Why Brazil Is the Ultimate Birding Destination

Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador — Latin America offers extraordinary birding destinations. But there's one country that, through the sheer scale of its biomes and density of endemic species, occupies a league of its own: Brazil.

Unparalleled diversity

Brazil is home to nearly 2,000 bird species — the second highest number in the world, behind only Colombia. Of this richness, more than 270 species are endemic, found exclusively in Brazilian territory.

This diversity stems from the variety of biomes: Amazon, Atlantic Forest, Cerrado, Pantanal, Caatinga and southern grasslands. Each region offers completely different bird assemblages.

What makes Bonito special

Bonito occupies a privileged biogeographic position in Mato Grosso do Sul. Within a relatively short radius, three distinct biomes can be accessed: Cerrado, Pantanal and Chaco. This convergence allows a single expedition to record species from completely different environments.

With 460+ species already recorded in the region, Bonito offers one of the highest concentrations of accessible biodiversity in Brazil, with excellent tourism infrastructure and an airport just 15 minutes from the town centre.

Three biomes, one trip

Bonito Cerrado — The Cerrado is Brazil's second-largest biome and one of the most biodiverse savannas on Earth. In Bonito, gallery forests along crystal-clear rivers shelter species such as the Blaze-winged Parakeet and the Chaco Puffbird.

Pantanal — The world's largest floodplain offers spectacular concentrations of waterbirds, raptors and macaws. The dry season (Jul-Oct) is the ideal period.

Brazilian Chaco — A little-explored biome in Brazil, with specialised species rarely seen in other Brazilian destinations. The Porto Murtinho region is the gateway to this biogeographic frontier.

Planning your trip