Birdwatching in Chile

Birding contacts and birdwatching information



Local Birdingpal Contacts

Local Birdwatchers Using the Birdingpal resources you must agree to the following: If you contact a local Birdingpal and make arrangement to go birding, you should note it is common courtesy to make sure you show up for the appointment. If for any reason you are unable to do this, the least you must do is contacting the local Pal right away. Please note that most Birdingpals are serious birdwatchers. It is a privilege to contact them, and your message should reflect it. A local Pal does not get paid, but should he/she offer to take you out birding, using their own vehicle, it would be courteous to pay for the fuel. A lunch and/or a small gift would also be appropriate, something as simple as a souvenir of your country, or a pin from your local birding club. _____________________________________________________________ We want to hear about your experiences with Birdingpals. Please contact us with any comments or suggestions you have. CONTACT US _____________________________________________________________
		Initial	Last Name	Area	Available	Language
		G	Cassus	Santiago, RM	Anytime	English, Spanish, Portuguese
		I am a vet and I love to go birding in Chile and other surrounding countries. Also I like photography, but I am not as good as I'd like to be. www.flickr.com/cassus
Professional Guides If you contact a professional Birdingpal guide you must be prepared to pay a fee for guiding services.
		First Name	Last Name	Area	Available	Language
		Cris De la Rivera	Patagonia Wild Watching	Punta Arenas, Magallanes	Anytime	Spanish, English
		My name is Cristofer De la Rivera, I'm Chilean and I live with my wife and our two children in Punta Arenas, Chile; the capital of Chilean Patagonia situated on the shore of the Strait of Magellan. I'm a Veterinarian by education and have worked as a Professional Guide and Tour Leader for over 7 years in Patagonia and Chile, running trips focused on Nature, Birdwatching, Kayak and Whalewatching in the Strait of Magellan and Puma sighting in Torres del Paine. Now, I'm really glad that you are planning to visit my part of the world! I would like to serve you as a Professional freelance Guide, to make your Birdwatching, Whalewatching, and Nature vacation a unique adventure you will never forget. My background as a Veterinarian and personal experience in different wildlife projects in Patagonia, gives me a deep understanding about the biology and ecology of this landscape. Years of guiding and lots of passion getting out in the wild mean that I am versed in the logistical and ecological requirements to move around our remote Patagonia..		Area: Patagonia, Punta Arenas, Tierra del Fuego, Strait of Magellan, Torres del Paine Area Birds: -Magellanic Plover -Andean Condor -King Penguin -Magellanic Penguin -Chilean Flamingo -Black-necked Swans -Darwin's Rhea -Magellanic Woodpecker -Austral Canastero -Austral Rail -Austral Parakeet -Ruddy-headed Goose -Spectacle Duck -Chocolate-vented Tyrant -White-bridled Finch -Kelp Goose -White-throated Caracara -Dolphin Gull -Flying Steamer Duck -White-throated Treerunner -Band-tailed Earthcreeper	Interests: Birdwatching Please visit our website patagoniawildwatching.com Or email at info@patagoniawildwatching.com
		Fernando	Diaz	Santiago, Valparaiso, Punta Arenas, Arica, Chiloa Island and Tierra del Fuego, Santiago	Anytime	English and Spanish
		Fernando Diaz or "Fena" is a bird watching guide with many years of experience leading trips. He is guiding all over Chile, from Arica to Tierra del Fuego Island, and knows very well every region and their species – he was involved in the incorporation of 4 new species to Chilean bird list. Apart from Chile, Fernando leads bird trips in Argentina and Brazil. He travelled and studied birds in several South American countries (Argentina, Peru, Colombia and Brazil), and spent 6 months banding birds in the US and Canada. He co-leads a long term study on the charismatic Diademed Sandpiper-Plover in El Yeso Valley, is one of the eBird-Chile reviewers and is involved in several conservation projects with the Chilean non profit organization Red de Observadores de Aves de Chile. Fena has strong skills to recognize birds by sound. His first serious approach to bird studies was when he was young, involved as a volunteer in the waterfowl censuses and in bird-banding programs.		Area: Central Chile, Patagonia, Torres del Paine, Atacama Desert Most popular trips in Chile and species possible to see: Highlands Above Santiago - The endemic quest: We will take a morning drive to the Andes to look for high altitude specialists like Greater Yellowfinch, Rufous-Banded and Creamy-Rumped Miners and White-Sided Hillstar among other special Andean birds. Massive Andean Condors should be flying above and sometimes below us. We are hoping to see Variable Hawk, Black-Chested Buzzard Eagle and Mountain Caracara. We will also be birding in lower altitudes, looking for 5 endemics: Chilean Tinamou, Moustached Turca, White-Throated and Dusky Tapaculos, Crag Chilia and Dusky-Tailed Canastero. This is a great day with fantastic scenery. El Yeso Valley and the High Andes: Today we will leave our hotel early to avoid the rush hour traffic and head to the very scenic Maipo valley from where we will take the road to El Yeso dam. The bog at 2500m (8202ft) is favourite site of Chile´s number one bird target the rare and charismatic Diademed Sandpiper-Plover. We will look for endemic and beautiful Crag Chilia and the fast running Moustached Turca, in the lower parts of the Valley. We will see a variety of Sierra-Finches and Furnarids here; the latter includes Grey-Flanked Cinclodes, Rufous-Banded Miner, Creamy-Rumped Miner and Scale-Throated Earthcreeper. Ground-Tyrants are everywhere, including