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Welcome to our February emailing!
Hello, birding friends. As winter lingers and extinguishes itself—and spring waits just around the corner—now is a good time to recharge and prepare for what the rest of the year has in store. Hopefully you've got some birding adventures planned. If you haven't gotten around to booking anything (or if you're pondering adding another), we've got a few ideas for you below. We have some legendary destinations featured, like Machu Picchu and the Galapagos Islands; we also have some out-of-the-way destinations in Brazil for you to think about.
Also in this email you can read a little about one of our newest guides, Sam Wilson. Sam's an interesting person, and we're thrilled that he's guiding for us. We share a link to a story about a hive of hummingbirds in a mountain cave in Ecuador that caught our eye. And of course we have our regular Recent Photos Gallery, with more than 100 images from tours spanning the globe. You'll also find a link to our Field Guides Store, where you can pick up a swanky new tee-shirt or hat for summer. There's our roster of upcoming tours with available spaces for the next six months, plus a handful of triplists and a dozen fresh itineraries.
Thanks to guide Cory Gregory for this shot of an American Dipper from our Oregon: From the Coast to the Cascades tour. We're running this same itinerary again Aug 30-Sep 10, and we have space available for anyone looking to explore the Pacific Northwest.
Our thanks, too, to guide Doug Gochfeld for the image below of our group in silhouette during last year's Alaska Fall Goldmine: Rarities on the Pribilofs & Ross's Gulls in Barrow tour.
As always, we appreciate you opening and reading through this emailing, and if a tour seems interesting and you'd like to find out more, just contact our office and we'll help you get on your way.
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Birding in Peru is an unforgettable experience, as the country is one of the world's top birdwatching destinations. Boasting an astonishing avian diversity—nearly 1900 species have been found there, including more than 100 endemics—Peru offers diverse ecosystems ranging from the Amazon rainforest and towering Andean mountains to cloud forests and vast swaths of untrammeled forest. Simply put, Peru is a paradise for birdwatchers. Each of the tours listed below is sure to captivate participants by the country's vibrant birdlife and stunning landscapes. Have a look at where we're heading this summer, and please contact our office to reserve a spot.
Peru's Magnetic North: Spatuletails, Owlet Lodge & More, Jun 14-26 with Dan Lane & Jesse Fagan. On the east slope of Peru's northern Andes you'll find the lovely Abra Patricia—one of the premier birding destinations in one of the best birding countries on Earth. We'll immerse ourselves there for 12 days—with six nights spent at the famed Owlet Lodge. We'll be amidst a marvelous suite of birds, including perhaps the most ornate hummingbird of them all: Marvelous Spatuletail (pictured above, courtesy of participant Robert McNab). We will also seek other legendary species, such as Royal Sunangel, Bar-winged Wood-Wren, Johnson's (aka Lulu's) Tody-Tyrant, Yellow-scarfed Tanager, Chestnut-crested Cotinga, White-faced Nunbird, Cinnamon Screech-Owl, and a bunch of fantastic antpittas. We even have a reasonably good chance at encountering the bizarre Long-whiskered Owlet.
Machu Picchu & Abra Malaga, Peru is a bucket-list destination for any intrepid traveler. Making it a birding adventure takes it to another level. Dan Lane guides this tour to southern Peru's east slope, Jun 25-Jul 4. The ruins at Machu Picchu are perched atop a ridge, high in the Andes Mountains, above the Urubamba River valley. We'll spend two nights at 6500 feet, where we will be able to experience this iconic site culturally and for its great birding. The ruins are certainly unforgettable, and the birding isn't shabby either. Showstoppers like Andean Cock-of-the-rock, Highland Motmot, Lyre-tailed Nightjar, and White-eared Solitaire are expected. There are also myriad hummingbirds (including the endemic Green-and-white), loads of colorful tanagers, and another endemic: the gorgeous Masked Fruiteater. The high pass at Abra Malaga allows us to bird both sides of the eastern ridge, where we might find Peruvian Sierra-Finch, Junin Canastero, and Puna Thistletail, and we'll finish up the tour birding the Polyepis forest looking for specialties like the bright and spritely Tawny Tit-Spinetail, Ash-breasted Tit-Tyrlant, and Giant Conebill.
