Laboratório de Tecnologia Educacional BIBLIOTECA DIGITAL               DE CIÊNCIAS

32 cm. The body is green. There is a red and yellow area below the wings. There is a pale area around the eye. The male’s body and beak are stronger than the female’s. The beak is light brown in the immature individuals. Distribution: From the Guyanas to Argentina. Habitat: Forest borders, cerrado, woods and parks in cities. Diet: Feeds on buds, leaves, flowers, seeds, fruits and sometimes insects. Reproduction: Builds a nest inside holes in trees or rocks, witnessed by the author building a nest inside a hole in the old wall of a building. Lays three or four white eggs, incubated by the female that is fed by the male during this period. The couple feeds the brood. May learn some...

91cm. The neck and the legs are thin and long. All white, but with iris, beak and legs yellow. Distribution: Throughout the world. Habitat: Lakes, rivers, ponds, reservoirs, swamps, mangroves, estuaries and even polluted rivers. Diet: Eats fishes, amphibians, insects. The author witnessed an egret catching and eating a mouse in a riverbank in Campinas-SP. Reproduction: Breeding takes place generally in the end of the dry season, when the food supply is more abundant for this species. During this period the adults have the egrets that are long feathers used in the courtship. The breeding couples gather in nesting sites that may have hundreds of individuals, sometimes mixing with o...

15 cm. It is a small sparrow with the head striated in black and white. There is a topknot and a rufous collar around the neck that is more evident in the male. The back and the wings are brown. The immature does not have bands in the head. Cinnamon and albine mutations are not uncommon. Distribution: From Mexico to Tierra del Fuego. Absent in dense forests. Habitat: Fields, crops, woods, gardens and parks in cities. Diet: Insects, seeds and occasionally human leftovers. Licks the sweet liquid produced by aphids. Reproduction: The couple establishes a territory that is fiercely protected by the male. The nest is built in short bushes or even on the ground among tall grass. The n...

25 cm. The body is brownish grey, with the upper parts darker . The tip of the tail is white. There are two horizontal black bands in the sides of the head and on the wings. The male is bluish on the top of the head. Distribution: South America. Habitat: Open fields, cerrado, caatinga, crops, parks, lawns, urban areas. It is benefitted by deforestation Diet: Mainly grains, but also small fruits. When breeding also consumes snails and millipedes. Reproduction: During courtship the male produces a low sound different from its usual one. The male exhibits its strength to the female and the couple caresses each other in the head. The nest is a platform made of sparse sticks built on t...

11 cm. The beak is grey. During the breeding season the male has bluish black feathers with white spots under the wings. When not breeding the feathers are black with white tips. The female is light brown. The subadult males are similar to the non-breeding adult but with the tip of the feather brown. Distribution: From Mexico to tropical South America. Habitat: Grasslands and open areas, sometimes inside cities. Diet: Feeds on seeds and insects. Reproduction: The male has a very typical breeding display. Perched in a branch it flies some 50cm upwards and comes back to the branch in a loop-like movement. During this display it shows its white feathers below the wings. When it fi...

18cm. Identification: may be confused with two other species from the same genus, the White Monjita ( Xolmis irupero ), which is almost totally white, apart from the black wings and tail, and the Grey Monjita ( Xolmis cinerea ), which has the head and upper parts in darker grey. Thus the White-rumped Monjita presents a kind of intermediate color pattern between these two species. Typical of open fields, this bird spends most of its time perched on isolated trees, light posts and fences. It feeds mainly on flying insects it catches in short flights, returning to the perch afterwards and also takes small berries. Very little is known about its behavior. It is certainly migratory, b...

White-spotted Woodpecker 18cm. Identification: it is a small woodpecker with drab colors. The body is brown, heavily spotted and barred in darker shades of brown and with some white spots below. The male has reddish regions in the head. Very little is known about this woodpecker, probably due to its inconspicuous colors and behavior. It lives in areas with plenty of trees as parks, woods and secondary forests. This woodpecker occurs mainly in the medium and higher forest levels, rarely coming to the ground. Like other woodpeckers it feeds on insects it collects from tree trunks and also on berries.

35 cm. The eyes and the legs are red. Has a topknot in the head and a spur in each wing. There is a black band in the throat that begins in the forehead and ends in the chest. The belly is white, the back and the wings are grayish brown and there are green and ferruginous spots in the wings. Distribution: From Panama to Tierra del Fuego. Habitat: Grasslands, open fields, lawns and sometimes soccer fields. Diet: Insects that it catches on the ground. Sometimes catches small fish in shallow wetlands. Reproduction: The nest is made of dry leaves (mainly grass) and placed in a small depression on the ground. Each male may have two females laying their eggs in the same nest. The femal...

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...

