November 8th: Arrive in Lima and transfer to our Hotel in Lima. Night in Lima.
November 9th: Fly from Lima to Chiclayo and upon arrival onto Eten port and in the afternoon to Rafan carob forest. Right after arrival at Chiclayo we drove to Eten port where we put a lot of effort in finding the Peruvian Tern where we failed in the end and in the afternoon we went to Rafan where we were very succefull with our targets in this birding locality like the Peruvian Plantcutter and the Rufous Flycatcher. Night in Chiclayo at the Casa Andina Chiclayo.
November 10th: Chiclayo to Chaparri Lodge. Early departure from the Hotel to Batan Grande (National Sanctuary of Pomac) where we had great views of the few targets here and then we moved onto the localities for the Tumbes Swallow where we saw lot of them around the nesting area and then we drove to Chaparri Lodge picking up our local guide at Chongoyape and arriving late afternoon to the Lodge and after dinner a short bit of owling just near the Lodge. Night at Chaparri Lodge.
November 11th: Chaparri Reserve to Olmos. After early breakfast and finding the West Peruvian Screech-Owl (pacificus sub-species) before departure, we drove out from Chaparri Reserve to Casupe our main birding locality of the day where we spent the all morning and we were lucky to find at this place some wild White-winged Guans and great views of the Henna-hooded Foliage-gleaner. The Ecuadorian Trogon gave us hard time to find it but in the end we had great views and after mid-day we drove to Olmos and after dropping our bags at the Hotel we went out in the evening near Olmos for some birding where we saw Kingfishers and Plumbeous Rail at a small swampy area, and late evening back to the Hotel. Night in Olmos.
November 12th: Olmos to Jaen with birding morning at Porculla pass and Jaen surroundings in the afternoon. Early departure from the Hotel and field breakfast at Porculla pass, we arrived to our birding loclaity around 6 am, where we rapidly found all of our main targets: Black-cowled Saltator, Chapman's Antshrike, Chestnut-crowned Antpitta, Line-cheeked Spinetail, and Bay-crowned Brush-finch, the only one that gave us a little bit of hard time was the Piura Chat-Tyrant but in the end we found two cooperative individuals and we also had great views of Ecuadorian Piculet. We also enjoyed the wonderful landscape! After this successful birding, we drove to Jaen (a little bit more than 3 hours driving) and we had lunch on our way to Jaen. Night in Jaen.
November 13th: Jaen to Owlet Lodge with birding morning at Tamborapa. Very early departure to Tamborapa track to look for the roboratus sub-species of the West Peruvian Screech-Owl where we had great views of three of them, and after a substantial field breakfast we had a little bit of a hard time to find our main targets in this place like the Marañon Spinetail and a few other specialities like Marañon Slaty Antshrike, Black-capped Sparrow, Buff-bellied Tanager, Yellow-cheeked Becard, Necklaced Spinetail, but we managed to get them all. We also had wonderful views of the splendid Marañon Crescenchest, one of the many beautiful birds seen on this trip. After mid-day we drove back to Jaen for lunch, but on our way back we made a few stops along the way where we found Spotted Rail and Paint-billed Crake. After lunch we drove toward Owlet Lodge with a very short stop after Bagua Grande for the shumbae race of Collared Antshrike and another view of Little Inca-Finch and few others, and in the late afternoon we continued to Owlet Lodge. Night at Owlet Lodge.
November 14-16th: Owlet Lodge and surroundings. We spent 3 full days exploring the trails around the lodge. Unfortunately we didn’t get to see the Owlet, we tried only once because of the difficulties of the particular elevation where it is found and on our second try at (Alto Nieva) below the Owlet Lodge it rained. Sheer bad luck. The Antpittas were also difficult and not very responsive during our visit... we had brief views of the Chestnut Antpitta, quite good view of Rusty-tinged Antpitta and wonderful views of the endemic Ochre-fronted Antpitta on the roadside below the Lodge. Many species of hummingbirds were visiting the feeders: Fawn-breasted Brilliant, Long-tailed Sylph, Chestnut-breasted Coronet, White-bellied Woodstar, Emerald-bellied Puffleg, etc... and we also had great views of the Royal Sunangel on the trail 20 minutes’ drive down from the lodge. Other specialties found here are Lulu’s Tody-tyrant, Bar-winged Wood-wren, and Green-and-black Fruiteater, Rufous-vented Tapaculo, White-throated and Cinnamon Screech-owl, etc... We didn’t have any very good mixed species flocks but we did manage to see two individuals of the most wanted of the tanager group Yellow-scarfed Tanager and also Beryl-spangled Tanager ,Peruvian Tyrannulet, Grass-green Tanager, Lacrimose Mountain-Tanager, etc. And we also where SO lucky to see seven individuals of the (CRITICATLY ENDANGERED) Peruvian Yellow-tailed Wooly-Monkey, even that it’s NOT a bird but it is an extremely rare animal to see. A new mammal species for the Leader. Nights at the ECOAN Owlet Lodge.
November 17th: Owlet Lodge to Afluente - Waqanki Lodge. We birded until mid-morning along the Monkey trail before departure from the Lodge taking our very last try for the White-faced Nunbird but we had rain and we failed, and on the way to Moyobamba we visited the new Hummingbird feeders below Aguas Verde where we saw Blue-fronted and Green-fronted Lancebills. Night at Waqanki Lodge.
November 18th: Mishquiyaku trail above Waqanki and afternoon birding around Moyobamba. We birded along the ridge trail above near the Lodge which is a steep and long trail but of course we did not go all the way, in fact we didn’t do even half of the way but even still we saw some good targets and more, but we ended up the morning at the Hummingbird feeders, where we had great views of Rufous-crested Coquette, Black-throated Hermit and many others. And in the afternoon we went to the Oilbirds cave near Moyobamba and after that we birded more around Moyobamba where we found the Point-tailed Palmcreeper, and we ended up owling in the evening before dinner. Night at Waqanki Lodge.
November 19th: Waqanki to Pomacochas. We went back to the ridge trail at Waqanki until mid-day with the local guide Carlos this time where we added a few more good birds along this trail. Spot-winged and Spot-backed Antbirds, Peruvian Warbling-Antbird, Scaled-backed Antbird and White-plumed Antbird with a small group of army ants and also Green Manakin, Firery-throated Fruiteater, Chestnut-throated and Foothill Antwren, Black-banded Woodcreeper and before lunch we birded around Moyobamba a little bit more. After lunch we then began our long drive to Pomacochas, and after arrival we did some birding around the swimming pool of the Puerto Pumas Hotel where we stayed. Night in Pomacochas.
November 20th: San Lorenzo trail, drive to Chachapoyas. Early departure to San Lorenzo, where a steep trail took us to some bamboo patches occupied by the sought-after Pale-billed Antpitta, and we got great views of two individuals that showed up right after we were leaving, when we were back on the main trail.....so we went back to the little spot and I played the tape and one of them showed up right away giving us really great views, and as I kept playing the tape another one showed up from a different direction into the same area. Great views! We didn’t see much on the way back to San Lorenzo, but was really worth it the hard hike for the Antpitta. And after mid-morning we visited HUEMBO (the ECOAN protected area) for the Marvelous Spatuletail where they come to the feeders and few other good Hummingbirds and after lunch at this place we drove to Chachapoyas with very few stops along the way like for the endemic Black-necked Woodpecker. Night near Chachapoyas at the Casa Andina Hotel.
November 21st: Chachapoyas to Leymebamba. After a luxury breakfast we did some birding around the Hotel grounds where I was surprised to find great bird species such the Peruvian Pigeon where we saw around eight of them, easy views of Black-necked Woodpecker again and the Golden-rumped Euphonia and few others and after nearly two hours of birding we drove towards Leymebamba with a stop at a known place (hacienda Chido) where we saw 2 Koepcke’s Screech-Owl at their day roost and a little bit farther on I decided to do a random stop along the road that ended up being in a great place for Hummingbirds where we saw up to 8 species including a male Little Woodstar. And as we arrived in the early afternoon to Leymebamba we passed Leymebamba to do some birding at Cañon del Condor above Leymebamba and after that we visited the Hummingbird feeders by the Leymebamba museum. Night in Leymebamba.
November 22nd: Leymebamba surroundings. We spent most of our time birding the last patches of forest below Abra Barro Negro where we enjoyed some of the species present at this elevation: White-chinned Thistletail, Blackish Tapaculo, Many-striped Canastero, Coppery Metaltail, Grey-breasted Mountain-toucan, White-banded Tyrannulet and Andean Flicker. Our night birding here was quite slow, but we managed to get great views of a male and two female Swallow-tailed Nightjar. Night in Leymebamba.
November 23rd: Leymebamba to Celendin and birding the Marañon canyon. Another early start to bird the Marañon canyon on our way to Celendin. Our main targets for the day were Neblina Tapaculo on the west slope of Abra Barro Negro and Buff-bridled and Yellow-faced Parrotlets and Chestnut-backed Thornbird were we found them all except for the Parrotlet that made the reason to come back the next day from Celendin, but the Neblina Tapaculo gave us a little bit of hard time, but at the end we had a very cooperative individual that popped up on a totally exposed branch and we all got great views. Night in Celendin.
November 24th: Celendin to Balsas and back to Celendin. Early departure to Balsas in the Marañon Canyon with field breakfast to look for the Yellow-faced Parrotlet where we found them almost as soon as we arrived near the Marañon river on the west side and also we saw two Buff-bridled Inca-Finch and on the way back we had wonderful views of two Gray- winged Inca-Finch around Limon and then we drove back to Celendin for lunch and in the afternoon we did some birding above Celendin were we spent the rest of the afternoon. Night in Celendin.
November 25th: Celendin to Cajamarca (Cruz Conga, Encañada and Rio Chonta). A day travelling between Celendin and Cajamarca, spending most of the morning around Cruz Conga. We rapidly found a pair of White-tailed Shrike-tyrant, Striated Earthcreeper, a few Baron’s Spinetail and Black-crested Tit-tyrant, and because of the rain the Rufous Antpitta didn’t behave well, we just heard few of them around Cruz Conga. Arriving around 4 pm at Rio Chonta, we spent rest of the afternoon for the Gray-bellied Comet but we had no luck that afternoon, which made the reason to go back next day in the morning. Night in Cajamarca.
November 26th: Rio Chonta and San Marcos. After breakfast at the Hotel we went to Rio Chonta for the Gray-bellied Comet where it took us too much time to find one, but eventually we found one coming in to feed on the bromeliae flowers at the usual spot and after that we also found the Rusty-crowned Tit-Spinetail along the edge of the river, and around mid-morning we headed to San Marcos; the bird we wanted to see there was the Great Spinetail. And late afternoon we drove back to Cajamarca for lunch and spent the rest of the afternoon in Cajamarca with some shopping and a little bit of City tour near the main square. Night in Cajamarca.
