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Home , Amazonian trogon, Barred antshrike, Bronzy jacamar, Brownish twistwing, Caica parrot, Capuchinbird

, : & RIVER ISLANDS

OCTOBER 4–17, 2019

What simply has to be one of the most beautiful , the Crimson — Photo: Andrew Whittaker

LEADER: ANDREW WHITTAKER LIST COMPILED BY: ANDREW WHITTAKER

VICTOR EMANUEL NATURE TOURS, INC. 2525 WALLINGWOOD DRIVE, SUITE 1003 AUSTIN, TEXAS 78746 WWW.VENTBIRD.COM MANAUS, BRAZIL: AMAZON RAINFOREST & RIVER ISLANDS

October 4–17, 2019

By Andrew Whittaker

Manaus, without doubt, is one of the world’s major birding crossroads, located smack in the middle of the immense Amazon rainforest, 5,500,000 km 2 (2,123,562 sq mi), home to the richest and most mega diverse biome on our planet! This tour, as usual, offered a perfect opportunity to joyfully immerse ourselves into this fascinating birding and natural history bonanza. I have many fond memories of Manaus, as it was my home for more than 25 years and is always full of exciting surprises. I quickly learned that Amazonia never likes to give up any of its multitude of secrets easily, and, wow, there are so many still to discover!

Immense rainforest canopy as far as the eye can see of the famous INPA tower — Photo: Andrew Whittaker

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 2 Manaus, Brazil, 2019 Amazonia is much more than just the rainforest, as we quickly learned. We also enjoyed exploring the mighty Amazon waterways on our relaxed boat trips, birding avian-rich river islands while being delighted by the exuberant rainforests on either side of the Negro, each with varied and unique and different microhabitats. Amazonia never fails, and we certainly had our fair share of many delightful, stunning, and unique avian moments together. Highlights included the king of the raptors, a fantastic Harpy Eagle, and multiple bright, flashy, and colorful species, from gaudy , , macaws, , , and toucanets to the smaller and cool barbets. Night, dusk, and pre-dawn excursions produced nightjars, nighthawks, and cool too. As is the norm on this great tour, we also managed superlative views of some rarely seen , including the not so cute-looking Golden- handed ; the ever so cute group of lovely Golden-backed Squirrel Monkeys; and the incredible pod of Pink River Dolphins at arm’s length—certainly a unique display put on by these gorgeous river dolphins.

The glorious, peaceful Anavilhanas river islands and myriads of reflections — Photo: Andrew Whittaker

Amongst a plethora of avian trip highlights, my favorites included in-your-face views of some of the world’s great glamour , from the understory magnificent lekking Guianan Cock-of-the- rock to a superb encounter with a gem, the Ferruginous-backed . The canopy offered scope studies of Dusky and Brown-banded . Remote sandbars

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 3 Manaus, Brazil, 2019 afforded wonderful studies of displaying Sand-colored Nighthawks, and forest borders gave us close encounters with both magnificent male Fiery and (displaying), the latter in our lodge grounds! However, for me, the icing on the cake has to have been our colorful cotingas, which I have loved ever since getting the famous David Snow book on the cotingas. We had great scope views of the holy grail of cotingas, the rarely seen ; stupendous studies of male Pompadour and Spangled cotingas as they lit up the forest canopy; and a flashy Guianan Red- in the midstory. However, none of us will ever forget the extremely odd un--like chainsaw call from the equally odd-looking , which we were privileged to see so well.

The find of the trip at a new site was a response to playback of a magnificent Capuchinbird – Photo: Andrew Whittaker.

This tour has been carefully planned, allowing us time to explore two exciting and extremely different avian endemic centers, the Guianan shield (east of the Negro) and the distinct west bank of the Negro and its Imiri center, as well as to experience the wonders of two of the world’s mightiest rivers (the Amazon and ), both so much fun to explore by boat and so completely different! We had time to enjoy these two very contrasting along with their exciting but very different avian riches of white versus black water river island specialists. Engulfing and surrounding these immense waterways was the vast and mega-rich Amazon rainforest, which certainly enchanted all. Every day was like opening a Christmas present as we experienced firsthand how exotic and fascinating its wildlife can be. We also enjoyed the forest from as many different angles as possible and the mysterious canopy (from a couple of superb canopy towers), and we explored secluded forest trails and remote dirt roads amongst towering grandfathers of the forest emergents.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 4 Manaus, Brazil, 2019

A difficult to see canopy inhabitant is the lovely Caica – Photo: Andrew Whittaker

The Amazon is simply brimming with life and produced an incredible list of non-stop highlights. We marveled at many of its unique colorful birds and forest skulkers, as well as its wild-looking , colorful flowers, and myriad of . Another angle so often missed in our society of big cities was the ability to experience wonderful Amazonian sounds and aromas, and to appreciate hearing the shifts from the day crew to the very different sounds of the dusk on the night shift. Drifting on a calm evening from our boat rides, amazingly pleasant scented evening flower fragrances sometimes filled the fresh dusk air. Every day we stumbled upon and learned about another truly fascinating intricate symbiotic relationship giving us a brief insight into just why Amazonia possesses such a mega complex and bio-rich web of life.

We enjoyed great studies of Golden-handed Tamarin — Photo: Andrew Whittaker

The tour began in Manaus where several of you enjoyed our birdy hotel grounds on the edge of the city before the tour started, with impressive views of close-up feeding Scarlet Macaw being one of the many highlights. We officially began the tour with an exciting early pre-dawn visit to

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 5 Manaus, Brazil, 2019 a private forest and a wonderful well-constructed 55 m canopy tower (something not to be missed). Pre-dawn, we waited for unseasonal rain to stop before climbing into this fascinating realm of the rainforest canopy. Here toucans were in abundance, with great scope looks at many White-throated and Channel-billed toucans, plus Green . Parrot fly-bys (at eye level) kept us happy with a mix of colors while a wonderful female graced a nearby canopy fruiting tree. A small flock of exotic looking Caica Parrots—always hard to see well—perched in a nearby tree top. Fruiting trees rewarded us with Red-billed Pied , Yellow-tufted , and many more . And let’s not forget the joyful dawn chorus of the forest below and the stunning Resplendent of the butterfly world, our first of many dazzling Blue Morphs on the forest trail as we descended to the forest floor. Here too, a distant Lined Forest-Falcon call lured me back down a new trail. Ten minutes later we enjoyed great looks after playback worked, luring out this secretive forest raptor along with a lovely Great and the flock-leading Fulvous Shrike-Tanager.

A responsive Lined Forest-Falcon was a nice reward — Photo: Andrew Whittaker

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 6 Manaus, Brazil, 2019 Our first exciting full day birding was spent exploring the rich birdlife on white-water river islands and várzea forest along the nearby mighty Amazon. The amazing dynamics of the fierce currents of this, the mightiest of all rivers, was surreal and never ceases to amaze me. High waters (annually rise and fall 40 feet) had ripped apart many of my favored river islands, quickly changing the map and everything else too. However, we managed a joyful day picking up many of the targeted riverine specialists, as well as some interesting boreal migrant shorebirds and breeding terns and skimmers. Pre-dawn found us speeding over the famous “meeting of the waters” where the Negro flows into the Amazon without mixing for 5 miles. Here we explored the different dynamic types of transitional island vegetation in the várzea forest domain (white- water flooded forest). We jumped off our skiff onto various islands seeking out the special island specialties: the cute Black-and-white Antbird; Sand-colored Nighthawks; the striking Spot-breasted Woodpecker; Oriole Blackbird; Short-tailed Parrot; White-bellied and Parker’s spinetails; Lesser ; the specialist Pearly-breasted Conebill; cool-looking Riverside Tyrant; and delicate (bad hairdo) River Tyrannulet. Shorebirds abounded with great flocks of mostly Pectoral and White-rumped sandpipers seen at close quarters, and even a flock of Hudsonian Godwits!

A stunning close up Black-and-white Antbird — Photo: Andrew Whittaker

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 7 Manaus, Brazil, 2019 After enjoying a great meal on the floating restaurant in the lake reserve, we walked along the elevated boardwalk through the mid-story of the várzea forest where we were rewarded with close observations of a foraging group of cute Golden-backed Squirrel Monkeys. This was followed by wonderful close-up looks at three incredible cryptic species: Zimmer’s, Straight-billed, and Striped, and enjoying the famous giant Vitória-régia (Gigantic Waterlily). Here Marty found a wonderful Sunbittern, much to everyone’s delight!

