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Colombia birding trip report December 2013 - John van der Woude www.jvanderw.nl | |||||
Note: bird photos are in a separate section. | |||||
Finding endemic bird species and subspecies of Central and North Colombia was the main goal of this group tour with BirdingBreaks.nl. Tour leader was Laurens Steijn; Nollie and I had been with him on group tours to Madagascar and Ethiopia before. Andrés Trujillo was the local guide for ground agent Pro Aves/Ecoturs.
Andrés'
great enthousiasm for finding as many specialties as possible was a
real success factor, and luckily this meant that none of the group
ever objected to the early hours he proposed for the next day, for
nearly every day! Andrés knows the birds, the sounds and the
stake-outs well. Tour leader Laurens has a sharp eye too and found
many birds himself, and he is a quick photographer with his excellent
equipment, his photos providing us many good memories of the birds we
have seen.
Transport
was partly by 17-seater bus and partly by 4WD cars. Lodging was in
hotels and forest lodges. We were lucky with the weather: not too
sunny (so the birds were active most of the day), and rain nearly only
in a few nights. Despite all our previous birding trips to Venezuela,
Ecuador and Costa Rica, we still got a fine 128 lifers (Nollie 128, me 125). The itinerary was more or less standard for finding endemics in Central and North Colombia, see the map below. During the trip, ground agent Pro Aves/Ecoturs changed the itinerary for the Medellin region so that we had only one instead of two mornings at the important Las Tangaras site in the Choco region, a risky decision. However, we were very lucky with our only morning there as the weather was excellent for birding that day. We had stunning close-up views of my best bird of the trip, Gold-ringed Tanager, the top specialty of Las Tangaras. For the rest, we had a smooth and well-organized trip. Colombia may have had a bad security reputation, but in the regions where we were, all looked fine, with friendly people. All birding sites are described in the recent birdfinding guide by Jurgen Beckers and Pablo Florez (2013) - Birdwatching in Colombia. Highly recommended, even when going on an organized bird tour. ISBN 978-9-0902-7785-1.
This
report is built up as follows: |
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Itinerary 2 Dec. 2013 - flight Amsterdam - Bogota via Panama 3 Dec. - Chingaza NP 4 Dec. - La Florida marsh and park; hummingbird garden (Jardin Encantado) 5 Dec. - forested plateau above Victoria; Llanos-like area on our way to Rio Claro 6 Dec. - Rio Claro forest and clearings 7 Dec. - Rio Claro and Oilbird area 8 Dec. - Entrance of oilbird area (Beautiful Woodpecker) and dry open area on our way to Jardin 9 Dec. - forest and open area above Jardin; riverside just below Jardin (Cock-of-the-Rock) 10 Dec. - forest above Jardin and same dry open area as 8 Dec., now on our way to Medellin 11 Dec. - La Romera forest above Medellin; drive to las Tangaras and first visit of hummingbird feeders on hill side 12 Dec. - Las Tangaras forest high and low 13 Dec. - Las Tangaras lodge grounds; flight Medellin - Santa Marta; dry forest at coast of Sta. Marta; Minca 14 Dec. - Minca area and birding drive up Sta. Marta mountain 15 Dec. - at and above Sta. Marta mountain lodge 16 Dec. - birding drive down to Minca 17 Dec. - dry coastal area of Los Flamencos NP 18 Dec. - Los Flamencos NP and flight Riohacha - Bogota 19 Dec. - park-like open forest at Laguna El Tabacal NW of Bogota; flight Bogota - Amsterdam via Paris 20 Dec. - arrival Amsterdam |
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Species lists | |||||
