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The charismatic and arboreal Blue-throated Piping-Guan showed well for us at La Habana. (Photo by guide Dan Lane)
Well, this year's Blue-throated Macaw extension has the dubious distinction of being the first we've run since 2007 that has missed the advertised target bird. I thought I'd just get that out in the open from the start. But, happily, we still very much enjoyed our visit to the captivating region known as "The Beni," the lowland mosaic of savannas, gallery forest, deciduous forest, and seasonally flooded as well as permanent wetlands that rivals the Pantanal and Llanos as the most impressive open-country birding in the Americas! The richness of the region cannot be overstated, with a handful of endemics, including the very poorly known and seldom-seen Unicolored Thrush (which we did glimpse again this year), as well as many more widespread but still mesmerizing species.
Rusty-winged Savanna Hawks, giant Jabiru storks, flocks of Roseate Spoonbills, gobs of Limpkin, and oodles of parakeets were among the many sights we enjoyed. We also saw a few large mammals such as howler and capuchin monkeys, herds of Capybaras, and even the very secretive Jaguarundi! Finally, a visit to the evergreen gallery forest along the Rio Mamore, an Amazonian tributary, brought us many coveted birds such as Blue-throated Piping-Guan, Sulphur-bellied Tyrant-Manakin, Rusty-backed Spinetail, Band-tailed Antbird, and Chestnut-tailed Conebill. We even had a pair of the Gray-eyed/Rufous-crowned Greenlet that is known from only a few records in Beni, and which is still a bit of a puzzle with respect to its taxonomy.
Finally, we certainly were able to enjoy the hospitality of the family at the working cattle ranch where we were lodged, including the fabulous food! Yep, the Beni certainly is an interesting place, and I enjoyed this chance to visit it with you.
--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
BIRDS
Rheidae (Rheas)
Southern Screamers were not hard to come by in the Beni. (Photo by guide Dan Lane)
Tinamidae (Tinamous)
UNDULATED TINAMOU (Crypturellus undulatus)
RED-WINGED TINAMOU (Rhynchotus rufescens) – Many at Viru-Viru airport.
Anhimidae (Screamers)
SOUTHERN SCREAMER (Chauna torquata) – These oversized geese were easy to see in much of the Beni.
Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl)
WHITE-FACED WHISTLING-DUCK (Dendrocygna viduata)
BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK (Dendrocygna autumnalis)
ORINOCO GOOSE (Neochen jubata) – Seen well on two days> This species is declining over much of its range, so it was nice to enjoy views on multiple occasions.
BRAZILIAN TEAL (Amazonetta brasiliensis)
Cracidae (Guans, Chachalacas, and Curassows)
SPECKLED CHACHALACA (Ortalis guttata)
BLUE-THROATED PIPING-GUAN (Pipile cumanensis) – A bird at La Habana showed well.
Ciconiidae (Storks)
MAGUARI STORK (Ciconia maguari) – The rarest of the three storks, but we saw a few on two days.
JABIRU (Jabiru mycteria)
WOOD STORK (Mycteria americana)
Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants and Shags)
NEOTROPIC CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax brasilianus)
Anhingidae (Anhingas)
ANHINGA (Anhinga anhinga)
Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)
RUFESCENT TIGER-HERON (Tigrisoma lineatum)
COCOI HERON (Ardea cocoi)
GREAT EGRET (Ardea alba)
SNOWY EGRET (Egretta thula)
CATTLE EGRET (Bubulcus ibis)
STRIATED HERON (Butorides striata)
WHISTLING HERON (Syrigma sibilatrix)
CAPPED HERON (Pilherodius pileatus) – Richard enjoyed this uncommon heron.
