Birding in Central Bolivia in

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Cover picture by Michel Livet. Crested Quetzal (Pharomachrus antisianus) in upper montane forest near Cochabamba.

Birding in Central Bolivia Wondering what are the best birding sites to visit in Bolivia? Please take a look at the following proposal and let us know about your expectations.

OVERVIEW

Length: custom Starting city: Santa Cruz Ending city: Santa Cruz Pace: moderate Physical difficulty: moderate Focus: birding Services: private & all inclusive Max group size: your choice Bolivia has an impressive bird list for a landlocked country. With a good number of endemic and spectacular species, some of the best Andean scenery, a vibrant local culture, and beautiful habitats, this is a fascinating tour.

EXTENSIONS

We can offer several options in addition to the suggested itinerary here. This itinerary combines perfectly with our Birding in Western Bolivia tour package.

Suggested itinerary 9 days & 8 nights This is a short 9-day tour through the lowlands, Andean foothills and cloudforest of Central Bolivia, in search of the region’s spectacular birdlife. This itinerary focuses on the valleys of central Bolivia between Santa Cruz de la Sierra and Cochabamba, where the dry forests of the eastern lowlands meet the humid Andean forests to the west, and consequently have a very diverse and fascinating avifauna. Among the neotropical birds you might see on this Bolivia tour are colorful Quetzals, Toucans, Tangaras, Macaws and Parrots. Look for waterfowl and wading birds, a large suite of song birds, raptors, game birds, swifts and nighthawks, etc., many of which occupy several ecosystems simultaneously, as they fly to and from forests, meadows, shorelines of waters, cities and urban green spaces. This trip also includes a large number of Hummingbirds, Antbirds and Cotingas among other species. This tour can be combined with a trip to the highlands in Western Bolivia. Many extensions are also available. About the region Amboró National Park and Carrasco National Park are two adjacent protected areas that together cover more than three million acres and represent a “mega-reserve” with a great diversity of flora and fauna. This large wilderness area straddles the eastern foothills of the Andes between the cities of Santa Cruz and Cochabamba. The cloud forests of Amboró-Carrasco Conservation Area are home to luxuriant tropical flora including tree ferns and fuchsias, as well as an impressive bird life, with a host of hummingbirds among its many attractions.

In the crook of the “Elbow of the Andes”, the AmboróCarrasco Conservation Area landscape is a conversion point for three unique forest types: cloud forests, dry forests, and tropical Amazonian rain forests. The area offers dramatic changes in altitude ranging from 984 to 15,420 feet above sea level with deep canyons, formed by thousands of years of erosion, giving rise to natural glacier-fed lakes, streams and rivers that empty into the tributaries of the Amazon River.

This tour takes you into the heart of rural Bolivia. As well as Amboró-Carrasco Conservation Area, we will explore hot, dry habitats near Comarapa and arid inter-Andean valleys lying within a rain shadow formed by the surrounding mountains, with villages nestling between such as Samaipata. The cloud forests of Siberia, which lie just a couple of hours west of Tambo, are the southernmost limit of humid temperate cloud forest in South America.

The tour ‘in a nutshell’ This 9-day bird watching tour visits AmboróCarrasco Conservation Area, Samaipata, Tambo and Comarapa, where we will search for the rare endemic Red­-fronted Macaw, followed by a visit to the cloud forests of Siberia and the inter-Andean valleys of Cochabamba. What birds might I see? We’ll spend several days exploring AmboróCarrasco mosaic of ecosystems which shelter a rich diversity of plants and animals, including no less than 830 bird species! We’ll be looking for a variety of parakeets, tanagers and antwrens, as well as King Vulture, Sunbittern, Spectacled Owl and Two­ banded Warblers. A number of localised birds, hard to see elsewhere in Bolivia, occur around Samaipata, and we will try

to find species such as Huayco Tinamou, Andean Condor, Black­-faced Ibis and Dusky­-legged Guan among many others. In the Andean foothills and the semi­-deciduous woodlands and shrub­desert near Tambo we hope to find a wide range of species including the rare Tataupa Tinamou, the endemic Bolivian Earthcreeper, the endemic Rufous-­faced Antpitta, as well as Andean Tyrant, White-­tipped Plantcutter and Blue­-capped Puffleg ... and, of course, the Red­ fronted Macaw! The area around Cochabamba (Bolivia’s third largest city) presents a variety of habitats along the Andean Cordillera, from arid savannah to high montane forest. It has a pleasant climate, described as ‘eternal spring’, tracts of unique Polylepis forest and sultry Amazonian jungle. Anything else? Villagers in colourful traditional dress and ancient languages provide a potent link to the past and additional cultural interest. Nowhere else in South America are the national ethnic roots so pronounced as Bolivia. The Llama herders driving their animals down from high level grazing pastures live a lifestyle that has barely changed over the centuries. Notes: Please schedule an early morning flight to Bolivia or consider overnighting at a city hotel (not included in the base price of the tour, supplement applies) in order for us to set up an early departure. As it takes several hours to reach our target birding grounds each day from our city hotel, departures are usually set well before dawn. The return to Santa Cruz on the last day is at around 6pm so plan your return flight accordingly. An extra night at a city hotel at the end of the trip is highly recommended.

