These species are perfect 10s

For avid birders and nature enthusiasts, Peru is the dream travel destination. And while it’s no small task to pick a top 10 from over 1,800 bird species, we’ve compiled a list to showcase some of the most exciting and exquisite looking species you can observe during your trips.

• Andean Motmot: The name “Motmot” comes from the double-hooting call usually heard around down that can sound like an owl. Seen solo or in pairs, usually perched quietly in the midstory of mossy subtropical forest. An inconspicuous species despite its overall green coloring, blue wings, black mask, and shining blue crown.
• Dusky-green Oropendola: This evenly olive green, medium-sized oropendola of montane forests is known to weave hanging nests in small colonies and is found most frequently around forest edges and flying above the canopy. Its song is a variable jumble of liquid whistles and pops. If you listen close, you may also hear its loud “chak” call notes.
• Chestnut-breasted Coronet: A hummingbird often seen guarding a favorite flower patch or feeder to chase away any other hummingbirds, this is a more belligerent hummingbird of the Andean cloud forest. It has a relatively short bill, chestnut chest, and green hood. After perching it will habitually hold up its wings for a split second.
• Andean Cock-of-the-Rock: One of the iconic birds of the Andes. This fairly large species is one of the iconic birds of the Andes. Males can be either brilliant crimson or orange, always with black wings and broad silver tertials, orange legs, and puffy rounded crest. Females are duller brown in color with smaller crest. This species nests on large rocks or cliff faces, but can sometimes be observed elsewhere in the forests, especially at fruiting trees.
• Versicolored Barbet: The last species on this list found amongst the cloud forests is a brightly colored barbet of montane forest. Males are green with a yellow breast, a red belly band, and a red head, while females have a blue face and a greener body. Often found solo or in pairs with mixed-species flocks, foraging in the mid-story and canopy of humid forest. Its musical purr is punctuated with an introductory “PA-prrrr” sound.
• Band-tailed Manakin: This species is the first of the list to be observed in the rainforest, closer to the Amazon and Tambopata. It is a small manakin of lowland rainforest. Compared to other female manakins, females of this species have a white eye and are more yellow, with a more yellow belly. They are found in the understory of mature rainforest, as well as in bamboo.
• Curl-crested Aracari: The next Amazonian species to be featured is a heavy-billed small toucan of humid tropical forests that forages in the canopy. Its belly has a single red band, and it’s not as vocal as other aracaris. You may hear soft grunts and occasionally loud yelps that sound rather raptor-like.
• Blue Dacnis: This species is a small active warblerlike tanager with a sharply pointed bill usually seen in pairs or small groups in the canopy of lowland and foothill forests, edges, and secondary growth. It feeds on fruit and often follows mixed feeding flocks. Males are blue with a thin black mask, throat, and back. Females have a distinct entirely lime green body and mostly blue head.
• Gilded Barbet: This species can be observed in a variety of habitats, from the forest edge to mature rainforests. It is a large, boldly marked barbet with variable plumage—with throats and breasts that range from yellow to red—and a body marked yellow and black. Its hooting song is far reaching and distinct for its series of accelerating double hoots.
• Blue-and-yellow Macaw: Last but certainly not least, this enormous parrot with a long, pointed tail completes our list. The blue-and-yellow macaw boasts unmistakable cerulean upperparts and golden-yellow underparts with a white face and black patch on the throat. They are usually found in pairs that fly together and perch in the canopy. They have raucous calls, typical of large macaws.