Caraça Birding & Natural History

- A field guide to one of the most biodiverse Brazilian mountain ranges -

My name is Marcelo Vasconcelos. For over two decades, I have studied the birds of the eastern Brazilian mountains, themes of my master's [1] and Ph.D. degrees [2,3,4].

Photo by T. Mansur.

Caraça is my favorite mountain range, where I perform research since 1996 on various themes, especially birds.

Marcelo Vasconcelos surveying the high altitude avifauna at Inficionado Peak, Caraça. Photo by J. C. Ferreira

Marcelo Vasconcelos taking photos of the Itatiaia Spinetail at Inficionado Peak, Caraça. Photo by R. Bomfim.

The bulk of the mountain range is inside a protected area, the "Private Reserve of the Natural Heritage of the Caraça Sanctuary", a region with wonderful landscapes.

A cold polar front arriving at southern Serra do Caraça, seen from the Inficionado Peak. Photo by M. F. Vasconcelos.

Landscape seen from the trail to the Sol Peak, Caraça. Photo by M. F. Vasconcelos.

Landscape seen from the trail to Campo de Fora, Caraça. Photo by M. F. Vasconcelos.

Vertebrate species richness recorded in this area are: birds (372 species), mammals (76), reptiles (42), amphibians (57), and fishes (10) [5,6,7]. The bird fauna comprises 74 species endemic to the Atlantic Forest and four that are restricted to the mountaintops of eastern Brazil [5]. In this last group we have the Hyacinth Visorbearer (Augastes scutatus), the Itatiaia Spinetail (Asthenes moreirae), the Gray-backed Tachuri (Polystictus superciliaris), and the Pale-throated Pampa-Finch (Embernagra longicauda).

Hyacinth Visorbearer (Augastes scutatus). Photo by M. F. Vasconcelos.

Itatiaia Spinetail (Asthenes moreirae). Photo by M. F. Vasconcelos.

Pale-throated Pampa-Finch (Embernagra longicauda). Photo by M. F. Vasconcelos.

Species richness of the invertebrate fauna is still underestimated. Nevertheless, almost 1,000 species have been recorded in the area [5].
The Caraça flora is extremely rich, with 234 species of ferns [8] and 1,689 species of phanerogams [9], holding several endemic species.

Alstroemeria plantaginea. Photo by M. F. Vasconcelos

Drosera graminifolia. Photo by M. F. Vasconcelos.

Hololepis pedunculata. Photo by M. F. Vasconcelos.

Nidularium bicolor. Photo by M. F. Vasconcelos.

Sinningia magnifica. Photo by M. F. Vasconcelos.

I have published several natural history contributions to the region, including bird surveys [10,11,12] and the study of the avifauna for the Management Plan of the "Private Reserve of the Natural Heritage of the Caraça Sanctuary" [5]. In addition, I have carried out several studies on the biology of birds from this area, such as the diet of hummingbirds [13], birds that feed on mast-seeding bamboos [14,15], the breeding of the Biscutate Swift (Streptoprocne biscutata) [16], and the feeding behavior of the Itatiaia Spinetail [17]. Amongst the most important discoveries made in this period are the first records for the Marsh Tapaculo (Scytalopus iraiensis) in southeastern Brazil [18] and the description of a new species of the same genus: the Rock Tapaculo (Scytalopus petrophilus) [19].

Biscutate Swifts (Streptoprocne biscutata) at Inficionado Peak, Caraça. Photo by M. F. Vasconcelos.

Nest of Biscutate Swift (Streptoprocne biscutata) at Inficionado Peak, Caraça. Photo by M. F. Vasconcelos.

Rock Tapaculo (Scytalopus petrophilus). Photo by D. Hoffmann.

Concerning mammals, I was the first to report the occurrence of the Black-fronted Titi Monkey (Callicebus nigrifrons) in the reserve [20]. Together with other researchers, we also presented a predation attempt of the Striped Owl (Asio clamator) by the Maned Wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) [21]. Other interesting faunal records include a range extension for the highland snail (Thaumastus caetensis) [22] and a new species of lizard, yet undescribed.

Black-fronted Titi Monkey (Callicebus nigrifrons) at Cascatona trail, Caraça. Photo by M. F. Vasconcelos.

I have found new plant species at the highest peaks of Caraça (e.g., Vriesea marceloi [23] and Heterocondylus macrocephalus [24]), some of which have not yet been described, such as a wonderful species of Hippeastrum. I also rediscovered the rare fern (Phlegmariurus ruber) [25], previously considered extinct.

Vriesea marceloi. Photo by M. F. Vasconcelos.

Hippeastrum sp. (undescribed species). Photo by M. F. Vasconcelos.

Phlegmariurus ruber growing among a clump of Vellozia compacta at the Sol Peak, Caraça. Photo by M. F. Vasconcelos.

I worked as a bird and nature guide on this reserve between 2000 and 2001. After many years studying the biota of various regions of Brazil and teaching in universities, I am back to show people interested in the nature of Caraça what I have learnt in the last two decades in this mountain range.

Marcelo Vasconcelos guiding a birdwatching tour at Cascatona trail in 2001. Photos by A. L. Mixon

If you are interested to know animals and plants in the Serra do Caraça, please get in touch.

E-mail: mfvasconcelos@gmail.com

Attention: I do not operate trips. After requesting me as a guide, you must meet me at the "Private Reserve of the Natural Heritage of the Caraça Sanctuary": https://www.santuariodocaraca.com.br/