Overview
In the heart of Corrientes province and 1000 kilometres north of Buenos Aires you will find Esteros del Ibera, the great marshlands of Argentina (also called the Pantanal of Argentina). The nature reserve, founded in the year 1983, covers over 13,000 km2 of marshes, lakes and islands.
In the year 2002 Esteros del Ibera was put on the list of reserves of fresh water systems by the Ramsar convention, especially because of the area's unique biodiversity and the multitude of endangered plants, birds and wildlife. Over 350 species of birds can be found in the Ibera.
Birds
Notable Species
Greater Ani, Crested Becard, Brown Cacholote, Black-capped Donacobius, Smooth-billed Ani, Green-backed Becard, Golden-winged Cacique, Crested Doradito, Anhinga, Eared Dove, Solitary Black Cacique, Warbling Doradito, Great Antshrike, White-winged Becard, Chimango Caracara, Yellow-headed Caracara, Rufous-capped Antshrike, Pinnated Bittern, Southern Crested Caracara, Variable Antshrike, Least Bittern, Chaco Chachalaca, Picui Ground-Dove, Stripe-backed Bittern, Red-crested Cardinal, Rock Dove, Chestnut-capped Blackbird, Yellow Cardinal, Ruddy Ground-Dove, Chopi Blackbird, Yellow-billed Cardinal, White-tipped Dove, Saffron-cowled Blackbird, Chestnut-vented Conebill, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Scarlet-headed Blackbird, White-winged Coot, Brazilian Duck, Unicolored Blackbird, Neotropic Cormorant, Comb Duck, White-browed Blackbird, Bay-winged Cowbird, Fulvous Whistling-Duck, Yellow-winged Blackbird, Screaming Cowbird, Lake Duck, Bobolink, Shiny Cowbird, Muscovy Duck, Lark-like Brushrunner, Ash-throated Crake, White-faced Whistling Duck, Yellow-breasted Crake, Red-and-white Crake, Rufous-sided Crake, Ash-colored Cuckoo, Dark-billed Cuckoo, Guira Cuckoo, Squirrel Cuckoo, Striped Cuckoo, Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, Aplomado Falcon, Azure Gallinule, Cinereous Harrier, Crowned Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Common Gallinule, Long-winged Harrier, Cattle Egret, Red-crested Finch, Purple Gallinule, Bay-winged Hawk, Great Egret, Lesser Grass-Finch, Spot-flanked Gallinule, Bicolored Hawk, Snowy Egret, Wedge-tailed Grass-Finch, Firewood-Gatherer, Black-collared Hawk, Large Elaenia, Great Pampa-Finch, Masked Gnatcatcher, Blue-black Grassquit, Glittering-bellied Emerald, Long-tailed Reed-Finch, Great Grebe, Crane Hawk, Golden-rumped Euphonia, Black and Rufous Warbling Finch, Least Grebe, Great Black Hawk, Purple-throated Euphonia, Black-capped Warbling Finch, Pied-billed Grebe, Red-backed Hawk, Grassland Yellow-Finch, White-tufted Grebe, Roadside Hawk, Saffron Yellow-Finch, Indigo Grosbeak, Savanna Hawk, Field Flicker, Ultramarine Grosbeak, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Swainson's Flycatcher, Dusky-legged Guan, Swainson's Hawk, Variegated Flycatcher, Gray-hooded Gull, White-tailed Hawk, Vermilion Flycatcher, Black-crested Night Heron, Boat-billed Flycatcher, Rufescent Tiger Heron, Bran-colored Flycatcher, Striated Heron, Brown-crested Flycatcher, White-necked Heron, Crowned Slaty Flycatcher, Whistling Heron, Euler's Flycatcher, Rufous Hornero, Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Short-crested Flycatcher, Streaked Flycatcher, Suiriri Flycatcher, Buff-browed Foliage-gleaner, Bare-faced Ibis, Tropical Kingbird, Southern Lapwing, Brown and Yellow Marshbird, Buff-necked Ibis, Amazon Kingfisher, Limpkin, Yellow-rumped Marshbird, Plumbeous Ibis, American Kestrel, Brown-chested Martin, White-faced Ibis, Green Kingfisher, Gray-breasted Martin, Wattled Jacana, Ringed Kingfisher, Chalk-browed Mockingbird, Jabiru, Great Kiskadee, White-banded Mockingbird, Plush-crested Jay, Gray-headed Kite, Black and White Monjita, Purplish Jay, Plumbeous Kite, Black-crowned Monjita, Snail Kite, Gray Monjita, Swallow-tailed Kite, White Monjita, White-tailed Kite, Common Nighthawk, Epaulet Oriole, Black-hooded Parakeet, Nacunda Nighthawk, Crested Oropendola, Blue-crowned Parakeet, Scissor-tailed Nighthawk, Barn Owl, Monk Parakeet, Band-winged Nightjar, Reddish-bellied Parakeet, White-eyed Parakeet, Little Nightjar, Burrowing Owl, Turquoise-fronted Parrot, Rufous Nightjar, Ferruginous Pygmy Owl, Scaly-headed Parrot, Sickle-winged Nightjar, Great Horned Owl, Blue-winged Parrotlet, Spotted Nothura, Short-eared Owl, Tropical Parula, Striped Owl, Pauraque, Tropical Screech Owl, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, White-barred Piculet, Picazuro Pigeon, Spot-winged Pigeon, Yellow-billed Pintail, Correndera Pipit, Hellmayr's Pipit, Ochre-breasted Pipit, Short-billed Pipit, Yellowish Pipit, White-tipped Plantcutter, Collared Plover, Rosy-billed Pochard, Common Potoo, Giant Wood-Rail, Golden-billed Saltator, Bearded Tachuri, Red-eyed Vireo, Plumbeous Rail, Grayish Saltator, Blue and