We managed by chance or design to record 26 Peruvian endemics and another 24 range restricted species in 11 days! Quite an achievement!
ITINERARY
May 4th: Full day birding at Lomas de Lachay starting with the dry cactus section for our first ENDEMIC the Cactus Canastero where we saw 3, then went to the higher elevations. After our lunch we drove to Santa Eulalia. Night in Santa Eulalia.
May 5th: Up the Santa Eulalia Road to near San Pedro de Casta and birded a stretch of road at 3130-3000 meters. A stop lower for Great Inca Finch. We continued to lovely accommodations at San Mateo named Chez Victor!
May 6th: To Marcopomacocha area and the Milloc turn-off, birding from 4400 to 4875 meters. After lunch we returned to Lima – Hotel Señorial.
May 7th: Day off.
May 8th: To Villa Marshes where we had a great time, especially for pictures. After a couple of hours we went to Pucusana fishing port where we had great views of Humboldt Penguin and excellent seafood at lunch. Night in Lima – Hotel Señorial.
May 9th: Day off.
May 10th: Early flight to Cusco and after arrival we drove to Piuray Lake on our way to Ollantaytambo. Night in Ollantaytambo at Pakaritampu Hotel.
May 11th: Train ride to Aguas Caliente and after arrival we met Vilma our local guide and then we took the bus to get to the Machu-Picchu Inca ruins where we spent about 2 hours around the ruins and then lunch just outside of the ruins at the Sanctuary Lodge Hotel Restaurant. We took the bus to go down near the Urubamba River for birding our way back to Aguas Caliente along the road. Night at Aguas Caliente – Hotel El Mapi.
May 12th: Birding morning to Mandor valley until midday and then we had great lunch at the Indio Feliz restaurant and after lunch we took the train to go back to Ollantaytambo. Night at Ollantaytambo at the Pakaritampu Hotel.
May 13th: Abra Malaga (Panticalla Pass) near the village of Tastayoc then west slope Polylepis forest hike (4500-5330 m) under the dominating snow peak of Veronica (Wakay- Willca) with some rain and a late lunch and back to the Pakaritampu Hotel. Night at Ollantaytambo – Pakaritampu Hotel.
May 14th: Abra Malaga (Panticalla Pass) near the village of Tastayoc then east slope Elfin Forest at Canchaillo 3400 m and down via Carrizales to near San Luis at 3000 m. After an early lunch we went back to Cusco via Urubamba. Night in Cusco at Casa Andina Cusco Plaza hotel.
May 15th: Day off.
May 16th: Drive to Abancay with birding stops above Abancay were we also had lunch and after lunch we went down to the Andahuaylas road and in the late afternoon we drove back to Abancay. Night at Abancay at Hotel de Turistas.
May 17th: Early departure from the Hotel to Huanipaca road and breakfast on the Huanipaca road and birding along the road until we had the bad news about the “farmers strike” that made us leave behind some Apurimac specialties in order to pass the road block at the entrance of the Huanipaca road, that fortunately they opened at mid-day and we were able to continue our way back to Cusco; Night in Cusco at the Casa Andina Plaza Hotel. END of the Trip.
SPECIES LIST
TINAMOUS
Andean Tinamou - Nothoprocta pentlandii. 1 on the Santa Eulalia road. Named for Joseph Barclay Pentland (1798-1873) Irish traveler, explorer and diplomat in Bolivia.
DUCKS
Andean Goose – Oressochen melanoptera. A few seen at Marcopomacocha and few more at Piuray Lake and Abra Malaga.
Torrent Duck - Merganetta armata. Fantastic views along the Urubamba River and 3 more along the Chalhuanca River on our way in and out to Abancay.
Yellow-billed Teal - Anas flavirostris oxyptera. Common – seen at Piuray Lake and at Abra Malaga. Jaramillo (2003) further suggested that the subspecies oxyptera may also deserve recognition as a separate species from A. flavirostris which occurs farther south.
Yellow-billed Pintail - Anas geórgica. Seen at Lago Piuray.
Puna Teal - Anas puna. Common.
Cinnamon Teal - Anas cyanoptera. Common at Villa Marshes and Lago Piuray.
White-cheeked Pintail – Anas bahamensis. 3 individuals seen at Villa marshes. This coastal species seems to be invading the Andes.
Ruddy Duck (Andean) – Oxyura jamaicensis (ferruginea). Seen at Laguna Piuray. Andean populations have often (e.g., Hellmayr & Conover 1948a, Siegfried 1976, Sibley & Ahlquist 1990, AOU 1998, Ridgely & Greenfield 2001, Jaramillo 2003) been treated as a separate species, O. ferruginea ("Andean Duck" or "Andean Ruddy-Duck"). However, see Adams and Slavid (1984), Fjeldså (1986), and McCracken & Sorenson (2005) for rationale for treating them as conspecific, as done previously (e.g., Blake 1977, Johnsgard 1979), and then followed by Fjeldså & Krabbe (1990) and Carboneras (1992f). Siegfried (1976) and Livezey (1995) considered ferruginea to be more closely related to O. vittata than to O. jamaicensis, but McCracken & Sorenson (2005) showed that this is incorrect.
