Birding Manu Cloud Forest
Birding Manu Cloud Forest- Peru is a paradise for bird lovers, with a great and impressive
diversity of species such as majestic eagles to colorful hummingbirds.
1. Andean Condor: This is a more imposing and very rapacious bird that has become the national symbol of Peru
and is one of the largest condors in the world and its habitat is the high mountains of the Andes and is
characterized
by its Large wingspan and impressive black plumage with white feathers on the neck that these species are in
extinction.
2. Cock-of-the-rock: It is best known for its very bright plumage that has orange and red tones, the cock-of-the-
rock represents the national bird of Peru.
Its habitat is humid cloud forests and it is very notable for its peculiar
courtship, where males perform dance displays on rocks or ravines to attract females.
3. Peregrine falcon: This species is very famous for being one of the fastest birds in the world in diving flight.
They live in a variety of habitats in Peru and feed mainly on smaller birds that they catch in flight.
4. Hummingbirds: Arriving Peru is home to an incredible diversity of hummingbirds, from tiny hummingbirds to
larger, very colorful species. These species are found in a variety of habitats, from the Andes to the Amazon, and
come to play a crucial role in plant pollination.
5. Macaws: These tropical jungle birds are well known for their vibrant plumage and ability to imitate sounds. In
Peru, a variety of
macaws are observed in the Amazon rainforest – Manu and Tambopata National Reserve, where
they fly in large noisy flocks in search of food such as nuts, and large-walled clay licks fascinating species
Manu National Park – Birding Manu Cloud Forest
Area: 1,716,295.22 ha / 4,241,060 acres 64 | 65
geography: Manu Park is one of the jewels of the protected areas system in Peru, because it encompasses
a range of altitudes, from the puna grasslands at 4,000 m / 13,123 ft down to the Amazonian plain at 300 masl / 984
fasl, passing through dwarf forest, montane forest, and foothill
forest. Furthermore, uncontacted ethnicities still exist within its boundaries.
Location: Provinces of Manu and Paucartambo (Regions of Madre de Dios and Cusco)
Getting there: It is accessible by road from Cusco by way of Paucartambo up to Acjanaco pass (about 4 hours),
then the road begins to descend until reaching Atalaya (about 5 hours) where it is possible to travel by boat to Boca
Manu (about 6 hours).
Weather: It is warm (Amazon area) and cold (Andean area). It is advisable to visit from April to
november.
Temperature in the Andean area: from 2 to 14 °C (from 36 to 57 °F)
Temperature in the Amazon area: from 22 to 29 °C (from 72 to 84 °F)
Tourist Infrastructure: Lodging, dining services, viewpoint and birdwatching hideout, interpretation center, and
Biological Station
MANU BIRDS IN THE CLOUD FOREST
Birds are a very particular group and quite easy to distinguish within the animal kingdom.
The most obvious and accurate feature is the presence of feathers, which in almost all species cover a large part of
the body and give them
the ability to fly. Although the wonderful gift of flying is not exclusive to birds, we could say that they are the ones
who best master it.
Thanks to a great diversity of shapes, sizes and feather patterns, birds have managed to populate almost all
environments and conditions on earth.
The plumage allows the bird to regulate body temperature in different climates and situations; it is also
impervious to rain; protects it from wind, sun and dust.
On the other hand, it facilitates the bird’s social life, communicating aspects such as age and reproductive status
through colors and designs;
It can be of great help to go unnoticed or, on the contrary, it can give you a great presence with bright and strongly
contrasting colors.
Some other characteristics such as the size and shape of the beak – Birding Manu Cloud Forest
the length of the legs and the arrangement of the fingers vary depending on the place and the type of life that a peru bird has.
Researchers take all these elements to obtain information and draw possible conclusions.
Also the way of reproduction by eggs and the behavior are very useful when making evaluations of the venous
populations, they allow us to discover some amazing strategies that they use to be successful and x the Wayqecha
Biological Station, where you can see how the investigations contribute to the conservation of cloud forests.
Birds are warm-blooded vertebrate animals that walk, hop, or stand only on their hind limbs. Birds are found in all kinds of habitats on
land and also in all oceans.
