Northwest Argentina
(A Tropical Birding custom tour)
4 - 17 December 2006
By: Nick Athanas
All photos by the author.
This was our first tour to Argentina, a custom tour designed to search for all the endemics and specialties of Northwest Argentina. We tried to cram a lot of sites into a short amount of time, but the birds cooperated making it a fun and successful trip; we plan to offer a similar itinerary as one of our standard tours starting in late 2008.
December is later than most tours to this area, but the weather was still fairly good overall. Most areas were quite dry, and when it did rain, mainly in Calilegua NP and the Sierra de Córdoba, it didn't cost us much in the end.
The variety of habitats that we visited made this a really interesting tour. The southernmost cloudforests of the Andes, also called yungas, get into northern Argentina, and while these forests are not as diverse as those farther north along the chain, they harbor more birds than any other habitat type in the region. Calilegua National Park was best yungas site, and when it was not raining, the birds were really active. Rufous-throated Dipper, Red-faced Guan, Giant Antshrike, and White-throated Antpitta were some of the key birds we saw in the yungas. Below the yungas, the mountains level out into a flat, dry plain dominated by low, dry woodland and scrub, called chaco. There are loads of great birds restricted to this habitat, and some of our favorites were Olive-crowned Crescent-chest, Crested Gallito, Spot-winged Falconet, Black-crested Finch, and the beautiful Many-colored Chaco-Finch pictured above. Back up in the Andes, the complex geography of the mountains makes for starkly beautiful scenery. Rain shadows create extremely dry valleys dominated by cactus and scrub, another unique habitat often called "monte desert." While few birds live here, the few that can include several of Argentina's endemics, like the noisy White-throated Cachalote and the perky Sandy Gallito. Higher up the slopes only grasses and small bushes can survive the often harsh conditions, and here we find the puna with a quite different avifauna characterized by furnariids like earthcreepers, miners, and canasteros, and a huge variety of finches. Scattered lakes up on the altiplano are magnets for birds like flamingos, ducks, coots, and wading birds.
A couple of towns has fairly basic hotels, but for the most part they were of a medium to high standard, with good service and food, not to mention the great wines available almost everywhere, which all helped to make this quite a nice tour.
I'm not including a daily log in this report, rather I'm showing photos of a variety of birds we found on the tour to give you an idea of what can be seen, and also adding a checklist with brief notes on most of the specialty birds we saw.
Itinerary
4 Dec: Arrival in Salta. Afternoon birding between Salta and Jujuy. Night
Jujuy
5 Dec: AM Rio Yala, PM Humahuaca Valley. Night Abra Pampa.
6 Dec: Full day in and around Laguna de Pozuelos. Night La Quiaca.
7 Dec: Full day Santa Victoria road. Night La Quiaca.
8 Dec: Early AM at Yavi, then drive to San Martin. Late PM in Calilegua NP.
Night San Martin.
9 Dec: Full day in Calilegua NP. Night San Martin.
10 Dec: AM Calilegua NP, PM drive to JV Gonzales. Night JV Gonzalez.
11 Dec: Chaco around JV Gonzales. Night General Guemes.
12 Dec: AM Palomitas, then drive to Cachi, birding Cuesta de Obispo en route.
Night Cachí.
13 Dec: AM Cardones NP and Cuesta de Obispo. PM drive to Cafayate. Night
Cafayate.
14 Dec: AM between Cafayate and Tafí del Valle. PM Laguna Angostura & Rio
Sosa. Night Tafí del Valle.
15 Dec: AM El Infiernillio and Rio Sosa. PM drive to Dean Funes. Night Dean
Funes.
16 Dec: AM Salinas Grandes, PM drive to Sierra de Córdoba. Night Carlos Paz.
17 Dec: AM Sierra de Cordoba, PM departure from Córdoba on LAN flights
connecting through Santiago.
Photo Gallery
Click here to skip straight to the bird
list
Argentina Endemics
Yellow-striped Brush-Finches were really common in the Rio Sosa valley.
This Sandy Gallito was singing at dawn from the top of a bush in Los Cardones
National Park.
One of two Salinas Monjitas that we found at Salinas Grandes.
Regional Specialties
Rufous-throated Dipper. This one was in the Rio Sosa.
One of the Spot-winged Falconets that we found on the second to last day of
the trip.
A Red-backed Sierra-Finch from the Santa Victoria road.
The only male Cinereous Tyrant that we saw on the tour, near San Jose de las
Salinas.
The pair of Cream-backed Woodpeckers that we saw near Palomitas, with the
male on the left and the female on the right.
Our rare Ash-colored Cuckoo, a lifer for all, not far from where we saw the
Cream-backed Woodpeckers.
A Fulvous-headed Brush-Finch peering out of a fruiting tree along the road
above the Rio Yala.
One of the many White-tipped Plantcutters we saw on this tour.
A few rather distant Puna Flamingos at Laguna Pozuelos. Also called James's
Flamingo.
One member of the flock of Citron-headed Yellow-Finch feeding in a field near
Yavi.
Other shots of more widespread birds
Andean Flamingos (with Puna Flamingos in the background) on Laguna Pozuelos.
An Andean Slaty-Thrush in full song near the Rio Yala.
This turned out to be our only Black-backed Grosbeak of the trip, near
Palomitas.
Three Black Siskins taking shelter in a road cut from the mid-day sun.
Gray-breasted Seedsnipes usually like to stay hidden from view, but not these
two!
