ITINERARY
February 28th: Arrival in Bogota, east slope Central Cordillera. 2625 meters.
February 29th: Birding all day at the Chingaza National Park at 3000 meters along the Piedras Gordas road and El Rincon del Oso. We stopped at the Guascar gravel pits on the way home. Night in Bogota.
March 1st: Early morning birding trip to Parque La Florida, Distrito Capital, then to the airport for our flight to Medellin and then on by our beloved van to the Reserva Natural de Aves (RNA) Arrierito Antioqueño Reserve, (Chestnut-capped Piha Reserve) 1600 meters. Department of Antioquia. West slope Central Cordillera.
March 2nd: Full day at the reserve walking the Motmot and Bangsia trails up the ridge in the morning, field lunch 1700-1800 meters, (from 7 am until 4 pm aprox) and in the lodge garden at the end of the afternoon. Night at the RNA Arrierito Antioqueño. Department of Antioquia. West slope Central Cordillera.
March 3rd: Drive to Medellin (with a quick stop for Antioquia Wren) and on to Carmen de Atrato and the Las Tangaras Lodge. Night at Las Tangaras Lodge at 1600 meters. West slope of the Western Cordillera. Department of Choco.
March 4th: All morning at the Las Tangaras Reserve birding a nice wide trail uphill through the forest with a picnic lunch. Brief stop at the Hummingbird feeders and then some time off and birding in the lodge grounds. Night at Las Tangaras Lodge at 1600 meters. West slope of the Western Cordillera. Department of Choco.
March 5th: Early start on the road to Urrao to a place curiously called “La M” at 2600 to 2500 meters, back to the Lodge for lunch and onto the pretty town of Jardin with a stop at an Andean Cock of the Rock Lek near Jardin town. Department of Antioquia. East slope of the Western Cordillera.
March 6th: Morning at the Yellow-eared Parrot Reserve at Alto Las Ventanas 2700 – 2600 meters with lunch at Jardin and afternoon drive to the Otun Quimbaya Reserve for the night via La Pintada and Pereira 1800 meters, Department of Risaralda. West slope of the Central Cordillera.
March 7th: Morning at the Otun Quimbaya NP, near La Suiza, 1800-1900 meters, Department of Risaralda. West slope of the Central Cordillera. In the afternoon – drive to Manizales with a stop in the Ecoparque Alcazar. Department of Risaralda. Night in Manizales.
March 8th: Almost all day birding in the Rio Blanco reserve 2500-2600 meters with lunch at the Reserve and late departure to Los Termales de Ruiz at Los Nevados NP. West slope Central Andes. Department of Risaralda. Night in Los Termales de Ruiz.
March 9th: Birding in the morning at the Los Nevados Del Ruiz NP, starting at the Hummingbird feeders of the Los Termales Del Ruiz Hotel. Department of Risaralda. 4000 meters, and drive in the afternoon to Libano. Night in Libano. Department of Tolima.
March 10th: Morning birding above El Libano at La Tigrera, Central Cordillera east slope and afternoon birding along the Laguna Del Hato road. Drive to Mariquita for the night. Department of Tolima.
March 11th: Early Drive and morning birding near La Victoria at the Bellavista Watershed Reserve, Central Cordillera East slope, Department of Caldas and drive to Puerto Pinzon via Puerto Boyaca and on to Reserva Natural de Aves (RNA) El Paujil, Serranía de las Quinchas, Department of Boyaca. West slope of the eastern Cordillera. 200 meters.
March 12th and 13th: Reserva Natural de Aves (RNA) El Paujil, Serranía de las Quinchas. Department of Boyaca/Santander. 400 meters.
March 14th: Some birding on the way, but mostly drive from El Paujil to Reserva natural de Aves (RNA) Reinita Cielo Azul (Cerulean Warbler Reserve), 1300 meters. Lunch along the way. Department of Norte Santander.
March 15th: Reserva Natural de Aves Reinita Cielo Azul (Cerulean Warbler Reserve) all day, 1300-1800 meters, west slope of the eastern Cordillera. We rode and walked to the slippery 150-year old Lengerke trail and spend the whole day here with a packed lunch. Late afternoon birding near the lodge. Department of Norte Santander.
March 16th: Some birding in the grounds of the lodge and the nearby coffee plantations on the way to San Vicente. Lunch in San Vicente de Chucuri and to Ocaña. West slope of the eastern Cordillera. Night Ocaña. 1200 meters Hotel Plaza Real. Department of Norte Santander.
March 17th: All day at Reserva natural de Aves (RNA) Hormiguero (Recurve-billed Bushbird Reserve), 1500-1700 meters and Torcoroma church (Private Reserve). Night at Ocaña. Department of Norte Santander.
March 18th: Drive to the Bucaramanga airport and flights to Bogota for overnight for some people or for International flights.
SPECIES LIST
TINAMIDAE
Highland Tinamou - Nothocercus bonaparte: Heard only, at the RNA Cerulean Warbler. Named for Charles Jules Lucien Laurent 2nd price of Canino and musignano and Prince Bonaparte. (1803-1857). French ornithologist, taxonomist and collector. Nephew of the Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte.
Great Tinamou – Tinamus major: 1 seen at RNA El Paujil.
Little Tinamou - Crypturellus soui: 1 seen really well for everyone at RNA El Paujil.
ANHIMIDAE
Northern Screamer - Chauna chavaria: Good views on the way to and from RNA El Paujil, but also at the wetlands on the roadside on the way to Ocaña from RNA Cerulean Warbler Reserve. Great views of around 18 in total.
ANATIDAE
Black-bellied Whistling-duck - Dendrocygna autumnalis: 21 seen in total on the way to and from RNA El Paujil and also at the wetlands on the roadside on the way to Ocaña from the RNA Cerulen Reserve.
Blue-winged Teal - Anas discors: Boreal migrant to Colombia one seen at the Guascar Gravel Pits.
Andean Teal – Anas andium – 11 seen at the Guascar Gravel Pits and 3 more seen at Los Nevados Del Ruiz. The SACC says “Hellmayr & Conover (1948a) and many earlier classifications treated andium as a separate species from A. flavirostris- Speckled Teal. Following
Andean Duck – Oxyura ferruginea: 2 at the Guascar Gravel Pits and 1 on the pond at Los Nevados. The SACC says Andean populations have often (e.g., Hellmayr & Conover 1948a, Siegfried 1976, Sibley & Ahlquist 1990, AOU 1998, Ridgely & Greenfield 2001, Jaramillo 2003) been treated as a separate species, O. ferruginea ("Andean Duck" or "Andean Ruddy-Duck"). However, see Adams and Slavid (1984), Fjeldså (1986), and McCracken & Sorenson (2005) for rationale for treating them as conspecific, as done previously (e.g., Blake 1977, Johnsgard 1979), and then followed by Fjeldså & Krabbe (1990) and Carboneras (1992f). The IOC says: Oxyura ferruginea is split from O. jamaicensis (Ridgely & Greenfield 2001; Jaramillo 2003, Dickinson 2003); SACC does not.
CRACIDAE
Sickle-winged Guan – Chamaepetes goudotti: Good looks at this smallish Guan at Yellow-eared Parrot Reserve, Otun Quimbaya and Rio Blanco Reserve.
Cauca Guan – Penelope perspicax: Around 9 seen at the Otun Quimbaya Reserve where it was re-discovered. Penelope was the daughter of Icarius and wife of Ulysses King of Ithaca. Perspicax means “Sharp-sighted” in Latin. ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
Band-tailed Guan – Penelope argyrotis: Heard only, at Bushbird Reserve.
Andean Guan – Penelope montagnii: Heard at Rincon Del Oso and 3 seen at Rio Blanco Reserve.
Wattled Guan – Aburria aburria: Heard only, at the Piha Reserve.
Colombian Chachalaca - Ortalis columbiana: Many encounters with this endemic throughout the tour. ENDEMIC.
Blue-billed Curassow - Crax alberti: Wow – one male coming just at the edge of the clearing of the Lodge near the dinner room on one evening – did not show the next day! Named for Prince Albert, Queen Victoria of Great Britain's consort. CRITICALLY ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
PHALACROCORACIDEA
Neotropic Cormorant – Phalacocorax brasilianus: Seen in 4 different locations.
ARDEIDAE
Rufescent Tiger-heron - Tigrisoma lineatum: Two seen on the way out from RNA El Paujil.
Black-crowned Night Heron – Nycticorax nycticorax: Good views from the Porce bridge on the way out from Piha Reserve.
Striated Heron - Butorides striatus: Small numbers seen at several wetland areas.
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis: Common and widespread.
Cocoi Heron - Ardea cocoa: 3 seen from the Porce Bridge on the way in to Piha Reserve.
Great Egret - Ardea albus: We saw small numbers at several wetland sites.
Capped Heron - Pilherodius pileatus: 1 seen on the Laguna Del Hato road and 1 more on the way out from Paujil Reserve.
Little Blue Heron – 1 seen at La Florida Park.
Snowy Egret - Egretta thula: A few here and there.
THRESKIORNITHIDAE
Bare-faced Ibis - Phimosus infuscatus: Common.
CATHARTIDAE
Turkey Vulture - Cathartes aura: 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: Several of this low flying vulture in the Magdalena Valley – 1 seen at the Laguna Del Hato road and a few more on the way in and out from Paujil Reserve.
Black Vulture - Coragyps atratus: Common.
King Vulture – Sarcoramphus papa: 1 soaring at the Paujil Reserve.
PANDIONIDAE
Western Osprey - Pandion haliaetus: 1 at the dam (Porce bridge) on the way to the Piha reserve and one on the way to Paujil Reserve and 1 more at the dam leaving San Vicente. The IOC says: Pandion cristatus of Sulawesi to Australasia, Solomon Is, and New Caledonia is split from P. haliaetus (Wink et al. 2004a, Christidis & Boles 2008).
ACCIPITRIDAE
White-tailed Kite - Elanus leucurus: 2 seen near the Guascar Gravel Pits and 1 more around La Florida Park and another one on the way to Libano.
Pearl Kite – Gampsonyx swainsonni: 2 seen on the wires near the Laguna Del Hato road.
Hook-billed Kite – Chondrohierax uncinatus: 2 seen soaring on our way to Ocaña.
Swallow-tailed Kite - Elanoides forficatus: 1 seen on our way out from Piha Reserve and 21 at Manizales.
Black Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus tyrranus– two soaring at the Piha Reserve and 2 more at the Bushbird Reserve.
Snail Kite - Rostrhamus sociabilis: one seen on our way out from Piha Reserve.
Plumbeous Kite – Ictinia plumbea: 1 seen at Paujil Reserve.
Savanna Hawk - Buteogallus meridionalis: fairly common in the Magdalena Valley.
Solitary Eagle - Buteogallus solitarius: one seen soaring at the Piha Reserve.
Roadside Hawk - Rupornis magnirostris: Numerous and widespread in small numbers. Raposo do Amaral et al. (2009) recommended the resurrection of monotypic genus Rupornis, widely used for this species in earlier literature (e.g., Pinto 1938). The genus Buteo as currently broadly defined is almost certainly polyphyletic (Riesing et al. 2003, Raposo et al. 2006, Raposo do Amaral et al. 2009). SACC proposal passed to resurrect Rupornis for magnirostris.
Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle - Geranoaetus melanoleucus: 1 seen at Chingaza National Park.
Gray-lined Hawk – Buteo nitida: Seen twice; first one on our way to Piha Reserve and the second one near Puerto Pinzon on our way to Paujil Reserve.
