NORTHEAST BRAZIL 10 JANUARY - 1 FEBRUARY 2022 - Birdquest
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The endemic Hooded Visorbearer, the gem from the wonderful Chapada Diamantina, northeast Brazil (Eduardo Patrial)
NORTHEAST BRAZIL
10 JANUARY – 1 FEBRUARY 2022
LEADER: EDUARDO PATRIAL
After two years break (because of the pandemic), we are back in 2022 with another very successful
Northeast Brazil tour. Almost five hundred species (490) recorded in twenty-three days through this large
region, covering mainly the arid Caatinga physiognomies from north to south, several Atlantic Forest
hotspots (mainly in Southern Bahia) and even a small taste from the Cerrado. The NE Brazil tour is
undoubtedly one of the most rewarding birding trips in South America once there are so many endemic and
localized species in this vast, rich and scenic region of Brazil. However, achieving this impressive number of
specialties is never a simple task. The need of an accurate logistics and previous knowledge in the area is
primordial to see some of the rarest and most threatened (sadly) species of birds in the world. Our groups
usually work hard and this time was no different, we finished the trip with 112 genuine Brazilian endemics
(including a few subspecies and not to mention near endemics and several Atlantic Forest endemics). Check
out some of the highlights of this tour, chronologically: Small-billed Tinamou, Spotted Rail, Yellow-breasted
Crake, Ochraceous Piculet, Moustached Woodcreeper (first time on the NE tour), Hooded Gnateater, Grey-
breasted Parakeet, Ceara Gnateater, Buff-breasted Tody-Tyrant, Gould’s Toucanet, Band-tailed Manakin,
1 BirdQuest Tour Report: Northeast Brazil 2022. www.birdquest-tours.com
Pygmy Nightjar, White-browed Guan, Araripe Manakin, Ochraceous (Tawny) Piculet, Broad-tipped Hermit,
White-browed Antpitta, Great Xenops, Red-shouldered Spintail, Silvery-cheeked Antshrike, Caatinga
Antwren, Ash-throated Casiornis, Lesser (Bahian) and Greater (Caatinga) Wagtail-Tyrants, Scarlet-throated
Tanager, Masked Duck, Least Nighthawk, Stripe-breasted Starthroat, the unbeatable Lear’s Macaw, Blue-
winged Macaw, Pectoral Antwren, Fringe-backed Fire-eye, Hooded Visorbearer, Sincora Antwren, Spotted
Piculet, Serra Finch, Collared Crescentchest, Sao Francisco Sparrow, Horned Sungem, Rufous-sided
Pygmy Tyrant, Diamantina Tapaculo, Narrow-billed Antwren, Slender and Rio de Janeiro Antbirds, Bahia
Spinetail, Striated Softtail, Bahia Tyrannulet, Rufous-brown Solitaire, Wied’s Tyrant-Manakin, Buff-throated
Purpletuft, the threatened Scalloped Antbird, Three-toed Jacamar, Giant Snipe, Bahia Tapaculo, Kinglet
Manakin, Black-capped Screech Owl, Bare-throated Bellbird, Black-headed Berryeater, White-winged
Cotinga, Great-billed (Margaretta’s) Hermit, White-eared Parakeet, Plumbeous Antvireo, the undescribed
‘Serra das Lontras’ Treehunter, Sharpbill, Hook-billed Hermit, Ochre-marked Parakeet, Red-browed Amazon
and more.
th
Our Northeast Brazil journey started 10 of Jan at the international airport of Fortaleza, the capital of Ceará
state. We left the airport at ten am and headed northwest to the large town of Sobral, about three and a half
hours of drive through the Caatinga biome, wet and green at most areas this time of year. On our way, we
saw several Lesser Yellow-headed Vultures, Common Gallinules, Wattled Jacanas, a Rufescent Tiger
Heron, Snail Kite, Savanna Hawk, Picui Ground Doves, Chestnut-capped Blackbird and few others. After
check in at hotel in Sobral, we had time for some forest birding in the afternoon on the hills of the interesting
Serra da Meruoca. Our chosen spot provided a bunch of birds: endemics Ochraceous Piculet and White-
naped Jay; plus Pectoral Sparrow, Ochre-lored Flatbill, Burnished-buff, Hooded and Palm Tanagers,
Variegated Flycatcher, Straight-billed Woodcreeper, Short-crested and Social Flycatchers and a cooperative
Ochre-cheeked Spinetail. Attempts for the illusive Buff-fronted Owl failed in the evening. We only had a
Common Potoo passing by.
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Jan 11 , full day in Sobral and Meruoca area. The day started early with a visit to a marsh in town next to our
hotel, simply an amazing places for rails and crakes. We got unbelievable sightings of Yellow-breasted and
Rufous Sided Crakes and Spotted Rail, plus several others: endemics Pale Baywing and Band-tailed
Hornero; Ruddy and Picui Ground Doves, Chestnut-capped Blackbird, Common and Purple Gallinules,
Masked and Black-backed Water Tyrants, Yellow-chinned Spinetail, White-headed Marsh Tyrant, Cobalt-
rumped Parrotlet and endemic Caatinga Cacholote. From the marsh, about 06:30 am, we visit the lowland
‘carnaubal’ Caatinga habitat near São José for an hour or so, a nice area that delivered interesting birds:
Scaled Doves, endemics Caatinga Parakeet and Campo Troupial; Blue-crowned Trogon, Narrow-billed
Woodcreeper, Stripe-necked Tody-Tyrant, White-winged and Crested Becards and the lovely White
Woodpecker. Despite the search, we failed this time to find the rare Moustached Woodcreeper. From there,
still in the morning, we moved then to Serra da Meruoca, to look for in the hilly forest for the other local target
endemic, Hooded Gnateater. However, no signs of it at first attempt. Mobbing calls brought a bunch of birds
though – Planalto Hermit, Black-capped Antwren, Sooty-fronted Spinetail, Black-bellied Antwren, Chivi Vireo,
Ochraceous Piculet, Palm and Burnished-buff Tanagers and Pearly-breasted Tody-Tyrant. Finally, further in
better forest on the road, we managed to find and to get fantastic views of the beautiful Hooded Gnateater.
We finished the morning with our first sighting of Red-cowled Cardinal. After lunch and siesta in Sobral, the
afternoon session happened again at the gnateater site at Serra da Meruoca, with longer views of it and few
others like Moustached Wren, Orange-headed Tanager, Variable Oriole, Caatinga Puffbird, Grey Pileated
Finch, Large Elaenia and Little Woodpecker. There was another unsuccessful attempt for Buff-fronted Owl,
this time the species did not even call back to tapes. Nice views of Tropical Screech Owl though.
