SOUTHERN ECUADOR "From the Pacific to Podocarpus" 13 - 28 March 2004 Guides: Nick Athanas José Illánes Participants: Bob Brandriff Stephen Gawn Don & Doris Pearson
The hummer feeders at Buenaventura are quite a sight. Here are four species lined up in a row on a wire. From left to right: Emerald-bellied Woodnymph, Green Thorntail, Rufous-tailed Hummer, Green-crowned Brilliant. (N. Athanas)	Bob Brandriff kindly provided some of the photos seen in this report.

We were also lucky to have José Illánes along with us on the trip. José is an experienced guide in northern Ecuador, and he came with us to learn the sites and the birds of the South. His superb eyes certainly helped us find a number of birds we likely would have missed otherwise. He will soon start leading trips to this area, and I am sure will do well.
 
 

Our birding started just west of the city in the Cerro Blanco reserve, which offered us a nice introduction to Tumbesian birding. We birded the entrance road and a short loop trail, finding Ecuadorian Trogon, White-tailed Jay, Henna-hooded Foliage-gleaner, and Speckle-breasted Wren. Later in the morning we drove west into the deserts of the Santa Elena Peninsula. The coastal area around Salinas is the best place in Ecuador for seabirds and shorebirds, and we spent most of the afternoon looking at gulls, waders, pelicans, and the like. The highlights here were the hundreds of Chilean Flamingos probing the Ecuasal salt lagoons. They added a lot of color to what was otherwise a drab landscape. The nearby desert scrub yielded some neat specialties like Gray-and-white Tyrannulet, Short-tailed Woodstar (photo left; B. Brandriff), Parrot-billed Seedeater, and Short-tailed Field-Tyrant.

Next day we left early for a long drive north to the Río Ayampe on the edge o Machalilla National Park. This is THE spot in Ecuador for the rare and endangered Esmeraldas Woodstar. Luck was with us today as we not only found a gorgeous male perched in the open, we also found a female Little Woodstar in the same spot! Rumor has it that the Esmeraldas Woodstar has never been photographed in the wild; we tried, but our results were not exactly ideal. Hey, it's better than nothing! We had some other great birds here like Slaty Becard, Guayaquil Woodpecker, and Northern Violaceous Trogon. We spent the night at the lovely Mantaraya Lodge, perched on a hill overlooking the ocean.
 

Not the best photos of  Esmeraldas Woodstar...	but some of the only photos! (N. Athanas)

After some early morning birding around the lodge (Baird's Flycatcher, Rufous-headed Chachalaca, Collared Antshrike) we set off south for the very long drive to Zaruma. We took numerous short breaks along the way and saw some interesting birds like Plain-breasted Ground-Dove (rare in Ecuador!), lots of Snail Kites, Masked Water-Tyrant, and Cocoi Heron. We were relieved to arrive in Zaruma and the fresh mountain air was a relief.

The Buenaventura reserve has some of the best birding in all of Ecuador. Every time I've been here it's been amazingly birdy even in conditions of poor weather or visibility. This year was no exception, but for once there was very little fog to get in our way! The first day we spent in the upper areas of the reserve, where the endemic El Oro Parakeet is usually found. It took us most of the day before we finally found several flocks feeding in fruiting trees along a dirt road outside of the reserve. Other nice finds were El Oro Tapaculo (which everyone actually saw!), Club-winged Manakin, Uniform Antshrike, Whiskered Wren, Song Wren, and Line-cheeked Spinetail. We had lunch at the new hummer feeders in the reserve which are superb, with Emerald-bellied Woodnymph, Green Thorntail, Violet-bellied Hummingbird, Purple-bibbed Whitetip, Brown Violet-ear, and others. However it was the experience of the following day that was truly unforgettable. We drove into the lower part of the reserve, hoping to find the Long-wattled Umbrellabird that was nesting there. As it turns out, we did not even have to go to the nest. The park ranger Baldomiro took us down a steep, muddy trail into a gully and told me to play the umbrellabird tape. It only took two tries before a fabulous male, with a wattle as long as he was, shot into a tree right before our eyes and sat there glaring at us! We all stood there frozen with mouths agape until it flew off.

Later that day we set off for the border town of Macará where we stayed for three nights. This is the prime area for Tumbesian endemics and some of the rarest and least known occur within easy driving distance. It had been raining a lot here lately and the forest and scrub were more lush and green than I had ever seen before. We had enough time to explore a lot of the best areas. The Jorupe road just outside of town is one of my favorite birding roads in Ecuador. It was so productive we kept coming back to it, and in the end we saw plenty of great birds on it like Pale-browed Tinamou (with chicks), Tumbes Swift, Blackish-headed Spinetail, West Peruvian Screech-Owl, Watkins's Antpitta, Gray-breasted Flycatcher, and Gray-capped Cuckoo. The higher elevations around Sozoranga had a whole host of different birds such as Chapman's Antshrike, Loja & Tumbesian Tyrannulets, and the handsome Black-cowled Saltator. We even got into to the El Tundo reserve, a beautiful patch of wet subtropical cloud forest nestled in among the more arid habitats surrounding it. The road has been improved lately, but we still couldn't drive all the way to the reserve despite a serious attempt (imagine pushing the van up a steep muddy road...). So we hoofed it the rest of the way. This was the only place we saw Bay-crowned Brush-Finch, and we had nice looks at Silver-backed Tanager and Rufous-necked Foliage-gleaner. However me didn't get the hoped-for Gray-headed Antbird and Piura Hemispingus. Fortunately we DID see them the following day in Utuana, a reserve at much higher elevation owned by the Jocotoco Foundation.
 

One of the beautiful views from the El Tundo reserve. (Bob Brandriff)

We had done very well in the Tumbesian, but it was time to leave it behind and head for the wetter and more diverse forests of the Andean east slope. After a morning at the Cajanuma sector of Podocarpus NP (Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan, Golden-crowned Tanager), we made our way south to the remote and beautiful Tapichalaca reserve, the flagship of the Jocotoco Foundation. We spent two nights in the lodge here, where a fireplace and hearty meals by the chef José Antonio kept us warm. The weather here made birding a it difficult, and we had to deal with almost constant fog and frequent rain. The famed Jocotoco Antpitta was nowhere to be found, but we did see Chestnut-naped Antpitta, Orange-banded Flycatcher, Ash-colored & Chusquea Tapaculos, Slaty-backed Chat-Tyrant, Plain-tailed Wren, and Golden-plumed Parakeet. We spent a fair amount of time birding the lower elevations along the road towards the town of Valladolid, where the weather was much more pleasant. This area was alive with mixed species flocks and we saw some nice birds like Rufous-crested and Saffron-crowned Tanagers, Chestnut-bellied and Marañon Thrushes, Emerald Toucanet, and Red Pileated-Finch.
 
 

Some of the hummers at Tapichalaca. Here is a Chestnut-breasted Coronet sitting in the rain (Bob Brandriff)	And a Flame-throated Sunangel at one of the feeders. (N. Athanas)

We left Tapichalaca behind to head for the rich foothill forests around the town of Zamora. We spent two nights in a pleasant hotel by the river, where the rushing water helped us sleep. The main attraction here is the lower part of Podocarpus along the Río Bombuscaro. We arrived early, ready to soak up the avian wonders here, only to walk for hours along a trail hardly seeing anything! Where were the birds? Fortunately things changed in a hurry! It all started with a flock of the near endemic White-breasted Parakeet that flew over and landed in a nearby tree. Soon after we ran into one of the best mixed feeding flocks I've ever found. We spent about two hours following the flock back and forth along the trail, slowly but surely gleaning great birds from it, including scarce foothill specialties like Equatorial Graytail, Gray-mantled Wren, and Spectacled Bristle-Tyrant, as well as some more spectacular species like Paradise, Golden-eared, and Orange-eared Tanagers. Later in the day we made a short stop at Hacienda Copalinga. This spot will soon be a lodge, and there were several cabins under construction when we were there. When they finish it, I wouldn't be surprised if it becomes THE place for birders in this area. The hummer feeders were a bit slow, but they did attract a stunning male Black-throated Brilliant along with some more common species. The day wasn't done yet - we spent the last hours of daylight birding open habitat ne of town where numerous species more typical of the Amazonian lowlands occur. Black-capped Donacobius, Speckled Chachalaca, Thrush-like Wren, LittleWoodpecker, Mottle-backed Elaenia, and a rare Dark-billed Cuckoo were quickly added to the list.