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills)
GREEN IBIS (Mesembrinibis cayennensis)
BARE-FACED IBIS (Phimosus infuscatus)
PLUMBEOUS IBIS (Theristicus caerulescens)
BUFF-NECKED IBIS (Theristicus caudatus)
ROSEATE SPOONBILL (Platalea ajaja)
Cathartidae (New World Vultures)
BLACK VULTURE (Coragyps atratus)
TURKEY VULTURE (Cathartes aura)
LESSER YELLOW-HEADED VULTURE (Cathartes burrovianus) – Common in the Beni, it usually flies low over open country.
Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
Guide Dan Lane noted that this year's extension featured the most South American Coatis he has ever seen in the area. (Photo by guide Dan Lane)
BLACK-COLLARED HAWK (Busarellus nigricollis) – This and the next species were regular features of the wetter areas in the Beni.
SNAIL KITE (Rostrhamus sociabilis)
PLUMBEOUS KITE (Ictinia plumbea) – One flying over the gallery forest was nice.
CRANE HAWK (Geranospiza caerulescens) – Long red legs and white crescents on their primaries are the markings to look for.
SAVANNA HAWK (Buteogallus meridionalis) – A rather attractive raptor we saw in good numbers.
GREAT BLACK-HAWK (Buteogallus urubitinga)
ROADSIDE HAWK (Rupornis magnirostris) – Well named.
WHITE-TAILED HAWK (Geranoaetus albicaudatus) – Several seen, starting in Santa Cruz, but a pair near La Verde included a dark morph female.
Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots)
GRAY-NECKED WOOD-RAIL (Aramides cajaneus)
COMMON GALLINULE (Gallinula galeata)
Aramidae (Limpkin)
LIMPKIN (Aramus guarauna) – Perhaps one of the easiest places to see this unique American 'crane.'
Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings)
SOUTHERN LAPWING (Vanellus chilensis)
Recurvirostridae (Stilts and Avocets)
BLACK-NECKED STILT (WHITE-BACKED) (Himantopus mexicanus melanurus)
Jacanidae (Jacanas)
WATTLED JACANA (Jacana jacana)
Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies)
SPOTTED SANDPIPER (Actitis macularius)
SOLITARY SANDPIPER (Tringa solitaria) – Contrary to their name, the weren't always alone.
LESSER YELLOWLEGS (Tringa flavipes)
WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER (Calidris fuscicollis)
PECTORAL SANDPIPER (Calidris melanotos)
Laridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)
YELLOW-BILLED TERN (Sternula superciliaris)
LARGE-BILLED TERN (Phaetusa simplex)
BLACK SKIMMER (CINERASCENS) (Rynchops niger cinerascens)
Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)
ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia) – Only missed the day we spent on the ranch.
PALE-VENTED PIGEON (Patagioenas cayennensis)
PICAZURO PIGEON (Patagioenas picazuro) – The most common large pigeon on the open plains of the Beni.
EARED DOVE (Zenaida auriculata)
RUDDY GROUND-DOVE (Columbina talpacoti)
PICUI GROUND-DOVE (Columbina picui) – Very common and widespread in Bolivia.
WHITE-TIPPED DOVE (Leptotila verreauxi)
Opisthocomidae (Hoatzin)
HOATZIN (Opisthocomus hoazin) – Despite not seeing it at the oxbow lake at Habana, we still saw several of these peculiar birds at the La Verde lagoon.
Cuculidae (Cuckoos)
Scarlet-headed Blackbirds decorate the roadside vegetation. (Photo by guide Dan Lane)
GUIRA CUCKOO (Guira guira) – A peculiar muppet-like cuckoo more closely related to the anis.
STRIPED CUCKOO (Tapera naevia) – Great views of this expressive cuckoo our first evening in Trinidad.
