Walking Among Birds in the Colombian Andes

Discovering birds

When I discovered the beautiful birds of Colombia, my country, I fell in love with them and began to travel through the different regions with my camera, photographing not only the birds but also the fantastic ecosystems in which they live. The tropical Andes in Colombia have a unique diversity, and the thermal floors and its strategic location on the continent make it the place with the most bird species on the planet. Join me on this wonderful journey.

Finding the magic

For me, walking among the beautiful birds of Colombia is not about looking for birds or filling out a list of the birds I have seen, but the pleasure of exploring the picturesque towns and the beautiful mountains, waterfalls, and forests full of bromeliads, flowers, and insects. I invite you to travel with me through this magical region.

List the birds in order of appearance:

Guacharaca Colombiana – Colombian Chachalaca (Ortalis columbiana)

Lora frentiamarilla – Yellow-crowned Parrot (Amazona ochrocephala)

Mango pechinegro – Black-throated Mango (Anthracothorax nigricollis) (♀)

Zambullidor chico – Least Grebe (Tachybaptus dominicus)

Coquito – Bare-faced Ibis (Phimosus infuscatus)

Zambullidor piquipintado – Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)

Cigüeñuela americana – Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus)

Garcita bueyera – Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)

Caravana o Pellar común – Southern Lapwing (Vanellus chilensis)

Ermitaño gris – Sooty-capped Hermit (Phaethornis augusti)

Ibis verde – Green Ibis (Mesembrinibis cayennensis)

Águila pescadora – Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)

Polla gris – Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata)

Polla azul – Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinica)

Cotorra cheja o cabeciazul – Blue-headed Parrot (Pionus menstruus)

Suelda crestinegra – Rusty-margined Flycatcher (Myiozetetes cayanensis)

Garcita rayada – Striated Heron (Butorides striata)

Garrapatero grande – Greater Ani (Crotophaga major)

Garrapatero piquiliso – Smooth-billed Ani (Crotophaga ani)

Garza cucharón – Boat-billed Heron (Cochlearius cochlearius)

Vaco colorado – Rufescent Tiger-Heron (Tigrisoma lineatum)

Pigua – Yellow-headed Caracara (Daptrius chimachima)

Cucarachero chupahuevos – Bicolored Wren (Campylorhynchus griseus)

Tórtola común – Ruddy Ground Dove (Columbina talpacoti)

Amazilia colirrufa – Rufous-tailed Hummingbird (Amazilia tzacatl)

Suelda crestinegra – Rusty-margined Flycatcher (Myiozetetes cayanensis)

Azulejo común – Blue-gray Tanager (Thraupis episcopus)

Petirrojo – Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus)

Toche pico de plata – Crimson-backed Tanager (Ramphocelus dimidiatus) (♂)

Tángara real – Blue-necked Tanager (Stilpnia cyanicollis)

Currucutú – Tropical Screech-Owl (Megascops choliba)

Chamón común – Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis)

Carpintero buchipecoso – Spot-breasted Woodpecker (Colaptes punctigula)

Bichofué – Great Kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus)

Mayo o Mirla embarradora – Black-billed Thrush (Turdus ignobilis)

Pibí – Pewee (Contopus sp)

Espiguero capuchino – Yellow-bellied Seedeater (Sporophila nigricollis)

Silga mielera – Bananaquit (Coereba flaveola)

Carpintero real – Lineated Woodpecker (Dryocopus lineatus)

Barranquero andino – Andean Motmot (Momotus aequatorialis)

Periquito de anteojos – Spectacled Parrotlet (Forpus conspicillatus)

Búho rayado – Striped Owl (Asio clamator)

Búho de anteojos – Spectacled Owl (Pulsatrix perspicillata)

Lora frentiamarilla – Yellow-crowned Parrot (Amazona ochrocephala)

Rumbito buchiblanco – White-bellied Woodstar (Chaetocercus mulsant)

Mango pechinegro – Black-throated Mango (Anthracothorax nigricollis) (♀)

Mango pechinegro – Black-throated Mango (Anthracothorax nigricollis) (♂)

Amazilia colirrufa – Rufous-tailed Hummingbird (Amazilia tzacatl)

Gallito de roca andino – Andean Cock-of-the-Rock (Rupicola peruvianus) (♂)

Gallito de roca andino – Andean Cock-of-the-Rock (Rupicola peruvianus) (♀)

Toche enjalmado – Flame-rumped Tanager (Ramphocelus flammigerus flammigerus) (♀)

