Bulletin 447 - Brazil 2025 #6 – Hummingbirds Part 2

 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 to a 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 endemic 4.7” male Stripe-breasted Starthroat (Heliomaster squamous) is a stunningly beautiful hummer - green with a central white stripe and a pink gorget.

Stripe-breasted Starthroat - male

The 4” male Hooded Visorbearer (Augastes lumachella) is green with a red tail and distinctive black facial pattern. He is an endemic in a very small area of NE Brazil and listed as Rare.

Hooded Visorbearer - male

The 3.9” male Horned Sungem (Heliactin bilophus) is another easy ID if you are lucky enough to see it. He has a white belly, black throat, blue crown and orange ‘horns’.

Horned Sungem - male

 

The 3.9” male Sapphire-spangled Emerald (Chionomesa lactea) is another beautiful hummer with his blue throat and breast and white belly.

Sapphire-spangled Emerald - male

The 3.9” male Glittering-bellied Emerald (Chlorostilbon lucidus) is all green except bluish throat. It has a re bill typical of this genus.

Glittering-bellied Emerald - male

The 3.9” male Violet-capped Woodnymph (Thalurania glaucopis) is bright green with a purple crown and bluish wings and tail.

Violet-capped Woodnymph - male

Lastly is a favorite of all birders – a coquette. The tiny 2.8” male Frilled Coquette (Lophornis magnificus). It is an easy ID if you see him.

Frilled Coquette - male

I put the different bird/mammal families in single folders for easy viewing

I have photos of 168 of the 365 species of Hummingbirds

Happy birding and photography,

David McDonald

dkmmdpa@gmail.com

photos copyright 2006 - 2026 David McDonald

To have these trip reports sent to your email, please email me at the above address and ask to subscribe.

 

Bulletin 432 - Brazil 2023 #13 - Hummingbirds

 After 3 trips to Colombia with diminishing returns, it was time to go further afield. Pablo Flores the guide in Colombia is now leading trips to Brazil as well. So my birding buddy Martin Jackson and my daughter Chantel and I decided to go there. We visited the Pantanal, the Atlantic forest in the Sao Paulo area and had 1 day in the Chapada. The Pantanal is the largest wetland in the world, so it is teeming with wildlife. 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.

Hummingbirds are one of my favorite species of birds. What was surprising on the trip was how few locations had feeders out. It seemed the only feeders were at private lodges. The national and state parks did not have any (maybe prohibited). So I only got 9 new species for the trip. 

There were 2 new hermits. The 6" Saw-billed Hermit (Ramphodon naevius) is unlike other hermits as he does not have the 2 long central white tail feathers. Apparently he is named for his serrated mandible (only occasionally seen in the field). This is a Brazil endemic and another bird named for a never seen field mark. I was always enchanted by his name in the bird list - so it was nice to finally see him. He also has an almost straight bill - unusual for a hermit.

Saw-billed Hermit

Here is another photo attacking a huge bromeliad flower.

Saw-billed Hermit

The 5.5" Scale-throated Hermit (Phaetornis eurynome) is a montane species that we saw at a lodge with feeders in the Atlantic forest.

The next 5 birds along with the Saw-billed Hermit above were seen on our first day  at a private reserve on the coast north of Sao Paulo. The retired gentleman set up this place and he refused to accept any money. His joy was to show people his local beauties. 

The 3" male Festive Coquette (Lophornis chalybeus) is a tiny hummer with a white stripe across the rump and a fringe of white tipped feathers on the neck.

Festive Coquette -male

Here is again hovering and the neck feathers are laid flat.

Festive Coquette - male

The 4.8" Sombre Hummingbird (Aphantochrao cirrchloris) is green above and gray with green dots below.

 Sombre Hummingbird

The 4.5" male Brazilian Ruby (Clytolaema rubricauda) is another endemic and a distinctive bird in the range. He is all green with a red throat and rufous wings and tail.

Brazilian Ruby - male

The 3.5" male White-chinned Sapphire (Hylochloris cyanus) has a purple head with a red bill tipped in black and a few white chin feathers.

White-chinned Sapphire - male

The 4" male Violet-capped Woodnymph (Thalurania glaucopis) is a green hummer with sparkling underside and a purple crown.

Violet-capped Woodnymph - male

So the above 7 birds were at locations with feeders. The last 2 here are captured in the field and I think I was very lucky to get such close-up photos. 

The 4.5" White-throated Hummingbird (Leucochloris albicolis) was caught on the last morning on the way up the mountain, with a patch of flowers beside the road.

White-throated Hummingbird

The 3.8" Plain-bellied Emerald (Chyrsuronia leucogaster) is green above and white below.

Plain-bellied Emerald

I put the different bird/mammal families in single folders for easy viewing

I have photos of 156 of the 365 species of hummingbirds.

Happy birding and photography,

David McDonald

dkmmdpa@gmail.com

photos copyright 2006 - 2024 David McDonald

To have these trip reports sent to your email, please email me at the above address and ask to subscribe.