Natural Uramba Bahía Málaga National Park

National Park · Colombia

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Photo © Ricardo Hincapié Trujillo

Photo © Ricardo Hincapié Trujillo — CC BY-SA 4.0 — Source: Wikimedia Commons

Where the Pacific coastal rainforest descends to mangrove estuaries and rocky headlands, Uramba Bahía Málaga National Park unfolds across nearly 1,000 square kilometres of Colombia's Valle del Cauca. This is a landscape of profound ecological transition, where terrestrial forest meets the sea through a mosaic of intertidal mudflats, shallow bays, and dense riparian corridors. The park's forests rise steeply from tide line to montane ridges, creating distinct ecological zones that support the region's characteristic fauna. Wading birds and shore specialists work the mudflats and mangrove edges at daybreak, while deeper in the canopy, mixed feeding flocks of woodland songbirds move through the mid-storey vegetation. Raptors patrol both forest interior and open water, hunting across habitats that few other parks on Colombia's Pacific coast protect with such integrity. Small forest mammals and arboreal species exploit the dense understory and emergent crowns, their presence betrayed more often by calls and movement than direct sighting. The waters themselves support cetaceans and other marine fauna that range in and out with the tides.

For wildlife photographers and naturalists, Uramba presents a rare opportunity to document Pacific forest specialties and coastal species within a single protected landscape. The combination of montane forest, lowland rainforest, and marine habitat means that visiting across seasons—particularly during the wetter months when birds vocalize most actively and fruiting peaks—yields encounters with multiple ecological communities. Morning light filtering through the canopy at lower elevations offers ideal conditions for capturing forest understory activity, while boat-based excursions into the bay at dawn unlock opportunities to observe marine birds and cetaceans as they feed. Access from nearby Buenaventura makes the park logistically feasible for serious naturalists, though visitors should prepare for Colombia's Pacific coast conditions—high humidity, heavy rainfall, and the physical demands of forest fieldwork. Those willing to invest time in patient observation will find a coastal rainforest ecosystem where human presence remains minimal and the natural rhythms of forest and sea still dictate the pace of wildlife activity.

Website parquesnacionales.gov.co/PNN/portel/libreria/php/decide.php?patron=01.0144