Tángara capirotada – Black-capped Tanager (Stilpnia heinei) (♂)

Tángara capirotada – Black-capped Tanager (Stilpnia heinei) (♀)

Tángara dorada – Golden Tanager (Tangara arthus)

Tángara cabecirrufa o lacrada – Bay-headed Tanager (Tangara gyrola)

Mirla patinaranja – Great Thrush (Turdus fuscater) (♀)

Carriquí de montaña – Green Jay (Cyanocorax yncas)

Carriquí pechiblanco – Black-chested Jay (Cyanocorax affinis)

Picaflor flanquiblanco – White-sided Flowerpiercer (Diglossa albilatera) (♂)

Cuco ardilla – Squirrel Cuckoo (Piaya cayana)

Torito cabecirrojo – Red-headed Barbet (Eubucco bourcierii) (♂)

Torito cabecirrojo – Red-headed Barbet (Eubucco bourcierii) (♀)

Reinita gorginaranja – Blackburnian Warbler (Setophaga fusca) (♂)

Piranga roja – Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra) (♂)

Cotorra cheja o cabeciazul – Blue-headed Parrot (Pionus menstruus)

Cotorra oscura – Bronze-winged Parrot (Pionus chalcopterus)

Colibrí chupasavia – Buff-tailed Coronet (Boissonneaua flavescens)

Colibrí cobrizo – Shining Sunbeam (Aglaeactis cupripennis)

Amazilia coliazul – Steely-vented Hummingbird (Saucerottia saucerottei)

Colibrí – Hummingbird (Trochilidae f.)

Amazilia colirrufa – Rufous-tailed Hummingbird (Amazilia tzacatl)

Colibrí collarejo – White-necked Jacobin (Florisuga mellivora) (♂)

Colibrí picoespada – Sword-billed Hummingbird (Ensifera ensifera)

Colibrí chillón – Sparkling Violetear (Colibri coruscans)

Cometa verdiazul – Long-tailed Sylph (Aglaiocercus kingii) (♂)

Rumbito pechiblanco – Purple-throated Woodstar (Philodice mitchellii) (♀)

Ermitaño Barbiblanco – White-bearded Hermit (Phaethornis hispidus)

Tororoi comprapán – Chestnut-crowned Antpitta (Grallaria ruficapilla)

Tororoi de Miller – Brown-banded Antpitta (Grallaria milleri)

Tororoi bicolor – Bicolored Antpitta (Grallaria rufocinerea)

Picaflor azul – Bluish Flowerpiercer (Diglossa caerulescens)

Montañerito Paisa, Antioquia Brush-Finch (Atlapetes blancae)

Gorrión-montés de Perijá, Perija Brush-Finch (Atlapetes nigrifrons)

Gorrión o Copetón común – Rufous-collared Sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis)

Trogón collarejo – Collared Trogon (Trogon collaris) (♂)

Trogón collarejo – Collared Trogon (Trogon collaris) (♀)

Azulejo real – Hooded Mountain-Tanager (Buthraupis montana)

Oropéndola variable – Russet-backed Oropendola (Psarocolius angustifrons)

Espiguero capuchino – Yellow-bellied Seedeater (Sporophila nigricollis)

Carpintero de los robles – Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus)

Mielero verde – Green Honeycreeper (Chlorophanes spiza)

Tucancito Culirrojo – Crimson-rumped Toucaned (Aulacorhynchus haematopygus)

Compás – Toucan Barbet(Semnornis ramphastinus) (♂)

Compás – Toucan Barbet(Semnornis ramphastinus) (♀)

Tucaneta esmeralda – Southern Emerald Toucanet (Aulacorhynchus albivitta)

Terlaque pechiazul – Black-billed Mountain-Toucan (Andigena nigrirostris)

Quetzal Dorado – White-tipped Quetzal (Pharomachrus fulgidus)

Quetzal Colinegro – Golden-headed Quetzal (Pharomachrus auriceps)

Carpintero cariblanco – Golden-olive Woodpecker (Colaptes rubiginosus)

Eufonia gorgiamarilla – Thick-billed euphonia (Euphonia laniirostris) (♂)

Tángara rubicunda – Flame-faced Tanager (Tangara parzudakii)

Gavilán Maromero, White-tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus)

Loro Orejiamarillo, Yellow-eared Parrot (Ognorhynchus icterotis)

Perico Paramuno, Golden-plumed Parakeet (Leptosittaca branickii)