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Field Guides Tour Report Colombia: Cali Escape 2018 Nov 3, 2018 to Nov 11, 2018 Jesse Fagan & Daniel Uribe For our tour description, itinerary, past triplists, dates, fees, and more, please VISIT OUR TOUR PAGE. Crimson-rumped Toucanet put in several visits to the banana feeders at Finca Alejandria. A smashing bird if I do say so myself. Photo by guide Jesse Fagan. This was a very birdy trip to Colombia. Our group tallied nearly 400 taxa observed, which included a good smattering of Colombian endemics and near- endemics. I like the diversity of habitats we sampled, too. From hot, lowland dry forest at Laguna de Sonso and Reserva Vinculo, moist foothills birding at Montezuma and Rio Blanco (plus covering the coffee belt; remember 1200-1800 masl), and then above tree-line (or nearly) at Cerro Montezuma and in paramo habitat at Los Nevados NP. It was very cool visiting both Western (Choco) and Central cordilleras of Colombia, and crossing the Cauca Valley in the process. Colombia is famous for birds, and it is precisely the trident split of the Andes in Southern Colombia that creates the topography and separation necessary for genetic diversity (not just in birds, of course). You got to see this first hand. Trip highlights were many, but that's not surprising on a trip to Colombia. Favorites included Chestnut-crowned Antpitta (both Sally and Margaret liked our "to-die-for looks" at Rio Blanco), Becky liked the smaller antpitta, Slate-crowned, Ed chose his 6500th life species, Munchique Wood-Wren (we will not soon forget Hermes' ring-tone; and congrats, Ed!), Buffy Helmetcrest (Woody, of course), and yet another hummingbird for Jan, Golden- breasted Puffleg, Kevin really enjoyed the Chestnut-bellied Flowerpiercer (a Colombian endemic), and Martin was all about the Swainson's Hawk migration (me, too!). However, there was a clear favorite for the whole group: Andean Condor. According to Daniel, they are only seen on 20% of his tours to Los Nevados! We also enjoyed learning about 'tejo,' drinking some fine Colombian Cauca Valley rum, and eating ice-cream. And where does bacon come from folks? (Sorry, Becky.) Seriously, it was fun being with you in Colombia, and thanks to all our local guides and operators including, of course, Daniel Uribe, and Hermes. I look forward to seeing you again in the near future. Good birding and safe travels. Jesse aka Motmot (from Thattekad, Southern India) KEYS FOR THIS LIST One of the following keys may be shown in brackets for individual species as appropriate: * = heard only, I = introduced, E = endemic, N = nesting, a = austral migrant, b = boreal migrant Field Guides Birding Tours • www.fieldguides.com • 800-728-4953 1 BIRDS Anhimidae (Screamers) HORNED SCREAMER (Anhima cornuta) – We counted five individuals near Laguna de Sonso at a roadside stop. Missed most years. Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl) BLACK­BELLIED WHISTLING­DUCK (Dendrocygna autumnalis) FULVOUS WHISTLING­DUCK (Dendrocygna bicolor) BLUE­WINGED TEAL (Spatula discors) CINNAMON TEAL (Spatula cyanoptera) – Locally breeding in the Cauca Valley. We counted 20 or so at Cartago Marshes. ANDEAN TEAL (Anas andium) – One was on a highland pond at Los Nevados NP. RUDDY DUCK (RUDDY) (Oxyura jamaicensis andina) Cracidae (Guans, Chachalacas, and Curassows) COLOMBIAN CHACHALACA (Ortalis columbiana) – This endemic was seen and heard in the Cauca Valley near Cali during the first two days of the tour. [E] CAUCA GUAN (Penelope perspicax) – We made the trip to Otun­Quimbaya to see this rare and local cracid. It was common here in the non­native ash trees. Population numbers less than 1000 individuals. [E] SICKLE­WINGED GUAN (Chamaepetes goudotii) Odontophoridae (New World Quail) CHESTNUT WOOD­QUAIL (Odontophorus hyperythrus) [E*] Podicipedidae (Grebes) LEAST GREBE (Tachybaptus dominicus) PIED­BILLED GREBE (Podilymbus podiceps) Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants and Shags) NEOTROPIC CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax brasilianus) Anhingidae (Anhingas) ANHINGA (Anhinga anhinga) Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns) COCOI HERON (Ardea cocoi) GREAT EGRET (Ardea alba) SNOWY EGRET (Egretta thula) LITTLE BLUE HERON (Egretta caerulea) CATTLE EGRET (Bubulcus ibis) STRIATED HERON (Butorides