MANU EXPEDITIONS BIRDING

TOURS

Birding@ManuExpeditions.com

www.Birding-In-Peru.com

A TRIP REPORT FOR A BIRDING TRIP TO

THE SANTA MARTA AND GUAJIRA

PENINSULA

March 21st – March 26

th 2012

Leaders: Fabrice Schmitt

With – Julian and Kathy Donahue, Tim Jenkins, Robin Leong

This scope of this trip was to target some of the most endangered Colombia endemics and range restricted species found in the Serra Nevada de Santa Marta Mountains that rise, it seems, straight out of the Carribean and is a spectacular mountain range with a hatful of localized endemics. A contrast was the Guajira Peninuslar and Isla Salamanca with several rage restricted species shared with Venezuela and coastal lagoons with many shorebirds, Gulls and Terns. We made no excuse for concentrating on endemics though on the route we took we did not ignore anything that popped up in front of us. It was a pleasure to have so many boreal migrants around in fresh summer plumage. We recorded 21 true Colombian endemics. 23 endemic subspecies and 7 near endemics some impossible to see in neighboring countries, many endangered, some critically.

The Agenda March 21st After our Central Colombia trip, Tony, Julie, Eric and Lorna drove to the Bucaramangua airport and back home. The rest of the team drove to Santa Marta for a 6 days extension. We first did some birding at the Bushbird reserve, and on the way to Santa Marta, we stopped at Cuatro Vientos. Night Rodadero at the Hotel La Sierra. Department of Magdalena. March 22nd Early start for Isla Salamanca and Los Cocos. Stop at a wetland just before the bridge at km 4 from Barranquilla. After lunch, drive to the Guajira peninsular and Los Flamencos National park, spending the afternoon birding near Pericos. Night in Riohacha, Department of La Guajira. March 23rd To Los Flamencos National Park, spending the morning birding near pericos and the lagoons at Camarones. Lunch at the pleasant hotel in Minca, with several species of hummingbirds visiting the feeders. Drive to El Dorado lodge 1900 meters. Department of Magdalena. March 24th and 25th Two full days birding the Santa Marta Mountains. 1600-2000 meters, Department of Magdalena. March 26th Drive to Santa Marta airport with some biridng stops above Minca, and fly to Bogota and International conections.

THE KEY Species which were heard but not seen are indicated by the symbol * RED = IUCN RED LIST CATEGORY IOC = International Ornithological Congress SACC = South American Classification Committee RNA = Reserva Natural de Aves (Pro-Aves Reserves) E = Colombian Endemic SSP = Endemic Subspecies RR = Range Restricted

The Sierra Nevada de Santa

THE BIRDS

CRACIDAE E Chestnut-winged Chachalaca - Ortalis garrula: several groups and a total of 15+ near Santa Marta.

Chestnut-winged Chachalaca – Phil Yates

Rufous-vented Chachalaca - Ortalis ruficauda: 5 near Camarones SSP Band-tailed Guan - Penelope argyrotis colombiana: a few in the Santa Marta Mountains

ODONTOPHORIDAE RR Black-fronted Wood-quail - Odontophorus atrifrons: excellent view of 3 adults with 5 chicks visiting the compost at the El Dorado lodge VULNERABLE

ANATIDAE Black-bellied Whistling-duck - Dendrocygna autumnalis: 20+ near Barranquilla Blue-winged Teal - Anas discors: 100+ near Barranquilla.

THRESKIORNITHIDAE Bare-faced Ibis - Phimosus infuscatus: Common near Barranquilla White Ibis - Eudocimus albus: 20 at Camarones Scarlet Ibis - Eudocimus ruber: 5 at Camarones Glossy Ibis - Plegadis falcinellus: 200+ near Barranquilla Buff-necked Ibis - Theristictus caudatus: 1 at Cuatro Vientos on the way to Santa Marta Roseate Spoonbill - Platalea ajaja: 5+ at Los Flamencos

ARDEIDAE Cocoi Heron - Ardea cocoi 10 at Los Flamencos Great Egret - Ardea albus: 300+ on the way to Isla Salamanca Reddish Egret - Egretta rufescens: 4 at Camarones Tricolored Heron - Egretta tricolor: 10 near Barranquilla Little Blue Heron - Egretta caerulea: 2 near Barranquilla Snowy Egret - Egretta thula Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis: Common and widespread Green Heron - Butorides virescens: 2 at isla Salamanca Yellow-crowned Night-Heron - Nyctanassa violacea: 2 near Camarones Bar-throated Tiger-heron - Tigrisoma mexicanum: 1 at Isla Salamanca

