ecuadorlist

Species list

List of species seen

Black Vulture	Vultures weren't always checked, but this was the more common of the 2 species present. Alambi (~2); Paz de las Aves (~6); Paz de las Aves (10); Los Bancos (30); Common on other days
Turkey Vulture	6 from New Road; Alambi (~10); Paz de las Aves (2, 2); up to 8 on other days
Swallow-tailed Kite	Paz de las Aves (6, 1)
White-tailed Kite	Only seen in the distance from the tower at Rio Silanche (2)
Plain-breasted Hawk	1 flew along hillside in morning as seen from main track up from Bellavista Lodge
Roadside Hawk	Mindo (1 - at top of tree before entering the town); Paz de las Aves (pair mating)
Grey Hawk	Bellavista track on return from Rio Silanche (1)
Barred Forest-Falcon	Paz de las Aves - 1 heard calling and flew past in semi-dark
American Kestrel	Both birds at Calacali seen hovering, 1 from above while viewing the valley below, and 1 above the hillside; Paz de las Aves (2 sightings, 1 perched, the other huntiing over hillside)
Sickle-winged Guan	1 calling late afternoon after visiting Tony Nunnery's, and picked out at the top of a tree; Bellavista Lodge - most birds were seen late afternoon near to the compost heap (9)
Dark-backed Wood-Quail	This was one of those surreal times in birding, when I had half expected the outcome, but it was still hard to believe. The large throng that was the tour groups had been assembled at what we believed was the Giant Antpitta area (Paz de las Aves). After a short time waiting, Angel appeared from the corner of the track, walking backwards and talking quietly. Moments later, he was followed dog-like by a pair of Wood-Quails, which eventually fed on his offerings of scraps directly in front of us
Band-tailed Pigeon	Tandayapa (~12)
Plumbeous Pigeon	Calacali (2 separate sightings); Bellavista (6); Tandayapa (~3); Old Nano Mindo road (2)
Ruddy Pigeon	Rio Silanche (3 flew over main track from reception area)
Eared Dove	Common on the first day of arrival in Ecuador, including in Quito; Old Nano Mindo road (3)
Blue Ground-Dove	Ranchos Suamox (~12)
Pallid Dove	Los Bancos (1); Ranchos Suamox (2)
Pacific Parrotlet	Rio Silanche (1 flew overhead); Ranchos Suamox (1 perched)
Red-billed Parrot	What was presumably this species was seen and heard regularly around and over Bellavista. It was only when we were at Tony Nunnery's that ~10 were seen well, since they have a habit of feasting on his corn crop. 7 more were also positively identified at Mindo
Bronze-winged Parrot	Rio Silanche (1 flew over the tower)
Squirrel Cuckoo	1 from Dome at Bellavista, and a further 2 heard
Smooth-billed Ani	Mindo (2)
Short-eared Owl	Old Nano Mindo road (1)
Common Potoo	The views of these birds we saw improved each time we saw them. The first perched below Bellavista was very difficult to find, since we had to peer through bamboo and branches to find it. The second was a nighttime occurrence, sat on the top of a bare stump next to the dome at Bellavista Lodge. We had visited the Antpitta hide at the trout farm on the Old Nano Mindo Road briefly, before being shown the third bird only metres from the steep path
Band-winged Nightjar	Bellavista to Tandayapa (1); Paz de las Aves (2 early - 1 only identified as this species)
Chestnut-collared Swift	~15 overhead at Bellavista. Many more over Bellavista were likely to have been this species, but the positive group were identified on call
Grey-rumped Swift	Many chaetura type swifts were flying over the tower at Rio Silanche, with some seen well enough when gliding low to name them as Grey-rumped
Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift	Rio Silanche (at least 2)
White-whiskered Hermit	Mindo (1); Milpe (1); Ranchos Suamox (2)
Western Long-tailed (Baron�s) Hermit	This bird initially came as something of a surprise, since we didn't expect to see it. The book has it down as Baron�s Hermit, but this is considered a subspecies of Western Loong-tailed. Rio Silanche (1)
