Henri Pittier National Park's impresive bio-diversity and bird life has long enchanted reknown naturalist such as Henri Pittier and Alexander Von Humboldt not to mention ornithologists such as William Bebee and Paul Schwartz.

The Henri Pittier national park was the first in Venezuela's National Park system, it was created in 1937 and covers an area of 1078 square Kilometres of mountainous cloud forest.

This protected area is one of the places of greatest biodiversity on the planet. Its also easy to see how the park has earned its reputation as a birdwatching paradise since within its boundaries can be found 576 species, almost half the country's bird species. (around 7% of the world's total!). The endemic Venezuelan Wood-Quail,Violet-chested Hummingbird, White-tipped Quetzal, Groove-billed Toucanet, Guttulated Folliage-Gleaner, Scallop-breasted Antpitta,, Handsome Fruiteater, Venezuelan Bristle-Tyrant and the Rufous-cheeked Tanager can all be found here alongside other endemic species such as the Helmeted Curassow, and the Blood-eared Parakeet.

Located within the park is the internationally famous Portachuelo pass, a point of convergence of both bird and insect migratory routes. Near the pass a derelict hotel, now engulfed by the vegetation is the location of the Rancho Grande Biological research station. A must for any birding tour of the Henri Pittier is a visit to the bird table located on the third storey terrace of the bio-station at tree canopy height. Here a miriad of birds come to to feed on bananas and can be observed from close quarters. Exploring the short trails around the research station and the pass at dawn has been described as "...one of the rarest most exquisite experiences a bird watcher can have anywhere in the world." (Mary Lou Goodwin, Audubon Society, Venezuela.)

The Lodge's gardens are visited by over 40 species of birds which come to feed from our bird tables or fly over.These include Magnificent Frigatebirds, Brown Pelicans, Glaucous and white-lined Tanagers, Bananaquits, Orapendolas, Yellow-headed and Crested Caracaras, cuckoos, woodpeckers, parrots and parakeets amongst others. Sugar feeders attract several types of Humming birds which enthral the guests with their territorial aerial combats. Our roof terrace is also ideal place for bird watching especially oceanic and coastal species, as it is above tree canopy level.

In a area known as Cumboto, about 10 minutes driving from the eco-lodge, the bird life is very rich, specially in the dry deciduous forest where species like Chestnut-fronted Macaw, White-fringed Antwren, Scrub and Golden-fronted Greenlets, White-eared Conebill, and Streaked Saltator can be found. Within the cocoa groves you can also see Cocoa Thrush, and along the river, the Amazon Kingfisher, Spectacle Owl, and Fasciated Tiger-Heron are usually spotted.

The variety of habitats located within the Henri Pittier gives rise to the abundant and fascinating bird life that this area offers.This makes the Henri Pittier National Park a must in any Venezuela birdwatching trip .

At the lodge we provide advise and specialist services for birdwatching tours and independent birders, such as arranging pre-dawn breakfasts, local transport and multi-lingual birding guides.