BIRDING LOCALITIES
Stop below Abancay Pachachaca Bridge 13°40'20.28"S 72°56'20.92"W (1800m) Stop Above Abancay S13 32 108 W 072 51 (3685m)
Huanipaca Road S10 09 060 W 072 54 142 (3980m)
Hotel Pakaritampu: 13°15'44.65"S 72°16'3.28"W (2815m)
Abra Malaga: Polylepis forest west slope 13° 8'36.72"S 72°18'16.10"W (4435m)
Abra Malaga: East slope cloud forest S 13 06 943 W 072 20 433 (2632m)
Carretera 28B--Peñas: 13°10'19.58"S 72°17'9.69"W (3576m)
Laguna Huaypo (lake): 13°24'05.6"S 72°07'42.2"W (3510m)
Lago Piuray (lake): 13°24'55.3"S 72°01'57.8"W (3690m)
Pelagic Callao dock S 12 03 969 W 077 09 496
Pelagic Shelf S 12 08 064 W 077 45 271
Santa Eulalia stop S 11 44 766 W 076 36 315 (3100m)
Marcopomacoha S 11 34 897 W 076 15 87 (4700m)
We managed by chance or design to record 26 Peruvian endemics and another 29 range restricted species in 8 days! Quite an achievement!
DAY BY DAY ACTIVITIES
September 25th: Barry Meets Dave and Janet at their hotel and we drive to Lamay with stops at Lake Piuray and the Maras Inca salt pans where we have lunch. Onto the house in Lamay and chill. Night Lamay. Department of Cusco.
September 26th: Full day in Lamay – we drive up the valley and do some birding and hang around the garden. Charo arrives and we have dinner. Night in Lamay. Department of Cusco.
September 27th: Early breakfast, then to the Cusco airport to meet the rest of the gang and off to Abancay. Bye to Charo. We stop at the Inca ruins of Tarawasi and Sahuite where we have lunch and then through Abancay and to the Chalhaunca River to the Colonial Bridge area. An 11th hour Koepcke’s Screech-Owl makes our night. Night Abancay. Departments of Cusco and Apurimac.
September 28th: Back down to 1600 meters where we finally see the usheri race of Pale- tailed Canastero. Breakfast pick up bags ad to higher elevations and the Huanipaca road with a stop along the way. We bird here successfully and after lunch head for Ollantaytambo via Mars and arrive after dark. Night at Pakaritampu Hotel. Departments of Cusco and Apurimac.
September 29th: Barry forgets his wedding anniversary. Abra Malaga (Panticalla Pass) near the village of Tastayoc then west slope Polylepis forest hike (4500-5330 m) under the dominating snow peak of Veronica (Wakay-Willca) with some rain and a late lunch and back to the Pakaritampu Hotel. Department of Cusco.
September 30th: Abra Malaga (Panticalla Pass) near the village of Tastayoc then east slope Elfin Forest at Canchaillo 3400 m and down via Carrizales to San Luis at 3000 m. After a late lunch we make another stop at Canchaillo then back to the Pakaritampu Hotel in Ollantaytambo. Department of Cusco.
October 1st: Late start and off to Cusco airport via stops at Lakes Huaypo and Piuray – afternoon flight to Lima and to the good old favorite the Hotel Manhattan. Erick sadly bids us farewell and goes home. Department of Cusco and Lima.
October 2nd: 8 hour Pelagic out of Callao with Jean-Paul Perret to an upwelling 30 NM offshore and a quick tour of the Palomino Islands on the way back where a hawking Spot-billed Ground-Tyrant surprises us. We pass the ex-penal colony of El Fronton and San Lorenzo Island. A great seafood lunch at the dock and then a quick look for shorebirds at La Arenilla and to our lodging in Santa Eulalia. Department of Lima
October 3rd: Up the Santa Eulalia Road to near San Pedro de Casta and a bird a stretch of road at 3130-3000 meters. A stop lower for Great Inca Finch. We continue to lovely accommodations at San Mateo named Chez Victor! Department of Lima.
October 4th: To Marcopomacocha area and the Milloc turn off birding from 4400 to 4875 meters. Barry gets us lost in the fog but it turns into a fine day. After lunch we return to the good ’ole Manhattan and start to think about the Amazon! Department of Lima and Junín.
SPECIES LIST
TINAMOUS
Ornate Tinamou - Nothoprocta ornata
One we originally identified as Andean on the Huanipaca road on re-examination of photos was this species, of the branickii subspecies.
Andean Tinamou - Nothoprocta pentlandii
At least 3 on the Santa Eulalia road. Here the Named for Joseph Barclay Pentland (1798-1873) Irish traveler, explorer and diplomat in Bolivia.
DUCKS
Andean Goose – Chloephaga melanoptera Seen on 5 dates.
Torrent Duck - Merganetta armata turneri. Fantastic views along the Chalhaunca River on our way in and out to Abancay.
Crested Duck - Lophonetta specularioides. 3 at Marcopomacocha and 4 in the Lamay Valley
Yellow-billed (Speckled) Teal - Anas flavirostris oxyptera. Common. Jaramillo (2003) further suggested that the subspecies oxyptera may also deserve recognition as a separate species from A. flavirostris which occurs farther south.
Yellow-billed Pintail - Anas geórgica. Seen at Lago Piuray and Lago Huaypo.
Puna Teal - Anas puna. Common.