Golden-backed Squirrel Monkey on the Amazon — Photo: Andrew Whittaker

The following day we crossed the mighty Rio Negro over the new impressive (White Elephant) road bridge to the west bank, entering into the realms of the exciting “Imeri endemic centre.” Here, our base was in the quaint riverine town of Novo Airão (famous for its boat-building) in our family-run forested lodge. The wooded grounds gave us a nice introduction to the birds, and we enjoyed Green-backed feeding on palm fruit, as well as several fabulous meals.

Next up and always a great success was our enjoyable afternoon boat trip to the world’s largest Riverine Archipelago, the incomparable Anavilhanas, for me by far the most beautiful in the world. Its calm black waters of the Rio Negro form an immense mirror image of forested banks along its multitude of channels compared to the stark reflections of stunted trees in its isolated tranquil igapó lakes. During a day-and-a-half exploration of these unique islands, channels, and lakes, we successfully found almost all of the black-water riverine endemics and many other specialties, such as the charismatic Festive Parrot and an incredible Long-billed Woodcreeper pair that put on a show.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 8 Manaus, Brazil, 2019

Long-billed Woodcreeper pair put on a marvelous show – Photo: Andrew Whittaker

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 9 Manaus, Brazil, 2019 Raptors were prominent with both Ornate and Black -eagles; endemic Klage’s Antwren and look-alike Cherrie’s, and the clean-looking Leaden Antwren. Ash-breasted and Black- chinned hugged the shores, while Blackish-gray and Black-crested antshrikes played harder to get. Inside the we pulled out Green-tailed Jacamar and the exquisite Wire- tailed . We also enjoyed fabulous close-up, in-your-face studies of Band-tailed Nighthawks (including the new split) that danced over our boat in response to playback in great early dusk and pre-dawn light.

The exquisite Wire-tailed Manakin — Photo: Andrew Whittaker

Here a true highlight was our encounter with a likable pod of Pink River Dolphins, which we were privileged to observe as they came in to feed on fish within a few feet of us all! These really are impressive creatures at 8-feet-long with a unique pink color, an articulated backbone (allowing them to hunt through flooded forests), and a 1.5-foot-long thin beak full of teeth! However, they are very delicate creatures, as we witnessed when several of you were able to touch them under the chin! Our anteater magnet Mark pulled a superb Giant Anteater out of the forest onto the road! Very rarely seen anywhere in Amazonian forest, and a true mega highlight for many, as it was new for them!

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 10 Manaus, Brazil, 2019

Pink River Dolphin – Photo: Andrew Whittaker

The rich west bank terra firme forest trails here produced many a highlight, such as groups of colorful Ivory-billed and Chestnut-eared aracaris; the rare Brown-banded ; great looks at the rarely seen ; colorful and stunning scope views of gaudy male Pompadour and Spangled cotingas; spanking Gilded Barbets and Blue-crowned Trogon; well-behaved White- browed ; and several stunning Yellow-browed Antbirds. Sadly, we were rained out on both of our evenings for the much-wanted White-winged ; however, we did manage nice looks at Spectacled instead. The rain did, however, help us with an amazing hatch of winged for non-stop fly-catching antics from a horde of cool forest species!

We enjoyed mega scope studies of several gorgeous striking male Pompadour Cotingas—Photo: Andrew Whittaker

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 11 Manaus, Brazil, 2019 I’m sure Novo Airão will also be remembered for its incredible clouds and amazing Milky Way, and who could ever forget all those fabulous homemade meals of delicious fresh Amazonian fish, the fruit and seed-eating prized Tambaqui, the famous Peacock Bass, and the massive Piraracu, a prehistoric river giant! And oh yes, of course, those wonderful fried macaxiera and to-die-for Brazilian caipirinhas too (freshly squeezed limes, sugar cane rum, some sugar, and lots of ice)! Plus, of course, the special deserts in the form of delicious Acai palm and Cupuacu ice creams deserve special mention.

Trogons were very prominent with lovely male Blue-crowned posing for us – Photo: Andrew Whittaker

After another exciting morning of west bank birding we returned to Manaus. After catching up on sleep in our comfortable hotel, pre-dawn the following day found us exploring different bird- rich Amazonian islands. This time, taller and richer Varzea forest produced a wonderful new set of species: Little ; Castelnau’s Antshrike; Yellow-crowned Elaenia; Dark-breasted Spinetail; White-eyed and Cinnamon attilas; and Hooded Tanager. However, best of all were exceptional studies of the rarely seen endemic Scaled Spinetail! Sandbars revealed stunning Ladder-tailed Nightjars, and we enjoyed great comparisons of nesting Large-billed and tiny Yellow-billed terns; we even spotted a rare Gull-billed amongst them and many Black Skimmers too. Here a pair of fighting Collared Plovers put on a wonderful display. We finished up with great comparisons of two Hornero species including the endemic Wing-banded. Due to the lake drying up since our visit less than a week ago, the floating restaurant had repositioned. After a

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 12 Manaus, Brazil, 2019 super meal we returned to our hotel where we enjoyed a good well-earned rest. After another glorious dinner, we were all well-prepared for a very early and exciting pre-dawn start!

Rarely seen endemic Scaled Spinetail — Photo: Andrew Whittaker

Pre-dawn we began our exploration of the different “Guianan Shield” avifauna in the realm of the canopy! Here, as dawn broke, we were spellbound and full of expectations on top of the famous INPA canopy tower in the pristine forest reserve. As the light got better, we could see unbroken rainforest as far as the eye could see, a truly delightful sight. Birds began to appear atop the tallest emergent, producing lots of group excitement; a wonderful family of spectacular Red-Fan Parrots passed by at eye level; and an incredible display put on by a responsive group of Red-throated Caracaras was a real highlight! We enjoyed lovely studies of Guianan Puffbird; Green Aracaris; Green (displaying); another cool look at Guianan Toucanets; and Black-spotted Barbet; all adding their spectacular colors!

Huge towering canopy emergents (some over 175 feet tall) surround the famous well- constructed INPA canopy tower. As temperatures rose, it still remained wonderfully pleasant, as a pre-dawn downpour had cooled it down. We continued to enjoy views of White ; Spotted and Flame-crested ; Ash-winged Antwren; and Pompadour Cotingas. Around midmorning, however, we hit the motherlode, finding the extremely rare and poorly-known Crimson Fruitcrow (a cotinga, in fact, and one of the most wanted); best of all, it was a stunning male showing off its magnificent crimson plumage with even its matching beak offering us superb scope views!

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 13 Manaus, Brazil, 2019

A true mega, a superb male Crimson Fruitcrow – Photo: Andrew Whittaker

Parrot diversity was scarce this year with little fruit; however, we managed stunning views of several flocks of the endemic race of Red-lored Parrots. A nearby fruiting tree was busy with Opal-rumped Tanager, Black-faced Dacnis, and hordes of Red-legged, Green, and Purple honeycreepers. Finally, we descended to enjoy our excellent picnic brunch followed by mega views of a nearby forest gem in the form of a Yellow-billed Jacamar.

Yellow-billed Jacamar still hunting — Photo: Andrew Whittaker

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 14 Manaus, Brazil, 2019 We headed due north again to our next exciting base, the forested trails and gardens of our lodge at Presidente Figueiredo. As usual, this area produced non-stop excitement; best of all, however, was the unexpected and superb HARPY EAGLE, seen not once but three times flying around the hotel grounds and once right over us! Quick shooting Ray even managed to catch this exact moment and kindly shared it below.

Harpy Eagle over our heads, immortalized by our group sharp shooter! — Photo: Ray White

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 15 Manaus, Brazil, 2019 Other highlights included many colorful Blue-and-yellow Macaws; Orange-winged and Dusky parrots; an excellent study of a pair of enigmatic Black ; Amazonian Pygmy-Owl; stunning Guianan Red-Cotinga; and we even nailed a family party of the rare canopy inhabitant in the form of . Flowering trees produced incredible prolonged studies of Crimson Topaz, and this year we even witnessed males displaying to a female!

