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In wildlife, it is all about timing. Discover what animals and plants you can watch each month in Argentina.
The elephant seal is the largest of all seals and can be seen in Patagonia from July until April, but the best season is the end of September and October, when you can watch five-ton males battling over females. In Chubut, the ideal places to see them are Península Valdés and Isla Escondida beach (access is on Provincial Route 1, 50 km north of Punta Tombo).
Killer whales in Patagonia are famous for hunting sea lions and elephant seals by fully exiting the water, a technique called intentional stranding. The best place to see this spectacle is in Punta Norte (Valdés Península, Chubut), from mid-March to early May. It is recommended to go a couple of hours before high tide. Another place to see killer whales is in Caleta Valdés (also in Península Valdés), in October and November.
The biggest colony of burrowing parrots in the world can be found in El Cóndor Beach, which can be reached following the Route of the Cliffs (Río Negro). Thousands of couples excavate their nest on cliffs facing the sea, creating a unique spectacle you can witness from the beach. The chicks hatch in November and remain in the nests until January.
Guanacos are a distant relative of the camel and are considered a symbol of Argentina's fauna. They can be found all the way from Tierra del Fuego to San Juan and La Rioja. The best places to watch them are the Valdés Peninsula, and the national parks of Los Glaciares, Perito Moreno and Patagonia (Santa Cruz), Laguna Blanca (Neuquén), Lihué Calel (La Pampa) and Talampaya (La Rioja), Laguna El Diamante (Mendoza) and the Ischigualasto Provincial Park (San Juan).
These amusing rodents can only be found in Argentina. A great place to see them is the Valdés Peninsula and Cabo Dos Bahías (Chubut).
There are two species of flamingos: the Andean flamingo and the Jame's flamingo. Big reproductive colonies can be found in the lakes of the Puna. Brava Lake (La Rioja), Ansenuza National Park (Córdoba), Laguna de Llancanelo (Mendoza) and Pozuelos Lake (Jujuy) are the best places to watch these flamingos.
Vicunas are similar to guanacos, but smaller in size. They live in families in the Puna deserts. You can find them on the way to Tolar Grande (Salta), in the Salinas Grandes (Jujuy), Antofagasta de la Sierra (Catamarca) and in La Rioja.
In spring and summer, thousands of aquatic birds gather in the lakes of the Puna. Many will only be found in this environment, such as the giant coo, the horned coot, the Andean goose and the Puna teal. Brava Lake (La Rioja) and Pozuelos Lake (Jujuy) are the best places to spot them.
In spring and summer, they get covered with beautiful flowers. You can see them throughout the northeast of Argentina, but the Los Cardones National Park (Salta) is a must-see.
These trees start to bloom towards the end of the winter and their pink, white and yellow tops, embellishing jungles, parks and streets, are a spectacle worth seeing. In Misiones, they bloom in July, whereas in Corrientes, Chaco, Formosa and the Yungas, they bloom in August and September. In the City of Buenos Aires, the pink trumpet tree blooms in October.
Live-shearing is an ancient ritual. Communities gather to herd and shear vicunas taking care not to hurt them. In Catamarca, you can participate in the Chaku in some communities of El Peñón, Calalaste, Antofalla (Antofagasta de la Sierra) and Laguna Blanca.
Yacare caimans are the South American cousins of the crocodile. In Argentina, two species can be spotted throughout the year in the Iberá Wetlands (Corrientes), in La Estrella Wetlands (Formosa), Jaaukanigás (Santa Fe) and the National Parks: Pilcomayo (Formosa), El Impenetrable (Chaco), Iguazú (Misiones) and Mburucuyá (Corrientes).
The capybara is the largest living rodent in the world and a symbol of Argentina's fauna. They can be found throughout the year in the Iberá Wetlands (Corrientes), La Estrella Wetlands (Formosa), Jaaukanigás (Santa Fe) and the National Parks: El Palmar (Entre Ríos), El Impenetrable (Chaco) and Mburucuyá (Corrientes).
The largest native deer in South America. It can be found all year round in the Iberá Wetlands (spotting them from the Laguna Iberá Portal is almost guaranteed) and in the Mburucuyá National Park (Corrientes). If you are lucky, you may also see them in the Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park (Buenos Aires).
They live in groups in the forests and jungles of the north. They can be seen in the Iberá Wetlands (Corrientes), Jaaukanigás (Santa Fe) and in the National Parks: Chaco and El Impenetrable (Chaco), Pilcomayo (Formosa) and Mburucuyá (Corrientes). Listen for their loud howling at dawn and dusk. It is the best way to find them.
