Viruá National Park

National Park · Brazil

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Photo © Rodrigo.Argenton

Photo © Rodrigo.Argenton — CC BY-SA 4.0 — Source: Wikimedia Commons

Across the northern frontier of Roraima, where the forest canopy rises from ancient Amazonian lowlands, Viruá National Park protects nearly 3,700 square kilometres of terra firme rainforest—upland forest that seldom floods, anchored to deep Precambrian soils and fed by the region's relentless wet season. The park's terrain is deceptively complex: dense closed-canopy woodland dominates, but rivers and streams carve through it, creating riverine corridors where light penetrates and vegetation shifts. Seasonally inundated forests grade into flooded forests near waterways, each microhabitat harbouring distinct ecological communities. Canopy birds—tanagers, macaws, and birds of prey—hunt and forage in the high strata; understory songbirds and mixed feeding flocks move through the mid-storey; and ground-dwelling birds, small terrestrial mammals, and amphibian populations exploit the leaf litter and forest floor. This is old-growth tropical forest in its full complexity, where biodiversity is distributed vertically as much as horizontally, and where the wet season transforms water dynamics from seasonal brook to wetland forest mosaic.

For wildlife observers and photographers, Viruá offers the classic Amazonian experience with the advantage of dedicated protection and relative accessibility. The wet season—roughly May through August—brings maximum water levels, which can make certain areas challenging but also concentrates wildlife around drying pools and forces canopy birds lower in search of fruiting trees. The dry season (December to March) clears forest trails and improves visibility, though water sources become more dispersed. Birders will find feeding flocks predictable along river edges, while herpetologists and entomologists discover some of the Amazon's richest diversity in the leaf litter and understory. River access from nearby settlements provides realistic entry to the park; guides with intimate knowledge of seasonal patterns and animal movement are essential, and patience—hallmark of serious Amazon work—rewards observers with genuinely rare sightings impossible in more visited reserves.

