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From the arid deserts in the north, to the glacial waters of the south via its' cosmopolitan capital, pacific islands and beautiful landscape, birding in Chile can be breathtaking. (Its geography, size & shape does mean however, you are going to have to work to get those ticks!) Using Santiago as a base, several quality, yet varying, sites are twitchable in a day. Over on the coast try the Rio Aconcagua estuary at Con-Con for excellent close up views of the beautiful Many-Coloured Rush Tyrant. In surrounding areas venture up to the Penguin Rock at Cachagua as it also holds good spots as does the Laguna Peral site which is south of Valparaiso and is famed for its Black-Necked Swans. Travelling in the other direction head on up into the Andes and to El Yeso reservoir to get amongst other great birds, in particular the endemic Crag Chilia, the must-see Diademed Sandpiper Plover and, of course, the magnificent Andean Condor. To the north is La Campana National Park and Estero Lampa, and to the south Rio Clarillo National Park. Away from the capital you have the high altitude options around Putre and Lauca National Park with its three types of flamingos and the scenic wonder of snow capped volcanoes. There are various good sites around Concepcion including the massive estuary of the Bio-Bio River. Laguna Torca National Park, Lago Budi and Temuco's city park [all of which I have personally visited] are all top quality sites. Whilst I have only heard that the extreme south of the Country is also good, I am sure that you will not be disappointed especially if you can get on a pelagic trip. There isn't an abundance of birding data available on Chile, which on one hand is a shame but on the other hand gives you the feeling of being a pioneer in the field of birding. The under-mentioned books and websites do however provide excellent reference data and photos. During your birding here, unless you are in a group, your chances of meeting any other birders is zero, but Chile is a very safe place to go birding and well worth a visit. |
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John Robinson
jhrobinson@terra.cl
Number of bird species: 520
National Bird: Andean Condor Vultur gryphus
National Bird: Andean Condor Vultur gryphus
Number of endemics: 14 [4 Non-passerines; 10 Passerines + 2 'Breeding Endemics']
Non-passerines: Chilean Tinamou Nothoprocta perdicaria Slender-billed Parakeet Enicognathus leptorhynchus Juan Fernandez Firecrown Sephanoides fernandensis (Critically Endangered) Chilean Woodstar Eulidia yarrellii
Non-passerines: Chilean Tinamou Nothoprocta perdicaria Slender-billed Parakeet Enicognathus leptorhynchus Juan Fernandez Firecrown Sephanoides fernandensis (Critically Endangered) Chilean Woodstar Eulidia yarrellii
Passerines: Crag Chilia Chilia melanura Seaside Cinclodes Cinclodes nigrofumosus Masafuera Rayadito Aphrastura masafuerae Dusky-tailed Canastero Asthenes humicola Chesnut-throated Huet-huet Pteroptochos castaneus Moustached Turca Pteroptochos megapodius White-throated Tapaculo Scelorchilus albicollis Dusky Tapaculo Scytalopus fuscus Juan Fernandez Tit-Tyrant Anairetes fernandezianus Chilean Mockingbird Mimus thenca
Breeding Endemics: Juan Fernandez Petrel Pterodroma externa Stejneger's Petrel Pterodroma longirostris
A Birders Checklist of the Birds of Chile
Dave Sargeant 14 pages, tabs 1995ISBN: 82594
Buy this book from NHBS.com
Annotated Checklist of the Birds of Chile
Lista Comentada de las Aves de Chile Manuel Marín 141 pages, tabs. Lynx Edicions 2004ISBN: 8487334598
Buy this book from NHBS.com
Birds of Chile
by Alvaro Jaramillo Illustrated by Peter Burke & David Beadle - Helm Field Guides Nov 2003. ?19.99See Fatbirder Review See: http://www.birdsofchile.com
ISBN: 0713646888
Buy this book from NHBS.com
Birds of Torres del Paine National Park - Patagonia Chile\Aves del Parque Nacional Torres del Paine - Patagonia Chile
Aves del Parque Nacional Torres del Paine - Patagonia Chile Enrique Couve and Claudio Vidal-Ojeda 271 pages, 100 col photos, figs. Fantastico Sur Distributed by NHBS 2004ISBN: 9568007083
Buy this book from NHBS.com
Essential Guide to Birding in Chile
Essential Guide to Birding in Chile Mark Pearman, Keith Colcombe (Illustrator) Paperback (February 1995) Re-issued 2003 Price - ?12.95 Worldwide PublicationsISBN: 095244111X
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The Birds of Chile: A Field Guide
Braulo Araya and Sharon Chester 400 pages, 400 line illus, 1 map. Latin American Tours 1993ISBN: 9567309019
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Where to Watch Birds in South America
Nigel Wheatley Paperback - 336 pages (27 October, 1994) Christopher HelmISBN: 0713639091
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Unión de Ornitólogos de Chile (Unorch)
WebsiteThe BirdLife partner for Chile. Casilla 13.183, Santiago 21. + 56 2 223 2593; e-mail unorch@entelchile.net
In Spanish: Bienvenidos a la página de la Unión de Ornitólogos de Chile (Unorch). Les invitamos a conocer nuestra organización, sus personas, actividades y proyectos. Esperamos que este medio sea una pequeña contribución a la integración de todos los que se interesan en las aves y, particularmente, en su conservación.
