1 - 31 December 1997
by Garry George
DEC 1 - 8, EAST CENTRAL SLOPE OF THE ANDES INCLUDING:
Papallacta Pass (3,960 m/12,992 ft), montane cloudforest including polylepis and elfin forest and paramo
Cabanas San Isidro (1700 m/5576 ft), montane cloudforest;
Loreto Road (1,300 - 500 m/4,264 - 1,640 ft), premontane forest;
Cascada de San Raphael(Coca Falls) (1,300 m/4,264 ft), premontane cloudforest, secondary growth, remnant primary forest;
Cordillera de Guacamayos (Guacamayos Ridge) (1,700-2,300 m/5,576-7,544 ft), montane cloudforest;
Tena (530 m/1738 ft) including Auca Trail and Reserva Jatun Sacha, secondary scrub and forest.
DEC 9 - 22, SOUTHERN ECUADOR INCLUDING:
Cerro Blanco near Guayaquil (250 m/820 ft), deciduous forest;
Pinas (1,000 m/3,280 ft), patches of humid premontane cloudforest;
Loja; fragmented habitat
Podocarpus National Park from four locations:
Loja-Zamora Road (1,000m to 2,800 m/3,280 ft to 9,184 ft), montane cloudforest;
Cajanuma (2,550-3,400 m/8,364-11,152 ft), pristine cloudforest, elfin forest, paramo;
Rio Bombuscaro (950-1,200 m/3,116-3,936ft), lower montane cloudforest;
Rio San Francisco (2,100m/6,888 ft), lower montane cloudforest. Catamayo to Macara including:
Catamayo, arid montane scrub;
Utuana (2,500 m/8,200 ft), cloudforest with chusquea bamboo, secondary growth (including reforested pines);
Sabiango and Tambo Negro (1,000 m/3,280 ft), deciduous forest; Macara (600 m/1,968 ft), deciduous forest;
Cuenca to Limon Road including:
Acanama (3,200 m/10,496 ft), cloudforest; Cordillera Zapote-Najda (3,250 m/10,660 ft), montane cloudforest, paramo;
Gualaceo-Limon Road (to 1,700m/5,576 ft), montane cloudforest and lower montane cloudforest;
Cajas Recreational Area near Guenca (4,500 m/14,l760 ft), paramo with polylepis woodland.
DEC 23 - 30, RIO NAPO AREA OF AMAZONAS INCLUDING:
Sacha Lodge,
Yasuni Park (Anango Cocha),
Pihauli,
Panacocha,
Yuturi Lodge
and islands in the Rio Napo (300 m/984 ft).
WEATHER:
Rain almost every day for at least one hour, usually in a.m.
Foggy and rainy and cold at high mountain passes
Rainy one day only in Amazonas, other days clear and cloudy
RESOURCES:
Hilty & Brown, Birds of Colombia
Ridgely & Tudor, The Birds of South America (plates only)
Best, Heijnen & Williams, A Guide to Bird-watching in Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands
Wheatley, Where to watch Birds in South America
BACKGROUND:
Two and a half years ago Joseph and I went to Ecuador to the Galapagos Islands, Mindo, San Isidro and Sacha Lodge in Amazonas seeing 478 species during the three weeks. We booked the trip through Clockwork Travel in Ft. Worth, Texas when Martin Reid worked there and represented Neblina Forest, the local tour operator in Ecuador. Our guide for the mainland portion was Mitch Lysinger, a young biology major from Florida who had been in Ecuador for three years and worked for Neblina Forest and our guide at Sacha was Giovanni, a Quechuan native who had studied ornithology and knew the birds and locations of the area well. We had a great time with Mitch and recommended him to other birders who booked him through Neblina Forest. However, more than one birder friend arrived in Quito to find that Neblina had switched guides on him and was assigned a driver who didn't have tapes, a field guide or knowledge of the birds. We found out later that this "bait and switch" tactic is used frequently by local companies which are not owned or managed by guides. Since that time, we have been reluctant to recommend local companies or to book another trip to Ecuador through any of the local companies. When Mitch let us know that he was leaving Neblina and forming his own company we jumped at the chance to see more birds and work out our itinerary in direct communication with him. Our two week itinerary rapidly expanded to three weeks then a month when we decided to spend Christmas in the Amazon if we were guaranteed to have Giovanni guide us again.
We cashed our American miles and booked LA-Quito-LA tickets six months inadvance.
El Nino caused a great deal of rain on the coast so we cancelled plans tovisit the Northwest Esmeralds area, and planned only a brief stop in the Guayaquil area at Cerro Blanco. All other routes were in mid to high elevation on the Central Eastern slope, both slopes of the South and the lowlands of the West.
We targeted birds that we hadn't seen on our last trip which meant that if we heard a bird we had seen well before we usually didn't make an effort to see it although there were some exceptions, and of course when birds we had seen before happened to show up we enjoyed another look. We avoided most large marshes and coastal areas not needing waders. We especially like skulkers like antpittas and made a special effort to see as many as possible, seeing 13 species and missing only two, one of which we heard call once in the distance (Crescent-faced Antpitta) and the other which we followed for three hours but never saw (Ochre-striped). We also made an effort to see as many skulky Tapaculos as we could since the work on Tapaculos is so formative and there are so many new species suggested in the Ridgeley-Greenfield upcoming field guide for Ecuador. We used this forthcoming taxonomy and nomenclature which has been published in the Best, Heijnen & Williams book.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Week 1
Mitch and our driver Juan Carlos picked us up at Quito airport and we spent the night at Cafe Cultura (cafecult@pi.pro.ec) before taking off at 5 a.m. for Papallacta Pass dressed in down and wool, where we found Silvery Grebe, Andean Gull, Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe, Yellow-billed Pintail and Giant Conebill, all of which we had missed last trip. We descended down the road to San Isidro where we stayed at Cabanas San Isidro (birdecua@hoy.net), owned by the Bustamante family and managed by Carmen Bustamante, Mitch's wife of a few months. We based out of the Cabanas for a week, birding the Log Trail (Black- billed Mountain-Toucan, Black-chested Fruiteater, Equatorial Rufous-vented Tapaculo and our favorite sighting of the trip - two White-bellied Antpittas hopping down the trail toward us late in the day, diving off the trail for worms or bugs, fighting with each other, and hopping back on the trail practically at our feet. We watched this performance for about half an hour.)
Walking the road at San Isidro gave us Powerful Woodpecker, astounding looks at a perched, calling Crested Quetzal in full view and full light, looks at Slate-crowned Antpitta calling in the underbrush and we heard a Barred Antthrush but it didn't come out and only called once. Most interesting was the pair of rare Bicolored Antvireos, a species recently rediscovered by Brett Whitney, the first ornithologist to observe and describe it's behavior. It seems the pair is nesting at San Isidro.
Day trips to roaring and tourist- free Coca Falls (three hours chasing a Plain-backed Antpitta which finally perched three feet from us for about five seconds for naked eye views only, feeding flocks with tanagers including Blue-browed, Orange-eared and Paradise Tanagers, Golden-collared Honeycreeper, Cerulean and Canada Warblers, Andean Cock-of-the Rock displaying, hummers including Rufous-vented Whitetip, and the soon to be split Highland Motmot) and long looks in the scope at the rare golden-bellied race of White-bellied Spider Monkey feeding in the top of a tree across the valley; Loreto Road (hour long looks at a perched Black-and- white Hawk-Eagle in the scope which we initially thought might be a Swallow- tailed Kite and almost walked away until Joseph "I never pass up a look at a Swallow-tailed Kite" Brooks pulled out the scope and discovered what we had, Striolated Puffbird, White-eyed and Maroon-tailed Parakeet, Spot-winged Parrotlet, the new Subtropical Pygmy-Owl with Latin name after Ted Parker (glaucidium parkeri) and a lifer for Mitch, Napo Sabrewing, Golden-tailed Sapphire, Coppery-chested Jacamar, Plain-breasted and Lafresnaye's Piculets, Foothill Antwren, White-backed Fire-eye, White-crowned and Blue-rumped Manakins, Cliff Flycatcher hawking insects from a perch on a cliff not far from Lyre-tailed Nightjar, Yellow-cheeked Becard, a lucky sighting of a Chestnut-bellied Thrush on on the road, Wing-banded Wren walking beneath us and Blue-naped Chlorophonia and tanager and honeycreeper flocks); the road to Taena in the lowlands where we spent the night and the Auca Trail along the Rio Misahuilla (Spot-breasted Woodpecker, Blackish Antbird, Black Antbird, Little Cuckoo, Rusty-fronted Tody-flycatcher, Golden-winged Tody-flycatcher, Black-and-white Seedeater); a brief stop at Jatun Sacha Biological Reserve (Ash-throated Gnateater, Chestnut-eared Aracari, Green Oropendola, Rufous- bellied Euphonia); Guacamayos Ridge (we were happy to return here as we had seen two rarities - White-rimmed Brush-Finch and Greater Scythebill on our vist two and a half years ago and we weren't disappointed this year with looks at Moustached Antpitta, Emerald-bellied Puffleg and Spillman's Tapaculo along with Andean Guan, Streak-throated Bush-Tyrant, Hooded and Lachrimose Mountain-Tanager, Rufous-headed Pygmy-Tyrant and Yellow-bellied Chat-Tyrant.
We spent another whole day at San Isidro and when heavy rain trapped us in the main building Carmen and Mitch began pulling out drawers of their insect collection to show us. The butterflies, moths and beetles, including a new species discovered on the property, were amazing and we all laughed and looked at Mitch when Carmen revealed that she has taken a special interest in hairy flies. Late in the afternoon we walked to the Cock of the Rock lek seeing that bird as well as good views of a White-throated Quail-Dove. Carmen also showed us some of the pottery and gold artifacts found on the property that she is sure came from the Curiseta tribe that lived there as far back as the 14th and 15th centuries, one of the few South American tribes not conquered by the Incas. The Bustamantes have saved their cloudforest, purchased 40 years ago, by coverting the cabins to an eco-tourist lodge, although they were certainly helped by a rare abundance of bird, plant and insect species. The 800 hectares have no domestic animals (no grazing!) and no cutting although Carmen occasionally has to chase off tree thieves.
Her problem now is birdwatchers who sneak onto the trails for free, even though Carmen is happy to allow use of the trails for the day for a mere $10. Full board with three meals is around $75/day. During the week every meal was different and freshly perpared including special Ecuadorian dishes such as cho-cho, the marinated and cooked bean of the lupin flower. One dinner was boneless chicken breast rolled and stuffed with spinach and pine nuts, one lunch a lasagna with fresh herbs. The sack lunches included more food than we could eat, and all fresh. The grounds of the Cabanas were always interesting for orchids, bromeliads and of course birds and mammals. Carmen has disovered an Andean Cock-of-the-Rock lek on the property and Mitch has seen Giant Antpitta on the Log Trail. We looked and looked and hoped and hoped for White-capped Tanagers which I had seen last visit but Joseph missed, but we only heard them once down a ridge in the fog. Spectacled Bear has been seen on the property. This was our second visit to San Isidro area and we'll be back.
Weeks 2-3
Leaving the relative comfort of San Isidro we drove back over Papallacta Pass (stopping for some more looks at Black-chested Buzzard Eagle and Puna Hawk and hoping for an Andean Condor which never passed) to Quito where we spent another night at Cafe Cultura before we flew to Guayaquil. Juan Carlos had driven ahead two days ago and met us at the airport. The streets were flooded and we checked into the minimal Hotel Plaza for an overnight. The next morning we drove to Cerro Blanco, a nature reserve donated surrounded by the cement company that had donated it, probably under pressure. We drove through gates with armed guards and immediately heard Pale-browed Tinamous calling in the undergrowth. We tried for hours but never saw one.
We had to be content with great looks at Short-tailed Hawk, Elegant Crescent-chest, White-tailed Jay, Ecuadorian Ground Dove and Scarlet-backed Woodpecker and our first Fasciated Wren of the trip, and decent looks along the river trail of Gray and Gold Warbler, Rufous-crested Tanager and Parrot-billed Seedeater. After lunch we left for a long drive to Pinas and the Buenaventura Trail just before town. Our afternoon hike yielded (finally) long looks in the scope of the endemic and fairly recently discovered (by Roseanne Rowlett among others) El Oro Parakeet, which took us quite a while to find even though it was calling.
We also saw our first Bronze-winged Parrot, White-whiskered Hermit and White- tipped Sicklebill. At dark we crawled into the town of Pinas with its stone streets and checked into our hotel which can only be described as simple although the water was hot. We tried to find a restaurant that Mitch remembered liking, but it had closed in the few weeks since he'd been there last and we settled for fried chicken and beans at a local joint where a cat sat eagerly on the table next to us eyeing our bones.
Early the next morning we returned to Buenaventura Trail. As the sun cleared the clouds out of the Valley below we saw great views of soaring Barred Hawk, Great Black-Hawk, Slate-colored Hawk, Swallow-tailed Kite, Black Hawk-Eagle and three soaring and one perched Gray-backed Hawk, a fairly local and rare bird, a perched Sickle-winged Guan looking cautiously over its shoulder at us, ten species of hummingbird including Emerald-bellied Woodnymph (another split from Fork- tailed Woodnymph), Wedge-billed Hummingbird and Long-tailed and Violet-tailed Sylphs, Crimson-rumped Toucanet, Line-cheeked Spinetail building a nest, furnarid feeding flocks in the epiphytes including Pacific Tuftedcheek split from Buffy Tuftedcheek, Scaly-throated Foliage-gleaner (aka Spectacled), the ubiquitous Pearled Treerunner (seen throuout the trip), Slaty Antwren, Immaculate Antbird, a lek of Club-winged Manakin looking like small birds of paradise when they display, Rufous-winged Tyrannulet, Bran-colored Flycatcher, three species of Chat-tyrant including Yellow-bellied, Slaty-backed and Rufous-breasted, Streak-throated Bush-Tyrant, Whiskered and Bay Wrens, Yellow- bellied Siskin, Black-striped Sparrow and Tricolored Brush-Finch, tanagers including Ochre-breasted, Golden, Bay-headed, Buff-throated and Black-winged Saltator and Scrub Blackbird.
Happy, we made the long drive to Loja, passing next to the most awesome cloud formation of thunderheads with lighting in the middle that I have ever seen, highlighted by a sunset in the background that had us stopping for pictures on the way. The highway was particularly bad as the potholes had been dug out by road crews and left unfinished with no warning cones so trucks and cars from both sides of the road had to dodge twenty-foot long depressions in the highway that could terminate your suspension.
We finally arrived in Loja late at night and checked into the Hotel Libertador, only to find a convention of engineers participating in some kind of sports tournament jamming the streets and lobby, and drinking, yelling and laughing all night - our first but not our last experience with the "fiestas de los borrachos" that seem to be so popular with Ecaudorean men. We got no sleep and left early in the morning for Cajanuma, one of the entrances into Podocarpus National Park. Mitch had broken up our trips into Podocarpus so that we would visit the same location days apart to compensate for weather variance or species movement.
Our first visit to the high altitude roads of Cajanuma was in sunny weather although the mountain peak and the paramo was covered in a fog that never lifted and gusts of wind blew throughout the day. It was cold even in the sun and our knit caps went on and off as the sun warmed us. Drives and walks on the road to the top yielded fantastic looks in the scope at a flying, then perched and calling Black-and-Chestnut Eagle, looks at high altitude hummers including our first Shining Sunbeam, Mountain Velvetbreast, Tyrian Metaltail, Purple-throated Sunangel and Glowing Puffleg (great views in full sunlight of this bird working the low vegetation mixed with paramo at our feet we we ascended on a ridge toward the top), we marched up and down the road seeing nothing but Band-tailed Pigeons until we finally heard a call from a Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan which we finally saw in the scope after waiting one hour and a half for it to move, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, partial looks at a Rufous Antpitta calling in the underbrush on the steep trail to the top and better looks at another individual walking on the trail and taking a quick bath in a trailside stream on the way down, calling Undulated, Chestnut-crowned (a nemesis bird for me since I missed it twice last trip) and Chestnut-naped Antpittas which we tried for but didn't see, Chusquea Tapaculo (English name after the bamboo but Latin after Ted Parker) making a quick entrance and retreat, Green and Black and Barred Fruiteaters, Black-capped Tyrannulet, Orange-banded Flycatcher and Mouse- colored Thistletail passing through only once as part of a feeding flock which we hoped would contain the elusive Masked Saltator but didn't, Rufous Wren, looks at Pale-footed Swallow from the ridgetop, Citrine and Black-crested Warblers and looks in the scope downhill at a Red-hooded Tanager perched in the top of a tree. Exhausted by the altitude and exhilarated by the hiking and sights we drove back in the evening, seeing a Band-winged Nightjar perched on the road in the headlights.
