November - December 1995
by Erik Mølgaard
INTRODUCTION.
In November-December 1995, the excursions committee of the Copenhagen department of the Danish Ornithological Society (DOF) carried out its first tour to Venezuela.
The tour was designed to give the participants a good coverage of the
most typical habitats and of the biodiversity of the country. We concentrated
on four main areas: The northern coastal mountains, the Venezuelan Andes
of the Merida mountains, the Llanos and finally the rainforest in the eastern
part of the country, including the highlands of the Gucycaca shield.
The tour was organised as a 15 days tour with a 7 days extension. Most
participants were with us on the entire tour.
The number of bird species recorded was satisfactory. The base tour ended at 487 species. With an additional 142 on the extension trip, the grand total was 629 species.
The time of the year was elected to minimize the amount of rain and
we actually succeeded with that and had sunny and hot weather throughout
the tour. Only a very few showers in the highlands were encountered.
The beautiful weather was probably the reason why bird-song was limited
throughout the tour. This probably cost us quite a few species. My recommendation
would be to go to Venezuela in February or March when song activity is
reportedly higher.
The tour fee was DKK 18,100.- for the base package and an additional DKK 5,550.- for the optional extension, including all transportation, accommodations, full board, all drinks, cancellation insurance, "official" tips, cost of guides and tour leader as well as the usual DOF services.
The local currency is called Bolivar and the exchange rate in November 1995 was approx. 300-320 Bolivar for one dollar (DKK 5,60). Changing money is very difficult in the country and the airport is the best choice. Only a very few places accept travellers checks.
The practical arrangements were made through the Sociedad Conservacionista Audubon de Venezuela, Aptdo. 80.450 Caracas 1080. Fax: 58-2-910716. The Society's travel department had done an excellent job and their arrangement were perfect for hard birdwatchers. The Society also provided us with two local birdwatchers who were with us as local guides. Chris Shrape (CS) (the first two weeks) and David Ascanio (DA) (the last week). Both were very friendly and keen.
The extensive field notes of Stig K. Rasmussen and Jesper Meedom are the foundation of this report.
This report contains the following:
1. Summary of the journey
2. A personal diary
3. List of birds
4. List of mammals and reptiles
5. Bibliography
SUMMARY OF THE JOURNEY.
10.11.95
25.11.95
A PERSONAL DIARY.
November 11th.
We arrived at Caracas at four in the morning after a whole night's flight via Frankfurt. Here we met with Chris - our guide for the first two weeks - from the local ornithological society, Audubon de Venezuela. He was a nice fellow with a special interest in migratory birds and sometimes he tried to make us look at a North American warbler while we were engaged in watching a Venezuelan speciality. Even at this time in the morning the airport swindlers were importunate and Torsten (travelling overseas for the first time) had to pay 10$ to have his trunk carried a hundred meters.
We spent the first day around Colonia Tovar in the temperate forest of the coastal mountains. Our first stop was the "School Trail" at an altitude of 1950 meters, a track in high forest. Down the trail we had a fine male of Golden-breasted Fruiteater on a low branch just above us. Afterwards we tried the El Jalillo Road at an altitude of 2200 meters in a habitat of low bushes with patches of bamboo. We saw a Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle flying out above our heads and a Black Hawk-Eagle soaring over the slopes. We had lunch in Colonia Tovar, a German colony founded in the emigration age with many people succumbing to hardship followed by years of isolation and inbreeding. Now, Colonia Tovar is a mountain resort for people escaping from the polluted air of Caracas in the weekends. The houses are half-timbered, and we were greeted in German at the restaurant where we had sausages and sauerkraut for lunch. Then we drove to Maracay where we stayed at Hotel Byblos.
November 12th.
The coast of northern Venezuela is dominated by a mountain range. The Caribbean littoral zone is dry, but beyond it mountains rising more than 2000 meters are covered in mist forest. On the south side of the mountains the climate is more moist. The large cities as Caracas and Maracay lie inland. There may have been some agriculture previously, but nowadays it isn't worthwhile, and Venezuela is a very "urban" country - partly because of the oil money allowing the country to import food. The coastal range holds a fauna with many endemic species. The forest is fragmented and under pressure, but back in 1937 Henry Pittier National Park was set up to preserve it. It stretches from above Maracay across the summit almost down to sea-level where cocoa plantations, fishing villages and tourist resorts take over. Two asphalt roads go through the park towards the sea, and these form the basis for birdwatching. Near the pass on the Ocumare road there is a biological station, Rancho Grande. Constructed in the age of dictatorship it was originally intended to be a luxury hotel. It is a decaying concrete structure of a grandiose design with empty holes for windows in the middle of the jungle. Only a minor part of it is in use for the station. The entire roof is open to visitors. Here you can walk around in canopy height and watch for tree-top species. As today was weekend the roads through the park were cramped with visitors shouting, cheering, playing radio, throwing maroons and passing through in lines of age-old, huge cars consuming large quantities of gas (priced at 21 liters per dollar). So we left the roads to the visitors and concentrated on the roof and the forest trails around Rancho Grande.
From the roof you can look into the bromelia-filled canopy of the garden trees and have a view of the forested slope with large rain-forest trees, some of them with yellowish flowers. The first morning we were occupied with new and colourful birds all the time. Males of Handsome Fruiteater and White-tipped Quetzal appeared and disappeared, a group of Blood-eared Parakeet settled in a tree, an Ornate Hawk-Eagle emerged from the forest and glide over the roof. The birds were fed on the terrace. The Groove-billed Toucanets occupied the feeders most of the day and ate so much water-melon that they could hardly move. There were also Golden Tanager, Bay-headed Tanager and Blue-winged Mountain-tanager, and at the hummingbird feeders Long-tailed Sylph and Violet-fronted Brilliant came in. In a Cecropia behind the building, a Brown-throated Tree-toed Sloth was spotted. It was quite active - again and again it seemed to spot a specially tempting leaf at the opposite end of the tree and climbed with deliberate and mechanical movements towards its target and hang by its hind feet while grabbing the leaf with its long arms. In the midday heat we tried some of the marked trails on the slope behind Rancho Grande. Here birds were more difficult to spot, but a lucky few glimpsed a Guttulated Foliage-gleaner. Opposite the main road from Rancho Grande another track leads into the forest. The understory is very dense and the track narrow, so we didn't see much - except for Martin (at the head as we walked in single file) who saw a Venezuelan Wood-Quail with chicks running on the trail. This is the place where Chris spends weeks banding North American warblers which come through by the thousands when weather conditions are suitable. After a bright sunny morning the clouds gathered, and migrating Vaux's Swift and Black and Turkey Vultures passed by at low height. In a tree top, a family of Red Howler Monkey was eating leaves - the male watching us suspiciously. They have a hirsute beard and the face looks angry.
In the evening we went out for dinner in Maracay. Very close to the hotel, we were told, meaning a one hour drive in dense traffic. Festoons of lamps decorated the trees of the avenues for Christmas. Mural paintings, often showing landscapes and birds in gay colours, adorned the walls all over the town. The restaurant was guarded by an armed doorman, we were the only guests and each of us had a trencher full of sausages and meat served with manioc and maize-flour balls.
November 13th. Today we explored the Choroni Road, the other road crossing the coastal cordillera through Henry Pittier. The road is fine and in good condition as most roads are in Venezuela. In the early morning, we birded the scrublands at the entrance to the park. A Sooty-capped Hermit picked dead insects from the windscreen of our minibus and it took a detour into the car as well. At an altitude of 950 meters, forest with patches of bamboo is found; here we had a Long-tailed Antbird. We drove along the road and made stops to walk and were then picked up again by our driver. The pass on Choroni Road is at an altitude of 1550 meters and montane species can be seen. At the roadside on the very top we had nice views of understory birds such as Ochre-breasted Brush-finch and Black-chinned Spinetail and in a bird party down the road, Moustached Puffbird and the endemic Rufous-cheeked Tanager were seen. We ended at 750 meters on the dry side in an area with bunches of a 15 meters tall bamboo, where birds were quite active and singing despite the afternoon heat.
November 14th.
Up at four in the morning to drive across the range along the Ocumare Road and down to the lowlands around the junction with the Turiamo Road. Here we were at sunrise ready to bird the dry habitat. Few birds were vocal in the early morning and the chorus silenced rapidly. First, we ate our packed breakfast of pancakes with syrup and had hot coffee from the thermos. The place is the best spot for dry slope deciduous forest species. We went along a cocoa plantation with the tall forest trees left as shade trees. A suitable place to watch for Cocoa Thrush and Cocoa Woodcreeper. Beyond a checkpoint where you ask permission the road continues into a naval base. Here, the habitat was more natural with large forest trees and an understory of dry scrub. Flocks of Lance-tailed Manakin were heard from the thicket all the time, and at places you could look in and watch the displaying birds: richly coloured males, green immature males with black-and-red heads and all-green females with tail-feathers protruding a little. Black-crested Antshrikes were singing and could be called out, and at one place we spotted a Black-backed Antshrike moving up a tangled vine on a tree.
A stream in this area is a known site for Fasciated Tiger-heron. It is considered a highland species, but birds don't always read the books. We found it walking on the boulders in the middle of the river. We went through the fishing village Ocumare, populated by black people, to the coast, driving on steep cliffs above the sea. The coast is dry with low bushes and columnar cacti. Magnificent Frigatebird soared on the winds along the cliffs together with the Black Vultures. We spent most of the afternoon at the bathing resort of Cata Beach. The afternoon heat was overwhelming. A group of Rufous-vented Chachalacas sat in the tiny shadow of a bush, the feathers of the back erected for ventilation and the bills open, while we were chasing hummingbirds and seed-eaters under the burning sun. Later in the afternoon we went back to the river by the cocoa plantation. A White-vented Plumeleteer was bathing, buzzing over the water and stooping vertically down in the water with the body still in upright position. All afternoon the clouds had been gathering over the mountains, and as it now started to rain we drove home.
November 15th.
We had one more morning in Henry Pittier. We spent it at Rancho Grande but this morning we concentrated more on the trails. In the garden a Red-rumped Agouti was snatching guavas from under the trees, and a Rufous-lored Tyrannulet was around just beside the roof. We left the photographers with their motives and went into the dark rain-forest to search for understory species. It is a fine primary rain-forest with large trees with broad board-roots and hanging wooden lianas twined as corkscrews. Ferns grow on the trunks, bromeliads on the lianas. Plain-backed Antpitta and Scalloped Anttrush called from dense cover on the ground, and the Anttrush could be called out with tape play-back. A Strong-billed Woodcreeper flew in to a trunk right beside us. In a party of antbirds we observed a pair of White-streaked Antvireo. Henry Pittier is known as a refuge of the Northern Helmeted Curassow. A few years ago they could be seen on the trails, and sometimes you have the luck to see them in the trees along the roads in the morning. We had a couple of sites pointed out, and we stopped at one at sunrise this morning, but we didn't have the luck. They are very shy and avoid the disturbance of the road.
In the afternoon we drove back to Caracas to fly to Merida. Large posters advertising American products bordered the road, and ineffective workers with machetes were cutting the grass of the roadside to make the roads look nice for the forthcoming elections. The airport is outside town and we didn't enter Caracas proper. The slums covered the hills, small red brick-houses laid out impromptu - not as bad as slums around most third-world capitals. We arrived at the airport two hours in advance - this was because flights are often overbooked and you might lose your seat, as Chris explained. That left us just enough time to stand in line at the bank. In the last two months the bolivar had dropped from 170 to 320 to the dollar so we had good purchasing power with our money. This was vaguely explained with matters in Mexico, but the government didn't dare to do anything about it because of the forthcoming elections so everything just got worse. As the largest notes are 1000 bolivars, we had heaps of money for our dollars. Erik carried a lot of cash for the trip expenses in bags full of money, and the room was littered with bundles of bank-notes.
November 16th.
Sierra Nevada de Merida is the northernmost spur of the Andes. It holds an andean fauna, but as the chain is isolated from the rest of the high Andes it has a number of endemic forms. The highest peaks - Pico Humbolt and Pico Bolivar - are around 5000 meters and covered in snow. A large national park is set up around the peaks and down the slopes. The Humbolt trail goes into the park towards Pico Humbolt. It starts at an altitude of 2120 meters and goes all the way up to the paramo and the summit. We took our time for birdwatching in the temperate forest and reached an altitude of 2650 meters in seven hours. The walking trail is good. It takes you through a fine montane forest. Mosses grow on the tall trunks, lichens are hanging from the branches, the peculiar Podocarpus trees are found, Fern-trees are common, and there are patches of bamboo. Just above the parking we had Emerald Toucanets. A flock of Rose-headed Parakeet landed in a tree top to feed - their scarlet crowns looking very brightin the early morning light. Tapaculos sang from patches with dense undergrowth and bamboo. They are classified as Brown-rumped Tapaculo here, although their voice is recognized to be distinct. Erik tried to play a recording of Chusquea Tapaculo - a species about to be described from bamboo in temperate forest in southern Ecuador. The voice seemed very similar to the tapaculo songs we heard, and it made the Merida tapaculos sing wildly and come in! The endemic Merida Sunangel was common in the forest and we saw it humming while picking insects out of a spider web. Grey-capped Hemispingus was seen in mixed flock where it remained in cover near the ground while following canopy flocks of White-fronted Whitestart and others, and a Slaty-backed Hemispingus was glimpsed in its company.
November 17th.
Today we went down the dry western slope of the mountains. The Merida region is rich, well-kept and pleasant. Merida itself is a university town, nicely laid out, and fast-growing because many people flee the crowded and polluted Caracas to live in the mountains. Our hotel, Belensate, was a nice and quiet place in an area with resplendent bungalows with bars for the windows and angry dogs in the gardens. In the temperate zone there are cattle farms. Natural forest is left in patches - seemingly mostly in the subtropical zone. It was supposed to be the start of the rainy season, and it had rained heavily in the night. At daybreak, we found ourselves by a mountain torrent. In a moment it changed from night to day, and we watched a family of White-capped Dipper chasing each other and swimming in the wild whirls. We visited a patch of forest at 2200 meters called the "University of Andes forest", where we had to climb a fence. It held some of the same bird species as yesterday. We continued along the La Azulita road. About 2000 meters it winds down the slope in multiple hairpin-bends - a stretch called "Las Curvas". Here is good forest and a fine view over the slopes with broad silvery Cecropias contrasting with the green canopy above the dry plains, and far away Lake Maracaibo was visible in the haze. Below the curves is coffee country. Farmhouses lie along the road with bananas and oranges in the garden and the newly harvested coffee spread out in the courtyard for drying. We had lunch in El Tao, a vegetarian restaurant run by retired hippies, with a beautiful garden with flowers, pools and streams and guava trees as well as a coffee grinder, a compost plant and other "alternative" devices. The rooms and toilets of the house were fancily decorated. There were lots of birds in the garden, including Crimson-backed Tanager. As they told us all forest had been cleared further down the slope we dropped our plan to look for toucans down there and gambled on the forest edge at the beginning of Las Curvas instead. We found a glade that had recently been cleared for cattle - a suitable place for toucans we thought - and soon we had a group of Black-mandibled Toucan.
November 18th.
Today we could sleep late as we were to cross the paramo where mornings are cold and no birds are active early. We wore sweaters, mufflers and woolen gloves as we had been warned about this one cold day of the trip. As usual we took packed breakfast with us in the bus with hot coffee and warm pastalitas in the thermo boxes. We started in the open paramo at the pass at 4000 meters. The paramo was blooming, the most conspicuous flower being the tall yellow Espeletia. The sun was shining from a clear sky and all our warm clothes were soon left behind. We spread out to walk downhill through the heath and soon combed out the area for high mountain specials such as Ochre-faced Thistletail. On the slope three Bearded Helmetcrest were feeding on Espeletia, sitting on the flowers rather than hovering in front of them.
At the pass, small fields on terraces on the slopes were being ploughed with oxes, and potatoes were harvested from many fields by rows of peasants. People up here had Indian faces with the purplish colour typical of highland people. Houses were small and poor, but had the outer walls covered with flower-pots in four or five rows all around with flowers of all colours. Quite many tourists seem to come here and there were souvenir shops, restaurants and hotels in the villages. Many places were named after the Condor. Condors were exterminated from Venezuela long ago, but now a reintroduction programme is in progress, using Andean Condors left over from the California Condor project in the US. Twelve young birds have been released with radio transmitters and researchers can track them, even when they make excursions far into Colombia from where a wild Condor once followed a released bird back to Merida. Cows and horses roam the paramo and become Condor food when they drop dead. In a cage an old Condor was kept - too accustomed to people to be fit for release, but useful as an object of display for people coming to see a Condor. A young Condor glided over us in the afternoon when we tried a trail called Mifafy leading into a rocky valley with a little stream in the bottom at 3700 meters. A climb on the slope that made us breathless produced the endemic Paramo Wren - looking much more greyish brown than in the books.
Our hotel - Los Frailes - was in a former monastery from 1643. It was a fascinating construction with external galleries and belfries and cobbled stones in the courtyard, water splashing in the fountain, and choir music played on the loudspeakers at sunset. The bar had a wooden ceiling, fire in the fireplace, antelope's heads on the wall, and drinks based on local anise brandy, and the restaurant served palm hearts and the trout that is a Merida specialty. Many of us were feeling giddy from the high altitude and the sun.
November 19th.
Up at four to drive downhill on the eastern slope. We stopped at an altitude of 1500 meters by the San Isidro quarry and woke up the guard to open the gate. We started on the track through the quarry in darkness. We hurried into the forest and had hardly time to look at a group of Band-tailed Guans moving away from the trees next to the track. As light improved we noticed that the track followed a gully. We were taken down the slope on a steep path were we clinged to branches and roots not to fall. Weird calls were heard from the gully as we descended. Suddenly we were at the lek and sat down on the slope looking into a group of trees with dense foliage. Andean Cock-of-the-Rock were displaying: gaudy orange males were hopping and chasing each other, all the time cooing their rising, grating note, while a brown female was watching the show. Then all of a sudden it was over and the entire flock took off, six males and a female. They only display in the morning and stop early and then display again in the late afternoon.