Carlos Anwandter Nature Sanctuary (Rio Cruces)
WebsiteSatellite View
This sanctuary is an aquatic reserve with approximately 4.877 hectares at the end of the 'Rio Cruces' (Crosses River), in the province of Valdivia....
Humedal Tres Puentes
WebsiteSatellite View
El Humedal Tres Puentes es una pequeña superficie de 50 hectareas que concentra una gran variedad de especies características de la región de Magallanes, especies como el canquen colorado han hecho de su superficie un lugar predilecto año tras año...
Puyehue National Park
WebsiteSatellite View
The spectacular Puyehue National Park is dominated by the maximum diversity of Nothofagus species, under which a dense undergrowth of Chusquea bamboo conceals a multitude of exciting but secretive tapaculos. One of the most spectacular is the huge Black-throated Huet-huet, 26 centimeters of black and chestnut plumes, which has a scolding, onomatopoeic call and a bird which positively vibrates as it broadcasts its deeply resonant song. In the Park you can see the Ochre-flanked Tapaculo, which is another monotypic genus and endemic to the Nothofagus forest. You can find some outstanding species including a number of specialty such as Bicoloured Hawk, Chilean Pigeon, Austral Pygmy-Owl, Green-backed Firecrown, the much sought-after Magellanic Woodpecker (South America's largest woodpecker), the tiny restless Des Murs's Wiretail and the poorly-known Patagonian Tyrant. Higher up, at the crater of the Volcan Raihuen, you can search for Dark-faced Ground-Tyrant and the striking Yellow-bridled Finch.
Reserva Nacional Laguna Torca
WebsiteSatellite View
The Reserve is divided into three very differemt areas. The first area is the main Lagoon area, where 120 species of birds, have been spotted,according to Head Ranger Don Luis...
Reserva Rio Clarillo
WebsiteSatellite View
Rio Clarillo reserve is near Pirque, south of the main part of Santiago... ...you can see several Chilean endemics including the Dusky Tapaculo and White-throated Tapaculo as well as Chilean Tinamou and the common Chilean Mockingbird. The site to look for the two tapaculos is the trail that loops around the back of the park office, you may be able to find the local naturalist Carlos Sarmiento Sequel who may give you hand with locating birds...
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2000 [March] - Greg Roberts - Santiago
ReportWe stayed overnight in Santiago en route to and returning from Ecuador. On March 3, we made a brief visit to El Yeso Reservoir, in the Andes east of the capital.
2000 [October] - John van der Woude
ReportFrom 15 to 19 October we made a side trip to northernmost Chile from our main birding trip to Bolivia. For an introduction, see the report of the main trip...
2001 - Ignaas Robbe - Iquique
ReportIquique is a pleasant coastal town in Chile's I-region (Tarapaca, North Chile). Iquique has about 250000 people and the population is growing.. It absolutely never rains here and the Atacama desert surrounding this city is extremely dry and supports no life whatsoever (apart from its typical breeding Grey Gulls). The cool seabreeze coming from the Humboldt current compensates for the heat coming from the desert – so, this city has a very dry (but at times humid due to the fog coming from the pacific) but pleasant climate with almost daily sunshine...
