UNDISCOVERED EASTERN : BIRDING SECRETS OF THE WHITE SANDS OF INÍRIDA

JANUARY 17–24, 2019

White-naped Seedeater ©Steve Hilty

LEADERS: STEVE HILTY & LUIS EDUARDO URUEÑA LIST COMPILED BY: STEVE HILTY

VICTOR EMANUEL NATURE TOURS, INC. 2525 WALLINGWOOD DRIVE, SUITE 1003 AUSTIN, TEXAS 78746 WWW.VENTBIRD.COM

UNDISCOVERED EASTERN COLOMBIA: BIRDING SECRETS OF THE WHITE SANDS OF INÍRIDA JANUARY 17–24, 2019

By Steve Hilty

The Pto. Inírida region of extreme northeastern Colombia has, until recently, been largely ignored by professional ornithologists and the birding community. And I have been guilty of similar neglect. Despite conducting research in Colombia since 1971 and guiding trips as early as 1975, I had visited this region only once a long time ago—briefly with a friend in October of 1978. That changed in January of 2019 when I returned with eight eager birders on a VENT trip.

The sleepy little town of Pto. Inírida on the banks of the Río Inírida, is just a short boat ride downriver to the larger Río Guaviare. Upriver from the town, it is a little over an hour to the Cerros de Mavecure. Now, if you haven’t heard of any of these names you’re not alone. It’s a good bet most birders will be scrambling to Google Maps and Wikipedia to find out where they are. And, if you check, you will likely be surprised by what you find.

Pto. Inírida is best known for the phenomenal Cerros de Mavecure, three smoothly-rounded, dome-shaped, quartzite mountains that seem to rise, as if by magic, out of the flat lowland that surround them. These cerros are huge and black and stunning. At midday they’re also hot, and so are numerous rock outcrops that dot the surrounding region. It is an otherworldly place. Adventurous visitors with Lonely Planet guides in tow often come to climb one or more of these fantastic peaks. We didn’t. We came for the and the experience of simply seeing this remarkable area. We disembarked at an Amerindian village at the base of these cerros, but there were few people around during our visit— no venders or hawkers, and no tourists. There is a small boat dock now, and the village is a little larger than when I visited 41 years ago. Most buildings are improved; there is a small, gleaming white hospital now, and a cell tower and a concrete basketball court, but it seems a village otherwise largely unaffected by time.

Walking beyond the village, it didn’t take long to begin seeing birds—Opal-rumped , Fulvous-rumped Tanagers, a White-throated , then four White-browed Purpletufts in a bare treetop. Not long after, we crossed a large rock outcrop (yes, also black and hot) and spotted a Pompadour . Moments later, we saw four more males in another bare treetop. Walking back to the village, five -tailed Kites swooped and dived overhead, snatching large from the canopy leaves.

However, the real draw for birders to the Inírida area may not be these magical (and sacred to the indigenous Amerindians) cerros at all. It is, in fact, the unique juxtaposition of Guianan, Amazonian, and grassland birds that occur in the mix of white sand soil forests and savannas here. White sand soils, because of their nutrient-poor nature, strongly influence the of vegetation capable of growing in these areas. Forests tend to be scrubby—less luxuriant than in Amazonia, leaves are thick and leathery, and many areas are seasonally flooded. Most rivers are as black as strong tea. A variety of unique microhabitats have evolved here as well—just the sorts of places where interesting and range- restricted birds occur.

We came with the promise of seeing many of the birds that occur in these white sand soil forests but nowhere else. And, we were not disappointed. Green-tailed Goldenthroat, Bronzy , , Blackish-gray Antshrike, Cherrie’s Antwren, Yapacana , Orinoco Softtail, Pale-bellied Mourner, Black , Yellow-crowned Manakin, , Rose-breasted Chat, White-naped Seedeater, and Plumbeous were among the we found associated with these white sand soil forests.

