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VENEZUELA

15 - 23 March 1997

by Jim Hengeveld

Despite time limitations, Susan and I were anxious to take our first trip to South America (it seems like half of Birdchat has been there within the past couple of months!) over spring break (March 15-23).  We went to Venezuela with my daughter, Lisha (18), who did almost all of the communicating for us, and my son, Matt (15).  We essentially added half a day to our trip by flying to Miami on Friday night (3/14; we added a few year-birds at the motel in the morning--Boat-t. Grackle, Eur.  Collared-Dove and numerous Palm Warblers) and taking an earlier flight into Caracas on Saturday.  We were therefore able to be at our first birding destination, Rancho Grande, by Saturday night (even though it was dark, and the gate was locked when we arrived, and we had to climb the fence, and pound on the door, and assure them we had reservations, and.....)

First, a comment on the thread concerning organized tours vs.  on-your-own birding.  Susan and I have been on several self-planned birding trips to other countries.  They have generally been quite successful from a purely birding perspective (quantity and quality of birds seen per time spent) and have definitely been successful in terms of self-gratification and sense of accomplishment.  However, as others have pointed out, the choice of "organized tour" vs.  "on-one's-own" is very complex and lots of issues are involved.  As Nancy Newfield and others have pointed out, going it on one's own often involves "hassles of logistics and language inadequacies." In addition, the driving and the navigating (as was the case in Venezuela) CAN be quite stressful.  Then, as Marty Michener and Jim Danzenbaker pointed out, there's the issue of homework.

If you want to have a successful do-it-yourself trip, you HAVE to do lots of preparation--finding out what species are possible in a given area, how to differentiate those species from similar ones, and listening to tapes to start to get a handle on vocalizations.  Certainly, all of this preparation would make an organized tour more enjoyable and more of a learning experience as well.

For me, the preparation for the trip is a big part of the enjoyment of the trip.  The flip side of this issue is that it can be very frustrating NOT to have tapes for many of the conspicuously singing birds in an area.  A knowledgeable leader can be very useful for identifying vocalizations.  I was ecstatic to run into a tour group at the top of the Choroni road (in Henri Pittier NP) and have the leader invite us to bird along with them as they worked their way down the mountain.  I had previously shown the group a roosting Tropical Screech-Owl that I had found at Rancho Grande, and they were very appreciative.  It was a joy to be able to attach names to some of the sounds we had been hearing--Highland Tinamou, Plain-backed and Chestnut-crowned Antpitta, Short-tailed Antthrush (I sure wish there were a tape available with antpittas and anthrushes!).  Picking his brain for half an hour enabled me to learn a great deal--chalk one up for organized tours.

Susan and I are NOT averse to going on tours.  In areas where the logistics are very difficult to impossible, we will almost certainly join a tour group.  The fact that my children have gone on several of the trips we've taken, the ability to do the trips when WE were able to do them, and the ability to do the trips a bit more cheaply all contributed to our making arrangements on our own.  I think we learned a LOT more doing the trips as we did than had we taken tours.

Acting on the advice of David Keating, we had contacted Venezuela Audubon Society by email prior to the trip and they made all of our lodging reservations for us (we wired money to a bank acct.  that they have in a Miami bank).  They also confirmed our rental car reservations through Budget ($400 for 9 days in a Fiat Premio--no major problems, thank goodness!) & arranged permits to stay at Rancho Grande.  This certainly took away some of the stress associated with finding places to spend the night and minimized some of the logistics problems.

For this summary, I'm going to give just our basic itinerary and some highlights.  I'm working on a more detailed annotated list and, when finished, I'd be happy to send it along to anyone who wants it.

For the first few days, we were in Henri Pittier Nat.  Park, birding along both the Ocumare and Choroni roads.  One of the highlights of the entire trip was meeting up with Carlos Bosque, a professor at Simon Bolivar University, and a group of his ornithology students, at Rancho Grande.  In fact, after the long and somewhat arduous journey that we had on Saturday just to get to Rancho Grande, we learned that Carlos & his group were going out for a night hike on the trails behind Rancho Grande.  They invited us to come along, so we joined them--wonderful looks at some incredible red & black millipedes and a close-up look at a male COLLARED TROGON.

The following morning, after birding on our own for a while (BAND-TAILED GUAN, BLOOD-EARED PARAKEET, LONG-TAILED SYLPH, GROOVE-BILLED TOUCANET, GOLDEN-CROWNED and CINNAMON FLYCATCHER (both nesting), PALE-EDGED FLYCATCHER, and our first colorful dose of tanagers), we joined Carlos and his group for a couple of hours at their banding station at Portachuelo Pass (the high point on the Ocumare road).  There, we watched their mistnets for a while and handled such treasures as GREEN-TAILED EMERALD, BRONZY INCA, WHITE-WINGED TANAGER, and WHITE-COLLARED SWIFT (90 grams!!  and incredibly strong).  Talk about two contrasting species from the same order (Apodiformes)--Green-tailed Emerald & White-col.  Swift--one ~2g and the other, 90g!

