birding...

Black-chinned Mountain-Tanager Anisognathus notabilis ©Mark Gurney of Tropical Birding http://www.tropicalbirding.com/

Colombia has 1869 bird species, according to the latest checklist following the South American Checklist Committee, which is more birds than any other country in the world and a number that is growing every year though new discoveries and range extensions. In addition to the Hilty fieldguide the excellent new Restall two volume Guide to the Birds of Northern South America provides a comprehensive coverage.

With the great improvement in the security situation in the past five years, many areas of the country are now stable and safe for birders to return. However still very few birders have seen such legendary critically endangered birds as the Blue-billed Curassow, Gorgeted Wood-Quail, Chestnut-bellied Hummingbird, Colombian Mountain Grackle, Recurve-billed Bushbird, Yellow-eared parrot, Santa Marta Parakeet, Fuertes’s Parrot and Dusky Starfrontlet. Fortunately due to the conservation efforts of Fundación ProAves, all these and many more endangered species are now protected by a growing network of nature reserves, which offer good accommodation and facilities for researchers and visiting birders.

Whilst Colombia’s dangerous reputation is now to some extent unjustified, for example kidnappings are more prevalent in countries like Mexico, Brazil and Venezuela, one should never be complacent, as the guerrilla presence remains in some remote areas, particularly the coca-growing lowlands of the Colombian Amazon. As with other Latin American countries, avoid travelling overnight. The British Foreign and Commonwealth office website provides a good starting point for up to date security advice, but some 'general area' warnings cover safe areas, for example Ocaña in Norte de Santander (for Recurve-billed Bushbird). We strongly recommend that anyone wishing to wish Colombia work with tour operators, or organizations such as ProAves that have up do date local knowledge for specific areas.

Colombians are extremely hospitable towards foreigners and they will make certain that your impression of their beautiful country is something different to what is often presented in the international press. Unfortunately, facilities in many reserves and national parks are often rustic owing to the lack of ecotourism in recent decades. However, this is changing as exemplified by the luxury of the scenic El Dorado bird reserve in the endemic rich Santa Marta area, where 17 (at least) endemics can be found, many of them with little difficulty.

There are still some good areas in the vicinity of Bogotá, especially the marshes near the airport with the key birds being Bogotá Rail and Apolinar´s Wren, and an area below Chingaza NP where the Flame-winged Parakeet can be seen.

The Cerulean Warbler bird reserve in Santander is more interesting for the Gorgeted Wood-Quail, White-mantled Barbet and Black Inca. For lowland species in the Magdalena Valley the Paujíl reserve is recommended for the Blue-billed Curassow as well as less elusive species such as Sooty Ant-Tanager and Beautiful Woodpecker. For the more energetic birder the eponymous Dusky Starfrontlet and Chesnut-capped Piha bird reserves, or the spectacular Mirador reserve where Fuertes’s Parrot was rediscovered in 2002, all involve some good hiking or the use of horses. Many areas in the south of Colombia are still problematical, but the large Pangan bird reserve in Nariño contains many endemics such as Chocó Vireo as well as others such as Long-wattled Umbrellabird and Banded Ground-Cuckoo whose ranges straddle the border with Ecuador.

Colombia is a must for any serious birder though a single trip can only hope to sample its extraordinary biodiversity.

This page brought to you in association with:
Manu Expeditions

Manu Expeditions is a professional Peru-based company with 25 years experience, offering bespoke birding trips to Peru, Bolivia, Chile & Colombia. Our very experienced neo-tropical birding guides and naturalists specialise in catering for serious bird watchers and photographers as they know where to find the more sought after and difficult species, but do not ignore other aspects of Natural History. Our tours cover the coast, highlands and rainforests and our leaders provide you with excellence in birding whilst ensuring that arrangements are trouble free [we are bird watchers ourselves so know how important smooth logistics are]. Private trips are tailored to your needs being as intense or relaxed as you like and we never cut corners, using only top class accommodation and vehicles.