Cordillera Azul National Park

National Park · Peru

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Photo © LBM1948

Photo © LBM1948 — CC BY-SA 4.0 — Source: Wikimedia Commons

Where the eastern Andes descend into the western Amazon basin, Cordillera Azul National Park sprawls across nearly 38,000 square kilometres of some of Peru's most pristine and biodiverse terrain. The park's landscape is one of dramatic transition: high montane forests cling to steep ridges and cloud-wrapped peaks, their canopies draped in moss and bromeliads, while deeper valleys give way to humid lowland forests and riverine systems that feed into the Amazon watershed. This mosaic of elevation and habitat—from cloud forest at 2,500 metres down through montane transitions to lowland rainforest below 500 metres—creates a natural laboratory of ecological gradients. The park harbours a staggering array of wildlife adapted to these varied conditions: raptors and soaring birds of prey hunt the ridge corridors, fruit-eating birds move through the forest canopy in noisy flocks, small mammals forage across the forest floor, and the river systems support fish populations and water-dependent mammals. The park's remoteness and strict protection have preserved populations of large terrestrial mammals and arboreal species that have vanished from more accessible regions, making it a living stronghold of Amazonian and Andean biodiversity.

For wildlife photographers and serious birders, Cordillera Azul demands patience but rewards it generously. The park's elevation gradient means that a single expedition can encounter dramatically different fauna within hours of trekking—morning light illuminates canopy flocks in the lowland sections while afternoon brings opportunities to photograph birds of prey and montane species in the cloud forests above. The wet season intensifies activity and pushes wildlife lower, though year-round residents and altitudinal migrants create consistent opportunities across seasons. Access remains intentionally limited to preserve the park's ecological integrity; most visits are arranged through licensed operators and research institutions, ensuring that those who do venture into Cordillera Azul experience wildlife in a landscape largely untouched by tourism pressure. The combination of pristine habitat, extraordinary species richness spanning multiple biomes, and the genuine possibility of encountering animals rarely seen by outsiders makes this one of South America's most compelling destinations for naturalists willing to embrace adventure and uncertainty.

