Birdwatching

The red-capped cardinal, the Choco oriole, the Nazca booby, and the white ibis are not the titles of traditional books, nor the names of vallenato or cumbia musical pieces; however, these names are deeply connected to the poetry of our nature and definitely with music. These names correspond to four of the more than 1,900 bird species found in Colombia, a country ideal for birdwatching that you won’t want to miss seeing and hearing directly in their natural habitat.

How many birds do we have in Colombia?

Our beautiful Colombia, with its mountain ranges, valleys, plains, and forests, is categorized by Cornell University as the country with the highest bird diversity in the world, also being the home to 79 unique or endemic species. This beautiful territory contains 20% of the number and variety of birds that inhabit the planet and features magical ecosystems that protect birds and delight more than 15,000 visitors who come each year from around the world. Due to our unique topography, we host nearly 170 migratory species throughout the year, thanks to our favorable geographical position and the particular climate gifted by altitude and latitude.

With their colorful plumage and beautiful melodies, our birds attract the attention of ornithologists, who have promoted this activity that reconnects humans with nature through trails full of dense vegetation and lush wildlife.
 

Natural Reserves for Birdwatching

You can go birdwatching any month of the year. There are several routes and natural reserve areas that are easily accessible where you can book a tour with a specialized ornithologist guide. You will find a wide range of hotels where you can choose your resting place according to your budget and the purpose of your trip.

The Aviary of Cartagena, Reinita Cielo Azul, Los Nevados National Natural Park, the Antioquian Arriero, The Paujil, The Tanagers, the Sunbird, the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, and the Otún Quimbaya Flora and Fauna Sanctuary are some of the 27 natural reserves available for birdwatching in Colombia.

These treasures, aimed at protecting the habitat of different bird varieties and conserving more than 180 species that are endangered, are open to the world to show the beauty and responsibility we have in caring for our nature.
 

Located in the departments of Caldas, Risaralda, Quindío, Magdalena, Bolívar, Valle, Meta, Santander, Boyacá, Antioquia, Guainía, Putumayo, and Chocó, you can access these reserves from the main cities of the country. There, an eco-guide will be waiting to show you everything nature wants to reveal.

The duration of the tours depends on the reserve you visit and the type of birds you wish to find, as some species are very social and others are very elusive; generally, this time ranges from 45 minutes to between 3 and 8 hours. You can also do birdwatching in cities, such as Bogotá, where wetlands host a great variety of endemic birds.

How to go birdwatching?

You will need binoculars, a camera, and a field notebook where you can take notes and sketch the different characteristics of the birds that will surprise you early in the morning. This activity requires a lot of silence, ensuring a very peaceful end to the day.
 

You can acquire the book "The Guide to the Birds of Colombia" from the ProAves Foundation, and through the Alexander Von Humboldt Institute website, you can download bird sounds along with their descriptions to your cell phone.

This unique experience will make you appreciate and fall in love with the Colombian landscape and deepen your passion for the science of Ornithology.