FREGATIDAE Magnificent Frigatebird - Fregata magnificens: 10+ near Camarones

PELECANIDAE Brown Pelican - Pelecanus occidentalis: 10+ on the way to Isla Salamanca

PHALACROCORACIDEA Neotropic Cormorant – Phalacocorax brasilianus

CATHARTIDAE Turkey Vulture - Cathartes aura: Jaramillo (2003) suggested that the resident tropical subspecies ruficollis and the southern subspecies group (jota and "falklandica") might merit recognition as separate species from the northern Cathartes aura group. Black Vulture - Coragyps atratus

PANDIONIDAE Osprey - Pandion haliaetus: 2 near Barranquilla

ACCIPITRIDAE Snail Kite - Rostrhamus sociabilis: 25+ near Barranquilla Common Black-Hawk - Buteogallus anthracinus: 1 at Los Cocos, seen by Tim Black-collared Hawk - Busarellus nigricollis: 1 at Los Cocos Crane Hawk - Geranospiza caerulescens: 1 on the way out RNA El Paujil Gray Hawk - Asturina nitida: 1 just below Minca Roadside Hawk - Buteo magnirostris: Numerous and widespread in small numbers. Zone-tailed Hawk - Buteo albonotus: 1 at Cuatro Vientos FALCONIDAE Northern Crested Caracara - Caracara cheriway:. Formerly placed in the genus Polyborus but this species has been switched to the genus Caracara. Note also that the former species known as Crested Caracara, has been split into three species with those ranging north of north-west Peru and the Amazon River (i.e. Colombia) and as far as the USA, according to the IOC, retain the name Northern Crested Caracara C. cheriway, the birds from Southern Peru to the tip of South America, Tierra del Fuego, are referable to the species Caracara plancus Southern Crested Caracara, while another form, the extinct Guadalupe Caracara C. lutosus, of Guadalupe Island, Mexico, has also been given its untimely species status. The SACC says “Caracara cheriway and C. plancus were formerly considered conspecific (e.g., Hellmayr & Conover 1949, Phelps & Phelps 1958a), sometimes also including C. lutosus of Guadalupe Island (e.g., Meyer de Schauensee 1970, Stresemann and Amadon 1979), but the ranges of cheriway and plancus are nearly parapatric with

no sign of intergradation, contrary to earlier interpretations (see Banks REF); they constitute a superspecies. The three forms had previously been considered separate species by REFS, Pinto (1938), and Friedmann (1950).” Yellow-headed Caracara - Milvago chimachima: Another widespread open country raptor that was seen regularly in small numbers. Barred Forest-Falcon - Micrastur ruficollis*: heard only at El Dorado

RALLIDAE

Sora - Porzana carolina: 1 near Barranquilla Purple Gallinule - Porphyrio martinica: 10+ near Barranquilla Common Gallinule – Gallinula galeata: 2 near Barranquilla. The new world populations are now considered a separate species from the Old World populations Common Moorhen - Gallinula chloropus

ARAMIDAE Limpkin - Aramus guarauna: 15+ near Barranquilla

BURHINIDAE Double-striped Thick-knee - Burhinus bistriatus: 2 at Cuatro Vientos

HAEMATOPODIDAE American Oystercatcher - Haematopus palliatus: 1 at Camarones

RECURVIROSTRIDAE Black-necked Stilt - Himantopus mexicanus: 15 near Barranquilla

CHARADRIIDAE Southern Lapwing - Vanellus chilensis: Fairly widespread in small numbers. Black-bellied Plover - Pluvialis squatarola: 1 near Camarones Semipalmated plover - Charadrius semipalmatus: 3 near Camarones

JACANIDAE Wattled Jacana - Jacana jacana: common on ponds; the very black hypomelaena subspecies here

SCOLOPACIDAE Hudsonian Whimbrel - Numenius phaeopus hudsonicus: 2 at Los Cocos and 5 near Camarones Greater Yellowlegs - Tringa melanoleuca: 2 at Los Cocos and 1 near Camarones Lesser Yellowlegs - Tringa flavipes: 10 at Los Cocoas and 5 near Camarones

Solitary Sandpiper – Tringa solitaria: 10+ at Los Cocos and 10 near Camarones Spotted Sandpiper – Actitis macularia: 5 at los Cocos and near Camarones Willet - Catoptrophorus semipalmatus: 1 at Los Cocos, and 20+ near Camarones Semipalmated Sandpiper - Calidris pusilla: 100+ near Camarones Western Sandpiper - Calidris mauri: 5 near Camarones Least Sandpiper - Calidris minutilla: 2 near Barranquilla and 3 near Camarones

