The Birds of Chile
From Altiplano to Patagonia

Chile is a long and narrow country with a wide variety of environments. It is 4,000 km (2,490 miles) long and is flanked by the Andes Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. In the south it ends in Tierra del Fuego and Cape Horn, but juts out into Antarctica. The north is dominated by the Atacama Desert, the driest desert in the world, and it includes the Altiplano (high plateau) with its particularly diverse wildlife. The central region consists of one of the five Mediterranean environments on the planet, as well as the southernmost forests in the world, with the unique Monkey-Puzzle Tree, and the Patagonian steppe in the extreme south. In addition you have extensive lakes, majestic glaciers and the influence of the Pacific Ocean along the entire Chilean coast. Chile reaches across the ocean to islands like the Juan Fernandez Archipelago and  Easter Island. The Andes Mountains, with its numerous active volcanoes that have determined the physical structure of Chile, is the country’s principal geographical referent.

About 500 species of birds have been recorded in Chile. Eight species, belonging to the Mediterranean ecosystem, are endemic to the central region of the country (an additional three on the Juan Fernandez Archipelago), and about 60 species are endemic to the extreme south of the continent (shared between Chile and a small part of Argentina). On the other hand, the length of our country, enables tropical birds to coexist with Andean species in the north.

Resume:

Duration: 20 days / 19 nights
Start / End: Santiago / Santiago
Restrictions: 3 days above 3.600m (11.600 ft) going as high as 4.600m (15.300 ft), and the possibility of seasickness while sailing.
Climate: Any kind of climate is possible during the trip. Exceptionally, you might even have heavy snowfall.
Dates: From October to March.
Minimum # of participants: 2
Potential # of species: 340

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Outstanding:

1. A journey of almost 4.000 km, with visits to the Altiplano (High Plateau), the desert, the Mediterranean scrubland, the evergreen moderate rain forest, Patagonia and a sailing expedition on the Humboldt Current.
2. Nine endemic birds are possible: Moustached Turca, White-throated Tapaculo, Dusky Tapaculo, Crag Chilia, Chilean Mockingbird, Slender-billed Parakeet, Dusky-tailed Canastero, Chilean Tinamou y Seaside Cinclodes.
3. The three species of Flamingo (Chilean, Andean and James’s) common to the Andean region of South America.
4. Eight different species of Tapaculo (Moustached Turca, White-throated Tapaculo, Ochre-flanked Tapaculo, Magellanic Tapaculo, Dusky Tapaculo, Chucao Tapaculo, Chestnut-throated Huet-huet and Black-throated Huet-huet).
5. The amazing Diademed Sandpiper-Plover, a jewel of the high Andes.
6. Surprising birds like the Andean Condor, national bird of Chile, the elusive Des Mur’s Wiretail, and the Green-backed Firecrown and Austral Parakeet, the southernmost hummingbird and parakeet of the world.
7. It might be possible to observe four species of Albatross: Northern Royal, Black-browed, Salvin’s and Buller’s, and the Humboldt Penguin and the Magellanic Penguin.  Additionally, a less probable group includes Wandering Albatross, Southern Royal Albatross, Chatham Albatross, White-capped Albatross, Shy Albatross and Northern Buller’s Albatross.