ITINERARY
DAY 1 - July 30th: Tarapoto – Quebrada Upaquihua - Bellavista.
After arrival in Tarapoto we met our driver Salatiel and well experienced field chef Aurelio and drove south to the now well-known Quebrada Upaquihua (where we had lunch) which Barry had discovered on an LSU field expedition with Dan Lane in 2000. We spent the balance of the day birding here with some stops along the way before continuing to our hotel in Bellavista. Department of San Martin.
DAY 2 - July 31st: Bellavista to Plataforma or Flor de Café.
In Bellavista we switched to pre-organized specially modified Toyota 4 x 4 pickups to drive for several hours to the Barbet Camp (PLATAFORMA). Not a very hard long drive anymore because of the improved road since last year, allowing us to do some birding stops along the way and arriving a lot earlier than we used to do, so that in the afternoon we were able go birding to look for the new Antbird species. Night at the Flor de Café Hotel at 1400 meters, Department of San Martin.
DAY 3 – August 1st: A full day's birding at Flor de Cafe.
After a hot breakfast and coffee, we set off to the muddy trail, which fortunately was drier than usual. Luckily, we didn’t have any rain, and it was incredibly rewarding – we spent all morning (with a field lunch up on the ridge trail packed by Aurelio), seeing 6 Scarlet- banded Barbets in total, Foothill Schiffornis and great views of Gray-tailed Piha, lots of tanagers and after lunch went back to the rustic hotel for a little break and in the afternoon we went back to the new Antbird trail. Department of San Martin. Night at the Flor de Cafe Hotel.
DAY 4 – August 2nd: Flor de Café to Tarapoto.
About mid-morning we travelled to Bellavista where we changed vehicles to our bus and then drove to Tarapoto for the night. Night in Tarapoto. Department of San Martin.
DAY 5 – August 3rd: Tarapoto to Yurimaguas.
Dawn found us at the La Escalera mountain range – the tunnel on the road to Yurimaguas. A field breakfast with slow activity. We birded the tunnel area for a short time and then onto the Aconabikh private reserve which has well developed feeders with the endemic Koepcke’s Hermit and many other species. We dawdled here and had lunch before moving onto Yurimaguas (saying farewell to Barry who had joined us for this section) with a couple of stops and to our hotel complete with pool and view of the Huallaga River. Department of Loreto.
DAY 6 – August 4th: Yurimaguas to San Lorenzo.
Morning flght to San Lorenzo (two flights) and after lunch out to the field by “motorcar” near San Lorenzo to a new site for the White-masked Antbird with our local guide Erick. Night in San Lorenzo. Department of Loreto.
DAY 7 – August 5th: San Lorenzo.
We spent all day out in the field with a packed lunch looking for the White-masked Antbird. Night at San Lorenzo. Department of Loreto.
DAY 8 – August 6th: San Lorenzo to Yurimaguas and onto Waqanki Lodge.
Fly back to Yurimaguas (two flights) and then drive to La Escalera for some birding and after lunch we drove to the very birdy Waqanki Lodge with stop at Quebrada Quiscarumi to look at the roosting Oilbirds there. Night at Waqanki Lodge. Department of San Martin.
DAY 9 - August 7th: Full day at Waqanki Lodge.
In the morning, the group decide to hike the Mishquiyacu trail all the way up to the top of the ridge for the endemic Ash-throated Antwren, which was worth the very long hike because we got great views of the Antwren and some other unexpected birds like the Slaty-backed Forest-Falcon – great views and some pictures. Afternoon birding nearby Moyobamba area ending at Morro de Calzada for owling. Night at Waqanki Lodge, Department of San Martin.
DAY 10 - August 8th: Waqanki Lodge to Abra Patricia.
Very early departure to the hummingbird feeders at Arenas Blanca Reserve where we had breakfast and after that we continued to Afluente also known as “llanteria” (a new hummingbird feeder station there) and then we continued our way to Owlet Lodge at Abra Patricia run by ECOAN. [ECOAN is a Peruvian NGO working mainly on the conservation of cloud and Polylepis forests]. The evening found us at Alto Nieva a new private conservation area and then led by the local expert we headed for the forest and a Long-whiskered Owlet stakeout where we got great views after suffering a little bit. Night at Owlet Lodge. Department of San Martin.
DAY 11 - August 9th: Abra Patricia.
In the morning, we went down the road to Alto Nieva and the nearby localities and in the afternoon, we birded a couple of trails of the Lodge (Grallaria, and Monkey trail) and after trails we went down to Alto Nieva again for Andean Potoo with no luck and after dinner some owling. Night at Owlet Lodge. Department of San Martin.
DAY 12 - August 10th: San Lorenzo and Huembo.
Morning found us at the bottom of the Rio Chido (San Lorenzo) steep trail (almost a staircase in parts) that took us up to a small patch of Chusquea bamboo but we made it and a Pale-billed Antpitta required a hard effort to see. We then went to the Marvelous Spatuletail interpretation center at Huembo where we had great views of a male with full tail feathers coming to the feeders. In the late afternoon, we returned to Owlet Lodge. Department of Amazonas & San Martin.
DAY 13 - August 11th: Owlet Lodge to Tarapoto.
Pre-dawn owling for our last chance of White-throated Screech-Owl and Rufous-banded Owl where we had great views. After breakfast we did some more birding at the Lodge and then a little exploration to Pampas del Burro Reserve near La Florida village for the Royal Sunangel where we saw one male and after that back to Tarapoto with lunch above Afluente. Night in Tarapoto - Department of San Martin.
Day 14 - August 12th: Tarapoto to Lima.
Birding morning to La Escalera (the tunnel) near Tarapoto and after mid-day to the airport for noon flight to Lima and connections home.
SPECIES LIST
Family: TINAMIDAE (TINAMOUS)
GRAY TINAMOU – Tinamus tao. Heard only, at the tunnel area - VULNERABLE.
CINEREOUS TINAMOU - Crypturellus cinereus. Good views of one at Arenas Blanca Reserve coming to the feeding station.
LITTLE TINAMOU - Crypturellus soui. Great views of two individual from the hide at the Arena Blanca Reserve.
WHITE-THROATED TINAMOU – Tinamus guttatus. Heard only, at San Lorenzo.
Family: ANATIDAE (DUCKS AND GEESE)
COMB DUCK - Sarkidiornis melanotus. One hundred plus seen on the Huallaga River bank on our travel day to Bellavista.
Family: CRACIDAE (GUANS)
SPECKLED CHACHALACA - Ortalis guttata. Quite common in the lowlands – seen in several locations.
ANDEAN GUAN – Penelope montagnii. One seen at San Lorenzo.
WATTLED GUAN - Aburria aburria. One seen really well at the Tunnel.
Family: ODONTOPHORIDAE (WOOD-QUAILS)
RUFOUS-BREASTED WOOD-QUAIL – Odontophorus speciosus. Amazing views of 8 individuals coming to the grain feeder station at Arenas Blanca.
Family: COLUMBIDAE (PIGEONS)
ROCK PIGEON – Columba livia. Common.
BAND-TAILED PIGEON – Patagioenas fasciata. Six individuals seen at San Lorenzo.
PALE-VENTED PIGEON - Patagioenas cayennensis. Common at Upaquihua and a few more seen on our way out to Plataforma.
PLUMBEOUS PIGEON - Patagioenas plumbea. 2 seen at Plataforma and 2 more at Waqanki.
RUDDY PIGEON - Patagioenas subvinacea. Heard only, VULNERABLE.
WHITE-THROATED QUAIL-DOVE - Geotrygon frenata. One seen at Plataforma.
WHITE-TIPPED DOVE - Leptotila verreauxi. Fairly common throughout the trip. Named for the impressive sounding John Baptiste Edouard Verreaux (1810-1868) French Natural History dealer and collector.
GRAY-FRONTED DOVE – Leptotila rufaxilla. One seen well at Arenas Blanca on the grain feeder station at Arenas Blanca Reserve.
EARED DOVE - Zenaida auriculata. Very common – seen in a few localities.
PLAIN-BREASTED GROUND-DOVE – Columbina minuta. One seen near Upaquihua.
RUDDY GROUND-DOVE - Columbina talpacoti. Common in the eastern lowlands.
BLUE-GROUND DOVE - Claravis pretiosa. Four in total seen on our travel day to Plataforma.
Family: CUCULIDAE (CUCKOOS)
SQUIRREL CUCKOO - Piaya cayana. Common throughout the trip.
SMOOTH-BILLED ANI - Crotophaga ani. Common in the eastern lowlands.