We made it up to the track again. It led into a scenic gorge with steep forested slopes. Huge trees draped with bromeliads and lianas rose above the canopy. We followed the trail through a water-course and into the bottom of the gorge. Twenty-six Yellow-billed Toucanet crossed the gorge in a loose flock. The many bushes with red flowers along the trail were good for hummingbirds, and we had excellent views of males of Booted Racket-tail, Lazuline Sabrewing, Wedge-billed Hummingbird and Golden-tailed Sapphire. Two males of Golden-headed Quetzal were chasing each other. In the late morning a Black-and-Chestnut Eagle came out to soar over the slopes. In the shady tangles next to the track we glimpsed the secretive Spotted Barbtail creeping on the lianas of the understory. The Cock-of-the-Rocks were still present in the area and we saw them throughout the morning. The track also seemed especially rich in beautiful butterflies and some of them landed upon us to lick salt. The gorge is unique as the upper tropical zone along all of the Andes is rapidly being deforested for coffee - and in other countries for cocaine. Audubon de Venezuela is working to have it included in the National Park higher up. The mining company working the quarry is favourable as long as they can go on mining at the entrance. They take a positive interest in the forest and protect the Cock-of-the-Rocks. The problem seems more to be the Ministry of Environment having a policy not to prevent any exploitation of nature.
In the afternoon we drove slowly back stopping to bird along the way. The road follows a mountain river with whirls and boulders, and from one of the view-points we saw Torrent Ducks swimming ably in the wild waters. At the entrance to the national park we took a walk along the river. A long cortege of cars and trucks at good speed with megaphones shouting messages, flags flapping and people on the body waving and shouting passed by - part of the campaign for next month's local elections. Venezuela has been through a period of too easy oil money, making too many people in the country dependent on an income beyond their control that suddenly disappeared. To the casual observer Venezuela seemed like a rich and well-kept country and the Venezuelans seemed nice and friendly. Below the surface there is unrest and the stories we heard made an impression of a country ruled by poor politicians, with corruption spreading, an all too large military gaining influence while being bought off with money the country no longer can afford to spend, and a generation lost due to political irresponsibility.
At sunset we watched a Band-winged Nightjar on the lawn of the neighbouring hotel. There was also a pair of Southern Lapwing - an extraordinary record at 3050 meters, as the book tells it only ascends to 300. Yesterday we saw an "out-of-place" Great Egret. Many birds seem to migrate through the pass.
November 20th.
Today we left the Andes going down through the Santo Domingo valley - the same valley as we birded yesterday, but today we concentrated on other sites and started from the upper end. Just below Los Frailes, there is a trail called Las Tabias at an altitude of 2865 meters. It is at timberline with views of the open paramo above and the temperate forest below. It is a forest of low trees and bushes dominated by Polylepis and overgrown with lichens. A few Indians live here, and the trail goes through a mixed landscape with cottages and meadows with cows. It was a chilly morning - just a few degrees above zero. The sun started to shine on the mountain peaks while the valley was still dark and cold. As the sun came up it quickly got hot, and the birds all of a sudden became active. We had many highland species - among them the Merida Flowerpiercer.
We proceeded down to 1090 meters. The climate changed to humid, hot and tropical and we changed to rubber boots, afraid of chiggers. This was the place, where Chris had been promising us excellent views of Lyre-tailed Nightjar. Where the road passes a steep forested cliff with ferns and mossy roots protruding the bird was roosting on a root, facing us and looking like an owl with its coarse scaly pattern in sombre colours on the breast. The extremely elongated tail-feathers were trailing behind it, the one bent by the branches. Cameras were set up on tripods, while Chris directed the traffic in the hairpin bend safely past the absorbed birdwatchers. The bird had been known to sit there for many months, as if enjoying the action of the road. It is an extraordinary record, as Lyre-tailed Nightjar is otherwise only known above 2500 meters in Venezuela, but it is not a vagrant as more birds are seen in the area. Afterwards we walked on the La Soledad trail in the midday sun, a rather disturbed area with a few tall trees and scrubs and flowering bushes. We didn't believe our own eyes when we spotted a Red Siskin - but we had to accept the fact. This extremely rare bird of edge habitats is nomadic and erratic. It is driven towards extinction by the bird trade as it is good for interbreeding with other species producing strangely coloured hybrids. Though protected by law the price of the species in the black market is some hundred thousand bolivares - meaning that the temptations for trappers exceed the means available for protection.
As the Altamira Road - known as a birding site - turned out to be just villages and farmland we went on to the Barragan River at 600 meters with good forest on the slopes and followed a track along coffee plantations to a shallow water-course in the woods. We saw a perched Grey-headed Kite. The place seemed definitely to be the most promising birding site in the lower Santo Domingo valley. In the evening we drove to Barinas for a one night stop on the way to the llanos. Here of all places we met with Mary Lou Goodwin, our contact in Audubon de Venezuela for arranging the trip and author of "Birding Venezuela". She was on a trip to Colombia with two visiting American biologists, and we had a talk with this remarkable lady about ornithology in Venezuela and our trip so far and assured her Chris had behaved well.
November 21st.
We started early to drive to Hato el Frio. Birds were everywhere and we rushed through in the expectation that this was what we were going to see all the time for the next four days anyway. We stopped by a small creek where we had our first Scarlet Ibis feeding at close range in the shallow water. In an open area with a lot of water there were birds in the thousands: herons, ducks, storks, hundreds of Roseate Spoonbill. We didn't stop for security reasons - this was one of the places notorious for assaults we were told. Bad incidents had occurred to tourist groups in several places we passed. In one place we didn't stop at a site because of some suspicious fellows loitering there. Chris seemed confident the best thing to do was to avoid or rush through certain areas. On the surface, Venezuela looked like a nice place where you could just hire a car and go on your own as you please. The next days gave nothing really like the flocks of waterbirds we rushed past, and wise were those who took a good look at the Scarlet Ibis for we never saw it on the ground again.
Hato el Frio is one of the large "hatos", cattle ranches, that dominate the llanos. At 40 times 20 kilometers it is a midsize estate by local measures in the Apure state which is more or less owned by ten families. Parts of the ranch has been made a wildlife reserve, wildlife is specially protected, and Hato el Frio have rooms for visitors coming to see the wildlife of the llanos. Some other ranches do the same, but Hato el Frio is known as the best place to see the real llanos: the open land with many waterbirds including a good stock of Orinoco Goose and many large animals. Our bus left us and for the next days we toured in the area in the jeeps and boats of the hato. The guides and drivers of the ranch were skilled in spotting birds and animals. Hato el Frio is termed a biological station, though the only research that seemed to go on at the moment was feeding the Orinoco Crocodiles kept for captive breeding in the fencing by the lodge with lumps of donkey meat. The restaurant served good food such as catfish from the rivers and the refrigerator was always filled up with free beer. Very convenient as the llanos is very hot. Hence we had siesta around noon and were out in the morning and late afternoon.
Birds were abundant around the lodge. A Jabiru had its nest nearby. The endemic White-bearded Flycatcher was readily found by the small pool by the lodge. Many of the smaller birds had fledged youngs. Capybaros were all over, grazing on land or relaxing in the swamp. They had young, and flocks liked to sleep on the track and moved very reluctantly as we passed in the jeep. Iguanas lazed in the large trees. The first afternoon we drove around for birds in the hedgerows by the lodge where we saw a Dwarf Cuckoo.
November 22nd.
We had breakfast with bats hunting overhead in the restaurant and drove north through the open llanos while the sun rose above the morning mist low over the landscape. Our first Orinoco Goose was spotted in the mist, and in the low scrub we had Riverside Tyrant. We started with a walk in the riverine forest along a dike where we had Orinoco Saltator. Afterwards, a boat took us into the vast system of lakes with beds of water hyacinths with bluish flowers, where fishing herons and resting raptors were seen at close range.
The afternoon trip started in the enclosure by the lodge bordered by large trees where we had Sunbittern at the lakeside flying up with the sun flashing in the coppery speculum and a pair of Great Horned Owl watching us from their day roost while various small birds scolded them. We drove out in the open savannah south of the main road. No trees, just flat grassland and only a few small lakes. As the rainy season had just ended everything was fresh and green. Tall herbs had almost overgrown the jeep-tracks not used for half a year and filled the air with a scent of mint as we drove over them. We had an evocative evening on the savannah with the undulating bands of Scarlet Ibis against the sky heading for their night roost, the sun setting and the new moon and planets rising, the smell of mint in the air, the enormous clouds of (harmless) mosquitos dancing above our heads like smokes, and the Lesser Nighthawks - first one or two in unpredictable flight, then flocks chasing insects, and as it became dark the night was full of their calls. As we drove back in darkness the fireflies were glowing and we spotlighted the fishing bats that were hunting at the surface of the lakes.
November 23rd.
The morning trip went along the trail north beyond where we sailed yesterday through a landscape of bushes and trees. Branches flicked back at us on the body of the jeep while we drove, and every now and then the driver had to clear the track with his machete. We ended at a pool in the forest covered by duckweed, with Hoatzins flickering wings, hissing and flying out, and Erik had the luck to glimpse an Agami Heron.
After siesta we went for a stork colony. The site was south of the main road. We first had to follow the main road east for some twelve kilometers, and then we drove through the flat dry grassland towards a lake with high bushes around. The colony was in bushes in the lake. American Wood-Stork was the commonest species, with 1500 sitting all over. A few of the highest bushes were crowned by the large stick-nests of Maguari Storks. Their black well-grown young were waiting while a flock of adult storks was standing far away in the savannah. Cormorants, Darters and a few Roseate Spoonbills were around in the colony. In the bottom of a bush there was a Boatbill Heron colony. The curious young with chestnut backs were out in the open watching us, their large black bills giving them a cute, toy-like expression. Adult Boatbills could be spotted deep inside the bush. The breeding apparently follows the rainy season and all young in the colony were nearly grown-up. Not much happened in the colony in the afternoon heat: storks ventilated with open bills, and cormorants quaked their necks. The many birds attract scavengers. Caracaras were around and we surprised a pair of Great Black-Hawk having a meal of a Cattle Egret. In the evening the herons began to arrive. First Cattle Egrets flying low in dense flocks, then Great Egrets in small flocks or simply in a continuous stream, a few Cocoi Herons, and in near darkness a few Little Blue Herons and Snowy Egrets came in. With the incoming herons the bushes in the lake turned still whiter. The birds grouped themselves according to size, on top the Maguari Storks, high the Wood Stork, mid-level the Great Egrets and at the bottom of the bushes the Cattle Egrets. We drove back in the dark while spotlighting. First the Band-tailed Nighthawks were seen hawking insects low over the water. At the corner of the pool, baby Caimans were surprised on the track and rushed for safety in the pool, our driver chasing them and catching one for showing - they were not many days old. Sweeping the torch over the pool revealed pairs of their eyes all over. Excellent sightings of nightjars were enjoyed on the way back with many caught in the light of the car on the track and seen in full light, first White-tailed Nightjar, then Pauraque, and finally Nacunda Nighthawk. While driving in the night lots of insects hit our faces - an immense richness of food for all the Nightjars.
November 24th.
We went up the track going north for a boat trip on the rivers starting from a farmhouse by a creek. There, our boat and one boatsman was seizured by a soldier and disappeared on the rivers. The presence of a soldier in a remote corner of a private estate wasn't surprising. We met with the National Guard all over at checkpoints at roads and odd places. Sometimes they checked some papers and took their time doing it, but they really didn't bother us. One version of the story of the incident was that arrogant military personnel do seizure other people's property at will and go parrot-shooting in the reserves for fun. The other version was that the manager of the estate hadn't reserved the boat for us as he ought to, and that the soldier went out to patrol illegal fishing. So we never found out whether our soldier was a villain or a hero. But members of Audubon de Venezuela have seen soldiers shooting parrots in reserves and have had visits by strange men threatening them in the night when they have reported it in the newspapers. Some stayed at the landing site scorning the military while others took one car up to the pool to watch for parrots and embarked from there when the boat was returned. We sailed down a tributary of the Rio Apure proper. At the junction of the rivers a flock of River Dolphins was playing around, revealing their entire head with the long snout. We landed on the bank of the river and went for a walk in the riverine landscape of dry bushes and galleries of higher trees. Pairs of Pale-headed Jacamar hawked insects from exposed branches. They nest in holes in the river banks. We also had a party of dry-country birds including Hooded Tanager. The way back along the meandering tributary gave many Orinoco Geese on the banks suggesting that this is the preferred habitat of the species.
The afternoon started at the day roost of a Great Potoo in the enclosure by the lodge. We had spotlighted it some of the evenings sitting upright on it's favourite perch, the large eyes flashing orange. This time we could admire the creature in full daylight sitting like a dead-end stub of a branch, the small bill ending in an enormous mouth slightly open in the heat. Then we continued along a road into the low savannah south of the main road passing wetlands and large surfaces of water. We saw hundreds of Capybaras and many waterbirds - among them migrants such as Green Heron and Ruddy Turnstone. At this time of the year there is water all over and waterbirds and animals are dispersed over the entire area. Towards the end of the dry season about February most of the pools and lakes dry out, and birds and animals congregate around the remaining waterholes. Then waterbirds are seen in higher numbers, specials such as Pinnated Bittern are regularly found in the right places, Giant Anteater and Puma are regularly seen, and Jaguar and Ocelot are certainly possible. However, November also has its highlights such as young in the stork colonies, including Boatbill, young of passerines all over and scarcer South American migrants such as Dwarf Cuckoo, Riverside Tyrant and River Tyrannulet being around.
November 25th.
Our last morning at Hato el Frio was spent on a final try for the Yellow-knobbed
Curassow in the riverine forest. We drove north along the dikes, where
a fat, large Orinoco Crocodile plunged into the water at our appearance.
Our target proved easy - suddenly a pair of Curassows strutted across the
trail in front of us and disappeared in the dry understory. We said goodbye
to the Orinoco Geese at the roost on the high branches of a dead tree.
We did the bus drive to San Fernando de Apure from where we flew to
Caracas. We parted with those from the group going home after two weeks,
and parted with Chris and met with David, our guide for the rest of the
stay. We flew to the new industrial city of Puerto Ordaz by the wide brown
Orinoco River. The passengers made the sign of the cross and the pilot
landed the aircraft with such a smack that the oxygen masks came tumbling
out of their store. Our new bus had a bad gear box which made a scream
grating on any motorist's nerves whenever the gear was changed and strange
manoeuvers had to be made to avoid some shifts no longer possible. A drive
in darkness brought us to El Palmar where we stayed at the plain but nice
Hotel Parador Taguepira.
November 26th.
Guide to Harpy Eagle - ten dollars. We were amused by this cocksure specification on the bill for our arrangement. This was the day. Up before four, scrambled eggs and hot coffee to wake up, a drive in the night, changing to jeeps as the track became to steep and muddy for the bus. Then we stopped at a glade. A White Hawk flying away could be distinguished in the weak morning light. Our Harpy guide, Nieves, a small man with an introvert face, took us into the forest on what we could hardly perceive as a trail in the poor light. Nieves hushed, pointed to a tree, something moved up there, and a Black Curassow flew down. We crossed a water-course on a tree trunk and went down a slippery slope. Then we were there. It was a large nest in an emergent tree standing on a slope. The female was there, sitting by the nest and looking towards us with the owl-like face and the split crest raised. The feet were huge, apt for tearing monkeys off the branches. We sat there in the morning and again for some hours in the afternoon. She was just sitting there. No other bird came close or mobbed her. The Harpys breed every second year and it takes eight months to raise a young. This time of the year is when the young are newly hatched, the female guards the nest and the male comes in with prey at intervals of several days. The men in the forest know several nests around, know which ones are active and take birdwatchers to a nest suitable for visits. The name of the place is Imataca forest reserve - reserve meaning there shall be forest but with commercial forestry. The forest is logged by an agreement that a certain percentage of the trees may be felled and that trees containing nests should be spared. This is why they keep track of the nests and there is a project on finding out whether the large raptors can survive in the partly logged forest and indeed studying the general biology of these poorly known birds. The emergent trees with nests are thus saved but David suspected the logging of being too destructive. Huge logs were assembled in piles at the clearing we had started out from, and by the nest we sat on a felled trunk. This was probably where we picked up so many chiggers. We had other good birds in the area during the day, such as Fasciated Antshrike and Todd's Antwren in the canopy, and Ferruginous-backed Antbird was called out with playback in the understory. In the evening, the Harpy was celebrated with a glass of old rum from a leather bag.
November 27th.
We had one more morning in Imataca and went along a forest track. Logging had taken place time ago, large emergent trees were missing from the forest where the thin Cecropias suggested where the canopy once was, and the opening along the road was long since overgrown with tangle. There were Red-fan Parrot and Black-necked Araçari, and there were footprints of Jaguar and Tapir on the sandy track. It was certainly a good morning with many fine birds, but as we didn't want to stay in secondary habitat in the midday heat we tried a part of the forest where a track had recently been made with openings in between the forest trees not yet grown over and with groups of large trees not yet logged. We heard a Capuchinbird singing. It must be the strangest sound uttered by any bird. It is a drawn-out note changing in quality from a roar to a scream. The roaring and whining can perhaps best be likened to a chain-saw. At first we thought it might be a mile away, and David thought it was a straggler as there were no known leks around. So we were taken by surprise when we caught sight of two Capuchinbirds in a tree-top. We had discovered a lek. It was in a group of trees with dense foliage. Altogether there were four males that were all active. A bird of a rich, sombre, orange-brown colour, and a thick ruff around the bald head looking disproportionately small and buried in the feathers of the ruff. They straighten themselves and puff their ruffs while calling.