2001 [December] - John Penhallurick
ReportI have just returned from a fantastic birding trip to Chile. I had a target list of 98 life species, of which I managed 94...
2001 [July] - Saul Cowen
ReportNext day, the weather was too bad to drive across the Andes so we flew from Mendoza to Santiago De Chile, which was turbulent to say the least. Once we had arrived in Santiago the weather had not improved although this didn`t seem to bother the Chimango Caracaras and Austral Thrushes which were present in good numbers. Shining Cowbirds and Austral Blackbirds were also seen. We just relaxed around the city for the rest of the day...
2001 [November] - David and John F. Cooper
ReportDiary & systematic list...
2002 [March] - Mark T Adams
ReportWhile in Chile for business in early March, I took a couple personal days to go birding around Santiago. Through recommendations from Birdchatters earlier this year, I contacted a knowledgable Chilean ornithologist who also guides (and very well); Michel Sallaberry. He suggested that we divide my two days into one day along the Pacific coast and a second day in the Andes...
2002 [May] - Greg Roberts
ReportWith Glenn Scherf, we flew from Santiago to Arica, where he hired a vehicle, for the northern sector. A second vehicle was hired in Santiago for the central sector. Two days of continuous rain towards the end of the trip scuttled plans to visit El Yeso and limited observations at La Campana...
2002 [November] - Gruff Dodd
ReportChile was a destination which Sara and I had fancied for many years – the combination of good birding with lots of Chilean and Patagonian endemics, and a modern infrastructure combined with superb scenery added up to a total experience which seemed hard to beat. Our appetites were whetted further by a visit to Ecuador in September 2001, our first South American trip, which included some high altitude Andean birding...
2003 [January] - Neil Osborne & Gillian Webster
ReportChile is a great place to go birding- the scenery is spectacular, the people friendly and the country has something of a European feel. Learning a little Spanish helps as many people do not speak much English...
2005 [December] - Stephen Greenfield
ReportThis is a report on birding in central Chile (from regions IV to IX) between 15 December 2005 and 3 January 2006. It concentrates on logistical information and updates on established sites and information on sites not covered in Pearman's or Wheatley's guides or trip reports available on the Web (see references below), particularly Conguillío National Park, which was excellent, and Radal-Siete Tazas National Reserve...
2006 [December] - Paul Prevett & Candy McManiman
ReportThis is a very brief overview intended to provide a bare-bones backdrop. Information on specific sites appears in the itinerary and the daily log later in the report, where important birds are also highlighted...
2006 [January] - Alex Bevan
ReportAfter visiting Patagonia & Tierra del Fuego in January 2004, a two week trip to Chile seemed the natural next step, in terms of a gentle introduction to South American birding. As we had visited the far south during our Argentina trip, we limited our time in Chile to northern and central areas...
2006 [November] - Julian & Sandra Hughes
ReportHaving not visited South America, Chile seemed a good place to start, especially as it is the only jump-off point for the Falkland Islands, where we wanted to visit some friends and do some more birding. We spent two weeks in Chile in late November 2006, followed by a week in the Falklands in early December, the subject of a separate trip report. Having researched sites visited by other birders, we realised that in just two weeks it was impractical to visit sites north and south of Santiago, so we visited three areas: Santiago, the Lake District and Chiloe (from Puerto Montt), and Torres del Paine and Tierra del Fuego (from Punta Arenas). Even this involved a fair amount of travelling, and I would recommend not trying to rush a visit this country; we can always go back to the north...
2007 [January] - Mark Finn
Report...In total we observed 286 species of birds including many sought after species notably Chatham Islands Albatross, Masatierra Petrel, Magellanic Plover, Diademed Sandpiper Plover, Burrowing Parrot, Magellanic Woodpecker, Band-tailed Earthcreeper, all the available tapaculos, canasteros and huet-huets and the majority of High Andean species. The latter included the rarely seen Creamy-rumped Miner, Red-backed Sierra Finch and the uncommon and localised Mountain Parakeet...
2008 [Chile] - Niels Poul Dreyer
ReportPhotos, reports and list...
2008 [November] - Sam Woods
ReportWhen you first glance at Chile’s bird list (just over 470 species), it would be easy to think that it does not have much to offer, compared to other more diverse South American countries. However, what Chile may lack in quantity it more than makes up for in quality...
