Birding Colombia: Top 5 of the Best Destinations
Colombia is known as a great place for bird watching, thanks to its large biodiversity. Discover the best destinations for Birding in Colombia.
5 Minutes
Birding Colombia: two words that make a perfect match for those who admire beauty in the shape of wings and feathers!
Birding is a fascinating activity that connects people’s hearts with nature. It requires a special virtue which is patience and feeling lucky enough to find beautiful species. Or just being in the right place at the right time, right? Lucky for you, Colombia’s biodiversity is one of the most famous around the world. And guess what, we have first place in the world ranking of the greatest diversity of birds. A privileged land with such a wonderful treasure.
With 1,954 species recorded, Colombia is also called “the bird country”. That is almost 20% of the world’s bird species. And, on top of that, 79 of those 1,954 species are endemic to Colombia. It is not weird then that bird watchers pros from all over the world to our country. But, the truth is you don’t have to be a professional to enjoy this heart-soothing experience. Learn with us some great tips on the best destinations and what birds you can expect to find in them. Hummingbirds, tanagers, flycatchers, and more. Get ready for all of them!
1) The Amazon Region
There is no doubt that the Amazon is a blessed region in Colombia for its great biodiversity. This also applies to birds, since you can find there more than 750 bird species (a third part of the overall bird population). They give some extra life to the jungle with their beautiful colors and the sounds they make.
The Amacayacu National Park is the perfect place to visit and get enchanted by the birds’ majesty. There you will find the Cream-coloured Woodpecker, the Osprey, the Great Black Hawk, and endless species of parrots.
Another alternative is Isla Gamboa. This small island is located 25 minutes by boat from Leticia (the capital of the Amazon’s department). There you can observe a wide variety of exotic birds in tours that generally last two hours.
2) Pacific Chocó Region
The geographical virtues of Chocó (and the entire Pacific Coast in general) turn this place into a global biodiversity hotspot. With its mangroves, the jungle, and the Pacific Ocean, this is a strategic place for birding.
We highly recommend The Utría Natural Park. Located between Nuquí and Bahía Solano, this is a great place for appreciating a great number of the region’s bird species. Some of them are endemic to the region, like the Baudó Oropendola and the Sooty-capped Puffbird. Other notorious species are the Tawny-faced Quail, the Harpy Eagle, and the Choco Tinamou.
3) The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta Mountains
With its mountain range ending in the Caribbean Sea, the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta offers a large number of endemic species. And birds are part of that varied number, of course.
You can easily see them in the protected areas of Tayrona National Park and ProAves El Dorado Bird Reserve. There are bilingual tour guides in both places making sure everyone has the best learning experience.
Santa Marta Mountain tanager, Santa Marta parakeet, the Chestnut Eagle, and the Andean Condor are some of the 600-bird species that live in this area.
4) Uramba Bahía Málaga National Natural Park, Valle del Cauca
The Pacific Sea is not only home to the humpback whales that arrive between June and August but also to birds. The good thing is that birds are always there, no matter the season. With more than 107 species, in Málaga Bay, you can find herons, pelicans, and the Bare-Throated Tiger Heron. There, you can also see the Greater Antillean Grackle, the Magnificent Frigatebird, and some kingfishers. Seagulls and the Neotropic Cormorant are also some famous birds in the zone.
5) Los Nevados Natural Park (Coffee Region)
One of the most famous parks in Colombia. Within a 30-minute drive from Manizales city, this place is a magical protected area. It’s located in a volcanic complex: the park covers important volcanoes such as Nevado del Ruíz, Nevado del Tolima volcano, and others.
This is the home of various hummingbirds, eagles, parrots, and condors. To name a few special ones, there’s the grey-breasted Mountain Toucan and the Rainbow-bearded Thornbill. Two breathtaking beautiful species.
Birding Colombia: Some Tips that Come in Handy
Before plunging into your next birding adventure in Colombia, we would like to share some general tips. These are convenient no matter the place so your experience will be more than satisfying.
- The first thing to know is that bird watching is an activity related to ecotourism. It promotes the conservation of the species and the environments they inhabit. So, it is important that every person who practices it does it with all due respect. Be patient while observing and try not to disturb the birds and other animals you will find.
- Some of them can only be appreciated in the distance, so a pair of binoculars will always be useful. 10x binoculars are perfect for this purpose.
- In Colombia we say “al que madruga Dios le ayuda”, meaning that those who rise early might have bigger chances in life. This applies to birdwatching too. No matter where you go, the best time for birding is at first light. In Colombia, that is at 6 a.m. (all year, no matter the month because of its equatorial position).
- Finally, to get the best out of this experience, make sure to go with a tour guide. A biologist or a person who has the local knowledge for identifying all the birds in the area can make a difference. With their expertise, these people know exactly what to find and where. They add some interesting spicy facts too!