Eastern Ecuador: High Andes to Vast Amazon February 10 - February 24, 2008 Tour Leader: Scott Olmstead All photos, video clips, and sound
recordings were
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| Itinerary | |
| Feb. 10: | Arrival, Night in Quito. |
| Feb. 11: | Papallacta area, Night Guango Lodge. |
| Feb. 12: | Guango-Baeza vicinity, Night Cabañas San Isidro. |
| Feb. 13: | San Isidro, Night Cabañas San Isidro. |
| Feb. 14: | Day trip to San Rafael Falls, Night Cabañas San Isidro. |
| Feb. 15: | Guacamayos, & travel to lowlands, Night Gareno Lodge. |
| Feb. 16: | The search for Harpy Eagle, Night Gareno Lodge. |
| Feb. 17: | Gareno & travel to Río Napo, Night Casa del Suizo. |
| Feb. 18: | River travel to Sacha Lodge, Night Sacha Lodge. |
| Feb. 19-21: | River travel to Sacha Lodge, Night Sacha Lodge. |
| Feb. 22: | Air travel to Quito, Night Quito. |
| Feb. 23: | Antisana, Night Quito. |
| Feb. 24: | Departure. |
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Introduction The theme of our February tour of Eastern Ecuador was rain – fitting for one of the wettest regions on earth. The weather certainly provided some frustrating moments and indeed there were times when it seemed like every time we encountered a good mixed flock the skies would open up. But everyone kept in high spirits throughout and in between the showers we managed some unbeatable feats such as good looks at all three quetzal species and a mind-boggling five species of potoos. Not to mention the Harpy Eagle! (pictured at left) In the end everyone was happy with the results and by the time of our farewell dinner we had seen too many spectacular highlight birds to be able to decide on the best birds of the trip. |
Tour Summary
February 11: The tour started as we headed up to the high Andes around Papallacta, east of Quito. Arriving at the pass, we could see that the highest elevations were still shrouded in thick clouds, so we decided to bide our time by birding for an hour or two on the old highway. This proved a good decision, and we got stellar looks at treeline specialties like Blue-mantled Thornbill and White-chinned Thistletail as we watched the weather. Eventually, as the conditions didn’t seem to be getting any worse, we decided to just give it a go, and drove up the narrow, winding road to the radio masts, above 4200m. Páramo Ground-Tyrants were seen along the way, and once at the top it didn’t take us long to locate our top (and only) target: Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe. One bird was seen very well at close range through the shifting clouds as it ambled along the ground, walking over the lush, cushion-like páramo vegetation. Next up was a stop at the roadside Polylepis patch on the way down toward Papallacta village. Here we didn’t find much activity but managed to see the local Giant Conebills and a roosting Great Horned Owl. By midday we had arrived at the Papallacta Hot Springs area, our birding site for the afternoon. Highlights here included more treeline denizens like Viridian Metaltail, Red-crested Cotinga, and a single Masked Mountain-Tanager that sat up in full view for a few glorious moments. On the lower sections of the road we saw Agile Tit-Tyrant, White-capped Dipper, Pale-naped and Stripe-headed Brush-Finches, and a very excitable White-browed Spinetail (recording: XC 18052) that never really sat still. We arrived at cozy Guango Lodge with just enough time to get a taste of the hummingbirds, and a gorgeous male Glowing Puffleg provided an appropriate end to a great day of birding.
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February 12: We spent most of the morning birding the trails through the cloud forest around Guango. It drizzled on and off the whole time, but the mixed flocks were good to us, and we scored Gray-hooded Bush-Tanager, Lacrimose Mountain-Tanager, Black-capped Hemispingus, Tyrannine Woodcreeper, Slaty Brush-Finch, Turquoise Jay, and Northern Mountain-Cacique. Perhaps the best bird of the morning was a Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan that sat for scope views in a fruiting tree. A pair of Torrent Tyrannulets entertained us on the river below the lodge before we spent some time drying off and taking in the hummingbird show on the patio. Guango is a truly great place to watch hummingbirds, and we enjoyed the antics of dozens of individuals of perhaps ten different species, including Chestnut-breasted Coronet, Long-tailed Sylph, Tourmaline Sunangel, and the magnificent Sword-billed Hummingbird. (Watch the video here. The bills of these birds are too long to be useful for preening and they must keep their feathers in good condition using their feet!) After a satisfying lunch it was time to say goodbye to Guango and head for lower elevations. A stop beside the rushing Río Quijos broke up the journey and provided an awesome study of a pair of Torrent Ducks on a rock, the male posturing and displaying as another lone male lurked nearby. The end of the afternoon was a nice eye-level tanager flock that included Flame-faced, Saffron-crowned, Golden-eared, and Black-capped Tangers. We arrived at our base for the next three nights, Cabañas San Isidro, just in time for dinner.
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February 13: It was another soggy morning as we birded the trails around San Isidro, though we managed a few excellent birds, perhaps the best being Golden-headed and Crested Quetzals. We got great looks at Black-billed Peppershrike and Olive-backed Woodcreeper right around the lodge. Good activity at the hummingbird feeders included numerous Bronzy Incas. In the afternoon we birded along the road to Yanayacu Biological Station and beyond, where we picked up some cooperative Emerald Toucanets and found Rufous-breasted Flycatcher and Lineated Foliage-gleaner in mixed flocks. A vivacious Rufous-crowned Tody-Flycatcher showed well for a moment as it flitted around in the bamboo. At dusk by the lodge we watched a Chestnut-crowned Antpitta climbing up to his roost high above the ground in a tree; this terrestrial bird caught in the spotlight running along a branch made quite a sight. A pair of Rufous-bellied Nighthawks flying overhead put on a good show too. After dinner we went out and spotlighting around the cabins, hoping to find the resident “mystery owl”, whose taxonomy is still unknown. The star didn’t put in an appearance but we were rewarded with nice views of a Rufous-banded Owl.
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February 14: Today we got a very early start and made the two-hour drive down to the foothill forest around San Rafael Falls, the largest waterfall in Ecuador. We broke up the trip by making a pre-dawn stop for Lyre-tailed Nighjar on the way. Our morning at San Rafael was a bit rainy (at this point we were not surprised) but of course we were undeterred! The first birds of the morning were an industrious Lafresnaye’s Piculet (video here) and a very responsive Black-billed Treehunter, followed in quick succession by Olive-chested Flycatcher, another foothill specialty. A male Pale-eyed Thrush singing from an exposed song perch made for a great scope study of this scarce species and Karen picked out a handsome Red-billed Parrot sitting in a treetop nearby. Walking down the trail to the falls, we found a few good flocks, the biggest of which held Gray-mantled Wren and Russet Antshrike. A Fulvous-breasted Flatbill popped into view for a moment but not long enough for everyone to see. One of the real highlights of the morning was watching a couple of Blue-browed Tanagers foraging right in front of us at eye level. This attractive tanager is found from Colombia to Bolivia along the eastern base of the Andes but is found only in a very narrow altitudinal band and seems to be quite scarce, at least in Ecuador. We picked up some new hummingbirds here as well, including White-tailed Hillstar and the superb Wire-crested Thorntail, feeding in the treetops. We drove back up toward San Isidro after our pack lunch, a gorgeous Orange-eared Tanager bidding us farewell as we departed. On the way back we birded the valley surrounding the Río Quijos, and managed good looks at Lemon-browed Flycatcher, Olivaceous Siskin, and Golden-naped Tanager, and Streaked Xenops. Probably the most unexpected bird of the day was an immature Striated Heron, seen well above its normal range at a rather astounding elevation of 1700 meters! Arriving back at the lodge just before dusk, we were greeted by a striking Highland Motmot waiting for us by the car park. But the day wasn’t over yet; after dinner we went out for a very successful nightbirding excursion. As if a rare Andean Potoo seen at point-blank range at eye level on an exposed hunting perch wasn’t enough, a pair of responsive White-throated Screech-Owls were also quite obliging.
