Bulletin 423 - Brazil 2023 #4 - Antbirds

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.

Just as in the previous bulletin where I had a record for rails, this trip produced a record 11 species of antbirds.

The rarest was the 4.5" male Black-hooded Antwren (Formicivora erythonotus). He has a black head, neck and breast with a brown back. It is listed as critically endangered and is only known from a few fragmented areas in southern Rio de Janeiro state. The population is estimated as 600-1700.

Black-hooded Antwren - male

His cousin is the 5" male Rusty-backed Antwren (Formicivora rufa). He has a black face and underparts, brown cap and back with white separating the colors

Rusty-backed Antwren - male

The 4.5" Rufous-margined Antwren (Herpsilochmus rufimarginatus) is pale yellow below and that is all that can be seen inn  my photo.

Rufous-margined Antwren

The last antwren is the 4" female Streak-capped Antwren (Terenura maculata). It has a brown back patch and streaked head. The sexes are similar but the female is duller in color.

Streak-capped Antwren - female

The 5.5" female Planalto Slaty-Antshrike (Thamnophilus pelzelni) has a rufous cap and underparts, with spotted wings. Obviously from the name, the male is gray.

Planalto Slaty-Antshrike - female

The beautiful 9.5" female Tufted Antshrike (Mackenziaena severa) is pale yellow and gray barred with  a bright rufous crest. The male is uniformly dark gray.

Tufted Antshrike - female

The 6.5" male Mato Grosso Antbird (Cercomacra melanaria) is all black with some white spots on the wings and tail.

Mato Grosso Antbird - male

The next 4 birds are all Brazil endemics in the Atlantic forest.

The 6" male Squamate Antbird (Myrmeciza squamosa). He has a brown top of head and back, black throat and a black breast with white scalloped pattern.

Squamate Antbird - male

The 5.3" Ochre-rumped Antbird (Drymophila ochropyga) has a black crown, streaked underparts and an ochre rump which is not visible in this photo.

Ochre-rumped Antbird - male

His cousin, the 5.5" female Rufous-tailed Antbird (Drymophila genei) looks like a wren to me. The male would have black streaking on the breast.

Rufous-tailed Antbird - female

The 5.5" male Ferruginous Antbird (Drymophila ferruginea) was very cooperative sitting in the open with his crest raised in response to the tape. He is a beautiful bird with a boldly patterned face and bright orange underparts.

Ferruginous Antbird - male

This genus, drymophila, have a white interscapular patch on the back that gets exposed when the bird is excited. Here is the same bird and the patch can be seen in this pic.

Ferruginous Antbird - male

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

I have photos of 42 of the 238 species of antbirds

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 422 - Brazil 2023 #3 - rails, plovers, snipe

 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.

We notched an astounding 5 species of rails on the trip and 4 were new for me. The  11" Blackish Rail (Pardirallus nigricans) was the one I had seen in Colombia. It has a charcoal head and breast with brown wings and a yellow bill.

Blackish Rail 

There were 2 new species of wood rails. These are the easiest to see as often they are  walking around  in the open. The 15" Grey-cowled Wood Rail (Aramides cajaneus). This rail is IDed by the brown body and grey neck and head. It was split from Grey-necked Wood Rail.

Grey-cowled Wood Rail

His cousin the Slaty-breasted Wood Rail (Aramides saracura) is similar but is completely grey on his breast and belly.

Slaty-breasted Wood Rail

The most exciting were a couple of crakes coming to a feeding station in Intervales Park. They are normally exceedingly difficult to see. The 6" Red-and-white Crake (Laterallus leucopyrrhus) is a sparrow-sized rail with a rufous head and back with a clean white breast and barred belly. The legs are pink. He has a short bill.

Red-and-white Crake

His cousin, the 6" Rufous-sided Crake (Laterallus melanophaius) has a grey-brown head and back. The rusty flanks appear faded compared to the previous one. His bill and legs are dark. You can see form the background that they were both at the same place. Seeing these 2 crakes in the open for a period of time was one of the highlights of the trip. There are 13 crakes in this genus in the Americas and these were the first 2 I have ever seen. 

