COMMON POTOO - GUAJOJÓ
Photo taken on "La Víspera" grounds
Birds of Samaipata – with reference to
Finca "La Vispera"
Joe
Tobias
131 Catharine Street, Cambridge, England, CB1 3AP.
Email: joetobias22@hotmail.com
I
stayed in Samaipata for several weeks in 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2005 mostly for work
reasons. Finca La Vispera is a peaceful place to stay for anyone passing through
Samaipata: it encompasses 6 ha of land 1 km from the town cente, and is ideally
situated for anyone wanting to explore the area. Trips can be made independently
one hour downhill to Los Volcanes (where you can find Bolivian Recurvebill with
a bit of luck), and 1–2 hours uphill to Amboro National Park (try the cloud
forest at La Yunga, or the property of Don Gilberto–one of Samaipata’s
guides–who can probably show you Southern Horned Curassow if you have a couple
of days to spare).
To contact Marga and Pieter for reservations at La
Vispera:
Tel./Fax.
591-3-944-6082
Email: info@lavispera.org
Or
visit: www.lavispera.org
Species
list
The
following list is not comprehensive. It was compiled after various walks in the
countryside around Samaipata, and from information posted in several reports by
other observers, including Mark van Beirs, Brian Gee, Jon Hornbuckle, Sjoerd
Mayer, Francisco Sagot, Jan Vermeulen and John van der Woude, It includes all
habitat within or immediately adjacent to Samaipata, ie within c.500 m of
habitation, and also the road to El Fuerte, the waterfall below El Fuerte
(=Puente El Fuerte) and the first couple of kilometres along the pipeline track.
The
sequence follows the Lista Anotada de las Aves de Bolivia (Hennessey et al.
2003); where taxonomy varies from this source, species are marked with an
asterisk (*). “Boreal migrant” indicates that the species breeds in North
America and is usually found at Samaipata between October and April. “Austral
migrant” indicates that the species breeds in Argentina and/or Chile, usually
appearing around Samaipata between April and September.
Key:
[…]
= provisional record
TATAUPA
TINAMOU Crypturellus tataupa
Commonly heard in scrubby areas around town.
HUAYCO
TINAMOU Rhynchotus maculicollis
Small numbers call from bushy or grassy hillsides above the town (regularly heard in scrub near the Eucalypts behind La Vispera).
DARWIN’S
NOTHURA Nothura darwinii
Occasionally heard or seen in shrubby areas on hillsides near town (eg near El Fuerte).
STRIATED
HERON Butorides
striatus
Occasionally recorded at the small wooded ponds near the beginning of the pipeline track
COCOI
HERON Ardea
cocoi
Singles rarely seen flying over town.
BUFF-NECKED
IBIS Theristicus caudatus
Occasional records in fields near Samaipata
TURKEY
VULTURE Cathartes aura
Commonly
seen circling over town and the surrounding hillsides.
BLACK
VULTURE Coragyps atratus
Common
throughout the area.
KING
VULTURE Sarcorhamphus
papa
Singles
occasionally seen flying near town, especially over deciduous forests.
ANDEAN
CONDOR Vultur gryphus
Regular
at cliff sites near Samaipata and 1–5 often seen flying high over the town
itself.
SWALLOW-TAILED
KITE Elanoides forficatus
Small
numbers occasionally seen flying over.
WHITE-TAILED
KITE Elanus leucurus
One
or two pairs nest close to town and individuals are occasionally seen hunting
over grassy areas, such as below La Vispera.
PLUMBEOUS
KITE Ictinia plumbea
Small
numbers occasionally seen flying close to town.
PLAIN-BREASTED
HAWK Accipiter ventralis*
Occasionally
seen circling near town (this form sometimes treated as Sharp-shinned Hawk A.
striatus).
BLACK-CHESTED
BUZZARD-EAGLE Geranoaetus melanoleucus
Occasionally
seen soaring near town, breeding near El Fuerte.
ROADSIDE
HAWK Buteo magnirostris
Seen
regularly at the edge of town, including around La Vispera.
BROAD-WINGED
HAWK Buteo platypterus
Boreal
migrant. Ones or twos occasionally seen circling near town between November and
March.
SHORT-TAILED
HAWK Buteo brachyurus
Occasionally
seen circling or hunting over hillsides around town, including behind La Vispera
and at Puente El Fuerte.
