We are going to tell you something: Colombia is the most diverse country as far as bird species in the world. This fact makes us proud, and rightly so because we have 79 endemic or native bird species, 197 migratory and 193 exotic birds throughout the territory.
This makes us a super power in bird watching and bird tourism and, to confirm it, we have been crowned world champions in the segment for the last three years.
The three occasions were during the World Bird Watching Championship, the last being on May 4, 2019 when the sighting of 1,590 species was recorded by experts and amateurs who went out to explore parks, reserves and forests.
Last year, the most observed species were Columbina Colorada, Piquero Nazca and pardo, Red Flamingo, White Ibis, Añapero blanco, Teal Aliazul and Garrapatero Aní/Asurcado.
The wonderful specimens were registered by 32,636 people on the contest platform, eBird, which later declared us the winning country. The second place was obtained by Peru, followed by Ecuador, Brazil and Bolivia.
The departments with the most bird species observed were Antioquia with 749, Valle del Cauca with 719, Meta with 652, Risaralda with 588, Putumayo with 587, Cundinamarca with 579, Nariño with 564, Caldas with 530 and Caquetá with 526.
Impressive figures that seek to highlight the importance of conserving birds and their habitat as well as catapult sustainable and rural tourism, since the activity moves approximately 6.24 million bird watchers in the world, for whom traveling to a biodiverse country like ours, is the plan of a lifetime.
A natural and ecological plan that offers significant economic benefits for local tourism since it is calculated that this public spends between 1,800 and 4,000 dollars in 15 days.
This recognition abroad is very valuable, but it is also necessary for Colombians to know this wealth and include bird watching among our destinations and vacation plans.
Therefore, if you are interested, you can start by visiting Bogotá’s wetlands and then go on to discover these regions:
Country map nominal infographic with some images
Pacific Region (About 650 bird species)
- Sooty-capped puffbird (Bucco noanamae).
- Baudó oropendola (Psarocolius cassini).
- Green honeycreeper (Chlorophanes spiza).
- Blue Cotinga (Cotinga nattererii).
Caribbean Region (About 200 bird species)
- Santa Marta parakeet (Pyrrhura viridicata).
- Sapphire-bellied hummingbird (Lepidopyga lilliae).
- Santa Marta mountain tanager (Anisognathus melanogenys).
- Chestnut-winged chachalaca (Ortalis garrula).
Andean Region (About 800 bird species)
- Multicolored tanager (Chlorochrysa nitidissima).
- Gold-ringed tanager (Bangsia aureocincta).
- Black Inca (Coeligena prunelle).
- Red-bellied grackle (Hypopyrrhus pyrohypogaster).
Magdalena Medio (About 500 bird species)
- Indigo-capped hummingbird (Amazilia cyanifrons).
- Blue-billed curassow (Crax Alberti).
- Antioquia bristle tyrant (Phylloscartes lanyoni).
Orinoquía (About 570 bird species)
- Brown Jacamar (Brachygalba lugubris).
- Amazon kingfisher (Chloroceryle amazona).
- White-tailed Trogon (Trogon viridis).
- Thick-billed euphonia (Euphonia laniirostris).
Amazon (About 750 bird species)
- Blue-gray tanager (Thraupis episcopus).
- Chestnut-bellied seedeater (Sporophila castaneiventris).
- Sulphury flycatcher (Tyrannopsis sulphurea).
What is the best season of the year?
The best times are from January to April and from September to December, since the natural migratory process of birds occurs in these periods and brings 275 different species from Canada, the United States and the Arctic. Upon stepping on Colombian soil, they can stay for up to four months while continuing their journey to other countries in South America.
But are the birds protected?
Although everything seems to indicate that bird watching in Colombia is a protected activity, factors such as deforestation, the inclusion of invasive species, the expansion of livestock and agriculture, mining, among others, threaten many species.
According to the Red Book of Colombian Birds, there are 140 species within some category of threat: There are 17 critically endangered, 56 endangered and 67 in a vulnerable state. In addition, 28 species are considered almost threatened and one is already extinct.
Let's support biodiversity
What can we do to make to ensure this beautiful activity remains? The most important thing is to support it, to choose it when planning out next vacation and tell our acquaintances about its wonders.
For our part, we will continue working on projects such as Bosque Renace (Rebirth Forest), the wetlands of the Sabana Ecopark and the Natural Reserve of the El Quimbo Hydroelectric Plant for the preservation of various bird species as one of our priorities because, to us, Colombia’s diversity is a treasure that deserves to be preserved.