The Lined Seedeater has a really wide range in South America, but it is uncommon in most places. In eastern Brazil where I saw this one, it is a year round resident, but in most of its range it is migratory. It used to be lumped with Lesson's Seedeater but they are considered distinct species now and there is no overlap in eastern Brazil. There are 41 seedeater species in this genus.
This odd duck is pretty unique in the western hemisphere but is in the same genus at the Knob-billed Duck of the eastern hemisphere. I suppose it sort of looks like a Muscovy Duck, but they are a completely different genus. Comb Ducks have a wide distribution across South America but they are not common as I have only seen this one up to now. This was taken in a random pond in eastern Brazil during my second trip to that amazing country.
The Least Nighthawk is a small nighthawk in the same genus as others I have seen like the Common Nighthawk, Antillean Nighthawk and Nacunda Nighthawk. It has a wide range across the northern and eastern portions of South America. We had great views on my second trip to Brazil, but my camera focus was on the wrong setting for a flying bird and by the time I switched it, they had almost past, hence the butt end shot here.
This beautiful hummer is found over a huge area in north and eastern South America including much of Brazil which is where I saw mine. My best pictures by far were obtained at Lajedo dos Beija-Flores in Boa Nova. It is the only species in its genus and has no defined sub-species.
The Greater Wagtail-Tyrant is one of the three species that were previously lumped into the Wagtail-Tyrant. It has two very disparate populations, one in eastern Brazil and the other just east of the Andes in much of Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay. The Greater has a more well defined yellow supercilia (eyebrow) than the Bahia, and a darker back and cap. We had both species at Sitio Pau Preto in Potengi. The third one is found in the Amazon and I haven't had the chance to see it yet.
The Spotted Piculet is an endemic to eastern Brazil and relatively common. The genus it belongs to is huge with 25 species. We saw it in multiple different areas and habitats including typical caatinga scrublands or in this case a stand of trees bordering farms fields. Look at those alien eyes!
