Itatiaia.
Trail in lower park, Itatiaia. Photo ₢ Aditi J. Chaves.
The first national park in Brazil, this magnificent place is a must for birders visiting Southeast Brazil. The forest climbs from deep in the valley up to the treeline, and the variety of birds that can be found is mouth-watering. There is good accommodation within the park, the main hotels being the Itatiaia Park Hotel (formerly the Hotel Simon) and the Hotel Ypê, the highest hotel in the park. Both have their merits, being close to the trails and having feeders. There are excellent trails into the forest and birding from the main track can be rewarding.
Agulhas Negras road.
Peak in upper park along the Agulhas Negras road. Photo ₢ Aditi J. Chaves.
The upper part of the park is above the treeline, but the road that takes you there starts within the forest. This road is famed for being one of the easiest places to find the Itatiaia Thistletail, but there are many other interesting birds to look for including White-rumped Hawk, Plovercrest, Araucária Tit-Spinetail, Black and Gold Cotinga, Black-capped Piprites, Serra do Mar Tyrannulet, Serra do Mar Tyrant-Mankin and Diademed Tanager.
Itatiaia Thistletail. Photo ₢ Rick and Elis Simpson.
Birds to look for include: White-rumped Hawk, Black Hawk-Eagle, Barred Forest-Falcon, Dusky-legged Guan, Spot-winged Woodquail, Tawny-browed Owl, Short-tailed Nighthawk, Sooty Swift, White-collared Swift, Biscutate Swift, Plovercrest, White-throated Hummingbird, Black-eared Fairy, Surucua Trogon, Rufous-capped Motmot, Spot-billed Toucanet, Saffron Toucanet, Araucária Tit-Spinetail, Itatiaia Thistletail, Grey-bellied Spinetail, Pallid Spinetail, Buff-browed Foliage-gleaner, White-collared Foliage-gleaner, Sharp-billed Treehunter, Black-billed Scythebill, Giant Antshrike, Rufous-backed Antvireo, Bertoni’s Antbird, Rufous-tailed Antbird, Ochre-rumped Antbird, White-bibbed Antbird, Rufous-tailed Antthrush, Cryptic Antthrush, Vareigated Antpitta, Serra do Mar Tapaculo, Sharpbill, Black and Gold Cotinga, Serra do Mar Tyrant-Manakin, Swallow-tailed Cotinga, Black-capped Piprites, Mottle-cheeked Tyrannulet, Serra do Mar Tyrannulet, Drab-breasted Bamboo-Tyrant, Brown-breasted Bamboo-Tyrant, Royal Flycatcher, Black-tailed Flycatcher, Blue-billed Black-Tyrant, velvety Black-Tyrant, Shear-tailed Grey tyrant, Sirystes, Rufous-tailed Attila, Brown Tanager, Magpie Tanager, Olive-green Tanager, Diademed Tanager, Fawn-breasted Tanager, Brassy0breasted Tanager, Gilt-edged Tanager, Bay-chested Warbling-Finch, Red-rumped Warbling-Finch, Buffy-fronted Seedeater, Thick-billed Saltator and Golden-winged Cacique.
