Abancay, Machu Picchu and Abra Malaga - Peru

MANU EXPEDITIONS BIRDING AND WILDLIFE TOURS
Birding@ManuExpeditions.com
www.Birding-In-Peru.com
A TRIP REPORT FOR A BIRDING TRIP TO ABANCAY,
MACHU PICCHU AND ABRA MALAGA
November 29th – December 4th - 2013
Trip Leader: Silverio Duri
Quite a few days not only the fabulous Machu Picchu Ruins but 15 Peruvian
endemics and other range restricted species, many of them endangered.
BIRDING LOCALITIES AROUND ABANCAY, ABRA MALAGA AND
MACHU-PICCHU
Andahuaylas road – below Abancay S 09 05 162 W 077 47 732 (2370 meters)
Huanipaca road - S 10 01 017 W 072 53 071 (3325 mts)
Abra Malaga - Polylepis forest west slope 13° 8'36.72"S 72°18'16.10"W (4435m)
Abra Malaga - East slope cloud forest at Canchailloc S 13 06 943 W 072 20 433 (2632m)
Machu Picchu Ruins S13 09 851 W 072 32 619 (2950 meters)
Puente Ruinas - Aguas Calientes Machu Picchu S13 09 851 W 072 32 619 (2010m)
DAY BY DAY ACTIVITIES
November 04th: Afternoon flight from Puerto Maldonado to Cusco and right away continue our
journey to Abancay and after arrival to Abancay we just had dinner and rested for an early start
next day. Night in Abancay at “Hotel de Turistas”
November 05th: Abancay to Ollantaytambo; early morning without breakfast we drove down to
Pachachaca road for the Koepcke’s (Apurimac) Screech-Owl where it responded right away and
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come very close to as and then we waited for better light and to go onto the Andahuaylas road
for the Pale-tailed Canastero where we also where lucky to get it right away and then return it
to the Hotel for breakfast and after breakfast we head to Ollantaytambo with some birding
stops along the way; the first official stop was bellow the pass where some saw the “Ampay “
Tapaculo and after the pass we went to the Huanipaca road for the rest of our target birds and
better views of the Ampay Tapaculo and the rest of the Apurimac specialties where we did very
well, finding the rest of the Apurimac targets as we got to a good patch of forest, and after that
we drove straight back to Ollantaytambo. Overnight at Pakaritampu Hotel
November 06th: Abra Malaga Polylepis woodlands (west slope), where we had a great view of
the Royal Cinclodes that responded well to playback. Night at the (Pakaritampu Hotel)
November 07th: Abra Malaga east slope (cloud forest) - night at the (Pakaritampu Hotel) – end of
the trip for our good friend Hector who returned back to Cusco that afternoon with our bus.
November 08th: Ollantaytambo to Machu-Picchu (Aguas Caliente); after we arrived we met our
local guide Vilma to do the tour of the Inca ruins after the tour we had lunch and right after
lunch we went birding all the way down to the (Puente Ruinas) and along the Urubamba River
and all the way back to our Hotel. Overnight at Aguas Caliente bellow Machu-Picchu (El Mapi
Hotel).
November 09th: A rainy morning that we couldn’t do much until almost at mid morning I got
permission to get into the Machu-Picchu Pueblo Hotel ground where we spent it our time until
the rain stop and then we went onto the trail rail along the Urubamba River for birding where
we got some of our missing targets and then back to Aguas Calientes town for lunch and after
lunch we just waited for our train back to Cusco via Poroy station - return to Cusco at the Casa
Andina Plaza Hotel; and good dinner outside of the Hotel and very nice show at the restaurant.
November 10th: End of the trip.
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The Key to the Bird list
RED – IUCN RED LIST CATEGORY
SACC = South American Classification Committee
IOC = International Ornithological Congress
RR = Range restricted species
E = Peruvian Endemic
*= Heard Only
THE BIRDLIST
Family: ANATIDAE - DUCKS
Andean Goose - Chloephaga melanoptera
Seen at Abra Malaga both days
Torrent Duck - Merganetta armata turneri
Fantastic views along the Urubamba River on our way in and out to Machu-Picchu; how on earth does this
species cope “acoustically” by living in such torrential waters?
