Distance covered: ~120 km
Route: UEMS Aquidauana ➔ Morro do Paxixi ➔ Piraputanga District
Weather conditions: Clear blue skies, bright sunshine, and breathtaking landscapes
Total species recorded: 44 (Birds, Mammals, Reptiles, and Flora)
The Journey
On August 1, 2026, we hit the road for a special expedition dedicated to the Hyacinth Macaw Big Day. Our route covered about 120 km of pure awe, starting at UEMS Aquidauana, climbing the impressive mountain range of Morro do Paxixi, and ending in the charming district of Piraputanga.
The day gifted us with crystal-clear skies and a radiant sun, perfectly framing the region's rock formations and lush vegetation.
The "Failure" That Became a Success
If the main goal was to return home with a memory card filled with beautiful portraits of the majestic Hyacinth Macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus)... well, nature moves at its own pace! We managed to spot two pairs of Hyacinth Macaws soaring across the sky, but they didn’t give us the chance for a posed photograph.
However, anyone who observes nature knows: there is no such thing as a wasted expedition.
What could have been chalked up as a "failure" turned into a truly memorable journey. To make up for it, the trail rewarded us with an incredible milestone of 44 recorded species, including birds, mammals, reptiles, and fascinating flora. The absolute highlight of the day was spotting and capturing a photo of the imposing King Vulture (Sarcoramphus papa)—a true gift for any wildlife observer!
Spending the entire day surrounded by stunning landscapes, discovering local biodiversity, and sharing this passion reminds us exactly why we created species.guide.
📍 Exploration Area: UEMS - Unidade Universitária de Aquidauana
+During this expedition, our exploration base was the region of UEMS - Unidade Universitária de Aquidauana . The delimited surroundings are detailed below.
🦅 Sighted Species Checklist (44)
+Photographic Records
Peach-fronted Parakeet
/ Periquito-rei
(Eupsittula aurea)
King Vulture
/ Urubu-rei
(Sarcoramphus papa)
King Vulture
/ Urubu-rei
(Sarcoramphus papa)
Black-collared Hawk
/ Gavião-belo
(Busarellus nigricollis)
Red-and-green Macaw
/ Arara-vermelha
(Ara chloropterus)
Rufescent Tiger-Heron
/ Socó-boi
(Tigrisoma lineatum)
Southern Rough-winged Swallow
/ Andorinha-serradora
(Stelgidopteryx ruficollis)
Buff-necked Ibis
/ Curicaca
(Theristicus caudatus)
Red-legged Seriema
/ Seriema
(Cariama cristata)
Jacaré-do-pantanal
(Caiman yacare)
Jacaré-do-pantanal
(Caiman yacare)
Calango-Verde
(Ameiva ameiva)
Amazon Kingfisher
/ Martim-pescador-verde
(Chloroceryle amazona)
Field Record
Savanna Hawk
/ Gavião-caboclo
(Heterospizias meridionalis)
Black-collared Hawk
/ Gavião-belo
(Busarellus nigricollis)
Black-collared Hawk
/ Gavião-belo
(Busarellus nigricollis)
Black-collared Hawk
/ Gavião-belo
(Busarellus nigricollis)
