Penguins & Chile Endemics

Chile Birding trip | Penguin watching tours | Day tour from Santiago or Valparaiso, Chile

Puerto Montt day trips — Humboldt Penguin (Spheniscus humboldti) © Claudio F. Vidal, Far South Exp

Birding trip and penguin watching tour to the Coastal Range and the Pacific Coast of Central Chile.

This trip is aim to search the bird endemics and specialties of Chile’s Mediterranean region. We will explore its native broad-leaf woodlands, its Espino (Acacia caven) scrubland and cacti-covered slopes, looking for skulking tapaculos, canasteros and other specialties. Along the shore we will concentrate in finding the endemic coastal seabirds of the Humboldt Current, including Guanay Cormorant, Inca Tern and Humboldt Penguin. Seaside Cinclodes is also one of our target species.

North of Viña del Mar, at the locality of Cachagua we will visit its breeding colony of Humboldt Penguin (Spheniscus humboldtii) where we will also have chances of seeing Peruvian Pelican and Marine Otter (Lontra felina).

This moderate tour is suitable for cruise passengers with restricted time at the ports of call.

Full day tour (10-12 hours) from Santiago de Chile or Valparaiso. Available from September through April. Penguin watching tours

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Overview

Itinerary in Brief

Penguin watching tour — Moustached Turca (Pteroptochos megapodius) © Jorge Valenzuela, Far South Exp

Early in the morning, we will leave for La Campana National Park. The park holds an interesting array of native vegetation including impressive stands of the native and odd-looking Chilean Palm (Jubaea chilensis). At this World Biosphere Reserve we will look for interesting passerines, including some striking endemic species to Chile including Dusky-tailed Canastero, Moustached Turca, White-throated Tapaculo, Dusky Tapaculo and Chilean Mockingbird. We are also likely to encounter the remarkable Giant Hummingbird, Austral Pygmy Owl, Chilean Pigeon and Great Shrike-Tyrant, the largest New World tyrant-flycatcher.

In the afternoon, we will continue exploring the coastal areas visiting Cachagua and its protected breeding colony of Humboldt Penguin; here we hope to see the scarce and range-restricted Marine Otter.

To end the day we will stop in a coastal marsh to see a variety of waterfowl including Red Shoveler, Yellow-billed Pintail, Speckled Teal and Chiloe Wigeon, all three lowland coot species, Spot-flanked Gallinule and Plumbeous Rail, which, surprisingly for a rallid, is quite easy to spot as it often walks in the open. Penguin watching tours

Common Degu (Octodon degus) © Jorge Valenzuela, Far South Exp

Dates & Rates

Rates for Custom Private Departures (you choose the date)

Trip Code	SCL02
Availability	Available year round.
Starts/Ends	Daily departures from Santiago or Valparaíso, Chile.
No. of guests	1	2	3	4	5+
Price per person (USD)	$705	$377	$266	$214	$181
Trips are guaranteed to depart with a minimum of 2 participants. Maximum group size is 10 guests.

What the trip includes/excludes

The above prices are per person in US Dollars. All payments are in US Dollars.
The trip price includes: Private transportation with professional driver, birding guide services during the tour, picnic lunch and snacks, and one bottle of mineral water. VAT of the tour is also included.
The trip price excludes: Tipping, travel insurance, a la carte dishes, alcoholic drinks, and anything else of a purely personal nature. Penguin watching tour.

