NORTHERN PERU TOUR REPORT 2023

1 - 20 August 2023

by Leo Garrigues

Once again, we had a very successful Northern Peru trip, where we managed to record at least 718 species, along with 7 potential future splits. Some of the subspecies that we looked for on last year’s tour are now full species, like the Marañon and Tumbesian Tyrannulets, or the Mouse-grey Flycatcher. And I have to admit that there were two more recent splits that I wasn’t aware of at the time, the Streaked Dacnis (a recent split from Tik-like Dacnis) and the new Peruvian endemic the Streak-crowned Mountain Tanager (split from Buff-breasted Mountain Tanager). Northern Peru is a challenging tour at times, but it’s really enjoyable and entertaining, as you continuously and dramatically change habitats, going from desert-like coastal dunes to Amazonian foothills, passing through higher mountains, intermontane valleys, and outlying ridges that host all kind of specialties. The quality of birds that you see on this tour is hard to beat, and you have the chance to see some of the most iconic birds of South America, such as the Marvelous Spatuletail, the formerly mythical Long-whiskered Owlet, and the colourful Scarlet-banded Barbet that is the species on the cover of the Birds of Peru, just to mention some exquisite birds that we saw in this tour.

The tour is full of endemics and major specialties, and we managed to find practically all of our main targets, including 49 Peruvian endemic species. Of course, we missed certain birds and not everyone managed to see some of the trickiest ones, but those were generally species that are possible to be seen on other tours. Just to mention some of the highlights besides the previous ones, I will say that managing to show the Cordillera Azul Antbird to the whole group was a major achievement, also our success with the Antpittas where we got to see 8 different species that included the very restricted endemic Pale-billed, Rusty-tinged, Cajamarca, Chestnut, Chachapoyas and Ochre-fronted Antpittas, as well as the tricky Undulated and Rusty-breasted Antpittas, that are not endemics but they are hard to see. Three more species were heard only. Some interesting Tapaculos were seen nicely like the Neblina, Large-footed, Unicolored, Utcubamba and Rufous-vented Tapaculos, along with others that we just heard. Another rare sighting of the tour was White-chinned Swift, which is not a regular species in Peru, and we saw at least 3 individuals with photos on the road to Plataforma. A Grey-headed Antbird female seen at Abra Porculla was another major surprise and totally unexpected on this itinerary. The rare and secretive Peruvian Treehunter gave us nice and prolonged views at Leymebamba. And we managed to again see on this tour the restricted and localized Ash-throated Antwren. Other goodies seen during the tour included the secretive Little and Tataupa Tinamous, the endemic White-winged Guan, the uncommon Rufous-breasted Wood Quail, great views of the crepuscular Rufous-bellied Nighthawk, many sightings of Anthony’s Nightjar, and the amazing experience of seeing the Oilbird cave with birds flying around making weird sounds. On this tour we managed to record 69 species of Hummingbirds including some fancy ones like the Royal Sunangel, Rufous-crested Coquette, the restricted endemic Grey-bellied Comet, the rare Purple-backed Thornbill, the endemic Coppery and Black Metaltails, the undescribed subspecies from Alto Mayo of Greenish Puffleg, the exquisite Rainbow Starfrontlet, the colourful Gould’s Jewelfront, the biggest of all the hummingbirds Giant Hummingbird, the fancy male of Peruvian Sheartail, the uncommon endemic Tumbes Hummingbird, or the rare Napo Sabrewing, just to mention a few of them.
Big numbers of Peruvian Terns (200+) were another highlight, as well seeing the uncommon (for Peru) South American Tern, the prehistoric-looking Hoatzin, the rare Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle and White-rumped Hawk were also nice surprises. On this tour we managed to record 17 species of Owls with good views of Yungas and Pacific Pygmy Owl, Striped, Band-bellied, and Rufous-banded Owls, as well the White-throated, Koepcke’s, Cinnamon and Foothill Screech Owls, as well as both of the subspecies of West Peruvian Screech Owl that showed really well (Peruvian and Marañon Screech Owl). We had good views of Golden-headed and Crested Quetzal, and Ecuadorian Trogon. The uncommon Chestnut-tipped Toucanet and Curl-crested Aracari, and the colourful Grey-breasted Mountain Toucan were some of the 10 different species of Toucans that we saw on the trip. During the tour, we saw 17 different species of Woodpeckers that included the endemic Speckle-chested Piculet, Ecuadorian Piculet, the endemic Black-necked Woodpecker, as well the Guayaquil and Red-necked Woodpeckers. Yellow-faced Parrotlet was another important endemic. The rare Grey-throated Leaftosser, the secretive Henna-hooded and Rufous-necked Foliage-gleaners, the endemic Chestnut-backed Thornbird, the endemic subspecies of White-chinned Thistletail [peruviana], the rare and local Equatorial Greytail, the localized endemic Russet-mantled Softail, the secretive Marañon Spinetail, the restricted Chinchipe Spinetail, and the Near Threatened endemic Great Spinetail were some of the Furnariids seen. As a proof of how diverse this tour was, we managed to record this time 108 species of the Tyrannidae family which included good views of Wing-barred Piprites, rare and local White-fronted Tyrannulet, the Unstreaked Tit-Tyrant, Mishana Tyrannulet, the rare and localized Cinnamon-breasted Tody-Tyrant, the endemic Lulu’s Tody Flycatcher, the rare Fulvous-breasted Flatbill, the local Yellow-throated Spadebill, the rare Blackish Pewee, the Tumbes Tyrant, Jelski’s and Piura Chat-Tyrant, and the endemic Rufous Flycatcher. A good repertory of the Cotingidae family included the endemic Peruvian Plantcutter, Scarlet-breasted and the endemic Masked Fruiteater, the local Grey-tailed Piha, and the Andean Cock-of-the-rock. We also recorded very interesting species of Manakins like the very restricted endemic Painted Manakin, as well the rare Jet Manakin, also great views of Yungas, Blue-rumped and Golden-headed Manakins. The rare Foothill Schiffornis, the localized Tumbes Swallow, the endemic subspecies of Plain-tailed Wren [schulenbergi], the restricted Bar-winged Wood-Wren, good views of Speckled Nightingale-Thrush, both subspecies of Black-capped Sparrows, the near-endemic White-headed Brushfinch,
the rare and local Pale-eyed Blackbird, excellent views of White-capped Tanager, good views of the endemic Grey-winged, Buff-bridled and Little Inca Finches, the uncommon Short-billed Honeycreeper, the restricted Black-cowled Saltator, the easy-to-see but endemic Huallaga Tanager, the uncommon Vermilion Tanager, the fancy endemic Yellow-Scarfed Tanager, the rare and local Dotted Tanager, or other special tanagers like the Straw-backed and Blue-browed Tanager were some other species of interest that were seen during the trip.
Some mammals of interest seen during the trip included the Sechuran Fox, Eastern Lowland Olingo, Tayra, Saddle-backed Tamarin, Andean Night Monkey, the Critically Endangered San Martin Titi Monkey and Peruvian Yellow-tailed Monkey, and the rare Amazon Dwarf Squirrel that was a write-in for the tour.

Our tour started at the airport of Chiclayo, where we met our amazing local crew. Carlos (our local expert guide), Mario (our driver) and Mari (our chef) were waiting for our early morning flight from Lima, and without complications as soon as we packed our stuff in our vehicle, we were ready to go to our first birding site.
From the parking lot of the airport, we got our first West Peruvian Dove and Long-tailed Mockingbird, also our first White-browed Gnatcatcher was seen in the few trees that were in the area. Once we left the Chiclayo city, we headed up to Bosque de Rafán, but we did some stops on the way to check some interesting birds from the edge of the highway like the Tawny-throated Dotterel that we got to see several individuals. While we were checking for the Dotterels, we noticed big flocks of birds moving true the fields, and we noticed that they were Sulphur-throated Finches, and at least more than a thousand individuals were moving on those fields. Our first Variable Hawk and Peruvian Thick-Knee were seen before getting to Rafán, as well.
Once at Bosque de Rafán, it didn’t take long to find the Peruvian Plantcutter and we got nice views of a male and female together. Other specialties of the place were the Rufous Flycatcher and the Cinereous Finch, which both showed nicely. Other birds at Rafán included the Lesser Nighthawk, Amazilia Hummingbird, Croaking Ground Dove, White-tipped Dove, Pearl Kite, Burrowing Owl, Scarlet-backed Woodpecker, Pacific Parrotlet, Coastal Miner, Pacific Hornero, Southern Beardless Tyrannulet, Tumbesian Tyrannulet, Fasciated Wren, Superciliated Wren, White-browed Gnatcatcher, Streaked Saltator [immaculatus] and Drab Seedeater.
After our first field breakfast of the trip, we continued to check some birds on the coast at Playa Santa Rosa. A combination of ocean birds, shorebirds, water birds, and bird of desertic coastal plains was the menu of the place. Perhaps we witnessed the effects of El Niño, where we noticed some dead birds along the coast that included several Peruvian Boobies, a possible Sooty Shearwater, a recently dead South American Sea Lion, and at least two skeletons of Dolphins.
Even so, the birding session was quite interesting where we managed to see big numbers of Peruvian Terns (at least 200 individuals resting on the beach), other notable water birds included Cinnamon Teal, White-cheeked Pintail, American Oystercatcher, Wilson’s Phalarope, Baird’s, Least and Pectoral Sandpipers, Black Skimmer, Grey-headed, Grey, Belcher’s and Kelp Gull, Gull-billed, Elegant, South American, Common and Inca Terns, Peruvian Booby, Puna Ibis and Peruvian Pelican. Some of the non-water birds were the Harris’s Hawk, American Kestrel, Many-colored Rush Tyrant and the Peruvian Pipit.
After lunch we continued to the famous Chaparrí Reserve, but before we checked the Tinajones Lake and surrounding areas where we saw Common Gallinule, Black-crowned Night Heron, Cocoi Heron, Burrowing Owl, Golden-Olive Woodpecker, Vermillion Flycatcher and more than 100 individuals of Chestnut-collared Swallows. On the entrance road to Chaparrí we saw several Anthony’s Nightjars this time.
After dinner we did a brief owling session around the rooms but the West Peruvian Screech Owl [roboratus] just answered and refused to show. We saw some roosting birds like White-tailed Jay and Baird’s Flycatcher, and Sechuran Foxes, at least.

After an early breakfast we left Chaparrí to spend our morning at Casupe Road. It was a foggy morning that made the birding a bit more challenging for some moments, but on the other hand kept the birding activity until later hours of the morning, so it wasn’t bad after all. Some of the most remarkable birds were the White-winged Guan, which wasn’t as easy to see this time at Chaparrí, the only sight of Tumbes Hummingbird of the tour, lots of Ochre-bellied Dove vocalizing (some were lucky enough to see brief looks), Zone-tailed Hawk which is a rare bird in Peru (new Peruvian bird for me actually), Ecuadorian Trogon and the rare and local Grey-breasted Flycatcher. Of course there were other species of interest that we saw like the Grey-chinned Hermit [porcullae], excellent views of Ecuadorian Piculet, Guayaquil Woodpecker, Red-masked Parakeet, Rufous-necked and Henna-hooded Foliage-gleaners showed well after all, Chapman’s Antshrike, Pacific Elaenia, Baird’s and Sooty-crowned Flycatchers, White-tailed Jay, Fasciated and Speckle-breasted Wrens [paucimaculatus], Plumbeous-backed Thrush, Black-capped Sparrow [nominate], White-winged Brushfinch, White-edged Oriole, Grey-and-gold and Three-banded Warbler, Tooth-billed Tanager and Golden Grosbeak. Despite that some species were more quiet and harder than usual we managed a good repertory of birds at Casupe Road.
After a short break after lunch, we birded the trails of Chaparrí. The fact of been a year influenced by El Niño phenomenon the forest was very green with lots of foliage on the trees and scrubs, and some birds were harder than usual and gave us some extra work. Last year on the 2022 northern Peru tour was the opposite situation, where at the moment that we visited Chaparrí the area had a drought of 2 years, and many of the birds concentrated in the areas around the lodge. This time the birds spread more on the reserve, but at the end we saw everything that we needed to see and some other unexpected species as well as Snow-throated Kingbird or Black-and-white Becard. Our session at Chaparrí produced brief looks of White-winged Guans (who were nesting at the moment), Short-tailed Woodstar, a pair of Ochre-bellied Doves that was flushed, an Aplomado Falcon taking a dust bath was the main show of the afternoon, Streak-headed Woodcreeper, a pair of Necklaced Spinetails (the only ones of the tour), the nominate form of Collared Antshrike, excellent views of Elegant Crescentchest in the open, Fulvous-crowned Scrub Tyrant, Grey-and-white Tyrannulet, Mouse Grey Flycatcher, Tumbes Pewee, Sooty-crowned Flycatcher, White-tailed Jay, Superciliated Wren, Tumbes Sparrow, White-headed Brushfinch, Peruvian Meadowlark and Parrot-billed Seedeater.
Thanks to the local knowledge of Ismael, our local guide in Chaparrí, we got great views of a single individual of Tumbes Tyrant, otherwise we could easily have missed it this time.
During the owling session, we got great views of the West Peruvian Screech-Owl, also we heard the Common Potoo. A sleeping Green Iguana was another creature that we saw, as well.

Our last morning at Chaparrí we tried for White-winged Guans meanwhile our staff was packing stuff in the car but no signs of them around, despite that some guans were calling before dawn around the lodge. We still needed to see certain species on the scrubby areas along the entrance road so we continued our way to look for those birds. We added some species like the Short-tailed Field Tyrant, Collared Warbling Finch, Parrot-billed and Drab Seedeaters, and some Sulphur-throated Finches that showed briefly. Once outside of Chaparrí, we looked again for Chestnut-collared Swallows and we improved our previous views. Some Scrub Blackbirds, Blue-grey Tanagers, Saffron Finches and many West Peruvian Doves were seen on our way to Bosque Pomac. Once at Bosque Pomac it didn’t take long to find the Tumbes Swallows and this time, we got stunning views. Other birds at Bosque Pomac were the Peruvian Thick-knee, Variable Hawk, Pacific Pygmy Owl, Pacific Hornero and Rufous Flycatcher.
The plan of the afternoon was to visit the Quebrada Freolillo, but the rains of previous months damaged some sections of the road to the site and didn’t allow our vehicle to pass. We had to think on a new plan for our afternoon, so, at the end we decided to visit Abra Porculla would be the best birding option available, and it was a good call after all. Our session at Abra Porculla produced our only Piura Chat Tyrant and Bay-crowned Brushfinch of the tour, as well a male Peruvian Sheartail with a full-grown tail. Other birds like Sparkling Violetear, Chapman’s Antshrike, Hooded Siskin, Black-crested Warbler and Rusty Flowerpiercer complemented our afternoon.

The following morning, we came back again to Abra Porculla, where we focused on the species that we still needed to see, but had some other unexpected surprises, too. The Black-cowled Saltator was possibly the main target of the morning and finally we got great views of a single bird. Good views of White-tipped Swifts were another important sighting, as well as more Peruvian Sheartails. A female Little Woodstar was one of the first surprises of the morning, as well the Grey-browed Brushfinch which gave us very good views in the open. But the main surprise of the morning was a female of Grey-headed Antbird that came out from the vegetation and several members of the group got good views. Unfortunately, it wasn’t interested in the playback and didn’t show up again. Possibly this individual was in search of a new territory and it was just passing by the area, but who knows. Other birds during our morning included Ecuadorian Piculet, Smoky-brown Woodpecker, Rufous-necked Foliage-gleaner, the local form of Line-cheeked Spinetail [palamblae], Chapman’s Antshrike, Dusky-capped Flycatcher, Plumbeous-backed Thrush, White-winged Brushfinch, Ash-breasted Sierra Finch and Silver-backed Tanager.
We did very well with the Tumbesian specialties, despite that it was a bit harder this time for “El Niño” influence, but we saw all the expected species that we had to see. So, it was time to focus on the Marañon specialties in the area of Jaén, where a new selection of birds was waiting for us. Our session this afternoon was very productive, where we managed to see one of the most difficult Marañon endemics, the Marañon Spinetail, which everyone managed to get good views of despite his shy behaviour. Other highlights of the afternoon included good views of Marañon Crescentchest and Chinchipe Spinetail, the local form of Northern Slaty Antshrike [leucogaster], and the nominate form of Speckle-breasted (Marañon) Wren. Other birds seen during the afternoon included the Marañon form of Andean Emerald [cyanocollis], Crimson-crested Woodpecker, Rufous-fronted Thornbird [peruvianus], Fulvous-crowned Scrub Tyrant, Yellow-cheeked Becard, Chivi Vireo, Yellow-tailed Oriole [taczanowskii], the local form of Streaked Saltator [peruvianus], Red Pileated Finch and Buff-bellied Tanager.
Our owling session produced excellent views of the nominate form of West Peruvian (Marañon) Screech Owl, a great way to wrap-up our excellent birding day.

