When most people think of Brazil they think of Rio, Carnivale, Sugarloaf Mountain and endless beaches. When birders think of Brazil, they think – ENDEMICS. Amongst other claims to fame, Brazil hosts a spectacular array of endemic flora and fauna, including more than a reasonable share of stunning endemics. The South East of Brazil is a critical endemic zone, one that we will cover in a single Mega style tour.
Our tour covers a section of the Cerrado biome, focussing on the tricky Brazilian Merganser before concentrating on the threatened Atlantic Forests, seeking out a myriad of remarkable and rare endemic species. Habitats range from high mountains to lowland gallery forest encompassing such famous sites as Ubatuba, Intervales and Itatiaia.
Top Birds
Brazilian Merganser; Cock-tailed & Sharp-tailed Tyrants; Black-masked Finch; Helmeted Manakin; Ocellated, Rufous-faced & Grey-breasted Crakes; Hyacinth Visorbearer; Cipo Canastero; Cipo Cinclodes; Rock & Marsh Tapaculos; Horned Sungem; Checkered Woodpecker; Serra, Black-hooded, Sao Paulo & Restinga Antwren; Grey-backed Tachuri; Hangnest Tody-Tyrant; Grey-winged & Black-and-gold Cotingas; Black-and-gold, Brazilian & Diademed Tanagers; Green-crowned & Purple-crowned Plovercrests; Three-toed Jacamar; Saffron Toucanet; Black-capped Piprites; Long-tailed Antshrike; Buff-throated Purpletuft; Brazilian Ruby; Festive Coquette; Vinaceous-breasted Amazon; Araucaria Tit-Spinetail; Sharp-billed Treehunter; Bertoni’s Antbird; Red-tailed Amazon; Azure Jay; Such’s Antthrush; Yellow-legged & Solitary Tinamou; Variegated Antpitta; Black-headed Berryeater; Bay-ringed Tyrannulet; Ornate Hawk-Eagle; Grey-bellied Hawk; Spotted Bamboowren.
Top Mammals
Maned Wolf; Giant Anteater; Giant Armadillo
Habitats Covered
lowland and montane Atlantic rainforest, cerrado, old cacao plantations, open grasslands with secondary forest, highland Araucaria forest, high elevation grasslands, coastal restinga, mangroves
Expected Climate
warm to hot and humid but much cooler in the higher lying areas
Max Group Size
8 with 1 Rockjumper leader and local birding leader
Tour Pace & Walking
our Mega tours are very fast-paced birding adventures designed for the dedicated lister and serious birder. The focus of the tour is to see as many of the endemics and area specials as possible in our given time. In order to cover the necessary route to maximise the species list we tend to spend a single night at most sites and travel large distances. There is very little down time aside from that spent driving from one site to the next. These tours are not suitable for dedicated or avid photographers; inexperienced or new birders; as well as anyone with serious mobility or health challenges.
Accommodation
comfortable
Ease of Birding
moderate, with some very difficult species
Photographic Opportunities
good, but limited due to nature of tour
Client Testimonials
I had the very best time on tour with Stephan. He is an excellent leader and a lovely, kind human being. In terms of his technical ability as a birding leader, his eyesight and hearing skills are excellent, which coupled with his first class fieldcraft and ID skills, meant that we saw/heard over 500 species during our tour. He also gelled well with the local guide Caio , so that in terms of finding, IDing and showing the birds to the group, we were treated to splendid views of our target species plus many many 'bonus birds' too. Stephan was also very patient with group members, some of whom for a variety of personal reasons, were less able to see the birds than the majority of the group-so that wherever possible-every group member who wanted to, had the opportunity to see every bird.
Rob Williams was helpful above and beyond the call by going out of his way to make it an enjoyable tour.
The trip was excellent, and there is no praise too high for Stephan Lorenz!
Rockjumper Birding Tours again handled everything with professionalism. Serra dos Tucanos Lodge and its setting were beautiful. Andy was an expert guide and helped everyone see the birds, and yet he had a great sense of humour so that every outing and checklist session was fun. I also enjoyed hearing him answer questions about other aspects of living in Brazil as we travelled to our hiking spots. Super tour!
A fantastic inaugural tour of the Manaus area. As usual, rainforest birding presented its challenges, especially all those skulkers, the names of which invariably begin with ant-! However, our brilliant leader, Forrest Rowland, and his equally brilliant offsider and local guide, Brad, showed endless patience trying to get everyone to see as many species as possible - with almost 500 spp seen in 17 days! We visited a variety of habitats in addition to terra firme forest, including varzea, campinarana and riverine islands, each with a different suite of birds. The trip went off without a hitch with efficient van and boat transport, comfortable accommodation and delicious local food.