February
15: The
scheduled plan for the morning had been to bird the Guacamayos Ridge trail.
However, in light of the recent weather, and the notorious unpredictability of
conditions at Guacamayos, we decided to bird around the San Isidro area in an
effort to pick up some species we had missed earlier. Roadside birding was
productive, and we soon found a pair of Golden-collared
Honeycreepers in a fruiting Cecropia. A Long-tailed
Antbird and a pair of Ash-colored
Tapaculos were cooperative, showing well in bamboo stands, while the singing
Slate-crowned Antpitta did not come close enough to see. A mixed flock produced
a pair of Oleaginous Heminspinguses
and a couple of Sulphur-bellied
Tyrannulets. We did make a short late morning stop at Guacamayos, where we
got good looks at Grass-green Tanager,
Hooded Mountain-Tanager, Green-and-black
Fruiteater, and Andean Guan. Then
we set off down the eastern slope, driving all the way down from the chilly
cloud forests of Guacamayos to the steamy Amazonian lowlands. With a few
well-placed stops along the way we picked up some new montane species like White-tipped Swift, Handsome
Flycatcher, Andean Solitaire, and
the scarce and elusive Chestnut-bellied
Thrush. Then, rolling through the lowlands late in the afternoon we started
to get our first taste of Amazonian birding, encountering the likes of White-eared
Jacamar, Swallow-winged Puffbird,
and Black Caracara. We arrived at the
Spartan comforts of Gareno Lodge just before dusk and were greeted by a pair of Crested
Owls on a day roost.
February
16: Gareno
has become most famous during the last few years as a reliable place to see
Harpy Eagle at a nest stake-out. Remarkably, despite the nest tree having fallen
over in a recent windstorm and the young bird being now over a year-and-half
old, we learned that there was still an excellent chance to see this king of the
jungle. The young bird, apparently still roosting near the nest site and begging
for food from the parents every day, had been seen regularly in the weeks
leading up to our visit. Naturally, we decided to give it a go and we set out
before dawn to begin the long hike out to the nest area, hoping to catch the
young bird before it moved off during the day. When we arrived at the site with
our native guide Pedro, we were disappointed to find that the bird was not at
its expected roost. However, after another hour of searching, Pedro had located
the bird by its shrill begging cries and soon we were having great scope looks
at the biggest and most fierce bird of prey in the Western Hemisphere as it
wailed like a baby from a treetop! A great start to our morning, especially
considering that we never expected this bird to still be present in the first
place. Before much longer it will likely disperse and begin to look for a
territory of its own, leaving its parents to start the nesting cycle over again.
Slowly we birded the trail back to the lodge and encountered several nice mixed
flocks with goodies like Red-billed
Scythebill, Chestnut-winged
Foliage-gleaner, White-throated
and Scaly-breasted Woodpeckers, and Yellow-bellied
Tanager. A skulking Rufous-capped
Antthrush sang from a fallen log just long enough for a scope view, but
the
nearby Ochre-striped Antpitta frustrated our best attempts to see it. Other
highlights were Yellow-browed Antbird,
Brown Nunlet, and a striking Golden-headed
Manakin that put on a show during our pack lunch on the trail. By
mid-afternoon it had started to rain so we headed back to the lodge for a rest.
Much to our surprise, a pair of rare Buff-tailed
Sicklebills was visiting the flowering Heliconias between the cabins –
what a bonus! Late in the afternoon we went out for a short walk to look for
another of Gareno’s most famous avian residents: Rufous
Potoo. Before too long, Pedro had located a potoo resting on an unusually
exposed perch, and we had fantastic views of this Amazonian rarity. A beautiful Yellow-billed
Jacamar and a White Hawk nearby
ended a long day of great birds.
February 17: We had planned to start off with a bit more birding in the forest today, but we didn’t get far. After a stop at a Great-billed Hermit lek, we spent some time watching a pair of Broad-billed Motmots and then the skies opened up. Rather than heading back to the lodge we decided to make for a canopy overlook a half-hour’s walk from the lodge and wait out the downpour under the roof of a little house. This turned out to be a great decision because when the rain let up later in the morning the birding was very good. Looking out over the canopy from on top of a hill we had good looks at Spangled Cotinga, Black-headed Parrot, Ivory-billed Aracari, and Moriche Oriole. The most exciting moment of the morning was surely when a Pavonine Quetzal began unexpectedly calling from nearby. After a short chase, we got a scope-full of this prized quetzal, complete with his gaudy coral-red bill. Casqued Oropendolas were common in the area, and a Black-throated Brilliant obliged us by spending a moment sitting in the open at the forest edge. Walking back to the lodge for lunch we bumped into a group of Brown Jacamars and a tanager flock with Fulvous-crested and Paradise Tanagers. In the afternoon we drove from Gareno to the banks of the Río Napo, picking up a few new birds like Capped Heron, Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, and Golden-tailed Sapphire. Late in the afternoon we boarded a canoe and motored about 10 minutes downstream to the Casa del Suizo, our accommodation for the night located in the village of Ahuano.
February 18: Today was mostly a travel day as we motored over 100 miles down the mighty Napo from Ahuano to Sacha Lodge. It rained during the first part of the trip, not leaving us much birding, though we did pick up Little Blue Heron and certainly enjoyed the elegant White-banded Swallows cruising beside the boat during the drier moments. We broke up the journey with a stop at the busy port city of Coca to join other Sacha guests and change to a bigger, faster canoe. By mid-afternoon we were birding the Sacha landing and boardwalk that leads to the lodge. A handsome White-necked Jacobin was seen nectaring on Heliconias at the landing and a Spot-winged Antbird foraging in the várzea undergrowth was a nice find. Christine spotted a Gray-necked Wood-Rail at the river’s edge and we had the privilege of watching this normally timid forest bird having a glorious bath! (Watch the video here.) Crossing Lake Pilchicocha in a dugout canoe, we had our first of many sightings of the prehistoric Hoatzins that live around the lodge, munching on the leaves of the huge Aroids that thrive in this blackwater swamp. Arriving at the deck we picked up Straight-billed Woodcreeper and then settled into our cabins to get ready for dinner and prepare for an intensive three-day session of Amazonian birding! Our local native guide Pancho told us that many of the trees surrounding the wooden canopy tower were in fruit, and in light of this little tidbit of information we decided that the tower should be our first birding site the following day.