While we were at the pass, a pair of SOLITARY EAGLEs took their initial (10 am) flight for the day.  Other birds seen or heard (H) at Rancho Grande or along the Ocumare road were VENEZ.  WOOD-QUAIL (H), TROPICAL SCREECH-OWL, RED-BILLED SCYTHEBILL, PLAIN-BACKED ANTPITTA, HANDSOME FRUITEATER, VENEZ.  BRISTLE-TYRANT, MOUSTACHED WREN, GREEN HONEYCREEPER, and numerous tanagers and thrushes.  Lisha was thrilled when she found and showed us some Red Howler Monkeys foraging in a tree very close to the road.  She also took a picture of a hawk that I'm still trying to figure out!

Along the Choroni road and down to the coast on that road, some of the highlights were: FASCIATED TIGER-HERON (downstream from the Museo de Cadafe in La Planta--Lisha spotted it), SCARLET-FRONTED PARAKEET, ORANGE-W.  PARROT, BAND-WINGED NIGHTJAR (roosting), BLACK-THROATED MANGO, BUFFY HUMMINGBIRD, GLITTERING-THROATED EMERALD, WHITE-VENTED PLUMELETEER, WHITE-TIPPED QUETZAL, BLACK-THROATED SPINETAIL, CHESTNUT-CROWNED ANTPITTA (H), SHORT-TAILED ANTTHRUSH, LANCE-TAILED MANAKIN, VENEZ.  FLYCATCHER, FOREST ELAENIA, MOUSE-COLORED TYRANNULET, BLUISH FLOWER-PIERCER, RUFOUS-CHEEKED TANAGER, THICK-BILLED EUPHONIA, BLUE-CAPPED TANAGER, STREAKED SALTATOR, CHESTNUT-CAPPED BRUSH-FINCH (just Lisha saw), OCHRE-BREASTED BRUSH-FINCH and LARGE-BILLED SEED-FINCH (in one of the small towns close to the coast).  For two nights, we stayed at Club Cotoperix in Puerto Colombia at the end of the Choroni road (right near the beach)--lodging and meals were excellent.

Our next two nights were spent in Sanare (just southwest of Barquisimeto) at the Posada el Cerrito (recommended by Mary Lou Goodwin in her guide, "Birding in Venezuela").  From Sanare, we could easily bird in Yacambu' N.  P., at the edge of the Andes.  En route from Maracay to Barquisimeto, we passed 2 GREATER ANIs perched on a fence at the edge of a wet field.  Just as we were entering Sanare, we stopped alongside the road and saw, perhaps, one of the "best" birds of the trip, a MOUSTACHED BRUSH-FINCH, in a thicket alongside the road.  This species is not listed on the Yacambu' NP list and its range in de Schauensee & Phelps ("Birds of Venezuela") is recorded as e.  Tachira to central Merida (high elevation Andes).  It is a very distinctive bird and there was no doubt about the ID.  There was also a FAWN-BREASTED TANAGER here.  In the flowers at the edge of the parking lot of our motel was a GREEN-TAILED EMERALD.

The following morning, we headed out early into Yacambu'.  At our first stop, just as it was getting light, a SEMICOLLARED NIGHTHAWK, looking like a large bat, was making its final forays.  There was also a small group of EMERALD TOUCANETs there.  At our next stop, we saw at very close range, a pair of MASKED TROGONs.  Our next stop was one of our favorite birding, and aesthetically pleasing, spots of the whole trip, and we would stop here two more times--on our way back out in the afternoon, as well as the following morning.  It was a beautiful cloud forest with a mountain stream gurgling down the hillside.  SPOT-CROWNED WOODCREEPERs were feeding young at a cavity nest right near the roadside, there were almost always active feeding flocks passing through, and we saw (twice) another high-Andes species--a WHITE-RUMPED HAWK--a very dark buteo with a Swainson's Hawk-like pattern of white wing linings contrasting with darker flight feathers, but with a distinct white rump and evenly spaced tail bands.

