This is an excellent birding area less than 2 hours by bus from Quito. Buses leave from the Flor de Valle terminal in Quito and cost about $1.50. I stayed at a friends place in the tiny village of Miraflores (1,900m) 30 minutes before Mindo at about km 65 but there are many places to stay in Mindo. In fact this town seems to have grown up on birding. There is nowhere to stay in Miraflores as yet but the Arcos family are building accomodation. They have also built a 'Canopy tour', a slide through the trees. There is great birding on the property with many interesting species of tanager, hummingbird and antpitta. Giant and Moustached Antpitta were both heard nearby as was Toucan Barbet. Walking around the town of Mindo and the several km stretch of from the main road down into town can also be productive. Hitching along the roads is fairly easy.
| Black Vulture | Coragyps atratus | |
| Turkey Vulture | Cathartes aura | |
| Plain-breasted Hawk | Accipiter ventralis | Photographed Recorded |
| Roadside Hawk | Buteo magnirostris | Recorded |
| American Kestrel | Falco sparverius | |
| Crested Guan | Penelope purpurascens | Possibly heard |
| Dark-backed Wood-Quail | Odontophorus melanonotus | Endemic Vulnerable Heard only Recorded |
| White-throated Crake | Laterallus albigularis | Heard only. Recorded |
| Rock Pigeon | Columba livia | Introduced species |
| Band-tailed Pigeon | Patagioenas fasciata | |
| Plumbeous Pigeon | Patagioenas plumbea | Recorded |
| Ruddy Pigeon | Patagioenas subvinacea | |
| White-throated Quail-Dove | Geotrygon frenata | Heard only |
| Barred Parakeet | Bolborhynchus lineola | Heard only |
| Red-billed Parrot | Pionus sordidus | |
| Squirrel Cuckoo | Piaya cayana | |
| Groove-billed Ani | Crotophaga sulcirostris | Recorded |
| Mottled Owl | Ciccaba virgata | Heard only. Recorded |
| Pauraque | Nyctidromus albicollis | Possibly seen |
| Band-winged Nightjar | Caprimulgus longirostris | |
| White-collared Swift | Streptoprocne zonaris | |
| Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift | Panyptila cayennensis | |
| Green Violet-ear | Colibri thalassinus | Photographed |
| Sparkling Violet-ear | Colibri coruscans | |
| Rufous-tailed Hummingbird | Amazilia tzacatl | |
| Andean Emerald | Agyrtria franciae | |
| Speckled Hummingbird | Adelomyia melanogenys | Photographed |
| Fawn-breasted Brilliant | Heliodoxa rubinoides | |
| Brown Inca | Coeligena wilsoni | |
| Gorgeted Sunangel | Heliangelus strophianus | |
| Booted Racket-tail | Ocreatus underwoodii | Recorded |
| Violet-tailed Sylph | Aglaiocercus coelestis | |
| Wedge-billed Hummingbird | Augastes geoffroyi | |
| Purple-throated Woodstar | Calliphlox mitchellii | Photographed |
| White-bellied Woodstar | Chaetocercus mulsant | |
| Masked Trogon | Trogon personatus | |
| Golden-headed Quetzal | Pharomachrus auriceps | Heard only |
| Rufous Motmot | Baryphthengus martii | Heard only |
| Toucan Barbet | Semnornis ramphastinus | Near-threatened Heard only |
| Crimson-rumped Toucanet | Aulacorhynchus haematopygus | Photographed |
| Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan | Andigena laminirostris | Near-threatened |
| Smoky-brown Woodpecker | Veniliornis fumigatus | |
| Crimson-mantled Woodpecker | Piculus rivolii | Photographed |
| Powerful Woodpecker | Campephilus pollens | |
| (Pacific Hornero) | Furnarius leucopus | |
| Rufous Spinetail | Synallaxis unirufa | |
| Azara's Spinetail | Synallaxis azarae | Heard only |
| Slaty Spinetail | Synallaxis brachyura | Recorded |
| Red-faced Spinetail | Cranioleuca erythrops | |
| Rusty-winged Barbtail | Premnornis guttuligera | Possibly seen |
| Spotted Barbtail | Premnoplex brunnescens | |
| Scaly-throated Foliage-gleaner | Anabacerthia variegaticeps | |
| Lineated Foliage-gleaner | Syndactyla subalaris | Recorded |
| Tyrannine Woodcreeper | Dendrocincla tyrannina | |
| Strong-billed Woodcreeper | Xiphocolaptes promeropirhynchus | Photographed |
| Spotted Woodcreeper | Xiphorhynchus erythropygius | |
| Montane Woodcreeper | Lepidocolaptes lacrymiger | |
| Uniform Antshrike | Thamnophilus unicolor | Recorded |
| Pacific Antwren | Myrmotherula pacifica | |
| Long-tailed Antbird | Drymophila caudata | Recorded |
| Immaculate Antbird | Myrmeciza immaculata | |
| Rufous-breasted Antthrush | Formicarius rufipectus | Heard only |
| Giant Antpitta | Grallaria gigantea | Endangered Heard only |
| Moustached Antpitta | Grallaria alleni | Endangered Heard only |
| Nariño Tapaculo | Scytalopus vicinior | Heard only |
| Spillman's Tapaculo | Scytalopus spillmanni | Heard only |
| Green-and-black Fruiteater | Pipreola riefferii | Photographed |
| Scaled Fruiteater | Ampelioides tschudii | |
| Streak-necked Flycatcher | Mionectes striaticollis | |
| White-tailed Tyrannulet | Mecocerculus poecilocercus | |
| Ornate Flycatcher | Myiotriccus ornatus | |
| Flavescent Flycatcher | Myiophobus flavicans | Possibly seen |
| Smoke-colored Pewee | Contopus fumigatus | |
| Golden-crowned Flycatcher | Myiodynastes chrysocephalus | Photographed Recorded |
| Tropical Kingbird | Tyrannus melancholicus | |
| Barred Becard | Pachyramphus versicolor | |
| One-colored Becard | Pachyramphus homochrous | |
| Turquoise Jay | Cyanolyca turcosa | Recorded |
| Blue-and-white Swallow | Notiochelidon cyanoleuca | Photographed Recorded |
| Southern Rough-winged Swallow | Stelgidopteryx ruficollis | Photographed |
| Sharpe's Wren | Cinnycerthia olivascens | Heard only |
| House Wren | Troglodytes aedon | Recorded |
| Gray-breasted Wood-Wren | Henicorhina leucophrys | |
| Andean Solitaire | Myadestes ralloides | Heard only |
| Swainson's Thrush | Catharus ustulatus | |
| Great Thrush | Turdus fuscater | Recorded |
| Glossy-black Thrush | Turdus serranus | Possibly seen |
| Ecuadorian Thrush | Turdus maculirostris | |
| Tropical Gnatcatcher | Polioptila plumbea | |
| Brown-capped Vireo | Vireo leucophrys | Recorded |
| Red-eyed Vireo | Vireo olivaceus | |
| Blackburnian Warbler | Dendroica fusca | |
| Slate-throated Redstart | Myioborus miniatus | |
| Russet-crowned Warbler | Basileuterus coronatus | |
| Three-striped Warbler | Basileuterus tristriatus | |
| Bananaquit | Coereba flaveola | |
| Dusky Bush-Tanager | Chlorospingus semifuscus | Recorded |
| White-lined Tanager | Tachyphonus rufus | |
| White-winged Tanager | Piranga leucoptera | |
| Flame-rumped Tanager | Ramphocelus flammigerus | |
| Blue-gray Tanager | Thraupis episcopus | |
| Palm Tanager | Thraupis palmarum | |
| Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager | Anisognathus somptuosus | Photographed |
| Fawn-breasted Tanager | Pipraeidea melanonota | |
| Golden-rumped Euphonia | Euphonia cyanocephala | |
| Orange-bellied Euphonia | Euphonia xanthogaster | |
| Golden Tanager | Tangara arthus | Photographed Recorded |
| Silver-throated Tanager | Tangara icterocephala | |
| Flame-faced Tanager | Tangara parzudakii | Photographed |
| Golden-naped Tanager | Tangara ruficervix | |
| Beryl-spangled Tanager | Tangara nigroviridis | Photographed |
| Blue-and-black Tanager | Tangara vassorii | |
| Black-capped Tanager | Tangara heinei | |
| Blue-black Grassquit | Volatinia jacarina | |
| Variable Seedeater | Sporophila corvina | |
| Yellow-bellied Seedeater | Sporophila nigricollis | |
| Blue Seedeater | Amaurospiza concolor | Possibly seen |
| Yellow-faced Grassquit | Tiaris olivacea | |
| White-sided Flowerpiercer | Diglossa albilatera | |
| Tricolored Brush-Finch | Atlapetes tricolor | |
| Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch | Buarremon brunneinucha | |
| Rufous-collared Sparrow | Zonotrichia capensis | |
| Black-winged Saltator | Saltator atripennis | |
| Scrub Blackbird | Dives warszewiczi | |
| Yellow-bellied Siskin | Carduelis xanthogastra |
This is a popular tourist town with beautiful scenery and hotsprings nearby. Again I stayed with the Arcos family outside of town where they own a trout farm (2,200m) that borders the Sangay National Park. There are trails up from the farm into good forest in 2 valleys. The area was great for Tapaculos (Ocellated, Unicoloured & Spillman's), hummingbirds and tanagers. Up the left valley there is a wonderful spot for hummingbirds (Saphire-vented Puffleg, Tournaline Sunangel & Collared Inca) in a clearing, quite far up, created by a landslide several years ago. The right valley had Grey-breasted Mountain-Toucan, Rusty-barred Owl, Rufous Antpitta and Blue-backed Conebill. There is plenty of accomodation in Baños and soon the Arcos family and their neighbours will finish cabins. The trails are on private land but access will be granted to people staying or eating trout at the restaurant being built.
