North East Brazil Birding

Fortaleza-Guaramiranga

After arriving at Fortaleza, you will be transferred to Guaramiranga, a mountain range to the south of Fortaleza.

Guaramiranga is a birdwatcher’s delight. In this moist mountain range, you will find many species that are geographically isolated from the Amazon and the Atlantic forests. During the bird-watching trip through this forest, you will come across Grey-breasted Parakeet, one of the most endangered parrots in Brazil, the Buff-breasted Tody-Tyrant, Ceara Leaftosser, Ceara/Rufous Gnateater, the Variable Antshrike, the Northern Lesser Woodcreeper, the Spot-winged Wood-Quail, the Red-necked Tanager, the Gould’s Toucanet, the Guianan Tyrannulet, the Short-tailed Antthrush, the Ochraceous Piculet, the Gray-headed Spinetail, and a lot more exotic species.

AM Birding in Guaramiranga followed by transfer to Quixadá

After birding in the wet forests of Guaramiranga, we move towards Quixadá, which is a two-hour drive away from Guaramiranga and is actually a strategic halt to break down the long journey to Crato.

In QUIXADÁ, you will find species like the white-naped jay, the Pygmy Nightjar, the Caatinga Cacholote, the Ochre-backed woodpecker, and the Cactus Parakeet, which is one of the many species of parrots in Brazil. If luck favors, you will even catch a glimpse of the White-browed Guan, a rare and endemic species.

AM Birding in Quixadá followed by transfer to Potengi

After birding in Quixadá, we set off towards one of the birdwatching hotspots in Brazil, Potengi.

Located to the south of Ceará, Potengi is a place where dry forest birds are found. In this unique birdwatching destination, you should be expecting to see species like the White-browed Antpitta, Great Xenops, Spotted Piculet, Golden-green woodpecker, Red-shouldered Spinetail, lesser Wagtail tyrant, White-naped Xenopsaris, Greater Wagtail Tyrant, and the stripe-backed antbird.

Birding in Potengi

As Potengi has a lot to offer to birdwatchers, you will be spending the entire day birding in Potengi. Keep your eyes and ears alert for the hoots and calls of your favorite birds.

To Crato and then to Canudos

After leaving Potengi, we will go to the Crato region to see the critically endangered Araripe Manakin. We will then be continuing on our journey towards Canudos, one of the marquee destinations of this birding trip.

Lear's macaws in Canudos and then transfer to Lençóis (Chapada Diamantina)

This is perhaps the most exciting day of the trip. You set out very early in the morning towards the Lear’s Macaws’ roosting site, a mouthwatering prospect for any bird lover. Besides the Macaws, also expect to see the Scarlet-throated Tanagers, Red-legged Seriema, and the blue-crowned Parakeets, one of the most beautiful species of parrots in Brazil.

After Canudos, we will be heading over to the Chapada Diamantina.

Birding in Chapada Diamantina

The full-day is allotted for birding in Chapada Diamantina.

The Chapada Diamantina is home to a wide array of bird species, thanks to its favorable geographical location and the plethora of habitats found in the region. A part of a long series of highlands stretching from the north of Minas Gerais to the Espinhaço mountain range, Chapada Diamantina has Cerrado, moist forests, Campo Rupestre, Gallery Forests, and Caatinga habitats.

While birding in Chapada Diamantina, expect to see the Hooded Visorbearer, the Collared Crescentchest, the Rufous-sided Pygmy-Tyrant, the black-throated Saltator, the Blue Finch, the Horned Sungem, the Buff-throated Pampa-Finch, and many other Caatinga species of birds. You will also find the very recently published endemic species Sincorá Antwren.

AM birding in Chapada Diamantina and transfer to Boa Nova

After a morning birding session at the Chapada Diamantina, you will be heading towards the next stop, Boa Nova.

As this is going to a long drive (approximately seven hours), no further activity is planned for the day.

Marathon birding at Boa Nova

For birdwatchers and ornithologists, Boa Nova is a utopia. Hence, you have an exhilarating day ahead of you.

Located in the south-eastern part of Bahia, Boa Nova houses a diverse community of birds that is a conglomeration of elements of the Caatinga biome, the Montane Atlantic forest, and the Mata-de-cipó, a unique area which clubs the Atlantic forest and the dry forest. Boa Nova is home to around four hundred species of birds.

During the full-day birding session, keep your eyes alert for Mata-de-cipó species such as the nearly threatened Narrow-billed Antwren, and the endangered Slender Antibird. In the Atlantic forest, expect to see species such as the Bahia Spinetail, the Striated Softtail, the Fork-tailed Tody-tyrant, the Rio de Janeiro Antbird, the White-collared foliage-gleaner, the Pallid Spinetail, the scaled woodcreeper, the Ochre rumped Antbird, the Ferruginous Antbird, the Gray-hooded Attila, the Gilt-edged Tanager, Cinnamon-vented Piha. If luck favors, you will also get a chance to see Wied’s Tyrant-Manakin.

Towards Serra Bonita Reserve (Camacan)

You will be transferred to the Serra Bonita Reserve, which is another birdwatching hotspot in Brazil.

Full day birdwatching at the Serra Bonita Reserve

The entire day you will be immersed in the sub-montane forests under the Serra Bonita Reserve looking for species like the Bahia Tyrannulet, the rare Pink-legged Graveteiro, the Plumbeus Antvireo, the Rufous-brown Solitaire, the Salvatori’s Antwren, and Atlantic Forest species such as the Eastern-striped Manakin, the stunning Blue Manakin, the Spot-backed Antshrike, the Sombre Hummingbird, the Spot-billed Toucanet. Besides, there are feeders for different varieties of Tanagers (Green-headed, Red-necked, Golden chevroned, and Azure shouldered) and hummers.

AM birding at Serra Bonita Reserve and transfer to Porto Seguro

After indulging in an early morning birding session at the Serra Bonita Reserve, you will be transferred to Porto Seguro, a municipality to the south of Bahia.

Full day birding at Porto Seguro

On the final day of your birding trip, you will be looking for exotic species of birds in the Atlantic forest habitat of Porto Seguro.

In Porto Seguro, expect to see species like the rare White-winged Cotingas, the Hooked-billed Hermit, the Sooretama Slaty-Antshrike, the Band-tailed Antwren, and the Bahia Antwren. In Porto Seguro, you can also see one of the rare species of parrots in Brazil, the Red-browed Parrot.

Departure

The final activity on the itinerary is a morning birding session at Porto Seguro.

After that, it is time to say these magnificent winged friends goodbye until the next visit.