An intense hard two week day trip to North Peru targeting some of the sexy species of the area -we successfully saw some very good species indeed including Scarlet-banded Barbet, Long- whiskered Owlet, Stigian Owl, Marvelous Spatuletail, Koepcke’s Hermit, Royal Sunangel, Pale-billed & Rusty-tinged Antpitta’s, Point-tailed Palmcreeper, Jet Manakin, Gray-tailed Piha, Fiery-throated & Scarlet-breasted Fruiteaters, Mishana Tyrannulet, Bar-winged Wood-Wren, Cinnamon-breasted Tody-Tyrant, Varzea Thrush and Black-necked Red Cotinga.
We were unfortunate with strong sun on some days at Abra Patricia and low flock activity there but we managed to see a wide variety of the special birds of this endemic area including 46 species of Hummingbirds most seen very well at feeding stations, 44 species of Tanager and recorded 13 true Peruvian endemics and many other range restricted species including several near endemics.
DAY BY DAY ACTIVITIES
DAY 1 July 26th: Meet at Lima airport and flight to Tarapoto. On arrival in Tarapoto we met our drivers & field chefs and drove south to the now well-known Quebrada Upaquihua which Barry had discovered on an LSU field expedition with Dan Lane in 2000. We spent the balance of the day birding here with some stops along the way before returning to our hotel in bustling Tarapoto.
DAY 2 July 27th: Tarapoto to the Barbet Camp. Retracing our steps to the south we left our bus and switched to pre-organized specially modified Toyota 4 x 4 pickups for several hours to the Barbet Camp. A hard, hard long drive and the skill of these drivers even with all wheel drive vehicles was amazing. There was little time for birding and we settled into camp with a 3 course dinner which concluded the day and we retired with great expectations for the following morning. In the evening the heavens opened and it rained breaking off to a steady drizzle at dawn. Night at the Barbet Camp at 1400 meters.
DAY 3 July 28th: A full day birding the Ridgeline trail out of camp and to the East. Peruvian Independence Day! It was birdable! After a hot breakfast and coffee we set off with trepidation to the muddy trail which was worse than our expectations. It was a tricky muddy trail and we had to deal with some drizzle showers but it was incredibly rewarding– we spent all day with a field lunch packed in by Aurelio, seeing multiple Scarlet-banded Barbets and other hard to see species and spent an elated night in camp with no rain (important for our exit next day). Birding elevations 1450-1700 meters. Night in Camp.
DAY 4 July 29th: Birding the camp area and onto Tarapoto. The weather behaved. As Aurelio and co were breaking camp we birded down the road in bright sunshine and saw some great birds. Then it was a long drive back to Tarapoto for the night. Birding elevations 1300-1450m.
DAY 5 July 30th: Tarapoto to Yurimaguas. Dawn found us at the La Esclalera mountain range near the tunnel on the road to Yurimaguas. A field breakfast was accompanied by Fiery-throated Fruiteater and some mixed flocks. We birded the tunnel area until mid-morning, blighted by strong sun, when we moved to the Aconabikh private reserve which has well developed feeders and the endemic Koepcke’s Hermit plus a variety of Manakin leks and many other species. We dawdled here and had lunch before moving onto Yurimaguas with a couple of stops and to our country retreat hotel complete with pool and view of the Huallaga River. Birding elevations 800-1100 meters.
DAY 6 July 31st: Yurimaguas to San Lorenzo. To the airport and two flights to the small airstrip at San Lorenzo on the Maranon River. Sadly Jane had been taken ill with serious stomach problems and decided to stay with John at the hotel until our return – a wise decision. The rest of us flew on two flights to San Lorenzo, dropped our stuff at the surprisingly adequate hotel and went for afternoon scouting in a fleet of moto-taxis! Night at the Hotel Canu. Birding elevation 140 meters.
DAY 7 August 1st: San Lorenzo. A full days birding not far from town in lowland rainforest. Our quest was the White-masked Antbird but there were lots of other birds around too. We spent all day birding here before returning for refreshing showers and cold beer! Birding elevation 140 meters. Night at the Hotel Canu.
DAY 8 August 2nd: San Lorenzo to Yurimaguas and Wankanki Lodge. To the airstrip and flights out, pick up John and Jane and laundry, pay our bills and travel to the very birdy Wankanki Lodge. We stopped at Quebrada Quiscarumi to look at the roosting Oilbirds there. Birding elevation 800 - 1000 meters.
DAY 9 August 3rd: Wankanki Lodge. A full day at Wanquanki. Apart from birding the garden area and the nearby forest we spent a lot of time at the spectacular Hummingbird feeders where we had a great time. A chase in the evening got us Stygian Owl which bizarrely perches on tall microwave antennas in the city of Moyobamba like something out of Harry Potter! Birding elevations 900 -1000 meters.
DAY 10 August 4th: Wankanki Lodge to Abra Patricia. Early morning at Wankanki and we then reluctantly headed on to the open country dominated by bracken and Mauritia Palm near Rioja for lunch and birding, and we visited some new Hummingbird feeders at Aguas Verdes before continuing to the ECOAN Owlet Lodge at Abra Patrica with some late afternoon birding there. [ECOAN is a Peruvian NGO working mainly on the conservation of cloud and Polylepis forests http://www.ecoanperu.org/] The evening found us at Alto Nieve a new private conservation area with nice Hummingbird feeders and then led by the local expert we headed for the forest and a Long-whiskered Owlet stakeout. Just as we got ready it started to rain heavily. We waited but decided to cut our losses and try next evening. Birding elevations 900 -2000 meters Night Owlet Lodge.
DAY 11 August 5th: Abra Patricia. We spent our time between walking trails and birding the roadside at different elevations between the pass at 2200 meters to 1700 at Alta Nieve. Flocks were scarce but we did manage to winkle out most of the specialties of the area, had a marvelous time at the Hummingbird feeders. Bright sunlight hampered us somewhat along the road. The evening found us once again at Alto Nieve and guess what? just as we got ready it started to rain heavily. We waited, it stopped, the Owlet responded immediately and we all got great views! .Night Owlet Lodge.
DAY 12 August 6th: San Lorenzo and Huembo. Morning found us at the bottom of the Rio Chido steep trail (almost a staircase in parts) that took us up to a small patch of Chusquea bamboo but we made it and a Pale-billed Antpitta treated us to marvelous views. We then went to the Marvelous Spatuletail interpretation center at Huembo where we were treated to – well, Spatuletails, amongst others, including Little Woodstar. In the late afternoon we returned to Owlet Lodge. Birding elevations 2000- 2800.
DAY 13 August 7th: Birding above and below Afluente. All morning at lower elevations at Abra Patricia where we really struggled on a hot sunny day. After lunch at Puente Aguas Verdes we continued to Tarapoto for the night. Night Tarapoto.
Day 14 August 8th: Birding Juan Guerra and flight to Lima. A few hours birding at Juan Guerra and then to the airport for noon flight to Lima and connections home.
Family: TINAMIDAE (TINAMOUS)
GRAY TINAMOU – Tinamus tao. Heard only.
HOODED TINAMOU Nothocercus nigrocapillus. 2 seen in the same day at Alto Nieve and Abra Patricia. A hard to see species.
LITTLE TINAMOU Crypturellus soui. Heard only.
TATAUPA TINAMOU Crypturellus tataupa. Heard only. Tataupa means house in Guarani as in those parts it was often around villages and houses.
Family: ANATIDAE (DUCKS AND GEESE)
COMB DUCK Sarkidiornis melanotus. 60+ on the Huallaga River on the way to Quebrada Upaquihua.
Family: CRACIDAE (GUANS)
SPECKLED CHACHALACA Ortalis guttata. Several seen.
Family: PHALACROCORIDAE (CORMORANTS)
NEOTROPIC CORMORANT Phalacrocorax brasilanus. Common the Huallaga River.
Family: ARDEIDAE (HERONS)
LITTLE BLUE HERON Egretta cerulea. A few here and there.
SNOWY EGRET Egretta thula. A few here and there.
CATTLE EGRET Bubulcus ibis. Common throughout the trip.