PHEASANT CUCKOO (Dromococcyx phasianellus) – Only my first time hearing this on in Bolivia. Too bad it didn't respond to playback. [*]
SMOOTH-BILLED ANI (Crotophaga ani)
Strigidae (Owls)
TROPICAL SCREECH-OWL (Megascops choliba) – Despite being very close to a pair of these owls as they tuned up at dusk, we simply couldn't spy them. [*]
GREAT HORNED OWL (Bubo virginianus) – At least two individuals showed well for us. This is subspecies nacuturu, which is widespread in the open lowland habitats of southern South America. They sound different from North American birds (and from a few other South American forms, too). One taxonomic issue to keep an eye on.
FERRUGINOUS PYGMY-OWL (Glaucidium brasilianum) – A bird around the house at Cutal often sang from under the roof.
BURROWING OWL (Athene cunicularia)
Caprimulgidae (Nightjars and Allies)
NACUNDA NIGHTHAWK (Chordeiles nacunda) – Seen on two evenings, rather a large nightjar!
COMMON PAURAQUE (Nyctidromus albicollis) – Outnumbered by the Scissor-tailed!
SPOT-TAILED NIGHTJAR (Caprimulgus maculicaudus) – A couple of birds were heard at La Verde, and one of the birds on the track back to Cutal appeared to be this species.
LITTLE NIGHTJAR (Caprimulgus parvulus) – A few birds on the track between La Verde and Cutal were this species.
SCISSOR-TAILED NIGHTJAR (Hydropsalis torquata) – Incredible numbers on the evening and pre-dawn drives around Cutal!
Apodidae (Swifts)
WHITE-COLLARED SWIFT (Streptoprocne zonaris)
Trochilidae (Hummingbirds)
WHITE-TAILED GOLDENTHROAT (Polytmus guainumbi) – One of the most common open-country hummingbirds in the Beni.
BLUE-TAILED EMERALD (Chlorostilbon mellisugus) – One seen our first day around Trinidad
SWALLOW-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD (Eupetomena macroura) – A striking, and fairly common, hummer of the Beni.
WHITE-BELLIED HUMMINGBIRD (Amazilia chionogaster hypoleucus) – Seen in Santa Cruz.
GILDED HUMMINGBIRD (Hylocharis chrysura) – Another common open-country hummer of the Beni.
Trogonidae (Trogons)
BLACK-TAILED TROGON (Trogon melanurus) – Thanks to Rick for spotting this one.
BLUE-CROWNED TROGON (Trogon curucui)
Momotidae (Motmots)
AMAZONIAN MOTMOT (Momotus momota) [*]
Alcedinidae (Kingfishers)
RINGED KINGFISHER (Megaceryle torquata)
AMAZON KINGFISHER (Chloroceryle amazona)
AMERICAN PYGMY KINGFISHER (Chloroceryle aenea) – Another one Rick spotted... in the open, a place I would not have expected to see it!
Bucconidae (Puffbirds)
BLACK-FRONTED NUNBIRD (Monasa nigrifrons) – A showy puffbird that is easy in the gallery forest.
Galbulidae (Jacamars)
RUFOUS-TAILED JACAMAR (Galbula ruficauda)
Ramphastidae (Toucans)
CHESTNUT-EARED ARACARI (Pteroglossus castanotis) – A widespread toucan of forest edge.
TOCO TOUCAN (Ramphastos toco) – The largest toucan, and with that banana bill, it's mighty showy, too!
Picidae (Woodpeckers)
Black-backed Grosbeak is an austral migrant to the Beni. (Photo by guide Dan Lane)
WHITE WOODPECKER (Melanerpes candidus) – A peculiar woodpecker of open country that always travels in small groups and shuns any heavy woodland.
YELLOW-TUFTED WOODPECKER (Melanerpes cruentatus) – Showy and candy-colored, this one is often a favorite.
LITTLE WOODPECKER (Veniliornis passerinus)
GOLDEN-GREEN WOODPECKER (Piculus chrysochloros) – An attractive woodpecker we enjoyed at one of the stops we made as we drove north from Trinidad.
GREEN-BARRED WOODPECKER (Colaptes melanochloros) – A flicker we spotted foraging among the palms in the savanna.