The following morning at Jaen, we had a bit of rain during our morning but fortunately it wasn’t for long time. The best bird of the morning was the Tataupa Tinamou which everyone managed to see. The local form of Collared (Shumba) Antshrike was another main target who gave us some complications to see it, but finally it gave us nice views in the open. Other birds during our morning session were the Blue Ground Dove, Ecuadorian Ground (sadly just heard only), a group of Cordilleran Parakeet that flew over, Marañon Tyrannulet, Mouse Grey Flycatcher, Brown-crested Flycatcher, Inca Jay, Tropical (Marañon) Gnatcatcher, Purple-throated Euphonia and Drab Seedeater.
After we left Jaén we went to look for our first Inca Finch of the trip. The local stake out had some new houses around so we had to keep looking for suitable habitat and keep trying in the hot time of the day. Finally at some point we heard one from the car and we jumped out of the car right away. Very soon we managed to connect with a responsive couple of Little Inca Finches who gave us very good views. Other birds that we saw during our search of the Inca Finch were the Spot-throated Hummingbird, Pacific Pygmy Owl, Yellow-tailed Oriole and Golden Grosbeak.
After our Inca Finch quest in the desertic scrubby areas of the Marañon valley, we continued our drive to Pomacochas area. Driving by the margins of the Utcubamba River, we got to see two individuals of Fasciated Tiger Heron, besides that encounter we didn’t see much else. Dealing with construction projects in the roads on our route we got short in time and we decided to invest the last hours of daylight at the Pomacochas Lake. Here we aimed to see the Subtropical Doradito, but once again this one didn’t show up. We didn’t have success with Puna Snipes this time, seemed that the fields around the lake were a bit dry at the moment. At least we managed to see the local form of Rufous-capped Antshrike [jaczewskii] who has an isolated distribution in northern Peru. Plumbeous Rail also showed nicely, and few other birds like Azara’s Spinetail, Yellow-bellied Seedeater, Black-crested Warbler and some Grassland Yellow Finches.

After our early breakfast a big birding day was waiting for us, with a predawn owling session where we managed to see a White-throated Screech Owl. After that we started our steep hike to the Pale-billed Antpitta site. The ones who didn’t did the hike went to Huembo feeders meanwhile we did the San Lorenzo Ridge hike.
The weather was nice, but the birding activity was a bit slow on this occasion. Even so we succeed with our main mission, and we managed good views of one Pale-billed Antpitta. Once we got our main quarry, we could look more carefully on other birds, including another main specialties like the Russet-mantled Softail and the local form of Plain-tailed Wren [schulenbergi] with good views of both.
At the end of the morning, we had a nice list of birds, including many new species for the tour. Birds like Sickle-winged Guan, Rufous-capped Thornbill, Violet-throated Starfrontlet, Black-throated Toucanet, Mountain Caracara, Aplomado Falcon, Scaly-naped Amazon, Pearled Treerunner, White-banded Tyrannulet, Unstreaked Tit-Tyrant, Rufous-breasted Chat-Tyrant, Yellow-breasted Brushfinch, Yellow-billed Cacique, Citrine Warbler, White-browed Hemispingus, Blue-backed Conebill and Beryl-spangled Tanager were part of the morning repertory.
After lunch we went to Huembo feeders, where we spent some time hoping to connect with a male of a Marvelous Spatuletail with a full-grown tail. After a while, Mark spotted a male with a full tail in the vegetation but when the rest of the group tried to find the angle this one flew away. So, we decided to keep calm and just wait (at least we knew that a full tail male was around). A few minutes later we got excellent views of at least 2 different males with full tail, as well a male with incomplete tail, and one Spatuletail female as well. Other hummingbird species included Lesser and Sparkling Violetear, Purple-throated Sunangel, Bronzy Inca, Chestnut-breasted Coronet, Violet-fronted Brilliant, White-bellied Woodstar, Andean Emerald and White-bellied Hummingbird. Not bad at all!
After our hummingbird session we continued our way to Abra Patricia. Taking advantage of the good weather, we decided to do the hike for the Owlet on our first night. Interesting birds were seen on the way, but the best one was an Undulated Antpitta hopping in the middle of the trail. Other birds seen were the Collared Inca, Fawn-breasted Brilliant, Variable Antshrike, Inca Flycatcher, Lulu’s Tody-Flycatcher and a familiar group of White-capped Tanagers.
While we waited for dark, we heard Lyre-tailed Nightjar and Common Potoo. Once we tried for the Long-whiskered Owlet, one individual started to answer right away. We waited for it but it didn’t come closer and started to vocalize farther away. At the very end we managed to locate one bird, but back views of it, and not everyone got to see it. Quite bad views actually. Nobody said it was going to be easy…
After that we started our walk back to the lodge, a bit frustrating for miss the Owlet, but definitely a great birding day, and even better when we spotted the Undulated Antpitta sleeping in the trees on the way back of our hike. Once at the lodge some managed to see with me the Andean Night Monkey, another bonus of the day.

The following day started with the Antpittas morning show! The first one was the Chestnut Antpitta that didn’t take long to come once Roberto put the worms. Two individuals of Chestnut Antpitta were around actually. The second Antpitta show was the Rusty-tinged Antpitta. For this one we had to wait a bit longer, but finally one individual put in an appearance, ate the worms and disappeared in the woods. We kept waiting to see if came back, but it didn’t, at least it gave us nice views.
The rest of the morning we spent birding around the lodge and the forest trails of Abra Patricia. The highlights of the morning were to see the local and uncommon Jet Manakin, as well nice views of the endemic Yellow-scarfed Tanager, a real stunner!
Other birds of interest during our morning were the Emerald-bellied Puffleg, brief views of 3 Crested Quetzals, Strong-billed, Olive-backed and Montane Woodcreepers, Streak-headed Antbird, Rufous-vented Tapaculo, Black-capped, Peruvian and Mottle-cheeked Tyrannulet, Streak-necked, Olive Tufted and Pale-edged Flycatchers, Green-and-black Fruiteater, Andean Solitaire, Yellow-breasted Brushfinch, Bluish and White-sided Flowerpiercers and Silver-backed, Beryl-spangled and Flame-faced Tanagers.
For the afternoon session we divided the group, some did the hike to try the Long-whiskered Owlet again, and the ones who preferred to take it easy stayed with me and we birded areas around the lodge and just entrances of different trails. Some of the birds that the people who stayed with me saw were the Emerald-bellied Puffleg, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, good views of Rufous-headed Pygmy-Tyrant, Sierran Elaenia, close views of White-capped Tanagers and Grass-green, Saffron-crowned and Flame-faced Tanagers.
The group who went to the Owlet Trail, was leaded by Carlos and they got several interesting birds like the Geoffroy’s Daggerbill, Uniform Antshrike, the Undulated Antpitta (again), Lulu’s Tody-Flycatcher, Maroon-belted Chat-Tyrant, Northern Mountain Cacique, Grey-hooded Bush Tanager and Oleaginous Hemispingus.
This time the luck was with them, and they got to see the Long-whiskered Owlet quite quickly at close distance in an open branch. By 8:20 pm they were back in the lodge to tell us the good news.

An early breakfast for the next day in order to be at dawn at Fundo Alto Nieva. A particular stunted forest that hosts some interesting species like the rare and localized Cinnamon-breasted Tody-Tyrant that was seen quite well this time, by everyone. Another major target that we connect was the local endemic Ochre-fronted Antpitta that we managed to see well too, and with the Bar-winged Wood-Wren we got to see our main birds of the morning. We spent some time at the hummingbird feeders where we got to see Speckled Hummingbird, Long-tailed Sylph, Bronzy Inca, Chestnut-breasted Coronet, Peruvian Racket-tail, Fawn-breasted and Violet-fronted Brilliant, Little Woodstar and the controversial one which some authorities consider an undescribed subspecies of Greenish Puffleg from the Alto Mayo area, but others considered that is a Buff-thighed Puffleg [affinis], which in my personal opinion doesn’t look at all like that one, so the most logical taxonomic solution is label it as a Greenish Puffleg. In most of the cases the logic doesn’t apply in taxonomy, but we are not going to discuss this topic.
Part of the morning we invested looking for another major specialty of the area, the unique Royal Sunangel. In the first places that we tried we didn’t manage to see it but we got very good views of a White-rumped Hawk flying above us.
We decided to try in another site for the Sunangel and this time we got great views of a cracking male, unfortunately all my photo opportunities I got branches on the way but we got excellent views of it. Other birds that we saw during our morning were the Azara’s Spinetails with excellent views in the open, Torrent and Peruvian Tyrannulet, Chestnut-breasted Wren, Yellow-browed Sparrow, Subtropical Cacique, Three-striped Warbler, Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager and the Yellow-throated, Black-faced and Metallic-green Tanagers. Once we came back to Abra Patricia we got nice views of Black-throated Tody-Tyrant at the parking lot, as well good views as the Emerald-bellied Puffleg.
The afternoon the activity was a bit slow, but we got nice views of the Crested Quetzal, some members of the group got to see the Rufous Spinetail, and a Yungas Pygmy Owl that we just managed to hear, were the most exiting encounters in our afternoon session at Abra Patricia. We did our owling session outside Abra Patricia so we decided to get be in time at the right place. Initially we were hoping for the Long-whiskered Owlet for the members who haven’t see the bird yet. Meanwhile we tried for the Owlet we heard a Cinnamon Screech Owl, so at that moment we realized that the Owlet would not going to show up that night. With some selection of calls of the Cinnamon Screech Owl, we got one bird who came right away somewhere above us. Once we locate it, we managed excellent views of it. Time to go to our hotel for celebrate another successful day.
Well, this day was a “big day”, where we managed to record 153 species of birds during the whole day. The number of birds of the day wasn’t the priority but honestly, I thought that we saw more than that. It was a combination of birding during the morning at Abra Patricia, for then look birds at different lower elevations true the Alto Mayo Road and we finished in the eastern lowlands at the end of the day.

During the morning session at Abra Patricia we got an encounter with a Yungas Pygmy Owl, but not everyone managed to see it. A Tawny-bellied Hermit came to mob the Pygmy Owl, that was another species of interest. Other birds included the Ruddy Pigeon, White-throated Quail-Dove, Tyrannine Woodcreeper, Variable Antshrike, Green-and-black Fruiteater, Sepia-brown Wren, Glossy-black Thrush, Olivaceous Siskin and Russet-crowned Warbler.
As we start to descend the Alto Mayo Road we got nice views of a Bar-winged Wood-Wren. On the first mix-species flocks we got birds like that Ashy-throated Bush Tanager, Three-striped Warbler, Ornate and Inca Flycatcher and Orange-bellied Euphonia. Continuing our way down we connect with another mix-species flock with some interesting species like the Black-throated Toucanet, Olive-backed Woodcreeper, Rufous-rumped Antwren, Streak-necked Flycatcher, Fulvous-breasted Flatbill, Rufous-crested, Yellow-throated and Saffron-crowned Tanagers and Golden-eyed Flowerpiercer.
At lower elevations we got different species that included Speckled Chachalaca, Green Hermit, Violet-fronted Brilliant, Many-spotted Hummingbird, the rare and local Equatorial Greytail, Streaked Xenops, Rufescent Antshrike, Marble-faced Bristle Tyrant, Slaty-capped Flycatcher, Lemon-browed Flycatcher, Grey-mantled Wren, Bronze-green Euphonia, Tropical Parula, and Vermilion, Orange-eared (for some), Spotted, Blue-necked and Bay-headed Tanagers.
Also, we were lucky enough to see a group of at least 5 individuals of Peruvian Yellow-tailed Woolly Monkey, a Critical Endangered species with a very restricted range. Another mammal that we got to see very well along the Alto Mayo Road was a Tayra who crossed the road twice at a very close distance from our vehicle.
The afternoon session was a combination of Rioja with Moyobamba, where we add many more species for our day, and for our trip. Some of those species included Comb Duck, Brazilian Teal (a write-in for the tour), Masked Duck, Short-tailed Swift, Fork-tailed Palm Swift, Black-throated Mango, Little Cuckoo, Limpkin, Black-necked and White-backed Stilts, Snail Kite, Spot-breasted Woodpecker, White-winged Parakeet, Black Phoebe, Black-capped Donacobius, Orange-backed Troupial, Oriole Blackbird, Chestnut-bellied and Black-billed Seed Finch, Chestnut-bellied Seedeater, Black-faced and White-lined Tanagers and Red-capped Cardinal.
Two of the main specialties during our afternoon were the Pale-eyed Blackbird which is a rare and very local species in their distribution range. Definitely this area is one of the best places in the world to look for it. The other species of interest was the endemic Huallaga Tanager which is a common species in the area.
Despite our long day we didn’t arrive as late to Waqanki, so we had time to take a hot shower, and drink some beers to celebrate our birding day.

The following day a Rufous Nightjar was calling at the same time that our alarms were ringing. After an early breakfast we spent the morning at the trails of Quebrada Mishquiyacu, located in the mountain behind Waqanki. We focused our morning to find the Painted Manakin but this morning we didn’t even heard a single one. We decided to keep going up in the trail to reach the rocky habitat and see what we could find there. A few surprises appear like the Black-and-white Hawk Eagle, and a pair of Red-shouldered Tanager who flew by. Also, the local endemic Mishana Tyrannulet appear in that area. We came back to the Painted Manakin territories without a sign of them. At least we got to see the Northern Chestnut-tailed Antbird (Zimmer’s Antbird), the Black-throated Hermit and the White-bellied Pygmy Tyrant in those areas. The birding activity was quite slow but during the whole morning we managed to see Blue-tailed Emerald, Double-toothed Kite, Blue-crowned Trogon, Broad-billed Motmot, White-fronted Nunbird, Gilded Barbet, Lettered Aracari, Lafresnaye’s Piculet, Yellow-tufted and Little Woodpecker, Olivaceous and Plain-brown Woodcreepers, Fasciated Antshrike, Spot-winged Antbird, Small-billed Elaenia, White-lored Tyrannulet, White-vented, Thick-billed, Orange-bellied and White-lored Euphonias, Red-crowned Ant Tanager and Guira, Swallow, Huallaga, Yellow-bellied, Masked, Turquoise and Paradise Tanagers. Also, the Rufous-crested Coquette male visiting the verbena flowers of the gardens of Waqanki.
During the afternoon we visited Morro de Calzada, another reserve not too far away from Waqanki with chances to see the Painted Manakin as well other species of interest. On this occasion we managed to detect an area where a Painted Manakin was calling and after a while we managed that most of the group get to see it, until a point that the bird didn’t call again and we looked for other species. Carlos stayed with the ones who needed to see the Manakin or get a photo, but the bird didn’t show up again. It was a nice adult male by the way.
Some other birds during our visit to Morro de Calzada included the Grey-breasted Sabrewing, Bluish-fronted Jacamar,
Red-stained Woodpecker, White-eyed Parakeet, Inambari Woodcreeper, White-flanked Antwren, Peruvian Warbling Antbird, Wing-barred Piprites, Ochre-bellied Flycatcher, Short-tailed Pygmy Tyrant, Olive-faced Flatbill, and Green-and-gold and Turquoise Tanager.
Our night session produced some brief views of Rufous Nightjar, also we heard the Stygian Owl and saw the silhouette of the owl flying by. We also heard Tropical Screech Owl and Band-bellied Owl.

Another early breakfast to visit and interesting outlying ridge in the Moyobamba area, with some interesting species like the Endangered Ash-throated Antwren, who has a very restricted distribution range in northern Peru, with not many localities with good access. A significant section of forest of our stake out was recently cut down, but we managed to see a female Ash-throated Antwren, as well other interesting species like the rare Napo Sabrewing, the endemic Speckle-chested Piculet, the rare and inconspicuous White fronted Tyrannulet, or the endemic Masked Fruiteater who has one of the northernmost localities of its distribution range.
Other species at the site included the Plumbeous Pigeon, Montane Foliage-gleaner, Chestnut-crowned Gnateater, Olive-striped Flycatcher, White-throated Spadebill, Rufous-tailed and Long-tailed Tyrant, White-crowned Manakin, Golden-rumped Euphonia, Rusty Flowerpiercer, and Black-goggled, Spotted and Silver-backed Tanagers.
Before to leave Waqanki we visited the famous Waqanki hummingbird feeders, where we got an entertained session with chances to photography. The common ones included White-necked Jacobin, Grey-breasted Sabrewing, Fork-tailed Woodnymph, Golden-tailed Sapphire and the Rufous-crested Coquette. Other ones not as common or more sporadic were the Rufous-breasted, Great-billed and Black-throated Hermits, Brown and Sparkling Violetear, Long-billed Starthroat, Amethyst Woodstar, Sapphire-spangled Emerald and White-chinned Sapphire. A total of 14 different species were seen during our feeder session, not bad at all.
On route we stopped to see the Oilbird congregation on the canyons of a narrow river. At least 80 individuals we may saw, but for sure many other more out of view from our angle. After that we continued our way to Bellavista where we arrived at night-time.

