha (Br) • Turkey Buzzard (US) • John Crow (Caribbean) • Aura común (Es)
Family: Cathartidae • New World Vultures
Range: Americas: Canada to Argentina, incl Panama, Ecuador, Brazil etc.
Similar: Black Vulture, Lesser Yellow Headed Vulture, Comparison

In Panama, there is only one other similar vulture with a thick white trailing band on the wing, the Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, which has a yellowish, not pink, head.

Turkey Vultures can quickly be distinguished from other birds of prey at a distance by their V-shaped wings when gliding. The key fieldmark for differentiating them from other vultures is the well defined light underside of wings. Also they have pink heads.

Cathartes aura ruficollis, the indigenous Panamanian vultures pictured above and further below have light marks on the back of the neck. Large numbers of migrating Turkey Vultures can also be seen in Panama at the right time of the year.

Turkey Vultures were less common than Black-headed Vultures by the coast and in Itatiaia NP. There I saw them on three occasions, singly or in pairs, very high up or low in the forest.
In the Pantanal they were seen regularly in August 2011, but not as frequently as the Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture.

In Panama, in April, the Turkey Vulture was more common than the American Black Vulture, and frequently seen in most non-urban locations. The observation deck of the Canopy Tower is a good place to get views of them soaring across the top of the forest.

Below: Turkey Vulture showing light underside of wing feathers, Pantanal, Brazil, August.
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Pantanal, August 2011.

Bird name: Lesser Yellow Headed Vulture
Latin: Cathartes burrovianus
Other: Urubu-de-cabeça-amarela, urubu-menor-de-cabeça-amarela (Br) • Aura sabanera (Es)
Family: Cathartidae • New World Vultures
Range: Mexico, Central America, South America E of Andes, esp. Brazil, Pantanal. Lowland wet grassland, swamps, heavily degraded forest.
Similar: Greater Yellow Headed Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Comparison

The Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture is the most visible vulture in the Pantanal (Turkey Vultures also seen). Seen eating at fruit feeders at Curicaca Lodge and beside the road leading to the Transpantaneira.

The Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture is a smaller bird than the Greater Yellow-headed Vulture, with thinner wings and narrower head. Underside of wings lighter than GYHV but not as light as TV. Head more colourful (with yellow and blue) than Turkey Vulture. The Greater Yellow-headed Vulture is not found in the Pantanal. The Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture was rare (I didn’t see one) in the forested Rio Azul lodge, southern Para.

Below: Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, Pantanal. Lightened slightly to show wing pattern.
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Para, Brazil, September 2011.

Bird name: Greater Yellow Headed Vulture
Latin: Cathartes melambrotus
Other: Urubu-da-mata, urubu-maior-de-cabeça-amarela (Br) • Aura común (Es)
Family: Cathartidae • New World Vultures
Range: Northern South America, incl northern Brazil, Amazonia etc. Low altitude tropical forest.
Similar: Lesser Yellow Headed Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Comparison

Although in field guides The Greater Yellow Headed Vulture looks similar to the Lesser Yellow Headed Vulture and the Turkey Vulture, I found them quite easy to distinguish in practice.

Firstly there is not much overlap between Greater and Lesser Yellow Headed Vultures. Lesser is in the Pantanal, Greater in Amazonia, but with some Lessers near the Amazon itself.

Secondly, Greater Yellow Headed Vultures are very large birds, with very deep wings and long tails.

Thirdly, their wings are mostly dark underneath, with light patches nearest the body blending into the other darker feathers. Both the Turkey Vulture and the Lesser Yellow Headed Vulture have more delineated and lighter undersides.

The Greater Yellow Headed Vulture has a coloured head, with yellow, pink and blue parts, unlike the Turkey Vulture which is all pink-red with some white.

I saw Greater Yellow Headed Vultures flying over the Rio Azul Lodge in Para, usually around midday.

Below, Greater Yellow-headed Vulture. Photo lightened slightly to show wing pattern.
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Pantanal, Brazil, August.