12 cm. Small, the legs, beak and neck are short. The back is blue and the belly white. Male and female are similar. The immature individuals are brown in the upper parts and buffy in the inferior parts. Distribution: From Costa Rica to Southern Brazil. In the Amazon region it is only seen during seasonal migrations. Habitat: Farms, villlages, cities and open areas in general. Uses rocky places and roofs to rest. Diet: Feeds on flying insects. Reproduction: The nest is similar to the one of Progne chalibea. The white eggs (2 to 6) are incubated by the couple. Male and female share the task of feeding the brood. Natural history: The southern populations migrate northwards after br...

22 cm. The upper parts are brown or grayish. The chest and belly are bright yellow. Distribution: From Texas (U.S.A) to Argentina. Has expanded its distribution, benefited from deforestation. Habitat: Forest borders, cerrado, fields and cities. Diet: Mostly flying insects that it catches in small flights from a perch. Follows fires in order to catch the escaping insects. Also eats fruits. Reproduction: The nest is made of sparse sticks and is usually placed in trees with hives or with plenty of ants in order to increase safety. The offspring, (2 or 3) are fed by the couple. Natural history: Migrates to the north in the southern winter. During this migration it may appear in...

24cm. Identification: it is the only Brazilian thrush with reddish belly. It is the Brazilian Symbol Bird and this title has recently been given for its strong presence in the country’s popular culture, especially in poetry and music. Although it is distributed throughout Brazil (except from the Amazon region ) it is more common near the coastline as it prefers moist environments. This thrush lives in farms, forest edges and is especially common in urban parks, being one of the most typical birds in some of Southeastern Brazil largest cities. The very beautiful song is very variable, even at the individual level.The real song can only be heard in the spring, the breeding season when th...

23cm. The beak is dark, the wings ferruginous and the throat from white to light brown with faint streaks. The inferior parts are pale, sometimes white. Distribution: From Venezuela to Argentina and Paraguay. Mideast and South of Brazil. Habitat: Secondary forests, woods, gallery forests and cities, provided there are enough trees. Diet: Feeds on fruits, seeds, arthropods and earthworms. Reproduction: The female builds the nest with sticks and mud. It is usually placed in a palm tree or on walls. The male helps feeding the brood (generally three). Natural history: The name “sabiá” in Portuguese comes from Tupi (an indian language) and means “the one who prays” and is related...

21,5 cm. The head and the upper parts are olive brown. The throat is white with brown streaks. The chest and the belly are light brown. The inferior part of the tail is white. There is a pale yellow region below the wings. During the breeding season the male’s beak is yellow and in the rest of the year it is black. Distribution: South of Amazon to Bolivia and Argentina. Habitat: Forest borders, cerrado and urban areas, provided there is plenty of trees. Diet: Feeds on fruits, earthworms and arthropods. Reproduction: In the beginning of the breeding season produces different vocalizations. The nest is deep, with thick walls made of roots and covered by moss. The eggs are bluish g...

16cm. Identification: The male is practically unmistakably recognized for the fully barred body and a black crest in the head. The female is ferruginous and has a crest and is barred in the head. It is currently the only antshrike which lives in really urban and disturbed areas. It is worth reminding that this bird has only recently conquered the urban environment. In the early 80s the first records of this antshrike in large cities were so unexpected that they yielded notes in scientific papers. Like other antshrikes it lives in couples, leaping and flying from branch to branch, usually through the short trees’ canopy in search for the small arthropods it feeds on. In the breeding seas...

15 cm. The male is dark grey with the top of the head black. There are white spots in the tip of the tail’s feathers and in the wings, in a pattern that is similar to other antshrikes. The female is brown. Distribution: From Peru and Bolivia to Uruguay. Absent in most of the Amazon. Habitat: Mostly in Forest borders, gallery and secondary forests. Diet: Arthropods. Beats the wings to shake the foliage, catching the insects that are scared. Reproduction: The male offers the female some food before mating. The couple builds a nest with stems and moss. The female lays three white eggs with red dots. Generally the male incubates during the day and the female in the night. The paren...

53 cm. It is a beautiful heron with the upper parts grayish blue, the neck and the ventral region brownish yellow. The face is blue. Distribution: Open areas from Colombia to Argentina. Habitat: Unlike other herons it may be found very far from the water, thriving in open fields and only occasionally in wetlands. Diet: Feeds on mollusks, amphibians, lizards and insects, mainly grasshoppers. Hunts on the ground revolving the earth and grass with its beak. Reproduction: The courtship is very complex, beginning with displays of the male on the ground and then in the air. The nest is very simple and is built on tall trees. Lays 2 to 4 bluish grey eggs. Natural history: It is often...

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...

14 cm. The legs, beak and the neck are short. The throat is red, contrasting with the fuliginous sides of the head, the back and the chest that is lighter. The belly is pale yellow. The last feather of the male’s wing is rough. Distribution: From Panama to Argentina. Migrates in the south. Habitat: Open landscapes and cities, generally near the water. Diet: Feeds on insects it catches when flying. Reproduction: Builds a nest digging holes in slopes, sometimes in colonies. Lays three to six white eggs. The couple sleeps together in the nest, but only the female incubates. The couple takes turns to feed the brood. When the offspring leave the nest they remain nearby for some ...

