Natural el Cocuy National Park

National Park · Colombia

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Photo © Jfelipeducon

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

Where the Andes rise to their highest peaks in Colombia's eastern cordillera, El Cocuy National Park sprawls across more than 6,600 square kilometers of some of the most vertically compressed ecosystems on the continent. From cloud-wrapped páramo grasslands that crown the ridges above 3,500 meters down through montane forests thick with mosses and lichens, the park's terrain descends into deep river valleys where humid lowland forest gives way to temperate woodland. This extraordinary elevation gradient—nearly 4,000 meters of relief within a single protected area—creates a living laboratory of tropical adaptation. Alpine meadows harbor small mammals and ground-dwelling birds that have evolved to withstand harsh winds and thin air; the transitional zones between forest and grassland support a rich diversity of insectivorous songbirds and raptors that hunt across both habitats; while the forested slopes below shelter an abundance of small mammals, nocturnal species, and understory birds that few visitors ever glimpse. The park's isolation as a high mountain island has generated remarkable rates of endemism, with species found nowhere else on Earth.

For wildlife photographers and dedicated birders willing to undertake challenging trekking through demanding terrain, El Cocuy delivers encounters impossible to find elsewhere in northern South America. The transition zones between grassland and forest—particularly at dawn and dusk—concentrate hunting birds of prey and provide optimal light for capturing behavior. Spring months bring migrants moving through the cordillera, swelling the acoustic landscape with unfamiliar calls; the dry season opens access to higher elevations where alpine specialists are most active and visible. The park's remoteness remains its defining character: few tourists penetrate beyond the accessible base camps, meaning those who do encounter wildlife in a state of lower disturbance than in more famous reserves. Local guides from Güicán, the nearest town and traditional gateway to the park, provide essential knowledge of seasonal movements and hidden vantage points, transforming a strenuous expedition into a genuine window onto the secret life of the high Andes.