Family STEATORNITHIDAE (OILBIRD)
OILBIRD - Steatornis caripensis. Great views at the usual cave near Moyobamba. Steatornis = Fatbird. Baron von Humboldt recorded that young Oilbirds were culled each year and rendered into fat, melted down into oil, which was highly prized for cooking.
Family: CAPRIMULGIDAE (NIGHTJARS)
BLACKISH NIGHTJAR - Nyctipolus nigrescens. One seen at the ridge trail near the Tunnels.
COMMON PAUARQUE - Nyctidromus albicollis. Two seen at Waqanki Lodge.
LYRE-TAILED NIGHTJAR – Uropsalis lyra. A male seen just outside of the dining room at Owlet Lodge.
SPOT-TAILED NIGHTJAR - Hydropsalis maculicaudus. Very good views of two near Morro de Calzada outside of Moyobamba.
RUFOUS NIGHTJAR - Antrostomus rufus. Gave us a hard time to find one at Waqanki.
Family: TROCHILIDAE (HUMMINGBIRDS)
WHITE-NECKED JACOBIN - Florisuga mellivora. Very common at the Aconabikh & Waqanki hummingbird feeders.
PALE-TAILED BARBTHROAT – Threnetes leucurus. One seen well at Aconabikh hummingbird feeders.
RUFOUS-BREASTED HERMIT – Glaucis hirsute. One seen at Aconabikh hummingbird feeder station and another one at San Lorenzo.
GREEN HERMIT - Phaethornis guy. Two seen on our travel day to Plataforma and two more at the Arenas Blanca hummingbird feeder station.
WHITE-BEARDED HERMIT– Phaethornis hispidus. One seen at Waqanki Lodge.
GREAT-BILLED HERMIT - Phaethornis malaris. At the Aconabikh hummingbird feeders.
KOEPCKE’S HERMIT - Phaethornis koepckeae. Fantastic views at Aconabikh hummingbird feeders. ENDEMIC.
BLACK-THROATED HERMIT- Phaethornis atrimentalis. Seen twice at Plataforma and great views of one more at Waqanki hummingbird heeders. We saw the subspecies riojae. Range Restricted.
GRAY-CHINNED HERMIT – Phaetornis griseogularis. One seen well at Aguas Verdes on our way to Abra Patricia.
REDDISH HERMIT - Phaethornis ruber. One seen at Arenas Blanca Reserve.
BLUE-FRONTED LANCEBILL- Doryfera johannae. Common at Arenas Blanca private Reserve but also 1 briefly at Aconabikh.
GREEN-FRONTED LANCEBILL - Doryfera ludovicae. At least one seen at Arenas Blanca Reserve and two more at Pampas del Burro Reserve.
BROWN VIOLET-EAR - Colibri delphinae. Seen at Aconabikh and Waqanki hummingbird feeders.
LESSER VIOLET-EAR - Colibri cyanotus. Seen every day at Owlet Lodge and a few more at Huembo hummingbird feeders. This split occurs from Costa Rica to Bolivia with the other half – Mexican Violet-ear from Mexico to Nicaragua.
SPARKLING VIOLET-EAR - Colibri coruscans. Common in several locations. The bully of the feeders.
BLACK-THROATED MANGO - Anthracothorax nigricollis. One male seen at Aconabikh and two more at Waqanki hummingbird feeders.
AMETHYST-THROATED SUNANGEL - Heliangelus amethysticollis. One seen at San Lorenzo.
ROYAL SUNANGEL - Heliangelus regalis. 1 male seen at Pampas del Burro Reserve. From the Greek Helios =sun, Angelos = angel. From the habit of this genus of lifting their wings monetarily as in stylized angel paintings, on alighting on a twig. A near endemic – has been seen in a remote area of Ecuador. Range Restricted, ENDANGERED.
WIRE-CRESTED THORNTAIL - Discosura popelairii. One seen along the ridge trail at Plataforma. Named for Jean Baptiste Baron Poplaire de Terloo, Belgian naturalist and collector in Peru.
RUFOUS-CRESTED COQUETTE - Lophornis delattrei. Common at the Waqanki hummingbird feeders and now it’s also seen at Arenas Blanca Reserve. Named for Adolphe de Lattre, French collector in Mexico and Colombia.
ECUADORIAN PIEDTAIL - Phlogophilus hemileucurus. One male seen at Llanteria (the new hummingbird feeders at Afluente) on our way in to the Owlet Lodge. VULNERABLE, Range Restricted.
SPECKLED HUMMINGBIRD - Adelomyia melanogenys. Seen on two consecutive day at Plataforma.
GREEN-TAILED TRAINBEARER - Lesbia nuna. One seen at Huembo. From the Greek Lesbias – a woman of Lesbos. Nuna – from Nouna – Koali, a graceful Indian virgin in Jean F Denis’s novel (1829) “Ismael Ben Kaizar ou la decouverture du Nouveau Monde”.
LONG-TAILED SYLPH - Aglaiocercus kingi. Common at the Owlet Lodge feeders.
TYRIAN METALTAIL - Metallura tyrianthina. Seen along the Pale-billed Antpitta trail at San Lorenzo. Named for Tyrion Lannister, first of his name of Casterly Rock. No, really 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.
GREENISH PUFFLEG – Haplophaedia aureliae. One seen at Alto Nieva hummingbird feeders.
EMERALD-BELLIED PUFFLEG - Eriocnemis alinae. Common at the feeders and in the forest at the Owlet Lodge.
MARVELOUS SPATULETAIL - Loddigesia mirabilis. Marvelous! Amazing views of 3 in total at Huembo hummingbird feeders. The genus is named after British taxidermist and natural history dealer G. Loddiges (1784-1846), who specialised in hummingbirds. ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
BRONZY INCA - Coeligena coeligena. Daily at the Owlet Lodge feeders and some at the Huembo feeders.
COLLARED INCA - Coeligena torquata. Another star player at the Owlet Lodge feeders.
VIOLET-THROATED STARFRONTLET - Coeligena violifer. Two seen on our hike up to the Pale-billed Antpitta at San Lorenzo. Range Restricted.
SWORD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD - Ensifera ensifera. What a bill!! Amazing views at the Owlet Lodge feeders!
CHESTNUT-BREASTED CORONET - Boissonneaua metthewsi. The dominant bully at the Owlet Lodge and Huembo feeders. Named for English botanist and collector in the Neotropic Andrew Matthews.
BOOTED RACKET-TAIL - Ocreatus underwoodii. One seen at Plataforma also at Alto Nieva and few more at Owlet Lodge feeders. The Racket tailed Puffleg was unknown in life but specimens existed in various London cabinets, whence a drawing was sent in 1832 by Mr. Underwood on behalf of Charles Stokes, a London stockbroker and collector.
GOULD’S JEWELFRONT - Heliodoxa aurescens. Good views at Aconabikh hummingbird feeders. Named for John Gould English publisher, collector and artist.
FAWN-BREASTED BRILLIANT - Heliodoxa rubinoides. One of the stars of the Owlet Lodge feeders.
VIOLET-FRONTED BRILLIANT - Heliodoxa leadbeateri. One seen along the Mishquiyacu trail at Waqanki and one more at Arenas Blanca feeders and also at Huembo hummingbird feeders.
WHITE-BELLIED WOODSTAR - Chaetocercus mulsant. Wonderful views of this insect-sized bird, at the Owlet Lodge and Huembo hummingbird feeders.
LITTLE WOODSTAR - Chaetocercus bombus. A rare hummingbird – a female seen in the bushes at Huembo. VULNERABLE, Range Restricted.
AMETHYST WOODSTAR - Calliphlox amethystina. A female seen at Waqanki hummingbird feeders.
VIOLET-HEADED HUMMINGBIRD – Klais guimeti. Two individuals seen very well at Waqanki hummingbird feeders.
GREY-BREASTED SABREWING - Campylopterus largipennis. Common at the Aconabikh, Waqanki and Arenas Blanca hummingbird feeders.
NAPO SABREWING – Campylopteros villaviscensio. Very good views of two at Plataforma – NEAR THREATENED.
FORK-TAILED WOODNYMPH - Thalurania furcata. Common – One of the most common hummingbird throughout the trip.
MANY-SPOTTED HUMMINGBIRD - Taphrospilus hypostictus. One seen at Waqanki Lodge.
WHITE-BELLIED HUMMINGBIRD - Amazilia chionogaster. One seen at Huembo hummingbird feeders.
GOLDEN-TAILED SAPPHIRE - Chrysuronia oenone. At Plataforma and the Waqanki, Aconabikh and Arenas Blanca Hummingbird feeders.
SAPPHIRE-SPANGLED EMERALD - Polyerata lactea. At the Waqanki hummingbird feeders and more common at Arenas Blanca hummingbird feeders.
