1. Collared Puffbird
Five Bizarre Birds from Posada Amazonas
This common canopy species is often seen from the canopy tower. Its large head, bill, and pied plumage make it look almost more like a puppet than a real bird.
2. Long-tailed Potoo
Potoo bird in the Amazon
Strange birds indeed! The pale, fuzzy one on the right is the baby! This nocturnal species can be a hard one to find during the day and is more often heard at night.
3. Spixs guan
Spixs guan by Paul Bertner
If you see something that looks kind of like a turkey walking through the trees, that would be this bird. You will probably hear its loud honking calls before you see it.
4. Pale-winged Trumpeter
Pale-winged Trumpeter by Paul Bertner
Speaking of loud honking calls, this strange bird species makes a variety of odd noises as it patrols the forest floor. You may see the white flashes of its lower back as it moves through the dark understory.
5. White-fronted Nunbird
White-fronted Nunbird
Finishing off with a final species from the canopy, this medium-sized bird with the coral red bill gives rollicking calls as it forages with other birds. Watch for these and hundreds of other species on the trails at Posada Amazonas.
Three Odd Facts About the Hoatzin
Family of hoatzins in a Peruvian Oxbow lake in Tambopata. Photo by Arturo Bullard.
This denizen of oxbow lakes is named after the Nahuatl word for pheasant, «uatzin». Although the Nahuatl people hail from Mexico and would have therefore never encountered a Hoatzin, the word was apparently adopted by Spanish colonists who encountered the species in the Amazon basin. Here are a few other odd facts about this strange bird:
1. An herbivore
While many birds eat insects, seeds, and fruits, the Hoatzin mostly eats leaves! In common with ruminants like cows, its digestive tract is adapted to a mostly vegetarian diet, and, because of this, it can give off an unpleasant fermenting smell.
2. The sole survivor of an ancient lineage
The odd appearance of the Hoatzin has baffled taxonomists for more than a century. Recently, improved DNA studies have shown that this bird is actually the last representative of an avian lineage that dates back to the time of the dinosaurs.
3. Clawed wings
Young Hoatzins use claws on their wings to clamber around vegetation!
When visiting Tambopata, look for Hoatzins at the oxbow lakes excursions
By Pat ODonnell
Hoatzin bird in the Peruvian Amazon. Photo by Arturo Bullard.
How to See Exotic Birds in the Peruvian Amazon
In the heart of the Amazon rainforest, a captivating world of vibrant hues and elusive creatures unfolds. Beyond the surface, beneath the lush canopy, lies a bustling realm where survival hinges on the art of concealment. Venture into the realm where most beings are masters of disguise, where even the birds themselves play a captivating game of hide-and-seek, let’s explore some tips on how to see exotic birds in the Peruvian Amazon
The Art of Camouflage in birds of the Amazon rainforest
Picture this: the Amazon rainforest, a realm teeming with life, where every creature plays a high-stakes game of predator and prey. Amidst this symphony of existence, one rule reigns supreme – invisibility is key. As the creatures adapt to this ceaseless dance of survival, they evolve into living masterpieces of camouflage, disappearing into the verdant tapestry around them. Birds, in particular, have honed this art to perfection. Many of the most exotic and stunning species, like the resplendent toucans, radiant tanagers, and majestic cotingas, inhabit the lofty reaches of the forest, where vibrant plumage mingles seamlessly with the emerald foliage.
Potoo bird in the Peruvian Amazon – Tambopata
Unlocking the Canopy Tower
Imagine gazing upon a kaleidoscope of avian wonders from a unique vantage point – a canopy tower that pierces through the layers of leaves and branches. Here, where the sky kisses the treetops, a realm of unmatched beauty unfurls before your eyes. It’s a revelation, an experience that redefines birdwatching. From this lofty perch, the vibrant toucans take flight in a breathtaking display of color, tanagers flit among the leaves like living gems, and cotingas grace the scene with their regal presence. The canopy tower is the key to unlocking this mesmerizing spectacle, a front-row seat to the theater of nature.
Recommended: 5 Bizarre birds at Posada Amazonas
The Dance of Patience: Guiding Your Senses in Search of Amazon Birds
In this intricate dance of survival, the Amazon’s inhabitants have mastered the art of subtlety. Birds, in their quest to elude predators, have become virtuosos of concealment. To glimpse these feathered enigmas, one must embrace the dance of patience – the quiet observation, the attentive listening, and the art of stillness. Every rustle of leaves, every distant chirp, could lead you to an avian revelation. It’s an enchanting process, a delicate balance of attunement and anticipation.