Now that this place has shown that these elusive birds can be trained to come for free food - I hope other sanctuaries will attempt to make these rails easier to see. This is the same as with the antpittas that were found to come for worms to a feeding station, so many other places set up feeding stations for their local antpittas.

Rufous-sided Crake

The final member of the rail family was a group of 3 12" Purple Gallinules (Porphyrio martinica). One was an adult, but the other 2 at first we thought were Azure Gallinules. But the buffy face and some purple on the flanks show it is an immature. We do not see the molting birds like this in the USA

Purple Gallinule - molting juvenile

The elegant 14" Southern Lapwing (Vanellus chilensis) is an easy ID with his wispy crest, black breast and red legs.

Southern Lapwing

The dapper 9" Pied Plover (Hoploxypterus cayanus) is a South American bird found around ponds and on sand bars along rivers, as was this one in the Pantanal.

Pied Plover

Lastly, another new snipe, the 11" Pantanal Snipe (Gallinago paraguaiae). The name was recently changed from South American Snipe. Like all snipes, the guide book says it is difficult to see. However with my luck, it was in the open on a muddy area about 10 yards away. We watched him for about 15 minutes.

Pantanal Snipe

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

I have photos of 24 of the 132 species of Rails, Coots, Gallinules.

I have photos of 31 of the 67 species of Plovers

I have photos of 52 of the 93 species of Sandpipers

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 421 - Brazil 2023 #2 - icterids

 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 icterids are a  family of 109 species of New World birds consisting of blackbirds, orioles, cowbirds, grackles etc. I photographed 9 species of which 7 were lifers for me.

The 7.5" Greyish Baywing (Agelaioides badius) is grey-brown with rufous wings.

Greyish Baywing

The 9" Chopi Blackbird (Gnorimopsar chopi) is an all black icterid that isn't glossy. It is the only member of that genus.

Chopi Blackbird

The 8" Epaulet Oriole (Icterus cayanensis) is a black oriole with an orange shoulder patch.

Epaulet Oriole

The 13" Giant Cowbird (Molothus oryzivorus) is a glossy black bird wit a yellow eye. It parasitizes oropendolas.

Giant Cowbird

There were 3 species of caciques for the trip. 2 were lifers. The 9" Solitary Cacique (Cacicus solitarius) I had seen previously. It is a black bird with a pale yellow bill.

Solitary Cacique

The 9" Red-rumped Cacique (Cacicus haemorrhous) was a lifer, but I thought I had seen it before - but the previous one was the Scarlet-rumped Cacique. It is an easy ID.

Red-rumped Cacique

The 7" Golden-winged Cacique (Cacicus chrysopterus) has a large yellow wing patch, a yellow rump and a yellow eye.

Golden-winged Cacique

The 9.5" Yellow-rumped Marshbird (Pseudoleistes guirahuro) is yellow and brown.

Yellow-rumped Marshbird

The 9.5" Scarlet-headed Blackbird (Amblyramphus holosericeus) is a stunningly beautiful bird and an easy ID.

Scarlet-headed Blackbird

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

I have photos of 58 of the 109 species of icterids

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 420 - Brazil 2023 #1 - Cracids

 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 57 species of cracids are turkey like game birds. We saw 6 on the trip which was a record for me on a single trip. 

The 23"  Chaco Chachalaca (Ortalis canicollis) is plain brown with red facial skin and a red throat.

Chaco Chachalaca

The 27" White-throated Piping Guan (Pipile grayi) was split from the Blue-throated Piping Guan in January 2023. It is an easy ID with the white face and throat.

White-throated Piping Guan

The 27" Red-throated Piping Guan (Pipile cujubi) is similar except the throat dewlap is red.

Red-throated Piping Guan

The 28" Dusky-legged Guan (Penelope obscura) is a brown bird with white streaking on breast and belly. He has a red dewlap. This one is in the Atlantic Forest.

Dusky-legged Guan

The 30" Chestnut-bellied Guan (Penelope ochrogaster) has a beautiful orange-brown belly and thighs. This one is in the Pantanal.