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Jan 12 . In the early morning in Sobral, packed, we went back to the ‘carnaubal’ site before driving to
Guaramiranga, our next place. Persistance paid off, we got amazing views of the rare Moustached
Woodcreeper, for the first time on the Northeast tour. Also Planalto Woodcreeper, Green-barred
Woodpecker, Brazilian Teal, Rufescent Tiger heron and more of Pale Baywing, Caatinga Cacholote and
Caatinga Parakeet. Leaving Sobral, we still checked a lake with White-faced Whistling Duck, Least Grebe
and one Lesser Yellowlegs. We drove to vast Caatinga to reach by eleven am the humid Atlantic Forest
pocket on the hills at Serra do Baturité, in little Guaramiranga. The roadside stop still before lunch provided a
bunch of new birds, including the localized endemic Grey-breasted Parakeet, endemic Grey-headed
2 BirdQuest Tour Report: Northeast Brazil 2022. www.birdquest-tours.com
Spinetail, adorable Red-necked Tanager, Purple-throated Euphonia and Planalto Tyrannulet. The afternoon
session in Guaramiranga started at the nice grounds of our guesthouse Alto da Serra, with sightings of
Zone-tailed Hawk, Guianan Tyrannulet and endemics Ochre-backed Woodpecker, Buff-breasted Tody-
Tyrant and gorgeous Ceara Gnateater. Later we visited for the first time the nice reserve Refugio da Vida
Silvestre Periquito Cara Suja, which works with the successful conservation project for the Grey-breasted
Parakeet. So there we had more suberb views of the G-b parakeet and Yellow-chevroned Parakeet, plus a
good time on a trail where we got stunning Band-tailed Manakins coming for a bath in a small pond, Fork-
tailed Woodnymph (also coming to the pond), a very cooperative Rufous-breasted Leaftosser (the endemic
ssp. cearensis), endemic Ceara Woodcreeper (recent split from Lesser W) and more views of Ceara
Gnateater. Edge of forest still provided Great and Variable Antshrikes, Variable Oriole, Red-billed Scythebill
and another Ochre-backed Woodpecker, a nice male to finsh this very good day.
Sobral and Serra da Meruoca certainly put some amazing birds starting this tour. Here some images from
them (Eduardo Patrial):
Hooded Gnateater
3 BirdQuest Tour Report: Northeast Brazil 2022. www.birdquest-tours.com
Top: Ochraceous Piculet Bottom: Yellow-breasted Crake
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Top: Spotted Rail Bottom: White Woodpecker
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Moustached Woodcreeper
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Jan 13 . Morning in Guaramiranga we did the forest along the entrance road of Hotel Remanso. Our main
target Gould’s Toucanet was quite cooperative and we got brief looks at the female as well. Few others seen
there include Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Red-necked and Burnished-buff Tanagers, White-throated Spadebill,
Band-tailed Hornero, Yellow-chevroned Parakeet, Social Flycatcher and Southern Rough-winged Swallow.
After lunch, we left the hilly Guaramiranga and drove south through lowland Caatinga for a couple hours to
get to the very nice scenary of our next stay, the Hotel Pedra dos Ventos. First thing there, we enjoyed the
endemic Pygmy Nightjar (cearae ssp.), a pair with a youngster at their usual day-roost site in the rocky
hotel’s porch, just amazing! A tame (rescued bird) White-browed Guan was roaming around the hotel this
time. Endemic White-naped Jay is common at hotel grounds. A walk through the green Caatinga the
afternoon revealed a bunch of nice birds: Caatinga Puffbird, Tropical Gnatcatcher, Greenish Elaenia, Black-
bellied Antwren (male and female), Ferruginous Pygmy Owl, Green-barred Woodpecker, Caatinga Parakeet,
White-winged and Crested Becards and endemic Long-billed Wren. Lovely evening and dinner at hotel, with
calls of Pygmy Nightjars, Common Potoo and Tropical Screech Owls.
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Jan 14 . Before we hit the road towards Crato, we had the early morning in the area of Pedra dos Ventos,
with sightings of Crab-eating Fox, Long-billed Wren, White-browed Blackbird, Plain-breasted Ground Dove,
Small-billed Tinamou, endemic White-throated Seedeater, Grassland Sparrow and, with luck, a wild White-
browed Guan that was feeding next the road under a fruting tree. On way south to Crato, we managed great
views of White-bellied Nothura on the road. We arrived at Crato for lunch and right after went to visit the
famous Arajara water Park, it was time to enjoy the impressive Araripe Manakin. An hour or so at Arajara
provided superb views of such localized species and few others, like Ochraceous (Tawny) Piculet, Golden-
crowned Warbler and Planalto Hermit. Back to the road for another couple of hours to finally reach our lovely
stay, the very nice Sítio Pau Preto in Potengi. Arriving Pau Preto we got some birding along the entrance
road, being quite productive with sightings of the smart Copper Seedeater, more White-throated Seedeaters,
White-browed Blackbird and Plain-breasted Ground Dove; the shy Pinnated Bittern, White-naped Xenopsaris
and Green-backed Becard. Rest of daylight to enjoy the garden and feeders of Pau Preto, with Red-cowled
6 BirdQuest Tour Report: Northeast Brazil 2022. www.birdquest-tours.com
Cardinal, Pale Baywing and Glittering-bellied Emerald. At dusk, the show of some Least Nighthawk finished
this great birding travel day.
Guaramiranga, the nice Pedra dos Ventos Hotel and the travel day to Sítio Pau Preto, going through Crato,
kept putting more andemics and other great birds (photos: Eduardo Patrial):
Band-tailed Manakin
7 BirdQuest Tour Report: Northeast Brazil 2022. www.birdquest-tours.com
Top: Grey-breasted Parakeet Bottom: Rufous-breasted (Ceara) Leaftosser
8 BirdQuest Tour Report: Northeast Brazil 2022. www.birdquest-tours.com
Top: Pygmy Nightjar Bottom: male Black-bellied Antwren
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Araripe Manakin
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Jan 15 . We started with an early breakfast at Pau Preto and with nice views of a male Scarlet-throated
Tanager at dawn, right next to the house. Morning session then happened about forty minutes away in the
dense arboreal Caatinga (‘carrasco’) at Brejinho Municipal Park. There we had a wonderful blast of Caatinga
birds, including Ultramarine Grosbeak, Tawny-crowned Pigmy Tyrant, the endemic Broad-tipped Hermit,
Ruby-topaz Hummingbird, Bran-colored Flycatcher, Grey Pileated Finch, Orange-headed Tanager, endemic
White-browed Antpitta (great sightings), endemic Silvery-cheeked Antshrike, Grey-eyed Greenlet, Hooded
Tanager, Large Elaenia, the beautiful Stripe-backed Antbird, Ochre-cheeked Spinetail, endemics Ash-
throated Casiornis, Planalto Slaty Antshrike, Caatinga Antwren, Red-shouldered Spinetail and the
fascinating Great Xenops. Luch and afternoon session at Sítio Pau Preto and close surrounding, a pleasant
walk where we managed to see eight females Masked Duck, Lesser and Greater (Bahian and Caatinga)
Wagtail Tyrants, Striped and Dark-billed Cuckoos, another White-naped Xenopsaris, more White-throated
Seedeater and Caatinga Cacholote and Least Nighthawks at dusk. A group of Common Marmosets also
gave a nice show at the feeders of Pau Preto in the afternoon. Overnight at Pau Preto.
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Jan 16 . The day started at Pau Preto with the endemic Scarlet-throated Tanager again. After breakfast, we
enjoyed a bit the feeders and the garden before we leave. Solitary Cacique, Green-barred Woodecker and
Ruby-topaz Hummingbird were present. On our way to Canudos we made a quick stop, still in the Araripe
area (right next to Araripe National Forest), to see Pale-bellied Tyrant-Manakin, few minutes in edge of forest
were enough to locate and get good views of one. Rufous-fronted Thornbrd was in the same spot. Then we
had a long drive to the arid region of Canudos, getting there for lunch and check in at the guesthouse in
town. For the afternoon session, we began visiting our known site near Bendegó, a place to see a large
number of Blue-winged Macaws (roosting and nesting site), and where we had Suiriri Flycatcher as well.
