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South America - Colombia

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

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

Trip Reports Central western Colombia: one week late August 2009, author Martin Reid (added September 14, 2009) (La Romera, Jardin, Rio Blanco, Nevados del Ruiz, Otun-Quimbaya, El Cairo, Chingaza NP, Rufous-fronted Parakeet, Flame-winged Parakeet, Yellow-eared Parrot, Gold-Ringed Tanager, Black-and-gold Tanager, Fulvous-dotted Treerunner, Indigo Flowerpiercer) Colombia - An Antpitta special, author Ashley Banwell (added November 18, 2006) (Brown banded Antpitta, Bicoloured Antpitta, Santa-marta Antpitta, Tawny Antpitta,Undulated Antpitta) The Grand Colombian Birding Tour by Ben Freeman / EcoTurs, author Fundacion ProAves (link created March 5, 2010) (We recorded 653 species (48 endemics), plus 29 species heard, across the Andes of Colombia, including Choco Vireo, Santa Marta Parakeet, Gold-ringed Tanager, Dusky Starfrontlet, Yellow-eared Parrot, Recurve-billed Bushbird...) COLOMBIA- Pacific Coast, Rio Blanco, Los Nevados, Bogota - February 2009, author Gina Nichol (link created March 4, 2009) (Bogota Rail, Black Inca, Silvery-throated Spinetail, Brown-banded Antpitta, Red-bellied Grackle, Baudo Oropendola) Colombia February 2007, author Nick Athanas (link created March 10, 2007) (Blue-billed Curassow,Gorgeted Wood-Quail,Yellow-eared Parrot,Indigo-winged Parrot,Chestnut-bellied Hummingbird,Dusky Starfrontlet,Black Inca,White-mantled Barbet,Brown-banded Antpitta,Chestnut-bellied Flowerpiercer,Red-bellied Grackle) Tropical Birding tour to Colombia, Nov-Dec 2007, author Nick Athanas (link created January 8, 2008) (Santa Marta endemics, Mountain Grackle, Chestnut-capped Piha, Multicolored Tanager, Dusky Starfrontlet) Colombia - North Andes and the Choco Vireo - December 26, 2009 - January 13, 2010, author Forrest Rowland (added February 24, 2010) (Antioquia, Santander, Sabana de Bogota, Chingaza, Paujil, Pauxi Pauxi) Birding Northern Colombia in a week by EcoTurs, author Fundacion ProAves (link created February 22, 2010) (This tour focused on seeing great birds at an enjoyable pace with a good mix of endemics and rare species from a wide range of habitats - cloud forest to mangroves. Inc. Black-backed Thornbill, Vermillion Cardinal, Santa Marta Woodstar, Santa Marta Screec) Colombian Endemics Bonanza birding trip by EcoTurs (Jan 2010), author Fundacion ProAves (link created February 22, 2010) (Outstanding tour across the Colombian Andes and Magdalena valley before finishing in El Dorado Bird Reserve. 49 endemics and 553 target species including Fuertes's Parrot, Blue-billed Curassow, Gorgeted Wood-Quail, Recurve-billed Bushbird, Gold-ringed Tan) A report on Birding Colombia: endemics and threatened species., author Fundacion ProAves (link created February 22, 2010) (This fast paced tour visited key sites across central and northern Colombia amassing a staggering 45 endemics in just 17 days, inc. Chestnut-capped Piha, Gold-ringed Tanager, Munchique Wood Wren, Dusky Starfrontlet, Santa Marta Screech-Owl... ) Colombia: East Andes, Guajira, Santa Marta - December 2009, author Martin Reid (added December 31, 2009) (Rogitama, Soata, Monterredondo, Riohacha/Camarones, El Dorado Lodge, Mountain Grackle, Chestnut-bellied Humingbird, Niceforo's Wren, Black Inca, Turquoise Dacnis, Indogo-capped Hummingbird, Santa Marta Sabrewing, Black-backed Thornbill) The Colombian Andes - June 2007, author Barry Walker (added December 27, 2007) (Colombian Andean endemics and the Santa Marta mountains) The Colombian Andes and the Santa Marta Mountains, author Barry Walker (link created December 27, 2007) (Santa Marta and Andean Endemics) Colombia - Parque Nacional Los Nevados - January 9th - 16th 2007, author Tim Mitzen (added August 15, 2007) (Multi-colored Tanager, Masked Saltator, Olive-headed Brush-Finch) The Colombian Andes - March 2008, author Barry Walker (added April 6, 2008) (The Central Colombian Andes and the Santa Marta Mountains - endemics) Showing the 15 Most Recent Trip Reports Posted BACK TO TRIP REPORTS HOME PAGE POST A TRIP REPORT EDIT YOUR TRIP REPORTS

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