Other notables, mostly Amazonian in distribution, included Scarlet-shouldered Parrotlet, four species of macaws, Cream-colored , Back-throated Trogon (is there a more beautiful trogon anywhere?), Chestnut-backed Antshrike (a recent discovery here), Imeri Warbling-Antbird, Yellow-crowned , Amazonian , Wire-tailed Manakin, Paradise , three species of , and Velvet-fronted Grackles among others.

And then there were two Giant Otters in the river one afternoon. We also had a fascinating close-up encounter with a surprisingly large Electric Eel checking little hiding places in a brandy-colored stream.

This was an exploratory trip—not announced in VENT brochures, but it will be announced next year. Great food served style and quickly, comfortable air-conditioned rooms, and short commutes to birding areas—it doesn’t get much better . . . but it could be a little cooler. Humidity was relatively benign, but middays were hot.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 2 Undiscovered Eastern Colombia 2019

Cerros de Mavecure, Guainía, Colombia. Photo: S. Hilty

LOCATIONS: Caño Culebra Matraca Trail Caño Cunuben El Paujil Trail Finca La Rompedi (Río Guaviari) Remanso community [Cerro Mavecure (Mavicure)] Caño Vitina and community

KEY: Red - White Sand Soil species Green - Guianan species possibly associated also with white sands Blue - Boreal Migrants Boldface - Rare, unusual or of interest for varying reasons * heard only sendero = trail caño = creek or small stream várzea = seasonally flooded forest

BIRDS:

Tinamous, Tinamidae Little Tinamou, Crypturellus soui heard Caño Culebra

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 3 Undiscovered Eastern Colombia 2019 Ducks, Geese & Waterfowl, Anatidae Muscovy Duck, Cairina moschata pair at Sabanitas

Guans, Chachalacas & Curassows, Cracidae Spix's Guan, Penelope jacquacu, 2 briefly at Caño Culebra at onset of rainstorm

Cormorants & Shags, Phalacrocoracidae Neotropic Cormorant, Phalacrocorax brasilianus, rivers (small nos.)

Anhingas, Anhingidae Anhinga, Anhinga anhinga. Rivers (3-4)

Herons, Egrets & Bitterns, Ardeidae Cocoi Heron, Ardea cocoi, 1 or 2 Great Egret, Ardea alba, a few along rivers Snowy Egret, Egretta thula, very few Little Blue Heron, Egretta caerulea, 3-4 Egret, Bubulcus ibis, group in river-edge tree Striated Heron, Butorides striata, one Capped Heron, Pilherodius pileatus, one or two Black-crowned Night-Heron, Nycticorax Nycticorax, a couple

Ibises & Spoonbills, Threskiornithidae Bare-faced Ibis, Phimosus infuscatus, little groups

New World Vultures, Cathartidae Black Vulture, Coragyps atratus, near human-occupied areas and beaches Turkey Vulture, Cathartes aura, all resident forms Greater Yellow-headed Vulture, Cathartes melambrotus, over forest

Osprey, Pandionidae Osprey, Pandion haliaetus , surprisingly common; 12-15 seen

Hawks, Eagles & Kites, Accipitridae Double-toothed Kite, Harpagus bidentatus, 1 seen Black-collared Hawk, Busarellus nigricollis, Caño Cunuben Slate-colored Hawk, Buteogallus schistaceus, 2 pairs Caño cunuben Savanna Hawk, Buteogallus meridionalis, 2 along paved road south Great Black Hawk, Buteogallus urubitinga, 1 near end of Sendero El Paujil Roadside Hawk, Rupornis magnirostris, several

Sunbittern, Eurypygidae Sunbittern, Eurypyga helias, pair in muddy creek at El Paujil trail

Rails, Gallinules & Coots, Rallidae Russet-crowned Crake, Anurolimnas viridis, savanna area south of town

Finfoots, Heliornithidae Sungrebe, Heliornis Fulica, Caño Cunuben

Plovers & Lapwings, Charadriidae Southern Lapwing, Vanellus chilensis Collared Plover, Charadrius collaris