November 27th: Cajamarca to Trujillo with birding at Abra Gavilan. After an early breakfast at our Hotel in Cajamarca, we drove to the last patches of humid vegetation found below the Abra Gavilan pass. Most of the native vegetation there has been destroyed and replaced by Eucalyptus plantations, but we were able to find a few nice birds like the endemic Unicolored Tapaculo, Black Metaltail, etc. During our long drive towards Trujillo, we made several stops along the way to look for the Great Inca-Finch but with no luck. Night in Trujillo
November 28th: Full day at Sinsicap. Field breakfast at Sinsicap after an early drive. After breakfast, while loading picnic equipment I decided to play the tape for the Endemic Rusty-bellied Spinetail that responded almost right away and as they approached us where we had wonderful views of two individuals responding to the playback. And after we loaded up all the picnic table from breakfast, we continued up the road looking for the undescribed subspecies of Speckled Hummingbird where we also found the Piura Chat-tyrant and others. Night in Trujillo.
SPECIES LIST
Family: TINAMIDAE (TINAMOUS)
HOODED TINAMOU - Nothocercus nigrocapillus. Heard only.
LITTLE TINAMOU - Crypturellus soui. Heard only.
CURVE-BILLED TINAMOU - Crypturellus tataupa. One bird seen in flight at Sinsicap.
Family: ANATIDAE (DUCKS)
TORRENT DUCK - Merganetta armata. One bird seen in the small River at Cañon Del Condor near Leymebamba.
Family: CRACIDAE (GUANS)
ANDEAN GUAN – Penelope montagnii. Two individuals seen below Abra Barro Negro. Penelope was a princess in Greek mythology, daughter of Icarus and wife of Ulysses.
WHITE-WINGED GUAN – Penelope albipennis. We were lucky to find two individuals at Casupe, but we also saw the re-introduced ones at Chaparri Lodge. CRITICALLY ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
Family: CICONIIDAE (STORKS)
WOOD STORK – Mycteria americana. This is a new record for me in my experience, seeing this birds at this elevation range (1584 mts) soaring around Afluente.
Family: SULIDAE (BOOBIES)
PERUVIAN BOOBY – Sula variegata. A few seen at Eten Port and Huanchaco coast.
Family: PHALACROCORACIDAE (CORMORANTS)
NEOTROPIC CORMORANT - Phalacrocorax brasilianus. Common in the Peruvian coast.
Family: PELICANIDAE (PELICANS)
PERUVIAN PELICAN - Pelecanus thagus. Another common bird along the Peruvian coast.
Family: ARDEIDAE (HERONS)
LITTLE-BLUE HERON – Egretta caerulea. One see around Eten port.
SNOWY EGRET - Egretta thula. Regular sightings.
COCOI HERON- Ardea cocoi. Seen twice throughout the trip, first time around Eten port.
STRIATED HERON - Butorides striata. One of them seen around Rioja by the rice fields.
GREAT EGRET - Ardea Alba. Common.
CATTLE EGRET – Bubulcus ibis. Common all over the trip.
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON – Nycticorax nycticorax. One seen in flight near Eten port.
FASCIATED TIGER-HERON – Tigrisoma fasciatum. One spotted by Rob along the Utcubamba River on our way to Leymebamba.
Family: THRESKIORNITHIDAE (IBISES)
PUNA IBIS - Plegadis ridgwayi. 50+ seen at Cruz Conga around the agricultural fields.
Family: CATHARTIDAE (NEW WORLD VULTURES)
BLACK VULTURE - Coragyps atratus. Common all over the trip.
TURKEY VULTURE – Cathartes aura. Common throughout the trip. 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.
ANDEAN CONDOR - Vulture gryphus. 2 individuals seen at Abra Porculla.
Family: PABDIONIDAE (OSPREY)
OSPREY – Pandion aliaetus. One seen around the Chaparri Reserve.
Family: ACCIPITRIDAE (HAWKS)
SWALLOW-TAILED KITE - Elanoides forficatus. One of the most beautiful raptors in South America! One seen above Afluente on our way down to Waqanki in Moyobamba.
PEARL KITE - Gampsonyx swainsonii. One seen in the afternoon on our way to Oilbird cave around Moyobamba.
SAVANNA HAWK - Buteogallus meridionalis. One seen around the National Sanctuary of Pomac forest.
MONTANE SOLITARY EAGLE - Harpyhaliaetus solitarius. 1 individual seen with Black Vultures at Sinsicap on our way back to the Hotel.
HARRIS'S HAWK – Parabuteo unicinctus. Seen at Abra Porculla and around Jaen. Jaramillo says in his excellent field guide about Birds of Chile:'The harrisi group (Harris's Hawk) of the USA to coastal Peru and Ecuador differs consistently in size and plumage features from the more southern and eastern unicinctus group (Bay-winged Hawk). Adults of unicinctus have a more immature-like plumage (neoteny) compared to the more boldly patterned harrisi group. The latter is extremely social, often foraging and breeding in cooperative groups; this behavior is unknown in unicinctus. Ferguson-Lees & Christie (2001) suggest allospecies status may be warranted for the two. To some extent this may parallel the situation in Crested Caracara, although the division between the two taxa is not in the same geographic area.'
VARIABLE HAWK - Buteo polyosoma. Seen in two separate days around Leymebamba. 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.
BLACK-CHESTED BUZZARD-EAGLE – Geranoaetus melanoleucus. Two of them seen in the Utcubamba valley and one more at Sinsicap.
ROADSIDE HAWK – Rupornis magnirostris. Common in the eastern lowland, seen in several occasion.
BROAD-WINGED HAWK - Buteo platypterus. One seen around Owlet Lodge.
SHORT-TAILED HAWK - Buteo brachyurus. One seen at Tamborapa.
Family: RALLIDAE (RAILS)
GRAY-NECKED WOOD-RAIL – Aramides cajaneas. One seen from the hide at Arena Blanca (Hummingbird feeders) at Aguas Verde.
PAINT-BILLED CRAKE - Neocrex erythrops. Nice views of one individual in the rice fields around Jaen on our way back from Tamborapa.
RUSSET-CROWNED CRAKE - Anurolimnas viridis. Heard only, around Moyobamba.
SPOTTED RAIL - Pardirallus maculatus. Excellent views of one individual near the same spot of Paint-billed Crake; really common in the rice fields!
PLUMBEOUS RAIL – Pardirallus sanguinolentus. Seen on three different occasions throughout the trip including one at Sinsicap.
COMMON GALLINULE - Gallinula galeata. Common through the trip. Note that the New World form has been split from the Common Moorhen of Eurasia. Common Gallinule of Western Hemisphere is split from Common Moorhen on the basis of morphological, genetic, and vocal differences (Groenenberg et al 2008).
PURPLE GALLINULE - Porphyrio martinicus. One seen around Moyobamba.
SLATE-COLORED COOT Fulica ardesiaca. Common at Eten port.
Family: CHARADRIIDAE (PLOVERS)
BLACK-BELLIED (GRAY) PLOVER – Pluvialis squatarola. Seen along the shore of Eten port.
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER – Charadrius semipalmatus. Also seen at Eten port.
KILLDEER - Charadrius vociferous. Also at Eten port.
SNOWY PLOVER - Charadrius alexandrinus. Good views at Eten port.
ANDEAN LAPWING - Vanellus resplendens. Common at Abra Barro Negro and at Cruz Conga.
Family: HAEMATOPODIDAE (OYSTERCATCHERS)
AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER – Haematopus palliatus. Nice views at Eten port.
Family: SCOLOPACIDAE (SANDPIPERS AND SNIPES)
PUNA SNIPE – Gallinago andina. Heard only, below Abra Barro Negro.
LESSER YELLOWLEGS - Tringa flavipes. Few seen around Eten port.
SPOTTED SANDPIPER - Tringa macularia. Also at Eten port.
RUDDY TURNSTONE – Arenaria interpres. Seen at Eten port.
SANDERLING – Calidris alba. A lot of them seen at Eten.
LEAST SANDPIPER - Calidris minutilla. Three of them seen at Eten port.
Family: THINOCORIDAE (SEEDSNIPES)
LEAST SEEDSNIPE – Thinocorus rumicivorus. Two of them seen on our way back from Rafan.
Family: JACANIDAE (JACANAS)
WATTLED JACANA - Jacana jacana. Few of them seen in the rice fields around Moyobamba.
Family: LARIDAE (GULLS)
GRAY-HOODED GULL - Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus. A lot of them seen at Eten port.
ANDEAN GULL - Chroicocephalus serranus. Seen in two consecutive days around Cajamarca.
GRAY GULL - Leucophaeus modestus. A lot of them seen around Eten port.
FRANKLIN’S GULL - Leucophaeus pipixcan. The most common ones around Eten port, but we also saw them in the next two days.
KELP GULL – Larus dominicanus. Very nice view of them at Eten port and also around Huanchaco.
SANDWICH TERN - Thalasseus sandvicensis. Two at Eten. 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). Populations of eurygnathus breeding in southern South America may deserve separate taxonomic treatment from Caribbean populations (Voous 1968, Escalante 1973). Efe et al. (2009) found some evidence that New World populations (T. s. acuflavidus and T. s. eurygnathus) might be more closely related to T. elegans than to Old World (nominate) T. s. sandvicensis, but this was based on small sample sizes and limited geographic sampling.
ELEGANT TERN - Thalasseus elegans. Few of them seen also around Eten port.
ROYAL TERN – Thalasseus maximus. Also seen in the same group with the previous one at Eten.
Family: COLUMBIDAE (PIGEONS)
ROCK PIGEON - Columba livia. Feral type found throughout Latin America near human habitation, absent only from extensive tracts of primary forest. – John van Dort.
SCALED PIGEON – Patagioenas speciosa. Three individuals seen at Afluente.
BAND-TAILED PIGEON – Patagioenas fasciata. Common throughout the trip. Several sightings. Note that recent research has shown that the genus Columba is paraphyletic, with New World taxa being more closely related to Streptopelia than to Old World Columba pigeons. This is consistent with differences between New World and Old World Columba in terms of morphology, serology and behavior. The suggestion was made to place all New World forms in the genus Patagioenas, and the AOU recently adopted this change in its latest checklist supplement.
PERUVIAN PIGEON – Patagioenas oenops. We had excellent views of perched birds just around the grounds of Casa Andina Hotel near Chachapoyas. VULNERABLE, Range Restricted.
PLUMBEOUS PIGEON - Patagioenas plumbea. Seen around Afluente.
EARED DOVE Zenaida auriculata. Very common.
WEST PERUVIAN (PACIFIC) DOVE – Zenaida meloda. Common on the west side of the Andes.
RUDDY GROUND-DOVE - Columbina talpacoti. Seen twice around Waqanki.
CROAKING GROUND-DOVE - Columbina cruziana. Common on the west side of the Andes.
BLUE GROUND-DOVE - Claravis pretiosa. Seen at Tamborapa.
BARE-FACED GROUND-DOVE Metriopelia ceciliae. Seen in the Maranon canyon above Balsas.
WHITE-TIPPED DOVE - Leptotila verreauxi. Common throughout the trip. Named for the impressive sounding John Baptiste Edouard Verreaux (1810-1868) French Natural History dealer and collector.
Family: CUCULIDAE (CUCKOOS)
SQUIRREL CUCKOO – Piaya cayana. Common in the eastern lowlands.
SMOOTH-BILLED ANI – Crotophaga ani. Common in the eastern lowlands.
GROOVE-BILLED ANI – Crotophaga sulcirostris. Common on the west slope of the Andes and in the Maranon canyon.