Exceptional views of Black from our hotel — Photo: Andrew Whittaker

More outstanding exquisite Amazonian food was enjoyed here too, including Pirarucu fish (a prehistoric-looking predator and one of the largest fresh water fish in the world), freshly squeezed cupuaçu , and passion fruit juices.

Next up, the trip highlight: visiting a private site for one of the world’s top 10 birds, the incomparable Guianan Cock-of-the-rock. We enjoyed birding our way in with mega scope looks at stunning flocks of Blue-and-yellow Macaws and the tiny male Golden Spangled . Best of all, however, was our encounter with a magnificent calling Capuchinbird that responded well. I called it in, and what a display from this truly odd looker; we could even see the unique orange headlights displayed on its upper tail rump area. These are, in fact, formed by oddly curved undertail coverts! Following quickly were great looks at a Spot-backed Antwren in the midstory and a lovely Ferruginous-backed Antbird that did exactly what I planned for it to do on a fallen trunk, so we could all enjoy great looks. Primates were good here too, with a nice look at a lone Black Monkey and a group of cool-looking Golden-handed nervously crossing the road.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 16 Manaus, Brazil, 2019

The lovely skulking Ferruginous-backed Antbird was seen well. – Photo: Andrew Whittaker

We arrived at the perfect time at the magnificent forested reserve and its superb idyllic setting, the crystal-clear stream flowing through the middle of the forest clearing. Here we enjoyed a tranquil and wonderful homemade fish barbeque with exotic juices and ice-cold Real Guarana. Later we visited the amazing Guianan Cock-of-the-rock lek, which has to be one of the top ten wildlife experiences of anyone’s lifetime! We spent a magical 45 minutes here, spellbound, observing exquisite blazing fluorescent-orange males displaying their bizarre specialized petticoat rump feathers and odd tertial filaments—wow! What a show, as they completely ignored our close presence (only 30 feet away). Cameras clicked away and videos whirled, as we captured and enjoyed this simply amazing spectacle. The odd muggy weather and unseasonal heavy rains had certainly dampened the spectacle this year, but it still simply rocked!

The spectacular Guianan Cock-of-the-rock— Photo: Andrew Whittaker

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 17 Manaus, Brazil, 2019 Birding the stunted sandy belt campina forest here rewarded us with stunning Bronzy Jacamar and lovely Yellow-crowned Manakins. Back at our hotel, night birding produced a super look at some Common Pauraques and Blackish Nightjars; sadly, with a full moon and lovely weather, nothing from my Rufous Potoo site and no owls responding. Night birding can be very unpredictable at times.

We enjoyed close up Blackish Nightjar from our hotel grounds — Photo: Andrew Whittaker

Around the hotel, our last morning provided us with a wonderful study of a close and friendly Black-faced Hawk. After lunch during a big storm, we drove back to our comfortable Manaus hotel. Here we joyfully relived some of our fine trip highlights and voted for our top 7 birds of the tour before enjoying our wonderful farewell meal.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 18 Manaus, Brazil, 2019

The poorly-known Black-faced Hawk almost took off our heads coming in to playback — Photo: Andrew Whittaker

You were a truly wonderful fun group, and it was my great pleasure to be able to share so many special Amazonian moments with you all! I do hope I passed on my immense passion, enthusiasm, and understanding of one of the world’s most magical forests, the Amazon, along with its complex and wondrous mega diversity. It will always be my favorite biome, and I’m already looking ahead to my return next year. I do hope to see all of you again on another exciting VENT adventure. Meanwhile, I hope you enjoy reading this report and that it brings back fond memories. To you all, very happy birding!

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 19 Manaus, Brazil, 2019

A fiery Dragonfly brightens up a shaded understory – Photo: Andrew Whittaker

ITINERARY:

10/4: Fly from the US, Canada or Europe to Brazil. All of you arrived today early to rest up, and many enjoyed birding in the forested hotel grounds, highlights being feeding Scarlet Macaws amongst many other cool species. 10/5: Early breakfast for optional MUSA canopy tower trip followed by a wonderful Amazonian buffet for lunch. Followed by a break then a late evening birding excursion of our productive hotel grounds. 10/6: Pre-dawn saw us drifting across the mighty on our private covered skiff as the sun rose to bird the rich dynamic Machantaria River Island, unnamed islets, lakes, and wonderful sandy beaches. We lunched at Lago Januari on a floating restaurant and visited their reserve exploring the rich varzea forest off the raised boardwalk (midstory) before returning midafternoon for a well-earned break at our hotel with some evening birding on the grounds. 10/7: After a good early breakfast, we drove over the mighty Rio Negro and birded our way to the quaint riverside town of Novo Airão and had a fine meal en route before checking into our forested family-run lodge. After lunch, a break during the heat of the day before off to observe the amazing pod of wild Pink Dolphins coming in to be fed. Afterwards, we boarded our private skiff to start our exciting exploration of the world’s largest and one of the most spectacular

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 20 Manaus, Brazil, 2019 archipelagos. This year it included avoiding a strange early thunderstorm with spectacular effects and, of course, some neat night birding too. 10/8: Exploration by boat again of the Anavilhanas islands and their igapo specialists. Sailing across in the pre-dawn for nightjars and a lovely mornings birding. For lunch we enjoyed our first of many barbeque Tambaqui fish at our pleasant hotel before our well-earned break. Relaxed afternoon boat trip to bird the marvelous archipelago for the last time. Crazy storm late on but no rain, just great effects; but sadly bit into our night birding again! 10/9: Birding AM and PM in terra firme on the west bank along trails for the Imeri endemics first from a large forested clearing which always holds many gems! Followed by a superb trail through forest which abounded with cotingas and much more! 10/10: Owling for Spectacled Owl in hotel during pre-dawn followed by more birding AM in terra firme on the west bank along trails and in a clearing, with a transfer to Manaus after another magnificent lunch, with late afternoon rest at our hotel with birding at dusk on the grounds. 10/11: Pre-dawn saw us again crossing the mighty Amazon River on our private covered skiff to further explore and search the rich dynamic Machantaria River Island, unnamed islets, and lakes for the species we still required, mostly in early successional growth and mature Varzea forest. After another great meal we returned midafternoon for a well-earned break at our hotel. 10/12: A very early morning start to bird famous INPA tower (always a trip highlight), in with our two 4 x 4 we had a memorable time in the realm of the canopy. Followed by a well-earned superb picnic before we transfer to Presidente Figueiredo; late evening birding on hotel’s forested grounds, night in forested lodge. 10/13 : Birding around our forested lodge all day exploring its several roads and rich terra firme forest. 10/14: AM birding on the way in forest and onto the incredible Guianan Cock-of-the-rock lek area. Here we enjoyed a fantastic homemade meal before visiting the lek. Night birding around the forested roads of the lodge. 10/15: Early morning birding another road followed by a great meal before leaving the lodge and returning to Manaus for late afternoon rest. Our bird list session with top 7 followed by a spectacular scrumptious farewell meal at the hotel. Some folks caught their late-night flight homebound via Miami, or Dennis & Brown off to NE Brazil. 10/16 Home to the US and Brazil.

7 Favorite Birds of the Trip (as voted by the group):

1. RED-THROATED CARACARA (SHOW!) 2. GUIANAN COCK-OF-THE-ROCK 3. HARPY EAGLE 4. SAND-COLORED NIGHTHAWK 5. CAPUCHINBIRD 6. LONG-BILLED WOODCREEPER 7. FERRUGINOUS-BACKED ANTBIRD

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 21 Manaus, Brazil, 2019

A beautiful show of a group of Red-throated Caracaras with vocals too earned them the top spot! — Photo: Andrew Whittaker

Top fresh Amazonian fish of the trip 1- Tambaqui 2- Peacock Bass 3- Piraracu

We enjoyed several delightful Tambaqui barbecues which were rated as our TOP dish and some of the best fish ever eaten by many of you! – Photo: Andrew Whittaker

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 22 Manaus, Brazil, 2019 Amazonian fruit juices

1- Passion Fruit 2- Acai Palm 3- Graviola 4- Cupuacu 5- Acerola 6- Tapereba

KEY: * = Heard only

BIRDS:

TINAMOUS (TINAMIDAE): Great Tinamou ( Tinamus major ) - * Little Tinamou ( Crypterellus soui ) - * Variegated Tinamou ( Crypterellus variegatus ) - *

DUCKS & GEESE (ANATIDAE): Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis ) – Seen on the Amazon. Muscovy Duck ( Cairina moschata ) Brazilian Teal ( Amazonetta brasiliensis ) – Nice studies.