Website sernanp.gob.pe/cordillera-azul

Andean Cock-of-the-rock

Rupicola peruvianus

Great Antshrike

Curl-crested Aracari

Pteroglossus beauharnaisii

White-fronted Nunbird

Monasa morphoeus

Black-fronted Nunbird

Monasa nigrifrons

Broad-billed Motmot

Electron platyrhynchum

White-throated Toucan

Ramphastos tucanus

Cobalt-winged Parakeet

Brotogeris cyanoptera

White-winged Parakeet

Brotogeris versicolurus

Blue-headed Parrot

Pionus menstruus

Wedge-billed Woodcreeper

Glyphorynchus spirurus

White-chinned Woodcreeper

Dendrocincla merula

Violet-fronted Brilliant

Heliodoxa leadbeateri

Golden-collared Toucanet

Selenidera reinwardtii

Red-throated Caracara

Ibycter americanus

Barred Forest Falcon

Micrastur ruficollis

Rufous-rumped Antwren

Euchrepomis callinota

Ornate Flycatcher

Myiotriccus ornatus

Tityra semifasciata

Russet-backed Oropendola

Psarocolius angustifrons

Yellow-rumped Cacique

White-winged Tanager

Piranga leucoptera

Pseudastur albicollis

White-throated Tinamou

Tinamus guttatus

Cinereous Tinamou

Crypturellus cinereus

Crypturellus soui

Horned Screamer

Speckled Chachalaca

Ortalis guttata

Razor-billed Curassow

Ladder-tailed Nightjar

Hydropsalis climacocerca

Nyctibius grandis

Chestnut-collared Swift

Streptoprocne rutila

White-collared Swift

Streptoprocne zonaris

Grey-rumped Swift

Chaetura cinereiventris

Pale-rumped Swift

Chaetura egregia

Short-tailed Swift

Chaetura brachyura

White-tipped Swift

Aeronautes montivagus

Fork-tailed Palm Swift

Tachornis squamata

White-necked Jacobin

Florisuga mellivora

Pale-tailed Barbthroat

Threnetes leucurus

Black-throated Hermit

Phaethornis atrimentalis

White-bearded Hermit

Phaethornis hispidus

Great-billed Hermit

Phaethornis malaris

Brown Violetear

Colibri delphinae

White-bellied Woodstar

Chaetocercus mulsant

Grey-breasted Sabrewing

Campylopterus largipennis

Fork-tailed Woodnymph

Thalurania furcata

Golden-tailed Sapphire

Chrysuronia oenone

Sapphire-spangled Emerald

Chionomesa lactea

Smooth-billed Ani

Common Squirrel Cuckoo

Patagioenas speciosa

Plumbeous Pigeon

Patagioenas plumbea

Ruddy Ground Dove

Columbina talpacoti

White-tipped Dove

Leptotila verreauxi

Common Gallinule

Gallinula galeata

Russet-crowned Crake

Rufirallus viridis

Hoploxypterus cayanus

Spotted Sandpiper

Actitis macularius

Yellow-billed Tern

Sternula superciliaris

Eurypyga helias

Black-crowned Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

Pilherodius pileatus

Sarcoramphus papa

Grey-headed Kite

Leptodon cayanensis

Swallow-tailed Kite

Elanoides forficatus

Ictinia plumbea

Rupornis magnirostris

Subtropical Pygmy Owl

Glaucidium parkeri

Ferruginous Pygmy Owl

Glaucidium brasilianum

Pulsatrix perspicillata

Band-bellied Owl

Pulsatrix melanota

Black-banded Owl

Golden-headed Quetzal

Pharomachrus auriceps

Green-backed Trogon

Collared Trogon

Trogon collaris

Amazon Kingfisher

Chloroceryle amazona

Green Kingfisher

Chloroceryle americana

Swallow-winged Puffbird

Chelidoptera tenebrosa

Scarlet-banded Barbet

Capito wallacei

Lemon-throated Barbet

Eubucco richardsoni

Channel-billed Toucan

Ramphastos vitellinus

Chestnut-eared Aracari

Pteroglossus castanotis

Lafresnaye's Piculet

Picumnus lafresnayi

Yellow-tufted Woodpecker

Melanerpes cruentatus

White-throated Woodpecker

Piculus leucolaemus

Golden-olive Woodpecker

Colaptes rubiginosus

Lineated Woodpecker

Dryocopus lineatus

Falco rufigularis

Amazona farinosa

Riparian Parrotlet

Forpus crassirostris

Maroon-tailed Parakeet

Pyrrhura melanura

White-eyed Parakeet

Psittacara leucophthalmus

Olivaceous Woodcreeper

Sittasomus griseicapillus

Ocellated Woodcreeper

Xiphorhynchus ocellatus

Buff-throated Woodcreeper

Xiphorhynchus guttatus

Amazonian Plain Xenops

Xenops genibarbis

Pale-legged Hornero

Furnarius leucopus

Buff-browed Foliage-gleaner

Syndactyla rufosuperciliata

Ruddy Foliage-gleaner

Clibanornis rubiginosus

Eastern Woodhaunter

Automolus subulatus

Plain-crowned Spinetail

Synallaxis gujanensis

Dark-breasted Spinetail

Synallaxis albigularis

Myrmotherula brachyura

Rusty-winged Antwren

Herpsilochmus frater

Dysithamnus mentalis

Lined Antshrike

Thamnophilus tenuepunctatus

White-shouldered Antshrike

