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List of threatened birds of Brazil facts for kids

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Brazil is an amazing country with over 1900 different kinds of birds! Sadly, many of these beautiful birds are in danger. According to Brazilian environmental groups, about 240 types of birds are threatened. Six kinds are completely extinct (gone forever), and two are extinct in the wild (meaning they only exist in zoos or special breeding programs).

The rules Brazil uses to decide if a bird is threatened are similar to those used by a big international group called the IUCN. Out of 33 main groups of birds in Brazil, 22 have species that are in danger. Songbirds, which are the most diverse group, have the most threatened species. Parrots are also high on this sad list.

The Northeast Region of Brazil, especially areas like the Atlantic forest and Caatinga, has many birds found nowhere else in the world (these are called endemic species). Many of these unique birds are now threatened. For example, the Alagoas curassow and the Spix's macaw are two birds from this region that are now extinct in the wild. The area around Pernambuco has many critically endangered birds because the Atlantic forest there has been destroyed so much. Some birds, like the glaucous macaw and the Eskimo curlew, might even be completely gone from Brazil.

A list of threatened birds was officially published on December 17, 2014. Even though some birds, like the hyacinth macaw, were removed from the list because their numbers improved, the total number of threatened species has actually grown. This is also because scientists have discovered many new bird species since the mid-1900s, which adds more birds to check for their safety.

Sometimes, the Brazilian list from ICMBio shows a different conservation status (how endangered a species is) than the international IUCN list. This happens because different scientists did the assessments at different times.

Threatened Birds of Brazil - ICMBio (2014)

This section lists some of the birds that the ICMBio (a Brazilian environmental institute) identified as threatened in 2014.

Order Tinamiformes (Tinamous)

Crypturellus noctivagus
The yellow-legged tinamou (Crypturellus noctivagus noctivagus) is listed as a vulnerable species by ICMBio.

Family Tinamidae

Order Anseriformes (Ducks, Geese, and Swans)

Mergus octosetaceus 2
The Brazilian merganser (Mergus octosetaceus) is a critically endangered species.

Family Anatidae

Order Galliformes (Gamebirds, Landfowl)

Aburria jacutinga -Parque das Aves-8
The black-fronted piping guan (Aburria jacutinga) is an endangered species of the Atlantic forest.
Crax blumenbachii (male)
The red-billed curassow (Crax blumenbachii) is an endangered species of the Atlantic forest.

Family Cracidae (Chachalacas, Guans and Curassows)

Family Odontophoridae (New World Quails)

Order Procellariiformes (Petrels)

Tristan Albatross (1)
The Tristan albatross (Diomedea dabbenena) is a critically endangered species.
Spectacled Petrel, Procellaria conspicillata
The spectacled petrel (Procellaria conspicillata) is a vulnerable species.

Family Diomedeidae (Albatrosses)

Family Procellariidae (Petrels)

Order Phaethontiformes (Tropicbirds)

Red-billed tropicbird (Phaethon aethereus mesonauta) nesting
The red-billed tropicbird (Phaethon aethereus) is an endangered seabird in Brazil.

Family Phaethontidae

  • Phaethon aethereus (red-billed tropicbird)
  • Phaethon lepturus (white-tailed tropicbird)

Order Suliformes

Family Sulidae (Boobies)

Order Pelecaniformes

Family Ardeidae (Herons)

Order Accipitriformes (Hawks, Eagles and Vultures)

Amadonastur (Leucopternis) lacernulatus - White-necked Hawk
The white-necked hawk (Amadonastur lacernulatus) is a vulnerable species.

Family Accipitridae

Order Gruiformes (Cranes)

Family Psophiidae (Trumpeters)

  • Psophia dextralis (dark-winged trumpeter)
  • Psophia interjecta (dark-winged trumpeter)
  • Psophia obscura (dark-winged trumpeter)

Family Rallidae (Rails)

Order Charadriiformes (Waders, Gulls and Auks)

Numenius borealis ULaval 1
The Eskimo curlew (Numenius borealis) is possibly extinct.
SternaHirundinacea
The South American tern (Sterna hirundinacea) is listed as vulnerable species by ICMBio.

Family Charadriidae (Plovers, Dotterels, and Lapwings)

Family Scolopacidae (Sandpipers)

Family Sternidae (Terns)

Order Columbiformes (Pigeons and Doves)

Family Columbidae

Order Cuculiformes (Cuckoos)

Family Cuculidae

Order Strigiformes (Owls)

Spectacled Owl RWD3
The spectacled owl (Pulsatrix perspicillata pulsatrix) is a vulnerable species.

Family Strigidae

Order Nyctibiiformes (Potoos)

Nyctibius leucopterus male 1849
The white-winged potoo (Nyctibius leucopterus) is a critically endangered species in Brazil.

Family Nyctibiidae

Order Caprimulgiformes (Nightjars)

Family Caprimulgidae

Order Apodiformes (Hummingbirds and Swifts)

Hooded Visorbearer Augastes lumachella (cropped)
The hooded visorbearer (Augastes lumachella) is an endangered species.

Family Trochilidae (Hummingbirds)

Order Trogoniformes (Trogons)

Family Trogonidae

Order Coraciiformes (Kingfishers, Bee-eaters, Rollers and Motmots)

Family Momotidae (Motmots)

  • Momotus momota marcgraviana (blue-crowned motmot)

Order Galbuliformes (Puffbirds)

Family Bucconidae

Order Piciformes (Woodpeckers and Toucans)

Celeus obrieni
The Kaempfer's woodpecker (Celeus obrieni) is an endemic woodpecker from Piauí.

