Brazil is the largest nation in Latin America and its habitat diversity is legendary. One sparsely-traveled area that’s become a favorite of our birders: Pantanal in the western lowlands. I spoke via Skype with Lelis Navarette.
He’s a top guide working for Neblina Forest Tours and PIB. Lelis described the broad, low-lying valley of The Pantanal. Sounds like it was designed for bird diversity. Six months of the year it is a flooded grassland. Interspersed are areas of scrub, and then islands of rain forest. Talk about habitat edges! Birds zeroed in on Pantanal long before we birders recognized it.
Red Pileated Finch
Immature Harpy Eagle.
Some of the 600+ bird species known to occur in the area.
Some names to conjure as you dream of fattening your life list: Greater Reha, Maguari Stork, Jabiru, Bare-faced Curassaw, Chaco Chachalaca, Chestnut–bellied Guan, Rusty-margined Guan, Ash-throated Crake, Picazuro Pigeon, Long-tailed Ground-Dove, Scaled Dove, Hyacinth Macaw, Golden-collared Macaw, Black-hooded Parakeet, Buff-bellied Hermit, Ruby Topaz (this one’s a real gem), Gilded Hummingbird, Campo Flicker, White Woodpecker, Pale-crested Woodpecker, Great-rufous Woodcreeper, Planalto Woodcreeper, Red-billed Scythebill, Choty Spinetail.
OK, you may only need one reason to visit this part of Brazil. Just look below, the Hyacinth Macaw:
Besides the great birds, Nature Conservancy describes the Pantanal as one of the most productive natural habitats on earth. It’s a wetland ten times the size of Florida’s Everglades. In Pantanal there are over 200 species of fish, giant river otters, tapir and marsh deer.
All photos were taken by Lelis. If you want to catch our next trip to The Pantanal,click here for details. Or call 1-888-203-7464.
Partnership for International Birding 