ITINERARY
February 13th. Arrival in Bogota, east slope Central Cordillera, 2625 meters. Department of Cundinamarca.
February 14th. Birding all day at the Chingaza National Park at 3000 meters along the Piedras Gordas road and El Rincon del Oso. With a few more stops on the way home. Night in Bogota. East slope Central Andes. Department of Cundinamarca.
February 15th. Early morning birding trip to La Florida Park, Distrito Capital, then to the airport in time for our flight to Medellin and then on by our beloved van to the Carmen de Atrato and then to The Las Tangaras Lodge, 1600 meters. Department of Choco. West slope of the western Cordillera.
February 16th. All morning at the Las Tangaras Reserve birding a nice wide trail uphill through the forest with a picnic lunch. Brief stop at the Hummingbird feeders and then some time off and birding in the lodge grounds. Night at Las Tangaras Lodge at 1600 meters. West slope of the Western Cordillera. Department of Choco.
February 17th. Early start on the road to Urrao to a place curiously called “La M” at 2600 to 2500 meters, back to the Lodge for lunch and after lunch a drive to the pretty town of Jardin with a detour on the way on the paved road to Urrao near Bolombolo (Cauca) for the Antioquia Wren where we had great views of one individual and then another stop near the Hotel in Jardin for the Andean Cock of the Rock Lek. Department of Antioquia. East slope of the Western Cordillera.
February 18th. Morning at the Yellow-eared Parrot Reserve at Alto Las Ventanas 2700 – 2600 meters with lunch at the Restaurant La Mayoria and an afternoon drive to the Otun Quimbaya Reserve for the night via La Pintada and Pereira 1800 meters, and owling after dinner - Department of Risaralda. West slope of the Central Cordillera.
February 19th. Morning at the Otun Quimbaya Wildlife Sanctuary, birding along La Suiza road, 1800- 1900 meters, Department of Risaralda. West slope of the Central Cordillera. In the afternoon – drive to Manizales with stop in the Eco-parque Alcazar. Department of Risaralda. Night in Manizales.
February 20th. All morning birding in the Rio Blanco Reserve 2500-2600 meters, and after lunch departure to Los Termales Del Ruiz at Los Nevados NP and ending the day at the hummingbird feeders. West slope Central Andes. Department of Risaralda. Night in Los Termales de Ruiz.
February 21st. Birding in the morning at the Los Nevados Del Ruiz NP, starting at the park ranger’s station where we got great views of the Buffy Helmetcrest and at mid-day drove to Bogota with lunch on the way. Department of Cundinamarca.
SPECIES LIST
ANATIDAE
Torrent Duck – Merganetta armata: A couple seen well from the bridge at Otun Quimbaya on the Otun River as we were leaving the Otun Quimbaya Reserve.
Blue-winged Teal - Anas discors: Boreal migrant to Colombia, two seen at La Florida Park.
Andean Teal – Anas andium – 1 seen at the pond at Los Nevados Del Ruiz. The SACC says “Hellmayr & Conover (1948a) and many earlier classifications treated andium as a separate species from A. flavirostris- Speckled Teal. Following
Andean Duck – Oxyura ferruginea: 10 at La Florida Park and 3 more on the pond at Los Nevados. The SACC says 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). The IOC says: Oxyura ferruginea is split from O. jamaicensis (Ridgely & Greenfield 2001; Jaramillo 2003, Dickinson 2003); SACC does not.
Lesser Scaup – Aythya affinis: The first lifer of the trip for the leader – 6 females seen at La Florida Park, rare boreal visitor.
CRACIDAE
Sickle-winged Guan – Chamaepetes goudotti: Good looks at this smallish Guan at Rio Blanco Reserve.
Cauca Guan – Penelope perspicax: Around 5 seen at the Otun Quimbaya Reserve where it was re-discovered. Penelope was the daughter of Icarius and wife of Ulysses King of Ithaca. Perspicax means “Sharp-sighted” in Latin. ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
Andean Guan – Penelope montagnii – 3 seen at Rincon Del Oso at Chingaza National Park and one more at Rio Blanco Reserve.
PODICIPEDIDAE
Pied-billed Grebe – Podilymbus podiceps: 2 seen at La Florida Park.
ARDEIDAE
Black-crowned Night Heron – Nycticorax nycticorax: Good views of one at La Florida Park.
Cattle Egret - Bubulcus ibis: Common and widespread.
Great Egret - Ardea albus: We saw small numbers at several wetland sites.
THRESKIORNITHIDAE
Bare-faced Ibis - Phimosus infuscatus: Common.
CATHARTIDAE
Turkey Vulture - Cathartes aura: Common. 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.
Black Vulture - Coragyps atratus: Common.
ACCIPITRIDAE
White-tailed Kite - Elanus leucurus: 1 seen at La Florida Park and 3 more near the city on our way back to Bogota.
Barred Hawk - Morphnarchus prínceps: 1 seen at Las Tangaras Reserve and 2 more at the Lodge itself in the afternoon.
Roadside Hawk - Rupornis magnirostris: Numerous and widespread in small numbers. Raposo do Amaral et al. (2009) recommended the resurrection of monotypic genus Rupornis, widely used for this species in earlier literature (e.g., Pinto 1938). The genus Buteo as currently broadly defined is almost certainly polyphyletic (Riesing et al. 2003, Raposo et al. 2006, Raposo do Amaral et al. 2009). SACC proposal passed to resurrect Rupornis for magnirostris.
Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle - Geranoaetus melanoleucus: 1 seen at Chingaza National Park.
Broad-winged Hawk – Buteo platypterus: A boreal migrant – seen on three consecutive days.
RALLIDAE
Bogotá Rail - Rallus semiplumbeus: A handsome endemic. 1 seen swimming across the little channel at La Florida Park. The world population is estimated at 1,000 – 2,499 individuals and is decreasing because its range is very small and is contracting owing to widespread habitat loss and degradation. ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
Gray-cowled Wood-Rail – Aramides cajaneus: One seen walking near a little creek from the Rancherito restaurant during our short stop on our way to Las Tangaras Lodge.
Sora - Porzana carolina: Very good view of one at La Florida Park and another one seen from distance on the small pool at Los Nevados National Park.
Common Gallinule – Gallinula galeata: Seen at La Florida Park. The new world populations are now considered a separate species from the Old World populations Common Moorhen - Gallinula chlorops.
