Chapada dos Guimarães National Park

National Park · Brazil

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Photo © Chostakovis

Photo © Chostakovis — CC BY-SA 4.0 — Source: Wikimedia Commons

Where weathered sandstone plateaus rise above the cerrado grasslands of central Brazil, Chapada dos Guimarães National Park protects 624 square kilometres of ecological transition zone that few travellers fully appreciate. The park's defining character emerges from its dramatic topography: sheer cliff faces and deep canyons sculpted by millennia of water erosion create a mosaic of habitats ranging from gallery forests hugging stream beds to open woodland savanna studded with gnarled trees and drought-resistant shrubs. This interplay between highland plateau and lowland ravine generates remarkable biodiversity. Woodland songbirds and insectivorous species move through the forest canopy, while open-country birds forage across the grassland margins. Predatory raptors hunt from thermal currents above the escarpments, and nocturnal mammals—adapted to the park's warm, seasonal climate—emerge to hunt and browse when daylight fades. The aquatic ecosystems within the canyons support fish and wading birds, creating pockets of year-round water where most of the landscape dries during the Austral winter.

For wildlife photographers and birders, Chapada dos Guimarães rewards patience and early starts. The park's varied elevation and competing habitat types mean that different ecological communities can be found within walking distance of one another, multiplying opportunities to encounter birds of different guilds, small forest mammals, and the insects and amphibians that support the food webs above them. Golden morning light falls on the cliff faces and across the savanna at angles that transform the landscape into something almost painterly, and the seasonal rains—heaviest between November and March—trigger breeding activity and insect abundance that draw foraging wildlife into visibility. Access is straightforward from the town of Chapada dos Guimarães, and a network of maintained trails penetrates the park without requiring specialist mountaineering skills. The combination of scenic drama, genuine ecological diversity, and practical accessibility makes this one of central Brazil's most rewarding destinations for naturalists seeking to understand the transition between cerrado and forest.