| Tawny-breasted Tinamou | Nothocercus julius | Heard only. Recorded |
| Turkey Vulture | Cathartes aura | |
| Roadside Hawk | Buteo magnirostris | |
| Sickle-winged Guan | Chamaepetes goudotii | Photographed |
| Band-tailed Pigeon | Patagioenas fasciata | |
| White-throated Quail-Dove | Geotrygon frenata | Heard only |
| White-capped Parrot | Pionus seniloides | |
| Rufous-banded Owl | Ciccaba albitarsus | |
| Chestnut-collared Swift | Streptoprocne rutila | Possibly seen |
| White-collared Swift | Streptoprocne zonaris | |
| White-tipped Swift | Aeronautes montivagus | |
| Green-fronted Lancebill | Doryfera ludovicae | Possibly seen. Photographed |
| Speckled Hummingbird | Adelomyia melanogenys | |
| Collared Inca | Coeligena torquata | |
| Tourmaline Sunangel | Heliangelus exortis | Photographed |
| Glowing Puffleg | Eriocnemis vestitus | |
| Sapphire-vented Puffleg | Eriocnemis luciani | |
| Tyrian Metaltail | Metallura tyrianthina | |
| Mountain Avocetbill | Opisthoprora euryptera | |
| Long-tailed Sylph | Aglaiocercus kingi | |
| Masked Trogon | Trogon personatus | Photographed |
| Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan | Andigena hypoglauca | Near-threatened Photographed |
| Andean Toucanet | Aulacorhynchus albivitta | |
| Bar-bellied Woodpecker | Veniliornis nigriceps | |
| Crimson-mantled Woodpecker | Piculus rivolii | Photographed |
| Pearled Treerunner | Margarornis squamiger | |
| Giant Antpitta | Grallaria gigantea | Endangered Possibly heard |
| Chestnut-crowned Antpitta | Grallaria ruficapilla | |
| Rufous Antpitta | Grallaria rufula | |
| Unicolored Tapaculo | Scytalopus unicolor | |
| Spillman's Tapaculo | Scytalopus spillmanni | Heard only |
| Ocellated Tapaculo | Acropternis orthonyx | Photographed |
| Green-and-black Fruiteater | Pipreola riefferii | |
| Dusky Piha | Lipaugus fuscocinereus | Photographed |
| White-banded Tyrannulet | Mecocerculus stictopterus | |
| Cinnamon Flycatcher | Pyrrhomyias cinnamomea | Photographed |
| Smoke-colored Pewee | Contopus fumigatus | |
| Slaty-backed Chat-Tyrant | Ochthoeca cinnamomeiventris | |
| Streak-throated Bush-Tyrant | Myiotheretes striaticollis | |
| Rufous Wren | Cinnycerthia unirufa | |
| Plain-tailed Wren | Thryothorus euophrys | Heard only |
| Mountain Wren | Troglodytes solstitialis | Photographed |
| Gray-breasted Wood-Wren | Henicorhina leucophrys | |
| Andean Solitaire | Myadestes ralloides | |
| Great Thrush | Turdus fuscater | Photographed |
| Green Jay | Cyanocorax yncas | |
| Turquoise Jay | Cyanolyca turcosa | Photographed |
| Brown-capped Vireo | Vireo leucophrys | |
| Blackburnian Warbler | Dendroica fusca | |
| Canada Warbler | Wilsonia canadensis | |
| Slate-throated Redstart | Myioborus miniatus | |
| Spectacled Redstart | Myioborus melanocephalus | |
| Citrine Warbler | Basileuterus luteoviridis | |
| Russet-crowned Warbler | Basileuterus coronatus | |
| Blue-backed Conebill | Conirostrum sitticolor | |
| Grass-green Tanager | Chlorornis riefferii | |
| Short-billed Bush-Tanager | Chlorospingus parvirostris | |
| Black-eared Hemispingus | Hemispingus melanotis | |
| Hooded Mountain-Tanager | Buthraupis montana | Photographed |
| Lacrimose Mountain-Tanager | Anisognathus lacrymosus | |
| Golden-crowned Tanager | Iridosornis rufivertex | |
| Saffron-crowned Tanager | Tangara xanthocephala | |
| Flame-faced Tanager | Tangara parzudakii | |
| Golden-naped Tanager | Tangara ruficervix | |
| Beryl-spangled Tanager | Tangara nigroviridis | |
| Plush-capped Finch | Catamblyrhynchus diadema | Photographed |
| Masked Flowerpiercer | Diglossopis cyanea | |
| Slaty Brush-Finch | Atlapetes schistaceus | |
| Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch | Buarremon brunneinucha | |
| Rufous-collared Sparrow | Zonotrichia capensis | |
| Black-backed Grosbeak | Pheucticus aureoventris | |
| Mountain Cacique | Cacicus chrysonotus |
This small reserve belonging to the American biologist Harold Greeney is next to the more famous Cabañas San Isidro where there is an undescribed species of owl. One can pay to enter Cabañas San Isidro or stay for the night although it is quite expensive. There are also a couple of trails along the road leading to Yana Yaca which go through CSI property. These may or maynot be free. Birding along the road also seems to be good. Greeney runs a biological station there where biologists pay $15 a night to come and stay.
| Torrent Duck | Merganetta armata | Seen on the way |
| Yellow-billed Pintail | Anas georgica | Seen on the way |
| Roadside Hawk | Buteo magnirostris | |
| Andean Gull | Larus serranus | Seen on the way |
| Sparkling Violet-ear | Colibri coruscans | Seen on the way |
| Collared Inca | Coeligena torquata | Photographed |
| Montane Woodcreeper | Lepidocolaptes lacrymiger | |
| Sierran Elaenia | Elaenia pallatangae | Possibly seen |
| Smoke-colored Pewee | Contopus fumigatus | |
| Black Phoebe | Sayornis nigricans | Seen on the way |
| Pale-edged Flycatcher | Myiarchus cephalotes | |
| Blue-and-white Swallow | Notiochelidon cyanoleuca | Seen on the way. Photographed |
| Brown-bellied Swallow | Notiochelidon murina | |
| Great Thrush | Turdus fuscater | |
| Green Jay | Cyanocorax yncas | |
| Blackburnian Warbler | Dendroica fusca | |
| Black-and-white Warbler | Mniotilta varia | |
| Canada Warbler | Wilsonia canadensis | |
| Spectacled Redstart | Myioborus melanocephalus | |
| Black-crested Warbler | Basileuterus nigrocristatus | Seen on the way |
| Blue-gray Tanager | Thraupis episcopus | |
| Fawn-breasted Tanager | Pipraeidea melanonota | |
| Saffron-crowned Tanager | Tangara xanthocephala | |
| Black-capped Tanager | Tangara heinei | |
| Masked Flowerpiercer | Diglossopis cyanea | |
| Rufous-collared Sparrow | Zonotrichia capensis | |
| Scarlet-rumped Cacique | Cacicus uropygialis | |
| Mountain Cacique | Cacicus chrysonotus | |
| Russet-backed Oropendola | Psarocolius angustifrons |
I passed this area several times on the bus and birded roadside scrub a little (Streak-headed Woodcreeper, Speckle-chested Wren & Pacific Elania) when it broke down 2 hours before Loja coming from Quito. I also saw several new birds on the bus to Huaquillas on the border with Peru including Peruvian Meadowlark, Gray-breasted Martin & Bay-winged Hawk.
| Great Egret | Ardea alba | Seen on the way to Laja |
| Cattle Egret | Bubulcus ibis | Seen on the way to Laja |
| Black Vulture | Coragyps atratus | |
| Turkey Vulture | Cathartes aura | |
| Swallow-tailed Kite | Elanoides forficatus | Seen on the way to Laja |
| Harris's Hawk | Parabuteo unicinctus | Seen on the way to Laja |
| American Kestrel | Falco sparverius | Seen on the way to Laja |
| Rock Pigeon | Columba livia | Introduced species |
| Eared Dove | Zenaida auriculata | Seen on the way to Laja |
| White-tipped Dove | Leptotila verreauxi | Seen on the way to Laja |
| Groove-billed Ani | Crotophaga sulcirostris | Seen on the way to Laja |
| (Pacific Hornero) | Furnarius leucopus | Seen on the way to Laja |
| Streak-headed Woodcreeper | Lepidocolaptes souleyetii | |
| Pacific Elaenia | Myiopagis subplacens | Possibly seen |
| Tawny-crowned Pygmy-Tyrant | Euscarthmus meloryphus | Heard only |
| Vermilion Flycatcher | Pyrocephalus rubinus | Seen on the way to Laja |
| Gray-breasted Martin | Progne chalybea | Seen on the way to Laja |
| Speckle-breasted Wren | Thryothorus sclateri | |
| House Wren | Troglodytes aedon | Seen on the way to Laja |
| Long-tailed Mockingbird | Mimus longicaudatus | Seen on the way to Laja |
| Great Thrush | Turdus fuscater | Seen on the way to Laja |
| Tropical Gnatcatcher | Polioptila plumbea | |
| Red-eyed Vireo | Vireo olivaceus | |
| Thick-billed Euphonia | Euphonia laniirostris | |
| Blue-black Grassquit | Volatinia jacarina | Heard only |
| Variable Seedeater | Sporophila corvina | |
| Saffron Finch | Sicalis flaveola | |
| Grayish Saltator | Saltator coerulescens | Heard only |
| Peruvian Meadowlark | Sturnella bellicosa | Seen on the way to Laja |
| Yellow-tailed Oriole | Icterus mesomelas | Possibly seen |
This is an incredible reserve set up to protect the little remaining habitat for the Jocotoco Antpitta discovered by Ridgely and others in 1997/8. I was lucky enough to be there at the same time as some founding members of the Jocotoco Foundation including Ridgely Himself. The bird can be heard easily along the Jocotoco trail and seen with a little more difficulty. Playback is useful although the bird is fairly easy to immitate. Orange-banded Flycatcher was seen along the beginning of this trail. There are feeders around Casa Simpson where you stay (with Chestnut-breasted Coronet, Collared Inca, White-bellied Woodstar and Long-tailed Sylph) and an area good for mixed flocks further down the main road. Many species of antpitta and tapaculo can be heard in the area.
