Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Ubatuba • November 2009

Bird name: Saw Billed Hermit
Latin: Ramphodon naevius
Other: Beija-flor-rajado (Br)
Family: Trochlidae • Hummingbirds

The Saw-billed Hermit is a large hummingbird, endemic to the southeast coast of Brazil.

The Saw-billed Hermit has an ochre throat, streaked dark brown and white in the centre which continues onto streaked chest and belly. Its tail is dark brown in the centre and ochre on the sides. Most of the rest of the bird is tones of brown. It has a light supercilium and the underside and lower half of its bill is yellow.

The male has a straight bill, while the female’s bill is more decurved.

More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Ubatuba • November 2009

Bird name: Violet Capped Woodnymph
Latin: Thalurania glaucopis
Other: Beija-flor-de-fronte-violeta (Br)
Family: Trochlidae • Hummingbirds

The Violet-capped Woodnymph is a hummingbird found throughout the southeast of Brazil, and into Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina.

The male has a characteristic purple cap, black bill, greenish body, brownish wings and deep blue, longish, forked tail. The female is light underneath, but I’m not certain the photo below is a female Violet-capped Woodnymph (needs confirmation). She has a shorter, white-tipped tail.

These photos were mostly taken at Jonas’ excellent feeders in Folha Seca.

More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Itatiaia November 2009

Bird name: Variegated Flycatcher
Latin: Empidonomus varius
Other: Peitica (Br)
Family: Tyrannidae • Flycatchers

The Variegated Flycatcher range extends from Argentina to Venezuala and it is found throughout Brazil - these were seen in Ubatuba.

The Variegated Flycatcher looks similar to the Streaked Flycatcher, but is slighter, less streaked, with smaller bill, which is darker underneath. White edging to wings is prominent as is the rufous edging to tail feathers.More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Itatiaia November 2009

Bird name: Short Crested Flycatcher
Latin: Myiarchus ferox
Other: Maria-cavaleira (Br)
Family: Tyrannidae • Flycatchers

These photos have been identified as probably Short-crested Flycatchers. They were mostly taken in Itatiaia in November. However there are a few very similar birds in the region, such as Swainson’s Flycatcher, so treat this ID with caution.

The Short-crested Flycatcher is widespread in Brazil, present in all areas other than Rio Grande do Sul. In Itatiaia they would visit the lodge and catch moths on the veranda. Its range extends from Argentina to Venezuala.More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Itatiaia Ubatuba November 2009

Bird name: Blue Dacnis
Latin: Dacnis cayana
Other: Turquoise Honeycreeper • Saí azul (Br)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers

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.

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) and immature has a green body and blue head, with similar black markings to the male.

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


More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Itatiaia November 2009

Bird name: Tropical Kingbird
Latin: Tyrannus melancholicus
Other: Suiriri (Br) • Benteveo real (Es), Suiriri real
Family: Tyrannidae • Tyrant Flycatchers

The Tropical Kingbird is one of the most widespread birds in Brazil, across all habitats. It has a large range outside Brazil, from Arizona to Argentina.

The Tropical Kingbird is a large flycatcher and bears some similarities to the smaller Cattle Tyrant, which is also widespread in Brazil. However the Tropical Kingbird generally has a forked tail, sits at the top of trees, has a larger bill than the Cattle Tyrant, and is greyer in the head area. The Cattle Tyrant is found at lower elevations, often walking on the ground, and is generally warmer and yellower in colour.More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Itatiaia November 2009

Bird name: Yellow Fronted Woodpecker
Latin: Melanerpes flavifrons
Other: Benedito-de-testa-amarela (Br) • Carpintero de frente amarilla
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers

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

The Yellow-fronted Woodpecker is found in the southeast of Brazil and surrounding regions.More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Ubatuba Itatiaia November 2009

Bird name: Brazilian Tanager
Latin: Ramphocelus bresilius
Other: Tiê-sangue (Br)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers

The male Brazilian Tanager is a very intense red. The above photo shows 100% magenta saturation in Photoshop. A real feast of colour.

The male also has bright white patches on its lower bill which is otherwise black, and dark wings and tail. The female (see 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.