The complete day-to-day species list of the tour group can be found here. It is in Excel and includes a column of what Nollie and I saw or heard, which is the following list: | |||||
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Nollie and I got the following lifers (species new for us). This list includes birds we only heard (as indicated, and placed between brackets), these do not count as lifers. The location descriptions give the first observation and often the only one. |
Chestnut-winged Chachalaca | along coast near Santa Marta town, dry open woodland | |
Colombian Chachalaca | from bare top of forest plateau above Victoria, in flight below us | |
Black-fronted Wood Quail | at lodge of Sta Marta, at feeder near kitchen | |
Northern Screamer | Llanoslike part of Magdalena valley NE of Victoria | |
Bogota Rail | La Florida Bogota in small puddle between rushes | |
Yellow-eared Parrot | group at YEP-site above Jardin at sunrise | |
Santa Marta Parakeet | above lodge on Sta Marta, 2 in flight | |
Flame-winged Parakeet | (was Brown-breasted P) Chingaza NP before level part | |
Spectacled Parrotlet | on plaza of Jardin | |
Santa Marta Screech Owl | below lodge on Sta Marta, scope view at day time | |
Black-and-white Owl | at Minca in large bamboo trees, awaking towards dusk | |
Tawny-bellied Hermit | at feeders above Las Tangaras | |
Pale-bellied Hermit | forest plateau above Victoria, at only 6 m | |
Red-billed Emerald | at feeders of hotel Minca, low Sta Marta | |
Coppery Emerald | near hotel Minca, low Sta Marta | |
Sapphire-throated Hummingbird | Guajira peninsula Los Flamencos NP, in slightly moistier part | |
Shining-green Hummingbird | in hummer garden NW of Bogota | |
Andean Emerald | at feeders at Las Tangaras | |
Blue-chested Hummingbird | forest plateau above Victoria, closeby in shadow | |
Steely-vented Hummingbird | dry intermontane basin between Medellin and Jardin | |
Indigo-capped Hummingbird | Nollie's 5000th species on world list; in hummer garden NW of Bogota | |
Blossomcrown | at tienda when going up the Sta Marta | |
Empress Brilliant | at feeders above Las Tangaras | |
Buff-tailed Coronet | at YEP site above Jardin, around farm house | |
Velvet-purple Coronet | at feeders above Las Tangaras | |
Brown Inca | at feeders above Las Tangaras | |
White-tailed Starfrontlet | upper site on Sta Marta when going down, in flight (white tail), side trail | |
Blue-throated Starfrontlet | Chingaza NP closeby before level road | |
Coppery-bellied Puffleg | level track Chingaza NP | |
Purple-bibbed Whitetip | at feeders above Las Tangaras | |
Purple-throated Woodstar | at feeders at Las Tangaras | |
White-bellied Woodstar | in hummer garden NW of Bogota | |
Gorgeted Woodstar | in hummer garden NW of Bogota | |
Santa Marta Woodstar | forest road when going down from Sta Marta lodge, flight: only woodstar here | |
Western White-tailed Trogon | Rio Claro reserve at cottages | |
Whooping Motmot | in garden of hotel Minca, low Sta Marta | |
Barred Puffbird | Rio Claro reserve at P clearing near main road, very close view, found by HS | |
White-mantled Barbet | forest plateau above Victoria, scope view in tall tree | |
Santa Marta Toucanet | on lodge grounds of Sta Marta | |
Black-billed Mountain Toucan | temperate forest Chingaza NP | |
Greyish Piculet | dry intermontane basin, in tall trees along road in S Antioquia | |
Chestnut Piculet | Guajira peninsula Los Flamencos NP at 7 m in the cunucu woodland | |
Beautiful Woodpecker | large clearing near Rio Claro reserve, finally, just before leaving the site | |
Cinnamon Woodpecker | Rio Claro forest, brief view when flying up from tree, calling | |
Rusty-headed Spinetail | upper site on Sta Marta, head i+DF1324n the sun, after taping, on side trail | |
Silvery-throated Spinetail | La Florida Bogota in tree between houses on compound! | |
