The Urban Birder Visits Ushuaia, Argentina

A wide variety of interesting birds can be seen in the world’s most southernmost city.

- David Lindo

THE SIGN SAID: “Welcome to the most southerly city in the world”. However, the word city is a rather lavish description for this urban centre. Located on the shores of the Beagle Channel, in the province of Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, this strip of coastal humanity is the gateway to Antarctica, a two-day sail to the south.

A range of mountains encircle Ushuaia, the foothills of which are cloaked in forest that is, unfortunately, being eroded away by unregulated development. Ushuaia has the look of a frontier town that has rather oddly been twinned with Eilat in Israel. Walk through the streets in the centre of town and see people from all over the world united by their backpacks and their quest to visit the numerous outdoor and equipment shops.

There are relatively few places to go birding within Ushuaia, although the neighbouring forests would yield some interesting species, including Rufous-collared Sparrow and the Austral Parakeet. This attractive parrot can also be seen out and about in the town, traversing between patches of trees.