Broad-winged Hawk – Buteo platypterus: A boreal migrant – seen at Las Tangaras Reserve and La Tigrera.
Short-tailed Hawk – Buteo brachyurus: One seen on our way out from Piha Reserve on one of our stop after the White-mantled Barbet.
RALLIDAE
Bogotá Rail - Rallus semiplumbeus: A handsome endemic. 1 seen briefly at the Guascar Gravel Pits and one next day near La Florida Park - better views! The world population is estimated at 1,000 – 2,499 individuals and is decreasing because its range is very small and is contracting owing to widespread habitat loss and degradation. ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
Sora - Porzana carolina: Heard only, at The Guascar Gravel Pits.
Common Gallinule – Gallinula galeata: At Guascar and Parque La Florida. The new world populations are now considered a separate species from the Old World populations of Common Moorhen - Gallinula chlorops.
Purple Gallinule - Porphyrio martinica: 2 seen on the way in and two more seen on the way out from Paujil Reserve.
Spot-flanked Gallinule – Gallinula melanops: 7 seen at the Guascar Gravel Pits on our first days birding and 1 more at La Florida next day. The Bogotá plains hold an isolated population a long way from others of this species.
American Coot – Fulica Americana: At the Guascar Gravel Pits and la Florida.
CHARADRIIDAE
Southern Lapwing - Vanellus chilensis: Fairly widespread in big numbers the first two days and small numbers on some of the following days.
SCOLOPACIDAE
Noble Snipe - Gallinago nobilis – 3 seen at the Guascar Gravel Pits.
Solitary Sandpiper – Tringa solitaria: Scattered sightings; 2 at the Guascar Gravel Pits and 1 or two more seen on the way in and out from Paujil Reserve.
Spotted Sandpiper – Actitis macularia: 1 seen along the River on our way out from Otun Quimbaya.
JACANIDAE
Wattled Jacana - Jacana jacana: common on ponds; the very strange looking black hypomelaena subspecies here.
LARIDAE
Large-billed Tern – Phaetusa simplex: 1 (from the Porce Bridge) on the way to the Piha Reserve.
COLUMBIDAE
Band-tailed Pigeon - Patagioenas fasciata: Fairly common and widespread with many good views of perched birds.
Pale-vented Pigeon - Patagioenas cayennensis: seen on the way in and out from El Paujil and also around the Lodge itself.
Ruddy Pigeon – Patagioenas subvinacea: Commonly heard and a few seen at RNA Arrierito and two more on the way out from the Reserve where we stopped for the White-mantled Barbet.
White-tipped Dove Leptotila verreauxi: Pretty common at many localities.
Tolima Dove – Leptotila conover: Recently re-discovered and heard (only) by all at La Tigrera near Libano. Named after H.B. Conoveri US ornithologist and author. ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
Lined Quail-Dove - Geotrygon linearis: This shy Dove was only heard at Piha and at RNA Cerulean Warbler.
Eared Dove - Zenaida auriculata: Common.
Common Ground-Dove - Columbina passerine: a few seen at Laguna de Hato road.
Ruddy Ground-Dove - Columbina talpacoti: Numerous and widespread in open country.
CUCULIDAE
Squirrel Cuckoo - Piaya cayana: Commonly seen in many locations.
Yellow-billed Cuckoo –Coccyzus americanus: One of this boreal migrant near San Vicente.
Greater Ani - Crotophaga major: common at RNA El Paujil.
Smooth-billed Ani Crotophaga ani: The common Ani of the trip.
Striped Cuckoo - Tapera naevia: Heard only, at Cerulean Reserve.
Pavonine Cuckoo - Dromococcyx pavoninus: Heard only, at Piha Reserve.
STRIGIDAE
Tropical Screech Owl – Megascops choliba: At Otun Quimbaya and seen well at Cerulean Reserve.
Spectacled Owl – Pulsatrix perspicillata: Heard only, at El Paujil Reserve.
Mottled Owl – Ciccaba virgate: Heard only, at El Paujil Reserve.
STEATORNITHIDAE
Oilbird – Steatornis caripensis: Heard only, at Otun Quimbaya.
NYCTIBIIDAE
Common Potoo - Nyctibius griseus: Seen on three consecutive days at el Paujil Reserve.
CAPRIMULGIDAE
Rufous –bellied Nighthawk – Lurocalis rufiventris: One seen at dawn at Otun Quimbaya.
Band-winged Nightjar – Systellura longirostris: Seen from our willies in the early morning at Las Tangaras Reserve and also at Cerulean Reserve seen in the evening.
Common Pauraque - Nyctidromus albicollis: Seen at El Paujil and at the Cerulean Reserve.
Lyre-tailed Nightjar - Uropsalis lyra: One seen near Rio Blanco Reserve.
APODIDAE
Chestnut-collared Swift - Streptoprocne rutile: 4 seen around La Tigrera.
White-collared Swift - Streptoprocne zonaris: Several sightings of groups.
Band-rumped Swift – Chaetura spincaudus: 10+ seen at RNA Paujil.
White-tipped Swift – Aeronautes montivagus: 20+ at the Cerulean Warbler Reserve.
TROCHILIDAE
White-necked Jacobin - Florisuga mellivora: Common at the feeders at RNA El Paujil and Piha.
White-tipped Sicklebill - Eutoxeres Aquila: 2 seen really well at Piha Reserve.
Stripe-throated Hermit - Phaethornis striigularis: Seen at Piha Reserve and Bushbird Reserve.
Pale-bellied Hermit - Phaethornis anthophilus: Seen on two consecutive days at RNA El Paujil.
Green Hermit - Phaethornis guy: Common.
Tawny-bellied Hermit – Phaethornis syrmatophorus: A few seen at Las Tangaras Reserve and La Victoria.
Green-fronted Lancebill - Doryfera ludovicea: 1 seen at Otun Quimbaya Reserve.
Wedge-billed Hummingbird - Schistes geofroyi: 1 seen also at Otun Quimbaya Reserve.
Brown Violetear - Colibri delphinae: At the feeders at RNA Cerulean Warbler Reserve.
Green Violetear – Colibri thalassinus: 3 seen at Rio Blanco Reserve. Thalassinus = Sea-green.
Sparkling Violetear – Colibri coruscans: 1 seen at the feeders (Las Ventanas) Yellow-eared Parrot Reserve.
Black-throated Mango - Anthracothorax nigricollis: daily at the feeders at RNA El Paujil and Cerulean Warbler.
Tourmeline Sunangel – Heliangelus exortis: 8+ at Alto de Ventanas and a few more at Rio Blanco and Los Nevados National Park.
Green Thorntail - Discosura conversii: One seen at Paujil Reserve.
Speckled Hummingbird -Adelomyia melanogenys: fairly common at various locations. A forest Hummer.
Long-tailed Sylph – Aglaiocercus kingi: 1 seen at Rio Blanco and 2 more seen at the Cerulean Reserve.
Violet-tailed Sylph – Aglaiocercus coelestes: at least 10 at the feeders at Las Tangaras Reserve. Range Restricted.
Rainbow-bearded Thornbill – Chalcostigma herrani: Wow – great looks at the feeders of Los Termales de Ruiz at Los Nevados National Park. Named for General Pedro Alcantara Herran Martinez de Zaldia (1800-1872) Colombian statesman and president of the Republic of New Granada. The Republic of New Granada was a centralist republic consisting primarily of present-day Colombia and Panama with smaller portions of today's Ecuador, and Venezuela. It was created after the dissolution in 1830 of Gran Colombia.
Bronze-tailed Thornbill – Chalcostigma heteropogon: 4 or 5 seen very well at Chingaza NP. Range Restricted.
Buffy Helmetcrest – Oxypogon stubelli: 5 seen very well at the Los Nevados National Park. VULNERABLE ENDEMIC.
Tyrian Metaltail - Metallura tyrianthina: 1 female seen at Chingaza National Park. 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 molluscs, 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.
Virdian Metaltail - Metalllura williami. 3 seen well at the hummingbird feeders of Los Termales Del Ruiz Hotel at Los Nevados National Park.
Greenish Puffleg – Haplopaedia aureliae: Fairly common at RNA Las Tangaras and at RNA Yellow-eared Parrot Reserve. Haplophaedia assimilis (Buff-thighed Puffleg of the Manu Road) was formerly (e.g.,Peters 1945, Meyer de Schauensee 1970) considered a subspecies of H. aureliae, but Schuchmann et al. (2000) provided rationale for treating it as a separate species, representing a return to the classification of Cory (1918).
Glowing Puffleg – Eriocnemis vestita: 1 seen at Chingaza National Park.
Golden-breasted Puffleg – Eriocnemis mosquera: 2 on the feeders of Los Termales Del Ruiz Hotel at Los Nevados National Park. A range restricted species also occurring in Ecuador. Named after Colombian dictator General Tomas Cipriano de Mosquera who ruled in the late 1800’s. Range Restricted.
Black-thighed Puffleg - Eriocnemis derbyi: 1 seen at the Nevados Ruiz feeders at Los Nevados National Park. A somewhat nomadic species. Named for English zoologist Edward Smith Stanley Earl of Derby (1775-1851) NEAR THREATENED, Range Restricted.
Shining Sunbeam – Aglaeactis cupripennis: 3 at the Los Nevados Del Ruiz Hotel feeder’s at PN Nevados Ruiz.
Bronzy Inca – Coeligena coeligena: Only one seen at Rio Blanco Reserve.
Brown Inca - Coeligena wilsoni: 4 seen at Las Tangaras. Range Restricted.
Black Inca - Coeligena prunellei: 3 seen at the feeders at RNA Cerulean Warbler. This species has a larger range and population than previously thought. Nonetheless, its range is still highly fragmented and habitat patches are decreasing in size and quality through ongoing degradation and clearance for agriculture. It is therefore considered Vulnerable. VULNERABLE ENDEMIC.
Collared Inca – Coeligena torquata: Common at the new feeders at Yellow-eared Parrot Reserve above Jardin and at the Rio Blanco feeders.
Mountain Velvetbreast - Lafresnaya lafresnaya: a female seen at Los Termales Del Ruiz Hotel feeders at Los Nevados National Park. Named for Noel Frederic Armand Andre Baron de Lafresnaye a French Ornithologist and collector 1783-1861. He has many species named for him. The French were extremely energetic collectors and naturalists during the 19th century or “Natural Philosophers”.
Great Sapphirewing – Pterophanes cyanopterus: Common at the Los Termales Del Ruiz Hotel feeders at Los Nevados National Park.
Sword-billed Hummingbird - Ensifera ensifera: Seen well at the new feeders at Yellow-eared Reserve and also at Los Nevados Del Ruiz Hotel feeders at Los Nevados National Park.
Buff-winged Starfrontlet - Coeligena lutetiae: At the feeders of Los Termales Del Ruiz Hotel at Los Nevados National Park.
Buff-tailed Coronet – Boissoinneaua falvescens: Shown to us by the owner of the feeders at the Rio Blanco reserve and also at the new feeder station at Yellow-eared Parrot Reserve.
Velvet-purple Coronet – Boissoinneaua jardini: Around 10 at the feeders of Las Tangaras Reserve. Range Restricted.
Booted Racket-tail - Ocreatus underwoodii: Seen at Tangaras Reserve and also where we stopped for roadworks on our way to Libano and also at La Tigrera and RNA Cerulean Warbler.
White-tailed Hillstar - Urochroa bougueri: One seen well at Las Tangaras Reserve.
Purple-bibbed Whitetip - Urosticte benjamini: A male seen at the feeders of Las Tangaras Reserve.
