Birding Tour Colombia: Andean Endemics and Spectacled Bear

On the first part of this exciting Andean endemics birding tour, we will arrive in the city of Medellín to explore the recently created Margaritas Private Reserve to look for a feast of colorful and endemic species such as White-mantled Barbet, Red-bellied Grackle, the recently split Striolated Manakin, White-bearded Manakin and Blue-naped Chlorophonia.

The endemic White-mantled Barbet should be seen at feeding station on this Colombian birding tour.

From Medellín we will travel to the Yarumal area to look for the recently described and poorly known Antioquia Brushfinch. This rare Colombian endemic was described as recently as 2007, based on museum specimens, with its natural habitat only discovered in 2018. We will devote the whole day to finding “Gorrión Paisa”, the brushfinch’s Colombian name.

We will then leave Medellín and head towards the picturesque town of Jardín in the southwest region of Antioquia, which will be our base from which to explore the ProAves Yellow-eared Parrot Reserve to look for our main target, the Endangered (BirdLife International) Yellow-eared Parrot. Other target species in the area include Tanager Finch, Chami Antpitta (recently split from the Rufous Antpitta complex), Purplish-mantled Tanager, Chestnut-breasted Chlorophonia, and with luck Ocellated Tapaculo and Chestnut-crested Cotinga.

Tanager Finch will be searched for in the ProAves Yellow-eared Parrot Reserve.

The dry area of Bolombolo in the Cauca Valley is where we hope to find the recently described endemic Antioquia Wren along with two other Colombian endemics Apical Flycatcher and Greyish Piculet.

We will also explore the Rio Claro Nature Reserve, where we will look for endemic species such as White-mantled Barbet, Sooty Ant Tanager, Antioquia Bristle Tyrant, and with luck, Beautiful Woodpecker. Other birds in the area include the most-wanted Northern Screamer, Magdalena Antbird, Bare-crowned Antbird, Moustached Puffbird, Saffron-headed Parrot, Russet-winged Schiffornis, and Citron-throated Toucan.

The second part of the tour will allow participants to explore the eastern Andes, near Bogotá to visit unique bird reserves and exciting feeding stations in search of an incredible array of country endemics and regional specials such as Bogota Rail, Green-bearded Helmetcrest, Blue-throated Starfrontlet, Silvery-throated Spinetail, Apolinar’s Wren, Black Inca, Noble Snipe, Golden-bellied Starfrontlet, Indigo-capped Hummingbird, Grey-throated Warbler, Moustached Brushfinch, Rufous-browed Conebill, Cundinamarca Antpitta, and Spot-flanked Gallinule.

During our time around Bogotá, we will make a special trip to Chingaza National Natural Park to look for Spectacled Bear. This area has become a reliable area for South America’s only bear species and we look forward to hopefully finding this most-wanted mammal. If you would like to create your own custom (and shorter) trip focusing only on Spectacled Bear, please get in touch as we can happily arrange this for you.

The stunning Blue-throated Starfrontlet is one of our targets at Observatorio de Colibries.