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North-west Argentina 2003,
We spent the period between 19th October and 7th November 2003 birding in North-west Argentina. We flew with Iberia from London (via Madrid) to Buenos Aires - this flight was cheap but I would not recommend them as a long-distance carrier. We then took an onward 2.5 hour flight with Aerolineas to Salta. Note that domestic flights mostly depart from Aeroparque airport (north of town) which is an hour by bus (P18) from the International airport. We hired a car through Wildwings in the UK and the cost was £395 for 21 days. This deal was through Europcar who do not have a desk at Salta - better to book with someone who does. We ended up paying another £45 when we dropped off the car because so many things had fallen off it during the trip. My mistake was to hand him all the bits at the end by way of complaint! It was a Brazilian made Ford Ka - definitely worth avoiding. The concept of a voucher also seemed to mystify the rental guy and we had long discussions at the airport before he agreed not to charge me any extra. Driving was mostly easy away from town although I have sneaking suspicion that a lot of road signs have been 're-cycled' - we regularly got lost going through towns.
That aside Argentina offers reasonable infrastructure, easy travelling, welcoming people and it is a nice, gentle introduction to birding in South America. The trip is also very good value at the moment due to the weak state of the Argentine peso (4.65/£). Cash is available at ATM machines in all towns and this will also get you the best rate for your money. We mostly stayed in hotels throughout which cost between P25 and P60 per night. We spent just two nights camping at Calilegua but this is not strictly necessary - although it makes nightbirding an easier proposition.
Strategy and birds we missed
We elected to spend a reasonable amount of time in a relatively small area and this paid off in terms of the number of species seen. Ideally we would have incorporated El Rey into the itinerary but wet weather when we were in the area meant that we could not access this site.
It is surprisingly worthwhile learning the nest structure of some of the ovenbirds. We located white-throated cacholote because we had strong suspicions about a nest we had found and used tape-playback to bring the indignant owner into view. The latest Handbook of the Birds of the World (Vol 8) is a useful reference in this respect.
Looking through Clements (Birds of the World: a checklist) it is apparent that the taxonomy of the birds in this region is in disarray. I am not quite sure what he has done with the pygmy-owls, meadowlarks and Poospiza. No doubt the new field guide will answer these questions when it comes out.
We missed the following birds:
Darwin's tinamou | Andes |
Elegant crested- tinamou | Andes. Was recorded above Tafi the day before we got up there. |
Quebracho crested-tinamou | chaco. |
Fasciated tiger-heron | has been recorded on river below Tafi. |
Red-legged seriema | there appears to be about a 50:50 chance of scoring this. We heard it but could not get views. El Rey NP campsite apparently has tame individuals, but can only be accessed in dry weather in 2WD vehicles. |
Band-tailed pigeon | Calilegua. |
Solitary eagle | Calilegua. |
Spot-winged falconet | present at JVG but rarely recorded there. |
Smoky-brown woodpecker | Calilegua. |
Black-bodied woodpecker | present at JVG but rarely recorded there. |
Ash-coloured cuckoo | chaco. |
Nacunda nighthawk | chaco. |
White-sided hillstar | Andes. |
Fork-tailed wood-nymph | yungas. |
White-vented violetear | Andes. |
Great rufous woodcreeper | chaco. |
Black-banded woodcreeper | Calilegua. |
Red-billed scythebill | chaco. Tape would be handy for this species. |
Straight-billed earthcreeper | usually seen between Humuaca and Abra Pampa - we dipped! |
Lark-like brushrunner | surprise dip of the trip - usually present at JVG but we could not find any, perhaps the high levels of disturbance were to blame. |
Olive-crowned crescentchest | chaco. Recorded at Palomitas in the past but appears to be scarce there now. |
White-naped xenopsaris | chaco. |
Subtropical doradito | Andes (around Cachi). |
Cinereous ground-tyrant | Andes. |
Black-capped antwren | Calilegua. |
Slaty flowerpiercer | in yungas at base of Cuesto del Obispo. |
White-banded mockingbird | Andes. |
Spotted nightingale thrush | yungas forest. |
Black-crested finch | chaco. |
Lined seedeater | usually recorded in scrub and agricultural habitats at lower elevations. |
Dark-throated seedeater | around Salta in agricultural land. |
References
Take both the available field guides:
They are both pretty appalling and need to be used in conjunction with each other for best results. A new field guide is approaching completion and will no doubt replace these two books.
We used the following sources of site information from the internet:
· Chile and Argentina Birding Trip report by Jon Hornbuckle on WorldTwitch.
· Argentina: a birding trip to the NW Andes and the coast of Buenos Aires Province by Richard and Jen Kershaw. An old-fashioned paper report from a friend.
· Argentina Trip Report by Greg Roberts from the internet.
· North-West Argentina 2002 Trip Report from the people at Ornifolks
· Argentina, 11th February to 4th March by David and John Cooper from the internet.
· Argentina (November and December 1994) by Jan Vermeulen from the internet.
· Argentina Trip Report, June to October 1993 by Phil Benstead, Richard Hearn and Cath Jeffs.
Acknowledgements
Trip planning before we left the UK was greatly helped by information supplied by Mark Pearman and Frank Lambert - thanks to you both. During the trip we bumped into Andrew and Angela and Dave Pitman and crew and we thank them all for providing us with the latest info for sites we were about to visit. Finally thanks to the authors of the web gen mentioned above for putting it out there in the first place.
Sites visited
19/10, 20/10 and 7/11 Abra Santa Laura
We spent parts of three days working this site, including two pre-dawn spotlighting sessions. The road between Salta and Abra Santa Laura and on to Embalse de Cienaga offers good birding. The lake approximately 25 km north of Salta is worth stopping at. At km 1635 we heard our only red-legged seriemas of the trip. All the nightbirds were recorded between km 1646 and 1651 in the hours before dawn. A great introduction to yungas forest birding in the region but easily eclipsed by Calilegua in terms of quality. Highlights included: Hoy's screech-owl, rufous nightjar, [lyre-tailed nightjar], [common potoo] and dull-coloured grassquit.
