HUACARPAY LAKES
PERU
LOCALE
| Altitude (m): | 3100 |
| # Species: | 139 |
| # Excl Vagrants: | 139 |
| # Endemics: | 5 |
| # Near Endemics: | 4 |
| Habitat: Highland lakes, shrubland | |
ABOUT THE BIRDING
The Huacarpay Lakes area in the central highlands of Peru is a wetlands area where a variety of high elevation aquatic birds are readily seen. Because the area is near Cusco, it is an excellent place to spend a first day of birding after flying into Cusco from Lima the first morning of a tour. Among the species commonly seen there are Puna Ibis, Andean Ibis, Andean Teal, Yellow-billed Pintail, White-cheeked Pintail, Puna Teal, Andean Ruddy-Duck, Plumbeous Rail, Andean Coot, Andean Lapwing, Puna Plover, and Andean Gull. A more scarce species, the White-backed Stilt is sometimes also seen in this area.
The road between Cusco and Huacarpay Lakes traverses high altitude shrubland habitat that is home to a variety of interesting high elevation specialties. These include Wren-like Rush-bird, Many-colored Rush-Tyrant, Rufous-naped Ground-Tyrant, Chiguanco Thrush, and Cinerous Conebill, Peruvian Sierra-Finch, Mourning Sierra-Finch, Ash-breasted Sierra-Finch, Chestnut-bearded Mountain-Finch, Band-tailed Seedeater, and Greenish Yellow-Finch.
LOCATION OF SITE
Huacarpay Lakes are located about 20 minutes drive from Cusco in the central Andes Mountains of Peru.