CHACHALACAS, GUANS & CURASSOWS (): Variable (Little) Chachalaca ( Ortalis ) – In the Manaus hotel gardens. Marail Guan ( Penelope marail ) – Not very obvious this year. Spix’s Guan ( Penelope jacquacu ) - * Crestless Curassow ( tomentosum ) – Very briefly seen my some as two flushed flying into thick trees on an island in Anavilhanas. Black Curassow ( Crax alector ) – Fantastic looks at a lovely pair at our hotel!

NEW WORLD QUAIL (ODONTOPHORIDAE) Marbled Wood-Quail ( Odontophorus gujanensis ) - *

PIGEONS & DOVES (): Rock Pigeon (I) ( Columba livia ) Pale-vented Pigeon ( Patagioenas cayennesis ) Scaled Pigeon ( Patagioenas speciosa ) – Great scope looks as it inflated its neck to sing! Plumbeous Pigeon ( Patagioenas plumbea delicata ) – Nice looks at a feeding pair. As I suggested many splits to follow in this complex! The true nominate Plumbeous is found only in the Atlantic Rainforest! Ruddy Pigeon ( Patagioenas subvinacea ) – Anavilhanas.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 23 Manaus, Brazil, 2019 Common Ground-Dove ( Columbina passerina ) Ruddy Ground-Dove ( Columbina talpacoti ) Ruddy Quail-Dove ( Geotrygon montana) – * White-tipped Dove ( Leptotila verreauxi ) Gray-fronted Dove ( Leptotila rufaxilla )

CUCKOOS & ANIS (CUCULIDAE): Greater Ani ( Crotophaga major ) Smooth-billed Ani (C rotophaga ani ) Striped Cuckoo ( Tapera naevia) - * Little Cuckoo ( minuta ) – Nice studies on the river island with a close flyby. ( cayana ) Black-bellied Cuckoo ( P. melanogaster ) – A real forest crippler.

NIGHTJARS & ALLIES (CAPRIMULGIDAE): Sand-colored Nighthawk ( Chordeiles rupestris ) – WOW what a show, fantastic displays and I loved hearing their songs too. We even located a nest, well eggs on the beach! A trip highlight for many and rightly so voted into the top 7! Common Nighthawk ( Chordeiles major ) – Excellent record of 4 an early boreal migrant. Good spotting Marty! Short-tailed Nighthawk ( Lurocalis semitorquatus) Band-tailed Nighthawk ( Nyctiprogne leucopyga ) - Remember we had excellent views of the two very distinctly different vocal types as they responded by flying so close over our skiff. The true nominate birds plus the very dark bellied form to be split when it’s finally all worked out exactly which it is! This is the only site we know the two forms are sympatric! Blackish Nightjar ( Caprimulgus nigescens ) – Incredible close studies. Commom Pauraque (Nyctidromus albicolis) – A nice male. Ladder-tailed Nightjar ( Hydropsalis climacocerca ) - Wonderful repeated looks at flushed birds in the daytime on the river islands.

SWIFTS (APODIDAE): Chapman’s Swift ( Chaetura chapmani) – Good looks off the tower. Short-tailed Swift ( Chaetura brachyura ) Band-rumped Swift ( Chaetura spinicauda ) Gray-rumped Swift ( Chaetura ciniventris ) – Common at Anavilhanas. Fork-tailed Palm-Swift ( Tachornis squamata )

HUMMINGBIRDS (TROCHILIDAE): Crimson Topaz ( Topaza pella ) – Incredibly good looks at a magnificent male in the scope as it perched and patrolled those flowers and also during its amazing display flight for females it showed off its sexy white thighs! Fiery Topaz ( Topaza pyra ) – Great find Brownie, lovely studies of this rare hummer catching insects and returning to its perch! White bearded Hermit ( Phaetornis hispidus ) - *

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 24 Manaus, Brazil, 2019 Straight-billed Hermit (Phaetornis bouriceri) Long-tailed Hermit (Phaetornis superciliosus) Great-billed Hermit ( Phaetornis malaris ) * Streak-throated Hermit ( Phaetornis rupurumii ) Reddish Hermit (Phaetornis ruber) – * Black-eared Fairy ( Heliothryx auritus ) – Seen well off the tower catching insects. Fiery-tailed Awlbill ( Avocettula recurvirostris ) – A quick view at our hotel of a male of this rare hummer! Green-throated Mango ( Anthracothorax viridigula ) – River Island one only. Black-throated Mango ( Anthracothorax nigricollis ) Blue-tailed Emerald ( Chlorostilbon mellisugus ) – Machantaria briefly. Gray-breasted Sabrewing ( Campylopterus largipennis ) – Superb studies, Topaz hate this as it’s a strong rival at its preferred flowers! Fork-tailed Woodnymph ( Thalurania fucata ) Olive-spotted ( Leucippus chlorocercus ) – Not good for perched views this year of this island specialist. Glittering-throated Emerald ( Amazilia fimbriata ) Rufous-throated Sapphire ( Hylocharis sapphirina ) – Briefly in the canopy.

RAILS & GALLINULES (RALLIDAE): Gray-breasted Crake (Laterallus exilis ) – *

FINFOOTS (HELIORNITHIDAE) Sungrebe ( Heliornis fulica ) - *

LIMPKIN (ARAMIDAE) Limpkin (Aramus guarauna ) – Nice looks at roadside.

PLOVERS & (): American Golden-Plover ( Pluvialis dominica ) – Good flock. Southern ( chilensis cayennensis) - Expanding due to , and as I explained a future split from southern birds these will probably be called Lapwing! Collared Plover ( Charadrius collaris ) – Magnificent close views of pair of males displaying.

JACANAS (JACANIDAE): Wattled Jacana (Jacana jacana ) – Common.

SANDPIPERS & ALLIES (SCOLOPACIDAE): Hudsonian Godwit ( Limosa haemastica ) – Large distant flock of 50 + flying over the Amazon. White-rumped Sandpiper ( Calidris fuscicollis ) – Fairly common. Pectoral Sandpiper ( Calidris melanotos ) – Good numbers excellent close studies. Spotted Sandpiper ( Actitis macularia ) Solitary Sandpiper ( Tringa solitaria ) Greater Yellowlegs ( Tringa flavipes )

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 25 Manaus, Brazil, 2019

GULLS, TERNS & SKIMMERS (LARIDAE): Yellow-billed Tern ( Sterna superciliaris ) – Lovely comparisons to its much larger brother. Large-billed Tern ( Phaetusa simplex ) – A real cool looking tern one of the best. Gull-billed Tern ( Gelochelidon nilotica) – Nice studies in flight of a lone bird, rare here! Black Skimmer ( Rhynchops niger ) – So neat to see them fishing and incubating in their deep scrapes on the beach.

SUNBITTERN (EURYPYGIDAE) Sunbittern ( Eurypyga helias ) – Excellent find Marty! Great studies foraging by the water lilies.

ANHINGAS (ANHINGIDAE): Anhinga ( Anhinga anhinga ) – Nice studies.

CORMORANTS (PHALACRORACIDAE): Neotropic Cormorant ( Phalacrocorax brasilianus )

HERONS & EGRETS (ARDEIDAE): Cocoi Heron ( Ardea cocoi ) Great Egret ( Casmerodius alba ) – Abundant where concentrations of fish were found on the Amazon. Snowy Egret ( Egretta thula ) Egret ( Bubulcus ibis ) Striated Heron ( Butorides striatus ) Capped Heron ( Pilherodius pileatus ) – Wow a stunner what looks!

IBIS & SPOONBILLS (THRESKIORNITHIDAE): Green Ibis (Mesembrinibis cayennensis) – Nice studies.

