ITINERARY
Day 1: After meeting at the airport, we headed straight to the nearby wetlands of Lampa. The area was full of birds with a very noisy colony of Brown-hooded Gulls and a large number of different species of ducks, among them Chiloe Wigeon, Cinnamon Teal and Red Shoveler. Fernando had done a scouting trip a few days before and found a pair of the very rare South American Painted Snipe so we went to that sector and after some time wading through the long grass one bird shot up almost under our feet but the second bird went off in a more leisurely fashion giving us excellent views. This is one of the most difficult of species in central Chile to find so we all thought this was a good omen for the rest of the trip. After this we made the short trip into the center of Santiago and checked into our hotel in Providencia.
Day 2: Early in the morning we went to climb up the route to the ski areas of Farellones and Valle Nevado to find some of the endemic birds and other higher altitude specialties. This route starts at 1300 meters and rises to 3000 meters and offers a variety of stops at different elevations. We started looking for the endemic Dusky-tailed Canastero which we found bouncing around in the thorn bushes.
We found 2 other endemics, the splendidly lively Moustached Turca and then the tiny but very vocal Dusky Tapaculo and finally the Chilean Mockingbird. Last winter was very tough in the high mountains so even in November there was snow in places that usually are full of birds. After the 2000-meter mark we saw more than 25 giant Andean Condors and 2 Mountain Caracaras. Then we came across the high altitude hummingbird the White-sided Hillstar and an unexpected sighting of a Thick-billed Siskin, a bird normally very localized in another valley in central Chile. After that it was a slow move down the winding road back to our comfortable hotel in Santiago.
Day 3: This morning we drove the 90 minutes to reach the coast. Our day started with birding in the wetland at the mouth of the Rio Maipo. This is probably the number one birding site on the coast of Central Chile. When we arrived a large group of Peruvian Pelicans and various Gulls were resting on the beach. We also found some Waders here, among them Hudsonian Godwit, Whimbrel, Willet, Ruddy Turnstone and Sanderling. Then we went through the sand dunes to the marshy area to look for some birds among the reeds. The wonderful Many-colored Rush Tyrants, who were very active bouncing around in the reeds, entertained us. Also after a long search we found a Ticking Doradito. This small lemon and brown flycatcher is a migrant who needs to cross the Andes so we were surprised to find it here after seeing so much snow on the mountains the previous day. We then moved north up the coast and took our lunch in a quiet seaside restaurant close to the ocean and from there we saw another endemic the Chilean Seaside Cinclodes.
Scanning a large raft of seabirds we were surprised to find a Blue-footed Booby. This is a warmer water species so it's only found in central Chile in El Niño years. This afternoon we made our last stop in a small reserve in the fishing village of Algarrobo where we found a pair of the normally secretive Stripe-backed Bitterns actively fishing among the reeds. After this magnificent sighting we drove north past Valparaiso to the peaceful port of Quintero where we stayed in an oceanside hotel near the harbor ready for our pelagic trip the next morning.
Day 4: Dawn saw us down at the quay ready to board the boat for our 6 hours of seabirds. Our first sight was a huge group of Sooty Shearwaters crossing not far from the coast. After a short while of sailing we saw the first Salvin's Albatross and Black-browed Albatross with both species being numerous throughout the trip. We also had a visit from a pair of Northern Royal Albatross who followed the boat for a few minutes along with a good number of Masatierra Petrels ... one of the endemic breeding seabirds of Chile.
Other good birds were Northern Giant Petrel, Peruvian Diving-Petrel plus Pink-footed and White-chinned Petrels. After the pelagic we had our lunch then moved north up the coast to the Humboldt Penguin colony at Cacahagua where we saw Humboldt and Magellanic Penguins and then on to our final stop on the coast at Zapallar where the highlight was the Great Shrike-Tyrant, a bird very localized throughout its range and very territorial. It gave us excellent views as it rested on a flowering Puyas bush. After that we drove to the peaceful Hotel in Quintero where we spent the night.