The size can be from 6.4 cm in the hummingbird, to 2.74 m in the ostrich.
The behaviors are diverse and notable, such as nesting, feeding, migration, mating and the tendency to associate in groups.
Communication between birds is variable, and may involve visual cues, calls, and songs. Some emit great diversity of sounds and stand out
for their intelligence and their ability to transmit cultural knowledge to new generations.
For this reason, at the Wayqecha Biological Station, research is carried out that involves various actions in order to better analyze
many of the characteristics that the birds that inhabit the cloud forest possess.
1.Diversity of birds in the cloud forest of the Wayqecha Biological Station Manu Birding Manu Cloud Forest .
For all researchers who work studying nature, it is very important to know how we can help conserve or recover forests that are being damaged.
Jill Jankowski conducted one of the most important baseline studies for starting work on cloud forest conservation.
She and her assistants used many months of observation and various methods to find out what species of birds exist
within the forests of the Wayqecha Biological Station, where they live and how these birds are related to each other.
These types of results allow starting a monitoring system. In other words, a way of continuously evaluating biodiversity species in amnu birds.
By repeating the work that Jill Jankowski has done over several years we can find out if changes are taking place in
the forest. For example, if we see that some bird species are disappearing or the composition of the bird community changes.
we would know for sure that something strange is affecting the forest.
In fact, global warming is one of those cases that we think will bring change and the birds will help us discover it in cloud forest many birds.
The results of the studies of diversity and composition of the Wayqecha bird community are also very useful for
comparative analyzes and diagnoses. For example, if people in other places want to estimate the damage to their
forests, they could do so by comparing the results of their observations with information obtained in Waygecha’s forests.
In this way, by looking at the differences in both communities of birds, they can have an idea of how strong the damage has been and make
better decisions for their
Conservation. In this study, the results show that the Wayqecha Biological Station is home to around 120 different
species of birds between 2,550 and 3,000 meters above sea level and that these communities are not only sensitive to changes in altitude,
but above all very sensitive to changes in the structure of the forest peruvian birds.
Reproductive ecology of birds in an altitudinal gradient – Birding Manu Cloud Forest
He is another of the researchers who has studied the birds at the Wayqecha Biological Station. For several years she has observed and measured different factors that influence nesting behavior rainforest birds.
Factors such as the type of material and place a bird chooses to build its nest, climate, and predators determine how successful a species will be in procreating a new generation of the species.
Each one of these factors strongly influences the life of the birds, for example, in the distance that a bird will have to
travel to get food and bring it to the nest; the length of time it can leave the nest without shelter in cold climates
means that it must put more effort into bringing food quickly; the shape, size and material you choose will result in
better heat retention for a longer time and on the other hand the place a bird chooses to build the nest will prevent predators from easily finding the nestlings.
The results obtained by Gustavo Londoño show us, among other things, how the life of wild animals is strongly related to external factors
and how they must strive to succeed.
He helps us understand that when man changes the environmental conditions in a forest, he also changes the chances for the survival of animals.
2.Diversity of Birds in the Montane forest of the Wayqecha Research Center- Manu Birds .
The tropical Andes Manu Birds are considered the most biodiverse region on the planet. One of its eco-regions, the
yungas or montane forests, are especially important because they provide water for the Amazon Birds and form a
biological corridor towards the puna.
The Wayqecha Research Center is immersed in this beautiful cloud forest located in the valley of the Kosħipata river.
To preserve this great place, it is first necessary to know and investigate what its components are and the
relationships that exist between them.
Birds are good bio indicators, that is, they indicate the quality of an ecosystem, thanks to the ease of observing
and/or listening to them.
The objective of this work is to know the temporal diversity (diversity over time or throughout the year) and space
(in different spaces or places) of the bird community in CI Wayqecha.
Diversity is a value that combines the number of species and the number of individuals for each species, this value
therefore gives us information about how the bird community works.
This is important because it allows us to make comparisons and see what is happening in a certain period of time
or space.
Bird censuses (counts) were carried out throughout the amazonia peru birds Wayqecha trail system using the
point count method at two times of the year.