Cinnamon Teal - Anas cyanoptera. Common at Lago Piuray and Lago Huaypo.
White-cheeked Pintail – Anas bahamensis. 4 seen individuals seen at Lago Piuray. This coastal species seems to be invading the Andes.
Ruddy Duck (Andean) – Oxyura jamaicensis (ferruginea). Seen at Laguna Huaypo. Andean populations have often (e.g., Hellmayr & Conover 1948a, Siegfried 1976, Sibley & Ahlquist 1990, AOU 1998, Ridgely & Greenfield 2001, Jaramillo 2003) been treated as a separate species, O. ferruginea ("Andean Duck" or "Andean Ruddy-Duck"). However, see Adams and Slavid (1984), Fjeldså (1986), and McCracken & Sorenson (2005) for rationale for treating them as conspecific, as done previously (e.g., Blake 1977, Johnsgard 1979), and then followed by Fjeldså & Krabbe (1990) and Carboneras (1992f). Siegfried (1976) and Livezey (1995) considered ferruginea to be more closely related to O. vittata than to O. jamaicensis, but McCracken & Sorenson (2005) showed that this is incorrect.
GREBES
White-tufted Grebe – Rollandia rolland. Several seen at Piuray and Huaypo lakes. Named for Master Gunnar Roland of the French corvette L’Uranie which circumnavigated the world 1817-1820.
PENGUINS
Humboldt Penguin - Spheniscus humbolti. We saw 41. Named for Friedrich Wilhelm Karl Heinrich Alexander Baron von Humboldt, German scientist and explorer.
ALBATROSSES
Waved Albatross - Diomedea irrorata. One posed beautifully for photos. CRITICALLY ENDANGERED.
PETRELS & SHEARWATERS
Northern/ Antarctic Giant Petrel Macronectes haylii/giganteus. Two too far to be sure which!
Pink-footed Shearwater Puffinus creatopus. Around 9 seen on the pelagic. VULNERABLE.
Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus. 39 counted on the Pelagic.
STORM PETRELS
Fuegian Wilson's Storm-Petrel Oceanites oceanicus. 3 seen on the pelagic. Jaramillo (2003) suggested that the subspecies exasperatus might be a separate species from nominate Oceanites oceanicus.
Elliot’s (White-vented) Storm-Petrel Oceanites gracilis. Very common on the Pelagic.
BREAKING NEWS AS OF 14/11/14
After several successful field trips organized last year by Red de Observadores de Aves y Vida Silvestre de Chile (ROC), it is time to announce that wonderful discovery: MARKHAM'S and ELLIOT's STORM-PETREL colonies have been found in the North of Chile!!! This news is hoped for decades, and finally, thanks to the patient work of a few birders led by my friend Rodrigo Barros, thousands of nests have been found in the middle of the Atacama Desert! Every year, hundreds of young Markham's Storm-Petrel are found attracted by the cities lights, so we know they are breeding nearby. But so far, all tentative of finding the breeding grounds of these mysterious birds remained unsuccessful. But last year, a team of about 10 birders of the ROC prospected regularly the Atacama Desert and found several important colonies of Markham's Storm-Petrel with probably several thousands of active nests. Report by Fabrice Schmitt.
Wedge-rumped Storm-Petrel (Galapagos) Oceanodroma tethys. 3 seen on the Pelagic of the Galapagos form.
Markham's Storm-Petrel Oceanodroma markhami. We were happy with one on the Pelagic – a tricky ID contra Black which only now, mainly thanks to Steve Howell, we are beginning to understand re –distribution. Named for Real-Admiral Sir Albert Hastings Markham (1841-1918) English naval officer and arctic explorer.
Black Storm-Petrel Oceanodroma melania. 3 seen.
Ringed Storm-Petrel Oceanodroma hornbyi. We counted 72 on the pelagic. Named for another Brit – Admiral Sir Phipps Hornby (1785-1867) British naval officer commander in the Pacific.
Peruvian Diving-Petrel Pelecanoides garnotii. Wow – Common we encountered 106 which is not always the case. ENDANGERED.
BOOBIES
Blue-footed Booby - Sula nebouxii. 2 seen on the Palomino Islands.
Peruvian Booby- Sula variegata. Common Humboldt current Guano bird.
CORMORANTS
Neotropic Cormorant - Phalacrocorax brasilianus. Common on the pelagic but also inland.
Guanay Cormorant - Phalacrocorax bougainvillii. A guano bird in huge numbers that are hit dramatically in an El Nino year Named after Vice- Admiral Louis Antoine Baron de Borgainville (1729-1811) French soldier, navigator and mathematician. NEAR THREATENED.
Red-legged Cormorant - Phalacrocorax gaimardi. Named after the 19th century French naval surgeon, explorer and naturalist Paul Gaimard, discoverer of South Island Fernbird and Grey Warbler in New Zealand. NEAR THREATENED.
HERONS
Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea. One at La Arenilla.
Snowy Egret - Egretta thula. 40 at La Arenilla.
Great Egret – Ardea alba. Seen at Lago Piuray and also along the coast.
Cattle Egret - Bubulcus ibis. 200+ between Cusco and Abancay.
Black-crowned Night-Heron - Nycticorax nycticorax. Eight seen throughout.
IBIS
Puna Ibis – Plegadis ridgwayi. Common in the Andes.
