Field Guides Tour Report Jaguar Spotting: Pantanal & Garden of the Amazon 2012

Jul 21, 2012 to Aug 1, 2012 Marcelo Padua For our tour description, itinerary, past triplists, dates, fees, and more, please VISIT OUR TOUR PAGE.

There aren't many places you can almost guarantee a Jaguar sighting, but this part of Brazil is certainly one of them! (Photo by guide Marcelo Padua)

Doing this tour shortly after having done it with another group was a fascinating experience for me, as we visited the same areas, walked the same trails, and yet we had such different experiences from one group to the next.

With both groups we had some very unexpected records, and on this tour the one that stands out the most was an incredible pair of Crested Eagles that landed right over our heads, giving us great looks at one of the hardest raptors to see in South America. It was also fun to see so many Black-faced Dacnis around when just a few days earlier there were none; they were all feeding on a small fruit that was not ripe just a few days before. In the Pantanal we found a Fawn-breasted Tanager, perhaps the first record ever for the area, and a Russet-crowned Crake that followed my laser pointer right out of the bushes until it found itself completely exposed to our group. This is the reason I love doing the same tours year after year, because one tour is never like the last one, but every tour is amazing in its own way.

There were of course many similarities between the two tours, too, and they are what truly made our visit special. On both tours we had great looks at the rare Cone-billed Tanager and at Spotted Puffbirds, a bird that had never been recorded at Gardens of the Amazon. We also had great looks at Black- girdled Barbets, Pink-throated Becards, Gould's Toucanets, and Tooth-billed Wrens, all birds that are southern Amazonian specialties. And in the Pantanal both tours produced excellent, repeated, and prolonged views of Jaguars, not to mention Hyacinth Macaws, Jabirus, and all the other birds that have made the Pantanal such a famous destination.

What else could we ask for? A great group of people to tour with, some would say! And that was exactly what we had, making this tour a wonderful experience from beginning to end.

Thank you so much for joining me on this adventure, and I look forward to meeting you again some day on a trail somewhere!

--Marcelo

KEYS FOR THIS LIST One of the following keys may be shown in brackets for individual species as appropriate: * = heard only, I = introduced, E = endemic, N = nesting, a = austral migrant, b = boreal migrant

BIRDS

Field Guides Birding Tours • www.fieldguides.com • 800-728-4953 1 Rheidae (Rheas) GREATER RHEA (Rhea americana) – Sadly, Greater Rheas are a common sight along the road to Gardens of the Amazon on the Soya Beans Plantations. Unfortunately these birds are so common in this area because of the clearing of habitat to grow crops. Tinamidae (Tinamous) GRAY TINAMOU (Tinamus tao) [*] CINEREOUS TINAMOU (Crypturellus cinereus) [*] UNDULATED TINAMOU (Crypturellus undulatus) [*] BRAZILIAN TINAMOU (Crypturellus strigulosus) [*] Anhimidae (Screamers) SOUTHERN SCREAMER (Chauna torquata) – These odd looking birds are a common sight along the Transpantaneira. Especially towards the end of it near Porto Jofre! Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl) BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK (Dendrocygna autumnalis) – The most common Duck in the pantanal. MUSCOVY DUCK (Cairina moschata) – Seen many times along the river and on the lakes around the lodge at Gardens of the Amazon. BRAZILIAN TEAL (Amazonetta brasiliensis) – These teal look quite dull when they are on the ground. But when they take flight they are quite impressive. Cracidae (Guans, Chachalacas, and Curassows) CHACO CHACHALACA (Ortalis canicollis) – The Chaco Chachalaca is said to be the alarm clock of the Pantanal. I guess all of us know why people say that by now! SPECKLED CHACHALACA (Ortalis guttata) – Not nearly as numerous or as loud as the Chaco Chachalaca, but we managed to see them at Gardens of the Amazon! SPIX'S GUAN (Penelope jacquacu) – Unfortunately we did not see it well, but some times you just have to take what you can get. CHESTNUT-BELLIED GUAN (Penelope ochrogaster) BLUE-THROATED PIPING-GUAN (Pipile cumanensis) – The area we visited in the Pantanal is the northern limit of the distribution of these birds, and there seems to be quite a bit of hybridization going on with Red-throated, there clearly needs to be some more work done to find out what is going on with these birds. RED-THROATED PIPING-GUAN (Pipile cujubi) BARE-FACED CURASSOW (Crax fasciolata) – This bird is a common sight along the Transpantaneira. It is always nice to see a place where curassows have not been hunted to the point of nearly disappearing from the area. Ciconiidae (Storks) MAGUARI STORK (Ciconia maguari) – By far the least common of the storks in the Pantanal. But we had some great looks at them Near Porto Jofre. JABIRU (Jabiru mycteria) – One of the most iconic birds of the Pantanal. It is so much fun to see so many of them and to see them so well. WOOD STORK (Mycteria americana) – Very common in the Pantanal at this time of the year. Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants and Shags) NEOTROPIC CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax brasilianus) – Another very common bird in the Pantanal. Anhingidae (Anhingas) ANHINGA (Anhinga anhinga) – I am always intrigued by the fact that there are far more females in the area than there are males. We probably saw more than one thousand females on the tour and only five or six males. Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns) LEAST BITTERN (Ixobrychus exilis) – Always a nice bird to see. The birds from the Pantanal look quite different and sound very different from the North American ones, suggesting that more than one species may be involved. RUFESCENT TIGER-HERON (Tigrisoma lineatum) – We saw lots of these handsome herons including several birds in the juvenile plumage that gives this species its curious name. COCOI HERON (Ardea cocoi) – Formerly known as White-necked Heron! Call it what you want, but you have to agree that this is one nice looking heron. GREAT EGRET (Ardea alba) – Very common in the Pantanal. SNOWY EGRET (Egretta thula) – Although a common and widespread bird, I never get tired of watching these magnificent herons displaying their breeding plumage. LITTLE BLUE HERON (Egretta caerulea) – This one is far less abundant than the other herons found in the Pantanal, but we saw them on a couple of days toward the end of our tour. CATTLE EGRET (Bubulcus ibis) STRIATED HERON (Butorides striata) WHISTLING HERON (Syrigma sibilatrix) – Hands down one of the most beautiful herons out there! CAPPED HERON (Pilherodius pileatus) BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (Nycticorax nycticorax) BOAT-BILLED HERON (Cochlearius cochlearius) – These odd looking nocturnal herons can be hard to see some times. but we managed to see one on one of our last days. Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills) GREEN IBIS (Mesembrinibis cayennensis) – You need the light to be just right on this bird to see just how green it it, but we had excellent looks at it.

