Birds in Recife, Brazil (1 Viewer)

[LaplandBunting]

Hi all

I am currently in Brazil but have little knowledge of the local birds. I have identified most of what I've seen using field guides but am unsure on a few (most of which I only have a description for rather than pictures I'm afraid). Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

1. Some kind of Swallow (White-rumped or Blue & White?) or Martin (Grey-breasted?) - see picture.

2. Two vultures which were all black but had white rumps - seen in flight only.

3. A vulture/hawk which had a red beak, whitish face and black body - seen on the ground on the road side.

4. A bird with a long tail like an Ani but that had a whitish/pale breast - seen sat on overhead telegraph wires.

5. A vulture which was all black but with a whitish/pale face - seen sat on a telegraph pole.

 

[LaplandBunting]

I should say that whilst most of these birds were seen around Recife, some were further north.

 

[THE_FERN]

1. I don't think this is a Martin; seems to be too clean a demarcation between upper and lower colours for that. I think the vent is white excluding blue and white swallow. So perhaps (e.g.) white-winged. I don't think it's possible to be sure.

2. Not vultures unless you mis-saw black vultures (e.g. due to lighting effects). Hawks of some kind perhaps. Description roughly matches black caracara but that is not there

3. Turkey vulture?

4. Guira Cuckoo?

5. See comment against 2. Unlikely a vulture, suggest

Edit: For the "vultures", check (e.g.) great black hawk

 

[Xenospiza]

2. Possibly Great Black Hawk.
3. Must be Crested Caracara.
When that is a "vulture", 5 could be one as well.

 

[LaplandBunting]

Thanks both. I think all of those are spot on - that's really helpful and I've learned a lot!

I also saw a brownish/redish-backed Cuckoo with a long tail sat on the telegraph wires somewhere between Fortaleza and Natal. I was thinking Dark-billed or Yellow-billed - could it have been either or is one more common than the other?

 

[njlarsen]

I could buy Crested Caracara for #3

Crested Caracara - BirdForum Opus

www.birdforum.net

Niels

 

[THE_FERN]

Thanks both. I think all of those are spot on - that's really helpful and I've learned a lot!

I also saw a brownish/redish-backed Cuckoo with a long tail sat on the telegraph wires somewhere between Fortaleza and Natal. I was thinking Dark-billed or Yellow-billed - could it have been either or is one more common than the other?

Squirrel Cuckoo is usually commonest if it's there