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Red-tailed Comet, photographed by participant Ed Harper
Our 2017 vintage of this Birds & Wines tour was the best one yet. We ran the tour a few days earlier than in 2015, and several species that in 2015 had migrated out of the areas we visit were still present in good numbers this year.
With 196 birds recorded on the tour and 64 wines sampled, this trip had greater body than our last vintage, with a heavier influence of Argentinian birds due largely to a new area we explored east of Mendoza city.
Our tour produced some great avian treats, such as Scimitar-billed Woodcreeper, Many-colored Chaco-Finch, White-fronted Woodpecker, and some nice Argentine endemics such as Sandy Gallito, Band-tailed Earthcreeper, and Steinbach’s Canastero.
Chile, too, contributed greatly to our birding enjoyment, with a good number of endemics and the freshness of the ocean that added to our list gems such as Inca Tern, Franklin’s Gull, and three species of cormorants.
If we may stretch the term, this blend of Chilean and Argentinian birding and wine "terroirs" continues to produce an elegant and balanced tour that pleases the eyes, the palate, and the soul!
The scenic beauty on our itinerary was once again enhanced by some light rain that, at higher elevations, translated to some fresh snow on the mountain peaks and created a contrast with the extremely dry conditions we encountered at the beginning of the tour.
None of this would have been as enjoyable, of course, without such a wonderful group of people with whom to share our experiences -- it was a great assemblage of fellow travelers!
Thanks and cheers!
--Marcelo Padua and John Coons
NOTE: Don't forget to check out our wine list for the tour at the end of this bird list!
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
Spectacular Aconcagua National Park, photographed by participant Becca Serdehely.
Rheidae (Rheas)
LESSER RHEA (Rhea pennata) – On the day we drove to Laguna Llancanelo we saw at least 16 individual in about 5-6 groups along the way. We are often searching hard for this species that, instead, found us this year.
Tinamidae (Tinamous)
DARWIN'S NOTHURA (Nothura darwinii) – We heard a few in the fields near our cabins but Martha spotted one between the rows of grapes as we stood on the steps of the Salentein winery. Marcelo and John got behind it and managed to flush this very difficult to see species.
ELEGANT CRESTED-TINAMOU (Eudromia elegans) – We had a few encounters with this easier-than-most to see tinamou while we were in the dry country in Argentina.
There's no mistaking a Scimitar-billed Woodcreeper! Photo by participant Ed Harper.
Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl)
BLACK-NECKED SWAN (Cygnus melancoryphus) – Our only ones were at Laguna Llancanelo.
COSCOROBA SWAN (Coscoroba coscoroba) – We had several good views of this species that looks like it should belong in a cartoon.
UPLAND GOOSE (Chloephaga picta) – Our first two were at the lake at Yeso in the Andes then we had a few more at Laguna Blanca.
CRESTED DUCK (Lophonetta specularioides) – We saw a handful in various locales.
TORRENT DUCK (Merganetta armata armata) – Martha spotted two on a rock in the surging river as we passed on the highway. We managed to park the bus and get out for a nice scope view of two females.
CHILOE WIGEON (Anas sibilatrix) – This was the most numerous duck species we encountered.
CINNAMON TEAL (Anas cyanoptera) – Ed spotted a drake on the day we visited Laguna Blanca.
RED SHOVELER (Anas platalea) – A good number put on a nice show at Laguna Blanca.
WHITE-CHEEKED PINTAIL (Anas bahamensis) – We found about 15 individuals along the shoreline of Laguna Blanca.
YELLOW-BILLED PINTAIL (Anas georgica) – Many were found on a several of the lakes and ponds we birded.
YELLOW-BILLED TEAL (FLAVIROSTRIS) (Anas flavirostris flavirostris)
BLACK-HEADED DUCK (Heteronetta atricapilla) – At our lunch spot below Santiago we had nice looks at three individuals in the back yard pond.
LAKE DUCK (Oxyura vittata) – About 8-10 birds were at Laguna Llancanelo where we had our picnic lunch.
Odontophoridae (New World Quail)
CALIFORNIA QUAIL (Callipepla californica) [I]
Podicipedidae (Grebes)
WHITE-TUFTED GREBE (Rollandia rolland) – Nacho and Myriam's place was a good site for this very handsome grebe.
PIED-BILLED GREBE (Podilymbus podiceps)
GREAT GREBE (Podiceps major) – There were four in the surf off the Aconcagua River mouth on our last morning.
Phoenicopteridae (Flamingos)
CHILEAN FLAMINGO (Phoenicopterus chilensis) – It's always great to see this unusual bird. We saw about 80 at Laguna Llancanelo then we counted at least 170 the next day at Laguna Blanca.
