DAY BY DAY ACTIVITIES
August 15th: Fly from Puerto Maldonado to Lima to then take the flight to Tarapoto. Night in Tarapoto at the Posada Inn.
August 16th: Early departure south of Tarapoto to the now well-known Quebrada Upaquihua were we birded until mid-morning, and then on to Aconabikh (Koepcke’s) Hummingbird feeders through Tarapoto (North of Tarapoto), and then back to Tarapoto to continue our way to Moyobamba with stop at Quebrada Quiscarumi to look at the roosting Oilbird there, near Moyobamba. Night at Waqanki Lodge.
August 17th: Waqanki to Abra Patricia with owling morning before breakfast and after breakfast we walked the Mishquiyaku trail (Fruiteater trail) at Waqanki and then visited the Hummingbird feeders until midday and after lunch we headed to Abra Patricia with a few birding stops along the way. Night at the Owlet Lodge.
August 18th: Full day at Abra Patricia; birding morning along the monkey and grallaria trail and in the afternoon we drove down the road to Alto Nieva to look for the Cinnamon-breasted Tody-Tyrant where we had great views, and early evening back to the Lodge to get ready for the hike to the Owlet trail to look for one of the most amazing Peruvian birds where we had fantastic views with our local guide Roberto. Night at Owlet Lodge.
August 19th: Full day at Abra Patricia; all day birding down the road all the way down to Afluente and early afternoon back to the Lodge, and to end it up the afternoon we bird it a little bit the monkey trail. Night at Owlet Lodge.
August 20th: Abra Patricia to Jaen; with owling morning and after breakfast we went to San Lorenzo to look for the Pale-billed Antpitta and after that we went to Huembo the (ECOAN protected area) for the Marvelous Spatuletail, and after mid-day we headed out to Jaen with stop near Jaen to look for the Little Inca-Finch. Night at Jaen.
August 21st: Jaen to Olmos; with birding morning at the Tamborapa track until mid-morning and then we took long drive to Abra Porculla for a short afternoon birding at this special place for the Piura Chat-Tyrant among few others and then we continued to Olmos.
August 22nd: Early departure from Olmos to Quebrada Limon and we spent all the morning birding the Quebrada Limon looking for the White-winged Guan which gave us a hard time to find them, but with the help of Lino (our local guide) that met us about mid-morning we finally found them, and then onto Chiclayo for our afternoon flght to Lima and right after arrival we went to San Mateo (along the Central High Way) for the overnight stay. Night at San Mateo.
August 23rd: Departure after breakfast from San Mateo to our birding locality at Marcapomacocha with a box-lunch where we spent almost all the day looking for the specialties of this great birding locality such the Diadamed Sandpiper-Plover; and in the late afternoon we headed to La Oroya. Night at La Oroya.
August 24th: La Oroya to Junín (Chinchaycocha) (4100 mts) lake. Morning on the Lake for Junín flightless Grebe with breakfast at the small restaurant near the Hotel. Around mid-morning we took our very long drive back to Lima to catch the evening International flight for Kelvin. Night in Lima.
TINAMOUS
Tataupa Tinamou – Crypturellus tataupa. Very nice views of two individuals at Upaquihua.
Little Tinamou – Crypturellus soui. Heard only. Heard around Waqank.
Pale-browed Tinamou – Crypturellus transfasciatus. Amazing view of one bird very close at Quebrada Limon. TUMBESIAN ENDEMIC.
DUCKS AND GEESE
Andean Goose - Oressochen melanoptera. Very good views of good number at Marcapomacocha. Genetic data (mtDNA only; Bulgarella et al. 2014) suggest that Neochen jubata (Orinoco Goose) is the sister species to Chloephaga melanoptera (Andean Gooose), and thus is likely embedded in Chloephaga as currently circumscribed. SACC proposal passed to treat Chloephaga melanoptera and Neochen jubata as congeners; Oressochen Bannister 1870 becomes the name for these two when treated in a separate genus.
Crested Duck – Lophoneta specularioides. Also seen at Marcapomacocha.
CHACHALACA AND GUANS
White-winged Guan - Penelope albipennis. After having a hard time trying to see the first one, on the way back we saw two of them with Lino’s help around nearly mid-day at Quebrada Limon. CRITICALLY ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
Speckled Chachalaca - Ortalis guttata. A few seen at Waqanki Lodge.
GREBES
Silvery Grebe – Podiceps occipitalis. Good looks at this Grebe on Lake Junín, providing good comparison with the next species. The Sub-species here is the northern and high-elevation juninensis, which in plumage is closer to Junín Grebe than to the southern, nominate race. Two species are probably involved and the SACC says - Fjeldså & Krabbe (1990) and Jaramillo (2003) suggested that the northern Andean sub-species, juninensis, might merit recognition as a separate species from Podiceps occipitalis.