Red-faced Spinetail | near top of forest trail above Las Tangaras | |
Streak-capped Spinetail | upper site on Sta Marta, against small stem at 3 m | |
Star-chested Treerunner | (Fulvous-dotted) along forest trail above Las Tangaras | |
Buffy Tuftedcheek | along forest trail above Las Tangaras | |
Scaly-throated Foliage-gleaner | along forest trail above Las Tangaras | |
Uniform Treehunter | going up the trail above Las Tangaras | |
Santa Marta Foliage-gleaner | going up the Sta Marta, in dense tangles at 8 m | |
Tyrannine Woodcreeper | above Jardin 2nd day in large mixed flock, well seen bill too | |
Northern Barred Woodcreeper | Rio Claro forest | |
Black-backed Antshrike | behind Minca, low Sta Marta | |
Bar-crested Antshrike | dry intermontane basin, below tall trees along road in S Antioquia | |
Pacific Antwren | Rio Claro reserve along dirt road, female, near puddle | |
Santa Marta Antbird | (split fr Long-tailed A) J only - briefly seen in bushes at Y down Sta Marta | |
Magdalena Antbird | Rio Claro reserve trail up, 1 p. (split fr Dull-mantled) | |
Blue-lored Antbird | (split fr Immaculate) last day outing NW of Bogota, female at 4 m | |
White-cheeked Antbird | (split from Bicolored) Rio Claro reserve in puddle on dirt road | |
(Santa Marta Antpitta | heard only) | |
Yellow-breasted Antpitta | at forest trail above Las Tangaras, seen well at 12 m | |
(Ochre-breasted Antpitta | heard only) | |
Ash-colored Tapaculo | temperate forest Chingaza NP | |
(Santa Marta Tapaculo | heard only) | |
(Alto Pisones Tapaculo | heard only) | |
(Narino Tapaculo | heard only) | |
(Choco Tapaculo | heard only) | |
Stiles's Tapaculo | La Romera reserve above Medellin, heard and shortly seen undergrowth | |
Brown-rumped Tapaculo | very brief view calling at 3 m high part of Sta Marta (seen by J only) | |
Spillmann's Tapaculo | temperate forest Chingaza NP | |
Pale-bellied Tapaculo | (was Matorral T) first lifer of the trip, Chingaza NP, pale belly | |
Blackish Tapaculo | near YEP reserve down forest road above Jardin | |
Lesser Elaenia | along young trail Florida marsh | |
Agile Tit-Tyrant | Chingaza NP in low temperate forest | |
Subtropical Doradito | open marsh of La Florida | |
Choco Tyrannulet | at top of forest trail above Las Tangaras | |
Golden-faced Tyrannulet | near hotel Minca, low Sta Marta | |
Antioquia Bristle Tyrant | trail up in Rio Claro forest | |
Slender-billed Tyrannulet | (was Inezia) Guajira peninsula Los Flamencos NP, in slightly moistier part | |
Pale-tipped Tyrannulet | (was Inezia) Guajira peninsula Los Flamencos NP | |
Handsome Flycatcher | at start of forest trail above Las Tangaras, near the cars | |
Rufous-crowned Tody-Flycatcher | in flock 2nd day above Jardin | |
Slaty-headed Tody-Flycatcher | dry intermontane area S of Medellin, good view, after Tayra crossed the road | |
Ruddy-tailed Flycatcher | above Victoria, on track down from open hill | |
Black-billed Flycatcher | Rio Claro reserve at P clearing near main road, clear view in cecropia | |
(Santa Marta Bush Tyrant | heard only) | |
Panamanian Flycatcher | Rio Claro reserve along river, seen well. | |
Apical Flycatcher | dry intermontane basin, tall roadside trees, well seen, sound OK | |
Dusky Piha | walking down from YEP site Jardin, along forest road, picking berries | |
Olivaceous Piha | along forest trail above Las Tangaras | |
Golden-winged Manakin | near start of forest trail above Las Tangaras | |
White-bibbed Manakin | forest plateau above Victoria, back into forest, at 7 m! | |
Blue-crowned Manakin | N only, along small river to oilbird caves near Rio Claro | |
(Yellow-headed Manakin | heard only) | |
Black-billed Peppershrike | part of large flock above Jardin 2nd day, closeby at roadside | |
