05 December, 2025
Hacienda El Bosque, Manizales
After our usual hearty breakfast we set off for an exciting day's birding at Hacienda El Bosque, a location renowned for its antpittas and other characteristic birds of the central Andes.
Photo: Victoria Ho
Following standard practice the local guide, armed with a copious supply of worms, began to call in an Equatorial Antpitta (Grallaria saturata).
It was not long before he succeeded.
This species appears to have a checkered taxonomic history and is not recognized by HBW.
Furthermore, it is not included in Harold F. Greeney's authoritative work, Antpittas and Gnateaters (2018). I am unable to find any reference to it at all, so I cannot speculate on the reasons for the apparent controversy. The species is accepted without question by eBird, iNaturalist and doubtless by other internet platforms and taxonomic regimes. Interestingly, however, my entry on iNaturalist has not been confirmed and has not been elevated to research grade.
Be all that as it may, it was for everyone in our group an exciting bird to see.
Here is the Antpitta Pied Piper tossing worms to lure in the birds.
He was a pleasing, friendly young man and I think we all enjoyed his company.
There were always flowers to charm us, even though we were frequently unfamiliar with them; in this case I am pretty sure the plant is found in the tribe Ixieae, but I'm unable to identify it specifically.
Photo: Victoria Ho
The formidable bill on a Sword-billed Hummingbird (Ensifera ensifera) has to be seen to be believed!
Photo: Pam Sadler
This species specializes in flowers with long pendent corollas; it hovers below them in order to access the nectar deep inside.
Photo: Victoria Ho
It is a species much sought after by visiting birders and I know that everyone in our group was delighted to see it.
Black Flowerpiercer (Diglossa humeralis) was but one of three species of flowerpiercer we saw.
Photo: Pam Sadler
It gave us great delight to spot a Yellow-bellied Chat-Tyrant (Silvicultrix diadema).
Photo: Pam Sadler
It is usually found in dense undergrowth close to the ground and is thereby hard to see. Unlike most flycatchers it sometimes takes prey, primarily small beetles, from twigs, or on the ground.
There were cows to keep us company.
Horses, too.
White-browed Spinetail (Hellmayrea gularis) feeds on arthropods found in moss, dense foliage, dead leaves, bark and bamboo.
Photo: Victoria Ho
It is an acrobatic little bird, often gleaning for insects upside down. You will see above how it comes by its name.
Photo: Pam Sadler
Grass Wren (Cistothorus platensis) has a staggering nineteen subspecies in eight subspecies groups. The taxonomy of this species, formerly a Sedge Wren (C. stellaris), is not yet resolved.
No such controversy exists over Mountain Wren (Troglodytes solstitalis).
Photo: Victoria Ho
These little birds have figured out that humans bring juicy worms and they showed no reluctance to take food offered from a beneficent hand.
Hummingbirds are all spectacular. You have met Shining Sunbeam (Aglaectis cupripennis) before but who can get enough?
Photo: Pam Sadler
Photo: Pam Sadler
No one can be faulted for lack of signage at this location!
We had no luck with the Crescent-faced Antpitta (Grallaricula lineifrons). Perhaps it prefers its worms à la mode.
We were not particularly thrilled with the rain, but without a doubt raindrops have a distinct beauty about them.
Victoria did a wonderful job photographing flowers; would that I did as well naming them.
In the subfamily Crocoideae.....
A female Tyrian Metaltail (Metallura iracunda) perched nicely for us.
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Photo: Pam Sadler
We saw Sickle-winged Guan (Chamaepetes goudotii) quite often.
Photo: Pam Sadler
It is an opportunistic bird and is drawn to bird feeding stations where its large size enables it to feed unmolested. In the picture above you will see a Great Thrush (Turdus fuscater) at the bottom right.
Sickle-winged Guan is often joined by Andean Guan (Penelope montagnii) which feeds in similar fashion.
Either bird is capable of reducing a banana to the skin in just a couple of gulps.
Callianthe is a genus of flowering plants distributed throughout the Neotropics.
Photo: Victoria Ho
We did not see many mammals during our stay in Colombia, but we were always taken with Red-tailed Squirrel (Sciurus granatensis) and its antics.
