The isolated Macarena mountains, protected by a national park, are in southern Meta department of Colombia (see map, p. 194), and are geologically distinct from the nearby Andes. Over 100 km in length and 15-25 km wide, they reach c.1,800 m. The west-facing slope is a precipitous cliff towering above the humid forest, while the eastern slope rises gently from the forest floor. Geologically, the Macarenas are related to the isolated table mountains and cerros scattered to the east (including the Sierra de Chiribiquete, Secondary Area s020), and to the Tepuis (EBA 064) of the Guiana shield. This Secondary Area has been identified due to the presence of the Grey-legged Tinamou Crypturellus duidae, which also occurs in the Orinoco-Negro white-sand forests (EBA 065). This tinamou is known only in this area from the east side of the Macarena mountains at 400-500 m where it inhabits humid forest and scrubby open woodland (Hilty and Brown 1986). It has been suggested that this disjunct distribution is illusory, with the bird perhaps also occurring on (but as yet unrecorded from) the table mountains of Vaupés department, south-east Colombia. The Macarena mountains were identified as a Key Area for the widespread but threatened Spot-winged Parrotlet Touit stictoptera (Vulnerable) and the Speckled Crake Coturnicops notatus (Data Deficient) (Wege and Long 1995).

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Endemic Bird Area factsheet: Macarena mountains. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/eba/factsheet/318 on 25/11/2024.