Gallery

Checklist

Field Checklist

Potential birds and mammals to be seen during this trip

BIRDS

Family Tinamidae [Tinamous]
Chilean Tinamou Nothoprocta perdicaria

Family Anatidae [Swans, Geese and Ducks]
Black-necked Swan Cygnus melancoryphus
Coscoroba Swan Coscoroba coscoroba
Chiloe Wigeon Anas sibilatrix
Yellow-billed Teal Anas flavirostris
Yellow-billed Pintail Anas georgica
Cinnamon Teal Anas cyanoptera
Red Shoveler Anas platalea
Black-headed Duck Heteronetta atricapilla
Lake Duck Oxyura vittata

Family Odontophoridae [New World Quails]
California Quail Callipepla californica

Family Podicipedidae [Grebes]
White-tufted Grebe Rollandia rolland
Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps
Great Grebe Podiceps major
Silvery Grebe Podiceps occipitalis

Family Spheniscidae [Penguins]
Humboldt Penguin Spheniscus humboldti

Family Sulidae [Boobies]
Peruvian Booby Sula variegata

Family Phalacrocoracidae [Cormorants]
Neotropic Cormorant Phalacrocorax brasilianus
Red-legged Cormorant Phalacrocorax gaimardi
Guanay Cormorant Phalacrocorax bougainvillii

Family Pelecanidae [Pelicans]
Peruvian Pelican Pelecanus thagus

Family Ardeidae [Herons]
Stripe-backed Bittern Ixobrychus involucris
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
Cocoi Heron Ardea cocoi
Great Egret Ardea alba
Snowy Egret Egretta thula

Family Cathartidae [New World Vultures]
Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura
Black Vulture Coragyps atratus

Family Accipitridae [Hawks and Eagles]
White-tailed Kite Elanus leucurus
Cinereous Harrier Circus cinereus
Harris’s Hawk Parabuteo unicinctus
Variable Hawk Geranoaetus polyosoma
Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle Geranoaetus melanoleucus

Family Rallidae [Rails and Coots]
Plumbeous Rail Pardirallus sanguinolentus
Spot-flanked Gallinule Gallinula melanops
Red-gartered Coot Fulica armillata
Red-fronted Coot Fulica rufifrons
White-winged Coot Fulica leucoptera

Family Charadriidae [Lapwings and Plovers]
Southern Lapwing Vanellus chilensis
Snowy Plover Charadrius nivosus
Collared Plover Charadrius collaris
Rufous-chested Dotterel Charadrius modestus

Family Haematopodidae [Oystercatchers]
American Oystercatcher Haematopus palliatus
Blackish Oystercatcher Haematopus ater

Family Recurvirostridae [Avocets and Stilts]
Black-necked Stilt Himantopus mexicanus

Family Scolopacidae [Sandpipers]
South American Snipe Gallinago paraguaiae
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus
Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca
Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
Surfbird Aphriza virgata
Sanderling Calidris alba
Baird’s Sandpiper Calidris bairdii

Family Laridae [Gulls and Terns]
Brown-hooded Gull Chroicocephalus maculipennis
Grey-hooded Gull Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus
Grey Gull Leucophaeus modestus
Franklin’s Gull Leucophaeus pipixcan
Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus
Inca Tern Larosterna inca
South American Tern Sterna hirundinacea
Snowy-crowned Tern Sterna trudeaui
Elegant Tern Thalasseus elegans

Family Rynchopidae [Skimmers]
Black Skimmer Rynchops niger

Family Columbidae [Pigeons]
Picui Ground Dove Columbina picui
Rock Pigeon Columba livia
Chilean Pigeon Patagioenas araucana
Eared Dove Zenaida auriculata

Family Tytonidae [Barn Owls]
Barn Owl Tyto alba

Family Strigidae [Owls]
Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus
Rufous-legged Owl Strix rufipes
Austral Pygmy Owl Glaucidium nana
Burrowing Owl Athene cunicularia
Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus

Family Caprimulgidae [Nightjars]
Band-winged Nightjar Systellura longirostris

Family Trochilidae [Hummingbirds]
Green-backed Firecrown Sephanoides sephaniodes
Giant Hummingbird Patagona gigas

Family Picidae [Woodpeckers]
Striped Woodpecker Veniliornis lignarius
Chilean Flicker Colaptes pitius

Family Falconidae [Falcons]
Chimango Caracara Milvago chimango
American Kestrel Falco sparverius

