Bosque Ampay

Directly above the city of Abancay, this isolated cloud forest is one of Peru's more interesting areas. There is still much to be discovered in the area, and recently described forms include Apurimac Tapaculo and Apurimac Thistletail. The most easily found specialty of the forest is the Apurimac Spinetail. The is a good variety of hummingbirds, including Violet-throated Starfrontlet, Sword-billed Hummingbird and Mountain Velvetbreast. Blue-mantled Thornbill can also be found in higher areas. Rust-and-yellow Tanager is common in the scrubby slopes below the true forest, where Black-tailed Trainbearer, Golden-billed Saltator, Rusty-fronted Canastero and Creamy-crested Spinetail. In the more humid parts, Rufous-eared Brush-Finch and Undulated Antpitta and among the possibilities.

The "south slope" of the same valley, also easily accessible from Abancay, is very dry and home to a completely different set of birds. The specialty here is Pale-tailed Canastero, and other birds include White-bellied Hummingbird and Mitred Parakeet.

Connecting Sites
Abancay is about 5 hours' drive from Cusco or Ollantaytambo.