Other species of note at this spot were: PLAIN-BROWN WOOD-CREEPER, PEARLED TREERUNNER, STREAKED XENOPS, VARIEGATED BRISTLE-TYRANT, SLATY ELAENIA, ANDEAN SOLITAIRE, SAFFRON-CROWNED and BLACK-CAPPED TANAGERs (among many others), and a couple more MASKED TROGONs.  We also saw a becard whose ID we are still unsure about: it had a black crown that contrasted with a lighter nape and back, black wings with white wing bars (the upper consisting of a row of white dots), a light (whitish) underside but with a creamy yellow throat and upper breast--could it perhaps be a young male White-winged B.  or a Black-and-White B.  (any ideas?).  The next spot, at a small lake, was also quite productive (and also beautiful) as we saw: RUFOUS-VENTED CHACHALACAs, SPECKLED HUMMINGBIRD, RUSTY-MARGINED FLYCATCHER, RUFOUS-BREASTED WREN (H), ORIOLE BLACKBIRD, a GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER, many more tanagers, including BLUE-NECKED T.  and BLACK-HEADED T., and RUFOUS-COLLARED SPARROW.

After stopping at our favorite Yacambu' spot for an hour the following morning, we headed off to Hato Pinero in the llanos, where we stayed for two nights.  Although very expensive, this was a relaxing and very birdy spot at which to end our trip.  Before arriving at the entrance road to the ranch, we stopped at a couple of roadside ponds where we saw our first SCARLET IBIS (!), WHISTLING and COCOI (WHITE-NECKED) HERONs, WATTLED JACANA, and SOUTHERN LAPWING.  There were also RUDDY-BREASTED SEEDEATERs in some of the weedy patches on the sides of the road.  On our drive into the ranch on the 22 km.  dirt road, we stopped to look at two PLAIN THORNBIRDs at one of their huge stick nests.

A little ways further, we all watched in awe as two SCARLET MACAWs flew over--I was not prepared for the immense size of these birds--truly spectacular.  We also saw COMMON, PLAIN-BREASTED and RUDDY GROUND-DOVEs on the way in.  On our first evening truck ride, we had nice looks at a covey of CRESTED BOBWHITE and also saw: BLUE-TAILED EMERALD; GREEN, BUFF-NECKED, WHISPERING (BARE-FACED) and SHARP-TAILED IBIS; RUFESCENT TIGER-HERON; PALE-VENTED PIGEON; RED-BILLED and YELLOW-HEADED PARROTs; BROWN-THROATED PARAKEET; LINEATED WOODPECKER; STRONG-BILLED WOODCREEPER; PIED WATER-TYRANT; WHITE-HEADED MARSH-TYRANT; LESSER KISKADEE; WHITE-WINGED SWALLOW; STRIPE-BACKED WREN; and SAFFRON FINCH (which were around the feeders just outside the entrance).

The following morning, on our truck ride, we added: CAPPED and STRIATED HERONs; JABIRU; LESSER YELLOW-HEADED VULTURE; CRANE, SAVANNA and BLACK-COLLARED HAWKs; YELLOW-KNOBBED CURASSOW; HOATZIN; SUNBITTERN; GLITTERING-THROATED EMERALD; AMAZON KINGFISHER; SOOTY-HEADED, SOUTHERN BEARDLESS-, and YELLOW TYRANNULETs; WHITE-BEARDED FLYCATCHER; RED-CAPPED CARDINAL; and GRAY SEEDEATER.  We also had very close-up looks at Capuchin Monkeys.  That afternoon, we toured the biological research station located right next door (where we saw BROWN-CHESTED MARTIN and TROUPIAL).  One of the research groups had had a dangerous encounter with one of the radio-collared jaguars on which they were conducting research--two of their members were mauled, though neither incident was fatal.

Later in the afternoon, we went on another truck ride that was punctuated with a boat ride and was concluded with a return after dark during which we spotlighted for mammals/birds.  Additional species seen were: MAGUARI STORK, LARGE-BILLED TERN, PHEASANT CUCKOO, CRIMSON-CRESTED WOODPECKER, FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER, and YELLOW ORIOLE and on the ride back, we saw and heard PAURAQUE, WHITE-TAILED NIGHTJAR, and BAND-TAILED NIGHTHAWK (H).  Mammals seen included lots of capybara, 6 fox, and an opposum-like creature.

On our final truck ride the following morning, we saw two HORNED SCREAMERs, several WHITE-FACED WHISTLING-DUCKs with lots of BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCKs, several SNAIL KITES, GREATER ANI, FORK-TAILED PALM-SWIFT, YELLOW-CHINNED SPINETAIL, BLACK-CAPPED DONACOBIUS, and a flock of YELLOW-HOODED BLACKBIRDs.  On our way out, we spotted a couple of KING VULTUREs, and further up the road, we stopped at a large lake, where we added PIED LAPWING.

Our final night in Venezuela was at the Hotel Tojamar (recommended by Venezuelan Aud.  Soc.) in Macuto, which is on the coast and only 10-15 minutes from the airport.  Matt & Lisha became quite ill that night which made the journey home the following day a little more worrisome.  But we had some antibiotics along with us and they were feeling a bit better within 24 hours.