LARIDAE American Herring Gull - Larus smithsonianus: 5 near Camarones Laughing Gull - Larus atricilla: 15 near Camarones Caspian Tern - Hydroprogne caspia: a few near Barranquilla Royal Tern - Thalasseus maximus: 20+ near Camarones Common Tern - Sterna hirundo: 200+ near Camarones Large-billed Tern - Phaetusa simplex: 5 near Barranquilla

COLUMBIDAE Bare-eyed Pigeon - Patagioenas corensis: good views at Los Flamencos Band-tailed Pigeon - Patagioenas fasciata: Fairly common and widespread with many good views of perched birds. Note that recent research has shown that the genus Columba is paraphyletic, with New World taxa being more closely related to Streptopelia than to Old World Columba pigeons. This is consistent with differences between New World and Old World Columba in terms of morphology, serology and behaviour. The suggestion was made to place all New World forms in the genus Patagioenas, and the AOU recently adopted this change in its latest checklist supplement. One of the most widespread New World birds, ranging from Alaska to Argentina. Here the Neotropical form albilinea, which has been regarded by some authors as a full species. Common Ground-Dove - Columbina passerina: at Los Cocos Ruddy Ground-Dove - Columbina talpacoti: Numerous and widespread in open country. Scaled Dove - Columbina squammata: 5 at Cuatro Vientos, and also a few at Los Flamencos White-tipped Dove Leptotila verreauxi: Pretty common at many localities. Lined Quail-Dove - Geotrygon linearis*: at El Dorado

PSITTACIDAE Scarlet-fronted Parakeet Aratinga wagleri Species in this genus, as well as Leptosittaca and those in Pyrrhura, often go by the name ‘conure’. Common in the Santa Marta mountains. Brown-throated Parakeet - Aratinga pertinax: common around Santa Marta E Santa Marta Parakeet - Pyrrhura viridicata: a few at the San Lorezo ridge ENDANGERED SSP Blue-winged Parrotlet - Forpus xanthopterygius spengeli: 2 seen well near Barranquilla Green-rumped Parrotlet - Forpus passerinus: 5 near Camarones SSP Red-billed Parrot - Pionus sordidus saturatus: common around El Dorado Lodge, where it’s represented by the endemic subspecies saturatus Scaly-naped Parrot - Amazona mercenaria canipalliata: seen daily at the San Lorenzo ridge

CUCULIDAE Smooth-billed Ani Crotophaga ani: common Groove-billed Ani – Crotophaga sulcirostris: Seen near Santa Marta Striped Cuckoo - Tapera naevia: One seen near Camarones

STRIGIDAE E Santa Marta Screech-Owl - Megascops sp. nov.: Excellent view at El Dorado lodge. This new owl, named Santa Marta Screech-owl, is distinguished by unique vocal and plumage characteristics. It is known from a few pairs seen between 5,900 - 7,000 feet in elevation within the reserve. The closely-related Tropical Screech-Owl is commonly found below 5,000 feet in elevation in the same area. The Santa Marta Screech-Owl will be given the scientific name Megascops gilesi in honor of Robert Giles, who has been a supporter of ABC’s conservation work in Colombia. Spectacled Owl - Pulsatrix perspicillata*: near El Dorado lodge Mottled Owl - Strix virgata*: near El Dorado lodge

CAPRIMULGIDAE Lesser Nighthawk - Chordeiles acutipennis: 1 at dusk at Los Flamencos Band-winged Nightjar - Caprimulgus longirostris ruficervix: 1 flushed at night when driving to the San Lorenzo ridge

Santa Marta Screech-Owl - Megascops sp. nov - Fabrice Schmitt

TROCHILIDAE Rufous-breasted Hermit - Glaucis aeneus: 1 at the feeders at Minca Pale-bellied Hermit - Phaethornis anthophilus: 1 at the feeders at Minca Long-billed Hermit - Phaethornis longirostris: 1 visiting flowers at Minca White-necked Jacobin - Florisuga mellivora: common at the feeders at Minca Brown Violetear - Colibri delphinae: 1 at the feeders at El Dorado

