Northeastern Brazil

Northeastern Brazil holds an amazing list of more than 100 Brazilian endemics, representing more than a half Brazil’s endemics species. Its immense, arid interior is dominated by a unique habitat known as caatinga, an association of thorn scrub, columnar cacti, and huge terrestrial bromeliads. This region harbors an endemic avifauna that includes some of the least known and most endangered species of birds on the South American continent. Foremost among them is the Lear’s Macaw, just rediscovered in 1978, with fewer than 700 remaining in the wild. Unfortunately, the last individual of Spix's Macaw in the wild is not seen anymore, but we still hope to see it flying over the caatinga sky again. Although the chance to bird the caatinga would alone be worth the trip, it is only half the attraction of the first part of our tour. We will also look for recently described species such as Araripe Manakin, Sincorá Antwren and Diamantina Tapaculo. A constellation of “mega birds” to be seen, including the “real Mega’’ Great Xenops (Megaxenops parnague). Northeastern Brazil includes also the last remants of the highly fragmented Atlantic coastal forests, home to numerous endangered endemics and which arguably rank as the most critically endangered area of biodiversity in South America. The second half of our tour visit several areas looking for all these specialties. This section will provide an intimate exploration of the avian riches of the fascinating state of Bahia. Chapada Diamantina embraces landscapes of spectacularly eroded mesas, sheer cliffs and plunging waterfalls, and, in its upper elevations, a beautiful and highly endemic plant community that harbors such specialties as the stunning Hooded Visorbearer and Pale-throated Serra-Finch, as well as the recently described (2007) Sincora Antwren and Diamantina Tapaculo. The Serra da Ouricana near Boa Nova is perhaps even less well known, and recent surveys there have also yielded two new species to science (Bahia Spinetail and Bahia Tyrannulet) since 1990! The area surrounding the town of Boa Nova supports some of the most intact examples of a threatened habitat known as “mata-de-cipó” or “vine forest” that harbors a unique avifauna that includes Slender Antbird, Caatinga Antwren, Narrow-billed Antwren, and many, many others. Itacaré is home of the rare Bahia Tapaculo and Camacan is home of the bizarre Pink-legged Graveteiro, a bird so unique that it was placed in its own genus, inhabits lowland humid forest in southern Bahia, and was just described in 1996. But not all specialties have come from the mountains; the lowlands around Porto Seguro holds two endemic cotingas: White-winged Cotinga and Banded Cotinga as well as Racquet-tailed Coquette and the recently rediscovered nominate form of the White-winged Potoo, which may prove to be a separate species from the recently discovered Amazonian populations. If these are not enough reasons to visit Porto Seguro, who knows a remnant population of Harpy Eagle in the Atlantic rainforest seen during our previous tour may not make your mind.