Sadly, this may have been our last Beni extension for our Bolivia tour. But, it was a great visit nonetheless! This year was a particularly dry one throughout the country, and this was reflected in the Beni with hazy skies from extensive wildfires, as is typical in the dry season. We visited a nice variety of habitats from the open habitats near our lodge, where the brushy edges of the road can be teaming with birds, to the taller semi-deciduous woodlands at the Laney-Rickman Reserve—home to the critically endangered Blue-throated Macaws, perhaps the biggest headliner of the tour—to the open marshland we visited on our long drive north of Trinidad and which was framed by palm savanna and pasture, and finally the Amazonian gallery forest along the Rio Ibare, which also provided a relaxing afternoon boat trip!
The Beni certainly lived up to its reputation as a place with lots of birds, as we racked up a list of over 230 species in only four days! As stated above, the undoubted star was our experience with Blue-throated Macaws, but we also enjoyed four other macaws: Red-and-green, Blue-and-yellow, Chestnut-fronted, and Yellow-collared, not to mention several other parrot species! Our raptor list was nothing to sniff at, with stars such as a fine male Long-winged Harrier that put on an extended show right beside us, a young Chaco Eagle we watched circle away from us over the palm savanna, many Savanna and Great Black-hawks, and Black-collared Hawks watching for fish to catch. One of our most unexpected views was of a bathing Collared Forest-Falcon on the Ibare as we puttered up to it in our canoe! Not to be outdone, the encounter with a pod of Bolivian River Dolphins not long before this was also memorable! Nice views of some nightbirds such as Great Potoo, Little and Spot-tailed nightjars, all donned in camouflage, provided a nice counterpoint to some brightly-colored birds such as Scarlet-headed Blackbird, Campo Flicker, the retiring Band-tailed Manakins, or the ever-present Red-crested Cardinals.
So thank you to all who joined me on this extension, may it live long in your minds!
Good birding,
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
GREATER RHEA (Rhea americana)
UNDULATED TINAMOU (Crypturellus undulatus) [*]
RED-WINGED TINAMOU (Rhynchotus rufescens) [*]
SOUTHERN SCREAMER (Chauna torquata)
WHITE-FACED WHISTLING-DUCK (Dendrocygna viduata)
ORINOCO GOOSE (Oressochen jubatus)
A lucky spot on the shore of the Mamore!
MUSCOVY DUCK (Cairina moschata)
BRAZILIAN TEAL (Amazonetta brasiliensis)
SPECKLED CHACHALACA (Ortalis guttata)
WHITE-THROATED PIPING-GUAN (Pipile grayi)
Recently split from Blue-throated P-G.
ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia)
PICAZURO PIGEON (Patagioenas picazuro)
RUDDY GROUND DOVE (Columbina talpacoti)
PICUI GROUND DOVE (Columbina picui)
WHITE-TIPPED DOVE (Leptotila verreauxi)
GRAY-FRONTED DOVE (Leptotila rufaxilla)
EARED DOVE (Zenaida auriculata)
GUIRA CUCKOO (Guira guira)
GREATER ANI (Crotophaga major)
SMOOTH-BILLED ANI (Crotophaga ani)
STRIPED CUCKOO (Tapera naevia)
LITTLE CUCKOO (Coccycua minuta)
Nice views in the gallery forest.
SQUIRREL CUCKOO (Piaya cayana)
COMMON PAURAQUE (Nyctidromus albicollis)
LITTLE NIGHTJAR (Setopagis parvula)
Wow, great views of this and the next right at our lodge!
SPOT-TAILED NIGHTJAR (Hydropsalis maculicaudus)
GREAT POTOO (Nyctibius grandis)
After hearing one singing pre-dawn, i figured it was roosting by the restaurant at our lodge, and sho nuff it was!
BUFF-BELLIED HERMIT (Phaethornis subochraceus)
The hermit we saw on our walk in the gallery forest.