Later we covered the Caatinga along the entrance road of Canudos Biological Station. There we got many
Ruby-topaz Hummingbirds, the endemic Stripe-breasted Starthroat (stunning male and females), Mouse-
colored Tyrannulet, Plain-breasted Ground Dove, Glittering-bellied Emerald, Swallow-tailed Hummingbird,
Southern Scrub Flycatcher, Tropical Gnatcatcher, endemic Red-shouldered Spinetail, Caatinga Parakeet
and Blue-crowned Parakeet. There was even a sighting of Lear’s Macaw crossing the place before the
sunset. Night birding on the road yielded us Little Nightjar and a female Scissor-tailed Nightjar.
10 BirdQuest Tour Report: Northeast Brazil 2022. www.birdquest-tours.comSítio Pau Preto is certaninly one of the nicest stays of the tour. Together with Brejinho and surroundings, it is
simply a Caatinga feast (photos: Eduardo Patrial):
Common Marmoset
11 BirdQuest Tour Report: Northeast Brazil 2022. www.birdquest-tours.comTop: White-browed Antpitta Bottom: Red-shouldered Spinetail
12 BirdQuest Tour Report: Northeast Brazil 2022. www.birdquest-tours.comTop: Lesser Wagtail-Tyrant Bottom: White-naped Xenopsaris
13 BirdQuest Tour Report: Northeast Brazil 2022. www.birdquest-tours.comTop: Red-cowled Cardinal Bottom: male Ruby-topaz Hummingbird
14 BirdQuest Tour Report: Northeast Brazil 2022. www.birdquest-tours.comth
Jan 17 , the day marked by the Lear’s Macaw spectacle. We started around 4:30 am, still dark, driving up
through Caatinga to reach the cliff tops called Toca das Araras, at Canudos Biological Station. On our way to
the site, we had a couple Scissor-tailed Nightjar on the road. Lear’s Macaws started their activity at dawn.
We enjoy the first encounters of those perching at the famous cactus (where so many photos are taken) and
surrounding cliffs, and then we moved few hundred meters to the proper Toca das Araras, another cliff sac
where the show is even more spectacular. The place was very busy that morning, with groups coming and
going, we easily saw over a hundred macaws. Other birds there include large flocks of Blue-crowned
Parakeet, one Turquoise-fronted Amazon and a brief and quite distant sighting (NL) of Velvety Black Tyrant,
a rare bird at the location. Back to the guesthouse for breakfast around eight am, we packed and said good-
bye to Canudos, with a good birding stop on our way to Jeremoabo. Taller and denser Caatinga next to
Jeremoabo provided superb looks at the threatened endemic Pectoral Antwren. Band-tailed Hornero was
noticed and another gorgeous male Scarlet-throated Tanager. After lunch and check in simple hotel in
Jeremoabo, we had a pleasant afternoon session in beautiful Caatinga.There we found our first Spotted
Piculet, enjoyed some previously seen birds like Blue-crowned Trogon, Campo Troupial, Tawny-crowned
Pygmy Tyrant, Variable Oriole and Silvery-cheeked Antshrike, and heard some more of the typical Caatinga
birds, including some very shy Great Xenops. Overnight in Jeremoabo.
Visiting the red cliffs at Canudos Biological Station is without any doubt the most exciting experience on the
Northeast Brazil tour (photos: Eduardo Patrial):
Lear’s Macaw
15 BirdQuest Tour Report: Northeast Brazil 2022. www.birdquest-tours.comTop: Canudos Biological Station Bottom: Stripe-breasted Starthroat
16 BirdQuest Tour Report: Northeast Brazil 2022. www.birdquest-tours.comPectoral Antwren
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Jan 18 . Early departure from Jeremoabo and most of morning drive to reach the Atlantic Forest near the
coast in southern Sergipe state. We went straight to the site, the forest remnant known as Crasto Forest,
next to the village of Crasto. We had a couple hours before lunch for our first investigation. Main target was
the threatened Fringe-backed Fire-eye, which we were lucky to find a female at the first site. More searching
in other corners that morning only brought Planalto Woodcreeper and Red-stained Woodpecker. Back to
Crasto for the afternoon session, we mixed forest and bits of mangrove, having a quite interesting afternoon
with birds like: endemic Jandaya Parakeet (hybrids), Mangrove Rail, Bicolored Conebill, endemics Black-
cheeked Gnateater and Sooretama Slaty Antshrike, Scaled Pigeon, Orange-winged Amazon, Red-
shouldered Macaw, Channel-billed Toucan, Plain-bellied Emerald, endemic Brazilian Tanager, Southern
White-fringed Antwren, Little Blue Heron, Grey Plover, many Spotted Sandpiper and Hudsonian Whimbrel.
Overnight happened close in the larger town of Estância.
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Jan 19 . We had an early morning visit to Crasto before we head to Chapada Diamantina, far in central
Bahia. At Crasto, we first checked the mangrove, where we had Spotted Sandpipers, Willet, Semipalmated
Plover, Hudsonian Whimbrel, Amazon Kingfisher, Common Tern and Peach-fronted Parakeet. After that, a
quick stop in forest luckily provided amazing views of pair Fringe-backed Fire-eye with a youngster, just what
we needed. Then we hit the road entering Bahia and the Caatinga again. Lunch stop happened in Ipirá. Few
more hours we were reaching Lençois and Chapada Diamantina, and we went straight for birding in the very
scenic Chapada landscape along the Pai Inácio Trail. There we first encountered the stunning endemic Gilt-
edged Tanager when crossing a small gallery forest. Later the fascinating ‘campo rupestre’ (rocky shrubby
habitat) delivered the others: endemic Grey-backed Tachuri, Glittering-bellied Emerald, Chapada endemics
Sincora Antwren and impressive Hooded Visorbearer, endemic Serra Finch and Green-winged Saltator.
Then drive to Lençois, check in at the very nice Hotel Canto das Águas, dinner and overnight.
17 BirdQuest Tour Report: Northeast Brazil 2022. www.birdquest-tours.comThe threatened Fringe-backed Fire-eye, the major bird in the Atlantic Forest at Crasto, coastal Sergipe state (Eduardo Patrial)
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Jan 20 . On this full day in Chapada Diamantina, we repeated the Pai Inácio Trail in the morning. Such
amazing site deserved a second visit. There we got Plumbeous and White-bellied Seedeaters, endemic
Grey-backed Tachuri, endemic East Brazilian Chachalaca (scoped), endemic Spotted Piculet, Rufous-
winged Antshrike, endemic Cinnamon Tanager, Plain-crested and Small-headed Elaenias, more spectacular
sightings of Hooded Visorbearer; Pale-breasted Spinetail and the lovely Collared Crescentchest. By late
morning, back in Lençois, we covered some dense forest (taking uphill from downtown), especially for the
stunning male Helmeted Manakin (which cooperated nicely). Others good species there was the Surucua
Trogon (aurantius). After lunch and a nice break at hotel, we explored more of the dense forest around
Lençois. Afternoon session provided Tropical Pewee, Yellow Tyrannulet, White-shouldered Fire-eye, Grey
Elaenia, Squirrel Cuckoo, Trilling Gnatwren, Guira Tanager and the endemic Kuhl’s Marmoset. Nightbirding
in the forest yielded Short-tailed Nighthawk and superb views of Rufous Nightjar. Overnight in Lençois.
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Jan 21 . Early departure from Lençois put us on the way to Mucugê via west Chapada slope, through
Palmeiras and Guiné, covering dense Caatinga and open Cerrado, respectively. First stop, in Caatinga, we
managed great views of our target after some minutes of search, the endemic Sao Francisco Sparrow.