Family: STRIGIDAE (OWLS)
WEST PERUVIAN SCREECH-OWL – Megascops roboratus. The pacificus subspecies was seen at the Chaparri Reserve, and we saw 1 bird of the robaratus subspecies at Tamborapa.
KOEPCKE'S SCREECH-OWL- Megascops koepckeae. Two birds at the usual roost by the Utcubamba River. ENDEMIC.
CINNAMON SCREECH-OWL - Megascops petersoni. Excellent view of one bird at Abra Patricia. Range Restricted.
WHITE-THROATED SCREECH-OWL – Megascops albogularis. 1 bird seen very well at Owlet Lodge, just behind the tower.
RUFOUS-BANDED OWL - Ciccaba albitarsus. Heard only. Unfortunately we just heard this bird even though we tried a lot of times in all the possible localities.
VERMICULATED SCREECH-OWL – Megascops guatamalae. After a long wait finally approached really close so that we even had time for some pictures, at Waqanki.
BAND-BELLIED OWL – Pulsatrix melanota. Great views of one individual at Waqanki.
SPECTACLED OWL – Pulsatrix perspicillata. Heard only, at Waqanki.
PERUVIAN PYGMY-OWL – Glaucidium peruanum. Very common throughout the trip.
LONG-WHISKERED OWLET - Xenoglaux loweryi. Heard only. Nowadays this bird has been more difficult to see; we had it really close the evening we tried but not close enough to see it, at Owlet Lodge. Xenoglaux = Strange Owl. Named for George Hines Lowery US Zoologist ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
BURROWING OWL – Athene cunicularia. Seen twice in the first two days of the trip.
Family: STEATORNITHIDAE (OILBIRDS)
OILBIRD - Steatornis caripensis. 50+ seen by day in a well-known cave near Moyobamba. Steatornis = Fatbird. Baron von Humboldt recorded that young Oilbirds were culled each year and rendered into fat, melted down into oil, which was highly prized for cooking.
Family NYCTIBIIDAE (POTOOS)
COMMON POTOO Nyctibius griseus. Heard only, at Tamborapa.
Family: CAPRIMULGIDAE (NIGHTJARS)
RUFOUS-BELLIED NIGHTHAWK - Lurocalis rufiventris. Heard only, at Abra Patricia.
LESSER NIGHTHAWK - Chordeiles acutipennis. Seen at dusk near Chongoyape, on our way out from Chaparri to Casupe.
SCRUB NIGHTJAR – Caprimulgus anthonyi. Seen flying by along the road on our way out from Chaparri to Casupe. Range Restricted.
SWALLOW-TAILED NIGHTJAR – Uropsalis segmentata. Excellent views of two males and one female bellow Abra Barro Negro.
RUFOUS NIGHTJAR – Antrostomus rufa. Heard only, at Tamborapa.
Family: APODIDAE (SWIFTS)
CHESTNUT-COLLARED SWIFT – Streptoprocne rutilus. Seen around San Lorenzo.
WHITE-COLLARED SWIFT – Streptoprocne zonaris. Common.
WHITE-TIPPED SWIFT – Aeronautes montivagus. Few seen below Owlet Lodge around the Royal Sunangel spot.
ANDEAN SWIFT – Aeronautes andecolus. Few of them seen at Rio Chonta.
NEOTROPICAL PALM-SWIFT – Tachornis squamata. Common around Moyobamba.
Family: TROCHILIDAE (HUMMINGBIRDS)
GREEN HERMIT – Phaethornis guy. Nice views at Arena Blanca feeders.
GREAT-BILLED HERMIT – Phaethornis malaris. Two seen at the Waqanki feeders.
REDDISH HERMIT – Phaethornis ruber. Seen at Tamborapa and Waqanki Lodge.
BLACK-THROATED HERMIT - Phaethornis atrimentalis. One at the Waqanki feeders and along the trail as well. Range Restricted.
GRAY-CHINNED HERMIT- Phaethornis griseogullaris. Great views at Casupe and also at Abra Porculla of the porcullae subspecies. SACC says: The subspecies porcullae and zonura were formerly (e.g., Peters 1945) each considered separate species from Phaethornis griseogularis, but see Zimmer (1950a) for rationale for treatment of all as conspecific. Range Restricted.
BLUE-FRONTED LANCEBILL – Doryfera johannae. Good studies at Arena Blanca feeders.
GREEN-FRONTED LANCEBILL – Doryfera ludovicae. Also seen at Arena Blanca feeders.
GRAY-BREASTED SABREWING - Campylpterus largipennis. Common at the Waqanki feeders.
WHITE-NECKED JACOBIN - Florisuga mellivora. Common at the Waqanki feeders.
SPARKLING VIOLETEAR - Colibri coruscans. Fairly common and seen several times during the trip.
BLACK-THROATED MANGO - Anthracothorax nigricollis. At the Waqanki feeders.
RUFOUS-CRESTED COQUETTE - Lophornis delattrei. Several birds visiting the Waqanki feeders. Named for Adolphe de Lattre, French collector in Mexico and Colombia.
BLUE-TAILED EMERALD - Chlorostilbon mellisugus. Seen a the Waqanki feeders.
FORK-TAILED WOODNYMPH - Thalurania furcata. Common at the Waqanki feeders.
GOLDEN-TAILED SAPPHIRE - Chrysuronia oenone. Very common at the Waqanki feeders.
SPOT-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD - Leucippus taczanowskii. Seen near Bagua Grande and in the Marañon canyon. ENDEMIC.
MANY-SPOTTED HUMMINGBIRD – Leucippus hypostictus. Very nice views at the Arena Blanca feeders.
WHITE-BELLIED HUMMINGBIRD - Amazilia chionogaster. Several good sightings during the trip.
SAPPHIRE-SPANGLED EMERALD - Amazilia lactea. 1-2 seen at the Waqanki feeders.
ANDEAN EMERALD - Amazilia franciae. Seen at the Huembo feeders and also in the garden of the Hotel at Pomacocha.
AMAZILIA HUMMINGBIRD - Amazilia amazilia. Common at the beginning of the trip, at Batan Grande and Chaparri reserve especially. 1 was also visiting our hotel garden in Trujillo.
SPECKLED HUMMINGBIRD - Adelomyia melanogenys. Several sightings during the trip, and excellent views at the feeders in Ecoan lodge. Good views also of the still undescribed (sub) species at Sinsicap.
FAWN-BREASTED BRILLIANT - Heliodoxa rubinoides. Common at the Owlet lodge feeders.
VIOLET-FRONTED BRILLIANT - Heliodoxa leadbeateri. Seen at the Huembo feeders.
GIANT HUMMINGBIRD - Patagona gigas. One seen around Cruz Conga.
SHINING SUNBEAM - Aglaeactis cupripennis. Fairly common at Abra Barro Negro, and few more around Cruz Conga.
MOUNTAIN VELVETBREAST - Lafresnaya lafresnayi. One female seen near San Lorenzo.
BRONZY INCA - Coeligena coeligena. Seen in several places, and common at the Owlet Lodge feeders.
COLLARED INCA - Coeligena torquata. Seen daily on the Owlet lodge feeders.
VIOLET-THROATED STARFRONTLET - Coeligena violifer. One near San Lorenzo, during our Pale-billed Antpitta search.
RAINBOW STARFRONTLET - Coeligena iris. Common near Leymebamba. Range Restricted.
SWORD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD – Ensifera ensifera. Great views in two consecutive days bellow Abra Barro Negro.
CHESTNUT-BREASTED CORONET - Boissonneaua matthewsii. Common at the Owlet lodge feeders and also at Huembo feeders. Named for English botanist and collector in the neotropics Andrew Matthews.
AMETHYST-THROATED SUNANGEL - Heliangelus amethysticollis. One seen near Leymebamba. From the Grek Helios =sun, Angelos = angel. From the habit of this genus of lifting their wings momentarily as in stylized angel paintings, on alighting on a twig.
PURPLE-THROATED SUNANGEL - Heliangelus viola. Very nice views of one individual at the Leymebamba feeders. Range Restricted.
ROYAL SUNANGEL - Heliangelus regalis. After finding the right blooming flowers we finally saw a couple at one of their usual spots bellow the Owlet Lodge. ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
EMERALD-BELLIED PUFFLEG - Eriocnemis alinae. Common at the Owlet lodge feeders.
BLACK-TAILED TRAINBEARER - Lesbia victoriae. A few sightings.
GREEN-TAILED TRAINBEARER - Lesbia nuna. 1 near Leymebamba and another one at Abra Gavilan. From the Greek Lesbias – a woman of Lesbos. Nuna – from Nouna –Koali, a graceful Indian virgin in Jean F Denis’s novel (1829) “Ismael Ben Kaizar ou la decouverture du Nouveau Monde”. Food for thought?
COPPERY METALTAIL - Metallura theresiae. Fairly common at Abra Barro Negro, great views in two consecutive days. ENDEMIC.
BLACK METALTAIL - Metallura phoebe. Only one seen at Abra Gavilan near Cajamarca. ENDEMIC.
TYRIAN METALTAIL - Metallura tyrianthina. Common around Abra Barro Negro and at Cruz Conga. We saw the septentrionalis subspecies on the west slope of the Marañon River, and smaragdinicollis on the east slope. 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.
GRAY-BELLIED COMET - Taphrolesbia griseiventris. Wonderful view of a nice male in the Rio Chonta canyon. ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
LONG-TAILED SYLPH - Aglaiocercus kingi. Common at the Owlet lodge feeders. This long-tailed hummingbird was named for Admiral Philip Parker King, British marine surveyor, naturalist and traveler in tropical America 1825-1830.
MARVELOUS SPATULETAIL - Loddigesia mirabilis. 2-3 males visiting the ECOAN feeders at Huembo. Too easy! For such an impressive bird. The genus is named after British taxidermist and natural history dealer G. Loddiges (1784-1846), who specialised in hummingbirds! ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
OASIS HUMMINGBIRD - Rhodopis vesper. One individual seen on our way back from Sinsicap.
PERUVIAN SHEARTAIL - Thaumastura cora. One female seen at Rafan near Chiclayo. Range Restricted.
PURPLE-COLLARED WOODSTAR - Myrtis fanny. A common species, several females seen several times during the trip, but one male seen in the Utcubamba valley on our way to Leymebamba.
SHORT-TAILED WOODSTAR - Myrmia micrura. One seen at Pomac forest. Range Restricted.
WHITE-BELLIED WOODSTAR - Chaetocercus mulsant. Common at the Owlet lodge.
LITTLE WOODSTAR - Chaetocercus bombus. One female seen at Huembo feeders and a nice male one at this random stop we did along the Utcubamba River on our way to Leymebamba among other species. VULNERABLE, Range Restricted.
Family: TROGONIDAE (TROGONS)
GOLDEN-HEADED QUETZAL - Pharomachrus auriceps. Heard only, around Afluente.
ECUADORIAN TROGON – Trogon mesurus. After a long search, a couple responded right away to the play back on the way down at Casupe. Range Restricted.
COLLARED TROGON – Trogon collaris. Very nice views of a couple at Afluente.
Family: ALCEDINIDAE (KINGFISHERS)
RINGED KINGFISHER – Megaceryle torquata. Good views around Olmos.
GREEN KINGFISHER – Chloroceryle asserine. Also seen at the small swampy area near Olmos.