GREBES
White-tufted Grebe – Rollandia rolland. 1 seen at Villa marshes and several seen at Piuray Lake. Named for Master Gunnar Roland of the French corvette L’Uranie which circumnavigated the world 1817-1820.
Great Grebe – Podiceps major. 2 seen at Villa marshes.
Silvery Grebe – Podiceps occipitalis juninensis. 3 seen at Piuray Lake.
PENGUINS
Humboldt Penguin - Spheniscus humbolti. We saw 4 at Pucusana fishing port – 3 on land resting and 1 swimming. Named for Friedrich Wilhelm Karl Heinrich Alexander Baron von Humboldt, German scientist and explorer. VULNERABLE, Range Restricted.
STORM PETRELS
Fuegian Wilson's Storm-Petrel - Oceanites oceanicus. 1 seen at Pucusana. Jaramillo (2003) suggested that the subspecies exasperatus might be a separate species from nominate Oceanites oceanicus.
BOOBIES
Peruvian Booby - Sula variegata. Common Humboldt current Guano bird – great views at Pucusana. Range Restricted.
CORMORANTS
Neotropic Cormorant - Phalacrocorax brasilianus. Common.
Guanay Cormorant - Phalacrocorax bougainvillii. A guano bird – a few seen at Pucusana. Named after Vice-Admiral Louis Antoine Baron de Borgainville (1729-1811) French soldier, navigator and mathematician. NEAR THREATENED, Range Restricted.
Red-legged Cormorant - Phalacrocorax gaimardi. Very good views at Pucusana. Named after the 19th century French naval surgeon, explorer and naturalist Paul Gaimard, discoverer of South Island Fernbird and Grey Warbler in New Zealand. NEAR THREATENED, Range Restricted.
PELICANS
Peruvian Pelican - Pelecanus thagus. Common at Pucusana. Range Restricted.
HERONS
Little Blue Heron - Egretta caerulea. Very good views at Villa Marshes.
Snowy Egret - Egretta thula. At Villa marshes and Piuray Lake.
Great Egret – Ardea alba. Seen at Villa marshes.
Cattle Egret - Bubulcus ibis. Also seen at Villa marshes.
Black-crowned Night-Heron - Nycticorax nycticorax. Seen at Villa marshes and few more in the Lurin River on our way back from Pucusana.
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron – Nyctanassa violacea. 2 males seen at Villa marshes.
IBIS
Puna Ibis – Plegadis ridgwayi. Seen at Villa marshes and Marcopomacocha and common in the Andes.
AMERICAN VULTURES
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.
Black Vulture - Coragyps atratus. Common throughout the trip.
Turkey Vulture - Cathartes aura. Seen at Villa marshes. Jaramillo (2003) suggested that the resident tropical subspecies ruficollis and the southern subspecies group (jota and "falklandica") might merit recognition as separate species from the northern Cathartes aura group.
Andean Condor – Vultur gryphus. One seen at Santa Eulalia and 5 at Marcopomacocha - NEAR THREATENED.
HAWKS
Cinereous Harrier- Circus cinereus. Great views of one at Lake Piuray at lunch time.
Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle – Geranoaetus melanoleucus. Several sightings – at Lomas de Lachay, Santa Eulalia and above Abancay.
Variable Hawk – Geranoaetus polyosoma. Seen at Lomas de Lachay, Abra Malaga and above Abancay. The taxonomy of this group is confusing, and some people try to split it as Puna Hawk B. poecilochrous and Red-backed Hawk B. polyosoma. SACC comment: Farquhar (1988) concluded that Buteo poecilochrous and B. polyosoma are conspecific, as they were formerly treated; he was unable to find any way to reliably diagnose the two forms using plumage characters or measurements. Ridgely & Greenfield (2001), Jaramillo (2003), and Schulenberg et al. (2007) followed this treatment and suggested "Variable Hawk" be retained for the composite species. Genetic data (Riesing et al. 2003) are consistent with hypothesis that B. polyosoma and B. poecilochrous are conspecific.
Roadside Hawk – Rupornis magnirostris. Heard only, at Aguas Caliente.
White-rumped Hawk – Parabuteo leucorrhous. Seen at Abra Malaga on the east slope.
RAILS
Plumbeous Rail - Pardirallus sanguinolentus. One seen surprisingly at the Lurin River.
Common Gallinule - Gallinula galeata. Common – at Villa marshes.
PLOVERS
Andean Lapwing - Vanellus resplendens. 1 at Marcopomacocha and common around Abra Malaga, also seen at Piuray Lake.
Killdeer - Charadrius vociferus. 10+ seen at Villa Marshes.
Diademed Sandpiper-Plover - Phegornis mitchellii. 1 behaved well at Marcopomacocha. Named for David William Mitchell (1813-1859) English zoologist and secretary of the London zoological society. NEAR THREATENED.
Slate-colored Coot – Fulica ardesiaca. Common at Villa marshes.
STILTS
Black-necked Stilt (White-backed) – Himantopus mexicanus melanurus. 1 seen at Piuray Lake. Some authors have treated southern South American melanurus as a separate species (e.g., Sibley & Monroe 1990, Ridgely & Greenfield 2001). The six taxa in the genus Himantopus form a near-globally distributed superspecies (Mayr & Short 1970, Sibley & Monroe 1990, Pierce 1996), and with from one to six species-level taxa recognized by various authors. Virtually no data are available relevant to taxon-ranking of allopatric populations. The contact between mexicanus and melanurus in South America, where at least some hybridization occurs, affords one of the best opportunities for such study.