| Broad-winged Hawk | Buteo platypterus | |
| Sickle-winged Guan | Chamaepetes goudotii | |
| Band-tailed Pigeon | Patagioenas fasciata | |
| White-tipped Dove | Leptotila verreauxi | Seen on the way to the reserve |
| White-throated Quail-Dove | Geotrygon frenata | Heard only |
| Golden-plumed Parakeet | Leptosittaca branickii | Vulnerable Heard only |
| Barred Parakeet | Bolborhynchus lineola | |
| White-capped Parrot | Pionus seniloides | |
| Red-billed Parrot | Pionus sordidus | |
| Scaly-naped Parrot | Amazona mercenaria | |
| Speckled Hummingbird | Adelomyia melanogenys | |
| Chestnut-breasted Coronet | Boissonneaua matthewsii | Photographed |
| Bronzy Inca | Coeligena coeligena | |
| Collared Inca | Coeligena torquata | Photographed |
| Little (Flame-throated) Sunangel | Heliangelus micraster | Photographed |
| Tyrian Metaltail | Metallura tyrianthina | |
| Long-tailed Sylph | Aglaiocercus kingi | Photographed |
| Amethyst-throated Sunangel | Heliangelus amethysticollis | Photographed |
| Golden-headed Quetzal | Pharomachrus auriceps | Heard only |
| Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan | Andigena hypoglauca | Near-threatened |
| Andean Toucanet | Aulacorhynchus albivitta | |
| Bar-bellied Woodpecker | Veniliornis nigriceps | |
| Crimson-mantled Woodpecker | Piculus rivolii | |
| Rufous Spinetail | Synallaxis unirufa | Heard only |
| Azara's Spinetail | Synallaxis azarae | Heard only |
| Pearled Treerunner | Margarornis squamiger | |
| Streaked Tuftedcheek | Pseudocolaptes boissonneautii | |
| Montane Woodcreeper | Lepidocolaptes lacrymiger | |
| Barred Antthrush | Chamaeza mollissima | Heard only |
| Chestnut-crowned Antpitta | Grallaria ruficapilla | Heard only |
| Chestnut-naped Antpitta | Grallaria nuchalis | Heard only |
| Jocotoco Antpitta | Grallaria ridgelyi | Endemic Endangered |
| White-bellied Antpitta | Grallaria hypoleuca | Heard only |
| Rufous Antpitta | Grallaria rufula | Possibly heard |
| Slate-crowned Antpitta | Grallaricula nana | Heard only |
| Ash-colored Tapaculo | Myornis senilis | Heard only |
| Long-tailed Tapaculo | Scytalopus micropterus | Heard only |
| White-crowned Tapaculo | Scytalopus atratus | Heard only |
| Chusquea Tapaculo | Scytalopus parkeri | Endemic Heard only |
| Green-and-black Fruiteater | Pipreola riefferii | |
| Dusky Piha | Lipaugus fuscocinereus | |
| Rufous-headed Pygmy-Tyrant | Pseudotriccus ruficeps | |
| Sulphur-bellied Tyrannulet | Mecocerculus minor | Heard only |
| White-banded Tyrannulet | Mecocerculus stictopterus | |
| Orange-banded Flycatcher | Myiophobus lintoni | Near-threatened |
| Cinnamon Flycatcher | Pyrrhomyias cinnamomea | |
| Smoke-colored Pewee | Contopus fumigatus | Heard only |
| Rufous-breasted Chat-Tyrant | Ochthoeca rufipectoralis | |
| Smoky Bush-Tyrant | Myiotheretes fumigatus | Photographed |
| Rufous-tailed Tyrant | Knipolegus poecilurus | |
| Blue-and-white Swallow | Notiochelidon cyanoleuca | |
| Pale-footed Swallow | Notiochelidon flavipes | |
| Rufous Wren | Cinnycerthia unirufa | |
| Plain-tailed Wren | Thryothorus euophrys | Heard only |
| Mountain Wren | Troglodytes solstitialis | Heard only |
| Gray-breasted Wood-Wren | Henicorhina leucophrys | Heard only |
| Andean Solitaire | Myadestes ralloides | Heard only |
| Brown-capped Vireo | Vireo leucophrys | |
| Blackburnian Warbler | Dendroica fusca | |
| Slate-throated Redstart | Myioborus miniatus | |
| Spectacled Redstart | Myioborus melanocephalus | |
| Black-crested Warbler | Basileuterus nigrocristatus | |
| Capped Conebill | Conirostrum albifrons | |
| Grass-green Tanager | Chlorornis riefferii | Heard only |
| Short-billed Bush-Tanager | Chlorospingus parvirostris | |
| Gray-hooded Bush-Tanager | Cnemoscopus rubrirostris | |
| Black-capped Hemispingus | Hemispingus atropileus | |
| Hooded Mountain-Tanager | Buthraupis montana | |
| Lacrimose Mountain-Tanager | Anisognathus lacrymosus | |
| Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager | Anisognathus igniventris | |
| Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager | Anisognathus somptuosus | |
| Saffron-crowned Tanager | Tangara xanthocephala | |
| Flame-faced Tanager | Tangara parzudakii | |
| Golden-naped Tanager | Tangara ruficervix | |
| Beryl-spangled Tanager | Tangara nigroviridis | |
| Silver-backed Tanager | Tangara viridicollis | |
| Masked Flowerpiercer | Diglossopis cyanea | Heard only |
| Yellow-breasted Brush-Finch | Atlapetes latinuchus | |
| Yellow-browed Sparrow | Ammodramus aurifrons | |
| Yellow-billed Cacique | Amblycercus holosericeus | Heard only |
| Mountain Cacique | Cacicus chrysonotus | |
| Olivaceous Siskin | Carduelis olivacea |
Yanacocha is a Fundacion Jocotoco reserve quite near Quito. You can contact the foundation office in Quito or just turn up and pay your entry fee to the 2 guardaparques. If you don't have your own transport, you can hire a pick up to take you up. From the centre of Quito, first go to the area of Cotocollao. Find the plaza (or parque central) and look for pick-ups (camionetas) to take you up. The drivers know the site. The ride up there took about 50 minutes along a bad road (which may be improved in the future) and I managed to haggle the driver down to $12. A camioneta leaves about 5:30 in the morning to the community of Yanacocha near the entrance to the reserve. It may be possible to get a ride up this. Alternatively (if you're a glutton for punishment), you could get on a bus towards Nono and get off at the (signed) turning up towards the reserve, a further 10km uphill. Entrance to the reserve costs $5. There are many hummingbird feeders along the main trail of the reserve where you can see many good species well. I failed to see the critically endangered endemic Black-breasted Puffleg which appears to be present only from December to mid-July. May and June being the best months. At the end of the trail is an area opf forest where I saw Stout-billed Cinclodes and some flowerpiercers. Before this is a fork, the left to a large pipe-tunnel under a hill. Apparently on the far side is some nice paramo habitat. To get back down to Quito, you can take the community truck at about 4pm, but beware, it doesn't go on Tuesdays and Fridays. Alternatively you could walk down to the junction with the Nono road from where you have a better chance to get a bus or hitch. On the walk down, I saw Short-eared Owl.
| American Kestrel | Falco sparverius | |
| Andean Guan | Penelope montagnii | |
| Short-eared Owl | Asio flammeus | |
| Sparkling Violet-ear | Colibri coruscans | |
| Shining Sunbeam | Aglaeactis cupripennis | |
| Mountain Velvetbreast | Lafresnaya lafresnayi | |
| Buff-winged Starfrontlet | Coeligena lutetiae | Photographed |
| Great Sapphirewing | Pterophanes cyanopterus | Photographed |
| Sapphire-vented Puffleg | Eriocnemis luciani | Photographed |
| Golden-breasted Puffleg | Eriocnemis mosquera | Photographed |
| Black-tailed Trainbearer | Lesbia victoriae | |
| Tyrian Metaltail | Metallura tyrianthina | Photographed |
| Stout-billed Cinclodes | Cinclodes excelsior | Photographed |
| Azara's Spinetail | Synallaxis azarae | Heard only |
| Streaked Tuftedcheek | Pseudocolaptes boissonneautii | |
| Barred Fruiteater | Pipreola arcuata | Photographed |
| White-throated Tyrannulet | Mecocerculus leucophrys | |
| Brown-bellied Swallow | Notiochelidon murina | |
| Great Thrush | Turdus fuscater | |
| Black-chested Mountain-Tanager | Buthraupis eximia | |
| Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager | Anisognathus igniventris | |
| Plain-colored Seedeater | Catamenia inornata | |
| Glossy Flowerpiercer | Diglossa lafresnayii | |
| Masked Flowerpiercer | Diglossopis cyanea | |
| Yellow-breasted Brush-Finch | Atlapetes latinuchus | |
| Rufous-collared Sparrow | Zonotrichia capensis |
Puerto Lopez is a famous place to see Humpback Whales. We went out on a tour boat which leave daily at about 10am and cost $20 per person. Apart from the whales you can also see Blue-footed Boobies and I saw possible Swallow-tailed Gulls. For birds, a trip to Isla de la Plata would probably be more productive. A direct bus leaves for Puerto Lopez from Quito from the Reina del Camino terminal near Puente de las Huambras at 8pm, arriving about 6am. Puerto Lopez has many places to eat and stay (Sol Inn - $4 for domitory, $6 for a single) and also a few places to do internet.