CAMPO FLICKER (Colaptes campestris) – A common and sharp-looking flicker of the savanna.
PALE-CRESTED WOODPECKER (Celeus lugubris) – We enjoyed views of this snazzy woodpecker on two days.
CRIMSON-CRESTED WOODPECKER (Campephilus melanoleucos)
Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)
SOUTHERN CARACARA (Caracara plancus) – Formerly part of Crested Caracara.
YELLOW-HEADED CARACARA (Milvago chimachima)
LAUGHING FALCON (Herpetotheres cachinnans) – Lane spied this fine falcon on our first day in the Beni.
AMERICAN KESTREL (Falco sparverius)
APLOMADO FALCON (Falco femoralis) – A brief view of a perched bird in the Beni was nice.
Psittacidae (Parrots)
MITRED PARAKEET (Aratinga mitrata) – The guests of the Camino Real hotel didn't appreciate these much. [I]
WHITE-EYED PARAKEET (Aratinga leucophthalma)
DUSKY-HEADED PARAKEET (Aratinga weddellii) – Mostly confined to the strip along the larger rivers of the region.
PEACH-FRONTED PARAKEET (Aratinga aurea) – This small parakeet replaces the last in more open country farther away from the rivers.
CHESTNUT-FRONTED MACAW (Ara severus) – A small and widespread macaw with the most irritating voice I know.
BLUE-AND-YELLOW MACAW (Ara ararauna) – Unfortunately, these colorful macaws may be the greatest natural cause for the decline of Blue-throated Macaw, and are probably what drove the pair at La Verde away. Lyliam has informed me since that she saw a single Blue-throated at La Verde a week later, but that the nesting pair is probably elsewhere trying to rear young successfully.
YELLOW-COLLARED MACAW (Primolius auricollis) – A (normally) rare and unpredictable small macaw, but we enjoyed good views near Santa Cruz our first evening.
BLUE-WINGED PARROTLET (Forpus xanthopterygius)
YELLOW-CHEVRONED PARAKEET (Brotogeris chiriri) – Formerly part of Canary-winged Parakeet, this form is the one that replaces the White-winged Parakeet to the south and east of Amazonia proper.
SCALY-HEADED PARROT (Pionus maximiliani siy)
TURQUOISE-FRONTED PARROT (Amazona aestiva) – It took us a while to see this large parrot well, but eventually we did.
Thamnophilidae (Typical Antbirds)
GREAT ANTSHRIKE (Taraba major) – Common and ridiculously easy to see in the Beni.
BARRED ANTSHRIKE (Thamnophilus doliatus)
CHESTNUT-BACKED ANTSHRIKE (Thamnophilus palliatus) – This was one of the 'foothill' antbirds I'd not seen in the Beni before, so it was a treat to encounter it this trip!
BOLIVIAN SLATY-ANTSHRIKE (Thamnophilus sticturus) – Nearly a Bolivian endemic, we saw this well both near Santa Cruz and in the Beni.
PLAIN ANTVIREO (Dysithamnus mentalis) – Another 'foothill' antbird I'd not seen in the Beni before.
RUSTY-BACKED ANTWREN (Formicivora rufa) – A very handsome antbird in both male and female plumages.
MATO GROSSO ANTBIRD (Cercomacra melanaria) – A young male responded very well to playback near Trinidad, but was upstaged almost immediately by the greenlets.
WHITE-BACKED FIRE-EYE (Pyriglena leuconota) – The third 'foothill' antbird we saw in the Beni (as well as near Santa Cruz).
BAND-TAILED ANTBIRD (Hypocnemoides maculicauda) – A water-loving antbird we saw at its usual haunt by the oxbow at La Habana.
BLACK-THROATED ANTBIRD (Myrmeciza atrothorax) – Another gallery forest antbird of La Habana.
