Abra Malaga offers very productive birding in the high Andes between Cusco and Machu Picchu. The Polylepis forests around the pass are prime habitat for specialties. Endemics found in these forest patches include Royal Cinclodes, White-browed Tit-Spinetail, Tawny Tit-Spinetail, and Junin Canastero. Other birds found in these forests include Blue-mantled Thornbill, Bar-winged Cinclodes, White-winged Cinclodes, Line-fronted Canastero, Stripe-headed Antpitta, Andean Tapaculo, Thick-billed Siskin, and Giant Conebill.\
Several additional endemics are found on the western side of the pass. These are White-tufted Sunbeam, Creamy-crested Spinetail, Rusty-fronted Canastero, and Chestnut-breasted Mountain-Finch. Additional birds on this side of the pass include Andean Guan, Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan, Marcapata Spinetail, Pearled Treerunner, Red-crested Cotinga, Unstreaked Tit-Tyrant, Pale-legged Warbler, White-browed Conebill, Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager, Chestnut-breasted Mountain-Tanager, Moustached Flowerpiercer, and Cusco Brush-Finch. Of course, Andean Condors are always a possibility as well.
One hopes that the weather is good during a visit. Fog is possible, especially later in the year around November and December. The weather is generally much better in the dry season from July-September.