Mountains of Manu, Peru, July 31-Aug 11 with Dan Lane. Manu National Park in southeastern Peru is a vast wilderness known for its exceptional biodiversity. With over 1000 species of birds found in the region, this pristine destination is a paradise for birders and nature enthusiasts. Manu also serves as a sanctuary for various endangered species and is home to indigenous tribes, some of which still live in isolation. The birds are genuinely breathtaking. In our dozen days we should encounter some of the fanciest and most sought-after species in the Neotropics. Headliners like Lyre-tailed Nightjar, Red-and-white Antipitta, the iconic Andean Cock-of-the-rock, White-collared Jay, Golden Tanager, and Short-tailed Pygmy-Tyrant (widely considered the smallest passerine on Earth) are just a handful of the 400 or so species we expect.
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 | | Iquitos, Peru: Canopy Walkways & Ancient Forests, Aug 1-15 with Micah Riegner. Iquitos is the largest city in the world that isn't accessible by road. One may only fly or float atop water to reach this city that a half-million people call home. But don't let the size of the city daunt you. Between this hub and our lodges down the mighty Amazon, some 600 species of bird have been recorded—many of them only known to science for a quarter-century or so. We spend a few nights in a comfortable hotel in Iquitos, birding various refuges outside the city. We then boat down the Amazon to the first of three lodges we'll call home during the tour, each with its own avian niche. Along the way we'll also visit many river islands. En route we'll seek fabulous birds such as Ladder-tailed Nightjar, Black-tailed Antbird, Black Bushbird, Cream-colored Woodpecker, Zigzag Heron, loads of puffbirds, antbirds—and a couple species of scarce river dolphins. Lastly, we'll also enjoy jaw-dropping canopy birding via the towers and walkways at the Amazon Conservatory of Tropical Studies (ACTS) lodge during our several days there, with a shot at the nearly mythical Nocturnal Curassow, photographed above by tour participant Eric VanderWerf.
At Field Guides, we're convinced that it is our people that make our tours the best in the world. Our guides and tour managers work tirelessly to provide you the best tour possible. You can read the full bios of each of the guides below by clicking on his pic or name.
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We still have spaces available on a couple of our river-based tours in Brazil. Both of these tours are off the beaten path, venturing into areas few birders ever visit. Among the cast of birds we'll see are a number of species only described within the last 15 years or so—including a couple that guide Bret Whitney had a hand in discovering.
Brazil's Rio Roosevelt: Birding the River of Doubt. The remote Rio Roosevelt has long been a difficult destination to reach. However, some years ago a pousada was opened that caters to fishermen, and they have also made space to welcome a few bird tours, including ours. The remote wilderness in this area boasts some of the best birding in the Amazon. We take advantage of an excellent network of trails as we stalk some great species, including Black-girdled Barbet, Snow-capped Manakin, Tooth-billed Wren, Hoffmann's Woodcreeper, Rondonia Bushbird, White-breasted Antbird, Pale-faced Antbird, Black-bellied Gnateater, and Buff-cheeked Tody-Flycatcher, among many others.
Brazil's Madeira & Tapajos: Between Two Great Rivers. Bret Whitney & Micah Riegner spearhead this adventure along these two Amazon tributaries. A large portion of the tour is spent in relative luxury aboard the riverboat Dorinha. We'll journey up tributaries and into forests seldom visited by birders, giving us an opportunity to find many of the poorly known birds and some tiny primates endemic to the Madeira-Tapajos.
We have much more thorough information about both of these tours on our website, so please have a look by clicking the links above. For additional details about either of these tours or to book a space, please contact our office.
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Spotlight on guide Sam Wilson | |
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One of the most recent additions to our team of world-class bird guides is Sam Wilson.
Sam spent his childhood in New Jersey, which is when his love for the natural world was sparked. A September trip to Pennsylvania's Hawk Mountain Sanctuary put him in place to witness the spectacle of thousands of Broad-winged Hawks migrating along the Appalachian ridges. Ever since, Sam's quest to learn more about nature and science has been insatiable. He has traveled the globe in this pursuit, conducting bird surveys from the Amazon to China, Cambodia to Hawaii, and all over North America.
Along the way Sam picked up the knack of guiding. It hasn't always been as a bird guide. He has led backcountry trips around Alaska and other wilderness areas around North America, and it's Alaska which has claimed Sam as a resident in recent years. There he puts his well-honed skills in wildlife observation and his knowledge of bird migration and wildlife behavior to great use, guiding extensively in the state. And now he's guiding with Field Guides, where his schedule will take him around the planet. We're very fond of Sam, and we know a guide like him doesn't come along all that often, so we feel lucky to have him among our flock. You can see his schedule for the remainder of 2025 below.
