In a natural wonderland as spectacular as Iguazu Falls, everything that is not a gushing torrent of water seems extraneous. But the Parque das Aves on the Brazilian side of the falls is a welcome distraction, and well worth an extra morning in Brazil.

Home to myriad bird life from the Americas and beyond, the bird park was an unexpected highlight of our visit to Iguazu. (They call it Iguazu in Argentina; Iguacu or Iguassu in Brazil.)

Well marked-trails lead you around the park, where various enclosures and aviaries house everything from flamingos and toucans to harpy eagles and the fearsome cassowary, which can eviscerate a man with one slash of its powerful claw.

The park has a big focus on environmental preservation and the protection of endangered species, and is home to many wild birds rescued from animal traffickers, who ply a lucrative trade in exotic birds.