November 3-23, 2025 with Willy Perez & Jurgen Schulmeister
Every time I return to Chile, even though there is a real familiarity, I love the fact that there are always new surprises in every location we go to. As birders, we often talk about “lifers” and “targets,” but what truly stays with us are the moments: the sound of wings in thin mountain air, the sudden flash of colour against volcanic rock, or the feeling of being small in such an enormous, vibrant landscape. This trip brought all of that, and more.
We commenced our trip in Arica, where there is something special about the mix of warm desert sun, Pacific wind, and the anticipation of the birds that only the north of Chile can offer.
From our very first morning, we were rewarded with one of the big prizes of the trip, Peruvian Thick-knee, hiding in the grass in the early light. The coastline delivered exactly what I hoped for: flocks of Belcher’s and Gray Gulls, and many other incredible water birds.
The climb from the Atacama desert up to the Altiplano is one of those transitions that is breathtaking, no matter how many times you experience it. We saw the shift of the land from desert to thin green oases, then to cactus on the hills, and eventually to open Puna.
Birding in the little hamlet of Socoroma was superb. Seeing Andean Hillstar feeding amongst the flowers and timid Canasteros running on the rocks is a reminder why this is such a good spot for high-Andean birding. The White-throated Earthcreeper showed up beautifully too.
Lauca National Park, as always, filled us with awe: three species of flamingos feeding calmly in the lakes; Giant Coots that look like the extinct Dodo were marching around, Rufous-bellied Seedsnipes grazing on the bogs, and we can’t forget the Viscachas and the Big-eared Mouse that showed nicely. The Puna Tinamou was a target bird for some, and it was fantastic that we managed to see them. The views of the snow-capped mountains and smoking volcanoes illustrate how alive this landscape really is!
Back in the lowlands we were on the lookout for one of the rarest birds in Chile… the Chilean Woodstar, a tiny hummingbird that is completely in danger of becoming extinct. I never take this bird for granted. We were lucky enough to watch a male display from his perch in one of those fragile desert oasis valleys, and knowing how vulnerable the species is, this felt like a privilege. Also, here we saw the very handsome Pied-crested Tit Tyrant.
Next, we landed in Santiago, with its Mediterranean vibe, new birds and new habitats. In Algarrobo, we had one of those fantastic moments when everything happens at once: Moustached Turca, White-throated Tapaculo, and Dusky-tailed Canastero all appearing in a single burst of activity. Central Chile’s endemics always impress because they are quirky, beautiful, and full of personality.
Our pelagic trip was busy, with six species of albatross, both giant-petrels, and a swirling assembly of seabirds cutting across the waves. The Chatham Albatross was the star for many, and even for me. After years of pelagic birding, it is awesome to see such a bird flying so close over the sea.
The El Yeso Valley gave us another unforgettable day. Watching the Crag Chilias slip in and out of the rocks was a delight. But a highlight was seeing a Moustached Turca sprint across a field, an almost comical demonstration of what evolution can do when a bird decides that running is better than flying!
And then… Diademed Sandpiper-Plover. Every birder who visits Chile dreams of this species, but seeing two adults with a tiny chick that looked like cotton wool, wobbling between them. It was something truly special.
In Chillán, a full day in the forest rewarded us with Chestnut-throated Huet-Huet, Chucao Tapaculo, and Magellanic Woodpecker; it was one of our best birding days. Hearing and finding the Rufous-legged Owl that night felt unreal.
Temuco’s Cerro Ñielol Park treated us kindly, with Magellanic Tapaculo and Black-throated Huet-Huet, and the drive south was very scenic. Exploring the marshes and seeing the Many-colored Rush-Tyrant shining in its full rainbow colours was certainly a sight to see.
Visiting the forests of Lahuen Ñadi, despite being quiet on the birding front that morning, was wonderful, as we had time to appreciate the ancient giant Alerce trees and experience a wet Valdivian forest.
Patagonia greeted us as with strong wind but even that didn’t stop us. Crossing to Tierra del Fuego and driving to the King Penguin colony is such a unique experience, with close up views of the King Penguins, and some very fluffy chicks, which was pretty cool.
Back on the mainland, the Patagonian plains produced a beautiful range of specialties: Patagonian Tinamou, Austral Canastero, White-bridled Finch, and the charismatic Chocolate-vented Tyrant. But we struck gold when the unique Magellanic Plover appeared within our very tight time window. It is one of the most special and charismatic birds in all of Chilean Patagonia, and seeing it well was a real treat.
Torres del Paine brought soaring Andean Condors, turquoise lakes, and horizons as far as the eye can see. Sierra Baguales added Guanacos, Lesser Rheas, and the gentle charm of Yellow-bridled Finches feeding quietly among yellow flowers. Finding Austral Rail was another triumph, always elusive, always rewarding.
We missed a puma by five minutes, but that’s Patagonia, and it shows there are never any guarantees with seeing wildlife. Next time!
On our last morning in Punta Arenas, we squeezed in one final birding mission and found both Ashy-headed and Kelp Geese before breakfast; this was a perfect parting gift from the far south.
Looking back, this trip was filled with birds that define Chile: condors circling the sky, penguins tucked into their colonies, tapaculos calling from hidden shadows, and albatrosses ruling the open sea.
We were also lucky with mammals: dolphins swimming gracefully, foxes watching us from the pampas, very playful sea otters, and the rare, unforgettable Kodkod (the smallest cat in South America), a personal highlight for many of us.
This tour was incredibly enjoyable to guide, we birded away, we saw all sorts of weather and landscapes, the food was delicious, and the pisco sours were a big success! But more than anything, what made this trip meaningful was the group. You made the long drives enjoyable, the early mornings easy, and the surprises fun. Thank you for being a flexible, kind, and enthusiastic group. This was a memorable trip for me.
And a very special thank you to Jürgen, our super Chilean guide, whose energy, knowledge, and good humour was a great addition to the journey. It was great to have you with us.
Other wildlife that we found along the way
Mammals
European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)
European Hare (Lepus europaeus)
Bolivian Big-eared Mouse (Auliscomys boliviensis)
Common Mountain Viscacha (Lagidium viscacia)
Coypu (Myocastor coypus)
Peale's Dolphin (Sagmatias australis)
South American Gray Fox (Lycalopex grisea)
Culpeo (Lycalopex culpaeus)
Big Hairy Armadillo (Chaetophractus villosus)
Marine Otter (Lontra felina)
Kodkod (Guina leopardus)
South American Sea Lion (Otaria byronia)
Guanaco (Lama guanicoe)
Llama (Lama glama)
Alpaca (Lama pacos)
Vicuña (Lama vicugna)
Lizards
Four-banded Pacific Iguana (Microlophus quadrivittatus)
Thin Tree Lizard (Liolaemus tenuis)
Chillán Lizard (Liolaemus chillanensis)
You can see my complete trip report on eBird at this link: https://ebird.org/tripreport/437747
You can download a combined PDF of this page and the eBird report at this link: https://fieldguides.com/triplists/chi25TRIPLIST.pdf
-- Just keep birding, abrazos, Willy