Next morning along the old highway we finally found the gorgeous Coppery-chested Jacamar (photo right; B. Brandriff) as well as a few other foothill species like Lined Antshrike, Olivaceous Greenlet, and Ecuadorian Tyrannulet. A short stop at the San Francisco park entrance produced one of the top birds of the trip: a very cooperative Barred Antthrush who sat for many minutes singing in the open! Later in the day we drove north through the Andes to the city of Cuenca for the night.
 
 

Birding one of the lakes in El Cajas National park (Bob Brandriff)

The last day of the tour produced some of the most memorable birds and scenery of the trip! The main highway back to Guayaquil goes through one of Ecuador's premier national parks, El Cajas. The park protects a variety of upland habitats from temperate forest up to vast páramo dotted with patches of polylepis woodland and crystal-clear lakes. It is just about the only place in the world to see the Violet-throated Metaltail, an endemic hummer. We ran into this little gem on a number of occasions. Some other memorable birds were the bunches of Tit-like Dacnises at the lunch stop, a stunning Giant Conebill, a male Ecuadorian Hillstar, three animated Red-rumped Bush-Tyrants, and a lone Tawny Antpitta singing from the top of a boulder.

The road back to the coast drops so steeply we almost couldn't strip layers off fast enough. It is surely one of the steepest in the world - we went from 13000 ft to near sea-level in not much more than an hour! Back on the coastal plain we had one more chance to search the Manglares-Churute marshes for Horned Screamer - this time we finally got one, peering through a gap in the reeds into a little pond. Afterwards we made out way back through the maze of city streets to our hotel for a nice farewell dinner with fond reminiscences. I'm sure I'll see some of you again, here or elsewhere in South America!
 

The wierd photo of the trip... That's me inspecting the newly-built toilet in Utuana. I hope nobody uses it! (Bob Brandriff).

Totals:
538 species seen (15 of these were only seen by one or both of the guides).
32 additional species were heard but never seen.

Regional endemics or particularly rare species are listed in bold.

Abbreviations:
H=Heard only.
TE=A species endemic to the Tumbesian Region (sw Ecuador and nw Peru).
nt=A species considered near-threatened by BirdLife International.
VU=A species considered to be vulnerable to extinction by BirdLife International.
EN=A species considered to be seriously endangered by BirdLife International.
EE=A species endemic to Ecuador.
Aka=Also known as. Mainly used when Ridgely&Greenfield use an English name that's different from Clements.
BOE=Birds of Ecuador (the field guide).

