From the coastline to the highest peaks of the mountain range of the Sierra Nevada, an amazing set of ecosystems are available. They are home of such biodiversity that it has positioned many birding hotspots in its area. In this article we will tell you briefly what you need to know if you want to visit this biosphere reserve and we hope when you finish reading it you will have the desire to discover the birds of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.
According to the Colombian Ornithology Association (Asociación Colombiana de Ornitología, 2020), in Colombia there are around 1954 bird species. Nonetheless, as the total count is increasing worldwide, it happens the same in this country, so this number has to be updated every few years.
The places where Colombia’s biodiversity can be seen as its best, have given us the chance to promote sustainable tourism where activities such as birdwatching become a reference internationally.
There are more than 600 species, equivalent to 35% of all birds recorded in Colombia, here are some of them:
Parrots, macaws and parakeets: Military macaw (Ara militaris), Blue-and-yellow macaw (Ara ararauna), Blue-headed parrot (Pionus menstruus), Yellow-crown parrot (Amazona ochrocephala), Scarlet-fronted parakeet (Psittacara wagleri).
Pigeons and doves: Scaled pigeon (Patagioenas speciosa), Bare-eyed pigeon (Patagioenas corensis), Plain-breasted ground dove (Columbina minuta), Lined quail-dove (Zentrygon linearis).
Vultures, hawks and falcons: King vulture (Sarcoramphus papa), Pearl kite (Gampsonyx swainsonii), Gray-lined hawk (Buteo nitidus), Collared forest-falcon (Micrastur semitorquatus).
Owls: Ferruginous pygmi-owl (Glaucidium brasilianum), Black-and-white owl (Ciccaba nigrolineata).
Chachalacas and guans: Rufous-vented chachalaca (Ortalis garrula), Band-tailed guan (Penelope argyrotis).
Hummingbirds: White-necked jacobin (Florisuga mellivora), Ruby-topaz hummingbird (Chrysolampis mosquitus), Red-billed emerald (Chlorostilbon gibsoni), Rufous-tailed hummingbird (Amazilia tzacatl).
Tucans, toucanets, cuckoos, motmots, trogons: Keel-billed toucan (Ramphastos sulfuratus), Groove-billed toucanet (Aulacorhynchus sulcatus), Squirrel cuckoo (Piaya cayana), Whooping motmot (Momotus subrufescens), Gartered trogon (Trogon calligatus).
Manakins, flycatchers, chlorophonias and others.
The Sierra Nevada has 28 species and 42 subspecies of endemic birds. We highlight 3 of them that are highly appreciated by birders.
Santa Marta parakeet (Pyrrhura viridicata): The only endemic parakeet of the city, it is endangered. Efforts are being made to preserve it.
Santa Marta brush finch (Atlapetes melanocephalus): It can be found between 1,500 and 3,200 meters in the mountains of the Sierra Nevada. This finch has black head and silver “cheeks”.
Santa Marta woodstar (Chaetocercus astreans): This hummingbird is not only valuable for birders, but for the indigenous tribes, which consider it a sacred part of their world view.
Birding in Santa Marta is an excellent idea. Its natural surroundings offer a fascinating variety of birds. There are hotspots in the Sierra Nevada where you can see almost 400 species.
Finding that amount of birds in the same region is a great advantage, but there’s more, as we have seen above, there are many birds here you cannot find anywhere else.
In Santa Marta you can go bird watching with expert nature guides and/or agencies that provide you all the services you need to have the best experience. You can contact us to get more information.
Birding spots in the Sierra Nevada and surrounding areas
Are you interested in birding in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta? Let’s see the best spots.
As the Sierra Nevada is very attractive for many birders around the world, in most cases Minca is the town that welcomes them before arriving at their destination.
But, Minca is not only the entrance to other birding spots in the area, by itself, it is an interesting place for doing this activity, Minca has birder friendly accommodations, ecological trails and tour operators, they have services for any kind of birdwatcher, from the amateurs to the most experienced ones. For watching birds that are higher in the mountains or are harder to see, then you can visit other spots such as la Tagua, San Lorenzo, or El Dorado reserve.
Link to the list of the birds of Minca and its surrounding on eBird.
From ‘El Dorado Reserve’ we have the chance to see around 365 bird species, from which more than 40 are migratory birds. This reserve is located north of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and west Minca town. It was one of the ‘haciendas’, the ancient big farms of the region.
A place to discover in the downskirts of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is the Don Diego river. If you have heard about this place when visiting the Lost City or the Tayrona Park, maybe the reason has been the tubing experience there. But, another thing that can amaze you about this destination is the possibility to do other activities such as birdwatching.
You can see around 296 bird species in Don Diego river and its surroundings, what positions it as a great spot for birding.
The birds of the Sierra Nevada are not only valuable for local or foreigner birders, they have been so important for ancient tribes. Nowadays, the natives are known for handcrafts such as bags or their traditional clothing, but centuries ago, they not only wove their clothes, they also made gold ornaments and ceramic objects that were inspired by the birds of the region.
In conclusion, the Sierra Nevada is one of the best places in the world for birding thanks to its biodiversity and number of endemic species. In addition, the excellent services of the birding tour operators guarantee us an incredible experience.
So, do not hesitate, visit the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, there’s more than a new bird species to be discovered!