BLACK-THROATED MANGO (Anthracothorax nigricollis)
BLUE-TAILED EMERALD (Chlorostilbon mellisugus)
GILDED HUMMINGBIRD (Hylocharis chrysura)
WHITE-CHINNED SAPPHIRE (Chlorestes cyanus)
HOATZIN (Opisthocomus hoazin)
ASH-THROATED CRAKE (Mustelirallus albicollis) [*]
GRAY-COWLED WOOD-RAIL (Aramides cajaneus)
RUFOUS-SIDED CRAKE (Laterallus melanophaius) [*]
LIMPKIN (Aramus guarauna)
SOUTHERN LAPWING (Vanellus chilensis)
WATTLED JACANA (Jacana jacana)
UPLAND SANDPIPER (Bartramia longicauda) [b]
Surprisingly common flyovers.
WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER (Calidris fuscicollis) [b]
BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER (Calidris subruficollis) [b]
A distant bird on the shore of Laguna Suarez.
PECTORAL SANDPIPER (Calidris melanotos) [b]
PANTANAL SNIPE (Gallinago paraguaiae)
Formerly South American Snipe.
SPOTTED SANDPIPER (Actitis macularius) [b]
SOLITARY SANDPIPER (Tringa solitaria) [b]
LESSER YELLOWLEGS (Tringa flavipes) [b]
YELLOW-BILLED TERN (Sternula superciliaris)
LARGE-BILLED TERN (Phaetusa simplex)
BLACK SKIMMER (CINERASCENS) (Rynchops niger cinerascens)
SUNBITTERN (Eurypyga helias)
MAGUARI STORK (Ciconia maguari)
All three storks were daily birds!
JABIRU (Jabiru mycteria)
WOOD STORK (Mycteria americana)
ANHINGA (Anhinga anhinga)
NEOTROPIC CORMORANT (Nannopterum brasilianum)
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)
A fine-lookin' heron.
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (Nycticorax nycticorax)
GREEN IBIS (Mesembrinibis cayennensis)
BARE-FACED IBIS (Phimosus infuscatus)
PLUMBEOUS IBIS (Theristicus caerulescens)
BUFF-NECKED IBIS (Theristicus caudatus)
ROSEATE SPOONBILL (Platalea ajaja)
BLACK VULTURE (Coragyps atratus)
TURKEY VULTURE (Cathartes aura)
LESSER YELLOW-HEADED VULTURE (Cathartes burrovianus)
OSPREY (Pandion haliaetus) [b]
BLACK-COLLARED HAWK (Busarellus nigricollis)
PLUMBEOUS KITE (Ictinia plumbea)
LONG-WINGED HARRIER (Circus buffoni)
Wow! What a great experience with this rare raptor! An adult male really gave us a show over the big marsh north of Trinidad.
SAVANNA HAWK (Buteogallus meridionalis)
GREAT BLACK HAWK (Buteogallus urubitinga)
CHACO EAGLE (Buteogallus coronatus)
A distant immature circling over the palm savanna, but checking photos made it clear that yes, indeed, we had seen a Chaco Eagle!
ROADSIDE HAWK (SOUTHERN) (Rupornis magnirostris saturatus)
WHITE-TAILED HAWK (Geranoaetus albicaudatus)
BARN OWL (Tyto alba)
Seen after the nightjars.
FERRUGINOUS PYGMY-OWL (Glaucidium brasilianum)
BLACK-TAILED TROGON (Trogon melanurus)
BLUE-CROWNED TROGON (Trogon curucui)
AMAZONIAN MOTMOT (Momotus momota) [*]
RINGED KINGFISHER (Megaceryle torquata)
AMAZON KINGFISHER (Chloroceryle amazona)
GREEN KINGFISHER (Chloroceryle americana)
BLACK-FRONTED NUNBIRD (Monasa nigrifrons)
RUFOUS-TAILED JACAMAR (Galbula ruficauda)
CHESTNUT-EARED ARACARI (Pteroglossus castanotis)
WHITE-WEDGED PICULET (Picumnus albosquamatus)
LITTLE WOODPECKER (Dryobates passerinus)
CRIMSON-CRESTED WOODPECKER (Campephilus melanoleucos)
LINEATED WOODPECKER (Dryocopus lineatus)
PALE-CRESTED WOODPECKER (Celeus lugubris)
Thanks to Diane for spotting this lovely woodpecker!
WHITE-THROATED WOODPECKER (Piculus leucolaemus) [*]
CAMPO FLICKER (Colaptes campestris)
LAUGHING FALCON (Herpetotheres cachinnans)
COLLARED FOREST-FALCON (Micrastur semitorquatus)
Well, that was an unexpected experience! We came around a bend in the Rio Ibare to find this lovely raptor knee-deep and bathing! You never see them like this!