Day 5: We started the day at the Salinas de Pillally and here we had excellent views of a noisy endemic White-throated Tapaculo which is normally difficult to get in plain view. Then we went to the La Campana National Park. Here our main target was the elusive endemic Chilean Tinamou and we got a fabulous view with the birds only a few feet from us, which is a rare treat from this normally very shy and reclusive species. After that we drove to Laguna Batuco which is an excellent waterfowl destination where we found large groups of different species of ducks and some Black-necked Swans, Coscoroba Swans and 3 beautiful Andean Geese. Then it was short drive back to our hotel in Santiago.
Day 6: An early start saw us heading south and then east from the city and into the Maipo valley past the small capital San José de Maipo en route for our destination of the day the Yeso Valley. We made our first stop to look for the endemic Crag Chilia who were nesting on the rocky cliff and showed well for us. We continued our ascent into this colorful valley to a wetland where we found two Thick- billed Siskins along with some Yellow-rumped Siskins, which enabled us to do some species comparison between two quite similar birds. Moving a little higher we found Andean and Upland Geese and then it was time for the hunt for our main target of the day the Diademed Sandpiper-Plover. Here in a large bog at 2500 meters we found a nesting pair, which gave us excellent views. This was probably the only couple nesting in the wetland. Also on this site we found at least 10 Gray-breasted Seedsnipes and a number of different Ground Tyrant species...Spot-billed, Ochre-naped, White-browed and Black-fronted. After a most successful day we set off back down the rocky valley amid spectacular mountain scenery and on to Santiago to overnight.
Day 7: Today started with a long drive down the Panamericana and we were rewarded with a sighting of 4 Screaming Cowbirds, a species not on the Chile list and whose range is not yet known. We then made a short stop at the edge of Lake Colbún where we had good views of the colony of the large colorful and very noisy Burrowing Parakeets and a pair of delightful Spectacled Ducks. Then it was on to Vilches Alto and a quick and very productive visit to the Altos de Lircay National Park. In this early evening visit we found no less than 3 magnificent Magellanic Woodpeckers, plus one of the great Tapaculo species the Chestnut-throated Huet-huet who came to us right at the entrance of the park. After walking a while we found a pair of beautiful little Patagonian Tyrants who were feeding in the bushes. Then it was back to our nearby comfortable rural lodge to dine and sleep.
Day 8: This morning we started with a nice walk in the wooded Altos de Lircay National Park. This is old Nothofagus forest with massive ancient trees and beautiful mountain views. We found a wonderful "Tapaculo stream," with one Chestnut-throated Huet-huet running past us carrying food back to his nest, then 2 noisy little 2 Chucao Tapaculos and one Magellanic Tapaculo all showed themselves...all in the same place!! The forest was filled with birds; Thorn-tailed Rayadito, White-throated Treerunner, Chilean Elaenia and Patagonian Sierra-Finch. We had a whole day in the forest and then returned to our lodge for dinner. After our dinner we ventured to do a night walk in the park and on a beautiful starry night we found Rufous-legged Owl and Band-winged Nightjar, which are 2 of the key birding goals in this park.
Day 9: We started with a long drive down to Temuco, which was our last stop on the tour. Our main goal for the day was to look for the rare Rufous-tailed Hawk. We sat and waited for one of the adults to pass through its territory. After a while the male flew in carrying prey it had caught to give to the female! We had a beautiful view of both birds through the telescope. Other good birds for this day were more specialist forest species such as Des Murs's Wiretail, Chilean Pigeon and Tufted Tit-Tyrant among others. Then it was back for a relaxing hotel and dinner.
Day 10: We started our last day with a very early morning session on the National Monument Cerro Ñielol to find the last 2 of the Tapaculos of Chile that we had on our list. We walked very stealthily along the trail and saw a Black-throated Huet-huet who crossed the path in front of us. Then we saw in the dense bamboo an Ochre-flanked Tapaculo singing very actively. A full set of Chile ́s tapaculos..excellent result !! Also on this site we saw a group of 30 Slender-billed Parakeets. After this very successful session we wound our way up to the mountainous volcanic Conguillio National Park. The park has fascinating and dramatic scenery with great views of the volcano Mount Llaima and the Araucania (Monkey Puzzle tree) forest. Here we found a couple of Flying Steamer-Ducks cruising on the beautiful tranquil waters of Lake Conguillio. Journey's End!! Well...not quite as then it was back to Temuco ́s new airport and on to Santiago airport where the trip ended.
