The Rufous-Bellied Thrush: National Bird of Brazil

Brazil is famous for the Amazon rainforest, with 60% of the rainforest in its borders. The rainforest is immensely diverse providing habitats for thousands of species. You may think that Brazil would choose one of the flashy tropical birds like the brilliant blue Hyacinth macaw, long-beaked toco toucan or chattering jandaya parakeet. However, the bird that was chosen to represent the Brazilian people is more common than you think. Read on to find out all about the national bird of Brazil.

What is the National Bird of Brazil?

The national bird of Brazil is the rufous-bellied thrush. These songbirds are similar to the American robin that are so common in the United States. One of the reasons the rufous-bellied thrush is that national bird of Brazil is because of how common it is. It is not everywhere in Brazil, but it does live in many urban areas making them friendly cohabitants. In Brazil, the rufous-bellied thrush (Turdus rufiventris) is the sabia-laranjeira or just sabia.

What is a Rufous-Bellied Thrush?

A rufous-bellied thrush is a medium-sized songbird that has a reddish-orange belly, brown plumage and a short yellowish beak. They get to be about 8-10 inches tall and weigh around .13-.14 pounds with the females being a little heavier. Rufous-bellied thrush make bowl-shaped nests out of twigs, grass, leaves and feathers. They make their nests in the crooks of trees, nestled in shrubs, or even along buildings or backyard sheds.  

Where do Rufous-Bellied Thrush Live?

In Brazil the rufous-bellied thrush live in eastern and southeastern Brazil. They also live in other neighboring countries like Uraguay, Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina. These are highly adaptive birds and can thrive in forests, urban and suburban areas.

What does the Rufous-Bellied Thrush Symbolize?

The rufous-bellied thrush symbolizes hope and the spirit of the Brazilian people. It is known for its beautiful song which is easily recognized. The friendly bird is featured in poems, art, and literature. The rufous-bellied thrush officially became the national bird of Brazil in October of 2002.

Is the National Bird of Brazil on the Brazilian Flag?

No. The flag of Brazil is green with a yellow sideways diamond in the center. In the diamond is a blue sphere dotted with stars. There are 27 stars on the sphere that represent the 26 states and the federal district. The stars are not random, but instead copy the night sky that was over Rio de Janeiro the founding day of Brazil. Across the sphere is a banner that reads “Ordem e Progresso” which means “Order and Progress”, the moto of Brazil.

Does Brazilian Money Feature Animals?

Yes! The banknotes of Brazil feature a variety of some of its most symbolic animals. Reals make up the money in Brazil. Here are some of the animals the backs of banknotes feature:

• 1 real banknote, R$1.00: Hummingbird (Amazilia lactea): Did you know there are more than a hundred different hummingbird species in Brazil.
• 2 reais banknote, R$2.00: Hawskbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata): The Brazilian coast along the Atlantic Ocean has five different sea turtle species including the hawksbill turtles. Hawksbills can get to be 2-3 feet long as adults!
• 5 reais banknote, R$5.00: Great egret (Casmerodius albus): These snowy white, long necked birds can get to be 3 feet tall or more!
• 10 reais banknote, R$10.00: Greenwing Macaw (Ara chloreptera): These parrots are also called red-and-green macaws due to their colorful presentation. They are mostly red with beautiful blue and green wings.
• 20 reais banknote, R$20.00: Golden Lion Tamarin (Leonthopitecus rosalia): The tamarin is a primate that lives in the Atlantic forest. Golden lion tamarins have a lion-like mane around their faces.
• 50 reais banknote, R$50.00: Jaguar (Panthera onca): These majestic wild cats have a limited range. The IUCN considers their conservation status near threatened.
• 100 reais banknote, R$100.00: Dusky Grouper (Epinephelus marginatus): Dusky groupers are large, saltwater fish. They live off the coast of Brazil. In fact, the largest ever recorded in the world was caught off the shore of Brazil. On July 21, 2020, Philip Gaston Greenman caught a 53 pound 13 ounce dusky grouper off the coast of Rio de Janeiro.

Is the Rufous-Bellied Thrush an Endangered Species?

No. The rufous-bellied thrush is not an endangered species. The IUCN has them listed as a species of least concern regarding conservation status. The IUCN last assessed them in October of 2016. They reported no current threats.

What Other Animals Live in Brazil?

Other animals that live in Brazil include armadillo, tapir, giant otters, maned wolves, marmoset, capybara (the largest rodents in the world) and ocelots. Along the coast you will find mangroves with oysters, crabs and charru mussels. Off the coast you might spot groups of humpbacked whales or right whales as well as spinner dolphins, and a variety of sharks. The unique Amazon river dolphin is a freshwater dolphin. It’s pinkish skin tone has also earned it the name pink dolphin. In northern Brazil you might find the largest spider in the world, the Goliath birdeater, they have a leg span that is almost 12 inches!

What is the National Animal of Brazil?

There is not an official national animal of Brazil. With such a diverse group of animals to choose from you can understand why they have not picked just one.

Does Brazil Have a “Big Five” Like Kenya?

Some say the Big Five animals of Brazil are the jaguar, maned wolf, giant otter, tapir and giant anteaters. Giant anteaters can get to be 6-8 feet long! They also have a tongue that can be almost 2 feet long. Giant anteaters are the largest of the four anteater species. It is not surprising that some of the most pristine habitats are home to some of the largest animal species in the world.

What Does the Rufous-Bellied Thrush’s Song Sound Like?

You really need to take a moment to listen to the song of the rufous-bellied thrush. It will help you better understand why the people of Brazil honor this bird and made it the national bird of Brazil. Check out this site from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to hear the song of the rufous-bellied thrush.

Up Next…

• Discover the 5 Most Populated Cities in Brazil
• Types of Tropical Birds
• The 10 Most Amazing Rainforest Animals

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Floratta/Shutterstock.com