Purple Gallinule - Porphyrio martinica: 2 seen at La Florida Park.
Spot-flanked Gallinule – Gallinula melanops: surprisingly seen only one at La Florida Park. The Bogotá plains hold an isolated population a long way from others of this species.
American Coot – Fulica Americana: About 12 seen at La Florida Park.
CHARADRIIDAE
Southern Lapwing - Vanellus chilensis: 2 seen at La Florida Park and 2 more on our way to Jardin.
SCOLOPACIDAE
Least Sandpiper – Calidris minutilla: 2 seen at La Florida Park.
Spotted Sandpiper – Actitis macularia: 1 seen at La Florida Park.
Greater Yellowlegs - Tringa melanoleuca: 1 seen at La Florida Park.
Solitary Sandpiper – Tringa solitaria: 2 seen at La Florida Park.
COLUMBIDAE
Rock Pigeon – Colomba livia: common.
Band-tailed Pigeon - Patagioenas fasciata: Fairly common and widespread – seen at Las Tangaras Reserve and Rio Blanco Reserve.
Plumbeous Pigeon - Patagioenas plúmbea: seen on three consecutive days in the foothills.
Pale-vented Pigeon - Patagioenas cayennensis: seen on the way in and out from El Paujil and also around the Lodge itself.
White-throated Quail-Dove - Zenotrygon frenata: one seen well walking on the roadside near Rio Blanco Lodge.
Eared Dove - Zenaida auriculata: Common.
Ruddy Ground-Dove - Columbina talpacoti: Numerous and widespread in open country.
CUCULIDAE
Squirrel Cuckoo - Piaya cayana: 2 seen at Las Tangaras Reserve and 1 more seen at Alto de Ventanas (Yellow-eared Parrot Reserve).
Smooth-billed Ani - Crotophaga ani: The common Ani of the trip.
STRIGIDAE
Colombian Screech Owl – Megascops choliba: Great views at Otun Quimbaya.
Mottled Owl – Ciccaba virgate: One seen briefly at Otun Quimbaya Reserve.
Cloud-forest Pygmy-Owl – Glaucidium nibicola: An amazing view of one individual at Las Tangaras Reserve – pictures and recording – VULNERABLE, Range Restricted.
NYCTIBIIDAE
Common Potoo - Nyctibius griseus: One seen roosting with its chick, very well spotted by our great driver Jiovani near Mariquita on our driving day to Bogota.
CAPRIMULGIDAE
Common Pauraque - Nyctidromus albicollis: Seen at Las Tangaras Reserve and also at Yellow-eared Parrot Reserve.
APODIDAE
Chestnut-collared Swift - Streptoprocne rutile: 2 seen at Las Tangaras and 6 more at Rio Blanco Reserve.
White-collared Swift - Streptoprocne zonaris: Several sightings of groups.
TROCHILIDAE
Tawny-bellied Hermit – Phaethornis syrmatophorus: 1 seen at Las Tangaras Reserve.
Wedge-billed Hummingbird - Schistes geofroyi: 2 seen also at Otun Quimbaya Reserve.
Green Violetear – Colibri thalassinus: Seen at Otun Quimbaya and Rio Blanco Reserve. Thalassinus = Sea-green.
Tourmaline Sunangel – Heliangelus exortis: 1 seen at La M and 3 more at Alto de Ventanas and a few more at Rio Blanco and Los Nevados National Park.
Amethyst-throated (Longeumare’s) Sunangel - Heliangelus amethysticollis clarisse: 2 seen at Chingaza National Park.
Speckled Hummingbird -Adelomyia melanogenys: Seen at Otun Quimbaya and Rio Blanco Reserve - a forest Hummer.
Long-tailed Sylph – Aglaiocercus kingi: 2 seen at Rio Blanco Reserve.
Violet-tailed Sylph – Aglaiocercus coelestes: at least 5 at the feeders at Las Tangaras Reserve. Range Restricted.
Rainbow-bearded Thornbill – Chalcostigma herrani: Wow – great looks at the feeders of Los Termales Del Ruiz at Los Nevados National Park. Named for General Pedro Alcantara Herran Martinez de Zaldia (1800-1872) Colombian statesman and president of the Republic of New Granada. The Republic of New Granada was a centralist republic consisting primarily of present-day Colombia and Panama with smaller portions of today's Ecuador, and Venezuela. It was created after the dissolution in 1830 of Gran Colombia.
Bronze-tailed Thornbill – Chalcostigma heteropogon: 3 or 4 seen at Chingaza National Park. Range Restricted.
Green-bearded Helmetcrest - Oxpogon guerinii: One seen at the very last minute as we were leaving the Park right after one of our drivers spotted the Spectacled Bear at Chingaza National Park - VULNERABLE ENDEMIC.
Buffy Helmetcrest – Oxypogon stubelli: 1 seen very well at the Los Nevados National Park. VULNERABLE ENDEMIC.
Tyrian Metaltail - Metallura tyrianthina: 1 seen at Chingaza National Park. Named after the color Tyrian purple. Variously known as Royal purple, Tyrian purple, purple of the ancients, this ancient dyestuff, mentioned in texts dating about 1600 BC, was produced from the mucus of the hypobranchial gland of various species of marine molluscs, notably Murex. Although originating in old port of Tyre in modern day Syria (hence the name), man's first large scale chemical industry spread throughout the world. With the decline of the Roman Empire, the use of the dye also declined and large-scale production ceased with the fall of Constantinople in 1453. It was replaced by other cheaper dyes like lichen purple and madder.
Viridian Metaltail - Metalllura williami: At least 6 seen well at the hummingbird feeders of Los Termales Del Ruiz Hotel at Los Nevados National Park.
Greenish Puffleg – Haplopaedia aureliae: Fairly common at RNA Las Tangaras. Haplophaedia assimilis (Buff- thighed Puffleg of the Manu Road) was formerly (e.g., Peters 1945, Meyer de Schauensee 1970) considered a subspecies of H. aureliae, but Schuchmann et al. (2000) provided rationale for treating it as a separate species, representing a return to the classification of Cory (1918).
Glowing Puffleg – Eriocnemis vestita: 1 seen at Chingaza National Park.
Golden-breasted Puffleg – Eriocnemis mosquera: 2 on the feeders of Los Termales Del Ruiz Hotel at Los Nevados National Park. A range restricted species also occurring in Ecuador. Named after Colombian dictator General Tomas Cipriano de Mosquera who ruled in the late 1800’s. Range Restricted.