Green Violetear - Colibri thalassinus cyanotus: very common at the feeders at El Dorado Black-throated Mango - Anthracothorax nigricollis: common at the feeders at Minca Violet-crowned Woodnymph - Thalurania colombica: common at the feeders at Minca and El Dorado E Sapphire-throated Hummingbird - Lepidopyga lilliae: 2 at Los Cocos after a long wait in front of a flowering tree. Meyer de Schauensee (1966) and Sibley & Monroe (1990) suggested that Lepidopyga lilliae might be a plumage stage of L. coeruleogularis; Peters (1945) treated it as a subspecies of L. coeruleogularis CRITICALLY ENDANGERED Rufous-tailed Hummingbird - Amazilia tzacatl: Common at the feeders at Minca Steely-vented Hummingbird - Amazilia saucerrottei: 25+ at the feeders at Minca E Blossomcrown - Anthocephala floriceps: 1 visiting flowers below El Dorado lodge VULNERABLE White-vented Plumeleteer - Chalybura buffonii: a few at the feeders at Minca, and in flowering trees above Minca E White-tailed Starfrontlet - Coeligena phalerata: a pair seen daily at the feeders at El Dorado lodge; also seen at the San Lorenzo ridge. SSP Santa Marta Tyrian Metaltail - Metallura tyrianthina districta: common at the feeders at El Dorado and at the San Lorenzo ridge. Long-billed Starthroat - Heliomaster longirostris: 1 at the feeders at Minca E Santa Marta Woodstar - Chaetocercus astreans: 2 different birds, including one visiting flowers below El Dorado lodge

TROGONIDAE SSP Masked Trogon - Trogon personatus sanctaemartae: good views in the Santa Marta Mountains SSP White-tipped Quetzal - Pharomachrus fulgidus festatus: excellent views near El Dorado lodge

ALCEDINIDAE Ringed Kingfisher - Megaceryle torquata: 1 near Barranquilla Amazon Kingfisher - Chloroceryle amazona: 1 near Barranquilla Green Kingfisher - Chloroceryle americana: 5 near Barranquilla and at Los Cocos

GALBULIDAE

Rufous-tailed Jacamar - Galbula ruficauda pallens: fairly common around Santa Marta, Minca and the Guajira peninsula

BUCCONIDAE Russet-throated Puffbird - Hypnelus ruficollis decolor: common in the dry shrubland around Camarones

RAMPHASTIDAE Keel-billed Toucan - Ramphastos sulfuratus brevicarinatus: above Minca E Santa Marta Toucanet - Aulacorhynchus lautus: seen daily in the Santa Marta Mountains. The SACC says - Ridgely & Greenfield (2001) suggested that Aulacorhynchus prasinus (Emerald Toucanet) may consist of more than one species-level taxon, but see Short & Horne (2001), who pointed out that the allopatric taxa are no more distinctive than those known to intergrade. The subspecies lautus, albivitta, cyanolaemus, dimidiatus, and atrogularis, as well as Middle American wagleri and caeruleogularis, were formerly (e.g., Ridgway 1914, Cory 1919) each considered separate species from (and in some cases not particularly closely related to) Aulacorhynchus prasinus, but Peters (1948) and Haffer (1974) treated them all as conspecific. Navarro et al. (2001) say Patterns of variation support recognition of four species in Mesoamerica: A. wagleri in western Mexico, A. prasinus in eastern Mexico and northern Central America, A. caeruleogularis in Costa Rica and western Panama, and A. cognatus in eastern Panama, as well as several additional forms (A. lautus - Santa Marta Mountains, A. albivitta - Andes of Colombia and Ecuador and A. nigrogularis –Peru and North Bolivia) in South America. IOU splits, SACC does not.

PICIDAE Scaled Piculet - Picumnus squamulatus rohli: a pair above Minca Red-crowned Woodpecker – Melanerpes rubricapillus: Common. Golden-olive Woodpecker – Piculus rubiginosus: 2 near Barranquilla Lineated Woodpecker – Dryocopus lineatus.

