Birding Brazil Tours & Nature Photography

Brazil boasts an incredible 60% of the largest rainforest on Earth and home to the greatest mega diversity of any biome on our planet (1300 birds)! The immense Amazon basin covers 7,050,000 square km and is drained by the mighty Amazon, the second largest river in the World. The Amazon is a staggering 4080 miles long (largest river in terms of discharge) with an incredible 1100 tributaries. With such an abundance of habitat specific birds to find on an Amazonian birding trip it's challenging and needs to be well planned to visit as many of these specific habitats as possible! These include Terra firme forest (with a canopy tower if possible), Varzea forest (white water flooded forest), Igapo forest (Black-water flooded forest), river islands (both white water and black water), Campina (stunted sandy-belt forest), secondary growth and native bamboo. For those set on getting as many lifers as possible Amazon is further more complex as one has to bird within each major river drainage (Amazon, Negro, Madeira, Tapajos, Xingu and Purus) as each interfluvium has its own set of endemics. The number of endemic birds in the Amazon is rapidly increasing with more research, however many new species certainly still await discovery. Endemics include White-crested Guan, Buff-browed Chachalaca, Golden, Pearly, Hellmayr's, Deville's and Sun Parakeet, Vulturine, Bald and Kawall's Parrot, Brown-chested Barbet, Chestnut-headed Nunlet, Varzea Piculet, Carajas, Hoffmann's and Spix's Woodcreepers, Wing-banded Hornero, Scaled Spinetail, Para Foliage-gleaner, Glossy Antshrike, Rondonia Bushbird, Klages Antwren, Spix's Warbling Antbird, Xingu Scale-backed, Harlequin, Bare-eyed, White-breasted and Rufous-faced Antbirds, Black-bellied Gnateater, White-tailed Cotinga, Opal-crowned and the recently rediscovered Golden-crowned Manakin, Buff-cheeked Tody-Flycatcher and Gray Wren and countless more near endemics. Check out our selection of tour photos below!

ITINERARY SUGGESTIONS FOR AN OPEN OR CUSTOMIZED TOUR:

Itinerary 1: 9 days covering Manaus region.
Itinerary 2: 12 days covering Manaus region & Cristalino Lodge.
Itinerary 3: 14 days covering Manaus region, Carajás & Amazonia National Park.

Itinerary 4: 07-10 days at Rio Roosevelt Lodge. Andy Whittaker was the first to discover this birding paradise in 2004 and opened the lodge to birders, besides in 2009 has published the only detailed avifaunal inventory click here to read.

Itinerary 5: 07 days at Carajás National Forest.

Itinerary 6 (NEW!): 07 days around Belém area (terra firme forest and the mangroves)

CHECK THE MAIN BIRDS OF EACH PLACE:

MANAUS REGION: Rusty Tinamou, Crimson Fruitcrow, White-winged and Rufous Potoo, Red-lored and Caica Parrot, Sapphire-rumped Parrotlet, Gray-winged Trumpeter, Black Curassow, Marial Guan, Crimson Topaz, Racket-tailed Coquette, Guianan and Collared Puffbird, Chestnut-headed Nunlet, Black-spotted Barbet, Guianan Toucanet, Green Aracari, Yellow-billed Jacamar, Varzea Piculet, Red-billed and Zimmer's Woodcreepers, Curve-billed Scythebill, Scaled, White-bellied, Red-and White and Parker's Spinetail, Black-throated Antshrike, Klages Antwren and Ash-winged Antwren, Chestnut-crested Anbird, White-plumed, Black-and-white, Wing-banded and Rufous-throated Antbirds, Reddish-winged Bare-eye, Spotted Antpitta and Variegated Antpitta, Chestnut-belted Gnateater, Guianan-cock-of-the Rock, Amazonian Umbrellabird, Capuchinbird, Pompadour Cotinga, Guianan Red-Cotinga, White-fronted, Yellow-crowned Manakin, Glossy-backed Becard, Olive-green Tyrannulet, Pelzeln's Tody-Tyrant, Wing-banded Wren, Pearly-breasted Conebill, Brown-headed Greenlet, Dotted Tanager, Paradise and Opal-rumped Tanager, Golden-sided Euphonia, White-naped Seedeater and many more.