VARIABLE
HAWK Buteo polyosoma*
Rarely
seen circling near town, including behind La Vispera (if split, the form here
would be the Red-backed Hawk).
ZONE-TAILED
HAWK Buteo albonotatus
Once
seen flying over hillsides behind La Vispera.
MOUNTAIN
CARACARA Phalcobaenus megalopterus
Occasionally
seen flying over hillsides at the edge of town, including behind La Vispera.
SOUTHERN
CRESTED-CARACARA Caracara plancus*
Occasionally
seen drifting past town (sometimes known as Southern Caracara).
YELLOW-HEADED
CARACARA Milvago chimachima
Sightings
of this species were reported near Samaipata by Sjoerd Mayer (beware of juvenile
Mountain Caracaras).
AMERICAN
KESTREL Falco sparverius
Frequently
seen around town, including in the grounds of La Vispera.
BAT
FALCON Falco
rufigularis
Occasionally
seen at the edge of town, occasionally flying over La Vispera.
PEREGRINE
FALCON Falco peregrinus
Singles
occasionally seen soaring over town, including at La Vispera.
GREY-NECKED
WOOD-RAIL Aramides cajanea
Occasionally
seen in marshy gullies or wooded areas at the edge of town.
SUNBITTERN
Europyga helias
Occasionally
seen along rivers near town.
BAND-TAILED
PIGEON Columba fasciata
Small
groups regularly seen in wooded areas near town.
PALE-VENTED
PIGEON Columba cayennensis
A
few resident in areas with trees near town.
PLUMBEOUS
PIGEON Columba plumbea
Occasionally
seen/heard in wooded areas, eg behind El Fuerte.
EARED
DOVE Zenaida
auriculata
Fairly
common breeding bird in gardens around town, including the grounds of La
Vispera.
RUDDY
GROUND-DOVE Columbina talpacoti
An
iirregular visitor, sometimes common, sometimes absent.
PICUI
GROUND-DOVE Columbina picui
Occasional
sightings but irregular.
WHITE-TIPPED
DOVE Leptotila verreauxi
Common.
Often seen and heard in shrubland and gardens as well as woods, including around
La Vispera.
LARGE-TAILED
DOVE Leptotila megalura
Small
numbers regularly seen or heard in wooded gullies or hillsides near town, eg
along pipeline track, at Puente El Fuerte and behind El Fuerte itself.
BLUE-CROWNED
PARAKEET Aratinga acuticaudata
Common:
regularly seen around the edge of town, including the grounds of La Vispera.
MITRED
PARAKEET Aratinga mitrata
Fairly
common near town, especially in areas close to cliffs. Sometimes seen at La
Vispera.
GREEN-CHEEKED
PARAKEET Pyrrhura molinae
Small
flocks regularly seen in woodlands near town (eg pipeline trail and Puente El
Furte); not usually seen actually flying over town.
RED-BILLED
PARROT Pionus sordidus
Reported
around Samaipata, although usually a bird of the cloud forests in PN Amboró.
SCALY-HEADED
PARROT Pionus maximiliani
Small
groups occasionally seen in wooded areas (eg around Puente El Fuerte).
TURQUOISE-FRONTED
AMAZON Amazona aestiva*
Small
numbers seen or heard regularly in flight near the town; their appearance may be
seasonal (also known as Blue-fronted Parrot).
SQUIRREL
CUCKOO Piaya cayana
Regular
wherever there are a few taller trees (not pines or Eucalyptus)
near town.
SMOOTH-BILLED
ANI Crotophaga
ani
Regularly
seen or heard in small numbers around town, including the grounds of La Vispera.
GUIRA
CUCKOO Guira guira
Common
around town, including La Vispera, and even visiting the central square.
STRIPED
CUCKOO Tapera naevia
Regularly
heard (but more difficult to see) in shrubby areas at the edge of town,
including La Vispera.
TROPICAL
SCREECH-OWL Otus choliba
Regularly
heard calling at night in gardens around the edge of town, including the grounds
of La Vispera.
FERRUGINOUS
PYGMY-OWL Glaucidium brasilianum
Occasionally
seen in wooded areas near town, such as Puente El Fuerte.
BAND-TAILED
NIGHTJAR Caprimulgus longirostris
Occasionally
seen sitting on roads after dark (eg en route to El Fuerte).
SCISSOR-TAILED
NIGHTJAR Hydropsalis torquata
A
few seen in scrubby areas at the edge of town.
