Ecuador, West Slope
January 28-February 8, 2009
By Roger Wolfe
Itinerary
DAY 1.- Jan 28th. Arrive in Quito
DAY 2.- Jan 29th. Antisana in the morning for Andean Condors &
others, Papallacta in the afternoon for Seed Snipe. Over Night Cumbay
DAY 3.- Jan 30th. Yanacocha - Tandayapa. Over Night Bellavista
DAY 4.- Jan 31st. Bellavista area. Over Night Bellavista
DAY 5.- Feb 1st. Angel Paz Reserve-Antpitta site. Over
Night Sachatamia Lodge
DAY 6.- Feb 2nd. Mindo Area. Over Night Sachatamia
DAY 7.- Feb 3th. Milpe Reserve. Over Night Sachatamia
DAY 8.- Feb 4th. Silanche Reserve. Over Night Quininde
DAY 9.- Feb 5th. Canande. Over Night Canande Reserve
DAY 10.-Feb 6th. In Canande. Over Night Canande
DAY 11.-Feb 7th To Quito, Over Night Quito
DAY 12.- Feb 8th Quito-Miami
January 28: Barry McLaughlin, Linda St. John and I arrive in Quito via Miami at 7:40pm and are met at the airport by our local guide Francisco Pancho Enriquez for a short trip in his four wheel drive Hyundai to Hotel Quito. I mention the vehicle not because we need 4WD in Quito but because it would prove to be indispensible over the course of the next ten days.
Pancho is a outstanding and very experienced guide with a great deal of experience leading trips for a variety of clientele. He is an amazing birder in his own right and very talented at birding by ear which is indispensable in the cloudforest. For contact information and details visit his websites: http://www.avestoursecuador.com or if youre interested in learning Spanish whilst birding: http://www.BirdSpan.com
See Barry and Lindas photo trip report with maps at: http://www.coincidence.net/barry/ecuador/Photos.html
Links to Barrys and my photos can be found under our photos in the report.
January 29: Quito-Yanacocha-Bellavista
After an early breakfast buffet at the Top of the World restaurant on the top floor offering a stunning view of Quito we meet Pancho in the lobby and leave the city behind. We make a brief stop at a park on the outskirts where we find EARED DOVE, BLACK-TAILED TRAINBEARER, SPARKLING VIOLETEAR, GOLDEN-RUMPED EUPHONIA and VERMILLION FLYCATCHER.
Leaving the park we head for Antisana Volcano and pass the modest houses of the local Quechua Indians wearing their distinctive fedora hats and drive through a vast quarry that looks like something out of Mordor. We leave the world of traffic and trucks behind to find ourselves in the vast, wide open landscape of the high paramo.
Antisana Ecological Reserve is located in the largest hacienda in Ecuador. The landowner has protected these lands and their inhabitants for decades thus this is the most reliable place in the country to find the iconic ANDEAN CONDOR as we do shortly after entering the reserve. We also see our first CARUNCULATED CARACARA of which we will see a hundred spread across the paramo like we sometimes see Ravens back home. A series of PUNA HAWKS overhead AMERICAN KESTRELS and a single APLOMADO FALCON on a fencepost add to the raptor theme for the morning.
Walking here at 12,000 ft. we do notice the altitude but thanks to the dosage of Diamox we are all feeling fine. HOODED SISKINS fly alongside the road as do PLUMBEOUS SIERRA FINCHES and BLACK-WINGED GROUND -DOVES.
Further up the flanks of the 18,871 ft. volcano we find a wet section of paramo and more of our target birds; flocks of BLACK-FACED IBIS and ANDEAN GULLS. WHITE-COLLARED SWIFTS strafe across the road. Both STOUT-BILLED and BAR-WINGED CINCLODES are seen along with PARAMO GROUND TYRANTS. Along the road we encounter a Mountain Tropical White-tailed Deer.
We come to La Mica lake and are delighted to have an ANDEAN LAPWING fly right over our heads and land in plain view. On the lake itself we see SILVERY GREBE, ANDEAN COOT, ANDEAN TEAL and in the distance a YELLOW-BILLED PINTAIL.
Andean Lapwing by Barry Mclaughlin http://www.pbase.com/bmclaughlin/northwestern_ecuador_janfeb_2009
We lunch off the main road in an area with flowers to catch a glimpse of the high altitude hummingbird, the ANDEAN HILLSTAR. We find more Andean Lapwings with some chicks. Pancho spots a PARAMO PIPIT. We make a brief stop at the landowners cabin for a better view of a Hillstar at a feeder before we make the drive out of the reserve.
On our way to Papallacta Pass we stop along the road to Tambo for a short visit and find: MOUNTAIN VELVETBREAST , AZARAS SPINETAIL and RUFOUS-NAPED BRUSH FINCH.
Then we are off to 14,500 ft. Papallacta Pass. This is my third time here in search of RUFOUS-BELLIED SEEDSNIPES. Twice Ive dipped and today my chances look bleak as we are shrouded in the clouds with very limited visibility. We wander about in our warmest clothes wearing gloves and warm caps but find nothing but seedsnipe turds. Im beginning to despair when Pancho says here they are. I get a quick look at the pair in front of us before they fly off. Hurray, a new family tick for me. Finally. See my previous Ecuador East Slope trip report.
We leave the summit of Papallacta and descend from the clouds to bird a small section of remnant polyepsis forest. No luck with the desired Giant Conebill this time but we do get looks at a GRASS WREN, RUFOUS SPINETAIL and STREAK-BACKED CASTANERO.
We are running out of sunlight as we travel back down to the highway. We cross paths with a pair of GREAT-HORNED OWLS and an ANDEAN SNIPE flies past the windshield in the last light of day.
Our first night is spent in Cuyamba at El Nido Bed& Breakfast. Our host Renato serves us typical Ecuadorian fare for dinner: fried pork, hominy and tomato and onion salad.
January 30 Cuyamba-Yanacocha-Calacali Rd.-Bellavista
The alarm sounds at 4:30am and we are on the road by 5am to escape Quito before the morning commute. Our route is the old Nono-Mindo Rd. to the Yanacocha Reserve of the Jocotoco Foundation located on the slopes of Pichincha Volcano.
From this day on our emphasis will be on finding Choc endemics(marked with an asterisk *).
Bird Life International says, The Choc Endemic Bird Area supports the largest number of restricted-range birds of any EBA in the Americas, over 50 species being endemic to the area (in Colombia and Ecuador). A large number of birds are confined to the tropical lowland and lower subtropical foothill forests, with the remainder primarily found in the subtropical zone; only a few species occur in the high-altitude temperate areas. (See article)
As we approach the reserve Pancho spots a bird scurrying down the road and we manage a brief look at a CURVE-BILLED TINAMOU before in disappears in the roadside shrubs.