AMAZON KINGFISHER – Chloroceryle asser. Another one seen at the small swampy area near Olmos.
Family: MOMOTIDAE (MOTMOTS)
RUFOUS MOTMOT – Bariphthengus martii. One or possibly two (because we saw it twice) seen along the trail up to the ridge at Waqanki Lodge.
Family: GALBULIDAE (JACAMARS)
BLUISH-FRONTED JACAMAR – Galbula cyanescens. Seen along the ridge trail at Waqanki.
Family: CAPITONIDAE (NEW WORLD BARBETS)
GILDED BARBET – Capito auratus. Another one seen along the ridge trail at Waqanki.
Family: RAMPHASTIDAE (TOUCANS)
EMERALD (BLACK-THROATED) TOUCANET – Aulacorhynchus prasinus cyanolarmus. Two seen around the Owlet lodge, here belonging to the cyanolaemus (sub) species sometimes considered as a valid species. SACC comments: Ridgely & Greenfield (2001) suggested that Aulacorhynchus prasinus may consist of more than one species level taxon, but see Short & Horne (2001), who pointed out that the allopatric taxa are no more distinctive than those known to intergrade. The subspecies lautus, albivitta, cyanolaemus, dimidiatus, and atrogularis, as well as Middle American wagleri and caeruleogularis, were formerly (e.g., Ridgway 1914, Cory 1919) each considered separate species from (and in some cases not particularly closely related to) Aulacorhynchus prasinus, but Peters (1948) and Haffer (1974) treated them all as conspecific. Puebla- Olivares et al. (2008) identified three clades in South America based on mtDNA and proposed species rank for each.
CHESTNUT-TIPPED TOUCANET – Aulacorhynchus derbianus. Two of them seen at Afluente. Named for Edward Smith Stanley 13th Earl of Derby and founder of the Knowsley Museum.
CHESTNUT-EARED ARACARI – Pteroglossus castanotis. Seen twice around Waqanki.
GRAY-BREASTED MOUNTAIN-TOUCAN – Andigena hypoglauca. Definitely one of the most beautiful Toucans! Excellent view below Abra Barro Negro.
BLACK-MANDIBLED TOUCAN – Ramphastos ambiguss. Heard only, at Afluente.
Family: PICIDAE (WOODPECKERS)
LAFRESNAYE’S PICULET – Picumnus lafresnayi. Amazing views of a couple along the ridge trail at Waqanki. Named for the impressive sounding Noel Frederic Armand Andre Baron de Lefresnay (1783-1861) French Ornithologist and collector.
ECUADORIAN PICULET – Picumnus sclateri. Responded really well to play-back at Abra Porculla. Wonderful views! Range Restricted.
SCARLET-BACKED WOODPECKER – Veniliornis callonotus. Common at the beginning of the trip, at Batan Grande and also seen at Tamborapa. Range Restricted.
SMOKY-BROWN WOODPECKER – Veniliornis fumigatus. Seen in several occasion throughout the trip.
LITTLE WOODPECKER – Veniliornis asserines. Seen in two different occasions around Moyobamba.
BLACK-NECKED WOODPECKER – Colaptes articol. Excellent views in the Utcubamba valley twice, one seen really close around the Hotel ground of Casa Andina Hotel near Chachapoyas. ENDEMIC.
ANDEAN FLICKER – Colaptes rupicola. Common in the highlands.
CRIMSON-BELLIED WOODPECKER – Camphephilus haematogaster. Heard only, below Abra Barro Negro.
Family: FALCONIDAE (FALCONS)
MOUNTAIN CARACARA – Phalcoboenus megalopterus. Common at high elevations.
CRESTED CARACARA – Caracara cheriway. Seen in two different occasions. SACC comment:'Caracara cheriway and C. plancus (Southern Caracara) were formerly considered conspecific (e.g., Hellmayr & Conover 1949, Phelps & Phelps 1958a), sometimes also including C. lutosus of Guadalupe Island (e.g., Meyer de Schauensee 1970, Stresemann and Amadon 1979), but the ranges of cheriway and plancus are nearly parapatric with no sign of intergradation, contrary to earlier interpretations; they constitute a super species. The three forms had previously been considered separate species by Pinto (1938), and Friedmann (1950).'
AMERICAN KESTREL – Falco sparverius. Common all over the trip.
APLOMADO FALCON – Falco femoralis. One seen perched in the Marañon canyon on our way to Celendin from Leymebamba.
PEREGRINE FALCON – Falco peregrinus. Seen in three different occasion throughout the trip.
Family: PSITTACIDAE (PARROTS)
RED-BELLIED MACAW – Orthopsittaca manilata. Nice views around Moyobamba.
SCARLET-FRONTED PARAKEET – Psitticara wagleri. A flock seen in flight around Chaparri Lodge.
MITRED PARAKEET – Psitticara mitrata. Good studies at the Casa Andina Hotel ground in the Utcubamba valley.
WHITE-EYED PARAKEET – Psitticara leucophthalmus. Common in the eastern lowlands.
RED-MASKED PARAKEET – Psitticara erythrogenys. Heard only, at the Chaparri reserve. Range Restricted.
BLUE-WINGED PARROTLET – Forpus xanthopterygius. A small group seen at Waqanki Lodge.
PACIFIC PARROTLET – Forpus coelestis. Very common on the west side of the Andes and in the lower part of the Maranon drainage. Range Restricted.
YELLOW-FACED PARROTLET – Forpus xanthops. An excellent sighting of a small group of 6 birds above Balsas. VULNERABLE ENDEMIC.
COBALT-WINGED PARAKEET – Brotogeris cyanoptera gustavi. Seen around Waqanki Lodge . Seen at San Lorenzo and around 40 seen near Moyobamba, here the subspecies gustavi with yellow on the wings. SACC comment: The subspecies gustavi was formerly (e.g., Cory 1918, Peters 1937) considered a separate species from Brotogeris cyanoptera, but Traylor (1958) indicated that they probably intergrade in the Huallaga valley.
BLUE-HEADED PARROT - Pionus menstruus. Also seen around Waqanki.
SCALY-NAPED PARROT – Amazona mercenaria. Wonderful views of 6 individuals perched along the grallaria trail at Owlet Lodge.
Family: THAMNOPHILIDAE (ANTBIRDS)
COLLARED ANTSHRIKE - Thamnophilus bernardi. Fairly common at Bosque Pomac and Chaparri reserve. Range Restricted.
COLLARED ANTSHRIKE T- hamnophilus bernardi shumbae. Pretty good views near Bagua Grande. A distinctive subspecies with more white on the face and a different song. Range Restricted.
CHAPMAN'S ANTSHRIKE - Thamnophilus zarumae. Excellent view of a few birds at the Porculla pass. Range Restricted.
LINED ANTSHRIKE - Thamnophilus tenuepunctatus. A pair seen well at Afluente. VULNERABLE.
NORTHERN SLATY ANTSHRIKE - Thamnophilus punctatus huallagae. A male one seen at Tamborapa of the once split Huallage race. Range Restricted.
NORTHERN SLATY ANTSHRIKE - Thamnophilus punctatus leucogaster. Near Jaen it was leucogaster. The SACC says “Ridgely & Greenfield (2001) further recognized leucogaster of the Marañon Valley (with huallagae of Huallaga Valley) as a separate species from punctatus; this taxon was tentatively retained as a subspecies of T. punctatus by Isler et al. (1997), with further evidence confirming subspecies status presented by Isler, Walker et al. (2001). The subspecies huallagae was formerly (e.g. Peters 1951) treated as a subspecies of T. amazonicus, but see Isler et al. (1997). Range Restricted.
VARIABLE ANTSHRIKE - Thamnophilus caerulescens. Good views at Abra Patricia, along the monkey trail.
RUFOUS-CAPPED ANTSHRIKE - Thamnophilus ruficapillus. Wonderful views of a couple just behind the Hotel at Pomacocha; here the sub. Specie jaczewskii the northern population.
PLAIN ANTVIREO – Dysithamnus mentalis. Three individuals seen at Afluente.
FOOTHILL ANTWREN - Epinecrophylla spodionota. One seen very well along the (Mishquiyaku) trail, up the ridge at Waqanki.
ORNATE ANTWREN – Epinecrophylla ornata. Also seen along the ridge trail at Waqanki, here the saturata sub-specie, the northern population.
SLATY ANTWREN - Myrmotherula schisticolor. One individual seen at Afluente.
RUSTY-BACKED ANTWREN - Formicivora rufa. A pair seen just round the Waqanki Lodge.
STREAK-HEADED ANTBIRD - Drymophila striaticeps. Common at ECOAN lodge. One bird seen along the monkey trail. The article in Condor “AN INTEGRATIVE APPROACH TO SPECIES-LEVEL SYSTEMATICS REVEALS THE DEPTH OF DIVERSIFICATION IN AN ANDEAN THAMNOPHILID, THE LONG-TAILED ANTBIRD” By Morton L. Isler, Andrés M. Cuervo, Gustavo A, Bravo, and Robb T. Brumfield In part says “we propose the following taxonomic positions and English names for members of the complex. Regarding the English names, we have rejected the inclusion of “long-tailed” in the names, as proposed by Cory and Hellmayr (1924), because the names would become too cumbersome. The sequence reflects the estimated phylogeny:
Drymophila klagesi Hellmayr and Seilern, 1912—Klages’s Antbird. Eastern and northern Venezuela, Serranía de Perijá, and northern Eastern Andes in Norte de Santander, Colombia (includes klagesi, aristeguietana, and Norte de Santander study groups; clade A).
Drymophila hellmayri Todd, 1915—Santa Marta Antbird. Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia (includes hellmayri; clade B).
Drymophila caudata (Sclater, 1854)—Long-tailed Antbird. Eastern Andes from Santander (west of the Chicamocha Canyon) to Caquetá and Huila, Colombia (includes Santander and Upper Magdalena study groups; clade C).
Drymophila striaticeps Chapman, 1912—Streak-headed Antbird. The Western and Central Andes of Colombia south through Ecuador (both slopes) and Peru (eastern slope) to northwestern Bolivia in La Paz (includes striaticeps, occidentalis, peruviana, and boliviana; clade D).
PERUVIAN WARBLING-ANTBIRD - Hypocnemis peruviana. One individual see along the Mishquiyaku trail at Waqanki.
SPOT-WINGED ANTBIRD - Schistocichla leucostigma. Good views of the nominate form along the Mishquiyaku trail. Ridgely & Tudor (1994) and Zimmer & Isler (2003) suggested that the formerly broadly defined Schistocichla leucostigma probably consisted of more than one species. Braun et al. (2005) provided evidence that the Tepui taxon saturata deserves species rank. SACC proposal passed to treat saturata as a species. Isler et al. (2007) further showed that the taxa humaythae, brunneiceps, and rufifacies, currently treated as subspecies of P. leucostigma, also warrant species rank. SACC proposal passed to revise species limits.
WHITE-PLUMED ANTBIRD – Pithys albifrons. Great views of two individuals along the Mishquiyaku trail at Waqanki among others species with army ants.
SPOT-BACKED ANTBIRD - Hylophylax naevius. Two individuals seen in two consecutive days along the Mishquiyaku trail.
