El 18 is located on the pass that connects Cali with the port city of Buenaventura (Colombia's only Pacific Ocean port), at approximately 1,800 meters in elevation. The pass is called El 18 because it is 18 kilometers from downtown Cali, and it is our access into the San Antonio Forest. The forest is classified as a sub-Andean cloud forest, and is characterized by low-lying fogs and mists that are formed when moisture-laden air is blown in from the Pacific. Birding in the forest is done along small gravel roads that pass through fragments of cloud forest with good mixed flock activity. The area is regarded as one of the best places to observe tanagers, a true tanager paradise. Possibilities include Purplish-mantled, Golden, White-lined, Scrub, Fawn-breasted, Summer, Metallic-green, Saffron-crowned, and Golden-naped Tanagers, as well as Ashthroated Bush-Tanagers and Blue-winged Mountain-tanager.

    Two endemics that we will search out are Grayish Piculet and Multicolored Tanager. Other birds we might see in this area include, Scarlet-fronted parakeet, Crimson-rumped Toucanet, Fulvous-dotted Treerunner, Streak-capped Treehunter, Scaled Fruiteater, Green and Black Fruiteater, Yellow-headed Manakin, Chestnut-breasted Wren, Black-billed Peppershrike, Chestnut-breasted Chlorophonia, Greenish Puffleg, Montane woodcreeper, Redfaced Spinetail, Spotted and Rusty-winged Barbtails, Streaked Xenops and Narino Tapaculo. It will be easy to see the hyperactive Cinnamon Flycatcher, and a delight to listen to the Andean Solitaire. Along one of the roads, we will visit Esdrujal, a local peasant who maintains feeders and attracts an impressive show of hummingbirds. The following species have been observed at the feeders. Purple-throated Woodstar, Blue-headed Saphire, Brown Violetear, Green Violetear, Fawn-Breasated Brilliant, Speckled Hummingbird, Wedge-billed Hummingbird, Long-tailed Sylph, White-necked Jacobin, and Long-billed Starthroat. The San Antonio Forest has over 200 documented species.

    Sadly, forest fragmentation and habitat loss have made Colombian cloud forests one of the most endangered ecosystems in the world. A fundamental step in conservation is knowledge of the biological resources in the area, and second to that, especially in the Colombian cloud forest, is community involvement in protecting resources. Colombia Birdwatch has partnered up with Mapalina, a non-profit organizations that trains local youths to become birding guides and in turn realize the potentials of protecting the cloud forest they live in. We are very excited about this partnership because this region of Colombia holds a special place in our hearts. Thus, it is our top priority to promote conservation, environmental education, and responsible ecotourism that benefits the local communities and habitats of the area.



BIRDS FOUND IN THIS LOCALITY
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Highland Tinamou, Nothocercus bonapartei
Gray Tinamou, Tinamus tao
Little Tinamou, Crypturellus soui
Sickle-winged Guan, Chamaepetes goudotii
Variable Chachalaca, Ortalis motmot
Chestnut Wood-Quail, Odontophorus hyperythrus
Cattle Egret, Bubulcus ibis
Turkey Vulture, Cathartes aura
Black Vulture, Coragyps atratus
Sharp-shinned Hawk, Accipiter striatus
Roadside Hawk, Buteo magnirostris
Broad-winged Hawk (migratory), Buteo platypterus
Ornate Hawk-Eagle, Spizaetus ornatus
Barred Forest-Falcon, Micrastur ruficollis
Yellow-headed Caracara, Milvago chimachima
American Kestrel, Falco sparverius
Orange-breasted Falcon, Falco deiroleucus
Aplomado Falcon, Falco femoralis
Southern Lapwing, Vanellus chilensis
Ruddy Ground-Dove, Columbina talpacoti
Band-tailed Pigeon, Patagioenas fasciata
Eared Dove, Zenaida auriculata
White-tipped Dove, Leptotila verreauxi
White-throated Quail-Dove, Geotrygon frenata
Ruddy Quail-Dove, Geotrygon montana
Scarlet-fronted Parakeet, Aratinga wagleri
Spectacled Parrotlet, Forpus conspicillatus
