Research > Cloud Forest > Bird Monitoring
485 bird species from 59 families have been identified at the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, 214 of which have been registered in hotel grounds to this date. This data represents a 20% growth in comparison to bird diversity inventoried in 2005. An indicator of the positive impact of ecotourism, confirming that birds and tourism activities coexist harmonically. The number of travelers at Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel keeps rising without disturbing ecosystems, as proven by the constant increase in new species registered in hotel grounds and in the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu.
The Crimson-bellied woodpecker (Campephilus haematogaster), the Sword-billed hummingbird (Ensifera ensifera), the Violet-throated starfrontlet (Coeligena violifer), the Undulated antpitta (Grallaria squamigera), and the Black and chestnut Eagle (Spizaetus isidori), once considered rare at Machu Picchu and thought to be extinct here, are recent sightings new to Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel. The Rufus casiornis (Casiornis rufus), the Green-fronted lancebill (Doryfera ludovicae), the Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea) and the Fork-tailed flycatcher (Tyrannus savana) are some of the sightings new to the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, many of which were accomplished by Inkaterra Explorer Guides.
The Inkaterra hotel grounds are habitat of endemic species such as the Green-and-white hummingbird (Amazilia viridicauda), the Masked fruiteater (Pipreola pulchra), the Inca wren (Pheugopedius eisenmanni), the Cuzco brush-finch (Pheugopedius eisenmanni), and the Yellow-scarfed tanager (Iridosornis reinhardti). Representative species commonly sighted in birding excursions are the Andean cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola peruviana), the Andean motmot (Momotus aequatorialis), the Versicoloured barbet (Eubucco versicolor), the Golden-headed quetzal (Pharomachrus auriceps), the Torrent duck (Merganetta armata), the White-capped dipper (Cinclus leucocephalus), the Dusky-green oropendola (Psarocolius atrovirens), the Lyre-tailed nightjar (Uropsalis lyra), the Andean guan (Penelope montagnii) and the White-throated quail-dove (Geotrygon frenata), as well as 18 species of hummingbirds.
Bird Cams Live Streaming
All About Birds, Cornell University’s online guide to bird watching with 20 million unique viewers, launched its first broadcast from Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel in December 2016. Live streaming bird cams allowed to follow in real time nesting green-and-white hummingbirds (Amazilia viridicauda), a relatively unknown species endemic to the Eastern slope of the Peruvian Andes.
Found by Inkaterra Explorer Guides during incubation, the nest became home to a female caring for two chicks. For about two weeks since hatching, the audience was able to enjoy how birds matured in their open cup nest until fledging on New Year’s Day. In 20 days, there was 150k views from 170 countries and 3.4 million minutes watched––equivalent to six years.