ITINERARY
DAY 1 - July 8th: Tarapoto – Koepcke’s Hermit feeders. After arrival in Tarapoto we met our driver Salatiel and we went to the hotel for lunch. After that, we drove to the Tunnel at Cordillera Escalera but rain made us go further down to the feeders at Koepcke’s Hermit center. There, we got excellent views of this Peruvian endemic hermit, as well as other hummingbirds. Then we headed back to our hotel at Tarapoto.
DAY 2 - July 9th: Tarapoto to Moyobamba. We went in the morning again to Koepcke’s Hermit center, where we spent the morning at the feeders. Then we headed to Wakanki lodge at Moyobamba, with a stop at Quiscarrumi Bridge for oilbirds.
DAY 3 – July 10th: A Full Day Birding at Wakanki. We spent the whole day birding at Wakanki feeders and gardens.
DAY 4 – July 11th: Wakanki & Morro de Calzada. We spent the morning at the Wakanki feeders. In the afternoon, we went to the isolated peak of Morro de Calzada. Unfortunately, there was some work going on there, but we managed to walk one of the trails.
DAY 5 – July 12th: Wakanki & Posic. We went again to feeders, but a pair of Band-bellied Owls at a day roost distracted us a good part of the morning. After great photos of those birds, a few of us spent some time in front of the tanager feeders at the dining room and a few of us went for a birding walk into the Mishquiyacu ravine. In the afternoon we headed to the outskirts of the town of Posic, where we birded agricultural areas.
DAY 6 – July 13th: Arenas Blancas. Early start to leave Wakanki, heading to Arenas Blanca reserve feeders. There we spent the whole day until 4 pm, when we drove to the Owlet Lodge, our home for the next 4 days.
DAY 7 – July 14th: Fundo Alto Nieva. Dawn found us at Fundo Alto Nieva. We went to see two Peruvian endemic Antpittas (Rusty-tinged and Ochre-fronted), with rewarding views of each of them. In between the two visits to the Antpittas, we spent the day at the feeders, where we got Royal Sunangel and others, and at night we made our first try for the Long-whiskered Owlet.
DAY 8 – July 15th: Owlet lodge & Fundo Alto Nieva. We spent the morning birding the hummingbird feeders in the lodge gardens, and we had the chance of seeing several other birds. In the afternoon, we walked the trail down to the gate, and headed to Fundo Alto Nieva where we had a second try for the owls.
DAY 9 – July 16th: Llanteria & Owlet lodge. In the morning, we went to the lower parts of the Abra Patricia area, going as low as the Llanteria, with several stops on the way. We had great views of the Lulu’s Tody-tyrant on this outing. In the afternoon, several of us spent the time at the feeders and others did the Grallaria trail and the tower.
DAY 10 - July 17th: Owlet Lodge to Huembo. After breakfast, we left Owlet lodge and headed for Huembo reserve in search of the Marvelous Spatuletail. We spent the night at Huembo.
DAY 11 - July 18th: Huembo to Tarapoto: end of the trip. Super early start and drive from Huembo to Tarapoto to take a flight to Lima.
SPECIES LIST
Family: TINAMIDAE (TINAMOUS)
CINEREOUS TINAMOU - Crypturellus cinereus. Heard many times, we had good views of one at Arenas Blanca Reserve coming to the feeding station.
LITTLE TINAMOU - Crypturellus soui. Great views of three individuals from the hide at the Arenas Blancas Reserve.
Family: ANATIDAE (DUCKS AND GEESE)
COMB DUCK - Sarkidiornis sylvicola. A group of fifteen juveniles flying over the rice fields near Posic. Note the African form has been split and retains the name melanotis.
Family: CRACIDAE (GUANS)
SPECKLED CHACHALACA - Ortalis guttata. Quite common in the lowlands – seen at several locations.
SICKLE-WINGED GUAN - Chamaepetes goudotii. One individual seen at Fundo Alto Nieva while waiting for the Owlet, and another seen at the fruit feeders at Huembo.
Family: ODONTOPHORIDAE (WOOD-QUAILS)
RUFOUS-BREASTED WOOD-QUAIL – Odontophorus speciosus. Amazing views of 6 individuals coming to the grain feeder station at Arenas Blanca.
Family: COLUMBIDAE (PIGEONS)
SCALED PIGEON - Patagioenas speciosa. Heard only, at the hotel in Tarapoto.
PALE-VENTED PIGEON - Patagioenas cayennensis. Seen at Wakanki from the feeder tower.
PLUMBEOUS PIGEON - Patagioenas plumbea. Heard only, near Tarapoto.
RUDDY PIGEON - Patagioenas subvinacea. Seen and heard at several locations. Vulnerable.
RUDDY QUAIL-DOVE - Geotrygon montana. One seen at the feeders at Arenas Blancas.
WHITE-THROATED QUAIL- DOVE - Geotrygon frenata. Heard only, at Huembo.
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. Heard only, at several locations.
EARED DOVE - Zenaida auriculata. Very common – seen in a few localities, most remarkably at the Tarapoto airport.
