This big savanna at a c 800m elevation on poor white sand soil has been severely altered by human hand. Rice paddies and cattle grazing dominates the landscape. However, there are some wetlands, grass areas, dry bushy scrub, as well as the gallery forest of Tingana reserve and the forest covered Morro de calzada hill. All in all this makes this area very rich in species that are often hard to find elsewhere in Peru, why a trip down to the savanna from Abra Patricia is very rewarding for the total species list.
Near Rioja is the palm and savanna with a slow flowing creek called Yacumama. Many good species such as Buckley’s Forest-Falcon, Point-tailed Palmcreeper, Blackish Nightjar, Fiery-capped Manakin, Yellow Tyrannulet, Rufous Casiornis and Great-billed Seed-Finch have been recorded here. Near Posic it is quite easy to find Russet-crowned Crake in the roadside ponds.
Morro de Calzada has both savanna nearby and deciduous forest on its slopes. Some birds here include Tataupa Tinamou, Black-faced Tanager, Mishana Tyrannulet, Cream-colored Woodpecker, Pale-breasted Thrush, Cinereous-breasted Spinetail, Roraiman Flycatcher, Blue-crowned Trogon, Red-legged Honeycreeper and many more. The area is good for nightbirds with Common Potoo, Blackish Nightjar, Rufous Nightjar and Spot-tailed Nightjar.
Jesus del Monte trail: Very streneous, but it is possible to hire horses in Jerillo. Keybirds are Ash-throated Antwren and Purple-brested Cotinga. Other birds from this area include Napo Sabrewing, Spot-winged Parrotlet Sharpbill, Milky-rumped Manakin (Blue-rumped Manakin split), Stripe-necked Tody-Tyrant, Chestnut-throated Spinetail, Striped Manakin (undescribed new taxon), Bar-winged Wood-Wren, Spot-tailed and Rufous Nightjar and many more.
Tingana reseve. Easy canoe riding and birding in the Tingana reserve for those that do not wish to do hard walking with birds like Capped Heron, Limpkin, Little Cuckoo, all the kingfishers, Lesser Hornero, Masked Crimson-Tanager and many other species from the Amazonian lowlands.
Most of these areas are well described in Valquis Where to find birds in Peru, which you should refer to if you need more info.
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