GREAT EGRET Ardea alba. Some in the rice paddies near Tarapoto.
STRIATED HERON Butorides striatus. 3 seen in the rice paddies near Tarapoto.
Family: CATHARTIDAE (NEW WORLD VULTURES)
TURKEY VULTURE Cathartes aura. Common throughout the trip.
BLACK VULTURE Coragyps atratus. Common throughout the trip.
LESSER-YELLOW-HEADED VULTURE Cathartes burrovianus. One at least in the open grasslands.
GREATER-YELLOW-HEADED VULTURE Cathartes melambratus. A few at San Lorenzo in the lowlands.
Family: ACCIPITRIDAE (HAWKS)
GRAY-HEADED KITE Leptodon cayenensis. 2 on consecutive days at Puente Machete San Lorenzo.
SWALLOW-TAILED KITE Elanoides forficatus. One of the most beautiful raptors in South America! Several seen.
BLACK-HAWK EAGLE Spizaetus tyrannus. One at Quebrada Upaquihua.
BLACK AND CHESTNUT EAGLE Spizaetus isidori. One on the way to the Barbet camp.
SNAIL KITE Rostrhamus sociabilis. In the lowlands always near water.
DOUBLE-TOOTHED KITE Harpagus bidentatus. Around 8 seen.
PLUMBEOUS KITE Ictinia plumbea. A few at San Lorenzo.
ROADSIDE HAWK Rupornis magnirostris. Many of this common raptor seen.
WHITE-RUMPED HAWK Parabuteo lecorrhous. Seen on consecutive days at Abra Patricia.
SHORT-TAILED HAWK Buteo brachyurus. 4 seen in total.
Family: ARAMIDAE (LIMPKIN)
LIMPKIN Aramus guarauna. One.
Family: RALLIDAE (RAILS)
CHESTNUT-HEADED CRAKE Anurolimnas castaneiceps. Heard only. Close but no cigar!
GRAY-NECKED WOOD-RAIL Aramides cajaneus. 2 seen.
RUSSET-CROWNED CRAKE Anurolimnas viridis. Heard only near Tarapoto.
Family: RECURVIROSTRIDAE (STILTS & AVOCETS)
BLACK-NECKED STILT Himantopus mexicanus. Common in the rice fields. Taxonomy is a bit confusing. The SACC says “Himantopus mexicanus was formerly considered a subspecies of Old World H. himantopus (“Common Stilt”). Some authors have treated southern South American melanurus (White-backed Stilt) as a separate species. The six taxa in the genus Himantopus form a near-globally distributed superspecies and between one to six species-level taxa recognized by various authors. Virtually no data are available relevant to taxon-ranking of allopatric populations. The contact between mexicanus and melanurus in South America, where at least some hybridization occurs, affords one of the best opportunities for such study.
Family CHARADRIIDAE (PLOVERES)
PIED PLOVER Hoploxypterus cayanus. One seen in the rice fields from the 4 x 4 ‘s. Formerly called a lapwing, which it clearly is not, the IOC has come down in favour of Plover.
Family: JACANIDAE (JACANAS)
WATTLED JACANA Jacana jacana. Common near Tarapoto.
Family: LARIDAE (GULLS & TERNS)
Large-billed Tern Phaetusa simplex. Two in total in the lowlands.
Family: COLUMBIDAE (PIGEONS)
BAND-TAILED PIGEON Patagioenas fasciata. Several sightings. Note that recent research has shown that the genus Columba is paraphyletic, with New World taxa being more closely related to Streptopelia than to Old World Columba pigeons. This is consistent with differences between New World and Old World Columba in terms of morphology, serology and behavior. The suggestion was made to place all New World forms in the genus Patagioenas, and the AOU recently adopted this change in its latest checklist supplement.
PALE-VENTED PIGEON - Patagioenas cayennensis. Common in the lowlands.
PLUMBEOUS PIGEON Patagioenas plumbea. Mostly heard but 4 seen at Abra Patricia.
RUDDY PIGEON Patagioenas subvinacea. Mostly heard but at least one seen. VULNERABLE.
EARED DOVE Zenaida auriculata. Very common.
WHITE-TIPPED DOVE Leptotila verreauxi. Fairly common throughout the trip. Named for the impressive sounding John Baptiste Edouard Verreaux (1810-1868) French Natural History dealer and collector.
WHITE-THROATED QUAIL- DOVE Geotrygon frenata. Heard only, at the barbet camp.
RUDDY GROUND-DOVE Columbina talpacoti. Common in the eastern lowlands.
CROAKING GROUND-DOVE Columbina cruziana. In Lima.
BLUE-GROUND DOVE Claravis pretiosa. Several seen around Moyobamba.
Family: OPISTHOCOMIDAE (HOATZIN)
HOATZIN. 8 seen at Quebrada Upaquihua.
Family: CUCULIDAE (CUCKOOS)
SQUIRREL CUCKOO Piaya cayana. Regular sightings.
SMOOTH-BILLED ANI Crotophaga ani. Common in the eastern lowlands.
GREATER ANI Crotophaga major. One in Yuirmaguas.
STRIPED CUCKOO Tapera naevia. Heard only.
Family: STRIGIDAE (OWLS)
TROPICAL SCREECH-OWL Megascops choliba. One seen.
CINNAMON SCREECH-OWL Megascops pertersoni. Heard only. Range Restricted. Named for American pioneer ornithologist and artist Roger Tory Petersen (1908-1996).
BAND-BELLIED OWL Pulsatrix melanota. Heard only. At the Barbet camp but always late at night, also at Wankanki.
PERUVIAN PYGMY-OWL Glaucidium peruanum. Seen on top of a cactus in the Maranon.
FERRUGINOUS PYGMY-OWL Glaucidium brasilianum. Several heard and two seen.
LONG-WHISKERED OWLET Xenoglaux loweryi. Seen well on the second attempt at Abra Patricia Alta Nieve after rain. Xenoglaux = Strange Owl. Named for George Hines Lowery US Zoologist. ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
STYGIAN OWL - Asio stygius. Seen on a microwave antenna in Moyobamba – bizarre and wonderful – an impressive Owl. Stygius from the Greek meaning infernal. From the River Styx in the underworld.
Family STEATORNITHIDAE (OILBIRD)
OILBIRD Steatornis caripensis. 20+ flying about after dark at the usual cave between Tarapoto and Moyobamba. Steatornis = Fatbird. Baron von Humboldt recorded that young Oilbirds were culled each year and rendered into fat, melted down into oil, which was highly prized for cooking.
Family: CAPRIMULGIDAE (NIGHTJARS)
SAND-COLORED NIGHTHAWK Chordeiles rupestris. Around 10 on the Huallaga River.
BLACKISH NIGHTJAR Caprimulgus nigrescens. At the Barbet camp.
COMMON PAUARQUE Nyctidromus albicollis. Two at Wankanki.
RUFOUS NIGHTJAR Antrostomus rufus. Heard only, at Wankanki.
Family: APODIDAE (SWIFTS)
WHITE-CHESTED SWIFT Cypseloides lemosi. Around 4 at least in a mixed swift flock on the way down from the Barbet camp. Named for Antonio J Lemos-Guzman, Governor of Cauca, Colombia. In the afterworld of Greek mythology, similar to the Christian area of Hell in texts such as The Divine Comedy and Paradise Lost, the ferryman Charon is believed to have transported the souls of the newly dead across this river into the underworld, though in the original Greek and Roman sources, as well as in Dante, it was the river Acheron that Charon plied. Dante put Phlegyas as ferryman over the Styx and made it the fifth circle of Hell, where the wrathful and sullen are punished by being drowned in the muddy waters for eternity, with the wrathful fighting each other.
CHESTNUT-COLLARED SWIFT Streptoprocne rutila. Seen on two dates.
WHITE-COLLARED SWIFT Streptoprocne zonaris. Seen on four days in big flocks.
GRAY-RUMPED SWIFT Chaetura cineireventris. On the way down from the Barbet Camp.
PALE-RUMPED SWIFT Chaetura egregia. On the way down from the Barbet camp.
SHORT-TAILED SWIFT Chaetura brachyura. Seen on several dates.
