The Higher Section of the Park
Intervales is well known for its fantastic birding, and many birders consider the park the highlight of their tour of southeast Brazil. The Park has hosted birders from all around the World, and the number has been increasing recently.
Some important birds such as Black-fronted Piping Guan, Helmeted Woodpecker, Serra do Mar Tyrant-Manakin, Swallow-tailed Cotinga and Black-legged Dacnis make the Park the key area for the specie.
Carmo Road
The Carmo Road is considered one of the best birding trail in the park. The entire road is about 35 km, although only 10 km can be reached by 2×4 car. The road goes through a well-preserved forest with no presence of human being, Some notable birds include Manntled Hawk, Blue-bellied Parrot, Silky-tailed Nightjar, Crescent-chested Puffbird, Rusty-breasted Nunlet, Saffron Toucanet, Slaty Bristlefront, White-bearded Antshrike, Star-throated Antwren, Scaled Antbird, Squamate Antbird, Such’s Antthrush, Speckle-breasted Antpitta, White-collared Foliage-Gleaner, Pale-browed Treehunter, Bare-throated Bellbird, Gray-capped Tyrannulet, Oustalet’s Tyrannulet, Brown-breasted Bamboo-Tyrant, Atlantic Royal Flycatcher, Pin-tailed Manakin, Hooded Berryeater, Cinnamon-vented Piha, Brown Tanager, Buffy-fronted Seedeater, Temminck’s Seedeater, Black-legged Dacnis, and Golden-winged Cacique.
One of the reasons why Carmo Road is a hotspot area, is due to the fact of the high concentration of the Palm tree (Euterpes edulis), which provides food for a large number of the species, see the photo below.
Normally in the Higher Section of the park, the palm fruit ripens from August to October.
Lageado Road
Lageado Road is about 4 or 5 kms, and its the best trail for Blue-bellied Parrot, due to the large occurence of a small bush named “carrapicho”. The Carrapicho’s seed is the only source of food for Blue-bellied Parrot during winter(May, June and July). Other important birds possible at Lageado Road are Helmeted Woodpecker, Russet-winged Spadebill, Rufous-winged Antwren and Atlantic Royal Flycatcher.
Mirante Trail
This trail leads to one of the highest part of the Park, about 1050 m of elevation and it is 3 kms in extension trail, this trail is one of the best for Lineated Woodpecker, Robust Woodpecker, Spotted Bamboowren, White-bearded Antshrike, Ochre-rumped Antbird, Dusky-tailed Antbird, Bertoni’s Antbird, Ferruginous Antbird, Short-tailed Anttrush, Such’s Anttrush and Green-throated Euphonia
The Lower Section of the Park
The Saibadela and Guapiruvú Trails are located at lower section of the Park (about 200 ft elevation). They are important birding areas for Undulated Tinamou, Yellow-legged Tinamou, Rufescent Tiger Heron, Brown-backed Parrotlet, Channel-billed Toucan, Yellow-throated Woodpecker, Black-headed Berryeater, Azure Jay, Black-backed Tanager, and many more. These trails are not generally opened to the public, but may be accessible for those who make arrangements in advance.
For those willing to go to the lower section of the Park, there is a small community (Guapiruvu) whre there is a lady who runs a 4 bedroom lodge.