I can not say that it was a relaxing spring break....in fact, it was quite stressful.  On the other hand, it was a wonderful experience, the birding was fantastic, and we all have very fond memories from the trip.  Bird-wise, we had just over 300 species for the trip with ~165 lifers for both Susan and me.  It was a superb introduction to South American birding.

TRIP LIST:

Sites:
   RG-O: Rancho Grande or along the Ocumare road (Henri Pittier NP)
   CH-H/L: Choroni road--highlands/lowlands (HPNP)
   S: Sanare (near Yacambu' NP)
   YNP: Yacambu' NP
   HP: in or around Hato Pinero
   E: virtually everywhere
   (H): heard only
   (c): common-abundant
 
 
# COMMON NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME WHERE OBSERVED
1 Highland Tinamou  Nothocercus bonapartei CH-H, YNP [H]
2 Least Grebe  Tachybaptus dominicus YNP, HP
3 Brown Pelican  Pelecanus occidentalis all coastal locations
4 Neotropic Cormorant  Phalacrocorax olivaceus common in most aquatic habitats
5 Anhinga  Anhinga anhinga HP
6 Magnificent Frigatebird  Fregata magnificens CH-L [c]
7 Whistling Heron  Syrigma sibilatrix HP
8 Little Blue Heron  Egretta caerulea HP
9 Snowy Egret  Egretta thula HP
10 Capped Heron  Pilherodius pileatus HP
11 Great Blue Heron  Ardea herodias HP [c]
12 Cocoi (White-necked) Heron  Ardea cocoi HP [c]
13 Great Egret  Casmerodius alba common in most aquatic habitats
14 Cattle Egret  Bubulcus ibis E-very common
15 Striated Heron  Butorides striatus HP
16 Yellow-crowned Night-Heron  Nyctanassa violacea HP
17 Black-crowned Night-Heron  Nycticorax nycticorax HP
18 Boat-billed Heron  Cochlearius cochlearius HP
19 Fasciated Tiger-Heron  Tigrisoma fasciatum CH-L
20 Rufescent Tiger-Heron  Tigrisoma lineatum HP [c]
21 Wood Stork  Mycteria americana HP
22 Maguari Stork  Ciconia maguari HP
23 Jabiru  Jabiru mycteria HP
24 White Ibis  Eudocimus albus HP
25 Scarlet Ibis  Eudocimus ruber HP
26 Whispering (Bare-faced) Ibis  Phimosus infuscatus HP
27 Glossy Ibis  Plegadis falcinellus HP
28 Sharp-tailed Ibis  Cercibis oxycerca HP
29 Buff-necked Ibis  Theristicus caudatus HP
30 Green Ibis  Mesembrinibis cayennensis HP
31 Roseate Spoonbill  Ajaia ajaja HP
32 Horned Screamer  Anhima cornuta HP
33 White-faced Whistling-Duck  Dendrocygna viduata HP
34 Black-bellied Whistling-Duck  Dendrocygna autumnalis HP [c]
35 Muscovy Duck  Cairina moschata HP
36 Blue-winged Teal  Anas discors HP
37 Black Vulture  Coragyps atratus E [c]
38 Turkey Vulture  Cathartes aura E [c]
39 Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture  Cathartes burrovianus HP
40 King Vulture  Sarcoramphus papa HP
41 Osprey  Pandion haliaetus one near Lake Valencia, one near HP
42 Hook-billed Kite  Chondrohierax uncinatus ???? -RG-O
43 White-tailed Kite  Elanus leucurus in transit, between Maracay and Sanare
44 Snail Kite  Rostrhamus sociabilis HP
45 Crane Hawk  Geranospiza caerulescens HP
46 Common Black-Hawk  Buteogallus anthracinus in transit, between Barquisimeto and HP
47 Great Black-Hawk  Buteogallus urubitinga HP-fairly common
48 Savanna Hawk  Buteogallus meridionalis HP [c]
49 Harris' Hawk  Parabuteo unicinctus HP
50 Black-collared Hawk  Busarellus nigricollis HP-fairly common
51 Solitary Eagle  Harpyhaliaetus solitarius RG-O
52 Roadside Hawk  Buteo magnirostris YNP, HP [c]
53 Broad-winged Hawk  Buteo platypterus CH-H
54 Gray Hawk  Buteo nitidus in transit, YNP to HP