AMAZONIA NATIONAL PARK: Golden Parakeet, Vulturine Parrot and White-bellied Parrot, Crimson-bellied Parakeet, Harpy and Crested Eagle, Cryptic Forest-Falcon, White-crested Guan, Dark-winged Trumpeter, Fiery-tailed Awlbill, Brown-chested Barbet, Gould's Toucanet, Red-necked Aracari, Hoffmann's Woodcreeper, Uniform and Ocellated Woodcreeper, Natter's Slaty Antshrike, Harlequin and Pale-faced Antbird, Wing-banded and Rufous-faced Antbird, Ihering's Antwren, Black-bellied Gnateater and Chestnut-belted Gnateater, Alta Floresta and Variegated Antpitta, White-tailed Cotinga, White-browed Purpletuft, Guianan Red-Cotinga, Snow-capped Manakin and Flame-crested and Blue-backed Manakin, Rose-breasted Chat and many more.

CRISTALINO LODGE: Harpy and Crested Eagle, Cryptic Forest-Falcon, Dark-winged Trumpeter, Kawall's Parrot, Red-fan and White-bellied Parrot, Long-tailed Potoo, Rufous-vented Ground-Cuckoo, Zigzag Heron and Agami Heron, Tapajos Hermit, Gould's Toucanet, Red-necked Aracari, Brown-banded Puffbird and Rufous-necked Puffbirds, Black-girdled Barbet, Uniform and Spix's Woodcreeper, Curve-billed Scythebill, Para Foliage-gleaner, Natterer's Slaty Antshrike, Bare-eyed Antbird, Manu, Striated and Rufous-faced Antbird, Xingu Scale-backed Antbird, Spix's Warbling Antbird, Chestnut-belted Gnateater, Striated Anthrush, Alta Floresta Antpitta, Snow-capped Manakin, Flame-crested Manakin, Large-headed and Dusky-tailed Flatbill, Amazonian Umbrellabird, Purple-throated Cotinga, Yellow-shouldered Grosbeak and Tooth-billed Wren. In fact endless with over 600 species on the lodge list and many primates!

RIO ROOSEVELT LODGE: Harpy and Crested Eagle, Cryptic Forest-Falcon, Dark-winged Trumpeter, Razor-billed Curassow, Kawall's Parrot, Red-fan and Orange-cheeked Parrot, Long-tailed Potoo, Zigzag Heron and Agami Heron, Gould's Toucanet, Red-necked Aracari, Rufous-necked Puffbird, Black-girdled Barbet, Uniform and Spix's Woodcreeper, Curve-billed Scythebill, Para Foliage-gleaner, Ruddy Spinetail, Bamboo Antshrike, Rondonia Bushbird, Pale-face Antbird and White-breasted Antbird, Striated and Rufous-faced Antbird, Xingu Scale-backed Antbird, Spix's Warbling Antbird, Ihering's Antwren, Two new undescribed Antbirds, Black-bellied Gnateater, Chestnut-belted Gnateater, Alta Floresta Antpitta, Snow-capped Manakin, Flame-crested and Black Manakin, Crimson Fruitcrow, and Zimmer's Tody-Tyrant, Buff-cheeked Tody Flycatcher. Possibilities include near 600 species on the lodge list and an incredible 12 primates species!

SÃO GABRIEL DA CACHOEIRA: Tawny-tufted Toucanet, Maroon-tailed Parakeet, Rufous-winged Ground-Cuckoo, Guianan Trogon, Brown-banded Puffbird, Pearly Antshrike, Undulated Antshrike (nominate), Chestnut-crested Antbird, Gray-bellied Antbird and Black-headed (minor) Antbird, Reddish-winged Bare-Eye, Yellow-throated Antwren, Black-necked Red-Cotinga, Pelzeln's Tody-Tyrant, Guianan Gnatcatcher and Brown-headed Greenlet.

