Puracé National Natural Park

National Park · Colombia

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Photo © Thomas Fuhrmann

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

Where the Andes thrust upward across southwestern Colombia, Puracé National Natural Park spans nearly 2,631 square kilometers of some of South America's most dramatic montane terrain. Active volcanic peaks dominate the landscape, their slopes plunging through distinct ecological zones that stack like a naturalist's textbook from steaming lowland forests into high-altitude páramo grasslands cloaked in perpetual mist. This vertical wilderness harbors an extraordinary range of habitats: humid cloud forests cling to middle elevations, their canopies draped in epiphytes and perpetually wreathed in moisture; higher still, open páramo meadows give way to alpine scrub and bare rock where hardy cushion plants cling to volcanic soil. The park's wildlife reflects this altitudinal complexity—lowland forest canopies host mixed flocks of tanagers and other woodland songbirds, while mid-elevation slopes support an array of hummingbirds drawn to flowering epiphytes and mountain vegetation. Birds of prey hunt thermals above the ridges, and small forest mammals shelter in the dense understory where moisture and vegetation create ideal microhabitats. Higher in the páramo, specialized alpine birds and montane rodents have evolved to withstand harsh conditions, while the park's numerous rivers and wetlands support waterfowl and wading birds that move seasonally through these elevations.

For wildlife photographers and birdwatchers, Puracé offers a rare opportunity to work across multiple ecosystems in a single expedition without the logistical complexity of traveling vast distances. The park's elevation gradient means that a single morning can yield encounters with species across three or four entirely different ecological communities, and the unpredictable weather—sudden mists, dramatic cloud movements, and intense Andean light breaking through at dawn—creates some of the most dramatically lit moments in South American nature photography. The wet season from April to November brings peak activity and lushest vegetation, though the park remains accessible year-round for determined travelers. Access from the town of Puracé and nearby communities is established, and guides familiar with the terrain and wildlife distribution patterns are essential for maximizing encounters with the park's full spectrum of fauna while navigating its steep, often muddy trails and variable conditions.

Website parquesnacionales.gov.co/PNN/portel/libreria/php/decide.php?patron=01.02022102

