16 November - 1 December 1996

by Greg D. and Debra G. Jackson

Our first trip to southern South America, the two weeks in Argentina were fantastic.  A modern, friendly country, with a good infrastructure for travelers, Argentina should be on the list of any birder.  A European feel pervades the nation, especially in the grand city of Buenos Aires.

We visited the areas of Iguazú Falls, Córdoba, and the Valdés Peninsula before returning for a few days in Buenos Aires.  Though birding was a prime goal, sightseeing and shopping occupied much time as well.  We did not use guide services, though often crossed paths with a Sunbird tour led by David Fisher and Janet Davis, sharing tips with these friendly folks.

We had no problems with sickness, a welcome change from many other visits to Latin America.  The water is drinkable in most areas, particularly in the nicer establishments.  Food and wine are excellent, and one of the attractions of the country; beef lovers will have a great time, as will those who crave sweets!

One convenience in Argentina is the universal acceptance of U.S. dollars (cash, not travelers checks); bills should be in good condition, though. When we were there, the peso was pegged 1:1 to the dollar, so no price conversions were necessary.  Credit cards are widely used, though we did use cash at Iguazu on a car rental.  At restaurants, tips are given in cash despite paying the bill with a credit card.  Dress was casual even in Buenos Aires; coat and tie would be needed only if you were planning to dine at the finest restaurants in Buenos Aires.  At the places we visited, cold weather gear was not necessary.  However, insect protection is important in some places, with a mesh bug jacket very handy.  Wellie-type boots were useful, especially at Iguazú.  A hip bag for field guides and notebook was very handy; I found the Pájaro bag available from ABA Sales to be a good one.

Roads are good in most places, and it is easy to rent a car and travel on your own.  Driving is aggressive, though not much different from many other places in Latin America.  This is a huge country, and flying is recommended between distant sites; you will transit Buenos Aires many times in this process, as there are few direct flights between the main areas. The two primary airports in the capital, one for international (Ezeiza) and another for domestic flights (Aeroparque), are about 45 minutes apart.  When making a transfer between the two, or from an airport to downtown, I’d recommend the fixed-price car services of Manuel Tienda Leon, whose offices are conspicuous in both airports.  We paid $49 between the airports, and $40 between the Aeroparque and downtown.  If you plan to cross the border into Brazil, you probably will not need a visa (we drove across with just our passports without incident).

IGUAZÚ NATIONAL PARK AND VICINITY

We had four days and a morning around Iguazú Falls on the Brazilian border.  This is a great place for birding, and the falls are incredible.  I highly recommend staying in the Hotel Internacionál within the park.  This pleasant place is within walking distance of some of the best birding, and the vistas of Las Cataratas are fabulous; when you reserve a room, make sure you request a view of the falls.  Two good restaurants are within the hotel, and if you hit the extensive breakfast buffet late in the morning after a round of birding, this should carry you through the day.

A car is useful for getting to certain birding sites, and I’d rent one again; you could use taxis or hire a car and driver for such excursions, though.  It was difficult to arrange a car from the U.S., and we waited until arrival at the Iguazú airport to do so.  The only rental agency we found was “AI Rent-A-Car,” located near the terminal gates.  The proprietor was Sr. Alejandro Witt, who appears at the booth just before flight arrivals and departures.  He was friendly and trustworthy, and can be reached by fax at the Hotel Esturion office at (0757) 20414.  Some knowledge of Spanish would be useful, as Sr. Witt does not speak English.  We paid cash for the car, either because the rate was much better or credit cards were not accepted (I can’t recall which).  The small car we rented was acceptable, but lacked air conditioning (which would have been very useful in this hot climate).

Mosquitos can be a problem in the park, especially on the Macuco Trail.  With our Duranon-impregnated mesh bug jackets we were the envy of many suffering hikers.  I also recommend boots for some of the muddy trails and roads.

Macuco Trail:

This trail was one of my favorite spots, and is a short walk from the hotel.  You reach this three-kilometer trail either behind the CIES building on the main road, or from the trail head at the nearby parking lot closer to the old airfield.  In theory the Macuco trail joins the Yacaratía trail, but we found the bridge to be out at the creek just before this junction.  The stream was full and crossing on the few logs seemed far too risky, especially as the creek becomes a high waterfall a short distance away!  A side trail at the creek leads to the precipice and waterfall.  The trail was muddy in some places, and as mentioned offered wonderful opportunities to encounter hordes of winged hypodermic needles.

This is a very birdy place, and several walks may be necessary to sample the variety of species.  A pair of White-necked Puffbirds was nesting in a tree about one kilometer down the trail, and a pair of Rusty-breasted Nunlets was spotted at about two kilometers.  Blond-crested Woodpecker was seen on two days.  Swallow-tailed Manakin was a delight along this trail, best detected high in the trees by the frequent calls.  A lek of White-bearded Manakins was located about 50 meters past the green barrier on the CIES side trail, but the birds were not always present.  Southern Antpipit was easy to see near puddles in the trail itself.  Other species encountered on the Macuco Trail and accompanying access road included Swallow-tailed Kite, Yellow-headed Caracara, White-spotted and Green-barred woodpeckers, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, White-eyed Foliage-Gleaner, Plain Xenops, Sepia-capped, Fuscous, and Boat-billed flycatchers, Magpie and Black-goggled tanagers, Red-crowned Ant-Tanager, and Red-crested Finch.

Yacaratía Trail:

When we tried this road it was a quagmire of mud and water, impassible to all but the most able four-wheel-drive vehicles.  Even walking was a chore, with more time spent negotiating bad stretches than birding; we turned back after about a kilometer because of this difficulty.  This was unfortunate, though, as birding was good along the road.  We found such species as Scaly-headed Parrot, White-necked Puffbird (½ kilometer from the airfield), Blond-crested, Lineated, and Robust woodpeckers, Short-tailed Antthrush, Chestnut-vented Conebill, Magpie and Black-goggled tanagers, and Blue Dacnis.  The entrance to the road is in the middle of the old airfield, opposite the trail to the observation blind.

Observation Blind / Old Airfield:

The blind (really more of a platform) had been rebuilt recently.  We saw little in several brief trips, though a tour group had Blackish Rail and Chestnut-sided Crake here (probably using tapes).  The adjacent field was moderately good for birds, with species such as Yellow-headed Caracara, Glittering-bellied and Versicolored emeralds, Small-billed Elaenia, Three-striped Flycatcher, Epaulet Oriole, Chestnut-capped Blackbird, Double-collared Seedeater, Chestnut-bellied Seed-Finch, and Green-winged Saltator.  Other than Pauraque, no nightjars or owls could be located at dusk or night in or near the airfield and adjacent parking areas/CIES area.

