Where to Go Birding in Patagonia and Species to Look Out For

Nestled into the windswept steppe, evergreen forests of lenga, ñirre and coihue and coasts of Patagonia are over 360 different species of birds, 40 of which are endemic to the area. It’s therefore inevitable that birding in Patagonia has become a real attraction for holidaymakers from around the world, with visitors hoping to catch a glimpse of birds such as hooded grebes, Fuegian steamer ducks and upland geese.

But where’s best to encounter Patagonia’s bird species? Read on to learn about the top birdwatching destinations in Patagonia and the types of birdlife you can expect to find in each.

Birding in Patagonia: Chile

Torres del Paine National Park

The lakes, Nothofagus forests and grassy plains of Torres del Paine National Park are the ideal habitats for bird species including:

Andean condor
Southern crested caracara
Chimango caracara
Spectacled duck
Ashy-headed goose
Upland goose
Austral parakeet
Magellanic woodpecker and striped woodpecker
Rufous-collared sparrow
Austral pygmy owl
Chilean flicker
Silvery and white-tufted grebes
Rufous-legged owl

Tierra del Fuego

In the far south of Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego is a desolate, barely-inhabited archipelago of islands that stretch down as far as Cape Horn. As a result of its lack of human settlement, Tierra del Fuego is a paradise for birdwatchers.

On the lagoons and lakes of Tierra del Fuego, expect to see:

Magellanic and two-banded plover
Chilean flamingo
White-rumped sandpiper
Ruddy-headed and upland goose
Great horned owl
Black-necked and coscoroba swans

On the coasts of Tierra del Fuego and Cape Horn:

King penguin (only at the colony in Bahía Inútil on the western coast of Tierra del Fuego)
Flightless and steamer ducks
Imperial, king and rock cormorants
Kelp goose
Magellanic oystercatcher
Southern giant petrel
Black-browed albatross

On the grassy plains and forested zones:

Magellanic woodpecker
Austral parakeet
Darwin’s rhea
Andean condor
Southern crested caracara
Black-chested buzzard eagle

The Carretera Austral

Northern Chilean Patagonia’s only road, connecting Puerto Montt with Villa O’Higgins, the Carretera Austral passes alongside over twenty-five national parks, reserves and private protected areas, where huge numbers of different bird species can be found.

These include:

Andean condor
Magellanic and striped woodpecker
Upland goose
Black-necked swan
Black-faced ibis
Austral negrito
Austral parakeet
Striped woodpecker
Southern lapwing
Darwin’s rhea
Southern crested caracara
Chilean flamingo
Chucao tapaculo
Black -throated huet huet, ochre-flanked tapaculo
Patagonian sierra-finch
White-throated tree runner

Birding in Patagonia: Argentina

Valdés Peninsula

On the Argentine side of Patagonia, the Valdés Peninsula is renowned for its large population of marine wildlife but with over 180 different bird species migrating to the peninsula or living here throughout the year, it’s also one of the most important birding destinations in Argentina.