Natural Utría National Park

National Park · Colombia

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Photo © Biodiego88

Photo © Biodiego88 — CC BY 4.0 — Source: Wikimedia Commons

Where the Chocó's coastal mountains plunge toward the Pacific, Utría National Park preserves one of Colombia's most biodiverse and least-visited wilderness expanses. Sprawling across 1,287 square kilometres of steep, forested terrain in the Alto Baudó region, the park anchors itself on a dramatic fjord system where tidal influence shapes both the mangrove forests and the rocky inlets beyond. The landscape transitions sharply from lowland rainforest—dense, humid, and virtually impenetrable—through montane cloud forest to higher ridge systems where mist hangs perpetually. This extreme topography and the region's astonishing rainfall create layered habitats that support an extraordinary array of wildlife: raptors of various sizes hunt above the canopy and forest edge, while smaller predatory mammals move through the understory; the waterways host migratory waterfowl and specialized wetland birds, and the forests themselves throb with songbirds, parrots, and other canopy residents. Amphibians and reptiles exploit the permanent moisture, and marine species—from sharks to rays to reef fish—navigate the fjord's brackish margins where rivers meet tide.

For wildlife photographers and serious birders, Utría presents both formidable challenge and exceptional reward. The sheer rainfall and difficult terrain demand physical preparation and patience, yet these very conditions ensure that wildlife remains abundant and relatively undisturbed by human presence. The canopy light is subdued and often diffuse, favouring early mornings and the transitional hours when activity peaks; the wet season brings migratory species and breeding displays across multiple guilds. Access typically routes through the small settlement at Pie de Pató, where local guides possess irreplaceable knowledge of seasonal movements and forest routes. Few international visitors penetrate this far into the Chocó's interior, which means that patient naturalists who do arrive encounter a landscape where ecological processes unfold with a wildness increasingly rare in the modern tropics. The combination of pristine forest, marine interface, and genuine remoteness makes Utría a destination for those willing to trade comfort for authenticity and crowds for solitude.

Website parquesnacionales.gov.co/PNN/portel/libreria/php/decide.php?patron=01.020218

