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Band-tailed Sierra-Finch Phrygilus alaudinus: Numerous in the Lomas de Lachay, where in full song,
and even song flights were observed several times.
Chestnut-breasted Mountain-Finch Poospiza caesar: Three of this restricted-range Peruvian endemic
obliged very well this year at a new site en route to Manu.
Collared Warbling-Finch Poospiza hispaniolensis: Up to 25 were seen at Lachay this year. The sexes
have dimorphic plumage.
Greenish Yellow-Finch Sicalis olivascens: At least 1 seen during our highland birding en route to
Manu on our second day.
Saffron Finch Sicalis flaveola: This species has now established itself in the Puerto Maldonado area
where we saw a handful of birds perched on electric cables. These birds were brought in
from the north by a caged bird trader who released them in order to avoid imminent
arrest by wildlife authorities.
Grassland Yellow-Finch Sicalis luteola: A flock of at least 10 birds was seen at Huacarpay Lake.
Blue-black Grassquit Volatinia jacarina: Just one seen along the coast on the very last day.
Black-and-white Seedeater Sporophila luctuosa: We saw around a male looking very much at home
in the Amazonía Lodge clearing. Four more were seen near Puerto Maldonado.
Yellow-bellied Seedeater Sporophila nigricollis: Six birds were seen along the Manu road.
Chestnut-bellied Seedeater Sporophila castaneiventris: One seen along the Manu Road in the open
country en route to Amazonía Lodge, and a few more were seen near Puerto Maldonado.
Chestnut-bellied Seed-Finch (Lesser S-F) Oryzoborus angolensis: : One seen along the Manu Road in
the open country en route to Amazonía Lodge and a second was seen in the grass at
Blanquillo.
Black-billed Seed-Finch Oryzoborus atrirostris: At least 4 were seen quite well at Blanquillo.
Band-tailed Seedeater Catamenia analis: The most abundant seedeater in the dry scrub of the high
elevations.
Pectoral Sparrow Arremon taciturnus: Mostly just heard but Richard had good views at Amazonía
Lodge.
Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch Arremon brunneinucha (H): Heard-only in the bamboo below Machu
Picchu.
Olive Finch Arremon castaneiceps: Quite nice views for those of us that went off the road to see this
sometimes shy understorey bird.
Black-faced Brush-Finch (Dark-f B-F) Atlapetes melanolaemus: Numerous in the cloudforest,
occupying quite a broad altitudinal range, doubtless due to the lack of other Atlapetes
species.
Common Bush-Tanager Chlorospingus ophthalmicus: A common bird at mid-elevations. This wideranging
species exhibits complex geographic variation, birds here belonging to the race
peruvianus, with pale iris but no white postocular spot. They were very vocal during our
visit, and the song differs dramatically from that of e.g. Ecuadorian birds. Genetic data
indicate Chlorospingus to be in fact an emberizid (sparrows), with the AOU recently
accepting this change.
Short-billed Bush-Tanager (Yellow-whiskered B-T) Chlorospingus parvirostris: Wonderful views of
close birds in the upper Manu cloud forest.
Yellow-throated Bush-Tanager Chlorospingus flavigularis: Numerous in mixed flocks at lower
elevations.
CARDINALIDAE
Highland Hepatic Tanager Piranga lutea: Another bird seen by those of us that did not do the ruins
tour below Machu Picchu.
Red-crowned Ant-Tanager Habia rubica: Nice views of the race peruviana, females of which look
quite different from those of other subspecies. We first encountered this species in Manu
National Park, but it seemed more numerous at Manu Wildlife Centre.
Olive Tanager Chlorothraupis frenata: Two seen briefly in Amazonía’s hill forest as they mostly
stayed out of sight.
40 Birdquest: The Manu 20011