RUDDY GROUND-DOVE - Columbina talpacoti. Common in the eastern lowlands.
BLUE GROUND-DOVE - Claravis pretiosa. Seen on our travel day to Posic.
MAROON-CHESTED GROUND-DOVE - Claravis mondetoura. Heard only, several times near Huembo, where it was abundant in seeding bamboo.
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)
COMMON PAUARQUE - Nyctidromus albicollis. Heard only, at Wakanki Lodge.
SWALLOW-TAILED NIGHTJAR – Uropsalis segmentata. A male seen just outside of the dining room at Owlet Lodge.
RUFOUS NIGHTJAR - Antrostomus rufus. Heard only, several times at Wakanki.
Family: APODIDAE (SWIFTS)
WHITE-COLLARED SWIFT - Streptoprocne zonaris. Common.
WHITE-TIPPED SWIFT - Aeronautes montivagus. One seen.
NEOTROPICAL PALM-SWIFT - Tachornis squamata. Seen several days throughout the trip, always near Mauritia palms.
AMAZONIAN SWIFT - Chaetura viridipennis. One seen at Arenas Blancas.
Family: TROCHILIDAE (HUMMINGBIRDS)
WHITE-NECKED JACOBIN - Florisuga mellivora. Very common at the Koepcke’s Hermit & Wakanki hummingbird feeders.
GREEN HERMIT - Phaethornis guy. Seen at the Arenas Blanca hummingbird feeder station.
GREAT-BILLED HERMIT - Phaethornis malaris. At the Koepcke’s Hermit & Wakanki hummingbird feeders.
KOEPCKE’S HERMIT - Phaethornis koepckeae. Fantastic views at Koepcke’s Hermit feeders. ENDEMIC.
BLACK-THROATED HERMIT- Phaethornis atrimentalis. Seen at Wakanki and Arenas Blancas hummingbird feeders. We saw the subspecies riojae. Range Restricted.
REDDISH HERMIT - Phaethornis ruber. Seen at Wakanki and Arenas Blancas hummingbird feeders.
BLUE-FRONTED LANCEBILL- Doryfera johannae. Seen at Arenas Blanca and Koepcke’s Hermit feeders.
GREEN-FRONTED LANCEBILL - Doryfera ludovicae. One seen at the gardens of the Owlet Lodge.
BROWN VIOLET-EAR - Colibri delphinae. Common. Seen on several 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 Huembo.
BLACK-EARED FAIRY - Heliothryx auritus. One seen well at Wakanki feeders.
BLACK-THROATED MANGO - Anthracothorax nigricollis. One male seen at Koepcke’s Hermit feeders and one more at Wakanki hummingbird feeders.
ROYAL SUNANGEL - Heliangelus regalis. One male seen at Fundo Alto Nieva. 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. ENDANGERED, Range Restricted.
WIRE-CRESTED THORNTAIL - Discosura popelairii. One male seen at Arenas Blancas feeders. Named for Jean Baptiste Baron Poplaire de Terloo, Belgian naturalist and collector in Peru.
RUFOUS-CRESTED COQUETTE - Lophornis delattrei. Common at the Wakanki hummingbird feeders and seen at Arenas Blanca Reserve. Named for Adolphe de Lattre, French collector in Mexico and Colombia.
SPECKLED HUMMINGBIRD - Adelomyia melanogenys. Seen at Fundo Alto Nieva and Owlet Lodge.
BLACK-TAILED TRAINBEARER - Lesbia victoriae. 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 Fundo Alto Nieva and the Owlet Lodge feeders.
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. Views of 3 in total after a hike of 20 minutes near Huembo hummingbird feeders. We saw a male, a female and a juvenile, but they were not good enough for photos unfortunately. 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 Fundo Alto Nieva & Owlet Lodge feeders and some at the Huembo feeders.
COLLARED INCA - Coeligena torquata. Another star player at the Fundo Alto Nieva and Owlet Lodge feeders.
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.
PERUVIAN RACKET-TAIL - Ocreatus peruanus. Several seen at Alto Nieva and one female at Owlet Lodge feeders. Range Restricted.
GOULD’S JEWELFRONT - Heliodoxa aurescens. Good views at Koepcke’s Hermit feeders. Named for John Gould English publisher, collector and artist.
FAWN-BREASTED BRILLIANT - Heliodoxa rubinoides. Seen at Fundo Alto Nieva and the Owlet Lodge feeders.
VIOLET-FRONTED BRILLIANT - Heliodoxa leadbeateri. Seen at Fundo Alto Nieva and the Owlet Lodge feeders.
BLACK-THROATED BRILLIANT - Heliodoxa schreibersii. One seen at Arenas Blancas.
LONG-BILLED STARTHROAT - Heliomaster longirostris. Seen at Wakanki feeders.
AMETHYST WOODSTAR - Calliphlox amethystina. Several males seen at Wakanki and Arenas Blancas hummingbird feeders.