Pelecanus occidentalis

Coragyps atratus

Great-tailed Grackle

Quiscalus mexicanus

Yellow-crowned Night Heron

Nyctanassa violacea

Black-chested Jay

Cyanocorax affinis

Hudsonian Whimbrel

Numenius hudsonicus

Pandion haliaetus

Crimson-crested Woodpecker

Campephilus melanoleucos

Southern Lapwing

Vanellus chilensis

Least Sandpiper

Calidris minutilla

Gartered Trogon

Trogon caligatus

Black-crowned Antshrike

Thamnophilus atrinucha

Rusty-margined Flycatcher

Myiozetetes cayanensis

Cantorchilus nigricapillus

Coereba flaveola

Thraupis palmarum

Penelope ortoni

Smooth-billed Ani

Western Sandpiper

Little Blue Heron

Egretta caerulea

Ringed Kingfisher

Megaceryle torquata

Notharchus tectus

Blue-headed Parrot

Pionus menstruus

Black-tipped Cotinga

Carpodectes hopkei

Red-capped Manakin

Ceratopipra mentalis

Fulvous-vented Euphonia

Euphonia fulvicrissa

Magnificent Frigatebird

Fregata magnificens

White-tailed Trogon

Trogon chionurus

Black-cheeked Woodpecker

Melanerpes pucherani

Slaty-tailed Trogon

Pale-mandibled Aracari

Pteroglossus erythropygius

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

Amazilia tzacatl

Blue-grey Tanager

Thraupis episcopus

Tawny-crested Tanager

Tachyphonus delatrii

Ramphastos brevis

Collared Aracari

Pteroglossus torquatus

Pacific Antwren

Myrmotherula pacifica

Pale-vented Pigeon

Patagioenas cayennensis

Rupornis magnirostris

Golden-collared Manakin

Manacus vitellinus

White-whiskered Hermit

Phaethornis yaruqui

Butorides striata

Yellow-crowned Tyrannulet

Tyrannulus elatus

Tropical Kingbird

Tyrannus melancholicus

Thalasseus maximus

Eastern Kingbird

Tyrannus tyrannus

Spotted Sandpiper

Actitis macularius

Grey-breasted Martin

Progne chalybea

Red-legged Honeycreeper

Cyanerpes cyaneus

Common Black Hawk

Buteogallus anthracinus

Chestnut-headed Oropendola

Psarocolius wagleri

Tringa semipalmata

Golden-hooded Tanager

Stilpnia larvata

Semipalmated Plover

Charadrius semipalmatus

Scarlet-browed Tanager

Heterospingus xanthopygius

Leucophaeus atricilla

Black-crowned Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

Purple-crowned Fairy

Heliothryx barroti

Hook-billed Kite

Chondrohierax uncinatus

Purple-throated Fruitcrow

Querula purpurata

Velvety Manakin

Lepidothrix velutina

Tityra semifasciata

Variable Seedeater

Sporophila corvina

Eurasian Whimbrel

Numenius phaeopus

Pluvialis squatarola

Ruddy Turnstone

Arenaria interpres

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Calidris pusilla

Neotropic Cormorant

Nannopterum brasilianum

Tricolored Heron

Egretta tricolor

Berlepsch's Tinamou

Crypturellus berlepschi

Crypturellus soui

Cairina moschata

Blue-winged Teal

Spatula discors

Chestnut Wood Quail

Odontophorus hyperythrus

Nyctidromus albicollis

Nyctibius griseus

White-collared Swift

Streptoprocne zonaris

Grey-rumped Swift

Chaetura cinereiventris

Band-rumped Swift

Chaetura spinicaudus

White-necked Jacobin

Florisuga mellivora

Stripe-throated Hermit

Phaethornis striigularis

Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer

Chalybura urochrysia

White-vented Plumeleteer

Chalybura buffonii

Crowned Woodnymph

Thalurania colombica

Humboldt's Sapphire

Chrysuronia humboldtii

Blue-chested Hummingbird

Polyerata amabilis

Purple-chested Hummingbird

Polyerata rosenbergi

Crotophaga major

Grey-capped Cuckoo

Coccyzus lansbergi

Patagioenas speciosa

Plumbeous Pigeon

Patagioenas plumbea

Patagioenas subvinacea

Patagioenas goodsoni

Ruddy Ground Dove

Columbina talpacoti

White-tipped Dove

Leptotila verreauxi

Leptotila pallida

Zenaida auriculata

Purple Gallinule

Porphyrio martinica

White-throated Crake

Laterallus albigularis

Black-necked Stilt

Himantopus mexicanus

Solitary Sandpiper

Tringa solitaria

Greater Yellowlegs

Tringa melanoleuca

Calidris virgata

Baird's Sandpiper

Calidris bairdii

Gull-billed Tern

Gelochelidon nilotica

Thalasseus sandvicensis

Thalasseus elegans