Jacanas, Jacanidae Wattled Jacana, Jacana jacana

Sandpipers & Allies, Scolopacidae Spotted Sandpiper, Actitis macularius

Gulls, Terns & Skimmers, Laridae Yellow-billed Tern, Sternula superciliaris (apparently seen along river sand bars by a few people)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 4 Undiscovered Eastern Colombia 2019 Large-billed Tern, Phaetusa simplex, numerous Black Skimmer, Rynchops niger, a few

Pigeons & Doves, Pale-vented Pigeon, cayennensis, mostly flying overhead various days Scaled Pigeon, Patagioenas speciosa, 2 at Vitina Ruddy Pigeon, Patagioenas subvinacea, heard frequently; Remanso Common Ground-Dove, Columbina , Remanso Plain-breasted Ground-Dove, Columbina minuta, Remanso Ruddy Ground-Dove, Columbina talpacoti, ranch along Río Guaviari Eared Dove, Zeenaida auriculata [Bogotá) White-tipped Dove, Leptotila verreauxi, seen along Caño Cuneben Gray-fronted Dove, Leptotila rufaxilla, heard; several sites

Cuckoos, Cuculidae Smooth-billed Ani, Crotophaga ani, a few (not numerous) Squirrel Cuckoo, Piaya cayana, several

Nightjars & Allies, Caprimulgidae Least Nighthawk, Chordeiles pusillus, at dawn; Sabanitas

Swifts, Apodidae White-collared Swift, Streptoprocne zonaris Short-tailed Swift, Chaetura brachyura Gray-rumped Swift, Chaetura cinereiventris Fork-tailed Palm-Swift, Tachornis squammata

Hummingbirds, Trochilidae White-necked Jacobin, Florisuga mellivora, Sabanitas Great-billed , malaris, Sabanitas; El Paujil trail Reddish Hermit, Phaethornis ruber, Sabanitas Green-tailed Goldenthroat, Polytmus theresiae , 3-4 at Sabanitas (Savanna) Black-throated Mango, Anthracothorax nigricollis Amethyst Woodstar, Calliphlox amethystine , male at Sabanitas scrubb savanna Versicolored Emerald, versicolor Glittering-throated Emerald, Amazilia fimbriata White-chinned Sapphire, Hylocharis cyanus

Trogons, Trogonidae Black-tailed Trogon, Trogon melanurus Green-backed Trogon, Trogon viridis, boldface because it was just so-o-o beautiful Blue-crowned Trogon, Trogon curucui Black-throated Trogon, Trogon rufus

Kingfishers, Alcedinidae Ringed Kingfisher, Megaceryle torquata Amazon Kingfisher, Chloroceryle amazona Green Kingfisher, Chloroceryle americana

Puffbirds, Bucconidae *Chestnut-capped , Bucco macrodactylus, heard Sendero El Paujil Black-fronted Nunbird, Monasa nigrifrons Swallow-winged Puffbird, Chelidoptera tenebrosa

Black-throated Trogon, Pto. Inirida, Colombia. Photo: S. Hilty

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 5 Undiscovered Eastern Colombia 2019 , Galbulidae White-eared Jacamar, leucotis, ranch on Río Guaviari , lugubris, Sendero El Paujil Green-tailed Jacamar, Galbula, Sendero Matraca , Galbula leucogastra , Vitina , Galbula dea, several places

New World Barbets, Capitonidae Gilded Barbet, Capito auratus, several foreted areas

Toucans, Ramphastidae Lettered , Pteroglossus inscriptus, 2 (possibly seen only by SH) Many-banded Aracari, Pteroglossus pluricinctus, 1-2 White-throated Toucan, tucanus

