Llama (Lama Glama)

The lama is a domesticated animal,bigger than other Lamas, They have beautiful apect and diferent colors. It has abundant long wool. In Chile they have only adapted to the high northern mountains, feeding on plants like "tolares" and "pajonales". It has been domesticated by the indigenous populations who use it for meat, wool and mainly as animal of burden. They can be seen in Machuca, Guatin, Salar de Tara, Socaire, and on the Licancabur volcano slope..

Vicuña (Vicugna vicugna)

his wild animal is smaller than the Guanaco and the Lama and they can reach a height of up to 130 cm. Its coat is a light brown cinnamon color with a white chest. The coat is longer on the front of the body. The wool is finer and more expensive than that of other members of this family. Very expensive ponchos and bedspreads are made from their coat. They live at an altitude of approximately 3.700 m. and can be found in the valleys of Quepiaco and Machuca.

Guanaco (Lama Guanicoe)

A wild animal, of a brownish cinnamon color, with white on lower body and whose head is darker than the rest of its body. This animal forms groups of approximately 5 to 12 members, composed of a male and his harem of females and young kids. Historically Indians ate their meat and used their wool and skin for clothing. These Lamas can be seen on the route from Calama to San Pedro de Atacama.

Vizcacha (Lagidium viscacia)

Lives in rocky mountain ranges. This rodent measures up to 40 cm in length, its body and tail are similar to those of the Chinchilla. Its fur varies from gray to ochre or brown to black, depending on its age. It feeds on hard pastures called coirones (high silicate grasses). Due to hunting pressure and its low fertility rates it has been wiped out in some areas. It can be found in Monges de la Pacana, on the road to Geysers del Tatio and Caspana.

Zorro Culpeo (Pseudalopex culpaeus)

This is a medium sized animal that reaches a length of 120 cm, including tail. It is a brownish red color with a solid frame. It usually lives alone, eating mainly rodents, lizards and fruit. During reproduction season (spring) they live in pairs. In this area it can be found mainly in Miscanti y Meñiques lagoon, Tebinquiche lagoon, and Vegas of Quepiaco.

Zuri (Pterochemia pennata tarapacensis)

This is a large bird (95 cm), its coloring is generally brownish gray with white markings on its feathers. Its neck is long and grayish, its feet yellowish with three toes. It has a wide, flat, brown-gray beak. This bird is characterized by its run. This bird doesn't fly. It can reach fast speeds when it runs away. It can be seen alone or in groups that feed on herbs, reptiles and insects. The male incubate and breed the kids. It is found on the road to Geyser del Tatio.

Flameno Andino (Phoenicoparrus andinus)

This bird measures between 110 and 115 cms. All of the plumage is white with a pale roseate tone. The front portion of the neck and upper break are a more intense rose color. The wings have red spots, the primaries and secondaries are black. The beak is bend down half yellow and half black The legs are a soft yellow. This bird is the largest of its family. They can be found in Salar de Pujsa, valleys of Machuca, Chaxa Lagoon.

Flamenco Chileno (Phoenicopterus chilensis)

This distrustful and loud bird measures between 100 and 105 cms. Its plumage is white with a light rose coloring. Its beak is large, wide and curved downwards. The basal half is whitish and the remainder black. The wings are pink. Primary and secondary feathers have black points which are more notable during flight. The tarsus is a bluish bone color with red knees and feet. It has a small back thumb. It can be found in Chaxa Lagoon and Salar de Pujsa.

Flamenco de James (Phoenicoparrus jamesi)

Measures about 90 cm. Is generally white with light pink overtones. The neck is long and the beak is large, wide and bent down. It is black on the first third of the point and the rest is yellow. The area around the eyes to the beak is red (this beak differentiates it from other species present in Chile). Its plumage is pink to red. It has long legs that are a red brick color and lack the posterior toe. It can be seen in the Pujsa Salt Lake.

Caiti (Recurvirostra andina)

This bird measures between 45 and 48 cm in length. Feathers are white except the wings, tail and medial portion of back which are black. The beak (grayish to black) is long, thin, and curved up. It is used as a trowel, moving the head side to side, to search for small invertebrates. The legs vary from a bluish gray to black. Its eyes are red. It inhabits lakes and fresh and salt water lagoons in the high Andes. It can be found at Chaxa Lagoon.

Chorlo de la Puna (Charadrius alticola)

This small bird has a gray back with a cinnamon neck whose anterior portion is white with a black stripe and another gray stripe. The face and front are white which helps to easily identify the bird. However, during the non-reproductive season the head is almost white, with a slight dark spot around the ear. The legs and beak are dark, and the wings are a pearl gray with a lower dark band. The tail is white. It can be found on the Chaxa lagoon.

Playero de Baird (Calidris bairdii)

This migratory bird measures between 15 and 19 cm in length. In general, its head, neck and breast are brown with darker lines. The chest and abdomen are white. The wings are dark and longer than the tail when gathered up. The feet and beaks are black. This migratory species is monogamous. During migration the females leave before the males. They can be found in Chaxa lagoon in spring and summer.

