FIELD REPORT · PATAGONIA
Five days of spring birding in eastern Patagonia
A private trip shaped around a birding wish list
The trip at a glance
- Dates: 29 October–2 November 2026
- Duration: 5 days
- Format: Private, custom birding trip
- Client profile: Two guests on a private birding trip
- Primary objective: A trip built around the guests’ target birds
- Habitats covered: Dry-country habitats, wetlands and Atlantic coast
- Outcome: 109 bird species recorded, including the region’s seven Argentine endemics; 7 mammals and 2 reptiles
Overview
We spent five days birding with two guests in eastern Patagonia. Their wish list provided the starting point for the itinerary. The trip brought together dry-country specialties, waterbirds, coastal birds and other wildlife.
Our field records contain 109 bird species, as well as seven mammals and two reptiles. This report brings those records together, with the complete bird list below.
Strategy
We used the guests’ wish list to shape a five-day private itinerary, bringing together the region’s dry-country birds with wetland and coastal species. The combination gave us time to work on regional specialties while also recording the wider range of birds and other wildlife encountered during the trip.
Endemic highlights
All seven Argentine endemics highlighted for Puerto Madryn and the surrounding region were recorded during the tour. Alongside the six dry-country species was Chubut Steamer-duck, also known as White-headed Steamer-Duck.
Key Species
- Sandy Gallito (Teledromas fuscus)
- White-throated Cacholote (Pseudoseisura gutturalis)
- Patagonian Canastero (Pseudasthenes patagonica)
- Steinbach’s Canastero (Pseudasthenes steinbachi)
- Carbonated Sierra Finch (Rhopospina carbonaria)
- Rusty-backed Monjita (Neoxolmis rubetra)
- Chubut Steamer-duck (White-headed Steamer-Duck) (Tachyeres leucocephalus)
Other dry-country highlights
Patagonian Yellow-Finch was another highlight, alongside Darwin’s Nothura and Hudson’s Black-Tyrant. The dry-country records also include Band-tailed Earthcreeper, Tawny-throated Dotterel, Least Seedsnipe, Lesser Shrike-Tyrant and Gray-bellied Shrike-Tyrant.
Key Species
- Darwin’s Nothura (Nothura darwinii)
- Hudson’s Black-Tyrant (Knipolegus hudsoni)
- Patagonian Yellow-Finch (Sicalis lebruni)
- Band-tailed Earthcreeper (Ochetorhynchus phoenicurus)
- Tawny-throated Dotterel (Oreopholus ruficollis)
- Least Seedsnipe (Thinocorus rumicivorus)
- Lesser Shrike-Tyrant (Agriornis murinus)
- Gray-bellied Shrike-Tyrant (Agriornis micropterus)
Waterbirds and the Atlantic coast
The bird list also reflects the contrast between the region’s wetlands and coast. Chilean Flamingo, Coscoroba Swan and Many-colored Rush Tyrant appear alongside White-headed Steamer-Duck, Magellanic Penguin, Snowy Sheathbill and both Southern and Northern Giant-Petrels. These were records from this particular visit; the combination will vary with the season and the route.
Key Species
- Chilean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis)
- Coscoroba Swan (Coscoroba coscoroba)
- Many-colored Rush Tyrant (Tachuris rubrigastra)
- White-headed Steamer-Duck (Tachyeres leucocephalus)
- Magellanic Penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus)
- Snowy Sheathbill (Chionis albus)
- Southern Giant-Petrel (Macronectes giganteus)
- Northern Giant-Petrel (Macronectes halli)
Beyond the bird list
Birding was the focus, but the tour records also include seven mammals and two reptiles. Southern Right Whale, Southern Elephant Seal and South American Sea Lion represent the coast; Guanaco, Patagonian Mara, South American gray fox and Southern mountain cavy add another part of the region’s wildlife. Darwin’s Lizard and Black Head Lizard complete the recorded fauna.
Key Species
- Guanaco (Lama glama guanicoe)
- South American gray fox (Lycalopex griseus)
- South American Sea Lion (Otaria flavescens)
- Southern Elephant Seal (Mirounga leonina)
- Southern Right Whale (Eubalaena australis)
- Patagonian mara (Dolichotis patagonum)
- Southern mountain cavy (Microcavia australis)
- Darwin's Lizard (Liolaemus darwinii)
- Black Head Lizard (Liolaemus melanops)
A final lunch by the sea
On our final day, we watched Steinbach’s Canastero, Sandy Gallito and Carbonated Sierra Finch, some of the last birds we had planned to look for. We then had lunch overlooking the sea, watching several Southern Right Whales with their calves just a few metres from shore.
