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1 Birdquest: Southern Ecuador 2009

SOUTHERN ECUADOR

23 FEBRUARY – 15 MARCH 2009

TOUR REPORT

LEADERS: MATT DENTON Our 2009 Southern Ecuador was once again successful in seeing the numerous charismatic avian specialties of this fascinating region. Our comprehensive circuit has a fascinating array of habitats: coastal areas, deciduous Tumbesian forest and woodlands, southern Chocó wet forest, Andean elfin and cloud forest, and Amazonian foothill forest. The species total for the trip numbered 564 species, including 88 endemic and restricted-range species and 49 globally threatened species. Our visit is timed to coincide with the Tumbesian rains and the start of the breeding season however this year we experienced an unseasonable amount of rain, as did the entire country! President Correa’s roadway improvement program also caused us some travel delays but the fantastic new roads will no doubt be of great benefit to future tours. Staying at the Jocotoco Foundation’s birding lodges was very pleasurable and next tour we can look forward to staying at a third Jocotoco lodge in Jorupe! The Jocotoco Antpitta has gone from being a seldom seen bird to now providing the number one spectacle of the tour. Our visit to the foothills of the Cordillera del Condor was also a very special part of the tour and we had great success in seeing the monotypic Orange-throated Tanager at what is definitely now the premier site for this species (and no camping!). Another staple of this tour is being able to take a short walk from a comfortable lodge and be standing at the lek of one of the continent’s most fascinating cotingas, the endangered Long-wattled Umbrellabird, the male’s extreme wattle being about as long as the entire body of the bird! We watched a remarkable total of 62 species of hummingbirds and more than 50 kinds of tanagers and allies, while we encountered such legendary birds as Black-and-chestnut Eagle, El Oro and Golden-plumed Parakeets, Esmeraldas Woodstar, Rainbow-bearded Thornbill, Ocellated Tapaculo and Pale-headed Brush-Finch. The great food, the many fantastic mountain panoramas, all of those traditional little villages and many other elements all added up to make this an unforgettable tour. The trip began with an evening arrival in busy Guayaquil and a dinner that featured our first taste of that delicious Ecuadorian soup locro de papa. Early the next morning we arrived at dawn at the nearby Cerro Blanco Reserve in the Chongon Hills on the outskirts of Guayaquil. The unseasonably heavy rains had started a full three months earlier to our arrival meaning the tall dry forests here were now practically a veritable jungle. This first morning was a good introduction to the endemic-rich Tumbesian avifauna as we had close encounters with the spectacular White-tailed Jay, handsome


Ecuadorian Trogons and Scarlet-backed Woodpeckers and lovely Pacific Parrotlets. A noisy pair of Rufous-headed Chachalacas at first played hard to get but then suddenly we had one bird standing out for great views. Pacific Horneros strutted along the track, Fasciated Wrens and Yellow-rumped Caciques (here of the near-endemic race flavicrissus) added their odd sounding voices to the din, and brightly coloured White-edged and Yellow-tailed Orioles contrasted with a more sombre Sooty-capped Flycatcher. We made a foray into the forest where we had wonderful views of Grey-breasted Flycatcher and Grey-and-gold Warbler. After lunch we travelled west across the Santa Elena peninsula to an area of low hills near the coast where we found Snowy-throated Kingbirds perched on power lines and tiny Short-tailed Woodstars making their aerial displays from low brushy perches. The ringing song of the nomadic Black-and-white Tanager could be heard all around, and though they are notorious skulkers, we were fortunate to have great views of one singing bird. There were brightly coloured Crimson-breasted Finches, impressive looking Parrot-billed Seedeaters and Long-tailed Mockingbirds and interesting tyrannids such as Baird’s Flycatcher, Tumbesian Tyrannulet and Tawny-crowned Pygmy-Tyrant. Several Pearl Kites and Harris’s Hawks highlighted the remainder of our drive and we arrived at our Punta Carnero hotel overlooking the Pacific for a beautiful sunset. A pre-dawn departure found us on the road heading north towards Machalilla National Park in search of the threatened Esmeraldas Woodstar. Upon arriving in the area we started out along the road where we found several raucous Rufous-headed Chachalacas perching out for good views and flowering trees attracted Violet-bellied Hummingbird, Long-billed Starthroat and Black-throated Mangos. Our hummer quest continued with superb views of a female Esmeraldas Woodstar adding spider web to her thimble sized nest placed mere feet away from the main road. Sooty-headed Tyrannulets and Pacific Elaenias were fairly common and both Superciliated and Speckle-breasted Wrens gave us good views. By mid-morning our search for a male woodstar hit the mark when upon getting out at a promising spot we immediately turned to see a male Esmeraldas Woodstar on what must have been his favourite display perch! Our first Little Cuckoo of the trip followed but the heat of the day soon zapped most of the activity as we made our way for a seaside lunch stop where we saw Magnificent Frigatebirds and Blue-footed Booby. That afternoon we visited a community conservation area where we enjoyed wonderful sightings of Peruvian Pygmy-Owl, Elegant Crescentchest and Baird’s Flycatcher. The following morning we saw Yellow-tufted Dacnis, Choco Toucan and some of our first Red-masked Parakeets and Bronze-winged Parrots of the trip. As we made our long return journey south we ran into some very heavy thunderstorms unleashing incredible amounts of rain but we were still able to see some birds at the shrimp ponds en route such as White-cheeked Pintail, Semipalmated, Least and Baird’s Sandpipers, Sanderling, Semipalmated Plover and Grey-hooded and Laughing Gulls. After bypassing Guayaquil we were impressed by the large numbers of Snail Kites hunting over the rice fields and later made a brief highway stop to scope a distant Horned Screamer resting on a low tree. We also made what would be our first stop along the lower Molleturo road where we were successful in seeing the threatened occidentalis form of Large-billed Seed-Finch. By late afternoon we had arrived at the Jocotoco Foundation’s Buenaventura reserve to find out the main road into their Umbrellabird Lodge was blocked by a landslide and we would have to descend the upper road through the reserve. Our immensely capable and good spirited driver Wilson had no problems though and we were soon enjoying the warm hospitality of the lodge staff whilst some of us could not resist the swarms of hummingbirds on the supersized feeders. These southern most Chocó forests are considered the last remaining stronghold for the El Oro Parakeet. The next morning we made our way to an El Oro Parakeet nest that the reserve guards have


been monitoring. Little did we know that along the way there was a very large Fer-de-lance viper asleep on the trail. After the park guard and the leader both stepped right over this nearly 2 metre snake, thankfully Nigel was watching the ground and evaded this dangerous snake just as it readied for a strike. However, in less than two seconds its quick escape was thwarted with a deft blow from our park guard’s lightning fast machete. Soon after this startling encounter, we arrived at the nest and within moments we were enjoying good views of a closely perched El Oro Parakeet just before the bird disappeared into the nest. This endangered endemic has been hit-or-miss in recent years, so we all were very pleased with this sort of immediate gratification. Best of all we did not have to cross paths with that snake on our return since it was eternally resting in Darwin’s pouch destined for a large jar of formaldehyde. In addition to the parakeet at Buenaventura we notched a fine selection of birds including the threatened Grey-backed Hawk, the range-restricted Three-banded Warbler and an astonishingly close Scaled Fruiteater foraging a few feet above the trail. There were handsome Crimson-rumped Toucanets, furnariids such as Spotted Barbtail and Brown-billed Scythebill and a good selection of tyrannids such as Ashy-headed and Loja Tyrannulets, Bronze-olive Pygmy-Tyrant and White-throated Spadebill. We had an unforgettably close Song Wren and many good looks at Ashy-throated Bush-Tanagers and Rufous-throated and Ochre-breasted Tanagers in mixed flocks. A nice selection of antbirds included Uniform Antshrike, Checker-throated and Slaty Antwrens and Esmeraldas Antbird. Flowering heliconias attracted the bizarre White-tipped Sicklebill as well as shy Brown Incas and tiny Wedge-billed Hummingbirds. We also visited the reserve’s now famous lek of the extravagant Long-wattled Umbrellabird where we experienced one of the planet’s most incredible cotingids. The short wait we experienced was well worth it when a fully adorned male flew in and perched at close quarter. Another little stunner was the Club-winged Manakin, their wing-flipping display provoking both amazement and amusement among us. The two sets of hummingbird feeders, at slightly different elevations, had hoards of hummers lined around them, allowing us to observe White-whiskered and Baron’s Hermits, White-necked Jacobin, Brown Violetear, Green Thorntail, the near-endemic Emerald-bellied Woodnymph, Violet-bellied and Rufous-tailed Hummingbirds, Andean Emerald, Green-crowned and Fawn-breasted Brilliants, Violet-purple Coronet, Violet-tailed Sylph and Long-billed Starthroat. Our last morning at the reserve featured an Ochraceous Attila singing its head off as it incessantly proclaimed its territory, giving us excellent walk-away views of this localized speciality. After some nice views of perched Red-masked Parakeets we pulled ourselves away from Buenaventura to make our way south to Macará on the Peruvian border. Our lunch stop featured the colourful Loja Hummingbird (the highland form of Amazilia Hummingbird). After lunch we made an impromptu stop in a patch of woodland where after a bit of rather tense hide-and-seek we had great views of a vocalizing Watkins’s Antpitta perched up for us all. A few stops later we found some beautifully intact woodland full of giant Ceiba trees in which we saw yet more new Tumbesian species. We had both Tumbes Hummingbird and Tumbes Sparrow perched up at the same time allowing for close study through the scope and moments later a responsive group of White-headed Brush-Finches made quite an impression. Red-masked and Grey-cheeked Parakeets also made lovely sightings through the scope and gave us all the more reason to promptly enjoy a round of cold Pilsners before arriving in the pleasant town of Macará. The following morning’s walk proved very productive amongst the imposing green trunked Ceiba trees with some excellent new birds that included the shy Grey-capped Cuckoo, low-soaring Tumbes Swifts, the secretive Blackish-headed Spinetail, a vocal and very territorial male Slaty Becard, the striking Henna-hooded Foliage-gleaner, Rufous-necked Foliage-gleaner and the handsome Black-capped Sparrow. We also enjoyed seeing Red-billed Scythebill, the smart looking White-tailed Jay


and numerous Plumbeous-backed Thrushes. Climbing into the mountains around Sozoranga and Utuana the change in avifauna was striking, and a whole range of new and exciting birds awaited us here. Our first morning got off to a great start when suddenly a Chestnut-crowned Antpitta jumped out in front of the van and froze in the headlights for us to get a great view. We then concentrated on the dense Chusquea bamboo thickets where we had good luck in seeing the threatened Grey-headed Antbird very well. In the surrounding montane forests we saw beautiful hummers such as Purple-throated Sunangel and Rainbow Starfrontlet and were impressed by wonderful performances from the stunning Black-crested Tit-Tyrant and Rufous-crowned Tody-Flycatcher. Other birds of note included specialities such as Chapman’s Antshrikes and Line-cheeked Spinetail, an elusive Jelski’s Chat-Tyrant that was eventually seen and a Piura Hemispingus that everyone was relieved to see after our first frustrating encounter in dense fog. In the picturesque Andean village of Sozoranga we lunched in the town square, admiring the diverse flora growing on the clay tile roofs and the impressive colony of Chestnut-collared Swallows nesting in the church. On our last morning near Utuana we had a serendipitous tyre puncture that we put to good use, seeing the attractive Bay-crowned Brush-Finch together with White-winged Brush-Finch and enjoying wonderful views of a singing Loja Tyrannulet. An eleventh-hour Black-cowled Saltator in great light and second helpings on Chapman’s Antshrike were also very welcome as we began our journey north. After consulting Pete’s indispensable navigational device yet again, and turning right at what must be one of the great monuments to the modern dairy cow, we were soon in a dry inter-Andean valley in which we found many Dull-coloured Grassquits and we had second helpings on Elegant Crescentchest. In the afternoon we birded south of town where we saw yet another Elegant Crescentchest and enjoyed many other Tumbesian birds including yet another Peruvian Pygmy-Owl. A pre-dawn start found us inside two rented pick-up trucks climbing up Cerro Toledo road in search of one of Ecuador’s most localized hummingbirds, the Neblina Metaltail. We eventually reached the upper elevations of this inhospitable mountain where we found fierce wind, rain and fog, but nevertheless we got out of our warm vehicles and started birding. Some faint bird calls from the steep grassy slope below us sounded promising and a bit of playback immediately brought out one of our major targets, the rare Masked Mountain-Tanager. A large hummingbird was also present and within moments the iridescent colours of the Rainbow-bearded Thornbill amazed us all again and again as the bird perched nearby and repeatedly made aggressive flights past our group. The bad weather forced us to walk down the mountain but after a few turns we suddenly came upon a very closely perched Neblina Metaltail and to top it off we later had a second individual perch for a considerable amount of time for yet more excellent views. Other highlights from this high elevation cloud forest included Mouse-coloured Thistletail, a mixed flock containing Black-capped Hemispingus, and a responsive Plain-tailed Wren that came in for close views. The comfortable lodge of Tapichalaca’s Casa Simpson was our base for the next two days as we birded this wonderful high elevation cloud forest. Twelve years have passed since the discovery of the Jocotoco Antpitta here in 1997 in this remote area of the eastern slope of the Andes. The Jocotoco Foundation was quickly created, and its first reserve, Tapichalaca, was quickly purchased in order to safeguard the future of this extremely rare antpitta. We saw a fine collection of birds despite either rain or fog or both often being a factor on this particular visit. On our first afternoon we enjoyed great views of a perched Golden-plumed Parakeet at one of the nests being monitored by the park guards. The next day we were accompanied by one of the park rangers up to the antpitta’s haunts only to find them waiting on the trail for us! Considered by many the most spectacular of all antpittas, we enjoyed incredibly close views of this evolutionary oddity hopping along the trails, and for many this was the number one highlight of the tour. In addition to the Jocotoco, the Chestnut-naped Antpitta also came in to eat earthworms almost at our feet as we sat perfectly still on the viewing benches. There were


