REGUA’s altitudinal range and variety of habitats gives rise to a huge diversity of birds. There are now 485 species of birds that have been confirmed at REGUA – more than at any other site in the Atlantic Forest and probably a greater number of species than at any site in Brazil outside of the Amazon region.

Endemic Bird Area

REGUA lies in the heart of the Atlantic Forest Lowlands Endemic Bird Area (EBA). 63 species endemic to Brazil and 118 endemic to the Atlantic Forest have been recorded at REGUA (excluding suspected escapes and additional species seen on excursions outside the reserve).

Important Bird Area

REGUA also forms part of the Região Serrana do Rio de Janeiro Important Bird Area (IBA) that covers an area of 55,000 ha in central Serra do Mar mountains, extending from Serra dos Órgãos National Park at Teresópolis in the east to the forest around Macaé de Cima near the city of Nova Friburgo in the west, and including most of the Três Picos (Three Peaks) State Park.

REGUA is home to twelve species classified by the IUCN as Threatened: the Endangered Crowned Eagle and Brown-backed Parrotlet, and the Vulnerable White-necked Hawk, Golden-tailed Parrotlet, White-bearded Antshrike, Salvadori’s Antwren, Fork-tailed Tody-Tyrant, Russet-winged Spadebill, Bare-throated Bellbird, Black-backed Tanager, Black-legged Dacnis, Buffy-fronted and Temminck’s Seedeaters. A further 29 species at REGUA are classified as Near Threatened.