Bird name: Jabiru
Latin: Jabiru mycteria
Other: Jabiru (Br) • Jabirú, tuyuyu (Es)
Family: Ciconiidae • Storks
Range: Mexico to Argentina, esp Pantanal, Brazil.
Similar:

The Jabiru is a very large stork, emblematic of the Pantanal region of South America. The word is from the Guarani meaning swollen neck.

The nest is huge, several metres in each dimension. Each year returning Jabirus add a new layer. Smaller birds often nest underneath. In a photo below you might just make out three monk parakeets below the nest.

The nest contained one adult and two juvenile jabirus, pictured below, which lack the characteristic pink red neck of the adult. Great birds.

Otherwise individuals were seen regularly, often with herons, in the pools drying beside the Transpantaneira and at Curicaca Lodge and Pouso Alegre, where I also saw the large nest.

Below, 2 juvenile Jabirus in nest, Pouso Alegre Lodge, Pantanal, Brazil, August.


Below, Jabiru feeds passing its bill through the water and mud on bottom, Pantanal..


Below, the Jabiru nest is huge, several metres wide, with other birds nesting below.
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Lagoa do Peixe, RS • November 2009

Bird name: Wood Stork
Latin: Mycteria americana
Other: Wood Ibis • Cabeça-seca (Br) • Tántalo Americano (Es)
Family: Ciconiidae • Storks
Range: SE USA to N Argentina, incl Brazil, Pantanal etc
Similar: Maguari Stork, Jabiru

The Wood Stork is a large stork which lives in tropical and sub-tropical America, with a small population in south-eastern USA. These photos were taken in Rio Grande do Sul and the Pantanal.

It is distinguished from the Maguari Stork by its darker, heavier neck, head and bill, which is slightly curved, dark irises and dark legs. Wings are black and white.

Below, Wood Stork in flight in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Pantanal, Brazil • Aug 2011

Bird name: Purplish Jay
Latin: Cyanocorax cyanomelas
Other: Gralha-cinza, gralha-do-pantanal (Br)
Family: Corvidae • Crows, Jays
Range: Central S America, Pantanal: Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Uruguay
Similar:

The Purplish Jay was seen fairly frequently on my trip to the Pantanal in August. One of the first birds to be seen around the compound at Curicaca Lodge, then again drinking water at a drying pool at Pousada Alegre (above).

The Purplish Jay appears mostly dark, blackish around the head, with purplish tinge only apparent in some lights. Not too shy, will visit feeders.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Chapada, Brazil • Aug 2011

Bird name: Curl Crested Jay
Latin: Cyanocorax cristatellus
Other: Gralha-do-campo (Br) • Urraca de cresta rizada (Es)
Family: Corvidae • Crows, Jays
Range: Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia - caatinga, cerrado
Similar:

I saw Curl Crested Jays on the edge of the cerrado, near buildings, on the Chapada das Guimaraes plateau. Unmistakable by its crest and loud call. Also seen flying across the cerrado in pairs.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Pantanal, Brazil • Aug 2011

Bird name: Chestnut Eared Aracari
Latin: Pteroglossus castano
Other: Araçari-de-pescoço-vermelho (Br) • Tucanillo (Es)
Family: Ramphastidae • Toucans, Aracaris
Range: W Amazonia to SE Brazil
Similar: Many-banded Aracari

The Chestnut-eared Aracari was the most frequently seen of the toucan family, on my recent trip to Mato Grosso. In the Pantanal I saw them at Curicaca Lodge and Pouso Alegre, then again in Chapada das Guimaraes and Alta Floresta. In the Pantanal it seemed to be the only Aracari in its range.

The Chestnut-eared Aracari head colour ranges from black to chestnut, though usually at least the side of the head is chestnut coloured. The white iris is diagnostic. In Brazil, only the Many-banded Aracari also has light irises, but it only lives in the far north-west, near Ecuador, it lacks the chestnut head colouring and black stripe on upper mandible, and has additional black markings to chest.

The upper bill of the Chestnut-eared Aracari is serrated - the dark parts look like they wear away leaving the white parts as teeth.