TINAMOUS (Tinamidae)
Little Tinamou (Crypturellus soui) (H)
Pale-browed Tinamou (Crypturellus transfasciatus) (TE,nt) - A bizzare experience. We flushed one up from the side of the road at Jorupe, so I played the tape to try to call it back. Too our dismay, three tinamous chicks tumbled down the bank into the road after the recording! José assisted in placing them back in the forest, and the parent eventually came back for them.
Andean Tinamou (Nothoprocta pentlandii) - There was one walking around in the middle of the highway near Catacocha! We screeched to a halt as it flew into the scrub by the side of the road and disappeared.
GREBES (Podicipedidae)
Least Grebe (Tachybaptus dominicus)
Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)
FRIGATEBIRDS (Fregatidae)
Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens)
BOOBIES AND GANNETS (Sulidae)
Blue-footed Booby (Sula nebouxii) - Lots of them flying back and forth along the coast near Puerto Lopez.
CORMORANTS AND SHAGS (Phalacrocoracidae)
Neotropic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax brasilianus)
DARTERS (Anhingidae)
Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga) - Manglares-Churute.
PELICANS (Pelecanidae)
Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)
Peruvian Pelican (Pelecanus thagus) - Plenty, especially in Ecuasal! They actually outnumbered the Brown Pelicans. They seem to have increased tremendously in recent years.
SCREAMERS (Anhimidae)
Horned Screamer (Anhima cornuta) - We missed it in Manglares-Churute on the way south, but got one on the last day as we drove back to Guayaquil. This is the only remaining site for this species in western Ecuador.
DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS (Anatidae)
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis)
Andean Teal (Anas andium) - BOE splits this from Speckled Teal (A. flavirostris).
White-cheeked Pintail (Anas bahamensis)
Yellow-billed Pintail (Anas spinicauda)
Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors)
Andean Ruddy-Duck (Oxyura ferruginea) - Aka Andean Duck.
FLAMINGOS (Phoenicopteridae)
Chilean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis) (nt) - Astounding numbers of them at Ecuasal!
HERONS, BITTERNS, EGRETS (Ardeidae)
Fasciated Tiger-Heron (Tigrisoma fasciatum) - We scared one up from a stream along the lower entrance to Buenaventura.
Cocoi Heron (Ardea cocoi)
Great Egret (Ardea alba)
Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)
Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)
Striated Heron (Butorides striatus)
Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
AMERICAN VULTURES (Cathartidae)
Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus) (nt) - Bob & Stephen were lucky enough to spot one near the pass in Cajas - the rest of us missed it.
Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
KITES, EAGLES, HAWKS (Accipitridae)
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
Hook-billed Kite (Chondrohierax uncinatus)
Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus)
Snail Kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis)
Plumbeous Kite (Ictinia plumbea)
Plain-breasted Hawk (Accipiter ventralis)
Gray-backed Hawk (Leucopternis occidentalis) (TE,EN) - A beautiful, endemic raptor that we saw in Ayampe, Buenaventura and El Tundo.
Barred Hawk (Leucopternis princeps)
Savanna Hawk (Buteogallus meridionalis)
Great Black-Hawk (Buteogallus urubitinga)
Harris's Hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus)
Roadside Hawk (Buteo magnirostris)
Variable Hawk (Buteo polyosoma)
Black Hawk-Eagle (Spizaetus tyrannus)
FALCONS AND CARACARAS (Falconidae)
Northern Crested-Caracara (Caracara cheriway) - Aka Crested Caracara.
Barred Forest-Falcon (Micrastur ruficollis) - We scoped one high up in a tree at Buenaventura.
American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)
Bat Falcon (Falco rufigularis)
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) - One harassing the shorebirds at Ecuasal.
CURASSOWS, GUANS, ETC. (Cracidae)
Speckled Chachalaca (Ortalis guttata)
Rufous-headed Chachalaca (Ortalis erythroptera) (TE,VU) - Seen very well in the scope at Mantaraya Lodge, and then again later on near Sozoranga.
Bearded Guan (Penelope barbata) (VU) - Distant views at Cajanuma, followed a couple days later by terrific close views by the side of the road near Tapichalaca.
Sickle-winged Guan (Chamaepetes goudotii)
NEW WORLD QUAILS (Odontophoridae)
Rufous-fronted Wood-Quail (Odontophorus erythrops) (H)
RAILS, GALLINULES, COOTS (Rallidae)
Gray-breasted Crake (Laterallus exilis) (H)
White-throated Crake (Laterallus albigularis) (H)
Purple Gallinule (Porphyrula martinica)
Common Gallinule (Gallinula chloropus) - Aka Common Moorhen.
Andean Coot (Fulica ardesiaca) - Aka Slate-colored Coot.
JAÇANAS (Jacanidae)
Wattled Jaçana (Jacana jacana)
SANDPIPERS AND ALLIES (Scolopacidae)
Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes)
Willet (Catoptrophorus semipalmatus)
Wandering Tattler (Heterosceles incanus)
Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularia)
Whimbrel (Numeneus phaeopus)
Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)
Sanderling (Calidris alba)
Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla)
Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla)
Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotus)
Stilt Sandpiper (Micropalama himantopus)
Short-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus)
Wilson's Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor)
OYSTERCATCHERS (Haematopodidae)
American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus)
STILTS AND AVOCETS (Recurvirostridae)
Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus)
PLOVERS AND LAPWINGS (Charadriidae)
Andean Lapwing (Vanellus resplendens)
Gray Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) - Aka Black-bellied Plover.
Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus)
Snowy Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) - Aka Kentish Plover.
GULLS AND TERNS (Laridae)
Gray Gull (Larus modestus) - Several on the beach opposite Ecuasal.
Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus)
Gray-hooded Gull (Larus cirrocephalus) - Aka Gray-headed Gull.
Laughing Gull (Larus atricilla)
Franklin's Gull (Larus pipixcan)
Gull-billed Tern (Sterna nilotica)
Royal/Elegant Tern (Sterna sp.)
PIGEONS AND DOVES (Columbidae)
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) - Aka Rock Dove.
Band-tailed Pigeon (Columba fasciata)
Pale-vented Pigeon (Columba cayennensis)
Ruddy Pigeon (Columba subvinacea)
Plumbeous Pigeon (Columba plumbea) (H)
Eared Dove (Zenaida auriculata)
West Peruvian Dove (Zenaida meloda) - Aka Pacific Dove.
Plain-breasted Ground-Dove (Columbina minuta)
Ecuadorian Ground-Dove (Columbina buckleyi) (TE) - Surprisingly few seen on the trip. Best views were near Santa Rosa.
Croaking Ground-Dove (Columbina cruziana)
White-tipped Dove (Leptotila verreauxi)
Gray-fronted Dove (Leptotila rufaxilla)
Ochre-bellied Dove (Leptotila ochraceiventris) (TE,VU) - This is one of the most difficult species to find in the southwest. I tried calling one in a gully in Jorupe where I had heard them previously. After several minutes one did come in to the tape, but it spooked and only Bob and I had poor views of it.
White-throated Quail-Dove (Geotrygon frenata)
PARROTS AND MACAWS (Psittacidae)
Red-masked Parakeet (Aratinga erythrogenys) (TE,nt) - Good flight views in Ayampe, Buenaventura, and El Empalme. José and Don also saw one perched in Buenaventura.
White-eyed Parakeet (Aratinga leucophthalmus)
Golden-plumed Parakeet (Leptosittaca branickii) (VU) - A brief lifting of the fog in Tapichalaca gave us a chance to see this a few of them perched on a dead snag.
El Oro Parakeet (Pyrrhura orcesi) (TE,EE,EN) - One of the star birds of Buenaventura. It took us a whole day, but we eventually found several small flocks feeding in fruiting trees. Great scope views!