More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Ubatuba Florianopolis Brazil

Bird name: Magnificent Frigatebird
Latin: Fregata magnificens
Other: Tesourão (Br) • Fragata magnífica (Es)
Family: Fregatidae • Frigatebirds

The Magnificent Frigatebirds I saw often seemed to accompany other birds - stealing fish from Brown Boobies in Santa Catarina, or soaring on thermals with Black Vultures in Ubatuba.More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Ubatuba & Mostardas November 2009

Bird name: Blue Black Grassquit
Latin: Volatinia jacarina
Other: Tiziu (Br) • mochuelo (Es), Negrillo, Comesebo
Family: Thraupidae • Grassquits

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.


More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Ubatuba & Itaiaia November 2009

Bird name: Double Collared Seedeater
Latin: Sporophila caerulescens
Other: Coleirinho (Br) • Corbatita común (Es), Corbatita doble collar
Family: Thraupidae • Seedeaters

The Double-collared Seedeater is found in many habitats. It has a wide range covering much of Brazil and neighbouring countries. It looks for grass seeds and can be seen near human habitation.

The Double-collared Seedeater male is quickly recognised by its black chin and black collar which form its “double collar”. The female is plain light brown and lacks chest stripes, which distinguishes it from the Blue-black Grassquit female. There are many similar looking females though, so the one below is only presumed to be a Double-collared Seedeater from its proximity with a male.


More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Ubatuba & Mostardas November 2009

Bird name: Fork Tailed Flycatcher
Latin: Tyrannus savana
Other: Tesourinha (Br) • Tijereta sabanera (Es)
Family: Tyrannidae • Kingbirds

The Fork-tailed Flycatcher is found throughout much of South America, migrating north in the austral winter.

It is immediately identifiable by its extremely long tail feathers and black cap.More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Ubatuba November 2009

Bird name: Masked Water Tyrant
Latin: Fluvicola nengeta
Other: Lavadeira-mascarada
Family: Tyrannidae • Tyrant Flycatchers

The Masked Water-tyrant is found on the east coast of Brazil. It has distinctive dark and white markings, including a sooty eye stripe, dark brown wings.More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Ubatuba Itatiaia November 2009

Bird name: Ruby Crowned Tanager
Latin: Tachyphonus coronatus
Other: Tiê-preto (Br)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers

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 in more photos). 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 (below) 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.

Also in “more photos”, there’s a shot of a female inflating her abdominal air sac. Perhaps a courtship ritual? Also a photo of a possible juvenile, with mottled colours. And a male in flight showing that there is no white in the wings.


More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Ubatuba November 2009

Bird name: Smooth Billed Ani
Latin: Crotophaga ani
Other: Anu-preto (Br)
Family: Cuculidae • Anis

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

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Itatiaia November 2009

Bird name: Palm Tanager
Latin: Thraupis palmarum
Other: Sanhaçu-do-coqueiro (Br) • Tangara (Es), Azulejo de palmeras
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers

The Palm Tanager is one of the dullest looking tanagers, mostly uniform olive-green, with lighter patches on wing and darker tips, head lighter and greener, with only a black iris and bill which stand out.

The Olive-green tanager is yellower below, with distinct upper and lower halves, and fluffier. The Sayaca Tanager is obviously blue, not green, but from below in some lights, when both are pale can look similar - the same goes for Golden-chevroned Tanager from below, which can also look similar.

Some field guides show the Palm Tanager male with purple tinges, but I didn’t see this.

The Palm Tanager is fairly common throughout most of the northern half of South America and extending into Central America and the Caribbean.More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Ubatuba November 2009

Bird name: Burnished Buff Tanager
Latin: Tangara cayana
Other: Saíra amarela (Br) • Rufous-crowned Tanager
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers

The Burnished Buff Tanager male has a buff body, with black markings below, including face, and turquoise wings. The female (see below) 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 near Sao Paulo, where these photos were taken, is Tangara cayana flava.More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Ubatuba November 2009

Bird name: Flame Crested Tanager
Latin: Tachyphonus cristatus
Other: Tiê-galo (Br)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers

This brief glimpse of a Flame-crested Tanager shows its main markings: a red patch on cap, generally black body and buff patch on back and chin. Also white shoulder. Female is brownish.

