Itinerary:
March 1st: Arrival in Bogota,east slope Central Cordillera. 2625 Meters.
March 2nd: Birding all day at the Chingaza National Park at 3000 metres above Nuevo Mundo. Brief stop at the Guasca gravel pits. Night in Bogota. East slope Central Andes.
March 3rd: Early morning birding trip to Parque La Florida, Distrito Capital, then to the airport for our flight to Medellin and then on by our beloved van to the Reserva Natural de Aves (RNA) Arrierito Antioqueño Reserve, (Chestnut-capped Piha Reserve) 1600 meters. Department of Antioquia. West slope Central Cordillera.
March 4th: Full day at the reserve walking a trail up the ridge in the morning, 1700-1800 meters and in the lodge garden in the end of the afternoon. Night at the RNA Arrierito Antioqueno. Department of Antioquia. West slope Central Cordillera.
March 5th: Birding below the Piha reserve in the morning and then drive to Medellin and on to Carmen de Atrato and the Las Tangaras Lodge. Night at Las Tangaras Lodge at 1600 meters. West slope of the Western Cordillera. Department of Choco.
March 6th: All morning at the Las Tangaras Reserve birding a nice wide trail uphill through the forest. Brief stop at some not too active Hummingbid feeders and then birding the lodge garden.
March 7th: Birding La M at 2700 meters elevation all morning, and after a picnic lunch drive to Jardin.
March 8th: Morning at the Yellow-eared Parrot Reserve at Alto las Ventanas 2700 – 2600 meters. Department of Antioquia, East slope of the Western Cordillera, and afternoon drive to the Otun Quimbaya Reserve for the night, 1800 meters, Department of Risaralda. West slope of the Central Cordillera.
March 9th: Morning at the Otun Quimbaya NP, near La Suiza, 1900 meters, Department of Risaralda. West slope of the Central Cordillera. In the afternoon drive to Manizales. Department of Risaralda. Night in Manizales.
March 10th: Full day birding in the Rio Blanco reserve 2500-2600 meters. West slope Central Andes. Department of Risaralda. Night in Manizales.
March 11th: Birding in the morning at the Nevado del Ruiz NP, Department of Risaralda. 4000 meters, and drive in the afternoon to Libano. Night in Libano. Department of Tolima.
March 12th: Morning birding above El Libano at La Tigrera, Central Cordillera East slope and afternoon birding at Finca El Palmar in the Magdalena Valley. Drive to Mariquita for the night. Department of Tolima.
March 13th: Early drive and morning birding near La Victoria at the Bellavista Watershed Reserve, Central Cordillera East slope, Department of Caldas and drive to Puerto Pinzon and on to Reserva Natural de Aves (RNA) El Paujil, Serranía de las Quinchas, Department of Boyaca. West slope of the Western Cordillera. 200 meters.
March 14th and 15th: Reserva Natural de Aves (RNA) El Paujil, Serrania de las Quinchas. Department of Boyacu/Santander. 200 meters.
March 16th: Some birding on the way, but mostly drive from El Paujil to Reserva natural de Aves (RNA) Reinita Cielo Azul (Cerulean Warbler Reserve), Department of Santander, 1300 meters. Lunch along the way. Department of Norte Santander.
March 17th: Reserva Natural de Aves Reinita Cielo Azul (Cerulean Warbler Reserve) all day, 1300- 1800 metres, west slope of the eastern Cordillera. We walked to the slippery 150-year old Lengerke trail and spend the whole day here with a packed lunch. Late afternoon birding near the lodge. Department of Norte Santander.
March 18th: Some birding in the grounds of the lodge and the nearby coffee plantations above San Vicente. Drive from San Vicente to Ocaña. West slope of the Eastern Cordillera. Night Ocaña. 1200 meters Hotel Plaza Real. Department of Norte Santander.
March 19th: Reserva natural de Aves (RNA) Hormiguero (Recurve-billed Bushbird Reserve), 1500- 1700 meters. Night Ocaña. Department of Norte Santander.
March 20th: Bob and Diane drove to the Bucaramangua airport to fly to Bogota and then international connection. The rest of the team drove to Santa Marta for a 6 days extension. On the way to Santa Marta, we stopped at Cuatro Vientos. Night Rodadero at the Hotel La Sierra. Department of Magdalena.
March 21st: Early start for Tayrona NP. Then drive to the Guajira peninsula and Los Flamencos National park, spending the afternoon birding near Pericos. Night in Riohacha, Department of La Guajira.
March 22nd: To Los Flamencos National Park, spending the morning birding near Pericos and the lagoons at Camarones. Lunch at the pleasant hotel in Minca, with several species of hummingbirds visiting the feeders. Drive to El Dorado lodge 1900 meters. Department of Magdalena.
March 23rd and 24th: Two full days birding the Santa Marta Mountains. 1600-2000 meters, Department of Magdalena.
March 25th: birding the way down to Minca. Night in Minca.
March 26th: Drive to Santa Marta airport with some birding stops above Minca, and fly to Bogota and International conections.
SPECIES LIST
TINAMIDAE
Highland Tinamou - Nothocercus Bonaparte: One seen at the RNA Cerulean Warbler, crossing the trail.
Great Tinamou – Tinamus major. Heard only.
Grey Tinamou – Tinamus tao. Heard only, from El Dorado lodge
Little Tinamou - Crypturellus soui. Heard only, at RNA El Paujil.
ANHIMIDAE
Northern Screamer - Chauna chavaria: Good views on the way to RNA El Paujil, but also at the wetlands on the roadside on the way to RNA Cerulean Warbler.
ANATIDAE
Blue-winged Teal - Anas discors: Boreal migrant to Colombia seen at the Guasca Gravel Pits and at Parque La Florida.
Andean Teal – Anas andium. Seen on our first day near Nuevo Mundo and at Los Nevados del Ruiz. The SACC says “Hellmayr & Conover (1948a) and many earlier classifications treated andium as a separate species from A. flavirostris- Speckled Teal. Many authors, from Meyer de Schauensee (1970) to Dickinson (2003), have treated andium as a subspecies of A. flavirostris. Anas andium was considered a separate species from Anas flavirostris by Ridgely et al. (2001), and this was followed by Hilty (2003). SACC proposal passed to recognize andium as separate species”.
Andean Duck – Oxyura ferruginea: 50+ at Parque La Florida and 2 on the pond at Los Nevados. Most of the birds seen around Bogotá were boreal migrants (males with white face), and the ones seen at Los Nevados belong to the “Andean Duck” group. The SACC says “Andean populations have often (e.g., Hellmayr & Conover 1948a, Siegfried 1976, Sibley & Ahlquist 1990, AOU 1998, Ridgely et al. 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”. Cited as “Andean Duck “by the IOC.
Torrent Duck – Merganetta armata: a nice pair seen at Otun Quimbaya.
CRACIDAE
Chestnut-winged Chachalaca – Ortalis garrula: 20+ seen near Santa Marta. Range Restricted.
Rufous-vented Chachalaca – Ortalis ruficauda: 5 at Los Flamencos NP.
Colombian Chachalaca - Ortalis columbiana: 2+ at the feeders in the yard at the Piha Reserve, common at RNA Paujil. ENDEMIC.
Cauca Guan – Penelope perspicax: Around 6 seen at the Otun Quimbaya Reserve where it was re-discovered. Penelope was the daughter of Icarius and wife of Ulysses King of Ithaca. Perspicax means “Sharp-sighted” in Latin. ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
Band-tailed Guan - Penelope argyrotis: good views in the Sierra Nevada.
Andean Guan – Penelope montagnii: 1 at Rio Blanco.
Wattled Guan – Aburria aburria: A pleasant visual surprise as one of these large and hard to see Guans was seen perched and close at the Piha Reserve.
Sickle-winged Guan – Chamaepetes goudotti: Several good looks at this smallish Guan.
Blue-billed Currassow - Crax alberti: A female came to the feeder at Paujil reserve. Paujil means curassow, and the RNA El Paujil is definitely well named!! CRITICALLY ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
ODONTOPHORIDAE
Crested Bobwhite - Colinus cristatus: a few seen at Los Flamencos.
Black-fronted Wood-quail - Odontophorus atrifrons: coming daily at the El Dorado feeders.
Chestnut Wood-quail – Odontophorus hyperythrus: excellent views at the Piha RNA feeders.
Gorgeted Wood-quail – Odontophorus strophium. Heard only, at the Reinita RNA, despite a long wait at the feeders...ENDEMIC.
PODICIPEDIDAE
Least Grebe – Tachybaptus dominicus: 2 at La Florida.
Pied-billed Grebe – Podilymbus podiceps: 2 at La Florida.
PHOENICOPTERIDAE
American Flamingo – Phoenicopterus ruber: 50+ at the well named Los Flamencos reserve!!
FREGATIDAE
Magnificent Frigatebird – Fregata magnificens: a few on Caribbean coast.
PHALACROCORACIDAE
Neotropic Cormorant – Phalacrocorax brasilianus: 500+ at Los Flamencos reserva.
ANHINGIDAE
Anhinga - Anhinga anhinga: 2 during our driving day towards Reinita RNA.
ARDEIDAE
Capped Heron - Pilherodius pileatus: 1 on the way to RNA El Paujil.
Great Egret - Ardea albus: We saw small numbers at several wetland sites.
Reddish Egret – Egretta rufescens: a few at Los Flamencos NP.
Tricolored Heron – Egretta tricolor: 2 at Los Flamencos NP.
Striated Heron - Butorides striatus: Small numbers seen at several wetland areas.
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis: Common and widespread.
Black-crowned Night Heron – Nycticorax nycticorax: 10 at the Guasca Gravel Pits.
Rufescent Tiger-heron - Tigrisoma lineatum: a few in the wetlands on the way to RNA El Paujil.
THRESKIORNITHIDAE
Green Ibis – Mesembrinibis cayennensis: 1 at RNA El Paujil.
Bare-faced Ibis - Phimosus infuscatus: Common.
White Ibis – Eudocimus albus: 50+ at Los Flamencos NP, including several hybrids with the following “species”.
Scarlet Ibis – Eudocimus ruber: Around 5 “pure” ones. Eudocimus albus and E. ruber have similar displays, interbreed to a limited degree, and are interfertile, but nonetheless mate assortatively in Venezuela, with the overwhelming majority of breeding birds phenotypically "pure" rather than intermediate (Ramos & Busto 1983, 1985, 1987); they constitute a superspecies (Mayr & Short 1970, Steinbacher 1979, Sibley & Monroe 1990). They were considered conspecific by Hancock et al. (1992) because of the frequent interbreeding.
Roseate Spoonbill – Platalea ajaja: 2 at Los Flamencos NP.
CATHARTIDAE
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.
Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture – Cathartes burrovianus: a few.
King Vulture - Sarcoramphus papa: excellent views of a few birds feeding on a dead cow, on the way out from RNA El Paujil.
PANDIONIDAE
Osprey - Pandion haliaetus: a few.
ACCIPITRIDAE
Swallow-tailed Kite - Elanoides forficatus: 2 at RNA El Paujil.
White-tailed Kite - Elanus leucurus: 2 during the drive from Medellin towards RNA El Paujil.
Pearl Kite – Gampsonyx swainsonii: a few seen during our drives.
Plumbeous Kite – Ictinia plumbea: 1 above Minca.
Plain-breasted Hawk – Accipiter ventralis: seen daily in the Sierra Nevada.
Savanna Hawk - Buteogallus meridionalis: a few in the lowland wetlands.
Harris’s Hawk – Parabuteo unicinctus: just one!
Roadside Hawk - Rupornis magnirostris: Numerous and widespread in small numbers.
Gray-lined Hawk – Buteo nitida: seen on 4 different days.
Broad-winged Hawk – Buteo platypterus: Quite common throughout the tour. A boreal migrant.
Short-tailed Hawk – Buteo brachyurus: a few.
Zone-tailed Hawk – Buteo albonotatus: 1 the last day, during our drive to the Santa Marta airport.
Black-chested Buzzard-eagle – Geranoaetus melanoleucus: 3 at Los Nevados del Ruiz.
Black Hawk-eagle – Spizaetus tyrannus: best views at RNA El Paujil.
RALLIDAE
Russet-crowned Crake - Amaurolimnas viridis. Heard only, common by voice at RNA El Paujil.