other memorable birds such as an amazing Rufous-capped Thornbill, a Black-throated Tody-Tyrant in a small sapling right over the trail, and a group of at least six Orange-banded Flycatchers foraging together at close range. We also saw some lovely frugivores such as Green-and-black Fruiteater and Masked Trogon. We had more Golden-plumed Parakeets perched and in close flight and an extra bonus was a soaring White-rumped Hawk. The omnipresent Chusquea thickets held such typical bamboo specialists as White-browed Spinetail, Chusquea Tapaculos and noisy Rufous Wrens. Mixed flocks in the upper elevations of the reserve held such colourful gems as Blue-backed Conebill, Lacrimose and Hooded Mountain-Tanagers and Pale-naped Brush-Finch. At the lodge of Casa Simpson we enjoyed another incredible show of hummingbirds at the feeders. Collared Inca, Chestnut-breasted Coronet, Flame-throated and Amethyst-throated Sunangels, Buff-winged Starfrontlet, Long-tailed Sylph and White-bellied Woodstar were all regular visitors. We did our best to try and escape the fog and lower down we were afforded a brief window during which we saw the stunning Crimson-mantled Woodpecker and the very smart Rufous-tailed Tyrant as well as a foraging party of Turquoise Jays and Northern Mountain-Cacique. The lodge staff did a great job in looking after us and of course the comfy couches and warm, crackling blaze on the hearth at all hours was very much appreciated. Upon leaving Tapichalaca we were treated to a magnificent adult Black-and-chestnut Eagle soaring over the road, a perched Glowing Puffleg in very good light and a mixed flock holding the beautiful Golden-crowned Tanager and Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager. On our last morning in the area we ventured into the Cajanuma sector of Podocarpus National Park where we added more exciting sightings. We started out with several Band-winged Nightjars along the road, and once inside the forest we found a very responsive pair of Rufous-headed Pygmy-Tyrants and the impressive looking Barred Fruiteater. Our search for Bearded Guan came up empty-handed but our broadcasting of its voice brought in a young Black-and-chestnut Eagle swooping over our heads with talons outstretched to land on a nearby perch wondering just where the guans were! Later in the day we climbed across the Continental Divide again and dropped down to Zamora where we lunched at the local burger joint before continuing our drive east. The road was in great shape and we made good time, with the massive Cordillera del Condor, forming the border between Peru and Ecuador, soon coming into view, its still largely unexplored upper peaks and ridges an impressive sight. Speckled Chachalaca, Dark-breasted Spinetail, Long-tailed Tyrant and Black-capped Donacobius were some of the second-growth birds seen en route. Finally arriving at Cabañas Yankuam we settled on the veranda watching Grey-breasted Sabrewing and Glittering-throated Emerald on the feeders and Channel-billed Toucans, Violaceous Jays and Blue-necked and Bay-headed Tanagers in the trees. The next morning we journeyed up the Nangaritza River to seek one of the continent’s most sought after birds, the monotypic Orange-throated Tanager or Wetmorethraupis, at what is now the birding world’s best site for this species. Discovered in 1963 by John P. O’Neill (at the young age of 21!), at a time when ornithologists considered the possibility of a new genus coming from South America unlikely, its range lies within the headwaters’ region of the upper Amazonian foothills of northern Peru and southern Ecuador, an area that lies almost completely within indigenous territory on both sides of the border. The day began with an hour-long trip upriver on a riverboat through a beautifully scenic steep walled river canyon draped in rich forest. Arriving at the Shuar indigenous village of Shaime, we scoped up a singing Mottle-backed Elaenia as we waited for our local guide. A wide muddy track then led through pasture and mixed woodland until finally we reached the edge of primary forest where we almost immediately heard the distinctive calls of the tanager. Moments later we spotted the beautiful Orange-throated Tanager singing and foraging in the middle canopy allowing us to take turns to enjoy great scope views as it moved from perch to perch. The group then spotted a pair of impressive Solitary Eagles in low soaring flight and a much-requested Yellow-cheeked Becard was seen in response to playback. We continued birding up into the tall forest where


we saw White-eyed Tody-Tyrant en route to the site’s Oilbird cave. We had good views of several Oilbirds at the cave entrance but only Pete was game enough to venture further into the cave where we spotlighted well over 100 individuals shrieking and providing us with a seemingly ominous spectacle. We were told that the colony was much larger and went even deeper into the cave! On our return walk we heard the enigmatic Cinnamon Neopipo, which upon playback of its distinctive voice shot in for us onto a nearby perch! We also saw Orange-throated Tanager yet again, this time singing in a leafless tree and we arrived back at the village that afternoon with everyone feeling lucky with the day’s great weather and results. The boat ride downstream was once again skilfully handled by our captain and we were soon enjoying a sun-downing round of ice cold Pilsners on the lodge veranda! The next morning around the lodge we had great views of Lafresnaye’s Piculet, Lined Antshrike, Olive-faced, Bran-coloured and Olive-chested Flycatchers, Olivaceous Greenlet and Golden-winged Tody-Flycatcher (for some). On the drive back to Zamora we had one of our most bizarre sightings of the trip, a healthy Blackish Rail actually standing in the road and preening in plain view, allowing Wilson to roll the bus up to it for incredible views! Moments later a low soaring Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle also gave us an impressive showing. Our passing through the small villages along the way seemed less surprising to villagers than last tour as this very special corner of Ecuador becomes more well known to birders. We arrived at the lovely and warmly hospitable Copalinga Lodge in time for plenty of afternoon birding. Almost as soon as we arrived Catherine was pointing out a tiny Spangled Coquette feeding at arm’s length on the verbena to us. There was also a female Wire-crested Coquette almost permanently on a flowering tree near the veranda and the Black-throated Brilliant was seen resting on his favourite perch, the latter one of the star hummers of the area. A vocalizing Red-stained Woodpecker was a new bird for the lodge garden list, Lafresnaye’s Piculet and Lined Antshrike showed well again and an entourage of scolding Inca Jays provided us with a spectacle of colour and sound. Our time in the foothill forest at the Bombuscaro sector of Podocarpus National Park was dogged by very persistent rain, which at times was too heavy to bird. We had to stand under our umbrellas for long periods of time, however our persistence was rewarded with a good selection of birds. By far our most exciting encounter here came when we suddenly found ourselves face-to-face with a group of the endemic White-breasted Parakeet foraging at nearly eye-level next to the trail. A pair of courting Crimson-bellied Woodpeckers, a Black-streaked Puffbird in the mid-story and a Coppery-chested Jacamar spotted on a low perch over the trail were also major highlights. We also had great studies of the localized Orange-crested Flycatcher as well as the recently described Foothill Elaenia. The swirling flocks of colourful tanagers held such gems as Orange-eared, Paradise, Green-and-gold, Golden-eared, Spotted, Golden and Bay-headed Tanagers. As we made ready to leave this very special place, an Amazonian Umbrellabird was spotted on a low perch near the trail. Later that evening we were thrilled by the fascinating display of several Blackish Nightjars to round off what ended up being a good day despite the rain. A very heavy shower greeted us upon our return to the park the following morning and so we headed off to the old road to Loja where we unexpectedly stumbled onto a late-morning lek of Andean Cock-of-the-Rocks. The birds were not shy, allowing our close approach to marvel at their vivid colours and bizarre display in wonderful light. Sadly a landslide prevented us from further exploring this area, however a Blue-fronted Lancebill at some roadside flowers made for a nice find. After lunching in the plaza of a very typical Andean town, we soon found ourselves in some great birding habitat where we had an almost immediate vocal response from a pair of Ocellated Tapaculos in a particularly dense patch of Chusquea bamboo. It took some real perseverance and clever manoeuvring on everyone’s part but we all eventually had a good look at this bizarrely spectacular bird. Later that


evening we pulled into our comfortable lodging near the Yunguilla reserve, yet another of the Jocotoco Foundation’s vitally important reserves and home to a critically endangered endemic, the only recently rediscovered Pale-headed Brush-Finch. The Jocotoco Foundation has safeguarded the last remaining population, and birding the reserve the next morning proved very productive. Not only did we obtain great looks at the brush-finch, but we also enjoyed Loja Hummingbird, Blackish Tapaculo (in the scope!), Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Black-lored Yellowthroat, Dull-coloured Grassquit and Stripe-headed Brush-Finch. That afternoon we birded some Polylepis scrub where we easily procured a superb Violet-throated Metaltail, an endemic species with a very small range. On the last morning of the tour we found ourselves near a shimmering lake at the lower reaches of El Cajas National Park. Andean Teal, Andean Ruddy-Duck and Slate-coloured Coot quietly floated on the tranquil waters, but our highlight here were two Ecuadorian Rails lured out into the open. This was soon followed up with a Rufous Antpitta singing away with a very large earthworm draped from its bill, a superb Crowned Chat-Tyrant and a lovely sighting of Superciliated Hemispingus. A little higher up in a patch of Gynoxis-Polylepis woodland we found Tit-like Dacnis to be plentiful, Bar-winged and Stout-billed Cinclodes allowed for detailed comparisons and an Ecuadorian Hillstar was always on display while guarding its flower patch. A Tawny Antpitta was seen hopping about on open ground and Andean Tit-Spinetail and Grass Wren were further highlights. Nearby we found a cooperative Many-striped Canastero that gave us good views and then we found an unforgettable pair of Giant Conebills that instantly pished in for mouth-watering views! Leaving the cooler climes of the park we descended once again to the humid lowlands for our last stop at a piece of remnant woodland where after a short walk we successfully saw our last target, the localized Pacific Royal-Flycatcher foraging near one of its nests, providing us with a wonderful finale to the trip.


SYSTEMATIC LIST Species which were heard but not seen are indicated by the symbol (H). Species which were not personally recorded by the leader are indicated by the symbol (NL). Species names and family sequence largely follows Ridgely, R.S. & P.J. Greenfield (2001): The Birds

of Ecuador. Conservation threat categories and information are taken from Threatened Birds of the World, BirdLife International’s excellent book on the status of the rarest of the world’s avifauna, and updates on the website: http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/index.html

TINAMIDAE Little Tinamou Crypturellus soui (H): A distant bird was heard in the eastern lowlands of Shaime (the

name of the village where we saw Orange-throated Tanager and how I will continue to refer to the area).

Pale-browed Tinamou Crypturellus transfasciatus: The loud and resonant calls of this dry forest bird were regularly heard at Cerro Blanco Reserve and near Macará. A few of us saw a bird in the Ayampe area but only when it flushed from near the track. Classified as Near-Threatened. One of the so-called Tumbesian endemics, species (or races) some of which are restricted-range (50,000 sq km or less) confined to the dry and semi-humid habitats in western/south-western Ecuador and north-western Peru. In other words, they’re confined to the Tumbesian Endemic Bird Area (EBA 045).

FREGATIDAE Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata magnificens: Magnificent indeed, large numbers, up to 500 birds,

were seen along the coast of the Santa Elena peninsula, especially around the fishing village of Puerto Lopez and even the surrounding dry hills where the frigatebird spectacle was quite impressive.

SULIDAE Blue-footed Booby Sula nebouxii: Two birds were seen resting at Puerto Lopez. PHALACROCORACIDAE Neotropic Cormorant (Olivaceous C) Phalacrocorax brasilianus: Small numbers were present in the

mangroves and on the coastal plain. ANHINGIDAE Anhinga Anhinga anhinga: Two birds were seen in the rice fields of the Guayas province, of which

Guayaquil is the capital. ANHIMIDAE Horned Screamer Anhima cornuta: We got out and scoped one individual for fairly good views as it

rested on top of a tree at the Manglares Churute Ecological Reserve. This area harbours the only population remaining in western Ecuador.

PELECANIDAE Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis: Fairly ubiquitous along the Santa Elena peninsula coastline.


ANATIDAE Black-bellied Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna autumnalis: Two birds were seen in flight near the

Manglares de Churute. Muscovy Duck Cairina moschata (NL): Two birds were seen in a flooded area of Guayas province. Andean Teal Anas andium: At least 20 birds were seen during our birding at El Cajas National Park. White-cheeked Pintail (Bahama P) Anas bahamensis: Two birds were seen on the shrimp ponds of

the Santa Elena peninsula. Andean Ruddy-Duck (A Duck) Oxyura ferruginea: Good scope views of several drakes and females

at El Cajas N.P. ARDEIDAE Rufescent Tiger-Heron Tigrisoma lineatum (NL): One bird was seen in the humid lowlands of Guayas

province during the long drive to Buenaventura. This species was also recorded on our 2005 tour, however these are amongst the very few records of this species for western Ecuador.

Cocoi Heron (White-necked H) Ardea cocoi: A handful of sightings. The bird’s name is derived from one of the Indian languages, in this case from that of the Cayenne Indians from north-eastern South America.

Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias (NL): One sighting of an adult from the Ayampe-Puerto Lopez area, this migrant is only a very casual visitor to coastal Ecuador.

Great Egret (Great White Egret) Ardea alba: Numerous in the western lowlands. Snowy Egret Egretta thula: Ditto. ‘Thula’ is an Araucano (Chilean) Indian name for the Black-necked

Swan, erroneously given to the Snowy Egret. Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis: Numerous and widespread in the western lowlands. First found in the

country in 1958, the Cattle Egret is now a numerous and widespread resident in large portions of Ecuador.

Striated Heron (Green-backed H) Butorides striatus: Regular sightings on the coastal plain. A species often using bait when fishing in shallow water with little or no current. From a low perch the bird drops an insect, earthworm or other food item into the water and seizes fish that are attracted to the bait.

Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax (NL): One was spotted by Coen and Brenda at Cajas NP during our rail watch.

Yellow-crowned Night Heron Nyctanassa violacea (NL): One bird was seen in the flooded rice fields of Guayas province during the drive to Buenaventura.

CATHARTIDAE Black Vulture (American B V) Coragyps atratus: A human commensal, ubiquitous at lower

elevations. Contrary to the belief of some 19th century taxonomists, recent genetic studies confirm that New World vultures are not in fact modified storks. New world vultures are evolutionarily distinct and fossil cathartids can be recognized as early as the middle Eocene.

Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura: Common and widespread. Greater Yellow-headed Vulture Cathartes melambrotus: A handful of these lowland birds were seen

soaring in the Shaime area. ACCIPITRIDAE Swallow-tailed Kite (American S-t K) Elanoides forficatus: Small numbers in the western foothills and

the Amazonian foothills of the Nangaritza valley. Undeniably one of the most elegant Neotropical raptors.


Pearl Kite Gampsonyx swainsonii: Continuing with amazing Neotropical raptors, we saw up to 5 individuals of this species as we made our way west across the Santa Elena peninsula.

Snail Kite (Everglade K) Rostrhamus sociabilis: This species was seemingly more numerous than usual over the flooded rice fields south of Guayaquil where we easily saw over 50 birds one day as we drove south and similar numbers were seen on our last day.

Plumbeous Kite Ictinia plumbea: Our first birds were seen over the Santa Elena peninsula, and small numbers were also found at Buenaventura, with our best views had of a perched birds eating what appeared to be a lizard. This species here is at the southern edge of its trans-Andean (i.e. C America and S America west of the Andes) range.

Plain-breasted Hawk Accipiter ventralis: A single bird in flight below the road at Utuana was our only sighting.

Grey-backed Hawk Leucopternis occidentalis: Our first sighting at Buenaventura of a perched bird was quite good, and we followed this up with a pair soaring there and finally had superb close-ups of a perched bird also at Buenaventura. A near-endemic classified as Endangered that for now seems to persist fairly well in quite fragmented forest, but most of its habitat is presently unprotected (protected areas it is found in are e.g. the Cerro Blanco and Buenaventura reserves, as well as Machalilla National Park).

Barred Hawk (Black-chested H) Leucopternis princeps: We had good looks at soaring birds on both of our days at Buenaventura.

Savanna Hawk Buteogallus meridionalis: Several sightings of this open country bird from the coastal plain and western slope.

Solitary Eagle (Black S E) Harpyhaliaetus solitarius (NL): A soaring pair was seen very well by the group at Shaime. Classified as Near-Threatened.

Harris’s Hawk (Bay-winged H) Parabuteo unicinctus: This non-forest raptor was seen on two occasions, both times during the drives across the Santa Elena peninsula.

Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle Geranoaetus melanoleucus: We had several good views of this large raptor en route to Santa Isabel as well as in the Cuenca and Cajas NP area.

Roadside Hawk Buteo magnirostris: Regular encounters. White-rumped Hawk Buteo leucorrhous: A soaring bird was seen soaring from the mule track at

Tapichalaca and a couple of us were able to follow its flight through the scope. Zone-tailed Hawk Buteo albonotatus: A soaring bird was seen extremely well soaring right over our

position at Aguas Blancas near the coast. Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle Spizastur melanoleucus: An excellent sighting of this handsome raptor

soaring low over the road as we left Yankuam Lodge. Black Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus tyrannus (H): A calling bird proved impossible to spot at Buenaventura

(I think they sometimes must reach the stratosphere!). Black-and-chestnut Eagle (Isidor’s E) Oroaetus isidori: This impressive raptor was one of the

highlights of the trip from the upper elevations of Podocarpus NP. We first saw a fine adult soaring above the road as we left Tapichalaca and then none of us will soon forget the moment at Cajanuma when that young bird flew in with its tail spread to brake its rapid flight and perch right before us! This is just a wild guess, but my hunch is that this eagle is named for Isidore Charles Sigismond Nee (1754-1837), a West Indian botanist who explored the Andes above Lima and ascended the volcanoes Pichincha and Chimborazo.

