BIRDS – ENDEMIC NORTH COLOMBIA
Colombia, a crown jewel of South America, is renowned for its extraordinary biodiversity, including a multitude of bird species found nowhere else on earth. For avid bird photographers, it is a paradise waiting to be explored.
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The northern area of Colombia is one of the best birding destinations in South America. At least 700 species have been recorded here, including many endemic species, 18 globally threatened and at least 60 with restricted distribution.
Additionally, this region is of high importance for migratory birds which are represented by more than 120 species. Associated with this wealth of birds, northern Colombia offers a wide variety of habitats and incredible landscapes for local and visiting birds.
Besides being an important area for those interested in birds, there is much to offer non birders. Idyllic beaches, pre-Columbian ruins, water sports and many other activities are readily available at or near birdwatching sites.
Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta
The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is recognized as one of the most irreplaceable places on the planet. This mountain range is found down on the Caribbean coast and is independent of the main Andean range, with an extraordinary number of endemic birds.
It is a Biosphere Reserve and a National Park, overlooking the Caribbean.
These mountains are well known to birding groups since they host the highest concentration of endemic birds in South America – twenty-eight.
La Cuchilla de San Lorenzo, San Lorenzo Ridge, is a small mountain ridge separated from the main Santa Marta mountains by a deep valley.
The highest point is 2,700m/8,858 ft, which is high enough to find almost all the endemics of the area.
The great advantage of birding the San Lorenzo Ridge is that the area has always been safe for birders, while it is also relatively easy to get to this location compared with some other areas of the Santa Marta mountains.
Birding in the Santa Marta mountains is not as arduous as some other places, which is a distinct advantage. All birds, including the endemics, are more common than their Andean counterparts, due to Santa Marta’s limited biodiversity.
Consequently, two days of birding in the area are sufficient to see almost all of the endemics. It is a good idea to concentrate first on the difficult species and then the more common endemics will follow naturally.
The near-endemics are as well very exciting to search for, since they are shared only with Venezuela. Indeed, many of the near-endemics are considered harder to find than the true endemics.
Climate and seasonality
In the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta there are lowland rainforests (0 -1,050 m/3,445ft), premontane rainforests (1,050 -1,900 m/3,445 – 6,234ft), paramo (3,400 – 4,200 m/11,155 – 13,780ft), super-paramo (4,200 – 5,100 m/11,155 – 16,732ft) and the snow belt (5,100 – 5,770 m/11,155 – 18,500ft). The average annual temperature at sea level is 27c/81f, while at the top of the mountains it drops to below 0c/32f. The annual precipitation is 3,000-4,000 mm/118 – 157 inches and decreases with altitude. The dry season runs from October to November and from June to July.
Endemic birds of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta
The Sierra Nevada has 28 species and 42 subspecies of endemic birds. Here are three examples of those that are highly prized by birders and that you should plan to see:
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Santa Marta parakeet (pyrrhura viridicata)
The only endemic parakeet of the area, it is endangered with sincere efforts being made to preserve it.
Santa Marta parakeet
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Santa Marta brush finch (atlapetes melanocephalus)
It can be found between 1,500 and 3,200 meters in the mountains of the Sierra Nevada. This finch has a black head and silver side cheeks.
Santa Marta brush finch
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Santa Marta Woodstar (chaetocercus astreans)
Santa Marta Woodstar (chaetocercus astreans) A hummingbird which is not only valuable for birders, but also for the indigenous tribes, who consider it a sacred part of their view of the world. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pveseL4ggCA
Santa Marta Woodstar
Other Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta endemics:
- Santa Marta Sabrewing
- Black-backed Thornbill
- White-tailed Starfrontlet
- Blue-bearded Helmetcrest
- Santa Marta Parakeet
- Santa Marta Antbird
- Santa Marta Antpitta
- Rusty-headed Spinetail
- Streak-capped Spinetail
- Santa Marta Foliage-Gleaner
- Santa Marta Bush-Tyrant
- Santa Marta Tapaculo
- Brown-rumped Tapaculo
- Santa Marta Wren
- Santa Marta Mountain-Tanager
- Santa Marta Brush-Finch
- Sierra Nevada Brush-Finch
- White-lored Warbler
- Yellow-crowned Whitestart
The Cuchilla de San Lorenzo is the most accessible spur off the main Santa Marta Range, with most birders staying at the comfortable and well-run birding lodge at El Dorado Reserve, which is managed by the local NGO ProAves.
This was the first birding lodge in Colombia to offer services specifically to international birders.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyz2faRek-A
Named after the legendary city of gold, the 2,175 acre/880 hectares El Dorado Reserve extends from 900 -2,600m/2,953 – 8,530ft elevation, protecting subtropical and montane rain forest.
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Endemic Santa Marta Brush-Finches are easily seen in the garden. Black-fronted Wood-Quail often come to visit feeders at the lodge in the late afternoon. A dizzying array of hummingbirds visit the multitude of hummingbird feeders, including White-tailed Starfrontlet, Green Violetear, Brown Violetear, Sparkling Violetear, Violet-crowned Woodnymph, Tyrian Metaltail, Long-billed.
Hermit, Lazuline Sabrewing, and the Santa Marta Woodstar.
One of the most intriguing of the endemic birds is an unnamed screech owl, which can be seen right at the lodge. This owl was noted back in the 1920s in a publication of the birds of Santa Marta by pioneering ornithologists Todd and Carriker.
This bird has been here quietly waiting for birders to finally give it a name.
Santa Marta Screech Owl
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