One morning the snow-dusted Andes provided a lovely backdrop to one of the vineyards we visited. Photo by participant Dennis Serdehely.
Ciconiidae (Storks)
MAGUARI STORK (Ciconia maguari) – It was quite a surprise to see this huge species fly in and land on a vegetated island at Laguna Llancanelo.
Sulidae (Boobies and Gannets)
PERUVIAN BOOBY (Sula variegata) – After seeing only a couple the first day, our return to the bird rocks on the coast found many more basking in the sun.
Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants and Shags)
RED-LEGGED CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax gaimardi) – One of the handsomest cormorants anywhere, we had good looks at those perched on the rocks along the coast.
NEOTROPIC CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax brasilianus)
Mountain Caracara, photographed by participant Ed Harper.
GUANAY CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax bougainvillii) – There were many fewer of these on the rocks but we still had good views of them.
Pelecanidae (Pelicans)
PERUVIAN PELICAN (Pelecanus thagus)
Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)
COCOI HERON (Ardea cocoi) – Our first was at the pond at Nacho and Myriam's house on our way to the coast.
GREAT EGRET (Ardea alba) – These were scattered around the wet areas we visited.
SNOWY EGRET (Egretta thula)
CATTLE EGRET (Bubulcus ibis)
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills)
WHITE-FACED IBIS (Plegadis chihi) – We had a fly-by in Argentina and another at Nacho's pond.
Cathartidae (New World Vultures)
BLACK VULTURE (Coragyps atratus)
TURKEY VULTURE (Cathartes aura)
ANDEAN CONDOR (Vultur gryphus) – On our visits to the high country out of Santiago we had great looks at these majestic birds. We saw adults, immatures and a brownish individual.
Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
WHITE-TAILED KITE (Elanus leucurus) – We saw a few in Argentina and at least one in Chile.
HARRIS'S HAWK (Parabuteo unicinctus) – This raptor has quite the range, living from the southern U.S. to Chile and central Argentina.
VARIABLE HAWK (Geranoaetus polyosoma) – A quite aptly named raptor, we saw a variety of plumages in both countries.
BLACK-CHESTED BUZZARD-EAGLE (Geranoaetus melanoleucus) – We saw several during our two weeks of birding but those on our first afternoon yielded some of the best looks.
Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots)
SPOT-FLANKED GALLINULE (Porphyriops melanops) – One was seen at Nacho and Myriam's pond just after lunch.
PLUMBEOUS RAIL (Pardirallus sanguinolentus) – We had great looks on the grounds of the hotel grounds in Uspallata of an individual that walked right out of the vegetation toward us.
RED-GARTERED COOT (Fulica armillata) – This was the most numerous of the three species of coots we saw.
RED-FRONTED COOT (Fulica rufifrons) – We had to search for our first ones then we saw a lot of them in subsequent days.
WHITE-WINGED COOT (Fulica leucoptera) – Our only sighting, surprisingly, was the one near the Casa Palmero vineyard.
Picking grapes at the Casa Palmero winery was part of the fun! Photo by participant Becca Serdehely.
Recurvirostridae (Stilts and Avocets)
BLACK-NECKED STILT (WHITE-BACKED) (Himantopus mexicanus melanurus)
Haematopodidae (Oystercatchers)
AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER (Haematopus palliatus) – A handful were scattered around on the mudflats and rocky area near the mouth of the Aconcagua River.
BLACKISH OYSTERCATCHER (Haematopus ater) – Somewhat of an uncommon species, we saw several quite well amongst the rocks on the coast near Viña del Mar.
Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings)
SOUTHERN LAPWING (CHILENSIS/FRETENSIS) (Vanellus chilensis chilensis) – These were present everyday of the trip and were sometimes in big numbers. Those in Chile have a quite distinct voice from the populations in the rest of South America.
DIADEMED SANDPIPER-PLOVER (Phegornis mitchellii) – One of the trip highlights was finding this very special bird in the marshes above Embalse El Yeso. Our bird was a juvenile that we had excellent views of as it feed along a ditch.
The beautifully adorned Inca Tern, a specialty of the cold-water Humboldt Current, were one of our targets along the Chilean coast. Photo by participant Ed Harper.
Thinocoridae (Seedsnipes)
GRAY-BREASTED SEEDSNIPE (Thinocorus orbignyianus) – We saw our first ones near Embalse El Yeso in Chile then we had some more just over the border in Argentina. This is a quite unusual group of shorebird related birds.
Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies)
WHIMBREL (Numenius phaeopus) – There were quite a few of these migrant shorebirds along the rocky shoreline and again at the mouth of the Aconcagua River on our final two days.
RUDDY TURNSTONE (Arenaria interpres) – Several individuals were seem along the coast in Chile.
