Combine it with our Raptors & Pumas of Patagonia tour,
9-16 January 2016

Argentina boasts an impressive 63 species of diurnal raptors. On this tour we will target 52 of them including rare, local, and threatened species such as Crowned, and Montane Solitary Eagles, Spot-winged Falconet, and Orange-breasted Falcon.

Die Verpflegung war wiederum optimal, gewöhnungsbedürftig die ortsüblichen spätabendlichen Mahlzeiten mit riesigen Rindersteaks. Die Unterkünfte waren wieder an traumhaften Orten, das Preis-Leistungs-Verhältnis der Reise wiederum optimal.”

Dr. Dieter G. Haas, Germany. 2015 Edition

Tour starts in Buenos Aires, a world-class tourist destination in its own right. From there we will fly to Misiones, in the northeast where the species-richest biome in the country, the Atlantic Forest, is home to Swallow-tailed, Plumbeous, and Rufous-thighed Kites, Black-and-white, Black, and Ornate Hawk-Eagles, Short-tailed and Roadside Hawks and Barred and Collared Forest Falcons, to mention a few. We will visit the world-famous Iguazu Falls, of course.

Driving across a complex mosaic of wet grasslands, swamps, gallery paranaense forests, and humid chaco forests of northern Corrientes and eastern Chaco provinces we will target Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, Snail, and White-tailed Kites, Great Black Hawk, Black-collared, Savanna, and White-tailed Hawks, and Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle. Also present here are Yellow-headed, Chimango, Crested Caracaras, and American Kestrel. This is where we should encounter our first Long-winged Harriers of the tour, and with a little luck Pearl Kite, too. This raptor assemblage closely resembles that of other large wetlands/grasslands in South America such as the Pantanal in central Brazil, or the Llanos of Venezuela.

Further west in the dry chaco forest and recently cleared agricultural land in Chaco, Santiago del Estero, and Salta provinces we should encounter Bay-winged Hawks, increasingly commoner White-tailed Hawks, and if we are lucky a Crane Hawk or two. With all probability we will see several Aplomado Falcons here, and maybe even one or two Peregrines.

In the wetter foothills of the subtropical Andes of Jujuy province we will target several forest raptors including White-rumped, Rufous-thighed, Bicolored, and with a little bit of luck Broad-winged Hawks. But the ultimate raptor prizes in this biome are Montane Solitary, and Black-and-chestnut Eagles, and Orange-breasted Falcons—of which a resident pair has recently been discovered.

Leaving the humid foothills of the Andes behind we will drive up to the highlands characterized by the cacti-rich pre-puna and grassy puna in the Quebrada de Humahuaca—a UNESCO World Heritage site—and beyond. Andean Condors, Variable (some would say “Puna”) Hawks, and Mountain Caracaras, Aplomado Falcons, and cute Vicuñas, Llamas, and Guanacos will be our reward for venturing up there.

In the monte desert of Mendoza we will target Crowned Solitary Eagle and Spot-winged Falconet, at confirmed breeding sites. Mendoza is also one of the finest wine regions in Argentina (and the world), so those willing to enjoy some authentic Argentine Malbec will be delighted here.

To wrap it all up, in the dry pampas of northern La Pampa province we will look for the huge (10,000+ birds) flocks of Swainson’s Hawk that congregate here to prey upon grasshoppers. We should see all imaginable plumages, ages and morphs.

This tour combined with our Raptors & Pumas of Patagonia tour will allow you to target 57 species of raptors, plus Pumas, in three weeks—an absolute record for any raptor tour we have run so far in South America!

Make a difference!

®, L.L.C. will make a financial contribution to Hawk Mountain Sanctuary for every member that signs up for this tour. Join us and make a lasting contribution to raptor conservation.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1

16 January

Arrive at Ministro Pistarini International Airport (IATA code: EZE), Buenos Aires. Transfer to our hotel. Chimango and Crested Caracaras may be seen on the ride to the hotel… but don’t unpack your optics yet, we’ll see more of them later again, promise! Eat lunch with fellow hawkwatchers ending the “Raptors & Pumas of Patagonia” tour. Relax at our hotel and maybe take a nap. Then enjoy a raptor slideshow and talk by Sergio Seipke in the evening. Dinnertime in Argentina is a little late, compared to American and northern European standards. Around 8 PM we will head for what is arguably the best stake house in town, where we’ll treat ourselves with some prime beef and wine for dinner. Overnight in Buenos Aires.

