– From 1999 to 2006, we conducted bird inventories based on observations, tape-recordings, and general specimen collecting in the northern end of the Andean Cordillera Central, Department of Antioquia, Colombia. We recorded 335 species in 18 cloud forests located between 1300 and 1915 m a.s.l. Among the ten localities more frequently visited, Bodega Vieja (231 species), Alto Chaquiral [= Arrieto Antioqueno (201)], La Forzosa (199) and Santa Gertrudis (162) had the higher species richness. We present a qualitative assessment of relative abundance and habitat preferences for each species. The avifauna assemblage of this region exhibits mixed biogeographic affinities, with elements from the northern Andes, the lowlands and foothills of Choco, Nechi-Magdalena, and Central America. Besides this, the outstanding new bird records we found contradict the view of the Cordillera Central as a relatively well explored area in Colombia. Sixteen species of conservation concern have healthy populations in these cloud forests; for instance, we report all the 16 localities known for the Chestnut-capped Piha (Lipaugus weberi) whose range is entirely confined to our study region. The unique features of this avifauna highlight the necessity of an integral, community-based conservation strategy to ameliorate the effect of landscape