2009 [February] - Mark Finn
Report...On the plus side tapaculos showed well with excellent views of Chacao Tapaculo and Black-throated Huet-Huets in the Chilean lake district. The same area also produced several sightings of the relatively little-known Rufous-tailed Hawk and the range-restricted Kelp Goose. The far south was a great experience with flocks of Tawny-throated Dotterels, Upland Geese and Magallenic Plover the latter again being rather scarce in its usual haunts...
2009 [January] - Mark Pearman
Report...Once again we managed to see all of the Chilean endemics, all eight amazing Chilean tapaculos and such highly sought-after species as Diademed Sandpiper-Plover, Magellanic Plover, Austral Rail, Chilean Woodstar, White-bridled Finch and our first Black Rails....
This section sponsored by:
Abtao
Tour OperatorBirdwatching and Natural history Trips in Chile from Ecoturismo y Educación Ambiental - Ecotourism and Environmental Education. Abtao provides expeditions guided by scientists and professional naturalists in an educational context of recreation, adventure, reflection and care for the environment. Traveling to amazing places within Chile, from the arid north desert to the rainy Patagonian lands...
Aconcagua Birding
Tour OperatorAs a specialized company devoted exclusively to Birding and Birdwatching, we offer an ample diversity of Birding Trips in the eco-region of Central Chile, a biodiversity hotspot and area of endemism comprising a variety of landscapes from the Andes Mountains to Mediterranean forests, wetlands, seashore, estuaries, freshwater bodies, scrubby plains, and an array of environments as contrasting as Chile´s stunning geography, plus the chance to take a customized, tailor-made Trip designed to meet your most particular Birding demands...
Alto Andino Nature Tours
Tour OperatorSlow-paced, naturalist-led tours provide an opportunity to observe puna birds and wildlife of the saline lakes, cushion bogs, tola grassland, and Polylepis woodlands of the Chilean altiplano. We focus on the natural history of a slice of the Andes from Arica through the 4 altiplano wilderness areas of northern Chile. Atacama and Altiplano - Lauca National Park, Natural Monument Salar de Surire, National Vicuñas Reserve, Isluga Volcano National Park, Atacama desert and coastal marine mammal colonies...
Birding Chile
Tour OperatorBirding Chile is a Company created for people with long experience in nature and wildlife, especially in birds. All they are persons with many years in the field, working all along the country as biologists, guides or even photographers...
Birding Pal
InformationLocal birders willing to show visiting birders around their area...
BirdQuest
Tour OperatorBirdquest's Chile birding tour is a classic South American birdwatching trip. Our Chile tour is the most comprehensive available and records more Chilean specialities than any other, featuring remote Juan Fernández, the little known Chestnut-throated Huet-huet and an extra pelagic off Iquique, as well as all the traditional areas....
Fantastico Sur
Tour OperatorFantástico Sur Mountain Lodges has Refugios, Camping and Cabins in Torres del Paine, located along the path of W Circuit and at the Beginning of the BIG Circuit.
Focus Tours
Tour OperatorChile is remarkably similar to the West Coast of North America from Alaska to northern Mexico, with the seasons, as well as geography, reversed... this is an excellent site for info on Chile.
Kolibri Expeditions
Tour OperatorKolibri Expeditions offer a variety of programs in the Neotropics, but we usually do not have fixed departures. The trips below will be organised on request. The itineraries must therefore be seen as a draft before individual considerations. Whenever there is a trip scheduled this will show on this page. Come back to it and check once in a while for changes.
Manu Expeditions
Tour OperatorManu Expeditions is a professional company based in Peru with 25 years experience, offering bespoke birding trips to Chile, specialing in catering for serious bird watchers and photographers...
Nature Travel Specialists
Tour OperatorNature Travel Specialists believes that travel is most enjoyable when it expands the horizons of both visitor and visited, when both give and receive from each other. With this in mind we design itineraries that enable our travelers to explore the natural areas of the world, in the company of English-speaking local tour guides who know their country and region intimately...
Pucón Birding
Tour OperatorThis birding project is possible due to the contribution of hotel business owners of Pucón with more than 50 years experience. They have sensed the need for expert birding guidance, through their client’s requests...