COMMON POTOO Nictibius Griseus
Occasionally heard and seen on La Víspera grounds (see photo)
ROTHSCHILD’S
SWIFT Cypseloides rothschildi
Occasional
groups (sometimes containing scores of individuals) of plain mid-brown swifts
over half the size of Streptoprocne zonaris
must be this species. They are larger, paler and more uniform
than Streptoproce rutila, and lack the chestnut collar.
CHESTNUT-COLLARED
SWIFT Streptoprocne rutila
Small
groups of this species are regularly seen high over town.
WHITE-COLLARED
SWIFT Streptoprocne zonaris
Fairly
common but irregular. Occasionally large flocks pass over.
WHITE-TIPPED
SWIFT Aeronautes montivagus
This
species breeds on cliffs nearby; individuals or small groups occasionally pass
over Samaipata, including La Vispera.
ANDEAN
SWIFT Aeronautos
andicola
Reported
over town but much less common than previous species.
BUFF-BELLIED
HERMIT Phaethornis subochraceus
Occasionally
seen in denser patches of remnant woodland, such as behind El Fuerte and above
Puente El Fuerte. Usually a lowland species.
PLANALTO
HERMIT Phaethornis pretrei
Fairly
common around town, usually in more open areas, including grounds of La Vispera.
GREEN
VIOLETEAR Colibri thalassinus
Occasional
in gardens and the edge of wooded areas (possibly seasonal).
SPARKLING
VIOLETEAR Colibri coruscans
Reported
from near town (scarce or seasonal)
BLACK-THROATED
MANGO Anthracothorax nigricollis
Small
numbers reported from Puente El Fuerte.
GLITTERING-BELLIED
EMERALD Chlorostillbon aureoventris
Common
in gardens and around town; several individuals constantly in the grounds of La
Vispera.
BLUE-TAILED
EMERALD Chlorostillbon mellisugus
Regular
near town in more wooded areas.
FORK-TAILED
WOODNYMPH Thalurania furcata
Scarce
in lower areas of woodland eg downhill along pipeline track and at Puente El
Fuerte
WHITE-BELLIED
HUMMINGBIRD Amazilia chionogaster
Not
as common as Chlorostillbon aureoventris, but nevertheless often
seen in shrubby areas at the edge of town, reularly visiting flowers at La
Vispera and in the town square.
RED-TAILED
COMET Sappho sparganura
Scarce;
occasionally seen near La Vispera.
SLENDER-TAILED
WOODSTAR Microstilbon burmeisteri
Occasionally
reported at the edge of woodlands near town; scarce and perhaps seasonal.
BLUE-CROWNED
TROGON Trogon curucui
Scarce
in remnant woodlands near town.
AMERICAN
PYGMY KINGFISHER Chloroceryle aenea
A
few records from streams and ponds near town (eg near pipeline trail).
WHITE-EARED
PUFFBIRD Nystalus chacuru
Sometimes
encountered near town; more often heard than seen.
SPOT-BACKED
PUFFBIRD Nystalus maculatus
Regularly
heard near town, but inconspicuous; often in the grounds of La Vispera.
OCELLATED
PICULET
Picumnus dorbygnianus
Fairly
common (but much more often heard than seen) in scrubby or wooded areas round
town, including the grounds of La Vispera.
WHITE-WEDGED
PICULET Picumnus albosquamatus
Vocalisations
of this bird sound exceedingly similar to those of the previous species (with
which it might hybridize). Likewise it is occasionally observed in wooded areas
near town (eg Pipeline track and behind El Fuerte).
DOT-FRONTED
WOODPECKER Veniliornis frontalis
Scarce
in wooded areas near town, eg along pipeline track.
LINEATED
WOODPECKER Dryocopus lineatus
A
few pairs remain in wooded areas near town.
NARROW-BILLED
WOODCREEPER Lepidocolaptes angustirostris
Occurs
in any area with taller trees, including the grounds of La Vispera.
RUFOUS
HORNERO Furnarius rufus
Often
seen and heard around town. Two or more pairs nesting in the grounds of La
Vispera.
SOOTY-FRONTED
SPINETAIL Synallaxis frontalis
Common
near town in hedgerows and scrub, including in the grounds of La Vispera.
AZARA’S
SPINETAIL Synallaxis azarae samaipatae
Fairly
common in taller scrub and woodlands around town (eg pipeline track and
woodlands behind El Fuerte). If samaipatae is treated as a race of A.
superciliosa, it is known as Buff-browed Spinetail.