It is in the same genus as our familiar Eastern Grey Squirrel (Scirus carolinensis) and seems well endowed with the same mischievous ways.
Rufous-collared Sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis), despite my feigned air of detachment, remains one of my favourite birds.
Look closely and you will see three of them on the ground in the picture above.
Mountain Velvetbreast (Lafresnaya lafresnayi) is a sensational little hummingbird.
Photo: Pam Sadler
Pam captured it on the way to the feeders.....
..... and Victoria caught it when it had settled in to feed.
I managed this picture of a Hooded Mountain Tanager (Buthraupis montana).
Here it is a little closer feeding on worms set out for it.
Barred Fruiteater (♂) Photo: Victoria Ho
Barred Fruiteater (♀) Photo: Victoria Ho
Fortunately, this species is relatively willing to reveal itself, and it brought back memories for me of the first time I saw it in Ecuador many years ago.
Sparkling Violetear (Colibri coruscans) is suitably named, I am sure you will agree.
Photo: Pam Sadler
I am going out on a limb here, possibly a shaky one, and calling this plant Racineae tetrantha.
Photo: Victoria Ho
Blue-capped Tanager (Sporathraupis cyanocephala) is a scintillating bird in a scintillating family.
The diversity of beautiful tanagers is both bewildering and satisfying, especially for those of us who live in the north. Here in Ontario we can reasonably expect to see Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea), sometimes Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra) in the southernmost part of the province, and rarely Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana). In Colombia, to see several species together is not unusual. What a feast for northern eyes!
White-bellied Woodstar (Chaetocercus mulsant) is a tiny hummingbird, amazingly insect-like in flight.
White-bellied Woodstar (♀) Photo: Victoria Ho
It is an annual rite of passage for southern Ontario birders to greet the arrival of warblers to the province, so it is very enjoyable to see a species that does not appear here. Golden-fronted Whitestart (Myioborus chrysops) is a very attractive bird.
Photo: Victoria Ho
White-sided Flowerpiercer (Diglossa albilatera) was seen quite often.
Photo: Pam Sadler
Northern Slaty Brushfinch (Atlapetes schistaceus) was never far from the food laid out and frequently replenished by dedicated human assistants!
Photo: Victoria Ho
Many species enjoy grapes and they are often used to attract birds. Here a Great Thrush takes full advantage of them.
This casts a whole new light on elbows on the table!
Actually, if you pay close attention to it, it is a very handsome bird.
Photo: Victoria Ho
A Grey-browed Brushfinch (Arremon assimilis) darted back and forth to snag morsels of food.
Photo: Pam Sadler
It was all together a great day of birding, but decidedly cool and lunch was a kind of hot pot where you added your own ingredients to a hot broth, and it was perfect for the weather. Dessert was cheesecake and there was hot Colombian coffee.
We left mid-afternoon, well satisfied with our experience at Hacienda El Bosque. I would go back there in a heartbeat!
Beautiful birds and photos, David!
ReplyDeleteYes, the Shining Sunbeam have been my favorite bird already, and the hummingbirds too. They are so lovely.
Hugs and kisses, Marit
I love seeing these photos of birds I will probably never get to see myself in person. I especially enjoy the hummingbirds, but honestly I was delighted by the photos of all of them.
ReplyDeleteThat is very interesting about the bird in the first photo. This seems like a wonderful trip. I do like seeing the cows and horses too. Thank you David, for this outstanding post of your trip. Have a nice day today.
ReplyDeleteI feel so grateful and so spoiled to be able to relive our adventures with just a click of the mouse, thanks to your delightfully written recollections and the great skill of the photographers. Pamela's photo of the Shining Sunbeam honestly took my breath away!
ReplyDeleteI must admit I was a tad smitten with our gentle and very knowledgable guide, Cristian Valencia, who clearly loved the birds and the nature surrounding us as much as we did. I told him that if I ever return to Colombia. I want him to be my guide!
I don't recognize the name, but I am assuming this is Lisa. If ever I were to go back to Colombia, I would go to a different part of the country. It's always a debate whether to return to familiar, well-loved places or visit somewhere new.
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