Family Capitonidae (American Barbets)

  • Capito dayi (black-girdled barbet)

Family Ramphastidae (Toucans)

Family Picidae (Woodpeckers)

Order Psittaciformes (Parrots, Macaws, Parakeets)

Amazona pretrei -Rio Grande do Sul -Brazil-8
The red-spectacled amazon (Amazona petrei) is a vulnerable species from southern Brazil.
Lear's Macaw Anodorhynchus leari
Lear's macaw (Anodorhynchus leari) is an endangered macaw from Northeastern Brazil.
Aratinga solstitialis -Baltimore Aquarium, USA-8b
The sun parakeet (Aratinga solstitialis) is an endangered species.

Family Psittacidae

Order Passeriformes (Songbirds)

Black-hooded Antwren. RJ 01
The black-hooded antwren (Formicivora erythronotos) is a critically endangered species from Rio de Janeiro.
Grallaria varia2
The variegated antpitta (Grallaria varia) is a vulnerable species.
Scitalopus novacapitalis - Brasilia Tapaculo
The Brasília tapaculo (Scytalopus novacapitalis) is an endangered species.
Araripe Manakin (1)
The Araripe manakin (Antilophia bokermanni) is a critically endangered endemic species from Chapada do Araripe.
Pintor Vedadeiro
The seven-colored tanager (Tangara fastuosa) is an endemic vulnerable species from Pernambuco.
Sporophila falcirostris -Horto Florestal de Sao Paulo, Brazil-8
Temminck's seedeater (Sporophila falcirostris) is a vulnerable species.
Coryphistera alaudina alaudina
The lark-like brushrunner (Coryphistera alaudina) is a critically endangered species.
Carpornis melanocephala
The black-headed berryeater (Carpornis melanocephala) is a vulnerable species.
Tangara velia Opal-rumped Tanager
The opal-rumped tanager (Tangara velia signata) is a vulnerable species.

Family Thamnophilidae (Antbirds)

Family Conopophagidae (Gnateaters)

Family Grallariidae (Antpittas)

Family Rhinocryptidae (Tapaculos)

Family Formicariidae (Ground Antbirds)

  • Chamaeza nobilis (striated antthrush)

Family Scleruridae (Miners and Leaftossers)

Family Dendrocolaptidae (Woodcreepers)

Family Xenopidae (Ovenbirds)

Family Furnariidae (Neotropical Ovenbirds)

Family Pipridae (Manakins)

Family Tityridae (Tityras, Mourners and Allies)

  • Iodopleura pipra (buff-throated purpletuft)
  • Iodopleura pipra leucopygia (buff-throated purpletuft)
  • Iodopleura pipra pipra (buff-throated purpletuft)
  • Schiffornis turdina intermedia (brown-winged schiffornis)

Family Cotingidae (Cotingas and Bellbirds)

  • Carpornis melanocephala (black-headed berryeater)
  • Cotinga maculata (banded cotinga)
  • Procnias albus wallacei (white bellbird)
  • Tijuca condita (grey-winged cotinga)
  • Xipholena atropurpurea (white-winged cotinga)

Family Pipritidae (Piprites)

  • piprites chloris grisescens (wing-barred piprites)

Family Platyrinchidae (Calyptura)

Family Rhynchocyclidae (Tody-Tyrants or Bamboo Tyrants)

  • Hemitriccus furcatus (fork-tailed tody-tyrant)
  • Hemitriccus griseipectus naumburgae (white-bellied tody-tyrant)
  • Hemitriccus kaempferi (Kaempfer's tody-tyrant)
  • Hemitriccus mirandae (buff-breasted tody-tyrant)
  • Phylloscartes beckeri (Bahia tyrannulet)
  • Phylloscartes ceciliae (Alagoas tyrannulet)

Family Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers)

Family Vireonidae (Vireos)

Family Corvidae (Crows and Jays)

  • Cyanocorax hafferi (Campina jay)

Family Turidade (Thrushes)

  • Cichlopsis leucogenys (rufous-brown solitaire)

Family Motacillidae (Pipits)

  • Anthus nattereri (ochre-breasted pipit)

Family Passerellidae (New World Sparrows)

Family Icteridae (New World Blackbirds)

  • Curaeus forbesi (Forbes's blackbird)
  • Sturnella defilippii (Pampas meadowlark)
  • Xanthopsar flavus (saffron-cowled blackbird)

Family Thraupidae (Tanagers)

  • Conothraupis mesoleuca (cone-billed tanager)
  • Coryphaspiza melanotis (black-masked finch)
  • Gubernatrix cristata (yellow cardinal)
  • Nemosia rourei (cherry-throated tanager)
  • Sporophila beltoni (Tropeiro seedeater)
  • Sporophila falcirostris (Temminck's seedeater)
  • Sporophila frontalis (buffy-fronted seedeater)
  • Sporophila hypoxantha (tawny-bellied seedeater)
  • Sporophila maximiliani (great-billed seed finch)
  • Sporophila melanogaster (black-bellied seedeater)
  • Sporophila nigrorufa (black-and-tawny seedeater)
  • Sporophila palustris (marsh seedeater)
  • Sporophila ruficollis (dark-throated seedeater)
  • Tangara peruviana (black-backed tanager)
  • Tangara cyanocephala cearensis (red-necked tanager)
  • Tangara fastuosa (seven-colored tanager)
  • Tangara velia signata (opal-rumped tanager)

Family Cardinalidae (Cardinals)

Family Fringillidae (Siskins)

  • Sporagra yarrellii (yellow-faced siskin)

See also

  • List of birds of Brazil
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