NEW WORLD VULTURES (CATHARTIDAE): King Vulture ( Sarcoramphus papa ) – Distant but a nice adult soaring near our hotel. Black Vulture ( Coragyps atratus ) Turkey Vulture ( Cathartes aura ruficollis ) - As I explained a distinct local subspecies waiting to be split! Some already calling Neotropical Turkey Vulture. Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture (Cathartes burrovianus ) – Abundant on the Amazon. Greater Yellow-headed Vulture ( Cathartes melambrotos ) – Many seen well in terra firme forest.

OSPREY (PANDIONIDAE): Osprey ( Pandion halieatus ) – Many more migrants this year on the Amazon. Enjoyed watching them catch fish.

HAWKS, EAGLES & KITES (ACCIPITRIDAE): Hook-billed Kite ( Chondrohierax uncinatus ) – Rare here but several seen.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 26 Manaus, Brazil, 2019 Swallow-tailed Kite ( Elanoides forticatus ) – Always a thrill to see well, nice in the scope when perched. Harpy Eagle ( Harpia harpyja ) – WOW! Thankfully for those alarming Caica Parrots we all had magnificent views as this huge bird sailed over our heads! Thanks to Ray for his lightening reaction I can even share here a nice flight image! Black Hawk-Eagle ( Spizaetus tyrannus ) – Anavilhanas soaring. Ornate Hawk-Eagle ( Spizaetus ornatus ) - Anavilhanas soaring. Black-collared Hawk ( Busarellus nigricollis ) – Lovely studies at Machantaria. Double-toothed Kite ( Harpagus bidentatus ) – Several. Plumbeous Kite ( Ictinia plumbea ) – Excellent studies. Crane Hawk ( Geranospiza caerulescens ) – Great views. Hawk ( Buteogallus meridionalis ) – Always a very long legged and smart looker! Roadside Hawk ( Buteo magnirostris ) – Common. White Hawk ( Pseudastur albicolis ) – Repeated great looks. Black-faced Hawk ( Leucopternis melanops ) – Simply a stunning study in such lovely light of a magnificent perched singing adult in the scope. A rarely seen forest raptor and so responsive almost took off my head! Gray-lined Hawk ( Buteo nitidus ) – Leader only. Now split from American form, the true Gray Hawk.

OWLS (STRIGIDAE): Crested Owl ( Lophostrix cristata ) - * Spectacled Owl ( perspicillata ) – Magnificent views once in our hotel grounds pre-dawn for some. Amazonian Pygmy-Owl ( Glaucidium hardyi ) – Nice find, not stopping around for scope studies sadly. Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl (Glaucidium brasilianum ) – *

TROGONS (TROGONIDAE): Black-tailed Trogon ( Trogon melanurus ) – Excellent looks. Green-backed Trogon ( Trogon viridis ) – Split from White-tailed seen well several times. ( Trogon violaceus ) – Again lovely studies. A split from Violaceous Trogon. ( Trogon ramonianus ) – Wonderful scope studies at Novo Airao. Blue-crowned Trogon ( Trogon curucui ) – A very obliging male posed for photos. Black-throated Trogon (Trogon rufus) - *

MOTMOTS (MOMOTIDAE): Amazonian Motmot (Momotus momota ) – *

KINGFISHERS (CERYLIDAE): Ringed Kingfisher ( Megaceryle torquata ) – Amazon. Amazon Kingfisher ( Chloroceryle amazona ) Green Kingfisher ( Chloroceryle americana) Green-and-rufous Kingfisher ( Chloroceryle inda ) - *

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 27 Manaus, Brazil, 2019 PUFFBIRDS (BUCCONIDAE): White-necked Puffbird ( hyperrhynchus ) – * Guianan Puffbird ( Notharchus macrorhynchos) – Good find and seen well off both towers. Brown-banded Puffbird (Notharchus ordii) – Wow a pair seen so well in the scope! A puffird so rare, Ted Parker sadly never saw it. Pied Puffbird ( Notharcus tectus ) – Repeated studies. Collared Puffbird ( capensis) – Sadly just at dusk flying across the road and not perching in view. Despite trying many times never responded again! Black Nunbird ( Monasa atra ) – Great studies. Black-fronted Nunbird ( Monasa nigrifrons ) – Abundant on Anavilhanas. Swallow-winged Puffbird ( Chelidoptera tenebrosa ) – Abundant.

JACAMARS (GALBULIDAE): Yellow-billed Jacamar ( albirostris ) – Superb looks at this gem. Green-tailed Jacamar ( Galbula galbula ) – Poor showing this year. Bronzy Jacamar ( Galbula leucogastra ) - Spectacular studies. Paradise Jacamar ( Galbula dea ) – WOW! Great Jacamar (Jacamerops aurea ) – Lovely looks first morning in the scope in response to playback.

NEW WORLD BARBETS (CAPITONIDAE): Black-spotted Barbet ( niger ) – Excellent studies off the tower after playback of this cool- looking pair even observed doing the bowing while singing its weak song. Gilded Barbet ( Capito auratus punctatus ) – Nice scope looks at another forest gem.

TOUCANS (RAMPHASTIDAE): Green Aracari ( Pteroglossus viridis) – Amazing delicate and a real beauty. Black-necked Aracari ( Pteroglossus aracari ) – Many studies. Chestnut-eared Aracari ( Pteroglossus castanotis ) – Novo Airao common. Ivory-billed Aracari ( Pteroglossus azara) – Seen extremely well even with one in the group holding a fruit in its bill! Guianan Toucanet ( piperivora) – Wonderful scope studies of birds feeding on fruit a few times. White-throated ( tucanus ) – Lots simply abundant. Channel-billed Toucan ( Ramphastos vitellinus ) – Wow such a cool looker!

WOODPECKERS (PICIDAE): Golden-spangled Piculet ( Picumnus exilis ) – Great looks at this tiny Woodpecker a cool looking responsive male. Yellow-tufted Woodpecker ( Melanerpes cruentatus ) – Lovely studies of several groups. Golden-collared Woodpecker ( cassini ) Little Woodpecker ( Veniliornis passerinus ) Red-stained Woodpecker (Veniliornis affinis ) - * Red-necked Woodpecker ( Campephilus rubricollis ) – *

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 28 Manaus, Brazil, 2019 Crimson-crested Woodpecker ( Campephilus melanoleucos ) Ringed Woodpecker ( torquatus ) – Great spotting Michael! We enjoyed several lovely studies. Waved Woodpecker (Celeus undulatus) – Nice. Cream-colored Woodpecker ( Celeus flavus ) – * Yellow-throated Woodpecker ( Piculus flavigula ) – Always a looker! Golden-green Woodpecker ( Piculus chrysochlorus) Spot-breasted Woodpecker ( Colaptes punctigula) – Wonderful views on the river islands.

FALCONS & CARACARAS (FALCONIDAE): Lined Forest-Falcon ( Micrastur gilvicollis ) – A trip highlight any day you get to see well any shy Forest-Falcon! Black Caracara (Daptrius ater) – Nice looks. Red-throated Caracara (Ibycter americanus ) – Simply the best show ever off the tower of certainly an odd raptor but super cool! For sure has a terrible loud shrieking call and most odd display we enjoyed so much it was voted TOP bird of the trip!! An indicator species of good forest too. Social behavior and wasp diet are extremely interesting and certainly I feel should be studied more! Crested Caracara (Caracara cheriway ) – Several. Yellow-headed Caracara ( Milvago chimachima ) Laughing Falcon ( Herpetotheres cachinnans ) - Nice, a snake specialist. Falcon ( Falco rufigularis ) – Nice scope looks.

NEW WORLD & AFRICAN PARROTS (): Sapphire-rumped Parrotlet ( Touit purpuratus) – Sadly only flybys this year. Tui Parakeet ( sanctithomae ) – Flight only. White-winged Parakeet ( Brotogeris versicolurus) – Not as abundant as usual. Golden-winged Parakeet ( Brotogeris chrysopterus ) – Common good scope studies. Caica Parrot ( caica ) – Fantastic looks of MUSA tower. Other flybys at our lodge. Dusky Parrot ( fuscus ) – An odd but attractive parrot. Blue-headed Parrot ( Pionus menstruus ) – Abundant, many excellent looks. Short-tailed Parrot ( Graydidascalus brachyurus ) - Seen well in flight this odd big headed riverine specialist. Festive Parrot ( Amazona festiva ) – How fun to watch them enjoying life bouncing around on that lovely afternoon on the spectacular boat trip in the Anavilhanas. Red-lored Parrot (Amazona autumnalis diadema) – This endemic form which is extremely localized is a certainty to be split and is in fact a Brazilian endemic . Mealy Parrot ( Amazona farinosa ) – Several in flight. Orange-winged Parrot ( Amazona amazonica ) – Nice looks at perched birds in the scope. Red-fan Parrot ( Deroptyus accipitrinus ) – WOW we nailed this great looker off the INPA tower so well. Maroon-tailed Parakeet ( Pyrrhura melanura ) – * Red-bellied Macaw ( Orthopsittaca manilatus ) – Very odd so few!

