Pantanal Matogrossense National Park

National Park · Brazil

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Photo © ReginaaAlves

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

Where the flooded forests of central Brazil meet vast seasonally inundated grasslands, Pantanal Matogrossense National Park sprawls across nearly 2,900 square kilometers of one of the world's most dynamic and biodiverse wetland systems. The park's landscape transforms dramatically with the annual flood pulse: during the wet season, shallow waters transform the terrain into a labyrinth of channels, oxbow lakes, and flooded forest corridors; in the dry months, the waters recede to reveal nutrient-rich grasslands, exposed riverbanks, and concentrated water holes that draw wildlife in extraordinary density. This cyclical inundation—driven by the seasonal overflow of the Paraguay River and its tributaries—creates a mosaic of habitats that support an astonishing array of wildlife. Predatory birds occupy the uppermost niches, hunting over open water and from emergent trees, while wading birds congregate by the thousands at shallow margins and lagoons. Capybaras, caimans, and large aquatic mammals dominate the waterways and banks, their populations sustained by the region's abundant fish and aquatic invertebrates. The floodplain forests harbor arboreal mammals, woodland songbirds, and insectivores adapted to the flooded canopy, while the grasslands support grazing species and ground-nesting birds that exploit the seasonal abundance.

For wildlife photographers and birders, Pantanal Matogrossense offers unparalleled opportunities to witness predator-prey interactions in real time and to document the sheer concentration of birds of prey, waterbirds, and large mammals that few protected areas can match. The transition between wet and dry seasons presents distinct advantages: the dry season compresses wildlife around shrinking water sources, offering intimate viewing and spectacular photography in the golden light of early morning and late afternoon; the wet season brings breeding colonies of wading birds and expands access to flooded forest habitats where canopy-dwelling species become more visible. The park's position within the larger Pantanal ecosystem—a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and Ramsar wetland of global significance—ensures that visitors encounter landscapes and wildlife populations largely unmodified by human disturbance, a rarity in the modern world. Access is typically seasonal and often arranged through specialized outfitters familiar with the park's challenging terrain and dynamic conditions, making advance planning and local expertise essential for maximizing both safety and naturalistic experience.