White-Browed, Ochre-Naped, Black-Fronted, Cinereous and Spot-Billed. We will also look for Torrent Ducks, which are regular on the streams. One of the hummers we will be looking for is White-Sided Hillstar, and we will have a chance for Black-Billed Shrike-Tyrants as Grey-breasted Seedsnipe. Full day on the Central Coast: We will start this day very early and will head to the coast. We should see a wide variety of species including Black-necked and Coscoroba Swans, 3species of Coot, Spot-Flanked Gallinule, Plumbeous Rail, Lake Duck, Great Grebe, Many-Colored Rush-Tyrant, Wren-Like Rushbird and other ducks and grebes. At the Maipo estuary we will be looking for a variety of Gulls, Black Skimmers and a number of Terns, including the rare Snowy-Crowned Tern, with the hope of the beautiful White-tailed Kite ad a good number of other shore and marsh birds. The marshes hopefully give us chance to see the Ticking Doradito and the noisy little endemic Dusky Tapaculo. Leaving the estuary we will drive gradually towards north along the coast. We will stop for lunch in a restaurant, which is next to the sea and is a great place to look for the endemic Seaside Cinclodes. Along our way to Valparaiso there are various birding sites. Birding in the North of Chile: Lauca National Park and North Chile specialties Scenically breathtaking with stunning birdlife, the Andes conjure up a mouth-watering birding feast. Soaring Andean Condors above high peaks in clear blue skies and Diademed Sandpiper-Plovers on mineral-rich bogs with the sound of Seedsnipe echoing in the valley. These are the magical experiences of this trip. In just few days we shall visit, not only the high Puna grasslands but also the arid Pacific coast with its endemic species, the stunning Lauca National Park and fit in a Humboldt Current pelagic trip and look for the critically endangered Chilean Woodstar. Birding in Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego and Torres Del Paine: This tour offers the experience of most impressive landscapes and mythical places of Chile. We will cross the famous Magellan straight, bird Tierra del Fuego, drive through the Patagonian steppe and look for the recently rediscovered Austral Rail at the base of the wonderful Torres Del Paine. Some stunning species are found here including King Penguin, Magellanic Plover, Ruddy-headed Goose, Chocolate-vented Tyrant, White-bridled Finch and so many more. Patagonia is also a destination for other wildlife, including the common Guanaco, Grey Fox, Peale's Dolphin, and with more luck the rare Puma or a Fin Whale, when crossing the Magellan Straight. Weather is unpredictable here, can be sunny, cold, very windy, rainy, snowy, and even just warm - all in one single day! Area Birds: Central Chile, Norht, Patagonia and Easter island	Fernando can organize for you long or 1 day tours, for private or groups. He can also arrange completely tailor made trip that will be designed according to your wishes and needs. Contact him for more information! Fernando Diaz Availability: All year around for Central, North of Chile, Patagonia Website: www.albatross-birding.com Email: contact@albatross-birding.com Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/fernando_diaz/ Cell phone: +56979521287 Skype:fdiazsegovi Address: Julio Zegers 4202, Nunoa, Santiago de Chile
	F	Schmitt	Santiago, RM	Anytime	Spanish, English, French
		At the base of the Andes, and at only 1h30 from the coast, Santiago is a good place for few days birding !! If you have only one day, bird the foothill near Santiago (the private Mahuida parc is a very nice place, close to the city) in order to look for some endemic species as the Dusky-tailed Canastero, Chilean Mockingbird, Chilean Tinamou and White-throated Tapaculo. You will also probably find few Plain-mantled Tit-spinetail, many Long-tailed Meadowlark and perhaps a Striped Woopecker. Then follow your day at higher elevation, in the direction of Farellones or El Yeso (this last place will give you the nice Diademed Sandpiper-plover, present between october and february). In the rocky slopes, search for the Crag Chilia and the Moustached Turca. The Andean Condor are fairly common and you have great chance to see few of this impressive bird. Spend the end of the afternoon in the Lampa and Batuco wetlands, where are breeding thousands of waterbirds. This area is probably the best place in the world to find the rare Black-headed Duck. With more luck, you will also find the 'chilean' Warbling Doradito, a Painted Snipe or even a Black Rail! With one more day, you will be able to visit the coast in order to find shorebirds, gulls, pelicans, etc... An excellent place to bird is the Maipo estuary near San Antonio, especially in the evening with good light ! North to this place, visit the Cartagena lagoon where you will easily find few Spot-flanked Gallinules and have excellent views on many duck species. Following to the north, have a look on the El Peral lagoon, usually good for the Stripe-backed Bittern. Of course, a pelagic trip from Valparaiso or Quintero will be the best for many birders. Every trip is different, and you can have excellent birds all year round. My record is 6 albatross species in one trip with more than 1000 ind. Other good birds during a pelagic trip include Peruvian Diving-petrel, Pink-footed Shearwater, White-chinned and Westland Petrel, Inca Tern, and sometimes some Pterodroma species (mainly Juan-Fernandez and Masatierra Petrel). In two days birding around Santiago, you should be able to find 100 species, and 7 of the 11 chilean endemics. You will need more time and to travel farther to reach 200 species, and 300 are possible during a 15 days trip from the north to the south of the country. Don't hesitate to contact me if you need some informations, or if you want me to organise you a day trip or a longer tour.
