Itineraries
1 - Palmas city and surroundings
In this site we will explore woods and Cerrado areas around Palmas city where we will watch many birds these important ecosystems, for example Kaempfer's Woodpecker (Celeus obrieni), Helmeted Manakin (Antilophia galeata), Yellow-faced Parrot (Alipiopsitta xanthops), White-banded Tanager (Neothraupis fasciata), Collared Crescentchest (Melanopareia torquata), Coal-crested Finch (Charitospiza eucosma) and birds with Amazonian distribution center like Manu Antbird Cercomacra manu, Large-headed Flatbill (Ramphotrigon megacephalum) Lettered Aracari (Pteroglossus inscriptus), Dot-eared Coquete (Lophornis gouldii), Ashy-headed Greenlet (Hylophilus pectoralis), Fiery-capped Manakin (Machaeropterus pyrocephalus), Band-tailed Manakin (Pipra fasciicauda), Dwarf Tyrant-Manakin (Tyranneutes stolzmanni), Spotted Puffbird (Bucco tamatia), Pied Puffbird (Notharchus tectus) and Yellow-tufted Woodpecker (Melanerpes cruentatus). In Lajeado mountain (Taquaruçu) can still be watched Purple-throated Fruitcrow (Querula purpurata), Black-tailed Trogon (Trogon melanurus), Chapada Flycatcher (Guyramemua affine), White-throated Woodpecker (Piculus leucolaemus), Red-necked Woodpecker (Campephilus rubricollis) and the hummingbird Horned Sungem (Heliactin bilophus) among others. Other big highlight is a Harpy Eagle nest near by Palmas city (18 km far).
Note: There are fires in Cerrado during dry season (August and September mainly) and the weather is warmer, however birds are more active to birding.
Files: see my Trip Reports on eBird website.
2 - Araguaia valley/Bananal Island/Cantão State Park
This region of the Araguaia River is considered an ecological tension area or ecotone between Cerrado and Amazon biomes. It has an avifauna of both biomes and also unique species. The highlights are Araguaia Spinetail (Synallaxis simoni), Bananal Antbird (Cercomacra ferdinandi), Cantao/Tocantins Spinetail Certhiaxis sp. novum (undescribed), Crimson-fronted Cardinal (Paroaria baeri) and other rarities such as Chestnut-bellied Guan (Penelope ochrogaster), Crested Eagle (Morphnus guianensis) Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja) and Kaempfer's Woodpecker (Celeus obrieni) that was considered extinct and rediscovered in the state of Tocantins in 2006 after 80 years missing. We can also watch Orinoco Goose (Neochen jubata), Agami Heron (Agamia agami), Spotted Puffbird (Bucco tamatia), Zimmer's Tody-Tyrant (Hemitriccus minimus), Ladder-tailed Nightjar (Hydropsalis climacocerca), Rose-breasted Chat (Granatellus pelzelni), Bare-necked Fruitcrow (Gymnoderus foetidus), Hoatzin (Opisthocomus hoazin), Spotted Tody-Flycatcher (Todirostrum maculatum), Amazonian Antshrike (Thamnophilus amazonicus), Maranhao Hermit (Phaethornis maranhaoensis), Cinnamon Attila (Attila cinnamomeus), Gray-chested Greenlet (Hylophilus semicinereus), Glossy Antshrike (Sakesphorus luctuosus), Amazonian Streaked-Antwren (Myrmotherula multostriata), Blue-backed Manakin (Chiroxipjia pareola), Flame-crowned Manakin (Heterocercus linteatus), Blue-back Grosbeak (Cyanoloxia rothschildii), Yellow-browed Sparrow (Ammodramus aurifrons), Amazonian Tyrannulet (Inezia subflava), Band-tailed Nighthawk (Nyctiprogne leucopyga), Blackish Nightjar (Hydropsalis nigrescens), Black-banded Owl (Strix huhula), Austral Screech-Owl (Megascops usta), Long-billed Woodcreeper (Nasica longirostris), Ringed Antpipit (Corythopis toquatus), Rufous-tailed Flatbill (Ramphotrigon ruficauda), Golden-green Woodpecker - Spot-throaed (Piculus chrysochloros laemostictus) and many others.
Note: Due to flooding in this region during the rainy season (January to March) to make difficult access to the Canguçu Research Center, to Cantão State Park and watching some key species, I suggest birding from May to December.
In this itinerary we can extend the tour to State of Pará (report) and watching other amazing Amazon Rainforest birds.
Files: see my Trip Reports on eBird website.
New 3 - Amazon Rainforest in Tocantins
Araguaína municipality and surroundings
This region presents Dense Ombrophilous Forest (Amazon Rainforest) fragments and Carrascos (dry forest on sandy soil) with amazing birds, where the highlights are Pale-bellied Mourner (Rhytipterna immunda), Gray Tinamou (Tinamus tao), Great Tinamou (Tinamus major), White-crested Guan (Penelope pileata), Chestnut-head Chachalaca (Ortalis ruficeps), Buff-browed Chachalaca (Ortalis superciliaris), Dark-wing Trumpeter (Psophia interjecta), Long-tailed Hermit (Phaethornis superciliosus), Gray-brested Sabrewing (Campylopterus leucurus obscurus), Racket-tipped Thorntail (Discosura longsdorfii), Pied Puffbird (Notharchus hyperrhynchus), Eastern Striolated-Puffbird (Nystalus striolatus torridus), Gould’s Toucanet (Selenidera gouldii), Cryptic Forest-Falcon (Miscratur mintoni), Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao), Scarlet-shouldered Parrotlet (Touiti huetii), Vulturine Parrot (Pyrilia vulturina), Red-fan Parrot (Deroptyus accpitrinus), Xingu Scale-backed Antbird (Willisornis vidua), Rufous-capped Antthrush (Formicarius colma), Spixi’s Woodcreeper (Xiphorhynchus spixii), Dusky-capped Woodcreeper (Lepdocolaptes f. layardi), Amazonian Bared-Woodcreeper (Dendrocolaptes c. retentus), Para Foliage-gleaner (Automolus paraensis), Palin-crowned Spinetail (Synallaxis gujanensis), Royal Flycatcher (Onychorhynchus coronatus), Cinereus Mourner (Laniocera hypopyrra), Pink-throated Becard (Pachyramphus minor), Black-crested Tyrant (Taenotriccus andrei), Green Oropendola (Psarocolius viridis), Olive Oropendola (Psarocolius bifasciatus), Slate-colored Grosbeak (Saltator grossus) and Purple Honeycreeper (Cyanerpes caeruleus), Paradise Jacamar (Galbula dea), among other.
Files: see my Trip Reports on eBird website.