| Brown Pelican | Pelecanus occidentalis | Photographed |
| Blue-footed Booby | Sula nebouxii | Photographed |
| Neotropic Cormorant | Phalacrocorax brasilianus | |
| Magnificent Frigatebird | Fregata magnificens | Photographed |
| Snowy Egret | Egretta thula | |
| Black Vulture | Coragyps atratus | |
| Turkey Vulture | Cathartes aura | |
| Rock Pigeon | Columba livia | Introduced species |
| Croaking Ground-Dove | Columbina cruziana | |
| Groove-billed Ani | Crotophaga sulcirostris | |
| Vermilion Flycatcher | Pyrocephalus rubinus | Outlying islands only |
| Gray-breasted Martin | Progne chalybea | |
| Scrub Blackbird | Dives warszewiczi |
The Cajanuma sector of the Podocarpus National Park, has some fantastic birds of the elfin forest and paramo zones and is easily accessible from Loja. To get there, take one of the many buses from the terminal to Loja towards Vilcabamba and get off at the Cajanuma entrance, which all the bus drivers know. At the gate, you have to pay an entrance fee of $10 (for foreigners) but this is valid for 5 days both here and at the Bombuscaro entrance. From the gate it is about 8km uphill to the visitors centre (about 2,700m) where there is simple accomodation available for just $3 per night. It's a tough 2 hour walk if you have a heavy bag, but I was lucky enough to hitch a ride. Alternatively, you could hire taxi at the terminal in Loja or there maybe one at the entrance. There are solar-powered lights and a nice fireplace where you can make a fire to cook on at night. The friendly park guards may lend you a pan to cook with if you don't have your own. Bring you own food and a warm sleeping bag as it gets cold at night.
| Great Egret | Ardea alba | |
| White-throated Hawk | Buteo albigula | Photographed |
| Bearded Guan | Penelope barbata | Vulnerable Photographed Recorded |
| Band-tailed Pigeon | Patagioenas fasciata | |
| Smooth-billed Ani | Crotophaga ani | |
| Stygian Owl | Asio stygius | Heard only. Recorded |
| Green Hermit | Phaethornis guy | |
| Gray-chinned Hermit | Phaethornis griseogularis | Possibly seen |
| Chestnut-breasted Coronet | Boissonneaua matthewsii | |
| Collared Inca | Coeligena torquata | |
| Buff-winged Starfrontlet | Coeligena lutetiae | |
| Rainbow Starfrontlet | Coeligena iris | |
| Little (Flame-throated) Sunangel | Heliangelus micraster | |
| Green-tailed Trainbearer | Lesbia nuna | |
| Tyrian Metaltail | Metallura tyrianthina | |
| Mountain Avocetbill | Opisthoprora euryptera | |
| White-bellied Woodstar | Chaetocercus mulsant | |
| Bar-bellied Woodpecker | Veniliornis nigriceps | |
| Crimson-mantled Woodpecker | Piculus rivolii | |
| Azara's Spinetail | Synallaxis azarae | Heard only |
| Many-striped Canastero | Asthenes flammulata | |
| Streaked Tuftedcheek | Pseudocolaptes boissonneautii | Recorded |
| Chestnut-naped Antpitta | Grallaria nuchalis | Heard only. Recorded |
| Rufous Antpitta | Grallaria rufula | Recorded |
| Ash-colored Tapaculo | Myornis senilis | Heard only |
| Unicolored Tapaculo | Scytalopus unicolor | Heard only. Recorded |
| Paramo Tapaculo | Scytalopus canus | Possibly heard |
| Chusquea Tapaculo | Scytalopus parkeri | Endemic Heard only. Recorded |
| Red-crested Cotinga | Ampelion rubrocristata | |
| Barred Fruiteater | Pipreola arcuata | Photographed. Recorded |
| White-banded Tyrannulet | Mecocerculus stictopterus | |
| Rufous-breasted Chat-Tyrant | Ochthoeca rufipectoralis | |
| Streak-throated Bush-Tyrant | Myiotheretes striaticollis | |
| Smoky Bush-Tyrant | Myiotheretes fumigatus | |
| Blue-and-white Swallow | Notiochelidon cyanoleuca | |
| Pale-footed Swallow | Notiochelidon flavipes | Recorded |
| Fasciated Wren | Campylorhynchus fasciatus | |
| Rufous Wren | Cinnycerthia unirufa | Photographed |
| Mountain Wren | Troglodytes solstitialis | |
| Gray-breasted Wood-Wren | Henicorhina leucophrys | Recorded |
| Chiguanco Thrush | Turdus chiguanco | |
| Great Thrush | Turdus fuscater | Recorded |
| Spectacled Redstart | Myioborus melanocephalus | |
| Black-crested Warbler | Basileuterus nigrocristatus | Recorded |
| Blue-backed Conebill | Conirostrum sitticolor | |
| Black-capped Hemispingus | Hemispingus atropileus | Photographed Recorded |
| Black-headed Hemispingus | Hemispingus verticalis | |
| Masked Mountain-Tanager | Buthraupis wetmorei | Vulnerable Photographed |
| Lacrimose Mountain-Tanager | Anisognathus lacrymosus | |
| Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager | Anisognathus igniventris | |
| Golden-crowned Tanager | Iridosornis rufivertex | |
| Buff-breasted Mountain-Tanager | Dubusia taeniata | |
| Paramo Seedeater | Catamenia homochroa | |
| White-sided Flowerpiercer | Diglossa albilatera | |
| Glossy Flowerpiercer | Diglossa lafresnayii | Photographed Recorded |
| Masked Flowerpiercer | Diglossopis cyanea | Recorded |
| Pale-naped Brush-Finch | Atlapetes pallidinucha | |
| Yellow-breasted Brush-Finch | Atlapetes latinuchus | |
| Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch | Buarremon brunneinucha | |
| Rufous-collared Sparrow | Zonotrichia capensis | |
| Hooded Siskin | Carduelis magellanica |
This is another excellent area of the Podocarpus National Park that has a very different avifauna. The same ticket as the Cajanuma sector can be used but only for 5 days in total. The birds here are a little more difficult to see and therefore I recommend 3 nights here and 2 at Cajanuma. You could spend easily spend a lot more time at both, though. The sector is accessed from the large town of Zaruma, where you could stay, although it's better to stay within the park. Buses to Zaruma leave Loja regularly and take about 2 hours. From the terminal in Zaruma, take the signed turning to Bombuscaro, the name of the river and an area of Zaruma. To the entrance of the park, it is about 6km, and from there about another 1km through nice forest to the visitors centre. You may encounter the guard at the entrance or at the centre where you can buy or show your ticket and arrange accomodation. There is a cabin with 2 twin rooms (also $3 per person per night) and a bathroom. The beds are OK but there are no electric lights. Bring candles and a sleeping bag. There were very few mosquitos when I was there. There are more visitors here and you may find the rooms full. There are also places to camp. There is no visitor's kitchen, but the guards maybe kind enough to leave you the key for theirs. Bring your own food.