OYSTERCATCHERS
Blackish Oystercatcher - Himantopus mexicanus. Good views at Villa Marshes by the sea-shore. Range Restricted.
American Oystercatcher – Himantopus palliatus. Also by the sea-shore at Villa Marshes.
THICK-KNEES
Peruvian Thick-Knee – Burhinus superciliaris. 6 in total – seen on our way in to Lomas de Lachay and at Lachay itself.
SANDPIPERS AND SNIPES
Puna Snipe - Gallinago andina. 4 seen well at Marcopomacocha.
Hudsonian Whimbrel - Numenius (hudsonicus) phaeopus. Common along the sea-shore at Villa Marshes. Zink et al. (1995) proposed a return to earlier classifications (e.g., Ridgway 1919) that considered New World hudsonicus to be a separate species from Old World populations based on genetic distance. Although plumage pattern also differs substantially, vocalizations are evidently very similar, in contrast to the many allotaxa in the Scolopacidae treated as separate species.
Lesser Yellowlegs – Tringa flavipes. One seen at Piuray.
Spotted Sandpiper - Actitis macularia. A few here and there.
Ruddy Turnstone - Arenaria interpres. 15+ seen at Pucusana.
Surfbird – Aphriza virgata. 20+ seen at Pucusana bay.
SEEDSNIPE
Grey-breasted Seedsnipe - Thinocorus orbignyianus. 4 at Marcopomacocha. South American Sandgrouse! Named for the impressive sounding Alicide Charles Victor Dessalines d’Orbigny (1802-1857) French naturalist explorer and collector in tropical America.
Least Seedsnipe – Thinocorus rumicivorus. 2 seen at Lomas de Lachay.
SKUAS
Chilean Skua - Stercorarius chilensis. 3 seen off-shore at Pucusana.
GULLS AND TERNS
Belcher's Gull - Larus belcheri. Common along the Peruvian coast – seen on the sea-shore at Villa Marshes. Named for Sir Edward Belcher British naval explore of the pacific coast of America 1825-1828.
Kelp Gull - Larus dominicanus. Great views on the sea-shore at Villa Marshes.
Gray Gull - Leucophaeus modestus. Several seen on the sea-shore at Villa Marshes.
Franklin’s Gull – Leucophaeus pipixcan. A lot of them seen on the sea-shore at Villa Marshes.
Gray-headed Gull - Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus. A few seen on the sea-shore at Villa Marshes.
Andean Gull - Chroicocephalus serranus. Common in the Andes, but also a few on the sea-shore at Villa Marshes.
Inca Tern - Larosterna inca. Common, but beautiful, seen at Pucusana. NEAR THREATENED, Range Restricted.
SKIMMERS
Black Skimmer – Rynchops niger. 6 seen on the sea-shore at Villa Marshes.
PIGEONS AND DOVES
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) - Columba livia. Feral type found throughout Latin America near human habitation, absent only from extensive tracts of primary forest.
Spot-winged Pigeon - Patagioenas maculosa. Quite common in the highlands.
Eared Dove – Zenaida auriculata. Common at Lomas de Lachay and below Abancay.
West Peruvian (Pacific) Dove – Zenaida meloda. Common at Lomas de Lachay, Santa Eulalia and Villa Marshes.
White-tipped Dove - Leptotila verreauxi decipiens. Seen at Machu-Picchu and below Abancay. Named for the impressive sounding John Baptiste Edouard Verreaux (1810-1868) French Natural History dealer and collector.
Bare-faced Ground-Dove – Metriopelia ceciliae. A few seen along the Santa Eulalia Road. Named after Cecile Gautrau, daughter of 19th century French naturalist.
Black-winged Ground-Dove - Metriopelia melanoptera. Seen along the Santa Eulalia Road.
Croaking Ground-Dove - Columbina cruziana. Common on the coast – seen at Lomas de Lachay and Villa Marshes.
CUCKOOS AND ANIS
Groove-billed Ani – Crotophaga sulcirostris. Common along the coast – seen at Villa Marshes and Lurin River and also on our way to Abancay.
TYPICAL OWLS
Koepcke’s (Apurimac) Screech Owl - Megascops koepckeae. Fantastic views and pictures of 2 individuals roosting near the Apurimac River – below Abancay, here of the hockingii subspecies. Named for Maria Koepcke, originally Maria Emilie Anna von Mikulicz-Radecki, who was born and educated in Germany, earning a PhD in Zoology from Kiel University in 1949. She then moved to Peru, where she married zoologist Hans-Wilhelm Koepcke in 1950. Together they collaborated on much of their scientific work and publications, and had a daughter named Juliane. She was a successful Neotropical ornithologist at a time when South American ornithology was male-dominated. On Christmas Eve 1971, Koepcke traveled with her 17 year old daughter on LANSA Flight 508 from Lima to Pucallpa to join her husband for a holiday. The plane encountered a severe thunderstorm, was hit by lightning, and disintegrated above the Amazon Rainforest. Seated next to each other, the Koepkes were separated in mid-air (with Juliane remaining belted to their row of three seats), and both survived the fall. Coming to rest in different areas of the jungle floor, Maria was badly injured and died several days later. Juliane, despite sustaining a broken collar bone and an eye injury, was able enough to travel through the dense jungle for eleven days, before reaching a makeshift logging camp and being subsequently rescued on 3 January 1972. ENDEMIC.
