Photo Gallery
Photos by Rich Hoyer
![We’ll start birding near Santa Cruz, where the tour starts, and Campo Flicker is among the many possibilities.](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=%2Fimg%2FGallery%2F181%2F16296600720_d4ef2d7873_z.jpg?)
We’ll start birding near Santa Cruz, where the tour starts, and Campo Flicker is among the many possibilities.
![Most days begin with a lovely picnic breakfast, the new habitats full of potential. Here we’re in the fascinating Chaco region.](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=%2Fimg%2FGallery%2F181%2F16458029426_52ddbbb79b_z.jpg?)
Most days begin with a lovely picnic breakfast, the new habitats full of potential. Here we’re in the fascinating Chaco region.
![Great Rufous Woodcreeper is one of the exciting species we might see here.](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=%2Fimg%2FGallery%2F181%2F15861507894_931d2de562_z.jpg?)
Great Rufous Woodcreeper is one of the exciting species we might see here.
![The lovely and well-named Many-colored Chaco Finch is actually an aberrant saltator.](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=%2Fimg%2FGallery%2F181%2F16296318508_60c978dbf7_z.jpg?)
The lovely and well-named Many-colored Chaco Finch is actually an aberrant saltator.
![Found only in Paraguay, Argentina, and most easily in this region of Bolivia is the Black-legged Seriema, one of only two members of the family and order.](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=%2Fimg%2FGallery%2F181%2F16484028415_aebe8f9543_z.jpg?)
Found only in Paraguay, Argentina, and most easily in this region of Bolivia is the Black-legged Seriema, one of only two members of the family and order.
![We’ll be here towards the end of the dry season, but if it’s been a mild winter and not too dry there could some butterfly activity, here a Chaco Banded Metalmark.](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=%2Fimg%2FGallery%2F181%2F16458029046_34a6523721_z.jpg?)
We’ll be here towards the end of the dry season, but if it’s been a mild winter and not too dry there could some butterfly activity, here a Chaco Banded Metalmark.
![We’re in for a big change as we move to the fairytale-like view of our next destination, Refugio Los Volcanes.](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=%2Fimg%2FGallery%2F181%2F16482287931_792457ae3e_z.jpg?)
We’re in for a big change as we move to the fairytale-like view of our next destination, Refugio Los Volcanes.
![This is the only place where we’ll be birding in moist Andean foothill forest, low enough that we even see several species of a more Amazonian flavor.](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=%2Fimg%2FGallery%2F181%2F16482287741_4230aaa21f_z.jpg?)
This is the only place where we’ll be birding in moist Andean foothill forest, low enough that we even see several species of a more Amazonian flavor.
![We have a good chance of seeing the curious and beautiful Plush-crested Jay here.](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=%2Fimg%2FGallery%2F181%2F16484031535_95f7d691e5_z.jpg?)
We have a good chance of seeing the curious and beautiful Plush-crested Jay here.
![The botanical diversity here explodes, and we should be able to see this amazing orchid, Phragmipedium caricinum, growing on the rocks in the stream.](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=%2Fimg%2FGallery%2F181%2F16297763379_76e691c119_z.jpg?)
The botanical diversity here explodes, and we should be able to see this amazing orchid, Phragmipedium caricinum, growing on the rocks in the stream.
![From here we’ll move into a third biome known as the Valle Region, a series of dry valleys and ridges with semihumid forest, here a typical view of one of the towns.](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=%2Fimg%2FGallery%2F181%2F16484031265_2733dc1ff5_z.jpg?)
From here we’ll move into a third biome known as the Valle Region, a series of dry valleys and ridges with semihumid forest, here a typical view of one of the towns.
![We’ll visit the very dry valley of the Mizque River for several specialties.](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=%2Fimg%2FGallery%2F181%2F16458028006_ba3356cfa4_z.jpg?)
We’ll visit the very dry valley of the Mizque River for several specialties.
![The Bolivian Earthcreeper will be found in the more densely vegetated draws.](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=%2Fimg%2FGallery%2F181%2F15861506724_e043a62c06_z.jpg?)
The Bolivian Earthcreeper will be found in the more densely vegetated draws.
![The subspecies of Monk Parakeet here is quite distinctive vocally and visually, and they build their stick nests within cliff crevices (hence the name, Cliff Parakeet).](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=%2Fimg%2FGallery%2F181%2F15861506594_73bd937522_z.jpg?)
The subspecies of Monk Parakeet here is quite distinctive vocally and visually, and they build their stick nests within cliff crevices (hence the name, Cliff Parakeet).
![Blue-crowned Parakeets might be feeding in fruiting trees.](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=%2Fimg%2FGallery%2F181%2F16458027686_26b60cf2d5_z.jpg?)
Blue-crowned Parakeets might be feeding in fruiting trees.
![The White-fronted Woodpecker prefers large stands of columnar cacti.](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=%2Fimg%2FGallery%2F181%2F16484030575_d8c81ccab4_z.jpg?)
The White-fronted Woodpecker prefers large stands of columnar cacti.
![One of the most sought-after species in this region is the endemic Red-fronted Macaw, one of the rarest macaws in the world.](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=%2Fimg%2FGallery%2F181%2F16296316888_cb0a917c2d_z.jpg?)