White-breasted Parakeet (Pyrrhura albipectus) (VU) - Nearly an Ecuador endemic. A flock shot overhead in Bombuscaro and landed in a nearby tree. José tracked them down and got one beautifully in the scope. Aka White-necked Parakeet.
Barred Parakeet (Bolborhynchus lineola)
Pacific Parrotlet (Forpus coelestis) (TE) - Small flocks seen throughout the southwest.
Gray-cheeked Parakeet (Brotogeris pyrrhopterus) (TE,EN) - We found them perched in Cerro Blanco, and later saw another flock in flight in Jorupe.
Blue-headed Parrot (Pionus menstruus)
Red-billed Parrot (Pionus sordidus) (H)
Bronze-winged Parrot (Pionus chalcopterus)
Red-lored Amazon (Amazona autumnalis)
Scaly-naped Amazon (Amazona mercenaria)
CUCKOOS AND ANIS (Cuculidae)
Black-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus erythropthalmus) - A rare boreal migrant in Ecuador, we saw one in Jorupe and another one along the old Zamora road.
Dark-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus melacoryphus) - A rare austral migrant, and a big surprise at the airstrip ne of Zamora. It is not mapped from this area in BOE; perhaps it was in transit to its wintering grounds in the Amazonian lowlands.
Gray-capped Cuckoo (Coccyzus lansbergi) - I played the tape at a spot in Jorupe where I had heard one last year, and we lucked out! A beautiful individual came in and perched in the open.
Squirrel Cuckoo (Piaya cayana)
Little Cuckoo (Piaya minuta)
Smooth-billed Ani (Crotophaga ani)
Groove-billed Ani (Crotophaga sulcirostris)
Striped Cuckoo (Tapera naevia) (H)
TYPICAL OWLS (Strigidae)
West Peruvian Screech-Owl (Otus roboratus) (TE) - We stayed out late one night in Jorupe and managed to get one of these cute owls in the spotlight.
Pacific Pygmy-Owl (Glaucidium peruanum) - Everywhere in dry habitat. Aka Peruvian Pygmy-Owl.
Spectacled Owl (Pulsatrix perspicillata) (H)
NIGHTJARS & NIGHTHAWKS (Caprimulgidae)
Pauraque (Nyctidromus albicollis)
Anthony's Nightjar (Caprimulgus anthonyi) (TE) - Difficult! They were not very vocal for us. We managed to get one reponsive individual at Mantaraya Lodge but only José and Doris saw it (poorly). Aka Scrub Nightjar.
SWIFTS (Apodidae)
White-collared Swift (Streptoprocne zonaris)
Chestnut-collared Swift (Streptoprocne rutilus)
Tumbes Swift (Chaetura ocypetes) (TE) - Three flew over us at Jorupe and circled around in good light for about a minute. Great looks! Recently split from Short-tailed Swift (C. brachyura).
Gray-rumped Swift (Chaetura cinereiventris)
Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift (Panyptila cayennensis) - Bob saw some from his window from the hotel in Zaruma.
HUMMINGBIRDS (Trochilidae)
White-whiskered Hermit (Phaethornis yaruqui) - Several seen in Buenaventura, including at the feeders.
Green Hermit (Phaethornis guy)
Baron's Hermit (Phaethornis baroni) (TE) - First seen briefly in Ayampe, then seen very well at the feeders near the new cabin at Buenaventura. BOE splits this from Western Long-tailed Hermit (P. longirostris).
Gray-chinned Hermit (Phaethornis griseogularis)
White-tipped Sicklebill (Eutoxeres aquila) - Only José got it in Buenaventura; he was just looking in the right place at the right time.
White-necked Jacobin (Florisuga mellivora)
Brown Violet-ear (Colibri delphinae)
Green Violet-ear (Colibri thalassinus)
Sparkling Violet-ear (Colibri coruscans)
Green Thorntail (Popelairia conversii)
Fork-tailed Woodnymph (Thalurania furcata)
Green-crowned Woodnymph (Thalurania fannyi)
Emerald-bellied Woodnymph (Thalurania hypochlora) (TE,EE) - Now easier than ever to see at the Buenaventura hummer feeders. BOE splits this from the previous species.
Violet-bellied Hummingbird (Damophila julie) - This is generally a tough bird to find in Ecuador, but they are abundant at the feeders at Buenaventura!
Tumbes Hummingbird (Leucippus baeri) (TE) - A drab but endemic hummer. Two responded to pygmy owl tapes in El Empalme - the only site I have ever seen them in Ecuador.
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird (Amazilia tzacatl)
Amazilia Hummingbird (Amazilia amazilia) - We saw both the lowland race dumerilii and the highland race alticola. The latter is considered by Clements to be a full species (Loja Hummingbird) and an Ecuadorian endemic.
Andean Emerald (Amazilia franciae)
Glittering-throated Emerald (Amazilia fimbriata)
White-vented Plumeleteer (Chalybura buffonii) (H)
Speckled Hummingbird (Adelomyia melanogenys)
Purple-bibbed Whitetip (Urosticte benjamini) - A beautiful Chocó Endemic seen at the feeders at Buenaventura.
Ecuadorian Piedtail (Phlogophilus hemileucurus) (nt) - One briefly responded to the tape at the start of the trail at Bombuscaro.
Green-crowned Brilliant (Heliodoxa jacula)
Violet-fronted Brilliant (Heliodoxa leadbeateri)
Black-throated Brilliant (Heliodoxa schreibersii) - A gorgeous hummer that I don't see very often. One came to the feeders at Copalinga during our short visit.
Fawn-breasted Brilliant (Heliodoxa rubinoides)
Ecuadorian Hillstar (Oreotrochilus chimborazo) - Another spectacular one. We scoped a male in the paramo near Laguna Illinacocha in Cajas. Aka Chimborazo Hillstar.
Shining Sunbeam (Aglaeactis cupripennis)
Bronzy Inca (Coeligena coeligena)
Brown Inca (Coeligena wilsoni) - Single birds seen in Buenaventura and along a dirt road near the base of the Andes on the last day. Both were seen at about 700m. They seem to occur at much lower elevations in southern Ecuador than they do farther north.
Collared Inca (Coeligena torquata)
Buff-winged Starfrontlet (Coeligena lutetiae)
Rainbow Starfrontlet (Coeligena iris) - A big, bold hummer that we saw only in El Tundo and Utuana.
Chestnut-breasted Coronet (Boissonneaua matthewsii)
Amethyst-throated Sunangel (Heliangelus amethysticollis)
Flame-throated Sunangel (Heliangelus micrastur) - Plenty of them at the feeders at Tapichalaca. Aka Little Sunangel.
Purple-throated Sunangel (Heliangelus viola) - We saw them only in Utuana.
Glowing Puffleg (Eriocnemis vestitus) - Numerous at flowering bushes during our visit to Cajanuma. They seem to be seasonal because I did not see any on my last two visits.
Booted Racket-tail (Ocreatus underwoodii) (H)
Green-tailed Trainbearer (Lesbia nuna)
Violet-throated Metaltail (Metallura baroni) (EE,EN) - A pretty hummer with a miniscule world range, mostly in El Cajas NP. We saw about six individuals.
Tyrian Metaltail (Metallura tyrianthina)
Rufous-capped Thornbill (Chalcostigma ruficeps) - A regular visitor at the Tapichalaca feeders.
Blue-mantled Thornbill (Chalcostigma stanleyi) - A few seen high up in the páramo in Cajas.
Long-tailed Sylph (Aglaiocercus kingi)
Violet-tailed Sylph (Aglaiocercus coelestis) - Quite common in Buenaventura, here at the southern limit of its range.
Wedge-billed Hummingbird (Schistes geoffroyi)
Purple-crowned Fairy (Heliothryx barroti)
Black-eared Fairy (Heliothryx aurita)
Long-billed Starthroat (Heliomaster longirostris)
Purple-collared Woodstar (Myrtis fanny) - We saw a displaying male at the tinamou stop near Catacocha.
Short-tailed Woodstar (Myrmia micrura) (TE) - Wow! What a view of a male perched for many minutes at close range on the Santa Elena peninsula.
White-bellied Woodstar (Acestrura mulsant)
Little Woodstar (Acestrura bombus) (TE,VU) - A well-studied female in the same tree as the next species along the Río Ayampe.
Esmeraldas Woodstar (Acestrura berlepschi) (TE,EE,EN) - The "star" bird of the Río Ayampe, and we lucked out big-time! A nice male kept returning to the same perch in a dead bush along the Río Ayampe and we happily studied it from all angles. A lifer for everyone including me.
TROGONS AND QUETZALS (Trogonidae)
Golden-headed Quetzal (Pharomachrus auriceps) (H)
Ecuadorian Trogon (Trogon mesurus) (TE) - We saw males in Cerro Blanco and Jorupe, as well as a female at El Tundo. This is a BOE split from Black-tailed Trogon (T. melanurus).
Collared Trogon (Trogon collaris)
Masked Trogon (Trogon personatus)
Northern Violaceous Trogon (Trogon caligatus) - A BOE split from Violaceous Trogon (T. violaceus).
KINGFISHERS (Alcedinidae)
Ringed Kingfisher (Megaceryle torquata)
Green Kingfisher (Chloroceryle americana)
MOTMOTS (Momotidae)
Rufous Motmot (Baryphthengus martii)