55 White-rumped Hawk  Buteo leucorrhous YNP
56 White-tailed Hawk  Buteo albicaudatus CH-H
57 Crested Caracara  Polyborus plancus CH-L, YNP, HP [c]
58 Yellow-headed Caracara  Milvago chimachima CH-L, YNP, HP [c]
59 Laughing Falcon  Herpetotheres cachinnans HP
60 American Kestrel  Falco sparverius HP
61 Merlin  Falco columbarius S
62 Rufous-vented Chachalaca  Ortalis ruficauda YNP, HP
63 Band-tailed Guan  Penelope argyotis RG-O
64 Yellow-knobbed Curassow  Crax daubentoni HP
65 Crested Bobwhite  Colinus cristatus HP
66 Venezuelan Wood-Quail  Odontophorus columbianus RG-O, CH-H [H]
67 Hoatzin  Opisthocomus hoazin HP
68 Limpkin  Aramus guarauna HP
69 Gray-necked Wood-Rail  Aramides cajanea HP-fairly common
70 Common Moorhen  Gallinula chloropus YNP
71 American (Caribbean) Coot  Fulica americana caribaea YNP
72 Sunbittern  Eurypyga helias HP
73 Wattled Jacana  Jacana jacana HP [c]
74 Killdeer  Charadrius vociferus HP
75 Pied Lapwing  Hoploxypterus cayanus lake no. of HP
76 Southern Lapwing  Vanellus chilensis HP [c]
77 Solitary Sandpiper  Tringa solitaria HP
78 Spotted Sandpiper  Actitis macularia HP
79 Least Sandpiper  Calidris minutilla HP
80 Black-necked Stilt  Himantopus mexicanus HP
81 Royal Tern  Sterna maxima coast, near Macuto
82 Large-billed Tern  Phaetusa simplex HP
83 Black Skimmer  Rynchops niger HP
84 Rock Dove  Columba livia towns [c]
85 Band-tailed Pigeon  Columba fasciata CH-H
86 Pale-vented Pigeon  Columba cayennensis HP [c]
87 Ruddy Pigeon  Columba subvinacea RG-O, CH-H, YNP [H]
88 Eared Dove  Zenaida auriculata HP
89 Scaled Dove  Columbina squammata CH-L, YNP, HP [c]
90 Common Ground-Dove  Columbina passerina HP
91 Plain-breasted Ground-Dove  Columbina minuta HP
92 Ruddy Ground-Dove  Columbina talpacoti HP [c]
93 Blue Ground-Dove  Claravis pretiosa HP
94 White-tipped Dove  Leptotila verreauxi CH-H, YNP, HP
95 Gray-fronted Dove  Leptotila rufaxilla YNP
96 Quail-Dove sp. Geotrygon sp. YNP
97 Scarlet Macaw  Ara macao HP
98 Scarlet-fronted Parakeet  Aratinga wagleri RG-O
99 Brown-throated Parakeet  Aratinga pertinax HP
100 Blood-eared Parakeet  Pyrrhura hoematotis RG-O, CH-H
101 Green-rumped Parrotlet  Forpus passerinus CH-H, CH-L, YNP, HP
102 Red-billed Parrot  Pionus sordidus CH-H, HP
103 Yellow-headed Parrot  Amazona oratrix HP
104 Orange-winged Parrot  Amazona amazonica CH-L
105 Squirrel Cuckoo  Piaya cayana RG-O, CH-L, HP
106 Greater Ani  Crotophaga minor roadside between Maracay & Barquisimeto, HP
107 Smooth-billed Ani  Crotophaga ani YNP, HP [c]
108 Pheasant Cuckoo  Dromococcyx phasianellus HP
109 Tropical Screech-Owl  Otus choliba RG-O
110 Great Horned Owl  Bubo virginianus HP
111 Semicollared Nighthawk  Lurocalis semitorquatus RG-O, YNP
112 Lesser Nighthawk  Chordeiles acutipennis S
113 Band-tailed Nighthawk  Nyctoprogne leucopyga HP [H]
114 Pauraque  Nyctidromus albicollis HP [c]
115 Band-winged Nightjar  Caprimulgus longirostris CH-H
116 White-tailed Nightjar  Caprimulgus cayennensis HP
117 Chestnut-collared Swift  Cypseloides rutilus YNP
118 White-collared Swift  Streptoprocne zonaris RG-O, CH-H, YNP
119 Gray-rumped Swift  Chaetura cinereiventris RG-O, CH-H
120 White-tipped Swift  Aeronautes montivagus RG-O, CH-H, YNP
121 Fork-tailed Palm-Swift  Tachornis squamata HP
122 Rufous-breasted Hermit  Glaucis hirsuta RG-O
123 Little Hermit  Phaethornis longuemareus RG-O, YNP
124 Black-throated Mango  Anthracothorax nigricollis CH-L
