Anavilhanas National Park

National Park · Brazil

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Photo © Jason Auch from Calgary, Canada

Photo © Jason Auch from Calgary, Canada — CC BY 4.0 — Source: Wikimedia Commons

Across the Rio Negro in central Amazonas, an archipelago of over a thousand islands rises from the world's largest rainforest river system, creating a labyrinth of waterways that define one of South America's most remarkable ecosystems. Anavilhanas National Park protects approximately 10,523 square kilometres of flooded forest, river channels, and seasonal wetlands where the boundary between land and water blurs entirely across the wet season's peak. The park's landscape is shaped by the Rio Negro's rhythmic flooding cycle—water levels rise and fall by up to fifteen metres annually, submerging vast tracts of forest and creating dynamic corridors that shift the composition of habitats from one season to the next. Within this aquatic maze, flooded forest canopy shelters arboreal mammals adapted to arboreal and semi-aquatic life, while the river channels themselves harbour large predatory fish and freshwater cetaceans. Wading birds and waterbirds congregate in thousands where shallows and sandbars emerge during low water, their feeding grounds temporarily exposed by the receding flood. The upper canopy and mid-storey host insectivorous songbirds and climbing mammals, their populations ebbing and flowing with the seasonal abundance of fruits and insects that define the forest's biological rhythm.

For wildlife photographers and birdwatchers, Anavilhanas presents an unparalleled opportunity to witness the Amazon's aquatic and terrestrial fauna in a setting where both worlds interpenetrate. The dry season, roughly July to November, offers the clearest water and the most concentrated wildlife viewing as animals compress into remaining channels and accessible forest edges—light at dawn and dusk penetrates the water and creates spectacular photographic conditions across the mirrored surfaces of calm channels. Wet season expeditions, from December through June, reward patient observers with access to inundated forest where canopy-dwelling birds and mammals descend closer to boat level, and where the sheer abundance of feeding opportunities draws predatory birds and fish-eating specialists into predictable hunting grounds. Access by boat from the regional hub requires logistical planning and local expertise, but the reward is immersion in a landscape where the Amazon's true rhythms—governed by water, not by human schedules—remain entirely intact.