SURFBIRD (Calidris virgata) – These wintering birds were poking around the rocky shores along the coast neat Viña del Mar.
BAIRD'S SANDPIPER (Calidris bairdii) – Our first ones were seen along the stream at the upper end of Embalse El Yeso in the lower part of the Andes, then we saw a handful at the mouth of the Aconcagua River on our last morning of birding. No matter where we saw them, these birds had come a long way from their breeding grounds.
PECTORAL SANDPIPER (Calidris melanotos) – we found one along the shore at Laguna Blanca in Argentina.
GREATER YELLOWLEGS (Tringa melanoleuca) – There were 3-4 individuals on the tidal flats at the mouth of the Aconcagua River in Chile where they were hanging around with the following species and offered good comparisons.
LESSER YELLOWLEGS (Tringa flavipes)
Laridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)
ANDEAN GULL (Chroicocephalus serranus) – We found two of these interesting gulls along the shore of Embalse El Yeso in the Andes...where else.
BROWN-HOODED GULL (Chroicocephalus maculipennis) – There were fair numbers along the coast at Viña del Mar.
GRAY GULL (Leucophaeus modestus) – Unfortunately, our only sightings along the Chilean coast were from the bus at a couple of individuals on the beach. These were in narrow stretches of the busy road and there was no place to stop and get a decent view.
FRANKLIN'S GULL (Leucophaeus pipixcan) – Large numbers were seen along the coast of Chile, especially at the mouth of the Aconcagua River.
The Salentein winery tasting "altar" -- quite the setup! Photo by participant Dennis Serdehely.
KELP GULL (Larus dominicanus) – There were tons of these on the coast, littorally.
INCA TERN (Larosterna inca) – We had great views of this species, perhaps the best looking tern in the world, as they sat about on rocks and even the highway supports along the Chilean coast.
BLACK SKIMMER (CINERASCENS) (Rynchops niger cinerascens) – There was a large group gathered on the sandbar at the Aconcagua River mouth where we also watched them in their classic feeding style of unzipping the water.
Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)
ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia) [I]
SPOT-WINGED PIGEON (Patagioenas maculosa) – We saw these on several days but they were especially abundant on the grounds of the posada at the Salentein winery.
CHILEAN PIGEON (Patagioenas araucana) – Not common anywhere we went but we had a few scope views.
PICUI GROUND-DOVE (Columbina picui) – Generally found lower in elevation than the following species we had most of our sightings in Argentina.
BLACK-WINGED GROUND-DOVE (Metriopelia melanoptera) – These were quite common at the higher elevations we visited.
Diademed Sandpiper-Plover is one of the high-elevation specialties we sought above Santiago. Photo by participant Ed Harper.
EARED DOVE (Zenaida auriculata) – This was one of the species we saw in fair numbers everyday of the trip.
Cuculidae (Cuckoos)
GUIRA CUCKOO (Guira guira) – The only area we saw this odd species was around Salentein in Argentina.
DARK-BILLED CUCKOO (Coccyzus melacoryphus) – It was somewhat of a surprise to see this not-so-common species in the native scrub near the Salentein posada on the day we headed south.
Strigidae (Owls)
GREAT HORNED OWL (MAGELLANIC) (Bubo virginianus magellanicus) – On our first afternoon at Farellones, Patricio spotted one, then two, then four in a couple of trees over the road. Many taxonomists split this form calling it Magellanic Horned Owl.
AUSTRAL PYGMY-OWL (Glaucidium nana) – We had great scope views of a calling bird that came in along the roadside on our way to Farellones. It was being mobbed by several species as it tooted away.
BURROWING OWL (Athene cunicularia) – We saw this popular species on a few days in Argentina. A pair was standing watch at the edge of the grape rows at Salentein each time we passed.
Apodidae (Swifts)
WHITE-COLLARED SWIFT (Streptoprocne zonaris) – There was a flock of 84 individuals that suddenly appeared near the Salentein Posada one afternoon.
Trochilidae (Hummingbirds)
GREEN-BACKED FIRECROWN (Sephanoides sephaniodes) – Our only sighting was a brief individual that came in as we birded the roadside near the entrance to Rio Clarillo on our second morning near Santiago. We speculated they had not yet arrived from further south as they should have been in good numbers.
RED-TAILED COMET (Sappho sparganurus) – At our lunch stop along the surging Rio Mendoza we had a not quite full adult male put on a good show for us as it hovered and perched. Later we saw a much shorter tailed female at Parque San Martin in Mendoza.
WHITE-SIDED HILLSTAR (Oreotrochilus leucopleurus) – A female was seen feeding on the distinctive red flowers where it also perched on the morning we crossed the Andes.