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February 19: We began our first full morning at Sacha by canoeing across the lake and down Orchid Creek en route to the wooden canopy tower. Of course we were sidetracked when a Collared Puffbird began calling not far from the channel, and after an effort of perhaps 15 minutes we managed to see it reasonably well as at sat in the subcanopy. Little did we know how well we would see this gem in just two days’ time! The tower itself did not disappoint and we were flooded with birds all morning. The tower is built around a huge Ceiba (kapok) tree, meaning that it is very sturdy and gives the feeling that you are literally in the tree. This was enhanced by a large climbing fig vine in the canopy being in full fruit and continually drawing birds to within an arm’s reach. A few of the fruit-eating birds that joined us in the big Ceiba were Gilded Barbet, Many-banded Araçari, Masked Tanager, Spangled Cotinga, and four species of euphonia. Other birds seen well though not quite close enough to touch included Dugand’s Antwren, Plum-throated Cotinga, Cinnamon Attila, Crimson-crested Woodpecker, Cinnamon-throated and Lafresnaye’s Woodcreepers, Purple-throated Fruitcrow (video here), and a fabulous Golden-collared Toucanet. A Black Hawk-Eagle perched in a treetop a couple hundred meters away, allowing decent views of its impressive crest. The trip back to the lodge up the creek gave us our hoped-for Orange-crested Manakin. After lunch and a short rest we went out for some more birding by dugout canoe in the afternoon. This time we hit Anaconda Creek, another blackwater channel that branches off of the main lake. White-chinned Jacamars seemed to be everywhere and we found three separate territories. Silvered Antbird and Gray-headed Tanager were other good sightings from the canoe. Late in the afternoon we disembarked to walk to the boardwalk and try for some owls, on the way we picking up Dwarf-Tyrant Manakin, White-necked Thrush, Blue-crowned Motmot, and Elegant Woodcreeper. Not bad for afternoon birding! The owls were good to us too and within a span of ten minutes at dusk we had great views of first Tropical (video here) and then Tawny-bellied Screech-Owl. A roosting Great Tinamou, which Pancho had staked out, capped off a very successful day.
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February 20: We hiked out from the lodge to the Napo along the boardwalk in twilight, pausing for another look at the still sleepy Great Tinamou. But right around dawn the skies opened up and we were caught in a full-on Amazonian storm, complete with heavy winds and a truly torrential downpour. Arriving soaked at the Napo landing, we hunkered down at the Sacha river house to dry out and wait out the rain. Over the course of the next few hours we managed a few good birds from under the roof, including a showy group of Magpie Tanagers, an uncommon Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher, some migrating Eastern Kingbirds, and a Pale-tailed Barbthroat that came in to the Heliconias at the edge of the clearing where we had seen White-necked Jacobin two days before. By mid-morning the rain had let up and we got in the river canoe to head downstream for some birding in the unique successional habitat found on the larger river islands. We saw many new birds for the trip, including some species that are endemic to the river islands like Black-and-white Antbird, Castelnau’s Antshrike, and Olive-spotted Hummingbird. These birds spend their entire lives on the river islands and are almost never seen on the river’s banks! Also among the highlights were Oriole Blackbird, Ladder-tailed Nightjar, Pied Plover, and a noisy party of Blue-and-yellow Macaws that flew majestically overhead. Returning to the lodge we managed good views of a pair of Warbling Antbirds after some effort and bumped into a group of brilliant Masked Crimson Tanagers.
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February 21: Today was one of those epic days when the birding is so good that it turns into a Big Day before you even realize it – I’m sure we’ll all remember this one for a long time. Having already lost significant birding time to rain at Gareno and Sacha, and recognizing that there were still hordes of Amazonian birds to be seen, we went into today hoping to clean up as much as possible, and for once the weather cooperated. We began before dawn once again, and while walking out to the Napo we stopped for a few minutes on the boardwalk to try to call in a vocalizing Zigzag Heron. Unfortunately the bird wasn’t too interested and never moved from its perch back in the swamp. A roosting Common Potoo was our consolation, making a good first bird of the day. It was still pretty early when we hit the river and headed downstream for the famous parrot clay licks on the river’s south bank. There was excellent activity at the licks, perhaps because the birds weren’t able to visit the previous day in the rain. Without any trouble we saw Blue-headed and Orange-cheeked Parrots, Yellow-crowned and Mealy Amazons, Dusky-headed and Cobalt-winged Parakeets, and the rare Scarlet-shouldered Parrotlet. While watching the parrots, Pancho and I learned from another local guide that a Long-tailed Potoo had been seen on a day roost near Sacha the day before and I hoped we would have time to look for it later. There seemed to be continuous flock activity in the terra firme forest around the interior forest lick, and here we picked up some new antbirds like Dusky-headed and Cinereous Antshrikes and Rufous-tailed Antwren. A pair of Pink-throated Becards was building a nest in a clearing nearby. A responsive Black-faced Antbird gave good looks by the trail.
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Later in the morning we decided to hike up the ridge trail behind the lick and were treated to not just one but perhaps three trip highlight moments in short succession. First, a large completely unexpected troop of Common Wooly Monkeys passed through the canopy right over our heads. These monkeys, related to Spider Monkeys, are not often seen in Ecuador and these particular individuals were obviously not accustomed to interaction with humans. Though we stayed still and watched them undetected at first, in the end they spotted us and a chorus of alarm calls went up. They became agitated and one mother with an infant clinging to her chest even stopped to scold us from overhead. As she stared down at us and shook branches in disdain she managed to snap off a rather large piece of a dead vine and send it hurtling down to the forest floor where it crashed just a few feet from where were standing. We decided to move on before the monkeys became more violent and/or vulgar. Further up the ridge we arrived at the site for Striped Manakin, our target bird. One bird was calling rather close by, but as anyone who has ever tried to see a Striped Manakin knows, the sound can be extremely hard to pinpoint. At first the bird was moving far too much to be able to find but finally after a solid fifteen minutes we were finally able to locate the source of the tiny hiccup noise and were rewarded with prolonged scope views of this beauty. Walking back down the ridge, we were surprised to flush a pair of Collared Puffbirds that had been excavating a cavity in a rotting stump. The birds perched intimately close and we enjoyed a frame-filling study of this difficult-to-see puffbird as it puffed up its feathers over and over. (Watch the video here.)
By early
afternoon we were headed back up the Napo toward Sacha and we had decided to
make a try for the Long-tailed Potoo seen the day before. At the Sacha river landing we
traded for a smaller more maneuverable craft and set out across the river.
Motoring up a narrow creek on the south bank we quickly found the spot,
disembarked and began scanning the trees for the cryptic shape of a potoo. We
searched in vain for a full half-hour before giving up; we were back in the
canoe and turning it around to head back to the lodge when Pancho miraculously
picked out the bird roosting high in a treetop. Again we scrambled ashore and
worked to find an adequate window from which to scope the bird. This proved
tricky, but eventually we found a good hole and were able to watch the potoo
preening, its fluffy, ruffled feathers and tremendous mouth giving it a
distinctly muppet-like appearance. (Watch
the video here.) By now it was mid-afternoon and so we raced back across the
river to Sacha in order to have time to bird the forest behind the lodge. A few
notable additions included Plain-throated
Antwren, Black-tailed Leaftosser,
and the magnificent Wire-tailed Manakin.
We spent the last hour of the afternoon birding from the canopy walkway;
activity was not great, but we picked up Spix’s
Guan. As dusk fell, we spotlighted a young Black-banded Owl, the last bird of an amazing day.
February 22: Today was a rather uneventful travel day back to Quito, which is not to say it was totally without birds. A few noteworthy sightings were Scarlet-crowned Barbet at the river landing, Yellow-headed Caracara from the boat, and Red-breasted Blackbird at the Coca airport. After a short flight up to Quito we checked into the hotel for the night.
February 23: For our final day of birding we returned to the high Andes, this time visiting the private Hacienda Antisana near the snow-capped volcano that bears the same name. To our delight, we enjoyed very pleasant weather. The fierce wind, thick fog, and frequent showers that are so often a part of a visit to Antisana were nowhere to be found on this day. The birding was good and by late morning we had good scope views of a soaring pair of Andean Condors, much to everyone’s relief. The rare and endangered Black-faced Ibis, a specialty of this area, made things difficult and proved difficult to find. In the end we only found one individual but it was a very nice study. On Lake Micacocha we found Silvery Grebe, Andean Teal, and Yellow-billed Pintail, along with a small group of migrant Blue-winged Teal. As usual, Andean Gulls and Carunculated Caracaras were all over the place, but a Cinereous Harrier was a more uncommon sighting. A territorial Streak-backed Canastero (recording: XC 18054) was particularly cooperative and a Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle showed very well both in flight and perched. Given the unusually calm weather, we were also able to appreciate exceptional views of the volcano; it was an excellent end to a very successful trip.