FURNARIIDAE Carribean (Pale-legged) Hornero - Furnarius (leucopus) longirostris: 1 at Cuatro Viento The subspecies cinnamomeus of W. Ecuador and NW. Peru may deserve recognition as a separate species from F. leucopus (Ridgely & Tudor 1994) and was treated as such by Parker & Carr (1992) and Ridgely & Greenfield (2001). The subspecies longirostris was also treated as a separate species by Ridgely & Greenfield (2001) and Hilty (2003). Although vocal and behavioral differences have been reported, no real analysis has been published to support these splits. Pale-breasted Spinetail - Synallaxis albescens perpallida: 1 close view near Camarones of the perpallida subspecies restricted to the Guajira peninsula E Rusty-headed Spinetail - Synallaxis fuscorufa: common at the San Lorenzo ridge VULNERABLE

RR White-whiskered Spinetail - Synallaxis candei: Excellent views at Camarones

White-whiskered Spinetail – Fabrice Schmitt

RR Streak-capped Spinetail - Cranioleuca hellmayri: a few seen well at the San Lorenzo ridge Yellow-chinned Spinetail - Certhiaxis cinnamomea: common at the wetlands near Barranquilla SSP Montane Foliage-gleaner - Anabacerthia striaticollis anxia: in a mixed species flock, below El Dorado lodge Flammulated Treehunter – Thripadectes flammulatus flammulatus*: at the San Lorenzo ridge E Santa Marta Foliage-gleaner - Automolus rufipectus: excellent view on the way to El Dorado lodge. The Ruddy Foliage-gleaner Automolus rubiginosus likely includes several species-level taxa (AOU 1998, Hilty 2003, Remsen 2003). The subspecies nigricauda (with saturatus) was formerly (e.g., Cory & Hellmayr 1925) considered a separate species, but they were treated as conspecific by Peters (1951) and all subsequent authors. Krabbe (2008) provided evidence that the subspecies rufipectus of the Santa Marta Mountains merits species rank and pointed out its close resemblance to Hylocryptus erythrocephalus in voice and habitat. SACC proposal passed to treat rufipectus as a separate species.

Rusty-headed Spinetail - Synallaxis fuscorufa – Fabrice Schmitt

SSP Gray-throated Leaftosser - Sclerurus albigularis propinquus: 2 seen well on the trail at El Dorado lodge Straight –billed Woodcreeper – Dendroplex picus: Common. Xiphorhynchus picus and X. kienerii (Zimmer’s Woodcreeper) were formerly (e.g., Cory & Hellmayr 1925, Zimmer 1934c, Pinto 1937, Phelps & Phelps 1950a) treated in a separate genus, Dendroplex, but this was merged into Xiphorhynchus by Peters (1951). Wetmore (1972), however, maintained Dendroplex as a separate genus based not only on bill shape but also on (unstated) cranial characters. Aleixo et al. (2007) summarized rationale for validity of Dendroplex and for its usage for these two species. SACC proposal passed to resurrect Dendroplex for these two species. SSP Montane Woodcreeper – Lepidocolaptes lacrymiger sanctaemartae: Several sightings in the high cloud forest. Lepidocolaptes lacrymiger was formerly (e.g., Peters 1951, Meyer de Schauensee 1970, AOU 1983, 1998, Sibley & Monroe 1990) considered conspecific with Middle American L. affinis (Spot-crowned Woodcreeper), but recent treatments (e.g., Ridgely & Tudor 1994, Hilty 2003) usually follow Cory & Hellmayr (1925), Zimmer (1934c), and Phelps & Phelps (1950a) in treating them as separate species. Their vocalizations differ strongly, although a formal analysis has not been published; they constitute a superspecies.

Montane Woodcreeper – Lepidocolaptes lacrymiger sanctaemartae – Fabrice Schmitt

THAMNOPHILIDAE Black-crested Antshrike - Sakesphorus canadensis pulchellus: common on the Guajira peninsula RR Black-backed Antshrike - Thamnophilus melanonotus: 2 seen very well just below Minca Northern White-fringed Antwren - Formicivora (grisea) intermedia: fairly common in dry shrubs near Riohacha Ridgely & Tudor (1994) and Zimmer & Isler (2003) suggested that Formicivora grisea may consist of more than one species. Hilty (2003) described major vocal differences between intermedia and grisea in Venezuela and treated them as separate species. SACC is waiting for a proposal to eventually split them.

GRALLARIDAE E Santa Marta Antpitta - Grallaria bangsi: 1 seen coming to the feeder at El Dorado lodge, and 5+ heard daily at the San Lorenzo ridge VULNERABLE

Santa Marta Antpitta - Grallaria bangsi – Fabrice Schmitt

E Rufous Antpitta – Grallaria rufula spatiator: several heard at the San Lorenzo ridge, and finally 1 seen very well after a long try. Keep track of where you see your Rufous Antpittas – they will be split. Rusty-breasted Antpitta - Grallaricula ferrugineipectus ferrugineipectus: 1 seen very well below El Dorado lodge Ridgely & Tudor (1984) suspected that G. ferrugineipectus might consist of more than one species. Krabbe & Schulenberg (2003a) indicated that vocal differences suggest that the southern subspecies leymebambae deserves recognition as a separate species.