Guianan Warbling Antbird

Hypocnemis cantator

Little Chachalaca

Tawny-bellied Screech Owl

Megascops watsonii

Black-collared Hawk

Busarellus nigricollis

Blue-and-yellow Macaw

Crested Bobwhite

Colinus cristatus

Blue-tailed Emerald

Chlorostilbon mellisugus

Patagioenas speciosa

Mycteria americana

Green-backed Trogon

Northern Slaty Antshrike

Thamnophilus punctatus

Black-headed Antbird

Percnostola rufifrons

Cyanocorax cayanus

Red-rumped Cacique

Cacicus haemorrhous

Green-tailed Goldenthroat

Polytmus theresiae

Pilherodius pileatus

Slate-colored Hawk

Buteogallus schistaceus

Pteroglossus viridis

Golden-spangled Piculet

Picumnus exilis

Chestnut Woodpecker

Cherrie's Antwren

Myrmotherula cherriei

Helmeted Pygmy Tyrant

Lophotriccus galeatus

Chestnut-bellied Seed Finch

Sporophila angolensis

Large-billed Seed Finch

Sporophila crassirostris

Fork-tailed Palm Swift

Tachornis squamata

Greater Yellow-headed Vulture

Cathartes melambrotus

Great Black Hawk

Buteogallus urubitinga

Rupornis magnirostris

Amazon Kingfisher

Chloroceryle amazona

Ringed Kingfisher

Megaceryle torquata

Spotted Puffbird

Swallow-winged Puffbird

Chelidoptera tenebrosa

Cream-colored Woodpecker

Falco rufigularis

Deroptyus accipitrinus

Red-and-green Macaw

Ara chloropterus

Wedge-billed Woodcreeper

Glyphorynchus spirurus

Black-banded Woodcreeper

Dendrocolaptes picumnus

Dot-winged Antwren

Microrhopias quixensis

White-flanked Antwren

Myrmotherula axillaris

Southern White-fringed Antwren

Formicivora grisea

Amazonian Antshrike

Thamnophilus amazonicus

Black-chinned Antbird

Hypocnemoides melanopogon

White-bellied Antbird

Myrmeciza longipes

Lipaugus vociferans

Icterus cayanensis

Green Honeycreeper

Chlorophanes spiza

Fulvous-crested Tanager

Tachyphonus surinamus

Sporophila intermedia

Green-tailed Jacamar

Galbula galbula

Crestless Curassow

Mitu tomentosum

Black-necked Aracari

Pteroglossus aracari

Crimson-crested Woodpecker

Campephilus melanoleucos

Pale-vented Pigeon

Patagioenas cayennensis

Coereba flaveola

Pitangus sulphuratus

Golden-winged Parakeet

Brotogeris chrysoptera

Coragyps atratus

Orange-winged Amazon

Amazona amazonica

Thraupis palmarum

Myiopagis gaimardii

Butorides striata

Xenopipo atronitens

Buff-throated Woodcreeper

Xiphorhynchus guttatus

Rufous-crowned Elaenia

Elaenia ruficeps

Grey-winged Trumpeter

Psophia crepitans

Short-tailed Swift

Chaetura brachyura

Ciconia maguari

Tropical Kingbird

Tyrannus melancholicus

Ferruginous-backed Antbird

Myrmoderus ferrugineus

Buteogallus meridionalis

White-naped Seedeater

Sporophila fringilloides

White-crowned Manakin

Pseudopipra pipra

White-headed Marsh Tyrant

Arundinicola leucocephala

Golden-headed Manakin

Ceratopipra erythrocephala

White-tailed Nightjar

Hydropsalis cayennensis

Jabiru mycteria

Yapacana Antbird

Aprositornis disjuncta

Rufescent Tiger Heron

Tigrisoma lineatum

Cairina moschata

Nyctidromus albicollis

Glittering-throated Emerald

Chionomesa fimbriata

Silver-beaked Tanager

Ramphocelus carbo

Short-tailed Nighthawk

Lurocalis semitorquatus

Band-tailed Nighthawk

Nyctiprogne leucopyga

Versicolored Emerald

Chrysuronia versicolor

Common Ground Dove

Columbina passerina

White-tipped Dove

Leptotila verreauxi

Solitary Sandpiper

Tringa solitaria

Mesembrinibis cayennensis

Sarcoramphus papa

Green Kingfisher

Chloroceryle americana

Galbula leucogastra

Black-throated Antbird

Myrmophylax atrothorax

Mouse-colored Antshrike

Thamnophilus murinus

Black-crested Antshrike

Sakesphorus canadensis