Woodpeckers, Picidae Orinoco Piculet, pumilus , great study near Sbanitas Golden-spangled Piculet, Picumnus exilis, Caño Culebra Yellow-tufted Woodpecker, Melanerpes cruentatus, Remanso Red-stained Woodpecker, Dryobates affinis, várzea forest *Golden-green Woodpecker, Piculus chrysochloros, hd (Sendero El Paujil) Spot-breasted Woodpecker, Colaptes punctigula, north bank of Río Guaviari Scale-breasted Woodpecker, grammicus, várzea forests Cream-colored Woodpecker, Celeus flavus, várzea forests Chestnut Woodpecker, Celeus elegans, 1 seen in várzea forest Red-necked Woodpecker, Campephilus rubricollis, pair Crimson-crested Woodpecker, Campephilus melanoleucus, 1 female Lineated Woodpecker, Dryocopus lineatus, 1 near Vitina

Falcons & Caracaras, Black , Daptrius ater Crested Caracara, Caracara cheriway Yellow-headed Caracara, Milvago chimachima Laughing Falcon, Herpetotheres cachinnans Bat Falcon, Falco rufigularis

New World and African , Psittacidae Scarlet-shouldered Parrotlet, Touit huetii , pairs seen in flight three times; an Amazonian species; scarce Cobalt-winged Parakeet, Brotogeris cyanoptera, daily Maroon-tailed Parakeet, Pyrrhura melanura, 2 in flight; Caño Cunuben Blue-headed , Pionus menstruus, daily in varying nos. Mealy Parrot, Amazona farinose, common in várzea foresdt Orange-winged Parrot, Amazona amazonica, common Black-headed Parrot, Pionites melanocephalus, grous of 4-5 severa times Brown-throated Parakeet, Eupsittula pertinax Blue-and-yellow Macaw, Ara ararauna, several small groups Scarlet Macaw, Ara macao, close Red-and-green Macaw, Ara chloropterus, pair Chestnut-fronted Macaw, Ara severus, common

Typical , Thamnophilidae Fasciated Antshrike, lineatus Great Antshrike, Taraba major Black-crested Antshrike, Sakesphorus canadensis Chestnut-backed Antshrike, palliates [when originally found in 2016 for the first time in Colombia this was written up as: A Mysterious Antshrike in Eastern Colombia . Neotropical Birding 20: 21-24, by Pablo Florez. It has recently been confirmed as a range extension for Chestnut-backed Antshrike Thamnophilus palliates, a species previously known from , and .] It is a significant range extension. This is the species we saw (male and female) on the north bank of the Río Guaviare. Blackish-gray Antshrike, Thamnophilus nigrocinereus, male and female Amazonian Antshrike, Thamnophilus amazonicus Plain Antvireo, Dysithamnus mentalis

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 6 Undiscovered Eastern Colombia 2019 , caesius Spot-winged Antshrike, Pygiptila stellaris *Pygmy Antwren, brachyura, heard in várzea forests Cherrie's Antwren, Myrmotherula cherriei, white sand scrub Amazonian Streaked-Antwren, Myrmotherula multostriata White-flanked Antwren, Myrmotherula axillaris Gray Antwren, Myrmotherula menetriesii *Spot-backed Antwren, Herpsilochmus dorsimaculatus , heard at Sabanitas and Matraca Dot-winged Antwren, Microrhopias quixensis Imeri Warbling-Antbird, flavescens , a Guianan species) Gray Antbird, Cercomacra cinerascens *White-browed Antbird, Myrmoborus leucophrys, heard Matraca Black-chinned Antbird, Hypocnemoides melanopogon Yapacana Antbird, Aprositornis disjuncta , spectacular 30-minute study of this rarely-seen bird Spot-backed Antbird, Hylophylax naevius, not marked on my checklist but I believe this was seen Dot-backed Antbird, Hylophylax punctulatus