		C	Montalbetti	Puerto Varas , Regian de los Lagos	I can take you anytime from Puerto Varas in a day trip	Spanish, english and italian
				Area: Llanquihue y Chiloe Alerce Andino nat park, Lahuen Aadi nat Monument, Islets of Puaihuil, Caulin Area Birds: Chucao tapaculos, ringed kingfisher, black necked swans, flightless steamer ducks, patagonian sierra finch, southern crested cara cara, many coloured rush tyrant, spectacled tyrant, chiloe wigeon	Interests: Nature: birdwatching, twitching, photography, swimming, beach, walking, hiking, car, long walk, backpack, canoe,tourist site, museum, restaurant, monument, arboretum, architecture appreciation, shop,night life, party, wine, beer,round table
		R	Raffaele Di Biase Cuomo	Puerto Varas, Chiloé, Lake District	Anytime	English, Italian, Spanish
		Naturalist guide certified by the Chilean Bureau of Tourism with a vast experience of over 10 years leading tours in Chile and Argentina, mainly in Patagonia and Central Chile. Author of the pocket field guide of Birds of Chiloè Island and The Lake District, currently studying a university specialization in Conservation and Management of Natural Areas. Expert birding guide in Chiloè Island and National parks of Chile and South Argentina. Own his own vehicles.		The Lake District and the Island of Chiloè is region with a great variety of birds and very well connected with short distances between the ocean, valleys, wetlands and the forest of the Andes range and the snow capped volcanoes. Amazing wetlands as the Quenuir area, at the mouth of the River Maullín, home of a fantastic variety of waterfowl, passerines, shorebirds, ibises, egrets and tapaculos. An excellent destination to see the Many-coloured Rush Tyrant and the Wren-like Rushbird. In one day of birding you will probably be able to spot more than 70 species among the endemic of the temperate rain forest as: the Chucao Tapaculo, the Black-throated Huet Huet, the Ochre-flanked Tapaculo, the Des Mur´s Wiretail and the Thorn-tailed Rayadito. The forest are also the home of the Magellanic Woodpecker. The rivers will be the perfect spots to see the Torrent Duck. Moving to the valleys the species changes as we find the Long-tailed Meadowlark, Patagonian Tyrant, Austral Balckbird and the endemics of Chile as the Slender-billed Parakeet and the Chilean Mockingbird. The island of Chiloè is the perfect spot to see shorebirds and coastal species finding also during Sep-Mar colonies of Magellanic and Humboldt Penguins, among four species of Cormorants, the Flightless Steamer Duck, the Kelp Goose, and many other species, all in just one place! From April to August we can also find large flocks of Chilean Flamingos. In a couple of days birding we will probably be able to see the 140 most common species of the Region.	I have more than 10 years of experience birding through Chile and the South of Argentina. I can help you to organize birding trips of one day, two days or more. I lead a 15 days trip through Chile with extensions to Argentina. Don’t hesitate to contact me if you need further information. Regards, Professional Guide: Certified by the Chilean Tourism Bureau Name: Raffaele Di Biase Cuomo Location: Puerto Varas, Chiloè Island Email: info@birdschile.com Website: www.birdschile.com Phone: +56 652231820 Mobile: +56 992692606 Address: Santa Rosa 161, Club de Yates, Puerto Varas 10% Off for Birdingpal Members
Local Information
		Service			Information
		Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia			Chile
		Local weather			Yahoo
		Unión de Ornitólogos de Chile			Club
		Red de Observadores de Aves de Chile			Club
		Birding Hotspots around the world			Sites
		Pelagics to the Humboldt Current			Pelagic