Andean Ibis Theristicus branickii. Seen on two dates. Sibley & Monroe (1990) considered branickii as separate species ("Andean Ibis") from melanopis (Black-faced Ibis); anecdotal observations (Vizcarra 2009) suggest that the two taxa segregate where they occur sympatrically during non-breeding season.
AMERICAN VULTURES
Black Vulture - Coragyps atratus. After the opinions of a few 19th century taxonomists were long ignored, recent genetic studies have indicated that New World vultures are modified storks and don’t belong with the raptors; an excellent example of convergent evolution.
Turkey Vulture - Cathartes aura. Jaramillo (2003) suggested that the resident tropical subspecies ruficollis and the southern subspecies group (jota and "falklandica") might merit recognition as separate species from the northern Cathartes aura group.
HAWKS
Cinereous Harrier- Circus cinereus. One on the way to Abancay and one at Lake Huaypo.
Harris’s Hawk - Parabuteo unicinctus harisi. Seen along the coastal strip. The city raptor in Lima.
Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle – Geranoaetus melanoleucus. Several sightings.
Variable Hawk – Geranoaetus polyosoma. Seen almost daily; the taxonomy of this group is confusing, and some people try to split it as Puna Hawk B. poecilochrous and Red-backed Hawk B. polyosoma. SACC comment: Farquhar (1988) concluded that Buteo poecilochrous and B. polyosoma are conspecific, as they were formerly treated; he was unable to find any way to reliably diagnose the two forms using plumage characters or measurements. Ridgely & Greenfield (2001), Jaramillo (2003), and Schulenberg et al. (2007) followed this treatment and suggested "Variable Hawk" be retained for the composite species. Genetic data (Riesing et al. 2003) are consistent with hypothesis that B. polyosoma and B. poecilochrous are conspecific.
RAILS
Plumbeous Rail Pardirallus sanguinolentus. Heard only, at Lago Huaypo.
Common Gallinule - Gallinula galeata. Common.
PLOVERS
Andean Lapwing - Vanellus resplendens. Common around Abra Malaga, also seen at Piuray and Huaypo lakes.
Black-bellied (Grey) Plover - Pluvialis squatarola. 1 seen by the sea-shore at La Arenilla. The IOC says “The committee decided to select one spelling for each variant word (between American and English spelling), because to state these words in the alternative in every case would produce a cumbersome list. But the committee encourages each author and publisher to select whatever spelling of these words is deemed appropriate (since that would undoubtedly happen anyway). The spellings selected by the committee represent a compromise. Grey is used because far more taxa have traditionally used that spelling than gray. The list likewise adopts the British spelling of sombre, sabre, sulphur, mitre, ochre, and moustache, and the American spelling of color and racket. This tilt to the British side is justified by the fact that both spellings of every one of these variant words is considered correct in typical American dictionaries, such as the unabridged Merriam-Webster Dictionary . We hope this solution will find favor with most users of the list.
Semipalmated Plover - Charadrius semipalmatus. 7 seen at La Arenilla.
Killdeer - Charadrius vociferus. 2 seen at La Arenilla.
Slate-colored (Andean) Coot – Fulica ardesiaca. Common.
Diademed Sandpiper-Plover Phegornis mitchellii. 2 pair behaved well at Marcopomacocha. Named for David William Mitchell (1813-1859) English zoologist and secretary of the London zoological society. NEAR THREATENED.
STILTS
Black-necked Stilt (White-backed) – Himantopus mexicanus melanurus. Seen at Piuray Lake. Some authors have treated southern South American melanurus as a separate species (e.g., Sibley & Monroe 1990, Ridgely & Greenfield 2001). The six taxa in the genus Himantopus form a near-globally distributed superspecies (Mayr & Short 1970, Sibley & Monroe 1990, Pierce 1996), and with from one to six species-level taxa recognized by various authors. Virtually no data are available relevant to taxon-ranking of allopatric populations. The contact between mexicanus and melanurus in South America, where at least some hybridization occurs, affords one of the best opportunities for such study.
OYSTERCATCHERS
Blackish Oystercatcher - Himantopus mexicanus. Good views of 9 on the Palomino Islands.
SANDPIPERS
Puna Snipe Gallinago andina. Two seen well at Marcopomacocha.
Hudsonian Whimbrel - Numenius (hudsonicus) phaeopus. Common along the sea-shore at Villa Marshes. Zink et al. (1995) proposed a return to earlier classifications (e.g., Ridgway 1919) that considered New World hudsonicus to be a separate species from Old World populations based on genetic distance. Although plumage pattern also differs substantially, vocalizations are evidently very similar, in contrast to the many allotaxa in the Scolopacidae treated as separate species.
Greater Yellowlegs – Tringa melanoleuca. Eight seen at Piuray Lake.
Lesser Yellowlegs – Tringa flavipes. Eight seen at Piuray and Huaypo Lakes.
Willet - Tringa semipalmata. One at La Arenilla.
Spotted Sandpiper - Actitis macularia. A few here and there.
Western Sandpiper - Calidris mauri. One at La Arenilla. Named for Ernesto Mauri Italian botanist (1791-1836).
Semiplamated Sandpiper - Calidris pusilla. 44 at La Arenilla.
Ruddy Turnstone - Arenaria interpres. Seen at San Pedro beach and Pucusana.
Sanderling - Calidris alba. 80+ by the sea-shore at La Arenilla.