Website runap.parquesnacionales.gov.co/area-protegida/82

Coragyps atratus

Plumbeous Sierra Finch

Geospizopsis unicolor

Southern Lapwing

Vanellus chilensis

Yellow-crowned Amazon

Amazona ochrocephala

Eastern Meadowlark

Sturnella magna

Sicalis flaveola

Brown-throated Parakeet

Eupsittula pertinax

Turdus fuscater

Quiscalus lugubris

Rufous-vented Chachalaca

Ortalis ruficauda

Pale-vented Pigeon

Patagioenas cayennensis

Lineated Woodpecker

Dryocopus lineatus

Rusty-margined Flycatcher

Myiozetetes cayanensis

Blue-grey Tanager

Thraupis episcopus

Buff-necked Ibis

Theristicus caudatus

Rupornis magnirostris

Spinus spinescens

Yellow-rumped Cacique

Smooth-billed Ani

Columbina squammata

Sharp-tailed Ibis

Cercibis oxycerca

Sarcoramphus papa

Chestnut-eared Aracari

Pteroglossus castanotis

Chestnut-fronted Macaw

Sayornis nigricans

Pitangus sulphuratus

Tropical Mockingbird

Rufous-collared Sparrow

Zonotrichia capensis

Yellow-backed Oriole

Icterus chrysater

Common Squirrel Cuckoo

Pale-breasted Spinetail

Synallaxis albescens

Yellow-browed Sparrow

Ammodramus aurifrons

Sporophila intermedia

Burnished-buff Tanager

Stilpnia cayana

Sparkling Violetear

Colibri coruscans

Glittering-throated Emerald

Chionomesa fimbriata

Ruddy Ground Dove

Columbina talpacoti

Bare-faced Ibis

Phimosus infuscatus

Buteogallus meridionalis

White-throated Toucan

Ramphastos tucanus

Yellow-tufted Woodpecker

Melanerpes cruentatus

Crimson-mantled Woodpecker

Colaptes rivolii

White-throated Tyrannulet

Mecocerculus leucophrys

Common Tody-Flycatcher

Todirostrum cinereum

White-bearded Manakin

Manacus manacus

Black-billed Thrush

Turdus ignobilis

Blue-black Grassquit

Volatinia jacarina

Scarlet-bellied Mountain Tanager

Anisognathus igniventris

Oxyura ferruginea

Pale-bellied Hermit

Phaethornis anthophilus

Band-tailed Pigeon

Patagioenas fasciata

Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle

Geranoaetus melanoleucus

Tropical Screech Owl

Megascops choliba

Orange-chinned Parakeet

Brotogeris jugularis

Blue-headed Parrot

Pionus menstruus

Orange-winged Amazon

Amazona amazonica

Spectacled Parrotlet

Forpus conspicillatus

Andean Tit-Spinetail

Leptasthenura andicola

Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant

Ochthoeca fumicolor

Red-crested Cotinga

Ampelion rubrocristatus

Cyanocorax violaceus

Southern House Wren

Troglodytes musculus

Pale-breasted Thrush

Turdus leucomelas

Crested Oropendola

Psarocolius decumanus

Venezuelan Troupial

Icterus icterus

Golden-fronted Whitestart

Myioborus ornatus

Black-backed Grosbeak

Pheucticus aureoventris

Purple Honeycreeper

Cyanerpes caeruleus

Silver-beaked Tanager

Ramphocelus carbo

Black Flowerpiercer

Diglossa humeralis

Blue-necked Tanager

Stilpnia cyanicollis

Red-crowned Woodpecker

Melanerpes rubricapillus

Yellow-throated Toucan

Ramphastos ambiguus

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

Amazilia tzacatl

Bay-headed Tanager

Speckled Tanager

Ixothraupis guttata

Green Honeycreeper

Chlorophanes spiza

Yellow-bellied Seedeater

Sporophila nigricollis

Yellow-bellied Elaenia

Elaenia flavogaster

Golden-crowned Warbler

Basileuterus culicivorus

Striolated Manakin

Machaeropterus striolatus

Yellow-browed Shrike-Vireo

Vireolanius eximius

Grey-chinned Hermit

Phaethornis griseogularis

Southern Nightingale-Wren

Microcerculus marginatus

Tropical Kingbird

Tyrannus melancholicus

Fork-tailed Flycatcher

Tyrannus savana

American Redstart

Setophaga ruticilla

Green-bearded Helmetcrest

Oxypogon guerinii

Masked Cardinal

Paroaria nigrogenis

Chestnut-winged Cinclodes

Cinclodes albidiventris

Bronze-tailed Thornbill

Chalcostigma heteropogon

Oriole Blackbird

Gymnomystax mexicanus

Machetornis rixosa

White-lined Tanager

Tachyphonus rufus

Shining Sunbeam

Aglaeactis cupripennis

American Kestrel

Falco sparverius

Many-striped Canastero

Asthenes flammulata

Paramo Ground Tyrant

Muscisaxicola alpinus

Boyaca Antpitta

Grallaria alticola

Smoke-colored Pewee

Contopus fumigatus

Buff-throated Saltator

Saltator maximus

Pale-naped Brushfinch

