ANNOTATED BIRD LIST – MATO GROSSO

Annotated map showing the principal survey locations. Site abbreviations: BF = Bridal Veil Falls, Chapada dos Guimarães National Park; CER = Cerrado; JA = Jamacá das Araras Lodge, Chapada; MGF = Mato Grosso farmland; VB = Valle da Benҫão. Purple dots indicate where my cell phone images were obtained. Courtesy of Google Maps 2025.

KEY TO ANNOTATIONS

Observers: CY = Callyn Yorke; JMN = Jeanne Martin Naciemento; MF = Mario Friedlander; NM = Noam.

Locations: See map legend.

Bird Behavior: greg. = gregarious; MSF = mixed species flock; agl = estimated height above ground level (m); voc. = vocalizations, i.e. calls and/or song; HO = heard only.

Numerical abundance and distribution: Highest number of individuals found at first listed location, when a species was observed at multiple locations. Actual counts when less than 20 individuals; estimates when more than 20, e.g. counted in tens; ubiq. = ubiquitous in appropriate habitat(s).

SYSTEMATICS and TAXONOMY is an amalgam of the most recent (2025) online lists by AVIBASE, International Ornithological Congress (IOC) and American Ornithologists Society (AOS).

BIRDS

RHEIFORMES: Rheidae

  • Greater Rhea Rhea americana 80 m,f; greg., large, cohesive and loose flocks in fallow fields; running on road and diving under the wire fences, MGF

TINAMIFORMES: Tinamidae

  • Little Tinamou Crypturellus soul 1 apparently responding to playback recordings; quickly appearing at the forest edge then retreating, JA
  • Undulated Tinamou Crypturellus undulatus 1 vocal (unseen) JA.
  • Tataupa Tinamou Crypturellus tataupa 2 active on the ground in the yard; keeping close to cover at the edges, JA.
  • Red-winged Tinamou Rhynchotus rufescens 2 shy and retiring; creeping into an open section of a sparsely vegetated soybean field; crossing a dirt road quickly, MGF.
  • Spotted Nothura Nothura maculosa 2 in the same area and behaving similar to RWTI; in view briefly, MGF.

ANSERIFORMES: Anatidae

  • White-faced Whistling Duck Dendrocygna viduata 2 greg. a pair at edge of small, partially concealed farm pond, MGF
  • Brazilian Teal Amazonetta brasiliensis 5 greg. in same pond with WFWD, MGF

GALLIFORMES: Cracidae

  • Rusty-margined Guan Penelope superciliaris 3 in trees at edge of forest, JA
  • Chestnut-bellied Guan Penelope ochrogaster 3 greg. running across clearing and easement roadway in late afternoon, JA.

COLUMBIFORMES: Columbidae

  • Picazuro Pigeon Patagioenas picazuro 25 greg. individuals and small flocks; in tall trees and flying fast over open areas, ubiq..
  • Pale-vented Pigeon Patagioenas cayennensis 1 vocal (unseen) easement road, JA.
  • Plain-breasted Ground Dove Columbina minuta 6 greg. on ground at edge of roadway, MGF
  • Ruddy Ground Dove Columbina talpacoti 6 individuals and pairs on roadways and clearings, ubiq.
  • Scaled Dove Columbina squammata 10 greg. loose flocks in ruderal patches at edge of roadway, MGF.
  • Blue Ground Dove Claravis pretiosa 3 greg. on ground at edge of roadway, MGF.
  • White-tipped Dove Leptotila verreauxi 2 one bird repeatedly seen in a quiet section of the yard on the ground and on the back porch, JA.

CUCULIFORMES: Cuculidae

  • Smooth-billed Ani Crotophaga ani 18 greg. cohesive flocks perched in shrubs, open areas, wetlands and fallow fields, ubiq..
  • Guira Cuckoo Guira guira 12 greg. perched together on an exposed snag, MGF; VB (photo).
Guira Cuckoo (Guira guira) CER Brazil 26 February 2025 Callyn Yorke
  • Squirrel Cuckoo Piaya cayana 1 in canopy of a large, vine covered tree at edge of roadside woodland, MGF; JA

CAPRIMULGIFORMES: Caprimulgidae

  • Common Pauraque Nyctidromus albicollis 5 individuals, 50 -100m apart, flushed from easement driveway, JA (photo).
Common Paraque (Nyctidromus albicollis) JA Brazil 23 February 2025 Callyn Yorke