Field Guides Birding Tours • www.fieldguides.com • 800-728-4953 2 BARE-FACED IBIS (Phimosus infuscatus) PLUMBEOUS IBIS (Theristicus caerulescens) BUFF-NECKED IBIS (Theristicus caudatus) ROSEATE SPOONBILL (Platalea ajaja) Cathartidae (New World Vultures) BLACK VULTURE (Coragyps atratus) TURKEY VULTURE (Cathartes aura) LESSER YELLOW-HEADED VULTURE (Cathartes burrovianus) – We were right in the area where Greater Yellow-headed Vultures replace the Lesser Yellow-headed. The Lesser Yellow-headed Vultures were the ones in the Pantanal! GREATER YELLOW-HEADED VULTURE (Cathartes melambrotus) – These were the vultures at Gardens of the Amazon. Curiously the Greater Yellow-headed Vulture was only described to Science in 1964, by Alexander Wetmore who noticed the distinctions between the two species. KING VULTURE (Sarcoramphus papa) – Recent taxonomic work shows that the King Vulture is in fact more closely related to condors than to vultures. Pandionidae (Osprey) OSPREY (Pandion haliaetus) – This was an unusual time of year to see an Osprey in the Pantanal, as usually most of them have migrated by this time. However this year was everything but common when it comes to weather. Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites) HOOK-BILLED KITE (Chondrohierax uncinatus) – Seen at Gardens of the Amazon! SNAIL KITE (Rostrhamus sociabilis) BLACK-COLLARED HAWK (Busarellus nigricollis) – It is quite an impressive sight to see these hawks fetching fish thrown by our boatmen! GREAT BLACK-HAWK (Buteogallus urubitinga) SAVANNA HAWK (Buteogallus meridionalis) – Common along the Transpantaneira. ROADSIDE HAWK (Buteo magnirostris) WHITE-TAILED HAWK (Buteo albicaudatus) CRESTED EAGLE (Morphnus guianensis) – Undoubtedly one of the highlights of the tour. It was magical to see two of these birds come in to tape and start to vocalize for us. This was only the second time these birds were recorded here. Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras) BLACK CARACARA (Daptrius ater) SOUTHERN CARACARA (Caracara plancus) LAUGHING FALCON (Herpetotheres cachinnans) – A specialized snake eater, the Laughing Falcon is always a crowd pleaser, and we managed to see it twice on the tour. BAT FALCON (Falco rufigularis) – The Bat Falcon is often seen perched along rivers at dusk when it hunts of for bats and large butterflies! Cariamidae (Seriemas) RED-LEGGED SERIEMA (Cariama cristata) – Always a treat! We had great looks on the first day of the tour. Eurypygidae (Sunbittern) SUNBITTERN (Eurypyga helias) Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots) GRAY-BREASTED CRAKE (Laterallus exilis) [*] GRAY-NECKED WOOD-RAIL (Aramides cajanea) RUSSET-CROWNED CRAKE (Anurolimnas viridis) – It was a lot of fun to watch this bird chase the laser pointer around coming right into the open for fantastic looks for the whole group! ASH-THROATED CRAKE (Porzana albicollis) – Seeing one of these crakes can be hard. Watching one singing is certainly a bonus! Aramidae (Limpkin) LIMPKIN (Aramus guarauna) Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings) PIED LAPWING (Vanellus cayanus) SOUTHERN LAPWING (Vanellus chilensis) COLLARED PLOVER (Charadrius collaris) Recurvirostridae (Stilts and Avocets) BLACK-NECKED STILT (WHITE-BACKED) (Himantopus mexicanus melanurus) Jacanidae (Jacanas) WATTLED JACANA (Jacana jacana) Laridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers) YELLOW-BILLED TERN (Sternula superciliaris) LARGE-BILLED TERN (Phaetusa simplex) BLACK SKIMMER (Rynchops niger)