Entering the reserve we find ourselves shrouded in mist again. Ive heard the views from here are amazing, unfortunately we never get to enjoy them due to limited visibility. Ah but birds we do see; WHITE-BROWED SPINETAIL, STREAKED TUFTEDCHEEK, PEARLED TREERUNNER, WHITE-BANDED, WHITE-TAILED and WHITE-THROATED TYRAUNNULETS, TUFTED TIT-TYRANT, SMOKE-COLORED PEWEE, CROWNED CHAT-TYRANT, SUPERCILLIARIED HEMISPINGUS, GRASS GREEN TANAGER, CINEREOUS and CAPPED CONEBILLS, SCARLET-BELLIED , HOODED and BLACK-CHESTED MOUNTAIN TANAGERS.
On the upper trail Pancho plays his iPod to entice a UNICLORED TAPACULO into view and we get a lucky view of a RUFOUS ANTPITTA scurrying down the trail ahead of us.
Hummingbird feeders are placed along our route and we record quite a variety of Ecuadors flying gems: BUFF-WINGED STARFRONTLET, GOLDEN-BREASTED PUFFLEG, the large and very striking GREAT SAPPHIREWING, RUFOUS-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD, SAPPHIRE-VENTED PUFFLEG and the has to be seen to be believed SWORD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD.
Sword-billed Hummingbird by Barry McLaughlin
http://www.pbase.com/bmclaughlin/northwestern_ecuador_janfeb_2009
See my Hummingbirds of Ecuador Video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3Yh_wWnzi4
The feeders are also a magnet for both MASKED, WHITE-SIDED and GLOSSY FLOWERPIERCERS.
After lunch we hit the road to Nono and then along the Calacali Rd. Stopping along the way we find BAND-TAILED PIGEON, WHITE-TIPPED DOVE, SPECKLED HUMMINGBIRD, TYRIAN METALTAIL, TURQUOISE JAY, BLUE-NECKED TANAGER, our first of many BLACKBURNIAN WARBLERS, BLACK-CRESTED WARBLER and SPECTACLED WHITESTART. Pancho takes us to a spot where he has a stake out for ECUADORIAN RAIL that respond to the Ipod.
We try the old Nono-Mindo Rd. but find our way blocked by a very recent landslide but not before we find a WHITE-CAPPED DIPPER on the dam of a trout farm at the roadside. A RED-BROCKET DEER vaults across the road in front of us. Unfortunately we are now forced to backtrack the 30 minutes to Nono and take the Calacali Rd. to the highway. One of the locals stops us and asks for a ride. Hes willing to hang on to the roof rack and stand on the running board. The guy is no spring chicken but he hangs on for a good while but when it starts raining we make room for him in the car. God thanks you, he tells us when we drop him off.
We arrive at Bellavista Lodge late in the day and take the short, slippery trail down to our accommodations in a cabin down the road from the main lodge aka the Dome.
Returning to the main lodge for a delicious meal and conversation with owner Richard Parsons who is a gracious host carrying on conversations with diners in fluent English, French, German and Spanish. Back at the carpark we find the resident COMMON POTOO on its nightly perch near the lights.
January 31 Bellavista
Rains like hell throughout the night so it is no surprise that we are without power in the cabin this morning. Back at the main lodge we find a few birds working the lights even though they arent illuminated. MASKED TROGON, TURQOUISE JAY, RUSSET-CROWNED and THREE-STRIPED WARBLERS and SOUTHERN YELLOW-GROSBEAK. Barry is having a fine time snapping photos of these cooperative birds.
The hummingbird feeders are abuzz with crazy stuff like BOOTED RAQUET-TAIL and VIOLET- TAILED SYLPH* and PURPLE-THROATED WOODSTAR along with the more sedate EMPRESS* and FAWN-BREASTED BRILLIANTS.
We take the trail to the compost bins finding nothing and so continue on into the forest. WHITE-BREASTED WOOD WREN delights us with its melody, a song we will hear daily.
Pancho tries to coax a few birds with recordings on his iPod but they are largely uninterested, perhaps theyre taped out. We see very few birds before we return to the lodge for breakfast. Outside there is some excitement as other birders have just seen and photographed a very sought-after and hard-to-see bird right off the back deck. Once were done with the meal we follow suit and with some coercion from Panchos Ipod we get some less than fulfilling glimpses of an OCELLATED TAPACULO. But hey, any time you get to see a tapaculo you count yourself fortunate.
Back to birding along the upper road at Bellavista where we see BERYL-SPANGELD TANAGER, DUSKY BUSH TANAGER*, RUFOUS-NAPED BRUSH- FINCH, the endemic PLATE-BILLED MOUNTAIN TOUCAN* is the bird of the day, the cover bird for The Birds of Ecuador. CRIMSON-RUMPED TOUCANET, CRIMSON-MANTELD WOODPECKER, SICKLE-WING GUAN, STRONG-BILLED and MONTANE WOODCREEPERS, YELLOW-BELLIED CHAT TYRANT, FASCIATED ANTSHRIKE and STREAK-NECKED FLYCATCHER.
After lunch at the lodge we hit the trails again despite a downpour. This proves to be fruitless, we see very few birds while hiking up a very steep and slippery trail back to the upper road. Unlike this morning we find lots of traffic and discover that cars and trucks are being routed this way due to a washout on the main highway. This will make things a bit more difficult for us to detour around several times to get to where we need to go. Soon these unpaved roads are a snarl with mud, buses, trucks and cars unfit for travel on roads like this in these conditions. The lodge at Bellavista is jammed with travelers.
In the evening things have quieted down and we enjoy another splendid meal at Bellavista. I had read some trip reports complaining about the food but we are very satisfied with the fare.
February 1 Angel Paz-Satchatamia Lodge
We rise at the ungodly hour of 4am and slog our luggage up the muddy trail from our cabin up to the road. By 5am we are parked outside of Angel Paz house on his ranch. In a few minutes other birders arrive with their guides and soon we are all on the trail with headlamps. The other groups hurry to the blind but we take out time to do some owling. Playing recordings we get responses from RUFESCENT SCREECH, MOTTLED and ANDEAN PYGMY OWLS.
With the first daylight we arrive at the blind and find the other birders packed inside cheek to jowl for the morning show at the ANDEAN COCK OF THE ROCK lek. Brilliant birds making bizarre sounds in difficult to photograph conditions.
Our next stop is another blind where Angel strings some bananas and fruits in the trees but with all the food available in the forest at this time of year no birds show any interest in his offerings so off we go to see the Antpittas he has habituated to the extent that they actually come when he calls them by name.