RHINOCRYPTIDAE E Santa Marta Tapaculo - Scytalopus sanctaemartae: good views below El Dorado lodge E Brown-rumped Tapaculo - Scytalopus latebricola: several heard and a long search to finally see one well!!

TYRANNIDAE SSP Black-capped Tyrannulet - Phyllomyias nigrocapillus flavimentum: 2 at the San Lorenzo ridge Mountain Elaenia - Elaenia frantzii browni: common at the San Lorenzo ridge. The species was named after Alexander von Frantzius, a nineteenth century German collector in Brazil and Costa Rica. The browni subspecies is restricted to the Santa Marta Mountains and Sierra de Perija.

White-throated Tyrannulet Mecocerculus leucophrys nigriceps: common at the San Lorenzo ridge Northern Scrub-Flycatcher - Sublegatus arenarum: 2 at Los Cocos, and 2 more near Camarones. Slender-billed Inezia - Inezia tenuirostris: common near Camarones

Slender-billed Inezia - Inezia tenuirostris – Fabrice Schmitt

Pale-eyed Pygmy-tyrant - Atalotriccus pilaris pilaris: fairly common above Minca Pearly-vented Tody-tyrant - Hemitriccus margaritaceiventer impiger: 2 seen near Camarones SSP Black-throated Tody-tyrant - Hemitriccus granadensis lehmani: a few seen well at the San Lorenzo ridge Common Tody-Flycatcher - Todirostrum cinereum: 2 near Barranquilla Ochre-lored Tolmomyias - Tolmomyias (flaviventris) viridiceps: 1 near Santa Marta The Yellow-breasted Flycatcher Tolmomyias flaviventris almost certainly involves more than one species; see Bates et al. (1992) and Ridgely & Tudor (1994). The subspecies viridiceps is almost certainly a distinct species, and was so considered by Ridgely et al. (2001) and Hilty (2003). However, Zimmer (1939a) considered them conspecific because the subspecies he considered the subspecies subsimilis and dissors to represent taxa that were intermediate between the two, and this treatment was followed by Fitzpatrick (2004) in the absence of published data supporting a split. SSP Cinnamon Flycatcher Pyrrhomyias cinnamomea assimilis: common in the Santa Marta Mountains where we saw the endemic and much brighter assimilis. Olive-sided Flycatcher - Contopus cooperi: 1 near El Dorado lodge VULNERABLE

Vermilion Flycatcher - Pyrocephalus rubinus: Small numbers seen at a number of sites. E Santa Marta Bush-tyrant - Myiotheretes pernix: seen briefly but very well at the San Lorenzo ridge ENDANGERED Pied Water-Tyrant - Fluvicola pica: a few near Barranquilla and Camarones White-headed Marsh-tyrant - Arundinicola leucocephala: 1 near Barranquilla SSP Yellow-bellied Chat-tyrant - Ochtoeca diadema jesupi*: answered to the tape, but stayed into the vegetation. Cattle tyrant - Machtornis rixosa: a few Great Kiskadee - Pitangus sulphuratus: A widespread bird of open areas, even found right in the centre of towns. Golden-crowned Flycatcher - Myiodynastes chrysocephalus cinerascens: 1 below El Dorado lodge Streaked Flycatcher - Myiodynastes maculatus: A few. Tropical Kingbird - Tyrannus melancholicus. Common throughout Gray Kingbird - Tyrannus dominicensis: 2 near Camarones Brown-crested Flycatcher - Myiarchus tyrannulus: a few Bright-rumped Attila - Attila spadiceus parvirostris*: heard below El Dorado lodge The Middle American flammulatus subspecies group was formerly (e.g., Ridgway 1907) treated as a separate species from A. spadiceus; Ridgway (1907) also treated the subspecies parvirostris of northeastern Colombia, as well as its rufous phase “A. rufipectus,” as separate species. Hellmayr (1929) considered all of these conspecific with A. spadiceus, and this has been followed in all subsequent classifications. Leger and Mountjoy (2003) found major vocal differences between South American and Middle American populations of Attila spadiceus, strongly suggesting that at least two species are involved, but did not adequately sample populations from west of Andes in South America; these are vocally similar to the Middle American flammulatus group (P. Coopmans, pers. comm.).