| Gray Tinamou | Tinamus tao | Photographed |
| Fasciated Tiger-Heron | Tigrisoma fasciatum | |
| Torrent Duck | Merganetta armata | Photographed |
| Speckled Chachalaca | Ortalis guttata | |
| Rufous-breasted Wood-Quail | Odontophorus speciosus | Heard only |
| Plumbeous Pigeon | Patagioenas plumbea | Possibly seen |
| Gray-fronted Dove | Leptotila rufaxilla | |
| Ruddy Quail-Dove | Geotrygon montana | |
| White-eyed Parakeet | Aratinga leucophthalmus | Recorded |
| White-necked Parakeet | Pyrrhura albipectus | Endemic Vulnerable Heard only. Recorded |
| Squirrel Cuckoo | Piaya cayana | |
| Roraima (Foothill) Screech-Owl | Megascops roraimae | Heard only |
| Gray-rumped Swift | Chaetura cinereiventris | |
| White-whiskered Hermit | Phaethornis yaruqui | |
| Fork-tailed Woodnymph | Thalurania furcata | |
| Ecuadorian Piedtail | Phlogophilus hemileucurus | Near-threatened Photographed Recorded |
| Collared Trogon | Trogon collaris | Photographed |
| Highland Motmot | Momotus aequatorialis | Photographed |
| Coppery-chested Jacamar | Galbula pastazae | Endemic Vulnerable |
| Chestnut-tipped Toucanet | Aulacorhynchus derbianus | Photographed Recorded |
| Lafresnaye's Piculet | Picumnus lafresnayi | |
| Smoky-brown Woodpecker | Veniliornis fumigatus | Recorded |
| Lineated Woodpecker | Dryocopus lineatus | |
| Crimson-bellied Woodpecker | Campephilus haematogaster | Photographed |
| Guayaquil Woodpecker | Campephilus gayaquilensis | Near-threatened |
| Spotted Barbtail | Premnoplex brunnescens | |
| Streaked Xenops | Xenops rutilans | |
| Montane Foliage-gleaner | Anabacerthia striaticollis | |
| Buff-fronted Foliage-gleaner | Philydor rufus | |
| Olivaceous Woodcreeper | Sittasomus griseicapillus | |
| Olive-backed Woodcreeper | Xiphorhynchus triangularis | |
| Lined Antshrike | Thamnophilus tenuepunctatus | Photographed |
| Sharpbill | Oxyruncus cristatus | |
| Andean Cock-of-the-rock | Rupicola peruviana | |
| Thrush-like Schiffornis | Schiffornis turdinus | Recorded |
| Olive-striped Flycatcher | Mionectes olivaceus | |
| Slaty-capped Flycatcher | Leptopogon superciliaris | |
| Spectacled Bristle-Tyrant | Pogonotriccus orbitalis | Possibly seen |
| Ecuadorian Tyrannulet | Phylloscartes gualaquizae | |
| Scale-crested Pygmy-Tyrant | Lophotriccus pileatus | Photographed Recorded |
| Common Tody-Flycatcher | Todirostrum cinereum | |
| Fulvous-breasted Flatbill | Rhynchocyclus fulvipectus | Possibly seen |
| Yellow-olive Flycatcher | Tolmomyias sulphurescens | Recorded |
| Ornate Flycatcher | Myiotriccus ornatus | Photographed |
| Orange-crested Flycatcher | Myiophobus phoenicomitra | |
| Tawny-breasted Flycatcher | Myiobius villosus | |
| Cliff Flycatcher | Hirundinea ferruginea | |
| Black Phoebe | Sayornis nigricans | |
| Golden-crowned Flycatcher | Myiodynastes chrysocephalus | |
| Tropical Kingbird | Tyrannus melancholicus | |
| Barred Becard | Pachyramphus versicolor | |
| Blue-and-white Swallow | Notiochelidon cyanoleuca | |
| White-banded Swallow | Atticora fasciata | |
| Southern Rough-winged Swallow | Stelgidopteryx ruficollis | |
| White-capped Dipper | Cinclus leucocephalus | |
| House Wren | Troglodytes aedon | |
| White-breasted Wood-Wren | Henicorhina leucosticta | Recorded |
| Glossy-black Thrush | Turdus serranus | |
| White-throated Thrush | Turdus assimilis | |
| Green Jay | Cyanocorax yncas | |
| Brown-capped Vireo | Vireo leucophrys | |
| Tropical Parula | Parula pitiayumi | |
| Slate-throated Redstart | Myioborus miniatus | |
| Buff-rumped Warbler | Basileuterus fulvicauda | |
| Bananaquit | Coereba flaveola | |
| Yellow-throated Bush-Tanager | Chlorospingus flavigularis | Recorded |
| Ashy-throated Bush-Tanager | Chlorospingus canigularis | |
| White-lined Tanager | Tachyphonus rufus | |
| Silver-beaked Tanager | Ramphocelus carbo | |
| Bronze-green Euphonia | Euphonia mesochrysa | |
| Orange-bellied Euphonia | Euphonia xanthogaster | |
| Orange-eared Tanager | Chlorochrysa calliparaea | |
| Paradise Tanager | Tangara chilensis | |
| Golden Tanager | Tangara arthus | |
| Golden-eared Tanager | Tangara chrysotis | |
| Spotted Tanager | Tangara punctata | |
| Bay-headed Tanager | Tangara gyrola | Recorded |
| Blue-necked Tanager | Tangara cyanicollis | |
| Yellow-bellied Seedeater | Sporophila nigricollis | |
| Orange-billed Sparrow | Arremon aurantiirostris | |
| Yellow-browed Sparrow | Ammodramus aurifrons | |
| Buff-throated Saltator | Saltator maximus | |
| Crested Oropendola | Psarocolius decumanus |
This is another Jocotoco reserve with a number of threatened tumbesian endemics and other birds of interest. It is easily accessed by public transport and the nearby town of Piñas makes a good base. There is also accomodation in the reserve but it is expensive. Piñas is a medium-sized town with several places to stay, eat and an internet cafe. I stayed at the apartment in Piñas used by biologists working in the reserve and was lucky enough to be accompanied by Mary Elizabeth Juiñes meryj_bio@yahoo.com into the field on one day to look for the Endemic El Oro Parakeet (which we only heard). Piñas can be reached by direct buses from Loja or Cuenca. From Piñas, there are half hourly buses that leave to Machala from a place called 'Cinco esquinas' and pass by the reserve. There are several places you can enter.
| Snowy Egret | Egretta thula | |
| Black Vulture | Coragyps atratus | |
| Turkey Vulture | Cathartes aura | |
| Crested Caracara | Caracara cheriway | |
| Laughing Falcon | Herpetotheres cachinnans | Photographed Recorded |
| Rufous-headed Chachalaca | Ortalis erythroptera | Vulnerable |
| Band-tailed Pigeon | Patagioenas fasciata | Seen nearby |
| Plumbeous Pigeon | Patagioenas plumbea | Heard only |
| Ruddy Pigeon | Patagioenas subvinacea | |
| White-tipped Dove | Leptotila verreauxi | |
| Red-masked Parakeet | Aratinga erythrogenys | Near-threatened |
| El Oro Parakeet | Pyrrhura orcesi | Endemic Endangered Heard only |
| Pacific Parrotlet | Forpus coelestis | |
| Bronze-winged Parrot | Pionus chalcopterus | Photographed Recorded |
| Squirrel Cuckoo | Piaya cayana | |
| Smooth-billed Ani | Crotophaga ani | |
| Gray-rumped Swift | Chaetura cinereiventris | Photographed |
| White-whiskered Hermit | Phaethornis yaruqui | Photographed |
| (Baron's Hermit) | Phaethornis baroni | Photographed |
| White-necked Jacobin | Florisuga mellivora | Photographed |
| Brown Violet-ear | Colibri delphinae | Photographed Recorded |
| Green Thorntail | Discosura conversii | Photographed |
| (Emerald-bellied Woodnymph) | Thalurania hypochlora | Photographed |
| Violet-bellied Hummingbird | Damophila julie | Photographed |
| Rufous-tailed Hummingbird | Amazilia tzacatl | Photographed |
| Andean Emerald | Agyrtria franciae | Photographed |
| Fawn-breasted Brilliant | Heliodoxa rubinoides | |
| Green-crowned Brilliant | Heliodoxa jacula | |
| Brown Inca | Coeligena wilsoni | |
| Gorgeted Sunangel | Heliangelus strophianus | Possibly seen |
| Booted Racket-tail | Ocreatus underwoodii | |
| Violet-tailed Sylph | Aglaiocercus coelestis | |
| Purple-crowned Fairy | Heliothryx barroti | |
| Collared Trogon | Trogon collaris | |
| Masked Trogon | Trogon personatus | |
| Broad-billed Motmot | Electron platyrhynchum | Heard only. Recorded |
| Crimson-rumped Toucanet | Aulacorhynchus haematopygus | |
| (Pale-mandibled Aracari) | Pteroglossus erythropygius | |
| Choco Toucan | Ramphastos brevis | |
| (Chestnut-mandibled Toucan) | Ramphastos swainsonii | |
| Olivaceous Piculet | Picumnus olivaceus | |
| Smoky-brown Woodpecker | Veniliornis fumigatus | |
| Guayaquil Woodpecker | Campephilus gayaquilensis | Near-threatened. Photographed |
| (Pacific Hornero) | Furnarius leucopus | |
| Azara's Spinetail | Synallaxis azarae | |
| Slaty Spinetail | Synallaxis brachyura | |
| Spotted Barbtail | Premnoplex brunnescens | |
| Plain Xenops | Xenops minutus | Recorded |
| Plain-brown Woodcreeper | Dendrocincla fuliginosa | |
| Wedge-billed Woodcreeper | Glyphorynchus spirurus | Photographed |
| Spotted Woodcreeper | Xiphorhynchus erythropygius | Photographed |
| Great Antshrike | Taraba major | |
| Uniform Antshrike | Thamnophilus unicolor | |
| Plain Antvireo | Dysithamnus mentalis | |
| Slaty Antwren | Myrmotherula schisticolor | |
| Immaculate Antbird | Myrmeciza immaculata | Recorded |
| Rufous-breasted Antthrush | Formicarius rufipectus | Heard only |
| Golden-winged Manakin | Masius chrysopterus | |
| Mouse-colored Tyrannulet | Phaeomyias murina | |
| Yellow Tyrannulet | Capsiempis flaveola | |
| Olive-striped Flycatcher | Mionectes olivaceus | |
| Slaty-capped Flycatcher | Leptopogon superciliaris | |
| Bronze-olive Pygmy-Tyrant | Pseudotriccus pelzelni | Recorded |
| Rufous-winged Tyrannulet | Mecocerculus calopterus | |
| Scale-crested Pygmy-Tyrant | Lophotriccus pileatus | |
| Common Tody-Flycatcher | Todirostrum cinereum | |
| Sulphur-rumped Flycatcher | Myiobius sulphureipygius | |
| Tropical Pewee | Contopus cinereus | Recorded |
| Black Phoebe | Sayornis nigricans | |
| Ochraceous Attila | Attila torridus | Vulnerable. Photographed |