Choco Vireo | along forest trail above Las Tangaras | |
Rufous-naped Greenlet | La Romera reserve above Medellin, seen well, 2 at eye level | |
(Beautiful Jay | heard only, by N only) | |
White-thighed Swallow | clearing near Rio Claro reserve | |
White-headed Wren | in open area below forest trail above Las Tangaras, taped in from far | |
Sepia-brown Wren | (Sharpe's W) above Jardin 2nd day, furnarid-like behaviour near flock | |
Apolinar's Wren | La Florida Bogota end of golf course in dense reeds | |
Black-bellied Wren | forest plateau above Victoria, back at the cars, heard, short flight views | |
Antioquia Wren | (split fr Speckle-breasted) dry area S of Medellin, in small tree (J only) | |
(Chestnut-breasted Wren | heard only) | |
Grey-cheeked Thrush | Rio Claro reserve in puddle on dirt road | |
Velvet-fronted Euphonia | two along rd to Victoria in bare branches | |
Golden-fronted Whitestart | temperate forest Chingaza NP, nicely in top | |
Yellow-crowned Whitestart | above lodge on Sta Marta, at 5 m only | |
Santa Marta Warbler | upper site on Sta Marta, at 3 m, fine view+DF4815 | |
White-lored Warbler | going up the Sta Marta, closeby in lianas | |
Red-bellied Grackle | La Romera reserve above Medellin, 2 seen well at eye level mossy trees | |
Golden-winged Sparrow | near hotel Minca, low Sta Marta | |
Sierra Nevada Brush Finch | at lodge on Sta Marta, compost heap | |
Santa Marta Brush Finch | at lodge on Sta Marta, near building | |
Choco Brush Finch | along forest trail above Las Tangaras | |
Dusky-faced Tanager | small group below us at river in Rio Claro forest | |
Black-capped Hemispingus | Chingaza NP | |
Tawny-crested Tanager | Rio Claro reserve trail up, 1 p. below us > cap well seen | |
Flame-rumped Tanager | at border of Jardin, near COTR lek and river | |
Black-and-gold Tanager | at start of forest trail above Las Tangaras, near the cars | |
Gold-ringed Tanager | at top of forest trail above Las Tangaras; bird of the trip for me | |
Santa Marta Mountain Tanager | upper site on Sta Marta, abov+DF2366e track | |
Black-chinned Mountain Tanager | near start of forest trail above Las Tangaras | |
Purplish-mantled Tanager | above Jardin 2nd day, part of mixed flock, closeby | |
Glistening-green Tanager | at start of forest trail above Las Tangaras, near the cars | |
Plain-colored Tanager | Rio Claro reserve at P clearing main road, at 7 m foraging | |
Scrub Tanager | forest plateau above Victoria, nearly at top; John's 5000th species | |
Metallic-green Tanager | La Romera reserve abopve Medellin, 2 well seen at eye level | |
Yellow-tufted Dacnis | in flock around Roadside Hawk in forest top above Victoria (=Black-faced D) | |
Golden-collared Honeycreeper | near start of forest trail above Las Tangaras | |
Rufous-browed Conebill | level track Chingaza NP | |
Dull-colored Grassquit | N only, last day outing NW of Bogota (N only) | |
Sooty Ant Tanager | forest plateau above Victoria, small group incl. adult male, crest seen | |
Crested Ant Tanager | at dawn at Las Tangaras lodge before departure | |
Rosy Thrush-Tanager | N only, last day outing NW of Bogota (N only) | |
Vermilion Cardinal | Guajira peninsula Los Flamencos NP, at start already | |
Orinoco Saltator | Guajira peninsula Los Flamencos NP, 2 at woodland border |
Also a beautiful snake at the entrance to the oilbird area: Chironius
carinatus spixii. See photo in the bird photo section.
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Endemic (End) and near-endemic (nEnd) species of our personal species list were the following: |
Northern Screamer | Chauna chavaria | nEnd | |
Chestnut-winged Chachalaca | Ortalis garrula | End | |
Colombian Chachalaca | Ortalis columbiana | End | |
Black-fronted Wood-Quail | Odontophorus atrifrons | nEnd | |
Bogota Rail | Rallus semiplumbeus | End | |