Field Guides Birding Tours • www.fieldguides.com • 800-728-4953 3 Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves) ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia) PALE-VENTED PIGEON (Patagioenas cayennensis) SCALED PIGEON (Patagioenas speciosa) – These handsome pigeons were the ones we found at Gardens of the Amazon! PICAZURO PIGEON (Patagioenas picazuro) – A common sight in the Pantanal, these pigeons are easily distinguished by the white marks on their wings displayed in flight. RUDDY PIGEON (Patagioenas subvinacea) – Mostly seen briefly as they flew across the river! EARED DOVE (Zenaida auriculata) RUDDY GROUND-DOVE (Columbina talpacoti) SCALED DOVE (Columbina squammata) – A close relative of the equally handsome Inca Doves found in the US! PICUI GROUND-DOVE (Columbina picui) BLUE GROUND-DOVE (Claravis pretiosa) WHITE-TIPPED DOVE (Leptotila verreauxi) Psittacidae (Parrots) NANDAY PARAKEET (Nandayus nenday) – A lifer for Hans which we picked up at Pousada Rio Claro! PAINTED PARAKEET (PAINTED) (Pyrrhura picta microtera) – These were the parakeets at Gardens of the Amazon! MONK PARAKEET (Myiopsitta monachus) – Native in the Pantanal, where they are thriving! BLUE-CROWNED PARAKEET (Aratinga acuticaudata) PEACH-FRONTED PARAKEET (Aratinga aurea) HYACINTH MACAW (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus) – It is undoubtedly the most wanted bird for many birders visiting the Pantanal for the first time. And we got great looks at them. BLUE-AND-YELLOW MACAW (Ara ararauna) – It is a wonderful sight to see these birds coming in to roost near Gardens of the Amazon. RED-BELLIED MACAW (Orthopsittaca manilata) BLUE-WINGED MACAW (Primolius maracana) YELLOW-COLLARED MACAW (Primolius auricollis) RED-SHOULDERED MACAW (Diopsittaca nobilis) YELLOW-CHEVRONED PARAKEET (Brotogeris chiriri) SCARLET-SHOULDERED PARROTLET (Touit huetii) [*] BLUE-HEADED PARROT (Pionus menstruus) – The common parrot around Gardens of the Amazon. SCALY-HEADED PARROT (Pionus maximiliani) – There are three distinctive subspecies of the Scaly-headed Parrot. The one found in the Pantanal is siy, with a distinctive white eye ring. BLUE-FRONTED PARROT (Amazona aestiva) – The most common parrot in the Pantanal! ORANGE-WINGED PARROT (Amazona amazonica) Cuculidae (Cuckoos) LITTLE CUCKOO (Coccycua minuta) SQUIRREL CUCKOO (Piaya cayana) BLACK-BELLIED CUCKOO (Piaya melanogaster) – We had really good looks at this amazing cuckoo at Gardens of the Amazon. GUIRA CUCKOO (Guira guira) – Having these birds in my back yard some times makes me forget how cool these birds are, until I pick up my binoculars and look at them and get blown away all over again! STRIPED CUCKOO (Tapera naevia) SMOOTH-BILLED ANI (Crotophaga ani) Strigidae (Owls) TROPICAL SCREECH-OWL (Megascops choliba) TAWNY-BELLIED SCREECH-OWL (AUSTRAL) (Megascops watsonii usta) – Considered by some as a separate species, the Austral form of Tawny-bellied Screech Owl is only found south of the Amazon River. [*] GREAT HORNED OWL (Bubo virginianus) FERRUGINOUS PYGMY-OWL (Glaucidium brasilianum) – What a fierce little owl. And we owe so much of what we saw to its song! BURROWING OWL (Athene cunicularia) MOTTLED OWL (Ciccaba virgata) – It was hard to go out there at night and search for this owl, but we finally got some nice looks! Caprimulgidae (Nightjars and Allies) SHORT-TAILED NIGHTHAWK (Lurocalis semitorquatus) [*] NACUNDA NIGHTHAWK (Chordeiles nacunda) – The largest of nighthawks. We had them roosting right behind our cabins at Porto Jofre. BAND-TAILED NIGHTHAWK (Nyctiprogne leucopyga) – One of the greatest sights of the Pantanal is to ride a boat at sunset and see these lovely birds filling the sky with their butterfly-like flight! COMMON PAURAQUE (Nyctidromus albicollis) OCELLATED POORWILL (Nyctiphrynus ocellatus) – It took some working but we finally managed to find one! BLACKISH NIGHTJAR (Caprimulgus nigrescens) – Great looks at birds roosting during the day. Nyctibiidae (Potoos) GREAT POTOO (Nyctibius grandis) – Great indeed!