CIES:

This environmental center between the hotel and Macuco trail has open wooded grounds.  The site is easy to check, and provides alternate access to the Macuco trail, but was not very productive on several visits.

Puerto Canoas:

This is too far to walk comfortably from the hotel, so a vehicle of some sort is needed to at least reach the general area.  The road along the river to Puerto Canoas was moderately good for birds, but not as productive as other spots; Slaty-breasted Wood-Rail was seen near the small bridge, and Mouse-colored Tapaculo was heard.  Just beyond the bridge you can take a side road, drivable when dry, to the Timbo Ranger Station; this road was fairly good for birding.  At Puerto Canoas, spend time birding the large parking ring, which was very productive.  The boardwalk to La Garganta was not intact due to flood damage, but you could arrange a small boat to view this area from the standing terminal part of the boardwalk.  Scoping the river from Puerto Canoas was productive for several swallows.  The road upstream from Puerto Canoas to the defunct camping area (Camping Nandu) was moderately productive.  We had great looks at Black-fronted Piping-Guan in the large trees in the campground.  The trail beyond the campground is reported to be excellent, but you need special permission to enter this section.

Other species found in this general area included Muscovy Duck, Maroon-bellied Parakeet, Blue-fronted Parrot, Glittering-bellied Emerald, Green-barred and Blond-crested woodpeckers, Short-tailed Antthrush, Yellow Tyrannulet, Boat-billed Flycatcher, Epaulet Oriole, Bananaquit, Chestnut-vented Conebill, Violaceous Euphonia, Green-headed Tanager, Blue Dacnis, Swallow-Tanager, and Saffron Finch.

Park Entrance Road:

Just beyond the turn into the park is a large depression on the left (heading into the park) with a guard rail.  Park here and look down at the marsh and ponds below; this is a good vantage early and late in the day.  We had good looks at Blackish Rail here.  Between this site and the entrance station the road passes through forest with good birding, especially if you find a flock.  Traffic was fairly light and not too disruptive.  Birds recorded along the entrance road included Muscovy Duck, Scaly-headed Parrot, Sooty and Gray-rumped swifts, Green-barred Woodpecker, Streaked Xenops, Black-tailed Tityra, Yellow Tyrannulet, Sirystes, Three-striped Flycatcher, and Masked Yellowthroat.

Urugua-i Provincial Park:

Drive south on Route 12, checking the large Lake Urugua-i along the way.  At Wanda, turn east on Route 19, which becomes dirt after a few kilometers.  It is over an hour from Wanda to the park; bear left at a large fork when going east (at an inconspicuous sign for the park).  Eventually you will see the park headquarters on the right just before a small bridge.  Park here and bird the area of the bridge, including the campsite near the river.  Due to a mistake in a trip report we didn’t anticipate such a long drive from the hotel (over two hours); unfortunately, it was mid-morning before we could begin birding.  The bridge area was moderately productive.  From the river just above the bridge, we had nice looks at two Rusty-margined Guans and two Black-throated Piping-Guans.  We didn’t try the trail north to the salt lick along the west bank.

Just west of the headquarters is a signed trail on the north side of the road.  This is the main trail, which loops back to Route 19 just west of the entrance.  Easy to walk, birding is good in the dense forest and bamboo; I wish we had covered this area before the hot part of the day.  Interesting species included Planalto Woodcreeper (west side of loop), Short-tailed Antthrush, White-winged Becard, Black-tailed Tityra, Southern Antpipit, Yellow Tyrannulet, Short-crested and Streaked flycatchers, White-rimmed Warbler (east side of loop), Swallow-Tanager, and Blackish-blue Seedeater (small footbridge on east side of loop).  We tried the tape of Spotted Bamboowren in the extensive bamboo thickets without success, though others have found it here.

Route 18 Marsh:

We briefly visited this small pond and marsh one afternoon.  As there were several houses adjacent to the marsh, we only viewed it from the road.  It is about 30 minutes east of Route 12 on Route 18.  Several waterbirds and shorebirds were present, making it an interesting stop; species included Brazilian Teal, Wattled Jacana, and South American Snipe.  About 10 kilometers from Route 12, we enjoyed a White-eared Puffbird on a roadside wire.

CÓRDOBA

A pleasant city in the heart of Argentina, Córdoba was an interesting place to spend a few days.  Renting a car at the airport, we birded two days in this area, one in the mountains to the west, and another in the plains to the east.

Pampa de Achala:

Travel west on Route 20, then Route 14, heading toward San Luis.  Well past Ycho Cruz you will see the stark plateau known as Pampa de Achala rising in the west.  When you get a good view of the ridge from the highway (heading south at this point), scope along the distant mountain for Andean Condor.  After you ascend the ridge, turn right on a gravel road just beyond El Condor café (on the left).  Drive to the transmitter area and park, walking the open ground among the granite outcroppings.  This was productive for several condors (with close looks at some), as well as Speckled Teal, Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, Comechingones Cincloides, Puna (Córdoba) Canastero, Rufous-naped Ground-Tyrant, Chiguanco Thrush, and Plumbeous and Ash-breasted sierra-finches.  The stream across the road from the café can be reached by walking downhill from the transmitter, but it is closer to park near the café, cross the fence, and walk downstream.  We had good looks at both Comechingones and Olrog’s cincloides along the stream.

Ycho Cruz:

Returning on Route 14, Correndera Pipit was spotted along the road.  At Ycho Cruz we spent a few hours in this area of chaco scrub.  A Scimitar-billed Woodcreeper was stunning along the highway in town.  An easy spot to check was a dirt track with a white arch across the highway from the turn to Camping Ycho Cruz.  This small road was drivable, and allowed good afternoon viewing of the adjacent scrub.  We birded a little in the campground, asking permission first, but it was not very productive in the heat of the afternoon.  Some good areas were found just beyond the campground, though.  Go past the right turn into the campground and check the scrub on the right.  Continue and take the next road to the right and curve left.  This gives access to scrub and open areas with good birding.  Interesting species included Cocoi Heron, Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, Stripe-crowned Spinetail, Lark-like Brushrunner, Brown Cacholote, White-bellied Tyrannulet, Alder Flycatcher (calling),White Monjita, Bay-winged Cowbird, Hooded Siskin, and Stripe-capped Sparrow.

Laguna Mar Chiquita:

We spent a long day-trip attempting to bird the area of Laguna Mar Chiquita, a vast lake amid the pampas and chaco east of Córdoba.  Though we left early in the morning, and the roads were generally good, it was late morning before we reached the birding areas; thus we birded in the heat of the day, a definite hindrance.  Given the distance from Córdoba, it probably would have been wiser to have slept late, driven east, and birded in late afternoon and early evening, returning to Córdoba at night.  Early morning birding would require local accommodation, which can be found in the small lakeside community of Miramar.