Yellow-eared Parrot | Ognorhynchus icterotis | End | |
Santa Marta Parakeet | Pyrrhura viridicata | End | |
Flame-winged Parakeet | Pyrrhura calliptera | End | |
Saffron-headed Parrot | Pyrilia pyrilia | nEnd | |
Santa Marta Screech-Owl | Megascops sp nov | End | |
Blossomcrown | Anthocephala floriceps | End | |
Violet-tailed Sylph | Aglaiocercus coelestis | nEnd | |
Coppery-bellied Puffleg | Eriocnemis cupreoventris | nEnd | |
Brown Inca | Coeligena wilsoni | nEnd | |
White-tailed Starfrontlet | Coeligena phalerata | End | |
Velvet-purple Coronet | Boissonneaua jardini | nEnd | |
Empress Brilliant | Heliodoxa imperatrix | nEnd | |
Santa Marta Woodstar | Chaetocercus astreans | End | |
Purple-throated Woodstar | Calliphlox mitchellii | nEnd | |
Red-billed Emerald | Chlorostilbon gibsoni | nEnd | |
Coppery Emerald | Chlorostilbon russatus | nEnd | |
Indigo-capped Hummingbird | Amazilia cyanifrons | End | |
White-tipped Quetzal | Pharomachrus fulgidus | nEnd | |
White-mantled Barbet | Capito hypoleucus | End | |
Toucan Barbet | Semnornis ramphastinus | nEnd | |
Grayish Piculet | Picumnus granadensis | End | |
Chestnut Piculet | Picumnus cinnamomeus | nEnd | |
Beautiful Woodpecker | Melanerpes pulcher | End | |
Silvery-throated Spinetail | Synallaxis subpudica | End | |
Rusty-headed Spinetail | Synallaxis fuscorufa | End | |
White-whiskered Spinetail | Synallaxis candei | nEnd | |
Streak-capped Spinetail | Cranioleuca hellmayri | nEnd | |
Fulvous-dotted Treerunner | Margarornis stellatus | nEnd | |
Uniform Treehunter | Thripadectes ignobilis | nEnd | |
Santa Marta Foliage-gleaner | Automolus rufipectus | End | |
Black-crested Antshrike | Sakesphorus canadensis | nEnd | |
Santa Marta Antpitta | Grallaria bangsi HO | End | |
Yellow-breasted Antpitta | Grallaria flavotincta | nEnd | |
Santa Marta Tapaculo | Scytalopus sanctaemartae HO | End | |
Choco Tapaculo | Scytalopus chocoensis | nEnd | |
Stiles's Tapaculo | Scytalopus stilesi | End | |
Nariño Tapaculo | Scytalopus vicinior HO | nEnd | |
Brown-rumped Tapaculo | Scytalopus latebricola | End | |
Pale-bellied Tapaculo | Scytalopus griseicollis | End | |
Agile Tit-Tyrant | Uromyias agilis | nEnd | |
Antioquia Bristle-Tyrant | Phylloscartes lanyoni | End | |
Slender-billed Tyrannulet | Inezia tenuirostris | nEnd | |
Black-billed Flycatcher | Aphanotriccus audax | nEnd | |
Santa Marta Bush-Tyrant | Myiotheretes pernix HO | End | |
Apical Flycatcher | Myiarchus apicalis | End | |
Yellow-headed Manakin | Xenopipo flavicapilla HO | nEnd | |
Choco Vireo | Vireo masteri | nEnd | |
Beautiful Jay | Cyanolyca pulchra HO | nEnd | |
Apolinar's Wren | Cistothorus apolinari | End | |
Flame-rumped Tanager | Ramphocelus flammigerus | End | |
Black-and-gold Tanager | Bangsia melanochlamys | End | |
Gold-ringed Tanager | Bangsia aureocincta | End | |
Santa Marta Mountain-Tanager | Anisognathus melanogenys | End | |
Black-chinned Mountain-Tanager | Anisognathus notabilis | nEnd | |
Purplish-mantled Tanager | Iridosornis porphyrocephalus | nEnd | |
Glistening-green Tanager | Chlorochrysa phoenicotis | nEnd | |
Scrub Tanager | Tangara vitriolina | nEnd | |
Rufous-throated Tanager | Tangara rufigula | nEnd | |
Rufous-browed Conebill | Conirostrum rufum | End | |
Indigo Flowerpiercer | Diglossa indigotica | nEnd | |
Sierra Nevada Brush-Finch | Arremon basilicus | End | |
Santa Marta Brush-Finch | Atlapetes melanocephalus | End | |
Dusky Bush-Tanager | Chlorospingus semifuscus | nEnd | |
Sooty Ant-Tanager | Habia gutturalis | End | |
Crested Ant-Tanager | Habia cristata | End | |
Golden-fronted Whitestart | Myioborus ornatus | nEnd | |
Yellow-crowned Whitestart | Myioborus flavivertex | End | |
White-lored Warbler | Basileuterus conspicillatus | End | |