Yellow-billed (Speckled) Teal - Anas flavirostris
Common at Huaypo Lake – seen late in the afternoon on our way to Ollantaytambo from Abancay
Yellow-billed Pintail - Anas georgica
Also seen at Huaypo Lake
Puna Teal - Anas puna
Common
Cinnamon Teal - Anas cyanoptera
Common
Family: PODICIPEDIDAE - GREBES
White-tufted Grebe – Rollandia rolland
Several seen at Huaypo Lake on our way to Ollantaytambo from Abancay.
Family: PHALACROCORACIDAE - CORMORANTS
Neotropic Cormorant – Phalacrocorax brasilianus
Common
Family: ARDEIDAE - HERONS
Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis
Common
Family: ACCIPITRIDAE - HAWKS & EAGLES
Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle – Geranoaetus melanoleucus
One seen on the Huanipaca road at Abancay
Variable Hawk - Buteo polysoma
Seen around Abancay and Abra Malaga; the taxonomy of this group is confusing, and some people try to
split it as Puna Hawk B. poecilochrous and Red-backed Hawk B. polyosoma. SACC comment: Farquhar
(1988) concluded that Buteo poecilochrous and B. polyosoma are conspecific, as they were formerly
treated; he was unable to find any way to reliably diagnose the two forms using plumage characters or
measurements. Ridgely & Greenfield (2001), Jaramillo (2003), and Schulenberg et al. (2007) followed this
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treatment and suggested "Variable Hawk" be retained for the composite species. Genetic data (Riesing et
al. 2003) are consistent with hypothesis that B. polyosoma and B. poecilochrous are conspecific.
Family: RALLIDAE - RAILS
Common Gallinule - Gallinula galeata
Common at the Huaypo Lake
Andean Coot - Fulica ardesiaca
Common
Family: CHARADRIIDAE - PLOVERS
Andean Lapwing - Vanellus resplendens
Common around Abra Malaga
Family: RECURVIROSTRIDAE - STILTS
White-backed Stilt – Himantopus melanurus
Seen at Huaypo Lake
Family: SCOLOPACIDAE – SANDPIPERS AND SNIPES
Greater Yellowlegs – Tringa melanoleuca
Also seen at Huaypo Lake
Lesser Yellowlegs – Tringa flavipes
Common
Family: LARIDAE - GULLS
Andean Gull - Chroicocephalus serranus
Common at Abra Malaga
Family: COLUMBIDAE – PIGEONS AND DOVES
Spot-winged Pigeon - Patagioenas maculosa
Quiet common around Ollantaytambo, common at the Pakaritampu hotel
Band-tailed Pigeon – Patagioenas fasciata
Seen in the humid Montane forest of west slope at Abra Malaga
White-tipped Dove - Leptotila verreauxi decipiens
Common below Abancay and Machu-Picchu
Family: STRIGIDAE – TYPICAL OWLS
E Koepcke’s Screech Owl - Megascops koepckeae hockingi
Great view of one individual along the “Pachachaca” road – responded really well to playback. These
Apurimac birds represent the hockingi subspecies – slight vocal differences between these and the
northern Peruvian populations, and they tend to ignore playback of the northern calls.