Wilson ’s Phalarope - Phalaropus tricolor. Common at Lakes Huaypo and Piuray.
Red-necked Phalarope - Phalaropus lobatus. 50+ at sea.
Red (Grey) Phalarope- Phalaropus fulicarius. 15+ at sea. Brits call them Grey Phalaropes as we never see them in alternate plumage.
SEEDSNIPE
Grey-breasted Seedsnipe - Thinocorus orbignyianus. 9 at Marcopomacocha. South American Sandgrouse! Named for the impressive sounding Alicide Charles Victor Dessalines d’Orbigny (1802-1857) French naturalist explorer and collector in tropical America. The guy with the Chat-Tyrant.
SKUAS
Chilean Skua - Stercorarius chilensis. 2 on the return journey on the Pelagic.
Pomarine Skua - Stercorarius pomarinus. 4 on the Pelagic.
GULLS AND TERNS
Swallow-tailed Gull - Creagrus furcatus. 2 seen well on the pelagic.
Sabines Gull - Xema sabini. At least 5 on the pelagic.
Belcher's Gull - Larus belcheri. Common along the Peruvian coast. Named for Sir Edward Belcher British naval explore of the pacific coast of America 1825-1828.
Kelp Gull - Larus dominicanus. Great views on the Pelagic.
Gray-headed Gull - Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus. 24 at La Arenilla.
Andean Gull - Chroicocephalus serranus. Common in the Andes. Called Kellwa in native Quechua.
Gray Gull - Leucophaeus modestus. 31 counted.
Peruvian Tern - Sternula lorata. 10+ on the Pelagic. ENDANDERED.
Inca Tern - Larosterna inca. Common nesting on the Palomino Islands. NEAR THREATENED.
Black Tern - Chlidonias niger. 3 counted on the Pelagic.
Arctic Tern - Sterna paradisaea. Around 16 seen on the Pelagic.
South American Tern - Sterna hirundinacea. Common on the Pelagic.
Sandwich Tern - Thalasseus sandvicensis. 5 or 6 seen. Thalasseus eurygnathus ("Cayenne Tern") is here considered conspecific with sandvicensis following most recent treatments (e.g., Blake 1977); it is often considered a separate species (e.g., Ridgway 1919, Peters 1934, Hellmayr & Conover 1948b, Meyer de Schauensee 1970, Ridgely et al 2001). [Elaborate on complexity of situation]
PIGEONS AND DOVES
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) - Columba livia. Feral type found throughout Latin America near human habitation, absent only from extensive tracts of primary forest. – John van Dort.
Spot-winged Pigeon - Patagioenas maculosa. Quite common in the highlands.
Band-tailed Pigeon – Patagioenas fasciata. 42 seen in the humid Montane forest at Abra Malaga.
White-tipped Dove - Leptotila verreauxi decipiens. One or two near Abancay. Named for the impressive sounding John Baptiste Edouard Verreaux (1810-1868) French Natural History dealer and collector.
Bare-faced Ground-Dove – Metriopelia ceciliae. 5 along the Santa Eulalia Road. Named after the Cecile Gautrau, daughter of 19th century French naturalist, Lesson (the one with the seedeater).
Black-winged Ground- Dove - Metriopelia melanoptera. Common along the Santa Eulalia Road.
Eared Dove – Zenaida auriculata. Seen at Piuray Lake and Abra Malaga (east slope).
Pacific Dove – Zenaida meloda. The common Lima Dove.
Croaking Ground-Dove - Columbina cruziana. Common on the coast and western foothills
CUCKOOS AND ANIS
Smooth-billed Ani Crotophaga ani. A few near Abancay.
TYPICAL OWLS
E Koepcke’s Screech Owl - Megascops koepckeae. Took us a while but great looks and photos in the end, here of the hockingii subspecies. Named for Maria Koepcke, originally Maria Emilie Anna von Mikulicz-Radecki, was born and educated in Germany, earning a PhD in Zoology from Kiel University in 1949. She then moved to Peru, where she married zoologist Hans-Wilhelm Koepcke in 1950. Together they collaborated on much of their scientific work and publications, and had a daughter named Juliane. She was a successful Neotropical ornithologist at a time when South American ornithology was male-dominated. On Christmas Eve 1971, Koepcke traveled with her 17 year old daughter on LANSA Flight 508 from Lima to Pucallpa to join her husband for a holiday. The plane encountered a severe thunderstorm, was hit by lightning, and disintegrated above the Amazon Rainforest. Seated next to each other, the Koepkes were separated in mid-air (with Juliane remaining belted to their row of three seats), and both survived the fall. Coming to rest in different areas of the jungle floor, Maria was badly injured and died several days later. Juliane, despite sustaining a broken collar bone and an eye injury, was able enough to travel through the dense jungle for eleven days, before reaching a makeshift logging camp and being subsequently rescued on 3 January 1972.
Peruvian Pygmy - Owl – Glaucidium peruanum. 2 seen below Abancay. This intermontane race is slower voiced.
Burrowing Owl – Athene cunicularia. One seen by Barry, Dave and Janet near the salt mines near Cusco. Greek mythology – Athene was the goddess of wisdom, war and the liberal arts, whose favorite bird was the Owl.
NIGHTJARS AND NIGHTHAWKS
Band-winged Nightjar – Systellura longirostris. One below Abancay.
