Venezuela
Andean Venezuela
The best center for exploring the birds of the Andes in Venezuela is the mountain city of Mérida. Around the city itself birders could hope for hummingbirds like the Steely-vented and Rufous-tailed, some tanagers, and, at the right season, a number of species of wood warblers down from North America. The Pico Humboldt trail within the Sierra Nevada National Park is only 18 km north of the city runs from a lower area of subtropical and temperate forest, with birds like the endemic Gray-headed Antpitta and the Mérida Flower-piercer, plus hummingbirds like the Golden-bellied Starfrontlet. Here also the Andean Guan and Golden-headed Quetzal share the habitat with smaller birds like the Russet-crowned Warbler, Chestnut-crowned Antpitta, and the Mountain Wren. At higher altitudes the paramo, a landscape of rocks, short grasses and stunted plants has a more limited number of species: the Paramo Pipit, Bar-winged Cinclodes, Andean Tit-spinetail, Bearded Helmetcrest, and perhaps the Merida Wren. Higher up, with luck, a birder might see the Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, while the high lakes are home to Andean Teal and other high altitude water birds. Moving eastward and down the Andean slope into the valley of Santo Domingo, the birds include endemics like the Rose-headed Parakeet, Ochre-browed Thistletail, and White-fronted Redstart, plus other birds like the Azara Spinetail, several tanagers, and the Blue-backed Conebill. The streams are home to Torrent Duck and White-capped Dipper. The subtropical forests at this altitude hold a variety of hummingbirds and flycatchers, and it is here that the Cocks-of-the-Rock have their lek.
For more detailed information see Wheatley, Where to Watch Birds in South America.
The Llanos
These great grasslands, periodically flooded, spread widely in central Venezuela. During the wet months, December to April, huge numbers of water birds can be found here, especially in the more southern sites. Many of the birds occur along the road that links San Fernando in the east to Barinas in the west. The area is especially known for its collection of raptors (20 species), ibises, and herons (15 species), but it also is home to one endemic, the White-bearded Flycatcher, and other good birds like the Orinocan Saltator, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Band-tailed Nighthawk, Russet-throated Puffbird, White-naped Xernpsaris, and Yellow-knobbed Curassow.
For more detail see Wheatley, Where to Watch Birds in South America.
Local Accommodation:
Hato El Cedral, San Fernando de Apure
Henri Pittier National Park
This park, the oldest national park in Venezuela, is located just over 100 km west of Caracas (about a two hour drive). With a bird list of over 500 species, including 10 Venezuelan endemics, it is clearly the first choice of places to bird for visitors to the capital. Its habitats run from the dry cactus scrub along the coast up through the montane rainforests between 3,000 and 6,000 feet in the coastal range, and then down again to the dry lowlands on the far side.
The park is home to the endemic Venezuelan Wood-Quail, Scallop-breasted Antpitta, Green-tailed Emerald, Red-eared Parakeet, Handsome Fruiteater, Venezuelan Bristle-Tyrant, and others. Helmeted Curassow, Moustached Puffbird, Long-tailed Sylph, Violet–fronted Brilliant, Bearded Bellbird, Rosy Thrush-Tanager, and White-tipped Quetzal are just a few of the other great birds to be found in the park.
Henri Pittier NP lies between the city of Maracay and the coast, and there are two main access roads from Maracay. Both are good; the Maracay/Ocumare Road is the better. The Rancho Grande Ecological Station is located about 20 km north of Manacay on the road to Ocumare, on the east side of the road. Several good birding trails run away from the station.
It is necessary to secure a permit to visit the station and to bird the most productive trail, Pico Guacamayo, that leads up into the cloud forest. This permit may take several days to secure, so it might be advisable to work with a local guide who could arrange the permit beforehand. The rooftop of the station has a veranda with feeders at tree-top level. Birders may go up on the roof to get stunning views of tree-top birds plus hummers and tanagers there for the food.
For a fuller bird list and some suggestions about other birding opportunities at the park see see Milne, Where to Watch Birds: World Cities. Junglaven Jungle Camp
This jungle lodge, in Amazonas, the southernmost state in Venezuela, was opened in 1990. It is reachable only by chartered aircraft from Puerto Ayacucho, the state capital. The area around the lodge is a good location for Gray-winged Trumpeters. Areas close to the lodge are home for four species of Macaws, five species of kingfishers, and six species of parrots. This section of Venezuela is also perhaps the best place in the country to search for Harpy Eagle. The birds to be found include ten species of woodpeckers, three of trogons, four of jacamars. Toucans, aracaris, cotingas, puffbirds, several types of antbirds, ant-shrikes, and ant-wrens.
