Well-known charismatic species include Torrent Duck, Greater Flamingo, Agami Heron, Scarlet Ibis, Andean Condor, Red Siskin, Harpy Eagle, four species of large macaws, Red-fan Parrot, Hoatzin, more than 100 hummingbirds, four quetzals, 18 toucans, more than 90 antbirds, two species of Cock-of-the-Rock, more than 100 tanagers, White and Bearded Bellbirds, Black-capped Donacobius, Musician Wren, and more than 160 flycatchers!

A good two-week introductory birdwatching trip might comprise a visit to the Coastal Cordillera, the Andes and Los Llanos and would typically produce about 450 species. With a further two weeks, the Guayana Highlands can be added. Variations might include the arid north-west or the Maracaibo Basin. Even birdwatchers in the capital city of Caracas, which has a wealth of metropolitan parks, can count nearly 100 species during a morning’s outing. In short, the birding possibilities in Venezuela are endless!

Other Venezuelan birding hotspots include the following:

El Avila National Park north of Caracas provides an excellent location to search for several Venezuelan endemics and specialties such as Blood-eared Parakeet, Green-tailed Emerald, Buffy Hummingbird, Rufous-shafted Woodstar, White-tipped Quetzal, Black-throated Spinetail, Caracas Tapaculo, Scalloped Antthrush, Handsome Fruiteater, Venezuelan Tyrannulet and Ochre-breasted Brush-Finch. Venezuela’s first national park, Henri Pittier National Park has acquired legendary status amongst Neotropical birders and should be an obligatory stop on any visitor’s itinerary. The list of recorded species tops 550 and includes several Venezuelan first records and a large number of rare and endemic species. Sierra Nevada National Park in the Andes is another “must-bird” site, where you can enjoy marvelous cloud forests and their avian denizens in complete solitude. Typical species include Rufous-banded Owl, Mérida Sunangel, Gorgeted Woodstar and Moustached Brush-Finch, Rose-headed Parakeet, Golden-headed Quetzal, Golden Starfrontlet, Mérida Tapaculo, Golden-breasted Fruiteater and White-fronted Whitestart. Yacambú National Park has recently become one of Venezuela’s most popular birding sites, due to the rediscovery of the Great Antpitta, a previously unknown species. This cloud-forest park holds many typical Andean species including White-rumped Hawk, Golden Starfrontlet, Orange-throated Sunangel, Crested Quetzal and Mérida Tapaculo. Mixed tanager flocks are always an exciting feature at Yacambú and neotropical migrants are common during the boreal winter. Just four hours from Caracas, Morrocoy National Park & Cuare Faunal Refuge are home to more than 350 recorded species. For most visiting birders the chief attraction is waterfowl, but this area also provides attractions for both specialist birders hoping to see rare endemics and those who just enjoy seeing large numbers of species. The Venezuelan Amazonas receives few birdwatchers in comparison with neighboring Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Brazil, but continued exploration will produce a very respectable bird list due to a variety of Amazonian habitats including savannah, white sand scrub, moriche palm swamps and tall humid forests. Text adapted courtesy of Chris Sharpe, www.birdvenezuela.com

Interested in seeing more of Venezuela’s avian diversity? Then please visit Angel-Eco Tours and see the many individual, group or family adventure vacation packages they offer, or ask them to design one for you. With offices in New York City and Caracas, Angel-Eco Tours is a leader in designing eco-adventure travel packages with experienced, multilingual guides, who will lead you on a variety of adventures to find the birds you are seeking.