Atlapetes pallidinucha

Rufous-browed Conebill

Conirostrum rufum

Tawny-breasted Tinamou

Nothocercus julius

Crypturellus soui

Blue-winged Teal

Spatula discors

Speckled Chachalaca

Ortalis guttata

Band-tailed Guan

Penelope argyrotis

Penelope purpurascens

Crested Bobwhite

Colinus cristatus

Least Nighthawk

Chordeiles pusillus

Nyctidromus albicollis

Chestnut-collared Swift

Streptoprocne rutila

White-collared Swift

Streptoprocne zonaris

White-bearded Hermit

Phaethornis hispidus

Black-throated Mango

Anthracothorax nigricollis

Speckled Hummingbird

Adelomyia melanogenys

Black-tailed Trainbearer

Lesbia victoriae

Purple-backed Thornbill

Ramphomicron microrhynchum

Tyrian Metaltail

Metallura tyrianthina

Mountain Velvetbreast

Lafresnaya lafresnayi

Sword-billed Hummingbird

Ensifera ensifera

Great Sapphirewing

Pterophanes cyanopterus

Long-billed Starthroat

Heliomaster longirostris

Lazuline Sabrewing

Campylopterus falcatus

White-vented Plumeleteer

Chalybura buffonii

Fork-tailed Woodnymph

Thalurania furcata

Green-bellied Hummingbird

Saucerottia viridigaster

Golden-tailed Sapphire

Chrysuronia oenone

Coccycua minuta

Patagioenas speciosa

Common Ground Dove

Columbina passerina

Blue Ground Dove

Claravis pretiosa

White-tipped Dove

Leptotila verreauxi

Grey-fronted Dove

Leptotila rufaxilla

Zenaida auriculata

Fulica americana

Gallinago nobilis

Solitary Sandpiper

Tringa solitaria

Neotropic Cormorant

Nannopterum brasilianum

Fasciated Tiger Heron

Tigrisoma fasciatum

Whistling Heron

Syrigma sibilatrix

Butorides striata

White-tailed Hawk

Geranoaetus albicaudatus

Rufous-banded Owl

Strix albitarsis

Moustached Puffbird

Malacoptila mystacalis

Channel-billed Toucan

Ramphastos vitellinus

Picumnus squamulatus

Golden-olive Woodpecker

Colaptes rubiginosus

Crimson-crested Woodpecker

Campephilus melanoleucos

Crested Caracara

Caracara plancus

Laughing Falcon

Herpetotheres cachinnans

Falco rufigularis

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

Saffron-headed Parrot

Pyrilia pyrilia

Bronze-winged Parrot

Pionus chalcopterus

Green-rumped Parrotlet

Forpus passerinus

Plain-brown Woodcreeper

Dendrocincla fuliginosa

Streak-headed Woodcreeper

Lepidocolaptes souleyetii

Pearled Treerunner

Margarornis squamiger

Plain Thornbird

Phacellodomus inornatus

Streak-backed Canastero

Asthenes wyatti

White-chinned Thistletail

Asthenes fuliginosa

Northern Slaty Antshrike

Thamnophilus punctatus

Cercomacroides tyrannina

Black-faced Antthrush

Formicarius analis

Chestnut-crowned Antpitta

Grallaria ruficapilla

Pale-bellied Tapaculo

Scytalopus griseicollis

Myiopagis gaimardii

Small-billed Elaenia

Elaenia parvirostris

Elaenia chiriquensis

Mountain Elaenia

Elaenia frantzii

Southern Beardless Tyrannulet

Camptostoma obsoletum

Golden-faced Tyrannulet

Zimmerius chrysops

Olive-striped Flycatcher

Mionectes galbinus

Ochre-bellied Flycatcher

Mionectes oleagineus

Slaty-capped Flycatcher

Leptopogon superciliaris

Scale-crested Pygmy Tyrant

Lophotriccus pileatus

Slaty-headed Tody-Flycatcher

Poecilotriccus sylvia

Western Olivaceous Flatbill

Rhynchocyclus aequinoctialis

Yellow-olive Flatbill

Tolmomyias sulphurescens

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Contopus cooperi

Eastern Wood Pewee

Contopus virens

Streak-throated Bush Tyrant

Myiotheretes striaticollis

Yellow-bellied Chat-Tyrant

Silvicultrix diadema

Rufous-breasted Chat-Tyrant

Ochthoeca rufipectoralis

Piratic Flycatcher

Legatus leucophaius

Social Flycatcher

Myiozetetes similis

Lesser Kiskadee

Philohydor lictor

Streaked Flycatcher

Myiodynastes maculatus

Boat-billed Flycatcher

Megarynchus pitangua

Dusky-capped Flycatcher

Myiarchus tuberculifer

Short-crested Flycatcher

Myiarchus ferox

Brown-crested Flycatcher

Myiarchus tyrannulus

Bright-rumped Attila

Attila spadiceus

Golden-headed Manakin

Ceratopipra erythrocephala

Black-tailed Tityra

Tityra semifasciata

Russet-winged Schiffornis

Schiffornis stenorhyncha

Cinnamon Becard

Pachyramphus cinnamomeus

White-winged Becard

Pachyramphus polychopterus

Ruddy-tailed Flycatcher