Red-legged Honeycreeper

Cyanerpes cyaneus

Tropical Kingbird

Tyrannus melancholicus

Bay-breasted Warbler

Setophaga castanea

Thalasseus maximus

Southern Rough-winged Swallow

Stelgidopteryx ruficollis

Grey-rumped Swift

Chaetura cinereiventris

Fork-tailed Flycatcher

Tyrannus savana

Pelecanus occidentalis

Great-tailed Grackle

Quiscalus mexicanus

Yellow-crowned Night Heron

Nyctanassa violacea

Ringed Kingfisher

Megaceryle torquata

Streaked Flycatcher

Myiodynastes maculatus

Baudo Oropendola

Psarocolius cassini

Red-lored Amazon

Amazona autumnalis

Black-tipped Cotinga

Carpodectes hopkei

Fulvous-vented Euphonia

Euphonia fulvicrissa

Blue-headed Parrot

Pionus menstruus

Amazona farinosa

Hudsonian Whimbrel

Numenius hudsonicus

Least Sandpiper

Calidris minutilla

Black-striped Woodcreeper

Xiphorhynchus lachrymosus

Blue-black Grassquit

Volatinia jacarina

Black-throated Mango

Anthracothorax nigricollis

Western Sandpiper

Mesembrinibis cayennensis

Semiplumbeous Hawk

Leucopternis semiplumbeus

Great Antshrike

Black-crowned Tityra

Tityra inquisitor

One-colored Becard

Pachyramphus homochrous

Red-breasted Meadowlark

Leistes militaris

Plain-colored Tanager

Tangara inornata

White-tipped Sicklebill

Eutoxeres aquila

Stripe-throated Hermit

Phaethornis striigularis

Aramus guarauna

Butorides virescens

Black Hawk-Eagle

Spizaetus tyrannus

Microspizias superciliosus

Blue-and-yellow Macaw

Spot-crowned Antvireo

Dysithamnus puncticeps

Sirystes albogriseus

Great Crested Flycatcher

Myiarchus crinitus

Cotinga nattererii

Cantorchilus nigricapillus

Orange-billed Sparrow

Arremon aurantiirostris

Yellow-rumped Cacique

Flame-rumped Tanager

Ramphocelus flammigerus

Black-cheeked Woodpecker

Melanerpes pucherani

Southern House Wren

Troglodytes musculus

White-tailed Trogon

Trogon chionurus

Magnificent Frigatebird

Fregata magnificens

Little Blue Heron

Egretta caerulea

Crimson-backed Tanager

Ramphocelus dimidiatus

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

Amazilia tzacatl

Butorides striata

Amazon Kingfisher

Chloroceryle amazona

Rupornis magnirostris

Pale-mandibled Aracari

Pteroglossus erythropygius

Thick-billed Euphonia

Euphonia laniirostris

Thraupis palmarum

Sarcoramphus papa

Ramphastos brevis

Blue-grey Tanager

Thraupis episcopus

Ictinia plumbea

Swallow-tailed Kite

Elanoides forficatus

Pale-vented Pigeon

Patagioenas cayennensis

Coereba flaveola

Notharchus tectus

Black-chested Jay

Cyanocorax affinis

Smooth-billed Ani

Crimson-crested Woodpecker

Campephilus melanoleucos

Yellow-throated Toucan

Ramphastos ambiguus

Rusty-margined Flycatcher

Myiozetetes cayanensis

Golden-collared Manakin

Manacus vitellinus

Black-breasted Puffbird

Notharchus pectoralis

Spot-crowned Barbet

Capito maculicoronatus

Long-tailed Tyrant

Colonia colonus

Neotropic Cormorant

Nannopterum brasilianum

Coragyps atratus

Pacific Antwren

Myrmotherula pacifica

Penelope purpurascens

Rufous-tailed Jacamar

Galbula ruficauda

Lineated Woodpecker

Dryocopus lineatus

Laughing Falcon

Herpetotheres cachinnans

White-necked Jacobin

Florisuga mellivora

Southern Lapwing

Vanellus chilensis

Patagioenas goodsoni

Molothrus bonariensis

Broad-winged Hawk

Buteo platypterus

Cinnamon Woodpecker

Celeus loricatus

Collared Aracari

Pteroglossus torquatus

Tawny-crested Tanager

Tachyphonus delatrii

Common Tody-Flycatcher

Todirostrum cinereum

Blue Ground Dove

Claravis pretiosa

Crypturellus soui

Purple Honeycreeper

Cyanerpes caeruleus

Southern Nightingale-Wren

