Birding at Cristalino Lodge affords visitors an opportunity to enjoy spectacular birding while staying in comfortable accommodations. Paradise Jacamars are typically seen along the river as one approaches the lodge. Bare-faced Curassows are regularly seen walking around near the lodge itself. Several hummingbirds visit nearby flowering plants, including White-bearded Hermit, Fork-tailed Woodnymph, and Long-billed Starthroat. Blackish Nightjars commonly roost under the overhangs on top of the cabanas at the lodge. Trails through the forest adjacent to the lodge and the nearby observation tower offer excellent birding opportunities. Some of the many possibilities include Cryptic Forest-Falcon, Black-fronted Nunbird, Curl-crested Aracari, Gould's Toucanet, Channel-billed Toucan, White-throated Toucan, Spix's Woodcreeper, Plain-winged, Spot-winged, and Cinnereous Antshrikes, Long-winged Antwren, Black-faced Antbird, Striated Antthrush, Spangled Cotinga, Red-headed Manakin, Wing-barred Piprites, Amazonian Tyrannulet, Helmeted Pygmy-Tyrant, Black-capped Becard, Tooth-billed Wren, Red-tailed Pied-Tanager, Yellow-backed Tanager, Flame-crested Tanager, White-lored Euphonia, Rufous-bellied Euphonia, Yellow-shouldered Grosbeak, and Olive Oropendola.
Birding other trails reached by boat from the lodge produce birds such as Spix's Guan, Red-throated Piping-Guan, Blue-and-yellow Macaw, Red-and-green Macaw, Chestnut-fronted Macaw, Crimson-bellied Parakeet, Painted Parakeet, Golden-winged Parakeet, Yellow-faced Parrot, Red-fan Parrot, Black-bellied Cuckoo, Black-eared Fairy, Yellow-tufted Woodpecker, Chestnut-throated Spinetail, Chestnut-winged Foliage-gleaner, Curve-billed Scythebill, Glossy Antshrike, Pygmy Antwren, Amazonian Streaked Antwren, Blackish Antbird, White-browed Antbird, Band-tailed Antbird, Variegated Antpitta, Spotted Antpitta, White-crowned Manakin, Flame-crested Manakin, Dwarf Tyrant-Manakin, Yellow-crowned Tyrannulet, Short-tailed Pygmy-Tyrant, Yellow-breasted Flycatcher, Buff-breasted Wren, White-winged Shrike-Tanager, Sayaca Tanager, Purple-throated Euphonia, Yellow-billed Dacnis, Red-capped Cardinal, and many more.
Boat trips along the river feature numerous aquatic and riverside birds such as Capped Heron, Gray Heron, possibly the difficult to see Zigzag Heron, Black Caracara, Sungrebe, Sunbittern, Pied Lapwing, Southern Lapwing, Ladder-tailed Nightjars roosting on sandbars in the river, Green-and-rufous Kingfisher, Drab Water-Tyrant, and Little Ground-Tyrant. It's also possible to see several mammals, including Neotropic Otters, Giant Otters, and a variety of primates such as Brown Capuchin, White-whiskered Spider Monkey, and Red-handed Howler Monkey.
Finally, be sure to ask the driver to stop so you can look for the Point-tailed Palmcreeper, an Amazonian specialty that can be found with a little persistence in a palm grove en route to or from the boat launch. This can be arranged in advance at the Hotel Alta Floresta, sister hotel to Cristolino Lodge, in town where you will begin your journey after arriving at the airport.
