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ANHINGIDAE
Anhinga (American Darter) Anhinga anhinga: A few sightings of this non-buoyant, snake-necked
bird.
ARDEIDAE
Rufescent Tiger-Heron Tigrisoma lineatum: Two sightings near Romero and a third was seen really
well at Cocha Camungo. Tiger-herons and bitterns are the only ones in the family that
don’t breed in colonies.
Fasciated Tiger-Heron Tigrisoma fasciatum: A bird of rushing rivers and streams, with over a dozen
seen in the rocky headwaters of the upper Rio Madre de Dios around Amazonía and
Pantiacolla.
Agami Heron Agamia agami: We enjoyed superb studies of a fishing bird successfully spearing a fish
on the banks of Cocha Blanco.
Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax: A single individual was seen at Huacarpay lake
near Cusco. A cosmopolitan species, here of the American race hoactli.
Striated Heron Butorides striatus: Regular sightings, especially along lake edges.
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis: Three were seen near Cusco and around Puerto Maldonado we saw small
numbers. The nominate race of this highly successful species apparently invaded South
America from Africa in the late 19th century, one of the most spectacular examples of
avian range expansions in historic times.
Cocoi Heron (White-necked H) Ardea cocoi: Frequently seen on the Manu and Madre de Dios
rivers. This species is one of the primary predators of young Black Caimans on oxbow
lakes, although in recent decades humans have been much more detrimental to this
endangered crocodilian.
Great Egret (G White E) Ardea alba: Regular sightings along the Manu and Madre de Dios rivers.
Formerly often separated in the monotypic genus Casmerodius.
Capped Heron Pilherodius pileatus: We had a couple of excellent sightings of this exquisite river
heron. The buffy wash on the breast is thought to come from the powder-downs. The
generic name is entirely derived from ancient Greek: pilos = cap, erodios = heron.
Snowy Egret Egretta thula: The most abundant heron seen on our river journeys.
Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea: Five were seen during the trip, during the river journeys but also
one in the highlands at Huacarpay. Formerly often placed in the genus Florida.
THRESKIORNITHIDAE
Puna Ibis Plegadis ridgwayi: Numerous in agricultural fields in the sacred valley and at Huacarpay
Lake. This bird is named after Robert Ridgway, US ornithologist and author of “The Birds
of North and Middle America”, 1901.
Green Ibis Mesembrinibis cayennensis: Our afternoon at Cocha Blanco produced good views of four
of these forest ibis. The name ‘cayennensis’ (as well as similar names such as cayana for
other species) refers to Cayenne or French Guyana, an epithet that in early ornithology
usually indicated a species of otherwise unknown provenance.
CICONIIDAE
Wood Stork Mycteria americana: A total of 5 birds were seen both foraging and in flight during our
boat journey to Manu Wildlife Centre.
CATHARTIDAE
Black Vulture Coragyps atratus: Ever present near human settlements.
Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura: In the Manu lowlands small numbers were seen along the Madre de
Dios, but this species is seemingly absent or at best rare along the Manu River,
undoubtedly due to the absence of open terrain required by this species. Small numbers
were also seen in cleared areas in the foothills and along the coast.
12 Birdquest: The Manu 20011