ITINERARY
June 20th: Group assembles in Lima.
June 21st: Lima to Lomas de Lachay (320-500 mts) all day birding where we got great views of the two important Peruvian endemics (Thick-billed Miner and Cactus Canastero). Overnight at Santa Eulalia (1050 mts).
June 22nd: Santa Eulalia all day birding with picnic lunch (3070 – 2800 m) and overnight at San Mateo (3128 m).
June 23rd: San Mateo to Marcapomacocha (4875 m the pass) and late afternoon travel to Concepcion over Ticlio pass along the Central Highway with brief stops at some Lakes, then to our splendid Hotel in Concepcion (3250 m).
June 24th: Parihuanca Road. Over Huaytapallana pass at 4597 m. (Huayata is Quechua for Andean Goose) to above Chilifruta for specialties. Birding around Chilifruta 3330 - 2550 m. and above and back to Concepcion for the night.
June 25th: Satipo Road to Apalla/Calabaza. We stopped for breakfast at Comas at 3200 meters then onto Toldopampa (pass 4300 m) and then some fine birding at Puente Carrizales (where we had lunch) and below before continuing to our interesting accommodation at Calabaza/Apalla – a community project.
June 26th: Apalla/Calabaza to Concepcion with a detour on Andamarca road for weskii subspecies of Marcapata Spinetail where we were successful and saw two individuals, and then we birded the 2600 -2300 m zone on the Satipo road above Calabaza went over the pass and birded at 3700 meters before continuing back to our welcome hotel at Concepcion stopping briefly at Lake Pomacocha at 4350 meters.
June 27th: Concepción – Lake Junin (Chinchaycocha) (4100 m). Morning on the lake for Junín Flightless Grebe. Breakfast and Lunch at Cazapatos and after lunch to Huanuco (1900m).
June 28th: Carpish Tunnel trail in the morning (2704 m) and after lunch we tried to enter a new trail we spotted but we were stopped by the local people and because of that we went back to the Carpish trail in the late afternoon and then we went back to Huánuco.
June 29th: Full day along the Paty trail 2503-2213 m with lunch and snacks packed in by our crew. We then travelled to Tingo Maria where we checked into our tropically warm hotel – pool and all. Night Tingo Maria.
June 30th: Morning visit to the Oilbird cave and spent a good time looking at the Oilbirds in a spectacular cave and after that we birded along the track for some Amazonian birds where Patrick got good numbers for his Amazonian list and a little bit later in the afternoon back to the Hotel for lunch and the rest of the afternoon free. Night in Tingo Maria.
July 1st: Tingo Maria to the Paty trail where we spent until mid-day and then we travelled to Churrabamba where we had some road problem, so we returned and found a different access to continue to Cochabamba and then to Bosque de Unchog. Reyes Rivera, the discoverer of the Golden-backed Mountain Tanager, helped us pack our gear into camp with help from his arrieros and mules. Night in camp.
July 2nd: Early start and all day at Bosque Unchog 3600-3100 m. Delightful weather and scenery. Overnight camp.
July 3rd: All morning at Bosque Unchog 3700-3100 m. In the afternoon we retraced our steps to Huánuco.
July 4th: Huánuco – Carhuaz via La Union and Huaraz (4896 m - highest point along the way). With some birding stops along the way and wonderful scenery and some hailstorm and also stopped briefly to see one of the world’s largest flowering plants – Puya Raimondi. Night in Carhuaz at our family run very pleasant hotel.
July 5th: Huascaran NP all day. Breakfast at the “Aurelio’s Cotinga spot” on the west slope, passing over the Portochuello pass (4718 mts) and where we also had lunch at the same Cotinga Spot (birding elevations 4258 – 4182 mts). In the late afternoon we looked for the Rufous-backed Inca-Finch with success and after that into an arid habitat near Pueblo Libre. Overnight Carhuaz.
July 6th: Huascaran NP (3360m) Breakfast at the usual Cotinga trail (on the east slope) “where surprisingly we did not see any Cotinga” and lunch near the LLanganuco Lakes and in the afternoon we walked down the Maria Josepha trail (3690-3425 m) and after that we went back to the arid habitat near Pueblo Libre looking for better views of the Pale-tailed Canastero where we found a couple responding really well to play-back. Overnight Carhuaz.
July 7th: Huaraz – Lima. Stop at Conococha Lake for breakfast where we could NOT have breakfast (the lake was freezing) and that is why we had to drive longer to get lower elevation in comfortable temperature on the west slope. We lunched at Laguna Paraiso and some quick birding and then drove to the Lima Airport because some folks had to fly that afternoon, and then to the Hotel Manhattan.
SPECIES LIST
TINAMIDAE
Brown Tinamou - Crypturellus obsoletus. Heard only. Heard along the Paty trail (ochraceiventris). The exclusively Neotropical tinamous are one of the most primitive families and they retain certain reptilian features, such as their blood proteins and the shape of the palate, which are similar to those found in the dinosaur Tyrannosaurus. Another interesting fact is that Tinamous are one of the few bird families that are believed to have reversed sex roles. Apparently, the females do most of the singing, and in most if not all species the male carries out the incubation.
Undulated Tinamou - Crypturellus undulatus. Heard only.
Taczanowski’s Tinamou - Nothoporocta taczanowski. Heard only. VULNERABLE, Range Restricted.
Andean Tinamou - Nothoprocta pentlandii. One seen in flight very close after we flushed it along the regular Cotinga trail at Huascaran National Park.
ANATIDAE
Andean (Ruddy) Duck - Oxyura (jamiacensis) ferruginea. A most handsome stifftail, seen at several high Andean lakes (nominate). The SACC says “Andean populations of Ruddy Duck (O. jamaicensis) 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. Go and chew that one over! In short it is split from O. jamaicensis (Ridgely & Greenfield 2001; Jaramillo 2003); H&M recognize this SACC does not and so presumably Clements will not.
Andean Goose - Oressochen melanoptera. Repeated good views. Genetic data (mtDNA only; Bulgarella et al. 2014) suggest that Neochen jubata (Orinoco Goose) is the sister species to Chloephaga melanoptera (Andean Goose, and thus is likely embedded in Chloephaga as currently circumscribed). SACC proposal passed to treat Chloephaga melanoptera and Neochen jubata as congeners; Oressochen Bannister 1870 becomes the name for these two when treated in a separate genus.
Torrent Duck - Merganetta armata. A few seen on our way down to Chillifruta on the Parihuanca road and also on our way to Huánuco from Concepcion.
Crested Duck - Lophonetta specularioides. We saw the yellow-eyed race alticola, on several occasions. The SACC says “Lophonetta specularioides is often (e.g., Hellmayr & Conover 1948a, Johnsgard 1979) placed in Anas, but see Johnson & Sorenson (1999) for return to monotypic Lophonetta, as in Meyer de Schauensee (1970) and Blake (1977).”
Yellow-billed Teal - Anas flavirostris. Regular encounters at high elevations. This is now a split form Andean Teal – Anas andium (Ridgely et al 2001, Hilty 2003, and SACC). Birds we saw belong to the altiplano form oxyptera, differing from nominate flavirostris of southern South America in size and coloration. The two might best be considered species. Jaramillo (2003) suggested that the subspecies oxyptera may also deserve recognition as a separate species from A. flavirostris. The SACC suggest a change of the English name to Yellow-billed Teal and this has been followed by the IOC.
Yellow-billed Pintail - Anas georgica. Fairly common in the highlands, seen at Junín and Conococha Lake.
White-cheeked Pintail - Anas bahamensis.. Quite a few at Laguna Paraiso, the last day on our way to Lima.
Puna Teal - Anas puna. Common at many highland sites.
Cinnamon Teal - Anas cyanoptera. Common at Laguna Paraiso.
CRACIDAE
Andean Guan - Penelope montagnii. Heard at Apaza/Calabaza and one seen at Carpish tunnel trail. Penelope is the name of the wife of Ulysses, King of Ithaca, but why this name was bestowed on this genus of Neotropical guans is unknown.
PODICIPEDIDAE
White-tufted Grebe - Rollandia rolland. Seen on three different occasion throughout the trip, first ones at Junín Lake. Named for Master Gunner Rolland of the French Corvette L’Uranie which circumnavigated the globe 1817-1820.
Great Grebe – Podiceps major. Lots of them at Laguna Paraiso.
Silvery Grebe - Podiceps occipitalis. Good looks at this Grebe on Lake Junín and few other localities, providing good comparison with the next species. The subspecies here is the northern and high-elevation juninensis, which in plumage is closer to Junín Grebe than to the southern, nominate race. Two species are probably involved and the SACC says - Fjeldså & Krabbe (1990) and Jaramillo (2003) suggested that the northern Andean subspecies, juninensis, might merit recognition as a separate species from Podiceps occipitalis.