Scaly-naped Parrot, Amazona mercenaria
Squirrel Cuco, Piaya cayana
Yellow-billed Cuco (migratory), Coccyzus americanus
Smooth-billed Ani, Crotophaga ani
Striped Cuckoo, Tapera naevia
Barn Owl, Tyto alba
Tropical Screech-Owl, Megascops choliba
Mottled Owl, Ciccaba virgata
Cloud-forest Pygmy-Owl, Glaucidium nubicola
Oilbird, Steatornis caripensis
Common Potoo, Nyctibius griseus
Common Pauraque, Nyctidromus albicollis
Lyre-tailed Nightjar, Uropsalis lyra
White-collared Swift, Streptoprocne zonaris
White-necked Jacobin, Florisuga mellivora
White-tipped Sicklebill, Eutoxeres aquila
Green Hermit, Phaethornis guy
Tawny-bellied Hermit, Phaethornis syrmatophorus
Green-fronted Lancebill, Doryfera ludovicae
Wedge-billed Hummingbird, Schistes geoffroyi
Brown Violetear, Colibri delphinae
Green Violetear, Colibri thalassinus
Sparkling Violetear, Colibri coruscans
Speckled Hummingbird, Adelomyia melanogenys
Long-tailed Slip, Aglaiocercus kingi
Greenish Puffleg, Haplophaedia aureliae
Golden-breasted Puffleg, Eriocnemis mosquera
Bronzy Inca, Coeligena coeligena
Collared Inca, Coeligena torquata
Buff-tailed Coronet, Boissonneaua flavescens
Booted Racket-tail, Ocreatus underwoodii
Fawn-breasted Brilliant, Heliodoxa rubinoides
Purple-throated Woodstar, Calliphlox mitchellii
Red-billed Emerald, Chlorostilbon gibsoni
Blue-tailed Emerald, Chlorostilbon mellisugus
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, Amazilia tzacatl
Andean Emerald, Amazilia franciae
Steely-vented Hummingbird, Amazilia saucerrottei
Blue-headed Sapphire, Hylocharis grayi
Golden-headed Quetzal, Pharomachrus auriceps
Collared Trogon, Trogon collaris
Masked Trogon, Trogon personatus
Blue-crowned Motmot, Momotus momota
Red-headed Barbet, Eubucco bourcierii
Emerald Toucanet, Aulacorhynchus prasinus
Crimson-rumped Toucanet, Aulacorhynchus haematopygus
Grayish Piculet, Picumnus granadensis
Acorn Woodpecker, Melanerpes formicivorus
Smoky-brown Woodpecker, Picoides fumigatus
Yellow-vented Woodpecker, Veniliornis dignus
Golden-olive Woodpecker, Colaptes rubiginosus
Lineated Woodpecker, Dryocopus lineatus
Crimson-crested Woodpecker, Campephilus melanoleucos
Tawny-throated Leaftosser, Sclerurus mexicanus
Azara's Spinetail, Synallaxis azarae
Slaty Spinetail, Synallaxis brachyura
Red-faced Spinetail, Cranioleuca erythrops
Rusty-winged Barbtail, Premnornis guttuligera
Spotted Barbtail, Premnoplex brunnescens
Montane Foliage-gleane, Anabacerthia striaticollis r
Lineated Foliage-gleaner, Syndactyla subalaris
Streak-capped Treehunter, Thripadectes virgaticeps
Plain Xenops, Xenops minutus
Streaked Xenops, Xenops rutilans
Black-banded Woodcreeper, Dendrocolaptes picumnus
Olive-backed Woodcreeper, Xiphorhynchus triangularis
Montane Woodcreeper, Lepidocolaptes lacrymiger
Bar-crested Antshrike, Thamnophilus multistriatus
Uniform Antshrike, Thamnophilus unicolor
Plain Antvireo, Dysithamnus mentalis
Slaty Antwren, Myrmotherula schisticolor
Scaled Antpitta, Grallaria guatimalensis
Chestnut-crowned Antpitta, Grallaria ruficapilla
Rufous-vented Tapaculo, Scytalopus femoralis
Yellow-bellied Elaenia, Elaenia flavogaster
Mountain Elaenia, Elaenia frantzii
Golden-faced Tyrannulet, Zimmerius chrysops
Variegated Bristle-Tyrant, Phylloscartes poecilotis
Marble-faced Bristle-Tyrant, Phylloscartes ophthalmicus
Streak-necked Flycatcher, Mionectes striaticollis
Scale-crested Pygmy-Tyrant, Lophotriccus pileatus
Black-throated Tody-Tyrant, Hemitriccus granadensis
White-throated Spadebill, Platyrinchus mystaceus
Flavescent Flycatcher, Myiophobus flavicans
Bran-colored Flycatcher, Myiophobus fasciatus
Cinnamon Flycatcher, Pyrrhomyias cinnamomeus
Smoke-colored Pewee, Contopus fumigatus
Olive-sided Flycatcher (migratory), Contopus cooperi
Eastern Wood-Pewee (migratory), Contopus virens
Vermilion Flycatcher, Pyrocephalus rubinus
Amazonian Black-Tyrant, Knipolegus poecilocercus
Golden-crowned Flycatcher, Myiodynastes chrysocephalus