En route our group finds a pair of OLIVACEUOS PIHAS and a GOLDEN-HEADED QUETZAL. Angel gets to work calling in the infamous Maria. It takes a little doing but there she is on the trail the GIANT ANTPITTA! Down to the river we go for the next act which is Willy the YELLOW-BREASTED ANTPITTA.
Giant Antpitta by Barry McLaughlin
http://www.pbase.com/bmclaughlin/northwestern_ecuador_janfeb_2009
It is a quite the scene with all us birders and our guides, see my Angel Paz/Antiptta video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hVQg-3J5y8
Working our way back up the trail we hear and then locate a female POWERFUL WOODPECKER that is aptly named, very impressive.
Angel closes the show with a SCALED ANTPITTA whose name escapes me. We dip on the Moustached Antpitta. The visit to Angel Paz is a real highlight for me as here I garnered another new bird family the splendid TOUCAN-BARBET*!
Back at Angels house his wife is cooking up a fantastic Ecuadorian breakfast for all of us. The Plantain Empandas are delicious. David Fisher introduces himself and word goes round that hes found 4 new lifers this morning. Not bad for a guy with more than 7,000 species on his life list. After a delicious breakfast and coffee we head up the hill where Angels son has found a pair of ORANGE-BREASTED FRUITEATERS*; what a striking bird!
Orange-breasted Fruiteater by Barry McLaughlin http://www.pbase.com/bmclaughlin/northwestern_ecuador_janfeb_2009
We say our goodbyes and drive down the road about 100 feet and stop when a feeding flock appears in the roadside trees; FLAME-FACED, FAWN-BREASTED, GOLDEN and SUMMER TANAGERS along with the frequently seen SWAINSONS THRUSH.
Back on the highway we go to see the washout. It is fifty feet across and about as deep. This road isnt going to open for some time and it is the main road between Quito and the coast.
On to our home for the next three nights, the very comfortable Satchatamia Lodge where we find the feeders buzzing with activity like no place Ive ever seen before, hummingbird heaven. In addition to the resplendent BOOTED RACKET-TAILS and VIOLET-TAILED SYLPH* we see ANDEAN EMERALD, BROWN INCA* and VIOLETEAR, ECUADORIAN HILLSTAR, EMPRESS and FAWN-BREASTED BRILLIANT, PURPLE-BIBBED WHITETIP*, PURPLE-THROATED WOODSTAR, RUFOUS-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD, WESTERN EMERALD, WHITE-NECKED JACOBIN and perhaps the most beautiful of all the VELVET-PURPLE CORONET*.
Velvet-purple Coronet by Barry McLaughlin http://www.pbase.com/bmclaughlin/northwestern_ecuador_janfeb_2009
Booted Racket-tail by Roger Wolfe
http://www.pbase.com/wolfbird/ecuador_west_slope_2009
As we check into our rooms we find a flock of PALE-MANDIBLED ARACARIS* in the trees outside of my room. Following a brief but much needed siesta we hit the trail behind Satchatamia Lodge down to the river finding RUFOUS MOTMOT, SPOTTED BARBTAIL, WEDGE-BILLED and SPOTTED WOODCREEPERS, SMOKE-COLORED PEWEE, GOLDEN-CROWNED and ORNATE FLYCATCHER, CINNAMON BECARD, PALE-EYED THRUSH, CAPPED CONEBILL, ORANGE-BELLIED EUPHONIA, WHITE-WINGED TANAGER and the ubiquitous BLUE-GRAY and LEMON-RUMPED TANAGERS and TROPICAL KINGBIRDS.
Dinner and all our meals at Satchatamia are very pleasing. I highly recommend this place to stay. Not a lot of birders go there. I dont know why. The lodge is quite nice and they also have separate cabins, an indoor pool and a Jacuzzi. Non birding spouses will love it here.
After dinner we drive over to the Mindo Rd. bus stop but the streetlight is out and thus the Black and White Owl usually found there is not present.
Feb. 2 Mindo- Narino Rd.
Just outside the burgeoning hamlet of Mindo that Pancho tells us has grown exponentially due to increasing interest in ecotourism we begin our days birding with another COMMON POTOO on the perch. What a day it is, blue skies are a welcome change. Without much ado we locate our first flocks by driving and listening.
Our first stop is a doozy with sightings of RED-EYED and BROWN-CAPPED VIREO, BAY WREN, TROPICAL PARULA, SLATE-THROATED WHITESTART, RED-FACED SPINETAIL, BANAQUIT. Moving up the road we make multiple stops for CHESTNUT-MANDIBLED TOUCAN, YELLOW-THROATED BUSH TANAGER, BLUE-WINGED MOUNTAIN TANAGER and both BUFF-THROATED and BLACK-WINGED SALTATORS, a GREEN MANAKIN is a bonus but the bird of the day is a YELLOW-COLLARED CHLOROPHONIA* (Pancho had not seen one in more than 2 years). We feel fortunate seeing this canopy dweller in plain view and not too high up.
Numerous SWALLOW-TAILED KITES ply the skies along with a couple of GRAY HAWKS and the expected ROADSIDE HAWK.
We park the car and walk a long section of the road up the ridge finding LINEATED and SMOKY-BROWN WOODPECKERS, TAWNY-BELLIED HERMIT, RED-HEADED BARBET and SCALY-THROATED, LINEATED and BUFF-THROATED WOODCREEPERS, GOLDEN-FACED TYRAUNULET and ANDEAN SOLITAIRE.
Back in Mindo we stop by Panchos aunts place and walk down to the river where we find a SUNBITTERN on the far side of the creek.
We are back at the lodge for a late lunch. Im ready for a break from the birding so I enjoy a siesta in the afternoon after a nice soak in the Jacuzzi. Barry, Linda and Pancho head out in the late afternoon for Lyre-tailed Nightjar and some owling. Ive seen the nightjar on my last trip to Ecuador so Im content to stay in the lodge and read for a spell. Its nice having the whole cozy lodge to myself.
My fellow travelers return with the news that they found the LYRE-TAILED NIGHTJAR ,unfortunately it was the less exciting female and they dipped on any owls.
February 3 Milpe-Oilbird Cueva
We park in the lot at Milpe at first light. Before setting out on the trails we check the hummingbird feeders and find GREEN THORNTAILS and GREEN-CROWNED WOODNYMPHS in abundance. We stop first at what used to be an active lek of Club-winged Manakins but find nothing. Pancho tells us one of the trees went down and changed everything. There may not be manikins but there are other birds to see: PLUMBEOUS PIGEON, BLUE-NECKED and BAY-HEADED TANAGER, THICK-BILLED EUPHONIA, ORANGE-BILLED SPARROW, CHESTNUT-CAPPED BRUSH-FINCH.