BOLIVIA - area visited on this trip

Tour information

Day by Day

The information presented here is an abbreviated version of our formal General Information for Tours to Bolivia. Its purpose is to give readers a sense of what might be involved if they took this tour. Although we do our best to make sure what follows here is completely accurate, it should not be used as a replacement for the formal document which will be sent to you, and whose contents supersedes any information contained here.

1. Tour departs from Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia. Bird the local savannas and forest islands around Santa Cruz. One night at local hotel in Santa Cruz.

ACCOMMODATION: We stay in hotels and lodges, all with en suite bathrooms. MEALS: All meals are included. ACTIVITIES / WALKING: Walks are mostly easy and taken at a slow pace, covering no more than five kilometres a day. A few trails can be rocky and uneven in places. CLIMATE: Mixed. Known to change drastically in rather short distances. Hot and humid temperatures can be expected in the lowlands. In the cloud forest it will likely be cooler but with the possibility of heavy rain at any time. ALTITUDE: This tour starts in the lowlands, and only reaches higher regions at a later stage, giving you time to adapt slowly to the elevation. Walks are gently paced and mostly easy if at high altitude.

Best Times for Wildlife in Bolivia April to November is usually the driest time of the year, with the end of this period, from early September to early November, usually being the driest and best for birds. The wet season normally lasts from January to March. It is usually coldest at night at high altitude from June to August.

2. Morning birding at Santa Cruz Botanical Gardens. Afternoon transfer to Amboró National Park west of Santa Cruz, where the dry forests of the eastern lowlands meet the humid Andean forests to the west. Two nights at local lodge. 3. Bird the hilly landscape and evergreen seasonal forest gradients around our lodge in Amboró National Park, lush with dense vegetation and fascinating birds. 4. Early-morning birding at our lodge and head west to Comarapa valleys, where the dry, cactusdominated vegetation has many great birds. Two nights in Comarapa. 5. Dry inter-Andean valleys and cloud forest of La Siberia from Comarapa. 6. After a morning visit to La Siberia cloud forest, we will drive for the rest of the day to Cochabamba. Four nights in Cochabamba. 7. Bird the upper fringes of Carrasco National Park (cloud forests of the Yungas del Chapare) east of Cochabamba. 8. Bird the Chapare road on the lower fringes of Carrasco National Park, east of Cochabamba. 9. Slopes of Mount Tunari above Cochabamba where four endemic species are present. Return flight to Santa Cruz. End of trip. This itinerary combines perfectly with our Birding in Western Bolivia tour package.

Birds we’ll be looking for in each destination Savannas and forest islands around Santa Cruz (day 1) Greater Rhea, Red-legged Seriema, Red-winged and Small-billed Tinamous, Long-winged Harrier, Yellow-chevroned Parakeet, Blue-winged Parrotlet, Guira Cuckoo, Thrush-like Wren, Masked Yellowthroat and Chopi Blackbird. If time allows, we will make an evening visit to the Piraí River in search of Collared Plover, Golden-collared Macaw and Yellow-browed Sparrow.

Botanical Garden in Santa Cruz (day 2) Blue-crowned Trogon, Blue-crowned Motmot, Buff-bellied Hermit, White-wedged Piculet, Red-billed Scythebill, Narrow-billed Woodcreeper, Stripe-backed and Mato Grosso Antbirds, Plushcrested Jay and many other species.

Amboró National Park (days 2 & 3) Red-billed, Blue-fronted and Mitred Parrots. Short-tailed Antthrush, Bolivian Tapaculo, Slaty Gnateater and the Bolivian Recurvebill (endemic). Buff-fronted Foliage-gleaner, Black-capped Antwren, Dusky-capped, Pale-edged and Slatycapped Flycatchers, Sclater’s and Mottle-cheeked Tyrannulets, Marble-faced Bristle-tyrant, Blackgoggled Tanager, Blue-naped Chlorophonia, Golden-rumped Euphonia, Two-banded Warbler and Slate- throated Whitestart. Andean Condor, Black-chested Buzzard-eagle, Bat Falcon, Military Macaw, Streak-throated Bush-tyrant, Planalto Hermit, Channel- billed Toucan, Chestnut-eared Aracari, Chestnut-tipped Toucanet, Blue-browed

Tanager, Thick-billed Euphonia and Dusky-green Oropendola.

