Birds of Belmond

Few birds command the sky quite like the magnificent Andean condor. With one of the largest wingspans of any land bird, these imposing creatures are built for soaring, using rising currents of warm air to glide across the landscape. Just a short drive from Las Casitas, Tapay Canyon offers a spectacular vantage point. Arrive in the morning, when the thermal winds begin to rise, and look up: a dark silhouette gliding silently above the canyon walls is an unforgettable sight. 

At Maroma in the Riviera Maya, one colourful resident has become something of a local celebrity. Adela – or “Adelita”, as she is affectionately known – has called Maroma home for more than two decades, delighting guests with her unmistakable presence and personality. Her vivid plumage is characteristic of the spectacular macaws found across the Neotropics, birds that have held an important place in the symbolism and traditions of Maya cultures for centuries.  

Despite its name, Savute Elephant Lodge is a haven for birdwatchers as well as big-game enthusiasts. Among its feathered visitors is the Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill, instantly recognisable by its oversized, dramatically curved yellow bill – earning it the playful nickname “flying banana”. Found across the dry savannas and woodlands of southern Africa, these charismatic birds are a familiar sight on safari, often perched conspicuously on branches or foraging on the ground.  

Tiny, iridescent and endlessly energetic, hummingbirds are a familiar presence in the gardens of Rio Sagrado in the Sacred Valley. Among the regulars is the Sparkling Violetear, recognisable by its shimmering blue-violet head and throat, emerald-green body and flashes of white and blue. Keep your eyes on the flowers, but listen too: hummingbirds are surprisingly vocal, filling the gardens with a lively medley of chirps, squeaks and warbles as they dart from bloom to bloom. 

Some say that the resident falcon at Hotel Cipriani in Venice, is the hardest-working member of the team. Together with his handler, he has an important role to play: keeping pesky pigeons and gulls at bay and protecting the serenity of the hotel’s iconic Olympic-sized swimming pool. It’s a centuries-old approach to bird control, given a distinctly Venetian setting – and a memorable sight for guests lucky enough to witness him at work. 

With a velvety black crest, warm brown back and creamy yellow belly, the Plush-crested Jay is an unmistakable presence around Hotel das Cataratas. Native to parts of Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay and northeastern Argentina, these lively corvids are often seen hopping between the gardens and sunbeds of the hotel. And with the mighty Iguazú Falls just beyond, there can be few more dramatic settings in which to encounter one.

In Portofino, even the birds know where the good life is. The cheeky seagulls of the piazzetta keep a watchful eye on every al fresco indulgence, from a remnant of gelato to a morsel of trenette al pesto or the last crumb of a biscotti. Their familiar calls mingle with the gentle clink of coffee cups and the bobbing of fishing boats in the harbour – an unmistakable soundtrack to a morning at Splendido Mare.