Country: Ecuador
Categories
El Oro Province
El Oro Province runs from Ecuador's Pacific coast up the western slopes of the Andes, from Machala and the banana lowlands to humid foothill forest and the dry Tumbesian woodland of the south-western endemic birding circuit.
Read MoreCajas National Park
Cajas National Park protects high-elevation páramo and Polylepis woodland west of Cuenca, reaching roughly 4,000 m. Birding the park targets Tawny Antpitta, Stout-billed Cinclodes, the endemic Violet-throated Metaltail, Ecuadorian Hillstar, Ecuadorian Rail, Giant Conebill, Tit-like Dacnis, Blue-mantled Thornbill, Plumbeous Sierra Finch and Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant.
Read MoreYunguilla Reserve
The Yunguilla Reserve near Giron protects the habitat of the Endangered Pale-headed Brushfinch, a country endemic rediscovered in the reserve in 1999 after an absence of 30 years. Further targets include Pale-naped and Grey-browed Brushfinches, Golden-olive Woodpecker, Chestnut-crowned Antpitta, Peruvian Pygmy Owl, Line-cheeked Spinetail, Rainbow Starfrontlet, Fawn-breasted Tanager, Little Woodstar, Blackish Tapaculo, Golden-rumped Euphonia, Black-lored Yellowthroat and, with luck, Scaled Antpitta.
Read MoreMaycu Reserve
Maycu Reserve protects foothill forest in the Cordillera del Condor, south-eastern Ecuador. Birding the reserve's trails targets Speckled Tanager, Collared Puffbird, Hairy-crested Antbird, Peruvian Warbling Antbird, Black Antbird, Purplish Jacamar, Slaty-capped Shrike-Vireo, Speckled Spinetail, White-browed Antbird, Blue-crowned and Collared Trogons, Duida Woodcreeper and Many-banded Aracari.
Read MoreCerro Acanana and Cerro de los Arcos
Cerro Acanana and Cerro de los Arcos rise in the southern Ecuadorian Andes above the Loja basin. Cerro Acanana targets Crescent-faced Antpitta and Red-faced Parrot, with Black-headed Hemispingus, Black-capped Tyrannulet, Grey-breasted Mountain Toucan, Black-chested Mountain Tanager, Chusquea Tapaculo, Northern Mountain Cacique, Masked Trogon and the rare Chestnut-bellied Cotinga. Cerro de los Arcos holds the endemic Blue-throated Hillstar, described to science in 2017, plus Carunculated Caracara, Variable Hawk, Andean Lapwing, Tawny Antpitta, Andean Tit-Spinetail, Streak-backed Canastero, Black-tailed and Green-tailed Trainbearers, Shining Sunbeam, Paramo Seedeater and Jameson's Snipe.
Read MoreCordillera del Condor and Cabañas Yankuam
Cabañas Yankuam sits in the Cordillera del Condor and is the most accessible place to see the monotypic Orange-throated Tanager. Further birds include Black-and-white Tody-Flycatcher, Gilded and Lemon-throated Barbets, Blue-headed Parrot, Green-and-gold, Yellow-backed and Paradise Tanagers, Eastern Woodhaunter, Pygmy Antwren and Chestnut-eared Aracari. Neighbouring territories add Golden-winged Tody-Flycatcher, Golden-collared Toucanet, Buff-throated Woodcreeper, Yellow-shouldered Grosbeak, Red-billed Tyrannulet, Fiery-throated Fruiteater and Yellow-cheeked Becard, and nights target Band-bellied Owl and Blackish Nightjar.
Read MoreZamora Road
The Zamora Road descends from the eastern Andean slopes into upper tropical forest above Zamora. Birding the road targets Torrent Duck, Oilbird, White-capped Tanager, Red-headed Barbet and the most wanted Vermilion Tanager. Tanager flocks include Saffron-crowned, Golden, Orange-eared, Spotted and Golden-eared Tanagers, and the range-restricted Equatorial Greytail, Black-billed Seed Finch and Black-capped Donacobius are possible.
Read MoreCopalinga Lodge and Podocarpus National Park
Copalinga Lodge is known for its feeders, which give perhaps the easiest views anywhere of the secretive Gray Tinamou. Further birds around the lodge and in Podocarpus National Park include Little Tinamou, White-throated Quail Dove, Wire-crested Thorntail, Spangled Coquette, Little Woodstar, Lemon-browed Flycatcher, Coppery-chested Jacamar, Lanceolated Monklet, White-fronted Tyrannulet, Strong-billed Woodcreeper, Western Striped Manakin and Chestnut-tipped Toucanet, with the elusive Amazonian Umbrellabird possible.
Read MoreTapichalaca Reserve and Valladolid Road
Tapichalaca Reserve is the major site for the recently described, regionally endemic Jocotoco Antpitta, watched at close range at the reserve's worm feeding stations. Supporting species include Golden-plumed Parakeet, Bearded Guan, Lacrimose and Hooded Mountain Tanagers, Barred Fruiteater, Turquoise Jay, Black-throated Tody-Tyrant, White-browed Spinetail and Chusquea Tapaculo. The reserve's hummingbird feeders attract Collared Inca, Flame-throated Sunangel, Buff-winged Starfrontlet, Long-tailed Sylph and Amethyst-throated Sunangel, and the day also covers the Valladolid Road.
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