COMMON SCALE-BACKED ANTBIRD - Willisornis poecilinotus. One seen along the Mishquiyaku trail as well. Note: Xingu Scale-backed Antbird in Brazil is now a distinct species.
WHITE-BACKED FIRE-EYE – Pyriglena leuconota. Heard only, at Owlet Lodge.
Family: MELANOPAREIIDAE (CRESCENTCHESTS)
ELEGANT CRESCENTCHEST - Melanopareia elegans. Wonderful views of four individuals at the Chaparri Reserve and one more at Casupe. Range Restricted.
MARAÑON CRESCENTCHEST - Melanopareia maranonica. Excellent views of one individual at Tamborapa. Definitely one of the most beautiful birds of the trip!! Range Restricted.
Family: GRALLARIIDAE (ANTPITTAS)
CHESTNUT-CROWNED ANTPITTA - Grallaria ruficapilla. Common by voice at several locations, and a good sighting of 1 bird walking in the opening at the Porculla pass.
PALE-BILLED ANTPITTA - Grallaria carrikeri. A hard trek for this one, but fortunately we had a wonderful view of 2 birds moving around us, One of the best birds of the trip!! ENDEMIC.
RUSTY-TINGED ANTPITTA - Grallaria przewalskii. A few heard at Abra Patricia where we finally saw one walking across the trail. VULNERABLE ENDEMIC.
RUFOUS [FULVOUS] ANTPITTA - Grallaria rufula obscura. A few heard and one seen at Abra Barro Negro. Geographic variation in song strongly suggests that Grallaria rufula includes more than one species (Krabbe & Schulenberg 2003) and a paper in preparation will split this species several ways so take note of which subspecies you saw. ENDEMIC.
RUFOUS [CAJAMARCA] ANTPITTA - Grallaria rufula cajamarcae. Heard only, around Cruz Conga. Geographic variation in song strongly suggests that Grallaria rufula includes more than one species (Krabbe & Schulenberg 2003a). ENDEMIC.
CHESTNUT ANTPITTA - Grallaria blakei. One seen briefly at Owlet Lodge. ENDEMIC.
RUSTY-BREASTED ANTPITTA - Grallaricula ferrugineipectus. Fantastic views of two individuals seen at Abra Barro Negro.
OCHRE-FRONTED ANTPITTA - Grallaricula ochraceifrons. Wonderful views of a male one, just from the roadside below Owlet Lodge. ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
THRUSH-LIKE ANTPITTA – Myrmothera campanisona. Heard only, at Arena Blanca.
Family: RHINOCRYPTIDAE (TAPACULOS)
TRILLING TAPACULO - Scytalopus parvirostris. Heard only, at Abra Patricia. Scytalopus etymologically comes from the Greek language wich literally means “stickfoot”, referred to their strong and thick feet.
UNICOLORED TAPACULO - Scytalopus unicolor. Good views at Abra Gavilan near Cajamarca. ENDEMIC.
WHITE-CROWNED TAPACULO - Scytalopus atratus. A good view of one individual above Afluente.
RUFOUS-VENTED TAPACULO - Scytalopus femoralis. Commonly heard at Abra Patricia, where we saw one of them. ENDEMIC.
NEBLINA TAPACULO – Scytalopus altirostris. Two individuals seen on the west side of Abra Barro Negro, one seen totally exposed on an open branch responding to play back. ENDEMIC.
BLACKISH TAPACULO - Scytalopus latrans Two of them very well seen at Abra Barro Negro
Family FORMICARIIDAE (ANTTHRUSH)
BARRED ANTTHRUSH - Chamaeza mollissima. Heard only, once along the Owlet trail at the Owlet Lodge.
Family: FURNARIIDAE (OVENBIRDS)
COASTAL MINER - Geositta peruviana. One seen on the road-side around Chiclayo, and another on seen at Pomac forest. ENDEMIC.
PLAIN-BROWN WOODCREEPER - Dendrocincla fuliginosa. Seen twice at the (Mishquiyaku) ridge trail at Waqanki.
OLIVACEOUS WOODCREEPER - Sittasomus griseicapillus amazonus. One seen at Afluente, belonging to the amazonus group. Note where you see these and what subspecies they are –they WILL be split as sure as death and taxes!
BLACK-BANDED WOODCREEPER - Dendrocolaptes picumnus. Excellent views along the Mishquiyaku trail with army ants among other army ant followers.
STREAK-HEADED WOODCREEPER - Lepidocolaptes souleyetii. Seen at Pomac forest and also at Chaparri Lodge.
WHITE-WINGED CINCLODES - Cinclodes atacamensis. Great views in two consecutive days at Rio Chonta, near Cajamarca.
PALE-LEGGED HORNERO - Furnarius leucopus tricolor. Seen in the Rioja/Moyobamba area, here belonging to the tricolor subspecies.
[PACIFIC] HORNERO Furnarius leucopus cinnamomeus. Very common the first few days of the trip, and in the middle Maranon. These ones belong to the cinnamomeus subspecies and are often considered as a valid species. SACC comment: The subspecies cinnamomeus of W. Ecuador and NW. Peru may deserve recognition as a separate species from F. leucopus (Ridgely & Tudor 1994) and was treated as such by Parker & Carr (1992) and Ridgely & Greenfield (2001). The subspecies longirostris was also treated as a separate species by Ridgely & Greenfield (2001) and Hilty (2003). Although vocal and behavioral differences have been reported, no real analysis has been published to support these splits. SACC proposal to elevate cinnamomeus to species rank did not pass because of insufficient published data.
WREN-LIKE RUSHBIRD – Phleocryptes melanops. Two of them seen around Eten.
STRIATED EARTHCREEPER – Geocerthia serrana. Very nice views of one individual (scope views) at Cruz Conga. ENDEMIC.
LINE-CHEEKED SPINETAIL - Cranioleuca antisiensis. Excellent views at Porculla pass.
BARON'S SPINETAIL - Cranioleuca baroni. Seen well at Cruz Conga and also at Abra Gavilan. Cranioleuca baroni was considered conspecific with C. antisiensis by Meyer de Schauensee (1966, 1970), following Koepcke (1961a); it had formerly (e.g., Cory & Hellmayr 1925, Peters 1951) been considered a separate species. Although most current references (e.g., Ridgely & Tudor 1994) treat baroni as a species, evidence for considering this species separate from C. antisiensis is exceptionally weak; as noted by Koepcke (1961), the closest populations, geographically, of antisiensis and baroni are more similar to one another than they are to other subspecies within their respective "species", and drawing a line between these two is arbitrary, even though the extremes differ radically (Remsen 2003). Named after O.T. Baron (1847-1926), a German engineer who lived in Peru. ENDEMIC.
ASH-BROWED SPINETAIL – Cranioleuca curtata. Very good views at Afluente. VULNERABLE.
AZARA'S SPINETAIL - Synallaxis azarae. Quite common throughout the trip.
MARAÑON SPINETAIL - Synallaxis maranonica. After a lot of effort we finally saw three of them at Tamborapa. CRITICALLY ENDANGERED. Range Restricted.
GREAT SPINETAIL - Siptornopsis hypochondriaca. At the beginning gave us a little bit of hard time to see one, but at the end we managed to see one quite well at San Marcos. VULNERABLE ENDEMIC.
CHESTNUT-THROATED SPINETAIL - Synallaxis cherriei. One seen really well along the Mishquiyaku trail, at Waqanki Lodge. Named for George Kruck Cherrie US Ornithologist and collector (1865 -1948).
RUFOUS SPINETAIL - Synallaxis unirufa. Fairly common at Abra Patricia, one seen along the Monkey trail and another one above San Lorenzo.
RUSSET-BELLIED SPINETAIL - Synallaxis zimmeri. A beautiful Spinetail, two individuals seen very well at Sinsicap. ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
NECKLACED SPINETAIL - Synallaxis stictothorax. Common at Chaparri and Bosque Pomac. These belong to the maculata subspecies. Range Restricted.
CHINCHIPE SPINETAIL - Synallaxis stictothorax chinchipensis Great views at the Tamborapa track. Ridgely & Tudor (1994) and Ridgely & Greenfield (2001) considered the upper Marañon population chinchipensis as a separate species, but no analysis or data published. SACC proposal to elevate chinchipensis to species rank did not pass because of insufficient published data. Range Restricted.
MANY-STRIPED CANASTERO Asthenes flammulata. Nice look at Abra Barro Negro.
WHITE-CHINNED (PERUVIAN) THISTLETAIL - Schizoeaca fuliginosa plengei. Several heard, and finally two seen very well at Abra Barro Negro.
RUSSET-MANTLED SOFTTAIL - Phacellodomus berlepschi. Heard only, below Abra Barro Negro. VULNERABLE ENDEMIC.
PEARLED TREERUNNER - Margarornis squamiger. Seen in two consecutive days below Abra Barro Negro.
RUSTY-CROWNED TIT-SPINETAIL - leptasthenura p. cajabambae. Two individuals seen at Rio Chonta near Cajamarca. ENDEMIC.
[MARANON] RUFOUS-FRONTED THORNBIRD - Phacellodomus rufifrons. Good views at Tamborapa. Here the subspecies peruvianus, sometimes referred to a distinct species. Ridgely & Greenfield (2001) considered northern inornatus (with castilloi) a separate species from Phacellodomus rufifrons, and this was followed by Hilty (2003); vocalizations are reported to differ, but no analysis or data have been published. SACC proposal to recognize inornatus as separate species did not pass because of insufficient published data. Ridgely & Greenfield (2001) also suggested that the subspecies peruvianus of the Marañon valley deserved recognition as a separate species.
CHESTNUT-BACKED THORNBIRD - Phacellodomus dorsalis. Excellent views of one individual at its nest at Limon on our way to Celendin. VULNERABLE ENDEMIC.
BUFF-FRONTED FOLIAGE-GLEANER - Philydor rufus. Common at Afluente.
MONTANE FOLIAGE-GLEANER - Anabacerthia striaticollis. Very good views at Afluente.
RUFOUS-NECKED FOLIAGE-GLEANER - Syndactyla ruficollis. Two seen at Casupe. VULNERABLE, Range Restricted.
HENNA-HOODED FOLIAGE-GLEANER - Hylocryptus erythrocephalus. Amazing views at Casupe and at Abra Porculla. VULNERABLE, Range Restricted.
STREAKED XENOPS - Xenops rutilans. Several encounters throughout the trip, especially around Abra Patricia.
POINT-TAILED PALMCREEPER – Berlepschia rikeri. Very nice view of one individual around Moyobamba.
Family: TYRANNIDAE (TYRANT FLYCATCHERS)
McCONNELL’S FLYCATCHER - Mionectes macconnelli. One bird seen along the Mishquiyaku trail at Waqanki.
SLATY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER - Leptopogon superciliaris. Good views at Afluente.
ORNATE FLYCATCHER – Myiotriccus ornatus. Very nice views at Afluente.
MANY-COLORED RUSH-TYRANT – Tachuris rubrigastra. Two individuals seen around Eten port.
SCALE-CRESTED PYGMY-TYRANT - Lophotriccus pileatus. Seen twice around Afluente.
BLACK-THROATED TODY-TYRANT - Hemitriccus granadensis. Seen at Owlet Lodge.
CINNAMON-BREASTED TODY-TYRANT - Hemitriccus cinnamomeipectus. A great views around Alto Nieva. Range Restricted.