The Flame-crested Tanager lives in two distinct populations, one on the southeast coast of Brazil, the other further northwest, including neighbouring South American countries.More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Itatiaia November 2009

Bird name: Turkey Vulture
Latin: Cathartes aura
Other: Urubu-de-cabeça-vermelha (Br) • Turkey Buzzard (US) • John Crow (Caribbean) • Aura común (Es)
Family: Cathartidae • Birds of Prey • Vultures

There is only one other similar vulture with a thick white trailing band on the wing, the Yellow-headed Vulture, which has a yellow, not pink, head.

Turkey Vultures were much less common than Black-headed Vultures in the places I visited in Brazil. I saw them briefly on three occasions, either singly or in pairs, either very high up, or low in the forest, as pictured.

From what I understand these birds are well known throughout the Americas. In the US they are known as buzzards.More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Itatiaia November 2009

Bird name: Southern House Wren
Latin: Troglodytes musculus
Other: Corruíra-de-casa (Br) • Curucucha (Es) • Troglodytes aedon musculus
Family: Troglodytidae • Wrens

The Southern House Wren is found throughout Latin America. It is often viewed as a subspecies of House Wren, Troglodytes aedon, which extends throughout North America.

The House Wren is a great garden bird, with an attractive song. It is not shy and much easier to see than its European counterpart. I saw it in most habitats I visited.

More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Itatiaia & Ubatuba November 2009

Bird name: Bananaquit
Latin: Coereba flaveola
Other: Tangará (Br) • Reinita (Es)
Family: Coerebidae • Bananaquit

The Bananaquit is a small garden bird found in Brazil and most of tropical South and Central America. It feeds on nectar or even from hummingbird feeders. It is recognisable by its long curved bill, yellow underside, white eyebrow strip and black eye stripe.

The nest below was in the fork of a small tree - perhaps a citrus? As you can see the entrance was in the side. The Bananaquit was bringing straw.

The taxonomy of the Bananaquit is uncertain but it is close to some Thraupidae grassquits.

More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Itatiaia & Ubatuba November 2009

Bird name: Blue Manakin
Latin: Chiroxiphia caudata
Other: Tangará (Br) • Swallow-tailed Manakin
Family: Pipridae • Manakins

The Blue Manakin is a poster bird for the Atlantic Forest in southeastern Brazilian. It is very vocal and the male has a fantastic blue coat and red cap, with black head and wings. Like many other manakins the female is a cute little green bird with pink bill and legs. Like the male, she has forked extended retrices (longish tail feathers - just visible in bottom photo). The juvenile male (also below in “more photos”) is duller with a greenish coat.

Blue Manakin males group together in leks where they perform a courtship ritual in front of a single female. Usually one adult male and two sub-adult males. All the photos of males here were taken at leks. Blue Manakins often live at the edge of forest. A dark and leafy place - not ideal photographic conditions!More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Itatiaia & Ubatuba November 2009

Bird name: Swallow Tailed Kite
Latin: Elanoides forficatus
Other: Gavião-tesoura (Br) • Elanio tijereta (Es)
Family: Accipitridae • Kites

The Swallow Tailed Kite is unmistakable by its long deeply forked tail and contrasting black and white plumage.

Its range includes much of South America, excluding the southern cone, and extends right up into southern USA. The Swallow-tailed Kite can be found in most of Brazil.

This pair of Swallow-tailed Kites were seen in Ubatuba flying near a large group of White-collared Swifts.More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Itatiaia & Ubatuba November 2009

Bird name: White Collared Swift
Latin: Streptoprocne zonaris
Other: Taperuçu-de-colaira branca (Br)
Family: Apodidae • Swifts

The White Collared Swift is the largest swift in Brazil. Unlike the similar Biscutate Swift its white collar is complete around the neck with no break on the side. Its range extends across most of South America south of the Amazon and also higher up into Mexico.More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Itatiaia November 2009

Bird name: Sayaca Tanager
Latin: Thraupis sayaca
Other: Sanhaçu-cinzento (Br) • Celestino común (Es), Celestón
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers

The Sayaca Tanager is one of the most common tanagers within its range, often visiting fruit feeders. It is found in most of Brazil south of the Amazon, where it is replaced by the Blue-gray Tanager, and in neighbouring countries.