GIANT HUMMINGBIRD (Patagona gigas gigas) – At one of our stops along the road climbing to Embalse El Yeso we found this large hummingbird feeding on red flowers in the tops of shrubs. We enjoyed good views as it lingered for a good while on each shrub. This hummingbird is large enough that you can almost count the wing beats.
GLITTERING-BELLIED EMERALD (Chlorostilbon lucidus) – We saw a few in Parque San Martin, but like the firecrowns, they were not present in the numbers that we should have seen.
Marcelo, Martha, and Becca scanning at one of our beautiful high-elevation stops. Photo by participant Dennis Serdehely.
Picidae (Woodpeckers)
WHITE-FRONTED WOODPECKER (Melanerpes cactorum) – It was a bonus to find this distinctive looking woodpecker at the Reserva Telteca. After hearing our first, we ended up seeing four in one tree.
CHECKERED WOODPECKER (Veniliornis mixtus) – Another woodpecker we did not expect to get we had a pair of these working in the taller trees at Reserva Telteca. This species is quite similar to our Ladder-backed Woodpecker of the southwest U.S.
STRIPED WOODPECKER (Veniliornis lignarius) – We had good looks at this small woodpecker near the entrance to Rio Clarillo. They were quite responsive and put on a nice show.
GREEN-BARRED WOODPECKER (Colaptes melanochloros) – A great looking woodpecker, we saw a few near the Posada Salentein.
CHILEAN FLICKER (Colaptes pitius) – We only had a brief look at one at La Campana National Park in Chile. It came right in to us but only stayed a few seconds before disappearing.
Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)
MOUNTAIN CARACARA (Phalcoboenus megalopterus) – After getting through customs on the Argentina border and driving a bit down the mountain we found a few individuals sailing about on the nearby slope and alighting on rocks and on the ground for a great show.
American Oystercatchers along the Chilean coast, photographed by participant Dennis Serdehely.
SOUTHERN CARACARA (Caracara plancus) – We only saw a couple of individuals.
CHIMANGO CARACARA (Milvago chimango) – Another widespread bird that we saw everyday of the trip.
AMERICAN KESTREL (Falco sparverius) – There were a surprising number of these throughout our travels. We may have seen them everyday except our last.
Psittacidae (New World and African Parrots)
GRAY-HOODED PARAKEET (Psilopsiagon aymara) – A pair of birds were spotted in a shrub on the slope of the desert wash we were birding south of Mendoza. They put on a great show for the minute or two we watched them.
MOUNTAIN PARAKEET (Psilopsiagon aurifrons) – We only managed a pair of birds flying past, twice, near the Portillo ski resort near the pass in the Andes.
MONK PARAKEET (Myiopsitta monachus) – We had views of these birds in the part of their range where they are introduced but we also saw a few at Telteca where they were in their natural habitat.
BURROWING PARAKEET (Cyanoliseus patagonus) – We had a great experience with this rather odd parrot. After stopping at a nesting colony and only having a flock fly-over we continued down the road and found a large flock right along the roadside near a large field of sunflowers. They posed beautifully for photos.
Rhinocryptidae (Tapaculos)
MOUSTACHED TURCA (Pteroptochos megapodius) – On our first day a few of us had a scope view of two birds calling from the branch of a tree, they slipped off before everyone got there. The next day below El Yeso we saw at least one bird up the slope along a steep drainage that wasn't too bad. We heard a few more but never really nailed it. [E]
WHITE-THROATED TAPACULO (Scelorchilus albicollis) – We got two individuals calling at La Campana NP but could not lure them out. [E*]
CRESTED GALLITO (Rhinocrypta lanceolata) – After much searching we heard a calling bird and managed to get a great view as it came up towards the fence while we stood on the elevated road. We watched it calling from the lower part of a shrub.
Guides John Coons (l.) and Marcelo Padua, photographed by participant Sue Wright.
SANDY GALLITO (Teledromas fuscus) – In the desert country along the road to Laguna Llancanelo we heard a calling bird and walked into the bush for it. We eventually got close enough and saw it singing from a shrub quite close to us for a great view and certainly some nice photos for some. Yip! Yip! Yip!
MAGELLANIC TAPACULO (Scytalopus magellanicus) – In the Farellones area on our first day we spotted this skulker along the small creek as it worked its way around and under rocks. I think everyone got a pretty good view of this difficult to see species.
DUSKY TAPACULO (Scytalopus fuscus) – After finally getting one to call in a thicket tangle of vegetation, Marcelo got quite close to the patch and coaxed it in to fine view where we even watched it singing, a very rare treat. [E]
"Magellanic" Great Horned Owl, photographed by participant Ed Harper. Many consider this taxon a bona fide split.