FALCONIDAE Black Caracara Daptrius ater: A total of five birds were seen during the drive from Yankuam Lodge to

Zamora. Carunculated Caracara Phalcoboenus carunculatus: A single bird in flight was our only record this

trip at El Cajas N.P.


Crested Caracara (Northern C-C) Caracara cheriway: Two sightings from the Santa Elena peninsula. ‘Cheriway’ is derived from the Carib Indian name for this species.

Laughing Falcon Herpetotheres cachinnans: We had two excellent sightings, possibly of the same individual, at Buenaventura.

American Kestrel Falco sparverius: Regular sightings in open country at higher elevations. Aplomado Falcon Falco femoralis: We had two birds in low flight over the road at El Cajas National

Park. Bat Falcon Falco rufigularis: This widespread falcon was first seen at Cerro Blanco and again during

our second Santa Elena peninsula crossing. A breeding pair at the Jorupe reserve was excellent.

CRACIDAE Speckled Chachalaca Ortalis guttata: We had good views of this one the day we left Yankuam Lodge

en route to Zamora. When legendary ornithologist Frank Chapman first visited Zamora in the 1920’s it was a small frontier settlement of 8-10 huts.

Rufous-headed Chachalaca Ortalis erythroptera: We first had super scope views of a bird surveying the area from a low brushy tree at Cerro Blanco. We saw more birds at Ayampe making all sorts of racket back and forth to each other and more were seen at Buenaventura. This Tumbesian endemic is classified as Vulnerable.

Crested Guan Penelope purpurascens: A clumsy bird in the midstorey was a nice surprise during our Buenaventura umbrellabird experience.

ODONTOPHORIDAE Rufous-breasted Wood-Quail Odontophorus speciosus (H): At Bombuscaro, Podocarpus N.P. we

heard a calling bird from quite close but strangely never got any sort of response from it. RALLIDAE White-throated Crake Laterallus albigularis (H): One calling bird was distantly heard from the

pastures of the upper track at Buenaventura. Rufous-sided Crake Laterallus melanophaius (H): A few were heard in accessible tall grass near

Yankuam Lodge. Chestnut-headed Crake Anurolimnas castaneiceps (H): One of the most intriguing vocalizations of

the trip for some in the group which we first heard on the return boat journey along the Rio Nangaritza and later heard again at Yankuam Lodge where we tried for this species without any result.

Ecuadorian Rail Rallus aequatorialis: Two showed very well and possibly a third was heard in the fringes of a lake in El Cajas N.P. In spite of its English name there is a coastal population (unnamed subspecies) the range of which lies along the Peruvian coast, much farther south than the Ecuadorian border.

Blackish Rail Pardirallus nigricans: After a frustrating vocal encounter we were all completely blown away when we suddenly spotted a bird standing on the road preening right in front of our bus! We pulled the van up to within six or seven metres and watched it for over five minutes wondering if it was hurt and then discussing how rails did not have tour vans in their list of would-be predators. As soon as it saw me come around the side of the van however, it immediately disappeared into the grass, great stuff!

Rufous-necked Wood-Rail Aramides axillaris (H): A vocalizing bird in the woodland near Macará was a tantalizing sound, but we were unable to get a response from it.

Purple Gallinule (American P G) Porphyrula martinica: An adult bird was seen during the drive from Ayampe to Buenaventura.

Andean Coot (Slate-coloured C) Fulica ardesiaca: At least 10 birds were seen in El Cajas N.P.


JACANIDAE Wattled Jacana Jacana jacana: Numerous in marshy areas in the western lowlands. The Jacanidae are

one of the few bird families in which most species exhibit sexual role reversal, with males incubating the eggs and females being polyandrous. The only exception in the family is the monogamous Lesser Jacana Microparra capensis.

SCOLOPACIDAE Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularia: Numerous sightings. Hudsonian Whimbrel Numenius hudsonicus: A single individual was seen in the area of shrimp

ponds we stopped at along the coast during the heavy rain showers. Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres: A total of 6 birds were seen along the coast of the Santa Elena

peninsula. Sanderling Calidris alba: Three birds were seen at our Santa Elena peninsula shrimp pond. Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla: We had a good view from the van of a close bird foraging

in the typical fashion for this species (just barely pecking at the surface) at one of the coastal shrimp ponds.

Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla: Up to 15 birds were seen in the company of the previous species along the coast.

Baird’s Sandpiper Calidris bairdii: We had great close-ups of this migrant foraging on a dried shrimp pond near the coastal road.

RECURVIROSTRIDAE Black-necked Stilt Himantopus mexicanus: This species was quite common during our drive across

the Guayas province with up to 200 individuals seen at shrimp ponds as well as flooded rice fields.

CHARADRIIDAE Semipalmated Plover (Thick-billed P) Charadrius semipalmatus: We had good looks at a half-dozen

birds from the coast. Killdeer Charadrius vociferus: One individual was spotted resting in a pasture along a small stream

from the lower Molleturo road, here of the resident race peruvianus. LARIDAE Grey-hooded Gull Larus cirrocephalus: We easily saw around 10 individuals gathering around the

shrimp ponds of the Santa Elena peninsula. Andean Gull Larus serranus: We had some outstanding views of a large flock of birds attracted to the

trout ponds near our accommodation at El Cajas N.P. Laughing Gull Larus atricilla: Up to 25 birds were observed mostly near the shrimp ponds of the

coastal plain. Royal Tern Sterna maxima: Up to 20 individuals were seen resting on one of the dried-up shrimp

pond beds. COLUMBIDAE Rock Pigeon (Rock Dove, Feral Pigeon) Columba livia: Regular sightings in towns and villages. Feral

populations of the Rock Pigeon exist in many Ecuadorian cities and towns, but none is known to exist in wild areas away from human habitation.

Band-tailed Pigeon Columba fasciata: The common pigeon at higher elevations.


Pale-vented Pigeon Columba cayennensis: Small numbers were found at Cerro Blanco and also near Ayampe. The scientific name refers to Cayenne or French Guyana, an epithet that in early ornithology usually indicated a species of otherwise unknown provenance.

Ruddy Pigeon Columba subvinacea: Two birds were seen at upper elevations of the Buenaventura reserve where it is rather rare.

Plumbeous Pigeon Columba plumbea: Four birds were seen quite well at Buenaventura, here of the subspecies chapmani which is restricted to the Chocó region.

Eared Dove Zenaida auriculata: Frequent sightings of the white-tipped race hypoleuca. West Peruvian Dove (Pacific D, Peruvian D) Zenaida meloda: We had excellent looks at up to 10

birds at Aguas Blancas on the Santa Elena peninsula. Ecuadorian Ground-Dove Columbina buckleyi: Regular sightings. Apart from the Tumbesian region

(where the nominate race is found) this species is also found in the Marañon Valley. Croaking Ground-Dove Columbina cruziana: A very handsome little dove, observed several times in

arid country. ‘Cruziana’ is an erroneous toponym after the city of Santa Cruz, Bolivia; this species is only found on the coast from south-western Colombia (Tumaco Island) to northern Chile.

Blue Ground-Dove Claravis pretiosa (H): Two birds were heard-only at Aguas Blancas. White-tipped Dove Leptotila verreauxi: A regularly encountered species of forest and woodland

edge. The subspecies concerned is decolor, showing a red instead of a greyish blue eyering. The bird is named after Jules Pierre Verreaux (1808-1873), a French collector, naturalist and natural history dealer, who also has (amongst others) an eagle, a coua and a turaco bearing his name.

Pallid Dove Leptotila pallida (NL): A single bird was glimpsed by a few of us just before it slipped away at Buenaventura. A so-called Chocó endemic (i.e. a species confined to the humid forests of western Colombia and western Ecuador).

Ochre-bellied Dove Leptotila ochraceiventris: At Buenaventura, a few of us at the front had an identifiable but untickable view of a single bird on the track just before it flushed. This Tumbesian endemic is a restricted-range species classified as Vulnerable.

Sapphire Quail-Dove Geotrygon saphirina (H): My fishing was eventually answered in the Shaime forest but unfortunately the bird was way out of reach.

White-throated Quail-Dove Geotrygon frenata (H): Regularly heard, but none to be seen despite a lengthy wait at a playback trap.

PSITTACIDAE Red-masked Parakeet Aratinga erythrogenys: Many encounters. Classified as Near-Threatened,

numbers of this Tumbesian endemic seem to have decreased precipitously over recent decades, likely in part due to the destruction of its habitat (only 2% of western Ecuador’s original dry forest cover is left!) and in part due to capture for the cage-bird trade. The enormous flocks of the old days largely seem to be a thing of the past.

White-eyed Parakeet (W-necked P) Aratinga leucophthalmus: The most numerous parakeet at Yankuam Lodge and at Shaime.

Golden-plumed Parakeet (G-p Parrot) Leptosittaca branickii: An individual at its nest allowed for very good scope views on its perch and we later saw several groups of birds in low flight and also perched on a dead, standing palm trunk. As we were told, the collection of palm leaves (of the trees they nest in) for the Palm Sunday ritual by nearby villagers forms a serious conservation problem. This restricted-range Andean species is classified as Vulnerable.

El Oro Parakeet Pyrrhura orcesi: In almost the same script as the previous species, we had a great look at a perched bird near its nest at Buenaventura. An endangered Ecuadorian endemic only first discovered by Paul Greenfield and others in 1980, and confined to a pretty


limited part of south-western Ecuador. The species is threatened by continued clearing of its already partly fragmented foothill forest habitat, and since several years the Jocotoco Foundation has been purchasing land for its conservation. The target size of its Buenaventura reserve is planned to be of 5000 hectares.

White-breasted Parakeet (White-necked P) Pyrrhura albipectus: A Bombuscaro speciality, a flock of five birds foraging in a low fruiting tree gave us unbeatable trailside views. Formerly considered to be an Ecuadorian endemic, there is now a published sight record of White-breasted Parakeet from the Peruvian side of the Cordillera del Condor, where its presence was expected. This restricted-range species is classified as Vulnerable.

Barred Parakeet Bolborhynchus lineola: A group of six birds were seen in flight from the mule track at Tapichalaca.

Pacific Parrotlet Forpus coelestis: Perhaps the most handsome in its genus, common in dry and semi-humid areas of the southwest.

Grey-cheeked Parakeet Brotogeris pyrrhopterus: Our best views were of a large flock of perched birds found north of Macará. A Tumbesian endemic whose status has recently taken a turn for the worse and is now given Endangered status due to its continued capture for the pet market, habitat loss and indiscriminate shooting by locals.

Cobalt-winged Parakeet Brotogeris cyanoptera: A party of five birds were seen at Shaime. Blue-headed Parrot Pionus menstruus: Six birds were seen between Zamora and the Nangaritza area.

This species is numerous in the Amazonian lowlands and in certain areas (e.g. Napo and Manu) large numbers regularly descend to feed on mineral-rich clay licks.

White-capped Parrot Pionus seniloides: We had some poor views of two flocks at Tapichalaca from along the main road.

Bronze-winged Parrot Pionus chalcopterus: We first had a couple of flocks of this Chocó endemic at Ayampe and later a group of 12 birds was seen at Buenaventura.

Red-lored Amazon (R-l Parrot) Amazona autumnalis: At Cerro Blanco we had good views of this species perched and in flight. Here the isolated and endemic race lilacina.

Scaly-naped Amazon (S-n Parrot) Amazona mercenaria: This species was surprisingly scarce this year at Tapichalaca where we only managed to see a couple of pairs in flight, but then one hardly ever sees this species perched. The only amazon in the cloudforests, sometimes also called the Mercenary Parrot (as in the scientific name), due to the plated, armoured appearance of the bird’s head and neck feathers, a feature of course impossible to pick up on distantly flying birds.

CUCULIDAE Black-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus erythropthalmus: One individual of this North American migrant was

seen at Cerro Blanco. Grey-capped Cuckoo Coccyzus lansbergi: After a couple of drawn-out battles at Cerro Blanco we

eventually nailed this skulker to the barn door with an excellent view in the understorey at Jorupe reserve. Named after J.W. Van Lansberge (1830-1905), Governor-General of the Dutch West Indies.

Squirrel Cuckoo Piaya cayana: Regular encounters at lower elevations. We saw the race mesura in the east and heard nigricrissa in the west. Among other features they differ in the colour of their orbital ring, the amount of black on the belly, and the coloration of the upperparts.

Little Cuckoo Piaya minuta: We first saw this species near Ayampe and later at Yankuam Lodge we had a good view of a second bird.

Smooth-billed Ani Crotophaga ani: Regular sightings, though loads of Crotophaga sp. were seen in marshy areas along the journey south of Guayaquil, many of which could have been this species. The generic name has been derived from the Greek words kroton, a tick, and


phagos, ‘eater’. In many parts of South America both this and the next species have the (false?) reputation of eating ticks off cattle, the reason for the recent introduction and spread of Smooth-billed Anis in the Galapagos Islands.

Groove-billed Ani Crotophaga sulcirostris: The most widespread ani in drier country in the west. Striped Cuckoo Tapera naevia (H): Two distant heard-only records from the Ayampe area. The only

parasitic cuckoo encountered on the tour, this species’ hosts mainly being Synallaxis spinetails.

STRIGIDAE West Peruvian Screech Owl Megascops roboratus (H): We had bad luck with this species this year

with rainy or misty nights during our stay at Macará and then at each of our stake-outs there were calling Spectacled Owls, a likely would-be predator of this smaller owl. Note that the AOU has now placed all New World Otus (except Flammulated Owl O. flammulatus) in the genus Megascops, following recent analyses of genetic and vocal characters.

White-throated Screech-Owl Megascops albogularis (H): A pair did not become vocally active until close to first-light at Tapichalaca, giving us only a tantalizing heard-only encounter and unfortunately our second attempt was rained out.

Andean Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium jardinii (H): A calling bird at El Cajas N.P was just too distant to spot and it would not come any closer despite our attempts to bring it in, but at least we got that chat-tyrant excited!

Pacific Pygmy-Owl (Peruvian P-O, West Peruvian P-O) Glaucidium peruanum: A most attractive little owl, regularly encountered in drier areas.

Spectacled Owl Pulsatrix perspicillata (H): Near Macará we had a couple of calling birds on two separate mornings but the birds’ placement made them impossible to find.

Band-bellied Owl Pulsatrix melanota (H): One bird was heard-only from likely across the river at Yankuam Lodge.

Rufous-banded Owl Strix albitarsis (H): Heard during our one owling outing at Tapichalaca but too distant to even get a lucky break.

STEATORNITHIDAE Oilbird Steatornis caripensis: We all had some great looks at several birds in the mouth of the

Shaime cave and then Pete and I went down into the cave where the large colony of up to 100 birds was very impressive and we found the swift-running stream that runs through the middle of the cave to be quite refreshing if you happen to slip on the smooth cave floor and fall flat on your back!