SWIFTS
White-collared Swift - Streptoprocne zonaris. 21 at Abra Malaga.
Andean Swift - Aeronautes andecolus. Common at several locations.
HUMMINGBIRDS
Sparkling Violet-ear - Colibri coruscans. Two at Santa Eulalia and one near Cusco.
Bronze-tailed Comet - Polyonymus caroli. Four or Five of this endemic along the Santa Eulalia road.
Black-breasted Hillstar - Oreotrochilus melanogaster. One of this endemic at Marcopomacocha.
Black-tailed Trainbearer - Lesbia victoriae. From the Greek Lesbias – A woman of Lesbos.
Green-tailed Trainbearer - Lesbia nuna. One near Marcopomacocha and several in the Cusco Andes.
Olivaceous Thornbill - Chascostigma olivaceum. One on the DSP bog showed well. Like many very high altitude Hummers this has the ability to go into torpor at night, state of slowed body functions used to conserve energy and heat. Animals that enter a state of torpor lower their body temperature and slow their heart rate, respiration and metabolic rate dramatically, effectively conserving energy because fewer calories are needed to maintain life.
Blue-mantled Thornbill - Chalcostigma stanleyi. 3 in the Polylepis at Abra Malaga.
Bearded Mountaineer - Oreonympha nobilis. Seen around the grounds of the Pakaritampu Hotel and at Lamay; a Peruvian endemic.
Tyrian Metaltail - Metallura tyrianthina. At Abra Malaga and first record for Barry’s Garden in Lamay! - Named after the color Tyrian purple; variously known as Royal purple, Tyrian purple, purple of the ancients, this ancient dyestuff, mentioned in texts dating about 1600 BC, was produced from the mucus of the hypobranchial gland of various species of marine mollusks, notably Murex. Although originating in old port of Tyre in modern day Syria (hence the name), man's first large scale chemical industry spread throughout the world. With the decline of the Roman Empire, the use of the dye also declined and large scale production ceased with the fall of Constantinople in 1453. It was replaced by other cheaper dyes like lichen purple and madder.
Scaled Metaltail - Metallura aeneocauda. One at Abra Malaga showed well.
Black Metaltail - Metallura phoebe. Two on the Santa Eulalia road. Phoebe was an alternate name for the goddess Diana. In Roman mythology, Diana (lt. "heavenly" or "divine") was the goddess of the hunt and moon and birthing, being associated with wild animals and woodland, and having the power to talk to and control animals.
Sapphire-vented Puffleg – Eriocnemis luciani. 2 seen at Abra Málaga--Cloud Forest. Named for J. Lucian Buquet (1807-1889) French entomologist.
Shining Sunbeam – Aglaeactis cupripennis. 12 seen at Abra Malaga.
Violet-throated Starfronlet Coeligena violifer. 5 seen at Abra Malaga.
Sword-billed Hummingbird - Ensifera ensifera. 2 at Abra Malaga one seen very well.
Great Sapphirewing - Pterophanes cyanopterus. 2 at Abra Malaga – the world’s second largest Hummer.
Giant Hummingbird – Patagona gigas. Very common at the Pakaritampu Hotel in Ollantaytambo and elsewhere. The world’s largest Hummer!
White-bellied Hummingbird - Amazilia chionogaster. Good views at the Pakaritampu Hotel and Lamay.
Purple-collared Woodstar – Myrtis fanny. Seen at Santa Eulalia and Abancay.
Amazilia Hummingbird - Amazilia amazilia. We managed one in Lima.
PUFFBIRDS
White-eared Puffbird - Nystalus chacuru. One below Abancay showed well. Limited range in Peru.
WOODPECKERS
Black-necked Woodpecker - Colaptes atricollis. Fantastic views of 3 individuals at Santa Eulalia. It’s a Colpates so it should be a Flicker?
Andean Flicker - Colaptes rupicola. Common in the Andes.
FALCONS
Mountain Caracara- Phalcoboenus megalopterus. Common in the Andes.
American Kestrel - Falco sparverius. Common.
Aplomado Falcon - Falco femoralis. Around 10 seen at various locations in the Andes. Nice to have it so common.
Peregrine Falcon – Falco peregrinus. One seen between Cusco and Abancay of undetermined subspecies and one on consecutive days on the Central Highway.
PARROTS
Golden-plumed Parakeet - Leptosittaca branickii. 8 flying over the Panticalla pass. In Quechua Panti is small alpine flower and Calla is a Parakeet!
Mitred Parakeet - Psittacara mitrata alticola. Common near Abancay and on the way there.
ANTPITTAS
Undulated Antpitta Grallaria squamigera. Heard only, at Abra Malaga.
Stripe-headed Antpitta - Grallaria andicolus. This one is the EASIEST Antpitta to see among all the Antpittas at least in Peru; one seen really well on the west slope of Abra Malaga here the subspecies punensis which may deserve full species rank from the northern nominate form which we saw at Marcopomacocha.
Rufous Antpitta - Grallaria rufula occobambae. At Abra Malaga.
Red and White Antpitta - Grallaria erythroleuca. At Abra Malaga near the type locality at San Luis.
TAPACULOS
Puna Tapaculo - Scytalopus simonsi. Great views in the west slope (polylepis) forest of Abra Malaga. Scytalopus etymologically comes from the Greek language wich literally means “stickfoot”, referred to their strong and thick feet.