CAPRIMULGIFORMES: Apodidae

  • Sick’s Swift Chaetura meridionalis 1 circling at about 60m agl, JA, VB

CAPRIMULGIFORMES: Trochilidae

  • Horned Sungem Heliactin bilophus 1 (m) active low in understory shrubs; responsive to playback recordings, MGF (photo)
Horned Sungem (Heliactin bilophus) male 28 February 2025 MGF Brazil Callyn Yorke
  • Glittering-bellied Emerald Chlorostilbon lucidus 2 individuals on exposed shrub perches, CER; MGF.
  • Swallow-tailed Hummingbird Eupetomena macroura 2 individuals on exposed limbs of trees and tall shrubs, CER
  • Fork-tailed Woodnymph Thalurania furcata 1 (m) low to mid-level woodland edge and garden, JA.

GRUIFORMES: Rallidae

  • Slaty-breasted Wood-Rail Aramides saracura 1 on road, VB
  • Russet-crowned Crake Rufirallus viridis 1 (HO) pond with tall grass and shrubs, VB

PELECANIFORMES: Threskiornithidae

  • Buff-necked Ibis Theristicus caudatus 11 greg. a small flock with pairs oraging in soybean field, MGF (photo).
Buff-necked Ibis (Theristicus caudatus) MGF Brazil 22 February 2025 Callyn Yorke

PELECANIFORMES: Ardeidae

  • Whistling Heron Syrigma sibilatrix 3 greg. in grassy drainage ditch, MGF

CHARADRIIFORMES: Charadriidae

  • Southern Lapwing Vanellus chilensis 50 greg., vocal pairs and loose flocks in farm fields and wetlands, ubiq. (photo).
Southern Lapwing (Vanellus chilensis) MGF Brazil 28 February 2025 Callyn Yorke

ACCIPITRIFORMES: Cathartidae

  • Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura 5-10 individuals and pairs soaring over open and forested areas; ubiq.
  • Black Vulture Coragyps atratus 25 loosely greg. flocks circling widely over open and forested areas, 30-100m agl. ubiq..

ACCIPITRIFORMES: Accipitridae

  • Swallow-tailed Kite Elanoides forficatus 20 greg. small, scattered flocks of 3-5 individuals in migratory flight over a wide area of forest and open fields; one especially large flock of about 20 birds roosting in an isolated tree, MGF; JA.
  • Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus melanoleucus 1 ad. perched for at least 20 minutes in tree near canyon rim, BF.
  • Ornate Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus ornatus 1 (MF) vocal in flight over canopy, JA.
  • Long-winged Harrier Circus buffoni 2 individuals flying low (10m agl) over open areas, MGF (photo.
Long-winged Harrier (Circus buffoni) MGF Brazil 22 February 2025 Callyn Yorke
  • Roadside Hawk Rupornis magnirostris 1 imm. in roadside tree, MGF (photo).
Roadside Hawk (Rupornis magnirostris) immature MGF Brazil 28 February 2025 Callyn Yorke

STRIGIFORMES: Strigidae

  • Burrowing Owl Athene cunicularia 14 ad., imm; greg. individuals, pairs and family flocks in roadside ruderal patches, on fence posts and on mounds in fallow fields, MGF; VB (photo).
Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) MGF Brazil 28 February 2025 Callyn Yorke

TROGONIFORMES: Trogonidae

  • Blue-crowned Trogon Trogon curucui 2 (m,f) vocal in subcanopy and on easement utility line at forest edge, JA (photo).
Blue-crowned Trogon (Trogon curucui) male JA Brazil 1 March 2025 Callyn Yorke

CORACIIFORMES: Motmotidae

  • Amazonian Motmot Momotus momota 4 voc. taking mealworms at feeding station, JA (photo).
Amazonian Motmot (Momotus momota) JA Brazil 23 February 2025 Callyn Yorke

GALBULIFORMES: Bucconidae

  • White-eared Puffbird Nystalus chacuru 1 on exposed, roadside perch, MGF (photo).
White-eared Puffbird (Nystalus chacuru) MGF Brazil 28 February 2025 Callyn Yorke
  • Black-fronted Nunbird Monasa nigrifrons 2 a pair; one bird continuously vocal in subcanopy at forest edge, JA (photo).
Black-fronted Nunbird (Monasa nigrifrons) JA Brazil 23 February 2025 Callyn Yorke

GALBULIFORMES: Galbulidae

  • Rufous-tailed Jacamar Galbula ruficauda 2 subcanopy, edge of forest and yard, JA