Website icmbio.gov.br/parnaanavilhanas

Lipaugus vociferans

White-throated Toucan

Ramphastos tucanus

Greyish Mourner

Rhytipterna simplex

Green-backed Trogon

Dwarf Tyrant-Manakin

Tyranneutes stolzmanni

Black-fronted Nunbird

Monasa nigrifrons

Channel-billed Toucan

Ramphastos vitellinus

Amazona farinosa

Rufous-tailed Flatbill

Ramphotrigon ruficauda

Yellow-rumped Cacique

Amazonian Barred Woodcreeper

Dendrocolaptes certhia

White-lored Tyrannulet

Ornithion inerme

Lophostrix cristata

Cercomacra cinerascens

Amazona festiva

Mouse-colored Antshrike

Thamnophilus murinus

Blue-and-yellow Macaw

Wire-tailed Manakin

Pipra filicauda

Variegated Tinamou

Crypturellus variegatus

Myrmotherula brachyura

White-eyed Tody-Tyrant

Hemitriccus zosterops

Orange-fronted Yellow Finch

Sicalis columbiana

Rufous-capped Antthrush

Formicarius colma

Golden-winged Parakeet

Brotogeris chrysoptera

Slender-footed Tyrannulet

Zimmerius gracilipes

Coragyps atratus

Spot-backed Antbird

Hylophylax naevius

Turquoise Tanager

Tangara mexicana

Amazonian Motmot

Swallow-winged Puffbird

Chelidoptera tenebrosa

Variable Woodpecker

Lemon-chested Greenlet

Hylophilus thoracicus

Yellow-browed Antbird

Hypocnemis hypoxantha

Cinereous Tinamou

Crypturellus cinereus

Rupornis magnirostris

Phyllaemulor bracteatus

Yellow-margined Flatbill

Tolmomyias assimilis

Piratic Flycatcher

Legatus leucophaius

Blue-grey Tanager

Thraupis episcopus

Thraupis palmarum

Purple Honeycreeper

Cyanerpes caeruleus

Patagioenas subvinacea

Great Black Hawk

Buteogallus urubitinga

Butorides striata

Amazonian Black-throated Trogon

Amazon Kingfisher

Chloroceryle amazona

Paradise Jacamar

Wing-barred Piprites

Piprites chloris

Pandion haliaetus

Ringed Kingfisher

Megaceryle torquata

Cream-colored Woodpecker

Common Scale-backed Antbird

Willisornis poecilinotus

Common Ground Dove

Columbina passerina

Neotropic Cormorant

Nannopterum brasilianum

Jacamerops aureus

Collared Puffbird

Chestnut-bellied Seedeater

Sporophila castaneiventris

Greater Yellow-headed Vulture

Cathartes melambrotus

Green Kingfisher

Chloroceryle americana

Amazonian Plain Xenops

Xenops genibarbis

Pitangus sulphuratus

Red-breasted Meadowlark

Leistes militaris

Myiopagis gaimardii

Tawny-bellied Screech Owl

Megascops watsonii

Ringed Woodpecker

Celeus torquatus

Black-tailed Trogon

Trogon melanurus

Long-billed Woodcreeper

Nasica longirostris

Plumbeous Pigeon

Patagioenas plumbea

Yellow-billed Tern

Sternula superciliaris

Opisthocomus hoazin

Orange-winged Amazon

Amazona amazonica

Green-tailed Jacamar

Galbula galbula

Pale-vented Pigeon

Patagioenas cayennensis

Yellow-tufted Woodpecker

Melanerpes cruentatus

Snethlage's Tody-Tyrant

Hemitriccus minor

Black-chinned Antbird

Hypocnemoides melanopogon

Spotted Tody-Flycatcher

Todirostrum maculatum

Coereba flaveola

Yellow-crowned Tyrannulet

Tyrannulus elatus

Zimmer's Woodcreeper

Dendroplex kienerii

Band-rumped Swift

Chaetura spinicaudus

Tropical Kingbird

Tyrannus melancholicus

White-winged Swallow

Tachycineta albiventer

Southern Rough-winged Swallow

Stelgidopteryx ruficollis

Nyctibius griseus

Olivaceous Woodcreeper

Sittasomus griseicapillus

Buff-throated Woodcreeper

Xiphorhynchus guttatus

Large-billed Tern

Phaetusa simplex

Nyctidromus albicollis

Nyctibius grandis

Smooth-billed Ani

Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture

Cathartes burrovianus

Variegated Flycatcher

Empidonomus varius

Silver-beaked Tanager

Ramphocelus carbo

Ictinia plumbea

Myrmotherula assimilis

Brown-chested Martin

Crotophaga major

Ash-breasted Antbird

Myrmoborus lugubris

Common Squirrel Cuckoo

Black-bellied Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna autumnalis

Blackish Nightjar

Nyctipolus nigrescens

Ladder-tailed Nightjar

Hydropsalis climacocerca

Phaethornis ruber

Black-throated Mango

Anthracothorax nigricollis

Hudsonian Godwit

Limosa haemastica

Anhinga anhinga

Mesembrinibis cayennensis

Black Hawk-Eagle

Spizaetus tyrannus

Geranospiza caerulescens

Black-collared Hawk

Busarellus nigricollis

Rostrhamus sociabilis

Slate-colored Hawk

Buteogallus schistaceus

Blue-crowned Trogon

Lafresnaye's Piculet

Picumnus lafresnayi

Spot-breasted Woodpecker

Colaptes punctigula

Red-necked Woodpecker

Campephilus rubricollis

Crimson-crested Woodpecker

Campephilus melanoleucos

Red-throated Caracara

Ibycter americanus

Laughing Falcon

Herpetotheres cachinnans

Falco rufigularis

Amazonian Streaked Antwren

Myrmotherula multostriata

Black-faced Antbird

Myrmoborus myotherinus

Amazonian Inezia

Inezia subflava

Euler's Flycatcher

Lathrotriccus euleri

Amazonian Umbrellabird

Cephalopterus ornatus

Yellow-crested Manakin

Heterocercus flavivertex

Varzea Schiffornis

Schiffornis major

Grey-breasted Martin

Progne chalybea

Black-billed Thrush

Turdus ignobilis

Crested Oropendola

Psarocolius decumanus

Olive Oropendola

Psarocolius bifasciatus

Yellow-bellied Dacnis

Dacnis flaviventer

Red-capped Cardinal

Paroaria gularis

Crypturellus soui

Undulated Tinamou

Crypturellus undulatus

Horned Screamer

Cairina moschata

Amazonetta brasiliensis

Little Chachalaca

Crestless Curassow

Mitu tomentosum

Sand-colored Nighthawk

Chordeiles rupestris

Lesser Nighthawk

Chordeiles acutipennis

Common Nighthawk

Chordeiles minor

Short-tailed Nighthawk

Lurocalis semitorquatus

Band-tailed Nighthawk

Nyctiprogne leucopyga

White-winged Potoo

Nyctibius leucopterus

Grey-rumped Swift

Chaetura cinereiventris

Short-tailed Swift

Chaetura brachyura

Fork-tailed Palm Swift

Tachornis squamata

Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift

Panyptila cayennensis

White-necked Jacobin

Florisuga mellivora

Rufous-breasted Hermit

Glaucis hirsutus

Straight-billed Hermit

Phaethornis bourcieri

Long-tailed Hermit

Phaethornis superciliosus

Great-billed Hermit

Phaethornis malaris

Black-eared Fairy

Heliothryx auritus

Green-tailed Goldenthroat

Polytmus theresiae

Ruby-topaz Hummingbird

Chrysolampis mosquitus

Grey-breasted Sabrewing

Campylopterus largipennis

Fork-tailed Woodnymph

Thalurania furcata

Versicolored Emerald

Chrysuronia versicolor

Glittering-throated Emerald

Chionomesa fimbriata

Rufous-throated Sapphire

Hylocharis sapphirina

White-chinned Sapphire

Chlorestes cyanus

Blue-chinned Sapphire

Chlorestes notata

Coccycua minuta

Black-bellied Cuckoo

Piaya melanogaster

Dark-billed Cuckoo

Coccyzus melacoryphus

Pearly-breasted Cuckoo

Coccyzus euleri

Patagioenas speciosa

Ruddy Ground Dove

Columbina talpacoti

Ruddy Quail-Dove

Geotrygon montana

White-tipped Dove

Leptotila verreauxi

Heliornis fulica

Grey-breasted Crake

Laterallus exilis

Aramus guarauna

Tachybaptus dominicus

American Golden Plover

Pluvialis dominica

Hoploxypterus cayanus

Southern Lapwing

