Birding sites included in the Ubatuba tour.

Biritiba Mirim.

A small marsh bordered by forest by the road near to the city of Mogi da Cruzes is the place to look for the undescribed 'Marsh' Antwren and Red-eyed Thornbird, a recent split. Also here are Wing-banded Hornero, Giant, Rufous-capped, Variable and Large-tailed Antshrikes, Dusky-tailed Antbird, Spotted Bamboowren, Hangnest Tody-Tyrant, Ochre-faced Tody-Flycatcher, White-bellied Seedeater, Striped Cuckoo, Cinnamon and Orange-headed Tanager, White-rimmed Warbler, Masked Yellowthroat, Chestnut-bellied Seed-Finch, and Hooded Siskin.

Marsh Antwren. Photo copyright Arthur Grosset.

Folha Seca and Corcovado.

There is good forest and forest edge habitat at both these neighbouring sites and birds include Brown Tinamou, Ruddy Quail-Dove, Reddish-bellied and Plain Parakeets, Surucua Trogon, Crescent-chested Puffbird, Blonde-crested Woodpecker, Plain-winged, Planalto, Olivaceous and Lesser Woodcreepers, White-eyed Foliage-gleaner, Rufous-breasted and Tawny-throated Leaftosser, Tufted Antshrike, White-shouldered Fire-eye, Ferruginous and Scaled Antbird, Star-throated Antwren, Rufous-capped Antthrush, Rufous Gnateater, Slaty Bristlefront, Bare-throated Bellbird, White-bearded and Blue Manakin, Greenish Schiffornis, Greyish Mourner, Euler's Flycatcher, Eared Pygmy-Tyrant, White-throated Spadebill, Large-headed Flatbill, White-thighed Swallow, White-necked Thrush, Green Honeycreeper, Green-headed and Red-necked tanager, Chestnut-bellied Euphonia, Azure-shouldered, Golden-chevroned, Ruby-crowned, Flame-crested and Red-crowned Ant-Tanager, Green-winged Saltator, Neotropical River Warbler, Uniform Finch and Buffy-fronted Seedeater. At Jonas' house within the forest we will visit the hummingbird feeders where one can see Saw-billed Hermit, Swallow-tailed Hummingbird, Black Jacobin, Black-throated Mango, Festive Coquette, Glittering-throated Emerald, Violet-capped Woodnymph, White-chinned Sapphire, Sombre Hummingbird and Brazilian Ruby. Outside the garden on the track Reddish Hermit is often seen.

Jonas' Veranda. Photo copyright Tommy Pedersen.

The fazendas.

Fazendas Angelim and Capricornio are next to each other and are old cacao plantations where a good variety of forest edge and forest species can be seen. The proprietors now maintain these fazendas as private reserves and generously allow visiting birders to enter. Because of the past use of the land the forest here is much more open and therefore makes seeing some canopy species easier. Some of the birds to be found here are, Aplomado Falcon, Buff-bellied Puffbird, Yellow-fronted Woodpecker, White-throated Woodcreeper, Rufous-capped Spinetail, Black-capped and Ochre-breasted Foliage-gleaner, Spot-backed Antshrike, Spot-breasted and Plain Antvireo, Ferruginous Antbird, Salvadori's, Unicoloured and Rufous-winged Antwren, Black-cheeked Gnateater, Spotted Bamboowren, Buff-throated Purpletuft, Green-backed, Crested and Chestnut-crowned Becard, Black-tailed Tityra, Fuscous, Euler's and Vermilion Flycatcher, Grey-hooded Attila, São Paulo Tyrannulet, Fork-tailed Tody-Tyrant, Long-billed Gnatwren, Rufous-crowned Greenlet, Yellow-legged Thrush, White-rimmed Warbler, Tropical Parula, Golden-rumped Euphonia, Brazilian Tanager and Temminck's Seedeater.

Fazenda Angelim. Photo copyright Rick and Elis Simpson.

Perequê.

This is of course the well-known site for Black-hooded Antwren, but many other good species can be found here. Among them Channel-billed Toucan, Striped and Squirrel Cuckoos, Robust, Lineated, Yellow-fronted and Yellow-necked Woodpeckers, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Frilled Coquette, Black-throated Mango, Sombre Hummingbird, Streaked Xenops, Plain and Spot-billed Antvireo, Chestnut-backed Antshrike, Scaled, Ferruginous and Squamate Antbird, Streak-capped Antwren, Spotted Bamboowren, Orange-eyed Thornbird, Yellow Tyrannulet, Eared Pygmy-Tyrant, Yellow-lored Tody-Flycatcher, Fork-tailed, Hangnest and Eye-ringed Tody-Tyrants, Boat-billed, Whiskered and Sepia-capped Flycatcher, Black-goggled, Rufous-headed and Ruby-crowned Tanager, and Blue Dacnis.

Black-hooded Antwren. Photo copyright Arthur Grosset.

Campos do Jordão.

In the Mantiqueira range that forms the northern border of the Paraiba river valley lays the picturesque tourist resort of Campos do Jordão. It has a very European feel to it with its deciduous tree lined streets and architecture reminiscent of central Europe. It is also a good place to look for some of the highland species of the region. The two main locations are the Horto Florestal and the road that leads to the Pedra do Baú, a rocky outcrop in the mountains. A feature of the region is the araucaria forests. The special birds of this place are the Vinaceous Parrots that can often be seen coming to roost in the late afternoon at the Horto Florestal. Birds typical of the region are Maroon-bellied Parakeet, Red-breasted Toucan, White-throated Hummingbird, Glittering-bellied Emerald, Robust Woodpecker, Olivaceous, Scaled and White-throated Woodcreepers, Sharp-billed Treehunter, Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper, Rufous Gnateater, Araucaria Tit-Spinetail, Hellmayr's Pipit, Black-capped Piprites, Blue Manakin, Grey-capped, Planalto, Mottle-cheeked, White-crested, Serra-do-Mar and Sooty Tyrannulets, Velvety Black-Tyrant, Shear-tailed Grey-Tyrant, Golden-crowned and White-rimmed Warblers, Brassy-breasted, Burnished buff, Fawn-breasted, Diademed and Hepatic Tanagers, Golden-winged Cacique, Red-rumped and Bay-chested Warbling-Finches, Thick-billed and Green-winged Saltators and Plush-crested Jay.

Campos do Jordão. Photo copyright Tommy Pedersen.

The Agulhas Negras road.

Further east along the same mountain range where Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Minas Gerais states meet is the famous Itatiaia State Park. At its upper limit is the road that leads to the Agulhas Negras peak, and along this road some very good birding can be done. At the beginning of the road is good highland forest and above the treeline classic montane habitat, each with its own special birds. Here there is Slaty-breasted Woodrail, Plumbeous Pigeon, White-throated Hummingbird, Brazilian Ruby, Black-breasted Plovercrest, Chicli and Itatiaia Spinetail, Araucaria Tit-Spinetail, Large-tailed Antshrike, Rufous-backed Antvireo, Rufous-tailed Antbird, Brazilian Antthrush, Black-and-Gold Cotinga, Serra do Mar Tyrant-Manakin, Grey-capped and Serra do Mar Tyrannulet, Diademed Tanager and Red-rumped and Bay-chested Warbling-Finch.

Itatiaia Spinetail. Photo coyright Rick and Elis Simpson.