WOMEN BIRDERS PROGRAM Sponsored by Jacamar Club and Vortex Optics, Tambomachay Forest, CUSCO - PERU January 23, 2021

> A Field Report < Of birding excursions and the importance of empowering women in the birding activities for environmental education in Peru and Bolivia.

Melinda Valenzuela,1 Ana Amable2, Richard Amable3

[email protected]¹, [email protected]² [email protected] 3 https://jacamarclub.com/ [email protected]

The “Women Birders”, a program created to empower women in the good ecological practices of birding & birdwatching in Peru and Bolivia. Through this program the women in the community will be able to increase their leadership and knowledge in conservation and ecotourism. Also, this will make a difference in their communities as they can represent their communities and will lead the changes in local conservation behavior. Finally, it will benefit directly to the conservation of local birds.

The Jacamar Club programs perform a series of activities as a preliminary step to environmental education, ecotourism ideas and conservation of bird habitats in Peru and Bolivia.

Participants at Tambomachay, Cusco - Photo by Ana Amable

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Birders in action at Tambomachay, Cusco - Photo by Ana Amable

BIRDING LOCALITIES OF INTEREST

CUSCO Cuzco is a city in the Peruvian Andes that was the capital of the Inca Empire and is known for its archaeological remains and Spanish colonial architecture. The Plaza de Armas is the center of the old city, with galleries, carved wooden balconies and ruins of Inca walls. The Santo Domingo convent, in the Baroque style, was built on the Inca Sun Temple (Qoricancha) and has archaeological remains of Inca stonework. TAMBOMACHAY Tambomachay is located 5 kilometers from the city of Cusco and 0.6 kilometers from Puka Pukara. Its function was to provide water to nearby sites and as Inca baths. The harmony that exists between its stone walls and the nature that surrounds it make it one of the most important places in the Inca period.

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Figure 1: Tracking birding map at Tambomachay, Cusco - Perú. Fuente: Google maps 2021

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* = Species heard only Red – IUCN Red List Category IOC = International Ornithological Congress SACC = South American Classification Committee

THE LIST

TINAMIFORMES TINAMIDAE: tinamous / perdices del nuevo mundo (tinamúes) 1. Ornate Tinamou - Nothoprocta ornata - Perdiz Cordillerana One has been heard at near to Tambomachay.

ANSERIFORMES ANATIDAE: Ducks, Geese, and Swans / Patos, Gansos, y Cisnes

2. Andean Goose - Oressochen melanopterus - Cauquén Huallata Seen several. SACC proposal passed to treat Chloephaga melanoptera and Neochen jubatus as congeners; Oressochen Bannister 1870 becomes the name for these two when treated in a separate genus.

COLUMBIFORMES COLUMBIDAE: Pigeons and Doves / Palomas y Tórtolas

3. Spot-winged Pigeon - Patagioenas maculosa - Paloma de Ala Moteada Common and widespread on coast, west slope of Andes, and in intermontane valleys, up to 4000 m. Usually very rare on east slope of Andes, although locally fairly common in dry Huallaga Valley; very rare vagrant to Amazonia. Typically found in open, semiarid areas, in fields and scrub, and in towns. Social, often found in flocks. Note slender shape, long tail, and black spotting on wings and neck. Larger and longer tailed than ground-doves (but in Andes, cf. Black-winged Ground-Dove). Also cf. White-tipped Dove.

APODIFORMES TROCHILIDAE: Hummingbirds / Colibríes 4. Sparkling Violetear- Colibri coruscans - Oreja-Violeta de Vientre Azul One seen at Tambomachay. It is the more common and widespread of all violetears. It occurs on the west and east slope of the Andes within a broad elevation range that includes 400 – 4500 m. Species range based on: Schulenberg, T. S., D. F. Stotz, and L. Rico. 2006. Distribution maps of the birds of Peru, version 1.0. Environment, Culture & Conservation (ECCo).