Junín (Flightless) Grebe – Podiceps taczanowskii. Excellent views of this endemic flightless Grebe – 2 in total. The species is named after Wladyslaw Taczanowski, a 19th century Polish Ornithologist who wrote Ornithologie du Pérou (he has several species and subspecies named after him). Junín Grebe is confined to Lake Junín in the highlands of Junín, west-central Peru. It was extremely abundant in 1938, and the population was probably well over 1,000 birds in 1961. In the early and mid-1980s there were c.250 birds, but only 100 were counted in 1992, falling to around 50 in 1993. New extrapolations in early 1995, using a different methodology, estimated 205 individuals. The 1995/1996 and 1996-1997breeding seasons were unsuccessful, but two broods apparently fledged in 1997- 1998. In August 1998, over 250 Podiceps sp. were found in 4 km of the lake (suggesting a total of 350-400 birds) and all those identified (over 20) were P. taczanowskii. Counts in late 2001 suggested a total population of c.300 birds, though this extrapolation from line transects may be overly optimistic, especially as counts in 2001 suggested a population of less than 100. Even if correct, this estimate is of total individuals following a good breeding season, and the number of mature individuals is likely to be far smaller, perhaps half as many. At present, the current global population is best estimated at between 100 and 300 individuals. You need a boat to see this bird. CRITICALLY ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
HERONS AND BITTERNS
Fasciated Tiger-Heron – Tigrisoma fasciatum. One seen along the Utcubamba River on our way to Jaen from Abra Patricia.
Cattle Egret - Bubulcus ibis. Common.
Great Egret - Ardea albus. Common.
Snowy Egret - Egretta thula. Common.
AMERCAN VULTURES
Black Vulture - Coragyps atratus. Common.
Turkey Vulture - Cathartes aura. Common; Jaramillo (2003) suggested that the resident tropical subspecies ruficollis and the southern subspecies group (jota and "falklandica") might merit recognition as separate species from the northern Cathartes aura group.
Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture - Cathartes burrovianus. Two of them seen around Rioja.
KITES, HAWKS AND EAGLES
Swallow-tailed Kite - Elanoides forficatus. Seen around Waqanki.
Pearl Kite - Gampsonyx swainsonii. One individual seen around Jaen perch on the electricity cables.
Variable Hawk - Geranoaetus polyosoma. Good views of one individual at San Lorenzo on our hike for the Pale-billed Antpitta. Seen in two separate days around Leymebamba. The taxonomy of this group is confusing, and some people try to split it as Puna Hawk B. poecilochrous and Red-backed Hawk B. polyosoma. SACC comment: Farquhar (1988) concluded that Buteo poecilochrous and B. polyosoma are conspecific, as they were formerly treated; he was unable to find any way to reliably diagnose the two forms using plumage characters or measurements. Ridgely & Greenfield (2001), Jaramillo (2003), and Schulenberg et al. (2007) followed this Treatment and suggested "Variable Hawk" be retained for the composite species. Genetic data (Riesing et al. 2003) are consistent with hypothesis that B. polyosoma and B. poecilochrous are conspecific.
RAILS & CRAKES
Paint-billed Crake – Neocrex erythrops. Amazing view of one bird in the rice fields around Jaen on our way back from Tamborapa to Jaen.
Giant Coot - Fulica gigantea. Very good views just from the roadside on one of the small ponds (lakes) at Ticlio pass on our way to La Oroya.
PLOVER
Diademed Sandpiper-Plover – Phegornis mitchellii. Really wonderful views of 4 in total al Marcapomacocha, we even got pictures of them.
JACANAS
Wattled Jacana - Jacana jacana. Seen around Tarapoto and Jaen.
GULLS
Andean Gull - Chroicocephalus serranus. Few birds seen around La Oroya.
PIGEONS AND DOVES
Band-tailed Pigeon - Patagioenas fasciata. Seen around Afluente.
Eared Dove - Zenaida auriculata. Common, seen around Jaen.
Ecuadorian Ground-Dove - Columbina buckleyi dorsti. Seen. TUMBESIAN ENDEMIC.
Croaking Ground-Dove – Columbina cruziana. Seen around Jaen.
Blue Ground-Dove – Claravis pretiosa. One seen at Waqanki.
White-tipped Dove - Leptotila verreauxi decipiens. Named for the impressive sounding John Baptiste Edouard Verreaux (1810-1868) French Natural History dealer and collector.
CUCKOOS
Smooth-billed Ani - Crotophaga ani. Seen around Tarapoto.
Groove-billed Ani - Crotophaga sulcirostris. Seen around Jaen.
TYPICAL OWLS
Tropical Screech-Owl – Megascops choliba. Seen at Waqanki.
Vermiculated Screech-Owl – Megascops guatemalae. Very nice view of one individual at Waqanki.
Cinnamon Screech-Owl – Megascops petersoni. Great views along the monkey trail at the Owlet Lodge. Named for Roger Tory Peterson American pioneer ornithologist. Range Restricted.
White-throated Screech-Owl – Megascops albogularis. A very nice view of one individual at the Owlet Lodge.
Rufous-banded Owl – Strix albitarsus. Heard only.
Band-bellied Owl - Pulsatrix melanota. Heard only.
Long-whiskered Owlet - Xenoglaux loweryi. Fantastic views of this impressive bird at Owlet Lodge; one of the best birds of the trip. Xenoglaux = Strange Owl. Named for George Hines Lowery US Zoologist ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
OILBIRD
Oilbird - Steatornis caripensis. Wonderful views of roosting birds at the Quiscarumi creek 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.
POTOOS
Common Potoo - Nyctibius griseus. Very good views at Tamborapa, near Jaen.
NIGHTHAWKS & NIGHTJARS
Rufous-bellied Nighthawk – Lurocalis rufiventris. Heard only.
Lesser Nighthawk - Chordeiles acutipennis. A few seen around Jaen flying around in the evening.
Rufous Nightjar - Antrostomus rufus. One seen at Waqanki in two consecutive days.