Fawn-breasted Brilliant – Heliodoxa rubinoides: One at the feeders at Las Tangaras Reserve and also at Rio Blanco Reserve and at Cerulean Reserve.
Green-crowned Brilliant - Heliodoxa jacula: Common at the feeders at RNA Arrierito and Cerulean Warbler.
White-bellied Woodstar – Chaetocercus mulsant: Nice looks at the feeders at Piha Reserve and Tangara Reserve and also at the new feeder station at Yellow-eared Parrot Reserve. Named after yet another French zoologist and collector.
Gorgeted Woodstar - Chaetocercus heliodor: One at Las Tangaras Reserve feeders. Range Restricted.
Western Emerald – Chlorostilbon melanorhynchus: One seen briefly at Otun Quimbaya Reserve.
Red-billed Emerald Chlorostilbon gibsoni: 2 seen at La Victoria and 1 at the feeders at the Cerulean Warble Reserve. Species limits in the mellisugus group of taxa in Chlorostilbon are complex. At one extreme, Zimmer (1950d) and Schuchmann (1999) considered them all conspecific, including the canivetii group of Middle America. Chlorostilbon gibsoni (including nitens) was usually (e.g., Cory 1918, Peters 1945, Meyer de Schauensee 1970) considered a separate species ("Red-billed Emerald") from C. mellisugus, as was C. canivetii. Stiles (1996a) proposed that C. mellisugus should be treated as at least three separate species within South America: melanorhynchus (of western Colombia and Ecuador), gibsoni (northern and central Colombia, NW Venezuela), and mellisugus (rest of South America); this represents a partial return to the classification of Cory (1918) and was followed by Ridgely & Greenfield (2001). Together, these taxa would form super-species with recently described olivaresi. Sibley & Monroe (1990) considered C. mellisugus to form superspecies with Middle American Chlorostilbon species but not with C. gibsoni, because the two were thought to be sympatric in the Magdalena Valley, Colombia. SACC proposal passed to follow species limits proposed by Stiles (1996). So the ones you see in the Amazon are Blue-tailed Emeralds and the ones on the west slope of the Andes in Colombia and Ecuador are Western Emeralds. ENDEMIC.
White-vented Plumeleteer - Chalybura buffonii: Common at RNA Paujil. Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon (7 September 1707 – 16 April 1788) was a French naturalist, mathematician, cosmologist, and encyclopedic author. His works influenced the next two generations of naturalists, including Jean-Baptiste Lamarck and Georges Cuvier. Buffon published thirty-six quarto volumes of his Histoire Naturelle during his lifetime; with additional volumes based on his notes and further research being published in the two decades following his death. It has been said that "Truly, Buffon was the father of all thought in natural history in the second half of the 18th century". Buffon held the position of intendant (director) at the Jardin du Roi, now called the Jardin des Plantes; it is the French equivalent of Kew Gardens in London.
Crowned Woodnymph – Thalurania colombica: Common throughout the tour. The SACC says: Thalurania colombica and T. fannyae were formerly (e.g., Peters 1945, Zimmer 1950d, Phelps & Phelps 1958a, Meyer de Schauensee 1966, 1970) considered conspecific with T. furcata, but Escalante-Pliego & Peterson (1992) showed that the three taxa are essentially parapatric with no signs of gene flow; they constitute a superspecies (Sibley & Monroe 1990). They had been treated as separate species from T. furcata by Cory (1918) and AOU (1983, 1998). Donegan (2012a), however, found new evidence for gene flow between these populations. SACC proposal passed to treat fannyae and colombica as conspecific.McGuire et al. (2014) found that fannyae and colombica were genetically indistinguishable. Del Hoyo & Collar (2014) followed this treatment and called the composite species Crowned Woodnymph.
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird - Amazilia tzacatl: Commonly seen in small numbers throughout the tour.
Chestnut-bellied Hummingbird – Amazilia castaneiventris: At least one individual visiting briefly at the feeders and also at the higher feeders at the Cerulean Warbler Reserve. This species is classified as Endangered because it has a very restricted range which is severely fragmented, and in which continuing declines in habitat quality are likely. ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
Andean Emerald – Agyrtria franciae. Common at the feeders at RNA Arrierito, Las Tangaras and Cerulean Warbler Reserve. Named for Francia Bourcier daughter of the French consul to Ecuador 1849.
Steely-vented Hummingbird – Saucerottia saucerottei. Common at feeders at the Piha reserve.
Indigo-capped Hummingbird - Amazilia cyanifrons: seen daily at the feeders at RNA Cerulean Warbler. ENDEMIC.
TROGONIDAE
White-tailed Trogon - Trogon chionurus: Good views at RNA El Paujil. Ridgely & Greenfield (2001) considered the subspecies chionurus of the Chocó region to be a separate species from Trogon viridis; followed by Hilty (2003); Genetic data (DaCosta & Klicka 2008) suggest that chionurus is more closely related to T. bairdii than either are to Amazonian T. viridis. SACC proposal passed to recognize chionurus as a species so the Amazonian form becomes Green-backed Trogon.
Gartered Trogon – Trogon chionurus: Great looks at RNA Paujil. Genetic data (DaCosta & Klicka 2008) suggest that chionurus is more closely related to T. bairdii than either are to Amazonian T. viridis. SACC proposal passed to recognize chionurus as a species. Sibley & Monroe (1990) considered Trogon viridis to form a superspecies with Central American T. bairdii, and suggested that they might be conspecific.
Collared Trogon - Trogon collaris: Seen at Otun Quimbaya and Cerulean Reserve.
Masked Trogon - Trogon personatus: Seen at Piha, Las Tangaras and the highland version of the former– we saw 2 at Rio Blanco.
ALCEDINIDAE
Ringed Kingfisher - Megaceryle torquata. Note that these big species are now treated as a distinct genus, the Megaceryle.
Amazon Kingfisher - Chloroceryle amazona. One seen around La Florida Park.
MOMOTIDAE
Rufous Motmot - Baryphthengus martii. Good views at Paujil Reserve.
Andean Motmot - Momotus aequatorialis: Quite common throughout the tour.
Whooping Motmot - Momotus subrufescens: This one was seen at lower elevations in our stop at El Tablaso Bridge on our way from Cerulean to Ocaña – noticeably lacking the blue “teardrop”.
GALBULIDAE
Rufous-tailed Jacamar - Galbula ruficauda: 1 seen on the Laguna Del Hato road and another one at La Victoria.
BUCCONIDAE
Pied Puffbird - Notharchus tectus: Two seen at Mata Raton village on our way out from Piha Reserve.
Barred Puffbird - Nystalus radiatus: Great views and even pictures of 2 individuals at Piha Reserve and 2 more at the roadwork stop on our way to Otun Quimbaya.
Russet-throated Puffbird - Hypnelus ruficollis: 1 seen at Laguna de Hato road and 1 more on our travel day to Cerulean Reserve from Piha Reserve (between Piha Reserve to Dos y Medio).
Moustached Puffbird – Malocoptila myesticalis: Great looks!! 2 seen at Piha Reserve and 2 more at the Cerulean Reserve and 4 at Bushbird Reserve.
CAPITONIDAE
White-mantled Barbet - Capito hypoleucus: Excellent looks of two near Piha Reserve on our way out from the Reserve and two more at La Victoria. A so-called Nechí endemic, confined to the humid forests of the middle Magdalena Valley. The Nechí is actually a tributary of the Cauca River, its drainage being on the east side of the top end of the Central Andes. Classified as Endangered by BirdLife International, the world population is estimated at 2,500 – 9,999 individuals and is decreasing. This species has a very small and severely fragmented range. Habitat loss is occurring rapidly in some parts of its range, and the population is likely to be declining. ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
Red-headed Barbet – Eubucco bourcierii: 1 seen at the banana feeders and another one in the forest near the crest at Piha Reserve and 3 more at Otun Quimbaya.
SEMINORTITHIDAE
Toucan Barbet - Semnornis ramphastinus. Good views of 3 at Las Tangaras. Range Restricted.
RAMPHASTIDAE
Black-mandibled Toucan - Ramphastos ambiguous swainsonii: 2 at RNA El Paujil. The subspecies swainsoni was once split as Chestnut – mandibled Toucan but not anymore. Keep an eye on it.
Citron-throated (Channel-billed) Toucan – Ramphastos (vitilinus) citrolaemus: 2 seen at Paujil Reserve. The IOC splits Ramphastos citreolaemus from R. vitellinus (Hilty 2003); SACC does not (hybrid zones). Range Restricted.
Grey-throated (Andean) Toucanet -Aulacorhynchus griseogularis: Seen on several occasions; first at El Rancherito restaurant on our way to Las Tangaras from Piha Reserve and another one at Las Tangaras Reserve and 3 at Otun Quimbaya and 3 more at La Tigrera – griseogularis (The Grey-throated Toucanet) Ridgely & Greenfield (2001) suggested that Aulacorhynchus prasinus may consist of more than one species-level taxon, but see Short & Horne (2001), who pointed out that the allopatric taxa are no more distinctive than those known to intergrade. The subspecies lautus, albivitta, cyanolaemus, dimidiatus, and atrogularis, as well as Middle American wagleri and caeruleogularis, were formerly (e.g., Ridgway 1914, Cory 1919) each considered separate species from (and in some cases not particularly closely related to) Aulacorhynchus prasinus, but Peters (1948) and Haffer (1974) treated them all as conspecific. Puebla-Olivares et al. (2008) identified three clades in South America based on mtDNA and proposed species rank for each. The IOC presents Grey-throated and White–throated as splits, citing, Puebla- Olivares et al. 2008 and the former becomes a Colombian endemic. IOC splits, SACC does not as yet and is awaiting a proposal. ENDEMIC.
Crimson-rumped Toucanet -Aulacorhynchus haematopygus: Heard at Piha Reserve but great views of 2 at Tortoroma Church near Bushbird Reserve.
Black-billed Mountain-Toucan – Andigena nigrirostris: 2 at Chingaza National Park and one more at Rio Blanco Reserve.
Collared Araçari - Pteroglossus torquatus: 2 seen at La Victoria and 1 more at Mata Raton village on our way out from Paujil Reserve and 2 more at the Cerulen Reserve.
PICIDAE
Olivaceous Piculet - Picumnus olivaceus: Two seen at La Tigrera and one more at Paujil Reserve and two more at Come Raton village on our way out from Paujil Reserve and more above San Vicente.
Acorn Woodpecker - Melanerpes formicivorus: 5 seen at El Rancherito Restaurant on our travel day to Las Tangaras from Piha Reserve. A species heavily associated with Oak forest (Quercus) which only extends as far south as Colombia in South America, hence, so does the Woodpecker!
Beautiful Woodpecker - Melanerpes pulcher – 1 seen really well at la Victoria and two more above San Vicente. A Colombian endemic. The SACC says “The Colombian taxon pulcher was considered a separate species from Central American Melanerpes chrysauchen by Cory (1919), Eisenmann (1955), and Stiles & Skutch (1989); however, Peters (1948) treated them as conspecific, and that treatment has been followed by most subsequent authors (e.g., Meyer de Schauensee 1979, Short 1982, Hilty & Brown 1986, Winkler et al. 1995, AOU 1998, Winkler & Christie 2002, Dickinson 2003). Wetmore (1968) provided rationale for treating pulcher as a separate species, as noted by Meyer de Schauensee. ENDEMIC.
Red-crowned Woodpecker – Melanerpes rubricapillus: Common and conspicuous.
Smoky-brown Woodpecker – Venilornis fumigatus: 1 seen at Piha Reserve.