Imataca is reached by crossing a small river named Rio Grande. There, in the morning, Stig had spotted a flying Sungrebe from the bus. We saw nothing when we went out and mocked him as Sungrebes never are seen flying. Stopping on the return, Stig again claimed a glimpse of a Sungrebe that disappeared with none else seeing it. Stig was right after all - eventually, the Sungrebe was found lying completely still, right by the muddy bank making itself invisible though there was nothing but a thin root to hide behind.
In the afternoon we took the six hour drive on a good road from El Palmar to the little mining community known as "Kilometer 88" though now named Las Claritas. We had expected the worst of the hotel standard down here and were surprised to find a nice and homely place in a well-kept garden. The garden borders the rain-forest, and there is a small trail where we had Ruddy-tailed Flycatcher. The owner Henry, born by German parents, ventured to this remote corner to dig gold, but as the Indians found more gold by going through his waste a second time than he had found the first time he decided he wasn't meant to be a miner. Then he tried with fishing ponds, but the water was contaminated from the gold-miners' activities and the fishes died. Then he settled with the hotel.
November 28th.
"Kilometer 88" is a stop on the main road going through the vast Canaima National Park and on to Brazil. The place itself is in the lowlands at 150 meters but just beyond it the road climbs onto a plateau at 1350 meters. This climb is known as "La Escalera". Beyond is a grassland named the Gran Sabana. Canaima National park is known for the tepuis - steep table mountains rising a kilometer above the forest - and the area is visited for the spectacular waterfalls. Birds in the lowlands are of the Guianan rain-forest fauna while the birds of the higher altitude include many species endemic to the tepuis. La Escalera is not the most scenic part of Canaima but it is an accessible place where many of the special birds are readily seen.
Our first birding was along a trail called "the trail of the woods" in the lowlands. We set out after a night's rain and the dripping of the forest made noises and movements that made birds difficult to detect. Large nuts dropped to the forest floor all around us in the dense, secondary forest. At the entrance we met some Indian hunters with handmade weapons. It was a long walk with very few birds. We explored every unknown call and in one case the sound happened to be from a Guayanan Red-Cotinga that proved very shy and difficult to see as it moved fast and hid behind the leaves. In the afternoon we tried the higher altitudes on La Escalera and although we had an introduction to a few of the tepui endemics it was a continuation of a day with very few birds.
November 29th.
We started at daybreak on La Escalera at an altitude of 900 meters by kilometer 111. Though it is below the National park proper, the area is anyway protected as a buffer zone, and the rain-forest is good. The highlight of the morning was Guianan Cock-of-the-Rock. First, we saw a female and then a superb male low in the trees. Other fine birds of the area were Roraiman Antwren, Wing-barred Piprites, Olive-backed Tanager and Sharpbill. We continued up the road making stops at different altitudes. At 1350 meters, just after the National Guard checkpoint, there is a small trail to the left. The landscape is a low forest of a somewhat rhododendron-like tree, a secondary species able to withstand the continuous burning of the area. However degraded this forest may be there are many good birds in it. At this particular place we had Ruddy Tody-Flycatcher. Further up at kilometer 133 we had Scarlet-horned Manakin in display. The male was sitting on a horisontal branch, took a sideway hop while uttering a metallic click and then ran sidewards back with very fast and very small steps, hopping/clicking again and step-dancing back, over and over like a mechanic toy. At this place we also had Tepui Greenlet. We continued into the grassland of the Gran Sabana across a boundary looking much like a timberline. The origin of the Gran Sabana - natural grassland or man-made - is disputed. Indians live here and burn the savanna regularly to hunt animals fleeing the fire and these bush-fires are also responsible for the scrubby forest below. The Indians have their cottages in the grassland and live their traditional life in the National Park. David seemed somewhat critical about their activities in relation to the purposes of the National Park. From the pompous monument for the pioneer soldiers we made a walk towards the forest through recently burned land. The transition zone is Bellbird land. White Bellbird has the most catchy sound - a ringing drawn out boooiiinggg. We had them far away flying between the trees in a white flash and then sitting in a tree-top calling. The forest border is a good place to see them, but a telescope is essential. They throw the neck back, open their bill widely, the absurd wattle dangling down on the breast: boooiiinggg, the sound arriving at the distant observer long after. We also saw Bearded Bellbird here. We continued into the savannah stopping at places with scrub and water-courses. At the last such stop at kilometer 151 we had many birds in a mixed party, including Black-faced Tanager and Tepui Spinetail. We also had a Collared Forest-Falcon sitting exposed in the top of a small tree. As we went back across the savannah we could see the far-away lonely tepui mountains rising above the landscape. In the evening we were back at the forest border where flocks of Tepui Parrotlet and Orange-winged Parrot migrated for their evening roost and a fine day was completed with a Rufous-breasted Sabrewing - an endemic hummingbird of a rich brick-red colour - chasing an obtrusive Peacock Coquette away from its tree.
November 30th.
We started at daybreak where we finished yesterday and drove slowly down la Escalera making stops to do some walking. This morning we had better luck with the Bearded Bellbird as we found one singing male at close range in a tree-top. Its voice does have certain qualities at close range. A double-note like someone hammering on metal and a series of ringing warm-up notes in between these notes. The bill is thrown open to an angle of 90 degrees during the call. Further down, at kilometer 123, we found a small tree with green berries where Olive Manakin and Orange-bellied Manakin came in to feed. There also was a flowering tree teeming with nectar-eating birds. Fifteen hummingbirds of four species: Tepui Goldenthroat, Rufous-breasted Sabrewing, Velvet-browed Brilliant and Sparkling Violetear whirred and buzzed around the crown in hectic activity, and inside the tree besides the many Bananaquits we saw a Greater Flowerpiercer. As silent rain began to fall, the activity slowed down and gradually died away. To escape the rain we drove downwards to an area where we had a Waved Woodpecker following a mixed party of tanagers and honeycreepers. In the afternoon we were down by Piedra de la Virgen. By the spectacular rock there is a shrine with a statue of the Virgin Mary, trucks and cars stop to worship, and wax candles were lit whenever we passed even in the very early morning. From the rock there is a fine view of the tree-tops of the rain-forest below and with the telescope we spotted Spangled Cotinga as well as birds to distant to recognize. A little down the road an assemblage of trees with berries had feeding Pompadour Cotinga and Guianan Cock-of-the-Rock and a Blue-crowned Motmot came in while we waited for more fruiteaters.
After dinner we went spotlighting on a trail in the lowland starting in town. "Kilometer 88" is a simple and ugly mining town with tough gold miners in blue jeans attending places to drink. The place was lively as Venezuelans start on their weekends on Thursday night, and as we went in the forest listening for owls the dogs were barking from the village and the beating rhythms of the music from the miners' night life penetrated the forest. No owls were heard, but we spotlighted a Kinkajou.
December 1st.
This morning we went for the track to the mine where we had been yesterday night. As always, only a few birds were singing at daybreak and the morning inside the forest wasn't promising. Back on the track it was better with a pack of Cayenne Jay roaming through the forest, Pied Puffbird and Marail Guan. Then Inger glimpsed a Crimson Topaz. We kept watch at the tree with a keen eye on the flowers in the hope that it would come back. Nothing happened. A Hermit came in to feed but no Topaz was instigated to chase it out. Then a movement was spotted at the bottom of the tree. The Crimson Topaz had been there all the time, sitting in the shade below the flowers. We could approach it closely while it just sat, crimson red, flickered its wing, spread out its peculiar tail with the elongated feathers crossing each other, and sometimes stretched its neck - the light reflecting in the green on the throat.
After lunch we started the long drive for Puerto Ordaz. We crossed the Cuyuni River on a cast iron bridge, made by the architect responsible for the Eifel Tower, transferred to here when it was to be scrapped in France and now requested back by the French who have realised its cultural value. We stopped by some groves of Mauritia palms on the way to look for Sulphury Flycather. The midday heat was strong and no birds moved when suddenly a Lineated Woodpecker was violently pursued by a smaller bird - which turned out to be the Sulphury Flycatcher! The hotel was actually a building site with heaps of rubble and piles of building materials in the provisional reception, and the lift didn't work, but the rooms were reasonable. We celebrated our last evening on a steak restaurant - Torben now being so fond of the local food that he had a plate of manioc with his beef. David told us how confused he was by our group at first because we simply dispersed in every direction when we entered a rain-forest, one taking pictures, one counting parrots, one examining a strange fungus, one observing a feeding bird, one recording an unknown chirp, all keeping within shouting distance and each deciding for himself what he wanted to look at. Normal groups seem to stick to the guide and look at what he is pointing out to them.
December 2nd.
The cars we had ordered to take us to the airport didn't show up and
as the assistance of the hotel was no good, David had to hail a cab in
the street and eventually we got on our flight to Caracas. The arrangements
and transports had so far worked completely satisfactory. In Caracas we
went to the coastal campus of Universidad de Bolivar to watch birds in
their park. The park was a dry scrubland and as we hadn't spent much time
in this habitat we managed to find some additional species for our list
such as Glaucous Tanager and Pale-eyed Pygmy-tyrant. We had lunch at McDonald's
where a gaudy Nativity manger was on display. Then we went for the airport
to return home.
LIST OF BIRDS RECORDED.
The taxonomy used in this list is mainly based on R.M. de Schauensee's "A Guide to the Birds of Venezuela", supplemented with new classification by Robert S. Ridgely's "The Birds of South America".
Information of status and threat is mainly taken from N.J. Collar et al. "Birds to Watch 2".
Species observed only by one or two participants are marked in the list
with the initials of the observers in brackets.
GRAY TINAMOU (Tinamus tao).
1 heard Henry Pittier N.P.
GREAT TINAMOU (Tinamus major).
1 heard Imataca F.R.
LITTLE TINAMOU (Crypturellus soui).
2 heard Henry Pittier N.P. and 1 heard Imataca F.R.
VARIEGATED TINAMOU (Crypturellus variegatus).
3 heard Imataca F.R., 1 heard Las Claritas and 1 heard Las Claritas
(trail km 89).
RED-LEGGED TINAMOU (Crypturellus erythropus).
1 heard Henry Pittier N.P.
LEAST GREBE (Tachybaptus dominicus).
2 ad + 2 juv Santo Domingo.
BROWN PELICAN (Pelecanus occidentalis).
20 Cata Beach, 10 Caracas - Universidad Simon Bolivar and 18 Universidad
Simon Bolivar - Caracas.
BROWN BOOBY (Sula leucogaster).
2 Cata Beach (MHN).
NEOTROPIC CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax olivaceus).
3 Primavera, 4 Las Tabias, 85 Barinas - Hato El Frio and 700 Hato El
Frio.
ANHINGA (Anhinga anhinga).
3 Barinas - Hato El Frio and 38 Hato El Frio.
MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD (Fregata magnificens).
50 Cata Beach, 1 Caracas - Universidad Simon Bolivar and 8 Universidad
Simon Bolivar - Caracas.
WHITE-NECKED (COCOI) HERON (Ardea cocoi).
58 Barinas - Hato El Frio, 80 Hato El Frio and 1 Hato El Frio - San
Fernando de Apure.
GREAT EGRET (Egretta alba).
1 Los Frailes, 260 Barinas - Hato El Frio, 1400 Hato El Frio,
60 Hato El Frio - San Fernando de Apure and 3 La Gran Sabana.
SNOWY EGRET (Egretta thula).
150 Barinas - Hato El Frio, 80 Hato El Frio and 1 Hato El Frio - San
Fernando de Apure.
LITTLE BLUE HERON (Egretta caerulea).
1 Pte de la Vargen and 75 Hato El Frio.
GREEN HERON (Butorides virescens).
3 Hato El Frio.
Note: Sometimes regarded as a subspecies of Striated Heron (B. striatus).
STRIATED HERON (Butorides striatus).
6 Barinas - Hato El Frio and 45 Hato El Frio.
AGAMI HERON (Agamia agami).
1 Hato El Frio (EM).
Status: Near-threatened species.
CATTLE EGRET (Bubulcus ibis).
8 La Victoria - Maracay, 4 Maracay, 45 Maracay - Caracas, 4 Santo Domingo,
35 Barinitas - Barinas, 1035 Barinas - Hato El Frio, 3525 Hato El
Frio, 230 Hato El Frio - San Fernando de Apure and 2 El Palmar - Imataca
F.R.
WHISTLING HERON (Syrigma sibilatrix).
2 Barinas - Hato El Frio and 10 Hato El Frio.
CAPPED HERON (Pilherodius pileatus).
1 Imataca F.R. and 2 El Dorado - Guasipati.
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (Nycticorax nycticorax).
1 Barinas - Hato El Frio and 60 Hato El Frio.
YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (Nycticorax violaceus).
30 Barinas - Hato El Frio and 3 Hato El Frio.
RUFESCENT TIGER-HERON (Tigrisoma lineatum).
1 Barinas - Hato El Frio, 13 Hato El Frio and 1 El Dorado - Guasipati.
FASCIATED TIGER-HERON (Tigrisoma fasciatum).
1 ad. Henry Pittier N.P.
Status: Near-threatened species.
BOAT-BILLED HERON (Cochlearius cochlearius).
2 ad. + 11 juv. Hato El Frio.
WOOD STORK (Mycteria americana).
125 Barinas - Hato El Frio and 1600 Hato El Frio.
MAGUARI STORK (Ciconia maguari).
2 Barinas - Hato El Frio, 33 (9 juv.) Hato El Frio and 4 Hato El Frio
- San Fernando de Apure.
JABIRU (Jabiru mycteria).
15 Barinas - Hato El Frio and 6 + 3 pull. Hato El Frio.
BUFF-NECKED IBIS (Theristicus caudatus).
3 Barinas - Hato El Frio and 35 Hato El Frio.
SHARP-TAILED IBIS (Cercibis oxycerca).
6 Barinas - Hato El Frio and 45 Hato El Frio.
GREEN IBIS (Mesembrinibis cayennensis).
2 Pte de la Vargen and 16 Hato El Frio.
BARE-FACED (WHISPERING) IBIS (Phimosus infuscatus).
1 La Victoria - Maracay, 51 Barinas - Hato El Frio and 1200 Hato El
Frio.
WHITE IBIS (Eudocimus albus).
3 Hato El Frio.
SCARLET IBIS (Eudocimus ruber).
21 Barinas - Hato El Frio and 300 Hato El Frio.
GLOSSY IBIS (Plegadis falcinellus).
1 Hato El Frio.
ROSEATE SPOONBILL (Platalea ajaja).
200 Barinas - Hato El Frio and 20 Hato El Frio.
WHITE-FACED WHISTLING-DUCK (Dendrocygna viduata).
50 Barinas - Hato El Frio, 200 Hato El Frio and 1 Guasipati - Puerto
Ordaz.
BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK (Dendrocygna autumnalis).
600 Hato El Frio.
WHISTLING-DUCK SP. (Dendrocygna sp.).
500 Barinas - Hato El Frio and 500 Hato El Frio.
ORINOCO GOOSE (Neochen jubata).
60 Hato El Frio.
Status: Near-threatened species.
ANDEAN TEAL (Anas andium).
7 Laguna Macubaji.
Note: This species is now usually regarded as a full species and split
from Speckled Teal (Anas flavirostris).
TORRENT DUCK (Merganetta armata).
1? 1? Primavera and 1? Las Tabias.
BRAZILIAN DUCK (Amazonetta brasiliensis).
7 Hato El Frio.
MUSCOVY DUCK (Cairina moschata).
8 Pte de la Vargen and 4 Hato El Frio.
ANDEAN CONDOR (Vultur gryphus).
1 imm. Merida - Los Frailes and 1 imm. Mifafy.
Note: The species is reintroduced in Merida.
KING VULTURE (Sarcoramphus papa).
3-4 ad. Hato El Frio, 4-8 ad. 1-2 imm. Imataca F.R. and 2 ad. La Escalera
Road (lower part).
BLACK VULTURE (Coragyps atratus).
Common, 890 birds were counted. Highest number recorded were 300 Maracay
- Caracas.
TURKEY VULTURE (Cathartes aura).
Common, 340 birds were counted. Highest numbers recorded were 100 Maracay
- Caracas and 75 Barinas - Hato El Frio.
LESSER YELLOW-HEADED VULTURE (Cathartes burrovianus).
1 Barinas - Hato El Frio and 2 Hato El Frio.
GREATER YELLOW-HEADED VULTURE (Cathartes melambrotus).
6 Imataca F.R., 1 Las Claritas, 1 La Gran Sabana and 2 La Escalera
Road (lower part).
BLACK-SHOULDERED KITE (Elanus caeruleus).
1 Barinitas - Barinas and 2 El Palmar - El Dorado.
Note: The New World subspecies is sometimes regarded as a full species
and called White-tailed Kite (E.leucurus).
PEARL KITE (Gampsonyx swainsonii).
1 El Palmar - El Dorado.
GRAY-HEADED KITE (Leptodon cayanensis).
1 Barragan River.
HOOK-BILLED KITE (Chondrohierax uncinatus).
1 ad. 1 juv. Henry Pittier N.P.
PLUMBEOUS KITE (Ictinea plumbea).
2 El Palmar - Imataca F.R.
SNAIL KITE (Rostrhamus sociabilis).
7 Barinas - Hato El Frio and 3 Hato El Frio.
PLAIN-BREASTED HAWK (Accipiter ventralis).
