Itinerary:
March 11 – I arrive from Peru via LAN mid-day. I take a bus to meet Jeff Gordon, who arrived a couple days early to spend some extra time at Cabanas San Isidro. I make it to CSI in the evening. Overnight Cabanas San Isidro.
March 12 – Jeff and I bird the immediate vicinity, Antvireo Trail, and Caucheras road. Overnight Cabanas San Isidro.
March 13 – Again we bird the CSI trails and road. Today we see one of the rarest mammals in South America! Overnight Cabanas San Isidro. Some participants arrive a little early in order to take in the city and acclimatize to elevation. They stay at the Hotel San Sebastian, Quito.
March 14 – Jeff and I bird the Guacamayos Ridge and head back to Quito to meet up with the participants and greet the recent arrivals. Overnight Hotel San Sebastian, Quito.
March 15 – We begin our tour by spending the entire morning at Yanacocha, a Jocotoco Foundation property near Quito. The afternoon is spent reaching Tandayapa Lodge, given numerous landslides blocking out original route and creating a few other inconveniences. Overnight Tandayapa Lodge.
March 16 – We spend all day today in the Tandayapa Valley, visiting sites en route to and above Bellavista Lodge, including Tony and Barbara Nunnery’s house. The afternoon is mostly rained out. Overnight Tandayapa Lodge.
March 17 – An early rise gets us to Paz de Las Aves early enough to hit the fruit feeders before Antpitta Breakfast. We spend the entire morning on the property. The afternoon return to Tandayapa Lodge via the San Tadeo Road is rained out. Overnight Tandayapa Lodge.
March 18 – We arrive to the lower elevations of Milpe and spend the whole morning in this habitat before heading to Mirador Rio Blanco for lunch and some excellent feeder watching. We make a brief stop at Mindo Loma on the way back to Quito. Overnight Hotel San Sebastian, Quito.
March 19 – Designated the “non-birding” day, we take a side trip to Otavalo this morning for some culture and shopping. We attempt a stop at the dry forest reserve of Jerusalen, near Guayllabamba, but get rained out…again. Overnight Sommergarten Hosteria, Sangolqui.
March 20 – Morning spent at Antisana, a must do for anyone in the area. Spectacular! The afternoon drive to Guango is, for the most part and unsurprisingly, rained out. Overnight Guango Lodge.
March 21 – Papallacta Pass birding, and above Termas de Papallacta (mostly rained out). Overnight Guango Lodge.
March 22 – Guango Lodge new trail in the morning, afternoon transfer and a little birding at Cabanas San Isidro. Overnight Cabanas San Isidro.
March 23 – Birding Cabanas San Isidro Trails and the main Las Caucheras Road. Overnight Cabanas San Isidro.
March 24 – Early rise to get to the Loreto Road by 6:30am. Birded the morning reaching the Rio Ollin and café Susanita before heading back. Little afternoon birding along the Guacamayos Ridge, mostly rained out. Overnight Cabanas San Isidro.
March 25 – Guacamayos Ridge in the morning, with a little birding around Papallacta on the way back to Quito. Overnight Hotel San Sebastian.
March 26 – Ron and Carol Majors return the United States. Transfer rest of group to Sacha Lodge. Overnight Sacha Lodge.
March 27 – The morning rained out until 10:30am, when we bird Orquidea Creek. We spend the afternoon birding the trail to the Torre de Madera, then take Orquidea Creek back to the lodge. Overnight Sacha Lodge.
March 28 – Metal Towers from near dawn through 10am. Birding the Liana Grande trail back to the complex. Afternoon birding Anaconda through 7pm. Overnight Sacha Lodge.
March 29 – Parrot Licks in the morning and some trail birding South of the Napo near the interior lick. Return to Sacha Lodge 2pm. Break until evening owling. Overnight Sacha Lodge.
March 30 – Birding on the way to the river. Transfer to Quito. Overnight Hotel San Sebastian.
March 31 – Departures.
Background:
This tour’s conception took place last October while I was working as the official Cape Henlopen Hawkwatch counter in southern Delaware. My relationship with the 1st official state of the United States of America lasted the better part of two and a half years and allowed me, among other things, to get know some great people. One of these people proposed the idea of us guiding a trip together in my former country of residence, Ecuador.
