The Huacarpay Lakes area in the central highlands of Peru is a wetlands area where a variety of high elevation aquatic birds are readily seen. Because the area is near Cusco, it is an excellent place to spend a first day of birding after flying into Cusco from Lima the first morning of a tour. Among the species commonly seen there are Puna Ibis, Andean Ibis, Andean Teal, Yellow-billed Pintail, White-cheeked Pintail, Puna Teal, Andean Ruddy-Duck, Plumbeous Rail, Andean Coot, Andean Lapwing, Puna Plover, and Andean Gull. A more scarce species, the White-backed Stilt is sometimes also seen in this area.
The road between Cusco and Huacarpay Lakes traverses high altitude shrubland habitat that is home to a variety of interesting high elevation specialties. These include Wren-like Rush-bird, Many-colored Rush-Tyrant, Rufous-naped Ground-Tyrant, Chiguanco Thrush, and Cinerous Conebill, Peruvian Sierra-Finch, Mourning Sierra-Finch, Ash-breasted Sierra-Finch, Chestnut-bearded Mountain-Finch, Band-tailed Seedeater, and Greenish Yellow-Finch.