5. Black-tailed Trainbearer - Lesbia victoriae - Colibrí de Cola Larga Negra One seen at Tambomachay. It has an iridescent green gorget that has a wide “V” shaped bottom outline. The underparts are green overall. The tail in the male is very long. The uppertail coverts and tail feathers have a reduced coppery green tip and are mostly dusky-black in color. The vent area is pale or buffy. The bill is black, relatively short, and gently decurved. The female is a dull version of the male with grayish-green speckled - 4 -

© 2021 Jacamar Club - Perú underparts and a shorter tail. The very similar Green-tailed Trainbearer has broad emerald green uppertail coverts, nearly half of the tail looks emerald green, has a shorter and more straight bill, and a flatter lower outline to the gorget. The Black-tailed Trainbearer is common to fairly common in montane scrub on the east and west slope of the Andes at elevations ranging between 2700 – 4100 m. On the west slope, it ranges from Piura to Lima. On the East slope, it ranges on both sides of the Marañon Valley south to Cusco.

6. Green-tailed Trainbearer - Lesbia nuna - Colacintillo Colilarga Verde One seen in the route. Locally present on west slope of Andes south to northern Lima, both slopes of Marañón Valley, and in intermontane valleys at 1700–3800 m. Overlaps with Black-tailed Trainbearer and found in similar habitats; but more common in drier habitats, and is less common on east-facing slopes of Andes. Similar to Black- tailed, but shorter rectrices are extensively glittering green (iridescence of Black-tailed is bluish green, and limited to tips of all rectrices), the underparts of the male are greener, and gorget is rounded (gorget of Black-tailed is more pointed and contrasts more against duller green belly). In most of Peru, bill of Green-tailed is very short, and upper surface of all but the longest rectrices is mostly green; but in south (nuna; north to Huancavelica, one record from Junín), bill is longer (almost same length as bill of Black-tailed), and in some lights the iridescence of next-to-longest rectrices is restricted to tips (as in Black-tailed).

7. Bearded Mountanieer – Oreonympha nobilis – Montañes Barbudo One seen at Tambomachay. Two seen, uncommon in dry montane scrub in intermontane valleys of south-central Andes, 2700–3900 m. Often seen at tree tobacco, Nicotiana, an exotic plant found along road edges. Large size, long forked black-and-white tail, and white underparts render it unmistakable. Male has narrow green and purple gorget. Crown bordered with whitish line, speckled with green, in albolimbata (Huancavelica), or with deep glittering blue (more widespread nobilis).

8. Tyrian Metaltail - Metallura tyrianthina - Colibrí Tirio Two seen at Tambomachay. 9. Shining Sunbeam - Aglaeactis cupripennis - Rayo-de-Sol Brillante One seen in the trail. Species range based on: Schulenberg, T. S., D. F. Stotz, and L. Rico. 2006. Distribution maps of the birds of Peru, version 1.0. Environment, Culture & Conservation (ECCo). The Field Museum. http://fm2.fieldmuseum.org/uw_test/birdsofperu on 08/01/2015.

CHARADRIIFORMES SCOLOPACIDAE: Sandpipers and Allies / Playeros, Becasinas, y Afines 10. Puna Snipe - Gallinago andina - Becasina de la Puna One seen in the route. Species limits in New World Gallinago have been fluid and controversial, and not based on explicit analyses. Miller et al. (2019) provided vocal evidence that magellanica should be treated as a separate species, as well as the first quantitative justification for treatment of G. andina as a separate species.

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Puna Snipe - Photo by Ana Amable PICIFORMES PICIDAE: Woodpeckers / Carpinteros 11. Andean Flicker - Colaptes rupícola - Carpintero Andino One seen at Tambomachay. Plumage similarities and somewhat complementary distributions suggested that Colaptes pitius and C. rupicola are sister species (Short 1982), and this was confirmed by Moore et al. (2011).

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Andean Flicker - Photo by Ana Amable

FALCONIFORMES FALCONIDAE: Falcons and Caracaras / Halcones y Caracaras 12. Aplomado Falcon - Falco femoralis - Halcón Aplomado One seen flying over at Tambomachay.

