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Recent bird sightings:
Sites - El Pangan Bird Reserve

Site evaluation: 3 Stars 3 Stars 3 Stars
Species:  
Elevation: 500-1900 m
Climate: Very wet
Trails: Basic
Accommodation: 2 Stars 2 Stars
Food: 2 Stars 2 Stars
Hot water: No
Electricity: Yes
Communications: Cell phone
Region: Choco & Cauca Valley
Location: Junin, Dept. of Narino
Summary: This pristine reserve is home to an impressive array of Chocó endemics, species limited to western Colombia and northwestern Ecuador. This reserve protects a large area of primary foothill forest untouched by people – the water in the streams is pure and drinkable! It is a very rainy area all year round, although fortunately mornings are dry and very productive. Several days are necessary to see a good sampling of the many rare birds present here. UNFORTUNATELY, SECURITY ISSUES PERSIST IN THE AREA; INQUIRE LOCALLY BEFORE PLANNING A TRIP TO THIS RESERVE.
Endemics: Chocó Vireo
Key Species: Plumbeous Forest-falcon, Plumbeous Hawk, Baudó Guan, Cloud-forest Pygmy-owl, Chocó Poorwill, Banded Ground-Cuckoo, Indigo-crowned Quail-Dove, Tooth-billed Hummingbird, Hoary Puffleg, Rose-faced Parrot, Lanceolated Monklet, Plain-backed Antpitta, Long-wattled Umbrellabird, Sooty-headed Wren, Rufous-brown Solitaire, Glistening-green, Scarlet-and-white and Moss-backed Tanager, Scarlet-thighed Dacnis, Indigo Flowerpiercer and Yellow-green Bush-tanager
Access: 2 hours from Tumaco (flights from Cali and Bogotá) to Junin, then on the Junin-Barbacoas road to the reserve’s entrance road.
Site Description: The reserve has a number of excellent birding trails, the most productive being the main trail from the road near Junin to the cabin. This trail passes through a spectrum of habitat types from 1,100 m (beside the road) down to 650 metres by the rio Ñambí. The road itself is good for Stripe-throated Hermit, Moss-backed Tanager, Golden-collared Honeycreeper, Indigo Flowerpiercer and Tricolored Brush-Finch, while the main trail has Barred Hawk, Rose-faced Parrot, Tooth-billed Hummingbird, Lita Woodpecker, Esmereldas Antbird, Slaty-capped Shrike-Vireo, Glistening-green and Rufous-throated Tanager and Chocó Warbler among many more. The recently discovered endemic Chocó Vireo can be spotted in canopy flocks.

Birding along the river can be noisy, but allows a good chance to see forest edge flocks and larger species like the Long-wattled Umbrellabird.

The clearing around the cabin is home to abundant Moss-backed Tanagers, while Indigo-crowned Quail-Dove, Western Woodhaunter, Spot-crowned Antvireo, Scarlet-and-white Tanager, Dusky-faced and Ochre-breasted Tanagers may also be spotted.

The reserve is home to many rare and difficult-to-see birds that require large amounts of primary forest- with time and patience Plumbeous Forest-falcon, Baudó Guan, Chocó Poorwill, Banded Ground-Cuckoo, Rufous-brown Solitaire and Yellow-green Bush-tanager may be found.
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