COTINGIDAE SSP Golden-breasted Fruiteater - Pipreola aureopectus decora: a few seen well near El Dorado lodge

PIPRIDAE White-bearded Manakin Manacus manacus abditivus: 1 below Minca

VIREONIDAE

Rufous-browed Peppershrike - Cyclarhis gujanensis: 1 at Minca Brown-capped Vireo - Vireo leucophrys mirandae: 1 in the Santa Marta Mountains Scrub Greenlet - Hylophilus flavipes: 2 near Minca

CORVIDAE Black-chested Jay - Cyanocorax affinis affinis: good views near Minca

HIRUNDINIDAE White-winged Swallow - Tachycineta albiventer: near Barranquilla Gray-breasted Martin - Progne chalybea: Reasonably numerous at lower elevations. Blue-and-white Swallow -Notiochelidon cyanoleuca: Widespread in small numbers Southern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx ruficollis: Common at lower elevations. Bank Swallow - Riparia riparia: 1 near Barranquilla Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica: 200+ near Barranquilla and 50+ near Camarones

TROGLODYTIDAE House Wren Troglodytes aedon: Common and widespread. Many authors (e.g., Hellmayr 1934, Pinto 1944, Phelps & Phelps 1950a) formerly treated Neotropical mainland populations as a separate species T. musculus; see also Brumfield and Capparella (1996); this treatment was followed by Brewer (2001) and Kroodsma & Brewer (2005). The Falklands population, T. a. cobbi, might also be best treated as a species (Wood 1993) and is done so by the IOU, as was done by Brewer (2001), Mazar Barnett & Pearman (2001), Jaramillo (2003), and Kroodsma & Brewer (2005); Band-backed Wren - Campylorhynchus zonatus: 2 near Barranquilla Bicolored Wren - Campylorhynchus griseus: common Rufous-breasted Wren - Pheugopedius rutilus laetus: nice views above Minca Rufous-and-white Wren - Thryophilus rufalbus cumanensis: a responsive bird coming well to the tape. SSP Grey-breasted Wood-Wren Henicorhina leucophrys: we saw the anachoreta subspecies in the highest cloud forest, and bangsi at lower elevation, both endemic to the Santa Marta Mountains.

POLIOPTIDAE Tropical Gnatcatcher – Polioptila plumbea plumbiceps: Common near Riohacha. Todd & Carriker many years ago split plumbiceps of the Guajira from bilineata so keep track of this

MIMIDAE Tropical Mockingbird Mimus gilvus: A common open country species.

TURDIDAE SSP Slaty-backed Nightingale Thrush - Catharus fuscater sanctaemartae: heard daily at El Dorado, and 1 seen. Yellow-legged Thrush - Turdus flavipes venezuelensis: good views SSP Great Thrush Turdus fuscater cacozelus: Ubiquitous at higher elevations. A very pale subspecies that is also endemic to the Santa Marta Mountains. SSP Black-hooded Thrush - Turdus olivater sanctaemartae: heard at El Dorado lodge and seen too briefly Pale-breasted Thrush - Turdus leucomelas: Relatively common.

FRINGILLIDAE RR Trinidad Euphonia - Euphonia trinitatis: good views near Barranquilla SSP Blue-naped Chlorophonia - Chlorophonia cyanea psittacina: 2 near El Dorado lodge

PARULIDAE Tennessee Warbler – Vermivora peregrina: seen daily near El Dorado lodge American Yellow Warbler – Dendroica aestiva: This North American Migrant was seen near Camarones. The SACC says: Many authors suspect that the breeding populations of Dendroica petechia in South America may represent one or more separate species from North American wintering populations, but species limits in the "Yellow Warbler' complex are controversial (Klein and Brown 1994). Ridgely & Greenfield (2001) used a two-species classification, with North American wintering populations as one species, D. aestiva ("Yellow Warbler") and tropical resident populations as another, D. petechia ("Mangrove Warbler"). A three-species classification, as used by Hilty (2003), would separate the tropical populations into two species: mainly Pacific coastal populations, D. erithachorides ("Mangrove Warbler"), and Caribbean D. petechia ("Golden Warbler"). Olson (1980) noted that the South American populations on the Pacific coast show a gradation of characters between the erithachorides and petechia groups. SACC proposal to split petechia into two or more species did not pass due to insufficient published data. The IOC differs however and splits the birds into North American Yellow Warbler and Mangrove Warbler. Blackpoll Warbler - Dendroica striata: 2 near Camarones Blackburnian Warbler – Dendroica fusca: A few at the San Lorenzo ridge – a very pretty bird. Prothonotary Warbler - Protonotaria citrea: 2 seen at Los Cocos Northern Waterthrush – Seiurus novoboracensis: 1 near Camarones

SSP Slate-throated Whitestart - Myioborus miniatus sanctamartae: A common, widespread and delightful resident of the montane forests.