Field Guides Birding Tours • www.fieldguides.com • 800-728-4953 4 Apodidae (Swifts) LESSER SWALLOW-TAILED SWIFT (Panyptila cayennensis) – It was very nice to connect with these birds as they are not a common sight at Gardens of the Amazon. FORK-TAILED PALM-SWIFT (Tachornis squamata) – Always fascinating to see the nests of these birds right around the Lodge at Gardens of the Amazon. Trochilidae (Hummingbirds) CINNAMON-THROATED HERMIT (Phaethornis nattereri) – Always a hard one to come, by. But we had pretty good looks at it. REDDISH HERMIT (Phaethornis ruber) BUFF-BELLIED HERMIT (Phaethornis subochraceus) – Yet another hard to come across hermit that we managed to pick up. WHITE-TAILED GOLDENTHROAT (Polytmus guainumbi) BLACK-THROATED MANGO (Anthracothorax nigricollis) BLUE-TUFTED STARTHROAT (Heliomaster furcifer) – Great looks at this amazing hummer at gardens of the Amazon! AMETHYST WOODSTAR (Calliphlox amethystina) SWALLOW-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD (Eupetomena macroura) FORK-TAILED WOODNYMPH (Thalurania furcata) GLITTERING-THROATED EMERALD (Amazilia fimbriata) WHITE-CHINNED SAPPHIRE (Hylocharis cyanus) GILDED HUMMINGBIRD (Hylocharis chrysura) Trogonidae (Trogons) BLACK-TAILED TROGON (Trogon melanurus) [*] GREEN-BACKED TROGON (Trogon viridis) – Formerly know as White-tailed Trogon, this is the most common trogon at Gardens of the Amazon. BLUE-CROWNED TROGON (Trogon curucui) Momotidae (Motmots) AMAZONIAN MOTMOT (Momotus momota) Alcedinidae (Kingfishers) RINGED KINGFISHER (Megaceryle torquata) AMAZON KINGFISHER (Chloroceryle amazona) GREEN KINGFISHER (Chloroceryle americana) GREEN-AND-RUFOUS KINGFISHER (Chloroceryle inda) – This is certainly the hardest of kingfishers to come across! AMERICAN PYGMY KINGFISHER (Chloroceryle aenea) – This minute kingfisher is always a crowd pleaser, and for a while it was looking like we were going to to have it as a heard only, but we managed to see one of them almost at the end of the tour. Bucconidae (Puffbirds) SPOTTED PUFFBIRD (Bucco tamatia) – We had recorded this bird for the first time for the lodge a few days before on another tour, so we came knocking on its door again and surely enough they performed beautifully for us. RUFOUS-CAPPED NUNLET (Nonnula ruficapilla) BLACK-FRONTED NUNBIRD (Monasa nigrifrons) WHITE-FRONTED NUNBIRD (Monasa morphoeus) [*] SWALLOW-WINGED PUFFBIRD (Chelidoptera tenebrosa) Galbulidae (Jacamars) BROWN JACAMAR (Brachygalba lugubris melanosterna) – Good looks at these jacamars right around the Lodge at Gardens of the Amazon. BLUE-CHEEKED JACAMAR (Galbula cyanicollis) RUFOUS-TAILED JACAMAR (Galbula ruficauda) BRONZY JACAMAR (Galbula leucogastra) – This is a hard one to find at Gardens of the Amazon. But we knew just where to look. Capitonidae (New World Barbets) BLACK-GIRDLED BARBET (Capito dayi) – A beautiful southern Amazonian endemic which we saw extremely well on an number of occasions. Ramphastidae (Toucans) LETTERED ARACARI (Pteroglossus inscriptus) CHESTNUT-EARED ARACARI (Pteroglossus castanotis) RED-NECKED ARACARI (Pteroglossus bitorquatus) GOULD'S TOUCANET (Selenidera gouldii) – Seeing this colorful toucanet is always a challenge, but we got some pretty good looks at them. TOCO TOUCAN (Ramphastos toco) WHITE-THROATED TOUCAN (Ramphastos tucanus cuvieri) CHANNEL-BILLED TOUCAN (Ramphastos vitellinus) Picidae (Woodpeckers) WHITE-WEDGED PICULET (Picumnus albosquamatus) – Piculets are among my favorite woodpeckers I am always amazed by how tiny they are! YELLOW-TUFTED WOODPECKER (Melanerpes cruentatus) LITTLE WOODPECKER (Veniliornis passerinus)