The Sayaca Tanager is blue and grey in colour. From the underside it can look very plain - similar to the Palm Tanager. Unlike the Azure-shouldered Tanager it does not have dusky lores.

More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Itatiaia November 2009

Bird name: Southern Rough Winged Swallow
Latin: Stelgidopteryx ruficollis
Other: Andorinha-serradora (Br)
Family: Hirundinidae • Swallows

The Southern Rough-winged Swallow is a small swallow widespread throughout Brazil, migrating to the far south in the summer. It can also be found throughout Latin America. In the United States it is replaced by the Northern Rough-winged Swallow.

The Southern Rough-winged Swallow has a characteristic tawny throat, is brown above and has light yellowish underparts.More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Ubatuba Brazil Nov 2009

Bird name: Festive Coquette
Latin: Lophornis chalybeus
Other: Topetinho-verde (Br)
Family: Trochilidae • Hummingbirds

The Festive Coquette was another spectacular small hummingbird seen at Jonas’ feeders in Folha Seca in Ubatuba. It has two populations, one in southeastern Brazil and one in the northwest of South America.

Like other Coquettes, the Festive Coquette is small with a white band on the rump. The Festive Coquette male (above) has long white-spotted neck feathers, a black mask, otherwise mosty green but as with most hummingbirds other colours can also be seen, especially with flash. The female (one photo under “more photos”) has no long neck feathers.

More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Itatiaia Brazil Nov 2009

Bird name: Black Jacobin
Latin: Florisuga fusca
Other: Beija-flor-preto (Br)
Family: Trochilidae • Hummingbirds

The Black Jacobin is endemic to the Atlantic Forest of the east coast of Brazil and neighbouring countries. It was probably the most common hummingbird in most locations I visited.

The Black Jacobin appears black and white although the upperside is very dark green in some lights. Tail is white with central black feathers. There is a small patch of white on the belly area. Immatures can have rufous throats and mottled brown caps. The Black Jacobin is a bit larger than many other hummingbirds at feeders, such as the versicoloured emerald.

More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Brazil • November 2009

Bird name: Social Flycatcher
Latin: Myiozetetes similis
Other: Vermilion-crowned Flycatcher • bentevizinho-de-penacho-vermelho
Family: Tyrannidae • Tyrant Flycatchers

The Social Flycatcher is a bit smaller and slighter than the superficially similar Great Kiskadee. The Social Flycatcher has a more curved culmen (top part of bill) and smaller bill. The white band does not complete all the way round its head.

The Social Flycatcher can be found in much of Latin America and most of Brazil.More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Brazil • November 2009

Bird name: Great Kiskadee
Latin: Pitangus sulphuratus
Other: Bem-te-vi (Br) • Benteveo (Es)
Family: Tyrannidae • Tyrant Flycatchers

The Great Kiskadee is a common bird in Latin America and throughout Brazil, where it’s known as Bem-te-vi (good to see you) - one of a complex of similar-looking birds.

Two other birds in Brazil with yellow belly, brown upperside, white chest and neck, black eye-stripe, white superciliary stripe are the Social Flycatcher and Boat-billed Flycatcher, though there are about ten other such doppelgangers in Brazil alone.

The Great Kiskadee is a bit larger than the Social Flycatcher, with heavier and straighter bill. Easy to recognise by its omnipresent and song: “kiskadee” or “bem-ti-vi”. It has a yellow crest.

Below (“more photos” link) is an odd, presumed Great Kiskadee with dark streaking on underparts, seen in Lagoa do Peixe. In Rio Grande do Sul, Great Kiskadees were seen mobbing birds of prey on several occasions. In Ubatuba, they were seen flying over the ocean waves. Great Kiskadees are one of the few passerines which sometimes fish.

Spanish names: cristofué, benteveo, bicho feo, bienteveo común, pecho amarillo, cierto guïs and pitogüéMore photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Itatiaia, Ubatuba • November 2009

Bird name: Cliff Flycatcher
Latin: Hirundinea ferruginea
Other: Gibão-de-couro (Br)
Family: Tyrannidae • Tyrant Flycatchers

The plumage of the Cliff Flycatcher is in tones of rufous brown, with a very small amount of light around the eye and a dark bill.