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 29 Manaus, Brazil, 2019 Blue-and-yellow Macaw ( Ara ararauna ) – Always so beautiful deserves to be called gold and blue. We had multiple lovely studies. Scarlet Macaw ( Ara macao ) – Magnificent studies by some in our hotel grounds in Manaus on several days. Red-and-green Macaw ( Ara chloropterus ) – A few brief flyby looks only this year. White-eyed Parakeet ( Aratinga leucophthamus ) – Fairly common by our hotel.

We enjoyed many views of this interesting endemic subspecies of Red-lored Parrot – Photo: Andrew Whittaker

TYPICAL ANTBIRDS (THAMNOPHILIDAE): Ash-winged Antwren (Euchrepornis spodioptila) – Canopy species seen off the INPA tower. Fasciated Antshrike (Cymbilaimus lineatus) - * Unresponsive sadly! Black-crested Antshrike ( Sakesphorus canadensis ) – Superb studies at Anavilhanas. Barred Antshrike ( doliatus ) – Machantaria a female only. Mouse-colored Antshrike (Thamnophilus murinus) Castlenau’s Antshrike ( T. cryptolecus ) – A real treat great looks of a pair. Blackish-gray Antshrike (T. nigrocinereus ) – * Not very responsive at all sadly. Northern Slaty-Antshrike (Thamnophilus punctatus) – Nice looks of a responsive female. White-shouldered Antshrike ( Thamnophilus aethiops ) - * Amazonian Antshrike (Thamnophilus amazonicus) – Wonderful looks. Dusk-throated Antshrike ( Thamnomanes ardesiacus ) – A flock leader. Cinereous Antshrike ( Thamnomanes caesius) – Nice studies. Brown-bellied Antwren ( Epinerophylla gutturalis ) – Dead leaf specialist. Pygmy Antwren ( brachyura ) - * Cherrie’s Antwren ( M. cherriei ) – Excellent studies of until recently a poorly-known species. Klage’s Antwren ( M. klagesi ) – Endemic. Excellent looks of this once thought lost to science and rediscovered here in the Anavilhanas islands where it’s the species stronghold. White-flanked Antwren ( Myrmotherula axillaris ) Gray Antwren ( Myrmotherula menetriesii ) Leaden Antwren ( M. assimilis ) – Multiple good studies.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 30 Manaus, Brazil, 2019 Spot-backed Antwren ( Herpsilochmus dorsimaculatus ) – After some work having missed it off the tower we all got it at well along the road in the mid story. Guianan Warbling-Antbird ( cantator ) - * Just not responsive! Yellow-browed Antbird ( Hypocnemis hypoxantha) – Stunning views of one of the best of all antbirds at Novo Airao. Dusky Antbird ( tyrannina ) Gray Antbird ( cinerascens) – A vine specialist. Ash-breasted Antbird ( Myrmoborus lugubris ) – Wonderful studies of a pair. Black-faced Antbird (Myrmoborus myotherinus) – * Black-chinned Antbird ( melanopogon ) – Great looks at a fearless foraging female in particuar. Black-and-white Antbird ( Myrmochanes hemileucus ) – Always a crowd pleaser a real cute bird, outstanding studies. Amazing to think of an antbird that has evolved to live on those dynamic river islands. Silvered Antbird ( Sclateria naevia ) - * Black-headed Antbird ( Percnostola rufifrons minor ) - Hard as always to see. I still believe this is a good split. Used to be called Amazonas Antbird! Gray eye, smaller etc. Ferruginous-backed Antbird ( Sciaphylax ferruginea ) – WOW super sexy looker seen so so well! Black-throated Antbird ( Myrmophylax atrothorax ) - * White-cheeked Antbird ( Gymnopithys leucaspis ) – Obligate follower shy but seen by all. Rufous-throated Antbird ( Gymnopithys rufigula ) - * Alas non responsive.

GNATEATERS (CONOPOPHAGIDAE) Chestnut-bellied Gnateater ( Conopophaga aurita ) - *

ANTPITTAS (GRALLARIIDAE): Variegated Antpitta ( Grallaria varia) - * Trush-like Antpitta ( Myrmothera campanisona ) - * Off the tower very distant.

ANTTHRUSHES (FORMICARIIDAE): Rufous-capped Antthrush (Formicarius colma) – * Non responsive! Black-faced Antthrush ( Formicarius analis ) - *

OVENBIRDS & (FURNARIIDAE): Spot-throated Woodcreeper ( Certhiasomus stictolaemus ) – Superb studies of this poorly-known woodcreeper in the midstory working a tree removing bark chips! Olivaceous Woodcreeper ( Sittasomus griseicapillus amazonus ) – Going to be split in multiple species, keep tuned! Wedge-billed Woodcreeper ( Glyphorynchus spirurus ) – Common. Cinnamon-throated Woodcreeper ( Dendrexetastes rufigula ) - Good looks off MUSA tower. Long-billed Woodcreeper ( Nasica longirostris ) – Wow, what a cool bird and an amazing long bill for probing for insects in those bromeliads. Exceptional views of a pair! Striped Woodcreeper ( Xiphorhynchus obsoletus ) - Nice looks. Chestnut-rumped Woodcreeper ( Xiphorhynchus pardalotus ) – Fairly common.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 31 Manaus, Brazil, 2019 Buff-throated Woodcreeper ( Xiphorhynchus guttatus) Straight-billed Woodcreeper ( Dendroplex picus ) – Nice comparisons with the look alike following speces! Zimmer’s Woodcreeper ( D. necopinus ) – Very nice studies to compare with abundant widespread Straight-billed straight after seeing one. Red-billed Scythebill (Campylorhamphus trochilirostris snethlagae ) – One flew over Machantaria river island. Many splits to follow! The whole red-billed, curve-billed complexes are a real mess! Duida Woodcreeper ( duidae ) - * Guianan Woodcreeper ( Lepidocolaptes albolineatus ) – Split from the Lineated complex by me and my colleagues. Wing-banded Hornero ( Furnarius figulus) – Endemic, nice studies and comparisons with smaller duller lesser.

Nice studies of this cool-looking endemic Wing-banded Hornero – Photo: Andrew Whittaker

Lesser Hornero ( Furnarius minor) – Nice riverine specialist. Olive-backed Foliage-gleaner ( Automolus infuscatus ) – Ruined our studies by a flyby! Rusty-backed Spinetail ( Cranioleuca vulpina ) – Good find. Scaled not happy with this pair! Parker’s Spinetail ( Cranioleuca vulpecula ) – Canebreak specialist seen very well. Scaled Spinetail ( Cranioleuca muelleri ) (E) – Great studies of this rare bird a highlight for me after missing for several years! Yellow-chinned Spinetail (Certhiaxis cinnamomea ) – Common. Red-and-white Spinetail ( Certhiaxis mustelinus ) – * One of my favorite spinetails none responsive sadly!

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 32 Manaus, Brazil, 2019 White-bellied Spinetail ( Mazaria propinqua ) – After some work good studies of this skulker. Dark-breasted Spinetail (Synallaxis albigularis) – Great looks at Machantaria.