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Bird List
A
total of 547 species were recorded on the tour.
Those that were heard but not seen are marked with an “H”.
The taxonomy and nomenclature of this list follow:
Ridgely, Robert and Paul Greenfield. The Birds of Ecuador: Field Guide. 2001.
Ithica, NY: Comstock Publishing.
Alternative names and classifications are listed in parentheses, and a few notes on taxonomy are included where appropriate.
TINAMOUS Tinamidae
Great Tinamou Tinamus major
White-throated Tinamou Tinamus
guttatus H
Cinereous Tinamou Crypturellus
cinereus H
Little Tinamou Crypturellus soui H
Undulated Tinamou Crypturellus
undulates H
Variegated Tinamou Crypturellus
variegatus H
GREBES Podicipedidae
Silvery Grebe Podiceps
occipitalis
DUCKS, GEESE, & SWANS Anatidae
Torrent Duck Merganetta
armata
Andean (Speckled) Teal Anas
(flavirostris) andium
- The race andium of the Colombian and
Ecuadorian Andes is often merged with the more widespread Speckled Teal Anas
flavirostris.
Yellow-billed Pintail Anas
spinicauda
Blue-winged Teal Anas
discors
Andean Ruddy-Duck (Andean Duck)
Oxyura ferruginea
HERONS, BITTERNS, EGRETS Ardeidae
Zigzag Heron Zebrilus undulates H
Rufescent Tiger-Heron Tigrisoma
lineatum H
Cocoi Heron Ardea cocoi
Great Egret Ardea alba
Snowy Egret Egretta thula
Little Blue Heron Egretta
caerulea
Cattle Egret Bubulcus
ibis
Striated Heron Butorides
striatus
Capped Heron Pilherodius pileatus
IBISES & SPOONBILLS Threskiornithidae
Black-faced (Andean) Ibis Theristicus
melanopis
Green Ibis Mesembrinibis
cayennensis H
AMERICAN VULTURES Cathartidae
Andean Condor Vultur
gryphus
Black Vulture Coragyps
atratus
Turkey Vulture Cathartes
aura
Greater Yellow-headed Vulture Cathartes
melambrotus
HAWKS, KITES, EAGLES, ETC. Accipitridae
Osprey Pandion haliaetus
Swallow-tailed Kite Elanoides
forficatus
Slender-billed Kite Rostrhamus
hamatus H
Double-toothed Kite Harpagus
bidentatus
Plumbeous Kite Ictinia
plumbea
Cinerous Harrier Circus
cinerus
White Hawk Leucopternis
albicollis
Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle Geranoaetus
melanoleucus
Roadside Hawk Buteo
magnirostris
Broad-winged Hawk Buteo
platypterus
Variable Hawk Buteo
polyosoma
- Variable Hawk was formerly considered to represent two species: Red-backed
Hawk Buteo polyosoma and Puna Hawk Buteo
poecilochrous, the latter being supposedly larger, darker and found at
higher elevations. We saw both light and dark morph individuals at Antisana on
23 February. The most recent data suggest that these birds are really all one
species, Variable Hawk.
Harpy Eagle Harpia harpyja
Black Hawk-Eagle Spizaetusr
tyrannus
Ornate Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus
ornatus H
FALCONS & CARACARAS Falconidae
Black Caracara Daptrius
ater
Red-throated Caracara Ibycter
americanus H
Carunculated Caracara Phalcoboenus
carunculatus
Yellow-headed Caracara Milvago
chimachima
Lined Forest-Falcon Micrastur
gilvicollis H
American Kestrel Falco
sparverius
Aplomado Falcon Falco
femoralis
Peregrine Falcon Falco
peregrinus
CURASSOWS, GUANS, ETC. Cracidae
Speckled Chachalaca Ortalis
guttata
Andean Guan Penelope
montagnii
Spix's Guan Penelope jacquacu
NEW WORLD QUAILS Odontophoridae
Marbled Wood-Quail Odontophorus
gujanensis H
RAILS, GALLINULES, & COOTS
Rallidae
Gray-breasted Crake Laterallus
exilis
Rufous-sided Crake Laterallus
melanophaius H
Chestnut-headed Crake Anurolimnas
castaneiceps H
Gray-necked Wood-Rail Aramides
cajanea
Andean (Slate-colored) Coot Fulica
ardesiaca
LIMPKIN Aramidae
Limpkin Aramus guarauna
H
SANDPIPERS, SNIPES, ETC. Scolopacidae
Greater Yellowlegs Tringa
melanoleuca
Spotted Sandpiper Actitis
macularia
SEEDSNIPES Thinocoridae
Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe Attagis
gayi
PLOVERS & LAPWINGS
Charadriidae
Southern Lapwing Vanellus
chilensis
Andean Lapwing Vanellus
resplendens
Pied Plover (Lapwing) Hoploxypterus
cayanus
Collared Plover Charadrius
collaris
GULLS AND TERNS Laridae
Andean Gull Larus serranus
Yellow-billed Tern Sterna
superciliaris
PIGEONS & DOVES Columbidae
Rock Pigeon Columba livia
Band-tailed Pigeon Columba
(Patagioenas) fasciata
Pale-vented Pigeon Columba
(Patagioenas) cayennensis
Plumbeous Pigeon Columba (Patagioenas)
plumbea
Eared Dove Zenaida
auriculata
Ruddy Ground-Dove Columbina
talpacoti
Black-winged Ground-Dove Metriopelia
melanoptera
Gray-fronted Dove Leptotila
rufaxilla H
Sapphire Quail-Dove Geotrygon
saphirina H
White-throated Quail-Dove Geotrygon
frenata H
Ruddy Quail-Dove Geotrygon
Montana H
PARROTS & MACAWS Psittacidae
Blue-and-yellow Macaw Ara
ararauna
Scarlet Macaw Ara macao
Chestnut-fronted Macaw Ara
severa H
Red-bellied Macaw Orthopsittaca
manilata
White-eyed Parakeet Aratinga
leucophthalmus
Dusky-headed Parakeet Aratinga
weddellii
Maroon-tailed Parakeet Pyrrhura
melanura
Cobalt-winged Parakeet Brotogeris
cyanoptera
Scarlet-shouldered Parrotlet Touit
huetii
Black-headed Parrot Pionites
melanocephala
Orange-cheeked Parrot Pionopsitta
barrabandi
Blue-headed Parrot Pionus
menstruus
Red-billed Parrot Pionus
sordidus
White-capped (Speckle-faced) Parrot Pionus
(tumultuosus) seniloides
- The form seniloides is sometimes considered part of the more
widespread species Speckle-faced Parrot Pionus tumultuosus.
Yellow-crowned Amazon (Parrot) Amazona
ochrocephala
Orange-winged Amazon (Parrot) Amazona
amazonica
Mealy Amazon (Parrot) Amazona
farinosa
CUCKOOS & ANIS
Cuculidae
Squirrel Cuckoo Piaya
cayana
Little Cuckoo Piaya minuta
H
Greater Ani Crotophaga
major
Smooth-billed Ani Crotophaga
ani
HOATZIN Opisthocomidae
Hoatzin Opisthocomus
hoazin
TYPICAL OWLS Strigidae
Tropical Screech-Owl Otus
choliba
Tawny-bellied Screech-Owl Otus
watsonii watsonii
White-throated Screech-Owl Otus
albogularis
Great Horned Owl Bubo
virginianus
Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium
brasilianum
Crested Owl Lophostrix
cristata
Spectacled Owl Pulsatrix
prespicillata H
San Isidro "Mystery" Owl Strix
(Ciccaba) sp.