Cliff Flycatchers seemed fairly common in Itatiaia and Ubatuba, with a pair nesting on the windowsill of one of the chalets in Ubatuba - see photos below (“more photos”).

The female, presumably, was usually on the nest when I passed, with the male in attendance, either on the balcony of another chalet overlooking the nest (see photo) or flying around catching insects. Occasionally the female would join him on the balcony fence and they would both survey their brood of three eggs from a distance of about ten metres.

In Ubatuba I saw several Cliff Flycatchers on telephone wires, and in Itatiaia a group of them appeared at the top of a tree and then mobbed a passing Rufous-thighed Hawk.

Most of the range of the Cliff Flycatcher lies in Brazil, but there are other populations in South America east of the Andes.


More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Itatiaia, Ubatuba • November 2009

Bird name: Golden Chevroned Tanager
Latin: Thraupis ornata
Other: Sanhaçu-de-encontro-amarelo (Br)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers

The Golden-chevroned Tanager can look a little grey and muddy, depending on the individual, the angle and the light. It may be that females are the duller ones. So I have included a few such photos below (see “more photos…”) for help in identification. Some individuals, like the one above, 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 the most common tanager around so not hard to find.More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Mostardas, RS • November 2009

Bird name: Crested Becard
Latin: Pachyramphus validus
Other: Plain Becard • Caneleiro-de-chapéu-preto (Br)
Family: Tityridae • Tityra-Becards

The Crested Becard is a South-American bird, its range extending to Argentina and Peru and most of Brazil. These individuals were seen in the south near Lagoa do Peixe and in Ubatuba.

Both male and female have a dark grey crest, giving them a spiky haired look, but the remaining upperside feathers on the male are also dark grey whereas the female is mostly rufous. They are pale buffish on the underside.More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Itatiaia, RJ • November 2009

Bird name: Scaly Headed Parrot
Latin: Pionus maximiliani
Other: Maitaca-verde (Br) • Loro de Maximilian (Es)
Family: Psittacidae • Parrots

The Scaly-headed Parrot is one of the more common parrots on the east coast of Brazil. I saw these individuals in Itatiaia and behind Ubatuba.

I’ve tentatively identified the individual below as a Scaly-headed Parrot, by his grey neck and chest, small red patch at base of tail, light bill, and otherwise mostly green plumage. The principal distinguishing feature though is the “scaly” grey cap, seen on the bird above, perhaps eating figs.

The Scaly-headed Parrot’s range extends into the countries neighbouring Brazil.



Other English names: Scaly-headed Pionus, Maximilian Pionus, Maximilian Parrot, Maximilian's Pionus, or Maximilian's ParrotMore photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Ubatuba, SP • November 2009

Bird name: Rufous Thighed Kite
Latin: Harpagus diodon
Other: Gavião-bombachinha
Family: Acciptridae • Kites

The Rufous-thighed Kite is a mimic of the Bicoloured Hawk, so novices (like me) find them difficult to differentiate.

Fortunately the Rufous-thighed Kite has yellow around the eye and the Bicolored Hawk doesn’t, so that’s an easier differentiator if you’re close enough.

The Bicolored Hawk also tends to be bigger and has more of a fierce aspect. But at least one type of adult of each have similar barred wings and tail, rufous underarms and thighs, and plain greyish chest and belly.

The Rufous-thighed Kite lives mostly in Brazil but its range spreads over to neighbouring countries.

Thanks to Rick for ID!More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Ubatuba • November 2009

Bird name: Yellow Lored Tody Flycatcher
Latin: Todirostrum poliocephalum
Other: Gray-headed Tody-flycatcher • Teque-teque (Br)
Family: Tyrannidae • Tody Flycatchers

The Yellow-lored Tody-Flycatcher is instantly recognisable by its yellow “head-lights”. Its iris has a hint of red, underparts are bright yellow, and upperside and head mostly darker greenish with black and yellow highlights, with two yellow wingbars.

The Yellow-lored Tody-Flycatcher has a relatively small range. It is only found in Brazil, in the eastern part of the country, from Bahia to Santa Catarina.

