About 2:00 hours from the Guarulhos International Airport, the marshs of Salesópolis are home to the only endemic bird species of São Paulo State, the São Paulo Antwren. The specie was described to the science only in 2013 and since then considered as critically endangered. Also excellent for hummingbirds and tanagers
With more than 9k hectares, this huge forest reserve can be reached from a 40 minutes drive from the Gru International Airport. The visitor can get to many rare and restricted species like the Southern Bristle-Tyrant, Brassy-breasted Tanager, Blue Manakin, Capuchin and Howler Monkeys. More than that its possible to walk up to a city overlooking and waterfalls in the middle of the forest.
Driving around 3:00 hours down south from São Paulo, it's possible to dive into the pristine Atlantic rainforest in the city of tapirai, in the edge of the largest remnants of Atlantic forest. The place has excellent feeders that attract a wide variety of endemic birds, such as Saffron Toucanet, Yellow-fronted Woodpecker, Plain and Marron-bellied Parakeets.
Driving around 2:00 down south from São Paulo, it's possible to visit one of the main entrance gates to the Serra do Mar State Park, that protects more than 300k hectares of forest following all the State's coast, going up in some areas to 1400m from the sea level. We will be in the mountains, but close to the sea level, searching for some of the endemic, rare birds in the endangered lowland forests of the Atlantic Rainforest.
São Paulo is one of biggest cities in the world, but still keeps some good birding opportunities for those that do not want to drive far or have less time for birding. That includes the world's largest urban forest, that provides water supply for a good part of the city population and with many endemic species. The Botanical Garden and Ibirapuera are 2 good options for outside birding.