PICIFORMES: Picidae

  • White-wedged Piculet Picumnus albosquamatus 1 (m) in subcanopy, attracted to playback recordings, JA
  • Crimson-crested Woodpecker Campephilus melanoleucos 1 in low flight between trees in a fallow field, MGF
  • Lineated Woodpecker Dryocopus lineatus 1 on large limbs in upper level of tall macaranga tree, VB (photo).
Lineated Woodpecker (Dryocopus lineatus) male VB Brazil 26 February 2025 Callyn Yorke
  • Blond-crested Woodpecker Celeus flavescens 2 (m,f) a pair, active and responsive to playback recordings in the forest subcanopy over the observation deck; subsequently, visitng the banana feeding station near the kitchen window, JA (photo).
Blond-crested Woodpecker (Celeus flavescens) female JA Brazil 3 March 2025 Callyn Yorke
  • Campo Flicker Colaptes campestris 2 greg., a pair perched near the ground in a fallow field, MGF.

PICIFORMES: Ramphastidae

  • Lettered Aracari Pteroglossus inscriptus 2 in canopy of a tall tree at the forest edge, at dusk, JA (photo).
Lettered Aracari (Pteroglossus inscriptus) JA Brazil 25 February 2025 Callyn Yorke
  • Channel-billed Toucan Ramphastos vitellinus 2 a pair foraging on Aacai palm fruits, JA.

CARIAMIFORMES: Cariamidae

  • Red-legged Seriema Cariama cristata 20 greg. a scattered flock on the ground in fallow field-pasture next to ranch homestead, MGF

FALCONIFORMES: Falconidae

  • Southern (Crested) Caracara Caracara plancus 6 greg. often in pairs on bare ground and in farm fields, MGF.
  • Yellow-headed Caracara Milvago chimachima 2 greg. a pair in low flight, MGF.
  • American Kestrel Falco sparverius 2 individuals in low flight then alighting on the ground in a ruderal field, MGF.
  • Aplomado Falcon Falco femoralis 2 in flight; one perched on fence post near a farm pond, MGF (photo)..
Aplomado Falcon (Falco femoralis) male MGF 22 February 2025 Callyn Yorke
  • Bat Falcon Falco rufigularis 1 perched in the crown of a distant, leafless tree at edge of an open, roadside field; seen in transit to VB.

PSITTACIFORMES: Psittacidae

  • Yellow-chevroned Parakeet Brotogeris chiriri 5 greg. vocal, in flight and in trees at edges of clearings, ubiq..
  • Cobalt-rumped Parrotlet Forpus xanthopterygius 2 greg flying between trees at edge of wetlamd, VB
Cobalt-rumped Parrotlet (Forpus xanthopterygius) VB Brazil 26 February 2025 Callyn Yorke
  • Peach-fronted Parakeet Eupsittula aurea 10 greg. vocal, flocks foraging on flowering and fruiting trees, ubiq. (photo).
Peach-fronted Parakeet (Eupsittula aurea) MGF 28 February 2025 Callyn Yorke
  • Red-bellied Macaw Orthopsittaca manilatus; 1 an individual perched in a tall shrub, CER.
  • Blue-winged Macaw Primolius maracana 3 individuals and pairs perched in isolated trees at edge of woodland and canyon, CER, BF
  • Blue-and-yellow Macaw Ara ararauna 3 vocal; a pair perched in an isolated, leafless tree in a fallow field, MGF.
  • Red-and-green Macaw Ara chloropterus 4 – 6 greg. usually in pairs or trios; vocal immediately prior to taking fligh; in flight; intermittently when foraging in the canopy of fruiting trees; generally wary but with patience, approachable from a distance of about 10m.
  • Red-shouldered Macaw Diopsittaca nobilis 1 (JMN) MGF
  • White-eyed Parakeet Psittacara leucophthalmus 15 greg.,vocal, at least three separate flocks flying between wooded areas, MGF.

PASSERIFORMES: Tityridae

  • Masked Tityra Tityra semifasciata 2 (m,f) over a period of several days, a pair alternating visits with a large food item (most often a lepidopteran larvae); remaining several minutes inside the nest box; young not visible, JA (photo).
Masked Tityra (Tityra semifasciata) JA Brazil 22 February 2025 Callyn Yorke
  • Crested Becard Pachyramphus validus 2 (m,f) JA