Spot-tailed Nightjar - Caprimulgus maculicaudus. Very good views also at Waqanki.
Scrub Nightjar – Caprimulgus anthonyi. Heard only. TUMBESIAN ENDEMIC.
SWIFTS
White-collared Swift - Streptoprocne zonaris. Common, seen around Tarapoto.
Pale-rumped Swift - Aeronautes montivagus. Seen around Tarapoto.
HUMMINGBIRDS
White-necked Jacobin - Florisuga mellivora. Common at Waqanki Hummingbird feeders.
Great-billed Hermit – Phaethornis malaris. Seen at Waqanki Hummingbird feeders.
Planalto Hermit - Phaethornis pretrei. Also seen at Waqanki Hummingbird feeders.
Koepcke’s Hermit - Phaethornis koepckeae. 2 seen at Escalera (Aconabikh) Hummingbird feeders. ENDEMIC.
Black-throated Hermit - Phaethornis atrimentalis. At the Waqanki Hummingbird feeders. Range Restricted.
Gray-chinned Hermit - Phaethornis griseogularis porcullae. Very good views at Porculla pass. Of the porcullae subspecies. SACC says: The subspecies porcullae and zonura were formerly (e.g., Peters 1945) each considered separate species from Phaethornis griseogularis, but see Zimmer (1950a) for rationale for treatment of all as conspecific. Range Restricted.
Blue-fronted Lancebill - Doryfera johannae. Great views at Aconabikh Hummingbird feeders.
Green-fronted Lancebill - Doryfera ludovicae. One seen around Afluente.
Gray-breasted Sabrewing - Campylopterus largipennis. Common at Waqanki Hummingbird feeders.
Brown Violet-ear - Colibri delphinae. Good views at Waqanki Hummingbird feeders.
Green Violet-ear - Colibri thalassinus. At Huembo Hummingbird feeders.
Sparkling Violet-ear - Colibri coruscans. Fairly common and seen several places during the trip. The bully of the feeders.
Black-throated Mango - Anthracothorax nigricollis. A few at Waqanki Hummingbird feeders.
Violet-headed Hummingbird - Klais guimeti. Also seen at Waqanki Hummingbird feeders.
Rufous-crested Coquette - Lophornis delattrei. Common at the Waqanki Hummingbird feeders. Named for Adolphe de Lattre, French collector in Mexico and Colombia.
Fork-tailed Woodnymph - Thalurania furcata. Common at Waqanki feeders.
Golden-tailed Sapphire - Chrysuronia oenone. Another common one at the Waqanki Hummingbird feeders.
Spot-throated Hummingbird - Leucippus taczanowskii. Very nice views around Jaen. ENDEMIC.
Tumbes Hummingbird – Leucippus baeri. Seen around Quebrada Limon. TUMBESIAN ENDEMIC.
White-bellied Hummingbird - Leucippus chionogaster. At Huembo Hummingbird feeders.
Sapphire-spangled Emerald - Amazilia lactea. Another one seen at Waqanki Hummingbird feeders.
Andean Emerald – Agyrtria franciae. Very good views at Huembo Hummingbird feeders.
Amazilia Hummingbird – Amazilia. Seen around Quebrada Limon.
Ecuadorian Piedtail - Phlogophilus hemileucurus. A male one seen at Afluente on our way to Abra Patricia from Waqanki VULNERABLE, Range Restricted.
Gould’s Jewelfront - Heliodoxa aurescens. Few seen at Waqanki Hummingbird feeders.
Fawn-breasted Brilliant - Heliodoxa rubinoides. Seen at the Owlet Lodge Hummingbird feeders.
Bronzy Inca - Coeligena coeligena. Common at Owlet Lodge and Huembo Hummingbird feeders.
Collared Inca - Coeligena torquata. Very common at Owlet Lodge Hummingbird feeders.
Chestnut-breasted Coronet - Boissonneaua matthewsii. Common at Owlet Lodge and Huembo Hummingbird feeders. Named for English botanist and collector in the neotropics Andrew Matthews.
Purple-throated Sunangel - Heliangelus viola. Good views at Huembo Hummingbird feeders. From the Grek 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.
Royal Sunangel - Heliangelus regalis. One male seen at Abra Patricia. ENDEMIC.
Emerald-bellied Puffleg - Eriocnemis alinae. Very common at Owlet Lodge hummingbird feeders.
Buff-thighed Puffleg - Haplophaedia assimilis. Seen around Afluente.
Booted Racket-tail - Ocreatus underwoodii annae. Good views around Afluente.
Black-tailed Trainbearer - Lesbia victoriae. One bird seen around the garden of Huembo Hummingbird feeders. From the Greek Lesbias – a woman of Lesbos.
Tyrian Metaltail - Metallura tyrianthina. Few seen along the trail at San Lorenzo. We saw the septentrionalis subspecies on the west slope of the Marañon River. 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.
Rufous-capped Thornbill - Chalcostigma ruficeps. A male one seen along the Antpitta trail at San Lorenzo.
Olivaceous Thornbill – Chalcostigma olivaceum. Very nice view of one individual at Marcapomacocha. Range Restricted.
Long-tailed Sylph - Aglaiocercus kingi. Very common but beautiful bird at owlet Lodge Hummingbird feeders. This long-tailed hummingbird was named for Admiral Philip Parker King, British marine surveyor, naturalist and traveler in tropical America 1825-1830.