2 Henry Pittier N.P., 1 Universidad de los Andes, 1 Los Frailes, 2
Las Tabias and 1 La Escalera Road (upper part).
Note: Formerly regarded as a subspecies of Sharp-shinned Hawk (A. striatus).
BLACK-CHESTED BUZZARD-EAGLE (Geranoaetus melanoleucus).
4 Merida - Los Frailes, 1 Pico Aguila, 4 Laguna Macubaji and 1 Mifafy.
WHITE-TAILED HAWK (Buteo albicaudatus).
2 Hato El Frio and 1 La Gran Sabana.
ZONE-TAILED HAWK (Buteo albonotatus).
1 Cata Beach and 1 El Palmar - El Dorado.
BROAD-WINGED HAWK (Buteo platypterus).
1 Henry Pittier N.P., 2 Pico Humboldt Trail, 2 La Azulita Road, 1 San
Isidro Road, 2 Las Tabias, 1 La Soledad, 1 Imataca F.R. and 1 La Escalera
Road (upper part).
ROADSIDE HAWK (Buteo magnirostris).
1 Caracas - Colonia Tovar, 4 Henry Pittier N.P., 1 Cata Beach, 2 Maracay
- Caracas, 5 La Azulita Road, 1 Barragan River, 1 Barinas - Hato El Frio,
1 Bruzual (Apure River), 5 Hato El Frio, 2 Imataca F.R. and 2 El Dorado
- Las Claritas.
SHORT-TAILED HAWK (Buteo brachyurus).
2 La Victoria - Maracay, 1 Henry Pittier N.P., 1 Maracay, 1 Maracay
- Caracas, 1 La Azulita Road, 1 Universidad de los Andes, 1 Altamira Road
and 1 Barinas - Hato El Frio.
BAY-WINGED HAWK (Parabuteo unicinctus).
6 Hato El Frio.
WHITE HAWK (Leucopternis albicollis).
1 ad. Imataca F.R.
BLACK-COLLARED HAWK (Busarellus nigricollis).
1 Barinas - Hato El Frio and 5 Hato El Frio.
SAVANNA HAWK (Heterospizias meridionalis).
11 Barinas - Hato El Frio, 10 Hato El Frio, 1 Hato El Frio - San Fernando
de Apure and 1 Guasipati - Puerto Ordaz.
GREAT BLACK HAWK (Buteogallus urubitinga).
2 Henry Pittier N.P., 1 Barinas - Hato El Frio, 10 Hato El Frio, 1
Hato El Frio - San Fernando de Apure and 1 Guasipati - Puerto Ordaz.
HARPY EAGLE (Harpia harpyja).
1 ad. ? on nest Imataca F.R.
BLACK-AND-CHESTNUT EAGLE (Oroaetus isidori).
1 ad. San Isidro Road.
Status: Near-threatened species.
BLACK-AND-WHITE HAWK-EAGLE (Spizastur melanoleucus).
1 ad. Colonia Tovar.
Status: Near-threatened species.
ORNATE HAWK-EAGLE (Spizaetus ornatus).
2 ad. Henry Pittier N.P.
BLACK HAWK-EAGLE (Spizaetus tyrannus).
1 ad. Colonia Tovar and 1 Henry Pittier N.P.
CRANE HAWK (Geranospiza caerulescens).
2 Hato El Frio and 2 Imataca F.R.
OSPREY (Pandion haliaetus).
1 La Victoria - Maracay, 1 Laguna Macubaji, 1 Primavera, 3 Barinas
- Hato El Frio, 13 Hato El Frio, 1 El Palmar - El Dorado and 1 Universidad
Simon Bolivar - Caracas.
LAUGHING FALCON (Herpetotheres cachinnans).
1 Hato El Frio and 1 heard Imataca F.R.
COLLARED FOREST-FALCON (Micrastur semitorquatus).
1 heard Henry Pittier N.P. and 1 ad. La Gran Sabana.
BARRED FOREST-FALCON (Micrastur ruficollis).
1 imm. La Azulita Road.
RED-THROATED CARACARA (Daptrius americanus).
5 La Escalera Road (upper part).
YELLOW-HEADED CARACARA (Milvago chimachima).
1 Caracas - Colonia Tovar, 1 Henry Pittier N.P., 3 Cata Beach,
1 Caracas Airport, 1 La Soledad, 1 Barinitas - Barinas, 28 Barinas - Hato
El Frio, 10 Hato El Frio, 1 Hato El Frio - San Fernando de Apure and 3
El Palmar - Imataca F.R.
CRESTED CARACARA (Polyborus plancus).
7 Barinas - Hato El Frio, 40 Hato El Frio, 1 Hato El Frio - San Fernando
de Apure, 8 El Palmar - El Dorado, 3 La Gran Sabana, 1 Guasipati - Puerto
Ordaz, 3 Puerto Ordaz and 2 Universidad Simon Bolivar.
PEREGRINE FALCON (Falco peregrinus).
1 Cata Beach and 2 Hato El Frio.
BAT FALCON (Falco rufigularis).
1 Henry Pittier N.P., 1 Hato El Frio and 1 Imataca F.R.
APLOMADO FALCON (Falco femoralis).
1 Barinas - Hato El Frio (OLæ), 5 Hato El Frio and 1 Las Claritas.
MERLIN (Falco columbarius).
1 Mifafy and 1 Santo Domingo.
AMERICAN KESTREL (Falco sparverius).
2 Colonia Tovar - La Victoria, 2 Cata Beach, 1 Maracay - Caracas,
8 La Azulita Road, 5 Merida - Los Frailes, 1 Santo Domingo, 1 Barragan
River and 1 Barinas - Hato El Frio.
RUFOUS-VENTED CHACHALACA (Ortalis ruficauda).
3 Henry Pittier N.P., 4 Cata Beach, heard Barragan River and 5 Hato
El Frio.
LITTLE CHACHALACA (Ortalis motmot).
3 El Dorado - Las Claritas, 5 La Gran Sabana and 2 La Escalera Road
(upper part).
BAND-TAILED GUAN (Penelope argyrotis).
1 La Azulita Road (La Chorrera de las Gonzalez) and 3 San Isidro Road.
ANDEAN GUAN (Penelope montagnii).
4 Pico Humboldt trail.
MARAIL GUAN (Penelope marail).
1 Imataca F.R. (OLæ) and 2 Las Claritas (San Isidro).
BLACK CURASSOW (Crax alector).
1 Imataca F.R. (JM).
YELLOW-KNOBBED CURASSOW (Crax daubentoni).
2 Hato El Frio.
CRESTED BOBWHITE (Colinus cristatus).
29 Hato El Frio.
VENEZUELAN WOOD-QUAIL (Odontophorus columbianus).
1 ? + 3-4 pull. + 1 heard Henry Pittier N.P.
Status: Near-threatened species.
LIMPKIN (Aramus guarauna).
8 Barinas - Hato El Frio and 36 Hato El Frio.
GRAY-NECKED WOOD-RAIL (Aramides cajanea).
1 heard Pte de la Vargen and 7 Hato El Frio.
PURPLE GALLINULE (Porphyrula martinica).
1 Hato El Frio.
AZURE GALLINULE (Porphyrula flavirostris).
4 Hato El Frio.
SUNBITTERN (Eurypyga helias).
3 Hato El Frio.
SUNGREBE (Heliornis fulica).
1 Imataca F.R.
WATTLED JACANA (Jacana jacana).
45 Barinas - Hato El Frio, 400 Hato El Frio and 1 El Dorado - Guasipati.
SOUTHERN LAPWING (Vanellus chilensis).
2 Los Frailes, 19 Barinas - Hato El Frio, 175 Hato El Frio, 2 Hato
El Frio - San Fernando de Apure and 1 El Palmar - El Dorado.
Note: The birds at Los Frailes was seen in an altitude of approx. 2600
meters. Probably an altitude record for the species!
PIED LAPWING (Vanellus cayanus).
6 Bruzual (Apure River), 2 Pte de la Vargen and 36 Hato El Frio.
COLLARED PLOVER (Charadrius collaris).
2 Bruzual (Apure River) and 10 Hato El Frio.
SOLITARY SANDPIPER (Tringa solitaria).
1 Pte de la Vargen, 26 Hato El Frio, 1 Imataca F.R. and 1 La Gran Sabana.
LESSER YELLOWLEGS (Tringa flavipes).
5 Barinas - Hato El Frio.
GREATER YELLOWLEGS (Tringa melanoleuca).
1 Laguna Macubaji and 1 Hato El Frio.
SPOTTED SANDPIPER (Actitis macularia).
1 Henry Pittier N.P., 3 Primavera and 10 Hato El Frio.
RUDDY TURNSTONE (Arenaria interpres).
2 Hato El Frio.
Note: This is an inland record!
LEAST SANDPIPER (Calidris minutilla).
8 Hato El Frio.
PECTORAL SANDPIPER (Calidris melanotos).
1 Hato El Frio.
COMMON SNIPE (Gallinago gallinago).
1 Los Frailes.
COMMON/PARAGUAYAN SNIPE (Gallinago gallinago/paraguaiae).
6 Hato El Frio.
COMMON STILT (Himantopus himantopus).
20 Barinas - Hato El Frio and 4 Hato El Frio.
Note: The New World subspecies is often given species rank: Black-necked
Stilt (H. mexicanus).
DOUBLE-STRIPED THICK-KNEE (Burhinus bistriatus).
29 Hato El Frio.
LARGE-BILLED TERN (Phaetusa simplex).
70 Barinas - Hato El Frio and 40 Hato El Frio.
YELLOW-BILLED TERN (Sterna superciliaris).
60 Barinas - Hato El Frio and 20 Hato El Frio.
ROYAL TERN (Sterna maxima).
15 Cata Beach.
BLACK SKIMMER (Rynchops niger).
105 Barinas - Hato El Frio and 52 Hato El Frio.
ROCK (FERAL) PIGEON (Columba livia). INTRODUCED.
5 La Victoria - Maracay, 20 Cata Beach, 20 Maracay - Caracas, 17 Merida
- Los Frailes, 30 Caracas - Universidad Simon Bolivar and 20 Universidad
Simon Bolivar - Caracas.
BAND-TAILED PIGEON (Columba fasciata).
1 Caracas - Colonia Tovar, 1 Henry Pittier N.P., 10 Pico Humboldt Trail,
21 La Azulita Road and 1 Universidad de los Andes.
PALE-VENTED PIGEON (Columba cayennensis).
5 Henry Pittier N.P., 1 La Soledad and 30 Hato El Frio.
RUDDY PIGEON (Columba subvinacea).
2 La Azulita Road.
PLUMBEOUS PIGEON (Columba plumbea).
1 La Azulita Road, 6 Imataca F.R., 1 Las Claritas (trail km 89), 4
La Escalera Road (middle part) and 5 Las Claritas (San Isidro).
EARED DOVE (Zenaida auriculata).
28 Merida - Los Frailes, 3 Santo Domingo, 12 Hato El Frio and 3 Puerto
Ordaz - El Palmar.
COMMON GROUND-DOVE (Columbina passerina).
1 Maracay, 2 Cata Beach, 1 Guasipati - Puerto Ordaz and 1 Universidad
Simon Bolivar.
PLAIN-BREASTED GROUND-DOVE (Columbina minuta).
6 Hato El Frio.
RUDDY GROUND-DOVE (Columbina talpacoti).
1 Colonia Tovar - La Victoria, 4 Henry Pittier N.P., 2 Cata Beach,
3 Maracay, 1 Barragan River and 130 Hato El Frio.
SCALED DOVE (Scardafella squammata).
1 La Victoria - Maracay, 4 Maracay, 8 Cata Beach, 4 Caracas,
3 Barinas - Hato El Frio, 120 Hato El Frio, 5 Hato El Frio - San Fernando
de Apure and 1 Universidad Simon Bolivar.
WHITE-TIPPED DOVE (Leptotila verreauxi).
1 Henry Pittier N.P., 2 El Tao, 5 La Soledad, 2 Barragan River and
3 Hato El Frio.
GRAY-FRONTED DOVE (Leptotila rufaxilla).
1 Henry Pittier N.P. (EM) and 3 heard Imataca F.R.
SCARLET MACAW (Ara macao).
2 Bruzual (Apure River) and 20 Hato El Frio.
RED-AND-GREEN MACAW (Ara chloroptera).
11 Imataca F.R., 1 Las Claritas and 4 La Escalera Road (upper part).
CHESTNUT-FRONTED MACAW (Ara severa).
9 Henry Pittier N.P. and 2 Hato El Frio.
SCARLET-FRONTED PARAKEET (Aratinga wagleri).
15 Henry Pittier N.P.
WHITE-EYED PARAKEET (Aratinga leucophthalmus).
20 El Palmar - El Dorado.
BROWN-THROATED PARAKEET (Aratinga pertinax).
15 Pte de la Vargen and 10 Hato El Frio.
BLOOD-EARED PARAKEET (Pyrrhura hoematotis).
67 Henry Pittier N.P.
PAINTED PARAKEET (Pyrrhura picta).
22 Imataca F.R.
FIERY-SHOULDERED PARAKEET (Pyrrhura egregia).
10 La Escalera Road (upper part).
ROSE-HEADED PARAKEET (Pyrrhura rhodocephala).
20 Pico Humboldt Trail and 15 La Azulita Road.
Status: Near-threatened species.
GREEN-RUMPED PARROTLET (Forpus passerinus).
2 Cata Beach, 1 Barinas - Hato El Frio and 20 Hato El Frio.
ORANGE-CHINNED PARAKEET (Brotogeris jugularis).
4 Barragan River and 20 Hato El Frio.
GOLDEN-WINGED PARAKEET (Brotogeris chrysopterus).
3 Imataca F.R.
TEPUI PARROTLET (Nannopsittaca panychlora).
70 La Escalera Road (upper part).
LILAC-TAILED PARROTLET (Touit batavica).
70 Henry Pittier N.P.
SAPPHIRE-RUMPED PARROTLET (Touit purpurata).
2 Imataca F.R. and 15 La Escalera Road (middle part).
BLACK-HEADED PARROT (Pionites melanocephala).
7 Imataca F.R., 2 Las Claritas (trail km 89) and 2 Las Claritas (San
Isidro).
CAICA PARROT (Pionopsitta caica).
3 Las Claritas (trail km 89) and 6 Las Claritas (San Isidro).
BLUE-HEADED PARROT (Pionus menstruus).
5 Henry Pittier N.P., 9 Imataca F.R., 4 Las Claritas (trail km 89),
3 La Escalera Road and 2 Las Claritas (San Isidro).
WHITE-CAPPED PARROT (Pionus seniloides).
2 Pico Humboldt Trail.
DUSKY PARROT (Pionus fuscus).
1 Las Claritas (San Isidro).
YELLOW-HEADED PARROT (Amazona ochrocephala).
2 Imataca F.R.
ORANGE-WINGED PARROT (Amazona amazonica).
2 Henry Pittier N.P., 1 Barinas - Hato El Frio, 16 Puerto Ordaz - El
Palmar, 2 Imataca F.R., 1 El Palmar - El Dorado, 150 La Escalera Road (upper
part) and 2 Las Claritas (San Isidro).
MEALY PARROT (Amazona farinosa).
3 Imataca F.R.
RED-FAN PARROT (Deroptyus accipitrinus).
2 Imataca F.R. and 5 La Escalera Road (lower part).
HOATZIN (Opisthocomus hoazin).
20 Hato El Frio.
DWARF CUCKOO (Coccyzus pumilus).
3 Hato El Frio.
SQUIRREL CUCKOO (Piaya cayana).
4 Henry Pittier N.P., 1 Cata Beach, 1 Hato El Frio, 2 Imataca F.R.,
2 La Escalera Road and 1 Universidad Simon Bolivar.
LITTLE CUCKOO (Piaya minuta).
1 Hato El Frio.
GREATER ANI (Crotophaga major).
5 Barinas - Hato El Frio and 6 Hato El Frio.
SMOOTH-BILLED ANI (Crotophaga ani).
4 Henry Pittier N.P., 7 La Azulita Road, 4 El Tao, 1 Pte de la
Vargen and 9 Hato El Frio.
GROOVE-BILLED ANI (Crotophaga sulcirostris).
26 Hato El Frio.
ANI SPECIES (Crotophaga ani/sulcirostris).
1 Colonia Tovar - La Victoria, 2 La Victoria - Maracay, 15 Hato El
Frio, 6 Hato El Frio - San Fernando de Apure and 10 Universidad Simon Bolivar.
STRIPED CUCKOO (Tapera naevia).
1 heard La Azulita Road and 1 heard Hato El Frio (OLæ).
TROPICAL SCREECH-OWL (Otus choliba).
1 Merida (OLæ & SKR) and 1 heard Hato El Frio.
GREAT HORNED OWL (Bubo virginianus).
2 Hato El Frio.
BURROWING OWL (Speotyto cunicularia).
5 Hato El Frio.
GREAT POTOO (Nyctibius grandis).
1 seen very well Hato El Frio.
LESSER NIGHTHAWK (Chordeiles acutipennis).
31 Hato El Frio.
BAND-TAILED NIGHTHAWK (Nyctiprogne leucopyga).
20 Hato El Frio.
NACUNDA NIGHTHAWK (Podager nacunda).
13 Hato El Frio.
PAURAQUE (Nyctidromus albicollis).
17 Hato El Frio.
BAND-WINGED NIGHTJAR (Caprimulgus longirostris).
1 Los Frailes.
WHITE-TAILED NIGHTJAR (Caprimulgus cayennensis).
1 ? Henry Pittier N.P. and 6 Hato El Frio.
LYRE-TAILED NIGHTJAR (Uropsalis lyra).
1 seen at day roost La Soledad.
Note: This bird was seen in an altitude of approx. 1300 meters. According
to the Birds of the High Andes, the species should be distributed between
2500-3000 meters!
