Mark Pretti Nature Tours, L.L.C.

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The Birds and natural History of Northern Ecuador - the high Andes and the east and west slopes

September 24 - October 6, 2024

With roughly 1600 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 high regional endemism.  Coastal beaches and mangroves, lowland tropical rainforest, tropical deciduous forest, the Amazon, Andean cloud forest, high elevation paramo, and peaks over 20,000 feet all contribute to the beauty and richness of the country.

We値l begin our trip at the Jocotoco Foundation's Yanacocha Reserve where we usually see scarlet-bellied and black-chested mountain-tanagers, great sapphirewing, shining sunbeam, tawny antpitta and many other high elevation species.  We then continue to northwestern montane and cloud forests where we値l spend five days enjoying the lodges of Septimo Paraiso and Tandayapa.  In addition to birding at the lodges, we値l also visit several private "feeding stations" which are always an eye-candy highlight in Ecuador - Alambi Reserve, Reserva Paz de Las Aves and the Amagusa Reserve.  In this region, we値l find a great variety of species, including several regional endemics.  Possibilities include bronze-winged and red-billed parrots, Choco warbler, Choco and yellow-throated toucans, many species of tanagers (beryl-spangled, blue-necked, golden-naped, bay-headed, rufous-throated, and more), yellow-tufted dacnis, red-faced spinetail, toucan barbet, plate-billed mountain toucan, club-winged manakin, Zeledon's antbird, possibly four species of antpitta, scaled and orange-breasted fruiteaters, moss-backed and glistening-green tanagers, dark-backed wood-quail, and perhaps two dozen species of hummingbirds. Along the way we'll also learn about the general ecology of Andean montane and cloud forests.

We then make a memorable day trip to the high elevation paramo of the Antisana Reserve.  In this wild area of shrubs, vast grasslands, cushion plants, and a high altitude lake, Laguna Micacocha, we値l have good chances to see many species that we won稚 find elsewhere.  In the lower sections, we'll look for giant hummingbird, black-tailed trainbearer, red-crested cotinga, tufted tit-tyrant, yellow-breasted brushfinch, blue-and-yellow tanager, cinereous conebill, and black flowerpiercer.  Higher up, in addition to spectacular scenery, we値l have chances to see cinereous harrier, carunculated caracara, paramo pipit, plain-crowned (paramo) ground-tyrant, black-winged ground-dove, plumbeous sierra-finch, silvery grebe, yellow-billed pintail, Andean condor, and more. 

We then travel to the eastern slope of the Andes and the temperate forests of Guango Lodge.  At almost 9000 ft., Guango is a great spot for torrent duck, white-capped dipper, various mountain-tanagers (hooded, lacrimose, scarlet-bellied), gray-breasted mountain-toucan, powerful woodpecker, dusky piha, equatorial (rufous) antpitta, several species of chat-tyrants and brushfinches, and many hummers, including the improbable sword-billed. From Guango we'll make a trip to nearby Papallacta Pass where we値l look for several high Andean specialists such as Ecuadorian hillstar, black-chested buzzard eagle, variable hawk, tawny antpitta, stout-billed and chestnut-winged (bar-winged) cinclodes, Andean tit-spinetail, many-striped canastero, white-chinned thistletail, and the local prize, rufous-bellied seedsnipe. 

We値l 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 nice rooms and very good food, we値l search for species that occur only on the eastern slope as well as more widespread species.  These include speckle-faced (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.  In addition to white-bellied antpittas that come somewhat regularly to a worm feeder, they occasionally have the rare Peruvian antpitta coming in.

Between superb lodges, excellent food, good forest and a great diversity of habitats and species, Northern Ecuador has it all, and I can't wait to return.



The 2024 c
ost will be about $4500 per person, double occupancy, and includes all lodging, meals, admissions and transportation from Quito.  The single supplement will be about $500.  Limited to 8 participants. 

Detailed itinerary and references available upon request.

Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe,Swordbilled Hummingbird, and Blue-winged Mountain-tanager by Misty Vaughn.  Spectacled Bear by Bettina Arrigoni 


Last updated: October 08, 2023.