Down to the river we hike but to be honest the birding on the trails is pretty slow until we get to the top of the hill where there is a small coffee plantation near the parking lot. Here we find many more birds like DUSKY-CAPPED, ORNATE and OLIVE STRIPED FLYCATHCERS, ECUADORIAN THRUSH, BLACK and WHITE WARBLER, PURPLE HONEYCREEPER and GUIRA, OCHRE-BREASTED, SILVER-THOATED, RUFOUS-CRESTED, SWALLOW, WHITE-SHOULDERED and BLUE-NECKED TANAGERS. Whew!
We pay a visit to Mirador de Los Bancos Restaurant and Hostel where we sip coffee on the back deck with an awesome view of the river below. Hummingbird and Tanager feeders are abuzz with activity. We get some better views of many tanagers weve already seen and record a new one for our trip-WHITE-LINED TANAGER. I spend my time trying to get shots of the hummingbirds.
If you are looking for a low rent place to stay consider Mirador. It isnt really fancy but the rooms are nice and clean, the owner very friendly and the birds amazing. I also hear the food is really good. Lots of birds here but it is right in the middle of the town of Los Bancos. Rooms are $10 per night per person.
Next, we embark on perhaps the most adventurous part of our trip thus far. You might have gathered that I am interested in ticking off bird families and today we have the opportunity to see one that can be challenging to find. Fortunately some birding friends from Monterey told me about this place where they went to see them.
With the road washed out the detour and drive out to the ranch near the village of Pacto takes us nearly three hours. Along the way we see our first PACIFIC HORNERO and I spot a PEARL KITE perched on some power lines but for the most part we drive straight on through.
Upon arrival at the ranch we are met by a young man driving a tractor with a trailer hitched to it. The four of us hop into this for a short ride through cornfields to a place where a small creek runs through a narrow, cave like gorge. We then strap on old seatbelts that serve as climbing harnesses, we are belayed from above to descend down through two waterfalls on narrow, wet bamboo ladders to a place where we can see two groups of roosting OILBIRDS. Some of these take flight and we hear their strange, eery flight call that sounds like something out of a horror film.
We manage to get soaked in the process but the close up views are of the Oilbirds are worth it, another family seen. I get some decent shots of a juvenile perched atop their stash of night gathered palm fruits.
Oilbird by Roger Wolfe
http://www.pbase.com/wolfbird/ecuador_west_slope_2009
On the way back to the ranch house the tractor driver points out a flock of BRONZE-WINGED PARROTS, SWALLOW TAIL KITES ply the skies. We bird a bit more before heading back and turn up a STRIPED CUCKOO, GOLDEN OLIVE WOODPECKER and BAND-BACKED WREN. SMOOTH-BILLED ANIS haunt the cow pastures.
February 4 Milpe-Silanche-Quininde
Back to Milpe first thing to try and locate some of the endemics we missed yesterday. CHESTNUT-COLLARED SWIFTS fly overhead. A CHOCO TROGON* is a nice start as are the CHOCO TOUCANS*. We tick off PLAIN XENOPS. Pancho entices some birds into view with playback: IMMACULATE ANTBIRD and RUFOUS-BREASTED ANTTHRUSH scurry across the trail in plain view. It takes some effort as they are not where they have been in the past but we do manage to finally find both CLUB-WINGED* and GOLDEN-WINGED MANIKINS along with CHESTNUT-CAPPED BRUSH FINCH and COLLARED TROGON.
Just up the road is another private reserve that we park outside of, on the main road to look for Moss-backed Tanager in the tall snag. No luck with the tanager but that might be due to the TINY HAWK we see perched there.
Then it is back to Mirador Los Bancos for coffee whilst Pancho gets the tires checked and we are off to Silanche Reserve. I have to admit that I find myself saddened by Panchos descriptions of how this area has changed over the last five years. He alerts us to where the forest used to start and where he once found a rare Banded Ground Cuckoo but now all we see in place of forest is a monoculture of oil palm plantations and further up the road we find the deforested pastures of the squatters. Silanche reserve is now nearly an island of forest in the midst of all these clearings.
Upon arrival we are greeted by a RUFOUS-TAILED JACAMAR and after exiting the car we notice how much warmer it is now that we have dropped down to the lowlands. We get a late start and that probably affects the number of birds we see. At the canopy tower we cross paths with the very likeable Mitch Lysinger and his Field Guides group. He reports a good variety of birds seen this morning but it is quite a bit warmer and slower now. After a brief stint at the tower we walk the trails and pick up several new birds for our trip list: GRAY-HEADED KITE and GRAY-RUMPED SWIFTS, PALE-VENTED PIGEON, NORTHERN BARRED WOODCREEPER, SOOTY-HEADED TYRAUNULET, GREENISH ELAENIA, PACIFIC FLATBILL, EASTERN WOOD PEWEE, BOAT-BILLED and GRAY-BREASTED,SOOTY-CROWNED and SOCIAL FLYCATCHERS, LESSER GREENLET, FULVOUS-VENTED EUPHONIA and SLATE-COLORE GROSBEAK. We somehow manage to miss all the hoped for endemic tangagers and dacnis. After a picnic lunch we find a WHITE-BEARED MANAKIN and then return to the canopy tower for some awesome looks at RED-HEADED BARBET.
Red-headed Barbet by Barry McLaughlin
http://www.pbase.com/bmclaughlin/northwestern_ecuador_janfeb_2009
On our way back out we bird along the road finding, BLUE-HEADED PARROT, GUAYAQUIL WOODPECKER, YELLOW-TAILED ORIOLE, BLUE-BLACK GRASSQUIT and MASKED WATER TYRANT.
Back to the main highway we opt to turn back in the direction weve just come a short distance to Arasha Resort and Spa; a posh place we could not afford at $155 per person per night. We can afford a beer and appetizer by the pool. As it is we are in no hurry to get to Quininde. Our hotel there is very modest and all we want to do there is sleep so we linger at Arasha. Linda and I check out the spa and see that a one hour massage is $50 so hey, why not. Just the cure for tanager neck!
Pancho and Barry have every intention of birding the trails here. Pancho says that they have a very well preserved forest with good birds. But when the rain starts coming down in sheets they end up talking photography in bar.
We have a very nice dinner at Arasha before taking on the two hour drive to Quininde in pouring rain that makes driving a bit hazardous not being able to see the deep potholes in the road. We arrive at Quininde around 8 pm and after watching Tina Fey on 30 Rock with Spanish subtitles I hit the sack.