More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Ubatuba • November 2009

Bird name: Bran Colored Flycatcher
Latin: Myiophobus fasciatus
Other: Bran-Coloured Flycatcher • Filipe (Br)
Family: Tyrannidae • Tyrant Flycatchers

The Bran-colored Flycatcher’s range extends from Costa Rica to Argentina including all but the northwest of Brazil.

The Bran-coloured Flycatcher has a brown head and cape, darker lower down the wings where two wingbars are very visible. Underneath, the chest and upper belly is streaked. Lower, the belly (on my individual, at least) is yellowish.More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Picinguaba, Ubatuba • November 2009

Bird name: Gray Breasted Martin
Latin: Progne chalybea
Other: Grey-breasted Martin • Andorinha-doméstica-grande (Br)
Family: Hirundinidae • Martins

The neck and upper chest of the Gray-breasted Martin is mottled grey. Typical blue-black top of head, neck and shoulders. Dark grey upperside of wings. Forked tail.

Although there are various morphs of the Gray-breasted Martin, I feel fairly certain of the identification of these photos, as these were sitting near Blue-and-white Swallows, which were much smaller.

The Grey-breasted Martin is a relatively large bird for a swallow or martin, found throughout much of Latin America from Mexico to Brazil. In Brazil it is widespread, though only migrating to the far southern states in the austral winter.

There were a dozen or more of these Gray-breasted Martins settling on telephone wires in the Picinguaba Reserve.



Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Ubatuba • November 2009 More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Lagoa do Peixe • November 2009

Bird name: Blue and White Swallow
Latin: Notiochelidon cyanoleuca
Other: Pygochelidon cyanoleuca • Andorinha-pequena-de-casa (Br) • Golondrina barranquera (Es)
Family: Hirundinidae • Swallows

The Blue-and-white Swallow is very widespread throughout South and Central America, including all of Brazil except the Amazon basin.

The lower part of the body under the tail is black, which is key for identification.


Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Ubatuba • November 2009More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: 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 • American Sparrows

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.



More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Mostardas, Brazil • November 2009

Bird name: Whistling Heron
Latin: Syrigma sibilatrix
Other: Maria façeira (Br) • Garceta Chiflón (Es)
Family: Ardeidae • Herons

The medium-sized Whistling Heron is unmistakable with its blue lores and reddish-pink bill with black tip.

The nominate form lives in southern Brazil and neighbouring countries - with another subspecies fostresmithi living in and around Venezuela. More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Itatiaia, Ubatuba • November 2009

Bird name: Green Headed Tanager
Latin: Tangara seledon
Other: Saíra-sete-cores
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers

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

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

The immature Green Headed Tanager, pictured above, is predominantly yellow and green.More photos...

Photos copyright: monacoeye • Brazil • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Neotropic Cormorant
Latin: Phalacrocorax brasilianus
Other: Olivaceous Cormorant • Phalacrocorax olivaceus • Biguá • Cormorán Neotropical • Cormorán • Cormorán Negro • Cuervo de Mar • Yeco • Pato Yeco • Patillo
Family: Phalacrocoracidae • Cormorants

The Neotropic Cormorant is the main cormorant in Brazil, widespread.
More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Santa Catarina • May 2006

Bird name: American Black Vulture
Latin: Coragyps atratus brasiliensis
Other: Black Vulture • South American Black Vulture • Urubu • Zopilote Común • Buitre Negro • Jote de Cabeza Negra • Gallinazo Negro • Gallote
Family: Cathartidae • Birds of Prey • Vultures

The American Black Vulture’s range extends from the southern US to the southernmost tip of Brazil. The Brazilian subspecies is known as the South American Black Vulture.

These photos were taken in Brazil, where the Urubu, as the bird is known locally, is a familiar sight and always to be found on beaches where fisherman operate, as well as rubbish dumps, and just “around town” generally !

Despite appearances, the American Black Vulture is (supposedly!) unrelated to the European Black Vulture, as it is a so-called New-World Vulture. I have tagged this entry with Falconiformes, but it looks like these vultures may end up in Accipitriformes after DNA evidence linking them to other birds of prey.

Like all seven species of New World vultures, this one has the somewhat unsavoury habit of defecating and urinating on its legs to cool them down - a process called urohydrolysis.

These vultures are large birds, with one-metre-fifty wingspans - they are elegant gliders and have a slow and lazy wingbeat.More photos...