Ovenbirds & , Furnariidae Plain-brown , Dendrocincla fuliginosa Duida Woodcreeer, Lepidicolaptes duidae, with mixed species flock Wedge-billed Woodcreeper, Glyphorynchus spirurus Long-billed Woodcreeper, Nasica longirostris Strong-billed Woodcreeper, Xiphocolaptes promeropirhynchus, 1 along Caño Cunuben , ocellatus [believed this secies and not , Xiphorhynchus elegans but we did not confirm with voice] Buff-throated Woodcreeper, Xiphorhynchus guttatus Straight-billed Woodcreeper, picus [Curve-billed Scythebill, Campylorhamphus procurvoides. 1 seen by SH and Camilo] [Rufous-tailed Xenops, Microxenops milleri, or Xenops sp., Sendero El Paujil, I think SH only] Cinnamon-rumped Foliage-gleaner, Philydor pyrrhodes, great studies of this normally difficult-to- see bird Orinoco Softtail, cherriei, 3 pairs encountered; várzea with bamboo; extremely range- restricted Rusty-backed Spinetail, vulpine, several especially along Río Guaviare , Cranioleuca gutturata, 1 pair building nest 15 m up in small várzea forest clearing Yellow-chinned Spinetail, Certhiaxis cinnamomeus, along Río Guaviari

Orinoco Softtail, Pto. Inírida, Colombia. Photo: S. Hilty

Tyrant Flycatchers, Tyrannidae White-lored Tyrannulet, Ornithion inerme, nice study of this canopy dweller on a rare occasion when it was low; last morning *Southern Beardless-Tyrannulet, Camptostoma obsoletum, singing at dawn; Sabanitas Yellow-crowned Tyrannulet, Tyrannulus elatus, mostly heard; at least one seen , Myiopagis gaimardii, heard only (entrance to Sendero El Paujil) Yellow-crowned Elaenia, Myiopagis flavivertex, a surprise as this bird proved fairly common (by voice) although there are few records for Colombia Plain-crested Elaenia, Elaenia cristata, typical of scrubby areas in sandy soil Ochre-bellied Flycatcher, Mionectes oleagineus, mainly heard; one briefly seen by a few people

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 7 Undiscovered Eastern Colombia 2019 Slender-footed Tyrannulet, Zimmerius gracilipes, common voice; pair diligently building nest ca. 4-5 m up in s mall várzea forest clearing Short-tailed Pygmy-Tyrant, Myiornis ecaudatus, so cute and so high up Helmeted Pygmy-Tyrant, Lophotriccus galeatus, largely a white sand soil bird Rusty-fronted Tody-Flycatcher, Poecilotriccus latirostris, heard Tolmomyias sp. probably Yellow-margined Flycatcher Gray-crowned Flycatcher, Tolmomyias poliocephalus, 1st afternoon and El Paujil trail *Ruddy-tailed Flycatcher, Terenotriccus erythrurus, heard Sulphur-rumped Flycatcher, Myiobius sulphureipygius, one briefly with mixed spp. flock, Sendero El Paujil *Euler's Flycatcher, Lathrotriccus euleri, perhaps heard (Luis) Amazonian Black-Tyrant, Knipolegus poecilocercus, brief look on north bank of Río Guaviare Drab Water Tyrant, Ochthornis littoralis, muddy river banks Cinnamon , Attila cinnamomeus, 1 seen nicely in scopes Citron-bellied Attila, Attila citriniventris, also seen well in scopes at Sabanitas *Bright-rumped Attila, Attila spadiceus, heard at Sabanitas forest Grayish Mourner, simplex, 1 with mixed spp. flock Pale-bellied Mourner, Rhytipterna immunda , 1 in scope; never seems very numerous and this one was in a very open site along the Sabanitas road [Dusky-capped Flycatcher, Myiarchus tuberculifer, seen by SH and Camilo] ?Swainson's Flycatcher, Myiarchus swainsoni, not certain of this record; a couple photos (Luis Urueña) seems to show reddish bill, but mostly lower mandible and basal edge of upper (not the entire upper); further the bill seems too thin; also very much out of season for this austral migrant that would be expected to be breeding in northern and southern Brasil at this time. List as hypothetical. Short-crested Flycatcher, Myiarchus ferox, heard and seen in several places Lesser Kiskadee, Pitangus lector, pair at Sabanitdas; unusually common along Caño Cunuben , Pitangus sulphuratus, mostly in Pto. Inírida Rusty-margined Flycatcher, Myiozetetes cayanensis, Remanso and north bank of Río Guaviari (overall not very common) , Myiozetetes similis, Remanso; heard also on north bank of Río Guaviari (surprisingly few) , Legatus leucophaius, several at Sabanitas; 1 near Vitina Sulphury Flycatcher, Tyrannopsis sulphurea , pair in vicinity of Moriche palms at Caño Vitina , Tyrannus melancholicus

