4 days birding at the spectacular Iguazu Falls

Serra dos Tucanos Birding Tours is happy to offer a birding trip to the fantastic Iguazu Falls.This 4 day trip offers opportunities to bird in the amazing surroundings of the Iguazu Falls together with the chance of increasing the number of species seen within the Atlantic forest.

Approximately one million hectares of the endangered Interior Atlantic Forest still stands in patches spread throughout the Argentinean province of Misiones. Due to efforts made by several local conservation organizations and individuals, most of them have been declared provincial reserves, and at present they are linked to each other and to the Iguazú National Park, forming a big, single conservation unit, known as the Green Corridor. This continuous forest cover supports healthy populations of big mammals, such as Jaguar, South American Tapir and Giant Anteater.

Staying on the Argentinean side of the falls allows you the opportunity to walk many of the trails into the forest and to see species such as Solitary Tinamou, Black-Fronted Piping-Guan, Spot-winged Wood-Quail, Great Dusky Swift, Surucua Trogon, Red-breasted and Toco Toucan, twelve species of Woodpeckers including the rare Helmeted Woodpecker, Black-Billed Scythebill, Araucaria Tit-Spinetail, Tufted Antshrike, Red-ruffed Fruitcrow, Plush-crested Jay, Blue Manakin and Southern Antpipit. There are many walkways and view points around the falls that offer perfect photographic opportunities to capture the amazing power of over 250 individual waterfalls, including the most spectacular of all – the Devils Throat.

Itinerary

Day 1

On arrival at Foz do Iguazu airport you will be met by your guide and transferred to your accommodation. Depending upon your arrival time the evening will be at leisure for birding in the gardens of the hotel or around the falls area.

Days 2 and 3: National Park – Argentina

Two full days will be spent birding and exploring different areas of this stunning national park and an area of the Uruguai State Park. After early breakfasts you will leave the hotel to begin birding around the falls and using the walkways and trails within the forest. At the “Devil’s Throat”, perhaps the most impressive side of the falls, you can see Great Dusky-Swifts flying overhead, sometimes by the thousands and maybe the scarce Black-collared Swallow also.

Just over an hours drive away from the Iguazu National Park is the Uruguai State Park, this consists of a hilly area with 80,000 hectares of protected forest. The forest here is quite different to that of the national park and offers good chances of seeing Planalto Tapaculo, Olive Spinetail, Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper, Streamside Warbler, Speckle-breasted Antpitta, Greenish Tyrannulet and Green-chinned Euphonia amongst others.

Day 4: National Park – Argentina and the Brazilian side of the falls

On the final morning there will be a couple of hours for local birding before crossing the border to the Brazilian side of the falls. If time allows there will be a chance for lunch before checking in at the airport.