SPECIES LIST
TINAMOUS
Chilean Tinamou Nothoprocta perdicaria. Two of this endemic seen in the La Campana National Park, came very close to us. An excellent view of this timid Tinamou. ENDEMIC.
DUCKS
Black-necked Swan Cygnus melancoryphus. Many on the coast and in Laguna de Batuco.
Coscoroba Swan Coscoroba coscoroba. Many on the coast and in Laguna de Batuco.
Andean Goose Oressochen melanoptera. 3 of them on the wintering grounds at Laguna de Batuco and 8 of them in Valle del Yeso.
Upland Goose Chloephaga picta. 3 of them in Valle del Yeso.
Ashy-headed Goose Chloephaga poliocephala. 5 of them on the shores of lake Conguillio.
Torrent Duck Merganetta armata. A couple on the way to Valle del Yeso.
Flying Steamer-Duck Tachyeres patachonicus. A couple on Lake Conguillio.
Spectacled Duck Speculanas specularis. Several on lake Colbún, this is the northern boundary known for this species.
Chiloe Wigeon Anas sibilatrix. Seen in all wetlands we visited.
Yellow-billed Teal Anas flavirostris. Several of the ssp flavirostris common in Central Chile and 7 of the oxyptera ssp in Valle del Yeso. Jaramillo (2003) suggested that the subspecies oxyptera may also deserve recognition as a separate species from A. flavirostris.
Yellow-billed Pintail Anas geórgica. Very numerous in all wetlands we visited.
White-cheeked Pintail Anas bahamensis. 5 of them on lake Batuco.
Cinnamon Teal Anas cyanoptera. Seen in all wetlands we visited.
Red Shoveler Anas platalea. Common in Central Chile.
Rosy-billed Pochard Netta peposaca. 3 on Laguna de Batuco, this duck is a regular in Central Chile, but always in low numbers.
Lake Duck Oxyura vittata. Seen on Laguna Cartagena and Laguna de Batuco.
NEW WORLD QUAIL
California Quail Callipepla califórnica. Seen and heard in all fields and shrubby areas we visited, very common.
GREBES
White-tufted Grebe Rollandia rolland. Only 2 of them on Laguna Cartagena and 4 on Laguna de Batuco. Named for Master Gunner Rolland of the French corvette L’Uranie that circumnavigated the globe 1817- 1820.
Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps. Few in number on the wetlands we visited.
Great Grebe Podiceps major. 1 in Maipo river and 3 on Laguna de Batuco.
PENGUINS
Humboldt Penguin Spheniscus humboldti. 11 of them in Colonia de Algarrobo and numerous in Cachagua. Named for the impressively named Freidrich Wilhelm Alexander Freiherr von Humboldt (1769-1869) Prussian scientists and explorer. The current of the coast of Chile is named for him.
Magellanic Penguin Spheniscus magellanicus. 2 of them lie in the colony of Zapallar.
ALBATROSSES
Royal Albatross (Northern) Diomedea epomophora sanfordi. 2 of them followed the boat for a few moments, we had a good view of them. The SACC says: Diomedea epomophora was treated as consisting of two species by Tickell (2000), Onley & Scofield (2007), and del Hoyo & Collar (2014), with the subspecies sanfordi considered a separate species. Both taxa occur in South American waters. [species limits: Robertson & Nunn (1998)]. See Penhallurick (2012) for rationale for maintaining single species treatment. Proposal badly needed.
Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophrys. 20 of them on the Pelagic, most of them were juveniles, just a couple of adults.
Salvin's Albatross Thalassarche salvini. Very numerous and the most common Albatross off the coast of Central Chile.
SHEARWATERS
Northern Giant-Petrel Macronectes halli. Two seen well.
Masatierra Petrel Pterodroma defilippiana. 11 of them. A good number for this small petrel. Masatierra Petrel is one of Chile’s endemic breeders. Named for Italian naturalist, traveller and collector Felippo ‘d Defelippi (1814-1867).
White-chinned Petrel Procellaria aequinoctialis. At least 30 of them during the pelagic trip.
Westland Petrel Procellaria westlandica. Numerous on the pelagic trip, some of them swam a short distance from the boat.
Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus. Huge groups at the beginning of the pelagic trip.
Pink-footed Shearwater Puffinus creatopus. Numerous, another of Chile’s endemic breeders. Much of the population breeds in Mocha Island 600 kilometers south of Valparaiso.
Peruvian Diving-Petrel Pelecanoides garnotii. Six of them near the coast, during the pelagic trip. The species in the genus Pelecanoides were traditionalli placed in their own family, Pelecanoididae. Livezey and Zusi (2007) even treated them in their own suborder, as sister to all other Procellariiformes. However, genetic data (Nunn & Stanley 1998, Cracraft et al. 2004, Ericson et al. 2006) had previously indicated that they might be embedded within the Procellariidae, as suggested by Cracraft (1981). Hackett et al. (2008) found a strongly supported sister relationship between the Pelecanoididae and Procellariidae, but with very limited taxon-sampling. SACC proposal passed to change linear sequence of families. Christidis and Boles (2008) and Cracraft (2013) included them within the Procellariidae without even subfamily rank. Prum et al. (2015) found that Pelecanoides was embedded in the Procellariidae. SACC proposal passed to remove Pelecanoididae and to treat Pelecanoides as a genus in Procellariidae.
STORM-PETRELS
Wilson's Storm-Petrel Oceanites oceanicus. Only one individual who approached the boat. Jaramillo (2003) suggested that the subspecies exasperatus might be a separate species from nominate Oceanites oceanicus.
BOOBIES
Peruvian Booby Sula variegata. Very numerous during the pelagic trip and on the Algarrobo Islet.
Blue-footed Booby Sula nebouxii. A lone individual in the Peña Blanca colony in Algarrobo. In 2015 there were numerous records of this Booby off the coast of Central Chile, something very unusual, attributed to the incursion of warmer waters as a result of El Niño.
CORMORANTS
Neotropic Cormorant Phalacrocorax brasilianus. Seen in all wetlands we visited.
Red-legged Cormorant Phalacrocorax gaimardi. Only one of these beautiful cormorants at Algarrobo. Named for French surgeon/naturalist/explorer Joseph Paul Gaimard (1793-1858).
Guanay Cormorant Phalacrocorax bougainvillii. One during the pelagic trip.
PELICANS
Peruvian Pelican Pelecanus thagus. Large groups seen during our days on the coast.
HERONS
Stripe-backed Bittern Ixobrychus involucris. Two of them seen very well fishing in the San Jeronimo estuary, Algarrobo.
Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax. One at the Maipo estuary.
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis. Numerous feeding in fields close to wetlands.
Cocoi Heron Ardea cocoi. 5 were on Laguna de Batuco.
Great Egret Ardea alba. 2 of them in Batuco & Lago Colbun.
Snowy Egret Egretta thula. Some of them in the wetlands we visited.
IBIS
White-faced Ibis Plegadis chihi. Some of them in the wetlands of Lampa.
Black-faced Ibis Theristicus melanopis. Very large numbers around Temuco.
NEW WORLD VULTURES
Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura jota. Seen almost daily. 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.
Black Vulture Coragyps atratus. Seen almost daily, mostly in the South Central area.
Andean Condor Vultur gryphus. We saw at least 25 of these giant wings of the Andes on our trip to Farellones and Valle Nevado.
HAWKS
White-tailed Kite Elanus leucurus. We saw some of them during our trip to Lircay.
Cinereous Harrier Circus cinereus. Two in Laguna de Batuco and one in Colbún.
Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle Geranoaetus melanoleucus. Seen every day we visited the mountains.
Harris's Hawk Parabuteo unicinctus. Seen repeatedly in areas with trees.
Variable Hawk Buteo polyosoma. Very numerous in Farellones and Valle Nevado.
Rufous-tailed Hawk Buteo ventralis. A couple in Cerro Ñielol. This is one of the few sectors where you can see this specialist raptor of the forest of the Southern Cone. Birdlife International says “This species is considered to be Vulnerable owing to its small population (<1,000 mature individuals). Evidence of continuing declines would make the species eligible for classification as Endangered and information demonstrating a population greater than 1,000 mature individuals with a stable population trend would warrant downlisting to Near Threatened".