Blue-crowned Motmot (Momotus momota)
JACAMARS (Galbulidae)
Coppery-chested Jacamar (Galbula pastazae) (VU) - We "dipped" in Bombuscaro where I had always seen it previously, only to get mind-blowing close-up views the next morning along the old Zamora road.
PUFFBIRDS (Bucconidae)
Black-streaked Puffbird (Malacoptila fulvogularis) - Yes! My last stakeout in Bombuscaro paid off with a beautiful bird coming and landing in full view.
White-whiskered Puffbird (Malacoptila panamensis) - We saw a responsive pair at a stakeout in the lower area of Buenaventura.
NEW WORLD BARBETS (Capitonidae)
Red-headed Barbet (Eubucco bourcierii)
TOUCANS (Ramphastidae)
Emerald Toucanet (Aulacorhynchus prasinus) - Beware! Clements has accepted the proposal to split this into seven species. The one we saw is considered "Andean Toucanet" (A. albivitta). We saw it between Tapichalaca and Valladolid.
Crimson-rumped Toucanet (Aulacorhynchus haematopygus) (H)
Pale-mandibled Araçari (Pteroglossus erythropygius) (EE) - Clements lumps it with Collared Araçari (P. torquatus).
Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan (Andigena hypoglauca) (nt) - A showy bird of temperate forest. We had one perched rather distantly in Cajanuma. Fortunately with the scope it was still a good view.
Chestnut-mandibled Toucan (Ramphastos swainsonii)
WOODPECKERS & PICULETS (Picidae)
Lafresnaye's Piculet (Picumnus lafresnayi) - Río Bombuscaro.
Ecuadorian Piculet (Picumnus sclateri) (TE) - A cute endemic that we first saw in Cerro Blanco, then saw much better in Jorupe.
Crimson-mantled Woodpecker (Piculus rivolii)
Golden-olive Woodpecker (Piculus rubiginosus)
Lineated Woodpecker (Dryocopus lineatus)
Yellow-tufted Woodpecker (Melanerpes cruentatus)
Black-cheeked Woodpecker (Melanerpes pucherani)
Smoky-brown Woodpecker (Veniliornis fumigatus)
Little Woodpecker (Veniliornis passerinus)
Red-rumped Woodpecker (Veniliornis kirkii)
Scarlet-backed Woodpecker (Veniliornis callonotus) (TE) - Seen on numerous occasions in the Tumbesian area.
Guayaquil Woodpecker (Campephilus gayaquilensis) (TE) - We first saw a male at Ayampe, and then briefly a female at Buenaventura.
OVENBIRDS (Furnariidae)
Bar-winged Cinclodes (Cinclodes fuscus) - Much more common than the next one in El Cajas.
Stout-billed Cinclodes (Cinclodes excelsior) - A pair at Laguna Illancocha in Cajas.
Pacific Hornero (Furnarius cinnamomeus) (TE) - Abundant west of the Andes and in interandean valleys. BOE splits this from Pale-legged Hornero (F. leucopis).
Andean Tit-Spinetail (Leptasthenura andicola) - El Cajas.
Azara's Spinetail (Synallaxis azarae)
Slaty Spinetail (Synallaxis brachyura)
Dark-breasted Spinetail (Synallaxis albigularis)
Blackish-headed Spinetail (Synallaxis tithys) (TE,EN) - A specialty of the Jorupe forest. One came in nicely to the tape at a stakeout. Aka Black-faced Spinetail.
Rufous Spinetail (Synallaxis unirufa)
Necklaced Spinetail (Synallaxis stictothorax) (TE) - Found only in lowland desert scrub. On this trip we only saw it on the Santa Elena peninsula.
Ash-browed Spinetail (Cranioleuca curtata)
Line-cheeked Spinetail (Cranioleuca antisiensis) (TE) - First in Buenaventura, later in El Tundo and Utuana.
Mouse-colored Thistletail (Schizoeaca griseomurina) - In high-elevation scrub in El Cajas.
Many-striped Canastero (Asthenes flammulata)
Equatorial Graytail (Xenerpestes singularis) (nt) - We saw at least two in the mega-flock at Bombuscaro - later on we found them going in and out of a nest!
Streaked Tuftedcheek (Pseudocolaptes boissonneautii)
Pearled Treerunner (Margarornis squamiger)
Spotted Barbtail (Premnoplex brunnescens) (H)
Rufous-necked Foliage-gleaner (Syndactyla ruficollis) (TE,VU) - Glimpsed briefly in Jorupe, but the next day we had great views in El Tundo.
Scaly-throated Foliage-gleaner (Anabacerthia variegaticeps)
Montane Foliage-gleaner (Anabacerthia striaticollis)
Henna-hooded Foliage-gleaner (Hylocryptus erythrocephalus) (TE,VU) - A big, colorful (for a furnariid) bird that is one of my favorite Tumbesian specialties. We saw it well at Cerro Blanco on the first morning, and glimpsed another one later on in Jorupe.
Black-billed Treehunter (Thripadectes melanorhynchus) - We called one in at Bombuscaro.
Streaked Xenops (Xenops rutilans)
Plain Xenops (Xenops minutus)
WOODCREEPERS (Dendrocolaptidae)
Plain-brown Woodcreeper (Dendrocincla fuliginosa)
Wedge-billed Woodcreeper (Glyphorynchus spirurus)
Olivaceous Woodcreeper (Sittasomus griseicapillus) - West of the Andes we saw race aequatorialis; east of the Andes race amazonus. This is a likely future split.
Spotted Woodcreeper (Xiphorhynchus erythropygius)
Olive-backed Woodcreeper (Xiphorhynchus triangularis)
Streak-headed Woodcreeper (Lepidocolaptes souleyetii)
Montane Woodcreeper (Lepidocolaptes lacrymiger)
Red-billed Scythebill (Campylorhamphus trochilirostris) - Easily seen at Cerro Blanco.
TYPICAL ANTBIRDS (Thamnophilidae)
Great Antshrike (Taraba major)
Collared Antshrike (Sakesphorus bernardi) (TE) - A striking antshrike that we saw at Mantaraya Lodge and Jorupe.
Lined Antshrike (Thamnophilus tenuepunctatus) - Mostly restricted to the eastern foothills of Ecuador. A pair showed well along the old Zamora road.
Chapman's Antshrike (Thamnophilus zarumae) (TE) - It took a while to track down but eventually we got a female in the open near Sozoranga.
Uniform Antshrike (Thamnophilus unicolor) - We saw a male at the start of the trail at Buenaventura.
Western Slaty-Antshrike (Thamnophilus atrinucha) - One male in the lower part of Buenaventura.
Russet Antshrike (Thamnistes anabatinus) - Got it in the first mixed flock that we found at Buenaventura.
Plain Antvireo (Dysithamnus mentalis)
Foothill Antwren (Myrmotherula spodionota) - We saw two males and a female in Bombuscaro.
Slaty Antwren (Myrmotherula schisticolor)
Yellow-breasted Antwren (Herpsilochmus axillaris) - Close and prolonged views in the scope of a single cooperative bird in Bombuscaro.
Long-tailed Antbird (Drymophila caudata) (H)
Blackish Antbird (Cercomacra nigrescens) - The foothill race aequatorialis that we saw is almost certainly a distinct species from the lowland race fuscicauda, but no one has done any work to prove it yet...
White-browed Antbird (Myrmoborus leucophrys)
White-backed Fire-eye (Pyriglena leuconota) (H)
Gray-headed Antbird (Myrmeciza griseiceps) (TE,VU) - One of the worst skulkers of the Tumbesian. We finally heard one singing in Utuana, and I tried to coax it to cross a small gap in the thick bamboo. It did, but so furtively that not everyone saw it.
Immaculate Antbird (Myrmeciza immaculata) (H)
Chestnut-backed Antbird (Myrmeciza exsul) (H)
ANTTHRUSHES & ANTPITTAS (Formicariidae)
Barred Antthrush (Chamaeza mollissima) - Unbelievable! We saw one in the open, at close range, singing away, totally unconcerned about the 6 birders staring at it in awe.. It was along the main trail at the San Francisco park entrance.
Scaled Antpitta (Grallaria guatimalensis) (H)
Plain-backed Antpitta (Grallaria haplonota) (H)
Chestnut-crowned Antpitta (Grallaria ruficapilla) (H)
Watkins's Antpitta (Grallaria watkinsi) (TE) - Unusually difficult on this trip! I think we all saw it, but not everyone saw it well. We encountered them in Jorupe and Sozoranga. Aka Scrub Antpitta.
Chestnut-naped Antpitta (Grallaria nuchalis) - We were trying for the Jocotoco and got this one instead, clinging to the side of a tree trunk. Not a bad consolation prize.
Rufous Antpitta (Grallaria rufula) - Only José got a good look at it in Tapichalaca.
Tawny Antpitta (Grallaria quitensis) - Sitting on a rock in the páramo at Cajas.
Rusty-breasted Antpitta (Grallaricula ferrugineipectus) (H) - Utuana. It's not in BOE because it was only recently found in Ecuador. It is now known from a few sites in northern and southern Ecuador.
Slate-crowned Antpitta (Grallaricula nana) (H)
TAPACULOS (Rhinocryptidae)
Elegant Crescentchest (Melanopareia elegans) (TE) - We first tried in Ayampe where only Bob got a view, but in Jorupe we found one singing in a tree right by the side of the road for all to enjoy.