We first birded the dirt road to Campo Mare, taking an interesting, but sandy, side road northwest about halfway to the lake.  Good waterbirds can be found, as well as residents of the chaco scrub.  We didn’t bird much at the camp at the lake, though it looked interesting had we asked permission to do so (and had more time).  Enjoyable birds along this road included Chilean Flamingo, several waterfowl such as White-faced Whistling-Duck and Ringed Teal, White-tailed Kite, Wattled Jacana, White-backed Stilt, Spot-winged Pigeon, Picui Ground-Dove, Monk Parakeet, Striped Cuckoo, Burrowing Owl, Spot-backed Puffbird, Pale-breasted Spinetail, Brown Cacholote, White-tipped Plantcutter, Greater Wagtail-Tyrant, White Monjita, Swainson’s Flycatcher, Yellow-winged Blackbird,  Many-colored Chaco-Finch, Ruddy-breasted Seedeater, and Golden-billed Saltator.

Next we headed east to Miramar, enjoying a late lunch in a small café.  Birding along the shore was productive for larids and others, then we visited the mouth of the river just to the west.  It was late afternoon by the time we discovered the correct road and hit the river mouth; by this time Debi was reaching her limit of birding, so I couldn’t spend too much time.  It was probably a mistake to save this for last, as this was supposed to be a good spot for Dinelli’s Doradito (which I didn’t find).  To reach the river mouth, go south from Miramar about six kilometers and turn west between two small buildings.  Drive straight without turning to reach the area.  The fields and edge along the way and on various side roads can be productive.  In the Miramar area we saw such species as Spotted Nothura, Great Grebe, Roseate Spoonbill, Chilean Flamingo, White-tailed Kite, Red-gartered Coot, White-backed Stilt, Brown-hooded, Gray-headed, and Franklin’s gulls, Snowy-crowned Tern, Spot-winged Pigeon, Picui Ground-Dove, Monk Parakeet, Burrowing Owl, Chotoy Spinetail, Pale-breasted Spinetail, Firewood-gatherer, Lark-like Brushrunner, Brown Cacholote, and Yellow-winged and White-browed blackbirds.
 

VALDÉS PENINSULA AREA

A fascinating area of vast open spaces and beautiful coastline, this region is well known for its wildlife, both terrestrial and marine.  You should devote several days to this area; we had 3 ½ days, and considered this a minimum.

Distances are vast, and a rental car is highly recommended.  Roads are good, even when gravel; plan to spend a lot of time on dusty, unpaved roads.  Our car reservation was botched by the intermediary agency in Buenos Aires, who indicated we had a reservation with one agent, but actually it was with another.  After this confusion was laid to rest, we were left with a nice, air-conditioned, but exceedingly expensive car.  The problem was the mileage charge mandatory with the “wrong” agency, as so much driving was necessary to cover the sites.  Consequently our cost per day was about $300, but it was either this or not have a car as no others were available.  At least the air-conditioning was nice, as it was very hot and dusty; the other agency probably had no cars with A/C (which seems common in Argentina, despite the heat).

Puerto Madryn:

This was our base for the area, and seemed to be a good choice.  The nearby road to Punta Loma was good for birds, including some species not found elsewhere.  Driving south from town you should pass several athletic fields.  From this area to Playa Parana, we saw at least 13 Rusty-backed Monjitas.  Three Carbonated Sierra-Finches were studied in the brushy flats about 2.5 kilometers from the edge of town (in a flat area just before climbing a hill with a grade sign). Chilean Flamingos were noted along the beach at Playa Parana.

Burrowing Parrots are said to be in a large sand depression between the two Puerto Madryn exits on the main highway.  We didn’t have time to check, and saw the parrots at Gaiman.

Isla de los Pájaros:

The turn to this area is now to the left just inside the park entrance station.  Viewing distances are long, so a telescope is needed here.  Thousands of birds are visible, many breeding on the island.  A fascinating aspect to me was to see flamingos and penguins simultaneously!  Chubut Steamer-Duck was found, and all three species of oystercatcher were present along the shore.

Puerto Pirámides:

Proceeding toward the Valdés Peninsula, park at the junction with the road to Puerto Pirámides (a wrecked car is “displayed” here).  Walk north into the scrub several hundred meters, where we had good looks at such birds as Patagonia Canastero, Band-tailed Earthcreeper, and at least eight White-throated Cacholotes.

Continuing to the community of Puerto Pirámides, turn to the “lobería.”  This was a good spot for Blackish Oystercatcher and Snowy Sheathbill, but the best thing was great viewing of Southern Right Whales almost directly below the cliffs.  Continuing toward town, the grassy areas near the road are reported to be good for Darwin’s Nothura, though we missed this species.

We spent a couple of hours taking a whale-watching trip into the calm bay at Puerto Pirámides.  This was a wonderful experience and a highlight of the trip; even the most hard-nosed birder should take time one afternoon to experience this if the whales are present.  A strange, jack-legged, amphibious craft takes you from shore into the water to board the boat.  Views of the right whales, some with calves, were incredible – sometimes whales would swim directly under the boat!

Valdés Peninsula:

This large area takes hours to even superficially tour on miles of good gravel roads.  We drove the Puerto Pirámides – Punta Norte – Punta Delgado circuit.  Wildlife is plentiful in the scrub along the way, with many Lesser Rheas and mammals such as Guanacos and Maras.  Good beach access is found at Punta Norte and Caleta Valdés, and both areas have large numbers of Southern Elephant Seals and Southern Sea Lions on the beach.  We didn’t spot any Orcas at Punta Norte, but this is the famous site for Orcas capturing seals on the beach.

A good birding spot was an island just offshore 2.4 kilometers north of a large black metal lighthouse on the way from Punta Norte to Punta Delgado.  We had four Chubut Steamer-Ducks here, and many Magellanic Penguins and seals were present.  Penguins were seen directly beside the car at an overlook farther south.  Antarctic Giant Petrels were easy to see at Caleta Valdés.  Punta Delgado appears to be restricted in access, so we didn’t attempt to bird here; possibly you could obtain permission to enter.

Punta Tomba:

Devote much of a day to this long road trip, with many miles on gravel roads.  It is well worth it when the penguins are breeding, as you are immersed in a colony of several hundred thousand birds.  The little guys are everywhere; be especially careful as you drive to the parking lot from the entrance station (about one kilometer).  They can be aggressive, and we watched some people with penguins attached to their pants’ legs!  The colony and shore are good for other birds, too, such as Antarctic Giant Petrel, Chubut Steamer-Duck, and Southern Skua.  This was the only spot we saw Gray-hooded Sierra-Finch (in the bushes just beyond the parking area).