Cream-colored Woodpecker by Paul Bertner
Guided by the local experts
Embarking on a journey into the heart of the Amazon rainforest is an opportunity to unveil its myriad mysteries. And what better guide to navigating this intricate terrain than an experienced companion, a true connoisseur of the avian realm? A skilled guide, trained in the subtle nuances of rainforest birdlife, becomes your beacon in this tapestry of life. They possess an intimate knowledge of the bird’s vocalizations, an instinct for their favored microhabitats, and a keen eye for the hidden wonders. With a knowledgeable guide by your side, the rainforest becomes an open book of avian secrets, waiting to be deciphered.
A Trail of Discovery: Your Invitation to Amazonian Birdwatching
Dear adventurer, the time has come to immerse yourself in the extraordinary world of Amazonian birdwatching. Join us on a guided hike through the enchanting rainforest trails, led by trained guides who are passionate about sharing their expertise. Let the symphony of nature serenade your senses as you embark on a quest to spot the myriad bird species that call this mystical realm home. Unveil the vibrant plumage, decipher the calls that echo through the trees, and revel in the joy of discovery as you connect with the avian wonders of the Amazon rainforest.
Embark on this journey of wonder, let your senses guide you, and let the rainforest reveal its avian treasures. Your adventure begins now.
Are you ready? Take a look at our recommended expedition for birdwatchers
Beautiful River Birds of Tambopata Peru
One of the easiest places to find quite a few exotic jungle birds is during travel to and from our lodges. Since rivers are the natural byways through the Amazon rainforest, we use the Tambopata on a daily basis. In doing so, we also see lots of beautiful birds, right from the boat! These are a few of them:
Orinoco Goose
This colorful goose is one of the only species of waterfowl that live along the Tambopata. However, unlike geese in some other parts of the world, this jungle species is shy and usually found away from people. For that reason, the section of the river near TRC is where we typically see it.
Black Caracara
This striking raptor is commonly seen while it patrols the river for carrion and small animals.
Bat Falcon
Bat falcon by Joao Quental (Wikimedia Commons)
The small Bat Falcon likes to perch on snags at the edge of the river, especially in wide-open areas that facilitate its hunting strategies. When a bat, swallow, or other small bird flies within range, it tries to catch its prey during rapid flight.
Scarlet macaw flying, Photo by Lucas Bustamante
This and other spectacular parrot species are often seen in flights over the river, especially during the morning and late afternoon.
Amazon Kingfisher
An Amazon Kingfisher perches near a Tambopata river.
One of three species of kingfishers commonly seen along the river, this one can be recognized by the lack of prominent white marks in the wings and tail.
Look for these and dozens of other bird species during travel to and from our lodges!
by Pat ODonnell
Birds to Look for at an Oxbow Lake
The following are a few of the more special bird species to look for when visiting any of the large oxbow lakes near our lodges:
This strange bird species is actually an herbivore, and one of the classic avian denizens of oxbow lakes in the Amazon basin. It’s nearly restricted to this type of habitat and spends most of its time roosting in marsh vegetation at the edge of the lake.
Horned – Screamer
Another odd waterbird with an equally odd name, the echoing calls of this goose-like bird can carry for more than a kilometer. On the rare occasion when it takes flight, it looks kind of like a vulture. Watch for pairs that perch in vegetation at the edge of the lake.
Rufescent Tiger-Heron
One of several heron species commonly seen at oxbow lakes, this one is recognized by its thick, reddish neck.
Several other bird species also occur in the vicinity of oxbow lakes including several tanagers, woodpeckers, toucans, and Plum-throated Cotinga. Watch for them with your guide!
by Pat ODonnell
A story of reconnect with nature: My heightened senses in the rainforest
Despite being legally blind in my right eye, I can see more clearly than ever before….maybe there’s just more to see on my goal to reconnect with nature. Something as simple as sunlight illuminating a water droplet on a leaf is a vivid representation of the complexity of nature.
I look up to the trees and can imagine which leaf the drop fell from and how many leaves it rolled off before it landed on this one. I look at the plant it sits on and hypothesize the path the drop will take to the ground and which of the surrounding plants, trees, or vines will be nourished by it.
Along the peaceful Tambopata River, the sounds of the jungle and water stimulate the senses. Find yourself by reconnecting with nature
I hear birds calling back and forth. Some chirp timidly, others caw obnoxiously, while occasionally I’ll hear a terrifying screech, only to figure out that was also a bird. Tree branches fall, monkeys bicker, insects buzz all at the same time. It’s loud, but I’ll take it any day over the noises of a busy city.
It’s really not that much quieter than Lima, especially in the morning, but it’s far more pleasant to listen to. Trying to distinguish who’s saying what is initially overwhelming, but when I listen closely, I realize how harmoniously the creature’s call comes together. It’s as if all the plant species of the forest along with her animals are in collaboration, functioning exactly as they should be. If I concentrate and sit quietly, I can listen in on a conversation between two birds. On a walk today, I heard a rain shower five minutes before it arrived. The sound of the raindrops hitting the leaves became louder as the downpour approached giving me just enough time to find an umbrella tree to stand under while the worst of it passed.