Just like other seedeaters, it is practically impossible to tell this species apart from the brownish females, virtually identical to the other seedeaters’ females. Nevertheless the males present the chest and the head in black, the upper parts dark brown and the belly is yellow or beige. Its behavior is very similar to other seedeaters and may form mixed groups with other species when not breeding. It is less urban than the Double-collared and the Lined Seedeaters, being more common in grasslands and grain crops. May be raised as a cage bird. In the breeding season the couples split from the groups. The nest is a low bow made of grasses and the female usually lays 2 or 3 eggs.

11 cm. The body of the male is dark gray in the upper parts, with the face and anterior part of the throat black. The posterior part of the throat and the belly are white, as well as the spots on the sides of the head. The female is brown with the belly lighter. It is thinner than the female of the double collar seedeater Sporophila caerulescens, the tail is longer, the beak smaller with the inferior part buffy. The young individuals are also brown. Distribution: From Guianas to Argentina and Paraguay. In Brazil from the north to São Paulo, Mato Grosso and Goiás. Habitat: Grasslands, open fields, crops and secondary forest borders. Diet: Grains. Reproduction: The couple lives is...

11,5cm. Identification: there is no other Brazilian species like this bird, at least not in urban and disturbed areas. Formerly all the house wren populations ranging from Canada to Chile were considered as a single species, but after several studies the populations south to Mexico were renamed as the Tropical House Wren (Troglodytes musculus ). This hyperactive bird hops non-stop on the ground in search for the small invertebrates it feeds on, reminding a mouse (musculus = mouse ). It only perches to rest or to sing. Its song is very complex and melodic, like other well known members of the Troglodytidae family. It is famous for the breeding behavior, as this bird may nest in the mos...

12,5 cm. The male’s upper parts are dark gray. The face and a ribbon around the neck (the collar) are black. The posterior part of the throat, the belly and a narrow band around the eye are white, sometimes buffy. The color of the beak varies individually. The female and the Young males are brown with the inferior parts lighter. Distribution: From Bahia to Rio Grande do Sul, Uruguay, Argentina to Peru. Habitat: Grasslands, crops. They sleep in tall grass and sugar cane crops were they may bend the stems with their weight. Diet: Feeds on grains. Follows the expansion of seed producing grasses, thus invading new areas as the Distrito Federal. Frequently eats arthropods such as insect...

25 cm. The supercilium is white. The plumage usually shows traces of earth. The male is slightly larger than the female and the belly is lighter. Distribution: From Canada to Tierra del Fuego. Habitat: Open fields, grasslands and suburbs, sometimes in soccer fields. Diet: Feeds mainly on beetles, but also other arthropods. Also consumes small vertebrates. Reproduction: The nest is a deep hole in the ground (1,5 to 3m of depth). Although it is able of digging its own hole it generally uses the ones dug by other animals as the armadillos. The couple lines the nest with grass and dry manure. The female lays up to four eggs. The female incubates and the male takes care of the brood. ...

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...

19cm. The plumage is squamous. The general coloration is brown with some grayish parts. There is a white wingbar (when closed). When flying it shows a pattern of white in the wings and tail. Distribution: From Venezuela to Argentina. Habitat: Inhabits dry fields, cerrado, caatinga and parks in urban areas. Diet: Feeds on grains and fruits on the ground. Reproduction: It is monogamous. Builds a sparse nest in the shape of a cup, 1 or 2m from the ground, sometimes on the ground. The hatchlings (generally 2) are fed on pigeon’s milk that is rich in fat, proteins and lectines. They leave the nest after 15 days. The vocalization is very characteristic and in many places it is named a...

36 cm. The legs and the beak are yellow. The tail is short and the wings are broad, with a somewhat rectangular shape when flying. The chest is light brown streaked in different colors and the upper parts are in shades of gray. The immature is brown and striated. The female is slightly larger than the male. Distribution: From Mexico to Argentina. Habitat: Inhabits cerrado, gallery and secondary forests, fields, farms and cities. Diet: Big insects, amphibians, small lizards , mammals and birds. Sometimes hunts perched bats. May follow groups of coatis or monkeys, catching animals displaced by their movements. Reproduction: The nest is a platform built on the top of tall trees....

58 cm in length, 125cm of wingspan. The beak and the claws are weak for a bird of prey. The legs are tall and yellow. The upper parts are black and the chest and throat are white. There is a large white spot in the inferior side near the tip of the wing. The immature is brown and striated. Distribution: From Florida (U.S.A) to Tierra del Fuego. Habitat: Thrives in any open landscape, sometimes urban areas. Diet: It is generalist. Eats either live animals or carrion. Catches insects, snails, worms, lizards, snakes, birds. Follows tractors in crops looking for earthworms.. Sometimes eats fruits, peanuts and beans. Reproduction: Builds a big nest on the top of tall trees. Lays three ...