You want to know if the bird community remained the same or changed in these two periods of time (temporal
diversity). Additionally, it will be seen if there are differences in species diversity in the two life zones in Birds:
Subtropical Lower . Birding Manu Cloud Forest
Montane Very Humid Forest (bmh-MBS) and Subtropical Montane Very Humid Forest (bmh-MS), this would be
spatial diversity species Birds .
This is why the information generated can be used as a basis for future research not only with birds but also with
plants and other organisms, since we know that all the elements of an ecosystem are interrelated.
All the data that can be obtained is necessary to expand our knowledge about the ecology of a place and to be sure of
making decisions that lead to conservation rainforest birds.
In these times in which we are experiencing a process of climate change, we must be very attentive to the signals
that nature gives us.
For example, during the field phase, a bird called Rufous Watchmaker, whose scientific name is Baryphthengus
martü, almost 1000 meters higher than its normal altitudinal range, this data is important because it indicates that
its population may be looking for cooler places to live in the mountains andean birds peru.
Manu Biosphere and Jungle Birds .
Located in the rain forests of the departments ments of Cusco and Madre de Dios, the Manu Birds cconstitutes the
greatest natural treasure of Peru birds, both for the number of species it houses as well as by the di- diversity of
ecosystems it protects.
It was stable-created in 1973 on an area of 1,532,806 hectares, and declared Natural Patrimony of the Humanity by
UNESCO in 1987.
It covers the entire Manu river basin, in addition to a extraordinary altitudinal transect that goes from 4,300 masl
from the high Andean puna to the 200 masl from the Amazon plain.
Inside inhabit various known ethnic groups – amahuaca, huachipaire, machiguenga, pyro, yora and Yaminahua-,
in addition to others without any contact with the modern world.
The park is the environment of more than 20,000 vascular plants, 1,200 species of butterflies, 1,000 of birds, 200
of mammals and still unknown numbers of reptiles, amphibians and insects.
Climate: Birding Manu Cloud Forest
It has a marked rainy season of December to March, although outside of it they are not showers rare.
The months of May to August, Protected natural areas with temperatures above 30°C, are the most recommended for your visit. Access and Services:
An affirmed road for you from Cusco and drive to the towns from Atalaya and Shintuya (at 9 and 12 hours
respectively). points from where it is possible to start the trip by river (5 to 6 hours).
There are also as well as plane flights that connect Cusco and the quality of Boca Manu (30 minutes), from which it is necessary to continue by river (4 to 6 hours).
flush). Only tourists are allowed to enter the Reserved Zone and through one of the companies dams authorized to
operate in the area.
The tourist infrastructure is rustic and basic, for so you can also choose to camp. Length of stay:
The ideal is to stay in the area seven or eight days, approximate time required to observe a good sample represent-
description of the species of wild fauna of the zone.
Birds Cloud forest Manu Park Rainforest
Birds Orinoco Goose – Ganso del Orinoco : (Oressochen jubatus) 56-64 cm / :
This goose has a cream-coloured head, breast, and central abdomen.
Its back and the sides of its abdomen are rufous; its shoulders are metallic green; and its wings, back and tail are
metallic black.
Its lower abdomen and anal region are white.
Its legs are red-orange and its beak is black with deep pink mandible. It can be seen throughout much of the year
(it is known to migrate late in the year to Bolivia,
so they are rarer between December and May) alone, in pairs or family groups, on the sandy shores of big rivers
and islands finding this birds.
Birds Golden-headed Quetzal – Quetzal de Cabeza Dorada : (Pharomachrus auriceps) 33.5-35.5 cm / 13.2-14 in :
This large bird has a round, golden head, green breast and back, red abdomen, and long black tail.
Its beak is yellow. The female has a greenish head, grey beak, with a blurred transition between its breast and abdomen.
It is usually upright and feeds on fruit in the montane forest birds. It can be seen throughout the year, mostly alone,
perched in the subcanopy within the forest or on the forest edge, all the way down the road between Acjanaco and
San Pedro cloud forest birds.
Birds White-throated Jacamar – Jacamar de Garganta Blanca : (Brachygalba albogularis) 15-16 cm / 5.9-6.3 in :
This jacamar is dark brown, with a cream-colored face and cheeks and a white throat. Its beak is long, straight, and yellow.