NEOTROPICAL PALM-SWIFT Tachornis squamata. Seen on two dates always near Mauritia palms.
Family: TROCHILIDAE (HUMMINGBIRDS)
WHITE-NECKED JACOBIN Florisuga mellivora. At the Wanquanki & Aconabikh Hummingbird Feeders.
RUFOUS-BREASTED HERMIT Glaucis hirsute. One seen repeatedly at Wanquanki and also at la Escalera.
BLACK-THROATED HERMIT Phaethornis atrimentalis. At the Wanquanki Hummingbird Feeders. We SAw the subspecies riojae. Range Restricted.
GREEN HERMIT Phaethornis guy. 5 at Alta Nieve.
GREAT –BILLED HERMIT Phaethornis malaris. At the Wanquanki & Aconabikh Hummingbird Feeders.
KOEPCKE’S HERMIT Phaethornis koepckeae. 4 at Escalera Aconabikh feeders. ENDEMIC.
BLACK-THROATED HERMIT Phaethornis atrimentalis. Seen repeatedly at Wanquanki.
REDDISH HERMIT Phaethornis ruber. Seen repeatedly at Wanquanki.
BLUE-FRONTED LANCEBILL Doryfera johannae. Common at Aguas Verdes and one at the La Escalera feeders.
GREEN-FRONTED LANCEBILL Doryfera ludovicae. One female at Aguas Verdes.
BROWN VIOLET-EAR Colibri delphinae. Two coming to the Owlet Lodge feeders and also at Huembo.
GREEN VIOLET-EAR Colibri thalassinus. Seen at the Huembo feeders and common. Thallasinus = sea-green.
SPARKLING VIOLET-EAR Colibri coruscans. Fairly common and seen several places during the trip. The bully of the feeders.
BLACK-THROATED MANGO Anthracothorax nigricollis. A few at the Wanquanki & Escalera Aconabikh Hummingbird Feeders.
ROYAL SUNANGEL Heliangelus regalis. One male at Abra Patricia. From the Grek Helios =sun, Angelos = angel. From the habit of this genus of lifting their wings momentarily as in stylized angel paintings, on alighting on a twig.
WIRE-CRESTED THORNTAIL Discosura popelairii. One was hard to see at the Aguas Verdes feeders in a flowering tree crown. Named for Jean Baptiste Baron Poplaire de Terloo, Belgian naturalist and collector in Peru.
RUFOUS-CRESTED COQUETTE Lophornis delattrei. Common at the Wanquanki Hummingbird feeders. Named for Adolphe de Lattre, French collector in Mexico and Colombia.
SPECKLED HUMMINGBIRD Adelomyia melanogenys. Excellent views at the feeders at Abra Patricia.
LONG-TAILED SYLPH Aglaiocercus kingi. Common at the Owlet Lodge feeders.
TYRIAN METALTAIL Metallura tyrianthina. 2 near the Pale-billed Antpitta site. Named after the color Tyrian purple. Variously known as Royal purple, Tyrian purple, purple of the ancients, this ancient dyestuff, mentioned in texts dating about 1600 BC, was produced from the mucus of the hypobranchial gland of various species of marine mollusks, notably Murex. Although originating in old port of Tyre in modern day Syria (hence the name), man's first large scale chemical industry spread throughout the world. With the decline of the Roman Empire, the use of the dye also declined and large scale production ceased with the fall of Constantinople in 1453. It was replaced by other cheaper dyes like lichen purple and madder.
GREEN-TAILED TRAINBEARER Lesbia nuna. A female at Huembo. From the Greek Lesbias – a woman of Lesbos. Nuna – from Nouna –Koali , a graceful Indian virgin in Jean F Denis’s novel (1829) “Ismael Ben Kaizar ou la decouverture du Nouveau Monde”. Food for thought?
GREENISH PUFFLEG Haplophaedia aureliae. 4 at the Alto Nieve feeders. Replaced in the south by Buff-thighed Puffleg.
EMERALD-BELLIED PUFFLEG Eriocnemis alinae. Common in the forest and at the feeders at the Owlet Lodge.
MARVELOUS SPATULETAIL Loddigesia mirabilis. Marvellous! Several males and females seen repeatedly at Huembo. The genus is named after British taxidermist and natural history dealer G. Loddiges (1784-1846), who specialised in hummingbirds! ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
BRONZY INCA Coeligena coeligena. Daily at the Owlet Lodge feeders and some at the Huembo feeders.
COLLARED INCA Coeligena torquata. Another star player at the Owlet Lodge feeders.
VIOLET-THROATED STARFRONTLET Coeligena violifer. 1 on the hike up to the Pale-billed Antpitta.
SWORD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD Ensifera ensifera. Wow – fighting at the Owlet Lodge feeders!
CHESTNUT-BREASTED CORONET Boissonneaua metthewsi. The dominant bully at the Owlet Lodge and Huembo feeders. Named for English botanist and collector in the neotropics Andrew Matthews.
BOOTED RACKET-TAIL Ocreatus underwoodii. Great looks at the Abra Patricia feeders. The Racket tailed Puffleg was unknown in life but specimens existed in various London cabinets, whence a drawing was sent in 1832 by Mr. Underwood on behalf of Charles Stokes, a London stockbroker and collector.
GOULD’S JEWELFRONT Heliodoxa aurescens. 6 or so at the La Escalera feeders. Named for John Gould English publisher, collector and artist.
FAWN-BREASTED BRILLIANT Heliodoxa rubinoides. One of the stars of the Owlet Lodge feeders.
VIOLET-FRONTED BRILLIANT Heliodoxa leadbeateri. Common at the Owlet Lodge feeders.
LONG-BILLED STARTHROAT Heliomaster longirostris. One at the Wanquanki Hummingbird Feeders.
WHITE-BELLIED WOODSTAR Chaetocercus mulsant. Wonderful views of this insect-bird, at the Owlet Lodge feeders.
LITTLE WOODSTAR Chaetocercus bombus. A rare hummingbird – 1 seen in the garden at Huembo. VULNERABLE, Range Restricted.
PURPLE-COLLARED WOODSTAR Myrtis fanny. One at Huembo.
BLUE-TAILED EMERALD Chlorostilbon mellisugus. Seen at the Wanquanki feeders.
VIOLET-HEADED HUMMINGBIRD Klais guimeti. One + at the Wanquanki Hummingbird Feeders.
GREY-BREASTED SABREWING Campylopterus largipennis. Common at the Wanquanki feeders.
FORK-TAILED WOODNYMPH Thalurania furcata. Common at the Wanquanki Hummingbird Feeders and a few on the Barbet Ridge.
WHITE-BELLIED HUMMINGBIRD Amazilia chionogaster. Visiting the feeders at Huembo.
ANDEAN EMERALD Amazilia franciae. 4 seen at the ECOAN feeders at Huembo and at the Owlet Lodge.
SAPPHIRE-SPANGLED EMERALD Polyerata lactea. At the Wanquanki Hummingbird Feeders.
GOLDEN-TAILED SAPPHIRE Chrysuronia oenone. At the Wanquanki Hummingbird Feeders.
WHITE-CHINNED SAPPHIRE Hylocharis cyanus. At the Wanquanki Hummingbird Feeders.
Family: TROGONIDAE (TROGONS)
BLACK-TAILED TROGON Trogon melanurus. Heard only.
GREEN-BACKED TROGON Trogon viridis. Heard only.
COLLARED TROGON Trogon collaris. 2 on our last morning at Juan Guerra.
BLUE-CROWNED TROGON Trogon curucui. 2 at Wankanki.
Family: ALECEDINIDAE (KINGFISHERS)
RINGED KINGFISHER Megaceryle torquata. One seen near Tarapoto.
AMAZON KINGFISHER Chloroceryle amazona. One seen near Tarapoto.
GREEN KINGFISHER Chloroceryle americana. One seen near Tarapoto.
Family: MOMOTIDAE (MOTMOTS)
AMAZONIAN MOTMOT Momotus momota. Heard only.
BROAD-BILLED MOTMOT Electron platyrhynchum. One seen at Wankanki Lodge. From the Greek word for amber.