Early next morning, we packed our stuff in 4×4 vehicles to do the drive to Plataforma, but with different stops along the way. Our first stop was on the margins of Huallaga River to see the prehistoric look Hoatzins. At this stop we also got the only Southern Mouse-colored Tyrannulet of the trip, a male White-winged Becard and some White-banded Swallows.
At the rice fields we got Black-bellied Whistling Ducks which are not as common in the area, actually a write-in for the tour. Other species of interest were the Spotted Rails, Southern Lapwing, Pied Plover, Riparian Parrotlets, and Giant Cowbird. Another particular species was the White-backed Stilt, who were more numerous than previous days in Rioja, most of the time joining groups of Black-necked Stilts.
Higher up along the Plataforma road we got a nice selection of species like King Vulture, Ferruginous Pygmy Owl, Yellow-billed Nunbird, Buff-throated Woodcreeper, Sepia-capped Flycatcher, Variegated Flycatcher, Coraya Wren, Epaulet Oriole, Magpie Tanager, Red-capped Cardinal and Opal-crowned Tanager. At higher altitudes as we approached to Plataforma we got to see the rare and local Blackish Pewee, as well our first Versicolored Barbet and Gould’s Jewelfront.
We arrived by mid-day to our accommodations in Plataforma, which are basic, but year by year they are improving. We had some time to settle in, rest a bit, and prepare for the hike of the afternoon.
The trail (or path) was much better than what it used to be, but always is a bit challenging. At the moment of our visit to Plataforma, didn’t rain much on the last weeks so that helped a lot, but the afternoon had intentions of rain for some moments. Our hike had steep sections as well tricky muddy areas at some points.
We were very lucky with the weather and with the birds too, were we experienced excellent views of the Scarlet-banded Barbet from really close distance, definitely one of the main highlights of the tour. Other birds who complemented our afternoon were the Collared Trogon, Bluish-fronted Jacamar, Chestnut-tipped Toucanet, Golden-olive Woodpecker, Montane and Lineated Foliage-gleaners, Ash-browed Spinetail, Scarlet-breasted Fruiteater, Jet and Blue-rumped Manakin, Foothill Schiffornis, Speckled Nightingale-Thrush, Yellow-throated Bush Tanager, and a nice combination of tanagers that included the White-winged, Blue-browed, and Golden-naped Tanagers.
During our owling session we managed to see the Napo Screech Owl and the Band-bellied Owl. As well a pair of Eastern Lowland Olingo feeding on a fig tree.

In the middle of the night started to rain heavily, and our easy hike for the next day became a bit muddy and slippery, luckily that rain wasn’t the day before.
The first part of the morning was misty, but with good activity. We managed to find a pair of Scarlet-Banded Barbets, also other interesting species like male and female Napo Sabrewing, Straw-backed and Blue-browed Tanagers were some of the goodies that we saw in the open sections of the road. As well the Scaled Pigeon, Versicolored Barbet, Lafresnaye’s Piculet, Strong-billed Woodcreeper, Streaked Xenops, Lined Antshrike, Blackish Antbird, White-crested Elaenia, Peruvian Tyrannulet, Olive-striped, Olive-chested and Euler’s Flycatcher, Yellow-olive Flatbill, Scarlet-breasted Fruiteater, Yungas Manakin, Chestnut-crowned Becard (a write-in for the tour), Thrush-like and Grey-mantled Wrens, Blue-naped Chlorophonia, Chestnut-capped Brushfinch, Crested Oropendola, Golden-collared Honeycreeper, and Spotted, Yellow-bellied and Golden-eared Tanagers.
Once we got in the forested areas the birding became more challenging and we focused to see some secretive species. The expectations to see the Cordillera Azul Antbird were low, according to Eugenio (our local guide at Plataforma) the bird wasn’t responsive to playback lately, but at least an individual (or a couple?) still live in that forested area. It was quite sad to see the area where we saw the Cordillera Azul Antbird the last year is gone now, it’s all cut down, in the process to become a new coffee area (most likely).
The birds that we got in this new forested area were the Grey-throated Leaftosser, Tschudi’s Woodcreeper,
Short-tailed Antthrush, Chestnut-crowned Gnateater, an adult and young Yellow-throated Spadebills. Two rare species that we just managed to hear were the Buff-throated Tody-Tyrant and Subtropical Pygmy Owl. Despite the intensive deforestation in Plataforma on the last years, the place still has a great selection of special birds.
At some point we connected with one Cordillera Azul Antbird who was singing, so we designed a strategy that allowed to show the bird to each member of the group. At the end the last person who still needed to see it, stayed with me and finally everyone managed to see it, and some record photos as well. The other ones managed to escape with a 4×4 vehicle to the accommodations, but Charles and I we experienced a refreshing tropical rain on our way back to our place.
The afternoon birding session we did a more relaxed birding session with a little bit of rain left, but even so we managed to see more interesting birds like localized Grey-tailed Piha, the fancy Red-necked Woodpecker, or the local form of Rufous-rumped Foliage-gleaner [ochrogaster] from the Andes of Peru and Bolivia who has a very different coloration than the other Amazonian subspecies. Other birds seen during the afternoon included the Violet-headed Hummingbird, Buff-fronted Foliage-gleaner, Slaty Antwren, Plain Antvireo, Greyish Mourner, Blue-rumped Manakin, Slaty-capped Shrike-Vireo, Brown-capped Vireo, Blue-napped Chlorophonia, Bronze-green Euphonia, Buff-throated Saltator and Magpie Tanager. Another successful birding day, indeed!

The following day we left Plataforma after breakfast, and we birded on the way to Bellavista. It was a rainy morning so the intensity of the rain was the one who decided where to stop or continue during our drive.
First stop in the upper section of the road we got to see Versicolored Barbet, Tschudi’s Woodcreeper, Yellow-breasted Antwren, Blue-rumped Manakin, Yellow-throated Bush Tanager and Golden-collared Honeycreeper among others. The intensity of the rain increased so we move on.
On different random stops we managed to see Scaled Pigeon, Grey-headed Kite, Crane Hawk, Channel-billed and White-throated Toucans, Sooty-headed, Mishana Tyrannulet, Crowned Slaty Flycatcher, Coraya Wren and Olive Oropendola. But the best bird of the day (and maybe one of the best species for the trip) was to see at least 3 individuals of White-chinned Swift joining a group of Chestnut-collared and White-collared Swift. Luckily, we got some photos to document our sightings.
Once we got in the rice fields areas we kept trying for Paint-billed Crake, but it didn’t appear in this tour. When we looked for the Crake we improved our views of Spotted Rails, including views of a pair mating in front of the group. We also got to see a Plain-breasted Ground-Dove, as well as other species seen two days before. It was time to move on to have enough time at Quebrada Upaquihua.
After lunch we continued to Quebrada Upaquihua, a dry forest area located in the Huallaga Valley, that host some interesting Amazonian birds and mammal species, such as the Northern Slaty Antshrike (Huallaga S A) or the local Huallaga subspecies of White-browed Antbird [kenigorum], as well other localized Amazonian species (for Peru) like the Planalto Hermit and Chattering Gnatwren, that everyone got to see it well and the Sulphur-bellied Tyrant Manakin that we heard, but only leaders and one person where able to see it. Another main highlight from our visit was to get superb views of 3 individuals of the San Martin Titi Monkey a very localized and Critically Endangered species. Other species during our visit included Blue-tailed Emerald, Hook-billed Kite, Lafresnaye’s Piculet, Plain-crowned Spinetail, Stripe-chested and White-flanked Antwren, Southern Chestnut-tailed Antbird, Forest Elaenia, Mishana Tyrannulet, Olive-faced Flatbill and White-shouldered Tanager. A brief check from a look out point to the Huallaga River produced a Comb Duck, Brazilian Teal (25 ind), Boat-billed Heron (another write-in for the tour), Pied Plover, Black Skimmer and huge flocks of Blue-and-white Swallows (+300). After that we continued our drive to Tarapoto city where we passed the night in a very nice and comfortable hotel.

The following morning, we started our birding session at the Escalera Ridge, also known as the Tarapoto Tunnel, which is a nice forested area where the road goes from Tarapoto to the Amazon lowlands, where several foothill Amazonian species could be seen. Here our main target was the Dotted Tanager which we got good views, and the Plumbeous Euphonia which in this occasion we missed. Some of the birds we managed to see at the Escalera Ridge were White-tipped Swift, Double-toothed Kite, Red-stained Woodpecker, Yellow-olive Flatbill Olive-striped, Cliff and Dusky-chested Flycatcher, Olive Tanager, Yellow-backed Tanager and the uncommon Short-billed Honeycreeper.
We also visited the ACONABIKH Reserve, a place with hummingbird feeders and forest trails, that even that was a quiet day at the reserve we managed to see quite a few interesting species including our main target the endemic Koepcke’s Hermit who didn’t come to feeders this time but we managed to see it in the forest. At the hummingbird feeders we got a couple surprises as the Black-throated Hermit, as well as the White-bearded Hermit that was a write-in for the tour, also other species like Gould’s Jewelfront or white-necked Jacobin were regular visitors. On the forest trails we got to see Blue-fronted Lancebill, Amazonian Trogon, Ivory-billed and Curl-crested Aracari, White-shouldered Antshrike, Fiery-capped and Golden-headed Manakin, Violaceous Jay, White-necked Thrush and Fulvous Shrike-Tanager.
After our lunch we continued our journey to Nueva Cajamarca where we spent the night.

The following morning, we visited the Arenas Blancas Reserve, where we had a great session at the hide. Here we got to see two Little Tinamous (an adult with a young bird), also a group of 6 Rufous-breasted Wood Quails performed really well. A nice study of Grey-fronted and White-tipped Doves seen at the same moment, and the Grey-cowled Wood Rail were the birds that we saw at the hide. An interesting mammal that we saw from the hide was an Amazon Dwarf Squirrel, who appear briefly in the feeding area.
Some of the hummingbirds that we saw at Arenas Blancas in the gardens and hummingbird feeders were the Blue-fronted Lancebill, Wire-crested Thorntail, Rufous-crested Coquette, Many-spotted Hummingbird, Sapphire-spangled Emerald and Rufous-throated Sapphire. The fruit feeders weren’t as active but we got to see the Yellow-tufted Woodpecker, White-lored and Orange-bellied Euphonia, Epaulet Oriole and Huallaga, Blue-grey and Palm Tanagers.
Another visitor to the feeders was a family of Saddle-backed Tamarins who came a few times to eat the fruits. Other interesting birds during our visit were the Golden-collared Toucanet, Black-banded Woodcreeper and Peruvian Warbling Antbird.
After breakfast we passed the Alto Mayo Road, some of the most remarkable ones where the Ecuadorian Tyrannulet, Yellow-margined Flatbill and good views of Golden-eared Tanager. Other birds who complement our session in the Alto Mayo Road were the Olive-backed Woodcreeper, Montane Foliage-gleaner, a female Andean Cock-of-the-rock, Grey-mantled Wren and Ashy-throated Bush Tanager.
Once at the higher areas in the Abra Patricia pass we got a pair of Torrent Ducks, also excellent views of White-capped Tanager and Hooded Mountain Tanager. Then we crossed to the other side of the mountains and drove true areas of the Marañon drainage, on the margins of the Utcubamba River most of the time. This areas along the Utcubamba Valley have low diversity but we managed to see the Marañon subspecies of Black-necked Woodpecker [peruvianus], Cordilleran Parakeet, Marañon Thrush and Tooth-billed Tanager. A short owling session before arriving to Leymebamba we managed to see the Koepcke’s Screech Owl, who gave us a bit of complications but at the end show up nicely.
After a long driving day, we arrived at our Hotel in Leymebamba where we stayed for two nights to explore the area of Leymebamba.

Our full day at Leymebamba was another productive day, where we got our major targets which included endemic birds like the Chachapoyas Antpitta, the Utcubamba and Large-footed Tapaculo or the Coopery Metaltail. Also, some rare species like the Purple-backed Thornbill, the secretive Peruvian Treehunter, the tricky Rufous-breasted Antpitta (Leymebamba A). Other species that we saw during our day in Leymebamba area were the Andean Guan, Amethyst-throated and Purple-throated Sunangel, Sapphire-vented Puffleg (Coppery-naped P), Rainbow Starfrontlet, White-throated Hawk, Yungas Pygmy Owl, Golden-headed Quetzal, Grey-breasted Mountain Toucan, Smoky-brown Woodpecker, White-capped Parrot, White-chinned Thistletail [peruviana], Line-cheeked Spinetail [baroni], Black-capped, White-throated, White-tailed and White-banded Tyrannulets, Maroon-belted Chat-Tyrant, Black-and-white Becard, White-collared Jay, White-capped Dipper, Northern Mountain Cacique, Drab and Superciliaried (White-bellied H) Hemispingus, Rufous-chested Tanager, Capped Conebill, Bluish and Moustached Flowerpiercers, Fawn-breasted, Silver-backed and Blue-and-black Tanagers.
During the owling session in the area, we got excellent views of Rufous-bellied Nighthawk, as well a pair of Rufous-banded Owls. What a great ending of our birding day!

Next day we left early our hotel in Leymebamba, to initially do some birding in the Abra Barro Negro area. In the highest section of Abra Barro Negro we saw
Cream-winged Cinclodes, Many-striped Canastero, Grass Wren, Paramo Pipit, Plumbeous Sierra Finch and Plain-colored Seedeater, any of them a real specialty of Northern Peru, but not as many chances during this trip to see species from this elevations (3600 m at the highest section). One real specialty that we saw in the higher areas was the endemic Neblina Tapaculo, where normally you can listen from the distance, but deep in the canyons with difficult access from the main road. This time we got an individual close to the main road that gave us excellent views. Neblina Tapaculo is a specialty from central Peru, that has the northern limit distribution in these areas of northern Peru but is very hard to see in this tour.
Other birds in the elfin forest areas were the Great Sapphirewing, Purple-backed Thornbill, Shining Sunbeam, Red-crested Cotinga, Brown-bellied Swallow, Yellow-breasted Brushfinch, Superciliaried Hemispingus (White-bellied H), and Hooded and Scarlet-bellied Mountain Tanager.
Another main specialty of the morning at Abra Barro Negro was one of the latest Peruvian endemics, the Streak-crowned Mountain Tanager, a recent split from Buff-breasted Mountain Tanager, that has a distribution in the eastern slope of the Andes of Peru.
Descending the Marañon canyon at lower elevations we managed to see Bare-faced Ground Dove, Black-chested Buzzard Eagle, the endemic Chestnut-backed Thornbird, Marañon Tyrannulet, Fulvous-crowned Scrub Tyrant, Tropical Gnatcatcher (Marañon G), and Buff-bellied Tanager. A main specialty that we still needed to see was the local subspecies of the Marañon area of Black-capped Sparrow [nigriceps] who showed nicely for our group.
Once at the area of Balsas we reached again lower elevations in the Marañon Valley, with a very arid woodland with cactus, and thorn-scrub vegetation. We initially focused on the Yellow-faced Parrotlet, who gave us a bit of complications but at the end we managed good views with the scope. Other specialties of that area that we saw were the Marañon Pigeon and the Buff-bridled Inca Finch. Other birds that we saw in the Balsas area were the Cordilleran Parakeet, Lesser Goldfinch, and the Marañon subspecies of Streaked Saltator [peruvianus].
On the higher areas of Balsas near the Hacienda Limon we looked for the Grey-winged Inca Finch that we found it without complications. We also saw the Purple-collared Woodstar and Black-lored Yellowthroat at this location.
With some time left we did a try for Jelski’s Chat Tyrant and we saw a pair of them. We tried one more time for Chestnut-crowned Antpitta, but this one refused to appear one more time. Then we continued our journey to Celendin where we passed the night.

