State of Alagoas

Streaked Flycatcher Myiodynastes maculatus ©Lee Dingain Website
Birding Alagoas

Alagoas is a state in the North East region of Brazil and is one of the smaller Brazilian states, located on the south Atlantic coast, centered on about 9 degrees south latitude. The name comes from a profusion of tidal lagoons dotting the coastline of the state. The state was originally a part of Pernambuco, but was separated from Pernambuco in 1817 as a reprisal against a revolutionary movement centered there. Interestingly enough, the eventual declaration of the Brazilian republic in 1889 was made by Deodoro da Fonseca, an Alagoan, who then became the first president of the new republic. The second president, Floriano Peixoto, was also from Alagoas. While nowadays Alagoas is a major producer of sugar and alcohol, it was originally almost entirely covered by the Atlantic Rain Forest. The remnants of this forest are where today can be found such rarities as the Seven-colored Tanager Tangara fastuosa, which is endemic to the state.The nature preserve of Murici, located near the capital of Maceió, is one of the most important preservation projects in the country and is being sponsored by several important domestic and international conservation groups. Below are some of its top attractions and websites to the reserves and many places to stay where birding is an option. We welcome a proper introduction to this page from someone who knows the area well.

Top Sites
  • IBAMA Reserva Fazenda Bananeiras

    Satellite View
    To get to the IBAMA reserve, Fazenda Bananeiras, take a dirt road to the right off the BR104 (signposted Fazenda Serra Nova); 700m north of the entrance to Murici. The way is complicated with many tracks to the right and left. Keep to the main road. At a T junction with another main dirt road, turn left. Ask for Estreito and then Bananeiras. There is a small dam on the left at Bananeiras. The reserve is up the hill after the hamlet, forking left near the top. There is a chain (unlocked when we were there and no guard) at the entrance, 16.4km from the asphalt. There is another bit of good forest, slightly lower, beside the telecom. tower on the left of the BR101, 16km north of the junction with the BR104.
Contributors
  • Jeremy Minns

    São Paulo | jeremyminns@uol.com.br

  • Max Bedacht

    | bedachtm@gmail.com

Number of Species
  • Number of bird species: 621

    As at January 2022
Endemics
  • Number of endemics: 1

    Sooretama Slaty Antshrike Thamnophilus ambiguus
Museums & Universities
  • Universidade Federal de Alagoas

Reserves

Abbreviations Key

  • IBA Murici - Chapada de Borborema and Serra das Guaribas

    InformationSatellite View
    The American Bird Conservancy describes Murici as probably the most important place for bird conservation in the Western Hemisphere due to its extraordinary density of unique birds, including six endangered and five critically-endangered bird species…
  • IBA Murici Conservation Project

    WebsiteSatellite View
    The Murici reserve is a 3,000 hectare patch of remnant Atlantic Forest in the north-east Brazil state of Alagoas. Brazil's Atlantic Forests have been reduced to less than 5% of their former extent, and nowhere is the damage more severe than in the area surrounding Murici. Although called a reserve, the area is privately owned and is still being cleared at an accelerated rate for sugar cane and pastureland. Despite only having 3,000 hectares of forest, Murici is home to two bird species that occur nowhere else on earth, the Alagoas Foliage-Gleaner and the Alagoas Ant-Wren
Other Links
  • Checklist

    Website
    This checklist includes all bird species found in Alagoas , based on the best information available at this time. It is based on a wide variety of sources that I collated over many years. I am pleased to offer these checklists as a service to birdwatchers. If you find any error, please do not hesitate to report them.

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