When it comes to bird life, Colombia is the undisputed world champion. Not only is this stunning South American nation home to roughly 1,900 different avian species—the highest number out of any country on earth—it also came in first place during eBird’s 2021 October Big Day, with over 1,300 species spotted across Colombia in just one day. The entire nation is chock-full of birds, but it’s the country’s southeastern reaches that offer a truly fascinating array of native species to discover.
While the Colombian Amazon is certainly an incredible destination for birding, first-time visitors may need a little help getting around this remote region. Composed of over 180,000 square miles of dense vegetation dotted with small communities, it’s not quite as navigable as Zona G in Bogotá. Fortunately, Colombia-based adventure group Manakin Nature Tours is perfectly equipped to guide birders through the deepest, most tangled reaches of the rainforest.
Launched back in 2009, this acclaimed company offers first-hand expertise within the world of birding, staffed with highly educated guides that have mastered the craft of spotting even the tiniest passerine tucked deep into the forest. In addition to their eagle eyes, the staff at Manakin are equipped with an encyclopedic knowledge of bird calls and avian behavior, ensuring that no question will go unanswered for any curious birders that are unfamiliar with Amazonian avifauna.
While Manakin offers lengthy tours throughout all of Colombia’s verdant regions—as well as treks through Brazil, Chile, and other Latin American nations—there’s one trip in particular that offers a truly captivating glimpse into the inner workings of the Colombian Amazon. Dubbed the Escape to the Orinoco River Basin, this eight-day journey uses the riverside city of Inírida as a base, with each day ushering in a new opportunity to spot the vibrant flora and fauna that are nourished by the Guaviare and Inírida Rivers. Every afternoon, the group also stops at a local village found deep within the Amazon, allowing guests to sample fresh local cuisine and gain some insight into the lives of the people that live alongside the bountiful wildlife that call the region home.
Speaking of wildlife—there’s a veritable treasure trove of birds to be watched all throughout the region. Some species are quite easy to find, including puffbirds, jacamars, the dazzling yellow bananaquit, and the raucous screaming piha—while others require an exhausting amount of effort to catch even a single glimpse. Truly fortunate birders might be able to finish their journey with two particularly satisfying ticks—one being the dazzlingly-beautiful spangled cotinga, and the other being the decidedly less-beautiful capuchinbird. Though it may be lacking in the looks department, the capuchinbird is a truly fascinating species to behold, equipped with a skull-like face and a call that sounds like a dial-up modem.
While feathered friends are a pretty huge draw for visitors to the Colombian Amazon, they’re just scratching the surface of what the region has to offer. As birders make their way through the forest, they’re almost certain to hear the booming roar of howler monkeys far off in the distance, while lucky visitors may be able to spot an indigo snake or a sloth resting on a branch above. One of the region’s most elusive mammals—the Amazon river dolphin, or boto—may make an appearance on the Inírida River, surfacing frequently to catch quick breaths as they scour the murky water for fish.
Those who take part in the Orinoco River Basin tour will explore idyllic areas like the Caño Culebra and Laguna Negra, but when it comes to fascinating natural features, the Cerros de Mavecure reign supreme. An iconic landmark along the roughly 1.7-billion-year-old Guiana Shield, these towering hills have been a prominent religious site for local indigenous groups for ages, and serve as one of the most celebrated peaks found within the Colombian Amazon.
While it may not be as accessible as some of Colombia’s other regions, the Amazon is certainly one of the nation’s most rewarding sites for birders. There’s ample opportunity for finding white-crowned manakins, yellow-throated woodpeckers, and perhaps most importantly, like-minded individuals who are just as passionate about birding as you are.
