FIELD GUIDES BIRDING TOURS: JEWELS OF ECUADOR: HUMMERS, TANAGERS & ANTPITTAS

Field Guides Tour Report

JEWELS OF ECUADOR: HUMMERS, TANAGERS & ANTPITTAS

Feb 11, 2012 to Feb 28, 2012

Mitch Lysinger & Willy Perez

For our tour description, itinerary, past triplists, dates, fees, and more, please VISIT OUR TOUR PAGE.

See this triplist in printable PDF format with media only on page 1.

Dwarfed by the magnificent montane scenery, guide Willy Perez scours the paramo in search of Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe. (Photo by tour participants Bob Sprague and Amy Levengood)

We had yet another sensational Jewels of Ecuador trip; we could not have had a more gung-ho and fun group, the weather really worked to our advantage - sure, we got some rain, but this is Ecuador! - and the birds just kept coming, wave after wave! It was also a personal thrill for me to lead a trip with William Perez with him on board as an official Field Guides's leader... what a rich amount of information, skillful leadership, and natural humor he brought to the table. We were also fortunate to have had such a skilled and careful driver in Edgar... three cheers for both William and Edgar!!!

Ecuador is a country of immense beauty, packed into an area about the size of Colorado, but stacked high with diversity like a twenty-layer sandwich, with all of the fixings! Sound intimidating... well it is! Just think back to all of the habitats and forest types we birded that hold entirely different sets of birds. We started in the high, stunted temperate and orchid-laden forests at Yanacocha, birded the following day in the mountainous deciduous thorn forests of the Catamayo Valley, hit the montane and foothill forests out of Loja and Zamora, respectively, and got a taste of the intermontane temperate habitats - a very endangered forest type - north of Loja on our way to Cuenca. We then had a beautiful weather day birding our first high, windswept paramos at Cajas National Park, then flew north for another eight full days of birding the the east and west slopes out of Quito, where we got tastes of many humid Andean habitats, including rich subtropical and foothill forests out of San Isidro (some very much Amazonian-influenced) and the endemic rich Choco biome based out of Mindo.

With 16 full days of birding, this is a "longish" tour. We have designed it to hit some of the most bird-rich spots in the Ecuadorian Andes in both the north and south, hitting just about all of the major habitat zones in the country, minus the coast and lower Amazon. The result: a huge species list that usually tops out over 600; that is averaging somewhere around 40 new birds a day! But what was even more important, and so obviously appreciated by this keen group, were the quality looks that we repeatedly had at our quarry, many of them rare and range-restricted. Take as an example the Tanager Finch, a very local bird of mid-elevation ridges of the west slope that most birders try hard to see, but often miss (happens to me all of the time!); we had in-your-face studies at pair within only minutes of trying, that left us shocked. Another one that comes to mind is the Peruvian Antpitta, a bird so rare that it wasn't even known well in life until its nest was found at San Isidro. Well, we had one come to a worm feeder at San Isidro after only a few minutes of waiting, binoculars poised on the spot... magic! And these cases weren't the exception, but rather the norm! The good looks at birds, rare and common, flooded our binoculars daily.

Some other goodies that deserve honorable mention and that really made this a superb birding trip include Fasciated Tiger-Heron grabbing fish with incredible skill; stunning views at a small group of the rare and endangered Red-faced Parrot; unbeatable Band-bellied Owl at Copalinga; an amazingly long-tailed Lyre-tailed Nightjar on a day roost; an impressive display of foraging Oilbirds at San Isidro; more hummingbirds than we will ever be able to digest (!); some impressive toucans, but how about those Plate-billed Mountain-Toucans at fruit feeders; up close views of Ocellated Tapaculos; Orange-breasted and Scaled fruiteaters in the west; Club-winged Manakins at a lek; a couple of really nice Beautiful Jays near Tandayapa; awesome White-capped Tanagers at San Isidro; fantastic Giant Conebills in the high paramos... I could just go on and on, but that would defeat the purpose of the list that follows, so read on!

Thanks for joining Willy and I and helping to make this a fun and rewarding trip! We both look forward to seeing you all on another trip sometime soon!

--Mitch

KEYS FOR THIS LIST
One of the following keys may be shown in brackets for individual species as appropriate: * = heard only, I = introduced, E = endemic, N = nesting, a = austral migrant, b = boreal migrant

Tinamidae (Tinamous)

TAWNY-BREASTED TINAMOU (Nothocercus julius) [*]

LITTLE TINAMOU (Crypturellus soui) – Ron had one walk right across the trail at Silanche! The rest of us heard it there...

Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl)

TORRENT DUCK (Merganetta armata) – A trip highlight when we found that wonderful pair near Cajas along the roadside. We all got a real charge when that male shot down the stream as if just daring the elements to harm him!

YELLOW-BILLED PINTAIL (Anas georgica)

ANDEAN TEAL (Anas andium)

RUDDY DUCK (ANDEAN) (Oxyura jamaicensis ferruginea)

Cracidae (Guans, Chachalacas, and Curassows)

SPECKLED CHACHALACA (Ortalis guttata)

BEARDED GUAN (Penelope barbata) – Plentiful at Cajanuma this trip, for nice views.

ANDEAN GUAN (Penelope montagnii)

WATTLED GUAN (Aburria aburri)

SICKLE-WINGED GUAN (Chamaepetes goudotii)

Odontophoridae (New World Quail)

RUFOUS-FRONTED WOOD-QUAIL (Odontophorus erythrops) [*]

DARK-BACKED WOOD-QUAIL (Odontophorus melanonotus) – One of the hardest groups of South American birds to see, so I think we were all amazed when a family of this secretive species popped up onto the fruit platform at Angel's place for incredible studies!

RUFOUS-BREASTED WOOD-QUAIL (Odontophorus speciosus) [*]

Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants and Shags)

NEOTROPIC CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax brasilianus)

Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)

FASCIATED TIGER-HERON (Tigrisoma fasciatum) – One of the behavioral highlights of the trip when we watched one - among others in what seemed like courtship postures - from the Zamora River bridge as it plucked fish after fish from rushing, turbid waters... unbelievable! I don't think we saw it miss even once. I had never witnessed this, and was totally blown away. If genetic experiments ever get to the point where we can include a few genes, I want this species in my make-up... forget Peregrine Falcon!

GREAT EGRET (Ardea alba)

SNOWY EGRET (Egretta thula)

CATTLE EGRET (Bubulcus ibis)

Cathartidae (New World Vultures)

BLACK VULTURE (Coragyps atratus)

TURKEY VULTURE (Cathartes aura)

ANDEAN CONDOR (Vultur gryphus) – Wish we could have seen them a little better, but is was a pretty decent spectacle to see 5 of them drift up over the mountains at a distance at the Papallacta Pass!

Pandionidae (Osprey)

OSPREY (Pandion haliaetus)

Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)

HOOK-BILLED KITE (Chondrohierax uncinatus)

SWALLOW-TAILED KITE (Elanoides forficatus)

BLACK-CHESTED BUZZARD-EAGLE (Geranoaetus melanoleucus australis)

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (PLAIN-BREASTED) (Accipiter striatus ventralis)

BARRED HAWK (Leucopternis princeps)

SEMIPLUMBEOUS HAWK (Leucopternis semiplumbeus) – William made a tremendous spot when he found this one through a hole in the foliage as it perched out over the forest in the early morning at Silanche.

ROADSIDE HAWK (Buteo magnirostris)

BROAD-WINGED HAWK (Buteo platypterus) – Becky spotted this boreal migrant for us! [b]

WHITE-RUMPED HAWK (Buteo leucorrhous)

SHORT-TAILED HAWK (Buteo brachyurus)

VARIABLE HAWK (Buteo polyosoma)

Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)

BARRED FOREST-FALCON (Micrastur ruficollis)

COLLARED FOREST-FALCON (Micrastur semitorquatus) [*]

BLACK CARACARA (Daptrius ater) [*]

CARUNCULATED CARACARA (Phalcoboenus carunculatus)

LAUGHING FALCON (Herpetotheres cachinnans)

AMERICAN KESTREL (Falco sparverius)

APLOMADO FALCON (Falco femoralis) – The long-tailed falcon that we saw in the paramo highlands.

Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots)

PLUMBEOUS RAIL (Pardirallus sanguinolentus) – We called one immature bird up out of a roadside marsh south of Loja where it sat there and pondered us for a while.

Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings)

SOUTHERN LAPWING (Vanellus chilensis)

ANDEAN LAPWING (Vanellus resplendens)

Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies)

SPOTTED SANDPIPER (Actitis macularius) [b]

Thinocoridae (Seedsnipes)

RUFOUS-BELLIED SEEDSNIPE (Attagis gayi) – I think all of us were thrilled that we took that last drive up to the antennas to search for this special high elevation species on our way to Quito on our last day on the east slope. William spotted a pair at close range for us for tremendous studies.

Laridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)

ANDEAN GULL (Chroicocephalus serranus)

Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)

Arguably one of the most spectacular of the 70+ hummingbird species seen on the tour- the aptly-named Sword-billed Hummingbird. (Photo by tour participants Bob Sprague and Amy Levengood)

ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia) [I]

BAND-TAILED PIGEON (Patagioenas fasciata)

PLUMBEOUS PIGEON (Patagioenas plumbea)

RUDDY PIGEON (Patagioenas subvinacea)

DUSKY PIGEON (Patagioenas goodsoni) – Nice looks at this lowland Choco endemic at Silanche. Remember that red eye?

EARED DOVE (Zenaida auriculata)

CROAKING GROUND-DOVE (Columbina cruziana) – Common in the dry valleys west of Loja, and an easy one to identify with that bright yellow on the bill.

WHITE-TIPPED DOVE (Leptotila verreauxi)

PALLID DOVE (Leptotila pallida) – Scope views at Silanche.

GRAY-FRONTED DOVE (Leptotila rufaxilla)

WHITE-THROATED QUAIL-DOVE (Geotrygon frenata) – Quail-doves are usually a tough bunch to see, but we really had nice looks at one strutting around near the fruit feeders at Paz de las Aves on our last day.

Psittacidae (Parrots)

MAROON-TAILED PARAKEET (Pyrrhura melanura)

WHITE-NECKED PARAKEET (Pyrrhura albipectus) – A near Ecuadorian endemic. We never got them perched in the Zamora area, but we did have some pretty exhilarating and close flyby views where they splashed us with color!

BARRED PARAKEET (Bolborhynchus lineola)

PACIFIC PARROTLET (Forpus coelestis)

RED-FACED PARROT (Hapalopsittaca pyrrhops) – Incredible studies at a small group of this rare parrot near Saraguro was a trip highlight.

BLUE-HEADED PARROT (Pionus menstruus)

RED-BILLED PARROT (Pionus sordidus)

SPECKLE-FACED PARROT (WHITE-CAPPED) (Pionus tumultuosus seniloides)

BRONZE-WINGED PARROT (Pionus chalcopterus) – An unusually plumaged parrot in that there is really no green on its plumage, but rather bronze and deep blue. We had them a few times well in the west.

SCALY-NAPED PARROT (Amazona mercenaria)

MEALY PARROT (Amazona farinosa)

Cuculidae (Cuckoos)

SQUIRREL CUCKOO (Piaya cayana)

STRIPED CUCKOO (Tapera naevia)

SMOOTH-BILLED ANI (Crotophaga ani)

GROOVE-BILLED ANI (Crotophaga sulcirostris)

Strigidae (Owls)

COLOMBIAN SCREECH-OWL (Megascops colombianus) [*]

WHITE-THROATED SCREECH-OWL (Megascops albogularis) – A fantastically responsive bird came in for crippling views at Cajanuma!