Below, close-up of Chestnut-eared Aracari, Pantanal, Brazil • Aug 2011
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Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Regua, Brazil • 2011

Bird name: Spot Billed Toucanet
Latin: Selenidera maculirostris
Other: Araçaru-poca (Br)• Tucancito de pico maculado, arasarí chico (Es)
Family: Ramphastidae • Toucans, Toucanets
Range: Brazil Atlantic Rainforest
Similar:

Above, a female (or juvenile?) Spot-billed Toucanet. Below a male.

Spot-billed Toucanets are readily identified by three or four dark marks on the upper bill. Seen on excursions from Regua and Serra dos Tucanos, in northern Rio de Janeiro state.

Below, male Spot-billed Toucanet, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil • 2011
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Rio Azul, Brazil • Sept 2011

Bird name: Red Necked Aracari
Latin: Pteroglossus bitorquatus
Other: Araçari-de-pescoço-vermelho (Br)
Family: Ramphastidae • Toucans, Aracaris
Range: S Amazonia
Similar:

Red-necked Aracaris near open farmland in Para, Brazil, September.

The head is a deep chestnut red colour, but so dark it can look black.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Rio Azul, Brazil • Sept 2011

Bird name: Curl Crested Aracari
Latin: Pteroglossus beauharnaesii
Other: araçari-mulato (Br)• arasarí crespo (Es)
Family: Ramphastidae • Toucans, Aracaris
Range: W Amazonia, incl Brazil
Similar:

Rio Azul Lodge had several Curl-crested Aracaris visiting not far from the lodge, in degraded semi-open forest.

Purple, sky-blue and orange on upper bill, white lower bill, pale blue around eye, “curly hair”. The bird pictured above had no red on belly (maybe juvenile?), a little on flank, but many adults birds have the red band typical of many aracaris.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Rio Azul Lodge, Sept 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: White Throated Toucan
Latin: Ramphastos tucanus
Other: Tucán goliblanco (Es) • Tucano-de-peito-branco (Br)
Family: Ramphastidae • Toucans
Range: East Ecuador, Amazonia, incl Brazil
Similar: Channel Billed Toucan

These birds were identified by the Rio Azul Lodge guide as White-throated Toucans. Note blue patch at base of lower mandible, yellow above. Very similar to Channel-billed Toucan, though calls are different, so treat ID with caution.

Below, a White Throated Toucan in flight carrying food, in Para, Brazil, September
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Chapada, Brazil • 2011

Bird name: Channel Billed Toucan
Latin: Ramphastos vitellinus
Other: Tucano-de-bico-preto (Br)• tucán de pico acanalado (Es)
Family: Ramphastidae • Toucans
Range: Amazonia, E, SE Brazil
Similar: White-throated Toucan

These Channel-billed Toucans were identified as such by the guides at Chapada das Guimaraes, Mato Grosso, and Rio Azul Lodge, Para, in Brazil.

The main distinguishing feature between these Channel-billed Toucans and the local subspecies of White-throated Toucan is the colour of the base of the lower mandible: the Channel-billed Toucan is yellow on both upper and lower mandible, with a small patch of blue along the bottom edge of the base of the upper mandible, whereas the White-throated Toucan has blue on the lower mandible.

However, there are several subspecies …More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Iguaçu, Brazil • 2007

Bird name: Toco Toucan
Latin: Ramphastos toco
Other: Tucano-toco, Tucanuçu (Br)• Tucán toco, Tucán grande (Es)
Family: Ramphastidae • Toucans
Range: NE, C, SE South America
Similar:

The Toco Toucan is the largest of the toucans, and probably the most well known.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Upper Napo, Ecuador, Mar 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Lettered Aracari
Latin: Pteroglossus inscriptus
Other: Arasari Letreado (Es), Araçari-letrado (Br)
Family: Ramphastidae • Toucans, Aracaris
Range: W, S Amazonia including east Ecuador, Brazil
Similar:

Lettered Aracari were seen perching high up, on several occasions, in the Upper Napo region of Ecuadorian Amazonia. They are so named because of the inky markings on their upper bill. Like many other aracaris they often sit perched with a small fruit in their bills. Attractive birds and not uncommon.

Bill markings vary widely from individual to individual, some with few thick black lines, others with many thinner lines. The Ecuadorian subspecies pictured above is Pteroglossus inscriptus humboldti, which has a completely black lower bill.