White-throated Crake - Laterallus albigularis: excellent view on the way to RNA El Paujil.
Bogotá Rail - Rallus semiplumbeus: A handsome endemic. 1 seen well at the Guascar Gravel Pits and 5+ at La Florida. The world population is estimated at 1,000 – 2,499 individuals and is decreasing because its range is very small and is contracting owing to widespread habitat loss and degradation. ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
Grey-necked Wood-rail - Aramides cajanea: heard daily at El Paujil, and 1 seen.
Sora – Porzana carolina: 4 at La Florida.
Purple Gallinule – Porphyrio martinica: a few here and there.
Common Gallinule – Gallinula galeata: At Parque La Florida and Guascar Gravel Pits. The new world populations are now considered a separate species from the Old World populations Common Moorhen - Gallinula chlorops.
Spot-flanked Gallinule – Gallinula melanops: 5 seen at Parque La Florida and 2 at the Guascar Gravel Pits on our first days birding. The Bogotá plains hold an isolated population a long way from others of this species.
American Coot – Fulica Americana: Fairly common at Parque La Florida.
CHARADRIIDAE
Southern Lapwing - Vanellus chilensis: Fairly widespread in small numbers.
HAEMATOPODIDAE
Black-necked Stilt – Himantopus mexicanus: 2 at La Florida.
BURHINIDAE
Double-striped Thick-knee – Burhinus bistriatus: 5 at Cuatro Vientos, on the way to Santa Marta.
JACANIDAE
Wattled Jacana - Jacana jacana: common on ponds; the very black hypomelaena subspecies here.
SCOLOPACIDAE
Noble Snipe - Gallinago nobilis – a few seen at the Guascar Gravel Pits and La Florida.
Greater Yellowlegs – Tringa melanoleuca: 10+ at La Florida.
Solitary Sandpiper – Tringa solitaria: several sightings of that boreal migrant.
Spotted Sandpiper – Actitis macularia: several sightings of that boreal migrant.
Least Sandpiper – Calidris minutilla: 3 at La Florida.
LARIDAE
Lesser Black-backed Gull – Larus fuscus: 1 adult at Los Flamencos NP.
(American) Herring Gull – Larus (smithsonianus) argentatus: 1 imm. at Los Flamencos NP.
Laughing Gull – Leucophaeus atricilla: 50+ at Los Flamencos NP.
Gull-billed Tern – Gelochelidon nilotica: At least 1 at Los Flamencos NP.
Royal Tern – Thalasseus maximus: at Los Flamencos NP.
Sandwich (Cabot’s) Tern – Thalasseus (acuflavidus) sandvicensis: at Los Flamencos NP.
Common Tern – Sterna hirundo: 50+ at Los Flamencos NP.
Large-billed Tern – Phaetusa simplex: 25+ on the shore of the Magdalena river.
Yellow-billed Tern – Sternula superciliaris: 1 on the way towards RNA Reinita Azul.
RHYNCOPIDAE
Black Skimmer – Rynchops niger: 30+ on the shore of the Magdalena river.
COLUMBIDAE
Scaled Pigeon – Patagioenas speciosa: 2 above Minca.
Bare-eyed Pigeon – Patagioenas corensis: common at Los Flamencos NP.
Band-tailed Pigeon - Patagioenas fasciata: Fairly common and widespread with many good views of perched birds. 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 behaviour. 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. One of the most widespread New World birds, ranging from Alaska to Argentina. Here the Neotropical form albilinea, which has been regarded by some authors as a full species.
Pale-vented Pigeon - Patagioenas cayennensis: seen at El Paujil.
Ruddy Pigeon – Patagioenas subvinacea: Commonly heard and a few seen.
Eared Dove - Zenaida auriculata: Common.
Common Ground-dove – Columbina passerina: relatively common.
Ruddy Ground-Dove - Columbina talpacoti: Numerous and widespread in open country.
Scaled Dove – Columbina squammata: common in the driest areas.
Blue Ground-dove – Claravis pretiosa: 1 on the way to RNA El Paujil.
White-tipped Dove Leptotila verreauxi: Pretty common at many localities.
Gray-chested Dove – Leptotila cassini. Heard only, at RNA El Paujil.
Tolima Dove – Leptotila conover. Heard only. Recently re-discovered, and named after H.B. Conoveri, US ornithologist and author. ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
Lined Quail-Dove - Geotrygon linearis: This shy Dove was seen by all at the feeders in the forest at RNA Cerulean Warbler.
CUCULIDAE
Dwarf Cuckoo – Coccyzus pumilus: Fantastic looks at El Palmar. Range Restricted.
Squirrel Cuckoo - Piaya cayana: Several encounters during the tour.
Greater Ani - Crotophaga major: common at RNA El Paujil with 150+ seen per day!
Smooth-billed Ani Crotophaga ani: The common Ani of the trip.
Groove-billed Ani – Crotophaga sulcirostris. Seen in the driest areas.
Striped Cuckoo - Tapera naevia. Heard only.
STRIGIDAE
Tropical Screech Owl – Megascops choliba: Well seen in the garden of RNA El Paujil.
Santa Marta Screech-owl – Megascops sp. nov.: excellent views at El Dorado lodge!! ENDEMIC.
Colombian Screech Owl – Megascops colombianus. Great close up looks pre dawn at Otun Quimbaya. Range Restricted.
White-throated Screech-owl – Megascops albogularis: 2 seen very well at the Rio Blanco reserve.
Mottled Owl - Strix virgata. Heard only, at several locations.
Cloud-forest Pygmy-owl – Glaucidium nubicola. Heard only, at RNA Las Tangaras.
CAPRIMULGIDAE
Common Pauraque - Nyctidromus albicollis: Seen at several locations.
Band-winged Nightjar - Caprimulgus longirostris: 3 seen on the drive to the San Lorenzo ridge in the Sierra Nevada.
Lyre-tailed Nightjar – Uropsalis lyra: 2 on the way to Las Tangaras.
APODIDAE
Chestnut-collared Swift - Chaetura lemosi: seen on 3 different days.
White-collared Swift - Streptoprocne zonaris: several sightings of groups.
Band-rumped Swift – Chaetura spinicaudus: 50+ at RNA El Paujil.
Short-tailed Swift – Chaetura brachyura: a few at RNA El Paujil.
White-tipped Swift - Aeronautes montivagus: 50+ at RNA Cerulean Warbler.
Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift – Panyptila cayennensis: 2 near Ocaña.
TROCHILIDAE
White-tipped Sicklebill - Eutoxeres aquila: One seen perched and singing at the Piha Reserve.
Rufous-breasted Hermit - Glaucis aeneus: 2 at the feeders at RNA Paujil and at Minca.
Stripe-throated Hermit - Phaethornis striigularis: excellent views at the lek at RNA El Paujil.
Pale-bellied Hermit - Phaethornis anthophilus: 2 birds visiting the feeders at RNA El Paujil.
Green Hermit - Phaethornis guy: come to the feeders at RNA Cerulean Warbler.
Tawny-bellied Hermit – Phaethornis syrmatophorus: 1 at Las Tangaras.
Long-billed Hermit – Phaethornis longirostris: at the feeders at Minca.
Green-fronted Lancebill - Doryfera ludovicea: at the Piha Reserve.
White-necked Jacobin - Florisuga mellivora: common at the feeders at RNA El Paujil and Minca.
Brown Violetear - Colibri delphinae: 1 at the feeders at RNA Cerulean Warbler and El Dorado.
Green Violetear - Colibri thalassinus: dominating the feeders and flowering bushes in the Sierra Nevada.
Black-throated Mango - Anthracothorax nigricollis: daily at the feeders at RNA El Paujil, Cerulean Warbler and Minca.
Violet-headed Hummingbird – Klais guimeti: 1 at the RNA Bushbird.
Western Emerald – Chlorostilbon melanorhynchus: nice views at the feeders at Las Tangaras.
Red-billed Emerald Chlorostilbon gibsoni: A few were noted near Libano, at El Paujil, Cerulean Warbler reserves and Minca. Species limits in the mellisugus group of taxa in Chlorostilbon are complex. At one extreme, Zimmer (1950d) and Schuchmann (1999) considered them all conspecific, including the canivetii group of Middle America. Chlorostilbon gibsoni (including nitens) was usually (e.g., Cory 1918, Peters 1945, Meyer de Schauensee 1970) considered a separate species ("Red-billed Emerald") from C. mellisugus, as was C. canivetii. Stiles (1996a) proposed that C. mellisugus should be treated as at least three separate species within South America: melanorhynchus (of western Colombia and Ecuador), gibsoni (northern and central Colombia, NW Venezuela), and mellisugus (rest of South America); this represents a partial return to the classification of Cory (1918) and was followed by Ridgely & Greenfield (2001). Together, these taxa would form a super-species with recently described olivaresi. Sibley & Monroe (1990) considered C. mellisugus to form a superspecies with Middle American Chlorostilbon species but not with C. gibsoni, because the two were thought to be sympatric [are they breeding?] in the Magdalena Valley, Colombia. SACC proposal passed to follow species limits proposed by Stiles (1996). So the ones you see in the Amazona are Blue-tailed Emeralds. Range Restricted.
Coppery Emerald – Chlorostilbon russatus: a female after a long search above Minca, on our last morning. Range Restricted.
Short-tailed Emerald - Chlorostilbon poortmani: 1 at the RNA Recurvebill. Range Restricted.
Crowned Woodnymph - Thalurania colombica: common. Thalurania colombica and T. fannyi (Green-crowned Woodnymph) were formerly (e.g., Peters 1945, Zimmer 1950d, Phelps & Phelps 1958a, Meyer de Schauensee 1966, 1970) considered conspecific with T. furcata, but Escalante-Pliego & Peterson (1992) showed that the three taxa are essentially parapatric with no signs of gene flow; they constitute a superspecies (Sibley & Monroe 1990). They had been treated as separate species from T. furcata by Cory (1918) and AOU (1983, 1998). Donegan (2012a), however, found new evidence for gene flow between these populations. SACC proposal passed to treat fanny and colombica as conspecific.
Violet-bellied Hummingbird – Damophila julie: 1 seen briefly at the feeders at RNA El Paujil.
Shining-green Hummingbird – Lepidopyga goudoti: 5 seen near Santa Marta.
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird - Amazilia tzacatl: Commonly seen in small numbers throughout the tour.
Andean Emerald – Agyrtria franciae. Common at the feeders at RNA Arrierito and Cerulean Warbler. Named for Francia Bourcier, daughter of the French consul to Ecuador 1849-1850.
Blue-chested Hummingbird - Amazilia amabilis: a few seen at RNA El Paujil.
Steely-vented Hummingbird – Saucerottia saucerottei. Common at feeders at the Piha reserve and Minca.
Indigo-capped Hummingbird - Amazilia cyanifrons: seen daily at the feeders at RNA Cerulean Warbler. ENDEMIC.
Blossomcrown – Anthocephala floriceps: 2 males seen in the Sierra Nevada VULNERABLE ENDEMIC.
White-vented Plumeleteer - Chalybura buffonii: Common at several locations.
Speckled Hummingbird -Adelomyia melanogenys: One at the Rio Blanco Reserve and 2 at the forest feeders at RNA Cerulean Warbler.
Fawn-breasted Brilliant – Heliodoxa rubinoides: 5 at RNA Reinita azul and one unusually at Las Tangaras.
Empress Brilliant – Heliodoxa imperatrix: 10 at the feeders at Las Tangaras.
Green-crowned Brilliant - Heliodoxa jacula: Common at the feeders at RNA Arrierito and Cerulean Warbler.
Buff-tailed Coronet – Boissoinneaua falvescens: Seen by the owner of the feeders at the Rio Blanco reserve, and 1 more at Cerulean Warbler.
Velvet-purple Coronet – Boissoinneaua jardini : around 20 at the feeders at Las Tangaras. Range Restricted.
Shining Sunbeam – Aglaeactis cupripennis: 5 at Los Nevados del Ruiz.
Mountain Velvetbreast – Lafresnaya lafresnayi: 2 at the feeders at Jardin.
Great Sapphirewing – Pterophanes cyanopterus: One at the Chingaza National Park. The world’s second largest Hummer.
Bronzy Inca - Coeligena coeligena: One at RNA El Paujil.