Tagua Cornuda (Fulica cornuta)

This aquatic bird measures between 51 and 62 cm. Its face and neck are black. Its body is bluish blackish gray. Its beack is greenish yellow to orange, with upper edge black; without frontal shield but has forehead with black lengthened caruncle. Legs are a greenish yellow. Adults live in pairs, and they build nest in the water anchor to a stone base. They are found in Regions I to III in the high Andes zones. It can be seen at the Miñiques Lagoon where it is protected.

Tagua Gigante (Fulica gigantea)

This aquatic bird is between 60 and 65 cm in length. Its bulky body is mostly a bluish black. Its beak is yellow, with a white strip down the center. The rewst of the beak is red with a yellow point at the end. It is characterized by its red feet with large claws. They live in pairs in wetlands, "bofedales", and fresh water lakes at a height of between 4000 and 4600 meters. It is aggressive with other coots and it rarely flyes. It can be seen it the Putana wetlands.

Tagua Andina (Fulica ardesiaca)

This aquatic bird is between 45 & 50 cm in length. Its coloring is a bluish grey. Its beak is yellow. Its front shield is a brownish red. Species can also be found with a white beak and shield. Its feet are brownish. They live in wetlands, "bofedales", and fresh water lakes between the first and second regions. They lay from 4 to 5 beige eggs. It can be found in the Inca Coya Lagoon.

Guallata Andina o Piuquen (Choephaga melanoptera)

This aquatic migratory bird measure between 75 and 80 cms. It has a robust body, with a generally white coloration. Its eyes are small and black, the wings and tail have dark tones. The small beak is pink with black end. The feet are reddish orange. They may be seen in pairs or as a family with their gosling in rivers, lagoons or high plateau wetlands. They may be found in the valleys of Machuca, Putana and Quepiaco.

Gaviota Andina (Larus serranus)

This bird measures between 45 and 48 cm. During its reproductive cycle it has a black head that is easily identified. However during the non-reproductive cycle its head is almost white with a small dark stain around the ears. The beak is dark red and its wings are a pearl gray color with an inferior dark band. Its tail is white. It lives alone or in pairs and can be found in Salar de Pujsa, Salar de Tara, Laguna Chaxa.

Codorniz (Callipepla californica)

This introduced species measures about 25 cm. It is characterized by a prominent double plume on the forehead which is larger on the male than the female. They are generally gray in color, with a black head and throat with a white border. The abdomen is small clear spots. They can be seen in small groups in Ayllu de Coyo

Pequen (Athenue cunicularia)

This raptor has large flat yellow eyes with a noticeable white line between the eyes. Its beak is curved down and pale yellow. General coloring is an earthy brown with small white spots. Its chest is light with small brown spots. Its thighs are whitish. It can be seen in pairs or groups feeding on insects and small mammals. It can be found in Ayllu de Coyo.

Carancho Cordillerano (Phalcoboenus Magalopterus)

This raptor measures about 50 cm. It has a black head, neck, breast, back and exterior wings. The naked skin on its head is orange. The beak is a bluish white. Its rump is white. The tail is black with a white strip on the end. The interior portion of the wing has a white area ending with a black strip. This bird is solitary or lives in pairs and can be seen on the road from San Pedro de Atacama to Calama.

Halcón Perdiguero (Falco femoralis pichinchae)

This raptor has a dark yellowish brown stripe over its eye that extends down to the nape, and under his eye a black sideburn. The sides of the face and throat area yellowish brown. The upper body is a dark brown. The wings and tail are dark with white bands. The chest is pallid (the female has a noticeable streak). The abdomen is redder in color. They live in pairs and hunt birds in flight. They can be found in the Putana wetlands.

Pato Juarjual (Lophonetta specularioides)

This duck is light brown with grayish spots with lighter coloring on the inner parts. Its beak is dark gray with a blue base. Its eyes are red. Its head is a grayish brown with a darker mask around the eyes and feathers that hang from the nape. This bird defends its territory and is agressive with other birds It can be seen in groups or pairs in rivers, lagoons, wetlands, salt lakes or at sea. It can be found in the valleys of Machuca, Putana y Quepiaco.

Pato Jergon Chico (Anas flavirostris oxyptera)

This shy aquatic bird measures between 40 and 43 cm. Its face and neck are dark brown. Its body is a grayish brown color. The breast is whitish with darker spots. Its abdomen is a light gray. Its wings are brown with black spots. Its beak is yellow with a black point and central line. It can be found in wetlands, rivers, lagoons, and lakes and in pairs or in groups, it builds their nest with grass and feathers, they lay 6 to 10 white eggs It can be seen in the Putana valleys.

Pato Puna (Anas Puna)

This duck is approximately 45 cm. Its upper head is a dark brown down to the eyes. The rest of its head and neck are white. Its beack is blue. Its plumage on the body is brownish gray tones on the lower part with the upper regions striated in those same tones. This shy duck can be seen in pairs or groups on rivers, high plateau lagoons, or igh plateau wetlands, it nest in the ground laying from 6 to 10 eggs. It can be found in the Putana valleys.