Family: APODIDAE - SWIFTS
White-collared Swift - Streptoprocne zonaris
Seen at Abra Malaga
White-tipped Swift - Aeronautes montivagus
Very nice views around Machu-Picchu
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Koepcke’s Screech Owl –Fabrice Schmitt
Family: TROCHILIDAE - HUMMINGBIRDS
Sparkling Violet-ear - Colibri coruscans
Common at Abancay and Machu-Picchu
Amethyst - throated Sunangel - Heliangelus amethysticollis
Good views at Machu-Picchu. They rae called sunagels due to their habit of lifting their wings in an angellike manner on alighting in a branch
Speckled Hummingbird - Adelomyia melanogenys
Quiet common at Machu-Picchu
RR Olivaceous Thornbill - Chalcostigma olivaceum
Nice views on the west slope at Abra Malaga
E Bearded Mountaineer - Oreonympha nobilis
Seen around the ground of the Pakaritampu Hotel – a Peruvian endemic
Tyrian Metaltail - Metallura tyrianthina
Common at Abancay and in the east slope of Abra Malaga - Named after the color Tyrian purple;
Variously known as Royal purple, Tyrian purple, purple of the ancients, this ancient dyestuff,
mentioned in texts dating about 1600 BC, was produced from the mucus of the hypobranchial gland of
various species of marine mollusks, notably Murex. Although originating in old port of Tyre in modern
day Syria (hence the name), man's first large scale chemical industry spread throughout the world.
With the decline of the Roman Empire, the use of the dye also declined and large scale production
ceased with the fall of Constantinople in 1453. It was replaced by other cheaper dyes like lichen purple
and madder
RR Scaled Metaltail - Metallura aeneocauda
One seen at Abra Malaga east slope. A hard one anywhere.
RR Sapphire-vented Puffleg – Eriocnemis luciani sapphiropygia
Seen at Abra Malaga east slope – previously split as Coppery-naped Puffleg
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Shining Sunbeam – Aglaeactis cupripennis
Seen at Abancay and west slope of Abra Malaga
E White-tufted Sunbeam - Aglaeactis castelnaudii
Two + seen on the Huanipaca road – a Peruvian endemic. Named for Louis Nompar de Caumont Laporte
Comte de de Castelnau ( 1810-1880) French diplomat collector and exporer.
Collared Inca – Coeliegena torquata
Common at the Machu-Picchu Pueblo Hotel
Violet-throated Starfrontlet – Coeligena violifer
Very good views by the east slope of Abra Malaga
Sword-billed Hummingbird – Ensifera ensifera
A brief view on the east slope of Abra Malaga
Chestnut-breasted Coronet- Boissonneauta matthewsii
Common at the feeders of Machu-Picchu Pueblo Hotel.
Booted Racket-tail - Ocreatus underwoodii
Seen at Machu-Picchu.
Giant Hummingbird – Patagona gigas
Very common at the Pakaritampu Hotel in Ollantaytambo.
White-bellied Hummingbird - Amazilia chionogaster
Good views at Abancay and at the Pakaritampu Hotel
E Green and White Hummingbird - Amazilia viridicauda
Quiet common at Machu Picchu but we had good studies at the garden of the Pakaritampu Hotel
Family: MOMOTIDAE - MOTMOTS
Andean Motmot - Momotus aequatorialis
Seen in two consecutive days around Machu-Picchu; M. aequatorialis is one of six species in the Momotus
momota complex; includes ssp aequatorialis & chlorolaemus (Stiles 2009, SACC); CHANGE English name
from Highland Motmot to Andean Motmot following SACC 412.
Family: PICIDAE - WOODPECKERS
Andean Flicker - Colaptes rupicola
Common above Abancay and around Abra Malaga area
Family: FALCONIDAE - CARACARAS & FALCONS
Mountain Caracara- Phalcoboenus megalopterus
Common around Abancay and Abra Malaga area
American Kestrel - Falco sparverius
Common
Family: PSITTACIDAE - PARROTS
Mitred Parakeet - Psittacara mitrata alticola
Great views at Machu-Picchu
Family: THAMNOPHILIDAE - ANTBIRDS
Variable Antshrike - Thamnophilus caerulescens
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Very nice views around Machu-Picchu
Family: GRALLARIDAE – ANTPITTAS
Undulated Antpitta - Grallaria squamigera*
RR Stripe-headed Antpitta - Grallaria andicolus punensis
This one is the EASIEST Antpitta to see among all the Antpitta at least in Peru; one seen really well on the
west slope of Abra Malaga here the subspecies punensis which may deserve full species rank from the
northern nominate form.