Brown Inca – Coeligena wilsoni: 1 at RNA Las Tangaras. Range Restricted.
Black Inca - Coeligena prunellei: 10+ at the feeders at RNA Cerulean Warbler VULNERABLE ENDEMIC.
Collared Inca – Coeligena torquata: Common above Jardin and at the Rio Blanco feeders.
White-tailed Starfrontlet – Coeligena phalerata: a pair seen daily at the feeders at El Dorado.
Blue-fronted Starfrontlet – Coeligena helinthea: One seen above Nuevo Mundo at Chingaza NP. ENDEMIC.
Sword-billed Hummingbird – Ensifera ensifera: 1 at the feeders above Jardin.
Tourmeline Sunangel – Heliangelus exortis: 20 at Alto de Ventanas and few elsewhere.
Amethyst-throated (Longuemare’s) Sunangel – Heliangelus (clarisse) amethysiticollis: 2 seen at Chingaza National Park. Called Longuemare’s Sunangel by Restall, it is considered conspecific with Amethyst-throated Sunangel H.amethysticollis (SACC 2004).
Glowing Puffleg – Eriocnemis vestita: 2+ at Chingaza National Park.
Coppery-bellied Puffleg – Eriocnemis cupreoventris: 2 at the Chingaza NP. Range Restricted.
Golden-breasted Puffleg – Eriocnemis mosquera: 1 on the access road to Los Nevados National Park. A range restricted species also occurring in Ecuador. Named after Colombian dictator General Tomas Cipriano de Mosquera who ruled in the late 1800s. Range Restricted.
Greenish Puffleg – Haplopaedia aureliae: Fairly common at RNA Arrierito. Haplophaedia assimilis (Buff-thighed Puffleg of the Manu Road) was formerly (e.g., Peters 1945, Meyer de Schauensee 1970) considered a subspecies of H. aureliae, but Schuchmann et al. (2000) provided rationale for treating it as a separate species, representing a return to the classification of Cory (1918).
Purple-bibbed Whitetip – Urosticte benjamini: 1 at RNA Las Tangaras.
Booted Racket-tail - Ocreatus underwoodii: 5+ at RNA Cerulean Warbler and a few other locations.
Tyrian Metaltail - Metallura tyrianthina: We saw the reddish-tailed nominate race at Chingaza. 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 molluscs, 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.
Santa Marta Tyrian Metaltail – Metallura tyrianthina districta: common in the Sierra Nevada.
Virdian Metlatail - Metalllura williami: 2-3 seen well on the access road to Los Nevados National Park.
Bearded Helmetcrest – Oxypogon guerinii: Also shared with Venezuela. Seen at Los Nevados National Park. Oxypogon is Greek meaning “pointed beard”. Range Restricted.
Long-tailed Sylph – Aglaiocercus kingi: At the feeders at the Rio Blanco Reserve.
Violet-tailed Sylph – Aglaiocercus at least 5 at Las Tangaras. Range Restricted.
Purple-throated Woodstar – Calliphlox mitchelli: This was the species coming in to the feeders in the yard at the piha reserve in female and eclipse male plumage. Range Restricted.
White-bellied Woodstar – Chaetocercus mulsant: Nice looks at El Libano.
TROGONIDAE
White-tailed Trogon – Trogon chionurus: at few seen well at RNA El Paujil.
Gartered Trogon - Trogon caligatus: 1 the last day, above Minca.
Collared Trogon - Trogon collaris . Great looks at Otun Quimbaya.
Masked Trogon - Trogon personatus: A highland version of the former – we saw a few.
White-tipped Quetzal – Pharomachrus fulgidus: nice views in the Sierra Nevada. Range Restricted.
Golden-headed Quetzal – Pharomachrus auricepa One seen at RNA Las Tangaras.
Crested Quetzal – Pharomachrus antisianus: 2 seen well at RNA Las Tangaras.
ALCEDINIDAE
Ringed Kingfisher - Megaceryle torquata: Small numbers at various wetlands. Note that these big species are now treated as a distinct genus, the Megaceryle.
Amazon Kingfisher - Chloroceryle amazona: 2 on the way to RNA El Paujil.
Green Kingfisher – Chloroceryle americana: a few seen at RNA El Paujil.
MOMOTIDAE
Andean Motmot - Momotus aequatorialis: Conspicuous at Otun Quimbaya and RNA Arrierito. The SACC says - All Momotus were treated as a single species in most recent classifications since Peters (1945), but see Stiles (2009) for rationale for recognizing five species, four of which occur in South America. SACC proposal passed to revise species limits. The subspecies aequatorialis, venezuelae, subrufescens, microstephanus, and argenticinctus were all formerly (e.g., Ridgway 1914, Cory 1919) considered separate species from M. momota, as were two Middle American taxa. Chapman (1923) recognized four species in South America: M. subrufescens (including "venezuelae") of the Caribbean rim of northern South America, M. bahamensis of Trinidad, M. aequatorialis of the Andes, and M. momota (including microstephanus) of the rest of South America, including argenticinctus of western Ecuador and northwestern Peru. Peters (1945) considered them all conspecific, and this was followed by Meyer de Schauensee (1970) and AOU (1983, 1998). Fjeldså & Krabbe (1990) proposed that the Andean form aequatorialis was a separate species from M. momota, and this was followed by Ridgely & Greenfield (2001), Dickinson (2003), and Schulenberg et al. (2007), thus returning to the classification of Cory (1919) and Chapman (1923, 1926). However, no formal analysis had ever been published, and the published evidence in support of treating aequatorialis as a species-level taxon is weak. SACC proposal passed for treating aequatorialis as conspecific with M. momota. The latter decision was reversed, however, by the more recent proposal to revise species limits based on new data.
So there are now 6 recognized species (one is not treated in the mentioned paper):
Momotus coeruliceps Blue-crowned Motmot – NE and Central Mexico.
Momotus lessoni Blue-diademed Motmot – South Mexico to Central Panama.
Momotus subrufescens Whooping Motmot - E Panama to NC Venezuela and the Magdalena Valley of Colombia; SE Ecuador and extreme NW Peru.
Momotus bahamensis Trinidad Motmot – Trindad & Tobago.
Momotus momota Amazonian Motmot - Venezuela (S of the Orinoco) and the Guianas S through the entire Amazon basin to extreme N Argentina and Paraguay.
Momotus aequatorialis Andean Motmot – The Andes from NC Colombia to NE Bolivia.
Whooping Motmot - Momotus subrufescens: See above. This one was seen at lower elevations at El Palmar.
Rufous Motmot - Baryphthengus martii: at RNA El Paujil.
GALBULIDAE
Rufous-tailed Jacamar – Galbula ruficauda: excellent views near Santa Marta and in Tayrona NP.
BUCCONIDAE
Black-breasted Puffbird – Notharchus pectoralis: excellent view at RNA El Paujil.
White-necked Puffbird – Notharchus hyperrhynchos: 2 seen close at Tayrona NP.
Pied Puffbird - Notharchus tectus: 1 on the way to RNA El Paujil.
Barred Puffbird - Nystalus radiatus: Excellent view at El Palmar.
Russet-throated Puffbird – Hypnelus ruficolis: some excellent views in the driest areas.
White-whiskered Puffbird - Malacoptila panamensis: Nice view at RNA El Paujil.
Moustached Puffbird – Malocoptila myesticalis: seen on 3 different occasions during the trip.
Lanceolated Monklet - Mictomomacha lanceolata. Superb view at RNA El Paujil – a hard to see most wanted species!
CAPITONIDAE
White-mantled Barbet Capito hypoleucus: Excellent looks of one at La Victoria! A so-called Nechí endemic, confined to the humid forests of the middle Magdalena Valley. The Nechí is actually a tributary of the Cauca river, its drainage being on the east side of the top end of the Central Andes. Classified as Endangered by BirdLife International, the world population is estimated at 2,500 – 9,999 individuals and is decreasing. This species has a very small and severely fragmented range. Habitat loss is occurring rapidly in some parts of its range, and the population is likely to be declining. ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
Red-headed Barbet – Eubucco bourcierii: 2 Seen at RNA Arrierito – a stunning species.
SEMINORTITHIDAE
Toucan Barbet Semnornis ramphastinus Stunning views of 2 at Las Tangaras. Range Restricted.
RAMPHASTIDAE
Keel-billed Toucan – Ramphastos sulfuratus: excellent views above Minca.
Citron-throated Toucan – Ramphastos citrolaemus: Heard commonly and two seen at Serrania de los Quinches. Contacted daily at RNA El Paujil. The SACC says - Cory (1919) and Meyer de Schauensee (1966, 1970) considered R. culminatus ("Yellow-ridged Toucan") and R. citrolaemus ("Citron-throated Toucan") as separate species from Ramphastos vitellinus. Haffer (1974) treated these as a subspecies of R. vitellinus, and this treatment, actually a partial return to the classification of Pinto (1937) and Peters (1948), has been followed by most subsequent authors e.g. Restall 2007 (but not Sibley & Monroe 1990, Hilty 2003). Range Restricted.
Santa Marta (Emerald) Toucanet – Aulacorhynchus lautus: seen daily in the Sierra Nevada. See following species. ENDEMIC.
White-throated (Emerald) Toucanet -Aulacorhynchus albivitta: Seen at Las Tangaras, Rio Blanco and near Libano –griseogularis (Grey-throated Toucanet) The SACC says - Ridgely & Greenfield (2001) suggested that Aulacorhynchus prasinus (Emerald Toucanet) 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. Navarro et al. (2001) say patterns of variation support recognition of four species in Mesoamerica: A. wagleri in western Mexico, A. prasinus in eastern Mexico and northern Central America, A. caeruleogularis in Costa Rica and western Panama, and A. cognatus in eastern Panama, as well as several additional forms (A. lautus - Santa Marta Mountains, A. albivitta - Andes of Colombia and Ecuador and A. nigrogularis –Peru and North Bolivia) in South America. The IOC presents Grey-throated and White–throated as splits, citing, Puebla-Olivares et al. 2008 and if accepted the former would become a Colombian endemic. IOU splits, SACC does not.
Crimson-rumped Toucanet -Aulacorhynchus haematopygus. Seen at the Piha Reserve. Also heard at RNA Cerulean Warbler.
Black- billed Mountain-Toucan – Andigena nigrirostris. Great looks of a pair at Chingaza National Park.
PICIDAE
Olivaceous Piculet – Picumnus olivaceus: excellent views at RNA El Paujil and on a few other occasions.
Greyish Piculet – Picumnus granadensis: 1 seen very well at Bolombolo. ENDEMIC.
Chestnut Piculet – Picumnus cinnamomeus: excellent views at Los Flamencos NP. Range Restricted.
Acorn Woodpecker – Melanerpes formicivorus: 2 seen during one of our drives.
Beautiful Woodpecker - Melanerpes pulcher: 2 seen really well at RNA El Paujil. A Colombian endemic. The SACC says “The Colombian taxon pulcher was considered a separate species from Central American Melanerpes chrysauchen by Cory (1919), Eisenmann (1955), and Stiles & Skutch (1989); however, Peters (1948) treated them as conspecific, and that treatment has been followed by most subsequent authors (e.g., Meyer de Schauensee 1979, Short 1982, Hilty & Brown 1986, Winkler et al. 1995, AOU 1998, Winkler & Christie 2002, Dickinson 2003). Wetmore (1968) provided rationale for treating pulcher as a separate species, as noted by Meyer de Schauensee (1966), but this has not been followed by most subsequent authors. ENDEMIC.
Red-crowned Woodpecker – Melanerpes rubricapillus: Common.
Smoky-brown Woodpecker – Venilornis fumigatus: Great looks at the Piha reserve.
Yellow-vented Woodpecker – Venilornis dingus: One at the Las Tangaras reserve. Colombia is the easiest place to see this species.
Red-rumped Woodpecker – Venilornis kirkii: One at RNA El Paujil. Named after James T. Kirk, captain of the Starship Enterprise.
Golden-olive Woodpecker – Piculus rubiginosus: A couple of sightings of individuals at different locations.
Crimson-mantled Woodpecker – Colaptes rivolii: fantastic views at Rio Blanco reserve.
Spot-breasted Woodpecker – Colaptes punctigula: 1 seen on the way to RNA El Paujil.
Cinnamon Woodpecker – Celeus loricatus: beautiful species seen well at RNA El Paujil.