WHITE-COLLARED SWIFT (Streptoprocne zonaris).
25 San Isidro Road, 1 La Escalera Road and 4 Las Claritas - El Dorado.
TEPUI SWIFT (Cypseloides phelpsi).
125 La Escalera Road (upper part).
CHESTNUT-COLLARED SWIFT (Cypseloides rutilus).
120 Henry Pittier N.P. and 75 San Isidro Road.
VAUX'S SWIFT (Chaetura vauxi).
25 Henry Pittier N.P.
BAND-RUMPED SWIFT (Chaetura spinicauda).
25 Imataca F.R., 4 Las Claritas and 1 La Escalera Road (upper part).
ASHY-TAILED SWIFT (Chaetura andrei).
4 Imataca F.R.
SHORT-TAILED SWIFT (Chaetura brachyura).
20 Henry Pittier N.P.
WHITE-TIPPED SWIFT (Aeronautes montivagus).
22 Henry Pittier N.P.
LESSER SWALLOW-TAILED SWIFT (Panyptila cayennensis).
6 Henry Pittier N.P.
FORK-TAILED PALM-SWIFT (Tachornis squamata).
3 La Victoria - Maracay, 2 Henry Pittier N.P.
RUFOUS-BREASTED HERMIT (Glaucis hirsuta).
1 Colonia Tovar, 1 Henry Pittier N.P., 1 Barragan River and 2 Las Claritas
(San Isidro).
LONG-TAILED HERMIT (Phaethornis superciliosus).
1 Las Claritas, 1 Las Claritas (San Isidro) and 8 La Escalera Road
(middle part).
PALE-BELLIED HERMIT (Phaethornis anthophilus).
2 Henry Pittier N.P. and 1 Hato El Frio.
STRAIGHT-BILLED HERMIT (Phaethornis bourcieri).
2 Las Claritas (San Isidro).
SOOTY-CAPPED HERMIT (Phaethornis augusti).
3 Henry Pittier N.P. and 1 El Tao.
REDDISH HERMIT (Phaethornis ruber).
1 Imataca F.R. and 3 Las Claritas (trail km 89).
GRAY-BREASTED SABREWING (Campylopterus largipennis).
8 La Escalera Road (middle part).
RUFOUS-BREASTED SABREWING (Campylopterus hyperythrus).
4 La Escalera Road (upper part).
LAZULINE SABREWING (Campylopterus falcatus).
1 ? Henry Pittier N.P. and 3 ?? San Isidro Road.
BROWN VIOLETEAR (Colibri delphinae).
10 La Escalera Road.
GREEN VIOLETEAR (Colibri thalassinus).
1 Henry Pittier N.P. and 1 ? San Isidro Road - Los Frailes.
SPARKLING VIOLETEAR (Colibri coruscans).
2 Colonia Tovar, 2 Merida - Los Frailes and 2 La Escalera Road (upper
part).
BLACK-THROATED MANGO (Anthracothorax nigricollis).
2 Maracay, 2 Barinas - Hato El Frio and 1 Hato El Frio.
RUBY-TOPAZ HUMMINGBIRD (Chrysolampis mosquitus).
3 Hato El Frio.
PEACOCK COQUETTE (Lophornis pavonina).
5 La Escalera Road.
BLUE-TAILED EMERALD (Chlorostilbon mellisugus).
3-4 Hato El Frio.
RED-BILLED EMERALD (Chlorostilbon gibsoni).
8 Cata Beach.
Note: This species is sometimes regarded as a subspecies of Blue-tailed
Emerald (C. mellisugus).
FORK-TAILED WOODNYMPH (Thalurania furcata).
1 Las Claritas (trail km 89) and 5 La Escalera Road (upper part).
GOLDEN-TAILED SAPPHIRE (Chrysuronia oenone).
1 ? San Isidro Road.
WHITE-TAILED GOLDENTHROAT (Polytmus guainumbi).
3 Hato El Frio.
TEPUI GOLDENTHROAT (Polytmus milleri).
5 La Escalera Road (upper part).
BUFFY HUMMINGBIRD (Leucippus fallax).
2 Cata Beach.
VERSICOLORED EMERALD (Amazilia versicolor).
1 Las Claritas.
STEELY-VENTED HUMMINGBIRD (Amazilia saucerrottei).
1 Los Frailes - Barinitas, 8 La Soledad and 2 Altamira Road.
COPPER-RUMPED HUMMINGBIRD (Amazilia tobaci).
4 Henry Pittier N.P., 1 El Palmar - El Dorado and 1 Universidad Simon
Bolivar.
GREEN-BELLIED HUMMINGBIRD (Amazilia viridigaster).
1 ? La Escalera Road (upper part).
RUFOUS-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD (Amazilia tzacatl).
1 El Tao.
WHITE-VENTED PLUMELETEER (Chalybura buffonii).
3 Henry Pittier N.P. and 2 Los Frailes - Barinitas.
VIOLET-FRONTED BRILLIANT (Heliodoxa leadbeateri).
1-2 Henry Pittier N.P.
VELVET-BROWED BRILLIANT (Heliodoxa xanthogonys).
6 La Escalera Road (upper part).
VIOLET-CHESTED HUMMINGBIRD (Sternoclyta cyanopectus).
1 ? Henry Pittier N.P.
CRIMSON TOPAZ (Topaza pella).
2 Las Claritas (San Isidro) and 1 La Escalera Road (lower part).
MOUNTAIN VELVETBREAST (Lafresnaya lafresnayi).
1 San Isidro Road - Los Frailes (OLæ).
BRONZY INCA (Coeligena coeligena).
4 Colonia Tovar and 2 Henry Pittier N.P.
COLLARED INCA (Coeligena torquata).
1 ? Pico Humboldt Trail (SKR & JM).
ORANGE-THROATED SUNANGEL (Heliangelus mavors).
3 Universidad de los Andes, 1 Mifafy, 1 Los Frailes, 2 San Isidro Road
- Los Frailes and 8-9 Las Tabias.
MERIDA SUNANGEL (Heliangelus spencei).
8 Pico Humboldt Trail.
BOOTED RACKET-TAIL (Ocreatus underwoodii).
1 ? San Isidro Road.
TYRIAN METALTAIL (Metallura tyrianthina).
1 Mifafy and 5 Las Tabias.
BEARDED HELMETCREST (Oxypogon guerinii).
3 Pico Aguila and 3 Mifafy.
LONG-TAILED SYLPH (Aglaiocercus kingi).
1 Colonia Tovar, 3 Henry Pittier N.P. and 4 Pico Humboldt Trail.
Note: The race in the northern mountains (berlepschi) is likely to
get full species status and to be named Venezuelan Sylph.
WEDGE-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD (Schistes geoffroyi).
2 ?? Henry Pittier N.P. and 1 San Isidro Road.
BLACK-EARED FAIRY (Heliothryx aurita).
1 Las Claritas (San Isidro) and 1 La Escalera Road (middle part).
LONG-BILLED STARTHROAT (Heliomaster longirostris).
1 Las Claritas.
RUFOUS-SHAFTED WOODSTAR (Chaetocercus jourdanii).
1 Colonia Tovar.
WHITE-TIPPED QUETZAL (Pharomachrus fulgidus).
2 Henry Pittier N.P.
GOLDEN-HEADED QUETZAL (Pharomachrus auriceps).
1 Pico Humboldt Trail and 2 San Isidro Road.
BLACK-TAILED TROGON (Trogon melanurus).
3 Imataca F.R. and 1 heard Las Claritas (trail km 89).
WHITE-TAILED TROGON (Trogon viridis).
1 El Palmar - El Dorado and 1 heard Las Claritas (trail km 89).
COLLARED TROGON (Trogon collaris).
2 Colonia Tovar and 9 Henry Pittier N.P.
MASKED TROGON (Trogon personatus).
3 Pico Humboldt Trail, 1 La Azulita Road, 2 Universidad de los Andes
and 1 La Escalera Road (middle part).
RINGED KINGFISHER (Ceryle torquata).
1 Merida - Los Frailes, 4 Barinas - Hato El Frio and 17 Hato El Frio.
AMAZON KINGFISHER (Chloroceryle amazona).
1 Henry Pittier N.P., 1 Barinas - Hato El Frio, 5 Hato El Frio, 2 Imataca
F.R. and 1 La Gran Sabana.
GREEN KINGFISHER (Chloroceryle americana).
5 Henry Pittier N.P. and 4 Hato El Frio.
PYGMY KINGFISHER (Chloroceryle aenea).
2-3 Hato El Frio.
BLUE-CROWNED MOTMOT (Momotus momota).
1 La Escalera Road (lower part).
PALE-HEADED JACAMAR (Brachygalba goeringi).
10 Hato El Frio.
GREEN-TAILED JACAMAR (Galbula galbula).
3 Imataca F.R. (EM).
RUFOUS-TAILED JACAMAR (Galbula ruficauda).
7 Henry Pittier N.P., 1 Barragan River, 5 Hato El Frio and 1 Universidad
Simon Bolivar.
PARADISE JACAMAR (Galbula dea).
3 Imataca F.R., 3 Las Claritas (San Isidro) and 1 La Escalera Road
(lower part).
PIED PUFFBIRD (Notharcus tectus).
2 Las Claritas (San Isidro).
RUSSET-THROATED PUFFBIRD (Hypnelus ruficollis).
4 Henry Pittier N.P. and 5 Hato El Frio.
MOUSTACHED PUFFBIRD (Malacoptila mystacalis).
1 Henry Pittier N.P.
BLACK NUNBIRD (Monasa atra).
2 Imataca F.R., 2 Las Claritas and 1 Las Claritas (trail km 89).
SWALLOW-WING (Chelidoptera tenebrosa).
1 El Palmar - El Dorado, 1 Las Claritas, 5 La Escalera Road (lower
part) and 4 El Dorado - Guasipati.
BLACK-SPOTTED BARBET (Capito niger).
4 Imataca F.R.
GROOVE-BILLED TOUCANET (Aulacorhynchus sulcatus).
4 Colonia Tovar and 10 Henry Pittier N.P.
YELLOW-BILLED TOUCANET (Aulacorhynchus calorhynchus).
26 San Isidro Road.
Note: Sometimes considered conspecific with Groove-billed Toucanet
(A. sulcatus).
CHESTNUT-TIPPED TOUCANET (Aulacorhynchus derbianus).
3 La Escalera Road (upper part) (OLæ).
EMERALD TOUCANET (Aulacorhynchus prasinus).
4 Pico Humboldt Trail, 3 La Azulita Road and 1 San Isidro Road.
BLACK-NECKED ARACARI (Pteroglossus aracari).
2 Imataca F.R., 2 Las Claritas and 1 Las Claritas (San Isidro).
GREEN ARACARI (Pteroglossus viridis).
7 Imataca F.R. and 1 Las Claritas (trail km 89).
CHANNEL-BILLED TOUCAN (Ramphastos vitellinus).
2 Imataca F.R., 3 Las Claritas (trail km 89) and 1 La Escalera Road
(upper part).
BLACK-MANDIBLED TOUCAN (Ramphastos ambiguus).
3 La Azulita Road.
CUVIER'S TOUCAN (Ramphastos cuvieri).
1 Barinas - Libertad, 12 Imataca F.R., 1 El Palmar - Imataca F.R.,
4 Las Claritas (trail km 89), 4 La Escalera Road and 1 Las Claritas (San
Isidro).
Note: All the birds we saw were of the subspecies tucanus, formerly
called Red-billed Toucan. Nowadays the forms are lumbed into this megaspecies.
WHITE-BELLIED PICULET (Picumnus spilogaster).
2 Hato El Frio (IA & JM).
SCALED PICULET (Picumnus squamulatus).
3 Henry Pittier N.P.
GOLDEN-SPANGLED PICULET (Picumnus exilis).
2 Imataca F.R., 1 Las Claritas (San Isidro) (OLæ) and 1 La Escalera
Road.
SPOT-BREASTED WOODPECKER (Chrysoptilus punctigula).
2 Hato El Frio.
GOLDEN-OLIVE WOODPECKER (Piculus rubiginosus).
5 Henry Pittier N.P., 1 Universidad de los Andes, 6 La Escalera Road
and 1 La Gran Sabana.
WAVED WOODPECKER (Celeus undatus).
1 La Escalera Road (middle part).
LINEATED WOODPECKER (Dryocopus lineatus).
2 Henry Pittier N.P., 1 Hato El Frio, 2 Las Claritas (San Isidro) and
1 El Dorado - Guasipati.
YELLOW-TUFTED WOODPECKER (Melanerpes cruentatus).
10 Imataca F.R. and 3 Las Claritas (San Isidro).
RED-CROWNED WOODPECKER (Melanerpes rubricapillus).
1 Maracay, 13 Henry Pittier N.P., 1 Cata Beach and 8 Hato El Frio.
SMOKY-BROWN WOODPECKER (Veniliornis fumigatus).
2 Colonia Tovar, 2 Henry Pittier N.P. and 1 La Azulita Road.
GOLDEN-COLLARED WOODPECKER (Veniliornis cassini).
1 Las Claritas (trail km 89).
RED-RUMPED WOODPECKER (Veniliornis kirkii).
2 Henry Pittier N.P. and 2 Hato El Frio.
CRIMSON-CRESTED WOODPECKER (Campephilus melanoleucos).
1 heard Henry Pittier N.P., 2 Hato El Frio, 6 Imataca F.R. and 1 Las
Claritas.
RED-NECKED WOODPECKER (Campephilus rubricollis).
4 Imataca F.R., 1 heard Las Claritas, 1 Las Claritas (trail km 89)
and 1 La Escalera Road (upper part).
PLAIN-BROWN WOODCREEPER (Dendrocincla fuliginosa).
1 Colonia Tovar and 1 Henry Pittier N.P.
OLIVACEOUS WOODCREEPER (Sittasomus griseicapillus).
7 Henry Pittier N.P., 1 Imataca F.R. and 2 La Escalera Road.
WEDGE-BILLED WOODCREEPER (Glyphorynchus spirurus).
1 San Isidro Road, 2 Imataca F.R., 4 Las Claritas, 2 Las Claritas (trail
km 89), 2 Las Claritas (San Isidro) and 4 La Escalera Road (middle part).
STRONG-BILLED WOODCREEPER (Xiphocolaptes promeropirhynchus).
1 Henry Pittier N.P.
STRAIGHT-BILLED WOODCREEPER (Xiphorhynchus picus).
6 Hato El Frio and 2 Universidad Simon Bolivar.
CHESTNUT-RUMPED WOODCREEPER (Xiphorhynchus pardalotus).
5 Imataca F.R., 1 Las Claritas and 2 Las Claritas (trail km 89).
BUFF-THROATED WOODCREEPER (Xiphorhynchus guttatus).
1 Las Claritas and 3 La Escalera Road (middle part).
COCOA WOODCREEPER (Xiphorhynchus susurrans).
1 Colonia Tovar and 4 Henry Pittier N.P.
Note: The "small" nothern forms are now concidered as a full species
and split from Buff-throated Woodcreeper (X. guttatus).
STREAK-HEADED WOODCREEPER (Lepidocolaptes souleyetii).
6 Henry Pittier N.P. and 1 Barragan River.
MONTANE WOODCREEPER (Lepidocolaptes lacrymiger).
3 Colonia Tovar, 1 Henry Pittier N.P., 4 Pico Humboldt Trail, 1 La
Azulita Road and 1 Universidad de los Andes.
Note: The South American forms are now considered full species rank
and split Spot-crowned Woodcreeper (L. affinis).
RED-BILLED SCYTHEBILL (Campylorhamphus trochilirostris).
1 Colonia Tovar and 1 Henry Pittier N.P.
BAR-WINGED CINCLODES (Cinclodes fuscus).
4 Pico Aguila and 8 Mifafy.
ANDEAN TIT-SPINETAIL (Leptasthenura andicola).
6 Pico Aguila and 4 Laguna Macubaji.
PALE-BREASTED SPINETAIL (Synallaxis albescens).
2 La Soledad, 1 Altamira Road, 2 Hato El Frio and 1 La Gran Sabana.
STRIPE-BREASTED SPINETAIL (Synallaxis cinnamomea).
1 heard Henry Pittier N.P.
BLACK-THROATED SPINETAIL (Synallaxis castanea).
2 Colonia Tovar and 4 Henry Pittier N.P.
WHITE-BROWED SPINETAIL (Hellmayrea gularis).
1 Pico Humboldt Trail.
YELLOW-THROATED (YELLOW-CHINNED) SPINETAIL (Certhiaxis cinnamomea).
40 Hato El Frio.
CRESTED SPINETAIL (Cranioleuca subcristata).
2 Henry Pittier N.P. and 1 La Soledad.
TEPUI SPINETAIL (Cranioleuca demissa).
1 La Gran Sabana.
OCHRE-BROWED THISTLETAIL (Schizoeaca coryi).
7 Pico Aguila and 2 Laguna Macubaji.
STREAK-BACKED CANASTERO (Asthenes wyatti).
2 Pico Aguila.
COMMON THORNBIRD (Phacellodomus rufifrons).
45 Hato El Frio.
PEARLED TREERUNNER (Margarornis squamiger).
2 Las Tabias.
SPOTTED BARBTAIL (Premnoplex brunnescens).
1 San Isidro Road (EM & JM).
STREAKED TUFTEDCHEEK (Pseudocolaptes boissonneautii).
9 Pico Humboldt Trail.
GUTTULATED FOLIAGE-GLEANER (Syndactyla guttulata).
4 Henry Pittier N.P.
MONTANE FOLIAGE-GLEANER (Anabercerthia striaticollis).
6 Henry Pittier N.P. and 1 San Isidro Road.
BUFF-FRONTED FOLIAGE-GLEANER (Philydor rufus).