Field Guides Birding Tours • www.fieldguides.com • 800-728-4953 5 GOLDEN-GREEN WOODPECKER (Piculus chrysochloros) CAMPO FLICKER (Colaptes campestris) PALE-CRESTED WOODPECKER (Celeus lugubris) – This is one of the nicest woodpeckers on this tour, and one that has a relatively small range in Brazil. So it was very nice to connect with it! LINEATED WOODPECKER (Dryocopus lineatus) CRIMSON-CRESTED WOODPECKER (Campephilus melanoleucos) Furnariidae (Ovenbirds and Woodcreepers) PALE-LEGGED HORNERO (Furnarius leucopus) RUFOUS HORNERO (Furnarius rufus) CHOTOY SPINETAIL (Schoeniophylax phryganophilus) SOOTY-FRONTED SPINETAIL (Synallaxis frontalis) – We had good looks at this spinetail at Piuval. This is not a common bird around the Pantanal and it is present at Piuval due to its proximity with the Cerrado. CINEREOUS-BREASTED SPINETAIL (Synallaxis hypospodia) WHITE-LORED SPINETAIL (Synallaxis albilora) – This is a classic case of a bird poorly named. I have been looking for that white lore from the first time I saw this species and I still have not found it! RUSTY-BACKED SPINETAIL (Cranioleuca vulpina) YELLOW-CHINNED SPINETAIL (Certhiaxis cinnamomeus) RUFOUS-FRONTED THORNBIRD (Phacellodomus rufifrons) GREATER THORNBIRD (Phacellodomus ruber) RUFOUS CACHOLOTE (Pseudoseisura unirufa) POINT-TAILED PALMCREEPER (Berlepschia rikeri) – These Mauritia palm specialists are quite common at Gardens of the Amazon and we had great looks at them! RUFOUS-TAILED FOLIAGE-GLEANER (Philydor ruficaudatum) RUFOUS-RUMPED FOLIAGE-GLEANER (Philydor erythrocercum) – Moving along with a mixed species flock at Gardens of the Amazon. STREAKED XENOPS (Xenops rutilans) OLIVACEOUS WOODCREEPER (Sittasomus griseicapillus) – The Olivaceous Woodcreeper has many subspecies and will likely be split into several taxa. We saw two of them on this tour, the ones at Gardens of the Amazon were ssp. transitivus and the ones in the Pantanal were ssp. greiseicapillus. WEDGE-BILLED WOODCREEPER (Glyphorynchus spirurus) GREAT RUFOUS WOODCREEPER (Xiphocolaptes major) – This massive woodcreeper is one of the most impressive pantanal specialties in my opinion. STRAIGHT-BILLED WOODCREEPER (Dendroplex picus) ELEGANT WOODCREEPER (Xiphorhynchus elegans) BUFF-THROATED WOODCREEPER (Xiphorhynchus guttatus) NARROW-BILLED WOODCREEPER (Lepidocolaptes angustirostris) – If only all woodcreepers would look as distinctive as this. My life would be so much easier! RED-BILLED SCYTHEBILL (Campylorhamphus trochilirostris) – Another unmistakable woodcreeper which we saw extremely well. Thamnophilidae (Typical Antbirds) GREAT ANTSHRIKE (Taraba major) – Relatively common in the Pantanal where we saw it extremely well. BARRED ANTSHRIKE (Thamnophilus doliatus) PLAIN-WINGED ANTSHRIKE (Thamnophilus schistaceus) NATTERER'S SLATY-ANTSHRIKE (Thamnophilus stictocephalus) – Formerly considered conspecific with Planalto Slaty-Antshrike and several others, this bird was split a few years ago, and this is the one we saw at Gardens of the Amazon. PLANALTO SLATY-ANTSHRIKE (Thamnophilus pelzelni) – This is the representative of the slaty-antshrike group found in the Pantanal! AMAZONIAN ANTSHRIKE (Thamnophilus amazonicus) [*] CINEREOUS ANTSHRIKE (Thamnomanes caesius) [*] WHITE-EYED ANTWREN (Epinecrophylla leucophthalma) SCLATER'S ANTWREN (Myrmotherula sclateri) LONG-WINGED ANTWREN (Myrmotherula longipennis) [*] GRAY ANTWREN (Myrmotherula menetriesii) LARGE-BILLED ANTWREN (Herpsilochmus longirostris) RUFOUS-WINGED ANTWREN (Herpsilochmus rufimarginatus) DOT-WINGED ANTWREN (Microrhopias quixensis) BLACK-BELLIED ANTWREN (Formicivora melanogaster) – This handsome antwren is pretty scarce in the Pantanal and we only found it on the last days of the tour! RUSTY-BACKED ANTWREN (Formicivora rufa) GRAY ANTBIRD (Cercomacra cinerascens) BLACKISH ANTBIRD (Cercomacra nigrescens) MATO GROSSO ANTBIRD (Cercomacra melanaria) WHITE-BACKED FIRE-EYE (Pyriglena leuconota) [*]