Powerful Woodpecker – Campephilus pollens: 2 on our first day at Chingaza NP.
Crimson-crested Woodpecker - Campephilus melanoleucos: wonderful daily view of a female coming in the garden at RNA El Paujil, and a few other sightings during the trip.
FALCONIDAE
Northern Crested Caracara - Caracara cheriway: Formerly placed in the genus Polyborus but this species has been switched to the genus Caracara. Note also that the former species known as Crested Caracara, has been split into three species with those ranging north of north-west Peru and the Amazon River (i.e. Colombia) and as far as the USA, according to the IOC, retain the name Northern Crested Caracara C. cheriway, the birds from Southern Peru to the tip of South America, Tierra del Fuego, are referable to the species Caracara plancus Southern Crested Caracara, while another form, the extinct Guadalupe Caracara C. lutosus, of Guadalupe Island, Mexico, has also been given its untimely species status. The SACC says “Caracara cheriway and C. plancus 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 superspecies. The three forms had previously been considered separate species by REFS, Pinto (1938), and Friedmann (1950)”.
Yellow-headed Caracara - Milvago chimachima: Another widespread open country raptor that was seen regularly in small numbers.
Laughing Falcon - Herpetotheres cachinnans: some good views.
American Kestrel - Falco sparverius: Scattered sightings.
Bat Falcon – Falco rufigularis: 2 sightings.
PSITTACIDAE
Blue-and-yellow Macaw - Ara ararauna: Excellent views at RNA El Paujil.
Chestnut-fronted Macaw - Ara severus: seen daily at RNA El Paujil.
Scarlet-fronted Parakeet- Pssiticara wagleri: Excellent views in the Sierra Nevada, where they use the nest box built for the Santa Marta Parakeet!!
Brown-throated Parakeet – Eupsittula pertinax: common around Santa Marta.
Golden-plumed Parakeet – Leptosittaca branickii: Fantastic looks at a few perched birds at the Rio Blanco Reserve ENDANGERED.
Santa Marta Parakeet – Pyrrhura viridicata: excellent views at the San Lorenzo ridge, including close perched birds. ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
Flame-winged Parakeet – Pyrhura calliptera: Spectacular in flight. We saw a flock of 20 above Nuevo Mundo at Chingaza National Park. Sometimes called Brown-breasted Parakeet. VULNERABLE ENDEMIC.
Green-rumped Parrotlet – Forpus passerines: a few at Los Flamencos NP.
Spectacled Parrotlet – Forpus conpicillatus. Almost a Colombian endemic. Seen on several occasions. Range Restricted.
Orange-chinned Parakeet - Brotogeris jugularis: common.
Yellow-eared Parrot – Ognorhynchus icterotis: A few heard at Las Tangaras Reserve and excellent looks at 4 perched birds and 10 more flying at Alto Las Ventanas. Historically known from Ecuador it now seems to be extirpated there so is a de facto Colombian endemic. This species is Critically Endangered because the known range (especially the nesting area) is extremely small. Suitable habitat is severely fragmented throughout its historical range and continues to be lost and degraded. Conservation action by Pro Aves is addressing some of the key issues but the future of this species remains extremely uncertain. World population is estimated at 144 individuals by Birdlife so we saw almost a quarter of the world’s population in that one flock! Note however Proaves are finding other undocumented populations. ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
Blue-headed Parrot - Pionus menstruus: A few.
Red-billed Parrot – Pionus sordidus: 10+ in the Sierra Nevada.
Speckle-faced Parrot - Pionus tumultuosus: a group of 15 seen at RNA Cerulean Warbler.
Bronze-winged Parrot – Pionus chalcopterus: A group of 10 in flight at the Otun Quimbaya Reserve.
Red-lored Parrot - Amazona automnalis: 2 seen at RNA El Paujil.
Yellow-crowned Parrot - Amazona ochrocephala: seen at Puerto Pinzon near RNA El Paujil.
Orange-winged Parrot - Amazona amazonica: a few seen at RNA El Paujil.
Scaly-naped Parrot – Amazonas mercenaria: a few seen at La M and in the Sierra Nevada.
THAMNOPHILIDAE
Black-crested Antshrike – Sakesphorus canadensis: common in the driest areas.
Barred Antshrike – Thamnophilus doliatus: excellent views at El Palmar.
Bar-crested Antshrike Thamnophilus multistriatus: Great views of 2 in the RNA Arrierito lodge garden. A near-endemic, generally replacing the Barred Antshrike, at higher elevations. Outside Colombia it is only known from the Venezuelan side of the Sierra de Perijá, so it’s a de facto endemic. Range Restricted.
Black-backed Antshrike – Thamnophilus melanotus: excellent views at Minca. Range Restricted.
Black Antshrike - Thamnophilus nigriceps: Very cooperative bird at RNA El Paujil!!
Uniform Antshrike- Thamnophilus unicolor. The subspecies in Colombia is grandior. Good looks at the Piha Reserve and Las Tangaras.
Western Slaty-Antshrike-Thamnophilus atrinucha: Seen well above La Victoria.
Recurve-billed Bushbird - Clytoctantes alixii: The best view ever at the well named RNA Recurve-billed Bushbird, near Ocaña!! A pair coming close to us and showing us how they use their massive bill to open dead bamboo!! Range Restricted. ENDANGERED.
Plain Antvireo – Dysithamnus mentalis: A male at the Piha reserve, and 2 more near Ocaña.
Slaty Antwren Myrmotherula schisticolor: 2 at Las Tangaras.
Northern White-fringed Antwren – Formicivora intermedia: well seen on the way to El Paujil, and great looks in the Guajira peninsula.
Streak-headed Antbird – Drymophila striaticeps. Heard only, at Las Tangaras and Rio Blanco.
Klage’s Antbird – Drymophila klagesi: 2 seen near Ocaña. Range Restricted.
Santa Marta Antbird – Drymophila hellmayri: well seen above Minca. ENDEMIC.
Rufous-rumped Antwren – Ternura callinota. Heard only, at Las Tangaras.
Parker’s Antbird - Cercomacra parkeri: Recently described: Graves (1997). Good looks at a pair at the Piha reserve. One of the birds named for our late friend and neo-tropical birding pioneer, Ted Parker. ENDEMIC.
Jet Antbird – Cercomagra nigricans: stunning views at El Palmar!!
Bare-crowned Antbird - Gymnocichla nudiceps: excellent view at RNA El Paujil at an army-ant swarm!!
Chestnut-backed Antbird - Myrmeciza exsul: several excellent sightings at RNA El Paujil.
White-bellied Antbird – Myrmeciza longipes: 1 good view at Finca El Palmar.
Magdalena Antbird – Myrmeciza palliata: stunning view at RNA Arrierito!! Formerly treated as a subspecies of Dull-mantled Antbird M. laemosticta, but Chaves et al. (2010) presented evidence that palliata should be ranked as a separate species. SACC proposal passed to elevate palliata to species rank. Range Restricted.
Bicolored Antbird – Gymnopithys bicolor: 3 at an army-ant swarm at RNA El Paujil. Note this species has now become two species. Gymnopithys bicolor is split from Gymnopithys leucaspis and retains the name Bicolored Antbird. Gymnopithys leucaspis becomes White-cheeked Antbird. SACC says: Willis (1967) suggested that trans-Andean bicolor subspecies group deserved separate species, and this was followed by Wetmore (1972), Hilty & Brown (1986), and Sibley & Monroe (1990), returning to the species limits of Cory & Hellmayr (1924). See Hackett (1993) for continued treatment of bicolor as conspecific with G. leucaspis, as outlined by Zimmer (1937a). However, genetic data (Brumfield et al. 2007) indicate that leucaspis is actually the sister to G. rufigula, not to bicolor. SACC proposal passed to treat biocolor as separate species. Gymnopithys leucaspis, G. bicolor, and G. rufigula form a superspecies (Zimmer & Isler 2003).
CONOPHAGIDAE
Chestnut-crowned Gnateater – Conophaga castaniceps: A fantastic view at RNA Arrierito: a male came very close to us, perched for a while just a few meters from us!!
GRALLARIDAE
Undulated Antpitta – Grallaria squamigera: 2 seen briefly at Rio Blanco reserve.
Chestnut-crowned Antpitta - Grallaria ruficapilla: Photographed at the worm feeder at Rio Blanco, heard elsewhere.
Moustached Antpitta – Grallaria alleni. Heard only, at Otun Quimbaya. Range Restricted.
Santa Marta Antpitta – Grallaria bangsi: 1 at the feeders at El Dorado lodge. VULNERABLE ENDEMIC.
Bicolored Antpitta – Grallaria rufocinerea. Heard only, at Rio Blanco VULNERABLE ENDEMIC.
Chestnut-naped Antpitta – Grallaria nuchalis. Heard only, at Rio Blanco.
White-bellied Antpitta - Grallaria hypoleuca: several tries at RNA Cerulean Warbler, where 1 just flew across the trail...
Yellow-breasted Antpitta – Grallaria flavotincta: glimpsed by part of the group, and many heard! Range Restricted.
Rufous Antpitta – Grallaria rufula rufula: Seen well at Chingaza and then seen well above Jardin and La M (unnamed subspecies for now put in nominate rufula) and this may well be split off as a Colombian Western Andean endemic. If you look at the map you will see it’s an isolated population. Kep track of where you see your Rufous Antpittas – they will be split.
Santa Marta Rufous Antpitta – Grallaria rufula spatiator: excellent views in the Sierra Nevada. ENDEMIC.
Tawny Antpitta – Grallaria quitensis: At Los Nevados very tame and great looks. Named for the city of Quito which in turn is named for the Quitu indians.
Brown-banded Antpitta – Grallaria milleri: 2 came to the worm feeders at Rio Blanco –fantastic! ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
Ochre-breasted Antpitta - Grallaricula flavirostris. Heard only, at Las Tangaras.
Slate-crowned Antpitta – Grallaricula nana: One at the worm feeders at Rio Blanco was very nice indeed!
RHINOCRYPTIDAE
Ash-colored Tapaculo – Myornis senilis. Heard only, at Rio Blanco.
Blackish Tapaculo – Scytalopus latrans latrans: Seen well above Jardin.
Santa Marta Tapaculo – Scytalopus sanctaemartae: excellent views in the Sierra Nevada!! ENDEMIC.
White-crowned Tapaculo – Scytalopus atratus nigricans. Heard only, above El Libano. Scytalopus atratus (with confusus and nigricans) was formerly (e.g., Zimmer 1939x, Peters 1951, Meyer de Schauensee 1970) considered conspecific with S. femoralis; for treatment as a separate species from S. femoralis based on differences in voice, see Krabbe & Schulenberg (1997); it had previously been considered a separate species by Cory & Hellmayr (1924). Keep track of which subspecies you see – there are surely several species in this group based on vocal differences.
Upper Magdalena Tapaculo - Scytalopus rodriguezi: good views at RNA Reinita!! ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
Stile’s Tapaculo – Scytalopus stilesi: well seen at RNA Arrierito. ENDEMIC.
Spillman’s Tapaculo – Scytalopus spillmani: One of the more tricky Tapaculos to see, but we had good views at La M.
Brown-rumped Tapaculo – Scytalopus latebricola: good views in the Sierra Nevada, even for the one who did not climb the hill!! ENDEMIC.
Pale-bellied Tapaculo – Scytalopus griseicollis. One of the ‘easy” Tapaculos seen well at Chingaza. ENDEMIC.
Paramo Tapaculo - Scytalopus opacus: 1 seen on the access road to Los Nevados National Park. This species has been recently split into Paramo and Paramillo (S. canus) Tapaculos with the latter becoming a Colombian endemic restricted to the Western Cordillera in the north.
Nariño Tapaculo – Scytalopus vicinior*: at Las Tangaras. Range Restricted.
“Alto Pisones” Tapaculo – Scytalopus Sp. nov: Good looks on that yet to be described Tapaculo at Las Tangaras. ENDEMIC.
Ocellated Tapaculo – Acropternis orthonyx. Heard only. Phew!!
FURNARIIDAE
Gray-throated Leaftosser – Sclerurus albigularis: good views in the Sierra Nevada.
Tyrannine Woodcreeper - Dendrocincla tyrannina: one seen well at Rio Blanco.
