Field Guides Tour Report Serra dos Tucanos, Brazil 2018 Nov 10, 2018 to Nov 20, 2018 Marcelo Padua & Andy Foster For our tour description, itinerary, past triplists, dates, fees, and more, please VISIT OUR TOUR PAGE. This interesting little Itatiaia Spinetail was one of our rewards for visiting the peak of Nova Caledonia. It was just one of the Brazilian endemics and other special birds that we enjoyed on the tour. Photo by participant Claudi Racionero. We started things in Rio and drove to the lovely Itororo lodge, the place we would call home for the next several days, with the knowledge that the days that preceded this tour were marked by a record amount of rainfall in the areas we visit for this tour. So, I was truly worried about the conditions in which we would be birding but we arrived with good weather and quickly fell into a totally different rhythm as we enjoyed the multitude of Hummingbirds and Tanagers that feast on the feeders right outside our lodge. Our hosts put us into our rooms and shortly after lunch we were out exploring the grounds of the lodge. Tiffany was quick to spot a Black-and-White Hawk-Eagle (the first of many great birds she would spot for us) and Michael called out a King Vulture which sent Andy running for his camera, as this was the very first sighting of this species for the lodge. The afternoon also had us looking at a Mantled Hawk, a scarce raptor that is endemic to the Atlantic Forest. Our luck with the weather and the birds continued throughout the tour and we only missed a single afternoon due to rains which is perfectly normal; after all it's called Rainforest for a reason! The days that followed had us working on different altitudinal bands over several days, thus getting to a different set of birds each day. From the lowlands of REGUA, where we enjoyed great looks at Chestnut-backed Antshrike, Unicolored Antwren, Blond-crested Woodpecker and many more, to the peak of Nova Caledonia, where we were treated to high altitude specialists such as Itatiaia Spinetail, Thick-billed Saltator, Black-and-gold Cotinga and passing through Macae de Cima, we enjoyed great weather, excellent birds and delicious food, turning each day into an exciting adventure. This tour is always a treat to lead but each of you made this a particularly enjoyable year for me. Thanks for joining me and I hope to see you all again some day. Marcelo Field Guides Birding Tours • www.fieldguides.com • 800-728-4953 1 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 Tinamidae (Tinamous) SOLITARY TINAMOU (Tinamus solitarius) [*] BROWN TINAMOU (Crypturellus obsoletus) [*] TATAUPA TINAMOU (Crypturellus tataupa) Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl) BLACK­BELLIED WHISTLING­DUCK (Dendrocygna autumnalis) – A few individuals seen around the lake at Regua reserve. Cracidae (Guans, Chachalacas, and Curassows) DUSKY­LEGGED GUAN (Penelope obscura) – You could set your clock by the time they showed up at the feeders every day. Odontophoridae (New World Quail) SPOT­WINGED WOOD­QUAIL (Odontophorus capueira) – Heard almost every day at the lodge, but despite our repeated efforts, only seen by Toni as one bird ran across the trail. Fregatidae (Frigatebirds) MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD (Fregata magnificens) – Common around the airport in Rio. Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants and Shags) NEOTROPIC CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax brasilianus) – Seen near the airport and at REGUA. Anhingidae (Anhingas) ANHINGA (Anhinga anhinga) – Also seen around the lakes at REGUA. Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns) GREAT EGRET (Ardea alba) – Seen near Rio's airport and on the day we moved into the interior to look for the Three­toed Jacamar. CATTLE EGRET (Bubulcus ibis) STRIATED HERON (Butorides striata) WHISTLING HERON (Syrigma sibilatrix) Cathartidae (New World Vultures) BLACK VULTURE (Coragyps atratus) TURKEY VULTURE (Cathartes aura) LESSER YELLOW­HEADED VULTURE (Cathartes burrovianus) KING VULTURE (Sarcoramphus papa) – Michael spotted this one right from the veranda outside the dining area. A first time record for this species at the lodge. Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites) BLACK HAWK­EAGLE (Spizaetus tyrannus) BLACK­AND­WHITE HAWK­EAGLE (Spizaetus melanoleucus) – Tiffany spotted this one right upon our arrival at the lodge. RUFOUS­THIGHED KITE (Harpagus diodon) SAVANNA HAWK (Buteogallus meridionalis) CHACO EAGLE (Buteogallus coronatus) – We had a brief but unmistakable view of this rare raptor on our way to our Three­toed Jacamar spot. ROADSIDE HAWK (Rupornis magnirostris) WHITE­TAILED HAWK (Geranoaetus albicaudatus) MANTLED HAWK (Pseudastur polionotus) – Seen soaring over the hills on our first day at Itororo Lodge. Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots) RUFOUS­SIDED CRAKE (Laterallus melanophaius) [*] SLATY­BREASTED WOOD­RAIL (Aramides saracura) RUSSET­CROWNED CRAKE (Anurolimnas viridis) BLACKISH RAIL (Pardirallus nigricans) – We stopped at the edge of a marsh near Duas Barras and pulled one in for close inspections. COMMON GALLINULE (Gallinula galeata) Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings) SOUTHERN LAPWING (Vanellus chilensis) – A common sight in open areas. Jacanidae (Jacanas) WATTLED JACANA (Jacana jacana) Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves) ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia) PALE­VENTED PIGEON (Patagioenas cayennensis) PICAZURO PIGEON (Patagioenas picazuro) PLUMBEOUS PIGEON (Patagioenas plumbea) Field Guides Birding Tours • www.fieldguides.com • 800-728-4953 2 RUDDY GROUND­DOVE (Columbina talpacoti) GRAY­FRONTED DOVE (Leptotila rufaxilla) – This is a forest species that is more frequently heard than seen, but we had multiple looks at them around Itororo Lodge. Cuculidae (Cuckoos) GREATER ANI (Crotophaga major) – A few individuals seen around the lake at REGUA. SMOOTH­BILLED ANI (Crotophaga ani) STRIPED CUCKOO (Tapera naevia) SQUIRREL CUCKOO (Piaya cayana) Strigidae (Owls) TROPICAL SCREECH­OWL (Megascops choliba) [*] Caprimulgidae (Nightjars and Allies) SHORT­TAILED NIGHTHAWK (NATTERERI) (Lurocalis semitorquatus nattereri) – Good views around the lodge. Nyctibiidae (Potoos) COMMON POTOO (Nyctibius griseus) [*] Apodidae (Swifts) WHITE­COLLARED SWIFT (Streptoprocne zonaris) SICK'S SWIFT (Chaetura meridionalis) Trochilidae (Hummingbirds) BLACK JACOBIN (Florisuga fusca) – A regular visitor of the lodge feeders. SAW­BILLED HERMIT (Ramphodon naevius) PLANALTO HERMIT (Phaethornis pretrei) SCALE­THROATED HERMIT (Phaethornis eurynome) – The default Hermit on this tour and one that regularly visits the lodge's feeders. BRAZILIAN RUBY (Clytolaema rubricauda) AMETHYST WOODSTAR (Calliphlox amethystina) GLITTERING­BELLIED EMERALD (Chlorostilbon lucidus) GREEN­CROWNED PLOVERCREST (Stephanoxis lalandi) SWALLOW­TAILED HUMMINGBIRD (Eupetomena macroura) VIOLET­CAPPED WOODNYMPH (Thalurania glaucopis) SOMBRE HUMMINGBIRD (Aphantochroa cirrochloris) WHITE­THROATED HUMMINGBIRD (Leucochloris albicollis) VERSICOLORED EMERALD (Amazilia versicolor) – Seen a couple of times including a perched individual. SAPPHIRE­SPANGLED EMERALD (Amazilia lactea) – A great spot by Tiffany. Trogonidae (Trogons) SURUCUA TROGON (Trogon surrucura) BLACK­THROATED TROGON (Trogon rufus chrysochloros) Momotidae (Motmots) RUFOUS­CAPPED MOTMOT (Baryphthengus ruficapillus) – Seen briefly a few times as there was one individual nesting along a trail at the lodge. Alcedinidae (Kingfishers) RINGED KINGFISHER (Megaceryle torquata) AMAZON KINGFISHER (Chloroceryle amazona) Bucconidae (Puffbirds) WHITE­EARED PUFFBIRD (Nystalus chacuru) CRESCENT­CHESTED PUFFBIRD (Malacoptila striata) – This is a species of the drier areas of central Brazil that is slowly colonizing areas where the forest has been cleared. We saw them on the day we went looking for the Three­toed Jacamar. Galbulidae (Jacamars) THREE­TOED JACAMAR (Jacamaralcyon tridactyla) – Endemic, range restricted and highly localized, but if you know where they are, they are quite reliable. Which is why we make the long journey from Nova Friburgo to Sumidouro. Ramphastidae (Toucans) SAFFRON TOUCANET (Pteroglossus bailloni) – This one kept us in suspense until the last minute. Thanks to Claudi and Toni for spotting this one. SPOT­BILLED TOUCANET (Selenidera maculirostris) – Michael spotted our first one and we later had a couple more sightings of this Atlantic Forest Gem. CHANNEL­BILLED TOUCAN (ARIEL) (Ramphastos vitellinus ariel) Picidae (Woodpeckers) WHITE­BARRED PICULET (Picumnus cirratus) WHITE WOODPECKER (Melanerpes candidus) – Another species that is moving in with the clearing of the forest. YELLOW­EARED WOODPECKER (Veniliornis maculifrons) WHITE­BROWED WOODPECKER (Piculus aurulentus) GREEN­BARRED WOODPECKER (Colaptes melanochloros) Field Guides Birding Tours • www.fieldguides.com • 800-728-4953 3 CAMPO FLICKER (CAMPO) (Colaptes campestris campestris) BLOND­CRESTED WOODPECKER (BLOND­CRESTED) (Celeus flavescens flavescens) – One of the great species we found when we birded the lowlands around REGUA. LINEATED WOODPECKER (Dryocopus lineatus) Cariamidae (Seriemas) RED­LEGGED SERIEMA (Cariama cristata) – One of just two members of this South American Family. We had outstanding views near Pico Caledonia. Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras) BARRED FOREST­FALCON (Micrastur ruficollis) – Seeing a Forest­falcon is always a treat. SOUTHERN CARACARA (Caracara plancus) YELLOW­HEADED CARACARA (Milvago chimachima) LAUGHING FALCON (Herpetotheres cachinnans) [*] AMERICAN KESTREL (Falco sparverius) Psittacidae (New World