Field Guides Birding Tours • www.fieldguides.com • 800-728-4953 6 BLACK-FACED ANTBIRD (Myrmoborus myotherinus ochrolaema) – We got some pretty good looks at this handsome antbird at Gardens of the Amazon! SPIX'S WARBLING-ANTBIRD (Hypocnemis striata) BAND-TAILED ANTBIRD (Hypocnemoides maculicauda) – A riverside specialist which we saw well in the Pantanal! SILVERED ANTBIRD (Sclateria naevia argentata) CHESTNUT-TAILED ANTBIRD (Myrmeciza hemimelaena) – This is one of those antbirds that will easily convert those people who think they don't like antbirds into an antbird lover! BLACK-THROATED ANTBIRD (Myrmeciza atrothorax) [*] Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers) WHITE-LORED TYRANNULET (Ornithion inerme) SOUTHERN BEARDLESS-TYRANNULET (Camptostoma obsoletum) SUBTROPICAL DORADITO (Pseudocolopteryx acutipennis) – This minute flycatcher is a migrant that breeds high up in the Andes and winters in the Pantanal. YELLOW-CROWNED TYRANNULET (Tyrannulus elatus) – A typical flycatcher from forest edge and areas with poor soil in the Amazon. Its two note song always gives away its presence. FOREST ELAENIA (Myiopagis gaimardii) GREENISH ELAENIA (Myiopagis viridicata) YELLOW-BELLIED ELAENIA (Elaenia flavogaster) LARGE ELAENIA (Elaenia spectabilis) AMAZONIAN SCRUB-FLYCATCHER (Sublegatus obscurior) – A quiet species that can be easily overlooked. We found this one at Gardens of the Amazon! SOUTHERN SCRUB-FLYCATCHER (Sublegatus modestus) PLAIN TYRANNULET (Inezia inornata) SHORT-TAILED PYGMY-TYRANT (Myiornis ecaudatus) – This flycatcher is the smallest passerine in the Americas. It is so tiny that when it flies it looks more like a beetle than like a bird. SNETHLAGE'S TODY-TYRANT (Hemitriccus minor) [*] STRIPE-NECKED TODY-TYRANT (Hemitriccus striaticollis) PEARLY-VENTED TODY-TYRANT (Hemitriccus margaritaceiventer) RUSTY-FRONTED TODY-FLYCATCHER (Poecilotriccus latirostris) COMMON TODY-FLYCATCHER (Todirostrum cinereum) YELLOW-OLIVE FLYCATCHER (Tolmomyias sulphurescens) GRAY-CROWNED FLYCATCHER (Tolmomyias poliocephalus) FUSCOUS FLYCATCHER (Cnemotriccus fuscatus) VERMILION FLYCATCHER (Pyrocephalus rubinus) [a] DRAB WATER TYRANT (Ochthornis littoralis) YELLOW-BROWED TYRANT (Satrapa icterophrys) WHITE-RUMPED MONJITA (Xolmis velatus) BLACK-BACKED WATER-TYRANT (Fluvicola albiventer) WHITE-HEADED MARSH TYRANT (Arundinicola leucocephala) CATTLE TYRANT (Machetornis rixosa) – These birds have become so accustomed to human presence in some places that they follow people around the gardens of Porto Jofre hoping to catch insects flushed by them. DULL-CAPPED ATTILA (Attila bolivianus) RUFOUS CASIORNIS (Casiornis rufus) GRAYISH MOURNER (Rhytipterna simplex) SWAINSON'S FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus swainsoni) SHORT-CRESTED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus ferox) – This is the most common Myiarchus in the Pantanal, and we saw many of them! BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus tyrannulus) LESSER KISKADEE (Pitangus lictor) GREAT KISKADEE (Pitangus sulphuratus) BOAT-BILLED FLYCATCHER (Megarynchus pitangua) RUSTY-MARGINED FLYCATCHER (Myiozetetes cayanensis) STREAKED FLYCATCHER (Myiodynastes maculatus) PIRATIC FLYCATCHER (Legatus leucophaius) – Unlike parasitic nesters, the Piratic Flycatcher steals the nests from other birds to lay its eggs in it, but it raises its own young. Hence the name! SULPHURY FLYCATCHER (Tyrannopsis sulphurea) – Another Mauritia palm specialist which we saw well at Gardens of the Amazon! TROPICAL KINGBIRD (Tyrannus melancholicus) FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER (Tyrannus savana) Cotingidae (Cotingas) SPANGLED COTINGA (Cotinga cayana) SCREAMING PIHA (Lipaugus vociferans)