Rockjumper Birding Tours
Tour OperatorOur comprehensive tour of this fantastic and scenically stunning country takes us from the Humboldt Current along the rocky coastline right up to the high Paramo of the Andes. Birding targets include the striking Diademed Sandpiper-plover, Chilean Tinamou, Chestnut-throated and Black-throated Huet-huets, Chilean Woodstar and Slender-billed Parakeet.
Wings
Tour OperatorA fascinating collection of birds coupled with some of the most spectacular scenery on earth makes the birding in Chile a superb experience. This narrow strip of territory, 150 miles wide by 2500 miles long, is a land of immense variety and beauty: the grandeur of its wave-dashed Pacific beaches; the solitude of high Andean lakes; rolling plains of Tierra del Fuego; and the utterly barren Atacama, the most perfect of deserts...
Hacienda Laguna Torca
AccommodationThere are two comfy Lodges available, Cascada and Laguna. Both very different from the norm...
Hotel Arrebol Patagonia
Accommodation…new boutique Hotel. It has 22 rooms, all with view to Llanquihue's lake, also has a seafood restaurant, bar, 12 people meeting room, and the most important, its surrounded by nature and ancient trees….
Hotel José Nogueira
AccommodationAt the end of the American continent, in the southern part of legendary Patagonia and across Tierra del Fuego, on the shores of the Strait of Magellan, lies the most important and the first city in Patagonia: Punta Arenas, Chile. Right in the middle of downtown is located one of the oldest buildings of the entire Patagonia, the centenary old mansion formerly owned by Don José Nogueira and Doña Sara Braun, two characters who wrote the history of Patagonia...
Parque Natural Dos Rios
AccommodationTake your camera on your trips and discover chilean birdlife just a few steps from your cabin. And if the more than 40 species in the park are not enough, all kinds of birds at near Pacific coast and in even nearer National Parks and lakes just wait for you to be discovered...
Aves de Chile
WebsiteIn Spanish: Cuando salimos a terreno observamos las distintas especies de aves que habitan el paisaje. Pero también procuramos estar atentos a las que no están. Vemos como desaparecen y vemos como se degrada el entorno. Sabemos que la especie más común es el hombre y su basura, la marca geográfica más habitual las llantas de vehículos. ¿Por qué ?, porque ya habrá tiempo para salvar, y hoy estamos muy ocupados en otros asuntos. Si cada uno de nosotros no esperara para tener estudios, o que surjan otros que se preocupen de buscar las respuestas, y en ves de ello mirásemos con mayor tranquilidad, sin pretensiones, y recuperásemos nuestra capacidad de contemplar, quizás lentamente los cambios se hicieran más evidentes, al entendernos parte de lo observado. Quizás sea mucho decir, o esperar, hoy no nos queda más que la convicción de que lo visto ahora, probablemente no estará mañana.
Conserva: Videos de Fauna de Chile
WebsiteWildlife Videos of Chile... mostly amateur footage
Entre plumas, cantos y vuelos... Aves de Chile
WebsiteImágenes, sonidos e información de las aves de Chile. Además,conceptos de ornitología, ecología y biología de aves...
Fauna Chile
WebsiteJuan Pablo Gabella, is the Director of Fauna Chile, a business whose objective is to take people to watch fauna, especially birds, in Chile. He is a local guide who is knowledgeable on identification...
Fotografía de Aves
WebsitePhoto BLOG
Freebirds
WebsitePhotographic guide to birds of Argentina, Chile & Uruguay…
Pucón Birding
WebsiteThis birding project is possible due to the contribution of hotel business owners of Pucón with more than 50 years experience. They have sensed the need for expert birding guidance, through their client’s requests...
Fotografía de fauna chilena
GalleryManuel Jara - Soy estudiante de Biología en Gestión de Recursos Naturales, me gusta el estudio de la fauna en general, en especial de los reptiles. Te invito a conocer mi blog…
Photographer - Ignacio Azocar Guzman - Chile Aves
GalleryThe photographs of Chile's birds by Ignacio Azocar Guzman...
Photographer - Mike Danzenbaker
GalleryTerrific pictures of Chile`s birds...
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This site was last updated on Monday, 30th January 2012.
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