North Peru Birdwatching

North Peru Birdwatching

Uncover the Avian Treasures of North Peru: North Peru Birdwatching -A Birdwatcher's Paradise

Welcome to North Peru Birdwatching, a haven for bird enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. Nestled in the heart of South America, this region boasts an unparalleled diversity of bird species that will leave you spellbound. From the mist-covered Andean peaks to the lush lowland forests and coastal habitats, North Peru offers an exquisite array of birdwatching opportunities.

Embark on a journey that takes you through a range of ecosystems, each harboring its own unique avian gems. Wander through the cloud forests where vibrant tanagers and elusive hummingbirds flit among the moss-draped trees. Explore the arid valleys where iconic species like the Andean Condor soar majestically overhead, a symbol of freedom and grandeur.

Venture into the Amazon rainforest, a world teeming with life and color. Here, toucans, parrots, and macaws paint the skies with their vivid plumage, while secretive antbirds and woodcreepers provide a symphony of sounds that echoes through the undergrowth.

On the coastal shores, watch as elegant shorebirds dance along the water's edge, their graceful movements reflecting the rhythm of the tides. And don't forget the unique marine life, from the iconic Humboldt Penguin to the impressive Inca Tern, both thriving in this incredible habitat.

Our North Peru birdwatching expedition offers more than just sightings.North Peru Birdwatching .

It's an immersion into the intricate ecosystems that sustain these magnificent creatures. Led by knowledgeable guides, you'll witness rare behaviors, listen to melodic calls, and capture breathtaking moments with your binoculars and camera.

Whether you're a seasoned birder or just starting your journey, North Peru promises an experience of a lifetime. Join us as we explore this vibrant corner of the world, where every twist of the trail brings you closer to the awe-inspiring world of birds that call North Peru home.

North Peru Birdwatching

strong influence on the climate of the two most important ocean currents, the Humboldt Current that runs north from Antarctica and the warmth of the Norecuatorial current, and the proximity of the Amazonian plain have conspired to create an incredible variety of habitats in a relatively small area. This diversity is reflected in the incredible number of bird species found here, almost 1,400, including species representative of no less than eight areas of endemic birds.

The region hosts some 137 species of amazing birds of restricted range and about 65 that are considered as threatened, in addition to some 29 more that are considered almost threatened worldwide. Making a cut through the Andes from the Pacific coast to the Amazon leads through the entire range of habitats in the region, allowing the observer the opportunity to not only spot some of the most sought after and rare birds in the world, but also add a considerable travel list, enjoying a spectacular trip.

Off sea, the seabirds come from the conjunction of the cold Humboldt Current and the warm tropical waters, it being possible to spot the Cejinegra and Galápagos Albatross, Humboldt Penguins and Magnificent Hailbirds on the same day, as well as two pelicans, three Boobies, many seagulls and terns and a pair of cormorants.

The coastal marshes and mangroves are also a valuable stop for the visitor observer -North Peru Birdwatching .

where most of the American shorebirds can be observed usually; It is also a good opportunity to see Chilean flamingos. Inland from the coastal desert, we will observe in your home the Agachonas Chicas, Chorlos de Campo, Peruvian Miners and Cinderella Fringilos.

Through the narrow coastal plain, the foot of the mountain of the Andes are covered by the Tumbesian dry forest of the lowlands. This habitat is home to 58 threatened species of endemic birds, and in a couple of days you can have a good chance to observe a large selection of these, including specialized birds, such as the critically endangered

White-winged Guan, and the Peruvian Cortarrama and the Pitajo de Tumbes, both threatened species. This area is also home to Cóndores Andinos and Buitres Reales, one of the few places in the world where the two species are found.

Going up towards the Andes, the more humid forest favors a variety of other Andean species, including specialties such as Barbados Pava and the Antbird Cabecigris. Here the Andes are at their lowest point of all The mountain range and one can quickly cross into the arid Marañón Valley, which has its own range of 24 endemic species that frequent the thickets of cactus and thorny forests.

At higher altitudes, Cometa Ventigris is our target, while below, among the most outstanding -North Peru Birdwatching .

we can include Fringilo-Inca Chico and Pecholuna del Marañón. For the more adventurous, a long journey along a rugged road is the price to pay for the incredible Tangara Gargantinaranja, which is now being protected by a local Awajun indigenous community. Crossing the Marañón River, a series of mountainous mountain ranges emerges to welcome the visitor, each covered with a dense forest full of epiphytes and orchids that serve as home for some truly spectacular and legendary birds.

The Cordillera de Colán, near Pomacochas, is the last refuge of the threatened Marvelous Hummingbird, the most sought after hummingbird in the world. If you stayed here for a day, with a little luck and patience, you could get good views of this fleeting but spectacular inhabitant of the lower floors. One of the main observation areas, and one of the best bird watching spots is Abra Patricia (actually called Abra Juan Pardo in the maps), at the head of the cliff of Alto Mayo.