Black-collared Hawk
/ Gavião-belo
(Busarellus nigricollis)
White-headed Marsh Tyrant
/ Freirinha
(Arundinicola leucocephala)
Savanna Hawk
/ Gavião-caboclo
(Heterospizias meridionalis)
Savanna Hawk
/ Gavião-caboclo
(Heterospizias meridionalis)
Black-collared Hawk
/ Gavião-belo
(Busarellus nigricollis)
Black-collared Hawk
/ Gavião-belo
(Busarellus nigricollis)
Blue-and-yellow Macaw
/ Arara-canindé
(Ara ararauna)
Blue-and-yellow Macaw
/ Arara-canindé
(Ara ararauna)
Savanna Hawk
/ Gavião-caboclo
(Heterospizias meridionalis)
Savanna Hawk
/ Gavião-caboclo
(Heterospizias meridionalis)
Rufescent Tiger-Heron
/ Socó-boi
(Tigrisoma lineatum)
Black-collared Hawk
/ Gavião-belo
(Busarellus nigricollis)
Black-collared Hawk
/ Gavião-belo
(Busarellus nigricollis)
White-headed Marsh Tyrant
/ Freirinha
(Arundinicola leucocephala)
Field Record
Field Record
Red-and-green Macaw
/ Arara-vermelha
(Ara chloropterus)
King Vulture
/ Urubu-rei
(Sarcoramphus papa)
Black-collared Hawk
/ Gavião-belo
(Busarellus nigricollis)
Black-collared Hawk
/ Gavião-belo
(Busarellus nigricollis)
Black-collared Hawk
/ Gavião-belo
(Busarellus nigricollis)
Savanna Hawk
/ Gavião-caboclo
(Heterospizias meridionalis)
Savanna Hawk
/ Gavião-caboclo
(Heterospizias meridionalis)
Savanna Hawk
/ Gavião-caboclo
(Heterospizias meridionalis)
Buff-necked Ibis
/ Curicaca
(Theristicus caudatus)
Buff-necked Ibis
/ Curicaca
(Theristicus caudatus)
Rufescent Tiger-Heron
/ Socó-boi
(Tigrisoma lineatum)
Orquídea da ponte de piraputanga
(Ornithophora radicans)
Field Record
Red-legged Seriema
/ Seriema
(Cariama cristata)
Southern Rough-winged Swallow
/ Andorinha-serradora
(Stelgidopteryx ruficollis)
Black Vulture
/ Urubu-preto
(Coragyps atratus)
Black Vulture
/ Urubu-preto
(Coragyps atratus)
Black Vulture
/ Urubu-preto
(Coragyps atratus)
Field Record
Red-and-green Macaw
/ Arara-vermelha
(Ara chloropterus)
Red-and-green Macaw
/ Arara-vermelha
(Ara chloropterus)
Red-and-green Macaw
/ Arara-vermelha
(Ara chloropterus)
Lagartixa do Paxixi
(Tropidurus torquatus)
Peach-fronted Parakeet
/ Periquito-rei
(Eupsittula aurea)
Peach-fronted Parakeet
/ Periquito-rei
(Eupsittula aurea)
Peach-fronted Parakeet
/ Periquito-rei
(Eupsittula aurea)
Red-and-green Macaw
/ Arara-vermelha
(Ara chloropterus)
Red-and-green Macaw
/ Arara-vermelha
(Ara chloropterus)
Red-and-green Macaw
/ Arara-vermelha
(Ara chloropterus)
Red-and-green Macaw
/ Arara-vermelha
(Ara chloropterus)
Red-and-green Macaw
/ Arara-vermelha
(Ara chloropterus)
King Vulture
/ Urubu-rei
(Sarcoramphus papa)
King Vulture
/ Urubu-rei
(Sarcoramphus papa)
King Vulture
/ Urubu-rei
(Sarcoramphus papa)
King Vulture
/ Urubu-rei
(Sarcoramphus papa)
King Vulture
/ Urubu-rei
(Sarcoramphus papa)
Field Record
Bare-faced Ibis
/ Tapicuru
(Phimosus infuscatus)
Great Egret
/ Garça-branca-grande
(Ardea alba)
Great Egret
/ Garça-branca-grande
(Ardea alba)
King Vulture
/ Urubu-rei
(Sarcoramphus papa)