JOHNSON'S TODY-FLYCATCHER - Poecilotriccus luluae. Excellent view of one individual just from the roadside, below the Owlet Lodge. One of the great birds of the trip! VULNERABLE ENDEMIC.
BLACK-AND-WHITE TODY-FLYCATCHER - Poecilotriccus capitalis. Wonderful views on a pair, along the Mishquiyaku trail at Waqanki.
COMMON TODY-FLYCATCHER - Todirostrum cinereum. Good views at Waqanki.
SOOTY-HEADED TYRANNULET - Phyllomyias griseiceps. One seen well along the Mishquiyaku trail at Waqanki.
TAWNY-RUMPED TYRANNULET – Phyllomyias uropygialis. One seen near Cruz Conga on our way from Celendin to Cajamarca.
SULPHUR-BELLIED TYRANNULET – Mecocerculus minor. One seen just from outside the dining room at the Owlet Lodge.
WHITE-BANDED TYRANNULET - Mecocerculus stictopterus. One seen at Abra Barro Negro.
MISHANA TYRANNULET - Zimmerius villarejoi. One seen along the Mishquiyaku trail at Waqanki. A very recently described species. The Rio Mayo form we saw may be a distinct species from the ones near Iquitos. VULNERABLE ENDEMIC.
PERUVIAN TYRANNULET - Zimmerius viridiflavus. Fairly common at Afluente and Abra Patricia. ENDEMIC.
SOUTHERN BEARDLESS-TYRANNULET - Camptostoma obsoletum. A common bird seen several times during the trip.
BLACK-CRESTED TIT-TYRANT - Anairetes nigrocristatus A few seen at Cruz Conga. Range Restricted.
PIED-CRESTED TIT-TYRANT Anairetes reguloides. 2 seen at Sinsicap.
YELLOW-BILLED TIT-TYRANT – Anairetes flavirostris. One seen around Sinsicap.
TUFTED TIT-TYRANT – Anairetes parulus. Two seen around Cruz Conga.
TORRENT TYRANNULET - Serpophaga cinerea. Seen along the Rio Chonta.
TUMBESIAN TYRANNULET - Phaeomyias tumbeziana. Fairly common the first days of the trip at Bosque Pomac and Chaparri reserve (subspecies inflava). Ridgely & Tudor (1994) noted that vocal differences suggest that Phaeomyias murina might consist of more than one species. Ridgely & Greenfield (2001) considered the subspecies tumbezana (with inflava and maranonica) of southwestern Ecuador and northwestern Peru to represent a separate species based on differences in vocalizations We saw the maranonica form around Jaen. Range Restricted.
GRAY-AND-WHITE TYRANNULET Pseudelaenia leucospodia. Commonly seen around the Pomac forest. Range Restricted.
RUFOUS-HEADED PYGMY-TYRANT – Pseudotriccus ruficeps. One seen along the monkey trail at Owlet Lodge.
TAWNY-CROWNED PYGMY-TYRANT - Euscarthmus meloryphus. Common in dry habitat on the west slope of the Andes and in the Marañon valley.
PACIFIC ELAENIA – Myiopagis subplacens. Quite common at Casupe, one individual responded well to playback. Range Restricted.
YELLOW-BELLIED ELAENIA – Elaenia flavogaster. Common at Waqanki Lodge.
WHITE-CRESTED ELAENIA – Elaenia albiceps. One seen at Tamborapa.
SIERRAN ELAENIA - Elaenia pallatangae. Seen several times at Abra Barro Negro.
MARBLE-FACED BRISTLE-TYRANT - Phylloscartes ophthalmicus. Seen at Afluente.
VARIEGATED BRISTLE-TYRANT - Phylloscartes poecilotis. Seen along the Mishquiyaku trail at Waqanki.
ECUADORIAN TYRANNULET - Phylloscartes gualaquizae. Good views at Affluentes. Range Restricted.
MOTTLE-CHEEKED TYRANNULET Phylloscartes ventralis. Seen twice at Abra Patricia.
WHITE-BELLIED PYGMY-TYRANT Myiornis albiventris. Common by voice.
YELLOW-OLIVE FLYCATCHER - Tolmomyias assimilis. One responded to playback along the Mishquiyaku trail at Waqanki.
FLAVESCENT FLYCATCHER - Myiophobus flavicans. Two seen really well along the grallaria trail at Owlet Lodge.
BRAN-COLORED FLYCATCHER - Myiophobus fasciatus. Seen around the Pomac forest and Casupe.
BLACK-TAILED FLYCATCHER – Myiobius atricaudus. One seen along the little creek of the Mishquiyaku trail at Waqanki Lodge.
CINNAMON FLYCATCHER Pyrrhomyias cinnamomeus. Common at higher elevations.
GRAY-BREASTED FLYCATCHER - Lathrotriccus griseipectus. One seen at Casupe. Range Restricted.
WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE – Contopus sordidulus. Seen on two consecutive days along the Mishquiyaku trail.
[TUMBES] TROPICAL PEWEE – Contopus cinereus punensis. Seen at Chaparri and Casupe. All of them belonging to the punensis subspecies. Ridgely & Greenfield (2001) considered the subspecies punensis of southwestern Ecuador and northwestern Peru to represent a separate species from Contopus cinereus based on vocal differences.
BLACK PHOEBE - Sayornis nigricans. One seen along the irrigation channel on our way to Chaparri and also along the Utcubamba River.
VERMILION FLYCATCHER - Pyrocephalus rubinus. Particularly common in the dry areas like Chaparri reserve, Bosque Pomac and the Marañon canyon.
RUFOUS-TAILED TYRANT - Knipolegus poecilurus. Seen in two consecutive days around the Owlet Lodge.
WHITE-WINGED BLACK-TYRANT – Knipolegus aterrimus. A male one seen around Limon on our way back from Balsas to Celendin.
WHITE-TAILED SHRIKE-TYRANT - Agriornis albicauda. Three individuals seen at Cruz Conga, A very localized and rare species, which probably merits to be upgraded as endangered. VULNERABLE.
STREAK-THROATED BUSH-TYRANT - Myiotheretes striaticollis. One seen at Abra Barro Negro.
SMOKY BUSH-TYRANT - Myiotheretes fumigatus. Nice view of two individuals at Abra Barro Negro.
TUMBES TYRANT - Tumbezia salvini. One of the most beautiful flycatchers of the trip. Nice views at Bosque Pomac! Range Restricted.
JELSKI’S CHAT-TYRANT - Ochthoeca jelskii. First time seen at Cruz Conga and a second one at Abra Gavilan. Range Restricted.
[MAROON-CHESTED] SLATY-BACKED CHAT-TYRANT – Ochthoeca cinnamomeiventris. Seen briefly at the museum road near Leymebamba. Here of the thoracica subspecies. García- Moreno et al. (1998) suggested that the plumage and genetic differences between subspecies groups north and south of the Marañon should be recognized at the species level, with Ochthoeca thoracica the name for the southern species. Ridgely & Tudor (1994) reported that there are also vocal differences that would support this split. Ridgely & Greenfield (2001) and Hilty (2003) further recognized Venezuelan nigrita as a separate species from O. cinnamomeiventris, as done by Cory & Hellmayr (1927); see Zimmer (1937b) for the rationale for treating them all as conspecific based on plumage pattern, the treatment followed by Fitzpatrick (2004).
RUFOUS-BREASTED CHAT-TYRANT - Ochthoeca rufipectoralis. Good views at San Lorenzo and Abra Barro Negro.
BROWN-BACKED CHAT-TYRANT - Ochthoeca fumicolor. A few seen at Abra Barro Negro.
WHITE-BROWED CHAT-TYRANT - Ochthoeca leucophrys. Seen in several occasion throughout the trip.
PIURA CHAT-TYRANT - Ochthoeca piurae. Seen at Abra Porculla and also at Sinsicap. ENDEMIC.
SHORT-TAILED FIELD-TYRANT - Muscigralla brevicauda. One seen at the Chaparri Reserve.
PIRATIC FLYCATCHER – Legatus leucophaius. Heard only, around Waqanki.
SOCIAL FLYCATCHER - Myiozetetes similis. Common.
GRAY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER - Myiozetetes granadensis. Seen around Waqanki.
GREAT KISKADEE - Pitangus sulphuratus. Seen around Moyobamba.
BAIRD'S FLYCATCHER - Myiodynastes bairdii. Several sightings at the beginning of the trip, especially at Chaparri reserve. Range Restricted.
TROPICAL KINGBIRD - Tyrannus melancholicus. Very common.
RUFOUS FLYCATCHER - Myiarchus semirufus. A fantastic view at Rafan forest of one individual, which responded right away to the play-back. ENDEMIC.
DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER - Myiarchus tuberculifer. Seen once around the Owlet Lodge.
SHORT-CRESTED FLYCATCHER - Myiarchus ferox. Good views around Waqanki.
PALE-EDGED FLYCATCHER - Myiarchus cephalotes. One seen at Owlet Lodge.
SOOTY-CROWNED FLYCATCHER – Myiarchus phaeocephalus. One individual seen at Tamborapa. Range Restricted.
BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER - Myiarchus tyrannulus. Also seen at Tamborapa.
SULPHURY FLYCATCHER – Tyrannopsis sulphurea. Very nice view of one individual around Moyobamba, a maurittia palm tree specialist.
Family: COTINGIDAE (COTINGAS)
GREEN-AND-BLACK FRUITEATER - Pipreola riefferii. Seen in two consecutive days around Abra Patricia.
FIERY-THROATED FRUITEATER - Pipreola chlorolepidota. Seen in two consecutive days along the Mishquiyaku trail at Waqanki.
PERUVIAN PLANTCUTTER - Phytotoma raimondii. Amazing views of a pair at Rafan where they responded really well to play-back. ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
RED-CRESTED COTINGA - Ampelion rubrocristatus. Seen in two consecutive days at Abra Barro Negro, where Stephen finally saw its red crest!
GRAY-TAILED PIHA – Snowornis subalaris. Heard only, once below Alto Nieva.
ANDEAN COCK-OF-THE-ROCK- Rupicola peruvianus. The national bird of Peru was seen in three consecutive days around Affluentes.
Family: PIPRIDAE (MANAKINS)
FIERY-CAPPED MANAKIN - Machaeropterus pyrocephalus. One seen along the Mishquiyaku trail at Waqanki.
GOLDEN-WINGED MANAKIN – Masius chrysopterus. Heard only, above Afluente.
GREEN MANAKIN – Xenopipo holochlora. Very good views of one individual along the Mishquiyaku trail at Waqanki. Lifer for the leader!
Family: TITYRIDAE (TITYRAS and
BECARDS)
MASKED TITYRA - Tityra semifasciata. One seen around Waqanki.
YELLOW-CHEEKED BECARD - Pachyramphus vxanthogenys. Excellent view at the Tamborapa track.
BARRED BECARD - Pachyramphus versicolor. Great view of a male one below Owlet Lodge.
WING-BARRED PIPRITES – Piprites chloris. One seen along the Mishquiyaku trail at Waqanki.
Family: VIREONIDAE (VIREOS AND GREENLETS)
RUFOUS-BROWED PEPPERSHRIKE - Cyclarhis gujanensis. Seen in three different occasion throughout the trip.