After another sleepless night in Loja thanks to more borrachos we finally sorted out our wet laundry crisis (they gave us the wrong clothes three times and when we finally found ours they were still wet from two days ago) we gave up on the Hotel Libertador and walked and drove the Loja-Zamora Road in the morning seeing Yellow-breasted Antwren, the highland race of Blackish Antbird (which Mitch thinks will be split), Spot- backed Antbird, Fulvous-breasted Flatbill, Three-striped Warbler, a pair of Short-billed Bush-Tanagers (aka Yellow-whiskered Bush-Tanager) working riverside bushes underneath a bridge, flocks including Green-and-Gold and Blue-necked Tangers and Southern Yellow Grosbeak (aka Golden-bellied Grosbeak). Our first foray into the Rio Bombuscaro trail to Bombuscaro gave us new species including a flock of the endemic White-necked Parrakeet (aka White-breasted) feeding in a tree right beside the trail (no need for the scope), Ecuadorian Piedtail, Violet-fronted Brilliant, Black-streaked Puffbird perched beside the trail, another look at White-backed Fire-eye, a female Cock-of-the-Rock, Sepia-capped Flycatcher, Golden-crowned Flycatcher, a new species of Myiopagis (discovered by Paul Coopmans, and soon to be described), Yellow-browed Sparrow, Rufous-chested and White-winged Tanager and Bronze-Green Euphonia.
We spent the night at Hotel torres Internacional in Zamora which is really a two story six room building right on the main street of Zamora and probably the only place to stay. Cracks in the walls, minimal hot water but we were tired and slept well despite the party of drunks (again!) next door and the barnyard symphony heard everywhere that Homo Sapiens dominates in Ecuador. The roosters sing the first six notes of the Sammy Davis, Jr. hit "Candy Man" . Back to Rio Bombuscaro in the morning we met a German student from Quito who had camped up the trail and had seen a flock of Lanceolated Monklets just off the trail the day before.
We never saw anyone else in the park which was fine with us. Again, Mitch had scheduled two different days for the park so we could have two chances at everything including weather and we found three more target birds Equatorial Graytail, Chestnut-crowned Gnateater and Striped Manakin as well as Spot-backed Antbird, Mottle-backed Eleania, Rufous-tailed Tyrant, Gray-mantled Wren, White-lined Tanager, and Black-faced and Blue Dacnis. Juan Carlos had to get a belt fixed on the car and was late picking us up so we hiked down the road from the entrance to the Park toward Zamora, discovering a small group of very rare Koellensteinia blue orchids in bloom on the hill beside the road. We spent the night in Zamora again, and returned for one more morning at Rio Bombuscaro where we finally saw Northern White-crowned Tapaculo and had more looks at Coppery-chested Jacamar, Red-headed Barbet, Blue-rumped Manakin and Lesser Seed-Finch. We drove to the San Francisco area of Podocarpus and spotted our first Rufous-chested Tanager on a hike as well as more looks at the fairly common Pacific Hornero. We ended the day back at Cajanuma, our third visit, and enjoyed Amethyst-throated and Flame-throated Sunangel (where had they been the other two times we were there?) and Chiguanco Thrush on the way back to Loja where this time we stayed at the quiet Hotel Hostal Augilera.
The next morning we drove from Loja south toward Macara, a small town close to the Peruvian border, stopping at a few locations along the way including the arid high altitude scrub in the mountain pass near Catamayo for Eared Dove, Croaking Ground-Dove, Lesser Nighthawk which we flushed, Tawny-crowned Pygmy-Tyrant, Long-tailed Mockingbird, Superciliated Wren, the white-lored race of Tropical Gnatcatcher, Tumbes Sparrow, Ash- breasted and Band-tailed Sierra-Finch, Dull-colored Grassquit. We stopped along the road beside some agricultural fields for Chestnut-throated Seedeater and Peruvian Meadowlark, and at a trail at Utuana near the town of Sozoranga for sightings of the rare Gray-headed Antbird, brief looks at a very excited Unicolored Tapaculo, good looks at Tawny-rumped Tyrannulet, Maranon Tit-Tyrant (aka Black-crested Tit-tyrant), the future split piura race of Black-eared Hemispingus, Golden-rumped Euphonia, Rufous-necked Foliage-gleaner seen by Joseph and Mitch but not Garry, and Black-cowled Saltator.
Just as we began pursuing an Undulated Antpitta, unexpected for this location, a hard driving rain forced us back down the trail, now a raging river, and back to the car drenched. We drove on until the rain subsided and stopped at Sabiango & Tambo Negro area for good looks at close, perched Pacific Parrotlet and Gray-cheeked Parakeet, sightings of Striped Cuckoo, Peruvian Pygmy-Owl, Gray-rumped Swift (which my be split to W. Ecuadorian), Speckled Hummingbird, Sooty-crowned Flycatcher, Plumbeous-backed Thrush, Speckle-breasted Wren, Gray-breasted Martin, Three-banded Warbler, Black-capped Sparrow, Streaked Saltator and White-edged Oriole. We stopped in the scrub habitat just East of Macara and watched three Black-tailed Trogons of the pale-eyed race, which Mitch says might be split to Ecuadorian Trogon, and we found a pair of Collared Antshrikes and a Scarlet-backed Woodpecker.
After passing through two or three military checkpoints we finally arrived in the small town of Macara from another century, with mud and cobblestone streets, raised sidewalks covered by wood porches and a cathedral in the middle of town that was played Christmas carols through a loudspeaker system every evening at six, driving out the Chestnut-collared Swallows from the eaves. Pigs roamed the streets like dogs and the buildings were two-story and divided into small garage/shop/living spaces with double doors to the sidewalk that seemed to stay open. People relaxed in hammocks hung in front of their doorways over the sidewalks, or sat inside their windowless space on couches, rooms lit by candlelight.
Our hotel, the only one I saw in town, had a few simple rooms with no hot water. Our showers were short. There were a few mountaineers and hikers from other parts of South America but we saw no other Americans or Europeans. The military checkpoint was at the entrance to town and we had to go through it every time we entered or left, giving our passports and professions each time to some officer while the younger soldiers eyed our optics and gear. This information was stored in composition books, and I wondered how long it would take the Ecuadorean military with no database to find an entry for a missing tourist, thumbing through mountains of unalphabetized composition books. Sometimes the solider recognized us and just lifted the barrier. We were hard to miss. We drove out at dark just outside the guard gate, and stood on the road being eaten alive by mosquitos while Mitch called in a Peruvian Screech- Owl, which Ridgeley and Greenfield suggest should be lumped with Tropical Screech-Owl even though the call and looks of the bird are different. We ate in a local diner where Mitch and Juan Carlos were brave enough to eat a shrimp soup (inland during an El Nino year!) but Joseph and I stuck to chicken.
The next morning we went back to the habitat East of Macara and birded for a little over an hour and seeing Ecuadorian Piculet, Black-faced Spinetail (aka Blackish-headed Spinetail), Henna-hooded Foliage-gleaner, Pacific Elaenia, Yellow-olive, Boat-billed and Streaked Flycatchers, the very rare and local endemic Slaty Becard which is very easy to confuse with the more common One- colored Becard which we also saw so could compare songs and size, Masked Yellowthroat, White-headed Brush-Finch, Crimson Finch-Tanager and Variable Seedeater before a hard rain drove us back to the car and eventually back to town for our only bad rainout day of the trip. The next morning was clear and we drove back to Loja stopping again in the Sabiango/Sozoranga area along the road for Chapman's Antshrike, great views of Watkin's Antpitta, Stripe- headed Brush-Finch, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, and Saffron Finch, common in this habitat.
We returned to Utuana and our unfinished business with the Undulated Antpitta which we hoped we would hear again. We saw Little Woodpecker, Streaked Tuftedcheek, good views of a Red-crested Cotinga including the crest, Jelski's Chat-Tyrant, an unbelievably lucky view of the rare Bay-crowned Brush-Finch and good looks at a pair of Silver-backed Tanagers, the male stopping for a moment in full light before rushing on through the mist. When we heard the Undulated Antpitta call again we rushed back to the same spot and climbed on our stomachs carefully into the interior of the bamboo and shrub thicket and Mitch played the tape. It took over an hour but finally the bird became visible and flew and hopped around us in a circle, always just out of sight, allowing all of us at least a few fast looks at this huge antpitta and some of us (Joseph for instance) one great straight- on view of the entire bird including the undulated belly.
We continued back up to the pass near Catamayo and once again searched the scrub adding Collared Warbling-Finch, not usually seen in Ecuador, to our list. We stayed again in the quiet Hotel Hostal Aguilera in Loja, buying supplies of tuna fish and chips and searching for wheat bread before we fell asleep, exhausted. The next day would be our final trip to Cajanuma and we made the most of it, walking the road and hiking the high trail a few times hoping for a flock with a Masked Saltator in it. We didn't get so lucky, but we did finally see Bearded Guan, in the evening heard White-throated Screech-Owl and saw Rufous- banded Owl very close, Buff-winged Starfrontlet and Black-tailed Trainbearer in addition to the hummers we had seen before, an Ash-colored Tapaculo lazily making its way across the trail giving full views, a Chestnut-naped Antpitta which acutally jumped out of the undergrowth that we were all peering into and landed in the trail next to Garry for a split second before jumping back off the trail (a tossup for who was more surprised!), Rufous-naped Brush-Finch, Blue-backed Conebill, Black-capped and Black-headed Hemispingus, Scarlet- bellied Mountain-Tanager and Yellow-billed Cacique.
We said goodbye to Podocarpus and headed North the next morning. Mitch's planning of four different days at Cajanuma spread out over a week had paid off with a great variety of sightings. We set out for Gualaceo the next day, heading North and stopping at a mountain road passable only on horseback near Acanama for two of our target birds - Ocellated Tapaculo and Crescent-faced Antpitta. In the month before the trip, whenever we mentioned the Antpitta Mitch would only shake his head and mutter "that's a hard one" or "maybe if it's calling" or "we'll go there but the chances are slim." It was the only bird that we wanted that caused Mitch to react this way.
We stopped on the road and hiked down the horsetrail and setting deep inside the chusquea bamboo for the tapaculo. We had heard one called, and now we tried to call it in. Just as it came close a group of villagers came by and that was the end of that. We never heard it again. We hiked on and tried again and again for both birds in stands of bamboo, but we heard nothing. After playing the tape in one location, as we were leaving, we heard an Antpitta call from the distance, stopped, heard it again, and then hiked that way. We never heard the bird again, and we tried everywhere.
Exhausted, we hiked off-trail through deforested clearings where the locals were burning trees to make charcoal. We were upset at the deforestation and the impact on the mountains. There was thick oozing mud everywhere and we walked carefully, flushing a Noble Snipe which we identified by the white on its belly. I took a step and sank up to my knee in mud, throwing me off balance and my other leg took a step forward and it too sank up to my knees in water and mud above the boot. I could feel the water and mud pouring into my boot, making my legs heavier. There was no where to grab onto foliage not even grass, and I couldn't move my legs. Mitch and Joseph formed a chain and reached out to me and I grabbed and they pulled, stablizing me. I was slowly able to raise my heel to such an angle that I could pull each leg up behind me and begin to crawl through the ooze to something a little firmer.
Twenty minutes later I was out, soaked and sloshy, and we were talking about how lucky I was that it wasn't deeper. Never saw the Tapaculo or the Antpitta and I was miserable all the way back. One of those rotten days in birding. Nothing new except two heard birds and my rubber boots would stay wet for the rest of the trip and the socks became embarrasing so I threw them away rather than ask anyone to wash them. The rest of my clothes I washed myself and dried when I could.
We continued on the road to Gualaceo where we stayed at Hotel Paradiso Turistico, a large dowager hotel from the forties that was almost luxurious but empty. We ate in a fancy, empty, restaurant and I had my first glass of wine on the trip - a fine Chilean cabernet. They even took my laundry which I was embarrased to give them and promised to have it ready in two days when we would come back through. I was happy to get out of the wet and muddy clothes, and to wash my rubber boots in the shower (and then clean the shower!) and luxuriate in the hot water.
The next morning we set off climbing up through a pass in the Cordillera Zapote-Najda where we stopped for Viridian Metaltail, Rainbow- bearded Thornbill, Masked Mountain-Tanager and Paramo Tapaculo (juvenile), and descended down the Gualaceo-Limon Road adding Rufous Spinetail, the nemesis Chestnut-crowned Antpitta (I had missed it two and a half years ago as well as the eight times we heard it and tried for it on this trip) sitting behind a fern frond in dense foliage but in full view alternately singing and preening, Black-throated Tody-Tyrant, Black-capped and White-throated Tyrannulet, Agile Tit-Tyrant, Crowned Chat-Tyrant, a flock of Sepia-brown Wrens, Russet-crowned Warbler, the most amazing and our favorite tanager of the trip Yellow-throated Tanager which Mitch recorded, Flame-faced Tanager, Black-backed Bush-Tanager, good looks at Slaty Finch, and four species of Flower-Piercer (we had seen Flower-Piercers throughout the trip but not four in one location) - White- sided, Glossy, Bluish and Masked.
After going through military checkpoints, we stayed overnight in Limon at a rooming house with no hot water. By some miracle, we found a small restaurant that made Ecuadorean-style Chinese food (go figure) and were happy for it, although the "Chinese" food really consisted of fried noodles and vegetables. We fell asleep exhausted, although drunks began breaking bottles on the street at three and we were awaken once again by the barnyard symphony.
We set out the next morning and travelled back up the Gualaceo-Limon road enjoying Emerald Toucanet, a pair of Black- billed Mountain-Toucans moving and calling above us and beside us for about twenty minutes allowing great looks in the scope, Brown-billed Sythebill, and in desperation since it was our last chance, persuaded Mitch to play the Ocellated Tapaculo tape almost the entire day even though we got not response on any of the days. As we were walking on the road trolling for tapaculos, we thought we heard a response in the distance and began heading higher. Juan Carlos called to us, as he had just heard another response further down. We turned around and ran down the hill.
We went off-road deep into the chusquea bamboo and moss and stopped under a dense bush that towered about four feet over us and prepared to work for a glimpse. Mitch played the tape and a bird came running in at our feet too close to even focus with binoculars and then was gone. We were disappointed as we figured that was that, and Mitch kept playing the tape but no answer. We thought we saw movement and keep straining and turning looking down on the ground behind the bamboo. Mitch heard some movement and looked up and there was the Tapaculo, sitting about six feet above us, trying to hide. Blessed with this unusual perspective, we studied the long posterior toeclaw which was wrapped around a stalk of bamboo, and the ocellated feathers underneath the bird. Soon the female came in and we studied her too. Eventually they wandered off after we had great looks. We considered ourselves very lucky.
We stopped by the hotel in Gualaceo and picked up my laundry, then drove to Cuenca where we spent the night at the Hotel Inca Real in the center. We weren't used to the hustle and bustle and traffic but we were impressed with how clean the town was, and the architecture of the town was really well-maintained. Lots of stone cathedrals, and historic buildings and even an Inca ruin on the edge of town by the river. Early the next morning we drove out of Cuenca past the food stands displaying roasted pigs sold slice by slice to the high altitude of El Cajas National Park. We saw Andean Duck and Andean Teal on the montane lakes, and checked every Carunculated Carcara and Puna Hawk hoping they might be Condors.
We hiked in the paramo and the polylepis forest, which is successfully being reforested after damage from grazing and burning by Ecaudoreans for picnic barbeques, seeing Chimborzo Hillstar (aka Ecuadorian Hillstar), great looks at a perched, male, endemic Violet-throated Metaltail, Blue-mantled Thornbill, Bar-winged and Stout-billed Cinclodes, Andean Tit- Spinetail, Tawny Antpitta, Tufted Tit-Tyrant, Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant, Red- rumped Bush-Tyrant, Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant, Plain-capped Ground-Tyrant, Cinereous and Giant Conebill, male and female Tit-like Dacnis and Plumbeous Sierra-Finch. We stopped at a trout farm restaurant for lunch then went right back up to try for the Condor again. No luck. Juan Carlos dropped us off at Cuenca airport the next day and we flew back to Quito and Cafe Cultura and said goodbye to Mitch. It was time to head into the Amazon.