PASSERIFORMES: Tyrannidae

  • Southern Beardless-Tyrannulet Camptostoma obsoletum 1 perched in a tall shrub, CER
  • Mouse-colored Tyrannulet Nesotriccus murinus 1 in subcanopy at edge of forest, JA.
  • Suiriri Flycatcher Suiriri suiriri 3 individuals perched in tall shrubs, CER; MGF (photo).
Suiriri Flycatcher (Suiriri suiriri) MGF Brazil 28 February 2025 Callyn Yorke
  • Yellow-bellied Elaenia Elaenia flavogaster 1 CER; MGF
  • Plain-crested Elaenia Elaenia cristata 1 CER; MGF.
  • Lesser Elaenia Elaenia chiriquensis 1 in tree at edge of field, MGF
  • Forest Elaenia Myiopagis gaimardii 1 in subcanopy at forest edge, JA
  • Great Kiskadee Pitangus sulphuratus 3 vocal, in trees at edges of clearings, ubiq..
  • Lesser Kiskadee Philohydor lictor 1 mid-level in tree at edge of marsh, VB
  • Boat-billed Flycatcher Megarynchus pitangua 1 in tree at edge of marsh and ruderal field, MGF
  • Rusty-margined Flycatcher Myiozetetes cayenensis lower-mid level of tree at edge of marsh, VB; MGF.
  • Piratic Flycatcher Legatus leucophaius 1 in tall tree at edge of wetland, VB
  • Cattle Tyrant Machetornis rixosa 2 on roadside utility wire, VB
  • Tropical Kingbird Tyrannus melancholicus 4 individuals and pairs on exposed perches in clearings, ubiq..
  • Fork-tailed Flycatcher Tyrannus savana 2 greg. a pair on roadside fence next to a pasture and ranch homestead, MGF (photo).
Fork-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus savana) MGF Brazil 28 February 2025 Callyn Yorke

PASSERIFORMES: Thamnophilidae

  • Barred Antshrike Thamnophilus doliatus (m,f) greg. a pair active in tall shrubs at edge of clearing, MGF (photo).
Barred Antshrike (Thamnophilus doliatus) male CER Brazil 26 February 2025 Callyn Yorke
  • Planalto Slaty-Antshrike Thamnophilus pelzelni 2 (m,f) m displaying, voc. responding to playback recording, JA
  • Plain Antvireo Dysithamnus mentalis 1 (f) active in lower to mid-level of forest edge, JA.

PASSERIFORMES: Dendrocolaptidae

  • Olivaceous Woodcreeper Sittasomus griseicapillus 1 active at mid-level in forest edge, JA.
  • Narrow-billed Woodcreeper Lepidocolaptes angustirostris 1 active in tall shrubs and small trees, CER.

PASSERIFORMES: Furnariidae

  • Rufous Hornero Furnarius rufus 3 indviduals and pairs on ground at edge of roadway, MGF
  • Foliage-gleaner sp. ? (possibly Dendroma rufa) 2 in understory, forest edge, JA

PASSERIFORMES: Vireonidae

  • Rufous-browed Peppershrike Cyclarhis gujanensis 1 active in tall shrubs and responsive to playback recordings, CER

PASSERIFORMES: Passerellidae

  • Grassland Sparrow Ammodramus humeralis 1 in fallow field, MGF.
  • Yellow-browed Sparrow Ammodramus aurifrons 4 greg. individuals and pairs in dense shrubs at edge of ruderal patch-fallow field, MGF (photo).
Yellow-browed Sparrow (Ammodramus aurifrons) MGF Brazil 28 February 2025 Callyn Yorke
  • Pectoral Sparrow Arremon taciturnus 2 a pair on ground then staying low and partly concealed in roadside shrubs, JA
  • Rufous-collared Sparrow Zonotrichia capensis 2 roadside ruderal patch, MGF; JA

PASSERIFORMES: Parulidae

  • Golden-crowned Warbler Basileuterus culicivorus 1 active in canopy at forest edge, JA.

PASSERIFORMES: Icteridae

  • White-browed Meadowlark Leistes superciliaris 18 greg. loose flocks in ruderal patches of fallow fields, MGF.
  • Chopi Blackbird Gnorimopsar chopi 6 greg. pairs and small flocks in shrubs at edge of wetland-fallow field, MGF (photo).
Chopi Blackbird (Gnorimopsar chopi) MGF Brazil 28 February 2025 Callyn Yorke