Samaipata and west towards Comarapa valley (day 4) Glittering-bellied Emerald, Blue-and-white Swallow and Blue-and-yellow Tanager. Blue-crowned Parakeet, White-fronted and Striped Woodpeckers, Stripe-crowned Spinetail, White-bellied Tyrannulet, Greater Wagtail-tyrant, Pearly-vented Tody-tyrant, White-tipped Plantcutter, Ringed and Blackcapped Warbling-finches, Grey-crested Finch, Redcrested Finch and Golden-billed Saltator. Bolivian Earthcreeper (endemic) as well as many other birds of the dry Valles.

Dry valleys around Comarapa (day 5) Red-fronted Macaw (endemic), Mitred and Bluecrowned Parakeets. Spot-backed Puffbird, Creambacked Woodpecker, Masked Gnatcatcher, Blackand-chestnut Warbling-finch and Dull-coloured Grassquit.

Cloud forest site of La Siberia above Comarapa (days 5 & 6) Red-tailed Comet, Scaled Metaltail, Montane Woodcreeper, Pearled Treerunner, Olive-crowned Crescent-chest, White-throated Tyrannulet, Andean Tyrant, Rufous-breasted Chat-tyrant, Scarlet-bellied and Chestnut-bellied Mountaintanagers, Blue-backed Conebill and the newly-split Rufous-naped Brush-finch.

En route from Comarapa to Cochabamba (day 6) Variable Hawk, Streak-fronted Thornbird, Whitebrowed Chat-tyrant, Yellow-billed Tit-tyrant, Brown-capped Redstart and Fulvous-headed

Brush-finch. Some Andean waterbirds at lake near Cochabamba.

Cerro Tunari and Polylepis forests around Cochabamba (day 9)

Upper Chapare road east of Cochabamba (day 7)

Grey-hooded Parakeet, Brown-backed Mockingbird, Grey-bellied Flowerpiercer, Band-tailed Seedeater and the Bolivian Blackbird (endemic). Giant Hummingbird, Rock Earthcreeper, Rufous-bellied Saltator, Rufous-sided Warbling-finch, Giant Conebill and no less than four endemics: Bolivian Warbling-finch, Cochabamba Mountain-finch, Wedge-tailed Hillstar and Maquis Canastero. Andean Hillstar, Tawny Tit-spinetail, Plain- breasted Earthcreeper, White-winged Cinclodes, Plumbeous and Black-hooded Sierra-finches, Bright-rumped Yellow-finch and several ground-tyrants.

Black-winged Parrot, Golden-headed Quetzal, Blue-banded Toucanet, Hooded Mountain-toucan, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker and Hooded Mountain-tanager as well as flocks of commoner birds. Many-coloured Rush-tyrant, Wren-like Rushbird, White-cheeked Pintail and Fulvous Whistling-duck at lagoon on the way back to Cochabamba. Rosy-billed Pochard, Silver Teal, Red Shoveler and Spot-billed Ground-tyrant are also possible depending on time of year.

A number of extensions are also available. Contact us for tailor-made itineraries. See image gallery in the following pages for more bird species available on our Bolivia tours and extensions. Contact us at [email protected]

www.bird-bolivia.com

Lower cloud forest of Carrasco National Park (day 8) Crested Quetzal, Speckled Hummingbird, Longtailed Sylph, Booted Racket-tail, Versicoloured Barbet, Saffron-crowned, Straw-backed and Beryl-spangled Tanagers, White-eared Solitaire and Green Jay. Many commoner species. Andean Cockof-the-Rock is rare, but nonetheless possible here.

image gallery by Dubi Shapiro

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www.pbase.com/dubisha/bolivia Bolivia

Red­fronted Macaw   (Ara rubrogenys)

Orange­browed Hemispingus (Hemispingus calophrys)

 

Andean Avocet   (Recurvirostra andina)

Cochabamba Mountain­Finch (Compsospiza garleppi)

 

Rufous­faced Antpitta   (Grallaria erythrotis)

Red­crested Cotinga   (Ampelion rubrocristatus)

Red­tailed Comet   (Sappho sparganura)

Plush­crested Jay (Cyanocorax chrysops)

Pale­crested   Woodpecker (Celeus lugubris)

Rufescent Screech   Owl (Megascops ingens)

 

Black­capped Warbling Finch (Poospiza melanoleuca)

 

Black­Hooded   Sunbeam (Aglaeactis pamela)

Olive­crowned Crescentchest (Melanopareia maximiliani)

Hooded Mountain   Toucan (Andigena cucullata)

Red­fronted Macaw   (Ara rubrogenys) Bolivian Blackbird   (Oreopsar bolivianus)

 

Ringed Warbling  Finch (Poospiza torquata)

Andean Coot (Fulica   ardesiaca)

Band­bellied Owl  (Pulsatrix melanota)

White­fronted   Woodpecker (Melanerpes cactorum)