Furnariidae (Ovenbirds and Woodcreepers)
OLIVACEOUS WOODCREEPER (AMAZONIAN) (Sittasomus griseicapillus viridis) – A complex of several forms that all look about the same, but sound quite different. The present form is fairly distinct from the nearby Amazonian and southeastern Brazilian subspecies vocally, so keep it in your back pocket when the 'species' is split up.
GREAT RUFOUS WOODCREEPER (Xiphocolaptes major) – A large and striking woodcreeper of the open country to the south and east of Amazonia.
BUFF-THROATED WOODCREEPER (Xiphorhynchus guttatus) – A largely Amazonian woodcreeper also in the gallery forest of the Beni.
STRAIGHT-BILLED WOODCREEPER (Dendroplex picus) – One of the most widespread woodcreepers of the region.
RED-BILLED SCYTHEBILL (Campylorhamphus trochilirostris) – A striking woodcreeper that is perhaps easier to see in open country (such as in the Beni) than in the Amazon or Andes.
NARROW-BILLED WOODCREEPER (Lepidocolaptes angustirostris) – Another common and widespread woodcreeper of the open country south and east of Amazonian.
We were well fed throughout our adventure. (Photo by guide Dan Lane)
GREATER THORNBIRD (Phacellodomus ruber) – The nests are often the best way to tell they're around.
PLAIN SOFTTAIL (Thripophaga fusciceps fusciceps) – The nominate subspecies, endemic to Bolivia, is probably separable as a species from the other two forms of Amazonia.
RUSTY-BACKED SPINETAIL (Cranioleuca vulpina) – A great performance from a pair at the edge of the oxbow lake at La Habana.
RUFOUS CACHOLOTE (Pseudoseisura unirufa) – This rufous 'jay' is a common and characteristic member of the Beni avifauna.
YELLOW-CHINNED SPINETAIL (Certhiaxis cinnamomeus)
PALE-BREASTED SPINETAIL (Synallaxis albescens australis) – The most common Synallaxis of open country.
PLAIN-CROWNED SPINETAIL (Synallaxis gujanensis inornata) – The taxonomy of this and White-lored Spinetail has been confused by recent authors... as it turns out, contra what Ridgely and Tudor wrote in Birds of South America II (and the more recent Passerines volume), the voice of albilora is not distinct compared to most southern populations they considered 'gujanensis', so correctly, most of the latter probably belong in the expanded albilora... so although the bird we saw is presently identified as 'gujanensis' it probably correctly belongs in 'albilora'. Confused yet?
Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers)
SOUTHERN BEARDLESS-TYRANNULET (Camptostoma obsoletum)
WHITE-BELLIED TYRANNULET (Serpophaga munda) – A migrant from the Andean foothills either from Bolivia or (more likely) Argentina.
STRANECK'S TYRANNULET (Serpophaga griseicapilla) – Recently named, but a form that was long confused with White-crested Tyrannulet (S. subcristata) of Brazil.
SOUTHERN SCRUB-FLYCATCHER (Sublegatus modestus) – A pretty non-descript member of a family littered with non-descript species.
PLAIN TYRANNULET (Inezia inornata) – Ditto the last.
PEARLY-VENTED TODY-TYRANT (Hemitriccus margaritaceiventer)
RUSTY-FRONTED TODY-FLYCATCHER (Poecilotriccus latirostris) – Often hard to see, but worth it if you manage to.
COMMON TODY-FLYCATCHER (Todirostrum cinereum) – A common member of the Beni avifauna, if hard to spot for its small size.
YELLOW-OLIVE FLYCATCHER (MATO GROSSO) (Tolmomyias sulphurescens pallescens) – Another species likely to be split up into several, so bear that in mind.
BRAN-COLORED FLYCATCHER (Myiophobus fasciatus)
VERMILION FLYCATCHER (VERMILION) (Pyrocephalus rubinus rubinus) – These southern birds sound rather different from the ones you may know from North America (in the Southwest) south to the coast of Peru... another potential split to keep in mind.