Peruvian Pygmy - Owl – Glaucidium peruanum. 3 seen at the Hotel Pieter and also at Santa Eulalia and one more along the road near Curahuasi Village on our way in to Abancay. This latter intermountain race is slower voiced and may be a different species.
Burrowing Owl – Athene cunicularia. 5 in total seen at Lomas de Lachay. Greek mythology – Athene was the goddess of wisdom, war and the liberal arts, whose favorite bird was the Owl.
SWIFTS
White-collared Swift - Streptoprocne zonaris. Seen at Santa Eulalia.
White-tipped Swift – Aeronautes montivagus. A few seen at Machu-Picchu.
Andean Swift - Aeronautes andecolus. Common by the bridge division between Abancay and Cusco and also on the Santa Eulalia Road.
HUMMINGBIRDS
Sparkling Violet-ear - Colibri coruscans. Two at Santa Eulalia and at Machu-Picchu and few more above Abancay.
Bronze-tailed Comet - Polyonymus caroli. 10+ seen of this endemic along the Santa Eulalia road. ENDEMIC.
Black-breasted Hillstar - Oreotrochilus melanogaster. One of this endemic at Marcopomacocha. ENDEMIC.
Andean Hillstar – Oreotrochilus estella. A female seen at Abra Malaga west slope.
Speckled Hummingbird – Adelomyia melanogenys. 1 seen briefly near Mandor valley at Machu-Picchu.
Long-tailed Sylph – Aglaiocercus kingi. One seen at Mandor Valley.
Olivaceous Thornbill - Chascostigma olivaceum. 1 at Marcopomacocha and 2 at Abra Malaga - on the bog showed well. Like many very high altitude Hummers this has the ability to go into torpor at night, a state of slowed body functions used to conserve energy and heat. Animals that enter a state of torpor lower their body temperature and slow their heart rate, respiration and metabolic rate dramatically, effectively conserving energy because fewer calories are needed to maintain life. Range Restricted.
Scaled Metaltail - Metallura aeneocauda. One at Abra Malaga showed well. Range Restricted.
Shining Sunbeam – Aglaeactis cupripennis. Seen at Abra Malaga west slope.
White-tufted Sunbeam – Aglaeactis castelnaudii. 1 seen at Abra Malaga west slope. ENDEMIC.
Sword-billed Hummingbird - Ensifera ensifera. A brief view of one at Abra Malaga east slope.
Great Sapphirewing - Pterophanes cyanopterus. A female seen along the Huanipaca road – the world’s second largest Hummer.
Chestnut-breasted Coronet – Boissonneaua matthewsii. 2 seen at the Mandor Valley.
Booted Racket-tail – Ocreatus underwoodii. One seen at the Mandor valley.
Giant Hummingbird – Patagona gigas. One seen at Santa Eulalia. The world’s largest Hummer!
Purple-collared Woodstar – Myrtis fanny. 1 seen at Santa Eulalia.
White-bellied Hummingbird - Amazilia chionogaster. One seen below Abancay.
Green-and-white Hummingbird – Amazilia viridicauda. Very good views at Machu-Picchu and also at the Pakaritampu Hotel. ENDEMIC.
Peruvian Sheartail – Thaumastura cora. 3 males seen at Santa Eulalia.
Amazilia Hummingbird - Amazilia amazilia. 1 at Hotel Peter and around Lurin River.
MOTMOTS
Andean Motmot – Momotus aequatorialis. Seen on two consecutive days at Machu-Picchu.
PUFFBIRDS
White-eared Puffbird - Nystalus chacuru. Scope views of one near Curahuasi Village on our way in to Abancay. Limited range in Peru.
NEW WORLD BARBETS
Versicolored Barbet – Eubucco versicolor. Seen on two consecutive days around Machu-Picchu – 4 in total.
WOODPECKERS
Ocellated Piculet – Picumnus dorbygnianus. Good views at Machu-Picchu. Range Restricted.
Black-necked Woodpecker - Colaptes atricollis. Fantastic views of 3 individuals at Santa Eulalia. It’s a Colaptes so it should be a Flicker? ENDEMIC.
Golden-olive Woodpecker – Piculus rubiginosus. One seen at Machu-Picchu.
Andean Flicker - Colaptes rupicola. Common in the Andes – seen at Marcopomacocha, Abra Malaga and above Abancay.
FALCONS
Mountain Caracara- Phalcoboenus megalopterus. Common in the Andes.
American Kestrel - Falco sparverius. Common.
Orange-breasted Falcon – Falco deiroleucus. Scope views of one at Mandor Valley in Machu-Picchu.
Peregrine Falcon – Falco peregrinus. One seen briefly at Lomas de Lachay.
PARROTS
Mitred Parakeet - Psittacara mitrata alticola. Common at Machu-Picchu and also near Abancay.
