Birdwatching · Photographed species
The 43 species photographed at the finca
Of more than 70 species observed at El Nido Andino, these are the 43 with images so far. Organized by interest for international birders — endemics and range-restricted species first.
Featured — endemics and range-restricted
The five species that draw the most interest from international birders. Endemic to Colombia or range-restricted to a few neighbouring countries.
Bar-crested Antshrike
Thamnophilus multistriatus · Thamnophilidae
An Andean specialty largely restricted to Colombia. The male shows a dramatic black-and-white barred pattern and a raisable crest; the female is rufous-crowned. Inhabits secondary forest and edges — exactly the habitat type the property offers.
Spectacled Parrotlet
Forpus conspicillatus · Psittacidae
Tiny green parrot with a vivid blue eye-ring (the "spectacles"). Restricted to Colombia, Panama and western Venezuela. On the finca, pairs have been photographed inspecting cavities with bromeliads — likely nesting behaviour.
Crimson-backed Tanager
Ramphocelus dimidiatus · Thraupidae
Male with deep crimson body, black head and wings, and the diagnostic silver lower mandible. Near-endemic to Colombia, Panama and northwest Venezuela. One of the most visually striking tanagers on the property.
Pale-bellied Hermit
Phaethornis anthophilus · Trochilidae
Long-billed, decurved-bill hermit hummingbird with a dark face mask and pale belly. Range-restricted to N Colombia, Panama and NW Venezuela. Hermits are a sub-group particularly sought after by visiting birders.
Scrub Tanager
Stilpnia vitriolina · Thraupidae
Opalescent turquoise tanager with a buff-golden crown and dark face mask. Restricted to the Andes of Colombia and Ecuador. As its name suggests, it favours scrub and second-growth — abundant along coffee-plantation edges.
Hummingbirds, jacamar and standouts
High-value species for photography and observation — hummingbirds drawn to the gardens, the patient jacamar on its perch, and shyer birds like the wood-rail.
Rufous-tailed Jacamar
Galbula ruficauda · Galbulidae
Needle-thin bill, iridescent green upperparts, rufous belly. Jacamars are a Neotropical-only family — sit-and-wait insectivores that hold motionless on exposed perches. A photographer’s favourite.
White-necked Jacobin
Florisuga mellivora · Trochilidae
One of the most photographed hummingbirds in Colombia. Males have a deep blue head, white belly and a white nape band; females show a scaled green-and-white breast pattern.
Brown Violetear
Colibri delphinae · Trochilidae
Chunky hummingbird with predominantly brown-bronze plumage. The diagnostic feature is the iridescent violet patch flaring behind the eye. Less common than other local hummingbirds.
Black-throated Mango
Anthracothorax nigricollis · Trochilidae
Mid-to-large hummingbird with iridescent green body. The male shows a dramatic black throat-to-belly stripe; the female has a white belly with a central black stripe.
White-vented Plumeleteer
Chalybura buffonii · Trochilidae
Large hummingbird with iridescent green body and the diagnostic field mark: fluffy white plumes under the tail (the "vent" of the English name).
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
Amazilia tzacatl · Trochilidae
The most common and most photographed hummingbird in Colombia. Iridescent green body, rufous tail, red bill with black tip. Almost guaranteed during any visit.
Gray-cowled Wood-Rail
Aramides cajaneus · Rallidae
Elegant rail: gray head, chestnut-rufous breast, black belly, bright red legs. Usually hides in dense vegetation — a clear sighting is a real reward for patient observers.
Green Kingfisher
Chloroceryle americana · Alcedinidae
The smallest of Colombia’s kingfishers. Iridescent green back, white collar. Males have a rufous breast band. Frequents the property’s lake.
Little Cuckoo
Piaya minuta · Cuculidae
Slim, long-tailed cuckoo with rufous-chestnut body and a dark facial mask. Less common than other cuckoos. A clear sighting is always satisfying.
Bare-faced Ibis
Phimosus infuscatus · Threskiornithidae
Dark glossy ibis with diagnostic bare red facial skin (the "bare face"). Long curved bill, pinkish legs. Locally common in the Magdalena valley.
More photographed species
The other 28 species documented on the finca — raptors, woodpeckers, common tanagers, a boreal migrant, and the small understory flycatchers.
Yellow-headed Caracara
Milvago chimachima · Falconidae
Small caracara with pale head and dark body. Opportunistic scavenger and hunter; often perched in tall trees.
Roadside Hawk
Rupornis magnirostris · Accipitridae
Medium-sized raptor: gray-brown above, chestnut-barred belly, yellow eyes. Often perched on fence posts.
Crimson-crested Woodpecker
Campephilus melanoleucos · Picidae
Large woodpecker with a full vivid red crest. Photographed at a nesting cavity on the property.