striata) BLACK­CROWNED NIGHT­HERON (Nycticorax nycticorax) Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills) GLOSSY IBIS (Plegadis falcinellus) BARE­FACED IBIS (Phimosus infuscatus) BUFF­NECKED IBIS (Theristicus caudatus) – Small numbers were seen in flight in the Cauca Valley near Reserva Vinculo. Cathartidae (New World Vultures) BLACK VULTURE (Coragyps atratus) TURKEY VULTURE (Cathartes aura) ANDEAN CONDOR (Vultur gryphus) – Wow. Awesome sighting of an adult during the Swainson's Hawk migration at Los Nevados NP. Missed on many tours (a 20% chance according to Daniel). Pandionidae (Osprey) OSPREY (Pandion haliaetus) Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites) HOOK­BILLED KITE (Chondrohierax uncinatus) – One adult female was seen perched at Reserva Vinculo. BLACK HAWK­EAGLE (Spizaetus tyrannus) – One immature was seen soaring above Montezuma Lodge where surprisingly uncommon. SNAIL KITE (Rostrhamus sociabilis) DOUBLE­TOOTHED KITE (Harpagus bidentatus) MISSISSIPPI KITE (Ictinia mississippiensis) – Two migrants were soaring high over the forest at Reserva Vinculo. BARRED HAWK (Morphnarchus princeps) – Always a treat to see this montane raptor. We saw an adult at Montezuma Lodge just after we predicted that the thermals looked good for soaring raptors. ROADSIDE HAWK (Rupornis magnirostris) BLACK­CHESTED BUZZARD­EAGLE (Geranoaetus melanoleucus) BROAD­WINGED HAWK (Buteo platypterus) SHORT­TAILED HAWK (Buteo brachyurus) SWAINSON'S HAWK (Buteo swainsoni) – A definite highlight for most folks on the tour was watching approx. 8500 individuals in full migration mode soaring over the pass at Los Nevados NP. Field Guides Birding Tours • www.fieldguides.com • 800-728-4953 2 Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots) WHITE­THROATED CRAKE (Laterallus albigularis) [*] BLACKISH RAIL (Pardirallus nigricans) PURPLE GALLINULE (Porphyrio martinica) COMMON GALLINULE (Gallinula galeata) AMERICAN COOT (Fulica americana columbiana) Aramidae (Limpkin) LIMPKIN (Aramus guarauna) Recurvirostridae (Stilts and Avocets) BLACK­NECKED STILT (Himantopus mexicanus) Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings) SOUTHERN LAPWING (Vanellus chilensis) Jacanidae (Jacanas) WATTLED JACANA (Jacana jacana) Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies) LEAST SANDPIPER (Calidris minutilla) PECTORAL SANDPIPER (Calidris melanotos) – A few individuals of this species were along the edge of Chinchina Swamp. SPOTTED SANDPIPER (Actitis macularius) SOLITARY SANDPIPER (Tringa solitaria) LESSER YELLOWLEGS (Tringa flavipes) Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves) ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia) [I] PALE­VENTED PIGEON (Patagioenas cayennensis) PLUMBEOUS PIGEON (Patagioenas plumbea chapmani) RUDDY GROUND­DOVE (Columbina talpacoti) WHITE­TIPPED DOVE (Leptotila verreauxi) [*] GRAY­HEADED DOVE (Leptotila plumbeiceps) [*] EARED DOVE (Zenaida auriculata) Cuculidae (Cuckoos) GREATER ANI (Crotophaga major) SMOOTH­BILLED ANI (Crotophaga ani) STRIPED CUCKOO (Tapera naevia) [*] SQUIRREL CUCKOO (Piaya cayana) Caprimulgidae (Nightjars and Allies) LESSER NIGHTHAWK (Chordeiles acutipennis) – One was spotted by our local guide on a daytime perch at Chinchina Swamp. LYRE­TAILED NIGHTJAR (Uropsalis lyra) – It was a really cool experience watching this species emerge at dusk from their day­roosting perches at Rio Blanco. That tail! Nyctibiidae (Potoos) COMMON POTOO (Nyctibius griseus) Apodidae (Swifts) WHITE­COLLARED SWIFT (Streptoprocne zonaris) GRAY­RUMPED SWIFT (Chaetura cinereiventris) – I decided to leave off Chimney Swift from the list since confusion with this species in poor light seems possible. We studied this species well enough (rump pattern and call) at Montezuma to be sure of its i.d. LESSER SWALLOW­TAILED SWIFT (Panyptila cayennensis) – Several over the forest at Reserva Vinculo. Trochilidae (Hummingbirds) WHITE­NECKED JACOBIN (Florisuga mellivora) GREEN HERMIT (Phaethornis guy) TAWNY­BELLIED HERMIT (Phaethornis syrmatophorus) STRIPE­THROATED HERMIT (Phaethornis striigularis) GREEN­FRONTED LANCEBILL (Doryfera ludovicae) BROWN VIOLETEAR (Colibri delphinae) LESSER VIOLETEAR (Colibri cyanotus) SPARKLING VIOLETEAR (Colibri coruscans) BLACK­THROATED MANGO (Anthracothorax nigricollis) TOURMALINE SUNANGEL (Heliangelus exortis) – A sharp one that we