Black-thighed Puffleg - Eriocnemis derbyi: 1 seen at the Nevados Ruiz feeders at Los Nevados National Park. A somewhat nomadic species. Named for English zoologist Edward Smith Stanley Earl of Derby (1775-1851) NEAR THREATENED, Range Restricted.
Shining Sunbeam – Aglaeactis cupripennis: About 8 at the Los Nevados Del Ruiz Hotel feeder’s at PN Nevados Ruiz.
Bronzy Inca – Coeligena coeligena: Only one seen at Rio Blanco Reserve.
Brown Inca - Coeligena wilsoni: 1 seen at Las Tangaras Reserve. Range Restricted.
Collared Inca – Coeligena torquata: Common at the new feeders at Yellow-eared Parrot Reserve above Jardin and also at the Rio Blanco feeders.
Mountain Velvetbreast - Lafresnaya lafresnaya: 2 seen at Yellow-eared Parrot Reserve and also at Los Termales Del Ruiz Hotel feeders at Los Nevados National Park. Named for Noel Frederic Armand Andre Baron de Lafresnaye a French Ornithologist and collector 1783-1861. He has many species named for him. The French were extremely energetic collectors and naturalists during the 19th century or “Natural Philosophers”.
Great Sapphirewing – Pterophanes cyanopterus: Common at the Los Termales Del Ruiz Hotel feeders at Los Nevados National Park.
Sword-billed Hummingbird - Ensifera ensifera: Seen well at the new feeders at Yellow-eared Reserve and also at Los Nevados Del Ruiz Hotel feeders at Los Nevados National Park.
Buff-winged Starfrontlet - Coeligena lutetiae: 3 at the feeders of Los Termales Del Ruiz Hotel at Los Nevados National Park.
Buff-tailed Coronet – Boissoinneaua falvescens: The owner of the feeders at the Rio Blanco reserve and also at the new feeder station at Yellow-eared Parrot Reserve.
Velvet-purple Coronet – Boissoinneaua jardini: 2 at the feeders of Las Tangaras Reserve. Range Restricted.
Fawn-breasted Brilliant – Heliodoxa rubinoides: One at the feeders at Las Tangaras Reserve and another one at Rio Blanco Reserve.
Empress Brilliant - Heliodoxa imperatrix: Excellent views at the feeders of Las Tangaras Reserve. Range Restricted.
Long-billed Starthroat - Heliomaster longirostris: One seen at Otun Quimbaya Reserve.
White-bellied Woodstar – Chaetocercus mulsant: Nice looks at the feeders at the new feeder station at Yellow-eared Parrot Reserve and Rio Blanco Reserve. Named after yet another French zoologist and collector.
Gorgeted Woodstar - Chaetocercus heliodor: One at Las Tangaras Reserve feeders and 2 more at Otun Quimbaya Reserve. Range Restricted.
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird - Amazilia tzacatl: Seen on two consecutive days at Las Tangaras Reserve.
Andean Emerald – Agyrtria franciae. Common at the feeders at Las Tangaras Reserve. Named for Francia Bourcier daughter of the French consul to Ecuador 1849.
Steely-vented Hummingbird – Saucerottia saucerottei. Seen on two consecutive days at Las Tangaras Reserve.
TROGONIDAE
Golden–headed Quetzal – Pharomachrus auriceps: One seen very well at Las Tangaras Reserve.
Collared Trogon - Trogon collaris: 3 seen at Otun Quimbaya.
Masked Trogon - Trogon personatus: 2 seen at Las Tangaras Reserve.
MOMOTIDAE
Andean Motmot - Momotus aequatorialis: Quite common throughout the tour – seen at Las Tangaras Lodge and also at Otun Quimbaya and Rio Blanco.
SEMINORTITHIDAE
Toucan Barbet - Semnornis ramphastinus: Great views and pictures of 2 at Las Tangaras Reserve. Range Restricted.
RAMPHASTIDAE
Grey-throated (Emerald) Toucanet - Aulacorhynchus (prassinus) griseogularis: 4 seen at Otun Quimbaya – griseogularis (The Grey-throated Toucanet). ENDEMIC. Ridgely & Greenfield (2001) suggested that Aulacorhynchus prasinus may consist of more than one species-level taxon, but see Short & Horne (2001), who pointed out that the allopatric taxa are no more distinctive than those known to intergrade.
The subspecies lautus, albivitta, cyanolaemus, dimidiatus, and atrogularis, as well as Middle American wagleri and caeruleogularis, were formerly (e.g., Ridgway 1914, Cory 1919) each considered separate species from (and in some cases not particularly closely related to) Aulacorhynchus prasinus, but Peters (1948) and Haffer (1974) treated them all as conspecific. Puebla-Olivares et al. (2008) identified three clades in South America based on mtDNA and proposed species rank for each. The IOC presents Grey- throated and White–throated as splits, citing, Puebla-Olivares et al. 2008 and the former becomes a Colombian endemic. IOC splits, SACC does not as yet and is awaiting a proposal.
Crimson-rumped Toucanet -Aulacorhynchus haematopygus: 1 seen at Las Tangaras Reserve.
Black-billed Mountain-Toucan – Andigena nigrirostris: 2 at Chingaza National Park.
PICIDAE
Grayish Piculet - Picumnus granadensis: 1 seen really well near the Eco-Parque ALCAZARES at Manizales. ENDEMIC.
Acorn Woodpecker - Melanerpes formicivorus: 2 seen at El Rancherito Restaurant on our travel day to Las Tangaras from Medellin. A species heavily associated with Oak forest (Quercus) which only extends as far south as Colombia in South America, hence, so does the Woodpecker!
Red-crowned Woodpecker – Melanerpes rubricapillus: Common and conspicuous.
Smoky-brown Woodpecker – Venilornis fumigatus: 1 seen at Las Tangaras Reserve.
Golden-olive Woodpecker - Colaptes rubiginosus: 1 seen at Las Tangaras Reserve and better views at Otun Quimbaya Reserve.
Crimson-mantled Woodpecker – Colaptes rivolii. 1 seen at Rio Blanco Reserve. Yet another Frenchman! Named for the impressive sounding Francois Victor Massena Prince d’Essling and Duc de Rivoli (1795- 1863). An ornitholigist and collector.