December 22
We had been in Ecuador for four weeks on the East slope and in the South, and flew from Cuenca to Quito for another night at Cafe Cultura (cafecult@pi.pro.ec). When we walked in the door the fireplace was blazing and the staff welcomed us back. It took the edge off of the return to a noisy, smelly city after being in the forest for the last four weeks. We hit the shops near the hotel for souvenirs and bought t-shirts, carved poison arrow frogs including the species we had seen at Jatun Sacha, replicas of pre- Colombian pots, an alpaca blanket, sweaters and shawls and jewelry for the loved ones at home. After dinner at the gringo hangout Magic Bean we repacked our suitcases, putting all the winter woolens for the high mountain passes in the extra soft suitcase we brought just for such an occasion, and stored it in the hotel's bodega for our return. We enjoyed sleeping late for the first time (until seven-thirty) and the delicious, leisurely breakfast at Cafe Cultura with whole wheat bread, omelettes and pancakes. We enjoyed actually sitting down and eating since many of our breakfasts had been eaten while standing around the back of the car at sunrise.
December 23
Michelle Caicedo from Sacha Lodge (beniet@ulo.satnet.net) met us at the Aerogal counter at Quito Airport with the airline tickets. She had asked us to only bring 20 lbs luggage each, but with the scope, rubber boots and all our gear it was impossible. She took our luggage to Aerogal counter and negotiated and begged the clerk. She had a troubled look on her face when she returned. "I'm afraid it's overweight. They are going to charge you extra to get the bags on. I tried but there was nothing I could do." I feared the worst, but when the charges came it was something like $12 so we paid it willingly. We remembered that the same thing had happened the first time we went to Sacha two and a half years ago. We were returning to Sacha instead of trying Kapawi Lodge, Ituri Lodge, La Selva or Equitos for two reasons: 1) the Tower at Sacha; and 2) Giovanni. Last trip with Giovanni was unbelievable. We saw ZigZag Heron forty minutes after arriving. We saw a family of Wing- banded Antbird, a species that had not been seen in Ecuador for around fifty years, and we had submitted the sighting to Robert Ridgeley and Paul Greenfield for the new field guide. When we queried Sacha for this trip, we told them if they could confirm Giovanni, who was not exclusive to Sacha anymore, then we would come. They did, and we were hoping that they wouldn't switch on us, although we had been assured that Oscar, the new guide at Sacha was just as good. We were thrilled when Giovanni walked up to the Aerogal counter. He would fly to Amazonas with us.
There were thirty people on our flight, mostly tourists heading to various lodges, and we all sat on our luggage waiting for word from our representatives. There were no announcements from Aerogal, there were no Aerogal personnel at the counter, and the electronic bulletin boards had old information and were not updated. Michelle would grab an Aerogal person and ask questions whenever she could, as would the other representatives. There was rain in Coca so the flight was delayed. We were told it would take off at noon and the other tourists were told eleven so there was a lot of confusion compounded by children pulling your pants leg and begging. We swapped birding stories with Giovanni (in Spanish since he speaks little English) and went over our list of targeted species for this trip. Finally, Michelle rushed us through security to prepare to board the flight. The security guard looked at my ticket then looked at me. " Coca? Cuidado anaconda (beware of anaconda)," he joked with his friend trying to scare me. "Cuidado borrachos (beware of drunks)" I replied over my shoulder. I knew the real enemy in the jungle.
Our rough flight went up and over the Andes and began the descent into Amazonas. We watched as the deforested slope turned into dense, green forest then banana and palm plantations as we approached Coca. We landed and deplaned, noting how the airport had been upgraded from a shack with a corrugated tin roof to a more modern structure with new floors. We gathered our luggage and boarded a truck for the brief ride through Coca, a frontier town servicing the oil companies exploiting the Napo area as well as tourists. The muddy, oily streets are lined with bars, bordellos (a guess from appearances) and truck parts. When we reached the river, the porters put plastic bags around our luggage and we boarded the covered longboat for the two and a half hour ride down the Napo to Sacha Lodge.
On the way we saw Sand-colored Nighthawk roosting on the pipelines over the river about twenty minutes downriver, and we glared at the marinas of the oil companies along the way. We talked about how the river islands develop, breaking off from the river bank and lodging on a sandbar, or lodged reeds taking root in a sandbar, and we saw some of the more common species on the islands including Snowy Egret, Cocoi Heron, Pied and Southern Lapwing, Laughing Gull, Yellow-billed Tern and Blue-winged Teal, an unusual migrant. We wondered if the Little Blue Heron we saw was a migrant or not. Giovanni only sees it in one location once in a while. Black, Turkey and Greater Yellow-headed Vultures circled in the distance and we spotted Black and Yellow-headed Caracara along the river. White-collared Swifts and Neotropical Palm-Swifts flew over us or along the river bank. We spotted a Drab Water- Tyrant perched low along one river bank and a Swallow-wing perched high on a dead tree. We were welcomed back by the sounds and sights of common Tropical Kingbird, Lesser Kiskadee, Social Flycatcher as well as the liquid sounds and hanging nests of Russet-backed Oropendola. Yellow-rumped Caciques flew over the boat as we navigated left and right through the half-mile wide river to avoid sandbars and take advantage of the currents.
Arrival at the riverbank began the mile long hike to the lake, first through thick riverside habitat, hearing Cinereous Tinamou, then on a boardwalk over the varzea (flooded forest) as the porters disappeared with our luggage. Our first sighting was a Black-spotted Bare-eye which flew over the boardwalk and worked its way noisily toward what we hoped might be an antswarm. The bird moved quickly and we couldn't go off the boardwalk to chase it. We determined from the sounds that it wasn't an antswarm, just a small flock. We saw Maroon-tailed Parakeets and a troop of Black-mantle Tamarins noisily moved away from us. An Amazon dwarf squirrel hopped down the boardwalk. We reached the lake boathouse where the wooden canoes waited. We grabbed wooden block seats and climbed in. Giovanni rowed us across the lake, a daily ceremony. We sat quietly and listened to Black-capped Donacobius in the rushes as we passed. The familiar combination of the sound of a calling White-throated Toucan (formerly Cuvier's but lumped with Red-billed to form White-throated), Red Howler Monkeys and the sound of the paddle in the still lake reminded me of the many comings and goings two and a half years ago, and the sound brought my mind to silence and I was back at Sacha only in the here and now, not in memory. A Gray-headed Kite brought us out of our trance and we had a hell of a time identifying it, although Giovanni was sure and finally we agreed with him. We arrived at the lodge with the dining hall and its tower looming above us like the home of the Swiss Family Robinson. Out of the canoes, into the lodge for the welcome drink, rubber boots (mine were still soaked from my fall at Acanama) registration, and we hit the hot shower, unpacked (leaving all suitcases zipped to keep roaches and waterbugs from stowing away) and prepared for our first dinner at Sacha. The tables had red candles covered with ornaments and fake green holly and we laughed as we noticed that rodents had eaten the flocking off of the ornaments. We missed the Speckled Chachalaca that usually hung out in the dining room begging for food but were delighted when we heard that it had gone back into the forest to successfully nest. All of the staff had changed since we were there last, and we met all the new ones. We planned our next few days, ordered breakfast, set the alarm for 5 a.m. and fell asleep to the sounds of cicadas and what I called "alarm bugs" that sound exactly like watch alarms.
December 24
The next morning while still dark we hiked to the Tower stopping only for a Common Squirrel Monkey. We got our hopes up talking about recent sightings from the Tower such as a Harpy Eagle eating a Monkey, or a Tapir on the trail. Later we would hear from one of the Nature Guides at Sacha that a nearby farmer had shot a Harpy a few months ago attempting to sell the skin but found no buyers so he threw it away. We set up the scope and spent the morning there seeing fifty-six species including Double-toothed Kite, Slate- colored Hawk, Black Caracara, Blue and Yellow and Red-bellied Macaw, Cobalt- winged Parakeet, Squirrel Cuckoo, Gray-rumped Swift, Black-bellied Thorntail feeding close to the Tower platform, Fork-tailed Woodnymph, Gould's Jewelfront, a big Black-eared Fairy, Violaceous Trogon, a motionless White- necked Puffbird, White-fronted Nunbird, close looks at Black-spotted and Lemon-throated Barbets, Ivory-billed and Many-banded Aracaris, Golden-collared Toucanet, new for us and our favorite bird that morning, White-throated and Yellow-ridged Toucans, Yellow-tufted, Scaly-breasted and Cream-colored Woodpecker, the huge Cinnamon-throated Woodcreeper which we missed last time, White-browed Purpletuft, Purple-throated, Plum-throated and Spangled Cotingas, Purple-throated Fruitcrow, a male Amazonian Umbrellabird, Yellow-browed Tody- flycatcher just below us, Slender-footed Tyrannulet, Yellow-margined Flycatcher, Cinnamon Attila, Streaked and Piratic Flycatchers, a pair of Pink- throated Becards up close and personal, Black-tailed Tityra, Violaceous Jay, Yellow-green and Red-eyed Vireos, Blackpoll Warbler, five species of Tanager including Masked Crimson, Palm, Turquoise, Opal-rumped and Opal-crowned, White-lored Euphonia, Black-faced Dacnis, Green and Purple Honeycreepers, Russet-backed Oropendola, Yellow-rumped Cacique and Moriche Oriole. WHEW! What a morning! On the way back to the Lodge for a late lunch we stopped for Dwarf Tyrant -Manakin. After lunch we set out on Danta Trail and Suisso Trail, catching a glimpse of Pale-tailed Barbthroat, White-chinned Jacamar, White-throated Woodpecker, lucky great looks at Black-tailed Leaftosser, finally great looks at Dot-backed Antbird flying circles around us in response to the tape. We cheered when we got great looks at Black Bushbird, a target bird for the trip, and heard but never could see Reddish-winged Bare-eye. On the way back we stopped to watch a Screaming Piha make its most amazing call, which we heard every day.
December 25
Christmas Day we found presents not only under but in trees along Suisso Trail including a flock of Spix's Guan, Ruddy Quail-Dove, Straight- billed Hermit, Red-Stained, Chestnut and Crimson-crested Woodpeckers, Plain- winged and Dusky-throated Antshrikes, Spot-backed Antbird, Thrush-like Antpitta chased for two hours finally seen calling and looking exactly like a Swainson's Thrush with long legs, Spot-backed Antbird, Ringed Antpipit hopping back and forth across a log, brief looks at Hauxwell's Thrush lurking and calling inside a tree, and White-breasted Wood-Wren. After lunch we climbed in the canoes and paddled down the Orchidea Trail seeing Plain Brown and Striped Woodcreeper, a pair of Plumbeous Antbirds, and great looks at the endemic Orange-crested Manakin. On the way back across the lake a family of Hoatzin hissed at us and we saw Greater Ani, White-winged Swallow and Red- capped Cardinal. We spent the end of the day along the Rio Napo looking for a couple of target birds and seeing Undulated Tinamou (flushed), Roadside Hawk, Tropical Screech-Owl (a target bird that we searched for in the dense riverside growth while being eaten alive by mosquitos at dusk - we almost gave up), Pauraque, Glittering-Throated Emerald discovered while we were looking for Jacamars, Brown and White-eared Jacamars, White-chested Puffbird, Black- fronted Nunbird, Scarlet-crowned Barbet, Lettered Aracari (!), Spot-breasted Woodpecker (!), Chestnut-crowned Foliage-gleaner (!), Eastern Wood-Pewee, Gray-capped Flycatcher, White-winged Becard, and Lesser Seedfinch. Swollen from mosquito bites we hiked back in the dark down the boardwalk to the lake, crossing in the dark. The stars reflected on the still lake and we felt like we were suspended in the middle of a constellation with nothing but the sound of the paddle in the water keeping us on earth. The lights of the lodge slowly zoomed into sight and we ran to dinner, late. The Quechuan staff had cooked a turkey for Christmas. One was wearing a red blinking hat with antlers. It was surreal. But not more surreal than the malls in the U.S. and I for one had a very Merry Christmas.
December 26
At dawn the next morning we crossed the lake to the divine sounds of the dawn chorus of Red Howlers, White-throated Toucans and Giovanni's paddle. We hiked out to the river and boarded a longboat with a motor for the trip across the river to Anango Cocha trail in Yasuni Park, a park owned and runthe Quechuan people of the Napo River (they charge $35/person for entrance). Giovanni had become President of his community of Anango people. As we motored downriver, Giovanni would stay close to shore and wave or whistle at those on the shore, or women and children bathing in the river, or park rangers passing in boats. It's a custom to stop for anyone needing a ride on the river and occasionally we stopped gave two or three Anango people rides, talking to them in my limited Spanish when they were wiling. Many times, men would give Giovanni complicated hand signals from the shore, some kind of communication system worked out long ago. It was interesting to be in a culture and environment where the only form of transportation is a boat, the only highway a river. After about an hour, we landed and climbed ashore on the river edge to find the trail. We had been on this trail a few times two and a half years ago and had seen amazing birds - different from those across the river at Sacha or La Selva. The river serves as a natural boundary.
We took off down the trail and followed a pair of Blue-throated Piping-Guan hearing them but never quite seeing them although Giovanni got a glimpse, stopped on a different ridges for White-tailed and Black-throated Trogon, Brown Nunlet, all three Barbets again, Little Woodpecker, Wedge-billed, Barred, Black-banded, Straight-billed, Strong-billed and Buff-throated Woodcreepers, Orange-fronted Plushcrown, Chestnut-winged Hookbill, Striped Woodhaunter, Rufous-rumped (!), Chestnut-winged (!) and Olive-backed Foliage- gleaners, Plain Xenops, Undulated, White-shouldered, Mouse-colored, Cinereous and Spot-winged Antshrike, Ornate (!), Plain-throated, White-flanked, Gray and Yellow-browed Antwren, Black-throated Antbird, Black-faced Antthrush, Blue- backed Manakin, Sulphur-rumped Flycatcher, Grayish Mourner, Lawrence's Thrush (down from the canopy in response to the tape), Fulvous Shrike-Tanager, Red- crowned Ant-Tanager and Orange-bellied Euphonia. We heard a sound down the trail in the late afternoon that sounded like people and cautiously proceeded until Giovanni recognized the voices and led us into a clearing where a large tree had been cut down. Six Anango people were talking and swatting yellow bees, mosquitos and biting black flies which always swarm when warm-blooded creatures stop moving. Three men were hollowing out the tree to make a longboat. They were using a large adze like tool that produced wood chips which they burned in a fire. A woman had made a drink out of taro root cooked over the fire to which she added water from a nearby stream, and when Giovanni greeted them in Quechuan, they offered him a drink. He, in turn, offered us a drink but we politely refused, not wanting to except the rule of never drinking the water which might result in lost birding. They laughed when Giovanni explained why we had refused. It was interesting to hear these people talk in a language more like singing than talking and we became very quiet and felt that we were witnessing something very special. Without Giovanni, it would have been very different. We climbed in the boat/tree and smelled the fresh chips and the smoke from the fire, and the jungle. Giovanni turned to us and told us that he had asked them if we could take their picture and they invited us to. It's always interesting when fate intervenes on trips like this because of course Joseph had left the camera in the room the only day of the trip. This would be a National Geographic cover but only in our memory.
As we exited Anango Cocha trail at the end of the day, Giovanni stopped us and pointed excitedly to a dead tree about fifteen feet up. Perched on it was a large, roosting bird about the size of a Chuck Will's Widow with no white in the face or chest. "New species" Giovanni told us, "I"ve only seen it once before." We studied it and couldn't come up with an ID. We hiked out of the trail rapidly to one of the riverside houses. Giovanni asked two of the men to bring something to capture the bird, and they ran back up the trail while we waited in the boat listening to a calling White-lored Antpitta. An hour later, Giovanni returned. The bird had flown before they got to it. We would have to wait for this species to be described to science, named (hopefully Anango Poorwill), and accepted and meanwhile would enter it in our lists as Poorwill sp. Word spread around the lodge in the next few days, and every night at dinner (the only time we ever saw anyone) guests asked us about the new species we had discovered. As we came across the lake we heard the lunatic laughter of a Common Potoo. We thought it might be someone in the kitchen acting crazy until we realized what it was. Exhausted and late, we ran into the dining room without showers, smelly and bug-bitten and filthy, ran to our cabin for a quick shower and treatment of Joseph's chigger bites, and fell asleep. The other guests just stared at us.