H
Black-banded Owl Strix (Ciccaba)
huhula
Rufous-banded Owl Strix (Ciccaba)
albitarsis
POTOOS Nyctibiidae
Great Potoo Nyctibius
grandis
Long-tailed Potoo Nyctibius aethereus
Common Potoo Nyctibius
griseus
Andean Potoo Nyctibius
maculosus
Rufous Potoo Nyctibius
bracteatus
NIGHTJARS & NIGHTHAWKS Caprimulgidae
Rufous-bellied Nighthawk Lurocalis rufiventris
Pauraque Nyctidromus albicollis
H
Ladder-tailed Nightjar Hydropsalis climacocerca
Lyre-tailed Nightjar Uropsalis lyra
SWIFTS Apodidae
White-collared Swift Streptoprocne
zonaris
Chestnut-collared Swift Streptoprocne
rutilus
Short-tailed Swift Chaetura
brachyura
Gray-rumped Swift Chaetura
cinereiventris
White-tipped Swift Aeronautes montivagus
Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift Panyptila cayennensis
Neotropical Palm-Swift Tachornis
squamata
HUMMINGBIRDS Trochilidae
Rufous-breasted Hermit Glaucis
hirsute H
Pale-tailed Barbtthroat Threnetes
lecurus
Green Hermit Phaethronis
guy
Tawny-bellied Hermit
Phaethornis syrmatophorus
Great-billed Hermit Phaethornis
malaris
White-bearded Hermit Phaethornis
hispidus
Straight-billed Hermit Phaethornis
bourcieri H
Buff-tailed Sicklebill Eutoxeres
condamini
Gray-breasted Sabrewing Campylopterus
largipennis
White-necked Jacobin Florisuga
mellivora
Green Violet-ear Colibri
thalassinus
Sparkling Violet-ear Colibri
coruscans
Wire-crested Thorntail Popelairia
(Discosura) popelairii
Fork-tailed Woodnymph Thalurania
furcata
Golden-tailed Sapphire Chrysuronia
oenone
Olive-spotted Hummingbird Leucippus
chlorocercus
Speckled Hummingbird Adelomyia
melanogenys
Ecuadorian Piedtail Phlogophilus
hemileucurus H
Black-breasted Brilliant Heliodoxa
schreibersii
Fawn-breasted Brilliant Heliodoxa
rubinoides
Gould's Jewelfront Heliodoxa
aurescens
Ecuadorian (Chimborazo) Hillstar Oreotrochilus
chimborazo
White-tailed Hillstar Urochroa
bougueri leucura
- It has been suggested that the race leucura,
found on the eastern slope of the Andes, may be a separate species.
Giant Hummingbird Patagona
gigas
Shining Sunbeam Aglaeactis
cupripennis
Mountain Velvetbreast Lafresnaya
lafresnayi
Great Sapphirewing Pterophanes
cyanopterus
Bronzy Inca Coeligena
coeligena
Collared Inca Coeligena
torquata
Buff-winged Starfrontlet Coeligena
lutetiae
Sword-billed Hummingbird Ensifera
ensifera
Buff-tailed Coronet Boissonneaua
flavescens
Chestnut-breasted Coronet
Boissonneaua matthewsii
Tourmaline Sunangel Heliangelus
exortis
Glowing Puffleg Eriocnemis
vestitus
Booted Racket-tail Ocreatus
underwoodii
Black-tailed Trainbearer Lesbia
victoriae
Viridian Metaltail Metallura
wiliami
Tyrian Metaltail Metallura
tyrianthina
Blue-mantled Thornbill Chalcostigma
stanleyi
Long-tailed Sylph Aglaiocercus
kingi
Wedge-billed Hummingbird Schistes
geoffroyi
Black-eared Fairy Heliothryx
aurita
White-bellied Woodstar Acestrura mulsant
TROGONS & QUETZALS Trogonidae
Crested Quetzal Pharomachrus
antisianus
Golden-headed Quetzal Pharomachrus
auriceps
Pavonine Quetzal Pharomacrus pavoninus
Black-tailed Trogon Trogon
melanurus H
Amazonian White-tailed Trogon Trogon
viridis
Collared Trogon Trogon
collaris
Masked Trogon Trogon
personatus
Black-throated Trogon Trogon
rufus
Blue-crowned Trogon Trogon
curucui H
KINGFISHERS Alcedinidae
Ringed Kingfisher Megaceryle
torquata
Green Kingfisher Chloroceryle
americana
Green-and-rufous Kingfisher Chloroceryle
inda
MOTMOTS Momotidae
Broad-billed Motmot Electron
platyrhynchum
Rufous Motmot Baryphthengus martii
Blue-crowned Motmot Momotus
momota
Highland Motmot Momotus
aequatorialis
- The form aequatorialis is often considered a subspecies of Blue-crowned
Motmot Momotus momota. Further study is needed in order to fully sort out
the taxonomy of the Momotus momota group and its many forms.
JACAMARS Galbulidae
White-eared Jacamar Galbalcyrhynchus
leucotis
Brown Jacamar Brachygalba lugubris caquetae
Yellow-billed Jacamar Galbula
albirostris
White-chinned Jacamar Galbula
tombacea
PUFFBIRDS Bucconidae
Collared Puffbird Bucco capensis
Brown Nunlet Nonnula
brunnea
Black-fronted Nunbird Monasa
nigrifrons
White-fronted Nunbird Monasa
morphoeus
Swallow-winged Puffbird Chelidoptera
tenebrosa
NEW WORLD BARBETS Capitonidae
Scarlet-crowned Barbet Capito
aurovirens
Gilded Barbet Capito
auratus
Lemon-throated Barbet Eubucco
richardsoni
Red-headed Barbet Eubucco
bourcierii
TOUCANS Ramphastidae
Emerald (Andean) Toucanet Aulacorhynchus
prasinus albivitta
- The race albivitta has
sometimes been considered a distinct species, Andean Toucanet. Taxonomy in Aulacorhynchus
is still quite unsettled and further study is probably needed.
Golden-collared Toucanet Selenidera
reinwardtii
Chestnut-eared Araçari Pteroglossus
castanotis
Many-banded Araçari Pteroglossus
pluricinctus
Ivory-billed Araçari Pteroglossus
azara
Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan Andigena
hypoglauca
Channel-billed Toucan Ramphastos
vitellinus H
White-throated Toucan Ramphastos
tucanus H
WOODPECKERS & PICULETS Picidae
Lafresnaye's Piculet Picumnus
lafresnayi
Crimson-mantled Woodpecker Piculus
rivolii
White-throated Woodpecker Piculus
leucolaemus
Chestnut Woodpecker Celeus
elegans
Scale-breasted Woodpecker Celeus
grammicus
Ringed Woodpecker Celeus torquatus H
Lineated Woodpecker Dryocopus
lineatus
Yellow-tufted Woodpecker Melanerpes
cruentatus
Smoky-brown Woodpecker Veniliornis
fumigatus
Little Woodpecker Veniliornis
passerinus
Red-stained Woodpecker Veniliornis
affinis
Crimson-crested Woodpecker Campephilus
melanoleucos
OVENBIRDS Furnariidae
Bar-winged Cinclodes Cinclodes
fuscus
Stout-billed Cinclodes Cinclodes
excelsior
Lesser Hornero Furnarius
minor H
Andean Tit-Spinetail Leptasthenura
andicola
Azara's Spinetail Synallaxis
azarae
Dark-breasted Spinetail Synallaxis
albigulari H
White-bellied Spinetail Synallaxis
propinqua H
Rufous Spinetail Synallaxis
unirufa
White-browed Spinetail Hellmayrea
gularis
Parker’s (White-breasted) Spinetail Cranioleuca vulpecula
H
White-chinned Thistletail Schizoeaca
fuliginosa
Streak-backed Canastero Asthenes
wyatti
Many-striped Canastero Asthenes
flammulata
Streaked Tuftedcheek Pseudocolaptes
boissonneautii
Point-tailed Palmcreeper Berlepschia
rikeri H
Pearled Treerunner Margarornis
squamiger
Spotted Barbtail Premnoplex
brunnescens
Lineated Foliage-gleaner
Syndactyla sualaris
Eastern (Striped) Woodhaunter Hyloctistes
subulatus H
- If Amazonian and Trans-Andean
forms of Striped Woodhaunter are split, the Amazonian birds are called Eastern
Woodhaunter. This split has not yet been totally accepted.