RAILS
Plumbeous Rail Pardirallus sanguinolentus. Heard at Lago Colbún.
Red-gartered Coot Fulica armillata. Plenty of them on the wetlands visited.
Red-fronted Coot Fulica rufifrons. 1 only on Wetlands of Lampa.
White-winged Coot Fulica leucoptera. Some on the Wetlands of Lampa.
PLOVERS
Southern Lapwing Vanellus chilensis. Very common, seen in almost every habitat we visited.
Collared Plover Charadrius collaris. One at Laguna de Batuco.
Diademed Sandpiper-Plover Phegornis mitchellii. An individual of this beautiful bird that lives in the high Andes in the Yeso Valley, undoubtedly one of the most wanted birds for the group. Named for the English zoologist and secretary of the Zoological society of London ( 1847-1859) David William Mitchell.
OYSTERCATCHERS
American Oystercatcher Haematopus palliatus. Common, seen several times on the coast.
Blackish Oystercatcher Haematopus ater. Some of them on the rocky areas on the coast.
AVOCETS and STILTS
Black-necked Stilt Himantopus mexicanus melanurus. Abundant in wetlands inland and on the coast.
SANDPIPERS
South American Snipe Gallinago paraguaiae. 6 of them flew frightened by us in the wetlands of Lampa.
Hudsonian Godwit Limosa haemastica. 3 of them in the estuary of the Rio Maipo. The entire population wintering on the island of Chiloé and in some sectors of Patagonia so we were surprised to find these birds as far north of this wintering area.
Hudsonian Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus hudsonicus. Very numerous, a large flock of at least 750 individuals, resting in the dunes at the estuary of the Maipo river.
Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca. 5 of them in the Salinas de Pullay.
Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes. One of the most common shorebirds migrating south at this time, saw large (+200) numbers in Laguna Batuco.
Willet Tringa semipalmata. Some of them in the estuary of the Maipo river.
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres. 3 of them we saw from the boat in Quinteros, they were feeding on algae on the shoreline.
Sanderling Calidris alba. 25 of them seen from the boat Quintero, they rested on the rocks.
Baird's Sandpiper Calidris bairdii. Only 4 of them in Estuary Maipo river.
SEEDSNIPES
Gray-breasted Seedsnipe Thinocorus orbignyianus. 2 in Farellones and at least 10 of them in Valle del Yeso.
PAINTED-SNIPE
South American Painted-snipe Nycticryphes semicollaris. Without doubt one of the best observations of this trip. "We ran" directly from the aircraft to the bird, including 2 in wetlands Lampa.
SKUAS
Chilean Skua Stercorarius chilensis. Only one of them on the pelagic from Quintero.
GULLS
Andean Gull Chroicocephalus serranus. A lone individual on our visit to the Valle del Yeso.
Brown-hooded Gull Chroicocephalus maculipennis. Large group at wetland of Lampa, where they breed within the reedbeds.
Gray Gull Leucophaeus modestus. 5 of them (juveniles) in the estuary of the Maipo river. This species breeds in the Atacama Desert, some colonies are located 50 kilometers away from the coast. However, some juvenile and non-breeding birds spend the entire year on the coast of central Chile.
Franklin's Gull Leucophaeus pipixcan. November is just the beginning of the migration of this Gull from the center of North America. We saw a flock of at least 500 individuals in the estuary of Rio Maipo.
Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus. Very numerous in the wetlands visited.
Inca Tern Larosterna inca. 4 of these cute terns from our pelagic.
South American Tern Sterna hirundinacea. 15 of them in the estuary of the Maipo river.
Elegant Tern Thalasseus elegans. Another migration from the northern hemisphere, 70 of them in the estuary of the Maipo river.
SKIMMERS
Black Skimmer Rynchops niger. 80 of them, resting after their migration from the Amazon in Estuary Rio Maipo.
PIGEONS
Picui Ground-Dove Columbina picui. Seen in the various fields and bush areas we visited.
Black-winged Ground-Dove Metriopelia melanoptera. 2 of them in the area of Farellones, in the past this bird was more numerous in November, but this year it seems the migration is delayed by heavy snowstorms in the mountains.