WHITE-BELLIED WOODSTAR - Chaetocercus mulsant. Wonderful views of this insect-sized bird, at Fundo Alto Nieva and the Owlet Lodge hummingbird feeders.
LITTLE WOODSTAR - Chaetocercus bombus. A female of this diminutive hummer at Huembo. Vulnerable, Range Restricted.
BLUE-TAILED EMERALD - Chlorostilbon mellisugus. Seen at Wakanki & Arenas Blancas.
VIOLET-HEADED HUMMINGBIRD – Klais guimeti. Two individuals seen very well at Wakanki gardens.
GREY-BREASTED SABREWING - Campylopterus largipennis. Common at the Koepcke’s Hermit feeders, Wakanki and Arenas Blanca hummingbird feeders.
FORK-TAILED WOODNYMPH - Thalurania furcata. Common. One of the most common hummingbird throughout the trip.
MANY-SPOTTED HUMMINGBIRD - Taphrospilus hypostictus. One seen at Arenas Blancas and one at Llanteria.
WHITE-BELLIED HUMMINGBIRD - Amazilia chionogaster. One seen at Owlet Lodge and one at Huembo hummingbird feeders.
GOLDEN-TAILED SAPPHIRE - Chrysuronia oenone. Seen at the Koepcke’s Hermit feeders, Wakanki, Arenas Blanca hummingbird feeders and Llanteria.
SAPPHIRE-SPANGLED EMERALD - Polyerata lactea. At the Wakanki hummingbird feeders.
ANDEAN EMERALD - Amazilia franciae. One seen at the Huembo hummingbird feeders.
WHITE-CHINNED SAPPHIRE - Hylocharis cyanus. Seen at Wakanki hummingbird feeders.
Family: ARAMIDAE (LIMPKIN)
LIMPKIN – Aramus guarauna. Seen in the rice fields near Posic.
Family: RALLIDAE (RAILS)
RUSSET-CROWNED CRAKE - Anurolimnas viridis. Heard only, several near Moyobamba.
GREY-COWLED WOOD-RAIL - Aramides cajanea. One at Arenas Blancas. 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.
COMMON GALLINULE - Gallinula galeata. Common in the rice fields near Posic.
Family: RECURVIROSTRIDAE (STILTS & AVOCETS)
BLACK-NECKED STILT - Himantopus mexicanus. Common in the rice fields near Posic. 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: JACANIDAE (JACANAS)
WATTLED JACANA - Jacana jacana. Several in the rice fields near Posic.
Family: ARDEIDAE (HERONS)
STRIATED HERON - Butorides striatus. Seen near Posic.
CATTLE EGRET - Bubulcus ibis. Common throughout the trip.
COCOI HERON - Ardea cocoi. Seen near Posic.
SNOWY EGRET - Egretta thula. Seen near Posic.
GREAT EGRET - Ardea alba. Seen near Posic.
LITTLE BLUE HERON - Egretta cerulea. Seen near Posic.
Family: CATHARTIDAE (NEW WORLD VULTURES)
BLACK VULTURE - Coragyps atratus. Common throughout the trip.
TURKEY VULTURE - Cathartes aura. Common throughout the trip.
Family: ACCIPITRIDAE (HAWKS)
GRAY-HEADED KITE – Leptodon cayanensis. One seen soaring at Wakanki.
SWALLOW-TAILED KITE - Elanoides forficatus. One of the most beautiful raptors in South America! Several seen on several days.
SNAIL KITE - Rostrhamus sociabilis. A juvenile seen and photographed near Posic.
PLUMBEOUS KITE - Ictinia plumbea. One seen at Morro de Calzada.
BICOLORED HAWK – Accipiter bicolor. One adult and one juvenile seen at Arenas Blancas.
ROADSIDE HAWK - Rupornis magnirostris. Many of this common raptor.
VARIABLE HAWK - Geranoaetus polyosoma. One seen at Owlet lodge.
BLACK-CHESTED BUZZARD-EAGLE - Geranoaetus melanoleucus. One seen at Huembo.
SHORT-TAILED HAWK - Buteo brachyurus. One seen at Cordillera Escalera.
Family: STRIGIDAE (OWLS)
TROPICAL SCREECH-OWL - Megascops choliba. Heard only, at Tarapoto Hotel.
CINNAMON SCREECH-OWL - Megascops pertersoni. Amazing views of one in Alto Nieva. Named for American pioneer ornithologist and artist Roger Tory Petersen (1908-1996). Range Restricted.
BAND-BELLIED OWL - Pulsatrix melanota. Very nice view of one pair at a day roost at Wakanki.
RUFOUS-BANDED OWL - Ciccaba albitarsus. Heard only, at Owlet Lodge.
FERRUGINOUS PYGMY-OWL - Glaucidium brasilianum. Seen during day time at the feeders at Wakanki.
LONG-WHISKERED OWLET - Xenoglaux loweryi. Heard only. Despite great effort, we only heard one at Alto Nieva. Xenoglaux = Strange Owl. Named for George Hines Lowery US Zoologist. ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
STRIPED OWL - Asio clamator. Heard only, at Wakanki.