Willis's Antbird

Cercomacroides laeta

Yellow-crowned Tyrannulet

Tyrannulus elatus

Amazonian Inezia

Inezia subflava

Sulphury Flycatcher

Tyrannopsis sulphurea

White-throated Kingbird

Tyrannus albogularis

Fork-tailed Flycatcher

Tyrannus savana

Pompadour Cotinga

Xipholena punicea

Blackpoll Warbler

Setophaga striata

Amazonian Grosbeak

Cyanoloxia rothschildii

Plumbeous Seedeater

Sporophila plumbea

Tropical Gnatcatcher

Polioptila plumbea

Cinereous Tinamou

Crypturellus cinereus

Crypturellus soui

Undulated Tinamou

Crypturellus undulatus

Variegated Tinamou

Crypturellus variegatus

White-faced Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna viduata

Black-bellied Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna autumnalis

Nomonyx dominicus

Penelope marail

Lesser Nighthawk

Chordeiles acutipennis

Blackish Nightjar

Nyctipolus nigrescens

Rufous Nightjar

Antrostomus rufus

Nyctibius grandis

Nyctibius griseus

Grey-rumped Swift

Chaetura cinereiventris

Band-rumped Swift

Chaetura spinicaudus

White-necked Jacobin

Florisuga mellivora

Pale-tailed Barbthroat

Threnetes leucurus

Phaethornis ruber

Long-tailed Hermit

Phaethornis superciliosus

Black-eared Fairy

Heliothryx auritus

Ruby-topaz Hummingbird

Chrysolampis mosquitus

Long-billed Starthroat

Heliomaster longirostris

Fork-tailed Woodnymph

Thalurania furcata

Rufous-throated Sapphire

Hylocharis sapphirina

White-chinned Sapphire

Chlorestes cyanus

Blue-chinned Sapphire

Chlorestes notata

Crotophaga major

Smooth-billed Ani

Common Squirrel Cuckoo

Plumbeous Pigeon

Patagioenas plumbea

Patagioenas subvinacea

Plain-breasted Ground Dove

Columbina minuta

Ruddy Ground Dove

Columbina talpacoti

Blue Ground Dove

Claravis pretiosa

Grey-fronted Dove

Leptotila rufaxilla

Zenaida auriculata

Ash-throated Crake

Mustelirallus albicollis

Purple Gallinule

Porphyrio martinica

Russet-crowned Crake

Rufirallus viridis

Aramus guarauna

Hoploxypterus cayanus

Southern Lapwing

Vanellus chilensis

Gallinago paraguaiae

Spotted Sandpiper

Actitis macularius

Yellow-billed Tern

Sternula superciliaris

Large-billed Tern

Phaetusa simplex

Eurypyga helias

Anhinga anhinga

Neotropic Cormorant

Nannopterum brasilianum

Boat-billed Heron

Cochlearius cochlearius

Black-crowned Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

Opisthocomus hoazin

Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture

Cathartes burrovianus

Pandion haliaetus

Gampsonyx swainsonii

White-tailed Kite

Elanus leucurus

Swallow-tailed Kite

Elanoides forficatus

Black Hawk-Eagle

Spizaetus tyrannus

Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle

Spizaetus melanoleucus

Ornate Hawk-Eagle

Spizaetus ornatus

Double-toothed Kite

Harpagus bidentatus

Rufous-thighed Kite

Harpagus diodon

Ictinia plumbea

Geranospiza caerulescens

White-tailed Hawk

Geranoaetus albicaudatus

Grey-lined Hawk

Short-tailed Hawk

Buteo brachyurus

Amazonian Pygmy Owl

Glaucidium hardyi

Ferruginous Pygmy Owl

Glaucidium brasilianum

Great Horned Owl

Bubo virginianus

Tropical Screech Owl

Megascops choliba

Lophostrix cristata

Black-banded Owl

Black-tailed Trogon

Trogon melanurus

Trogon violaceus

Amazonian Black-throated Trogon

American Pygmy Kingfisher

Chloroceryle aenea

Green-and-rufous Kingfisher

Chloroceryle inda

Amazonian Motmot

Brachygalba lugubris

Yellow-billed Jacamar

Galbula albirostris

Paradise Jacamar

Jacamerops aureus

Guianan Puffbird

Notharchus macrorhynchos

Notharchus tectus

Collared Puffbird

Black-fronted Nunbird