Golden-breasted Woodpecker, a common and widespread bird in this part of
Argentina.
One member of an entertaining family of Lark-like Brushrunners along the road
to the Salinas Monjita site.
This was one of a very curious flock of Plush-crested Jays that fearlessly
came in to check us out at Calilegua National Park.
A Puna Plover that we came across while walking out to the flamingos at
Laguna Pozuelos.
Red-gartered Coot - they were the most numerous coot that we found.
Spot-backed Puffbird - rather evil looking, isn't it?
Stripe-crowned Spinetails were pretty common, but not so easy to photograph.
This great male Ultramarine Grosbeak came in to investigate some pygmy owl
imitations at Palomitas.
White-backed Stilt
White Monjitas are common residents of very open habitats.
Mammals
Vicuñas were surprisingly numerous up on the altiplano in the far north. This
one was near Laguna Pozuelos.
The red tinge to the legs and ears combined with the dark marks on the muzzle
make this a Pampas Fox.
And one random scenery shot...
The desert scenery of Los Cardones National Park, with snow-capped peaks of
the Andes in the background.
This list includes all the bird species that were recorded by at least one of us. Taxonomy and nomenclature follow: Clements, James F. 2000. Birds of the World: A Checklist. Fifth Edition. Vista, CA: Ibis Publishing Co., including updates. I have put comments in for most of the endemics, regional specialties, and rarities that we saw.
Totals:
329 bird species seen
15 heard only
Abbreviations
H=Heard only
(I)=Introduced species
(E)=Species endemic to Argentina
| TINAMOUS | Tinamidae | ||
| Tataupa Tinamou | Crypturellus tataupa | A great experience with this one in Calilegua, when one ran back and froth across the road in front of us trying to round up its three chicks. | |
| Ornate Tinamou | Nothoprocta ornata | Numerous great views of this pretty tinamou in puna. If only they were all this easy to see… | |
| Brushland Tinamou | Nothoprocta cinerascens | Replaces the previous in the chaco. Again, several great views of it along roadsides. | |
| H | Andean Tinamou | Nothoprocta pentlandii | |
| Spotted Nothura | Nothura maculosa | Several seen well along grassy verges of main roads. | |
| Elegant Crested Tinamou | Eudromia elegans | One of the trip favorites! Several nice sightings along the road, mainly in Los Cardones NP. | |
| GREBES | Podicipedidae | ||
| Pied-billed Grebe | Podilymbus podiceps | ||
| Great Grebe | Podiceps major | ||
| CORMORANTS | Phalacrocoracidae | ||
| Neotropic Cormorant | Phalacrocorax brasilianus | ||
| HERONS, EGRETS, BITTERNS | Ardeidae | ||
| Whistling Heron | Syrigma sibilatrix | ||
| Cocoi Heron | Ardea cocoi | ||
| Great Egret | Ardea alba | ||
| Snowy Egret | Egretta thula | ||
| Cattle Egret | Bubulcus ibis | ||
| Striated Heron | Butorides striata | ||
| Black-crowned Night-Heron | Nycticorax nycticorax | ||
| Fasciated Tiger-Heron | Tigrisoma fasciatum | A single bird seen in rapids along the lower Rio Sosa. | |
| FLAMINGOS | Phoenicopteridae | ||
| Chilean Flamingo | Phoenicopterus chilensis | There was no shortage of flamingos at Laguna Pozuelos. | |
| Andean Flamingo | Phoenicopterus andinus | ||
| Puna (James's) Flamingo | Phoenicopterus jamesi | ||
| DUCKS, GEESE AND SWANS | Anatidae | ||
| Fulvous Whistling-Duck | Dendrocygna bicolor | ||
| Coscoroba Swan | Coscoroba coscoroba | ||
| Andean Goose | Chloephaga melanoptera | Numerous around Laguna Pozuelos | |
| Comb Duck | Sarkidiornis melanotos | ||
| Torrent Duck | Merganetta armata | ||
| Speckled Teal | Anas flavirostris | ||
| Crested Duck | Anas specularioides | Every small pond on the altiplano seemed to have a nesting pair of these. | |
| Yellow-billed Pintail | Anas georgica | ||
| White-cheeked Pintail | Anas bahamensis | ||
| Red Shoveler | Anas platalea | There were good numbers of this duck on Laguna Angostura. They are supposed to be only winter residents here, but their presence here this late in the year implies that they are resident here. | |
| Rosy-billed Pochard | Netta peposaca | A few seen on a reservoir north of Salta. | |
| NEW WORLD VULTURES | Cathartidae | ||
| Black Vulture | Coragyps atratus | ||
| Turkey Vulture | Cathartes aura | ||
| Andean Condor | Vultur gryphus | Many nice views of this Andean symbol in the higher elevations of the tour. | |
| HAWKS, EAGLES AND KITES | Accipitridae | ||
| Swallow-tailed Kite | Elanoides forficatus | ||
| White-tailed Kite | Elanus leucurus | ||
| Plumbeous Kite | Ictinia plumbea | ||
| Savanna Hawk | Buteogallus meridionalis | ||
| Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle | Geranoaetus melanoleucus | ||
| Roadside Hawk | Buteo magnirostris | ||
| Red-backed Hawk | Buteo polyosoma | ||
| Puna Hawk | Buteo poecilochrous | ||
