Range extension of Anthus nattereri Sclater, 1878 (Aves: Motacillidae) in Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil

The distribution of Anthus nattereri, an endangered species, is extended at least 170 km to the north of the nearest locality in southeastern Brazil. New records of five individuals are provided from the municipality of Itabirito, within the Quadrilátero Ferrífero region, Minas Gerais state. Anthus nattereri was photographed and tape-recorded, sometimes in sympatry with Anthus hellmayri, a species it closely resembles. Records were made mostly on burnt open grasslands (“campos limpos”) making the conservation of this species a difficult task.

New records of Phibalura flavirostris Vieillot, 1816 (Aves: Cotingidae) in Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil, with notes on its natural history and a review of its historical occurrence

We present new records of Phibalura flavirostris for the state of Minas Gerais, a little known and endangered species in the state, including notes on feeding and breeding behavior. We also present a review of records of the species in this state based on specimens housed in ornithological collections. It was noted the consumption of fruits belonging to five different plant families and reproductive evidence in a new state locality. The species proved to be rare in Minas Gerais, being relatively common in a few localities. P. flavirostris proved to be resident in the Quadrilátero Ferrífero region and were not found evidence of altitudinal migration. However the available records are inconsistent to affirm about the migration patterns of this species. The preservation of certain areas and new studies on the natural history are important for the conservation of the species in Minas Gerais state

Aves, Micropygia schomburgkii (Schomburgk, 1848), Veniliornis mixtus (Boddaert, 1783), Culicivora caudacuta (Vieillot, 1818) and Coryphaspiza melanotis (Temminck, 1822): Documented records in the southern Espinhaço Range, Minas Gerais, Brazil

We present new records of four open-habitat birds in the southern Espinhaço Range, state of Minas Gerais, also known as the Quadrilátero Ferrífero. Three of these species (Micropygia schomburgkii, Veniliornis mixtus and Coryphaspiza melanotis) are inedit occurrences for the region and two are globally threatened (C. melanotis and Culicivora caudacuta), what draws attention for the preservation of native open-habitats within the Quadrilátero Ferrífero region

Revision of the range of the Rio de Janeiro Antbird Cercomacra brasiliana Hellmayr, 1905 (Aves: Passeriformes: Thamnophilidae)

We present a review on the range of the endemic and near-threatened Rio de Janeiro Antbird Cercomacra brasiliana, based on new field records and extensive search in literature, museums and bird sound databases. Our records extend the species’ known range over 200 km westwards to the hinterlands of Minas Gerais state. Nevertheless, no records were done within federal or state reserves, and the conservation of the remaining forest fragments where the species was recorded is urgent

Revision of the range of the Rio de Janeiro Antbird Cercomacra brasiliana Hellmayr, 1905 (Aves: Passeriformes: Thamnophilidae)

We present a review on the range of the endemic and near-threatened Rio de Janeiro Antbird Cercomacra brasiliana, based on new field records and extensive search in literature, museums and bird sound databases. Our records extend the species' known range over 200 km westwards to the hinterlands of Minas Gerais state. Nevertheless, no records were done within federal or state reserves, and the conservation of the remaining forest fragments where the species was recorded is urgent

Long-term avifaunal survey in an urban ecosystem from southeastern Brazil, with comments on range extensions, new and disappearing species

Urban avifaunal surveys in Brazil have been increasing in recent years, despite none of them consisting of long-term studies indicating events of regional colonization and/or missing species. Here, we present an avifaunal survey of an urbanized ecosystem in southeastern Brazil, carried out along 30 years, on the campus of the Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais, municipality of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais state. Inside the campus there is a forest reserve adjacent to a small lake. The inventory was mainly based on opportunistic records from the years 1982-2013. We recorded 134 bird species along the past 30 years. However, the present avifauna is composed of 123 species. A total of 97 species was recorded in the reserve, including the forest fragment and the adjacent lake, of which 44 were exclusive to this area. Nevertheless, the majority of the current species found in the study area is forest independent (N = 51) or semi-dependent (N = 46). There is a predominance of insectivorous (N = 43) and omnivorous (N = 29) species. The current avifauna is represented by 15 migratory species, which can be found both in the urbanized area and in the forest remnant. However, the majority of the species (N = 75) is resident in the area, including three invasive species, whereas few others (N = 28) are occasional visitors. The remaining species were probably introduced in the area. There were 11 cases of disappearing species, which include typical forest birds, and also species typical of wetlands and rural environments. We also comment on recent colonization and on the possible effects of isolation on birds. Probably, the majority of forest-dependents are on the brink of extinction in the forest fragment. Thus, the species' list provided here can be useful as a database for monitoring long-term effects of urbanization on this bird community