From top to bottom Argentina is a bird lovers paradise. Recently Heidi and I traveled across Argentina searching for beautiful views, hikes, and of course wildlife. We knew that incredible hikes to glaciers, mountain vistas, lakes, and waterfalls existed across the country but we were surprised at the amazing birdwatching opportunities.

Austral Parakeet near Ushuaia

The same places you travel for amazing views; Ushuaia, El Calafate, El Chalten, and Iguazu are the same places that birders 'in the know' travel for big time bird watching. The different environments change from cold ocean in Ushuai, to desert and freshwater lakes in Patagonia, to tropical jungle in Iguazu. Because of this the opportunities to see very different bird species change as well, from penguins down south to toucans up north.

Tern hovering over the water

Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego National Park: We will start down south in Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. Here a boat trip out into the famous Beagle Canal gives you chances to see comorants, penguins, skuas, albatross, and terns, among other deep south ocean birds. Then a trip into Tierra del Fuego provides a wonderful chance for forest birds, like the Magellanic woodpecker, austral parakeet, and southern caracara as well as freshwater species like the spectacled duck and steamer duck.

Chilean Flamingos, Reserva Laguna Nimez

El Calafate and El Chalten: A 17 hour bus ride or couple hour flight to the north takes you deep into the heart of Patagonia. Here the snow capped peaks of the Andes Mountains send glacial fed rivers out into the desert-like landscape of Patagonian ranchlands. This uncommon environments is home to some amazing birdlife. Ostrich-like landbirds called rhea run amongst the prickly calfate shrubs, while caracara, condors, and eagles line the fence post and circle the sky looking for their next meal.

Upland Goose, El Calafate

In El Calafate the edge of the glacial lake a quaint nature reserve called the Reserva Laguna Nimez plays host to a multitude of exotic species like the Chilean flamingo, upland goose, southern lapwings, and nesting harriers. Also if you get a chance to drive towards Perito Moreno Glacier on some of the back roads you increase your opportunities for condor, eagle, caracara, and rhea
sightings.

Toco Toucan at Iguazu Falls

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Scarlet Macaw, Iguazu

Iguazu Falls: All the way on the north eastern border of Argentina and Brazil you will find a totally different environment housing new species of birds. It almost feels like you are descending into the Amazon basin as you walk around the miles of boardwalks set up for sightseeing inside the Iguazu Falls National Park. The trick here is to come early in the morning before the crowds. This will give you your best shot for seeing rare toucan species that call this area home. Great dusky swifts are seen near the waterfalls, their nest actually hidden in the cliffs behind the falling water. Another can't miss are the plush-crested jays. These beautiful birds frequent the boardwalks, especially where visitors tend to stop for picnic style snacks.

Plush-Crested Jay, Iguazu Falls

Eagle near Iguazu Falls

It turns out that South America is one of the best places in the world for birding. Thousands of species exists on the continent leaving you all kinds of options. Argentina is such a birding hot spot because the country stretches across so many different ecosystems. Just another reason to add it to your travel list.

Austral Pygmy Owl at Perito Moreno Glacier

Austral Pygmy Owl, Patagonia

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In a future post I will comment on my impressions lived when visiting the impressive Iguazú National Park within which are the famous Falls considered one of the 7 Wonders of the World, located on the border between Argentina and Brazil, as Travel Memories.

I am grouping this collection of Travel Memories delving into the depths of my memory, to try to take out of each trip the most salient, most curious, most impressive aspects.

I stayed for several days and had the opportunity to see several specimens of the native fauna and flora of that region up close.

The Blue Dancer a true treasure hidden in the missionary jungle.

I stayed for several days and had the opportunity to see several specimens of the native fauna and flora of that region up close.

And, specifically regarding fauna, I was struck by the dazzling colors of many birds.

Today I am going to refer to one of them that I had the possibility of photographing, however it is quite difficult to do so because it is not seen closely. Its habitat is the deep interior of the missionary jungle.

It is the Blue Dancer, a bird of very beautiful colors and that receives this name for the bridal dance that he practices when trying to conquer his partner.

The Blue Dancer hides deep in the missionary jungle.

It is a true treasure hidden in the missionary jungle. Her bridal dance is of extraordinary beauty.

Read also: Travel Memories #1: the amazing and varied fauna and flora in the Iguazu Falls.

As in many species of tropical and subtropical birds, the most striking colors are worn by the male.

The female has much more modest colors.

The male has a very striking coloration, with a light blue body and a bright red hood, in contrast to black wings.

The female has a much more modest plumage, being entirely olive green, lighter in the ventral area. Juvenile males are also green, albeit with the small red cap.

The Blue Dancer has long been proposed as a provincial bird of Misiones. Its approval is still pending.

The beginning of the bridal dance.

It is one of the little explored places in the country, but it is worth knowing. The new park, of 128 thousand hectares, now represents the largest reserve in northern Argentina.

Its 128,000 hectares make it the largest national park in northern Argentina.

In my introduction post in the Argentine #HIVE Community I made reference to my home province, La Pampa, which I have seen again after several years of living in Europe.

When talking about La Pampa, we not only refer to the gateway to Patagonia but also to other features that characterize this province.

A little strange to tell the truth. The West begins to resemble true Patagonia. Aridity of the soil, scarcity of rains, large uncultivated areas, nonexistence of cattle.


The North of the province, on the other hand, represents the best of the humid Pampa. Excellent soils, intensive crops, intensive livestock farming, etc.

But there are also some specific details.

The Parque Luro Provincial Reserve is a landmark. As well as Casa de Piedra, the Caldenal, the Utracán lagoon and other lesser-known places.

Today I am going to talk about one of the aspects that most attract attention (and concentrate the visit of numerous tourists) such as the deer bellow.

What is the deer bellow?

Around 1,500 red deer live in the Pedro Luro Provincial Park in the middle of the caldenes forest. The caldenal. The largest reserve of caldenes on the planet.

The bellow is the cry they emit calling the females to form their harem.

You have to be very cautious to observe this show. Because deer have a very fine nose. And if they detect the presence of intruders in the vicinity they do not gather. They don't bellow.

They are very respectful of your privacy.

Before seeing them the red deer sit down. Walking down a hill (an open path in the middle of the vegetation) suddenly you feel a scream, a very particular howl.

It is a red deer that is bellowing, that is calling the females to woo them.

The show is to see the entire herd bellowing. It is breathtaking and beautiful. It is like seeing nature reproducing itself.

The curious thing is that the concept of family as a group does not exist among red deer.

A lonely life.

The male lives among males in a group of 2 or 3 maximum.

Only in the fall does he approach the females to breed them.

Between March and April a hormonal process is triggered in the females that takes them only at that time of the year to the heat period.

The bellows of the males echo in the 7,600 hectares of caldenes, piquillín, grasslands, in the caldenes forest, amid the almost 200 species of birds that inhabit the forest.

You can't sleep at night during the roar period, says one of the park rangers.

During this period, males hardly eat. They spend their days bellowing, copulating with the females they have earned and fighting among themselves.

Sometimes they become entangled in their own antlers and, unable to unlock them, die. Tired to infinity. Resigned to their own destiny.

Source: https://hive.blog/hive-169099/@belen0949/la-brama-del-ciervo-colorado-amo-y-senor-del-bosque-pampeano-the-bellow-of-the-red-deer-master-and-lord-of-the-pampas-forest-esp