CRESTED CARACARA (SOUTHERN) (Caracara plancus plancus)
YELLOW-HEADED CARACARA (Daptrius chimachima)
YELLOW-CHEVRONED PARAKEET (Brotogeris chiriri)
BLUE-HEADED PARROT (Pionus menstruus)
TURQUOISE-FRONTED PARROT (Amazona aestiva)
COBALT-RUMPED PARROTLET (Forpus xanthopterygius)
PEACH-FRONTED PARAKEET (Eupsittula aurea)
DUSKY-HEADED PARAKEET (Aratinga weddellii)
YELLOW-COLLARED MACAW (Primolius auricollis)
Several views, each better than the last!
BLUE-AND-YELLOW MACAW (Ara ararauna)
BLUE-THROATED MACAW (Ara glaucogularis) [E]
One of the biggest targets of the extension, and we saw several pairs well at Laney-Rickman Reserve!
CHESTNUT-FRONTED MACAW (Ara severus)
RED-AND-GREEN MACAW (Ara chloropterus)
WHITE-EYED PARAKEET (Psittacara leucophthalmus)
GREAT ANTSHRIKE (Taraba major)
Easy to see here.
BARRED ANTSHRIKE (Thamnophilus doliatus)
CHESTNUT-BACKED ANTSHRIKE (Thamnophilus palliatus)
This and the next in the gallery forest.
BOLIVIAN SLATY-ANTSHRIKE (Thamnophilus sticturus)
RUSTY-BACKED ANTWREN (Formicivora rufa)
MATO GROSSO ANTBIRD (Cercomacra melanaria)
A pair performed well in the brush along the road by our lodge.
BAND-TAILED ANTBIRD (Hypocnemoides maculicauda)
It took a while, but we eventually got this usually water-edge species in the gallery forest.
OLIVACEOUS WOODCREEPER (AMAZONIAN) (Sittasomus griseicapillus viridis)
GREAT RUFOUS WOODCREEPER (Xiphocolaptes major)
Nice views of this galumphing woodcreeper at Laney-Rickman.
BUFF-THROATED WOODCREEPER (Xiphorhynchus guttatus)
STRAIGHT-BILLED WOODCREEPER (Dendroplex picus)
RED-BILLED SCYTHEBILL (Campylorhamphus trochilirostris)
Great views of this silly-looking woodcreeper along the highway.
NARROW-BILLED WOODCREEPER (Lepidocolaptes angustirostris)
STREAKED XENOPS (Xenops rutilans)
RUFOUS HORNERO (Furnarius rufus)
GREATER THORNBIRD (Phacellodomus ruber)
PLAIN SOFTTAIL (FUSCICEPS) (Thripophaga fusciceps fusciceps) [E]
This is the nominate form, probably due for a split at some point, and at that time it will be a Bolivian endemic species.
RUSTY-BACKED SPINETAIL (Cranioleuca vulpina)
RUFOUS CACHOLOTE (Pseudoseisura unirufa)
YELLOW-CHINNED SPINETAIL (Certhiaxis cinnamomeus)
CHOTOY SPINETAIL (Schoeniophylax phryganophilus)
PLAIN-CROWNED SPINETAIL (Synallaxis gujanensis inornata)
SULPHUR-BELLIED TYRANT-MANAKIN (Neopelma sulphureiventer)
Surprisingly close-quarters in the gallery forest.
BAND-TAILED MANAKIN (Pipra fasciicauda)
BARE-NECKED FRUITCROW (Gymnoderus foetidus)
Scope views in the gallery forest.
WHITE-WINGED BECARD (Pachyramphus polychopterus)
PEARLY-VENTED TODY-TYRANT (Hemitriccus margaritaceiventer)
RUSTY-FRONTED TODY-FLYCATCHER (Poecilotriccus latirostris)
COMMON TODY-FLYCATCHER (Todirostrum cinereum)
YELLOW-BROWED TODY-FLYCATCHER (Todirostrum chrysocrotaphum)
YELLOW-OLIVE FLYCATCHER (MATO GROSSO) (Tolmomyias sulphurescens pallescens) [*]
SOUTHERN BEARDLESS-TYRANNULET (Camptostoma obsoletum)
SOUTHERN MOUSE-COLORED TYRANNULET (Nesotriccus murina)
YELLOW TYRANNULET (Capsiempis flaveola)
GREENISH ELAENIA (Myiopagis viridicata)
YELLOW-BELLIED ELAENIA (Elaenia flavogaster)
SMALL-BILLED ELAENIA (Elaenia parvirostris) [a]
Seen along the road to the east of our lodge.