BAND-BELLIED OWL (Pulsatrix melanota) – Not always an easy one at Copalinga, but we called in a responsive bird right from the dining room for memorable spotlight views.

CLOUD-FOREST PYGMY-OWL (Glaucidium nubicola) [*]

PERUVIAN PYGMY-OWL (Glaucidium peruanum) – Russ spotted this one for us south of Loja during some midday birding.

RUFOUS-BANDED OWL (Ciccaba albitarsis) [*]

"BLACK-BANDED" OWL TYPE (Ciccaba sp. nov. 1) – Great looks at this handsome owl on our first night at San Isidro. We discussed the puzzling aspect of this bird's biogeography, plumage, etc., with respect to the Black-banded Owl. The jury is still out, but I hope to get it resolved soon.

Caprimulgidae (Nightjars and Allies)

RUFOUS-BELLIED NIGHTHAWK (Lurocalis rufiventris) – This one seems to fly almost shearwater-like, to me. We had them one evening in the San Isidro area.

COMMON PAURAQUE (Nyctidromus albicollis) – Susan had one briefly at Copalinga one evening.

BAND-WINGED NIGHTJAR (Caprimulgus longirostris) – Along the road on our way down from Cajanuma one evening.

BLACKISH NIGHTJAR (Caprimulgus nigrescens) – At the usual spot up the road from Copalinga!

LYRE-TAILED NIGHTJAR (Uropsalis lyra) – Unbelievable studies at a long-tailed male near Paz de las Aves on a day roost... wow!

Steatornithidae (Oilbird)

OILBIRD (Steatornis caripensis) – What a spectacle to see numerous birds coming in at dusk to feed on the fruits of wild avocados; San Isidro.

Apodidae (Swifts)

WHITE-CHESTED SWIFT (Cypseloides lemosi) – An easily overlooked swift of the east slope, but we staked them out at one of the spots near San Isidro where I often get them with great success!

WHITE-CHINNED SWIFT (Cypseloides cryptus) – Another easy one to miss without solid recognition of its calls; we had them a few times on the east slope.

SPOT-FRONTED SWIFT (Cypseloides cherriei) – Swifts are usually hard to see well, but we had some pretty good looks at them around San Isidro one afternoon and even heard their distinctive calls.

CHESTNUT-COLLARED SWIFT (Streptoprocne rutila)

WHITE-COLLARED SWIFT (Streptoprocne zonaris) – The big, easily recognizable swift.

SHORT-TAILED SWIFT (Chaetura brachyura)

BAND-RUMPED SWIFT (Chaetura spinicaudus)

GRAY-RUMPED SWIFT (Chaetura cinereiventris)

LESSER SWALLOW-TAILED SWIFT (Panyptila cayennensis) – Common and zooming about overhead at Silanche.

Trochilidae (Hummingbirds)

WHITE-NECKED JACOBIN (Florisuga mellivora) – This one dazzled us at Septimo's feeders.

WHITE-WHISKERED HERMIT (Phaethornis yaruqui) – The hummer with the second longest bill!

GREEN HERMIT (Phaethornis guy)

TAWNY-BELLIED HERMIT (Phaethornis syrmatophorus)

GRAY-CHINNED HERMIT (Phaethornis griseogularis) [*]

GREEN-FRONTED LANCEBILL (Doryfera ludovicae) – Along the old Loja-Zamora rd. near water, as is usually the case.

BLUE-FRONTED LANCEBILL (Doryfera johannae) – The foothill-based relative of the previous species that we saw at Bombuscaro.

WEDGE-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD (Schistes geoffroyi) – Seen on our last day at Paz de las Aves.

BROWN VIOLETEAR (Colibri delphinae) – Vocal and prominent at Septimo!

GREEN VIOLETEAR (ANDEAN) (Colibri thalassinus cyanotus)

SPARKLING VIOLETEAR (Colibri coruscans)

PURPLE-CROWNED FAIRY (Heliothryx barroti) – Fabulous scope studies of one on a nest at Silanche.

BLACK-THROATED MANGO (Anthracothorax nigricollis) – In the gardens at Silanche.

GORGETED SUNANGEL (Heliangelus strophianus) – Nice looks at this near Ecuadorian endemic up along the Tandayapa Ridge.

TOURMALINE SUNANGEL (Heliangelus exortis) – Abundant at Guango's feeders.

LITTLE SUNANGEL (Heliangelus micraster) – Also known at Flame-throated Sunangel, we had some really nice views at this one i the south, such as at Cajanuma.

PURPLE-THROATED SUNANGEL (Heliangelus viola) – Mixing it up with the previous species in the Ericaceae flowers at Cajanuma... amazing!

WIRE-CRESTED THORNTAIL (Discosura popelairii) – Breath-taking males (and females) at the Vervain flowers in Copalinga's gardens.

GREEN THORNTAIL (Discosura conversii) – In your face studies at Milpe's feeders!

SPANGLED COQUETTE (Lophornis stictolophus) – I've never seen this one other than at the Vervain flowers at Copalinga. We had some big fun watching the male interact with the other larger species, standing his ground with pride!

ECUADORIAN PIEDTAIL (Phlogophilus hemileucurus) – Good looks at this unobtrusive east slope understory species at Bombuscaro.

SPECKLED HUMMINGBIRD (Adelomyia melanogenys) – Most common at San Isidro's feeders.

LONG-TAILED SYLPH (Aglaiocercus kingi) – Gorgeous males at Guango's and San Isidro's feeders.

VIOLET-TAILED SYLPH (Aglaiocercus coelestis) – Equally gorgeous on the west slope, such as at Septimo and Paz de las Aves.

ECUADORIAN HILLSTAR (Oreotrochilus chimborazo) – William showed the glittering male of this species to everybody at Cajas.

BLACK-TAILED TRAINBEARER (Lesbia victoriae) – The longest tailed hummer in South America which we saw in the drier highlands a couple of times.

GREEN-TAILED TRAINBEARER (Lesbia nuna) – Seen well in some humid forest edge just west of Loja.

BLUE-MANTLED THORNBILL (Chalcostigma stanleyi) – Good looks at this paramo species at Cajas.

TYRIAN METALTAIL (Metallura tyrianthina) – Common in humid temperate habitats.

VIRIDIAN METALTAIL (Metallura williami) – Replaces the previous species up at treeline; Cayambe-Coca National Park.

VIOLET-THROATED METALTAIL (Metallura baroni) – One of Ecuador's few endemics, and a real target bird for the trip, but we had great looks at one easily on our first try at Cajas.

GLOWING PUFFLEG (Eriocnemis vestita) – That intense metallic-lime rump is unique. We had many fine examples in the south.

SAPPHIRE-VENTED PUFFLEG (Eriocnemis luciani) – Common at Yanacocha's feeders and really flashy species indeed!

GOLDEN-BREASTED PUFFLEG (Eriocnemis mosquera) – A little less common up at Yanacocha's feeders than the previous species, but seen well repeatedly.

SHINING SUNBEAM (Aglaeactis cupripennis) – The all orange hummer that we saw in the highlands in the south.

BRONZY INCA (Coeligena coeligena) – An east slope specialty that we saw well at San Isidro's feeders.

BROWN INCA (Coeligena wilsoni) – The one with the big white spots on the neck that we saw well in the west.

COLLARED INCA (Coeligena torquata) – Looks like it is wearing a tuxedo!

BUFF-WINGED STARFRONTLET (Coeligena lutetiae) – The large hummer with the buff wing spots that is common in the highlands.

RAINBOW STARFRONTLET (Coeligena iris) – Stunning views of this gorgeous hummer in th south.

MOUNTAIN VELVETBREAST (Lafresnaya lafresnayi) – The shy understory hummer with the white in the tail and decurved bill; seen in both the north and south.

SWORD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD (Ensifera ensifera) – How a bird like could have ever evolved is really amazing... those flowers with the long corollas must have some mighty tasty nectar! We had our first views of this stunner at Yanacocha's feeders.

GREAT SAPPHIREWING (Pterophanes cyanopterus) – A large hummer, second only to the Giant Hummingbird in body size. Another one that showed on the first day at Yanacocha.

BUFF-TAILED CORONET (Boissonneaua flavescens) – Most common on the west slope and in the east at Guango.

CHESTNUT-BREASTED CORONET (Boissonneaua matthewsii) – A common and dominant hummer at Guango's and San Isidro's feeders.

VELVET-PURPLE CORONET (Boissonneaua jardini) – One of the most stunning hummers of them all... how can you pack so many electrifying colors into one bird!? We had unbelievable views in the west.

BOOTED RACKET-TAIL (Ocreatus underwoodii) – The motmot of the hummingbird world... right?! We had some fun watching these petite hummers visit the feeders in the west.

WHITE-TAILED HILLSTAR (Urochroa bougueri) – A visit to an orchid garden on the west slope rewarded us with prime views of this one as it came to the feeders.

PURPLE-BIBBED WHITETIP (Urosticte benjamini) – The one with the large white spot on the top of the tail; west slope only!

FAWN-BREASTED BRILLIANT (Heliodoxa rubinoides) – Common at feeders on both slopes. The most memorable feature of this species is the bright pink spot on its throat.

Like so many of the other hummingbirds seen on this trip, the dainty little Purple-bibbed Whitetip was a difficult bird to find before the proliferation of feeders in many montane regions of the country. (Photo by tour participants Bob Sprague and Amy Levengood)

GREEN-CROWNED BRILLIANT (Heliodoxa jacula) – Common at the feeders in the west.

EMPRESS BRILLIANT (Heliodoxa imperatrix) – The male of this species is absolutely knee-buckling. This was once a hard bird to find before feeders came into being, but now they are quite reliable.

VIOLET-FRONTED BRILLIANT (Heliodoxa leadbeateri) – The common hummer at Copalinga's feeders.

GIANT HUMMINGBIRD (Patagona gigas) – A hummingbird that reminds you more of a swift, especially when in flight. We had killer looks at my yard in Tumbaco.

PURPLE-COLLARED WOODSTAR (Myrtis fanny) – Females in the dry valleys west of Loja.

WHITE-BELLIED WOODSTAR (Chaetocercus mulsant) – We had our best views of this pot-bellied hummer at Guango's feeders.

LITTLE WOODSTAR (Chaetocercus bombus) – One female bird at Copalinga's vervain flowers.

PURPLE-THROATED WOODSTAR (Calliphlox mitchellii) – At the feeders in the west. The male of this species - with it's pointy tail - is very distinctive.

WESTERN EMERALD (Chlorostilbon melanorhynchus) – In the central valley at my house in Tumbaco as it came to the garden flowers.

BLUE-TAILED EMERALD (Chlorostilbon mellisugus) – In small numbers at Copalinga's vervain flowers.

VIOLET-HEADED HUMMINGBIRD (Klais guimeti) – The common hummer at Copalinga's vervain flowers.

GREEN-CROWNED WOODNYMPH (Thalurania fannyi) – Point-blank views at Milpe's feeders... what colors!

FORK-TAILED WOODNYMPH (Thalurania furcata) – Copalinga, where they were second in line to the Violet-fronted Brilliant in dominance.

AMAZILIA HUMMINGBIRD (LOJA) (Amazilia amazilia alticola) – The highland form of the Amazilia Hummingbird that occurs in the valleys around Loja.

ANDEAN EMERALD (Amazilia franciae) – The snowy-bellied hummer on the west slope which we saw at several venues.

GLITTERING-THROATED EMERALD (Amazilia fimbriata) – Common in the gardens at Copalinga; the one with the white stripe down the belly.