Pacific Parrotlet – Forpus coelestis. 5 seen during our short stop at Lurin River on our way back to Lima from Pucusana.
ANTSHRIKES
Variable Antshrike – Thamnophilus caerulescens. Seen on two consecutive days at Machu-Picchu.
ANTPITTAS
Undulated Antpitta Grallaria squamigera. Heard only, at Abra Malaga.
Stripe-headed Antpitta - Grallaria andicolus. This one is the EASIEST Antpitta to see among all the Antpittas, at least in Peru; one seen really well on the west slope of Abra Malaga-here the subspecies punensis which may deserve full species rank from the northern nominate form which we saw at Marcopomacocha. Range Restricted.
Rufous Antpitta - Grallaria rufula occobambae. One seen very well at Abra Malaga. Note the subspecies as this species will soon be split into many different species.
TAPACULOS
Trilling Tapaculo – Scytalopus parvirostris. Heard only, at Abra Malaga east slope.
Puna Tapaculo - Scytalopus simonsi. Great views on the west slope (polylepis) forest of Abra Malaga. Scytalopus etymologically comes from the Greek language which literally means “stickfoot”, referred to their strong and thick feet. Range Restricted.
Diademed Tapaculo - Scytalopus schulenbergi. One seen at Abra Malaga east slope. Named for Thomas S. Schulenberg US Ornithologist and collector at the laboratory of Ornithology Cornell. Principal author of “Birds of Peru”.
“Ampay” Tapaculo - Scytalopus sp.nov. Great looks above Abancay – when will this be described? ENDEMIC.
OVENBIRDS
Coastal Miner – Geositta peruviana. Common at Lomas de Lachay.
Dark-winged Miner - Geositta saxicolina. 2 seen at Marcopomacocha. ENDEMIC.
Thick-billed Miner – Geositta crassirostris. Amazing views of 2 individuals at Lomas de Lachay. ENDEMIC.
Streaked Xenops – Xenops rutilans. Excellent views at Machu-Picchu.
Streaked Tuftedcheek - Pseudocolaptes boissonneautii. Very good view of one at Abra Malaga east slope.
Wren-like Rushbird - Phleocryptes melanops. 3 seen at Villa Marshes.
Buff-breasted Earthcreeper - Upucerthia validirostris. One seen at Marcopomacocha. Although the jelskii subspecies group (Plain-breasted Earthcreeper) has been considered separate species from U. validirostris in most recent classifications (e.g., Meyer de Schauensee 1970, Ridgely & Tudor 1994, Sibley & Monroe 1990), evidence for their treatment as such is weak (Remsen 2003). Earlier classifications treated them as conspecific (e.g., Cory & Hellmayr 1925, Peters 1951). A report of sympatry in southern Bolivia (Cabot 1990) is based on a misidentification (Remsen 2003). Genetic data (Chesser et al. 2007, Fjeldsa et al. 2007) confirm that they are sister taxa but weakly differentiated (Derryberry et al. 2011). Areta & Pearman (2009, 2013) found no differences in their voices. Areta & Pearman (2013) proposed that they be treated as conspecific. SACC proposal passed to treat them as conspecific. SACC proposal passed to use the English name Buff-breasted Earthcreeper for broadly defined U. validirostris.
Cream-winged Cinclodes - Cinclodes albiventris. Common at Marcopomacocha and also around Abra Malaga.
Surf Cinclodes - Cinclodes taczanowskii. Seen well along the rocky seaside at Pucusana. Recent genetic evidence reveals that the evidence for regarding this one as a separate species from the Chilean Seaside Cinclodes (or Seaside Cinclodes), is pretty weak. It looks like both forms have not differentiated enough and are better lumped. ENDEMIC.
Royal Cinclodes – Cinclodes aricomae. Very good view of one at Abra Malaga west slope. CRITICALY ENDANGERED, Range Restricted.
Pearled Treerunner - Margarornis squamiger. 2 at Abra Malaga.
Rusty-crowned Tit-Spinetail - Leptasthenura pileata. 1 seen at Santa Eulalia, good looks! ENDEMIC.
Tawny Tit-Spinetail - Leptasthenura yanacensis. Very nice views of 3 in the polylepis forest of Abra Malaga. This species is thought to have a moderately small population which is highly fragmented within its moderately small range. It is likely to be declining owing to ongoing habitat loss and degradation. It is currently considered Near Threatened, and should be carefully monitored for future changes in the rate of decline. NEAR THREATENED, Range Restricted.
White-browed Tit-Spinetail - Leptasthenura xenothorax. Great views of 2 in the polylepis forest of Abra Malaga. Leptasthenura xenothorax has a very restricted and severely fragmented range in the Runtacocha highland (Apurímac), the Nevado Sacsarayoc massif and the Cordillera Vilcanota (Cuzco), south-central Peru. Significant populations of c.35-70 individuals were estimated at three sites in Cuzco in 1987-1989, but declines have been observed at some of these, and the population density is very low in the Runtacocha highland (Fjeldså and Kessler 1996). The patchiness and scarcity of its habitat, which may now occupy less than 3% of the estimated potential cover in large parts of Cuzco (Fjeldså and Kessler 1996), suggests that the total population must now be very small (Fjeldså and Krabbe 1990), with one recent estimate of 500-1,500 individuals (Engblom et al. 2002) ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
Pale-tailed (Creamy-breasted) Canastero - Asthenes (dorbignyi) huancavelicae usheri. Heard only.