Chestnut-winged Hookbill Ancistrops
strigilatus H
Chestnut-winged Foliage-gleaner Phylidor
erythropterus
Cinnamon-rumped Foliage-gleaner Philydor
pyrrhodes H
Buff-throated Foliage-gleaner Automolus
ochrolaemus H
Black-billed Treehunter Thripadectes
melanorhynchus
Streaked Xenops Xenops
rutilans
Black-tailed Leaftosser Sclerurus caudacutus
WOODCREEPERS Dendrocolaptidae
Tyrannine Woodcreeper Dendrocincla
tyrannina
Plain-brown Woodcreeper Dendrocincla
fuliginosa
Wedge-billed Woodcreeper Glyphorynchus
spirurus
Olivaceous Woodcreeper Sittasomus
griseicapillus amazonus
Long-billed Woodcreeper Nasica
longirostris H
Cinnamon-throated Woodcreeper Dendrexetastes
rufigula
Strong-billed Woodcreeper Xiphocolaptes
promeropirhynchus
Amazonian Barred-Woodcreeper Dendrocolaptes
certhia H
Black-banded Woodcreeper
Dendrocolaptes piumnus H
Straight-billed Woodcreeper
Xiphorhynchus picus
Striped Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus
obsoletus H
Spix's (Elegant) Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus
spixii ornatus
- Taxonomy in Xiphorhynchus has
long been contentious, especially the limits between Spix’s Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus
spixii and Elegant Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus elegans. Birds in
Ecuador (race ornatus) are now considered to belong to Elegant
Woodcreeper while the true Spix’s Woodcreeper is now considered a monotypic
species found in a small area of Brazil.
Buff-throated (Lafresnaye’s) Woodcreeper
Xiphorhynchus guttatus guttatoides
- Southern and western Amazonian
populations of Buff-throated Woodcreeper (including Ecuadorian birds) are often
split as a separate species, Lafresnaye’s Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus
guttatoides.
Olive-backed Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus
triangularis
Montane Woodcreeper Lepidocolaptes
lacrymiger
Red-billed Scythebill Campylorhamphus
trochilirostris
TYPICAL ANTBIRDS Thamnophilidae
Fasciated Antshrike Cymbilaimus
lineatus
H
Great Antshrike Taraba
major H
Barred Antshrike Thamnophilus
doliatusi H
Castelnau’s Antshrike Thamnophilus
cryptoleucus
Plain-winged Antshrike Thamnophilus
schistaceus
Mouse-colored Antshrike Thamnophilus
murinus H
Spot-winged Antshrike Pygiptila
stellaris
Russet Antshrike Thamnistes anabatinus
Dusky-throated Antshrike Thamnomanes
ardesiacus
Cinereous Antshrike Thamnomanes
caesius
Pygmy Antwren Myrmotherula
brachyura
Short-billed (Moustached) Antwren Myrmotherula
(ignota) obscura
- The Amazonian race obscura (Short-billed
Antwren) and the Trans-Andean race ignota (Griscom’s Antwren) are often considered conspecific; the
resulting species is then called Moustached Antwren Myrmotherula ignota.
Plain-throated Antwren Myrmotherula
hauxwelli
Rufous-tailed Antwren Myrmotherula
erythrura
White-flanked Antwren Myrmotherula
axillaris
Long-winged Antwren Myrmotherula
longipennis H
Gray Antwren Myrmotherula
menetriesii
H
Dugand's Antwren Herpsilochmus
dugandi
Long-tailed Antbird Drymophila
caudate
Chestnut-shouldered Antwren Terenura
humeralis H
Gray Antbird Cercomacra
cinerascens H
Black-faced Antbird Myrmoborus
myotherinus
Warbling Antbird Hypocnemis
cantator
Yellow-browed Antbird Hypocnemis
hypoxantha
Spot-backed Antbird Hylophylax
naevia H
Black-and-white Antbird Myrmochanes
hemileucus
Spot-winged Antbird Schistocichla
leucostigma
Silvered Antbird Sclateria
naevia
White-backed Fire-eye Pyriglena
leuconota H
Plumbeous Antbird Myrmeciza
hyperythra H
White-shouldered Antbird Myrmeciza
melanoceps
H
Black-spotted Bare-eye Phlegopsis
nigromaculata
Reddish-winged Bare-eye
Phlegopsis erythroptera
ANTTHRUSHES & ANTPITTAS Formicariidae
Rufous-capped Antthrush Formicarius
colma
Black-faced Antthrush Formicarius
analis H
Chestnut-crowned Antpitta Grallaria
ruficapilla
White-bellied Antpitta Grallaria
hypoleuca H
Rufous Antpitta Grallaria rufula rufula H
Tawny Antpitta Grallaria
quitensis
Ochre-striped Antpitta Grallaria
dignissima H
Thrush-like Antpitta Mymothera
campanisona H
Slate-crowned Antpitta Grallaricula nana H
TAPACULOS Rhinocryptidae
Rusty-belted Tapaculo Liosceles
thoracicus H
Ash-colored Tapaculo Myornis
senilis
Unicolored (Blackish) Tapaculo Scytalopus
unicolor latrans
- The Ecuadorian race latrans
and other northern populations are now split and called Blackish Tapaculo
Scytalopus latrans, a separate
species from the true Unicolored Tapaculo Scytalopus latrans, which is a
localized, poorly known Peruvian endemic.
