Ecuador | Birdwatching | Birds of Northern Ecuador

Ecuador Birdwatching:
Birds of Northern Ecuador

Highlands, cloud forests, Chocó bioregion species and Amazon lowlands.

Quito

Day 1 You will be met on arrival off your chosen international flight and transferred to a 3* hotel in Quito.

Yanacocha Forest and Nono-Mindo Road

Day 2 BLD A pre-dawn departure for the northwest slope of Mt Pichincha to birdwatch in the Yanacocha forest at around 3,300m. This is a high temperate zone habitat where hummingbirds are a major highlight, e.g. Shining Sunbeam, Mountain Velvet breast, Great Sapphirewing, Buff-winged Starfrontlet, three species of pufflegs including the rare endemic Black-breasted Puffleg and Purple-backed Thornbill. We hope to encounter foraging flocks of tanagers, flower piercers, and furnariids, and listen for antpittas and tapaculos. In the afternoon continue birding downhill on the Nono–Mindo Road through lower temperate and subtropical forests to Tandayapa, our base for the next 2 nights.

Tandayapa and Bellavista

Day 3 BLD A full day of birdwatching along forest trails and roadside habitats around Tandayapa and Bellavista. Nearly 300 species have been recorded here, including 35 species of tanager, Black-and-chestnut Eagle, Golden-headed and Crested Quetzals, Toucan Barbet, Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan, Powerful Woodpecker and Andean Cock-of-the-Rock. Sit mesmerized as up to 20 species of hummingbird come to the feeders.

Tinalandia

Day 4 BLD Morning drive south to Tinalandia, birding en route with stops in Mindo, San Miguel de los Bancos and Pedro Vicente Maldonado—humid lowland rainforest where a number of Chocó endemics can be found, e.g. Indigo-crowned Quail-Dove, Double-banded Greytail, Fulvous-vented Euphonia, Emerald and Scarlet-and-white Tanagers and the near-threatened Blue-whiskered Tanager. Stay 3 nights at Tinalandia at 600m on the Andes western slopes at the Chocó bioregion’s southern end. Over 350 species are recorded here.

Day 5 BLD Dawn birding in the grounds of Tinalandia, then walk the trails and skirt the golf-course in search of parrots, Red-headed and Orange-fronted Barbets, Pale-mandibled Aracari and Chocó and Chestnut-mandibled Toucans, woodpeckers, trogons, motmots, jacamars, woodcreepers, antbirds, flycatchers and tanagers. In the afternoon bird the lower section of the Chiriboga Rd in search of Torrent Duck, White-capped Dipper and more. Night birding is also a good option.

Río Palenque Biological Centre

Day 6 BLD Today take a day-trip south to Río Palenque Biological Centre in the lowlands at about 100m. This small patch of tropical forest offers great birding and as you walk the labyrinth of forest trails you will find yet another subset of species not found at other sites. Highlights include Pacific Parrotlet, Pallid Dove, Bronzy, Baron’s and Stripe-throated Hermits, Ecuadorian and Northern White-tailed Trogons, Chocó Toucan, Slaty-winged Foliage-gleaner, Red-billed Scythebill, several ant birds, Black-headed Antthrush, dozens of flycatchers, Purple-throated Fruitcrow, White-bearded Manakin, Whiskered and Song Wren, Black-lored Yellowthroat, Grey-and-Gold Warbler, Golden-hooded and Tawny-crested Tanagers and Scarlet-rumped Cacique.

Antisana Ecological Reserve

Day 7 BLD Depart early from Tinalandia for a long drive to Los Chillos valley for high páramo birding in and around the Antisana Reserve, including Laguna Micacocha—a landscape created by a colossal volcano that erupted just 400 years ago. Stay 2 nights at Papallacta, where hot springs are a well earned treat.

Papallacta

Day 8 BLD Depart early for Papallacta Pass, the highest road in Ecuador. Your birding is at high páramo and marsh areas, and Papallacta and Sucus lakes. Among species seen are Andean Snipe, Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe, Ecuadorian Hillstar, Stout-billed Cinclodes, Bar-winged Cinclodes, Tawny Antpitta, Streak-throated Bush-Tyrant, Red-crested Cotinga, Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanagers, Buff-breasted Mountain-Tanagers, and Black-backed Bush-Tanagers.

San Isidro

Day 9 BLD Early this morning head to lower elevations on the eastern flanks of the Andes around San Isidro for 2 days of superb birding in an area of subtropical and temperate montane forest.

Among the highlights here are Dusky Piha, White-capped Tanager, Red-hooded Tanager, Inca Jay, Sickle-winged Guan, Masked Trogon, Tyrannine Woodcreeper, Greater Scythebill, Highland Tinamou, Bicoloured Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, Black-chested Fruiteater, Green-and-Black Fruiteater and Andean Cock-of-the-Rock (eastern subspecies). Stay 2 nights at Cabañas San Isidro.

Day 10 BLD A full day birding at Cordillera de los Huacamayos and Loreto Road. The area is dominated by montane and lower montane cloud forest from 2,300m to just 200m, a forest bridge to lowland rainforest with several eco-tones. The area provides chances for a good number of rare and localised species restricted to eastern Andean foothills. Tanagers are well represented in the entire area, especially at lower elevations where some good mixed flocks are seen. They may include Orange-eared, Golden-eared, Paradise and Saffron-crowned Tanagers.

Near the summit of the Guacamayos Cordillera, find Black-billed Mountain Toucan and White-rimmed Brush Finch. Other interesting possibilities are Orange-breasted Falcon, Black-mandible Toucan, Golden-collared Honeycreeper, Fasciated Tiger Heron, Plum-throated Cotinga, Military Macaw and Subtropical Cacique, among many others. Nocturnal highlights include Rufous-bellied Nighthawk and Lyre-tailed Nightjar.

Day 11 BL A morning’s birding at San Isidro, then return up the eastern slopes, stopping for species missed on the way down. Stay at your 3* hotel in Quito. Dinner is not included so you can explore the city if you wish.

Amazon

Day 12–14 BLD A morning flight to Coca to be transferred by fast riverboat to your chosen rainforest lodge: Napo Wildlife Centre, La Selva or Sacha Lodge—your base for the next 3 nights, full board, with wildlife excursions led by the lodge’s resident guides.

Day 15 B Return by river to Coca and then by plane to Quito around lunchtime; met and transferred to stay at the same hotel as Day 1. Rest of the day free.

Day 16 B You are transferred to Quito airport for your return flight home, or onwards to the Galapagos.

This suggested itinerary can be adapted to suit your needs, preferences and special interests. Please call us to discuss.

Guide prices
local driver, self-guided £1,965
ornithologist who drives £2,250

16 days /15 nights. Starts and ends in Quito

The guide price is per person based on 2 people travelling together and sharing twin/double accommodation.

It includes:

on days 2-11 inclusive, either the services of a local driver with vehicle who speaks moderate English (but is not a guide), or the services of an experienced English speaking ornithologist guide with vehicle
shared services of resident ornithologist guide at the jungle lodge of your choice.
all transport, accommodation and all meals except 1 lunch and 2 dinners while in Quito.

For an explanation of the two ways you could be driven and guided go here