Serra do Gandarela National Park

National Park · Brazil

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Photo © wanderley santos vie… — CC BY-SA 4.0 — Source: Wikimedia Commons

Where granite peaks thrust upward through Atlantic Forest mist, the landscape reveals itself in dramatic relief—a montane wilderness sprawling across nearly a thousand square kilometers of southeastern Brazil. Towering escarpments and deep river gorges define the terrain, their rocky faces weathered into cathedral-like formations that catch the golden light of dawn. These heights nurture a patchwork of distinct ecosystems: dense cloud forest clings to upper slopes where epiphytes and mosses thrive in perpetual humidity, while transitional zones give way to grasslands and savanna-like campos at the summit. The park protects one of Brazil's most biodiverse mountain regions, where endemism runs exceptionally high and geological drama reinforces the sense of untouched wilderness.

Birdwatchers arrive here with anticipation—over 350 species have been recorded, including several Atlantic Forest endemics found nowhere else. Photographers chase the crystalline light that floods the canyons during dry season mornings, when mist burns away to reveal endless vistas. The park's accessibility from nearby towns and well-maintained trails make it ideal for multi-day expeditions, rewarding patience with glimpses of tapirs, primates, and countless avian treasures as the forest awakens at dawn.

Rufous-tailed Jacamar

Galbula ruficauda

Jacamará colirrufo

Chiroxiphia caudata

Ruby-crowned Tanager

Tachyphonus coronatus

Tangara Coronada

Yellow-headed Caracara

Daptrius chimachima

Caracara Chimachima

Violet-capped Woodnymph

Thalurania glaucopis

Zafiro Capirotado

White-barred Piculet

Picumnus cirratus

Carpinterito Variable

Sicalis flaveola

Chirigüe azafranado

Swallow-tailed Hummingbird

Eupetomena macroura

Colibrí golondrina

Small-headed Elaenia

Elaenia sordida

Fiofío brasileño

Grey-eyed Greenlet

Hylophilus amaurocephalus

Verdillo ojigrís

Rufous-collared Sparrow

Zonotrichia capensis

Chingolo común

Ruddy Ground Dove

Columbina talpacoti

Columbina Colorada

Cliff Flycatcher

Hirundinea ferruginea

Chalk-browed Mockingbird

Mimus saturninus

Sinsonte Calandria

Rufous-bellied Thrush

Turdus rufiventris

Zorzal Colorado

Rupornis magnirostris

busardo caminero

Furnarius rufus

Pale-breasted Thrush

Turdus leucomelas

Thraupis sayaca

Robust Woodpecker

Campephilus robustus

Picamaderos Robusto

Planalto Tyrannulet

Phyllomyias fasciatus

Mosquerito oliváceo

Masked Water Tyrant

Fluvicola nengeta

Viudita Enmascarada

Social Flycatcher

Myiozetetes similis

Bienteveo Sociable

Passer domesticus

Gorrión común

Thraupis palmarum

Tangara Palmera

Slaty-breasted Wood Rail

Aramides saracura

Cotara Saracura

Coragyps atratus

White-tailed Hawk

Geranoaetus albicaudatus

Busardo Coliblanco

Crested Caracara

Caracara plancus

carancho meridional

Bran-colored Flycatcher

Myiophobus fasciatus

Mosquero Estriado

Machetornis rixosa

Short-crested Flycatcher

Myiarchus ferox

Southern House Wren

Troglodytes musculus

Chochín Ratón

Wedge-tailed Grass Finch

Emberizoides herbicola

Coludo colicuña

Dusky-legged Guan

Penelope obscura

Penelope obscura bridgesi

Neotropic Cormorant

Nannopterum brasilianum

Cormorán biguá

Ramphastos toco

Falco rufigularis

Halcón murcielaguero

Peach-fronted Parakeet

Eupsittula aurea

Aratinga Frentidorada

Buff-fronted Foliage-gleaner