Rock Earthcreeper   (Ochetorhynchus andaecola)

Black­capped Warbling Finch (Poospiza melanoleuca)

 

Three­striped Hemispingus (Hemispingus trifasciatus)

 

Hooded Mountain   Toucan (Andigena cucullata)

Black­faced Tanager   (Schistochlamys melanopis)

Bolivian Slaty Antshrike (Thamnophilus sticturus)

Andean Coot (Fulica   ardesiaca)

Rufous Antpitta (Grallaria rufula)

 

White­tipped   Plantcutter (Phytotoma rutila)

 

Black­Hooded   Sunbeam (Aglaeactis pamela)

Mountain Caracara   (Phalcoboenus megalopterus)

Lineated Woodpecker   (Dryocopus lineatus)

White­eared Puffbird   (Nystalus chacuru) Masked Gnatcatcher   (Polioptila dumicola)

Campo Flicker   (Colaptes campestris)

Bolivian Earthcreeper   (Tarphonomus harterti)

White­collared Jay   (Cyanolyca viridicyanus)

Red­billed Scythebill   (Campylorhamphus trochilirostris)

Red­tailed Comet   (Sappho sparganura)

Guira Cuckoo (Guira   guira)

Southern Lapwing   (Vanellus chilensis)

Black­throated   Thistletail (Schizoeaca harterti)

Red­fronted Macaw   (Ara rubrogenys)

Rusty­browed Warbling­Finch (Poospiza erythrophrys)

 

Short­tailed Antthrush   (Chamaeza campanisona)

Blue­and­yellow  Tanager (Pipraeidea bonariensis)

Light­crowned   Spinetail (Cranioleuca albiceps)

Grey­bellied   Flowerpiercer (Diglossa carbonaria)

Changquing nature   reserve

Grey­hooded   Parakeet (Psilopsiagon aymara)

Yellow­billed Tit­Tyrant  (Anairetes flavirostris)

Golden­billed Saltator   (Saltator aurantiirostris)

Cordilleran Canastero  

James's Flamingo   (Phoenicoparrus jamesi)

Cochabamba Mountain­Finch (Compsospiza garleppi)

 

Puna Teal (Spatula   puna)

Streak­throated  Canastero (Asthenes humilis)

Variable Antshrike   (Thamnophilus caerulescens)

Collared Plover   (Charadrius collaris)

Red Pileated Finch   (Coryphospingus cucullatus)

Rufous Antpitta (Grallaria rufula cochabambae)

 

Fawn­breasted Wren   (Thryothorus guarayanus)

Variable Antshrike   (Thamnophilus caerulescens)

Turquoise­fronted Parrot (Amazona aestiva)

 

Cliff Parakeet   (Myiopsitta luchsi)

Narrow­billed   Woodcreeper (Lepidocolaptes angustirostris)

Greater Wagtail­tyrant   (Stigmatura budytoides)

Orange­browed Hemispingus (Hemispingus calophrys)

Brown­capped   Whitestart (Myioborus brunniceps)

Purplish Jay   (Cyanocorax cyanomelas)

Sickle­winged Guan   (Chamaepetes goudotii)

 

Bolivian Brush­finch   (Atlapetes rufinucha)

Andean Slaty Thrush   (Turdus nigriceps)

Lafresnaye’s   Woodcreeper (Xiphorhynchus guttatoides)

White tipped   Plantcutter 3.jpg

Titicaca Grebe   (Rollandia microptera)

Greater Rhea (Rhea   americana)

Creamy­bellied  Thrush (Turdus amaurochalinus)

Cliff Parakeet   (Myiopsitta luchsi)

Creamy­bellied  Thrush (Turdus amaurochalinus)

Black­throated Flowerpiercer (Diglossa brunneiventris)

 

Baird's Sandpiper (Calidris bairdii)

 

Ochre­faced Tody­   flycatcher (Poecilotriccus plumbeiceps)

White­bellied Nothura   (Nothura boraquira)

Superciliaried Hemispingus (Hemispingus superciliaris)

 

Mitred Parakeet (Aratinga mitrata)

 

Blue­crowned   Parakeet (Psittacara acuticaudatus)

Creamy­breasted   Canastero (Asthenes dorbignyi) Least Concern

Ocellated Piculet  (Picumnus dorbignyanus)

Red­winged Tinamou   (Rhynchotus rufescens)

White­wedged Piculet   (Picumnus albosquamatus)

Brown­capped Tit­   spinetail (Leptasthenura fuliginiceps)

Fulvous­headed  Brush­finch (Atlapetes fulviceps)

Tawny­rumped Tyrannulet (Phyllomyias uropygialis)

Dusky­headed   Parakeet (Aratinga weddellii)

 

Brown­crested   Flycatcher (Myiarchus tyrannulus)

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