February 5 Quininde-Canande Reserve
We are up at 4:30am and on the road by 5. In the dark we pass by hectare after hectare of oil palm plantations. By sunrise we arrive in the town of Las Golondrinas, named for the large flocks of GRAY-BREASTED MARTINS we see on the wires. The road from Quininde is unpaved for the most part and here in Las Golondrinas the grinding poverty is reminiscent of East Africa. Gringo tourists are not often seen in these parts. We sip coffee and eat pastries along the main drag as the town is just waking up.
Leaving town the road deteriorates , we weave our way past large trucks, motorbikes and surprisingly the local buses. The further we go the more the traffic thins until it is a bare trickle. A pond at the roadside has both RINGED and GREEN KINGFISHERS.
At the Canande River we board the dual-canoe, outboard-powered ferry with a fully loaded dump truck for the corssing and spot a STRIATED HERON and NEOTROPIC CORMORANT. Pancho tells us that just five years ago the forest came right up to the river here. Today we drive for many miles passing clearing after clearing of pastures and subsistence farms of squatters.
Once the logging companies have built roads and cut down the big trees the poor squatters show up with machetes and chainsaws to clear a bit of land and thus become the owners. Essentially it is homesteading. If you clear the forest the government gives you the deed to the land. Between logging interests, oil palm plantations and the subsistence farms of the squatters these forests are disappearing fast.
BirdLife International writes, Unplanned colonization following the completion of roads and massive logging concessions are major threats to the Choc forests. Since 1960, over 40% of the forest area has been cleared or heavily degraded, and deforestation rates are accelerating (Salaman 1994). Currently, intensive logging, human settlement, cattle-grazing, mining, wildlife exploitation, and coca and palm cultivation all threaten the region, with forest destruction most severe in the coastal plain and foothills below c.2,000 m. (Dinerstein et al. 1995, Wege and Long 1995).
Along the road we stop now and then for DUSKY * and SCALED PIGEONS, RUDDY GROUND DOVE, LONG-TAILED TYRANT,TROPICAL GNATCATCHER, a small flock of the endemic ROSE-FACED PARROTS* eating bananas, MEALY AMAZON, SAFFRON-HEADED, BLUE-HEADED and RED-BILLED PARROTS dwarf tiny PACIFIC PARROTLETS. BAND-RUMPED SWIFTS fly overhead.
We arrive at the Jocotoco Foundations Canande Reserve and hit the trails. The sun is out today and it is quite warm. The loud thrum of cicadas electrifies the air. Birds seen include; BARRED PUFFBIRD, BLACK-CHEEKED WOODPECKER, both SLATY and DOT-WINGED ANTWREN and MASKED TITYRA. We locate the lek
Barred Puffibird by Barry McLaughlin
http://www.pbase.com/bmclaughlin/northwestern_ecuador_janfeb_2009
and get some outstanding views of a male RED-CAPPED MANAKIN. We get lucky views when some WHITE-FACED CAPUCHIN MONKEYS come frolicking through the canopy.
A stream crossing lacks a bridge but there is a stout vine hanging over the creek which we use like Tarzan to swing to the other side. Who says birders dont swing?
Canande Reserve has a small lodge which is quite comfortable given its isolation. Our meals are taken in a large, airy dining hall and prepared by two local women who live next door. The lodge can accommodate groups up to 10 sharing rooms and utilizing bunk beds. Few birders visit this reserve due to the fact that the road in requires four wheel drive.
Around the lodge we find YELLOW-CROWNED TYRAUNULET, PURPLE-CHESTED HUMMINGBIRD*, ORANGE-FRONTED BARBET* and WHITE-THIGHED SWALLOWS.
In the afternoon we drive the road between the reserve and the tiny settlement of Oja Blanca finding WHITE-RINGED, PIRATIC, RUDDY-TAILED and RUSTY-MARGINED FLYCATCHERS and the ubiquitous TROPICAL KINGBIRDS on the roadside wires.
In one stop along the road we hit pay dirt. We may have missed these lowland species at Silanche but here at Canande we find RED-LEGGED HONEYCREEPER, YELLOW-TUFTED, SCARLET-THIGHED and the very striking SCARTLET-BREASTED DACNIS*. DUSKY-FACED, GOLDEN-CROWNED, GRAY-CROWNED and RUFOUS-WINGED TANAGERS. We also find some new trip birds that are not endemics like GREEN HONEYCREEPER, BLUE DACNIS.
We turn around to head back for the reserve in the tiny settlement of Oja Blanca. The simple homes are made of wooden planks without windows. Most have a power line and Im surprised to see The Simpsons playing on a TV inside one of these modest dwellings, talk about incongruous.
Most of the people are friendly at wave back to us. It is apparent they dont see many gringos out here. Some of them look a bit frightened of us, I ask Pancho about this and he tells us these people out here in the bush have some strange ideas as to what the gringos are doing here. One of them is that we come here to steal their organs! We get a good laugh at that one.
Feb. 6 Canande
We rise early and hit the trails under the cover of darkness. Pancho is determined to find us a very difficult bird this morning thus our early start. After much effort Pancho does find a TAWNY-FACED QUAIL but we fumble trying to get on it and miss the ghost.
At dawn the resident HOWLER MONKEYS greet the day and we manage to see at least one of them. The next couple of hours are frustrating as Pancho tries to entice birds into view with either the iPod or using playback but the birds are largely unresponsive until we get down to the creek where a pair of TAWNY-CRESTED TANAGERS pop out of the foliage. Here we also get nice looks at the remarkably loud BUFF-RUMPED WARBLER.
Throughout the trip weve been hearing and taping SOUTHERN NIGHTINGALE-WREN to no avail but now we finally get a responsive one in view. A WESTERN WHITE-TAILED TROGON is a nice find as is WHITE-WHISKERED PUFFBIRD, WHITE-THROATED SPADEBILL and RED-RUMPED WOODPECKER. Finally we come across an active feeding flock and things get fast and furious with sightings of SPOT-CROWNED ANTVIREO, WHITE-FLANKED ANTWREN, ESMERALDAS and CHESTNUT-BACKED ANTBIRD, and PACIFIC FLATBILL.
As we did yesterday after lunch and siesta we hit the road. Today we find little activity between the reserve and Oja Blanca but up the road from the settlement the birding is fantastic; GRAY-CAPPED, OCHRE-BELLIED and WHITE-RINGED FLYCATCHERS along with a SNOWY-THROATED KINGBIRD.
We are still hoping to find more of the Choco endemics. There is one Im particularly desirous of in that it is unique. I follow a tanager into the top of a snag and as Im trying to get on it I see a distinctive snow-white bird perched. In a low key tone I say very calmly to my comrades, Im on the cotinga.
Barry laughs at the way I say it, believing it a joke but indeed up in the tree is the sought after BLACK-TIPPED COTINGA. A nice find that Pancho tells us hes seen on only half of the trips into Canande. To top it off Barry gets a nice shot of it! Well toast the moment later over beers.