Ticotico ocráceo grande

Elaenia spectabilis

Green-barred Woodpecker

Colaptes melanochloros

Carpintero real norteño

Variable Antshrike

Thamnophilus caerulescens

Batará variable

Gilt-edged Tanager

Tangara cyanoventris

Tangara Ventriazul

White-eyed Parakeet

Psittacara leucophthalmus

Aratinga Ojiblanca

Grey Pileated Finch

Coryphospingus pileatus

Soldadito Capirotado

Black-capped Antwren

Herpsilochmus atricapillus

Tiluchí plomizo

Coereba flaveola

Trogon surrucura

Trogón surucuá meridional

Cinereous Warbling Finch

Microspingus cinereus

Monterita cinérea

White-eared Puffbird

Nystalus chacuru

Yellow-eared Woodpecker

Veniliornis maculifrons

Carpintero Orejigualdo

White-shouldered Fire-eye

Pyriglena leucoptera

Ojodefuego Aliblanco

Southern Beardless Tyrannulet

Camptostoma obsoletum

Mosquerito silbón

Fuscous Flycatcher

Cnemotriccus fuscatus

Mosquero Parduzco

Yellow-bellied Elaenia

Elaenia flavogaster

Fiofío ventriamarillo

Columbina squammata

Tortolita Escamosa

White-tipped Dove

Leptotila verreauxi

Paloma montaraz común

Little Woodpecker

Veniliornis passerinus

Carpintero Chico

Streaked Xenops

Xenops rutilans

Picolezna Rojizo

Crypturellus obsoletus

Small-billed Tinamou

Crypturellus parvirostris

Tinamú piquicorto

White-collared Swift

Streptoprocne zonaris

Vencejo Acollarado

Plumbeous Pigeon

Patagioenas plumbea

Lineated Woodpecker

Dryocopus lineatus

Picamaderos Listado

Cobalt-rumped Parrotlet

Forpus xanthopterygius

Cotorrita Aliazul

Collared Crescentchest

Melanopareia torquata

Pecholuna brasileño

Elaenia chiriquensis

Fiofío belicoso

Pearly-vented Tody-Tyrant

Hemitriccus margaritaceiventer

Titirijí perlado

Golden-crowned Warbler

Basileuterus culicivorus

Reinita Coroniestriada

Picazuro Pigeon

Patagioenas picazuro

Paloma picazuró

Pitangus sulphuratus

Bienteveo común

Yellow-lored Tody-Flycatcher

Todirostrum poliocephalum

Titirijí cabecigrís

Boat-billed Flycatcher

Megarynchus pitangua

Bienteveo pitanguá

Rufous-browed Peppershrike

Cyclarhis gujanensis

Vireón cejirrufo

White-rimmed Warbler

Myiothlypis leucoblephara

Reinita Silbona

Ochre-faced Tody-Flycatcher

Poecilotriccus plumbeiceps

Titirijí cabecicanela

Euler's Flycatcher

Lathrotriccus euleri

Mosquero de Euler

Crested Oropendola

Psarocolius decumanus

Cacique Crestado

Mottle-cheeked Tyrannulet

Phylloscartes ventralis

Orejerito oliváceo

Glittering-bellied Emerald

Chlorostilbon lucidus

Esmeralda Ventridorada

Southern Rough-winged Swallow

Stelgidopteryx ruficollis

Golondrina Gorjirrufa

Tropical Kingbird

Tyrannus melancholicus

Tirano melancólico

Blue-and-white Swallow

Pygochelidon cyanoleuca

Golondrina Barranquera

Sapphire-spangled Emerald

Chionomesa lactea

Amazilia Zafirina

Yellow-bellied Seedeater

Sporophila nigricollis

Semillero Ventriamarillo

White-vented Violetear

Colibri serrirostris

Colibrí orejimorado

Versicolored Emerald

Chrysuronia versicolor

Amazilia Versicolor

Formicivora serrana

Hormiguerito Serrano

Long-tailed Tyrant

Colonia colonus

Mosquero Colilargo

Black-goggled Tanager

Trichothraupis melanops

Tangara de anteojos

Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture

Cathartes burrovianus

Ochre-rumped Antbird

Drymophila ochropyga

Tiluchí culipardo

Smooth-billed Ani

Garrapatero aní

Orange-eyed Thornbird

Phacellodomus erythrophthalmus

Espinero Ojirrubio

Sepia-capped Flycatcher

Leptopogon amaurocephalus

Orejero Coronipardo