The nominate subspecies, pictured below, lives in Brazil east of the Rio Madeira tributary of the Amazon, has much yellow on the lower bill, a black mark at base of lower mandible and black at tip.

Below, the Brazilian subspecies in flight. Bill mostly yellow. Para, Brazil, September.
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Rio Azul Lodge, Brazil • 2011

Bird name: Gould's Toucanet
Latin: Selenidera gouldii
Other:
Family: Ramphastidae • Toucans, Toucanets
Range: S Amazonia
Similar:

I saw these Gould’s Toucanets accompanied by Curl-crested Aracaris at Rio Azul Lodge. Identifiable by their bill pattern: black on half the upper bill, yellow at tip, black line on lower bill. Females have light brown heads.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Guapi Assu, Sep 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Giant Snipe
Latin: Gallinago undulata
Other: Narcejão (Br) • Caica gigante, becasina gigante (Es)
Family: Scolopacidae • Waders, Snipes
Range: South America - Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil etc
Similar: South American Snipe

Birdwatching often transports you to extraordinary situations - my encounter with the Giant Snipe was one such event.

The Giant Snipe is a difficult bird to see during the day - it’s shy and hides in long grasses and channels. So three of us set off from Regua, in the northern part of Rio de Janeiro state, a little before dusk, with flashlights and ipod, to a certain field where the Giant Snipe was known to live…

The Giant Snipe is a large bird with a very long bill, and rich brown stripes on its back, distinguishing it from the South American Snipe. I understand there are separate populations, two of the nominate subspecies centred in northern South America, and another in the southeast of Brazil of Gallinago undulata gigantea seen here.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Pantanal, 28 April 2010 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Rufescent Tiger Heron
Latin: Tigrisoma lineatum
Other: Avetigre colorada (Es), Hocó colorado • Socó-boi (Br)
Family: Ardeidae • Herons
Range: Mexico to Uruguay
Similar: Fasciated Tiger Heron juvenile

Adult Rufescent Tiger Herons have wonderful finely barred greyish wings and rufous head and neck with white stripes down neck, yellow lores and yellow or orange irises. They are not too shy so relatively easy to observe.

Juvenile Rufescent Tiger Herons are really stunning, with coarse barring - like a tiger. Pictured above, one which has caught an insect.

In the Pantanal in August, Rufescent Tiger Herons are abundant by the drying bodies of water, and frequently seen in ditches, on river banks and near ponds and lakes.

Below: An Adult Rufescent Tiger Heron on a mound, Pantanal, Brazil, Aug 2011
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Copyright: monacoeye • Pantanal, August 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Boat Billed Heron
Latin: Cochlearius cochlearius
Other: Garça-real (Br) • Garcilla peinada (Es)
Family: Ardeidae • Herons
Range: South America - Panama to Brazil
Similar: Black-crowned Night Heron, Striated Heron

It’s unusual to see the Boat-billed Heron during the day, but night drives with a torch along waterways will usually produce several. They look rather strange (see further below) at night with their very broad bills.

The Boat-billed Heron pictured above was seen beside the Rio Claro, on an excursion from Rio Clarinho. Trips down the river from Rio Clarinho were a very good way to take in the beautiful scenery and see Agami Heron and Giant Otter because they don’t use engines (unlike Rio Claro Lodge) but punt instead.

During the day Boat-billed Herons look like they’re smiling. Generally unmistakeable by their very wide bills and buffy colouring - the most similar herons otherwise would probably be Black-crowned Night Heron or Striated Heron.

Below: Boat-billed Heron on the Rio Claro, Pantanal, Brazil, Aug 2011
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Pantanal, Aug 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Agami Heron
Latin: Agamia agami
Other: Garça-da-mata (Br) • Garza agamí (Es) • Chestnut-bellied Heron
Family: Ardeidae • Herons
Range: Central America to Brazil
Similar: none

The Agami Heron is usually very difficult to see as it hides in the darkness of overhanging vegetation by the river’s edge, or in forest swamps, but what a stunner!

It is a medium sized heron with a very long pointed bill and beautiful dark red and green colouring to its feathers, with white markings down the neck. The juvenile, pictured further below, is much duller.