I had lived, guided, and consulted on birds and birding in Ecuador for four years before falling for an amazing woman and moving back to the states….namely Delaware. Ecuador is an impressive place in so many ways, and I have always enjoyed attempting to convey this to family, friends, and clients alike. I jumped at the opportunity to show some of the wonderful folks of Delaware a portion of what I had seen and learned during my time in Ecuador. Delaware Nature Society agreed to host it. My friends/previous employers at BirdEcuador agreed to put it all together. I put together an itinerary and we were off and running.
Jeff Gordon, who proposed the trip, is a fair legend among birders and a very fun guy to be around. People who found out were eager at the prospect of this tour and we had enough participants to run the trip within a couple weeks. I’m writing this two days after the tour’s end, and can say that it was a great success! Most importantly, everyone on the group was great fun and we shared many unforgettable moments.
Overview:
This trip could not be complete with an exact explanation of Weather. It shapes so much of a birding tour, the mood of the tour, and, in a place where forecasts are non-extant and general trends failing, gives birth to the most common question of a tour: “Do you think it will rain tomorrow?”. Yes….it will.
March is an interesting month being one of transition. Many birds have recently fledged young, some birds are getting ready to nest, and yet others are beginning to come into their own by loudly staking territorial claims. I can only assume that this annual process was surprised this year. The inevitable and occasionally enduring rains of December, January, and February carried right through March in the Andes. The humid, hot, dry season of the Amazon Basin that lasts roughly from December through April surrendered to rain nearly two weeks before we arrived. March in Ecuador this year was wet.
The usual temperament effects, shortened birding time, and discomfort of being wet more than not was felt by our group during our time in the Andes. This does not paint the entire picture of course. No matter the weather, birding in the Andes is fabulous. Flocks continue, hummingbirds feed, and Maria still eats her worms. However, spirits and socks are decidedly dampened. We lost the majority of our afternoon birding time in the Andes to rain and one whole morning at Sacha. The mornings were spectacular, though, and everyone ended up appreciating that water is the source of all that we were there to enjoy. Few complaints were heard, trail conditions were hard, and everybody made it to the birding sites with enthusiasm. Well, most days at least.
Heavy and prolonged rains tend to have certain effects on the logistics of a trip that are often unforeseen. Landslides were how these collective effects manifested themselves on our trip. They took out the Nono-Mindo road which forced a longer route to Tandayapa and lost us an afternoon. A Landslide actually took out the road up to Tandayapa Lodge and, at 8pm the night prior to our arrival, the staff at the lodge completed paving a new trail so we could climb up to our accommodations without the need of rope and pulley. So it goes. We had a blast, regardless.
Given that I’m prone to lengthy daily descriptions I’ll shoot for succinct. The first portion of our trip to the West Slope/Choco region was a great success despite rain and logistical difficulties. Yellow-breasted and Moustached Antpitta were not to be found at Paz de Las Aves, but we were treated to Sickle-winged Guan, Golden-headed Quetzal, lekking Olivaceous Piha, Toucan Barbet, Powerful Woodpecker, and many, many others. The Scaled Antpitta did not show at the Tandayapa compost heap, but we had lengthy views of two White-throated Quail-Doves to compensate us for our patient efforts. The weather was great for our Milpe morning and we had two flocks. Mirador Rio Blanco was a complete spectacle with some new hummer species at the feeders, 5 species of Tanager, Pale-mandibled Aracari, and Crimson-rumped Touncanets giving us quite a lunchtime show. Little Woodstar and Black-chinned Mountain-Tanager were the highlights at Mindo Loma, if dead pan views 4 species of Tanagers and Velvet-purple Coronets wasn’t enough.
Antisana deserves a paragraph of it’s own. The scenery is among the most spectacular I know in 5 continents. Close flocks of Black-faced Ibis and 4 Andean Condors were highlights. So many of the birds there are photogenic and approachable that they give the feel of a cage-free zoo experience. This makes it all the more amazing that it is not. Watching Ecuadorian Hillstars incubating a nest over an abandoned window ledge belonging to the only house in miles reminded us that this is indeed wild country.
On the East slope we encountered more persistent rains and sleet at the higher elevations, mingled with breaks in cloud cover and sun lighting up more impressive views. The precipitation was nearly constant from our arrival arrival to Guango Lodge through the night into the early morning. The second afternoon we also saw a lot of rain at Guango. Cabanas San Isidro was great birding and accommodations, as always. The weather was better there, and down on the Loreto Road, as well. Highlights included Red-rumped Bush-Tyrant, numerous Antpitta species, Dusky Piha, lengthy scope views of Chestnut-breasted Chlorophonias, Andean Cock-of-the-Rock on lek, and several great birds on the Loreto Road like Orange-breasted Falcon, Deep-blue Flowerpiercer, and Wire-crested Thorntail.
