Amethyst Woodstar at Atlantic Rainforest

The Atlantic Rainforest, or Mata Atlântica, once ran almost unbroken along Brazil's eastern seaboard, climbing from coastal lowlands into the mist-shrouded escarpments further inland, and it's within these surviving fragments that photographers on the Birds of Brazil holiday can seek out the diminutive Amethyst Woodstar. May visits offer the best chance of connecting with this species amid the tract's remaining forest cover. Patience among the dense, humid understorey pays off, as the woodstar's small size and quick movements demand a steady hand and a fast shutter. Those who make the effort are rewarded with a rare glimpse of one of the Mata Atlântica's most delicate residents.