White-tipped Cotinga by Barry McLaughlin
http://www.pbase.com/bmclaughlin/northwestern_ecuador_janfeb_2009
On this upper stretch of road we also find a TROPICAL GNATCATCHER and another RUFOUS-WINGED TANAGER. We see many of the tanagers and dacnis that we sighted yesterday, now everyone in our party has seen them well.
At the top of the road we come to a sign saying that further entry is prohibited by the timber company, as we start to turn around we see a young man riding up the slippery road on his horse with a machete. Pancho and I greet him a good afternoon, he is friendly and asks what were looking for.
In Spanish Pancho tells him, Birds.
For food?
No just to look at.
The guys gives us a curious look and then says he has just seen a parrot with a long tail just up the road.
Really? Pancho says and then turns to me and says, could be a Great Green Macaw.
He asks the guy if hell show it to us for five bucks and before we know it we are following him up the muddy trail. I hear some parrot chatter and see one fly in but it is a Mealy Amazon. We stop to look at it and Pancho asks him if that is the bird.
No, its in that dead tree. It is indeed but not the hoped for Great Green but rather a CHESTNUT-FRONTED MACAW.
We pay Juan Fernandez but we only have a ten dollar bill, Pancho asks if he has change to which Juan laughs, I have no money, all I do is work. He is one of the squatters Ive mentioned trying to eke out a subsistence in a forest clearing.
I ask him if he wants see the bird through our scope. When he does he is incredulous.
Its right there!
Pancho tells him to keep the change but to please watch over and protect the parrots. He explains that he is our guide to show us tourists the birds and he knows the names in English. Juan asks where were staying.
Jocotoco Foundation Reserve.
What is Jocotoco?
A type of bird.
Oh, what is a reserve?
Pancho explains that the reserve is to protect the animals and birds of the forest.
To this Juan Fernandez can only scratch his head. This is a foreign concept to him, that the land would need to be preserved. We are on the frontline of the battle where poverty and the need to preserve habitats meet.
We find a WESTERN WHITE-TAILED TROGON as we bid Juan good-bye, he takes another peek through the scope and declares what a beauty the bird is. We concur.
Western White-tailed Trogon by Roger Wolfe
http://www.pbase.com/wolfbird/ecuador_west_slope_2009
February 7 Canande-Quito
Our plan today is to bird the upper section of road as yesterday was so productive. Driving through Oja Blanca I wave to the locals and say out loud, Watch your organs folks, here come the gringos again.
Pancho hears a bird in some roadside vegetation. We stop and he plays the call over the cars speakers. Almost immediately we spot a WHITE-THROATED CRAKE streak across the road. Atop a fencepost is a LITTLE CUCKOO.
Two birds in silhouette on a roadside snag get the car stopped again. These are the best looks Ive ever had of a pair of BAT FALCONS.
We walk up the road in the light rain finding birds here and there; a BLACK-CAPPED PYGMY TYRANT busily constructing a nest, BUFF-THROATED FOLIAGE GLEANER, SLATE-THROATED GNATCATCHER, THICK-BILLED EUPHONIA, BLUE-WHISKERED* and EMERALD TANAGERS. We have managed to do quite well with the endemic Choco tanagers. I believe that our only big miss is Scarlet-and-White-Tanager. Our best finds this morning is a LITA WOODPECKER* and an Ecuadorian endemic ESMERALDAS WOODSTAR*. A SCRUB BLACKBIRD in Oja Blanca is new for the trip.
Back to the lodge we collect our luggage for the long drive ahead of us. Sunday morning finds many people along the way, some of the men look to be on their way to local soccer matches. Las Golondrinas is a hive of activity unlike out early morning visit days before.
We stop for lunch in Quininde and then onward towards Quito. The washout forces us to detour one final time and finally we are on the outskirts of Quito where we stop near the Center of the World Monument to find ASH-BREASTED and BAND-TAILED SEEDEATERS but it is the GIANT HUMMINGBIRD we come for and it is also the last tick on our journey.
Birds seen:
Curve-billed Tinamou Nothoprocta curvirostris
Silvery Grebe Podiceps occipitalis
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
Striated Heron Butorides striatus
Black-faced Ibis Theristicus melanopis
Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura
Black Vulture Coragyps atratus
Andean Condor Vultur gryphus
Andean Teal Anas andium
South Georgian Teal Anas georgica
Grey-headed Kite Leptodon cayanensis
Swallow-tailed Kite Elanoides forficatus
Pearl Kite Gampsonyx swainsonii
Tiny Hawk Accipiter superciliosus
Roadside Hawk Buteo magnirostris
Puna Hawk Buteo poecilochrous
Carunculated Caracara Phalcoboenus carunculatus
American Kestrel Falco sparverius
Bat Falcon Falco rufigularis
Aplomado Falcon Falco femoralis
Sickle-winged Guan Chamaepetes goudotii
White-throated Crake Laterallus albigularis
Andean Coot Fulica ardesiaca
Sunbittern Eurypyga helias
Andean Lapwing Vanellus resplendens
Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca
Andean Snipe Gallinago jamesoni
Andean Gull Larus serranus
Band-tailed Pigeon Columba fasciata
Plumbeous Pigeon Columba plumbea
Ruddy Pigeon Columba subvinacea
Dusky Pigeon Columba goodsoni
Eared Dove Zenaida auriculata
Ruddy Ground-Dove Columbina talpacoti
Black-winged Ground-Dove Metriopelia melanoptera
White-tipped Dove Leptotila verreauxi
Chestnut-fronted Macaw Ara severa
Pacific Parrotlet Forpus coelestis
Rose-faced Parrot Pionopsitta pulchra
Blue-headed Parrot Pionus menstruus
Red-billed Parrot Pionus sordidus
Bronze-winged Parrot Pionus chalcopterus
Mealy Parrot Amazona farinosa
Smooth-billed Ani Crotophaga ani