Vanellus chilensis

Spotted Sandpiper

Actitis macularius

Solitary Sandpiper

Tringa solitaria

Eurypyga helias

Mycteria americana

Buff-necked Ibis

Theristicus caudatus

Rufescent Tiger Heron

Tigrisoma lineatum

Boat-billed Heron

Cochlearius cochlearius

Black-crowned Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

Pilherodius pileatus

Little Blue Heron

Egretta caerulea

Sarcoramphus papa

Hook-billed Kite

Chondrohierax uncinatus

Grey-headed Kite

Leptodon cayanensis

Swallow-tailed Kite

Elanoides forficatus

Morphnus guianensis

Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle

Spizaetus melanoleucus

Ornate Hawk-Eagle

Spizaetus ornatus

Microspizias superciliosus

Double-toothed Kite

Harpagus bidentatus

Rufous-thighed Kite

Harpagus diodon

Slender-billed Kite

Helicolestes hamatus

Buteogallus meridionalis

Black-faced Hawk

Leucopternis melanops

Grey-lined Hawk

Short-tailed Hawk

Buteo brachyurus

Athene cunicularia

Amazonian Pygmy Owl

Glaucidium hardyi

Ferruginous Pygmy Owl

Glaucidium brasilianum

Tropical Screech Owl

Megascops choliba

Pulsatrix perspicillata

Pavonine Quetzal

Pharomachrus pavoninus

Amazonian Trogon

Trogon ramonianus

Collared Trogon

Trogon collaris

American Pygmy Kingfisher

Chloroceryle aenea

Green-and-rufous Kingfisher

Chloroceryle inda

Yellow-billed Jacamar

Galbula albirostris

Galbula leucogastra

Guianan Puffbird

Notharchus macrorhynchos

Brown-banded Puffbird

Notharchus ordii

Notharchus tectus

Spotted Puffbird

White-chested Puffbird

Malacoptila fusca

Black-spotted Barbet

Pteroglossus viridis

Ivory-billed Aracari

Pteroglossus azara

Black-necked Aracari

Pteroglossus aracari

Golden-spangled Piculet

Picumnus exilis

Golden-collared Woodpecker

Veniliornis cassini

Yellow-throated Woodpecker

Piculus flavigula

Chestnut Woodpecker

Lineated Woodpecker

Dryocopus lineatus

Crested Caracara

Caracara plancus

Barred Forest Falcon

Micrastur ruficollis

Lined Forest Falcon

Micrastur gilvicollis

Slaty-backed Forest Falcon

Micrastur mirandollei

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

Scarlet-shouldered Parrotlet

Sapphire-rumped Parrotlet

Touit purpuratus

White-winged Parakeet

Brotogeris versicolurus

Orange-cheeked Parrot

Pyrilia barrabandi

Short-tailed Parrot

Graydidascalus brachyurus

Yellow-crowned Amazon

Amazona ochrocephala

Deroptyus accipitrinus

Painted Parakeet

Maroon-tailed Parakeet

Pyrrhura melanura

Red-and-green Macaw

Ara chloropterus

White-eyed Parakeet

Psittacara leucophthalmus

Plain-brown Woodcreeper

Dendrocincla fuliginosa

Wedge-billed Woodcreeper

Glyphorynchus spirurus

Cinnamon-throated Woodcreeper

Dendrexetastes rufigula

Chestnut-rumped Woodcreeper

Xiphorhynchus pardalotus

Straight-billed Woodcreeper

Dendroplex picus

Red-billed Scythebill

Campylorhamphus trochilirostris

Point-tailed Palmcreeper

Berlepschia rikeri

Rufous-tailed Xenops

Microxenops milleri

Pale-legged Hornero

Furnarius leucopus

Speckled Spinetail

Thripophaga gutturata

Rusty-backed Spinetail

Cranioleuca vulpina

Yellow-chinned Spinetail

Certhiaxis cinnamomeus

Spot-winged Antshrike

Pygiptila stellaris

Brown-bellied Stipplethroat

Epinecrophylla gutturalis

Black-throated Antbird

Myrmophylax atrothorax

Cherrie's Antwren

Myrmotherula cherriei

White-flanked Antwren

Myrmotherula axillaris

Myrmotherula menetriesii

Dusky-throated Antshrike