Franklin's Gull

Leucophaeus pipixcan

Eurypyga helias

Sooty Shearwater

Anhinga anhinga

Guanay Cormorant

Leucocarbo bougainvilliorum

Mesembrinibis cayennensis

Bare-faced Ibis

Phimosus infuscatus

Rufescent Tiger Heron

Tigrisoma lineatum

Bare-throated Tiger Heron

Tigrisoma mexicanum

Fasciated Tiger Heron

Tigrisoma fasciatum

Butorides virescens

Great Blue Heron

Swallow-tailed Kite

Elanoides forficatus

Double-toothed Kite

Harpagus bidentatus

Ictinia plumbea

Great Black Hawk

Buteogallus urubitinga

Semiplumbeous Hawk

Leucopternis semiplumbeus

Short-tailed Hawk

Buteo brachyurus

Pulsatrix perspicillata

Lophostrix cristata

Black-tailed Trogon

Trogon melanurus

Amazon Kingfisher

Chloroceryle amazona

American Pygmy Kingfisher

Chloroceryle aenea

Green Kingfisher

Chloroceryle americana

Green-and-rufous Kingfisher

Chloroceryle inda

White-necked Puffbird

Notharchus hyperrhynchus

Black-breasted Puffbird

Notharchus pectoralis

Spot-crowned Barbet

Capito maculicoronatus

Five-colored Barbet

Capito quinticolor

Red-crowned Woodpecker

Melanerpes rubricapillus

Cinnamon Woodpecker

Celeus loricatus

Lineated Woodpecker

Dryocopus lineatus

Crimson-bellied Woodpecker

Campephilus haematogaster

Crested Caracara

Caracara plancus

Laughing Falcon

Herpetotheres cachinnans

Barred Forest Falcon

Micrastur ruficollis

Collared Forest Falcon

Micrastur semitorquatus

Falco rufigularis

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

Blue-fronted Parrotlet

Touit dilectissimus

Orange-chinned Parakeet

Brotogeris jugularis

Saffron-headed Parrot

Pyrilia pyrilia

Rose-faced Parrot

Pyrilia pulchra

Red-lored Amazon

Amazona autumnalis

Yellow-crowned Amazon

Amazona ochrocephala

Amazona farinosa

Plain-brown Woodcreeper

Dendrocincla fuliginosa

Wedge-billed Woodcreeper

Glyphorynchus spirurus

Northern Barred Woodcreeper

Dendrocolaptes sanctithomae

Black-striped Woodcreeper

Xiphorhynchus lachrymosus

Slaty Spinetail

Synallaxis brachyura

Russet Antshrike

Thamnistes anabatinus

Dot-winged Antwren

Microrhopias quixensis

Checker-throated Stipplethroat

Epinecrophylla fulviventris

White-flanked Antwren

Myrmotherula axillaris

Dysithamnus mentalis

Spot-crowned Antvireo

Dysithamnus puncticeps

Great Antshrike

Bicolored Antbird

Gymnopithys bicolor

Cercomacroides tyrannina

Chestnut-backed Antbird

Poliocrania exsul

Thicket Antpitta

Myrmothera dives

Yellow-bellied Elaenia

Elaenia flavogaster

Brown-capped Tyrannulet

Ornithion brunneicapillus

Southern Beardless Tyrannulet

Camptostoma obsoletum

Golden-faced Tyrannulet

Zimmerius chrysops

Olive-striped Flycatcher

Mionectes galbinus

Black-capped Pygmy Tyrant

Myiornis atricapillus

Common Tody-Flycatcher

Todirostrum cinereum

Black-headed Tody-Flycatcher

Todirostrum nigriceps

Pacific Flatbill

Rhynchocyclus pacificus

Yellow-olive Flatbill

Tolmomyias sulphurescens

Yellow-winged Flatbill

Tolmomyias flavotectus

Golden-crowned Spadebill

Platyrinchus coronatus

Sayornis nigricans

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Contopus cooperi

Western Wood Pewee

Contopus sordidulus

Eastern Wood Pewee

Contopus virens

Acadian Flycatcher

Empidonax virescens

Willow Flycatcher

Empidonax traillii

Alder Flycatcher

Empidonax alnorum

Vermilion Flycatcher

Pyrocephalus rubinus

Long-tailed Tyrant

Colonia colonus

Machetornis rixosa

Piratic Flycatcher

Legatus leucophaius

Social Flycatcher

Myiozetetes similis

Grey-capped Flycatcher

Myiozetetes granadensis

Pitangus sulphuratus

White-ringed Flycatcher

Conopias albovittatus

Golden-bellied Flycatcher

Myiodynastes hemichrysus

Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher

Myiodynastes luteiventris

Fork-tailed Flycatcher

Tyrannus savana

Rhytipterna holerythra

Dusky-capped Flycatcher

Myiarchus tuberculifer

Panama Flycatcher

Myiarchus panamensis

Great Crested Flycatcher

Myiarchus crinitus

Bright-rumped Attila

Attila spadiceus

Lipaugus unirufus