Plain-brown Woodcreeper - Dendrocincla fuliginosa: Good views at RNA El Paujil.
Olivaceous Woodcreeper – Sittasomus griseicapillus: one seen well at RNA Arrierito.
Wedge-billed Woodcreper - Glyphorynchus spirurus: Two seen at the Piha Reserve and 1 more at RNA El Paujil.
Strong-billed Woodcreeper - Xiphocolaptes promeropirhynchus. Heard above Nuevo Mundo on the first day and then one at Otun Quimbaya and also seen in the Sierra Nevada.
Straight –billed Woodcreeper – Dendroplex picus: Common. Xiphorhynchus picus and X. kienerii (Zimmer’s Woodcreeper) were formerly (e.g., Cory & Hellmayr 1925, Zimmer 1934c, Pinto 1937, Phelps & Phelps 1950a) treated in a separate genus, Dendroplex, but this was merged into Xiphorhynchus by Peters (1951). Wetmore (1972), however, maintained Dendroplex as a separate genus based not only on bill shape but also on (unstated) cranial characters. Aleixo et al. (2007) summarized rationale for validity of Dendroplex and for its usage for these two species. SACC proposal passed to resurrect Dendroplex for these two species.
Cocoa Woodcreeper – Xiphorynchus susurrans: seen very well at RNA Recurvebill near Ocaña. The SACC says -The relationships among taxa included in Xiphorhynchus susurrans and X. guttatus (Buff-throated Woodcreeper) are complex and need much additional work. Xiphorhynchus susurrans was formerly (e.g., Zimmer 1934d, Phelps & Phelps 1950a, Peters 1951, Meyer de Schauensee 1970) considered conspecific with X. guttatus, but Willis (1983) provided evidence that it should be treated as a separate species; this treatment was followed by Ridgely & Tudor (1994) and AOU (1998); they constitute a superspecies. Xiphorhynchus susurrans had previously been treated as a species by Cory & Hellmayr (1925), who also treated the subspecies polystictus (= sororius) as a separate species; this was considered conspecific with X. guttatus by Zimmer (1934d) and Peters (1951). However, Aleixo (2002) found that treating X. susurrans at the species level makes Xiphorhynchus guttatus paraphyletic with respect to Amazonian guttatoides group (Lafraneye’s Woodcreeper) of western and southwestern Amazonia (guttatoides, dorbignyianus, eytoni, and vicinalis) and eastern Amazonian guttatus group (guttatus, polystictus, and provisionally connectens). Marantz et al. (2003) also emphasized that the current assignment of subspecies to either X. susurrans or X. guttatus does not correspond to the boundaries in vocalizations. Furthermore, the eytoni subspecies group was formerly (e.g., Todd 1948, Meyer de Schauensee 1966, 1970) considered a separate species ("Dusky-billed Woodcreeper") from X. guttatus; here it is treated as subspecies of guttatus following Cory & Hellmayr (1925), Zimmer (1934d), Pinto (1937), Peters (1951), and Ridgely & Tudor (1994), but Marantz et al. (2003) noted that this group differed in vocalizations from other taxa included in X. guttatus. Restall (2007) gives this taxon full species rank as does the IOC.
Olive-backed Woodcreeper – Xiphorhynchus triangularis: a few sightings.
Streak-headed Woodcreeper – Lepidocolaptes souleyetii: a few good views.
Montane Woodcreeper – Lepidocolaptes lacrymiger: Best views at Rio Blanco. Lepidocolaptes lacrymiger was formerly (e.g., Peters 1951, Meyer de Schauensee 1970, AOU 1983, 1998, Sibley & Monroe 1990) considered conspecific with Middle American L. affinis (Spot-crowned Woodcreeper), but recent treatments (e.g., Ridgely & Tudor 1994, Hilty 2003) usually follow Cory & Hellmayr (1925), Zimmer (1934c), and Phelps & Phelps (1950a) in treating them as separate species. Their vocalizations differ strongly, although a formal analysis has not been published; they constitute a super species.
Streaked Xenops - Xenops rutilans: The form found in the Central and Western Andes is heterurus. We saw one at RNA Arrierito.
Spotted Barbtail – Premnornis brunnescens: 1 seen briefly at RNA Arrierito, and a few more heards.
Carribean (Pale-legged) Hornero – Furnarius leucopus: good views on the Guajira peninsula.
Stout-billed Cinclodes – Cinclodes excelsior: Great looks on the access road to Los Nevados National Park. The SACC says “Cinclodes aricomae (Royal Cinclodes) is often considered conspecific with C. excelsior (e.g., Peters 1951, Meyer de Schauensee 1970), and evidence for treating them as separate species (e.g., Fjeldså & Krabbe 1990, Remsen 2003) is weak”.
Montane Foliage-gleaner - Anabacerthia striaticollis: well seen in the Sierra Nevada.
Scaly-throated Foliage-gleaner – Anabacerthia variegaticeps. One at Las Tangaras. Range Restricted.
Lineated Foliage-gleaner – Syndactyla subalaris: At RNA Arrierito.
Flammulated Treehunter – Thripadectes flammulatus: very good views in the Sierra Nevada.
Uniform Treehunter – Thripadectes ignobilis: One along the trail at Las Tangaras. Range Restricted.
Ruddy Foliage-gleaner – Automolus rubiginosus: 1 seen at the Piha reserve.
Santa Marta Foliage-gleaner – Automolus rufipectus: excellent views above Minca. ENDEMIC.
Star-chested Treerunner Margarornis stellatus. Choco endemic and great looks at 5-6 at Las Tangaras. Range Restricted.
Pearled Treerunner – Margarornis squamiger: Good looks at this splendid montane species at Alto las Ventanas and Rio Blanco.
Streaked Tuftedcheek – Pseudocolpates boissonneautii: 3 at Rio Blanco. Superb furnarids.
Andean Tit-Spinetail – Leptasthenura andicola: good views at Los Nevados del Ruiz.
Many-striped Canastero – Asthenes flammulata: excellent views of the local “rusty-headed” subspecies.
White-chinned Thistletail – Schizoeaca fuliginosa: good views at Los Nevados del Ruiz.
Red-faced Spinetail – Cranioleuca erythrops: Fairly common and seen at few locations usually with canopy flocks.
Streak-capped Spinetail – Cranioleuca hellmayri: good views in the Sierra Nevada. ENDEMIC.
Yellow-chinned Spinetail - Certhiaxis cinnamomea: common in ponds on the way to El Paujil.
Silvery-throated Spinetail - Synallaxis subpudica: 2 of this endemic dull tailed Spinetail were seen very well at Parque La Florida. ENDEMIC.
Azara’s Spinetail - Synallaxis azarae: Fairly commonly heard and a few seen. Pip-Squeak!!
Pale-breasted Spinetail - Synallaxis albescens: seen well on a few occasions.
Rufous Spinetail – Synallaxis unirufa: good views at La M and above Jardin.
Rusty-headed Spinetail – Synallaxis fuscorufa: common in the Sierra Nevada, but not that easy to see... VULNERABLE ENDEMIC.
Slaty Spinetail – Synallaxis brechyura: 1 seen well at El Libano, and a few more heard.
White-whiskered Spinetail – Synallaxis candei: common at Los Flamencos NP. Range Restricted.
Stripe-breasted Spinetail - Synallaxis cinammomea: 5+ at the RNA Recurvebill Bushbird.
Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper – Lochmias nematura: well spotted Karen!!! 1 above El Libano.
TYRANNIDAE
Sooty-headed Tyrannulet - Phyllomyias griseiceps: fairly common in the coffee plantation above San Vicente and at RNA El Paujil.
Black-capped Tyrannulet - Phyllomyias nigrocapillus: excellent close views at Chingaza NP.
Ashy-headed Tyrannulet – Phyllomyias cinereiceps. Heard only, at Las Tangaras.
Yellow-crowned Tyrannulet - Tyrannulus elatus: in the lodge garden at El Paujil.
Yellow-bellied Elaenia- Elaenia flavogaster: Common in open country.
Mountain Elaenia - Elaenia frantzii: A few. The species was named after Alexander von Frantzius, a nineteenth century German collector in Brazil and Costa Rica.
Brown-capped Tyrannulet – Ornithion brunneicapillus: good close views at RNA El Paujil.
Southern Beardless-tyrannulet - Camptostoma obsoletum: 2 at El Paujil.
White-throated Tyrannulet- Mecocerculus leucophrys: We saw this species at Chingaza.
White-banded Tyrannulet - Mecocerculus sticopterus: An Individual at Chingaza.
White-tailed Tyrannulet – Mecocerculus poecilocercus : 2 above Jardin.
Torrent Tyrannulet – Serphophaga cinerea: 2 at Otun Quimbaya.
Yellow Tyrannulet - Capsiempis flaveola: 2 in the bamboo at El Paujil.
Venezuelan Tyrannulet – Zimmerius improbus: one seen building his nest above Minca. Sibley & Monroe (1990) and Ridgely & Tudor (1994), followed by Hilty (2003) and Fitzpatrick (2004), considered the South American improbus group of subspecies to be a separate species from Paltry Tyrannulet Zimmerius vilissimus. SACC proposal to treat improbus as a separate species did not pass. Traylor (1982) suspected that the subspecies parvus, from Honduras to NW Colombia, should also be considered a separate species. Rheindt et al. (in press) found additional genetic and vocal support for treating improbus (with tamae) as a separate species as well as petersi and extralimital parvus. SACC proposal needed.
Golden-faced Tyrannulet - Zimmerius chrysops: Seen at various localities. Variation in Golden-faced Tyrannulet subspecies is reasonably extensive and more than one species may be involved. Ridgely & Greenfield (2001) considered the subspecies flavidifrons of southwestern Ecuador and northwestern Peru to represent a separate species from Zimmerius chrysops based on differences in voice. Ridgely & Greenfield (2001), Krabbe & Nielsson (2003), and Fitzpatrick (2004) also noted that the taxon albigularis from w. Ecuador and sw. Colombia might be a species distinct from Zimmerius chrysops (2003).
Choco Tyrannulet – Zimmerius albigularis. 3 seen at las Tangaras. A split from the above species recognised by the IOC and SACC. Ridgely & Greenfield (2001), Krabbe & Nielsson (2003), and Fitzpatrick (2004) also noted that the taxon albigularis from w. Ecuador and sw. Colombia might be a species distinct from Zimmerius chrysops. Rheindt et al. (2008b) found that albigularis is actually the sister taxon to Zimmerius vilissimus. SACC proposal passed to elevate albigularis to species rank. Range Restricted.
Streak-necked Flycatcher - Mionectes striaticollis. One at Rio Blanco.
Olive-striped Flycatcher – Mionectes olivcaeous: a few sightings.
Ochre-bellied Flycatcher - Mionectes oleaginea: the most common mionectes on that trip.
Slaty-capped Flycatcher – Leptopogon amaurocephalus: Common in the higher cloud forest.
Sepia-capped Flycatcher - Leptopogon amaurocephalus: two seen at El Paujil.
Northern Scrub-flycatcher – Sublegatus arenarum: relatively common in the dry shrubs of the Guajira peninsula.
Slender-billed Inezia – Inezia tenuirostris: common at Los Flamencos. Range Restricted.
Southern Bentbill - Oncostoma olivaceum: excellent views at El Paujil.
Ornate Flycatcher – Myiotriccus ornataus: common on that trip.
Scale-crested Pygmy-tyrant - Lophotriccus pileatus: a few... different by voice and habitat from the ones seen in Peru...
Pale-eyed Pygmy-tyrant – Atalotriccus pilaris: excellent views around Minca.
Pearly-vented Tody-tyrant – Hemitriccus margaritaceiventer: stunning views at Los Flamencos.
Rufous-headed Pygmy-tyrant – Pseudotriccus ruficeps. Heard only, above Jardin.
Bronze-olive Pygmy-tyrant – Pseudotriccus pelzeni: 1 seen well at Las Tangaras.
Rufous-crowned Tody-tyrant – Poecilotriccus ruficeps: good views at Rio Blanco.
Slate-headed Tody-Flycatcher - Poecilotriccus sylvia: excellent view at RNA El Paujil.
Common Tody-Flycatcher - Todirostrum cinereum: Small numbers seen at various locations.
Black-headed Tody-flycatcher – Todirostrum nigriceps: nice view on the way to El Paujil!