King Vulture
/ Urubu-rei
(Sarcoramphus papa)
King Vulture
/ Urubu-rei
(Sarcoramphus papa)
King Vulture
/ Urubu-rei
(Sarcoramphus papa)
King Vulture
/ Urubu-rei
(Sarcoramphus papa)
King Vulture
/ Urubu-rei
(Sarcoramphus papa)
King Vulture
/ Urubu-rei
(Sarcoramphus papa)
King Vulture
/ Urubu-rei
(Sarcoramphus papa)
King Vulture
/ Urubu-rei
(Sarcoramphus papa)
Field Record
Calango-Verde
(Ameiva ameiva)
Lagartixa do Paxixi
(Tropidurus torquatus)
Lagartixa do Paxixi
(Tropidurus torquatus)
Whistling Heron
/ Maria-faceira
(Syrigma sibilatrix)
Whistling Heron
/ Maria-faceira
(Syrigma sibilatrix)
Aguapé
(Eichornea crassipes)
Malpigiácea
(Byrsonima basiloba)
Black-collared Hawk
/ Gavião-belo
(Busarellus nigricollis)
Southern Lapwing
/ Quero-quero
(Vanellus chilensis)
Black Vulture
/ Urubu-preto
(Coragyps atratus)
Amazon Kingfisher
/ Martim-pescador-verde
(Chloroceryle amazona)
Amazon Kingfisher
/ Martim-pescador-verde
(Chloroceryle amazona)
Southern Lapwing
/ Quero-quero
(Vanellus chilensis),
Bare-faced Ibis
/ Tapicuru
(Phimosus infuscatus)
Black-collared Hawk
/ Gavião-belo
(Busarellus nigricollis)
Black-collared Hawk
/ Gavião-belo
(Busarellus nigricollis)
Black-collared Hawk
/ Gavião-belo
(Busarellus nigricollis)
Red-legged Seriema
/ Seriema
(Cariama cristata)
Southern Rough-winged Swallow
/ Andorinha-serradora
(Stelgidopteryx ruficollis)
Southern Rough-winged Swallow
/ Andorinha-serradora
(Stelgidopteryx ruficollis)
Southern Rough-winged Swallow
/ Andorinha-serradora
(Stelgidopteryx ruficollis)
Guira Cuckoo
/ Anu-branco
(Guira guira)
Capivaras
(Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris)
Ruddy Ground-Dove
/ Rolinha-roxa
(Columbina talpacoti)
Southern Lapwing
/ Quero-quero
(Vanellus chilensis),
Bare-faced Ibis
/ Tapicuru
(Phimosus infuscatus)
Great Egret
/ Garça-branca-grande
(Ardea alba)
Great Egret
/ Garça-branca-grande
(Ardea alba)
Great Egret
/ Garça-branca-grande
(Ardea alba)
Great Egret
/ Garça-branca-grande
(Ardea alba)
Great Egret
/ Garça-branca-grande
(Ardea alba)
Amazon Kingfisher
/ Martim-pescador-verde
(Chloroceryle amazona)
Guira Cuckoo
/ Anu-branco
(Guira guira)
Guira Cuckoo
/ Anu-branco
(Guira guira)
Amazon Kingfisher
/ Martim-pescador-verde
(Chloroceryle amazona)
Amazon Kingfisher
/ Martim-pescador-verde
(Chloroceryle amazona)
Amazon Kingfisher
/ Martim-pescador-verde
(Chloroceryle amazona)
Queixada
(Tayassu pecari)
Queixada
(Tayassu pecari)
Black Vulture
/ Urubu-preto
(Coragyps atratus)
Turkey Vulture
/ Urubu-de-cabeça-vermelha
(Cathartes aura)
Queixada
(Tayassu pecari)
White-rumped Monjita
/ Noivinha-branca
(Xolmis velatus)
White-rumped Monjita
/ Noivinha-branca
(Xolmis velatus)
White-rumped Monjita
/ Noivinha-branca
(Xolmis velatus)
White-rumped Monjita
/ Noivinha-branca
(Xolmis velatus)
Black Vulture
/ Urubu-preto
(Coragyps atratus)
Great Egret
/ Garça-branca-grande
(Ardea alba)
Black Vulture
/ Urubu-preto