HUDSON'S BLACK-TYRANT (Knipolegus hudsoni)
SPECTACLED TYRANT (Hymenops perspicillatus) – A peculiar flycatcher that has very distinctive male and female plumages... and a bold yellow wattle around the eye.
YELLOW-BROWED TYRANT (Satrapa icterophrys)
GRAY MONJITA (Xolmis cinereus) – The rarest of the three monjitas we see on this tour.
WHITE-RUMPED MONJITA (Xolmis velatus) – The most common monjita on the tour.
WHITE MONJITA (Xolmis irupero) – By far the most attention-grabbing monjita of the tour.
BLACK-BACKED WATER-TYRANT (Fluvicola albiventer)
WHITE-HEADED MARSH TYRANT (Arundinicola leucocephala)
CATTLE TYRANT (Machetornis rixosa)
DULL-CAPPED ATTILA (Attila bolivianus) – Also called White-eyed Attila.
RUFOUS CASIORNIS (Casiornis rufus) [*]
SWAINSON'S FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus swainsoni) – A bird in the gallery forest appeared to be the migratory form 'ferocior'.
SHORT-CRESTED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus ferox)
BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus tyrannulus)
GREAT KISKADEE (Pitangus sulphuratus)
RUSTY-MARGINED FLYCATCHER (Myiozetetes cayanensis)
SOCIAL FLYCATCHER (Myiozetetes similis)
STREAKED FLYCATCHER (SOLITARIUS) (Myiodynastes maculatus solitarius) – This form of Streaked is likely to be split off at some point, and may be called 'Solitary Flycatcher' when it does.
WHITE-THROATED KINGBIRD (Tyrannus albogularis) – A migrant kingbird that can be mighty hard to separate from Tropical, but we saw one individual around Trinidad.
TROPICAL KINGBIRD (Tyrannus melancholicus)
FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER (Tyrannus savana) – Several migrants were apparent on our day driving from Trinidad to Cutal.
Pipridae (Manakins)
SULPHUR-BELLIED TYRANT-MANAKIN (Neopelma sulphureiventer) – This denizen of gallery forest showed well for us in La Habana.
BAND-TAILED MANAKIN (Pipra fasciicauda) – A fiery male showed well at La Habana.
Tityridae (Tityras and Allies)
BLACK-TAILED TITYRA (Tityra cayana)
Participant Paul Koker shared this sharp image of a Rufous-browed Peppershrike.
Vireonidae (Vireos)
GRAY-EYED GREENLET (Hylophilus amaurocephalus) – This one is a bit of a conundrum. We are provisionally calling it 'Gray-eyed' here, but I'm not certain that's the correct name for it. First of all, its eyes weren't gray! Secondly, the two we saw near our lodging at Trinidad didn't seem to care much about the playback I did of Gray-eyed (or, for that matter, the Rufous-crowned) Greenlet. Finally, the Beni population is so far distant from the next nearest known population of either species (over 500 km away) that it seems entirely likely that perhaps this population represents an unnamed form. But that idea will have to wait for the proper research...
RUFOUS-BROWED PEPPERSHRIKE (Cyclarhis gujanensis)
Corvidae (Crows, Jays, and Magpies)
PURPLISH JAY (Cyanocorax cyanomelas)
PLUSH-CRESTED JAY (Cyanocorax chrysops)
Hirundinidae (Swallows)
SOUTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW (Stelgidopteryx ruficollis)
GRAY-BREASTED MARTIN (Progne chalybea)
BROWN-CHESTED MARTIN (Progne tapera) – Some of the Brown-chested Martins we saw were a resident breeding form. These lacked a band across their breast and had a small dark patch on their chests.
BROWN-CHESTED MARTIN (FUSCA) (Progne tapera fusca) – Larger flocks of this species were austral migrants on their way south. These typically have a banded breast. Remember the thousands at La Verde, coating trees and catching the mosquitos at dusk?