Sacha Lodge has changed little since I was one of the staff guides there 3 years ago. There were a few new faces among the staff. A few old, familiar ones had left. But the sights, sounds, and feel was the same. Our first morning was nearly rained out entirely, but the rest of our time there was blessed with good weather. Some birds that had been responsive to playback in the past were not so, but other new territories were productive. Perhaps the most memorable experience of the trip involved one of these.
The experience was somewhat ethereal, as Pancho and I were calling for Zigzag Heron without the aid of audio playback, just our voices, a ways up the recently cut Anaconda waterway. It was a bit spur of the moment, as we knew this should be a decent area for a go at this rare bird, but only to be hoped/longed for. When a response came, strong and immediate, we didn’t want to let ourselves believe it. The feelings that come when you know you might see a fantastic bird, or might simply be extremely disappointed, set my mind racing. I continued calling for the bird. Things went quiet and a few tense minutes passed. Dinnertime was beckoning and we were considering giving up when the bird began to call again, this time very close! Pancho backed the canoe and we were peering into the deep Varzea undergrowth, expecting the bird to be hidden, as usual, near the waterline. It was right out in the open, perched on a limb not 25 feet from the canoe! I kept calling. It came closer still. Jeff began taking pictures. Pancho began recording the male, who called incessantly right before our eyes, his crest and neck plumage pumping as he went. I was mumbling my utter disbelief, as I lit the bird up with our spotlight. I called again. Here it came, dropping down, closer, walking up another limb, closer, until the bird was no more than 12 feet from the boat. 12 Feet!!! Jeff clicked off photo after photo and my mumble had risen well above any level I would have dared spoke while calling for this species in the past. I realized then that we would be the one leaving this bird behind. He wouldn’t retreat to his usual hidden habits. He wouldn’t be scared off by someone dropped a lenscap or hitting the side of the boat with a paddle. This was his territory. I stopped calling, for fear that he might jump into the boat with us. We all watched the bird for several minutes before we slowly pushed away. He never stopped calling, nor did he flush, even when we began paddling away. This, for me, was the most incredible experience of the trip.
On behalf of Jeffrey Gordon and myself, thanks to all who participated in the trip! The group always decides how the trip will be, in the end, despite anything the guides or organizers can and/or try to say and do. You all decided to make this a great and memorable experience. Thanks also to the Delaware Nature Society for their continuing support of our endeavours. Finally, a huge Thanks to Carmen and Irene Bustamante or Bird Ecuador and Cabanas San Isidro. They always know best!
For questions regarding trip details feel free to contact me, Forrest Rowland, at rowbird2005@yahoo.com. For information on prospective itineraries and trip planning you may contact me at the above address or Carmen Bustamante directly at Carmen@cabanasanisidro.com . For information on Delaware Nature Society trips, programs, and membership, please visit www.delawarenaturesociety.org
Jeffrey Gordon’s great trip posts and photography can be viewed at his website www.jeffreyagordon.com
All species denoted with an “E” following the common name are considered endemic to Ecuador
All species denoted with an “H” following the name were heard only species
Species preceded by an “*” were seen by Jeff Gordon and myself prior to the official trip start date of March 14th, 2009, but were not noted during the tour.
Dates species were noted are included at the end of the species listing as a number referring to the date(s) in March the species was noted
I will list the Birds first, then Mammals, followed by the Reptiles and Amphibians. Lepidopterids were too numerous to list or even competently identify, in most cases.
