The surroundings of Uakari Lodge host about 400 species of birds – a must-go destination for birdwatchers from across the globe
The Amazon is one of the top destinations for birdwatchers around the world. With a high number of endemic species, it becomes a fantastic destination like few others.
The unique features of the Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve, a huge area of protected floodplain forest, make this area an intriguing spot for the sighting of birds typical of this type of ecosystem. There are several species that can only be seen, for example, in Solimões River islands.
We asked Pedro Nassar, coordinator of the Mamirauá Institute Community-Based Tourism Program (and birdwatcher!) To tell more (and show his photos) about 10 species of the Mamirauá Reserve.
Plumbeous antbird (Myrmelastes hyperythrus)
Amazonian species found in the low-restingas and chavascais in the Mamirauá Reserve. In the photo we see a female. The male is black with white spots on the wings.
Plumbeous antbird (Myrmelastes hyperythrus)
Orange-backed troupial (Icterus croconotus)
Beautiful species that occurs in much of Brazil. It eats almost everything a little: fruits, nectar, insects and even small invertebrates. As it is a kind of open area, in Mamirauá we usually see in fluvial islands, as in the Cabuirini region.
Orange-backed troupial (Icterus croconotus)
Slate-colored hawk (Buteogallus schistaceus)
Forest species, usually found near water. So it is relatively easy to see in Mamirauá, especially on the trails. Its scientific name is curious: from the Greek buteo = vulture and gallus = domestic rooster, and from Latin schistaceus = slate gray, it means slate gray vulture.
Gavião-azul (Buteogallus schistaceus)
Plum-throated cotinga (Cotinga maynana)
Beautiful frugivorous species that lives in the treetops. It occurs in the western Amazon, the states of Amazonas and Acre, Brazil, and Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. In Mamirauá it inhabits river islands.
Plum-throated cotinga (Cotinga maynana)
Masked crimson tanager (Ramphocelus nigrogularis)
Amazonian species that lives near water courses and lakes. Commonly seen in couples or small groups. Next to Uakari Lodge you can observe them in the Apara and Guariba water courses.
Masked crimson tanager (Ramphocelus nigrogularis)
Short-tailed parrot (Graydidascalus brachyurus)
Typical species of floodplain areas, it is found along the Amazon River and some tributaries. It lives in groups that can have dozens of individuals. When quiet, it goes unnoticed in the trees, but it is usually very noisy and chatty among its peers.
Short-tailed parrot (Graydidascalus brachyurus)
Hoatzin (Opisthocomus hoazin)
It eats leaves, fruits and flowers. It has a long digestive system very adapted to this diet, and has symbiotic bacteria that aid in the digestion of leaves. They live in groups that can be very large. In Mamirauá it is an easy species to observe, both in the flood and in the dry seasons.
Cigana (Opisthocomus hoazin)
Lettered aracari (Pteroglossus inscripitus)
The Mamirauá subspecies has a black, non-scratched jaw. Not everyone knows, but araçaris, like toucans, feed on everything, including small vertebrates, birds, and bird eggs.
Lettered aracari (Pteroglossus inscripitus)
Yellow-hooded blackbird (Chrysomus icterocephalus)
The male is black with a very yellow head while the female is more brownish. Common species on the edge of Mamirauá lakes and pipes. Usually seen in large flocks of adult and young males and females.
Yellow-hooded blackbird (Chrysomus icterocephalus)
Agami heron (Agamia agami)
Hard-to-see heron species, usually near forest lakes or watercourses. Although they are lonely, they cluster in small colonies at the time of reproduction. Species listed as vulnerable by IUCN.
Agami heron (Agamia agami)
Horned screamer (Anhima cornuta)
In Mamirauá we call it “alencorne”. It lives on the edge of lakes and rivers with forested margins or floating vegetation. Usually seen in couples. A good place to see it in Mamirauá is on Mamirauá lake.
Horned screamer (Anhima cornuta)