Ash-colored Tapaculo (Myornis senilis) - Tapichalaca.
Unicolored Tapaculo (Scytalopus unicolor) - Note that this species has been split. The one we saw is now normally called Blackish Tapaculo (S. latrans).
Equatorial Rufous-vented Tapaculo (Scytalopus micropterus) (H) - Aka Long-tailed Tapaculo (who knows why...).
El Oro Tapaculo (Scytalopus robbinsi) (TE,EE) - It may not look like much, but this is a rare species few people ever see. With persistance we all saw one in Buenaventuera. Thanks to Bob Ridgely for providing the site. Aka Ecuadorian Tapaculo.
Chusquea Tapaculo (Scytalopus parkeri) - One came to the forest feeder at Tapichalaca. It was nice to see one foraging naturally, rather than having to call it in for a fleeting glimpse.
Ocellated Tapaculo (Acropternis orthonyx) (H) - Tapichalaca. Everyone had already seen it well on previous Ecuador trips, so we didn't try to see it.
TYRANT FLYCATCHERS (Tyrannidae)
Sooty-headed Tyrannulet (Phyllomyias griseiceps)
Black-capped Tyrannulet (Phyllomyias nigrocapillus)
Ashy-headed Tyrannulet (Phyllomyias cinereiceps)
Tawny-rumped Tyrannulet (Phyllomyias uropygialis) - Utuana.
Loja Tyrannulet (Zimmerius flavidifrons) (TE) - We saw it only near Sozoranga, but heard it in a number of other places. Clements lumps it with Golden-faced Tyrannulet (Z. chrysops).
Southern Beardless-Tyrannulet (Camptostoma obsoletum)
Tumbesian Tyrannulet (Phaeomyias tumbezana) (TE) - Rather local. The only place we saw it was in the forest near Sozoranga. Clements lumps it with Mouse-colored Tyrannulet (P. murina).
Gray-and-white Tyrannulet (Pseudelaenia leucospodia) (TE) - We saw one in desert scrub late in the afternoon on the Santa Elena penisula.
Foothill Elaenia (Myiopagis olallai) - This species was only described a few years ago. It looks rather like Forest Elaenia but occurs at higher elevations and has a very distinctive voice. We got one in the scope at the ranger station at Bombuscaro.
Pacific Elaenia (Myiopagis subplacens) (TE) - Finally we saw it in Jorupe after hearing it in most of the prior sites.
Greenish Elaenia (Myiopagis viridicata)
Yellow-bellied Elaenia (Elaenia flavogaster)
Mottle-backed Elaenia (Elaenia gigas) - It gets up to surprisingly high elevations (1100m) near Zamora, where it is fairly common.
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) - At the San Francisco park entrance. Unfortunately I was the only one to see it.
Tufted Tit-Tyrant (Anairetes parulus)
Black-crested Tit-Tyrant (Anairetes nigrocristatus) - A very gaudy bird whose range just barely touches Ecuador. We saw one on the trail of the same name in Utuana.
Tawny-crowned Pygmy-Tyrant (Euscarthmus meloryphus)
Streak-necked Flycatcher (Mionectes striaticollis)
Olive-striped Flycatcher (Mionectes olivaceus)
Slaty-capped Flycatcher (Leptopogon superciliaris)
Rufous-breasted Flycatcher (Leptopogon rufipectus) (H)
Ecuadorian Tyrannulet (Phylloscartes gualaquizae) - Seen well along the old Zamora road.
Spectacled Bristle-Tyrant (Pogonotriccus orbitalis) - A pair in the mega-flock at Río Bombuscaro. The best view I've ever had of this scarce tyrannid.
Yellow Tyrannulet (Capsiempis flaveola)
Bronze-olive Pygmy-Tyrant (Pseudotriccus pelzelni) - We got a pair in a mixed understory flock at Buenaventura.
Rufous-headed Pygmy-Tyrant (Pseudotriccus ruficeps) (H)
Scale-crested Pygmy-Tyrant (Lophotriccus pileatus)
Black-throated Tody-Tyrant (Hemitriccus granadensis) - Fabulous views at close range in the Cordillera Cordoncillo south of Saraguro. A bird I hadn't seen for several years.
Rufous-crowned Tody-Flycatcher (Poecilotriccus ruficeps)
Common Tody-Flycatcher (Todirostrum cinereum)
Yellow-olive Flatbill (Tolmomyias sulphurescens) - West of the Andes we saw aequatorialis, east of the Andes it was peruvianus. Due to differences in vocalizations and plumage there is some evidence to split them. Aka Yellow-olive Flycatcher.
White-throated Spadebill (Platyrinchus mystaceus) - Seen a few times at Buenaventura.
Ornate Flycatcher (Myiotriccus ornatus)
Ruddy-tailed Flycatcher (Terenotriccus erythrurus)
Black-tailed Flycatcher (Myiobius atricaudus) - Ayampe.
Tawny-breasted Flycatcher (Myiobius villosus) - Buenaventura.
Bran-colored Flycatcher (Myiophobus fasciatus)
Olive-chested Flycatcher (Myiophobus cryptoxanthus) - Seen at about 1700m north of Valladolid, an exceptionally high elevation for this species.
Orange-banded Flycatcher (Myiophobus lintoni) - We saw them a few times at Tapichalaca. This is a scarce and very range-restricted species that I have only ever seen at Tapichalaca.
Cinnamon Flycatcher (Pyrrhomyias cinnamomea)
Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens)
Western Wood-Pewee (Contopus sordidulus)
Tumbes Pewee (Contopus punensis) (TE) - A BOE split from Tropical Pewee (C. cinereus).
Smoke-colored Pewee (Contopus fumigatus)
Acadian Flycatcher (Empidonax virescens) (H)
Gray-breasted Flycatcher (Lathrotriccus griseipectus) (TE,VU) - A rare bird with a restricted range. Great views of this drab bird in Jorupe.
Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans)
Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus)
Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant (Ochthoeca fumicolor)
Rufous-breasted Chat-Tyrant (Ochthoeca rufipectoralis)
Slaty-backed Chat-Tyrant (Ochthoeca cinnamomeiventris) - Tapichalaca.
Crowned Chat-Tyrant (Silvicultrix frontalis) - One during our short visit to the Cordillera de Cordoncillo.
Jelski's Chat-Tyrant (Silvicultrix jelskii) - Very vocal during our visit to Utuana, we saw it easily.
Yellow-bellied Chat-Tyrant (Silvicultrix diadema)
Red-rumped Bush-Tyrant (Cnemarchus erythropygius) - Smashing views of three high up in El Cajas NP.
Streak-throated Bush-Tyrant (Myiotheretes striaticollis)
Smoky Bush-Tyrant (Myiotheretes fumigatus)
Cliff Flycatcher (Hirundinea ferruginea) - Scoped from the bridge along the old Zamora road.
Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant (Agriornis montana)
Páramo Ground-Tyrant (Muscisaxicola alpina) - BOE splits this from Plain-capped Ground-Tyrant (M. griseus) of Peru and Bolivia. We saw one perched on a sign in Cajas.
Short-tailed Field-Tyrant (Muscigralla brevicauda) - Great views of this neat little flycatcher in an abandoned oilfield in the Santa Elena Peninsula.
Rufous-tailed Tyrant (Knipolegus poecilurus) - We saw several between Tapichalaca and Valladolid. This seems to be the most reliable site in Ecuador for this species.
Masked Water-Tyrant (Fluvicola nengeta) - Also occurs in E Brazil. The two populations are so disjunct that they probably should be treated as separate species.
Ochraceous Attila (Attila torridus) (TE,VU) - My Buenaventura stakeout paid of again with fabulous scope views of this localized endemic.
Dusky-capped Flycatcher (Myiarchus tuberculifer)
Pale-edged Flycatcher (Myiarchus cephalotes)
Sooty-crowned Flycatcher (Myiarchus phaeocephalus) (TE) - Best views came early on at Cerro Blanco.
Great Kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus)
Boat-billed Flycatcher (Megarynchus pitangua)
Social Flycatcher (Myiozetetes similis)
Rusty-margined Flycatcher (Myiozetetes cayanensis)
Lemon-browed Flycatcher (Conopias cinchoneti) - Two in the mega-flock at Bombuscaro.
Streaked Flycatcher (Myiodynastes maculatus)
Baird's Flycatcher (Myiodynastes bairdii) (TE) - A distinctive large flycatcher endemic to the more arid parts of the Tumbesian region. We first saw it at Mantaraya Lodge and then later at Jorupe
Golden-crowned Flycatcher (Myiodynastes chrysocephalus)
Piratic Flycatcher (Legatus leucophaius)
Tropical Kingbird (Tyrannus melancholicus)
Snowy-throated Kingbird (Tyrannus niveigularis) (TE) - Quite common in about a 50 km radius around Guayaquil.
Barred Becard (Pachyramphus versicolor)
Slaty Becard (Pachyramphus spodiurus) (TE,EN) - Excellent views of this rare bird in Ayampe. Also heard in Jorupe.
Chestnut-crowned Becard (Pachyramphus castaneus) - A nice surprise along the old Zamora road.
Black-and-white Becard (Pachyramphus albogriseus)
One-colored Becard (Pachyramphus homochrous)
Masked Tityra (Tityra semifasciata)