| FALCONS AND CARACARAS | Falconidae | ||
| Mountain Caracara | Phalcoboenus megalopterus | ||
| Southern Caracara | Caracara plancus | ||
| Chimango Caracara | Milvago chimango | ||
| Spot-winged Falconet | Spiziapteryx circumcinctus | One of the tour's main targets, it wasn't until nearly the last day that we finally found this unique falcon, but the views in the end were fabulous. | |
| American Kestrel | Falco sparverius | ||
| Aplomado Falcon | Falco femoralis | ||
| Peregrine Falcon | Falco peregrinus | ||
| GUANS, CHACHALACAS, ETC | Cracidae | ||
| Chaco Chachalaca | Ortalis canicollis | They were common and noisy in various sites in the Chaco. | |
| Red-faced Guan | Penelope dabbenei | We had a good, close view of this rare cracid right by the dipper spot along the Rio Yala. | |
| Dusky-legged Guan | Penelope obscura | ||
| RAILS, GALLINULES, COOTS | Rallidae | ||
| H | Rufous-sided Crake | Laterallus melanophaius | |
| White-winged Coot | Fulica leucoptera | Seen on many ponds and lakes during the tour. | |
| Slate-colored (Andean) Coot | Fulica ardesiaca | A few mixed in with the other coots on Angostura - noticeably larger. | |
| Red-gartered Coot | Fulica armillata | Seen on many ponds and lakes during the tour. | |
| Red-fronted Coot | Fulica rufifrons | Only seen at Angostura. | |
| SERIEMAS | Cariamidae | ||
| H | Red-legged Seriema | Cariama cristata | |
| Black-legged Seriema | Chunga burmeisteri | We were lucky to find one perched up near JV Gonzales, though it was a brief view. | |
| JACANAS | Jacanidae | ||
| Wattled Jacana | Jacana jacana | ||
| AVOCETS AND STILTS | Recurvirostridae | ||
| White-backed Stilt | Himantopus melanurus | ||
| PLOVERS AND LAPWINGS | Charadriidae | ||
| Southern Lapwing | Vanellus chilensis | ||
| Andean Lapwing | Vanellus resplendens | ||
| Puna Plover | Charadrius alticola | Only two seen while walking out to the edge of Laguna Pozuelos. | |
| Tawny-throated Dotterel | Oreopholus ruficollis | Another trip favorite - a plover that really stands out from the crowd. The best one was the one with chicks near Yavi. | |
| SANDPIPERS | Scolopacidae | ||
| South American Snipe | Gallinago paraguaiae | We flushed one up by the edge of Laguna Angostura. | |
| Greater Yellowlegs | Tringa melanoleuca | ||
| Lesser Yellowlegs | Tringa flavipes | ||
| Baird's Sandpiper | Calidris bairdii | ||
| SEEDSNIPES | Thinocoridae | ||
| Gray-breasted Seedsnipe | Thinocorus orbignyianus | Absolutely fabulous views of a pair on a mound on the way to Laguna Pozuelos; seen other places as well in puna. | |
| Least Seedsnipe | Thinocorus rumicivorus | One sighting in puna on the way to Laguna Pozuelos. | |
| GULLS | Laridae | ||
| Andean Gull | Larus serranus | ||
| PIGEONS AND DOVES | Columbidae | ||
| Rock Pigeon (I) | Columba livia | ||
| Picazuro Pigeon | Patagioenas picazuro | ||
| Spot-winged Pigeon | Patagioenas maculosa | ||
| Pale-vented Pigeon | Patagioenas cayennensis | ||
| Eared Dove | Zenaida auriculata | ||
| Picui Ground-Dove | Columbina picui | ||
| Bare-faced Ground-Dove | Metriopelia ceciliae | ||
| Bare-eyed (Moreno's) Ground-Dove (E) | Metriopelia morenoi | We found a nice flock of this endemic during a random roadside stop in the Humahuaca valley. | |
| Golden-spotted Ground-Dove | Metriopelia aymara | Quite numerous on the day we visited Laguna Pozuelos, but we didn't see them anywhere else. | |
| White-tipped Dove | Leptotila verreauxi | ||
| White-faced (Large-tailed) Dove | Leptotila megalura | A yungas specialty - we finally got a good view of a perched bird in Calilegua after hearing them and glimpsing them in a few other places. | |
| H | White-throated Quail-Dove | Geotrygon frenata | |
| PARROTS | Psittacidae | ||
| Golden-collared Macaw | Primolius auricollis | Nice close views of a pair perched in the rain at Calilegua. | |
| Blue-crowned Parakeet | Aratinga acuticaudata | Just a flyover of a pair near JV Gonzales. | |
| Mitred Parakeet | Aratinga mitrata | ||
| Burrowing Parrot | Cyanoliseus patagonus | Parrots? They are far more like macaws with their size, shape, and calls. They were common in the dry "monte desert" in interandean valleys. For some reason they love to perch on wires. | |
| Green-cheeked Parakeet | Pyrrhura molinae | They were especially common in Calilegua, though we did see them elsewhere too in Yungas habitat. | |
| Monk Parakeet | Myiopsitta monachus | Incredibly abundant in the chaco, it seemed like every big tree and pole had a nest. | |
| Gray-hooded Parakeet | Psilopsiagon aymara | After some brief glimpses, we finally got the views we deserved above Tafi del Valle, with a few birds perched low down by the side of the road. | |
| Mountain Parakeet | Psilopsiagon aurifrons | Beautiful close-up views along the side of the road on several occasions in dry puna habitat. | |