Junín Grebe - Podiceps taczanowskii. We all obtained excellent close-ups of one individual of this endemic flightless Grebe. The species is named after Wladyslaw Taczanowski, a 19th century Polish Ornithologist who wrote Ornithologie du Pérou (he has several species and subspecies named after him). Junín Grebe is confined to Lake Junín in the highlands of Junín, west-central Peru. It was extremely abundant in 1938, and the population was probably well over 1,000 birds in 1961. In the early and mid-1980s there were c.250 birds, but only 100 were counted in 1992, falling to around 50 in 1993. New extrapolations in early 1995, using a different methodology, estimated 205 individuals. The 1995-1996 and 1996-1997 breeding seasons were unsuccessful, but two broods apparently fledged in 1997-1998. In August 1998, over 250 Podiceps sp. were found in 4 km of the lake (suggesting a total of 350-400 birds) and all those identified (over 20) were P. taczanowskii. Counts in late 2001 suggested a total population of c.300 birds, though this extrapolation from line transects may be overly optimistic, especially as counts in 2001 suggested a population of less than 100. Even if correct, this estimate is of total individuals following a good breeding season, and the number of mature individuals is likely to be far smaller, perhaps half as many. At present, the current global population is best estimated at between 100 and 300 individuals. You need a boat to see this bird. CRITICALLY ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
PHOENICOPTERIDAE
Chilean Flamingo - Phoenicopterus chilensis. About 50 birds at Lake Junín (Chinchaycocha is the correct Inca name for this lake), apparently the northernmost breeding locality of this species. A few more at Laguna Paraiso. NEAR THREATENED.
SULIDAE
Peruvian Booby - Sula variegate. 10+ seen off the Pacific shore at Laguna Paraiso.
PHALACROCORACIDAE
Neotropic Cormorant - Phalacrocorax brasilianus. Seen at Laguna Paraiso and few more on our way to Paraiso along the road.
PELECANIDAE
Peruvian Pelican - Pelecanus thagus. Common off the Pacific shore at Laguna Paraiso. NEAR THREATENED.
ARDEIDAE
Little-blue Heron - Egretta caerulea. One seen at Laguna Paraiso.
Snowy Egret - Egretta thula. Seen on the way to Lomas de Lachay and at Laguna Paraiso. ‘Thula’ is an Araucano (Chilean) Indian name for the Black-necked Swan, erroneously given to the Snowy Egret!
Great Egret - Ardea alba. Formerly placed in either Egretta or the monotypic genus Casmerodius. Called Western Great Egret after the split of Ardea modesta (Eastern Great Egret) from A. alba (Sheldon 1987, Collar 2007, Christidis & Boles 2008).
Cattle Egret - Bubulcus ibis. Seen on three different occasions. It only colonized the Americas from the Old World in the 20th century, one of the most striking examples of avian range expansions in historic times. Largely a terrestrial feeder, reports of stomach contents have shown that grasshoppers are their main prey item.
Capped Heron – Pilherodius pileatus. Two seen at Tingo Maria, one in flight and one along the river near the Oilbirds cave (Cueva de la LECHUGAS – as Patrick was calling them in Spanish!!!).
Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax. First one seen in flight somewhere on the way to Lomas de Lachay and on two consecutive days at Laguna Llanganuco in the Huascaran National Park.
THRESKIORNITHIDAE
Puna Ibis - Plegadis ridgwayi. Large numbers at high elevations including some great close-ups. Also on the coast – this species has only become a regular visitor to the coast in the last 20 years.
Andean Ibis Theristictus branickii. Around 30 above Chilifrutas. Sibley & Monroe (1990) considered branickii as separate species (Andean Ibis) from melanopis (Black-faced Ibis); anecdotal observations (Vizcarra 2009) suggest that the two taxa segregate where they occur sympatrically during nonbreeding season. Del Hoyo & Collar (2014) treated branickii as a separate species.
CATHARTIDAE
Black Vulture - Coragyps atratus. Seen on several days throughout the tour. After the opinions of a few 19th century taxonomists were long ignored, recent genetic studies have indicated that New World vultures are modified storks and don’t belong with the raptors; an excellent example of convergent evolution.
Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura. Small numbers of this scavenger were found at Tingo Maria and also at Laguna Paraiso. Birds here belong to resident forms, and what is currently known as the wide-ranging Turkey Vulture may consist of more than one biological species.
Greater Yellow-headed Vulture - Cathartes melambrotus. One seen at Tingo Maria.
Andean Condor - Vultur gryphus. Two seen at Santa Eulalia, two more at Marcapomacocha and 3 more from the breakfast stop near Conococha Lake on our way to Lima.
ACCIPITRIDAE
Plain-breasted Hawk Accipiter ventralis. One seen just by Patrick at Bosque Unchog. The SACC says “Accipiter striatus was treated as four species in Sibley & Monroe (1990), Thiollay (1994), and Ridgely & Greenfield (2001): velox of N. America, chionogaster of Middle America, ventralis of the Andes, erythronemius of lowland southern South America); Pinto (1938) and Hellmayr & Conover (1949) considered erythronemius (including ventralis) to be a separate species from A. striatus, and Friedmann (1950) and Stiles & Skutch (1989) considered chionogaster and erythronemius as separate species from A. striatus. [split almost certainly good, but no published data support this split; check Storer (1952). [According to HBW account author Rob Bierregaard, through correspondence with Tom Schulenberg, no published data support this split and he was basically forced to comply with species taxonomy given to him.] Ferguson-Lees & Christie (2001) did not follow this split and provided rationale against following it. Proposal needed” So IOC splits SACC says it’s just a Sharp-shinned Hawk!
White-rumped Hawk - Parabuteo leucorrhous. One seen really well at Carpish tunnel trail.
Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle - Geranoaetus melanoleucus. Seen at Santa Eulalia and Marcapomacocha.
Variable Hawk - Geranoaetus polyosoma. The commonest raptor of the trip. Buteo polyosoma includes B. poecilochrous, (Puna Hawk) currently recognized by some but which SACC treats as conspecific. The form seen in the inter-montane valleys and Lomas de Lachay was polyosoma and the big broad winged birds in the High Andes were poecilochrous, (Puna Hawk).
Roadside Hawk - Rupornis magnirostris. One seen a little bit above Apalla/Calabaza.
White-throated Hawk - Buteo albigula. One seen and photographed perched on the Carpish tunnel trail, and also one immature seen at Bosque Unchog forest.
RALLIDAE
Plumbeous Rail - Pardirallus sanguinolentus. One seen surprisingly near Pueblo Libre, same spot as the Pale-tailed Canastero.
Common Gallinule -Gallinula galeatus. We saw the large race garmani in the highlands. Small numbers were also found near the coast, here of the smaller race pauxilla. Note that this species is a recent split from Common Moorhen of the old world (Gallinula chlorops) on the basis of morphological, genetic, and vocal differences (Groenenberg et al 2008).
Andean (Slate-colored) Coot Fulica ardesiaca. Common at Pomacocha Lake and Lake Junín, and also see at Lake Paraiso, and a few more were encountered elsewhere.
Giant Coot - Fulica gigantean. 3 near Ticlio pass on the first day, Common at Lake Conococha near Huaraz and on the aptly named Patococha in the Carpa valley.
CHARADRIIDAE
Andean Lapwing -Vanellus resplendens. Numerous encounters of this splendid species at high elevations and the noisiest bird around our tents at Bosque Unchog.
Killdeer - Charadrius vociferus. A few seen at Laguna Paraiso.
Puna Plover - Charadrius alticola. Two seen well along the shores of Lake Junín.
Snowy Plover - Charadrius alexandrius. Around 10 at Laguna Paraiso.
Diademed Sandpiper-Plover - Phegornis mitchellii. Wonderful views of 3 individuals at Marcapomacocha. NEAR THREATENED.
American Oystercatcher - Haematopus palliatus. A few seen on the beach at Laguna Paraiso.
STILTS
Black-necked Stilt – Himantopus mexicanus. Two seen at Laguna Paraiso.
HAEMATOPODIDAE
THICK-KNEES
Peruvian Thick-knee - Burhinus superciliaris. 2 seen in the agricultural areas on our way to Lomas de Lachay and 2 more near Laguna Paraiso. Range Restricted.
SCOLOPACIDAE
Puna Snipe - Gallinago andina. Great looks at two individuals at the bog around Marcapomacocha and one more at Lake Junín. The SACC says “Species limits in New World Gallinago have been fluid and controversial, and not based on explicit analyses. Many authors (e.g., Peters 1934, Pinto 1938, and Hellmayr & Conover 1948b) have considered paraguaiae, magellanica, and andina to be conspecific. Additionally, Gallinago paraguaiae was considered conspecific with G. [gallinago] delicata by Phelps & Phelps (1958a), Meyer de Schauensee (1970), and Blake (1970). Fjeldså and Krabbe (1990) placed magellanica with paraguaiae, making this species G. magellanica. Any arrangement of species limits in these taxa is based largely on anecdotal data, and this group is badly in need of formal study, especially given that differences in displays and vocalizations among paraguaiae, magellanica, and andina have been reported (Jaramillo 2003).
Greater Yellowlegs -Tringa melanoleuca. Seen at Laguna Paraiso.
Baird’s Sandpiper - Calidris bairdii. 4+ on Lake Junín.
Sanderling – Calidris alba. A few seen at Laguna Paraiso.
THINOCORIDAE
Gray-breasted Seedsnipe - Thinocorus orbignyianus. Great views at Marcapomacocha.
Least Seedsnipe - Thinocorus rumicivorus. A few of them seen at Lomas de Lachay.
LARIDAE
Belcher’s Gull - Larus belcheri. One seen on the way to Lomas de Lachay the first day and good numbers along the coast at Laguna Paraiso. Larus belcheri and L. atlanticus were formerly (e.g., Meyer de Schauensee 1970, Blake 1977) considered conspecific, but Devillers (1977) provided rationale for treatment as separate species, and this treatment has been followed by most authors, e.g., Sibley & Monroe (1990), Burger & Gochfeld (1996), and AOU (1998); they form a superspecies (Sibley & Monroe 1990). Named for Sir Edward Belcher British naval explore of the pacific coast of America 1825-1828.