OCHRE-CHEEKED
SPINETAIL Synnalaxis scutata
Occasionally
seen or heard in scrubby woodland near town, but more common downhill towards
Las Cuevas. Sometimes included in a
separate genus, Peocilurus.
STRIPE-CROWNED
SPINETAIL Cranioleuca pyrrhophia
Occasionally
seen or heard in trees around town (where it creeps around in the canopy),
including near La Vispera.
THORNBIRD
sp. Phacellodomus (presumably rufifrons
or striaticeps)
Reported
in tall scrub near town.
BUFF-BROWED
FOLIAGE-GLEANER Syndactyla rufosuperciliata
Occasional
in wooded areas near town, eg pipeline track.
SHARP-TAILED
STREAMCREEPER Lochmias nematura
Regularly
seen above Puente El Fuerte (by the main road below the town).
GIANT
ANTSHRIKE Batara cinerea
Scarce
in thick tall scrub or woodland near town, ie pipeline road area and near El
Fuerte.
GREAT
ANTSHRIKE Taraba major
Occassionally
encountered in extensively scrubby areas near town.
CHESTNUT-BACKED
ANTSHRIKE Thamnophilus palliatus
Occasionally
seen (or more often heard) in scrubby or wooded areas near town.
VARIABLE
ANTSHRIKE Thamnophilus caerulescens
Fairly
common in thicker scrub and woodland near the edge of town.
RUFOUS-CAPPED
ANTSHRIKE Thamnophilus torquatus
Regularly
heard in gardens, gullies and dense shrubbery at the edge of town (including
grounds of La Vispera).
BLACK-CAPPED
ANTWREN Herpsilochmus atricapillus
Found
in small numbers in woodland near town (eg pipeline track and behind El Fuerte).
WHITE‑BACKED
FIRE‑EYE Pyriglena
leuconota
Found
in scraps of forest near town (eg along the pipeline track), but declining as
habitat is destroyed.
SHORT-TAILED
ANTTHRUSH Chamaeza campanisoma
Small
numbers still present (but difficult to see) in woodland along the pipeline
track.
SLATY
GNATEATER Conopophaga ardesiaca
Occasionally
recorded, at least until recently, in wooded areas near town (eg pipeline track)
but much harder to find now that much habitat has been destroyed.
OLIVE-CROWNED
CRESCENTCHEST Melanopareia maximiliani
Recorded
along the pipeline track in newly cleared areas, and found breeding in shrubs
alongside the rock at El Fuerte.
SCLATER’S
TYRANNULET Phyllomyias
sclateri
Probably
resident in forested areas such as the woods behind El Fuerte.
WHITE-CRESTED
ELAENIA Elaenia albiceps
Often
reported from the area, and doubtless occurs at least as a migrant, but
difficult to separate from the E. pallatangae.
SMALL-BILLED
ELAENIA Elaenia parvirostris
Small
numbers breed in areas with scattered trees, including near the garden of La
Vispera.
LESSER
ELAENIA Elaenia chiriquensis
A
few seen or heard in scrubby habitat on hillsides around town, where this
species seems to breed.
HIGHLAND
ELAENIA Elaenia obscura
Small
numbers breed in thicker vegetation and shrubby gullies on hillsides near the
edge of town.
SIERRAN
ELAENIA Elaenia pallatangae
A
few seen or heard on higher bushy hillsides, including in shrubbery around El
Fuerte.
SOUTHERN
BEARDLESS TYRANNULET Camptostoma
obsoletum
Fairly
common around town. Seen or heard in small numbers in scrubby growth or
scattered trees, including at La Vispera.
SUIRIRI
FLYCATCHER Suiriri suiriri
Scarce
and irregular in scrubby areas near town.
WHITE-BELLIED
TYRANNULET Serpophaga munda
Small
numbers breeding in shrubby areas near town, regularly visiting the grounds of
La Vispera.
MOUSE-COLOURED
TYRANNULET Phaeomyias murina
Fairly
common in scrubby patches around town, including the grounds of La Vispera.
SLATY-CAPPED
FLYCATCHER Leptopogon superciliaris
Fairly
common in remnant woodlands near town (eg the wood behind El Fuerte).
SOUTHERN
SCRUB-FLYCATCHER Sublegatus modestus
Occasionally
seen in broken habitat, shrubby areas or scattered trees near town.
