Nature lovers should be in on a little secret: Colombia may just be the world’s primary destination for birdwatching. The locals are accustomed to having such a wide variety of avian neighbors — all with their own unique songs and plumes — in their backyards that people regard the biodiversity as a complete norm. With more bird species than any other country in the world, Colombia is home to almost 2,000 varieties, housing 20% of all the avian species on the planet.
Birds thrive in this biodiverse paradise due to its rich ecosystem, and terrain that varies from mountain and rainforest to paramo — a high mountain environment unique to Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. The variety of birds that live in Colombia’s versatile landscape have adapted to the varying types of topography. As a result, thousands of visitors a year flock (pun intended) to the South American nation to catch glimpses of the endemic resident and migratory birds that live there, with special conservation-led tourist trails catered to bird watchers.
A land of avian conservation
Different species in every terrain
The success of the Northern Colombia Birding Trail initiative has led to the formation of central, eastern, and southwestern Andes Birding Trails as well. They cover separate parts of the incredibly rich and diverse country, and there are a multitude of different birds to be seen in each area. Aside from these trails, there are a huge amount of birds to be seen in the Sierra Nevada region of Colombia as well as in the Amazon Rainforest.
The Colombian Bird Fair also happens annually in Cali, a city southwest of Bogotá that you can reach by plane or a 10-hour bus or car ride. This event, aimed at conserving local biodiversity, gathers experts and amateurs for conferences, educational events and day trips. With international events such as these, as well as the birdwatching trails and wildlife sanctuaries and aviaries, Colombia’s support for scientific research, which in turn promotes ecotourism in the region, proves that it is a leader in the realm of conservation. So pack your binoculars, and don’t forget a bird guide, and get ready to be awe-stricken by Colombia’s birds.
