Created in 1937 in honour of a Swiss botanist, Henri Pittier National Park has acquired legendary status amongst Neotropical birders and today figures as an obligatory stop on any visitor’s itinerary.

Although the park comprises just over 1000 square kilometres – half the size of the United Kingdom’s Snowdonia National Park – the list of species recorded tops 550 and includes several Venezuelan first records. Besides quantity, the park also provides quality in the form of a large number of rare and endemic species.

The chief attraction is its lush cloud forest which harbours avian delights such as Venezuelan Wood-Quail, Band-tailed Guan, Helmeted Curassow, Violet-chested Hummingbird, White-tipped Quetzal, Groove-billed Toucanet, Guttulated Foliage-gleaner, Black-throated Spinetail, Venezuelan Antvireo, Scallop-breasted Antpitta, Scalloped Antthrush, Caracas Tapaculo, Venezuelan Bristle-Tyrant, Rufous-lored Tyrannulet, Golden-breasted Fruiteater, Handsome Fruiteater and Rufous-cheeked Tanager. Raptors are particularly conspicuous and Black Hawk-Eagle, Ornate Hawk-Eagle, Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle and Solitary Eagle are all considerably easier to encounter here than elsewhere within their wide range. White-fronted Tyrannulet is another species which seems to be easier to find here than elsewhere.

There are two roads providing access to the park. The Rancho Grande Biological Station nestles at 1100 m in semi-deciduous forest at the top of the Ocumare road. It is well known for its spectacular viewing terrace and a trail system which gives access to higher elevations up to 2200 m. The road itself can also provide spectacular birding. The Choroní road provides vehicle access to slightly higher elevations with a pass at 1600 m. Both roads lead eventually to beach towns with ample possibility for lowland and coastal birding. The deciduous forests of the lower slopes are home to Pale-bellied Hermit, Black-backed Antshrike, Venezuelan Flycatcher and White-eared Conebill on the north side and Golden-winged Sparrow on the south while the coast holds Buffy Hummingbird, Bicoloured Conebill, Glaucous Tanager and Black-faced Grassquit. In addition to its resident avifauna, the park is famous for the Portachuelo Pass which is one of the most studied migratory routes in the Neotropics. Excellent accommodation at several strategic sites on the park borders make this area a real pleasure to bird. Camping facilitates birding the higher elevations of the park.

Specialities and endemics

Full bird checklist

Lentino, M. and M.L. Goodwin. 1993. Lista de las Aves del Parque Nacional Henri Pittier (Rancho Grande), Estado Aragua, Venezuela. Sociedad Conservacionista Audubon de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela. 57 pp. With later additions, 581 spp. Available from SCAV (http://www.audubondevenezuela.org).

Links

Bioparques: http://www.parkswatch.org/parkprofiles/henrypittier/henrypitier.shtml
Tierra Viva: http://www.tierraviva.org/