Photos with this report (click to enlarge) | |||
 White-tailed Starfrontlet |
 Vermilion Cardinal |
 Band-tailed Guan |
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 Pied Puffbird |
 Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta |
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Overview
This seven-day private, customized tour of Colombia commenced in Santa Marta on the 15th of August 2022 and concluded in Barranquilla on the 21st of August 2022. The tour visited different locations on the Colombian Caribbean coast, La Guajira Desert and the Santa Marta Mountains. We visited numerous fantastic birding locations including the Gaviotas road, Camarones (Santuario de Fauna y Flora los Flamencos), Minca, El Dorado Reserve and the Barranquilla wetlands (Vía Parque Isla de Salamanca).
This tour connected with many amazing target birds, including endemic, near endemic and native species, giving us a high-quality list for our seven days’ tour. Avian highlights included most of the Santa Marta endemics: Santa Marta Mountain-Tanager, Santa Marta Brush-finch, Santa Marta Warbler, Streak-capped Spinetail, Rusty-headed Spinetail, Santa Marta Bush-Tyrant, Hermit Wood-Wren, Santa Marta Parakeet, Brown-rumped Tapaculo, Santa Marta Antpitta, Sierra Nevada Antpitta, Yellow-crowned Whitestart, White-lored Warbler, Santa Marta Blossomcrown and Santa Marta Woodstar. There were also the near endemics shared only with Venezuela: Vermillion Cardinal, Chestnut Piculet, Orinoco Saltator, Bare-eyed Pigeon, Buffy Hummingbird, Black-backed Antshrike, Whiskered Spinetail, Slender-billed Tyrannulet, Coppery Emerald, Golden-winged Sparrow and the elusive Tocuyo Sparrow.
A total of 233 bird species were recorded and the checklist can be found at the end of this report.
Detailed Report
Day 1, 15th August 2022. Transfer from Santa Marta to Riohacha
We met the tour participants at their hotel in Santa Marta and drove north to the Guajira in Rioahacha state. We made a quick stop for breakfast and then we were on our way again. We explored the Gaviotas track and started with wonderful views of the striking Lance-tailed Manakin, Buff-breasted Wren, Red-crowned Woodpecker, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, White-bellied Antbird, Southern Bentbill, Thick-billed Euphonia, Crimson-backed Tanager, Blue-black Grosbeak, Red-legged Honeycreeper, Bananaquit, Yellow-crowned Tyrannulet and we later also got superb views of Orange-chinned Parakeet. After arriving in Camarones we had lunch and then took a boat to see the American Flamingo colony. We explored the area, seeing other species like Bare-eyed Pigeon, Common Ground Dove, Black-necked Stilt, American Oystercatcher, Black-bellied Plover, Ruddy Turnstone, Least Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher, Spotted Sandpiper, Willet, Lesser Yellowlegs, Laughing Gull, Least Tern, Royal Tern, Sandwich Tern, Black Skimmer, Magnificent Frigatebird, Neotropic Cormorant, Brown Pelican, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Tricolored Heron, Reddish Egret and White Ibis. We headed back to our hotel and went to dinner.
Day 2, 16th August 2022. La Guajira and Camarones
We had an early start in the company of our local guide Yhonis and a full morning of birding and exploring the dry Guajira and Camarones. One of the first species we looked for was Crested Bobwhite. We continued exploring the area and saw Chestnut Piculet, Bare-eyed Pigeon, Red-billed Emerald, Ruby-topaz Hummingbird, Yellow Oriole, Pileated Finch, Northern White-fringed Antwren, Black-crested and Black-backed Antshrikes, Slender-billed Inezia, White-whiskered Spinetail, Russet-throated Puffbird, Black-faced Grassquit, Pearly-vented Tody-Tyrant and Tocuyo Sparrow.
After breakfast we visited a new birding facility where the owner had started feeding birds to increase the chances of seeing some great classic species like Vermilion Cardinal, as well as Orinoco Saltator, Grey Pileated Finch, Buffy Hummingbird, Tropical Mockingbird, Scaled Dove, Yellow Oriole, Bananaquit, Olivaceous Saltator, Bicolored Wren and Red-crowned Woodpecker.
After enjoying lunch at Camarones we drove to Minca and visited the hotel's feeders, which attract species like White-necked Jacobin, Steely-vented Hummingbird, White-vented Plumeleteer and Rufous-tailed Hummingbird.