Microcerculus marginatus

Yellow-crowned Tyrannulet

Tyrannulus elatus

Spotted Sandpiper

Actitis macularius

Variable Seedeater

Sporophila corvina

Chestnut-headed Oropendola

Psarocolius wagleri

Leucophaeus atricilla

Semipalmated Plover

Charadrius semipalmatus

Purple-throated Fruitcrow

Querula purpurata

Golden-hooded Tanager

Stilpnia larvata

Dusky-faced Tanager

Mitrospingus cassinii

Tityra semifasciata

Chestnut-backed Antbird

Poliocrania exsul

Crowned Woodnymph

Thalurania colombica

Northern Waterthrush

Parkesia noveboracensis

Cinnamon Becard

Pachyramphus cinnamomeus

Scarlet-rumped Cacique

Cacicus uropygialis

Tringa semipalmata

Prothonotary Warbler

Protonotaria citrea

Purple Gallinule

Porphyrio martinica

Blue-chested Hummingbird

Polyerata amabilis

Velvety Manakin

Lepidothrix velutina

Scarlet-browed Tanager

Heterospingus xanthopygius

Scarlet-thighed Dacnis

Buff-throated Saltator

Saltator maximus

Double-toothed Kite

Harpagus bidentatus

Baryphthengus martii

Black-capped Pygmy Tyrant

Myiornis atricapillus

Grey-breasted Martin

Progne chalybea

Long-billed Hermit

Phaethornis longirostris

Purple-crowned Fairy

Heliothryx barroti

Pluvialis squatarola

Northern Barred Woodcreeper

Dendrocolaptes sanctithomae

Eurasian Whimbrel

Numenius phaeopus

Nyctibius griseus

Humboldt's Sapphire

Chrysuronia humboldtii

Ruddy Turnstone

Arenaria interpres

Franklin's Gull

Leucophaeus pipixcan

Sapayoa aenigma

Stub-tailed Antbird

Sipia berlepschi

White-ringed Flycatcher

Conopias albovittatus

Rhytipterna holerythra

Bright-rumped Attila

Attila spadiceus

White-thighed Swallow

Atticora tibialis

Buff-rumped Warbler

Myiothlypis fulvicauda

Green Honeycreeper

Chlorophanes spiza

Berlepsch's Tinamou

Crypturellus berlepschi

Black-bellied Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna autumnalis

Fulvous Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna bicolor

Cairina moschata

Blue-winged Teal

Spatula discors

Penelope ortoni

Rufous-fronted Wood Quail

Odontophorus erythrops

Tawny-faced Quail

Rhynchortyx cinctus

Lesser Nighthawk

Chordeiles acutipennis

Nyctidromus albicollis

Nyctibius grandis

White-collared Swift

Streptoprocne zonaris

Band-rumped Swift

Chaetura spinicaudus

Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift

Panyptila cayennensis

Rufous-breasted Hermit

Glaucis hirsutus

White-whiskered Hermit

Phaethornis yaruqui

Phaethornis guy

Tooth-billed Hummingbird

Androdon aequatorialis

Green Thorntail

Discosura conversii

Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer

Chalybura urochrysia

White-vented Plumeleteer

Chalybura buffonii

Purple-chested Hummingbird

Polyerata rosenbergi

Blue-throated Sapphire

Chlorestes eliciae

Crotophaga major

Common Squirrel Cuckoo

Patagioenas speciosa

Plumbeous Pigeon

Patagioenas plumbea

Patagioenas subvinacea

Ruddy Ground Dove

Columbina talpacoti

Ruddy Quail-Dove

Geotrygon montana

Olive-backed Quail-Dove

Leptotrygon veraguensis

White-tipped Dove

Leptotila verreauxi

Leptotila pallida

Grey-chested Dove

Leptotila cassinii

Zenaida auriculata

Amaurolimnas concolor

Brown Wood Rail

White-throated Crake

Laterallus albigularis

American Oystercatcher

Haematopus palliatus

American Golden Plover

Pluvialis dominica

Solitary Sandpiper

Tringa solitaria

Lesser Yellowlegs

Tringa flavipes

Greater Yellowlegs

Tringa melanoleuca

Calidris virgata

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Calidris pusilla

Gull-billed Tern

Gelochelidon nilotica