Line-fronted Canastero - Asthenes urubambensis. Great views of the nominate race in the polylepis forest of Abra Malaga. NEAR THREATENED.
Streak-throated Canastero - Asthenes humilis. Quite common at Marcopomacocha.
Canyon Canastero - Asthenes pudibunda. A couple on the Santa Eulalia Road – just sneaks into Chile! Range Restricted.
Rusty-fronted Canastero - Asthenes ottonis. 2 seen at Huanipaca road. ENDEMIC.
Streak-baked Tit-Spinetail – Leptasthenura striata. One seen well at Lomas de Lachay.
Junin Canastero - Asthenes virgata. 2 responded to playback at Marcopomacocha.
Cactus Canastero – Pseudosthenes cactorum. After hard work we finally saw 2 at Lomas de Lachay. ENDEMIC.
Puna Thistletail - Asthenes helleri. Seen at Abra Malaga (east slope). Range Restricted.
Marcapata Spinetail - Cranioleuca marcapatae marcapatae. Amazing views of 2 at Abra Malaga east slope. ENDEMIC.
Creamy-crested Spinetail - Cranioleuca albicapilla albicapilla. Heard only.
Apurimac Spinetail - Synallaxis courseni. 2 on the Huanipaca road. This species is classified as Vulnerable because it is known from just a few locations and has a very small total population. If disturbance and small-scale tree felling at the Ampay National Sanctuary is found to be causing a population decline, the species may warrant up listing to Endangered in the future. VULNERABLE ENDEMIC.
TYRANT FLYCATCHERS
Sclater’s Tyrannulet – Phyllomyias sclateri. Good views at Machu-Picchu.
Southern-beardless Tyrannulet - Camptostoma obsoletum. 2 seen by the Lurin River on our way back from Pucusana to Lima.
White-throated Tyrannulet - Mecocerculus leucophry. Fairly common at Abra Malaga east slope.
Ash-breasted Tit-Tyrant - Anairetes alpines. 1 seen at Abra Malaga (polylepis forest). Range Restricted.
Slaty-capped Flycatcher – Leptopogon superciliaris. This species has a very small population and is confined to a habitat which is severely fragmented and undergoing a continuing decline in extent, area, and quality. It is consequently listed as Endangered.
Unstreaked Tit-Tyrant – Anairetes agraphia. Very nice views of 5 at Abra Malaga east slope. ENDEMIC.
Pied-crested Tit-Tyrant Anairetes reguloides. Nice looks of 4+ at Santa Eulalia Road. Range Restricted.
Torrent Tyrannulet - Serpophaga cinerea. Seen on two consecutive days along the Urubamba River at Aguas Caliente.
Mottle-cheeked Tyrannulet – Phylloscartes ventralis. Quite common at Machu-Picchu.
Streak-necked Flycatcher – Mionectes striaticollis. 2 seen at Machu-Picchu.
Many-colored Rush-Tyrant - Tachuris rubrigastra. Fantastic views of 4 at Villa Marshes.
Vermillion Flycatcher - Pyrocephalus rubinus. At Lomas de Lachay, Santa Eulalia and at Lurin River.
Smoke-colored Pewee – Contopus fumigatus. 2 seen at Machu-Picchu.
Black Phoebe - Sayornis nigricans. Common along the Urubamba River and a few more on our way in and out to Abancay.
Andean Negrito – Lessonia oreas. Very good views at Lago Piuray.
White-winged Black-Tyrant - Knipolegus aterrimus. 2 females bellow Abancay.
Spot-billed Ground-Tyrant - Muscisaxicola maculirostris. Good studies of one at Marcopomacocha.
Puna Ground-Tyrant - Muscisaxicola juninensis. 2 at Abra Malaga west slope. Named for the Peruvian Department of Junín.
Taczanowski’s Ground-Tyrant- Muscisaxicola griseus. 4 in total of this resident ground-tyrant – seen at Marcopomacocha and Abra Malaga. Named for Wladyslaw Taczanowski (1819-1890) Polish ornithologist and collector.
White-browed Ground-Tyrant – Muscisaxicola albilora. 2 seen at Marcopomacocha.
Cinereous Ground-Tyrant – Muscisaxicola cinerea. 8+ seen at Marcopomacocha.
White-fronted Ground-tyrant - Muscisaxicola albifrons. Also seen at Marcopomacocha.
Ochre-naped Ground-Tyrant – Muscisaxicola flavinucha. 1 seen well at Marcopomacocha.
Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant – Agriornis montana. Very good views on the Huanipaca road.
Red-rumped Bush-Tyrant - Cnemarchus erythropygius. 1 in the Polylepis forest at Abra Malaga. Range Restricted.
Rufous-webbed Bush-Tyrant - Polioxolmis rufipennis. 3 at Abra Malaga west slope and 1 more on the Huanipaca road.
Crowned (Kalinowski’s) Chat-Tyrant – Ochthoeca (spodionota) frontalis. Good view of one at Abra Malaga east slope. Range Restricted.
Rufous-breasted Chat-Tyrant - Ochthoeca rufipectoralis. Seen at Abra Malaga (east slope) and 2 more above Abancay.