Birds
Great Tinamou H 10, 28
Cinereous Tinamou H 27-29
Undulated Tinamou H 29,30
Silvery Grebe 20
Pied-billed Grebe 19
Neotropic Cormorant 19
Anhinga 26, 30
Torrent Duck 22
Speckled (Andean) Teal 19, 20
Andean Ruddy Duck 19
Cocoi Heron 26, 30
Great Egret 26-30
Cattle Egret 19
Snowy Egret 19, 26, 29, 30
Little Blue Heron 19
Striated Heron 27
*Fasciated Tiger-Heron 11
Rufescent Tiger-Heron 27
Zigzag Heron 28
Black-faced Ibis 20
Andean Condor 20, 24
Turkey Vulture 18, 19, 24, 30
Greater Yellow-headed Vulture 26-30
Black Vulture 17-20, 23, 24, 26-30
King Vulture 29
Snail Kite 27
Slender-billed Kite 26-28
Swallow-tailed Kite 18, 28, 30
Double-toothed Kite 28
Plumbeous Kite 28, 30
Plain-breasted Hawk 15
Semiplumbeous Hawk 18
Slate-colored Hawk 26, 28
Barred Hawk 22
Black-chested Buzzard Eagle 20
Roadside Hawk 16, 28, 23, 29, 30
Puna Hawk 15, 20, 21
Black Caracara 28-30
Yellow-headed Caracara 29
Carunculated Caracara 20, 21
Barred Forest-Falcon H 17
Laughing Falcon 26
American Kestrel 19, 20
Orange-breasted Falcon 24
Peregrine Falcon 30
Speckled Chachalaca H 29
Andean Guan 20
Spix’s Guan 28
Sickle-winged Guan 17
Dark-backed Wood-Quail H 16
Gray-necked Wood-Rail H 29
Purple Gallinule 19
Common Moorhen 19
Andean Coot 19, 20
Southern Lapwing 22
Andean Lapwing 20
Pied Plover 26, 29
Collared Plover 29
Spotted Sandpiper 19, 26, 29, 30
Lesser Yellowlegs 19
Greater Yellowlegs 19
Andean Gull 20
Yellow-billed Tern 29, 30
Rock Pigeon 15, 19, 20
Band-tailed Pigeon 19, 23, 24
Pale-vented Pigeon 26, 28-30
Scaled Pigeon 23
Ruddy Pigeon 27, 28
Plumbeous Pigeon 20
Eared Dove 15, 18-20
Black-winged Ground-Dove 20
White-tipped Dove 17, 19
Gray-fronted Dove H 30
White-throated Quail-Dove 16
Ruddy Quail-Dove 29
Scarlet Macaw 29
Chestnut-fronted Macaw 26, 29
White-eyed Parakeet 28
Dusky-headed Parakeet 28, 29
Maroon-tailed Parakeet 18, 28
Cobalt-winged Parakeet 27-29
Scarlet-shouldered Parakeet 29
Black-headed Parrot 28
Orange-cheeked Parrot 29
Blue-headed Parrot 28, 29
Red-billed Parrot 16, 18
Speckle-faced (White-capped Parrot) 21, 22, 24
Yellow-crowned Amazon 29
Orange-winged Amazon 26, 28
Mealy Amazon 29
*Scaly-naped Amazon 13
Squirrel Cuckoo 23, 27, 28, 30
Little Cuckoo 26
Greater Ani 26, 27, 39, 30
Smooth-billed Ani 26, 27, 29, 30
Groove-billed Ani 18
Hoatzin 26-30
Tawny Bellied Screech-Owl 29
Crested Owl 29
Andean Pygmy-Owl H 21
Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl H 28, 29
San Isidro Owl E 22, 23
Mottled Owl H 28 (seen by Jeff after group had disbanded)
Great Potoo 27
Common Potoo 29
Short-tailed Nighthawk 29
Pauraque 28
Ladder-tailed Nightjar 29
Lyre-tailed Nightjar 22
White-collared Swift 20, 23, 25, 29, 30
Chestnut-collared Swift 24, 25
Spot-fronted Swift 16, 22
Gray-rumped Swift 24, 28
Short-tailed Swift 24, 30
Pale-rumped Swift 28
Neotropical Palm-Swift 26, 29
Rufous-breasted Hermit 29
White-bearded Hermit 27
Green-fronted Lancebill 24
White-necked Jacobin 28, 29
Brown Violetear 15-17
Green Violetear 15-17
Sparkling Violetear 15, 16, 19, 20, 22
Wire-crested Thorntail 24
Green Thorntail 18
Western Emerald 15-17
Blue-tailed Emerald 29
Green-crowned Woodnymph 15-18
Golden-tailed Sapphire 27
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird 15-18