Furnariidae (Ovenbirds and Woodcreepers)
COMMON MINER (CENTRAL CHILE) (Geositta cunicularia fissirostris) – We ended up seeing about four of these along the road on the way into Laguna Llancanelo.
RUFOUS-BANDED MINER (Geositta rufipennis) – We had fair numbers in a few habitats in Chile and Argentina with the subspecies in Chile noted below.
RUFOUS-BANDED MINER (Geositta rufipennis fasciata) – This is the subspecies that we saw in the Farellones and El Yeso areas on our first day. It is separated from the rest of the population and could be a future split.
CREAMY-RUMPED MINER (Geositta isabellina) – After Marcelo spotted a potential bird flying across the road we jumped from the bus and eventually had a great view of two individuals right next to us. This is a very uncommon bird in this area.
SCIMITAR-BILLED WOODCREEPER (Drymornis bridgesii) – Another bonus from our impromptu visit to Reserva Telteca, we saw two of these quite distinctive birds working through the limbs of the larger trees. A really cool bird.
NARROW-BILLED WOODCREEPER (Lepidocolaptes angustirostris) – Two individuals showed quite nicely for us in Reserva Telteca.
BAND-TAILED EARTHCREEPER (Ochetorhynchus phoenicurus) – Another very local species in Argentina we thought we had lost it when our road was closed but we found some more suitable habitat and ended up with very nice views of one while two others vocalized nearby.
CRAG CHILIA (Ochetorhynchus melanurus) – This unusual looking species is endemic to central Chile and we had great looks at it on the way up the Yeso Valley. It is difficult to believe it is closely related to the previous species. [E]
CHACO EARTHCREEPER (Tarphonomus certhioides) – After some effort we had wonderful looks at this wonderful species in the native habitat of the Salentein winery.
RUFOUS HORNERO (Furnarius rufus) – We saw a handful in Argentina and also saw the oven-like nests for which the bird and the entire family is named.
WREN-LIKE RUSHBIRD (Phleocryptes melanops) – This species acts a lot like a Marsh Wren. We had views near our hotel in Uspallata and again at Laguna Llancanelo.
SCALE-THROATED EARTHCREEPER (Upucerthia dumetaria) – Another rather distinctive species, we saw it a few times in Argentina.
Our beautiful view as we flew over the Andes between Chile and Argentina. Photo by participant Becca Serdehely.
BUFF-WINGED CINCLODES (Cinclodes fuscus) – We had several good and close views of this species in the Farellones area, again at Yeso and yet another near the Aconcagua trail.
GRAY-FLANKED CINCLODES (Cinclodes oustaleti) – This species likes wet marshy ground and that is exactly where we saw it at Farellones.
SEASIDE CINCLODES (Cinclodes nigrofumosus) – Another species endemic to Chile we saw a few along the coast at Viña del Mar, including a group of four that were displaying right below us on the rocky shore. [E]
THORN-TAILED RAYADITO (Aphrastura spinicauda) – Another species that gave us the slip early but we caught up with it well at La Campana NP.
BROWN-CAPPED TIT-SPINETAIL (Leptasthenura fuliginiceps) – We had a couple of good views in the dry desert-like habitat south of Mendoza.
TUFTED TIT-SPINETAIL (Leptasthenura platensis) – South of Mendoza we had a nice look at this aptly named species.
PLAIN-MANTLED TIT-SPINETAIL (AEGITHALOIDES) (Leptasthenura aegithaloides aegithaloides) – We saw our first near the entrance to Rio Clarillo along the roadside then had a couple more sightings during the trip.
Chilean Flamingo, photographed by participant Ed Harper.
CREAMY-BREASTED CANASTERO (Asthenes dorbignyi) – There were two of these in the desert area south of Mendoza that took us a bit of time to sort out before we confirmed the ID.
SHORT-BILLED CANASTERO (Asthenes baeri) – We had a good view of one of two along the fence line on the road to Laguna Llancanelo. These canasteros usually require a good view of the tail to sort out.
CORDILLERAN CANASTERO (Asthenes modesta) – Our first canastero, this one showed well after some searching along the road below Farellones.
SHARP-BILLED CANASTERO (Asthenes pyrrholeuca) – We had great looks at a single bird that was working along a hillside next to the road. After a couple of visits to the same spot we realized it was feeding at a nest under the rocks. Marcelo braced his phone in a bush and "remotely" got a quite close video of the bird feeding its young.
STRIPE-CROWNED SPINETAIL (Cranioleuca pyrrhophia) – One of the more distinctive furnariids we saw, this interesting species gave us good views in the desert south of Mendoza.