Thamnomanes ardesiacus

Cinereous Antshrike

Thamnomanes caesius

Barred Antshrike

Thamnophilus doliatus

Castelnau's Antshrike

Thamnophilus cryptoleucus

Northern Slaty Antshrike

Thamnophilus punctatus

Amazonian Antshrike

Thamnophilus amazonicus

Fasciated Antshrike

Cymbilaimus lineatus

White-plumed Antbird

Pithys albifrons

Guianan Warbling Antbird

Hypocnemis cantator

Cercomacroides tyrannina

Ferruginous-backed Antbird

Myrmoderus ferrugineus

Silvered Antbird

Sclateria naevia

White-browed Antbird

Myrmoborus leucophrys

Black-headed Antbird

Percnostola rufifrons

Black-faced Antthrush

Formicarius analis

Variegated Antpitta

Grallaria varia

Amazonian Elaenia

Myiopagis cinerea

Yellow-crowned Elaenia

Myiopagis flavivertex

Yellow-bellied Elaenia

Elaenia flavogaster

Elaenia spectabilis

Southern Beardless Tyrannulet

Camptostoma obsoletum

Mouse-colored Tyrannulet

Nesotriccus murinus

Yellow Tyrannulet

Capsiempis flaveola

Guianan Tyrannulet

Ochre-bellied Flycatcher

Mionectes oleagineus

Double-banded Pygmy Tyrant

Lophotriccus vitiosus

Helmeted Pygmy Tyrant

Lophotriccus galeatus

Yellow-browed Tody-Flycatcher

Todirostrum chrysocrotaphum

Eastern Olivaceous Flatbill

Rhynchocyclus olivaceus

Yellow-olive Flatbill

Tolmomyias sulphurescens

Grey-crowned Flatbill

Tolmomyias poliocephalus

White-crested Spadebill

Platyrinchus platyrhynchos

Fuscous Flycatcher

Cnemotriccus fuscatus

Riverside Tyrant

Knipolegus orenocensis

Amazonian Black Tyrant

Knipolegus poecilocercus

Rusty-margined Flycatcher

Myiozetetes cayanensis

Social Flycatcher

Myiozetetes similis

Lesser Kiskadee

Philohydor lictor

Three-striped Flycatcher

Conopias trivirgatus

Streaked Flycatcher

Myiodynastes maculatus

Boat-billed Flycatcher

Megarynchus pitangua

Sulphury Flycatcher

Tyrannopsis sulphurea

White-throated Kingbird

Tyrannus albogularis

Fork-tailed Flycatcher

Tyrannus savana

Dusky-capped Flycatcher

Myiarchus tuberculifer

Short-crested Flycatcher

Myiarchus ferox

Brown-crested Flycatcher

Myiarchus tyrannulus

Cinnamon Attila

Attila cinnamomeus

White-eyed Attila

Attila bolivianus

Bright-rumped Attila

Attila spadiceus

Guianan Red Cotinga

Phoenicircus carnifex

Spangled Cotinga

Bare-necked Fruitcrow

Gymnoderus foetidus

Pompadour Cotinga

Xipholena punicea

Tiny Tyrant-Manakin

Tyranneutes virescens

White-throated Manakin

Corapipo gutturalis

White-bearded Manakin

Manacus manacus

White-crowned Manakin

Pseudopipra pipra

Golden-headed Manakin

Ceratopipra erythrocephala

Black-crowned Tityra

Tityra inquisitor

Black-tailed Tityra

Tityra semifasciata

Cinereous Mourner

Laniocera hypopyrra

Cinereous Becard

Pachyramphus rufus

Chestnut-crowned Becard

Pachyramphus castaneus

White-winged Becard

Pachyramphus polychopterus

Black-capped Becard

Pachyramphus marginatus

Pink-throated Becard

Pachyramphus minor

Whiskered Myiobius

Myiobius barbatus

Ruddy-tailed Flycatcher

Terenotriccus erythrurus

Rufous-browed Peppershrike

Cyclarhis gujanensis

Slaty-capped Shrike-Vireo

Vireolanius leucotis

Grey-chested Greenlet

Hylophilus semicinereus

Buff-cheeked Greenlet

Pachysylvia muscicapina

Southern Martin

White-banded Swallow

Atticora fasciata

Hirundo rustica

Black-capped Donacobius

Donacobius atricapilla

Thrush-like Wren

Campylorhynchus turdinus

Pheugopedius coraya

Southern House Wren

Troglodytes musculus

Cyphorhinus arada