The bird watching here is simply fantastic. The trees seem to filter birds like a huge storm of flocks mixed through the canopy of the forest, filling the senses with colors and chants. These flocks are dominated by the incredible Gorriblancas, Verde Esmeraldas, Coroniazufranes, Nuquidoradas, Yellow and Dorsiplateadas scarves as just a selection of those that can probably be seen.

The forests also support a great variety of hummingbirds -North Peru Birdwatching .

with species such as the Long-tailed Silfo and the Collapsed-collared Hummingbird, and the very local and threatened Angel-del-Sol Real. In the dense understory you can see Partridges, Tapaculos and various Tororois present, but it is more common to hear them than to see them. Here you should also be able to see the impressive Tirano-Todi of Lulu, very recently described for science, and this is the domain of the legendary Lechucita Bigotona, the smallest owl in the world that is, even, known only by catches in networks of haze by pure chance.

Descending from Abra Patricia to the subtropical forests of Alto Mayo, one crosses with the striking Gallito de las Rocas, which can be observed in some well-known areas, such as the Naranjos, or can be seen along the road feeding on fruit trees.

These stand-up forests are the transition to the lowlands, so here we find a new place for birds and a greater diversity, particularly of groups such as the Tangaras and the Hormigueros; hopefully you can also find species such as the incredible White Down Hormigueros, Riachueleros and the Crested Quetzal, among others.

Chaparri / Heinz Plenge / PromPerúMost of the lowlands of the Mayo River is now dominated by agricultural areas, but some birds remain in the remaining forests and protected areas. One area of particular interest is the flooded forest around Tingana, where a local community is protecting its forest and running a small ecotourism company,

offering a life opportunity to many typically Amazonian species such as Macaws, five species of Kingfishers, the Crying Unicorno and Carrao, as well as several species of monkeys and other mammals such as the Neotropical River Otter. From Tarapoto one can fly to Iquitos and find many Amazonian specialties, among which are some unique and highly sought after species, such as those found in white sand forests and river beaches. For those who wish and wish to experience the nature of the Amazon, it is recommended to make a trip to the

El Dorado Lagoon -North Peru Birdwatching .

which is located in the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, a place that offers visitors one of the best experiences in the lowlands of the forests amazonian. The north of Peru offers a unique experience in birds, with a wide range of habitats and many spectacular birds, including many endemic and threatened species.

Birdwatching is also accompanied by spectacular scenery and can be easily combined with some interesting pre-Columbian archaeological sites, including Sipán, Sicán, Kuélap and Leymebamba, and museums such as the Royal Tombs of Sipán in Lambayeque, where they can be seen the impressive moche gold crafts extracted from the tomb of the Lord of Sipán

.RN Pacaya Samiria / Heinz Plenge / PromPerúAl area is easily reached with daily flights from Lima to Chiclayo, Piura, Tumbes, Cajamarca, Tarapoto and Iquitos.

A good and continuous road infrastructure makes access easier and more comfortable, and a list of new hotels and lodges makes this area previously isolated, an accessible place for birders who manage various budgets. On a two-week trip and concentrating in the main areas between Chiclayo and Tarapoto one can expect to see more than 500 species; this total number could rise to almost 700 in three weeks and could be even higher if we include the lowlands of the .Amazon near Iquitos. Among these you can expect between 40 and 50 species of hummingbirds and more than 80 Tanagers and similar birds.

Northern Peru has long been overlooked by conventional bird enthusiasts and ecological tourists -North Peru Birdwatching .

but the ongoing development of bird tourism infrastructure in the region seems to be affirmed to make this area one of the main currents and highly cataloged destinations. A visit will not only provide the observer with many new and spectacular species, but can also help local communities and inhabitants preserve the birds of this impressive area.

The wetlands contain great biological diversity and constitute an important habitat on which plant and animal species depend (1, 2, 3, 4), being an oasis in the middle of the desert (5). The wetlands of Lima are part of the biological corridor of the central coast of Peru (6, 7). The wetlands provide protection, rest, shelter and food for various birds (3, 8), which is why they are ecosystems of extreme importance for resident and migratory birds (9).

Between August 2011 and December 2014, the avifauna present in the Wetlands Regional Conservation Area of Ventanilla, Callao (Peru) was evaluated. Monitoring was carried out in a monthly and 121 bird species were recorded, among migrants and residents, of which 43 are new records in birds.

The totality of species corresponds to 38 families and 18 bird orders, while the order that presented the highest number of species was Charadriformes with seven families and 39 bird species. In addition, two endemic species were found: Geositta peruviana and Cinclodes taczanowskii. Due to its seasonality, 6 categories were determined: 55 resident bird species, 31 northern migratory species, 22 local migratory species, 7 high Andean migratory species, 5 species considered as wandering or rare, and 1 migratory species from the south.