The gravel road to Punta Tomba is good for birding, with miles of scrub flats.  We had such species as Scale-throated and Band-tailed earthcreepers, Plain-mantled Tit-Spinetail, Lesser and Cordilleran canasteros, Lesser Shrike-Tyrant, White-winged Black-Tyrant, and Black-chinned Siskin.

Gaiman:

This quaint Welsh town near Trelew can be good for birding.  Do not try to access Gaiman from the center of Trelew.  Instead, take Route 3 north of Trelew and turn west on Route 25 at the circle.  Once in Gaiman, drive west on the main street to the last left before the road curves to the right.  Cross the river and take a right at the circle.  This will put you in an area of good wetlands and fields on both sides of the road.  An especially good pond was found on the left, producing Silvery Grebe, White-faced Ibis, Chilean Flamingo, Black-necked and Coscoroba swans, Chiloe Wigeon, Speckled Teal, Yellow-billed and White-cheeked pintails, Cinnamon Teal, Red Shoveler, Rosy-billed Pochard, and White-winged, Red-gartered, and Red-fronted coots. At the edge of the valley continue along the road until the cliffs on the left become high and rocky.  Look for Burrowing Parrot in the open areas and shrubs along the road opposite the cliffs.  This can be a good area for waterbirds, too, including Black-faced Ibis.

Trelew:

We briefly visited the lake in central Trelew before catching our flight back to Buenos Aires.  This was an easy spot to cover and was productive for many waterfowl.  These included White-tufted and Silvery grebes, Lake Duck, Black-necked and Coscoroba swans, Chiloe Wigeon, Speckled Teal, Yellow-billed Pintail, Red Shoveler, and Rosy-billed Pochard.
 

BUENOS AIRES

One of the world’s great cities, Buenos Aires is a shock to many accustomed to other areas of South America – it recalls a transplanted European capital.  Bustling with activity at all hours, this cosmopolitan metropolis is a pleasure to visit.  We stayed in the Recoletta, adjacent to the fascinating cemetery where Eva Perón is interred; we felt just a bit ghoulish requesting a room with a cemetery view!

A car is not needed in Buenos Aires; we got around well on foot and by taxi.  We had only one unpleasant incident, with an attempted robbery at midday on a street near the Casa Rosada.  One man approached from the front, while another unobtrusively sprayed the back of my shirt with a sugary syrup.  Then they tried to “help” by offering to clean the mess they said had dropped from above.  I knew the scam, and we left in a hurry; the only harm done was a temporarily soiled shirt, but that was much preferable to losing our money and camera!

Costanera Sur:

The only birding we did in the city was at the Costanera Sur, an excellent park and wetland in downtown Buenos Aires.  Take a taxi to the entrance to this popular park; a weekday visit would be better than on a weekend, when the place is teeming (though still worth a trip).  Before you leave the main street near the entrance, walk north along the sidewalk to view the large pond and marsh.  We had four Black-headed Ducks near the road about 200 meters north of the entrance, and many other species can be seen from here and from the entrance path along the south side (where we saw a Rufescent Tiger-Heron).

Once you enter the reserve, you can walk north on a trail between the pond you just viewed from the road, and another large pond/marsh to the east. Southern Screamers and two more Black-headed Ducks were in the eastern pond.  Passerines can be seen in the marsh and in trees along the trails.  By turning east at the north end of the eastern pond, you can take a path to the river.  Return south along the eastern edge of the large pond, and check the reeds where accessible.  By following one trail on the eastern side into the reeds and using a tape, we had great looks at a beautiful Many-colored Rush-Tyrant.  A Black-backed Water-Tyrant was in a small pool on the south side of the entrance complex.  Other species enjoyed here included White-tufted Grebe, Striated Heron, White-faced Ibis, White-faced and Black-bellied whistling-ducks, Lake Duck, Brazilian and Silver teal, Yellow-billed Pintail, Red Shoveler, Rosy-billed Pochard, White-winged, Red-gartered, and Red-fronted coots, Limpkin, Wattled Jacana, South American Snipe, White-backed Stilt, Monk Parakeet, Guira Cuckoo, Freckle-breasted Thornbird, Wren-like Rushbird, Warbling Doradito, White-rumped Swallow, Masked Gnatcatcher, Masked Yellowthroat, Chestnut-capped and Yellow-winged blackbirds, Red-crested Cardinal, Black-and-rufous Warbling-Finch, Great Pampa-Finch, and Double-collared Seedeater.
 

ACCOMMODATIONS

Iguazú:  Internacionál – highly recommended (see comments in the Iguazú introduction).  You only have to pay the park entrance fee once if you are staying at this in-park hotel.

Córdoba: Córdoba Park  – elegant modern hotel in city center with good service and an excellent location for visiting the city.  We had a spacious suite with a great view.  Prices were moderately high.

Puerto Madryn: Peninsula Valdés – nice, modern, friendly hotel along the waterfront.  Ask for an ocean view.  Moderate prices.

Buenos Aires: Etoile – unusual hotel with a decor by Elvis.  The location was great, though, and the service friendly.  We had a large suite with a balcony overlooking the famous Recoletta cemetery; the bed was uncomfortable, though.  Moderately high prices.
 

RESTAURANTS

Iguazú: We ate only in the hotel, which has two good restaurants; the more elegant Garganta del Diablo was excellent, with moderately expensive prices.  The breakfast buffet, served until 10:30 A.M., was a great brunch after a morning of birding.

Córdoba: Other than fast food and hotel room service, the only restaurant we tried was La Mamma, a casual, friendly place with acceptable Italian food.

Puerto Madryn: El Nautica – a casual and comfortable spot, with fairly good food.

Roselli’s Pizza – very casual and inexpensive, with great pizza.

Del Chubut – not a restaurant, but a good place to buy candy and Welsh cakes.

Paradise Pub (Puerto Pirámides) – good, casual lunch spot.

Plas y Coed (Gaiman) – charming Welsh tea house, where a wonderful elderly lady, fluent in English, provides great company to visitors.  The afternoon tea is accompanied mostly by bread and sweets, which are tasty and plentiful.  An interesting experience so far from Wales.

Buenos Aires (Recolleta area): Lola – moderately expensive restaurant with excellent food and service; dressy casual attire is best.

Harper’s – friendly café with good food; nice casual attire is suggested.

Pizza Cero – casual place with very good pizza.

Romancini – excellent pizza.

Freddo’s – great ice cream (try the dulce de leche varieties).
 

REFERENCES

The main field guide used was Birds of Argentina and Uruguay by Narosky and Yzurieta.  This was barely adequate, but did cover the entire area and was easy to carry in the field.  We supplemented Narosky and Yzurieta with Volumes Five and Six of de la Peña’s Guia de Aves Argentinas, which covered many of the passerines (particularly the flycatchers); though this was in Spanish it was useful.  Birds of Southern South America and Antarctica by de la Peña and Rumbol, and A Guide to the Birds and Mammals of Coastal Patagonia by Harris, were not available for our trip.

As a reference in the hotel, I found Birds of the High Andes by Fjeldså and Krabbe helpful in both Córdoba and Patagonia.  Ridgely and Tudor’s The Birds of South America, Vol. Two, also was an excellent reference for consultation in the hotel.  The Gardners’ extensive bird-finding report should be purchased; trip reports by P. Benstead et al., R. Webb, and D. Rogers were useful, as was Where to Watch Birds in South America by Wheatley.

The road map used throughout the country was Rutas de la Argentina by Automapa (scale 1:2,500,000).  Sightings were tallied in The Birds of Argentina checklist compiled by Russell Rogers.
 

TRIP LIST

Total species:  270

Life birds:  GDJ - 182
                 DGJ - 176

Taxonomy, species order, and English names follow Clements' Birds of the World: A Checklist (4th edition) and supplements.  If a location is not listed, the species was found at multiple sites.  “Valdés Peninsula” includes Isla de los Pájaros and Puerto Pirámides.
 

COMMON NAME	SCIENTIFIC NAME	WHERE OBSERVED
Spotted Nothura	Nothura maculosa	Pampa de Achala, Laguna Mar Chiquita area
Elegant Crested-Tinamou	Eudromia elegans	Patagonia
Lesser Rhea	Rhea pennata	Patagonia
White-tufted Grebe	Rollandia rolland	Gaiman, Trelew, Buenos Aires (Costanera Sur)
Pied-billed Grebe	Podilymbus podiceps	Lake Urugua-i, Buenos Aires (Costanera Sur)
Great Grebe	Podiceps major	Laguna Mar Chiquita (Miramar), Valdés Peninsula, Punta Tomba
Silvery Grebe	Podiceps occipitalis	Trelew
Magellanic Penguin	Spheniscus magellanicus	Valdés Peninsula, Punta Tomba
Antarctic Giant Petrel	Macronectes giganteus	Valdés Peninsula, Punta Tomba
Neotropic Cormorant	Phalacrocorax brasilianus	-
Rock Shag	Phalacrocorax magellanicus	Valdés Peninsula, Punta Tomba
Anhinga	Anhinga anhinga	Iguazu area
Southern Screamer	Chauna torquata	Buenos Aires (Costanera Sur)
Fulvous Whistling-Duck	Dendrocygna bicolor	Buenos Aires (Costanera Sur)
White-faced Whistling-Duck	Dendrocygna viduata	Laguna Mar Chiquita (Campo Mare road), Buenos Aires (Costanera Sur)
Lake Duck	Oxyura vittata	Trelew, Buenos Aires (Costanera Sur)
Black-necked Swan	Cygnus melanocoryphus	Gaiman, Trelew, Punta Loma
Coscoroba Swan	Coscoroba coscoroba	Laguna Mar Chiquita area, Valdés Peninsula, Gaiman, Trelew
Chubut Steamerduck	Tachyeres leucocephalus	Valdés Peninsula, Punta Tomba
Muscovy Duck	Cairina moschata	Iguazú National Park (Puerto Canoas, entrance road)
Ringed Teal	Callonetta leucophrys	Laguna Mar Chiquita (Campo Mare road)
Brazilian Teal	Amazonetta brasiliensis	Misiones Route 18, Laguna Mar Chiquita (Campo Mare road), Buenos Aires (Costanera Sur)
Chiloe Wigeon	Anas sibilatrix	Gaiman, Trelew
Speckled Teal	Anas flavirostris	Pampa de Achala, Gaiman, Trelew
Crested Duck	Anas specularioides	Valdés Peninsula, Punta Tomba
Yellow-billed Pintail	Anas georgica	Laguna Mar Chiquita (Campo Mare road), Gaiman, Trelew, Buenos Aires (Costanera Sur)
White-cheeked Pintail	Anas bahamensis	Laguna Mar Chiquita (Campo Mare road), Gaiman
Silver Teal	Anas versicolor	Buenos Aires (Costanera Sur)
Cinnamon Teal	Anas cyanoptera	Gaiman
Red Shoveler	Anas platalea	Laguna Mar Chiquita (Miramar), Gaiman, Trelew, Buenos Aires (Costanera Sur)
Rosy-billed Pochard	Netta peposaca	Gaiman, Trelew, Buenos Aires (Costanera Sur)
Black-headed Duck	Heteronetta atricapilla	Buenos Aires (Costanera Sur)
Chilean Flamingo	Phoenicopterus chilensis	Laguna Mar Chiquita area, Valdés Peninsula, Punta Loma, Gaiman
Snowy Egret	Egretta thula	Laguna Mar Chiquita (Campo Mare road), Buenos Aires (Costanera Sur)
Cocoi Heron	Ardea cocoi	Ycho Cruz
Great Egret	Ardea alba	-
Cattle Egret	Bubulcus ibis	Laguna Mar Chiquita area, Valdés Peninsula
Striated Heron	Butorides striatus	Iguazú National Park (old airfield), Buenos Aires (Costanera Sur)
Black-crowned Night-Heron	Nycticorax nycticorax	-
Rufescent Tiger-Heron	Tigrisoma lineatum	Buenos Aires (Costanera Sur)
White-faced Ibis	Plegadis chihi	Gaiman, Buenos Aires (Costanera Sur)
Black-faced Ibis	Theristicus melanopis	Gaiman
Roseate Spoonbill	Ajaia ajaja	Laguna Mar Chiquita (Miramar)
Black Vulture	Coragyps atratus	-
Turkey Vulture	Cathartes aura	-
Andean Condor	Vultur gryphus	Pampa de Achala
Swallow-tailed Kite	Elanoides forficatus	Iguazú National Park (Macuco trail)
White-tailed Kite	Elanus leucurus	Gracia Alta (near Córdoba), Laguna Mar Chiquita area
Snail Kite	Rostrhamus sociabilis	Iguazú area
Plumbeous Kite	Ictinia plumbea	Iguazú area
Cinereous Harrier	Circus cinereus	Valdés Peninsula
Bl.-chested Buzzard-Eagle	Geranoaetus melanoleucus	Pampa de Achala
Roadside Hawk	Buteo magnirostris	Iguazú area
Red-backed Hawk	Buteo polyosoma	Valdés Peninsula, Punta Loma
Crested Caracara	Caracara plancus	-
Yellow-headed Caracara	Milvago chimachima	Iguazú National Park (Macuco trail, old airfield), Urugua-i Provincial Park
Chimango Caracara	Milvago chimango	-
American Kestrel	Falco sparverius	-
Rusty-margined Guan	Penelope superciliaris	Urugua-i Provincial Park
Black-fronted Piping-Guan	Pipile jacutinga	Urugua-i Provincial Park, Iguazú NP (Camping Nandu)
Slaty-breasted Wood-Rail	Aramides saracura	Iguazú NP (Puerto Canoas)
Ash-throated Crake		Porzana albicollisIguazú NP (old airfield)
Blackish Rail	Pardirallus nigricans	Iguazú NP (entrance road)
Purple Gallinule	Porphyrio martinicus	Iguazú NP (old airfield)
Common Moorhen	Gallinula chloropus	Misiones Route 18, Buenos Aires (Costanera Sur)
White-winged Coot	Fulica leucoptera	Gaiman, Buenos Aires (Costanera Sur)
Red-gartered Coot	Fulica armillata	Laguna Mar Chiquita (Miramar), Gaiman, Buenos Aires (Costanera Sur)
Red-fronted Coot	Fulica rufifrons	Gaiman, Buenos Aires (Costanera Sur)
Limpkin	Aramus guarauna	Buenos Aires (Costanera Sur)
Wattled Jacana	Jacana jacana	Misiones Route 18, Laguna Mar Chiquita (Campo Mare road), Buenos Aires (Costanera Sur)
South American Snipe	Gallinago paraguaiae	Misiones Route 18, Buenos Aires (Costanera Sur)
Greater Yellowlegs	Tringa melanoleuca	Misiones Route 18, Laguna Mar Chiquita (Campo Mare road)
Lesser Yellowlegs	Tringa flavipes	-
Solitary Sandpiper	Tringa solitaria	Misiones Route 18
Spotted Sandpiper	Tringa macularia	Misiones Route 18
Baird's Sandpiper	Calidris bairdii	Punta Loma
Wilson's Phalarope	Steganopus tricolor	Gaiman
Snowy Sheathbill	Chionis alba	Valdés Peninsula
Least Seedsnipe	Thinocorus rumicovorus	Valdés Peninsula
American Oystercatcher	Haematopus palliatus	Valdés Peninsula, Punta Tomba, Punta Loma
Blackish Oystercatcher	Haematopus ater	Valdés Peninsula
Magellanic Oystercatcher	Haematopus leucopodus	Valdés Peninsula (Isla de los Pájaros)
White-backed Stilt	Himantopus melanurus	Laguna Mar Chiquita area, Gaiman, Buenos Aires (Costanera Sur)
Two-banded Plover	Charadrius falklandicus	Valdés Peninsula, Punta Loma
Southern Lapwing	Vanellus chilensis	-
Dolphin Gull	Larus scoresbii	Valdés Peninsula, Punta Tomba
Kelp Gull	Larus dominicanus	Valdés Peninsula, Punta Tomba, Punta Loma
Gray-headed Gull	Larus cirrocephalus	Laguna Mar Chiquita (Miramar)
Brown-hooded Gull	Larus maculipennis	Laguna Mar Chiquita (Miramar), Gaiman, Valdés Peninsula
Franklin's Gull	Larus pipixcan	Laguna Mar Chiquita (Miramar)
Royal Tern	Sterna maxima	Valdés Peninsula
South American Tern	Sterna hirundinacea	Valdés Peninsula, Punta Loma
Snowy-crowned Tern	Sterna trudeaui	Laguna Mar Chiquita (Miramar)
Southern Skua	Catharacta antarctica	Punta Tomba
Rock Dove	Columba livia	-
Picazuro Pigeon	Columba picazuro	-
Spot-winged Pigeon	Columba maculosa	Laguna Mar Chiquita area
Pale-vented Pigeon	Columba cayennensis	Iguazú area
Eared Dove	Zenaida auriculata	-
Ruddy Ground-Dove	Columbina talpacoti	Misiones Route 18, side trip to Brazilian falls
Picui Ground-Dove	Columbina picui	-
White-tipped Dove	Leptotila verreauxi	Iguazú area
Burrowing Parrot	Cyanoliseus patagonus	Gaiman
Maroon-bellied Parakeet	Pyrrhura frontalis	Iguazú NP (Puerto Canoas)
Monk Parakeet	Myiopsitta monachus	Iguazú area, Laguna Mar Chiquita area, Buenos Aires (Costanera Sur)
Blue-winged Parrotlet	Forpus xanthopterygius	Iguazú area
Scaly-headed Parrot	Pionus maximiliani	Iguazú NP (Yacaratia trail, entrance road)
Blue-fronted Parrot	Amazona aestiva	Iguazú NP (Timbo Ranger Station area)
Squirrel Cuckoo	Piaya cayana	Iguazú area
Greater Ani	Crotophaga major	Iguazú area
Smooth-billed Ani	Crotophaga ani	Iguazú area
Guira Cuckoo	Guira guira	-
Striped Cuckoo	Tapera naevia	Laguna Mar Chiquita (Campo Mare road)
Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl	Glaucidium brasilianum	Ycho Cruz
Burrowing Owl	Athene cunicularia	Ycho Cruz, Laguna Mar Chiquita area
Pauraque	Nyctidromus albicollis	Iguazú National Park (Macuco trail, old airfield)
Sooty Swift	Cypseloides fumigatus	Iguazú NP (entrance road)
Great Dusky Swift	Cypseloides senex	Iguazú area
Gray-rumped Swift	Chaetura cinereiventris	Iguazú NP (entrance road)
Glittering-bellied Emerald	Chlorostilbon aureoventris	Iguazú NP (old airfield, Timbo Ranger Station area)
Versicolored Emerald	Amazilia versicolor	Iguazú NP (old airfield)
Surucua Trogon	Trogon surrucura	Iguazú area
Ringed Kingfisher	Ceryle torquata	Misiones Route 19
Amazon Kingfisher	Chloroceryle amazona	Iguazú NP (road to Puerto Canoas, Camping Nandu), Misiones Route 19
Green Kingfisher	Chloroceryle americana	Iguazú NP (Camping Nandu)
Rufous-capped Motmot	Baryphthengus ruficapillus	Urugua-i Provincial Park
White-necked Puffbird	Notharchus macrorhynchos	Iguazú National Park (Macuco trail, Yacaratia trail)
White-eared Puffbird	Nystalus chacuru	Misiones Route 18
Spot-backed Puffbird	Nystalus maculatus	Laguna Mar Chiquita (Campo Mare road)
Rusty-breasted Nunlet	Nonnula rubecula	Iguazú National Park (Macuco trail)
Chestnut-eared Aracari	Pteroglossus castanotis	Misiones Route 12
Red-breasted Toucan	Ramphastos dicolorus	Iguazú area
Toco Toucan	Ramphastos toco	Iguazú area
White-spotted Woodpecker	Veniliornis spilogaster	Iguazú National Park (Macuco trail)
Green-barred Woodpecker	Colaptes melanochloros	Iguazú National Park (Macuco trail, entrance road, road to Puerto Canoas)
Campo Flicker	Colaptes campestris	-
Blond-crested Woodpecker	Celeus flavescens	Iguazú National Park (Macuco trail, Yacaratia trail, Camping Nandu)
Lineated Woodpecker	Dryocopus lineatus	Iguazú NP (Yacaratia trail)
Robust Woodpecker	Campephilus robustus	Iguazú NP (Yacaratia trail)
Olivaceous Woodcreeper	Sittasomus griseicapillus	Iguazú National Park (Macuco trail)
Scimitar-billed Woodcreeper	Drymornis bridgesii	Ycho Cruz
Planalto Woodcreeper	Dendrocolaptes platyrostris	Urugua-i Provincial Park
Scale-throated Earthcreeper	Upucerthia dumetaria	Punta Tomba
Band-tailed Earthcreeper	Eremobius phoenicurus	Valdés Peninsula, Punta Tomba
Comechingones Cinclodes	Cinclodes comechingonus	Pampa de Achala
Olrog's Cinclodes	Cinclodes olrogi	Pampa de Achala
Rufous Hornero	Furnarius rufus	-
Plain-mantled Tit-Spinetail	Leptasthenura aegithaloides	Valdés Peninsula, Punta Tomba
Chotoy Spinetail	Schoeniophylax phryganophila	Laguna Mar Chiquita (Miramar)
Pale-breasted Spinetail	Synallaxis albescens	Laguna Mar Chiquita area
Stripe-crowned Spinetail	Cranioleuca pyrrhophia	Ycho Cruz
Lesser Canastero	Asthenes pyrrholeuca	Punta Tomba
Cordilleran Canastero	Asthenes modesta	Punta Tomba
Patagonian Canastero	Asthenes patagonica	Valdés Peninsula (Puerto Pirámides)
Puna (Córdoba) Canastero	Asthenes sclateri	Pampa de Achala
Freckle-breasted Thornbird	Phacellodomus striaticollis	Buenos Aires (Costanera Sur)
Wren-like Rushbird	Phleocryptes melanops	Buenos Aires (Costanera Sur)
Firewood-gatherer	Anumbius annumbi	Laguna Mar Chiquita (Miramar)
Lark-like Brushrunner	Coryphistera alaudina	Ycho Cruz, Laguna Mar Chiquita area
Brown Cacholote	Pseudoseisura lophotes	Ycho Cruz, Laguna Mar Chiquita area
White-throated Cacholote	Pseudoseisura gutturalis	Valdés Peninsula (Puerto Pirámides)
White-eyed Foliage-gleaner	Automolus leucophthalmus	Iguazú National Park (Macuco trail)
Plain Xenops	Xenops minutus	Iguazú National Park (Macuco trail)
Streaked Xenops	Xenops rutilans	Iguazú NP (entrance road)
Plain Antvireo	Dysithamnus mentalis	Iguazú area
Short-tailed Antthrush	Chamaeza campanisona	Iguazú NP (Yacaratia trail, Camping Nandu) Urugua-i Provincial Park
Mouse-colored Tapaculo	Scytalopus speluncae	Iguazú NP (road to Puerto Canoas)
White-tipped Plantcutter	Phytotoma rutila	Laguna Mar Chiquita area
Blue Manakin	Chiroxiphia caudata	Iguazú National Park (Macuco trail)
White-bearded Manakin	Manacus manacus	Iguazú National Park (Macuco trail)
Sepia-capped Flycatcher	Leptopogon amaurocephalus	Iguazú National Park (Macuco trail)
Southern Antpipit	Corythopis delalandi	Iguazú National Park (Macuco trail), Urugua-i Provincial Park
Yellow Tyrannulet	Capsiempis flaveola	Iguazú NP (entrance road, Camping Nandu), Urugua-i Provincial Park
Small-billed Elaenia	Elaenia parvirostris	Iguazú NP (headquarters area, old airfield)
White-crested Tyrannulet	Serpophaga subcristata	Gaiman
White-bellied Tyrannulet	Serpophaga munda	Ycho Cruz
Greater Wagtail-Tyrant	Stigmatura budytoides	Laguna Mar Chiquita (Campo Mare road)
Many-colored Rush-Tyrant	Tachuris rubrigastra	Buenos Aires (Costanera Sur)
Warbling Doradito	Pseudocolopteryx flaviventris	Buenos Aires (Costanera Sur)
Fuscous Flycatcher	Cnemotriccus fuscatus	Iguazú National Park (Macuco trail)
Alder Flycatcher	Empidonax alnorum	Ycho Cruz
White Monjita	Xolmis irupero	Ycho Cruz, Laguna Mar Chiquita (Campo Mare road)
Rusty-backed Monjita	Xolmis rubetra	Punta Loma
Lesser Shrike-Tyrant	Agriornis murina	Valdés Peninsula, Punta Tomba
Ruf.-naped Ground-Tyrant	Muscisaxicola rufivertex	Pampa de Achala
White-winged Black-Tyrant	Knipolegus aterrimus	Punta Tomba
Spectacled Tyrant	Hymenops perspicillatus	Pampa de Achala, Laguna Mar Chiquita (Miramar), Gaiman, Buenos Aires (Costanera Sur)
Black-backed Water-Tyrant	Fluvicola albiventer	Buenos Aires (Costanera Sur)
Cattle Tyrant	Machetornis rixosus	Iguazú NP (Hotel Internacional, headquarters area), Laguna Mar Chiquita area
Sirystes	Sirystes sibilator	Iguazú NP (entrance road)
Swainson's Flycatcher	Myiarchus swainsoni	Laguna Mar Chiquita (Campo Mare road)
Short-crested Flycatcher	Myiarchus ferox	Iguazú National Park (Macuco trail)
Tropical Kingbird	Tyrannus melancholicus	-
Fork-tailed Flycatcher	Tyrannus savana	-
Crowned Slaty-Flycatcher	Empidonomus aurantioatrocristatus	Laguna Mar Chiquita (Campo Mare road)
Boat-billed Flycatcher	Megarynchus pitangua	Iguazú National Park (Macuco trail, Camping Nandu)
Three-striped Flycatcher	Conopias trivirgata	Iguazú NP (old airfield, entrance road)
Streaked Flycatcher	Myiodynastes maculatus	Urugua-i Provincial Park
Social Flycatcher	Myiozetetes similis	Iguazú NP (Puerto Canoas, Camping Nandu)
Great Kiskadee	Pitangus sulphuratus	-
White-winged Becard	Pachyramphus polychopterus	Urugua-i Provincial Park
Black-tailed Tityra	Tityra cayana	Iguazú NP (entrance road), Urugua-i Provincial Park
Black-crowned Tityra	Tityra inquisitor	Misiones Route 12
Plush-crested Jay	Cyanocorax chrysops	Iguazú area
Red-eyed Vireo	Vireo olivaceus	Iguazú area, Laguna Mar Chiquita area
Chiguanco Thrush	Turdus chiguanco	Pampa de Achala
Rufous-bellied Thrush	Turdus rufiventris	Iguazú area
Pale-breasted Thrush	Turdus leucomelas	Iguazú area
Chalk-browed Mockingbird	Mimus saturninus	-
Patagonian Mockingbird	Mimus patagonicus	Patagonia
White-banded Mockingbird	Mimus triurus	Buenos Aires, Valdés Peninsula
House Wren	Troglodytes aedon	-
Masked Gnatcatcher	Polioptila dumicola	Buenos Aires (Costanera Sur)
White-winged Swallow	Tachycineta albiventer	Iguazú NP (Puerto Canoas)
White-rumped Swallow	Tachycineta leucorrhoa	Iguazú NP (Puerto Canoas), Laguna Mar Chiquita (Campo Mare road), Buenos Aires (Costanera Sur)
Brown-chested Martin	Progne tapera	Laguna Mar Chiquita area
Gray-breasted Martin	Progne chalybea	Iguazú area
Southern Martin	Progne modesta	-
Blue-and-white Swallow	Notiochelidon cyanoleuca	-
Black-collared Swallow	Atticora melanoleuca	Iguazú NP (Puerto Canoas)
S. Rough-winged Swallow	Stelgidopteryx ruficollis	Iguazú area
House Sparrow	Passer domesticus	-
Correndera Pipit	Anthus correndera	Pampa de Achala
Hooded Siskin	Carduelis magellanica	Ycho Cruz
Black-chinned Siskin	Carduelis barbata	Punta Tomba
Tropical Parula	Parula pitiayumi	Iguazú area
Masked Yellowthroat	Geothlypis aequinoctialis	Iguazú NP (entrance road), Buenos Aires (Costanera Sur)
Golden-crowned Warbler	Basileuterus culicivorus	Iguazú area
White-rimmed Warbler	Basileuterus leucoblepharus	Urugua-i Provincial Park
Rufous-collared Sparrow	Zonotrichia capensis	-
Stripe-capped Sparrow	Aimophila strigiceps	Ycho Cruz
Red-crested Cardinal	Paroaria coronata	Buenos Aires (Costanera Sur)
Bananaquit	Coereba flaveola	Iguazú NP (Puerto Canoas)
Chestnut-vented Conebill	Conirostrum speciosum	Iguazú NP (Yacaratia trail, Puerto Canoas)
Magpie Tanager	Cissopis leveriana	Iguazú NP (Yacaratia trail, Macuco trail)
Guira Tanager	Hemithraupis guira	Iguazú NP (Yacaratia trail, Timbo Ranger Station area)
Black-goggled Tanager	Trichothraupis melanops	Iguazú National Park (Macuco trail, Yacaratia trail)
Red-crowned Ant-Tanager	Habia rubica	Iguazú National Park (Macuco trail)
Sayaca Tanager	Thraupis sayaca	Iguazú NP (Hotel Internacional)
Violaceous Euphonia	Euphonia violacea	Iguazú NP (Puerto Canoas)
Green-headed Tanager	Tangara seledon	Iguazú NP (Headquarters area, Puerto Canoas)
Blue Dacnis	Dacnis cayana	Iguazú NP (headquarters area, Yacaratia trail, Puerto Canoas)
Swallow-Tanager	Tersina viridis	Iguazú NP (Puerto Canoas), Urugua-i Provincial Park
Many-colored Chaco-Finch	Saltatricula multicolor	Laguna Mar Chiquita (Campo Mare road)
Red-crested Finch	Coryphospingus cucullatus	Iguazú area
Gray-hooded Sierra-Finch	Phrygilus gayi	Punta Tomba
Mourning Sierra-Finch	Phrygilus fruticeti	Valdés Peninsula, Punta Tomba, Gaiman
Plumbeous Sierra-Finch	Phrygilus unicolor	Pampa de Achala
Ash-breasted Sierra-Finch	Phrygilus plebejus	Pampa de Achala
Carbonated Sierra-Finch	Phrygilus carbonarius	Punta Loma
Common Diuca-Finch	Diuca diuca	Valdés Peninsula, Punta Tomba, Punta Loma
Bl.-and-ruf. Warbling-Finch	Poospiza nigrorufa	Buenos Aires (Costanera Sur)
Patagonian Yellow-Finch	Sicalis lebruni	Valdés Peninsula, Punta Tomba
Saffron Finch	Sicalis flaveola	Iguazú NP (Puerto Canoas), Ycho Cruz, Laguna Mar Chiquita area
Misto Yellow-Finch	Sicalis luteiventris	Laguna Mar Chiquita (Campo Mare road), Punta Tomba, Buenos Aires (Costanera Sur)
Great Pampa-Finch	Embernagra platensis	Pampa de Achala, Laguna Mar Chiquita area, Buenos Aires (Costanera Sur)
Double-collared Seedeater	Sporophila caerulescens	Iguazú NP (old airfield), Ycho Cruz, Laguna Mar Chiquita area, Buenos Aires (Costanera Sur)
Ruddy-breasted Seedeater	Sporophila minuta	Laguna Mar Chiquita (Campo Mare road)
Chestnut-bellied Seed-Finch	Oryzoborus angolensis	Iguazú NP (old airfield)
Blackish-blue Seedeater	Amaurospiza moesta	Urugua-i Provincial Park
Green-winged Saltator	Saltator similis	Iguazú NP (old airfield)
Golden-billed Saltator	Saltator aurantiirostris	Laguna Mar Chiquita (Campo Mare road)
Red-rumped Cacique	Cacicus haemorrhous	Iguazú area
Epaulet Oriole	Icterus cayanensis	Iguazú NP (old airfield, Camping Nandu)
Yellow-winged Blackbird	Agelaius thilius	Laguna Mar Chiquita area, Gaiman, Buenos Aires (Costanera Sur)
Chestnut-capped Blackbird	Agelaius ruficapillus	Iguazú NP (old airfield), Buenos Aires (Costanera Sur)
White-browed Blackbird	Leistes superciliaris	Laguna Mar Chiquita (Miramar)
Long-tailed Meadowlark	Sturnella loyca	-
Bay-winged Cowbird	Molothrus badius	Ycho Cruz, Laguna Mar Chiquita (Miramar), Gaiman
Shiny Cowbird	Molothrus bonariensis	-
Giant Cowbird	Scaphidura oryzivora	Iguazú NP (Hotel Internacional)

Greg D. Jackson, 2220 Baneberry Drive, Birmingham, AL 35244