When Sam isn't guiding, he's working on a master's degree in Natural Resource & Environmental Management, with a focus on terrestrial ecology. Sam is an excellent photographer, too; he was once listed among National Audubon's Top 100 photographers. He also has a hobby of growing super-hot peppers—so when you're on tour with him, you might want to be careful if you ask him if something is spicy! Sam lives in Anchorage with his wife, Margeaux, and their rescue pup, Kira.
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Sam's tour schedule for 2025 (co-leader listed where applicable):
Alaska: The Great Land, May 31-Jun 16 with Micah Riegner. This is our flagship Alaska tour visiting Seward and the Kenai Fjords, Nome, the Pribilofs, and Utqiagvik (formerly Barrow). What better place to meet Sam than on his home turf? Maybe he can show you your lifer Red-necked Stint, like the one pictured here.
Florida: Mangroves & Migrants, April 26-May 5 with Doug Gochfeld
Northern Arizona's Canyons & Condor, May 17-23 with John Coons (1 space)
Maine in Fall: Seabirds & Coastal Migrants, Sep 7-16
Fall for Cape May I, Sep 20-26 with Doug Gochfeld
Fall for Cape May II, Sep 28-Oct 4
Alaska Fall Goldmine: Ross's Gull in Barrow, Oct 9-13
New Zealand, Nov 9-27 with Dan Lane (waitlist available)
To sign up or get more information about any of these tours please contact our office.
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In case you missed it...Galapagos III | |
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We've added a third departure for our fantastic Galapagos tour for August 9-19 with guide Willy Perez. Perhaps the most famed bucket-list destination for birders and naturalists, the Galapagos Islands are a true gem in the natural world. Our tour is designed to find as many endemic birds as possible, as well as many of the other creatures that call these islands home. Our small group with Willy will be aboard a comfortable vessel with excellent food, naturalists, and crew. Join us for what will surely be an unforgettable adventure!
Galapagos: An Intimate Look at Darwin's Islands, Aug 9-19, with Willy Perez
For more information or to book a space, please contact our office.
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When we watch territorial hummingbirds in our backyards, none of us suspects this family of birds could ever be colonial. A recent New York Times article reports researchers in the Andes Mountains of Ecuador have discovered that the Ecuadorian Hillstar may very well be congregating as a "hive" in a high mountain cave—about 12,000 feet above sea level.
This spectacular hummingbird is one of many that we hope to encounter on our Jewels of Ecuador: Hummers, Tanagers & Antpittas tour, which is making a return to our schedule next year after a multi-year hiatus. It will be guided by Willy Perez and run from Feb 19-Mar 8, 2026. (Photo courtesy of participant Bill Byers.)
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Field Guides swag is available! We've got shirts, hats, hoodies, mugs, stickers, tote bags, even pajama pants—all a click away at our Field Guides Store. Fashionable and functional—sure to keep you comfortable and looking spiffy—check it all out at the store. | |
Triplists from recent tours | |
We have triplists from past tours linked below, each with some lovely images and some with video clips, and all with great texts by our guides. Enjoy! | |
Comments from participants | |
We carefully read each post-tour evaluation we receive from our participants, so that we can continue to offer the best possible birding experiences and service on Field Guides birding tours. Here are two representative recent comments. From all of us at Field Guides, our thanks for all your valuable feedback. | |
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“My overall tour experience was excellent. Our guides John Coons and Sam Wilson were very patient with me...they took the time to make sure that I saw each and every bird. They were the best features of this tour for me. Both of them were outstanding! They were very knowledgeable and could locate birds very quickly. I would absolutely travel with them again, and I’d definitely recommend Field Guides to other people interested in a birding tour.” D.M., Texas Coast Migration Spectacle
“The overall tour experience was excellent. Our guides Marcelo Padua and Tarry Butcher have very complementary skills and keep things moving smoothly and efficiently. Marcelo went out of his way to accommodate our requests or needs, especially by providing us with a special dessert! Tarry handled our beginning-of-tour anxieties very professionally and was incredibly helpful. I would absolutely travel with both Marcelo and Tarry again. Marcelo makes sure that everything is taken care of and runs very smoothly, and he is excellent at ensuring we are able to see the birds and wildlife individually. Tarry also manages logistics incredibly well and was able to help us keep the mood light and humorous no matter the situation. Our tour manager Sharon Mackie was incredibly helpful and so patient with all of my interrogation about the company, how it handles illness or contingencies, and guiding us on how to prepare for such a big tour. She was awesome!” S.T. South Africa Birds, Wine & Wildflowers