December 27
Back across the lake at 5 a.m., up the boardwalk, down the river into the boat, two hours downriver to Yasuni Park again, but a different landing closer to Shuar Trail. We birded the river edge, banana plantations ,fields and fragmented habitat finding Collared Forest-Falcon (thinking and hoping for a few minutes that it might be a Buckley's), Scarlet and Chestnut- fronted Macaw,, White-lored Antpitta, Black-capped Donacobius flying across the trail, Short-crested Flycatcher, Casqued Oropendola, the rare Ecuadorian Cacique (!) and Troupial. We slogged through the muddy trail entering the forest on the Shuar Trail and found some of our rarest target birds. We heard a commotion and looked up into the canopy to see a large winged shadow. We thought it might be just another Black Vulture but Giovanni heard the high- pitched screams of monkeys and grabbed us and pulled us over about ten feet where we could see most of an Ornate Hawk-Eagle killing a Golden-mantle Tamarin. We could see the monkeys feet and tail twitching and flailing, and the eagle's beak buried in the neck. We could see all of the Eagle's chest, throat, head, eyes and cere until it picked up the Tamarin and flew off. We looked at each other for confirmation for what we had just seen. Not only the Eagle, but also the rare Tamarin. As we proceeded down the trail we heard an Ochre-striped Antpitta and began to follow it until we flushed a male Salvin's Curassow followed it for about an hour, getting great looks at it perched and flying along the way. We returned to the Ochre-striped Antpitta for another two hours but it remained just out of reach and we never saw it. Further down the trail, Giovanni heard the call of a Sapphire Quail-Dove and ran off trail looking for it. Joseph and I looked at each other and laughed. What Quail- Dove hangs around when there's any noise? Giovanni played the tape and we laughed again. What Quail-Dove comes to a tape. Until we saw the Quail-Dove practically at our feet, walking toward then away from us on the trail. The most amazing Quail-Dove with iridescent face markings. We saw Long-tailed Hermit, Yellow-billed Jacamar (now we had seen all of the Jacamars in Ecuador), the very rare Short-billed Leaftosser (!), Spot-winged Antshrike (again), Spot-winged Antbird, Rufous-capped Antthrush and Brownish Flycatcher. After our sack lunch we headed back upriver stopping at islands including Anango Isla along the way for species only found in that habitat, like Rufous- headed Woodpecker and Castelneau's Antshrike, and on the way saw Roseate Spoonbill, Slender-billed Kite, Spotted Sandpiper, Smooth-billed Ani and White-banded Swallow. We headed down the river, passing a mineral lick and seeing flocks of parrots including Dusky-headed Parakeet, Black-headed, Yellow-crowned and Mealy Parrot.
Mitch had told us a story some weeks before of two soldiers pulling up in their boat next to his boat of birdwatchers and opening fire on the lick with machine guns to everyone's horror. One of the tourists had a video camera and taped the whole thing, which was sent to the military. The funny thing is, the parrots were so fast that they all escaped much to Mitch and everyone's surprise. We climbed up a steep trail above the river into Yasuni Park again, this time on the Danta (tapir) Trail. It was tough going, but we found a spot to wait until dark and the call of the Ocellated Poorwill which we found easily with a flashlight. Giovanni wants to invest his peoples' small capital in cabins here, as this trail is too far from most lodges but has many interesting species including Nocturnal Curassow. This would be ideal in the future. Otherwise you have to leave Sacha at 2 a.m. for a three to four hour boat ride downriver and a two hour hike in dense forest populated with Fer-de-lance and Bushmaster, which we chose not to do until the cabins are built so we can spend the night and hit the trail in the morning. Hiking narrow, dense, unpopulated trails at night in the Amazon lowlands can be risky.
December 28
Another early morning hike and boat for two hours downriver to Pihauli to a riverside grove of moriche palms where we watched Point-tailed Palmcreeper in the scope. Then on to a trail to Yuturi Lodge, the best location in that area for Black-necked Red Cotinga because there is a lek. It was already around 9 a.m. and we ran into a group of British birders on the trail with their local guide who told us that the birds had already left and it was too late. We pressed on anyway, and Giovanni spotted a male and we got good looks as it slowly exited the lek, perching on the way in sunlight spots. Thrilled, we hiked back out and ran into the local guide, whom Giovanni knew, and the British birders. Giovanni asked us not to say that we had seen the bird as he didn't want to embarrass the local guide in front of his clients, so we pretended to be disappointed and the British birders immediately began gripping us off (describing their fantastic looks at a bird we hadn't seen), including showing us their poorly lit videotape. I closed my eyes and pretended to be looking through the eyepiece at the video as I didn't want to diminish the memory of the bird I had just seen. We went another hour downriver to Panacocha, where we disembarked and Giovanni asked permission to bird the trail while we photographed the domesticated Gray-winged Trumpeter pecking at the ground around the pier. We hiked the trail seeing Chestnut- eared Aracari and hearing Citron-bellied Attila which would never come close enough or low enough to be seen even though we went through the effort of gingerly picking our way through thorny palms and mud. Five hunters surprised us on the trail, with shotguns and knives and dead Spix's Guans hanging off their backs in a protected reserve. Giovanni joked with them and defused what could have been a sticky situation, and I was glad to see them lose interest in our optics and head down the trail. We got back in the boat and motored quietly up the canal stopping to get out and look for a Greater Schiffornis which we heard and ultimately saw. On the way back, we saw Muscovy Duck on a river island and we made sure it wasn't domestic by watching it's behavior. We were relieved when it flew. We also saw Capped Heron, Black Hawk-Eagle, Bat Falcon, Large-billed Tern, Olive-spotted Hummingbird on an island, Green Kingfisher, White-bellied, Plain-crowned and Rusty-backed Spinetail, Lesser Wagtail-Tyrant, Willow Flycatcher,Northern Waterthrush, Yellow-browed Sparrow, Fulvous-crested and Blue-gray Tanager, Chestnut-bellied Seedeater, Grayish Saltator and Shiny Cowbird all on one island. Along the riverbank we saw our first Magpie Tanager of the trip. We reached the boardwalk after dark and heard a Black-banded Owl, which we finally saw with a faint spotlight after stumbling around off the boardwalk for about an hour. We were late for dinner. Again. By now, all the other guests and naturalists knew us as the obsessive birders and always came by to ask us what we had seen, which we were more than happy to share.
December 29
We hit the Suisso Trail right outside our cabin at 4 a.m. in the dark carrying our breakfast. We wanted to see the Scaled Antpitta and according to Giovanni it only calls from 5:15 to 5:45 a.m. At 5 we stopped for breakfast and heard the bird. It was still perched in a tree on its roost. Pressured by time, we finally got amazing views just as the light came up. The bird was sitting on a branch, calling. Almost exactly at 5:45 a.m. it flew down off the limb onto the trail and disappeared. Just up the trail Giovanni heard a Chestnut-belted Gnateater and we spent the next hour getting great looks of a pair as they kept moving through the forest. On the way back we found Sooty Antbird and Dusky-throated Antshrike among birds we had already seen. At one point, Giovanni stopped, listened and got very excited. He heard high pitched Tamarins and then the call of two Crested Eagles. We ran back down the trail but couldn't see anything through the canopy. We found a clearing where we could see the branches of a tall tree, and Giovanni thought that the Crested Eagles must have been perched there, but we never saw them. The guests that had booked the Tower that morning could easily have seen the Eagles and we couldn't wait to talk to them, but they didn't go because they were too hot and tired. We didn't say anything. After lunch, we made our last try for river island species and got good looks at a pair of Ladder-tailed Nightjars, Lesser Hornero, Black and White Antbird, Mottle-backed Elaenia, River Tyrannulet, Fuscous Flycatcher and Giant Cowbird as well as Greater Yellowlegs which we saw on the beach of the island. As we crossed the lake three bright planets were in perfect alignment and on the Equator they bisected the sky perfectly. Our senses were especially alert since it was our last night. The feeling we had was awestruck joy and we savored every second. Dinner was unusually quiet. We packed.
December 30
We left after breakfast, our last walk down the boardwalk. We climbed in the boat with Giovanni's brother at the helm, and Sacha's boatman and his wife. We took off up the river towards Coca watching the beauty of the approaching thunderheads from the South. In a split second, heavy rain and wind came up and in the time it took to turn and reach my raincoat I was drenched. We piled the seat cushions to protect the luggage and the boatman's wife and we all crouched on the left of the boat. Giovanni's brother began bailing. Visibility was zero. It was like that for about one hour, then eased up to just a hard rain until we finally docked at the landing, which by now was a raging waterfall which we had to climb up. Needless to say the flight was late and we chose to stay at the riverside hotel/cafe drinking hot tea to get warm. All our clothes were either filthy or drenched so we couldn't change, but finally chose shorts, socks and slides in place of wet pants and shoes. We looked ridiculous when we finally arrived back in cold, high Quito. Once again Cafe Cultura staff took care of us.
December 31
We left in the morning for the airport with dry clothes and
delicious
sack lunches. We ran into a Field Guides group heading back to
the
States from Kapawi. Apparently, the heavy rains had trapped their
leader and the rest of the group at the lodge and they missed two days
of birding around Quito. We chatted and compared lists and
exchanged
addresses. We flew to Miami, changed planes and arrived in LA
around
8 p.m. on New Years Eve.
TRIP LIST
L = Lifer.
| Note: Taxonomy based on forthcoming BIRDS OF ECUADOR by Ridgeley & Greenfield - | |||
| - | |||
| COMMON NAME | Scientific Name | L? | LOCATION/NOTES |
| Undulated Tinamou | Crypturellus undulatus | - | Banks of Rio Napo |
| Silvery Grebe | Podiceps occipitalis | L | Papallacta Pass; Three seen well in the scope by all |
| Neotropic Cormorant | Phalacrocorax brasilianus | - | East of Macara |
| Anhinga | Anhinga anhinga | - | Island on Rio Napo |
| Andean Duck | Oxyura ferruginea | L | El Cajas; One seen well swimming on a lake |
| Muscovy Duck | Cairina moschata | L | Island on Rio Napo |
| Andean Teal | Anas andinum | L | El Cajas |
| Yellow-billed Pintail | Anas georgica | L | Papallacta Pass, Ecuador |
| Blue-winged Teal | Anas discors | - | Rio Napo |
| Little Blue Heron | Florida caerulea | - | Rio Napo |
| Snowy Egret | Egretta thula | - | Drive from Guayaquil to Pinas |
| Capped Heron | Pilherodius pileatus | - | Island on Rio Napo |
| Cocoi Heron | Ardea cocoi | - | Islands on Rio Napo; Seen frequently |
| Great Egret | Egretta alba | - | Drive from Guayaquil to Pinas |
| Cattle Egret | Bubulcus ibis | - | Drive from Guayaquil to Pinas |
| Striated Heron | Ardeola striatus | - | Drive from Guayaquil to Pinas |
| Roseate Spoonbill | Ajaia ajaja | - | Island on Rio Napo |
| Black Vulture | Coragyps atratus | - | Seen frequently throughout |
| Turkey Vulture | Cathartes aura | - | Seen frequently throughout |
| Greater Yellow-headed Vulture | Cathartes melambrotus | - | Rio Napo |
| Gray-headed Kite | Leptodon cayanensis | - | Flying over lake at lodge |
| Swallow-tailed Kite | Elanoides forficatus | - | Buenaventura Trail, Pinas |
| Snail Kite | Rostrhamus sociabilis | - | Drive from Guayquil to Pinas |
| Slender-billed Kite | Helicolestes hamatus | - | Anango Isla |
| Double-toothed Kite | Harpagus bidentatus | - | Tower at Sacha |
| Slate-colored Hawk | Leucopternis schistacea | L | Tower at Sacha |
| Barred Hawk | Leucopternis princeps | - | Buenaventura Trail, Pinas |
| Gray-backed Hawk | Leucopternis occidentalis | L | Buenaventura Trail, Pinas. Four seen soaring above the valley, one perched and seen well in scope |
| Great Black-Hawk | Buteogallus urubitinga | - | Buenaventura Trail, Pinas. Soaring above valley |
| Savanna Hawk | Heterospizias meridionalis | - | Drive from Guayaquil to Pinas. Also seen on Buenaventura Trail in Pinas and also in Macara and East of Macara |
| Harris' Hawk | Parabuteo unicinctus | - | Cerro Blanco near Guayaquil |
| Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle | Geranoaetus melanoleucus | - | Papallacta Pass |
| Roadside Hawk | Buteo magnirostris | - | Loreto Road. Also seen on drive from Guayaquil to Pinas |
| Broad-winged Hawk | Buteo platypterus | - | Papallacta Pass and also road to Baeza |
| Short-tailed Hawk | Buteo brachyurus | - | Cerro Blanco |
| Puna Hawk | Buteo poecilochrous | - | Papallacta Pass |
| Zone-tailed Hawk | Buteo albonotatus | - | Buenaventura Trail, Pinas |
| Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle | Spizastur melanoleucus | - | Loreto Road. Great views through scope of this perched bird for about thirty minutes. We almost walked away when Mitch thought it was a Swallow-tailed Kite. |
| Black Hawk-Eagle | Spizaetus tyrannus | - | Buenaventura Trail, Pinas |
| Ornate Hawk-Eagle | Spizaetus ornatus | L | Anango Cocha Trail, Yasuni Park. We saw a huge shadow on the other side of a tree, heard screaming monkeys, then saw 2/3 of the eagle killing the Golden mantled Tamarin monkey. |
| Black-and-chestnut Eagle | Oroaetus isidori | L | Cajanuma, Podocarpus. Seen perched and in the scope, also seen flying |
| Black Caracara | Daptrius ater | - | Loreto Road |
| Red-throated Caracara | Daptrius americanus | - | Loreto Road |