Colonia Tovar
This hill resort, a bit more than 6,000 ft altitude, is only fifty km from Caracas, though it may take two hours to get here. The habitat is subtropical forest, and supports Black-throated Spinetail (endemic), Rufous-shafted Woodstar, Golden-breasted Fruiteater, Lazuline Sabrewing, Violet-fronted Brilliant, Marble-faced Bristle-Tyrant, Blue-winged Mountain Tanager, White-tipped Quetzal, Plush-capped Finch, Golden-breasted Fruiteater, and numerous other species. For further information see Wheatley,Where to Watch Birds in South America..
Caracas area hotspots
The peak of El Ávila (2,250 m) lies the center of the national park that seperates the city of Caracas from the coast and stretches along the mountain change for 45 km. Easily accessible from the city, and holding samples of the range of tropical vegetation zones. Avenida Boyacá runs along the base of the foothills of the coast change. Trails from the avenue ascend the south slope. Milne recommends taking the cable car (TELEFERICO) from Mariperez on Boyacá Avenue to the summit. The ride takes 15 min going up and provides extraordinary views of Caracas and the mountain. From the top follow the trail west from the old Humboldt Hotel along the mountain ridge through cloud forest and grassland areas to the neighboring peak of Galipán, and then descend to and past the guard post at Los Venados, exiting the park at the Clavelitos Guard Post.
Possible birds include Ornate Hawk-Eagle, Band-tailed Guan, Venezuelan Wood-Quail, Red-eared Parakeet, Lilac-tailed Parrotlet, a number of hummingbirds, White-tipped Quetzal, Groove-billed Touchanet, some spinetails, nightjars, antbirds, tanagers and other good birds.
Parque del Este, located east of the city center, has tree cover and some ponds and waterways. Bird here early. The park is very popular and heavily used. The Botanic Gardens and the adjacent Parque los Caobos are at the city’s center. Unfortunately, opening time is 8:30 AM. The regular watering makes this a good place for hummingbirds, parakeets and euphonies.
Some of the resident birds that may be found in these places are Scarlet Ibis, Chestnut-fronted Macaw, Orange-winged Parrot, Lilac-tailed Parrotlet, Wattled Jacana, Copper-rumped Hummingbird, Scaled Piculet, Crested Spinetail, Mouse-colored Tyrannulet, Strip-backed Wren, several tanagers and euphonias, Black-faced Grassquit, and Yellow-hooded Blackbird.
The campus of Simon Bolivar University, on the south side of the city, has extensive surrounding forest cover. Many trails from the campus lead up to the cloud forest at the top of the neighboring ridge. The forst edges can also be birded, and often are more productive than the trails, since you can actually see (as opposed to just hearing) the birds. The best habitat is on the south side of the campus near the swimming pool and sports fields.
The campus is not served by the metro, but the university runs a bus service from El Silencio in the center of the city, which services the campus.
Among the resident birds, Band-tailed Guan, Venezauelan Wood-Quail, Red-eared Parakeet, Lilac-tailed Parrotlet, Sooty-capped and Rufous-breasted Hermits, White-tipped Quetzal, Back-throated and crested Spinetails. Schwartz’s Antthrush, Caracas Tapaculo, Handsome Fruiteater, Trinidad Euphonia, and many more. For more details and more complete bird lists see Milne, Where to Watch Birds: World Cities.
Guatopo National Park
Guatopo National Park lies some 80 km from the Caracas. The Serranía del Interior mountain range, lying south of the Caracas, creates a barrier between the city and the interior. The range receives heavy rainfall and in consequence is heavily forested. Although there are some hiking trails in the park, casual visitors are usually restricted to the area near the park headquarters and adjacent to the main road through the park.
The bird list includes such gems as Harpy Eagle (and six other raptors), Band-tailed and Crested Guans, Helmeted Curassow, Gray-necked and Venezuelan Wood-Rails, Military Macaw, Sooty-capped and Rufous-breasted Hermits, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Black-mandibled Toucan, Rufous-winged Antwren, Wire-tailed and Lance-tailed Manakins, and many more.
Take Autopista 1 south towards Charallave and exit east on Route 11. At Santa Teresa del Tuy, continue east on Route 12. After about 20 km turn into the entrance to the Agua Blanca campground. Park and walk the hiking trail to Santa Crusita (about 2 hours each way). After returning to route 12, you can continue south for about 10 km where there is a reservoir on the west side (right hand) of the road, with a loop trail around the shore.
For more details and a more complete bird list see Milne, Where to Watch Birds: World Cities/I>.
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