White-browed Chat-Tyrant - Ochthoeca leucophrys. Common on the Santa Eulalia Road and few more seen above Abancay.
Social Flycatcher – Myiozetetes similis. At Machu-Picchu.
Golden-crowned Flycatcher – Myiodynastes chrysocephalus. Quite common at Machu-Picchu.
Tropical Kingbird - Tyrannus melancholicus. 1 during our short stop at Lurin River and a few more at Machu-Picchu.
COTINGAS
Masked Fruiteater – Pipreola pulchra. One seen well at Mandor valley – a good looking ENDEMIC.
Red-crested Cotinga – Ampelion rubrocristata. 2 seen above Abancay and 1 more along the Huanipaca road.
BECARDS
Barred Becard – Pachyramphus versicolor. A male one seen at Machu-Picchu.
VIREOS
Red-eyed (Chivi) Vireo – Vireo olivaceus chivi. Seen at Machu-Picchu; some classifications have considered the South American chivi group as a separate species ("Chivi Vireo") from V. olivaceus, or as conspecific with V. flavoviridis (Hamilton 1962). Ridgely & Greenfield (2001) suggested, however, that more than one species may be involved within the South American chivi group itself.
Brown-capped Vireo – Vireo leucophrys. Also seen at Machu-Picchu.
SWALLOWS AND MARTINS
Blue-and-white Swallow - Pygochelidon cyanoleuca. Common throughout the tour.
Brown-bellied Swallow - Orochelidon murina. Common around Abra Malaga.
Andean Swallow - Orochelidon andecola. Quite common at Marcopomacocha.
Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica. A few seen at Villa Marshes. The New World populations of Hirundo rustica were formerly (e.g., Ridgway 1904) treated as a separate species, H. erythrogastra, from Old World populations.
WRENS
House Wren (Southern) - Troglodytes aedon. One of the most widespread and common songbirds in the Americas, found from southern Canada to southern South America. As is to be expected over such a wide range, various distinct forms exist, which may one day be elevated to species level. For the moment, all mainland populations south of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec (Mexico) are grouped under the term "Southern" House Wren. All populations share a preference for edge or disturbed habitats, and occur at a variety of elevations. The House Wren tends to move around low in the vegetation, and is usually readily seen. It sings a short fast song.
Mountain Wren - Troglodytes solstitialis. Two at Abra Malaga performed well.
Inca Wren - Pheugopedius eisenmanni. Great views of a cooperative 2 in Chusquea bamboo vegetation at Machu-Picchu and two more at Abra Malaga. Named after Eugene Eisenmann US/Panamenian ornithologist (1906-1981). ENDEMIC.
Gray-breasted Wood-Wren – Henicorhina leucophrys. 1 seen at Machu-Picchu.
DIPPERS
White-capped Dipper - Cinclus leucocephalus. Great views along the Urubamba River on two consecutive days.
THRUSHES AND SOLITAIRES
Andean Solitaire – Myadestes ralloides. Heard only, at Machu-Picchu.
White-eared Solitaire – Entomodestes leucotis. 1 seen at Machu-Picchu.
Chiguanco Thrush - Turdus chiguanco chiguanco. Common in drier habitats.
Great Thrush - Turdus fuscater ockenderi. Common in more humid habitats.
MOCKINGBIRDS
Long-tailed Mockingbird – Mimus longicaudatus. Quite common along the coast – seen along the Santa Eulalia road and Villa Marshes.
PIPITS
Short-billed Pipit - Anthus furcatus. Two at Lake Piuray and one more at Abra Malaga.
Yellowish Pipit – Anthus lutescens peruvianus. Good views of 2 at Villa Marshes.
TANAGERS & ALLIES
Parodi’s Hemispingus - Hemispingus parodii. 2 seen very well after a long search in a mixed flock in bamboo at Abra Malaga. ENDEMIC.
Oleaginous Hemispingus – Hemispingus frontalis. A few seen at Machu-Picchu.
Three-striped Hemispingus - Hemispingus trifasciatus. 5 seen at Abra Malaga.
Rust-and-Yellow Tanager - Thlypopsis ruficeps. Two seen above Abancay. Range Restricted.
Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager - Anisognathus igniventris. Seen at Abra Malaga east and west slope.
Blue-and-yellow Tanager - Pipraeidea bonariensis. Seen at several locations.
Blue-gray Tanager – Thraupis episcopus. Common at Aguas Caliente.
Sayaca Tanager – Thraupis sayaca. A good surprise of 1 at the Pakaritampu Hotel in Ollantaytambo which has been present for some time. A rare bird in Peru.
Chestnut-bellied Mountain-Tanager – Dubusia castaneoventris. Wonderful view of 2 at Abra Malaga. Range Restricted.
Palm Tanager – Thraupis palmarum. 1 seen at Mandor Valley in Machu-Picchu.
Saffron-crowned Tanager – Tangara xanthocephala. Seen on two consecutive days at Machu-Picchu.
Blue-necked Tanager – Tangara cyanicollis. Also seen at Machu-Picchu.
Silver-backed Tanager – Tangara viridicollis. Good views at Machu-Picchu.