Family: TROGONIDAE (TROGONS)
BLACK-TAILED TROGON - Trogon melanurus. Heard only, at the Koepcke’s Hermit feeders.
AMAZONIAN TROGON - Trogon ramonianus. Two seen at Morro de Calzada.
BLUE-CROWNED TROGON – Trogon curucui. Two seen at Morro de Calzada.
Family: ALCEDINIDAE (KINGFISHERS)
RINGED KINGFISHER - Megaceryle torquata. One seen near Posic.
Family: MOMOTIDAE (MOTMOTS)
BROAD-BILLED MOTMOT - Electron platyrhynchum. Heard only, at Morro de Calzada.
Family: BUCCONIDAE (PUFFBIRDS)
WHITE-FRONTED NUNBIRD - Monasa morphoeus. Several seen at Wakanki.
SWALLOW-WING - Chelidoptera tenebrosa. Several seen at Morro de Calzada.
Family: CAPITONIDAE (NEW WORLD BARBETS)
GILDED BARBET - Capito auratus. Quite common throughout the tour..
Family: RAMPHASTIDAE (TOUCANS)
WHITE-THROATED TOUCAN - Ramphastos tucanus. Heard at several locations in the lowlands. A pair seen at Wakanki.
CHANNEL-BILLED TOUCAN - Ramphastos vitellinus. Heard only, at Koepcke’s Hermit feeders.
EMERALD TOUCANET - Aulacorhynchus prasinus. One seen at Huembo.
GOLDEN-COLLARED TOUCANET - Selenidera reinwardtii. Heard only, at Koepcke’s Hermit feeders.
CHESTNUT-EARED ARACARI - Pteroglossus castanotis. Seen at several sites.
LETTERED ARACARI - Pteroglossus inscriptus. Very good views at Posic. “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.
Family: PICIDAE (WOODPECKERS)
LAFRESNAYE’S PICULET - Picumnus lafresnayi. One seen at Wakanki. Named for the impressive sounding Noel Frederic Armand Andre Baron de Lefresnay (1783-1861) French Ornithologist and collector. Range Restricted.
YELLOW-TUFTED WOODPECKER - Melanerpes cruentatus. Heard only, at several locations.
SMOKY-BROWN WOODPECKER - Picoides fumigatus. Common at the highlands. Heard at several sites.
LITTLE WOODPECKER - Veniliornis passerinus. One seen at Posic.
CRIMSON-MANTLED WOODPECKER – Piculus rivolii. Heard only, at Fundo Alto Nieva.
CRIMSON-CRESTED WOODPECKER – Campephilus melanoleucos One very well seen and photographed at Morro de Calzada.
Family: FALCONIDAE (FALCONS)
BLACK CARACARA – Daptrius ater. Several seen near Posic.
Family: PSITTACIDAE (PARROTS)
BARRED PARAKEET - Bolborhynchus lineola. Heard only. Several individuals heard at Fundo Alto Nieva, Owlet Lodge and Huembo, but none seen. Too high!!
CANARY–WINGED PARAKEET - Brotogeris versicolurus. A group of 4 seen at Posic.
COBALT-WINGED PARAKEET - Brotogeris cyanoptera. Small flocks seen in the lowlands. Very common. 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.
SPECKLE-FACED PARROT - Pionus tumultuosus. Several groups heard and seen on the upper parts of the trip.
BLUE-HEADED PARROT - Pionus menstruus. Common in the lowlands.
SCALY-NAPED PARROT – Amazona mercenaria. A few seen on two different occasions at Fundo Alto Nieva and Owlet Lodge.
BLUE-WINGED PARROTLET - Forpus xanthopterygius. Several small groups seen at Wakanki, feeding on Cecropia fruits.
MAROON-TAILED PARAKEET - Pyrrhura melanura. Heard only, at Arenas Blancas.
RED-BELLIED MACAW - Orthopsittaca manilatus. Small groups seen in flight near Posic.
MITRED PARAKEET - Psittacara mitratus. Several hundred at Huembo.
WHITE-EYED PARAKEET - Psittacara leucophthalma. Common in the lowlands– seen at Quiscarrumi.
Family: THAMNOPHILIDAE (ANTBIRDS)
RUFOUS-CAPPED ANTSHRIKE - Thamnophilus ruficapillus. Heard only, at Huembo.
PLAIN-WINGED ANTSHRIKE – Thamnophilus schistaceus. Heard only, at Mishquiyacu ravine.
VARIABLE ANTSHRIKE - Thamnophilus caerulescens. Seen almost every day around Owlet Lodge – at Abra Patricia.
STRIPE-CHESTED ANTWREN - Myrmotherula longicauda. Heard only, non-responsive at Quebrada Mishquiyacu.
WHITE-FLANKED ANTWREN - Myrmotherula axillaris. 2 at Quebrada Mishquiyacu on our birding walk. Here of the slow voiced form. 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.
RUFOUS-WINGED ANTWREN - Herpsilochmus rufimarginatus. One seen at Arenas Blancas reserve, near the cemetery.