| Dusky-capped Flycatcher | Myiarchus tuberculifer | |
| Boat-billed Flycatcher | Megarynchus pitangua | |
| Social Flycatcher | Myiozetetes similis | |
| Tropical Kingbird | Tyrannus melancholicus | |
| Black-and-white Becard | Pachyramphus albogriseus | |
| One-colored Becard | Pachyramphus homochrous | Photographed |
| Blue-and-white Swallow | Notiochelidon cyanoleuca | |
| Southern Rough-winged Swallow | Stelgidopteryx ruficollis | |
| Fasciated Wren | Campylorhynchus fasciatus | |
| House Wren | Troglodytes aedon | |
| Gray-breasted Wood-Wren | Henicorhina leucophrys | |
| Song Wren | Cyphorhinus phaeocephalus | |
| Andean Solitaire | Myadestes ralloides | |
| Plumbeous-backed Thrush | Turdus reevei | |
| Ecuadorian Thrush | Turdus maculirostris | |
| Tropical Parula | Parula pitiayumi | |
| Masked Yellowthroat | Geothlypis aequinoctialis | |
| Slate-throated Redstart | Myioborus miniatus | |
| Gray-and-gold Warbler | Basileuterus fraseri | |
| Three-banded Warbler | Basileuterus trifasciatus | |
| Bananaquit | Coereba flaveola | |
| Common Bush-Tanager | Chlorospingus ophthalmicus | |
| White-shouldered Tanager | Tachyphonus luctuosus | |
| Flame-rumped Tanager | Ramphocelus flammigerus | |
| Blue-gray Tanager | Thraupis episcopus | |
| Fawn-breasted Tanager | Pipraeidea melanonota | |
| Thick-billed Euphonia | Euphonia laniirostris | |
| Orange-bellied Euphonia | Euphonia xanthogaster | |
| Golden Tanager | Tangara arthus | |
| Silver-throated Tanager | Tangara icterocephala | |
| Bay-headed Tanager | Tangara gyrola | |
| Golden-naped Tanager | Tangara ruficervix | |
| Beryl-spangled Tanager | Tangara nigroviridis | |
| Green Honeycreeper | Chlorophanes spiza | Photographed |
| Blue-black Grassquit | Volatinia jacarina | |
| Variable Seedeater | Sporophila corvina | |
| Saffron Finch | Sicalis flaveola | |
| Tricolored Brush-Finch | Atlapetes tricolor | |
| Orange-billed Sparrow | Arremon aurantiirostris | |
| Black-striped Sparrow | Arremonops conirostris | |
| Rufous-collared Sparrow | Zonotrichia capensis | |
| Streaked Saltator | Saltator striatipectus | |
| Buff-throated Saltator | Saltator maximus | |
| Black-winged Saltator | Saltator atripennis | |
| Blue-black Grosbeak | Cyanocompsa cyanoides | |
| Scrub Blackbird | Dives warszewiczi | |
| Yellow-bellied Siskin | Carduelis xanthogastra | |
| Lesser Goldfinch | Carduelis psaltria |
This is a private reserve run by the Jocotoco Foundation set up to preserve the only location for the endangered endemic Pale-headed Brush-Finch. It is best to arrange your visit with them either in Quito of if you visit one of their other reserves. This reserve is a little more difficult to get to but not too bad. The nearest town is called La Union and is between the larger towns of Machala (2 hours) and Cuenca (1 hour) and lies near the main road between them. There is a play to stay in town called Sol y Agua, or you could stay in the larger town of Santa Isabel, just 10 minutes away. What I did was camp at the house of Enrique Calle, the guardaparque (park guard). To get here asked to be let off the bus at El Y (ye) de La Union. This is a junction next to a couple of restaurants that also has pickup trucks (camionetas) that you can pay to take you to his Enrique’s house (which they all know). The price for the 15 minute ride is $3 but sometimes they try and charge you more. In the morning, Enrique can take you up to the reserve to show you the brush-finches. We found it a little difficult to find them but Enrique said he’s never failed to show them to a group. There is a trail leading down which is good for them, but we saw them climbing up a steep trail once you get to the fence at the end. We scrambled up and along a trail where we saw a pair. They tend to keep hidden but can be persuaded to pop their heads up with a little bit of playback. The price to enter the reserve is $15 which tough a little pricey goes towards the conservation of the species and is the only way you will see it.
| Eared Dove | Zenaida auriculata | |
| White-tipped Dove | Leptotila verreauxi | |
| Smooth-billed Ani | Crotophaga ani | |
| Pauraque | Nyctidromus albicollis | |
| Purple-collared Woodstar | Myrtis fanny | |
| (Pacific Hornero) | Furnarius leucopus | Photographed |
| Azara's Spinetail | Synallaxis azarae | |
| Chestnut-crowned Antpitta | Grallaria ruficapilla | Heard only |
| Mouse-colored Tyrannulet | Phaeomyias murina | |
| Rufous-crowned Tody-Tyrant | Poecilotriccus ruficeps | |
| Dusky-capped Flycatcher | Myiarchus tuberculifer | Heard only |
| Blue-and-white Swallow | Notiochelidon cyanoleuca | |
| Chiguanco Thrush | Turdus chiguanco | |
| Rufous-browed Peppershrike | Cyclarhis gujanensis | |
| Slate-throated Redstart | Myioborus miniatus | |
| Russet-crowned Warbler | Basileuterus coronatus | |
| Orange-headed Tanager | Thlypopsis sordida | |
| Blue-gray Tanager | Thraupis episcopus | |
| Pale-headed Brush-Finch | Atlapetes pallidiceps | Endemic Crit endangered Photographed Rec. |
| Rufous-collared Sparrow | Zonotrichia capensis | |
| Golden-bellied Grosbeak | Pheucticus chrysogaster |
This beautiful area is popular among tourists for many of the stunning hikes in the area. I visited to look for the endangered endemic Violet-throated Hummingbird. The area can be visited on a day trip from the large city of Cuenca where many bus leave from. I took a bus at 6:25 on a Sunday morning.towards Naranjal which left from a roundabout at the end of Calle Gran Colombia, to where you can catch a city bus. Buses towards Guayaquil via Molletur also pass buy the park. To see the hummingbird, you don’t actually have to enter the par, get off at the turning for La Virgen de Cajas which is well signed from the road and takes 30-40 minutes by bus ($1). There is a toll barrier a bit further on so if you get to that, you’ve gone too far and have to walk back a bit. At the turning, instead of walking towards the ‘santuario’, take a gravel path the other way (on your left heading towards Guayaquil). About 200m along this path is some good scrub with many yellow flowers which the metaltails like. Several interesting birds can also be seen in this spot.
| Puna Hawk | Buteo poecilochrous | |
| Aplomado Falcon | Falco femoralis | |
| Andean Gull | Larus serranus | |
| Shining Sunbeam | Aglaeactis cupripennis | Photographed |
| Violet-throated Metaltail | Metallura baroni | Endemic Endangered Photographed Recorded? |
| Bar-winged Cinclodes | Cinclodes fuscus | Photographed |
| Andean Tit-Spinetail | Leptasthenura andicola | |
| Mouse-colored Thistletail | Schizoeaca griseomurina | Photographed |
| Tawny Antpitta | Grallaria quitensis | Heard only |
| Red-crested Cotinga | Ampelion rubrocristata | Photographed |
| Tufted Tit-Tyrant | Anairetes parulus | |
| Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant | Ochthoeca fumicolor | |
| Brown-bellied Swallow | Notiochelidon murina | |
| Paramo Pipit | Anthus bogotensis | |
| Great Thrush | Turdus fuscater | |
| Spectacled Redstart | Myioborus melanocephalus | |
| Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager | Anisognathus igniventris | |
| Plumbeous Sierra-Finch | Phrygilus unicolor | |
| Ash-breasted Sierra-Finch | Phrygilus plebejus | |
| Plain-colored Seedeater | Catamenia inornata | |
| Yellow-breasted Brush-Finch | Atlapetes latinuchus | Photographed |
I used Puerto Lopez as a base when visiting Ayampe but there are also a couple of places to stay in this small coastal town. Puerto Lopez is just 25 minutes away by regular bus (50c) though so getting here early in the morning is not a problem. I stayed at Hostal Sol Inn in PL for $6 for a single room. There are also many restaurants and also internet here although it is expensive and a little slow. There are several birding areas within walking distance of the town. The first is some ponds and kind of an estuary at the rive mouth on the Ayampe side. Here I saw several species of water birds including Stilt Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher and Great Blue Heron. Another birding site is inland along the river. Again on the Ayampe side follow the road along a bit where it forks, the left staying on the valley floor and crossing the small river several times and the right climbing a little up the right side of the valley. Along the valley floor I saw Masked Water-Tyrant, asked Yellow-throat and heard Watkin’s Antpitta whereas on the right trail I heard Litlle Tinamou and saw Violaceous Trogon, Red-rumped Woodpecker and Western Slaty-Antshrike. The last site I visited was along the main road towards Montañita. The road climbs up and at the top before it starts going down again, I saw Guira Tanager, Yellow-tufted Dacnis and Sooty-headed Tyrannlet. Follow the road down, and about 2km or half an hour’s walk from Ayamp, you reach a right tunr in the road. This spot is excellent and I saw Grey-backed Hawk, White-bearded Manakin, Black-cheeked Woodpecker and Bay wren in forest by the road. Back in Ayampe, there are bushes with many red flowers, behind these, towards the ocean is a big tree in which I saw Pearl Kite.