Stripe-throated Hermit	Ranchos Suamox (1) - an irregular visitor to one of the feeders, it did land on a nearby perch, but was difficult to see
White-necked Jacobin	Alambi (2 males, female); Mindo (2)
Brown Violet-ear	Alambi (2); Paz de las Aves (2); Mindo (3, 2)
Green Violet-ear	This seemed to be the most common hummingbird in the highlands. They were not always the most numerous at feeders, but many birds were seen and heard throughout the forests
Sparkling Violet-ear	Initial fears of difficulty in separating from Green Violet-ear were dashed with the obvious size difference. Calacali (2); Tony Nunnery (~4); Tandayapa (1)
Green Thorntail	A very wet bird was perched at the top of one of the lower bushes in Milpe car park
Blue-tailed Emerald	Tony Nunnery's (2); Tandayapa (~4); Alambi (2)
Green-crowned Woodnymph	Alambi (male and female); Mindo (1); Milpe (2); Rio Silanche (2); Ranchos Suamox (1); Old Nano Mindo Road trout farm (1)
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird	Very common, very noisy, and very aggressive towards other hummingbirds! Tony Nunnery 's (~2); Tandayapa (~14); Alambi (~10); Paz de las Aves (~6, 2); Mindo (4); Los Bancos (~6); Rio Silanche (~6); Ranchos Suamox (2)
Andean Emerald	Tandayapa (~10); Alambi (~10); Paz (~4); Mindo (~3); Los Bancos (2)
Purple-chested Hummingbird	Ranchos Suamox (at least 1)
Speckled Hummingbird	Bellavista Lodge (~6) on most days; Tony Nunnery's (~10); Bellavista Forests (2); Tandayapa (2); Paz de las Aves (1)
Fawn-breasted Brilliant	Road to Bellavista (1); Bellavista (2); Tony Nunnery�s (~10); Tandayapa (~6); Alambi (~2); Paz (~12); Mindo (~4)
Empress Brilliant	Tandayapa (1); Paz de las Aves (1)
Green-crowned Brilliant	Calacali (2); Alambi (male & female); Paz (~4); Milpe (1)
Buff-tailed Coronet	This was the most common visitor to the feeders at Bellavista, and was also the species most likely to perch for some time. Bellavista Lodge (~30, ~20, ~6); Tony Nunnery�s (~20); Bellavista (~20); Paz de las Aves (~3)
Velvet-purple Coronet	Paz de las Aves (3, 2); Mindo (2, 1)
Shining Sunbeam	This species had been half expected at the Yanacocha feeders, but the only one seen was perched on a horizontal branch in a field from the Old Nano Mindo road, on the outskirts of the Yanacocha area
Brown Inca	Tony Nunnery�s (2); Tandayapa (1); Alambi (1); Paz de las Aves (2); Mindo (1,1)
Collared Inca	Bellavista Lodge (~4, 1); Tony Nunnery�s (2); Tandayapa (1); Mindo (1)
Buff-winged Starfrontlet	The most common hummingbird at Yanacocha (~20)
Sword-billed Hummingbird	This bird is impressive both in flight, when it looks like a flying missile, and when perched, since the bill is so long that it needs to hold its head at an angle. A high altitude specialist, the long down facing flowers which it feeds on were seen on the ascent before the bird itself. An initial bird was seen just before Yanacocha, with another ~5 in the reserve, mainly visiting feeders
Great Sapphirewing	Yanacocha (~6)
Gorgeted Sunangel	Bellavista Lodge (2, 1); Tony Nunnery�s (2); Bellavista (2)
Sapphire-vented Puffleg	The first bird seen was building a nest below the track at Yanacocha, with the bird regularly revisiting the half finished cup and then landing briefly on a nearby perch before moving off. Another ~5 were visiting the feeders
Golden-breasted Puffleg	Yanacocha (~4)
Purple-bibbed Whitetip	Bellavista Lodge (1); Tony Nunnery 's (2); Tandayapa (1); Alambi (male & female); Paz de las Aves (1); Mindo (2,1)
Booted Racket-tail	This was probably the hummingbird with the most unexpected "wow" factor. It looks good in the books, but they don't do justice to its diminutive size and character. Bellavista Lodge (~10, ~10, ~6 mainly males); Tony Nunnery's (~30); Tandayapa (~25); Alambi (~10); Paz de las Aves (1); Mindo (3)