| Scaly-headed Parrot | Pionus maximiliani | ||
| CUCKOOS | Cuculidae | ||
| Ash-colored Cuckoo | Coccyzus cinereus | What luck! We found a singing bird at Palomitas that flew straight in to the tape and sat in the open. A rarely-seen bird anywhere in South America. | |
| Dark-billed Cuckoo | Coccyzus melacoryphus | ||
| Squirrel Cuckoo | Piaya cayana | ||
| Smooth-billed Ani | Crotophaga ani | ||
| Guira Cuckoo | Guira guira | ||
| Striped Cuckoo | Tapera naevia | ||
| OWLS | Strigidae | ||
| H | Tropical Screech-Owl | Megascops choliba | |
| H | Hoy's Screech-Owl | Megascops hoyi | Sadly, even though we heard two of them fairly close to the road, neither would come in close enough to be seen. |
| Tucuman Pygmy-Owl | Glaucidium tucumanum | This is a split from Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, though I don't really believe it deserves full species status. | |
| Burrowing Owl | Athene cunicularia | ||
| Stygian Owl | Asio stygius | One of the trip highlights, and if we had seen the Hoy's Screech-Owl easily we likely would not have spent enough time to see this one as it was so late. But we carried on up and heard one calling. It was nicely responsive and we got a really great view! Even though this is one of the most widespread Neotropical owls, it is hardly ever seen. I'll never forget this one. | |
| NIGHTJARS | Caprimulgidae | ||
| Rufous Nightjar | Caprimulgus rufus | They were common and easy to see pre-dawn at mid-elevations in Calilegua NP. | |
| Band-winged Nightjar | Caprimulgus longirostris | ||
| Scissor-tailed Nightjar | Hydropsalis torquata | ||
| SWIFTS | Apodidae | ||
| White-collared Swift | Streptoprocne zonaris | ||
| Ashy-tailed (Sick's) Swift | Chaetura andrei | ||
| Andean Swift | Aeronautes andecolus | ||
| HUMMINGBIRDS | Trochilidae | ||
| Planalto Hermit | Phaethornis pretrei | ||
| Sparkling Violet-ear | Colibri coruscans | ||
| Glittering-bellied Emerald | Chlorostilbon aureoventris | ||
| Gilded Sapphire | Hylocharis chrysura | One seen in chaco near JV Gonzales was a bit unexpected. | |
| White-bellied Hummingbird | Leucippus chionogaster | ||
| White-sided Hillstar | Oreotrochilus leucopleurus | One definite sighting on the lower parts of the Santa Victoria road. Several other flybys could have been Andean Hillstar but were not seen well enough. | |
| Giant Hummingbird | Patagona gigas | ||
| Red-tailed Comet | Sappho sparganura | This is a mesmerizingly beautiful bird. When hovering in good light it seems to ripple with every color imaginable. I can't believe any photo could ever do this bird justice. Fortunately it is fairly common in a variety of areas in the Andes of NW Argentina. | |
| Blue-tufted Starthroat | Heliomaster furcifer | Several females seen in chaco near JV Gonzales - no males were noted. | |
| TROGONS AND QUETZALS | Trogonidae | ||
| Blue-crowned Trogon | Trogon curucui | ||
| PUFFBIRDS | Bucconidae | ||
| Spot-backed Puffbird | Nystalus maculatus | We saw it pretty regularly in the chaco. | |
| TOUCANS | Ramphastidae | ||
| Toco Toucan | Ramphastos toco | Only in Calilegua, where it was fairly common. | |
| WOODPECKERS | Picidae | ||
| H | White-barred Piculet | Picumnus cirratus | |
| Ocellated Piculet | Picumnus dorbygnianus | After hearing a few, we finally saw it nicely in the lower reaches of Calilegua NP. | |
| White-fronted Woodpecker | Melanerpes cactorum | We saw a few well at some of the chaco sites. | |
| H | Checkered Woodpecker | Picoides mixtus | |
| Smoky-brown Woodpecker | Veniliornis fumigatus | ||
| Dot-fronted Woodpecker | Veniliornis frontalis | Calilegua NP seems the best place for this as we has several good views of this yungas specialty. | |
| Golden-olive Woodpecker | Piculus rubiginosus | ||
| Green-barred (Golden-breasted) Woodpecker | Colaptes melanochloros melanolaimus | It was lumped with Green-barred by Clements a couple of years ago, thought me it seems distinctive enough to be a separate species. They were common in many places. | |
| Andean Flicker | Colaptes rupicola | ||
| Campo Flicker | Colaptes campestris campestroides | ||
| Cream-backed Woodpecker | Campephilus leucopogon | A pair seen beautifully in chaco at Palomitas. | |
| OVENBIRDS | Furnariidae | ||
| Common Miner | Geositta cunicularia titicacae | Numerous in the puna up in the north, especially around Laguna Pozuelos. | |
| Puna Miner | Geositta punensis | The best view was one sitting on a fence post near Abra Pampa. | |
| Rufous-banded Miner | Geositta rufipennis | We somehow missed it for a few days before we started seeing them all over the place. It's buzzy song is really distinctive. | |
| Slender-billed Miner | Geositta tenuirostris | The one doing display flights on the Santa Victoria road was especially good. | |