Sword-billed Hummingbird

Ensifera ensifera

Colombian Chachalaca

Ortalis columbiana

Rufous-collared Sparrow

Zonotrichia capensis

Cyanocorax yncas

Black-billed Thrush

Turdus ignobilis

Sicalis flaveola

Blue-necked Tanager

Stilpnia cyanicollis

Sayornis nigricans

Tropical Mockingbird

Yellow-backed Oriole

Icterus chrysater

Coragyps atratus

Lesser Goldfinch

Spinus psaltria

Blue-grey Tanager

Thraupis episcopus

Southern Lapwing

Vanellus chilensis

Yellow-faced Grassquit

Tiaris olivaceus

Thraupis palmarum

Common Squirrel Cuckoo

Crimson-backed Tanager

Ramphocelus dimidiatus

Rusty-margined Flycatcher

Myiozetetes cayanensis

Thick-billed Euphonia

Euphonia laniirostris

Pitangus sulphuratus

Golden-faced Tyrannulet

Zimmerius chrysops

Yellow-bellied Seedeater

Sporophila nigricollis

Penelope montagnii

Zenaida auriculata

Bare-faced Ibis

Phimosus infuscatus

Slaty Brushfinch

Atlapetes schistaceus

Coereba flaveola

Band-tailed Pigeon

Patagioenas fasciata

Rupornis magnirostris

Crested Caracara

Caracara plancus

Andean Cock-of-the-rock

Rupicola peruvianus

Cinnycerthia unirufa

Southern House Wren

Troglodytes musculus

Turdus fuscater

Scarlet-bellied Mountain Tanager

Anisognathus igniventris

Sparkling Violetear

Colibri coruscans

Tyrian Metaltail

Metallura tyrianthina

Glowing Puffleg

Eriocnemis vestita

White-bellied Woodstar

Chaetocercus mulsant

Smooth-billed Ani

Crimson-mantled Woodpecker

Colaptes rivolii

Crescent-faced Antpitta

Grallaricula lineifrons

Brown-bellied Swallow

Orochelidon murina

Pale-naped Brushfinch

Atlapetes pallidinucha

Golden-fronted Whitestart

Myioborus ornatus

Black-capped Hemispingus

Kleinothraupis atropileus

Blue-winged Mountain Tanager

Anisognathus somptuosus

Beryl-spangled Tanager

Tangara nigroviridis

Merganetta armata

Oxyura ferruginea

Viridian Metaltail

Metallura williami

Pale-vented Pigeon

Patagioenas cayennensis

Buff-necked Ibis

Theristicus caudatus

Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle

Geranoaetus melanoleucus

Broad-winged Hawk

Buteo platypterus

Golden-headed Quetzal

Pharomachrus auriceps

Southern Emerald Toucanet

Aulacorhynchus albivitta

Lineated Woodpecker

Dryocopus lineatus

Agile Tit-Tyrant

Uromyias agilis

Streak-throated Bush Tyrant

Myiotheretes striaticollis

Green-and-black Fruiteater

Pipreola riefferii

Red-crested Cotinga

Ampelion rubrocristatus

Molothrus bonariensis

Pink-billed Cnemoscopus

Cnemoscopus rubrirostris

Superciliaried Hemispingus

Thlypopsis superciliaris

Stilpnia vitriolina

Red-crowned Woodpecker

Melanerpes rubricapillus

White-tipped Dove

Leptotila verreauxi

Bay-headed Tanager

Blue-and-black Tanager

Tangara vassorii

Grey-breasted Mountain Toucan

Andigena hypoglauca

Trogon personatus

Green Honeycreeper

Chlorophanes spiza

Plum-crowned Parrot

Pionus tumultuosus

Slate-throated Whitestart

Myioborus miniatus

Black-capped Tanager

Stilpnia heinei

Bronze-winged Parrot

Pionus chalcopterus

Golden-plumed Parakeet

Leptosittaca branickii

Saffron-crowned Tanager

Tangara xanthocephala

Scarlet-fronted Parakeet

Psittacara wagleri

White-sided Flowerpiercer

Diglossa albilatera

Warbling Masked Flowerpiercer

Diglossa cyanea

Grey-breasted Wood Wren

Henicorhina leucophrys

Azara's Spinetail

Synallaxis azarae

Chestnut-crowned Antpitta

Grallaria ruficapilla

Yellow-breasted Brushfinch

Atlapetes latinuchus

Sierran Elaenia

Elaenia pallatangae

Brown-capped Vireo

Vireo leucophrys

Tourmaline Sunangel

Heliangelus exortis

Black Flowerpiercer

Diglossa humeralis

Pearled Treerunner

Margarornis squamiger

White-collared Swift

Streptoprocne zonaris

Tropical Kingbird

Tyrannus melancholicus

Blue-and-white Swallow

Pygochelidon cyanoleuca

Vermilion Flycatcher

Pyrocephalus rubinus

Southern Rough-winged Swallow

Stelgidopteryx ruficollis

Momotus aequatorialis

Machetornis rixosa

Blackburnian Warbler

Setophaga fusca

Long-tailed Sylph

Aglaiocercus kingii

White-capped Dipper

Cinclus leucocephalus

Green-tailed Trainbearer

American Kestrel

Falco sparverius

Golden-crowned Tanager

Iridosornis rufivertex

Lacrimose Mountain Tanager

Anisognathus lacrymosus

Speckled Hummingbird

Adelomyia melanogenys

Blue-capped Tanager

Sporathraupis cyanocephala

Shining Sunbeam

Aglaeactis cupripennis

Slaty-backed Chat-Tyrant

Ochthoeca cinnamomeiventris

Tropical Parula

Setophaga pitiayumi