Yellow-vented Woodpecker – Venilornis dingus: One near Alto Las Ventanas at Yellow-eared Parrot Reserve.
Red-rumped Woodpecker - Venilornis kirkii: 3 seen at La Victoria. Named for Captain James T Kirk of the Starship Enterprise?.!!!!
Golden-olive Woodpecker - Colaptes rubiginosus: At Otun Quimbaya, Rio Blanco Reserve and 2 more at the Tortoroma church near the Bushbird Reserve.
Crimson-mantled Woodpecker – Colaptes rivolii. 2 seen really well at Rio Blanco Reserve. Yet another Frenchman! Named for the impressive sounding Francois Victor Massena Prince d’Essling and Duc de Rivoli (1795-1863). An ornitholigist and collector.
Spot-breasted Woodpecker – Colpates puntigula: One on our way in to RNA Paujil and another one above San Vicente.
Lineated Woodpecker - Dryocopus lineatus: One seen above San Vicente.
Crimson-crested Woodpecker - Campephilus melanoleucos: Seen on our way in and out from the RNA Paujil.
FALCONIDAE
Laughing Falcon - Herpetotheres cachinnans: On our way in to Piha Reserve and another one seen on our travel day to Ocaña from Cerulean Reserve.
Crested Caracara - Caracara cheriway: Common throughout the tour: Formerly placed in the genus Polyborus but this species has been switched to the genus Caracara. Note also that the former species known as Crested Caracara, has been split into three species with those ranging north of north-west Peru and the Amazon River (i.e. Colombia) and as far as the USA, according to the IOC, retain the name Northern Crested Caracara C. cheriway, the birds from Southern Peru to the tip of South America, Tierra del Fuego, are referable to the species Caracara plancus Southern Caracara, while another form, the extinct Guadalupe Caracara C. lutosus, of Guadalupe Island, Mexico, has also been given its untimely species status.
Yellow-headed Caracara - Milvago chimachima: Another widespread open country raptor that was seen regularly in small numbers.
American Kestrel - Falco sparverius: Scattered sightings.
Aplomado Falcon - Falco femoralis: 2 seen apparently nesting at Laguna Del Hato road.
Peregrine Falcon - Falco peregrinus: 1 seen on the second day and another one at El Tablaso Bridge on our way from Cerulean Reserve to Ocaña.
PSITTACIDAE
Orange-chinned Parakeet - Brotogeris jugularis: common.
Blue-headed Parrot - Pionus menstruus: A few at La Tigrera, and almost every day at El Paujil.
Bronze-winged Parrot – Pionus chalcopterus: Good looks at 4 individuals at the Otun Quimbaya Reserve.
Red-lored Amazon - Amazona automnalis: Common at RNA El Paujil.
Yellow-crowned Amazon - Amazona ochrocephala: Seen on the way in and out from Paujil Reserve.
Orange-winged Amazon - Amazona amazonica: 4 seen on our way out from RNA El Paujil.
Scaly-naped Amazon – Amazona merceneria: 12 at Otun Quimbaya.
Brown-breasted (Flame-winged) Parakeet – Pyrhura calliptera: Spectacular views of 6 individuals perched. VULNERABLE ENDEMIC.
Blue-and-yellow Macaw - Ara ararauna: Excellent views on several occasions at RNA Paujil.
Chestnut-fronted Macaw - Ara severus: Seen almost every day at RNA El Paujil.
Yellow-eared Parrot – Ognorhynchus icterotis: At Alto Las Ventanas we saw 28 in total, the second time below the pass was better views because they were perched. Historically known from Ecuador it now seems to be extirpated there so is a de facto Colombian endemic. This species is classified as Endangered because the known population of mature individuals is extremely small; however, intensive conservation action has stabilised its current range and resulted in a population increase. If the number of mature individuals continues to increase the species may be downlisted in the future. CRITICALLY ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
Golden-plumed Parakeet – Leptosittaca branickii: 2 seen at the Rio Blanco Reserve ENDANGERED.
Spectacled Parrotlet – Forpus conpicillatus: Almost a Colombian endemic. 1 seen at Laguna Del Hato road and a few more around Cerulean Reserve. Range Restricted.
THAMNOPHILIDAE
Rufous-rumped Antwren - Euchrepomis callinota: A pair seen along the Lengerke trail at Cerulen Reserve.
Black-crested Antshrike – Sakesphorus canadiensis: One on the exit from RNA Paujil at Come Raton Village. Sakephorus is Greek meaning “Shield-bearing” referring to the black shield like breast patches of this genus.
Bar-crested Antshrike Thamnophilus multistriatus: Great views of 2 at Otun Quimbaya and at La Tigrera and one more at Tortoroma Church near Bushbird Reserve. A near-endemic, generally replacing the Barred Antshrike, at higher elevations. Outside Colombia it’s only known from the Venezuelan side of the Sierra de Perijá, so it’s a de facto endemic. Range Restricted.
Black Antshrike - Thamnophilus nigriceps: Very good views of a male at RNA El Paujil. Range Restricted.
Uniform Antshrike Thamnophilus unicolor. The subspecies in Colombia is grandior. Good looks at the Piha Reserve.
Black-capped (Western Slaty)-Antshrike Thamnophilus atrinucha: 1 seen well at La Victoria.
Plain Antvireo – Dysithamnus mentalis: 1 male seen at Tortoroma church near Bushbird Reserve.
Slaty Antwren Myrmotherula schisticolor: 1 seen at Otun Quimbaya.
Streak-headed Antbird – Drymophila striaticeps: 1 seen at Rio Blanco. Isler et al. (2012) proposed that the broadly defined Drymophila caudata consists of four species: (1) klagesi, with aristeguietana; (2) hellmayri; (3) nominate caudata; and (4) striaticeps, with occidentalis, peruviana, and boliviana.
Klage’s Antbird – Drymophila klagesi: We made a special effort for this at Tortoroma church near Bushbird Reserve and had great looks – one of the last birds of the trip. Range Restricted.
Parker’s Antbird - Cercomacra parkeri: Recently described: Graves (1997). Good looks at around 6 at the Piha Reserve. One of the birds named for our late friend and neo-tropical birding pioneer, Ted Parker. Theodore A Parker lll (1953-1993) US Field Ornithologist with unparalleled knowledge of Neotropical Birds was tragically killed in a plane crash in Ecuador. ENDEMIC.
Bare-crowned Antbird - Gymnocichla nudiceps: Excellent views on two consecutive days at RNA El Paujil. Stunner!
Chestnut-backed Antbird - Myrmeciza exsul: Another one seen on two consecutive days at RNA El Paujil and commonly heard.
White-bellied Antbird – Myrmeciza longipes: 1 seen well along the Laguna del Hato Road.
Magdalena Antbird - Myrmeciza palliata: Seen above the town of La Victoria at a stake out and great look at 1 individual seen just from the road! Formerly treated as a subspecies of M. laemosticta –Dull-mantled Antbird, but Chaves et al. (2010) presented evidence that palliata should be ranked as a separate species. ENDEMIC.
Bicolored Antbird – Gymnopithys bicolor: 2 seen at RNA Paujil at a small antswarm. Willis (1967) suggested that trans-Andean bicolor subspecies group deserved separate species, and this was followed by Wetmore (1972), Hilty & Brown (1986), and Sibley & Monroe (1990), returning to the species limits of Cory & Hellmayr (1924). Genetic data (Brumfield et al. 2007) indicate that leucaspis (White-cheeked Antbird) east of the Andes is actually the sister to G. rufigula, not to bicolor. SACC proposal passed to treat bicolor as separate species.
GRALLARIDAE
Chestnut-crowned Antpitta - Grallaria ruficapilla: Photographed at the worm feeder at Rio Blanco.
Moustached Antpitta – Grallaria alleni: Heard at Otun Quimbaya, seen by the leader only. Range Restricted.
Chestnut-naped Antpitta – Grallaria nuchalis: Heard only, at Alto Las Ventanas and at Rio Blanco.
Yellow-breasted Antpitta – Grallaria flavotincta: Heard only, at Las Tangaras Reserve.
Rufous Antpitta – Grallaria rufula rufula: One of an undescrbied form seen at the new worm feeders at Alto Las Ventanas. Keep track of where you see your Rufous Antpittas – they will be split.
Western Tawny Antpitta – Grallaria alticola. Heard only, at Chingaza NP.
Tawny Antpitta – Grallaria quitensis: 2 at Los Nevados National Park. Named for the city of Quito which in turn is named for the Quitu Indians.
Brown-banded Antpitta – Grallaria milleri: 2 came to the worm feeders at Rio Blanco – fantastic! ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
Slate-crowned Antpitta – Grallaricula nana: 1 at the worm feeders at Rio Blanco was very nice indeed!
Hooded Antpitta - Grallaricula cucullata: Heard only, at Rio Blanco Reserve.
RHINOCRYPTIDAE
Ocellated Tapaculo – Acropternis orthonyx: All of us saw it after a lot of effort at La M, 2 individuals. What a bird!
Magdalena Tapaculo - Scytalopus rodriguezi: Well it took us a few tries but most of us saw one of this recently described endemic at RNA Cerulean. Named for Jose Vicente Rodriguez Colombian ornithologist, conservationist and collector who died in 2005. ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
Stile’s Tapaculo – Scytalopus stilesi. One of the “hard to see” group but seen by some at Piha Reserve. Named for Dr. Gary Stiles US ornithologist still doing research in Colombia. ENDEMIC.
Spillman’s Tapaculo – Scytalopus spillmani: One of the more tricky Tapaculos to see but we managed a brief sighting of two at Urrao road - above Jardin.
Paramo Tapaculo - Scytalopus opacus: 1 seen at the Termales de Ruiz Hotel. This species has been recently split into Paramo and Paramillo (S. canus) Tapaculos with the latter becoming a Colombian endemic restricted to the Western Cordillera in the north.
Narino Tapaculo – Scytalopus vicinior: One seen well at Las Tangaras. Range Restricted.
“Alto Pisones” Tapaculo – Scytalopus Sp. Nov: Good looks of this yet to be described Tapaculo at Las Tangaras. ENDEMIC.
FURNARIIDAE
Olivaceous Woodcreeper - Sittasomus griseicapillus enochrus: 1 seen on our way out from Cerulean Reserve at El Tablaso Bridge –note the subspecies as this woodcreeper will soon be split.
Tyrranine Woodcreeper - Dendrocincla tyrannina: 1 seen really well at Alto Las Ventanas (Yellow-eared Parrot Reserve).
Plain-brown Woodcreeper - Dendrocincla fuliginosa: Two seen at RNA El Paujil.
Strong-billed Woodcreeper - Xiphocolaptes promeropirhynchus: 1 seen well at Otun Quimbaya Reserve.
Northern Barred Woodcreeper – Dendrocolaptes sanctithomae: 1 at the Paujil Reserve.
Wedge-billed Woodcreeper - Glyphorynchus spirurus: One seen nesting at Piha Reserve.
Straight –billed Woodcreeper – Dendroplex picus: Common at RNA Paujil and one more seen above San Vicente. Xiphorhynchus picus and X. kienerii (Zimmer’s Woodcreeper) were formerly (e.g., Cory & Hellmayr 1925, Zimmer 1934c, Pinto 1937, Phelps & Phelps 1950a) treated in a separate genus, Dendroplex, but this was merged into Xiphorhynchus by Peters (1951). Wetmore (1972), however, maintained Dendroplex as a separate genus based not only on bill shape but also on (unstated) cranial characters. Aleixo et al. (2007) summarized rationale for validity of Dendroplex and for its usage for these two species. SACC proposal passed to resurrect Dendroplex for these two species.