Green-tailed Trainbearer	This is a difficult one, since the reports and local information indicate that Black-tailed is a much more common Trainbearer. However, the males which were seen well had the green tails with black terminal band. Calacali (~12)
Purple-backed Thornbill	Only 1 was picked up, perched on an extended branch in the meadows high up along the Old Nano Mindo road
Tyrian Metaltail	Yanacocha (3)
Rainbow-bearded Thornbill	Yanacocha (1 pair)
Violet-tailed Sylph	The female was found first when perched, before the two were involved in a mid air tussle. Bellavista Lodge (1); Tony Nunnery�s (~10); Tandayapa (~10); Alambi (~2); Paz de las Aves (~8); Mindo (3)
Long-billed Starthroat	Ranchos Suamox (1)
Purple-throated Woodstar	Quite often picked up on sound before they were seen, they not only sound like a bumble bee, but can even resemble one in flight. Bellavista Lodge (1, 1, 2); Tony Nunnery�s (~10); Tandayapa (~20); Alambi (~15); Paz de las Aves (2); Mindo (2)
White-bellied Woodstar	Tony Nunnery�s (2); Tandayapa (1)
White-eyed Trogon	Milpe (1)
Golden-headed Quetzal	Paz de las Aves (1)
Rufous Motmot	Mindo (1)
Broad-billed Motmot	Ranchos Suamox (1)
Red-headed Barbet	Mindo (1 pair)
Crimson-rumped Toucanet	Paz de las Aves (1, 3); Los Bancos (2)
Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan	4 singles all seen in the rain during our walk on the track up fromaround Bellavista Lodge
Collared Ara�ari	Los Bancos (2); Milpe (2)
Black-mandibled Toucan	Milpe (2); Ranchos Suamox (2 probably of this species). Two toucans were also viewed from the tower at Rio Silanche, but may have been Black-mandibled
Black-cheeked Woodpecker	Los Bancos (1); Ranchos Suamox (2); Rio Silanche (2)
Golden-olive Woodpecker	Yanacocha (1)
Crimson-mantled Woodpecker	Tony Nunnery�s (1); Bellavista (1)
Lineated Woodpecker	Milpe (1) Ranchos Suamox (1)
Guayaquil Woodpecker	Los Bancos (1 male) � landed on a vertical branch behind the fruit feeding station
Pale-legged Hornero	Alambi (3); Rio Silanche (3); Ranchos Suamox (4)
Azara's Spinetail	Very elusive. 1 was calling at Bellavista Lodge , and only showed briefly on several occasions. More were heard elsewhere, but were usually in thick vegetation
Slaty Spinetail	Mindo (2)
Red-faced Spinetail	Milpe (2)
Rusty-winged Barbtail	Bellavista Forests (1)
Pearled Treerunner	Yanacocha (2)
Streaked Tuftedcheek	Yanacocha (1)
Scaly-throated Foliage-gleaner	Paz de las Aves (1)
Buff-fronted Foliage-gleaner	First seen in the mixed bird party at Milpe, they proved to be quite a common sight (~10)
Striped Treehunter	Bellavista Forest (2)
Tyrannine Woodcreeper	Paz de las Aves (1)
Plain-brown Woodcreeper	Milpe (3); Rio Silanche (1)
Wedge-billed Woodcreeper	Milpe (2); Rio Silanche (3)
Strong-billed Woodcreeper	First picked up on call this was the last bird seen one evening at Bellavista Lodge (1)
Black-striped Woodcreeper	Rio Silanche (1)
Spotted Woodcreeper	Milpe (2); Rio Silanche (2)
Montane Woodcreeper	Bellavista Lodge (6); Bellavista area (3); Paz de las Aves (1)
Streak-headed Woodcreeper	Rio Silanche (~5)
Western Slaty-Antshrike	An elusive female was first picked up on call Rio Silanche, shortly after watching a bird party next to the stream for some time
White-flanked Antwren	Rio Silanche (2 pairs)
Dot-winged Antwren	Rio Silanche (3 males, 1 female) in the mixed bird party next to the stream. They were constantly seen over about 20 minutes in the mixed bird party next to the stream. Walking up the track from the bridge gave much closer encounters
Long-tailed Antbird	1 elusive bird on trackside below Bellavista
Immaculate Antbird	Tandayapa (1 male). The blind here has been more or less built with this bird in mind. An early arrival seems to be required, and the bird we saw was seen before full light (around 6.20 am)