| Scale-throated Earthcreeper | Upucerthia dumetaria | A nice find on the north side of El Infiernillo. It showed well as it sat on a rock and sang to us. | |
| Plain-breasted Earthcreeper | Upucerthia jelskii | We only found one, a responsive bird on the Santa Victoria road. | |
| Buff-breasted Earthcreeper (E) | Upucerthia validirostris | Good views of several singing birds in two spots at El Infiernillo. | |
| Straight-billed Earthcreeper | Upucerthia ruficauda | ||
| Rock Earthcreeper | Upucerthia andaecola | Best views were at Cuesta del Obispo, but we did see them farther north too. | |
| Chaco Earthcreeper | Ochetorhynchus certhioides | Heard far more than seen, but we did have excellent views of one in the end in the chaco near El Tunal. | |
| Olrog's Cinclodes (E) | Cinclodes olrogi | This cinclodes endemic to the Sierra de Córdoba is sometimes lumped with Gray-flanked Cinclodes. We watched a pair in the fog and mist by a stream high up on the Pampa de Achala. | |
| Bar-winged Cinclodes | Cinclodes fuscus | ||
| Comechingones (Cordoba) Cinclodes (E) | Cinclodes comechingonus | We nailed this one on the Pampa de Achala moments before it started hammering down with rain, effectively ending the birding. | |
| White-winged Cinclodes | Cinclodes atacamensis | ||
| Rufous Hornero | Furnarius rufus | ||
| Crested Hornero | Furnarius cristatus | A chaco specialty; we had them near JV Gonzales and at Salinas Grandes. | |
| Plain-mantled Tit-Spinetail | Leptasthenura aegithaloides | ||
| Tufted Tit-Spinetail | Leptasthenura platensis | ||
| Brown-capped Tit-Spinetail | Leptasthenura fuliginiceps | We saw a bunch on the Cuesta de Obispo. | |
| Ochre-cheeked Spinetail | Synallaxis scutata | These can be skulky, but they were surprisingly easy to see in the lower parts of Calilegua. | |
| Azara's Spinetail | Synallaxis azarae superciliosa | ||
| Sooty-fronted Spinetail | Synallaxis frontalis | ||
| Pale-breasted Spinetail | Synallaxis albescens | ||
| Stripe-crowned Spinetail | Cranioleuca pyrrhophia | ||
| Creamy-breasted Canastero | Asthenes dorbignyi | ||
| Short-billed Canastero | Asthenes baeri | One of the few canasteros not tied to mountains. We saw one in chaco near Salinas Grandes. | |
| Iquico (Maquis) Canastero | Asthenes heterura | This bird was first found in Argentina in only 1992. We were lucky to find three singing individuals at Cuesta del Obispo | |
| Cordilleran Canastero | Asthenes modesta | Here they seem to prefer really dry, sparse puna. | |
| Puna Canastero | Asthenes sclateri lilloi | Our best view was near Abra Lizoite. Thanks to the rain, we missed the race that is endemic to the Sierra de Córdoba. | |
| Scribble-tailed Canastero | Asthenes maculicauda | A rare and local resident of puna bunchgrass. We had to hike a mile up a grassy slope, but finally had great views of one feeding a fledgling. | |
| Common (Rufous-fronted) Thornbird | Phacellodomus rufifrons | ||
| Little Thornbird | Phacellodomus sibilatrix | Not so easy to find! Eventually we located an active nest on a nice chaco track east of El Tunal. | |
| Streak-fronted Thornbird | Phacellodomus striaticeps | Rather common in dry intermontane scrub. | |
| Spot-breasted Thornbird | Phacellodomus maculipectus | Really pretty if you get a good look. We saw them first along the Rio Yala, then found a few nests over the road on the drive up to Cuesta del Obispo. | |
| Lark-like Brushrunner | Coryphistera alaudina | Always a favorite. These perky, energetic birds are always in family groups, and are fascinating to watch as they go about their business. | |
| Brown Cacholote | Pseudoseisura lophotes | ||
| White-throated Cacholote (E) | Pseudoseisura gutturalis | Really common in a few places - during a quick stop near Quilmes it seemed like every little tree had a nesting pair. | |
| Streaked Xenops | Xenops rutilans | ||
| Buff-browed Foliage-gleaner | Syndactyla rufosuperciliata | ||
| WOODCREEPERS | Dendrocolaptidae | ||
| Olivaceous Woodcreeper | Sittasomus griseicapillus | ||
| Black-banded Woodcreeper | Dendrocolaptes picumnus | ||
| Narrow-billed Woodcreeper | Lepidocolaptes angustirostris | ||
| TYPICAL ANTBIRDS | Thamnophilidae | ||
| Giant Antshrike | Batara cinerea argentina | A splendid male was the highlight of our first afternoon at Calilegua. Their loud songs could be heard most places we stopped in the lower parts of the park. | |
| Great Antshrike | Taraba major | ||
| Variable Antshrike | Thamnophilus caerulescens dinellii | ||
| Rufous-capped Antshrike | Thamnophilus ruficapillus | A fearless male put on a show in the yungas between Salta and Jujuy. | |
| Stripe-backed Antbird | Myrmorchilus strigilatus | One fantastic male seen in the chaco - it's hard to beat this one, and its even in a monotypic genus. | |