20/10 Embalse de Cienaga
A large reservoir situated between the Abra Santa Laura and Jujuy. Well worth stopping at. Turn off by the police checkpoint and drive a short distance till you see the footbridge over the irrigation channel which gives access to the shoreline. The scattered trees around the reservoir held a number of interesting species. Highlights included: ringed teal, tufted tit-tyrant, white-crested elaenia and black-and-chestnut warbling-finch. We also looked in on the Dique Los Alisos on the left as you travel north just before Jujuy - a large reservoir with some birds but not as good as the Embalse de Cienaga.
19/10 and 21/10 Yala
Situated just north of Jujuy on the road to Humuaca. Look out for a road on the left signed to Lagunas de Yala, as you leave the village. Bird the gardens before the bridge, the river above the bridge, the area around the white pump buildings and beyond. Despite two visits we never felt like we did this site justice. Highlights included: torrent duck, white-collared swift, Rothschild's swift, slender-tailed woodstar, spotted-breasted thornbird, crested becard, streak-throated bush-tyrant and rufous-throated dipper.
21/10 Humuaca area
We pitched up here in the mid-afternoon and explored a desert area to the west of town. Continue north past the first turning to Humuaca and take a dirt road on left which has some obvious white crosses alongside it and then crosses a dirt landing strip before heading off into the cactus desert. The track is driveable for some distance but take care at dry stream and riverbeds as these could be problematic for 2WD. We found our first sparkling violetear and giant hummingbirds here. The best of the birding is however above here en route to Abra Pampa. Highlights above Humuaca en route to Abra Pampa included: buff-breasted earthcreeper, rufous-naped ground-tyrant, black siskin and thick-billed siskin.
22/10 to 25/10 Abra Pampa area
A great base from which to bird the surrounding high puna and get up to La Quiaca. We stayed at the Residencial Cesarito which was great fun and cooked the best Milanesa in Argentina. Do not ignore the marsh situated to the west of Abra Pampa. It is best accessed by an obvious track leading off the road to Lago de Pozuelos (near the small bridge). It was very dry when we were here but there were plenty of birds tucked away on small pools dotted about. Highlights included: puna ibis at the marsh, puna flamingo, Andean flamingo, Andean hillstar (on road down to Humuaca), common miner, rock earthcreeper (on road down to Humuaca) and bright-rumped yellow-finch (try in the gardens of the water company office - it is on the main drag through town and has a water tower in the back).
22/10 and 23/10 Lago de Pozuelos
About one hour from Abra Pampa on the road to Rinconada is an very large high altitude lake. It was almost dry when we visited and the birds were concentrated around the inflow of a small river. We followed this river down a dirt track that originates from the road just after the ranger station and bridge and leads to the lake shore (for map see Wheatley Where to watch birds in South America). We drove out over the dry lake bed to find some water and were not disappointed, although horned coot were absent. The access track is well worth careful birding. Highlights included: lesser rhea, good views of puna tinamou, the flamingos, giant coot, excellent views of tawny-throated dotterel, puna plover and golden-spotted ground-dove.
23/10 Laguna Larga
This lake accessed by taking the driveable track behind Lagunilla church was bone dry (for map see Wheatley Where to watch birds in South America). We had a very enjoyable walk along this track birding the hillsides and following the dry riverbed which still held some pools of water which attracted a number of species. Highlights included: slender-billed miner and plain-breasted earthcreeper.
24/10 La Quiaca
We elected to drive up the road from Abra Pampa to this border town in the hope of bumping into some of the specialities that just creep into Argentina at this far-flung spot. The road is nearly hard-top all the way now so it is not at all unpleasant. We drove into the town centre and then worked our way out by driving south along the west side of the defunct railway track eventually bumping into a schoolyard that held bare-faced ground-dove and citron-headed yellow-finch. Other possibilities in this area include wedge-tailed hillstar.
25/10 to 29/10 Calilegua National Park
Accessed from Libertador Gral. San Martin on Route 34. The turning to the park is just after the bridge to the north of town and this track is the only real access to this large park. This park is fantastic birding and it is worth spending plenty of time here. Bird the trails around the first ranger station and the second if you have time. Do not ignore the tiny loop trail just above the first ranger station - we had some great birds here every time we walked it. We did two successful pre-dawn spot-lighting sessions. Rain seriously affected one day here. We mostly stayed in a hotel in Libertador Gral. San Martin, but camped on two nights. Highlights included: good views of tataupa tinamou, king vulture, swallow-tailed kite, plumbeous kite, bicoloured hawk, good views of dusky-legged guan, white-throated quail-dove, golden-collared macaw, Tucuman parrot, squirrel cuckoo, Hoy's screech-owl, yungas pygmy-owl, spectacled owl, planalto hermit, blue-capped puffleg, speckled hummingbird, blue-crowned trogon, toco toucan, golden-green woodpecker, dot-fronted woodpecker, ochre-cheeked spinetail, streaked xenops, giant antshrike, white-throated antpitta, rufous casiornis, ochre-faced tody-flycatcher, slaty elaenia, grey elaenia, Euler's flycatcher, white-necked thrush, Andean slaty thrush, glossy-black thrush, pale-legged warbler, two-banded warbler, chestnut-vented conebill, purple-throated euphonia and guira tanager.