125 Blue-tailed Emerald  Chlorostilbon mellisugus CH-L, HP
126 Green-tailed Emerald  Chlorostilbon alice RG-O, S
127 Buffy Hummingbird  Leucippus fallax CH-L
128 Glittering-throated Emerald  Amazilia fimbriata CH-L, HP
129 Copper-rumped Hummingbird  Amazilia tobaci CH-L
130 White-vented Plumeleteer  Chalybura buffonii CH-L
131 Speckled Hummingbird  Adelomyia melanogenys YNP
132 Violet-chested Hummingbird  Sternoclyta cyanopectus RG-O
133 Bronzy Inca  Coeligena coeligena RG-O
134 Long-tailed Sylph  Aglaiocercus kingi RG-O, YNP
135 White-tipped Quetzal  Pharomachrus fulgidus RG-O, CH-H
136 Collared Trogon  Trogon collaris RG-O, CH-H
137 Masked Trogon  Trogon personatus YNP
138 Ringed Kingfisher  Megaceryle torquata CH-L, HP
139 Amazon Kingfisher Chloroceryle amazona HP
140 Green Kingfisher  Chloroceryle americana HP
141 Rufous-tailed Jacamar  Galbula ruficauda CH-L, HP
142 Emerald Toucanet  Aulacorhynchus prasinus YNP
143a Groove-billed Toucanet  Aulacorhynchus s.sulcatus RG-O, CH-H
143b Yellow-billed Toucanet  Aulacorhynchus s.calorhynchus YNP
144 Scaled Piculet  Picumnus squamulatus RG-O, CH-L
145 Red-crowned Woodpecker  Melanerpes rubricapillus RG-O, CH-H, CH-L, YNP, HP [c]
146 Smoky-brown Woodpecker  Veniliornis fumigatus RG-O
147 Golden-olive Woodpecker  Piculus rubiginosus RG-O
148 Lineated Woodpecker  Dryocopus lineatus HP
149 Crimson-crested Woodpecker  Campephilus melanoleucos HP
150 Plain-brown Woodcreeper  Dendrocincla fuliginosa YNP
151 Olivaceous Woodcreeper  Sittasomus griseicapillus RG-O
152 Strong-billed Woodcreeper  Xiphocolaptes promeropirhynchus HP
153 Streak-headed Woodcreeper  Lepidocolaptes souleyetii RG-O
154 Spot-crowned Woodcreeper  Lepidocolaptes affinis YNP
155 Red-billed Scythebill  Campylorhamphus trochilirostris RG-O
156 Black-throated Spinetail  Synallaxis castanea CH-H
157 Crested Spinetail  Cranioleuca subcristata RG-O
158 Yellow-chinned Spinetail  Certhiaxis cinnamomea HP
159 Plain Thornbird  Phacellodomus rufifrons HP
160 Pearled Treerunner  Margarornis squamiger YNP
161 Buff-fronted Foliage-gleaner  Philydor rufus RG-O
162 Plain Xenops  Xenops minutus YNP
163 Streaked Xenops  Xenops rutilans YNP
164 Black-crested Antshrike  Sakesphorus canadensis CH-L, HP
165 Barred Antshrike  Thamnophilus doliatus CH-L, HP
166 White-fringed Antwren  Formicivora grisea CH-L
167 Short-tailed Antthrush  Chamaeza campanisona CH-H
168 Plain-backed Antpitta  Grallaria haplonota RG-O, CH-H [H]
169 Chestnut-crowned Antpitta  Grallaria ruficapilla CH-H, YNP [H]
170 Barred Becard  Pachyramphus versicolor)????-YNP
171 Black-crowned Tityra  Tityra inquisitor CH-L
172 Handsome Fruiteater  Pipreola formosa RG-O, CH-H
173 Lance-tailed Manakin  Chiroxiphia lanceolata CH-L
174 Common Tody-Flycatcher  Todirostrum cinereum CH-L, YNP, HP
175 Sooty-headed Tyrannulet  Phyllomyias griseiceps HP
176 Mouse-colored Tyrannulet  Phaeomyias murina YNP
177 Southern Beardless-Tyrannulet  Camptostoma obsoletum CH-L, HP
178 Yellow Tyrannulet  Capsiempis flaveola HP
179 Southern Scrub-Flycatcher  Sublegatus modestus CH-L
180 Forest Elaenia  Myiopagis gaimardii RG-O
181 Yellow-bellied Elaenia  Elaenia flavogaster CH-L, HP
182 Slaty Elaenia  Elaenia strepera RG-O, YNP
183 White-throated Tyrannulet  Mecocerculus leucophrys YNP
184 Venezuelan Bristle-Tyrant  Phylloscartes venezuelanus RG-O
185 Variegated Bristle-Tyrant  Phylloscartes poecilotis YNP
