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Birds of Ecuador

If you’re a birder, Ecuador is the place to be. On my last visit to Ecuador in May, I added 100 lifers (new birds) to my bird list. On this visit, five days in the Andean cloudforest gave me another 117. Here is a gallery of my best shots.

Masked Trogon
Red-headed Barbet
Collared Aracari
Crimson-rumped Toucanet
Rufous Motmot
Scarlet-rumped Cacique
Toucan Barbet
Andean Cock-of-the-Rock
Masked Flowerpiercer
Scarlet-bellied Mountain Tanager
Blue-capped Tanager
Yellow-breasted Brushfinch
Gray-browed Brushfinch
Chestnut-capped Brushfinch
Tawny Antpitta
Equatorial Antpitta
Chestnut-naped Antpitta
Ochre-breasted Antpitta
Yellow-breasted Antpitta
Chestnut-crowned Antpitta
White-bellied Woodstar
Tyrian Metaltail
Green Thorntail
Green-tailed Trainbearer
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Fawn-breasted Brilliant
Green-crowned Brilliant
Purple-chested Hummingbird
Speckled Hummingbird
Violet-tailed Sylph/cp;
Velvet-purple Coronet
Sparkling Violetear
Black-capped Tanager
Silver-throated Tanager
Golden Tanager
Gray-and-Gold Tanager
Blue-gray Tanager
Palm Tanager
Moss-backed Tanager
Summer Tanager
Golden-collared Honeycreeper
Green Honeycreepers (female and male)
Flame-rumped Tanager
Flame-rumped Tanager
Rufous-throated Tanager
Glittering-green Tanager
Black-chinned Mountain Tanager
Slate-throated Redstart
Great Thrush
Ecuadorian Thrush
Rufous-brown Solitaire
Three-striped Warbler
Black-striped Sparrow
Russet-crowned Warbler
Black-capped Pygmy Tyrant
White-tailed Tyrannulet
Zeledon’s Antbird
Streak-headed Woodcreeper
Montane Woodcreeper
Strong-billed Woodcreeper
Streaked Tuftedcheek
White-capped Dipper
Ornate Flycatcher
Masked Tityra
Cryptic Becard
Barred Becard
Pallid Dove
White-throated Quail Dove
Rose-faced Parrot
Rose-faced Parrots
Birding Buddies: Richard, Dusty, Basia, Andy, Alicia
21 responses to “Birds of Ecuador”
  1. Besides the number and the colors, I especially like the names. Cryptic Becard sounds vaguely like an epithet, for example.

    1. Lol, yes it does, doesn’t it. I’m intrigued by some of the bird names too.

  2. Tereska R Buko Avatar
    Tereska R Buko

    Basia, how do you keep track of which birds you have already documented. What is your total? Happy New Year.

    1. Hi Tereska, it’s all done online, on a site called eBird. On this trip, we had a birding guide, and he entered the names into eBird and then shared the list with us. When I’m birding by myself, I enter them into eBird myself, and it keeps track of everything. My list currently has 1081 species. It seems like a lot, but there are over 10,000 species, so I have another 9,000 to go!

  3. Debbie S Wallace Avatar
    Debbie S Wallace

    First of all… Incredible shots. Secondly… Wow… So many amazingly beautiful, unique creatures. I always wonder how there is so many different kinds of birds. They are just beautiful!!
    Thank you so much for sharing.
    I had Java Rice Birds once!
    Enjoy a d thanks again for sharing!!!

    1. So glad to know you are enjoying them, Debbie. Yes, they are amazingly beautiful creatures. I never get tired of watching them.

  4. Impressive!

    1. ๐Ÿ™‚

  5. Unbelievable! That’s a total of almost as many as I have on my life list of 20 years. And beautiful portraits, as always.

    1. It’s crazy! I had 620 on my life list when I left Rochester, now I’m at 1081, so I almost doubled it in one year.

  6. Truly paradise! Thank you for sharing these wonderful pictures with us!

    1. You’re very welcome, I love having so many people enjoy them with me!

  7. Shannon Clubb Avatar
    Shannon Clubb

    oh how beautiful are these birds!!!!! Unreal!!!!!!

  8. Shannon Clubb Avatar
    Shannon Clubb

    oh how beautiful are these birds!!!!! Unreal!!!!!!

    1. Those really colorful ones almost seem like they’re painted on. Especially those vivid green ones. But no, they are all very real.

  9. Hazel Mckay Avatar
    Hazel Mckay

    WOW well done, good on ye.

    1. Thanks Hazel. “Good on ye” always makes me chuckle! ๐Ÿ™‚

  10. Jean Martell Avatar
    Jean Martell

    Wow amazing! I saw a few of these in Costa Rica. Your photos are awesome!

    1. Thanks Jean. We’ll be making a stop in Costa Rica later this year, I’m looking forward to adding more to my list.

  11. Pat Patrick Avatar
    Pat Patrick

    Basia these are stunning and gorgeous!!! I have so many new favorites!! Canโ€™t wait to catch up!

    1. It’s getting harder and harder for me to choose a favorite. There are just too many to choose from.

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