Field Guides Birding Tours • www.fieldguides.com • 800-728-4953 7 POMPADOUR COTINGA (Xipholena punicea) [*] BARE-NECKED FRUITCROW (Gymnoderus foetidus) Pipridae (Manakins) DWARF TYRANT-MANAKIN (Tyranneutes stolzmanni) – FIERY-CAPPED MANAKIN (Machaeropterus pyrocephalus) – Its high pitched metallic song gave away its presence. And with some patience we managed to locate this minute manakin! SNOW-CAPPED MANAKIN (Lepidothrix nattereri) WHITE-BEARDED MANAKIN (Manacus manacus) [*] HELMETED MANAKIN (Antilophia galeata) – Now that is a real bird! I never get tired of seeing it. FLAME-CROWNED MANAKIN (Heterocercus linteatus) WING-BARRED PIPRITES (Piprites chloris) Tityridae (Tityras and Allies) BLACK-TAILED TITYRA (Tityra cayana) BLACK-CROWNED TITYRA (Tityra inquisitor) MASKED TITYRA (Tityra semifasciata) GREEN-BACKED BECARD (Pachyramphus viridis) – A great spot by Patsy! BLACK-CAPPED BECARD (Pachyramphus marginatus) PINK-THROATED BECARD (Pachyramphus minor) – We had great looks at an adult male at Gardens of the Amazon on the day we were leaving for the Pantanal! Vireonidae (Vireos) RED-EYED VIREO (MIGRATORY CHIVI) (Vireo olivaceus chivi) GRAY-CHESTED GREENLET (Hylophilus semicinereus) – We had this one right over our heads during a boat trip at Gardens of the Amazon! ASHY-HEADED GREENLET (Hylophilus pectoralis) SLATY-CAPPED SHRIKE-VIREO (Vireolanius leucotis) [*] RUFOUS-BROWED PEPPERSHRIKE (Cyclarhis gujanensis) Corvidae (Crows, Jays, and Magpies) PURPLISH JAY (Cyanocorax cyanomelas) Hirundinidae (Swallows) WHITE-BANDED SWALLOW (Atticora fasciata) – Common around the fish tanks at Gardens of the Amazon! SOUTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW (Stelgidopteryx ruficollis) GRAY-BREASTED MARTIN (Progne chalybea) BROWN-CHESTED MARTIN (Progne tapera) WHITE-WINGED SWALLOW (Tachycineta albiventer) WHITE-RUMPED SWALLOW (Tachycineta leucorrhoa) Troglodytidae (Wrens) THRUSH-LIKE WREN (Campylorhynchus turdinus unicolor) TOOTH-BILLED WREN (Odontorchilus cinereus) – It was starting to look like we were going to have to leave without seeing this one. But after a lot of persistence we managed to spot one individual waaayyyy up there! MOUSTACHED WREN (Pheugopedius genibarbis) BUFF-BREASTED WREN (Cantorchilus leucotis) FAWN-BREASTED WREN (Cantorchilus guarayanus) – We barely made it into the range of this wren, but this did not stop us from getting excellent looks at it. HOUSE WREN (Troglodytes aedon) Polioptilidae (Gnatcatchers) LONG-BILLED GNATWREN (Ramphocaenus melanurus) MASKED GNATCATCHER (Polioptila dumicola) Donacobiidae (Donacobius) BLACK-CAPPED DONACOBIUS (Donacobius atricapilla) Turdidae (Thrushes and Allies) HAUXWELL'S THRUSH (Turdus hauxwelli) [*] RUFOUS-BELLIED THRUSH (Turdus rufiventris) CREAMY-BELLIED THRUSH (Turdus amaurochalinus) WHITE-NECKED THRUSH (Turdus albicollis) Motacillidae (Wagtails and Pipits) YELLOWISH PIPIT (Anthus lutescens) Parulidae (New World Warblers) MASKED YELLOWTHROAT (Geothlypis aequinoctialis)

Field Guides Birding Tours • www.fieldguides.com • 800-728-4953 8 WHITE-BELLIED WARBLER (Basileuterus hypoleucus) FLAVESCENT WARBLER (Myiothlypis flaveolus) Coerebidae (Bananaquit) BANANAQUIT (Coereba flaveola) Thraupidae (Tanagers and Allies) CONE-BILLED TANAGER (Conothraupis mesoleuca) – Undoubtedly one of the most wanted birds for this tour and we had excellent looks at it! ORANGE-HEADED TANAGER (Thlypopsis sordida) – Not a common bird along the Transpantaneira, but we had pretty good looks at a bird coming in to the owl tooting. CHESTNUT-VENTED CONEBILL (Conirostrum speciosum) YELLOW-BACKED TANAGER (Hemithraupis flavicollis) GRAY-HEADED TANAGER (Eucometis penicillata) FLAME-CRESTED TANAGER (Tachyphonus cristatus) – Common with the canopy flocks at Gardens of the Amazon! WHITE-SHOULDERED TANAGER (Tachyphonus luctuosus) WHITE-LINED TANAGER (Tachyphonus rufus) SILVER-BEAKED TANAGER (Ramphocelus carbo) BLUE-GRAY TANAGER (Thraupis episcopus) SAYACA TANAGER (Thraupis sayaca) PALM TANAGER (Thraupis palmarum) FAWN-BREASTED TANAGER (Pipraeidea melanonota) – One of the biggest surprises on the tour for me. This may have been the first documented record for this species in the Pantanal! TURQUOISE TANAGER (Tangara mexicana) PARADISE TANAGER (Tangara chilensis) BLUE-NECKED TANAGER (Tangara cyanicollis) MASKED TANAGER (Tangara nigrocincta) BLACK-FACED DACNIS (Dacnis lineata) – They were very abundant during our time at Gardens of the Amazon, which was a big surprise for me since I had been in the area just a few days earlier and and had not found a single one on my previous visit. BLUE DACNIS (Dacnis cayana) GREEN HONEYCREEPER (Chlorophanes spiza) SWALLOW TANAGER (Tersina viridis) GRAYISH SALTATOR (Saltator coerulescens) BUFF-THROATED SALTATOR (Saltator maximus) Emberizidae (Buntings, Sparrows and Allies) BLUE-BLACK GRASSQUIT (Volatinia jacarina) RUSTY-COLLARED SEEDEATER (Sporophila collaris) DOUBLE-COLLARED SEEDEATER (Sporophila caerulescens) WHITE-BELLIED SEEDEATER (Sporophila leucoptera) TAWNY-BELLIED SEEDEATER (Sporophila hypoxantha) – This small seedeater is pretty rare nowadays, but it winters in the Pantanal and we usually connect with some of them around this time of the year. CHESTNUT-BELLIED SEED-FINCH (Oryzoborus angolensis) SAFFRON FINCH (Sicalis flaveola) YELLOW-BILLED CARDINAL (Paroaria capitata) RED-CRESTED FINCH (Coryphospingus cucullatus) SAFFRON-BILLED SPARROW (Arremon flavirostris) Icteridae (Troupials and Allies) WHITE-BROWED BLACKBIRD (Sturnella superciliaris) [a] CHOPI BLACKBIRD (Gnorimopsar chopi) SCARLET-HEADED BLACKBIRD (Amblyramphus holosericeus) – No doubt about it one of the most beautiful blackbirds out there, and we had excellent looks at it! UNICOLORED BLACKBIRD (Agelasticus cyanopus) BAY-WINGED COWBIRD (Agelaioides badius) SHINY COWBIRD (Molothrus bonariensis) GIANT COWBIRD (Molothrus oryzivorus) EPAULET ORIOLE (Icterus cayanensis) ORANGE-BACKED TROUPIAL (Icterus croconotus) YELLOW-RUMPED CACIQUE (Cacicus cela) CRESTED OROPENDOLA (Psarocolius decumanus) Fringillidae (Siskins, Crossbills, and Allies) PURPLE-THROATED EUPHONIA (Euphonia chlorotica) GOLDEN-BELLIED EUPHONIA (Euphonia chrysopasta)

Field Guides Birding Tours • www.fieldguides.com • 800-728-4953 9 WHITE-VENTED EUPHONIA (Euphonia minuta) RUFOUS-BELLIED EUPHONIA (Euphonia rufiventris) Passeridae (Old World Sparrows) HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus)

MAMMALS GREATER BULLDOG BAT (Noctilio leporinus) – Lots of them flying at dusk on the Cuiaba river! SILVERY MARMOSET (Callithrix argentata) BLACK HOWLER MONKEY (Alouatta caraya) BROWN CAPUCHIN (Cebus apella) BRAZILIAN RABBIT (Sylvilagus brasiliensis) CAPYBARA (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris) CRAB-EATING FOX (Cerdocyon thous) CRAB-EATING RACCOON (Procyon cancrivorus) SOUTH AMERICAN COATI (Nasua nasua) NEOTROPICAL OTTER (Lontra longicaudis) GIANT OTTER (Pteronura brasiliensis) JAGUAR (Panthera onca) – Once again we totally nailed this magnificent cat with repeated looks that I will never forget. MARSH DEER (Blastocerus dichotomus) Herps GREEN IGUANA (Iguana iguana)

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Other relevant species:

White-lined Sac-winged bat sp. (Saccopteryx sp.)

Paraguayan Caiman ( Caiman yacare )

Totals for the tour: 354 bird taxa and 13 mammal taxa

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