Birds of Colombia
Colombia is a global hot spot of biodiversity, home to more species of birds than anywhere else on the planet. The latest count found more than 2,000 species, with 80 of them endemic, meaning they are only found in Colombia. To put this in perspective, there are only 900 species of birds in all of North America and 540 in all of Europe. Nearly 20 percent of all bird species around the world are present in Colombia.
This means that for bird-watchers, Colombia is simply unparalleled. While bird-watching can be practiced almost anywhere in the country, including in major cities, where botanical gardens are always prime, there are several areas that are simply outstanding—hot spots within a hot spot.
The sword-billed humming bird is the only bird with a beak longer than it’s body! This tiny wonder can be found along the Colombia’s Pacific coast.
The blue-winged mountain-tanager can be found in the rainforest-covered mountains of the Farallones De Cali National Nature Park. This area between Cali and the Pacific coast hosts the highest count of bird species in the entire world! Nearly 30 percent of the country’s mega-diversity of birds have been spotted here.
The Amazon Rainforest is the world’s most biodiverse ecosystem is home to an extraordinary number of bird species, including the spectacular scarlet macaw, the majestic white-throated toucan, and the otherworldly-looking harpy eagle.
The Sierra Nevada, the highest coastal mountain range in the world, is a great place to catch a glimpse of Colombia’s amazing bird diversity, especially on the lower forest-covered slopes near Minca. Be on the lookout for members of the emerald family of hummingbirds, which shimmer like living jewels.
These lush mountain valleys of the coffee region are prime bird-watching areas. Right in the town of Jardín is a reserve for the bright-red Andean cock-of-the-rock, while the wax palm-covered valleys out-side Salento are home to yellow-eared parrots and Andean condors.
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