Yellow –crowned Whitstart – Fabrice Schmitt

E Yellow-crowned Whitestart - Myioborus flavivertex: a common endemic in the Santa Marta mountains E White-lored Warbler - Basileuterus conspicillatus: good views near El Dorado lodge E Santa Marta Warbler - Basileuterus basilicus: several good views at the San Lorenzo ridge

Santa Marta Warbler - Basileuterus basilicas - Fabrice Schmitt

ICTERIDAE Crested Oropendola - Psarocolius decumanus: a colony in the El Dorado lodge garden Yellow-backed Oriole - Icterus chrysater: An attractive bird with a beautiful song that we saw a couple of time. Yellow Oriole - Icterus nigrogularis: in few seen in the Guajira peninsula E Bronze-brown Cowbird - Molothorus armenti: 1 seen during our lunch stop on the way to Riohacha. The IOC lists this as a separate species from Bronzed Cowbird, and if we follow this then it becomes a localized Colombian endemic. the SACC says “The isolated subspecies armenti of northern Colombia was formerly (e.g., Hellmayr 1937, Meyer de Schauensee 1966, 1970, AOU 1983) treated as a separate species (“Bronze-brown Cowbird”) from Molothrus aeneus, but see Dugand & Eisenmann (1983). Great-tailed Grackle - Quiscalus mexicanus: very common Carib Grackle - Quiscalus lugubris: common

COEREBIDAE Bananaquit - Coereba flaveola: As usual, common and widespread.

EMBERIZIDAE Rufous-collared Sparrow Zonotrichia capensis: common at higher elevations. RR Tocuyo Sparrow - Arremonops tocuyensis: 2 seen well near Camarones!! Lifer for Fabrice!! Golden-winged Sparrow - Arremon schlegeli: fairly common above Minca E Sierra Nevada Brush-Finch - Arremon basilicus: seen daily in the garden of El Dorado lodge One of the 7 species recently splited from Stripe-headed Brush-Finch E Santa Marta Brush-Finch - Atlapetes melanocephalus: very common in the Santa Marta Mountains.

THRAUPIDAE Crimson-backed Tanager - Ramphocelus dimidiatus: A widespread tanager of open and secondary habitats. Blue-gray Tanager - Thraupis episcopus: Numerous and widespread. The scientific name is derived from the ‘episcopal blue’ plumage SSP Blue-capped Tanager Thraupis cyanocephala margaritae: A fews seen at the San Lorenzo ridge E Santa Marta Mountain Tanager - Anisognathus melanogenys: excellent views on a total of 10 birds at the San Lorenzo ridge VULNERABLE

Bay-headed Tanager Tangara gyrola: a few following flocks below El Dorado lodge Black-capped Tanager - Tangara heinei: seen daily at El Dorado Black-headed Tanager - Tangara cyanoptera: 2 seen below El Dorado lodge Swallow Tanager - Tersina viridis: common above Minca SSP Black Flowerpiercer – Diglossa humeralis nocticolor: 2 at the San Lorenzo ridge White-sided Flowerpiercer - Diglossa albilatera: daily in the garden at El Dorado lodge Bicolored Conebill - Conirostrum bicolor: common at Los Cocos Black-faced Grassquit - Tiaris bicolor: 2 near Camarones Pileated Finch - Coryhospingus pileatus: common near Camarones

CARDINALIDAE RR Vermillion Cardinal - Cardinalis phoeniculus: excellent views on male and female near Camarones Buff-throated Saltator - Saltator maximus: seen around Minca Orinocan Saltator - Saltator orenocensis: 2 birds seen near Camarones Grayish Saltator – Saltator coerulescens: Common.

MAMMALS Neotropical Red-tailed Squirrel – Sciurus granatensis: A few at several localities. Gray-handed Night Monkey - Aotus griseimembra: 2 below El Dorado lodge, during our search for the Santa Marta Screech Owl. VULNERABLE According to ProAves, the Night Monkey present here belongs to an undescribed species. Venezuelan Red Howler Monkey - Alouatta seniculus: A small group seen from El Dorado lodge Tayra - Eira barbara: 1 near Camarones Grison - Galictis vittata: 1 at Los Cocos

REPTILES Green Iguana Iguana iguana : One crossed the road on the way to Minca