Striped Cuckoo Tapera naevia
Squirrel Cuckoo Piaya cayana
Little Cuckoo Piaya minuta
Barn Owl Tyto alba
Rufescent Screech-Owl Otus ingens
Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus
Mottled Owl Ciccaba virgata
Andean Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium jardinii
Oilbird Steatornis caripensis
Gray Potoo Nyctibius griseus
Chestnut-collared Swift Cypseloides rutilus
White-collared Swift Streptoprocne zonaris
Band-rumped Swift Chaetura spinicauda
Grey-rumped Swift Chaetura cinereiventris
White-whiskered Hermit Phaethornis yaruqui
Tawny-bellied Hermit Phaethornis syrmatophorus
White-necked Jacobin Florisuga mellivora
Brown Violet-ear Colibri delphinae
Green Thorntail Discosura conversii
Green-crowned Woodnymph Thalurania fannyi
Purple-chested Hummingbird Polyerata rosenbergi
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird Amazilia tzacatl
Purple-bibbed Whitetip Urosticte benjamini
Fawn-breasted Brilliant Heliodoxa rubinoides
Green-crowned Brilliant Heliodoxa jacula
Empress Brilliant Heliodoxa imperatrix
Ecuadorian Hillstar Oreotrochilus chimborazo
Giant Hummingbird Patagona gigas
Mountain Velvetbreast Lafresnaya lafresnayi
Great Sapphirewing Pterophanes cyanopterus
Brown Inca Coeligena wilsoni
Collared Inca Coeligena torquata
Buff-winged Starfrontlet Coeligena lutetiae
Sword-billed Hummingbird Ensifera ensifera
Buff-tailed Coronet Boissonneaua flavescens
Velvet-purple Coronet Boissonneaua jardini
Sapphire-vented Puffleg Eriocnemis luciani
Booted Racquet-tail Ocreatus underwoodii
Black-tailed Trainbearer Lesbia victoriae
Tyrian Metaltail Metallura tyrianthina
Violet-tailed Sylph Aglaiocercus coelestis
Purple-throated Woodstar Philodice mitchellii
Esmeraldas Woodstar Chaetocercus berlepschi
Golden-headed Quetzal Pharomachrus auriceps
Choc Trogon Trogon comptus
Western White-tailed Trogon Trogon chionurus
Masked Trogon Trogon personatus
Violaceous Trogon Trogon violaceus
Ringed Kingfisher Megaceryle torquata
Green Kingfisher Chloroceryle americana
Rufous Motmot Baryphthengus martii
Rufous-tailed Jacamar Galbula ruficauda
Barred Puffbird Nystalus radiatus
White-whiskered Puffbird Malacoptila panamensis
Orange-fronted Barbet Capito squamatus
Red-headed Barbet Eubucco bourcierii
Toucan Barbet Semnornis ramphastinus
Crimson-rumped Toucanet Aulacorhynchus haematopygus
Pale-mandibled Araari Pteroglossus erythropygius
Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan Andigena laminirostris
Choc Toucan Ramphastos brevis
Chestnut-mandibled Toucan Ramphastos swainsonii
Olivaceous Piculet Picumnus olivaceus
Black-cheeked Woodpecker Melanerpes pucherani
Red-rumped Woodpecker Veniliornis kirkii
Lita Woodpecker Piculus litae
Golden-olive Woodpecker Piculus rubiginosus
Crimson-mantled Woodpecker Piculus rivolii
Lineated Woodpecker Dryocopus lineatus
Powerful Woodpecker Campephilus pollens
Crimson-bellied Woodpecker Campephilus haematogaster
Guayaquil Woodpecker Campephilus gayaquilensis
Plain-brown Woodcreeper Dendrocincla fuliginosa
Wedge-billed Woodcreeper Glyphorynchus spirurus
Strong-billed Woodcreeper Xiphocolaptes promeropirhynchus
Northern Barred-Woodcreeper Dendrocolaptes sanctithomae
Spotted Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus erythropygius
Streak-headed Woodcreeper Lepidocolaptes souleyetii
Montane Woodcreeper Lepidocolaptes lacrymiger
Bar-winged Cinclodes Cinclodes fuscus
Stout-billed Cinclodes Cinclodes excelsior
Andean Tit-Spinetail Leptasthenura andicola
Azara's Spinetail Synallaxis azarae
Slaty Spinetail Synallaxis brachyura
White-browed Spinetail Hellmayrea gularis
Red-faced Spinetail Cranioleuca erythrops
Many-striped Canastero Asthenes flammulata
Spotted Barbtail Premnoplex brunnescens
Pearled Treerunner Margarornis squamiger
Streaked Tuftedcheek Pseudocolaptes boissonneautii
Lineated Foliage-gleaner Syndactyla subalaris
Scaly-throated Foliage-gleaner Anabacerthia variegaticeps
Buff-throated Foliage-gleaner Automolus ochrolaemus
Plain Xenops Xenops minutus
Spot-crowned Antvireo Dysithamnus puncticeps
White-flanked Antwren Myrmotherula axillaris
Slaty Antwren Myrmotherula schisticolor
Dot-winged Antwren Microrhopias quixensis
Chestnut-backed Antbird Myrmeciza exsul
Esmeraldas Antbird Myrmeciza nigricauda
Immaculate Antbird Myrmeciza immaculata
Rufous-breasted Antthrush Formicarius rufipectus
Giant Antpitta Grallaria gigantea
Scaled Antpitta Grallaria guatimalensis
Chestnut-crowned Antpitta Grallaria ruficapilla
Rufous Antpitta Grallaria rufula
Tawny Antpitta Grallaria quitensis
Yellow-breasted Antpitta Grallaria flavotinca
Unicolored Tapaculo Scytalopus unicolor
Spillmann's Tapaculo Scytalopus spillmanni
Ocellated Tapaculo Acropternis orthonyx
Sooty-headed Tyrannulet Phyllomyias griseiceps
Golden-faced Tyrannulet Zimmerius chrysops
Yellow-crowned Tyrannulet Tyrannulus elatus
Pacific Elaenia Myiopagis subplacens
White-throated Tyrannulet Mecocerculus leucophrys
White-tailed Tyrannulet Mecocerculus poecilocercus
White-banded Tyrannulet Mecocerculus stictopterus
Tufted Tit-Tyrant Anairetes parulus
Streak-necked Flycatcher Mionectes striaticollis
Black-capped Pygmy-Tyrant Myiornis atricapillus
Scale-crested Pygmy-Tyrant Lophotriccus pileatus
Pacific Flatbill Rhynchocyclus pacificus
White-throated Spadebill Platyrinchus mystaceus
Ornate Flycatcher Myiotriccus ornatus
Ruddy-tailed Flycatcher Terenotriccus erythrurus
Smoke-colored Pewee Contopus fumigatus
Western Wood-Pewee Contopus sordidulus
Eastern Wood-Pewee Contopus virens
Black Phoebe Sayornis nigricans
Vermilion Flycatcher Pyrocephalus rubinus
Crowned Chat-Tyrant Silvicultrix frontalis
Yellow-bellied Chat-Tyrant Silvicultrix diadema
Streak-throated Bush-Tyrant Myiotheretes striaticollis