We left Celendin early in the morning to go to Cruz Conga area. Initially we looked in the remanent patches of vegetation for the endemic Cajamarca Antpitta. The first part of the morning was frustrated without much species of interest. Our luck changed after breakfast, where we managed great looks of the Cajamarca Antpitta, as well the endemic Plain-breasted Warbling Finch, and a female Streaked Dacnis (recent split of Tit-like Dacnis). Other birds seen in the patches of vegetation were the Tyrant Metaltail, Shining Sunbeam, Azara’s Spinetail, Tufted and Black-crested Tit-Tyrants, Hooded Siskin, Yellow-breasted Brushfinch (Baron’s) and Black-throated Flowerpiercer. Later, we checked the open fields mostly with pastures or agricultural fields, were we saw Yellow-billed Teal, Andean Lapwing, Puna Ibis, Andean Flicker,
Rufous-naped Ground-Tyrant, Rufous-webbed Bush Tyrant, White-tailed Shrike-Tyrant and Peruvian Sierra Finch.
We continued to Chonta where we looked for another very localized endemic, the Grey-bellied Comet. With a bit of patience and local information we managed to have good views of one male visiting some flowers in the area. Other birds that we saw in Chonta included the Black Metaltail, Giant Hummingbird, Bare-faced Ground Dove, White-winged Cinclodes, Black-crested Tit-Tyrant, Cinereous Conebill and Band-tailed Seedeater.
The last section of our afternoon we went to the other side of Cajamarca, to cross to the Pacific slope of the mountains, at Abra Gavilán. Here our target was the endemic Unicolored Tapaculo, that with a bit of patience and strategy we managed to show to every person of the group. We also saw the Yellow-billed Tit-Tyrant (which is rare in the northern Peru), Scrub Blackbird, Black-crested Warbler, Golden-billed Saltator, and a different subspecies of Yellow-breasted Brushfinch [chugurensis], from the Pacific slope of Cajamarca.
With all the missions of the day accomplished it was time to go to our nice hotel in Cajamarca where we spent the last night of the tour.

The last morning of the tour we were at dawn at San Marcos area, looking for the Great Spinetail. One individual answered right away, but it kept hidden in the thorny scrub. Finally, we located and everyone got to see it. Other birds seen during the morning were the Purple-collared Woodstar, Spot-throated Hummingbird, Croaking Ground Dove, Black-necked Woodpecker, American Kestrel, Fulvous-crowned Scrub Tyrant, Chiguanco Thrush, Tooth-billed Tanager, Golden Grosbeak and Dull-colored Grassquit. Luckily, we managed to see this time the Great Spinetail, but our stake-out is under pressure from construction of new houses in the area, also some sections of the thorny scrub were burned recently, but so far, the Spinetail was still there, and we also found a nest of the Spinetail. We’ll see how it goes for the next year.
After our morning birding session, we came back to our hotel to pack our stuff and have a farewell lunch, before going to take our flight back to Lima. Many thanks to our fantastic crew who made a challenging tour to go very smoothly and without complications. And to Carlos, our enthusiastic local guide with unbeatable local knowledge of Peru, who never gave up and kept pushing on one way or another until finding the birds.
As well, many thanks to all the members of our group for a great birding companionship and positive attitude during all these days, a big amount of the success of our tour was thanks to you.

BIRD OF THE TRIP

1^st:  Scarlet-banded Barbet

2^nd: Marvelous Spatuletail

3^rd: Long-whiskered Owlet

4^th: White-chinned Swift

5^th: Great Spinetail

6^th: Cordillera Azul Antbird

7^th: Pale-billed Antpitta

8^th: Peruvian Treehunter

9^th: Neblina Tapaculo

10^th: Elegant Crescentchest

SYSTEMATIC LIST OF SPECIES RECORDED

Species marked with the diamond symbol (◊) are either endemic to the country or local region or considered ‘special’ birds for some other reason (e.g., it is only seen on one or two Birdquest tours; it is difficult to see across all or most of its range; the local form is endemic or restricted-range and may in future be treated as a full species).

The species names and taxonomy used in the bird list follows Gill, F., Donsker, D., & Rasmussen, P.(Eds). 2023. IOC World Bird List (v13.2) (this was the current version when the checklist for the tour report was created).

Where the subspecies seen is/are known, these are often given in parentheses at the end of the species comment.

BIRDS

Cinereous Tinamou  Crypturellus cinereus (H)  Heard only at ACONABIKH and Arenas Blancas Reserve.

Little Tinamou  Crypturellus soui  Excellent views of 2 individuals (Adult and young bird) at Arenas Blancas Reserve.

Tataupa Tinamou  Crypturellus tataupa  Nice views at Jaen, everyone saw it.

Black-bellied Whistling Duck  Dendrocygna autumnalis  A few seen at Bellavista rice fields area. A write-in!! 

Torrent Duck  Merganetta armata

Comb Duck  Sarkidiornis sylvicola  Some seen at Rioja rice fields, also one flew over the Huallaga River.

Brazilian Teal  Amazonetta brasiliensis  Seen at 3 different occasions at different localities.  12 at Rioja rice fields, 2 at Bellavista rice fields and around 25 in the margins of Huallaga River. A write-in for the tour.

Cinnamon Teal  Spatula cyanoptera  Seen at Playa Santa Rosa.

White-cheeked Pintail  Anas bahamensis  Seen at Playa Santa Rosa.

Yellow-billed Teal  Anas flavirostris  Seen in two different localities in the highlands.

Masked Duck  Nomonyx dominicus  One female seen at Moyobamba area.

Speckled Chachalaca  Ortalis guttata 

Andean Guan  Penelope montagnii  Seen at Leymebamba area.

White-winged Guan ◊  Penelope albipennis  Endemic. Seen at Casupe Road, also at Chaparri, but they weren’t as easy to see as usual.

Wattled Guan  Aburria aburri (H)  Heard only at Abra Patricia.

Sickle-winged Guan  Chamaepetes goudotii  Seen at San Lorenzo Ridge.

Rufous-breasted Wood Quail ◊  Odontophorus speciosus  Excellent views at Arenas Blancas Reserve.

Lesser Nighthawk  Chordeiles acutipennis  Good views at Rafán.

Rufous-bellied Nighthawk  Lurocalis rufiventris  Seen at dusk at Leymebamba.

Blackish Nightjar  Nyctipolus nigrescens (LO)  Leader only at Waqanki.

Pauraque  Nyctidromus albicollis (H)  Heard only at different localities.

Anthony’s Nightjar ◊  Nyctidromus anthonyi  They were quite common on this trip at Chaparri, also heard at Jaen.

Lyre-tailed Nightjar  Uropsalis lyra  Heard only at Abra Patricia.

Rufous Nightjar  Antrostomus rufus  Seen at Morro de Calzada.

Oilbird  Steatornis caripensis  First seen at Abra Patricia, also great views at their canyon on the way to Tarapoto.

Common Potoo  Nyctibius griseus (H)  Heard only at Chaparri and Abra Patricia.

White-chinned Swift ◊  Cypseloides cryptus  At least 3 individuals, but maybe more joining a group of Chestnut-collared Swift from a ridge of the Plataforma Road. Close views with photos to check some identification marks.

Chestnut-collared Swift  Streptoprocne rutila  A group was seen nicely along the Plataforma Road.

White-collared Swift  Streptoprocne zonaris

Short-tailed Swift  Chaetura brachyura  Seen at Rioja Rice Fields, also along the Plataforma Road.

White-tipped Swift  Aeronautes montivagus  Seen at Abra Porculla as well in the Escalera Ridge at Tarapoto.

Fork-tailed Palm Swift  Tachornis squamata  Seen at Waqanki and Moyobamba area.

White-necked Jacobin  Florisuga mellivora  Common at Waqanki feeders as well at ACONABIKH. 

Rufous-breasted Hermit  Glaucis hirsutus  Sporadic sights at Waqanki feeders.

Black-throated Hermit ◊  Phaethornis atrimentalis  It was regularly visiting the feeders at ACONABIKH, also was seen at Waqanki trails.

Grey-chinned Hermit  Phaethornis griseogularis  Good views at Casupe Road [porcullae].

Planalto Hermit  Phaethornis pretrei  Seen at Quebrada Upaquihua.

White-bearded Hermit  Phaethornis hispidus  One individual came to the ACONABIKH feeders. A write-in for the tour!

Green Hermit  Phaethornis guy  Seen at Llanteria feeders, at Alto Mayo.

Tawny-bellied Hermit  Phaethornis syrmatophorus  One bird mobbing a Yungas Pygmy Owl at Abra Patricia.

Koepcke’s Hermit ◊  Phaethornis  Endemic. Seen at ACONABIKH.

Great-billed Hermit  Phaethornis malaris  Seen at Waqanki and ACONABIKH feeders.

Blue-fronted Lancebill  Doryfera johannae  Seen at ACONABIKH, also seen at Arenas Blancas Reserve feeders.

Geoffroy’s Daggerbill  Schistes geoffroyi  Seen by part of the group at Abra Patricia.

Brown Violetear  Colibri delphinae  Seen at Waqanki, ACONABIKH and Arenas Blancas Reserve.

Lesser Violetear  Colibri cyanotus  Seen at Huembo and Abra Patricia.

Sparkling Violetear  Colibri coruscans

Black-throated Mango  Anthracothorax nigricollis  Seen in one random stop in the lowlands, on the way to Moyobamba.

Amethyst-throated Sunangel  Heliangelus amethysticollis  Seen at Leymebamba area.

Purple-throated Sunangel  Heliangelus viola  Seen at Leymebamba area.

Royal Sunangel ◊  Heliangelus regalis  Near endemic. Seen at Abra Patricia area.

Wire-crested Thorntail  Discosura popelairii  One male was seen at Arenas Blancas Reserve.

Rufous-crested Coquette ◊  Lophornis delattrei  Nice views at Waqanki, also at Arenas Blancas Reserve.

Speckled Hummingbird  Adelomyia melanogenys

Long-tailed Sylph  Aglaiocercus kingii  Regular at Abra Patricia area.

Grey-bellied Comet ◊  Taphrolesbia griseiventris  Endemic. One male seen at Chonta, Cajamarca area.

Green-tailed Trainbearer  Lesbia nuna   Seen by part of our group at Huembo feeders.

Purple-backed Thornbill  Ramphomicron microrhynchum   One female was seen at Abra Barro Negro.

Rufous-capped Thornbill  Chalcostigma ruficeps  One bird seen at San Lorenzo Ridge.

Tyrian Metaltail  Metallura tyrianthina  Seen in different occasions at the highlands.

Coppery Metaltail ◊  Metallura theresiae  Endemic. Seen at Abra Barro Negro.

Black Metaltail ◊  Metallura phoebe  Endemic. Seen at Chonta, Cajamarca area.

Greenish Puffleg ◊  Haplophaedia aureliae  Seen at Fundo Alto Nieva.  This is an undescribed subspecies of the Alto Mayo area in Peru but is well known that occurs at this locality.

Sapphire-vented Puffleg (Coppery-naped P)  Eriocnemis [luciani] sapphiropygia  Good views at Abra Barro Negro.

Emerald-bellied Puffleg  Eriocnemis aline  Seen at Abra Patricia.

Marvelous Spatuletail ◊  Loddigesia mirabilis  Nice views of at least 2 males with full grown tail, as well some females and young males.

Shining Sunbeam  Aglaeactis cupripennis  Seen at Barro Negro and Cruz Conga (Cajamarca area).

Bronzy Inca  Coeligena coeligena  Seen at Huembo and Abra Patricia area.

Collared Inca  Coeligena torquata  Seen at Abra Patricia area.

Violet-throated Starfrontlet  Coeligena violifer  Just one bird was seen at San Lorenzo Ridge.

Rainbow Starfrontlet  Coeligena iris  Few sights at Leymebamba area.

Great Sapphirewing  Pterophanes cyanopterus  Seen it briefly at Abra Barro Negro.

Chestnut-breasted Coronet  Boissonneaua matthewsii

Peruvian Racket-tail ◊  Ocreatus peruanus  First seen at Fundo Alto Nieva, as well in other localities.

Gould’s Jewelfront  Heliodoxa aurescens  Good views at ACONABIKH.

Fawn-breasted Brilliant  Heliodoxa rubinoides  Regular hummingbird at Abra Patricia area.

Violet-fronted Brilliant  Heliodoxa leadbeateri 

Giant Hummingbird  Patagona gigas  Seen at Chonta, Cajamarca.

Long-billed Starthroat  Heliomaster longirostris  Seen at Casupe Road, Porculla Pass and Waqanki feeders.

Amethyst Woodstar  Calliphlox amethystina  Seen at Waqanki and Arenas Blancas Reserve.

Purple-collared Woodstar  Myrtis fanny  Best views at the upper section of Balsas, also at San Marcos, Cajamarca.

Short-tailed Woodstar ◊  Myrmia micrura  Seen at Casupe Road and Chaparri.

Peruvian Sheartail ◊  Thaumastura cora  Few individuals were seen at Porculla Pass.

White-bellied Woodstar  Chaetocercus mulsant  Best views at Fundo Alto Nieva, also seen at Huembo and Abra Patricia.

Little Woodstar ◊  Chaetocercus bombus  Great views at Abra Porculla, also seen at Huembo.

Blue-tailed Emerald  Chlorostilbon mellisugus  First seen at Waqanki, also seen at Quebrada Upaquihua.

Violet-headed Hummingbird  Klais guimeti  Seen once at Plataforma area.

Grey-breasted Sabrewing  Campylopterus largipennis

Napo Sabrewing ◊  Campylopterus villaviscensio  Good views at Plataforma, also at Carlos Ridge.

Fork-tailed Woodnymph  Thalurania furcata 

Tumbes Hummingbird ◊  Thaumasius baeri  Seen once at Casupe Road, we were really lucky with this one.

Spot-throated Hummingbird ◊  Thaumasius taczanowskii  Endemic. A common one in the dry areas of Marañon Valley.

Many-spotted Hummingbird ◊  Taphrospilus hypostictus  First seen at Alto Mayo, also at Waqanky and Arenas Blancas.

Amazilia Hummingbird  Amazilis amazilia  Common species in the first days of the tour.

Andean Emerald  Uranomitra franciae  First seen at Jaen, also at Huembo feeders.

Golden-tailed Sapphire  Chrysuronia oenone  Common one at Waqanki, ACONABIKH and Arenas Blancas.

Sapphire-spangled Emerald  Chionomesa lactea  Seen at Waqanki and Arenas Blancas.

Rufous-throated Sapphire  Hylocharis sapphirina  One individual showed up at Arenas Blancas Reserve.

White-bellied Hummingbird  Elliotomyia chionogaster  Seen at Huembo feeders.

White-chinned Sapphire  Chlorestes cyanus  Some members of the group got to see it at Waqanki feeders.

Smooth-billed Ani  Crotophaga ani  Common and widespread in humid lowlands of the east.

Groove-billed Ani  Crotophaga sulcirostris  Common and widespread in the dry areas of the west.

Striped Cuckoo  Tapera naevia (H)  Heard only at Rafán and Jaen areas.

Little Cuckoo  Coccycua minuta  A pair was seen at Rioja rice fields.

Squirrel Cuckoo  Piaya cayana

Rock Dove (introduced)  Columba livia

Scaled Pigeon  Patagioenas speciosa  Seen at Plataforma.

Band-tailed Pigeon  Patagioenas fasciata  First seen at Abra Porculla, also in other highlands localities as well.

Pale-vented Pigeon  Patagioenas cayennensis  Seen in the lowland areas near Bellavista.

Maranon Pigeon ◊  Patagioenas oenops  Finally we got to see it at Balsas.

Plumbeous Pigeon  Patagioenas plumbea  Most of the sights were at Plataforma.

Ruddy Pigeon  Patagioenas subvinacea  Seen at Abra Patricia.

Plain-breasted Ground Dove  Columbina minuta  One bird seen at Bellavista rice fields.

Ecuadorian Ground Dove ◊  Columbina buckleyi  Heard only at Jaen area.

Ruddy Ground Dove  Columbina talpacoti 

Croaking Ground Dove  Columbina cruziana

Blue Ground Dove  Claravis pretiosa  Seen at Jaen, heard only at different localities.

Bare-faced Ground Dove  Metriopelia ceciliae  Seen at Chonta, Cajamarca.

White-tipped Dove  Leptotila verreauxi

Grey-fronted Dove  Leptotila rufaxilla  Nice views at Arenas Blancas Reserve, with a White-tipped Dove next to it to compare both species.

Ochre-bellied Dove ◊  Leptotila ochraceiventris  It was calling a lot at Casupe Road (at least 20 individuals). Some members of the group got to see it when it was flushed away, some at Casupe others at Chaparri.

White-throated Quail-Dove  Zentrygon frenata  Brief views walking on the trails at Abra Patricia.

Eared Dove  Zenaida auriculata

West Peruvian Dove  Zenaida meloda  Very common along the dry Pacific coast in the first days of the tour.

Spotted Rail  Pardirallus maculatus  Great views in the Bellavista rice fields.

Plumbeous Rail  Pardirallus sanguinolentus  Good views at Pomacocha Lake.

Grey-cowled Wood Rail  Aramides cajaneus  Good views at Arenas Blancas Reserve.

Common Gallinule  Gallinula galeata  First seen at Playa Santa Rosa, also in other localities as well.