Olivaceous Flatbill – Rhynchocyclus olivaceus: superb views at RNA El Paujil.
Yellow-olive Tolmomyias – Tolmomyias sulphurescens: seen in the coffee plantation near San Vicente.
Handsome Flycatcher – Myiophobus pulcher: Pleasently common at Las tangaras with at leats 5 seen.
Cinnamon Flycatcher -Pyrrhomyias cinnamomea: Regularly encountered in the Andes (pyrrhoptera), and in the Santa Marta Mountains we saw the endemic and much brighter assimilis.
Black-billed Flycatcher - Aphanotriccus audax: really common at El Paujil, with a few contacted daily. Near-threatened, Range Restricted.
Olive-sided Flycatcher – Contopus cooperi: good views in the Sierra Nevada. VULNERABLE.
Smoke-colored Pewee – Contopus fumigatus: regular sightings.
Black Phoebe - Sayornis nigricans: A bird of streams and rivers that was frequently seen sitting on bridges.
Vermilion Flycatcher - Pyrocephalus rubinus: Small numbers seen at a number of sites.
Streak-throated Bush-tyrant – Myiotheretes striaticollis: seen well above Jardin and Los Nevados del Ruiz.
Santa Marta Bush-tyrant – Myiotheretes pernix: excellent views on a pair in the Sierra Nevada!! ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
Smoky Bush-tyrant – Myiotheretes fumigatus: excellent views at La M.
Pied Water-Tyrant - Fluvicola pica: a few on the way to El Paujil.
White-headed Marsh-tyrant - Arundinicola leucocephala: 5+ on the way to El Paujil.
Yellow-bellied Chat-tyrant – Ochtoeca diadema: 2 seen above Jardin.
Slaty-backed Chat-Tyrant – Ochthoeca cinnamomeiventris: good views at La M.
Rufous-breasted Chat-tyrant – Ochtoeca rufipectoralis: 2 at Chingaza NP.
Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant – Ochthoeca fumicolor: Seen at Los Nevados and Chingaza National Parks.
Long-tailed Tyrant – Colonia colonus: just one seen on the way to RNA Caerulean Warbler.
Cattle Tyrant - Machetornis rixosa: regular sightings.
Piratic Flycatcher - Legatus leucophaius: common.
Rusty-margined Flycatcher -Myiozetetes cayanensis: Numerous and widespread at lower elevations.
Social Flycatcher - Myiozetetes similis: only seen during one of our drives.
Great Kiskadee - Pitangus sulphuratus: A widespread bird of open areas, even found right in the centre of towns.
Golden-crowned Flycatcher – Myiodynastes chrysocephalus: a few seen during the trip, even in the Sierra Nevada.
Streaked Flycatcher - Myiodynastes maculatus: regular sightings.
Boat-billed Flycatcher - Megarynchus pitangua: above Minca.
Tropical Kingbird - Tyrannus melancholicus. Common throughout.
Fork-tailed Flycatcher – Tyrannus savanna: A few on the drives in open country.
Gray Kingbird – Tyrannus dominicensis: 2 seen at Los Flamencos NP.
Dusky-capped Flycatcher - Myiarchus tuberculifer: As usual, the plaintive call was heard more often than the bird was seen-but see it we did!
Panama Flycatcher - Myiarchus panamensis: a few daily at El Paujil.
Apical Flycatcher – Myiarchus apicalis: Seen at Bolombolo. An endemic of dry environments. ENDEMIC.
Pale-edged Flycatcher – Myiarchus cephalotes: Common at the Piha Reserve.
Brown-crested Flycatcher - Myiarchus tyrannulus: daily at El Paujil and also found on the Guajira peninsula.
Bright-rumped (Flammulated) Attila - Attila (flamulatus) spadiceus. Heard only, at El Paujil.
COTINGIDAE
Red-crested Cotinga – Ampelion rubrocristatus: one at Los Nevados NP.
Green and Black Fruiteater - Pipreola riefferii: a few sightings. Range Restricted.
Barred Fruiteater – Pipreola arcuata: 2 seen at La M.
Orange-breasted Fruiteater – Pipreola jucunda: 1 seen well at Las Tangaras.
Golden-breasted Fruiteater – Pipreola aureopectus: good views in the Sierra Nevada.
Chestnut-capped Piha – Lipaugus weberi: Excellent views of 2 birds in response to playback at the RNA Arrierito Antioqueno (the name of the Piha in Spanish). Only described to science in 2001. Robert Giles donated funds for the accommodations at the reserve for guests. Another seen the following day hover-gleaning for melastome fruits in the understory! The chestnut on the crown can be hard to see. ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
Dusky Piha – Lipaugus fuscocinereous. Heard only, at Rio Blanco.
Olivaceous Piha – Snowornis cryptolophus: Nice looks at Las Tangaras.
Red-ruffed Fruitcrow – Pyroderus scutatus: Common at Otun Quimbaya with 30+ seen.
PIPRIDAE
Yellow-headed Manakin – Chloropipo flavicapilla: 1 seen briefly at El Libano. Range Restricted.
Golden-winged Manakin – Masius chrysopterus: Good looks of a male at Las Tangaras and a pair at Cerulean Warbler RNA.
White-bearded Manakin -Manacus manacus: A male at La Victoria, and a big lek with 30+ males at El Paujil.
Western Striped Manakin - Machaeropterus striolatus: One heard at la Victoria and one seen well at El Paujil. The SACC says “Snow (2004) considered the Amazonian striolatus subspecies group to be a separate species from Machaeropterus regulus of SE Brazil”. Restall (2007) does not follow this split but Volume 9 of handbook of Birds of the World does. If you follow the split Eastern Striped Manakin Machaeropterus regulus is restricted to SE Brazil so all the Colombia Ecuador and Peruvian ones are Western Striped Manakin Machaeropterus striolatus.
Lance-tailed Manakin – Chiroxipha lanceolata: at Tayrona NP.
Wing-barred Piprites - Piprites chloris. Heard only, at Cerulean Warbler RNA.
TITYRIDAE
In this classification, the genera Tityra through Phibalura were formerly placed tentatively in the Cotingidae, following Prum et al. (2000). They had formerly been scattered among the Tyrannidae, Cotingidae, and Pipridae. Prum and Lanyon (1989) and Sibley & Ahlquist (1990) found that Tityra, Schiffornis, and Pachyramphus formed a distinct group, separate from the rest of the Tyrannidae; Sibley & Ahlquist (1990) proposed that they were most closely related to core Tyrannidae than to other tyrannoid families such as the Cotingidae or Pipridae. More recent genetic data (Johansson et al. 2002, Chesser 2004, Barber & Rice 2007) confirm that the genera Tityra through at least Pachyramphus form a monophyletic group, but Chesser (2004) found that this group is more closely related to the Pipridae than to the Cotingidae or Tyrannidae. SACC proposal passed to remove from Cotingidae (and place as Incertae Sedis or as separate family, Tityridae). Barber & Rice (2007) not only confirmed the monophyly of the group but also proposed elevation to family rank. SACC proposal passed to recognize Tityridae. Within this group, Barber & Rice (2007) found genetic evidence for two major groups: (a) Laniisoma, Laniocera, and Schiffornis, and (b) Iodopleura, Tityra, Xenopsaris, and Pachyramphus.
Black-crowned Tityra - Tityra inquisitor: seen on the way to El Paujil.
Masked Tityra – Tityra semifasciata: seen at Minca.
Rufous-winged Schiffornis – Schiffornis stenorhyncha: hard work to see that one!!! At RNA El Paujil.
Barred Becard – Pachyramphus versicolor: great views at La M.
Cinereous Becard – Pachyramphus rufus: one at RNA Arrierito.
Cinnamon Becard - Pachyramphus cinnamomeus: common at El Paujil where building his nest in the lodge garden.
White-winged Becard – Pachyramphus polychopterus. Heard only.
Black-and-white Becard – Pachyramphus albogriseus. Heard only.
One-colored Becard – Pachyramphus homocrhous: a young male at El Palmar.
VIREONIDAE
Rufous-browed Peppershrike – Cyclarhis gujanensis: good views at Los Flamencos NP.
Black-billed Peppershrike – Cyclarhis nigrisrostris: excellent views at Las Tangaras.
Yellow-browed Shrike-Vireo – Vireolanius eximius: Wonderful view of a wonderful bird!! Above San Vicente.
Red-eyed (Chivi) Vireo - Vireo (chivi) olivaceus: 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), but see Hellmayr (1935), Zimmer (1941d), Eisenmann 1962a, Johnson & Zink (1985), and Ridgely & Tudor (1989). Ridgely & Greenfield (2001) suggested, however, that more than one species may be involved within the South American chivi group.
Brown-capped Vireo - Vireo leucophrys. Heard only.
Choco Vireo – Vireo masteri: Great bird to see and see it we did along the trail at Las Tangaras! Range Restricted.
Rufous-naped Greenlet - Hylophilus semibrunneus: Good views at the Piha reserve and at Bolombolo. Almost a Colombian endemic but gets into Venezuela. Range Restricted.
Scrub Greenlet - Hylophilus flavipes: 2 at El Palmar.
CORVIDAE
Black-collared Jay - Cyanolyca armillata: Good views at Chingaza NP and Rio Blanco. Range Restricted.
Black-chested Jay - Cyanocorax affinis: common.
Beautiful Jay – Cyanolyca pulchra. Heard only, at Las Tangaras.
Inca Jay- Cyanocorax yncas: A most handsome bird. 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 (e.g., REFS) considered separate species.
HIRUNDINIDAE
White-winged Swallow - Tachycineta albiventer: on the way to El Paujil.
Brown-chested Martin – Progne tapera: a few.
Gray-breasted Martin - Progne chalybea: Reasonably numerous at lower elevations.
Brown-bellied Swallow - Notiochelidon murina: At Bogotá, Chingaza and Los Nevados del Ruiz.
Blue-and-white Swallow -Notiochelidon cyanoleuca: Widespread in small numbers.
Pale-footed Swallow – Orochelidon flavipes: 5+ seen at La M with breeding behavior; not known to be here!
Southern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx ruficollis: Common at lower elevations.
Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica: a few on the way to San Vicente.
Cliff Swallow – Hirundo pyrrhonota: 1 on the way to El Paujil.
DONACOBIIDAE
Black-capped Donacobius – Donacobius atricapilla: on the way to El Paujil.
TROGLODYTIDAE
Southern Nightingale-Wren: Microcerculus marginatus. Heard only. Now its official name according to the IOU.
House Wren -Troglodytes aedon: Common and widespread. Many authors (e.g., Hellmayr 1934, Pinto 1944, Phelps & Phelps 1950a) formerly treated Neotropical mainland populations as a separate species T. musculus; see also Brumfield and Capparella (1996); this treatment was followed by Brewer (2001) and Kroodsma & Brewer (2005). The Falklands population, T. a. cobbi, might also be best treated as a species (Wood 1993) and is done so by the IOU, as was done by Brewer (2001), Mazar Barnett & Pearman (2001), Jaramillo (2003), and Kroodsma & Brewer (2005).
Mountain Wren – Troglodytes solstitiatus: Two seen well at the Rio Blanco reserve.
Sedge Wren – Cistothoru platensis: 10+ on the paramo at Los Nevados National Park. The SACC says “Two distinctive major subspecies groups, Andean and south-temperate platensis and lowland polyglottus, intergrade in southeastern South America (Traylor 1988). The North American stellaris group may warrant species rank from Cistothorus platensis (e.g., see Meyer de Schauensee 1966, Ridgely & Tudor 1989).”
Bicolored Wren - Campylorhynchus griseus: repeated excellent views.
White-headed Wren Campylorhynchus albobrunneus: A large and handsome, gregarious wren– we saw 3 at Las Tangaras. Range Restricted.
Sooty-headed Wren – Pheugopedius spadix; 1 responsive bird at RNA Arrierito. Almost a Colombian endemic but gets into Eastern Panama. Genetic data (Mann et al. 2006) indicate that the broad genus Thryothorus is polyphyletic, and that true Thryothorus is not found in South America; Mann et al. (2006) recommended recognition of three genera for South American taxa by resurrecting two from the synonymy of Thryothorus (Pheugopedius and Thryophilus) and describing a new one (Cantorchilus). SACC proposal pending to redistribute South American "Thryothorus" into three genera did not pass. Range Restricted.
