What is your favourite bird species?
As a bird photography guide, I’ve grown attached to many different groups of birds. I admire the colours of Tanagers, the speed of Hummingbirds, the social behaviour of Parrots and Parakeets, the strength of Eagles, the voices of Antpittas, the mystery of Owls, the bold personalities of Toucans, and the fascinating feeding behaviour of Antbirds. In truth, I enjoy them all—but what I enjoy most is the challenge of photographing them in motion or in a perfect, expressive pose.
Harpy Eagle
What is your name, and where do you live?
I’m David Casas Lopez, based in Bogotá, Colombia. I run Retorno Photo Tours, the first dedicated bird and wildlife photography tour company in the country.
Collared Aracari
What are the main regions or locations you cover as a bird guide?
At Retorno Photo Tours, we cover a wide range of Colombian regions through 14 different tours scheduled around seasonal bird activity. Our main tours include:
Emblematic Birds Tour (March–November):
Focuses on the West and Central Andes—Antioquia, Risaralda, Caldas, Quindío, and Valle del Cauca—ideal for discovering many of Colombia’s most iconic birds.
Colourful Birds Tour (December–February):
Explores the Caribbean region, including the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (with 20+ endemics), La Guajira, and Serranía del Perijá.
Iconic Birds Tour (November–March):
Covers southern departments such as Huila, Cauca, and Putumayo, rich in Amazonian species.
Majestic Birds Tour (March–October):
Dedicated to the Chocó Bioregion near the Pacific coast, known for its exceptional biodiversity.
We also run specialised tours:
- An Endemic Birds Tour, aiming for about 50 of Colombia’s ~75 endemics.
- The Dazzling Birds Tour, centred on Bogotá and its surroundings.
- A nationwide Hummingbirds Tour.
Additionally, we organise targeted trips for species such as the Andean Bear, Harpy Eagle, Guianan Cock-of-the-Rock, Blue-bearded Helmetcrest, Green-bearded Helmetcrest, and others.
Andean Cock-of-the-Rock
How long have you been a bird guide?
I’ve been leading tours for Retorno Photo Tours since 2021, but I began designing birdwatching and bird photography trips in 2018 for our parent company, Retorno Travel.
Crescent-faced Antpitta
How did you get into bird guiding?
While designing birdwatching tours, I constantly needed high-quality photos to represent each region and species. After struggling to find the right images, I decided to take them myself. What started as a practical solution quickly became a passion, and eventually a career. This hands-on experience helps me understand exactly what bird photographers look for in the field.
Rufous Motmot
What aspects of being a bird guide do you like best? Which do you dislike most?
I love helping visitors experience Colombia’s birdlife while also creating opportunities for local communities. Many areas in Colombia still struggle with poverty, deforestation, or the long-term effects of conflict. Bird tourism can offer sustainable jobs and encourage conservation, and seeing this impact on communities is deeply rewarding.
The part I like least is simply that progress can feel slow. There is a lot of work to be done, and I wish positive change could happen faster.
Red-headed Barbet
What are the top 5–10 birds in your region that are the most interesting for visiting birders?
Photographers especially enjoy:
- Eagles: including the Harpy Eagle, Black-and-Chestnut Eagle, and Ornate Hawk-Eagle.
- Hummingbirds: such as Helmetcrests, Coquettes, and Starfrontlets.
- Tanagers: including the Multicoloured Tanager, Gold-ringed Tanager, Scarlet-bellied Mountain Tanager, and Paradise Tanager.
- Cotingas: especially the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock and Guianan Cock-of-the-Rock.
- Antbirds: such as the Spot-backed Antbird and Ocellated Antbird.
- Rails: notably the endemic Bogotá Rail.
- Ducks: including the Torrent Duck.
- Screamers: like the Horned Screamer and Northern Screamer.
- Storks: especially the Jabiru.
- Antpittas: including the Chestnut-crowned Antpitta, Chestnut-naped Antpitta, Bicolored Antpitta, and Muisca Antpitta.
Multicolored Tanager
Can you outline at least one typical birdwatching trip?
The Emblematic Birds Photography Tour – Coffee Zone
This tour explores the central Andes, where cloud forest, valleys, and coffee farms support more than 800 bird species between 1,200 and 4,400 m. Key targets include the Multicoloured Tanager, Violet-tailed Sylph, and Yellow-eared Parrot. Over the course of the trip, photographers generally record more than 130 species. Itinerary (abbreviated):
- Day 0: Arrival in Medellín.
- Day 1–2 (San Rafael): White-mantled Barbet, Sooty Ant-Tanager (endemic), Tanagers, Barbets, Hummingbirds; travel to Jardín.
- Day 3 (Jardín): Oilbird, Red-bellied Grackle (endemic); travel to Mistrató.
- Day 4 (Mistrató): Black-and-Gold Tanager (endemic).
- Days 5–6 (Tatamá NP): Gold-ringed Tanager (endemic) and other cloud-forest specialities.
- Days 7–12 (Manizales, Chinchiná, Anaime): Grey-breasted Mountain-Toucan, Crescent-faced Antpitta, Buffy Helmetcrest, Bicoloured Antpitta, Brown-banded Antpitta, and multiple Tolima endemics (Yellow-eared Parrot, Tolima Blossomcrown, Tolima Dove, Colombia Chachalaca, Indigo-capped Hummingbird).
- Days 13–15 (Dagua & Valle del Cauca): Ruby-topaz Hummingbird, Glittering-green Tanager, Toucan Barbet, Spot-crowned Barbet, Chestnut Wood-Quail, Multicoloured Tanager.
- Day 16: Departure from Cali.
White-bellied Antpitta
What other suggestions can you give to birders interested in your area?
For an Andean bird photography trip, we recommend lightweight, quick-drying clothing in natural colours, a wide-brimmed hat, a waterproof jacket, long pants, sturdy hiking boots, and rubber boots for wet areas. Sunscreen and insect repellent are essential, especially at altitude. Packing light but prepared will make the experience much more comfortable.
Oilbird
If any readers of 10,000 Birds are interested in birding with you, how can they best contact you?
You can learn more or reach me directly through our website: www.retornophototours.com. You can contact us by email, via WhatsApp, or through the contact form on the site. We’d be happy to help you plan your Colombian bird photography trip
Purple-backed Thornbill
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