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Esteros del Iberá

The Iberá in May

May is autumn in the wetlands. This is what happens in the Iberá this month and what to know before you travel.

Full autumn, one of the most comfortable months: mild temperatures and fewer insects. Wildlife concentrates near the water.

Season

The high season of the Iberá is from June to October. Winter (June to August) is the best time: low water, concentrated wildlife, cool weather and no mosquitoes. Long weekends and July are the peaks of occupancy: book in advance. The low season (January to March) has extreme heat but also very active wildlife at dawn.

Weather

The Iberá has a humid subtropical climate. Average temperature in January: 27°C, in July: 16°C. Absolute highs exceed 40°C in summer. Frosts are possible between June and August. It rains all year round, around 1,400 mm annually: the wettest months are March and April (over 160 mm each) and winter is the dry season, with July and August around 55 mm, a third of what falls in March.

Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are most active in summer (December to March) and at dusk. With proper repellent and lightweight long clothing they are not a real problem. In the cold months (May to August) there are practically no mosquitoes. The lodgings in the Iberá always have mosquito nets.

Only at this time of year

They are only around for part of the year, and this month is one of them.

Sharp-billed Canastero
Only at this time of year
Sharp-billed Canastero
Asthenes pyrrholeuca

A visitor of the cold months (autumn and winter) in the tall grasslands and reed beds.

White-banded Mockingbird
Only at this time of year
White-banded Mockingbird
Mimus triurus

An austral autumn-winter visitor (it does not nest in Iberá; it breeds farther south).

Short-eared Owl
Only at this time of year
Short-eared Owl
Asio flammeus

Autumn and winter, when it is easier to see hunting by day.

Maguari Stork
Only at this time of year
Maguari Stork
Ciconia maguari

Autumn and winter (May to August) when the floodable grasslands are active.

Buff-winged Cinclodes
Only at this time of year
Buff-winged Cinclodes
Cinclodes fuscus

Autumn and winter (April to August) when it descends from the Andes.

Blue-billed Black Tyrant
Only at this time of year
Blue-billed Black Tyrant
Knipolegus cyanirostris

An austral autumn-winter visitor (does not breed in Corrientes) in the portales with gallery forest.

Migration

Migratory species passing through or arriving in the Iberá at this time.

Silver Teal
Migration
Silver Teal
Spatula versicolor

Year-round, with greater abundance in autumn and winter when migratory individuals join.

American Golden-Plover
Migration
American Golden-Plover
Pluvialis dominica

Autumn and spring during migration (March to May, and August to October).

Sábalo (streaked prochilod)
Migration
Sábalo (streaked prochilod)
Prochilodus lineatus

The mass migrations of sábalo occur in autumn.

At its best

They are here all year, but this is their moment of greatest presence or activity.

Water hyacinth
At its best
Water hyacinth
Pontederia crassipes

The months from May to October (autumn and winter) are ideal for navigating and exploring the dense network of floating peat mats by boat or kayak.

Wood Stork
At its best
Wood Stork
Mycteria americana

Year round, with greater presence in the dry season (May to October) when the bodies of water become concentrated.

Seven-banded Armadillo
At its best
Seven-banded Armadillo
Dasypus septemcinctus

Year round, with the best chances on sunny spring and autumn afternoons.

Paja colorada (red marsh grass)
At its best
Paja colorada (red marsh grass)
Andropogon lateralis

However, its moment of maximum splendor and scenic glory occurs strictly during the autumn (from March to June).

Mbocayá palm (macaúba)
At its best
Mbocayá palm (macaúba)
Acrocomia aculeata

The large clusters of fruit hang ripe during the autumn and winter months, becoming a critical resource for survival for the larger and smaller fauna of the wetland when resources are scarce in the rest of the woodland.

Paja brava (giant marsh grass)
At its best
Paja brava (giant marsh grass)
Panicum prionitis

It records its moment of greatest chromatic drama during the autumn and winter months (from April to August), when the panicles ripen and tint the landscape an old, deep gold.

Tala (spiny hackberry)
At its best
Tala (spiny hackberry)
Celtis ehrenbergiana

The ripe orange fruit (February to May) marks the moment of greatest bird activity in the tala clumps.

Rosy-billed Pochard
At its best
Rosy-billed Pochard
Netta peposaca

Year round, with greater presence in autumn and winter.

Black-necked Swan
At its best
Black-necked Swan
Cygnus melancoryphus

Year-round in the open lagoons, with greater abundance in autumn and winter.

Spotted Sorubim
At its best
Spotted Sorubim
Pseudoplatystoma corruscans

Best in winter and autumn when the water levels drop.

Present

Species with notable presence this month.

Sarandí colorado
Present
Sarandí colorado
Cephalanthus glabratus

In autumn and winter, its brown spherical fruit remains an unmistakable visual marker of the wetland shore.

Tatané
Present
Tatané
Chloroleucon tenuiflorum

Floración vistosa en primavera (septiembre-noviembre). Las vainas espiraladas caídas en el suelo del sendero son fáciles de encontrar en otoño e invierno y son uno de los hallazgos botánicos más llamativos del Iberá para fotografiar.

Always there

The Iberá's emblematic wildlife is around all year, May included.

🐆 Ocelot 🦦 Coypu 🐻 Southern Tamandua 🐱 Puma 🦦 Neotropical Otter 🦫 Capybara 🐊 Caiman 🦢 Southern Screamer 🦩 Jabiru 💜 Water hyacinth 🦩 Wood Stork 🐦 Anhinga 🐦 Yellow Cardinal 🐦 Saffron-cowled Blackbird

Where to see it

The gateways into the Great Iberá Park, each with its own lodges, guides and boat tours.

Portal Río Corriente Portal Capivari Portal Uguay Portal Carambola Portal Laguna Iberá Portal San Nicolás Portal San Antonio Portal Cambyretá Portal Galarza P.N. Mburucuyá Ituzaingó Mercedes

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