5 Henry Pittier N.P.
OLIVE-BACKED FOLIAGE-GLEANER (Automolus infuscatus).
3 Imataca F.R.
STREAKED XENOPS (Xenops rutilans).
1 Henry Pittier N.P.
PLAIN XENOPS (Xenops minutus).
1 Colonia Tovar, 6 Henry Pittier N.P. and 1 Imataca F.R.
FASCIATED ANTSHRIKE (Cymbilaimus lineatus).
1 Imataca F.R. and 1 heard Las Claritas (trail km 89).
GREAT ANTSHRIKE (Taraba major).
1 heard Henry Pittier N.P.
BLACK-CRESTED ANTSHRIKE (Sakesphorus canadensis).
8 Henry Pittier N.P. and 11 Hato El Frio.
BLACK-BACKED ANTSHRIKE (Sakesphorus melanonotus).
1 ? Henry Pittier N.P.
BARRED ANTSHRIKE (Thamnophilus doliatus).
2 Henry Pittier N.P., 14 Hato El Frio, 1 Imataca F.R. and 2 Universidad
Simon Bolivar.
MOUSE-COLORED ANTSHRIKE (Thamnophilus murinus).
5 Imataca F.R.
PLAIN ANTVIREO (Dysithamnus mentalis).
6 Henry Pittier N.P. and 1 San Isidro Road.
WHITE-STREAKED ANTVIREO (Dysithamnus leucostictus).
2 Henry Pittier N.P.
Note: Formerly called Plumbeous Antshrike.
DUSKY-THROATED ANTSHRIKE (Thamnomanes ardesiacus).
2 Imataca F.R.
CINEREOUS ANTSHRIKE (Thamnomanes caesius).
1 Imataca F.R. and 2 Las Claritas (JM).
STREAKED ANTWREN (Myrmotherula surinamensis).
2 Imataca F.R. and 2 Las Claritas (San Isidro) (OLæ).
SLATY ANTWREN (Myrmotherula schisticolor).
6 Henry Pittier N.P.
LONG-WINGED ANTWREN (Myrmotherula longipennis).
10 Imataca F.R., 6 Las Claritas and 1 Las Claritas (San Isidro).
GRAY ANTWREN (Myrmotherula menetriesii).
2 ?? La Escalera Road (middle part) (SKR).
TODD'S ANTWREN (Herpsilochmus stictocephalus).
2 Imataca F.R. and 1 Las Claritas (San Isidro).
RORAIMAN ANTWREN (Herpsilochmus roraimae).
4 La Escalera Road (middle part).
RUFOUS-WINGED ANTWREN (Herpsilochmus rufimarginatus).
4 Henry Pittier N.P.
WHITE-FRINGED ANTWREN (Formicivora grisea).
2 Henry Pittier N.P., 3 Hato El Frio and 2 Universidad Simon Bolivar.
BLACK-THROATED ANTBIRD (Myrmeciza atrothorax).
1 heard Imataca F.R.
LONG-TAILED ANTBIRD (Drymophila caudata).
2 Henry Pittier N.P.
GRAY ANTBIRD (Cercomacra cinerascens).
3 Las Claritas (trail km 89) and 5 La Escalera Road (middle part).
DUSKY ANTBIRD (Cercomacra tyrannina).
3 Imataca F.R.
WARBLING ANTBIRD (Hypocnemis cantator).
1 Las Claritas (San Isidro) and 3 La Escalera Road (middle part).
FERRUGINOUS-BACKED ANTBIRD (Myrmeciza ferruginea).
3 Imataca F.R.
SHORT-TAILED ANTTHRUSH (Chamaeza campanisona).
4 Henry Pittier N.P. and 1 heard La Escalera Road (middle part).
SCALLOPED ANTTHRUSH (Chamaeza turdina).
2 Henry Pittier N.P.
Note: Now considered a full species and split from Rufous-tailed Antthrush
(C. ruficauda).
BLACK-FACED ANTTHRUSH (Formicarius analis).
7 Henry Pittier N.P. and 1 heard Imataca F.R.
PLAIN-BACKED ANTPITTA (Grallaria haplonota).
3 Henry Pittier N.P.
CHESTNUT-CROWNED ANTPITTA (Grallaria ruficapilla).
8 heard Pico Humboldt Trail, 2 heard Universidad de los Andes and 1
heard San Isidro Road.
THRUSH-LIKE ANTPITTA (Myrmothera campanisona).
6 heard Imataca F.R. and 1 Las Claritas.
UNICOLORED TAPACULO (Scytalopus unicolor).
1 heard San Isidro Road (OLæ).
BROWN-RUMPED TAPACULO (Scytalopus latebricola).
8 Pico Humboldt Trail, 2 Universidad de los Andes, 1 Los Frailes and
3 heard Las Tabias.
OCELLATED TAPACULO (Acropternis orthonyx).
1 heard Las Tabias.
SPANGLED COTINGA (Cotinga cayana).
1 ? La Escalera Road (lower part).
POMPADOUR COTINGA (Xipholena punicea).
1 ? La Escalera Road (lower part) and 1 ? La Escalera Road (middle
part) (IA).
RED-CRESTED COTINGA (Ampelion rubrocristatus).
2 San Isidro Road - Los Frailes (OLe).
GREEN-AND-BLACK FRUITEATER (Pipreola riefferii).
1 ? Pico Humboldt Trail.
GOLDEN-BREASTED FRUITEATER (Pipreola aureopectus).
1 ? Colonia Tovar.
HANDSOME FRUITEATER (Pipreola formosa).
2 Henry Pittier N.P.
SCREAMING PIHA (Lipaugus vociferans).
8 Imataca F.R., 8 Las Claritas (trail km 89), 2 La Escalera Road (lower
part), 3 La Escalera Road (middle part) and 1 Las Claritas (San Isidro).
BARRED BECARD (Pachyramphus versicolor).
2 Pico Humboldt Trail (OLæ).
CINNAMON BECARD (Pachyramphus cinnamomeus).
2 Barragan River.
CHESTNUT-CROWNED BECARD (Pachyramphus castaneus).
11 Henry Pittier N.P.
WHITE-WINGED BECARD (Pachyramphus polychopterus).
1 Henry Pittier N.P. and 3 Hato El Frio.
BLACK-AND-WHITE BECARD (Pachyramphus albogriseus).
2 Pico Humboldt Trail (OLæ) and 1 ? San Isidro Road.
PINK-THROATED BECARD (Pachyramphus minor).
2 Imataca F.R.
BLACK-TAILED TITYRA (Tityra cayana).
8 Imataca F.R. and 1 Las Claritas (San Isidro).
MASKED TITYRA (Tityra semifasciata).
1 ? Henry Pittier N.P.
BLACK-CROWNED TITYRA (Tityra inquisitor).
1 ? Imataca F.R. and 1 Las Claritas (trail km 89).
PURPLE-THROATED FRUITCROW (Querula purpurata).
3 Imataca F.R.
CAPUCHINBIRD (Perissocephalus tricolor).
4 birds seen in a lek Imataca F.R. and 1 Las Claritas (San Isidro).
WHITE BELLBIRD (Procnias alba).
4 heard La Escalera Road (upper part) and 7 La Gran Sabana.
BEARDED BELLBIRD (Procnias averano).
5 La Gran Sabana and 4 La Escalera Road (upper part).
GUIANAN RED-COTINGA (Phoenicircus carnifex).
1 Las Claritas (trail km 89).
GUIANAN COCK-OF-THE-ROCK (Rupicola rupicola).
1 ?/juv La Escalera Road (lower part) and 1? 1? La Escalera Road (middle
part).
ANDEAN COCK-OF-THE-ROCK (Rupicola peruviana).
7-8 ad. ?? seen in a lek plus 2 imm. ?? and 2-3 ?? San Isidro Road.
GOLDEN-HEADED MANAKIN (Pipra erythrocephala).
1 ? Imataca F.R. and 1 ? La Escalera Road (lower part).
SCARLET-HORNED MANAKIN (Pipra cornuta).
2 La Escalera Road (middle part) and 3 La Escalera Road (upper part).
ORANGE-BELLIED MANAKIN (Pipra suavissima).
3 ?? La Escalera Road (middle part) and 1 ? La Escalera Road (upper
part).
Note: Also called Tepui Manakin.
WIRE-TAILED MANAKIN (Pipra filicauda).
6 Henry Pittier N.P.
LANCE-TAILED MANAKIN (Chiroxiphia lanceolata).
13 Henry Pittier N.P. and 1 heard Universidad Simon Bolivar.
GOLDEN-WINGED MANAKIN (Masius chrysopterus).
3 San Isidro Road.
OLIVE MANAKIN (Chloropipo uniformis).
1 La Escalera Road (upper part).
WING-BARRED PIPRITES (Piprites chloris).
9 La Escalera Road (middle part).
STREAK-THROATED BUSH-TYRANT (Myiotheretes striaticollis).
2 Pico Humboldt Trail, 3 Mifafy, 1 San Isidro Road - Los Frailes and
2 Las Tabias.
SMOKY BUSH-TYRANT (Myiotheretes fumigatus).
1 Pico Humboldt Trail.
BROWN-BACKED CHAT-TYRANT (Ochthoeca fumicolor).
2 Pico Aguila, 1 Laguna Macubaji, 1 Mifafy, 1 Los Frailes, 1 San Isidro
Road - Los Frailes and 2 Las Tabias.
YELLOW-BELLIED CHAT-TYRANT (Sylvicultrix diadema).
2 Pico Humboldt Trail and 1 Universidad de los Andes.
BLACK PHOEBE (Sayornis nigricans).
2 Henry Pittier N.P., 1 Pico Humboldt Trail, 1 La Azulita Road (La
Chorrera de las Gonzalez), 1 El Tao, 1 Los Frailes and 3 San Isidro Road.
LONG-TAILED TYRANT (Colonia colonus).
4 Imataca F.R.
RIVERSIDE TYRANT (Knipolegus orenocensis).
2 Hato El Frio.
PIED WATER-TYRANT (Fluvicola pica).
30 Hato El Frio.
WHITE-HEADED MARSH-TYRANT (Arundinicola leucocephala).
2 Barinas - Hato El Frio and 22 Hato El Frio.
VERMILION FLYCATCHER (Pyrocephalus rubinus).
10 Hato El Frio.
CATTLE TYRANT (Machetornis rixosus).
1 Cata Beach and 12 Hato El Frio.
FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER (Tyrannus savana).
4 Barinas - Hato El Frio and 263 Hato El Frio.
TROPICAL KINGBIRD (Tyrannus melancholicus).
Common, 97 birds was recorded.
GRAY KINGBIRD (Tyrannus dominicensis).
1 La Victoria - Maracay, 1 Maracay - Caracas and 13 Hato El Frio.
SULPHURY FLYCATCHER (Tyrannopsis sulphurea).
2 El Dorado - Guasipati.
VARIEGATED FLYCATCHER (Empidonomus varius).
2 Imataca F.R.
PIRATIC FLYCATCHER (Legatus leucophaius).
2 Las Claritas.
YELLOW-THROATED FLYCATCHER (Conopias parva).
4 Imataca F.R.
Note: Now regarded as a full species and split from White-ringed Flycatcher
(C. albovittata).
BOAT-BILLED FLYCATCHER (Megarhynchus pitangua).
1 Maracay, 5 Henry Pittier N.P., 1 Barragan River, 2 Hato El Frio and
4 Imataca F.R.
STREAKED FLYCATCHER (Myiodynastes maculatus).
1 Barragan River and 1 Las Claritas (SKR).
GOLDEN-CROWNED FLYCATCHER (Myiodynastes chrysocephalus).
2 Henry Pittier N.P., 2 Pico Humboldt Trail, 1 La Azulita Road and
2 Universidad de los Andes.
RUSTY-MARGINED FLYCATCHER (Myiozetetes cayanensis).
1 Henry Pittier N.P., 1 La Soledad, 14 Hato El Frio, 2 Imataca F.R.,
3 Las Claritas, 2 La Escalera Road (lower part), 6 El Dorado - Guasipati
and 2 Universidad Simon Bolivar.
SOCIAL FLYCATCHER (Myiozetetes similis).
10 Maracay, 7 Henry Pittier N.P., 4 Cata Beach, 1 Merida, 20 El Tao,
4 La Soledad, 8 Barinas - Hato El Frio, 8 Hato El Frio and 2 Las Claritas.
WHITE-BEARDED FLYCATCHER (Phelpsia inornata).
11 Hato El Frio.
GREAT KISKADEE (Pitangus sulphuratus).
4 Maracay, 9 Henry Pittier N.P., 1 Cata Beach, 2 El Tao, 3 Barinas
- Hato El Frio, 65 Hato El Frio, 1 El Palmar, 2 El Palmar - El Dorado,
5 Puerto Ordaz and 5 Universidad Simon Bolivar.
LESSER KISKADEE (Philohydor lictor).
2 Hato El Frio.
VENEZUELAN FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus venezuelensis).
1 Hato El Frio.
Note: According to The Birds of South America is our observation south
of the destibution.
PALE-EDGED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus cephalotes).
2 Henry Pittier N.P.
BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus tyrannulus).
2 Henry Pittier N.P. and 1 Hato El Frio (MHN,CS).
SWAINSON'S FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus swainsoni).
2 Hato El Frio and 3 La Gran Sabana.
DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus tuberculifer).
1 Henry Pittier N.P. and 1 Hato El Frio.
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER (Contopus borealis).
1 San Isidro Road.
TROPICAL PEWEE (Contopus cinereus).
1 Henry Pittier N.P.
SMOKE-COLORED PEWEE (Contopus fumigatus).
1 Henry Pittier N.P., 1 Pico Humboldt Trail, 3 Universidad de los Andes),
1 San Isidro Road, 1 San Isidro Road - Los Frailes, 1 La Escalera Road
(middle part) and 2 La Escalera Road (upper part).
Note: Now regarded as a full species and spilt from Greater Pewee (C.
fumigatus).
RUDDY-TAILED FLYCATCHER (Terenotriccus erythrurus).
1 Las Claritas.
SULPHUR-RUMPED FLYCATCHER (Myiobius barbatus).
1 Imataca F.R. (MHN & EM) and 1 La Escalera Road (middle part).
CINNAMON FLYCATCHER (Pyrrhomyias cinnamomea).
7 Henry Pittier N.P. and 3 San Isidro Road.
FLAVESCENT FLYCATCHER (Myiophobus flavicans).
3 Pico Humboldt Trail.
BRAN-COLORED FLYCATCHER (Myiophobus fasciatus).
1 El Tao and 1 La Gran Sabana.
CLIFF FLYCATCHER (Hirundinea ferruginea).
1 San Isidro Road, 4 Los Frailes - Barinitas and 5 La Escalera Road
(middle part).
WHITE-THROATED SPADEBILL (Platyrinchus mystaceus).
1 Henry Pittier N.P.
GOLDEN-CROWNED SPADEBILL (Platyrinchus coronatus).
1 Las Claritas (San Isidro).
YELLOW-OLIVE FLYCATCHER (Tolmomyias sulphurescens).
3 Henry Pittier N.P.
YELLOW-BREASTED FLYCATCHER (Tolmomyias flaviventris).
4 Hato El Frio.
COMMON TODY-FLYCATCHER (Todirostrum cinereum).
1 Henry Pittier N.P., 1 Cata Beach, 13 Hato El Frio, 1 La Gran Sabana,
1 Guasipati - Puerto Ordaz and 2 Universidad Simon Bolivar.
RUDDY TODY-FLYCATCHER (Todirostrum russatum).
5 La Escalera Road (upper part).
SLATE-HEADED TODY-FLYCATCHER (Todirostrum sylvia).
1 La Escalera Road (middle part).
HELMETED PYGMY-TYRANT (Lophotriccus galeatus).
1 Imataca F.R., 1 Las Claritas (trail km 89) and 2 Las Claritas (San
Isidro).
PALE-EYED PYGMY-TYRANT (Atalotriccus pilaris).
1 Hato El Frio (OLæ) and 1 Universidad Simon Bolivar.
MARBLE-FACED BRISTLE-TYRANT (Phylloscartes ophthalmicus).
6 Henry Pittier N.P.
VENEZUELAN BRISTLE-TYRANT (Phylloscartes venezuelanus).
1 Henry Pittier N.P.
Note: Near-threatened species.
RUFOUS-LORED TYRANNULET (Phylloscartes flaviventris).
4 Henry Pittier N.P.
Note: Formerly called Yellow-bellied Bristle-Tyrant (Pogonotriccus
flaviventris).
BLACK-FRONTED TYRANNULET (Phylloscartes nigrifrons).
2 La Escalera Road (middle part) and 4 La Escalera Road (upper part).
RIVER TYRANNULET (Serpophaga hypoleuca).
2 Hato El Frio.
TORRENT TYRANNULET (Serpophaga cinerea).
2 San Isidro Road - Los Frailes.
WHITE-THROATED TYRANNULET (Mecocerculus leucophrys).
10 Colonia Tovar, 5 Henry Pittier N.P., 25 Pico Humboldt Trail, 10
Universidad de los Andes, 1 Los Frailes, 3 San Isidro Road - Los Frailes
and 6 Las Tabias.
WHITE-BANDED TYRANNULET (Mecocerculus stictopterus).
1 Pico Humboldt Trail.
YELLOW-BELLIED ELAENIA (Elaenia flavogaster).
2 Los Frailes - Barinitas, 1 La Soledad, 3 Hato El Frio, 1 La Gran
Sabana and 1 Universidad Simon Bolivar.
MOUNTAIN ELAENIA (Elaenia frantzii).
1 Pico Humboldt Trail (OLæ).
SIERRAN ELAENIA (Elaenia pallatangae).
