ISSN 1809-127X (online edition) © 2010 Check List and Authors Chec List Open Access | Freely available at www.checklist.org.br Journal of species lists and distribution

n New distributional records from the eastern Andean slopes of istributio D

1,2,3* 4 raphic g Alejandro Solano-Ugalde and Galo J. Real-Jibaja eo 1 G n

o Fundación Imaymana, Paltapamba 476 San Pedro del Valle, Nayón. , Ecuador.

2 Neblina Natural History and Birding Tours, South America, Isla Floreana e8-129. Quito, Ecuador. 3 Natural History of Ecuador’s [email protected] Avifauna Group, 721 Foch y Amazonas. Quito, Ecuador. otes 4 Real Nature, Travel Company, Casa Upano. Macas, Morona Santiago, Ecuador. N * Corresponding author. E-mail:

Abstract:

Distribution of is dynamic. Understanding, documentation and appropriate use of new records are essential, especially when managing threatened species. Here we present novel data regarding new distributional records for 17 bird species along the Amazonian slopes of the eastern Ecuadorian . The new records fill gaps on our knowledge in the distribution, both in latitude and altitude.

Although knowledge on the distribution of birds on mainland Ecuador has been well studied (Fjeldså Rostrhamus sociabilis ACCIPITRIDAE during recent years an inspiring number of articles have Snail Kite Cassin, 1854 - Two beenand Krabbe published 1990; documenting Ridgely and new Greenfield discoveries 2001; on 2006), the individuals in juvenile plumage were seen flying over the distribution of birds in mainland Ecuador (e.g. Freile old-Zamora Airstrip on 6 March 2008, Zamora-Chinchipe et al. province (950 m a.s.l., 03°59’ S, 78°53’ W). Both birds new records is essential to better understand dynamic glided parallel to the Río Zamora and stayed in view for 2004; Vogt 2007; Solano-Ugalde 2009). Presenting approximately 15-20 minutes. This sighting constitutes a new provincial record for Zamora-Chinchipe and an upper increasingpopulation issues, knowledge which ofin some distributional instances can patterns be related has altitudinal record for the country (Ridgely and Greenfield provento changes useful in land-usefor modeling practices and predicting (Renjifo 1999). actual Moreover, ranges of 2001; 2006). Oroaetus isidori et al. Black-And-Chestnut Eagle (Des Murs, little-known and threatened species (Freile 2010). In 1845) - On 20 January 2007 a large raptor, mostly all white this note we present new records, some of them expected from below, was seen briefly crossing over Papallacta butThese with norecords previous were documentation, gathered opportunistically for 17 bird speciesduring Antennae (Napo province), however due to the briefness on mainland Ecuador. of the observation identification was uncertain. The next morning, what seemed the same bird was found at the field work carried out throughout the Ecuador, mainly theentrance bird wasof Reserva well studied Ecológica in good Cayambe-Coca light conditions (Papallacta for 8 while conducting expeditions and leading tourist groups. Lakes sector, 3,800 m a.s.l., 0°22’ S, 78°13’ W). This time follows Ridgely and Greenfield (2001; 2006). Records are presented for a total of 17 bird species, minutes while it soared before perching 1.2 km away. A including 13 families, and 17 genera. The records were buffy-brown conspicuous crest, whitish buff under-parts,O. collected in five provinces, accounting for the majority isidorilarge dark and scalloped wings, together with prominent found in the eastern slopes of the Ecuadorian Andes. size were sufficient to identify the raptor as a juvenile Anas discors . These records constitute the highest record for ANATIDAE Ecuador, previously known only to 3,000 m a.s.l. (Ridgely observedBlue Winged perched Teal on in a small poolLinnaeus, of shallow 1766 water- On the at and Greenfield 2001; 2006). afternoon of 8 October 2008 a Blue-winged Teal was Micrastur buckleyi FALCONIDAEMicrastur the edge of the Río Quijos, Napo province (1,650 m above Buckley’s Forest Falcon Swann, sea level - a.s.l., 00°25’ S, 77°49’ W). As the bird preened 1919 - A sp. falcon was found perched 20 m we were able to record diagnostic field marks (Ridgely and up on the slopes adjacent to Cabañas Yankuam (Zamora- migrantGreenfield overwintering 2001). Subsequently, in Ecuador the mostly bird tuckedin lowland its head and Chinchipe province, 900 m a.s.l., 04°15’ S, 78°39’ W) early under its wing, roosting on one leg. Blue-winged Teal is a in the morning on 5 March 2008. For a 15 minutes period it remained partly hidden, occasionally preening, at which highland wetlands (Ridgely and Greenfield 2001; 2006). clearlytime was observed studied only with four a telescope. bands at the During distal therectrices last three (not This record makes for the first of the species in subtropical minutes, the bird concentrated on preening its tail and we forestsCheck on List the | Volume east 6 slope| Issue 2 of| 2010 the Andes. 326 Solano-Ugalde and Real-Jibaja | New distributional bird records from the eastern Andean slopes of Ecuador