Further, we entered Cerrado habitat, having a stop in a quite rocky area, site where we got responsive
Stripe-tailed Yellow Finches and the stunning male Blue Finch. Later in the typical ‘gerais’ (short shrubby
Cerrado habitat) we found Rufous-sided Pygmy Tyrant, Plumbeous Seedeater, Wedge-tailed Grass Finch,
Black-throated Saltator, Shrike-like Tanager, Collared Crescentchest and fortunately a gorgeous male
Horned Sungem that could be watched for a long time. Our next stop happened near the village of Guiné, a
beautiful site where we had a nice pair of Red-legged Seriema, White-vented Violetear and another Horned
Sungem, a female this time. Few more stops in typical Cerrado before we got to Mucugê finally provided the
locally scarce White-eared Puffbird. After a late lunch and check in at guesthouse in Mucugê, we visited the
grottos of Diamantina Tapaculo. We happily found it at the second site checked. It behaved amazingly well
for long and close perfect studies. At the grotto, we also recorded Violet-capped Woodnymph for the first
time, a nice male. From there we finished the day in the west face of Chapada, visiting first the rich Caatinga
forest type close to Mucugê. There at our usual trail we enjoyed a lovely pair of Narrow-billed Antwren
18 BirdQuest Tour Report: Northeast Brazil 2022. www.birdquest-tours.com(another restricted endemic species), Ceara Gnateater (a curious dry site for it), the fantastic Great Xenops
and an Ochre-backed Woodpecker. From the Caatinga forest, we got the sunset in the next Cerrado habitat,
having Roadside and White-tailed Hawks and a beautiful pair of Rusty-backed Antwren. Overnight in
Mucugê.
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Jan 22 .On this day we had a final early morning session in Mucugê, visiting Cerrado and the Caatinga
forest again. We saw well a pair of the local rarety Sharp-tailed Grass Tyrant, pluss Grassland Yellow Finch,
Wedge-tailed Grass Finch in the open Cerrado. Caatinga later provided more sightings of Narrow-billed
Antwren, Planalto Slaty and Silvery-cheeked Antshrikes, Swainson’s Flycatcher, Narrow-billed Woodcreeper,
endemic Ash-throated Casiornis and Fork-tailed Flycatcher. Back to the guesthouse for a huge breakfast
and then the travel to the famous Boa Nova in eastern Bahia, our next stay. We got to Boa Nova around four
pm and went straight to the ‘mata de cipó’ (liana forest), one of the transitional forest fragments (Caatinga-
Atlantic Forest) typical from the Boa Nova region. And there we finshed the day watching the most notorious
inhabitant, the localized Slender Antbird, which depends on the huge ground bromeliads present in this
unique type of forest. Overnight in Boa Nova.
Chapada Diamantina is another great expectation on this tour. The scenary, mix of vegetation/habitats and
the birds make Chapada one of the nicest places in Brazil (photos: Eduardo Patrial):
The west slope of Chapada Diamantina
19 BirdQuest Tour Report: Northeast Brazil 2022. www.birdquest-tours.comTop: Hooded Visorbearer Bottom: Sincora Antwren
20 BirdQuest Tour Report: Northeast Brazil 2022. www.birdquest-tours.comTop: Gilt-edged Tanager Bottom: Helmeted Manakin
21 BirdQuest Tour Report: Northeast Brazil 2022. www.birdquest-tours.comTop: Rufous Nightjar Bottom: Sao Francisco Sparrow
22 BirdQuest Tour Report: Northeast Brazil 2022. www.birdquest-tours.comTop: Diamantina Tapaculo Bottom: Narrow-billed Antwren
23 BirdQuest Tour Report: Northeast Brazil 2022. www.birdquest-tours.comTop: Ceara Gnateater Bottom: Great Xenops
24 BirdQuest Tour Report: Northeast Brazil 2022. www.birdquest-tours.comrd
Jan 23 . Time to have the bird blast at Mata do Charme, one of the Atlantic Forest sites of the Boa Nova
National Park. What a morning we had (as usual there) in the dense forest, first along the road and later up
the narrow trail to the top of the hill. We got a bit of rain too, but look what we saw: endemics East Brazilian
Chachalaca, Bahia Spinetail and Striated Softtail; Black-necked Aracari, Black-billed Scythebill, the
threatened Rio de Janeiro Antbird (which gave a little work), Crescent-chested Puffbird, endemics
Ferruginous Antbird, Gilt-edged Tanager and Fork-tailed Tody-Tyrant (very brief); Drab-breasted Bamboo
Tyrant, endemic Orange-eyed Thornbird (locally rare), White-eyed Foliage-gleaner, Red-crowned Ant-
Tanager, Scaled Antbird, spot-breasted Antvireo, nice males Pin-tailed Manakin, Cinereous Antshrike,
Streak-capped and Rufous-margined Antwrens, Blue Manakin, Blue-naped Chlorophonia (a write in),
Rufous-brown Solitaire, the rare Bahia Tyrannulet, Spot-billed Toucanet, Ochre-breasted Foliage-gleaner,
Sharbill, Black-capped and Buff-fronted Foliage-gleaners, Rufous-headed Tanager, Rufous Gnateater (the
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4 and last on the tour), Variable Antshrike, Black-goggled Tanager and White-shouldered Fire-eye. We got
back to the town for lunch after one pm. In the afternoon, we first visited (one of the sites) the peculiar and
fascinating Caatinga rocky outcrop habitat known as ‘lajedo’, full of cacti (predominance of Melocactus),
endemic orchid and a great place for hummingbirds and many of the Caatinga and transitional forest birds.
There we saw a bunch of Rubby-topaz and Swallow-tailed Huummingbirds; endemic Stripe-breasted
Starthroat (male and female), two Sapphire-spangled Emerald, White-lined Tanager and endemics Caatinga
Antwren (nicer views) and Pygmy Nightjar (a very shy one – nominate ssp.). From ‘lajedo’ we moved quickly
to the Atlantic Forest area where at dusk we succeeded unbelievable views of Short-tailed Nighthawk (close
to hit our heads!) and the master bird, Giant Snipe.
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Jan 24 was another day packed of great birds. From Boa Nova we went to the neighbor Poções, and did
most of morning at Serra do Arrepio (an impressive transitional forest) with the good local guide Mateus.
Besides the plenty heard, our focus yielded almost every target species (Raise’s Tyrannulet failed this time)
and some other very welcome ones, like the rare and local Wied’s Tyrant-Manakin, a brief Scale-throated
Hermit, Maroon-bellied Parakeets, endemic Pallid Spintail, a nesting Versicolored Emerald, Greenish
Schiffornis, a group of Yellow-green Grosbeak, the endemic White-bibbed Antbird (gorgeous male), Ochre-
faced Tody-Flycatcher, Bahia Spinetail, Zone-tailed Hawk, endemic Scaled Woodcreeper, Rufous-headed
Tanager, Lesser Woodcreeper, Black-goggled Tanager, Blue Manakin and happily in the end,the wanted
endemic Buff-throated Purpletuft (leucopygia ssp.). An impressive concentration of the amazing Harlequin
Beatle (spotted by our driver Reginaldo) in a tree was a serious bonus when we got back to the van. We
greeted Mateus and followed our way down the hills to the lowlands with a good stop for lunch at Firmino
Alves. Then twenty minutes further, we visited our site for the threatened endemic Scalloped Antbird
(nominate ssp.), a forest fragment near Itororó. After a little search, a responsive male gave us a superb
show. More was only heard this time, as we had to move back to do the last site of the day at Serra do
Amolar (near Nova Canaã), before heading back to Boa Nova. At the hilly Atlantic Forest remnants of
Amolar we got our main target, the restricted Three-toed Jacamar (a pair), plus others like Sooty Grassquit,
Tufted Antshrike (male and female), Striated Softtail and the smart Yellow-lored Tody-Flycatcher. End of
birding and about an hour drive to Boa Nova for dinner and overnight.