| Black-capped Antwren | Herpsilochmus atricapillus | A pair in the lower part of Calilegua | |
| ANTTHRUSHES AND ANTPITTAS | Formicariidae | ||
| White-throated Antpitta | Grallaria albigula | Wow! It took some effort to fight our way up a slope off the side of the road, but the bird cooperated and came in really close. A fabulous view for an antpitta, and no one minded getting covered in mud for it. | |
| TAPACULOS | Rhinocryptidae | ||
| Crested Gallito | Rhinocrypta lanceolata | Fortunately, in response to playback they will clamber to the top of a bush and sing - otherwise they could be quite tough. | |
| Sandy Gallito (E) | Teledromas fuscus | We found our first one singing at dawn from the top of a bush at Los Cardones, but the one near Quilmes running around in front of us with its tail cocked up was a lot more fun. Endemic to the monte deserts of Northern Argentina. | |
| Olive-crowned Crescent-chest | Melanopareia maximiliani argentina | Fantastic! One responsive bird made our first afternoon in the chaco. One could argue it's the best of the tapaculos, but recent research suggests that they are perhaps best separated as their own distinct famiily. | |
| White-browed Tapaculo | Scytalopus superciliaris | Surprisingly easy to see for a Scytalopus. | |
| COTINGAS | Cotingidae | ||
| White-tipped Plantcutter | Phytotoma rutila | Amazingly widespread, we saw them from lowlands all the way up to nearly 4000m on the altiplano. | |
| TYRANT FLYCATCHERS | Tyrannidae | ||
| Southern Beardless-Tyrannulet | Camptostoma obsoletum | ||
| Gray Elaenia | Myiopagis caniceps | ||
| H | Greenish Elaenia | Myiopagis viridicata | |
| Large Elaenia | Elaenia spectabilis | ||
| H | Yellow-bellied Elaenia | Elaenia flavogaster | |
| Small-billed Elaenia | Elaenia parvirostris | ||
| Slaty Elaenia | Elaenia strepera | One of the more distinctive elaenias - they breed in the yungas forest and migrate north for the austral winter. | |
| Highland Elaenia | Elaenia obscura | ||
| White-bellied Tyrannulet | Serpophaga munda | Seems to be a foothill specialty. We saw several in the Palomitas chaco. | |
| Sepia-capped Flycatcher | Leptopogon amaurocephalus | ||
| Mottle-cheeked Tyrannulet | Phylloscartes ventralis | ||
| Rough-legged Tyrannulet | Phyllomyias burmeisteri | ||
| Sclater's Tyrannulet | Phyllomyias sclateri | Another Yungas specialty, we had several calling birds. | |
| Southern Scrub-Flycatcher | Sublegatus modestus | ||
| Suiriri Flycatcher | Suiriri suiriri suiriri | ||
| White-throated Tyrannulet | Mecocerculus leucophrys | ||
| Buff-banded Tyrannulet | Mecocerculus hellmayri | We only saw one, moving with a mixed flock in the upper reaches of Calilegua NP. | |
| Plain Tyrannulet | Inezia inornata | ||
| Greater Wagtail-Tyrant | Stigmatura budytoides | ||
| Yellow-billed Tit-Tyrant | Anairetes flavirostris | ||
| Subtropical Doradito | Pseudocolopteryx acutipennis | It was really bizarre to see this in a bush on the side of the road above Tafí. There didn't seem to be any water around! | |
| Tawny-crowned Pygmy-Tyrant | Euscarthmus meloryphus | ||
| Ochre-faced Tody-Flycatcher | Poecilotriccus plumbeiceps | ||
| Pearly-vented Tody-Tyrant | Hemitriccus margaritaceiventer | ||
| H | Yellow-olive Flycatcher | Tolmomyias sulphurescens | |
| Bran-colored Flycatcher | Myiophobus fasciatus | ||
| Cinnamon Flycatcher | Pyrrhomyias cinnamomea | ||
| Cliff Flycatcher | Hirundinea ferruginea | ||
| H | Euler's Flycatcher | Lathrotriccus euleri | |
| Smoke-colored Pewee | Contopus fumigatus | ||
| Black Phoebe | Sayornis nigricans | ||
| Vermilion Flycatcher | Pyrocephalus rubinus | ||
| D'Orbigny's Chat-Tyrant | Ochthoeca oenanthoides | A few sightings in dry scrub on on the altiplano. | |
| White-browed Chat-Tyrant | Ochthoeca leucophrys | ||
| Streak-throated Bush-Tyrant | Myiotheretes striaticollis | ||
| White Monjita | Xolmis irupero | ||
| Salinas Monjita (E) | Xolmis salinarum | An incredibly localized and specialized endemic, only found in low vegetation around salt pans in Córdoba. After a bit of searching, we finally found a cooperative pair that did not mind us following them around observing and photographing them. | |
| Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant | Agriornis montana | ||
| Lesser Shrike-Tyrant | Agriornis murina | One seen at Salinas Grandes, implying that the species could be resident here. | |
| Cinereous Ground-Tyrant | Muscisaxicola cinereus | ||
| Black-fronted Ground-Tyrant | Muscisaxicola frontalis | Somewhat of a surprise at Abra Lizoite. Published range data indicate that this species should only occur here in the austral winter. Perhaps a few of them do breed this far north? | |
| Andean Negrito | Lessonia oreas | Just a few at a pond near Abra Pampa. | |