FALCONIDAE
Crested Caracara - Caracara cheriway: Common throughout the tour: Formerly placed in the genus Polyborus but this species has been switched to the genus Caracara. Note also that the former species known as Crested Caracara, has been split into three species with those ranging north of north-west Peru and the Amazon River (i.e. Colombia) and as far as the USA, according to the IOC, retain the name Northern Crested Caracara C. cheriway, the birds from Southern Peru to the tip of South America, Tierra del Fuego, are referable to the species Caracara plancus Southern Caracara, while another form, the extinct Guadalupe Caracara C. lutosus, of Guadalupe Island, Mexico, has also been given its untimely species status.
Yellow-headed Caracara - Milvago chimachima: Another widespread open country raptor that was seen regularly in small numbers.
American Kestrel - Falco sparverius: Scattered sightings.
Merlin – Falco columbarius: 2 seen at La Florida Park – another lifer for the leader in the same day.
Peregrine Falcon - Falco peregrinus: 1 seen at the Eco-Parque ALCAZARES at Manizales.
PSITTACIDAE
Bronze-winged Parrot – Pionus chalcopterus: 3 individuals seen in flight at the Otun Quimbaya Reserve.
Brown-breasted (Flame-winged) Parakeet - Pyrrhura calliptera: Unfortunable only heard at Chingaza National Park – VULNERABLE ENDEMIC.
Yellow-eared Parrot – Ognorhynchus icterotis: At Alto Las Ventanas we saw 28 in total. Historically known from Ecuador it now seems to be extirpated there so is a de facto Colombian endemic. This species is classified as Endangered because the known population of mature individuals is extremely small; however, intensive conservation action has stabilised its current range and resulted in a population increase. If the number of mature individuals continues to increase the species may be downlisted in the future. CRITICALLY ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
Golden-plumed Parakeet – Leptosittaca branickii: 2 seen in flght at Otun Quimbaya and 14 seen perched at Rio Blanco Reserve - VULNERABLE.
Spectacled Parrotlet – Forpus conpicillatus: Almost a Colombian endemic – 3 seen near Mariquita on our travel day to Bogota. Range Restricted.
THAMNOPHILIDAE
Rufous-rumped Antwren – Euchrepomis callinota: A pair seen at Las Tangaras Reserve.
Black-crested Antshrike – Sakesphorus canadiensis: A female one seen near Salgar where we saw the Antioquia Wren. Sakephorus is Greek meaning “Shield-bearing” referring to the black shield like breast patches of this genus.
Bar-crested Antshrike - Thamnophilus multistriatus: A male one seen at El Rancherito restaurant and another one at Otun Quimbaya. A near-endemic, generally replacing the Barred Antshrike, at higher elevations. Outside Colombia it is only known from the Venezuelan side of the Sierra de Perijá, so it’s a de facto endemic. Range Restricted.
GRALLARIDAE
Chestnut-crowned Antpitta - Grallaria ruficapilla: Photographed at the worm feeder at Rio Blanco.
Bicolored Antpitta – Grallaria rufocinerea: 1 seen at the worm feeder at Rio Blanco – VULNERABLE, Range Restricted.
Yellow-breasted Antpitta – Grallaria flavotincta: Heard only, at Las Tangaras Reserve.
Rufous Antpitta – Grallaria rufula rufula: One seen at Chingaza National Park. Keep track of where you see your Rufous Antpittas – they will be split.
Tawny Antpitta – Grallaria quitensis: 1 at Los Nevados National Park. Named for the city of Quito which in turn is named for the Quitu Indians.
Brown-banded Antpitta – Grallaria milleri: 1 came to the worm feeders at Rio Blanco – fantastic! ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
RHINOCRYPTIDAE
Ocellated Tapaculo – Acropternis orthonyx: One seen at La M, and another one at Alto Las Ventanas (Yellow-eared Parrot Reserve). What a difficult bird to be seen!
Blackish Tapaculo - Scytalopus latrans latrans: 2 seen at Rio Blanco Reserve – very good views!
Stile’s Tapaculo – Scytalopus stilesi: One seen at Otun Quimbaya. Named for Dr. Gary Stiles US ornithologist still doing research in Colombia. ENDEMIC.
Spillman’s Tapaculo – Scytalopus spillmani: Heard only, at Yellow-eared Parrot Reserve - above Jardin.
Pale-bellied Tapaculo – Scytalopus griseicollis: 1 seen at Chingaza National Park. ENDEMIC.
Paramo Tapaculo - Scytalopus opacus: 1 seen at Los Nevados National Park. This species has been recently split into Paramo and Paramillo (S. canus) Tapaculos with the latter becoming a Colombian endemic restricted to the Western Cordillera in the north.
Nariño Tapaculo – Scytalopus vicinior: One seen well at Las Tangaras Reserve. Range Restricted.
Tatama “Alto Pisones” Tapaculo – Scytalopus alvarezlopezi Good looks of this Tapaculo at Las Tangaras Reserve. Just described in The Auk – “A new species of tapaculo (Rhinocryptidae: Scytalopus) from the Western Andes of Colombia” by F. Gary Stiles, Oscar Laverde-R, and Carlos Daniel Cadena. They say: we suggest the English name of Tatamá Tapaculo for S. alvarezlopezi because the majority of localities for this species are in the middle sector of the Western Andes wher the most prominent and best-known mountain is Cerro Tatamá. ENDEMIC.
FURNARIIDAE
Montane Woodcreeper – Lepidocolaptes lacrymiger: Seen at Chingaza National Park, Otun Quimbaya and Rio Blanco Reserve.
Streaked Xenops - Xenops rutilans: 2 seen at Rio Blanco Reserve.
Buffy Tuftedcheek – Pseudocolpates lawrenci: 1 seen at Las Tangaras Reserve. Named for George Newbold Lawrence, US businessman collector and naturalist. Range Restricted.
Stout-billed Cinclodes – Cinclodes excelsior: Great looks of 3 at Los Nevados National Park. The SACC says Cinclodes aricomae (Royal Cinclodes) is often considered conspecific with C. excelsior (e.g., Peters 1951, Meyer de Schauensee 1970), and evidence for treating them as separate species (e.g., Fjeldså & Krabbe 1990, Remsen 2003) is weak. Proposal needed.
Montane Foliage-gleaner - Anabacerthia striaticollis: 1 seen at Otun Quimbaya Reserve.
Lineated Foliage-gleaner - Syndactyla subalaris: 1 seen at Las Tangaras Reserve.