Andean Emerald 15-18
Speckled Hummingbird 16, 17, 22
Purple-bibbed Whitetip 15-17
Empress Brilliant 17, 18
Green-crowned Brilliant 18
Fawn-breasted Brilliant 15-18, 21, 22
Ecuadorian Hillstar E 20, 21
White-tailed Hillstar 24
Giant Hummingbird 20
Shining Sunbeam 20
Mountain Velvetbreast 15
Great Sapphirewing 15
Bronzy Inca 22
Brown Inca 15-18
Collared Inca 15, 20-24
Buff-winged Starfrontlet 15, 20
Sword-billed Hummingbird 15, 20, 22
Buff-tailed Coronet 15-18, 20, 22
Chestnut-breasted Coronet 20-22, 24
Velvet-purple Coronet 17, 18
Gorgeted Sunangel 16
Tourmaline Sunangel 20-22
Sapphire-winged Puffleg 15
Golden-breasted Puffleg 15
Black-breasted Puffleg E 15
*Greenish Puffleg 14
Booted Racket-tail 15-17
Black-tailed Trainbearer 20
Viridian Metaltail 15, 20
Tyrian Metaltail 15, 20-22
Blue-mantled Thornbill 21
Long-tailed Sylph 20-23
Violet-tailed Sylph 15-18
Purple-crowned Fairy 18
Black-eared Fairy 24
Long-billed Starthroat 24
Purple-throated Woodstar 15-18
White-bellied Woodstar 15, 16, 20-22
Little Woodstar 18
Crested Quetzal H 23
Golden-headed Quetzal 17, 22
Blue-crowned Trogon 28
Amazonian White-tailed Trogon 28, 29
Amazonian Violaceous Trogon H 27, 30
Black-tailed Trogon 28
Collared Trogon 28
Masked Trogon 16, 17, 22, 23
Ringed Kingfisher 27, 30
Green-and-Rufous Kingfisher 28
American Pygmy Kingfisher 28
Blue-crowned Motmot H 29, 30
Rufous Motmot H 29
Highland Motmot 23
Coppery-chested Jacamar H 24
White-eared Jacamar 30
Purplish Jacamar H 28
White-necked Puffbird 27, 28
Black-fronted Nunbird 29, 30
White-fronted Nunbird 28
Swallow-wing 26, 29, 30
Gilded Barbet 28
Scarlet-crowned Barbet 30
Red-headed Barbet 16, 17, 24
Toucan Barbet 17
Emerald Toucanet 17, 18, 25
Crimson-rumped Toucanet 18
Golden-collared Toucanet 28
Pale-mandibled Aracari 18
Chestnut-eared Aracari 24
Many-banded Aracari 28
Ivory-billed Aracari 28
Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan 17, 18
Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan 22
*Black-billed Mountain-Toucan 14
White-throated Toucan 28
Channel-billed Toucan 28
Choco Toucan 18
LeFresnaye's Piculet 24
Olivaceous Piculet 18
Crimson-mantled Woodpecker 16, 17, 23, 25
Golden-olive Woodpecker 18
Lineated Woodpecker 24
Yellow-tufted Woodpecker 24, 28
Black-cheeked Woodpecker 18
Smoky-brown Woodpecker H 17
Yellow-vented Woodpecker 23
Bar-bellied Woodpecker H 22
Chestnut Woodpecker 28, 30
Cream-colored Woodpecker H 30
Crimson-crested Woodpecker 24
Guayaquil Woodpecker 18
Powerful Woodpecker 17
Tyrannine Woodcreeper 22
Wedge-billed Woodcreeper 18, 28
Long-billed Woodcreeper H 27, 30
Cinnmon-throated Woodcreeper 29
Black-banded Woodcreeper 30
Straight-billed Woodcreeper H 26, 30
Spix’s Woodcreeper H 27
Buff-throated Woodcreeper 28
Spotted Woodcreeper 17, 18
Olive-backed Woodcreper 23, 25
Montane Woodcreeper 17, 20-23, 25
*Greater Scythebill 14
Bar-winged Cinclodes 20, 21
Stout-billed Cinclodes 20
Lesser Hornero H 29
Andean Tit-Spinetail 21
Azara's Spinetail 22
Slaty Spinetail H 18
Plain-crowned Spinetail H 30
Dark-breasted Spinetail H 24
Rufous Spinetail 15
White-browed Spinetail 15
Red-faced Spinetail 17, 18
White-chinned Thistletail 21
Streak-backed Canastero 20
Many-striped Canastero 20, 21
Orange-fronted Plushcrown 28
