1 - Palmas city and surroundings

Palmas (Taquaruçu) - Porto Nacional - Barrolândia - Miracema do Tocantins

The focus of this itinerary is the exploration of wooded areas and the Cerrado biome surrounding Palmas City, where a diverse array of bird species can be observed, such as Kaempfer's Woodpecker (Celeus obrieni), Helmeted Manakin (Antilophia galeata), Yellow-faced Parrot (Alipiopsitta xanthops), White-banded Tanager (Neothraupis fasciata), Collared Crescentchest (Melanopareia torquata), Coal-crested Finch (Charitospiza eucosma) and birds with Amazonian range center like Manu Antbird Cercomacra manu, Large-headed Flatbill (Ramphotrigon megacephalum) Lettered Aracari (Pteroglossus inscriptus), Dot-eared Coquete (Lophornis gouldii), Ashy-headed Greenlet (Hylophilus pectoralis), Fiery-capped Manakin (Machaeropterus pyrocephalus), Band-tailed Manakin (Pipra fasciicauda), Dwarf Tyrant-Manakin (Tyranneutes stolzmanni), Spotted Puffbird (Bucco tamatia), Pied Puffbird (Notharchus tectus) and Yellow-tufted Woodpecker (Melanerpes cruentatus). In Lajeado mountain (Taquaruçu) can still be watched Purple-throated Fruitcrow (Querula purpurata), Black-tailed Trogon (Trogon melanurus), Chapada Flycatcher (Guyramemua affine), White-throated Woodpecker (Piculus leucolaemus), Red-necked Woodpecker (Campephilus rubricollis) and the hummingbird Horned Sungem (Heliactin bilophus) among others. Other big highlight is a Harpy Eagle nest near by Palmas city (18 km far).

Note: During the dry season, fires are common in the Cerrado, especially in August and September when temperatures are higher, however the birds are more active.

Files: see my Trip Reports on eBird website.

2 - Araguaia valley/Bananal Island/Cantão State Park

Caseara (Cantão State Park and EcoAraguaia Jungle Lodge) - Pium (Canguçu Reserve) - Lagoa da Confusão

The Araguaia basin region is considered an ecotone, or area of ecological tension, between the Cerrado and Amazon biomes. It has an avifauna of both biomes, as well as unique species. The highlights are Araguaia Spinetail (Synallaxis simoni), Bananal Antbird (Cercomacra ferdinandi), Cantao/Tocantins Spinetail Certhiaxis sp. novum (undescribed), Crimson-fronted Cardinal (Paroaria baeri) and other rarities such as Chestnut-bellied Guan (Penelope ochrogaster), Crested Eagle (Morphnus guianensis) Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja) and the Kaempfer's Woodpecker (Celeus obrieni), considered extinct was rediscovered in the state of Tocantins in 2006 being missing for 80 years. We can also watch Orinoco Goose (Neochen jubata), the super collored Agami Heron (Agamia agami), Spotted Puffbird (Bucco tamatia), Zimmer's Tody-Tyrant (Hemitriccus minimus), Ladder-tailed Nightjar (Hydropsalis climacocerca), Rose-breasted Chat (Granatellus pelzelni), Bare-necked Fruitcrow (Gymnoderus foetidus), Hoatzin (Opisthocomus hoazin), Spotted Tody-Flycatcher (Todirostrum maculatum), Amazonian Antshrike (Thamnophilus amazonicus), Maranhao Hermit (Phaethornis maranhaoensis), Cinnamon Attila (Attila cinnamomeus), Gray-chested Greenlet (Hylophilus semicinereus), Glossy Antshrike (Sakesphorus luctuosus), Amazonian Streaked-Antwren (Myrmotherula multostriata), Blue-backed Manakin (Chiroxipjia pareola), Flame-crowned Manakin (Heterocercus linteatus), Blue-back Grosbeak (Cyanoloxia rothschildii), Yellow-browed Sparrow (Ammodramus aurifrons), Amazonian Tyrannulet (Inezia subflava), Band-tailed Nighthawk (Nyctiprogne leucopyga), Blackish Nightjar (Hydropsalis nigrescens), Black-banded Owl (Strix huhula), Austral Screech-Owl (Megascops usta), Long-billed Woodcreeper (Nasica longirostris), Ringed Antpipit (Corythopis toquatus), Rufous-tailed Flatbill (Ramphotrigon ruficauda), Golden-green Woodpecker - Spot-throated  (Piculus chrysochloros laemostictus) and many others.

Note: Due to flooding during the rainy season (January to March), access to the Canguçu Research Center and Cantão State Park might be difficult. Therefore, I suggest birding from April to December. 

With this itinerary we can extend the tour to the state of Pará (report) and watching other amazing birds of the Amazon Rainforest.

Files: see my Trip Reports on eBird website.

New 3 - Amazon Rainforest in Tocantins

Araguaína municipality and surroundings

This region features fragments of dense ombrophilous forest (Amazon rainforest) and carrascos (dry forests on sandy soils), which are home to amazing birds and the highlights are Pale-bellied Mourner (Rhytipterna immunda), Gray Tinamou (Tinamus tao), Great Tinamou (Tinamus major), White-crested Guan (Penelope pileata), Chestnut-head Chachalaca (Ortalis ruficeps), Buff-browed Chachalaca (Ortalis superciliaris), Dark-wing Trumpeter (Psophia interjecta), Long-tailed Hermit (Phaethornis superciliosus), Gray-brested Sabrewing (Campylopterus leucurus obscurus), Racket-tipped Thorntail (Discosura longsdorfii), Pied Puffbird (Notharchus hyperrhynchus), Eastern Striolated-Puffbird (Nystalus striolatus torridus), Gould’s Toucanet (Selenidera gouldii), Cryptic Forest-Falcon (Miscratur mintoni), Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao), Scarlet-shouldered Parrotlet (Touiti huetii), Vulturine Parrot (Pyrilia vulturina), Red-fan Parrot (Deroptyus accpitrinus), Xingu Scale-backed Antbird (Willisornis vidua), Rufous-capped Antthrush (Formicarius colma), Spixi’s Woodcreeper (Xiphorhynchus spixii), Dusky-capped Woodcreeper (Lepdocolaptes f. layardi), Amazonian Bared-Woodcreeper (Dendrocolaptes c. retentus), Para Foliage-gleaner (Automolus paraensis), Palin-crowned Spinetail (Synallaxis gujanensis), Royal Flycatcher (Onychorhynchus coronatus), Cinereus Mourner (Laniocera hypopyrra), Pink-throated Becard (Pachyramphus minor), Black-crested Tyrant (Taenotriccus andrei), Green Oropendola (Psarocolius viridis), Olive Oropendola (Psarocolius bifasciatus), Slate-colored Grosbeak (Saltator grossus) and Purple Honeycreeper (Cyanerpes caeruleus), among others. 

Files: see my Trip Reports on eBird website.