22 cm. The beak is strong and black. The chest and the belly are bright yellow and the back is brown. The throat is white and the head black, with a white band above the eyes. Male and female are similar. Distribution: From Texas (U.S.A) to Patagonia. Habitat: It is one of the most generalist birds. Thrives in environments as different as rocky beaches and semi-arid landscapes. It is very common in cities. Does not penetrate dense vegetation, but may be found in forests near the riverbanks or in the borders. Diet: Also very generalist in the diet, consumes mainly insects, but also fruits, learns to catch small fish and tadpoles (as from the author’s tanks), hunts hatchlings and e...

10 cm. It is very small, smaller than a sparrow. The feet are relatively big. The back and wings are brown and the ventral part white barred in black. The forehead of the male is red, while the female’s is black with white dots. In the immature the head is all brown. Can be told apart from the White-Barred Piculet ( Picumnus cirratus ) for having an ochraceous region around the neck and for being darker, mainly on the upper parts. Distribution: Southeastern Brazil and spread southwards up to Argentina. Habitat: Forest edges, gallery and secondary forests, woods, parks and gardens in big cities. Diet: Feeds mainly on ants larvae and pupae, but also on other insects. Reproduction: ...

75 cm. Aquatic with narrow beak curved in the tip. The feet are webbed. The body is black and sometimes the throat is yellow. In the breeding season the male has some white feathers in the throat and ear region. The immature is fuliginous. Distribution: From Mexico to Southern South America Habitat: Lives in lakes, swamps and estuaries. Diet: Feeds on fish, even spiny ones. The gastric acids dissolve the spines. Reproduction: The nest is built on tall trees near lakes, sometimes mixing with heron flocks. Natural history: It is an excellent diver. When in flocks may pen fish schools, leading them to shallow water where they catch the fishes in frenzy. When it goes out of the wate...

60 cm. The tail is very long. The general color is reddish brown. The tail feathers are pale in their tips and in the inferior side. The head has a lighter coloration. The chest is gray. The young individuals have shorter tails. Distribution: From Mexico to Argentina. Habitat: Lives in the canopy of secondary forests, cerrado and urban areas with plenty of trees. Diet: Feeds on grasshoppers, bugs, caterpillars, spiders, etc. Also feeds on small vertebrates as treefrogs. Reproduction: In the breeding season the male sings restlessly 96 times a minute. Before mating gives the female a caterpillar. The nest looks like a frying pan made of loosely crossed branches and is placed in a tall...

18cm Unlike the Red-crested Cardinal ( Paroaria coronata ) the Red-cowled Cardinal does not have a crest and the absence of black patches on the head and throat distinguishes this from the other Brazilian cardinals. This bird is endemic to the Brazilian Northeastern semi-arid region called ``Caatinga´´ where it is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful songbirds. Its beaty often costs its freedom as thousands of these birds are captured in the wild to be kept as cage birds. There is large illegal traffic of these birds throughout Brazil and even to other countries. Several specimens, and even established breeding populations have been reported considerably far from its original distrib...

18,5 cm. The body is gray, slightly blue with the inferior parts lighter. The tail and the tips of the wings are blue, somewhat green. There is a spot of this color in the shoulders. Male and female are similar. Distribution: Mideast Brazil from Maranhão to Rio Grande do Sul, also in Venezuela, Colombia, Bolivia, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. Habitat: Lives on trees, either in open areas, parks or cities. Diet: Feeds on fruits, leaves, buds, nectar including from eucalyptus trees. Also catches flying insects as butterflies and termites. Reproduction: During the breeding season the male exhibits its shoulders to the female. The nest is built by the couple and is a compact open b...

13,5cm The most distinguishing features of this species are the yellowish-orange head and the grayish-green body. This shades of color may vary depending on the subspecies, given that this bird is distributed thoughout the tropical region South to the Amazon river and East to the Andes. There is also a curiously isolated population in the Orinoco river basin. It lives in secondary forest, forest edges and even in cities with plenty of trees. Spends most of its time in the canopy, rarely coming to the ground. This bird moves in a very typical way, climbing the branches in a fast zig-zag, up to the tip and then letting itself fall onto the base of the next branch. It feeds mainly on s...

Unmistakably identifiable for being the only Brazilian member of the family to present the white color in its plumage. Belonging to the same family of the legendary Egyptian Ibis, this is certainly an amazing species. Unlike other members of the family it is not associated to water, living in open grasslands and crops where its large silhouette makes it impossible not to be noticed, especially when they gather in groups. It uses its large curved beak to catch invertebrates burried in the soil and may also prey on small vertebrates. Its song is very loud and acute, reminding that of the Seriema ( Cariama cristata ). Couples sing in duets bouncing their heads upwards as they sing. The ...

24cm In urban areas there is only one other species of owl about the same size of the Screech Owl, that is the Burrowing Owl ( Athene cunicularia ), but while the Burrowing Owl is a diurnal species which lives mostly in open areas and spends most of the time on the ground, the Screech Owl lives on trees and has a pair of ``ears´´. The song reminds that of the Rococo Toad ( Bufo ictericus ). The Screech Owl feeds mainly on large insects but may also take mice, frogs and lizards. The nest is built in tree holes or in artificial boxes.