NYCTIBIIDAE Common Potoo (Grey P) Nyctibius griseus: Thanks to Brenda’s great spotting we all had incredible

close-ups of a bird roosting quite low and right next to the road at Cerro Blanco. Andean Potoo Nyctibius maculosus (H): Another probable casualty of all the rain we had this visit to

Tapichalaca. CAPRIMULGIDAE Rufous-bellied Nighthawk Lurocalis rufiventris: We had a bird initially respond at Tapichalaca with a

few of us glimpsing it in low flight only for it to instantly disappear. Pauraque (Common P) Nyctidromus albicollis: On our last morning at Buenaventura, we made a pre-

dawn drive along the entrance track seeing up to 10 individuals of this widespread nightjar.


Band-winged Nightjar Caprimulgus longirostris: A pre-dawn drive up to Cajanuma yielded great close-ups of birds both in flight and resting on the road, at least 6 in total. We also had a single individual on our last day at El Cajas N. P.

Blackish Nightjar Caprimulgus nigrescens: One of the great spectacles of the trip was watching the bizarre lekking behaviour of several males at dusk at Bombuscaro…and how about Augusto, our tireless guide who ran down the steep bank to drink out of the river, came back to tell us just how it would all go down and then impressed us all with his cycling prowess!

APODIDAE White-collared Swift Streptoprocne zonaris: Several encounters with flocks of the country’s largest

swift. Chestnut-collared Swift Streptoprocne rutilus: A few observations, probably our most interesting

sighting that of a small group of birds foraging over a torrential stream in the dry country north of Macará. Formerly placed in the genus Cypseloides. Both genera form the distinctive subfamily Cypseloidinae. They all show a distinct affinity for water and waterfalls as an essential ingredient of their nesting/roosting ecology.

Tumbes Swift Chaetura ocypetes: A small group of this Tumbesian endemic was seen at the Jorupe reserve.

Grey-rumped Swift Chaetura cinereiventris: A few observations at Copalinga Lodge and at Bombuscaro, here of the eastern race sclateri.

TROCHILIDAE Pale-tailed Barbthroat Threnetes niger: We were lucky with this species this tour having good views

of one bird at Shaime and a second at Bombuscaro. White-whiskered Hermit Phaethornis yaruqui: Another Chocó endemic, showing both in the forest

and at the feeders at Buenaventura. The first in an amazing total of 62 species of hummingbirds encountered on the tour, the vast majority of which were seen well by all! Read the hummingbird family account in Volume 5 of the Handbook of the Birds of the World (from here onward abbreviated as HBW) for an excellent summary of hummingbird biology.

Green Hermit Phaethornis guy (H): A few were seen at Shaime, Copalinga and at Bombuscaro, here of the subspecies apicalis.

Tawny-bellied Hermit Phaethornis syrmatophorus: A single bird was glimpsed by me and Nigel above Sozaranga at our saltator spot.

Baron’s Hermit Phaethornis baroni: Another Tumbesian endemic, showing beautifully at the Buenaventura feeders and also from the Molleturo road woodland. The species is named after O. T. Baron (1847-1926), German engineer in Peru and Ecuador.

Grey-chinned Hermit Phaethornis griseogularis: One was seen briefly at Bombuscaro by Coen and Brenda and unfortunately it did not return.

Stripe-throated Hermit Phaethornis striigularis: A single sighting in woodland during the tanager walk at Shaime.

White-tipped Sicklebill Eutoxeres aquila: Well worth the effort we put in at Buenaventura, with all of us enjoying truly stonking views of a perched bird vocalizing at an incredible volume. One of the great spectacles of the tour and a spectacular example of plant-pollinator co-evolution!

Blue-fronted Lancebill Doryfera johannae: A bird foraging at several flower clusters was seen in the Zamora area.

Grey-breasted Sabrewing Campylopterus largipennis: This was the dominant species on the Yankuam feeders.


White-necked Jacobin Florisuga mellivora: There were usually around 10 to 20 males present at any one time at the Buenaventura feeders. Prior to these feeders being put up there weren’t any records for western Ecuador south of eastern Guayas.

Brown Violetear Colibri delphinae: This species is now more numerous at the Buenaventura feeders than in the past with at least 20 birds present.

Sparkling Violetear Colibri coruscans: A few in the highlands. Coruscans is Latin for ‘twinkling’…but then that would have made a funny name for a hummer!

Black-throated Mango Anthracorax nigricollis: We first saw this species in the Engunga hills and the following day minimally had five birds during our woodstar quest.

Spangled Coquette Lophornis stictolophus: A female plumaged bird at Copalinga was certainly delightful and especially at such close range!

Wire-crested Thorntail Popelairia popelairii: We had terrific views of a female feeding on the Inga at Copalinga.

Green Thorntail Popelairia conversii: Numerous at the Buenaventura feeders, with great comparisons of male and female plumages.

Blue-tailed Emerald Chlorostilbon mellisugus: A single bird was seen once on the feeder at Yankuam Lodge before being chased off by the sabrewing.

Western Emerald Chlorostilbon melanorhynchus: A close relative of the previous, we recorded this species near Ayampe however this must be one of the first records for the area.

Fork-tailed Woodnymph Thalurania furcata: A few were seen at Bombuscaro. Emerald-bellied Woodnymph Thalurania hypochlora: Good views of both sexes at Buenaventura,

particularly at the feeders. Previously known as another ‘strict’ Ecuadorian endemic, there are now recent sight records from across the Peruvian border.

Violet-bellied Hummingbird Damophila julie: First seen in the Ayampe area and numerous at the Buenaventura feeders, here of the near-endemic race feliciana.

Tumbes Hummingbird Leucippus baeri: We had very good luck with this one, enjoying prolonged views of a perched bird this year near Macará. A restricted-range Tumbesian endemic.

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird Amazilia tzacatl: Quite a few at Buenaventura, mostly at the feeders. In Aztec mythology, the god of war and the sun is literally a hummingbird! Volume 5 of the HBW chops up Amazilia into several genera, but with this and the next two species remaining in the genus. The SACC does not follow this fragmenting of Amazilia until a published analysis provides rationale for the treatment.

Amazilia Hummingbird Amazilia amazilia: Over a dozen sightings on the coastal plain, here of the race dumerilii.

Loja Hummingbird Amazilia alticola: This one was observed at Catacocha as well as Yunguilla. The Birds of Ecuador keeps all forms in Amazilia Hummingbird, and more research is needed on the issue, in spite of a (rather weak) paper advocating the split being published in the nineties.

Andean Emerald Amazilia franciae: The race viridiceps was numerous at Buenaventura, especially at the feeder (over 50 individuals). HBW now assigns this species to Agyrtria.

Glittering-throated Emerald Amazilia fimbriata: Several females were seen at Buenaventura and a couple of nice males were visiting the Yankuam feeders as well as Catherine’s feeders near Bombuscaro. HBW 5 places this species in the genus Polyerata.

White-vented Plumeleteer Chalybura buffonii: One individual was a leader-only glimpse at Buenaventura, here of the isolated race intermedia, and unfortunately despite some lengthy feeder sessions we never spotted it again.

Speckled Hummingbird Adelomyia melanogenys: A few. In facial pattern a little reminiscent of a hermit (hence the name melanogenys = ‘black-cheeked’).


Ecuadorian Piedtail Phlogophilus hemileucurus: Two individuals of this devilishly-hard-to-see hummer were briefly seen entangled in a dispute at Bombuscaro but only by Pete and myself. This restricted-range species is classified as Near-Threatened.

Green-crowned Brilliant Heliodoxa jacula: Prominent and in a variety of plumages at Buenaventura, especially at the feeders.

Violet-fronted Brilliant Heliodoxa leadbeateri: Another one that was seen in a variety of plumages at the Copalinga feeders.

Black-throated Brilliant Heliodoxa schreibersii: This one figured highly on many peoples’ target list and thankfully the feeders at Copalinga came up trumps providing us with lengthy views of a perched bird. Nigel was most fortunate, seeing its full compliment of iridescent plumage.

Fawn-breasted Brilliant Heliodoxa rubinoides: Of this one we saw two races: at the Buenaventura feeders we found aequatorialis and on the east slope we observed the slightly larger race cervinigularis.

Ecuadorian Hillstar (Chimborazo H) Oreotrochilus chimborazo: Superb looks at this stunning high-elevation jewel, here of the race jamesonii, in which males have an entirely glittering purple hood. A hummer with a very interesting life history: to overcome the harshness of its habitat it goes into torpor at night to save energy! An ex-Ecuadorian endemic, and only recently first found in Colombia, on Volcán Chiles just across the border.

Shining Sunbeam Aglaeactis cupripennis: A brief look at this high Andean hummer below El Cajas N.P., here of the race parvulus.

Mountain Velvetbreast Lafresnaya lafresnayi: Unfortunately this species was only glimpsed at Cerro Toledo and then they were strangely scarce at El Cajas N.P.

Brown Inca Coeligena wilsoni: Two individuals were seen but only briefly along the trails at Buenaventura.

Collared Inca Coeligena torquata: Many good views of this lovely cloudforest hummer, here of the nominate race.

Buff-winged Starfrontlet Coeligena lutetiae: Good looks at this stunner visiting the feeders at Tapichalaca.

Rainbow Starfrontlet Coeligena iris: A splendid restricted-range species, of which we saw the almost all rufous nominate form in Loja province.

Chestnut-breasted Coronet Boissonneaua matthewsii: Repeated good views of this handsome east slope hummer.

Velvet-purple Coronet Boissonneaua jardini: This stunner eventually arrived at the Buenaventura feeders making us quickly forget at least for a moment the crowd of other hummers.

Amethyst-throated Sunangel Heliangelus amethysticollis: One of the more common east slope hummers, and we had excellent comparisons between this and the next species at the Tapichalaca feeders. The race concerned is laticlavius, and note that HBW 5 and the new Venezuela field guide now split off Venezuelan/Colombian birds as a separate species, Longuemare’s Sunangel H. clarisse.

Flame-throated Sunangel (Little S) Heliangelus micraster: Many brilliant views of this gorgeous cloudforest denizen at Tapichalaca. A species restricted to the North Peruvian EBA.

Purple-throated Sunangel Heliangelus viola: Great views of several birds in the Utuana area. Glowing Puffleg Eriocnemis vestitus: Great looks at birds literally ‘glowing’. Green-tailed Trainbearer Lesbia nuna: Two birds were seen near Utuana. Violet-throated Metaltail Metallura baroni: An Ecuadorian endemic with a pretty tiny range; it would

be interesting to know if this was the young male we saw last year that had moulted into adult plumage this year, anyway he granted nice close-ups at El Cajas N.P.

Neblina Metaltail Metallura odomae: Yes! We scored this highly localized species (only found in southernmost Ecuador and immediately adjacent Peru) on Cerro Toledo.


Tyrian Metaltail Metallura tyrianthina: A few, here of nominate race. Rufous-capped Thornbill Chalcostigma ruficeps: Excellent studies for everyone of perched and

displaying birds along the road at Tapichalaca. Rainbow-bearded Thornbill Chalcostigma herrani: Five birds in all from Cerro Toledo, with one

particular male feeding and perching incredibly close. The species is named after Pedro Alcántara Herran (1800-1872), President of the short-lived Republic of New Granada (cf. Black-throated Tody-Tyrant), 1841-1844.

Blue-mantled Thornbill Chalcostigma stanleyi: Another gorgeous high-elevation hummer, with two birds showing at El Cajas N. P. but oddly they never stayed put and not everyone saw this one.

Long-tailed Sylph Aglaiocercus kingi: We saw small numbers of the east slope race mocoa, with several stunning males performing beautifully at the Tapichalaca feeders.

Violet-tailed Sylph Aglaiocercus coelestis: A Chocó endemic and one of the star birds at Buenaventura, here of the endemic race aethereus. Males of this subspecies, endemic to El Oro and adjacent Loja, have a glittering green gorget, compared to a glittering blue one in nominate birds farther north.

Wedge-billed Hummingbird Schistes geoffroyi: Most of us got at least one good view of the three birds seen in the forest at Buenaventura. The race concerned is the distinctive (among other differences, females have an entirely white throat) and isolated albogularis, possibly representing a distinct species.

Purple-crowned Fairy Heliothryx barroti: A couple of birds were seen well at Buenaventura. Long-billed Starthroat Heliomaster longirostris: Scattered sightings from the west slope, from Ayampe

and Buenaventura. Purple-collared Woodstar Myrtis fanny (H): We heard the disctinctive vocalization of this species

above Vilcabamba and also at Yunguilla but despite some playback experiments and scanning we did not turn one up.

Short-tailed Woodstar Myrmia micrura: Up to three displaying males in the Engunga hills provided us with a wonderful spectacle as they raced skywards to the heavens only to rocket back onto their perch to show off their blazing gorgets. Wow!

White-bellied Woodstar Chaetocercus mulsant: Both male and female-plumaged birds were a highlight at the Tapichalaca feeders. Often placed in the genus Acestrura, but this one was merged into Chaetocercus in HBW.

Esmeraldas Woodstar Chaetocercus berlepschi: A nesting female adding spider web to her miniscule nest was actually a very important observation since very few nests are known of this species and then of course that splendid male on his display perch was also a great find!

TROGONIDAE Ecuadorian Trogon Trogon mesurus: A handsome Tumbesian endemic, showing well at Cerro

Blanco and again near Macará. Masked Trogon Trogon personatus: A male was seen very well through the scope at Tapichalaca. ALCEDINIDAE Ringed Kingfisher Megaceryle torquata: One was observed on the coastal plain, fishing the flooded

rice fields and this species was seen again in the eastern foothills. The New World Kingfishers are sometimes split off as a separate family, the Cerylidae.

Amazon Kingfisher Chloroceryle amazona: Fairly numerous along the Nangaritza river. Green Kingfisher Chloroceryle americana: One along the Rio Ayampe was our only record and

initially confused with the previous species it looked so large.


MOMOTIDAE Broad-billed Motmot Electron platyrhynchum: A single was seen at Buenaventura. Note that, while

nowadays motmots are confined to the New World tropics, a motmot-like Oligocene fossil from Switzerland, Protornis, suggests that the ancestral motmot originated in the Old World.

Rufous Motmot Baryphthengus martii (H): Heard-only at Buenaventura. Blue-crowned Motmot Momotus momota: Several were seen well at Aguas Blancas as well as in the

Buenaventura and Jorupe reserves. Also here more than one species may be involved, the birds we saw belonging to the isolated and near-endemic race argenticinctus.

GALBULIDAE Coppery-chested Jacamar Galbula pastazae: As if it was just waiting there for us! At Bombuscaro we

walked around a bend in the trail and there was this species perched a few feet off the ground over the trail. Populations of this restricted-range species are very localized and under threat warranting its classification as Vulnerable.

BUCCONIDAE Black-streaked Puffbird Malacoptila fulvogularis: Magnificent views of this east slope speciality at

Bombuscaro. CAPITONIDAE Gilded Barbet Capito auratus (H): A single bird was heard during our walk at Shaime. Many of the

widespread heard birds from our day trip to see the Orange-throated Tanager at Shaime were not pursued either due to being inaccessible, by our lack of time or simply because they did not fit into our list of targets.

Red-headed Barbet Eubucco bourcierii: Both sexes of the east slope race orientalis were seen inside the forest of Bombuscaro.

RAMPHASTIDAE Crimson-rumped Toucanet Aulacorhynchus haematopygus: Fantastic views of this malevolent nest

predator at Buenaventura. A headache for El Oro Parakeet conservation efforts as quite a few nests of this threatened psittacid succumb to the voracious toucanet.

Grey-breasted Mountain-Toucan Andigena hypoglauca (H): One was heard during our rail watch but it all too quickly moved off.