Monasa nigrifrons

Black-spotted Barbet

White-throated Toucan

Ramphastos tucanus

Channel-billed Toucan

Ramphastos vitellinus

Guianan Toucanet

Selenidera piperivora

Yellow-tufted Woodpecker

Melanerpes cruentatus

Yellow-throated Woodpecker

Piculus flavigula

Spot-breasted Woodpecker

Colaptes punctigula

Ringed Woodpecker

Celeus torquatus

Lineated Woodpecker

Dryocopus lineatus

Red-necked Woodpecker

Campephilus rubricollis

Red-throated Caracara

Ibycter americanus

Laughing Falcon

Herpetotheres cachinnans

Barred Forest Falcon

Micrastur ruficollis

Slaty-backed Forest Falcon

Micrastur mirandollei

Collared Forest Falcon

Micrastur semitorquatus

American Kestrel

Falco sparverius

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

Scarlet-shouldered Parrotlet

Blue-headed Parrot

Pionus menstruus

Yellow-crowned Amazon

Amazona ochrocephala

Amazona farinosa

Black-headed Parrot

Pionites melanocephalus

Painted Parakeet

Brown-throated Parakeet

Eupsittula pertinax

Chestnut-fronted Macaw

Red-shouldered Macaw

Diopsittaca nobilis

Olivaceous Woodcreeper

Sittasomus griseicapillus

Plain-brown Woodcreeper

Dendrocincla fuliginosa

Cinnamon-throated Woodcreeper

Dendrexetastes rufigula

Long-billed Woodcreeper

Nasica longirostris

Amazonian Barred Woodcreeper

Dendrocolaptes certhia

Striped Woodcreeper

Xiphorhynchus obsoletus

Chestnut-rumped Woodcreeper

Xiphorhynchus pardalotus

Straight-billed Woodcreeper

Dendroplex picus

Zimmer's Woodcreeper

Dendroplex kienerii

Pale-legged Hornero

Furnarius leucopus

Cinnamon-rumped Foliage-gleaner

Philydor pyrrhodes

Ochre-throated Foliage-gleaner

Automolus ochrolaemus

Rusty-backed Spinetail

Cranioleuca vulpina

Yellow-chinned Spinetail

Certhiaxis cinnamomeus

Plain-crowned Spinetail

Synallaxis gujanensis

Pale-breasted Spinetail

Synallaxis albescens

Spot-winged Antshrike

Pygiptila stellaris

Myrmotherula brachyura

Cinereous Antshrike

Thamnomanes caesius

Rusty-winged Antwren

Herpsilochmus frater

Barred Antshrike

Thamnophilus doliatus

Blackish-grey Antshrike

Thamnophilus nigrocinereus

Great Antshrike

Cercomacra cinerascens

Rio Branco Antbird

Cercomacra carbonaria

Spot-winged Antbird

Myrmelastes leucostigma

White-browed Antbird

Myrmoborus leucophrys

Rufous-capped Antthrush

Formicarius colma

Yellow-crowned Elaenia

Myiopagis flavivertex

Yellow-bellied Elaenia

Elaenia flavogaster

Plain-crested Elaenia

Elaenia cristata

Elaenia chiriquensis

White-lored Tyrannulet

Ornithion inerme

Southern Beardless Tyrannulet

Camptostoma obsoletum

Mouse-colored Tyrannulet

Nesotriccus murinus

Lesser Wagtail-Tyrant

Stigmatura napensis

Guianan Tyrannulet

Ochre-bellied Flycatcher

Mionectes oleagineus

White-eyed Tody-Tyrant

Hemitriccus zosterops

Pearly-vented Tody-Tyrant

Hemitriccus margaritaceiventer

Short-tailed Pygmy Tyrant

Myiornis ecaudatus

Spotted Tody-Flycatcher

Todirostrum maculatum

Common Tody-Flycatcher

Todirostrum cinereum

Painted Tody-Flycatcher

Todirostrum pictum

Yellow-olive Flatbill

Tolmomyias sulphurescens

Yellow-margined Flatbill

Tolmomyias assimilis

Grey-crowned Flatbill

Tolmomyias poliocephalus

Ochre-lored Flatbill

Tolmomyias flaviventris

White-crested Spadebill

Platyrinchus platyrhynchos

Drab Water Tyrant

Ochthornis littoralis

Amazonian Black Tyrant

Knipolegus poecilocercus

Piratic Flycatcher

Legatus leucophaius

Rusty-margined Flycatcher

Myiozetetes cayanensis

Social Flycatcher

Myiozetetes similis

Lesser Kiskadee

Philohydor lictor

Streaked Flycatcher

Myiodynastes maculatus

