ANCHICAYA RIVER WATERSHED
The old Buenaventura Road, which descends from the western Andes to the Pacific Ocean along the Anchicaya River watershed, is one of Colombia’s newest destinations to open up to birding. The birding along this gradient of insurmountable diversity is such that it inspired Steve Hilty to start work on Field Guide to the Birds of Colombia, the first ornithological field guide for South America. Along the edge of the Farallones National Park, the road winds through Andean cloud forests, humid tropical forests all the way down to the Pacific lowlands. One can easily bird the area for four days searching for a plethora of the Choco endemics that this mega diverse locality has to offer. Approximately 450 species have been recorded along the road.
Targets Upper Portion:
Toucan Barbet, Tatama Tapaculo (E), Crested Ant-tanager (E), Glistening-green Tanager (E), Black-chinned Mountain Tanager (NE), Rufous-throated Tanager (NE), Violet-tailed Sylph (NE), Green Thorntail, Golden-collared Honeycreeper (NE), Sooty-headed Wren (NE), Orange-breasted Fruiteater (NE), Black Solitaire (NE).
Targets Lower Portion:
Rose-faced Parrot (NE), Scarlet-and-white Tanager (NE), Grey-and-gold Tanager (NE), Choco Toucan, Golden-chested Tanager (NE), Scarlet-browed Tanager (NE), Lita Woodpecker , Lanceolated Monklet, Choco Trogon (NE), Long-tailed Tyrant, Slaty-capped Shrike-vireo, Scarlet-rumped Cacique, Long-wattled Umbrellabird, Ocellated Antbird, Baudo Guan, Tooth-billed Hummingbird.