BLUE-CHESTED HUMMINGBIRD (Amazilia amabilis) – Common at the pink acanthaceae flowers in the gardens at Silanche.

PURPLE-CHESTED HUMMINGBIRD (Amazilia rosenbergi) – Quite similar to the previous species in general aspect, but this one is cleaner, with a clean white vent; they occur shoulder to shoulder at Silanche, but this one tends to prefer forest to edges.

RUFOUS-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD (Amazilia tzacatl) – Common on the west slope.

GOLDEN-TAILED SAPPHIRE (Chrysuronia oenone) – A regular at Copalinga's feeders.

VIOLET-BELLIED HUMMINGBIRD (Damophila julie) – At Silanche a few times.

Trogonidae (Trogons)

GOLDEN-HEADED QUETZAL (Pharomachrus auriceps) – Some great looks at this stunner at San Isidro.

CRESTED QUETZAL (Pharomachrus antisianus) – Most impressive were the birds hanging around San Isidro's cabins!

BLUE-TAILED TROGON (Trogon comptus) – Awesome at Silanche; a Choco endemic.

WHITE-TAILED TROGON (Trogon chionurus)

COLLARED TROGON (Trogon collaris)

MASKED TROGON (Trogon personatus)

Momotidae (Motmots)

ANDEAN MOTMOT (Momotus aequatorialis aequatorialis) – Also called Highland Motmot. We had some nice scope views at Bombuscaro.

RUFOUS MOTMOT (Baryphthengus martii) – Nice looks at this large motmot in the Mindo area.

BROAD-BILLED MOTMOT (BROAD-BILLED) (Electron platyrhynchum platyrhynchum) – Septimo for nice looks... got all of the three expected motmots.

Alcedinidae (Kingfishers)

RINGED KINGFISHER (Megaceryle torquata)

AMAZON KINGFISHER (Chloroceryle amazona)

GREEN KINGFISHER (Chloroceryle americana)

Bucconidae (Puffbirds)

BARRED PUFFBIRD (Nystalus radiatus) – William's stake-out worked out grandly for us at Silanche!

BLACK-STREAKED PUFFBIRD (Malacoptila fulvogularis) – Scope views at Bombuscaro.

LANCEOLATED MONKLET (Micromonacha lanceolata) – It took some work, but we finally the one that were were hearing for nice scope studies; Bombuscaro.

Galbulidae (Jacamars)

RUFOUS-TAILED JACAMAR (Galbula ruficauda) – Silanche.

COPPERY-CHESTED JACAMAR (Galbula pastazae) – A fairly range-restricted bird of the eastern foothills. We had nice views of this one along the old Loja-Zamora rd. when it responded and zipped in.

Capitonidae (New World Barbets)

ORANGE-FRONTED BARBET (Capito squamatus) – As plentiful as I've ever seen them at Silanche, where we enjoyed some terrific views, such as that one right near the Purple-crowned Fairy nest.

RED-HEADED BARBET (Eubucco bourcierii) – Many fine views in the west.

Semnornithidae (Toucan-Barbets)

TOUCAN BARBET (Semnornis ramphastinus) – Now in a separate family with the Prong-billed Barbet of Central America. We enjoyed some stellar views of this mid-elevation Choco endemic, such as at Angel's feeders.

Ramphastidae (Toucans)

EMERALD TOUCANET (ANDEAN) (Aulacorhynchus prasinus albivitta) – The green toucanet of the eastern subtropics..

CHESTNUT-TIPPED TOUCANET (Aulacorhynchus derbianus) – Fair looks at this eastern foothill species at Bombuscaro.

CRIMSON-RUMPED TOUCANET (Aulacorhynchus haematopygus) – Spectacular views at Angel Paz's fruit feeders.

GRAY-BREASTED MOUNTAIN-TOUCAN (Andigena hypoglauca) – A high elevation toucan that we saw well at Cajanuma in the south and then again at Guango in the north.

PLATE-BILLED MOUNTAIN-TOUCAN (Andigena laminirostris) – The mountain-toucan of the west slope, which we had to wait to see up until our last day at Angel Paz's.

COLLARED ARACARI (STRIPE-BILLED) (Pteroglossus torquatus erythropygius) – Common in the west, especially around Silanche.

BLACK-MANDIBLED TOUCAN (CHESTNUT-MANDIBLED) (Ramphastos ambiguus swainsonii) – Seen well in the west at Silanche.

CHOCO TOUCAN (Ramphastos brevis) – Very similar to the previous species, but smaller and with a blacker bill; Milpe and Silanche.

Picidae (Woodpeckers)

LAFRESNAYE'S PICULET (Picumnus lafresnayi) – Piculets are the tiniest of woodpeckers and we were lucky enough to see two species on this trip: this one in the Zamora area...

OLIVACEOUS PICULET (Picumnus olivaceus) – ...and this one at Silanche in the west.

YELLOW-TUFTED WOODPECKER (Melanerpes cruentatus) – A common woodpecker of the eastern foothills and lowlands.

BLACK-CHEEKED WOODPECKER (Melanerpes pucherani) – Pretty common in the western foothills and lowlands it is the ecological replacement of the previous species.

SMOKY-BROWN WOODPECKER (Picoides fumigatus) – A small and common woodpecker of the slopes.

RED-RUMPED WOODPECKER (Veniliornis kirkii) – Pretty common around Silanche.

LITTLE WOODPECKER (Veniliornis passerinus) – In the foothills in the Zamora area.

SCARLET-BACKED WOODPECKER (Veniliornis callonotus) – We caught up with this striking little woodpecker in some pasture edge growth near Silanche.

GOLDEN-OLIVE WOODPECKER (Colaptes rubiginosus) – Good looks at Silanche.

CRIMSON-MANTLED WOODPECKER (Colaptes rivolii) – One of the flashiest of all woodpeckers, with that bright red back.

CINNAMON WOODPECKER (Celeus loricatus) – Wonderfully at Silanche during some head-spinning flock activity.

LINEATED WOODPECKER (Dryocopus lineatus) – A couple feeding about at Silanche.

POWERFUL WOODPECKER (Campephilus pollens) – The large woodpecker of the highlands which we saw well on our last day at Paz de las Aves.

Furnariidae (Ovenbirds and Woodcreepers)

STOUT-BILLED CINCLODES (Cinclodes excelsior) – The larger of the two cinclodes species in Ecuador; seen well in the paramos, such as around Cajas.

CHESTNUT-WINGED CINCLODES (Cinclodes albidiventris albidiventris) – Part of the Bar-winged Cinclodes superspecies complex, this one is smaller than the previous species, but is found with it here in Ecuador.

PALE-LEGGED HORNERO (PACIFIC) (Furnarius leucopus cinnamomeus) – Common in the west in both humid and dry habitats where they strut around on strong legs.

ANDEAN TIT-SPINETAIL (Leptasthenura andicola) – A fairly common streaky bird of the paramo shrubbery.

AZARA'S SPINETAIL (Synallaxis azarae) – The common highland spinetail with a very frequently heard voice.

DARK-BREASTED SPINETAIL (Synallaxis albigularis) [*]

RUFOUS SPINETAIL (Synallaxis unirufa) – Seen skulking through the bamboo at San Isidro.

SLATY SPINETAIL (Synallaxis brachyura) [*]

WHITE-BROWED SPINETAIL (Hellmayrea gularis) – Awesome views on our first day at Yanacocha. This one has a shorter tail than other spinetails.

RED-FACED SPINETAIL (Cranioleuca erythrops) – This arboreal spinetail is common with the flocks in the west.

ASH-BROWED SPINETAIL (Cranioleuca curtata) – Replaces the previous species on the east slope such as in the Zamora area.

LINE-CHEEKED SPINETAIL (Cranioleuca antisiensis) – Nice looks at a responsive pair south of Loja.

MANY-STRIPED CANASTERO (Asthenes flammulata) – Common in the bunch grasses in the paramo; we saw them well at Cajas and in the Papallacta area.

WHITE-CHINNED THISTLETAIL (Asthenes fuliginosa) – Found in northern Ecuador; we had good looks at them in the paramos of the Papallacta Pass during our return to Quito.

MOUSE-COLORED THISTLETAIL (Asthenes griseomurina) – Replaces the previous species in southern Ecuador. We had a responsive individual in the Saraguro area when it popped in out of some shrubby elfin woodlands along the roadside.

EQUATORIAL GRAYTAIL (Xenerpestes singularis) – What a thrill to find an actively foraging family group with a huge flock along the old Loja-Zamora rd. This can be a tough one to see well, but they stayed around enough for even scope views!

RUSTY-WINGED BARBTAIL (Premnornis guttuligera) – Some got onto this understory skulker on our last day at Angel Paz's.

SPOTTED BARBTAIL (Premnoplex brunnescens) – Another skulker that we had good looks on the west slope; Septimo.

Long-tailed Sylphs (like this male) are common on the east slope of the Andes, much less so on the west slope, where they are largely replaced by a sister species, Violet-tailed Sylph. (Photo by tour participants Bob Sprague and Amy Levengood)

PEARLED TREERUNNER (Margarornis squamiger) – A really snazzy looking furnariid that moves with canopy flocks at middle and upper elevations.

STREAKED TUFTEDCHEEK (Pseudocolaptes boissonneautii) – A very distinctive and large furnariid that moves in paris with mixed flocks. We had our first looks at them at Cajanuma.

SCALY-THROATED FOLIAGE-GLEANER (SPOT-BREASTED) (Anabacerthia variegaticeps temporalis) – Common with the mixed canopy flocks in the west, such as around Septimo. The with the orangy spectacles.

MONTANE FOLIAGE-GLEANER (Anabacerthia striaticollis) – Replaces the previous species on the east slope, and also a bird of mixed flocks.

LINEATED FOLIAGE-GLEANER (Syndactyla subalaris) [*]

RUFOUS-NECKED FOLIAGE-GLEANER (Syndactyla ruficollis) – Not usually a bird that we get on this tour as we only get to the extreme eastern edge of its range, but we lucked into a pair in a patch of good habitat just west of Loja that were actually attending a nest. This is one of the higher ranging Tumbesian endemics.

STRIPED WOODHAUNTER (CENTRAL AMERICAN) (Hyloctistes subulatus assimilis) – Nice scope studies at Silanche when one sat quietly for a while.

BUFF-FRONTED FOLIAGE-GLEANER (Philydor rufum) – Good looks at a pair with the flocks at Septimo.

UNIFORM TREEHUNTER (Thripadectes ignobilis) – We found two birds that seemed interested in a nest hole near Paz de las Aves on our last day. We were fortunate to have had such great looks as this can be a really tricky one to even find! This is a mid-elevation Choco endemic.

BLACK-BILLED TREEHUNTER (Thripadectes melanorhynchus) [*]

STREAK-CAPPED TREEHUNTER (Thripadectes virgaticeps) – Good looks with the flocks at Septimo.

RUDDY FOLIAGE-GLEANER (Automolus rubiginosus) – A devil of a skulker, but most folks had decent views as it sneaked around in the undergrowth at Silanche.

PLAIN XENOPS (Xenops minutus) – With the flocks at Silanche.

STREAKED XENOPS (Xenops rutilans) – Daily with flocks in the eastern foothills in the south.

TYRANNINE WOODCREEPER (Dendrocincla tyrannina) – Stephanie spotted this one for us at Cajanuma.

PLAIN-BROWN WOODCREEPER (Dendrocincla fuliginosa) – Responsive at Silanche.

OLIVACEOUS WOODCREEPER (Sittasomus griseicapillus) – A small woodcreeper of the foothills and lowlands. We had good looks at this eastern race along the old Loja-Zamora road.

