Smaller Birds in Amazonia

Barbara Seith
Jun 5
4 min read

Did I mention how biodiverse this area is -- it seems to me the more biodiverse, the more small birds. This area was not an exception. Again I organized them in loose groups, so please forgive any scientific anomolies.

There are no Gulls in Amazonia -- none - nada - zilch. So odd for me who spent this morning with hundreds of Gulls and a few terns. They do have terns but not the ones from Rhode Island. There are typically only two species.

Large-billed Terns

Some pre-sunrise shots

Those are BIG bills!

We had a few Yellow-billed Terns too -- so much more dainty

We had great luck with Cotingas --

Spangled Cotinga

Pompodor Cotinga

Like Rhode Island Amazonia has Woodpecker, but they have a LOT more and different ones.

The one we saw the most of was the stunning Ringed Woodpecker.

The White-throated Woodpecker

Yellow-throated Woodpecker

Golden-throated Woodpecker

Lineated Woodpecker (truth be told, this is a big bird)

Yellow-tufted Woodpecker

Spot-breasted Woodpecker

Woodcreepers look like Woodpeckers, but they do not peck, they just feed on bugs that are on top of the tree bark. We don't have them in the north east US -- not enough bugs on top.

Striped Woodcreeper

Straight-billed Woodcreeper

Long-billed Woodcreeper

Olivaceous Woodcreeper

Buff-throated

Unlike South Africa where many of the Kingfishers are woodland birds, Amazonia's Kingfishers are all aquatic.

The Ringed Kingfisher looks the most like our Belted Kingfisher -- it is also the largest.

The smallest one we saw was the Amazon Kingfisher

The only life bird Kingfisher was the Rufous and Green -- thanks to Costa Rica.

The lovely Green-kingfisher!

Like most tropical regions Tanagers and allies are replete. The first two here are seen constantly.

Blue-Gray Tanager

Palm Tanager

One morning we came upon a "Magic" tree that was full of Tanagers and the like.

Blue Dacnis (male & female), Purple Honeycreeper

Blue Dacnis

Purple Honeycreeper

Spotted Tanager

Yellow-bellied Dacnis

Golden-bellied Euphonia

Golden-sided Euphonia

Besides the large raptors, the skies are also filled with Martins, Swifts and Swallows -- all notoriously difficult to photograph in flight -- you have to get them when they perch.

Brown-chested Martin

Gray-chested Martin

Southern Rough-winged Swallow

White-winged Swallows

Pretending to be a hood ornament

There are more Flycatcher and allies species in Amazonia than anything else -- and they look a lot alike. I've figured some of them out, but still see the occasional Tropical Kingbird and think -- huh that looks different. At a certain point, Luke refused to continue to ID them. I can't really blame him, there were soooooooo many!

Althought it's a little blurry it was my first Life bird on the trip (taking from my 9th floor hotel room window) but it is the only one that shows the tail extended. We saw quite a number of this magnificent species - Fork-tailed Flycatcher - on the trip.

Rusty-margined Flycatcher

Social Flycatcher

Streaked Flycatcher

Three-striped Flycatcher (easily confused with the Yellow-throated Flycatcher)

Sulphury Flycatcher

Variegated Flycatcher

Yellow-throated Flycatcher

The ubiquitious Tropical Kingbird (not a life bird -- I got my first one in - of all places - Rhode Island)

White-throated Kingbird -- just slightly less prolific than the Tropical Kingbird and it's a life bird.

Great Kiskadee

Amazonian Black Tyrant -- very vocal and stealthy in the flooded forest.

Olive-faced Flatbill (look closely on the left side)

Elaenia are tiny and diverse -- so small its a tough ID. We also saw Forest & Yellow-crowned as well as these two.

Small-billed Elaenia

Yellow-bellied Elaenia

There are many Hummingbird (often by another name) in the Region, but there are no feeders and because the water was still high, less flowers that expected at this time of year. Hence, less Hummingbirds and the ones that were there were on the move and tough to photograph and identify.

Long-billed Hermit

Striped Hermit

Green-tailed Goldenthroat

Three elusive Hummies

White-necked Jacobin

Although there are not a diverse population of Finches/Seedeaters/Sparrows, the ones they have there are quite striking.

Jacamar are in my opinion a Hummingbird in a bigger body with a Kingfisher bill. What's your opinion?

Yellow-billed Jacamar

Green-tailed Jacamar

Paradise Jacamar

Bronzy Jacamar

Would have loved to see more Manakins, but if I had to choose only one, this would be it.

Wire-tailed Manakin

My first Finch turns out to be a Saffron Finch, which is indicated as rare at the hotel, however, there appear to be plenty of sightings and nothing currently on eBird indicating approval is pending.