PASSERIFORMES GRALLARIIDAE: Antpittas / Tororoies 13. Stripe-headed Antpitta - Grallaria andicolus - Tororoi de Cabeza Listada One has been heard at Tambomachay. Stripe-headed Antpitta has olive-brown upperparts and whitish underparts with dusky and brown streaks, scales, and scallops. has streaked back. It is associated with Polylepis forests and adjacent scrub. It sits and waits at elevated perches scanning for insect prey. It is generally uncommon at the proper habitat at elevations ranging from 3000 m to 4600 m.

FURNARIIDAE: Ovenbirds / Horneros 14. Cream-winged Cinclodes - Cinclodes albiventris - Churrete de Ala Crema One seen at Tambomachay. Jaramillo (2003) proposed Cream-winged Cinclodes for C. albiventris and Buff-winged Cinclodes for C. fuscus, and Jaramillo proposed Chestnut-winged Cinclodes for C. albidiventris; these are used here tentatively until formal SACC action. - 7 -

15. White-winged Cinclodes - Cinclodes atacamensis - Churrete de Ala Blanca One seen near to Tambomachay. 16. Streak-fronted Thornbird - Phacellodomus striaticeps - Espinero de Frente Rayada One seen in the route. 17. Junín Canastero - Asthenes virgata (E) - Canastero de Junín Thre seen in the trail. Vuilleumier (1968) considered Asthenes virgata a subspecies of A. flammulata, but see Vaurie (1980). Meyer de Schauensee (1966) suggested that A. maculicauda might be considered a subspecies of A. flammulata. Asthenes flammulata, A. virgata, and A. maculicauda form a superspecies (Sibley & Monroe 1990); Fjeldså & Krabbe (1990) suggested that all three could be considered conspecific. Genetic data (Derryberry et al. 2010, 2011) are consistent with the three forming a monophyletic group, with A. virgata and A. maculicauda being sister taxa

Junín Canastero - Photo by Ana Amable

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© 2021 Jacamar Club - Perú 18. Streak-backed Canastero - Asthenes wyatti - Canastero de Dorso Rayado One seen in the trail. 19. Rusty-fronted Canastero - Asthenes ottonis (E) - Canastero de Frente Rojiza One seen in the trail. Asthenes heterura was considered a subspecies of A. pudibunda by Meyer de Schauensee (1966, 1970) , but see Vaurie (1971a, 1980) for treatment as a separate species, as was done previously by Cory & Hellmayr (1925) and Peters (1951); it is more likely to be closer to A. ottonis (Vaurie 1971a, Fjeldså & Krabbe 1990), which was considered a subspecies of A. pudibunda by Cory & Hellmayr (1925). Called "Iquico Canastero" in Cory & Hellmayr (1925) and Meyer de Schauensee (1966). Asthenes pudibunda, A. ottonis, and A. heterura are considered to form a superspecies (Sibley & Monroe 1990).

20. Creamy-crested Spinetail - Cranioleuca albicapilla - Cola-Espina de Cresta Cremosa One seen at Tambomachay.

TYRANNIDAE: Tyrant Flycatchers / Tiranos 21. Yellow-billed Tit-Tyrant - Anairetes flavirostris - Torito de Pico Amarillo One seen at Tambomachay. 22. Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant - Agriornis montanus - Arriero de Pico Negro One seen in the trail. 23. White-browed Chat-Tyrant - Ochthoeca leucophrys - Pitajo de Ceja Blanca Four seen near to Tambomachay. 24. Rufous-webbed Bush-Tyrant - Cnemarchus rufipennis - Ala-Rufa Canelo One seen in the trail. Polioxolmis rufipennis was formerly placed in Cnemarchus (Cory & Hellmayr 1927), or Xolmis (e.g., Meyer de Schauensee 1970, Traylor 1979b), but Lanyon (1988b) provided morphological evidence for recognition of Polioxolmis as a genus separate from Xolmis. Tello et al. (2009) confirmed that it was the sister taxon to Cnemarchus erythropygius. Chesser at al. (2020) confirmed the placement of rufipennis in Cnemarchus. SACC proposal passed to place rufipennis in Cnemarchus.