Kelp Gull - Larus dominicanus. A few seen at Laguna Paraiso, quite common along the Pacific coast. For those of you visiting southern Africa - note that the subspecies found along the coast there has now been proposed to be a different species, the Cape Gull L. vetula.
Franklin’s Gull Leucophaeus pipixcan. Several dozen at El Paraiso just arrived from North America.
Gray Gull Leucophaeus modestus. A few on the Pacific shore of Laguna Paraiso. Nests inland in the desert.
Grey-hooded Gull - Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus. Common on the coast, seen at Laguna Paraiso. The genetic data of Crochet et al. (1999) and Pons et al. (2005) indicate that Larus as currently constituted is polyphyletic, and that resurrection of Chroicocephalus for a group of species that includes L. cirrocephalus, L. serranus, L. ridibundus, and L. maculipennis is necessary to maintain Larus as monophyletic; this would represent a partial return to the classification of Ridgway (1919), which also included L. pipixcan and L. atricilla in Chroicocephalus.
Andean Gull - Chroicocephalus serranus. Regular sightings at higher elevations. Called Kellwa in native Quechua.
Elegant Tern - Thalasseus elegans. A few seen at Laguna Paraiso. NEAR THREATENED.
Inca Tern - Larosterna inca. Quite good views at Laguna Paraiso. NEAR THREATENED.
COLUMBIDAE
Spot-winged Pigeon - Patagioenas maculosa. Very good views at Santa Eulalia.
Band-tailed Pigeon - Patagioenas fasciata. Regular sightings of this montane forest species. A widespread species, ranging from British Columbia (Canada) down into northern Argentina, though the southern races crissalis, roraimae and albilinea (= the one we saw) are sometimes regarded as a separate species, White-necked Pigeon C. albilinea. Also note that recent research has shown that the genus Columba is paraphyletic, with New World taxa being more closely related to Streptopelia than to Old World Columba pigeons. This is consistent with differences between New World and Old World Columba in terms of morphology, serology and behavior. The suggestion was made to place all New World forms in the genus Patagioenas, and the AOU recently adopted this change.
Eared Dove - Zenaida auriculata. A frequently seen open country species recorded almost daily. Here the race hypoleuca, with white tail tips.
West Peruvian Dove - Zenaida meloda. Common along the coast. A species of arid areas ranging from western Ecuador into northern Chile. The melancholic song is very different from that of the White-winged Dove Z. asiatica, from which it has been split.
White-tipped Dove – Leptotila verreauxi. Seen at Santa Eulalia.
Gray-fronted Dove - Leptotila rufaxilla. Heard only. Heard along the trail near the Oilbird cave at Tingo Maria.
Croaking Ground-Dove Columbina cruziana. Common along the coastal strip but also in the Rio Santa valley in Ancash.
Ruddy Ground-Dove - Columbina talpocotti. Seen around Tingo Maria.
Bare-faced Ground-Dove - Metriopelia ceciliae. Very good views at Santa Eulalia below the bridge (where we had breakfast and lunch).
CUCULIDAE
Smooth-billed Ani - Crotophaga ani. A few sightings near Tingo Maria.
OPISTHOCOMIDAE
Hoatzin – Opisthocomus hoazin. A surprise for this route but we saw a few near Apalla/Calabaza.
STRIGIDAE
Great (Lesser) Horned-Owl Bubo (magellanicus) virginianus. Scope views and pictures on our way to Huaraz.
Rufous-banded Owl - Ciccaba albitarsus. Heard only, near Apalla/Calabaza.
Peruvian Pygmy-owl - Glaucidium peruanum. Heard only, at Santa Eulalia.
Yungas Pygmy-owl - Glaucidium bolivianum. Great view of one below Carrizales on our way to Apalla/Calabaza.
Burrowing Owl - Athene cunicularia. Seen twice, first time at Lomas de Lachay and another one at Junín Lake.
STEATORNITHIDAE
Oilbird - Steatornis caripensis. Many hundreds in the Oilbird cave at Tingo Maria. Although it forages by sight, the Oilbird is one of only a few birds, and the only nocturnal one, known to navigate by echolocation in sufficiently poor light conditions, using a series of sharp audible clicks for this purpose. It also produces a variety of harsh screams while in its caves. Entering a cave with a light especially provokes these raucous calls; they also may be heard as the birds prepare to emerge from a cave at dusk.
Swallow-tailed Nightjar -Uropsalis segmentata. Two seen at Apalla/Calabaza just by one corner of the soccer field.
CAPRIMULGIDAE
APODIDAE
Andean Swift - Aeronautes andecolus. Great views of several on the west slope on our way to Lima from Carhuaz.
Neotropical Fork-tailed Palm Swift - Tachornis squamata. Common near Tingo Maria.
TROCHILIDAE
With some 330 currently recognized species, these amazing birds form one of the largest avian families in the New World, surpassed only by the Tyrant-flycatchers (Tyrannidae), the latter comprising over 370 species. Amazing little creatures, hummingbirds have a resting heart rate of 1000 beats per minute (compare this to the average human rate of around 60-80 beats per minute!). This carries tremendous amounts of oxygen and energy to the relatively massive breast muscles. In addition, birds have to have a huge lung capacity in order to keep up with the large amounts of oxygen needed. Their respiratory system is so highly developed that they can actually breathe in and out at the same time.
White-necked Jacobin - Florisuga mellivora. Seen near the Oilbird cave at Tingo Maria.
Black-throated Hermit – Phaetornis atrimentalis. Also seen at Tingo Maria.
Green Violet-ear - Colibri thalassinus. Great views on Patty trail.
Sparkling Violet-ear - Colibri coruscans. Quite common through the trip.
Amethyst-throated Sunangel - Heliangelus amethysticollis. Repeated encounters with this smart Cloud forest hummer. Here the race decolor, with a deep violet throat.
Speckled Hummingbird - Adelomyia melanogenys. Seen on three different days through the trip.
Long-tailed Sylph - Aglaiocercus kingi. Seen along the Paty trail and also around Apalla/Calabaza, here of the southern race smaragdinus. Named after Rear Admiral Philip Parker King (1791- 1856), British marine surveyor, collector and traveler in the American tropics.
Fork-tailed Woodnymph - Thalurania furcata. Seen near the Oilbird cave at Tingo Maria.
Bronze-tailed Comet - Polyonymus caroli. Great views at Santa Eulalia. A localized endemic. ENDEMIC.
Andean Hillstar - Oreotrochilus estella. One seen in the Huascaran National Park.
Black-breasted Hillstar - Oreotrochilus melanogaster. A pair were seen at Lake Junín. ENDEMIC.
Black-tailed Trainbearer - Lesbia victoriae. Seen on the Pariahuanca road above Chilifruta. From the Greek Lesbias – A woman of Lesbos.
Green-tailed Trainbearer – Lesbia nuna. Also seen on the Pariahuanca road and another one at the Huascaran National Park.
Rufous-capped Thornbill - Chalcostigma ruficeps. Seen at the Carpish tunnel trail.
Olivaceous Thornbill - Chalcostigma olivaceum. Very good views of one individual at Marcapomacocha. Range Restricted.
Coppery Metaltail - Metallura theresiae. The most frequently seen endemic at Bosque Unchog, and truly stunning. Here the nominate race, named after Princess Therese of Bavaria (1850-1925). ENDEMIC.
Fire-throated Metaltail - Metallura eupogon. One of our most wanted! Very good views at Parihuanca road and also at Carrizales. Greek – Eu = Good. Pogon = Beard. ENDEMIC.
Black Metaltail - Metallura phoebe. At Quebrada Llanganuco where this species was amazingly common and granted us many good views as it fed on the plentiful mistletoe flowers. ENDEMIC.
Tyrian Metaltail - Metallura tyrianthina. A handful of sightings of the blue-tailed race smaragdinicollis. Named after the color Tyrian purple; variously known as Royal purple, Tyrian purple, purple of the ancients, this ancient dyestuff, mentioned in texts dating about 1600 BC, was produced from the mucus of the hypobranchial gland of various species of marine mollusks, notably Murex. Although originating in old port of Tyre in modern day Syria (hence the name), man's first large scale chemical industry spread throughout the world. With the decline of the Roman Empire, the use of the dye also declined and large-scale production ceased with the fall of Constantinople in 1453. It was replaced by other cheaper dyes like lichen purple and madder.
Emerald-bellied Puffleg - Eriocnemis alinae. One on the Paty trail. Named for Aline Bourcier wife of French naturalist and tochilidist Jules Bourcier.
Shining Sunbeam - Aglaeactis cupripennis. Common. Here the southernmost race caumatonotus.
Bronzy Inca - Coeligena coeligena. 1 individual seen along the Paty trail.
Collared Inca - Coeligena torquata. Seen on our way back from Apalla/Calabaza to Concepcion and at Patty trail – here the white-breasted form. The orange-breasted form farther south, Gould's Inca Coeligena inca, is considered conspecific with Collared Inca C. torquata (SACC 2004)
Violet-throated Starfrontlet - Coeligena violifer. Sightings of the race dichroura bellow Carrizales and near Chilifruta.
Rainbow Starfrontlet - Coeligena iris. Seen on the Maria Josefina trail in the Huascaran National Park.
Mountain Velvetbreast - Lafresnaya lafresnayi. Seen on Pariahuanca road and on our way to Apalla/Calabaza.