Chilean Pigeon Patagioenas araucana. Very abundant this forest Pigeon from southern Santiago.
West Peruvian Dove Zenaida meloda. Three individuals seen on different days in Quintero and Pullay. This is a new colonization of this pigeon; in the past it was only found in the far north of Chile and today has already colonized the fields south of Santiago.
Eared Dove Zenaida auriculata. Seen almost every day of our trip.
OWLS
Rufous-legged Owl Strix rufipes. An excellent view of one of this forest Owl in Lircay.
Burrowing Owl Athene cunicularia. 3 of them in the fields in Laguna de Batuco.
NIGHTJARS
Band-winged Nightjar Caprimulgus longirostris. On our night walk an individual came to playback.
HUMMINGBIRDS
Green-backed Firecrown Sephanoides sephaniodes. Common in the forest to the south of Santiago. From the Greek – resembling a crown or daidem.
White-sided Hillstar Oreotrochilus leucopleurus. An individual in the area of Farellones.
Giant Hummingbird Patagona gigas. We saw this huge Hummingbird, everyday we were around Santiago.
WOODPECKERS
Striped Woodpecker Veniliornis lignarius. We saw this little Woodpecker several time in the woods south of Santiago.
Chilean Flicker Colaptes pitius. We saw a few; 2 of them in the park Yerba Loca and 3 of them on route to the Yeso Valley.
Magellanic Woodpecker Campephilus magellanicus. We saw two families of 3 individuals of this amazing Woodpecker in Lircay National Park. A stunner!
FALCONS
Southern Caracara Caracara plancus. One of them flew right over our picnic table in Lircay.
Mountain Caracara Phalcoboenus megalopterus. Only two at Farellones.
Chimango Caracara Milvago chimango. Very common and in several different habitats, including inside the dense forest in Lircay.
American Kestrel Falco sparverius. Several in the places we visited and on poles along the route.
Aplomado Falcon Falco femoralis. 2 in the high Andes in the Farellones area.
PARROTS
Burrowing Parakeet Cyanoliseus patagonus. We visited a noisy colony of this colorful Parakeet on the shore of Lake Colbun.
Austral Parakeet Enicognathus ferrugineus. A few in Lircay and around Temuco.
Slender-billed Parakeet Enicognathus leptorhynchus. 30 of this endemic Parakeet on the Cerro Ñielol NM in Temuco. ENDEMIC.
Monk Parakeet Myiopsitta monachus. Seen every day that we were in Santiago.
TAPACULOS
Chestnut-throated Huet-huet Pteroptochos castaneus. We saw two of this "almost endemic" in the Lircay National Park, one was carrying food and crossed the trail a couple of times.
Black-throated Huet-huet Pteroptochos tarnii. We saw one of this elusive Tapaculo on the path in the Cerro Ñielol, and heard his loud chanting song often. Named for the English Surgeon and collector J. Tarn (1794- 1877). In the era of the Napoleonic Wars many “natural philosophers” were ships surgeons who, using their employment, studied natural philosophy wherever they touched land i.e. Charles Darwin from Shrewsbury England.
Moustached Turca Pteroptochos megapodius. We saw this charismatic endemic on our visits to the mountains and in the National Park La Campana. ENDEMIC.
White-throated Tapaculo Scelorchilus albicollis. We saw this endemic elusive bird singing in full view, a great view. ENDEMIC.
Chucao Tapaculo Scelorchilus rubecula. We saw two of them in the "tapaculos stream" in the Lircay Park, they crossed the trail several times and we had a very good view of this colorful Tapaculo.
Ochre-flanked Tapaculo Eugralla paradoxa. One of them in the dense bamboo in Cerro Ñielol, he always remained in the shadows and it was hard to see even a piece of this shy bird. Paradoxa from the Greek – strange, incredible!
Magellanic Tapaculo Scytalopus magellanicus. We saw one without using playback in "tapaculos stream" in the Lircay Park. This bird had the bright spot on the head. Others were seen in Cerro Ñielol.
Dusky Tapaculo Scytalopus fuscus. We saw one of this endemic in the Yerba Loca park. ENDEMIC.
OVENBIRDS
Rufous-banded Miner Geositta rufipennis. The miner, more common in the high Andes of central Chile, we saw large groups on migration.