Pearled Treerunner – Margarornis squamiger: Common component of mixed Cloud Forest flocks; seen at Chingaza National Park, La M and at Rio Blanco Reserve.
Andean Tit-Spinetail - Leptasthenura andicola: Very good views of 2 at Los Nevados National Park.
Many-striped Canastero – Asthenes flammulata: Heard only, at Los Nevados National Park.
White-chinned Thistletail - Asthenes fuliginosa: Great views at Chingaza National Park.
Red-faced Spinetail – Cranioleuca erythrops: A pair seen really well on two consecutive days at Las Tangaras and two more at Otun Quimbaya.
Silvery-throated Spinetail - Synallaxis subpudica: Only heard near Chingaza National Park as we were going out from the park. ENDEMIC.
Azara’s Spinetail - Synallaxis azarae: Fairly commonly heard and 1 seen at Las Tangaras Reserve and two more at Rio Blanco Reserve. Pip-Squeak!!
Pale-breasted Spinetail - Synallaxis albescens: 2 seen near Mariquita same spot as the Common Potoo on our travel day to Bogota from Los Nevados NP.
TYRANNIDAE
Sooty-headed Tyrannulet - Phyllomyias griseiceps: 1 seen on our detour at the Antioquia Wren spot on our travel day to Jardin.
Black-capped Tyrannulet - Phyllomyias nigrocapillus: 2 seen at Rio Blanco Reserve.
Yellow-bellied Elaenia - Elaenia flavogaster: 2 near Mariquita – same Potoo spot.
Southern Beardless Tyrannulet - Camptostoma obsoletum: 2 seen at La Florida Park.
White-throated Tyrannulet - Mecocerculus leucophrys: We saw this species at Chingaza National Park and also at Los Nevados National Park.
White-banded Tyrannulet - Mecocerculus sticopterus: seen at Chingaza and at Rio Blanco Reserve.
Torrent Tyrannulet - Serpophaga cinerea: 1 seen on the way back from Alto Las Ventanas and 5 more at the Otun River.
Golden-faced Tyrannulet - Zimmerius chrysops: Seen at Chingaza National Park and also at Rio Blanco. Variation in Golden-faced Tyrannulet subspecies is reasonably extensive and more than one species may be involved. Ridgely & Greenfield (2001) considered the subspecies flavidifrons of southwestern Ecuador and northwestern Peru to represent a separate species from Zimmerius chrysops based on differences in voice.
Marble-faced Bristle-Tyrant – Phylloscartes opthamicus: 1 seen at Otun Quimbaya. SACC keeps bristle tyrants in Phylloscartes but needs proposal to update to Pogonotriccus (Fitzpatrick 2004) IOC uses Pogonotriccus.
Streak-necked Flycatcher – Mionectes striaticollis: 1 seen at Las Tangaras and one more at Rio Blanco Reserve.
Rufous-breasted Flycatcher - Leptopogon rufipectus: 2 seen well at Otun Quimbaya and 2 more at Rio Blanco Reserve. Range Restricted.
Ornate Flycatcher – Myiotriccus ornatus: 1 seen at Las Tangaras Reserve.
Black-throated Tody-Tyrant - Hemitriccus granadensis: Heard only, at La M.
Rufous-headed Pygmy-tyrant - Pseudotriccus ruficeps: One seen at Alto las Ventanas – a stunning bird!
Common Tody-Flycatcher - Todirostrum cinereum: Seen only twice in different sites.
Cinnamon Flycatcher Pyrrhomyias cinnamomea: Regularly encountered in the Andes (pyrrhoptera).
Acadian Flycatcher - Empidonax virescens: 2 seen at Las Tangaras Reserve and 1 more near the Eco- Parques ALCAZARES at Manizales.
Black Phoebe - Sayornis nigricans: A bird of streams and rivers that was frequently seen sitting on bridges.
Vermilion Flycatcher - Pyrocephalus rubinus: A male one seen on our way out from Otun Quimbaya. A stunning bird.
Streak-throated Bush-Tyrant - Myiotheretes striaticollis: 3 seen at Chingaza National Park and one more at the new hummingbird feeder station at Yellow-eraed Parrot Reserve.
Yellow-bellied Chat-tyrant - Ochthoeca diadema: One seen at La M.
Slaty-backed Chat-Tyrant – Ochthoeca cinnamomeiventris: 1 seen from the vehicle at Rio Blanco Reserve.
Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant - Ochthoeca fumicolor: One seen at Chingaza and two more at Los Nevados National Park.
Social Flycatcher - Myiozetetes similis: A few throughout the tour.
Great Kiskadee - Pitangus sulphuratus: A widespread bird of open areas.
Golden-crowned Flycatcher - Myiodynastes chrysocephalus: One seen at Otun Quimbaya Reserve.
Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher - Myiodynastes lutriventris: One seen on our driving day to Otun Quimbaya.
Tropical Kingbird - Tyrannus melancholicus. TK! Common throughout seen every day of the trip.
Pale-edged Flycatcher – Myiarchus cephalotes: Seen at Las Tangaras, Alto de Ventanas, Otun Quimbaya and Rio Blanco Reserve.
COTINGIDAE
Green and Black Fruiteater - Pipreola riefferii: Good views of 2 at Rio Blanco Reserve. Range Restricted.
Red-crested Cotinga - Ampelion rubrocristatus: 2 seen at Chingaza National Park and one more at Los Nevados National Park.
Andean Cock-of-the-Rock – Rupicola peruvianus: Amazing views at their Lek at about 12 minutes away from Jardin Town “sanguinolentus”.
Red-ruffed Fruitcrow – Pyroderus scutatus: Common at Otun Quimbaya with about 10 seen.
PIPRIDAE
Golden-winged Manakin – Masius chrysopterus: Heard only, at Las Tangaras Reserve.