Day 3, 17th August 2022. Birding Minca and surrounds
Minca is a town located on the lowest slopes of the Santa Marta Mountains and the birding is wonderful. Some of the species we saw included Collared Aracari, Military Macaw, White-tipped Dove, Whooping Motmot, Crested Oropendola, and Streaked Flycatcher. When we found an army ant swarm we had great views of Grey-headed Tanager, Plain-brown and Cocoa Woodcreepers and Pale-breasted Thrush.
After a delicious lunch at the hotel, we continued birding in the surrounds of Minca. Some of the species seen included White-chinned Sapphire, Rosy Thrush-Tanager, Golden-winged Sparrow, Chestnut-capped Warbler, White-lined Tanager and Barred Antshrike.
Day 4, 18th August 2022. Driving to El Dorado Lodge
We left Minca and drove up to El Dorado Lodge looking for mid-elevation species such as Santa Marta Foliage-gleaner, Santa Marta Tapaculo, Santa Marta Antbird, Groove-billed Toucanet, Scaled Piculet, Bay-headed Tanager and Santa Marta Blossomcrown.
We arrived at El Dorado and enjoyed the hummingbird feeders, with species like the endemic White-tailed Starfrontlet, Crowned Woodnymph, Brown Violetear, Lesser Violetear and Blue-naped Chlorophonia. Other birds around the lodge included White-tipped Dove, Band-tailed Guan, Sierra Nevada Brush-finch, Montane Foliage-gleaner, Streaked Xenops and Golden-breasted Fruiteater.
Day 5, 19th August 2022. San Lorenzo Ridge and El Dorado Reserve
This was a pre-dawn start to drive up to the San Lorenzo ridge to look for most of the Santa Marta endemics including Santa Marta Screech-Owl, Santa Marta Mountain-Tanager, Santa Marta Brush-finch, Santa Marta Warbler, Streak-capped Spinetail, Rusty-headed Spinetail, Santa Marta Bush-Tyrant, Hermit Wood-Wren, Santa Marta Parakeet and Brown-rumped Tapaculo. We saw Santa Marta Antpitta and Sierra Nevada Antpitta. Later in the morning we returned to the lodge and saw Yellow-crowned Whitestart, White-lored Warbler, Santa Marta Woodstar and Tyrian Metaltail.
Day 6, 20th August 2022. Birding en route and transfer to Barranquilla
Descending to the coast, birding the whole road back to Minca, we looked for species we still needed and some additional ones as well, and we found Masked Trogon, Yellow-legged Thrush, Golden Grosbeak, Black-capped Tanager, Yellow-backed Oriole, Common Potoo, Golden-crowned Flycatcher, White-throated Toucanet, Grey-breasted Wood-Wren and many others.
A stop along the way added some species to the list: Pearl Kite, Pale-vented Pigeon, Brown-throated Parakeet and Rufous-browed Peppershrike. We arrived at the coast of Barranquilla in the afternoon.
Day 7, 21st August 2022. Barranquilla surrounds and Isla de Salamanca Sanctuary
We started to explore the deciduous habitat at Barranquilla University early, and saw the endemic Chestnut-winged Chachalaca. Then we moved to the Isla de Salamanca Sanctuary where we saw species like Crested Caracara, Black-collared Hawk, Snail Kite, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Limpkin, Black-necked Stilt, Southern Lapwing, Wattled Jacana, Brown Pelican, Cocoi Heron, Bare-faced Ibis, Ringed Kingfisher, Pied Puffbird, Bicolored Conebill, Bronzed Cowbird, Panama Flycatcher and the endemic Sapphire-bellied Hummingbird.