Black-bellied Wren - Pheugopedius fasciatoventris: Great looks at El Paujil, and heard El Palmar.
Whiskered Wren - Pheugopedius mystacalis: good views at the Recurve-billed Bushbird reserve.
Rufous-breasted Wren – Pheugopedius rutilus: nice views above Minca!
Speckle-breasted Wren – Pheugopedius sclateri. Heard only, at Bolombolo.
Bay Wren - Pheugopedius nigricapillus: at El Libano.
Niceforo’s Wren - Pheugopedius leucopogon: excellent views on 2 birds in the coffee plantation above San Vicente CRITICALLY ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
Rufous-and-white Wren – Thryophilus rufalbus: great views above Minca!!
Antioquia Wren – Thryophilus serbai: a recently described species, seen well at Bolombolo. ENDEMIC.
Buff-breasted Wren – Cantorchilus leucotis: common in Tayrona NP.
Rufous Wren – Cinnecerthia unirufa: at Rio Blanco.
White-breasted Wood-wren - Henicorhina leucosticta: good views at El Paujil.
Grey-breasted Wood-Wren Henicorhina leucophrys: Regularly heard at higher elevations with a number of good views.
Munchique Wood-wren – Henicorhina negreti: excellent views at La M. ENDEMIC.
Chestnut-breasted Wren - Cyphorhinus thoracicus: Wow the song in Colombia is something else! Great looks at Otun Quimbaya.
POLIOPTIDAE
Long-billed Gnatwren -Ramphocaenus melanurus: One finally showed well at the Piha reserve, and another one at Minca.
Tropical Gnatcatcher – Polioptila plumbea: seen on several occasions. Todd & Carriker many years ago split plumbiceps of the Guajira from bilineata so keep track of this.
MIMIDAE
Tropical Mockingbird Mimus gilvus: A common open country species.
CINCLIDAE
White-capped Dipper – Cinclus leucocephalus: seen on 4 different occasions.
TURDIDAE
Andean Solitaire Myadestes ralloide: a few heard but one seen well!!
Black Solitaire Entomodestes coracinus. Another Choco endemic played hide and seek with us along the trail at Las Tangaras but we all got good looks!! Range Restricted.
Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush – Catharus fuscater: quite good views at the Recurve-billed Bushbird RNA.
Slaty-backed Nightingale-thrush – Catharus fuscater: 1 seen in the El Dorado lodge garden.
Swainson ’s Thrush – Catharus ustulatus: regular sightings.
Yellow-legged Thrush - Turdus flavipes: good view at Recurve-billed Bushbird reserve and in the Sierra Nevada.
Great Thrush -Turdus fuscater: Ubiquitous at higher elevations. We saw quindio (endemic) in the Central and Western Andes, and cacozelus (a very pale subspecies that is also endemic) in the Santa Marta Mountains.
Black-hooded Thrush – Turdus olivater: nice views in the Sierra Nevada.
Chestnut-bellied Thrush – Turdus fulviventris: 2 seen at the RNA Recurvebill Bushbird.
Pale-breasted Thrush - Turdus leucomelas: Relatively common.
Black-billed Thrush - Turdus ignobilis: Fairly common in the lowlands and in the garden at Cerulean Warbler lodge.
Pale-vented Thrush – Turdus obsoletus: 2 at Otum Quimbaya.
Spectacled Thrush – Turdus nudigens: 1 near Ocaña.
White-necked Thrush - Turdus albicollis: 2 at the Recurve-billed Bushbird reserve and 1 more in the Sierra Nevada.
THRAUPIDAE
White-capped Tanager – Sericossypha albocristata. Heard only.
Black-capped Hemispingus – Hemispingus atropileus: Seen on four different days. Hemispingus is Greek and means half a spingus – a spingus being a Finch so referring to their small size.
Superciliaried Hemispingus – Hemispingus superciliaris: 10+ at Rio Blanco.
Oleaginous Hemispingus – Hemispingus frontalis: 10+ at Rio Blanco.
Black-eared Hemispingus – Hemispingus melanotis: good views at Rio Blanco.
Black-headed Hemispingus – Hemispingus verticalis: 1 seen on our first day at Chingaza.
Grey-hooded Bush Tanager – Cnemoscopus rubrirostris: 15+ of the nominate form that do have pink bills at Rio Blanco. Note the southern form chyrsogster south of the Maranon River in Peru, which does not have a pink bill may be a separate species and, if so, would become a Peruvian endemic.
Gray-headed Tanager – Eucometis penicillata: 3 on the way out of RNA Reinita Azul.
White-shouldered Tanager - Tachyphonus luctuosus: seen daily at El Paujil.
White-lined Tanager – Tachyphonus rufus: a few sightings especially around Minca.
Crimson-backed Tanager - Ramphocelus dimidiatus: A widespread tanager of open and secondary habitats.
Lemon-rumped Tanager Ramphocelus ictronotus: Common at RNA Arrierito and in the garden lodge at Cerulean Warbler reserve. Limited hybridization between Ramphocelus icteronotus and R. flammigerus was the basis for lumping them (Isler and Isler 1987, Ridgely and Tudor 1989, Sibley and Monroe 1990), but that may have been a mistake (Ridgely & Greenfield 2001, Ridgely & Tudor 2000). The SACC says: The taxon icteronotus was formerly (e.g., Hellmayr 1936, Meyer de Schauensee 1970) considered a separate species from Ramphocelus flammigerus, but intergradation between them in southwestern Colombia (Chapman 1917, Sibley 1958) led Storer (1970a) to consider them conspecific, and this treatment has been followed by most authors subsequently (e.g., Ridgely & Tudor 1989, Sibley & Monroe 1990), Restall (2007). However, as noted by Ridgely & Greenfield (2001), the differences between these two are comparable to those between two Ramphocelus taxa (passerinii and costaricensis) recently treated as separate species (Hackett 1996, AOU 1998). Restall 2007 agrees with the split as does the IOC. The SACC is considering.
Flame-rumped Tanager - Ramphocelus flammigerus: Seen at the beginning of our trip. See the preceding species for the taxonomic status of this near endemic. Range Restricted.
Blue-gray Tanager - Thraupis episcopus: Numerous and widespread. The scientific name is derived from the ‘episcopal blue’ plumage.
Palm Tanager Thraupis palmarum: Common and widespread.
Blue-capped Tanager Thraupis cyanocephala: A few seen at different locations.
Black-and-gold Tanager – Bangsia melanochlamys: one spotted kilometers away by Barbara at RNA Arrierito!!! And seen good views of 10+ at Las Tangaras. VULNERABLE ENDEMIC.
Gold-ringed Tanager – Bangsia aureocincta. Heard only. Painfull.... Calling but never came in the open... ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
Hooded Mountain Tanager – Buthraupis Montana: 2 at Alto Las Ventanas and at La M – a large showy Tanager.
Santa Marta Mountain-Tanager – Anisognathus melanogenys: 10+ on the San Lorenzo ridge in the Sierra Nevada. VULNERABLE ENDEMIC.
Lacrimose Mountain Tanager – Anisognathus lacrymosus: 2 at Alto las Ventanas and at La M.
Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager – Anisognathus igniventris: Always a great bird – 2-3 seen at Chingaza on our first day and then again at Los Nevados.
Black-chinned Mountain Tanager – Anisognathus notabilis. Common at RNA Las Tangaras. Range Restricted.
Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager -Anisognathus somptuosus: At Rio Blanco, the Piha Reserve and Cerulean Warbler reserve.
Grass-green Tanager – Chlorornis rieferii: Seen on 3 diiferent occasions.
Buff-breasted Mountain Tanager – Dubusia taeniata: several sighting of that great tanager!!
Purplish-mantled Tanager – Iridosornis porphyrocephalus. A near endemic creeping into NW Ecuador. At RNA Arrierito 2 recorded and 5+ at Las Tangaras. NEAR THREATENED, Range Restricted.
Multicolored Tanager – Chlorochrysa nitidissima: excellent views at the Piha reserve and at Otun Quimbaya. VULNERABLE ENDEMIC.
Glistening-green Tanager – Chlorochrysa phoenicotis: 5 at Las Tangaras.
Plain-colored Tanager – Tangara inornata: 2 at El Hato road, and 1 on the way out RNA Reinita azul.
Golden Tanager -Tangara arthus: A stunning montane species that we saw at a number of sites.
Saffron-crowned Tanager - Tangara xanthocephala: 2 at Las Tangaras.
Speckled Tanager – Tangara guttata: Several sighting of the bogotensis race at the Piha Reserve and Recurve-billed Bushbird reserve.
Bay-headed Tanager -Tangara gyrola: We saw the turquoise bellied deleticia in the Andes, The name ‘gyrola’ is derived from the Latin ‘gyros’, or ring, and refers to the golden nuchal collar present in most races of this species.
Burnished-buff Tanager - Tangara cayana: several at the feeders near the Recurve-billed Bushbird reserve.
Scrub Tanager - Tangara vitriolina: Another species which prefers second growth. One of the most numerous and widespread tanagers in Colombia’s valleys and on the adjacent slopes, but outside the country it is a localized specialty in northern Ecuador. Range Restricted.
Metallic-green Tanager – Tangara labradorides: 3 at RNA Reinita.
Blue-necked Tanager -Tangara cyanicollis: Common and widespread but nonetheless striking.
Golden-hooded Tanager - Tangara larvata: seen daily at El Paujil.
Beryl-spangled Tanager - Tangara nigroviridis: Common at RNA Arrierito and Rio Blanco.
Black-capped Tanager - Tangara heinei: A few seen at various sites.
Black-headed Tanager - Tangara cyanoptera: 2 at the feeders near the Recurve-billed Bushbird reserve and near Minca.
Blue and Black Tanager – Tangara vassorii: Fairly common at Alto las Ventanas and Rio Blanco.
Swallow Tanager – Tersina viridis: several good looks in the Sierra Nevada.
Rusty Flowerpiercer – Diglossa sittoides: good views in the Sierra Nevada.
Glossy Flowerpiercer – Diglossa lafresnayi: 1 at Chingaza NP.
Black Flowerpiercer – Diglossa humeralis: seen at Chingaza and in the Sierra Nevada.
White-sided Flowerpiercer - Diglossa albilatera: Perhaps the most common and widespread of the flowerpiercers. Here the nominate race.
Indigo Flowerpiercer – Diglossa indigotica: wonderful bird seen at Piha reserve and Las Tangaras. Range Restricted.
Masked Flowerpiercer – Diglossa cyanea: Common at Alto las Ventanas and Rio Blanco.
Plushcap – Catamblyrhynchus diadema: 1 seen well at Rio Blanco.
Guira Tanager - Hemithraupis guira: just 1 seen during the whole trip.
Yellow-backed Tanager - Hemithraupis flavicollis: 5 at El Paujil.
White-eared Conebill - Conirostrum leucogenys: seen briefly on the way to San Vicente. ENDEMIC.
Capped Conebill – Conirostrum albifrons: Fairly common at Rio Blanco.
Rufous-browed Conebill – Conirsotrum rufum: One of the first birds of the trip at Chingaza and one of the best of the trip – quite a little gem!! ENDEMIC.
Yellow-tufted (Black-faced) Dacnis – Dacnis lineata egregia: 1 seen at El Palmar.
Turquoise Dacnis - Dacnis hartlaubi: a group of 3 in the lodge garden at Cerulean Warbler reserve. VULNERABLE ENDEMIC.
Blue Dacnis – Dacnis cayana: a few.
Golden-collared Honeycreeper – Iridophanes pulcherririmus: good views of male and female at Las Tangaras.
Grassland Yellow-finch – Sicalis luteola: 5 at La Florida.
Saffron Finch - Sicalis flaveola: Common.
Blue-black Grassquit - Volatinia jacarina: Common.
Yellow-bellied Seedeater - Sporophila nigricollis: Common.
Grassland Yellow-finch – Sicalis luteola: 5 at La Florida.
Saffron Finch - Sicalis flaveola: Common.
Blue-black Grassquit - Volatinia jacarina: Common.
Yellow-bellied Seedeater - Sporophila nigricollis: Common.
Ruddy-breasted Seedeater - Sporophila minuta: good view on the way to El Paujil.
