The Birds of Northern Ecuador –  Andes and Northwest Lowlands

Sept. 16 – 30, 2010 (sold out)

With almost 1700 species of birds, over 16,000 known plants, and almost 400 species of mammals, Ecuador is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world.  Considering its relatively small size, it may harbor more species per square mile than any other country.  Ocean currents, an equatorial latitude, and the rugged Andes combine to create climate variations that support great biogeographic diversity as well as a high regional endemism.  Coastal beaches and mangrove lagoons, lowland tropical forests, tropical deciduous forest, Amazonian rain forest, Andean foothill and cloudforests, high elevation paramo, and peaks over 20,000 feet all contribute to the beauty and richness of the country. 

We’ll begin our trip in the northwestern lowlands, foothills, and cloudforest where we’ll spend two nights each at the lodges of Tinalandia, Septimo Paraiso, and Tandayapa.  In addition to birding at the lodges, we’ll also visit two superb reserves managed by the Mindo Cloudforest Foundation – the Rio Silanche and Milpe Reserves – and make a visit to the must-see “antpittas and more” show at the home of Angel Paz.  In the northwest, we’ll find a great variety of species, including several regional endemics.  Possibilities include pallid dove, dusky pigeon, bronze-winged and red-billed parrots, scarlet-backed woodpecker, Choco warbler and toucan, Pacific antwren, scarlet-browed and rufous-winged tanagers, yellow-tufted dacnis, red-faced spinetail, toucan barbet, plate-billed mountain toucan, possibly four to six species of antpittas, many tanagers, and perhaps two dozen species of hummingbirds.

From Tandayapa, we’ll travel to the eastern slope of the Andes to the temperate forests of Guango Lodge.  At almost 9000 ft., Guango is a great spot for torrent duck, white-capped dipper, various mountain-tanagers, gray-breasted mountain-toucan, several species of chat-tyrants and brush-finches, and many hummers, including the improbable sword-billed.

Depending on weather conditions, we’ll likely take one afternoon to head uphill to the Papallacta Pass area, climbing as high as 14,000 feet.  Here we’ll look for several high Andean specialists such as Ecuadorian hillstar, plumbeous Sierra-finch, black-chested buzzard eagle, variable hawk, tawny antpitta, two species of cinclodes, rufous-bellied seedsnipe, and others. 

We’ll next visit Cabanas San Isidro, which, at about 6500 feet, is the transition zone between temperate and subtropical habitats.  From the comfortable lodge, which has great rooms and food, we’ll search for species that occur only on the eastern slope as well as more widespread species.  These include white-capped parrot, powerful woodpecker, rufous-crowned tody-flycatcher, pale-edged flycatcher, green-and-black fruiteater, inca jay, black-billed peppershrike, barred becard, Andean solitaire, bluish flowerpiercer, saffron-crowned and many other tanagers, crested and golden-headed quetzals, and as many as 10 species of hummingbirds.  We’ll also make a day trip to lower elevations at Guacamayos Ridge and the Jocotoco Foundation’s Narupa Reserve where we’ll have chances to see species like greater scythebill, golden-eyed flowerpiercer, coppery-chested jacamar, and a few Amazonian species. 

We’ll conclude our journey with a day trip to the high elevation paramo of the Antisana Reserve.   In this wild area of shrubs, vast grasslands, and a high altitude lake, Laguna Micacocha, we’ll have good chances to see many species that we won’t find elsewhere such as giant hummingbird, Andean condor, cinereous harrier, and a suite of other high elevation birds.

Last updated: August 29, 2010.