Streaked Tuftedcheek 22, 23, 25
Point-tailed Palmcreeper 28
Pearled Treerunner 15, 22, 23, 25
Spotted Barbtail 16, 17, 23, 24
Rusty-winged Barbtail 16
Lineated Foliage-Gleaner 16, 23, 25
Scaly-throated Foliage-Gleaner 18
Chestnut-winged Hookbill H 28
Montane Foliage-Gleaner 24
Olive-backed Foliage-Gleaner H 28
Western Woodhaunter 18
Flammulated Treehunter 16
Streak-capped Treehunter H 16
Short-billed Leaftosser H 27
Black-tailed Leaftosser 28
Lined Antshrike 24
Plain-winged Antshrike H 28
Dusky-throated Antshrike 28
Cinereous Antshrike H 29
Russet Antshrike 24
Plain-throated Antwren 27
Pygmy Antwren H 27, 30
Short-billed Antwren 28
White-flanked Antwren 27
Gray Antwren 29
Yellow-breasted Antwren H 24
Long-tailed Antbird 23
Rufous-rumped Antwren 24
Blackish Antbird 24
Black-faced Antbird H 30
Warbling Antbird 30
Silvered Antbird 30
White-backed Fire-eye H 24
Plumbeous Antbird 28
White-shouldered Antbird H 30
Immaculate Antbird 18
Sooty Antbird H 27-29
Dot-backed Antbird H 27, 28
Spot-backed Antbird H 30
Scale-backed Antbird 27
Black-spotted Bare-eye H 28-30
Striated Antthrush H 27, 28
Rufous-breasted Antthrush H 16
Rufous-capped Antthrush 28
Black-faced Antthrush 28
Giant Antpitta 17
Scaled Antpitta H 16
Moustached Antpitta H 17, 25
Chestnut-crowned Antpitta 21, 23, 25
White-bellied Antpitta 23
Rufous Antpitta 21
Tawny Antpitta 21
Thrush-like Anpitta H 28
Slate-crowned Antpitta 23
Ash-colored Tapaculo H 25
Blackish Tapaculo 22
Unicolored (Matorral?) Tapaculo 15, 20
Long-tailed Tapaculo H 23
White-crowned Tapaculo H 24
Narino Tapaculo H 16
Spillman's Tapaculo H 16, 24
Paramo Tapaculo H 21
Sooty-headed Tyrannulet 18
Ashy-headed Tyrannulet 23
Golden-faced Tyrannulet 24
Slender-footed Tyrannulet 27
White-lored Tyrannulet 28
Southern Beardless-Tyrannulet 18
Yellow-crowned Tyrannulet 30
White-crested Elaenia 19, 20
Sierran Elaenia 23
White-throated Tyrannulet 15, 21
White-banded Tyrannulet 20-22
White-tailed Tyrannulet 16, 17, 22, 23
Sulphur-bellied Tyrannulet 23
Torrent Tyrannulet 24
Tufted Tit-Tyrant 15
Agile Tit-Tyrant 21
Streak-necked Flycatcher 16, 17, 25
Olive-striped Flycatcher 24
Slaty-capped Flycatcher 18
Rufous-breasted Flycatcher 22, 23, 25
Marble-faced Bristle-Tyrant 18
*Rufous-headed Pygmy-Tyrant 14
*Bronze-olive Pygmy-Tyrant 13
Scale-crested Pymgy-Tyrant H 18
Rufous-crowned Tody-Flycatcher 23
Yellow-browed Tody-Flycatcher 27, 28
Common Tody-Flycatcher 23
Ornate Flycatcher 17, 18
Tawny-breasted Flycatcher 18
Flavescent Flycatcher 16, 23
Olive-chested Flycatcher 24
Handsome Flycatcher 25
Cinnamon Flycatcher 22, 23, 25
Olive-sided Flycatcher 24
Smoke-colored Pewee 16, 23, 25
Western Wood-Pewee 18, 24
Eastern Wood-Pewee 28
Gray-breasted Flycatcher 18
"Traill's" Flycatcher 18
Black Phoebe 23, 24
Vermilion Flycatcher 19
Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant 21
Rufous-breasted Chat-Tyrant 22
Crowned Chat-Tyrant 15
Drab Water-Tyrant 29
Red-rumped Bush-Tyrant 21
Streak-throated Bush-Tyrant 19
Cliff Flycatcher 24
Paramo Ground-Tyrant 20, 21
Masked Water-Tyrant 18
Bright-rumped Attila H 28, 29
Cinnamon Attila 28
Grayish Mourner 28
Dusky-capped Flycatcher 17, 18
Short-crested Flycatcher 28, 30
Pale-edged Flycatcher 22, 23
Swainson’s Flycatcher 30
