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Colombia Birding Trip Report: Endemics in Putumayo & Huila

26 - 01 - 2018

Triumph in the Andes: Chasing Colombia’s Rarest Endemics in Putumayo & Huila

Trip Report: Private ‘Southeastern Regions’ Tour (Jan 14 – 24, 2018) with Hans Jornvall

This specialized, tailor-made journey through the rugged southeastern regions of Putumayo and Huila was a tremendous success. Designed specifically for Hans Jornvall from Sweden , the trip saw him add nine new species to his impressive life list, which already boasted over 9,200 species. More than just a birding tour, this expedition was a rewarding immersion into Colombia’s rich Andean and Amazonian foothills, yielding unforgettable experiences and stunning views of highly sought-after avifauna.

Trip Summary


Tour	Private ‘Putumayo & Huila Expedition’
Duration	11 Days / 10 Nights (Jan 14 – 24, 2018)
Guide	Brayan Coral Jaramillo (BTC Lead Guide)
Lifer Count	9 New Species seen, plus 2 ‘heard only’
Key Endemics	Upper Magdalena Tapaculo, Dusky-headed Brush-Finch
Key Highlight	Excellent views of Chestnut-bellied Cotinga

Hans Jornvall after returning from the mid-Magdalena Valley. We stopped at a typical restaurant entering Bogota.

Trip Highlights

The challenging terrain and focused effort paid off with spectacular sightings:

Andean Endemics: Obtaining great views of the magnificent Chestnut-bellied Cotinga (Doliornis remseni) and Masked Mountain-Tanager (Buthraupis wetmorei) while visiting Paramo de Bordoncillo was a thrilling start.
The Sicklebill Prize: A major highlight was successfully seeing the Buff-tailed Sicklebill (Eutoxeres condamini) at the beautiful Isla Escondida private nature reserve.
Tinamous & Tapaculos: A true stroke of luck was finding a Highland Tinamou (Nothocercus bonapartei) sitting on a nest after a challenging ascent by horse near Pitalito. Near this same location, in dense Chusquea bamboo, the group enjoyed excellent views of the endemic Upper Magdalena Tapaculo (Scytalopus rodriguezi).
Brush-Finches & Antbirds: The group was excited to find both the stunning White-rimmed Brush-Finch (Atlapetes leucopis) at El Trampolín de Las Aves and the endemic Dusky-headed Brush-Finch (Atlapetes fuscoolivaceus) along the road from Mocoa to Pitalito. The gorgeous pair of East Andean Antbird (Drymophila caudata) seen in the bamboo stands was another memorable sighting.

The picturesque poirt at Laguna de La Cocha.

Key Species Observed

Here is a selection of the most notable species sighted (or heard) during the expedition, demonstrating the region’s incredible biodiversity:

Species Name	Location/Context	Status/Observation
Chestnut-bellied Cotinga (Doliornis remseni)	Paramo de Bordoncillo	Great views
Masked Mountain-Tanager (Buthraupis wetmorei)	Paramo de Bordoncillo	Great views
White-rimmed Brush-Finch (Atlapetes leucopis)	El Trampolín de Las Aves	Splendid views
White-streaked Antvireo (Dysithamnus leucostictus)	Campucana Trail (near Mocoa)	Successful sighting
Buff-tailed Sicklebill (Eutoxeres condamini)	Isla Escondida	Seen well; highly wanted
Highland Tinamou (Nothocercus bonapartei)	Steep mountain near Pitalito	Found sitting on a nest
Upper Magdalena Tapaculo (Scytalopus rodriguezi)	Dense bamboo near Pitalito	Endemic; seen well
East Andean Antbird (Drymophila caudata)	Dense bamboo near Pitalito	Gorgeous pair seen
Dusky-headed Brush-Finch (Atlapetes fuscoolivaceus)	Mocoa to Pitalito road	Endemic; found roadside
Chestnut-headed Crake (Anurolimnas castaneiceps)	Isla Escondida	Heard only, a few meters away
Black Tinamou (Tinamus osgoodi)	Campucana Trail (near Mocoa)	Heard but not seen

A second view of El Puerto, at Laguna de La Cocha.

The Andean Foothills: Pasto, Bordoncillo & Mocoa

The journey began with a flight into Pasto, followed by a picturesque overnight stay at Laguna de La Cocha. The real climbing started the following day at Paramo de Bordoncillo, a stunning high-altitude ecosystem, or páramo, where the air is crisp and the species are magnificent. We obtained great views of the magnificent Chestnut-bellied Cotinga (Doliornis remseni) and the Masked Mountain-Tanager (Buthraupis wetmorei).

On our descent towards Mocoa, we birded El Trampolín de Las Aves, where the group enjoyed splendid views of the White-rimmed Brush-Finch (Atlapetes leucopis). Near Mocoa, along the Campucana Trail, we were successful with the White-streaked Antvireo (Dysithamnus leucostictus) but only heard the elusive Black Tinamou (Tinamus osgoodi).

Isla Escondida & the Amazonian Transition

The mid-point of the tour was spent at Isla Escondida, a private nature reserve set by co-author of Birdwatching in Colombia, Jurgen Beckers. Here, the team found a major success by seeing well the highly wanted Buff-tailed Sicklebill (Eutoxeres condamini). The dense cover also revealed the very shy Chestnut-headed Crake (Anurolimnas castaneiceps), heard only a few meters away from us.

The Pitalito Highlands: Tapaculos and Tinamous

The most challenging section of the itinerary proved the most rewarding for endemics. Near Pitalito, we had essential support from local guides Jorge Peña and Roso Ortiz. A strenuous, yet successful, ascent by horse to a steep mountain near the town led to an incredible discovery: a Highland Tinamou (Nothocercus bonapartei) sitting on a nest.

Targeted birding in the dense bamboo stands (Chusquea spp.) yielded excellent views of the endemic Upper Magdalena Tapaculo (Scytalopus rodriguezi). This habitat was equally fruitful for another spectacle: a gorgeous pair of the East Andean Antbird (Drymophila caudata). Finally, along the road from Mocoa back toward Pitalito, we located the endemic Dusky-headed Brush-Finch (Atlapetes fuscoolivaceus).

The group flew out of Pitalito back to Bogotá on Avianca, concluding an extremely focused and successful expedition.

We extend our deep gratitude to our local support team:

Brayan Coral Jaramillo: Provided excellent logistical organization and additional guidance throughout the main trip.
Jorge Peña and Roso Ortiz: Gave crucial support near Pitalito, ensuring success in a challenging area.

This adventure stands as a testament to the incredible, untouched birding opportunities found across Colombia’s interior regions. From high-altitude paramo to dense bamboo stands, the landscapes were as rewarding as the birds themselves, especially when a lifer is waiting!

If you’re inspired by Hans Jornvall’s success and are ready to tackle the elusive tapaculos, antbirds, and unique endemics of Putumayo and Huila, let Birding Tours Colombia design your next tailor-made expedition. Come find your next nine lifers with us!

In the previous week (January 7 – 13), we birded the Rio Claro canyon & Bellavista Forest in mid-Magdalena Valley for White-bearded Manakin (Corapipo leucorrhoa) & Saffron-headed Parrot (Pyrilia pyrilia) (having seen the manakin, but missing the parrot), and Hato La Aurora in the Orinoco region of Colombia for Crestless Curassow (Mitu tuberosum) & Masked Cardinal (Paroaria nigrogenis) (having seen both).

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