Birds of the Peruvian Amazon

The Birds of the Peruvian Amazon is home to one of the most captivating nature experiences on Earth. Our journey begins in the highlands and follows an overland route through a remarkable variety of ecosystems found uniquely close together in Manu National Park. From high-altitude agricultural valleys and windswept puna grasslands to dwarf forests and lush, shifting cloud forests, we descend into tropical lowland valleys where farmers cultivate coca and an array of unusual fruits. These diverse habitats support countless bird species—including those that gather at the famous macaw clay licks.

We then travel by river into the heart of the lowland rainforest, passing remote jungle communities on our way to the Manu Wildlife Center. Located deep within Manu, the largest national park in the Upper Amazon Basin, this center offers unparalleled wildlife viewing opportunities. At an isolated oxbow lake, we explore waters home to giant river otters, caimans, monkeys, and a dazzling variety of birds.

At the Manu Wildlife Center, guests enjoy the region’s premier site for tapir observation, particularly at night, when these shy animals visit a clay-rich mud wallow near the lodge. Mornings begin with visits to a nearby macaw clay lick, where fruit trees attract colorful flocks of macaws. A network of forest trails, a canopy observation tower, and two pristine lakes offer a complete Amazonian rainforest experience. After a short canoe ride, we return to Cusco. peru  amazon birding

Macaws and the Clay Licks of Blanquillo -Birds of the Peruvian Amazon

In the local Indigenous language, “macaw” translates to “the one who cries by the river.” These intelligent and social birds can live up to 50 or 60 years. Of the 16 macaw species known in the region, six are extinct and eight are currently endangered in the Peruvian Amazon. Fortunately, macaws that frequent the clay licks have shown high breeding success.

Parrots, a group that includes macaws and parakeets, are anatomically similar. They are more common in tropical

regions and parts of temperate Australia. Known for being vocal and social, they have strong, curved beaks and

zygodactyl feet (two toes forward, two backward), making them excellent climbers. Their diet is largely fruit-based,

and in the forest, they are often seen foraging in large, gregarious flocks.

Typical macaw clay licks in Manu are found in palm groves, especially among Scheelea butyracea palms, known

locally as “Shebonal.” These areas have nutrient-poor soils with high aluminum content and poor drainage,

especially during the rainy season when the clay becomes heavily saturated.

Birds of the Peruvian Amazon-   Bird Behavior at the Blanquillo Clay Lick

Despite documentation of clay consumption (a behavior known as geophagy), little has been known about the social

and behavioral patterns of these birds at the clay licks. Observations at the Machiguenga Clay Lick, located along the

Manu River, revealed a clear structure to bird activity across the day:

• Early Morning: Parrots and small macaws
• Mid-Morning: Large macaws
• Early Afternoon: Parakeets

The earliest visitors include the yellow-crowned parrot (Amazona ochrocephala) and the dusky-headed parakeet

(Aratinga weddellii), followed by the blue-headed parrot (Pionus sordidus), mealy parrot (Amazona farinosa),

orange-cheeked parrot (Pionopsitta barrabandi), and the chestnut-fronted macaw (Ara severa).

Blue-headed parrots tend to feed in large groups of over 50 individuals, while others gather in smaller flocks of fewer

than 20. Scarlet macaws (Ara macao) often join flocks of red-and-green macaws (Ara chloroptera), which can startle

smaller birds. In total, about 100 macaws and parrots gather at the lick in the early morning hours.

Feeding groups average around 40 macaws and over 70 parakeets.

Yellow-crowned parrots typically spend about 28 minutes at the clay lick, while tui parakeets may remain up to 47 minutes.

Among the early visitors, blue-headed parrots are the most aggressive, whereas orange-cheeked parrots are the least. Red-and-green macaws show more aggression than scarlet macaws, and parakeets are equally assertive.

Interestingly, all species are more aggressive toward members of their own species than toward others.