Great Kiskadee 27-30
Lesser Kiskadee 26, 28-30
Boat-billed Flycatcher 30
Social Flycatcher 26-30
Rusty-margined Flycatcher 18
Gray-capped Flycatcher 24, 26, 28-30
Lemon-browed Flycatcher 23
Golden-crowned Flycatcher 16-18, 22, 24
Piratic Flycatcher 28, 30
Crowned Slaty-Flycatcher 27, 28
Variegated Flycatcher 26
Eastern Kingbird 26, 28-30
Tropical Kingbird 18, 22-24, 26-30
Barred Becard 16, 18, 23
White-winged Becard 24, 26, 30
Black-and-White Becard 16
Black-capped Becard 27
One-colored Becard 18
Pink-throated Becard 28
Black-tailed Tityra 28
Olivaceous Piha 17
Dusky Piha 24
Andean Cock-of-the-Rock 23
Blue-crowned Manakin 27
White-bearded Manakin 29
Orange-crested Manakin E 27
Dwarf Tyrant-Manakin 27
Wing-barred Piprites H 28
White-browed Purpletuft 27, 28
Purple-throated Cotinga 27, 28
Spangled Cotinga 28
Bare-necked Fruitcrow 27, 28
Turquoise Jay 16, 21, 22
Violaceous Jay 24, 27-29
Inca Jay 22, 23, 25
Black-billed Peppershrike 23
Red-eyed Vireo 28
Yellow-green Vireo 27, 28
Brown-capped Vireo 16, 18, 22, 23
Andean Solitaire H 17
Swainson's Thrush 18, 24
Pale-eyed Thrush 22, 23
Great Thrush 15, 19-22, 24, 25
Glossy-black Thrush 20, 22, 23
Lawrence’s Thrush H 28
Hauxwell’s Thrush 27, 28
Pale-vented Thrush 18
Ecuadorian Thrush 18
White-necked Thrush 28
White-capped Dipper 21, 22
Brown-chested Martin 30
Gray-breasted Martin 26, 30
White-winged Swallow 26, 27, 29, 30
Brown-bellied Swallow 15, 20, 21, 23
Blue-and-White-Swallow 16, 17, 19, 22-25
White-banded Swallow 26, 28-30
White-thighed Swallow 24
Southern Rough-winged Swallow 29, 30
Barn Swallow 19
Bank Swallow 26, 30
Black-capped Donacobius 28, 29
Thrush-like Wren H 24
Band-backed Wren 18
Rufous Wren 15
Sharpe's (Sepia-brown) Wren 17, 23
Grass Wren 20
Plain-tailed Wren H 16, 23
Whiskered Wren H 18
Coraya Wren H 28
House Wren 18, 24
Mountain Wren 17, 22, 23, 25
White-breasted Wood-Wren 29
Gray-breasteed Wood-Wren 23
Scaly-breasted Wren H 18
Musician Wren 28
Paramo Pipit H 20
Tropical Parula 16, 18, 24
Black-and-White Warbler 18, 23
Blackburnian Warbler 16, 17, 21-25
Blackpoll Warbler 27
Canada Warbler 22-24
Slate-throated Whitestart 16-28, 21-25
Spectacled Whitestart 15, 16, 21-23
Black-crested Warbler 22
Citrine Warbler 22
Three-striped Warbler 16, 17
Russet-crowned Warbler 16, 23
Buff-rumped Warbler 18
Bananaquit 17, 18, 24
Blue-naped Chlorophonia H 24
Chestnut-breasted Chlorophonia 25
Thick-billed Euphonia 18
Golden-rumped Euphonia 16
Orange-bellied Euphonia 16-18, 24
Orange-crowned Euphonia 18
Bronze-green Euphonia 24
White-vented Euphonia 28
Rufous-bellied Euphonia 27
White-lored Euphonia 27
Purple Honeycreeper 27, 28
Green Honeycreeper 27, 28
*Golden-collared Honeycreeper 13
Blue Dacnis 27
Black-faced Dacnis 24, 28
Yellow-tufted Dacnis 18
Yellow-bellied Dacnis 28
Cinereous Conebill 15
Blue-backed Conebill 15, 21, 22
Capped Conebill 22
Bluish Flowerpiercer 23, 25
Masked Flowerpiercer 15-18, 20-23, 25
Golden-eyed (Deep-blue) Flowerpiercer 24
Glossy Flowerpiercer 15, 21
Black Flowerpiercer 15, 20
White-sided Flowerpiercer 16
Guira Tanager 18
Fawn-breasted Tanager 17, 23
Orange-eared Tanager 24
Rufous-throated Tanager 18
Golden Tanager 16, 18, 24
Silver-throated Tanager 16-18
Saffron-crowned Tanager 23-25