Purple Gallinule  Porphyrio martinica  Several sights at Rioja and Bellavista rice fields.

Ocellated Crake  Micropygia schomburgkii (H)  Heard only at Moyobamba area. A write-in for the tour.

Russet-crowned Crake  Rufirallus viridis (H)  Heard only at Jaen and Moyobamba areas.

Chestnut-headed Crake  Rufirallus castaneiceps (H)  Heard only at Plataforma area

Rufous-sided Crake  Laterallus melanophaius (H)  Heard only at Rioja rice fields.

Limpkin  Aramus guarauna  A few were seen at Rioja and Bellavista rice fields.

Peruvian Thick-knee ◊  Burhinus superciliaris  First seen on the way to Rafan, but the best views were at Bosque Pomac.

American Oystercatcher  Haematopus palliatus  Good views at Playa Santa Rosa.

Black-necked Stilt  Himantopus mexicanus  Seen in good numbers at Playa Santa Rosa, also in rice field areas at Rioja and Bellavista.

White-backed Stilt  Himantopus melanurus  They were noticed at Rioja and Bellavista rice fields, in much more smaller numbers than Black-necked Stilt, most of the sights joining groups of Black-necked Stilt.

Southern Lapwing  Vanellus chilensis  Seen at Bellavista area.

Andean Lapwing  Vanellus resplendens  First seen at Pomacochas, also at Cruz Conga, Cajamarca.

Semipalmated Plover (N)  Charadrius semipalmatus  Playa Santa Rosa.

Killdeer  Charadrius vociferus  Playa Santa Rosa.

Tawny-throated Dotterel (B)  Oreopholus ruficollis  Around 20 individuals scattered in the fields on the way to Rafan. Write-in for the tour.

Pied Plover  Hoploxypterus cayanus  Seen at Bellavista, also in the margins of Huallaga River.

Wattled Jacana  Jacana jacana  Seen at Rioja and Bellavista rice fields.

Hudsonian Whimbrel  Numenius hudsonicus  Playa Santa Rosa.

Baird’s Sandpiper (N)  Calidris bairdii  Playa Santa Rosa.

Least Sandpiper (N)  Calidris minutilla  Playa Santa Rosa.

Pectoral Sandpiper (N)  Calidris melanotos  Playa Santa Rosa.

Wilson’s Phalarope (N)  Phalaropus tricolor  A write-in for the tour at Playa Santa Rosa.

Spotted Sandpiper (N)  Actitis macularius  Playa Santa Rosa, also seen at Utcubamba River.

Lesser Yellowlegs (N)  Tringa flavipes  Playa Santa Rosa.

Willet (N)  Tringa [semipalmata] inornata  Playa Santa Rosa.

Greater Yellowlegs (N)  Tringa melanoleuca  Playa Santa Rosa.

Black Skimmer  Rynchops niger  Playa Santa Rosa, and Huallaga River.

Grey-headed Gull  Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus  Playa Santa Rosa.

Grey Gull ◊  Leucophaeus modestus  Playa Santa Rosa.

Belcher’s Gull ◊  Larus belcheri  Playa Santa Rosa.

Kelp Gull  Larus dominicanus  Playa Santa Rosa.

Gull-billed Tern  Gelochelidon nilotica  Playa Santa Rosa.

Elegant Tern  Thalasseus elegans  Playa Santa Rosa.

Peruvian Tern ◊  Sternula lorata  A big congregation was seen at Playa Santa Rosa (around 200 individuals resting on the beach).

South American Tern  Sterna hirundinacea  Several individuals were at Playa Santa Rosa (20+).

Common Tern (N)  Sterna hirundo  At least 3 individuals with winter plumage were seen at Playa Santa Rosa.

Large-billed Tern  Phaetusa simplex  Two birds flying over the Huallaga River.

Inca Tern ◊  Larosterna inca  A few were seen at Playa Santa Rosa.

Elliot’s Storm Petrel ◊ (White-vented S P)  Oceanites gracilis  Several Storm-Petrels were flying close to the shore at Playa Santa Rosa, some flew close enough to be able to identify with our telescopes.

Peruvian Booby ◊  Sula variegata  Playa Santa Rosa.

Neotropic Cormorant  Nannopterum brasilianum  Playa Santa Rosa.

Puna Ibis  Plegadis ridgwayi  First seen at Playa Santa Rosa, also in the highlands at Cruz Conga.

Fasciated Tiger Heron  Tigrisoma fasciatum  Good views along the Utcubamba River.

Boat-billed Heron  Cochlearius cochlearius  One individual seen on the margins of Huallaga River. A write-in for the tour.

Black-crowned Night Heron  Nycticorax nycticorax  First seen at Playa Santa Rosa, also appear in other localities.

Striated Heron  Butorides striata

Western Cattle Egret  Bubulcus ibis

Cocoi Heron  Ardea cocoi  Several noted at various wetlands.

Great Egret  Ardea alba 

Little Blue Heron  Egretta caerulea

Snowy Egret  Egretta thula

Peruvian Pelican ◊  Pelecanus thagus  Playa Santa Rosa.

Hoatzin  Opisthocomus hoazin  Seen at Bellavista area along the margins of Huallaga River.

King Vulture  Sarcoramphus papa  One bird seen along the road to Plataforma.

Black Vulture  Coragyps atratus

Turkey Vulture  Cathartes aura

Pearl Kite  Gampsonyx swainsonii  Good views at Rafán.

Grey-headed Kite  Leptodon cayanensis  A pair was seen the day that we left Plataforma on the way to Bellavista.

Hook-billed Kite  Chondrohierax uncinatus  One bird seen at Quebrada Upaquihua.

Swallow-tailed Kite  Elanoides forficatus  Common bird in different east slope of the mountains, in areas like Abra Patricia or Plataforma.

Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle  Spizaetus melanoleucus  One bird flew above us at Waqanki.

Double-toothed Kite  Harpagus bidentatus  One bird was seen at Waqanki, also at Escalera Ridge near Tarapoto.

Plumbeous Kite  Ictinia plumbea  Just seen on one occasion at Rioja rice fields.

Snail Kite  Rostrhamus sociabilis  Seen at Rioja rice fields.

Crane Hawk  Geranospiza caerulescens  Seen along the Plataforma Road, on the way to Bellavista.

Roadside Hawk  Rupornis magnirostris  Common and widespread species.

Harris’s Hawk  Parabuteo unicinctus  Several sights on the first days of the trip in areas like Rafán, Chaparrí or Casupe Road.

White-rumped Hawk  Parabuteo leucorrhous  Nice views at Abra Patricia.

Variable Hawk  Geranoaetus polyosoma

Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle  Geranoaetus melanoleucus  One bird seen between Abra Barro Negro and Balsas.

White-throated Hawk (A)  Buteo albigula  One individual seen at Leymebamba area.

Short-tailed Hawk  Buteo brachyurus  One bird seen at Abra Patricia.

Zone-tailed Hawk  Buteo albonotatus  Good views at Casupe Road, a rare species in Peru.

Long-whiskered Owlet ◊  Xenoglaux loweryi  Endemic. Nice views in the open for the ones who did the second owling attempt in Abra Patricia.

Burrowing Owl  Athene cunicularia  Seen at Rafan and Tinajones Lake.

Yungas Pygmy Owl  Glaucidium bolivianum  Best views at Barro Negro, also seen at Abra Patricia and heard only at San Lorenzo Ridge.

Subtropical Pygmy Owl ◊  Glaucidium parkeri (H)  Heard only at Plataforma.

Ferruginous Pygmy Owl  Glaucidium brasilianum  Seen at Bellavista and on the Plataforma Road as well.

Pacific Pygmy Owl  Glaucidium peruanum  Best views at Bosque Pomac, but also seen at Rafan, Tinajones and Jaen area, near Bagua.

Striped Owl  Asio clamator  One bird seen near Nueva Cajamarca.

Stygian Owl  Asio stygius (H)  Heard only, and silhouette of one individual flying, near Moyobamba.

White-throated Screech Owl ◊  Megascops albogularis  Good views near Pomacochas area.

Tropical Screech Owl  Megascops choliba  One bird seen at Waqanki, heard only as well near Moyobamba.

Koepcke’s Screech Owl ◊  Megascops koepckeae  Seen near Leymebamba.

Cinnamon Screech Owl ◊  Megascops petersoni  Good views at Fundo Alto Nieva.

Foothill Screech Owl (Napo S O)  Megascops [roraimae] napensis  Seen at Plataforma.

West Peruvian Screech Owl ◊ (Peruvian S O)  Megascops [roboratus] pacificus  Nice views at Chaparrí.

West Peruvian Screech Owl ◊ (Maranon S O)  Megascops [roboratus] roboratus  Very cooperative pair was seen at Jaen.

Band-bellied Owl ◊  Pulsatrix melanota  Seen at Plataforma and heard only at Waqanki.

Rufous-banded Owl  Strix albitarsis  Seen at Leymebamba area.

Golden-headed Quetzal  Pharomachrus auriceps  Good views at Leymebamba.

Crested Quetzal  Pharomachrus antisianus  Finally we got good views at Abra Patricia.

Ecuadorian Trogon ◊  Trogon mesurus  Seen at Casupe Road.

Green-backed Trogon  Trogon viridis  Seen at Escalera Ridge and heard only at Waqanki.

Amazonian Trogon  Trogon ramonianus  Good views at ACONABIKH.

Blue-crowned Trogon  Trogon curucui  Good views at Waqanki and Morro de Calzada.

Collared Trogon  Trogon collaris  Seen at Plataforma.

Amazon Kingfisher  Chloroceryle amazona  Seen at Bellavista area.

Rufous Motmot  Baryphthengus martii (H)  Heard only at Waqanki.

Broad-billed Motmot  Electron platyrhynchum  Seen at Waqanki.

Bluish-fronted Jacamar  Galbula cyanescens  Seen at Morro de Calzada, also at Plataforma.

Black-fronted Nunbird  Monasa nigrifrons  One bird seen while we were driving to Rioja rice fields.

White-fronted Nunbird  Monasa morphoeus  Good views at Waqanki.

Yellow-billed Nunbird  Monasa flavirostris  A pair was seen along the road to Plataforma.

Scarlet-banded Barbet ◊  Capito wallacei  Endemic. Very close views the first afternoon at Plataforma, also seen the following morning in Plataforma.

Gilded Barbet  Capito auratus  Seen at Waqanki, Plataforma and ACONABIKH.

Versicolored Barbet  Eubucco versicolor  Several sightings in Plataforma area.

Black-throated Toucanet ◊  Aulacorhynchus atrogularis  First seen at Pomacochas area, latter was seen in the Alto Mayo Road. 

Chestnut-tipped Toucanet  Aulacorhynchus derbianus  One bird was seen the first afternoon at Plataforma.

Lettered Aracari  Pteroglossus inscriptus  Seen at Waqanki.

Ivory-billed Aracari  Pteroglossus azara  At least 3 individuals were seen at ACONABIKH.

Chestnut-eared Aracari  Pteroglossus castanotis  First seen at Rioja rice fields, also at Plataforma area and Arenas Blancas.

Curl-crested Aracari  Pteroglossus beauharnaisii  Seen at ACONABIKH.

Golden-collared Toucanet  Selenidera reinwardtii  A pair was seen at Arenas Blancas Reserve, unfortunately not everyone managed to see it.

Grey-breasted Mountain Toucan  Andigena hypoglauca  Close views at Leymebamba area.

Channel-billed Toucan  Ramphastos vitellinus  Seen along the Plataforma Road, on the way to Bellavista.

White-throated Toucan  Ramphastos tucanus  At least 3 individuals were seen along the Plataforma Road.

Lafresnaye’s Piculet  Picumnus lafresnayi  First seen at Waqanki, also at Plataforma and Quebrada Upaquihua.

Ecuadorian Piculet ◊  Picumnus sclateri  Good views at Casupe Road, also at Abra Porculla.

Speckle-chested Piculet ◊  Picumnus steindachneri  Endemic. At least 4 individuals were seen at Carlos Ridge.

Yellow-tufted Woodpecker  Melanerpes cruentatus  Several sights at Rioja, Waqanki and Plataforma.

Little Woodpecker  Veniliornis passerinus  One bird was seen at Waqanki.

Scarlet-backed Woodpecker  Veniliornis callonotus  A pair was seen at Rafán.

Red-stained Woodpecker  Veniliornis affinis  Best views at Morro de Calzada, also at Escalera Ridge.

Smoky-brown Woodpecker  Leuconotopicus fumigatus  Seen at Abra Porculla and Leymebamba area.

Golden-olive Woodpecker  Colaptes rubiginosus  First seen at Casupe Road, also at Plataforma.

Crimson-mantled Woodpecker  Colaptes rivolii  Seen at Abra Patricia area, also at Leymebamba.

Black-necked Woodpecker ◊  Colaptes atricollis  Endemic. First seen at Utcubamba Valley, also at San Marcos in our last day of the tour.

Spot-breasted Woodpecker  Colaptes punctigula  Good views at Rioja rice fields.

Andean Flicker  Colaptes rupicola  Seen regularly in the high altitudes of Barro Negro and Cruz Conga.

Lineated Woodpecker  Dryocopus lineatus  Seen at Plataforma village.

Red-necked Woodpecker  Campephilus rubricollis  Nice views bellow Plataforma.

Crimson-crested Woodpecker  Campephilus melanoleucos  Seen at Jaen.

Guayaquil Woodpecker ◊  Campephilus gayaquilensis  Good views at Casupe Road.

Mountain Caracara  Phalcoboenus megalopterus  Best views at Leymebamba, also at San Lorenzo Ridge and Cajamarca area.

Crested Caracara (Northern C C)  Caracara [plancus] cheriway   Seen at Bellavista area.

Barred Forest Falcon  Micrastur ruficollis (H)  Heard only at Plataforma.

American Kestrel  Falco sparverius 

Aplomado Falcon  Falco femoralis  One gave us a nice show taking a dust bath at Chaparri, also seen in other localities.

White-winged Parakeet  Brotogeris versicolurus  Seen at Rioja rice fields.

Cobalt-winged Parakeet  Brotogeris cyanoptera  Common species in the eastern lowlands.

White-capped Parrot  Pionus seniloides  Good views at Leymebamba area.

Blue-headed Parrot  Pionus menstruus  Seen at Waqanki and Plataforma.

Scaly-naped Amazon  Amazona mercenarius  Seen at San Lorenzo Ridge and Abra Patricia.

Mealy Amazon  Amazona farinosa (H)  Heard only at Arenas Blancas Reserve. A write-in for the tour.

Riparian Parrotlet ◊  Forpus crassirostris  A pair was seen at Bellavista area.

Pacific Parrotlet ◊  Forpus coelestis  Common species on the Pacific side, in the first days of the tour.

Yellow-faced Parrotlet ◊  Forpus xanthops  Endemic. Scope views at Balsas in the Marañon canyon.

Cordilleran Parakeet  Psittacara frontatus  Best views at Balsas, also seen at Utcubamba Valley and Jaen area.

Mitred Parakeet  Psittacara mitratus (H)  Heard only when we were driving near Huembo area, at Pedro Ruiz.

Red-masked Parakeet ◊  Psittacara erythrogenys  A pair flew over at Casupe Road.

White-eyed Parakeet  Psittacara leucophthalmus  Seen at Morro de Calzada and along the road to Plataforma.

Grey-throated Leaftosser  Sclerurus albigularis  Seen at Plataforma.

Coastal Miner ◊  Geositta peruviana   Endemic. Seen near Rafán area.

Olivaceous Woodcreeper ◊  Sittasomus griseicapillus  Seen at Waqanki.

Tyrannine Woodcreeper  Dendrocincla tyrannina  Seen at Abra Patricia.

Plain-brown Woodcreeper  Dendrocincla fuliginosa  Seen at Waqanki

Wedge-billed Woodcreeper  Glyphorynchus spirurus  Seen at Waqanki and ACONABIKH.

Black-banded Woodcreeper  Dendrocolaptes picumnus  Good views at Arenas Blancas Reserve.

Strong-billed Woodcreeper ◊  Xiphocolaptes promeropirhynchus  Seen at Abra Patricia, and the local subspecies of Plataforma.

Tschudi’s Woodcreeper  Xiphorhynchus chunchotambo  Seen at Plataforma and bellow Plataforma along the road.

Elegant Woodcreeper  Xiphorhynchus elegans (H)  Heard only at Quebrada Upaquihua. Write-in for the tour.

Buff-throated Woodcreeper  Xiphorhynchus guttatus  Seen in the road to Plataforma.

Olive-backed Woodcreeper  Xiphorhynchus triangularis  Seen at Abra Patricia and Alto Mayo Road.

Streak-headed Woodcreeper  Lepidocolaptes souleyetii  Seen at Casupe Road and Chaparrí.