(Coragyps atratus)
Crested Caracara
/ Carcará
(Caracara plancus),
Black Vulture
/ Urubu-preto
(Coragyps atratus)
Black Vulture
/ Urubu-preto
(Coragyps atratus)
Black Vulture
/ Urubu-preto
(Coragyps atratus)
Crested Caracara
/ Carcará
(Caracara plancus),
Black Vulture
/ Urubu-preto
(Coragyps atratus)
Purplish Jay
/ Gralha-do-pantanal
(Cyanocorax cyanomelas)
Black Vulture
/ Urubu-preto
(Coragyps atratus)
Pale-vented Pigeon
/ Pomba-galega
(Patagioenas cayennensis)
Jacaré-do-pantanal
(Caiman yacare)
Pale-vented Pigeon
/ Pomba-galega
(Patagioenas cayennensis)
Pale-vented Pigeon
/ Pomba-galega
(Patagioenas cayennensis)
Cipó de ouro
(Diplopterys lutea)
Savanna Hawk
/ Gavião-caboclo
(Heterospizias meridionalis)
Savanna Hawk
/ Gavião-caboclo
(Heterospizias meridionalis)
Peach-fronted Parakeet
/ Periquito-rei
(Eupsittula aurea)
Peach-fronted Parakeet
/ Periquito-rei
(Eupsittula aurea)
Jacarandá-mimoso
(Jacaranda mimosaefolia)
Toco Toucan
/ Tucanuçu
(Ramphastos toco)
Peach-fronted Parakeet
/ Periquito-rei
(Eupsittula aurea)
Purplish Jay
/ Gralha-do-pantanal
(Cyanocorax cyanomelas)
Purplish Jay
/ Gralha-do-pantanal
(Cyanocorax cyanomelas)
Purplish Jay
/ Gralha-do-pantanal
(Cyanocorax cyanomelas)
Purple Gallinule
/ Frango-d'água-azul
(Porphyrio martinica)
Jacaré-do-pantanal
(Caiman yacare)
Wattled Jacana
/ Jaçanã
(Jacana jacana),
White-headed Marsh Tyrant
/ Freirinha
(Arundinicola leucocephala)
Saffron Finch
/ Canário-da-terra
(Sicalis flaveola)
Toco Toucan
/ Tucanuçu
(Ramphastos toco)
Melão-de-são-caetano
(Momordica charantia)
Purple Gallinule
/ Frango-d'água-azul
(Porphyrio martinica)
Purple Gallinule
/ Frango-d'água-azul
(Porphyrio martinica)
Great Egret
/ Garça-branca-grande
(Ardea alba)
Jacaré-do-pantanal
(Caiman yacare)
Great Egret
/ Garça-branca-grande
(Ardea alba)
Field Record
Purple Gallinule
/ Frango-d'água-azul
(Porphyrio martinica)
Wattled Jacana
/ Jaçanã
(Jacana jacana)
Wattled Jacana
/ Jaçanã
(Jacana jacana)
Whistling Heron
/ Maria-faceira
(Syrigma sibilatrix)
Great Egret
/ Garça-branca-grande
(Ardea alba)
Great Egret
/ Garça-branca-grande
(Ardea alba)
Great Egret
/ Garça-branca-grande
(Ardea alba)
Great Egret
/ Garça-branca-grande
(Ardea alba)
Assa-peixe
(Vernonanthura polyanthes)
Bare-faced Ibis
/ Tapicuru
(Phimosus infuscatus)
Lentilha-de-água
(Lemna minor)
Lentilha-de-água
(Lemna minor)
Purple Gallinule
/ Frango-d'água-azul
(Porphyrio martinica)
White-headed Marsh Tyrant
/ Freirinha
(Arundinicola leucocephala)
White-headed Marsh Tyrant
/ Freirinha
(Arundinicola leucocephala)
Purple Gallinule
/ Frango-d'água-azul
(Porphyrio martinica)
Purple Gallinule
/ Frango-d'água-azul
(Porphyrio martinica)
Bare-faced Ibis
/ Tapicuru
(Phimosus infuscatus)
Copper Seedeater
/ Caboclinho
(Sporophila bouvreuil)
Socozinho
(Butorides striata)
Copper Seedeater
/ Caboclinho
(Sporophila bouvreuil)
Copper Seedeater
/ Caboclinho
(Sporophila bouvreuil)