Bird watching

For bird lovers

The geographical, climatic and evolutionary factors make Peru the best place to do bird watching (bird watching). It has 1830 species of birds (according to the official list of SACC / CRAP), it is also considered the second megadiverse country, concentrating 70% of the planet’s biological diversity. According to the Hold ridge classification, it has 84 of the 117 life zones registered on Earth.

Our country has the highest number of endemic species in the world (more than 120). In the last three decades an average of two new species per year has been discovered. The largest flying bird in the world (Andean Condor – Vulturgriphus) is in Peru and also the second smallest bird on the planet (Estrellita de Cola corta-Myrmiamicrura).

There is great potential to continue with scientific discoveries at the level of species and subspecies, which due to their isolation could offer new records. Three main bird watching routes have been developed and allow covering a large number of life zones crossing the country from west to east, with the corresponding variation in birdlife that offers the possibility of obtaining lists of many species on each trip.

Why you will love this activity?

This activity is easy, you have to be passionate by bird watching, you must pay special attention if you want to enjoy these beautiful birds
The reason why we include this activity in our Manu national park tours is that the guides are passionate and specialists in birds. Also, we have the best equipment for this activity.

Here you can find a list of the best known birds that you can find during your excursion to the Manu National Park:

PHOTOS: Birds in Manu National Park

GREAT TINAMOU

Perdiz Grande

The world record of the greatest diversity of bird species found in a single day in the same place has the Manu River with a figure of 331 species. To get to this river you have to follow the route to Manu to the port of Atalaya and then follow the Alto Madre de Dios river for at least 5 hours and then enter the aforementioned tributary.

From the smallest hummingbirds to large birds such as the condor of the jungle and the harpy eagle, in the departures Manu it is possible to find birds of all types, sizes, shapes and colors.

An ideal place for birding Manu National Park the clay licks on the banks of the rivers, where several species of macaws and smaller parrots feed on clay during the dawn. It is speculated that this behavior is due to the fact that the minerals they consume counteract the toxins of certain leaves and fruits from which they feed.

The descent during Manu National Park tours from Cusco to the cloud forest of Manu is also an ideal place to see the cock of the rocks, the national bird of Peru. The dance performed by the males to court the female is an extraordinary ritual that a bird lover should never miss.

Bird watching Details

• Season of the year: April to December
• Recommended for: Morning and afternoon
• Duration: 6 hours
• Difficulty Level: lll
• Altitude: mountain forest to low jungle 350.m.s.n.m.
• Available at: cloud forest to Palotoa Amazon lodge.

IMAGES BIRD WATCHING

Frequently asked questions

What is the size of the groups?

The size of the group is 9 people per guide; if we have more than (10 to 14), we send a second guide (not an assistant). If there are more than 14 people, we divide into 2 totally independent groups both with their own cars, boats, guides and cooks.

Are there many walks?

There are not many walks in the sense of going far. All walks are done slowly. This is because most of you will find vegetation in the forest and be available to see the animals; giving enough time to see the surroundings and also hear it.

Do you guarantee to see birds in the Macaw Clay Licks?

We can not assure you that you will see the Macaws in the clay licks, but if you travel in the correct station you have more opportunities to see them. The dry season is a good season to see these birds, the reason is that birds in some stations migrate to places of fruit production, or in some cases eat only seeds per season.

The seeds are toxic in general to prevent birds from eating them; however, if the macaws eat them, they increase the poison in their stomachs and to neutralize the acids and poisons that are produced in their stomachs they eat nutritious clay.In the rainy season there are many fruits until the beginning of the dry season, which is May.

Then the macaws eat less seeds and fruits that are less toxic and feel less need to eat the clay, this means that there are few macaws present; at midday of the dry season there could be the presence of 100 to 150 macaws present in a morning, unlike only 10 to 50 at the end of the rainy season.

Do I have to be in good physical condition to go to Manu?

On the trip to the jungle of Manu, you will spend good time on the bus and in the boat and then we will make hikes that do not exceed 3 to 4 hours per departure.
Due to heat and humidity some people feel exhausted, tired; We usually have a “SIESTA” at noon and also the possibility of staying in the hostel if you do not want to participate in the walks.
A trip to the rainforest is not comfortable BUT if you bring the right clothes, you will have an incomparable experience.

Should I take prophylaxis against Malaria?

The risk of contracting malaria is low in the area we visit. However, the area is close to a gold mining area, the miners can travel in the same river that we travel, there is the possibility of mosquito bites that do not yet have malaria, can be infected by mincing the miner with malaria and then sting you and then infect Malaria. This possibility is very rare and until now there are no tourists that travel to Manu that has malaria.