Adult Chiguanco Thrush- note the absence of an eye ring and grey-brown color
Over 1,800 species of the world’s bird population resides in Peru. Our extensive flower and fruit gardens are lined with flowing water which attracts hundreds of birds daily. Growing up in Chicago where birds are brown or grey, it’s no wonder I’ve become addicted to maintaining a steady eye on our avian friends!
I’ve compiled a list of observed species in the Sacred Valley, which I identified through the Princeton Field Guide Birds of Peru 2010 edition. It is the only book I recommend! Unfortunately, most birds on this list are not caught on film. You’ve almost got to be ready at all times since birds spook easily and move more quickly than human hands can tell the camera eye to GO! Once I own a telephoto lens and cultivate more hours to spend waiting, visual documentation is sure to follow!
Observed Bird Species in the Sacred Valley of Peru, February – November 2011
- Giant Hummingbird
- Green and White Hummingbird
- White Bellied Hummingbird
- Bronzy Inca
- Mountain Velvetbreast
- Green Tailed Trainbearer
- Bar Winged Cinclodes
- Torrent Tyrannulet
- Andean Negrito
- White Browed Chat Tyrant
- Mountain Wren
- House Wren
- Great Thrush
- Chiguanco Thrush
- Glossy Black Thrush
- Rust and Yellow Tanager
- Blue and Yellow Tanager
- Cinerous Conebill
- Black Throated Flower Piercer
- Black Backed Grossbeak
- Rufous-Collared Sparrow
- Golden Billed Saltator
- Hooded Siskin
- Rufous Bellied Nighthawk or American Kestrel
- White Collared Swift
- Andean Swift
- Andean Gull
- Spot Winged Pigeon
Of note…
The House Wren lives up to it’s name! They join us daily in our rafters, with complimentary songs at ear piercing volume! They are plentiful and easily observed with insects in their mouths! Often, while we’re using the restroom, House and Mountain Wrens creep under the door to scavenge the lightbulb’s catch from the previous evening!
The Giant Hummingbirds chase the smaller White Bellied and Green and White varieties in competition for flower nectar. Not to be pushed around, the smaller birds have learned to fly fast toward our glass walls, and with a 90 degree change in direction, it causes the Giants to smash into the glass!
Black Backed Grossbeaks are brilliantly colored, large birds who always travel with companions. Great Thrush also travel in pairs. When a male Thrush did not recover from a window hit, the female stayed by his side for hours, squawking and picking at his feathers to revive him, unfortunately without success.
The Rufous Collared Sparrow and Great Thrush are excellent alarm clocks! They fight their reflection in the window by pecking and attacking the glass!
My perch, the kitchen windows! Fruit trees and flowers make this area a prime observation post.