Marvelous Spatuletail - Loddigesia mirabilis. Marvelous! A male one seen at Huembo. The genus is named after British taxidermist and natural history dealer G. Loddiges (1784-1846), who specialized in hummingbirds! ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
Long-billed Starthroat - Heliomaster longirostris. Good views at Waqanki Hummingbird feeders.
White-bellied Woodstar - Acestrura mulsant. Seen daily at Owlet Lodge Hummingbird feeders.
Little Woodstar - Acestrura bombus. A female one seen at Huembo. A really nice Hummingbird. VULNERABLE, Range Restricted.
TROGONS & QUETZALS
Golden-headed Quetzal - Pharomachrus auriceps. Nice view of a male one along the monkey trail at Owlet Lodge.
Masked Trogon - Trogon personatuts. Very good views at Abra Patricia.
Blue-crowned Trogon – Trogon curucui. One seen around Waqanki Lodge.
PUFFBIRDS
Rufous-capped Nunlet - Nonnula ruficapilla. Very good views of one individual at Upaquihua.
White-faced Nunbird - Hapaloptila castanea. Heard only, at Abra Patricia.
Black-fronted Nunbird – Monasa nigrifrons. Seen around Upaquihua.
BARBETS
Versicolored Barbet – Eubucco versicolor. Good views at Afluente.
TOUCANS
Golden-collared Toucanet - Selenidera reinwardtii. Seen along the Mishquiyaku (Fruiteater) trail at Waqanki.
WOODPECKERS AND PICULETS
Lafresnaye’s Piculet - Picumnus lafresnayi. One seen at Waqanki Lodge. Named for the impressive sounding Noel Frederic Armand Andre Baron de Lefresnay (1783-1861) French Ornithologist and collector. Range Restricted.
Speckle-chested Piculet – Picumnus steindachneri. Wonderful views at Afluente. ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
Ecuadorian Piculet - Picumnus sclateri. Nice views at Abra Porculla. TUMBESIAN ENDEMIC.
Smoky-brown Woodpecker - Veniliornis fumigatus. One seen at Abra Patricia.
Red-stained Woodpecker - Veniliornis affinis. Seen at Upaquihua.
Golden-olive Woodpecker - Colaptes rubiginosus. One seen around Abra Patricia.
Andean Flicker - Colaptes rupicola. Fairly common at Marcapomacocha.
FALCONS
Mountain Caracara - Phalcoboenus megalopterus. Quite common in the Andes; seen at Marcapomacocha.
Yellow-headed Caracara - Milvago chimachima. One seen in flight along the road on our way to Upaquihua around Tarapoto.
American Kestrel - Falco sparverius. Common.
PARROTS
Scarlet-fronted Parakeet – Psitticara wagleri. Seen along the Utcubamba River.
Red-masked Parakeet – Psitticara erythrogenys. Very good views at Quebrada Limon. TUMBESIAN ENDEMIC.
White-eyed Parakeet - Psitticara leucophthalmus. Good views at the Oilbird cave near Moyobamba.
Spot-winged Parrotlet - Touit stictopterus. Heard only around Afluente.
Pacific Parrotlet - Forpus coelestis. Good views around Jaen. TUMBESIAN ENDEMIC.
Cobalt-winged Parakeet - Brotogeris cyanoptera. Seen around Waqanki 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. Also seen around Waqanki.
Scaly-naped Parrot - Amazona mercenaria. Fly by at Owlet Lodge.
ANTBIRDS
Collared Antshrike - Sakesphorus bernardi. Quite common at Quebrada Limon.
Collared Antshrike sp Nov - Sakesphorus bernardi shumbae. One individual seen around Jaen. Range Restricted.
Chapman’s Antshrike – Thamnophilus zarumae. A pair seen at Porculla pass. TUMBESIAN ENDEMIC.
Lined Antshrike – Thamnophilus tenuepunctatus. Great views at Afluente.
Northern Slaty Antshrike - Thamnophilus punctatus leucogaster. Very good views of the nominate specie at Tamborapa. Range Restricted.
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). Range Restricted.
Variable Antshrike - Thamnophilus caerulescens. Good views at Abra Patricia.
Rufous-capped Antshrike – Thamnophilus ruficapillus. Two birds seen along the trail above San Lorenzo here the sub-species jaczewskii the northern population.
Plain Antvireo – Dysithamnus mentalis. One seen at Afluente.
Ornate Antwren - Epinecrophylla ornata. Good views along the Mishquiyaku trail at Waqanki.
Stripe-chested Antwren – Myrmotherula longicauda. Heard only.
Slaty Antwren – Myrmotherula schisticolor. One seen at Afluente.
Streak-headed Antbird - Drymophila straticeps. Seen around Abra Patricia. One bird seen along the monkey trail. The article in Condor “AN INTEGRATIVE APPROACH TO SPECIES-LEVEL SYSTEMATICS REVEALS THE DEPTH OF DIVERSIFICATION IN AN ANDEAN THAMNOPHILID, THE LONG-TAILED ANTBIRD” By Morton L. Isler, Andrés M. Cuervo, Gustavo A, Bravo, and Robb T. Brumfield In part says “we propose the following taxonomic positions and English names for members of the complex. Regarding the English names, we have rejected the inclusion of “long-tailed” in the names, as proposed by Cory and Hellmayr (1924), because the names would become too cumbersome. The sequence reflects the estimated phylogeny:
Drymophila klagesi Hellmayr and Seilern, 1912—Klages’s Antbird. Eastern and northern Venezuela, Serranía de Perijá, and northern Eastern Andes in Norte de Santander, Colombia (includes klagesi, aristeguietana, and Norte de Santander study groups; clade A).