Stripe-headed Antpitta – Ian Merrill
Family: RHINOCRYPTIDAE - TAPACULOS
RR Diademed Tapaculo - Scytalopus schulenbergi
One individual seen on the east slope of Abra Malaga that responded really well to playback – named for
Tom Schulenberg US ornithologist and collector author of Birds of Peru and currently at the Cornell
Laboratory of Ornithology
RR Puna Tapaculo - Scytalopus simonsi
Great views in the west slope (polylepis) forest of Abra Malaga. Scytalopus – grom the Greek literally
meaning “stickfoot”!
E [Ampay] Tapaculo Sp. Nov - Scytalopus sp.nov
Two individuals seen at Abancay, the second one behave much better on the Huanipaca road. The affinities
of this taxon are still to be worked out
Family: FURNARIIDAE - OVENBIRDS
Cream-winged Cinclodes - Cinclodes albiventris
Common around Abra Malaga
White-winged Cinclodes - Cinclodes atacamensis
One seen on the Urubamba River around Machu-Picchu
RR Royal Cinclodes - Cinclodes aricomae
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The most important bird species of the extension; one individual seen really well at the very beginning of
the Valley on our way out from Abra Malaga on the west slope, we even got pictures! CRITICALLY
ENDANGERED
RR Tawny Tit-Spinetail - Leptasthenura yanacensis
Very nice views in the polylepis forest of Abra Malaga
E Creamy –breasted [Pale-tailed] Canastero - Asthenes huancavelicae usheri
Quiet good view of one individual on the Andahuaylas road, bellow Abancay; Taxonomy for this species
complex is still hotly debated with at least two other Peruvian endemic forms yet to be described. Some
call this form “Pale-tailed Canastero” – and is ranked as VULNERABLE
Pale-tailed Canastero –Fabrice Schmitt
Streak-throated Canastero - Asthenes humilis
Quiet common on the west slope of Abra Malaga
E Marcapata Spinetail - Cranioleuca marcapatae marcapatae
Great looks of 3+ individual at Abra Malaga on the east slop in the chusquea bamboo forest. VULNERABLE
E Creamy-crested Spinetail - Cranioleuca albicapilla albicapilla
Very common above Abancay and on the Huanipaca road, better views that in the Manu road
E Apurimac Spinetail - Synallaxis courseni
Wonderful views on the Huanipaca road. Named for Vharles Blair Coursen US sponsor and field
ornithologist. VULNERABLE
Azara’s Spinetail - Synallaxis azarae
Common at Machu-Picchu – seen the two consecutive days
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Family: TYRANNIDAE – TYRANT & FLYCATCHERS
RR Sclater’s Tyrannulet - Phyllomyias sclateri
Common around Machu Picchu.
Highland Elaenia – Elaenia obscura
Quiet common around Machu-Picchu
White-throated Tyrannulet - Mecocerculus leucophrys
Common at Abra Malaga on the east slope, cloud forest section
Tufted Tit-Tyrant – Anairetes parulus
Nice views above Abancay
RR Ash-breasted Tit-Tyrant - Anairetes alpinus
Great looks at Abra Malaga Polylepis woodlands; another of the Polylepis specialists that is in serious
trouble ENDANGERED
Ash-breasted Tit-Tyrant – Fabrice Schmitt
E Unstreaked Tit-Tyrant - Anairetes agraphia
Very nice views on the east slope of the Abra Malaga
Mottle-cheeked Tyrannulet - Phylloscartes ventralis
Quite common around Puente Ruinas bellows Machu-picchu
Streak-necked Flycatcher - Mionectes striaticollis
Seen along the train rail at Machu-Picchu
Common Tody-Flycatcher – Todirostrum cinereum
Also seen along the train rail at Machu-Picchu
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Cinnamon Flycatcher - Pyrrhomyias cinnamomea
Seen at Machu-Picchu
Black Phoebe - Sayornis nigricans latirostris
Common along the Urubamba River, seen around Aguas Caliente; this is the southern subspecies latirostris.