Website icmbio.gov.br/parnaguimaraes/guia-do-visitante.html

Email mailtopncg.mt@icmbio.gov.br

Ramphastos toco

Athene cunicularia

Red-and-green Macaw

Ara chloropterus

Chalk-browed Mockingbird

Mimus saturninus

Pale-breasted Thrush

Turdus leucomelas

Red Pileated Finch

Coryphospingus cucullatus

White-lined Tanager

Tachyphonus rufus

Swallow-tailed Hummingbird

Eupetomena macroura

Coragyps atratus

Thraupis sayaca

Sicalis flaveola

Red-shouldered Macaw

Diopsittaca nobilis

Patagioenas speciosa

Curl-crested Jay

Cyanocorax cristatellus

Chestnut-eared Aracari

Pteroglossus castanotis

Cliff Flycatcher

Hirundinea ferruginea

Furnarius rufus

Channel-billed Toucan

Ramphastos vitellinus

Ruddy Ground Dove

Columbina talpacoti

Falco rufigularis

Rufous-bellied Thrush

Turdus rufiventris

Rupornis magnirostris

Southern Lapwing

Vanellus chilensis

Crested Caracara

Caracara plancus

Peach-fronted Parakeet

Eupsittula aurea

Molothrus bonariensis

Thraupis palmarum

Picazuro Pigeon

Patagioenas picazuro

Spot-backed Puffbird

Nystalus maculatus

Rufous-collared Sparrow

Zonotrichia capensis

White-tailed Hawk

Geranoaetus albicaudatus

Swallow-winged Puffbird

Chelidoptera tenebrosa

Pitangus sulphuratus

Pachyramphus validus

Short-crested Flycatcher

Myiarchus ferox

Band-winged Nightjar

Systellura longirostris

Lettered Aracari

Pteroglossus inscriptus

Amazonian Motmot

Elaenia chiriquensis

White-eared Puffbird

Nystalus chacuru

Blue-winged Macaw

Primolius maracana

Rufous-tailed Jacamar

Galbula ruficauda

Brachygalba lugubris

Blue-crowned Trogon

Yellow-chevroned Parakeet

Brotogeris chiriri

White-eyed Parakeet

Psittacara leucophthalmus

Collared Crescentchest

Melanopareia torquata

Yellow-tufted Woodpecker

Melanerpes cruentatus

White-wedged Piculet

Picumnus albosquamatus

Buff-throated Saltator

Saltator maximus

Black-fronted Nunbird

Monasa nigrifrons

Boat-billed Flycatcher

Megarynchus pitangua

Little Woodpecker

Veniliornis passerinus

Rusty-margined Flycatcher

Myiozetetes cayanensis

Rufous-browed Peppershrike

Cyclarhis gujanensis

Flavescent Warbler

Myiothlypis flaveola

Shrike-like Tanager

Neothraupis fasciata

White Woodpecker

Melanerpes candidus

Green-barred Woodpecker

Colaptes melanochloros

Yellow-bellied Elaenia

Elaenia flavogaster

Lineated Woodpecker

Dryocopus lineatus

Narrow-billed Woodcreeper

Lepidocolaptes angustirostris

Golden-crowned Warbler

Basileuterus culicivorus

Small-billed Tinamou

Crypturellus parvirostris

Columbina squammata

Ferruginous Pygmy Owl

Glaucidium brasilianum

Pale-crested Woodpecker

Celeus lugubris

Southern Beardless Tyrannulet

Camptostoma obsoletum

Planalto Tyrannulet

Phyllomyias fasciatus

Crimson-crested Woodpecker

Campephilus melanoleucos

Blue-headed Parrot

Pionus menstruus

Cobalt-rumped Parrotlet

Forpus xanthopterygius

Myiopagis gaimardii

Buff-breasted Wren

Cantorchilus leucotis

Undulated Tinamou

Crypturellus undulatus

Coereba flaveola

White-tipped Dove

Leptotila verreauxi

Southern House Wren

Troglodytes musculus

Large-billed Antwren

Herpsilochmus longirostris

Tataupa Tinamou

Crypturellus tataupa

Pale-vented Pigeon

Patagioenas cayennensis

Moustached Wren

Pheugopedius genibarbis

Southern Rough-winged Swallow

Stelgidopteryx ruficollis

Tropical Kingbird

Tyrannus melancholicus

Swallow Tanager

Tersina viridis

Chopi Blackbird

Gnorimopsar chopi

Black-throated Saltator