Channel-billed Toucan Ramphastos vitellinus: The croaking call of this large toucan was regularly heard at Yankuam Lodge where we had some good scope views of this species.

Choco Toucan Ramphastos brevis: In the Ayampe area we picked this one out calling amidst a group of the following species and the following day at Buenaventura we saw a second bird.

Chestnut-mandibled Toucan Ramphastos swainsonii: We saw small numbers at Ayampe, Buenaventura and most notably a vocalizing bird at Yankuam Lodge. Note that HBW 7 and Clements lump this one into Black-mandibled Toucan R. ambiguus.

PICIDAE Lafresnaye’s Piculet Picumnus lafresnayi: We had good views of several individuals in the eastern

foothills. Ecuadorian Piculet Picumnus sclateri: We eventually had some good looks at this Tumbesian

endemic near Macará. This restricted-range species (as well as quite a few other species and subspecies) was named in honour of Philip Sclater, a 19th century English ornithologist, collector, and author (e.g. wrote such works as The curassows (1875), A monograph of jacamars and puffbirds (1879), Argentine ornithology (1888), etc.).


Crimson-mantled Woodpecker Piculus rivolii: This extravagant woodpecker eventually granted good scope views at Tapichalaca.

Golden-olive Woodpecker Piculus rubiginosus: Of this one we saw two races, rubripileus in the west and (presumably) the larger buenaevistae on the east slope.

Yellow-tufted Woodpecker Melanerpes cruentatus: We had many good scope views of this splendid bird in the east.

Black-cheeked Woodpecker Melanerpes pucherani: We all had good scope studies in the Ayampe area.

Smoky-brown Woodpecker Veniliornis fumigatus: We did not catch up with this species until nearly the end of the trip at the Yunguilla reserve where two perched up nicely for us.

Red-stained Woodpecker Veniliornis affinis: We added this one to Catherine’s garden list and thankfully the bird vocalized just to confirm the sighting.

Scarlet-backed Woodpecker Veniliornis callonotus: Several encounters with this stunner in the arid southwest. The range of this species lies largely in the Tumbesian region, but there is an isolated population in the arid Rio Patía Valley in southern Colombia, so this smart bird doesn’t qualify as a Tumbesian endemic.

Guayaquil Woodpecker Campephilus gayaquilensis (H): We heard the double-knock of this species in the Ayampe area.

Crimson-bellied Woodpecker Campephilus haematogaster: A displaying and calling pair at Bombuscaro gave us all first-rate views!

FURNARIIDAE Bar-winged Cinclodes Cinclodes fuscus: This terrestrial furnariid was numerous at high elevations in

El Cajas N.P, birds here belonging to the race albiventris. The genus name translates as ‘resembling a dipper’.

Stout-billed Cinclodes Cinclodes excelsior: A very obliging bird at El Cajas N.P. allowed for nice comparisons with the previous species.

Pacific Hornero Furnarius cinnamomeus: Ubiquitous in dry and semi-humid areas in the west. Andean Tit-Spinetail Leptasthenura andicola: Another very responsive high-elevation furnariid at El

Cajas, allowing for great views. Azara’s Spinetail Synallaxis azarae: A frequently encountered bird (especially by voice), of which we

saw ochracea in the southwest and heard media on the east slope, see Ridgely & Greenfield for more details. Birds in this genus are typically skulkers of brushy edges, shrubby areas and/or forest understorey.

Dusky Spinetail Synallaxis moesta (NL): Bill happened to get a good view of this one from the Bombuscaro area.

Slaty Spinetail Synallaxis brachyura: Three birds at Ayampe gave us all a good look. Dark-breasted Spinetail Synallaxis albigularis: Good views of this species on the drive to Yankuam. Blackish-headed Spinetail (Black-faced S) Synallaxis tithys: A smart Tumbesian endemic, obliging

well near Macará. Birdlife’s Threatened Birds of the World gives this species Endangered status, and estimates the declining population to be between 2500 and 10000 birds

Rufous Spinetail Synallaxis unirufa: This cloud forest bird was seen very well near the trail at Tapichalaca. A species associated with the montane Chusquea bamboo.

White-browed Spinetail Hellmayrea gularis: Another Chusquea aficionado, showing well in response to the tape. Named after Carl Eduard Hellmayr (1878-1944), a German/US ornithologist and author of the Catalogue of Birds of the Americas, 1924, a classic work that is still a very important reference for anyone with a serious interest in the taxonomy and distribution of Neotropical birds.


Line-cheeked Spinetail (Fraser’s S) Cranioleuca antisiensis: This one showed brilliantly in the Sozoranga-Utuana area. Named after the Andes mountains, which derive their name from the Inca word anti meaning copper (which was mined a lot in the Andes). Unlike Synallaxis spinetails, members of this genus are typically arboreal, often favouring vine tangles in mid-storey and subcanopy.

Mouse-coloured Thistletail Schizoeaca griseomurina: Immediate response to the tape near the top of the Cerro Toledo road, resulting in splendid close-ups. More birds were seen at Tapichalaca, where strangely they lack any eye-ring. A species restricted to the mountains of southern Ecuador and northern Peru.

Many-striped Canastero Asthenes flammulata: Brilliant scope views of this smart paramo denizen at El Cajas N.P.

Equatorial Greytail Xenerpestes singularis (H): A hard-to-see canopy species that was heard moving quickly with the big mixed flock at Bombuscaro that eluded us.

Streaked Tuftedcheek Pseudocolaptes boissonneautii: We all had good views of this striking bromeliad specialist at Tapichalaca.

Pacific Tuftedcheek Pseudocolaptes johnsoni (H): We tried painfully hard for this one at Buenaventura where we eventually got a bird to vocalize but it just refused to play.

Pearled Treerunner Margarornis squamiger: A very handsome cloudforest bird, giving many good views.

Spotted Barbtail Premnoplex brunnescens: We all had very good views of this retiring species at Buenaventura.

Rufous-necked Foliage-gleaner Syndactyla ruficollis (H): This Tumbesian endemic showed nicely for us near Macará. Formerly incorrectly placed in the genus Automolus.

Scaly-throated Foliage-gleaner (Spectacled F-g) Anabacerthia variegaticeps: A common member of mixed canopy flocks at Buenaventura.

Montane Foliage-gleaner Anabacerthia striaticollis: Small numbers on the east slope at Bombuscaro where it replaces the previous species.

Dusky-cheeked Foliage-gleaner (Bamboo F-G, Crested F-G) Anabazenops dorsalis: A surprisingly spontaneous sighting of this species just as we crossed the high beam stream.

Henna-hooded Foliage-gleaner Hylocryptus erythrocephalus: We had unbeatable scope views of this handsome and threatened skulker; a Tumbesian endemic given Vulnerable status due to deforestation in its small range.

Black-billed Treehunter Thripadectes melanorhynchus (H): One was heard at Bombuscaro during the dawn chorus.

Streaked Xenops Xenops rutilans: Around Ayampe and Buenaventura we saw the western race guayae. The Rio Guayas is formed by the confluence of the Daule and Babahoyo rivers and has an enormous estuary near Guayaquil.

DENDROCOLAPTIDAE Plain-brown Woodcreeper Dendrocincla fuliginosa (H): A single bird was heard giving its alternate

call at Buenaventura. Most recent classifications now consider the woodcreepers and furnariids as members of the same family based on genetic data (e.g. SACC), however subfamily status remains to be worked out.

Wedge-billed Woodcreeper Glyphorynchus spirurus: A few. The smallest in the family. Olivaceous Woodcreeper Sittasomus griseicapillus: Two subspecies were encountered. The isolated

aequatorialis is an inhabitant of semi-humid (moist) forest in the west, and showed well at Cerro Blanco and Ayampe. At Bombuscaro we saw the Amazonian race amazonus, which is larger and considerably darker than aequatorialis, and is more greyish below. Vocalizations also differ strikingly. Vocal and plumage variation in Sittasomus is very complex, and at least four species seem to be involved, but more work is needed.


Rusty-breasted Woodcreeper Xiphocolaptes orenocensis (H): We heard the fast song of the eastern foothill form at Bombuscaro. More than one species are likely involved.

Spotted Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus erythropygius: We saw this one at Buenaventura where it is a fairly common forest bird.

Streak-headed Woodcreeper Lepidocolaptes souleyetii: Regularly seen/heard in the west. Named after F.L.A. Souleyet, a 19th century French naval surgeon and naturalist in the Pacific.

Red-billed Scythebill Campylorhamphus trochilirostris: This striking woodcreeper showed well to most of us at the Jorupe reserve. The race concerned is the isolated and near-endemic thoracicus.

Brown-billed Scythebill Campylorhamphus pusillus: This bromeliad-prober showed well at Buenaventura in response to playback.

THAMNOPHILIDAE Great Antshrike Taraba major: A female was seen briefly in the rank undergrowth along the

Molleturo road. Collared Antshrike Sakesphorus bernardi: A most clownesque and attractive bird, common in the

deciduous forests and with both sexes granting good views. A species found in two EBAs, the Tumbesian region and (the race shumbae, likely a different species) in a limited part of the dry Marañon Valley in Northern Peru (some of you may have seen this one near Bagua).

Lined Antshrike Thamnophilus tenuepunctatus: We all had excellent views of this lovely bird at Yankuam and again at Copalinga Lodge.

Chapman’s Antshrike Thamnophilus zarumae: This montane Tumbesian endemic was formerly considered a subspecies of the Barred Antshrike T. doliatus, but differs in vocalizations, plumage and eye colour. Chapman was the author of The Distribution of Birdlife in Ecuador (1926), the only work of this kind and depth that until recently had been written on the country’s avifauna. The species name is derived from the attractive little town up the road from Buenaventura.

Uniform Antshrike Thamnophilus unicolor: We all had great views of a pair of responsive birds at Buenaventura, here of the nominate race.

Plain-winged Antshrike Thamnophilus schistaceus (H): A couple of birds were heard but not pursued during our walk above Shaime.

Western Slaty-Antshrike Thamnophilus atrinucha: We had good views of both sexes in the lower part of the Buenaventura reserve.

Russet Antshrike Thamnistes anabatinus: Up to five individuals were seen at different elevations of Buenaventura.

Plain Antvireo Dysithamnus mentalis: We had good views of the western race aequatorialis at Buenaventura.

Pygmy Antwren Myrmotherula brachyura (H): Another heard but not pursued record from Shaime. Stripe-chested Antwren Myrmotherula longicauda (H): Above Shaime we had an individual calling

fairly close to the trail but couldn’t get it to reveal itself. Checker-throated Antwren Epinecrophylla fulviventris: One individual of this drab understorey

species was seen at Buenaventura. Note the Islers named a new genus for this group of stipple throated antwrens, many of which are dead-leaf specialists.

Foothill Antwren Epinecrophylla spodionota (H): Despite some intensive playback attempts at Shaime we were not able to see a calling bird.

Slaty Antwren Myrmotherula schisticolor: Two at Buenaventura, here of the nominate race. Long-tailed Antbird Drymophila caudata (H): We were unable to see an unresponsive pair at

Tapichalaca.


Blackish Antbird Cercomacra nigrescens: We had good views of a responsive pair in the Amazonian foothills of Bombuscaro, here the subspecies aequatorialis. Note that the lowland form fuscicauda likely represents a separate species with the vernacular Riparian Antbird sometimes used for it.

White-browed Antbird Myrmoborus leucophrys (H): Heard but not pursued at Shaime. Black-faced Antbird Myrmoborus myotherinus: One at Shaime showed well in response to the tape. Peruvian Warbling-Antbird Hypocnemis peruviana: This yellow bellied form was seen well by a few

of us behind Yankuam Lodge; note that the formerly enlarged Warbling Antbird H. cantator is now known to consist of six species as per a recent publication.

Spot-backed Antbird Hylophylax naevia (H): One unresponsive bird was heard at Shaime. White-backed Fire-eye Pyriglena leuconota (H): Strangely despite our best fishing we never even

heard this species at Cerro Blanco and then at Ayampe we heard two roadside birds that were inaccessible.

Grey-headed Antbird Myrmeciza griseiceps: A great performance by the bird and the group with all of us working together to have great views of this Tumbesian endemic at Utuana on our very first try. A favourite of Bill and Brenda, classified as Vulnerable.

Immaculate Antbird Myrmeciza immaculata (H): One heard-only record from Buenaventura. Esmeraldas Antbird Myrmeciza nigricauda: We all had great close-up views of a responsive male of

this Chocó endemic at Buenaventura. FORMICARIIDAE Black-faced Antthrush Formicarius analis (H): A couple of birds were heard distantly at Shaime. Short-tailed Antthrush Chamaeza campanisona (H): A distant heard at Shaime. Undulated Antpitta Grallaria squamigera: One individual was glimpsed on the trail by a couple of us

at the front while at Cajanuma. Plain-backed Antpitta Grallaria haplonota (H): We heard two races, the west slope parambae at

Buenaventura and the east slope chaplinae at Bombuscaro. Chestnut-crowned Antpitta Grallaria ruficapilla: Frequently heard, and pre-dawn above Sozoranga

we had mind-boggling views of a bird that ran into the road and stopped in the van’s headlights!

Watkins’s Antpitta (Scrub A) Grallaria watkinsi: In the southwest replacing the previous species at lower elevations, this smart antpitta gave away fantastic views above Macará. A restricted-range Tumbesian endemic.

Jocotoco Antpitta Grallaria ridgelyi: Wow! Our close-up views of ‘Bevi and the gang’ were just out of this world! To this day there are still only about 20 known territories of this species and congratulations to the Jocotoco Foundation for having purchased and protected about 5000 hectares of forest in its range! For those interested it is easy enough to google and download its original description by Niels Krabbe et al. published in The Auk (October 1999). The publication illustrates one of the “rigid, loose-barbed and glossy-shafted cheek feathers”, unknown from any other antpitta.

Chestnut-naped Antpitta Grallaria nuchalis: This was Act II in the antpitta spectacle at Tapichalaca with the bird coming in to feed at incredibly close range after Franco had whistled it in.

Rufous Antpitta Grallaria rufula: At El Cajas N.P., this handsome fellow was not about to let go of his earthworm prize, in fact he probably wanted to show it off to the would-be intruder! Here the nominate race, several species likely being involved.

Tawny Antpitta Grallaria quitensis: The only antpitta in the open paramo, granting excellent views in El Cajas N.P.

Thrush-like Antpitta Myrmothera campanisona (H): We tried to call in an unresponsive bird at Shaime.


Ochre-breasted Antpitta Grallaricula flavirostris (H): At Buenaventura this species was almost totally quiet during our visit and completely unresponsive.

RHINOCRYPTIDAE Elegant Crescentchest Melanopareia elegans: We had three sightings in all of this ornate skulker in

the Ayampe area and in the dry country of the Vilcabamba area. Blackish Tapaculo Scytalopus latrans: The Tumbesian race subcinereus was frequently heard, and

we although we first saw it at Utuana, our best views were certainly of the singing bird seen through the scope at Yunguilla. The race subcinereus itself may actually represent a distinct species.

El Oro Tapaculo (Ecuadorian T) Scytalopus atratus (H): Another sneaky skulker, and in spite of trying hard the bird never showed. Named after Mark Robbins, who did a lot of work on the Status and Distribution volume of The Birds of Ecuador.

