BIRDING IN NORTHERN PERU: The Classic Tour

After breakfast, we’ll head toward the Casupe Road, one of the last remaining strongholds for wild populations of the endemic White-winged Guan (E). This area also offers excellent chances for Guayaquil Woodpecker, Piura Chat-Tyrant (E), Chapman’s Antshrike, Black-capped Sparrow, Ecuadorian Piculet, Whooping Motmot, and Henna-hooded Foliage-Gleaner, among others.

In the afternoon, we return to Chaparri Reserve, where we’ll search for dry-forest specialists such as Lesser Nighthawk, Scrub Nightjar, Purple-collared Woodstar, Savanna Hawk, Red-masked Parakeet, Collared Antshrike, Pacific Hornero, Sooty-crowned Flycatcher, Snowy-throated Kingbird, White-tailed Jay, Tumbes Sparrow, Peruvian Meadowlark, and White-edged Oriole.

After dinner, we’ll head out for a short night walk to look for the elusive Peruvian Screech-Owl.

Overnight at Chaparri Lodge.

Today we’ll explore the renowned Abra Porculla, a mountain pass that crosses the western Andes at 2,145 meters elevation. This area features semi-humid montane scrub habitat, a unique ecological transition zone with an excellent concentration of localized and endemic bird species.

Key targets here include Piura Chat-Tyrant (E), Marañón Tyrannulet (E), Tumbes Tyrannulet (E), Gray-chinned (Porculla) Hermit (E), Tumbes Hummingbird (NE), Ecuadorian Piculet, Line-cheeked Spinetail, Black-cowled Saltator, Chapman’s Antshrike, Bay-crowned, White-winged, and White-headed Brush-Finches, Henna-hooded and Rufous-necked Foliage-Gleaners, Mouse-gray Flycatcher, Tumbes Pewee, Three-banded Warbler, Gray-and-Gold Warbler, Chestnut-crowned Antpitta, Plumbeous-backed Thrush, Speckle-breasted Wren, White-browed Gnatcatcher, and Blue Seedeater.

After lunch, we will continue our drive toward the upper Marañón Basin, descending in elevation as the habitat shifts again.

Overnight at Urqu Hotel in Jaén (3* superior hotel).

After breakfast, we’ll have a second opportunity to enjoy the spectacular views of the Gocta Waterfall while searching again for the Marvelous Spatuletail (E)—one of the absolute highlights of the trip. This stunning hummingbird is a restricted to Northern Peru and a regular visitor at the lodge’s garden feeders, often accompanied by Andean Emerald, Lesser Violetear, Bronzy Inca, Long-tailed Sylph, and other hummingbird species.

We’ll then drive through the scenic Utcubamba Valley, birding along the way for regional specialties such as Peruvian Pigeon (E), Marañón Thrush (E), Spot-throated Hummingbird (NE), Black-necked Woodpecker (E), Cordilleran Parakeet, Buff-bellied Tanager, Fasciated Tiger-Heron, and Torrent Duck.

After lunch, we head to the iconic Owlet Lodge, a private reserve located at the pass of the eastern Andes. Sitting at 2,300 masl, this area of humid montane forest is globally renowned for its conservation efforts focused on the elusive Long-whiskered Owlet (E). We’ll spend the next two days exploring what is considered one of the most bird-rich and accessible forested roads in the Neotropics.

Overnight at Owlet Lodge.

We begin with a morning visit to Arena Blanca Reserve, a privately managed hotspot famous for its ground-level feeding stations and vibrant hummingbird garden. At the forest floor hide, we may encounter Rufous-breasted Wood-Quail, Orange-billed Sparrow, Cinereous Tinamou, and Little Tinamou—a rare opportunity to see these shy species at close range.

Nearby feeders attract a dazzling variety of hummingbirds including Blue-fronted Lancebill, Wire-crested Thornbill, Rufous-throated Sapphire, Black-throated Brilliant, Golden-tailed Sapphire, and our first chance to see the exquisite Rufous-crested Coquette. Colorful fruit feeders are visited by Black-bellied Tanager (E), Burnished-buff Tanager, White-lined Tanager, Turquoise Tanager, Green-throated Tanager, and Paradise Tanager. We may also spot secretive species like White-browed Purpletuft, Russet-crowned Crake, and Lanceolated Monklet.

In the afternoon, we transfer to Waqanki Lodge in Moyobamba, where we spend two nights immersed in the Amazonian foothill forest—one of the richest regions for birding in northern Peru.

The trails of Waqanki offer excellent chances for Painted Manakin (E), Golden-headed Manakin, Fiery-capped Manakin, Fiery-throated Fruiteater, Zimmer’s Antbird, Lafresnaye’s Piculet, Riparian Parrotlet, Wing-barred Piprites, Stripe-necked and Pearly-vented Tody-Tyrants, Foothill Stipplethroat, Green-backed Trogon, Golden-collared Toucanet, and both Rufous and Broad-billed Motmots.

The lodge gardens add even more specialties, including Mishana Tyrannulet (E), Channel-billed Toucan, Lettered Aracari, Red-shouldered Tanager, Black-faced Tanager, and Pale-breasted Thrush. Feeders here are bustling with hummingbirds such as Rufous-crested Coquette, Sapphire-spangled Emerald, Violet-fronted Brilliant, Gray-breasted Sabrewing, Brown Violetear, Golden-tailed Sapphire, Great-billed Hermit, and many more.

Roadside birding may produce Russet-crowned Crake, and a short drive offers the chance to see the elusive Masked Duck at dusk. At night, the forest comes alive with Tropical Screech-Owl, Band-bellied Owl, and the powerful Stygian Owl.

Two nights at Waqanki Lodge.

After breakfast, we head to Cordillera Escalera and the ACONABIKH Reserve, a superb birding site located just outside Tarapoto. This area offers lush Amazonian foothill forest and is home to several sought-after species. Targets include:

Koepcke’s Hermit (E), Buff-tailed Sicklebill, Pink-throated Brilliant, Hook-billed Kite, Lettered Aracari, White-bellied Pygmy-Tyrant, Peruvian Tyrannulet (E), Black Antbird, Cliff Flycatcher, Brown-crested Flycatcher, White-throated Toucan, Black-faced Tanager, Ashy-headed Greenlet, Plumbeous Euphonia, Dotted Tanager, Blue-capped Manakin, and White-throated Manakin.

A special highlight is the active lek of Golden-headed Manakin, offering close views and excellent photographic opportunities.

With a bit of luck, we may also spot the endangered Yellow-tailed Woolly Monkey, a rare and charismatic primate endemic to Northern Peru.

After lunch, we return to Tarapoto to prepare for our afternoon flight back to Lima.

END OF SERVICES

We recomend to continue our recomended birding extension of our SCARLET-BANDED BARBET Tour.