Terenotriccus erythrurus

Rufous-browed Peppershrike

Cyclarhis gujanensis

Hylophilus flavipes

Golden-fronted Greenlet

Pachysylvia aurantiifrons

Vireo olivaceus

Cyanocorax yncas

White-winged Swallow

Tachycineta albiventer

Grey-breasted Martin

Progne chalybea

Brown-bellied Swallow

Orochelidon murina

Apolinar's Wren

Cistothorus apolinari

Cistothorus platensis

Rufous-breasted Wren

Pheugopedius rutilus

Rufous-and-white Wren

Thryophilus rufalbus

Troglodytes solstitialis

Trilling Gnatwren

Ramphocaenus melanurus

Swainson's Thrush

Catharus ustulatus

Rusty-flanked Thrush

Turdus albicollis

Spectacled Thrush

Turdus nudigenis

White-capped Dipper

Cinclus leucocephalus

Anthus bogotensis

Lesser Goldfinch

Spinus psaltria

Golden-rumped Euphonia

Chlorophonia cyanocephala

Blue-naped Chlorophonia

Chlorophonia cyanea

White-vented Euphonia

Euphonia minuta

Thick-billed Euphonia

Euphonia laniirostris

Grassland Sparrow

Ammodramus humeralis

Black-striped Sparrow

Arremonops conirostris

Yellow-breasted Brushfinch

Atlapetes latinuchus

Russet-backed Oropendola

Psarocolius angustifrons

Icterus nigrogularis

Orange-crowned Oriole

Icterus auricapillus

Tennessee Warbler

Leiothlypis peregrina

Tropical Parula

Setophaga pitiayumi

Blackpoll Warbler

Setophaga striata

Spiza americana

Hemithraupis guira

Swallow Tanager

Tersina viridis

Red-legged Honeycreeper

Cyanerpes cyaneus

Black-faced Dacnis

Coereba flaveola

White-shouldered Tanager

Loriotus luctuosus

Crimson-backed Tanager

Ramphocelus dimidiatus

Lined Seedeater

Sporophila lineola

Band-tailed Seedeater

Catamenia analis

Plain-colored Seedeater

Catamenia inornata

Paramo Seedeater

Catamenia homochroa

Warbling Masked Flowerpiercer

Diglossa cyanea

Glossy Flowerpiercer

Diglossa lafresnayii

Buff-breasted Mountain Tanager

Dubusia taeniata

Cissopis leverianus

Black-faced Tanager

Schistochlamys melanopis

Thraupis palmarum

Black-capped Tanager

Stilpnia heinei

Highland Tinamou

Nothocercus bonapartei

Cinereous Tinamou

Crypturellus cinereus

Helmeted Curassow

Sooty-capped Hermit

Phaethornis augusti

Brown Violetear

Colibri delphinae

Violet-headed Hummingbird

Crowned Woodnymph

Thalurania colombica

Versicolored Emerald

Chrysuronia versicolor

Pavonine Cuckoo

Dromococcyx pavoninus

Plumbeous Pigeon

Patagioenas plumbea

Patagioenas subvinacea

Ruddy Quail-Dove

Geotrygon montana

Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture

Cathartes burrovianus

Broad-winged Hawk

Buteo platypterus

Green-backed Trogon

Collared Trogon

Trogon collaris

Amazon Kingfisher

Chloroceryle amazona

Groove-billed Toucanet

Aulacorhynchus sulcatus

Ruddy Woodcreeper

Dendrocincla homochroa

Wedge-billed Woodcreeper

Glyphorynchus spirurus

Striped Woodcreeper

Xiphorhynchus obsoletus

Silvery-throated Spinetail

Synallaxis subpudica

Dysithamnus mentalis

Blue-lored Antbird

Hafferia immaculata

Short-tailed Antthrush

Chamaeza campanisona

Scaled Antpitta

Grallaria guatimalensis

Cinnamon Flycatcher

Pyrrhomyias cinnamomeus

Golden-bellied Flycatcher

Myiodynastes hemichrysus

Pale-edged Flycatcher

Myiarchus cephalotes

Andean Cock-of-the-rock

Rupicola peruvianus

Black-crowned Tityra

Tityra inquisitor

Blue-and-white Swallow

Pygochelidon cyanoleuca

Grey-breasted Wood Wren

Henicorhina leucophrys

Purple-throated Euphonia

Euphonia chlorotica

Chestnut-capped Brushfinch

Arremon brunneinucha

Yellow-hooded Blackbird

Chrysomus icterocephalus

Masked Yellowthroat

Geothlypis aequinoctialis

Mourning Warbler

Geothlypis philadelphia

Cerulean Warbler

Setophaga cerulea

Bay-breasted Warbler

Setophaga castanea

Blackburnian Warbler

Setophaga fusca

Black-crested Warbler

Myiothlypis nigrocristata

Slate-throated Whitestart

Myioborus miniatus

Red-crowned Ant Tanager

Chestnut-bellied Seed Finch

Sporophila angolensis

Golden-eyed Flowerpiercer

Diglossa glauca

White-tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus

Common Woolly Monkey

Lagothrix lagothricha

Northern Gray Fox

Urocyon cinereoargenteus

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