Diademed Tapaculo - Scytalopus schulenbergi. Incredibly 3 seen. Named for Thomas S. Schulenberg US Ornithologist and collector at the laboratory of Ornithology Cornell. Principal author of “Birds of Peru”.
“Ampay” Tapaculo Scytalopus sp.nov. Great looks above Abancay – when will this be described?
OVENBIRDS
Slender-billed Miner – Geositta tenuirostris. At Marcopomacocha and Lake Piuray. The genus name literally means ‘nuthatch of the earth’.
Dark-winged Miner - Geositta saxicolina. At Marcopomacocha, this endemic was fairly common.
Streaked Tuftedcheek - Pseudocolaptes boissonneautii. She fell in love with me at Abra Malaga – I’m going to see her next week!
Wren-like Rushbird Phleocryptes melanops. Heard only.
Buff-breasted Earthcreeper - Upucerthia validirostris. Although the jelskii subspecies group (Plain-breasted Earthcreeper) has been considered separate species from U. validirostris in most recent classifications (e.g., Meyer de Schauensee 1970, Ridgely & Tudor 1994, Sibley & Monroe 1990), evidence for their treatment as such is weak (Remsen 2003). Earlier classifications treated them as conspecific (e.g., Cory & Hellmayr 1925, Peters 1951). A report of sympatry in southern Bolivia (Cabot 1990) is based on a misidentification (Remsen 2003). Genetic data (Chesser et al. 2007, Fjeldsa et al. 2007) confirm that they are sister taxa but weakly differentiated (Derryberry et al. 2011). Areta & Pearman (2009, 2013) found no differences in their voices. Areta & Pearman (2013) proposed that they be treated as conspecific. SACC proposal passed to treat them as conspecific. SACC proposal passed to use the English name Buff-breasted Earthcreeper for broadly defined U. validirostris.
Cream-winged Cinclodes - Cinclodes albiventris. Common around Abra Malaga.
White-winged Cinclodes - Cinclodes atacamensis. Less common that the preceding species and more tied to running water – we saw around 10.
White-bellied Cinclodes - Cinclodes palliatus. Perhaps the most striking Furnarid and an endemic – we saw 5. This species is now thought to have an extremely small population which is assumed to be in continuing decline owing to habitat destruction and degradation (Collar et al. 1992). Further surveys of suitable habitat have failed to find the species at any additional localities. It is therefore considered Critically Endangered. Urgent conservation action is required to preserve and restore remaining habitat. Suitable habitat was previously subjected to relatively little human disturbance owing to its high altitude. However, the use of peat for mushroom-growing, private gardening and public parks in Lima has increased in the past ten years (G. Engblom in litt. 2003). Some suitable habitat is apparently being overgrazed by alpacas, llamas and sheep (J. Barrio in litt. 2009). Mining operations are also causing habitat degradation through the dumping of deposits in bogs and lakes, and through the deliberate draining of some bogs, an activity that is estimated to be affecting over 50% of suitable sites (J. Barrio in litt. 2012) CRITICALLY ENDANGERED.
Surf Cinclodes - Cinclodes taczanowskii. Seen well on the palomino Islands. Recent genetic evidence reveals that the evidence for regarding this one as a separate species from the Chilean Seaside Cinclodes (or Seaside Cinclodes), is pretty weak. It looks like both forms have not differentiated enough and are better lumped.
Pearled Treerunner Margarornis squamiger. At Abra Malaga.
Rusty-crowned Tit-Spinetail - Leptasthenura pileata. Quite common at Santa Eulalia, good looks!
Tawny Tit-Spinetail - Leptasthenura yanacensis. Very nice views of 4 in the polylepis forest of Abra Malaga. This species is thought to have a moderately small population which is highly fragmented within its moderately small range. It is likely to be declining owing to ongoing habitat loss and degradation. It is currently considered Near Threatened, and should be carefully monitored for future changes in the rate of decline. NEAR THREATENED.
White-browed Tit-Spinetail - Leptasthenura xenothorax. Great views of 6 in the polylepis forest of Abra Malaga. Leptasthenura xenothorax has a very restricted and severely fragmented range in the Runtacocha highland (Apurímac), the Nevado Sacsarayoc massif and the Cordillera Vilcanota (Cuzco), south-central Peru. Significant populations of c.35-70 individuals were estimated at three sites in Cuzco in 1987-1989, but declines have been observed at some of these, and the population density is very low in the Runtacocha highland (Fjeldså and Kessler 1996). The patchiness and scarcity of its habitat, which may now occupy less than 3% of the estimated potential cover in large parts of Cuzco (Fjeldså and Kessler 1996), suggests that the total population must now be very small (Fjeldså and Krabbe 1990), with one recent estimate of 500-1,500 individuals (Engblom et al. 2002) ENDANGERED.
Line-fronted Canastero - Asthenes urubambensis. Great views of the nominate race in the polylepis forest of Abra Malaga. NEAR THREATENED.
Streak-throated Canastero - Asthenes humilis. Quite common on the west slope of Abra Malaga and at Marcopomacocha.
Streak-backed Canstero Asthenes wyatti. One on the Huanipaca road.
Rusty-fronted Canastero - Asthenes ottonis. Seen near Abancay and Abra Malaga.
Canyon Canstero - Asthenes pudibunda. A couple on the Santa Eulalia Road – just sneaks into Chile!
