Birdwatching in Paradise: Latin America

Its migration journey to South America starts in the Arctic and North America. It takes coastal and inland routes, crossing the Gulf of Mexico and the Maya Forest, and bordering the Andes, so that it can spend the winter in warmer regions. It is one of the birds with the highest distribution on the planet, being found on all six continents. But that was not always the case. In the mid-20^th century, it was under severe threat of extinction due to pesticide use; however, thanks to important reintroduction efforts, it has recovered and is commonly found in many cities, where, due to the lack of habitats, it builds its nests on the cornices of buildings.

Despite its small size, it is luminous and exotic. Males are categorized by an intense red color that contrasts with their black wings and tail. Considered a neotropical migratory long-distance species, it is one of the northern birds that often fly through the Colombian Orinoquía, standing out for its beauty. The fragmentation of its habitat due to intensive agricultural activity is one of its main threats.  

It is known for its aggressive nature when defending its nests and partners from other birds. Tyrannus means precisely “tyrant, despot, or king.” They are classified as open-space aerial hunters, mostly insects. It reproduces west of the Mississippi River and, during the boreal winter, migrates to western South America and beyond the Amazon Basin. It is a widely distributed species; although not considered abundant, it is generally common. However, the current and long-term population trends across the continent are worrisome.   

Considered to be the coolest on the planet, the Swallow-tailed Kite is a beautiful bird of prey whose plumage and grace bring wonder as it takes flight. It can stay aloft without making a single movement: Gliding, drifting, and circling up and down with slight wing movements—hence the name “Swallow-tailed Kite.” During its acrobatic flight, it chases dragonflies and captures snakes, frogs, and lizards with its feet to feed its chicks. It prefers humid wooded areas near rivers and ponds. 

Native to the neotropics—from southern Mexico, through Central America, to northern Patagonia in Argentina—it is one of the migratory birds that arrive in the biodiverse Cerrado savanna during the austral winter, coming from southern Brazil and northern Argentina. It is also found throughout the Amazon basin and the Orinoco River. Gray kingbirds are known for their long tails and acrobatic flights in large flocks that can have more than 2,000 individuals. Mostly, it feeds on flying insects that it captures mid-flight. Occasionally, the species has been observed in the United States and Canada. 

Its singing is easily heard; however, it is a hard species to spot. At the beginning of the fall, it migrates from the United States to South America over long distances, and some reach Argentina in the winter, making it one of the most anticipated migratory bird species in the Gran Chaco. This small bird is one of the few that can digest the hairy thorns of the moth caterpillar, sometimes eating as many as 100 in one single sitting! Its nesting cycle is considered the shortest of its species, lasting as little as 17 days. Another of its peculiarities is the lack of synchrony in its egg-laying. The time between one egg and another can extend to as many as five days, meaning that when the oldest chick is close to leaving the nest, the youngest one is just beginning to hatch. 

This seabird species feeds mostly on small mussels and clams, horseshoe crab eggs, and sea worms, which provide the energy for its journey from Pole to Pole, which in the spring takes it from southern Argentina to the Canadian Arctic. Currently, it is considered a near-threatened species, with the marked decline of its food source associated with ocean acidification and rising sea temperatures as some of the main causes. Healthy oceans ensure this species well-being. 

For a long time, it was considered one of the rarest birds on the continent because most of its population is restricted to a few remote places for much of the year. One of those spots is Patagonia, where they arrive after a long trip from Canada and Alaska. It is considered a vulnerable bird species with a population of no greater than 70,000 individuals.