Flame-winged (Brown-breasted) Parakeet— Photo: ProAves Colombia

A short extension to an endemic-rich area in the northern portion of Colombia's Eastern Andes. Little-visited by birders; rural and small town settings with a pleasant, fairly dry climate and remarkable mix of endemic and range-restricted birds.

This short trip focuses on one site in the mountains east of Colombia's capital city of Bogotá and on several often-overlooked highland areas north of Bogotá.

Because the climate of the region north of Bogotá is pleasant and cool and somewhat drier than much of the country's Andes, it is a particularly desirable place to live and has been heavily settled for more than two centuries. It also harbors an unusual number of endemic species of birds but, because of extensive deforestation, several of these species were, until recently, virtually unknown in life. Some were thought to be possibly extinct. However, diligent searching, mostly by enthusiastic young Colombian students, researchers, and conservationists, has now turned up essentially all of these species except a grebe which is regarded as extinct.

Remarkably, most of these species are not rare, although they are quite local, and confined to small areas of remaining woodland or scrub. Some are now expanding their ranges again following reforestation projects. With this in mind, we will focus our efforts on searching for this small but highly select group of endemic species, among them the Black Inca, Chestnut-bellied Hummingbird, Apical Flycatcher, Niceforo's Wren, and Mountain Grackle.

We will begin this trip with a visit to beautiful Chingaza National Park, which is dominated by humid montane forest in the high mountains east of Bogotá. Here we hope to catch sight of the spectacular and endemic Flame-winged (Brown-breasted) Parakeet, and there is a good chance for several more endemics, including Silvery-throated Spinetail, Pale-bellied (Matorral) Tapaculo, and the nearly endemic Coppery-bellied Puffleg and Rufous-browed Conebill. All told, more than a dozen endemic or near-endemic species are possible, as well as such exciting species as Black-billed Mountain-Toucan, Black-backed Mountain-Tanager, and Crimson-mantled Woodpecker. And best of all, temperatures are sure to be cool and pleasant throughout.

Excellent accommodations in Bogotá; clean but simple hotel accommodations and food in village of Soatá; easy, mostly roadside birding in highlands ranging from ca. 5,000-10,000 feet elevation; no long walks but some uphill walking at higher elevations; relaxed pace but with early morning (predawn) departures; rain always possible in Colombian Andes.