th
Jan 25 was our final day in Boa Nova. We repeated the Mata do Charme in the morning, being not as busy
as the first visit, but with some different rewards like Grey-hooded Attila, White-throated Woodcreeper, Black-
throated Trogon, Red-ruffed Fruitcrow, Spot-backed Antshrike, White-collared Foliage-gleaner, Flame-
crested Tanager and Yellow-olive Flatbill. Besides more good studies of Bahia Spinetail, Yellow-green
Grosbeak, Scaled Woodcreeper, Crescent-chested Puffbird, Spot-billed Toucanet, Rufous Gnateater, Black-
billed Scythebill, Spot-breasted Antvireo, White-shouldered Fire-eye and others. The afternoon session
happened on the west side, with stops in Caatinga, ‘mata de cipó’ and ending at the ‘lajedo’. First stop was
very good once we got the endemics Dubois’s Seedeater (a responsive male) and a group of Golden-
capped Parakeets that was passing by. At the ‘mata de cipó’ we enjoyed much nicer views of male and
female Slender Antbirds, behaving on those spectacular bromeliads, and a few more like Hooded Tanager,
Streaked Xenops, Mouse-colored Tyrannulet, Sapphire-spangled Emerald and Blue Dacnis. Finally, at the
‘lajedo’ we had the usual suspects Ruby-topaz and Swallow-tailed Hummingbirds and Glittering-bellied
Emerald until the rain starts by the sunset. Later and under the rain, we still had an unsuccessful attempt for
Tawny-browed Owl. Overnight in Boa Nova.
25 BirdQuest Tour Report: Northeast Brazil 2022. www.birdquest-tours.comTogether with Poções and the rapid visit to Itororó, the Boa Nova region is one of the richest birding hotspots
in the country, combining Atlantic Forest and Caatinga with the peculiar touch of the ‘Mata de Cipó’, home of
restricted birds and several other Brazilian endemics (photos: Eduardo Patrial):
Top: Striated Softtail Bottom: Giant Snipe
26 BirdQuest Tour Report: Northeast Brazil 2022. www.birdquest-tours.comTop: Crescent-chested Puffbird Bottom: male Spot-billed Toucanet
27 BirdQuest Tour Report: Northeast Brazil 2022. www.birdquest-tours.comTop: male White-bibbed Antbird Bottom: Buff-throated Purpletuft
28 BirdQuest Tour Report: Northeast Brazil 2022. www.birdquest-tours.comTop: Yellow-green Grosbeak Bottom: Scalloped Antbird
29 BirdQuest Tour Report: Northeast Brazil 2022. www.birdquest-tours.comTop: male Slender Antbird Bottom: female Slender Antbird
30 BirdQuest Tour Report: Northeast Brazil 2022. www.birdquest-tours.comTop: landscape in Boa Nova, view from Lajedo Bottom: Melocactus sp.
31 BirdQuest Tour Report: Northeast Brazil 2022. www.birdquest-tours.comth
Jan 26 . We departed early from Boa Nova towards Itacaré in coastal Bahia, our next stay. After about three
hours driving, we reached our birding site that morning in the Atlantic Forest lowlands along the state road
BA 030, the nice forest of Reserva Sapucaia (or Fazenda/Reserva Água Boa). There we had an incredibly
successful session with a bunch of new and rare birds, to mention the locally uncommon Smoky-fronted
Tody-Flycatcher, the tiny endemic Kinglet Manakin, a pair of Band-tailed Antwren, East Brazilian Pygmy Owl,
White-crowned Manakin, Violet-capped Woodnymph and luckily the major star, the rare and restricted Bahia
Tapaculo, which approached nice and calm allowing averybody good long views. After Reserva Sapucaia we
continued our way to Itacaré for lunch and check in, having a quick and good roadside stop where we got
Cinereous-breasted Spinetail and Blue-chinned Sapphire. With such great morning, we had a relaxing
afternoon visiting my brother’s lovely garden, where we ejoyed some chat, fresh juice and the fruit feeder
with Violaceous and Purple-throated Euphonias, Palm, White-lined and Brazilian Tanagers, Red-legged
Honeycreeper, Pale-breasted and Rufous-bellied Thrushes. Overnight in Itacaré.
th
Jan 27 was a very good day of birding around Itacaré. We visited the near Reserva Capitão in the early
morning, a good protected area of lowland forest just outside the town. The session was quite short but very
productive, with great views of a male Bare-throated Bellbird in the end, and several others: Chestnut-
backed Antshrike, Black-capped Becard, Wedge-billed and Buff-throated Woodcreepers, endemics Silvery-
flanked and Band-tailed Antwrens, Cinereous Antshrike, Sepia-capped Flycatcher, endemic Bahia Antwren,
Turquoise Tanager (White-bellied T, brasiliensis ssp.), the Atlantic version of Ringed Woodpecker
(tinnunculus ssp.), endemic Sooretama Slaty Antshrike, White-crowned Manakin, Rufous-tailed Jacamar,
Riverbank Warbler and Black-necked Aracari. Then from Capitão we drove south to visit the Conduru State
Park (for the first time on the NE tour), another important area that holds so much of the Atlantic Forest. We
got there a little late, about ten am. Nevertheless, the group was graced with great rewards: endemic White-
winged Cotinga (stunning male feeding next to one of the park buildings), Great-billed Hermit (a lek of the
restricted Margaretta’s Hermit – IOC margarettae ssp.) and the rare endemic Black-headed Berryeater.
Lunch happened on our way back to Itacaré, followed by a short siesta at the guesthouse. Afternoon and
evening (owling) session was across the Rio de Contas near the Pontal, another new site visited which
consist of white sand forest and the interesting field called ‘mussununga’ (or muçununga). There we finished
this great day with the birds Green-headed Tanager, Scaled and Pale-vented Pigeons, Great black Hawk,
Yellow-backed Tanager, endemic Hangnest Tody-Tyrant, the restricted Atlantic version of Opal-rumped
Tanager (Silver-breasted T – IOC cyanomelas ssp.), Brazilian Tanager, Red-legged Honeycreeper and AF
endemic Black-capped Screech Owl (at night in the forest). Overnight in Itacaré.
th
Jan 28 . An early departure put us on the road going south towards the town of Camacã, but having a
birding stop in dense coastal forest near Ilhéus (Rio Cachoeira) in the morning. Visiting this site for the first
time, Mother Nature just smiled at us, we could not get better views of our main target, the tricky and
restricted endemic Pink-legged Graveteiro (a pair) provided eye-level views.We still got nice looks at Eared
Pygmy Tyrant and to complete this great stop, we found a large group of the threatened endemic Golden-
headed Lion Tamarin, which approached nicely after some playback. A life mammal for Birdquest and
everybody in the group (including myself). What a gorgeous creature! We got simply amazing views of them.