TITYRIDAE
In this classification, the genera Tityra through Phibalura were formerly placed tentatively in the Cotingidae, following Prum et al. (2000). They had formerly been scattered among the Tyrannidae, Cotingidae, and Pipridae. Prum and Lanyon (1989) and Sibley & Ahlquist (1990) found that Tityra, Schiffornis, and Pachyramphus formed a distinct group, separate from the rest of the Tyrannidae; Sibley & Ahlquist (1990) proposed that they were most closely related to core Tyrannidae than to other tyrannoid families such as the Cotingidae or Pipridae. More recent genetic data (Johansson et al. 2002, Chesser 2004, Barber & Rice 2007) confirm that the genera Tityra through at least Pachyramphus form a monophyletic group, but Chesser (2004) found that this group is more closely related to the Pipridae than to the Cotingidae or Tyrannidae. SACC proposal passed to remove from Cotingidae (and place as Incertae Sedis or as separate family, Tityridae). Barber & Rice (2007) not only confirmed the monophyly of the group but also proposed elevation to family rank. SACC proposal passed to recognize Tityridae. Within this group, Barber & Rice (2007) found genetic evidence for two major groups: (a) Laniisoma, Laniocera, and Schiffornis, and (b) Iodopleura, Tityra, Xenopsaris, and Pachyramphus.
Barred Becard - Pachyramphus versicolor: 1 seen at Rio Blanco Reserve.
White-winged Becard – Pachyramphus polychopterus: Heard only, at Otun Quimbaya.
VIREONIDAE
Rufous-browed Peppershrike - Cyclarhis gujanensis: 1 at Otun Quimbaya.
CORVIDAE
Black-collared Jay - Cyanolyca armillata: 2 seen at Chingaza National Park.
Inca Jay - Cyanocorax yncas: A most handsome bird, one seen on our travel day to Las Tangaras and another one at Jardin. Ridgely & Greenfield (2001) and Hilty (2003) treated Middle American populations as a separate species, C. luxosus ("Green Jay") from South American C. yncas ("Inca Jay"), but no data presented; they were formerly (e.g., REFS) considered separate species.
HIRUNDINIDAE
Blue-and-white Swallow -Pygochelidon cyanoleuca: Widespread in small numbers.
Brown-bellied Swallow - pygochelidon murina: At Chingaza, La Florida Park, Rio Blanco and Los Nevados National Park.
Southern Rough-winged Swallow - Stelgidopteryx ruficollis: Common at lower elevations.
Gray-breasted Martin – Progne chalybea: 1 or 2 seen near Mariquita on our travel day to Bogota.
TROGLODYTIDAE
House Wren - Troglodytes aedon: Common and widespread. Many authors (e.g., Hellmayr 1934, Pinto 1944, Phelps & Phelps 1950a) formerly treated Neotropical mainland populations as a separate species T. musculus; see also Brumfield and Capparella (1996); this treatment was followed by Brewer (2001) and Kroodsma & Brewer (2005). The Falklands population, T. a. cobbi, might also be best treated as a species (Wood 1993) and is done so by the IOU, as was done by Brewer (2001), Mazar Barnett & Pearman (2001), Jaramillo (2003), and Kroodsma & Brewer (2005).
Mountain Wren - Troglodytes solstitialis: 2 seen well at Rio Blanco Reserve.
Paramo Wren – Cistothoru platensis: 2 seen at Los Nevados National Park. Robbins & Nyri (2014) 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. They proosed the name Paramo Wren for the form we saw.
Apolinar’s Wren – Cistothorus apolinari: Excellent views of one individual at La Florida Park. This species has a very small population and range. It is thought to be declining rapidly, owing to loss and degradation of its severely fragmented habitat. All subpopulations are suspected to be extremely small, and some have been extirpated over the last few decades. This combination of factors result in its classification as Endangered. ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
Black-bellied Wren - Pheugopedius fasciatoventris: Heard only, at Otun Quimbaya.
Antioquia Wren - Thryophilus senai: 1 seen well by everyone - found after a bit of a search near Salgar. This species was discovered in March 2010 in the vicinity of the Cauca River in Antioquia, Colombia and described as new species in 2012. The epithet commemorates the late Marco Antonio Serna Díaz (1936-1991), a Colombian naturalist from San Vicente Ferrer, Antioquia. ENDEMIC.
Sharpe’s Wren - Cinnycerthia olivascens: Excellent views of 6 at Yellow-eared Parrot Reserve.
Grey-breasted Wood-Wren Henicorhina leucophrys: Regularly heard at higher elevations with a number of good views. We saw the nominate leucophrys.
Munchique Wood-Wen - Henicorhina negreti: 2 seen really well after play-back at La M. Named for the Munchique National Park where this taxon was first noted. CRITICALLY ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
Chestnut-breasted Wren - Cyphorhinus thoracicus. Heard only.
POLIOPTIDAE
Tropical Gnatcatcher – Polioptila plummbea: Not common only 1 seen at Antioquia Wren spot near Salgar.
CINCLIDAE
White-capped Dipper – Cinclus leucocephalus: 1 seen from the bridge on the Otun River on our way out from Otun Quimbaya and 2 more at the water reservoir at Rio Blanco Reserve.
TURDIDAE
Andean Solitaire - Myadestes ralloides: Seen by some at Otun Quimbaya.
Swainson’s Thrush – Catharus ustulatus: One seen at Las Tangaras Lodge.
Great Thrush - Turdus fuscater: Common at higher elevations. We saw quindio (endemic) in the Central and Western Andes.
Black-billed Thrush - Turdus ignobilis: Fairly common in the lowlands.
THRAUPIDAE
White-capped Tanager - Sericossypha albocristata: Heard only, at Alto de Ventanas.
Black-capped Hemispingus – Hemispingus atropileus: Small groups at Chingaza National Park and Alto las Ventanas and also at Rio Blanco Reserve. Hemispingus is Greek and means half a spingus – a spingus being a Finch so referring to their small size.
Superciliaried Hemispingus – Hemispingus superciliaris: 2 seen at Rio Blanco Reserve.
Oleaginous Hemispingus - Hemispingus frontalis: Seen at Yellow-eared Parrot Reserve and Rio Blanco.
Black-eared Hemispingus - Hemispingus melanotis: 4 seen at Rio Blanco. We saw the nominate form. The SACC says: Genetic data (Garcia-Moreno et al. 2001, Garcia-Moreno & Fjeldsa 2003) indicate that the distinctive taxon piurae (Piura Hemispingus), currently treated as a subspecies of H. melanotis (e.g., Meyer de Schauensee 1970), is more distant from the latter than is H. frontalis, and that piurae is basal to frontalis + melanotis; these analyses, however, are based on only ca. 300 base-pairs of mtDNA. Ridgely & Greenfield (2001) treated piurae as a separate species from H. melanotis based on plumage and vocal differences. SACC proposal to recognize piurae as a species did not pass. Hilty (2011) also treated piurae as a separate species. Ridgely & Greenfield (2001) and Hilty (2011) further recognized the subspecies ochraceus (Western Hemispingus) as a separate species based on plumage differences. Proposal needed.