Great Sapphirewing - Pterophanes cyanopterus. Seen on our way back from Apalla/Calabaza to Concepcion on the Satipo road –the world’s second largest Hummer.
Chestnut-breasted Coronet - Boissonneaua matthewsii. Seen on Patty trail.
Giant Hummingbird - Patagona gigas. This one is the largest one of all the Hummers! Seen twice, first seen at Santa Eulalia and then at Huascaran National Park.
Long-billed Starthroat - Heliomaster longirostris. Nice view of one at Tingo Maria near the Oilbird cave.
Purple-collared Woodstar - Myrtis fanny. Great views at Santa Eulalia and also seen at Pueblo Libre and another one after Conococha Lake on our way to Lima.
Peruvian Sheartail - Thaumastura cora. Nice views at Santa Eulalia but even better after Conococha Lake on our way to Lima. Range Restricted.
White-bellied Woodstar - Chaetocercus mulsant. Seen above Apalla/Calabaza.
Spot-throated Hummingbird - Leucippus taczanowskii. Excellent views of this modestly attired endemic at Pueblo Libre. ENDEMIC.
Amazilia Hummingbird - Amazilia amazilia. Seen at Lomas de Lachay.
TROGONIDAE
Golden-headed Quetzal - Pharomachrus auriceps. One seen above Apalla/Calabaza on our way back to Concepcion.
Masked Trogon - Trogon personatus. A pair of the nominate race performed beautifully along the Paty trail.
MOMOTIDAE
Amazonian Motmot - Momotus momotus. One seen nicely at Tingo Maria near the Oilbird cave.
Andean Motmot - Momotus aequatorialis. Great views of two individuals above Apalla/Calabaza on our way back to Concepcion.
Broad-billed Motmot - Electron platyrhynchum. Great views at Tingo Maria just outside the Oilbird cave.
GALBULIDAE
Bluish-fronted Jacamar - Galbula cyanescens. One seen at Tingo Maria.
BUCCONIDAE
Black-fronted Nunbird - Monasa nigrifrons. Also seen at Tingo Maria.
CAPITONIDAE
Gilded Barbet – Capito auratus. Heard only, at Tingo Maria.
RAMPHASTIDAE
Grey-breasted Mountain-Toucan - Andigena hypoglauca. Great looks on the Paty Trail on two different days. NEAR THREATENED.
Chestnut-eared Aracari - Pteroglossus castanotis. Seen at Tingo Maria around the Oilbird cave.
PICIDAE
Lafresnaye’s Piculet - Picumnus lafresnayi. Great views at Tingo Maria.
Bar-bellied Woodpecker - Veniliornis nigriceps. Very nice view of a pair at Carpish tunnel trail and another pair in our breakfast stop on our way to Huaraz from Huanuco.
Crimson-mantled Woodpecker - Piculus rivolli. Seen at the Carpish trail and another one on Patty trail. Named for another Frenchman Francois Victor Massena Prince d’Essling and Duc de Rivoli –ornithologist and collector 1795-1863.
Black-necked Woodpecker - Colaptes atricollis. Seen twice; first time, one seen at Santa Eulalia and second time three seen near the coast on our way to Lima. ENDEMIC.
Andean Flicker - Colaptes rupicola. A smart, largely terrestrial woodpecker of high elevations, encountered on numerous occasions. Two races were seen, cinereicapillus northward and puno southward.
FALCONIDAE
Black Caracara - Daptrius ater. 2 at Tingo Maria.
Mountain Caracara - Phalcoboenus megalopterus. This handsome high Andean falcon featured as the most often encountered raptor on the tour.
American Kestrel - Falco sparverius. A couple of encounters of this widespread open country species, which likely has benefited from centuries of habitat destruction in the Peruvian Andes.
Orange-breasted Falcon - Falco deiroleucus. Great views of a male on the Paty trail – this seems to be a regular stakeout!
PSITTACIDAE
Andean Parakeet - Bolborhynchus orbygnesius. Brief views at Unchog forest.
Pacific Parrotlet – Forpus coelestis. Seen near the coast on our way to Lima.
Blue-headed Parrot - Pionus menstruus. Some flew overhead near the Oilbird cave.
Speckle-faced Parrot - Pionus tumultuosus. Very nice views at Unchog forest, responded to play-back.
Scaly-naped Parrot - Amazona mercenarius. A few at breakfast at the head of the Paty trail.
White-eyed Parakeet - Psittacara leucophthalmus. Great views at the Tingo Maria Oilbird cave.
Blue-headed Macaw - Primolius couloni. A pair of fly-overs at the Tingo Maria Oilbird cave. VULNERABLE.
THAMNOPHILIDAE
Great Antshrike – Taraba major. Very good views at Tingo Maria.
Plain-winged Antshrike - Thamnophilus schistaceus. A nicely responsive bird at Tingo Maria.
Uniform Antshrike - Thamnophilus unicolor. A male seen at Paty trail.
Variable Antshrike - Thamnophilus caerulescens. Male and female seen at Paty trail.
Dot-winged Antwren - Microrhopias quixensis. Very nice view of a male at Tingo Maria near the Oilbird cave.
Pygmy Antwren - Myrmotherula brachyura. Also see at Tingo Maria.
Streak-headed Antbird - Drymophila straticeps. Seen on two consecutive days in Chusquea bamboo along the Carpish Tunnel trail. The article in Condor “AN INTEGRATIVE APPROACH TO SPECIES-LEVEL SYSTEMATICS REVEALS THE DEPTH OF DIVERSIFICATION IN AN ANDEAN THAMNOPHILID, THE LONG-TAILED ANTBIRD” By Morton L. Isler, Andrés M. Cuervo, and Gustavo A, Bravo, and Robb T. Brumfield In part says “we propose the following taxonomic positions and English names for members of the complex. Regarding the English names, we have rejected the inclusion of “long-tailed” in the names, as proposed by Cory and Hellmayr (1924), because the names would become too cumbersome. The sequence reflects the estimated phylogeny:
Drymophila klagesi Hellmayr and Seilern, 1912—Klages’s Antbird. Eastern and northern Venezuela, Serranía de Perijá, and northern Eastern Andes in Norte de Santander, Colombia (includes klagesi, aristeguietana, and Norte de Santander study groups; clade A).
Drymophila hellmayri Todd, 1915—Santa Marta Antbird. Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia (includes hellmayri; clade B).
Drymophila caudata (Sclater, 1854)—East Andean Antbird. Eastern Andes from Santander (west of the Chicamocha Canyon) to Caquetá and Huila, Colombia (includes Santander and Upper Magdalena study groups; clade C).
Drymophila striaticeps Chapman, 1912—Streak-headed Antbird. The Western and Central Andes of Colombia south through Ecuador (both slopes) and Peru (eastern slope) to northwestern Bolivia in La Paz (includes striaticeps, occidentalis, peruviana, and boliviana; clade D).
Yellow-breasted Warbling Antbird - Hypocnemis subflava. Responded to play-back, we saw really well at Tingo Maria near the Oilbird cave.
Black-faced Antbird – Myrmoborus myotherinus. Another one seen really well at Tingo Maria near the Oilbird cave.
Spot-winged Antbird - Schistocichla leucostigma. A pair seen at Tingo Maria really well with even pictures. Ridgely & Tudor (1994) and Zimmer & Isler (2003) suggested that the formerly broadly defined Schistocichla leucostigma probably consisted of more than one species. Braun et al. (2005) provided evidence that the Tepui taxon saturata deserves species rank. SACC proposal passed to treat saturata as a species. Isler et al. (2007) further showed that the taxa humaythae, brunneiceps, and rufifacies, currently treated as subspecies of P. leucostigma, also warrant species rank. SACC proposal passed to revise species limits. So now 5 species:
Schistocichla leucostigma - Spot-winged Antbird
Schistocichla humaythae - Humaita Antbird
Schistocichla brunneiceps - Brownish-headed Antbird
Schistocichla rufifacies - Rufous-faced Antbird
Schistocichla saturata - Roraiman Antbird
Chestnut-tailed Antbird - Myrmeciza hemimelaena. 1 seen at Tingo Maria near the Oilbird cave.
GRALLARIIDAE
Undulated Antpitta - Grallaria squamigera. Heard only, at Unchog forest.
Stripe-headed Antpitta - Grallaria andicola andicola. This one was quite easy. At least 4 seen at various localities throughout the tour of the nominate race.
Bay Antpitta - Grallaria capitalis. Nice looks on the Carpish Tunnel trail. One of the hardest Grallaria to see. ENDEMIC.
Rufous Antpitta - Grallaria rufula obscura. Great views of one above Chilifrutas on the Parihuanca road. The endemic race obscura. The ‘Rufous Antpitta’ complex will fall apart into a number of species. A possible English name for ‘G. obscura’ could be ‘Fulvous Antpitta’. ENDEMIC.
Chestnut Antpitta - Grallaria blakei. Nice looks on two consecutive days in the Carpish Mountains and Paty trail. NEAR THREATENED ENDEMIC.
Rusty-breasted Antpitta - Grallaricula ferrugineipectus. Heard only, at Paty trail.
SCYTALOPIDAE
Large-footed Tapaculo - Scytalopus macropus. Good views of one individual at Unchog forest. ENDEMIC.
Rufous-vented Tapaculo- Scytalopus femoralis. Another common voice along the Paty trail (mainly below the range of Trilling Tapaculo, though with some overlap) and one coaxed into view. ENDEMIC.