DUSKY-TAILED CANASTERO (Pseudasthenes humicola) – Our sole fairly good view was along the way up the El Yeso Valley. [E]
PATAGONIAN CANASTERO (Pseudasthenes patagonica)
STEINBACH'S CANASTERO (Pseudasthenes steinbachi)
BROWN CACHOLOTE (Pseudoseisura lophotes) – We had good views in the Salentein area with a few more along the way later.
WHITE-THROATED CACHOLOTE (Pseudoseisura gutturalis) – Often a difficult species to get a good look at, we had a couple of scope views of calling birds in the dry country south of Mendoza.
Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers)
YELLOW-BILLED TIT-TYRANT (Anairetes flavirostris) – We found a family of three birds with the adult feeding young along the trail near the river on our way south of Uspallata.
Some of the scenery as we journeyed into Argentina, photographed by participant Neil McDonal.
TUFTED TIT-TYRANT (Anairetes parulus) – These cute little flycatchers were seen our first day at Farellones.
WARBLING DORADITO (Pseudocolopteryx flaviventris) – A quite local bird we had one on the grounds of our hotel in Uspallata.
WHITE-CRESTED ELAENIA (CHILEAN) (Elaenia albiceps chilensis) – We saw several and this was a common voice in the mid-elevations we visited throughout the trip.
WHITE-BELLIED TYRANNULET (Serpophaga munda) – A couple of these great littles guys were seen near the Salentein winery on the day we left.
STRANECK'S TYRANNULET (Serpophaga griseicapilla) – We had good views of one at the beginning of our walk up the desert wash on our drive to Malargue.
SOUTHERN SCRUB-FLYCATCHER (Sublegatus modestus)
MANY-COLORED RUSH TYRANT (Tachuris rubrigastra) – Though none stayed for a prolonged look we had a few views of this aptly named species in the reeds at Laguna Llancanelo.
GREATER WAGTAIL-TYRANT (Stigmatura budytoides)
VERMILION FLYCATCHER (Pyrocephalus rubinus)
The wine selection at our last evening's meal, photographed by participant Dennis Serdehely.
WHITE-WINGED BLACK-TYRANT (Knipolegus aterrimus) – Most of those we saw were females which are quite distinctive.
SPECTACLED TYRANT (Hymenops perspicillatus) – There were a good number around Laguna Llancanelo.
CINEREOUS GROUND-TYRANT (Muscisaxicola cinereus) – We saw a good one above Embalse El Yeso.
RUFOUS-NAPED GROUND-TYRANT (Muscisaxicola rufivertex) – As ground-tyrants go this is a fairly distinctive one. We saw a couple on our first afternoon at Farellones.
WHITE-BROWED GROUND-TYRANT (Muscisaxicola albilora) – Again we had a good view of one in the tundra-like habitat at El Yeso.
BLACK-FRONTED GROUND-TYRANT (Muscisaxicola frontalis)
BLACK-BILLED SHRIKE-TYRANT (Agriornis montanus)
GRAY-BELLIED SHRIKE-TYRANT (Agriornis micropterus) – We had pretty good looks at this rather large flycatcher on our day at Laguna Llancanelo.
FIRE-EYED DIUCON (Xolmis pyrope) – After a few brief sightings we got a scope view of one on our way to La Campana NP where we could see the red eyes.
BLACK-CROWNED MONJITA (Xolmis coronatus) – This bird gave us several short looks before it sat up long enough for a scope look at Reserva Telteca.
Blue-and-yellow Tanager, photographed by participant Ed Harper.
CATTLE TYRANT (Machetornis rixosa) – A pair came in to a palm tree at the Parque San Martin in Mendoza.
GREAT KISKADEE (Pitangus sulphuratus)
CROWNED SLATY FLYCATCHER (Empidonomus aurantioatrocristatus) – Marcelo spotted this rather uncommon but widespread flycatcher at Reserva Telteca.
TROPICAL KINGBIRD (Tyrannus melancholicus)
FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER (Tyrannus savana)
Cotingidae (Cotingas)
WHITE-TIPPED PLANTCUTTER (Phytotoma rutila) – We saw several of these in the Mendoza area.
RUFOUS-TAILED PLANTCUTTER (Phytotoma rara)
Hirundinidae (Swallows)
BLUE-AND-WHITE SWALLOW (PATAGONICA) (Pygochelidon cyanoleuca patagonica)
SOUTHERN MARTIN (Progne elegans) – A stop at a bridge on the way to Malargue found a handful flying over the river.
CHILEAN SWALLOW (Tachycineta meyeni) – We had our best views of several birds flying about at Nacho and Myriam's house on the day we returned to Chile.
BARN SWALLOW (Hirundo rustica) – We saw a couple on a fence wire on the way to Laguna Llancanelo.