Day 2

17 January

Breakfast at the hotel, and then catch our flight to Puerto Iguazú. Check in our hotel. Then visit the falls where we should see Black and Turkey Vultures, Swallow-tailed, and Plumbeous Kites. An Osprey shows up sometimes as well. Dinner and overnight is in Pto. Iguazú.

Day 3

18 January

Super early start (4.30 AM) to target Collared Forest Falcon. Then back to hotel for breakfast, and out again to target soaring raptors including Rufous-thighed, Gray-headed Kites, and with a little luck Ornate Hawk-Eagle. Back at the hotel we’ll enjoy a late lunch, take a short nap, and visit a raptor rehab center in the afternoon, or try forest falcons again in case we haven’t seen them yet. Eat dinner at pizza place & overnight in Pto. Iguazú.

Day 4

19 January

Yes, you guessed right: forest falcon searches, meaning we will start early today, too. We will try to get perched looks and photos of Plumbeous Kite and other raptors sunning early in the morning. Breakfast at the hotel, and out to drive around looking for soaring raptors including King Vulture, Short-tailed Hawk, and Black-and-white Hawk Eagle. Lunch at San Sebastián de La Selva, or picnic. Dinner & overnight in Reserva Karadyá or back to Iguazú. (Depending on results of previous days.)

Day 5

20 January

Early start. Search for Barred Forest Falcon in a private reserve or near Iguazú. Then breakfast and checkout. We will target soaring raptors in Urugua-í PP including Black-and-white, Ornate, and Black Hawk-Eagles. Look for Rufous-thighed Hawk in Araucaria plantations near Puerto Esperanza after lunch. Drive south to Posadas in the afternoon. Dinner & overnight in Posadas.

Day 6

21 January

Today we can sleep through 7 AM; probably a welcome change after three days of early starts! After breakfast and checkout, we’ll drive through wet grasslands and marshy areas targeting raptors such as Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, Long-winged Harrier, White-tailed, and Black-collared Hawk, Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, and others. We will visit a Pearl Kite site today—a rare species in Argentina. From today on we will be in Crowned Solitary Eagle country, a species that though rare in northern Argentina could “pop up” virtually anywhere. In the afternoon we will reach Mburucuyá, in Corrientes province, where we will drop our luggage at our hotel and drive the road to Mburucuyá National Park looking for raptors. After dinner we may drive around a bit to see some mammals including Crab-eating Fox, Capybara, Gray Brocket, and if we are really lucky, even a Maned Wolf. Dinner & overnight in Mburucuyá.

Day 7

22 January

Breakfast and checkout. Mostly a driving day but with many stops for raptors including Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, Snail Kite, Long-winged Harrier, Savanna, Great Black, and White-tailed Hawks, and perhaps Mississippi Kite and Zone-tailed Hawk, and Laughing Falcon. Lunch en route. Dinner and overnight in Aviá Teraí.

Day 8

23 January

Early breakfast and checkout. This is mostly a driving day through dry chaco where we should see Bay-winged (Harris’s) Hawk, and several Aplomado Falcons. Towards the end of the day we will reach the foothills of the Andes, an area originally covered with chaco serrano, a transitional forest to the cloud forest of higher elevations. Dinner and overnight in Santa Bárbara.

Day 9

24 January

Today we will target one of the gems of this trip: the Orange-breasted Falcon! Of course we may see other raptors as well including Crane and Short-tailed Hawks, and Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle. Picnic lunch or lunch at the posada depending on weather and results. Dinner and overnight in Santa Bárbara.

Day 10

25 January

Optional forest falcon search early in the morning. Then breakfast and horseback ride to get to higher areas where King Vulture, Andean Condor, White-rumped Hawk, and Montane Solitary, and Black-and-chestnut Eagles are likely. If we are lucky we might even see an overwintering Broad-winged Hawk or two. Picnic lunch. Checkout in the afternoon and drive to Purmamarca. Dinner and overnight in picturesque Purmamarca.

