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Recent bird sightings:
Sites - Rio Blanco

Site evaluation: 4 Stars 4 Stars 4 Stars 4 Stars
Species:  
Elevation: 2000-3400 m
Climate: Cold and wet
Trails: Guided and self-guid
Accommodation: 3 Stars 3 Stars 3 Stars
Food: 4 Stars 4 Stars 4 Stars 4 Stars
Hot water: Yes
Electricity: Yes
Communications: Cell phone
Region: Central Andes
Location: Manizales, Dept of Caldas
Summary: Rio Blanco is a reserve operated by Fundacion Ecologica Gabriel Arango Restrepo (FUNDEGAR) and owned by Aguas de Manizales, the local water company. There are several good trails which provide access to forest across a wide altitudinal range, while hummingbird feeders at the cabins are very well-attended. A large variety of endemics and specialties representative of the Cordillera Central can be found in the forest. This site is one of the best in Colombia for antpittas.
Endemics: Rufous-fronted Parakeet, Bicolored and Brown-banded Antpitta.
Key Species: Rusty-faced Parrot, Golden-plumed Parakeet, Rufous-banded Owl, Black-collared Jay, Black-billed Mountain Toucan, Ocellated Tapaculo, Chestnut-naped Antpitta, Black-billed Peppershrike, Golden-faced Whitestart, White-capped Tanager, Plushcap, Masked Saltator.
Access: 30 min from Manizales
Site Description: UPDATE APRIL 2009
Rio Blanco now has functional antpitta feeders! Chestnut-crowned and Brown-banded Antpittas are virtually guaranteed at the antpitta feeders, while Slate-crowned and Bicolored Antpittas are occasional visitors to the feeders.


The cabins have hummingbird feeders where over ten species of hummingbirds congregate, including Tourmaline Sunangel and the diminutive White-bellied Woodstar. The cabin area is also a good place to search for Rufous-banded Owl and White-throated Screech-Owl at night. The trails provide access to subtropical and temperate forest. Especially desired, though difficult to see, are the skulkers: Ocellated, Blackish and Spillmann’s Tapaculo and Bicolored, Brown-banded, Chestnut-naped, Chestnut-crowned and Slate-crowned Antpittas are all present within close range of the cabins.

Birding activity is usually very good: watch for noisy Black-billed Mountain Toucan, Powerful Woodpecker, Northern Mountain-Cacique and White-capped Tanager. Flocks contain an incredible diversity of furnarids, tanagers and flycatchers, including Tyrannine Woodcreeper, Dusky Piha, Handsome Flycatcher, Golden-faced Whitestart, Oleaginous Hemispingus, Buff-breasted Mountain Tanager and Grass-green Tanager. Understory flocks in areas of bamboo are of particular interest, and should be scoured for Plushcap, Black-eared Hemispingus, Yellow-billed Cacique and Masked Saltator.

This is also a good area for parrots: keep a watch for Rusty-faced Parrot and, at higher elevations, Rufous-fronted and Golden-plumed Parakeets.
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