Boat-billed Flycatcher

Megarynchus pitangua

Greyish Mourner

Rhytipterna simplex

Dusky-capped Flycatcher

Myiarchus tuberculifer

Swainson's Flycatcher

Myiarchus swainsoni

Short-crested Flycatcher

Myiarchus ferox

Rufous-tailed Flatbill

Ramphotrigon ruficauda

Cinnamon Attila

Attila cinnamomeus

Bright-rumped Attila

Attila spadiceus

Purple-throated Fruitcrow

Querula purpurata

Spangled Cotinga

Bare-necked Fruitcrow

Gymnoderus foetidus

Yellow-crested Manakin

Heterocercus flavivertex

White-bearded Manakin

Manacus manacus

Black-tailed Tityra

Guianan Schiffornis

Schiffornis olivacea

Cinereous Mourner

Laniocera hypopyrra

Cinereous Becard

Pachyramphus rufus

White-winged Becard

Pachyramphus polychopterus

Pink-throated Becard

Pachyramphus minor

Whiskered Myiobius

Myiobius barbatus

Ruddy-tailed Flycatcher

Terenotriccus erythrurus

Ashy-headed Greenlet

Hylophilus pectoralis

Lemon-chested Greenlet

Hylophilus thoracicus

Grey-chested Greenlet

Hylophilus semicinereus

Buff-cheeked Greenlet

Pachysylvia muscicapina

Cyanocorax violaceus

White-winged Swallow

Tachycineta albiventer

Brown-chested Martin

Grey-breasted Martin

Progne chalybea

Southern Rough-winged Swallow

Stelgidopteryx ruficollis

White-banded Swallow

Atticora fasciata

Blue-and-white Swallow

Pygochelidon cyanoleuca

Hirundo rustica

Black-capped Donacobius

Donacobius atricapilla

Buff-breasted Wren

Cantorchilus leucotis

Southern House Wren

Troglodytes musculus

Trilling Gnatwren

Ramphocaenus melanurus

Black-billed Thrush

Turdus ignobilis

Rusty-flanked Thrush

Turdus albicollis

Pale-breasted Thrush

Turdus leucomelas

Turdus fumigatus

Plumbeous Euphonia

Euphonia plumbea

White-lored Euphonia

Euphonia chrysopasta

Violaceous Euphonia

Euphonia violacea

Grassland Sparrow

Ammodramus humeralis

Yellow-browed Sparrow

Ammodramus aurifrons

Pectoral Sparrow

Arremon taciturnus

Red-breasted Meadowlark

Leistes militaris

Crested Oropendola

Psarocolius decumanus

Olive Oropendola

Psarocolius bifasciatus

Yellow-rumped Cacique

Icterus nigrogularis

Molothrus oryzivorus

Molothrus bonariensis

Northern Waterthrush

Parkesia noveboracensis

Masked Yellowthroat

Geothlypis aequinoctialis

American Redstart

Setophaga ruticilla

Riverbank Warbler

Myiothlypis rivularis

Rose-breasted Chat

Granatellus pelzelni

Wedge-tailed Grass Finch

Emberizoides herbicola

Purple Honeycreeper

Cyanerpes caeruleus

Red-legged Honeycreeper

Cyanerpes cyaneus

Olive-grey Saltator

Saltator olivascens

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

Red-shouldered Tanager

Tachyphonus phoenicius

Lesson's Seedeater

Sporophila bouvronides

Yellow-bellied Seedeater

Sporophila nigricollis

Ruddy-breasted Seedeater

Sporophila minuta

Sicalis flaveola

Black-faced Tanager

Schistochlamys melanopis

Red-capped Cardinal

Paroaria gularis

Blue-grey Tanager

Thraupis episcopus

Burnished-buff Tanager

Stilpnia cayana

Turquoise Tanager

Tangara mexicana

Ladder-tailed Nightjar

Hydropsalis climacocerca

Roseate Spoonbill

Little Blue Heron

Egretta caerulea

Microspizias superciliosus

Black-faced Antthrush

Formicarius analis

Variegated Antpitta

Grallaria varia

Small-billed Elaenia

Elaenia parvirostris

Euler's Flycatcher

Lathrotriccus euleri

Pteronura brasiliensis

Common Red-rumped Agouti

Dasyprocta leporina

White-tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus

Guianan Bearded Saki

Chiropotes sagulatus

Southern Tamandua

Tamandua tetradactyla

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