A look at the birds in the Cerrado savanna - Part 1
Learn about the main bird families that live in the Cerrado savanna and listen to their birdsong. Put your headphones on and join us on this flight of adventure!
The Brazilian savanna has 12,829 native plant species that depend on the Cerrado's 874 bird species—37 of which are native to the Cerrado—to spread their seeds and pollinate their flowers. Birds are excellent indicators of environmental quality, serving as detectors of changes in the state and health of the ecosystem. This exhibition is an invitation to learn a little bit about the remarkable diversity and beauty of some these birds through photos and their birdsong.
Frugivorous birds
We begin our exhibition with frugivorous or fruit-eating birds.
Tuim (Forpus xanthopterygius) (2017) by Álvaro César de AraújoMuseu do Cerrado
Psittacidae Family
The Parrotlet is the smallest bird in the parrot and parakeet family in Brazil. Its favorite food is coconut from the savanna's numerous palm trees but it also seeks out embauba fruits from the Cecropia.
Jandaia-de-testa-vermelha (Aratinga auricapillus) (2017) by Álvaro César de AraújoMuseu do Cerrado
Golden-capped parakeet.
Its scientific name means:(from the Tupi-Guarani Indigenous language) ará = suffix to indicate a bird; and tinga = white; (from Latin) aurum, auri = gold; and capillus, caput = cap, head hair. ⇒ a bird with a golden cap.
Periquitão-maracanã (Psittacara leucophthalmus) (2017) by Álvaro César de AraújoMuseu do Cerrado
White-eyed parakeet, also known as white-eyed conure. It flies in flocks of between 5 and 40 birds. Listen to its cry.
Birds of prey
Birds of prey are very nimble when catching their food, whether that be large arthropods, fish, amphibians, small mammals, insects, or other birds. But each bird of prey is adapted to hunting a specific animal or animal group.
Coruja-buraqueira (Athene cunicularia) (2017) by Álvaro César de AraújoMuseu do Cerrado
Strigidae family
Burrowing owl.
Owls eat rodents and so they have an important role in controlling these animals, which are often seen as pests.
Coruja-da-igreja (Tyto furcata) (2017) by Álvaro César de AraújoMuseu do Cerrado
Tytonidae family
American barn owl (14.5 inches (37 cm)), Tyto furcata
Águia-cinzenta (Urubitinga coronata) by Álvaro César de AraújoMuseu do Cerrado
Accipitridae family
Crowned eagle (28.75–31 inches (73–79 cm)), Urubitinga coronata, threatened with extinction due tohabitat loss.
Gavião-peneira (Elanus leucurus) (2017) by Álvaro César de AraújoMuseu do Cerrado
White-tailed kite (13.75–17 inches (35–43 cm)), Elanus leucurus, a bird that hovers in the air before suddenly diving down onto its prey.
Caracará (Caracara plancus) (2017) by Álvaro César de AraújoMuseu do Cerrado
Falconidae family
Crested caracara, Caracara plancus, one of nature's "sanitation workers" as it gets rid of carcasses.
Carrapateiro (Milvago chimachima) (2017) by Álvaro César de AraújoMuseu do Cerrado
Yellow-headed caracara (40-46 cm), Milvago chimachima, often lands on the backs of horses and cattle to pluck at botfly larvae and ticks.
Granivorous birds
Granivorous birds feed on grass seeds but, depending on their life stage, they may also eat insects or flowers. The majority of granivorous birds are rather small.
Fogo-apagou (Columbina squammata) (2017) by Álvaro César de AraújoMuseu do Cerrado
Columbidae family
Scaled dove (7.5 inches (19 cm)), Columbina squammata
Cambacica (Coereba flaveola) (2015) by Álvaro César de AraújoMuseu do Cerrado
Thraupidae family
Bananaquit (4 inches (10 cm)), Coereba flaveola, sucking up the nectar and pollinating the flowers on the cockspur coral tree Erythrina cristagalli.
Campainha-azul (Porphyrospiza caerulescens) (2015) by Álvaro César de AraújoMuseu do Cerrado
Blue finch 4.75 inches (12 cm)),i>Porphyrospiza caerulescens, threatened by advancing monoculture maize and soybean farming.