WEDGE-BILLED WOODCREEPER (Glyphorynchus spirurus) – The smallest woodcreeper; we saw it on the west slope.

STRONG-BILLED WOODCREEPER (Xiphocolaptes promeropirhynchus) – A hulk of a woodcreeper that we saw really well along the Guacamayos trail.

BLACK-STRIPED WOODCREEPER (Xiphorhynchus lachrymosus) – A boldly patterned woodcreeper that we saw a couple of times really well at Silanche.

SPOTTED WOODCREEPER (Xiphorhynchus erythropygius) – Common on the west slope with flocks, such as at Septimo and Silanche.

OLIVE-BACKED WOODCREEPER (Xiphorhynchus triangularis) – Replaces the previous species on the east slope. We had nice looks at this rather dark and splotchy woodcreeper in the gardens at San Isidro where they came to feed on insects in the morning.

STREAK-HEADED WOODCREEPER (Lepidocolaptes souleyetii) [*]

MONTANE WOODCREEPER (Lepidocolaptes lacrymiger) – The common highland woodcreeper.

RED-BILLED SCYTHEBILL (Campylorhamphus trochilirostris) – Becky spotted this amazing woodcreeper for us at Silanche... what a bill!

Thamnophilidae (Typical Antbirds)

CHAPMAN'S ANTSHRIKE (Thamnophilus zarumae) – Bob and I had the best views of a male of this species when it popped up out of some dense growth just west of Loja.

LINED ANTSHRIKE (Thamnophilus tenuepunctatus) [*]

COLLARED ANTSHRIKE (Thamnophilus bernardi) – Good looks in the deciduous forests in the Catamayo Valley.

WESTERN SLATY-ANTSHRIKE (Thamnophilus atrinucha) [*]

UNIFORM ANTSHRIKE (Thamnophilus unicolor) – Nice looks at a pair at Septimo of this mid-elevation, moss forest antshrike.

RUSSET ANTSHRIKE (Thamnistes anabatinus) – Fairly common with canopy flocks in the lowlands and foothills. We had good looks at a pair at Silanche.

CHECKER-THROATED ANTWREN (Epinecrophylla fulviventris) – With the understory flocks at Silanche.

MOUSTACHED ANTWREN (MOUSTACHED) (Myrmotherula ignota ignota) – Also known as Short-billed Antwren. We had good looks at this canopy antwren with a flock at Silanche.

PACIFIC ANTWREN (Myrmotherula pacifica) – Pretty common in second growth in the western lowlands and foothills; Silanche.

WHITE-FLANKED ANTWREN (Myrmotherula axillaris) – Also with the understory flocks at Silanche.

SLATY ANTWREN (Myrmotherula schisticolor) – Great looks at a family group of this subtropical species with an understory flock at Septimo.

YELLOW-BREASTED ANTWREN (Herpsilochmus axillaris) – Fabulous views at this canopy antwren at almost eye level along the old Loja-Zamora rd. Love the way they shiver their tails when they call.

DOT-WINGED ANTWREN (Microrhopias quixensis) – A noisy and active group performed for us at Silanche.

LONG-TAILED ANTBIRD (Drymophila caudata) – A bamboo specialist that we saw well at San Isidro.

RUFOUS-RUMPED ANTWREN (Terenura callinota) – Jeff, Russ, Regi and I had looks at this canopy flock bird at Milpe one afternoon where we actually brought in to pretty close range.

DUSKY ANTBIRD (Cercomacra tyrannina) [*]

CHESTNUT-BACKED ANTBIRD (Myrmeciza exsul) [*]

IMMACULATE ANTBIRD (Myrmeciza immaculata) – Tremendous views at a pair at Septimo where they posed nicely.

Formicariidae (Antthrushes)

BLACK-HEADED ANTTHRUSH (Formicarius nigricapillus) [*]

RUFOUS-BREASTED ANTTHRUSH (Formicarius rufipectus) [*]

BARRED ANTTHRUSH (Chamaeza mollissima) – We had a pretty cooperative bird come in through the bamboo understory at San Isidro for good looks, even naked eye... nice!

Grallariidae (Antpittas)

UNDULATED ANTPITTA (Grallaria squamigera) [*]

MOUSTACHED ANTPITTA (Grallaria alleni) [*]

SCALED ANTPITTA (Grallaria guatimalensis) [*]

PLAIN-BACKED ANTPITTA (Grallaria haplonota) [*]

CHESTNUT-CROWNED ANTPITTA (Grallaria ruficapilla) – Most folks got onto the one that surprised us and popped in along the roadside going up to Cajanuma.

CHESTNUT-NAPED ANTPITTA (Grallaria nuchalis) [*]

YELLOW-BREASTED ANTPITTA (Grallaria flavotincta) – Eight seen antpittas on one trip - the number we tagged in with - is certainly nothing to sneeze at! We had good looks at this one when it came in to eat worms near Angel Paz's place after bush-whacking our way down a slope.

WHITE-BELLIED ANTPITTA (Grallaria hypoleuca) – Came running right in at San Isidro for its morning dose of worms for excellent views.

RUFOUS ANTPITTA (Grallaria rufula) – Nicely at Cajanuma along the trails up above the station.

TAWNY ANTPITTA (Grallaria quitensis) – Our first antpitta of the trip when we had a worm-fed bird come trotting in at Yanacocha to a distance of only a couple of meters.

OCHRE-BREASTED ANTPITTA (Grallaricula flavirostris) – A pair of this tennisball-sized antpitta came in through the understory at Septimo where it even allowed scope views for most!

PERUVIAN ANTPITTA (Grallaricula peruviana) – We could not have been luckier when one came in and perched for us only after a short wait at San Isidro's worm feeder station. This is without doubt one of the rarest antpitta species of them all... awesome!

SLATE-CROWNED ANTPITTA (Grallaricula nana) – Killer views along the roadside at San Isidro when it came into a bamboo patch.

CRESCENT-FACED ANTPITTA (Grallaricula lineifrons) [*]

Rhinocryptidae (Tapaculos)

OCELLATED TAPACULO (Acropternis orthonyx) – A large tapaculo, and one of the most handsome, with all of those white spots! We had some really nice views of one of a pair near Saraguro to wrap up our very successful round of birding their!

ASH-COLORED TAPACULO (Myornis senilis)

BLACKISH TAPACULO (BLACKISH) (Scytalopus latrans latrans) – Cooperative when one came in for great looks at Yanacocha on our first day; this was a good omen for our tapaculo list to be.

BLACKISH TAPACULO (PACIFIC) (Scytalopus latrans subcinereus) [*]

LONG-TAILED TAPACULO (Scytalopus micropterus) [*]

WHITE-CROWNED TAPACULO (Scytalopus atratus atratus) [*]

NARINO TAPACULO (Scytalopus vicinior) [*]

SPILLMANN'S TAPACULO (Scytalopus spillmanni) [*]

CHUSQUEA TAPACULO (Scytalopus parkeri) – We worked this one just right for sensational views at Cajanuma... wow!

Melanopareiidae (Crescentchests)

ELEGANT CRESCENTCHEST (Melanopareia elegans) – Wish they had been a little more cooperative in the Catamayo Valley, but at least Sue, Susan and Jeff got a look when one sneaked through the thorny undergrowth. We must have tried about 5-6 birds, but they were particularly difficult this trip.

Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers)

BROWN-CAPPED TYRANNULET (Ornithion brunneicapillus) – Regi had decent views of this tiny canopy tyrannulet.

SOUTHERN BEARDLESS-TYRANNULET (Camptostoma obsoletum)

WHITE-TAILED TYRANNULET (Mecocerculus poecilocercus) – The common tyrannulet with mid-elevation flocks, such as around San Isidro.

WHITE-BANDED TYRANNULET (Mecocerculus stictopterus) – Replaces the previous species at higher elevations, such as the higher stretches of Cajanuma and Guango. This one is more boldly marked though.

WHITE-THROATED TYRANNULET (Mecocerculus leucophrys) – An uncharacteristically large and vertically postured bird for the genus. This one inhabits high elevation forests right up to the paramo edge; we had them on our first day at Yanacocha.

SULPHUR-BELLIED TYRANNULET (Mecocerculus minor) – Often in the same flocks as the White-tailed, but mostly on the east slope, such as at San Isidro.

TUFTED TIT-TYRANT (Anairetes parulus) – Nicely in some temperate shrubbery on our first day near Yanacocha.

AGILE TIT-TYRANT (Anairetes agilis) – After a near hit - a near miss, as many would say, is actually seeing it! - in the south when it only called once and then blasted away, we nailed a family group near Papallacta for nice studies.

MOUSE-COLORED TYRANNULET (TUMBES) (Phaeomyias murina tumbezana) – In the mid-elevation deciduous woodlands of the Catamayo Valley.

GRAY ELAENIA (Myiopagis caniceps) – A regular flock bird at Silanche.

FOOTHILL ELAENIA (Myiopagis olallai) – A relatively recently described species discovered at Bombuscaro... right where we saw it! We had some dandy views of this canopy flock species.

GREENISH ELAENIA (Myiopagis viridicata) [*]

WHITE-CRESTED ELAENIA (Elaenia albiceps) – Fairly common in highland shrubbery, in both drier and humid habitats.

Three species of mountain-toucan are possible on this tour; this is the most range-restricted, and arguably the most handsome of the trio- the Choco endemic Plate-billed Mountain-toucan. (Photo by tour participants Bob Sprague and Amy Levengood)

MOTTLE-BACKED ELAENIA (Elaenia gigas) – Right around the gardens at Copalinga; the one with the two long tufts bridged by poofy white fluff!

SIERRAN ELAENIA (Elaenia pallatangae) – Pretty common at Cajanuma right along the roadside.

TORRENT TYRANNULET (Serpophaga cinerea) – A small gray and black tyrannulet almost always found near water.

STREAK-NECKED FLYCATCHER (Mionectes striaticollis) – Common at San Isidro both inside forest and at forest edges.

OLIVE-STRIPED FLYCATCHER (Mionectes olivaceus) – The lower elevation counterpart of the previous species which we saw on both slopes.

OCHRE-BELLIED FLYCATCHER (Mionectes oleagineus) – Flyby at Silanche.

SLATY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER (Leptopogon superciliaris) – Pretty common with foothill flocks on both slopes.

RUFOUS-BREASTED FLYCATCHER (Leptopogon rufipectus) – Common and noisy with the mid-elevation flocks on the east slope, such as at San Isidro.

VARIEGATED BRISTLE-TYRANT (Phylloscartes poecilotis) – With the same flock as the Marble-faced Bristle-Tyrant at San Isidro; this one has the buffy wingbars and pale mandible.

MARBLE-FACED BRISTLE-TYRANT (Phylloscartes ophthalmicus) – Similar in overall appearance and behavior as the previous species, but with an all dark bill and thin yellowish wingbars.

ECUADORIAN TYRANNULET (Phylloscartes gualaquizae) – Seen with a flock in the eastern foothills along the old Loja-Zamora rd.

SOOTY-HEADED TYRANNULET (Phyllomyias griseiceps) – Common in the foothills of both slopes.

BLACK-CAPPED TYRANNULET (Phyllomyias nigrocapillus) – Most common around Cajanuma where they move around with mixed flocks.

ASHY-HEADED TYRANNULET (Phyllomyias cinereiceps) – San Isidro, where they are fairly common in the gardens.

TAWNY-RUMPED TYRANNULET (Phyllomyias uropygialis) [*]

CHOCO TYRANNULET (Zimmerius albigularis) – These were the Golden-faced Tyrannulets that we saw in the west at Silanche; the SACC recently decided to split them on the basis of distinct range and different vocalizations.