I saw Agami Herons with my in-house guide, Dodo, from Rio Clarinho Lodge (basic accommodation but recommended for this bird), who punted me down the Rio Claro river. We saw three different Agamis over about two hours, including one juvenile.

To notice them you really need to have eyesight than can pierce the darkness - or a very good guide. These photos were taken without flash at very slow speeds.

The birds moved very slowly, generally with neck retracted, and though initally very shy, after a while continued with their normal stalking behaviour, moving gracefully through the network of roots that reach down into the water from overhanging bushes and trees.

Below: An adult Agami Heron on the Rio Claro, Pantanal, Brazil, Aug, Sep 2011
More photos...

© monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Pantanal • August 2011

Bird name: Burrowing Owl
Latin: Athene cunicularia
Other: (Es) • Coruja-buraqueira (Br)
Family: Strigidae • Owls
Range: North, Central and South America - from Canada to Argentina
Similar:

The small Burrowing Owl is a photographer’s friend - it stands peched in the open during broad daylight. It does hunt at night but is also often active during the day.

I regularly saw Burrowing Owls in open country throughout Brazil - farmland or dry scrub is typical habitat. Often there seemed to be groups, perhaps families or two pairs.

This small terrestrial owl lives in burrows in the ground, and often stands on a mound by the entrance to its burrow.

In Brazil, the Burrowing Owl has bright yellow irises and a white brow.

Directly below, a Burrowing Owl at Rio Clarinho Lodge, Pantanal, Brazil. August 2011.
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Lagoa do Peixe, November 2009 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Capped Heron
Latin: Pilherodius pileatus
Other: Garça-real (Br) • Garcilla peinada (Es)
Family: Ardeidae • Herons
Range: South America - Panama to Brazil
Similar:

The Capped Heron is a pretty, pastel-coloured heron, with black cap, light blue bill with pink fleck, cream neck and two or three long head feathers.

I saw them in a couple of places in the Pantanal, but they were often quite shy and retreated quickly. I saw one in the wetlands at Regua.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Pantanal, Brazil, Aug 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Little Blue Heron
Latin: Egretta caerulea
Other: Garceta azul (Es), garza azul • Garça-azul (Br)
Family: Ardeidae • Herons
Range: Texas to Uruguay
Similar: Snowy Egret

The adult Little Blue Heron is an unmistakeable intense blue colour, with a touch of purple around the neck. Seen above at Rio Clarinho Lodge in the Pantanal - the only place I saw this bird. Much rarer than other similar sized herons and egrets.

Pictured below is a juvenile Little Blue Heron. Before gaining his blue-grey adult plumage, he could be mistaken for a Snowy Egret, as he is mostly white. This one was seen by the Chagres River in central Panama.

Below, juvenile Little Blue Heron, Gamboa, Panama, April 2010.
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Lagoa do Peixe • November 2009

Bird name: Whistling Heron
Latin: Syrigma sibilatrix
Other: Maria façeira (Br) • Garceta Chiflón (Es)
Family: Ardeidae • Herons
Range: South America
Similar:

The Whistling Heron is unmistakable with its blue lores and reddish-pink bill with black tip. An attractive heron.

The nominate form lives in southern Brazil and neighbouring countries - with another subspecies fostresmithi in the Venezuela region.

Below, a Whistling Heron in the Pantanal in August 2011.
More photos...

Copyright monacoeye • Pantanal, Aug 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Roseate Spoonbill
Latin: Platalea ajaja
Other: Colhereiro-americano (Br) • Espátula rosada (Es)
Family: Threskiornithidae • Spoonbills
Range: Texas to Argentina, incl Brazil
Similar: none

The Roseate Spoonbill is unmistakable from its bill shape and pink colour.

The Roseate Spoonbill is seen in much of Brazil. The approach road to Curicaca Lodge in the Pantanal was good place to see them in August.

The top photo was taken as one flew below a tree I was standing in - quite an unusual angle for a flight shot, and you can see the intense pink markings on its wings and tail.

The juvenile below has no markings around eyes and brown fringes to flight feathers.