Cardeal-do-nordeste (Paroaria dominicana) (2015) by Álvaro César de AraújoMuseu do Cerrado
Red-cowled cardinal (7 inches (18 cm)), Paroaria dominicana, collecting material to build its nest.
Casal de Saíra-amarela (Tangara cayana) (2017) by Álvaro César de AraújoMuseu do Cerrado
Burnished-buff tanager, mates (5.5 inches (14 cm)), Tangara cayana
Sai-azul (Dacnis cayana) (2017) by Álvaro César de AraújoMuseu do Cerrado
Blue dacnis (5 inches (13 cm)), Dacnis cayana
Insectivorous birds
Insectivorous birds feed mostly on adult and larva insects and other arthropods.
Choca-barrada (Thamnophilus doliatus) (2015) by Álvaro César de AraújoMuseu do Cerrado
Thamnophilidae family
Barred antshrike (6.25 inches (16 cm)), Thamnophilus doliatus
Bem-te-vi-pirata (Legatus leucophaius) (2017) by Álvaro César de AraújoMuseu do Cerrado
Piratic flycatcher (5.75 inches (14.5 cm)), Legatus leucophaius
Guaracava-de-barriga-amarela (Elaenia flavogaster) (2017) by Álvaro César de AraújoMuseu do Cerrado
Yellow-bellied elaenia (6.25 inches (16 cm)), Elaenia flavogaster
Sabiá-barranco (Turdus leucomelas) (2015) by Álvaro César de AraújoMuseu do Cerrado
Pale-breasted thrush (8.75–9 inches (22–23 cm)), Turdus leucomelas, feeding its young with avocado pulp from the Persea americana.
Omnivorous birds
Omnivorous birds feed on different kinds of food, including plants and animals.
Bem-te-vi (Pitangus sulphuratus) (2017) by Álvaro César de AraújoMuseu do Cerrado
Tyrannidae family
Great kiskadee (8.75 inches (22 cm)), Pitangus sulphuratus, feeding on fruit from the Schefflera actinophylla.
Juruviara (Vireo chivi) (2017) by Álvaro César de AraújoMuseu do Cerrado
Vireonidae family
Chivi vireo (5.5 inches (14 cm)), Vireo chivi
Gralha-cancã (Cyanocorax cyanopogon) (2017) by Álvaro César de AraújoMuseu do Cerrado
White-naped jay (12.5 inches (31 cm)), Cyanocorax cyanopogon
Sabiá-do-campo (Mimus saturninus) (2017) by Álvaro César de AraújoMuseu do Cerrado
Chalk-brown mockingbird (10.5 inches (26 cm)), Mimus saturninus, feeding on fruit from the Schefflera actinophylla.
Museum of the Cerrado (Museu do Cerrado)
Managing Director: Rosângela Azevedo Corrêa
Technical Director: Bruno Corrêa
Curator: Rosângela Azevedo Corrêa
Photography: Álvaro César de Araújo
Born in Brasilia (DF), with an Arts qualification. He is an amateur bird photographer, a hobby closely linked to drawing and painting birds, which is a skill he has developed since he was a child.
He is an amateur bird photographer, a hobby closely linked to drawing and painting birds, which is a skill he has developed since he was a child. Photographs and sound recordings, displayed by bird family, made over a period of 8 years (2009 to 2017) during field visits to the Cerrado region, including 7 locations (Chapadão do Céu, Trindade, Alto Paraíso, Padre Bernardo, Simolândia, Formosa, and Goiânia) in the State of Goiás, 1 (Krahô Indigenous Territory) in the State of Tocantins, 4 (São Francisco, Abadia dos Dourados, Chapada Gaúcha, and Serra das Araras) in the State of Minas Gerais, 24 (including urban parks, the Brasilia National Park, Brasilia's Botanic Garden, and residential and rural areas) in the Federal District, and 1 (Riachão das Neves) in the western part of the State of Bahia.
See also:
A look at the birds in the Cerrado savanna—Part 2
A look at the birds in the Cerrado savanna—Part 3
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