Barbets are plump and often colorful birds, nine of which are found in Colombia.
The Toucan Barbet was definitely the most unique bird I saw at Doña Dora's the morning I visited. It is found in a small range in Colombia and Ecuador.
And this is the last bird photo I will post from my too-brief but wonderful trip to Colombia!
Thanks to all of the wonderful lodges and observatories in Colombia that make birding there such a pleasure.
As I mentioned earlier, the tanagers in Colombia are just as spectacular, if not more so, than the hummingbirds.
Here are three that were seen at Doña Dora's:
The Silver-throated Tanager is found in southern Central America and a small portion of Colombia and Ecuador:
Rufous-throated Tanager, found only in a small area of Colombia and Ecuador:
The Glistening-green Tanager, found in a similar range to the Rufous-throated Tanager:
More hummingbirds, photographed at Doña Dora's restaurant and bird observatory.
Andean Emerald:
Purple-throated Woodstar:
The Empress Brilliant is found in a small region of Colombia and Ecuador:
The are at least seventeen "hermit" hummingbirds found in Colombia, characterized by very long bills. The White-whiskered Hermit is a spectacular bird found in western Colombia and Ecuador:
Three examples of a Green Thorntail, a hummingbird found only in a small section of Panama, Colombia and Ecuador.
Photographed at Doña Dora's in January of this year.
The male Green Thorntail has a spectacular tail:
Doña Dora runs a roadside restaurant not far from Kilometro 18, near Cali, Colombia.
Over the years it has become a must-visit attraction for birders in Colombia, as she has a number of bird feeders which attract a steady-stream of colorful birds, as well as colorful birders!
While the food is excellent, the birds are phenomenal!
Since the restaurant is at a lower elevation than the lodges around Kilometro 18, it attracts quite a few different bird species. Over the next few days I'll post some of the birds I saw there.
On the morning drive to the restaurant, our guide stopped to point out a Lyre-tailed Nightjar.
Nightjars are not exactly gorgeous or colorful (they are made to blend in with their surroundings), but are nice to see.
As the Merlin app states, this Andean bird is "often associated with steep road cuts," which is exactly where this one was perched:
Here is a Chestnut-headed Oropendola, photographed at Doña Dora's:
There are nine species of oropendola, all large-billed birds found in Mexico, Central and South America.
The Bar-crested Antshrike is nearly endemic to Colombia, and as the Merlin app states, is "shy... can be difficult to get a clear view."
So it was nice to get a brief and somewhat difficult view of the bird on my last day at the Araucana Lodge.
Also seen on my last day was this juvenile Broad-winged Hawk.
As the Broad-winged Hawk breeds in the eastern United States, this is only the second decent photo I have of one!
The Crimson-rumped Toucanet is found primarily in Colombia and Ecuador.
It was a huge thrill to see one at the Araucana Lodge:
Another Rufous-tailed Hummingbird:
More birds photographed at Araucana Lodge, near Cali, Colombia:
Scrub Tanager:
Black-billed Thrush:
Perhaps my favorite bird from Colombia, the Saffron Finch:
Another familiar bird seen at Araucana Lodge was the Green Jay.
I have seen and photographed Green Jays in Texas and in Mexico City, so it was nice to see them in Colombia.
But like the Acorn Woodpeckers, wait! there's more!
The Green Jay found in Colombia and South America is also known as the Inca Jay, and is colored differently than the ones in south Texas and Mexico.
Here are two Inca Jays in Colombia:
Compare those to this Green Jay photographed in south Texas:
The Inca Jays have white on their neck, bright yellow irises, and bolder colors overall.
Green Jays in either location are a treat to see, and have the same, noisy personalities!