[CHIVI] RED-EYED VIREO - Vireo olivaceus (Chivi). Seen at the Tamborapa track and around Waqanki . Some classifications (e.g., Pinto 1944) have considered the South American chivi group as a separate species ("Chivi Vireo") from V. olivaceus, or as conspecific with V. flavoviridis (Hamilton 1962). Ridgely & Greenfield (2001) suggested, however, that more than one species may be involved within the South American chivi group.
YELLOW-GREEN VIREO – Vireo flavoviridis. One seen around Afluente.
OLIVACEOUS GREENLET - Hylophilus olivaceus. Good views at Afluente.
Family: CORVIDAE (JAYS)
WHITE-COLLARED JAY - Cyanolyca viridicyanus. Seen around Abra Patricia and also at Abra Barro Negro. Range Restricted.
WHITE-TAILED JAY - Cyanocorax mystacalis. Good views at Chaparri reserve and at Pomac forest. Range Restricted.
[INCA] GREEN JAY - Cyanocorax yncas. Fairly common and several sightings all over the trip. Ridgely & Greenfield (2001) and Hilty (2003) treated Middle American populations as a separate species, C. luxosus ("Green Jay") from South American C. yncas ("Inca Jay"), but no data presented; they were formerly considered separate species.
Family: HIRUNDINIDAE (SWALLOWS)
BLUE-AND-WHITE SWALLOW - Pygochelidon cyanoleuca. Very common.
BROWN-BELLIED SWALLOW - Orochelidon murina. Seen around Abra Barro Negro and Cruz Conga.
WHITE-BANDED SWALLOW - Atticora fasciata. A few seen around Moyobamba.
SOUTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW -Stelgidopteryx ruficollis. Several sightings on the eastern side of the Andes.
BROWN-CHESTED MARTIN - progne tapera. Seen around Chiclayo and around Jaen.
GRAY-BREASTED MARTIN - Progne chalybea. Seen in two different localities throughout the trip.
TUMBES SWALLOW - Tachycineta stolzmanni. Several birds seen around a nesting area at Bosque Pomac. Range Restricted.
BANK SWALLOW – Riparia riparia. Seen around Eten port.
BARN SWALLOW – Hirundo rustica. Also seen around Eten port and few others localities.
CLIFF SWALLOW – Petrocholidon pyrrhonota. Good views around Eten port.
Family: TROGLODYTIDAE (WRENS)
THRUSH-LIKE WREN Campylorhynchus turdinus. Good views at the Mishquiyaku trail.
FASCIATED WREN - Campylorhynchus fasciatus. Very common on the west side of the Andes and at Sinsicap.
SHARPE'S WREN - Cinnycerthia olivascens. Seen in two separate days at Abra Patricia. Range Restricted.
GRASS (SEDGE) WREN - Cistothorus platensis. Nice view of two individuals below Abra Barro Negro.
SPECKLE-BREASTED [MARANON] WREN - Thryothorus sclateri maranonica. Good views at the Tamborapa track.
SPECKLED-BREASTED WREN - Pheugopedius sclateri paucimaculatus. Very good views at Casupe.
SUPERCILIATED WREN - Thryothorus superciliaris. Fairly common and several sightings the first days of the trip; best views at Porculla pass. Range Restricted.
HOUSE WREN - Troglodytes aedon. Very common. 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. Seen at Abra Barro Negro.
BAR-WINGED WOOD-WREN Henicorhina leucoptera. Excellent views of two very cooperative pairs at Abra Patricia – also occurs in an inaccessible remote area just over the border in Ecuador. Range Restricted.
GRAY-BREASTED WOOD-WREN - Henicorhina leucophrys. Commonly heard and seen at Afluente.
CHESTNUT-BREASTED WREN - Cyphorhinus thoracicus. Seen really well at Abra Patricia.
Family: POLIOPTILIDAE (GNATCATCHERS)
TROPICAL GNATCATCHER - Polioptila plumbea. Many seen the first three days of the trip, belonging here to the Tumbesian bilineata subspecies. At Quebrada Upaquihua, we also saw a pair of the widespread parvirostris subspecies.
[MARANON] TROPICAL GNATCATCHER - Polioptila plumbea maior. Seen at Tamborapa and in the Marañon canyon. Polioptila plumbea likely includes several species (Atwood and Lerman 2006). The subspecies maior of the Marañon Valley (treated as a separate species by Hellmayr 1934) and the bilineata group of northern South America and Middle America may each warrant species recognition, but a published analysis is lacking (Ridgely & Tudor 1989). Even within populations east of the Andes, vocal differences suggest that more than one species is involved (Ridgely & Greenfield 2001, Hilty 2003).
Family: DONACOBIDAE (DONACOBIUS)
BLACK-CAPPED DONACOBIUS - Donacobius atricapillus. Seen near Moyobamba.
Family: TURDIDAE (THRUSHES)
ANDEAN SOLITAIRE - Myadestes ralloides. Seen in two days around Abra Patricia.
SWAINSON’S THRUSH – Catharus ustulatus. Common especially at Afluente and Waqanki Lodge.
GREAT THRUSH - Turdus fuscater. Common in the humid part of the Andes.
CHIGUANCO THRUSH - Turdus chiguanco. Common in the dry part of the Andes.
PLUMBEOUS-BACKED THRUSH - Turdus reevei. Quite common at Casupe, we saw about ten individuals at this area, and few more at Porculla pass. Range Restricted.
BLACK-BILLED THRUSH - Turdus ignobilis. Several seen in the eastern lowlands; common at Waqanki.
PALE-BREASTED THRUSH – Turdus leucomelas. Good studies at Waqanki.
VARZEA THRUSH - Turdus sanchezorum. One seen along the Mishquiyaku trail at Waqanki; a recently described species.
MARAÑON THRUSH - Turdus maranonicus. Excellent views of eight individuals just from the road on a random stop along the Utcubamba River on our way to Chachapoyas. Range Restricted.
Family: MIMIDAE (MOCKINGBIRDS)
LONG-TAILED MOCKINGBIRD - Mimus longicaudatus. Very common on the west slope of the Andes and in the Maranon drainage.
Family: MOTACILLIDAE (PIPITS)
YELLOWISH PIPIT - Anthus lutescens peruviana. Two individuals seen around Eten port – an isolated population.
Family: THRAUPIDAE (TANAGERS)
WHITE-CAPPED TANAGER - Sericossypha albocristata. Wonderful sightings at Abra Patricia, and along the San Lorenzo ridge!
SUPERCILIARED HEMISPINGUS - Hemispingus superciliaris leucogaster. Regular sightings in the mixed-species flocks above Leymebamba.
OLEAGINOUS HEMISPINGUS – Hemispingus frontalis. Seen bellow the Owlet Lodge.
DRAB HEMISPINGUS - Hemispingus xanthophthalmus. Two individuals seen in mixed species flocks below Abra Barro Negro.
BUFF-BELLIED TANAGER - Thlypopsis inornata. Six birds seen at the Tamborapa track near Jaen, and 2 more behind the Hotel rooms at Pomacochas. Range Restricted.
WHITE-LINED TANAGER - Tachyphonus rufus. A male one seen at Tamborapa.
BLACK-BELLIED (HUALLAGA) TANAGER - Ramphocelus melanogaster. A few seen around Afluente and Waqanki. ENDEMIC.
VERMILION TANAGER – Calochaetes coccineus. Very good views in two consecutive days above Afluente.
BLUE-GRAY TANAGER - Thraupis episcopus. Common.
PALM TANAGER - Thraupis palmarum. Common.
BLUE-CAPPED TANAGER - Thraupis cyanocephala. One seen at the Hotel ground at Pomacocha.
BLUE-AND-YELLOW TANAGER - Thraupis bonariensis. Common at Sinsicap.
GRASS-GREEN TANAGER - Chlorornis riefferii. Great views of two birds at Owlet Lodge, just round the rooms.
HOODED MOUNTAIN-TANAGER – Buthraupis montana. Good views above Leymebamba.
LACRIMOSE MOUNTAIN-TANAGER - Anisognathus lacrymosus. Very good views at Abra Patricia, just around the Owlet Lodge.
SCARLET-BELLIED MOUNTAIN-TANAGER - Anisognathus igniventris. Seen at Abra Barro Negro.
BUFF-BREASTED MOUNTAIN-TANAGER - Anisognathus somptuosus. Great views in two consecutive days at Abra Patricia.
YELLOW-THROATED TANAGER- Iridosornis analis. Seen around Abra Patricia.
YELLOW-SCARFED TANAGER - Iridosornis reinhardti. Quite good views of two individuals just around the Owlet Lodge. ENDEMIC.
ORANGE-EARED TANAGER - Chlorochrysa calliparaea. Seen with mixed-species flock at Afluente.
TURQUOISE TANAGER - Tangara mexicana. Two birds seen at Arena Blanca on our way out from the Hummingbird feeders.
PARADISE TANAGER - Tangara chilensis. Some excellent views at Afluente and Waqanki.
GOLDEN TANAGER - Tangara arthus. Seen at Afluente.
SAFFRON-CROWNED TANAGER - Tangara xanthocephala. Common at Abra Patricia.
GOLDEN-EARED TANAGER – Tangara chrysotis. Quite a few seen at Afluente.
FLAME-FACED TANAGER - Tangara parzudakii. Common at Abra Patricia.
YELLOW-BELLIED TANAGER - Tangara xanthogastra. Few seen along the Mishquiyaku trail at Waqanki.
SPOTTED TANAGER – Tangara punctata. Good views at Afluente.
BAY-HEADED TANAGER - Tangara gyrola. One seen along the Mishquiyaku trail at Waqanki.
BLUE-BROWED TANAGER - Tangara cyanotis. One seen below Owlet Lodge.
BLUE-NECKED TANAGER - Tangara cyanicollis. Common at Afluente.
BERYL-SPANGLED TANAGER - Tangara nigroviridis. A few seen around Abra Patricia.
BLUE-AND-BLACK TANAGER - Tangara vassorii. Seen above Leymebamba.
SILVERY TANAGER - Tangara viridicollis. Seen at Abra Porculla and also above Leymebamba.
SWALLOW TANAGER – Tersina viridis. Very good views at Afluente.
BLACK-FACED DACNIS - Dacnis lineata. A male one seen along the Mishquiyaku trail at Waqanki.
YELLOW-BELLIED DACNIS - Dacnis flaviventer. Also seen along the Mishquiyaku trail.
BLUE DACNIS – Dacnis cayana. Also seen along the Mishquiyaku trail at Waqanki.
TIT-LIKE DACNIS – Xenodacnis parina. A few seen near Cruz Conga.
GREEN HONEYCREEPER – Chlorophanes spiza. Another bird seen along the Mishquiyaku trail at Waqanki.
PURPLE HONEYCREEPER - Cyanerpes caeruleus. Seen along the Mishquiyaku trail at Waqanki.
CINEREOUS CONEBILL - Conirostrum cinereum. Common around Celendin and Cajamarca.
BLUE-BACKED CONEBILL - Conirostrum sitticolor. A few following mixed-species flocks at Abra Barro Negro.
RUSTY FLOWERPIERCER - Diglossa sittoides. One seen at Abra Porculla.