| Little Tinamou | Crypturellus soui | Heard only |
| Neotropic Cormorant | Phalacrocorax brasilianus | |
| Magnificent Frigatebird | Fregata magnificens | Photographed |
| Great Blue Heron | Ardea herodias | Photographed |
| Great Egret | Ardea alba | |
| Snowy Egret | Egretta thula | Photographed |
| Striated Heron | Butorides striata | Photographed |
| Black-crowned Night-Heron | Nycticorax nycticorax | |
| Yellow-crowned Night-Heron | Nyctanassa violacea | Photographed |
| Black Vulture | Coragyps atratus | Photographed |
| Turkey Vulture | Cathartes aura | Photographed |
| Pearl Kite | Gampsonyx swainsonii | Photographed |
| Gray-backed Hawk | Leucopternis occidentalis | Endangered Photographed Recorded |
| Harris's Hawk | Parabuteo unicinctus | Photographed |
| Gray Hawk | Asturina nitida | Photographed Recorded |
| Laughing Falcon | Herpetotheres cachinnans | Heard only |
| Rufous-headed Chachalaca | Ortalis erythroptera | Vulnerable Possibly heard |
| White-throated Crake | Laterallus albigularis | Heard only |
| Wilson's Plover | Charadrius wilsonia | Photographed Recorded |
| Collared Plover | Charadrius collaris | |
| Short-billed Dowitcher | Limnodromus griseus | |
| Spotted Sandpiper | Actitis macularia | Photographed |
| Willet | Catoptrophorus semipalmatus | Photographed |
| Semipalmated Sandpiper | Calidris pusilla | Photographed Recorded |
| Least Sandpiper | Calidris minutilla | Photographed |
| Stilt Sandpiper | Calidris himantopus | |
| Gull-billed Tern | Sterna nilotica | Photographed Recorded |
| Ecuadorian Ground-Dove | Columbina buckleyi | |
| White-tipped Dove | Leptotila verreauxi | |
| Ochre-bellied Dove | Leptotila ochraceiventris | Vulnerable Heard only |
| Pacific Parrotlet | Forpus coelestis | |
| Red-billed Parrot | Pionus sordidus | |
| Squirrel Cuckoo | Piaya cayana | Recorded |
| Smooth-billed Ani | Crotophaga ani | Photographed |
| Groove-billed Ani | Crotophaga sulcirostris | Photographed |
| Peruvian Pygmy-Owl | Glaucidium peruanum | Heard only |
| Gray-rumped Swift | Chaetura cinereiventris | |
| (Baron's Hermit) | Phaethornis baroni | |
| Violaceous Trogon | Trogon violaceus | Photographed |
| (Ecuadorian Trogon) | Trogon mesurus | |
| Ringed Kingfisher | Ceryle torquatus | |
| Green Kingfisher | Chloroceryle americana | Recorded |
| (Chestnut-mandibled Toucan) | Ramphastos swainsonii | Recorded |
| Black-cheeked Woodpecker | Melanerpes pucherani | |
| Scarlet-backed Woodpecker | Veniliornis callonotus | |
| Red-rumped Woodpecker | Veniliornis kirkii | |
| Lineated Woodpecker | Dryocopus lineatus | Possibly heard. Recorded |
| (Pacific Hornero) | Furnarius leucopus | |
| Slaty Spinetail | Synallaxis brachyura | Heard only |
| Olivaceous Woodcreeper | Sittasomus griseicapillus | |
| Great Antshrike | Taraba major | |
| Collared Antshrike | Sakesphorus bernardi | Possibly heard |
| Western Slaty-Antshrike | Thamnophilus atrinucha | Photographed |
| Plain Antvireo | Dysithamnus mentalis | Recorded |
| Slaty Antwren | Myrmotherula schisticolor | |
| Watkins's Antpitta | Grallaria watkinsi | Heard only. Recorded |
| White-bearded Manakin | Manacus manacus | Recorded |
| Yellow-bellied Elaenia | Elaenia flavogaster | |
| Sooty-headed Tyrannulet | Phyllomyias griseiceps | |
| Tawny-crowned Pygmy-Tyrant | Euscarthmus meloryphus | |
| Scale-crested Pygmy-Tyrant | Lophotriccus pileatus | Heard only |
| Bran-colored Flycatcher | Myiophobus fasciatus | |
| Sulphur-rumped Flycatcher | Myiobius sulphureipygius | |
| Vermilion Flycatcher | Pyrocephalus rubinus | Photographed |
| Masked Water-Tyrant | Fluvicola nengeta | Photographed Recorded |
| Sooty-crowned Flycatcher | Myiarchus phaeocephalus | Photographed |
| Boat-billed Flycatcher | Megarynchus pitangua | Recorded |
| Social Flycatcher | Myiozetetes similis | |
| Baird's Flycatcher | Myiodynastes bairdii | |
| Streaked Flycatcher | Myiodynastes maculatus | |
| Tropical Kingbird | Tyrannus melancholicus | Photographed |
| Gray-breasted Martin | Progne chalybea | |
| Blue-and-white Swallow | Notiochelidon cyanoleuca | |
| Southern Rough-winged Swallow | Stelgidopteryx ruficollis | |
| Fasciated Wren | Campylorhynchus fasciatus | |
| Bay Wren | Thryothorus nigricapillus | |
| House Wren | Troglodytes aedon | |
| Scaly-breasted Wren | Microcerculus marginatus | Heard only |
| Long-tailed Mockingbird | Mimus longicaudatus | |
| Ecuadorian Thrush | Turdus maculirostris | |
| Tropical Gnatcatcher | Polioptila plumbea | |
| Red-eyed Vireo | Vireo olivaceus | |
| Lesser Greenlet | Hylophilus decurtatus | |
| Tropical Parula | Parula pitiayumi | |
| Masked Yellowthroat | Geothlypis aequinoctialis | |
| Gray-and-gold Warbler | Basileuterus fraseri | |
| Bananaquit | Coereba flaveola | |
| Guira Tanager | Hemithraupis guira | |
| White-shouldered Tanager | Tachyphonus luctuosus | |
| Flame-rumped Tanager | Ramphocelus flammigerus | |
| Blue-gray Tanager | Thraupis episcopus | |
| Palm Tanager | Thraupis palmarum | |
| Thick-billed Euphonia | Euphonia laniirostris | Recorded |
| (Yellow-tufted Dacnis) | Dacnis egregia | Photographed |
| Crimson-breasted Finch | Rhodospingus cruentus | |
| Variable Seedeater | Sporophila corvina | |
| Orange-billed Sparrow | Arremon aurantiirostris | |
| Black-striped Sparrow | Arremonops conirostris | Photographed |
| Streaked Saltator | Saltator striatipectus | Photographed |
| Golden-bellied Grosbeak | Pheucticus chrysogaster | |
| Scrub Blackbird | Dives warszewiczi | |
| Yellow-tailed Oriole | Icterus mesomelas | |
| Yellow-rumped Cacique | Cacicus cela |
This is a private reserve only accesible with prior permission from the owners or Agustina Arcos agustinaarcos@hotmail.com or Alejandro Solano jhalezion@gmail.com, from Miraflores, near Mindo. It is best to cntact her at least several days before you intend to visit as she doesn't check her email everyday. The reserve is located near the town of Los Bancos, further down the same road from Mindo. It can be accessed directly from Quito. From there, the turnoff for the reserve is another few kms. and from the turnoff to the reserve entrance. Ask Agustina for more details. It's best to have your own transport although you could walk from the main road, which would probably take a couple of hours. There is basic but comfortable accomodation (no electricity), with beds, shower, kitchen, etc. It is currently $5 to enter the reserve for the day and $10 per day if you stay (bring your own food), but these prices might soon change.