Montane Woodcreeper  Lepidocolaptes lacrymiger  Seen at Abra Patricia and Leymebamba area.

Inambari Woodcreeper ◊  Lepidocolaptes fatimalimae  Seen at Morro de Calzada and heard only at Arenas Blancas Reserve.

Streaked Xenops  Xenops rutilans  Seen at Alto Mayo Road, also at Plataforma.

Pale-legged Hornero  Furnarius leucopus (H)  Heard only at Bellavista.

Pacific Hornero  Furnarius cinnamomeus  Common in the Pacific section of the tour in areas like Chaparrí or Rafán.

Cream-winged Cinclodes  Cinclodes albiventris  One was seen at the Calla Calla Pass (the upper section of Barro Negro).

White-winged Cinclodes  Cinclodes atacamensis  Excellent views at Chonta.

Rufous-rumped Foliage-gleaner  Philydor [erythrocercum] ochrogaster  Good views bellow Plataforma.

Montane Foliage-gleaner  Anabacerthia striaticollis  Best views at Alto Mayo Road, also at Carlos Ridge and Plataforma.

Buff-browed Foliage-gleaner  Syndactyla rufosuperciliata (H)  Heard only at San Lorenzo Ridge and Abra Patricia.

Lineated Foliage-gleaner  Syndactyla subalaris  One bird seen the first afternoon at Plataforma.

Rufous-necked Foliage-gleaner ◊  Syndactyla ruficollis  A tricky one this time, but we managed to see it at Casupe Road and Abra Porculla.

Buff-fronted Foliage-gleaner  Dendroma rufa  A pair was seen bellow Plataforma, along the sections with forest along the road.

Henna-hooded Foliage-gleaner ◊  Clibanornis erythrocephalus  After several tries, we managed good views at Casupe.

Peruvian Treehunter ◊  Thripadectes scrutator  Excellent views at Leymebamba area, one of the best birds of the tour!

Black-billed Treehunter  Thripadectes melanorhynchus  (H)  Heard only at Alto Mayo Road.

Ochre-throated Foliage-gleaner  Automolus ochrolaemus  (H)  Former Buff-throated Foliage-Gleaner.  Heard only at Escalera Ridge, Tarapoto.

Spotted Barbtail  Premnoplex brunnescens  Seen at Fundo Alto Nieva.

Pearled Treerunner  Margarornis squamiger  Seen at Abra Patricia, San Lorenzo Ridge and Leymebamba.

Rufous-fronted Thornbird ◊ (Maranon T)  Phacellodomus [rufifrons] peruvianus

Chestnut-backed Thornbird ◊  Phacellodomus dorsalis  Endemic. Seen descending to Balsas in the Marañon canyon.

Many-striped Canastero  Asthenes flammulata  Seen at Abra Barro Negro.

White-chinned Thistletail ◊ (Peruvian T)  Asthenes [fuliginosa] peruviana  Good views at Abra Barro Negro.

Equatorial Greytail ◊  Xenerpestes singularis  Close views along the Alto Mayo Road.

Russet-mantled Softtail ◊  Thripophaga berlepschi  Seen at San Lorenzo Ridge.

Ash-browed Spinetail  Cranioleuca curtata  Seen at Plataforma.

Line-cheeked Spinetail  Cranioleuca antisiensis  Seen at Abra Porculla.

Line-cheeked Spinetail ◊ (Baron’s S)  Cranioleuca [antisiensis] baroni  Seen near Leymebamba area.

Plain-crowned Spinetail  Synallaxis gujanensis  Seen at Quebrada Upaquihua.

Maranon Spinetail ◊  Synallaxis maranonica  This time the bird behaved well at Tamborapa Road (Jaen).

Great Spinetail ◊  Synallaxis hypochondriaca  Endemic. One bird was seen in our last day of the trip at San Marcos.

Chinchipe Spinetail ◊  Synallaxis chinchipensis  Endemic. Good views at Jaen.

Necklaced Spinetail ◊  Synallaxis stictothorax  This time just one pair was seen at Chaparrí.

Dark-breasted Spinetail  Synallaxis albigularis (H)  Heard only at Carlos Ridge and Plataforma.

Azara’s Spinetail  Synallaxis azarae  Seen at Pomacochas, Abra Patricia and San Lorenzo Ridge.

Rufous Spinetail  Synallaxis unirufa  Seen at Abra Patricia, but very skulking behaviour and not everyone managed to see it.  Heard at San Lorenzo Ridge as well.

Rufous-rumped Antwren  Euchrepomis callinota  Good views joining mix-species flocks bellow Abra Patricia.

Rufescent Antshrike  Thamnistes rufescens  Nice views during our day in the Alto Mayo Road.

Rufous-tailed Stipplethroat  Epinecrophylla erythrura (H)  Heard only at ACONABIKH.

Stripe-chested Antwren  Myrmotherula longicauda  Seen at Quebrada Upaquihua.

White-flanked Antwren  Myrmotherula axillaris  Seen at Morro de Calzada and Quebrada Upaquihua.

Slaty Antwren  Myrmotherula schisticolor  Seen at Carlos Ridge and in Plataforma.

Ash-throated Antwren ◊  Herpsilochmus parkeri  Endemic. Good views of a female at Carlos Ridge.

Yellow-breasted Antwren  Herpsilochmus axillaris  Seen on the road bellow Plataforma.

Plain Antvireo  Dysithamnus mentalis  Seen at Plataforma.

Collared Antshrike ◊  Thamnophilus bernardi  Seen in the lower areas of Casupe Road, also at Chaparrí.

Collared Antshrike ◊ (Shumba A)  Thamnophilus [bernardi] shumbae  Finally we got one in our last morning at Jaen.

Barred Antshrike  Thamnophilus doliatus (H)  Heard only at Arenas Blancas Reserve.

Chapman’s Antshrike ◊  Thamnophilus zarumae  Seen at Casupe Road and Abra Porculla.

Lined Antshrike  Thamnophilus tenuepunctatus  A couple was seen at Plataforma.

White-shouldered Antshrike  Thamnophilus aethiops  Seen by everyone at ACONABIKH.

Uniform Antshrike  Thamnophilus unicolor  Seen by the members of the group who did the second attempt for Long-whiskered Owlet at Abra Patricia.

Plain-winged Antshrike  Thamnophilus schistaceus (H)  Heard only at Moro La Calzada and ACONABIKH.

Northern Slaty Antshrike ◊ (Maranon S A)  Thamnophilus [punctatus] leucogaster  Good views at Jaen.

Northern Slaty Antshrike ◊ (Huallaga S A)  Thamnophilus [punctatus] huallagae  Seen at Quebrada Upaquihua.

Variable Antshrike  Thamnophilus caerulescens  Good views at Abra Patricia.

Rufous-capped Antshrike  Thamnophilus ruficapillus  Seen at Pomacochas Lake.

Fasciated Antshrike  Cymbilaimus lineatus  Good views at Waqanki.

Great Antshrike  Taraba major (H)  Heard only during our first afternoon at Jaen.

Streak-headed Antbird  Drymophila striaticeps  Seen at Abra Patricia.

Peruvian Warbling Antbird  Hypocnemis peruviana  Best views at Arenas Blancas, also was seen by some at Moro La Calzada.

Southern Chestnut-tailed Antbird ◊ (Chestnut-t A)  Sciaphylax hemimelaena  Seen at Quebrada Upaquihua.

Northern Chestnut-tailed Antbird ◊ (Zimmer’s A)  Sciaphylax castanea  A very cooperative bird was seen at Waqanki, heard only at Arenas Blancas.

Blackish Antbird  Cercomacroides nigrescens  Good views at Plataforma.

Cordillera Azul Antbird ◊  Myrmoderus eowilsoni  Endemic. One of the best birds of the trip, everyone managed to see it at Plataforma.

Spot-winged Antbird  Myrmelastes leucostigma  One bird was seen at Waqanki.

Grey-headed Antbird ◊  Ampelornis griseiceps  A female was seen at Abra Porculla. Not an expected bird at the moment for the lack of reports in the area.  Good views for the ones who managed to see it. A write-in for the tour.

Black-faced Antbird  Myrmoborus myotherinus (H)  Heard only at ACONABIKH.

White-browed Antbird  Myrmoborus leucophrys  Nice views of a couple at Quebrada Upaquihua.

Black-faced Antthrush  Formicarius analis (H)  Heard only at ACONABIKH.

Rufous-breasted Antthrush  Formicarius rufipectus (H)  Heard only at Plataforma.

Short-tailed Antthrush  Chamaeza campanisona  Some members of the group managed to see it at Plataforma, tricky one to see.

Undulated Antpitta  Grallaria squamigera  Excellent views of one bird sleeping at Abra Patricia, also we saw it jumping along the trails at dusk.

Scaled Antpitta  Grallaria guatimalensis (H)  Heard only at Plataforma.

Chestnut-crowned Antpitta  Grallaria ruficapilla (H)  We tried hard this time, couple times it was at close distance but at the end refused to show up.

Pale-billed Antpitta ◊  Grallaria carrikeri  Endemic. Nice views at San Lorenzo Ridge.

Rusty-tinged Antpitta ◊  Grallaria przewalskii  Endemic. We were lucky this time to have one at the worm feeder at Abra Patricia.

Cajamarca Antpitta ◊  Grallaria cajamarcae   Endemic. Great views at Cruz Conga, Cajamarca.

Chestnut Antpitta ◊  Grallaria blakei   Endemic.  Excellent views of two individuals who came to the worm feeders at Abra Patricia.

Chachapoyas Antpitta ◊  Grallaria gravesi  Endemic. It gave us some complications but we managed to see one bellow Abra Barro Negro.

Thrush-like Antpitta  Myrmothera campanisona (H)  Heard only at very close distance in ACONABIKH.

Ochre-fronted Antpitta ◊  Grallaricula ochraceifrons  Endemic. Seen at Fundo Alto Nieva.

Rufous-breasted Antpitta ◊ (Leymebamba A)  Grallaricula leymebambae  A very cooperative pair was seen bellow Abra Barro Negro.

Chestnut-crowned Gnateater  Conopophaga castaneiceps  Good views of one male at Carlos Ridge.

Ash-colored Tapaculo  Myornis senilis (H)  Heard only at San Lorenzo Ridge.

Neblina Tapaculo ◊  Scytalopus altirostris  Endemic. Excellent views at Abra Barro Negro.

White-crowned Tapaculo  Scytalopus atratus (H)  Heard only in the Alto Mayo Road.

Rufous-vented Tapaculo ◊  Scytalopus femoralis  Endemic. Seen at Abra Patricia.

Large-footed Tapaculo ◊  Scytalopus macropus   Endemic. Seen at Leymebamba.

Unicolored Tapaculo ◊  Scytalopus unicolor  Endemic. Good views at Abra Gavilán, Cajamarca.

Utcubamba Tapaculo ◊  Scytalopus intermedius  Endemic. Very good views at Abra Barro Negro.

Maranon Crescentchest ◊  Melanopareia maranonica  Excellent looks at this endemic near Jaen.

Elegant Crescentchest ◊  Melanopareia elegans  Nice views in the open at Chaparri.

Wing-barred Piprites  Piprites chloris  Great views at Morro de Calzada.

White-fronted Tyrannulet ◊  Phyllomyias zeledoni  Good views to see all the details of this localized rarity at Carlos Ridge.

Sooty-headed Tyrannulet  Phyllomyias griseiceps  Seen during our drive from Plataforma to Bellavista.

Black-capped Tyrannulet  Phyllomyias nigrocapillus  Seen at Abra Patricia and Leymebamba area.

Yellow-crowned Tyrannulet  Tyrannulus elatus (LO)  Seen by leader at ACONABIKH. 

Forest Elaenia  Myiopagis gaimardii  Seen at Quebrada Upaquihua.

Pacific Elaenia ◊  Myiopagis subplacens  Good views at Casupe Road.

Yellow-bellied Elaenia  Elaenia flavogaster  Seen at Jaen and Rioja rice fields.

White-crested Elaenia  Elaenia albiceps  Seen at Plataforma.

Small-billed Elaenia  Elaenia parvirostris  Seen at different localities like Waqanki and Plataforma.

Sierran Elaenia  Elaenia pallatangae  Seen at Abra Patricia and Leymebamba area.

White-lored Tyrannulet  Ornithion inerme  Seen at Waqanki, heard only at ACONABIKH.

Southern Beardless Tyrannulet  Camptostoma obsoletum  Common and widespread species.

White-throated Tyrannulet  Mecocerculus leucophrys  Good views at Abra Barro Negro.

White-tailed Tyrannulet  Mecocerculus poecilocercus  A pair was seen at Leymebamba area.

Rufous-winged Tyrannulet*  Mecocerculus calopterus  Some members of the group managed to see it at Leymebamba area, also seen by leader at Casupe Road.

White-banded Tyrannulet  Mecocerculus stictopterus  Seen at San Lorenzo Ridge, also at Leymebamba and Barro Negro.

Black-crested Tit-Tyrant ◊  Anairetes nigrocristatus  Best views at Chonta, also during our morning at Cruz Conga.

Yellow-billed Tit-Tyrant  Anairetes flavirostris  Good views at Abra Gavilan, an uncommon species in northern Perú.

Tufted Tit-Tyrant  Anairetes parulus  Nice views at Cruz Conga.

Unstreaked Tit-Tyrant ◊  Uromyias agraphia  Endemic. Great views at San Lorenzo Ridge.

Torrent Tyrannulet  Serpophaga cinerea  Seen at Abra Patricia, Utcubamba Valley and Leymebamba area.

Tumbesian Tyrannulet ◊  Nesotriccus tumbezanus  Good views at Rafan and Casupe Road.

Maranon Tyrannulet ◊  Nesotriccus maranonicus  Seen at Jaen and Balsas area.

Southern Mouse-colored Tyrannulet  Nesotriccus murinus  Good views in the first part of the morning at Bellavista, along the margins of the Huallaga River.

Rufous-headed Pygmy Tyrant  Pseudotriccus ruficeps  Best views at Abra Patricia, also at San Lorenzo Ridge.

Fulvous-crowned Scrub Tyrant  Euscarthmus meloryphus  Fairly common, seen at different localities like Chaparri, Jaen, Balsas and San Marcos.

Grey-and-white Tyrannulet ◊  Pseudelaenia leucospodia  Good views at Chaparri.

Mishana Tyrannulet ◊  Zimmerius villarejoi  Endemic. Seen well at Waqanki, Plataforma Road and Quebrada Upaquihua.

Peruvian Tyrannulet ◊  Zimmerius viridiflavus  First seen at Abra Patricia, but also at Plataforma and Alto Mayo Road.

Marble-faced Bristle Tyrant  Pogonotriccus ophthalmicus  One bird seen well at Alto Mayo Road.

Mottle-cheeked Tyrannulet  Phylloscartes ventralis  A pair was seen at Abra Patricia.

Ecuadorian Tyrannulet  Phylloscartes gualaquizae  Seen on the way back in the Alto Mayo Road.

Streak-necked Flycatcher  Mionectes striaticollis  Seen at Abra Patricia area.

Olive-striped Flycatcher  Mionectes galbinus  First seen at Carlos Ridge, also at Plataforma and Escalera Ridge.

Ochre-bellied Flycatcher  Mionectes oleagineus  Seen at Morro de Calzada.

Sepia-capped Flycatcher  Leptopogon amaurocephalus  Good views on the road to Plataforma.

Slaty-capped Flycatcher  Leptopogon superciliaris  Seen well at Alto Mayo Road on both occasions that we pass by that road.

Inca Flycatcher ◊  Leptopogon taczanowskii  Endemic. Seen at Abra Patricia.

Flavescent Flycatcher  Myiophobus flavicans (LO)  Seen by leader our second afternoon at Abra Patricia with the group who didn’t go for the Owlet.

Olive-chested Flycatcher  Myiophobus cryptoxanthus  Seen well at Plataforma.

Mouse-grey Flycatcher ◊  Myiophobus crypterythrus  First seen at Chaparri, also our morning in Jaen. 

Ornate Flycatcher  Myiotriccus ornatus  Good views at Alto Mayo Road.

Many-colored Rush Tyrant  Tachuris rubrigastra  Seen at Playa Santa Rosa.

Pearly-vented Tody-Tyrant  Hemitriccus margaritaceiventer (H)  Heard only at Quebrada Upaquihua, also in the margins of Huallaga River.

Black-throated Tody-Tyrant  Hemitriccus granadensis  Good views at Abra Patricia.

Cinnamon-breasted Tody-Tyrant ◊  Hemitriccus cinnamomeipectus  Excellent views at Fundo Alto Nieva.

Buff-throated Tody-Tyrant ◊  Hemitriccus rufigularis (H)  Heard only at Plataforma.

