Site Report: Parque National Cajas

Cajas National Park, near Cuenca

Cajas National Park

Llama, Cajas National Park

Cajas National Park

Tit-like Dacnis (Xenodacnis parina) - Female

Violet-throated Metaltail (Metallura baroni)

Andean Tit-Spinetail (Leptasthenura andicola)

Stout-billed Cinclodes (Cinclodes excelsior)

Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant (Ochthoeca fumicolor)

Blue-mantled Thornbill (Chalcostigma stanleyi)

Tit-like Dacnis (Xenodacnis parina)

Andean Lapwing (Vanellus resplendens)

Rufous-collared Sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis)

llama (Lama glama)

Variable Hawk (Geranoaetus polyosoma)

Andean Teal (Anas andium)

Carunculated Caracara (Phalcoboenus carunculatus)

Andean Duck (Oxyura ferruginea) Male

Andean Duck (Oxyura ferruginea) Female

Andean Tapeti (Sylvilagus andinus)

Red-rumped Bush-Tyrant (Cnemarchus erythropygius)

Tit-like Dacnis (Xenodacnis parina)

Giant Conebill (Conirostrum fraseri)

Chestnut-winged Cinclodes (Cinclodes albidiventris)

Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant (Ochthoeca fumicolor)

Andean Tit-Spinetail (Leptasthenura andicola)

Plumbeous Sierra-Finch (Geospizopsis unicolor) Male

Plumbeous Sierra-Finch (Geospizopsis unicolor) Female

Stout-billed Cinclodes (Cinclodes excelsior)

Violet-throated Metaltail (Metallura baroni) Female

This park has some cloud forest regions in lower elevations, but the main feature is Podocarpus forests and Paramo landscape. There is plenty of rain and mist supporting many ponds. I stayed overnight in the refuge.

Visits

2006-11-21: Arrived in the afternoon, and stayed overnight in the refuge. Barbara and I walked around on some trails, and we almost got stuck in the rain trying to make a shortcut back to the refuge.
2025-07-17: After lunch, we headed up to the higher altitudes near the main visitor center. There were a couple of new buildings and a lot more tourists and signs than there were the last time that we were there.

Species Seen

Kingdom: Animals (28 records)

Phylum: Chordates (28 records)

Class: Birds (26 records)

Order: Anseriformes (2 records)
- Family: Swans, Geese, and Ducks
- Andean Duck (Oxyura ferruginea)
- Andean Teal (Anas andium)

Order: Cranes, Rails, and Allies (1 record)
- Family: Rails, Gallinules, and Allies
- Slate-colored Coot (Fulica ardesiaca)

Order: Hawks, Eagles, Kites, and Allies (1 record)
- Family: Hawks, Eagles, and Kites
- Variable Hawk (Geranoaetus polyosoma)

Order: Hummingbirds and Swifts (2 records)
- Family: Hummingbirds
- Violet-throated Metaltail (Metallura baroni)
- Blue-mantled Thornbill (Chalcostigma stanleyi)

Order: Owls And Nightjars (1 record)
- Family: Typical Owls
- Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)

Order: Pelicans (1 record)
- Family: Falcons and Caracaras
- Carunculated Caracara (Daptrius carunculatus)

Order: Perching Birds (16 records)
- Family: Antpittas
- Tawny Antpitta (Grallaria quitensis)
- Family: Old World Buntings
- Rufous-collared Sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis)
- Family: Ovenbirds and Woodcreepers
- Stout-billed Cinclodes (Cinclodes excelsior)
- Andean Tit-Spinetail (Leptasthenura andicola)
- Mouse-colored Thistletail (Asthenes griseomurina)
- Chestnut-winged Cinclodes (Cinclodes albidiventris)
- Family: Swallows
- Brown-bellied Swallow (Orochelidon murina)
- Family: Thrushes and Allies
- Great Thrush (Turdus fuscater)
- Family: Tyrant Flycatchers
- Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant (Ochthoeca fumicolor)
- Red-rumped Bush-Tyrant (Cnemarchus erythropygius)

Order: Shorebirds and Allies (2 records)
- Family: Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers
- Andean Gull (Chroicocephalus serranus)
- Family: Plovers
- Andean Lapwing (Vanellus resplendens)

Class: Mammals (2 records)

Order: Even-toed Ungalates and Cetacean (1 record)
- Family: Camelidae
- llama (Lama glama)

Order: Lagomorpha (1 record)
- Family: Leporidae
- Andean Tapeti (Sylvilagus andinus)

Site Report: Parque National Cajas

Visits

Species Seen

Lifelists

Trips