English              -               Jabiru

Portuguese      -               Tuiuiú

Latin                  -                Jabiru Mycteria

The Jabiru is definitely the biggest and bulkiest bird I have photographed and it can be quite intimidating when it starts walking towards you……..you really don’t want to get in its way. I photographed the Jabiru in various locations in the Pantanal (2267 km from Vila Velha). It seemed to be quite a common species but I  mostly saw it either alone or in pairs but on one occasion saw quite a big flock feeding in a distance pond.  All 3 photos of the Jabiru were taken on different days. The second photo is of one tending to its nest, just outside the grounds of our hotel. Passo do Lontra.

* The Jabiru is recognised as the symbol of the Pantanal.

* It is the tallest flying bird found in South and Central America.

* A prehistoric-looking bird with a height of 1.53mtrs, weighs up to 8kgs and has a wingspan of 2.6mtrs.

* Both adults are similar in plumage, but the male is larger than the female and has a longer bill.

* It is the only member of the genus ”Jabiru”.

* The Jabiru is often silent but not voiceless. Mainly at breeding sites, they produce various vocalisations and noises such as hisses or fizz and will also perform a certain amount of bill-clattering.

* It is found in Central, South America from Mexico, down  to Argentina.

* It lives in wet areas such as large fresh water marshes, rice fields, swampy woodlands, savannahs with ponds, lagoons, banks of rivers or lakes with scattered trees, estuaries, and flooded areas.   

* The Jabiru feeds on aquatic preys such as fish, eels, molluscs, crustaceans, amphibians, snakes, young caimans and turtles, and insects. 

* The female lays 3-4 eggs which are incubated for about 1 month. The nestlings fledge after 90 days.

* In 1988 the Jabiru had the status of “near threatened” but due to recent conservation efforts it is now a widespread but not abundant species. Therefore it is now considered as a species ”of least concern” on the IUCN red list.

English             -               Three-toed Jacamar

Portuguese     -                Cuitelão

Latin                -                 Jacamaralcyon tridactyla

This is a cool wee bird and one that I am pleased to have photographed. I photographed the Three-toed Jacamar when I went on a day excursion when I was staying at REGUA (Reserva Ecológica de Guapiaçu). The excursion was to a place called Sumidouro which is about 130 km north of REGUA. I went there with 2 Swedish guests who were staying at REGUA and Cirilo Vieira, an amazing bird guide that works at REGEA. The first 3 photos were taken as we were walking along a dirt road/track. First of all Cirilo saw it in the distance, then he started to play the call of the Three-toed Jacamar on his cell phone and shortly after that the  Three-toed Jacamar flew in and sat on a branch close to where we were standing. The 4th photo was taken later on in the day in a slightly different area as we were in the van driving back to REGUA. This Three-toed Jacamar was spotted on the side of the road. It flew from one side of the road to the other various times, from a tree branch to a certain mound of dirt. The day itself was quite patchy with a bit of sun but a lot of cloud that sometimes blocked the sun but as per usual, it was hot. Feel privileged to have photographed this wee bird as it is classified as a vulnerable species.

* Smallish bird, measuring 18 cm in length and weighing between around 19 g.  

* The females Three-toed Jacamar is slightly bigger than males.

* Unlike other members of the  jacamar family, the Three-toed Jacamar only has 3 toes instead of 4.

* The Three-toed Jacamar song a sequence of short, relatively weak whistles and clicks.

* The Three-toed Jacamar is endemic to a small region of the Atlantic forests of southeastern Brazil.

* Its natural habitats are subtropical and tropical dry forests, subtropical and tropical moist lowland forests.

* It is an insectivore. It will feeds on small moths, butterflies, dragonflies, beetles, true bugs and termites.

* There is not a lot of info about the breading habits of the Three-toed Jacamar but it usually excavates a burrow nest into an earthen bank. females lays 2-4 eggs which are incubated by both parents.

* The three-toed jacamar is in trouble; habitat loss and habitat degradation have contributed significantly to its steep decline. Its total population is estimated at 350–1500 individuals, which survive in small, widely scattered pockets of appropriate habitat across southeastern Brazil. It is classified as a ”vulnerable species” on the IUCN red list.

English            -               Burnished-buff Tanager

Portuguese     -              Saíra Amarela

Latin                 -               Tangara cayana

I photographed the Burnished-buff Tanager at Museu Mello Leitão in the town of Santa Teresa which is about 80 km north west of Vila Velha ES. Museu Mello Leitao is a Biological museum but it is in a park like setting which attracts different birds species + a few mammals. (the best thing about it though is that it’s free to get in) Unfortunately the day I went to visit, it was over cast and rainy as you can see by some of the photos. I have photographed the Burnished-buff Tanager before, so it wasn’t a “lifer” for me but it was the first time I got reasonably close to one. The Burnished-buff Tanager didn’t seem to concerned by my presence and I managed to get quite a few photos of it. A good looking wee bird and was very happy to get some reasonable good photos of it.

* The Burnished-buff Tanager is also known as the Rufous-crowned Tanager

* It has a length of around 14 cm and weighs around 23 g.

* The Burnished-buff Tanager can be a vocal bird at times. Has a buzzy “tzzit”, type sound.

* It is found in Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana, Brazil, Bolivia, southern Paraguay and northeastern Argentina.

* Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, dry savanna, subtropical or tropical dry scrubland, and subtropical or tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland.

* The Burnished-buff Tanager’s diet consists principally of fruits like papayas, bananas, berries and palm fruits. It also takes insects such as wasps and termites.

* The female lays 2-3 eggs which are incubated for around 14 days. The nestlings fledge after 16 days.

* The Burnished-buff Tanager appears to have stable populations and a huge geographical range therefore it is classified to be a species ”of least concern” by the IUCN Red List.