The change from the darker-winged nominate nigricans to the white-winged latirostris is a north-south
cline, with larger amounts of white gradually appearing further south
Cinereous Ground-Tyrant - Muscisaxicola cinerea
Few individuals seen on the west slope of Abra Malaga
RR Rufous-webbed Tyrant - Polioxolmis rufipennis
Seen on the Huanipaca road above Abancay and also at Abra Malaga west slope
Rufous-breasted Chat-Tyrant - Ochthoeca rufipectoralis rufipectoralis
Common in the east slope of Abra Malaga
Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant - Ochthoeca fumicolor berlepschi
Several seen on the west slope of the Abra Malaga area
RR d’Orbigny’s Chat-Tyrant - Ochthoeca oenanthoides
Good views of two individuals down by the stream along the valley with a little bit of Polylepis forest at
Abra Malaga area.
White-browed Chat-Tyrant - Ochthoeca leucophrys
Common
Golden-crowned Flycatcher - Myiodynastes chrysocephalus
Common at Machu-Picchu
Tropical Kingbird - Tyrannus melancholicus
Family: COTINGIDAE - COTINGAS
E Masked Fruiteater - Pipreola pulchra
Amazing views of a male one in the first day along the road above Puente Ruinas at Machu-Picchu
Red-Crested Cotinga - Ampelion rubrocristata
One seen above Abancay and few more at Abra Malaga
Family: VIREONIDAE - VIREOS
Red-eyed (Chivi) Vireo - Vireo olivaceus chivi
Seen at Abancay and along the train rail at Machu-picchu; some classifications have considered the South
American chivi group as a separate species ("Chivi Vireo") from V. olivaceus, or as conspecific with V.
flavoviridis (Hamilton 1962). Ridgely & Greenfield (2001) suggested, however, that more than one species
may be involved within the South American chivi group itself
Family: HIRUNDINIDAE – SWALLOWS
Blue-and-white Swallow - Pygochelidon cyanoleuca
Common at Machu-picchu
Brown-bellied Swallow - Orochelidon murina
Common around Abra Malaga
Family: TROGLODYTIDAE - WRENS
House Wren - Troglodytes aedon
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Common
E Inca Wren - Thryothorus eisenmanni
Wonderful views just near by the bus stations up outside of the Machu-Picchu ruins; one of the specialties
of Machu-Picchu area. Named for Eugene Eisenmann US/Panamenian ornithologist (1906-1981)
Inca Wren
Gray-breasted Wood-Wren - Henicorhina leucophrys
Very good views above Puente Ruinas at Machu-Picchu
Family: CINCLIDAE - DIPPERS
White-capped Dipper - Cinclus leucocephalus
Very nice view on the Urubamba River
Family: TURDIDAE – THRUSHES & SOLITAIRES
Chiguanco Thrush - Turdus chiguanco chiguanco
Common
Great Thrush - Turdus fuscater ockenderi
Common
Glossy-black Thrush – Turdus serranus
Very good views at Machu-Picchu
Family: MOTACILLIDAE - PIPITS
Short-billed Pipit - Anthus furcatus
Very nice views of two individuals at Abra Malaga
Family: THRAUPIDAE- TANAGERS
RR Slaty Tanager - Creurgops dentata
A male one seen along the train rail at Machu-Picchu
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E Parodi’s Hemispingus - Hemispingus parodi
Very nice views of 2+ individuals in the bamboo forest fragments at Abra Malaga on the east slope. Named
for Jose Parodi Vargas, Peruvian politician and landowner
Parodi’s Hemispingus – Fabrice Schmitt
Oleaginous Hemispingus - Hemispingus frontalis
Great along the train rail at Machu-Picchu
RR Rust-and-Yellow Tanager - Thlypopsis ruficeps
Nice small flock at Machu-Picchu
Blue-Gray Tanager - Thraupis episcopus
Common around Aguas Caliente
Palm Tanager - Thraupis palmarum
Common – seen at the Machu-Picchu Pueblo Hotel
Blue-capped Tanager - Thraupis cyanocephala