From there we continued our way to Camacã where we arrived for lunch. In the beginning of afternoon, we
visited the Fazenda Paris, one of the lowland properties of the Serra bonita Lodge. At Paris, we found the
stunning Yellow-fronted Woodpecker before we move to the other farm, the Fazenda Santo Antonino where
we had about an hour walk exploring the tall lowland forest at Provisão. It was very hot but we managed very
good views of the endemic White-eared Parakeet just before a sudden and quite havy shower. Back to the
Santo Antonio headquarters, we still saw a few more interesting birds before we go uphill to the proper
lodge, like Golden-capped Parakeet, Campo Troupial and Violaceous Euphonia. Going up to the Serra
Bonita Lodge on a 4x4 we had had a quick stop already near the top, a site where we were lucky enough
this time to enjoy a nesting pair of Swallow-tailed Cotinga, a super-rare species in Northeast Brazil. Finally at
the lodge, we finished the day in the beautiful forest with some great birds: endemic Plumbeous Antvireo (a
very cooperative male), White-throated Woodcreeper, Green-headed and Red-necked Tanagers (close at
the fruit feeder), endemic Sombre Hummingbird, Scale-throated Hermit and Green Honeycreeper. In the
evening, we still got another mammal, a Hog-nosed Skunk. Overnight at Serra Bonita.
32 BirdQuest Tour Report: Northeast Brazil 2022. www.birdquest-tours.comThe combo of reserves around the very green Itacaré (Reserva Sapucaia, Reserva Capitão and Conduru
State Park) and the short stop near Ilhéus definitely contributed with some of the toughest birds and mammal
on the tour (photos: Eduardo Patrial):
Top: record shot of Bahia Tapaculo Bottom: Great-billed (Margaretta’s) Hermit
33 BirdQuest Tour Report: Northeast Brazil 2022. www.birdquest-tours.comTop: Opal-rumped (Silver-breasted) Tanager Bottom: Black-capped Screech Owl
34 BirdQuest Tour Report: Northeast Brazil 2022. www.birdquest-tours.comTop: Pink-legged Graveteiro Bottom: Golden-headed Lion Tamarin
35 BirdQuest Tour Report: Northeast Brazil 2022. www.birdquest-tours.comth
Jan 29 was a full day of Atlantic Forest birding on the hilltop (about 900m of altitude) at the Serra Bonita
Lodge. We had a long loop walk that lasted the whole morning. We started going up the Bromeliad trail, then
we took the loop trail next to the towers and walked back to the lodge taking the main road. The weather was
nice and the birding was fine as it normally is in that beautiful forest. Highlights include Rufous-brown
Solitaire, Bahia Tyrannulet, Red-necked Tanager, Orange-bellied Euphonia, Rufous-margined Antwren, Blue
Manakin, the undescribed Heliobletus ‘Serra das Lontras’ Treehunter, White-bearded and Kinglet Manakins,
endemic Pale-browed Treehunter, Streak-capped Antwren, Plain-winged Woodcreeper, Striated Softtail,
Lemon-chested Greenlet, a very brief Salvadori’s Antwren, Drab-breasted Bamboo Tyrant, a brief Mantled
Hawk, Lesser Woodcreeper, endemic Star-throated Antwren, Black-capped Foliage-gleaner and lots of
heard. The afternoon session was a shorter walk along the main road, where we had Sharpbill, Yellow-
legged Thrush, Green-backed and Surucua Trogons. Then we moved to the feeders at the main building’s
porch to finish our day. There were several Maroon-bellied Parakeets and Sombre Hummingbirds, plus
Violet-capped Woodnymph, Scale-throated Hermit, more Red-necked and Green-headed Tanagers, Green
Honeycreeper and Violaceous Euphonia.
th
Jan 30 . Day started with an early breakfast at the Serra Bonita Lodge. Checking the feeders, besides the
usual species, the group got a nice Spot-billed Toucanet there this time. We packed and went down the hills,
making a good stop in lowland, where from the road we had great views of Mantled Hawk and few others like
Magpie Tanager and Black-crowned and Black-tailed Tityras. Then we stopped at Santo Antonio
headquarters for another rapid pass by at Fazenda Provisão. We were after Olivaceous Flatbill (nominate
ssp.), which we found it and took nice studies. From there, a last visit to Fazenda Paris, where we had
Yellow-fronted Woodpecker and more of the endemic White-eared Parakeet. We said goodbye to Serra
Bonita by mid-morning, driving south to reach our last destination on the tour, the coastal touristic town of
Porto Seguro. We arrived in the area just after two pm in the afternoon. We went straight to the white-sand
forest of Reserva Veracel, the main birding site of Porto Seguro, a large and very important Atlantic Forest
remnant in the southern coast of Bahia. The forest was hot and quiet; however, after a bit of search we
managed to find the localized endemic Hook-billed Hermit, which perched close for great views. Later at the
bottlebrushes clearing, we found Swallow-winged Puffbirds and some nice hummers: Rufous-throated and
White-chinned Sapphires, Swallow-tailed hummingbird, Versicolored Emerald and Violet-capped
Woodnymph. Finishing daylight, we visited the more open ‘mussununga’ habitat further ahead in the reserve.
A close hiden group of the threatened endemic Ochre-marked Parakeet (Blue-throated P) surprised us on
the path. What a stunning bird, a large Pyrrhura, certainly one of the best looking among them. We also saw
Turquoise (White-bellied) Tanager, Yellow-green Grosbeak and got a much closer sighting of Bahia
Antwren. In the evening, we tried hard for White-winged Potoo but there was not a single response at the
sites. Overnight in Porto Seguro.
The beautiful hills of Serra Bonita is always providing a good birding experience, with many colorful species
and more restricted endemic birds (photos: Eduardo Patrial):
36 BirdQuest Tour Report: Northeast Brazil 2022. www.birdquest-tours.comTop: male Plumbeous Antvireo Bottom: ‘Serra das Lontras’ Treehunter (sp. nov)
37 BirdQuest Tour Report: Northeast Brazil 2022. www.birdquest-tours.comTop: Bahia Tyrannulet Bottom: Rufous-brown Solitaire
38 BirdQuest Tour Report: Northeast Brazil 2022. www.birdquest-tours.comTop: Red-necked Tanager Bottom: Green-headed Tanager
39 BirdQuest Tour Report: Northeast Brazil 2022. www.birdquest-tours.comWhite-eared Parakeet
st
Jan 31 was our last full birding day on the tour. We arrived early at Veracel, going straight to the
‘mussununga’ area. With more field of view, we searched mainly after the rare endemic Banded Cotinga
(that unfortunately did not want to appear this day) and Red-browed Amazon (another threatened localized
species), this last offering very decent overflight views in the early morning. With the scope, we spotted a
good number of White-winged Cotinga, males and females along the edge of the large clearing. There we
also had another good encounter with Ochre-marked Parakeet, plus some of the usual and more common
birds (Swallow-winged Puffbird, Turquoise Tanager, Red-legged Honeycreeper, Blue Dacnis and a few more
heard). Another stop by the bottlebrushes provided the same hummingbirds. Then back to our nice front
beach hotel for a nice siesta and lunch. In the afternoon, we started with a short visit to the mangrove in
town. There we had Straight-billed Woodcreeper, White-barred Piculet (kind of hybrid plumage), Bicolored
Conebill and Band-tailed Hornero, but no signs of the Rails. From there, back to Veracel to get the rest of the
day and evening. Forest was very quiet; we heard Black-headed Berryeater and saw few more of the
common birds before it got dark. Again, attempts for White-winged Potoo did not bring any luck.
Nevertheless, we did not leave Veracel with empty hands; we managed a sighting of the Atlantic Forest
endemic Tawny-browed Owl (besides the several Common Pauraques along the road). Back to the hotel, we
had a last fine dinner and celebrated our successful trip.
st
Feb 1 . We still had the early morning of this day to take our last chances at Reserva Veracel. At the
‘mussununga’ persistence paid off with a quite distant female Banded Cotinga. We also had more of
sightings of Red-browed Amazon and White-winged Cotinga. A responsive pair of Ringed Woodpecker
[tinnunculus], offered nicer views then the previous seen in Itacaré, and basically, that finished our mourning
and the Northeast Brazil Tour 2022.