Bird List - Following IOC (12.1)
The following notation after species names is used to show conservation status following BirdLife International: CR= Critically Endangered, EN= Endangered, VU = Vulnerable, NT = Near Threatened
Common name Scientific name
Tinamous (Tinamidae)
Little Tinamou Crypturellus soui
Ducks, Geese, Swans (Anatidae)
Black-bellied Whistling Duck Dendrocygna autumnalis
Chachalacas, Curassows, Guans (Cracidae)
Chestnut-winged Chachalaca Ortalis garrula
Rufous-vented Chachalaca Ortalis ruficauda
Band-tailed Guan Penelope argyrotis
Sickle-winged Guan Chamaepetes goudotii
New World Quail (Odontophoridae)
Crested Bobwhite Colinus cristatus
Potoos (Nyctibiidae)
Common Potoo Nyctibius griseus
Hummingbirds (Trochilidae)
White-necked Jacobin Florisuga mellivora
Pale-bellied Hermit Phaethornis anthophilus
Brown Violetear Colibri delphinae
Lesser Violetear Colibri cyanotus
Sparkling Violetear Colibri coruscans
Ruby-topaz Hummingbird Chrysolampis mosquitus
Tyrian Metaltail Metallura tyrianthina
White-tailed Starfrontlet Coeligena phalerata
Santa Marta Woodstar Chaetocercus astreans
Red-billed Emerald Chlorostilbon gibsoni
Coppery Emerald Chlorostilbon russatus
Santa Marta Blossomcrown – VU Anthocephala floriceps
Lazuline Sabrewing Campylopterus falcatus
White-vented Plumeleteer Chalybura buffonii
Crowned Woodnymph Thalurania colombica
Buffy Hummingbird Leucippus fallax
Steely-vented Hummingbird Saucerottia saucerottei
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird Amazilia tzacatl
Sapphire-throated Hummingbird Chrysuronia coeruleogularis
Sapphire-bellied Hummingbird - EN Chrysuronia lilliae
White-chinned Sapphire Chlorestes cyanus
Cuckoos (Cuculidae)
Greater Ani Crotophaga major
Smooth-billed Ani Crotophaga ani
Pigeons, Doves (Columbidae)
Rock Dove Columba livia
Bare-eyed Pigeon Patagioenas corensis
Pale-vented Pigeon Patagioenas cayennensis
Scaled Dove Columbina squammata
Common Ground Dove Columbina passerina
Ruddy Ground Dove Columbina talpacoti
White-tipped Dove Leptotila verreauxi
Lined Quail-Dove Zentrygon linearis
Limpkin (Aramidae)
Limpkin Aramus guarauna
Flamingos (Phoenicopteridae)
American Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber
Stone-curlews, Thick-knees (Burhinidae)
Double-striped Thick-knee Burhinus bistriatus
Oystercatchers (Haematopodidae)
American Oystercatcher Haematopus palliatus
Stilts, Avocets (Recurvirostridae)
Black-necked Stilt Himantopus mexicanus
Plovers (Charadriidae)
Southern Lapwing Vanellus chilensis
Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola
Jacanas (Jacanidae)
Wattled Jacana Jacana jacana
Sandpipers, Snipes (Scolopacidae)
Turnstone Arenaria interpres
Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla
Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla
Short-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus griseus
Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius
Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria
Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes
Willet Tringa semipalmata
Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca
Gulls, Terns, Skimmers (Laridae)
Black Skimmer Rynchops niger
Laughing Gull Leucophaeus atricilla
Royal Tern Thalasseus maximus
Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis
Least Tern Sternula antillarum
Storks (Ciconiidae)
Wood Stork Mycteria americana
Frigatebirds (Fregatidae)
Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata magnificens
Cormorants, Shags (Phalacrocoracidae)
Neotropic Cormorant Nannopterum brasilianum
Ibises, Spoonbills (Threskiornithidae)
Bare-faced Ibis Phimosus infuscatus
American White Ibis Eudocimus albus
Scarlet Ibis Eudocimus ruber
Roseate Spoonbill Platalea ajaja
Herons, Bitterns (Ardeidae)
Night-heron Nycticorax nycticorax
Green Heron Butorides virescens