The brocket is a small deer. You can probably spot them if you walk quietly along the Iberá paths, the Mburucuyá National Park and other protected areas.
Also known as the Paraguayan anaconda (a relative of the green anaconda), the yellow anaconda is the largest serpent in Argentina. It can measure up to four metres! Although they are active throughout the year, it is easier to find them during the winter, when they go out to lie in the sun. The best places to see them are the La Estrella Wetlands (Formosa) and the Iberá Wetlands (Corrientes).
They can be watched throughout the year in all regions of the country. At certain times, they gather in huge flocks to feed, especially in La Estrella Wetlands. The bird in the photo is a jaribu, the biggest bird in the Americas. Another good place to see them is in the Ansenuza National Park.
Even though they can be found in most parts of the north region of Argentina, the best place to see them is in Iguazú National Park (Misiones), where they usually wander among tourists searching for food. Remember that you shouldn't feed them as they may get sick or bite you.
Who doesn't want to see toucans? If you go to the Iguazú Falls or other points in the province of Misiones you can see five species, including the Great Toucan, which you can also find in Salta, Jujuy, Tucumán, Chaco and Formosa. In winter it is common for them to come to urban parks and gardens in search of food.
About 12 species of hummingbirds live in the Misiones jungle, and although they are seen all year round, in winter (when there are fewer flowers in the jungle) they visit gardens and parks. In Puerto Iguazú you can see them in flowerbeds, in the flowers of urban trees and in some gardens that receive visits from the public.
The Green Macaw (Ara militaris) is a specialty for birdwatching lovers and a rarity in Argentina: it was considered extinct and since its rediscovery in the Sierras de Tartagal, today it represents the symbol bird of the mountain jungles from Salta. It can be observed between May and August in different municipalities in the north of Salta. If you want to see it, always hire qualified guides from the province of Salta and respect all the rules to care for this species.
It is an emblem of our fauna, seeing them fly up close is impressive. You can find them in all the national parks of the Andean Patagonia, in the Quebrada del Condorito NP and in the Taninga Tunnels (Córdoba), Tierra del Fuego NP. In the mountains of the northwest it is common to see them in the Los Cardones NP and in the Cabra Corral Dam (Salta).
It is the largest woodpecker in South America and a symbol of the Andean-Patagonian forest. It can be found in the following national parks: Nahuel Huapi, Lanin, Lago Puelo, Los Alerces, Los Glaciares, Perito Moreno and Tierra del Fuego.
It is the most iconic native deer of Patagonia. The huemul is an endangered species difficult to see, but you might be lucky and spot one on the pathways of the Perito Moreno and Los Glaciares National Parks.
In autumn, just before losing their leaves, the lenga beech, the Antarctic beech, the rauli beech and the Patagonian oak turn yellow, orange and red creating an amazing landscape. You can enjoy the view in the following national parks: Nahuel Huapi, Lanin, Lago Puelo, Los Alerces, Los Glaciares, Perito Moreno and Tierra del Fuego.
Each year, thousands of migratory birds arrive from Canada, USA and the north of South America to feed or breed. Some of the best places to watch them include Punta Rasa, the Patagonian Coast, Costa Atlántica Natural Reserve and Mar Chiquita Lake.
The greater rhea is the South American cousin of the ostrich, and you can find them in many areas in Buenos Aires, La Pampa, Entre Ríos and Corrientes. The best places to see them are the Iberá, El Palmar and Mburucuyá National Parks.
The viscacha is a symbol of Argentina's fauna. You can see it all year round in the El Palmar National Park and the Iberá National Park.
The cockspur coral tree is Argentina's national flower. Its red flowers are amazing to see in spring. You can see them in many places, such as the Costanera Sur Ecological Reserve or the Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park.
It is the largest aquatic plant in the world. Its large white flowers open at sunset and last for only two days! You can find it in the Esteros del Iberá (Corrientes), in Jaaukanigás (Santa Fe) and in several lagoons and wetlands of the Paraná Delta.
With white and light blue wings, resembling the Argentine flag, this butterfly is a symbol of our fauna. You can find it in the summer in the El Palmar National Park, the Costanera Sur Ecological Reserve, in Punta Indio area and other areas in Buenos Aires and Entre Ríos.
In the Luro Park in La Pampa, you can find the red deer rut, a species introduced from Europe that has become part of La Pampa's cultural heritage.
Chilean flamingos can be found in different places, but the largest reproductive colonies live in Mar Chiquita Lake. It is a must-see spectacle.
The Trevelin (Chubut) tulip field is a unique attraction in Argentina. Every spring, during the month of October and the first days of November, an immense garden of purple, pink, yellow, red, white and orange tulips dresses the foot of the mountain range.