WHITE-WINGED SWALLOW (Tachycineta albiventer)
WHITE-RUMPED SWALLOW (Tachycineta leucorrhoa) – That one spot on the drive from Trinidad to Cutal seems to be a lock for this species which largely is an austral migrant.
Troglodytidae (Wrens)
HOUSE WREN (Troglodytes aedon)
THRUSH-LIKE WREN (Campylorhynchus turdinus unicolor)
FAWN-BREASTED WREN (Cantorchilus guarayanus) – Good views both around Santa Cruz and in the Beni.
Donacobiidae (Donacobius)
BLACK-CAPPED DONACOBIUS (Donacobius atricapilla)
Turdidae (Thrushes and Allies)
HAUXWELL'S THRUSH (Turdus hauxwelli) [*]
UNICOLORED THRUSH (Turdus haplochrous) – We heard at least three individuals, and had brief views of one. There may be as few as about 10 modern sightings of this very local and poorly-known species, so I hope you appreciate how lucky we were! [E]
CREAMY-BELLIED THRUSH (Turdus amaurochalinus)
BLACK-BILLED THRUSH (Turdus ignobilis)
Mimidae (Mockingbirds and Thrashers)
CHALK-BROWED MOCKINGBIRD (Mimus saturninus)
Motacillidae (Wagtails and Pipits)
YELLOWISH PIPIT (Anthus lutescens) – One bird, perhaps near a nest, seen our last day.
Parulidae (New World Warblers)
MASKED YELLOWTHROAT (Geothlypis aequinoctialis) – These birds are of the southern group split by some and called 'Southern Yellowthroat' Geothlypis velata.
TROPICAL PARULA (Setophaga pitiayumi)
GOLDEN-CROWNED WARBLER (Basileuterus culicivorus)
Thraupidae (Tanagers and Allies)
RED-CRESTED CARDINAL (Paroaria coronata) – This is a characteristic species of the Beni and Pantanal regions, and a mighty sharp-lookin' one at that!
The call of the Great Horned Owl in this region is noticeably different and might result in a taxonomic change in the future. (Photo by guide Dan Lane)
BLACK-FACED TANAGER (Schistochlamys melanopis) – One at Viru-Viru our first day was nice.
SILVER-BEAKED TANAGER (Ramphocelus carbo) – The birds in this part of Bolivia are blacker than in most of the rest of the species' range; the males with an attractive deep velvet red throat, and the females blacker overall. Their call notes are distinctive from Amazonian birds, too... but I don't foresee a split in the near future...
SAYACA TANAGER (Thraupis sayaca) – Yup.
PALM TANAGER (Thraupis palmarum)
BLUE DACNIS (Dacnis cayana) – A pair near Santa Cruz was nice.
CHESTNUT-VENTED CONEBILL (Conirostrum speciosum) – Very warblerlike, even with the neck-breaking canopy lifestyle.
LONG-TAILED REED FINCH (Donacospiza albifrons) – An anomolous population isolated in the Beni is intreguing, consdering that the next nearest population is nearly 1000km away on the coast of Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil!
SAFFRON FINCH (Sicalis flaveola)
WEDGE-TAILED GRASS-FINCH (Emberizoides herbicola) – An understated, but still very attractive tanager/finch of grasslands.
GREAT PAMPA-FINCH (EASTERN) (Embernagra platensis platensis) – Birds in the Beni are a lowland form, presumably the same as in the Pampas of Argentina and north into Brazil, from which they are quite isolated. The birds we saw in the Andes on the main tour are a different form.
BLUE-BLACK GRASSQUIT (Volatinia jacarina)
RUSTY-COLLARED SEEDEATER (Sporophila collaris)
WHITE-BELLIED SEEDEATER (Sporophila leucoptera bicolor) – The black and white form here in Bolivia is endemic to the country. In Brazil, they are gray and white.