Equatorial Rufous-vented (Long-tailed) Tapaculo Scytalopus
micropterus
H
Northern White-crowned Tapaculo Scytalopus
atratus H
Spillman’s Tapaculo Scytalopus
spillmani H
Páramo Tapaculo Scytalopus
canus H
Ocellated Tapaculo Acropternis
orthonyx H
TYRANT FLYCATCHERS Tyrannidae
Ashy-headed Tyrannulet Phyllomyias
cinereiceps
Golden-faced Tyrannulet Zimmerius
chrysops
Slender-footed Tyrannulet Zimmerius
gracilipes
White-lored Tyrannulet Ornithion
inerme H
Yellow-crowned Tyrannulet Tyrannulus
elatus H
Mottle-backed Elaenia Elaenia
gigas
White-crested Elaenia Elaenia
albiceps
White-throated Tyrannulet Mecocerculus
leucophrys
White-banded Tyrannulet Mecocerculus
stictopterus
White-tailed Tyrannulet Mecocerculus
poecilocercus
Sulphur-bellied Tyrannulet Mecocerculus
minor
River Tyrannulet Serpophaga
cinerea
Torrent Tyrannulet Serpophaga
cinerea
Lesser Wagtail-Tyrant Stigmatura
napensis H
Tufted Tit-Tyrant Anairetes
parulus
Agile Tit-Tyrant Uromyias agilis
Streak-necked Flycatcher Mionectes
striaticollis
Ochre-bellied Flycatcher Mionectes
oleagineus
Slaty-capped Flycatcher Leptopogon
superciliaris
Rufous-breasted Flycatcher Leptopogon
rufipectus
Marble-faced Bristle-Tyrant Pogonotriccus
ophthalmicus
H
Variegated Bristle-Tyrant Pogonotriccus
poecilotis H
Rufous-headed Pygmy-Tyrant Pseudotriccus
ruficeps
Ringed Antpipit Corythopis torquata
Scale-crested Pygmy-Tyrant Lophotriccus
pileatus
H
Double-banded Pygmy-Tyrant Lophotriccus
vitiosus H
Rufous-crowned Tody-Flycatcher Poecilotriccus
ruficeps
Yellow-browed Tody-Flycatcher Todirostrum
chrysocrotaphum
Spotted Tody-Flycatcher Todirostrum
maulatum H
Fulvous-breated Flatbill Rhynchocyclus
fulvipectus
Zimmer’s Flatbill (Yellow-margined Flycatcher)
Tolmomyias assimilis obscuriceps
- The taxonomy of the Tolmomyias
assimilis group is still largely unsettled. Amazonian forms of T.
assimilis (including obscuriceps of Ecuador) are still often
considered conspecific with the race flavotectus found west of the Andes,
and then all together referred to as Yellow-margined Flycatcher. Further
rearrangement is certain in the coming years.
Gray-crowned Flatbill (Flycatcher) Tolmomyias
poliocephalus
Olive-faced Flatbill (Yellow-breasted Flycatcher) Tolmomyias (flaviventris)
viridiceps
- As with the Tolmomyias assimilis group, there is still no
firm consensus on the taxonomy of the Tolmomyias
flaviventris group. The west Amazonian viridiceps
form, found in Ecuador, is vocally and morphologically distinct and may
represent a different species, Olive-faced Flatbill (or Flycatcher).
Flavescent Flycatcher Myiophobus
flavicans H
Olive-chested Flycatcher Myiophobus
cryptoxanthus
Handsome Flycatcher Myiophobus
pulcher
Cinnamon Flycatcher Pyrrhomyias
cinnamomea
Eastern Wood-Pewee Contopus
virens
Smoke-colored Pewee Contopus
fumigatus
Willow/Alder Flycatcher Empidonax
sp.
Black Phoebe Sayornis
nigricans
Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant Ochthoeca
fumicolor
Slaty-backed Chat-Tyrant Ochthoeca
cinnamomeiventris
Yellow-bellied Chat-Tyrant Silvicultrix
diadema H
Drab Water-Tyrant Ochthornis
littoralis
Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant Agriornis
montana
Páramo (Plain-capped) Ground-Tyrant Muscisaxicola
alpina
Bright-rumped Attila Attila
spadiceus H
Cinnamon Attila Attila
cinnamomeus
Grayish Mourner Phytipterna simiplex
Short-crested Flycatcher Myiarchus
ferox
Pale-edged Flycatcher Myiarchus
cephalotes
Great Kiskadee Pitangus
sulphuratus
Lesser Kiskadee Philohydor
lictor H
Boat-billed Flycatcher Megarynchus
pitangua
Social Flycatcher Myiozetetes
similis
Gray-capped Flycatcher Myiozetetes
granadensis
Dusky-chested Flycatcher Myiozetetes
luteiventris H
Lemon-browed Flycatcher Conopias
cinchoneti
Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher Myiodynastes
luteiventris
Golden-crowned Flycatcher Myiodynastes
chrysocephalus
Piratic Flycatcher Legatus
leucophaius
Tropical Kingbird Tyrannus
melancholicus
Eastern Kingbird Tyrannus
tyrannus
Barred Becard Pachyramphus
versicolor
White-winged Becard Pachyramphus
polychopterus
H
Pink-throated Becard Pachyramphus
minor
Black-tailed Tityra Tityra
cayana
Masked Tityra
Tityra semifasciata
COTINGAS Cotingidae
Red-crested Cotinga Ampelion
rubrocristata
Green-and-black Fruiteater Pipreola
riefferii
Olivaceous Piha Lathria (Lipaugus) cryptolophus
- This species was formerly placed in the genus Lipaugus along with the other pihas, but more recently has been
placed in the genus Snowornis.
Screaming Piha Lipaugus vociferans H
Plum-throated Cotinga Cotinga maynana
Spangled Cotinga Cotinga cayana
Bare-necked Fruitcrow Gymnoderus foetidus
Purple-throated Fruitcrow Querula purpurata
Amazonian Umbrellabird Cephalopterus ornatus
Andean Cock-of-the-rock Rupicola peruviana
MANAKINS Pipridae
Golden-headed Manakin Pipra
erythrocephala
Wire-tailed Manakin Pipra
filicauda
Blue-crowned Manakin Lepidothrix
coronata
Blue-backed Manakin Chiroxiphia
pareola H
Golden-winged Manakin Masius
chysopterus
White-bearded Manakin Manacus
manacus
Striped Manakin Machaeropterus
regulus striolatus
Green Manakin Chloropipo
holochlora
Orange-crested Manakin Heterocercus
aurantiivertex
Dwarf Tyrant-Manakin Tyranneutes
stolzmanni
CROWS, JAYS, & MAGPIES Corvidae
Turquoise Jay Cyanolyca
turcosa
Violaceous Jay Cyanocorax
violaceus
Inca (Green) Jay Cyanocorax
yncas
- South American birds in the yncas
group are sometimes considered conspecific with the Middle American Green
Jays of the luxuosus group.