Cotingas, Cotingidae , Cephalopterus ornatus , one in várzea forest (although it was not far from a creek) Capuchinbird, Perissocephalus tricolor , 2 seen (scope views repeatedly) Spangled Cotinga, Cotinga cayana, 4 MM and 1 FF at Vitina Screaming Piha, Lipaugus vociferans, a couple seen well in forest near Sabanitas , punicea , 5 at Remanso (including 4 MM in top of one tree); a female at Vitina Bare-necked Fruitcrow, Gymnoderus foetidus, remarkable group of more than half dozen roosting in large bare tree right at the edge of the Sabanitas community aarea

Manakins, Pipridae *Dwarf Tyrant-Manakin, Tyranneutes stolzmanni, 1 heard at Sabanitas

Yellow-crowned Manakin, Pto. Inírida, Colombia. Photo. S. Hilty

Black Manakin, atronitens , several the first p.m.; another in fruiting Ficus last morning Yellow-crowned Manakin, Heterocercus flavivertex , 2 at edge of scrub woodland at Sabanitas; another female in a fruiting Ficus tree the last morning Wire-tailed Manakin, Pipra filicauda, spectacular views (close) of two males

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 8 Undiscovered Eastern Colombia 2019 White-crowned Manakin, Dixiphia pipra, male briefly by some the first p.m.; a female at fruiting Ficus Golden-headed Manakin, Ceratopipra erythrocephala, one male the last morning

Wire-tailed Manakin, Pto. Inírida, Colobia. Photo: S. Hilty

Tityras & Allies, Black-tailed Tityra, Tityra cayana Varzea (Greater) , Schiffornis major White-browed Purpletuft, Iodopleura isabellae White-winged Becard, Pachyramphus polychopterus

Vireos, Shrike-Babblers & Erpornis, Vireonidae Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Cyclarhis gujanensis, one on north bank of Río Guaviare Lemon-chested Greenlet, Hylophilus thoracicus, several heard; only one seen Red-eyed , Vireo olivaceus, almost daily [cannot be sure if some of these were of form Chivi Vireo, Vireo chivi ]

Crows, Jays & , Violaceous , violaceus

Swallows, Hirundinidae Black-collared Swallow, Pygochelidon melanoleuca , river at Cerros Mavecure White-banded Swallow, Atticora fasciata Caño Cunuben Southern Rough-winged Swallow, ruficollis, I think only the first two days Gray-breasted Martin, chalybea, Pto. Inírida airport and town White-winged Swallow, albiventer, rivers and creeks

Wrens, Troglodytidae House Wren, Troglodytes aedon, Pto. Inírida and around most indigenous villages -like Wren, Campylorhynchus turdinus, pair Caño Cunuben Buff-breasted Wren, Cantorchilus leucotis, abundant in a few localities

Gnatcatchers, Polioptilidae Tropical Gnatcatcher, Polioptila plumbea, pair first afternoon

Donacobius, Donacobiidae Black-capped Donacobius, Donacobius atricapilla, north bank of Río Guaviare

Thrushes & Allies, Turdidae Turdus sp. heard (Cocoa Thrush Turdus fumigatus or Hauxwell’s Thrush Turdus hauxwelli ) Black-billed Thrush, Turdus ignobilis

New World Warblers, Parulidae Blackpoll Warbler, Setophaga striata , several in forest canopy