NORTH OF PERU FOR BIRD OBSERVATION -North Peru Birdwatching

Minister Silva: 777 bird species identified in Northern Amazon Birding in Peru. Rally birding: ü Winning Sunbird Wings, US and United Kingdom male-female combined team identified 588 species in Peru. ü For 8 days ,competitors travelled through Lambayeque, Cajamarca, Amazonas and San Martin in the peru birding.

Lima, May 22nd, 2014.-Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism and head of the Exports and Tourism Promotion Board of Peru (PROMPERU) Magali Silva Velarde-Álvarez announced the winning team of the Northern Amazon Birding Rally.

Sunbird Wings, a team of eight American and British participants, identified 588 species during the 8-day competition. With 575 identified species, the American Field Guide team ranked second place. Followed by their fellow countrymen from the Surbound team with 537 species, and the Birding Ecotours South African team with 520. The tour operating companies that participated in the bird watching championship are world leaders in this area.

Minister Silva said that the Northern Amazon Birding Rally is a promotion tool to promote biodiversity,

bird fauna and infrastructure in Peru -North Peru Birdwatching .

to host tourists like birdwatchers. She highlighted that during the WBR 777 species in total were identified, or almost 10% of all the species in the world. Of the observed ones, 17 are endemic, such as the white-winged guan (Penelope albipennis), the grey-bellied comet (Taphrolesbia griseiventris) or the marvellous spatula tail (Loddigesia mirabilis).

She also said that abundance of bird species is the main consideration for 79% of bird watchers when choosing a country to visit. Peru has this natural resource and is internationally known as the third country worldwide for concentration of bird species.

A study by PROMPERU reveals a bird watcher stays on average in Peru for 19 days and spends 2835 US dollars. Bird watching tourists come principally from the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Spain, Australia and the Nordic countries.

 Tourism Vice-minister José Miguel Gamarra, who attended the WBR closure ceremony in the city of Tarapoto, greeted the participanting teams and thanked local authorities for facilitating the competitors’ travel through the Northern Amazon region of our country during the eight-day rally.

 The WBR is part of a strategy to position Peru as an ideal place to practice bird watching and was organized by MINCETUR – through PROMPERU – and the Inkaterra Association (ITA) with the aim of strengthening the bird watching in Peru.

Discover the Northern Peru Birding Route: A Birdwatcher’s Paradise

The North Peru Birdwatching  Route is one of the richest and most diverse birdwatching circuits in South America,

renowned among ornithologists and nature lovers alike. Stretching from the Pacific coast to the Amazon basin, this

extraordinary journey takes birders through a mosaic of habitats—tropical dry forests, Andean highlands, lush cloud

forests, and the vast Amazon rainforest.

Home to approximately 1,600 bird species, this region boasts over 150 range-restricted birds, including 63 species

endemic to Peru.

Whether you’re a seasoned birder or a nature enthusiast, Northern Peru offers a birding experience like no other.

Explore the Main Birding Routes in Northern Peru

1. Chiclayo to Tarapoto: A Classic Birding Journey

Starting on the Pacific coast near Chiclayo, this route travels through the Andes and into the tropical lowlands

around Tarapoto. Along the way, birders can spot elusive species like the Marvelous Spatuletail, Long-whiskered

Owlet, and Royal Sunangel, among others.

2. Pedro Ruiz to Cajamarca via the Utcubamba and Marañón Valleys -North Peru Birdwatching

This scenic journey ascends through the Utcubamba Valley, passing through Leymebamba and across the dramatic

Marañón Valley, finally reaching the colonial city of Cajamarca.

This route is known for its high diversity and incredible photo opportunities.

3. Tumbes Extension: Pacific Forests and Coastal Biodiversity -North Peru Birdwatching

For those looking to expand their birding adventure, the Tumbes extension offers access to tropical Pacific forests,

mangrove ecosystems, and dry forests. A pelagic trip in this region can also provide encounters with coastal and

seabird species rarely seen elsewhere in Peru.

4. Iquitos and the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve

In northeastern Peru, the area around Iquitos offers access to the heart of the Amazon. Our partner lodge near the

Pacaya Samiria National Reserve places birders in one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth, where species like

Hoatzins, Amazonian Umbrellabirds, and various macaws can be spotted.

Plan Your Custom Birding Adventure

While these routes are the core of the Northern Peru Birding Route, the region is filled with hidden gems for

independent travelers or those looking for shorter excursions. We invite you to explore our interactive birding map

and connect with our experts at CONAVE to design a custom tour that fits your interests and birding goals.

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