Hooded Mountain Tanager

Buthraupis montana

Purple-backed Thornbill

Ramphomicron microrhynchum

White-booted Racket-tail

Ocreatus underwoodii

Montane Woodcreeper

Lepidocolaptes lacrymiger

Streak-necked Flycatcher

Mionectes striaticollis

Smoke-colored Pewee

Contopus fumigatus

Pale-edged Flycatcher

Myiarchus cephalotes

Golden-rumped Euphonia

Chlorophonia cyanocephala

Blue-backed Conebill

Conirostrum sitticolor

Mountain Velvetbreast

Lafresnaya lafresnayi

Andean Pygmy Owl

Glaucidium jardinii

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

White-browed Spinetail

Hellmayrea gularis

Rufous Spinetail

Synallaxis unirufa

White-throated Tyrannulet

Mecocerculus leucophrys

Rufous-breasted Chat-Tyrant

Ochthoeca rufipectoralis

Cistothorus platensis

Citrine Warbler

Myiothlypis luteoviridis

Catamblyrhynchus diadema

Tawny-breasted Tinamou

Nothocercus julius

Blue-winged Teal

Spatula discors

Yellow-billed Pintail

Nomonyx dominicus

Penelope perspicax

Sickle-winged Guan

Chamaepetes goudotii

Band-winged Nightjar

Systellura longirostris

Lyre-tailed Nightjar

White-tailed Nightjar

Hydropsalis cayennensis

Steatornis caripensis

Chestnut-collared Swift

Streptoprocne rutila

Green-fronted Lancebill

Doryfera ludovicae

Brown Violetear

Colibri delphinae

Lesser Violetear

Colibri cyanotus

Mountain Avocetbill

Opisthoprora euryptera

Rainbow-bearded Thornbill

Chalcostigma herrani

Greenish Puffleg

Haplophaedia aureliae

Black-thighed Puffleg

Eriocnemis derbyi

Golden-breasted Puffleg

Eriocnemis mosquera

Coeligena coeligena

Coeligena torquata

Buff-winged Starfrontlet

Coeligena lutetiae

Great Sapphirewing

Pterophanes cyanopterus

Buff-tailed Coronet

Boissonneaua flavescens

Western Emerald

Chlorostilbon melanorhynchus

Tolima Blossomcrown

Anthocephala berlepschi

Lazuline Sabrewing

Campylopterus falcatus

Uranomitra franciae

Plumbeous Pigeon

Patagioenas plumbea

Patagioenas subvinacea

White-throated Quail-Dove

Zentrygon frenata

Common Gallinule

Gallinula galeata

Fulica americana

Podiceps occipitalis

Vanellus resplendens

Gallinago nobilis

Spotted Sandpiper

Actitis macularius

Lesser Yellowlegs

Tringa flavipes

Greater Yellowlegs

Tringa melanoleuca

Baird's Sandpiper

Calidris bairdii

Least Sandpiper

Calidris minutilla

Pectoral Sandpiper

Calidris melanotos

Neotropic Cormorant

Nannopterum brasilianum

Pandion haliaetus

Swallow-tailed Kite

Elanoides forficatus

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Accipiter striatus

Cinereous Harrier

Circus cinereus

Ictinia plumbea

Morphnarchus princeps

Geranoaetus polyosoma

Short-tailed Hawk

Buteo brachyurus

White-throated Screech Owl

Megascops albogularis

Rufous-banded Owl

Strix albitarsis

Collared Trogon

Trogon collaris

Ringed Kingfisher

Megaceryle torquata

Black-billed Mountain Toucan

Andigena nigrirostris

Golden-olive Woodpecker

Colaptes rubiginosus

Powerful Woodpecker

Campephilus pollens

Crimson-crested Woodpecker

Campephilus melanoleucos

Falco columbarius

Rufous-fronted Parakeet

Bolborhynchus ferrugineifrons

Tyrannine Woodcreeper

Dendrocincla tyrannina

Strong-billed Woodcreeper

Xiphocolaptes promeropirhynchus

Olive-backed Woodcreeper

Xiphorhynchus triangularis

Streaked Xenops

Xenops rutilans

Streaked Tuftedcheek

Pseudocolaptes boissonneautii

Chestnut-winged Cinclodes

Cinclodes albidiventris

Stout-billed Cinclodes

Cinclodes excelsior

Montane Foliage-gleaner

Anabacerthia striaticollis

Flammulated Treehunter

Thripadectes flammulatus

Spotted Barbtail

Premnoplex brunnescens

Andean Tit-Spinetail

Leptasthenura andicola

White-chinned Thistletail

Asthenes fuliginosa

Schwartz's Antthrush

Chamaeza turdina

Undulated Antpitta

Grallaria squamigera

Chestnut-naped Antpitta

Grallaria nuchalis

White-bellied Antpitta

Grallaria hypoleuca

Bicolored Antpitta

Grallaria rufocinerea

Equatorial Antpitta

Grallaria saturata

Grallaria quitensis

Slaty-crowned Antpitta

Grallaricula nana

Ocellated Tapaculo

Acropternis orthonyx

Paramo Tapaculo

Scytalopus opacus

Blackish Tapaculo

Scytalopus latrans

Elaenia chiriquensis

Mountain Elaenia

Elaenia frantzii

Southern Beardless Tyrannulet

Camptostoma obsoletum

White-tailed Tyrannulet

Mecocerculus poecilocercus

Sulphur-bellied Tyrannulet

Mecocerculus minor

White-banded Tyrannulet

Mecocerculus stictopterus

Tufted Tit-Tyrant

Anairetes parulus