Cocoa Woodcreeper – Xiphorynchus susurrans: One seen at Recurve-billed Bushbird Reserve. The SACC says -The relationships among taxa included in Xiphorhynchus susurrans and X. guttatus (Buff-throated Woodcreeper) are complex and need much additional work. Xiphorhynchus susurrans was formerly (e.g., Zimmer 1934d, Phelps & Phelps 1950a, Peters 1951, Meyer de Schauensee 1970) considered conspecific with X. guttatus, but Willis (1983) provided evidence that it should be treated as a separate species; this treatment was followed by Ridgely & Tudor (1994) and AOU (1998); they constitute a superspecies. Xiphorhynchus susurrans had previously been treated as a species by Cory & Hellmayr (1925), who also treated the subspecies polystictus (= sororius) as a separate species; this was considered conspecific with X. guttatus by Zimmer (1934d) and Peters (1951). However, Aleixo (2002) found that treating X. susurrans at the species level makes Xiphorhynchus guttatus paraphyletic with respect to Amazonian guttatoides group (Lafraneye’s Woodcreeper) of western and southwestern Amazonia (guttatoides, dorbignyianus, eytoni, and vicinalis) and eastern Amazonian guttatus group (guttatus, polystictus, and provisionally connectens). Marantz et al. (2003) also emphasized that the current assignment of subspecies to either X. susurrans or X. guttatus does not correspond to the boundaries in vocalizations. Furthermore, the eytoni subspecies group was formerly (e.g., Todd 1948, Meyer de Schauensee 1966, 1970) considered a separate species ("Dusky-billed Woodcreeper") from X. guttatus; here it is treated as subspecies of guttatus following Cory & Hellmayr (1925), Zimmer (1934d), Pinto (1937), Peters (1951), and Ridgely & Tudor (1994), but Marantz et al. (2003) noted that this group differed in vocalizations from other taxa included in X. guttatus. Restall (2007) gives this taxon full species rank as does the IOC.
Olive-backed Woodcreeper – Xiphorynchus triangularis: 2 seen at Piha Reserve.
Brown-billed Scythebill – Campylorhamphus pusillus: Two days at the Cerulean Warbler Reserve.
Streak-headed Woodcreeper – Lepidocolaptes souleyetii: Seen at Paujil Reserve and above San Vicente.
Montane Woodcreeper – Lepidocolaptes lacrymiger: Several sightings in the high cloud forest.
Plain Xenops - Xenops minutus: Two sightings.
Streaked Xenops - Xenops rutilans: The form found in the Central and Western Andes is heterurus. We saw 2 at Piha Reserve.
Streaked Tuftedcheek – Pseudocolpates boissonneautii: 2 at Rio Blanco Reserve.
Buffy Tuftedcheek – Pseudocolpates lawrenci At least 1 of this Choco endemic on the Urrao road. Named for George Newbold Lawrence, US businessman collector and naturalist. Range Restricted.
Stout-billed Cinclodes – Cinclodes excelsior: Great looks of 3 on the access road to Los Nevados National Park. The SACC says Cinclodes aricomae (Royal Cinclodes) is often considered conspecific with C. excelsior (e.g., Peters 1951, Meyer de Schauensee 1970), and evidence for treating them as separate species (e.g., Fjeldså & Krabbe 1990, Remsen 2003) is weak. Proposal needed.
Buff-fronted Foliage-gleaner - Philydor rufum: 1 seen at the Piha Reserve.
Montane Foliage-gleaner - Anabacerthia striaticollis: A few seen at several locations in the higher cloud forest.
Scaly-throated Foliage-gleaner – Anabacerthia variegaticeps: One at Las Tangaras Reserve. Range Restricted.
Uniform Treehunter – Thripadectes ignobilis: 1 along the trail at Las Tangaras. Range Restricted.
Buff-throated Foliage-gleaner - Automolus ochrolaemus: 1 seen at El Paujil Reserve.
Pearled Treerunner – Margarornis squamiger: Common component of mixed Cloud Forest flocks; 8 seen at Chingaza National Park and 2 more at Rio Blanco Reserve.
Many-striped Canastero – Asthenes flammulata: Great views of 2 at Los Nevados.
Red-faced Spinetail – Cranioleuca erythrops: A pair seen really well at Las Tangaras and also at Otun Quimbaya and 1 more at Manizales.
Yellow-chinned Spinetail - Certhiaxis cinnamomea: 7 seen well on the way in and out from El Paujil Reserve.
Silvery-throated Spinetail – Synallaxis subpudica: 2 seen well on the way back from Chingaza National Park. ENDEMIC.
Azara’s Spinetail - Synallaxis azarae: Fairly commonly heard and 1 seen at Las Tangaras Reserve. Pip- Squeak!!
Pale-breasted Spinetail - Synallaxis albescens: Seen well on the way in and out from RNA Paujil.
Rufous Spinetail – Synallaxis unirufa: Seen at Alto Las Ventanas and La M (Urrao road).
Slaty Spinetail – Synallaxis brechyura: 1 seen well above Libano at La Tigrera.
Stripe-breasted Spinetail - Synallaxis cinammomea: 1 seen at the Tortoroma church near RNA Recurvebill Bushbird.
TYRANNIDAE
Sooty-headed Tyrannulet - Phyllomyias griseiceps: 2 seen well above San Vicente and heard at Paujil.
Black-capped Tyrannulet - Phyllomyias nigrocapillus: 2 seen at Las Ventanas.
Yellow-crowned Tyrannulet - Tyrannulus elatus: commonly heard and 1 seen at Paujil Reserve.
Forest Elaenia - Myiopagis gaimardii: Seen on two consecutive days at Paujil Reserve.
Yellow-bellied Elaenia Elaenia flavogaster: At La Tigrera and above San Vicente.
Mountain Elaenia - Elaenia frantzii: 1 seen at La Tigrera.
Sierran Elaenia - Elaenia pallatangae: Seen at Cerulean Reserve.
White-throated Tyrannulet Mecocerculus leucophrys: We saw this species at Chingaza National Park.
White-banded Tyrannulet - Mecocerculus sticopterus: 4 at Chingaza and few more elsewhere.
White-tailed Tyrannulet – Mecocerculus poecilocercus: 2 at Rio Blanco.
Torrent Tyrannulet - Serpophaga cinerea: Seen at Otun Quimbaya and elsewhere.
Golden-faced Tyrannulet - Zimmerius chrysops: Seen at various localities. Variation in Golden-faced Tyrannulet subspecies is reasonably extensive and more than one species may be involved. Ridgely & Greenfield (2001) considered the subspecies flavidifrons of southwestern Ecuador and northwestern Peru to represent a separate species from Zimmerius chrysops based on differences in voice.
Variagated Bristle-Tyrant – Phylloscartes poecilotis: 1 seen at Otun Quimbaya.
Marble-faced Bristle-Tyrant – Phylloscartes opthamicus: Seen at Bushbird Reserve. SACC keeps bristle tyrants in Phylloscartes but needs proposal to update to Pogonotriccus (Fitzpatrick 2004) IOC uses Pogonotriccus.
Streak-necked Flycatcher – Mionectes striaticollis: One at Otun Quimbaya.
Olive-striped Flycatcher – Mionectes olivcaeous: 1 at Las Tangaras and also at La Tigrera and the Cerulean Reserve.
Ochre-bellied Flycatcher - Mionectes oleaginea: Seen on two consecutive days at RNA El Paujil.
Slaty-capped Flycatcher – Leptopogon amaurocephalus: Common in the higher cloud forest.
Sepia-capped Flycatcher Leptopogon amaurocephalus: Fairly common at El Paujil.
Rufous-breasted Flycatcher - Leptopogon rufipectus: 1 seen well at Otun Quimbaya. Range Restricted.
Ornate Flycatcher – Myiotriccus ornatus: 3 seen at RNA Arrierito, 3 at Las Tangaras, and 1 more at Cerulean Warbler Reserve.
Southern Bentbill - Oncostoma olivaceum: Excellent views at El Paujil.
Scale-crested Pygmy-tyrant - Lophotriccus pileatus: 1 at Piha Reserve and 1 more at Cerulean Reserve.
Rufous-headed Pygmy-tyrant - Pseudotriccus ruficeps: Two seen at Alto las Ventanas – a stunning bird!
Bronze-olive Pygmy-Tyrant – Pseudotriccus pelzelini: A pair at Las Tangaras. Named for August Edler von Pelzeln, Austrian ornithologist and collector 1825-1891.
Rufous-crowned Tody-tyrant – Pseudotriccus ruficeps: Such a cool bird, 1 seen at Rio Blanco.
Slate-headed Tody-Flycatcher - Poecilotriccus sylvia: Excellent view of one at RNA El Paujil. Latin – Sylvia = woodland sprite.
Common Tody-Flycatcher - Todirostrum cinereum: Seen above Libano and at La Victoria.
Olive-faced Tolmomyias - Tolmomyias viridceps: One seen above San Vicente.
Handsome Flyctacher – Myiophobus pulcher: 3 at Las Tangaras Reserve and one more at Rio Blanco Reserve.
Bran-colored Flycatcher – Myiophobus fasciatus: One above San Vicente.
Cinnamon Flycatcher Pyrrhomyias cinnamomea: Regularly encountered in the Andes (pyrrhoptera).
Euler’s Flycatcher - Lathrotriccus euleri: One seen at El Paujil Reserve.
Black-billed Flycatcher - Aphanotriccus audax: 3 in total at El Paujil. NEAR THREATENED, Range Restricted.
Fuscous Flycatcher - Cnemotriccus fuscatus: 1 seen at Laguna de Hato road.
Alder Flycatcher – Empidonax alnorum: At least one above Libano.
Smoke-colored Pewee - Contopus fumigates: Seen at Urrao road and another one at Las Ventanas.
Eastern Wood Pewee – Contopus virens: One at La Victoria.
Tropical Peewee - Contopus cinereus: One above San Vicente.
Black Phoebe - Sayornis nigricans: A bird of streams and rivers that was frequently seen sitting on bridges.
Vermilion Flycatcher - Pyrocephalus rubinus: Small numbers seen at a number of sites. A stunning bird.
Streak-throated Bush-Tyrant - Myiotheretes striaticollis: Great view of one at the new hummingbird feeder station at Yellow-eared Parrot Reserve.
Pied Water-Tyrant - Fluvicola pica: A few on the way in and out from El Paujil.
White-headed Marsh-tyrant - Arundinicola leucocephala: 4 in total on the way in and out from El Paujil.
Yellow-bellied Chat-tyrant - Ochthoeca diadema: Two seen really well at Las Ventanas.
Rufous-breasted Chat-Tyrant – Ochthoeca rufipectoralis: 3 at Chingaza NP.
Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant – Ochthoeca fumicolor: 5 seen at Los Nevados National Park.
Long-tailed Tyrant – Colonia colonus: 2 seen at El Tablaso Bridge on our way out from Cerulean Reserve.
Cattle Tyrant - Machetornis rixosa: One on our way to Jardin along the River and two more on our way to Otun Quimbaya.
Piratic Flycatcher - Legatus leucophaius: One on our way out from Piha reserve and one more above San Vicente.
Rusty-margined Flycatcher Myiozetetes cayanensis: Numerous and widespread at lower elevations.
Social Flycatcher - Myiozetetes similis: A few throughout the tour.
Great Kiskadee - Pitangus sulphuratus: A widespread bird of open areas, even found right in the center of towns.