ANDEAN EMERALD - Amazilia franciae. A few seen at the Huembo - ECOAN hummingbird feeders.
WHITE-CHINNED SAPPHIRE - Hylocharis cyanus. Two seen at Waqanki hummingbird feeders.
Family: APODIDAE (SWIFTS)
WHITE-COLLARED SWIFT - Streptoprocne zonaris. Common.
SHORT-TAILED SWIFT - Chaetura brachyura. 3 seen at Upaquihua and 2 more at San Lorenzo.
WHITE-TIPPED SWIFT - Aeronautes montivagus. Seen on the way in to Plataforma.
NEOTROPICAL PALM-SWIFT - Tachornis squamata. Seen several days throughout the trip, always near Mauritia palms.
Family: OPISTHOCOMIDAE (HOATZIN)
HOATZIN - Opisthocomus hoazin. Five seen on our way in to Plataforma.
Family: ARAMIDAE (LIMPKIN)
LIMPKIN – Aramus guarauna. Common in the rice fields – seen at several localities throughout the tour.
Family: RALLIDAE (RAILS)
RUSSET-CROWNED CRAKE - Anurolimnas viridis. Great views of 2 individuals near Moyobamba.
GREY-COWLED WOOD-RAIL - Aramides cajanea. Two seen from one of our vehicle on the road on our way in to Plataforma. The AOU has recently split Gray-necked Wood-Rail into two – this one occurs from the Pacific slope of Costa Rica to Argentina and Russet-naped Wood-Rail of Mexico to the Caribbean slope of Costa Rica.
PAINT-BILLED CRAKE – Neocrex erythrops. Wonderful view of one individual in rice field near Tarapoto on our travel day to Waqanki Lodge from Yurimaguas.
SPOTTED RAIL – Pardirallus maculatus. Very good views of 2 individuals near Rioja.
COMMON GALLINULE - Gallinula galeata. Common in the rice fields.
PURPLE GALLINULE - Porphyrio martinicus. 10 seen on the same pool where we had the Spotted Rail near Rioja.
Family: RECURVIROSTRIDAE (STILTS & AVOCETS)
BLACK-NECKED STILT - Himantopus mexicanus. Common in the rice fields. Taxonomy is a bit confusing. The SACC says “Himantopus mexicanus was formerly considered a subspecies of Old World H. himantopus (“Common Stilt”). Some authors have treated southern South American melanurus (White-backed Stilt) as a separate species. The six taxa in the genus Himantopus form a near-globally distributed super species and between 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.
Family: SCOLOPACIDAE (SANDPIPERS)
LESSER YELLOWLEGS – Tringa flavipes. 7 seen in the rice field on our way back to Bellavista from Plataforma.
Family: JACANIDAE (JACANAS)
WATTLED JACANA - Jacana jacana. Common in the rice fields – one seen outside of San Lorenzo and ten more between Rioja and Moyobamba.
Family: PHALACROCORACIDAE (CORMORANTS)
NEOTROPIC CORMORANT - Phalacrocorax brasilianus. 3 seen on our way in to Plataforma and 1 more on our way out.
Family: ARDEIDAE (HERONS)
STRIATED HERON - Butorides striatus. Seen on several occasions throughout the tour.
CATTLE EGRET - Bubulcus ibis. Common throughout the trip.
SNOWY EGRET - Egretta thula. A few here and there.
GREAT EGRET - Ardea alba. Common.
LITTLE BLUE HERON - Egretta cerulea. 8 seen between Rioja and Moyobamba.
Family: CATHARTIDAE (NEW WORLD VULTURES)
BLACK VULTURE - Coragyps atratus. Common throughout the trip.
TURKEY VULTURE - Cathartes aura. Common throughout the trip.
KING VULTURE – Sarcoramphus papa. One seen on our travel day to Plataforma.
Family: ACCIPITRIDAE (HAWKS)
GRAY-HEADED KITE – Leptodon cayanensis. One seen on our travel day to Moyobamba from Yurimaguas.
SWALLOW-TAILED KITE - Elanoides forficatus. One of the most beautiful raptors in South America! Several seen on several days.
BLACK-HAWK EAGLE - Spizaetus tyrannus. One seen along the ridge trail at Plataforma.
SNAIL KITE - Rostrhamus sociabilis. In the lowlands always near water, seen in the rice field on our way out from Plataforma and 2 more seen close to Moyobamba.
PEARL KITE – Gampsonyx swainsonii. One seen on our way back from Plataforma.
PLAIN-BREASTED HAWK – Accipiter ventralis. One seen at La Escalera on our travel day from Yurimaguas to Moyobamba.
ROADSIDE HAWK - Rupornis magnirostris. Many of this common raptor.
WHITE-RUMPED HAWK - Parabuteo leucorrhous. One seen at Pampas del Burro.
VARIABLE HAWK - Geranoaetus polyosoma. One seen at San Lorenzo (Pale-billed Antpitta trail).
WHITE HAWK - Pseudastur albicollis. Seen on two different days at La Escalera mountain range.
Family: STRIGIDAE (OWLS)
TROPICAL SCREECH-OWL - Megascops choliba. Heard only.
VERMICULATED (NAPO) SCREECH-OWL -Megascops (napensis) guatemalae. Very nice view of two individuals just by the corner of the soccer field at Plataforma. The taxanomic status of this species is moot. M. napensis (including helleri and bolivianus) was split from M. guatemalae (König et al. 1999), but relations to roraimae and vermiculatus need study (SACC, H&M4).
CINNAMON SCREECH-OWL - Megascops pertersoni. Amazing views of one on our way back from the Owlet site at Alto Nieva. Named for American pioneer ornithologist and artist Roger Tory Petersen (1908-1996). Range Restricted.
WHITE-THROATED SCREECH-OWL - Megascops albogularis. One seen near the canopy tower on monkey trail at Abra Patricia.
BAND-BELLIED OWL - Pulsatrix melanota. Very nice view of one at Waqanki.
BLACK-BANDED OWL – Ciccaba huhula. Very good views at Morro de Calzada.
RUFOUS-BANDED OWL - Ciccaba albitarsus. One seen very close to the Lodge at Owlet Lodge.
FERRUGINOUS PYGMY-OWL - Glaucidium brasilianum. Seen on two consecutive days at Plataforma.
SUBTROPICAL PYGMY-OWL – Glaucidium parkeri. Heard only, at Plataforma.
LONG-WHISKERED OWLET - Xenoglaux loweryi. One that we suffered a little bit to see at Alta Nieva, but after all we all got great views. Xenoglaux = Strange Owl. Named for George Hines Lowery US Zoologist ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
STYGIAN OWL - Asio stygius. An immature that responded really well to the playback at Morro de Calzada and an adult also the next morning – bizarre and wonderful – an impressive Owl. Stygius from the Greek meaning infernal. From the River Styx in the underworld feature in the afterworld of Greek Mythology, similar to the Christian area of Hell in texts such as The Divine Comedy and Paradise Lost. The ferryman Charon is believed to have transported the souls of the newly dead across this river into the underworld, though in the original Greek and Roman sources, as well as in Dante, it was the river Acheron that Charon plied. Dante put Phlegyas as ferryman over the Styx and made it the fifth circle of Hell, where the wrathful and sullen are punished by being drowned in the muddy waters for eternity, with the wrathful fighting each other.
Family: TROGONIDAE (TROGONS)
GOLDEN-HEADED QUETZAL - Pharomachrus auriceps. Heard only, at Abra Patricia.
COLLARED TROGON - Trogon collaris. A male one seen at Plataforma.
BLUE-CROWNED TROGON – Trogon curucui. Two seen at Waqanki.
GREEN-BACKED TROGON - Trogon viridis. Two seen at San Lorenzo.
Family: MOMOTIDAE (MOTMOTS)
BROAD-BILLED MOTMOT - Electron platyrhynchum. One seen very well at Waqanki Lodge.
Family: GALBULIDAE (JACAMARS)
BLUISH-FRONTED JACAMAR - Galbula cyanescens. 1 seen at Upaquihua.
YELLOW-BILLED JACAMAR – Galbula albirostris. One seen very well at San Lorenzo.
Family: BUCCONIDAE (PUFFBIRDS)
WHITE-FACED NUNBIRD – Hapaloptila castanea. Great views of 2 at Owlet Lodge.
SWALLOW-WING - Chelidoptera tenebrosa. One seen on the way to Upaquihua and two more at San Lorenzo.
Family: CAPITONIDAE (NEW WORLD BARBETS)
SCARLET-CROWNED BARBET – Capito aurovirens. One seen on our travel day to Plataforma and 2 more seen at San Lorenzo.