Family: GALBULIDAE (JACAMARS)
WHITE-EARED JACAMAR Galbalcyrhynchus leucotis. At Yurimaguas and San Lorenzo.
BLUISH-FRONTED JACAMAR Galbula cyanescens. 2 at Juan Guerra on our last morning seemed to please Lois in particular.
YELLOW-BILLED JACAMAR Galbula albirostris. One at San Lorenzo.
GREAT JACAMAR Jacamerops aureus. Near Tarapoto.
Family: BUCCONIDAE (PUFFBIRDS)
RUFOUS-CAPPED NUNLET Nonnula ruficapilla. One at Quebrada Upaquihua.
WHITE-FRONTED NUNBIRD Monasa morphoeus. 2 on the barbet Ridge. Monasa is Greek for solitary or a monk a reference to the plain plumage and quiet behavior of the Nunbirds. Morpheus – Greek mythology son of sleep and god of dreams.
BLACK-FRONTED NUNBIRD Monasa nigrifrons. A few at Juan Guerra.
SWALLOW-WING Chelidoptera tenebrosa. Seen on two consecutive days at Wankanki.
Family: CAPITONIDAE (NEW WORLD BARBETS)
SCARLET-CROWNED BARBET Capito aurovirens. A pair in the garden at our Yurimaguas hotel.
SCARLET-BANDED BARBET Capito wallacei VULNERABLE ENDEMIC. Our most targeted bird! We saw a total of 3 individuals and we saw them well! Stunning! Years before I had made the arduous climb from the Cushabatay River to the top of the Cordillera Azul. Now you can drive to them. I checked my GPS and where we saw them was 80 km away from the type locality. Doesn’t sound far but it would take you months to walk it! Stunning and satisfying!
GILDED BARBET Capito auratus. Common in the lowlands.
VERSICOLORED BARBET Eubucco versicolor. Common at the Barbet Camp with 4/5 seen on one day.
Family: RAMPHASTIDAE (TOUCANS)
WHITE-THROATED TOUCAN Ramphastos tucanus. Heard only.
CHANNEL-BILLED TOUCAN Ramphastos vitellinus. Heard only.
BLACK-MANDIBLED TOUCAN Ramphastos ambiguus. One seen above Afluente.
CHESTNUT-TIPPED TOUCANET Aulacorhynchus derbianus. 10+ seen at the Barbet Ridge. Named for Edward Smith Stanley 13th Earl of Derby and founder of the Knowsley Museum.
GOLDEN-COLLARED TOUCANET Selenidera reinwardtii. 4 seen near the barbet camp.
LETTERED ARACARI Pteroglossus inscriptus. 5 seen near san Lorenzo. “Arasari” is a Brazilian Amerindian name for a small toucan. In Greek Pteroglossus means “feather tongued” a reference to the slim feather-like tongues of toucans and aracaris.
IVORY-BILLED ARACARI Pteroglossus azara. Named for Brigadier-General Felix Manuel de Azara (1742-1821) Spanish Military engineer commanding the Paraguayan-Brazilian border.
CHESTNUT-EARED ARACARI Pteroglossus castanotis. 3 seen.
Family: PICIDAE (WOODPECKERS)
LAFRESNAYES PICULET Picumnus lafresnayi. One seen at Wankanki Lodge. Named for the impressive sounding Noel Frederic Armand Andre Baron de Lefresnay (1783-1861) French Ornithologist and collector. Range Restricted.
YELLOW-TUFTED WOODPECKER Melanerpes cruentatus. Recorded on 4 separate dates.
SMOKY-BROWN WOODPECKER Picoides fumigatus. One near Afluente.
LITTLE WOODPECKER Veniliornis passerinus. Seen near Moyobamba.
Family: FALCONIDAE (FALCONS)
LAUGHING FALCON Herpetotheres cachinnans. Heard only.
NORTHERN CRESTED CARACARA Caracara cheriway. 2 seen. As there are no true Crows in South America, Caracaras occupy that niche as omnivorous scavengers. 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) are referable to Northern Crested-Caracara C. cheriway while another form, the extinct Guadalupe Caracara C. lutosus, of Guadalupe Island, Mexico, has also been given its untimely species status. The SACC says “Caracara cheriway and C. plancus were formerly considered conspecific (e.g., Hellmayr & Conover 1949, Phelps & Phelps 1958a), sometimes also including C. lutosus of Guadalupe Island (e.g., Meyer de Schauensee 1970, Stresemann and Amadon 1979), but the ranges of cheriway and plancus are nearly parapatric with no sign of intergradation, contrary to earlier interpretations (see Banks REF); they constitute a superspecies. The three forms had previously been considered separate species by REFS, Pinto (1938), and Friedmann (1950).”
BLACK CARACARA Daptrius ater. 2 seen near Rioja.
YELLOW-HEADED CARACARA Milvago chimachima. Seen near San Lorenzo.
AMERICAN KESTREL Falco sparverius. 2 seen.
Family: PSITTACIDAE (PARROTS)
COBALT-WINGED PARAKEET Brotogeris cyanoptera. Seen at San Lorenzo and around 40 seen near Moyobamba, here the subspecies gustavi with yellow on the wings. SACC comment: The subspecies gustavi was formerly (e.g., Cory 1918, Peters 1937) considered a separate species from Brotogeris cyanoptera, but Traylor (1958) indicated that they probably intergrade in the Huallaga valley.
BLUE-HEADED PARROT Pionus menstruus. Common at Morro de Calzadas.
SCALY-NAPED AMAZON Amazonas mercenaria. Common at Abra Patricia.
YELLOW-CROWNED AMAZON Amazona ochrocephala. Heard only at San Lorenzo.
ORANGE-WINGED AMAZON Amazona amazonica. Heard only at San Lorenzo.
BLUE-WINGED PARROTLET Forpus xanthopterygius. 2 small groups in the Huallaga Valley.
ROSE-FRONTED PARAKEET Pyrrhura roseifrons. Fairly common on the Barbet Ridge with flocks seen 3 days.
MAROON-TAILED PARAKEET Pyrrhura melanura. A flock of seven, here the subspecies berlepschi.
MITRED PARAKEET Psittacara mitratus. Flocks seen near Huembo.
WHITE-EYED PARAKEET Psittacara leucophthalma. Common around Moyobamba.
Family: THAMNOPHILIDAE (ANTBIRDS)
GREAT ANTSHRIKE Taraba major. Two at Juan Guerra on our last morning.
BARRED ANTSHRIKE Thamnophilus doliatus. Heard several places but seen near Rioja.
LINED ANTSHRIKE Thamnophilus tenuepunctatus. Cracking looks at 4 birds on the Barbet Ridge.
NORTHERN SLATY ANTSHRIKE Thamnophilus punctatus huallagae. Fairly common at Quebrada Upaquihua. The SACC says “Ridgely & Greenfield (2001) further recognized leucogaster of the Marañon Valley (with huallagae of Huallaga Valley) as a separate species from punctatus; this taxon was tentatively retained as a subspecies of T. punctatus by Isler et al. (1997), with further evidence confirming subspecies status presented by Isler, Walker et al. (2001). The subspecies huallagae was formerly (e.g. Peters 1951) treated as a subspecies of T. amazonicus, but see Isler et al. (1997). Range Restricted.
PLAIN ANTVIREO Dysithamnus mentalis. Heard only.
CINEREOUS ANTSHRIKE Thamnomanes caesius. A pair of this understory flock leader seen at San Lorenzo.
ORNATE ANTWREN Epinecrophylla ornata. A male at Wankanki Lodge.
FOOTHILL ANTWREN Epinecrophylla spodionota. A nice male on the barbet ridge – others heard – seems to be common here.
PYGMY ANTWREN Myrmotherula brachyura. One seen in the lowlands near San Lorenzo.
STRIPE-CHESTED ANTWREN Myrmotherula longicauda. 2 at Quebrada Upaquihua and heard elsewhere.