“Millpo” Tapaculo - Scytalopus sp. nov.. An as yet un-described species we searched for and saw well along the Satipo road. This Tapaculo has been known for over 25 years and was collected near Millpo in Pasco department. It is mentioned in Birds of the High Andeans by Fjeldså and Krabbe which published in 1991. ENDEMIC.
Junin Tapaculo - Scytalopus gettyae. Great views of 2 individuals on the Satipo road. Only described in June 2013. The new species is named gettyae after Caroline Marie Getty in honor of her long-term dedication to nature preservation. She has devoted significant time and effort to conservation, serving on boards for numerous organizations, including the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF). ENDEMIC.
Neblina Tapaculo - Scytalopus altirostris. Heard only, at Unchog forest. ENDEMIC.
Ancash Tapaculo - Scytalopus affinis. Two responded well to playback on two consecutive days in the Huascaran National Park. Very small range in the Cordillera Blanca. ENDEMIC.
Tschudi’s Tapaculo - Scytalopus acutirostris. The most widespread Tapaculo. Seen above Chilifruta. ENDEMIC.
Ash-colored Tapaculo – Myornis senilis. Two individuals seen at the Carpish trail.
FURNARIIDAE
Common Miner - Geositta cunicularia. About 4 birds were seen by the Junin Lake in Junín department. Race juninensis.
Grayish Miner - Geositta maritima. Good views at Lomas de Lachay. ENDEMIC.
Coastal Miner - Geositta peruviana. One of this Peruvian endemic at Lomas de Lachay and few more at Laguna Paraiso. The genus name literally means ‘nuthatch of the earth’. ENDEMIC.
Dark-winged Miner - Geositta saxicolina. Great views of 5 individuals seen at Marcapomacocha. ENDEMIC.
Thick-billed Miner - Geositta crassirostris. Great views of a pair after at the 11th hour, a long time looking for it and finally they responded to the play-back at Lomas de Lachay. ENDEMIC.
Slender-billed Miner - Geositta tenuirostris. Seen at three different localities; at Marcapomacocha, Satipo road and on our way to Huaraz from Huanuco.
Olive-backed Woodcreeper - Xiphorhynchus triangularis. Nice views at Paty trail.
Olivaceous Woodcreeper – Sittasomus griseicapillus. Seen in Tingo Maria near the Oilbird cave.
Cinnamon-throated Woodcreeper – Dendrexetastes rufigula. Also seen at Tingo Maria.
Montane Woodcreeper - Lepidocolaptes lacrymiger. Seen at Paty trail in mixed flocks. Lacrymyger is Latin “tear gathering” referring to the spotting.
Streaked Tuftedcheek - Pseudocolaptes boissonneautii. A bromeliad specialist, showing particularly well along the Carpish trail (auritus) seen on several days.
Striated Earthcreeper - Geocerthia serrana. A very smart endemic on the upper Satipo road and few more at Llanganuco lakes. ENDEMIC.
Buff-breasted Earthcreeper - Upucerthia validirostris. Great views at Marcapomacocha and Junin Lake. Although the jelskii subspecies group (Plain-breasted Earthcreeper) has been considered separate species from U. validirostris in most recent classifications (e.g., Meyer de Schauensee 1970, Ridgely & Tudor 1994, Sibley & Monroe 1990), evidence for their treatment as such is weak (Remsen 2003). Earlier classifications treated them as conspecific (e.g., Cory & Hellmayr 1925, Peters 1951). A report of sympatry in southern Bolivia (Cabot 1990) is based on a misidentification (Remsen 2003). Genetic data (Chesser et al. 2007, Fjeldsa et al. 2007) confirm that they are sister taxa but weakly differentiated (Derryberry et al. 2011). Areta & Pearman (2009, 2013) found no differences in their voices. Areta & Pearman (2013) proposed that they be treated as conspecific. SACC proposal passed to treat them as conspecific. SACC proposal passed to use the English name Buff-breasted Earthcreeper for broadly defined U. validirostris.
Cream-winged Cinclodes - Cinclodes albiventris. The most frequently encountered member of this genus, here of the races longipennis and rivularis, both having whitish wing bars (but still not as contrasting as the wing bars on the next species). This is split from Cinclodes fuscus Bar-winged Cinclodes which now does not exist and is split as follows: Buff-winged Cinclodes C. fuscus, Cream-winged Cinclodes C. albiventris & Chestnut-winged Cinclodes C.albidiventris . (Sanin et al 2009, SACC).
White-bellied Cinclodes - Cinclodes palliatus. Amazing view of one individual sat for a moment on a big rock at Marcapomacocha. CRITICALLY ENDENGERED ENDEMIC.
Buff-browed Foliage-gleaner - Syndactyla rufosuperciliata. A brief view at Paty trail.
Buff-throated Foliage-gleaner – Automolus ochrolaemus. One seen at Tingo Maria near the Oilbird cave.
Dusky-cheeked Foliage-gleaner – Anabazenops dorsalis. One seen at Tingo Maria.
Spotted Barbtail - Premnoplex brunnescens. Two seen at Paty trail.
Pearled Treerunner - Margarornis squamiger. Numerous encounters in high-elevation mixed flocks (peruvianus).
Tawny Tit-Spinetail - Leptasthenura yanacensis. 1 seen very well above beyond Portochuelo pass in the Huascaran National Park. This species is thought to have a moderately small population, which is highly fragmented within its moderately small range. It is likely to be declining owing to ongoing habitat loss and degradation. It is currently considered Near Threatened, and should be carefully monitored for future changes in the rate of decline. NEAR THREATENED, Range Restricted.
Rusty-crowned Tit-Spinetail - Leptasthenura pileata. We encountered this species at the Llanganuco lakes, here of the race cajabambae which has the rusty crown streaked with black. ENDEMIC.
Streaked Tit-spinetail - Leptasthenura striata. Good views at Lomas de Lachay and Santa Eulalia. Range Restricted.
Streak-fronted (Mantaro) Thornbird - Phacellodomus (sp.nov) striaticeps. We descended a bit to see this and finally saw a pair of this soon to be described taxon. Seen below Chilifruta near Pariahuanca in the Mantaro drainage. Hadoram’s photograph may be the first ever publically available of a bird in the wild. ENDEMIC.
White-chinned Thistletail - Asthenes fuliginosa. Seen really well of two individuals near the camp site at Bosque Unchog. Birds here belong to the endemic race plengei, one of two subspecies found south of the Marañon. With Mouse-coloured Thistletail S. griseomurina squeezed in between the range of these and the nominate further north, more than one species may be involved. Genetic work has indicated that the genus Schizoeaca should be merged with Asthenes.
Eye-ringed Thistletail - Asthenes palpebralis. Unbelievable close-ups of very responsive birds along the Satipo road. A Peruvian endemic with just a small range in Junín department. Southward it is replaced by Vilcabamba Thistletail S. vilcabambae. ENDEMIC.
Canyon Canastero - Asthenes pudibunda. Very good views at Santa Eulalia. Range Restricted.
Pale-tailed Canastero - Asthenes huancavelicae sp.nov. Another Peruvian endemic seen very well including pictures of two individuals responding really well to the tape on the second day at Pueblo Libre. Birds here belong to an un-described, highly localized and cinnamon-tailed race. Note that Pale-tailed Canastero, Dark-winged Canastero A. arequipae and Rusty-vented Canastero A. dorbignyi were all lumped together as Creamy-breasted Canastero A. dorbignyi at some stage. While there seems to be variation in both plumage and vocalizations in this complex, a thorough taxonomic analysis of all these forms is badly needed. Asthenes huancavelicae is split from A. dorbignyi (Fjeldså & Krabbe (1990, Ridgely & Tudor 1994); SACC needs analysis to reconsider. ENDEMIC.
Streak-throated Canastero - Asthenes humilis. This unusually grayish Canastero of bleak high Andean country was seen on several occasions.
Many-striped Canastero - Asthenes flammulata. Two individuals responded really well to tape at Huascaran National Park where we saw the White-cheeked Cotinga beyond Portochuelo pass.
Line-fronted Canastero - Asthenes urubambensis. Good looks at Bosque Unchog. Almost an endemic. NEAR THREATENED, Range Restricted.
Junin Canastero - Asthenes virgata. Very good views at Marcapomacocha. ENDEMIC.
Baron’s Spinetail - Cranioleuca baroni. Another smart endemic. This one was common near the Llanganuco lakes (nominate) at the Huascaran National Park. Another Peruvian endemic, though evidence for the Baron’s (or Southern Line-cheeked) Spinetail vs. Line-cheeked (or Northern Line-cheeked) Spinetail C. antisiensis split as proposed in e.g. Ridgely & Tudor seems to be exceptionally weak. The closest populations, geographically, of C. antisiensis and C. baroni are more similar to one another than they are to other subspecies within their respective ‘species’, and drawing a line between these two is arbitrary, even though the extremes differ radically. ENDEMIC.
Creamy-crested Spinetail - Cranioleuca albicapilla. Fantastic response to playback, we couldn’t have had any better views of this lovely endemic, here of the nominate race above Chilifruta. Unlike Synallaxis spinetails, members of this genus are typically arboreal, often favoring vine tangles in mid-storey and sub canopy. ENDEMIC.