| Yellow-headed Caracara | Milvago chimachima | - | Rio Napo |
| Collared Forest-Falcon | Micrastur semitorquatus | - | Shuar Trail, Anango Cocha, Yasuni Park |
| American Kestrel | Falco sparverius | - | Road from Loja to Zamora |
| Bat Falcon | Falco rufigularis | - | Rio Napo |
| Speckled Chachalaca | Ortalis guttata | - | Shuar Trail, Anango Cocha, Yasuni Park |
| Bearded Guan | Penelope barbata | L | Cajanuma, Podocarpus |
| Andean Guan | Penelope montagnii | - | Guacamayos Ridge |
| Spix's Guan | Penelope jacquacu | - | Suisso Trail, Sacha Lodge |
| Sickle-winged Guan | Chamaepetes goudotii | L | Buenaventura Trail, Pinas |
| Salvin's Curassow | Crax salvini | L | Shuar Trail, Anango Cocha, Yasuni Park |
| Limpkin | Aramus guarauna | - | Lake at Sacha |
| Gray-winged Trumpeter | Psophia crepitans | - | Dock at Panacocha |
| Wattled Jacana | Jacana jacana | - | Drive from Guayaquil to Pinas |
| Noble Snipe | Gallinago nobilis | L | Acanama between Loja and Gualaceo. Flushed while we were looking for Crescent-faced Antpitta |
| Greater Yellowlegs | Tringa melanoleuca | - | River Island in Napo |
| Spotted Sandpiper | Tringa macularia | - | Rio Napo |
| Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe | Attagis gayi | L | Papallacta Pass |
| Collared Plover | Charadrius collaris | - | Island in Napo |
| Pied Lapwing | Vanellus cayanus | - | Island in Napo |
| Southern Lapwing | Vanellus chilensis | - | Island in Napo |
| Andean Gull | Larus serranus | L | Papallacta Pass |
| Laughing Gull | Larus atricilla | - | Rio Napo |
| Large-billed Tern | Phaetusa simplex | - | Rio Napo |
| Yellow-billed Tern | Sterna superciliaris | - | Rio Napo |
| Black Skimmer | Rynchops niger | - | Rio Napo |
| Rock Dove | Columba livia | - | Drive from Guayauil to Pinas |
| Scaled Pigeon | Columba speciosa | - | Loreto Road and Guacamayos Ridge |
| Band-tailed Pigeon | Columba fasciata | - | Seen frequently at medium and high altitudes, especially flocks at Cajanuma |
| Pale-vented Pigeon | Columba cayennensis | - | Pilche Island, Rio Napo |
| Eared Dove | Zenaida auriculata | - | Drive from Catamayo to Loja |
| Ruddy Ground-Dove | Columbina talpacoti | - | Reserva Jatun Sacha (Tena) |
| Ecuadorian Ground-Dove | Columbina buckleyi | L | Cerro Blanco near Guayaquil |
| Croaking Ground-Dove | Columbina cruziana | L | Catamayo; East of Macara |
| White-tipped Dove | Leptotila verreauxi | - | Cerro Blanco near Guayaquil; Pinas; Tambonegro; Catamayo; East of Macara |
| Gray-fronted Dove | Leptotila rufaxilla | - | Sacha |
| Sapphire Quail-Dove | Geotrygon saphirina | L | Shuar Trail, Anango Cocha, Yasuni Park |
| White-throated Quail-Dove | Geotrygon frenata | L | San Isidro Lodge. Seen well perched on a stump near the trail |
| Ruddy Quail-Dove | Geotrygon montana | - | San Isidro |
| Blue-and-yellow Macaw | Ara ararauna | - | Rio Napo |
| Scarlet Macaw | Ara macao | - | Shuar Trail (Yasuni); Panacocha |
| Chestnut-fronted Macaw | Ara severa | - | Loreta Road; Coca Falls |
| Red-bellied Macaw | Ara manilata | - | Rio Napo |
| Red-masked Parakeet | Aratinga erythrogenys | L | Sabiango, Tambo Negro |
| White-eyed Parakeet | Aratinga leucophthalmus | - | Auca Trail, Tena |
| Dusky-headed Parakeet | Aratinga weddellii | - | Shuar Trail (Yasuni); Rio Napo |
| Maroon-tailed Parakeet | Pyrrhura melanura | - | Loreto Road |
| EL ORO PARAKEET | Pyrrhura orcesi | L | Buenaventura Trail, Pinas. Great looks in the scope. ENDEMIC |
| WHITE-NECKED PARAKEET | Pyrrhura albipectus | L | Rio Bombuscaro, Podocarpus. Great looks at a flock feeding in a fruiting tree eye level on the trail AKA White-breasted Parakeet ENDEMIC |
| Blue-winged Parrotlet | Forpus xanthopterygius | - | Island in Napo |
| Pacific Parrotlet | Forpus coelestis | L | Cerro Blanco near Guayaquil;Sabiango and Tambo Negro;East of Macara; Catamayo to Loja road |
| Gray-cheeked Parakeet | Brotogeris pyrrhopterus | L | Cerro Blanco near Guayaquil;Sabiango and Tambo Negro |
| Cobalt-winged Parakeet | Brotogeris cyanoptera | - | Tower at Sacha |
| Spot-winged Parrotlet | Touit stictoptera | L | Loreto Road |
| Black-headed Parrot | Pionites melanocephala | - | Shuar Trail (Yasuni) |
| Red-billed Parrot | Pionus sordidus | - | San Isidro;Coca Falls;Rio Bombuscaro, Podocarpus; Loja-Zamora Road |
| Speckle-faced Parrot | Pionus tumultuosus | - | San Isidro; Cajanuma, Podocarpus |
| Bronze-winged Parrot | Pionus chalcopterus | L | Buenaventura Trail, Pinas |
| Yellow-crowned Parrot | Amazona ochrocephala | - | Shuar Trail (Yasuni) |
| Scaly-naped Parrot | Amazona mercenaria | - | Loreto Road;Gualaceo-Limon Road |
| Mealy Parrot | Amazona farinosa | - | Shuar Trail (Yasuni) |
| Squirrel Cuckoo | Piaya cayana | - | San Isidro; Coca Falls; Pinas; Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus); East of Macara |
| Little Cuckoo | Piaya minuta | L | Auca Trail, Tena |
| Hoatzin | Opisthocomus hoazin | - | Lake at Sacha |
| Greater Ani | Crotophaga major | - | Rio Napo; Panacocha |
| Smooth-billed Ani | Crotophaga ani | - | Loreto Road; Coca Falls. Frequently seen throughout the trip |
| Groove-billed Ani | Crotophaga sulcirostris | - | Cerro Blanco near Guayaquil; Buenaventura Trail, Pinas; Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus); East of Macara. The most common Ani |
| Tropical Screech-Owl | Otus choliba | L | Napo River edge |
| Peruvian Screech-Owl | Otus roboratus | L | Macara. Great close looks. May be lumped with Tropical Screech-Owl |
| Black-banded Owl | Strix huhula | L | Boardwalk at Sacha |
| Rufous-banded Owl | Strix albitarsus | L | Cajanuma (Podocarpus) |
| Subtropical Pygmy-Owl | Glaucidium parkeri | L | Loreto Road |
| Peruvian Pygmy-Owl | Glaucidium peruanum | L | Cerro Blanco near Guayaquil; Sabiango & Tambo Negro; East of Macara |
| Sand-colored Nighthawk | Chordeiles rupestris | L | Rio Napo. Roosting on oil pipeline over river on boatride to lodge |
| Lesser Nighthawk | Chordeiles acutipennis | - | Catamayo |
| Pauraque | Nyctidromus albicollis | - | Buenaventura Trail, Pinas |
| Ocellated Poorwill | Nyctiphrynus ocellatus | L | Danta Trail (Yasuni) |
| Poorwill sp. | ? ? | L | Anango Cocha, Yasuni Park. Second sighting by Giovanni of this possible new species. He went back to collect it, but it wasn't there. Looked like Chuck Will's Widow, a large, dark large beaked poorwill with no white on throat or wing. |
| Band-winged Nightjar | Caprimulgus longirostris | L | Cajanuma (Podocarpus). Seen on the road as we were leaving |
| Ladder-tailed Nightjar | Hydropsalis climacocerca | L | River Island in Napo |
| Lyre-tailed Nightjar | Uropsalis lyra | L | Loreto Road. Perched on a rocky cliff |
| Chestnut-collared Swift | Cypseloides rutila | - | Loreto Road;Gualaceo-Limon Road |
| White-collared Swift | Streptoprocne zonaris | - | Loreto Road;Buenaventura Trail, Pinas; Rio Bombuascara (Podocarpus);Sabiango & Tambo Negro; Cajanuma (Podocarpus) Commonly seen |
| Gray-rumped Swift | Chaetura cinereiventris | - | Buenaventura Trail, Pinas;Sabiango & Tambo Negro |
| Neotropical Palm-Swift | Reinarda squamata | - | Rio Napo. Common |
| Rufous-breasted Hermit | Glaucis hirsuta | - | Island in Napo |
| Pale-tailed Barbthroat | Threnetes leucurus | L | Suisso Trail (Sacha) |
| White-whiskered Hermit | Phaethornis yaruqui | L | Buenaventura Trail, Pinas |
| Green Hermit | Phaethornis guy | - | Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| Tawny-bellied Hermit | Phaethornis syrmatophorus | - | Suisso Trail (Sacha) |
| Long-tailed Hermit | Phaethornis superciliosus | - | Shuar Trail (Yasuni) |
| Straight-billed Hermit | Phaethornis bourcieri | L | Suisso Trail (Sacha) |
| White-tipped Sicklebill | Eutoxeres aquila | L | Buenaventura Trail, Pinas |
| Napo Sabrewing | Campylopterus villaviscensio | L | Loreto Road |
| Sparkling Violet-ear | Colibri coruscans | - | San Isidro; Coca Falls |
| Black-bellied Thorntail | Popelairia langsdorffi | L | Tower at Sacha |
| Fork-tailed Woodnymph | Thalurania furcata | - | Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| Emerald-bellied Woodnymph | Thalurania hypochlora | L | Pinas |
| Golden-tailed Sapphire | Chrysuronia oenone | L | Loreto Road |
| Olive-spotted Hummingbird | Leucippus chlorocercus | L | Pilche Island on Napo |
| Glittering-throated Emerald | Amazilia fimbriata | - | Auca Trail, Tena |
| Rufous-tailed Hummingbird | Amazilia tzacatl | - | Buenaventura Trail, Pinas |
| Amazilia Hummingbird | Amazilia amazilia | L | Pinas |
| Speckled Hummingbird | Adelomyia melanogenys | - | San Isidro;Cajanuma (Podocarpus);E of Macara |
| Ecuadorian Piedtail | Phlogophilus hemileucurus | L | Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| Gould's Jewelfront | Polyplancta aurescens | - | Tower at Sacha |
| Fawn-breasted Brilliant | Heliodoxa rubinoides | - | Guacamayos Ridge |
| Green-crowned Brilliant | Heliodoxa jacula | - | Pinas |
| Chimborazo Hillstar | Oreotrochilus chimborazo | L | Cajas, also known as Ecuadorian Hillstar |
| Shining Sunbeam | Aglaeactis cupripennis | - | Cajanuma (Podocarpus); El Cajas |
| Mountain Velvetbreast | Lafresnaya lafresnayi | L | Cajanuma (Podocarpus) |
| Bronzy Inca | Coeligena coeligena | - | San Isidro |
| Collared Inca | Coeligena torquata | - | San Isidro; Guacamayos Ridge; Cajanuma (Podocarpus) |
| Buff-winged Starfrontlet | Coeligena lutetiae | - | Cajanuma (Podocarpus); Gualaceo Pass |
| Rainbow Starfrontlet | Coeligena iris | L | Cajanuma (Podocarpus); Utuana |
| Sword-billed Hummingbird | Ensifera ensifera | L | Papallacta-Baeza Road |
| Chestnut-breasted Coronet | Boissonneaua matthewsii | - | San Isidro |
| Amethyst-throated Sunangel | Heliangelus amethysticollis | L | San Francisco Sector (Podocarpus); Gualaceo-Limon Road |
| Purple-throated Sunangel | Heliangelus viola | L | Cajanuma (Podocarpus);Utuana; Gualaceo-Limon Road |
| Flame-throated Sunangel | Heliangelus micraster | L | Cajanuma (Podocarpus); Gualaceo-Limon Road |
| Glowing Puffleg | Eriocnemis vestitus | L | Cajanuma (Podocarpus); Gualaceo Pass. Seen first time at the top of Cajanuma feeding in the low scrub in the sunlight |
| Emerald-bellied Puffleg | Eriocnemis alinae | L | Guacamayos Ridge |
| Rufous-vented Whitetip | Urosticte ruficrissa | L | Coca Falls |
| Booted Racket-tail | Ocreatus underwoodii | - | Loreto Road; Coca Falls |
| Black-tailed Trainbearer | Lesbia victoriae | - | Cajanuma (Podocarpus) |
| Green-tailed Trainbearer | Lesbia nuna | - | Utuana |
| Viridian Metaltail | Metallura williami | - | Papallacta-Baeza Road; Gualaceo Pass |
| Violet-throated Metaltail | Metallura baroni | L | El Cajas. Several seen well in Polyepis grove, including male in full sunlight showing violet throat. ENDEMIC |
| Tyrian Metaltail | Metallura tyrianthina | - | Papallacta-Baeza Road;Cajanuma Podocarpus); Gualaceo-Limon Road |
| Blue-mantled Thornbill | Chalcostigma stanleyi | - | El Cajas |
| Rainbow-bearded Thornbill | Chalcostigma herrani | L | Papallacta-Baeza Road;Gualaceo Pass |
| Mountain Avocetbill | Opisthoprora euryptera | L | Papallacta-Baeza Road;Gualaceo-Limon Road |
| Long-tailed Sylph | Aglaiocercus kingi | - | Papallacta-Baeza Road; San Isidro; Pinas; Gualaceo-Limon Road |
| Violet-tailed Sylph | Aglaiocercus coelestis | - | Buenaventura Trail, Pinas |
| Wedge-billed Hummingbird | Schistes geoffroyi | L | Cajanuma (Podocarpus) |
| Purple-crowned Fairy | Heliothryx barroti | - | Cajanuma (Podocarpus) |
| Black-eared Fairy | Heliothryx aurita | L | Tower at Sacha |
| Long-billed Starthroat | Heliomaster longirostris | - | Utuana |
| Crested Quetzal | Pharomachrus antisianus | L | San Isidro. Male in full plumage was in a partially hidden view. Mitch played the tape once more and he popped out in full sun, full view on a vine for amazing looks. |
| Black-tailed Trogon | Trogon melanurus | - | Macara. Male and female seen in the scope. This is thepale-eyed form which may be split into Ecuadorian trogon. |
| White-tailed Trogon | Trogon viridis | - | Anango Cocha (Yasuni) |
| Collared Trogon | Trogon collaris | - | Pinas |
| Black-throated Trogon | Trogon rufus | - | Anango Cocha (Yasuni) |
| Violaceous Trogon | Trogon violaceus | - | Tower at Sacha |
| Belted Kingfisher | Ceryle alcyon | - | Sabiango & Tambonegro |
| Amazon Kingfisher | Chloroceryle amazona | - | Rio Bambuscara (Podocarpus) |
| Green Kingfisher | Chloroceryle americana | - | Rio Napo |
| Blue-crowned Motmot | Momotus momota | - | Cerro Blanco near Guayaquil |
| Highland Motmot | Momotus aequatorialis | L | Coca Falls; Loja-Zamora Road |
| White-eared Jacamar | Galbalcyrhynchus leucotis | L | Rio Napo River edge |
| Brown Jacamar | Brachygalba lugubris | - | Rio Napo River edge |
| Yellow-billed Jacamar | Galbula albirostris | L | Shuar Trail (Yasuni) |
| Coppery-chested Jacamar | Galbula pastazae | L | Loreto Road;Coca Falls |
| White-chinned Jacamar | Galbula tombacea | L | Suisso Trail (Sacha); Rio Napo River edge |
| White-necked Puffbird | Notharchus macrorhynchos | - | Tower (Sacha) |
| Striolated Puffbird | Nystalus striolatus | L | Loreto Road |
| White-chested Puffbird | Malacoptila fusca | L | Suisso Trail (Sacha) |
| Black-streaked Puffbird | Malacoptila fulvogularis | L | Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| Brown Nunlet | Nonnula brunnea | - | Anango Cocha (Yasuni) |
| Black-fronted Nunbird | Monasa nigrifrons | - | Rio Napo River edge |
| White-fronted Nunbird | Monasa morphoeus | - | Tower at Sacha; Anango Cocha (Yasuni); Panacocha |
| Swallow-wing | Chelidoptera tenebrosa | - | Rio Napo |
| Scarlet-crowned Barbet | Capito aurovirens | - | Rio Napo; Anango Cocha (Yasuni) |
| Black-spotted Barbet | Capito niger | - | Loreto Road |
| Lemon-throated Barbet | Eubucco richardsoni | L | Tower at Sacha; Anango Cocha (Yasuni); Panacocha |
| Red-headed Barbet | Eubucco bourcierii | - | Loreto Road; Coca Falls; Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| Emerald Toucanet | Aulacorhynchus prasinus | - | San Isidro; Gualaceo-Lilmon Road |
| Chestnut-tipped Toucanet | Aulacorhynchus derbianus | L | Coca Falls; Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| Crimson-rumped Toucanet | Aulacorhynchus haematopygus | - | Pinas |
| Lettered Aracari | Pteroglossus inscriptus | - | Rio Napo River edge |
| Ivory-billed Aracari | Pteroglossus azara | - | Tower at Sacha; Anango Cocha (Yasuni) |
