Swallow-tailed Manakin— Photo: Andrew Whittaker

Part II of our flagship Brazil tour to the most endemic-rich corner of the South American continent. Over 170 possible endemics (Parts I, II & III and Iguaçu Pre-trip), including many hummingbirds, antbirds, and colorful tanagers set amidst beautiful scenery including the Itatiaia highlands, the Serra dos Órgãos, and the white-sand beaches, deep blue bays, and forest-cloaked mountains that define much of Rio's coastline. Includes a special opportunity to see the spectacular golden lion tamarin. Complementary to Southeastern Brazil Parts I & III.

South America's largest country is also one of its richest for birds. Nowhere is this more apparent than in southeastern Brazil, where habitats range from coastal rainforest and wet pampas to montane cloud forest and plateau grassland. The avifauna of southeast Brazil has radiated in a myriad of directions. Today there are more than 170 species of Atlantic Forest endemics found nowhere else in the world.

Part II centers on what we consider to be the heart of Brazil’s Atlantic Forest, and more specifically, the heart of the famed Serra do Mar. This tour will spend time in both coastal lowlands and montane forest, as we seek a wide range of Atlantic Forest endemics, among them some of the rarest and most localized of Brazilian specialties.

This tour also includes time at Ubatuba, an area where VENT pioneered birding tours in the early 1990s, as well as a visit to REGUA, which is rapidly earning a reputation as a first-rate birding destination as well as a true conservation success story. Along the way, we should see an impressive number of regional endemics, among them such prizes as Mantled and White-necked hawks; Rusty-barred and Tawny-browed owls; Long-trained Nightjar; Saw-billed Hermit; Festive and Frilled coquettes; both subspecies of Plovercrest; Three-toed Jacamar; Crescent-chested Puffbird; Black-billed Scythebill; Orange-eyed and Orange-breasted thornbirds; Itatiaia Thistletail; Giant, Tufted, Large-tailed, Spot-backed, and White-bearded antshrikes; Black-hooded, Restinga, and Unicolored antwrens; Black-cheeked Gnateater; Slaty Bristlefront; Spotted Bamboowren; Buff-throated Purpletuft; Black-and-gold Cotinga; Black-capped Piprites; Fork-tailed Tody-Tyrant; Half-collared Sparrow; and more hummingbirds, tyrannulets, and tanagers than you can shake a stick at! We will also have excellent chances of finding some of the least predictable and hardest-to-find specialties of the region, including Black-fronted Piping-Guan, Blue-bellied Parrot, Helmeted Woodpecker, Salvadori's Antwren, Russet-winged Spadebill, Swallow-tailed Cotinga, Shrike-like Cotinga, and Black-legged Dacnis.

Golden Lion Tamarin, Brazil— Photo: Kevin Zimmer

 A very special bonus will be our unique opportunity to see one of the most spectacular primates of the New World, the endangered and beautiful golden lion tamarin, one of the truly iconic flagship species of Brazil's Atlantic Forest.

A variety of habitats encompassing some spectacular scenery; a pleasant, largely temperate climate; good food and accommodations throughout; and one of the world's most unique and endangered avifaunas combine to make southeastern Brazil an unforgettable birding experience.

Good to excellent accommodations throughout; great food; mostly easy to moderate terrain; many early starts and full mornings, often with significant mid-afternoon breaks; optional night birding on several nights; four lodges with excellent birding on the grounds; no internal flights; a few long drives of four hours or more (but all of these broken up with stops for birding or meals); warm to cool climate.