RED-CRESTED FINCH (Coryphospingus cucullatus)
GRAYISH SALTATOR (Saltator coerulescens)
Emberizidae (Buntings and New World Sparrows)
GRASSLAND SPARROW (Ammodramus humeralis) – Similar to our North American Grasshopper Sparrow, but with a much improved voice.
Cardinalidae (Cardinals and Allies)
BLACK-BACKED GROSBEAK (BLACK-RUMPED) (Pheucticus aureoventris aureoventris) – An austral migrant to Beni.
Icteridae (Troupials and Allies)
WHITE-BROWED BLACKBIRD (Sturnella superciliaris) – A rather attractive relative of our meadowlarks.
VELVET-FRONTED GRACKLE (Lampropsar tanagrinus boliviensis) – Another Beni endemic that will likely be separated from the more widespread Amazonian form once it's been sufficiently studied.
CHOPI BLACKBIRD (Gnorimopsar chopi) – Everywhere!
SCARLET-HEADED BLACKBIRD (Amblyramphus holosericeus) – Eye candy!
UNICOLORED BLACKBIRD (Agelasticus cyanopus)
BAY-WINGED COWBIRD (Agelaioides badius) – Not really a cowbird, in fact this is the nest host for a rare cowbird that we only occasionally see on this tour: Screaming Cowbird.
SHINY COWBIRD (Molothrus bonariensis)
VARIABLE ORIOLE (Icterus pyrrhopterus) – Up until relatively recently, this was considered part of the Epaulet Oriole (I. cayanensis), but a recent reassesment of related forms of orioles has resulted in this form being separated from Epaulet, but the western and northern Moriche Oriole being lumped with the latter. In the end, it's a wash.
ORANGE-BACKED TROUPIAL (Icterus croconotus)
SOLITARY BLACK CACIQUE (Cacicus solitarius)
YELLOW-RUMPED CACIQUE (Cacicus cela) – Far more tied to gallery woodland, we only saw this species at La Habana.
CRESTED OROPENDOLA (Psarocolius decumanus)
Fringillidae (Siskins, Crossbills, and Allies)
PURPLE-THROATED EUPHONIA (Euphonia chlorotica)
Passeridae (Old World Sparrows)
HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus) – Common around Trinidad and some smaller towns.
MAMMALS
GREATER BULLDOG BAT (Noctilio leporinus) – The big fishing bats we saw.
BRAZILIAN FREE-TAILED BAT (Tadarida brasiliensis)
DUSKY TITI MONKEY (WHITE-EARED) (Callicebus moloch donacophilus) – Heard near Santa Cruz. [*]
DUSKY TITI MONKEY (BOLIVIAN) (Callicebus moloch modestus) – Probably the form we heard the day we drove from Trinidad to Cutal. [*]
BLACK HOWLER MONKEY (Alouatta caraya) – Seen well at La Verde.
BROWN CAPUCHIN (Cebus apella)
BROWN-THROATED THREE-TOED SLOTH (Bradypus variegatus) – At least two seen our first day around Trinidad.
CAPYBARA (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris)
AMAZON RIVER DOLPHIN (Inia geoffrensis boliviensis) – One individual seen along the Mamore.
CRAB-EATING FOX (Cerdocyon thous) – Several seen on night drives.
SOUTH AMERICAN COATI (Nasua nasua) – I don't think I've seen so many in the Beni before!
JAGUARUNDI (Puma yagouaroundi) – Wow! Only my second experience with this rare, and unusual-looking, cat! A brief glimpse of a cinnamon-colored individual in gallery edge by an oxbow of the Mamore our first day at Trinidad was very exciting!
COLLARED PECCARY (Tayassu tajacu) – We disturbed a couple in the gallery forest of La Verde.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Totals for the tour: 234 bird taxa and 13 mammal taxa