| Chestnut-eared Aracari | Pteroglossus castanotis | L | Reserva Jatun Sacha, Tena |
| Many-banded Aracari | Pteroglossus pluricinctus | - | Tower at Sacha |
| Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan | Andigena hypoglauca | L | Cajanuma (Podocarpus). Heard this guy for a long time before he decided to fly and we got him in the scope for long looks |
| Black-billed Mountain-Toucan | Andigena nigrirostris | - | San Isidro; Gualaceo-Limon Road. Best looks of a pair on Gualaceo-Limon Road perched over the road |
| Golden-collared Toucanet | Selenidera reinwardtii | L | Tower at Sacha |
| Yellow-ridged Toucan | Ramphastos culminatus | - | Loreto Road |
| White-throated Toucan | Ramphastos tucanus | - | Tower at Sacha |
| Lafresnaye's Piculet | Picumnus lafresnayi | L | Loreto Road; Auca Trail (Tena);Coca Falls; Loja-Zamora Road |
| Ecuadorian Piculet | Picumnus sclateri | L | Macara |
| Rufous-breasted Piculet | Picumnus rufiventris | L | Loreto Road |
| Yellow-tufted Woodpecker | Melanerpes cruentatus | - | Tower at Sacha; Rio Napo River edge |
| Scarlet-backed Woodpecker | Veniliornis callonotus | L | E. of Macara; Utuana; Cerro Blanco |
| Little Woodpecker | Veniliornis passerinus | - | Loja-Zamora Road;Utuana |
| Red-stained Woodpecker | Veniliornis affinis | L | Suisso Trail (Sacha); Anango Cocha (Yasuni) |
| White-throated Woodpecker | Piculus leucolaemus | L | Suisso Trail (Sacha) |
| Golden-olive Woodpecker | Piculus rubiginosus | - | Loreto Road;Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| Crimson-mantled Woodpecker | Piculus rivolii | - | Papallacta-Baeza Road;Cajanuma Podocarpus); Gualaceo-Limon Road |
| Spot-breasted Woodpecker | Chrysoptilus punctigula | - | Auca Trail, Tena |
| Scaly-breasted Woodpecker | Celeus grammicus | - | Tower at Sacha |
| Chestnut Woodpecker | Celeus elegans | - | Suisso Trail (Sacha); Anango Cocha (Yasuni) |
| Cream-colored Woodpecker | Celeus flavus | - | Tower at Sacha |
| Rufous-headed Woodpecker | Celeus spectabilis | L | Napo River island |
| Powerful Woodpecker | Campephilus pollens | L | San Isidro. Pair seen well foraging along the road |
| Crimson-crested Woodpecker | Campephilus melanoleucos | - | Suisso Trail (Sacha) |
| Guayaquil Woodpecker | Campephilus gayaquilensis | L | Buenaventura Trail, Pinas |
| Tyrannine Woodcreeper | Dendrocincla tyrannina | L | Papallacta-Baeza Road |
| Plain-brown Woodcreeper | Dendrocincla fuliginosa | - | Orchidea Trail by canoe (Sacha) |
| Olivaceous Woodcreeper | Sittasomus griseicapillus | - | Loreto Road;Guacamayos Ridge |
| Wedge-billed Woodcreeper | Glyphorynchus spirurus | - | Loreto Road;Pinas |
| Cinnamon-throated Woodcreeper | Dendrexetastes rufigula | L | Tower at Sacha; Anango Cocha (Yasuni) |
| Strong-billed Woodcreeper | Xiphocolaptes promeropirhynchus | - | Papallacta-Baeza Road;San Isidro |
| Barred Woodcreeper | Dendrocolaptes certhia | - | Anango Cocha (Yasuni); Shuar Trail (Yasuni) |
| Black-banded Woodcreeper | Dendrocolaptes picumnus | - | Anango Cocha (Yasuni) |
| Striped Woodcreeper | Xiphorhynchus obsoletus | - | Orchidea trail by canoe (Sacha) |
| Buff-throated Woodcreeper | Xiphorhynchus guttatus | - | Anango Cocha (Yasuni) |
| Spotted Woodcreeper | Xiphorhynchus erythropygius | - | Pinas |
| Olive-backed Woodcreeper | Xiphorhynchus triangularis | - | Coca Falls; Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| Streak-headed Woodcreeper | Lepidocolaptes souleyetii | - | Macara |
| Montane Woodcreeper | Lepidocolaptes lacrymiger | - | Papallacta-Baeza Road; San Isidro |
| Brown-billed Scythebill | Campylorhamphus pusillus | L | Gualaceo-Limon Road |
| Bar-winged Cinclodes | Cinclodes fuscus | - | El Cajas |
| Stout-billed Cinclodes | Cinclodes excelsior | - | Papallacta Pass; El Cajas |
| Lesser Hornero | Furnarius minor | L | Napo River Island |
| Pacific Hornero | Furnarius cinnamomeus | - | Cerro Blanco; Drive to Lojas; San Francisco Sector (Podocarpus); Utuana; East of Macara; Sabiango |
| Andean Tit-Spinetail | Leptasthenura andicola | - | Papallacta Pass; El Cajas |
| White-chinned Thistletail | Schizoeaca fuliginosa | L | Papallacta-Baeza Road |
| Mouse-colored Thistletail | Schizoeaca griseomurina | L | Cajanuma (Podocarpus);El Cajas |
| Azara's Spinetail | Synallaxis azarae | - | Pinas; Utuana |
| Dark-breasted Spinetail | Synallaxis albigularis | L | Auca Trail, Tena |
| Black-faced Spinetail | Synallaxis tithys | L | East of Macara |
| White-bellied Spinetail | Synallaxis propinqua | L | Napo River Island |
| Plain-crowned Spinetail | Synallaxis gujanensis | L | Napo River Island |
| Rufous Spinetail | Synallaxis unirufa | - | Gualaceo-Limon Road |
| White-browed Spinetail | Hellmayrea gularis | - | Cajanuma (Podocarpus) |
| Line-cheeked Spinetail | Cranioleuca antisiensis | L | Pinas; Utuana |
| Ash-browed Spinetail | Cranioleuca curtata | L | Loreto Road; Coca Falls |
| Rusty-backed Spinetail | Cranioleuca vulpina | - | Napo River Island |
| Orange-fronted Plushcrown | Metopothrix aurantiacus | - | Anango Cocha (Yasuni) |
| Equatorial Graytail | Xenerpestes singularis | L | Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| Rusty-winged Barbtail | Premnornis guttuligera | - | San Isidro |
| Spotted Barbtail | Premnoplex brunnescens | - | Coca Falls |
| Pearled Treerunner | Margarornis squamiger | - | Papallacta-Baeza Road;San Isidro; Guacamayos Ridge; Cajanuma (Podocarpus); Gualaceo-Limon Road; El Cajas. Often seen in feeding flocks |
| Pacific Tuftedcheek | Pseudocolaptes johnsoni | L | Pinas |
| Streaked Tuftedcheek | Pseudocolaptes boissonneautii | - | San Isidro |
| Point-tailed Palmcreeper | Berlepschia rikeri | L | Pihuali on Napo River edge |
| Chestnut-winged Hookbill | Ancistrops strigilatus | L | Anango Cocha (Yasuni). In a flock |
| Striped Woodhaunter | Hyloctistes subulatus | - | Anango Cocha (Yasuni) |
| Scaly-throated Foliage-gleaner | Anabacerthia variegaticeps | - | Pinas |
| Montane Foliage-gleaner | Anabacerthia striaticollis | - | Coca Falls; Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| Rufous-tailed Foliage-gleaner | Philydor ruficaudatus | L | Anango Cocha (Yasuni). In a flock |
| Rufous-rumped Foliage-gleaner | Philydor erythrocercus | L | Anango Cocha (Yasuni). In a flock |
| Chestnut-winged Foliage-gleaner | Philydor erythropterus | L | Anango Cocha (Yasuni). In a flock |
| Streak-capped Treehunter | Thripadectes virgaticeps | L | San Isidro |
| Black-billed Treehunter | Thripadectes melanorhynchus | L | Loreto Road |
| Olive-backed Foliage-gleaner | Automolus infuscatus | - | Anango Cocha (Yasuni). In a flock |
| Chestnut-crowned Foliage-gleaner | Automolus rufipileatus | L | Rio Napo River edge |
| Henna-hooded Foliage-gleaner | Hylocryptus erythrocephalus | L | East of Macara |
| Short-billed Leaftosser | Sclerurus rufigularis | L | Shuar Trail (Yasuni) |
| Black-tailed Leaftosser | Sclerurus caudacutus | L | Suisso Trail (Sacha) |
| Plain Xenops | Xenops minutus | - | Anango Cocha (Yasuni) |
| Streaked Xenops | Xenops rutilans | - | Loreto Road; Coca Falls; Pinas;Loja-Zamora Road; Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| Undulated Antshrike | Frederickena unduligera | - | Anango Cocha (Yasuni) |
| Collared Antshrike | Sakesphorus bernardi | L | East of Macara |
| Chapman's Antshrike | Thamnophilus zarumae | L | Sabiango-Sozoranga Area |
| Lined Antshrike | Thamnophilus tenuepunctatus | L | Loreto Road;Auca Trail (Tena) |
| Castelnau's Antshrike | Thamnophilus cryptoleucus | L | Anango Isla in Rio Napo |
| White-shouldered Antshrike | Thamnophilus aethiops | L | Anango Cocha (Yasuni) |
| Uniform Antshrike | Thamnophilus unicolor | L | Pinas |
| Plain-winged Antshrike | Thamnophilus schistaceus | L | Suisso Trail (Sacha) |
| Mouse-colored Antshrike | Thamnophilus murinus | L | Anango Cocha (Yasuni) |
| Spot-winged Antshrike | Pygiptila stellaris | L | Anango Cocha (Yasuni); Shuar Trail (Yasuni) |
| Black Bushbird | Neoctantes niger | L | Danta Trail (Sacha) |
| Russet Antshrike | Thamnistes anabatinus | - | Loreto Road; Pinas; Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| Bicolored Antvireo | Dysithamnus occidentalis | L | San Isidro. Formerly known as Western Antshrike, this rare and local bird was rediscovered by Brett Whitney |
| Dusky-throated Antshrike | Thamnomanes ardesiacus | - | Suisso Trail (Sacha) |
| Cinereous Antshrike | Thamnomanes caesius | - | Anango Cocha (Yasuni). Twice as leader of a flock |
| Stripe-chested Antwren | Myrmotherula longicauda | L | Auca Trail (Tena) |
| Plain-throated Antwren | Myrmotherula hauxwelli | - | Anango Cocha (Yasuni) |
| Foothill Antwren | Myrmotherula spodionota | L | Loreto Road |
| Ornate Antwren | Myrmotherula ornata | L | Anango Cocha (Yasuni) |
| Rufous-tailed Antwren | Myrmotherula erythrura | - | Anango Cocha (Yasuni) |
| White-flanked Antwren | Myrmotherula axillaris | - | Anango Cocha (Yasuni) |
| Slaty Antwren | Myrmotherula schisticolor | - | Pinas |
| Gray Antwren | Myrmotherula menetriesii | - | Reserva Jatun Sacha (Tena) |
| Yellow-breasted Antwren | Herpsilochmus axillaris | L | Loja-Zamora Road |
| Rufous-rumped Antwren | Terenura callinota | - | Coca Falls |
| Chestnut-shouldered Antwren | Terenura humeralis | - | Anango Cocha (Yasuni) |
| Blackish Antbird | Cercomacra nigrescens | L | Auca Trail (Tena); Loja-Zamora Road. The sighting in Loja-Zamora Road will probably be split to Highland species |
| Black Antbird | Cercomacra serva | L | Auca Trail (Tena) |
| White-backed Fire-eye | Pyriglena leuconota | L | Loreto Road; Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| White-browed Antbird | Myrmoborus leucophrys | - | Auca Trail (Tena) |
| Yellow-browed Antbird | Hypocnemis hypoxantha | - | Anango Cocha (Yasuni) |
| Black-and-white Antbird | Myrmochanes hemileucus | L | Rio Napo Island |
| Spot-winged Antbird | Percnostola leucostigma | - | Shuar Trail (Yasuni) |
| Plumbeous Antbird | Myrmeciza hyperythra | L | Orchidea Trail by canoe (Sacha) |
| White-shouldered Antbird | Myrmeciza melanoceps | - | Danta Trail (Sacha) |
| Sooty Antbird | Myrmeciza fortis | - | Suisso Trail (Sacha) |
| Immaculate Antbird | Myrmeciza immaculata | - | Pinas |
| Gray-headed Antbird | Myrmeciza griseiceps | L | Utuana |
| Black-throated Antbird | Myrmeciza atrothorax | - | Anango Cocha (Yasuni) |
| Spot-backed Antbird | Hylophylax naevia | - | Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| Dot-backed Antbird | Hylophylax punctulata | L | Danta Trail (Sacha); Orchidea Trail by canoe (Sacha) |
| Black-spotted Bare-eye | Phlegopsis nigromaculata | - | Boardwalk (Sacha) |
| Rufous-capped Antthrush | Formicarius colma | L | Shuar Trail (Yasuni) |
| Black-faced Antthrush | Formicarius analis | - | Anango Cocha (Yasuni) |
| Undulated Antpitta | Grallaria squamigera | L | Utuana. Fair looks at pieces of this bird as it circled us, and one full body look from behind as it flew from a perch. Everyone else got great full body looks. |
| Scaled Antpitta | Grallaria guatimalensis | L | Suisso Trail (Sacha). Perched and calling |
| Moustached Antpitta | Grallaria alleni | L | Guacamayos Ridge. Perched in a tree, calling. Seen luckily through a window. I thought at first that it was a leaf but discovered an antpitta |
| Plain-backed Antpitta | Grallaria haplonota | L | Coca Falls. Five feet from my face when it perched on a limb. Too close to focus binocluars. |
| Chestnut-crowned Antpitta | Grallaria ruficapilla | L | Gualaceo-Limon Road. Failed in six previous tries, and didn't see it two years before. Finally seen well, perched, calling and preening between calls. |
| Watkins' Antpitta | Grallaria watkinsi | L | Sabiango-Sozoranga area. Seen well and easily |
| Chestnut-naped Antpitta | Grallaria nuchalis | L | Cajanuma (Podocarpus). Seen well with the naked eye when it jumped out of the underbrush and landed on the trail next to me before flying back into the underbrush |
| White-bellied Antpitta | Grallaria hypoleuca | - | San Isidro. A highlight of the trip. A pair seen hopping toward us on the log trail, diving off the trail, and fighting with each other. We watched them for about twenty minutes late in the day on the Log Trail. |
| Rufous Antpitta | Grallaria rufula | L | Cajanuma (Podocarpus). Seen well on two different days. Once perched in the underbrush. The other out on the trail then taking a bath in a stream. |
| Tawny Antpitta | Grallaria quitensis | - | El Cajas |
| White-lored Antpitta | Hylopezus fulviventris | L | Shuar Trail (Yasuni). Perched, calling on the river's edge |
| Thrush-like Antpitta | Myrmothera campanisona | L | Suisso Trail (Sacha). Took three hours to finally see this bird perched and calling. It looked like a Swainson's thrush |
| Slate-crowned Antpitta | Grallaricula nana | L | San Isidro |
| Chestnut-belted Gnateater | Conopophaga aurita | L | Suisso Trail (Sacha) |
| Ash-throated Gnateater | Conopophaga peruviana | L | Reserva Jatun Sacha (Tena) |
| Chestnut-crowned Gnateater | Conopophaga castaneiceps | L | Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| Elegant Crescent-chest | Melanopareia elegans | L | Cerro Blanca near Guayaquil |
| Ash-colored Tapaculo | Scytalopus senilis | L | Cajanuma (Podocarpus) |
| Unicolored Tapaculo | Scytalopus unicolor | - | Utuana |
| Chusquea Tapaculo | Scytalopus parkerii | L | Cajanuma (Podocarpus); Acanama |
| Spillman's Tapaculo | Scytalopus spillmani | L | Guacamayos Ridge |
| Northern White-crowned Tapaculo | Scytalopus afratus | L | Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| Equatorial Rufous-vented Tapaculo | Scytalopus micropterus | - | San Isidro |
| Paramo Tapaculo | Scytalopus canus | L | Gualaceo Pass |
| Ocellated Tapaculo | Acropternis orthonyx | L | Gualaceo-Limon Road. Pair seen well perched above us in a bush |
| Black-necked Red Cotinga | Phoenicircus nigricollis | L | Yuturi Lodge. We were told it was too late but saw a male perched |
| Red-crested Cotinga | Ampelion rubrocristata | - | Papallacta Pass; Utuana; Acanama |
| Green-and-black Fruiteater | Pipreola riefferii | - | San Isidro; Guacamayos Ridge; Cajanuma (Podocarpus);Gualaceo-Limon Road |
| Barred Fruiteater | Pipreola arcuata | L | Cajanuma (Podocarpus); Gualaceo-Limon Road Pair feeding young |
| Black-chested Fruiteater | Pipreola lubomirskii | L | San Isidro |
| White-browed Purpletuft | Iodopleura isabellae | - | Tower at Sacha |