Santa Marta Warbler | Basileuterus basilicus | End | |
Red-bellied Grackle | Hypopyrrhus pyrohypogaster | End | |
Velvet-fronted Euphonia | Euphonia concinna | End |
Several of the birds we saw have endemic subspecies in Colombia. I made a list of these, as far as we saw the species (and most probably also this subspecies), based on IOC v. 3.5 (worldbirdnames.org): |
Little Tinamou | Crypturellus soui | caucae (NC-Col.) | |
Sickle-winged Guan | Chamaepetes goudotii | goudotii (WC-Col.), sanctaemartae (St.M mts) | |
Band-tailed Guan | Penelope argyrotis | sanctaemartae (St.Marta mts) | |
Black-fronted Wood-Quail | Odontophorus atrifrons | atrifrons (Sta.Marta mts) | |
Spot-flanked Gallinule | Gallinula melanops | bogotensis (C-Col.) | |
American Coot (Colombian) | Fulica americana | columbiana (Col. & N-Ecuador near-endemic) | |
Wattled Jacana | Jacana jacana | dark type melanopygia (W-Col. to W-Ven.) | |
Ruddy Ground Dove | Columbina talpacoti | caucae (West-Colombia) | |
Ruddy Pigeon | Patagioenas subvinacea | anolaimae (C-Col.) | |
Eared Dove (bogota versie) | Zenaida auriculata | caucae (W-Col.), antioquiae (NC-Col.) | |
Brown-throated Parakeet | Aratinga pertinax | griseipecta (NE-Col.) | |
Green-rumped Parrotlet | Forpus passerinus | cyanophanes (N-Col.) | |
Spectacled Parrotlet | Forpus conspicillatus | caucae (SW-Col.) | |
Red-billed Parrot | Pionus sordidus | saturatus (Sta.Marta mts.) | |
Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl | Glaucidium brasilianum | medianum (N-Col.) | |
Long-billed Hermit | Phaethornis longirostris | susurrus (N-Col.) | |
Blossomcrown | Anthocephala floriceps | floriceps (Sta. Marta mts.) | |
Greenish Puffleg | Haplophaedia aureliae | aureliae (C&E-Col.) | |
Mountain Velvetbreast | Lafresnaya lafresnayi | longirostris (WC-Col.) | |
Booted Racket-tail | Ocreatus underwoodii | incommodus (W&C-Col.) | |
Red-billed Emerald | Chlorostilbon gibsoni | chrysogaster (Sta.Marta mts +) | |
Crowned Woodnymph | Thalurania colombica | (was Violet-cr W) subtropicalis (WC-Col.) ? | |
Sapphire-throated Hummingbird | Lepidopyga coeruleogularis | confinis (N-Col.) | |
Shining-green Hummingbird | Lepidopyga goudoti | goudoti (NC-Col.) | |
White-tipped Quetzal | Pharomachrus fulgidus | festatus (N-Col.) | |
Whooping Motmot | Momotus subrufescens | olivaresi (NC-Col.) | |
Rufous-tailed Jacamar | Galbula ruficauda | pallens (N-Col..;NE-Col. is brevirostris) | |
White-mantled Barbet | Capito hypoleucus | extinctus (C.-Col.) | |
Toucan Barbet | Semnornis ramphastinus | caucae (SW-Col.) | |
Red-headed Barbet | Eubucco bourcierii | occidentalis (W-Col.) | |
Santa Marta Toucanet | Aulacorhynchus lautus | Sta. Marta-endemic split from A. prasimus | |
Black-billed Mountain-Toucan | Andigena nigrirostris | occidentalis (W-Col.) | |
Grayish Piculet | Picumnus granadensis | antioquensis | |
Chestnut Piculet | Picumnus cinnamomeus | cinnamomeus (N-Col.) | |
Acorn Woodpecker | Melanerpes formicivorus | flavigula (Colombia) | |
Golden-olive Woodpecker | Colaptes rubiginosus | alleni (N-Col.) | |
Spot-breasted Woodpecker | Colaptes punctigula | striatigularis (WC-Col.) | |
Buffy Tuftedcheek | Pseudocolaptes lawrencii | (=Pacific T. Ps. johnsoni; Col & Ec.) | |
Montane Foliage-gleaner | Anabacerthia striaticollis | anxia (Sta. Marta mts.) | |
Cocoa Woodcreeper | Xiphorhynchus susurrans | rosenbergi (W-Col.) | |
Bar-crested Antshrike | Thamnophilus multistriatus | brachyurus (W-Col.) | |
Plain Antvireo | Dysithamnus mentalis | semicinereus (WC-Col.) | |
Magdalena Antbird | Myrmeciza palliata | (also in NW Ven. near-endemic) | |
Blue-lored Antbird | Myrmeciza immaculata | (Andean Immaculate-Antb) conception (C-Col.) | |
White-cheeked Antbird | Gymnopithys leucaspis | (split fr Bicolored) (ssp. leucapsis? E-Col.) | |