SCARLET-BANDED BARBET - Capito wallacei. Our most targeted bird! Great views of 6 individuals in total on our full day at Plataforma. Stunning and satisfying! VULNERABLE ENDEMIC.
GILDED BARBET - Capito auratus. Quite common throughout the tour.
VERSICOLORED BARBET - Eubucco versicolor. Two seen near Plataforma on our way in, and one more on the Barbet ridge trail at Plataforma.
Family: RAMPHASTIDAE (TOUCANS)
CHANNEL-BILLED TOUCAN - Ramphastos vitellinus. One seen from the little ridge near the tunnel on our way back from Yurimaguas.
BLACK-THROATED (EMERALD) TOUCANET - Aulacorhynchus (prasinus) atrogularis. Seen twice at Plataforma and a few more at Abra Patricia. Range Restricted.
LETTERED ARACARI - Pteroglossus inscriptus. Very good views at Waqanki. “Arasari” is a Brazilian Amerindian name for a small toucan. In Greek Pteroglossus means “feather tongued” a reference to the slim feather-like tongues of toucans and aracaris.
MANY-BANDED ARACARI – Pteroglossus pluricinctus. 3 seen on our travel day to Moyobamba from Yurimaguas.
CHESTNUT-EARED ARACARI - Pteroglossus castanotis. Two seen around Waqanki Lodge.
Family: PICIDAE (WOODPECKERS)
LAFRESNAYE’S PICULET - Picumnus lafresnayi. Very good views at Waqanki. Named for the impressive sounding Noel Frederic Armand Andre Baron de Lefresnay (1783-1861) French Ornithologist and collector. Range Restricted.
SPECKLE-CHESTED PICULET – Piccumus steindachneri. One seen at Afluente and another one at Huembo - ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
YELLOW-TUFTED WOODPECKER - Melanerpes cruentatus. 1 seen on the way in to Plataforma and every day at San Lorenzo.
SMOKY-BROWN WOODPECKER - Picoides fumigatus. Seen on two consecutive days at Plataforma and one more at Arenas Blanca.
LITTLE WOODPECKER - Veniliornis passerinus. One seen at Plataforma.
CRIMSON-MANTLED WOODPECKER – Piculus rivolii. Four seen at San Lorenzo (Pale-billed Antpitta trail).
YELLOW-THROATED WOODPECKER – Piculus flavigula. One seen at San Lorenzo.
SPOT-BREASTED WOODPECKER - Colaptes punctigula. Two seen outside of Moyobamba.
GOLDEN-OLIVE WOODPECKER – Colaptes rubiginosus. One seen at Plataforma, another one at Waqanki and 2 more at Abra Patricia.
LINEATED WOODPECKEER - Dryocopus lineatus. One seen on our way in to Plataforma and one more the next day.
CRIMSON-BELLIED WOODPECKER – Campephilus haematogaster. A very nice view of one individual at Afluente on our travel day to Abra Patricia.
CRIMSON-CRESTED WOODPECKER – Campephilus melanoleucos. One seen on our travel day to Plataforma.
RED-NECKED WOODPECKER – Campephilus rubicollis. Another stoner woodpecker! Two seen well at Plataforma.
Family: FALCONIDAE (FALCONS)
BARRED FOREST-FALCON - Micrastur ruficollis. Heard only, on our travel day to Plataforma.
SLATY-BACKED FOREST-FALCON – Micrastur mirandollei. A very nice surprise of one individual responding to play-back along the ridge trail at Waqanki Lodge.
YELLOW-HEADED CARACARA - Milvago chimachima. One seen on our way back to Tarapoto from Plataforma and another one seen on our travel day from Tarapoto to Yurimaguas.
AMERICAN KESTREL - Falco sparverius. Seen at Pampas Del Burro.
Family: PSITTACIDAE (PARROTS)
SPOT-WINGED PARROTLET – Touit stictopterus. Heard only, on the ridge trail at Waqanki.
CANARY–WINGED PARAKEET - Brotogeris versicolurus. 4 seen at the San Lorenzo airport.
COBALT-WINGED PARAKEET - Brotogeris cyanoptera. Small flocks seen on a few days throughout the trip, here the subspecies gustavi with yellow on the wings. SACC comment: The subspecies gustavi was formerly (e.g., Cory 1918, Peters 1937) considered a separate species from Brotogeris cyanoptera, but Traylor (1958) indicated that they probably intergrade in the Huallaga valley.
BLUE-HEADED PARROT - Pionus menstruus. Common in the lowlands – seen at Waqanki.
SCALY-NAPPED PARROT – Amazona mercenaria. A few seen on two different occasions at Owlet Lodge.
YELLOW-CROWNED PARROT – Amazona ochrocephala. Six seen at San Lorenzo.
ORANGE-WINGED PARROT – Amazona amazonica. Four seen at San Lorenzo.
BLACK-HEADED PARROT – Pionites melanocephalus. Four seen on our travel day to Plataforma.
ROSE-FRONTED PARAKEET - Pyrrhura roseifrons. Wonderful views of about 30 along the ridge trail at Plataforma.
MAROON-TAILED PARAKEET - Pyrrhura melanura. Heard only.
WHITE-EYED PARAKEET - Psittacara leucophthalma. Common in the lowlands– seen at Upaquihua and also at San Lorenzo.
Family: THAMNOPHILIDAE (ANTBIRDS)
FASCIATED ANTSHRIKE - Cymbilaimus lineatus. A male one seen at Plataforma.
BARRED ANTSHRIKE - Thamnophilus doliatus. A female seen at Upaquihua.
LINED ANTSHRIKE - Thamnophilus tenuepunctatus. Very good views of a male and female on the ridge trail at Plataforma. VULNERABLE, Range Restricted.
MOUSE-COLORED ANTSHRIKE – Thamnophilus murinus. A male one seen at San Lorenzo.
NORTHERN SLATY ANTSHRIKE - Thamnophilus punctatus huallagae. Fairly common at Quebrada Upaquihua. The SACC says “Ridgely & Greenfield (2001) further recognized leucogaster of the Marañon Valley (with huallagae of Huallaga Valley) as a separate species from punctatus; this taxon was tentatively retained as a subspecies of T. punctatus by Isler et al. (1997), with further evidence confirming subspecies status presented by Isler, Walker et al. (2001). The subspecies huallagae was formerly (e.g. Peters 1951) treated as a subspecies of T. amazonicus, but see Isler et al. (1997). ENDEMIC.
VARIABLE ANTSHRIKE - Thamnophilus caerulescens. Seen almost every day around Owlet Lodge – at Abra Patricia.
PLAIN ANTVIREO - Dysithamnus mentalis. Seen on two consecutive days at Plataforma and one more at Waqanki.
WHITE-EYED ANTWREN – Epinecrophylla leucophthalma. Two seen at San Lorenzo.
FOOTHILL ANTWREN – Epinecrophylla spodionota. Very good views of 2 along the Mishquiyacu trail at Waqanki.
MOUSTACHED ANTWREN – Myrmotherula obscura. Good views of two individuals at San Lorenzo.
STRIPE-CHESTED ANTWREN - Myrmotherula longicauda. 4 at Quebrada Upaquihua.
WHITE-FLANKED ANTWREN - Myrmotherula axillaris. 2 at Quebrada Upaquihua here of the slow voiced form, and two more at Aconabikh. The SACC says: s (1984b), Ridgely & Tudor (1994), Hilty (2003), and Zimmer & Isler (2003) noted that vocal differences among several subspecies of Myrmotherula axillaris suggest that more than one species is involved.
ASH-THROATED ANTWREN – Herpsilochmus parkeri. Wonderful views of two individuals at the very top of the ridge behind Waqanki Lodge that required 3 hours walk to reach – but was worth the effort!! Named for the late Theodore - ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
YELLOW-BREASTED ANTWREN - Herpsilochmus axillaris. A male one seen along the ridge trail at Plataforma - VULNERABLE.
RUFOUS-WINGED ANTWREN - Herpsilochmus rufimarginatus. One seen at Upaquihua.
RUSTY-BACKED ANTWREN - Formicivora rufa. Great views of 3 at Upaquihua.
STREAK-HEADED ANTBIRD - Drymophila straticeps. Very good views of 3 at Alto Nievas and one more at Pampas del Burro.
BLACKISH ANTBIRD - Cercomacroides nigrescens. Male and female seen on the ridge trail at Plataforma. Here, the subspecies aequatorialis.
WHITE-BROWED ANTBIRD - Myrmoborus leucophrys. Impressive bird here of the koenigi subspecies with a complete white forehead at Upaquihua.