White-bellied Pygmy Tyrant  Myiornis albiventris  Seen briefly at Waqanki.

Short-tailed Pygmy Tyrant  Myiornis ecaudatus  Good views at Morro de Calzada.

Scale-crested Pygmy Tyrant  Lophotriccus pileatus (H)  Heard only at Carlos Ridge.

Lulu’s Tody-Flycatcher ◊  Poecilotriccus luluae  Endemic. Excellent views at Abra Patricia.

Common Tody-Flycatcher  Todirostrum cinereum  Seen at Rioja, Plataforma Road, and Plataforma.

Yellow-browed Tody-Flycatcher  Todirostrum chrysocrotaphum (H)  Heard only at Waqanki.

Fulvous-breasted Flatbill  Rhynchocyclus fulvipectus  Good views joining a mix-species flock bellow Abra Patricia.

Yellow-olive Flatbill  Tolmomyias sulphurescens  Seen at Plataforma and Escalera Ridge.

Yellow-margined Flatbill  Tolmomyias assimilis  A pair was seen in the lower sections of Alto Mayo Road.

Olive-faced Flatbill  Tolmomyias viridiceps  First seen at Morro de Calzada, also in the Plataforma Road and ACONABIKH.

White-throated Spadebill  Platyrinchus mystaceus  Seen at Carlos Ridge, heard only at Plataforma.

Yellow-throated Spadebill ◊  Platyrinchus flavigularis  Good views at Plataforma, one adult and a young bird.

Cinnamon Flycatcher  Pyrrhomyias cinnamomeus  Common species in Abra Patricia.

Cliff Flycatcher  Hirundinea ferruginea  Good views at Escalera Ridge.

Euler’s Flycatcher  Lathrotriccus euleri  Seen by Charles and me when we stay longer at the site of Cordillera Azul Antbird, at Plataforma.

Grey-breasted Flycatcher ◊  Lathrotriccus griseipectus  Finally we got a responsive pair at Casupe Road.

Black Phoebe  Sayornis nigricans

Olive Tufted Flycatcher ◊  Mitrephanes olivaceus  Good views at Abra Patricia.

Smoke-colored Pewee  Contopus fumigatus  First seen at Casupe Road, also at San Lorenzo Ridge and Leymebamba area.

Tumbes Pewee ◊  Contopus punensis  Seen at Chaparri.

Blackish Pewee ◊  Contopus nigrescens  Seen in two consecutive days in Plataforma, a rare and local species.

Vermilion Flycatcher  Pyrocephalus obscurus  Common in the first days of the tour.

Rufous-naped Ground Tyrant  Muscisaxicola rufivertex  Four individuals were seen at Cruz Conga.

Rufous-tailed Tyrant ◊  Knipolegus poecilurus  Seen at Carlos Ridge, uncommon species.

Rufous-webbed Bush Tyrant ◊  Cnemarchus rufipennis  Several individuals were seen at Cruz Conga.

Smoky Bush Tyrant  Myiotheretes fumigatus (H)  Heard only at Abra Barro Negro.

Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant  Agriornis montanus  Seen at Cruz Conga.

Tumbes Tyrant ◊  Tumbezia salvini  One bird seen at Chaparri.

Jelski’s Chat-Tyrant ◊  Silvicultrix jelskii  Endemic. Good views of a pair near Celendin, also brief views at Cruz Conga.

Maroon-belted Chat-Tyrant ◊  Ochthoeca thoracica  Best views at Leymebamba area.

Rufous-breasted Chat-Tyrant  Ochthoeca rufipectoralis  Seen at San Lorenzo Ridge.

Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant  Ochthoeca fumicolor  Seen at Abra Barro Negro.

Piura Chat-Tyrant ◊  Ochthoeca piurae  Endemic. Good views at Abra Porculla.

Long-tailed Tyrant  Colonia colonus  Seen at Plataforma and Carlos Ridge.

Short-tailed Field Tyrant ◊  Muscigralla brevicauda  Good views at Chaparri.

Piratic Flycatcher  Legatus leucophaius (H)  Heard only at Morro de Calzada and Escalera Ridge.

Social Flycatcher  Myiozetetes similis 

Dusky-chested Flycatcher  Myiozetetes luteiventris  Seen at Escalera Ridge, by the Tarapoto Tunnel. A write-in for the tour.

Great Kiskadee  Pitangus sulphuratus

Lemon-browed Flycatcher ◊  Conopias cinchoneti  Seen at Alto Mayo Road.

Baird’s Flycatcher ◊  Myiodynastes bairdii  Seen at Chaparri and Casupe Road.

Streaked Flycatcher  Myiodynastes maculatus  Seen at Waqanki, Plataforma and Tarapoto area.

Boat-billed Flycatcher  Megarynchus pitangua

Variegated Flycatcher  Empidonomus varius  One bird seen at the road to Plataforma.

Crowned Slaty Flycatcher (A)  Griseotyrannus aurantioatrocristatus  Seen on the Plataforma Road, also at the Escalera Ridge.

Snowy-throated Kingbird  Tyrannus niveigularis  Two birds were seen at Chaparri.

Tropical Kingbird  Tyrannus melancholicus

Greyish Mourner  Rhytipterna simplex  Good views at Plataforma.

Rufous Flycatcher ◊  Myiarchus semirufus  Endemic. Excellent views at Rafan, also at Bosque Pomac.

Dusky-capped Flycatcher  Myiarchus tuberculifer  A pair was seen at Abra Porculla.

Pale-edged Flycatcher  Myiarchus cephalotes  Seen at Abra Patricia and Alto Mayo Road.

Sooty-crowned Flycatcher ◊  Myiarchus phaeocephalus  Seen at Casupe Road, also at Chaparri.

Brown-crested Flycatcher  Myiarchus tyrannulus  Seen at Jaen, also at Quebrado Upaquihua.

Scarlet-breasted Fruiteater ◊  Pipreola frontalis  Good views at Plataforma.

Masked Fruiteater  Pipreola pulchra  Endemic. Excellent views at Carlos Ridge.

Green-and-black Fruiteater  Pipreola riefferii  Seen on different occasions at Abra Patricia.

Grey-tailed Piha ◊  Snowornis subalaris  Good views at Plataforma.

Andean Cock-of-the-rock  Rupicola peruvianus  A female was seen at Alto Mayo, heard only at Escalera Ridge and Arenas Blancas.

Peruvian Plantcutter ◊  Phytotoma raimondii  Endemic. Excellent views of a pair at Rafan.

Red-crested Cotinga  Ampelion rubrocristatus  Several seen at Abra Barro Negro.

Sulphur-bellied Tyrant-Manakin ◊  Neopelma sulphureiventer  Seen at Quebrada Upaquihua, but not everyone managed to see it.

Jet Manakin ◊  Chloropipo unicolor  Two individuals at Abra Patricia, also was seen at Plataforma.

Yungas Manakin  Chiroxiphia boliviana  Good views at Plataforma.

Blue-rumped Manakin ◊ (Milky-rumped M)  Lepidothrix [isidorei] leucopygia  Several sights at Plataforma.

Painted Manakin ◊  Machaeropterus eckelberryi  Endemic. We struggled to find this one, finally we got to see a male at Morro de Calzada, where most of the group got to see it.

Fiery-capped Manakin ◊  Machaeropterus pyrocephalus  Seen at ACONABIKH, heard only at Arenas Blancas.

White-crowned Manakin  Pseudopipra pipra  Brief looks at Carlos Ridge.

Golden-headed Manakin  Ceratopipra erythrocephala  Excellent views at the active lek at ACONABIKH.

Black-tailed Myiobius  Myiobius atricaudus  Seen by Mark at Quebrada Upaquihua.

Masked Tityra  Tityra semifasciata

Foothill Schiffornis  Schiffornis aenea  Good views at Plataforma.

Yellow-cheeked Becard  Pachyramphus xanthogenys  Seen at Jaen.

Barred Becard  Pachyramphus versicolor  Seen at Abra Patricia.

Chestnut-crowned Becard  Pachyramphus castaneus  Good views at Plataforma. Write-in for the tour!

White-winged Becard  Pachyramphus polychopterus  One bird seen at Bellavista in the margins of Huallaga River.

Black-and-white Becard  Pachyramphus albogriseus  First seen at Chaparri, also at Abra Patricia and Leymebamba area.

Rufous-browed Peppershrike  Cyclarhis gujanensis  First seen at Casupe Road, as well in another localities.

Slaty-capped Shrike-Vireo  Vireolanius leucotis  One bird seen bellow Plataforma.

Olivaceous Greenlet  Hylophilus olivaceus (H)  Heard only at Carlos Ridge and Alto Mayo Road. 

Chivi Vireo  Vireo chivi  First seen at Jaen, also in different localities after that.

Brown-capped Vireo  Vireo leucophrys  Seen at Abra Patricia area and Leymebamba.

White-collared Jay  Cyanolyca viridicyanus  Seen at Leymebamba.

Violaceous Jay  Cyanocorax violaceus  Seen at ACONABIKH.

White-tailed Jay ◊  Cyanocorax mystacalis  A stunner! Seen at Chaparri.

Inca Jay  Cyanocorax yncas

Tumbes Swallow ◊  Tachycineta stolzmanni  Great views at close distance in Bosque Pomac.

White-winged Swallow  Tachycineta albiventer  Seen in one random stop somewhere near Rioja.

White-banded Swallow  Atticora fasciata  Seen at Huallaga River, also at Escalera Ridge.

Blue-and-white Swallow  Pygochelidon cyanoleuca

Brown-bellied Swallow  Orochelidon murina  Seen at Abra Barro Negro.

Southern Rough-winged Swallow  Stelgidopteryx ruficollis

Grey-breasted Martin  Progne chalybea

Chestnut-collared Swallow ◊  Petrochelidon rufocollaris  Big numbers at the villages near Tinajones Lake.

Black-capped Donacobius  Donacobius atricapilla  Good views at Rioja rice fields.

Fasciated Wren  Campylorhynchus fasciatus  Good views at Rafan, Chaparri, Jaen, and Balsas.

Thrush-like Wren  Campylorhynchus turdinus  Seen at Plataforma.

Grey-mantled Wren ◊  Odontorchilus branickii  Excellent views at Alto Mayo Road.

Sepia-brown Wren ◊  Cinnycerthia olivascens  A single bird seen at Abra Patricia.

Grass Wren  Cistothorus platensis  Seen at Abra Barro Negro.

Plain-tailed Wren ◊ (Grey-browed W)  Pheugopedius [euophrys] schulenbergi  Seen at San Lorenzo Ridge.

Coraya Wren  Pheugopedius coraya  Most of the group just heard it, but some managed to see it on the Plataforma Road.

Speckle-breasted Wren ◊  Pheugopedius [sclateri] paucimaculatus  Seen at Casupe Road.

Speckle-breasted Wren ◊ (Maranon W)  Pheugopedius [sclateri] sclateri  Seen at Jaen.

Buff-breasted Wren  Cantorchilus leucotis (H)  Heard only at Quebrada Upaquihua, also at the margins of Huallaga River.

Superciliated Wren ◊  Cantorchilus superciliaris  Good views at Tinajones Lake and Chaparri area.

House Wren (Southern H W)  Troglodytes [aedon] musculus

Mountain Wren  Troglodytes solstitialis  First seen at San Lorenzo Ridge, also at Abra Patricia.

Grey-breasted Wood Wren  Henicorhina leucophrys

Bar-winged Wood Wren ◊  Henicorhina leucoptera  Excellent views at Fundo Alto Nieva.

Southern Nightingale-Wren (Scaly-breasted W)  Microcerculus marginatus (H) Heard only at Morro de Calzada, Plataforma and Escalera Ridge.

Chestnut-breasted Wren  Cyphorhinus thoracicus  Good views at Abra Patricia area.

Chattering Gnatwren  Ramphocaenus sticturus  Seen at Quebrada Upaquihua, an uncommon and local species in Peru.

Tropical Gnatcatcher ◊ (Maranon G)  Polioptila [plumbea] maior  Seen at Jaen, Balsas and San Marcos. Each of these localities are part of the Marañon River drainage.

White-browed Gnatcatcher  Polioptila bilineata  Seen at Rafan, Casupe, Chaparri and Pomac.

Long-tailed Mockingbird  Mimus longicaudatus

Andean Solitaire  Myadestes ralloides  Seen at Abra Patricia.

Speckled Nightingale-Thrush  Catharus maculatus  With persistence and a bit of strategy we got to see it at Plataforma.

Slaty-backed Nightingale-Thrush  Catharus fuscater (H)  Heard only at Abra Patricia.

Pale-eyed Thrush  Turdus leucops (LO)  Seen by leader at Fundo Alto Nieva.

Plumbeous-backed Thrush ◊  Turdus reevei  Good views at Casupe Road and Abra Porculla.

Chiguanco Thrush  Turdus chiguanco

Glossy-black Thrush  Turdus serranus  Seen at Abra Patricia, heard only at Fundo Alto Nieva.

Great Thrush  Turdus fuscater

Maranon Thrush ◊  Turdus maranonicus  Seen at Utcubamba Valley.

Black-billed Thrush  Turdus ignobilis  Seen at Waqanki, and Rioja rice fields.

White-necked Thrush  Turdus albicollis  Seen at ACONABIKH.

Pale-breasted Thrush  Turdus leucomelas  Seen at Waqanki.

White-capped Dipper  Cinclus leucocephalus  Excellent views at Leymebamba.

House Sparrow (introduced)  Passer domesticus

Peruvian Pipit ◊  Anthus peruvianus  Seen at Playa Santa Rosa.

Paramo Pipit  Anthus bogotensis  Seen at Calla Calla Pass (Abra Barro Negro).

Lesser Goldfinch  Spinus psaltria  Seen at Balsas.

Olivaceous Siskin  Spinus olivaceus  Seen at Abra Patricia.

Hooded Siskin  Spinus magellanicus  Seen at Leymebamba and different localities in Cajamarca.

Golden-rumped Euphonia  Chlorophonia cyanocephala  Good views at Plataforma and Carlos Ridge.

Blue-naped Chlorophonia  Chlorophonia cyanea  Seen at Plataforma.

Purple-throated Euphonia  Euphonia chlorotica  Seen at Jaen, Rioja and Balsas.

White-lored Euphonia  Euphonia chrysopasta  Seen at Waqanki, Plataforma Road and Escalera Ridge.

White-vented Euphonia  Euphonia minuta  One male seen at Waqanki.

Thick-billed Euphonia  Euphonia laniirostris  First seen at Casupe Road and Chaparri, also at Waqanki and other localities too.

Orange-bellied Euphonia  Euphonia xanthogaster  First seen at Abra Patricia, also at other localities.

Bronze-green Euphonia  Euphonia mesochrysa  Seen at Alto Mayo and Plataforma.

Yellow-throated Bush Tanager  Chlorospingus flavigularis  Seen at Plataforma and Alto Mayo Road.

Ashy-throated Bush Tanager  Chlorospingus canigularis  Seen in both times that we pass the Alto Mayo Road.

Common Bush Tanager  Chlorospingus flavopectus  Common bird at Abra Patricia.

Tumbes Sparrow ◊  Rhynchospiza stolzmanni  Seen well at Chaparri, but it was a bit harder than usual.

Yellow-browed Sparrow  Ammodramus aurifrons  A few seen in the east, the first at Fundo Alto Nieva.

Grey-browed Brushfinch  Arremon assimilis  Excellent views at Abra Porculla, also at Leymebamba area.

Black-capped Sparrow  Arremon abeillei  Good views at Casupe Road.

Black-capped Sparrow ◊ (Maranon S)  Arremon [abeillei] nigriceps  Seen well descending the Marañon canyon at Balsas area.

Chestnut-capped Brushfinch  Arremon brunneinucha  Good views at Plataforma.

Rufous-collared Sparrow  Zonotrichia capensis

White-headed Brushfinch ◊  Atlapetes albiceps  Seen at Chaparri.

Yellow-breasted Brushfinch (Northern Rufous-naped B)  Atlapetes latinuchus  This one we saw it very well at San Lorenzo Ridge and Abra Patricia. 

Yellow-breasted Brushfinch ◊ (Baron’s B)  Atlapetes [latinuchus] baroni  We saw A. latinuchus baroni at Leymebamba, as well in Cruz Conga.  But we also saw a different subspecies at Abra Gavilán which is A. latinuchus chugurensis that has a distribution in the Pacific slope of Cajamarca in north-western Peru.

White-winged Brushfinch  Atlapetes leucopterus  Good views at Casupe Road and Abra Porculla.

Bay-crowned Brushfinch ◊  Atlapetes seebohmi  Seen well at Abra Porculla.

Peruvian Meadowlark  Leistes bellicosus  Best views at Chaparri and Pomac, also seen in locations of the Marañon Valley.