Marcapata Spinetail - Cranioleuca marcapatae marcapatae. Brief views in a mixed flock at Abra Malaga.
Creamy-crested Spinetail - Cranioleuca albicapilla albicapilla. Seen near Peñas at Abra Malaga – a very responsive pair.
Apurimac Spinetail - Synallaxis courseni. 4 seen above Abancay. This species is classified as Vulnerable because it is known from just a few locations and has a very small total population. If disturbance and small-scale tree felling at the Ampay National Sanctuary is found to be causing a population decline, the species may warrant uplisting to Endangered in the future. VULNERABLE.
Junin Canastero Asthenes virgata. 2 responded to playback at Marcopomacocha.
Puna Thistletail - Asthenes helleri. Seen at Abra Malaga (east slope).
TYRANT FLYCATCHERS
Sierran Elaenia - Elaenia pallatangae. Heard only.
Tawny-rumped Tyrannulet - Phyllomyias uropygialis. One at Abra Malaga.
Southern-beardless Tyrannuelt - Camptostoma obsoletum. One seen by some below Abancay.
White-throated Tyrannulet - Mecocerculus leucophrys. Fairly common at Abra Malaga.
White-banded Tyrannulet - Mecocerculus stictopterus. One at Abra Malaga at lower elevations.
Ash-breasted Tit-Tyrant - Anairetes alpines. Seen at Abra Malaga (polylepis forest), a habitat which is severely fragmented and undergoing a continuing decline in extent, area, and quality. It is consequently listed as Endangered.
Yellow-billed Tit-Tyrant - Anairetes flavirostris. Maybe half a dozen seen throughout.
Tufted Tit-Tyrant - Anairetes parulus. Seen at Abra Malaga--Cloud Forest.
Pied-crested Tit-Tyrant Anairetes reguloides. Nice looks along the Santa Eulalia Road.
Torrent Tyrannulet - Serpophaga cinerea. Seen along the Chalhuanca River.
Many-colored Rush-Tyrant - Tachuris rubrigastra. Great views at Lake Huaypo. A catch up for Janet.
Cinnamon Flycatcher - Pyrrhomyias cinnamomeus. 2 at Abra Malaga.
Vermillion Flycatcher - Pyrocephalus rubinus. One near Abancay.
Black Phoebe - Sayornis nigricans. On the Chalhaunca River at the colonial bridge.
White-winged Black-Tyrant - Knipolegus aterrimus A female near Abancay.
Spot-billed Ground-Tyrant - Muscisaxicola maculirostris. Bizarrely the only one we saw was catching flies amidst the Bobbies, Penguins and Inca Terns on the Palomino Islands.
Taczanowski’s Ground-Tyrant- Muscisaxicola griseus. Around 7 in total of this resident ground-tyrant. Named for Wladyslaw Taczanowski (1819-1890) Polish ornithologist and collector.
Puna Ground-Tyrant - Muscisaxicola juninensis. 3 at Abra Malaga. Named for the Peruvian Department of Junín.
White-fronted Ground-tyrant - Muscisaxicola albifrons. Common at Marcopomacocha and Abra Malaga.
Rufous-naped Ground-Tyrant - Muscisaxicola rufivertex. A pair seen at Abra Malaga on two consecutive days.
Streak-throated Bush-Tyrant - Myiotheretes striaticollis. One on the Santa Eulalia road.
Red-rumped Bush-Tyrant - Cnemarchus erythropygius. 2 in the Polylepis at Abra Malaga.
Rufous-webbed Bush-Tyrant - Polioxolmis rufipennis. One in the Lamay Valley.
Rufous-breasted Chat-Tyrant - Ochthoeca rufipectoralis. Seen at Abra Malaga (east slope).
Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant - Ochthoeca fumicolor. Seen on the west slope of Abra Malaga.
d'Orbigny's Chat-Tyrant - Ochthoeca oenanthoides. 2 seen on the west slope of Abra Malaga (polylepis forest).
White-browed Chat-Tyrant - Ochthoeca leucophrys. Common on the Santa Eulaia Road. Seen at Abra Malaga (west slope).
SWALLOWS AND MARTINS
Blue-and-white Swallow - Pygochelidon cyanoleuca. Common in lower areas.
Brown-bellied Swallow - Orochelidon murina. Common around Abra Malaga and Cusco/Abancay.
Andean Swallow - Orochelidon andecola. 17 seen at Marcopomacocha.
Bank Swallow - Riparia riparia. 2 seen. The SACC says: Called "Sand Martin" or "Common Sand-Martin" in Old World literature and in Ridgely & Tudor (1989), Turner & Rose (1989), Sibley & Monroe (1990), and Ridgely & Greenfield (2001). SACC proposal to change to "Sand Martin" did not pass. SACC proposal to add to "Sand Martin" as an alternative name did not pass.
Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica. 15+ seen. The New World populations of Hirundo rustica were formerly (e.g., Ridgway 1904)
treated as a separate species, H. erythrogastra, from Old World populations.
WRENS
House Wren (Southern) - Troglodytes aedon. One of the most widespread and common songbirds in the Americas, found from southern Canada to southern South America. As is to be expected over such a wide range, various distinct forms exist, which may one day be elevated to species level. For the moment, all mainland populations south of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec (Mexico) are grouped under the term "Southern" House Wren. All populations share a preference for edge or disturbed habitats, and occur at a variety of elevations. The House Wren tends to move around low in the vegetation, and is usually readily seen. It sings a short fast song. -- John van Dort
Mountain Wren - Troglodytes solstitialis. One at Abra Malaga performed well.
