Birds of the Chilí-Barragán páramo complex (Tolima, Colombia

Abstract

The Chili-Barragan complex is one of the páramo regions of lesser extent in Central cordillera of Colombia, located mainly on Tolima department. Although some studies exist on birds associated with páramo areas of the department, there are still gaps in information on this and other complexes in the region. The aim of this study was to value the bird diversity of the Chili-Barragán complex, through the study of three of its páramos, briefly examining the dynamics of birds in the elevation gradient. To achieve this goal, field surveys were carried out on the páramos of Anaime (Cajamarca), Chili (Roncesvalles) and Las Nieves-Estanbul (Ibague) using methods such as visual and aural records, and mist nets. An elevational transect was designed from 3200 - 3600 m a.s.l. at intervals of 100 m between each station for each locality. We recorded 89 species of birds, which represent the 88% - 96% of the estimated bird richness for the complex. This information underlines the idea that this complex is among the most diverse páramo regions in the country. In addition, we found a decline in species richness with increasing elevation and we found the birds in these three páramos have a different composition between 3200 - 3400 m a.s.l. and 3500 - 3600 m a.s.l.

Keywords

• Bosque altoandino
• Comunidad aves
• Gradiente altitudinal