Tanagers & Allies, Thraupidae

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 9 Undiscovered Eastern Colombia 2019 Masked , nigrogenis, we saw a few (including a nice adult) on Caño Cunuben; note this is a split from Red-capped Cardinal, a species found further south in Amazonia; not all checklists split this form out yet Black-faced Tanager, Schistochlamys melanopis, most olive colored immature birds , Nemosia pileata, north bank of Río Guaviari Gray-headed Tanager, Eucometis penicillata, at least 4 width mixed spp. flocks on Sendero Matraca Fulvous-crested Tanager, Tachyphonus surinamus, striking male and its less colorful female near the village of Remanso Red-shouldered Tanager, Tachyphonus phoenicius , seen in at least two (or 3?) white sand soil areas Silver-beaked Tanager, Ramphocelus carbo, a few Blue-gray Tanager, episcopus Palm Tanager, Thraupis palmarum Burnished-buff Tanager, cayana Masked Tanager, Tangara nigrocincta , Caño Culebra , Tangara mexicana, Caño Cunuben , Tangara chilensis, Sabanitas forest Opal-rumped Tanager, Tangara velia, Remanso; Vitina White-Yellow-bellied Dacnis, Dacnis flaviventer Blue Dacnis, Dacnis cayana Red-legged Honeycreeper, Cyanerpes cyaneus Green Honeycreeper, Chlorophanes spiza Blue-black Grassquit, Volatinia jacarina Chestnut-bellied Seedeater, Sporophila castaneiventris, Sabanitas and north bank of Río Guaviare Large-billed Seed-, Sporophila crassirostris, north bank of Río Guaviare Chestnut-bellied Seed-Finch, Sporophila angolensis, Sabanitas and north bank of Río Guaviar (formerly as Lesser Seed-Finch when lumped with all black birds of the Pacific region of Colombia), Gray Seedeater, Sporophila intermedia, only north bank of Guaviare White-naped Seedeater, Sporophila fringilloides , 1 seen close for extended period of time

White-naped Seedeater, Pto. Inírida, Colombia. Photo. S. Hilty

Yellow-bellied Seedeater, Sporophila nigricollis, only north bank of Río Guaviare Bananaquit, Coereba flaveola, only a few (including 1 silhouetted against the moon) Buff-throated Saltator, Saltator maximus, one Grayish Saltator, Saltator coerulescens

Cardinals & Allies, Cardinalidae Summer Tanager, Piranga rubra, 3 seen including a mixed olive/red patchy bird Blue-black , Cyanoloxia cyanoides, male seen

Troupials & Allies, Icteridae Green , Psarocolius viridis , one bird flying over some clearings last morning , Psarocolius decumanus, common and widespread Olive (Amazonian) Oropendola, Psarocolius bifasciatus, several along Caño Cunuben Yellow-rumped Cacique, Cacicus cela, several groups computing to and from nest sites, roosts etc. , Icterus cayanensis, singles or pairs or 3’s seen on at least half of all days; note that the ones we saw have, until very recently, always been called Moriche Oriole (I. cayanensis chrysocephalus) . The two forms (cayanensis and cayanensis ) have recently been merged based on some interbreeding although physically their are strikingly different. , Molothrus oryzivorus first afternoon Velvet-fronted Grackle, Lampropsar tanagrinus, at least two little flocks of ca. 3-4 and 6 respectively

Finches, & Allies, Fringillidae Plumbeous Euphonia, Euphonia plumbea , pair first afternoon Thick-billed Euphonia, Euphonia laniirostris, pair with mixed spp flock at Sendero El Paujil)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 10 Undiscovered Eastern Colombia 2019 Golden-bellied Euphonia (White-lored Euphonia), Euphonia chrysopasta, one male at Vitina White-vented Euphonia, Euphonia minuta, one with mixed spp. flock in várzea forest

MAMMALS:

Inioidea Pink River Dolphin, Inia geoffrensis (probably humboldtiana )

New World Monkeys, Cebidae Collared Titi Monkey, Callicebus sp.

OTHERS: Electric eel

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 11 Undiscovered Eastern Colombia 2019