2 La Gran Sabana.
NORTHERN SCRUB FLYCATCHER (Sublegatus arenarum).
1 Hato El Frio (JM).
MOUSE-COLORED TYRANNULET (Phaeomyias murina).
1 Cata Beach and 2 Universidad Simon Bolivar.
SOUTHERN BEARDLESS TYRANNULET (Camptostoma obsoletum).
2 Hato El Frio.
BLACK-CAPPED TYRANNULET (Phyllomyias nigrocapillus).
1 Pico Humboldt Trail.
VENEZUELAN TYRANNULET (Zimmerius improbus).
1 heard Colonia Tovar, 3 Henry Pittier N.P. and 1 La Azulita Road.
Note: Now considered a full species and spilt from Paltry Tyrannulet
(Z. vilissimus).
YELLOW-CROWNED TYRANNULET (Tyrannulus elatus).
1 La Soledad and 1 Las Claritas.
BROWN-CAPPED TYRANNULET (Ornithion brunneicapillum).
1 Henry Pittier N.P.
SLATY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER (Leptopogon superciliaris).
2 Henry Pittier N.P.
OLIVE-STRIPED FLYCATCHER (Mionectes olivaceus).
2 Colonia Tovar and 4 Henry Pittier N.P.
OCHRE-BELLIED FLYCATCHER (Mionectes oleagineus).
3 Barragan River.
MACCONNELL'S FLYCATCHER (Mionectes macconnelli).
2 Las Claritas (JM).
RINGED ANTPIPIT (Corythopis torquata).
1 Imataca F.R.
SHARPBILL (Oxyruncus cristatus).
4 La Escalera Road.
WHITE-WINGED SWALLOW (Tachycineta albiventer).
5 Bruzual (Apure River), 2 Pte de la Vargen, 26 Hato El Frio and 2
Las Claritas - El Dorado.
GRAY-BREASTED MARTIN (Progne chalybea).
2 Colonia Tovar, 2 La Soledad, 30 Barinas - Hato El Frio, 10 Hato El
Frio, 17 Imataca F.R., 2 Imataca F.R. - El Palmar and 4 Las Claritas -
El Dorado.
BROWN-BELLIED SWALLOW (Notiochelidon murina).
20 Pico Humboldt Trail and 15 La Azulita Road.
BLUE-AND-WHITE SWALLOW (Notiochelidon cyanoleuca).
16 Colonia Tovar, 20 Maracay, 1 Henry Pittier N.P., 100 Pico Humboldt
Trail, 5 La Azulita Road, 2 Universidad de los Andes, 4 Merida - Los Frailes,
50 San Isidro Road, 25 La Soledad, 2 La Gran Sabana and 2 El Dorado - Guasipati.
SOUTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW (Stelgidopteryx ruficollis).
9 Henry Pittier N.P., 1 Santo Domingo, 2 Los Frailes - Barinitas, 3
Altamira Road and 1 Universidad Simon Bolivar.
BANK SWALLOW (SAND MARTIN) (Riparia riparia).
26 Hato El Frio.
BARN SWALLOW (Hirundo rustica).
1 Laguna Macubaji (OLæ), 26 Santo Domingo and 2100 Hato El Frio.
BLACK-COLLARED JAY (Cyanolyca armillata).
2 Pico Humboldt Trail (OLe) and 2 Las Tabias (OLe).
Note: Here the Black-collared northern birds are considered a distinct
species from the White-collared (C. viridicyana) nominate group.
CAYENNE JAY (Cyanocorax cayanus).
1 Imataca F.R. and 9 (2 pull.) Las Claritas (San Isidro).
GREEN JAY (Cyanocorax yncas).
3 Henry Pittier N.P., 10 Pico Humboldt Trail, 4 La Azulita Road, 3
Universidad de los Andes, 1 El Tao and 1 Merida - Los Frailes.
WHITE-CAPPED DIPPER (Cinclus leucocephalus).
3 La Azulita Road (La Chorrera de las Gonzalez), 1 Mifafy, 3 Primavera
and 2 San Isidro Road - Los Frailes.
BICOLORED WREN (Campylorhynchus griseus).
5 Hato El Frio.
STRIPE-BACKED WREN (Campylorhynchus nuchalis).
2 Maracay and 7 Hato El Frio.
PARAMO (MERIDA) WREN (Cistothorus meridae).
2 Pico Aguila, 1 Mifafy and 2 Los Frailes.
WHISKERED WREN (Thryothorus mystacalis).
2 heard Henry Pittier N.P., 2 La Azulita Road and 1 heard La Soledad.
Note: The species is now regarded as a full species and split from
Moustached Wren (T. genibarbis).
CORAYA WREN (Thryothorus coraya).
4 La Escalera Road.
RUFOUS-BREASTED WREN (Thryothorus rutilus).
4 Henry Pittier N.P.
RUFOUS-AND-WHITE WREN (Thryothorus rufalbus).
3 Henry Pittier N.P. and 1 heard La Soledad.
BUFF-BREASTED WREN (Thryothorus leucotis).
12 Henry Pittier N.P., 1 heard La Soledad and 4 Hato El Frio.
HOUSE WREN (Troglodytes aedon).
3 Henry Pittier N.P., 2 El Tao and 2 Universidad Simon Bolivar.
MOUNTAIN WREN (Troglodytes solstitialis).
1 Pico Humboldt Trail.
WHITE-BREASTED WOOD-WREN (Henicorhina leucosticta).
8 Imataca F.R. and 1 Las Claritas (trail km 89).
GRAY-BREASTED WOOD-WREN (Henicorhina leucophrys).
2 Colonia Tovar, 16 Henry Pittier N.P., 5 Pico Humboldt Trail, 2 La
Azulita Road, 3 Universidad de los Andes and 3 San Isidro Road.
SOUTHERN NIGHTINGALE WREN (Microcerculus marginatus).
7 Henry Pittier N.P.
Note: Sometimes called Scaly-breasted Wren. If the middle American
"subspecies" philomela is lumped with marginatus, the combined species
becomes Nightingale Wren.
FLUTIST WREN (Microcerculus ustulatus).
1 heard Las Claritas (trail km 89) and 3 heard La Escalera Road.
MUSICIAN WREN (Cyphorhinus aradus).
2 heard La Escalera Road and 1 Las Claritas (San Isidro).
TROPICAL MOCKINGBIRD (Mimus gilvus).
5 Colonia Tovar - La Victoria, 1 La Victoria - Maracay, 4 Cata Beach,
2 Maracay, 1 Merida - Los Frailes, 8 Barinas - Hato El Frio, 25 Hato El
Frio, 2 La Gran Sabana and 1 El Dorado - Guasipati.
BLACK-CAPPED DONACOBIUS (Donacobius atricapillus).
1 Hato El Frio (OLæ).
ANDEAN SOLITAIRE (Myadestes ralloides).
2 Henry Pittier N.P., 1 heard Pico Humboldt Trail, 2 Universidad de
los Andes and 2 heard San Isidro Road.
YELLOW-LEGGED THRUSH (Platycichla flavipes).
1 La Azulita Road and 2 La Escalera Road (upper part).
GREAT THRUSH (Turdus fuscater).
2 La Azulita Road, 14 Merida - Los Frailes, 1 Laguna Macubaji, 1 Mifafy,
7 Los Frailes, 2 San Isidro Road - Los Frailes and 8 Las Tabias.
GLOSSY-BLACK THRUSH (Turdus serranus).
3 Caracas - Colonia Tovar, 2 Henry Pittier N.P., 1 Pico Humboldt Trail
and 2 La Azulita Road.
BLACK-HOODED THRUSH (Turdus olivater).
1 Henry Pittier N.P., 1 La Escalera Road (middle part) and 3 La Escalera
Road (upper part).
CHESTNUT-BELLIED THRUSH (Turdus fulviventris).
5 Pico Humboldt Trail, 1 La Azulita Road and 3 San Isidro Road.
PALE-BREASTED THRUSH (Turdus leucomelas).
14 Henry Pittier N.P.
BLACK-BILLED THRUSH (Turdus ignobilis).
1 Las Claritas (trail km 89) (IA).
COCOA THRUSH (Turdus fumigatus).
2 Henry Pittier N.P.
BARE-EYED THRUSH (Turdus nudigenis).
3 Maracay, 2 Henry Pittier N.P. and 3 El Tao.
WHITE-NECKED THRUSH (Turdus albicollis).
5 Henry Pittier N.P., 1 Imataca F.R. and 2 La Escalera Road.
LONG-BILLED GNATWREN (Ramphocaenus melanurus).
1 La Escalera Road (middle part).
TROPICAL GNATCATCHER (Polioptila plumbea).
1 Henry Pittier N.P., 1 Cata Beach, 1 Hato El Frio and 3 Universidad
Simon Bolivar.
YELLOWISH PIPIT (Anthus lutescens).
17 Hato El Frio and 1 La Gran Sabana.
PARAMO PIPIT (Anthus bogotensis).
1 Pico Aguila and 1 Mifafy.
RUFOUS-BROWED PEPPERSHRIKE (Cyclarhis gujanensis).
1 Colonia Tovar, 6 Henry Pittier N.P., 3 Barragan River, 1 Hato El
Frio, 1 La Escalera Road (middle part) and 1 La Gran Sabana.
RED-EYED VIREO (Vireo olivaceus).
2 Pico Humboldt Trail.
BROWN-CAPPED VIREO (Vireo leucophrys).
6 Colonia Tovar, 13 Henry Pittier N.P., 1 Pico Humboldt Trail, 1 La
Azulita Road, 1 Universidad de los Andes and 1 San Isidro Road.
Note: Formerly regarded as a subspecies of Warbling Vireo (V. gilvus).
TEPUI GREENLET (Hylophilus sclateri).
4 La Escalera Road (upper part) and 1 La Escalera Road (middle part).
GOLDEN-FRONTED GREENLET (Hylophilus aurantiifrons).
15 Henry Pittier N.P., 1 Hato El Frio and 4 Universidad Simon Bolivar.
LEMON-CHESTED/BUFF-CHEEKED GREENLET (Hylophilus thoracicus/muscicapinus).
10 Imacata Forest Reserve.
SHINY COWBIRD (Molothrus bonariensis).
30 Cata Beach, 325 Hato El Frio and 5 Caracas - Universidad Simon Bolivar.
GIANT COWBIRD (Scaphidura oryzivora).
4 El Tao and 1 Imataca F.R. - El Palmar.
CRESTED OROPENDOLA (Psarocolius decumanus).
35 Henry Pittier N.P., 10 El Tao, 1 San Isidro Road, 1 Barragan
River, 1 Hato El Frio, 3 El Palmar - Imataca F.R., 4 Imataca F.R., 10 Las
Claritas, 1 Las Claritas (trail km 89) and 6 Universidad Simon Bolivar.
GREEN OROPENDOLA (Psarocolius viridis).
4 Imataca F.R. and 2 Las Claritas (JM).
RUSSET-BACKED OROPENDOLA (Psarocolius angustifrons).
10 Henry Pittier N.P. and 2 San Isidro Road.
YELLOW-RUMPED CACIQUE (Cacicus cela).
2 Hato El Frio.
RED-RUMPED CACIQUE (Cacicus haemorrhous).
3 Imataca F.R.
CARIB GRACKLE (Quiscalus lugubris).
3 Colonia Tovar - La Victoria, 4 La Victoria - Maracay, 10 Cata Beach,
50 La Azulita Road, 350 Barinas - Hato El Frio, 2 Caracas Airport and 1
Universidad Simon Bolivar.
GOLDEN-TUFTED GRACKLE (Macroagelaius imthurni).
6 La Escalera Road (middle part) and 34 La Escalera Road (upper part).
YELLOW-HOODED BLACKBIRD (Agelaius icterocephalus).
1 La Victoria - Maracay.
MORICHE ORIOLE (Icterus chrysocephalus).
3 Imataca F.R.
TROUPIAL (Icterus icterus).
2 Hato El Frio.
YELLOW ORIOLE (Icterus nigrogularis).
1 Cata Beach and 9 Hato El Frio.
YELLOW-BACKED ORIOLE (Icterus chrysater).
1 Maracay and 2 Altamira Road.
ORIOLE BLACKBIRD (Gymnomystax mexicanus).
2 Cata Beach, 3 Barinas - Hato El Frio, 30 Hato El Frio, 1 Hato El
Frio - San Fernando de Apure and 1 Universidad Simon Bolivar.
RED-BREASTED BLACKBIRD (Sturnella militaris).
54 Hato El Frio.
EASTERN MEADOWLARK (Sturnella magna).
1 La Azulita Road, 4 Santo Domingo and 17 Hato El Frio.
BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER (Mniotilta varia).
1 Henry Pittier N.P., 1 Pico Humboldt Trail and 2 Universidad de los
Andes.
GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER (Vermivora chrysoptera).
1 Henry Pittier N.P. and 1 El Tao.
TENNESSEE WARBLER (Vermivora peregrina).
1 Henry Pittier N.P. and 1 La Soledad.
TROPICAL PARULA (Parula pitiayumi).
1 Colonia Tovar, 4 Henry Pittier N.P., 12 La Escalera Road and 1 Universidad
Simon Bolivar.
YELLOW WARBLER (Dendroica petechia).
1 Bruzual (Apure River) and 5 Hato El Frio.
CERULEAN WARBLER (Dendroica cerulea).
2 Henry Pittier N.P. and 1 La Soledad.
BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER (Dendroica fusca).
6 Colonia Tovar, 1 Henry Pittier N.P., 15 Pico Humboldt Trail, 1 Universidad
de los Andes, 2 San Isidro Road and 1 Altamira Road.
BLACKPOLL WARBLER (Dendroica striata).
2 Henry Pittier N.P. and 3 Pico Humboldt Trail.
NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH (Seiurus noveboracensis).
1 Henry Pittier N.P., 1 El Tao, 1 Barragan River and 1 Universidad
Simon Bolivar.
MOURNING WARBLER (Oporornis philadelphia).
2 El Tao.
AMERICAN REDSTART (Setophaga ruticilla).
9 Henry Pittier N.P., 1 La Azulita Road, 3 El Tao, 4 La Soledad, 2
Barragan River and 2 La Escalera Road (upper part).
SLATE-THROATED REDSTART (Myioborus miniatus).
6 Colonia Tovar, 8 Henry Pittier N.P., 2 Pico Humboldt Trail, 3 La
Azulita Road, 2 Universidad de los Andes, 7 San Isidro Road and 3 La Escalera
Road.
WHITE-FRONTED REDSTART (Myioborus albifrons).
10 Pico Humboldt Trail, 1 Universidad de los Andes, 1 San Isidro Road
- Los Frailes and 1 Las Tabias.
TEPUI REDSTART (Myioborus castaneocapillus).
6 La Escalera Road (upper part).
Note: Now considered a full species and split from Brown-capped Redstart
(M. brunniceps).
BLACK-CRESTED WARBLER (Basileuterus nigrocristatus).
3 Pico Humboldt Trail, 1 Universidad de los Andes and 3 San Isidro
Road - Los Frailes.
CITRINE WARBLER (Basileuterus luteoviridis).
2 Las Tabias.
THREE-STRIPED WARBLER (Basileuterus tristriatus).
3 Colonia Tovar, 22 Henry Pittier N.P., 6 Pico Humboldt Trail, 1 Universidad
de los Andes, 1 San Isidro Road and 1 La Soledad.
GOLDEN-CROWNED WARBLER (Basileuterus culicivorus).
3 Henry Pittier N.P.
RUSSET-CROWNED WARBLER (Basileuterus coronatus).
3 Pico Humboldt Trail.
CHESTNUT-VENTED CONEBILL (Conirostrum speciosum).
5 Hato El Frio.
BLUE-BACKED CONEBILL (Conirostrum sitticolor).
1 Los Frailes and 7 Las Tabias.
BANANAQUIT (Coereba flaveola).
6 Henry Pittier N.P., 5 El Tao, 4 La Soledad, 9 Hato El Frio, 20 La
Escalera Road, 1 La Gran Sabana, 1 El Dorado - Guasipati and 5 Universidad
Simon Bolivar.
SWALLOW-TANAGER (Tersina viridis).
4 Barragan River.
BLUISH FLOWERPIERCER (Diglossa caerulescens).
13 Pico Humboldt Trail, 2 La Azulita Road and 1 Universidad de los
Andes.
MASKED FLOWERPIERCER (Diglossa cyanea).
1 Pico Humboldt Trail, 12 La Azulita Road and 7 Las Tabias.
GREATER FLOWERPIERCER (Diglossa major).
1 La Escalera Road (middle part) (MHN) and 2 La Escalera Road (upper
part).
MERIDA FLOWERPIERCER (Diglossa gloriosa).
2 Las Tabias.
Note: Now considered a full species distinct from the formerly called
Carbonated Flowerpiercer (D. carbonaria).
WHITE-SIDED FLOWERPIERCER (Diglossa albilatera).
2 Colonia Tovar, 3 Pico Humboldt Trail and 2 Las Tabias.
PURPLE HONEYCREEPER (Cyanerpes caeruleus).
1 Henry Pittier N.P., 8 Imataca F.R. and 2 La Escalera Road (middle
part).
RED-LEGGED HONEYCREEPER (Cyanerpes cyaneus).
2 La Escalera Road (lower part) (MHN).
GREEN HONEYCREEPER (Chlorophanes spiza).
2 Henry Pittier N.P., 20 Imataca F.R. and 9 La Escalera Road.
BLUE DACNIS (Dacnis cayana).
1 Henry Pittier N.P., 4 Barragan River, 5 Imataca F.R., 2 Las Claritas
(San Isidro) and 3 La Escalera Road.
OPAL-RUMPED TANAGER (Tangara velia).