Key Achievements
- A five-day itinerary built around the guests’ wish list
- All seven Argentine endemics featured in our regional guide recorded
- 109 bird species recorded
- Seven mammals and two reptiles in addition to the birds
More moments from the tour
Bird list: 109 species recorded
Click to expand the full species list
- Lesser Rhea (Pterocnemia pennata)
- Darwin's Nothura (Nothura darwinii)
- Elegant Crested-Tinamou (Eudromia elegans)
- Coscoroba Swan (Coscoroba coscoroba)
- Flying Steamer-Duck (Tachyeres patachonicus)
- White-headed Steamer-Duck (Tachyeres leucocephalus)
- Crested Duck (Lophonetta specularioides)
- Silver Teal (Spatula versicolor)
- Red Shoveler (Spatula platalea)
- Cinnamon Teal (Spatula cyanoptera)
- Chiloe Wigeon (Mareca sibilatrix)
- White-cheeked Pintail (Anas bahamensis)
- Yellow-billed Pintail (Anas georgica)
- Yellow-billed Teal (Anas flavirostris)
- Rosy-billed Pochard (Netta peposaca)
- Lake Duck (Oxyura vittata)
- California Quail (Callipepla californica)
- Chilean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis)
- White-tufted Grebe (Rollandia rolland)
- Great Grebe (Podiceps major)
- Silvery Grebe (Podiceps occipitalis)
- Rock Pigeon (Columba livia)
- Eared Dove (Zenaida auriculata)
- Picui Ground Dove (Columbina picui)
- Plumbeous Rail (Pardirallus sanguinolentus)
- Red-gartered Coot (Fulica armillata)
- White-winged Coot (Fulica leucoptera)
- Tawny-throated Dotterel (Oreopholus ruficollis)
- Two-banded Plover (Anarhynchus falklandicus)
- American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus)
- Blackish Oystercatcher (Haematopus ater)
- Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus)
- Snowy Sheathbill (Chionis albus)
- Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes)
- Least Seedsnipe (Thinocorus rumicivorus)
- Brown-hooded Gull (Chroicocephalus maculipennis)
- Dolphin Gull (Leucophaeus scoresbii)
- Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus)
- South American Tern (Sterna hirundinacea)
- Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis)
- Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus)
- Magellanic Penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus)
- Southern Giant-Petrel (Macronectes giganteus)
- Northern Giant-Petrel (Macronectes halli)
- Neotropic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax brasilianus)
- Magellanic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax magellanicus)
- Imperial Cormorant (Phalacrocorax atriceps)
- White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi)
- Black-faced Ibis (Theristicus melanopis)
- Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)
- Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
- Cinereous Harrier (Circus cinereus)
- Variable Hawk (Geranoaetus polyosoma)
- Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle (Geranoaetus melanoleucus)
- Magellanic Horned Owl (Bubo magellanicus)
- Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia)
- Crested Caracara (Caracara plancus)
- Chimango Caracara (Milvago chimango)
- American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)
- Burrowing Parakeet (Cyanoliseus patagonus)
- Sandy Gallito (Teledromas fuscus)
- Common Miner (Geositta cunicularia)
- Band-tailed Earthcreeper (Ochetorhynchus phoenicurus)
- Rufous Hornero (Furnarius rufus)
- Wren-like Rushbird (Phleocryptes melanops)
- Scale-throated Earthcreeper (Upucerthia dumetaria)
- Plain-mantled Tit-Spinetail (Leptasthenura aegithaloides)
- Sharp-billed Canastero (Asthenes pyrrholeuca)
- Patagonian Canastero (Pseudasthenes patagonica)
- Steinbach's Canastero (Pseudasthenes steinbachi)
- White-throated Cacholote (Pseudoseisura gutturalis)
- Greater Wagtail-Tyrant (Stigmatura budytoides)
- Yellow-billed Tit-Tyrant (Anairetes flavirostris)
- Tufted Tit-Tyrant (Anairetes parulus)
- Straneck's Tyrannulet (Serpophaga griseicapilla)
- Great Kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus)
- Fork-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus savana)
- Spectacled Tyrant (Hymenops perspicillatus)
- White-winged Black-Tyrant (Knipolegus aterrimus)
- Hudson's Black-Tyrant (Knipolegus hudsoni)
- Rusty-backed Monjita (Neoxolmis rubetra)
- Gray-bellied Shrike-Tyrant (Agriornis micropterus)
- Lesser Shrike-Tyrant (Agriornis murinus)
- Many-colored Rush Tyrant (Tachuris rubrigastra)
- Blue-and-white Swallow (Pygochelidon cyanoleuca)
- Brown-chested Martin (Progne tapera)
- Southern Martin (Progne elegans)
- Chilean Swallow (Tachycineta leucopyga)
- Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
- Southern House Wren (Troglodytes musculus)
- Austral Thrush (Turdus falcklandii)
- Chiguanco Thrush (Turdus chiguanco)
- Patagonian Mockingbird (Mimus patagonicus)
- Chalk-browed Mockingbird (Mimus saturninus)
- House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
- Short-billed Pipit (Anthus furcatus)
- Correndera Pipit (Anthus correndera)
- Rufous-collared Sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis)
- Long-tailed Meadowlark (Leistes loyca)
- Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis)
- Grayish Baywing (Agelaioides badius)
- Yellow-winged Blackbird (Agelasticus thilius)
- Patagonian Yellow-Finch (Sicalis lebruni)
- Grassland Yellow-Finch (Sicalis luteola)
- Gray-hooded Sierra Finch (Phrygilus gayi)
- Mourning Sierra Finch (Rhopospina fruticeti)
- Carbonated Sierra Finch (Rhopospina carbonaria)
- Diuca Finch (Diuca diuca)
- Red-crested Cardinal (Paroaria coronata)
Bird records from the trip as a whole. Mammals and reptiles are listed separately above.
Review by Suzie and Jason
Best bird guides ever!!
Augustin and his wife, Augustina, are some of the best bird guides we have ever had in the entire world!! Seriously!! They very conscientiously studied our wishlist and carefully prepared an itinerary to see the maximum number of birds within our 5-day trip. We had a delightful time with them and saw ALL the endemics of the region! They were gracious and friendly hosts who kept us well fed and took care of our every need. They are both extremely knowledgeable about the birds of this region and where & how to find them. You seriously can not find a better bird guide for the Puerto Madryn, Chubut region. We would highly recommend them for bird watching in Chubut. We thoroughly enjoyed our trip with them. We hope we get to bird watch with them again in the future!
Plan a private birding trip in eastern Patagonia
Tell us your dates, how many days you have and the birds you would most like to see. We will suggest a private itinerary around your priorities and the season.
Related itineraries