San Isidro Lodge and its closer surroundings boast a bird list of about 330 species. The lodge sits at about 2050 meters (6,800 ft.) above sea level, but the trails lead through habitats from 2,400 meters all the way down to 1,900 meters. In addition to San Isidro being an ideal base to observe Andean birds at subtropical elevations, it is also easy to move up and down the slopes into other distinct habitat zones – such as the highland paramos and tropical foothills – sending the list of bird possibilities to around 1,000 species!

What really makes San Isidro such a joy to bird are the hundreds of bird species that one has a chance of seeing while quietly strolling down the forest trails and forested roadsides. Right from the dining room observation deck, folks often get their first looks at Masked Trogon, Powerful Woodpecker, Squirrel Cuckoo, Lemon-browed Flycatcher, Inca Jay, Green-and-black Fruiteater, Black-billed Peppershrike, Scarlet-rumped Cacique, Russet-backed Oropendola, Oleaginous and Black-eared Hemispingus, and Saffron-crowned and Beryl-spangled Tanagers. Wattled Guans are often seen singing from the crowns of large emergent trees from here too, belting out their bizarre territorial call while Glossy-black Thrushes perch nearby singing ‘back-up’. Right at the main porch the hummingbird feeders and flowers regularly attract Chestnut-breasted Coronet, Fawn-breasted and Violet-fronted Brilliants, Long-tailed Sylph, Collared and Bronzy Incas, Geoffroy’s Daggerbill and Tawny-bellied Hermit.

​​A short walk around the cabins, into the forest or down the road will likely turn up understory and canopy flocks. Watch for Yellow-vented Woodpecker, Montane Foliage-gleaner, Marble-faced and Variegated Bristle-Tyrants, Rufous-breasted and Handsome Flycatchers, Bluish and Masked Flowerpiercers, Golden-collared Honeycreeper, and Chestnut-breasted and Blue-naped Chlorphonias. Be on the lookout for Sickle-winged Guan, Golden-headed and Crested Quetzals, Emerald Toucanet, Black-billed Mountain-Toucan, Highland Motmot, Striped Treehunter, Streak-chested Antbird (a bamboo specialist) and Slate-crowned Antpitta, Black-chested Fruiteater, Rufous-crowned Tody-Flycatcher, Pale-footed Swallow, a wonderful selection of colorful tanager species including Flame-faced, Red-hooded and White-capped and Northern Mountain Caciques. A small congregation of brilliant male Andean Cock-of-the-Rock can be seen daily about a twenty-minute walk down the trail from the lodge.

For those in search of rarities, Highland Tinamou, Bicolored Antvireo, and Peruvian Antpitta, are a few of the exciting species that live within close proximity the lodge. The White-faced Nunbird might even put in an appearance with some luck. Watch the skies on sunny days for Black-and-chestnut Eagle and swirling groups of swifts where White-chested, White-chinned and Spot-fronted are commonly seen.

Interesting nightbirds abound at San Isidro. Rufous-bellied Nighthawks zip about overhead at dusk around the lodge, and a family group of a black-banded type owl (that still has researchers stumped as to its identity) prowls the insects lights right at the main porch at dinner time. With some luck Andean Potoo, Rufous-banded Owl and White-throated Screech-Owl can be found a short distance from the lodge.

San Isidro has supported conservation and research projects for many years and continues to do so by opening up its reserve to university researchers from all over the world. If you are a student and wish to conduct research in the reserve, please contact us with a research proposal for more details and opportunities.