29/10 and 30/10 Palomitas
We stayed in Gral. Guemes and birded this site during an afternoon and morning session. Palomitas is located about 20 km south of Gral. Guemes on Route 9/34 (a toll road). Turn left off the road (heading south) at the sign for Palomitas. Keep right and cross the railway and take a right at the only major fork. The chaco along this track is severely degraded but it is still a great place to go birding. Bird the fields and scrub along the track. Highlights included: our first Andean condor (albeit at a rather unusual location), peregrine, black-legged seriema, chaco earthcreeper, cinereous tyrant and brown-crested flycatcher.
31/10 to 2/11 Joaquín V. Gonzalez
Traditionally birders take the road on the right (by the bus stop just after the impressive archway) just south of town. Follow this for 14 km and it takes you to a private track leading off on the right and another which is located 3 km further on the right. Birding these tracks produces many of the chaco specialities. We pinned all our chaco hopes on this site and were nearly undone. Much of the chaco along the first track had recently been cleared by chain and all the evidence points to this being a continuing process. Bizarrely many of the typical resident species were still present sitting on the rowed piles of scrub or walking between them and the birding was perhaps simplified. This site will however soon be completely cleared. Hunting pressure was heavy in the recently opened up habitat and may explain the lack of Quebracho crested-tinamous here which most people see. In addition heavy rain fell on the first day and made access rather difficult. The other track was OK but the habitat along it is heavily degraded. Despite these difficulties we saw most of our target species except lark-like brushrunner. Highlights included: greater rhea, brushland tinamou, great black hawk, blue-fronted parrot, blue-tufted starthroat, scimitar-billed woodcreeper, chaco earthcreeper, crested hornero, brown cacholote, pale-breasted spinetail, great antshrike, stripe-backed antbird, crested gallito, scrub flycatcher, pearly-vented tody-tyrant, southern beardless-tyrannulet, masked yellowthroat, red-crested cardinal, solitary cacique and screaming cowbird.
2/11 Tafi del Valle (yungas and lake)
Bird the yungas and river below Tafi del Valle en route to town and do not ignore the lake 8 km before town on the plateau. Along the river we concentrated on the area behind the small picnic area (with a memorial dedicated to some general or other) on the left near the bridge over a small tributary of the Rio Los Sosas. In Tafi we stayed at the Hosteria Los Cuartos. Highlights included: Andean coot (lake), puna snipe (lake), blue-capped puffleg (yungas), white-browed tapaculo (yungas) and yellow-striped brush-finch (yungas).
3/11 Tafi del Valle (El Infiernillo)
The Abra del Infiernillo area above Tafi is fantastic, we birded the gullies at km 78 and 80 and also walked upslope from km 83 for about 2 km. The area upslope from just back from the top of the pass (where the flag flies) is supposed to be good for scribble-tailed canastero. We ran out of time. Early mornings best here as the low cloud often sweeps in. Highlights included: very good views of Andean tinamou, grey-breasted seedsnipe, slender-billed miner, chestnut canastero, Cordoba canastero, brown-capped tit-spinetail, white-browed tapaculo, plumbeous sierra-finch and Tucuman mountain-finch.
3/11 Quilmes Ruins
Dave Pitman advised us to go here and we were not disappointed. It is well signed and lies about 5 km off the road between Tafi and Cafayete. Bird the scrub around the ruins. Highlights included: white-throated cacholote and Andean tyrant. Cinnamon warbling-finch and sandy gallito occur. There is a rather expensive looking hotel here but we drove on to Cafayete.
4/11 Cafayete
One of the best sites for the endemic sandy gallito lies just outside town in a weird area of sandy high altitude chaco-type habitat. This area is reached by taking the Salta road out of Cafayete for 7 km (past the airstrip) until you reach a sharp right-hand bend with obvious dunes. Bird the sandy scrub hear and listen for the gallito. They respond well to tape-playback and sit around calling in bushes. Highlights included: sandy gallito and cinnamon warbling-finch. We back-tracked to Cafayete and took the incredibly scenic road to Cachi.
4/11 and 5/11 Cachi
Most of the action is on the roads leading to Cachi from Cafayete and Salta. We did find some good birds near the floodplain football pitch on the road out to Cafayete. If you are with your partner (rather than a car-load of birders) do not miss the chance to stay at La Paya which is about 15 km out of Cachi off the road to Cafayete (well-signed). Good luck finding the petrol station in Cachi, it is really tucked away. Highlights included: grass wren and rufous-sided warbling-finch.
5/11 Los Cardones National Park
Situated high up between Cachi and Cuesto del Obispo. The road goes through this cactus desert area. Highlights included: grey-bellied shrike-tyrant.
5/11 Cuesto del Obispo
Situated between Los Cardones NP and Chicoana this valley offers very good birding - from the top of the pass (the Piedra de Molinos) to the yungas at the bottom there are plenty of birds. The saltator is best seen at Quebrada El Sunchal and the quebrada above this is very good too. Highlights included: superb views of ornate tinamou, rock earthcreeper, brown-capped tit-spinetail, mouse-coloured tyrannulet, rufous-bellied saltator and Tucuman mountain-finch.
Systematic list of birds recorded in North-West Argentina between 19th October and 7th November
Sites visited: Abra Santa Laura (ASL) 19-20/10 and 7/11; Embalse de Cienaga (EDC) 20/10; Yala (Y) 19/10 and 21/10; Humuaca area (H) 21/10; Abra Pampa (AP) 22-25/10; Lago de Pozuelos (LP) 22-23/10; Laguna Larga (LL) 23/10; La Quiaca (LQ) 24/10; Calilegua National Park (CNP) 25-29/10; Palomitas (P) 29/10 and 30/10; Joaquín V. Gonzalez (JVG) 31/10-2/11; Tafi del Valle (TV) 2-3/11; Quilmes Ruins (QR) 3/11; Cafayete (C) 4/11; Cachi (CH) 4-5/11; Los Cardones NP (LC) 5/11; and Cuesto del Obispo (CO) 5/11. Species/records in square brackets were heard only.