Saltatricula atricollis

White-rumped Tanager

Cypsnagra hirundinacea

Burnished-buff Tanager

Stilpnia cayana

Blue-black Grassquit

Volatinia jacarina

White-vented Violetear

Colibri serrirostris

Helmeted Manakin

Chiroxiphia galeata

Black-faced Tanager

Schistochlamys melanopis

Red-legged Seriema

Cariama cristata

Rusty-backed Antwren

Formicivora rufa

Plain-crested Elaenia

Elaenia cristata

Plumbeous Seedeater

Sporophila plumbea

Glittering-bellied Emerald

Chlorostilbon lucidus

Silver-beaked Tanager

Ramphocelus carbo

American Kestrel

Falco sparverius

Fork-tailed Woodnymph

Thalurania furcata

Chapada Flycatcher

Guyramemua affine

Band-tailed Manakin

Pipra fasciicauda

Thrush-like Wren

Campylorhynchus turdinus

Smooth-billed Ani

Sepia-capped Flycatcher

Leptopogon amaurocephalus

Suiriri Flycatcher

Suiriri suiriri

Saffron-billed Sparrow

Arremon flavirostris

Barred Antshrike

Thamnophilus doliatus

Rufous-winged Antshrike

Thamnophilus torquatus

Sibilant Sirystes

Sirystes sibilator

Glittering-throated Emerald

Chionomesa fimbriata

Tityra semifasciata

Cinnamon Tanager

Schistochlamys ruficapillus

Sarcoramphus papa

Crested Black Tyrant

Knipolegus lophotes

White-throated Kingbird

Tyrannus albogularis

Streaked Flycatcher

Myiodynastes maculatus

Purple-throated Euphonia

Euphonia chlorotica

Double-collared Seedeater

Sporophila caerulescens

Cyanocorax cyanomelas

Planalto Slaty Antshrike

Thamnophilus pelzelni

Brown-chested Martin

Creamy-bellied Thrush

Turdus amaurochalinus

Red-legged Honeycreeper

Cyanerpes cyaneus

Nyctidromus albicollis

Black-throated Mango

Anthracothorax nigricollis

Swallow-tailed Kite

Elanoides forficatus

Great Antshrike

Grey-breasted Martin

Progne chalybea

Grey-headed Tanager

Eucometis penicillata

Little Nightjar

Setopagis parvula

Planalto Hermit

Phaethornis pretrei

Gampsonyx swainsonii

Ictinia plumbea

Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper

Lochmias nematura

Western Fire-eye

Pyriglena maura

Molothrus oryzivorus

Common Squirrel Cuckoo

Dysithamnus mentalis

Rusty-margined Guan

Penelope superciliaris

Nyctibius griseus

Great Dusky Swift

Cypseloides senex

White-collared Swift

Streptoprocne zonaris

Biscutate Swift

Streptoprocne biscutata

Rufescent Tiger Heron

Tigrisoma lineatum

Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture

Cathartes burrovianus

Pandion haliaetus

Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle

Spizaetus melanoleucus

Rufous-thighed Kite

Harpagus diodon

Buteogallus meridionalis

Grey-lined Hawk

Spotted Puffbird

Checkered Woodpecker

Veniliornis mixtus

Southern Scrub Flycatcher

Sublegatus modestus

Variegated Flycatcher

Empidonomus varius

Rufous Casiornis

Casiornis rufus

Brown-crested Flycatcher

Myiarchus tyrannulus

Black-tailed Tityra

Pectoral Sparrow

Arremon taciturnus

Southern Yellowthroat

Geothlypis velata

Stripe-tailed Yellow Finch

Sicalis citrina

Blue-necked Tanager

Stilpnia cyanicollis

Cinereous Tinamou

Crypturellus cinereus

Crypturellus soui

Red-winged Tinamou

Rhynchotus rufescens

Spotted Nothura

Nothura maculosa

Horned Screamer

Southern Screamer

Chauna torquata

White-faced Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna viduata

Black-bellied Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna autumnalis

Cairina moschata

Amazonetta brasiliensis

Chaco Chachalaca

Ortalis canicollis