Grey-hooded Bush Tanager – Cnemoscopus rubrirostris: We saw birds of the nominate form that do have pink bills at Urrao road (La M) and 4 at Rio Blanco Reserve. Note the southern form chyrsogster south of the Maranon River in Peru, which does not have a pink bill may be a separate species and, if so, would become a Peruvian endemic.
Flame-rumped Tanager - Ramphocelus flammigerus: Seen in several localities. See the preceding species for the taxonomic status of this near endemic. Range Restricted.
Lemon-rumped Tanager - Ramphocelus ictronotus: Seen by the Cock of the Rock lek at Jardin near the Hotel. Limited hybridization between Ramphocelus icteronotus and R. flammigerus was the basis for lumping them (Isler and Isler 1987, Ridgely and Tudor 1989, Sibley and Monroe 1990), but that may have been a mistake (Ridgely & Greenfield 2001, Ridgely & Tudor 2000. The SACC says: The taxon icteronotus was formerly (e.g., Hellmayr 1936, Meyer de Schauensee 1970) considered a separate species from Ramphocelus flammigerus, but intergradation between them in southwestern Colombia (Chapman 1917, Sibley 1958) led Storer (1970a) to consider them conspecific, and this treatment has been followed by most authors subsequently (e.g., Ridgely & Tudor 1989, Sibley & Monroe 1990), Restall (2007). However, as noted by Ridgely & Greenfield (2001), the differences between these two are comparable to those between two Ramphocelus taxa (passerinii and costaricensis) recently treated as separate species (Hackett 1996, AOU 1998). Restall 2007 agrees with the split as does the IOC. The SACC is considering.
Blue-gray Tanager - Thraupis episcopus: Numerous and widespread. The scientific name is derived from the ‘episcopal blue’ plumage.
Palm Tanager - Thraupis palmarum: Common and widespread.
Blue-capped Tanager - Thraupis cyanocephala: A few seen at different locations.
Black and Gold Tanager - Bangsia melanochlamys: Quite common at the Las Tangaras Reserve with great looks of 3 birds. VULNERABLE ENDEMIC.
Hooded Mountain Tanager – Buthraupis Montana: 3 at Chingaza and 1 more at La M of a large showy Tanager.
Grass-Green Tanager – Chroronis reifferi: Seen at La M and at Rio Blanco.
Lacrimose Mountain Tanager – Anisognathus lacrymosus: At La M and at Alto de Ventanas and at Rio Blanco Reserve.
Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager – Anisognathus igniventris: Always a great bird – 3+ Seen at Chingaza on our first day and then again at Los Nevados National Park.
Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager - Anisognathus somptuosus: Seen at Las Tangaras and Rio Blanco.
Black-chinned Mountain Tanager – Anisognathus notabilis: 1 seen at RNA Las Tangaras. Range Restricted.
Buff-breasted Mountain Tanager – Dubusia taeniata: One seen at Rio Blanco.
Purplish-mantled Tanager – Iridosornis porphyrocephalus. A near endemic creeping into NW Ecuador. Very good views of 2 at Las Tangaras. NEAR THREATENED, Range Restricted.
Multicolored Tanager - Chlorochrysa nitidissima: Great look of a male at Otun Quimbaya. VULNERABLE ENDEMIC.
Glistening-green Tanager – Chlorochrysa phoenicotis: 2 seen at Las Tangaras. Range Restricted.
Golden Tanager -Tangara arthus: A stunning montane species that we saw good numbers of at Las Tangaras and Otun Quimbaya.
Saffron-crowned Tanager - Tangara xanthocephala: 1 at Otun Quimbaya.
Rufous-throated Tanager – Tangara rufigula: 2 at Las Tangaras Reserve.
Bay-headed Tanager - Tangara gyrola: One seen at the Eco-Parques MARQUEZ at Manizales, The name ‘gyrola’ is derived from the Latin ‘gyros’, or ring, and refers to the golden nuchal collar present in most races of this species.
Scrub Tanager - Tangara vitriolina: Another species which prefers second growth. One of the most numerous and widespread tanagers in Colombia’s valleys and on the adjacent slopes, but outside the country it is a localized specialty in northern Ecuador. Range Restricted.
Metallic-green Tanager - Tangara labradorides: Seen at Otun Quimbaya and Rio Blanco.
Blue-necked Tanager Tangara cyanicollis: Common and widespread – seen in three different localities.
Beryl-spangled Tanager - Tangara nigroviridis: Common at RNA Las Tangaras and La M and few more at Rio Blanco Reserve.
Blue and Black Tanager – Tangara vassorii: Fairly common at Chingaza National Park, La M, Yellow- eared Parrot Reserve and Rio Blanco.
Black-capped Tanager - Tangara heinei: 2 seen near the Eco-Parques ALCAZAR at Manizales.
Blue Dacnis - Dacnis cayana: A male one seen near Bolombolo (Antioquia Wren) site and another one at Alto Las Ventanas.
Green Honeycreeper – Chlorophanes spiza: Male and female seen at the Eco-parques ALCAZAR.
Golden-collared Honeycreeper - Iridophanes pulcherririmus: Good views of a male one at Las Tangaras Reserve.
Blue-backed Conebill - Conirostrum sitticolor: 1 seen at Chingaza National Park.
Capped Conebill - Conirostrum albifrons: Nice view of a male one at Rio Blanco.
Rufous-browed Conebill - Conirostrum rufum: 1 seen briefly at Chingaza National Park. Range Restricted.
Chestnut-bellied Flowerpiercer - Diglossa gloriosissima: Heard only, at La M. After 40 years without any records this species has been rediscovered, with records from several new locations. It has a very small known range, within which habitat loss is continuing, and is therefore listed as Endangered, but if it is found to be more widespread and proves to be tolerant of some habitat degradation it is likely to become eligible for downlisting. ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
Black Flowerpiercer – Diglossa humeralis: 4 at Chingaza National Park and few more at Los Nevados National Park.
White-sided Flowerpiercer - Diglossa albilatera: Perhaps the most common and widespread of the flowerpiercers. Here the nominate race.
Indigo Flowerpiercer – Diglossa indigotica. 1 at Las Tangaras Reserve. Range Restricted.