Thamnophilus aethiops

Plain-winged Antshrike

Thamnophilus schistaceus

Fasciated Antshrike

Cymbilaimus lineatus

Common Scale-backed Antbird

Willisornis poecilinotus

Peruvian Warbling Antbird

Hypocnemis peruviana

Blackish Antbird

Cercomacroides nigrescens

Cercomacroides serva

Cercomacra cinerascens

Silvered Antbird

Sclateria naevia

Scaled Antpitta

Grallaria guatimalensis

Wing-barred Piprites

Piprites chloris

Sooty-headed Tyrannulet

Phyllomyias griseiceps

Yellow-crowned Tyrannulet

Tyrannulus elatus

Yellow-bellied Elaenia

Elaenia flavogaster

Elaenia chiriquensis

White-lored Tyrannulet

Ornithion inerme

Mouse-colored Tyrannulet

Nesotriccus murinus

Slender-footed Tyrannulet

Zimmerius gracilipes

Peruvian Tyrannulet

Zimmerius viridiflavus

Variegated Bristle Tyrant

Pogonotriccus poecilotis

Mottle-cheeked Tyrannulet

Phylloscartes ventralis

Streak-necked Flycatcher

Mionectes striaticollis

Olive-striped Flycatcher

Mionectes galbinus

Ochre-bellied Flycatcher

Mionectes oleagineus

Sepia-capped Flycatcher

Leptopogon amaurocephalus

Slaty-capped Flycatcher

Leptopogon superciliaris

Flammulated Bamboo Tyrant

Hemitriccus flammulatus

White-eyed Tody-Tyrant

Hemitriccus zosterops

White-bellied Pygmy Tyrant

Myiornis albiventris

Short-tailed Pygmy Tyrant

Myiornis ecaudatus

Yellow-margined Flatbill

Tolmomyias assimilis

Grey-crowned Flatbill

Tolmomyias poliocephalus

Euler's Flycatcher

Lathrotriccus euleri

Western Wood Pewee

Contopus sordidulus

Eastern Wood Pewee

Contopus virens

Drab Water Tyrant

Ochthornis littoralis

Piratic Flycatcher

Legatus leucophaius

Social Flycatcher

Myiozetetes similis

Grey-capped Flycatcher

Myiozetetes granadensis

Pitangus sulphuratus

Lesser Kiskadee

Philohydor lictor

Streaked Flycatcher

Myiodynastes maculatus

Tropical Kingbird

Tyrannus melancholicus

Eastern Kingbird

Tyrannus tyrannus

Short-crested Flycatcher

Myiarchus ferox

Bright-rumped Attila

Attila spadiceus

Purple-throated Fruitcrow

Querula purpurata

Lipaugus vociferans

Bare-necked Fruitcrow

Gymnoderus foetidus

Dwarf Tyrant-Manakin

Tyranneutes stolzmanni

Blue-capped Manakin

Lepidothrix coronata

Fiery-capped Manakin

Machaeropterus pyrocephalus

Round-tailed Manakin

Ceratopipra chloromeros

White-winged Becard

Pachyramphus polychopterus

Slaty-capped Shrike-Vireo

Vireolanius leucotis

Dusky-capped Greenlet

Pachysylvia hypoxantha

Cyanocorax violaceus

White-winged Swallow

Tachycineta albiventer

Grey-breasted Martin

Progne chalybea

Southern Rough-winged Swallow

Stelgidopteryx ruficollis

Black-capped Donacobius

Donacobius atricapilla

Thrush-like Wren

Campylorhynchus turdinus

Southern House Wren

Troglodytes musculus

Southern Nightingale-Wren

Microcerculus marginatus

Swainson's Thrush

Catharus ustulatus

Black-billed Thrush

Turdus ignobilis

White-lored Euphonia

Euphonia chrysopasta

Thick-billed Euphonia

Euphonia laniirostris

Orange-bellied Euphonia

Euphonia xanthogaster

Bronze-green Euphonia

Euphonia mesochrysa

Rufous-bellied Euphonia

Euphonia rufiventris

Yellow-throated Chlorospingus

Chlorospingus flavigularis

Yellow-browed Sparrow

Ammodramus aurifrons

Orange-billed Sparrow

Arremon aurantiirostris

Chestnut-capped Brushfinch

Arremon brunneinucha

Rufous-collared Sparrow

Zonotrichia capensis

Crested Oropendola

Psarocolius decumanus

Orange-backed Troupial

Icterus croconotus

Icterus cayanensis

Tropical Parula

Setophaga pitiayumi

Blackburnian Warbler

Setophaga fusca

Buff-rumped Warbler

Myiothlypis fulvicauda

Three-striped Warbler

Basileuterus tristriatus

Cardellina canadensis

Slate-throated Whitestart

Myioborus miniatus

Amazonian Grosbeak

Cyanoloxia rothschildii

Green Honeycreeper

Chlorophanes spiza

Swallow Tanager

Tersina viridis

Purple Honeycreeper

Cyanerpes caeruleus

Short-billed Honeycreeper

Cyanerpes nitidus

Bluish-grey Saltator

Saltator coerulescens

Buff-throated Saltator

Saltator maximus

Slate-colored Grosbeak

Saltator grossus

Coereba flaveola

Blue-black Grassquit

Volatinia jacarina

White-lined Tanager

Tachyphonus rufus

White-winged Shrike-Tanager

Lanio versicolor

Silver-beaked Tanager

Ramphocelus carbo

Black-and-white Seedeater

Sporophila luctuosa

Chestnut-bellied Seedeater