Seen at Machu-Picchu
Blue-and-yellow Tanager - Thraupis bonariensis
Seen at the Pakaritampu Hotel and also at the Machu-Picchu Pueblo Hotel
Blue-necked Tanager - Tangara cyanicollis
Common, but beautiful
Beryl Spangled Tanager - Tangara nigroviridis
Quiet common at Machu-Picchu
Blue-and-black Tanager - Tangara vassorii
Seen above Puente Ruinas below Machu-Picchu
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Silver-backed Tanager - Tangara viridicollis
Great views of males and females at the Machu-Picchu Pueblo Hotel
Cinereous Conebill - Conirostrum cinereum cinereum
Seen on the Huanipaca road and on the west slope of Abra Malaga
Capped Conebill – Conirostrum albifrons
Seen at Machu-Picchu
RR Tit-like Dacnis - Xenodacnis parina
Beautiful views on the east slope of Abra Malaga
Rusty Flower-piercer - Diglossa sittoides
Seen at the Pakaritampu Hotel
Black-throated Flower-piercer - Diglossa brunneiventris
Seen several times throughout the trip
Masked Flower-piercer – Diglossopis cyanea
Seen along the Huanipaca road
RR Peruvian Sierra-Finch - Phrygilus punensis
Seen on the west slope of Abra Malaga
Plumbeous Sierra-Finch - Phrygilus unicolor
Common on the west slope of Abra Malaga
RR White-winged Diuca-Finch - Diuca speculifera
Good views also on the west slope of Abra Malaga
Band-tailed Seedeater - Catamenia analis
Common around the Pakaritampu Hotel
Plain-colored Seedeater - Catamenia inornata
Seen above Abancay near the pass
Bananaquit - Coereba flaveola
Seen around Machu-Picchu
Dull-colored Grassquit - Tiaris obscura
Good views around Puente Ruinas bellow Machu-Picchu
INCERTAE SEDIS
Golden-billed Saltator - Saltator aurantiirostris
Seen above Abancay and also at Abra Malaga
Family: EMBEZERIDAE – NEW WORLD SPARROWS
Rufous-collared Sparrow - Zonatrichia capensis
Common
E Apurimac Brush-finch - Atlapetes forbesi
Fantastic view along the Huanipaca road. ENDANGERED
E Cuzco Brush-Finch - Atlapetes canigenis
Two individuals seen in the chusquea bamboo forest of the east slope of Abra Malaga
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Cuzco Brush-Finch - Judith Adams
Family: CARDINALIDAE – CARDINAL GROSBEAKS
Black-backed Grosbeak - Pheucticus aureoventris
Two individuals seen bellow Abancay and also seen every day at the Pakaritampu Hotel in Ollantaytambo
Family: PARULIDAE – NEW WORLD WARBLER
Tropical Parula - Setophaga pitiayumi
Quiet common around Machu-Picchu
Citrine Warbler - Myiothlypis luteoviridis striaticeps
Great looks at several individuals foraging with mixed flocks on the east slope of Abra Malaga
Pale-lagged Warbler - Myiothlypis signatus
Very nice views above Puente Ruinas – bellow Machu-Picchu
Russet-crowned Warbler - Myiothlypis coronatus
Quiet common around Machu-Picchu
Slate-throated Whitestart - Myioborus miniatus
Common
Family: ICTERIDAE – ORIOLES & BLACKBIRDS
RR Dusky-green Oropendola - Psarocolius atrovirens
Seen around Machu-Picchu – the only Oropendola species at Machu-Picchu
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Family: FRINGILLIDAE - FINCHES
Hooded Siskin – Sporaga magellanica
Seen on the west slope of Abra Malaga
Thick-billed Euphonia - Euphonia laniirostris
Quiet common around Machu-Picchu; the genus names means “fine-voiced”
MAMMALS
Family: PROCYONIDAE – RACCOON FAMILY
Andean Coati – Nasuella olivacea
A solitary one seen below Machu-Picchu ruins
Mountain Viscacha - Lagidium peruanum
One seen in the west slope of Abra Malaga
Wakaywilka Peak Abra Malaga – Fabrice Schmitt
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