| Cinereous Tyrant | Knipolegus striaticeps | A female near JV Gonzales, but finally a nice view of a male near Salinas Grandes. | |
| Andean Tyrant | Knipolegus signatus | Several near the Rio Yala. | |
| White-winged Black-Tyrant | Knipolegus aterrimus | ||
| Spectacled Tyrant | Hymenops perspicillatus | ||
| Yellow-browed Tyrant | Satrapa icterophrys | ||
| Cattle Tyrant | Machetornis rixosus | ||
| Dusky-capped Flycatcher | Myiarchus tuberculifer | ||
| Swainson's Flycatcher | Myiarchus swainsoni | ||
| Brown-crested Flycatcher | Myiarchus tyrannulus | ||
| Great Kiskadee | Pitangus sulphuratus | ||
| Streaked Flycatcher | Myiodynastes maculatus | ||
| Piratic Flycatcher | Legatus leucophaius | ||
| Variegated Flycatcher | Empidonomus varius | ||
| Crowned Slaty Flycatcher | Griseotyrannus aurantioatrocristatus | ||
| Tropical Kingbird | Tyrannus melancholicus | ||
| Fork-tailed Flycatcher | Tyrannus savana | ||
| Green-backed Becard | Pachyramphus viridis | ||
| White-winged Becard | Pachyramphus polychopterus | ||
| Crested Becard | Pachyramphus validus | ||
| SWALLOWS | Hirundinidae | ||
| Brown-chested Martin | Progne tapera | ||
| Southern Martin | Progne elegans | They were fairly common in Córdoba province, but we didn't see any farther north. | |
| White-rumped Swallow | Tachycineta leucorrhoa | ||
| Blue-and-white Swallow | Notiochelidon cyanoleuca | ||
| Andean Swallow | Haplochelidon andecola | Several small flocks along the Santa Victoria road. | |
| Southern Rough-winged Swallow | Stelgidopteryx ruficollis | ||
| WAGTAILS AND PIPITS | Motacillidae | ||
| Short-billed Pipit | Anthus furcatus | Many were seen doing display flights in the puna near Laguna Pozuelos. | |
| Hellmayr's Pipit | Anthus hellmayri | We found some displaying birds on the hike up to the Scribble-tailed Canastero. | |
| H | Yellowish Pipit | Anthus lutescens | |
| DIPPERS | Cinclidae | ||
| Rufous-throated Dipper | Cinclus schulzi | The most localized of the family, this certainly is one of the top targets of this tour. Fortunately we had no problems finding them, first a pair along the Rio Yala and then later two more along the Rio Sosa. | |
| WRENS | Troglodytidae | ||
| House Wren | Troglodytes aedon | ||
| Mountain Wren | Troglodytes solstitialis | ||
| Sedge (Grass) Wren | Cistothorus platensis | We saw ours in the grasslands on the Sierra de Córdoba. I think it's the nominate race that occurs here. | |
| MOCKINGBIRDS & THRASHERS | Mimidae | ||
| Chalk-browed Mockingbird | Mimus saturninus | ||
| Patagonian Mockingbird | Mimus patagonicus | ||
| Brown-backed Mockingbird | Mimus dorsalis | Nice views near Abra Pampa and Yavi. | |
| White-banded Mockingbird | Mimus triurus | ||
| THRUSHES | Turdidae | ||
| Spotted Nightingale-Thrush | Catharus dryas | This bird may be widespread, but you rarely see it as well as we did, sitting in the open and singing its lovely song in the yungas at Calilegua NP. | |
| Swainson's Thrush | Catharus ustulatus | ||
| Chiguanco Thrush | Turdus chiguanco | ||
| Andean Slaty-Thrush | Turdus nigriceps | It's harsh, ringing song was a near-constant feature of the yungas. They are easy to see now as the males sing from exposed perches. | |
| Rufous-bellied Thrush | Turdus rufiventris | ||
| Creamy-bellied Thrush | Turdus amaurochalinus | ||
| GNATCATCHERS | Polioptilidae | ||
| Masked Gnatcatcher | Polioptila dumicola | ||
| CROWS AND JAYS | Corvidae | ||
| Plush-crested Jay | Cyanocorax chrysops | ||
| OLD WORLD SPARROWS | Passeridae | ||
| House Sparrow (I) | Passer domesticus | ||
| VIREOS AND ALLIES | Vireonidae | ||
| Red-eyed Vireo | Vireo olivaceus | ||
| Rufous-browed Peppershrike | Cyclarhis gujanensis | ||
| FINCHES, SISKINS, ETC. | Fringillidae | ||
| Hooded Siskin | Carduelis magellanica | ||
| Black Siskin | Carduelis atrata | They seemed to be everywhere up in the high puna. | |
| WOOD WARBLERS | Parulidae | ||
| Tropical Parula | Parula pitiayumi | ||
| Masked Yellowthroat | Geothlypis aequinoctialis | ||
| Brown-capped Redstart | Myioborus brunniceps | Common in the yungas | |
| Two-banded Warbler | Basileuterus bivittatus | Common in the yungas | |
| Pale-legged Warbler | Basileuterus signatus | We didn't start seeing these until we got quite high up in Calilegua NP. | |
| H | Golden-crowned Warbler | Basileuterus culicivorus | |
| TANAGERS AND ALLIES | Thraupidae | ||
| Chestnut-vented Conebill | Conirostrum speciosum | ||
| Common Bush-Tanager | Chlorospingus ophthalmicus | ||
| Orange-headed Tanager | Thlypopsis sordida | ||
| Rust-and-yellow Tanager | Thlypopsis ruficeps | Many great views of this nice-looking tanager in several yungas sites. | |
| Sayaca Tanager | Thraupis sayaca | ||
| Blue-and-yellow Tanager | Thraupis bonariensis | ||