Crag Chilia Ochetorhynchus melanurus. 3 of this endemic on a high cliff in the Yeso Valley. Greeek Ochetorhynchus = “Channel-billed”. ENDEMIC.
Scale-throated Earthcreeper Upucerthia dumetaria. Seen both times we visited the high Andes.
Buff-winged Cinclodes Cinclodes fuscus. Seen every time we visit the mountains, this is a "recent" separation of Bar-winged Cinclodes.
Gray-flanked Cinclodes Cinclodes oustaleti. Seen side by side with Buff-winged Cinclodes, which made their identification very funny. Named for French Zoologist Jean Frederic Emile Oustalet (1844-1905).
Dark-bellied Cinclodes Cinclodes patagonicus. Two of them around Temuco.
Seaside Cinclodes Cinclodes nigrofumosus. 2 right next to our table in Las Cruces restaurant and another of this endemic in the rocks after the pelagic. ENDEMIC.
Wren-like Rushbird Phleocryptes melanops. Several of them in the visited wetlands.
Thorn-tailed Rayadito Aphrastura spinicauda. Very common in the forest of Lircay and Cerro Ñielol.
Plain-mantled Tit-Spinetail Leptasthenura aegithaloides. Seen almost daily.
Des Murs's Wiretail Sylviorthorhynchus desmursii. We saw very well one of this elusive bird in a small patch of bamboo in Lircay. Then another heard in the Cerro Ñielol.
Cordilleran Canastero Asthenes modesta. Two in the Farellones area.
Sharp-billed Canastero Asthenes pyrrholeuca. Seen among the bushes on both visits to the high mountains.
Dusky-tailed Canastero Asthenes humícola. One of this endemic in the bushes in the area of Farellones. ENDEMIC.
White-throated Treerunner Pygarrhichas albogularis. We saw this "Treerunner" in Lircay and the Cerro Ñielol.
TYRANT FLYCATCHERS
White-crested Elaenia (chilensis) Elaenia albiceps chilensis. This migrant extremely common in almost all environments we visit. Rheindt et al. (2009) provided evidence that the subspecies chilensis is actually more closely related to E. pallatangae.
Tufted Tit-Tyrant Anairetes parulus. Several couples in areas with bushes visited.
Ticking Doradito Pseudocolopteryx citreola. After waiting a long time one of them came up to us in Estuary of Maipo River. The whole group could see and hold this little migrant. The SACC says “Ábalos & Areta (2009) provided evidence that P . flaviventris includes two cryptic species (P . flaviventris and P. citreola) that differ in vocalizations and displays, and do not respond to cross-playback experiments. SACC proposal passed to treat citreola as a species.
Many-colored Rush Tyrant Tachuris rubrigastra. 2 of this tiny, colorful Tyrant in the wetlands of Lampa and another in the Maipo River Estuary.
Austral Negrito Lessonia rufa. We saw this "notorious" Tyrant in several wetland areas we visited on our trip.
Spectacled Tyrant Hymenops perspicillatus. Two in Lago Colbún and fields near Temuco. We were surprised not to find this Tyrant in wetlands around Sanatiago probably was delayed migration product of heavy snowstorms in the high mountains.
Spot-billed Ground-Tyrant Muscisaxicola maculirostris. Two of them in plain area with low bushes at 2000m in the valley of Yeso.
Ochre-naped Ground-Tyrant Muscisaxicola flavinucha. Two of them seen in wet areas Valle del Yeso River.
White-browed Ground-Tyrant Muscisaxicola albilora. The Ground-Tyrant more common in visits to Farellones and Yeso Valley.
Black-fronted Ground-Tyrant Muscisaxicola frontalis. 4 of them in low shrubs above 2500 meters in the Yeso Valley.
Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant Agriornis montanus. We saw this bird in two visits to the high Andes.
Great Shrike-Tyrant Agriornis lividus. Very local throughout its range, we saw this bird on the coast in the area of Zapallar where it was foraging by flowering Puya shrubs.
Fire-eyed Diucon Xolmis pyrope. Common in spring time in the central area. We saw this elegant bird almost daily.
