The World Birding Website

South America - Colombia

Despite the habitat loss, Colombia still has more bird species than any other country in the world, with the exception of Peru. Colombia's extraordinary avian diversity is due to its unique geography. The Andes split at the southern end into three distinct ranges. The diversity of altitudes and climates creates many different life zones supporting unrivalled avian speciation over the millenia. Target birds and reserves for visiting birders include the Blue-billed Curassow at El Paujil, Recurve-billed Bushbirds, Chestnut-capped Piha (only discovered in 2001) and Yellow-eared Parrots at the similarly named reserves, as well as El Dorado Reserve at Santa Marta where many endemics and even new species are awaiting description. The Cerulean Warbler Reserve, a relict of sub-tropical oak forests, is an important wintering location for Cerulean Warblers. Colombia's security situation has improved in recent years. The country is now open for birding, but parts remain unsafe. Colombia is not a place to go birding on your own. ProAves is Colombia's principal bird conservation organisation. For more information visit www.ecoturs.org Text adapted from Chuck Bell's article in Winging It – June 2008. Full trip report with Tropical Birding listed below

Santa Marta Parakeet, endemic to the Santa Marta mountains © Nick Athanas

Trip Reports Colombia Endemics Tour March 2011, author Avery Bartels (link created September 4, 2011) (Colombia, Endemics, Santa Marta, Dusky Starfrontlet, Fenwick's Antpitta, Cerulean Warbler Reserve, Avery Bartels, Bogota, Yellow-headed Manakin, Tolima dove, El PAujil) Colombian Andes and the Caribbean Coast - 6th - 26th March 2011, author Barry Walker (link created September 22, 2011) (This trip was to target some of the most endangered Colombia endemics and range restricted species) Colombia - 27th August - 7th September 2011, author Mark Lockwood (added September 16, 2011) (Mitu, Bogota area) Central western Colombia: one week late August 2009, author Martin Reid (added September 14, 2009) (La Romera, Jardin, Rio Blanco, Nevados del Ruiz, Otun-Quimbaya, El Cairo, Chingaza NP, Rufous-fronted Parakeet, Flame-winged Parakeet, Yellow-eared Parrot, Gold-Ringed Tanager, Black-and-gold Tanager, Fulvous-dotted Treerunner, Indigo Flowerpiercer) Central Colombia - 21 September - 14 October 2011, author Stephen Blaber (added October 26, 2011) (ProAves reserves: El Paujil, Bushbird, Reinita Azul, Pauxi Pauxi, Arrierito, Las Tangares & more) Colombia - An Antpitta special, author Ashley Banwell (added November 18, 2006) (Brown banded Antpitta, Bicoloured Antpitta, Santa-marta Antpitta, Tawny Antpitta,Undulated Antpitta) Colombia specialities - A tale of ten tapaculos (well, actually eleven!) - September - October 2010, author Jonathan Newman (added November 1, 2011) (Cundinamarca, Soata, Ocana, Cerulea, El Paujil, Las Tangaras, Colibri del Sol, Bahia Solano) Colombia - Jan-Feb 2010, author Rockjumper Birding Tours (link created March 7, 2011) Colombia - Nov-Dec 2010, author Rockjumper Birding Tours (link created March 7, 2011) The Grand Colombian Birding Tour by Ben Freeman / EcoTurs, author Fundacion ProAves (link created March 5, 2010) (We recorded 653 species (48 endemics), plus 29 species heard, across the Andes of Colombia, including Choco Vireo, Santa Marta Parakeet, Gold-ringed Tanager, Dusky Starfrontlet, Yellow-eared Parrot, Recurve-billed Bushbird...) Colombia - Pacific Coast, Rio Blanco, Los Nevados, Bogota - February 2009, author Gina Nichol (link created March 4, 2009) (Bogota Rail, Black Inca, Silvery-throated Spinetail, Brown-banded Antpitta, Red-bellied Grackle, Baudo Oropendola) Colombia February 2007, author Nick Athanas (link created March 10, 2007) (Blue-billed Curassow,Gorgeted Wood-Quail,Yellow-eared Parrot,Indigo-winged Parrot,Chestnut-bellied Hummingbird,Dusky Starfrontlet,Black Inca,White-mantled Barbet,Brown-banded Antpitta,Chestnut-bellied Flowerpiercer,Red-bellied Grackle) Mitú, Colombia, June 2011, author Nick Athanas (link created June 22, 2011) (Mitu,Colombia,Tawny-tufted Toucanet,Orinoco Piculet,Bar-bellied Woodcreeper,Yellow-throated Antwren,Cherrie’s Antwren,Gray-bellied Antbird,Chestnut-crested Antbird,Yellow-crowned