The Atlantic Forest is a unique ecosystem from sea level to about 1 mile elevation. It contains 800 species of birds (225 endemic) and 26 species of primates. Unfortunately it also contains 2 mega cities - Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro and the resulting sprawl and clearing for agriculture since the Portuguese arrived 500 years ago, has wiped out 90%+ of the original forest. About 250 species of amphibians, birds and mammals have gone extinct in the past 400 years. The good news is that many preserves and parks have been set aside to try and preserve the remaining biodiversity. Many of the birds have wide distribution, but others are restricted toa tiny area of original forest usually above 2500 foot elevation. The Birds of Brazil guide book by Ber Van Perlo was published in 2009. He gives the chances of seeing the birds and many are listed as R - meaning rare with a negligible chance of finding them. However with the excellent guide (Alex Mesquita) and going point to point where the reported sightings have recently occurred, we saw many of them. We drove over 2000 miles in the 2 weeks to see as many of these rarities as well as the more common birds. I will indicate the R species.
In 2023 I visited the southern part of this area. In 2025 I visited the northern part. Some of the photos will be ones I had not sent for the 2023 trip.
The funarids are mostly rufous birds and sexes usually have the same plumage.
The 7" Araucaria Tit-Spinetail (Leptashenura setaria) has a streaked head and long tail. It is confined to araucaria trees. R
Araucaria Tit-Spinetail
The 5.5" Ochre-cheeked Spinetail (Synallaxis scutata) has a white throat and thin black line below the white. The yellowish cheek patch helps with the ID.
Ochre-cheeked Spinetail
The 6" Pale-breasted Spinetail (Synallaxis albescens) has a rufous cap and shoulders. The underparts are almost white.
Pale-breasted Spinetail
The 6" Rufous-capped Spinetail (Synallaxis ruficapilla) has a rufous crown, wings and tail with gray underside and a white eyebrow.
Rufous-capped Spinetail
The 6" Sooty-fronted Spinetail (Synallaxis frontalis) is mostly grayish with the rufous cap, wings and tail. He has also a gray forehead.
Sooty-fronted Spinetail
The 6" Pallid Spinetail (Cranioleuca demissa) has a rufous cap, wings and tail. There is a white eyebrow that is diagnostic but not seen in this photo.
Pallid Spinetail
The 6.3" White-lored Spinetail (Cranioleuca albilora) is rufous with a gray head and white lores.
White-lored Spinetail
The 6" Yellow-chinned Spinetail (Certhiaxis cinnamomeus) ia another bird named for a field mark that usually cannot been seen in the field.It is bicolored - rufous above and white below.
Yellow-chinned Spinetail
The 4.7" Atlantic Plain Xenops (Xenops minutis) is a recent split of Plain Xenops. It is a cute flat headed rufous bird with a short yolleow slightly upturned bill.
The 6.3" Great Xenops (Megaxenops parnaguae) is a rufous bird with a white throat and the same yellow up turned bill. The guide warned us that this bird is very difficult to see and photo. However, with my uncanny luck, the bird showed up immediately and posed for photos in the open. After we had good photos, we walked another 20 yards down the trail and the bird flew and landed beside us again. The guide said this was the best photo he ever got of this bird.
Great Xenops
I put the different bird/mammal families in single folders for easy viewing
David McDonald
dkmmdpa@gmail.com
photos copyright 2006 - 2025 David McDonald
To have these trip reports sent to your email, please email me at the above address and ask to subscribe.