PERUVIAN WARBLING ANTBIRD - Hypocnemis peruviana. Two seen on the Mishquiyacu trail at Waqanki.
SPOT-WINGED ANTBIRD – Myrmelastes leucostigma subplumbea. One seen at Waqanki.
CHESTNUT-TAILED ANTBIRD – Sciaphylax hemimelaena. Very good views of 2 at Upaquihua.
Myrmoderus Sp. nov. An overlooked, spectacular new Antbird to science. And see it we did! It looks like Ferruginous-backed Antbird from the Guianan Shield but the male with significant amounts of black below and a distinct whistling song. Super! – This time it was harder than last year to see it, but after a lot of effort of the local guides we manage to show it to the whole group, that even Barry saw it....ENDEMIC.
WHITE-MASKED ANTBIRD – Pithys castaneus. Heard only. At one time, we were very close to one......but the bird was so shy that never showed up, instead kept going – then we could only hear it ....at San Lorenzo. Bad luck. ENDEMIC.
COMMON SCALE-BACKED ANTBIRD – Willisornis poecilinotus. Heard only, at Waqanki.
SPOT-BACKED ANTBIRD – Hylophylax naevius. Heard only, also at Waqanki.
Family: GRALLARIIDAE (ANTPITTAS)
SCALED ANTPITTA – Grallaria guatimalensis. Heard only, at Plataforma.
CHESTNUT-CROWNED ANTPITTA – Grallaria ruficapilla. Heard only, at San Lorenzo – Pale-billed Antpitta trail.
PALE-BILLED ANTPITTA - Grallaria carrikeri. Gave us a really hard time to find one. Impressive endemic Antpitta. ENDEMIC.
RUSTY-TINGED ANTPITTA - Grallaria przewalskii. One seen at Owlet Lodge – a really hard to see Antpitta - VULNERABLE ENDEMIC.
CHESTNUT ANTPITTA - Grallaria blakei. One seen at Owlet Lodge in Abra Patricia. ENDEMIC.
OCHRE-FRONTED ANTPITTA - Grallaricula ochraceifrons. A male one seen at Alto Nieva. VULNERABLE ENDEMIC.
RUSTY-BREASTED ANTPITTA – Grallaricula ferrugineipectus. Very nice view of two at one of the Pale-billed Antpitta sites at San Lorenzo.
Family: RHINOCRYPTIDAE (TAPACULOS)
TRILLING TAPACULO – Scytalopus parvirostris. Heard only, at San Lorenzo.
WHITE-CROWNED TAPACULO - Scytalopus atratus. One seen at Plataforma and one more at Arenas Blanca.
RUFOUS-VENTED TAPACULO - Scytalopus femoralis. Heard only, at Abra Patricia. ENDEMIC.
Family: FORMICARIIDAE (ANTTHRUSHES)
RUFOUS-BREASTED ANTHRUSH - Formicarius rufipectus. Heard only, commonly on the Barbet Ridge.
SHORT-TAILED ANTHRUSH - Chamaeza campanisona. Heard only, at Plataforma and also at Waqanki.
Family: FURNARIIDAE (OVENBIRDS)
OLIVACEOUS WOODCREEPER - Sittasomus griseicapillus amazonus. One seen at Plataforma and another one at Waqanki. Note where you see these and what subspecies they are –they WILL be split as sure as death and taxes!
“FOOTHILL” LONG-TAILED WOODCREEPER – Deconychura longicauda sp. nov. Two seen well at Plataforma. This undescribed Woodcreeepr split is in preparation.
WEDGE-BILLED WOODCREEPER – Glyphorynchus spirurus. Good views of 2 at San Lorenzo.
STRONG-BILLED WOODCREEPER – Xiphocolaptes promeropirhynchus. One seen by Peter at San Lorenzo – Pale-billed Antpitta site.
TSCHUDI’S WOODCREEPER - Xiphorynchus chunchotambo. One seen on the ridge trail at Plataforma and one more seen at Waqanki.
OLIVE-BACKED WOODCREEPER - Xiphorhynchus triangularis. One seen at Afluente and another one at Abra Patricia.
STRAIGHT-BILLED WOODCREEPER - Dendroplex picus. One seen at San Lorenzo.
MONTANE WOODCREEPER – Lepidocolaptes lacrymiger. One seen by Hemme only at the highland San Lorenzo.
INAMBARI WOODCREEPER – Lepidocolaptes fatimalimae. One seen on the Mishquiyacu trail at Waqanki.
PLAIN XENOPS – Xinops minutus. Good views of 2 at Plataforma.
STREAKED XENOPS - Xenops rutilans. One seen at Afluente on our travel day to Owlet Lodge.
POINT-TAILED PALMCREEPER - Berlepschia rikeri. One seen well between Rioja and Moyobamba – a mauritia palm tree specialist.
STREAKED TUFTEDCHEEK - Pseudocolaptes boissonneautii. One seen just by Hemme at the highland San Lorenzo.
PALE-LEGGED HORNERO – Furnarius leucopus. One seen in the early morning at the Hotel garden in Tarapoto.
BUFF-FRONTED FOLIAGE-GLEANER - Philydor rufus. Nice views of 2 at Plataforma and also at Waqanki.
MONTANE FOLIAGE-GLEANER – Anabacerthia striaticollis. One seen at Waqanki up at the very top of the ridge trail and one more at Afluente.
LINEATED FOLIAGE-GLEANER – Syndactyla subalaris. One seen by Hemme at highland San Lorenzo.
BLACK-BILLED TREEHUNTER - Thripadectes melanorhynchus. One seen above Afluente.
PEARLED TREERUNNER - Margarornis squamiger. 3 seen at San Lorenzo.
[MARAÑON] RUFOUS-FRONTED THORNBIRD - Phacellodomus rufifrons peruvianus. Very good views of 2 at Upaquihua. Here the subspecies peruvianus, sometimes treated as a distinct species. SACC comment: Ridgely & Greenfield (2001) considered northern inornatus (with castilloi) a separate species from Phacellodomus rufifrons, and this was followed by and Hilty (2003); vocalizations are reported to differ, but no analysis or data have been published. SACC proposal to recognize inornatus as separate species did not pass because of insufficient published data. Ridgely & Greenfield (2001) also suggested that the subspecies peruvianus of the Marañon valley deserved recognition as a separate species.
RUSSET-MANTLED SOFT-TAIL- Thripophaga berlepschi. Two seen along the Pale-billed Antpitta site above San Lorenzo – VULNERABLE ENDEMIC.
ASH-BROWED SPINETAIL - Cranioleuca curtata. 1 seen along the ridge trail at Plataforma and one more at Afluente, VULNERABLE.
AZARA'S SPINETAIL - Synallaxis azarae. Heard only, at Abra Patricia.
DARK-BREASTED SPINETAIL - Synallaxis albigularis. Good view of 2 at Plataforma and 1 more at Waqanki.
CHESTNUT-THROATED SPINETAIL - Synallaxis cherriei. Very good views of 2 at Quebrada Upaquihua. Named for George Kruck Cherrie US Ornithologist and collector (1865 -1948). Range Restricted.
RUFOUS SPINETAIL - Synallaxis unirufa. One juvenile seen at Abra Patricia.
Family: TYRANNIDAE (TYRANT FLYCATCHERS)
SOOTY-HEADED TYRANNULET - Phyllomyias griceiceps. Good views of one at Waqanki.
YELLOW-BELLIED ELAENIA - Elaenia flavogaster. Quite common at Waqanki.
WHITE-CRESTED ELAENIA - Elaenia albiceps. A few seen in Tarapoto and Waqanki.
SIERRAN ELAENIA - Elaenia pallatangae. Heard only, at Abra Patricia.
SOUTHERN-BEARDLESS TYRANNULET - Camptostoma obsoletum. Heard only, at San Lorenzo.
RUFOUS-WINGED TYRANNULET – Mecocerculus calopterus. Nice view of 1 at Huembo.
SULPHUR-BELLIED TYRANNULET - Mecocerculus minor. Seen on two consecutive days at Owlet Lodge.
WHITE-BANDED TYRANNULET – Mecocerculus stictopterus. 4 seen above San Lorenzo.
TORRENT TYRANNULET – Serpophaga cinerea. Very good views of 2 at Pampas del Burro Reserve.
MOUSE-COLORED TYRANNULET - Phaeomyias murina wagae. One seen at Upaquihua of the wagae subspecies.
RED-BILLED TYRANNULET - Zimmerius cinereicapillus. Good views of 1 along the ridge trail at Waqanki Lodge - VULNERABLE.