Greater rhea | Rhea americana | single JVG |
Lesser rhea | Rhea pennata | 15+ at LP. Considered a separate species 'Puna rhea' by some |
Tataupa tinamou | Crypturellus tataupa | single CNP, [P], two at JVG |
Ornate tinamou | Nothoprocta ornata | poor views of a bird AP to H, two at Piedra de Molinos (CO) |
Brushland tinamou | Nothoprocta cinerascens | JVG |
Andean tinamou | Nothoprocta pentlandii | 3 at LL, 5+ above TV |
Puna tinamou | Tinamotis pentlandii | pair near the Ranger Station at LP |
Pied-billed grebe | Podilymbus podiceps | lakes and reservoirs |
White-tufted grebe | Podiceps rolland | EDC, lake near TV, lake north of Salta |
Neotropic cormorant | Phalacrocorax olivaceus | EDC, CNP |
White-necked heron | Ardea cocoi | small numbers throughout |
Whistling heron | Syrigma sibilatrix | north of Salta, EDC, CH to Salta |
Great white egret | Egretta alba | EDC |
Snowy egret | Egretta thula | north of Salta, EDC |
Cattle egret | Bubulcus ibis | widespread |
Black-crowned night-heron | Nycticorax nycticorax | several singles noted at H, [CNP] |
Wood stork | Mycteria americana | north of Salta, EDC, JVG to TV |
Buff-necked ibis | Theristicus caudatus | P, JVG, C to CH, CH to Salta, ASL |
Puna ibis | Plegadis ridgwayi | 15 at AP marsh |
White-faced ibis | Plegadis chihi | north of Salta, EDC, JVG to TV |
Roseate spoonbill | Ajaia ajaja | single near JVG |
Chilean flamingo | Phoenicopterus chilensis | single at Dique Los Alisos, 70+ at LP, small numbers at AP marsh |
Andean flamingo | Phoenicopterus andinus | 10+ LP, small numbers at AP marsh |
Puna flamingo | Phoenicopterus jamesi | 15+ LP, small numbers at AP marsh |
Muscovy duck | Cairina moschata | single at CNP |
Comb duck | Sarkidiornis melanotos | two birds at JVG |
Fulvous whistling-duck | Dendrocygna bicolor | lake north of Salta, EDC, Dique Los Alisos |
White-faced whistling-duck | Dendrocygna viduata | 40+ at Dique Los Alisos |
Coscoroba swan | Coscoroba coscoroba | 7 at lake near TV |
Andean goose | Chloephaga melanoptera | LP, LL, AP marsh, lake near TV |
Crested duck | Anas specularoides | LP, AP marsh |
Brown pintail | Anas georgica | recorded in all suitable wetlands |
Speckled teal | Anas flavirostris | LP, AP marsh, lake near TV |
Red shoveler | Anas platalea | lake near TV |
Cinnamon teal | Anas cyanoptera | recorded in all suitable wetlands |
Puna teal | Anas puna | 2 at LP, 6+ at AP marsh |
Torrent duck | Merganetta armata | single male at Yala on 21/10 |
Brazilian teal | Amazonetta brasiliensis | lake north of Salta, EDC |
Ringed teal | Callonetta leucophrys | 2 birds at EDC on 20/10 |
Andean duck | Oxyura ferruginea | 40+ at lake near TV, lake north of Salta |
Andean condor | Vultur gryphus | single P, 5 above TV, 15+ at top of CO |
Turkey vulture | Cathartes aura | widespread but in smaller numbers than the following species |
Black vulture | Coragyps atratus | widespread and frequently seen |
King vulture | Sarcoramphus papa | 2 together at CNP |
Black-chested buzzard-eagle | Geranoaetus melanoleucus | single Y, 2 above TV |
Swallow-tailed kite | Elanoides forficatus | up to 12 daily at CNP |
White-tailed kite | Elanus leucurus | north of Salta, P, JVG, lake near TV |
Plumbeous kite | Ictinia plumbea | CNP |
Great black-hawk | Buteogallus urubitinga | single JVG |
Snail kite | Rostrhamus sociabilis | only recorded at the lake north of Salta |
Cinereous harrier | Circus cinereus | male at LP, female above TV |
Gray hawk | Asturina nitida | CNP, JVG |
Bicolored hawk | Accipiter bicolor | single seen well in flight on three dates |
Sharp-shinned hawk | Accipiter striatus | single at CNP |
Roadside hawk | Buteo magnirostris | widespread at lower elevations |
Red-backed hawk | Buteo polyosoma | H, LP, above TV, CO |
Puna hawk | Buteo poecilochrous | LP, AP. Lumped in Variable hawk Buteo polyosoma by Clements. |
Savanna hawk | Buteogallus meridionalis | lake north of Salta, P, JVG |
Mountain caracara | Phalcoboenus megalopterus | LP, AP to LQ |
Southern caracara | Polyborus plancus | widespread. Split by Clements. |
Chimango caracara | Milvago chimango | EDC, JVG, C to CH, CH to Salta |
Peregrine falcon | Falco peregrinus | 2 at P |
Aplomado falcon | Falco femoralis | LP, JVG, above TV |
American kestrel | Falco sparverius | widespread in small numbers |
Chaco chachalaca | Ortalis canicollis | frequently encountered in chaco |
Dusky-legged guan | Penelope obscura | ASL, 2 seen well at CNP |
Limpkin | Aramus guarauna | single en route to P |
Giant coot | Fulica gigantea | 3 at LP |
Andean coot | Fulica ardesiaca | only at lake near TV |
Red-gartered coot | Fulica armillata | recorded in all suitable wetlands |
White-winged coot | Fulica leucoptera | recorded in all suitable wetlands |