| Screaming Piha | Lipaugus vociferans | L | Suisso Trail (Sacha). Many on this trail. A highlight of the trip watching them call and hearing them almost every day. |
| Purple-throated Cotinga | Porphyrolaema porphyrolaema | - | Tower at Sacha |
| Plum-throated Cotinga | Cotinga maynana | L | Tower at Sacha |
| Spangled Cotinga | Cotinga cayana | - | Tower at Sacha |
| Purple-throated Fruitcrow | Querula purpurata | - | Tower at Sacha |
| Amazonian Umbrellabird | Cephalopterus ornatus | - | Tower at Sacha |
| Andean Cock-of-the-rock | Rupicola peruviana | - | Coca Falls; San Isidro; Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| White-crowned Manakin | Pipra pipra | - | Loreto Road |
| Blue-rumped Manakin | Pipra isidorei | L | Loreto Road |
| Blue-backed Manakin | Chiroxiphia pareola | - | Anango Cocha (Yasuni) |
| Golden-winged Manakin | Masius chrysopterus | - | Pinas |
| Striped Manakin | Machaeropterus regulus | L | Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| Club-winged Manakin | Allocotopeterus deliciosus | - | Pinas |
| ORANGE-CRESTED MANAKIN | Heterocercus aurantiivertex | L | Orchidea Trail by canoe (Sacha). Looked like a pale-throated thrush from underneath! ENDEMIC |
| Dwarf Tyrant-Manakin | Tyranneutes stolzmanni | L | Suisso Trail (Sacha) |
| Streak-necked Flycatcher | Mionectes striaticollis | - | San Isidro; Gualaceo-Limon Road |
| Olive-striped Flycatcher | Mionectes olivaceus | - | Loreto Road |
| Rufous-breasted Flycatcher | Leptopogon rufipectus | - | Guacamayos Ridge |
| Sepia-capped Flycatcher | Leptopogon amaurocephalus | L | Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| Slaty-capped Flycatcher | Leptopogon superciliaris | - | Coca Falls |
| Bronze-olive Pygmy-Tyrant | Pseudotriccus pelzelni | L | San Isidro |
| Rufous-headed Pygmy-Tyrant | Pseudotriccus ruficeps | - | San Isidro; Guacamayos Ridge; Cajanuma (Podocarpus) |
| Rufous-crowned Tody-Tyrant | Poecilotriccus ruficeps | - | San Isidro |
| Black-throated Tody-Tyrant | Idioptilon granadensis | L | Gualaceo-Limon Road |
| Rusty-fronted Tody-Flycatcher | Todirostrum latirostre | L | Auca Trail (Tena) |
| Common Tody-Flycatcher | Todirostrum cinereum | - | Auca Trail (Tena); Pinas; Macara |
| Yellow-browed Tody-Flycatcher | Todirostrum chrysocrotaphum | - | Tower at Sacha |
| Golden-winged Tody-Flycatcher | Todirostrum calopterum | L | Auca Trail (Tena) |
| Ringed Antpipit | Corythopis torquata | L | Suisso Trail (Sacha) |
| Black-capped Tyrannulet | Tyranniscus nigrocapillus | L | Cajanuma (Podocarpus); Gualaceo-Limon Road |
| Ashy-headed Tyrannulet | Tyranniscus cinereiceps | - | Coca Falls; San Isidro |
| Tawny-rumped Tyrannulet | Tyranniscus uropygialis | L | Utuana; Sabiango-Sozoranga area |
| Slender-footed Tyrannulet | Tyranniscus gracilipes | L | Tower at Sacha |
| Golden-faced Tyrannulet | Zimmerius chrysops | - | Loreto Road; Auca Trail (Tena); Coca Falls; Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| Mouse-colored Tyrannulet | Phaeomyias murina | - | Auca Trail (Tena) |
| Yellow Tyrannulet | Capsiempis flaveola | - | Loreto Road; Guacamayos Ridge; Pinas |
| Pacific Elaenia | Myiopagis subplacens | L | East of Macara |
| Foothill Elaenia | Scientific Name to be published | L | Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| White-crested Elaenia | Elaenia albiceps | - | Coca Falls; Cajanuma (Podocarpus); Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus); East of Macara; Acanama; Gualaceo-Limon Road |
| Mottle-backed Elaenia | Elaenia gigas | L | Auca Trail (Tena); Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| White-throated Tyrannulet | Mecocerculus leucophrys | - | Papallacta-Baeza Road |
| White-tailed Tyrannulet | Mecocerculus poecilocercus | - | San Isidro; Coca Falls |
| Rufous-winged Tyrannulet | Mecocerculus calopterus | - | Pinas |
| Sulphur-bellied Tyrannulet | Mecocerculus minor | L | Coca Falls; Gualaceo-Limon Road |
| White-banded Tyrannulet | Mecocerculus stictopterus | - | Papallacta-Baeza Road; Loja-Zamora Road |
| Torrent Tyrannulet | Serpophaga cinerea | - | Papallacta-Baeza Road; Loreto Road |
| River Tyrannulet | Serpophaga hypoleuca | L | Rio Napo Island |
| Lesser Wagtail-Tyrant | Stigmatura napensis | L | Rio Napo Island |
| Agile Tit-Tyrant | Anairetes agilis | L | Gualaceo-Limon Road |
| Maranon Tit-Tyrant | Anairetes nigrocristatus | L | Utuana. Also known as Black-crested Tit-Tyrant |
| Tufted Tit-Tyrant | Anairetes parulus | L | El Cajas |
| Tawny-crowned Pygmy-Tyrant | Euscarthmus meloryphus | L | Catamayo |
| Variegated Bristle-Tyrant | Pogonotriccus poecilotis | - | Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| Ecuadorian Tyrannulet | Phylloscartes gualaquizae | L | Loreto Road; Coca Falls |
| Scale-crested Pygmy-Tyrant | Lophotriccus pileatus | - | Reserva Jatun Sacha (Tena); Pinas |
| Brownish Flycatcher | Cnipodectes subbrunneus | - | Shuar Trail (Yasuni) |
| Fulvous-breasted Flatbill | Rhynchocyclus fulvipectus | - | Loja-Zamora Road; Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| Yellow-olive Flycatcher | Tolmomyias sulphurescens | - | Loreto Road; East of Macara |
| Yellow-margined Flycatcher | Tolmomyias assimilis | - | Tower at Sacha |
| Ornate Flycatcher | Myiotriccus ornatus | - | Loreo Road; San Isidro; Pinas; Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| Flavescent Flycatcher | Myiophobus flavicans | - | San Isidro |
| Orange-crested Flycatcher | Myiophobus phoenicomitra | L | Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| Handsome Flycatcher | Myiophobus pulcher | L | San Isidro; Guacamayos Ridge; Gualaceo-Limon Road |
| Orange-banded Flycatcher | Myiophobus lintoni | L | Cajanuma (Podocarpus) |
| Bran-colored Flycatcher | Myiophobus fasciatus | L | Pinas; East of Macara |
| Olive-chested Flycatcher | Myiophobus cryptoxanthus | L | Auca Trail (Tena) |
| Sulphur-rumped Flycatcher | Myiobius barbatus | - | Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| Cinnamon Flycatcher | Pyrrhomyias cinnamomea | - | Papallacta-Baeza Road; San Isidro; Guacamayos Ridge; Cajanuma (Podocarpus); Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus); Gualaceo-Limon Road |
| Cliff Flycatcher | Hirundinea ferruginea | L | Loreto Road |
| Fuscous Flycatcher | Cnemotriccus fuscatus | L | Rio Napo Island |
| Smoke-colored Pewee | Contopus fumigatus | - | San Isidro, Pinas |
| Western Wood-Pewee | Contopus sordidulus | - | Loreto Road |
| Eastern Wood-Pewee | Contopus virens | - | Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| Tropical Pewee | Contopus cinereus | - | Sabiango/Sozoranga Area; East of Macara |
| Willow Flycatcher | Empidonax traillii | - | Rio Napo Island |
| Black Phoebe | Sayornis nigricans | - | Papallacta-Baeza Road; Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus); Tambonegro |
| Vermilion Flycatcher | Pyrocephalus rubinus | - | Catamayo; East of Macara |
| Crowned Chat-Tyrant | Ochthoeca frontalis | L | Gualaceo-Limon Road |
| Jelski's Chat-Tyrant | Ochthoeca jelskii | L | Utuana |
| Yellow-bellied Chat-Tyrant | Ochthoeca diadema | L | Guacamayos Ridge |
| Slaty-backed Chat-Tyrant | Ochthoeca cinnamomeiventris | - | Cajanuma (Podocarpus) |
| Rufous-breasted Chat-Tyrant | Ochthoeca rufipectoralis | L | Pinas; Cajanuma (Podocarpus); Gualaceo-Limon Road |
| Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant | Ochthoeca fumicolor | - | El Cajas |
| Drab Water-Tyrant | Ochthoeca littoralis | - | Rio Napo |
| Red-rumped Bush-Tyrant | Myiotheretes erythropygius | L | El Cajas |
| Streak-throated Bush-Tyrant | Myiotheretes striaticollis | - | Pinas |
| Smoky Bush-Tyrant | Myiotheretes fumigatus | - | San Isidro |
| Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant | Agriornis montana | L | El Cajas |
| Plain-capped Ground-Tyrant | Muscisaxicola alpina | - | El Cajas |
| Rufous-tailed Tyrant | Knipolegus poecilurus | L | Coca Falls; Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| Cinnamon Attila | Attila cinnamomeus | L | Tower at Sacha |
| Grayish Mourner | Rhytipterna simplex | - | Anango Cocha (Yasuni) |
| Dusky-capped Flycatcher | Myiarchus tuberculifer | - | Pinas |
| Short-crested Flycatcher | Myiarchus ferox | - | Loreto Road |
| Pale-edged Flycatcher | Myiarchus cephalotes | - | San Isidro Log Trail |
| Sooty-crowned Flycatcher | Myiarchus phaeocephalus | L | Sabiango & Tambo Negro; East of Macara |
| Tropical Kingbird | Tyrannus melancholicus | - | Commonly seen in mid and lower elevations |
| Boat-billed Flycatcher | Megarynchus pitangua | - | East of Macara |
| Lemon-browed Flycatcher | Conopias cinchoneti | L | San Isidro Log Trail |
| Golden-crowned Flycatcher | Myiodynastes chrysocephalus | - | Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| Streaked Flycatcher | Myiodynastes maculatus | - | East of Macara |
| Social Flycatcher | Myiozetetes similis | - | San Isidro; Loreto Road; Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| Gray-capped Flycatcher | Myiozetetes granadensis | - | Rio Napo River edge |
| Piratic Flycatcher | Legatus leucophaius | - | Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| Lesser Kiskadee | Pitangus lictor | - | Lake at Sacha |
| Greater Schiffornis | Schiffornis major | L | Panacocha |
| Yellow-cheeked Becard | Pachyramphus xanthogenys | L | Loreto Road |
| Barred Becard | Pachyramphus versicolor | - | San Isidro |
| White-winged Becard | Pachyramphus polychopterus | - | Rio Napo River edge |
| Slaty Becard | Pachyramphus spodiurus | L | East of Macara. A rare and near endemic species |
| One-colored Becard | Pachyramphus homochrous | - | Pinas; Tambo Negro; East of Macara. Easily confused with Slaty especially the female, but songs are completely different. |
| Pink-throated Becard | Pachyramphus minor | L | Tower at Sacha |
| Black-tailed Tityra | Tityra cayana | - | Loreto Road |
| Turquoise Jay | Cyanolyca turcosa | - | Papallacta-Baeza Road; Cajanuma (Podocarpus); Gualaceo-Limon Road |
| Violaceous Jay | Cyanocorax violaceus | - | Reserva Jatun Sacha (Tena) |
| White-tailed Jay | Cyanocorax mystacalis | L | Cerro Blanco near Guayaquil; Tambo Negro; East of Macara |
| Green Jay | Cyanocorax yncas | - | Papallacta-Baeza Road; San Isidro; Coca Falls; Guacamayos Ridge; Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| Rufous-browed Peppershrike | Cyclarhis gujanensis | - | San Francisco sector (Podocarpus); Sabiango & Tambo Negro; East of Macara; Gualaceo-Limon Road |
| Black-billed Peppershrike | Cyclarhis nigrirostris | - | San Isidro |
| Red-eyed Vireo | Vireo olivaceus | - | Auca Trail (Tena); Cerro Blanco near Guayaquil |
| Yellow-green Vireo | Vireo flavoviridis | - | Tower at Sacha |
| Brown-capped Vireo | Vireo leucophrys | - | San Isidro |
| Olivaceous Greenlet | Hylophilus olivaceus | L | Guacamayos Ridge |
| Lesser Greenlet | Hylophilus decurtatus | - | Pinas |
| Swainson's Thrush | Catharus ustulatus | - | Loreto Road; Reserva Jatun Sacha (Tena); Coca Falls; Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| Great Thrush | Turdus fuscater | - | The most common Thrush seen in almost all altitudes and locations |
| Plumbeous-backed Thrush | Turdus reevei | L | Sabiango & Tambo Negro; East of Macara |
| Chestnut-bellied Thrush | Turdus fulviventris | L | Loreto Road; Gualaceo-Limon Road |
| Black-billed Thrush | Turdus ignobilis | L | Auca Trail (Tena); Coca Falls; Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| Lawrence's Thrush | Turdus lawrencii | L | Anango Cocha (Yasuni). Perched and calling |
| Hauxwell's Thrush | Turdus hauxwelli | L | Suisso Trail (Sacha) |
| Ecuadorian Thrush | Turdus maculirostris | - | Cerro Blanco near Guayaquil |
| Long-tailed Mockingbird | Mimus longicaudatus | L | Catamayo; East of Macara |
| Black-capped Donacobius | Donacobius atricapillus | - | Shuar Trail (Yasuni). At river edge |
| Thrush-like Wren | Campylorhynchus turdinus | L | Loreto Road; Guacamayos Ridge |
| Fasciated Wren | Campylorhynchus fasciatus | L | Cerro Blanco near Guayaquil; Pinas; East of Macara |
| Gray-mantled Wren | Odontorchilus branickii | L | Coca Falls; Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| Rufous Wren | Cinnycerthia unirufa | - | Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus); Cajanuma (Podocarpus) |
| Sepia-brown Wren | Cinnycerthia peruana | L | Gualaceo-Limon Road |
| Whiskered Wren | Thryothorus mystacalis | L | Pinas |
| Speckle-breasted Wren | Thryothorus sclateri | L | East of Macara |
| Bay Wren | Thryothorus nigricapillus | - | Pinas |
| Superciliated Wren | Thryothorus superciliaris | L | Catamayo; East of Macara |
| House Wren | Troglodytes aedon | - | Cerro Blanco near Guayaquil; Sabiango & Tambo Negro; East of Macara |
| Mountain Wren | Troglodytes solstitialis | - | San Isidro |
| White-breasted Wood-Wren | Henicorhina leucosticta | - | Suisso Trail (Sacha) |
| Gray-breasted Wood-Wren | Henicorhina leucophrys | - | Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| Wing-banded Wren | Microcerculus bambla | L | Loreto Road |
| Tropical Gnatcatcher | Polioptila plumbea | - | Cerro Blanco near Guayaquil; Catamayo |
| White-winged Swallow | Tachycineta albiventer | - | Orchidea Trail by canoe (Sacha) |
| Gray-breasted Martin | Progne chalybea | - | Sabiango & Tambo Negro |
| Brown-bellied Swallow | Notiochelidon murina | - | Cerro Blanco near Guayaquil; Loja-Zamora Road; Cajanuma (Podocarpus); Gualaceo Pass; El Cajas |
| Blue-and-white Swallow | Notiochelidon cyanoleuca | - | Common swallow seen almost every day |
| Pale-footed Swallow | Notiochelidon flavipes | L | Cajanuma (Podocarpus) |
| White-banded Swallow | Atticora fasciata | - | Rio Napo |
| Southern Rough-winged Swallow | Stelgidopteryx ruficollis | - | Pinas; Loja-Zamora Road |
| Chestnut-collared Swallow | Hirundo rufocollaris | L | Macara. Nesting in the town cathedral |
| Hooded Siskin | Spinus magellanica | - | Papallacta-Baeza Road; drive grom Guayaquil to Pinas |
| Olivaceous Siskin | Carduelis olivacea | - | Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| Yellow-bellied Siskin | Spinus xanthogastra | - | Pinas |
| Tropical Parula | Parula pitiayumi | - | Coca Falls; Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| Blackburnian Warbler | Dendroica fusca | - | Almost all locations. Most common migrant warbler |
| Blackpoll Warbler | Dendroica striata | - | Auca Trail (Tena) |
