Southern Argentina: Hooded Grebe Extension

For the passionate birder, few moments rival the sight of a Hooded Grebe dancing across a remote Patagonian lake—a courtship display both ethereal and fleeting. First described only in 1974, this near-mythical species now teeters on the edge of extinction, and visiting its breeding grounds is a true privilege. This exclusive extension to our Southern Argentina tour takes us into the heart of Patagonia, where the landscapes are vast, the air crisp, and wildlife flourishes in near silence.

Our base is a beautifully appointed estancia overlooking the Chico River, a serene oasis amid endless steppe. Here, Cinereous Harriers glide above golden grasslands while Silvery Grebes and Upland Geese drift across mirror-like ponds. Nearby, the rare Austral Rail lurks in the reeds—a species once thought lost to science and rediscovered only recently.

Venturing onto the high Strobel Plateau, we’ll scan isolated lakes for the elegant Hooded Grebe, watching as pairs court and nest amid floating mats of vegetation. Along the way, we’ll encounter a rich Patagonian cast that may include Lesser Rhea, Patagonian Tinamou, Magellanic Plover, and Chocolate-vented Tyrant, along with Gray-bellied Shrike-Tyrant, seedsnipes, miners, and canasteros.

With crisp light, vast horizons, and the camaraderie of a small group, this is both an adventure and a celebration of resilience—the story of a bird and a landscape that endure against all odds.

Wind-swept steppe, arid plateau, reed-fringed wetlands, and cold glacial lakes—Patagonia at its wildest and most pristine.