Yellow-billed Cacique  Amblycercus holosericeus  Seen at San Lorenzo Ridge.

Russet-backed Oropendola  Psarocolius angustifrons  Bigger numbers at ACONABIKH, scattered sights in Waqanki and Plataforma area.

Crested Oropendola  Psarocolius decumanus  One individual seen at Plataforma.

Olive Oropendola  Psarocolius bifasciatus  Seen on the road to Plataforma.

Yellow-rumped Cacique  Cacicus cela  Common in the eastern section of the tour.

Subtropical Cacique  Cacicus uropygialis  Good views at Fundo Alto Nieva and Alto Mayo Road.

Northern Mountain Cacique  Cacicus leucoramphus  First seen at Abra Patricia, latter at Leymebamba area.

Yellow-tailed Oriole  Icterus mesomelas  Seen on different occasions at Jaen area, also at Bagua.

White-edged Oriole ◊  Icterus graceannae  Good views at Casupe Road.

Orange-backed Troupial  Icterus croconotus  Good views at Rioja.

Epaulet Oriole  Icterus cayanensis  Seen at Plataforma, also coming to fruit feeders at Arenas Blancas Reserve.

Giant Cowbird  Molothrus oryzivorus  Seen at Bellavista rice fields area on both occasions that we pass there.

Shiny Cowbird  Molothrus bonariensis  First one was a young bird near Olmos.  Big groups at Rioja rice fields.

Scrub Blackbird ◊  Dives warczewiczi  Common around villages along the Pacific coast, also in the dry areas of Cajamarca.

Oriole Blackbird  Gymnomystax mexicanus  Two individuals seen at Rioja rice fields.

Pale-eyed Blackbird ◊  Agelasticus xanthophthalmus  3 individuals seen well at Rioja rice fields, maybe the best place on earth to see this rare and local species.

Black-lored Yellowthroat ◊ (Maranon Y)  Geothlypis [auricularis] peruviana  Good views at Hacienda Limon in the Marañon Valley. 

Tropical Parula  Setophaga pitiayumi  Common at Casupe and Chaparri [pacifica], also common in the east side [alarum].

Citrine Warbler  Myiothlypis luteoviridis  Seen at San Lorenzo Ridge.

Black-crested Warbler  Myiothlypis nigrocristata  Seen at several locations like Abra Porculla, Pomacochas, Leymebamba and Cajamarca.

Grey-and-gold Warbler ◊  Myiothlypis fraseri  At least 4 individuals at Casupe Road, but a bit challenging to see it this time.

Russet-crowned Warbler  Myiothlypis coronata  Seen at Abra Patricia and Leymebamba area.

Three-banded Warbler ◊  Basileuterus trifasciatus  Common at Casupe Road and Abra Porculla.

Three-striped Warbler  Basileuterus tristriatus  A regular bird in the mix-species flocks in places like Fundo Alto Nieva, Alto Mayo Road, Carlos Ridge and Plataforma.

Slate-throated Whitestart  Myioborus miniatus

Spectacled Whitestart  Myioborus melanocephalus  Seen at Abra Patricia, Leymebamba and Cruz Conga.

Tooth-billed Tanager  Piranga lutea  First seen at Casupe Road, also at Utcubamba Valley and Cajamarca area.

White-winged Tanager  Piranga leucoptera  Seen each day at Plataforma.

Red-crowned Ant Tanager  Habia rubica  Good views at Waqanki.

Olive Tanager  Chlorothraupis frenata  Seen at Escalera Ridge, heard only along the Plataforma road.

Golden Grosbeak (Southern Yellow G)  Pheucticus chrysogaster  Good views at Casupe Road, Abra Porculla and San Marcos.

White-capped Tanager  Sericossypha albocristata  Excellent views at Abra Patricia, also at Leymebamba.

Grey-winged Inca Finch ◊  Incaspiza ortizi  Endemic. Good views at Hacienda Limon, in the Marañon Valley.

Buff-bridled Inca Finch ◊  Incaspiza laeta  Endemic. The easiest Inca Finch, performed really well at Balsas.

Little Inca Finch ◊  Incaspiza watkinsi  Endemic. Finally, we managed good views at Bagua.

Green Honeycreeper  Chlorophanes spiza  Common in the eastern lowlands and Plataforma.

Golden-collared Honeycreeper  Iridophanes pulcherrimus  A few seen at Plataforma.

Yellow-backed Tanager  Hemithraupis flavicollis  One individual seen at the restaurant at Escalera Ridge.

Guira Tanager  Hemithraupis guira  A pair seen at Waqanki.

Swallow Tanager  Tersina viridis  Not as common this time, just 2 at Waqanki and 2 at the Plataforma Road.

Purple Honeycreeper  Cyanerpes caeruleus  First one at Rioja, also at Morro de Calzada and Escalera Ridge.

Short-billed Honeycreeper  Cyanerpes nitidus  Good views of a couple at Escalera Ridge.

Blue Dacnis  Dacnis cayana  Several sights on the eastern side of the tour.

Black-faced Dacnis  Dacnis lineata  Seen at Waqanki, Plataforma and ACONABIKH.

Bluish-grey Saltator  Saltator coerulescens  Seen at Rioja, heard only at Plataforma.

Streaked Saltator  Saltator striatipectus  Three different subspecies were seen on the trip, the ones at Rafán [immaculatus], at Chaparri and Casupe [flavidicollis], and the ones in the regions of Marañon Valley like Jaen and Balsas [peruvianus].

Buff-throated Saltator  Saltator maximus  A few sights in Plataforma and along the Plataforma Road.

Black-cowled Saltator ◊  Saltator nigriceps  Good views at Abra Porculla of a single bird.

Golden-billed Saltator  Saltator aurantiirostris  Seen at Abra Gavilán, Cajamarca.

Bananaquit  Coereba flaveola  At least three different subspecies seen on the tour: northwest [pacifica], Marañon Valley [magnirostris], east [dispar], possibly another subspecies at Escalera Ridge [intermedia].

Dull-colored Grassquit  Asemospiza obscura  Seen at different localities of the Marañon Valley like Jaen, Balsas and San Marcos.

Blue-black Grassquit  Volatinia jacarina  Seen at different localities like Chaparri, Jaen, and Bellavista.

Rufous-crested Tanager  Creurgops verticalis  Very good views bellow Abra Patricia.

White-shouldered Tanager  Loriotus luctuosus  Seen at Quebrada Upaquihua.

Red Pileated Finch  Coryphospingus cucullatus  Locally common at Jaen area.

White-lined Tanager  Tachyphonus rufus  One male seen at Rioja rice fields.

Red-shouldered Tanager  Tachyphonus phoenicius  A pair was seen in the rocky outcrops at Waqanki.

Fulvous Shrike-Tanager  Lanio fulvus  Excellent views of one male at ACONABIKH.

Huallaga Tanager ◊  Ramphocelus melanogaster  Endemic. Seen at Rioja, Waqanki and Arenas Blancas.

Silver-beaked Tanager  Ramphocelus carbo  First seen at Jaen, also at Plataforma and Escalera Ridge.

Yellow-bellied Seedeater  Sporophila nigricollis  A single male was seen at Pomacochas Lake.

Chestnut-bellied Seed Finch  Sporophila angolensis  A single male at Rioja.

Black-billed Seed Finch ◊  Sporophila atrirostris  Nice views of one male at Rioja. A rare and local species.

Parrot-billed Seedeater ◊  Sporophila peruviana  Good views at Chaparri.

Drab Seedeater ◊  Sporophila simplex  A few scattered sights at Rafán, Chaparri and Jaén.

Chestnut-bellied Seedeater  Sporophila castaneiventris  Common in the eastern lowlands.

Cinereous Finch ◊  Piezorina cinerea  Endemic. Three birds were seen at Rafán.

Grey-hooded Bush Tanager  Cnemoscopus rubrirostris  Seen at Abra Patricia with mix-species flocks.

Drab Hemispingus  Pseudospingus xanthophthalmus  Seen at Barro Negro and Leymebamba.

Collared Warbling Finch ◊  Poospiza hispaniolensis  Just two individuals were seen our last day in Chaparri.

White-browed Hemispingus  Kleinothraupis auricularis  Endemic. Excellent views at San Lorenzo Ridge.

Oleaginous Hemispingus  Sphenopsis frontalis  Just seen at Abra Patricia, for the group who tried again the Owlet.

Buff-bellied Tanager ◊  Thlypopsis inornata  Seen at Jaén, also descending the Marañon canyon at Balsas.

Superciliaried Hemispingus ◊ (White-bellied H)  Thlypopsis [superciliaris] leucogastra  Seen at Leymebamba and Barro Negro.

Rufous-chested Tanager  Thlypopsis ornata  Seen at Leymebamba area, at Rangra Wasi.

Black-goggled Tanager  Trichothraupis melanops  A write-in for the tour, rare species in northern Peru. Seen at Carlos Ridge.

Plain-tailed Warbling Finch ◊  Microspingus alticola  Endemic. Good views of a pair at Cruz Conga.

Capped Conebill  Conirostrum albifrons  Just seen in one of the mix-species flocks at Leymebamba.

Blue-backed Conebill  Conirostrum sitticolor  Seen at San Lorenzo Ridge and Abra Barro Negro.

Cinereous Conebill  Conirostrum cinereum  Good views at Chonta.

Sulphur-throated Finch ◊  Sicalis taczanowskii  Huge numbers (1000+) on fields on the way to Rafan, and just a few at Chaparri.

Saffron Finch  Sicalis flaveola

Grassland Yellow Finch  Sicalis luteola  Seen at Pomacochas Lake.

Peruvian Sierra Finch  Phrygilus punensis  Seen at Cruz Conga.

Ash-breasted Sierra Finch  Geospizopsis plebejus  Several individuals were seen at Abra Porculla.

Plumbeous Sierra Finch  Geospizopsis unicolor  Seen at Calla Calla pass (Barro Negro).

Streaked Dacnis ◊  Xenodacnis petersi  One female seen at Cruz Conga.

Band-tailed Seedeater  Catamenia analis  A single bird at Chonta.

Plain-colored Seedeater  Catamenia inornata  Seen at Abra Barro Negro.

Golden-eyed Flowerpiercer  Diglossa glauca  Good views of one bird bellow Abra Patricia.

Bluish Flowerpiercer  Diglossa caerulescens  Seen at Abra Patricia and Leymebamba (Rangra Wasi).

Masked Flowerpiercer  Diglossa cyanea  Best views at Barro Negro, also a single bird at Abra Patricia.

Rusty Flowerpiercer  Diglossa sittoides  Good views at Abra Porculla.

Moustached Flowerpiercer  Diglossa mystacalis  Regular bird at Abra Barro Negro.

White-sided Flowerpiercer  Diglossa albilatera  Common around Abra Patricia.

Black-throated Flowerpiercer  Diglossa brunneiventris  Seen at Cruz Conga.

Vermilion Tanager ◊  Calochaetes coccineus  Excellent views at Alto Mayo Road.

Yellow-throated Tanager  Iridosornis analis  Good views at Fundo Alto Nieva, Alto Mayo Road and Carlos Ridge.

Yellow-scarfed Tanager ◊  Iridosornis reinhardti  Endemic. Excellent views at Abra Patricia.

Fawn-breasted Tanager  Pipraeidea melanonota  Seen at Leymebamba (Rangra Wasi).

Streak-crowned Mountain Tanager  Dubusia stictocephala  Endemic. A recent split from Buff-breasted Mountain Tanager.  We saw a single bird at Abra Barro Negro on the Marañon side.

Hooded Mountain Tanager  Buthraupis montana  Several groups were seen at Abra Patricia and Barro Negro.

Blue-capped Tanager  Sporathraupis cyanocephala  Seen at Leymebamba area.

Grass-green Tanager  Chlorornis riefferii  Good views at Abra Patricia.

Blue-winged Mountain Tanager  Anisognathus somptuosus  First seen at Fundo Alto Nieva, also at Plataforma.

Scarlet-bellied Mountain Tanager  Anisognathus igniventris  A few were seen at Abra Barro Negro.

Orange-eared Tanager  Chlorochrysa calliparaea  Just seen by leaders and one participant at Alto Mayo Road.

Magpie Tanager  Cissopis leverianus  Common bird at Plataforma and Plataforma Road.

Black-faced Tanager  Schistochlamys melanopis  Seen at Fundo Alto Nieva and Moyobamba area.

Red-capped Cardinal  Paroaria gularis  Several were seen at Rioja rice fields and Bellavista.

Dotted Tanager ◊  Ixothraupis varia  Three birds were seen at Escalera Ridge.

Spotted Tanager  Ixothraupis punctata  Several were seen at Alto Mayo Road, Carlos Ridge and Plataforma.

Yellow-bellied Tanager  Ixothraupis xanthogastra  A single one at Waqanki, also seen at Plataforma.

Golden-naped Tanager  Chalcothraupis ruficervix  Several were seen at Plataforma area.

Blue-grey Tanager  Thraupis episcopus  Two different forms were seen on the tour: on the west in villages outside Chaparri [quaesita], in the eastern areas [caerulea].

Palm Tanager  Thraupis palmarum  Common in the eastern side, mostly in degraded habitats.

Silver-backed Tanager  Stilpnia viridicollis  First seen at Abra Porculla, also at Huembo and Abra Patricia.

Straw-backed Tanager  Stilpnia argyrofenges  Best views at Plataforma, brief looks at Alto Mayo Road.

Blue-necked Tanager  Stilpnia cyanicollis  Common in the eastern side.

Masked Tanager  Stilpnia nigrocincta  Seen at Waqanki, heard only at Morro de Calzada.

Blue-and-black Tanager  Tangara vassorii  Seen at Abra Barro Negro.

Beryl-spangled Tanager  Tangara nigroviridis  A few were seen at San Lorenzo Ridge, Abra Patricia and Leymebamba.

Blue-browed Tanager  Tangara cyanotis  Good views at Plataforma.

Metallic-green Tanager  Tangara labradorides  Good views at Fundo Alto Nieva.

Bay-headed Tanager  Tangara gyrola  Common in the eastern foothills.

Golden-eared Tanager  Tangara chrysotis  Best views at Alto Mayo Road, another sight at Plataforma.

Saffron-crowned Tanager  Tangara xanthocephala  Common at Abra Patricia, also seen at Huembo and Plataforma.

Flame-faced Tanager  Tangara parzudakii  Regular at Abra Patricia and Plataforma.

Green-and-gold Tanager  Tangara schrankii  Regular in the eastern lowlands and foothills forest.

Golden Tanager  Tangara arthus  A few, at Alto Mayo road, Plataforma, and Escalera Ridge.

Turquoise Tanager  Tangara mexicana  The one that is not Turquoise or Mexican, a few at Waqanki, Morro de Calzada and Plataforma Road.

Paradise Tanager  Tangara chilensis  I noticed that some individuals at Plataforma area had yellow-rumped, which is a subspecies of the upper Huallaga Valley [chlorocorys], other ones like in ACONABICK or Alto Mayo had red rumped which is the widespread form [nominate form chilensis].

Opal-crowned Tanager  Tangara callophrys  Seen on the road to Plataforma.

MAMMALS 

Sechuran Fox  Lycalopex sechurae  A very acrobatic fox that managed to climb to the roof of Chaparri buildings.

South American Sea Lion  Otaria flavescens  A death animal at Playa Santa Rosa.

Eastern Lowland Olingo  Bassaricyon alleni  Great views of two individuals at Plataforma.

Tayra  Eira barbara  Good views of one that crossed the Alto Mayo Road twice, when we were driving slowly.

Collared Peccary  Pecari tajacu (LO) Leader only, on the way to my room at Chaparri.

Saddle-back Tamarin  Saguinus fuscicollis  Best views at Arenas Blancas, some managed to see it at Waqanki as well.

Andean Night Monkey (Andean N M)  Aotus miconax  Some were lucky to see them at Abra Patricia.

San Martin Titi Monkey  Plecturocebus oenanthe  Excellent views at Quebrada Upaquihua. Critically endangered.

Peruvian Yellow-tailed Woolly Monkey  Lagothrix flavicauda  A group seen at the distance at Alto Mayo Road, but good views with the telescope.  Critically endangered species.

Black Agouti  Dasyprocta fuliginosa (LO)  One crossed the Alto Mayo Road very quickly, just seen by leaders and Mario.

Amazon Dwarf Squirrel  Microsciurus flaviventer  One came to the Tinamous-Wood-Quails hide at Arenas Blancas.  Moving very quickly true the tree trunks and the ground. Maybe it came to feed on the food but I can’t confirm that, certainly we got close views of it.

Northern Amazon Red Squirrel  Sciurus igniventris  Brief views at Plataforma.

Dolphin sp.  We got some views of some dolphins from the shore at Playa Santa Rosa, but no idea what species could be.