Bolivia is a perfect country for the adventurous birdwatcher, with upward of 1,400 species and a huge variety of habitats. In fact, Bolivia has the highest number of bird species of any land-locked country. If it did have a coastline, it would probably contain the highest diversity of birds in the world. Despite this, birdwatching in Bolivia is relatively underdeveloped and offers unrivalled opportunities for those willing to put in a bit of effort.
There are a number of specialist tour operators who offer a wide range of birdwatching tours all over the country with expert, English-speaking guides. If you want to organize your own trip, the Bolivian bird conservation organization, Asociación Armonía (www.armonia-bo.org) is a good place to start. The Bird Bolivia tourism agency has links with Asociación Armonía and is a wonderful resource on birding across the country (www.birdbolivia.com).
The Bolivian lowlands offer the highest diversity of birds in the country, while the tropical foothills of the Yungas hold the most endemic species. In the Andean highlands and lagoons, unique birdlife such as flamingos and Andean condor can be found. There are also decent birdwatching sites within an hour’s drive of La Paz, Santa Cruz and Cochabamba.
Lowlands
The best time to go birdwatching in the lowlands is probably between May and December, as travel to remote spots in the rainy season can be very difficult.
The northern lowlands are where you’ll find most of Bolivia’s tropical rainforest and the birdlife that goes with it. The Madidi National Park offers some of the best birdwatching in the area with over 1,000 species, roughly 11% of all the world’s birds. The best site in the park is said to be Alto Madidi, where there are over 60 species of Flycatcher and over 40 different species of Antbird. The site has very little tourism infrastructure however, so you’ll have to take your own tent and food. Some tour agents in Rurrenabaque may be able to take you there. More comfortable is the Chalaran eco-lodge, which doesn’t share the same richness of bird diversity but is a lot more accessible. The area houses 300 species including the Blue-and-yellow Macaw, Amazonian Pygmy Owl, Semi-collared Puffbird and many types of Woodcreeper.
Asociación Armonía runs a luxury wilderness lodge in the Amazon basin called SelvaBlue, in the department of Beni. The area contains grassland, dry forest, rainforest and swamps and is one of the only placers in Bolivia that has cerrado habitat, where many unusual birds can be found. It is said to house up to 400 species of bird, including the Horned and Southern Screamer, Rufous-sided Pygmy-Tyrant, Curl-crested Jay, Large-billed Antwren, Channel-billed Toucan, Point-tailed Palmcreeper, Coal-crested Finch and Greater Rhea.
The lodge is pretty remote but can be visited all year around by plane. The breeding season runs from late October to late November so is a good time to visit. Facilities include a pick-up truck, seven motor boats and four observation towers – one which has overnight facilities.
Noel Kempff Mercado National Park is another area that contains pristine cerrado habitat and is one of the most intact parks in the Amazon basin. It has a huge range of habitats in a small area and houses around 620 bird species, 20% of all those found in South America. Some of the birds found here include the Rufous-winged Antshrike, Blue Finch, Chestnut-fronted Macaw, Yellow-tufted Woodpecker, Chalk-browed Mockingbird, Paradise Tanager, Crimson-bellied Parakeet, and the Black-and-Tawny Seedeater. The tourism infrastructure in the park is limited; there are two lodges but they are not always accessible – one can only be reached by plane, and the other is not currently in use.
From the Amazon Basin to the Andes
Rufugio Los Volcanes is on the edge of Amboró National Park, where the Andes, the Chaco and the Amazon Basin meet – a unique geographical position that brings a distinctive mix of birdlife. Around 200 species have been indentified here in the varied forests including the Bolivian Recurvebill, Slaty Gnateater, Thick-billed Euphonia, Turquoise-fronted Parrot and Piratic Flycatcher. You need to make a reservation before arriving at the lodge. In the neighboring Carrasco National Park you can find Oilbird caves – get information on how to visit from the park’s central office in Cochabamba.
The Red-fronted Macaw Eco-lodge, another site ran by Asociación Armonía, is situated across the river from the most important breeding spot of this endangered Bolivian parrot. Proceeds from the hotel go towards protecting the species. Many other parrots and parakeets are also resident and a total of 130 birds have been identified in the area. The best time to visit is in the breeding season between May and early November. The lodge can be found next to the town of Perrereta, off a dirt road running from Sucre towards Samaipata.
The road leading from Cochabamba to Villa Tunari in the Chapare region heralds a variety of different habitats including cloud forests. The Scimitar-winged Pihia and Hooden Martin Toucan have been seen in this area. The road from La Paz to Coroico also offers great birdwatching, beginning with species such as the Puna Ibis and Speckled Teal on the highest part of the road, to the Black-eared Parrot, Black-throated Thistletail, Rufous-faced Antpitta and the Hooded Mountain Toucan in the Yungas.
Lake Titicaca offers a unique environment to see some of the typical Andean birds that live around these high waters, including the flightless Short-winged Grebe, Andean Lapwing and Black Siskin. Further south on the altiplano, in and around Sajama National Park, you’re pretty much guaranteed to see a stand of Chilean flamingos amongst the lagoons and geysers. Seed-snipers, Ground Tyrants, Teals and Puna Rhea are also fairly common in the area.