Marcapata Spinetail - Cranioleuca marcapatae weskeii. Fantastic views of two individuals beyond Apalla/Calabaza on the Andamarca road where we did a detour just to look for this species and we were lucky to find a mixed species flock with a pair of this species, that responded really well to the tape. Dan Lane pointed out that these birds were practically identical to weskei race of Marcapata Spinetail in Cusco and Barry Walker has seen intermediates in the southern Vilcabamba Mountains. More analysis needed here. VULNERABLE ENDEMIC.
Cactus Canastero - Pseudosthenes cactorum. After a while waiting we finally saw one that came to tape at Lomas de Lachay. Another great Peruvian endemic. ENDEMIC.
Azara’s Spinetail - Synallaxis azarae. A widespread Spinetail, seen along the Paty trail (infumata). Named for the Spaniard Brigadier General Felix Manuel de Azara (1742-1821) who commanded the Paraguayan/Brazilian frontier.
Rufous Spinetail - Synallaxis unirufa. A species with a strong affinity for Chusquea bamboo, seen well along the Carpish tunnel.
TYRANNIDAE
Black-capped Tyrannulet - Phyllomyias nigrocapillus. One seen at the Carpish tunnel.
Yellow-crowned Tyrannulet - Tyrannulus elatus. Good views at Tingo Maria.
Sierran Elaenia - Elaenia pallatangae. The race intensa was along the Satipo road, and scattered birds were found elsewhere.
Southern Beardless-Tyrannulet - Camptostoma obsoletum. One bird seen at Pueblo Libre. A taxonomic mess, with more than one species certainly being involved.
White-throated Tyrannulet - Mecocerculus leucophrys. A typical species of temperate forest and the tree line, common and conspicuous at Bosque Unchog. Here the race brunneomarginatus.
White-banded Tyrannulet - Mecocerculus stictopterus. Fairly common in mixed flocks in the Carpish Mountains and elsewhere.
Black-crested Tit-Tyrant - Anairetes nigrocristatus. Two birds seen well and even good pictures at the Huascaran National Park near the Llanganuco Lake. Range Restricted.
Pied-crested Tit-Tyrant - Anairetes reguloides. Very good views at Santa Eulalia.
Yellow-billed Tit-Tyrant - Anairetes flavirostris. Seen at Santa Eulalia and also one more on our way to Huaraz from Huanuco.
Tufted Tit-Tyrant - Anairetes parulus. A pair seen right at the breakfast spot above Chilifruta.
Unstreaked Tit-Tyrant - Uromyias agraphia. A few seen of this endemic at the Carpish Tunnel. ENDEMIC.
Short-tailed Pygmy-Tyrant – Myiornis ecaudatus. One bird seen at Tingo Maria near the Oilbird cave.
Rufous-headed Pygmy-Tyrant - Pseudotriccus ruficeps. Brief view at Paty trail in the Chusquea bamboo. Cute little guy!
Peruvian Tyrannulet - Zimmerius viridiflavus. Numerous by voice along the Paty trail, with 1 bird showing well in response to playback. The genus is named in honor of John Zimmer (1889-1957), a US ornithologist who (among other works) wrote the monumental Studies of Peruvian Birds (1931). ENDEMIC.
Mottle-cheeked Tyrannulet - Phylloscartes ventralis. Very nice view along the Paty trail.
Streak-necked Flycatcher - Mionectes striaticollis. A few sightings along the Paty trail (palamblae). Flycatchers in this genus are unusual in being frugivorous rather than insectivorous. Hence, like many Cotingas and Manakins, they also have lek systems.
Inca Flycatcher - Leptopogon taczanowskii. Another Peruvian endemic, seen on two different days along the Paty trail. ENDEMIC.
Sepia-capped Flyctacher - Leptopogon amaurocephalus. One seen at Tingo Maria.
Many-colored Rush-Tyrant - Tachuris rubrigastra. We found this multi-colored reed dweller on Lake Junín, apparently the northernmost high Andean breeding locality.
Yellow-browed Tody-Fkycatcher - Todirostrum chrysocrotaphum. One at Tingo Maria.
Olive-faced (Yellow-breasted) Tolmomyias - Tolmomyias viridiceps. Two seen at Tingo Maria. Tolmomyias viridiceps is split from T. flaviventris (Ridgely & Greenfield 2001; Hilty 2003); SACC needs proposal.
Flavescent Flycatcher - Myiophobus flavicans. One on the Paty Trail.
Cinnamon Flycatcher - Pyrrhomyias cinnamomea. Fairly common along the Paty trail and at the Carpish tunnel (nominate).
Cliff Flyctacher - Hirundinea ferruginea. 2 at Tingo Maria right at the entrance of the Oilbird’s cave.
Ochraceous-breasted Flycatcher - Nephelomyias ochraceiventris. Seen on two consecutive days of these cuties at Bosque Unchog.
Black Phoebe - Sayornis nigricans. Here the race angustirostris, more than one species possibly being involved.
Vermilion Flycatcher - Pyrocephalus rubinus. Seen at Lomas de Lachay and at Pueblo Libre.
Andean Negrito - Lessonia oreas. Numerous around Lake Junín. Others on Conococha Lake on our way to Lima.
Rufous-tailed Tyrant - Knipolegus poecilurus. One near the clearing along the Paty trail.
White-winged Black-Tyrant - Knipolegus aterrimus. A pair below Chilifruta.
Rufous-naped Ground-Tyrant - Muscisaxicola rufivertex. A few at Yuraccorral in Huascaran National Park.
Puna Ground-Tyrant - Muscisaxicola juninensis. A couple at Yuraccorral in Huascaran National Park.
Taczanowski’s Ground-Tyrant - Muscisaxicola grisea. Seen at Marcapomacocha.
Cinereous Ground-Tyrant - Muscisaxicola cinerea. Good views also at Marcapomacocha.
White-fronted Ground-Tyrant - Muscisaxicola albifrons. A few seen really well at Marcapomacocha.
Ochre-naped Ground-Tyrant - Muscisaxicola flavinucha. Several individuals seen at Marcapomacocha.
Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant - Agriornis montana. Seen on two different days of the subspecies insolens at high elevations.
Streak-throated Bush-Tyrant Myiotheretes striaticollis. Seen below Chilifruta.
Rufous-webbed Tyrant - Polioxolmis rufipennis. Seen at the Huascaran National Park. Formerly either placed in Myiotheretes or Xolmis, but the new monotypic genus Polioxolmis was proposed for this species in the mid- eighties.
Smoky Bush-Tyrant - Myiotheretes fumigatus. Great views at Carpish trail.
Crowned (Kalinowski’s) Chat-Tyrant - Ochthoeca (spodionota) frontalis. One seen at Unchog forest.
Golden-browed Chat-Tyrant - Ochthoeca pulchella. Heard only, at Carpish trail.
Slaty-backed (Maroon-belted) Chat Tyrant - Ochthoeca (thoracia) cinnamomeiventris. One seen above Apalla/Calabaza and another one at Carpish trail. Garcia-Moreno et al. (1998) suggested that the plumage and genetic differences between subspecies groups north and south of the Maranon should be recognized at the species level, with Ochthoeca thoracica the name for the southern species. Ridgely & Tudor (1994) reported that there are also vocal differences that would support this split. Ridgely & Greenfield (2001) and Hilty (2003) further recognized Venezuelan nigrita as a separate species from O. cinnamomeiventris, as done by Cory & Hellmayr (1927); see Zimmer (1937b) for the rationale for treating them all as conspecific based on plumage pattern, the treatment followed by Fitzpatrick (2004). Proposal needed.
Rufous-breasted Chat-Tyrant - Ochthoeca rufipectoralis. A regularly encountered chat-tyrant. In Ancash and Huanuco we encountered the race centralis, while in Junín we saw tectricialis.
Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant - Ochthoeca fumicolor. The most frequently seen chat-tyrant of treeline, here of the race brunneifrons, more than one species possibly being involved (cf. Ridgely & Tudor, Vol. II).
D’Orbigny’s Chat-Tyrant - Ochthoeca oenanthoides. A few seen around Llanganuco Lake. Alcide d’Orbigny was a 19th century French naturalist and collector who spent over half a decade in South America. In addition to birds he assembled specimens of many life forms, as well as a large collection of fossils. The latter led him to determine that there were many geological layers, revealing that they must have been laid down over millions of years. This was the first time such an idea had ever been suggested.
White-browed Chat-Tyrant - Ochthoeca leucophrys. Three sightings of this dry-country chat-tyrant.
Social Flycatcher - Myiozetetes similis. Seen at Tingo Maria.
Great Kiskadee - Pitangus sulphuratus. A few at Tingo Maria.
Tropical Kingbird Tyrannus melancholicus. A few in the foothills in the Huanuco valley and at Tingo Maria.
Dusky-capped Flycatcher - Myiarchus tuberculifer. One seen at Carpish trail.
Short-crested Flycatcher - Myiarchus ferox. Two seen at Tingo Maria.
COTINGIDAE
Band-tailed Fruiteater - Pipreola intermedia. Nice look at a responsive pair on the Paty trail.
Barred Fruiteater - Pipreola arcuata. One seen on the Satipo road and cracking males showed at close range alongside the track at the Carpish tunnel (viridicauda).
Masked Fruiteater - Pipreola pulchra. Great looks at a male on the second try and at the very last minutes at the Paty trail. ENDEMIC.