Red-crowned Woodpecker
Melanerpes rubricapillus · Picidae
Medium-sized woodpecker with zebra-barred back, red crown, and a cream-orange face. Common and vocal.
Bay-headed Tanager
Tangara gyrola · Thraupidae
Spectacular tanager with chestnut-rufous head, turquoise body and green wings. Photographed feeding on guava fruit.
Blue-necked Tanager
Stilpnia cyanicollis · Thraupidae
Brilliant turquoise head contrasting with a darker body. Travels in small mixed-species flocks.
Blue-gray Tanager
Thraupis episcopus · Thraupidae
One of the most common tanagers in Colombia. Uniform pale blue-gray body. Travels in mixed flocks.
Palm Tanager
Thraupis palmarum · Thraupidae
Olive-yellow tanager with darker wings. Prefers palms and tall trees. Often seen alongside Blue-gray Tanager.
Gray-headed Tanager
Eucometis penicillata · Thraupidae
Gray head with a short crest contrasting with bright yellow body. Sometimes follows army ants.
Saffron Finch
Sicalis flaveola · Thraupidae
Bright yellow with an orange forehead and crown in adult males. Common in edges and gardens.
Summer Tanager
Piranga rubra · Cardinalidae
Breeds in North America and winters in Colombia (Sep–Apr). Adult males are bright red; females show yellow-orange tones.
Yellow Oriole
Icterus nigrogularis · Icteridae
Bright yellow with black wings, tail and mask. Straight pointed bill. Found in open trees and edges.
Barred Antshrike
Thamnophilus doliatus · Thamnophilidae
Males strongly barred black-and-white; females rufous with a dark crown. Loud, persistent vocalizations.
Rufous-capped Warbler
Basileuterus rufifrons · Parulidae
Rufous crown and cheeks with a white eyebrow, yellow throat, olive back. Restless in the understory.
Great Kiskadee
Pitangus sulphuratus · Tyrannidae
Large and noisy. Bold black-and-white head pattern, bright yellow belly. Unmistakable "kis-ka-dee" call.
Gray-capped Flycatcher
Myiozetetes granadensis · Tyrannidae
Resembles a small Great Kiskadee but with a plain gray cap (no head striping). Common in edges and gardens.
Common Tody-Flycatcher
Todirostrum cinereum · Tyrannidae
Tiny. Black crown, yellow belly, long flat bill, yellow eyes. Highly active among foliage.
Bananaquit
Coereba flaveola · Coerebidae
Small and active. Curved bill, white eyebrow, yellow belly, dark back. Visits flowers for nectar.
Thick-billed Euphonia
Euphonia laniirostris · Fringillidae
Small and compact. Males with glossy blue-black back and intense yellow belly. Visits fruiting trees.
Purple-throated Euphonia
Euphonia chlorotica · Fringillidae
Similar to Thick-billed but smaller, with a glossy purple-blue throat in the male and a more limited yellow forehead.
Streaked Saltator
Saltator striatipectus · Thraupidae
Olive above, white below with finely streaked breast. Thick bill. Often hides in dense bushes.
Black-and-white Seedeater
Sporophila luctuosa · Thraupidae
Glossy black male with white belly and white wing patches. Females are plain olive-brown.
Cattle Egret
Bubulcus ibis · Ardeidae
Small white egret with buff-orange wash in breeding plumage. Follows cattle to catch flushed insects.
Tropical Mockingbird
Mimus gilvus · Mimidae
Slim, long-tailed, gray-whitish, with white wing patches visible in flight. Versatile singer and mimic.
Slaty Spinetail
Synallaxis brachyura · Furnariidae
Small and skulky. Slate-gray body with rufous crown and wings, long cocked tail. Dense vegetation.
Straight-billed Woodcreeper
Xiphorhynchus picus · Furnariidae
Climbs trunks vertically. White-streaked head, straight pale bill, stiff tail used as a brace.
Southern Beardless-Tyrannulet
Camptostoma obsoletum · Tyrannidae
Tiny gray-brown with a small ragged crest and two pale wing bars. Identified in part by its distinctive whistled call.
Golden-faced Tyrannulet
Zimmerius chrysops · Tyrannidae
Olive-green with yellow face and wing bars. Specialist on mistletoe berries.
Methodology and credits
Documented on the finca
Each species on this list has been observed and photographed within the bounds of El Nido Andino. This is not a habitat-based projection — these are birds actually recorded here. On a typical day you will see 8 to 15 species; the full diversity accumulates across multiple visits and seasons.
Photo credits
All bird photographs on this page were taken at El Nido Andino by Luis Carlos, part of our team. All rights reserved.
About eBird
The "eBird" links lead to each species’ official page on eBird.org, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s platform — where you’ll find reference photographs, song recordings, and global distribution maps. It is the standard reference of the worldwide birding community.
Identifications based on photographs. Corrections welcome — get in touch.