LARGE ELAENIA (Elaenia spectabilis)
Once again, this species seemed to be territorial and nesting locally, which we only documented for the first time in Bolivia (to my knowledge) a few years ago!
PLAIN TYRANNULET (Inezia inornata) [a]
BRAN-COLORED FLYCATCHER (Myiophobus fasciatus)
EULER'S FLYCATCHER (Lathrotriccus euleri)
FUSCOUS FLYCATCHER (FUSCOUS) (Cnemotriccus fuscatus bimaculatus)
VERMILION FLYCATCHER (Pyrocephalus rubinus)
HUDSON'S BLACK-TYRANT (Knipolegus hudsoni) [a]
YELLOW-BROWED TYRANT (Satrapa icterophrys) [a]
WHITE-RUMPED MONJITA (Xolmis velatus)
WHITE MONJITA (Xolmis irupero)
Like a bluebird, but white.
GRAY MONJITA (Nengetus cinereus)
WHITE-HEADED MARSH TYRANT (Arundinicola leucocephala)
BLACK-BACKED WATER-TYRANT (Fluvicola albiventer)
DULL-CAPPED ATTILA (Attila bolivianus)
SHORT-CRESTED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus ferox)
BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus tyrannulus)
CATTLE TYRANT (Machetornis rixosa)
GREAT KISKADEE (Pitangus sulphuratus)
RUSTY-MARGINED FLYCATCHER (Myiozetetes cayanensis)
SOCIAL FLYCATCHER (Myiozetetes similis)
STREAKED FLYCATCHER (SOUTHERN) (Myiodynastes maculatus solitarius)
TROPICAL KINGBIRD (Tyrannus melancholicus)
FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER (Tyrannus savana)
RUFOUS-BROWED PEPPERSHRIKE (Cyclarhis gujanensis)
PURPLISH JAY (Cyanocorax cyanomelas)
PLUSH-CRESTED JAY (Cyanocorax chrysops)
BLACK-CAPPED DONACOBIUS (Donacobius atricapilla)
TAWNY-HEADED SWALLOW (Alopochelidon fucata)
This and White-rumped Swallow were flying over the pasture near the big marsh north of Trinidad. Possibly migrants?
SOUTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW (Stelgidopteryx ruficollis)
BROWN-CHESTED MARTIN (Progne tapera)
WHITE-WINGED SWALLOW (Tachycineta albiventer)
WHITE-RUMPED SWALLOW (Tachycineta leucorrhoa)
BANK SWALLOW (Riparia riparia) [b]
BARN SWALLOW (Hirundo rustica) [b]
CLIFF SWALLOW (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) [b]
MASKED GNATCATCHER (Polioptila dumicola berlepschi)
Unlike the birds we saw on the main tour, this population is white-bellied.
HOUSE WREN (Troglodytes aedon)
THRUSH-LIKE WREN (UNSPOTTED) (Campylorhynchus turdinus unicolor)
MOUSTACHED WREN (Pheugopedius genibarbis)
FAWN-BREASTED WREN (Cantorchilus guarayanus)
CHALK-BROWED MOCKINGBIRD (Mimus saturninus)
CREAMY-BELLIED THRUSH (Turdus amaurochalinus)
Large numbers in the gallery forest feasting on fruits.
