NEW AND NOTEWORTHY BIRD RECORDS FROM THE EAST SLOPE OF THE ANDES OF COLOMBIA

We present significant new information on the distribution and status of 138 species

of birds from the Andean East Slope of Colombia, based upon fieldwork between

1990 and 2000 at 28 sites from central Dpto. Boyacá south to the Ecuador border.

The first Colombian specimens of two species (Campylopterus villaviscensio, Napo

Sabrewing; Myrmotherula spodionota, Foothill Antwren) are reported. Three other

taxa (Ocreatus underwoodii addae, Piculus leucolaemus leucolaemus and

Myiophobus p. phoenicomitra), the first two sometimes considered species distinct

from known Colombian forms, represent first reports from Colombia based upon

sightings or photographs; we add several more sightings of two species (Pipreola

chlorolepidota, Iridisornis analis) previously known from single sight records. In

all, we report 35 species from the Andean East Slope of Colombia for the first time,

southward range extensions on this slope for 47 species, northward extensions for

21, upward or downward altitudinal extensions for 19, filling in of major discontinuities

in distribution for 22; for ten of the latter, known from very few reports, new information

indicates a continuous distribution and far greater abundance than previously

supposed. Range extensions and previously undiscovered populations of several

restricted-range, Vulnerable, Near-threatened and Threatened species help to

emphasize the importance of implementing conservation measures in the face of the increasing colonization pressures and insecurity. Based on our observations, we

present several recommendations for setting conservation priorities in this rich but

still relatively poorly known region.