Puerto Maldonado: the entrance for biodiversity!
Needless to say, ornithologists have carried out much detailed research around the Tambopata Reserve and have sighted a total of 620 bird species, including 20 parrots, 18 hummingbirds, 7 trogons, 12 puffbirds, 10 tinamous, 8 toucans, 17 woodpeckers, 19 woodcreepers, 37 birds of prey, 30 furnariids, 52 antbirds and 90 tyrant flycatchers, as well as rare species such as Agami and Zigzag Herons, Starred Wood-Quail, Sungrebe, Sunbittern, Razor-billed Curassow, Hoatzin, Spectacled Owl, Spangled and plum-throated Cotingas, Casqued Oropendola and Paradise Tanager. Macaws are easily sighted at clay licks, where the macaws gather.
text from: http://bird-watchingtours.com/destinos/amazon-peru/t.html
1. Brazilian Teal (Amazonetta brasiliensis)
This species was reported for Peru first by local naturalist guides around Puerto Maldonado town but there wasn’t any official report. After a few years, popular birders have found again this duck and since that finally the Brazilian Teal was included on the official list and published on the last edition of the Birds of Peru book. Nowadays, it is very common to see in some of the marshes in the suburbs.
2. White faced (Dendrocygna autumnalis) and Black-Bellied Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna bicolor)
Two species of Whistling-Ducks have found in Puerto Maldonado. They are seen usually once every two months a year, but from where do they come? this is the greatest question!, but most birders believe that they migrate from Brazil or Bolivia which makes sense as Puerto Maldonado is closer to those countries than the rest of Peru and the habitat is similar around here! Two species which we can include in the official bird list for Tambopata and surroundings finally.
Plus: Since last year, they are finally residents, nesting with some duckling moving around!
3. Southern Lapwing (Vanellus chilensis)
They are 3 Lapwings species in peru, but this one is the largest one! They can be found in any place with water specially in big open areas. My first record was really unusual: I saw them on the soccer field of the local stadium and on one of the main squares in Puerto Maldonado close to my house!
They are very aggressive when people try to approach them, they do attack like a raptor flying around and trying to catch you! So be really careful when trying to get a nice shot.
4. Black-Necked Stilt (Himantopus melanurus)
Very rare migrant to the Tambopata area. It was a big surprise for me and Jhin Solis to find this bird species near the whistling ducks! anyway, we did a simple report for this great sighting for us, and we heard it was a single report with no confirmation many years ago on tambopata river. But we found them again last February 20th foraging around. It was for a month at the same spot. we don’t know exactly from where this bird have come to here, according the distribution in south america this bird can be found in Brazil, Bolivia, Chile and Colombia. We hope to see this bird again next year, maybe them come for the carnivals!
5. Unicolored Blackbird (Agelasticus cyanopus)
This photo is another proof for a new bird species for Peru (sorry for the pic resolution but my camera wasn’t good at that time). This Icteridae species was found in November 2010 on Cocococha Oxbow Lake managed by Explorers Inn Lodge inside the Tambopata National Reserve. But it was not the only place found by birders, this bird was reported in Manu and others lakes in Tambopataas well. I do not understand why this bird species has not being included in the official Peruvian Bird List until now even though many people have reported him and there are phisical evidence (like this humble photo) of his visit in SE Peru. His former range is Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina & Paraguay. I hope to see him again and get a better picture for you!
MAP DISTRIBUTION: This is a reference Map if somebody stay in this town or wants to go birding along the Tambopata river. Map compilation ( map drown without editing) from the New Book editing and publish very soon “Birding spots in Peru”
Have a great birding day!
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