The Black Headed antbird

(Percnostola rufifrons jensoni) has a very small range in Peru.  This species is poorly known but locally common near the Amazon River lodge in Quebrada Oran.

In the megadiverse country of Peru, this species has a range of less than 30,000 km squared and there is a current effort by Ornithologists to separate this bird as an endemic to only Peru. There are other populations of P.rufifrons populations in the northern Amazon Basin and Ornithologists are studying them. The investigators are certain we are dealing with a distinct species.(Isler et al, 2009)

What’s in a Name?

 The name Jensoni is derived from one of the first Eco-Tourism Pioneer in Loreto , Peter Jenson who was the founder of Explorama Tours and Lodges. Named in his honor, His lodge was the only that provided opportunities to observe this species in the wild to bird enthusiast all over the world. (Until Otorongo installed in the Oran Creek in 2006, now we also offer tours to see this rarity)

So special

Oddly enough, these birds are generally considered White Sands forest specialists., In oran the white sands forests are not well defined and need further investigation. Probably the most interesting about this species of bird is that eventually, we will be able to paint a picture of the last 2-5 million years of environmental change that happened in Amazon Basin. These species diversify over time with change.

Max diversity

The Amazon Rainforest is so diverse due to the constant change overtime through tectonic uplift and periods of dry or wet climate. Populations of certain organisms, are either isolated or adapt to differing conditions which eventually leads to new species genetically distinct from their close relatives. Located in the middle of the District of Las Amazonas. Our Lodge is in the interior of the Oran Creek bordering white water flooded forests (Varzea) and terra firme forest east of the Napo River. There exists unbroken forest northbound to the border of Colombia/Peru to the Putumayo River.

The Oran Creek

The Oran Creek is located on the Northern margin of the Amazon River just below its confluence with the Napo River. Around the lodge, it is possible to rack up 100 birds in a weeks’ time without moving off the lodge property (even more during austral/ boreal migrations) .Our facility is in such an area of distinct converging ecosystems that the diversity is staggering. With enough time and patience, over 300 birds can be spotted within short travelling distance from the lodge.

Other rarities for birders and birding lifelisters near us would be,

• Dendroplex kinerii zimmers woodcreeper

• Berlepschia rikeri - point tailed palm creeper

• Lophotriccus galeatus - helmeted pygmy tyrant

• Tolmomyias traylori - orange eyed flycatcher

• Grallaria dignissima - ocre striped antpitta

• Hylopezus macularius - spotted antpitta