| Cerulean Warbler | Dendroica cerulea | L | Loreto Road; Coca Falls |
| Black-and-white Warbler | Mniotilta varia | - | Guacamayos Ridge |
| Northern Waterthrush | Seiurus noveboracensis | - | Rio Napo Island |
| Olive-crowned Yellowthroat | Geothlypis semiflava | - | Pinas |
| Masked Yellowthroat | Geothlypis aequinoctialis | L | East of Macara |
| Canada Warbler | Wilsonia canadensis | - | San Isidro; Loreto Road; Coca Falls; San Isidro; Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus); Second most common migrant warbler |
| Slate-throated Redstart | Myioborus miniatus | - | Almost all locations. Commonly seen warbler |
| Spectacled Redstart | Myioborus melanocephalus | - | Almost all locations. Commonly seen warbler |
| Gray-and-gold Warbler | Basileuterus fraseri | L | Cerro Blanco near Guayaquil; Pinas; East of Macara |
| Citrine Warbler | Basileuterus luteoviridis | - | Cajanuma (Podocarpus); Cajanuma (Podocarpus); Gualaceo-Limon Road. Often found in feeding flocks. One noisy flock of this species only seen. |
| Black-crested Warbler | Basileuterus nigrocristatus | - | Papallacta-Baeza Road; Utuana; Cajanuma (Podocarpus); Gualaceo-Limon Road |
| Russet-crowned Warbler | Basileuterus coronatus | - | Drive from Pinas to Loja; Gualaceo-Limon Road |
| Three-banded Warbler | Basileuterus trifasciatus | L | Sabiango & Tambo Negro; Utuana |
| Three-striped Warbler | Basileuterus tristriatus | - | Loja-Zamora Road |
| Rufous-collared Sparrow | Zonotrichia capensis | - | Almost all locations. Common |
| Yellow-browed Sparrow | Ammodramus aurifrons | - | Coca Falls; Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus); |
| Tumbes Sparrow | Aimophila stolzmanni | L | Catamayo |
| Black-capped Sparrow | Arremon abeillei | L | Sabiango & Tambo Negro; East of Macara |
| Black-striped Sparrow | Arremonops conirostris | - | Pinas |
| Pale-naped Brush-Finch | Atlapetes pallidinucha | L | Papallacta-Baeza Road; Acanama; Gualaceo-Limon Road |
| Rufous-naped Brush-Finch | Atlapetes rufinucha | - | Cajanuma (Podocarpus); Gualaceo-Limon Road; El Cajas |
| Tricolored Brush-Finch | Atlapetes tricolor | - | Pinas |
| Slaty Brush-Finch | Atlapetes schistaceus | L | Papallacta-Baeza Road |
| Bay-crowned Brush-Finch | Atlapetes seebohmi | L | Utuana |
| White-headed Brush-Finch | Atlapetes albiceps | L | East of Macara |
| Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch | Atlapetes brunneinucha | - | San Isidro |
| Stripe-headed Brush-Finch | Atlapetes torquatus | - | Sabiango & Tambo Negro |
| Red-capped Cardinal | Paroaria gularis | - | Lake at Sacha |
| Bananaquit | Coereba flaveola | - | Coca Falls; Pinas; Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| Cinereous Conebill | Conirostrum cinereum | - | El Cajas |
| Blue-backed Conebill | Conirostrum sitticolor | - | Cajanuma (Podocarpus); Acanama; Gualaceo-Limon Road; El Cajas |
| Capped Conebill | Conirostrum albifrons | - | Gualaceo-Limon Road |
| Giant Conebill | Oreomanes fraseri | L | Papallacta Pass; El Cajas |
| Magpie Tanager | Cissopis leveriana | - | Loreto Road; Loja-Zamora Road; Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| Grass-green Tanager | Chlorornis riefferii | - | Guacamayos Ridge; Cajanuma (Podocarpus); Gualaceo-Limon Road |
| Common Bush-Tanager | Chlorospingus ophthalmicus | - | San Isidro; Guacamayos Ridge; Pinas; Gualaceo-Limon Road |
| Short-billed Bush-Tanager | Chlorospingus parvirostris | L | Loja-Zamora Road. Two seen foraging in riverside bushes under a bridge |
| Yellow-throated Bush-Tanager | Chlorospingus flavigularis | - | Guacamayos Ridge; Coca Falls; Pinas; Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| Ashy-throated Bush-Tanager | Chlorospingus canigularis | - | Pinas; Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| Gray-hooded Bush-Tanager | Cnemoscopus rubrirostris | L | Papallacta-Baeza Road; Cajanuma (Podocarpus); Gualaceo-Limon Road |
| Black-capped Hemispingus | Hemispingus atropileus | - | Cajanuma (Podocarpus); Gualaceo-Limon Road |
| Oleaginous Hemispingus | Hemispingus frontalis | - | San Isidro |
| Black-eared Hemispingus | Hemispingus melanotis | - | San Isidro; Utuana. The race seen in Utuana may be a future split to H. piura |
| Rufous-chested Tanager | Thlypopsis ornata | L | San Francisco sector (Podocarpus) |
| Ochre-breasted Tanager | Chlorothraupis stolzmanni | L | Pinas |
| Gray-headed Tanager | Eucometis penicillata | - | Suisso Trail (Sacha) |
| Fulvous Shrike-Tanager | Lanio fulvus | L | Loreto Road |
| Rufous-crested Tanager | Creurgops verticalis | L | San Isidro; Loja-Zamora Road |
| Fulvous-crested Tanager | Tachyphonus surinamus | - | Rio Napo Island |
| White-lined Tanager | Tachyphonus rufus | - | Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| Red-crowned Ant-Tanager | Habia rubica | - | Anango Cocha Trail (Yasuni) |
| Summer Tanager | Piranga rubra | - | Loreto Road; Guacamayos Ridge; San Isidro; Loja-Zamora Road; Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| Scarlet Tanager | Piranga olivacea | - | Coca Falls |
| White-winged Tanager | Piranga leucoptera | - | Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| Red-hooded Tanager | Piranga rubriceps | L | Cajanuma (Podocarpus) |
| Masked Crimson Tanager | Ramphocelus nigrogularis | - | Tower at Sacha |
| Silver-beaked Tanager | Ramphocelus carbo | - | Guacamayos Ridge; Coca Falls; San Isidro; Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| Blue-gray Tanager | Thraupis episcopus | - | Guacamayos Ridge; Coca Falls; Pinas; Loja-Zamora Road; Sabiango & Tambo Negro; East of Macara Most of the individuals were saw in South had a white spot on the wing |
| Palm Tanager | Thraupis palmarum | - | Loreto Road; Guacamayos Ridge; Cajanuma (Podocarpus) |
| Blue-capped Tanager | Thraupis cyanocephala | - | Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus); Utuana |
| Hooded Mountain-Tanager | Buthraupis montana | - | Guacamayos Ridge; Gualaceo-Limon Road |
| Masked Mountain-Tanager | Buthraupis wetmorei | L | Gualaceo Pass |
| Lacrimose Mountain-Tanager | Anisognathus lacrymosus | L | Guacamayos Ridge; Cajanuma (Podocarpus); Gualaceo Pass; Gualaceo-Limon Road |
| Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager | Anisognathus igniventris | - | Guacamayos Ridge; Cajanuma (Podocarpus); Gualaceo Pass; Gualaceo-Limon Road |
| Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager | Anisognathus somptuosus | - | Loreto Road |
| Golden-crowned Tanager | Iridosornis rufivertex | L | Cajanuma (Podocarpus); Gualaceo-Limon Road |
| Buff-breasted Mountain-Tanager | Dubusia taeniata | - | Acanama |
| Fawn-breasted Tanager | Pipraeidea melanonota | - | San Isidro |
| Orange-crowned Euphonia | Euphonia saturata | L | Cerro Blanco near Guayaquil |
| Thick-billed Euphonia | Euphonia laniirostris | - | Pinas; San Francisco sector (Podocarpus) |
| Golden-rumped Euphonia | Euphonia cyanocephala | L | San Isidro; Utuana |
| White-lored Euphonia | Euphonia chrysopasta | - | Tower at Sacha |
| Bronze-green Euphonia | Euphonia mesochrysa | L | Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| Orange-bellied Euphonia | Euphonia xanthogaster | - | 9 Locations. Fairly common |
| Rufous-bellied Euphonia | Euphonia rufiventris | - | Reserva Jatun Sacha (Tena) |
| Blue-naped Chlorophonia | Chlorophonia cyanea | - | Loreto Road |
| Chestnut-breasted Chlorophonia | Chlorophonia pyrrhophrys | L | Cajanuma (Podocarpus).Amazing looks in the scope |
| Orange-eared Tanager | Chlorochrysa calliparaea | L | Loreto Road; Coca Falls; Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| Turquoise Tanager | Tangara mexicana | - | Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| Paradise Tanager | Tangara chilensis | L | Loreto Road; Coca Falls; Loja-Zamora Road; Rio Bumbuscara (Podocarpus) |
| Green-and-gold Tanager | Tangara schrankii | - | Loja-Zamora Road; Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| Golden Tanager | Tangara arthus | - | Loreto Road; Coca Falls; Pinas; Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus); Cajanuma (Podocarpus) |
| Silver-throated Tanager | Tangara icterocephala | - | Pinas |
| Saffron-crowned Tanager | Tangara xanthocephala | - | Papallacta-Baeza Road; San Isidro; Loreto Road; Loja-Zamora Road |
| Golden-eared Tanager | Tangara chrysotis | L | Coca Falls; Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| Flame-faced Tanager | Tangara parzudakii | - | San Isidro; Gualaceo-Limon Road |
| Spotted Tanager | Tangara punctata | L | Loreto Road; Guacamayos Ridge; Coca Falls; Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| Bay-headed Tanager | Tangara gyrola | - | Loreto Road; Coca Falls; Pinas; Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| Golden-naped Tanager | Tangara ruficervix | - | Coca Falls |
| Blue-browed Tanager | Tangara cyanotis | L | Coca Falls |
| Blue-necked Tanager | Tangara cyanicollis | - | Coca Falls; Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| Beryl-spangled Tanager | Tangara nigroviridis | - | Papallacta-Baeza Road; San Isidro; Guacamayos Ridge; Gualaceo-Limon Road |
| Blue-and-black Tanager | Tangara vassorii | - | Guacamayos Ridge; Cajanuma (Podocarpus); Utuana; Cajanuma (Podocarpus); Gualaceo-Limon Road |
| Black-capped Tanager | Tangara heinei | - | Coca Falls; San Isidro |
| Silver-backed Tanager | Tangara viridicollis | L | Utuana |
| Opal-rumped Tanager | Tangara velia | - | Tower at Sacha |
| Opal-crowned Tanager | Tangara callophrys | L | Tower at Sacha |
| Golden-collared Honeycreeper | Iridophanes pulcherrima | L | Coca Falls; Loja-Zamora Road |
| Black-faced Dacnis | Dacnis lineata | - | Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| Yellow-bellied Dacnis | Dacnis flaviventer | - | Guacamayos Ridge |
| Blue Dacnis | Dacnis cayana | - | Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| Green Honeycreeper | Chlorophanes spiza | - | Loreto Road; Pinas |
| Purple Honeycreeper | Cyanerpes caeruleus | - | Tower at Sacha |
| Tit-like Dacnis | Xenodacnis parina | L | El Cajas |
| Swallow-Tanager | Tersina viridis | - | Loreto Road |
| Plush-capped Finch | Catamblyrhynchus diadema | L | Papallacta-Baeza Road; San Isidro; Utuana; Cajanuma (Podocarpus) |
| Black-backed Bush-Tanager | Urothraupis stolzmanni | L | Papallacta-Baeza Road; Gualaceo-Limon Road |
| Crimson Finch-Tanager | Rhodospingus cruentus | L | East of Macara |
| Plumbeous Sierra-Finch | Phrygilus unicolor | - | Papallacta Pass; El Cajas |
| Ash-breasted Sierra-Finch | Phrygilus plebejus | - | Catamayo |
| Band-tailed Sierra-Finch | Phrygilus alaudinus | L | Catamayo |
| Slaty Finch | Haplospiza rustica | L | Gualaceo-Limon Road |
| Collared Warbling-Finch | Poospiza hispaniolensis | L | Catamayo |
| Saffron Finch | Sicalis flaveola | - | Utuana; Sabiango/Sozorango |
| Blue-black Grassquit | Volatinia jacarina | - | Catamayo; East of Macara |
| Variable Seedeater | Sporophila americana | - | East of Macara |
| Black-and-white Seedeater | Sporophila luctuosa | L | Auca Trail (Tena) |
| Parrot-billed Seedeater | Sporophila peruviana | L | Cerro Blanco near Guayaquil; Catamayo |
| Chestnut-bellied Seedeater | Sporophila castaneiventris | - | Auca Trail (Tena); Coca Falls |
| Chestnut-throated Seedeater | Sporophila telasco | L | Catamayo |
| Lesser Seed-Finch | Oryzoborus angolensis | - | Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| Plain-colored Seedeater | Catamenia inornata | L | Papallacta-Baeza Road; Acanama; El Cajas |
| Paramo Seedeater | Catamenia homochroa | - | Papallacta-Baeza Road |
| Dull-colored Grassquit | Tiaris obscura | L | Catamayo |
| White-sided Flower-piercer | Diglossa albilatera | - | Papallacta-Baeza Road; Gualaceo-Limon Road |
| Glossy Flower-piercer | Diglossa lafresnayii | - | Papallacta-Baeza Road; Cajanuma (Podocarpus); Utuana; Gualaceo-Limon Road |
| Black Flower-piercer | Diglossa humeralis | - | Papallacta Pass; Acanama |
| Deep-blue Flower-piercer | Diglossopis glauca | L | Loreto Road; Coca Falls; Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus) |
| Bluish Flower-piercer | Diglossopis caerulescens | - | San Isidro; Cajanuma (Podocarpus); Gualaceo-Limon Road |
| Masked Flower-piercer | Diglossopis cyanea | - | Papallacta-Baeza Road; San Isidro; Guacamayos Ridge; Cajanuma (Podocarpus); Loja-Zamora Road; Utuana; Gualaceo-Limon Road |
| Southern Yellow-Grosbeak | Pheucticus chrysogaster | L | Papallacta-Baeza Road; Loja-Zamora Road; Sabiango & Tambo Negro; East of Macara; Catamayo-Loja Road |
| Slate-colored Grosbeak | Saltator grossus | - | Pinas |
| Buff-throated Saltator | Saltator maximus | - | Pinas; Cajanuma (Podocarpus) |
| Black-winged Saltator | Saltator atripennis | - | Pinas |
| Grayish Saltator | Saltator coerulescens | - | Auca Trail (Tena) |
| Black-cowled Saltator | Saltator nigriceps | L | Utuana |
| Streaked Saltator | Saltator striatipectus | L | Sabiango & Tambo Negro; East of Macara |
| Blue-black Grosbeak | Cyanocompsa cyanoides | - | Pinas |
| Casqued Oropendola | Psarocolius oseryi | L | Shuar Trail (Yasuni) |
| Crested Oropendola | Psarocolius decumanus | - | Loreto Road |
| Green Oropendola | Psarocolius viridis | L | Reserva Jatun Sacha (Tena) |
| Russet-backed Oropendola | Psarocolius angustifrons | - | Almost all locations. Common |
| Yellow-rumped Cacique | Cacicus cela | - | Pinas |
| Subtropical Cacique | Cacicus uropygialis | - | Papallacta-Baeza Road; San Isidro |
| Mountain Cacique | Cacicus chrysonotus | - | Papallacta-Baeza Road; Guacamayos Ridge; Gualaceo-Limon Road |
| Ecuadorian Cacique | Cacicus sclateri | L | Shuar Trail (Yasuni) |
| Yellow-billed Cacique | Cacicus holosericeus | - | Cajanuma (Podocarpus) |
| Moriche Oriole | Icterus chrysocephalus | L | Tower at Sacha |
| White-edged Oriole | Icterus graceannae | L | Sabiango & Tambo Negro; East of Macara |
| Troupial | Icterus icterus | - | Shuar Trail (Yasuni) |
| Oriole Blackbird | Gymnomystax mexicanus | - | Anango Isla in Rio Napo |
| Peruvian Meadowlark | Sturnella bellicosa | L | Catamayo-Loja Road |
| Scrub Blackbird | Dives warszewiczi | L | Cerro Blanco near Guayaquil; Pinas; Rio Bombuscaro (Podocarpus); Sabiango & Tambo Negro; East of Macara |
| Shiny Cowbird | Molothrus bonariensis | - | Rio Napo Island |
| Giant Cowbird | Scaphidura oryzivora | - | Rio Napo |
| - | - | ||
| 697 Species | - | ||
| 290 New | - | ||
Garry George
garrygeorge@msn.com