Striated Heron Butorides striata
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
Cocoi Heron Ardea cocoi
Great White Egret Ardea alba
Reddish Egret Egretta rufescens
Tricolored Heron Egretta tricolor
Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea
Snowy Egret Egretta thula
Pelicans (Pelecanidae)
Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis
New World Vultures (Cathartidae)
King Vulture Sarcoramphus papa
Black Vulture Coragyps atratus
Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura
Kites, Hawks, Eagles (Accipitridae)
Pearl Kite Gampsonyx swainsonii
Black-collared Hawk Busarellus nigricollis
Snail Kite Rostrhamus sociabilis
Roadside Hawk Rupornis magnirostris
Owls (Strigidae)
Santa Marta Screech Owl – VU Megascops gilesi
Trogons (Trogonidae)
White-tipped Quetzal Pharomachrus fulgidus
Masked Trogon Trogon personatus
Kingfishers (Alcedinidae)
American Pygmy Kingfisher Chloroceryle aenea
Green Kingfisher Chloroceryle americana
Ringed Kingfisher Megaceryle torquata
Motmots (Momotidae)
Whooping Motmot Momotus subrufescens
Jacamars (Galbulidae)
Rufous-tailed Jacamar Galbula ruficauda
Puffbirds (Bucconidae)
Pied Puffbird Notharchus tectus
Russet-throated Puffbird Hypnelus ruficollis
Toucans (Ramphastidae)
White-throated Toucanet Aulacorhynchus albivitta
Groove-billed Toucanet Aulacorhynchus sulcatus
Collared Aracari Pteroglossus torquatus
Keel-billed Toucan Ramphastos sulfuratus
Woodpeckers (Picidae)
Scaled Piculet Picumnus squamulatus
Chestnut Piculet Picumnus cinnamomeus
Red-crowned Woodpecker Melanerpes rubricapillus
Crimson-crested Woodpecker Campephilus melanoleucos
Caracaras, Falcons (Falconidae)
Crested Caracara Caracara plancus
Yellow-headed Caracara Milvago chimachima
Laughing Falcon Herpetotheres cachinnans
African & New World Parrots (Psittacidae)
Lilac-tailed Parrotlet Touit batavicus
Orange-chinned Parakeet Brotogeris jugularis
Scaly-naped Amazon Amazona mercenaries
Green-rumped Parrotlet Forpus passerines
Santa Marta Parakeet – EN Pyrrhura viridicata
Brown-throated Parakeet Eupsittula pertinax
Military Macaw – VU Ara militaris
Blue-crowned Parakeet Thectocercus acuticaudatus
Scarlet-fronted Parakeet Psittacara wagleri
Ovenbirds (Furnariidae)
Plain-brown Woodcreeper Dendrocincla fuliginosa
Strong-billed Woodcreeper Xiphocolaptes promeropirhynchus
Cocoa Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus susurrans
Straight-billed Woodcreeper Dendroplex picus
Montane Woodcreeper Lepidocolaptes lacrymiger
Streaked Xenops Xenops rutilans
Montane Foliage-gleaner Anabacerthia striaticollis
Santa Marta Foliage-gleaner - VU Clibanornis rufipectus
Streak-capped Spinetail Cranioleuca hellmayri
Yellow-chinned Spinetail Certhiaxis cinnamomeus
White-whiskered Spinetail Synallaxis candei
Rusty-headed Spinetail Synallaxis fuscorufa
Antbirds (Thamnophilidae)
Southern White-fringed Antwren Formicivora grisea
Black-backed Antshrike Thamnophilus melanonotus
Barred Antshrike Thamnophilus doliatus
Black-crested Antshrike Sakesphorus canadensis
Santa Marta Antbird Drymophila hellmayri
Antpittas (Grallariidae)
Santa Marta Antpitta - VU Grallaria bangsi
Sierra Nevada Antpitta Grallaria spatiator
Tapaculos (Rhinocryptidae)
Santa Marta Tapaculo Scytalopus sanctaemartae
Brown-rumped Tapaculo Scytalopus latebricola
Tyrant Flycatchers, Calyptura (Tyrannidae)
Yellow-crowned Tyrannulet Tyrannulus elatus
White-throated Tyrannulet Mecocerculus leucophrys
Fulvous-crowned Scrub Tyrant Euscarthmus meloryphus
Slender-footed Tyrannulet Zimmerius gracilipes
Northern Scrub Flycatcher Sublegatus arenarum
Pale-tipped Inezia Inezia caudata
Pearly-vented Tody-Tyrant Hemitriccus margaritaceiventer
Black-throated Tody-Tyrant Hemitriccus granadensis
Southern Bentbill Oncostoma olivaceum
Common Tody-Flycatcher Todirostrum cinereum
Vermilion Flycatcher Pyrocephalus obscurus