Cinnamon Tanager

Schistochlamys ruficapillus

Red-legged Seriema

Cariama cristata

Chuña patirroja

Cairina moschata

Pin-tailed Manakin

Ilicura militaris

Saltarín militar

Common Squirrel Cuckoo

Cuco ardilla común

Piranga Bermeja

Crested Black Tyrant

Knipolegus lophotes

Viudita Copetona

Rufous-fronted Thornbird

Phacellodomus rufifrons

Espinero Frentirrufo

Yellow-olive Flatbill

Tolmomyias sulphurescens

Picoplano Sulfuroso

Swallow Tanager

Tersina viridis

Tangara Golondrina

Spix's Spinetail

Synallaxis spixi

Plain-crested Elaenia

Elaenia cristata

Fiofío crestado

Rufous-headed Tanager

Hemithraupis ruficapilla

Tangara Cabecirrufa

Blue-black Grassquit

Volatinia jacarina

Semillero Volatinero

Burnished-buff Tanager

Stilpnia cayana

Tangara isabel norteña

Phaethornis ruber

Ermitaño rojizo

Olivaceous Woodcreeper

Sittasomus griseicapillus

Trepatroncos oliváceo oriental

Spinus magellanicus

Jilguero Encapuchado

Saffron-billed Sparrow

Arremon flavirostris

Cerquero Piquiamarillo

Sarcoramphus papa

Rufous-capped Spinetail

Synallaxis ruficapilla

Pijuí coronirrojo

Mouse-colored Tyrannulet

Nesotriccus murinus

Brown-crested Flycatcher

Myiarchus tyrannulus

Copetón tiranillo

Green-winged Saltator

Saltator similis

Pepitero Verdoso

Scissor-tailed Nightjar

Hydropsalis torquata

Chotacabras Tijereta

Planalto Hermit

Phaethornis pretrei

Ermitaño del Planalto

Fork-tailed Woodnymph

Thalurania furcata

Zafiro Golondrina

Sombre Hummingbird

Eupetomena cirrochloris

Colibrí apagado

Ferruginous Antbird

Drymophila ferruginea

Tiluchí herrumbroso

Yellow Tyrannulet

Capsiempis flaveola

Mosquerito Amarillo

Hangnest Tody-Tyrant

Hemitriccus nidipendulus

Titirijí de Wied

White-rumped Monjita

Grassland Sparrow

Ammodramus humeralis

Chingolo Pajonalero

Embernagra longicauda

Coludo gorjipálido

Amazonetta brasiliensis

Pato brasileño

Hyacinth Visorbearer

Augastes scutatus

Colibrí colaceleste

Bare-faced Ibis

Phimosus infuscatus

Rough-legged Tyrannulet

Acrochordopus burmeisteri

Mosquerito de Burmeister

Sooty Tyrannulet

Serpophaga nigricans

Southern Antpipit

Corythopis delalandi

Mosquero terrestre sureño

Swallow-tailed Cotinga

Phibalura flavirostris

Cotinga Tijereta

Whiskered Myiobius

Myiobius barbatus

Moscareta Barbada

Purple-throated Euphonia

Euphonia chlorotica

Eufonia golipúrpura

Long-tailed Reed Finch

Donacospiza albifrons

Biscutate Swift

Streptoprocne biscutata

Vencejo nuquiblanco brasileño

Amethyst Woodstar

Calliphlox amethystina

Colibrí amatista

Mesembrinibis cayennensis

Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper

Lochmias nematura

White-eyed Foliage-gleaner

Automolus leucophthalmus

Ticotico Ojiblanco

Dysithamnus mentalis

Batarito cabecigrís

Rufous-winged Antshrike

Thamnophilus torquatus

Batará alirrufo

Southern Bristle Tyrant

Pogonotriccus eximius

Orejerito Cejudo

Grey-hooded Flycatcher

Mionectes rufiventris

Mosquero Ladrillito

Velvety Black Tyrant

Knipolegus nigerrimus

Viudita Aterciopelada

Tapirus terrestris

Tapir amazónico

Black-tufted-ear Marmoset

Callithrix penicillata

Tití de pincel negro

Black-horned Capuchin

Sapajus nigritus

Capuchino negro

Greater Capybara

Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris

Crab-eating Fox

Cerdocyon thous

Chrysocyon brachyurus

Black-fronted Titi

Callicebus nigrifrons

Guigó de frente negra

Southern Tamandua

Tamandua tetradactyla

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