Amazonian Brazil: Aug 11—28, 2007
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Departs: Manaus
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red howler monkey family, Amazonas, Brazil— Photo: Andrew Whittaker Birding all major Amazonian habitats north of the Amazon, east and west of the Rio Negro, and within the Madeira-Purus interfluvial; visits to the famous INPA canopy tower and the Anavilhanas Archipelago river islands by small boat; breathtaking Amazonian birds including parrots, toucans, cotingas, and tanagers, possibly White-winged and Rufous potoos, Pavonine Quetzal, Guianan Cock-of-the-rock, Crimson Fruitcrow, and Purple-breasted and Pompadour cotingas, as well as many rare and localized species. Guianan Puffbird— Photo: Andrew Whittaker The Presidente Figueiredo area will feature birds of the white-sand campina woodlands (Spotted Puffbird, Bronzy Jacamar, Saffron-crested Tyrant-Manakin, Black Manakin, the recently rediscovered Pelzeln's Tody-Tyrant, Rufous-crowned Elaenia, and the poorly-known White-naped Seedeater), and the terra firme forest (Caica and Red-fan parrots, Sapphire-rumped Parrotlet, Guianan Puffbird, Guianan Toucanet, Ferruginous-backed Antbird, Dusky Purpletuft, Guianan Cock-of-the-rock, Guianan Red-Cotinga, Blue-backed and Fulvous-crested tanagers, and many others). One of the true highlights will be our opportunity to experience canopy birds seen at or below eye level from atop a well-constructed 45-meter canopy tower. This tower is a wonderful place to obtain intimate views of canopy birds, including Glossy-backed Becard, Olive-green Tyrannulet, and Guianan Gnatcatcher, not to mention gems such as displaying Pompadour Cotinga, Paradise and Opal-rumped tanagers, and the seldom-seen Crimson Fruitcrow. Our tour will conclude south of the Amazon, west of the Rio Madeira in a forest lodge situated on the ecotone between terra firme forest and campina woodland. This lodge offers a wealth of south bank possibilities, including White-browed Hawk, Starred Wood-Quail, Pale-winged Trumpeter, Rufous Potoo, Red-billed Ground-Cuckoo, Curl-crested Aracari, Golden-collared Toucanet, Kawall's Parrot, Scarlet-shouldered Parrotlet, Pavonine Quetzal, Bar-bellied Woodcreeper, Undulated Antshrike, Hairy-crested Antbird, Reddish-winged Bare-eye, Citron-bellied Attila, Purple-breasted Cotinga, and many more, including three newly-discovered species still awaiting formal description. 
Amazonia is an unparalleled treasure trove of biological diversity and a symbol of true wilderness. Nowhere is this vast wilderness bigger or better than in Brazil. We will explore the Amazon forest to its fullest, based out of Manaus, located where the mighty Rio Negro meets the even mightier Amazon, right in the heart of this magnificent wilderness. Our tour is designed to bird three distinctly different avifaunas on opposite banks of these huge river barriers. We start on the west bank of the Rio Negro at a plush new forest lodge perfectly positioned in front of the Anavilhanas Archipelago, where we will concentrate on the many river island specialists and terra firme birds. Target birds include Crestless Curassow, Festive and Orange-cheeked parrots, White-winged Potoo, Brown-banded Puffbird, Pearly Antshrike, Chestnut-crested Antbird, Yellow-browed Antbird, Klages's Antwren, Long-billed and Zimmer's woodcreepers, Yellow-crowned Manakin, White-browed Purpletuft, and Amazonian Umbrellabird.
Good to excellent accommodations with air-conditioned rooms, private showers and toilets, (except for one spacious "Jungle Lodge" which has fans rather than air-conditioning); excellent food; easy terrain; full mornings on forest trails or small boats, followed by midday breaks; no internal flights; warm, humid climate.