PERUVIAN WARBLING ANTBIRD - Hypocnemis peruviana. Heard only, at Wakanki.
BLACK-FACED ANTBIRD - Myrmoborus myotherinus. Heard only, at the ACONABIKH gardens while watching hummers.
ZIMMER’S ANTBIRD – Sciaphylax castanea. Bad views of a pair for some of us, near the cemetery at Arenas Blancas.
CHESTNUT-TAILED ANTBIRD - Sciaphylax hemimelaena. Heard only, at the ACONABIKH gardens while watching hummers.
BLACK-THROATED ANTBIRD - Myrmophylax atrothorax. Heard only, at the ACONABIKH gardens while watching hummers.
WHITE-BACKED FIRE-EYE - Pyriglena leuconota. Seen at Fundo Alto Nieva.
Family: GRALLARIIDAE (ANTPITTAS)
CHESTNUT-CROWNED ANTPITTA – Grallaria ruficapilla. Heard only, at Huembo.
RUSTY-TINGED ANTPITTA - Grallaria przewalskii. Great views of this species being fed on worms at Fundo Alto Nieva - VULNERABLE ENDEMIC.
CHESTNUT ANTPITTA - Grallaria blakei. One seen by some of us at Owlet Lodge at Abra Patricia. ENDEMIC.
OCHRE-FRONTED ANTPITTA - Grallaricula ochraceifrons. Stunning views of a trained female feeding at worms at Fundo Alto Nieva. VULNERABLE ENDEMIC.
Family: RHINOCRYPTIDAE (TAPACULOS)
RUFOUS-VENTED TAPACULO - Scytalopus femoralis. Heard only, at Abra Patricia & Fundo Alto Nieva. ENDEMIC.
WHITE-CROWNED TAPACULO - Scytalopus atratus. Heard only, near the Llanteria.
Family: FURNARIIDAE (OVENBIRDS)
OLIVACEOUS WOODCREEPER - Sittasomus griseicapillus. Several heard and seen in the lowlands.
PLAIN-BROWN WOODCREEPER - Dendrocincla fuliginosa. Heard only, at Wakanki.
AMAZONIAN BARRED-WOODCREEPER - Dendrocolaptes certhia. One pair seen near the feeders at Wakanki.
STREAKED XENOPS - Xenops rutilans. One seen at Afluente, near la Llanteria.
STREAKED TUFTEDCHEEK - Pseudocolaptes boissonneautii. One seen in a mixed-species flock at the gate of Owlet lodge.
PALE-LEGGED HORNERO – Furnarius leucopus. Common on the lowlands, heard more often than seen.
BUFF-THROATED FOLIAGE-GLEANER - Automolus ochrolaemus. Heard only, at ACONABIKH.
SPOTTED BARBTAIL - Premnoplex brunnescens. Heard only, repeatedly in Fundo Alto Nieva and Owlet lodge.
[MARAÑON] RUFOUS-FRONTED THORNBIRD - Phacellodomus rufifrons peruvianus. Great views of this species in several spots in the lowlands. 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.
AZARA'S SPINETAIL - Synallaxis azarae. Heard only, at Fundo Alto Nieva and Abra Patricia.
DARK-BREASTED SPINETAIL - Synallaxis albigularis. Seen at Arenas Blancas.
RUFOUS SPINETAIL - Synallaxis unirufa. Heard only, at Fundo Alto Nieva and Abra Patricia.
Family: TYRANNIDAE (TYRANT FLYCATCHERS)
SOOTY-HEADED TYRANNULET - Phyllomyias griceiceps. Seen several times in the lowlands.
YELLOW-CROWNED TYRANNULET - Tyrannulus elatus. Seen and heard near Morro de Calzada and in Wakanki.
FOREST ELAENIA - Myiopagis gaimardii. At Wakanki.
YELLOW-BELLIED ELAENIA - Elaenia flavogaster. Quite common at Wakanki.
WHITE-CRESTED ELAENIA - Elaenia albiceps. A few seen at Wakanki, at Quebrada Mishquiyacu.
SIERRAN ELAENIA - Elaenia pallatangae. Seen at Huembo.
LESSER ELAENIA - Elaenia chiriquensis. At Fundo Alto Nieva.
SMALL-BILLED ELAENIA – Elaenia parvirostris. At Wakanki.
SOUTHERN BEARDLESS-TYRANNULET - Camptostoma obsoletum. Common at Huembo.
TORRENT TYRANNULET – Serpophaga cinerea. Near Abra Patricia.
MOUSE-COLORED TYRANNULET - Phaeomyias murina wagae. A common one in the eastern lowlands. Here of the wagae subspecies.
RUFOUS-HEADED PYGMY-TYRANT - Pseudotriccus ruficeps. Heard only, several times at Fundo Alto Nieva and Owlet lodge.
MISHANA TYRANNULET - Zimmerius villarejoi. Heard only, at Wakanki. VULNERABLE ENDEMIC.