Website florestal.gov.br/snif/recursos-florestais/os-biomas-e-suas-florestas

Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus

Ramphastos toco

Jabiru mycteria

Ringed Kingfisher

Megaceryle torquata

Black-collared Hawk

Busarellus nigricollis

Crested Caracara

Caracara plancus

Amazon Kingfisher

Chloroceryle amazona

Bare-faced Curassow

Crax fasciolata

Great Black Hawk

Buteogallus urubitinga

Myiopsitta monachus

Rostrhamus sociabilis

Rupornis magnirostris

Pitangus sulphuratus

Anhinga anhinga

Neotropic Cormorant

Nannopterum brasilianum

Coragyps atratus

Hoploxypterus cayanus

Pilherodius pileatus

Butorides striata

Chestnut-eared Aracari

Pteroglossus castanotis

Turquoise-fronted Amazon

Amazona aestiva

Mycteria americana

Green Kingfisher

Chloroceryle americana

Southern Lapwing

Vanellus chilensis

Sicalis flaveola

Falco rufigularis

Machetornis rixosa

Peach-fronted Parakeet

Eupsittula aurea

Red-and-green Macaw

Ara chloropterus

Furnarius rufus

Pandion haliaetus

Greyish Baywing

Agelaioides badius

Thraupis palmarum

Geranospiza caerulescens

Golden-green Woodpecker

Piculus chrysochloros

Lesser Kiskadee

Philohydor lictor

Rufous-bellied Thrush

Turdus rufiventris

Molothrus bonariensis

Thraupis sayaca

Nacunda Nighthawk

Chordeiles nacunda

Picazuro Pigeon

Patagioenas picazuro

Ruddy Ground Dove

Columbina talpacoti

White-tailed Hawk

Geranoaetus albicaudatus

Athene cunicularia

Blue-crowned Trogon

Golden-collared Macaw

Primolius auricollis

Red-billed Scythebill

Campylorhamphus trochilirostris

Undulated Tinamou

Crypturellus undulatus

Purple Gallinule

Porphyrio martinica

Rufous-tailed Jacamar

Galbula ruficauda

Red-throated Piping Guan

Chaco Chachalaca

Ortalis canicollis

Black-fronted Nunbird

Monasa nigrifrons

Colaptes campestris

Black-bellied Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna autumnalis

Chestnut-bellied Guan

Penelope ochrogaster

Yellow-chevroned Parakeet

Brotogeris chiriri

Narrow-billed Woodcreeper

Lepidocolaptes angustirostris

Yellow-rumped Cacique

Columbina squammata

White-throated Piping Guan

White-tipped Dove

Leptotila verreauxi

Green-barred Woodpecker

Colaptes melanochloros

Great Horned Owl

Bubo virginianus

Nanday Parakeet

Aratinga nenday

Yellow-billed Tern

Sternula superciliaris

White Woodpecker

Melanerpes candidus

Pale-crested Woodpecker

Celeus lugubris

Ferruginous Pygmy Owl

Glaucidium brasilianum

Little Woodpecker

Veniliornis passerinus

Crimson-crested Woodpecker

Campephilus melanoleucos

White-faced Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna viduata

Pale-vented Pigeon

Patagioenas cayennensis

Scaly-headed Parrot

Pionus maximiliani

Yellow-chinned Spinetail

Certhiaxis cinnamomeus

Solitary Cacique

Cacicus solitarius

Crested Oropendola

Psarocolius decumanus

White-lored Spinetail

Synallaxis albilora

White-winged Swallow

Tachycineta albiventer

Tropical Kingbird

Tyrannus melancholicus

Southern Rough-winged Swallow

Stelgidopteryx ruficollis

Ciconia maguari

Black-crowned Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

Vermilion Flycatcher

Pyrocephalus rubinus

Rufescent Tiger Heron

Tigrisoma lineatum

Buteogallus meridionalis

Southern Screamer

Chauna torquata

Yellow-billed Cardinal

Paroaria capitata

Large-billed Tern

Phaetusa simplex

Theristicus caerulescens

Buff-necked Ibis

Theristicus caudatus

Roseate Spoonbill

Black-capped Donacobius

Donacobius atricapilla

Cyanocorax cyanomelas

Eurypyga helias

Bare-faced Ibis

Phimosus infuscatus

Boat-billed Heron

Cochlearius cochlearius

Grey-cowled Wood Rail

Aramides cajaneus

Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture

Cathartes burrovianus

Smooth-billed Ani

Nyctibius grandis

Orange-backed Troupial

Icterus croconotus

Red-crested Cardinal

Paroaria coronata

Grey-crested Cacholote

Pseudoseisura unirufa

White-headed Marsh Tyrant

Arundinicola leucocephala

American Pygmy Kingfisher

Chloroceryle aenea

Red-legged Seriema

Cariama cristata

Cairina moschata

Great Antshrike

Black-backed Water Tyrant

Fluvicola albiventer

Scarlet-headed Blackbird

Amblyramphus holosericeus

Heliornis fulica

Aramus guarauna

