El Cairo is a picturesque town nestled atop a small plateau in the western Andes, in the heart coffee-growing region. The area is recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage site, the scenery and architecture of the town is quite amazing. The topography, unique to this area of the cordillera, consists of a ridge that runs diagonally from elevations of 2,200 m (7,200 ft) in the center of the mountains to elevations of 1,100 m (3600 ft) in the western slope.

 

Crested Ant-tanager Habia cristata  By: Christopher Calonje

 

This altitudinal gradient makes for impressive birding, with 290 species of birds, 6 that are endemic and relatively easy to see and 30 near-endemic species. Target species include, Glistening-Green Tanager, Beautiful Jay, Black-and-Gold Tanager, Velvet- purple Coronet, Yellow-collared Chlorophonia, Streaked Tuftedcheeck, Black-chinned Tanager, Purplish- mantled Tanager, Black Flowerpiercer, Orange-breasted Fruiteater, and Club-winged Manakin. Endemic species include: Crested Ant-Tanager, Gold-Ringed Tanager, Munchique Wood-wren, and Bicolored Antvireo.

 

Yellow-eared Parrot Ognorhynchus icterotis By Christopher Calonje