Giant Antpitta	This is the bird which originated the idea of Paz de las Aves. Angel Paz discovered their presence on his farmland a few years ago, and has managed to regularly entice them into the open with worms and calls. "Maria" seems to be the most regular female, but we didn't manage to see any on our first visit. This was the main reason for our return the next morning, and we were rewarded with not only Maria and partner at the regular spot, but also a third adult with an immature in tow at a spot further up
Tawny Antpitta	2 separate birds seen, both perched in trees - Old Nano Mindo road (1), Yanacocha; (1)
Chestnut-crowned Antpitta	None were seen at the trout farm on the Old Nono Mindo Road, but we did have one crossing the track early evening on the track approaching track to Bellavista Lodge when returning from Milpe
Yellow-breasted Antpitta	1 called to the side of the stream at the bottom of the Paz.de las Aves forest by Angel. This was the first Antpitta of the trip
Red-crested Cotinga	Old Nano Mindo road - 2 perched in the meadows at a high altitudes
Olivaceous Piha	1 eating the fruit in front of the upper Cock-of-the-Rock Rio Silanche (1)
Andean Cock-of-the-rock	In addition to the promise of Giant Antpitta at Paz de las Aves, there is also stakeout a little lower in the forest for this species. Angel and his cohorts have assembled two hides which overlook a regular lek, and we visited this on both mornings in the forest. Since the birds display first thing in the morning (and to a lesser extent in the evening), we had to be at the car park for 5.30 am, then to walk for half an hour down through the forest in the dark to arrive before first light. ~3 males were displaying on both mornings, but seemed to disperse relatively early, within less than an hour after first light. These weren't the only birds seen since 3 groups totalling 6 had been found in Tandayapa the day before, and a female was on the ascent of the Old Nano Mindo road
White-bearded Manakin	Milpe (1 seen); Rio Silanche (1 heard)
Black-capped Tyrannulet	Milpe (1)
Yellow-bellied Elaenia	Mindo (1 in clearing)
White-tailed Tyrannulet	This species can be easily confused with White-banded Tyrannulet, since the white in the tail can usually only be seen in flight, and the off white wingbars can look lighter, similar to its comparitor species. Once a little experience of them was had, ~10 were seen in the Bellavista forests
White-banded Tyrannulet	Once seen, the wingbars on this species are a much cleaner white than on White-tailed, and they also appear to prefer a higher altitude. Yanacocha (~4)
White-throated Tyrannulet	Yanacocha (2)
Tufted Tit-Tyrant	Calacali (3)
Slaty-capped Flycatcher	Mindo (1); Rio Silanche (~6)
Streak-necked Flycatcher	Bellavista forests (3); 1 from Bellavista dome; Tandayapa (1)
Ornate Flycatcher	Milpe (3)
Scale-crested Pygmy-Tyrant	Milpe (1 in the bird party next to the stream); Rio Silanche (1)
Pacific Flatbill	Milpe (1 in the deeper forest)
Yellow-margined Flycatcher	Ranchos Suamox (1)
Bran-coloured Flycatcher	Ranchos Suamox (1)
Tawny-breasted Flycatcher	The 3 juveniles at Milpe initially offered a few problems. The first was that they were difficult to get good views of, and when they did show, the breast colour was partly concealed. However, the brief glimpses showed the more tawny colouration of this bird compared to Sulphur-rumped & Black-tailed Flycatchers. Another point of note is that it is the only one of the three likely to be seen in the foothills
Sulphur-rumped Flycatcher	This species and Black-tailed Flycatcher both favour the lowlands. The 2 birds at Rio Silanche showed the buffy wash on the upper breast to separate from the cleaner yellow on Black-tailed Flycatcher
Cinnamon Flycatcher	Bellavista forest (1)
Smoke-coloured Pewee	Alambi (1); Mindo (1); Paz de las Aves (1)
Black Phoebe	Trout farm in Tandayapa village (2, 1); Mindo (1); Paz de las Aves (2); Tandayapa (2), Trout farm on Old Nano Mindo Road (2)
Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant	Old Nano Mindo road (1)
