Colombia: Hummingbirds & Tanagers of the Western Andes

Empress Brilliant © David Ascanio

An excellent introduction to magical hummingbirds and breathtaking tanagers occurring in cloud forest, farmland, and forest edge. Great opportunity to see and photograph, at bird feeders, wonderful species such as Multicolored Tanager, Booted Racket-tail, Red-headed Barbet, Empress Brilliant, and Green Thorntail. Includes a visit to a wetland and a forest edge in the Cauca River Valley, which offer contrasting birdlife, all at a relaxed and easy pace.

Colombia is a dream destination for birders. Its avifaunal richness is partly due to the branching of the imposing Andes into three mountain ranges: the Eastern, Central, and Western Andes. Two rivers dissect the valleys between these mountains and, given the altitudinal factor, this has triggered a rich process of endemism. The presence of steep slopes and species associated with each altitudinal level requires most tours to start their daily routines before dawn and be in the field until dusk, but not on this tour! We have found the perfect match of lodges and hotels to offer a Relaxed & Easy tour that will offer the best birding of the Western Andes and the opportunity to see several species of hummingbirds and tanagers coming in to bird feeders.

Our tour will focus on two locations found in premontane and montane forest in both slopes of the Western Andes, as well as some birding in a wetland contiguous to the Cauca River. The first location, Finca La Huerta, is a small inn that allows visits to two nearby birding areas, the protected area of the Rio Bravo and the Yotoco Reserve. At Rio Bravo we will look for Crowned Woodnymph and White-throated Wedgebill, as well as colorful birds such as the Andean Motmot; Red-headed Barbet; and Bay-headed, Silver-throated, Scrub, and Golden tanagers. Also found there are the restricted distribution Crested Ant-Tanager, Uniform Antshrike, and Black-winged Saltator. As we search for birds, we will be serenaded by the musical voice of the Andean Solitaire and the repetitive call of the Black-billed Peppershrike. We may come across feeding flocks that could include Grayish Piculet, Golden-olive Woodpecker, Montane Woodcreeper, and Red-faced Spinetail. At a small bridge there we have seen Andean Cocks-of-the-rock in flight. In the Yotoco Reserve we might come across Squirrel Cuckoo, Cocoa Woodcreeper, Brown-capped Vireo, and Bay-headed Tanager. After three nights in La Huerta we will descend to the Cauca River Valley and spend some time in a wetland seeking Jet Antbird, Greenish Elaenia, Black-bellied and Fulvous whistling-ducks, Little Cuckoo, Snail Kite, Spectacled Parrotlet, Bar-crested Antshrike, the ultra-small Slate-headed Tody-Flycatcher, and the brightly colored Western Emerald.

From our second location, the comfortable Araucana Lodge, we will make daily drives to three areas: La Minga, Doña Dora bird feeders, and the Bosque de Nieblas or an alternative site in the famed Km. 18 road. Each area will offer new hummingbirds and other birdlife and, collectively, we should see close to 20 species of hummingbirds and 20 species of tanagers, including Saffron-crowned, Golden, Bay-headed, Blue-capped, Golden-chested, and Golden-naped tanagers. The drive to Anchicayá Road will expose us to the west slope of the Andes and to new avifauna such as the Rufous-gaped Hillstar, Violet-tailed Sylph, and maybe a Velvet-purple Coronet, as well as imposing species such as the robust Toucan Barbet. During our tour, we plan to have breakfast at around 6:00 am, followed by birding sessions at feeding stations, forest edges, roadsides, and wetlands. When not moving between locations, we will enjoy resting time after lunch and will resume our birding in the afternoon. There will be no strenuous walks or steep trails. There will be an optional short night outing. VENT has offered tours to various locations in Colombia since 2009. A booming economy and well-established peaceful culture will reshape your view of this country and its efforts towards long-lasting peace.

Good accommodations and good food throughout; three relatively long drives, but bus transportation comfortable and air-conditioned; most birding along roads or feeding stations; highest elevation on road 2,200 meters (7,200 feet); highest accommodation at 1,600 meters (5,250 feet); walking sticks needed for short walks; warm and humid in the Cauca Valley, cool and pleasant in the mountains.

Green Thorntail © David Ascanio