Smoky Bush-Tyrant Myiotheretes fumigatus
Paramo Ground-Tyrant Muscisaxicola alpina
Masked Water-Tyrant Fluvicola nengeta
Long-tailed Tyrant Colonia colonus
Dusky-capped Flycatcher Myiarchus tuberculifer
Boat-billed Flycatcher Megarynchus pitangua
Rusty-margined Flycatcher Myiozetetes cayanensis
Social Flycatcher Myiozetetes similis
Grey-capped Flycatcher Myiozetetes granadensis
White-ringed Flycatcher Conopias albovittata
Golden-crowned Flycatcher Myiodynastes chrysocephalus
Piratic Flycatcher Legatus leucophaius
Snowy-throated Kingbird Tyrannus niveigularis
Tropical Kingbird Tyrannus melancholicus
Cinnamon Becard Pachyramphus cinnamomeus
Masked Tityra Tityra semifasciata
Black-crowned Tityra Tityra inquisitor
Green Manakin Chloropipo holochlora
White-bearded Manakin Manacus manacus
Red-capped Manakin Pipra mentalis
Golden-winged Manakin Masius chrysopterus
Club-winged Manakin Machaeropterus deliciosus
Orange-breasted Fruiteater Pipreola jucunda
Olivaceous Piha Lathria cryptolophus
Black-tipped Cotinga Carpodectes hopkei
Andean Cock-of-the-rock Rupicola peruviana
Gray-breasted Martin Progne chalybea
Brown-bellied Swallow Notiochelidon murina
Blue-and-white Swallow Notiochelidon cyanoleuca
White-thighed Swallow Neochelidon tibialis
Southern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx ruficollis
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
White-capped Dipper Cinclus leucocephalus
Band-backed Wren Campylorhynchus zonatus
Rufous Wren Cinnycerthia unirufa
Short-billed Marsh-Wren Cistothorus platensis
Black-capped Wren Thryothorus nigricapillus
House Wren Troglodytes aedon
White-breasted Wood-Wren Henicorhina leucosticta
Scaly-breasted Wren Microcerculus marginatus
Andean Solitaire Myadestes ralloides
Pale-eyed Thrush Platycichla leucops
Great Thrush Turdus fuscater
Ecuadorean Thrush Turdus maculirostris
Tawny-faced Gnatwren Microbates cinereiventris
Tropical Gnatcatcher Polioptila plumbea
Slate-throated Gnatcatcher Polioptila schistaceigula
Turquoise Jay Cyanolyca turcosa
Rufous-collared Sparrow Zonotrichia capensis
Plumbeous Sierra-Finch Phrygilus unicolor
Ash-breasted Sierra-Finch Phrygilus plebejus
Blue-black Grassquit Volatinia jacarina
Black-and-white Seedeater Sporophila luctuosa
Yellow-bellied Seedeater Sporophila nigricollis
Lesser Seed-Finch Oryzoborus angolensis
Band-tailed Seedeater Catamenia analis
Plain-colored Seedeater Catamenia inornata
Orange-billed Sparrow Arremon aurantiirostris
Chestnut-capped Brushfinch Buarremon brunneinucha
Southern Yellow Grosbeak Pheucticus chrysogaster
Slate-colored Grosbeak Saltator grossus
Buff-throated Saltator Saltator maximus
Black-winged Saltator Saltator atripennis
Grass-green Tanager Chlorornis riefferii
Dusky Bush-Tanager Chlorospingus semifuscus
Yellow-throated Bush-Tanager Chlorospingus flavigularis
Gray-hooded Bush-Tanager Cnemoscopus rubrirostris
Superciliaried Hemispingus Hemispingus superciliaris
Guira Tanager Hemithraupis guira
Dusky-faced Tanager Mitrospingus cassinii
Ochre-breasted Tanager Chlorothraupis stolzmanni
Rufous-crested Tanager Creurgops verticalis
Scarlet-browed Tanager Heterospingus xanthopygius
White-shouldered Tanager Tachyphonus luctuosus
Tawny-crested Tanager Tachyphonus delatrii
White-lined Tanager Tachyphonus rufus
Summer Tanager Piranga rubra
Lemon-rumped Tanager Ramphocelus icteronotus
Blue-grey Tanager Thraupis episcopus
Palm Tanager Thraupis palmarum
Blue-capped Tanager Thraupis cyanocephala
Hooded Mountain-Tanager Buthraupis montana
Black-chested Mountain-Tanager Buthraupis eximia
Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager Anisognathus igniventris
Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager Anisognathus somptuosus
Fawn-breasted Tanager Pipraeidea melanonota
Thick-billed Euphonia Euphonia laniirostris
Golden-rumped Euphonia Euphonia cyanocephala
Fulvous-vented Euphonia Euphonia fulvicrissa
White-vented Euphonia Euphonia minuta
Orange-bellied Euphonia Euphonia xanthogaster
Yellow-collared Chlorophonia Chlorophonia flavirostris
Grey-and-gold Tanager Tangara palmeri
Blue-whiskered Tanager Tangara johannae
Emerald Tanager Tangara florida
Golden Tanager Tangara arthus
Silver-throated Tanager Tangara icterocephala
Flame-faced Tanager Tangara parzudakii
Bay-headed Tanager Tangara gyrola
Rufous-winged Tanager Tangara lavinia
Metallic-green Tanager Tangara labradorides
Blue-necked Tanager Tangara cyanicollis
Golden-hooded Tanager Tangara larvata
Beryl-spangled Tanager Tangara nigroviridis
Scarlet-thighed Dacnis Dacnis venusta
Blue Dacnis Dacnis cayana
Scarlet-breasted Dacnis Dacnis berlepschi
Green Honeycreeper Chlorophanes spiza
White-sided Flowerpiercer Diglossa albilatera
Glossy Flowerpiercer Diglossa lafresnayii
Black Flowerpiercer Diglossa humeralis
Masked Flowerpiercer Diglossopis cyanea
Swallow Tanager Tersina viridis
Bananaquit Coereba flaveola
Tropical Parula Parula pitiayumi
Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia
Blackburnian Warbler Dendroica fusca
Slate-throated Redstart Myioborus miniatus
Spectacled Whitestart Myioborus melanocephalus
Black-crested Warbler Basileuterus nigrocristatus
Buff-rumped Warbler Basileuterus fulvicauda
Russet-crowned Warbler Basileuterus coronatus
Three-striped Warbler Basileuterus tristriatus
Cinereous Conebill Conirostrum cinereum
Blue-backed Conebill Conirostrum sitticolor
Capped Conebill Conirostrum albifrons
Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus
Brown-capped Vireo Vireo leucophrys
Lesser Greenlet Hylophilus decurtatus
Hooded Siskin Carduelis magellanica
Yellow-bellied Siskin Carduelis xanthogastra
House Sparrow Passer domesticus
Yellow-tailed Oriole Icterus mesomelas
Scrub Blackbird Dives warszewiczi
Shiny Cowbird Molothrus bonariensis