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Tours with openings through August | |
Each month we list in this section the Field Guides departures over the next six months that still have at least two spaces available (unless otherwise noted). | |
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Among our Arizona tours is one that stands out as being a little different. It is our short Arizona Nightbirds & More tour, and as you would expect, if has a focus on the owls and nightjars of the region. Four species of nightjar are possible—including the rare Buff-collared Nightjar. We've accumulated nine owl species over the years, including the tiny Elf Owl, Flammulated Owl, Whiskered Screech-Owl, and Spotted Owl (seen here). The tour isn't only about things that go hoot in the night. We average about 155 species, including marquee southeastern Arizona specialties like Elegant Trogon, Painted Redstart, Montezuma Quail, Red-faced Warbler, and Bendire's Thrasher. Micah Riegner is guiding the tour this year, and the dates are May 17-21. For more information or to book a space, please contact our office.
SOUTH AMERICA
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Brazil: Minas Gerais & Tocantins: Blue-eyed Ground Dove and Beyond, May 10-27 with Marcelo Barreiros & Bret Whitney
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Rainforest & Savanna: Alta Floresta & the Northern Pantanal, Brazil, Jun 9-24 with Marcelo Barreiros (1 space)
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Galapagos: An Intimate Look at Darwin's Islands I, Jun 14-24 with Mitch Lysinger & local guide
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Peru's Magnetic North: Spatuletails, Owlet Lodge & More, Jun 14-26 with Dan Lane & Jesse Fagan
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Brazil's Rio Roosevelt: Birding the River of Doubt, Jun 14-29 with Bret Whitney
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Machu Picchu & Abra Malaga, Peru, Jun 25-Jul 4 with Dan Lane
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Amazonian Ecuador: Sacha Lodge, Jul-3-12 with Willy Perez & local guide
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Jaguar Spotting in Brazil: Pantanal & Garden of the Amazon, Jul 5-16 with Marcelo Padua (1 space)
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Galapagos: An Intimate Look at Darwin's Islands II, Jul 12-22 with Willy Perez & local guide (1 space)
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Brazil's Madeira & Tapajos: Between Two Great Rivers, Jul 12-26 with Bret Whitney & Micah Riegner
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Mountains of Manu, Peru, Jul 31-Aug 11 with Dan Lane
NORTH AMERICA
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Colorado Grouse, Apr 11-22 with Micah Riegner & Alex Sundvall
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Texas Coast Migration Spectacle I, Apr 12-18 with John Coons (1 space)
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Florida: Mangroves & Migrants, Apr 26-May 5 with Doug Gochfeld & Sam Wilson
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Arizona: Birding the Border, May 7-16 with Chris Benesh & Alex Sundvall
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Spring in Cape May, May 11-17 with Doug Gochfeld
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Arizona Nightbirds & More II, May 17-21 with Micah Riegner
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Northern Arizona's Canyons & Condor, May 17-23 with John Coons & Sam Wilson (1 space)
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Alaska: The Great Land I, May 31-Jun 16 with Micah Riegner & Sam Wilson
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Canadian Rockies: Alberta, Jun 12-22 with Jay VanderGaast & Dan Arndt
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Alaska: No Place Like Nome, Jun 23-30 with Chris Benesh (1 space)
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Newfoundland & Nova Scotia, Jun 29-Jul 9 with Jay VanderGaast & Alex Sundvall
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Arizona's Second Spring I, Jul 19-28 with Chris Benesh (1 space)
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Arizona's Second Spring II, Jul 26-Aug 4 with Cory Gregory
MIDDLE AMERICA & WEST INDIES
AFRICA
EUROPE
ASIA & AUSTRALASIA
To learn more about any of these tours or to hold a space, please contact our office.
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Recently posted upcoming itineraries | |
Click on any image or link below to see the detailed itinerary for the following tours. All of these itineraries are packed with information (and have a few nice photos as well). | |
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