Trilling Gnatwren

Ramphocaenus melanurus

Tropical Gnatcatcher

Polioptila plumbea

Rusty-flanked Thrush

Turdus albicollis

Pale-breasted Thrush

Turdus leucomelas

Turdus fumigatus

Estrilda astrild

Plumbeous Euphonia

Euphonia plumbea

Purple-throated Euphonia

Euphonia chlorotica

White-lored Euphonia

Euphonia chrysopasta

White-vented Euphonia

Euphonia minuta

Thick-billed Euphonia

Euphonia laniirostris

Rufous-bellied Euphonia

Euphonia rufiventris

Yellow-browed Sparrow

Ammodramus aurifrons

Russet-backed Oropendola

Psarocolius angustifrons

Green Oropendola

Psarocolius viridis

Red-rumped Cacique

Cacicus haemorrhous

Orange-backed Troupial

Icterus croconotus

Icterus cayanensis

Molothrus oryzivorus

Molothrus bonariensis

Velvet-fronted Grackle

Lampropsar tanagrinus

Oriole Blackbird

Gymnomystax mexicanus

Yellow-hooded Blackbird

Chrysomus icterocephalus

Masked Yellowthroat

Geothlypis aequinoctialis

Blackpoll Warbler

Setophaga striata

Red-billed Pied Tanager

Lamprospiza melanoleuca

Amazonian Grosbeak

Cyanoloxia rothschildii

Green Honeycreeper

Chlorophanes spiza

Yellow-backed Tanager

Hemithraupis flavicollis

Hemithraupis guira

Red-legged Honeycreeper

Cyanerpes cyaneus

Black-faced Dacnis

Bluish-grey Saltator

Saltator coerulescens

Buff-throated Saltator

Saltator maximus

Slate-colored Grosbeak

Saltator grossus

Blue-black Grassquit

Volatinia jacarina

Grey-headed Tanager

Eucometis penicillata

Flame-crested Tanager

Loriotus cristatus

White-shouldered Tanager

Loriotus luctuosus

Fulvous-crested Tanager

Tachyphonus surinamus

White-lined Tanager

Tachyphonus rufus

Red-shouldered Tanager

Tachyphonus phoenicius

Lesson's Seedeater

Sporophila bouvronides

Lined Seedeater

Sporophila lineola

Wing-barred Seedeater

Sporophila americana

Chestnut-bellied Seed Finch

Sporophila angolensis

Chestnut-vented Conebill

Conirostrum speciosum

Ixothraupis varia

Spotted Tanager

Ixothraupis punctata

Paradise Tanager

Tangara chilensis

Penelope jacquacu

White-collared Swift

Streptoprocne zonaris

Pale-rumped Swift

Chaetura egregia

Purple Gallinule

Porphyrio martinica

Lesser Yellowlegs

Tringa flavipes

Greater Yellowlegs

Tringa melanoleuca

Least Sandpiper

Calidris minutilla

White-rumped Sandpiper

Calidris fuscicollis

Pectoral Sandpiper

Calidris melanotos

Roseate Spoonbill

Red-lored Amazon

Amazona autumnalis

Riparian Parrotlet

Forpus crassirostris

Red-billed Woodcreeper

Hylexetastes perrotii

Guianan Woodcreeper

Lepidocolaptes albolineatus

Chestnut-backed Antshrike

Thamnophilus palliatus

Spot-winged Antbird

Myrmelastes leucostigma

Short-tailed Pygmy Tyrant

Myiornis ecaudatus

Golden-crowned Spadebill

Platyrinchus coronatus

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Contopus cooperi

White-headed Marsh Tyrant

Arundinicola leucocephala

Guianan Cock-of-the-rock

Rupicola rupicola

Purple-throated Fruitcrow

Querula purpurata

Perissocephalus tricolor

Xenopipo atronitens

Blue-capped Manakin

Lepidothrix coronata

Ochre-crowned Greenlet

Tunchiornis ochraceiceps

Solitary Cacique

Cacicus solitarius

Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth

Bradypus variegatus

Sotalia fluviatilis

Pale-throated Three-toed Sloth

Bradypus tridactylus

Guianan Squirrel Monkey

Saimiri sciureus

Rhynchonycteris naso

Amazon River Dolphin

Inia geoffrensis

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