Iguacu Falls Pre-trip: Brazil & Argentina 8/5/2025-8/9/2025

www.ebird.org/tripreport/402709

Our Iguacu Falls Pre-trip was yet another memorable experience, unique and luxurious in its own way. We enjoyed the spectacular scenery and wonderful birds and butterflies. Our distinctly comfortable, historic hotel was a pleasant home-sweet-home for the trip, being a moment's walk from viewing Iguacu Falls. Over the course of two full days of birding we searched for the wondrous birds of both Brazil and Argentina. As in past years, we were accompanied by our dear friend and local guide Oliver, who took amazing care of us each day. It was a delight to bird with him again!

On our first evening together before the two formal days of birding, we did some casual birding around the hotel grounds before dinner. As we met, hundreds of Great Dusky Swifts were seen swirling around over the vista of the falls, with the viewing area just a moment’s walk from the hotel entrance. These fantastic birds both live and nest behind the cascading waterfalls. It's downright magical and a must-see during our falls visit. As we explored the area, beautiful Toco Toucans graced the tops of the nearby trees. Pale-breasted Thrushes fed along the grassy lawns among a dozen chatty Southern Lapwings that always had something to say, and a Variable Oriole sang nearby. The impressive ambience of the waterfalls was incredible, and a delicious welcoming dinner followed in the hotel. We enjoyed wonderful hotel dinners every night of the tour, with the hotel dining setup hosting a uniquely special buffet for us—something worthy of writing home about! 

Yellow-fronted Woodpecker ©  Erik Bruhnke

We started our first morning birding along the legendary Poco Preto Road, just minutes from our hotel. While birding along this stunning woodland we came across exciting birds like four gorgeous Rufous-capped Motmots, a large Blond-crested Woodpecker, and chatty Plush-crested Jays to name a few. Throughout the morning, we enjoyed studying three different thrush species along the trail: Creamy-bellied, Pale-breasted, and White-necked. One of the highlights of the morning was observing not one, not two, but three dapper Surucua Trogons! Golden-crowned Warblers were heard and seen well among the dense foliage, as if “overcaffeinated” in their behavior. A Red-ruffed Fruitcrow made its presence known, and with a little patience we were able to both see and hear the fabulous and tiny Sao Paulo Bristle-Tyrant, a near-threatened, range-restricted species! The vibrant Guira Tanager was appreciated well before we headed back to the road. The corridor of green throughout the morning hours was delightful to explore, and again it was all taking place just minutes from our home-sweet-home hotel.

One of several Plush-crested Jays we saw in the morning ©  Erik Bruhnke

Upon heading back to the road, we enjoyed a breakfast/brunch picnic where we saw wonderful birds like Planalto Woodcreeper and a Toco Toucan, with an uncommon Buff-bellied Puffbird shortly after that stole the show. Lunch a little later on along the falls was scenic, and throughout the afternoon of birding along the “banana trail,” we enjoyed birds like the chatty Plain-winged Woodcreeper, White-bearded Manakin, and two Black-goggled Tanagers to name a few. In addition to the exciting bird life earlier on, our afternoon walk through the woods was teeming with a breathtaking array of butterflies (it felt like a dream at times)! We took time to appreciate and identify the many butterflies we came across. What a day!

Agathina Emperor ©  Erik Bruhnke

On our second full day of birding, we had our sights set on making our way to Argentina to bird around the other side of the Iguacu Falls. Moments after we left our hotel we witnessed a Common Pauraque alongside the road (just before sunrise, still within the park). Along birding all day with Oliver, we spent a good portion of the day birding and exploring the Argentina side with Martin, another fabulous birder and wonderful birding guide whom we have worked with on past tours. It is a treat to work and bird with both of them, year after year. We explored Camino al Santuario (the walk to the sanctuary). This road is lined with dense vegetation, with both a thicket of eye level bushes and taller trees along a seldomly-traveled side road. It’s a gem of a place to explore throughout the morning among the mix of habitats, where we tallied 43 species over the course of half a mile of casual walking/birding! The vibrant Maroon-bellied Parakeets were seen flying overhead, as were White-eyed Parakeets and a Turquoise-fronted Amazon. We got our binoculars on a stunning male White-shouldered Fire-eye, a show-stealer in his own way. We had great views of gorgeous species like a Fawn-breasted Tanager, Ruby-crowned Tanagers, and the beyond-colorful Green-headed Tanager (to name just a few of the ten species of tanagers we came across, if counting the singing Chestnut-headed Tanager that was heard). Treetop-perching Magpie Tanagers kept watch as we walked by, showing off their long tails and distinct tuxedo-like plumage. The tiny Purple-throated Euphonia was beautiful to see, too. There was much to cherish!

Stunning Magpie Tanager ©  Erik Bruhnke

As the day progressed, we made our way into Iguacu Falls National Park, where we birded by trail and by train. We enjoyed birds like Violet-capped Woodnymph, and the charismatic Chopi Blackbirds singing away, while we were getting checked in. We took a walk to the climactic overlook of Iguacu Falls, viewing the renowned “Devil’s Throat” where numerous massive cascades converge into one remarkable section. We enjoyed views of Limpkin, Black Skimmer, Ringed Kingfisher, and Black-capped Donacobius. The raw energy while overlooking the waterfalls is unreal, and it's clear why Iguacu Falls is considered one of the great natural wonders of the world. Just feet from the cascading waterfalls, we locked our sights on several large Iguazu Catfish swimming right below us. This rare and incredibly range-restricted catfish species is unique to the immediate area.

View of the Devil's Throat within Iguacu Falls National Park @ Erik Bruhnke

In the afternoon we explored the renowned Hummingbird Garden (Jardin de Picaflores), where we studied eight species of hummingbirds, each beautiful in its own way. No fewer than 40 Versicolored Emeralds buzzed among the feeders and around our heads, while less common hummingbirds like the large Swallow-tailed Hummingbird, the regal Black Jacobin, and locally uncommon White-throated Hummingbird made less frequent but noted visits. A dashing White Woodpecker fed in a nearby tree along the property edge among the hummingbird commotion. We ended our day birding and enjoying the landscape where the Iguazu River meets up with the Parana River—a unique location where Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay can be seen at one time! We took an impromptu group photo with some friendly passersby—it was funny and memorable all at the same time. We had a lot of fun every day of this pre-trip

Versicolored Emerald ©  Erik Bruhnke

On our last morning around the hotel grounds, we enjoyed one final buffet at the hotel (like the dinners, the breakfasts at the hotel were fantastic). A Rufous-collared Sparrow was seen feeding near the central courtyard area, as were a Chalk-browed Mockingbird and Rufous Hornero. We said our goodbyes to Oliver at the airport that morning. It was a delight to see him and bird with him again. I’m already looking forward to next year’s Iguacu Falls Pre-trip, a treat to the birding senses!

A complete list of the birds recorded on our tour can be found at: www.ebird.org/tripreport/402709

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Erik Bruhnke's upcoming tour schedule.