WHITE-SIDED FLOWERPIERCER - Diglossa albilatera. A pair seen along the trail above San Lorenzo on our way to the Pale-billed Antpitta.
BLACK-THROATED FLOWERPIERCER - Diglossa brunneiventris. Seen almost daily between Leymebamba and Cajamarca.
GOLDEN-EYED FLOWERPIERCER – Diglossa glauca. Seen below Alto Nieva around Abra Patricia.
BLUISH FLOWERPIERCER - Diglossa caerulescens. Good views at Abra Patricia and also above Leymebamba.
MASKED FLOWERPIERCER - Diglossa cayana. Seen below Abra Barro Negro.
PLUSH-CAP - Catamblyrhynchus diadema. Very nice views of two individuals just behind the Lodge’s rooms.
PLUMBEOUS SIERRA-FINCH - Phrygilus unicolor. A few seen at Abra Barro Negro.
ASH-BREASTED SIERRA-FINCH - Phrygilus plebejus. Common at Abra Porculla.
CINEREOUS FINCH - Piezorhina cinerea. Excellent views at Rafan and Chaparri Reserve. Range Restricted.
GRAY-WINGED INCA-FINCH - Incaspiza ortizi. Two seen well at Hacienda Limon in the Marañon canyon. VULNERABLE ENDEMIC.
BUFF-BRIDLED INCA-FINCH Incaspiza laeta. What a beautiful little bird!! Several seen around Balsas and at San Marcos. ENDEMIC.
LITTLE INCA-FINCH - Incaspiza watkinsi. Good views of two individuals near Jaen. ENDEMIC.
COLLARED WARBLING-FINCH - Poospiza hispaniolensis. Good views at Chaparri Reserve. Range Restricted.
SAFFRON FINCH - Sicalis flaveola. Seen On three different occasion throughout the trip.
SULPHUR-THROATED FINCH - Sicalis taczanowskii. Quite good views at Chaparri Reserve. Range Restricted.
WEDGE-TAILED GRASS-FINCH - Emberizoides herbicola. One seen just round the Casa Andina Hotel grounds near Chachapoyas.
BLUE-BLACK GRASSQUIT - Volatinia jacarina. Very common around Moyobamba.
BLACK-AND-WHITE SEEDEATER - Sporophila luctuosa. Seen around Moyobamba.
YELLOW-BELLIED SEEDEATER - Sporophila nigricollis. Male and females seen around the Hotel ground near Chachapoyas.
PARROT-BILLED SEEDEATER - Sporophila peruviana. A few at Chaparri Reserve.
DRAB SEEDEATER - Sporophila simplex. Few seen at Tamborapa. Range Restricted.
CHESTNUT-BELLIED SEEDEATER - Sporophila castaneiventris. Seen in two separate days around Leymebamba.
CHESTNUT-THROATED SEEDEATER – Sporophila telasco. Seen around the rice fields around Jaen.
BLACK-BILLED SEED-FINCH – Sporophila atrirostris. One individual seen near Moyobamba by a small swampy area.
BAND-TAILED SEEDEATER - Catamenia analis. A few at Abra Porculla.
PLAIN-COLORED SEEDEATER - Catamenia inornata. Seen around Celendin.
RED-CRESTED FINCH - Coryphospingus cucullatus. Very nice views of a male bird at Tamborapa.
BANANAQUIT - Coereba flaveola. Common.
DULL-COLORED GRASSQUIT - Tiaris obscurus. Very good views at Waqanki.
SLATE-COLORED GROSBEAK – Saltator grossus. One individual seen along the Mishquiyaku trail.
BUFF-THROATED SALTATOR - Saltator maximus. A few seen around Moyobamba.
GRAYISH SALTATOR – Saltator coerulescens. One seen near Moyobamba.
BLACK-COWLED SALTATOR - Saltator nigriceps. Very good views at Casupe and at Porculla pass. Range Restricted.
GOLDEN-BILLED SALTATOR - Saltator aurantiirostris. Good views at Cruz Conga.
STREAKED SALTATOR - Saltator striatipectus. Common at Tamborapa and around Chiclayo.
Family: EMBERIZIDAE (SPARROWS)
RUFOUS-COLLARED SPARROW - Zonotrichia capensis. Very common.
YELLOW-BROWED SPARROW - Ammodramus aurifrons. Seen around Waqanki.
TUMBES SPARROW - Aimophila stolzmanni. Four individuals seen at Chaparri Reserve. Range Restricted.
ORANGE-BILLED SPARROW - Arremon aurantiirostris. The first one seen at Arena Blanca and also seen in two consecutive days along the Mishquiyaku trail at Waqanki.
BLACK-CAPPED [MARANON] SPARROW - Arremon abeillei nigriceps. Two seen well along the Tamborapa track. Range Restricted.
BLACK-CAPPED SPARROW – Arremon abeillei abeillei. Nice view of two individual seen at Casupe.
YELLOW-BREASTED (RUFOUS-NAPED) - BRUSH-FINCH Atlapetes latinuchus. Seen several times around Abra Patricia and above Leymebamba.
YELLOW-BREASTED (BARON'S) BRUSH-FINCH - Atlapetes latinuchus baroni. A few seen at Abra Gavilan. A very distinctive subspecies from the preceding species, and may deserve a split.
BAY-CROWNED BRUSH-FINCH - Atlapetes seebohmi. Great views at the Porculla pass, and very common at Sinsicap. Range Restricted.
WHITE-WINGED BRUSH-FINCH - Atlapetes leucopterus. Seen at Abra Porculla and also at Chaparri.
WHITE-HEADED BRUSH-FINCH – Atlapetes albiceps. Seen around Chaparri Reserve. Range Restricted.
COMMON CHLOROSPINGUS - Chlorospingus ophthalmicus. Common at Abra Patricia. Genetic data (REFS, Burns et al. 2002, 2003) indicate the genus Chlorospingus is not a member of the Thraupidae, but (Klicka et al. 2007) a member of the Emberizidae. SACC proposal passed to transfer to Emberizidae. Barker et al. (2013) further confirmed the placement of the genus with the New World sparrows. Frank Pitelka (in Tordoff 1954a) long ago noted the emberizine-like behavior of Chlorospingus. SACC proposal passed to change English names of the species in the genus from “Bush-Tanager” to “Chlorospingus”.
ASH-THROATED CHLOROSPINGUS– Chlorospingus canigularis. Very good views at Afluente.
Family: CARDINALIDAE (TANAGER GROSBEAKS)
[HIGHLAND] HEPATIC TANAGER - Piranga flava lutea. A few seen around Chaparri Reserve and in the Marañon canyon and at San Marcos. Meyer de Schauensee (1966) and Ridgely & Tudor (1989) proposed that this species probably consists of two or three separate species; two occur in South America: nominate flava of southern and eastern South America, and the lutea group of the Andes region (and also Panama and Costa Rica). See Zimmer (1929) concerning earlier claims of sympatry between flava and lutea. Ridgely & Greenfield (2001) treated the three groups as separate species. Haverschmidt and Mees (1994) treated the subspecies haemalea of the Tepuis as a separate species from P. flava based on habitat differences.
SUMMER TANAGER – Piranga rubra. Seen once around Alto Nieva.
SCARLET TANAGER – Piranga olivacea. One seen along the Mishquiyaku trail at Waqanki.
GOLDEN GROSBEAK - Pheucticus chrysogaster. A common bird seen several times during the trip – note the common English name has been shortened.
Family: PARULIDAE (WOOD-WARBLERS)
TROPICAL PARULA - Parula pitiayumi. Several sightings during the trip.
BLACK-LORED YELLOWTHROAT - Geothlypis aequinoctialis. A male one seen just at the Casa Andina Hotel ground near Chachapoyas. Escalante-Pliego (1992) considered auricularis (with peruviana) of western Peru and Ecuador and the velata subspecies group of southern South America as separate species from Geothlypis aequinoctialis. Ridgely & Tudor (1989) pointed out that auricularis (with peruviana) differs in plumage from other aequinoctialis at least as much as do taxa of Geothlypis yellowthroats treated as full species in Middle America. Ridgely & Greenfield (2001) followed Escalante-Pliego (1992) in treating auricularis, velata, and Central American chiriquensis as separate species from aequinoctialis, but see Wetmore et al. (1984). SACC Proposal to elevate auricularis and velata to species rank did not pass due to insufficient published data.
BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER – Setophaga fusca. Seen around Afluente.
GRAY-AND-GOLD WARBLER – Myiothlypis fraseri. Very good views at Casupe and Porculla pass.
BLACK-CRESTED WARBLER - Myiothlypis nigrocristatus. Several sightings.
RUSSET-CROWNED WARBLER - Myiothlypis coronatus. Seen at Afluente.
THREE-BANDED WARBLER - Basileuterus trifasciatus. Seen at the Porculla pass and Casupe. Range Restricted.
THREE-STRIPED WARBLER - Basileuterus tristriatus. Seen around Abra Patricia.
CANADA WARBLER – Cardellina canadensis. Common boreal migrant seen around Afluente.
SLATE-THROATED REDSTART - Myioborus miniatus. Common.
SPECTACLED REDSTART - Myioborus melanocephalus. Common.
Family: ICTERIDAE (BLACKBIRDS)
RUSSET-BACKED OROPENDOLA - Psarocolius angustifrons. Fairly common.
YELLOW-RUMPED CACIQUE - Cacicus cela. A few seen around Waqanki.
SUBTROPICAL CACIQUE – Cacicus uropygialis. Seen briefly around Afluente.
NORTHERN MOUNTAIN CACIQUE - Cacicus chrysonotus. Seen in the west slope of Abra Barro Negro.
YELLOW-TAILED ORIOLE - Icterus mesomelas. Very good views at Casupe.
WHITE-EDGED ORIOLE - Icterus graceannae. Seen around Chaparri and Casupe. Range Restricted.
ORIOLE BLACKBIRD - Gymnomystax mexicanus. Very good views around the Casa Andina Hotel near Chachapoyas along the Utcubamba River.
PERUVIAN MEADOWLARK - Sturnella bellicosa. Regular sightings.
SCRUB BLACKBIRD - Dives warszewiczi. Fairly common on the west slope of the Andes.
Family: FRINGILLIDAE (FINCHES)
HOODED SISKIN – Sporaga magellanica. A small flock at Abra Porculla and also around Cajamarca.
LESSER GOLDFINCH - Astragalinus psaltria. A few seen around the ground of the Casa Andina Hotel near Chachapoyas.
PURPLE-THROATED EUPHONIA - Euphonia chlorotica. Seen around Balsas in the Marañon canyon.
THICK-BILLED EUPHONIA - Euphonia laniirostris. Seen at Casupe and Abra Porculla.
GOLDEN-RUMPED EUPHONIA – Euphonia cyanocephala. Very nice views around the ground of the Casa Andina Hotel near Chachapoyas.
BRONZE-GREEN EUPHONIA - Euphonia mesochrysa. A few seen at Afluente.
ORANGE-BELLIED EUPHONIA - Euphonia xanthogaster. A few seen around Abra Patricia.
BLUE-NAPED CHLOROPHONIA - Chlorophonia cyanea. A male one seen around Afluente.
Family: PASSERIDAE (OLD WORLD SPARROWS)
HOUSE SPARROW - Passer domesticus. Seen in few places throughout the trip.