30cm Members of the Caprimulgidae family are very difficult to tell apart. The best clues to recognize the Pauraque are its very typical song and the fact that it is one of the few nighthawks to get so close to urban areas. The Pauraque spends the whole day quietly sat on the ground, so well camouflaged that it is almost impossible to see. It remains quiet when approached, but when you are too close the bird flies in a fast zig-zag, and lands few meters away. It is curious to notice that even landing close it is difficult to see. The eggs are laid directly on the ground and have an earthy color. The Pauraque can be easily seen on dirt tracks at night, when its eyes reflect the cars’...

60 a 70 cm. The top of the head, the back and the wings are black and the other parts of the body are mostly grey. The immature is brown and striated. Distribution: All over the world, except from the poles and Australia. Habitat: Slow flowing rivers, lakes, reservoirs and swamps. Diet: Aquatic insects, mollusks, crustaceans, fish, amphibians and reptiles. May also eat carrion and rests of food fallen from other bird’s nests, including dead hatchlings. Reproduction: Breeds in colonies together with other species of herons. The nests are built from 1 to 7m from the ground or water. Lays two or three bluish green or buffy eggs. Natural history: During most of the day it rests...

37cm It is a unique bird that can only be confused with other Potoos, from which it differs by being mostly gray. Not like any other bird, the Potoo is one of the best camouflaged birds on earth. It spends the whole day quietly perched on a carefully chosen branch in a way it blends with the substrate as the bird seems to be part of the tree. The large orange eyes, which could be a flaw for the camouflage are wisely covered by eyelids with a tiny fold in the middle, from which the bird can see the surroundings as the pupil is exposed while the orange iris is hidden. In the night the bird leaves its perch flying as a falcon in hunt for flying insects that it catches with its huge mouth...

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.

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.

18,5 cm. The body is gray, slightly blue with the inferior parts lighter. The tail and the tips of the wings are blue, somewhat green. There is a spot of this color in the shoulders. Male and female are similar. Distribution: Mideast Brazil from Maranhão to Rio Grande do Sul, also in Venezuela, Colombia, Bolivia, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. Habitat: Lives on trees, either in open areas, parks or cities. Diet: Feeds on fruits, leaves, buds, nectar including from eucalyptus trees. Also catches flying insects as butterflies and termites. Reproduction: During the breeding season the male exhibits its shoulders to the female. The nest is built by the couple and is a compact open...

25 cm. The upper parts are brown, the inferior light brown. There are white wingbars . The supercilium and the edging of the tail are white. Male and female are similar. Distribution: South of Amazon to Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina and Bolivia. Habitat: Open areas with some trees or scrubs, cerrado, caatinga (Brazilian scrubland) and urban areas. Diet: Feeds on insects and spiders caught on the ground. Also eats small fruits and seeds. Sometimes prey on other bird’s eggs. Reproduction: The nest is built about 1,5m from the ground on a small tree or scrub. The external part is made of thick branches and the interior of thin roots and grass. It may have up to four broods a year, eac...

The general coloration is light brown, yellow in some parts. The wings are dark brown and there is a small black region behind the eye. The immature individuals have lighter shades of brown in the wings and the chest is streaked in white. Distribution: From southern Amazon to Rio Grande do Sul. Habitat: Open areas, cerrado, caatinga, farms and urban areas. Diet: Feeds on ticks, insects, carrion, small rodents, birds, snakes, lizards and even fishes. Reproduction: The nest is a platform built on the top of tall trees. Natural history: This hawk is associated with cattle because of its behavior of climbing on the back of the cattle in search for ticks and other ectoparasites. It ...

28cm Identification: easily told apart from other woodpeckers for the black and white pattern, being the wings and the tail black. There is a yellow region on the face. It lives in noisy groups of 3 to 8 individuals. As other woodpeckers the diet is based on insects that it catches hammering tree trunks. The nest is built by the couple in a natural tree hole or a carved one. The female lays 3 or 4 eggs. The young birds leave the nest within about 35 days.

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.

18,5 cm. The upper parts are greenish brown, the throat is white and the belly yellow. The tip of the tail is buffy. Male and female are similar. Distribution: From Venezuela to Argentina. Mideastern Brazil. Migrates seasonaly in southern Brazil. Habitat: Open fields, grasslands, grazing lands and parks in urban areas. Diet: Catches insects on the ground and sometimes in trees. Follows cattle to feed on insects displaced by its movement. Reproduction: Builds a nest made of branches about 4m from the ground. May use nests abandoned by the hornero (Furnarius rufus). The white eggs are incubated by the couple. Natural history: When on the ground runs for some meters then stops t...

23cm, Identification: the adult individuals present a dark body, red wings, a blue area around the eyes and a red waxy shield on the forehead. The feet are unusually large. The immature birds present white lower parts and brown above. The jacana has one of the largest ratios of toe length upon the body length in the animal kingdom. These extremely large toes help the bird walking over the aquatic plants without sinking. Its small wings and long legs do not make it the best of the fliers. Lives in wetlands and other sorts of water bodies. Feeds on insects, small fish and tadpoles.