Speckled Chachalaca

Ortalis guttata

Penelope jacquacu

Chestnut-bellied Guan

Penelope ochrogaster

Red-throated Piping Guan

Bare-faced Curassow

Crax fasciolata

Nacunda Nighthawk

Chordeiles nacunda

Least Nighthawk

Chordeiles pusillus

Lesser Nighthawk

Chordeiles acutipennis

Common Nighthawk

Chordeiles minor

Short-tailed Nighthawk

Lurocalis semitorquatus

Band-tailed Nighthawk

Nyctiprogne leucopyga

Scissor-tailed Nightjar

Hydropsalis torquata

Rufous Nightjar

Antrostomus rufus

Nyctibius grandis

Cypseloides fumigatus

Grey-rumped Swift

Chaetura cinereiventris

Chaetura meridionalis

Short-tailed Swift

Chaetura brachyura

Fork-tailed Palm Swift

Tachornis squamata

White-necked Jacobin

Florisuga mellivora

Rufous-breasted Hermit

Glaucis hirsutus

Cinnamon-throated Hermit

Phaethornis nattereri

Buff-bellied Hermit

Phaethornis subochraceus

Heliactin bilophus

White-tailed Goldenthroat

Polytmus guainumbi

Ruby-topaz Hummingbird

Chrysolampis mosquitus

Frilled Coquette

Lophornis magnificus

Long-billed Starthroat

Heliomaster longirostris

Blue-tufted Starthroat

Heliomaster furcifer

Amethyst Woodstar

Calliphlox amethystina

Grey-breasted Sabrewing

Campylopterus largipennis

Versicolored Emerald

Chrysuronia versicolor

Rufous-throated Sapphire

Hylocharis sapphirina

Gilded Sapphire

Hylocharis chrysura

White-chinned Sapphire

Chlorestes cyanus

Crotophaga major

Pheasant Cuckoo

Dromococcyx phasianellus

Pavonine Cuckoo

Dromococcyx pavoninus

Coccycua minuta

Dark-billed Cuckoo

Coccyzus melacoryphus

Pearly-breasted Cuckoo

Coccyzus euleri

Plumbeous Pigeon

Patagioenas plumbea

Patagioenas subvinacea

Common Ground Dove

Columbina passerina

Plain-breasted Ground Dove

Columbina minuta

Picui Ground Dove

Columbina picui

Blue Ground Dove

Claravis pretiosa

Long-tailed Ground Dove

Uropelia campestris

Ruddy Quail-Dove

Geotrygon montana

Grey-fronted Dove

Leptotila rufaxilla

Zenaida auriculata

Ash-throated Crake

Mustelirallus albicollis

Purple Gallinule

Porphyrio martinica

Russet-crowned Crake

Rufirallus viridis

Rufous-sided Crake

Laterallus melanophaius

Aramus guarauna

Tachybaptus dominicus

Black-necked Stilt

Himantopus mexicanus

Hoploxypterus cayanus

Solitary Sandpiper

Tringa solitaria

Lesser Yellowlegs

Tringa flavipes

Yellow-billed Tern

Sternula superciliaris

Large-billed Tern

Phaetusa simplex

Eurypyga helias

Mycteria americana

Jabiru mycteria

Ciconia maguari

Anhinga anhinga

Neotropic Cormorant

Nannopterum brasilianum

Theristicus caerulescens

Buff-necked Ibis

Theristicus caudatus

Mesembrinibis cayennensis

Bare-faced Ibis

Phimosus infuscatus

Roseate Spoonbill

Boat-billed Heron

Cochlearius cochlearius

Black-crowned Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

Pilherodius pileatus

Whistling Heron

Syrigma sibilatrix

Little Blue Heron

Egretta caerulea

Butorides striata

Greater Yellow-headed Vulture

Cathartes melambrotus

White-tailed Kite

Elanus leucurus

Hook-billed Kite

Chondrohierax uncinatus

Grey-headed Kite

Leptodon cayanensis

Black Hawk-Eagle

Spizaetus tyrannus

Ornate Hawk-Eagle

Spizaetus ornatus

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Accipiter striatus

Long-winged Harrier

Mississippi Kite

Ictinia mississippiensis

Geranospiza caerulescens

Black-collared Hawk

Busarellus nigricollis

Rostrhamus sociabilis

Great Black Hawk

Buteogallus urubitinga