Porto Seguro finished another very successful Northeast Brazil Tour with a final dose of fine endemic birds
(photos: Eduardo Patrial):
40 BirdQuest Tour Report: Northeast Brazil 2022. www.birdquest-tours.comTop: Hook-billed Hermit Bottom: female White-winged Cotinga
41 BirdQuest Tour Report: Northeast Brazil 2022. www.birdquest-tours.comTop: Ochre-marked Parakeet Bottom: Red-browed Amazon
42 BirdQuest Tour Report: Northeast Brazil 2022. www.birdquest-tours.comSYSTEMATIC LIST AND LOCATION OF SPECIES RECORDED DURING THE TOUR
The species names and taxonomy used in the report mostly follows Gill, F & D Donsker (Eds). IOC World Bird Names
(12.1). This list is updated several times annually and is available at http://www.worldbirdnames.org.
Species which were heard but not seen are indicated by the symbol (H).
Species which were only recorded by the leader are indicated by the symbol (LO).
Species which were not personally recorded by the leader are indicated by the symbol (NL).
Species marked with the diamond symbol (◊) are either endemic to the country or local region or considered ‘special’
birds for some other reason (e.g. it is only seen on one or two Birdquest tours; it is difficult to see across all or most of its
range; the local form is endemic or restricted-range and may in future be treated as a full species).
BIRDS (490)
Solitary Tinamou ◊ Tinamus solitarius (H) Heard at Veracel Reserve, Porto Seguro.
Little Tinamou Crypturellus soui (NL) Crossing the road at Veracel Reserve.
Brown Tinamou Crypturellus obsoletus (H) Heard at the hills of Serra Bonita.
Yellow-legged Tinamou ◊ Crypturellus noctivagus (H) Heard at Lençois, Mucugê, Boa Nova and Poções.
Variegated Tinamou Crypturellus variegatus (H) Heard at Veracel, Porto Seguro.
Small-billed Tinamou Crypturellus parvirostris Seen at Pedra dos Ventos and Chapada Diamantina.
Tataupa Tinamou Crypturellus tataupa (H) Pedra dos Ventos, Jeremoabo and Boa Nova.
Red-winged Tinamou Rhynchotus rufescens (H) Canudos Biological Station and C. Diamantina (Mucugê).
White-bellied Nothura ◊ Nothura boraquira Seen twice on the road, near Pedra dos Ventos and Jeremoabo.
Spotted Nothura Nothura maculosa (H) Heard near Sítio Pau Preto, Potengi.
White-faced Whistling Duck (W-f Tree-D) Dendrocygna viduata Several seen at ponds in the Caatinga.
Black-bellied Whistling Duck (B-b Tree-D) Dendrocygna autumnalis (NL) Spotted on the drive to Boa Nova.
Muscovy Duck Cairina moschata Seen in Sobral.
Brazilian Teal (B Duck) Amazonetta brasiliensis In Sobral, Potengi and on way to Canudos.
White-cheeked Pintail (Bahama P) Anas bahamensis Small group seen in Jeremoabo.
Masked Duck Nomonyx dominicus Eight at a small lake near Sítio Pau Preto.
East Brazilian Chachalaca ◊ Ortalis araucuan Chapada Diamantina and Boa Nova.
Rusty-margined Guan Penelope superciliaris Seen well at Veracel Reserve.
White-browed Guan ◊ Penelope jacucaca One seen next the entrance of Pedra dos Ventos Hotel.
Spot-winged Wood Quail ◊ Odontophorus capoeira (H) Heard at Serra Bonita.
Least Nighthawk Chordeiles pusillus Great views at Sítio Pau Preto; also seen in Canudos.
Short-tailed Nighthawk (Semi-collared N) Lurocalis semitorquatus Seen in Lençois, Boa Nova and Porto Seguro.
Pygmy Nightjar ◊ Nyctipolus hirundinaceus A pair with a young at Pedra dos Ventos Hotel. Also seen in Boa Nova.
Pauraque (Common P) Nyctidromus albicollis Boa Nova, Itacaré and quite common at Veracel Reserve.
Little Nightjar Setopagis parvula Seen well in Canudos.
Scissor-tailed Nightjar ◊ Hydropsalis torquata A pair seen at dawn at Canudos Biological Station.
Rufous Nightjar Antrostomus rufus Superb views in Lençois.
Common Potoo Nyctibius griseus In Sobral and at Pedra dos Ventos Hotel.
White-collared Swift Streptoprocne zonaris Seen distantly, Chapada Diamantina.
Grey-rumped Swift Chaetura cinereiventris Itacaré and Veracel Reserve.
Sick's Swift ◊ Chaetura meridionalis Seen on way to Canudos.
Neotropical Palm Swift (Fork-tailed P S) Tachornis squamata Frequent in Sobral. Also seen at Pedra dos Ventos.
Black Jacobin ◊ Florisuga fusca Seen in Poções and at Serra Bonita.
Hook-billed Hermit ◊ Glaucis dohrnii Close view at Veracel Reserve.
Rufous-breasted Hermit (Hairy H) Glaucis hirsutus Guaramiranga and Serra Bonita.
Broad-tipped Hermit ◊ Anopetia gounellei Great views at Brejinho near Potengi.
Reddish Hermit Phaethornis ruber Frequently recorded in southern Bahia.
Planalto Hermit Phaethornis pretrei Sobral, Guramiranga, Arajara Park and Chapada Diamantina.
Scale-throated Hermit ◊ Phaethornis eurynome Seen in Poções and at Serra Bonita.
Great-billed Hermit ◊ Phaethornis [malaris] margarettae Great views at Conduru State Park near Itacaré.
Hooded Visorbearer ◊ Augastes lumachella Superb encounters at Chapada Diamantina.
43 BirdQuest Tour Report: Northeast Brazil 2022. www.birdquest-tours.comLear’s Macaw (Eduardo Patrial)
White-vented Violetear ◊ Colibri serrirostris Seen well in Chapada Diamantina.
Horned Sungem ◊ Heliactin bilophus Great looks at male and female in Chapada Diamantina.
Black-eared Fairy Heliothryx auritus Seen in Boa Nova, humid forest.
Ruby-topaz Hummingbird Chrysolampis mosquitus Brejinho, Sítio Pau Preto, Canudos and Boa Nova.
Stripe-breasted Starthroat ◊ Heliomaster squamosus Seen well at Canudos Biological Station and in Boa Nova.
Glittering-bellied Emerald Chlorostilbon lucidus Frequently recorded on the tour, more in Caatinga.
Fork-tailed Woodnymph Thalurania furcata Seen in Guaramiranga.
Violet-capped Woodnymph Thalurania glaucopis Mucugê, Boa Nova, Itacaré, Serra Bonita and Porto Seguro.
Swallow-tailed Hummingbird ◊ Eupetomena macroura Quite common, seen at several places.
Sombre Hummingbird ◊ Eupetomena cirrochloris Several at Serra Bonita.
Versicolored Emerald Chrysuronia versicolor Chapada, Poções, Itacaré and Veracel.
Plain-bellied Emerald ◊ Chrysuronia leucogaster Seen in mangrove edge at Crasto Forest near Estância.
Glittering-throated Emerald Chionomesa fimbriata In Sobral and Guaramiranga.
Sapphire-spangled Emerald Chionomesa lactea Seen at the Lajedo in Boa Nova.
