The vastness of Brazil makes this fascinating country the most diverse birding destination in South America. With over 1780 bird species, including numerous endemics found nowhere else in the world, Brazil offers more birding opportunities than most other countries in South America. It simply can't all be seen on one tour.
Brazil can be divided into 5 major ecosystems, each with its own set of endemics and specialized bird species. The largest is the Amazon basin, covering nearly all of northern Brazil plus parts of central Brazil. The Amazon supports nearly 20% of all bird species in the world, along with 10% of all mammals and 20% of all plants. Birding tours to the Amazon basin are often based out of Manaus and go up-river from there into more remote areas than have not yet been threatened by mining and logging activities. Some tours also visit the southeastern Amazon basin and are centered especially at Cristolino Lodge near Alta Floresta. Here a variety of southern Amazon Basin specialties not found in the central Amazon can be found. Alta Floresta is most commonly reached by air but can be reached by overnight bus. Sadly, the vast area between Cuiaba and Alta Floresta, which was once primary rainforest, has now been almost totally denuded by logging followed by cattle grazing. The Amazon basin is far from homogenous, and many bird species found in the northern basin are not found in the southern basin. There are also many species found in the Amazon headwaters that are not found closer to the coast, and of course there are a variety of riverine species that are found only along the main river channels.
A second major biozone, and perhaps the one under greatest immediate threat from deforestation, is the Southeast Atlantic Forest. This forest once stretched from Rio Grande do Norte on the most eastern bulge of Brazil to Rio Grande do Sul near the Uruguay border. Over 90% of the forest is now gone, and the remaining forest remnants are home to numerous endemic and threatened bird species. For this reason, remnant forests in this biozone are a primary destination of birding tours to Brazil. A variety of national and state parks, biological reserves, and private tracts harbor many highly sought-after bird species. Notable destinations include Itatiaia National Park between Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, Ubatuba Forest Reserve near Sao Paulo, Intervales State Park southwest of Sao Paulo, and protected reserves on both the Brazilian and Argentine side of Iguacu Falls at Foz do Iguacu. Additional destinations include Serra dos Orgaos near Rio de Janeiro, notable for its many endemic bird species, and Cerro do Cipo National Park near Belo Horizonte north of Rio de Janeiro, along with many smaller tracts south of Sao Paulo. The region between Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeeiro as well as the coastal areas to the north and south is covered by low-lying mountains and escarpments that offer both spectacular scenary and an altitudinal gradient that adds to the bird diversity in the region.
The vast wetlands of the Pantanal are a third major biozone. This region spans much of southwestern Brazil in the state of Mato Grosso south of Cuiaba and extends westward into eastern Bolivia and south into much of central Paraguay. The Pantanal is the largest wetland in the world, encompassing an area the size of France. As much as 2/3 of the area is covered with water at the height of the rainy season, which begins in October and lasts until late March. During the dry season, primarily June through September, the area dries out until much of the standing water has shrunk into isolated pools. The area is unsuitable for agriculture due to seasonal flooding, so this vast area is largely undeveloped and remains home to abundant bird and animal life. It is a vast mish-mash of wetlands, grasslands, and dry forests and is home to over 350 bird species. In addition to aquatic birds such as Jabiru and Sunbittern, the Pantanal is inhabited by several species of macaws including the endangered and much sought-after Hyacinth Macaw. Other birds include numerous raptors and owls, guans, shorebirds, plovers, parrots, hummingbirds, and a great variety of songbirds. It is also home to Jaguars, which are regularly seen on night excursions by visitors to the area.
In the interior of southern Brazil is the Cerrado, an area of open savanna grasslands, scrub, and palm stands. Fewer bird species are found in the Cerrado, but many aren't found in the other biozones of Brazil. This area is home to the endangered Maned Wolf and Giant Anteater as well as savanna birds such as Greater Rhea and Red-legged Seriema. Chapado dos Guimaraes is about an hour's drive from Cuiaba and offers easy access to this habitat.
The fifth major biozone in Brazil is the Caatinga, located mainly in northeastern Brazil, a semi-arid land with hardy vegetation adapted to limited annual rainfall. The Caatinga has two seasons, namely a hot dry season and a hot wet season. Forested areas consist of deciduous broad-leaved trees, primarily scrub. The soil is poor and heavily degraded by agricultural activities. Many species of birds and mammals have already gone extinct or are on the verge of extinction. A notable bird in the area, Spix's Macaw, perhaps the world's rarest parrot, was considered extinct until a small population was re-discovered in 1990. Birding tours to this area are specialized trips targeting endangered species since the area is far removed from other destinations in Brazil. TOP
