From Opus

Photo by Wintibird
Alto Madre de Dios near Atalaya, Peru, July 2011

[edit] Overview

Peru lies in western South America, has a an area of 1,285,216 sqkm and roughly 30 million people. It stretches from the shore of the Pacific Ocean up to the Andes with the highest point the Huascarán (6,768 m or 22,205 ft).
The official language is Spanish but many people speak Quechua or other native langues.

1800 species of birds and many endemics make Peru a must to visit place for birders.

Photo by Stanley Jones
Above Tastayoc Valley, Peru, September 2009

[edit] Birds

[edit] Notable Species

Around 100 endemics occur in the country, the Marvelous Spatuletail being one of the most spectacular ones.

[edit] Areas of Interest

• The coast

• The Humboldt Current makes the water of the Pacific nutrient rich and therefore also bird rich. Peruvian Pelican, Humboldt Penguin, Peruvian Booby, Cormorants, Inca Tern, Peruvian Diving-Petrel, various Gulls and Waders can be found here. The coastland is very arid and not very bird rich. Pelagics are worthwile.

• The Andes

• Home of the majestic Andean Condor and many more birds like Ovenbirds, Tapaculos, Hummingbirds, Wrens, Thrushes and Finches. Many endemics are only found in small areas.

• The Amazon lowlands

• Incredibly bird rich with Antbirds, Antthrushes, Antpittas, Tanagers, Hummingbirds, Guans, Toucans, Trogons, Doves, New World Flycatchers, Cotingas and many more. Many parts are still not accessible, others only by boat and/or plane.

Photo by Wintibird
Playa Yaya, Peru, August 2011

[edit] Access and Facilities

After some years of political unrest most of the country is now safe and relatively easy to travel. However, theft is still a problem and you should be very careful with your optical equipment around airports, bus and train stations and even in some nature reserves. Best is not to bird alone and to ask locally about the safety of some places.
Most people speak Spanish, some English. If you travel independently some words of Spanish will be helpful. From Lima flights go to every major city in the country. The rest of the country is linked with busses which run pretty regularly and are not expensive.
Hotels and lodges are found around the country, however in some rural areas hostels can be basic. In the Amazon lodges are found along some major rivers but they have to be booked in advance and are not cheap. Many tour companies offer birding tours to Peru.

[edit] External Links

• Peru on Google Maps