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We made it! Here is our group on the trail to the Polylepis patch on Abra Malaga, where we saw some great birds like the White-browed Tit-Spinetail and Gray-breasted Seed-Snipe. Photo by guide Dan Lane.

The Cusco Andes of Peru is a great place to get to know the birds and culture of this large and varied country. Here, one can experience several different habitat types-- from arid temperate valleys to open puna to humid temperate and subtropical forests-- and the birds that inhabit them. Of course, one also can enjoy learning a bit about the history of Peru, cradle of one of the three most grandiose pre-Columbian civilizations in the Americas (the other two being the Mayans and Aztecs), both in the context of pre-conquest times (before the arrival of the swashbuckling Spaniards) and the present. In so many ways, the people of the region have maintained many aspects of their pre-Columbian culture despite centuries of "westernization"... some still speak only Quechua, farm potatoes and raise sheep and alpacas for wool (ok, so obviously the sheep would not be part of the pre-Columbian culture, but you get what I mean). We were able to enjoy delicacies that are based on native crops (quinoa, potato, maíz), and some may even have tried alpaca and cuy (guinea pig)! We even discussed a few Quechua words that have worked their way into the English language! Our local guide Lucrecia did a wonderful job of teaching us more about her wonderful country!

Then there was the nature! Peru really is an amazing place to observe nature. Our tour included seeing some colorful fruiteaters such as Masked Fruiteater, that handsome cotinga on our Mandor walk, the large and squawky Dusky-green Oropendola, the glittering Saffron-crowned Tanager that came in to the feeders at the Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel, and the gaudy Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, which won several folks’ hearts. Some of us enjoyed the more understated, but no less lovely, tyrants we observed, such as the demure Tufted Tit-Tyrant, the Slaty-backed Chat-Tyrant with its white headlights, or other “dingy” birds such as the Diademed Tapaculo, wearing its silver tiara, or the Stripe-headed Antpitta, a species that is hardly typical in its extroverted behavior. Two species with racket tails were high on the list of favorites: the diminutive Booted Rackettail, and the larger, not quite so quick Andean Motmot, both on the grounds of our hotel at Aguas Calientes. Raptors weren’t particularly easy on this tour, but we nevertheless saw a few that were worthy of mention: the rather attractively-patterned Mountain Caracara with the small white spots on the primary feather tips and the Cinereous Harrier that performed an impressive aerial diving display in front of us at Laguna Huaypo. Finally, the unusual find of a Sayaca Tanager at the feeders of Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel was noteworthy, as it is a species that has been reported from Peru a few times, but never conclusively so far… let’s hope our observation proves to be the tipping point!

All these, and more, were among the many lasting memories that we made while enjoying one another’s company, the birds, the culture, and (yes, let’s admit it!) the food! What a great trip! I hope we can do it again sometime. Until then thanks for making this such a pleasant tour, and keep them binoculars near to hand!

Dan

KEYS FOR THIS LIST
One of the following keys may be shown in brackets for individual species as appropriate: * = heard only, I = introduced, E = endemic, N = nesting, a = austral migrant, b = boreal migrant

Machu Picchu is an amazing place, and we were suitably awed by these imposing structures. This view of the large terraces by participant Michael Emmons shows a different angle than the usual photos.

Machu Picchu was where we found the attractive Inca Wrens that posed so nicely! Photo by guide Dan Lane.

Although we saw a few along the railway, this Andean Motmot from the hotel grounds at Agua Calientes offered our best sighting of this colorful South American species. Photo by guide Dan Lane.

Participant Michael Emmons got a nice shot of hummers from the feeders at Aguas Calientes, featuring a large Bronzy Inca.

These Fasciated Tiger-Herons were engaged in a display that was quite entertaining, and fascinating to see! Photo by guide Dan Lane.

We had a great tour of Machu Picchu thanks to our guide, Lucrecia. Photo by guide Dan Lane.

It was a little difficult to reach the spot for the Chestnut-breasted Mountain-Finch, but once there, we had an excellent look at this pretty endemic. Photo by guide Dan Lane.

A pensive-looking Masked Trogon posed for this lovely image at the Machu Picchu Pueblo hotel. Photo by participant Michael Emmons.

This Masked Fruiteater was one of the most colorful birds we found, and he showed well for us. Photo by guide Dan Lane.

One of the Streak-throated Canasteros that we saw along the road sat nicely for guide Dan Lane.

Andean Geese have a very distinctive pattern when seen in flight! Photo by participant Michael Emmons.

Our Rufous Antpitta tried to hide in the grasses, but we managed to see it well in the scope. Photo by guide Dan Lane.

Here's our happy group posing in front of the amazing Peruvian Andes; though it looks a little chilly, can you think of a better backdrop? Photo by guide Dan Lane.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Totals for the tour: 187 bird taxa and 2 mammal taxa