Black-crowned Tityra (Tityra inquisitor) - A pair in a tree near the airstrip ne of Zamora. Not mapped from this area in BOE but there was no doubt about the identity.
COTINGAS (Cotingidae)
Red-crested Cotinga (Ampelion rubrocristata) - Even though we had seen it twice before, he had to gasp at the sight of a pair displaying with crests flared in Cajas.
Barred Fruiteater (Pipreola arcuata) - Somehow José spotted a female from the van in Cajanuma. We reversed back to it and everyone had a great look.
Green-and-black Fruiteater (Pipreola riefferii)
Olivaceous Piha (Lipaugus cryptolophus) - José saw one in a mixed flock in Bombuscaro.
Amazonian Umbrellabird (Cephalopterus ornatus) - A flyby at Bombuscaro.
Long-wattled Umbrellabird (Cephalopterus penduliger) - A truly unforgettable bird... We all saw a male in Buenaventura that had a wattle as long as he was. Does he ever get sick of lugging it around? Probably the overall favorite bird of the trip.
Andean Cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola peruviana) - An energetic female was feeding in a fruiting tree along the old Zamora road.
MANAKINS (Pipridae)
Blue-rumped Manakin (Lepidothrix isidorei) - Bob and I saw a female in Bombuscaro.
White-bearded Manakin (Manacus manacus)
Club-winged Manakin (Machaeropterus deliciosus) - They were quite common in Buenaventura, despite the fact that this is the southernmost limit of their world range.
Wing-barred Piprites (Piprites chloris) - Probably not really a manakin. We saw one at the ranger station in Bombuscaro.
CROWS, JAYS, AND MAGPIES (Corvidae)
Turquoise Jay (Cyanolyca turcosa)
White-tailed Jay (Cyanocorax mystacalis) (TE) - Another gaudy endemic. We first saw one sitting in the driveway at Cerro Blanco! Also seen in Jorupe and heard near Sozoranga.
Inca Jay (Cyanocorax yncas) - BOE splits this from Green Jay (C. luxuosus).
VIREOS AND ALLIES (Vireonidae)
Rufous-browed Peppershrike (Cyclarhis gujanensis)
Slaty-capped Shrike-Vireo (Vireolanius leucotis)
Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus)
Brown-capped Vireo (Vireo leucophrys)
Lesser Greenlet (Hylophilus decurtatus)
Olivaceous Greenlet (Hylophilus olivaceus) - A dull bird with a monotonous warbled song, but it is nearly endemic to Ecuador.
THRUSHES, SOLITAIRES (Turdidae)
Andean Solitaire (Myadestes ralloides)
Slaty-backed Nightingale-Thrush (Catharus fuscater) (H)
Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus)
Pale-eyed Thrush (Platycichla leucops) - One was singing in Bombuscaro and José tracked it down. However, the sudden arrival of the White-breasted Parakeets caused us to ignore the thrush and we didn't see it again.
Chiguanco Thrush (Turdus chiguanco)
Great Thrush (Turdus fuscater)
Glossy-black Thrush (Turdus serranus)
Chestnut-bellied Thrush (Turdus fulviventris) - A scarce thrush that looks an awful lot like an American Robin. We saw it alng the road between Tapichalaca and Valladolid.
Plumbeous-backed Thrush (Turdus reevei) (TE) - Bunches of them at Jorupe. They seem to really hate pygmy owls!
Marañón Thrush (Turdus maranonicus) - One in Valladolid at the northern limit of its range.
Black-billed Thrush (Turdus ignobilis)
Pale-vented Thrush (Turdus obsoletus) (H)
Ecuadorian Thrush (Turdus maculirostris) (TE) - At Cerro Blanco, Ayampe, and Jorupe.
Andean Slaty-Thrush (Turdus nigriceps) - A breeding resident from about Jan-May in the highlands of sw Ecuador, disappearing during the rest of the year. We saw a male near Sozornaga.
MOCKINGBIRDS (Mimidae)
Long-tailed Mockingbird (Mimus longicaudatus)
DIPPERS (Cinclidae)
White-capped Dipper (Cinclus leucocephalus)
SWALLOWS AND MARTINS (Hirundinidae)
Gray-breasted Martin (Progne chalybea)
Brown-bellied Swallow (Notiochelidon murina)
Blue-and-white Swallow (Notiochelidon cyanoleuca)
White-banded Swallow (Atticora fasciata)
Southern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx ruficollis)
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
Chestnut-collared Swallow (Petrochelidon rufocollaris) (TE) - They were nesting across the street from the hotel in Macará, but we saw them in various other places in the sw.
WRENS (Troglodytidae)
Black-capped Donacobius (Donacobius atricapillus) - Near the airstrip ne of Zamora.
Thrush-like Wren (Campylorhynchus turdinus) - ditto.
Fasciated Wren (Campylorhynchus fasciatus) (TE) - Noisy and bold inhabitants of the southwest. My friend Todd Mark calls them "Fascist Wrens"!
Gray-mantled Wren (Odontorchilus branickii) - At least one singing individual in the mega-flock at Bombuscaro, and another one along the old Zamora road.
Rufous Wren (Cinnycerthia unirufa)
Grass Wren (Cistothorus platensis) - aka Sedge Wren.
Bay Wren (Thryothorus nigricapillus)
Plain-tailed Wren (Thryothorus euophrys) - It earned the nickname "Invisible Wren" after our first few attempts failed. Finally we saw it reasonably well in Tapichalaca.
Whiskered Wren (Thryothorus mystacalis) - After having such a nightmare of a time seeing this one on my northwest tour in December, it was nice to find a cooperative pair at Buenavenura.
Superciliated Wren (Thryothorus superciliaris) (TE) - It can often be a skulker, but we found a small family group hopping around totally exposed on the Santa Elena peninsula.
Speckle-breasted Wren (Thryothorus sclateri) (TE) - One of my favorite wrens. We saw them in Cerro Blanco, Ayampe, and Jorupe.
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)
Mountain Wren (Troglodytes solstitialis)
White-breasted Wood-Wren (Henicorhina leucosticta)
Gray-breasted Wood-Wren (Henicorhina leucophrys)
Song Wren (Cyphorhinus phaeocephalus) - Good views of this very local skulker in Buenaventura. Despite this being the absolute southern limit of it's world range, I have never seen it anywhere else!
GNATCATCHERS & GNATWRENS (Polioptilidae)
Tawny-faced Gnatwren (Microbates cinereiventris) - Great views of a foraging pair along that dirt road near the base of the Andes on the way back to Guayaquil.
Long-billed Gnatwren (Ramphocaenus melanurus) - Ayampe.
Tropical Gnatcatcher (Polioptila plumbea) - Always the first to respond to a pygmy-owl tape.
PIPITS AND WAGTAILS (Motacillidae)
Páramo Pipit (Anthus bogotensis) - El Cajas.
NEW WORLD WARBLERS (Parulidae)
Tropical Parula (Parula pitiayumi)
Blackburnian Warbler (Dendroica fusca)
Olive-crowned Yellowthroat (Geothlypis semiflava)
Canada Warbler (Wilsonia canadensis)
Slate-throated Whitestart (Myioborus miniatus)
Spectacled Whitestart (Myioborus melanocephalus)
Black-crested Warbler (Basileuterus nigrocristatus)
Citrine Warbler (Basileuterus luteoviridis)
Three-striped Warbler (Basileuterus tristriatus)
Three-banded Warbler (Basileuterus trifasciatus) (TE) - The highland Tumbesian warbler. Buenaventura, El Tundo, Utuana.
Russet-crowned Warbler (Basileuterus coronatus)
Gray-and-gold Warbler (Basileuterus fraseri) (TE) - The lowland Tumbesian warbler...Cerro Blanco, Ayampe, Jorupe.
Buff-rumped Warbler (Basileuterus fulvicauda)
TANAGERS AND ALLIES (Thraupidae)
Bananaquit (Coereba flaveola)
Green Honeycreeper (Chlorophanes spiza)
Blue Dacnis (Dacnis cayana)
Black-faced Dacnis (Dacnis lineata)
Yellow-tufted Dacnis (Dacnis egregia) - Split from the previous species based on differences in geographical range and plumage.
Cinereous Conebill (Conirostrum cinereum)
Blue-backed Conebill (Conirostrum sitticolor)
Capped Conebill (Conirostrum albifrons)
Giant Conebill (Oreomanes fraseri) (nt) - Great close-ups of a single bird in the polylepis grove near Laguna Illancocha in Cajas.
Tit-like Dacnis (Xenodacnis parina) - Loads of them in the same polylepis grove.
Bluish Flowerpiercer (Diglossopis caerulescens)
Masked Flowerpiercer (Diglossopis cyanea)
Glossy Flowerpiercer (Diglossa lafresnayii)
Black Flowerpiercer (Diglossa humeralis)
White-sided Flowerpiercer (Diglossa albilatera)
Guira Tanager (Hemithraupis guira)
Fawn-breasted Tanager (Pipraeidea melanonota)
Thick-billed Euphonia (Euphonia laniirostris)
Orange-bellied Euphonia (Euphonia xanthogaster)
Bronze-green Euphonia (Euphonia mesochrysa)
Orange-eared Tanager (Chlorochrysa calliparaea)