Troglodytidae (Wrens)
HOUSE WREN (SOUTHERN) (Troglodytes aedon musculus)
SEDGE WREN (AUSTRAL) (Cistothorus platensis hornensis) [*]
Turdidae (Thrushes and Allies)
AUSTRAL THRUSH (Turdus falcklandii) – These were quite common in the Santiago area.
CREAMY-BELLIED THRUSH (Turdus amaurochalinus)
CHIGUANCO THRUSH (Turdus chiguanco)
Mimidae (Mockingbirds and Thrashers)
CHILEAN MOCKINGBIRD (Mimus thenca) – This specialty of Chile was seen several times in the Santiago area. [E]
PATAGONIAN MOCKINGBIRD (Mimus patagonicus)
WHITE-BANDED MOCKINGBIRD (Mimus triurus) – A quite distinctive species with the big white wing patch, we saw several in the days in the Malargue area.
Burrowing Parrots were one of the species we saw near Salentein. Photo by participant Dennis Serdehely.
Motacillidae (Wagtails and Pipits)
CORRENDERA PIPIT (Anthus correndera) – We had great looks at a pale pipit outside of Malargue that we had to do some investigating before confirming that it was this species. The exceedingly long hindclaw clinched the ID. We then had good views of two birds at the mouth of the Aconcagua River.
Thraupidae (Tanagers and Allies)
RED-CRESTED CARDINAL (Paroaria coronata) – A pretty good looking bird we saw one at Parque San Martin in Mendoza.
BLUE-AND-YELLOW TANAGER (Pipraeidea bonariensis) – This was the only true tanager that we encountered and they were fairly common around the grounds of our posada at Salentein.
GRAY-HOODED SIERRA-FINCH (Phrygilus gayi) – These were pretty common at the higher elevations we visited in Chile and just over the border in the Andes in Argentina.
MOURNING SIERRA-FINCH (Phrygilus fruticeti)
CARBONATED SIERRA-FINCH (Phrygilus carbonarius) – Heading to Laguna Llancanelo we made a roadside stop and found a good number of these moving through the desert as a loose flock.
COMMON DIUCA-FINCH (Diuca diuca) – Fairly common in several places.
CINNAMON WARBLING-FINCH (Poospiza ornata) – One of the rarer birds of the trip, we had a pretty good view at Reserva Telteca.
RINGED WARBLING-FINCH (Poospiza torquata) – A great looking species that showed well on a couple of occasions in Argentina.
GREATER YELLOW-FINCH (Sicalis auriventris) – There were a few seen fairly high in elevation at near Embalse Elk Yeso.
Our great crew, with guides Marcelo Padua and John Coons at left -- a lot of fun was had!
SAFFRON FINCH (Sicalis flaveola)
GRASSLAND YELLOW-FINCH (GRASSLAND) (Sicalis luteola luteiventris)
GREAT PAMPA-FINCH (Embernagra platensis) – Seen around some pampa grass around the city of Uspallata.
DOUBLE-COLLARED SEEDEATER (Sporophila caerulescens) – I believe our only ones were at Casa Palmero where we made wine...sort of.
BAND-TAILED SEEDEATER (Catamenia analis)
MANY-COLORED CHACO FINCH (Saltatricula multicolor) – This colorful species showed well for us at Reserva Telteca.
GOLDEN-BILLED SALTATOR (Saltator aurantiirostris) – We had about three individuals along the desert wash south of Mendoza where we had nice scope views. Then we had another at Reserva Telteca on our last full day in Argentina.
Emberizidae (Buntings and New World Sparrows)
RUFOUS-COLLARED SPARROW (Zonotrichia capensis) – Another species that we saw everyday of the trip.
Icteridae (Troupials and Allies)
LONG-TAILED MEADOWLARK (Sturnella loyca) – The males are quite colorful and we had a number of good views.
AUSTRAL BLACKBIRD (Curaeus curaeus) – We had a few with all of them seen in Chile.
YELLOW-WINGED BLACKBIRD (Agelasticus thilius) – The males of this species are sharply marked. We saw our first at Laguna Llancanelo and then a few more in the marshy area at the mouth of the Aconcagua River.
GRAYISH BAYWING (Agelaioides badius) – We had our best views in the native habitat near the Salentein winery.
SHINY COWBIRD (Molothrus bonariensis)
Fringillidae (Finches, Euphonias, and Allies)
HOODED SISKIN (Spinus magellanicus) – We had a good view of this species on the grounds of the hotel in Uspallata.
YELLOW-RUMPED SISKIN (Spinus uropygialis) – We saw these at the higher elevations we visited at both Yeso and again near the Portillo Ski resort.
BLACK-CHINNED SISKIN (Spinus barbatus) – We saw a fair number of these in the Farellones area and again near Rio Clarillo.