| Little Tinamou | Crypturellus soui | |
| Cattle Egret | Bubulcus ibis | |
| Black Vulture | Coragyps atratus | |
| Turkey Vulture | Cathartes aura | |
| Roadside Hawk | Buteo magnirostris | Heard only |
| Short-tailed Hawk | Buteo brachyurus | |
| Black Hawk-Eagle | Spizaetus tyrannus | |
| Laughing Falcon | Herpetotheres cachinnans | Photographed |
| Bat Falcon | Falco rufigularis | |
| Rufous-fronted Wood-Quail | Odontophorus erythrops | |
| Ruddy Pigeon | Patagioenas subvinacea | |
| White-tipped Dove | Leptotila verreauxi | |
| Pallid Dove | Leptotila pallida | |
| Maroon-tailed Parakeet | Pyrrhura melanura | Photographed |
| Pacific Parrotlet | Forpus coelestis | |
| Bronze-winged Parrot | Pionus chalcopterus | |
| Squirrel Cuckoo | Piaya cayana | |
| Little Cuckoo | Piaya minuta | Photographed |
| Smooth-billed Ani | Crotophaga ani | |
| Groove-billed Ani | Crotophaga sulcirostris | |
| Crested Owl | Lophostrix cristata | Photographed |
| Pauraque | Nyctidromus albicollis | Heard only |
| Scrub Nightjar | Caprimulgus anthonyi | |
| Spot-fronted Swift | Cypseloides cherriei | Data deficient |
| Chestnut-collared Swift | Streptoprocne rutila | |
| White-collared Swift | Streptoprocne zonaris | |
| Gray-rumped Swift | Chaetura cinereiventris | |
| White-whiskered Hermit | Phaethornis yaruqui | |
| Stripe-throated Hermit | Phaethornis striigularis | |
| Green Thorntail | Discosura conversii | |
| Green-crowned Woodnymph | Thalurania fannyi | |
| Rufous-tailed Hummingbird | Amazilia tzacatl | |
| Purple-crowned Fairy | Heliothryx barroti | |
| White-tailed Trogon | Trogon viridis | Heard only |
| Violaceous Trogon | Trogon violaceus | Recorded |
| Collared Trogon | Trogon collaris | |
| Black-throated Trogon | Trogon rufus | Photographed |
| (Choco Trogon) | Trogon comptus | Photographed |
| Green Kingfisher | Chloroceryle americana | |
| Broad-billed Motmot | Electron platyrhynchum | |
| White-whiskered Puffbird | Malacoptila panamensis | Photographed |
| Orange-fronted Barbet | Capito squamatus | Near-threatened |
| (Pale-mandibled Aracari) | Pteroglossus erythropygius | Recorded |
| (Stripe-billed Aracari) | Pteroglossus sanguineus | |
| (Chestnut-mandibled Toucan) | Ramphastos swainsonii | |
| Choco Toucan | Ramphastos brevis | |
| Olivaceous Piculet | Picumnus olivaceus | |
| Scarlet-backed Woodpecker | Veniliornis callonotus | |
| Choco Woodpecker | Veniliornis chocoensis | |
| Golden-olive Woodpecker | Piculus rubiginosus | |
| Lineated Woodpecker | Dryocopus lineatus | |
| Guayaquil Woodpecker | Campephilus gayaquilensis | Near-threatened |
| (Pacific Hornero) | Furnarius leucopus | |
| Slaty Spinetail | Synallaxis brachyura | |
| Red-faced Spinetail | Cranioleuca erythrops | |
| Plain Xenops | Xenops minutus | |
| Streaked Xenops | Xenops rutilans | |
| Scaly-throated Foliage-gleaner | Anabacerthia variegaticeps | |
| Buff-fronted Foliage-gleaner | Philydor rufus | |
| Tawny-throated Leaftosser | Sclerurus mexicanus | |
| Plain-brown Woodcreeper | Dendrocincla fuliginosa | Photographed |
| Wedge-billed Woodcreeper | Glyphorynchus spirurus | |
| Northern Barred-Woodcreeper | Dendrocolaptes sanctithomae | |
| Spotted Woodcreeper | Xiphorhynchus erythropygius | |
| Streak-headed Woodcreeper | Lepidocolaptes souleyetii | |
| Western Slaty-Antshrike | Thamnophilus atrinucha | Heard only |
| Spot-crowned Antvireo | Dysithamnus puncticeps | |
| Pacific Antwren | Myrmotherula pacifica | |
| Checker-throated Antwren | Myrmotherula fulviventris | Recorded |
| White-flanked Antwren | Myrmotherula axillaris | |
| Slaty Antwren | Myrmotherula schisticolor | |
| Dot-winged Antwren | Microrhopias quixensis | |
| Dusky Antbird | Cercomacra tyrannina | Heard only |
| Chestnut-backed Antbird | Myrmeciza exsul | |
| Immaculate Antbird | Myrmeciza immaculata | |
| Bicolored Antbird | Gymnopithys leucaspis | |
| Spotted Antbird | Hylophylax naevioides | Heard only |
| Black-headed Antthrush | Formicarius nigricapillus | Heard only. Recorded |
| Black-tipped Cotinga | Carpodectes hopkei | |
| Purple-throated Fruitcrow | Querula purpurata | |
| Long-wattled Umbrellabird | Cephalopterus penduliger | Vulnerable Photographed Recorded |
| White-bearded Manakin | Manacus manacus | |
| Golden-winged Manakin | Masius chrysopterus | |
| Thrush-like Schiffornis | Schiffornis turdinus | Recorded |
| Southern Beardless-Tyrannulet | Camptostoma obsoletum | |
| Yellow Tyrannulet | Capsiempis flaveola | |
| Olive-striped Flycatcher | Mionectes olivaceus | |
| Slaty-capped Flycatcher | Leptopogon superciliaris | Recorded |
| Sooty-headed Tyrannulet | Phyllomyias griseiceps | |
| Golden-faced Tyrannulet | Zimmerius chrysops | |
| Black-capped Pygmy-Tyrant | Myiornis atricapillus | |
| Scale-crested Pygmy-Tyrant | Lophotriccus pileatus | Recorded |
| Common Tody-Flycatcher | Todirostrum cinereum | |
| Pacific Flatbill | Rhynchocyclus pacificus | |
| White-throated Spadebill | Platyrinchus mystaceus | Recorded |
| Ornate Flycatcher | Myiotriccus ornatus | |
| Bran-colored Flycatcher | Myiophobus fasciatus | |
| Dusky-capped Flycatcher | Myiarchus tuberculifer | |
| Rusty-margined Flycatcher | Myiozetetes cayanensis | |
| Streaked Flycatcher | Myiodynastes maculatus | |
| Snowy-throated Kingbird | Tyrannus niveigularis | Photographed |
| Tropical Kingbird | Tyrannus melancholicus | |
| Cinnamon Becard | Pachyramphus cinnamomeus | Photographed |
| Black-and-white Becard | Pachyramphus albogriseus | Photographed |
| One-colored Becard | Pachyramphus homochrous | |
| Masked Tityra | Tityra semifasciata | |
| Blue-and-white Swallow | Notiochelidon cyanoleuca | |
| White-thighed Swallow | Neochelidon tibialis | Photographed |
| Southern Rough-winged Swallow | Stelgidopteryx ruficollis | |
| Band-backed Wren | Campylorhynchus zonatus | |
| House Wren | Troglodytes aedon | |
| Scaly-breasted Wren | Microcerculus marginatus | |
| Ecuadorian Thrush | Turdus maculirostris | |
| Tawny-faced Gnatwren | Microbates cinereiventris | |
| Slate-throated Gnatcatcher | Polioptila schistaceigula | |
| Red-eyed Vireo | Vireo olivaceus | |
| Lesser Greenlet | Hylophilus decurtatus | |
| Tropical Parula | Parula pitiayumi | |
| Olive-crowned Yellowthroat | Geothlypis semiflava | |
| Choco Warbler | Basileuterus chlorophrys | |
| Buff-rumped Warbler | Basileuterus fulvicauda | |
| Bananaquit | Coereba flaveola | |
| Yellow-throated Bush-Tanager | Chlorospingus flavigularis | |
| Scarlet-browed Tanager | Heterospingus xanthopygius | |
| White-shouldered Tanager | Tachyphonus luctuosus | |
| White-lined Tanager | Tachyphonus rufus | |
| Flame-rumped Tanager | Ramphocelus flammigerus | |
| Blue-gray Tanager | Thraupis episcopus | |
| Palm Tanager | Thraupis palmarum | |
| Orange-crowned Euphonia | Euphonia saturata | Possibly seen |
| Thick-billed Euphonia | Euphonia laniirostris | |
| Orange-bellied Euphonia | Euphonia xanthogaster | |
| Gray-and-gold Tanager | Tangara palmeri | |
| Silver-throated Tanager | Tangara icterocephala | |
| Bay-headed Tanager | Tangara gyrola | |
| Blue-necked Tanager | Tangara cyanicollis | |
| (Yellow-tufted Dacnis) | Dacnis egregia | |
| Green Honeycreeper | Chlorophanes spiza | |
| Purple Honeycreeper | Cyanerpes caeruleus | |
| Swallow-Tanager | Tersina viridis | Photographed |
| Blue-black Grassquit | Volatinia jacarina | |
| Variable Seedeater | Sporophila corvina | |
| Thick-billed Seed-Finch | Oryzoborus funereus | |
| Orange-billed Sparrow | Arremon aurantiirostris | |
| Black-striped Sparrow | Arremonops conirostris | |
| Buff-throated Saltator | Saltator maximus | |
| Slate-colored Grosbeak | Saltator grossus | Heard only |
| Black-winged Saltator | Saltator atripennis | |
| Shiny Cowbird | Molothrus bonariensis | |
| Scarlet-rumped Cacique | Cacicus uropygialis | |
| Yellow-bellied Siskin | Carduelis xanthogastra | Photographed |
This is a really incredible site rapidly becoming famous as the best place to see local antpittas well. A local man, Angel Paz, has been feeding worms to antpittas on his property so sometime and several individuals have become very tame. You can see Giant, Moustached and Yellow-breasted Antpittas at close range and it's easy to get some great photos. He also has a Andean Cock-of-the-Rock lek on his property which you can see if you get there at 5:30am. Other good birds are Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan, Toucan Barbet and Beautiful Jay. The first 2 were nesting in the same tree. He charges $10 for the tour and it is easily worth it whatever your budget as you may not see many of these elsewhere. He also includes a home cooked breakfast. To get to his property, drive further towards Mindo from the Miraflores turnoff and look out for a sign on the left reading 'Reserva Paz de las Aves'. Turn here and follow the the main track for several kms until you see another sign for his house. He has a large number of visitors every day and it is a good idea to call (593-2 2116243 or 2116026) and let him know you're coming, at least the day before if not earlier.
| Black Vulture | Coragyps atratus | |
| Tawny-bellied Hermit | Phaethornis syrmatophorus | |
| Sparkling Violet-ear | Colibri coruscans | |
| Rufous-tailed Hummingbird | Amazilia tzacatl | |
| Andean Emerald | Agyrtria franciae | |
| Fawn-breasted Brilliant | Heliodoxa rubinoides | Photographed |
| Empress Brilliant | Heliodoxa imperatrix | Photographed |
| Buff-tailed Coronet | Boissonneaua flavescens | Photographed |
| Velvet-purple Coronet | Boissonneaua jardini | Photographed |
| Brown Inca | Coeligena wilsoni | |
| Purple-throated Woodstar | Calliphlox mitchellii | Photographed |
| Golden-headed Quetzal | Pharomachrus auriceps | Heard only |
| Toucan Barbet | Semnornis ramphastinus | Near-threatened Photographed |
| Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan | Andigena laminirostris | Near-threatened Photographed |
| Strong-billed Woodcreeper | Xiphocolaptes promeropirhynchus | Heard only |
| Giant Antpitta | Grallaria gigantea | Endangered Photographed |
| Moustached Antpitta | Grallaria alleni | Endangered Photographed |
| Yellow-breasted Antpitta | Grallaria flavotincta | Photographed |
| Andean Cock-of-the-rock | Rupicola peruviana | Heard only |
| Golden-winged Manakin | Masius chrysopterus | Heard only |
| Beautiful Jay | Cyanolyca pulchra | Near-threatened |