Below, an immature Roseate Spoonbill, Brazil, Nov 2009.
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Lagoa do Peixe, Brazil • Nov 2009

Bird name: Roadside Hawk
Latin: Buteo magnirostris
Other: Gavião-carijó (Br) • Gavilán pollero (Es), Aguilucho de ala rojiza, Taguato común
Family: Accipitridae • Hawks, Birds of Prey
Range: Latin America, Mexico to Argentina, incl Brazil
Similar:

The Roadside Hawk has a dark head with pale irises and usually pale barred chest and underwings. Topside of wings are dark, with a rufous wing patch on primaries. This rufous patch, usually just visible on perched birds, is diagnostic for Roadside Hawk.

The Roadside Hawk is typically the most frequently seen bird of prey when birding in Latin America, so it is a good bird to learn to identify.

Tail has thick brown and white horizontal stripes. Bill base is yellowish with dark tip and perhaps some light blue in the middle.

There are several subspecies and morphs, where dark brown is replaced by grey. Upper chest can be dark (Panama) or vertically striped (Brazil).

In the Pantanal in August I saw Roadside Hawks on most days - near roads, rivers and in forest. Near Mindo, Ecuador, in April, it was also the most common and visible bird of prey.

Below, Roadside Hawk mobbed in El Valle, Panama, May 2010. Dark throat and chest.


Below, a pair of Roadside Hawks in Mindo, Ecuador, April 2011. Yellow irises, orange ceres, grey throat and chest, rufous primaries just visible in perched birds. Thin white barring lines on underside.

More photos...

© monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Pantanal • August 2011

Bird name: Tropical Screech Owl
Latin: Megascops choliba
Other: Currucutú común (Es) • Corujinha-do-mato (Br)
Family: Strigidae • Owls
Range: South America
Similar:

This Tropical Screech Owl flew across a path at Rio Clarinho Lodge in the Pantanal, alighting on the other side so we could observe him in clear daylight from just a couple of metres away. Unusual to get such a good daylight view, so we may well have flushed him.

A pair also seen in a tree at Regua (further below).More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Pantanal • August 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Buff Necked Ibis
Latin: Theristicus caudatus
Other: Curicaca (Br) • Bandurria (Es)
Family: Threskiornithidae • Ibises
Range: South America
Similar:

The beautiful Buff-necked Ibis, although not common everywhere, can be seen in a few spots in the Pantanal quite easily.

These were all seen in the ditches below the Transpantaneira highway in August.

The Portuguese name is Curicaca - the name of a good lodge on the Transpantaneira. I didn’t see any Buff-necked Ibises while I was there, but plenty of other nice birds.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Pantanal • August 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Plumbeous Ibis
Latin: Theristicus caerulescens
Other: Curicaca-cinza (Br) • Bandurria mora (Es)
Family: Threskiornithidae • Ibises
Range: Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, Uruguay, Argentina
Similar:

The approach road to Pouso Alegre was a good place to find Plumbeous Ibis, in a couple of the ditches beside the road.

Copyright: monacoeye • Pantanal • August 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Green Ibis
Latin: Plegadis ridgwayi
Other: Coró-coró (Br) • Ibis verde (Es)
Family: Threskiornithidae • Ibises
Range: Honduras through South America, incl Brazil etc
Similar:

The Green Ibis was the most commonly seen of the ibises in the Pantanal in August. They were also seen following Capybaras with other small birds such as Cattle Tyrants and Wattled Jacanas. The Capybaras must have dislodged fish, crustaceans, amphibians and insects from the mud.

Colouring seemed quite variable. Some birds (eg above) seemed quite brown with small flashes of green. Others (eg directly below) had much green plumage and greenish bills and legs and neck feathers - probably breeding plumage.

Below: a Green Ibis in Pouso Alegre, Pantanal, Brazil, August.
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Copyright: monacoeye • Brazil • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Scarlet Ibis
Latin: Eudocimus ruber
Other: Guará (Br) • Ibis escarlata (Es)
Family: Threskiornithidae • Ibises
Range: Brazil, Guyanas, Venezuela, Trinidad, coast.
Similar:

A record shot of a stunning Scarlet Ibis at the bird park (sanctuary?) at Itatiaia, a long way from home.

