The amazon rainforest is home to the greatest diversity of birds in the planet with 1300 birds. It is wonderful to see that the number of endemic birds in the Amazon is rapidly increasing every year with the research done in the area. Some of the most common birds that you will find in the Amazon Rainforest are the following.

The Pantanal is the largest wetland in the world with a total area of ​​150,000 km ². Most of the Pantanal is in Brazil, which covers the southern part of Mato Grosso and much of the northern region of Mato Grosso do Sul, but also extends into neighboring Bolivia and Paraguay.

Even though the Pantanal offers a level of lower biodiversity than the Amazon, the general magnificence of the birds here make the trip worthwhile. The dry season, which takes place during the months of July through October, is the best time to visit and watch the local wildlife.

During the rainy season, the Pantanal is almost completely flooded with water, which slowly drains south into the Paraguay River.  During the dry season, only a few pools of standing water and shallow rivers remain, which is why an impressive variety of wildlife comes together in these natural pools in search of water. The quantity and diversity of birds is certainly mind blowing, however here you will also have the opportunity to observe a great number of large mammals, such as the capybara, jaguar, Brazilian Tapir, Giant Anteater, and Giant River Otter. 

On your trip to the Pantanal, you will most likely travel by road through the Transpantaneira Highway, where you will be able to see every bird species in the Pantanal . It might be good to make some stops during the trip to do some birding on foot. The usual birds that can be seen here are the Agami Heron, Matto Grosso Antbird, Hyacinth Macaw, Scarlet-Headed Blackbird, Great-Horned Owl, Chestnut-Bellied Guan, Jabiru, Great Potoo, Rusty-Collared Seedeater, and Great Rufous Woodcreeper. 

On the south part of the Pantanal you will find a very nice town called Bonito, famous for its fresh water diving. While snorkeling remains the primary activity, birding here also offers a terrific mix of Cerrado and Pantanal species, including a few regional specialties such as Blaze-Winged Parakeet.

This birding mecca holds many interesting bird species, such as:

The Atlantic Forest or Mata Atlântica in Portuguese, stretches along Brazil's Atlantic coast, from the northern state of Rio Grande do Norte south to Rio Grande do Sul. Included in this region is the offshore archipelago of Fernando de Noronha and several other islands off the Brazilian coast, very famous for their beautiful beaches and local flora and fauna. Long isolated from other major rainforest blocks in South America, the Atlantic Forest has an extremely diverse and unique mix of vegetation and forest types creating an ideal environment for birds. This is why it has the highest number of endemic bird species in the World (over 160 species).

In the Atlantic Rainforest, you can also find the Chapada Diamantina, which offers  an immense and spectacular series of cliffs and chasms that compromises a less arid version of Monument Valley, or perhaps even the Grand Canyon.  As it’s geographically isolated in the interior of Brazil, deep within the state of Bahia, this national park is home to several endemic bird species, including the Hooded Visorbearer, Diamantina Tapaculo, and Sincorá Antwren.  In addition, it serves as the meeting point of several unique biomes – the Cerrado, Atlantic Forest, and Caatinga – making it one of the more diverse sites for birding in the country.

When visiting Chapada Diamantina, you can stay in different towns nearby: Caiteté, Ibicoara, Mucugê, and Palmeiras.

Ibicoara: Is the spot where you can find the Diamantina Tapaculo and there is also a good Sincorá Antwren site outside of town.  You are also able to spot groups of tiny Yellow Tyrannulets, a delightful Tyrannidae as well as an easy one to identify.

Lençois is the usual base for visitors to the Chapada Diamantina. Notable birds seen: Hooded Visorbearer, Violet-Capped Woodnymph, Caatinga Cacholote, Great Antshrike, Campo Troupial, Velvety Black Tyrant, Baywing, Red-Cowled Cardinal.

Palmeiras: Outside of the town of Palmeiras, there is a riverbed bordered by deciduous woodland and tall scrub, where Caatinga endemics like Scarlet-Throated Tanager, Great Xenops, Caatinga Antwren, and São Francisco Sparrow are regularly spotted.  The site is easily accessible by road, and while there’s a bit of truck and motorcycle traffic, the sightlines are generous and birdsong is well amplified in the narrow valley. 

This region definitely warrants a return trip to explore further the sites described above as well as to search for new ones. 

Some of the birds that can be seen in the region are listed below:

The Cerrado region of Brazil is the most extensive woodland/savanna and dry forest ecosystems region in South America. One of the biologically richest savanna's in the world and a biological hotspot comprising 21 percent of the country. The endemics and habitat specific species are: