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