Drymophila hellmayri Todd, 1915—Santa Marta Antbird. Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia (includes hellmayri; clade B).
Drymophila caudata (Sclater, 1854)—Long-tailed Antbird.
Eastern Andes from Santander (west of the ChicamochaCanyon) to Caquetá and Huila, Colombia (includes Santander and Upper Magdalena study groups; clade C).
Drymophila striaticeps Chapman, 1912—Streak-headed Antbird. The Western and Central Andes of Colombia south through Ecuador (both slopes) and Peru (eastern slope) to northwestern Bolivia in La Paz (includes striaticeps, occidentalis, peruviana, and boliviana; clade D).
Rufous-rumped Antwren - Terenura callinota. One seen around Afluente.
Blackish Antbird - Cercomacoides nigrescens. A male one seen along the Mishquiyaku trail at Waqanki. Ridgely & Greenfield (2001) and Zimmer & Isler (2003) suggested that Cercomacroides (then Cercomacra) nigrescens (Blackish Antbird) might consist of more than one species. Mayer et al. (2014) provided evidence that the subspecies fuscicauda (Riparian Antbird) of w. Amazonia should be treated as a separate species. SACC proposal passed to recognize fuscicauda as a separate species.
White-browed Antbird – Myrmoborus leucophrys. Good views at Upaquihua of the koenigi subspecies.
Peruvian Warbling Antbird - Hypocnemis peruviana. Two birds seen along the Mishquiyaku trail at Waqanki.
White-plumed Antbird - Pithys albifrons. A wonderful view of 4+ along the little trail at (Escalera) Aconabikh Hummingbird feeders.
Spot-backed Antbird – Hylophylax naevius. Very nice view along the Mishquiyaku trail at Waqanki.
CRESCENTCHESTS
Elegant Crescent-chest – Melanopareia elegans. Very nice views at Quebrada Limon. TUMBESIAN ENDEMIC.
Marañon Crescent-chest - Melanopareia maranonica. Great views of two individual at Tamborapa. Range Restricted.
ANTPITTAS
Chestnut-crowned Antpitta - Grallaria ruficapilla. Heard only.
Pale-billed Antpitta - Grallaria carrikeri. Great looks at this impressive endemic Antpitta above San Lorenzo. ENDEMIC.
Rusty-tinged Antpitta – Grallaria przewalskii. Good views of one bird also along the trail above San Lorenzo. VULNERABLE ENDEMIC.
Chestnut Antpitta – Grallaria blakei. Heard only. ENDEMIC.
Ochre-fronted Antpitta - Grallaricula ochraceifrons. Wonderful views of two individual at Abra Patricia, seen just from the road. VULNERABLE. ENDEMIC.
Stripe-headed Antpitta - Grallaria andicolus andicolus. Very good views at Marcapomacocha.
TAPACULOS
Trilling Tapaculo - Scylotopus parvirostris. One seen at San Lorenzo. Scytalopus etymologically comes from the Greek language wich literally means “stickfoot”, referred to their strong and thick feet.
White-crowned Tapaculo - Scytolopus atratus. Heard only.
Rufous-vented Tapaculo - Scytalopus femoralis. Heard only at Abra Patricia. ENDEMIC.
OVENBIRDS
Olivaceous Woodcreeper - Sittasomus griseicapillus amazonus. One seen at Upaquihua. Note where you see these and what subspecies they are – they WILL be split as sure as death and taxes!
Olive-backed Woodcreeper - Xiphorhynchus triangularis. One individual seen at Abra Patricia.
Streaked Xenops – Xinops rutilans. One seen around Afluente.
Pacific Hornero - Furnarius cinnamomeus. Seen around Jaen and also at Quebrada Limon. These ones belong to the cinnamomeus subspecies and are often considered as a valid species. SACC comment: The subspecies cinnamomeus of W. Ecuador and NW. Peru may deserve recognition as a separate species from F. leucopus (Ridgely & Tudor 1994) and was treated as such by Parker & Carr (1992) and Ridgely & Greenfield (2001). The subspecies longirostris was also treated as a separate species by Ridgely & Greenfield (2001) and Hilty (2003). Although vocal and behavioral differences have been reported, no real analysis has been published to support these splits. SACC proposal to elevate cinnamomeus to species rank did not pass because of insufficient published data.
Azara’s Spinetail - Synallaxis azarae. Good views at San Lorenzo.
Marañon Spinetail - Synallaxis maranonica. Very good views at Tamborapa. Range Restricted.
Chestnut-throated Spinetail – Synallaxis cherriei. Nice looks at Quebrada Upaquihua. Named for George Kruck Cherrie US Ornithologist and collector (1865 - 1948). Range Restricted.
Rufous Spinetail - Synallaxis unirufa. Seen at Abra Patricia and San Lorenzo.
Chinchipe Spinetail - Synallaxis chinchipensis. A few seen at Tamborapa. ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
Rufous-fronted (Marañon) Thornbird - Phacellodomus rufifrons peruvianus. Great views around Quebrada Upaquihua and Tamborapa, 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 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.
TYRANT FLYCATCHERS
Streak-necked Flycatcher - Mionectes striaticollis. Seen around Abra Patricia.