Golden-eared Tanager 24
Flame-faced Tanager 16, 17, 23
Golden-naped Tanager 16-18
Metallic-green Tanager 16, 17
Beryl-spangled Tanager 16, 17, 22-25
Blue-and-black Tanager 22
Black-capped Tanager 16, 17, 22, 23, 25
Blue-necked Tanager 18, 24
Paradise Tanager 24
Opal-rumped Tanager 27, 28
Opal-crowned Tanager 27
Green-and-Gold Tanager 27, 28
Spotted Tanager 24
Masked Tanager 27
Turquoise Tanager 28
Bay-headed Tanager 18, 24
Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager 15, 22
Lacrimose Mountain-Tanager 22
Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager 16-18, 22, 23
Black-chinned Mountain-Tanager 18
Hooded Mountain-Tanager 22, 25
Black-chested Mountain-Tanager 15
Grass-green Tanager 16, 22, 25
Rufous-crested Tanager 25
Swallow Tanager 28
Blue-gray Tanager 18, 23, 24
Palm Tanager 18, 28
Silver-beaked Tanager 24, 30
Lemon-rumped Tanager 16-18
Masked Crimson Tanager 28
Ochre-breasted Tanager 18
White-lined Tanager 18, 24
Summer Tanager 23, 24
Scarlet Tanager 28
Common Bush-Tanager 23, 25
Ashy-throated Bush-Tanager 24
Dusky Bush-Tanager 16
Yellow-throated Bush-Tanager 17, 18, 24, 25
Yellow-whiskered Bush-Tanager 23
Gray-hooded Bush-Tanager 22
Black-backed Bush-Tanager 21
Black-capped Hemispingus 22
Superciliaried Hemispingus 15, 20
Oleaginous Hemispingus 23
Black-eared Hemispingus 22, 23, 25
Western Hemispingus 16
Magpie Tanager 24
White-capped Tanager H 22
*Plushcap 13, 14
Buff-throated Saltator 18
Black-winged Saltator H 17
Grayish Saltator 24
Southern Yellow (Golden-bellied) Grosbeak 15, 19
Black-backed Grosbeak 19
Blue-black Grassquit 24
Variable Seedeater 18
Black-and-White Seedeater 24
Yellow-bellied Seedeater 18
Chestnut-bellied Seedeater 24
Plain-colored Seedeater 15, 20
Paramo Seedeater 20
Band-tailed Seedeater 15, 19
Plumbeous Sierra-Finch 20, 21
Ash-breasted Sierra-Finch 19
Grassland Yellow-Finch 19
Pale-naped Brush-Finch 21, 22
Rufous-naped Brush-Finch 15
Tricolored Brush-Finch 16
Slaty Brush-Finch 22
White-winged Brush-Finch 16, 17
Stripe-headed Brush-Finch 22
Rufous-collared Sparrow 15, 16, 19-25
Red-capped Cardinal 28, 29
Mountain Cacique 22, 23
Subtropical Cacique 22, 23, 25
Crested Oropendola 26-30
Russet-backed Oropendola 22-25, 27, 28
Yellow-rumped Cacique 28
Scrub Blackbird 18
Oriole Blackbird 29
Olivaceous Siskin 22, 24
Andean Siskin 19
Yellow-bellied Siskin 18
Total species recorded: 573
heard only: 57
“*”leader only: 7
Mammals
Brazilian Rabbit
Sanford's Squirrel
Red-tailed Squirrel
Kinkajou
Noisy Night Monkey
Black-mantled Tamarin
Napo Tamarin
Pygmy Marmoset
Squirrel Monkey
White-fronted Capuchin
Red Howler Monkey
Black Agouti
*Mountain Tapir
Andean Fox/Paramo Wolf
Grey River Dolphin
Amphibians & Reptiles
Botoglossus cuyabensis Cuyabeno Salamander
Bufo margaritifer Crested Toad
Ischocnemus quixensis Wart Toad
Hyla geographica Map Tree Frog
Hyla caucarata Convict Tree Frog
Hyla punctata Christmas (Spotted) Tree Frog
Hyla bifurca Bicolored Harlequin Frog
Hyla triangulum Triangle Harlequin Frog
Phyllomedusa Tomopterna Barred (Tiger) Monkey Frog
Eleutherodactylus sp.
Leptodactylus pentadactylus Smoky Jungle Frog
Bark Anole
Festive Anole
Greyish Bark Anole
Striped Paradise Lizard
Collared Day Gecko
Anaconda
Spectacled Caiman