Chestnut-naped Antpitta | Grallaria nuchalis | ruficeps (C-Col.) | |
Slaty-crowned Antpitta | Grallaricula nana | occidentalis (W-Col.) | |
Pale-bellied Tapaculo | Scytalopus griseicollis | (=Col. endemic) griseicollis (Cundinamarca) | |
Black-capped Tyrannulet | Phyllomyias nigrocapillus | flavimentum (Sta.Marta mts.) | |
White-throated Tyrannulet | Mecocerculus leucophrys | setophagoides (NC-Col.),montensis (StM mts) | |
Streak-necked Flycatcher | Mionectes striaticollis | selvae (WC-Col.) | |
Olive-striped Flycatcher | Mionectes olivaceus | galbinus (Sta.Marta mts.) | |
Black-throated Tody-Tyrant | Hemitriccus granadensis | lehmanni (Sta.Marta mts.) | |
Yellow-olive Flatbill | Tolmomyias sulphurescens | (was Y-o Flycatcher) | |
Cinnamon Flycatcher | Pyrrhomyias cinnamomeus | assimilis (Sta.Marta mts.) | |
Yellow-bellied Chat-Tyrant | Ochthoeca diadema | jesupi (Sta.Marta mts.) | |
Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant | Ochthoeca fumicolor | ferruginea (W+C Col.) | |
Great Kiskadee | Pitangus sulphuratus | caucensis (W+S Col.) | |
Golden-breasted Fruiteater | Pipreola aureopectus | decora (Sta.Marta mts.) | |
Golden-winged Manakin | Masius chrysopterus | bellus (W-Col.) | |
White-bearded Manakin | Manacus manacus | flaveolus (C-Col.) | |
Blue-crowned Manakin | Lepidothrix coronata | caquetae (C-Col.) | |
Red-eyed Vireo | Vireo olivaceus | caucae (W-Col.) | |
Scrub Greenlet | Hylophilus flavipes | flavipes (N+C-Col.) | |
Black-bellied Wren | Pheugopedius fasciatoventri | fasciatoventris (NC-Col.) | |
Speckle-breasted Wren | Pheugopedius sclateri | columbianus (W-Col.) | |
White-breasted Wood-Wren | Henicorhina leucosticta | albilateralis (NC-Col.) | |
Gray-breasted Wood-Wren | Henicorhina leucophrys | bangsi (StM <2000ft), anachoreta(StM>2000ft) | |
Slaty-backed Nighting-Thrush | Catharus fuscater | sanctaemartae (N-Col.) | |
Black-billed Thrush | Turdus ignobilis | ignobilis (E+C Andes), goodfellowi (W-Andes) | |
Black-hooded Thrush | Turdus olivater | sanctaemartae (N-Col.) | |
Great Thrush | Turdus fuscater | cacozelus (Sta.Marta mts) | |
Crimson-backed Tanager | Ramphocelus dimidiatus | molochinus (C-Col.) | |
Flame-rumped Tanager | Ramphocelus flammigerus | (=Col. endemic!) | |
Blue-gray Tanager | Thraupis episcopus | leucoptera (C-Col.) | |
Blue-capped Tanager | Thraupis cyanocephala | annectens (C+W-Col.), margaritae (N-Col.) | |
Lacrimose Mountain-Tanager | Anisognathus lacrymosus | 3 endemic ssp in WC-Col. | |
Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager | Anisognathus somptuosus | antioquiae (NC-Col.) | |
Blue-necked Tanager | Tangara cyanicollis | granadensis (W-Col.) | |
Plain-coloured Tanager | Tangara inornata | inornata (NC-Col.) | |
Golden Tanager | Tangara arthus | occidentalis (W-Col.) | |
Swallow Tanager | Tersina viridis | grisescens (N-Col.) | |
Yellow-tufted Dacnis | Dacnis egregia | egregia (NC-Col.) | |
Blue Dacnis | Dacnis cayana | napaea (NC-Col.) | |
Yellow-backed Tanager | Hemithraupis flavicollis | albigularis (NC-Col.) | |
Rufous-browed Conebill | Conirostrum rufum | (=Col. endemic!) | |
Rosy Thrush-Tanager | Rhodinocichla rosea | harterti (NC-Col.) | |
Gray Seedeater | Sporophila intermedia | bogotensis? (W-Col.) | |
Gray-browed Brush-Finch | Arremon assimilis | (split from A. torquatus) | |
White-naped Brush-Finch | Atlapetes albinucha | gutturalis (N-Col., no other ssp. in Col.) | |
Choco Brushfinch | Atlapetes tricolor | split fr Tricolored Brush-Finch, near-endemic | |
Common Bush-Tanager | Chlorospingus flavopectus | several endemic ssp. in Col. | |
Dusky Bush-Tanager | Chlorospingus semifuscus | livingstoni (W-Col.) | |
Red Tanager | Piranga flava | S-Am split from Hepatic | |
Slate-throated Whitestart | Myioborus miniatus | sanctaemartae (N-Col.) | |