VIREOS & ALLIES Vireonidae
Black-billed Peppershrike Cyclarhis
nigrirostris
Slaty-capped Shrike-Vireo Vireolanius
leucotis H
Red-eyed Vireo Vireo
olivaceus
Brown-capped Vireo Vireo
leucophrys
Dusky-capped Greenlet Hylophilus
hypoxanthus
THRUSHES Turdidae
Andean Solitaire Myadestes
ralloides
Swainson's Thrush Catharus
ustulatus
Pale-eyed Thrush Platycichla (Turdus) leucops
Great Thrush Turdus
fuscater
Glossy-black Thrush Turdus
serranus
H
Chestnut-bellied Thrush Turdus
fulviventris
Black-billed Thrush Turdus ignobilis
Lawrence's Thrush Turdus lawrencii H
Hauxwell's Thrush Turdus hauxwelli H
White-necked Thrush Turdus albicollis
DIPPERS Cinclidae
White-capped Dipper Cinclus
leucocephalus
SWALLOWS & MARTINS Hirundinidae
Gray-breasted Martin Progne
chalybea
White-winged Swallow Tachycineta
albiventer
Brown-bellied Swallow Notiochelidon
murina
Blue-and-white Swallow Notiochelidon
cyanoleuca
White-banded Swallow Atticora
fasciata
White-thighed Swallow Neochelidon
tibialis griseiventris
Southern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx
ruficollis
Sand Martin (Bank Swallow) Riparia
riparia
Barn Swallow Hirundo
rustica
WRENS Troglodytidae
Black-capped Donacobius Donacobius
atricapillus
Thrush-like Wren Campylorhynchus turdinus
Gray-mantled Wren Odontorchilus branickii
Rufous Wren Cinnycerthia unirufa
Sepia-brown (Sharpe’s) Wren Cinnycerthia olivascens
Grass (Sedge) Wren Cistothorus platensis
Plain-tailed Wren Thryothorus euophrys H
House Wren Troglodytes aedon
Mountain Wren Troglodytes solstitialis
White-breasted Wood-Wren Henicorhina leucosticta H
Gray-breasted Wood-Wren Henicorhina leucophrys H
Southern Nightingale- (Scaly-breasted) Wren Microcerculus marginatus
PIPITS & WAGTAILS Motacillidae
Páramo Pipit Anthus bogotensis
NEW WORLD WARBLERS Parulidae
Tropical Parula Parula
pitiayumi
Blackpoll Warbler Dendroica
striata
Blackburnian Warbler Dendroica
fusca
Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta
varia
Canada Warbler Wilsonia
canadensis
Slate-throated Whitestart (Redstart)
Myioborus miniatus
Spectacled Whitestart (Redstart) Myioborus
melanocephalus
Black-crested Warbler Basileuterus
nigrocristatus
Three-striped Warbler Basileuterus
tristriatus
Russet-crowned Warbler Basileuterus
coronatus
Buff-rumped Warbler
Basileuterus (Phaeothlypis) fulvicauda
H
TANAGERS & ALLIES Thraupidae
Purple Honeycreeper Cyanerpes
caeruleus
Green Honeycreeper Chlorophanes
spiza
Golden-collared Honeycreeper Iridophanes
pulcherrima
Blue Dacnis Dacnis
cayana
Yellow-bellied Dacnis Dacnis
flaviventer
Cinereous Conebill Conirostrum
cinereum
Blue-backed Conebill Conirostrum
sitticolor
Capped Conebill Conirostrum
albifrons
Giant Conebill Oreomanes
fraseri
Bluish Flowerpiercer Diglossopis
caerulescens
Masked Flowerpiercer Diglossopis
cyanea
Glossy Flowerpiercer Diglossa
albilatera
Black Flowerpiercer Diglossa
humeralis
Orange-headed Tanager Thlypopsis
sordida
Thick-billed Euphonia Euphonia
laniirostris
Golden-rumped Euphonia Euphonia
cyanocephala H
Orange-bellied Euphonia Euphonia
xanthogaster
White-vented Euphonia Euphonia
minuta H
Rufous-bellied Euphonia Euphonia
rufiventris
Bronze-green Euphonia Euphonia
mesochrysa
White-lored (Golden-bellied) Euphonia Euphonia chrysopasta
Orange-eared Tanager Chlorochrysa
calliparaea
Golden Tanager Tangara
arthus
Saffron-crowned Tanager Tangara
xanthocephala
Golden-eared Tanager Tangara
chrysotis
Flame-faced Tanager Tangara
parzudakii
Golden-naped Tanager Tangara
ruficervix
Blue-browed Tanager Tangara
cyanotis
Beryl-spangled Tanager Tangara
nigroviridis
Blue-and-black Tanager Tangara
vassorii
Black-capped Tanager Tangara
heinei
Blue-necked Tanager Tangara
cyanicollis
Masked Tanager Tangara nigrocincta
Turquoise Tanager Tangara
mexicana
Opal-rumped Tanager Tangara
velia
Opal-crowned Tanager Tangara
callophrys
Paradise Tanager Tangara
chilensis
Green-and-gold Tanager Tangara
schrankii
Spotted Tanager Tangara
punctata
Yellow-bellied Tanager Tangara
xanthogastra
Bay-headed Tanager Tangara
gyrola
Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager Anisognathus
igniventris
Lacrimose Mountain-Tanager Anisognathus
lacrymosus
Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager Anisognathus
somptuosus
Hooded Mountain-Tanager Buthraupis
montana
Masked Mountain-Tanager Buthraupis
wetmorei
Grass-green Tanager Chlorornis
riefferii
Swallow Tanager Tersina
viridis
Blue-gray Tanager Thraupis
episcopus
Palm Tanager Thraupis palmarum
Silver-beaked Tanager Ramphocelus
carbo
Masked Crimson Tanager Ramphocelus
nigrogularis
Summer Tanager Piranga
rubra
Scarlet Tanager Piranga
olivacea
Gray-headed Tanager Eucometis
penicillata H
Fulvous-crested Tanager Tachyphonus
surinamus
Common Bush-Tanager Chlorospingus
ophthalmicus
Yellow-throated Bush-Tanager Chlorospingus
flavigularis
Yellow-whiskered (Short-billed) Bush-Tanager
Chlorospingus parvirostris
Gray-hooded Bush-Tanager
Cnemoscopus rubrirostris
Black-capped Hemispingus Hemispingus atropileus
Oleaginous Hemispingus Hemispingus frontalis
Black-eared Hemispingus Hemispingus melanotis melanotis
Magpie Tanager Cissopis leveriana
Plushcap (Plush-capped Finch) Catamblyrhynchus diadema
SALTATORS, GROSBEAKS, ETC. Cardinalidae
Buff-throated Saltator Saltator maximus
Grayish Saltator Saltator coerulescens
Red-capped Cardinal Paroaria gularis
EMBERIZINE FINCHES Emberizidae
Blue-black Grassquit Volatinia jacarina
Lesser (Chestnut-bellied) Seed-Finch Oryzoborus angolensis torridus
- The Lesser Seed-Finch is usually
split, with birds found east of the Andes (and including those we saw on this
trip) being called Chestnut-bellied Seed-Finch Oryzoborus angolensis.
Caquetá Seedeater Sporophila murallae
Chestnut-bellied Seedeater Sporophila castaneiventris
Plain-colored Seedeater Catamenia inornata
Plumbeous Sierra-Finch Phrygilus unicolor
Pale-naped Brush-Finch Atlapetes pallidinucha
Slaty Brush-Finch Atlapetes schistaceus
Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch Buarreomon
brunneinuchus frontalis H
Stripe-headed Brush-Finch Buarremon torquatus
Yellow-browed Sparrow Ammodramus aurifrons
Rufous-collared Sparrow Zonotrichia capensis
ORIOLES & BLACKBIRDS Icteridae
Yellow-rumped Cacique Cacicus cela
Northern Mountain-Cacique Cacicus (chrysonotus)
leucoramphus
- Sometimes northern and southern populations are considered to represent
the same species, the larger species then simply being called Mountain Cacique Cacicus
chrysonotus.
Subtropical (Scarlet-rumped) Cacique Cacicus uropygialis
- The race uropygialis is
sometimes considered conspecific with Trans-Andean races of Scarlet-rumped
Cacique.
Casqued Oropendola Clypicterus oseryi
Crested Oropendola Psarocolius decumanus
Russet-backed Oropendola Psarocolius angustifrons
Olive (Amazonian) Oropendola Psarocolius
bifasciatus
Giant Cowbird Scaphidura oryzivora
Moriche Oriole Icterus chrysocephalus
Orange-backed Troupial Icterus
croconotus
Oriole Blackbird Gymnomystax
mexicanus
Red-breasted Blackbird Sturnella
militaris
CARDUELINE FINCHES Fringillidae
Hooded Siskin Carduelis
magellanica
Olivaceous Siskin Carduelis
olivacea
Mammals
Bulldog
(Fishing) Bat Noctilio sp.
Black-mantle Tamarin Saguinus
nigricollis
Spix’s Night Monkey Aeotus
vociferans
Common Squirrel Monkey Saimiri
sciureus
Red Howler Monkey Alouatta seniculus
Common Wooly Monkey Lagothrix
lagothricha
Tayra Eira barbara
Black Agouti Dasyprocta fuliginosa
Amazon Bamboo Rat Dactylomys dactylinus
Brazilian Rabbit Sylvilagus
brasiliensis