One of many Spinetails seen well on the rich river islands, a Dark-breasted – Photo: Andrew Whittaker

TYRANT FLYCATCHERS (TYRANNIDAE): White-lored Tyrannulet (Ornithion inerme ) – We could see its small size stunted tail and bold covert dots. Southern Beardless-Tyrannulet ( Camptostoma absoletum ) - * Mouse-colored Tyrannulet ( Phaeomyias murina ) Yellow-crowned Tyrannulet ( Tyrannulus elatus ) – Free Beers! Forest Elaenia ( Myiopagis gaimardii ) Yellow-crowned Elaenia ( M. flavivertex ) – Nice studies of a species easily overlooked in shaded várzea forest. Large Elaenia ( Elaenia spectabilis ) Small-billed Elaenia ( Elaenia parvirostris ) – Few this year most already returned south. River Tyrannulet ( hypoleuca ) – Always cute. Ochre-bellied Flycatcher ( Mionectes oleagineus ) - * McConnell’s Flycatcher ( Mionectes macconelli) – In the canopy! Guianan Tyrannulet ( acer ) – Excellent studies off the towers. Slender-footed Tyrannulet ( Zimmerius gracilipes ) – West bank. Amazonian Scrub-Flycatcher ( Sublegatus obscurior ) – Rare bird by our hotel. Amazonian Tyrannulet ( Inezia subflava ) – Wonderful close up encounter, such a lovely singer! Kevin and I split this species many moons ago from Pale-tipped Tyrannuet! Lesser Wagtail-Tyrant (Stigmatura napensis ) – * We tried but no luck. Short-tailed Pygmy-Tyrant ( Myiornis ecaudatus ) – As small as a big bee! Double-banded Pygmy-Tyrant ( Lophotriccus vitiosus) - * Snethlage’s Tody-Tyrant ( Hemitriccus minor ) – Noisy! Splits in the pipeline but complex! White-eyed Tody-Tyrant ( Hemitriccus zosterops ) - * White-bellied Tody-Tyrant ( Hemitriccus griseipectus ) - * Pelzeln’s Tody-Tyrant ( Hemitriccus inornatus ) – endemic. Excellent spotting of this recently re- discovered species having been thought lost to science since the only known skin was

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 33 Manaus, Brazil, 2019 collected back in 1831! In fact rediscovered by Kevin and I in early 1990’s in campina north of Manaus. Brownish ( Cnipodectes subbrunneus ) – * None responsive but we tried! Rusty-fronted Tody-Flycatcher ( Poecilotriccus latirostris ) – Machantaria. Spotted Tody-Flycatcher ( Todirostrum maculatum ) – Common and cute looking. Painted Tody-Flycatcher ( Todirostrum pictum ) – * Yellow-browed Tody-Flycatcher ( Todirostrum chrysocrotaphum ) - * Yellow-olive Flycatcher ( Tolmomyias sulphurescens insignis ) – insignis to be split soon by Kevin and me to be named Riverine Flycatcher. Yellow-margined Flycatcher ( Tolmomyias assimilis examinatus ) - to be split soon too! Gray-crowned Flycatcher ( Tolmomyias policephalus ) - * Yellow-breasted Flycatcher ( Tolmomyias flaviventris ) – Splits on the way too! Olive-sided Flycatcher ( Contopus cooperi ) – Nice early migrant seen twice off the towers! Ruddy-tailed Flycatcher (Terenotriccus erythrurus ) - * Fuscous Flycatcher ( Cnemotriccus fuscatus ) – Macanataria. Riverside Tyrant ( Knipolegus orenocensis ) – Good studies even observed doing its display flight. Amazonian Black-Tyrant ( Knipolegus poecilocercus ) Black-backed Water-Tyrant ( Fluvicola albiventer ) – Smart looker! Cinnamon (Attila cinnamomeus) – Responsive and a nice bird. White-eyed Attila (Attila bolivianus ) – Lovely bird striking with the white eye. Bright-rumped Attila ( Attila spadiceus ) - * Todd’s Sirystes ( Sirystes subcanescens ) – Off Musa. Grayish Mourner ( Rhytipterna simplex ) - * Short-crested Flycatcher ( Myiarchus ferox ) – Common. Brown-crested Flycatcher ( Myiarchus tyrannulus ) - * Lesser Kiskadee ( Pitangus lictor ) - Machantaria. Greater Kiskadee ( Pitangus sulphuratus ) – Abundant on Amazon beaches where 30 in almost a flock! Must have been due to a hatch of insects. Boat-billed Flycatcher ( Megarynchus pitangua ) Rusty-margined Flycatcher ( Myiozetetes cayanensis ) Social Flycatcher ( Myiozetetes similis ) Yellow-throated Flycatcher ( Conopias parvus) – A neat canopy flycatcher seen well. Piratic Flycatcher (Legatus leucophaius) Variegated Flycatcher ( Empidonomus varius ) – Several. Sulphury Flycatcher ( Tyrannopsis sulphurea ) – Nice studies near palms plus off the INPA tower a pair was a surprise! Tropical Kingbird ( Tyrannus melancholicus ) – Abundant. Fork-tailed Flycatcher ( Tyrannus savana ) – Lovely studies of a cool bird. Maybe more than one species! Breeding birds seen at Machantaria rest were inter tropical migrants!

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 34 Manaus, Brazil, 2019

A cool looker this smart Black-backed Water-Tyrant – Photo: Andrew Whittaker

COTINGAS (COTINGIDAE): Guianan Red-Cotinga ( carnifex ) – After working hard some great looks. Guianan Cock-of-the-rock ( Rupicola rupicola ) – Incredible studies of dazzling males attending a lek ignoring us while displaying no more than 30 feet in front of us. Less activity than normal I think was weather related. However simply stunning! For me arguably one of the most beautiful birds on our planet! Crimson Fruitcrow ( Haematoderus militaris ) - TOP bird of the trip a stunning adult male off the INPA tower seen so well in the scope! Capuchinbird ( Perissocephalus tricolor ) - Such a great looking odd bird and its CRAZY voice like a chain saw simply has to be heard like we did! Great studies of a responsive bird, even showing its off its odd display. ( Cotinga cayana ) – Stunning scope looks in the fruiting tree. ( vociferans) - * ( punicea ) – So many superb males this year!

MANAKINS (PIPRIDAE): Dwarf Tyrant-Manakin (Tyranneutes stolzmanni) Tiny Tyrant-Manakin (Tyranneutes virescens) – * Saffron-crested Tyrant-Manakin ( Neopelma chrysocephalum ) – * Sadly only the odd voices heard this year. White-throated Manakin (Corapipo gutturalis) – * White-fronted Manakin (Lepidothrix serena) – * Non responsive. Yellow-crowned Manakin (Heterocercus flavivertex ) - Great studies of this beauty!

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 35 Manaus, Brazil, 2019 Wire-tailed Manakin ( Pipra filicauda ) – Wow superb dazzling males always a thrill to see. White-crowned Manakin ( Dixiphia pipra ) – Few this year and no males seen. Golden-headed Manakin ( Pipra erythrocephala ) - Wonderful males seen well. Wing-barred Piprites (Piprites chloris) - *

TITYRA & ALLIES (): Black-tailed (Tityra cayana) – Several seen well.

A super close look at a male Black-tailed Tityra – Photo: Andrew Whittaker

White-browed Purpletuft (Iodopleura isabellae) – Wow, what a good show of these easily overlooked canopy dwellers twice. Dusky Purpletuft ( Iodopleura fusca) – Always so fantastic to encounter and see so well through the scope this very rarely seen canopy species. Cinereous (Pachyramphus rufus) - * Chestnut-crowned Becard ( Pachyramphus castaneus ) Glossy-backed Becard (Pachyramphus surinamus) – * Sadly non responsive of this rare canopy species which we tried hard for.

VIREOS, SHRIKE-BABBLERS & ERPORNIS (VIREONIIDAE): Rufous-browed Peppershrike ( Cyclarhis gujanensis ) - * Gray-chested Greenlet ( Hylophilus semicinereus ) – Superb looks.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 36 Manaus, Brazil, 2019 Slaty-capped Shrike-Vireo ( Vireolanius leucotis ) – * Tawny-crowned Greenlet ( Tunchiornis ochraceiceps ) Buff-cheeked Greenlet ( Pachysylvia muscicapina ) – Off the towers seen well. Chivi Vireo ( Vireo chivi ) – At last split from Red-eyed! Black-whiskered Vireo ( Vireo altiloquus ) – A real surprise seeing one first day off Musa tower. Then amazingly a flock of 4-5 feeding on a fruiting tree at Novo Airao. Never in 25 years have I ever seen a single bird and only twice before! I think stormy weather brought down these birds as intertropical migrants we know very little about where they come from and how many! Another trip highlight for me for sure.