Buteogallus coronatus

Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle

Geranoaetus melanoleucus

Zone-tailed Hawk

Buteo albonotatus

Short-tailed Hawk

Buteo brachyurus

Swainson's Hawk

Buteo swainsoni

American Barn Owl

Short-eared Owl

Great Horned Owl

Bubo virginianus

Tropical Screech Owl

Megascops choliba

Tawny-bellied Screech Owl

Megascops watsonii

Pulsatrix perspicillata

Amazon Kingfisher

Chloroceryle amazona

Green Kingfisher

Chloroceryle americana

Green-and-rufous Kingfisher

Chloroceryle inda

Ringed Kingfisher

Megaceryle torquata

White-throated Toucan

Ramphastos tucanus

Golden-green Woodpecker

Piculus chrysochloros

Colaptes campestris

Blond-crested Woodpecker

Celeus flavescens

Red-necked Woodpecker

Campephilus rubricollis

Laughing Falcon

Herpetotheres cachinnans

Barred Forest Falcon

Micrastur ruficollis

Collared Forest Falcon

Micrastur semitorquatus

Aplomado Falcon

Falco femoralis

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

Myiopsitta monachus

Golden-winged Parakeet

Brotogeris chrysoptera

Scaly-headed Parrot

Pionus maximiliani

Yellow-faced Parrot

Alipiopsitta xanthops

Yellow-crowned Amazon

Amazona ochrocephala

Turquoise-fronted Amazon

Amazona aestiva

Orange-winged Amazon

Amazona amazonica

Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus

Nanday Parakeet

Aratinga nenday

Golden-collared Macaw

Primolius auricollis

Blue-and-yellow Macaw

Chestnut-fronted Macaw

Blue-crowned Parakeet

Thectocercus acuticaudatus

Olivaceous Woodcreeper

Sittasomus griseicapillus

Wedge-billed Woodcreeper

Glyphorynchus spirurus

Planalto Woodcreeper

Dendrocolaptes platyrostris

Great Rufous Woodcreeper

Xiphocolaptes major

Buff-throated Woodcreeper

Xiphorhynchus guttatus

Straight-billed Woodcreeper

Dendroplex picus

Red-billed Scythebill

Campylorhamphus trochilirostris

Streaked Xenops

Xenops rutilans

Point-tailed Palmcreeper

Berlepschia rikeri

Pale-legged Hornero

Furnarius leucopus

Buff-fronted Foliage-gleaner

Rufous-fronted Thornbird

Phacellodomus rufifrons

Greater Thornbird

Phacellodomus ruber

Rusty-backed Spinetail

Cranioleuca vulpina

Grey-crested Cacholote

Pseudoseisura unirufa

Yellow-chinned Spinetail

Certhiaxis cinnamomeus

Chotoy Spinetail

Schoeniophylax phryganophilus

Ochre-cheeked Spinetail

Synallaxis scutata

White-lored Spinetail

Synallaxis albilora

Pale-breasted Spinetail

Synallaxis albescens

Sooty-fronted Spinetail

Synallaxis frontalis

Black-capped Antwren

Herpsilochmus atricapillus

Mato Grosso Antbird

Cercomacra melanaria

Band-tailed Antbird

Hypocnemoides maculicauda

Grey-headed Elaenia

Myiopagis caniceps

Greenish Elaenia

Myiopagis viridicata

Elaenia spectabilis

White-crested Elaenia

Elaenia albiceps

Small-billed Elaenia

Elaenia parvirostris

White-crested Tyrannulet

Serpophaga subcristata

Mouse-colored Tyrannulet

Nesotriccus murinus

Southern Antpipit

Corythopis delalandi

Fulvous-crowned Scrub Tyrant

Euscarthmus meloryphus

Rufous-sided Scrub Tyrant

Euscarthmus rufomarginatus

Ochre-bellied Flycatcher

Mionectes oleagineus

Inezia inornata

Bran-colored Flycatcher

Myiophobus fasciatus

Stripe-necked Tody-Tyrant

Hemitriccus striaticollis

Pearly-vented Tody-Tyrant

Hemitriccus margaritaceiventer

Rusty-fronted Tody-Flycatcher

Poecilotriccus latirostris

Common Tody-Flycatcher

Todirostrum cinereum

Yellow-olive Flatbill

Tolmomyias sulphurescens