TROGLODYTIDAE: Wrens / Cucaracheros 25. House Wren - Troglodytes aedon - Cucarachero Común One seen. Although the name Troglodytes domesticus has priority for this species, Banks & Browning (1995) recommended continued use of aedon as the species name for reasons of stability.

TURDIDAE: Thrushes / Zorzales 26. Chiguanco Thrush - Turdus chiguanco - Zorzal Chiguanco Seen several at Tambomachay. One of the most common and widespread thrushes of Andes above 1600 m on west slope and from 2400–4300 m on east slope; also locally down to near sea level in west and down to 1300 m on eastern Andes. Inhabits forest edge, agricultural areas with hedgerows or scattered trees, and towns and gardens; locally overlaps with Great Thrush but prefers more arid environments. Dull graybrown; similar to Great in appearance and behavior, but smaller and paler than widespread gigantodes (much paler tan ockendeni subspecies of southeast); does not have pale orbital ring of male Great.

FRINGILLIDAE: Finches / Jilgueros y Euphonias 27. Hooded Siskin - Spinus magellanicus - Jilguero Encapuchado Seen several at Tambomachay, common here.

PASSERELLIDAE: New World Sparrows and Allies / Gorriones del Nuevo Mundo y Afines 28. Rufous-collared Sparrow - Zonotrichia capensis - Gorrión de Collar Rufo Seen several at Tambomachay very common. - 9 -

© 2021 Jacamar Club - Perú THRAUPIDAE: Tanagers / Tangaras 29. Cinereous Conebill -Conirostrum cinereum - Pico-de-Cono Cinéreo One seen in the trail. Common and widespread, from coast up to 4200 m in western Andes and intermontane valleys; locally to as low as 2150 m on east slope of Andes. Found as singles, pairs, or small groups in gardens, open woodland, hedgerows, and shrubs in agricultural areas, montane scrub, and forest edge. In eastern cordillera of Andes, more prevalent in intermontane valleys than on more humid, east-facing slopes. Small and largely gray, with pale superciliary, prominent white speculum, and white or buffy tips to greater wing coverts.

30. Black-throated Flower-piercer - Diglossa brunneiventris - Pincha-flor de Garganta Negra One seen near to Tambomachay.

Black-throated Flower-piercer – Photo by Nay Ruth Leon

31. Peruvian Sierra Finch - Phrygilus punensis - Fringilo Peruano Two seen. Common and widespread in Andes, except in far southwest where replaced by Black-hooded SierraFinch; 2800–4700 m, locally down to 2400 m. Found in open habitats with scattered shrubs, including montane scrub, Polylepis woods, agricultural fields and associated hedgerows, and villages. Forages on the ground in small groups, often in association with other species.

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© 2021 Jacamar Club - Perú 32. Mourning Sierra Finch – Rhopospina fruticeti - Fringilo de Pecho Negro Two seen in the route. Fairly common and widespread in the Andes, 2300–4200 m. Found in dry montane scrub; overlaps with Black-hooded or Peruvian sierra-finches, but has greater tolerance for more arid habitats. Male with black bib unlikely to be confused with other species, but cf. male of much smaller Band-tailed Sierra-Finch. Female readily recognized by large size and by the tawny auriculars and sides of face. Often encountered in pairs or small groups; occasionally joins mixed-species flocks. Forages on the ground near shrubby cover; tends to fly long distance when disturbed, giving distinctive call.

33. Plumbeous Sierra Finch - Geospizopsis unicolor - Fringilo Plomizo One seen in the trail. 34. Ash-breasted Sierra Finch - Geospizopsis plebejus - Fringilo de Pecho Cenizo One seen in the trail. 35. Chestnut-breasted Mountain Finch - Poospizopsis caesar - Monterita de Pecho Castaño One seen in the route. Uncommon in montane scrub of interior valleys in the Andes of south-central Peru, 3000– 3800 m. Much larger than other Poospiza and, unlike smaller species, primarily forages on the ground (but near shrubby cover); sometimes associates with other finches, but also forages as singles or pairs apart from other species.