Chusquea Tapaculo Scytalopus parkeri: A common species of temperate and upper subtropical forests on the east slope, this one behaved well at Tapichalaca. Another species found only in the mountains of southern Ecuador and adjacent northern Peru. Only recently described, the scientific name was given in honour of Ted Parker (1953-1993), Neotropical ornithological legend, who died in an unfortunate plane crash now over ten years ago. The English name refers to the common genus of montane bamboo that this species has a strong affiliation with.

Paramo Tapaculo Scytalopus canus: One was seen briefly at Cerro Toledo. Ocellated Tapaculo Acropternis orthonyx: What must have been a very aggressive male performed

surprisingly well for us given the vegetative circumstances we were dealt, with eventually everyone getting a good view of the bird in thick bamboo. What a bird! Acropternis is ancient Greek for ‘pointed ankle’, referring to the straight, spiky hind-claw of this species. One of Bill’s favourites.

TYRANNIDAE Sooty-headed Tyrannulet Phyllomyias griseiceps: A common bird by voice in the Ayampe area

where we saw at least two birds very well. Black-capped Tyrannulet Phyllomyias nigrocapillus: First seen at Cerro Toledo and we all had a good

look at this one with a flock at Tapichalaca. Ashy-headed Tyrannulet Phyllomyias cinereiceps: At Buenaventura a responsive bird showed fairly

well in the canopy and some of us had scope views of it, here at the southern edge of its trans-Andean range. In fact, Buenaventura is still the only known El Oro locality.

Loja Tyrannulet Zimmerius flavidifrons: Another Tumbesian endemic, seen at Buenaventura and also near Utuana. The genus is named in honour of John Zimmer (1889-1957), a US ornithologist who (among other works) wrote the monumental Studies of Peruvian Birds (1931).

Southern Beardless Tyrannulet Camptostoma obsoletum: Common in the west, here of the race sclateri. A taxonomic mess, likely consisting of more than one species.

Tumbesian Tyrannulet Phaeomyias tumbezana: We had good looks at this speciality at several sites including the Catacocha area and from the arid country above Vilcabamba.

Yellow-crowned Tyrannulet Tyrannulus elatus: We had a good look at the ‘free-beer’ bird at Copalinga.

Foothill Elaenia Myiopagis olallai: Good looks at a responsive bird at Bombuscaro, at the very spot where the late Paul Coopmans discovered this species now nearly sixteen years ago.

Pacific Elaenia Myiopagis subplacens: Another Tumbesian endemic, seen at Ayampe and Macará. Yellow-bellied Elaenia Elaenia flavogaster: A few.


Mottle-backed Elaenia Elaenia gigas: Good scope views of birds at Shaime and Copalinga. The crest is a bit reminiscent of that of a Harpy Eagle.

White-crested Elaenia Elaenia albiceps: A common bird in the Utuana area, here of the race griseigularis. More than one species may be involved.

White-throated Tyrannulet Mecocerculus leucophrys: One at El Cajas, here of the race rufomarginatus.

White-banded Tyrannulet Mecocerculus stictopterus: Small numbers were heard in temperate forest, and one was seen at Cerro Toledo after calling it in with playback.

White-tailed Tyrannulet Mecocerculus poecilocercus: A smaller version of the previous species, replacing it at lower elevations, we saw a vocalizing bird well in the Sozoranga-Utuana area.

Torrent Tyrannulet Serpophaga cinerea (NL): A perky little flycatcher of rushing mountain streams, seen at Buenaventura.

Tufted Tit-Tyrant Anairetes parulus: This more widespread relative of the following species showed very well in the low scrub near our accommodation at El Cajas.

Black-crested Tit-Tyrant (Marañon T-T) Anairetes nigrocristatus: One of the highlights of our birding in the Utuana area was this little stunner showing perfectly. This Peruvian ex-endemic and restricted-range species was only first found in Ecuador in the late eighties.

Tawny-crowned Pygmy-Tyrant Euscarthmus meloryphus: This tiny flycatcher was observed in arid scrub in the Engunga hills and at the Jorupe reserve. Birds here belong to the buff-faced and isolated race fulviceps of SW Ecuador and W Peru.

Olive-striped Flycatcher Mionectes olivaceus: A bird of the western race hederaceus was seen at Buenaventura.

Slaty-capped Flycatcher Leptopogon superciliaris: We had daily sightings of several at Buenaventura, here of the western race transandinus.

Ecuadorian Tyrannulet (E Bristle-Tyrant) Phylloscartes gualaquizae: This canopy species was seen only briefly in a mixed flock at Bombuscaro. Gualaquiza is a town some distance north of Zamora.

Bronze-olive Pygmy-Tyrant Pseudotriccus pelzelni: Fine close-ups of this species at Buenaventura. Rufous-headed Pygmy-Tyrant Pseudotriccus ruficeps: A lovely little flycatcher of Chusquea bamboo,

with two showing well together at Cajanuma. Scale-crested Pygmy-Tyrant Lophotriccus pileatus: Repeated good looks at the western race

squamaecrista at Buenaventura. White-eyed Tody-Tyrant Hemitriccus zosterops: At Shaime we had a very good view of this small

subcanopy tyrannid. Black-throated Tody-Tyrant Hemitriccus granadensis: Excellent looks at a very obliging bird of the

buff-lored race pyrrhops at Tapichalaca. Named after New Granada, a former republic of South America (early 19th century), variously incorporating Panama, Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador.

Rufous-crowned Tody-Flycatcher (R-c Tody-Tyrant) Poecilotriccus ruficeps: A very pretty cloudforest flycatcher showing very well at Utuana.

Golden-winged Tody-Flycatcher Poecilotriccus calopterus: Only a few of us had a good look at this retiring species and it eluded most of us despite our tries with several different birds.

Common Tody-Flycatcher Todirostrum cinereum: Several sightings of the white-throated and usually pale-eyed race sclateri in the west, while on the east slope we saw the yellow-throated subspecies peruanum.

Brownish Twistwing (B Flycatcher) Cnipodectes subbrunneus: One was glimpsed by only a few of us in a dense thicket below the track at Buenaventura.


Yellow-olive Flatbill (Y-o Flycatcher) Tolmomyias sulphurescens: We saw the isolated Tumbesian race aequatorialis in the west. Keep track of where you see this species, since it is a likely candidate for future break-up.

Olive-faced Flatbill (O-f Flycatcher) Tolmomyias viridiceps: We had good scope views of this species at Yankuam Lodge.

White-throated Spadebill Platyrinchus mystaceus: Brilliant looks at the western race albogularis at Buenaventura and some of us saw an uncooperative bird at Bombuscaro of the eastern race zamorae.

Pacific Royal Flycatcher Onychorhynchus occidentalis: An eleventh-hour, exhilarating golazo in the Molleturo woodland. A near-endemic and red list species, and one of the residues of the (depending on the authority) three- or four-way split of the original, enlarged Royal Flycatcher O. coronatus.

Ornate Flycatcher Myiotriccus ornatus: An aptly-named and delightful little bird. We saw two races, phoenicurus on the east slope (with an all rufous tail) and stellatus on the west slope (tail dusky, showing rufous only at its base).

Cinnamon Neopipo (C Manakin-Tyrant C Tyrant-Manakin) Neopipo cinnamomea: This rarely seen speciality was one of the great finds at Shaime. It is poorly known and only recently have taxonomists come to the conclusion that it is a flycatcher and not in fact a manakin. Note that the SACC has recently passed a resolution to call this strange forest bird the Cinnamon Manakin-Tyrant! Based on its behaviour, I would not be surprised if it is in fact a throwback to one of the Old World families as we have recently seen with a few other Neotropical birds.

Ruddy-tailed Flycatcher Terenotriccus erythrurus: One showed well at Bombuscaro, here at the upper limit of this species’ elevational range.

Sulphur-rumped Flycatcher Myiobius sulphureipygius: Two sightings of this species from Buenaventura.

Tawny-breasted Flycatcher Myiobius villosus: We had very good views of this foothill flycatcher at Bombuscaro.

Orange-crested Flycatcher Myiophobus phoenicomitra: A rather nondescript forest flycatcher, responding well to the tape at Bombuscaro. Restricted-range.

Bran-coloured Flycatcher Myiophobus fasciatus: We had at least two sightings in the west with the distinctive race crypterythrus, which has dull brown rather than reddish upperparts. From the east we saw what was likely the nominate race at Yankuam Lodge.

Olive-chested Flycatcher Myiophobus cryptoxanthus: A total of about 8 birds were seen at Yankuam Lodge and in the Zamora area. A species which has increased in numbers due to deforestation and increased pasturage.

Orange-banded Flycatcher Myiophobus lintoni: We had lengthy scope views of a bird vigorously singing at dawn and the following day we ran into a flock that seemed to mostly consist of this species providing us with excellent views of this smart looking flycatcher. This restricted-range species’ range is confined to the mountains of southern Ecuador and northern Peru. Classified as Near-Threatened.

Cinnamon Flycatcher Pyrrhomyias cinnamomea: Small numbers of the race pyrrhoptera were found on the east slope.

Western Wood-Pewee Contopus sordidulus: Quite common around Shaime. Tumbes Pewee Contopus punensis: We first saw this one near Ayampe and saw others near Macará

and Yunguilla. Olive-sided Flycatcher Contopus cooperi: This boreal migrant was scoped at Ayampe, Shaime and

Bombuscaro. Alder Flycatcher Empidonax alnorum: Most of us had a good look at this migrant in the cattle

pastures near Shaime.


Grey-breasted Flycatcher Lathrotriccus griseipectus: Great looks at this Tumbesian endemic at Cerro Blanco. Classified as Vulnerable.

Black Phoebe Sayornis nigricans: Regular encounters with this riverine species. Vermilion Flycatcher Pyrocephalus rubinus: One of the prettiest in the family. Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant Ochthoeca fumicolor: Several birds were observed in open country of El

Cajas NP. Here the white-browed race brunneifrons, more than one species possibly being involved (see Ridgely & Tudor, Vol. II).

Rufous-breasted Chat-Tyrant Ochthoeca rufipectoralis: A few sightings in the temperate cloud forest of Tapichalaca, here of the race obfuscata.

Slaty-backed Chat-Tyrant Ochthoeca cinnamomeiventris (H): One was heard at Tapichalaca but refused to respond.

Crowned Chat-Tyrant Silvicultrix frontalis: Excellent close-ups at El Cajas NP. Note that birds south of the Marañon are often split off as a separate species, Peruvian (or Kalinowski’s) Chat-Tyrant S. spodionota.

Jelski’s Chat-Tyrant Silvicultrix jelskii: Another Tumbesian endemic, eventually seen well by all near Utuana but it took some work!

Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant Agriornis montana: A distant bird was scoped at El Cajas N.P. Paramo Ground-Tyrant Muscisaxicola alpina: We scoped a bird from the road at El Cajas N.P. for

reasonably good views. Rufous-tailed Tyrant Knipolegus poecilurus: We all had repeated good looks of two birds as they

foraged in shrubby roadside vegetation below Tapichalaca. Long-tailed Tyrant Colonia colonus: Numerous sightings between Zamora and Shaime. Masked Water-Tyrant Fluvicola nengeta: A very attractive, almost wheatear-like terrestrial flycatcher,

showing well in the marshes along the lower Molleturo road. Ochraceous Attila Attila torridus: This range-restricted, west-slope, near-endemic was seen brilliantly

in the Buenaventura area. Classified as Vulnerable. Its small population is declining, its range is largely fragmented and it occurs in only a handful of protected areas.

Bright-rumped Attila Attila spadiceus (H): Heard but not pursued at Shaime. Dusky-capped Flycatcher Myiarchus tuberculifer: Regularly heard and three were seen at Yunguilla

on the west slope, here of the race atriceps. One of the most widespread species in the Americas, ranging from the south-western USA into Argentina. However, a recent paper shows that more than one species may be involved.

Sooty-crowned Flycatcher Myiarchus phaeocephalus: Another Tumbesian/Marañon endemic, showing very well at Cerro Blanco and the Engunga hills.

Boat-billed Flycatcher Megarynchus pitangua: Regular encounters with the western race chrysogaster and a few birds of the nominate in the east were also seen.

Social Flycatcher Myiozetetes similis: Two races were seen, the nominate subspecies in the east and the near-endemic grandis in the west. There are some differences in vocalizations.

Rusty-margined Flycatcher Myiozetetes cayanensis: A few birds were encountered in the western lowlands and foothills.

Lemon-browed Flycatcher Conopias cinchoneti: We had good views through the scope of a bird waving an incredibly large piece of nesting material held in its bill and calling at the same time at Bombuscaro.

Streaked Flycatcher Myiodynastes maculatus: Regular sightings in the west. Baird’s Flycatcher Myiodynastes bairdii: A handsome bird of dry forest and desert scrub, showing

well near Ayampe and Macará. It does not qualify as a Tumbesian endemic since it ranges as far south as the northern part of the Department of Lima in Peru.

Piratic Flycatcher Legatus leucophaius (H): Heard at several sites but not pursued. Tropical Kingbird Tyrannus melancholicus: Ubiquitous at lower elevations.


Snowy-throated Kingbird Tyrannus niveigularis: This species seemed relatively common in the drier areas of the Santa Elena peninsula at the time of our visit. A bird breeding in desert scrub, shrubby areas, and deciduous woodland borders in the more arid lowlands of western Ecuador, this species disperses north into more humid areas during the non-breeding season.

Yellow-cheeked Becard Pachyramphus xanthogenys: There was just the one sighting of the flighty pair at Shaime.

Slaty Becard Pachyramphus spodiurus: Great scope views of a male of this Tumbesian endemic above Macará, given Endangered status due to habitat loss.

White-winged Becard Pachyramphus polychopterus (H): A heard-but-not-pursued bird from Shaime. Black-and-white Becard Pachyramphus albogriseus: Several encounters with the western race

guayaquilensis, with our best views in the woodland near Macará. One-coloured Becard Platypsaris homochrous: Good views of adult male, immature male and

female plumages. Masked Tityra Tityra semifasciata: Two sightings from either slope, from Ayampe and Yankuam

Lodge. COTINGIDAE Red-crested Cotinga Ampelion rubrocristatus: We had good views of this species on Cerro Toledo

and also at El Cajas N.P. Barred Fruiteater Pipreola arcuata: A pair showed brilliantly at Cajanuma. Green-and-black Fruiteater Pipreola riefferii: A calling bird was seen at Tapichalaca. Scaled Fruiteater Ampelioides tschudii: A female at Buenaventura was surprisingly cooperative,

indeed it seemed almost tame when foraging right next to the trail so close that you certainly did not need your bins.

Amazonian Umbrellabird Cephalopterus ornatus: A female perched near the trail was a nice way to end the day at Bombuscaro thanks to Brenda’s good spotting. Interestingly this species seems to have two populations in Ecuador and Peru, one in riverine habitats in the eastern lowlands, and another one in the foothills. Apparently they are not in contact.

Long-wattled Umbrellabird Cephalopterus penduliger: After a short wait a superb male flew in and gave us all unforgettable views, a once-in-a-lifetime experience high on the list of even the most experienced Neotropical birder. This Chocó endemic has suffered from massive deforestation in western Ecuador over the second half of the 20th century. Classified as Vulnerable.

Andean Cock-of-the-Rock Rupicola peruviana: After only glimpsing a male at Bombuscaro we were all thrilled to find a small but wonderful lek of males near the roadside on our last morning in the area. Coen’s bird-of-the-trip!