White-throated Spadebill

Platyrinchus mystaceus

Euler's Flycatcher

Lathrotriccus euleri

Fuscous Flycatcher

Cnemotriccus fuscatus

Southern Tropical Pewee

Contopus cinereus

Vermilion Flycatcher

Pyrocephalus rubinus

White-rumped Monjita

Nengetus cinereus

Black-backed Water Tyrant

Fluvicola albiventer

Long-tailed Tyrant

Colonia colonus

Machetornis rixosa

Piratic Flycatcher

Legatus leucophaius

Lesser Kiskadee

Philohydor lictor

Sulphury Flycatcher

Tyrannopsis sulphurea

Fork-tailed Flycatcher

Tyrannus savana

Dusky-capped Flycatcher

Myiarchus tuberculifer

Swainson's Flycatcher

Myiarchus swainsoni

Pale-bellied Tyrant-Manakin

Neopelma pallescens

Fiery-capped Manakin

Machaeropterus pyrocephalus

Black-crowned Tityra

Tityra inquisitor

White-naped Xenopsaris

Xenopsaris albinucha

Green-backed Becard

Pachyramphus viridis

Chestnut-crowned Becard

Pachyramphus castaneus

White-winged Becard

Pachyramphus polychopterus

Ashy-headed Greenlet

Hylophilus pectoralis

White-rumped Swallow

Tachycineta leucorrhoa

White-winged Swallow

Tachycineta albiventer

Blue-and-white Swallow

Pygochelidon cyanoleuca

Black-capped Donacobius

Donacobius atricapilla

Fawn-breasted Wren

Cantorchilus guarayanus

Masked Gnatcatcher

Polioptila dumicola

Catharus fuscescens

Blacksmith Thrush

Turdus subalaris

Black-billed Thrush

Turdus ignobilis

Rusty-flanked Thrush

Turdus albicollis

Turdus fumigatus

Passer domesticus

Yellowish Pipit

Violaceous Euphonia

Euphonia violacea

Thick-billed Euphonia

Euphonia laniirostris

Grassland Sparrow

Ammodramus humeralis

Red-breasted Meadowlark

Leistes militaris

White-browed Meadowlark

Leistes superciliaris

Crested Oropendola

Psarocolius decumanus

Solitary Cacique

Cacicus solitarius

Yellow-rumped Cacique

Orange-backed Troupial

Icterus croconotus

Icterus cayanensis

Screaming Cowbird

Molothrus rufoaxillaris

Greyish Baywing

Agelaioides badius

Unicolored Blackbird

Agelasticus cyanopus

Tropical Parula

Setophaga pitiayumi

Red-crowned Ant Tanager

Black-backed Grosbeak

Pheucticus aureoventris

Coal-crested Finch

Charitospiza eucosma

Nemosia pileata

Wedge-tailed Grass Finch

Emberizoides herbicola

Rhopospina caerulescens

Green Honeycreeper

Chlorophanes spiza

Hemithraupis guira

Green-winged Saltator

Saltator similis

Bluish-grey Saltator

Saltator coerulescens

Slate-colored Grosbeak

Saltator grossus

Flame-crested Tanager

Loriotus cristatus

White-shouldered Tanager

Loriotus luctuosus

Grey Pileated Finch

Coryphospingus pileatus

White-winged Shrike-Tanager

Lanio versicolor

Lined Seedeater

Sporophila lineola

Yellow-bellied Seedeater

Sporophila nigricollis

Chestnut-bellied Seed Finch

Sporophila angolensis

Rusty-collared Seedeater

Sporophila collaris

White-bellied Seedeater

Sporophila leucoptera

Tawny-bellied Seedeater

Sporophila hypoxantha

Chestnut-vented Conebill

Conirostrum speciosum

Grassland Yellow Finch

Sicalis luteola

Cissopis leverianus

Red-crested Cardinal

Paroaria coronata

Yellow-billed Cardinal

Paroaria capitata

Blue-grey Tanager

Thraupis episcopus

White-throated Piping Guan

Black-bellied Thorntail

Discosura langsdorffi

Black-bellied Antwren

Formicivora melanogaster

Purple-throated Fruitcrow

Querula purpurata

Whiskered Myiobius

Myiobius barbatus

Ruddy-tailed Flycatcher

Terenotriccus erythrurus

Tapirus terrestris

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