Sunrise Birding, LLC - COLOMBIA - Private, custom birding tours

The Colombian Llanos is a vast savanna, extending from the eastern slope of the East Andes all the way to the Orinoco River at the Venezuelan border. The Llanos have their own distinct flora and fauna, and are fascinating both for the birding and unique geography.

Area Description Map: Major Birding Regions of Colombia
The Colombian Llanos includes rich tropical grasslands that are teeming with life with more than 700 species of birds and 100 mammals. The landscape here is diverse with riverine areas, flooded plains, grasslands and dry forests as well as the lower stopes of the Eastern Andes.

Birding Opportunities Specialty birds of the Llanos(pdf)
The birding route begins in Bogotá with a drive southeast to Villavicencio, the Llanos capital. Along the way, a roadside stop in the right area can yield endemics including Cundinamarca Antpitta and Brown-breasted Parakeet, in addition to Black-and-chestnut Eagle alongside active mixed flocks which are present throughout the day in this spot.

The plains and lower slopes around Villavicencio region offer many options for birding. The slopes of the cordillera near the city are great for a full birding day in a forest area that can hold Little Cuckoo, Black-faced Antbird, and White-bearded, Wire-tailed, and Golden-headed Manakins. Heading further east into the plains is Puerto López, where along the road, many worthwhile stops offer the chance to see hundreds of Wood Storks, Roseate Spoonbills, Fulvous and White-faced Whistling-Ducks (as well as several species of egrets, ibises and herons) congregating in small ponds to dine on the plentiful fish. Horned Screamers can also be found here.

A huge park reserve, just 40 Km of Villavicencio encompasses very good birding habitats which are home to Hoatzin, several ibises, Sunbittern and Great Potoo. Continuing to the east there is another area for Pied Lapwing and more chances for Hoatzins and Screamers.

There is also an option to visit a mountain ridge which holds Burnished-buff, Blue-necked, Speckled, Yellow-bellied and Turquoise Tanagers as well as a local home for a cup of coffee while snapping up-close photographs of the endemic Colombian Chachalacas that come to the banana feeders. The chachalacas are often joined by Gilded Barbets, Bare-eyed and Pale-breasted Thrushes and Rufous-breasted Wrens, all of which are restricted to the eastern Colombia plains and Andean slopes.

Hoatzin photo by Nick Bray.