Fauna

(Phrygilus patagonicus) The Patagonian Sierra-Finch is an endemic species of Patagonia and one of the most colorful birds in this region. It belongs to the Thraupidae family and is strongly linked to the Andean-Patagonian forest. It lives on Nothofagus and Araucaria forests and its borders, up to 1,500 m high. They feed on seeds and fruits of bushes of the Berberis genus, insects, and nectar of tubular-shaped flowers such as Fire-Bush (Embothrium coccineum) and Fuchsia magellanica.   In winter they form big mixed flocks with Rufous-collared Sparrow, Black-chinned Siskin,...

(Podiceps occipitalis) This sublime diver and swimmer is found in almost all Argentina, especially in Andean lagoons and wetlands in Patagonia and the pampas. Also on the sea coasts and in the Falklands Islands. Its distribution range follows the Andes on Chile, Bolivia, Perú, Ecuador and Colombia. The southern populations of the occipitalis sub-species migrate north or to the sea coasts while the juninesis sub-species is a permanent resident of the high Andean lagoons up to 4,500 m.   It feeds on insects and their larvae, fish, small crustaceous and plants. During the winter...

Woodpeckers are a group of birds of the Picidae familiy found in almost all forest areas of the world. They feed mainly on insects and larvae living under barks or in wood, drilling the trees to reach the prey and extracting it with their long tongue. Some of them feed also in the ground. Their habitat and way of feeding determine some surprising adaptations and behaviours.       The bill's tip is chisel-shaped and is kept sharp by the pecking against the wood. It is made of three different layers designed to absorb the mechanical stress produced by the violent...

La Payunia is a 25,000 km2 volcanic area located southeast of the Argentinian province of Mendoza, at the foot of the Andes and between rivers Atuel and Colorado. It is one of the regions with more density of volcanoes in our planet, with more than 800 cones of different sizes and eruption styles. These quantity and density make La Payunia one of the most important volcanic districts on Earth. Its landscape, made by vast lava plains with many volcanic cones, basalt flows and pyroclastic fields looks like a different planet, making the visit to La Payunia a wonderful experience. The area is candidate...

One of the best tours off the beaten track you can do from San Martín de los Andes is going to Villa Pehuenia 200 km north of San Martín and a gem still hidden from the massive tourism. Villa Pehuenia lies in the middle of the Pehuen District, one of the best touristic circuits of the Neuquén province. Some tour agencies in San Martín de los Andes do it as a day tour, but we think is much better to spend at least one night in Villa Pehuenia, so you have enough time to enjoy the place and als go thorough the so-called "Pehuenia circuit", one of the main attractions of the area.    The...

An ecoregion or ecological region is a relatively large biogeographical area characterized by the unique features of its ecology, climate, geomorphology, soils, flora and fauna. The Taiga, the African Savanna, the Mediterranean Forest or the Amazonian Jungle are good examples of ecoregions. The Patagonian Steppe is the ecoregion that covers most part of Patagonia, around 730.000 Km² in southwest Mendoza, centre of Neuquén, southwest of Río Negro and most of Chubut and Santa Cruz, except their west side. The steppe borders the Andean-Patagonian forest on the west, the Monte region on the north...

RED-BACKED HAWK The Red-backed Hawk or Variable Hawk (Buteo polyosoma or for some authors Geranoaetus polyosoma) is a medium-size raptor of the Accipitridae family, distributed along the entire Andean region, from central Colombia to Cape Horn and the Falkland Islands. It is a permanent resident on his distribution area, although in Patagonia, South Chile and Tierra del Fuego it moves north in autumn and winter.   Its taxonomy is one of the most variable and complex of the Buteo genus, due to a huge number of plumage variations, which makes the relationships of this group very difficult...

Accipitridae is a family of diurnal birds of prey characterized by having a strong hooked bill, long wings, bone-crashing talons and superb flying and hunting skills. Females are usually larger than males. Some authors place Accipitridae as one of the four families of the order Accipitriformes, together with ospreys and the New World Vultures, while some others consider Accipitridae as part of a different order, Falconiformes, together with falcons, kestrels and caracaras. They have a cosmopolitan distribution, being found in all continents, except Antarctica. Their morphology is quite variable,...

HUMMINGBIRDS: ¿INSECTS OR BIRDS? Trochilidae family, known as hummingbirds, is endemic of the New World. For some authors they belong to the Apodiformes order, together with the swifts, while for some other authors hummingbirds constitute their own order, Trochiliformes. Despite theses academic discussions the most remarkable about hummingbirds is both their morphology, with some unique adaptations within the birds class, as well as their key ecologic role on their ecosystems, as we shall see later the Green-fired Firecrown. Some hummingbirds are among the smallest birds in the world,...

The magellanic penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) breeds during spring in the coasts of southern South America, both in the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans. Starting in September they gather in huge colonies set in sandy areas. They are monogamous; the male is the first to arrive to the nesting area. Then he reclaims his burrow from the previous year, a small cave excavated in the sand or under the bushes. Then he waits there for the female, who finds him among thousands other penguins only through his call.       The female lays two eggs and both parents take care of the incubation...