WHITE-FLANKED ANTWREN Myrmotherula axillaris. 2 at Quebrada Upaquihua, here of the slow voiced form. The SACC says: s (1984b), Ridgely & Tudor (1994), Hilty (2003), and Zimmer & Isler (2003) noted that vocal differences among several subspecies of Myrmotherula axillaris suggest that more than one species is involved.
SLATY ANTWREN Myrmotherula schisticolor. A pair seen well above Afluente.
GRAY ANTWREN. 3 seen near San Lorenzo.
RUFOUS-WINGED ANTWREN Herpsilochmus rufimarginatus. A nice pair on our first morning at Quebrada Upaquihua.
RUSTY-BACKED ANTWREN Formicivora rufa. Not widely distributed in Peru but where found it’s fairly common. One of these places is Quebrada Upaquihua where we had great looks at a pair.
STREAK-HEADED ANTBIRD Drymophila straticeps. Heard only, at Abra Patricia. The article in Condor “AN INTEGRATIVE APPROACH TO SPECIES-LEVEL SYSTEMATICS REVEALS THE DEPTH OF DIVERSIFICATION IN AN ANDEAN THAMNOPHILID, THE LONG-TAILED ANTBIRD” By Morton L. Isler, Andrés M. Cuervo, Gustavo A, Bravo, and Robb T. Brumfield In part says “we propose the following taxonomic positions and English names for members of the complex. Regarding the English names, we have rejected the inclusion of “long-tailed” in the names, as proposed by Cory and Hellmayr (1924), because the names would become too cumbersome. The sequence reflects the estimated phylogeny:
Drymophila klagesi Hellmayr and Seilern, 1912—Klages’s Antbird. Eastern and northern Venezuela, Serranía de Perijá, and northern Eastern Andes in Norte de Santander, Colombia (includes klagesi, aristeguietana, and Norte de Santander study groups; clade A).
Drymophila hellmayri Todd, 1915—Santa Marta Antbird. Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia (includes hellmayri; clade B).
Drymophila caudata (Sclater, 1854)—Long-tailed Antbird. Eastern Andes from Santander (west of the Chicamocha Canyon) to Caquetá and Huila, Colombia (includes Santander and Upper Magdalena study groups; clade C).
Drymophila striaticeps Chapman, 1912—Streak-headed Antbird. The Western and Central Andes of Colombia south through Ecuador (both slopes) and Peru (eastern slope) to northwestern Bolivia in La Paz (includes striaticeps, occidentalis, peruviana, and boliviana; clade D).
GRAY ANTBIRD Cercomacra cinerascens. A canopy vine tangle specialist seen at San Lorenzo.
BLACKISH ANTBIRD Cercomacra nigrescens. A co-operative pair on the Barbet Ridge and heard elsewhere. Here, the subspecies aequatorialis.
WHITE-BROWED ANTBIRD Myrmoborus leucophrys. Impressive bird here of the koenigi subspecies with a complete white forehead.
PERUVIAN WARBLING ANTBIRD Hypocnemis peruviana. A pair seen near San Lorenzo.
SPOT-WINGED ANTBIRD - Schistocichla leucostigma. Heard only. Ridgely & Tudor (1994) and Zimmer & Isler (2003) suggested that the formerly broadly defined Schistocichla leucostigma probably consisted of more than one species. Braun et al. (2005) provided evidence that the Tepui taxon saturata deserves species rank. SACC proposal passed to treat saturata as a species. Isler et al. (2007) further showed that the taxa humaythae, brunneiceps, and rufifacies, currently treated as subspecies of P. leucostigma, also warrant species rank. SACC proposal passed to revise species limits.
CHESTNUT-TAILED ANTBIRD Myrmeciza hemimelaena. Heard only.
WHITE-MASKED ANTBIRD Pithys castaneus. Heard only. ENDEMIC. One of our target birds and Silverio got a great recording but we did not lay eyes on it. This enigmatic species was thought to be a hybrid until rediscovered on the Morona River by Dan Lane and Thomas Valqui and later at San Lorenzo by Fabrice Schmitt et al. This is an Army Ant Swarm specialist, find army ants and it will be there – we did not!
Family: GRALLARIIDAE (ANTPITTAS)
CHESTNUT-CROWNED ANTPITTA Grallaria ruficapilla. Against all odds one walked onto a bare patch of ground at Abra Porculla.
SCALED ANTPITTA Grallaria guatimalensis. Heard only, one at the Barbet ridge.
PALE-BILLED ANTPITTA Grallaria carrikeri. ENDEMIC. Great looks at this impressive endemic Antpitta – in my opinion more impressive than Jocotoco Antpitta which replaces it to the north in Peru and Ecuador. Came in just as predicted but only once.
RUSTY-TINGED ANTPITTA Grallaria przewalskii. ENDEMIC. One seen on two occasions at Alta Nieve – a really hard to see Antpitta.
OCHRE-FRONTED ANTPITTA Grallaricula ochraceifrons. Heard only. ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
CHESTNUT ANTPITTA Grallaria blakei. ENDEMIC. One seen on two occasions at the junction of Grallaria and mono trails at Abra Patricia.
Family: RHINOCRYPTIDAE (TAPACULOS)
TRILLING TAPACULO Scytalopus parvirostris. Heard only.
RUFOUS-VENTED TAPACULO Scytalopus femoralis. ENDEMIC. Heard only. Several encounters with this sneaky Tapaculo at Abra Patricia.
WHITE-CROWNED TAPACULO Scytalopus atratus. Heard only, one on the Barbet ridge.
Family: FORMICARIIDAE (ANTTHRUSHES)
RUFOUS-BREASTED ANTHRUSH Formicarius rufipectus. Heard only, commonly on the Barbet Ridge.
BARRED ANTHRUSH Chamaeza mollissima. Heard only, on the trails at Abra Patricia.
Family: FURNARIIDAE (OVENBIRDS)
OLIVACEOUS WOODCREEPER Sittasomus griseicapillus amazonus. 1 at Wankanki and one near Akuente. Note where you see these and what subspecies they are – they WILL be split as sure as death and taxes!
PLAIN-BROWN WOODCREEPER Dendrocincla fuliginosa. One at La Escalera.
WEDGE-BILLED WOODCREEPER Glyphorynchus spirurus. Two at Wankanki.
CINNAMON-THROATED WOODCREEPER Dendrexetastes rufigula. Heard only, near San Lorenzo.
AMAZONIAN BARRED WOODCREEPER Dendrocolaptes certhia. Heard only.
ELEGANT WOODCREEPER Xiphorhynchus elegans. One near San Lorenzo.
BUFF-TROATED WOODCREEPER Xiphorhynchus guttatus. On 3 occasions.
LINEATED (DUIDA) WOODCREEPER Lepidocolaptes diudaeal bolineatus. One near San Lorenzo. Rodrigues et al. (2013) treated all diagnosable taxa in the complex as separate species, but they did not use BSC criteria; they also described a new species, Lepidocolaptes fatimalimae, from southwestern Amazonia. SACC proposal passed to recognize fatimalimae (inambari WC) as a species and also elevate subspecies layardi (Layard’s WC) and fuscicapillus (Romndonia WC) to species rank. Revised species limits not yet implemented pending proposal on English names.
STREAKED XENOPS Xenops rutilans. 1 on the Barbet Ridge.
POINT-TAILED PALMCREEPER Berlepschia rikeri. At least 3 called in and flying between their homes – the Mauritia Palms near Rioja – great looks were had by all.
RUSTY-WINGED BARBTAIL Premnornis guttuliger. One seen at Abra Patricia.
STRIPED TREEHUNTER. Heard only, at dusk on the Mono trail.
BUFF-THROATED FOLIAGE-GLEANER Automolus ochrolaemus. 2 seen.
[MARAÑON] RUFOUS-FRONTED THORNBIRD Phacellodomus rufifrons peruvianus. Good views at Wamkamki, here the subspecies peruvianus, sometimes treated as a distinct species. SACC comment: Ridgely & Greenfield (2001) considered northern inornatus (with castilloi) a separate species from Phacellodomus rufifrons, and this was followed by and Hilty (2003); vocalizations are reported to differ, but no analysis or data have been published. SACC proposal to recognize inornatus as separate species did not pass because of insufficient published data. Ridgely & Greenfield (2001) also suggested that the subspecies peruvianus of the Marañon valley deserved recognition as a separate species.