BLACK-BILLED THRUSH (Turdus ignobilis)
HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus) [I]
YELLOWISH PIPIT (Anthus lutescens) [*]
PURPLE-THROATED EUPHONIA (Euphonia chlorotica)
GRASSLAND SPARROW (Ammodramus humeralis)
YELLOW-BROWED SPARROW (Ammodramus aurifrons)
CRESTED OROPENDOLA (Psarocolius decumanus)
SOLITARY BLACK CACIQUE (Cacicus solitarius)
YELLOW-RUMPED CACIQUE (Cacicus cela)
VARIABLE ORIOLE (Icterus pyrrhopterus)
ORANGE-BACKED TROUPIAL (Icterus croconotus)
SHINY COWBIRD (Molothrus bonariensis)
GIANT COWBIRD (Molothrus oryzivorus)
VELVET-FRONTED GRACKLE (Lampropsar tanagrinus boliviensis) [E]
Another population that should be separated from the Amazonian form and considered a Bolivian endemic.
SCARLET-HEADED BLACKBIRD (Amblyramphus holosericeus)
After a super-distant view, we found some closer ones our last day.
CHOPI BLACKBIRD (Gnorimopsar chopi)
GRAYISH BAYWING (Agelaioides badius)
UNICOLORED BLACKBIRD (Agelasticus cyanopus)
SOUTHERN YELLOWTHROAT (Geothlypis velata)
TROPICAL PARULA (Setophaga pitiayumi)
GOLDEN-CROWNED WARBLER (Basileuterus culicivorus)
RED-CRESTED CARDINAL (Paroaria coronata)
RED-CAPPED CARDINAL (Paroaria gularis)
HOODED TANAGER (Nemosia pileata)
ORANGE-HEADED TANAGER (Thlypopsis sordida)
SILVER-BEAKED TANAGER (Ramphocelus carbo)
SAYACA TANAGER (Thraupis sayaca)
PALM TANAGER (Thraupis palmarum)
BLUE DACNIS (Dacnis cayana)
LONG-TAILED REED FINCH (Donacospiza albifrons)
A very isolated population here.
SAFFRON FINCH (Sicalis flaveola)
GRASSLAND YELLOW-FINCH (Sicalis luteola)
This was a surprise... not well known from Beni.
GREAT PAMPA-FINCH (EASTERN) (Embernagra platensis platensis)
Although very similar looking to the form we saw in the Andes on the main tour, this population is a different-voiced lowland form... no doubt best considered a different species (once someone does the study!).
BLUE-BLACK GRASSQUIT (Volatinia jacarina)
WHITE-BELLIED SEEDEATER (BICOLORED) (Sporophila leucoptera bicolor)
DARK-THROATED SEEDEATER (Sporophila ruficollis)
We didn't actually confirm this ID, but we saw non-male birds of this complex (with Tawny-rumped and Rufous-rumped). From previous experience here, Dark-throated is the most common, so I'm shuffling the sighting under this name for convenience-sake.
CHESTNUT-BELLIED SEED-FINCH (Sporophila angolensis)
DOUBLE-COLLARED SEEDEATER (Sporophila caerulescens)
RUSTY-COLLARED SEEDEATER (Sporophila collaris)
RED-CRESTED FINCH (Coryphospingus cucullatus)
BLUISH-GRAY SALTATOR (Saltator coerulescens)
SILVERY MARMOSET (Callithrix argentata)
WHITE-EARED TITI MONKEY (Callicebus donacophilus)
Nice views our last day along the road beyond our lodge.
RED HOWLER MONKEY (Alouatta seniculus) [*]
BROWN CAPUCHIN (Cebus apella)
BROWN-THROATED THREE-TOED SLOTH (Bradypus variegatus)
CAPYBARA (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris)
AMAZON RIVER DOLPHIN (Inia geoffrensis boliviensis)
This is often split off as a Bolivian-endemic species in the Mamore drainage. The rapids on the Rio Madeira downstream is the limit to their distribution.
CRAB-EATING FOX (Cerdocyon thous)
Some brief glimpses.
SOUTH AMERICAN COATI (Nasua nasua)
NEOTROPICAL OTTER (Lontra longicaudis)
Diane and Kathy were lucky to see this.
RED BROCKET DEER (Mazama americana)
Benita and Diane saw this from the other vehicle one afternoon.
Violet-winged Grasshopper (Tropidacris collaris): The huge locusts we saw on our long drive day.
False Water Cobra (Hydrodynastes gigas): that fast snake that we spotted on the road and raced off into a pool as I made chase.
Yacare Caiman (Caiman yacare)
Yellow-headed Sideneck Turtle (Podocnemis untilis)
Totals for the tour: 235 bird taxa and 11 mammal taxa