Birds of Pantanal 12/2018

Times flies and I did not want to end 2018 not uploading a December blog. One wonders as to the variety of birds in the tropics and no so many in the North American continent, yet there are birds in both places that fit similar niches.  The Black Collared Hawk is common in Pantanal and one hears their screech frequently; it not kin to the Bald Eagle but both feed on fish mostly. It is more closely related to the ospreys that are not present in the summer but arrive when it becomes winter in North America. 

Anhingas are also found in the Pantanal and mainly dive to catch fish; once caught, they surface and throw them in the air to align them head first into the mouth.  They are also known as the snake birds.

The Capped Heron is the most beautiful small heron is abundant as well as the Coi Heron that is bigger and greatly resembles our Great Blue Heron.

Hyacinth Macaws are the most interesting of the birds seen; they are usually in families and are very noisy.  It appears that they like to tease photographers; once you see them and raise the camera they immediately fly away.  Although they have suffered from the illegal bird traffic their numbers are quite numerous here.

The Gray Crested Cacholote appears to derive its name from its chocolate color but don’t think this is accurate.  In its behavior it resembles our Carolina Wren; always busy moving in the underbrush a talking to others and usually move in pairs.  The Grayish Saltator is common and not shy and it is mostly a seedeater.  The Rufous Hornero is quite an architect building its nest out of large mud nests that looks as an oven, hence, the name.

The Scaled Dove is a small and feed mostly on the ground while the Oropendola mostly stays on the trees and weaves a hanging nest.  The Black Fronted Nunbird moves in the forest in groups of 4-5 individuals and tends to perch watching for flying insects to catch.  The Yellow Billed Cardinal is common and tends to forage mostly for seeds in groups. The last image below is the Palm Tanager.

This Green Rufous kingfisher is common in the Pantanal and quite easy to approach. The Guira Cuckoo is quite different from the one in the USA but similar to the ones in Africa.  Not surprisingly since at one time the South American and African continents were together before they drifted apart. But the Squirrel Cuckoo resembles more our Black-Billed Cuckoo sharing a bright red eye.  The Ferruginous Pygmy Owl is common and resembles the Austral Pygmy Owl that I have seen in Chile’s Tierra del Fuego.

The Black-Crowned Heron I have seen mostly all over the American continents; below is an immature one. Next is the largest stork in the world known as the Jabiru is the most interesting bird and not too shy nesting in large trees and walks with a majestic stride.

The Rufescent Tiger Heron is very colorful and hunts wading along the shoreline along with the Limpkin who nests in trees near the water.  During my previous trip, I observed a jaguar shaking a tree and knocking the young birds out of the tree providing for an easy meal.  The Plumbeous Ibis is also common but feeds moving the beak underwater back and forth.

 The Toco Toucan is an emblematic and most unusual looking bird mostly seen in pairs with its large colorful bill and at times easily approachable. And the ultimate scavenger, the caraca who wonders if these papayas are meat too.  Until next year that will bring more interesting trips.