Thrush-like Wren

Campylorhynchus turdinus

Unicolored Blackbird

Agelasticus cyanopus

Bluish-grey Saltator

Saltator coerulescens

Silver-beaked Tanager

Ramphocelus carbo

Crotophaga major

Whistling Heron

Syrigma sibilatrix

Rusty-backed Antwren

Formicivora rufa

Brown-chested Martin

Amazonetta brasiliensis

Glittering-throated Emerald

Chionomesa fimbriata

Laughing Falcon

Herpetotheres cachinnans

Nyctidromus albicollis

Mesembrinibis cayennensis

Grey-breasted Martin

Progne chalybea

Brown-crested Flycatcher

Myiarchus tyrannulus

Rusty-margined Guan

Penelope superciliaris

Band-tailed Nighthawk

Nyctiprogne leucopyga

Nyctibius griseus

White-tailed Goldenthroat

Polytmus guainumbi

Common Squirrel Cuckoo

Long-tailed Ground Dove

Uropelia campestris

Black-necked Stilt

Himantopus mexicanus

Solitary Sandpiper

Tringa solitaria

Little Blue Heron

Egretta caerulea

Grey-headed Kite

Leptodon cayanensis

Ictinia plumbea

White-wedged Piculet

Picumnus albosquamatus

Cream-colored Woodpecker

Collared Forest Falcon

Micrastur semitorquatus

Orange-winged Amazon

Amazona amazonica

Great Rufous Woodcreeper

Xiphocolaptes major

Buff-throated Woodcreeper

Xiphorhynchus guttatus

Pale-legged Hornero

Furnarius leucopus

Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper

Lochmias nematura

Greater Thornbird

Phacellodomus ruber

Rusty-backed Spinetail

Cranioleuca vulpina

Chotoy Spinetail

Schoeniophylax phryganophilus

Planalto Slaty Antshrike

Thamnophilus pelzelni

Band-tailed Antbird

Hypocnemoides maculicauda

Common Tody-Flycatcher

Todirostrum cinereum

Yellow-browed Tyrant

Satrapa icterophrys

White-rumped Monjita

Nengetus cinereus

Rusty-margined Flycatcher

Myiozetetes cayanensis

Fork-tailed Flycatcher

Tyrannus savana

Rufous Casiornis

Casiornis rufus

Green-backed Becard

Pachyramphus viridis

Rufous-browed Peppershrike

Cyclarhis gujanensis

Chalk-browed Mockingbird

Mimus saturninus

Violaceous Euphonia

Euphonia violacea

Grassland Sparrow

Ammodramus humeralis

Variable Oriole

Icterus pyrrhopterus

Molothrus oryzivorus

Chopi Blackbird

Gnorimopsar chopi

Red Pileated Finch

Coryphospingus cucullatus

Rusty-collared Seedeater

Sporophila collaris

White-bellied Seedeater

Sporophila leucoptera

Chestnut-vented Conebill

Conirostrum speciosum

Tataupa Tinamou

Crypturellus tataupa

Red-winged Tinamou

Rhynchotus rufescens

Scissor-tailed Nightjar

Hydropsalis torquata

Rufous Nightjar

Antrostomus rufus

White-collared Swift

Streptoprocne zonaris

Biscutate Swift

Streptoprocne biscutata

Buff-bellied Hermit

Phaethornis subochraceus

Black-throated Mango

Anthracothorax nigricollis

Blue-tufted Starthroat

Heliomaster furcifer

Glittering-bellied Emerald

Chlorostilbon lucidus

Fork-tailed Woodnymph

Thalurania furcata

Swallow-tailed Hummingbird

Eupetomena macroura

Gilded Sapphire

Hylocharis chrysura

Coccycua minuta

Ash-colored Cuckoo

Coccycua cinerea

Patagioenas speciosa

Plain-breasted Ground Dove

Columbina minuta

Picui Ground Dove

Columbina picui

Grey-fronted Dove

Leptotila rufaxilla

Zenaida auriculata

Tachybaptus dominicus

American Golden Plover

Pluvialis dominica

Gallinago paraguaiae

Lesser Yellowlegs

Tringa flavipes

White-faced Ibis

Zebrilus undulatus

Sarcoramphus papa

Gampsonyx swainsonii

White-tailed Kite

Elanus leucurus

Hook-billed Kite

Chondrohierax uncinatus

Swallow-tailed Kite

Elanoides forficatus

Grey-bellied Hawk

Accipiter poliogaster

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Accipiter striatus

Rufous-thighed Kite

Harpagus diodon

Tropical Screech Owl

Megascops choliba

Green-and-rufous Kingfisher

Chloroceryle inda

Spot-backed Puffbird

Nystalus maculatus

Bar-breasted Piculet

Picumnus aurifrons

White-fronted Woodpecker

Melanerpes cactorum

Lineated Woodpecker

Dryocopus lineatus

American Kestrel

Falco sparverius

Aplomado Falcon

Falco femoralis

Blue-and-yellow Macaw

Red-shouldered Macaw

Diopsittaca nobilis

Blue-crowned Parakeet

Thectocercus acuticaudatus

White-eyed Parakeet

Psittacara leucophthalmus

Olivaceous Woodcreeper

Sittasomus griseicapillus

Planalto Woodcreeper

Dendrocolaptes platyrostris

Straight-billed Woodcreeper