Cotinga nattererii

Black-crowned Tityra

Tityra inquisitor

Cinnamon Becard

Pachyramphus cinnamomeus

Ruddy-tailed Flycatcher

Terenotriccus erythrurus

Ochre-crowned Greenlet

Tunchiornis ochraceiceps

Lesser Greenlet

Pachysylvia decurtata

Vireo olivaceus

Yellow-throated Vireo

Vireo flavifrons

Brown-chested Martin

Southern Rough-winged Swallow

Stelgidopteryx ruficollis

White-thighed Swallow

Atticora tibialis

Blue-and-white Swallow

Pygochelidon cyanoleuca

Hirundo rustica

White-headed Wren

Campylorhynchus albobrunneus

Southern House Wren

Troglodytes musculus

White-breasted Wood Wren

Henicorhina leucosticta

Grey-breasted Wood Wren

Henicorhina leucophrys

Southern Nightingale-Wren

Microcerculus marginatus

Tawny-faced Gnatwren

Microbates cinereiventris

White-browed Gnatcatcher

Polioptila bilineata

Tropical Mockingbird

Swainson's Thrush

Catharus ustulatus

Black-billed Thrush

Turdus ignobilis

Lesser Goldfinch

Spinus psaltria

White-vented Euphonia

Euphonia minuta

Thick-billed Euphonia

Euphonia laniirostris

Orange-bellied Euphonia

Euphonia xanthogaster

Crested Oropendola

Psarocolius decumanus

Yellow-rumped Cacique

Scarlet-rumped Cacique

Cacicus uropygialis

Yellow-tailed Oriole

Icterus mesomelas

Molothrus oryzivorus

Molothrus bonariensis

Northern Waterthrush

Parkesia noveboracensis

Black-and-white Warbler

Mniotilta varia

Prothonotary Warbler

Protonotaria citrea

Mourning Warbler

Geothlypis philadelphia

Olive-crowned Yellowthroat

Geothlypis semiflava

American Redstart

Setophaga ruticilla

Tropical Parula

Setophaga pitiayumi

Bay-breasted Warbler

Setophaga castanea

Blackburnian Warbler

Setophaga fusca

Mangrove Warbler

Setophaga petechia

Buff-rumped Warbler

Myiothlypis fulvicauda

Cardellina canadensis

Scarlet Tanager

Piranga olivacea

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Pheucticus ludovicianus

Blue-black Grosbeak

Cyanoloxia cyanoides

Scarlet-and-white Tanager

Chrysothlypis salmoni

Purple Honeycreeper

Cyanerpes caeruleus

Scarlet-thighed Dacnis

Buff-throated Saltator

Saltator maximus

Blue-black Grassquit

Volatinia jacarina

White-shouldered Tanager

Loriotus luctuosus

White-lined Tanager

Tachyphonus rufus

Crimson-backed Tanager

Ramphocelus dimidiatus

Sporophila intermedia

Yellow-bellied Seedeater

Sporophila nigricollis

Thick-billed Seed Finch

Sporophila funerea

Ruddy-breasted Seedeater

Sporophila minuta

Sicalis flaveola

Grey-and-gold Tanager

Poecilostreptus palmeri

Blue-necked Tanager

Stilpnia cyanicollis

Beryl-spangled Tanager

Tangara nigroviridis

Bay-headed Tanager

Rufous-winged Tanager

Tangara lavinia

Blue-whiskered Tanager

Tangara johannae

Silver-throated Tanager

Tangara icterocephala

Plain-colored Tanager

Tangara inornata

Nyctiphrynus rosenbergi

Tooth-billed Hummingbird

Androdon aequatorialis

Black-throated Mango

Anthracothorax nigricollis

Ruddy Quail-Dove

Geotrygon montana

Brown Wood Rail

Aramus guarauna

Lesser Yellowlegs

Tringa flavipes

Ochre-throated Foliage-gleaner

Automolus ochrolaemus

Stub-tailed Antbird

Sipia berlepschi

Esmeraldas Antbird

Sipia nigricauda

American Cliff Swallow

Petrochelidon pyrrhonota

Stripe-throated Wren

Cantorchilus leucopogon

Yellow-backed Oriole

Icterus chrysater

Green Honeycreeper

Chlorophanes spiza

Slate-colored Seedeater

Sporophila schistacea

Steatornis caripensis

Galictis vittata

Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth

Bradypus variegatus

Megaptera novaeangliae

Common Bottlenose Dolphin

Tursiops truncatus

Seba's Short-tailed Bat

Carollia perspicillata

Pallas's Long-tongued Bat

Glossophaga soricina

Niceforo's Big-eared Bat

Trinycteris nicefori

Little Big-eared Bat

Micronycteris megalotis

Greater Spear-nosed Bat

Phyllostomus hastatus

Great Fruit-eating Bat

Artibeus lituratus

Northern Little Yellow-eared Bat

Vampyressa thyone

Common Black Myotis

Myotis nigricans

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