PIPRIDAE White-bearded Manakin Manacus manacus: A few of us saw a couple of males during our Ayampe

and Buenaventura birding. Club-winged Manakin Machaeropterus deliciosus: Fantastic views of a displaying male at their lek at

Buenaventura. CORVIDAE Turquoise Jay Cyanolyca turcosa: Good views of this near-endemic at Tapichalaca and we happened

onto another during the drive from Zamora to Santa Isabel. Violaceous Jay Cyanocorax violaceus: Numerous between Zamora and Yankuam Lodge. White-tailed Jay Cyanocorax mystacalis: Fabulous views of this awesome Tumbesian endemic at

Cerro Blanco and Jorupe.


Inca Jay Cyanocorax yncas: Several encounters with this stunner on the east slope. VIREONIDAE Rufous-browed Peppershrike Cyclarhis gujanensis: In the south-western lowlands and foothills we

saw the Tumbesian race virenticeps, with a striking bright olive crown, long deep chestnut supercilium and bright lemon yellow breast.

Slaty-capped Shrike-Vireo Vireolanius leucotis (H): At Bombuscaro we heard this one in that big mixed flock that gave us the slip.

Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus: This widespread species was particularly numerous at Cerro Blanco, here of the resident breeding race griseobarbatus. We regularly heard/saw small numbers of this subspecies elsewhere in the west.

Brown-capped Vireo Vireo leucophrys: We had a couple of encounters with this species of humid montane and pre-montane forests at Buenaventura and Sozoranga.

Lesser Greenlet Hylophilus decurtatus: A fairly common bird with mixed flocks at Buenaventura. Olivaceous Greenlet Hylophilus olivaceus: We had great views of singing birds around Yankuam

Lodge. TURDIDAE Andean Solitaire Myadestes ralloides (H): A few were heard at Buenaventura. Slaty-backed Nightingale-Thrush Catharus fuscater: A common voice in the Utuana area where we

eventually saw one bird. Swainson’s Thrush Catharus ustulatus: Singles were seen at Buenaventura and Bombuscaro. Chiguanco Thrush Turdus chiguanco: A few were seen in the area of Gonzanamá (turn at the cow!)

and also one was seen in the Cuenca area. Great Thrush Turdus fuscater: A ubiquitous highland species, here of the race gigantodes. Glossy-black Thrush Turdus serranus: A single bird was seen on our last morning at Utuana. Plumbeous-backed Thrush Turdus reevei: Another Tumbesian endemic and one of South America’s

most beautiful thrushes. We found it to be numerous in the deciduous forests of south-western Loja province.

Black-billed Thrush Turdus ignobilis: Most abundant around Shaime, and also seen around Zamora and Valladolid. A quite aptly chosen scientific name: ignobilis stands for ‘obscure, undistinguished’. Here the Amazonian race debilis.

Ecuadorian Thrush Turdus maculirostris: Regular observations in the west. White-necked Thrush Turdus albicollis: Call notes from one bird were heard at Bombuscaro. MIMIDAE Long-tailed Mockingbird Mimus longicaudatus: Numerous in the more arid habitats of the southwest.

This species, found along the coast from Ecuador into Peru, seems to be the closest living relative of the mockingbirds found in the Galapagos Islands.

HIRUNDINIDAE Grey-breasted Martin Progne chalybea: Regular sightings. Blue-and-white Swallow Notiochelidon cyanoleuca: Common and widespread, here of the resident,

nominate race. White-banded Swallow Atticora fasciata: Numerous on the drive to Yankuam Lodge and over the

Nangaritza river. An elegant species of the Amazon basin, reaching up into the foothills along some of the larger rivers.

White-thighed Swallow Neochelidon tibialis: Small numbers were seen around Yankuam Lodge. Southern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx ruficollis: Scattered sightings, mainly in the west but

also fairly numerous between Zamora and Yankuam Lodge.


Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica: Our highest count was 50 over the rice fields of the coastal plain south of Guayaquil.

Chestnut-collared Swallow Petrochelidon rufocollaris: This pretty swallow is a major attraction for birders at the eco-friendly church of Sozoranga.

TROGLODYTIDAE Thrush-like Wren Campylorhynchus turdinus: Two were seen in the fragmented tree canopy of the

pasture areas near Shaime. Fasciated Wren Campylorhynchus fasciatus: Common and noisy in deciduous forests and scrub in

the southwest. Rufous Wren Cinnycerthia unirufa: Excellent looks at a family party of this melodious species. The

genus name is a contraction of Cinnyris, sunbird, and Certhia, treecreeper, cf. the brown, creeper-like plumage and the curved, sunbird-like bill.

Grass Wren (Sedge W) Cistothorus platensis: This widespread species was seen very well at El Cajas N.P. Here the comparatively long-tailed aequatorialis race, one of the South American subspecies that seem to be quite different from the North American stellaris group; several species are likely involved but the details remain to be worked out.

Bay Wren Thryothorus nigricapillus: A common songster at Buenaventura, with many birds seen well. Birds here belong to the nominate race, largely barred below and quite different-looking from birds in e.g. Costa Rica.

Plain-tailed Wren Thryothorus euophrys: A species inhabiting Chusquea bamboo in the temperate forests. We obtained good views of a very responsive bird at Cerro Toledo and heard its wonderful duets at Tapichalaca Reserve.

Whiskered Wren Thryothorus mystacalis: Another one with a pretty song, seen brilliantly at Buenaventura.

Coraya Wren Thryothorus coraya (H): Several birds were heard-but-not-pursued at Shaime. Superciliated Wren Thryothorus superciliaris: This handsome scrub specialty was seen very well at

Ayampe. Speckle-breasted Wren Thryothorus sclateri: The Tumbesian race paucimaculatus was seen at Cerro

Blanco and Ayampe. House Wren Troglodytes aedon: Numerous and widespread. Mountain Wren Troglodytes solstitialis: A montane relative of the previous species, seen well a

couple of times at Tapichalaca. White-breasted Wood-Wren Henicorhina leucosticta (H): One was heard in the Bombuscaro area. Grey-breasted Wood-Wren Henicorhina leucophrys: At Buenaventura the race hilaris was fairly

common by voice, and was seen on one occasion. Song Wren Cyphorhinus phaeocephalus: A very cooperative bird gave us some excellent close-up

views at Buenaventura. One of John’s favourites. Southern Nightingale-Wren (Scaly-breasted W) Microcerculus marginatus (H): A distant heard-only at

Shaime. POLIOPTILIDAE Tawny-faced Gnatwren Microbates cinereiventris: Two came up out of the understorey and showed

brilliantly at Buenaventura (right where we saw the toucanet). Tropical Gnatcatcher Polioptila plumbea: A common bird in the dry southwest. Here the race

bilineata, in which males have the white extending up over the cheeks and face to above the eyes.


DONACOBIIDAE Black-capped Donacobius Donacobius atricapillus: We all had great looks at several birds en route to

and also around Yankuam Lodge as well as on the return journey to Zamora. PARULIDAE Tropical Parula Parula pitiayumi: Small numbers on both slopes. Blackburnian Warbler Dendroica fusca: Usually the most numerous wintering warbler in the

Ecuadorian Andes, we had singles at Buenaventura and Bombuscaro. Olive-crowned Yellowthroat Geothlypis semiflava: An excellent showing by this species at

Buenaventura. Black-lored Yellowthroat Geothlypis auricularis: We had pretty good views of one at Yunguilla, here

of the nominate, Tumbesian race. Canada Warbler Wilsonia canadensis: Several birds were seen at Bombuscaro. A Nearctic migrant

wintering on the east slope of the Andes. Slate-throated Whitestart (S-t Redstart) Myioborus miniatus: Frequent sightings on both slopes. Spectacled Whitestart (S Redstart) Myioborus melanocephalus: A delightfully common bird,

replacing the previous species at higher elevations. Black-crested Warbler Basileuterus nigrocristatus: Many encounters with this highland warbler. Citrine Warbler Basileuterus luteoviridis: Good views of this east slope species. Three-banded Warbler Basileuterus trifasciatus: We had numerous good looks at about five

individuals of this distinctive warbler, yet another Tumbesian endemic. Russet-crowned Warbler Basileuterus coronatus: We came across two races of this beautiful

songster: at Yunguilla we saw the grey-bellied castaneiceps of the southwest, and on the east slope we found orientalis (also grey-bellied but with a tinge of yellow on the mid-belly).

Grey-and-gold Warbler Basileuterus fraseri: This Tumbesian endemic was seen in the deciduous forests at Cerro Blanco and near Macará.

Buff-rumped Warbler Basileuterus fulvicauda: Some great views of several birds living amongst the steep canyon walls of the Rio Nangaritza.

THRAUPIDAE Bananaquit Coereba flaveola: There were plenty of them, especially at the hummingbird feeders. Purple Honeycreeper Cyanerpes caeruleus: We had a few birds at Shaime and Bombuscaro. Green Honeycreeper Chlorophanes spiza: Good looks at both sexes of the western race exsul at

Buenaventura while across the east slope at Shaime we saw numerous individuals of the race caerulescens.

Black-faced Dacnis Dacnis lineata: A few birds were seen at Shaime and Yankuam and another was seen at Bombuscaro.

Yellow-tufted Dacnis Dacnis egregia: A striking male showed very well in a low cecropia in the Ayampe area.

Yellow-bellied Dacnis Dacnis flaviventer: A male was seen at Shaime. Blue-backed Conebill Conirostrum sitticolor: A few on the east slope. The name sitticolor means

‘having the colour of a nuthatch’ (cf. Sitta). Capped Conebill Conirostrum albifrons: One was seen with a mixed flock from the road below

Tapichalaca. Giant Conebill Oreomanes fraseri: Absolutely superb views of a hyper-responsive individual at El

Cajas N.P. Although it has quite a large range, its polylepis habitat is threatened in many areas. Classified as Near-Threatened.


Tit-like Dacnis Xenodacnis parina: Both sexes of this attractive species showed well in a patch of Polylepis-Gynoxis woodland high up in El Cajas NP. A highly localized bird, known in Ecuador only from this and two other localities, and otherwise only occurring in the Andes of Peru (where it can be locally abundant).

Bluish Flowerpiercer Diglossopis caerulescens: Several were seen at Tapichalaca. Flowerpiercers are nectar thieves, as their name suggests piercing the flowers at their base without performing any pollination duties.

Masked Flowerpiercer Diglossopis cyanea: Regular sightings. Glossy Flowerpiercer Diglossa lafresnayii: This one was seen a few times in humid upper temperate

forest and shrubbery on Cerro Toledo and also at Tapichalaca. White-sided Flowerpiercer Diglossa albilatera: A few. The only flowerpiercer in Ecuador showing

strong sexual dimorphism. Rufous-chested Tanager Thlypopsis ornata: Several very good views of this delicate tanager in the

Sozoranga-Utuana area. Fawn-breasted Tanager Pipraeidea melanonota: One was seen in the Buenaventura area. A

monotypic genus, the name of which literally means ‘having the form of a manakin’. This refers to this species’ bill, which was considered to be manakin-like.

Orange-eared Tanager Chlorochrysa calliparaea: The first in a wonderful set of colourful tanagers seen in the upper tropical forests of Bombuscaro. The species name, derived from Greek, means ‘beautiful cheeked’, referring to the burnt orange patch on the sides of the neck (orange ‘ears’).

Rufous-throated Tanager Tangara rufigula: A Chocó endemic which showed well at Buenaventura. Golden Tanager Tangara arthus: Many good views. We saw two distinctive races: goodsoni in the

west and aequatorialis in the east. The former has uniform golden yellow underparts, while the latter is larger and has a variable but often strong suffusion of rufous on throat and chest.

Silver-throated Tanager Tangara icterocephala: Numerous in mixed flocks at Buenaventura. Saffron-crowned Tanager Tangara xanthocephala: This beautiful tanager showed very well along the

road below Tapichalaca. Golden-eared Tanager Tangara chrysotis: Another stunner in the mixed flocks at Bombuscaro. Golden-naped Tanager Tangara ruficervix: A single bird was seen in a mixed flock along the upper

track at Buenaventura, here of the western race leucotis. Blue-and-black Tanager Tangara vassorii: We had several sightings from the Utuana area as well as

on Cerro Toledo. Silver-backed Tanager (Silvery T) Tangara viridicollis: Both sexes showed beautifully in the Sozoranga

area. Blue-necked Tanager Tangara cyanicollis: A gorgeous tanager with two distinctive races on opposite

sides of the Andes. On the east slope we saw caeruleocephala (of which the adult has a glistening straw rump, more purplish throat, and glistening golden wing coverts), and in the west the endemic cyanopygia (rump and entire hood glistening turquoise, and greener wing coverts). The latter averages a lower elevational distribution than the former.

Turquoise Tanager Tangara mexicana: Two of this lowland tanager showed nicely in the Shaime area.

Paradise Tanager Tangara chilensis: Wow! This spectacular and almost unreal tanager, here of the entirely red-rumped nominate race, was numerous at Shaime and Bombuscaro. The species doesn’t occur anywhere near Chile though!

Green-and-gold Tanager Tangara schrankii: Another gem of a tanager at Bombuscaro. Spotted Tanager Tangara punctata: Two birds were seen in the mixed flocks at Bombuscaro.


Bay-headed Tanager Tangara gyrola: Nice looks at this gaudy tanager on both slopes, of the blue-bellied races catharinae (east) and nupera (west). Note that the differences among subspecies groups in this species seem to be of the same magnitude as those between Bay-headed Tanager and Rufous-winged Tanager T. lavinia, and more than one species may be involved. In fact the viridissima subspecies group (‘Bay-and-green Tanager’), found in e.g. northern Venezuela, was formerly treated as a separate species.

Golden-crowned Tanager Iridosornis rufivertex: We had mouth-watering views of a very obliging bird as we left the Tapichala reserve. One of Nigel’s favourites, the genus name means ‘rainbow bird’, quite aptly chosen.

Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager Anisognathus igniventris: Two birds in the company of the previous species was our only sighting of this fantastic temperate forest tanager.

Lacrimose Mountain-Tanager Anisognathus lacrymosus: Frequent observations on the east slope. Hooded Mountain-Tanager Buthraupis montana: A couple of encounters with this noisy mountain-

tanager, the largest in Ecuador. Masked Mountain-Tanager Buthraupis wetmorei: We had instantaneous success with this one in the

elfin woodland/shrubbery not long after stepping out of the vehicles way up on Cerro Toledo. The species has a very small range and is classified as Vulnerable. This and the following species are named for Alexander Wetmore (1886 - 1978), the sixth Secretary of the Smithsonian who published on a wide variety of topics, including his magnum opus, the four volume Birds of the Republic of Panama. The preeminent ornithologist of North America in the 20th century.

Orange-throated Tanager Wetmorethraupis sterrhopteron: We saw this beautiful ‘mega’ brilliantly at Shaime. Going up that scenic pongo and meeting the Shuar people was an added bonus. This is a monotypic genus in part because of its stiff (sterr), waxy throat feathers, setting it apart from all other tanagers. A species mostly limited to the foothills of the Cordillera del Condor in Ecuador and the department of Amazonas in Peru. Classified as Vulnerable. If you haven’t already, Don Stap’s A Parrot Without A Name is a must read; he relates some of the great adventures of John P. O’Neill, Ted Parker and Al Gentry.

Grass-green Tanager Chlorornis riefferii: A stunning tanager, but unfortunately we were afforded only a brief view at Tapichalaca.

Swallow Tanager Tersina viridis: Four were seen at Bombuscaro. Blue-grey Tanager Thraupis episcopus: Regular sightings. We saw two distinct races: quaesita west of

the Andes (with plain wings) and the very different looking caerulea on the east slope (with conspicuous whitish lesser wing coverts).

