Bulletin 433 - Brazil 2023 #14 - Tanagers Part 4

 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.

The 7" Brown Tanager (Orchesticus abeillei) is another Brazil endemic. He is all brown except for a black stripe through his eye.

Brown Tanager

2 birds have red crown spots. The 7.5" Diademed Tanager (Stephanophorus diadematus) is a deep blue bird with a black face and a wisp of red feathers on his crown.

Diademed Tanager

The 7" male Ruby-crowned Tanager (Tachyphonus coronatus) is an iridescent black bird with a tiny red spot on top of his head. The female is completely different - just a plain brown bird.

Ruby-crowned Tanager - male

Hai cousin, the 6.5" Flame-crested Tanager (Tachyphonus cristatus) is a black bird with a flat orange crest and a yellow rump. The female is brown.

Flame-crested Tanager - male

The 4.5" male Chestnut-vented Conebill (Conirostrum speciosum) is blue-gray above and pale below with the rufous vent feathers.

Chestnut-vented Conebill - male

The most unusual tanager is the 11" Magpie Tanager (Cissopis leverianus). He is an easy ID with his black and white plumage, long tail and a bright yellow eye.

Magpie Tanager

The 8.5" Black-throated Grosbeak (Saltator fulginosus) is another easy ID with his dark gray body, black throat and bright red bill.

Black-throated Grosbeak

The final tanager for the trip was a gaudy tangara species, the 5" Red-necked Tanager (Tangara cyanocephala). He is an easy ID if you see him. I think it is interesting that the common name is red-necked, but the scientific name means blue-headed???

Red-necked Tanager

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

I have photos of 143 of the 391 species of tanagers

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.

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.

Bulletin 431 - Brazil 2023 #12 - Tanagers - Part 3

 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.

The 5.3" Red Pileated Finch (Coryphospingus cucullatus) is a brick red bird with a white eye ring and a crest that he can raise. as seen here.

Red Pileated Finch

The 5" male Chestnut-bellied Seedfinch (Sporophila angolensis) is all brown below and otherwise black.  He kind of resembles an Orchard Oriole.

Chestnut-bellied Seedfinch - male

The 5" male Rufous-headed Tanager (Hemithraupis ruficapilla) is a yellow-green bird with an orange breast and red head. He is another endemic.

Rufous-headed Tanager - male

The 6.5" male Black-goggled Tanager (Tricothraupis melanops) is an easy ID. The female lacks the 'goggles'.

Black-goggled Tanager - male

The 5.5" male Green Honeycreeper (Chlorophanes spiza) is a very common bird seen on all my trips. The male is an easy ID with his blue green body and black head and yellow bill.

Green Honeycreeper - male

The 6" Chestnut-backed Tanager (Stilpnia preciosa) is a multicolored bird and was formerly of the tangara genus

Chestnut-backed Tanager

The tangara genus are the most gaudy colorful tanagers. The 5" Brassy-breasted Tanager (Tangara desmaresti) is a mostly green bird with a golden chest. He is another endemic.

Brassy-breasted Tanager

The 5" Green-headed Tanager (Tangara seledon) is another multicolored bird and I think that he was our favorite tanager, as it was very common.

Green-headed Tanager

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

I have photos of 143 of the 391 species of tanagers

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

Bulletin 430 - Brazil 2023 #11 - Woodpeckers

 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.

Piculets are the smallest woodpeckers and are always a treat to see and photograph. The 3.25" male White-wedged Piculet (Picumnus albosquamatus) is a hummingbird sized woodpecker with an olive back and the face and underparts are black and white. The male here has the red forehead.

White-wedged Piculet - male

The 6" female Little Woodpecker (Veniliornis passerinus) has plain brown wings and back. The underside is striped. The male would have a red nape. She must have been excited as she appears to have a crest.

Little Woodpecker - female

The 7" female White-fronted Woodpecker (Melanerpes cactorum) is at her nest hole. She has a black back, white spotting on the wings and tail and a white forehead.

White-fronted Woodpecker - female

Her cousin is the 7.5" male Yellow-fronted Woodpecker (Melanerpes flavifrons). He is a spectacular woodpecker.

Yellow-fronted Woodpecker - male

The 8" female Yellow-browed Woodpecker (Piculus aurulentus) was way high in the tree, so the photo is not the best. The yellow brow extends to the back of the neck and can be seen. The female just has a red nape. The male has the whole top of his head red.

Yellow-browed Woodpecker - female

The most unusual was the 10" White Woodpecker (Leuconerpes candidus). He has black wings, back and tail, but is otherwise white. The bare orbital skin is yellow. Also unusual for a woodpecker is that they fly very high and on a flat trajectory rather that the undulating flight that is most common for woodpeckers. Their diet is mostly fruit with some insects.

White Woodpecker

The celeus genus of woodpeckers is my favorite. They are large birds with yellow heads and big crests. The 10" female Pale-crested Woodpecker (Celeus lugubris) is brown with the big yellow crest. The male would have a red malar stripe.