SWALLOWS (HIRUNINIDAE): White-thighed Swallow (Atticora tibialis) - Nice looks at our forested lodge. Southern Rough-winged Swallow ( Stelgidopteryx ruficollis ) Gray-breasted Martin ( P. chalybea ) – Common. Southern Martin ( Progne elegans ) – Several at Novo Airao. Brown-chested Martin ( Phaeoprogne tapera ) - We saw both forms the resident and migrant forms as I explained at some stage await a split here too! White-winged Swallow (Tachycineta albiventer ) – Common but very attractive. Bank Swallow ( Riparia riparia ) – Only one. Way down in numbers from normal. Barn Swallow ( Hirundo rustica ) – No idea why so few worrying!

WRENS (TROGLODYTIDAE): House Wren (Troglodytes aedon ) – common. -like Wren ( Campylorhynchus turdinus ) - * Coraya Wren (Pheugopedius coraya) – A forest skulker seen by all after working on them. Buff-breasted Wren (Cantorchilus leucotis) - *

GNATCATCHERS (POLIOPTILIIDAE): Long-billed Gnatwren ( Ramphocaenus melanurus ) - * Tropical ( plumbea) - *

DONACOBIUS (DONACOBIIDAE) Black-capped Donacobius ( Donacobius atricapilla ) – My good friend Aleixo from the Goeldi Museum found through his genetical research that it is in fact most closely related to Babblers (African) not to wrens or thrushes as once thought!

THRUSHES & ALLIES (TURDIDAE): Pale-breasted Thrush ( Turdus leucomelas ) – Common. White-necked Thrush ( Turdus albicolis) – A shy forest thrush seen at a fruiting tree. Black-billed Thrush (Turdus ignobilis ) – Fairly common at our Manaus hotel.

FINCHES, EUPHONIAS & ALLIES (FRINGILIIDAE): Purple-throated Euphonia ( Euphonia chlorotica ) Golden-bellied Euphonia (Euphonia chrysopasta) – Nice. Used to be called White-lored.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 37 Manaus, Brazil, 2019 White-vented Euphonia (Euphonia minuta ) – Several at Novo Airao seen well. Golden-sided Euphonia (Euphonia cayennensis ) – Leader only. Heard by all unresponsive!

NEW WORLD SPARROWS (PASSERELLIDAE): Yellow-browed Sparrow (Ammodramus aurifrons) – Sounds like a grasshopper a real neat looker.

TROUPIALS & ALLIES (ICTERIDAE): Red-breasted Meadowlark ( Sturnella militaris ) – Uncommon this year. Green Oropendola ( Psarocolius viridis ) – A real smart looking Oropendola we saw well doing its crazy song and display almost falling off the branch. Crested Oropendola ( Psarocolius decumanus ) – Uncommon. Yellow-rumped Cacique ( Cacicus cela ) – Smart and common. Red-rumped Cacique (Cacicus haemorrhous) – Nice to see nesting at our hotel for the first time. Moriche Oriole ( Icterus cayanensis chrysocephalus ) – Scope studies last morning and we enjoyed its flute like song. ( Molothrus bonariensis ) – Sadly more common. Oriole Blackbird ( Gymnomystax mexicanus ) – Always a stunning riverine spectacle. Yellow-hooded Blackbird ( Agelaius icterocephalus ) – Uncommon.

NEW WORLD WARBLERS (PARULIDAE): Masked ( Geothlypis aequinoctialis ) - Good to exceptional studies on the river islands.

A lovely male Masked Yellowthroat – Photo: Andrew Whittaker

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 38 Manaus, Brazil, 2019 CARDINALS & ALLIES (CARDINALIDAE): Yellow-green Grosbeak ( Caryothraustes canadensis ) – *

TANAGERS & ALLIES (THRAUPIDAE): Red-capped Cardinal ( Paroaria gularis ) – Amazingly only a couple seen! Hooded Tanager ( Nemosia pileata ) – So close! Flame-crested Tanager (Tachyphonus cristatus) - Cool lookers off the tower. Fulvous-crested Tanager (Tachyphonus surinamus) – Several nice encounters. Fulvous Shrike-Tanager ( Lanio fulvus ) – Super studies so close over our heads at MUSA. Silver-beaked Tanager ( Ramphocelus carbo ) – Widespread. Blue-gray Tanager ( Thraupis episcopus ) – Common but with the white shoulders snazzy! Palm Tanager ( Thraupis palmarum ) – Abundant. Spotted Tanager ( Ixothrupis punctata ) – A cool looker seen so well. Paradise Tanager ( Tangara chilensis ) – Always stunning multi-coloured crippler! Opal-rumped Tanager ( Tangara velia) – Great scope studies too of another wonderfully colourful tanager with Paradise in same flock. Swallow Tanager ( Tersina viridis ) - * Black-faced Dacnis ( Dacnis lineata) – Males are simply just stunning. Yellow-bellied Dacnis ( Dacnis flaviventer ) – Uncommon this year, males simply lovely. Blue Dacnis ( Dacnis cayana) – Common. Short-billed (Cyanerpes nitidus) Purple Honeycreeper ( Cyanerpes caeruleus ) – What colorful legs. Red-legged Honeycreeper ( Cyanerpes cyaneus ) – Abundant this year off the INPA tower. Green Honeycreeper ( Chlorophanes spiza ) – Lovely shows. Yellow-backed Tanager ( Hemithraupis flavicollis ) – Leader only. Pearly-breasted Conebill ( Conirostrum margaritae) – Many fantastic studies of this riverine specialist even down to eye level in cecropia. Chestnut-vented Conebill ( Conirostrum speciosum ) – A few males. Orange-fronted Yellow-Finch (Sicalis columbiana) – A very cool looker. Saffron Finch ( Sicalis flaveola ) - A trip first found last year in our hotel grounds in Manaus and a flock found again! Blue-black Grassquit ( Volatinia jacarina ) – Johnny jump up. Double-collared Seedeater ( Sporophila caerulescens ) – A migrant Lined Seedeater ( Sporophila lineola ) – Lovely male with more females. Chestnut-bellied Seedeater ( Sporophila castaneiventris ) – Common and males very attractive. Bananaquit ( Coereba flaveola ) – Common. Buff-throated Saltator ( Saltator maximus) Grayish Saltator ( Saltator coerulescens ) – Many in Manaus hotel grounds and river islands of the Amazon. Slate-colored Grosbeak ( Saltator grossus) - *

TOTAL = 393 bird species!

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 39 Manaus, Brazil, 2019

MAMMALS

ANTEATERS: Giant Anteater ( Myrmecophaga tridactyla ) Amazingly MARK does it again. Like a magnet to this species as one frightened the living daylight out of him as it emerged from thick forest and ran straight at him at Novo Airao. A very rare to see in Amazonian in 26 years here I saw only twice before!

MARMOSETS & TAMARINS: Golden-handed Tamarin (Saguinus midas) – Simply fantastic studies on two separate occasions.

NEW WORLD MONKEYS: Golden-backed Squirrel Monkey ( Saimiri ustus) – Great looks so close on the boardwalk of a group foraging for food. Some too close! Split from Squirrel Monkey.

LARGE NEW WORLD MONKEYS: Guianan Red Howler (Allouatta macconnelli) - What noise these make too very impressive seen off the INPA canopy tower in the scope. Red Howler split. Colombian Red Howler ( Allouatta seniculus ) – * Red Howler split. Black Spider Monkey (Ateles paniscus) – Superb looks at a loner thanks to Miguel at PF.

AMAZON RIVER DOLPHIN: (Pink) Amazon River Dolphin (Inia geoffrensis) – Always a highlight we enjoyed incredible close studies as the wild pod came into feed.

DOLPHINS: Gray River Dolphin (Sotalia fluviatilis) – Excellent views of some males jumping right out of the water in the Amazon River.

SIGNIFICANT OTHERS:

Marine Toad Dwarf Caiman Amazonian Whiptail (common around clearings) Tree spp. Green Iguana Blue Morphos multiple species!

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 40 Manaus, Brazil, 2019