| Fawn-breasted Tanager | Pipraeidea melanonota | ||
| Purple-throated Euphonia | Euphonia chlorotica | ||
| Golden-rumped Euphonia | Euphonia cyanocephala | ||
| BUNTINGS, SEEDEATERS, ETC. | Emberizidae | ||
| Many-colored Chaco-Finch | Saltatricula multicolor | They were singing like crazy all throughout the chaco, even in the heat of the day. We enjoyed every one. | |
| Red-crested Finch | Coryphospingus cucullatus | ||
| Black-hooded Sierra-Finch | Phrygilus atriceps | Several stunning males seen along the road south of Abra Pampa. | |
| Gray-hooded Sierra-Finch | Phrygilus gayi | ||
| Mourning Sierra-Finch | Phrygilus fruticeti | ||
| Plumbeous Sierra-Finch | Phrygilus unicolor | ||
| Red-backed Sierra-Finch | Phrygilus dorsalis | The Santa Victoria road is one of the best places to see this distinctive sierra-finch - once we got high enough, they were rather common. | |
| Band-tailed Sierra-Finch | Phrygilus alaudinus | ||
| Ash-breasted Sierra-Finch | Phrygilus plebejus | ||
| Black-crested Finch | Lophospingus pusillus | Another nice bonus on that amazingly birdy road to Salinas Grandes; it was good to pick this one up after missing it in Salta. It looks more like a tit than a finch! | |
| Common Diuca-Finch | Diuca diuca | ||
| Rufous-sided Warbling-Finch | Poospiza hypochondria | Not too many of these guys; we saw pairs at Cuesta de Obispo and El Infiernillo. | |
| Rusty-browed Warbling-Finch | Poospiza erythrophrys | You have to see it well before you really can appreciate it's subtle beauty. We only found one pair, not far from the Rio Yala. | |
| Tucuman Mountain-Finch | Poospiza baeri | Almost endemic to Argentina (there are a couple of Bolivian records). We were very fortunate to find one at Cuesta del Obispo, as we did not see any at El Infiernillo, the "traditional" spot for them. | |
| Ringed Warbling-Finch | Poospiza torquata | Yet another handsome member of the genus. We found them to be a lot more common in the monte desert than in the chaco. | |
| Black-capped Warbling-Finch | Poospiza melanoleuca | ||
| Blue-black Grassquit | Volatinia jacarina | ||
| Double-collared Seedeater | Sporophila caerulescens | ||
| Band-tailed Seedeater | Catamenia analis | ||
| Plain-colored Seedeater | Catamenia inornata | ||
| Dull-colored Grassquit | Tiaris obscura | ||
| Rusty Flowerpiercer | Diglossa sittoides | ||
| Puna Yellow-Finch | Sicalis lutea | They were fairly common up high near Abra Pampa and Laguna Pozuelos. | |
| Saffron Finch | Sicalis flaveola | ||
| Grassland Yellow-Finch | Sicalis luteola | ||
| Bright-rumped Yellow-Finch | Sicalis uropygialis | A few on the day we visited Pozuelos. | |
| Citron-headed Yellow-Finch | Sicalis luteocephala | We had good numbers of them mixed in with other finches feeding in a field near Yavi. | |
| Greenish Yellow-Finch | Sicalis olivascens | ||
| Great Pampa-Finch | Embernagra platensis | ||
| Red-crested Cardinal | Paroaria coronata | It may be common, but it's hard to find a more handsome bird. | |
| Fulvous-headed Brush-Finch | Atlapetes fulviceps | ||
| Yellow-striped Brush-Finch (E) | Atlapetes citrinellus | Surprisingly common above and below Tafi del Valle, but we didn't see them anywhere else. | |
| Stripe-headed Brush-Finch | Buarremon torquatus | ||
| Saffron-billed Sparrow | Arremon flavirostris | I think we got them at the right time - they were vocal and surpisingly easy to see in the lower parts of Calilegua. | |
| Stripe-capped Sparrow | Aimophila strigiceps | Very scarce this time, but we did get two nice views, the best near San Jose de las Salinas. | |
| Grassland Sparrow | Ammodramus humeralis | ||
| Rufous-collared Sparrow | Zonotrichia capensis | ||
| SALTATORS, CARDINALS, ETC. | Cardinalidae | ||
| Grayish Saltator | Saltator coerulescens | ||
| Golden-billed Saltator | Saltator aurantiirostris | ||
| Black-backed Grosbeak | Pheucticus aureoventris | A beautiful male in the chaco at Palomitas | |
| Ultramarine Grosbeak | Cyanocompsa brissonii | Quite a widespread bird in South America, but nowhere is it as easy to see as in NW Argentina. | |
| BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES, ETC. | Icteridae | ||
| White-browed Blackbird | Sturnella superciliaris | ||
| Long-tailed Meadowlark | Sturnella loyca | Lots of them up in the grasslands on the Sierra de Córdoba before the rain started. | |
| Bay-winged Cowbird | Molothrus badius | ||
| Screaming Cowbird | Molothrus rufoaxillaris | Virtually the first bird we saw, in the parking lot at Salta Airport, but we didn't notice any more after that. | |
| Shiny Cowbird | Molothrus bonariensis | ||
| Epaulet Oriole | Icterus cayanensis | ||
| Golden-winged Cacique | Cacicus chrysopterus | ||
| H | Solitary Cacique | Cacicus solitarius | |
| Crested Oropendola | Psarocolius decumanus |