44 cm. The tail is long and there is a topknot. The ventral region is white. The wings are dark brown with black and white streaks. Distribution: From the state of Amapá to Uruguay. Habitat: Open fields, cerrado and caating, also in landscapes modified by man. Diet: Feeds on arthropods and small vertebrates. Reproduction: The nest may be individual or collective. It is built about 5m from the ground. The female lays up to 7 eggs, but there may be more than 20 eggs in collective nests. In the collective nests there is great competition for food among the hatchlings and few them survive. Natural history: When perched it waves its tail, swinging the body in a way that some peop...

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.

35 cm. The legs and the toes are long and green. Has a red shield-like structure in the forehead that is larger in the male. The neck and inferior parts are blue. The back is brown and there is a white band in the wing. The immature individuals are brown. Distribution: All over the world, except from Australia and New Zealand. Habitat: Lives in lakes, ponds and swamps, provided there is plenty of aquatic vegetation. May be found even in very polluted places and brackish water. Diet: Feeds on vegetables and aquatic insects. Usually dives to catch the food. When it does not dive it waters the food before swallowing. Reproduction: The nest is built among the aquatic vegetation. Th...

19 cm. The body is brown, darker in the back and ferruginous in the tail. The ventral part is light brown. Distribution: Northeast, Mideast to South of Brazil, also in Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Bolivia. Has been spreading its distribution along with deforestation. Habitat: Open landscapes, fields, cerrado, lawns and gardens. Diet: Mainly arthropods, sometimes seeds. Reproduction: The couple builds the nest with mud, manure and straw that they carry with their beaks and model with their feet. The nest is usually built on tall trees. Each year a new nest is built, sometimes over the previous ones (up to 11 nests one above the other). The nest has two divisions and the eggs...

12,5 cm. The general color is green, but the male has a bright blue area in the wings and lower back. The female does not have this blue area and the belly is somewhat yellow. There may be mutations producing all yellow or blue individuals. The plumage of the immature individuals is not as bright as the adult’s. Distribution: Tropical South America. Habitat: Forest borders, gallery forests, parks, gardens and open areas. Diet: Feeds on fruits, seeds, buds and flowers. Reproduction: It is monogamous. The couple stays together for the rest of their lives. The nest is built inside a hole in a tree that may be an abandoned nest of hornero (Furnarius rufus) or an artificial nest box. ...

15 cm. The body is white with a band around the eye, the wing and the tail black. Distribution: From Northeastern Brazil to São Paulo. It is currently spreading its distribution southwards. Habitat: Lives in riverbanks, muddy places near lakes and ponds. Diet: Feeds mainly on arthropods, sometimes small fruits. Reproduction: The male exhibits himself standing on the body and opening the tail and the wings. The nest is spherical with a lateral entrance. It is built on small trees above the water. The white eggs are incubated by the female. Natural history: Runs on the aquatic plants, catching insects among them. Attacks other birds that enter its territory. Some people and eve...

35cm Identification: the head is dark with a bege band on the eyebrows and another one on the neck. The throat is white, but unlike Falco rufigularis this ribbon is not extended up to the back of the neck. The chest is light brown with black dots, unlike Falco deiroleucus which presents this region orange. The belly is dark with white spots and there is a red patch near the tail. The tail is dark with three white bars. It is one of Brazilian commonest falcons since it inhabits open landscapes, included those disturbed by men. Feeds on small rodents and birds, reptiles and large insects. Like other falcons these are monogamous birds with fixed breeding grounds. The nest is built o...

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.

10,5 cm. The beak and a mask around the eye are bright red. The body is light brown, finely streaked. There may be a red region in the belly. As in other species of cage birds there is great color variation. Distribution: Originally in Africa but currently found in many places around the world. In Brazil it may be found in most of the country except from the Amazon region (where it may be found in the suburbs of big cities). Habitat: Open landscapes, fields, crops, gardens and parks. Diet: Seeds and occasionally insects. Reproduction: The nest is built by the couple in shrubs. Its walls are thick and made of grass, feathers and cotton. The entrance is hidden. Sometimes a false n...

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...

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...

16cm Identification: the genus Elaenia is well known among the ornithologists for being one of the most difficult groups when it comes to species identification. Nevertheless Elaenia flavogaster is the easiest species to be identified, first for its yellow belly, second for the crest on the head (not always visible), third for the absence of white patches on the face and crest and last for its conspicuous behavior. It is more easily heard than seen and its song reminds the one of the kiskadee. It inhabits parks, backyards, coffee crops and secondary forest edges. The yellow bellied elaenia spends most of its time in the medium height trees and shrubs. Feeds mainly on insects and be...