Rufous-throated Tanager (Tangara rufigula) - A Chocó endemic that we saw at its southern limit in Buenaventura.
Golden Tanager (Tangara arthus)
Silver-throated Tanager (Tangara icterocephala)
Saffron-crowned Tanager (Tangara xanthocephala)
Golden-eared Tanager (Tangara chrysotis)
Flame-faced Tanager (Tangara parzudakii)
Golden-naped Tanager (Tangara ruficervix)
Beryl-spangled Tanager (Tangara nigroviridis)
Blue-and-black Tanager (Tangara vassorii)
Silver-backed Tanager (Tangara viridicollis)
Blue-necked Tanager (Tangara cyanicollis)
Paradise Tanager (Tangara chilensis)
Green-and-gold Tanager (Tangara schrankii)
Spotted Tanager (Tangara punctata)
Yellow-bellied Tanager (Tangara xanthogastra)
Bay-headed Tanager (Tangara gyrola)
Golden-crowned Tanager (Iridosornis rufivertex) - A stunning tanager that we found early on in a mized flock in Cajanuma.
Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager (Anisognathus igniventris)
Lacrimose Mountain-Tanager (Anisognathus lacrymosus)
Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager (Anisognathus somptuosus)
Hooded Mountain-Tanager (Buthraupis montana)
Buff-breasted Mountain-Tanager (Dubusia taeniata)
Rufous-crested Tanager (Creurgops verticalis) - We saw them in most of the mixed flocks between Tapichalaca and Valladolid.
Swallow Tanager (Tersina viridis)
Blue-gray Tanager (Thraupis episcopus)
Palm Tanager (Thraupis palmarum)
Blue-capped Tanager (Thraupis cyanocephala)
Silver-beaked Tanager (Ramphocelus carbo)
Lemon-rumped Tanager (Ramphocelus icteronotus) - Split from R. flammigerus (Flame-rumped Tanager).
Highland Hepatic-Tanager (Piranga flava) - BOE follows a recent proposal to split up Hepatic Tanager into three species.
Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra)
Ochre-breasted Tanager (Chlorothraupis stolzmanni) - We taped in a furtive individual in Buenaventura.
White-lined Tanager (Tachyphonus rufus)
Flame-crested Tanager (Tachyphonus cristatus) - Two males and a female seen in mixed flocks at Bombuscaro.
White-shouldered Tanager (Tachyphonus luctuosus)
Common Bush-Tanager (Chlorospingus ophthalmicus)
Ashy-throated Bush-Tanager (Chlorospingus canigularis) - Race paulus in Buenaventura and signatus (with the white postocular line) on the east slope.
Yellow-throated Bush-Tanager (Chlorospingus flavigularis)
Gray-hooded Bush-Tanager (Cnemoscopus rubrirostris)
Black-capped Hemispingus (Hemispingus atropileus)
Superciliaried Hemispingus (Hemispingus superciliaris)
Piura Hemispingus (Hemispingus piurae) - We saw a pair in bamboo on the really steep trail at Utuana.
Black-and-white Tanager (Conothraupis speculigera) - José and I saw a dull yellow bird with streaked underparts in Ayampe; it wasn't until a few days later that we realized it was a female B&W Tanager. This species isn't mapped from Ayampe, but I know someone else who has seen it here, so it does seem to occur in small numbers. Normally they are reasonably common this time of year farther south in Loja province, but we only heard one distantly at Sozoranga.
Magpie Tanager (Cissopis leveriana)
Plushcap (Catamblyrhynchus diadema) - Always a great bird to see. We saw it first in Utuana and later another one in Tapichalaca.
SALTATORS & GROSBEAKS (Cardinalidae)
Buff-throated Saltator (Saltator maximus)
Black-winged Saltator (Saltator atripennis)
Grayish Saltator (Saltator coerulescens)
Black-cowled Saltator (Saltator nigriceps) (TE) - Another stunning Tumbesian endemic. The early morning fog in Sozoranga lifted just in time to get this beauty in the scope.
Streaked Saltator (Saltator striatipectus) - The race that occurs in western Ecuador has no streaks!
Slate-colored Grosbeak (Saltator grossus) (H)
Southern Yellow-Grosbeak (Pheucticus chrysogaster) - Aka Golden-bellied Grosbeak.
Blue-black Grosbeak (Cyanocompsa cyanoides) (H)
EMBERIZINE FINCHES (Emberizidae)
Crimson-breasted Finch (Rhodospingus cruentus) (TE) - We saw quite a few on the Santa Elena peninsula and north to Ayampe. Farther south they are much less common and we only saw one at Jorupe.
Blue-black Grassquit (Volatinia jacarina)
Dull-colored Grassquit (Tiaris obscura) - Buenaventura.
Lesser Seed-Finch (Oryzoborus angolensis) - This is actually a BOE lump - one of the few! In the west we saw O. funereus (Thick-billed Seed-Finch) and in the east O. angolensis (Chestnut-bellied Seed-Finch).
Variable Seedeater (Sporophila corvina)
Black-and-white Seedeater (Sporophila luctuosa)
Yellow-bellied Seedeater (Sporophila nigricollis)
Parrot-billed Seedeater (Sporophila peruviana) (TE) - A small flock at Ecuasal.
Drab Seedeater (Sporophila simplex) (TE) - We finally found a few after sorting through large flocks of other finches in Catamayo.
Chestnut-throated Seedeater (Sporophila telasco) - Hundreds of them in Catamayo, but we also saw them in various other places in the west.
Chestnut-bellied Seedeater (Sporophila castaneiventris)
Plain-colored Seedeater (Catamenia inornata)
Plumbeous Sierra-Finch (Phrygilus unicolor)
Ash-breasted Sierra-Finch (Phrygilus plebejus)
Band-tailed Sierra-Finch (Phrygilus alaudinus)
Saffron Finch (Sicalis flaveola)
Slaty Finch (Haplospiza rustica) - Some of the bamboo was seeding in Cajanuma and Tapichalaca, so this normally rare bird was actually quite common for a change.
Red Pileated-Finch (Coryphospingus cucullatus) - A surprise near the hummer feeders in Valladolid. Another species at the absolute northern limit of its range.
Rufous-naped Brush-Finch (Atlapetes latinuchus)
Tricolored Brush-Finch (Atlapetes tricolor) - Buenaventura.
White-winged Brush-Finch (Atlapetes leucopterus)
Bay-crowned Brush-Finch (Atlapetes seebohmi) (TE) - A scarce & local species. The only place we saw it was in El Tundo.
White-headed Brush-Finch (Atlapetes albiceps) (TE) - Another local species. We found it in El Empalme, but it was not very cooperative and not everyone saw it.
Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch (Buarremon brunneinuchus) - At the feeder in Tapichalaca.
Stripe-headed Brush-Finch (Buarremon torquatus)
Olive Finch (Lysurus castaneiceps) - A nice-looking skulker that we found near a stream in Bombuscaro.
Orange-billed Sparrow (Arremon aurantiirostris) - We actually saw three races of this species. Occidentalis in Ayampe, santarosae in Buenaventura, and spectabilis in Bombuscaro. The latter race has a completely different song and slightly different plumage, so may eventually prove to be a distinct species.
Black-capped Sparrow (Arremon abeillei) (TE) - Another pretty endemic. They haunt the undergrowth of deciduous forest. We saw them in Cerro Blanco, Ayampe, and Jorupe.
Black-striped Sparrow (Arremonops conirostris)
Yellow-browed Sparrow (Ammodramus aurifrons)
Tumbes Sparrow (Aimophila stolzmanni) (TE) - Looks more like something you would see in North America. We saw them in very arid areas in El Empalme and Catamayo.
Rufous-collared Sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis)
Collared Warbling-Finch (Poospiza hispaniolensis) (TE) - Great views in desert scrub on the Santa Elena Peninsula.
ORIOLES AND BLACKBIRDS (Icteridae)
Yellow-rumped Cacique (Cacicus cela)
Subtropical Cacique (Cacicus uropygialis) - There was one in the parking lot at Bombuscaro. This is a BOE split from the next species, which only occurs on the west slope and usually at lower elevations.
Scarlet-rumped Cacique (Cacicus microrhynchus) (H)
Crested Oropendola (Psarocolius decumanus)
Russet-backed Oropendola (Psarocolius angustifrons)
Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis)
Scrub Blackbird (Dives warszewiczi)
Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus)
White-edged Oriole (Icterus graceannae) (TE) - We saw them in El Empalme, Jorupe, and Sozoranga. Except in the most arid areas they are often found with the next species.
Yellow-tailed Oriole (Icterus mesomelas)
Peruvian Meadowlark (Sturnella bellicosa)
CARDUELINE FINCHES (Fringillidae)
Hooded Siskin (Carduelis magellanica)
Lesser Goldfinch (Carduelis psaltria)
OLD WORLD SPARROWS (Passeridae)
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)