Slaty-capped Flycatcher - Leptopogon superciliaris. A few seen at Afluente.
Johnson’s Tody-Flycatcher - Poecilotriccus luluae. One of the specialties of Abra Patricia. The scientific name is from the late Lulu May Von Hagen for her support of research in avian genetics. ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
Pearly-vented Tody-Flycatcher - Hemitriccus margaritaceiventer. One seen just around Waqanki Lodge.
Black-throated Tody-Tyrant - Hemitriccus granadensis. Heard only.
Cinnamon-breasted Tody-tyrant - Hemitriccus cinnamomeipectus. One of the difficult bird to see, but we manage to see one around Alto Nieva - missed by most tours – just sneaks in to an inaccessible part of Ecuador. VULNERABLE, Range Restricted.
Plumbeous-crowned Tyrannulet - Phyllomyias plumbeiceps. One seen around Afluente.
Mishana Tyrannulet - Zimmerius villarejoi. Very nice look at one individual at Waqanki. The San Martin birds may prove to be distinct from the Iquitos birds. VULNERABLE ENDEMIC.
Southern Beardless-Tyrannulet - Camptostoma obsoletum. Common around Jaen and Quebrada Limon.
Mouse-colored Tyrannulet - Phaeomyias murina wagleri. Quite common around Tarapoto and Waqanki.
Gray-and-white Tyrannulet - Pseudelaenia leucospodia. A few seen at Quebrada Limon. TUMBESIAN ENDEMIC.
Yellow-crowned Tyrannulet – Tyrannulus elatus. One seen around Quebrada Upaquihua.
Small-billed Elaenia – Elaenia parvirostris. Fairly common austral migrant, seen at Waqanki.
Pacific Elaenia – Myiopagis subplacens. Great views at Quebrada Limon. TUMBESIAN ENDEMIC.
Tawny-crowned Pygmy-Tyrant - Euscarthmus meloryphus. Seen on three different days throughout the trip.
Marble-faced Bristle-Tyrant – Phylloscartes ophthalmicus. Good views around Afluente.
Ecuadorian Tyrannulet - Phylloscartes gualaquizae. One seen at Afluente. Range Restricted.
White-bellied Pygmy-Tyrant – Myiornis albiventris. Wonderful views at Quebrada Upaquihua. Not an easy bird to see and has a disjunct range. Range Restricted.
Scale-crested Pygmy-Tyrant - Lophotriccus pileatus. One seen around Afluente.
Cinnamon Flycatcher - Pyrrhomyias cinnamomea. Common at Abra Patricia.
Cliff Flycatcher - Hirundinea ferruginea. Great looks at La Encanada (The Tunnels) near Tarapoto.
Tumbes (Tropical) Pewee – Contopus punensis. Good studies at Quebrada Limon. All of them belonging to the punensis subspecies. Ridgely & Greenfield (2001) considered the subspecies punensis of southwestern Ecuador and northwestern Peru to represent a separate species from Contopus cinereus based on vocal differences. TUMBESIAN ENDEMIC.
Vermilion Flycatcher - Pyrocephalus rubinus. Common.
Rufous-breasted Chat-Tyrant - Ochthoeca rufipectoralis. One seen up along the trail above San Lorenzo.
Piura Chat-Tyrant - Ochthoeca piurae. Very nice bird, one seen at Porculla pass. ENDEMIC.
Streak-throated Bush-Tyrant - Myiotheretes striaticollis. Heard only.
Pale-edged Flycatcher - Myiarchus cephalotes. Seen at Abra Patricia.
Sooty-crowned Flycatcher - Myiarchus phaeocephalus. One seen at Tamborapa. TUMBESIAN ENDEMIC.
Brown-crested Flycatcher - Myiarchus tyrannulus. Seen around Upaquihhua.
Tropical Kingbird Tyrannus melancholicus. Common.
Boat-billed Flycatcher - Megarynchus pitangua. Seen around Moyobamba.
Baird’s Flycatcher - Myiodynastes bairdii. One seen around Tamborapa. TUMBESIAN ENDEMIC.
Gray-capped Flycatcher - Myiozetetes granadensis. Seen around Waqanki.
Great Kiskadee - Pitangus sulphuratus. Also seen around Waqanki.
COTINGAS
Red-crested Cotinga - Ampelion rubrocristata. Seen in the Manu cloud forest bellow Wayqecha Biological Station.
Green-and-black Fruiteater - Pipreola riefferii. Very good looks at Abra Patricia.
Fiery-throated Fruiteater – Pipreola Chlorolepidota. Nice view of a pair along the Mishquiyaku trail at Waqanki.
Andean Cock-of-the-Rock – Rupicola peruviana. Good views around Afluente.
MANAKINS
Golden-headed Manakin – Pipra erythrocephala. Fantastic views of a few of them lekking along the little trail of Aconabikh (Hummingbird) feeders.
Fiery-capped Manakin - Machaeropterus pyrocephalus. Also seen along the Aconabikh trail.
Sulphury-bellied Tyrant-Manakin - Neopelma sulphureiventer. One seen really well at Quebrada Upaquihua.
TITYRAS AND BECARDS
Yellow-cheeked Becard - Pachyramphus xanthogenys. One seen at Tamborapa.
Barred Becard – Pachyramphus versicolor. Very good views around Abra Patricia.
Black-and-white Becard - Pachyramphus albogriseus. One seen around Upaquihua.
