This short extension focuses on one of the most critical conservation regions in South America: the Atlantic Forest north of the São Francisco River, in the states of Pernambuco and Alagoas. With less than 2% of its original forest cover remaining, this region — known as the Pernambuco Center of Endemism — holds an extraordinary concentration of rare and threatened birds found nowhere else on Earth.
Over four carefully planned days, we visit key forest fragments and private reserves that still shelter species such as the critically endangered Orange-bellied Antwren, the iconic Seven-colored Tanager, Alagoas Tyrannulet, Willis’s Antbird, and the striking Long-tailed Woodnymph. Birding is focused and purposeful, combining lowland Atlantic Forest, coastal habitats, and the montane forests of Serra do Urubu — widely regarded as one of the most important bird conservation sites in the Neotropics.
Our route begins near Recife, with targeted birding for Pernambuco Foliage-gleaner and coastal specialties around Tamandaré, before moving inland to Serra do Urubu and the Pedra D’Anta Reserve. Here, hummingbird gardens, mixed-species flocks, and carefully managed forest regeneration offer some of the best remaining opportunities to observe the Alagoas–Pernambuco endemics.
Designed as a stand-alone trip or as an extension to a longer Northeast Brazil itinerary, this journey is ideal for birders with a strong interest in endemics and regions on the edge. It is a concise but meaningful experience — one that highlights both the fragility of these forests and the importance of the projects working to protect what still survives.