Dendroplex picus

Streaked Xenops

Xenops rutilans

Rufous-fronted Thornbird

Phacellodomus rufifrons

Cinereous-breasted Spinetail

Synallaxis hypospodia

Black-bellied Antwren

Formicivora melanogaster

Large-billed Antwren

Herpsilochmus longirostris

Dysithamnus mentalis

Barred Antshrike

Thamnophilus doliatus

Mato Grosso Antbird

Cercomacra melanaria

Myiopagis gaimardii

Southern Beardless Tyrannulet

Camptostoma obsoletum

Suiriri Flycatcher

Suiriri suiriri

Mouse-colored Tyrannulet

Nesotriccus murinus

Subtropical Doradito

Pseudocolopteryx acutipennis

Fulvous-crowned Scrub Tyrant

Euscarthmus meloryphus

Inezia inornata

Stripe-necked Tody-Tyrant

Hemitriccus striaticollis

Pearly-vented Tody-Tyrant

Hemitriccus margaritaceiventer

Rusty-fronted Tody-Flycatcher

Poecilotriccus latirostris

Yellow-olive Flatbill

Tolmomyias sulphurescens

Euler's Flycatcher

Lathrotriccus euleri

Fuscous Flycatcher

Cnemotriccus fuscatus

Masked Water Tyrant

Fluvicola nengeta

Piratic Flycatcher

Legatus leucophaius

Boat-billed Flycatcher

Megarynchus pitangua

Swainson's Flycatcher

Myiarchus swainsoni

Short-crested Flycatcher

Myiarchus ferox

White-eyed Attila

Attila bolivianus

Black-crowned Tityra

Tityra inquisitor

Black-tailed Tityra

Tityra semifasciata

White-naped Xenopsaris

Xenopsaris albinucha

White-winged Becard

Pachyramphus polychopterus

Ashy-headed Greenlet

Hylophilus pectoralis

White-rumped Swallow

Tachycineta leucorrhoa

Blue-and-white Swallow

Pygochelidon cyanoleuca

Moustached Wren

Pheugopedius genibarbis

Buff-breasted Wren

Cantorchilus leucotis

Fawn-breasted Wren

Cantorchilus guarayanus

Southern House Wren

Troglodytes musculus

Masked Gnatcatcher

Polioptila dumicola

White-banded Mockingbird

Creamy-bellied Thrush

Turdus amaurochalinus

Pale-breasted Thrush

Turdus leucomelas

Passer domesticus

Yellowish Pipit

Purple-throated Euphonia

Euphonia chlorotica

Thick-billed Euphonia

Euphonia laniirostris

Rufous-collared Sparrow

Zonotrichia capensis

White-browed Meadowlark

Leistes superciliaris

Icterus cayanensis

Screaming Cowbird

Molothrus rufoaxillaris

Chestnut-capped Blackbird

Chrysomus ruficapillus

Tropical Parula

Setophaga pitiayumi

Flavescent Warbler

Myiothlypis flaveola

Nemosia pileata

Wedge-tailed Grass Finch

Emberizoides herbicola

Hemithraupis guira

Swallow Tanager

Tersina viridis

Black-throated Saltator

Saltatricula atricollis

Green-winged Saltator

Saltator similis

Buff-throated Saltator

Saltator maximus

Coereba flaveola

Blue-black Grassquit

Volatinia jacarina

Grey-headed Tanager

Eucometis penicillata

White-lined Tanager

Tachyphonus rufus

Lined Seedeater

Sporophila lineola

Double-collared Seedeater

Sporophila caerulescens

Chestnut-bellied Seed Finch

Sporophila angolensis

Orange-headed Tanager

Thlypopsis sordida

Crypturellus soui

Small-billed Tinamou

Crypturellus parvirostris

Horned Screamer

Fulvous Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna bicolor

Penelope jacquacu

Little Nightjar

Setopagis parvula

Grey-rumped Swift

Chaetura cinereiventris

Planalto Hermit

Phaethornis pretrei

Dark-billed Cuckoo

Coccyzus melacoryphus

Spotted Sandpiper

Actitis macularius

Greater Yellowlegs

Tringa melanoleuca

Stilt Sandpiper

Calidris himantopus

White-rumped Sandpiper

Calidris fuscicollis

Pectoral Sandpiper

Calidris melanotos

Grey-lined Hawk

White-eared Puffbird

Nystalus chacuru

Swallow-winged Puffbird

Chelidoptera tenebrosa

Wedge-billed Woodcreeper

Glyphorynchus spirurus

Small-billed Elaenia

Elaenia parvirostris

White-throated Kingbird

Tyrannus albogularis

Golden-crowned Warbler

Basileuterus culicivorus

Myrmecophaga tridactyla

Greater Capybara

Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris

Pteronura brasiliensis

Hooded Capuchin

Leopardus pardalis

Crab-eating Fox

Cerdocyon thous

South American Coati

Eurasian Wild Pig

Black-and-gold Howler

Alouatta caraya

Blastocerus dichotomus

Dasyprocta azarae

Six-banded Armadillo

Euphractus sexcinctus

Southern Tamandua

Tamandua tetradactyla

Southeastern Red Brocket

Black-tailed Marmoset

Rhynchonycteris naso

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