Torrent Tyrannulet

Serpophaga cinerea

Mouse-colored Tyrannulet

Nesotriccus murinus

Rufous-headed Pygmy Tyrant

Pseudotriccus ruficeps

Ornate Flycatcher

Myiotriccus ornatus

Black-throated Tody-Tyrant

Hemitriccus granadensis

Rufous-crowned Tody-Flycatcher

Poecilotriccus ruficeps

Cinnamon Flycatcher

Pyrrhomyias cinnamomeus

Western Wood Pewee

Contopus sordidulus

Paramo Ground Tyrant

Muscisaxicola alpinus

Smoky Bush Tyrant

Myiotheretes fumigatus

Crowned Chat-Tyrant

Silvicultrix frontalis

Yellow-bellied Chat-Tyrant

Silvicultrix diadema

Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant

Ochthoeca fumicolor

Golden-bellied Flycatcher

Myiodynastes hemichrysus

Dusky-capped Flycatcher

Myiarchus tuberculifer

Apical Flycatcher

Myiarchus apicalis

Barred Fruiteater

Pipreola arcuata

Lipaugus fuscocinereus

Pachyramphus versicolor

White-winged Becard

Pachyramphus polychopterus

Black-billed Peppershrike

Cyclarhis nigrirostris

Rufous-naped Greenlet

Pachysylvia semibrunnea

Black-collared Jay

Cyanolyca armillata

Brown-chested Martin

White-thighed Swallow

Atticora tibialis

Pale-footed Swallow

Orochelidon flavipes

American Cliff Swallow

Petrochelidon pyrrhonota

Sepia-brown Wren

Cinnycerthia olivascens

Pheugopedius mystacalis

Troglodytes solstitialis

Southern Nightingale-Wren

Microcerculus marginatus

Andean Solitaire

Myadestes ralloides

Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush

Catharus aurantiirostris

Swainson's Thrush

Catharus ustulatus

Grey-cheeked Thrush

Catharus minimus

Pale-eyed Thrush

Chestnut-bellied Thrush

Turdus fulviventris

Glossy-black Thrush

Turdus serranus

Yellow-bellied Siskin

Spinus xanthogastrus

Spinus spinescens

Chestnut-breasted Chlorophonia

Chlorophonia pyrrhophrys

Yellow-throated Chlorospingus

Chlorospingus flavigularis

Yellow-whiskered Chlorospingus

Chlorospingus parvirostris

Common Chlorospingus

Chlorospingus flavopectus

Grey-browed Brushfinch

Arremon assimilis

Chestnut-capped Brushfinch

Arremon brunneinucha

White-naped Brushfinch

Atlapetes albinucha

Dusky-headed Brushfinch

Atlapetes fuscoolivaceus

White-rimmed Brushfinch

Atlapetes leucopis

Crested Oropendola

Psarocolius decumanus

Scarlet-rumped Cacique

Cacicus uropygialis

Mountain Cacique

Cacicus chrysonotus

American Redstart

Setophaga ruticilla

Black-crested Warbler

Myiothlypis nigrocristata

Russet-crowned Warbler

Myiothlypis coronata

Golden-crowned Warbler

Basileuterus culicivorus

Three-striped Warbler

Basileuterus tristriatus

Cardellina canadensis

Scarlet Tanager

Piranga olivacea

Red-hooded Tanager

Piranga rubriceps

Black-backed Grosbeak

Pheucticus aureoventris

White-capped Tanager

Sericossypha albocristata

Wedge-tailed Grass Finch

Emberizoides herbicola

Black-winged Saltator

Saltator atripennis

Grey-headed Tanager

Eucometis penicillata

Flame-rumped Tanager

Ramphocelus flammigerus

Black-headed Hemispingus

Pseudospingus verticalis

Oleaginous Hemispingus

Sphenopsis frontalis

Black-eared Hemispingus

Sphenopsis melanotis

Black-backed Bush Tanager

Urothraupis stolzmanni

Grassland Yellow Finch

Sicalis luteola

Plumbeous Sierra Finch

Geospizopsis unicolor

Haplospiza rustica

Band-tailed Seedeater

Catamenia analis

Plain-colored Seedeater

Catamenia inornata

Paramo Seedeater

Catamenia homochroa

Bluish Flowerpiercer

Diglossa caerulescens

Rusty Flowerpiercer

Diglossa sittoides

Glossy Flowerpiercer

Diglossa lafresnayii

Fawn-breasted Tanager

Pipraeidea melanonota

Buff-breasted Mountain Tanager

Dubusia taeniata

Grass-green Tanager

Chlorornis riefferii

Black-chested Mountain Tanager

Cnemathraupis eximia

Golden-naped Tanager

Chalcothraupis ruficervix

Metallic-green Tanager

Tangara labradorides

Flame-faced Tanager

Tangara parzudakii

Solitary Sandpiper

Tringa solitaria

White-rumped Hawk

Parabuteo leucorrhous

Collared Forest Falcon

Micrastur semitorquatus

Barred Parakeet

Bolborhynchus lineola

Streak-headed Antbird

Drymophila striaticeps

Olive-striped Flycatcher

Mionectes galbinus

Eastern Wood Pewee

Contopus virens

Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher

Myiodynastes luteiventris

Chestnut-bellied Cotinga

Doliornis remseni

Capped Conebill

Conirostrum albifrons

Masked Mountain Tanager

Tephrophilus wetmorei

Tremarctos ornatus

Tapirus pinchaque

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