ASH-BROWED SPINETAIL Cranioleuca curtata. 2 on the Barbet Ridge. VULNERABLE.
AZARA'S SPINETAIL Synallaxis azarae. Seen and mostly heard at Abra Patricia. Pipsqueak! Named for the impressive sounding Brigadier-General Felix Manuel de Azara, Spanish military engineer commanding the Paraguay/Brazilian frontier 1781-1801. He was also a naturalist.
PLAIN-CROWNED SPINETAIL Synallaxis gujanensis. A pair seen nicely at Quebrada Upaquihua.
CHESTNUT-THROATED SPINETAIL Synallaxis cherrei. A pair at Quebrada Upaquihua were sneaky and only seen by some. Named for George Kruck Cherrie US Ornithologist and collector (1865 -1948).
RUFOUS SPINETAIL Synallaxis unirufa. Glimpsed at Abra Patricia.
Family: TYRANNIDAE (TYRANT FLYCATCHERS)
SOOTY-HEADED TYRANNULET Phyllomyias griseiceps. 2 at Wankanki.
YELLOW-CROWNED TYRANNULET Tyrannulus elatus. Heard only. The Free Beer bird!
FOREST ELAENIA Myiopagis gaimardii. One on the Barbet ridge.
WHITE-CRESTED ELAENIA Elaenia albiceps. One on the Barbet Ridge.
SMALL-BILLED ELAENIA Elaenia parvirostris. This austral migrant was common around Wankanki Lodge.
YELLOW-BELLIED ELAENIA Elaenia flavogaster. Seen on two days near Moyobamba.
SIERRAN ELAENIA Elaenia pallatangae. Common at Abra Patricia.
LESSER ELAENIA Elaenia chiriquensis. Fairly common in the Moyobamba/Wankanki area.
WHITE-LORED TYRANNULET Ornithion inerme. Heard only.
SULPHUR-BELLIED TYRANNULET Mecocerculus minor. One seen well near Alta Nieve.
MOUSE-COLORED TYRANNULET Phaeomyias murina wagae. 1 at Quebrada Upaquihua of the wagae subspecies.
TAWNY-CROWNED PYGMY TYRANT Euscarthmus meloryphus. Heard only.
YELLOW TYRANNULET Capsiempis flaveola. One on the open savanna near Rioja.
RED-BILLED TYRRANULET - Zimmerius cinereicapilla. One on the Barbet Ridge. VULNERABLE.
PERUVIAN TYRANNULET Zimmerius viridiflavus. ENDEMIC. 20+ seen in total in the Abra Patricia area and on the Barbet Ridge. These are vocally identical to those found in Central Peru, but recently there has been considerable debate about whether these are distinct from the Golden-faced Tyrannulet (likewise the species status of Loja Tyrannulet). Probably they should be lumped with Golden-faced.
MISHANA TYRANNULET Zimmerius villarejoi. ENDEMIC. Nice looks of 4 at Wankanki. The San Martin birds may prove to be distinct from the Iquitos birds. VULNERABLE.
MARBLE-FACED BRISTLE-TYRANT Phylloscartes ophthalmicus. 1 at Abra Patricia.
VARIAGATED BRISTLE-TYRANT Phylloscartes poecilotis. Several sightings throughout the trip.
OCHRE-BELLIED FLYCYACHER Mionectes oleaginous. A pair on the Escalera.
SLATY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER Leptopogon superciliaris. On the Barbet Ridge, La Escalera and at Abra Patricia.
WHITE-BELLIED PYGMY-TYRANT Myiornis albiventris. Nice looks at a pair at Quebrada Upaquihua. Not an easy bird to see and has a disjunct range. Range Restricted.
SCALE-CRESTED PYGMY-TYRANT Lophotriccus pileatus. One at Abra Patricia.
DOUBLE-BANDED PYGMY-TYRANT Lophotriccus vitiosus. Heard only, San Lorenzo.
STRIPE-NECKED TODY-TYRANT Hemitriccus striaticollis. Two seen well on the savannas near Rioja.
BLACK-THROATED TODY-TYRANT Hemitriccus granadensis. Heard only, at Abra Patricia. Named for New Granada a former South American Republic incorporating Panama, Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador. In early ornithology “New Granada” and “Bogota” were used to designate species of unknown provenance presumed to be from the Spanish Main (The Spanish held Mainland).
PEARLY-BREASTED TODY-TYRANT Hemitriccus margaritaceiventer. Nice looks at Quebrada Upaquihua.
CINNAMON-BREASTED TODY-TYRANT Hemitriccus cinnamomeipectus. Great looks – missed by most tours– just sneaks in to an inaccessible part of Ecuador. VULNERABLE, Range Restricted.
JOHNSON’S TODY-FLYCATCHER Poecilotrccus luluae. 2 seen in total – a cracking looking bird right outside the lodge at Abra Patricia. The scientific name is from the late Lulu May Von Hagen for her support of research in avian genetics. ENDANGERED ENDEMIC.
BLACK AND WHITE TODY-FLYCATCHER Poecilotriccus capitalis. One at Wankanki Lodge seen by all.
RUSTY-FRONTED TODY-FLYCATCHER Poecilotriccus latirostris. Heard only.
SPOTTED-TODY-FLYCATCHER Todirostrum maculatum. Two at Yurimaguas.
COMMON TODY-FLYCATCHER Todirostrum cinereum. A few here and there.
YELLOW-OLIVE TOLMOMYIAS Tolmomyias sulphurescens aequatorialis. One along the Barbet Ridge and one elsewhere. The SACC says: The AOU (1998), Hilty (2003), and Fitzpatrick (2004) suggested that Tolmomyias sulphurescens almost certainly consists of multiple species. Ridgway treated Middle American subspecies cinereiceps and flavoolivaceus each as a separate species from T. sulphurescens.
YELLOW-BREASTED (OLIVE FACED) TOLMOMYIAS Tolmomyias (viridiceps) flaviventris. Very common at Juan Guerra. The SACC says: Tolmomyias flaviventris almost certainly involves more than one species; see Bates et al. (1992) and Ridgely & Tudor (1994). The subspecies viridiceps is almost certainly a distinct species, and was so considered by Ridgely et al. (2001) and Hilty (2003). However, Zimmer (1939a) considered them conspecific because the subspecies he considered the subspecies subsimilis and dissors to represent taxa that were intermediate between the two, and this treatment was followed by Fitzpatrick (2004) in the absence of published data supporting a split. Proposal needed. The IOC recognizes the split.
OLIVE-CHESTED FLYCATCHER Myiophobus cryptoxanthus. Heard only.
CINNAMON FLYCATCHER Pyrrhomyias cinnamomeus. Seen many times during the trip.
CLIFF FLYCTACHER Hirundinea ferruginea. Common at La Escalera and seen at Abra Patricia.
EULER’S FLYCTACHER Lathrotriccus euleri. One at Wankanki. Named for Karl Heronymus Euler (1834-1901), Swiss settler in Brazil and Vice-consul in Rio de Janeiro. Amateur ornithologist.
SMOKE-COLORED PEWEE Contopus fumigatus. On the Barbet ridge.
RUFOUS-TAILED TYRANT Knipolegus poecilurus. Excellent views at La Escalera.
SMOKY BUSH-TYRANT Myiotheretes fumigatus. One on the Rio Chido trail.
LONG-TAILED TYRANT Colonia colonia. A few near San Lorenzo.
RUFOUS-BREASTED CHAT-TYRANT Ochthoeca rufipectoralis. 2 on the Rio Chido trail.
GREAT KISKADEE Pitangus sulphuratus. Several sightings.
PIRATIC FLYCATCHER Legatus leucophaius. A few here and there. Piratic because it displaces caciques and others from their nests.
SOCIAL FLYCATCHER Myiozetetes similis. Common in the lowlands.
GRAY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER Myiozetetes granadensis. One at Wankanki.
DUSKY-CHESTED FLYCATCHER Myiozetetes luteiventris. One near San Lorenzo.