Citrine Warbler | Basileuterus luteoviridis | quindiana? (C-Col.)/richardsoni? (W-Col.) | |
Golden-crowned Warbler | Basileuterus culicivorus | occultus?(W-Col.)/austerus?(C-Col.) | |
Buff-rumped Warbler | Phaeothlypis fulvicauda | motacilla (N-Col.; Restall: NC-Col.) | |
Russet-backed Oropendola | Psarocolius angustifrons | sincipitalis (NC-Col.) | |
Northern Mountain Cacique | Cacius leucoramphus | split from C. chrysonotus; Ven. to N-Peru | |
Yellow-hooded Blackbird | Chrysomus icterocephalus | bogotensis (NC-Col.) | |
Blue-naped Chlorophonia | Chlorophonia cyanea | psittacina (N-Col.) |
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Photos of birding sites |
![]() Chingaza NP. |
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![]() Chingaza NP. |
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![]() La Florida marsh. |
![]() Hummingbird garden (Jardin Encantado). |
![]() Forest and clearings above Victoria. |
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![]() Central plaza of Victoria (hotel at plaza), with parrotlets in the large tree. |
![]() Lake on our way to Rio Claro. Few birds, except the closeby potoo that the children pointed out to us. Below: Andrés helping the girl of the potoo with Jan's scope. |
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![]() Often we had to wait a little for road works. A sign of the resurrecting Colombia? |
![]() The Llanos-like open area on our way to Rio Claro (for the screamers). Below front four: Laurens, Fred, Nollie, Rhea. |
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![]() Rooms of the Rio Claro lodge, right inside the forest. Below: Rio Claro upriver from the restaurant. |
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![]() The clearing where the trail (stream!) to the oilbird cave starts. Below: Teva(-like) sandals were a must to get to the oilbird cave! |
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![]() The lively plaza of Jardin, at our hotel doorstep. A very nice town with beautiful surroundings. Could stay there longer! |
![]() The farm (with hummingbird feeders right) near the Yellow-eared Parrot protection site high above Jardin. Below: breakfast in the field (at the farm). |
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![]() The forest above Jardin. |
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![]() At the river just below Jardin, near the Cock-of-the-Rocks. |
![]() Part of Las Tangaras lodge. |
![]() Protected forest above Las Tangaras. Below: lunch in the field. |
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![]() Promising views of the Magdalena river, from the plane during the flight from Medellin to Sta. Marta. |
![]() Near Minca in the lower part of the Santa Marta mountains. |
![]() In the upper part of the Sta. Marta, near the lodge. |
![]() View of the snowy mountains of the Sta. Marta massif, from above the lodge. Below: our Pro Aves lodge of the Sta. Marta mountains. |
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![]() The very birdy garden of the Pro Aves lodge on the Sta. Marta mountains. |
![]() On our way back down to Minca (Sta. Marta mountains). Note the bad quality of the road (photo below). |
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![]() In Los Flamencos NP on the dry Guajira peninsula. |
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![]() At the lagoons of Los Flamencos NP. |
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![]() Birding in the dry bush of Los Flamencos NP. |
![]() Laguna El Tabacal NW of Bogota, on our last morning before the flight back home. With a last view (below) of the lush forest vegetation that was so typical of this successful trip. |
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To the bird photos (16 MB) |