Tour Features

Argentina’s Central Hills are well reputed among birders due to the fact that they hold most of this country’s endemic birds. The central Argentinean provinces of Córdoba and San Luis host some of the most fantastic birding destinations in southern South America and boast some of the most spectacular landscapes in Argentina. On top of that, they allow for easy birding and offer great lodging alternatives – a combination hardly ever matched anywhere else in this part of the world!

Spending a few days in this area provides unique chances to explore habitats including hills, rivers, dry Chaco forests, grasslands, Monte brushlands and farmlands – all very “birdie” and mostly open habitats.

Among this region’s birding hotspots, it is worth mentioning Mar Chiquita lagoon – a huge wetland surrounded by farmlands and some remaining patches of dry forests. Mar Chiquita is one of the best places in Argentina for shorebirds, over all for migratory ones. The lagoon also holds one of the largest populations of flamingos in Argentina. But there are also other special places to explore in Córdoba, like for instance the immense salt flats known as Salinas Grandes. These provide perfect habitat for the endemic and endangered Salinas Monjita – a bird that we will surely look for while in that area. No birding trip to Córdoba could be completed without looking for specialties and endemics at the Córdoba Hills, so we will surely spend time birding this area as well.

After birding Córdoba we’ll move on to the Province of San Luis. The habitat here is somehow dryer than in Córdoba and has its own special set of unique birds, mammals, and other wildlife. The Monte, a dry shrubland that can only be found in central Argentina and northern Patagonia, is well represented in San Luis. This is an area where animal species from the north live alongside Patagonian ones. A clear example of this is an Argentine endemic mammal: the odd-looking Patagonian Mara. We will bird San Luis’s beautiful, arid landscapes, looking for desert dwellers that call this place home to add them to our trip list.

Join us on this tour through the heart of Argentina, to enjoy its wonderful birds, and other animals, but also to enjoy its breathtaking landscapes and learn about its unique flora.

Some Birds We’ll Look For

Andean Condor, Spot-winged Falconet, Brushland Tinamou, Andean Tinamou, Chaco Chachalaca, Snowy Crowned Tern, Chaco Puffbird, Black-bodied Woodpecker, Cream-backed Woodpecker, Black-legged Seriema, Burrowing Parrot, Red-tailed Comet, Olive-crowned Crescentchest, Crested Gallito, Scimitar-billed Woodcreeper, Chaco Earthcreeper, Crested Hornero, Olrog’s Cinclodes, Cordoba Cinclodes, Lark-like Brushrunner, Streak Backed Canastero, Greater Wagtail Tyrant, Black-crowned Monjita, Salinas Monjita, Andean Slaty Thrush, Carbonated Sierra Finch, Many-colored Chaco Finch, Black-and-Chestnut Warbling Finch, Rufous-sided Warbling Finch, Black-breasted Warbling Finch.

Mammals possibly found:

Patagonian Mara, Chacoan Mara, Grey Brocket Deer, Culpeo Fox, South American Grey Fox, Southern Three-banded Armadillo, Hog Nosed Skunk, Large Hairy Armadillo and Guanaco.

INFORMATION

Arrival

Meeting with your Trogon Tours’ leader at Cordoba airport. Transfer to Miramar. Birding around Mar Chiquita lagoon. O/N Miramar.

Mar Chiquita National Park

Full day birding Mar Chiquita National Park.  O/N Miramar.

Chaco forest at the Estancia

Drive to Estancia El Retiro, full day Birding the Chaco forest at the Estancia. Afternoon drive to Dean Funes. O/N Dean Funes.

Salinas Grandes & Chaco woodland.

Full day exploring Salinas Grandes and the surrounding Chaco woodland. O/N Dean Funes.

Cordoba Hills.

Drive to Quebrada del Condorito National Park. Full day birding Cordoba Hills. O/N Carlos Paz.

San Luis province.

Drive to San Luis province, birding en-route. O/N Merlo.

Merlo, Comechingones Hills and Chaco forest.

Full day birding around Merlo, Comechingones Hills and Chaco forest.  O/N Merlo.

Merlo to San Luis.

Drive from Merlo to San Luis, afternoon birding central San Luis province. O/N San Luis.

Sierra de las Quijadas National Park.

Full day birding the Monte habitats in and around Sierra de las Quijadas National Park. O/N San Luis.

San Luis Airport.

Transfer to San Luis Airport. Tour conclusion.

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