VIREOS & GREENLETS
Rufous-browed Peppershrike - Cyclarhis gujanensis. Commonly heard and one seen at Tamborapa.
Chivi (Red-eyed) Vireo - Vireo olivaceus (chivi). Several; 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), but see Hellmayr (1935), Zimmer (1941d), Eisenmann 1962a, Johnson & Zink (1985), and Ridgely & Tudor (1989). Ridgely & Greenfield (2001) suggested, however, that more than one species may be involved within the South American chivi group.
Ashy-headed Greenlet - Hylophilius pectoralis. Very nice view of one individual seen along the Huallaga River on our way back from Quebrada Upaquihua.
Olivaceous Greenlet - Hylophilus olivaceus. Seen twice around Afluente.
JAYS
White-tailed Jay – Cyanocorax mystacalis. Very good views at Quebrada Limon. TUMBESIAN ENDEMIC.
Inca (Green) Jay - Cyanocorax yncas. Common, seen at Upaquihua and around Afluente.
SWALLOWS
Blue-and-white Swallow - Pygochelidon cyanoleuca. Common.
Andean Swallow – Orochelidon andecola. A lot of them seen at Marcapomacocha.
WRENS
Fasciated Wren - Campylorhynchus fasciatus. Fairly common at Porculla pass.
Sharpe’s Wren - Cinnycerthia olivascens. Great views at Abra Patricia. Range Restricted.
Marañon (Speckled-breasted) Wren - Pheugopedius sclateri maranonica. Very good views at Tamborapa. Range Restricted.
Superciliaried Wren - Cantorchilus superciliaris. A few seen at Quebrada Limon. TUMBESIAN ENDEMIC.
House Wren - Troglodytes aedon. Common, seen at Abra Patricia.
Bar-winged Wood-Wren – Henicorhina leucoptera. Two cooperative individuals around Alto Nieva. – just sneaks in to an inaccessible part of Ecuador. Range Restricted.
Chestnut-breasted Wren - Cyphorhinus thoracicus. Nice looks at Abra Patricia.
GNATCATCHERS
Marañon Gnatcatcher - Polioptila maior. One seen around Jaen, near Bagua Grande. Polioptila plumbea likely includes several species (Atwood and Lerman 2006). The subspecies maior of the Marañon Valley (treated as a separate species by Hellmayr 1934) and the bilineata group of northern South American and Middle America may each warrant species recognition, but a published analysis is lacking (Ridgely & Tudor 1989). Even within populations east of the Andes, vocal differences suggest that more than one species is involved (Ridgely & Greenfield 2001, Hilty 2003). Range Restricted.
THRUSHES
Andean Solitaire - Myadestes ralloides. Seen at Abra Patricia.
Great Thrush – Turdus fuscater. Common at Abra Patricia.
Plumbeous-backed Thrush - Turdus reevei. Very good views at Quebrada Limon. TUMBESIAN ENDEMIC.
Marañon Thrush - Turdus maranonicus. One seen very well at Tamborapa. Range Restricted.
Pale-breasted Thrush - Turdus leucomelas. Good studies at Waqanki Lodge.
Black-billed Thrush - Turdus ignobilis. Common at Waqanki.
Varzea Thrush - Turdus sanchorum. Great views at Waqanki. Named for Manuel Sánchez S. and Marta Chávez de Sánchez. The Sánchezes worked with Dr John O’Neill and many other LSU (and non-LSU) researchers, in Peru, Bolivia, and Venezuela since the 1960s and were present for many of the bird discoveries that resulted from those field expeditions.
White-necked Thrush - Turdus albicollis. One seen along the Mishquiyaku trail at Waqanki Lodge.
MOCKINGBIRD
Long-tailed Mockingbird - Mimus longicaudatus. Common.
TANAGERS & ALLIES
Black-faced Tanager - Schistochlamys melanopis. A couple seen around Waqanki.
White-capped Tanager - Sericossypha albocristata. A small group seen at Abra Patricia. VULNERABLE.
White-browed (Black-capped) Hemispingus - Hemispingus auricularis. Seen at Abra Patricia. ENDEMIC.
Black-eared Hemispingus – Hemispingus melanotis berlepschi. Fairly common around Afluente.
Buff-bellied Tanager - Thlypopsis inornata. Very good views at Tamborapa. Range Restricted.
Guira Tanager - Hemithraupis guira. Also seen at Tamborapa.
Rufous-crested Tanager - Creurgops verticalis. Very good looks at Abra Patricia.
White-lined Tanager - Tachyphonus rufus. Great views around Upaquihua.
Vermillion Tanager - Calochaetes coccineus. Very nice views bellow Alto Nieva.
Huallaga (Black-bellied) Tanager - Ramphocelus melanogaster. Great views at Waqanki. ENDEMIC.
Silver-beaked Tanager – Ramphocelus carbo. Common lowland Tanager.
Blue-gray Tanager - Thraupis episcopus. Common.
Yellow-throated Tanager - Iridosornis analis. Good views at Abra Patricia.
Yellow-scarfed Tanager - Iridosornis reinhardti. Wonderful views around Abra Patricia.
Orange-eared Tanager – Chlorochrysa calliparaea. A few seen around Afluente.
Paradise Tanager – Tangara chilensis. What can you say! A pleasure to have such a pretty species so common – seen around Afluente; not found in Chile!
Green-and-gold Tanager – Tangara schrankii. Also seen around Afluente.