Passeridae (Old World Sparrows)
HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus) [I]
MAMMALS
PICHI (Zaedyus pichiy) – We had a couple of views of this small armadillo along the road to Laguna Llancanelo. This creature is also known as dwarf armadillo and was pretty cute.
OLD WORLD RABBIT (Oryctolagus cuniculus) [I]
YELLOW-TOOTHED CAVY SP. (Galea musteloides) – This is probably the species of ground-squirrel-like rodent that we saw in numbers in the Laguna Llancanelo area.
NUTRIA (Myocastor coypus) – Some saw this large semi-aquatic rodent at Laguna Llancanelo.
CULPEO FOX (Pseudalopex culpaeus) – We saw a couple of individuals of this smallish fox as we birded south of Mendoza.
MARINE OTTER (Lontra felina) – Marcelo spotted one in the seaweed along the shore at Viña del Mar and a bit later Ed got some photos of one.
SOUTHERN SEA LION (Otaria byronia) – A good number were barking away while hauled out on the Bird Rocks at Viña del Mar. Some of these individuals climbed way to the top of the rock.
GUANACO (Lama guanicoe) – A fair number of herds were spotted along the road south of Mendoza.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Here is a list of all the wines we tried on our tour. Wines are listed roughly in chronological order:
Miguel Torres, Santa Digna Reserva, Sauvignon Blanc 2015
Tarapaca, Gran Reserva, Carmenere 2014
Valdivieso, Cuvee Reserve Nature, Extra Brut
Subercaseaux, Grand Cuvee, Extra Brut
Concha Y Toro, Terrunyo, Sauvignon Blanc 2012 (block 5)
Concha Y Toro, Terrunyo, Carmenere 2015 (cuartel 17)
Concha Y Toro, Late Harvest, Sauvignon Blanc 2015
Almaviva, EPU, Blend 2014
Santa Rita, Medalla Real Reserva, Chardonnay 2015
Santa Rita, Medalla Real Reserva, Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Santa Rita, Medalla Real Reserva, Sauvignon Blanc 2016
Santa Rita, Medalla Real Reserva, Carmenere 2015
Santa Rita, Reserva , Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
Santa Rita, Reserva, Sauvignon blanc 2016
Santa Rita, Medalla Real Gran Reserva, Gran Reserva 2014
Santa Digna, Estelado Rose Sparkling Wine, Pais Brut
Villalobos, Reserve Limited Edition, Carignan 2014
Santa Ema, Select Terroir, Sauvignon Blanc 2015
Santa Ema, Select Terroir, Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Rutinin, Trumpeter, Malbec 2015
Santa Julia, Alambrado, Malbec 2015
David Catena, V2, Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Finca el Origen, Reserva, Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
Finca el Origen,Gran Reserva, Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
Alpamanta, Reserva, Malbec 2008
Alpamanta, Reserva, Malbec 2009
Casa Palmero, Chardonnay 2011
Casa Palmero, Malbec Unoaked 2015
Casa Palmero, Malbec Oaked 2013
Casa Palmero, Cabernet Sauvignon Oaked 2013
Salentein, Reserve, Chardonnay 2015
Salentein, Reserve, Merlot 2015
Salentein, Reserve, Malbec 2015
Salentein, Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Salentein, Reserve, Sauvignon Blanc 2015
Salentein, Reserve, Pinot Noir 2015
Salentein, Brut Nature
Salentein, Late Harvest, Sauvignon Blanc 2015
Salentein, Killka, Chardonnay 2015
Salentein, Numina, Blend 2014
Salentein, Pr1mus, Pinot Noir 2011
Ernesto Catena, Alma Negra, Blend 2013
Nieto Senetiner, Bonarda 2013
Zuccardi, Q, Malbec 20143
Trapiche, Fond de Cave, Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
Ernesto Catena, Siesta, Cabernet Franc 2011
Huentala Wines, Hotel Rose, Malbec 2016
Huentala Wines, Hotel Malbec, Malbec 2015
Atamisque, Serbal, Malbec 2016
Atamisque, Serbal, Chardonnay 2016
Caelum, Reserva, Pinot Noir 2015
La Azul, Azul, Malbec 2015
Domingo Molina, Torrontes 2015
Diamandes de Uco, Grande Reserve, Malbec – Cabernet 2009
San Pedro, Castillo de Molina Reserva, Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
Casas Del Bosque, Reserva, Sauvignon Blanc 2016
Casas Del Bosque, Gran Reserva, Syrah 2014
Montgras, Amaral, Sauvignon Blanc 2016
Viu Manet, Gran Reserva, Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
Vinamar, Extra Brut Vinamar
Vina Mar, Reserva Especial, Sauvignon Blanc 2016
Vina Mar, Reserva, Pinot Noir 2015
Totals for the tour: 196 bird taxa and 8 mammal taxa