Birds

Peru, because of its wide range of terrains (desert, high mountain, jungle) is a world center of biodiversity. It has the greatest diversity of things such as potatoes (over 4,000 varieties), orchids, and birds - including hummingbirds.
If you travel just 3 or so hours south of Lima, there is a nature reserve in Paracas and around the Islas Ballestas that offers an impressive variety and number of birds - including lots of seabirds, and even penguins. In fact, it's the northernmost spot for seeing penguins, which come this far thanks to the cold waters of the Humboldt Current.

Even around Lima, we get a very interesting assortment of birds. There are cormorants and pelicans, as well as all sorts of gulls, along the beachfront.
But even inland, there are lots of birds.
Here are a few that Valerie encounters at work:

This is a Burrowing Owl, that I encountered during a lunchtime walk in the potato fields. They are among the smallest types of owls -barely bigger than a robin. And they are diurnal, which is why this one was out in the middle of the day. They also burrow in holes in the ground, rather than trees or rafters. The green eyes were striking as was the way it bobbed its head up and down.

This pair of Peruvian Thicknees has taken up regular residence in the CIP potato fields. They have remarkably blue-green eyes. They are normally water birds, but these seem to be content to be surrounded by dirt and potatoes.

The lantana bushes outside my office window regularly attract hummingbirds. I'm not sure what this one is called, but it's relatively big - at least compared to the ruby-throated variety we are used to seeing in the States. They are hard to photograph, particularly through a window, but I'll keep trying to capture a better view.