GOLDEN-CROWNED FLYCATCHER Myiodynastes chrysocephalus. Common at La Escalera.
STREAKED FLYCATCHER Myiodynastes maculatus. An austral migrant seen on a few occasions.
TROPICAL KINGBIRD Tyrannus melancholicus. TK! Very common.
GRAYISH MOURNER Rhytipterna simplex. Heard only.
DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER Myiarchus tuberculifer. One seen at Agus Verdes.
SHORT-CRESTED FLYCATCHER Myiarchus ferox. One near Moyobamba.
PALE-EDGED FLYCATCHER Myiarchus cephalotes. Heard only. Fairly common at Abra Patricia.
BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER Myiarchus tyrannulus. Four seen during the trip.
CITRON-BELLIED ATTILA Attila citriniventris. Heard only at San Lorenzo.
BRIGHT-RUMPED ATTILA Attila spadiceus. Heard only at San Lorenzo.
Family: COTINGIDAE (COTINGAS)
GREEN AND BLACK FRUITEATER Pipreola rieferii. Several nice looks at Abra Patricia.
FIERY-THROATED FRUITEATER Pipreola chlrolepidota. One on the Barbet Ridge and one at La Escalera for breakfast. Parapatric here with the larger species listed below, the male could easily be confused with its orange-red throat – wow!
SCARLET-BREASTED FRUITEATER Pipreola frontalis. We saw 12 on two days of the squamipectus subspecies where the females are barred below as in the female of the above species. For more information see the excellent “Cotingas and Manakins” by Kirwin and Green.
RED-CRESTED COTINGA Ampelion rubrocristata. One on the Rio Chido trail.
BLACK-NECKED RED COTINGA Phoenicircus nigricollis. Two nicely seen at San Lorenzo after some effort.
ANDEAN COCK-OF-THE-ROCK Rupicola peruvianus. Peru’s national bird – half a dozen seen above Afluente.
GREY-TAILED PIHA Snowornis subalaris. Seems to be a species on outliers of the Andes – heard commonly and one seen well on the Barbet Ridge on two consecutive days. Range Restricted.
PURPLE-THROATED FRUITCROW Querula purpurata. 20 + at san Lorenzo.
SCREAMING PIHA Lipaugus vociferans. Vocal and 2 seen at San Lorenzo.
Family: PIPRIDAE (MANAKINS)
SULPHUR-BELLIED TYRANT-MANAKIN Neopelma sulphureiventer. One seen after a lot of effort at Quebrada Upaquihua.
YUNGAS MANAKIN Chiroxiphia boliviana. 2 and a northernmost range extension at the Barbet ridge not in literature.
JET MANAKIN Xenopipo unicolor. At least one male feeding seen.
FIERY-CAPPED MANAKIN Machaeropterus pyrocephalus. A female on the Barbet ridge and two at Wankanki.
WHITE-CROWNED MANAKIN Dixiphia pipra. 3 at San Lorenzo.
GOLDEN-HEADED MANAKIN Pipra erythrocephala. At Wankanki-common.
BLUE-CROWNED MANAKIN Lepidothrix coronate. 4 at San Lorenzo.
BLUE-RUMPED (MILKY-RUMPED) MANAKIN Lepidothrix isidorei leucopygia. We saw the leucopygia race commonly (at least 3) which occurs south of the Maranon gap and apparently only north of Cerulean-capped Manakin. Rigely and Greenfield 2002 suggested this form might be a separate species but there is no hard evidence. Named after Isidore Geoffroy Saint- Hillaire (1805-1861) – French zoologist.
Family: TITYRIDAE (TITYRAS)
MASKED TITYRA Tityra semifasciata. Several sightings.
CINEREOUS MOURNER Laniocera hypopyrra. Heard only.
YELLOW-CHEEKED BECARD Pachyramphus xanthogenys. THREE on the Barbet ridge. The SACC says: Ridgely & Tudor (1994) and Ridgely & Greenfield (2001) considered Andean xanthogenys a species separate from P. viridis (Green-backed Becard), and this was followed by Fitzpatrick (2004) and Barber & Rice (2007). Proposal needed. IOC splits.
WHITE-WINGED BECARD Pachyramphus polychopterus. Six seen on various days.
Genera: INCERTAE SEDIS
WING-BARRED PIPRITES Piprites chloris. Heard only at Abra Patricia.
Family: VIREONIDAE (VIREOS)
RUFOUS-BROWED PEPPERSHRIKE Cyclarhis gujanensis. Commonly heard and two seen.
SLATY-CAPPED SHRIKE-VIREO Vireolanius leucotis. Several heard and one seen well.
[CHIVI] RED-EYED VIREO Vireo olivaceus (Chivi). Several. Some classifications (e.g., Pinto 1944) have considered the South American chivi group as a separate species ("Chivi Vireo") from V. olivaceus, or as conspecific with V. flavoviridis (Hamilton 1962). Ridgely & Greenfield (2001) suggested, however, that more than one species may be involved within the South American chivi group.
BROWN-CAPPED VIREO Vireo leucophrys. One at Abra Patricia.
OLIVACEOUS GREENLET Hylophilus olivaceus. One at Wankanki and one above Afluente.
TAWNY-CROWNED GREENLET Hylophilus ochraceiceps. 3 seen.
Family: CORVIDAE (JAYS)
[INCA] GREEN JAY Cyanocorax yncas. Fairly common and several sightings. 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 considered separate species.
Family: HIRUNDINIDAE (SWALLOWS)
BLUE-AND-WHITE SWALLOW Pygochelidon cyanoleuca. Very common.
WHITE-BANDED SWALLOW Atticora fasciata. Common near the Huallaga River and at Morro de Calzada.
GRAY-BREASTED MARTIN Progne chalybea. Fairly common around Tarapoto.
SOUTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW Stelgidopteryx ruficollis. A few at Puente Aguas Verdes and other places.
BROWN-CHESTED MARTIN Progne tapera. 2 at Yurimaguas.
GRAY-BREASTED MARTIN Progne chalybea. Fairly common.
WHITE-WINGED SWALLOW Tachycineta albiventer. A few in the eastern lowlands.
Family: TROGLODYTIDAE (WRENS)
SCALY-BRESTED (SOUTHERN NIGHTINGALE) WREN Microcerculus marginatus. Heard only.
HOUSE WREN Troglodytes aedon. Very common. 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), as was done by Brewer (2001), Mazar Barnett & Pearman (2001), Jaramillo (2003), and Kroodsma & Brewer (2005).
THRUSH-LIKE WREN Campylorhynchus turdinus. Seen at San Lorenzo and heard other places.
CORAYA WREN Pheugopedius coraya. Heard only.
BUFF-BREASTED WREN Cantorchilus leucotis. Heard only.
SHARPES WREN Cinnycerthia olivascens. Heard only.
WHITE-BREASTED WOOD-WREN Henicorhina leucosticte. One seen near San Lorenzo.
GRAY-BREASTED WOOD-WREN Henicorhina leucophrys. Heard a few times and seen on the Barbet Ridge.
BAR-WINGED WOOD-WREN Henicorhina leucoptera. Wow! One of this wonderful near-endemic at Alto Nieve but played hard to get. NEAR THREATENED, Range Restricted.
Family POLIOPTILIDAE (GNATCATCHERS)
TROPICAL GNATCATCHER Polioptila plumbea. 2 only at Quebrada Upaquihua.
Family: TURDIDAE (THRUSHES)
ANDEAN SOLITAIRE Myadestes ralloides. At least one at Abra Patricia.
GREAT THRUSH Turdus fuscater. Common at Abra Patricia.
CHIGUANCO THRUSH Turdus chiguanco. One at Huembo.
PALE-BREASTED THRUSH Turdus leucomelas. Half a dozen at Wankanki.
VARZEA THRUSH Turdus sanchezorum. Seen on two days at Wankanki. Named for Manuel Sánchez S. and Marta Chávez de Sánchez. The Sánchezes worked with Dr John O’Neill and many other LSU (and non-LSU) researchers, in Peru, Bolivia, and Venezuela since the 1960s and were present for many of the bird discoveries that resulted from those field expeditions.