60cm Identification: there are four mostly white species of egrets in Brazil, the snowy egret can be told apart by its smaller size and also for having the tip of the beak black and for having dark legs with yellow feet. Laypeople usually think this species is a young great egret, however it is technically different enough to be place in another genus. It is bit more demanding than the great egret regarding its habitat necessities, as it does not occur in polluted waters and is more strongly associated to aquatic plants such as the water lily. Its reduced size allows this bird to walk over the aquatic plants without sinking. It feeds mainly on small fishes and tadpoles. The nest is ...

41,5 cm. Medium size. The feet are webbed. Has a distinctive white mask. The chest and the belly are streaked with cinnamon. The wings are broad and black. The female is slightly larger than the male. Distribution: Tropical South America and Africa. Habitat: Wetlands, lakes, ponds, mostly in shallow water. Diet: It eats buds, seeds, insect larvae, crustaceans and worms. Food is filtered by its specialized beak Reproduction: Builds a nest on the ground in a hidden place. 8 to 14 eggs are laid and incubated by the couple for 27 to 30 days. Male and female take care of the brood. Natural history: Its vocalization is very typical. It is more active at twilight or at night, resting ...

48cm Identification: the body is mostly cinnamon with dark streaks on the wings. It may be locally the commonest duck, especially in Southern Brazil wetlands, where its hunting is allowed provided the state’s quotas are respected. Regarding its habitat this species tends occur in open wetlands, surrounded by grasslands. Feeds mainly by grazing small grasses on the lake shores or underwater but also eats aquatic plants, aquatic insects and small fish. It may build the nest either in a tree hole or on the aquatic plants. The female lays from 8 to 14 eggs that are sat for about one month. The offspring start to fly within 55 days after hatching.

48 cm. The face is grey, the chest cinnamon and the belly black. There is a large white spot in the wings, more evident when flying. The beak and feet are red. Males and females are similar. The immature is grayish brown Distribution: From Texas (U.S.A) to Bolivia and Argentina. Habitat: Lives in lakes, rivers, wetlands and even in mangroves. Diet: Feeds on leaves, small seeds and aquatic invertebrates. Reproduction: The nest is built on the ground or hollow trees. The eggs are white, sometimes greenish or bluish. More than one female may lay eggs in the same nest and sometimes may even lay eggs in other species’s nests such as the white faced whistling duck (Dendrocygna viduata)....

16 cm. The iris and a mask in the face are red. The top of the head and the wings are ferruginous. The sides of the head are gray and the belly brown. In some regions there may be yellow areas in the chest and throat Distribution: From Mexico to Argentina. Habitat: Forest borders, secondary and gallery forests, cerrado, caatinga, parks and gardens, usually in the canopy. Diet: Insects, their larvae and fruits Reproduction: The female builds most of the nest with grass. The nest is a deep open basket covered with moss and attached to the tree with spider webs. Male and female take turns to incubate the eggs and feed the offspring (2 or 3).

35cm Similarly to other Brazilian jays, the Curl-crested jay has white lower parts and blue and black upper parts. It may be confused with the Plush-crested jay (Cyanocorax chrysops), but while the last presents the crest in the back of the head, the yellow iris and a blue patch around the eyes, the Curl-crested jay presents the crest on the forehead, the red iris and the head is entirely black. Whereas the Old World ravens are mostly black, as well as the crows, the Brazilan corvids are colorful and most of them have white lower parts. There are 6 species of jays in Brazil, all of them extremely beautiful. The Curl-crested jay is one of Brazilian’s noisiest jays. To make the noise ...

33 cm. The tail is very long. It is all black. The bill is thick and strong. The skin is also black. Male and female are similar. Distribution: From Florida (U.S.A) to Argentina. Habitat: Inhabits open landscapes with grass. Prefers moist places. Diet: Consumes arthropods, mainly grasshoppers, and small vertebrates as lizards, mice and frogs. Also eats hatchlings. Fishes in shallow water. In some seasons, mostly in the dry ones when arthropods are scarce it eats fruits and seeds. Follows cattle and tractors in order to catch insects displaced by their movements. Reproduction: The male dances around the female on the ground. It offers food as a gift for the female but sometimes sw...

13,5 cm. The male’s top of the head is black with a scarlet topknot. The body is red, with the upper parts brownish red. The female does not have a topknot and the upper parts are brown. Distribution: From the Guyanas to Argentina. Habitat: Secondary forests, cerrado and farms. Diet: Feeds on seeds and insects. Reproduction: When breeding lives in pairs and the male protects the territory. Builds a cup-like nest with leaves, lichens and spider webs. Lays 3 to 5 bluish or white eggs. Both male and female feed the offspring. Natural history: The male’s topknot can only be seen when it is excited. When not breeding lives in groups, sometimes mixing with other species. In dry ...

62 cm in length, 143 cm of wingspan. The feathers are absent in the head and neck. The body is black, with white spots near the tip of the wings (seen only when flying). Distribution: From central U.S.A to central Argentina. Habitat: Virtually in any kind of landscape, preferably in open areas. Absent in large areas of dense vegetation. Diet: Mainly carrion. Does not hunt, but kills injured or young animals, such as turtle eggs and hatchlings, even newly born big mammals like calves. May eat fruits. The excellent eyesight helps finding carrion at long distances. Reproduction: The courtship consists of movements of the male jumping on the ground with the wings opened and then...