Blue Dacnis – Dacnis cayana. A male one seen at Mandor Valley in Machu-Picchu.
Cinereous Conebill - Conirostrum cinereum cinereum. Common – seen at Santa Eulalia, Lurin River and above Abancay.
White-browed Conebill - Conirostrum ferrugineiventre. 3 seen on the east slope of Abra Malaga. What a pretty bird! Range Restricted.
Capped Conebill – Conirostrum albifrons Quite common at Machu-Picchu.
Rusty Flowerpiercer - Diglossa sittoides. Seen at Santa Eulalia and also at the Pakaritampu Hotel in Ollantaytambo.
Moustached Flowerpiercer – Diglossa mystacalis. 1 seen at Ara Malaga east slope.
Black-throated Flowerpiercer - Diglossa brunneiventris. Seen at the Pakaritampu Hotel and on the Huanipaca road.
Plushcap – Catamblyrhynchus diadema. 2 seen at Abra Málaga.
Peruvian Sierra-Finch - Phrygilus punensis. Common throughout – seen at Abra Malaga, above Abancay and at Huanipaca road. Range Restricted.
Mourning Sierra-Finch - Phrygilus fruticeti. Really common on the Santa Eulalia road.
Plumbeous Sierra-Finch - Phrygilus unicolor. Common at higher elevations – seen at Marcopomacocha and Abra Malaga.
Band-tailed Sierra-Finch – Phrygilus alaudinus. 2 seen at Lomas de Lachay.
Ash-breasted Sierra-Finch - Phrygilus plebejus. Good views at Marcopomacocha and Huanipaca road.
White-winged Diuca-Finch - Diuca speculifera. Good views of 10+ at Marcopomacocha. Range Restricted.
Great Inca-Finch - Incaspiza pulchra. 2 seen on the xerophytic hill slopes along the Santa Eulalia Road. There are 5 Incaspizas all endemic to Peru - a good grand slam to get! ENDEMIC.
Chestnut-breasted Mountain-Finch - Poospiza Caesar. 2 seen above Abancay and 2 more on the Huanipaca road.
Greenish Yellow-Finch - Sicalis olivascens. 20+ seen during our short stop near the division bridge between Cusco and Abancay on our way back from Abancay to Cusco.
Bright-rumped Yellow-Finch - Sicalis uropygialis. Seen at Santa Eulalia and a lot at Marcopomacocha.
Saffron Finch – Sicalis flaveola. About 4 seen near Hotel Pieter at Santa Eulalia.
Blue-black Grassquit – Volatinia jacarina. 4+ seen at Lurin River.
Chestnut-throated Seedeater – Sporophila telasco. 10+ seen around Villa Marshes and Lurin River.
Band-tailed Seedeater - Catamenia analis. Common – seen at Santa Eulalia and at Pakaritampu hotel.
Plain-colored Seedeater - Catamenia inornata. Common at higher elevations near vegetation – 2 seen above Abancay.
Bananaquit - Coereba flaveola. One seen at Lurin River.
Rusty-bellied Brush-Finch - Atlapetes nationi. 8+ seen along the Santa Eulalia Road.
Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch – Arremon brunneinucha. One responded very well to play-back at Machu-Picchu.
INCERTAE SEDIS
Streaked Saltator – Saltator albicollis. 1 seen at Lurin River.
Golden-billed Saltator - Saltator aurantiirostris. 3 in total seen above Abancay.
NEW WORLD SPARROWS
Rufous-collared Sparrow - Zonatrichia capensis. Common.
GROSBEAK TANAGERS
Hepatic (Blood-red) Tanager – Piranga (lutea) flava. 3 in total seen at Machu-Picchu.
Golden Grosbeak - Pheucticus aureoventris. A few seen on the Santa Eulalia Road.
Black-backed Grosbeak Pheucticus aureoventris. 2 seen above Abancay.
NEW WORLD WARBLERS
Citrine Warbler - Myiothlypis signata. 2 at Abra Malaga.
Tropical Parula – Setophaga pitiayumi. 5 in total seen at Machu-Picchu.
Pale-legged Warbler – Myiothlypis signatus. 2 seen at Machu-Picchu.
Russet-crowned Warbler – Myiothlypis coronatus. Also seen at Machu-Picchu.
Slate-throated (Redstart) Whitestart – Myioborus miniatus. Seen at Machu-Picchu.
Spectacled (Redstart) Whitestart - Myioborus melanocephalus. Seen at Machu-Picchu and Abra Malaga.
ORIOLES & BLACKBIRDS
Dusky-green Oropendola – Psarocolius atrovirens. One seen at Machu-Picchu. Range Restricted.
Peruvian Meadowlark – Sturnella bellicosa. 2 at Lomas de Lachay and 3 more at Villa Marshes.
Scrub Blackbird - Dives warszewiczi. Seen at Hotel Peter in Santa Eulalia and also at Lurin River.
FINCHES
Hooded Siskin – Sporaga magellanica. Seen on the Santa Eulalia Road and at Lurin River.
Black Siskin – Sporaga atrata. 10+ at Marcopomacocha and few more at Abra Malaga.
Thick-billed Euphonia – Euphonia laniirostris. Good views at Machu-Picchu.
OLD WORLD SPARROWS
House Sparrow – Passer domesticus. In Lima.