One of the most sought-after species in this region is the endemic Red-fronted Macaw, one of the rarest macaws in the world.
![We stay at a simple but surprisingly nice hotel in the small town of Comarapa.](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=%2Fimg%2FGallery%2F181%2F16484030435_46e7f28b7a_z.jpg?)
We stay at a simple but surprisingly nice hotel in the small town of Comarapa.
![Then we move to yet another biome, the moist cloud forests of the mid- to high-elevation Andean ridges.](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=%2Fimg%2FGallery%2F181%2F15863903393_a617b53505_z.jpg?)
Then we move to yet another biome, the moist cloud forests of the mid- to high-elevation Andean ridges.
![We bird the morning through to our picnic lunches on most days.](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=%2Fimg%2FGallery%2F181%2F16298122257_01ec9fbb2c_z.jpg?)
We bird the morning through to our picnic lunches on most days.
![Its tendril-vining habit makes this Mutisia species an oddity among the sunflower family…](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=%2Fimg%2FGallery%2F181%2F16297761959_132fdf616a_z.jpg?)
Its tendril-vining habit makes this Mutisia species an oddity among the sunflower family…
![…but it’s also one of the favorite nectar plants for the stunning endemic Black-hooded Sunbeam.](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=%2Fimg%2FGallery%2F181%2F16484029935_b55903e9f5_z.jpg?)
…but it’s also one of the favorite nectar plants for the stunning endemic Black-hooded Sunbeam.
![If it’s sunny here, the Cloud-forest Firetips might be active…](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=%2Fimg%2FGallery%2F181%2F16296596490_4a2d0e105b_z.jpg?)
If it’s sunny here, the Cloud-forest Firetips might be active…
![024 Colias flaveola, Yellowish Sulphur](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=%2Fimg%2FGallery%2F181%2F16296597890_f56570a88f_z.jpg?)
024 Colias flaveola, Yellowish Sulphur
![Some birds in this habitat might be the adorable Bolivian Tyrannulet…](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=%2Fimg%2FGallery%2F181%2F16483062672_aede540aba_z.jpg?)
Some birds in this habitat might be the adorable Bolivian Tyrannulet…
![…the always stunning Scarlet-breasted Mountain-Tanager…](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=%2Fimg%2FGallery%2F181%2F16296315958_a18d206cb1_z.jpg?)
…the always stunning Scarlet-breasted Mountain-Tanager…
![…or the less colorful Puna Tapaculo, one of the rare members of the genus that might actually come out in the open.](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=%2Fimg%2FGallery%2F181%2F16484029405_b4bc587a75_z.jpg?)
…or the less colorful Puna Tapaculo, one of the rare members of the genus that might actually come out in the open.
![Our final hotel in the Cochabamba valley has lush gardens that attract many common birds.](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=%2Fimg%2FGallery%2F181%2F15861505324_972c3986ba_z.jpg?)
Our final hotel in the Cochabamba valley has lush gardens that attract many common birds.
![Water features here also attract Andean Treefrogs.](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=%2Fimg%2FGallery%2F181%2F16296315558_b5d869c468_z.jpg?)
Water features here also attract Andean Treefrogs.
![From here we ascend to true Andean heights above treeline where many special birds occur.](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=%2Fimg%2FGallery%2F181%2F16458025996_62b469df43_z.jpg?)
From here we ascend to true Andean heights above treeline where many special birds occur.
![The weedy roadsides on the way up the mountain road might have flocks of Gray-hooded Parakeet.](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=%2Fimg%2FGallery%2F181%2F16297761139_05e2a26346_z.jpg?)
The weedy roadsides on the way up the mountain road might have flocks of Gray-hooded Parakeet.
![Andean Flickers could occur at almost any elevation on the mountain.](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=%2Fimg%2FGallery%2F181%2F16296315308_569cc7f01f_z.jpg?)
Andean Flickers could occur at almost any elevation on the mountain.
![We’ll have to get lucky to find a Scribble-tailed Canastero but even luckier to count ourselves among the few who have actually seen the scribbles.](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=%2Fimg%2FGallery%2F181%2F15861504684_435af3af8a_z.jpg?)
We’ll have to get lucky to find a Scribble-tailed Canastero but even luckier to count ourselves among the few who have actually seen the scribbles.
![Mountain Caracaras have no limit to their upper elevation.](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=%2Fimg%2FGallery%2F181%2F15861504534_24c40faf17_z.jpg?)
Mountain Caracaras have no limit to their upper elevation.
![We’ll take a stroll amongst the beautiful boulder-strewn slopes in search for the elusive Short-tailed Finch.](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=%2Fimg%2FGallery%2F181%2F16297760489_0d04a554ce_z.jpg?)
We’ll take a stroll amongst the beautiful boulder-strewn slopes in search for the elusive Short-tailed Finch.
![…but the more colorful Bright-rumped Yellow-Finch would not be a disappointing consolation.](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=%2Fimg%2FGallery%2F181%2F15863900993_4842bccc08_z.jpg?)
…but the more colorful Bright-rumped Yellow-Finch would not be a disappointing consolation.