saw well at Montezuma Lodge and again at Los Nevados. SPECKLED HUMMINGBIRD (Adelomyia melanogenys) LONG­TAILED SYLPH (Aglaiocercus kingii) VIOLET­TAILED SYLPH (Aglaiocercus coelestis) – Seen well at Montezuma where they were a regular visitor to the feeders. RAINBOW­BEARDED THORNBILL (Chalcostigma herrani) Field Guides Birding Tours • www.fieldguides.com • 800-728-4953 3 BUFFY HELMETCREST (Oxypogon stubelii) – We were lucky to find one just after exiting the vehicles near the high point at Los Nevados. We quickly descended as the weather was less than ideal. [E] TYRIAN METALTAIL (Metallura tyrianthina) VIRIDIAN METALTAIL (Metallura williami) GREENISH PUFFLEG (Haplophaedia aureliae) BLACK­THIGHED PUFFLEG (Eriocnemis derbyi) – Both this and the next species were seen visiting feeders at Los Nevados NP. GOLDEN­BREASTED PUFFLEG (Eriocnemis mosquera) SHINING SUNBEAM (Aglaeactis cupripennis) BRONZY INCA (Coeligena coeligena) BROWN INCA (Coeligena wilsoni) – Fairly common at the Montezuma forest feeders. 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  • LIFE HISTORY of the SOUTHERN HOUSE WREN by ALEXANDER F

    LIFE HISTORY of the SOUTHERN HOUSE WREN by ALEXANDER F

    May, 1953 121 LIFE HISTORY OF THE SOUTHERN HOUSE WREN By ALEXANDER F. SKUTCH From Canada to the Strait of Magellan, House Wrens are so widely distributed over the American continents that scarcely anyone who has given attention to ornithology anywhere within this vast area will need an introduction to them. Wherever he meets them, the bird-watcher finds these active small birds so similar in their brown plumage, barred on wings and tail, and so much alike in voice and mannerisms, that he is inclined to question why systematists should place the House Wrens of temperate North America in one species (Troglodyltes agdon) , and those spreading over the extensive region from southern Mexico to Patagonia in another (T. musculus). The modern classification of birds includes in the same species many wrens whose coloration differs far more strik- ingly than does that of the two House Wrens. Differences in the lengths of wings and tail are now used to keep Troglodytes aifdon distinct from T. musc~lus despite the many reasons which might be adduced for joining them more closely in our systems of taxonomy. In Central America, Southern House Wrens are found almost everywhere, from sea- level up to 9000 feet in both Guatemala and Costa Rica, and in arid no less than in excessively rainy districts. As with a number of other species,a wide latitudinal distri- bution is matched by a wide altitudinal one. These wrens seem to be somewhat more abundant in the interior than on the coasts, probably because at moderate elevations in ’ Central America man has more thoroughly cleared the land and raised more buildings.
  • Central Colombia, Febrauary 2019

    Central Colombia, Febrauary 2019

    Tropical Birding Tour Summary Central Colombia, Febrauary 2019 A Tropical Birding CUSTOM tour Central Colombia 1-19 February 2019 TOUR LEADERS: Nick Athanas, with Ben Knoot for Part 1 Report and photos by Nick Athanas Gold-ringed Tanager is one of the fantastic Colombian endemics possible on this trip This is a summary of a custom tour I guided in 2019 that had almost the exact same itinerary as our current Central Colombia tours taken together. Since it’s been two years since the trip, I am focusing on describing the sites and summarizing what we saw and where, rather than writing a detailed narrative. Memories fade after all! However, this should be helpful for people interested in these tours, since we currently don’t have a trip report for a set departure tour with the same itinerary. All photos were taken during the trip. www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected] 1 Tropical Birding Tour Summary Central Colombia, Febrauary 2019 Day 1, Bogotá: This is just the arrival day. Everyone had come in a day early since flights tend to arrive late into Bogota and we didn’t want to risk any delays. Everyone did their own thing this morning including sightseeing and just resting. Ben went off to do some birding on his own. We got bed as early as possible tonight (and every night in Bogota) since all sites require a fairly long drive and you want to leave before the traffic gets bad. Some wonder why we spend so much time in such a big city.