MISHANA TYRANNULET - Zimmerius villarejoi. Great surprise of 1 on our travel day to Plataforma on one of our stops along the way. The San Martin birds may prove to be distinct from the Iquitos birds. VULNERABLE ENDEMIC.
PERUVIAN TYRANNULET - Zimmerius viridiflavus. Common on the Barbet Ridge. These are vocally identical to those found in Central Peru, but recently there has been considerable debate about whether these are distinct from the Golden-faced Tyrannulet (likewise the species status of Loja Tyrannulet). Probably Peruvian birds away from the NE should be lumped into one as Peruvian Tyrannulet. ENDEMIC.
MARBLE-FACED BRISTLE-TYRANT - Phylloscartes ophthalmicus. 1 seen at Plataforma and another one at La Escalera.
ECUADORIAN TYRANNULET – Phylloscartes gualaquizae. One seen at Plataforma. Range Restricted.
MOTTLE-CHEEKED TYRANNULET - Phylloscartes ventralis. 1 seen at Pampas del Burro.
STREAK-NECKED FLYCATCHER - Mionectes striaticollis. Seen at Abra Patricia.
OLIVE-STRIPED FLYCATCHER - Mionectes olivaceus. 1 seen at Plataforma and another one at Waqanki.
OCHRE-BELLIED FLYCYACHER - Mionectes oleaginous. One seen at La Escalera.
ORNATE FLYATCHER – Myiotriccus ornatus. One seen at Afluente.
WHITE-BELLIED PYGMY-TYRANT - Myiornis albiventris. Nice looks at one individual at Quebrada Upaquihua. Not an easy bird to see and has a disjunct range. Range Restricted.
SCALE-CRESTED PYGMY-TYRANT – Lophotriccus pileatus. Heard only.
DOUBLE-BANDED PYGMY-TYRANT – Lophotriccus vitiosus. One seen at San Lorenzo.
STRIPE-NECKED TODY-TYRANT – Hemitriccus striaticollis. Heard only, at Waqanki.
PEARLY-VENTED TODY-TYRANT - Hemitriccus margaritaceiventer. Very good views at Upaquihua and one more at Waqanki.
BLACK-THROATED TODY-TYRANT - Hemitriccus granadensis. Seen at Abra Patricia. Named for New Granada a former South American Republic incorporating Panama, Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador. In early ornithology “New Granada” and “Bogota” were used to designate species of unknown provenance presumed to be from the Spanish Main (The Spanish held Mainland).
BUFF-THROATED TODY-TYRANT – Hemitriccus rufigularis. Good views of one at Plataforma and another one at the ridge top of Waqanki – NEAR THREATENED.
CINNAMON-BREASTED TODY-TYRANT - Hemitriccus cinnamomeipectus. Very good views at Alto Nieva below Abra Patricia – missed by most tours– just sneaks into an inaccessible part of Ecuador. VULNERABLE, Range Restricted.
JOHNSON’S TODY-FLYCATCHER - Poecilotrccus luluae. Seen at Abra Patricia on three consecutive days – a cracking looking bird! The scientific name is from the late Lulu May von Hagen for her support of research in avian genetics. ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
COMMON TODY-FLYCATCHER - Todirostrum cinereum. Seen at several locations.
OLIVACEOUS FLATBILL – Rhynchocyclus olivaceus. One seen at San Lorenzo.
YELLOW-BREASTED (OLIVE FACED) TOLMOMYIAS - Tolmomyias (viridiceps) flaviventris. Seen at three different localities. The SACC says: Tolmomyias flaviventris almost certainly involves more than one species; see Bates et al. (1992) and Ridgely & Tudor (1994). The subspecies viridiceps is almost certainly a distinct species, and was so considered by Ridgely et al. (2001) and Hilty (2003). However, Zimmer (1939a) considered them conspecific because the subspecies he considered the subspecies subsimilis and dissors to represent taxa that were intermediate between the two, and this treatment was followed by Fitzpatrick (2004) in the absence of published data supporting a split. Proposal needed. The IOC recognizes the split.
YELLOW-THROATED SPADEBILL – Platyrinchus flavigularis. Wonderful views of one individual at Plataforma – lifer for the leader....
BRAN-COLORED FLYCATCHER – Myiophobus fasciatus. One seen on our travel day to Yurimaguas from Tarapoto.
CINNAMON FLYCATCHER - Pyrrhomyias cinnamomeus. Common at Abra Patricia.
CLIFF FLYCTACHER - Hirundinea ferruginea. Common at La Escalera “the tunnel”.
EULER’S FLYCATCHER – Lathrotriccus euleri. One seen at Plataforma.
SMOKE-COLORED PEWEE – Contopus fumigatus. 2 seen at Pampas del Burro Reserve.
BLACKISH PEWEE – Contopus nigrescens. Very nice views of 2 different individuals – one on the way in to Plataforma and the other one at Plataforma itself.
BLACK PHOEBE - Sayornis nigricans. Two seen on the “Rio Chido” on the way in to San Lorenzo and another one at Pampas del Burro Reserve.
RUFOUS-TAILED TYRANT – Knipolegus poecilurus. Good view of one at Pampas Del Burro.
LONG-TAILED TYRANT - Colonia colonus. Common above Plataforma.
SLATY-BACKED (MAROON-CHESTED) CHAT-TYRANT – Ochthoeca thoracica. One seen below Owlet Lodge.
RUFOUS-BREASTED CHAT-TYRANT - Ochthoeca rufipectoralis. Two above San Lorenzo along the Pale-billed Antpitta trail.
YELLOW-BELLIED CHAT-TYRANT – Ochthoeca diadema. One seen below Owlet Lodge on the road side.
GREAT KISKADEE - Pitangus sulphuratus. 4 seen around Moyobamba.
PIRATIC FLYCATCHER - Legatus leucophaius. One seen at Arenas Blanca.
SOCIAL FLYCATCHER - Myiozetetes similis. Common in the lowlands.
STREAKED FLYCATCHER - Myiodynastes maculatus. An austral migrant seen on a few occasions.
BOAT-BILLED FLYCATCHER - Megarynchus pitangua. One seen at Plataforma.
CROWNED SLATY-FLYCATCHER – Empidonomus aurantioatrocristatus. One seen on the way in to Plataforma.
TROPICAL KINGBIRD - Tyrannus melancholicus. TK! Very common.
THREE-STRIPED FLYCATCHER – Conopias trivirgatus. Good views of one at San Lorenzo.
DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER - Myiarchus tuberculifer. Seen at Plataforma.
PALE-EDGED FLYCATCHER - Myiarchus cephalotes. Fairly common at Abra Patricia.
Family: COTINGIDAE (COTINGAS)
GREEN AND BLACK FRUITEATER - Pipreola rieferii. Seen at Abra Patricia and San Lorenzo.
FIERY-THROATED FRUITEATER - Pipreola chlorolepidota. A female one seen at Plataforma.
SCARLET-BREASTED FRUITEATER - Pipreola frontalis. A male one seen also at Plataforma.
RED-CRESTED COTINGA - Ampelion rubrocristata. Two on the Pale-billed Antpitta trail above San Lorenzo.
ANDEAN COCK-OF-THE-ROCK - Rupicola peruvianus. Peru’s national bird – 3 seen at Afluente.
GREY-TAILED PIHA - Snowornis subalaris. Seems to be a species on outliers of the Andes – heard commonly and one seen well on the Barbet ridge at Plataforma and a good surprise of another one at the ridge trail of Waqanki Lodge. Range Restricted.
SCREAMING PIHA - Lipaugus vociferans. Heard only, at San Lorenzo - Loreto.
Family: PIPRIDAE (MANAKINS)
SULPHUR-BELLIED TYRANT-MANAKIN - Neopelma sulphureiventer. Two seen really well at Upaquihua.
YUNGAS MANAKIN - Chiroxiphia boliviana. 1 seen on our way in to Plataforma and another one at the Barbet ridge trail.
JET MANAKIN - Xenopipo unicolor. Very nice view of a male on the Barbet ridge trail at Plataforma.
FIERY-CAPPED MANAKIN – Machaeropterus pyrocephalus. A male one seen at Aconabikh.
WHITE-CROWNED MANAKIN – Dixiphia pipra. 4 in total at San Lorenzo.
BLUE-CROWNED MANAKIN – Lepidothrix coronata. A male one seen at San Lorenzo.
BLUE-RUMPED (MILKY-RUMPED) MANAKIN – Lepidothrix isidorei leucopygia. Male and female seen at Plataforma.
Family: TITYRIDAE (TITYRAS)
MASKED TITYRA – Tityra semifasciata. A male one seen at Plataforma and one more seen on our travel day to Yurimaguas.