186 Yellow-olive Flycatcher  Tolmomyias sulphurescens HP
187 Cinnamon Flycatcher  Pyrrhomyias cinnamomea RG-O, YNP, HP
188 Eastern Wood-Pewee  Contopus virens YNP, HP
189 Black Phoebe  Sayornis nigricans RG-O, CH-H/L, YNP [c]
190 Vermilion Flycatcher  Pyrocephalus rubinus HP [c]
191 Pied Water-Tyrant  Fluvicola pica HP [c]
192 White-headed Marsh-Tyrant  Arundinicola leucocephala HP
193 Cattle Tyrant  Machetornis rixosus HP
194 Dusky-capped Flycatcher  Myiarchus tuberculifer CH-L [H]
195 Venezuelan Flycatcher  Myiarchus venezuelensis CH-L, HP
196 Pale-edged Flycatcher  Myiarchus cephalotes RG-O
197 Brown-crested Flycatcher  Myiarchus tyrannulus HP
198 Tropical Kingbird  Tyrannus melancholicus CH-H/L, YNP, HP [c]
199 Fork-tailed Flycatcher  Tyrannus savana HP
200 Gray Kingbird  Tyrannus dominicensis CH-L, HP
201 Boat-billed Flycatcher  Megarhynchus pitangua CH-L, HP
202 Golden-crowned Flycatcher  Myiodynastes chrysocephalus RG-O, CH-H
203 Streaked Flycatcher  Myiodynastes maculatus RG-O, CH-H
204 Rusty-margined Flycatcher  Myiozetetes cayanensis YNP, HP
205 Social Flycatcher  Myiozetetes similis CH-L
206 Lesser Kiskadee  Philohydor lictor HP
207 Great Kiskadee  Pitangus sulphuratus RG-O, CH-H/L, YNP, HP [c]
208 White-bearded Flycatcher  Phelpsia inornata HP
209 White-winged Swallow  Tachycineta albiventer HP
210 Brown-chested Martin  Phaeoprogne tapera HP
211 Purple Martin  Progne subis Maiquetia airport
212 Gray-breasted Martin  Progne chalybea HP
213 Blue-and-white Swallow  Notiochelidon cyanoleuca RG-O, YNP
214 Southern Rough-winged Swallow  Stelgidopteryx ruficollis RG-O, CH-H, YNP, HP [c]
215 Barn Swallow  Hirundo rustica YNP, HP
216 Green Jay  Cyanocorax yncas CH-H, YNP
217 Black-capped Donacobius  Donacobius atricapillus HP
218 Stripe-backed Wren  Campylorhynchus nuchalis HP
219 Moustached Wren  Thryothorus genibarbis RG-O
220 Rufous-breasted Wren  Thryothorus rutilus YNP [H]
221 Southern House Wren  Troglodytes aedon RG-O, CH-H/L, YNP, HP [c]
222 Gray-breasted Wood-Wren  Henicorhina leucophrys RG-O, CH-H, YNP
223 Long-billed Gnatwren  Ramphocaenus melanurus CH-L
224 Tropical Gnatcatcher  Polioptila plumbea CH-L, HP
225 Tropical Mockingbird  Mimus gilvus CH-L, YNP, HP
226 Andean Solitaire  Myadestes ralloides CH-H, YNP
227 Gray-cheeked Thrush  Catharus minimus RG-O
228 Yellow-legged Thrush  Platycichla flavipes RG-O, CH-H, YNP
229 Glossy-black Thrush  Turdus serranus RG-O, CH-H
230 Black-hooded Thrush  Turdus olivater RG-O, CH-H
231 Pale-breasted Thrush  Turdus leucomelas RG-O
232 Yellow-(Bare-)eyed Thrush  Turdus nudigenis RG-O [H]
233 Rufous-browed Peppershrike  Cyclarhis gujanensis RG-O, CH-H, YNP
234 Red-eyed Vireo  Vireo olivaceus CH-H, YNP, HP
235 Brown-capped Vireo  Vireo leucophrys YNP
236 Scrub Greenlet  Hylophilus flavipes YNP
237 Golden-winged Warbler  Vermivora chrysoptera YNP
238 Tennessee Warbler  Vermivora peregrina CH-H, YNP
239 Tropical Parula  Parula pitiayuma RG-O, CH-H, YNP
240 Yellow Warbler  Dendroica petechia CH-L, HP
241 Blackburnian Warbler  Dendroica fusca CH-H, YNP
242 Blackpoll Warbler  Dendroica striata RG-O
243 Cerulean Warbler  Dendroica cerulea RG-O, YNP
244 Black-and-white Warbler  Mniotilta varia RG-O, CH-H, YNP
245 American Redstart  Setophaga ruticilla RG-O, CH-H, YNP, HP
246 Prothonotary Warbler  Protonotaria citrea YNP [H]
247 Slate-throated Redstart  Myioborus miniatus RG-O, CH-H, YNP