Day 11

26 January

After breakfast we will drive the Quebrada de Humahuaca—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—and beyond to Abra Pampa. This is one of the most scenic drives in northern Argentina. The Quebrada is a deep valley that runs north to south, and is flanked by multicolored mountains. It used to serve as a major cultural road, the Camino del Inca (Inca Road). The bottom of the valley, on the alluvial plains of Río Grande, is lined with naturally occurring grasslands, while the the upper reaches of the Quebrada are dotted with cardones, age-old cacti typical of pre-puna habitat.

Beyond the Quebrada lays the puna plateau: vast expanses of rolling hills covered with high grassy steppe physiognomy. Here we should find several examples of the highly variable… yes, Variable Hawk. Birds up here tend to have rather noticeably broader, rounder wings than their lowland counterparts, a reason why some authorities consider them a different species, the Puna Hawk. We should see Andean Condor, and Aplomado Falcons, which are a different subspecies up here, pichinchae, and more richly colored. It is also here in the puna where we expect to see Mountain Caracara, a species found at much lower elevations further south, but mostly restricted to pre-puna and puna habitat north of the Tropic of Capricorn. Lunch in Abra Pampa. Dinner and overnight in Purmamarca.

Day 12

27 January

Today we will leave fascinating, raptor-rich, profoundly beautiful northwestern Argentina. After breakfast and checkout we will drive to Salta stopping for raptors on the way. There we will eat lunch and catch our flight to Mendoza. After transfer and checking-in at our hotel, we’ll go out to taste some highly regarded Malbec Mendocino (wine tasting). Dinner and overnight in Mendoza.

Day 13

28 January

Early breakfast. Then explore the monte, desert shrub where three species of creosotebush (Larrea spp.) dominate the landscape. This is prime habitat for one of our most important target species on this tour: the Crowned Solitary Eagle, of which we will visit an active nest today. We’ll spend some time near the nest hoping to see some eagle action, and if we are lucky, perhaps a prey delivery at the nest. Of course we will keep a safe distance in order not to disturb this Endangered species. We should also see other raptors including Aplomado Falcon, and of course, another special bird in this tour: the Spot-winged Falconet. Picnic lunch. Dinner and overnight in Mendoza.

Day 14

29 January

Another driving day for the most part. Breakfast and checkout. Then spend some more time with Crowned Solitary Eagle, then head east to northern La Pampa. Lunch en route. Dinner and overnight in private estancia in northern La Pampa.

Day 15

30 January

Swainson’s Hawks Day! Breakfast and checkout, then drive around looking for the huge multi-thousand bird flocks in northern La Pampa. This is mostly agricultural lands and an extensive net of dirt roads will serve us well to approach the hawks feeding on grasshoppers. We should see pretty much every plumage variation there is, ranging from the lightest of all the almost pure-white juveniles to the darkest jet-black adults, and everything in between. We will practice our aging and sexing ID skills. Unlike at migration hawk-watches in North and Central America, we should see many hawks up close here. Picnic lunch. Then drive to Trenque Lauquen. Dinner and overnight in Trenque Lauquen.

Day 16

31 January

Drive to Buenos Aires, and catch evening flights home. Extra nights near the airport or in Buenos Aires can be arranged upon request.