FOOTHILL SCHIFFORNIS – Schiffornis aenea. A very good view of one at Plataforma. Range Restricted.
YELLOW-CHEEKED BECARD – Pachyramphus xanthogenys. Two seen on the Barbet ridge trail at Plataforma. The SACC says: Ridgely & Tudor (1994) and Ridgely & Greenfield (2001) considered Andean xanthogenys a species separate from P. viridis (Green-backed Becard), and this was followed by Fitzpatrick (2004) and Barber & Rice (2007). Proposal needed. IOC splits.
BARRED BECARD – Pachyramphus versicolor. One seen at Abra Patricia.
WHITE-WINGED BECARD – Pachyramphus polychopterus. A male one seen at Waqanki.
BLACK-AND-WHITE BECARD – Pachyramphus albogriseus. One seen at Afluente.
Genera: INCERTAE SEDIS
WING-BARRED PIPRITES – Piprites chloris. Good views of two at Plataforma and also at Waqanki.
Family: VIREONIDAE (VIREOS)
RUFOUS-BROWED PEPPERSHRIKE – Cyclarhis gujanensis. One seen at Huembo hummingbird feeder station.
SLATY-CAPPED SHRIKE-VIREO – Vireolanius leucotis. One seen at La Escalera.
[CHIVI] RED-EYED VIREO – Vireo olivaceus (Chivi). Several encounters. Some classifications (e.g., Pinto 1944) have considered the South American chivi group as a separate species (“Chivi Vireo”) from V. olivaceus, or as conspecific with V. flavoviridis (Hamilton 1962). Ridgely & Greenfield (2001) suggested, however, that more than one species may be involved within the South American chivi group.
BROWN-CAPPED VIREO – Vireo leucophrys. Seen along the Barbet ridge on three consecutive days.
ASHY-HEADED GREENLET – Hylophilius pectoralis. Two seen well at Upaquihua.
OLIVACEOUS GREENLET – Hylophilus olivaceus. One seen at Afluente.
TAWNY-CROWNED GREENLET – Hylophilus ochraceiceps. Very good views of 2 along the ridge trail at Waqanki.
Family: CORVIDAE (JAYS)
WHITE-COLLARED JAY - Cyanolyca viridicyana. One seen just by Hemme at Abra Patricia. Range Restricted.
[INCA] GREEN JAY - Cyanocorax yncas. Fairly common – seen at Upaquihua and few more around Abra Patricia. Ridgely & Greenfield (2001) and Hilty (2003) treated Middle American populations as a separate species, C. luxosus ("Green Jay") from South American C. yncas ("Inca Jay"), but no data presented; they were formerly considered separate species.
Family: HIRUNDINIDAE (SWALLOWS)
BLUE-AND-WHITE SWALLOW - Pygochelidon cyanoleuca. Very common.
WHITE-BANDED SWALLOW - Atticora fasciata. Commonly seen in several localities in the Lowlands.
SOUTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW - Stelgidopteryx ruficollis. Another common swallow in the Lowlands.
BROWN-CHESTED MARTIN - Progne tapera. Seen on our travel day to Waqanki from Yurimaguas.
GRAY-BREASTED MARTIN - Progne chalybea. Seen at San Lorenzo.
Family: TROGLODYTIDAE (WRENS)
SCALY-BRESTED (SOUTHERN NIGHTINGALE) WREN - Microcerculus marginatus. Heard only.
GRAY-MANTLED WREN – Odontorchilus branickii. Nice view of one individual on the Barbet ridge trail at Plataforma.
HOUSE WREN - Troglodytes aedon. Very common. 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), as was done by Brewer (2001), Mazar Barnett & Pearman (2001), Jaramillo (2003), and Kroodsma & Brewer (2005).
MOUNTAIN WREN - Troglodytes solstitialis. Seen just by Jan at San Lorenzo.
THRUSH-LIKE WREN - Campylorhynchus turdinus. Very good views at Plataforma.
BUFF-BREASTED WREN - Cantorchilus leucotis. Heard only, at San Lorenzo.
WHITE-BREASTED WOOD-WREN – Henicorhina leucosticte. 2 seen well at San Lorenzo.
GRAY-BREASTED WOOD-WREN - Henicorhina leucophrys. One seen on the Barbet Ridge trail at Plataforma and two more at Pampas Del Burro.
BAR-WINGED WOOD-WREN - Henicorhina leucoptera. Good view of one at Alto Nieva. Range Restricted.
Family DONACOBIDAE (DONACOBIUS)
BLACK-CAPPED DONACOBIUS - Donacobius atricapillus. Seen at San Lorenzo on two consecutive days and two more around Moyobamba.
Family CINCLIDAE (DIPPERS)
WHITE-CAPPED DIPPER – Cinclus leucocephalus. One seen at San Lorenzo.
Family: TURDIDAE (THRUSHES)
ANDEAN SOLITAIRE - Myadestes ralloides. Seen at Abra Patricia.
SLATY-BACKED NIGHTINGALE-THRUSH - Catharus fuscater. One seen at Afluente.
SPOTTED NIGHTINGALE-THRUSH – Catharus dryas. Heard only, at Plataforma.
BLACK-BILLED THRUSH - Turdus ignobilis. Common in the lowlands.
GREAT THRUSH - Turdus fuscater. Common at Abra Patricia.
GLOSSY-BLACK THRUSH – Turdus serranus. One seen San Lorenzo – seen just by Hemme.
Family: THRAUPIDAE (TANAGERS)
RED-CAPPED CARDINAL – Paroaria gularis. Two seen at Waqanki.
BLACK-FACED TANAGER - Schistochlamys melanopis. Also seen well at Waqanki, two of them.
MAGPIE TANAGER - Cissopis leverianus. Every day at Plataforma.
SUPERCILIARIED HEMISPINGUS - Hemispingus superciliarie leucogaster. Good view above San Lorenzo along the Pail-billed Antpitta trail.
YELLOW-CRESTED TANAGER – Tachyphonus rufiventer. 2 seen at La Escalera.
WHITE-LINED TANAGER - Tachyphonus rufus. Two seen around Upaquihua, 2 more at La Escalera and on our travel day to Owlet Lodge from Waqanki.
WHITE-WINGED SHRIKE-TANAGER – Lanio versicolor. Very good view of 2 at Plataforma.
BLACK-BELLIED (HUALLAGA) TANAGER - Ramphocelus melanogaster. Quite common at Plataforma and Waqanki. ENDEMIC.
SILVER-BEAKED TANAGER - Ramphocelus carbo. Common in the lowlands – seen at San Lorenzo.
VERMILION TANAGER – Calochaetes coccineus. Great views above Afluente on our travel day to Tarapoto from Abra Patricia.
GRASS-GREEN TANAGER - Chlorornis riefferii. Three seen at San Lorenzo.
BLUE-WINGED MOUNTAIN TANAGER - Anisognathus somptuosus. Common on the Barbet ridge trail at Plataforma and a few more at Abra Patricia.
YELLOW-THROATED TANAGER – Iridosornis analis. Seen twice around Abra Patricia.
YELLOW-SCARFED TANAGER - Iridosornis reinhardti. One seen of this endemic, at the Owlet Lodge. ENDEMIC.
BLUE-GRAY TANAGER - Thraupis episcopus. Common. We saw the eastern form with white wing patches. From Episcopal blue.
PALM TANAGER - Thraupis palmarum. Quite common in the lowlands.
BLUE-CAPPED TANAGER - Thraupis cyanocephala. Common at Abra Patricia and the Pale-billed Antpitta trail.
GOLDEN-NAPED TANAGER - Tangara ruficervix. Two seen along the Barbet ridge trail at Plataforma and one more at Abra Patricia.
SILVERY TANAGER - Tangara viridicollis. Quite common at Abra Patricia.
GREEN-THROATED TANAGER – Tangara argyrofenges. Very good view at Plataforma - VULNERABLE, Range Restricted.
MASKED TANAGER - Tangara nigrocincta. Seen at La Escalera (the tunnel).
BLUE-NECKED TANAGER - Tangara cyanicollis. Common.
DOTTED TANAGER - Tangara varia. One seen briefly at La Escalera (the tunnel), Range Restricted.
YELLOW-BELLIED TANAGER - Tangara xanthogastra. Seen on two different days at La Escalera.
SPOTTED TANAGER – Tangara punctate. 2 seen at La Escalera.
BLUE-AND-BLACK TANAGER - Tangara vassorii. Seen at Abra Patricia.
BLUE-BROWED TANAGER - Tangara cyanotis. Very good views on two consecutive days at Plataforma.