248 Three-striped Warbler  Basileuterus tristriatus CH-H
249 Flavescent Warbler  Basileuterus flaveolus CH-H
250 Crested Oropendola  Psarocolius decumanus CH-H/L, YNP, HP
251 Russet-backed Oropendola  Psarocolius angustifrons RG-O
252 Yellow-rumped Cacique  Cacicus cela CH-H/L, HP
253 Yellow Oriole  Icterus nigrogularis HP
254 Troupial  Icterus icterus HP
255 Oriole Blackbird  Gymnomystax mexicanus YNP, HP
256 Yellow-hooded Blackbird  Agelaius icterocephalus HP
257 Eastern Meadowlark  Sturnella magna YNP, HP
258 Carib Grackle  Quiscalus lugubris CH-L, YNP, HP
259 Shiny Cowbird  Molothrus bonariensis CH-L
260 Bananaquit  Coereba flaveola RG-O, CH-H/L, YNP, HP [c]
261 Common Bush-Tanager  Chlorospingus ophthalmicus RG-O, CH-H, YNP
262 Gray-headed Tanager  Eucometis penicillata RG-O
263 White-lined Tanager  Tachyphonus rufus RG-O, CH-H, YNP [c]
264 Hepatic Tanager  Piranga flava CH-H
265 Summer Tanager  Piranga rubra YNP
266 White-winged Tanager  Piranga leucoptera RG-O
267 Silver-beaked Tanager  Ramphocelus carbo RG-O, CH-H/L, YNP
268 Blue-gray Tanager  Thraupis episcopus RF-O, CH-H/L, YNP, HP [c]
269 Glaucous Tanager  Thraupis glaucocolpa CH-L
270 Palm Tanager  Thraupis palmarum RG-O, CH-H/L, YNP
271 Blue-capped Tanager  Thraupis cyanocephala CH-H
272 Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager  Anisognathus somptuosus RG-O
273 Fawn-breasted Tanager  Pipraeidea melanonota S, YNP
274 Blue-hooded Euphonia  Euphonia musica RG-O
275 Thick-billed Euphonia  Euphonia laniirostris CH-L
276 Orange-bellied Euphonia  Euphonia xanthogaster RG-O
277 Blue-naped Chlorophonia  Chlorophonia cyanea RG-O, CH-H
278 Golden Tanager  Tangara arthus RG-O, CH-H/L, YNP [c]
279 Saffron-crowned Tanager  Tangara xanthocephala YNP
280 Speckled Tanager  Tangara guttata RG-O, CH-H
281 Bay-headed Tanager  Tangara gyrola RG-O, CH-H, YNP [c]
282 Burnished-buff Tanager  Tangara cayana CH-H, YNP, HP
283 Rufous-cheeked Tanager  Tangara rufigenis RG-O, CH-H
284 Blue-necked Tanager  Tangara cyanicollis YNP
285 Beryl-spangled Tanager  Tangara nigroviridis YNP
286 Black-capped Tanager  Tangara heinei CH-H, YNP
287 Black-headed Tanager  Tangara cyanoptera YNP
288 Green Honeycreeper  Chlorophanes spiza RG-O, CH-H
289 Swallow-Tanager  Tersina viridis RG-O, CH-H
290 Bluish Flower-piercer  Diglossa caerulescens CH-H
291 Lesser Goldfinch  Carduelis psaltria S, YNP
292 Rufous-collared Sparrow  Zonotrichia capensis YNP
293 Moustached Brush-Finch  Atlapetes albofrenatus S
294 Ochre-breasted Brush-Finch  Atlapetes semirufus CH-H
295 Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch  Atlapetes brunneinucha CH-H
296 Red-capped Cardinal  Paroaria gularis HP
297 Saffron Finch  Sicalis flaveola HP [c]
298 Blue-black Grassquit  Volatinia jacarina CH-L, HP
299 Gray Seedeater  Sporophila intermedia HP
300 Ruddy-breasted Seedeater  Sporophila minuta HP
301 Large-billed Seedfinch  Oryzoborus crassirostris CH-L
302 Black-faced Grassquit  Tiaris bicolor CH-L
303 Buff-throated Saltator  Saltator maximus CH-L
304 Grayish Saltator  Saltator coerulescens CH-L, YNP, HP
305 Streaked Saltator  Saltator albicollis CH-L
306 Blue-black Grosbeak  Cyanocompsa cyanoides CH-H

If anyone would like more information on the lodging or the birding or anything else about the trip, we'd be happy to respond.

----------------------

James D. Hengeveld,
PhD Biology Dept.
Indiana University
Bloomington, Indiana 47405

812: 855-5353