Rufous-throated Sapphire Hylocharis sapphirina At Veracel Reserve, Porto Seguro.
White-chinned Sapphire Chlorestes cyanus Itacaré and Veracel Reserve.
Blue-chinned Sapphire Chlorestes notata Itacaré and site in Ilhéus.
Guira Cuckoo Guira guira Common on the tour.
Greater Ani Crotophaga major Sobral and Pedra dos Ventos.
Smooth-billed Ani Crotophaga ani Very common on the tour.
Striped Cuckoo Tapera naevia Seen at Sítio Pau Preto.
Squirrel Cuckoo Piaya cayana Seen and heard at several places, frequently recorded.
Dark-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus melacoryphus Seen at Sítio Pau Preto.
Rock Dove (introduced) (Feral Pigeon) Columba livia Noticed leaving Fortaleza.
Scaled Pigeon Patagioenas speciosa First at Crasto Forest, later in Itacaré, S. Bonita and Veracel Reserve.
Picazuro Pigeon Patagioenas picazuro Small groups noticed at several places on the tour.
Pale-vented Pigeon Patagioenas cayennensis Seen in Lençois and Itacaré.
Plumbeous Pigeon Patagioenas plumbea (H) Boa Nova and Serra Bonita.
44 BirdQuest Tour Report: Northeast Brazil 2022. www.birdquest-tours.comScaled Dove Columbina squammata Common.
Plain-breasted Ground Dove Columbina minuta Pedra dos Ventos, Sítio Pau Preto, Canudos and Jeremoabo.
Ruddy Ground Dove Columbina talpacoti Common.
Picui Ground Dove Columbina picui Very common in Caatinga.
Blue Ground Dove Claravis pretiosa Briefly seen in Mucugê.
Ruddy Quail-Dove Geotrygon montana Seen in Boa Nova, Itacaré and Serra Bonita.
White-tipped Dove Leptotila verreauxi At several places on the tour.
Eared Dove Zenaida auriculata Spotted on way to Canudos, also in Jeremoabo and Chapada Diamantina.
Ash-throated Crake Mustelirallus albicollis (H) Boa Nova.
Spotted Rail Pardirallus maculatus Two birds seen very well in Sobral.
Uniform Crake Amaurolimnas concolor (H) Heard in Boa Nova.
Grey-cowled Wood Rail Aramides cajaneus Seen in Guaramiranga and Sítio Pau Preto.
Mangrove Rail Rallus longirostris Seen in mangrove at Crasto Forest, Sergipe state.
Common Gallinule Gallinula galeata Common on the tour.
Purple Gallinule Porphyrio martinica Seen in Sobral and near Sítio Pau Preto.
Russet-crowned Crake ◊ Rufirallus viridis (H) Heard in Chapada and in Itacaré.
Yellow-breasted Crake Laterallus flaviventer Amazing views of two in Sobral.
Rufous-sided Crake Laterallus melanophaius Same as species above.
Limpkin Aramus guarauna Few spotted on the tour.
Least Grebe Tachybaptus dominicus Some recorded in the Caatinga zone
Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps Seen in Guaramiranga
Black-necked Stilt Himantopus mexicanus several recorded in Caatinga zone.
Southern Lapwing Vanellus chilensis Common.
Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola Mangrove at Crasto.
Semipalmated Plover Charadrius semipalmatus Few in mangrove at Crasto.
Wattled Jacana Jacana jacana Common.
Hudsonian Whimbrel Numenius hudsonicus Mangrove at Crasto.
Giant Snipe ◊ Gallinago undulata Shocking view at Boa Nova.
Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius Amazing number in mangrove at Crasto.
Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria One or two spotted.
Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes One seen in Sobral.
Willet Tringa semipalmata Mangrove at Crasto.
Common Tern Sterna hirundo Seen at Crasto.
Neotropic Cormorant (Olivaceous C) Phalacrocorax brasilianus Seen in Sobral and on the way to Canudos.
Rufescent Tiger Heron Tigrisoma lineatum Sobral.
Pinnated Bittern Botaurus pinnatus Very nice achievement near Sítio Pau Preto.
Least Bittern Ixobrychus exilis (H) Heard at Crasto Forest.
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax (NL) Sobral.
Yellow-crowned Night Heron Nyctanassa violacea One in Porto Seguro.
Striated Heron Butorides striata Frequently recorded, more in Caatinga zone.
Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis Very common.
Cocoi Heron Ardea cocoi Spotted on our way to Canudos.
Great Egret Ardea alba Common.
Whistling Heron Syrigma sibilatrix Seen on way to Sobral.
Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea Mangrove at Crasto.
Snowy Egret Egretta thula Frequently recorded.
Black Vulture Coragyps atratus Every day, everywhere and plenty.
Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura Noticed several times.
Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture Cathartes burrovianus Common.
Pearl Kite Gampsonyx swainsonii (LO) Spotted near Ipirá, way to Chapada.
45 BirdQuest Tour Report: Northeast Brazil 2022. www.birdquest-tours.comBlue-winged Macaw (Eduardo Patrial)
Rufous-thighed Hawk Accipiter erythronemius One in Boa Nova.
Snail Kite Rostrhamus sociabilis Noticed at a number of ponds in the Caatinga zone.
Crane Hawk Geranospiza caerulescens Seen in Sobral, way to Canudos and Boa Nova.
Savanna Hawk Buteogallus meridionalis Some spotted in the Caatinga zone.
Great Black Hawk Buteogallus urubitinga One in edge of forest in Pontal, near Itacaré.
Roadside Hawk Rupornis magnirostris Frequently recorded.
White-tailed Hawk Geranoaetus albicaudatus Chapada, Boa Nova and Poções.
Mantled Hawk ◊ Pseudastur polionotus Great views at Serra Bonita.
Zone-tailed Hawk Buteo albonotatus One in Guaramiranga and another at Brejinho near Potengi.
Burrowing Owl Athene cunicularia Spotted at several places.
East Brazilian (Least) Pygmy Owl ◊ Glaucidium minutissimum Seen well at Sapucaia Reserve, heard at more.
Ferruginous Pygmy Owl Glaucidium brasilianum Seen at Pedra dos Ventos.
Tropical Screech Owl Megascops choliba Sobral and Lençois.
Black-capped Screech Owl ◊ (Variable S O) Megascops atricapilla Great views at Pontal, Itacaré.
Mottled Owl Strix virgata (H) Calling at Veracel Reserve. Actually saw it crossing the road in the dark.
Spectacled Owl Pulsatrix perspicillata (H) Heard at pousada in Guaramiranga.
Tawny-browed Owl ◊ Pulsatrix koeniswaldiana Seen at Veracel Reserve.
Green-backed Trogon (Amazonian White-tailed T) Trogon viridis Seen at Serra Bonita.
Blue-crowned Trogon Trogon curucui Seen in Sobral.and Jeremoabo.
Surucua Trogon ◊ Trogon surrucura aurantius Seen well in Lençois and Serra Bonita.
Black-throated Trogon Trogon rufus Seen in Boa Nova, humid forest.
Amazon Kingfisher Chloroceryle amazona Few spotted along the tour.
Green Kingfisher Chloroceryle Americana Seen in Canudos.
Ringed Kingfisher Megaceryle torquata Some spotted along the tour.
Three-toed Jacamar ◊ Jacamaralcyon tridactyla A nice pair at Serra do Amolar, near Poções.
Rufous-tailed Jacamar Galbula ruficauda Noticed at several places.
46 BirdQuest Tour Report: Northeast Brazil 2022. www.birdquest-tours.comYou can also read