Chlidonias niger

Thalasseus sandvicensis

Thalasseus elegans

Eurypyga helias

Red-billed Tropicbird

Phaethon aethereus

Wedge-rumped Storm Petrel

Hydrobates tethys

Anhinga anhinga

Bare-faced Ibis

Phimosus infuscatus

Bare-throated Tiger Heron

Tigrisoma mexicanum

Fasciated Tiger Heron

Tigrisoma fasciatum

Boat-billed Heron

Cochlearius cochlearius

Black-crowned Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

Pilherodius pileatus

Tricolored Heron

Egretta tricolor

Great Blue Heron

Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture

Cathartes burrovianus

Gampsonyx swainsonii

Hook-billed Kite

Chondrohierax uncinatus

Grey-headed Kite

Leptodon cayanensis

Morphnus guianensis

Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle

Spizaetus melanoleucus

Ornate Hawk-Eagle

Spizaetus ornatus

Black-collared Hawk

Busarellus nigricollis

Rostrhamus sociabilis

Great Black Hawk

Buteogallus urubitinga

Pseudastur albicollis

Pulsatrix perspicillata

Lophostrix cristata

Slaty-tailed Trogon

Black-tailed Trogon

Trogon melanurus

Gartered Trogon

Trogon caligatus

Choco Black-throated Trogon

Trogon cupreicauda

American Pygmy Kingfisher

Chloroceryle aenea

Green Kingfisher

Chloroceryle americana

Green-and-rufous Kingfisher

Chloroceryle inda

Whooping Motmot

Momotus subrufescens

Broad-billed Motmot

Electron platyrhynchum

Jacamerops aureus

White-necked Puffbird

Notharchus hyperrhynchus

Sooty-capped Puffbird

White-whiskered Puffbird

Malacoptila panamensis

White-fronted Nunbird

Monasa morphoeus

Yellow-eared Toucanet

Selenidera spectabilis

Red-crowned Woodpecker

Melanerpes rubricapillus

Spot-breasted Woodpecker

Colaptes punctigula

Crimson-bellied Woodpecker

Campephilus haematogaster

Crested Caracara

Caracara plancus

Barred Forest Falcon

Micrastur ruficollis

Slaty-backed Forest Falcon

Micrastur mirandollei

Collared Forest Falcon

Micrastur semitorquatus

Falco rufigularis

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

Blue-fronted Parrotlet

Touit dilectissimus

Orange-chinned Parakeet

Brotogeris jugularis

Brown-hooded Parrot

Pyrilia haematotis

Saffron-headed Parrot

Pyrilia pyrilia

Rose-faced Parrot

Pyrilia pulchra

Yellow-crowned Amazon

Amazona ochrocephala

Chestnut-fronted Macaw

Scarlet-fronted Parakeet

Psittacara wagleri

Scaly-throated Leaftosser

Sclerurus guatemalensis

Plain-brown Woodcreeper

Dendrocincla fuliginosa

Wedge-billed Woodcreeper

Glyphorynchus spirurus

Cocoa Woodcreeper

Xiphorhynchus susurrans

Spotted Woodcreeper

Xiphorhynchus erythropygius

Western Woodhaunter

Automolus virgatus

Slaty Spinetail

Synallaxis brachyura

Dot-winged Antwren

Microrhopias quixensis

Checker-throated Stipplethroat

Epinecrophylla fulviventris

Moustached Antwren

Myrmotherula ignota

White-flanked Antwren

Myrmotherula axillaris

Barred Antshrike

Thamnophilus doliatus

Ocellated Antbird

Phaenostictus mcleannani

Bicolored Antbird

Gymnopithys bicolor

Cercomacroides tyrannina

Cercomacra nigricans

Bare-crowned Antbird

Gymnocichla nudiceps

Zeledon's Antbird

Hafferia zeledoni

Streak-chested Antpitta

Hylopezus perspicillatus

Thicket Antpitta

Myrmothera dives

Yellow-bellied Elaenia

Elaenia flavogaster

Brown-capped Tyrannulet

Ornithion brunneicapillus

Mistletoe Tyrannulet

Zimmerius parvus

Olive-striped Flycatcher

Mionectes galbinus

Ochre-bellied Flycatcher

Mionectes oleagineus

Black-headed Tody-Flycatcher

Todirostrum nigriceps

Brownish Twistwing

Cnipodectes subbrunneus

Pacific Flatbill