Manakin,Azure-naped Jay,White-naped Seedeater) Tropical Birding tour to Colombia, Nov-Dec 2007, author Nick Athanas (link created January 8, 2008) (Santa Marta endemics, Mountain Grackle, Chestnut-capped Piha, Multicolored Tanager, Dusky Starfrontlet) Colombia – Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta: 25-29 November 2010, author Jason Fidorra (added January 29, 2011) (Minca, San Lorenzo Station, El Dorado Lodge) Colombia - North Andes and the Choco Vireo - December 26, 2009 - January 13, 2010, author Forrest Rowland (added February 24, 2010) (Antioquia, Santander, Sabana de Bogota, Chingaza, Paujil, Pauxi Pauxi) Colombian Endemics Bonanza birding trip by EcoTurs (Jan 2010), author Fundacion ProAves (link created February 22, 2010) (Outstanding tour across the Colombian Andes and Magdalena valley before finishing in El Dorado Bird Reserve. 49 endemics and 553 target species including Fuertes's Parrot, Blue-billed Curassow, Gorgeted Wood-Quail, Recurve-billed Bushbird, Gold-ringed Tan) A report on Birding Colombia: endemics and threatened species., author Fundacion ProAves (link created February 22, 2010) (This fast paced tour visited key sites across central and northern Colombia amassing a staggering 45 endemics in just 17 days, inc. Chestnut-capped Piha, Gold-ringed Tanager, Munchique Wood Wren, Dusky Starfrontlet, Santa Marta Screech-Owl... ) Birding Northern Colombia in a week by EcoTurs, author Fundacion ProAves (link created February 22, 2010) (This tour focused on seeing great birds at an enjoyable pace with a good mix of endemics and rare species from a wide range of habitats - cloud forest to mangroves. Inc. Black-backed Thornbill, Vermillion Cardinal, Santa Marta Woodstar, Santa Marta Screec) Colombia: East Andes, Guajira, Santa Marta - December 2009, author Martin Reid (added December 31, 2009) (Rogitama, Soata, Monterredondo, Riohacha/Camarones, El Dorado Lodge, Mountain Grackle, Chestnut-bellied Humingbird, Niceforo's Wren, Black Inca, Turquoise Dacnis, Indogo-capped Hummingbird, Santa Marta Sabrewing, Black-backed Thornbill) The Colombian Andes and the Santa Marta Mountains, author Barry Walker (link created December 27, 2007) (Santa Marta and Andean Endemics) The Colombian Andes - June 2007, author Barry Walker (added December 27, 2007) (Colombian Andean endemics and the Santa Marta mountains) Rockjumper Tour - Colombia Andean Endemics - October 30th - November 21st 2011, author Forrest Rowland (added December 20, 2011) (790+ species recorded, 760+ seen including 59 endemics and 41 near-endemics) Colombia - October 30th - November 27th 2010, author Greg Roberts (added December 12, 2010) (770 species including Mountain Grackle, Gorgeted Wood-Quail, Recurve-billed Bushbird, Lazuline & Santa Marta Sabrewings, Yellow-headed Manakin, Indigo-winged Parrot, Bicoloured Antpitta, Tanager Finch) Gran Colombia endemic tour - 15th January - 12th February 2011, author Pablo Florez (added August 18, 2011) (Santa Marta area, West, central and Eastern Andes, Mid. Magdalena.) Colombia - Parque Nacional Los Nevados - January 9th - 16th 2007, author Tim Mitzen (added August 15, 2007) (Multi-colored Tanager, Masked Saltator, Olive-headed Brush-Finch) The Colombian Andes - March 2008, author Barry Walker (added April 6, 2008) (The Central Colombian Andes and the Santa Marta Mountains - endemics) Colombia - February 16 – March 13, 2010 , author Jon Hornbuckle (added April 27, 2011) (Highland Tinamou, Blue-knobbed Curassow, Santa Marta Screech-Owl, Dusky Starfrontlet, Greyish Piculet, Beautiful Woodpecker, Recurve-billed Bushbird, Fenwick’s Antpitta, Bicoloured Antpitta, Chestnut-capped Piha, Gold-ringed Tanager, Red-bellied Grackl) Colombia Clean-up Trip (Part 2) - March 7th thru 22nd, 2011, author Forrest Rowland (added April 25, 2011) (Santa Marta endemics, Guajira regional-endemics, Velvet-fronted Euphonia, Tolima Dove, Fuertes' Parrot, 12 species of Antpitta! 621 species total) Colombia - Northern Andes and the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta - 9th - 29th December 2010, author Forrest Rowland (added April 20, 2011) (60 Endemics, Mundo Nuevo, Reinita Azul, Pauxi Pauxi, Arrierito Antioqueno, Las Tangaras, Jardin, El Dorado, and more....) 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