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All our tours described in other sections take you to places all over the country where you can, among other activities, observe birds and wildlife in general. But if you are a serious birdwatcher, then this section is for you. Venezuela has 1.346 species of birds reported to date, which is about 42% of the total for South America (also known as the birds Continent) or 14% of the world total. As a comparison we can mention that in the whole North America (US and Canada) there are only 900 species of birds reported. No wonder why our country has often been called “A birder’s Paradise”. From this Venezuelan total, 46 species are endemic to the country, which means they are not found anywhere else in the world. The reason for so much bird diversity lies in the huge variety of different habitats or life zones that can be found in our country in a relatively small area. Ranging from the marine-coastal, and xerophitic habitats all along the coast and islands, to the cloud forests and “paramos” (high tundra) in the Andes or from the dry forest and seasonal savannas in the llanos to the very humid and lush rain forest and the unique “tepuis” south of the country. This large diversity of landscape and life zones accounts also for the generally large biodiversity in plants and animals which makes Venezuela one of the top 12 “Megadiverse” countries in the world. Our Birding Tours can be organized for individuals orgroups to any part of the country to please your needs depending on which places you want to visit, how long you want to stay, how much you want to spend, or if you are not sure about any of these, let us advise you or take one of our predesigned itineraries which are organized to maximize the birding opportunities, you can even tell us which birds you would like to see and we’ll take you where they are!!!.. We also have professional birding guides to go with our tours, which can make a difference when you need excellency. |
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by Regions If you are a serious birdwatcher, you will find in this section an outline of some representative birding locations that we use in our itineraries by region of the country and a summary of the birdlife and other wildlife that can be found in each one: |
| The
Coast
Morrocoy National Park |
| Located in the northwest part of the country, this Park is composed by three main habitats: a limestone hill, mudflats and coral reef Keys covered or surrounded by mangroves and sandy beaches. Some of the birds that can be seen in this Park are: Magnificent Frigatebirds, Brown Boobies, Brown Pelican, American Flamingo, Scarlet Ibis, several species of terns, egrets, herons, more than 12 species of shorebirds, some of which can be seen by the thousands in certain times of the year, plus many species of Hawks, Flycatchers, Antbirds, Jacamars, and Puffbirds, in the mainland. There are also some near endemics like the Bare-eyed pigeon, Buffy Hummingbird and the Yellow-shouldered Parrot. |
| The
Coastal Range
Henri Pittier National Park |
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| The
Andes
Sierra Nevada National Park |
| This Park is located close to the city of Mérida and several small Andean towns like Tabay, Mucuchies and Santo Domingo, and the main life zones are rain forest, cloud forest and páramos. This Park is another birding Paradise. Some of the species that can be seen are: Golden-headed and Crested Quetzal, Emerald Toucanet, the endemic Rose-headed Parakeet, the spectacular Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, the majestic Andean Condor, which is the largest flying bird in the world, also, Torrent Duck, Lyre-tailed nightjar, more than 35 species of hummingbirds including such specialties as the Bearded Helmetcrest, Merida Sunangel, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Speckled Hummingbird and Tyrian Metaltail; several dozen Tanagers including Blue-necked, Speckled, Bay-headed, Black-capped, Black-headed and Lachrymose Mountain-Tanager. Also several species of Hawks, including Black-chested Buzard-Eagle, Antbirds, Antpittas, Jays, Flycatchers, Manakins, including Wire-tailed and Golden-winged; Fruiteaters, Woodcreepers, Woodpeckers, Thrushes and many more. Also several species of mammals including the Spectacled Bear, reptiles and frogs occur here. |
| The Llanos (plains) |
| The Llanos are without a doubt the best area of the country to observe general wildlife due to the openness of the terrain. More than 400 species of birds can be found in the llanos. Some of them are: Scarlet Macaw, Yellow-crowned Parrot, 3 species of Storks including Jabiru, 7 species of Ibis including scarlet, more than 12 species of Herons, Bitterns and Egrets including Capped, Zigzag, Whistling and Ruffescent-Tiger Heron, Boat-billed Heron, Sunbittern, Lapwings, more than 12 different Shorebirds; Wattled Jacana, Gray-necked Wood-Rail, 3 species of Whistling-Ducks which can be seen sometimes in flocks of several thousands, plus Muscovy and Comb Duck, Orinoco Goose, Horned Screamer, more than 24 species of raptors, including Savanna, Black-collared, Great Black and White-tailed Hawks; Ornate Hawk-Eagle, Snail Kite; King Vulture, Aplomado Falcon; more than 6 species of Owls, the odd-looking and primitive featured Hoatzin, the near endemic Yellow-knobbed Curassow and Pale-headed Jacamar, plus many species of Nightjars, Nighthawks, more than 40 Flycatchers, Manakins, Antbirds, Woodcreepers, Woodpeckers, Puffbirds and many more. Aside from the birds, a great variety of mammals, reptiles and frogs can easily be seen (for locations see also our Section Wildlife Adventures) |
| Bolivar State (Guayana Shield) |
| Canaima National Park is located in the Southeastern part of Bolivar state. With 3 million ha. it's the 6th largest Park in the world. Life zones include rain forest, cloud forest and the unique high tepuy vegetation at the top of the tepuys. There are more than 530 species of birds reported for this Park, many of which are endemic. Some of the birds that can be seen here are: Red-billed Toucan, Black-necked and Green Aracari, Guianan Toucanet, more than 20 species of Psitacids (the parrot family) including Red and Green Macaw, Orange-winged, Black-headed, Mealy, Dusky, Caica and Red-fan Parrots, Tepui Parrotlet; More than 20 different Hawks, Eagles and Falcons; 5 species of Trogons, more than 28 species of hummingbirds, the Superb Guianan Cock-of-the-Rock, more than 15 different Cotingas including Pompadour, Purple- breasted, and Spangled; Bearded and White Bellbird, the Amazing Capuchinbird, More than 30 species of Antbirds, more than 8 Woodpeckers; 6 different Puffbirds, 5 different Jacamars, Tanagers, including Paradise, Opal-rumped, Turquoise, Spotted; Honeycreepers, Dacnis; Manakins, including Golden-headed, Scarlet-horned, Blue crowned, White-bearded and White-fronted; plus, Flycatchers, Woodcreepers, Wrens, including Flutist and Musician, and many more. Also there are several species of mammals including at least 4 monkeys; reptiles frogs and insects. Not far away from this park we have the best location of the world to see the phenomenal Harpy Eagle, the largest Eagle in the world. |
| Amazonas State (Orinoquia-Amazonia) |
| Another interesting area in the Guayana Shield is the middle and high Orinoco River Basin in the Amazonas state south of the country. This is a vast area of virgin rain forest extending for thousands of square kilometers. One of our birding location is an area of several thousand hectares by the Ventuary River, reported to have close to 400 species of birds. Just to mention a few of them: Harpy Eagle plus many other Raptors, more than 20 different Macaws, Parrots and Parakeets, dozens of different Antbirds, the astonishing Amazonian Umbrellabird, plus many other Cotingas, Toucans, Woodpeckers, Puffbirds, Tanagers and many more. This is also the realm of the Jaguar and the Orinoco Crocodile and several other species of mammals and reptiles. |
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