Why birding in Colombia is a must when visiting this country

Birding in Colombia: the best areas to start

1. Minca, Magdalena

It is just one hour away from Santa Marta, at the foothills of the Sierra Nevada National Park. In the region, there are around 635 bird species, making up 35% of the total population. This means the chances of spotting different species of hummingbirds, toucans, macaws, sparrows, and flycatchers are very high. Certainly, a great place for pros and beginners alike. While in the Caribbean, we recommend checking the paradisiacal Colombian islands around Cartagena, just a few hours from Minca.

2. Antioquia

Located in the western Andes, this department is a perfect destination for hiking in Colombia. Along the trails, you will find a huge array of birds, thanks to the different altitudes (temps between 70 and 90°F), that will satisfy all levels of birders who are birding in Colombia. Jardín is a little town that gets a lot of attention for the famous Andean cock-of-the-rock, the most iconic species in South America. But there are more than 200 groups in the area, according to the Cotinga app.

Parque Arví, just one hour away from Medellín, offers tours of this kind. The park has two sighting towers that will take you up 30 feet to observe the blackburnian warbler, the Amazonian motmot, the masked trogon, the red-bellied grackle, and 65 more species.

3. Cauca

This southern department ranked third in the country, with 533 species, in the last edition of Global Big Day. A little over two hours from Popayán, there is the Puracé National Park, home to the Andean condor. There are also groups of hummingbirds, ducks, blue-gray tanagers, and others. In contrast with the other zones, the temperatures here are low due to the high altitudes of the peaks.

4. Coffee Zone

If you are looking for endemic species, the Otún Quimbaya Flora and Fauna Sanctuary, just outside Pereira, will bring you the Cauca guan. Although it was once believed to be extinct, today it is easy to find it in this area. There is also a chance that you will see toucans, parrots, torrent ducks, and flycatchers while birding in Colombia.

And not too far from Manizales, you will find the Tinamú Birding Natural Reserve. Trails are designed for sighting 208 resident, 33 migratory, 3 endemic, and 2 semi-endemic bird species, divided into 47 different families. You will also enjoy beautiful landscapes and warm weather, the reason why so many weddings in Colombia take place here.

What do you need to go birding in Colombia?

Tours usually start very early in the morning when birds are more active. Be prepared to wake up before sunrise (5 a.m.).

Binoculars, a camera (I guess your phone will do), and a notebook are the basic equipment you need to register all the animals you see along the trails.

You can also use guides or apps. Silence during the activity is of primary importance so as not to scare the birds.

5 endemic species to look for while birding in Colombia

There are 80 endemic species, but these are the rarest to spot.

1. Rufous-fronted parakeet (Bolborhynchus ferrugineifrons). It lives in the highest and coldest peaks of the central mountain range.

2. Multicolored tanager (Chlorochrysa nitidissima). You can find it in mountain forests at an altitude below 5,000 feet, on the central and western parts of the mountain range.

3. Chiribiquete Emerald (Chlorostilbon olivaresi). This is a hummingbird species that has only been spotted by 10 people while birding in Colombia. It is native to the Amazon region.

4. Apolinar’s wren (Cistothorus apolinari). It was a common visitor to Bogotá’s savanna. Now, you will find it more commonly in the moors of Cundinamarca and Boyacá.

5. Dusky starfrontlet (Coeligena orina). Its green bright feathers make it stand out. According to the Princeton guide, this bird lives in the eastern part of Las Orquídeas National Park.