Common moorhen | Gallinula chloropus | recorded in all suitable wetlands |
Black-legged seriema | Chunga burmeisteri | single at P, single on roadside near Metan |
[Red-legged seriema] | Cariama cristata | heard at km 1635 near ASL |
Wattled jacana | Jacana jacana | only recorded on lake north of Salta |
Andean avocet | Recurvirostra andina | 7 at LP, 15+ at AP marsh |
South American stilt | Himantopus melanurus | recorded in all suitable wetlands |
Southern lapwing | Vanellus chilensis | widespread |
Andean lapwing | Vanellus resplendens | widespread at high elevations |
American golden-plover | Pluvialis dominica | 2 birds near LQ in riverbed |
Tawny-throated dotterel | Oreopholus ruficollis | 32+ at LP on 23/10, 10 next day, 4 at top of CO |
Puna plover | Charadrius alticola | 20+ at LP only |
Greater yellowlegs | Tringa melanoleuca | EDC, LP, lake near TV |
Baird's sandpiper | Calidris bairdii | EDC, LP, AP marsh, JVG to TV |
Puna snipe | Gallinago andina | single at lake near TV |
Stilt sandpiper | Micropalama himantopus | single at LP |
Wilson's phalarope | Phalaropus tricolor | single at AP marsh |
Grey-breasted seedsnipe | Thinocorus orbignyianus | 5 at LP, 1 at LL, pair gave great views above TV |
Andean gull | Larus serranus | LP, lake near TV, C to CH, CH to Salta |
Brown-hooded gull | Larus maculipennis | single at EDC |
Pale-vented pigeon | Columba cayennensis | 2 at CNP |
Picazuro pigeon | Columba picazuro | north of Salta, chaco |
Spot-winged pigeon | Columba maculosa | 2 at JVG, single C to CH |
Feral pigeon | Columba livia | widespread |
Eared dove | Zenaida auriculata | widespread |
Picui ground-dove | Columbina picui | ASL, CNP, chaco |
Ruddy ground-dove | Columbina talpacoti | 20+ at CNP |
Black-winged ground-dove | Metriopelia melanoptera | H to AP, above TV (15), C to CH, CH to Salta |
Golden-spotted ground-dove | Metriopelia aymara | 11+ at LP |
Bare-eyed ground-dove | Metriopelia morenoi | H to AP (3), above TV (20+) |
Bare-faced ground-dove | Metriopelia ceciliae | single in school playground at LQ |
White-tipped dove | Leptotila verreauxi | ASL, CNP, JVG |
White-faced dove | Leptotila megalura | 2 at ASL, CNP (regular) |
White-throated quail-dove | Geotrygon frenata | single at CNP (others heard) |
Golden-collared macaw | Primolius auricollis | 11 in total at CNP (2 dates) |
Mitred parakeet | Aratinga mitrata | ASL, CNP, yungas at base of CO |
Blue-crowned parakeet | Aratinga acuticaudata | P, JVG |
Burrowing parakeet | Cyanoliseus patagonus | QR, C, C to CH, LC |
Monk parakeet | Myiopsitta monachus | JVG |
Green-cheeked parakeet | Pyrrhura molinae | ASL, CNP |
Grey-hooded parakeet | Bolborhynchus aymara | 2 at Y, 6 above TV |
Mountain parakeet | Bolborhynchus aurifrons | LP, LL, H to AP |
Scaly-headed parrot | Pionus maximiliani | ASL |
Blue-fronted parrot | Amazona aestiva | total of four at JVG (two dates) |
Tucuman parrot | Amazona tucumana | 15+ on one date at CNP |
Dark-billed cuckoo | Coccyzus melacoryphus | single at JVG (surprisingly scarce) |
Smooth-billed ani | Crotophaga ani | small numbers in chaco region |
Guira cuckoo | Guira guira | widespread at lower elevations |
[Striped cuckoo] | Tapera naevia | [P], [JVG] |
Squirrel cuckoo | Piaya cayana | CNP |
Barn owl | Tyto alba | single near Jujuy pre-dawn |
[Buff-fronted owl] | Aegolius harrisii | single taped in but remained unseen at ASL |
Burrowing owl | Speotyto cunicularia | LP, LL, P, JVG |
[Tropical screech-owl] | Otus choliba | heard at Y |
Hoy's screech-owl | Otus hoyi | single at CNP and another at ASL |
[Ferruginous pygmy-owl] | Glaucidium brasilianum | [chaco] |
Yungas pygmy-owl | Glaucidium bolivianum | not sure if this is the correct Clements treatment for the bird we saw at CNP |
Spectacled owl | Pulsatrix perspicillata | single seen well and two others heard at CNP, [ASL] |
[Common potoo] | Nyctibius griseus | [ASL] |
Rufous nightjar | Caprimulgus rufus | ASL, [CNP] |
Little nightjar | Caprimulgus parvulus | P, JVG, [ASL] |
Scissor-tailed nightjar | Hydropsalis brasiliana | ASL, P |
[Lyre-tailed nightjar] | Uropsalis lyra | [ASL] |
White-collared swift | Streptoprocne zonaris | Y |
Rothschild's swift | Cypseloides rothschildi | 4 at Y |
Ashy-tailed swift | Chaetura andrei | Y, CNP |
Andean swift | Aeronautes andecolus | widespread in small numbers at high elevations except between C and CH where common. |
Planalto hermit | Phaethornis pretrei | 3 at CNP |
Red-tailed comet | Sappho sparganura | widespread at medium to high elevation |
Andean hillstar | Oreotrochilus estella | single female between AP and H |
Blue-tufted starthroat | Heliomaster furcifer | JVG |
Sparkling violet-ear | Colibri coruscans | H, LC |