White-cheeked Cotinga - Zaratornis Stresemanni. Great looks at two individuals of this Peruvian endemic beyond Portochuelo pass (at the Aurelio’s spot). Only described in the late 60’s. The generic name comes from the type locality – Bosque Zarate not far from the central highway. Stresmanni comes from Erwin Freidrich Stresemann the German ornithologist and collector. VULNERABLE ENDEMIC.
Bay-vented Cotinga - Doliornis sclateri. Fabulous looks at four in total at Bosque Unchog. A Bosque Unchog speciality. Named for British ornithologist and collector Philip Lutley Sclater (1829-1913) who has lots of birds named after him. VULNERABLE ENDEMIC.
Red-crested Cotinga - Ampelion rubrocristata. Repeated good views of this widespread Andean Cotinga.
TITYRIDAE
Black-crowned Tytyra - Tityra inquisitor. One seen at Tingo Maria.
Barred Becard - Pachyramphus versicolor. Seen twice; at Carpish and Paty Trail.
White-winged Becard - Pachyramphus polychopterus. Male and female at Tingo Maria.
VIREONIDAE
Red-eyed (Chivi) Vireo - Vireo (chivi) leucophrys. 2 at Tingo Maria.
CORVIIDAE
White-collared Jay - Cyanolyca viridicyana. 2 on the Satipo road and also at Carpish trail. Range Restricted.
Violaceous Jay - Cyanacorax violaceous. In the lowlands at Tingo Maria.
HIRUNDINIDAE
Blue-and-white Swallow - Pygochelidod cyanoleuca. The most frequently encountered hirundine.
Brown-bellied Swallow - Orchelidon murina. Many good looks at this high elevation swallow (nominate).
Andean Swallow - Orchelidon andecola. Good views at Marcapomacocha. Birds here belong to the race oroyae, named after the mining town of La Oroya.
TROGLODYTIDAE
Southern Nightingale-Wren - Microcerculus marginatus. Nice view of one at Tingo Maria.
House Wren - Troglodytes aedon. Numerous and widespread. Here found up to much higher elevations than in e.g. Ecuador.
Mountain Wren- Troglodytes solstitialis. Seen several times through the tour.
Junín Wren - Cistothorus graminicola. Excellent looks at Unchoc forest at the race graminicola, one of the South American subspecies that seem to be quite different from the North American stellaris group. Robbins & Nyári (2014) found that Cistothorus platensis was paraphyletic with respect to the other two, and they proposed recognition of nine species within broadly defined platensis, seven of which are in South America: C. alticola, C. aequatorialis, C. graminicola, C. minimus, C. tucumanus, C. hornensis, and C. platensis. ENDEMIC.
Peruvian Wren - Cinnycerthia peruana. This melodious songster was seen daily at the Paty Trail and the Carpish Tunnel and also along the Satipo road. ENDEMIC.
E ‘Mantaro Wren’ - Pheugopedius sp. nov. Superb views above Chilifruta, of this vociferous Pheugopedius wren in Chusquea bamboo on the higher slopes above the Rio Mantaro along the Pariahuanca road. The spotting below is reminiscent of that found on the underparts of some races of the geographically quite remote Plain-tailed Wren P. euophrys but the voice is quite different from the latter (especially compared to the southernmost race schulenbergi), and moreover our birds had some faint barring on the tail. The song is not unlike that of Inca Wren T. eisenmanni (so far only known to occur farther south, in the Vilcanota and Vilcabamba mountains on both sides of the Urubamba valley) but the latter has plain underparts and is found in an area separated from where we were by the deep Apurimac Valley, a major biogeographic barrier. So for now I tentatively regard this taxon as a new species to science, though collection of specimens, detailed comparisons and preferably also genetic analysis are needed to really determine the taxonomic status of this new form. Note the genus change the SACC says “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)”. ENDEMIC.
Grey-breasted Wood-Wren - Henicorhina leucophrys. Common along the Paty trail, and we called in a couple.
CINCLIDAE
White-capped Dipper - Cinclus leucocephalus. Great looks at these wonderful birds at several localities. This species does not dip! Feeds above the surface only.
TURDIDAE
Andean Solitaire - Myadestes ralloides. Heard only.
White-eared Solitaire - Entomodestes lecotis. Great looks at one individual on the Paty trail.
Chiguanco Thrush - Turdus chiguanco. Numerous and widespread, mainly in drier areas. Note that a detailed study of the Chiguanco/Great Thrush complex is needed to determine exactly how many species-level taxa exist. The name comes from the Quechua “Chiwanco”.
Great Thrush - Turdus fuscater. Another common thrush, this one mainly being found in more humid mountainous areas.
Glossy Black Thrush - Turdus serranus. One bird on the Satipo road.
Black-billed Thrush - Turdus ignobilis. Common at Tingo Maria.
MIMIDAE
Long-tailed Mockingbird - Mimus longicaudatus. Common on the Pacific slope of the Andes.
MOTACILLIDAE
Yellowish Pipit - Anthus lutescens. 1 bird seen at Lomas de Lachay. Here the near-endemic race peruvianus, isolated on the Pacific coast of Peru and northern Chile. Note that the song of this form is totally different (observations P. Coopmans and A. Jaramillo) and that species status for this form is probably warranted. (‘Peruvian Pipit’ would be the most obvious English name).
THRAUPIDAE
White-browed Hemispingus - Hemispingus auricularis. Several sightings in mixed flocks along the Paty Trails and Satipo road. A Peruvian endemic recently split from Black-capped Hemispingus H. atropileus (though the new Peru field guide does not follow this split). The SACC says “The subspecies auricularis is at least as distinct genetically and morphologically, and should presumably given equal taxonomic rank (García-Moreno et al. 2001, García-Moreno & Fjeldså 2003). Hemispingus auricularis is split from H.atropileus (García-Moreno & Fjeldså 2003); SACC needs proposal. ENDEMIC.
Superciliaried Hemispingus - Hemispingus superciliaris. Good views of one with a big mixed flock near the Carpish tunnel and Satipo road. Here the all-grey race insignis.
Oleaginous Hemispingus - Hemispingus frontalis. Good views at Paty trail.
Black-eared Hemispingus - Hemispingus melanotis. Seen on two different days at Paty trail. Another Hemispingus of the race berlepschi. Note the IOC says - Hemispingus ochraceus (Western Hemispingus – west slope of Andes in SW Colombia and W Ecuador) is split from H.melanotus (Ridgely & Greenfield 2001); SACC needs proposal. Hemispingus piurae (Piura Hemispingus – Exterme SW Ecuador and NW Peru) is split from H.melanotus (Ridgely & Greenfield 2001, García-Moreno & Fjeldså 2003).
Rufous-browed Hemispingus - Hemispingus rufosuperciliaris. Heard only. Only heard from quite a long distance away, and down low that we did try going down but he stopped calling eventually...ENDEMIC.
Three-striped Hemispingus - Hemispingus trifasciatus. Seen on the Satipo road, bellow carrizales.
Grey-hooded Bush Tanager - Cnemoscopus rubrirostris. We saw the black billed chrysogaster subspecies in a mixed flock at the Paty trail and also on the Satipo road. The southern subspecies chrysogaster was considered a separate species from Cnemoscopus rubrirostris.
Rufous-chested Tanager - Thlypopsis ornate. Seen at Santa Eulalia.
Brown-flanked Tanager - Thlypopsis pectoralis. Excellent views of three individuals of this upper Huallaga valley endemic at the Carpish Tunnel. ENDEMIC.
Pardusco - Nephelornis oneilli. Good views of this endemic at Bosque Unchog and seen daily. Very playback responsive. Named after Dr. John O’Neill, ornithologist and artist who designed many of LSU’s expeditions to Peru which resulted in well over a dozen species new to science that were described in the last few decades. John is also one of the authors and artists of the Peru field guide. ENDEMIC.
Black-bellied (Huallaga) Tanager - Ramphocelus melanogaster. Nice looks at this endemic near the Oilbird cave. ENDEMIC.
Hooded Mountain-Tanager - Buthraupis Montana. 2 of this very smart mountain tanager, here of the race cyanonota, at the Paty trail.
Golden-backed Mountain-Tanager - Cnemathraupis aureodorsalis. 6 in total seen the first morning at Unchog forest near the camp site. Probably the hardest Unchog specialty to see. Sibley & Monroe (1990) considered Buthraupis eximia and B. aureodorsalis to form a superspecies. Sedano & Burns (2010) confirmed that they are sister species but also found that they are sister to Chlorornis riefferii. SACC proposal passed to remove from Buthraupis and to resurrect the genus Cnemathraupis for them. ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
Grass-green Tanager - Chlorornis riefferii. Seen along the Paty Trail, Carpish tunnel and the Satipo road.
Lacrimose Mountain-Tanager - Anisognathus lacrymosus. Regular sightings in the Paty trail/Carpish/Satipo road area (nominate).
Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager - Anisognathus igniventris. Another really good looking tanager that was frequently seen (ignicrissus).
Buff-breasted Mountain-Tanager - Dubusia taeniata. Seen at the Carpish trail and at Unchoc forest.
Chestnut-bellied Mountain - Tanager castaneoventris. A few seen on the Satipo road – tends to stay lower than other Tanagers like the former. Range Restricted.
Golden-collared Tanager - Iridosornis jelskii. Several of these most handsome tanagers were present in mixed flocks at Bosque Unchog.
Yellow-scarfed Tanager - Iridosornis reinhardti. 8+ individuals of this skulking Tanager seen the first day with mixed flocks at Bosque Unchog and 2 more at Carpish trail. This beautiful endemic is name for Danish ornithologist Johannes Theodore Reinhardt (1816-1882). ENDEMIC.