Sporophila castaneiventris

Orange-eared Tanager

Chlorochrysa calliparaea

Cissopis leverianus

Black-faced Tanager

Schistochlamys melanopis

Yellow-bellied Tanager

Ixothraupis xanthogastra

Blue-grey Tanager

Thraupis episcopus

Thraupis palmarum

Blue-necked Tanager

Stilpnia cyanicollis

Stilpnia nigrocincta

Bay-headed Tanager

Golden-eared Tanager

Tangara chrysotis

Green-and-gold Tanager

Tangara schrankii

Turquoise Tanager

Tangara mexicana

Paradise Tanager

Tangara chilensis

Opal-crowned Tanager

Tangara callophrys

Crypturellus obsoletus

Ocellated Poorwill

Nyctiphrynus ocellatus

Phaethornis guy

Speckled Hummingbird

Adelomyia melanogenys

Emerald-bellied Puffleg

Eriocnemis aline

Coeligena coeligena

Peruvian Racket-tail

Ocreatus peruanus

Rufescent Screech Owl

Megascops ingens

Pavonine Quetzal

Pharomachrus pavoninus

Black-tailed Trogon

Trogon melanurus

Trogon personatus

Collared Puffbird

Western Striolated Puffbird

Nystalus obamai

Versicolored Barbet

Eubucco versicolor

Southern Emerald Toucanet

Aulacorhynchus albivitta

Golden-green Woodpecker

Piculus chrysochloros

Red-billed Parrot

Pionus sordidus

Tyrannine Woodcreeper

Dendrocincla tyrannina

Elegant Woodcreeper

Xiphorhynchus elegans

Olive-backed Woodcreeper

Xiphorhynchus triangularis

Red-billed Scythebill

Campylorhamphus trochilirostris

Streaked Xenops

Xenops rutilans

Bamboo Foliage-gleaner

Anabazenops dorsalis

Montane Foliage-gleaner

Anabacerthia striaticollis

Lineated Foliage-gleaner

Syndactyla subalaris

Black-billed Treehunter

Thripadectes melanorhynchus

Spotted Barbtail

Premnoplex brunnescens

Ash-browed Spinetail

Cranioleuca curtata

Rufous Spinetail

Synallaxis unirufa

Moustached Antwren

Myrmotherula ignota

Stripe-chested Antwren

Myrmotherula longicauda

Myrmotherula schisticolor

Dusky-throated Antshrike

Thamnomanes ardesiacus

Yellow-breasted Antwren

Herpsilochmus axillaris

Chestnut-backed Antshrike

Thamnophilus palliatus

Uniform Antshrike

Thamnophilus unicolor

Variable Antshrike

Thamnophilus caerulescens

Streak-headed Antbird

Drymophila striaticeps

Western Fire-eye

Pyriglena maura

Rufous-breasted Antthrush

Formicarius rufipectus

Short-tailed Antthrush

Chamaeza campanisona

Grallaria capitalis

Ochre-breasted Antpitta

Grallaricula flavirostris

White-crowned Tapaculo

Scytalopus atratus

Flavescent Flycatcher

Myiophobus flavicans

Scale-crested Pygmy Tyrant

Lophotriccus pileatus

Fulvous-breasted Flatbill

Rhynchocyclus fulvipectus

White-throated Spadebill

Platyrinchus mystaceus

Cinnamon Flycatcher

Pyrrhomyias cinnamomeus

Cliff Flycatcher

Hirundinea ferruginea

Smoke-colored Pewee

Contopus fumigatus

Pale-edged Flycatcher

Myiarchus cephalotes

Masked Fruiteater

Pipreola pulchra

Green-and-black Fruiteater

Pipreola riefferii

Olivaceous Piha

Snowornis cryptolophus

Red-ruffed Fruitcrow

Pyroderus scutatus

Striolated Manakin

Machaeropterus striolatus

Red-headed Manakin

Ceratopipra rubrocapilla

Tawny-breasted Myiobius

Myiobius villosus

Ochre-crowned Greenlet

Tunchiornis ochraceiceps

Pheugopedius coraya

Troglodytes solstitialis

Grey-breasted Wood Wren

Henicorhina leucophrys

Andean Solitaire

Myadestes ralloides

White-eared Solitaire

Entomodestes leucotis

Speckled Nightingale-Thrush

Catharus maculatus

Purple-throated Euphonia

Euphonia chlorotica

Ashy-throated Chlorospingus

Chlorospingus canigularis

Common Chlorospingus

Chlorospingus flavopectus

Scarlet-rumped Cacique

Cacicus uropygialis

Russet-crowned Warbler

Myiothlypis coronata

Spectacled Whitestart

Myioborus melanocephalus

Golden-collared Honeycreeper

Iridophanes pulcherrimus

Rufous-crested Tanager

Creurgops verticalis

Black-goggled Tanager

Trichothraupis melanops

Oleaginous Hemispingus

Sphenopsis frontalis

Black-eared Hemispingus

Sphenopsis melanotis

Warbling Masked Flowerpiercer

Diglossa cyanea

Vermilion Tanager

Calochaetes coccineus

Yellow-throated Tanager

Iridosornis analis

Blue-winged Mountain Tanager

Anisognathus somptuosus

Blue-browed Tanager

Tangara cyanotis

Saffron-crowned Tanager

Tangara xanthocephala

Flame-faced Tanager

Tangara parzudakii

Dasyprocta fuliginosa

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