Golden-crowned Flycatcher - Myiodynastes chrysocephalus: One at the Piha reserve and one at the Bushbird Reserve.
Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher - Myiodynastes lutriventris: Seen at La Tigrera and also at El Paujil Reserve.
Streaked Flycatcher - Myiodynastes maculatus: One on our way to Las Tangaras Reserve and also on two consecutive days at Paujil Reserve (a pair nesting outside of the dinner room) in the little wooden box.
Tropical Kingbird - Tyrannus melancholicus. TK! Common throughout, seen every day of the trip.
Fork-tailed Flycatcher – Tyrannus savanna: A few on the drives in open country.
Pale-edged Flycatcher – Myiarchus cephalotes: Seen at Piha, Rio Blanco Reserve and above San Vicente.
Lemon-browed Flycatcher - Conopias cinchoneti: 2 seen at Las Tangaras Reserve.
Great-crested Flycatcher - Myiarchus crinitus: Good views at Paujil.
Brown-crested Flycatcher - Myiarchus tyrannulus: Seen at El Paujil.
Bright-rumped Attila - Attila (flamulatus) spadiceus: Very good views at Paujil Reserve.
COTINGIDAE
Green and Black Fruiteater - Pipreola riefferii: 1 at Las Ventanas and 3 at Rio Blanco Reserve. Range Restricted.
Barred Fruiteater - Pipreola arcuata: 2 at Chingaza NP and 4 more at La M (Urrao road).
Orange-breasted Fruiteater - Pipreola jucunda: Two at Las Tangaras were seen very well indeed – stunning birds! Range Restricted.
Chestnut-crested Cotinga - Ampelion rufiaxila: 1 seen briefly at Las Ventanas (Yellow-eared Parrot Reserve).
Olivaceous Piha – Snowornis cryptolophus: Nice looks at Las Tangaras of three birds.
Chestnut-capped Piha – Lipaugus weberi: Fantastic views of a bird in response to playback at the RNA Arrierito Antioqueño (the name of the Piha in Spanish). Only described to science in 2001. Robert Giles donated funds for the accommodations at the reserve for guests. The chestnut on the crown can be hard to see but we got eye-level views. It is called “Arrierito”, which means muleteer or muleskinner in Spanish, because its call resembles the whistles used by the muleteers in Colombia to encourage their animals to get a move on! ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
Olivaceous Piha – Snowornis cryptolophus: Nice looks at Las Tangaras of three birds.
Andean Cock-of-the-Rock – Rupicola peruvianus: Amazing views at their lek at about 10 minutes away from Jardin Town.
Red-ruffed Fruitcrow – Pyroderus scutatus: Common at Otun Quimbaya with 20 seen.
PIPRIDAE
Golden-winged Manakin – Masius chrysopterus: Good looks of a pair of this funny Manakin at Las Tangaras Reserve.
White-bibbed Manakin - Corapipo leucorrhoa: One male at La Victoria. Range Restricted.
White-bearded Manakin - Manacus manacus: One at Laguna de Hato road and a big lek with 20+ males at El Paujil.
Golden-headed Manakin - Pipra erythrocephala: A male one seen also at La Victoria.
Western Striped Manakin – Machaeropterus striolatus: Male and female seen at La Victoria and also at El Paujil Reserve.
TITYRIDAE
In this classification, the genera Tityra through Phibalura were formerly placed tentatively in the Cotingidae, following Prum et al. (2000). They had formerly been scattered among the Tyrannidae, Cotingidae, and Pipridae. Prum and Lanyon (1989) and Sibley & Ahlquist (1990) found that Tityra, Schiffornis, and Pachyramphus formed a distinct group, separate from the rest of the Tyrannidae; Sibley & Ahlquist (1990) proposed that they were most closely related to core Tyrannidae than to other tyrannoid families such as the Cotingidae or Pipridae. More recent genetic data (Johansson et al. 2002, Chesser 2004, Barber & Rice 2007) confirm that the genera Tityra through at least Pachyramphus form a monophyletic group, but Chesser (2004) found that this group is more closely related to the Pipridae than to the Cotingidae or Tyrannidae. SACC proposal passed to remove from Cotingidae (and place as Incertae Sedis or as separate family, Tityridae). Barber & Rice (2007) not only confirmed the monophyly of the group but also proposed elevation to family rank. SACC proposal passed to recognize Tityridae. Within this group, Barber & Rice (2007) found genetic evidence for two major groups: (a) Laniisoma, Laniocera, and Schiffornis, and (b) Iodopleura, Tityra, Xenopsaris, and Pachyramphus.
Black-crowned Tityra - Tityra inquisitor: 1 at La Victoria and two more at RNA El Paujil. The ancients gave the name Tityri to the satyrs and other raucous companions of Pan and Bacchus, so referring to the noisy aggressive behavior of the Tityras.
Russet-winged Schiffornis - Schiffornis stenorhyncha: Great views of 2 individuals at Las Tangaras.
Foothill Schiffornis - Schiffornis aenea: 1 seen well at Paujil Reserve.
Cinnamon Becard - Pachyramphus cinnamomeus: Common at El Paujil.
White-winged Becard – Pachyramphus polychopterus: 2 seen at Manizales.
VIREONIDAE
Brown-capped Vireo - Vireo leucophrys: 1 at Rio Blanco Reserve.
Red-eyed (Chivi) Vireo - Vireo (chivi) olivaceus: 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.
Rufous-naped Greenlet - Hylophilus semibrunneus: 1 seen above Libano. Almost a Colombian endemic but gets into Venezuela. Range Restricted.
Scrub Greenlet - Hylophilus flavipes: Very good views at La Victoria.
u>CORVIDAE
Black-collared Jay - Cyanolyca armillata: 2 seen at Rio Blanco. Range Restricted.
Beautiful Jay - Cyanolyca pulchra: 2 seen at Las Tangaras.
Black-chested Jay - Cyanocorax affinis: Common at RNA El Paujil.
Inca Jay - Cyanocorax yncas: A most handsome bird, seen in several localities. 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 (e.g., REFS) considered separate species.
HIRUNDINIDAE
Blue-and-white Swallow - Pygochelidon cyanoleuca: Widespread in small numbers.
Brown-bellied Swallow - Pygochelidon murina: At Rio Blanco and Los Nevados National Park.
Southern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx ruficollis: Common at lower elevations.
Gray-breasted Martin – Progne chalybea: A few in the Magdalena Valley.
Blue-and-white Swallow - Tachycineta albiventer: 1 at Porce Bridge on the way in to Piha Reserve and also at El Tablaso Bridge.
Barn Swallow – Hirundo rustica: A few migrating flocks in the Magdalena valley.
TROGLODYTIDAE
House Wren Troglodytes aedon: Common and widespread. 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) and is done so by the IOU, as was done by Brewer (2001), Mazar Barnett & Pearman (2001), Jaramillo (2003), and Kroodsma & Brewer (2005).
Paramo Wren – Cistothoru aequatorialis: 2 seen at Los Nevados National Park. Robbins & Nyri (2014) proposed recognition of nine species within broadly defined platensis, seven of which are in South America: C. alticola, C. aequatorialis, C. graminicola, C. minimus, C. tucumanus, C. hornensis, and C. platensis. They proosed the name Paramo Wren for the form we saw.
Apolinar’s Wren – Cistothorus apolinari: A brief view at Parque La Florida. This species has a very small population and range. It is thought to be declining rapidly, owing to loss and degradation of its severely fragmented habitat. All subpopulations are suspected to be extremely small, and some have been extirpated over the last few decades. This combination of factors result in its classification as Endangered. ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
Band-backed Wren - Campylorhynchus zonatus: 1 seen at Antioquia Wren spot and another one above San Vicente.
Bicolored Wren - Campylorhynchus griseus: Excellent views at the Cerulean Warbler RNA.
White-headed Wren – Campylorhynchus albobunneus: 5 called in at Las Tangaras. Range Restricted.
Sooty-headed Wren – Pheugopedius spadix; 1 responsive bird at RNA Arrierito. Almost a Colombian endemic but gets into Eastern Panama. Genetic data (Mann et al. 2006) indicate that the broad genus Thryothorus is polyphyletic, and that true Thryothorus is not found in South America; Mann et al. (2006) recommended recognition of three genera for South American taxa by resurrecting two from the synonymy of Thryothorus (Pheugopedius and Thryophilus) and describing a new one (Cantorchilus). SACC proposal pending to redistribute South American "Thryothorus" into three genera did not pass. Range Restricted.
Black-bellied Wren - Pheugopedius fasciatoventris: Great looks at La Victoria.
Whiskered Wren - Pheugopedius mystacalis: Good views above Libano and at Bushbird Reserve.
Niceforo’s Wren - Thryophilus leucopogon: 1 bird seen above San Vicente. Named for Father Niciforo Maria Colombian missionary and herpetologist in the early 1900’s. CRITICALLY ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
Antioquia Wren - Thryophilus senai: 1 seen by most people - found after a bit of a search near Salgar. This species was discovered in March 2010 in the vicinity of the Cauca River in Antioquia, Colombia and described as new species in 2012. The epithet commemorates the late Marco Antonio Serna Díaz (1936- 1991), a Colombian naturalist from San Vicente Ferrer, Antioquia. ENDEMIC.
Buff-breasted Wren – Cantorchilus leucotis: Two seen at Come Raton village on our way out from El Paujil Reserve.
White-breasted Wood-Wren - Henicorhina leucosticte: Very good views at La Victoria.
Grey-breasted Wood-Wren - Henicorhina leucophrys: Regularly heard at higher elevations with a number of good views. We saw the nominate leucophrys.
Munchique Wood-Wen - Henicorhina negreti: 1 called in at La M and show they did. Named for the Munchique National Park where this taxon was first noted. CRITICALLY ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
POLIOPTIDAE
Tropical Gnatcatcher – Polioptila plummbea: Not common only 2 seen at Antioquia Wren spot near Salgar.
CINCLIDAE
White-capped Dipper – Cinclus leucocephalus: 3 seen from the bridge along the river on our way out from Otun Quimbaya.
TURDIDAE
Andean Solitaire Myadestes ralloides: Seen at Las Tangaras Reserve.
Swainson’s Thrush – Catharus ustulatus: Common throughout the tour.
Black Solitaire Entomodestes coracinus. Another Choco endemic played hide and seek with us along the trail at Las Tangaras but after all we saw 2 of them – fantastic views! Range Restricted.
Yellow-legged Thrush - Turdus flavipes: Good views at Recurve-billed Bushbird Reserve.
Great Thrush Turdus fuscater: Common at higher elevations. We saw quindio (endemic) in the Central and Western Andes.
Chestnut-bellied Thrush – Turdus fulviventris: 1 at the Bushbird reserve. Quite sneaky for such a big thrush.
Pale-breasted Thrush - Turdus leucomelas: Relatively common at Cerulean and at Bushbird Reserve.
Black-billed Thrush - Turdus ignobilis: Fairly common in the lowlands.
Clay-colored Thrush - Turdus grayi: 1 at La Victoria.
Spectacled Thrush - Turdus nudigenis: At least one at Cerulean Reserve. Ridgely & Tudor (1989) considered the subspecies maculirostris (Ecuadorian Thrush) a separate species from Turdus nudigenis, and this was followed by Sibley & Monroe (1990), Clement (2000), Ridgely et al. (2001), Collar (2005), and Restall et al. (2006). Recent genetic data (Voelker et al. 2007, Nylander 2008) indicate that maculirostris may not be the sister taxon to T. nudigenis. SACC proposal passed to elevate maculirostris to species rank.
MIMIDAE
Tropical Mockingbird Mimus gilvus: A common open country species.