Bluish Flowerpiercer - Diglossa caerulescens: 1 seen at Alto Las Ventanas.
Masked Flowerpiercer – Diglossa cyanea: The most common Flowerpiercer.
Plumbeous Sierra Finch - Phrygilus unicolor: A female one at Chingaza NP and 3 more at Los Nevados National Park.
Saffron Finch - Sicalis flaveola: Common.
Black-winged Saltator - Saltator atripennis: 1 seen at El Rancherito Restaurant on our travel day to Las Tangaras Reserve.
Streaked Saltator - Saltator striatipectus: 2 seen also at the Antioquia Wren site near Bolombolo.
Gray Seedeater - Sporophila intermedia: 2 seen at the Potoo spot near Mariquita on our travel day to Bogota.
Yellow-bellied Seedeater - Sporophila nigricollis: 1 seen at Otun Quimbaya.
Plain-colored Seedeater – Catamenia inornata: 5 at Los Nevados National Park.
Bananaquit - Coereba flaveola: As usual, common and widespread.
Yellow-faced Grassquit - Tiaris olivacea: One seen on our way out from Otun Quimbaya Reserve.
EMBERIZIDAE
Common Chlorospingus - Chlorospingus ophthalmicus: 2 at Otun Quimbaya – the winner of the trip.
Gray-browed Brushfinch – Arremon assimilis: Amazing views at the worm feeders at Rio Blanco.
Rufous-collared Sparrow - Zonotrichia capensis: Numerous at higher elevations.
Pale-naped Brush-Finch - Atlapetes pallidinucha: 3 seen at Los Nevados National Park.
Slaty Brush-Finch – Atlapetes schistaceus: 2 seen at Chingaza NP and 5 more seen at Alto Las Ventanas and 2 Rio Blanco Reserve.
Choco Brush-Finch – Atlapetes crassus: 3 seen at Las Tangaras Reserve. The SACC says: The subspecies crassus of the W. Andes of Colombia and Ecuador may merit species rank (Ridgely & Greenfield 2001). Dickinson (2003) prematurely elevated crassus to species rank from Tricolored Brushfinch of Peru.
CARDINALIDAE
Summer Tanager – Piranga rubra: Quite common – seen in several locations.
Crested Ant-Tanager – Habia cristata: 1 seen very well at Las Tangaras Reserve. Nice Colombian endemic. ENDEMIC.
PARULIDAE
Northern Waterthrush- Parkesea noveboracencis: 1 seen at Las Tangaras Lodge. The genus is named for pioneer US Ornithologist Theodore (Ted) Parker.
Black and White Warbler – Mniiotilta varia: Cool bird! – One seen at Otun Quimbaya.
Tennessee Warbler – Vermivora peregrina: 2 seen at La M and 2 more at Otun Quimbaya.
Mourning Warbler – Oporornis agilis: 1 seen near the Andean Cock of the Rock lek at Jardin.
American Redstart - Setophaga ruticilla: 1 female seen at Otun Quimbaya.
Tropical Parula – Parula pitiayumi: 1 at Las Tangaras Reserve and 2 more at Otun Quimbaya.
American Yellow Warbler – Dendroica aestiva: This North American Migrant was seen twice at the ice-cream stop on our travel day to Otun Quimbaya from Jardin. The SACC says: Many authors suspect that the breeding populations of Dendroica petechia in South America may represent one or more separate species from North American wintering populations, but species limits in the "Yellow Warbler' complex are controversial (Klein and Brown 1994). Ridgely & Greenfield (2001) used a two-species classification, with North American wintering populations as one species, D. aestiva ("Yellow Warbler") and tropical resident populations as another, D. petechia ("Mangrove Warbler"). A three-species classification, as used by Hilty (2003), would separate the tropical populations into two species: mainly Pacific coastal populations, D. erithachorides ("Mangrove Warbler"), and Caribbean D. petechia ("Golden Warbler"). Olson (1980) noted that the South American populations on the Pacific coast show a gradation of characters between the erithachorides and petechia groups. SACC proposal to split petechia into two or more species did not pass due to insufficient published data. The IOC differs however and splits the birds into North American Yellow Warbler and Mangrove Warbler.
Bay-breasted Warbler - Setophaga castanea: 2 seen near Bolombolo on our detour for the Antioquia Wren site.
Blackburnian Warbler – Setophaga fusca: Regularly recorded throughout the tour – a very pretty bird.
Black-crested Warbler – Myiothlypis nigrocristatus: very good views of 3 at Chingaza National Park.
Russet-crowned Warbler – Myiothlypis coronatus: 2 at Rio Blanco Reserve.
Three-striped Warbler - Basileuterus tristriatus: 3 at Las Tangaras Reserve.
Canada Warbler – Cardellina canadensis: 2 al Las Tangaras Reserve and 1 more at Otun Quimbaya.
Slate-throated Whitestart - Myioborus miniatus: A common, widespread and delightful resident of the montane forests.
Golden-fronted Whitestart – Myioborus ornatus: We saw the chrysops races at various locations and ornatus at Chingaza NP – a very pretty bird. ENDEMIC.
ICTERIDAE
Russet-backed Oropendola - Zarhynchus angustifrons: Fairly common – seen at Las Tangaras Reserve.
Yellow-backed Oriole - Icterus chrysater: 1 seen on our travel day from Las Tangaras to Jardin.
Yellow-hooded Blackbird – Chrysmus icterocephalus: 8 seen at Parque La Florida.
Shiny Cowbird – Molothorus bonariensis: Common.
Eastern Meadowlark - Sturnella magna: Seen on our way back from Chingaza National Park. This is an isolated population.
FRINGILLIDAE
Andean Siskin – Spinus spinescens: Fairly common at Chingaza.
Yellow-bellied Siskin – Spinus xanthrogaster: A few on 3 different days.
Velvet-fronted Euphonia – Euphonia concinna: 1 female seen near Mariquita on our travel day to Bogota. ENDEMIC.
Thick-billed Euphonia - Euphonia laniirostris. Common.
Golden-rumped Euphonia - Euphonia cyanocephala: A pair seen at El Rancherito restaurant – great views!
Orange-bellied Euphonia - Euphonia xanthogaster: 1 seen at Las Tangaras and 2 more at Otun Quimbaya, the birds we saw (oressinoma), are actually yellow-bellied. A species conspicuously absent from the, (impoverished) Santa Marta Mountains.