Green violet-ear | Colibri thalassinus | single bird watched for some time in canopy at CNP was tentatively identified as this species |
Blue-capped puffleg | Eriocnemis glaucopoides | 4 at CNP, single below TV |
Speckled hummingbird | Adelomyia melanogenys | 3 at CNP |
Glittering-bellied emerald | Chlorostilbon aureoventris | ASL, Y, CNP, P, C to CH |
White-bellied hummingbird | Amazilia chionogaster | ASL, Y, CNP, P |
Slender-tailed woodstar | Microstilbon burmeisteri | single female at Y |
Giant hummingbird | Patagona gigas | H, H to AP, QR, LC |
Blue-crowned trogon | Trogon curucui | 5 at CNP |
Ringed kingfisher | Ceryle torquata | CNP, below TV |
Toco toucan | Ramphastos toco | seen on three dates at CNP |
Spot-backed puffbird | Nystalus maculatus | P, JVG |
Andean flicker | Colaptes rupicola | LL, LQ, above TV, CH to Salta |
Green-barred woodpecker | Colaptes melanochloros | JVG, C to CH, ASL |
Golden-green woodpecker | Piculus chrysochloros | CNP |
Golden-olive woodpecker | Piculus rubiginosus | CNP |
White-fronted woodpecker | Melanerpes cactorum | P, JVG, QR, C to CH |
Checkered woodpecker | Picoides mixtus | P, JVG, C to CH |
Dot-fronted woodpecker | Veniliornis frontalis | single female at CNP |
White-barred piculet | Picumnus cirratus | ASL, CNP |
Cream-backed woodpecker | Campephilus leucopogon | Y, near JVG |
Scimitar-billed woodcreeper | Drymornis bridgesii | single at JVG |
Narrow-billed woodcreeper | Lepidocolaptes angustirostris | ASL, EDC, CNP, P, JVG |
Olivaceous woodcreeper | Sittasomus griseicapillus | ASL, CNP |
Rufous-banded miner | Geositta rufipennis | widespread at higher elevations |
Common miner | Geositta cunicularia | AP marsh (1) |
Puna miner | Geositta punensis | LP, LL, AP to LQ |
Slender-billed miner | Geositta tenuirostris | single at LL, 2 above TV |
Buff-breasted earthcreeper | Upucerthia validirostris | single H to AP, 3 above TV |
Plain-breasted earthcreeper | Upucerthia jelskii | LL (2) |
Chaco earthcreeper | Upucerthia certhioides | P (1), JVG (2) |
Rock earthcreeper | Upucerthia andaecola | single AP to H, CO (3) |
White-winged cinclodes | Cinclodes atacamensis | H to LP, AP to LQ, above TV |
Bar-winged cinclodes | Cinclodes fuscus | H to AP, above TV |
Rufous hornero | Furnarius rufus | widespread at lower elevations |
Crested hornero | Furnarius cristatus | JVG |
Brown cacholote | Pseudoseisura lophotes | JVG |
White-throated cacholote | Pseudoseisura gutturalis | single at QR |
Stripe-crowned spinetail | Cranioleuca pyrrhophia | ASL, CNP, JVG |
Short-billed canastero | Asthenes baeri | P. [JVG], C |
Chestnut canastero | Asthenes steinbachi | 2 above TV |
Creamy-breasted canastero | Asthenes dorbignyi | H, LL, H to AP, C to CH, CH to Salta |
Cordilleran canastero | Asthenes modesta | south of AP, LL, above TV |
Cordoba canastero | Asthenes sclateri | 2 above TV |
Buff-browed spinetail | Synallaxis superciliosa | 2 at Y, CNP, CO. Lumped within Azara's spinetail S. azarae in Clements. |
Sooty-fronted spinetail | Synallaxis frontalis | CNP, ASL |
Pale-breasted spinetail | Synallaxis albescens | JVG |
Ochre-cheeked spinetail | Synallaxis scutata | CNP |
Brown-capped tit-spinetail | Leptasthenura fuliginiceps | 1 at km 78 (above TV), 1 at CO |
Plain-mantled tit-spinetail | Leptasthenura aegithaloides | widespread at higher elevations |
Rufous-fronted thornbird | Phacellodomus rufifrons | EDC, P |
Streak-fronted thornbird | Phacellodomus striaticeps | LP, LL, AP to H |
Little thornbird | Phacellodomus sibilatrix | JCG, C |
Spotted-breasted thornbird | Phacellodomus maculipectus | pair at Y on 21/10 |
Buff-browed foliage-gleaner | Syndactyla rufosuperciliata | ASL, Y, CNP, below TV |
Streaked xenops | Xenops rutilans | 2 on one date at CNP |
Giant antshrike | Batara cinerea | single male responded very well to tape playback at CNP |
Rufous-capped antshrike | Thamnophilus ruficapillus | Y, CNP, ASL |
Variable antshrike | Thamnophilus caerulescens | CNP, P, JVG |
Great antshrike | Taraba major | JVG (2 males) |
Stripe-backed antbird | Myrmorchilus strigilatus | single male at JVG |
White-throated antpitta | Grallaria albigula | 5 birds at CNP |
Crested gallito | Rhinocrypta lanceolata | JVG |
Sandy gallito | Teledromas fuscus | 2+ at C |
White-browed tapaculo | Scytalopus superciliaris | 1 below TV and 1 above |
Crested becard | Pachyramphus validus | single male at Y |
Grey-bellied shrike-tyrant | Agriornis microptera | 2 at LC |
Black-billed shrike-tyrant | Agriornis montana | LL, H to AP, LQ, above TV |
White monjita | Xolmis irupero | widespread at lower elevations |
Spot-billed ground-tyrant | Muscisaxicola maculirostris | LL, above TV |