GOLDEN-FACED TYRANNULET (Zimmerius chrysops) – The true Golden-faced Tyrannulet which we saw on the east slope.

ORNATE FLYCATCHER (Myiotriccus ornatus) – This really is a fancy little flycatcher. We had our first good looks at them at very close range along the trail at Bombuscaro.

RUFOUS-HEADED PYGMY-TYRANT (Pseudotriccus ruficeps) [*]

TAWNY-CROWNED PYGMY-TYRANT (Euscarthmus meloryphus) – Common in the low shrubbery of the Catamayo Valley, west of Loja.

BLACK-CAPPED PYGMY-TYRANT (Myiornis atricapillus) – Among the smallest passerines in the world, and we saw why: it is like a ping-pong ball with legs! We had good looks at this little squirt through the scope at Silanche.

SCALE-CRESTED PYGMY-TYRANT (Lophotriccus pileatus) – Good looks in the Mindo area.

RUFOUS-CROWNED TODY-FLYCATCHER (Poecilotriccus ruficeps) – A common bird in the Chusquea bamboo patches around San Isidro.

COMMON TODY-FLYCATCHER (Todirostrum cinereum) – Common in second-growth shrubbery on both slopes in the foothills.

BLACK-HEADED TODY-FLYCATCHER (Todirostrum nigriceps) – Some folks had quick looks at this canopy species at Silanche.

YELLOW-OLIVE FLYCATCHER (Tolmomyias sulphurescens) – Common in secondary woodlands and edges around Copalinga.

YELLOW-MARGINED FLYCATCHER (YELLOW-MARGINED) (Tolmomyias assimilis flavotectus) – Good looks at Silanche.

GOLDEN-CROWNED SPADEBILL (Platyrinchus coronatus) – William heard this one at Silanche and then got us onto it along the trails there. What a tiny flycatcher!

RUDDY-TAILED FLYCATCHER (Terenotriccus erythrurus) – Some got onto this one with some flock activity at Silanche.

CINNAMON FLYCATCHER (Pyrrhomyias cinnamomeus) – Common in montane areas, usually at forest edges. This one is common, but is still quite a looker!

CLIFF FLYCATCHER (Hirundinea ferruginea) – Pretty faithful to rocky cliffs where it feeds and nests. We had them well along the old Loja-Zamora rd.

HANDSOME FLYCATCHER (Nephelomyias pulcher) – Although they can travel around in some pretty large, they can still be tricky to see well with their canopy habits. We hung with them though and ended up with fine studies along the Guacamayos trail.

ORANGE-BANDED FLYCATCHER (Nephelomyias lintoni) – Fantastic studies at a large and active group of this range-restricted species near Saraguro!

TAWNY-BREASTED FLYCATCHER (Myiobius villosus) – Regi, Bob and Russ had good looks at this understory species at Milpe.

SULPHUR-RUMPED FLYCATCHER (Myiobius sulphureipygius) – With and understory flock at Silanche, flashing its butter-butt!

FLAVESCENT FLYCATCHER (Myiophobus flavicans) – An unobtrusive forest based flycatcher that we saw at San Isidro.

ORANGE-CRESTED FLYCATCHER (Myiophobus phoenicomitra) [*]

OLIVE-CHESTED FLYCATCHER (Myiophobus cryptoxanthus) – Great looks at a pair along the Loreto rd. in some roadside shrubbery.

BRAN-COLORED FLYCATCHER (Myiophobus fasciatus) – In the deciduous woodlands of the Catamayo Valley west of Loja.

OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER (Contopus cooperi) – Scope views of this boreal migrant in the eastern foothills of the south. [b]

SMOKE-COLORED PEWEE (Contopus fumigatus) – Common in humid montane zones.

WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE (Contopus sordidulus) – Common in the foothill zones on both slopes during the northern winter. [b]

ACADIAN FLYCATCHER (Empidonax virescens) – Common in the foothills and lowlands of the west. [b]

BLACK PHOEBE (Sayornis nigricans) – Common anywhere there is water.

VERMILION FLYCATCHER (Pyrocephalus rubinus) – The usual pair in my yard in Tumbaco!

PLAIN-CAPPED GROUND-TYRANT (Muscisaxicola alpinus) – A few of them running around in the high paramos of El Cajas.

BLACK-BILLED SHRIKE-TYRANT (Agriornis montanus) – It was nice to have this and the previous species side-by-side for comparison north of Loja. This one is smaller, darker and has a less hooked bill.

WHITE-TAILED SHRIKE-TYRANT (Agriornis albicauda) – The rarer of the two shrike-tyrant species here in Ecuador. We had nice views of this one right next to the previous species north of Loja. This one has more of a clay tone to it, and a much heavier bill.

STREAK-THROATED BUSH-TYRANT (Myiotheretes striaticollis) – Seen well on our first day as we made our way up to Yanacocha.

SMOKY BUSH-TYRANT (Myiotheretes fumigatus) [*]

RED-RUMPED BUSH-TYRANT (Cnemarchus erythropygius) – Fantastic views of this high elevation species in the paramos of El Cajas.

MASKED WATER-TYRANT (Fluvicola nengeta) – A bird of pastures and wet areas of the west. We had some nice views of them running around and displaying a time or two!

CROWNED CHAT-TYRANT (Ochthoeca frontalis) – It was nice to land this skulking temperate forest species for some on our last day in some remnant forest not far from Quito.

YELLOW-BELLIED CHAT-TYRANT (Ochthoeca diadema) [*]

SLATY-BACKED CHAT-TYRANT (Ochthoeca cinnamomeiventris) – An attractive chat-tyrant that we saw a couple of times on the tour in both the north and the south.

RUFOUS-BREASTED CHAT-TYRANT (Ochthoeca rufipectoralis) – A canopy chat-tyrant that we had nice looks at along the road at Cajanuma.

BROWN-BACKED CHAT-TYRANT (Ochthoeca fumicolor) – The high elevation chat-tyrant here in Ecuador.

SHORT-TAILED FIELD TYRANT (Muscigralla brevicauda) – A small population exists in the low scrub in the Catamayo Valley, where we had some nice views.

BRIGHT-RUMPED ATTILA (Attila spadiceus) [*]

DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus tuberculifer nigriceps) – Common in foothill and lowland areas of the west.

SHORT-CRESTED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus ferox) – Seems to be resident in the gardens around Copalinga, where it is getting close to its maximum elevational range.

PALE-EDGED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus cephalotes) – The Myiarchus of the montane zone on the east slope; common around San Isidro.

BOAT-BILLED FLYCATCHER (Megarynchus pitangua) – Many flycatchers are largely fruit-eating, and this is one of them. We had plenty at Silanche.

RUSTY-MARGINED FLYCATCHER (Myiozetetes cayanensis) – Common in the humid foothills and lowlands of the west, such as around Milpe and Silanche.

SOCIAL FLYCATCHER (Myiozetetes similis) – Common around the gardens at Copalinga.

LEMON-BROWED FLYCATCHER (Conopias cinchoneti) – A forest canopy flycatcher that moves around with flocks in family groups in the humid foothills. We finally got the looks we were hoping for along the old Loja-Zamora rd. after a few tries.

GOLDEN-CROWNED FLYCATCHER (Myiodynastes chrysocephalus) – A common bird on both slopes.

PIRATIC FLYCATCHER (Legatus leucophaius) – We finally caught up with this one at Silanche.

TROPICAL KINGBIRD (Tyrannus melancholicus) – Seen on most days of the trip!

Cotingidae (Cotingas)

GREEN-AND-BLACK FRUITEATER (Pipreola riefferii) – We heard them a time or two in the south, but did catch up with this handsome species in the north for really nice views.

BARRED FRUITEATER (Pipreola arcuata) – A large fruiteater of humid temperate forests in the Andes. We lucked out and had some stellar views on our first day at Yanacocha. I'd estimate this species' size to a Nerf Football... how's that for accuracy?

ORANGE-BREASTED FRUITEATER (Pipreola jucunda) – This species seems to have a very local habitat niche, preferring only certain areas with very humid forests on the west slope, where it can actually be numerous. But these spots are few; Angel Paz's place seems to be one of them, and we had some nice views after a bit of searching along the trails there.

BLACK-CHESTED FRUITEATER (Pipreola lubomirskii) – We had a female at San Isidro; this can be a very hard bird to see even when its presence is known!

SCALED FRUITEATER (Ampelioides tschudii) – A unique and beautifully patterned fruiteater, which we saw soooo well at Septimo.

RED-CRESTED COTINGA (Ampelion rubrocristatus) – Fairly common in the humid highlands, all the way up to paramo shrubbery.

ANDEAN COCK-OF-THE-ROCK (Rupicola peruvianus sanguinolentus) – One of South America's most spectacular birds. The two races in Ecuador are quite different with respect to color, this western one being more of a scarlet as opposed to the bright orange of the east slope. We enjoyed some nice looks a this raucous species in the Tandayapa area.

ANDEAN COCK-OF-THE-ROCK (Rupicola peruvianus aequatorialis) – The orange east slope race. We started out with some good looks at females a few times at Bombuscaro and environs, but then scored an awesome male, thanks to Kathy, along the old Loja-Zamora rd.!

PURPLE-THROATED FRUITCROW (Querula purpurata) – Flybys at Silanche.

DUSKY PIHA (Lipaugus fuscocinereus) – A large piha that we caught at Guango as it moved with a flock of jays and caciques. We enjoyed some nice views of it foraging about not far from the lodge.

Pipridae (Manakins)

GOLDEN-WINGED MANAKIN (Masius chrysopterus) – Good looks at Septimo.

CLUB-WINGED MANAKIN (Machaeropterus deliciosus) – A fantastic little manakin that is now known to make the fastest mechanical noise of any organism, with its wings, during display. We appreciated this activity at Milpe one afternoon at the lek there.

Though it's a common and widespread species, the Red-headed Barbet is still a stunning bird, and always a pleasure to see. (Photo by tour participants Bob Sprague and Amy Levengood)

BLUE-RUMPED MANAKIN (Lepidothrix isidorei) – This eastern foothill species was seen well at Bombuscaro.

WHITE-BEARDED MANAKIN (Manacus manacus) – This species' display sounds like a war video game, with cracks, pops, machine gun like rattles... what more do you need for some ornithological/birding fun; maybe a whoopee cushion!? As loud as they can be, it is not always the easiest bird to see, but after some searching we ended up with some nice views at Silanche.

Tityridae (Tityras and Allies)

MASKED TITYRA (Tityra semifasciata) – Common around Silanche. Love that pink face!

THRUSH-LIKE SCHIFFORNIS (Schiffornis turdina) – Sue had a look at the one that was calling the understory at Milpe. For the rest... it is really hard to see a bird that looks like a dead leaf in the dark shadows!

BARRED BECARD (Pachyramphus versicolor) – A pretty common bird with flocks in the montane zone. We hear them a few time, but finally scored for some nice views at San Isidro.

CINNAMON BECARD (Pachyramphus cinnamomeus) – Daily on the west slope.

WHITE-WINGED BECARD (Pachyramphus polychopterus dorsalis) – Great looks at Septimo.

Vireonidae (Vireos)

BROWN-CAPPED VIREO (Vireo leucophrys) – Common with montane flocks on both slopes.

OLIVACEOUS GREENLET (Hylophilus olivaceus) – An east slope greenlet of the foothill zone that we saw well in the south.

LESSER GREENLET (Hylophilus decurtatus) – Common with the canopy flocks at Silanche.