Blue-grey Tanager - Thraupis episcopus. Common near Tingo Maria showed two white wing bars, typical for Amazonian races.
Palm Tanager - Thraupis palm arum. Also seen at Tingo Maria.
Blue-capped Tanager - Thraupis cyanocephala. Seen in several locations of the nominate race throughout the trip.
Blue-and-yellow Tanager - Pipraeidea bonariensis. Small numbers were found on two different days. Named after Buenos Aires, Argentina’s capital. The southernmost ranging Tanager.
Fawn-breasted Tanager - Pipraeidea melanonota. One on the Carpish trail.
Saffron-crowned Tanager - Tangara xanthocephala. Regular sightings of the yellow-crowned race venusta along the Satipo road and Paty trail.
Flame-faced Tanager - Tangara parzudakii. Good views of this stunner along the Paty trail (nominate).
Blue-necked Tanager - Tangara cyanicollis. A few seen at Tingo Maria.
Beryl-spangled Tanager - Tangara nigroviridis. Seen on the Satipo road and at Paty trail.
Blue-and-black Tanager - Tangara vassorii. Great views on the Satipo road and also at Paty trail.
Tit-like Dacnis - Xenodacnis parina. This showy and very noisy species was found to be abundant in mixed Polylepis/Gynoxis woodland near the Llanganuco lakes (petersi) and beyond the pass.
Purple Honeycreeper - Cyanerpes caeruleus. Seen at Tingo Maria.
Cinereous Conebill - Conirostrum cinereum. Seen in several localities. We saw two races, littorale and nominate.
Blue-backed Conebill - Conirostrum sitticolor. Several in mixed species flocks; on the Satipo road and at Unchoc forest.
Capped Conebill - Conirostrum albifrons. Seen twice along the Paty trail.
Giant Conebill - Oreomanes fraseri. Wonderful views on two consecutive days in Polylepis woodland Quebrada Llanganuco. Though at present the Giant Conebill is only regarded as near-threatened, its numbers must have dwindled considerably as the amount of Polylepis forest must have declined tremendously over the last few centuries, and this habitat is nowadays highly fragmented. NEAR THREATENED.
Mustached Flowerpiercer - Diglossa mystacalis. Many superb views of this very handsome nectarivore of high elevations. Flowerpiercers are nectar thieves, as their name suggests piercing the flowers at their base without performing any pollination duties.
Black-throated Flowerpiercer - Diglossa brunneiventris. Regular sightings of the nominate race.
Masked Flowerpiercer - Diglossopis cyanea. Many observations on the Satipo road.
Peruvian Sierra-Finch - Phrygilus punensis. Seen at Marcapomacocha and around Junin Lake and also at the Huascaran National Park of the race chloronotus. Named for the town of Puno on Lake Titicaca.
Mourning Sierra-Finch - Phrygilus fruticeti. A few seen at Santa Eulaia.
Plumbeous Sierra-Finch - Phrygilus unicolor. This one was seen regularly at very high elevations (inca).
Band-tailed Sierra-Finch - Phrygilus alaudinus. Good views at Lomas de Lachay.
Ash-breasted Sierra-Finch - Phrygilus plebejus. Regular sightings of this rather drab bird. Here the nominate race.
White-winged Diuca-Finch - Diuca speculifera. Great views at Marcapomacocha.
Great Inca-Finch - Incaspiza pulchra. Very nice view of two individuals at Santa Eulaia. ENDEMIC.
Rufous-backed Inca-Finch - Incaspiza personata. One seen well by all at the park entrance at Lake Llanganuco after some searching. ENDEMIC.
Plain-tailed Warbling-Finch - Poospiza alticola. Excellent looks at 6 birds beyond Portochuelo pass in Polylepis woodland and also seen the second day above Llanalluco Lake. A lovely Peruvian endemic, which has been given ‘Endangered’ status by Birdlife International. ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
Bright-rumped Yellow-Finch - Sicalis uropygialis. Good numbers were found at Marcapomacocha, around Lake Junín where they nest in the eaves of houses. (sharpei).
Greenish Yellow-Finch - Sicalis olivascens. Seen at Santa Eulalia.
Band-tailed Seedeater -Catamenia analis. Numerous.
Plain-colored Seedeater - Catamenia inornata. Common at higher elevations; seen on the Satipo road and at Huascaran National Park.
Bananaquit - Coereba flaveola. Seen at Tingo Maria.
INCERTA SEDIS
Recent data shows these guys belong with the Tanagers.
Buff-throated Saltator - Saltator maximus. Seen at Tingo Maria.
Golden-billed Saltator - Saltator aurantiirostris. Seen at the Huascaran National Park (albociliaris).
EMBERIZIDAE
Rufous-collared Sparrow - Zonotrichia capensis. Almost every single day throughout the trip.
Yellow-browed Sparrow - Ammodramus aurifrons. A few seen at Tingo Maria.
Tricolored Brushfinch - Atlapetes tricolor. Good views along the Paty trail. Note that the widely disjunctive race crassus (found on the western slope of the Andes in Ecuador and Colombia) has been split off as a different species, the Choco Brush-Finch. ENDEMIC.
Slaty Brushfinch - Atlapetes schistaceus. Regular sightings of the race taczanowskii.
Rusty-bellied Brushfinch Atlapetes nationi. Yet another Peruvian endemic, this one only occurring in the department of Lima. It showed beautifully at Santa Eulalia. ENDEMIC.
Rufous-eared Brushfinch - Atlapetes rufigenis. Excellent views of this smart endemic at Quebrada Llanganuco. NEAR THREATENED ENDEMIC.
Black-spectacled Brushfinch - Atlapetes melanopsis. Stunning views of 2 individuals near Chillifruta. Originally described as A. melanops, this species is an endemic of the Rio Mantaro valley, and was only recently discovered and described by Dr. Thomas Valqui. ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
Gray-browed Brushfinch - Arremon assimilis. Seen at Carpish and Paty trail. The relationships among the forms assigned to the atricapillus and torquatus groups are controversial, with virtually no relevant data available. Wetmore et al. (1984), Paynter (1970a), and Remsen & Graves (1995) treated the atricapillus group as conspecific with B. torquatus largely because of the intermediate phenotypes shown by subspecies such as tacarcunae and costaricensis. Hellmayr (1938), Meyer de Schauensee (1966), Sibley & Monroe (1990), and Ridgely & Tudor (1989) treated them as two species because of the close geographical approach of nominate atricapillus and B. t. assimilis without signs of gene flow. Donegan et al. (2007) found B. [t.] atricapillus and B. [t.] assimilis to replace one another elevationally in the East Andes of Colombia (Santander and Boyaca departments), without any evidence of hybridization, suggesting that treatment of this complex within a single species is not supportable. Sibley & Monroe (1990) considered B. torquatus and B. atricapillus, along with Middle American B. virenticeps, to form a superspecies. Buarremon virenticeps was considered conspecific with B. torquatus by Paynter (1970a) and Wetmore et al. (1984), but was treated as a separate species by Paynter (1978), AOU (1983, 1998), and Ridgely & Tudor (1989). Cadena & Cuervo�s (2010) analysis of voice, plumage, and genetics in the group indicates that as many as eight species should be recognized in this complex. SACC proposal passed to revise species limits.
Common Chlorospingus - Chlorospingus opthalmicus. Common in the Cloud Forest on the Paty trail.
CARDINALIDAE
Highland Hepatic Tanager - Piranga lutea. One seen at Huascaran National Park.
Golden Grosbeak - Pheucticus chrysogaster. 2 seen at Santa Eulalia and one more at Pueblo Libre.
Black-backed Grosbeak - Pheucticus aureoventris. One seen on our back to Huanuco from Unchoc forest.
PARULIDAE
Black-lored (Masked) Yellowthroat - Geothlypis (aequinoctialis) auricularis. One seen at Lomas de Lachay.
Citrine Warbler - Myiothylpis luteoviridis. This melodious species was a regular feature in cloud and elfin forest habitats through much of the trip. Here the race striaticeps.
Black-crested Warbler - Myiothylpis nigrocristatus. Great views along the Maria Josefa trail, found in tall Polylepis woodland below the Llanganuco lakes, here near the southern end of the species’ range.
Buff-rumped Warbler - Myiothylpis fulvicauda. 2 at Tingo Maria.
Russet-crowned Warbler - Myiothlypis coronatus. A few birds seen on the Paty trail.
Spectacled (Redstart) Whitestart - Myioborus melanocephalus. A lovely bird, delightfully common in montane forest habitats throughout the trip. Here the black-capped nominate race.
ICTERIDAE
Dusky Green Oropendola - Psarocolius atrovirens. Seen on two days along the Satipo road and also at Paty trail.
Russet-backed Oropendola - Psarocolius angustifrons. At Tingo Maria.
Yellow-rumped Cacique - Cacicus cela. Common at Tingo Maria.
Scrub Blackbird - Dives warszewiczi. A prominent bird along the west slope of the Andes, here of the southern race kalinowskii.
FRINGILLIDAE
Hooded Siskin - Carduelis magellanica. Regular encounters. West slope birds were likely referable to the more yellow paula, birds elsewhere to the endemic peruana.
Black Siskin - Carduelis atrata. Seen at Marcapomacocha and around Junin Lake. Very smart bird.
Thick-billed Euphonia - Euphonia laniirostris. A couple seen at Tingo Maria.