18,5 cm. The body is brown, darker in the upper parts, wings and tail. The tip of the wings are cinnamon. The male’s head is light grey. The immature has buffy spots in the wings. Distribution: Throughout Brazil. From Mexico to Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina. Habitat: Lives in any open landscape. Adapts to life in big cities. Diet: Feeds on grains and fruits. Swallows the whole seeds, thus it may be poisoned by seeds with pesticides. Searchs for food on the ground. Reproduction: Breeds throughout the year, and may have three or four broods. When mating the male raises one of the wings. They caress each other in the head and give food as gifts. It is a monogamous species. The n...

Physical appearance: 35,5 cm. The body is bluish gray, with an iridescent region on the sides of the neck. There is a large white region on the wings. Distribution: From Northeastern Brazil to Argentina. Habitat: Cerrado, caatinga, gallery forests, fields, crops and urban areas. Diet: Feeds on seeds and small fruits. Reproduction: The nest is made of loosely crossed sticks. The white eggs (1 or 2) are incubated by the couple. The hatchlings are fed on “pigeon’s milk”. Natural history: It is one of the largest species of pigeon in Brazil. After breeding it gathers in flocks for migration. It is so common in some places that may turn into a nuisance. Has been successfully conqu...

Physical appearance: 26 cm. The upper parts are green, somewhat yellow, barred in black. The inferior parts are buffy or white, also barred. The tail and the top of the head are black. The male has a red spot below the eye while in the female this spot is black. Distribution: From Eastern Amazon to Uruguay and Argentina. Habitat: Forest borders, gallery and secondary forests, woods and parks in cities. Diet: Feeds on ants and insect larva, mainly beetles. Also eats fruits. Reproduction: After courtship the couple builds a nest inside an old tree, sometimes palm trees and others. The nest is generally downwards, avoiding the water when it rains. Two to four eggs are laid and the ...

Physical appearance: 11 cm. The upper parts are dark and the inferior parts yellow. There is a white bar in the supercilium. The females are smaller than the males. The immature individuals have grey belly and do not have the bar above the eye. Distribution: From Mexico to Chile. Habitat: Inhabits various environments provided there is plenty of trees and flowers. Diet: Feeds mainly on nectar. Also eats insects. Visits hummingbird feeders. Reproduction: Builds two kinds of nest. A breeding one that is compact with thick walls and a resting nest made of leaves, grass and spider webs. Lays two or three white eggs. Only the female incubates. The male helps feeding the brood with i...

Length: 20cm Identification: nightjars are always very difficult to identify as they are nocturnal birds, rarely seen during the day due to their camouflage. On the other hand there are few species inhabitting urban areas and among these the little nightjar is usually the smallest and with the lightest color pattern. Distribution: it is distributed through all the South American countries east to the Andes. Habitat: occurs in a wide range of ecosystems, but is specially common in forest edges surrounded by crops and wetlands. This nightjar spends the whole day quiet and very well camouflaged on the ground and thus is rarely seen at daylight. It only flies during the day ...

Physical appearance: 36 cm. The legs are short and yellow. The body is predominantly grey, darker in the back. The top of the head is black. The immature is striated and brownish. Distribution: American Continent, Africa, Asia, Australia and islands in the Pacific. Habitat: Rivers, lakes and mangroves of different sizes. Diet: Aquatic insects, mollusks, amphibians, reptiles and fish. Reproduction: The nest is a platform on the top of tall trees. Lays three eggs. Natural history: Solitary and migratory. There are saw-like structures inside the beak to help holding slippery food. May be eaten by carnivorous fish such as the trahiras (Hoplias sp.) when walking on flooded land....

Physical appearence: 12cm. The upper parts are grayish with black and ferruginous stripes The chest is light brown with spots in the immature. There are yellow ribbons above the eyes and in the wings. The coloration may change when it is dirty due to contact with earth. Distribution: The Grassland Sparrow is found east of the Andes from Colombia to central Argentina but is missing from the Amazon Basin upstream from the Tapajós river. Habitat: Dry fields with grass, cerrado and crops. Diet: Feeds on grains and small insects. Reproduction: During the breeding season they live in pairs in a territory defended by the male. The nest is opened and placed on the ground. The eggs are s...

Physical appearance: 40 cm. The feet are red and webbed. The chest is brown, as well as the face that is a bit darker. There is a patch of iridescent feathers in the wings. When flying it shows a large white spot at the back of the wing. The male has a red beak and the female’s is blue. The Female also has white spots on the face. Distribution: From Venezuela to Argentina. Habitat: Wetlands, lakes, ponds and rivers even in polluted places. Diet: Feeds on seeds, leaves and small invertebrates. The hatchlings are goot at catching insects. Reproduction: Lays up to 14 bluish or greenish eggs. When the adult realizes the presence of a potential predator it distracts its attention...

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...

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.