Chestnut-bellied Guan

Lastly is the regal 37" Bare-faced Curassow (Crax fasciolata). The male is all black with a 2 tone bill. He has bare black skin on the face and a curly feathered crest. In the Pantanal at the lodges where protected, they are very tame and come to feeders for corn.

Bare-faced Curassow - male

The female is spectacular with brown underparts and the crest is black and white.

Bare-faced Curassow - female

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

I have photos of 24 of the 57 species of Chacalacas, Guans & Curassows

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 419 - Colombia 2022 #16 - other birds

  I was planning to go to Peru in 2022 but there were riots and road closures in the areas we were planning to go. So at the last minute I went back to Colombia and saw some other places. 

Unfortunately, there was a lot of overlap, so I did not get a lot of new birds on the trip. However, many areas now have set up feeding stations and several were built for photography. I used the same guide Pablo Florez and I had my daughter with me on the trip this year.

However on the bright side, the setups for photography and the number of places that had feeders allowed me to get many improved photos of birds I had mediocre photos previously.

These are the last photos from this 2022 trip.

There were 4 icterids (blackbirds) on the trip. The endemic 12" Red-bellied Grackle (Hypopyrrhus pyrohypogaster) is a top target bird in Colombia. It is an easy ID.

Red-bellied Grackle

The 8.5" Yellow-backed Oriole (Icterus chrysater) has a yellow to orange body and black face, wings and tail.

Yellow-backed Oriole

The 19" Russet-backed Oropendola (Psarocolius augustifrons) is an olive bird with a browner back.

Russet-backed Oropendola

The 8" female Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis) is all gray with the typical round bill of icterids. The male would be all black.

Shiny Cowbird

The 9" Tropical Mockingbird (Mimus gilvus) is similar to our mockingbird. However it is the only mockingbird in Colombia so is an easy ID.

Tropical Mockingbird

The 5" Sulphur-rumped Myiobius (Myiobius sulphureipygius) is a dull yellow olive bird. It was formerly in the flycatcher family, but was moved to the becard family.

Sulphur-rumped Myiobius

And the last is the male 7.5" Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus). This is a familiar bird to US birders as he occurs in western USA. The ID is easy. But this was the closest I have been to this bird - 6 feet away.

Acorn Woodpecker

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 418 - Colombia 2022 #15 - Tanagers - Part 4

 I was planning to go to Peru in 2022 but there were riots and road closures in the areas we were planning to go. So at the last minute I went back to Colombia and saw some other places. 

Unfortunately, there was a lot of overlap, so I did not get a lot of new birds on the trip. However, many areas now have set up feeding stations and several were built for photography. I used the same guide Pablo Florez and I had my daughter with me on the trip this year.

However on the bright side, the setups for photography and the number of places that had feeders allowed me to get many improved photos of birds I had mediocre photos previously.

The tanager family (thraupidae) is another huge New World family of birds with 386 species currently. The range from the plain seedeaters to the gaudy Tangara genus of beautiful birds.

The last group of tanagers are some of the most colorful. We have 4 with the name 'golden'.

The 5.3" male Golden Tanager (Tangara arthus) is gold with a black streaked back and wings and a black ear spot.

Golden Tanager 

The 5.3" male Golden-eared Tanager (Tangara chrysotis) is a multi-colored tanager with a gold and black face.

Golden-eared Tanager

The 6.5" Golden-crowned Tanager (Iridosornis rufivertex) is a blue bodied tanager with a black head and gold cap.

Golden-crowned Tanager

The 5" Golden-naped Tanager (Chalcothraupis ruficervix) is similar in color to the previous one, but the gold is on the occiput.

Golden-naped Tanager

The 5" male Saffron-crowned Tanager (Tangara xanthocephala) ia another beautiful multi-colored bird.

Saffron-crowned Tanager

The 6" male Tawny-crested Tanager (Tachyphonus delatrii) is an all black bird with  a tan crest.

Tawny-crested Tanager 

The final tanager is the 5" Rufous-throated Tanager (Ixothraupis rufigula). This bird is an easy ID with his black head and back, spotted breast and orange throat.

 Rufous-throated Tanager

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

I have photos of 118 of the 386 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.