Rufous-naped ground-tyrant | Muscisaxicola rufivertex | H to AP |
Andean negrito | Lessonia oreas | LP, AP marsh |
White-browed chat-tyrant | Ochthoeca leucophrys | 6+ above TV, CH to Salta |
D'Orbigny's chat-tyrant | Ochthoeca oenanthoides | H, LL, AP to LQ, AP to H, CH to Salta |
Spectacled tyrant | Hymenops perspicillatus | widespread wetland species |
Black phoebe | Sayornis nigricans | near Salta, CNP, below TV |
Cinereous tyrant | Knipolegus striaticeps | female at P |
Andean tyrant | Knipolegus signatus | Single female at QR. Split by some as K. cabanisi. |
White-winged black-tyrant | Knipolegus aterrimus | north of Jujuy, QR, C to CH, CH to Salta, ASL |
Sooty tyrannulet | Serpophaga nigricans | single on small stream en route to ASL on two dates |
White-crested tyrannulet | Serpophaga subcristata | ASL, Y, CNP |
White-bellied tyrannulet | Serpophaga munda | C to CH |
Cattle tyrant | Machetornis rixosus | scattered records throughout |
Yellow-browed tyrant | Satrapa icterophrys | ASL, P |
Great kiskadee | Pitangus sulphuratus | widespread at lower elevations |
Variegated flycatcher | Empidonomus varius | Y, CNP, P |
Streaked flycatcher | Myiodynastes maculatus | widespread in forested habitat |
Tropical kingbird | Tyrannus melancholicus | widespread |
Fork-tailed flycatcher | Tyrannus savana | widespread |
Crowned slaty-flycatcher | Empidonomus aurantioatrocristatus | P, JVG |
Rufous casiornis | Casiornis rufa | 2 birds along river at CNP |
Brown-crested flycatcher | Myiarchus tyrannulus | single at P |
Dusky-capped flycatcher | Myiarchus tuberculifer | Y, ASL, CNP |
Smoke-colored pewee | Contopus fumigatus | Y (1), CNP (2) |
Scrub flycatcher | Sublegatus modestus | JVG |
Streak-throated bush-tyrant | Myiotheretes striaticollis | Y (1) |
Cliff flycatcher | Hirundinea ferruginea | single en route to JVG, common between C and CH |
Cinnamon flycatcher | Pyrrhomyias cinnamomea | CNP, below TV |
Bran-colored flycatcher | Myiophobus fasciatus | north of Yala, JVG, ASL |
Euler's flycatcher | Lathrotriccus euleri | 2 at CNP |
Ochre-faced tody-flycatcher | Todirostrum plumbeiceps | CNP |
Pearly-vented tody-tyrant | Hemitriccus margaritaceiventer | JVG |
Mottle-cheeked tyrannulet | Phylloscartes ventralis | ASL, CNP, below TV |
Tawny-crowned pygmy-tyrant | Euscarthmus meloryphus | P, JVG |
Vermilion flycatcher | Pyrocephalus rubinus | 2 at lake north of Salta |
Greater wagtail-tyrant | Stigmatura budytoides | P, JVG, C |
Yellow-billed tit-tyrant | Anairetes flavirostris | north of H, LC |
Tufted tit-tyrant | Anairetes parulus | single at EDC |
White-throated tyrannulet | Mecocerculus leucophrys | ASL, Y, CNP, below TV |
Highland elaenia | Elaenia obscura | ASL, Y, CNP, below TV |
Large elaenia | Elaenia spectabilis | P, JVG |
Slaty elaenia | Elaenia strepera | frequently encountered at CNP |
White-crested elaenia | Elaenia albiceps | near ASL, EDC |
Small-billed elaenia | Elaenia parvirostris | ASL, JVG, below TV |
Grey elaenia | Myiopagis caniceps | CNP |
Mouse-colored tyrannulet | Phaeomyias murina | CO |
Southern beardless-tyrannulet | Camptostoma obsoletum | JVG |
Sclater's tyrannulet | Phyllomyias sclateri | CNP, below TV |
White-tipped plantcutter | Phytotoma rutila | JVG, C to CH, CH to Salta |
Barn swallow | Hirundo rustica | widespread |
Southern martin | Progne elegans | CNP, C to CH |
Brown-chested martin | Phaeoprogne tapera | EDC, CNP, P |
White-rumped swallow | Tachycineta leucorrhoa | EDC, JVG |
Blue-and-white swallow | Notiochelidon cyanoleuca | Y, H, TV to C |
Tawny-headed swallow | Stelgidopteryx fucata | EDC, CNP, C to CH |
Plush-crested jay | Cyanocorax chrysops | widespread in forested habitat |
Rufous-throated dipper | Cinclus schulzi | single at Y on 19/10 |
Grass wren | Cistothorus platensis | CH |
House wren | Troglodytes aedon | widespread |
Mountain wren | Troglodytes solstitialis | ASL, CNP, below TV |
Brown-backed mockingbird | Mimus dorsalis | H, LQ, AP to H |
Patagonian mockingbird | Mimus patagonicus | H, H to AP, TV to C, CH to Salta |
Swainson`s thrush | Catharus ustulatus | ASL, CNP |
Creamy-bellied thrush | Turdus amaurochalinus | chaco |
Rufous-bellied thrush | Turdus rufiventris | ASL, CNP |
White-necked thrush | Turdus albicollis | single in fruiting tree along entrance road at CNP |
Andean slaty thrush | Turdus nigriceps | CNP (common)), below TV |
Chiguanco thrush | Turdus chiguanco | widespread in Andes |
Glossy-black thrush | Turdus serranus | CNP |
Short-billed pipit | Anthus furcatus | 2 at LP, AP marsh |
Correndera pipit | Anthus correndera | lake near TV |
Hellmayr's pipit | Anthus hellmayri | above TV, top of CO |
Masked gnatcatcher | Polioptila dumicola | P, JVG |
Red-eyed vireo | Vireo olivaceus | Y, CNP, JVG |