PERUVIAN TYRANNULET - Zimmerius viridiflavus. Mostly heard than seen, but we got good views at Llanteria. 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.
MOTTLE-CHEEKED TYRANNULET - Phylloscartes ventralis. Seen at Abra Patricia.
STREAK-NECKED FLYCATCHER - Mionectes striaticollis. Seen at Abra Patricia.
OCHRE-BELLIED FLYCYACHER - Mionectes oleaginous. One seen at Wakanki, on the Quebrada Mishquiyaquillo.
ORNATE FLYATCHER – Myiotriccus ornatus. One seen at Afluente.
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).
JOHNSON’S TODY-FLYCATCHER - Poecilotrccus luluae. Great views of one below Abra Patricia. Nice 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 & heard in several locations.
SPOTTED TODY-FLYCATCHER - Todirostrum maculatum. Heard only, at the hotel in Tarapoto.
YELLOW-BROWED TODY-FLYCATCHER - Todirostrum chrysocrotaphum. Seen & heard in several locations.
YELLOW-OLIVE FLYCATCHER - Tolmomyias sulphurescens. At ACONABIKH.
CINNAMON FLYCATCHER - Pyrrhomyias cinnamomeus. Seen at Abra Patricia.
CLIFF FLYCTACHER - Hirundinea ferruginea. Common at Cordillera Escalera at “the tunnel” and in Abra Patricia.
SMOKE-COLORED PEWEE - Contopus fumigatus. Heard only, at Huembo and Abra Patricia.
BLACK PHOEBE - Sayornis nigricans. Seen at Abra Patricia.
RUFOUS-TAILED TYRANT – Knipolegus poecilurus. Good view of one at the viewer in Alto Mayo.
GREAT KISKADEE - Pitangus sulphuratus. Common through the trip.
PIRATIC FLYCATCHER - Legatus leucophaius. Heard only, at several locations.
SOCIAL FLYCATCHER - Myiozetetes similis. Common in the lowlands.
GRAY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER - Myiozetetes granadensis. Seen near Posic.
STREAKED FLYCATCHER - Myiodynastes maculatus. An austral migrant seen on a few occasions.
BOAT-BILLED FLYCATCHER - Megarynchus pitangua. Several birds at several locations.
TROPICAL KINGBIRD - Tyrannus melancholicus. TK! Very common.
DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER - Myiarchus tuberculifer. Heard only, several times.
SHORT-CRESTED FLYCATCHER - Myiarchus ferox. Seen at Wakanki.
PALE-EDGED FLYCATCHER - Myiarchus cephalotes. Fairly common at Abra Patricia.
Family: COTINGIDAE (COTINGAS)
GREEN AND BLACK FRUITEATER - Pipreola rieferii. Seen at Abra Patricia, at the Owlet lodge.
BARRED FRUITEATER - Pipreola arcuate. Heard only, at Owlet Lodge.
SCALED FRUITEATER - Ampelioides tschudii. One briefly seen at Quebrada Mishquiyacu.
ANDEAN COCK-OF-THE-ROCK - Rupicola peruvianus. Peru’s national bird – One male seen at Cordillera Escalera. It came to us after some playback work.
Family: PIPRIDAE (MANAKINS)
FIERY-CAPPED MANAKIN – Machaeropterus pyrocephalus. Heard only, at Reservas Arenas Blancas.
GOLDEN-HEADED MANAKIN - Ceratopipra erythrocephala. One male seen at Koepcke’s Hermit feeders.
Family: TITYRIDAE (TITYRAS)
MASKED TITYRA – Tityra semifasciata. A couple of times in the lowlands.
BARRED BECARD – Pachyramphus versicolor. One seen at the gate of the Owlet lodge.
WHITE-WINGED BECARD – Pachyramphus polychopterus. Heard only, several times in the lowlands.
Genera: INCERTAE SEDIS
WING-BARRED PIPRITES – Piprites chloris. Good views of one at Quebrada Mishquiyacu at Wakanki.
Family: VIREONIDAE (VIREOS)
RUFOUS-BROWED PEPPERSHRIKE – Cyclarhis gujanensis. Heard more often than seen. One seen at Huembo hummingbird feeder station.
SLATY-CAPPED SHRIKE-VIREO – Vireolanius leucotis. Heard only, at Cordillera Escalera.
[CHIVI] RED-EYED VIREO – Vireo olivaceus (Chivi). Several encounters In the lowlands and foothills. 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. We got this one at Huembo.
Family: CORVIDAE (JAYS)
[INCA] GREEN JAY - Cyanocorax yncas. Fairly common. Well seen at Huembo. 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.
VIOLACEOUS JAY - Cyanocorax violaceus. Common on the Koepcke’s Hermit feeders.
Family: HIRUNDINIDAE (SWALLOWS)
BLUE-AND-WHITE SWALLOW - Pygochelidon cyanoleuca. Very common. Seen almost on a daily basis.
WHITE-BANDED SWALLOW - Atticora fasciata. Seen in the Moyobamba surroundings.
SOUTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW - Stelgidopteryx ruficollis. Another common swallow in the lowlands.
GRAY-BREASTED MARTIN - Progne chalybea. Seen at our first day out, near Tarapoto.
Family: TROGLODYTIDAE (WRENS)
SCALY-BREASTED (SOUTHERN NIGHTINGALE) WREN - Microcerculus marginatus. Heard only, on several occasions in the lowlands.
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 well at Owlet lodge.
THRUSH-LIKE WREN - Campylorhynchus turdinus. Very common in the lowlands.
CORAYA WREN - Pheugopedius coraya. Heard only, at Wakanki.
SPECKLE-BREASTED WREN - Pheugopedius sclateri. Heard only, at Huembo.
SHARPE’S WREN - Cinnycerthia olivascens. Heard only, Abra Patricia area.
GRAY-BREASTED WOOD-WREN - Henicorhina leucophrys. Common in the Abra Patricia area.
BAR-WINGED WOOD-WREN - Henicorhina leucoptera. Good view of two at Fundo Alto Nieva feeders. Range Restricted.
CHESTNUT-BREASTED WREN - Cyphorhinus thoracicus. Heard only, at Fundo Alto Nieva.
Family DONACOBIDAE (DONACOBIUS)
BLACK-CAPPED DONACOBIUS - Donacobius atricapillus. Surprisingly, several seen in the upper parts of the Alto Mayo Valley, near Jorge Chavez.
Family: TURDIDAE (THRUSHES)
ANDEAN SOLITAIRE - Myadestes ralloides. Heard and seen in Abra Patricia.
BLACK-BILLED THRUSH - Turdus ignobilis. Common in the lowlands.
GREAT THRUSH - Turdus fuscater. Common at Abra Patricia area, on the upper land.
GLOSSY-BLACK THRUSH - Turdus serranus. One seen on the Grallaria trail at the Owlet lodge.
Family: THRAUPIDAE (TANAGERS)
RED-CAPPED CARDINAL – Paroaria gularis. Near Posic.
BLACK-FACED TANAGER - Schistochlamys melanopis. Seen well at Wakanki and at the feeders at Fundo Alto Nieva.
MAGPIE TANAGER - Cissopis leverianus. In the lowlands, near Afluente and Llanteria.
WHITE-CAPPED TANAGER - Sericossypha albocristata. Great eye-level views of a flock of this nice bird below Abra Patricia, during a rainy day.
YELLOW-CRESTED TANAGER – Tachyphonus rufiventer. Seen at Wakanki.
WHITE-LINED TANAGER - Tachyphonus rufus. At Wakanki.
BLACK-BELLIED (HUALLAGA) TANAGER - Ramphocelus melanogaster. Quite common at Wakanki and surroundings. ENDEMIC.
SILVER-BEAKED TANAGER - Ramphocelus carbo. Common in the lowlands.
GRASS-GREEN TANAGER - Chlorornis riefferii. Several seen in a flock near the gate of the Owlet Lodge.
LACRIMOSE MOUNTAIN-TANAGER - Anisognathus lacrymosus. Several seen in a flock near the gate of the Owlet Lodge.
BLUE-WINGED MOUNTAIN-TANAGER - Anisognathus somptuosus. Common at the feeders at Fundo Alto Nieva.
YELLOW-THROATED TANAGER – Iridosornis analis. Seen twice around Abra Patricia and on the Alto Mayo viewer.
YELLOW-SCARFED TANAGER - Iridosornis reinhardti. One pair well seen in a flock near the gate of 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 Huembo.
SILVERY TANAGER - Tangara viridicollis. Quite common at Abra Patricia and Huembo.
MASKED TANAGER - Tangara nigrocincta. Seen at the foothills at Wakanki.
BLUE-NECKED TANAGER - Tangara cyanicollis. Common. Seen in Wakanki gardens.
YELLOW-BELLIED TANAGER - Tangara xanthogastra. Seen at Cordillera Escalera.
BLUE-AND-BLACK TANAGER - Tangara vassorii. Seen at Owlet lodge.
BERYL-SPANGLED TANAGER - Tangara nigroviridis. Seen at Owlet lodge and at the Alto Mayo viewpoint.
METALLIC-GREEN TANAGER - Tangara labradorides. Seen at Owlet lodge and at the Alto Mayo viewpoint.
TURQUOISE TANAGER - Tangara mexicana. One of the most common tanagers of the trip. Seen at Puente Quiscarrumi, Posic, Morro de Calzada and Wakanki.
PARADISE TANAGER - Tangara chilensis. Quite common but colorful, seen in several places.
BAY-HEADED TANAGER - Tangara gyrola. Seen at Quebrada Mishquiyacu.
SAFFRON-CROWNED TANAGER - Tangara xanthocephala. Seen at the Alto Mayo viewer.
FLAME-FACED TANAGER - Tangara parzudakii. Common at Abra Patricia. Seen at Owlet Lodge.
SWALLOW TANAGER - Tersina viridis. Seen at Puente Quiscarrumi.
