Natural Serranía de los Yariguíes National Park

National Park · Colombia

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Photo © Kamilokardona

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

Where the northern cordilleras of Colombia rise toward cloud forest, the Serranía de los Yariguíes unfolds across nearly 1,820 square kilometers of some of the most biodiverse terrain in the western Andes. This national park, anchored near El Carmen de Chucurí in Santander's humid highlands, is defined by steep mountain slopes, rushing water systems, and a mosaic of forest types that shift with elevation—from wet lowland forest through montane woodland to the misty upper reaches where epiphytes cling to gnarled branches and moisture condenses perpetually from passing clouds. The park's rugged topography creates countless microclimates and ecological niches, supporting a remarkable array of wildlife adapted to this vertical world: small forest mammals shelter in the dense understory, birds of prey hunt from canopy edges and ridge thermals, stream-dwelling amphibians and fish occupy clear mountain waters, and countless insects and other arthropods drive the nutrient cycles that bind the forest together. This is an intact mountain wilderness where ecosystem processes run uninterrupted, and ecological relationships forged over millions of years still govern the daily rhythms of survival.

For wildlife photographers and serious birdwatchers, the Serranía de los Yariguíes presents an understudied frontier—a park where the canopy holds secrets not yet fully catalogued by science. The dramatic relief and elevational range mean that observers moving from lower to higher slopes can encounter entirely different ecological communities within a single day's walk, multiplying the chances of unexpected encounters. Light in these misty highlands is often diffuse and soft, favoring telephoto work during the brief clearings that follow dawn mists. The park's remoteness and difficult access—it remains one of Colombia's least-visited protected areas—mean that visitors who undertake the journey find themselves in genuinely wild country, far from the well-worn trails of more famous reserves. Serious naturalists drawn to mountain forest birds, small mammals of the high Andes, and the chance to photograph ecological processes in an almost pristine state will find few places in the region that offer comparable rewards for the effort required.