36. Band-tailed Seedeater - Catamenia analis - Semillero de Cola Bandeada Seen at Tambomachay. Common in the Andes, up to 4000 m; also descending to coastal plain in central Peru. Found in montane scrub and agricultural fields and associated hedgerows; in eastern cordillera of Andes, found in drier intermontane valleys but not below 3000 m on more humid east-facing slope. Usually in pairs or small groups, often joining mixed-species finch flocks. All plumages have white band on inner web of most rectrices, forming a broad white tail band visible from below or in flight. Cf. Larger Band-tailed Sierra-Finch.

37. Plain-colored Seedeater - Catamenia inornata - Semillero Simple Two seen in the trail. 38. Golden-billed Saltator - Saltator aurantiirostris - Saltador de Pico Dorado One seen in the route. It is fairly common in scrub habitats, hedgerows, and gardens on the west slope of the Andes and inter-Andean valleys at elevations ranging between 2100 – 4200 m.

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Mourning Sierra Finch – Photo by Ana Amable

Mourning Sierra Finch – Photo by Nay Ruth Leon

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1. Thanks to Shamus Terry and Vortex Optics for sponsoring with birding gear for the education and training purpose, to help leaders in birding and birdwatching in Perú.

2. Thanks a lot to our Jacamar Club Team and Field-leader Saturnino Llactahuaman, for the excellent accompaniment., patience and teachings.

3. Thanks to volunteers (Cusco and Loreto) for this program and for the enthusiasm and companionship in the world of birds.

• Bach. Biología Geraldy Saravia • Bach. Biología Ruth Caviedes • Bach. Biología Melinda Valenzuela • Tec. Turismo Neyssa Zuñiga • Estudiante de Turismo Valery Leon

FIELD GEAR USED

• Binocular Vortex Diamondback • Tripod Vortex Pro-GT (1) HD10X42mm (1) • SIGMA COMTEMPORANY 150- • Binocular Vortex Viper 600mm HD8X42mm (1) • Green Laser Pointer • Binocular: Vortex Crossfire • Bauker speaker. HD8X42mm (2) • Bird of Peru, Aves de Peru (Field • Digital Camera: CANON 6d mark II Books). • Spotting Scope Razor 22-48X65mm • Digital Camera: CANON 90D Calidad HD (1) cine 4k for video • Kit lents CANON 24-105mm

YOU CAN FIND MORE ABOUT JACAMAR CLUB AT

1. The fun Page https://www.facebook.com/JacamarClub/ 2. The website https://www.jacamargroup.com/ 3. Ebird Bio @jacamarclub 4. Instagram Bio @Jacamarclub 5. YouTube Bio https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCszUDj9LXeBb6MGqSnoGD6w

REFERENCES AND LITERATURES

• PLENGE, M. A. Versión [Enero/2021] List of the birds of Peru / Lista de las aves del Perú. Unión de Ornitólogos del Perú. • SCHULEMBERG, T. S.; D .F.STOTZ; D. F. LANE; J. P. O’NEILL & T. A. PARKER III. 2007. Birds of • Peru. Princeton Field Guides. Princeton University Press. 304 pp. • VENERO, J. L. 2015. Guia de Macrofauna y Etnornitologia en LUCRE -HUACARPAY. Ed. Moderna.Cusco.250 pp. • IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (https://www.iucnredlist.org/). • SAAC (The South American Classification Committee).Classification of the Bird Species of South America.

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Field-leader Saturnino Llactahuaman comparing birds in field guide - Photo by Ana Amable

Birders along the trail at Tambomachay – Photo by Ana Amable

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Neyssa Zuñiga with equipments Vortex optics - Photo Ana Amable

In focus Gear with Spotting Scope Razor 22-48X65mm HD by Vortex Optics - Photo by Ana Amable

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Women birder with equipments Binocular Diamondback HD10X42mm by Vortex optics - Photo Ana Amable

THE END

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