Yellow Tanager, Black Vulture, Spotted Rail, Green-winged Saltator, Hepatic Tanager, Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, Greater Rhea, Baird's Sandpiper, Orange-headed Tanager, Turkey Vulture, Wren-like Rushbird, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Sayaca Tanager, Solitary Sandpiper, White-lined Tanager, W Upland Sandpiper, Cinnamon Teal, Golden-crowned Warbler, White-rumped Sandpiper, Ringed Teal, White-rimmed Warbler, Gilded Sapphire, Silver Teal, Narrow-billed Woodcreeper, Southern Screamer, Speckled Teal, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, Red-billed Scythebill, Large-billed Tern, Scimitar-billed Woodcreeper, Capped Seedeater, Yellow-billed Tern, Checkered Woodpecker, Chestnut Seedeater, Freckle-breasted Thornbird, Cream-backed Woodpecker, Dark-throated Seedeater, Greater Thornbird, Golden-breasted Woodpecker, Double-collared Seedeater, Little Thornbird, Little Woodpecker, Marsh Seedeater, Creamy-bellied Thrush, White Woodpecker, Rusty-collared Seedeater, Pale-breasted Thrush, White-fronted Woodpecker, Tawny-bellied Seedeater, Rufous-bellied Thrush, Pale-crested Woodpecker, Red Shoveler, Red-winged Tinamou, Gray-necked Wood Rail, Hooded Siskin, Tataupa Tinamou, Grass Wren, Black Skimmer, Toco Toucan, House Wren, Common Snipe, Surucua Trogon, South American painted Snipe, Mottle-cheeked Tyrannulet, Grassland Sparrow, Sooty Tyrannulet, White-naped Xenopsaris, House Sparrow, Southern Beardless Tyrannulet, Greater Yellowlegs, Rufous-collared Sparrow, White-crested Tyrannulet, Lesser Yellowlegs, Chotoy Spinetail, Blue-billed Black-Tyrant, Masked Yellowthroat, Chicli Spinetail, Cattle Tyrant, Pale-breasted Spinetail, Many-colored Rush Tyrant, Sooty-fronted Spinetail, Pearl-vented Tody-Tyrant, Yellow-throated Spinetail, Pied Water-Tyrant, Roseate Spoonbill, Sharp-tailed Tyrant, Blue-tufted Starthroat, Spectacled Tyrant, South American Stilt, Strange-tailed Tyrant, Wood Stork, Tawny-crowned Pygmy Tyrant, Maguari Stork, White-headed Marsh Tyrant, Barn Swallow, Yellow-browed Tyrant, Bank Swallow, Blue and White Swallow, Chilean Swallow, Southern Rough-winged Swallow, Tawny-headed Swallow, White-rumped Swallow
Rarities
Saffron-cowled Blackbird Xhanthopsar flavus Tordo Amarillo Scarlet-headed Blackbird Amblyramphus holosericeus Federal
Red-crested Cardinal Paroaria coronata Cardenal común Yellow Cardinal Gubernatrix cristata Cardenal Amarillo
Black-capped Donacobius Donacobius atricapillus Angú
Golden-rumped Euphonia Euphonia musica Tangará cabeza celeste
Rufescent Tiger-Heron Tigrisoma lineatum Hocó Colorado
Jabiru Jabiru mycteria Yabirú
Black and White Monjita Xolmis dominica Monjita dominica
Capped Seedeater Sporophila bouvreuil Capuchino boina negra Chestnut Seedeater Sporophila cinnamomea Capuchino corona gris Dark-throated Seedeater Sporophila ruficollis Capuchino garganta café Marsh Seedeater Sporophila palustris Capuchino pecho blanco Rusty-collared Seedeater Sporophila collaris Corbatita domino Tawny-bellied Seedeater Sporophila minuta Capuchino canela White-collared Seedeater Sporophila zelichi Capuchino de collar
Streamer-tailed Tyrant Gubernetes yetapa Yetapá grande Strange-tailed Tyrant Aletrurus risora Yetapá de collar
White-headed Marsh Tyrant Fluvicola leucocephala Lavandera
White Woodpecker Melanerpes candidus Carpintero blanco
Check-list
Birds you can see here include:
To do
Other Wildlife
The intact environment is home and paradise to over 350 species of birds, Caimans, Capybara, Marsh Deer, Otter, Maned Wolf, Wild Cat, Howling Monkey, Skunk, Anaconda, Turtle, Piranha and many other animals. It's definitely a must for any ornithologist visiting Argentina.
Site Information
History and Use
Nature Reserve since 1983, under provincial protection
Areas of Interest
Ibera Wetlands and Aguapey River
Access and Facilities
Located only 500 km from the Iguazu National Park at the border to Brazil you can also combine your stay with the visit of this subtropical area that offers its slightly different beauties.
Contact Details
To do
External Links
Esteros del Iberá - English translation page
Content and images originally posted by mocosita
Reviews
Simply the best place for birding all over Argentina. At the following Lodge you are sure to find the best birding guides: www.ibera-argentina.com
Fritz73's review
Pros
- Lots of birds and other animals of the biggest wetland in Argentina
Cons
- The route to Ibera sometimes isn't easy to access after big rain showers
ibera's review
I have been 5 times already and I each time I get more in love with this place. About transport you can take a bus from Buenos Aires to Mercedes and there you can get transport to Colonia Pellegrini where the Ibera Lagoon is. www.ibera-argentina.com Pros
- Spectacular birding place
Cons
- maybe distance from Buenos Aires