Target Species

Common Name

1. Turkey Vulture
2. Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture
3. Black Vulture 
4. King Vulture
5. Andean Condor
6. Osprey
7. White-tailed Kite 
8. Pearl Kite
9. Gray-headed Kite
10. Hook-billed Kite
11. Swallow-tailed Kite
12. Black Hawk-Eagle
13. Black-and-white Hawk Eagle
14. Ornate Hawk-Eagle
15. Black-and-chestnut Eagle
16. Rufous-thighed Kite
17. Tiny Hawk
18. Rufous-thighed Hawk
19. Bicolored Hawk
20. Long-winged Harrier
21. Mississippi Kite
22. Plumbeous Kite
23. Black-collared Hawk
24. Snail Kite
25. Crane Hawk
26. Savanna Hawk
27. Great Black Hawk
28. Montane Solitary Eagle 
29. Crowned Solitary Eagle
30. Roadside Hawk 
31. Bay-winged Hawk 
32. White-rumped Hawk
33. White-tailed Hawk
34. Variable Hawk
35. Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle 
36. Broad-winged Hawk 
37. Short-tailed Hawk
38. Swainson’s Hawk 
39. Zone-tailed Hawk
40. Mountain Caracara
41. Southern Crested Caracara
42. Yellow-headed Caracara
43. Chimango Caracara
44. Laughing Falcon
45. Barred Forest Falcon
46. Collared Forest Falcon
47. Spot-winged Falconet
48. American Kestrel 
49. Aplomado Falcon 
50. Bat Falcon 
51. Orange-breasted Falcon
52. Peregrine Falcon

MAMMALS

1. Jaguarundi (rare)
2. Maned Wolf (rare)
3. Crab-eating Fox
4. South American Coati
5. Azara’s Agouti
6. Brocket Deer
7. Vicuña
8. Guanaco
9. Llama
10. Capybara

​Latin name

1. Cathartes aura
2. Cathartes burrovianus
3. Coragyps atratus
4. Sarcoramphus papa
5. Vultur gryphus
6. Pandion haliaetus
7. Elanus leucurus
8. Gampsonyx swainsonii
9. Leptodon cayanensis
10. Chondrohierax uncinatus
11. Elanoides forficatus
12. Spizaetus tyrannus
13. Spizaetus melanoleucus
14. Spizaetus ornatus
15. Spizaetus isidori
16. Harpagus diodon
17. Accipiter superciliosus
18. Accipiter erythronemius
19. Accipiter bicolor
20. Circus buffoni
21. Ictinia mississippiensis
22. Ictinia plumbea
23. Busarellus nigricollis
24. Rostrhamus sociabilis
25. Geranospiza caerulescens
26. Buteogallus meridionalis
27. Buteogallus urubitinga
28. Buteogallus solitarius
29. Buteogallus coronatus
30. Rupornis magnirostris
31. Parabuteo unicinctus
32. Parabuteo leucorrhous
33. Geranoaetus albicaudatus
34. Geranoaetus polyosoma
35. Geranoaetus melanoleucus
36. Buteo platypterus
37. Buteo brachyurus
38. Buteo swainsonii
39. Buteo albonotatus
40. Phalcoboenus megalopterus
41. Caracara plancus
42. Milvago chimachima
43. Milvago chimango
44. Herpetotheres cachinnans
45. Micrastur ruficollis
46. Micrastur semitorquatus
47. Spiziapteryx circumcincta
48. Falco sparverius
49. Falco femoralis
50. Falco rufigularis
51. Falco deiroleucus
52. Falco peregrinus

MAMMALS

1. Puma yagouaroundi
2. Chrysocyon brachyurus
3. Cerdocyon thous
4. Nasua nasua
5. Dasyprocta agouti
6. Mazama spp.
7. Vicugna vicugna
8. Lama guanicoe
9. Lama glama
10. Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris

Suggested Field Guides

Erize, F., M. Rumboll, and J. Rodriguez-Mata. 2006. Birds of South America: Non-Passerines: Rheas to Woodpeckers. Princeton University Press, New Jersey. 

Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie. 2005. Raptors of the World. Paperback Edition. Princeton University Press, New Jersey. 

Narosky, T., and D. Izurieta. 2004. Birds of Argentina & Uruguay: a Field Guide. Vazquez Mazzini Editores, Buenos Aires.

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Terms

, L.L.C. reserves the right to alter this itinerary as necessary, or to cancel the tour prior to departure, with full refund to participants.

, L.L.C. or its agents may decline to accept or retain any person as a member of this tour at any time.

No smoking will be permitted while with the group, either when indoors or in the field.

Travel medical insurance is strongly recommended.

All passengers will be required to sign a hard copy of the Release of Liability and Assumption of Risk form upon meeting with the tour leader in Buenos Aires.

No participants will be allowed in the group without a signed copy of the Release of Liability and Assumption of Risk form.

Release of Liability and Assumption of Risk Form
(including Terms)