Family Rhynocriptidae [Tapaculos]
Moustached Turca Pteroptochos megapodius
White-throated Tapaculo Scelorchilus albicollis
Dusky Tapaculo Scytalopus fuscus

Family Furnariidae [Ovenbirds]
Common Miner Geositta cunicularia
White-throated Treerunner Pygarrhichas albogularis
Crag Chilia Ochetorhynchus melanurus
Wren-like Rushbird Phleocryptes melanops
Patagonian Forest Earthcreeper Upucerthia saturatior
Buff-winged Cinclodes Cinclodes fuscus
Gray-flanked Cinclodes Cinclodes oustaleti
Dark-bellied Cinclodes Cinclodes patagonicus
Seaside Cinclodes Cinclodes nigrofumosus
Thorn-tailed Rayadito Aphrastura spinicauda
Des MursÕs Wiretail Sylviorthorhynchus desmursii
Plain-mantled Tit-Spinetail Leptasthenura aegithaloides
Sharp-billed Canastero Asthenes pyrrholeuca
Dusky-tailed Canastero Pseudasthenes humicola

Family Tyrannidae [Tyrant Flycatchers]
White-crested Elaenia Elaenia albiceps
Tufted Tit-Tyrant Anairetes parulus
Many-coloured Rush Tyrant Tachuris rubrigastra
Austral Negrito Lessonia rufa
Spectacled Tyrant Hymenops perspicillatus
Dark-faced Ground Tyrant Muscisaxicola maclovianus
Great Shrike Tyrant Agriornis lividus
Fire-eyed Diucon Xolmis pyrope
Patagonian Tyrant Colorhamphus parvirostris

Family Cotingidae [Cotingas]
Rufous-tailed Plantcutter Phytotoma rara

Family Hirundinidae [Swallows]
Blue-and-white Swallow Pygochelidon cyanoleuca
Chilean Swallow Tachycineta meyeni
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica

Family Troglodytidae [Wrens]
House Wren Troglodytes aedon
Sedge Wren Cistothorus platensis

Family Turdidae [Thrushes]
Austral Thrush Turdus falcklandii

Family Mimidae [Mockingbirds]
Chilean Mockingbird Mimus thenca

Family Motacillidae [Pipits and Wagtails]
Correndera Pipit Anthus correndera

Family Thraupidae [Tanagers]
Gray-hooded Sierra Finch Phrygilus gayi
Mourning Sierra Finch Phrygilus fruticeti
Band-tailed Sierra Finch Phrygilus alaudinus
Common Diuca Finch Diuca diuca
Grassland Yellow Finch Sicalis luteola

Family Emberizidae [Sparrows]
Rufous-collared Sparrow Zonotrichia capensis

Family Icteridae [New World Blackbirds]
Austral Blackbird Curaeus curaeus
Yellow-winged Blackbird Agelasticus thilius
Shiny Cowbird Molothrus bonariensis
Long-tailed Meadowlark Sturnella loyca

Family Fringillidae [Finches]
Black-chinned Siskin Sporagra barbata

Family Passeridae [Old World Sparrows]
House Sparrow Passer domesticus

MAMMALS

Old World Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus
Degu Octodon degu
Nutria Myocastor coypus
Southern Grey Fox Pseudalopex griseus
Marine Otter Lontra felina
Southern Sea Lion Otaria byronia

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Tour Registration

To register for this tour, complete the online registration form and return it by email with a deposit of US$ 150 per person. Full payment of the tour fee is due four (4) weeks prior to tour departure.

Cancellation Policy

Notice of cancellation can only be accepted IN WRITING from the person who signed the booking form and takes effect on the day such noticed is received by us.

Refunds are made according to the following schedule:
• If cancellation is made between 120 and 90 days before departure, the deposit is not refundable, but any payments covering the balance of the fee will be refunded.
• If cancellation is made fewer than three weeks before departure date, no refund is available.