Website parquesnacionales.gov.co/PNN/portel/libreria/php/decide.php?patron=01.01

Andean Cock-of-the-rock

Rupicola peruvianus

Crested Quetzal

Pharomachrus antisianus

Green-crowned Brilliant

Heliodoxa jacula

Collared Trogon

Trogon collaris

Cyanocorax yncas

Grey-breasted Wood Wren

Henicorhina leucophrys

Russet-backed Oropendola

Psarocolius angustifrons

Golden-faced Tyrannulet

Zimmerius chrysops

Pitangus sulphuratus

Sparkling Violetear

Colibri coruscans

Smooth-billed Ani

Pavonine Cuckoo

Dromococcyx pavoninus

Patagioenas subvinacea

Tropical Screech Owl

Megascops choliba

Golden-headed Quetzal

Pharomachrus auriceps

Moustached Puffbird

Malacoptila mystacalis

White-bellied Antpitta

Grallaria hypoleuca

Green-and-black Fruiteater

Pipreola riefferii

Golden-winged Manakin

Masius chrysopterus

White-bibbed Manakin

Corapipo leucorrhoa

Yellow-breasted Brushfinch

Atlapetes latinuchus

Coereba flaveola

Blue-necked Tanager

Stilpnia cyanicollis

Lined Quail-Dove

Zentrygon linearis

Campylorhynchus griseus

White-necked Jacobin

Florisuga mellivora

Brown Violetear

Colibri delphinae

Crimson-crested Woodpecker

Campephilus melanoleucos

Crested Caracara

Caracara plancus

Orange-bellied Euphonia

Euphonia xanthogaster

Yellow-faced Grassquit

Tiaris olivaceus

Flame-rumped Tanager

Ramphocelus flammigerus

Blue-winged Mountain Tanager

Anisognathus somptuosus

Stilpnia vitriolina

Blue-grey Tanager

Thraupis episcopus

Coragyps atratus

Crimson-backed Tanager

Ramphocelus dimidiatus

Thraupis palmarum

Colombian Chachalaca

Ortalis columbiana

Ruddy Ground Dove

Columbina talpacoti

Yellow-bellied Elaenia

Elaenia flavogaster

Tropical Mockingbird

Black-billed Thrush

Turdus ignobilis

Sicalis flaveola

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

Amazilia tzacatl

Nyctibius griseus

Ornate Flycatcher

Myiotriccus ornatus

Phaethornis guy

Speckled Hummingbird

Adelomyia melanogenys

White-booted Racket-tail

Ocreatus underwoodii

Uranomitra franciae

Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush

Catharus aurantiirostris

Tropical Kingbird

Tyrannus melancholicus

Vermilion Flycatcher

Pyrocephalus rubinus

Gorgeted Woodstar

Chaetocercus heliodor

Hook-billed Kite

Chondrohierax uncinatus

Buff-tailed Coronet

Boissonneaua flavescens

Lazuline Sabrewing

Campylopterus falcatus

Crowned Woodnymph

Thalurania colombica

Indigo-capped Hummingbird

Saucerottia cyanifrons

Blackburnian Warbler

Setophaga fusca

Lesser Violetear

Colibri cyanotus

Long-tailed Sylph

Aglaiocercus kingii

Fawn-breasted Brilliant

Heliodoxa rubinoides

Ruddy Quail-Dove

Geotrygon montana

Southern Lapwing

Vanellus chilensis

Falco rufigularis

Cocoa Woodcreeper

Xiphorhynchus susurrans

Straight-billed Woodcreeper

Dendroplex picus

Brown-billed Scythebill

Campylorhamphus pusillus

Streak-headed Woodcreeper

Lepidocolaptes souleyetii

Slaty Spinetail

Synallaxis brachyura

Pale-breasted Spinetail

Synallaxis albescens

Myrmotherula schisticolor

Bar-crested Antshrike

Thamnophilus multistriatus

Parker's Antbird

Cercomacroides parkeri

Olive-striped Flycatcher

Mionectes galbinus

White-throated Spadebill

Platyrinchus mystaceus

Yellow-throated Spadebill

Platyrinchus flavigularis

Cinnamon Flycatcher

Pyrrhomyias cinnamomeus

Acadian Flycatcher

Empidonax virescens

Long-tailed Tyrant

Colonia colonus

Machetornis rixosa

Streaked Flycatcher

Myiodynastes maculatus

Lipaugus fuscocinereus

Cinnamon Becard

Pachyramphus cinnamomeus

Rufous-naped Greenlet

Pachysylvia semibrunnea

Brown-capped Vireo

Vireo leucophrys

Andean Solitaire

Myadestes ralloides

Yellow-legged Thrush

Turdus flavipes

White-capped Dipper

Cinclus leucocephalus

Blue-naped Chlorophonia

Chlorophonia cyanea

Thick-billed Euphonia

Euphonia laniirostris

Common Chlorospingus

Chlorospingus flavopectus

Chestnut-capped Brushfinch

Arremon brunneinucha

White-naped Brushfinch

Atlapetes albinucha

Crested Oropendola

Psarocolius decumanus

Mountain Cacique

Cacicus chrysonotus

Yellow-backed Oriole

Icterus chrysater

Yellow-tailed Oriole

Icterus mesomelas

Cerulean Warbler

Setophaga cerulea

Russet-crowned Warbler

Myiothlypis coronata

Golden-crowned Warbler

Basileuterus culicivorus

Cardellina canadensis

Slate-throated Whitestart

Myioborus miniatus

Golden-fronted Whitestart

Myioborus ornatus

Olive-grey Saltator