THRAUPIDAE
Magpie Tanager - Cissopis leveriana: 1 seen above San Vicente.
White-capped Tanager - Sericossypha albocristata: One seen briefly at La M. One! They are normally in noisy family parties.
Black-capped Hemispingus – Hemispingus atropileus: Small groups at Chingaza National Park and Alto las Ventanas. Hemispingus is Greek and means half a spingus – a spingus being a Finch so referring to their small size.
Superciliaried Hemispingus – Hemispingus superciliaris: 4 seen in the mixed flock at Chingaza NP.
Black-eared Hemispingus - Hemispingus melanotis: 2 seen at Rio Blanco. We saw the nominate form. The SACC says: Genetic data (Garcia-Moreno et al. 2001, Garcia-Moreno & Fjeldsa 2003) indicate that the distinctive taxon piurae (Piura Hemispingus), currently treated as a subspecies of H. melanotis (e.g., Meyer de Schauensee 1970), is more distant from the latter than is H. frontalis, and that piurae is basal to frontalis + melanotis; these analyses, however, are based on only ca. 300 base-pairs of mtDNA. Ridgely & Greenfield (2001) treated piurae as a separate species from H. melanotis based on plumage and vocal differences. SACC proposal to recognize piurae as a species did not pass. Hilty (2011) also treated piurae as a separate species. Ridgely & Greenfield (2001) and Hilty (2011) further recognized the subspecies ochraceus (Western Hemispingus) as a separate species based on plumage differences. Proposal needed.
Grey-hooded Bush Tanager – Cnemoscopus rubrirostris: We saw birds of the nominate form that do have pink bills at Alto Las Ventanas and Urrao road. Note the southern form chyrsogster south of the Maranon River in Peru, which does not have a pink bill may be a separate species and, if so, would become a Peruvian endemic.
Fulvous-headed Tanager - Thlylopsis fulviceps: Good views at Piha Reserve.
Gray-headed Tanager – Eucometes penicillata: Fantastic views at La Victoria and Cerulean Reserve. Penicillata = Latin brush referring to crest –literally Penis-tail.
White-shouldered Tanager - Tachyphonus luctuosus: 3 seen above San Vicente.
Crimson-backed Tanager - Ramphocelus dimidiatus: A widespread tanager of open and secondary habitats.
Flame-rumped Tanager - Ramphocelus flammigerus: Seen in several localities. See the following species for the taxonomic status of this near endemic. Range Restricted.
Lemon-rumped Tanager - Ramphocelus ictronotus: Seen at Las Tangaras Lodge and in the garden lodge at Cerulean Warbler reserve. Limited hybridization between Ramphocelus icteronotus and R. flammigerus was the basis for lumping them (Isler and Isler 1987, Ridgely and Tudor 1989, Sibley and Monroe 1990), but that may have been a mistake (Ridgely & Greenfield 2001, Ridgely & Tudor 2000. The SACC says: The taxon icteronotus was formerly (e.g., Hellmayr 1936, Meyer de Schauensee 1970) considered a separate species from Ramphocelus flammigerus, but intergradation between them in southwestern Colombia (Chapman 1917, Sibley 1958) led Storer (1970a) to consider them conspecific, and this treatment has been followed by most authors subsequently (e.g., Ridgely & Tudor 1989, Sibley & Monroe 1990), Restall (2007). However, as noted by Ridgely & Greenfield (2001), the differences between these two are comparable to those between two Ramphocelus taxa (passerinii and costaricensis) recently treated as separate species (Hackett 1996, AOU 1998). Restall 2007 agrees with the split as does the IOC. The SACC is considering.
Blue-gray Tanager - Thraupis episcopus: Numerous and widespread. The scientific name is derived from the ‘episcopal blue’ plumage.
Palm Tanager - Thraupis palmarum: Common and widespread.
Blue-capped Tanager - Thraupis cyanocephala: A few seen at different locations.
Black and Gold Tanager Bangsia melanochlamys: Quite common at the Las Tangaras Reserve with great looks at 5 birds. VULNERABLE ENDEMIC.
Hooded Mountain Tanager – Buthraupis Montana: 4 at Chingaza- a large showy Tanager.
Grass-Green Tanager – Chroronis reifferi: Seen at La M and at Rio Blanco.
Lacrimose Mountain Tanager – Anisognathus lacrymosus: At La M and at Los Termales de Ruiz at Los Nevados National Park.
Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager – Anisognathus igniventris: Always a great bird – 4+ Seen at Chingaza on our first day and then again at Los Nevados National Park.
Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager Anisognathus somptuosus: Seen at Las Tangaras, Rio Blanco, and Cerulean Warbler Reserve.
Black-chinned Mountain Tanager – Anisognathus notabilis: 4 seen at RNA Las Tangaras. Range Restricted.
Buff-breasted Mountain Tanager – Dubusia taeniata: One seen at Alto Las Ventanas and one at Rio Blanco.
Purplish-mantled Tanager – Iridosornis porphyrocephalus. A near endemic creeping into NW Ecuador. Very good views of 2 at Las Tangaras and 1 more at La M. NEAR THREATENED, Range Restricted.
Multicolored Tanager - Chlorochrysa nitidissima: Great look at a male at Otun Quimbaya. VULNERABLE ENDEMIC.
Glistening-green Tanager – Chlorochrysa phoenicotis: 1 seen at Las Tangaras. Range Restricted.
Golden Tanager -Tangara arthus: A stunning montane species that we saw at a number of sites.
Saffron-crowned Tanager - Tangara xanthocephala: 1 at Las Tangaras.
Silver-throated Tanager – Tangara icterocephala: 1 at Piha Reserve.
Speckled Tanager – Tangara guttata: 3 in total seen at Piha Reserve.
Bay-headed Tanager Tangara gyrola: We saw the turquoise bellied deleticia in the Andes, The name ‘gyrola’ is derived from the Latin ‘gyros’, or ring, and refers to the golden nuchal collar present in most races of this species.
Scrub Tanager - Tangara vitriolina: Another species which prefers second growth. One of the most numerous and widespread tanagers in Colombia’s valleys and on the adjacent slopes, but outside the country it is a localized specialty in northern Ecuador. Range Restricted.
Metallic-green Tanager - Tangara labradorides: Seen at Otun Quimbaya and Rio Blanco.
Blue-necked Tanager Tangara cyanicollis: Common and widespread but nonetheless striking.
Golden-hooded Tanager - Tangara larvata: Seen at Las Tangaras Lodge and also at Paujil and Cerulean Cerulean Reserve.
Beryl-spangled Tanager - Tangara nigroviridis: Common at RNA Arrierito and Rio Blanco and at Cerulean Reserve.
Blue and Black Tanager – Tangara vassorii: Fairly common at Chingaza National Park and Rio Blanco.
Black-capped Tanager - Tangara heinei: Good views at the Piha Reserve.
Black-headed Tanager - Tangara cyanoptera: 4 at Tortoroma church near the Recurve-billed Bushbird Reserve.
Swallow Tanager- Tersina viridis: Common at Las Tangaras Reserve.
Blue Dacnis - Dacnis cayana: 2 at Las Tangaras and 6 at Alto Las Ventanas.
Purple Honeycreeper - Cyanerpes caeruleus: Seen at La Victoria and Paujil Reserve.
Green Honeycreeper – Chlorophanes spiza: Seen at Rio Blanco reserve.
Scarlet-browed Tanager - Heterospingus xanthopygius: 3 seen really well at Paujil reserve. Range Restricted.
Guira Tanager - Hemithraupis guira: 1 seen above San Vicente.
Yellow-backed Tanager - Hemithraupis flavicollis: 4 in total at El Paujil.
Rufous-browed Conebill – Conirsotrum rufum: One of the first birds of the trip at Chingaza where we saw 10 - one of the best of the trip. ENDEMIC.
Chestnut-bellied Flowerpiercer - Diglossa gloriosissima: We found 1 at Las Tangaras Reserve. After 40 years without any records this species has been rediscovered, with records from several new locations. It has a very small known range, within which habitat loss is continuing, and is therefore listed as Endangered, but if it is found to be more widespread and proves to be tolerant of some habitat degradation it is likely to become eligible for downlisting. ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
Glossy Flowerpiercer – Diglossa lafresnayi: 4 at Chingaza and 5 at Los Nevados NP.
Black Flowerpiercer – Diglossa humeralis: 2 at Chingaza National Park.
White-sided Flowerpiercer - Diglossa albilatera: Perhaps the most common and widespread of the flowerpiercers. Here the nominate race.
Indigo Flowerpiercer – Diglossa indigotica. Two at Piha Reserve. Range Restricted.
Masked Flowerpiercer – Diglossa cyanea: 6 at Alto Las Ventanas, Rio Blanco and Los Nevados NP.
Black-backed Bush-Tanager - Urothraupis stolzmanni: 3 seen and photographed at Los Nevados NP. Range Restricted.
Plumbeous Sierra Finch - Phrygilus unicolor: 4+ at Chingaza NP and few more at Los Nevados Park road.
Saffron Finch - Sicalis flaveola: Common.
Blue-black Grassquit - Volatinia jacarina: Seen above Libano.
Black-and-white Seedeater - Sporophila luctuosa: 4+ seen well at Piha Reserve.
Slate-colored Seedeater - Sporophila schistacea: 1 seen above Libano and one above san Vicente de Chucuri.
Yellow-bellied Seedeater - Sporophila nigricollis: Seen above Libano and another one above San Vicente.
Ruddy-breasted Seedeater - Sporophila minuta: Fairly common in the lowlands – seen on our way to Paujil and another one above San Vicente.
Large-billed Seed-Finch - Sporophila crassirostris: 1 seen at Laguna Del Hato road and another one above San Vicente.
Plain-colored Seedeater – Catamenia inornata: 3 at Los Nevados National Park.
Bananaquit - Coereba flaveola: As usual, common and widespread.
Yellow-faced Grassquit - Tiaris olivacea: On our way out from Piha Reserve to Las Tangaras and at Cerulean Reserve.
Sooty Grassquit - Tiaris fuliginosus – Seen at Las Tangaras on two consecutive days.
INCERTAE SEDIS
Buff-throated Saltator - Saltator maximus: Fairly common.
Grayish Saltator – Saltator coerulescens: Seen at Cerulean Reserve.
Black-winged Saltator - Saltator atripennis: Common at Otun Quimbaya and at the feeder at the Piha reserve and above Libano. One of the nicer Saltators.
Streaked Saltator Saltator striatipectus: Fairly common – seen above Libano and at the Cerulean Reserve.
EMBERIZIDAE
Common Chlorospingus - Chlorospingus ophthalmicus: Seen at Otun Quimbaya and Cerulean Reserve.
Yellow-throated Chlorospingus– Chlorospingus flavigularis: Common at RNA Arrierito.
Orange-billed Sparrow - Arremon aurantiirostris: 3 in total at El Paujil Reserve.
Olive Finch– Arremon castaneiceps: Good looks of this pretty Sparrow at RNA Las Tangaras.
Chestnut-capped Brushfinch - Arremon brunneinucha: 1 at Cerulean Reserve.
Gray-browed Brushfinch – Arremon assimilis: Amazing views at the worm feeders at Rio Blanco.