PASSERIFORMES: Thraupidae

  • Black-faced Tanager Schistochlamys melanopis 4 pairs in flight and on ground, CER
  • White-banded Tanager Neothraupis fasciata 4 individuals and pairs in tall shrubs, CER; MGF.
  • White-rumped Tanager Cypsnagra hirundinaceae 2 a pair on an exposed shrub perch, CER; MGF.
  • Palm Tanager Tangara palmarum 1 often in msf with other tanagers and insectivorous birds in tall trees at edge of woodlands, gardens, fallow fields ubiq.
  • Burnished-buff Tanager Tangara cayana 2 in tall shrubs, CER
  • Blue-necked Tanager Stilpnia cyanicollis 2 in tall shrubs and trees at edge of marsh, MGF.
  • Yellow-backed Tanager Hemithraupis flavicolis 1 (JMN) MGF.
  • Saffron Finch Sicalis flaveola 30 (m,f; ad, imm.) on ground in clearings, ruderal patches and in adjacent trees when flushed, ubiq.
  • Wedge-tailed Grass-Finch Emberizoides herbicola 1 in tree, MGF (photo).
Wedge-tailed Grass-Finch (Emberizoides herbicola) MGF Brazil 28 February 2025 Callyn Yorke
  • Blue-black Grassquit Volatinia jacarina 30 greg. individuals and pairs, staying low in ruderal, roadside patches; on fences, MGF; CER
  • Black-goggled Tanager Trichothraupis melanops 2 tall shrubs and trees at edge of woodland and patches of shrubs, CER; MGF.
  • Pileated Finch Coryphospingus pileatus 2 greg. CER
  • Red-crested Finch Coryphospingus cucullatus 12 (m,f) loosely greg. in shrubs and trees at edge of ruderal patches and fallow field-pasture, MGF.
  • Blue Dacnis Dacnis cayana 1 in canopy at forest edge, JA
  • Black-throated Saltator Saltatricula atricollis 10 greg., one wrangling a large lepidopteran larva on a fence rail – CER; MGF (photo).
Black-throated Saltator (Saltatricula atricollis) CER Brazil 26 February 2025 Callyn Yorke
  • Buff-throated Saltator Saltator maximus 1 active in fruiting tree in Noam’s garden, easement road to JA.
  • Bluish-gray Saltator Saltator caerulescens 2 a pair active in tall shrubs at edge of wetland, VB; CER (photo).
Bluish-gray Saltator (Saltator caerulescens) VB Brazil 26 February 2025 Callyn Yorke
  • Black-throated Grosbeak Saltator fuliginosus 1 MGF
  • Plumbeous Seedeater Sporophila plumbea 10 greg. in fallow fields and adjacent shrubs, MGF.
  • Chestnut-bellied Seed-Finch Sprophila angolensis 2 (m,f) in a fallow field with nearby shrubs for cover, MGF (photo).
Chestnut-bellied Seedfinch (Sporophila angolensis) CER Brazil 26 February 2025 Callyn Yorke
  • Double-collared Seedeater Sporophila caerulescens 3 roadside ruderal patches and shrubs, CER; MGF.
  • Wedge-tailed Grassfinch Emberizoides herbicola 1 in tree at edge of fallow field, MGF.

PASSERIFORMES: Corvidae

  • Curl-crested Jay Cyanocorax cristatellus 16 greg. wary though fairly habituated to human presence in and beneath fruiting trees at edge of field of cave visitor center, MGF

PASSERIFORMES: Hirundinidae

  • Brown-chested Martin Progne tapera 5 perched on utility lines and flying around over wetland, VB
  • Gray-breasted Martin Progne chalybea 5 greg. on exposed cell tower perch at park headquarters, BF
  • Southern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx ruficollis 1 on roadside fence, MGF
  • Blue and White Swallow Pygochelidon cyanoleuca 2 flying low, back and forth over wetland, VB

PASSERIFORMES: Troglodytidae

  • Southern House Wren Troglodytes musculus 1 vocal at edge of forest and easement road, JA; CER.
  • Thrush-like Wren Campylorhynchus turdinus 2 vocal, greg. a resident nesting pair, active in garden and adjacent tall trees, JA.

PASSERIFORMES: Mimidae

  • Chalk-browed Mockingbird Mimus saturninus 5 ad., imm. one bird, showing identical behavior of Mimus polyglottos in North America, was raising and lowering its wings as it foraged for insects in a Cerrado dirt roadway, ubiq.. (photo).
Chalk-browed Mockingbird (Mimus saturninus) CER Brazil 26 February 2025 Callyn Yorke

PASSERIFORMES: Turdidae

  • Pale-breasted Thrush Turdus leucomelas 2 frequently seen on ground in garden and on driveway, JA (photo).
Pale-breasted Thrush (Turdus leucomelas) JA Brazil 3 March 2025 Callyn Yorke
  • Rufous-bellied Thrush Turdus rufiventris 1 imm. molting; active on ground in garden, JA.

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