Rufous-browed peppershrike | Cyclarhis gujanensis | ASL, CNP, P |
Two-banded warbler | Basileuterus bivittatus | ASL, CNP |
Pale-legged warbler | Basileuterus signatus | CNP |
Brown-capped redstart | Myioborus brunniceps | ASL, Y, CNP, below TV, CO |
Tropical parula | Parula pitiayumi | ASL, Y, CNP, JVG, CO |
Masked yellowthroat | Geothlypis aequinoctialis | single near JVG |
Chestnut-vented conebill | Conirostrum speciosum | CNP (2) |
Purple-throated euphonia | Euphonia chlorotica | CNP |
Guira tanager | Hemithraupis guira | CNP (1 male) |
Common bush-tanager | Chlorospingus ophthalmicus | ASL, Y, CNP, below TV |
Sayaca tanager | Thraupis sayaca | ASL, Y CNP, P, JVG, below TV, CO |
Fawn-breasted tanager | Pipraeidea melanonota | ASL, CNP |
Hepatic tanager | Piranga flava | EDC, CNP |
Blue-and-yellow tanager | Thraupis bonariensis | ASL, Y, P, JVG, below TV |
Rust-and-yellow tanager | Thlypopsis ruficeps | CNP, below TV |
Orange-headed tanager | Thlypopsis sordida | ASL, CNP |
Golden-billed saltator | Saltator aurantiirostris | ASL, Y, H to AP, P, JVG, below TV |
Rufous-bellied saltator | Saltator rufiventris | single in quebrada in CO |
Greyish saltator | Saltator coerulescens | north of Salta, EDC, CNP |
Red-crested cardinal | Paroaria coronata | JVG |
Black-backed grosbeak | Pheucticus aureoventris | ASL, Y, CNP (scarce), JVG (1) |
Saffron-billed sparrow | Arremon flavirostris | ASL, CNP |
Stripe-headed brush-finch | Alapetes torquatus | ASL, CNP |
Fulvous-headed brush-finch | Alapetes fulviceps | Y, ASL, CNP |
Yellow-striped brush-finch | Alapetes citrinellus | 2 birds responded well to pishing below TV |
Ultramarine grosbeak | Cyanocompsa brissonii | ASL, P, JVG |
Blue-black grassquit | Volatinia jacarina | CNP |
Dull-colored grassquit | Tiaris obscura | ASL |
Band-tailed seedeater | Catamenia analis | north of Salta, above TV, C to CH |
Plain-colored seedeater | Catamenia inornata | Y, H to AP, LL, TV to C |
Common diuca-finch | Diuca diuca | 2 birds in LQ, 30+ LC |
Saffron finch | Sicalis flaveola | widespread at lower elevations |
Bright-rumped yellow-finch | Sicalis uropygialis | AP (centre), AP to LQ |
Puna yellow-finch | Sicalis lutea | H to AP, LL, AP to LQ |
Greenish yellow-finch | Sicalis olivascens | H, H to AP, LL, AP to LQ, C to CH, Ch to Salta |
Citron-headed yellow-finch | Sicalis luteocephala | 9+ in LQ schoolyard |
Band-tailed sierra-finch | Phrygilus alaudinus | LL, 20+ AP to LQ, TV to C |
Plumbeous sierra-finch | Phrygilus unicolor | above TV |
Ash-breasted sierra-finch | Phrygilus plebejus | H to AP, LL, CH to Salta |
Grey-hooded sierra-finch | Phrygilus gayi | TV to C, QR, C to CH, CH to Salta |
Black-hooded sierra-finch | Phrygilus atriceps | H, H to AP, LL |
Mourning sierra-finch | Phrygilus fruticeti | H, H to AP, LL, CH to Salta |
Red-crested finch | Coryphospingus cucullatus | ASL, CNP, P, JVG |
Stripe-capped sparrow | Aimophila strigiceps | EDC, JVG, ASL |
Rufous-collared sparrow | Zonotrichia capensis | ubiquitous, occurring at all elevations |
Tucuman mountain-finch | Poospiza baeri | 2 at km 78 (TV) and 1 at CO |
Cinnamon warbling-finch | Poospiza ornata | 1 at C |
Rusty-browed warbling-finch | Poospiza erythrophrys | ASL, Y |
Rufous-sided warbling-finch | Poospiza hypochondria | 1 just north of Yala in floodplain thornforest, 8 outside CH |
Black-and-chestnut warbling-finch | Poospiza whitii | EDC |
Ringed warbling-finch | Poospiza torquata | TV to C, C to CH |
Black-capped warbling-finch | Poospiza melanoleuca | CNP, P, JVG |
Many-colored chaco-finch | Saltatricula multicolor | JVG, C |
Great pampa-finch | Embernagra platensis | ASL, Y, H, P, JVG, C to CH |
Black siskin | Carduelis atrata | 8+ between H and AP |
Hooded siskin | Carduelis magellanica | widespread |
Thick-billed siskin | Carduelis crassirostris | 4+ between H and AP |
Crested oropendola | Psarocolius decumanus | Y (1), CNP |
Golden-winged cacique | Cacicus chrysopterus | ASL, Y, CNP |
Solitary cacique | Cacicus solitarius | 3 at JVG |
Screaming cowbird | Molothrus rufoaxillaris | JVG |
Shiny cowbird | Molothrus bonariensis | widespread |
Bay-winged cowbird | Molothrus badius | lake north of Salta, H to AP |
Chestnut-capped blackbird | Agelaius ruficapillus | colony in small roadside wetland JVG to TV |
Yellow-winged blackbird | Agelaius thilius | C to CH |
Long-tailed meadowlark | Sturnella loyca | north of Yala, C to CH. Clements probably includes this race within Peruvian meadowlark S. bellicosa? |
House sparrow | Passer domesticus | present in urban areas |
Phil Benstead is a freelance birder based in the UK and is available to lead tours to Northern Argentina.
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