Saffron-crowned Tanager – Tangara xanthocephala. Seen On two consecutive days around Abra Patricia.
Flame-faced Tanager - Tangara parzudakii. Also seen on two consecutive days at Abra Patricia.
Yellow-bellied Tanager - Tangara xanthogastra. Seen at Waqanki and Afluente.
Spotted Tanager – Tangara punctata. Good looks at Afluente.
Metallic-green Tanager - Tangara labradorides. A few seen around Abra Patricia.
Blue-browed Tanager - Tangara cyanotis. One seen at Abra Patricia.
Blue-necked Tanager – Tangara cyanicollis. Another Christmas tree bird – Common, seen at Afluente.
Beryl-spangled Tanager - Tangara nigroviridis. Also seen at Afluente.
Silver-backed Tanager – Tangara viridicollis. Nice looks at Abra Patricia.
Blue Dacnis – Dacnis cayana. Seen around Afluente.
Green Honeycreeper - Chlorophanes spiza. At Waqanki.
Capped Conebill - Conirostrum albifrons. Great views at Abra Patricia.
Rusty Flower-piercer - Diglossa sittoides. Also seen at Abra Patricia.
White-sided Flower-piercer – Diglossa albilatera. A male one seen along the trail above San Lorenzo.
Masked Flower-piercer - Diglossopis cyanea. Quite common at Abra Patricia.
Little Inca-Finch - Incaspiza watkinsi. Very good looks near Bagua Grande on our way to Jaen from Abra Patricia. ENDEMIC.
Saffron Finch - Sicalis flaveola. A few seen around Jaen.
Blue-black Grassquit - Volatinia jacarina. Good looks around Upaquihua.
Chestnut-bellied Seedeater - Sporophila castaneiventris. One seen around Upaquihua.
Chestnut-throated Seedeater - Sporophila telasco. Nice views at the Little Inca-Finch spot.
Bananaquit - Coereba flaveola. A few seen around Jaen.
INCERTAE SEDIS-2
Grayish Saltator - Saltator coerulescens. One seen around Tarapoto.
Streaked Saltator - Saltator albicollis. Seen in two consecutive days around Jaen.
NEW WORLD SPARROWS
Rufous-collared Sparrow - Zonatrichia capensis. Only in the Andes; Common but pretty Sparrow.
Tumbes Sparrow – Aimophila stolzmanni. Great looks at Quebrada Limon. TUMBESIAN ENDEMIC.
Black-capped (Marañon) Sparrow - Arremon abeillei nigriceps. Two individuals seen at Quebrada Limon. Range Restricted.
Yellow-breasted (Rufous-naped) Brush-Finch - Atlapetes latinuchus. Common at Abra Patricia.
White-winged Brush-Finch - Atlapetes leucopterus. Very good views at Abra Porculla.
Common Chlorospingus – Chlorospingus ophthalmicus. Common at Abra Patricia. Genetic data (REFS, Burns et al. 2002, 2003) indicate the genus Chlorospingus is not a member of the Thraupidae, but (Klicka et al. 2007) a member of the Emberizidae. SACC proposal passed to transfer to Emberizidae. Barker et al. (2013) further confirmed the placement of the genus with the New World sparrows. Frank Pitelka (in Tordoff 1954a) long ago noted the emberizine-like behavior of Chlorospingus. SACC proposal passed to change English names of the species in the genus from “Bush- Tanager” to “Chlorospingus”.
Ash-throated Chlorospingus - Chlorospingus canigularis. Very good views at Afluente.
GROSBEAKS & TANAGERS
Tooth-billed (Highland Hepatic) Tanager - Piranga lutea flava. Seen on two consecutive days around Jaen. This is the split from Hepatic tanager.
Golden Grosbeak - Pheucticus chrysogaster. One seen around Jaen. Used to be called Golden-bellied Grosbeak.
NEW WORLD WARBLERS
Tropical Parula – Setophaga pitiayumi. A few seen at Quebrada Limon.
Slate-throated Whitestart – Myioborus miniatus. Common.
Spectacled Whitestart - Myioborus melanocephalus. Quite common.
Black-crested Warbler - Basileuterus nigrocristatus. A few seen at Abra Porculla.
Russet-crowned Warbler - Myiothlypis coronatus. Seen at Afluente.
Three-banded Warbler - Basileuterus trifasciatus. Very good views at Abra Porculla. TUMBESIAN ENDEMIC.
Three-striped Warbler - Basileuterus tristriatus. Great views at Afluente.
OROPENDOLAS, ORIOLES AND BLACKBIRDS
Crested Oropendola – Psarocolius decumanus maculosus. Great views at Amazonia Lodge.
Russet-backed Oropendola – Psarocolius angustifrons alfredi. The commonest Oropendola in the Lowlands.
Yellow-rumped Cacique – Cacicus cela. Common, seen around Tarapoto.
Sub-tropical Cacique - Cacicus uropygialis. Nice looks above Afluente.
Northern Mountain Cacique - Cacicus leucorhampus. A few seen around Abra Patricia.
White-edged Oriole – Icterus graceannae. Good views at Quebrada Limon.
Giant Cowbird – Molothrus oryzivorus. Common in the lowlands, seen around Tarapoto.
FINCHES
Bronze-green Euphonia – Euphonia mesochrysa. Good views around Afluente.
Orange-bellied Euphonia – Euphonia xanthogaster. Also seen at Afluente.