North-west Ecuador: 2013

Click on the small picture to see a larger, more detailed version. I toured North-western Ecuador in November 2013. The weather was good much of the time. I also toured Ecuador and the Galapagos in November 2010. Most of the photos were taken with a Canon camera with 100-400mm zoom lens. The trip was very enjoyable and was led by Jan Hansen (dba Otus Asio Tours otusasiotours@bellsouth.net). He leads a variety of trips, all of which I would recommend.

High-elevation Ecuador

Ecuador is a small country with a vast number of birds. The capital is Quito located at an elevation of about 9000 feet. From there we drove east to a pass in the Andes around 13000 feet elevation to spend one night on the eastern side. Then we turned around and went to as high as 14000 feet for Andean specialties before returning to Quito. The next day again took us up for more high-elevation birds and finally to Septimo Paraiso, north-west of Quito and our home for 6 nights. We explored that region extensively, including one rainy day at low (~2000 feet) elevation.

Carunculated Caracara, Black-winged Ground-Dove, Red-crested Cotinga,
Tyrian Metaltail, Variable Hawk, Andean Tit-Spinetail, Papallacta Pass, November 3, 2014

Sword-billed Hummingbird, Chestnut-breasted Coronet, Buff-tailed Coronet,
Long-tailed Sylph, Buff-winged Starfrontlet, Collared Inca, White-capped Dipper,
Turquoise Jay, Guango Lodge, November 3, 2014

Spectacled Redstart, Streak-throated Bush-Tyrant, Giant Hummingbird,
Rufous-collared Sparrow, Black Flowerpiercer, Antisana Reserve, November 4, 2014

Andean Condor, Stout-billed Cinclodes, Plumbeous Sierra-Finch, Andean Gull,
Black-faced Ibis, Antisana Reserve, November 4, 2014

Silvery Grebe, Andean Teal, Many-striped Canastero at Antisana Reserve;
Sparkling Violetear, Golden-bellied Grosbeak near Tumbaco (Quito area), November 4, 2014

Tawny Antpitta, Hooded Mountain-Tanager, Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager,
Great Sapphirewing, Yanacocha, November 5, 2014

Sapphire-vented Puffleg, Golden-breasted Puffleg at Yanacocha;
Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan, Tanager Finch at Bella Vista, November 5, 2014

Septimo Paraiso environs

Golden-headed Quetzal (male, female), Crowned Woodnymph (male, female),
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, Septimo Paraiso, November 6, 2014

Green-crowned Brilliant (2), Andean Emerald, Violet-tailed Sylph,
Septimo Paraiso, November 6, 2014

Ornate Flycatcher, Broad-billed Motmot, Masked Water-Tyrant,
Bronze-winged Parrot, Milpe Reserve, November 6, 2014

Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, Yellow-breasted Antpitta, Mustached Antpitta (2),
Olivaceous Piha, Ochre-breasted Antpitta, Angel Paz Reserve, November 7, 2014

Speckled Hummingbird, Empress Brilliant, Fawn-breasted Brilliant,
Toucan Barbet (2), Angel Paz Reserve, November 7, 2014

Plumbeous Pigeon, Squirrel Cuckoo, Streaked Tufted-Cheek,
Septimo Paraiso, November 7, 2014

Masked Trogon, Scaled Fruiteater at Bella Vista Cloud Forest;
Violet-tailed Sylph at Pachaquindi Nature Reserve, November 8, 2014

Collared Inca and Empress Brilliant, Andean Emerald,
Green Violetear and Purple-bibbed Whitetip with Andean Emerald,
Pachaquindi Nature Reserve, November 8, 2014

Booted Racket-tail (male, female), Western Emerald
at Pachaquindi Nature Reserve;
Velvet-purple Coronet (2) at Mindo Loma, November 8, 2014

Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager, Golden Tanager, Golden-naped Tanager,
Orange-bellied Euphonia (female), Violet-tailed Sylph, Mindo Loma, November 8, 2014

Black-winged Saltator, Blue-necked Tanager, Flame-faced Tanager
all with Silver-throated Tanager, Ecuadorian Thrush,
Collared Aracari (2), Milpe Reserve, November 9, 2014

Neotropical red-tailed Squirrel, Rufous Motmot, Orange-bellied Euphonia (male),
Flame-rumped Tanager (male and female), Blue-necked Tanager,
Milpe Reserve, November 9, 2014

Empress Brilliant, Violet-tailed Sylph, Ruddy Pigeon, Marcelo Guipo (local guide),
Septimo Paraiso, November 9, 2014

Double-toothed Kite, Little Cuckoo, White-tailed Trogon, Green Kingfisher,
Masked Tityra, Northern Barred-Woodcreeper,
Rio Salanche Reserve (below 2000 feet), November 10, 2014

Green & Black Fruiteater at Bella Vista,
White-tailed Shrike-Tyrant (2), Jan Hansen near Quito, November 11, 2014

Eric W. Greisen
egreisen@nrao.edu