SLATY-CAPPED SHRIKE-VIREO (Vireolanius leucotis) – We caught up with this handsome flock species at Silanche for some excellent views.

RUFOUS-BROWED PEPPERSHRIKE (Cyclarhis gujanensis) – This chunky, orange-eyed vireo relative was seen quite well in the drier Catamayo Valley west of Loja.

BLACK-BILLED PEPPERSHRIKE (Cyclarhis nigrirostris) – A yard bird at San Isidro. Although not always easy to see, they are vocal, making finding them a little easier.

Corvidae (Crows, Jays, and Magpies)

BEAUTIFUL JAY (Cyanolyca pulchra) – A local and sometimes hard to find jay of the middle elevation humid forests on the west slope, but we scored early on with this one in the Tandayapa area for some excellent studies.

TURQUOISE JAY (Cyanolyca turcosa) – Tends to replace to the previous species at higher elevations, although they do narrowly overlap in the west. We had plenty of fine studies at the relatively common highland jay.

GREEN JAY (Cyanocorax yncas) – A common and noisy jay of the east slope.

VIOLACEOUS JAY (Cyanocorax violaceus) [*]

WHITE-TAILED JAY (Cyanocorax mystacalis) – We had a great jay trip. This was a bonus bird though as it is usually one that we only see on our SW Ecuador trip, but lucky for us William had a spot staked out south of Loja where we called them right in.

Hirundinidae (Swallows)

BLUE-AND-WHITE SWALLOW (Pygochelidon cyanoleuca) – The common middle elevation swallow.

PALE-FOOTED SWALLOW (Orochelidon flavipes) – I small numbers at Cajanuma.

BROWN-BELLIED SWALLOW (Orochelidon murina) – The high elevation swallow.

WHITE-THIGHED SWALLOW (Atticora tibialis) – A couple of times in the foothills of the east. couple of times in the foothills of the east.

WHITE-BANDED SWALLOW (Atticora fasciata) – Drifting about out over the Bombuscaro River, just before it starting pouring!

SOUTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW (Stelgidopteryx ruficollis) – Most common in foothill areas.

GRAY-BREASTED MARTIN (Progne chalybea) – Right at the Loja airport upon arrival.

Troglodytidae (Wrens)

FASCIATED WREN (Campylorhynchus fasciatus) – Ditto... also common right around the Loja airport and other dry forested areas!

THRUSH-LIKE WREN (Campylorhynchus turdinus) – A canopy wren that we saw well along the Loreto rd.

GRAY-MANTLED WREN (Odontorchilus branickii) – This was the canopy wren that we saw with a flock on the east slope that sort of seems like a nuthatch crossed with a gnatcatcher.

RUFOUS WREN (Cinnycerthia unirufa) – Common in humid temperate forests, usually in family groups.

SHARPE'S WREN (Cinnycerthia olivascens) – Tends to replace the previous species at lower elevations, but they do overlap, such as along the Guacamayos trail.

PLAIN-TAILED WREN (Pheugopedius euophrys) – Awesome looks at Cajanuma when we got one to pop up into a some roadside bamboo. The song of this species is one of the loudest and most commonly heard in the highlands.

CORAYA WREN (Pheugopedius coraya) [*]

STRIPE-THROATED WREN (Cantorchilus leucopogon) – I had not had this forest based wren at Silanche in years, but we called one in for some really nice views along the trail.

BAY WREN (Cantorchilus nigricapillus) – In the undergrowth at Silanche.

SUPERCILIATED WREN (Cantorchilus superciliaris) – Nice looks at this dry forest wren in the Catamayo Valley west of Loja.

HOUSE WREN (Troglodytes aedon)

MOUNTAIN WREN (Troglodytes solstitialis) – A more forest based relative of the House Wren, found mainly in high elevation humid forests.

WHITE-BREASTED WOOD-WREN (Henicorhina leucosticta) [*]

GRAY-BREASTED WOOD-WREN (Henicorhina leucophrys) – After hearing them a lot (!), we finally connected with this very vocal species on the west slope on our last few days of birding.

SCALY-BREASTED WREN (Microcerculus marginatus) [*]

WING-BANDED WREN (Microcerculus bambla) [*]

Polioptilidae (Gnatcatchers)

TAWNY-FACED GNATWREN (Microbates cinereiventris) [*]

TROPICAL GNATCATCHER (WHITE-BROWED) (Polioptila plumbea bilineata) – Almost always first on the scene after some pygmy-owl tooting! We had plenty in the Catamayo Valley.

SLATE-THROATED GNATCATCHER (Polioptila schistaceigula) – A lowland Choco endemic that we saw well from the tower at Silanche.

Cinclidae (Dippers)

WHITE-CAPPED DIPPER (Cinclus leucocephalus) – Always a thrill to see as they hop about on rocks next to rushing rivers.

Turdidae (Thrushes and Allies)

ANDEAN SOLITAIRE (Myadestes ralloides) – San Isidro area.

SPOTTED NIGHTINGALE-THRUSH (Catharus dryas) [*]

SWAINSON'S THRUSH (Catharus ustulatus) – Pretty common during the boreal winter. [b]

PALE-EYED THRUSH (Turdus leucops) – Quite a mimic, and once we saw belting out its song from the treetops at San Isidro.

PLUMBEOUS-BACKED THRUSH (Turdus reevei) – A bird of the dry forests of SW Ecuador. They seem to reach their eastern limit in the Catamayo Valley where they occur in small numbers.

PALE-VENTED THRUSH (Turdus obsoletus) – A forest based thrush of the humid western foothills that we saw well in the Milpe area.

ECUADORIAN THRUSH (Turdus maculirostris) – Fairly common in the west in secondary habitats.

BLACK-BILLED THRUSH (Turdus ignobilis) – Copalinga.

CHESTNUT-BELLIED THRUSH (Turdus fulviventris) – Reminds many of an American Robin. This one occurs in the lower montane and foothills zones of the east slope

SLATY THRUSH (Turdus nigriceps) – William spotted one singing through a tiny window for scope views in the dry forests of the Catamayo Valley. This species can be a real devil to spot sometimes!

GREAT THRUSH (Turdus fuscater) – The largest of the genus and a very common bird in the highlands.

CHIGUANCO THRUSH (Turdus chiguanco) – Similar to the Great Thrush, but tends to prefer more barren highland habitats. We had them right around Loja.

GLOSSY-BLACK THRUSH (Turdus serranus) – Common in montane forests, and not too hard to find when singing as they perch high up, often in the open.

WHITE-NECKED THRUSH (Turdus albicollis) – A forest thrush that we saw at Bombuscaro.

Mimidae (Mockingbirds and Thrashers)

LONG-TAILED MOCKINGBIRD (Mimus longicaudatus) – Common in the dry forests of the Catamayo Valley.

Motacillidae (Wagtails and Pipits)

PARAMO PIPIT (Anthus bogotensis) – We nabbed this one on our first day on our way up to Yanacocha.

Parulidae (New World Warblers)

MOURNING WARBLER (Geothlypis philadelphia) – A pretty rare boreal migrant, and one I had not seen in Ecuador until it showed up at San Isidro to spend the northern winter. We had decent looks at one of a pair in the shrubby growth near the parking lot. [b]

OLIVE-CROWNED YELLOWTHROAT (Geothlypis semiflava) – Good looks at this pasture species in the Mindo area.

CERULEAN WARBLER (Setophaga cerulea) – Some saw the male in the foothills of the south that popped in briefly. [b]

TROPICAL PARULA (Setophaga pitiayumi) – Common with flocks on both slopes.

BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER (Setophaga fusca) – The common boreal at middle elevations... wow! [b]

THREE-STRIPED WARBLER (Basileuterus tristriatus) – Common with the flocks in the west in the pre-montane zones.

THREE-BANDED WARBLER (Basileuterus trifasciatus) – Very similar to the previous species, and the Tumbesian representative of it. We had a responsive pair near Cajanuma one birdy morning.

CITRINE WARBLER (Myiothlypis luteoviridis) – A pair with a flock at Cajanuma.

BLACK-CRESTED WARBLER (Myiothlypis nigrocristatus) – A common highland warbler of second growth.

BUFF-RUMPED WARBLER (Myiothlypis fulvicauda) – Some saw this water based warbler fly by at Silanche.

GOLDEN-BELLIED WARBLER (CHOCO) (Myiothlypis chrysogaster chlorophrys) – Good looks with an understory flock at Milpe.

RUSSET-CROWNED WARBLER (Myiothlypis coronatus) – This species' dueted song is really a pleasure to here ring through the montane forests.

CANADA WARBLER (Cardellina canadensis) – Common in the understory this time of the year in foothill and montane forests. [b]

SLATE-THROATED REDSTART (Myioborus miniatus) – In almost every middle elevation flock on both slopes.

SPECTACLED REDSTART (Myioborus melanocephalus) – Replaces the previous species all the way up to treeline.

Coerebidae (Bananaquit)

BANANAQUIT (Coereba flaveola) – A common neotropical species.

Thraupidae (Tanagers and Allies)

MAGPIE TANAGER (Cissopis leverianus) – The longest tanager of them all!

WHITE-CAPPED TANAGER (Sericossypha albocristata) – The heaviest tanager of them all! It was questioned for a long time as to whether this species actually belongs with the tanagers, but recent DNA evidence confirms that it does.

RUFOUS-CRESTED TANAGER (Creurgops verticalis) – Some had looks at this canopy tanager along the Loja-Zamora rd.

BLACK-CAPPED HEMISPINGUS (Hemispingus atropileus) – Nice looks at this chunky understory hemispingus at Guango as they moved with a flock.

SUPERCILIARIED HEMISPINGUS (Hemispingus superciliaris) – A hemispingus of the canopy in humid temperate forests. We had our first looks at a group of them with a flock at Yanacocha.

BLACK-EARED HEMISPINGUS (Hemispingus melanotis) – A bamboo understory hemispingus of middle elevations on the east slope; we saw them a few times at San Isidro.

BLACK-EARED HEMISPINGUS (WESTERN) (Hemispingus melanotis ochraceus) – Considered a separate species in the Birds of Ecuador, and it is certainly distinct plumage-wise, but it does sound similar and has bamboo habitat preferences. We ran into a group of this species in the Bellavista area for nice looks.

BLACK-HEADED HEMISPINGUS (Hemispingus verticalis) – This species moves with temperate forest flocks and likes the treetops. Jeff had a look at them first at Cajanuma, but the rest of us caught up with them for excellent views in the Saraguro area; it was nice to see that creamy crown-stripe.

GRAY-HOODED BUSH TANAGER (Cnemoscopus rubrirostris) – This tail-flicking, canopy species follows flocks, and we hit a party of them at Cajanuma.

CHESTNUT-VENTED CONEBILL (Conirostrum speciosum) – Not a very easy bird to find in Ecuador, but we hit a small group of them with a flock on the east slope in the Zamora area.

CINEREOUS CONEBILL (Conirostrum cinereum) – Common in highland forests and shrubbery, but we surprisingly only saw them on our first day.

BLUE-BACKED CONEBILL (Conirostrum sitticolor) – A beautiful little conebill of humid temperate forests which we saw on the first four days of the tour.

CAPPED CONEBILL (Conirostrum albifrons atrocyaneum) – A regular flock bird in humid subtropical and temperate forests on both slopes; this one is a tail-shaker too.

GIANT CONEBILL (Oreomanes fraseri) – It was nice to get good looks at all of the possible conebills this trip. This one is sort of the king of all conebills and sometimes one of the hardest to find; it is a pretty low density bird, being found only in very high elevation Polylepis forests, where it probes under the flaky bark for arthropods. We really nailed them at Cajas for up close and personal views.