BLACK-FACED DACNIS - Dacnis lineata. Common. Seen several times at Cordillera Escalera and Wakanki.
BLUE DACNIS - Dacnis cayana. Common. Seen several times at Morro de Calzada and Wakanki.
PURPLE HONEYCREEPER - Cyanerpes caeruleus. Common. Seen several times at Cordillera Escalera and Wakanki.
GREEN HONEYCREEPER - Chlorophanes spiza. Seen several times at Cordillera Escalera and Wakanki.
GUIRA TANAGER - Hemithraupis guira. One seen at Wakanki gardens.
YELLOW-BACKED TANAGER - Hemithraupis flavicollis. Seen at Cordillera Escalera and Wakanki.
WHITE-SIDED FLOWERPIERCER - Diglossa albilatera. Seen at Huembo.
BLUISH FLOWERPIERCER - Diglossa caerulescens. Seen at Abra Patricia, just outside the dinner room.
DEEP-BLUE FLOWERPIERCER - Diglossa glauca. Seen at Abra Patricia.
MASKED FLOWERPIERCER - Diglossa cyanea. Seen at the Owlet lodge gate.
BUFF-THROATED SALTATOR - Saltator maximus. Fairly common along the trip. Seen on several occasions.
BUFF-BELLIED TANAGER - Thlypopsis inornata. Seen at Huembo.
BLUE-BLACK GRASSQUIT - Volatinia jacarina. A few seen near Posic and Wakanki.
CHESTNUT-BELLIED SEEEDEATER - Sporophila castaneiventris. Several seen at Arenas Blancas and Posic.
CHESTNUT-BELLIED SEED-FINCH - Sporophila angolensis. At Cordillera Escalera and Morro de Calzada.
BANANAQUIT - Coereba flaveola. Seen in several places throughout the trip.
Family: EMBERIZINAE (SPARROWS)
RUFOUS-COLLARED SPARROW - Zonotrichia capensis. Very common on upper parts of the trip.
YELLOW-BROWED SPARROW - Ammodramus aurifrons. Very common in the lowlands.
GRAY-BROWED BRUSHFINCH - Arremon assimilis. Seen at Abra Patricia.
YELLOW-BREASTED BRUSHFINCH - Atlapetes latinuchus. Common in the Abra Patricia area. Seen on several occasions.
COMMON CHLOROSPINGUS - Chorospingus ophthalmicus. Seen at Abra Patricia.
Family CARDINALIDAE (CARDINALS AND ALLIES)
HIGHLAND HEPATIC TANAGER - Piranga lutea flava. Good views of a male at Huembo.
Family: PARULIDAE (NEW WORLD WARBLERS)
TROPICAL PARULA - Setophaga pitiayumi. Seen near Llanteria.
BUFF-RUMPED WARBLER - Myiothlypis fulvicauda. At Cordillera Escalera and Wakanki.
BLACK-CRESTED WARBLER - Myiothlypis nigrocristata. Heard only, at Huembo.
RUSSET-CROWNED WARBLER - Myiothlypis coronatus. Heard many times, seen at Abra Patricia.
THREE-STRIPED WARBLER - Basileuterus tristriatus. Seen at Fundo Alto Nieva and at the Alto Mayo viewer.
SLATE-THROATED WHITESTART - Myioborus miniatus. Common in the Abra Patricia area.
SPECTACLED WHITESTART - Myioborus melanocephalus. Common in the Abra Patricia area.
Family: ICTERIDAE (BLACKBIRDS)
CRESTED OROPENDOLA - Psarocolius decumanus. Seen in Wakanki and surroundings.
RUSSET-BACKED OROPENDOLA - Psarocolius angustifrons. The common oropendola in the lowlands.
YELLOW-RUMPED CACIQUE - Cacicus cela. Quite common in the eastern lowlands.
NORTHERN MOUNTAIN CACIQUE - Cacicus leucorhamphus. Seen in Alto Mayo.
ORIOLE BLACKBIRD - Gymnomystax mexicanus. One well seen near Posic, close to the bridge over the river.
GIANT COWBIRD - Molothrus oryzivorus. Several seen near the rice fields around Posic.
Family: FRINGILLIDAE (FINCHES)
PURPLE-THROATED EUPHONIA - Euphonia chlorotica. Common. Seen at Puente Quiscarrumi, Wakanki, Morro de Calzada and Posic.
THICK-BILLED EUPHONIA - Euphonia laniirostris. At Wakanki gardens.
GOLDEN-BELLIED (WHITE-LORED) EUPHONIA – Euphonia chrysopasta. Seen at Quiscarrumi bridge.
ORANGE-BELLIED EUPHONIA - Euphonia xanthogaster. Seen at Llanteria.
HOODED SISKIN - Spinus magellanicus. Seen at Huembo.
OLIVACEOUS SISKIN - Spinus olivacea. Seen by a few of the participants in the Abra Patricia area.
Family: PASSERIDAE (OLD WORLD SPARROWS)
House Sparrow - Passer domesticus. In Tarapoto.