BLACK-BILLED THRUSH Turdus ignobilis. Common in the lowlands.
Family: THRAUPIDAE (TANAGERS)
BLACK-FACED TANAGER Schistochlamys melanopis. 1 near Rioja.
MAGPIE TANAGER Cissopis leverianus. A few sightings throughout.
WHITE-CAPPED TANAGER Sericossypha albocristata. A noisy group of 6 flew over us on the Alta Nieve trail.
FLAME-CRESTED TANAGER Tachyphonus cristatus. 2 at San Lorenzo.
YELLOW-CRESTED TANAGER Tachyphonus rufiventer. At La Escalera.
WHITE-LINED TANAGER Tachyphonus rufus. Several.
HUALLAGA TANAGER Ramphocelus melanogaster. A male near Moyobamba and below Afluente. ENDEMIC.
SILVER-BEAKED TANAGER Ramphocelus carbo. In the San Lorenzo lowlands.
GRASS-GREEN TANAGER Chlorornis riefferii. One at Abra Patricia.
BLUE-WINGED MOUNTAIN TANAGER Anisognathus somptuosus. 2 on the Barbet ridge.
YELLOW-SCARFED TANAGER Iridosornis reinhardti. At least 2 of this endemic at Abra Patricia. ENDEMIC.
YELLOW-THROATED TANAGER Iridosornis analis. One seen at Abra Patricia.
ORANGE–EARED TANAGER Chlorochrysa calliparaea. A pretty small Tanager seen on the Barbet Ridge.
BLUE-GRAY TANAGER Thraupis episcopus. Common. We saw the eastern form with white wing patches. From Episcopal blue.
PALM TANAGER Thraupis palm arum. Seen around Moyobamba and the lowlands.
BLUE-CAPPED TANAGER Thraupis cyanocephala. Common at Abra Patricia and The Rio Chido trail.
SILVERY (SILVER-BACKED) TANAGER Tangara viridicollis. Common at Abra Patricia.
MASKED TANAGER Tangara nigrocincta. A few in the lowlands.
BLUE-NECKED TANAGER Tangara cyanicollis. Common.
DOTTED TANAGER Tangara varia. A nice pair seen at La Escalera – a tricky bird to see anywhere. Range Restricted.
YELLOW-BELLIED TANAGER Tangara xanthogastra. Fairly common at La Escalera.
BERYL-SPANGLED TANAGER Tangara nigroviridis. 2 at Abra Patricia.
TURQUOISE TANAGER Tangara mexicana. 2 near San Lorenzo. Does not occur in Mexico!
PARADISE TANAGER Tangara chilensis. Some excellent views on the Barbet Ridge and at Abra Patricia. Does not occur in Chile!
BAY-HEADED TANAGER Tangara gyrola. Few seen here and there.
SAFFRON-CROWNED TANAGER Tangara xanthocephala. Common at Abra Patricia– here they do have a saffron crown!
FLAME-FACED TANAGER Tangara parzudakii. Splendid looks at Abra Patricia.
GREEN AND GOLD TANAGER Tangara schrankii. Fairly common in the lowlands. Named for Franz von Paula Schrank (1747-1835), German theologian, entomologist, botanist and collector.
GOLDEN-EARED TANAGER Tangara chrysotis. On consecutive days on the Barbet Ridge.
GOLDEN TANAGER Tangara arthus. Common.
SWALLOW TANAGER Tersina viridis. Common at La Escalera.
BLACK-FACED DACNIS Dacnis lineata. Several seen throughout.
SHORT-BILLED HONEYCREEPER Cyanerpes nitidus. 3 pair seen.
PURPLE HONEYCREEPER Cyanerpes caeruleus. At least 10 birds around San Lorenzo.
GREEN HONEYCREEPER Chlorophanes spiza. 4 at Wankanki and a female at La Escalera.
GOLDEN-COLLARED HONEYCREEPER Iridophanes pulcherrimus. One male on the barbet Ridge.
MASKED FLOWERPIERCER Diglossa cyanea. One at Abra Patricia.
BLUISH FLOWERPIERCER Diglossa caerulescens. One on consecutive days at Abra Patricia.
WHITE-SIDED FLOWERPIERCER Diglossa albilatera. Two at Abra Patricia.
SAFFRON FINCH Sicalis flaveola. Common in certain parts of the lowlands.
BLUE-BLACK GRASSQUIT Volatinia jacarina. A few seen in the rice fields.
CHESTNUT-BELLIED SEEEDEATER Sporophila castaneiventris. One in the rice fields near Tarapoto.
CHESTNUT-BELLIED SEED FINCH Sporophila angolensis. 2 near Riojo. Not found in Angola (mis-labelled specimen).
BLACK-BILLED SEEDFINCH Sporophila atrirostris. One in the savanna near Rioja.
BANANAQUIT Coereba flaveola. Watch your Bannaquits! We saw intermedia but it changes to mangnirostris in the Maranon.
DULL-COLORED GRASSQUIT Tiaris obscurus. A few in the Huallaga Valley.
BUFF-THROATED SALTATOR Saltator maximus. Fairly common especially on the Barbet ridge.
GRAYISH SALTATOR Saltator coerulescens. Common in the lowlands.
Family: EMBERIZINAE (BUNTINGS & SPARROWS)
RUFOUS-COLLARED SPARROW Zonotrichia capensis. Very common in higher areas.
YELLOW-BROWED SPARROW Ammodramus aurifrons. Very common in lowland areas.
GRAY-BROWED BRUSH-FINCH Arremon assimilis. One seen by some on the Rio Chido trail.
YELLOW-BREASTED BRUSH-FINCH Atlapetes latinuchus. Seen several times around Abra Patricia.
COMMON CHLOROSPINGUS Chorospingus ophthalmicus. One seen at Abra Patricia and commonly heard displaying at dawn.
YELLOW-THROATED CHLOROSPINGUS Chlorospingus flavigularis. Several small gangs encountered on the Barbet Ridge.
Family CARDINALIDAE (CARDINALS AND ALLIES)
TOOTH-BILLED (HIGHLAND HEPATIC) TANAGER. This is the split from Hepatic tanager-was on the Barbet Ridge.
CARMIOL’S TANAGER Chlorothraupis carmioli. Heard only.
GOLDEN GROSBEAK Pheucticus chrysogaster. One seen on the Barbet Ridge.
Family: PARULIDAE (NEW WORLD WARBLERS)
TROPICAL PARULA Setophaga pitiayumi. Common.
CITRINE WARBLER Myiothlypis luteoviridis. Heard only.
SLATE-THROATED WHITESTART Myioborus miniatus. Common on the Barbet Ridge.
SPECTACLED WHITESTART Myioborus melanocephalus. Common around Abra Patricia.
Family: ICTERIDAE (BLACKBIRDS)
RUSSET-BACKED OROPENDOLA Psarocolius angustifrons. At Abra Patricia. Ranges higher in the North with the absence of Dusky-Green Oropendola.
YELLOW-RUMPED CACIQUE Cacicus cela. Common in the eastern lowlands.
ORANGE-BACKED TROUPIAL Icterus croconotus. 2 seen.
EPAULET ORIOLE Icterus cayanensis. One on the Barbet Ridge.
ORIOLE BLACKBIRD Gymnomystax mexicanus. A few in the rice paddies near Tarapoto.
PERUVIAN MEADOWLARK Sturnella bellicose. One near Tarapoto.
Family: FRINGILLIDAE (FINCHES)
OLIVACEOUS SISKIN Sporagra olivacea. 4 at Alta Nieve.
PURPLE-THROATED EUPHONIA Euphonia chlorotica. Common in drier habitats.
THICK-BILLED EUPHONIA Euphonia laniirostris. Common at Juan Guerra.
ORANGE-BELLIED EUPHONIA Euphonia xanthogaster. Common.
BLUE-NAPED CHLOROPHONIA Chlorophonia cyanea. Fairly common on the Barbet Ridge.
Family: PASSERIDAE (OLD WORLD SPARROWS)
House Sparrow Passer domesticus. In Tarapoto.