10 Imataca F.R. and 3 Las Claritas.
PARADISE TANAGER (Tangara chilensis).
14 La Escalera Road (upper part).
SPOTTED TANAGER (Tangara punctata).
2 Imataca F.R. and 5 La Escalera Road (lower part).
SPECKLED TANAGER (Tangara guttata).
3 Colonia Tovar, 19 Henry Pittier N.P., 2 San Isidro Road, 17 La Escalera
Road and 1 La Gran Sabana.
YELLOW-BELLIED TANAGER (Tangara xanthogastra).
6 La Escalera Road.
GOLDEN TANAGER (Tangara arthus).
26 Henry Pittier N.P., 4 La Azulita Road and 4 San Isidro Road.
SAFFRON-CROWNED TANAGER (Tangara xanthocephala).
2 Pico Humboldt Trail, 2 La Azulita Road, 1 El Tao, 1 San Isidro Road
and 1 Altamira Road.
RUFOUS-CHEEKED TANAGER (Tangara rufigenis).
2 Henry Pittier N.P.
BLUE-NECKED TANAGER (Tangara cyanicollis).
1 El Tao, 1 San Isidro Road and 4 La Soledad.
TURQUOISE TANAGER (Tangara mexicana).
1 La Escalera Road (upper part) (MHN).
BAY-HEADED TANAGER (Tangara gyrola).
18 Henry Pittier N.P., 6 San Isidro Road, 1 Altamira Road, 10 Imataca
F.R., 5 La Escalera Road and 2 Las Claritas (San Isidro).
BURNISHED-BUFF TANAGER (Tangara cayana).
10 Henry Pittier N.P., 1 El Tao, 1 Altamira Road, 1 Hato El Frio and
4 La Gran Sabana.
BERYL-SPANGLED TANAGER (Tangara nigroviridis).
3 Colonia Tovar, 25 Henry Pittier N.P., 22 Pico Humboldt Trail and
4 La Azulita Road.
BLACK-CAPPED TANAGER (Tangara heinei).
1 Colonia Tovar and 2 Pico Humboldt Trail.
BLACK-HEADED TANAGER (Tangara cyanoptera).
1 Pico Humboldt Trail and 3 La Escalera Road (upper part).
BLUE-AND-BLACK TANAGER (Tangara vassorii).
4 Pico Humboldt Trail, 2 La Azulita Road and 1 San Isidro Road - Los
Frailes.
FAWN-BREASTED TANAGER (Pipraeidea melanonota).
2 La Azulita Road.
BLUE-NAPED CHLOROPHONIA (Chlorophonia cyanea).
1 Henry Pittier N.P., 2 San Isidro Road and 1 La Escalera Road.
CHESTNUT-BREASTED CHLOROPHONIA (Chlorophonia pyrrhophrys).
1 Pico Humboldt Trail (OLæ), 3 Universidad de los Andes and 3
San Isidro Road.
ORANGE-BELLIED EUPHONIA (Euphonia xanthogaster).
5 Henry Pittier N.P., 1 La Azulita Road, 4 San Isidro Road and 6 La
Escalera Road.
TRINIDAD EUPHONIA (Euphonia trinitatis).
2 Hato El Frio and 3 Universidad Simon Bolivar.
VIOLACEOUS EUPHONIA (Euphonia violacea).
2 Imataca F.R., 1 Las Claritas and 1 El Dorado - Guasipati.
THICK-BILLED EUPHONIA (Euphonia laniirostris).
1 Colonia Tovar - La Victoria and 1 El Tao.
GOLDEN-SIDED EUPHONIA (Euphonia cayennensis).
1 Imataca F.R. (JM).
WHITE-LORED EUPHONIA (Euphonia chrysopastra).
3 Imataca F.R.
Note: Also called Golden-bellied Euphonia.
LACHRYMOSE MOUNTAIN-TANAGER (Anisognathus lacrymosus).
12 Las Tabias.
BLUE-WINGED MOUNTAIN-TANAGER (Anisognathus flavinucha).
6 Colonia Tovar and 4 Henry Pittier N.P.
BUFF-BREASTED MOUNTAIN-TANAGER (Dubusia taeniata).
2 Las Tabias (IA & OLe).
BLUE-GRAY TANAGER (Thraupis episcopus).
4 Maracay, 9 Henry Pittier N.P., 3 La Soledad, 2 Barragan River, 1
Barinas - Hato El Frio, 6 Hato El Frio, 5 Imataca F.R., 3 Las Claritas
and 3 La Escalera Road.
GLAUCOUS TANAGER (Thraupis glaucocolpa).
1 Universidad Simon Bolivar.
PALM TANAGER (Thraupis palmarum).
4 Henry Pittier N.P., 2 El Tao, 4 Barragan River, 21 Imataca F.R. and
10 Las Claritas.
BLUE-CAPPED TANAGER (Thraupis cyanocephala).
4 Colonia Tovar, 5 Henry Pittier N.P., 14 Pico Humboldt Trail, 4 La
Azulita Road, 2 Universidad de los Andes and 1 Las Tabias.
SILVER-BEAKED TANAGER (Ramphocelus carbo).
34 Henry Pittier N.P., 20 La Soledad, 4 Altamira Road, 6 Imataca F.R.,
4 La Escalera Road, 1 Las Claritas (San Isidro) and 2 Universidad Simon
Bolivar.
CRIMSON-BACKED TANAGER (Ramphocelus dimidiatus).
4 El Tao.
HEPATIC TANAGER (Piranga flava).
2 Henry Pittier N.P.
SUMMER TANAGER (Piranga rubra).
1 Henry Pittier N.P.
WHITE-WINGED TANAGER (Piranga leucoptera).
6 Henry Pittier N.P., 2 San Isidro Road and 1 La Soledad.
FULVOUS SHRIKE-TANAGER (Lanio fulvus).
1 Imataca F.R. and 3 La Escalera Road (middle part).
WHITE-LINED TANAGER (Tachyphonus rufus).
8 Henry Pittier N.P., 2 La Soledad, 2 Imataca F.R. and 3 Universidad
Simon Bolivar.
FLAME-CRESTED TANAGER (Tachyphonus cristatus).
2 La Escalera Road (middle part).
FULVOUS-CRESTED TANAGER (Tachyphonus surinamus).
3 Imataca F.R.
GRAY-HEADED TANAGER (Eucometis penicillata).
2 Henry Pittier N.P.
OLIVE-BACKED TANAGER (Mitrospingus oleagineus).
13 La Escalera Road.
HOODED TANAGER (Nemosia pileata).
4 ?? Hato El Frio.
GUIRA TANAGER (Hemithraupis guira).
1 Henry Pittier N.P. and 1 Barragan River.
YELLOW-BACKED TANAGER (Hemithraupis flavicollis).
2 Imataca F.R. and 1 La Escalera Road (middle part).
FULVOUS-HEADED TANAGER (Thlypopsis fulviceps).
1 Colonia Tovar (JM) and 1 Henry Pittier N.P.
GRAY-CAPPED HEMISPINGUS (Hemispingus reyi).
3 Pico Humboldt Trail.
SUPERCILIARIED HEMISPINGUS (Hemispingus superciliaris).
1 Pico Humboldt Trail and 1 Las Tabias.
OLEAGINOUS HEMISPINGUS (Hemispingus frontalis).
3 Colonia Tovar and 1 Pico Humboldt Trail.
Note: It is conceivable that the northern race ignobilis is will become
a seperate species and be will named Ochraceous Hemispingus.
SLATY-BACKED HEMISPINGUS (Hemispingus goeringi).
1 Pico Humboldt Trail (EM).
Status: Vulnerable species.
COMMON BUSH-TANAGER (Chlorospingus ophthalmicus).
9 Colonia Tovar, 27 Henry Pittier N.P., 15 Pico Humboldt Trail, 10
La Azulita Road, 1 Universidad de los Andes and 4 San Isidro Road.
MAGPIE TANAGER (Cissopis leveriana).
2 Imataca F.R. - El Palmar.
BLACK-FACED TANAGER (Schistochlamys melanopis).
1 Henry Pittier N.P. (IA) and 1 La Gran Sabana.
BUFF-THROATED SALTATOR (Saltator maximus).
1 Henry Pittier N.P., 1 El Tao, 2 La Soledad, 2 Barragan River and
1 Universidad Simon Bolivar.
GRAYISH SALTATOR (Saltator coerulescens).
1 Henry Pittier N.P., 1 El Tao, 1 Hato El Frio and 1 La Escalera Road
(middle part).
ORINOCAN SALTATOR (Saltator orenocensis).
6 Hato El Frio.
STREAKED SALTATOR (Saltator albicollis).
1 Henry Pittier N.P.
SLATE-COLORED GROSBEAK (Pitylus grossus).
1 Imataca F.R., 1 La Escalera Road and 1 Las Claritas (San Isidro).
YELLOW-GREEN GROSBEAK (Caryothraustes canadensis).
30 Imataca F.R., 2 Las Claritas (trail km 89), 3 Las Claritas (San
Isidro) and 5 La Escalera Road (middle part).
ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK (Pheucticus ludovicianus).
4 Pico Humboldt Trail.
RED-CAPPED CARDINAL (Paroaria gularis).
1 Pte de la Vargen and 75 Hato El Frio.
CHESTNUT-CAPPED BRUSH-FINCH (Atlapetes brunneinucha).
4 Henry Pittier N.P. and 1 Pico Humboldt Trail.
TEPUI BRUSH-FINCH (Atlapetes personatus).
7 La Escalera Road (upper part).
OCHRE-BREASTED BRUSH-FINCH (Atlapetes semirufus).
2 Henry Pittier N.P.
SLATY BRUSH-FINCH (Atlapetes schistaceus).
2 Pico Humboldt Trail, 3 Los Frailes and 3 Las Tabias.
MOUSTACHED BRUSH-FINCH (Atlapetes albofrenatus).
1 Pico Humboldt Trail (JM) and 2 La Azulita Road.
BLACK-STRIPED SPARROW (Arremonops conirostris).
1 Universidad Simon Bolivar.
BLACK-FACED GRASSQUIT (Tiaris bicolor).
2 Cata Beach and 2 Universidad Simon Bolivar.
PLAIN-COLORED SEEDEATER (Catamenia inornata).
2 Mifafy (MHN & OLæ).
LESSER SEED-FINCH (Oryzoborus angolensis).
2 Henry Pittier N.P., 2 La Soledad, 1 Altamira Road and 1 La Escalera
Road.
GRAY SEEDEATER (Sporophila intermedia).
15 Hato El Frio and 4 El Dorado - Guasipati.
YELLOW-BELLIED SEEDEATER (Sporophila nigricollis).
2 Colonia Tovar - La Victoria, 2 Henry Pittier N.P., 2 El Tao and 4
La Soledad.
RUDDY-BREASTED SEEDEATER (Sporophila minuta).
4 Hato El Frio.
BLUE-BLACK GRASSQUIT (Volatinia jacarina).
1 Colonia Tovar - La Victoria and 5 Hato El Frio.
GRASSLAND YELLOW-FINCH (Sicalis luteola).
2 Hato El Frio.
SAFFRON FINCH (Sicalis flaveola).
30 Maracay and 130 Hato El Frio.
ORANGE-FRONTED YELLOW-FINCH (Sicalis columbiana).
5 Hato El Frio.
STRIPE-TAILED YELLOW-FINCH (Sicalis citrina).
2 Colonia Tovar - La Victoria.
PLUMBEOUS SIERRA-FINCH (Phrygilus unicolor).
35 Pico Aguila and 1 Mifafy.
WEDGE-TAILED GRASS-FINCH (Emberizoides herbicola).
1 Colonia Tovar - La Victoria.
YELLOW-BROWED SPARROW (Ammodramus aurifrons).
1 Pte de la Vargen and 100 Hato El Frio.
GRASSLAND SPARROW (Ammodramus humeralis).
3 Hato El Frio.
RUFOUS-COLLARED SPARROW (Zonotrichia capensis).
2 Caracas - Colonia Tovar, 1 Colonia Tovar, 1 Colonia Tovar - La Victoria,
2 Henry Pittier N.P., 5 Pico Humboldt Trail, 17 Merida - Los Frailes, 2
Laguna Macubaji, 25 Mifafy, 20 Los Frailes, 2 Primavera, 10 Las Tabias,
7 La Gran Sabana and 2 La Escalera Road.
ANDEAN SISKIN (Carduelis spinescens).
2 Merida - Los Frailes, 10 Pico Aguila and 3 Mifafy.
RED SISKIN (Carduelis cucullata).
1 ? La Soledad.
Note: Subject to enormous long-term (but, since the 1940s, illegal)
pressure from trappers because of its capacity to hybridize with canaries,
the Red Sisken has become extremely rare throughout a now fragmented range.
Formerly it was also distibuted along the Andes south to Mérida,
but today it is only known to occur with certainly small numbers in the
northwesten part of the country. An unpublished record from Barinas state
in March 1984 (S. Whitehouse verbally 1992) could indicate a little "unknown"
population in the Barinas area, where we also had our record. More field
work is urgently needed in the area.
Status: Endangered species.
HOODED SISKIN (Carduelis magellanica).
1 La Gran Sabana.
YELLOW-BELLIED SISKIN (Carduelis xanthogastra).
1 Henry Pittier N.P.
LESSER GOLDFINCH (Carduelis psaltria).
3 Henry Pittier N.P.
LIST OF MAMMALS & REPTILES.
The taxonomy used in this list is mainly based on Louise H. Emmons's "Neotropical Rainforest Mammals".
Species observed only by one or two participants are marked in the list
with the initials of the observers in brackets.
SOUTHERN TAMANDUA (Tamandua tetradactyla).
1 found dead Hato El Frio - San Fernando de Apure.
BROWN-THROATED THREE-TOED SLOTH (Bradypus variegatus).
2 Henry Pittier N.P.
FISHING BAT (Diclidurus scutatus).
35 El Frio.
BAT SPECIES.
5 Maracay and 3 El Dorado - Las Claritas.
WHITE-FRONTED CAPUCHIN MONKEY (Cebus albifrons).
1 La Escalera Road (upper part).
RED HOWLER MONKEY (Alouatta seniculus).
At least 9 + 2 flocks heard Henry Pittier N.P., 4 Hato El Frio, 1 El
Palmar - El Dorado, 4 Las Claritas, flock heard Las Claritas (trail km
89) and 4 La Escalera Road (upper part).
CRAB-EATING FOX (Cerdocyon thous).
1 found dead Barinas - Hato El Frio and 1 Hato El Frio.
KINKAJOU (Potos flavus).
1 Las Claritas (San Isidro).
JAGUAR (Panthera onca).
Track seen at Imataca F.R.
PINK RIVER DOLPHIN (Inia geoffrensis).
13 Hato El Frio.
BRAZILIAN TAPIR (Tapirus terrestris).
Track seen at Imataca F.R.
COLLARED PECCARY (Tayassu tajacu).
1 Hato El Frio (OLæ).
WHITE-TAILED DEER (Odocoileus virginianus).
22 Hato El Frio.
RED-TAILED SQUIRREL (Sciurus granatensis).
2 Colonia Tovar, 3 Henry Pittier N.P., 2 Pico Humboldt Trail, 2 El
Tao, 3 San Isidro Road, 1 Barragan River and 1 La Escalera Road.
MOUSE SPECIES.
1 Henry Pittier N.P.
CAPYBARA (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris).
460 Hato El Frio.
RED-RUMPED AGOUTI (Dasyprocta agouti).
1 Henry Pittier N.P., and 1 Las Claritas (trail km 89) (EM).
BRAZILIAN RABBIT (Silvilagus brasiliensis).
1 El Palmar.
MONITOR LIZARD.
2 Hato El Frio.
IGUANA. (Iguana iguana).
2 Henry Pittier N.P. and 10 Hato El Frio.
SNAKE SPECIES.
1 Colonia Tovar, 1 Cata Beach and 1 San Isidro Road.
PARAGUAYAN CAIMAN (Caiman crocodylos).
1 Barinas - Hato El Frio, 2 Pte de la Vargen and 21 Hato El Frio.
ORINOCAN CROCODILE.
1 Hato El Frio (EM,JM,TP & MK).
MARSH TURTLE SPECIES.
4 Pte de la Vargen and 65 Hato El Frio.
BIBLIOGRAPHY.
(01) Blake E. R.: Manual of Neotropical Birds (1977).
(02) Collar N.J. et al: Threatened Birds of the Americas (The ICPB/IUCN Red Data Book 1992).
(03) Collar N.J. et al: Birds to Watch 2 (1994).
(04) Collar N.J. et al: Key areas for Threatened Birds in the Neotropics (1995).
(05) Dydynski K.: Venezuela a travel survival kit (1994).
(06) Eisenberg J.F: Mammals of the Neotropics Vol 1. (1989).
(07) Emmons L.H.: Neotropical Rainforest Mammals (1990).
(08) Fjeldså J. & Krabbe N.: Birds of the High Andes (1990).
(09) Hilty S. & Brown W.: A Guide to The Birds of Colombia (1986).
(10) Goodwin M.L.: Birding in Venezuela (1994).
(11) Meyer de Schauensee R. & Phelps Jr. W.: A Guide To The Birds of Venezuela (1978).
(12) National Geographic Society: Field Guide to the Birds of North America (1983).
(13) Ridgely R.S. & Tudor G.: The Birds of South America Vol 1 (1989).
(14) Ridgely R.S. & Tudor G.: The Birds of South America Vol 2 (1994).
(15) Stiles F.G. & Skutch A.F.: A Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica (1989).
(16) Wheatley N.: Where to Watch Birds in South Amecica (1994).
Erik Mølgaard
Denmark.
E-mail: moel@post4.tele.dk