It has a chestnut-brown patch in the middle of its abdomen.
It can be sighted all year round in exposed perches in small groups and in seasonally flooded forest along rivers,
such as around cocha Juárez. lake the best place to see this birds .
Birds Blue-banded Toucanet – Tucancillo de Franja Celeste : (Aulacorhynchus coeruleicinctis) 38-43 cm / 15-17 in :
This Toucanet is green with a white throat, red rump, and light blue just behind and below its eye, and with a light
blue band across its breast.
Its rump is lime- green and its tail is dark green tipped with chestnut-brown
. Its beak is long, thick, and slightly curved downwards, with a yellowish-cream tip. In southern birds Peru they
have a chestnut-brown iris.
It can be seen all year round, in small groups in the treetops (often in Cetico trees) within the forest or on the
forest edge, all the way down the road between Acjanaco and San Pedro rainforest birds.
Birds Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan – Tucán-Andino de Pecho Gris : (Andigena hypoglauca) 41-44 cm / 16-17 in:
This toucan is large and quite colorful. It has thick, long, and colorful yellow, red, and black beak. Its body is light
grey, becoming darker on the head. It has a dark olive green back, a yellow rump and a red anal region. Its tail is long
and black with a chestnut-brown tip. It is often sighted on the tops of the trees in the montane forest, alone or in
small groups, feeding on fruit, all the way down the road between Acjanaco and San Pedro cloud forest birds peru.
Birds Curl-crested Araçari – Arasari Encrespado : (Pteroglossus beauharnaesii) 42-46 cm / 17-18 in :
This Araçari’s forehead, crown, and nape are black with white streaks and what look like “curls”.
back and rump are scarlet-red and it has a red band across its breast which runs down the flanks of its abdomen.
Its breast, abdomen, and anal region are yellow.
Throat is yellowish-white with black spots. Its wings and tail are teal-green and its orbital skin is light blue.
It beak is dark brown with an ivory-colored mandible and reddish tip.
It can be seen all year round on the treetops of the terra firme forest surrounding cocha Juárez or Salvador, or
Romero Lodge. in the reserve manu park .
Birds Andean Cock-of-the-rock – Gallito-de-las-Rocas Andino : (Rupicola peruvianus) 31-33 cm / 12-13 in:
The cock-of-the-rock is unmistakable due to its reddish-orange color, the round crest on its head, its black wings
and tail and light grey
lower back.
Its legs and beak are yellow and its iris white. T
he female is a dull brown-orange. It is often found in the montane forest, but there is a famous lek 5 minutes from
the Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge, where it can be observed from a comfortable hideout. this kind species of the birds
more in cloud forest
Birds Black-faced Cotinga – Cotinga de Cara Negra (Conioptilon mcilhennyi) 23 cm / 9 in, TBS .
This cotinga has a black face, forehead, crown, and throat, a dark grey nape, back, and wings, and the rest of its
body is a light grey.
Juveniles are a faded version of the adult, with a white scale-pattern on their head, breast, and shoulders.
It can be spotted throughout the year on the treetops of seasonally flooded forest near rivers and close to Bamboo
stands (Guadua sp.) such as those around cocha Juárez or Salvador, or Matchiguenga and Romero lodges. manu
biosphere.
Additional species- Birding Manu Cloud Forest
Cerulean-capped Manakin – Saltarín de Gorro Cerúleo (Lepidothrix coeruleocapilla) 9 cm / 4 in, P/PAO .
This manakin is black, with a light blue forehead, crown, and rump. Its tail is short and is almost completely
covered by rump feathers.
The female is light green on top and yellowish-green below. It can be seen throughout the year, near the ground
(understory) of the rainforest, on the slope down to Manu around the Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge.
Manu Antbird – Hormiguero del Manu (Cercomacra manu) 15 cm / 6 in .
This antbird is slate grey with a black throat and breast. On the top of its wings it has thin light grey bands like
small scales. Its tail is long,
black, and staggered with a white terminal band.
The female is brown on top with a grey throat, breast, and abdomen.It can be seen throughout the year, usually in
pairs, in sites with Bamboo stands (Guadua sp.)
Manu Birds Peru In the Cloud Forest