Saltator olivascens

Black-winged Saltator

Saltator atripennis

Thick-billed Seed Finch

Sporophila funerea

Beryl-spangled Tanager

Tangara nigroviridis

Bay-headed Tanager

Highland Tinamou

Nothocercus bonapartei

Penelope montagnii

Lyre-tailed Nightjar

White-tailed Nightjar

Hydropsalis cayennensis

White-tipped Swift

Aeronautes montivagus

White-tipped Sicklebill

Eutoxeres aquila

Tawny-bellied Hermit

Phaethornis syrmatophorus

Black-throated Mango

Anthracothorax nigricollis

Longuemare's Sunangel

Heliangelus clarisse

Green-tailed Trainbearer

Coeligena prunellei

Coeligena torquata

Violet-fronted Brilliant

Heliodoxa leadbeateri

White-bellied Woodstar

Chaetocercus mulsant

Short-tailed Emerald

Chlorostilbon poortmani

White-vented Plumeleteer

Chalybura buffonii

Common Squirrel Cuckoo

Band-tailed Pigeon

Patagioenas fasciata

Plumbeous Pigeon

Patagioenas plumbea

Common Ground Dove

Columbina passerina

Plain-breasted Ground Dove

Columbina minuta

White-tipped Dove

Leptotila verreauxi

Black Hawk-Eagle

Spizaetus tyrannus

Ornate Hawk-Eagle

Spizaetus ornatus

Morphnarchus princeps

Buteogallus meridionalis

Rupornis magnirostris

White-throated Screech Owl

Megascops albogularis

Cinnamon Screech Owl

Megascops petersoni

Pulsatrix perspicillata

Trogon personatus

White-mantled Barbet

Capito hypoleucus

Red-headed Barbet

Eubucco bourcierii

Collared Aracari

Pteroglossus torquatus

Black-billed Mountain Toucan

Andigena nigrirostris

Southern Emerald Toucanet

Aulacorhynchus albivitta

Crimson-rumped Toucanet

Aulacorhynchus haematopygus

Beautiful Woodpecker

Melanerpes pulcher

Red-crowned Woodpecker

Melanerpes rubricapillus

Golden-olive Woodpecker

Colaptes rubiginosus

Crimson-mantled Woodpecker

Colaptes rivolii

Spot-breasted Woodpecker

Colaptes punctigula

Lineated Woodpecker

Dryocopus lineatus

Powerful Woodpecker

Campephilus pollens

Laughing Falcon

Herpetotheres cachinnans

Barred Forest Falcon

Micrastur ruficollis

American Kestrel

Falco sparverius

Orange-chinned Parakeet

Brotogeris jugularis

Plum-crowned Parrot

Pionus tumultuosus

Blue-headed Parrot

Pionus menstruus

Bronze-winged Parrot

Pionus chalcopterus

Spectacled Parrotlet

Forpus conspicillatus

Olivaceous Woodcreeper

Sittasomus griseicapillus

Wedge-billed Woodcreeper

Glyphorynchus spirurus

Black-banded Woodcreeper

Dendrocolaptes picumnus

Strong-billed Woodcreeper

Xiphocolaptes promeropirhynchus

Olive-backed Woodcreeper

Xiphorhynchus triangularis

Red-billed Scythebill

Campylorhamphus trochilirostris

Montane Woodcreeper

Lepidocolaptes lacrymiger

Streaked Xenops

Xenops rutilans

Streaked Tuftedcheek

Pseudocolaptes boissonneautii

Rusty-winged Barbtail

Premnornis guttuliger

Montane Foliage-gleaner

Anabacerthia striaticollis

Lineated Foliage-gleaner

Syndactyla subalaris

Buff-fronted Foliage-gleaner

Spotted Barbtail

Premnoplex brunnescens

Ash-browed Spinetail

Cranioleuca curtata

Azara's Spinetail

Synallaxis azarae

Rufous-rumped Antwren

Euchrepomis callinota

Northern White-fringed Antwren

Formicivora intermedia

Dysithamnus mentalis

Uniform Antshrike

Thamnophilus unicolor

Chestnut-crowned Antpitta

Grallaria ruficapilla

Ochre-breasted Antpitta

Grallaricula flavirostris

White-crowned Tapaculo

Scytalopus atratus

Blackish Tapaculo

Scytalopus latrans

Pale-bellied Tapaculo

Scytalopus griseicollis

Mountain Elaenia

Elaenia frantzii

White-throated Tyrannulet

Mecocerculus leucophrys

White-tailed Tyrannulet

Mecocerculus poecilocercus

Spectacled Tyrannulet

Zimmerius improbus

Variegated Bristle Tyrant

Pogonotriccus poecilotis

Streak-necked Flycatcher

Mionectes striaticollis

Ochre-bellied Flycatcher

Mionectes oleagineus

Slaty-capped Flycatcher

Leptopogon superciliaris

Rufous-breasted Flycatcher

Leptopogon rufipectus

Flavescent Flycatcher

Myiophobus flavicans

Scale-crested Pygmy Tyrant

Lophotriccus pileatus

Slaty-headed Tody-Flycatcher

Poecilotriccus sylvia

Common Tody-Flycatcher

Todirostrum cinereum

Smoke-colored Pewee

Contopus fumigatus

Slaty-backed Chat-Tyrant

Ochthoeca cinnamomeiventris

Rusty-margined Flycatcher

Myiozetetes cayanensis

Social Flycatcher

Myiozetetes similis

Golden-bellied Flycatcher

Myiodynastes hemichrysus

Fork-tailed Flycatcher

Tyrannus savana

Dusky-capped Flycatcher

Myiarchus tuberculifer

Bright-rumped Attila