Pale-crested Woodpecker - female

Her cousin is the 11" male Blonde-crested Woodpecker (Celeus flavescens). His body is black with a yellow scaly appearance. The head is all yellow with the red malar stripe and the huge punk rock crest. What a bird!

Blonde-crested Woodpecker - male

The 12" female Campo Flicker (Colaptes campestris) is another easy ID. The male would have a red malar stripe.

Campo Flicker

The largest is the common 13.5" female Lineated Woodpecker (Drycopus lineatus). I think I have seen this bird on every trip to Latin America.

Lineated Woodpecker - female

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

I have photos of 75 of the 239 species of woodpeckers

Happy birding and photography,

David McDonald

dkmmdpa@gmail.com

photos copyright 2006 - 2023 David McDonald

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

Bulletin 429 - Brazil 2023 #10 - Tanagers - Part 2; 2 Texas birds

 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.

The 7" Sayaca Tanager (Thraupis sayaca) is a blue-gray tanager found in lower elevations.

Sayaca Tanager 

The very similar 7" Azure-shouldered Tanager (Thraupis cyanoptera) is found in montane habitat. I do not know if I could tell them apart.

Azure-shouldered Tanager

A third bird of this genus is the 7" Golden-chevroned Tanager (Thraupis ornata). It is an easier ID with the yellow shoulder.

Golden-chevroned Tanager

The 6.3" Shrike-like Tanager (Neothraupis fasciata) is gray with black shoulders and a black mask.

Shrike-like Tanager

 

The 4.8" female Blue Dacnis (Dacnis cayana) is a bright green bird with a blue head.

Blue Dacnis - female

These next 3 birds may be familiar to many of you, as they have been established in Hawaii. But South America is their native territory.

The 6.5" Yellow-billed Cardinal (Paroaria capitata) is a handsome black and white bird with a red face and no crest.

Yellow-billed Cardinal

His cousin, the 7.5" Red-crested Cardinal (Paroaria coronata) has a red face, throat and breast as well as a red crest.

Red-crested Cardinal

Lastly is the beautiful 5.5" male Saffron Finch (Sicalis flaveola). He is an easy ID with an olive back, bright yellow below and a bit of orange on his forehead.

Saffron Finch

There were a couple of interesting Texas birds in 2023. The first was this Merlin (Falco columbarius). I photographed him at Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge back in February. What was unusual was his orange leggings. This is what caught my eye as I was driving along. So I turned around and went back to photo the bird. 

I posted it on Texbirds and there was quite a discussion whether it was a Merlin or a Eurasian Hobby. I assumed it was a Merlin as I had never seen a report of the Hobby in Texas before. Anyway the final consensus was that it was a Merlin, as there are photos of some similar birds online. Interesting bird!

Merlin

The second was even more interesting bird in December. It was the first USA record of a Grey-collared Becard (Pachyramphus major). He was discovered in a state park near Brownsville Texas. His normal range is Mexico to Nicaragua. Of course such a rarity brought birders from all over North America to add him to their list.

Grey-collared Becard - immature male

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

I have photos of 143 of the 391 species of tanagers

Happy birding and photography,

David McDonald

dkmmdpa@gmail.com

photos copyright 2006 - 2023 David McDonald

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

Bulletin 428 - Brazil 2023 #9 - Herons, Ibises, Falcon

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.

I had 4 heron photos for the trip, but only one was a lifer. The 16" Striated Heron (Butorides striatus) is the southern cousin of our Green Heron. The neck is gray rather than brown.

Striated Heron

The 26" adult Rufescent Tiger Heron (Tigrisoma lineatum) is an easy ID with his gray back and wings and rufous neck.

Rufescent Tiger Heron - adult

The juvenile is completely striped from head to tail.

Rufescent Tiger Heron - juvenile

The 22" Capped Heron (Pilherodius pileatus) is another easy ID with his white body, pale yellow neck and blue bare facial skin and blue bill. He also has a black cap and 2 long plumes.

Capped Heron

The lifer was the attractive 22" Whistling Heron (Syrigma sibilatrix). He is an easy ID. We saw this bird on each of the last 2 days of the trip, with the second time being quite close by the road.

Whistling Heron

We searched for the Agami and Zigzag Herons, but no luck.

The 30" Plumbeous Ibis (Theristicus caerulescens) is a gray ibis with red legs and a yellow eye. He has a very long shaggy crest.

Plumbeous Ibis

His cousin is the 30" Buff-necked Ibis (Theristicus caudatus). He is also an easy ID.

Buff-necked Ibis

Lastly is the 22" Green Ibis (Mesembrinibis cayennensis). He is all dark green (blacker in juveniles) including the bill. He has shiny green feathers on the back of his neck.

Green Ibis

The 20" Laughing Falcon (Herpetotheres cachinnans) is always a delight to see. On all my trips I have seen it perhaps 6 times. It is an easy ID.

Laughing Falcon

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

I have photos of 29 of the 66 species of herons

I have photos of 15 of the 35 species of ibises and spoonbills

I have photos of 18 of the 65 species of falcons

Happy birding and photography,

David McDonald

dkmmdpa@gmail.com

photos copyright 2006 - 2023 David McDonald

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