Inca Wren - Pheugopedius eisenmanni. Great views of a cooperative 4 in Chusquea bamboo vegetation at Abra Malaga. Named after Eugene Eisenmann US/Panamenian ornithologist (1906-1981). ENDEMIC.
DIPPERS
White-capped Dipper - Cinclus leucocephalus. One seen between Cusco and Abancay.
THRUSHES AND SOLITAIRES
Great Thrush - Turdus fuscater ockenderi. Common in more humid habitats.
Chiguanco Thrush - Turdus chiguanco chiguanco. Common in drier habitats.
MOCKINGBIRDS AND ALLIES
Long-tailed Mockingbird - Mimus longicaudatus. Common around Santa Eulalia.
PIPITS
Short-billed Pipit - Anthus furcatus. Two at Lake Piuray.
TANAGERS & ALLIES
Parodi’s Hemispingus - Hemispingus parodii. 2 seen in a mixed flock in bamboo at Abra Malaga. ENDEMIC.
Three-striped Hemispingus - Hemispingus trifasciatus. 6 seen at Abra Malaga.
Rust-and-Yellow Tanager - Thlypopsis ruficeps. One at Abra Malaga.
Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager - Anisognathus igniventris. Seen at Abra Malaga (east slope).
Blue-and-yellow Tanager - Pipraeidea bonariensis. Seen at several locations.
Cinereous Conebill - Conirostrum cinereum cinereum. Common.
White-browed Conebill - Conirostrum ferrugineiventre. Seen on the east slope of Abra Malaga. What a pretty bird!
Blue-backed Conebill - Conirostrum sitticolor. 3 at Abra Malaga.
Giant Conebill - Oreomanes fraseri. 6 in the Pilylepis at Abra Malaga.
Tit-like Dacnis - Xenodacnis parina. 20+ at Abra Malaga. Never far from Gnoxys trees.
Black-throated Flower-piercer - Diglossa brunneiventris. Seen several times throughout the trip.
Rusty Flower-piercer - Diglossa sittoides. Seen at the Pakaritampu Hotel.
Masked Flower-piercer – Diglossopis cyanea. One at Abra Malaga.
Peruvian Sierra-Finch - Phrygilus punensis. Common throughout.
Mourning Sierra-Finch - Phrygilus fruticeti. Really common on the Santa Eulalia road.
Plumbeous Sierra-Finch - Phrygilus unicolor. Common at higher elevations.
White-winged Diuca-Finch - Diuca speculifera. Good views also on the west slope of Abra Malaga an 26 at Marcopomacocha.
Ash-breasted Sierra-Finch - Phrygilus plebejus. Seen at various locations.
Great Inca-Finch - Incaspiza pulchra. 4 seen on the xerophytic hill slopes along the Santa Eulalia Road. There are 5 Incaspizas all endemic to Peru - a good grand slam to get! ENDEMIC.
Collared Warbling-Finch - Poospiza hispaniolensis. 4 along the Santa Eulalia Road.
Bright-rumped Yellow-Finch - Sicalis uropygialis. 24 at Marcopomacocha.
Band-tailed Seedeater - Catamenia analis. Common.
Chestnut-breasted Mountain-Finch - Poospiza Caesar. Seen on the west slope of Abra Malaga and in the Lamay Valley.
Greenish Yellow-Finch - Sicalis olivascens. Several at Lakes Huaypo and Piuray.
Apurimac Brush- Finch - Atlapetes forbesi. 2 seen above Abancay of this lovely ENDEMIC.
Cuzco Brush-Finch - Atlapetes canigenis. A responsive pair on the lower Abra Malaga Road above San Luis. ENDEMIC.
Rusty-bellied Brush-Finch - Atlapetes nationi. 18 along the Santa Eulalia Road.
Plain-colored Seedeater - Catamenia inornata. Common at higher elevations near vegetation.
Bannanaquit - Coereba flaveola. One.
INCERTAE SEDIS
Golden-billed Saltator - Saltator aurantiirostris. Seen at Abra Malaga (west slope), Santa Eulalia and at Pakaritampu Hotel.
NEW WORLD SPARROWS
Rufous-collared Sparrow - Zonatrichia capensis. Common.
GROSBEAK TANAGERS
Golden Grosbeak - Pheucticus aureoventris. 4 on the Santa Eulalia Road.
Black-backed Grosbeak Pheucticus aureoventris. Not on our checklist but several seen.
NEW WORLD WARBLERS
Citrine Warbler - Myiothlypis signata
Spectacled (Redstart) Whitestart - Myioborus melanocephalus. Common at Abra Malaga.
ORIOLES & BLACKBIRDS
Yellow-winged Blackbird - Agelasticus thilius. Seen at Huaypo Lake.
FINCHES
Thick-billed Siskin – Sporaga crassirostris. One male in the Polylepis at Abra Malaga.
Hooded Siskin – Sporaga magellanica. 10 seen on the Santa Eulalia Road.
Scrub Blackbird - Dives warszewiczi. Seen at Santa Eulalia.
Shiny Cowbird - Molothrus bonariensis. Near Lima.