Archidona is a small town in the subtropical zone on the eastern slope of the Andes. Roadside birding along the road from the Loreto Road into town traverses a mostly open agricultural area with scattered pockets of trees. The landscape is somewhat hilly and the habitat is varied enough to provide opportunities for seeing a good variety of birds. Possibilities include Dusky-billed Parrotlet, Cobalt-winged Parrot, Mealy Amazon, Glittering-throated Emerald, Long-billed Starthroat, Gilded Barbet, Yellow-tufted Woodpecker, Spot-breasted Woodpecker, Long-tailed Tyrant, White-lored Euphonia, and Orange-backed Troupial.
Just beyond the town center and the bridge over the river, a rough side road leads to Hakuna Matata Lodge. The lodge owns some private land that offers quite good birding. Habitat is a combination of subtropical forest, secondary forest, and open previously cultivated areas that are turning back into forest. Some of the more interesting possibilities are Lemon-throated Barbet, Gray Elaenia, Masked Crimson Tanager, Paradise Tanager, and Yellow-bellied Tanager. Feeders around the lodge attract Fork-tailed Woodnymph and Glittering-throated Emerald.