Masked Water-Tyrant	Rio Silanche (2)
Social Flycatcher	Rio Silanche (~12); Tandayapa (1)
Golden-crowned Flycatcher	Bellavista Lodge (2); Tandayapa (1); Tandayapa village (1)
Boat-billed Flycatcher	Rio Silanche (1 from the tower)
Tropical Kingbird	Alambi (2); Mindo (5); Foothills (~12); Ranchos Suamox (2)
Dusky-capped Flycatcher	Tandayapa (1)
Black-crowned Tityra	Ranchos Suamox (1 pair)
Cinnamon Becard	Ranchos Suamox (1)
Brown-bellied Swallow	Yanacocha (30+)
Blue-and-white Swallow	Transfer from airport to Bellavista (~30 including Quito); Bellavista area (~10); Tandayapa / Alambi (~50); Paz de las Aves (~10); few in foothills and lowlands; Tandayapa (20+)
White-thighed Swallow	Ranchos Suamox (10)
Southern Rough-winged Swallow	Alambi (1); Paz de las Aves (2); Mindo (2); Lowlands (Quite common)
White-capped Dipper	Mindo (1). Seen twice under bridge over river - may have been tending a nest
Rufous Wren	Yanacocha (4)
Plain-tailed Wren	Pair at probable nest up from Bellavista, which were very elusive
House Wren	Los Bancos (1), Paz (1)
Grey-breasted Wood-Wren	1 at Dome of Bellavista; Milpe (4). Very difficult to see well
Great Thrush	1 from New Road; Bellavista area (3); Bellavista Lodge (1); Mindo / Yanacocha / Quito (40+)
Ecuadorian Thrush	Alambi (1); Mindo (1), Paz (1); Los Bancos (1); Milpe (1); Rio Silanche (1); Ranchos Suamox (1)
Turquoise Jay	1 from New Road; 1 near to Tandayapa; ~20 around Bellavista, including 1 feeding Giant Cowbird
Beautiful Jay	Nano Mindo road (1). A very difficult species to locate. One was seen after picking out the call at the base of the Old Nano Mindo road (1)
Brown-capped Vireo	Bellavista forests (1); Tandayapa (4); Bellavista Lodge (1)
Thick-billed Euphonia	Alambi (1); Mindo (1); Ranchos Suamox (1 male, 2 females)
Golden-rumped Euphonia	Pair Bellavista forest
Orange-bellied Euphonia	Los Bancos (2 males, 1 female), Milpe (1 male)
Hooded Siskin	Calacali (3)
Tropical Parula	Tandayapa (2); Mindo (1); Milpe (1)
Blackburnian Warbler	Bellavista Lodge (1); 2 alongside Bellavista dome; Milpe (1)
Slate-throated Redstart	New Road on transfer from airport to Bellavista (1); Bellavista Lodge (3); Bellavista forests (2); Tandayapa (3); Dome in evening at Bellavista Lodge, catching insects from the lights (1); Paz de las Aves (2); Los Bancos (1); Tandayapa (3), Trout farm (1)
Spectacled Redstart	Yanacocha (~6). Seems to prefer higher altitudes than Slate-throated
Choco Warbler	Milpe (1). At first confused with Russet-crowned Warbler until the lower altitude was taken into account
Russet-crowned Warbler	1 at Bellavista Lodge, 3 in forest Bellavista (2), Tandayapa (1)
Three-striped Warbler	1 Bellavista forests; Tandayapa (1); Milpe (3)
Bananaquit	The grey throated form is present in this area. Paz de las Aves (1); Mindo (2); Ranchos Suamox (1)
Blue-backed Conebill	Yanacocha (4)
Grass-green Tanager	2 in forests from the track ~100 metres below Bellavista Lodge
Dusky Bush-Tanager	Bellavista area (~10); Bellavista Lodge (4); Paz de las Aves (1); Mindo (1); Milpe (2)
Yellow-throated Bush-Tanager	Milpe (2)
Black-eared Hemispingus	2 in Bellavista forests
Scarlet-browed Tanager	Rio Silanche (1 in the distance from the tower)
White-shouldered Tanager	Rio Silanche (1 pair)
White-lined Tanager	Alambi (1); Mindo (female)
White-winged Tanager	Tandayapa village - 1 next to the track a short way up the Old Nano Mindo Road
Flame-rumped Tanager	Alambi (~6 females); Mindo (1 male, 3 females); Los Bancos (1 male, 1 female); Milpe (1); Ranchos Suamox (~6); Rio Silanche (~20)
Blue-grey Tanager	Alambi (~6); Mindo (~15); Los Bancos (~20); Rio Silanche (~20); Ranchos Suamox (~15) Tandayapa (2)
Blue-capped Tanager	Tony Nunnery�s (~8); Tandayapa (1)
Palm Tanager	Mindo (2) Los Bancos (2), Milpe (1) Rio Silanche (2)
Hooded Mountain-Tanager	Trout farm (3)
Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager	Old Nano Mindo road (3); Yanacocha (~6)