Tropical Kingbird, Tyrannus melancholicus
Bright-rumped Attila, Attila spadiceus
Chestnut-crested Cotinga, Ampelion rufaxilla
Green-and-black Fruiteater, Pipreola riefferii
Scaled Fruiteater, Ampelioides tschudii
Golden-winged Manakin, Masius chrysopterus
Yellow-headed Manakin, Xenopipo flavicapilla
Barred Becard, Pachyramphus versicolor
Black-billed Peppershrike, Cyclarhis nigrirostris
Brown-capped Vireo, Vireo leucophrys
Rufous-naped Greenlet, Hylophilus semibrunneus
Green Jay, Cyanocorax yncas
Blue-and-white Swallow, Pygochelidon cyanoleuca
Southern Rough-winged Swallow, Stelgidopteryx ruficollis
House Wren, Troglodytes aedon
Mountain Wren, Troglodytes solstitialis
Gray-breasted Wood-Wren, Henicorhina leucophrys
Chestnut-breasted Wren, Cyphorhinus thoracicus
Long-billed Gnatwren, Ramphocaenus melanurus
Andean Solitaire, Myadestes ralloides
Swainson's Thrush (migratory), Catharus ustulatus
Black Solitaire, Entomodestes coracinus
Pale-eyed Thrush, Turdus leucops
Black-billed Thrush, Turdus ignobilis
Great Thrush, Turdus fuscater
Glossy-black Thrush, Turdus serranus
Rufous-crested Tanager, Creurgops verticalis
White-lined Tanager, Tachyphonus rufus
Crimson-backed Tanager, Ramphocelus dimidiatus
Flame-rumped Tanager, Ramphocelus flammigerus
Blue-gray Tanager, Thraupis episcopus
Palm Tanager, Thraupis palmarum
Blue-capped Tanager, Thraupis cyanocephala
Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager, Anisognathus somptuosus
Purplish-mantled Tanager, Iridosornis porphyrocephalus
Fawn-breasted Tanager, Pipraeidea melanonota
Multicolored Tanager, Chlorochrysa nitidissima
Golden-naped Tanager, Tangara ruficervix
Black-capped Tanager, Tangara heinei
Scrub Tanager, Tangara vitriolina
Blue-necked Tanager, Tangara cyanicollis
Blue-and-black Tanager, Tangara vassorii
Beryl-spangled Tanager, Tangara nigroviridis
Metallic-green Tanager, Tangara labradorides
Bay-headed Tanager, Tangara gyrola
Saffron-crowned Tanager, Tangara xanthocephala
Golden Tanager, Tangara arthus
Green Honeycreeper, Chlorophanes spiza
Rusty Flowerpiercer, Diglossa sittoides
White-sided Flowerpiercer, Diglossa albilatera
Masked Flowerpiercer, Diglossa cyanea
Dusky Bush-Tanage, Chlorospingus semifuscus r
Ashy-throated Bush-Tanager, Chlorospingus canigularis
Bananaquit, Coereba flaveola
Yellow-faced Grassquit, Tiaris olivaceus
Black-winged Saltator, Saltator atripennis
Streaked Saltator, Saltator striatipectus
Rufous-collared Sparrow, Zonotrichia capensis
Saffron Finch, Sicalis flaveola
Blue-black Grassquit, Volatinia jacarina
Gray Seedeater, Sporophila intermedia
Yellow-bellied Seedeater, Sporophila nigricollis
Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch, Arremon brunneinucha
White-naped Brush-Finch, Atlapetes albinucha
Tricolored Brush-Finch, Atlapetes tricolor
Rufous-naped Brush-Finch, Atlapetes rufinucha
Summer Tanager (migratory), Piranga rubra
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (migratory), Pheucticus ludovicianus
Golden-winged Warbler (migratory), Vermivora chrysoptera
Tropical Parula, Parula pitiayumi
Blackburnian Warbler (migratory), Dendroica fusca
Cerulean Warbler (migratory), Dendroica cerulea
American Redstart (migratory), Setophaga ruticilla
Black-and-white Warbler (migratory), Mniotilta varia
Mourning Warbler (migratory), Oporornis philadelphia
Canada Warbler (migratory), Wilsonia canadensis
Slate-throated Redstart, Myioborus miniatus
Russet-crowned Warbler, Basileuterus coronatus
Three-striped Warbler, Basileuterus tristriatus
Buff-rumped Warbler, Phaeothlypis fulvicauda
Yellow-backed Oriole, Icterus chrysater
Shiny Cowbird, Molothrus bonariensis
Andean Siskin, Carduelis spinescens
Yellow-bellied Siskin, Carduelis xanthogastra
Lesser Goldfinch, Carduelis psaltria
Golden-rumped Euphonia, Euphonia cyanocephala
Orange-bellied Euphonia, Euphonia xanthogaster
Blue-naped Chlorophonia, Chlorophonia cyanea
Chestnut-breasted Chlorophonia, Chlorophonia pyrrhophrys