TIT-LIKE DACNIS (Xenodacnis parina) – Not much like any other "dacnis" really; it has a finch-like bill and lives at very high elevations! The name "dacnis" is just really not appropriate, so we'll let it rest there. Most importantly, we had awesome views of them at Cajas in the paramo-edge woodlands, thanks to William's leadership!

Brush-Finches are at their most diverse in the Andes; this lovely Pale-naped Brush-Finch at Guango was one of 7 species (in two genera) seen. (Photo by tour participants Bob Sprague and Amy Levengood)

PLUSHCAP (Catamblyrhynchus diadema) – We connected with this little bamboo understory beauty a couple of times this tour!

BLACK-BACKED BUSH TANAGER (Urothraupis stolzmanni) – A treeline species, found mostly along eastern ridges, such as above Papallacta, where we saw a group of them breeze through with a hurried flock.

GUIRA TANAGER (Hemithraupis guira) – Quite common in the western lowlands and foothills, and even a few along the old Loja-Zamora rd.

DUSKY-FACED TANAGER (Mitrospingus cassinii) – A noisy tanager that travels around in groups in the humid tropical west. We called up a couple of them for nice looks at Silanche.

SCARLET-BROWED TANAGER (Heterospingus xanthopygius) – Fabulous views at a pair at Silanche.

WHITE-SHOULDERED TANAGER (Tachyphonus luctuosus) – Pretty common in the western lowlands and foothills.

TAWNY-CRESTED TANAGER (Tachyphonus delatrii) – Good looks at a group of them along the trails at Silanche.

WHITE-LINED TANAGER (Tachyphonus rufus) – Some had them in the south but the rest of us caught up with good looks in the north on both slopes.

SILVER-BEAKED TANAGER (Ramphocelus carbo) – Common in secondary habitats in the east from the foothills on down!

FLAME-RUMPED TANAGER (Ramphocelus flammigerus) – Abundant in disturbed forest in the west... wow! Even though really common, the male of this species is quite handsome.

BLUE-GRAY TANAGER (Thraupis episcopus) – We saw the western form that is all mainly plain blue-gray, and also the eastern birds with the large white shoulder patches.

PALM TANAGER (Thraupis palmarum) – Common throughout many regions of the neotropics.

BLUE-CAPPED TANAGER (Thraupis cyanocephala) – We had our best group looks at them up along the Tandayapa Ridge with some flock activity.

BLUE-AND-YELLOW TANAGER (Thraupis bonariensis) – Common in the central valley scrub and gardens.

VERMILION TANAGER (Calochaetes coccineus) – A stunning east slope tanager that we had tremendous luck with along the old Loja-Zamora rd. when we scoped a small group of them foraging about.

HOODED MOUNTAIN-TANAGER (Buthraupis montana) – The Buthraupis mountain-tanagers are the big ones, looking large jay or thrush sized. This is usually one of the more common species in the humid temperate and subtropical zones but there was an almost dearth of them this trip! We did see them well at Cajanuma though!

BLACK-CHESTED MOUNTAIN-TANAGER (Buthraupis eximia) – A high temperate forest species that had first, and well, at Yanacocha on our first day.

LACRIMOSE MOUNTAIN-TANAGER (Anisognathus lacrymosus) – Most common at Cajanuma where they tag along with the mixed flocks; the one with the tear spot on the face.

SCARLET-BELLIED MOUNTAIN-TANAGER (Anisognathus igniventris) – A boldly patterned species with strong reds, blacks and blues, which we saw a few times.

BLUE-WINGED MOUNTAIN-TANAGER (Anisognathus somptuosus) – The common mountain-tanager it middle elevations.

BLACK-CHINNED MOUNTAIN-TANAGER (Anisognathus notabilis) – This is often a hard mountain-tanager to nail down, but Angel Paz has made it easy at his fruit feeders... wow! Nice to see them right next to the previous species for comparison too!

GRASS-GREEN TANAGER (Chlorornis riefferii) – Some killer views of this striking tanager with the flocks at Cajanuma that just blew us away!

BUFF-BREASTED MOUNTAIN-TANAGER (Dubusia taeniata) – Regi, Susan and Ed had looks at Cajanuma, but we all caught up with them later on in the north with a flock at Guango. Just love that blue spangled brow!

GOLDEN-CROWNED TANAGER (Iridosornis rufivertex) – One of the few tanagers that spends much of its time foraging closer to the ground, but what a jewel when it decides to pop up! We had good looks at them a few times with the flocks in both the north and south.

FAWN-BREASTED TANAGER (Pipraeidea melanonota) – Common in many humid habitats throughout Ecuador.

GLISTENING-GREEN TANAGER (Chlorochrysa phoenicotis) – Wish we could have seen this better, as all we got was a flyby in the Milpe area!

ORANGE-EARED TANAGER (Chlorochrysa calliparaea) – The east slope relative of the previous species that inhabits humid forests in the foothills. We had many fine views at this electrifying species with the flocks.

GRAY-AND-GOLD TANAGER (Tangara palmeri) – A lowland west slope species that we had great looks at at Silanche.

PARADISE TANAGER (Tangara chilensis) – Really lives up to its name, doesn't it... wow?! How evolution could have ever driven this to come to be always amazes me. We had plenty of fine views of them in the south in the Zamora area.

GREEN-AND-GOLD TANAGER (Tangara schrankii) – A gorgeous tanager of the eastern foothills and lowlands!

GOLDEN TANAGER (Tangara arthus) – Common at middle elevations on both slopes. We saw the yellower from of the west and the more more orange colored bird of the east with the flocks.

SILVER-THROATED TANAGER (Tangara icterocephala) – Common in the western humid forests.

SAFFRON-CROWNED TANAGER (Tangara xanthocephala) – One of the most common tanagers at San Isidro... should be called "Saffron-helmeted Tanager"; it's not just the crown that's saffron!!!

GOLDEN-EARED TANAGER (Tangara chrysotis) – One of my favorite east slope tanager because of its mix of rich colors. We had them a few times with the flocks.

FLAME-FACED TANAGER (Tangara parzudakii parzudakii) – The distinctive east slope form with the more yellow and red head that a saw at San Isidro.

FLAME-FACED TANAGER (Tangara parzudakii lunigera) – This west slope race with the more flame-orange head that we saw in the Mindo area.

YELLOW-BELLIED TANAGER (Tangara xanthogastra) – They played a tough game, staying up against the sun, but we still ended up pulling them in for decent views along the old Loja-Zamora rd.

SPOTTED TANAGER (Tangara punctata) – Common on the east slope with flocks, especially in the south.

RUFOUS-THROATED TANAGER (Tangara rufigula) – Seems to replace the previous species on the west slope, and a foothill specialty of the Choco that we saw well at Milpe.

BAY-HEADED TANAGER (Tangara gyrola) – A wide ranging neotropical tanager that we saw many times well on the tour.

RUFOUS-WINGED TANAGER (Tangara lavinia) – Not a common bird in most of its range; it just seems to be a fairly low density species of the canopy, so easy to overlook. We had some nice eye-level views from the Silanche tour that satisfied us!

SCRUB TANAGER (Tangara vitriolina) – At my house in Tumbaco.

GOLDEN-NAPED TANAGER (Tangara ruficervix) – Pretty common on both slopes.

METALLIC-GREEN TANAGER (Tangara labradorides) – Not always an easy one to snag, but we had great looks at Septimo. This is another poorly named species, not being at all "metallicy"!

BLUE-BROWED TANAGER (Tangara cyanotis) – A very special east slope tanager as it is quite handsome and clean-cut, and also found only in a narrow elevational band. We hit them just right along the Loja-Zamora rd. one afternoon!

BLUE-NECKED TANAGER (Tangara cyanicollis) – Common in the foothills and subtropics of both slopes... should be called "Blue-headed Tanager!"

GOLDEN-HOODED TANAGER (Tangara larvata) – One of the many western lowland tanagers that we got at Silanche.

MASKED TANAGER (Tangara nigrocincta) – I've always been used to this species being an eastern lowland bird, but there seems to be a local population that regularly hangs out in the foothills at Copalinga, where we saw them.

BERYL-SPANGLED TANAGER (Tangara nigroviridis) – A common bird with the flocks on both slopes at middle elevations, and a really snazzy looking species.

BLUE-AND-BLACK TANAGER (Tangara vassorii) – The high elevation Tangara that we saw first well at Cajanuma.

BLACK-CAPPED TANAGER (Tangara heinei) – Common around San Isidro.

BLACK-FACED DACNIS (BLACK-FACED) (Dacnis lineata lineata) – The nominate eastern race with the white belly that occurs well up into the eastern foothills; we saw them commonly with the flocks in the Copalinga/Zamora area.

BLACK-FACED DACNIS (BLACK-FACED) (Dacnis lineata aequatorialis) – The western race that Ridgely actually splits out, and I agree; it has bright yellow on the pectoral tufts and belly, seems chunkier and sounds a bit different.... split'em!!! We had a great run at the dacnises this trip, seeing them all; we had this one at both Milpe and Silanche.

YELLOW-BELLIED DACNIS (Dacnis flaviventer) – Good looks at pair right near the Copalinga gardens as they moved with a flock. This one was right up near its maximum elevational range.

SCARLET-THIGHED DACNIS (Dacnis venusta) – I think just about everybody got onto this one with a large canopy flock at Silanche. It was frantic, with all of the activity, but we managed to pull it together!

BLUE DACNIS (Dacnis cayana) – With a flock at Copalinga; another dacnis that was at its upper elevational limit.

SCARLET-BREASTED DACNIS (Dacnis berlepschi) – This is sort of the king of the dacnis group here in Ecuador due to rarity and sheer beauty, and we worked hard to find it with the flocks at Silanche! And guess what? We nailed great views at a male along the trails after breaking our necks!

GREEN HONEYCREEPER (Chlorophanes spiza) – A common bird in the neotropics in warmer climes... we had plenty of nice looks.

PURPLE HONEYCREEPER (Cyanerpes caeruleus) – A few times on the west slope.

GOLDEN-COLLARED HONEYCREEPER (Iridophanes pulcherrimus) – Great looks at a pair of this honeycreeper in the foothills of the south.

SWALLOW TANAGER (Tersina viridis) – A few times in the south.

GRAYISH SALTATOR (Saltator coerulescens) – A common bird of secondary habitats in the eastern foothills and lowlands.

BLACK-COWLED SALTATOR (Saltator nigriceps) – A beautiful saltator, with a coral bill, that we had wonderful views of in some humid forest west of Loja.

BUFF-THROATED SALTATOR (Saltator maximus) – A common saltator in humid tropical habitats on both slopes.

BLACK-WINGED SALTATOR (Saltator atripennis) – A Choco bird found in the humid forests of the west slope. We had them for nice scope views around Septimo and Milpe.

SLATE-COLORED GROSBEAK (Saltator grossus) – Good looks at this handsome grosbeak along the trails at Silanche.

Emberizidae (Buntings, Sparrows and Allies)

PLUMBEOUS SIERRA-FINCH (Phrygilus unicolor) – The common sierra-finch of the high paramos.

ASH-BREASTED SIERRA-FINCH (Phrygilus plebejus) – A regular in the more arid highlands; we had them in the scrub of the Catamayo Valley.

BAND-TAILED SIERRA-FINCH (Phrygilus alaudinus) – We marched up into the hillside scrub in the Catamayo Valley for nice looks at this good-looking sierra-finch.

