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The male is 38 to 40 cm in length and the female 28 to 30 cm, 29cm of the male’s length and 19 of the female’s are the long forked tail. The upper parts are bluish grey and the ventral part white. The top of the head is black. The young individuals have smaller tails. Distribution: East of U.S.A to Argentina. Habitat: Fields with sparse trees, open areas and even in cities. Diet: Mainly flying insects but also fruits. Reproduction: It is territorial during the breeding season. The male may visit other territories while the female stays in the nest. The nest is made of sparse sticks and is often blown with the wind. It is built 1 to 10m from the ground. Lays 3 to 5 buffy eggs with...

15cm Identification: it is one of the largest hummingbirds. It is easily identified by the forked tail, reminding a pair of scissors. Unmistakably Brazilian’s best known hummingbird, this magnificent animal is also one of the most belligerent ones. It fiercely defends its territory – usually consisting of a flowering patch – against other birds, especially the bananaquit ( Coereba flaveola ). It sucks sweet water from feeders even if these are place in the interior of the houses, fearlessly entering the rooms. Like other hummingbirds it feeds mostly on nectar but also on insects. The female lays 2 or 3 eggs in a small bow-shaped nest and feeds the nestlings mainly with arthropods.

40cm. Identification: its most typical characteristic is the long forked tail. The only species it can be confused with is the Fork-tailed Flycatcher ( Tyrannus savana ), which has the lower parts in white, the head in black and the long tail feathers are broader. Very little is known about this species although it is distributed throughout central and southern Brazil even in disturbed habitats. It is usually found alone or in pairs, near wetlands. This bird spends most of its time perched. Feeds mainly on flying insects that it hunts in short flights from the perch It seems to be seasonal, but the migration routes are mostly unknown.

19 cm. The Variegated Flycatcher is one of 3 widespread flycatchers that are streaked below. The Variegated is larger than the Piratic Flycatcher (Legatus leucophaius), has a longer bill, more rufous on the tail and whiter edging to its wing feathers. On the other hand, it is smaller than the Streaked Flycatcher (Myiodynastes maculatus) with darker upperparts and less well defined streaking below. Distribution: Throughout South America, mainly in the south. Habitat: Lives in forest borders and open areas provided there are tall trees in which it can perch. Diet: Flying insects, insects in the foliage and sometimes small fruits. Reproduction: The couple takes care of each other’s...

18,5cm Like other flycatcher from the same genus, the Short-crested Flycatcher is yellow bellow, has a grayish throat and mostly brown upperparts. It can be told apart from the other species by the short crest and the absence of white spots around the eyes. Like other species of flycatcher it spends most of the time perched in forest edges. Feeds mainly on flying insects that it seizes in short flights, returning to the same perch. It also catches insects among the leaves and berries. Its vocalization reminds that of the White Woodpecker ( Melanerpes candidus ). The nest is build lining a small tree hole, where two buffy eggs are laid.

21cm May be confused with the Piratic Flycatcher and the Variegated Flycatcher ( Empidonomus varius ), but is larger than both. It is a solitary and quiet species which sings mostly at twilight. This flycatcher spends most of the time perched in forest edges. Feeds mainly on flying insects, but also takes berries. The nest is usually built in a forked branch or in tree holes. The female builds the nest and incubates the eggs, which hatch within 16 – 17 days. The couple takes shifts to feed the nestlings which leave the nest within 18-21 days. Migrates to lower latitudes in the winter.

There is still some debate on this bird’s taxonomic status. The Brazilian Official Bird List considers two species, the Suiriri Flycatcher, with two subspecies, the Chaco Suiriri, and the Campo one, which differs from the previous for having a yellowish rump, instead of grayish, and there is the recently described Chapada Suiriri ( Suiriri islerorum ), similar to the Campo one (possibly hybridizing with it) but with a smaller beak and white in the tip of the tail. Very little is known about this species. It is mostly solitary and uses the same hunting techniques of most other flycatchers, that consist basically of catching flying insects few meters away from its perching site and returni...

35cm Identification: when seen from below its body is basically white with the tip of the wings and a region around the eyes black. There is a gray area on the upper parts of the wings. Its color pattern reminds that of some seagulls. The name in Portuguese – Gavião Peneira – means hovering hawk and it is due to the behavior of hovering before diving onto the prey. It is certainly one of the most beautiful hawks found in urban areas. It flies over open areas, pastures, crops and even on the banks of polluted streams in search for rats. This kite feeds mainly on large insects such as grasshoppers and beetles and on small rodents and lizards. The nest, made of twigs, is built on iso...

23 cm. Very similar to the great kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus), but with a larger and broader beak. Distribution: From Mexico to Argentina. Habitat: In the canopy of woods, secondary forests and open areas with tall trees. Diet: Arthropods and other small invertebrates. Sometimes fruits and small fishes. Reproduction: Builds a small nest on uncovered branches of tall trees. Lays two or three eggs. Natural history: Although it is very similar to the great kiskadee it is more dependent on trees. The vocalization is very different from the one of the kiskadee. It migrates seasonally.

Length: 9,5cm Identification: the back is bright green, the tail and part of the wings are dark blue. The throat and the chest is sapphire-blue. The belly is white and there is a white line splitting the chest. The two sexes look alike. It is one of the main pollinators of several plant species, including some introduced ones. It is territorialist and visit the flowering patches at predictable times. It explores even the lowest flowers. This hummingbird usually explores feeders where it fights against the bananaquits ( Coereba flaveola ) and the swallow-tailed hummingbird ( Eupetomena macroura ). The bow-shaped nest usually shelters two eggs.

Physical appearance: 17,5 cm. The male is bluish black with the forehead and chest chestnut. The female is olive brown streaked in brown in the upper parts. The immature is brown and striated. Distribution: Eastern South America from French Guyana to northern Argentina and as far west as Mato Grosso and eastern Bolivia. Habitat: Lives in humid grasslands, wetlands and ponds. Diet: Feeds mainly on insects and seeds, but also on fruits. Reproduction: Often nests in groups. The nest is built in a fork of a tree. Both male and female build the nest watering the material before using it. The nest is a deep basket. Natural history: The vocalization is melodic and commonly the predomi...

There are three other very similar species from the same genus in Brazil. The females and imature individuals are nearly impossible to tell apart, as they are light brown with some darker streaks. The Saffron Finch can be distinguished from the other species for the saffron color, mostly in the breeding season. The Orange-fronted Yellow Finch ( S. columbiana) is smaller than the Saffron Finch, the Stripe-tailed Yellow Finch (S. citrina) has greenish patches on the upper parts and the Grassland Yellow Finch (S. luteola) has brownish spots even in the head. One of the countryside’s most famous birds, the Saffron Finch’s song is unique for its beaty and complexity. Unfortunately its song and...