Where toWHERE Watch BirdsTO WATCH in IN SURINAME 49 Where to Watch Birds in Suriname

Suriname is perhaps one of the lesser-known birding destinations in South America. With a total of 765 taxa (including multiple subspe- cies within ) by the end of 2017, it is, however, a veritable paradise for birders. Ridgely and Tudor (1994) even mention Suriname as the best country in South America to spot specific neotropical spe- cies. About 40 interesting species can be observed easier in Suriname than anywhere else in South America.

Most Interesting Species

Suriname has 50 species that are endemic to the Guiana Shield region (see chapter on ‘The Avifauna of Suriname in Numbers’) of which three (Velvet-browed Brilliant, , Blood-colored ) are range-restricted, and one of them (Arrowhead Piculet) is endemic to Suriname. Many of these species can easily be seen in Suriname. The country has a total of five range-restricted spe- cies and three of these (Rufous Crab Hawk, Arrowhead Piculet, Blood-colored Woodpecker) can easily be seen in the coastal area. The Arrowhead Piculet even occurs in Paramaribo­ in gardens with trees. The Velvet-browed Brilliant is confined to the Tafelberg tepui and the Wilhelmina Mountains. The Pelzeln’s Tody-Tyrant is only known from the low savanna bordering the Kappel Savanna at the foot of the Tafelberg. In addition to the endemic and range-restricted species, a variety of other interesting species can be encountered in Suriname. In the coastal plain, the Blackish (rare outside the coastal plain) is one of them. A hotspot for this species is Peperpot, which is also a good spot for Arrowhead Piculet, Blood-colored Woodpecker, and Ashy-headed Greenlet. Interesting species of the northern savannas include the rare Pale-bellied Mourner and the resident subspecies albimarginatus of the Swainson’s Flycatcher. The savanna near Powaka is a good site to spot a Pale-bellied Mourner. The subspecies albimar- ginatus of the Swainson’s Flycatcher can be found at Zanderij and

© koninklijke brill nv, leiden, 2018 | doi 10.1163/9789004352339_008 50 Where To Watch Birds In Suriname surroundings in savanna areas with bushes and open woodland. The farther inland are home to a number of interesing species, such as Gray-winged Trum­peter, Band-tailed Antshrike, Boat-billed Tody- Tyrant, White-throated Pewee, Guianan Cock-of-the-rock, Crimson Fruitcrow, Capuchinbird, and White Bellbird. The best place to observe Gray-winged Trumpeters is Brownsberg Nature Park, where small groups of birds are often seen walking around the small restaurant at the Mazaroni Plateau. For the Band-tailed Antshrike, good areas to visit include Brownsberg, Raleigh Falls-Voltzberg, Kabalebo, and Arapahu Island. The Boat-billed Tody-Tyrant is well known from the Ra­leigh Falls-Voltzberg trail, and from the nature resorts of Kabalebo and Arapahu Island. The White-throated Pewee is almost entirely con- fined to highland forests, such as the Brownsberg, Nassau Mountains, Lely Moun­tains, and the Bakhuis Mountains. Famous sites to spot the Guianan Cock-of-the-rock are the woods around the Voltzberg (most spec­tacular from November to April when several dozens of males are dis­playing at their lek), near the Fredberg, and at the Kasikasima Mountains near the Upper Palumeu River. Poti Hill near Palumeu is well known for its Crimson Fruitcrows. The Capuchinbird with its noisy, froglike song is very common on Tonka Island. For a long time, the White Bellbird was a not-to-miss species of the Brownsberg Plateau. It seemed to have disappeared from that locality a few years ago, but has recently returned. It is also often observed at the Tafelberg and occasionally in the northern savanna area (with calling birds from April to September in the latter).

Hotspots

The locations of the selected hotspots are indicated in Fig. 40. When staying in Paramaribo, a visit to the mouth of the Van Sommelsdijck Creek (nr. 1) will take one hour. Visits to Cultuurtuin (nr. 2), Chocopot (nr. 3), Peperpot (nr. 4), mouth of the Suriname River/Braamspunt (nr. 5), and Weg naar Zee (nr. 7) will each take about half a day or less. Each of the following areas can be visited from Paramaribo as a day- trip (but start out early because often bird activity is already tapering