Black-headed Brushfinch – Arremon atricapillus: Nice looks at a responsive one above Libano. The relationships among the forms assigned to the atricapillus and torquatus groups are controversial, with virtually no relevant data available. Wetmore et al. (1984), Paynter (1970a), and Remsen & Graves (1995) treated the atricapillus group as conspecific with B. torquatus largely because of the intermediate phenotypes shown by subspecies such as tacarcunae and costaricensis. Hellmayr (1938), Meyer de Schauensee (1966), Sibley & Monroe (1990), and Ridgely & Tudor (1989) treated them as two species because of the close geographical approach of nominate atricapillus and B. t. assimilis without signs of gene flow. Donegan et al. (2007) found B. [t.] atricapillus and B. [t.] assimilis to replace one another elevationally in the East Andes of Colombia (Santander and Boyacá departments), without any evidence of hybridization, suggesting that treatment of this complex within a single species is not supportable. Sibley& Monroe (1990) considered B. torquatus and B. atricapillus, along with Middle American B. virenticeps, to form a superspecies. Buarremon virenticeps was considered conspecific with B. torquatus by Paynter (1970a) and Wetmore et al. (1984), but was treated as a separate species by Paynter (1978), AOU (1983, 1998), and Ridgely & Tudor (1989). Cadena & Cuervo’s (2010) analysis of voice, plumage,
and genetics in the group indicates that as many as eight species should be recognized in this complex. Range Restricted.
Rufous-collared Sparrow - Zonotrichia capensis: Numerous at higher elevations.
Mustached Brushfinch - Atlapetes albofrenatus: very good views of 4 at the Recurve-billed Bushbird reserve. We saw the albofrenatus race. Range Restricted.
White-naped (Yellow-throated) Brushfinch – Atlapetes (gutteralis) albinucha: 2 at Las Tangaras, 3 at Otun Quimbaya and also at Los Nevados NP and above Libano at La Tigrera some of the gutturalis form. The SACC says- Paynter (1964) provided rationale for merging the Atlapetes gutturalis group into A. albinucha White-naped Brush-Finch; and this treatment was followed by Paynter (1970a), AOU (1998), and Dickinson (2003) but not by Restall (2007). The two certainly look very different but the IOC says Yellow-throated Brushfinch Atlapetes gutturalis intergrades and is conspecific with White-naped Brushfinch A. albinucha.
Yellow-headed Brushfinch – Atlapetes flaviceps: 1 seen where we stopped for road works on our way out from Los Nevados NP to Libano and 4 more seen in the early morning above Libano. An extremely localized endemic in real danger. Formerly (e.g., Meyer de Schauensee 1970, Hilty & Brown 1986, Dickinson 2003) known as "Olive-headed Brush-Finch". Called"Yellow-headed Brush-Finch" in BirdLife International (2000). SACC proposal passed to change English name to the latter because the historical name is inaccurate and misleading. ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
Pale-naped Brush-Finch - Atlapetes pallidinucha: 1 seen at Los Nevados NP and another one seen at Cerulean Reserve.
Slaty Brush-Finch – Atlapetes schistaceus: 2 seen at Chingaza NP and 2 more seen at Rio Blanco reserve.
Tricolored Brush-Finch – Atlapetes tricolor: 4 seen at Las Tangaras Reserve.
CARDINALIDAE
Summer Tanager – Piranga rubra: Common in a variety of plumages at different localities.
Scarlet Tanager – Piranga olivacea: 1 seen at Paujil Reserve.
Red-hooded Tanager - Piranga rubriceps: 1 seen above San Vicente.
Sooty Ant-Tanager - Habia gutturalis: A superb Nechí endemic. We saw 3 at La Victoria and 2 more at Paujil Reserve. It has a restricted range within north-west Colombia, where it occurs in the upper Sinú valley at the north end of the West Andes, and east along the north base of the Andes to the middle Magdalena valley. Despite a report that it may benefit from forest destruction, it is now adjudged rare in (often streamside) undergrowth in tall secondary and patchy woodland at 100-1,100m. It is highly insectivorous, with pairs or small family groups following swarms of army ants or joining mixed-species flocks. Suitable habitat within its range is unprotected and relatively reduced. The middle and lower Magdalena valley has been extensively deforested since the 19th century (foragriculture), and clearance of its favored foothills has been near total since the 1950s. NEAR THRATENED ENDEMIC.
Crested Ant-Tanager – Habia cristata: 1 apparently uninterested in playback at Otun Quimbaya but great views above Libano. Great looks and some pictures of this endemic. ENDEMIC.
Rose-breasted Grosbeak- Pheucticus ludovicianus: Pleasently common on its way north; 1 above Libano and 3 more above San Vicente.
PARULIDAE
Northern Waterthrush- Parkesea noveboracencis: 1 seen on two consecutive days at Las Tangaras Lodge and 1 more on the trail at RNA Paujil. The genus is named for pioneer US Ornithogist Theodore (Ted) Parker.
Black and White Warbler – Mniiotilta varia: Cool bird! Pleasantly frequent throughout the tour.
Tennessee Warbler – Vermivora peregrina: two at the banana feeder at RNA Piha and 3 above San Vicente.
Mourning Warbler – Oporornis agilis: One above Libano and one more above San Vicente.
American Redstart - Setophaga ruticilla: 1 at Otun Quimbaya, 2 at La Victoria and one more in the coffee plantation above San Vicente.
Cerulean Warbler – Dendroica cerulea: One above Libano VULNERABLE.
Tropical Parula – Parula pitiayumi: At Piha reserve and above San Vicente and 2 more at Recurvebill Reserve.
American Yellow Warbler – Dendroica aestiva: This North American Migrant was seen around La Florida Park and at La Victoria and 3 more above San Vicente. The SACC says: Many authors suspect that the breeding populations of Dendroica petechia in South America may represent one or more separate species from North American wintering populations, but species limits in the "Yellow Warbler' complex are controversial (Klein and Brown 1994). Ridgely & Greenfield (2001) used a two-species classification, with North American wintering populations as one species, D. aestiva ("Yellow Warbler") and tropical resident populations as another, D. petechia ("Mangrove Warbler"). A three-species classification, as used by Hilty (2003), would separate the tropical populations into two species: mainly Pacific coastal populations, D. erithachorides ("Mangrove Warbler"), and Caribbean D. petechia ("Golden Warbler"). Olson (1980) noted that the South American populations on the Pacific coast show a gradation of characters between the erithachorides and petechia groups. SACC proposal to split petechia into two or more species did not pass due to insufficient published data. The IOC differs however and splits the birds into North American Yellow Warbler and Mangrove Warbler.
Bay-breasted Warbler - Setophaga castanea: Pleasently common in a variety of plumages in several localities.
Blackburnian Warbler – Setophaga fusca: Regularly recorded throughout the tour – a very pretty bird.
Buff-rumped Warbler Myiothlypis fulvicauda: A few near Libano, La Victoria and El Paujil.
Citrine Warbler – Myiothlypis luteoviridis richardsoni: Seen at Chingaza NP. This subspecies richardsoni of western Colombia was formerly (e.g. Hellmayr 1935) treated as a separate species – Richardson’s Warbler.
Gray-throated Warbler - Myiothlypis cinereicollis: very good views of 4 individuals at the Bushbird reserve. Range Restricted.
Russet-crowned Warbler – Myiothlypis coronatus: 1 at Rio Blanco.
Golden-crowned Warbler – Basileuterus culicivora: 1 at Bushbird reserve.
Rufous-capped Warbler - Basileuterus rufifrons delatterii: 2 above Libano and one more at Bushbird reserve. The delatrii group of subspecies, from Guatemala south to northwestern South America, was formerly (e.g., Hellmayr 1935) treated as separate species from the Basileuterus rufifrons of (mainly) Mexico, but they evidently intergrade in Guatemala and Honduras (Monroe 1968, AOU 1983).
Three-striped Warbler - Basileuterus tristriatus: Common.
Canada Warbler – Cardellina canadensis: Common.
Slate-throated Whitestart - Myioborus miniatus: A common, widespread and delightful resident of the montane forests.
Golden-fronted Whitestart – Myioborus ornatus: We saw the chrysops and ornatus races at various locations– a very pretty bird. ENDEMIC.
Masked Yellowthroat – Geothlypis aequinoctialis: 2 seen near La Florida Park.
ICTERIDAE
Russet-backed Oropendola Zarhynchus angustifrons: Fairly common.
Crested Oropendola - Psarocolius decumanus: Seen at El Paujil Reserve and few others localities in small numbers.
Northern Mountain Cacique - Cacicus leucoramphus: 12 seen at Alto Las Ventanas. Cacicus leucoramphus is split from C. chrysonotus (Southern Mountain Cacique) (Jaramillo & Burke 1999; Ridgely & Greenfield 2001; Hilty 2003); The SACC says -The northern (leucoramphus) and southern (chrysonotus) groups of subspecies were treated as separate species by Blake (1968b), but most classifications have treated them as a single species (e.g., Hellmayr 1937, Meyer de Schauensee 1966, 1970, Ridgely & Tudor 1989, Fjeldså & Krabbe 1990; and usually as Cacicus leucoramphus, an error, because chrysonotus has priority) because specimens near the contact zone show some signs of gene flow (Hellmayr 1937, Bond 1953). However, see Jaramillo & Burke (1999) for possible reasons for ranking them as species; This was followed by Ridgely & Greenfield (2001) and Hilty (2003) but not Restall (2007). So if you have seen Mountain Cacique in southern Peru or Bolivia – this is a different species now.
Yellow-tailed Oriole - Icterus mesomelas: 2 seen above San Vicente.
Orange-crowned Warbler - Icterus auricapillus: 1 seen on our way from Piha Reserve to Las Tangaras.
Baltimore Oriole - Icterus galbula: 1 seen above Libano and another one on our travel day from Paujil reserve and one more above San Vicente.
Yellow Oriole – Icterus nigrogularis: Seen on the way to RNA Paujil and also at Paujil reserve itself.
Red-bellied Grackle – Hypopyrrhus pyrohpogaste: 5 seen very well near RNA Arrierito as we were leaving the Lodge on our travel day to Las Tangaras. ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
Yellow-hooded Blackbird – Chrysmus icterocephalus: Common at Parque La Florida and near RNA Paujil.
Shiny Cowbird – Molothorus bonariensis: Common.
Carib Grackle - Quiscalus lugubris: A few seen during our drives in and out from El Paujil Reserve and to Ocaña. This species is spreading south at a fast rate and has reached Bogota where it parasites House Sparrows.
Eastern Meadowlark Sturnella magna: A few at the Guascar Gravel Pits and Parque La Florida. This is an isolated population.
Red-breasted Meadowlark - Sturnella militaris: Fairly common – seen near Paujil on our way in and out.
FRINGILLIDAE
Andean Siskin – Spinus spinescens: Fairly common at Chingaza and Los Nevados NP.
Yellow-bellied Siskin – Spinus xanthrogaster: A few on 3 different days.
Lesser Goldfinch - Spinus psaltria: 1 seen around La Florida Park.
Velvet-fronted Euphonia – Euphonia concinna: 4 in total seen well on the Laguna el Hato road. ENDEMIC.
Thick-billed Euphonia - Euphonia laniirostris. Common.
Golden-rumped Euphonia - Euphonia cyanocephala: A pair seen apparently nesting in the coffee plantation above San Vicente – great views!
Orange-bellied Euphonia - Euphonia xanthogaster: A few throughout the tour and like most races, the birds we saw (oressinoma), are actually yellow-bellied. A species conspicuously absent from the, (impoverished) Santa Marta Mountains.
Blue-naped Chlorophonia - Chlorophonia cyanea: 1 seen at Recurvebill Bushbird reserve.
Chestnut-breasted Chlorophonia - Chlorophonia pyrrhophrys: 3 seen well from the clearing at Las Tangaras Reserve.