Santa Marta Bush Tyrant - EN Myiotheretes pernix
Pied Water Tyrant Fluvicola pica
Social Flycatcher Myiozetetes similis
Great Kiskadee Pitangus sulphuratus
Golden-crowned Flycatcher Myiodynastes chrysocephalus
Streaked Flycatcher Myiodynastes maculatus
Boat-billed Flycatcher Megarynchus pitangua
Tropical Kingbird Tyrannus melancholicus
Grey Kingbird Tyrannus dominicensis
Panama Flycatcher Myiarchus panamensis
Brown-crested Flycatcher Myiarchus tyrannulus
Cotingas (Cotingidae)
Golden-breasted Fruiteater Pipreola aureopectus
Manakins (Pipridae)
Lance-tailed Manakin Chiroxiphia lanceolata
White-bearded Manakin Manacus manacus
Vireos, Greenlets, Shrike-babblers (Vireonidae)
Rufous-browed Peppershrike Cyclarhis gujanensis
Scrub Greenlet Hylophilus flavipes
Golden-fronted Greenlet Pachysylvia aurantiifrons
Black-whiskered Vireo Vireo altiloquus
Chivi Vireo Vireo chivi
Brown-capped Vireo Vireo leucophrys
Crows, Jays (Corvidae)
Black-chested Jay Cyanocorax affinis
Swallows, Martins (Hirundinidae)
Brown-chested Martin Progne tapera
Grey-breasted Martin Progne chalybea
Swallow Hirundo rustica
Wrens (Troglodytidae)
Bicolored Wren Campylorhynchus griseus
Rufous-and-white Wren Thryophilus rufalbus
Buff-breasted Wren Cantorchilus leucotis
House Wren Troglodytes aedon
Grey-breasted Wood Wren Henicorhina leucophrys
Hermit Wood Wren Henicorhina anachoreta
Gnatcatchers (Polioptilidae)
Trilling Gnatwren Ramphocaenus melanurus
Tropical Gnatcatcher Polioptila plumbea
Mockingbirds, Thrashers (Mimidae)
Tropical Mockingbird Mimus gilvus
Thrushes (Turdidae)
Great Thrush Turdus fuscater
Yellow-legged Thrush Turdus flavipes
Pale-breasted Thrush Turdus leucomelas
Finches, Euphonias (Fringillidae)
Lesser Goldfinch Spinus psaltria
Blue-naped Chlorophonia Chlorophonia cyanea
Trinidad Euphonia Euphonia trinitatis
Thick-billed Euphonia Euphonia laniirostris
Thrush-tanager (Rhodinocichlidae)
Rosy Thrush-tanager Rhodinocichla rosea
New World Sparrows (Passerellidae)
Tocuyo Sparrow Arremonops tocuyensis
Sierra Nevada Brushfinch Arremon basilicus
Golden-winged Sparrow Arremon schlegeli
Rufous-collared Sparrow Zonotrichia capensis
Santa Marta Brushfinch Atlapetes melanocephalus
Oropendolas, New World Orioles, Blackbirds (Icteridae)
Crested Oropendola Psarocolius decumanus
Yellow-backed Oriole Icterus chrysater
Yellow Oriole Icterus nigrogularis
Shiny Cowbird Molothrus bonariensis
Bronzed Cowbird Molothrus aeneus
Carib Grackle Quiscalus lugubris
Great-tailed Grackle Quiscalus mexicanus
New World Warblers (Parulidae)
Santa Marta Warbler Myiothlypis basilica
White-lored Warbler Myiothlypis conspicillata
Chestnut-capped Warbler Basileuterus delattrii
Slate-throated Whitestart Myioborus miniatus
Yellow-crowned Whitestart Myioborus flavivertex
Cardinals & Allies (Cardinalidae)
Golden Grosbeak Pheucticus chrysogaster
Vermilion Cardinal Cardinalis phoeniceus
Blue-black Grosbeak Cyanoloxia cyanoides
Tanagers & Allies (Thraupidae)
Plushcap Catamblyrhynchus diadema
Swallow Tanager Tersina viridis
Red-legged Honeycreeper Cyanerpes cyaneus
Blue Dacnis Dacnis cayana
Orinoco Saltator Saltator orenocensis
Olive-grey Saltator Saltator olivascens
Buff-throated Saltator Saltator maximus
Bananaquit Coereba flaveola
Black-faced Grassquit Melanospiza bicolor
Blue-black Grassquit Volatinia jacarina
Grey-headed Tanager Eucometis penicillate
Grey Pileated Finch Coryphospingus pileatus
White-lined Tanager Tachyphonus rufus
Crimson-backed Tanager Ramphocelus dimidiatus
Yellow-bellied Seedeater Sporophila nigricollis
Bicolored Conebill Conirostrum bicolor
White-sided Flowerpiercer Diglossa albilatera
Santa Marta Mountain Tanager Anisognathus melanogenys
Blue-grey Tanager Thraupis episcopus
Glaucous Tanager Thraupis glaucocolpa
Black-capped Tanager Stilpnia heinei
Bay-headed Tanager Tangara gyrola
Total recorded 233