February 13-22, 2025 with Willy Perez
This birding adventure in southern Ecuador, in search of the rare Orange-throated Tanager, was absolutely unforgettable. From the lush Andean foothills to the subtropical lowlands with the views of Cordillera del Condor, every moment was filled with breathtaking sights. We explored a wide variety of habitats, each offering something unique, making this trip truly special. Among the many places we visited, highlights included the Coquette Hummingbird Garden, Yankuam Lodge, the charming Copalinga Lodge, and Podocarpus National Park—each spot had its own magic and everyone loved it.
We kicked off our first day with an early breakfast, then hopped on a morning flight to Loja. After landing in Catamayo (Loja airport), our driver, Edgar, was there to greet us and whisk us away to a café for a quick bite. Birds were already out around the airport, and we couldn’t resist pausing to watch them before heading into Loja. After grabbing our box lunches, we set off toward Zamora.
Our first birding stop was at the Zamora Airport, followed by a refueling stop in Yantzaza. Then we made our way to the Coquette Hummingbird Garden. Spending two hours there was absolutely magical—watching the Spangled Coquette males and females was the perfect introduction to our adventure. Next, we headed to Yankuam Lodge, checked in, and squeezed in a little evening birding before dinner. It was such a peaceful way to wind down and get excited for the week ahead.
The next morning, we drove to the Maycu Reserve. Though the weather was cloudy, the birding was still lively, and I was thrilled when we spotted a group of Orange-throated Tanagers. Unfortunately, not everyone got a good look, so we decided to return in the afternoon for another shot. When we did, everyone had the chance to see the tanagers clearly and even take some photos. We also spotted the Lanceolated Monklet and a few other amazing species. The rain didn’t seem to slow us down at all. The following day, we headed out to search for antbirds along the forest. The first trail was a little quiet, so we kept birding along the road instead. In the afternoon, we made our way toward Shaime. The rain came and went, but once the skies cleared, the birds came back to life.
Next on the list was Santa Cecilia, where we were hopeful about spotting the Bluish-fronted Jacamar. We made several attempts, but unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be. Still, we enjoyed watching other birds, like the Deep-blue Flowerpiercer, and some people managed to see White-tipped Sicklebill. The weather couldn’t have been more perfect. We spent the afternoon birding along the road, though the activity was slower than usual. We decided to head to Yantzaza for the night, and after checking in, we went to a nearby restaurant for dinner, the food was delicious but the portions were huge, and it felt like the perfect way to wrap up a day of birding.
We visited the El Zarza Reserve, where the views of the Cordillera del Condor were absolutely stunning (though no condors, by the way). We had an exciting start to the day, with sightings of Cliff Flycatchers, followed by Crested Quetzals, Masked Trogons, and Wing-barred Piprites. Yellow-throated Tanagers were also in the area, but it was the Roraiman Flycatcher that really stole the show. After a picnic lunch in the reserve, we spent the afternoon birding and there is where we saw the Roraiman Flycatcher, then drove to Copalinga, where we would stay for the next few days. At Podocarpus National Park, the weather was a bit overcast, but the birding was incredible. We saw the Blue-rumped Manakin and Coppery-chested Jacamar, both of which I’ll always remember.
In the afternoon, we set out in search of the Gray Tinamou, which we finally spotted after some waiting. Back at the lodge, we spent time in the garden and had a few more bird sightings before heading out for owling. We were lucky enough to see the Blackish Nightjar and Band-bellied Owl, which made for more unforgettable moments.
One morning, we decided to head to the Timbara-Cumbaratza road, since the rain in Podocarpus was pretty heavy. We followed the sun, and it turned out to be a great choice. The birding was lively, and the Blackish Rail was a big highlight, along with many other species that thrive in open areas. After lunch, we explored the old Loja-Zamora road, where we came across a tree full of Paradise Tanagers.
On our final morning, we revisited Podocarpus Park. Despite the drizzle, we had a successful day. The Amazonian Umbrellabird showed up beautifully, and even a Crimson-bellied Woodpecker brightened our day. Along the old Loja-Zamora road, we saw Torrent Ducks being especially active, and we were lucky enough to spot an Oilbird roosting. In the afternoon, we headed to Catamayo for a final round of birding at the airport’s surrounding areas before catching our flight to Quito.
Looking back on this whole trip, I can honestly say it was a success. So many good memories and incredible birds. Thank you for joining me on this adventure in one of the most unique parts of Ecuador; it was truly special to witness the Orange-throated Tanager together.
Other wildlife:
We heard White-fronted Capuchin Monkeys and saw Black Agouti at Copalinga. Many stunning butterflies specially the blue morphos.
You can see my complete trip report on eBird at this link: https://ebird.org/tripreport/345408
You can download a combined PDF of this page and the eBird report at this link: https://fieldguides.com/triplists/eso25TRIPLIST.pdf
-- Abrazos, Willy, from Dorset