Rhynchocyclus pacificus

Yellow-olive Flatbill

Tolmomyias sulphurescens

Yellow-winged Flatbill

Tolmomyias flavotectus

Golden-crowned Spadebill

Platyrinchus coronatus

Western Wood Pewee

Contopus sordidulus

Eastern Wood Pewee

Contopus virens

Northern Tropical Pewee

Contopus bogotensis

Acadian Flycatcher

Empidonax virescens

Vermilion Flycatcher

Pyrocephalus rubinus

Machetornis rixosa

Piratic Flycatcher

Legatus leucophaius

Social Flycatcher

Myiozetetes similis

Grey-capped Flycatcher

Myiozetetes granadensis

Pitangus sulphuratus

Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher

Myiodynastes luteiventris

Boat-billed Flycatcher

Megarynchus pitangua

Eastern Kingbird

Tyrannus tyrannus

Dusky-capped Flycatcher

Myiarchus tuberculifer

Panama Flycatcher

Myiarchus panamensis

Lipaugus unirufus

White-ruffed Manakin

Corapipo altera

Red-capped Manakin

Ceratopipra mentalis

Golden-headed Manakin

Ceratopipra erythrocephala

Speckled Mourner

Laniocera rufescens

Cinereous Becard

Pachyramphus rufus

Sulphur-rumped Myiobius

Myiobius sulphureipygius

Ruddy-tailed Flycatcher

Terenotriccus erythrurus

Ochre-crowned Greenlet

Tunchiornis ochraceiceps

Lesser Greenlet

Pachysylvia decurtata

Yellow-green Vireo

Vireo flavoviridis

Vireo olivaceus

Blue-and-white Swallow

Pygochelidon cyanoleuca

Hirundo rustica

White-headed Wren

Campylorhynchus albobrunneus

Stripe-throated Wren

Cantorchilus leucopogon

White-breasted Wood Wren

Henicorhina leucosticta

Cyphorhinus phaeocephalus

Tawny-faced Gnatwren

Microbates cinereiventris

White-browed Gnatcatcher

Polioptila bilineata

Tropical Mockingbird

Swainson's Thrush

Catharus ustulatus

Grey-cheeked Thrush

Catharus minimus

Black-billed Thrush

Turdus ignobilis

White-vented Euphonia

Euphonia minuta

Orange-bellied Euphonia

Euphonia xanthogaster

Yellow-billed Cacique

Amblycercus holosericeus

Russet-backed Oropendola

Psarocolius angustifrons

Crested Oropendola

Psarocolius decumanus

Molothrus oryzivorus

Black-and-white Warbler

Mniotilta varia

Tennessee Warbler

Leiothlypis peregrina

Olive-crowned Yellowthroat

Geothlypis semiflava

American Redstart

Setophaga ruticilla

Blackburnian Warbler

Setophaga fusca

Mangrove Warbler

Setophaga petechia

Scarlet Tanager

Piranga olivacea

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Pheucticus ludovicianus

Blue-black Grosbeak

Cyanoloxia cyanoides

Scarlet-and-white Tanager

Chrysothlypis salmoni

Swallow Tanager

Tersina viridis

Slate-colored Grosbeak

Saltator grossus

White-shouldered Tanager

Loriotus luctuosus

Yellow-bellied Seedeater

Sporophila nigricollis

Thick-billed Seed Finch

Sporophila funerea

Sicalis flaveola

Grey-and-gold Tanager

Poecilostreptus palmeri

Bay-headed Tanager

Rufous-winged Tanager

Tangara lavinia

Blue-whiskered Tanager

Tangara johannae

Silver-throated Tanager

Tangara icterocephala

Green-fronted Lancebill

Doryfera ludovicae

Lesser Kiskadee

Philohydor lictor

Slate-colored Seedeater

Sporophila schistacea

Grassland Yellow Finch

Sicalis luteola

Steatornis caripensis

Geoffroy's Tamarin

Saguinus geoffroyi

Red-tailed Squirrel

Sciurus granatensis

Central American Agouti

Dasyprocta punctata

Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth

Bradypus variegatus

White-faced Capuchin

Cebus capucinus

Greater Spear-nosed Bat

Phyllostomus hastatus

Megaptera novaeangliae

Southern Long-nosed Armadillo

Dasypus novemcinctus

Alouatta palliata

Mexican Red Brocket

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