[PLAIN
TYRANNULET Inezia inornata]
A
“probable” record mentioned for Samaipata by Brian Gee.
GREATER
WAGTAIL-TYRANT Stigmatura budytoides
Scarce
in shrubby areas around town, sometimes appearing in the grounds of La Vispera.
PEARLY-VENTED
TODY-TYRANT Hemitriccus margaritaceiventer
Fairly
common and vocal in scrubby habitat around the edges of town
OCHRE-FACED
TODY-FLYCATCHER Todirostrum plumbeiceps
Present,
but inconspicuous, in wooded areas near town (eg pipeline track and behind El
Fuerte)
YELLOW‑OLIVE
FLYCATCHER Tolmomyias sulphurescens
Uncommon:
small numbers survive in patches of trees near town, mostly along river-courses
or pipeline track etc.
BRAN-COLOURED
FLYCATCHER Myiophobus fasciatus
Occasionally
seen in scrubby habitat around the edges of town, including in the grounds of La
Vispera.
CLIFF
FLYCATCHER Hirundinea ferruginea
Fairly
common around the edges of town, regularly visiting the grounds of La Vispera.
BLACK
PHOEBE Sayornis
nigricans
Regularly
seen along rivers (eg at Puente El Fuerte).
WHITE-WINGED
BLACK-TYRANT Knipolegus aterrimus
Fairly
common breeding bird in open scrubby or rocky habitat surrounding town
(occasionally in the grounds of La Vispera).
YELLOW-BROWED
TYRANT
Satrapa
icterophrys
Regularly
seen (and sometimes common) in grassy or bushy areas around town, including the
grounds of La Vispera.
STREAK-THROATED
BUSH-TYRANT Myiotheretes striaticollis
Occasionally
found on dry hillsides near town, eg near El Fuerte and on hillsides above La
Vispera.
GREAT
KISKADEE Pitangus sulphuratus
Reported
from near town.
GOLDEN-CROWNED
FLYCATCHER Myiodynastes chrysocephalus
Occasionally
seen around Puente El Fuerte, and possibly present in other woodlands near town
STREAKED
FLYCATCHER Myiodynastes maculatus
Regularly
seen around town, breeding in remnant woodlands.
VARIEGATED
FLYCATCHER Empidonomus varius
Regularly
seen around town in scrubby habitat, including in the grounds of La Vispera
(seems to breed nearby).
CROWNED
SLATY FLYCATCHER Griseotyrannus aurantioatrocristatus
Migrants
occasionally observed at the edge of woods near town (eg behind El Fuerte).
TROPICAL
KINGBIRD Tyrannus melancholicus
Common
throughout, including thee grounds of La Vispera.
FORK-TAILED
FLYCATCHER Tyrannus savana
A
few records of small numbers during migration periods.
DUSKY-CAPPED
FLYCATCHER Myiarchus tuberculifer
Regular
in remnant woodlands near town (eg behind El Fuerte)
PALE-EDGED
FLYCATCHER Myiarchus cephalotes
Occasionally
sighted in the pipeline road area and at El Fuerte, but certainly not as common
as the previous species.
BROWN-CRESTED
FLYCATCHER Myiarchus tyrannulus
Occasionally
seen in bushy and scrubby habitat surrounding town.
WHITE-WINGED
BECARD Pachyramphus polychopterus
A
few pairs hold territories in wooded areas along the pipeline track.
CRESTED
BECARD Pachyramphus validus
Occasionally
seen in more wooded habitat near town.
WHITE-TIPPED
PLANTCUTTER Phytotoma rutila
Fairly
common in scrub and gardens around town
RUFOUS‑BROWED
PEPPERSHRIKE Cyclarhis gujanensis
Common
and noisy breeding bird in scrubby areas around town, including the grounds of
La Vispera.
BROWN-CAPPED
VIREO Vireo leucophrys
A
few seen in woodland behind El Fuerte.
RED‑EYED
VIREO Vireo olivaceus
Common
and vocal breeding bird around town, including in the grounds of La Vispera.
PURPLISH
JAY Cyanocorax
cyanomelas
Present
in woodlands near town, including behind El Fuerte.
PLUSH-CRESTED
JAY Cyanocorax
chrysops
Fairly
common in gullies with tall shrubs or trees near town, including along the road
above La Vispera.
PURPLE
MARTIN Progne subis
Boreal
migrant. Small numbers occasionally seen hawking over the town between October
and March.