Attila spadiceus

White-bearded Manakin

Manacus manacus

Tityra semifasciata

White-winged Becard

Pachyramphus polychopterus

Yellow-browed Shrike-Vireo

Vireolanius eximius

Blue-and-white Swallow

Pygochelidon cyanoleuca

Band-backed Wren

Campylorhynchus zonatus

Pheugopedius mystacalis

Niceforo's Wren

Thryophilus nicefori

Southern House Wren

Troglodytes musculus

Swainson's Thrush

Catharus ustulatus

Glossy-black Thrush

Turdus serranus

Turdus fuscater

Rusty-flanked Thrush

Turdus albicollis

Spectacled Thrush

Turdus nudigenis

Lesser Goldfinch

Spinus psaltria

Yellow-bellied Siskin

Spinus xanthogastrus

Golden-rumped Euphonia

Chlorophonia cyanocephala

Ashy-throated Chlorospingus

Chlorospingus canigularis

Rufous-collared Sparrow

Zonotrichia capensis

Moustached Brushfinch

Atlapetes albofrenatus

Eastern Meadowlark

Sturnella magna

Yellow-billed Cacique

Amblycercus holosericeus

Scarlet-rumped Cacique

Cacicus uropygialis

Orange-crowned Oriole

Icterus auricapillus

Molothrus oryzivorus

Molothrus bonariensis

Quiscalus lugubris

Colombian Mountain Grackle

Macroagelaius subalaris

Black-and-white Warbler

Mniotilta varia

Tennessee Warbler

Leiothlypis peregrina

Tropical Parula

Setophaga pitiayumi

Bay-breasted Warbler

Setophaga castanea

Grey-throated Warbler

Myiothlypis cinereicollis

Chestnut-capped Warbler

Basileuterus delattrii

Three-striped Warbler

Basileuterus tristriatus

White-winged Tanager

Piranga leucoptera

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Pheucticus ludovicianus

Green Honeycreeper

Chlorophanes spiza

Turquoise Dacnis

Dacnis hartlaubi

Streaked Saltator

Saltator striatipectus

Buff-throated Saltator

Saltator maximus

Blue-black Grassquit

Volatinia jacarina

White-lined Tanager

Tachyphonus rufus

Black-and-white Seedeater

Sporophila luctuosa

Yellow-bellied Seedeater

Sporophila nigricollis

Ruddy-breasted Seedeater

Sporophila minuta

Pink-billed Cnemoscopus

Cnemoscopus rubrirostris

Oleaginous Hemispingus

Sphenopsis frontalis

Bluish Flowerpiercer

Diglossa caerulescens

Warbling Masked Flowerpiercer

Diglossa cyanea

White-sided Flowerpiercer

Diglossa albilatera

Blue-capped Tanager

Sporathraupis cyanocephala

Cissopis leverianus

Golden-naped Tanager

Chalcothraupis ruficervix

Black-capped Tanager

Stilpnia heinei

Golden-hooded Tanager

Stilpnia larvata

Metallic-green Tanager

Tangara labradorides

Saffron-crowned Tanager

Tangara xanthocephala

Flame-faced Tanager

Tangara parzudakii

Plain-colored Tanager

Tangara inornata

Nyctidromus albicollis

Long-billed Hermit

Phaethornis longirostris

Green-fronted Lancebill

Doryfera ludovicae

Geoffroy's Daggerbill

Schistes geoffroyi

Tyrian Metaltail

Metallura tyrianthina

Chestnut-bellied Hummingbird

Saucerottia castaneiventris

Ash-throated Crake

Mustelirallus albicollis

Black-and-white Owl

Strix nigrolineata

Olivaceous Piculet

Picumnus olivaceus

Saffron-headed Parrot

Pyrilia pyrilia

Rufous Spinetail

Synallaxis unirufa

Recurve-billed Bushbird

Clytoctantes alixii

Chestnut-crowned Gnateater

Conopophaga castaneiceps

Wing-barred Piprites

Piprites chloris

Plumbeous-crowned Tyrannulet

Phyllomyias plumbeiceps

Rufous-browed Tyrannulet

Phylloscartes superciliaris

Bran-colored Flycatcher

Myiophobus fasciatus

Northern Tropical Pewee

Contopus bogotensis

Southern Tropical Pewee

Contopus cinereus

Boat-billed Flycatcher

Megarynchus pitangua

Pale-edged Flycatcher

Myiarchus cephalotes

Cinereous Becard

Pachyramphus rufus

Hylophilus flavipes

Yellow-throated Vireo

Vireo flavifrons

Sooty-headed Wren

Pheugopedius spadix

Northern House Wren

Troglodytes aedon

Troglodytes solstitialis

Slaty-backed Nightingale-Thrush

Catharus fuscater

Pale-breasted Thrush

Turdus leucomelas

Slaty Brushfinch

Atlapetes schistaceus

Yellow-rumped Cacique

Baltimore Oriole

Icterus galbula

Mourning Warbler

Geothlypis philadelphia

American Redstart

Setophaga ruticilla

Blackpoll Warbler

Setophaga striata

Buff-rumped Warbler

Myiothlypis fulvicauda

White-capped Tanager

Sericossypha albocristata

Hemithraupis guira

Capped Conebill

Conirostrum albifrons

Speckled Tanager

Ixothraupis guttata

Eastern Lowland Olingo

Bassaricyon alleni

Seba's Short-tailed Bat

Carollia perspicillata

Tailed Tailless Bat

Anoura caudifer

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