BLUE-BLACK GRASSQUIT (Volatinia jacarina) – A successful bird in many habitat types.

VARIABLE SEEDEATER (Sporophila corvina ophthalmica) – Seen daily on the west slope.

YELLOW-BELLIED SEEDEATER (Sporophila nigricollis) – A common seedeater, from the central valley to the western hills.

DRAB SEEDEATER (Sporophila simplex) – A pretty dull seedeater, as its name implies! At least it does have a couple of distinctive wingbars to make identification a little easier. We had good looks at singing birds in the Catamayo Valley scrub.

CHESTNUT-BELLIED SEEDEATER (Sporophila castaneiventris) – Seen well in the eastern foothills along the Loreto rd.

Though it's pretty small for a "giant," the Giant Conebill, a specialist of high elevation Polylepis forests, is always a big target and a huge find! (Photo by tour participants Bob Sprague and Amy Levengood)

CHESTNUT-THROATED SEEDEATER (Sporophila telasco) – Many singing birds in the Catamayo Valley, where we had nice views of males.

THICK-BILLED SEED-FINCH (Oryzoborus funereus) – In some cutover habitat around Silanche.

CHESTNUT-BELLIED SEED-FINCH (Oryzoborus angolensis) – This east slope bird is sometimes considered conspecific with the previous species. Aside from their disjunct ranges, this one has an all chestnut belly; the Thick-billed is all black. I think some folks got quick views at a female along the Loreto rd.

BAND-TAILED SEEDEATER (Catamenia analis) – We picked this dry habitat species of the highlands off on our last day on our way back in to Quito.

PLAIN-COLORED SEEDEATER (Catamenia inornata) – Common in highland grassland habitats.

PARAMO SEEDEATER (Catamenia homochroa) – Really more a bird of high temperate forests, and not a common bird much of the time. We lucked into them twice on the tour, seeing a male the first day at Yanacocha.

DULL-COLORED GRASSQUIT (Tiaris obscurus) – A dull grayish-brown bird that we saw well in the Catamayo Valley scrub.

GLOSSY FLOWERPIERCER (Diglossa lafresnayii) – The chunky black flowerpiercer with the blue-gray shoulder patches that we saw first at Yanacocha. A bird of humid temperate forests.

BLACK FLOWERPIERCER (Diglossa humeralis) – Usually a bird of scrubbier habitats and even gardens in the central valley.

WHITE-SIDED FLOWERPIERCER (Diglossa albilatera) – Common in the highlands on both slopes at the edge of humid forest; not a forest bird.

RUSTY FLOWERPIERCER (Diglossa sittoides) – We had a female in my yard in Tumbaco where it fed about in the garden flowers.

DEEP-BLUE FLOWERPIERCER (Diglossa glauca) – Great looks at this flashy species of flowerpiercer on the slopes of the Guacamayos, not far from San Isidro. That bright yellow eye is unforgettable!

BLUISH FLOWERPIERCER (Diglossa caerulescens) – Common at San Isidro; the one with the burgundy colored eye.

MASKED FLOWERPIERCER (Diglossa cyanea) – The one with the bright red eye, and common in many habitats and at many elevations.

SAFFRON FINCH (Sicalis flaveola) – Common in the south, especially in drier habitats. Always an eye-catcher though.

GRASSLAND YELLOW-FINCH (Sicalis luteola) – We stumbled into a huge concentration of them in some wetter scrub on the Catamayo Valley for really nice studies.

TANAGER FINCH (Oreothraupis arremonops) – The trip had already tagged in as a grand success, but the sighting of this one sent it into orbit. This is a bird only known from a few tiny spots in Colombia and Ecuador, where they inhabit the understory of middle elevation ridges on the west slope where the forest is very wet and mossy. Needless to say, this can be a really tricky one to find, and it is a very low density species, so we were super lucky to have enjoyed such nice views with such little effort... awesome!!!

OLIVE FINCH (Arremon castaneiceps) – Amy and Regi had looks at the birds that we called in along that loud stream at Bombuscaro.

CHESTNUT-CAPPED BRUSH-FINCH (Arremon brunneinucha) – We brought one up out of the understory at Septimo.

ORANGE-BILLED SPARROW (Arremon aurantiirostris occidentalis) [*]

ORANGE-BILLED SPARROW (Arremon aurantiirostris spectabilis) – The east slope race that we enjoyed awesome views of at Copalinga, where it comes to the fruit feeders.

GRAY-BROWED BRUSH-FINCH (Arremon assimilis assimilis) – The Stripe-headed Brush-Finch got chopped into a few species after some recent splits done by the SACC. The birds in Ecuador now represent a form of the assimilis group, or Gray-browed Brush-Finch. We had some really nice looks at them on our first day at Yanacocha.

BLACK-STRIPED SPARROW (Arremonops conirostris) – Feeding in a puddle right in the middle of the road in the Mindo area.

PALE-NAPED BRUSH-FINCH (Atlapetes pallidinucha) – Great looks with the understory flocks at Guango. That crown strip starts orange and then merges into a creamy white.

TRICOLORED BRUSH-FINCH (Atlapetes tricolor) – Common around the grounds at Septimo. Some split this form west of the Andes out and call it the Choco Brush-Finch.

YELLOW-BREASTED BRUSH-FINCH (Atlapetes latinuchus spodionotus) – The form we saw on the west slope in the north, such as on our first day at Yanacocha.

YELLOW-BREASTED BRUSH-FINCH (Atlapetes latinuchus latinuchus) – Most common at Cajanuma in the south. This form has the pale spot of the wing.

SLATY BRUSH-FINCH (Atlapetes schistaceus) – Nice views with the flocks at Guango.

BAY-CROWNED BRUSH-FINCH (Atlapetes seebohmi) – Brief views of this Tumbesian brush-finch in the Catamayo Valley; they just got away too fast.

TUMBES SPARROW (Rhynchospiza stolzmanni) – Common in the low scrub of the Catamayo Valley.

YELLOW-BROWED SPARROW (Ammodramus aurifrons) [*]

RUFOUS-COLLARED SPARROW (Zonotrichia capensis) – Common throughout the highlands in open habitats.

COMMON BUSH-TANAGER (Chlorospingus ophthalmicus) – A regular with the flocks at San Isidro, and a very loud voice during the evening chorus.

DUSKY BUSH-TANAGER (Chlorospingus semifuscus) – Common at middle elevations on the west slope.

SHORT-BILLED BUSH-TANAGER (Chlorospingus parvirostris) – We called in a responsive pair along the old Loja-Zamora rd. This was the one with the mustard-orange sides to the throat.

YELLOW-THROATED BUSH-TANAGER (YELLOW-THROATED) (Chlorospingus flavigularis marginatus) – Common on the west slope, such as around Septimo and Milpe.

YELLOW-THROATED BUSH-TANAGER (YELLOW-THROATED) (Chlorospingus flavigularis flavigularis) – The east slope form that was common in the foothills of the south, especially with flocks.

ASHY-THROATED BUSH-TANAGER (Chlorospingus canigularis) – With the flocks along the old Loja-Zamora rd.

Cardinalidae (Cardinals and Allies)

SUMMER TANAGER (Piranga rubra) – A common northern migrant in the foothill and subtropical zone of both slopes. [b]

WHITE-WINGED TANAGER (Piranga leucoptera) – A tanager that moves about in the treetops with flocks, males being a bright red and females a citron-yellow. We had some nice looks at them at Septimo.

RED-HOODED TANAGER (Piranga rubriceps) – Cajanuma is usually the place for this gaudy species that is these days not even considered a tanager at all, but rather a cardinal... what is next, assigning it bishop status? We had some really nice scope studies during our birding here.

OCHRE-BREASTED TANAGER (Chlorothraupis stolzmanni) – A chunky and virtually markless tanager of the west slope that we saw - and heard! - well at Milpe one afternoon as it moved with a flock. Note that this and the previous three species are now grouped with the cardinals!

GOLDEN-BELLIED GROSBEAK (Pheucticus chrysogaster) – A common bird of mostly drier woodlands, such as the central valley right around Quito.

BLUE-BLACK GROSBEAK (Cyanocompsa cyanoides) – We managed to pull a pair into view in the understory at Bombuscaro. They can sure be tricky to see!

Icteridae (Troupials and Allies)

PERUVIAN MEADOWLARK (Sturnella bellicosa) – Plenty in the Catamayo Valley.

SCRUB BLACKBIRD (Dives warszewiczi) – A bird of drier and secondary woodlands, and one that has invaded the disturbed areas around Mindo; you wouldn't have seen these there in the recent past!

SHINY COWBIRD (Molothrus bonariensis)

YELLOW-TAILED ORIOLE (Icterus mesomelas) – A few in some deciduous forest south of Loja, right were we got the White-tailed Jays.

MOUNTAIN CACIQUE (GOLDEN-SHOULDERED) (Cacicus chrysonotus leucoramphus) – A handsome black and yellow cacique of the humid subtropical and temperate zones of the east.

SCARLET-RUMPED CACIQUE (PACIFIC) (Cacicus uropygialis pacificus) [*]

SCARLET-RUMPED CACIQUE (SUBTROPICAL) (Cacicus uropygialis uropygialis) – This and the previous bird are considered to be separate species in the Birds of Ecuador, a decision that I sort of agree with. The SACC has decided lumped them though... sure hurts the lifer count! We had plenty of fine looks at this red-rumped species at San Isidro.

RUSSET-BACKED OROPENDOLA (Psarocolius angustifrons) – Common on the east slope in both the north and south.

CRESTED OROPENDOLA (Psarocolius decumanus) – In fair numbers in the Copalinga area; about as high as they get elevationally.

Fringillidae (Siskins, Crossbills, and Allies)

ORANGE-CROWNED EUPHONIA (Euphonia saturata) – We had a great show of this species one afternoon at Milpe when a group of them filled a tree! This is not always an easy one to find, so we were fortunate.

THICK-BILLED EUPHONIA (Euphonia laniirostris) – A common South American euphonia; the one with the yellow that runs all the way up through the throat to the base of the bill.

GOLDEN-RUMPED EUPHONIA (Euphonia cyanocephala) – The male of this species is particularly ornate, with that sky blue crown and bright yellow rump! This species seems to do well in dry and humid habitats, much like the Thick-billed.

BRONZE-GREEN EUPHONIA (Euphonia mesochrysa) – An east slope bird that we saw in the Copalinga area.

ORANGE-BELLIED EUPHONIA (Euphonia xanthogaster) – The most commonly seen euphonia in humid habitats on both slopes.

YELLOW-COLLARED CHLOROPHONIA (Chlorophonia flavirostris) – We had a tough trip for chlorophonias, but at least we had smashing views at this stunner in the west at Milpe... wow!

HOODED SISKIN (Spinus magellanicus) – Some had good views at a group of this high elevation siskin at Cajas.

OLIVACEOUS SISKIN (Spinus olivaceus) – Replaces the previous species on the east slope, otherwise it is very similar in plumage.

BRAZILIAN RABBIT (Sylvilagus brasiliensis) – Pretty common where they scurry around in the high paramos.

RED-TAILED SQUIRREL (Sciurus granatensis) – The most commonly seen mammal of the trip.

LONG-TAILED WEASEL (Mustela frenata) – Some were looking in the right direction when one bolted across the road near Papallacta.

NEOTROPICAL OTTER (Lontra longicaudis) – William spotted one shooting the rapids south of Loja that I think everybody got onto!

WHITE-TAILED DEER (Odocoileus virginianus) – Very nicely in the Papallacta Pass when we spotted two from the bus!

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Totals for the tour: 616 bird taxa and 5 mammal taxa