Top 5 Endemic bird species in Salento!
What is an Endemic Bird Species?
‘Endemic’ is a term which usually brings excitement for birdwatchers, especially when visiting a new country. If a species is endemic that means it’s only found in one geographic area. For birdwatching, this might be related to specific ecological areas, and also to a specific country. This is why birdwatchers interested in observing the greatest variety of bird species or who want to expand their ‘life list’ pay attention to finding the endemic species when they visit certain countries or areas. It’s not just about lists though, keeping track of endemic species (especially endangered ones) can be vitally important for conservation efforts too.
Colombia’s unique geography and rich biodiversity mean it has the most bird species on the planet, including around 80 endemic species. Each region and ecosystem is home to some unique bird species which can only be found in this country.
Endemic Bird Species in Salento
Salento is advantageously located due to the variety of ecosystems close by. In the lower parts of the coffee region the Greyish Piculet (Picumnus granadensis) and Parker’s Antbird (Cercomacra parkeri) can be found, higher in the cloud forests species like Crested Ant-tanager (Habia cristata) thrive and climbing to the mountains of Los Nevados National Park there are Buffy Helmetcrest (Oxypogon stuebelii) and other high mountain and páramo species. This made it difficult for us to pick just a few species, but we have (almost) narrowed it down to our top 5 picks of the most striking and sought-after endemic bird species found in Salento.
5. Multicoloured Tanager (Chlorochrysa nitidissima)
The Multicoloured Tanager is one of the most eye-catching birds in Colombia, and that’s saying a lot. As the name suggests, it’s a very colourful tanager! Although the females and juveniles can be a little duller than the males, they all feature the striking mix of blues, yellows, greens, chestnut and black. Multicoloured Tanagers generally prefer to move around well-preserved humid montane forests with mixed flocks. They are always looking for food and it can be difficult to get a good view of them as they quickly hop between branches.
Size: 12cm
Altitude range: 1200 – 2200m (but with some records as low as 800m)
Distribution: Western and Central Andes
Conservation Status: Vulnerable
Diet: Insects and fruits
4. Greyish Piculet (Picumnus granadensis)
The Greyish Piculet is a tiny woodpecker which likes to hang out (often upside down) on branches and vines in forests. Piculets are the smallest of the woodpecker family (Picidae) and they are always interesting to observe. This bird is a target species for the lower altitude parts of Salento where it’s infrequently found at the borders of forests and wooded areas. It might catch your attention with its high-pitched call or distinctive spotted crown.
Size: 9-10cm
Altitude range: 500 – 2200m
Distribution: Cauca Valley, Western and Central Andes
Conservation Status: Least Concern
Diet: Insects
3. Crested Ant-tanager (Habia cristata)
If you’re not on the lookout for a bright red bird with a crest, don’t worry, the Crested Ant-tanager will almost always let you know it’s around! They are a little shy but they usually move in groups and families and make a lot of noise as they call out to each other. Crested Ant-tanagers usually prefer dense, shady, wet forests and you can seek them out close to the rivers and gullies in Salento.
Size: 19cm
Altitude range: 800-2000m
Distribution: Western and Central Andes
Conservation Status: Least Concern
Diet: Fruits and insects
2. Buffy Helmetcrest (oxypogon stuebelii)
There are only four species of Helmetcrest in the world, with three of them found in Colombia. Each is endemic to a restricted range in the very high mountains of the Eastern Andes, Central Andes and the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. The Buffy Helmetcrest is found here in Los Nevados Park close to Salento. It’s a (relatively) large hummingbird with a white collar and the males have an iridescent blue and green beard (gorget). They aren’t too hard to spot once you get up to the high-paramo ecosystem where the famous frailejones (espeletia) provide a favourite food source with the nectar from their flowers.
Size: 11cm
Altitude range: 3200 – 4600m
Distribution: Central Andes
Conservation Status: Endangered/Vulnerable
Diet: Nectar and Insects/Larvae
1. Indigo-winged Parrot (Hapalopsittaca fuertesi)
The most difficult species on this list to find, the Indigo-winged Parrot (aka Fuertes’s Parrot) is so rare that it was thought to be extinct for 91 years. It was rediscovered in 2002 after a long search, but its very limited territory and population mean that even with conservation efforts the species has only reached around 200-300 individuals. If you’re lucky enough to travel to its remote high mountain habitat, you might notice the distinctive sapphire crown or the red and blue wings (especially in flight).
Together with the Foundation for Ecosystem Conservation, Avistando Aves Andinas – Andean Birdwatching has been supporting and taking part in a project to monitor a small Indigo-winged Parrot population in the high mountains above Salento.
Size: 23.5cm
Altitude range: 3000 – 3500m
Distribution: Central Andes
Conservation Status: Endangered
Diet: Fruits and Vegetation
Bonus Bird: Yellow-Eared Parrot (Ognorhynchus icterotis)
There is some debate as to whether this species is endemic or near-endemic, the Yellow-eared Parrot used to be found all the way south to central Ecuador, but it’s now limited to a few small areas in Colombia’s cloud forest ecosystem. It might still be possible to spot a few individuals in Ecuador however, since a group that nests close to the border sometimes flies over.
The Yellow-eared Parrot is most well-known for its reliance on Colombia’s national tree, the Quindío Wax Palm (Ceroxylon quindiuense) for feeding, sleeping and most importantly nesting in the dead trunks. The limited number of Wax Palms, especially of the older trees needed for nesting, has impacted the Yellow-eared parrot population though it is slowly rising.
Although occasionally spotted in the famous Cocora Valley, our Yellow-eared Parrot tour ventures higher in the mountains above Salento where the large, distinctively marked Yellow-eared Parrots can be seen in the more intact wax palm forests.
Size: 42cm
Altitude range: 2000-3500m
Distribution: Eastern, Western and Central Andes
Conservation Status: Endangered
Diet: Fruits and Vegetation
This is our list of the most interesting endemic species, but there are so many more to find around Salento. In almost every birdwatching tour here there’s a good chance of spotting at least one endemic species.
Our Endemic Bird tour takes place in one of the best hotspots in Salento for finding endemic bird species, the Santa Rita Nature Reserve. This location is also an example of why sustainable tourism is so important in this area. While many of the unique ecosystems which support bird diversity in the region (and the world) are under threat, at Santa Rita, they are working to transform their land from a traditionally grass-only cattle farm to a sustainable nature reserve. The different ecosystems from the rivers, waterfalls, forests and fields make it an excellent spot for a variety of species, including more than five endemics and many more near-endemics.
If some of these birds have made it to your target list — or if there are any others you’re more interested in — let us know when you come to Salento. Make a reservation for our Endemic Bird tour or book another experience with our guides for the best chance to spot endemic species around Salento.
Happy birding from the Andes!
Written by Harriet Palmer and Ivan Aguilera Roberto.
Photos of endemic birds species around Salento by Nestor Jaime Sanabria.