PARADISE TANAGER - Tangara chilensis. Quite common but colorful, seen in several places. Does not occur in Chile!
BAY-HEADED TANAGER - Tangara gyrola. Seen in several places in the lowlands.
GOLDEN-EARED TANAGER - Tangara chrysotis. Seen along the Barbet ridge trail at Plataforma on two consecutive days.
SAFFRON-CROWNED TANAGER - Tangara xanthocephala. Common at Abra Patricia – here they do have a saffron crown!
FLAME-FACED TANAGER - Tangara parzudakii. Splendid looks at Abra Patricia.
GREEN AND GOLD TANAGER - Tangara schrankii. Fairly common in the lowlands – seen at the Barbet ridge trail at Plataforma and also at Waqanki and Afluente. Named for Franz von Paula Schrank (1747-1835), German theologian, entomologist, botanist and collector.
GOLDEN TANAGER - Tangara arthus. Common.
SWALLOW TANAGER - Tersina viridis. Common at La Escalera (tunnel).
BLACK-FACED DACNIS - Dacnis lineata. Almost every day at Plataforma.
BLUE DACNIS - Dacnis cayana. A male one seen at San Lorenzo.
PURPLE HONEYCREEPER - Cyanerpes caeruleus. Six seen at La Escalera.
GREEN HONEYCREEPER - Chlorophanes spiza. Seen on two consecutive days at Plataforma and also at Waqanki.
GOLDEN-COLLARED HONEYCREEPER - Iridophanes pulcherrimus. Two seen well along the Barbet ridge trail at Plataforma.
GUIRA TANAGER - Hemithraupis guira. One seen at Waqanki.
YELLOW-BACKED TANAGER - Hemithraupis flavicollis. A male one seen at La Escalera.
BLUE-BACKED CONEBILL – Conirostrum sitticolor. One seen along the Pale-billed Antpitta trail above above San Lorenzo.
CAPPED CONEBILL – Conirostrum albifrons. A male one seen above San Lorenzo.
WHITE-SIDED FLOWERPIERCER - Diglossa albilatera. Seen at San Lorenzo and also at Pampas Del Burro.
BLUISH FLOWERPIERCER - Diglossa caerulescens. Seen at Abra Patricia, just outside the dinner room.
SAFFRON FINCH - Sicalis flaveola. Two seen on our travel day from Plataforma to Tarapoto.
BLUE-BLACK GRASSQUIT - Volatinia jacarina. A few seen in the rice fields on our travel day to Plataforma.
PLAIN-COLORED SEEDEATER – Catamenia inornata. 2 seen above San Lorenzo on the Pale-billed Antpitta trail.
YELLOW-BELLIED SEEDEATER – Sporophila nigricollis. One seen at Pampas del Burro.
CHESTNUT-BELLIED SEEEDEATER - Sporophila castaneiventris. 2 seen at the airport of Yurimaguas.
CHESTNUT-BELLIED SEED-FINCH - Sporophila angolensis. Seen around Moyobamba.
BLACK-BILLED SEED-FINCH – Sporophila atrirostris. Good views of 2 between Rioja and Moyobamba.
BUFF-THROATED SALTATOR - Saltator maximus. Fairly common – seen on several occasions.
GRAYISH SALTATOR - Saltator coerulescens. Common in the lowlands – seen around Moyobamba.
BANNANAQUIT - Coereba flaveola. Seen in several places throughout the tour! We saw intermedia but it changes to mangnirostris in the Maranon.
Family: EMBERIZINAE (SPARROWS)
RUFOUS-COLLARED SPARROW - Zonotrichia capensis. Very common in higher areas.
YELLOW-BROWED SPARROW - Ammodramus aurifrons. Very common in lowland areas.
ORANGE-BILLED SPARROW - Arremon aurantiirostris. Great views of 1 at the Wood-Quail feeders of Arenas Blanca private reserve.
CHESTNUT-CAPPED BRUSH-FINCH – Arremon brunneinucha. Seen at Owlet Lodge.
YELLOW-BREASTED BRUSH-FINCH - Atlapetes latinuchus. Two individuals at Abra Patricia.
COMMON CHLOROSPINGUS - Chorospingus ophthalmicus. Seen at Abra Patricia.
YELLOW-THROATED CHLOROSPINGUS - Chlorospingus flavigularis. Several encountered on the Barbet Ridge and Afluente.
Family CARDINALIDAE (CARDINALS AND ALLIES)
HIGHLAND HEPATIC TANAGER - Piranga lutea flava. Seen at the tunnel on our way to Yurimaguas.
WHITE-WINGED TANAGER - Piranga leucoptera. Four seen at Plataforma and one more at Afluente.
CARMIOL’S TANAGER - Chlorothraupis carmioli. Great views of 2 at La Escalera (the tunnel).
GOLDEN GROSBEAK - Pheucticus chrysogaster. One seen at Waqanki.
Family: PARULIDAE (NEW WORLD WARBLERS)
TROPICAL PARULA - Setophaga pitiayumi. Common.
CITRINE WARBLER - Myiothlypis luteoviridis. Seen at San Lorenzo.
BUFF-RUMPED WARBLER - Myiothlypis fulvicauda. Two seen at Waqanki.
RUSSET-CROWNED WARBLER - Myiothlypis coronatus. One seen at Abra Patricia.
THREE-STRIPED WARBLER - Basileuterus tristriatus. Seen at Abra Patricia and San Lorenzo. Note that a proposal supports the split of the form in Southern Peru and Bolivia as Yungas Warbler Basileuterus punctipectus.
SLATE-THROATED WHITESTART - Myioborus miniatus. Common on the Barbet Ridge but also seen below Abra Patricia.
SPECTACLED WHITESTART - Myioborus melanocephalus. Common above San Lorenzo, but also seen at Abra Patricia.
Family: ICTERIDAE (BLACKBIRDS)
CRESTED OROPENDOLA - Psarocolius decumanus. Seen on two consecutive days at Plataforma.
RUSSET-BACKED OROPENDOLA - Psarocolius angustifrons. Common in the Lowlands. Ranges higher in the North with the absence of Dusky-Green Oropendola.
YELLOW-RUMPED CACIQUE - Cacicus cela. Common in the eastern lowlands.
SUBTROPICAL CACIQUE - Cacicus uropygialis. Five seen at Alto Nievas.
ORANGE-BACKED TROUPIAL – Icterus icterus. One seen at San Lorenzo and another one around Moyobamba.
EPAULET ORIOLE - Icterus cayanensis. On our way up and down to the Barbet camp (Plataforma).
MORICHE ORIOLE – Icterus chrysocephalus. Seen on two consecutive days at Plataforma.
ORIOLE BLACKBIRD - Gymnomystax mexicanus. Two seen in the rice field on our travel day to Plataforma from Bellavista.
PALE-EYED BLACKBIRD - Agelaius xanthophthalmus. Two seen well between Moyobamba and Rioja. Range Restricted.
GIANT COWBIRD - Molothrus oryzivorus. Seen in the rice fields on our travel day to Plataforma and two more around Moyobamba.
Family: FRINGILLIDAE (FINCHES)
OLIVACEOUS SISKIN - Spinus olivacea. A few encounters throughout the tour.
PURPLE-THROATED EUPHONIA - Euphonia chlorotica. Common in drier habitats, seen at Upaquihua, Waqanki and near Tarapoto.
THICK-BILLED EUPHONIA - Euphonia laniirostris. Seen at La Escalera (tunnel).
GOLDEN-RUMPED EUPHONIA - Euphonia cyanocephala. Great views of 6 at Upaquihua.
GOLDEN-BELLIED (WHITE-LORED) EUPHONIA – Euphonia chrysopasta. Seen at Waqanki and another one at La Escalera.
BRONZE-GREEN EUPHONIA - Euphonia mesochrysa. Very common at Plataforma – great views!
ORANGE-BELLIED EUPHONIA - Euphonia xanthogaster. Common.
PLUMBEOUS EUPHONIA – Euphonia plumbea. After really hard work looking for it on the very last day I finally found THE SPOT and we had great views and some pictures at La Escalera!
RUFOUS-BELLIED EUPHONIA - Euphonia rufiventris. Four in total seen at La Escalera.
BLUE-NAPED CHLOROPHONIA - Chlorophonia cyanea. Seen at San Lorenzo, Abra Patricia and La Escalera.
CHESTNUT-BREASTED CHLOROPHONIA – Chlorophonia pyrrhophrys. Good views of 2 above San Lorenzo.
Family: PASSERIDAE (OLD WORLD SPARROWS)
House Sparrow - Passer domesticus. In Tarapoto.