Brazilian fauna shifts behavior and migrates during winter

Winter temperatures and changing rainfall patterns in Brazil trigger significant behavioral shifts in local wildlife. Many species modify their diets and movements based on seasonal food availability.

Certain bird species, such as the streaked manacus (bem-te-vi-rajado), migrate thousands of kilometers from the South and Southeast regions toward the warmer Amazon rainforest. While only about 10% of Brazilian bird species are migratory, others like the tesourinha travel as far as Roraima and Venezuela before returning to the South and Southeast in August to occupy territories reaching into Uruguay and Argentina.

The cold season also impacts reproductive cycles, as birds tend to sing less frequently. Mammals adjust their activity levels to coincide with warmer temperatures; diurnal animals in the Atlantic Forest, such as the agouti and the margay, often forage in the afternoons, while nocturnal animals like the ocelot shift their hunting to the early evening.