RIO JAVARI: Wattled Curassow, Buckley's Forest-Falcon, Starred Wood-Quail, Pavonnine Quetzel (common), Black-banded Crake, Brown-banded Puffbird, Rusty-breasted Nunlet, Purplish Jacamar, Fiery Topaz, Gould's Jewelfront, Bar-bellied Woodcreeper, Bay Hornero, Black Bushbird, Undulated Antshrike, Black-tailed Antbird, Hairy-crested, Slate-colored and Sooty Antbird, Rio Suno Antwren, Rufous-tailed and Ihering's Antwren, Reddish-winged Bare-Eye, Orange-crowned Manakin, Amazonian Striped Manakin, Plum-throated Cotinga, Gray Wren, Johannes Tody-Tyrant, White-bellied Dacnis and Band-tailed Oropendola.

BORBA: Bald Parrot, White-bellied Parrot, Crimson-bellied Parakeet, Cryptic Forest-Falcon, White-winged Potoo, Least Nighthawk, Fiery-tailed Awlbill, Brown-chested Barbet, Brown-banded Puffbird, Gould's Toucanet, Hoffmann's Woodcreeper, Uniform and Ocellated Woodcreeper, Pearly and Natter's Slaty Antshrike, Pale-faced Antbird, White-breasted and Rufous-faced Antbird, Black-bellied Gnateater, Red-necked Aracari, White-tailed Cotinga, White-browed Purpletuft, Black-necked Red-Cotinga, Snow-capped Manakin and Flame-crested and Blue-backed Manakin, Buff-cheeked Tody-Flycatcher, Rose-breasted Chat and many more.

CARAJÁS NATIONAL FOREST: Harpy and Crested Eagle, Cryptic Forest-Falcon, White-crested Guan, Razor-billed and Bare-faced Curassow, Hyacinth Macaw, Pearly, Jandaya and Hellmayr's Parakeets, Dark-winged Trumpeter, White-bellied Parrot, Gould's Toucanet, Silky-tailed Nightjar, Red-necked Aracari, Rufous-necked Puffbird, Carajas and Brigidas Woodcreeper, Para Foliage-gleaner, Chestnut-throated Spinetail, Peruvian Recurvebill, Natterer's Slaty Antshrike, Rufous-faced Antbird and Wing-banded Antbird, Xingu Scale-backed Antbird, Spix's Warbling Antbird, Black-bellied Gnateater, Chestnut-belted Gnateater, Snethlage's Antpitta and Amazonian Antpitta, White-tailed Cotinga, White Bellbird, Guianan Red-Cotinga, Opal-crowned Manakin, Black-chested Tyrant, Blackish Pewee, Dusky-tailed Flatbill, Black-and-White Tody-Tyrant, Para Gnatcatcher, Yellow-shouldered Grosbeak in fact endless with over 620 species on the list!

BELÉM AREA: Buff-browed Chachalaca, Eastern Striolated-Puffbird, Cryptic Forest-Falcon, Golden, Jandaya and Pearly Parakeet, Xingu Scale-backed Antbird, Hooded Gnateater, Todd's and Layard's Woodcreeper, Para Foliage-gleaner, Black Rail, Little Wood-Rail, Black-chested Tyrant, Rufous Crab Hawk and many more!

AMAZON TOUR REPORT - July 2003
"Due to perceived complexities surrounding logistics for what are quite remote and little-known sites, as well as rather a tight schedule in terms of time, we decided to get the whole itinerary pre-booked through Andy Whittaker of Birding Brazil. We spent a lot of time in conjunction with Andy deciding which sites we wanted to visit and for how long, and Mike Catsis took on the lion's share of the email communication in the long planning phase when we tried to fit sites that we wanted to visit around flight schedules and other constraints. In the event it transpired that in fact a lot, if not all of the sites could be visited independently with the appropriate contacts and plenty of time, although Birding Brazil worked hard to get things right for us and make the trip as smooth as possible. With one or two inevitable exceptions, it was well worth paying a little extra to save what would have been a considerable amount of red tape regarding permits for reserves (some of which would be difficult on one's own, I suspect), internal flights, car hire and hotel bookings which cost birders time in the field. For birders wishing to see as wide a range of Amazonian Brazil's speciality species in a limited amount of time, I would recommend using Andy Whittaker to set up the trip for you." Simon Allen from Surrey, UK.