Patagonian Tyrant Colorhamphus parvirostris. There were 2 of them in a dark undergrowth sector Lircay National Park. This is a new location for this species, far from the known range.
COTINGAS
Rufous-tailed Plantcutter Phytotoma rara. The only "Cotinga" living in Chile, saw a bird on the coast and in the road to Yeso Valley.
SWALLOWS
Blue-and-white Swallow Pygochelidon cyanoleuca. Seen almost daily, very common in migration in Central Chile.
Chilean Swallow Tachycineta meyeni. Common in central Chile, we saw this white and black Swallow at several sites.
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica. Regular but always in low numbers in central Chile, we saw an individual of this migrant in the estuary of Maipo River.
WRENS
House Wren Troglodytes aedon. Seen almost daily in almost every Wetlands.
Austral Wren Cistothorus hornensis. One in the estuary of Maipo river. Robbins & Nyári (2014) found that Cistothorus platensis was paraphyletic with respect to the other two, and they 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.
THRUSHES
Austral Thrush Turdus falcklandii. Common in Central Chile, also in Santiago. Named for the Falklands or Malvinas Islands.
MOCKINGBIRDS
Chilean Mockingbird Mimus thenca. We saw this "almost endemic" daily, common in Central Chile.
PIPITS
Correndera Pipit Anthus correndera. Common, the most widespread Pipit in Central Chile.
Hellmayr's Pipit Anthus hellmayri. We saw an individual singing on a post close to Melipeuco, Temuco.
TANAGERS AND ALLIES
Gray-hooded Sierra-Finch Phrygilus gayi. Seen in the high Andes and also on the coast that which corresponds to the ssp minor ssp different from the extended forms in the central Andes and the Patagonian steppes.
Patagonian Sierra-Finch Phrygilus patagonicus. We saw this colored Phrygilus in the forest of Parque Lircay.
Mourning Sierra-Finch Phrygilus fruticeti. One of them in the Farellones area.
Plumbeous Sierra-Finch Phrygilus unicolor. Three of them on our visit to Yeso Valley, we Heard this “uniform” Phrygilus sing a few times.
Band-tailed Sierra-Finch Phrygilus alaudinus. One of them was seen in Colbun lake, it was rare not to see this bird in the outskirts of Santiago, possibly another delay in its migration.
Common Diuca-Finch Diuca diuca. Seen EVERY day on our trip.
Greater Yellow-Finch Sicalis auriventris. We saw groups of these in Valle Nevado and only two in Yeso Valley.
Saffron Finch Sicalis flaveola. This Finch has “recently” colonized other sectors around Temuco, we saw this bird nesting in Melipeuco, Temuco.
Grassland Yellow-Finch Sicalis luteola. Commonly found in the pastures of Central Chile, we saw this singing Finch several times.
SPARROWS & BUNTINGS
Rufous-collared Sparrow Zonotrichia capensis. Seen daily.
BLACKBIRDS
Austral Blackbird Curaeus curaeus. Seen almost daily, always in small groups.
Yellow-winged Blackbird Agelasticus thilius. Commonly found in wetlands in Central Chile, we saw this blackbird in all of the wetlands we visited.
Screaming Cowbird Molothrus rufoaxillaris. This species was recently discovered in Chile, it reproduces by parasiting Austral Blackbird, behavior that is new for this species. We looked for this species for a while unsuccessfully, later when we were getting gas four of them passed by vocalizing sounds. Only some members of the group saw them.
Shiny Cowbird Molothrus bonariensis. Seen a couple of times in fields. Named for the city of Buenos Aires.
Long-tailed Meadowlark Sturnella loyca. Very common in fields and mountains. We saw this colorful bird in various environments that we visited.
FINCHES
Thick-billed Siskin Spinus crassirostris. This Siskin is very localized in Central Chile, being that there are only two known sectors. We were very lucky to see this colorful bird on two occasions, once in Farellones and again in Yeso Valley.
Yellow-rumped Siskin Spinus uropygialis. Only two of them in the Yeso Valley.
Black-chinned Siskin Spinus barbata. This bird is very common in Central Chile, we saw this little Siskin on various occasions.
OLD WORLD SPARROWS
House Sparrow Passer domesticus. Common in villages and cities.