Palm Tanager Thraupis palmarum: Another one of which we saw two distinct subspecies: violilavata in the west and melanoptera in the east. The latter is glossier generally, and has less contrasting black on wings.

Blue-capped Tanager Thraupis cyanocephala: Scattered encounters with the nominate race. Silver-beaked Tanager Ramphocelus carbo: Numerous once we passed Zamora heading east. Lemon-rumped Tanager (Yellow-r T) Ramphocelus icteronotus: Common in the western foothills. Highland Hepatic-Tanager Piranga lutea: Around a dozen birds seen at Ayampe and Yunguilla. Note

that recent genetic research indicates that the genus Piranga doesn’t really belong with the tanagers, and that it is more closely allied to the cardinal grosbeaks (where they have been moved recently by the South American Checklist Committee).

Summer Tanager Piranga rubra: An adult male showed well from the veranda at Yankuam Lodge. Ochre-breasted Tanager Chlorothraupis stolzmanni: Small numbers of this drab Chocó endemic

were seen and heard at Buenaventura. The complex song makes up for the dull plumage of this species.


White-lined Tanager Tachyphonus rufus: We first saw this one along the lower Molleturo road and later saw others in the edge growth of Copalinga. The scientific name refers to the female’s plumage.

Flame-crested Tanager Tachyphonus cristatus: A leader-only sighting from Buenaventura. White-shouldered Tanager Tachyphonus luctuosus: A male showed in the woodland below

Buenaventura. Common Bush-Tanager Chlorospingus ophthalmicus (H): Our only record that of two singing birds

below Tapichalaca. Note that genetic data indicates Chlorospingus is not a tanager but in fact should be placed in the Emberizidae (sparrows).

Ashy-throated Bush-Tanager Chlorospingus canigularis: Two distinct races were seen: on the east slope we found signatus (with a white post-ocular streak) and on the west slope we saw paulus (with a uniformly grey head).

Yellow-throated Bush-Tanager Chlorospingus flavigularis: Fairly numerous at Bombuscaro where we had the nominate race.

Grey-hooded Bush-Tanager Cnemoscopus rubrirostris: A few observations in mixed flocks, with the birds doing their typical ‘tail-pumping’.

Black-capped Hemispingus Hemispingus atropileus: We had good looks at this one at Cerro Toledo. Superciliaried Hemispingus Hemispingus superciliaris: Nice close-ups of this one in the cloudforest

of El Cajas N.P. Piura Hemispingus Hemispingus piurae: Luckily we were able to overcome the foggy weather and

had good views of this one in an area of dense Chusquea bamboo near Utuana. Despite recent genetic analysis that found this taxon to be very distinctive, the SACC decided against its separate species status until a larger genetic sample size is looked at.

Black-and-white Tanager Conothraupis speculigera: In the Engunga hills we had a very good view of this sometimes tricky species. A trans-Andean migrant, only present in the southwest during the breeding season. A restricted-range species classified as Near-Threatened.

Magpie Tanager Cissopis leveriana: Small numbers were found near Yankuam, Shaime and Zamora. One of the largest tanagers. The ‘longest’ in the family (but not the biggest/heaviest, a title owned by the next species).

White-capped Tanager Sericossypha albocristata: Ours were not the best of views when a noisy party of at least six birds at Tapichalaca were seen calling loudly and moving rather quickly along the tree line. In size, habits and calls this species reminds me more of a jay than of a tanager.

Plushcap (Plush-capped Finch) Catamblyrhynchus diadema: We had good looks at this Chusquea specialist at Tapichalaca. Formerly placed in its own family, the Catamblyrhynchidae.

CARDINALIDAE Buff-throated Saltator Saltator maximus: Regularly seen/heard in the foothills on both slopes. Here

the nominate race, just showing the black whiskers but not the big black ‘ring’ around the throat as in most of Central America. Note that recent genetic evidence shows a strong link between Saltator and the tanagers.

Greyish Saltator Saltator coerulescens: Several were seen around Zamora and Yankuam Lodge. Black-cowled Saltator Saltator nigriceps: This pretty Tumbesian endemic put on a great show for us,

singing in a small shrub and thanks to Nigel for some great spotting from the moving van. Streaked Saltator Saltator striatipectus: We saw the western (in adults) unstreaked race flavidicollis

(the ‘Unstreaked Streaked Saltator’). Slate-coloured Grosbeak (Slaty G) Saltator grossus (H): Heard but not pursued at Shaime. Southern Yellow-Grosbeak (Y G, Golden-bellied G) Pheucticus chrysogaster: Regular sightings in the

west. This species was particularly numerous at Yunguilla Reserve.


Blue-black Grosbeak Cyanocompsa cyanoides: We had a few vocal encounters and eventually Wendy got her bird!

EMBERIZIDAE Crimson-breasted Finch (Crimson F, C F-Tanager) Rhodospingus cruentus: A gorgeous Tumbesian

endemic, showing very well in the Engunga hills and also in the Ayampe area. Blue-black Grassquit Volatinia jacarina: Regular sightings, and numerous on the coastal plain. Dull-coloured Grassquit Tiaris obscura: Several singing birds were seen in the dry country around

Vilcabamba. Chestnut-bellied Seed-Finch Oryzoborus angolensis: A few were seen in open habitats along the

road to Yankuam Lodge. A long way from Angola … Thick-billed Seed-Finch Oryzoborus funereus: Several in the western lowlands and foothills. Large-billed Seed-Finch Oryzoborus crassirostris: At least two birds of the race occidentalis were

seen in marshy areas along the lower Molleturo road. Variable Seedeater Sporophila corvina: Regular sightings in the western lowlands and foothills. Yellow-bellied Seedeater Sporophila nigricollis: Regular sightings of vivida in the west and the

nominate race in the east. Parrot-billed Seedeater Sporophila peruviana: We saw two males of this well-endowed Sporophila in

the Engunga hills. Drab Seedeater Sporophila simplex (NL): Only John saw this one in the dry country above

Vilcabamba. Chestnut-throated Seedeater Sporophila telasco: We saw up to six birds in the pastures of the

Molleturo road. Following the large-scale deforestation over the past half-century, it is now one of south-western Ecuador’s most common birds.

Chestnut-bellied Seedeater Sporophila castaneiventris: Small numbers were found in open country from Zamora towards Yankuam.

Blue Seedeater Amauospiza concolor (H): We made a good effort to see a singing bird at Yunguilla but unfortunately it was not moving and we could not reach it.

Plain-coloured Seedeater Catamenia inornata: Four birds were seen very well in the upper reaches of El Cajas N.P.

Plumbeous Sierra-Finch Phrygilus unicolor: Regular sightings in the paramos of El Cajas N.P. No other bird in Ecuador ‘lives’ at elevations as high as this one.

Ash-breasted Sierra-Finch Phrygilus plebejus: Up to 30 birds were seen in the Sozoranga and Vilcabamba areas. Plebeius is Latin for vulgar, not a compliment for this admittedly rather dull bird.

Saffron Finch Sicalis flaveola: Frequent sightings in the southwest. Pale-naped Brush-Finch Atlapetes pallidinucha: A handsome high-elevation brush-finch, giving

repeated good views. Rufous-naped Brush-Finch (Yellow-breasted B-F, Northern R-n B-F, Cloudforest B-F) Atlapetes

latinuchus: Regular sightings. An extremely variable species, here of the east slope nominate race, showing both a moustachial streak and a conspicuous white wing speculum.

White-winged Brush-Finch Atlapetes leucopterus: We had several excellent sightings of this species in the Sozoranga area, here of the often white-faced Tumbesian race dresseri.

Bay-crowned Brush-Finch Atlapetes seebohmi: Superb studies of this Tumbesian endemic calmly foraging along the roadside of the Sozoranga area. A restricted-range species.

White-headed Brush-Finch Atlapetes albiceps: Two birds came out of all that Tumbesian greenery in fine form near Macará. A restricted-range Tumbesian endemic.


Pale-headed Brush-Finch Atlapetes pallidiceps: Finding this critically endangered species was the prime purpose of our Yunguilla visit, and we all had great looks at several birds. Until recently this rare bird was thought to be extinct, after the last specimens were taken in 1965 and subsequent searches proved fruitless. However, in 1998 a remnant population was finally relocated, and the habitat was subsequently purchased by the Jocotoco Foundation. The total world population is now thought to have increased to about sixty pairs following the land purchase (about 250 ha so far), habitat protection and the implementation of a Shiny Cowbird control programme. Before the latter was in place most brush-finch nests had cowbird eggs in them.

Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch Arremon brunneinucha: Two were seen at Cajanuma. Note that Buarremon has recently been merged into Arremon.

Stripe-headed Brush-Finch Arremon torquata: The south-western race nigrifrons was regularly heard, and birds were seen at the Yunguilla Reserve as well as Utuana.

Orange-billed Sparrow Arremon aurantiirostris: Two distinct subspecies were recorded: the yellow-shouldered race occidentalis was observed at Buenaventura, and at Bombuscaro we heard the orange-shouldered east slope race spectabilis.

Black-capped Sparrow Arremon abeillei: A very smart dry forest sparrow, seen very well in the Macará area. This Tumbesian endemic should be considered a separate species from the possibly threatened marañon form, Marañon Sparrow A. nigriceps, which is still considered conspecific with A. abeillei.

Black-striped Sparrow Arremonops conirostris: Two were seen and others heard below Buenaventura.

Yellow-browed Sparrow Ammodramus aurifrons: Common near Zamora as well as further east. Tumbes Sparrow Aimophila stolzmanni: Another Tumbesian endemic, showing nicely in the Macará

area. Stolzmann was a 19th century Polish collector in tropical America with several other Neotropical species named for him--including one of my favourites the Dwarf Tyrant-Manakin.

Rufous-collared Sparrow Zonotrichia capensis: Ubiquitous at middle and higher elevations. ICTERIDAE Yellow-rumped Cacique Cacicus cela: Many good views of the isolated and near-endemic race

flavicrissus. It differs from nominate birds in having a smaller, darker bill, less yellow on the tail, and different vocalizations (e.g. does not mimic other birds). In addition, it has a different nest shape and many suspect it may well represent a separate species. Additionally we saw the nominate race in the east around Shaime.

Northern Mountain-Cacique Cacicus leucoramphus: A single individual was seen accompanying a group of jays at Tapichalaca.

Subtropical Cacique Cacicus uropygialis: Repeated good views at Bombuscaro. Yellow-billed Cacique Amblycercus holosericeus: One chance sighting during our travels between

Macará and Utuana. Crested Oropendola Psarocolius decumanus: Seen on several days in the vicinity of Bombuscaro and

Shaime. Russet-backed Oropendola Psarocolius angustifrons: The most common oropendola around Shaime

and also seen at Bombuscaro, here of the yellow-billed race alfredi. Shiny Cowbird Molothrus bonariensis: Numerous encounters. A brood parasite and a serious threat

to the Pale-headed Brush-Finch, and cowbirds are now consistently being eliminated from the Yunguilla Reserve area during the brush-finch breeding season.

Scrub Blackbird Dives warszewiczi: Abundant in the southwest. White-edged Oriole Icterus graceannae: A Tumbesian endemic, seen very well in the Ayampe,

Macará and Vilcabamba areas.


Yellow-tailed Oriole Icterus mesomelas: Many good sightings, especially around Ayampe, here of the southernmost race taczanowskii, which shows white edges to the tertials.

Peruvian Meadowlark (P Red-breasted M) Sturnella bellicosa: A common bird of open country in the west, granting excellent views.

FRINGILLIDAE Hooded Siskin Carduelis magellanica: Small flocks of this widespread species were encountered on

three occasions. Thick-billed Euphonia Euphonia laniirostris: Frequent encounters with the race hypoxantha in the

west and we had two sightings of melanura in the east. Note that recent genetic research indicates that chlorophonias and euphonias don’t belong with the tanagers, but rather with cardueline finches, this finding is also consistent with aspects of the biology of the euphonias and chlorophonias with respect to voice, diet, and nesting biology.

Golden-rumped Euphonia Euphonia cyanocephala: Three birds showed brilliantly at Yunguilla, with good views of male and female plumages.

Orange-bellied Euphonia Euphonia xanthogaster: Numerous at Buenaventura. Ecuadorian races (we saw brevirostris in the east and quitensis in the west) are actually yellow below.

Bronze-green Euphonia Euphonia mesochrysa: Perseverance eventually paid off with a singing bird in a flock at Bombuscaro.

PASSERIDAE House Sparrow Passer domesticus: One was seen near the coast. MAMMALS Mantled Howler Monkey (M Howler) Alouatta palliata: It was nice to finally see one at Buenaventura

after hearing quite a cacaphony at Cerro Blanco. Long-tailed Weasel Mustela frenata: One seen at Yunguilla cannot be a good thing for the brush-

finches! Neotropical Red Squirrel (Red-tailed S) Sciurus granatensis: Two were seen at Buenaventura. Guayaquil Squirrel Sciurus stramineus: Several observations in the southwest. Black Agouti Dasyprocta fuliginosa: One was seen at Copalinga Lodge and this was likely also the

species of agouti briefly seen at Shaime. We also observed a species of otter on the Rio Nangaritza that unfortunately we did not get a good

enough look at to confirm if it whether or not it was the Giant Otter Pteronura brasiliensis or just a very large specimen of Neotropical River Otter Lontra longicaudis.

TOP TEN BIRDS OF THE TRIP 1. Jocotoco Antpitta 2. Orange-throated Tanager 3. Rainbow-bearded Thornbill Long-wattled Umbrellabird 5. Black-crested (Maranon) Tit-Tyrant 6. Ocellated Tapaculo 7. White-breasted Parakeet 8. Henna-hooded Foliage-gleaner 9. White-tipped Sicklebill Elegant Crescentchest

A Common Potoo on its day roost and a Rufous-headed Chachalaca got things off to a great startat Cerro Blanco, an Esmeraldas Woodstar and PeruvianPygmy-Owl from the Ayampe area and the endangered El Oro Parakeet from the Buenaventura Reserve.

Southern Ecuador 2009 Photo Section 1


At Buenaventura we saw both soaring and perched individuals of the endangered Grey-backed Hawk beforemoving south to the tumbesian forests of the Macara area where we had this Tumbes Hummingbird (upper right), the endangered Slaty Becard (middle right) and this Tumbes Sparrow (lower left). A large colony of Chestnut-collared Swallows live in the church of the Andean town of Sozoranga (lower right). Finally a second shot of the El Oro Parakeet (middle left).

Five Jocotoco Antpittas were seen this tour! We saw one of the world’s rarest hummingbirds, the localized Neblina Hummingbird (middle right) and at Copalinga Lodge another fairly rare species, the Black-throated Brilliant (middle left) Some wonderful cloud forest orchids from Copalinga. Southern Ecuador 2009 Photo Section 3


This young Black-and-chestnut Eagle gave us quite a surprise at the Cajanuma section of Podocarpus National Park. Also pictured is the high elevation cloud forest of Cajanuma (lower left). We also visited the Bombuscaro sectionof Podocarpus National Park where we saw these wonderful Andean Cock-of-the-rocks. Finally a CrownedChat-Tyrant from El Cajas National Park.


A Giant Conebill from El Cajas National Park is pictured in the two upper photographs. Many of the birdsseen on this tour are threatened, as is the case for this Pacific Royal-Flycatcher still holding on at a site surrounded by deforestation. Thanks to the Jocotoco Foundation there are some wonderful success storiesin Ecuador. Here is the group after having just seen the Pale-headed Brush-Finch, a species recently rediscovered after having been lost for decades.

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