Locals from Tambopata can smell Howler Monkeys
I’ve always had a keen sense of smell, but try to suppress it in the city since the scents of food, diesel fuel, and urine do not appeal to me. I had almost forgotten that to truly experience an odor you must use more than your nose. It involves breathing through your mouth and using your sense of taste. You must then allow the odor to infiltrate your entire chest cavity and head until it brings back a memory or creates a new one. Locals from Tambopata can smell Howler Monkeys from two miles away. I’m not that good yet but can appreciate the fresh air, jungle fruits, and nuts, flowers, leaves, even dirt.
Solo traveler, always accompanied by a guide
Find yourself by reconnecting with nature in an immersive experience in the Amazon rainforest
There’s another sense. I’m not talking about that creepy movie with that little kid who hangs out with dead people. It’s the same full-body sensation you get when you first fall in love, or in like with someone. When I hike in the forest, no matter how hot it is, or whether it’s raining and I’m soaking wet, my energy increases, and I could hike for hours. Worries cross through my mind for no more than a minute before I’m distracted by a jumble of vines, trees, and plants competing with each other for sunlight. They wrap around each other, always moving upward in beautiful chaos until they explode through the canopy spreading their branches in every direction to celebrate their triumph. My worries are forgotten and I realize I’ve been studying the forest for what feels like hours, but maybe was only a few seconds.
This sense is timeless and unquantifiable. It’s the same as falling in love, only this time I’ve fallen in love with a place.
I leave you with a playlist that I found on Spotify that the truth transports my soul and mind to the Amazon rainforest. Enjoy it!
Sound Recordings from the Amazon Jungle
Listen to soundtracks from the Amazon Jungle in Peru by Gordon McGladdery is a musician and sound designer from Vancouver, Canada. Winner of the international Soundcloud/Vancouver Film School Full Scholarship Challenge, he is currently enrolled in the Sound Design for Visual Media program and is set to graduate in December. Academics aside, he’s still keeping busy as a composer for the youtube channel Smarter Every Day and co-composer for the hit iOS game Shellrazer. He has released three albums as A Shell in the Pit and one with the Victoria rock band «Oh Snap!»
And if you get inspired remember we can take you to the Tambopata National Reserve in the Peruvian Amazon in an of-the-bitten-path expedition.
Listen to more Peruvian soundtracks from the Amazon on SoundCloud. Soon on Spotify
Animal Collective Nouns
Side Necked Turtles – Two Hundred Years Ago
Side Necked Turtles
John Hemming in Tree of Rivers cites Alexander von Humboldt as he floated down the Orinoco River (in Colombia) on this very sight. It was 200 years ago. Humboldt describes the turtles this way: 8 to 10 rows of turtles, side by side, covering the river banks. Humboldt is horrified at the Franciscan friars, who plunder every nest for oil-rich eggs used in turn for street lighting.
The Jesuit friars did the same, although they at least left half the eggs. Humboldt copies register from the lamp oil supply chain: 5000 massive jars of oil a year from 330 thousand turtles and 33 million eggs.
The Amazon is an extraordinary place as is. And yet, no place deserves the slogan «Let’s make America great again», as much as the Amazon.
by Kurt Holle
What’s this Bizarre Katydid Parasite in Tambopata?
Some of my favorite hikes take place late at night in Tambopata. The rainforest bursts with wildlife activity after things cool down from the scorching hot afternoon. Nonstop mating calls pierce the air from frogs and crickets. Night also happens to be the best time to see weird stuff…
So on to the night hike. I spotted this green leaf katydid, which is a beautiful work of mimicry, but not particularly uncommon or strange (relative to other stuff I see in the Amazon). What was strange, however, was a small organism clinging to the katydid.
Katydid Parasite in Tambopata
It looked like a cream-colored dot on the side of the katydid and upon closer inspection, appeared to be some sort of gravid insect (meaning it looked like it was full of eggs). This seemed unusual, so I took some closer shots hoping to figure out what it was.
After a couple of days, the bizarre insect laid dozens of eggs in a big cluster and then died. The eggs never did hatch, but I’m starting to think that I spared the leaf katydid (or its eggs) from a parasite-filled demise.
I’m still not sure what this is. Some sort of gravid parasitic wasp (or fly?) would be my guess. But I decided to post some pictures on here and ask for help identifying this strange insect. If you have any ideas please leave them in the comments below or drop me a line on Twitter @AaronPomerantz.
Katydid Parasite in Tambopata
By Aaron Pomerantz