Thick-billed seed-Finch - Oryzoborus funereus: 1 at El Paujil.
Large-billed Seed-finch – Oryzoborus crassirostris: a pair on the way to El Paujil.
Band-tailed Seedeater – Catamenia analis: 5 at Parque La Florida.
Plain-colored Seedeater – Catamenia inornata: 10+ at Los Nevados del Ruiz.
Paramo (Santa Marta) Seedeater – Catamenia (oreophila) homochroa: 5+ seen on the San Lorenzo ridge in the Sierra Nevada.
Bananaquit – Coereba flaveola: for sure we enjoyed waching that nice little guy!!
Yellow-faced Grassquit - Tiaris olivacea: Small numbers above Libano and San Vicente.
Pileated Finch – Coryhospingus pileatus: good views at Los Flamencos NP.
INCERTAE SEDIS
Rosy Thrush-Tanager – Rhodinocichla rosea: fantastic view above Minca!!
Buff-throated Saltator - Saltator maximus: Fairly common.
Grayish Saltator – Saltator coerulescens: Common.
Black-winged Saltator - Saltator atripennis: Common at Otun Quimbaya and heard at the Piha reserve. One of the nicer Saltators.
Orinocan Saltator – Saltator orenocensis: nice views at Los Flamencos.
Streaked Saltator Saltator striatipectus: Fairly common throughout the tour.
Masked Saltator – Saltator cinctus: 2 birds seen very well at Rio Blanco!!! A very rare Saltator all over his range!
EMBERIZIDAE
Rufous-collared Sparrow Zonotrichia capensis: Numerous at higher elevations.
Tocuyo Sparrow – Arremonops tocuyensis: 5 seen near Los Flomencos NP. Range Restricted.
Orange-billed Sparrow – Arremon aurantiirostris. Heard only, at El Paujil NP.
Golden-winged Sparrow – Arremon schlegeli: excellent views of that beautiful sparrow above Minca.
Olive Finch – Arremon castaneiceps: 1 at Las Tangaras.
Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch Arremon brunneinucha: At RNA Arrierito, Otun Quimbaya, Libano and Cerulean Warbler.
Sierra Nevada Brush-Finch – Arremon basilicus: seen in the El Dorado lodge garden. ENDEMIC.
Grey-browed Brush-Finch – Arremon assimilis: 1 at the Rio Blanco Reserve coming into the Antpitta worm feeders.
Black-headed Brush-Finch – Arremon atricapillus: good views after a long try at El Libano. Range Restricted.
Tanager Finch – Oreothraupis arremonops: superb view of 2 birds at La M. VULNERABLE, Range Restricted.
Mustached Brush-Finch - Atlapetes albofrenatus: very good views at the Recurve-billed Bushbird reserve. We saw the albofrenatus race. Range Restricted.
Yellow-throated (White-naped) Brush-Finch – Atlapetes (albinucha) gutteralis: Seen on several occasions. The SACC says- Paynter (1964) provided rationale for merging the Atlapetes gutturalis group into A. albinucha White-naped Brush-Finch; and this treatment was followed by Paynter (1970a), AOU (1998), and Dickinson (2003) but not by Restall (2007). The two certainly look very different but the IOC says Yellow-throated Brush Finch Atlapetes gutturalis intergrades and is conspecific with White-naped Brush Finch A. albinucha.
Santa Marta Brush-Finch – Atlapetes melanocephalus: very common in the Sierra Nevada. ENDEMIC.
Yellow-headed Brush-Finch – Atlapetes flaviceps: 2 seen in the early morning above Libano. An extremely localized endemic in real danger. Formerly (e.g., Meyer de Schauensee 1970, Hilty & Brown 1986, Dickinson 2003) known as "Olive-headed Brush-Finch". Called"Yellow-headed Brush-Finch" in BirdLife International (2000). SACC proposal passed to change English name to the latter because the historical name is inaccurate and misleading. ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
Choco Brush Finch – Atlapetes crassus: at least 3 at Las Tangaras – recent split from Tricolored Brush-Finch A. tricolor. Range Restricted.
Pale-naped Brush-Finch – Atlapetes pallidinucha: Around 3 at Los Nevados del Ruiz.
Slaty Brush-Finch – Atlapetes schistaceus: seen at Chingaza, above Jardin ant at Rio Blanco.
Dusky Chlorospingus – Chlorospingus semifuscus: Common at RNA Las Tangaras.
Ashy-throated Chlorospingus – Chlorospingus canigularis: 3+ seen at Cerulean Warbler reserve.
CARDINALIDAE
Tooth-billed (Hepatic) Tanager – Piranga (flava) lutea: several sightings all over the trip.
Summer Tanager – Piranga rubra: Common in a variety of plumages.
Scarlet Tanager – Piranga olivacea: 3 or 4 throughout the tour.
Sooty Ant-Tanager - Habia gutturalis: A superb Nechí endemic. We saw 2 at La Victoria building a nest. It has a restricted range within north-west Colombia, where it occurs in the upper Sinú valley at the north end of the West Andes, and east along the north base of the Andes to the middle Magdalena valley. Despite a report that it may benefit from forest destruction, it is now adjudged rare in (often streamside) undergrowth in tall secondary and patchy woodland at 100- 1,100m. It is highly insectivorous, with pairs or small family groups following swarms of army ants or joining mixed-species flocks. Suitable habitat within its range is unprotected and relatively reduced. The middle and lower Magdalena valley has been extensively deforested since the 19th century (for agriculture), and clearance of its favored foothills has been near total since the 1950s. NEAR THREATENED ENDEMIC.
Crested Ant-Tanager – Habia cristata: contacted on 4 different occasions, but only one good sighting, finally..., above El Libano!! ENDEMIC.
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - Pheuctitus ludovicianus: several sightings, including a few males in bright breeding plumage.
Vermillion Cardinal – Cardinalis phoeniculus: excellent views at Los Flamencos NP.
Blue-black Grosbeak – Cyanocompsa cyanoides: seen at Tayrona NP and near Minca.
PARULIDAE
Northern Waterthrush – Parkesea noveboracensis: seen on 3 different occasions.
Black-and-white Warbler – Mniotilta varia: a few.
Tennessee Warbler – Vermivora peregrina: relatively common.
Mourning Warbler – Geothlypis Philadelphia: 1 seen above El Libano.
American Redstart – Setophaga ruticilla: at least 4 different birds.
Tropical Parula – Parula pitiayumi: A few.
American Yellow Warbler – Dendroica aestiva: This North American Migrant was seen on a few occasions. The SACC says: Many authors suspect that the breeding populations of Dendroica petechia in South America may represent one or more separate species from North American wintering populations, but species limits in the "Yellow Warbler' complex are controversial (Klein and Brown 1994). Ridgely & Greenfield (2001) used a two-species classification, with North American wintering populations as one species, D. aestiva ("Yellow Warbler") and tropical resident populations as another, D. petechia ("Mangrove Warbler"). A three-species classification, as used by Hilty (2003), would separate the tropical populations into two species: mainly Pacific coastal populations, D. erithachorides ("Mangrove Warbler"), and Caribbean D. petechia ("Golden Warbler"). Olson (1980) noted that the South American populations on the Pacific coast show a gradation of characters between the erithachorides and petechia groups. SACC proposal to split petechia into two or more species did not pass due to insufficient published data. The IOC differs however and splits the birds into North American Yellow Warbler and Mangrove Warbler.
Bay-breasted Warbler - Dendroica castanea: a few seen at El Paujil and in the coffee plantation above San Vicente.
Blackburnian Warbler – Dendroica fusca: Regularly recorded throughout the tour – a very pretty bird.
Buff-rumped Warbler -Basileuterus fulvicauda: A few near Libano, La Victoria and El Paujil.
Citrine Warbler – Basiluterus luteoviridis richardsoni: We saw the different looking richardsoni race at Alto las Ventanas. This subspecies richardsoni of western Colombia was formerly (e.g. Hellmayr 1935) treated as a separate species – Richardson’s Warbler.
Black-crested Warbler – Myiothlypis nigrocristatus: 2 at Chingaza and 2 more at Rio Blanco.
Gray-throated Warbler - Basileuterus cinereicollis: good views on our visit to the Recurve-billed Bushbird. Range Restricted.
White-lored Warbler – Myiothlypis conspicillatus: contacted daily in the Sierra Nevada. ENDEMIC.
Russet-crowned Warbler – Basileuterus coronatus: 3 at Rio Blanco.
Golden-crowned warbler – Basileuterus culicivorus: 2 at Bolombolo.
Rufous-capped Warbler - Basileuterus rufifrons delatterii: Contacted several times, but best views above Minca!! The delatrii group of subspecies, from Guatemala south to northwestern South America, was formerly (e.g., Hellmayr 1935) treated as separate species from the Basileuterus rufifrons of (mainly) Mexico, but they evidently intergrade in Guatemala and Honduras (Monroe 1968, AOU 1983).
Three-striped Warbler - Basileuterus tristriatus: Common at RNA Arrierito.
Santa Marta Warbler – Basileuterus basilicus: a few seen well on the San Lorenzo ridge in the Sierra Nevada VULNERABLE ENDEMIC.
Canada Warbler – Wilsonia canadensis: Common.
Slate-throated Whitestart - Myioborus miniatus: A common, widespread and delightful resident of the montane forests.
Golden-fronted Whitestart – Myioborus ornatus: We saw the chrysops race at varios locations– a very pretty bird. Range Restricted.
Yellow-crowned Whitestart – Myioborus flavivertex: good views on the San Lorenzo ridge in the Sierra Nevada. ENDEMIC.
ICTERIDAE
Russet-backed Oropendola -Zarhynchus angustifrons: Fairly common.
Crested Oropendola - Psarocolius decumanus: common.
Subtropical Cacique – Cacicus uropygialis: 5 at the RNA Cerulean Warbler.
Yellow-rumped Cacique – Cacicus cela: a few.
Yellow-billed Cacique – Amblycercus holosericeus: heard at Rio Blanco and one more seen in the Sierra Nevada.
Yellow-tailed Oriole – Icterus mesomelas: 1 seen above San Vicente.
Orange-crowned Oriole – Icterus auricapillus: 1 at RNA El Paujil.
Yellow-backed Oriole -Icterus chrysater: An attractive bird with a beautiful song that we saw on two occasions.
Yellow Oriole – Icterus nigrogularis: a few seen in the Guajira peninsula.
Red-bellied Grackle – Hypopyrrhus pyrohpogaste: A total of 3 seen very well at RNA Arrierito- a very striking species and very localized. ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
Yellow-hooded Blackbird – Chrysmus icterocephalus: Common at Parque La Florida.
Giant Cowbird – Molothorus oryzivorus: A few of this brood parasite.
Shiny Cowbird – Molothorus bonariensis: Common.
Great-tailed Grackle – Quiscalus mexicanus: fairly common in the Guajira peninsula.
Carib Grackle - Quiscalus lugubris: a few seen during our drives to San Vicente and to Ocaña. A spreading species in Colombia!!
Red-breasted Blackbird - Sturnella militaris: a few when driving to San Vicente.
Eastern Meadowlark Sturnella magna. A few at the Guascar Gravel Pits on our first day.
FRINGILLIDAE
Andean Siskin – Sporaga spinescens: 10 at Parque La Florida.
Hooded Siskin – Sporaga magallenica: just 2.
Yellow-bellied Siskin – Sporaga xanthogastra: seen a few times.
Lesser Goldfinch - Carduelis psaltria: A few seen.
Velvet-fronted Euphonia – Euphonia concinna: A few seen well at Finca El Palmar. ENDEMIC.
Trinidad Euphonia – Euphonia trinitatis: a few in the Guajira peninsula.
Orange-bellied Euphonia - Euphonia xanthogaster: A few throughout the tour and like most races, the birds we saw (oressinoma), are actually yellow-bellied. A species conspicuously absent from the, (impoverished) Santa Marta Mountains.
Thick-billed Euphonia - Euphonia laniirostris. Common.
Fulvous-vented Euphonia - Euphonia fulvicrissa: several seen daily at El Paujil.
Blue-naped Chlorophonia - Chlorophonia cyanea: fantastic views in the Sierra Nevada.
Yellow-collared Chlorophonia – Chlorophonia flavirostris: one of the most beautiful bird of the trip!! 3 seen at Las Tangaras.