In fact in Brazil they only live in a couple of coastal stretches, so are typically difficult to see unless you make a special trip. The national bird of Trinidad.

Copyright: monacoeye • Regua, Brazil, September 2011 • Do not copy without permission.

Bird name: Slaty Bristlefront
Latin: Merulaxis ater
Other: Entufado (Br)
Family: Rhinocryptidae • Tapaculos
Range: Southeast Brazil Atlantic Forest
Similar:

Members of the Tapaculo family are usually easy to hear and difficult to see. So I was very pleased to get a photo of this Slaty Bristlefront at Regua, in north Rio de Janeiro state in September.

We climbed up a steep bank into the dark forest, and then waited patiently as the male Slaty Bristlefront made his way over to our playback. In addition to the lack of light there was a dense morning mist to contend with.

But although deceptively fleet-footed, he was not very shy, and walked up to about four metres away, calling as he went, as we watched in wonder. He also raised his neck feathers at one point (photo below).

The male, pictured, has a bluish head, neck and chest and brown wings, tail and rear. And tall bristles between the eyes.

A great bird, and the first of the Rhinocryptidae Tapaculo family that I’ve been able to photograph.

The Slaty Bristlefront is endemic to a fairly narrow strip of Atlantic rainforest in the east of Brazil. It is classed as Near Threatened in IUCN 3.1 due to habitat loss.

Below, a Slaty Bristlefront, at Regua in Guapi Assu.
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Copyright: monacoeye • Brazil • August 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Thrush Like Wren
Latin: Cantorchilus longirostris
Other: Garrinchão-de-bico-grande (Br) • Soterrey Mirlo (Es)
Family: Troglodytidae • Wrens
Range: Amazonia, Pantanal, Bahia - Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil
Similar:

There is a tree you can climb with a rickety set of stairs on the approach road to Curicaca Lodge, off the Transpantaneira in the Pantanal. While standing on the upper platform, the Thrush-like Wren above alighted in the tree.

I also saw Thrush-like Wrens around the Lodge. It wasn’t initially obvious to me they were of the wren family from their large size, relaxed behaviour and plain colouring.

In the Pantanal subspecies pictured, Cantorchilus longirostris unicolor, barring is very faint on the chest but diagnostic on the flanks and under the tail. It has a light supercilium.
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Copyright: monacoeye • Brazil • September 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Long Billed Wren
Latin: Cantorchilus longirostris
Other: Garrinchão de bico grande (Br)
Family: Troglodytidae • Wrens
Range: Eastern Brazil
Similar: Buff Breasted Wren

I saw this Long-Billed Wren late afternoon on the perimeter of the garden of Serra dos Tucanos Lodge, in Rio de Janeiro state on a recent trip.

It had an attractive call and was not quite as furtive as some smaller wrens.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Folha Seca, Brazil • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Versicolored Emerald
Latin: Amazilia versicolor
Other: Versicoloured Emerald (UK) • Beija-flor-de-banda-branca (Br)
Family: Trochilidae • Hummingbirds
Range: Southeast and northeast Brazil, Amazonia
Similar:

The Versicolored Emerald was one of the more common types of hummingbird at Jonas’ feeders in Folha Seca, but I found them difficult to identify, so these photos are from the very-likely-but-not-certain bin.

Identification signs for the Versicolored Emerald include reddish lower bill, white mark behind eye, whitish belly, dusky blue subterminal band on tail. There are also regional variations.

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Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Mostardas, Brazil, November.

Bird name: Blue and White Swallow
Latin: Notiochelidon cyanoleuca
Other: Golondrina barranquera (Es) • Andorinha-pequena-de-casa (Br)
Family: Hirundinidae • Swallows
Range: Widespread South America, also Panama
Similar:

The Blue-and-White Swallow is a small swallow, with dark, blue-black and brown upperparts and white below except for under tail. NB dark rump.

The Blue-and-White Swallow seems one of the most widespread swallows in Latin America, seen frequently in Brazil, in Mostardas and Itatiaia, and then again in the highlands of Panama.

Below, a Blue-and-white Swallow in the Chiriqui highlands, Panama, May.
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