M. semitorquatus more as in Collared Forest-Falcon ). Upon same area. Since then, this species has proven to be regular play-back of Buckley´s Forest Falcon, the bird stopped in the surroundings in this area, with up to five records preening, stretched its neck, checked the surroundings, a week. Previously, Tropical Screech-Owl was known and departed to the forest interior. Three minutes later, mainly from the northern provinces of Napo and Pastaza, what was inferred to be the same bird, based on its location previouslythus our records known represent altitudinal the distributionfirst for Morona (Ridgely Santiago and ofinside eastern the forest, Ecuador responded where to it playback was previously with two known full calls. to province, and are from an elevation 300 m higher than the Buckley´s Forest Falcon is regarded as rare in the lowlands Greenfield 2001;et al. 2006). This species, however, has been etoccur al. as high as 300 m a.s.l. Subsequently, specimens from recorded up to as high as 2,400 m a.s.l. in neighboring Cordillera del Cutucú collected at 1,800 m a.s.l. (Robbins (Schulenberg 2007). 1987) were regarded as dubious by Ridgely and Aeronautes montivagus Greenfield (2001). Our record, at 900 m, in the neighboring APODIDAE Cordillera del Condor, is congruent with recent records White-Tipped Swift (d’Orbigny & from neighboring Peru, a country with similaret mountains al. theLafresnaye, northern 1837) portion - This of the swift country is regarded (e.g. Río as Guayllabamba rare to locally resting close to Amazonian , where the species is common, with the majority of observations coming from known locally up to 1,350 m a.s.l. (Schulenberg 2007). Nothocrax urumutum and Chota drainages, Ridgely and Greenfield 2001; 2006). CRACIDAE On 29 September 2007 four adults in the company of three Nocturnal CurrasowAra militaris (Spix, 1825) juveniles were first heard vocalizing, and later observed, - On the evening of 5 September 2006, while conducting as they flew over the Ulba River at San Antonio de la Military Macaw (Shaw, 1792) surveys in the Montaña ( province, 2,150 m a.s.l., 01°25’20” buffer zone of Sumaco National Park (see details of the site S, 78°24’16” W). This species has also been seen there and species in Arcos-Torres and Solano-Ugalde 2008), we countryby others and (L. theJost, fewpersonal of sightings communication). that suggest This resident record detected the booming notes typical of Nocturnal Currasow. fills a distributional gap between the northern part of the We subsequently observed two birds approaching shyly in litt. to within 6 m while feeding on the fallen fruits of an (Bestpopulations et al. in the south (Catacocha in Loja, P. Coopmans unidentified tree for 5 minutes (Orellana province, 1,100 , Río Rircay in Azuay), and in Buenaventura, El Oro m a.s.l., 00°42’ S, 77°29’ W). This currasow has been 1993). recorded to 400 m a.s.l., withet al smaller numbers to 900 m in Heliangelus amethysticollis Ecuador (Ridgely and Greenfield 2001; 2006), and to 600 TROCHILIDAE m in Peru (Schulenberg . 2007). Our record extends Amethyst-Throated Sunangel the known altitudinal range to 1,100 m a.s.l. adult(d’Orbigny males &were Lafresnaye, observed 1838) in the riparian- During forest bird vegetationsurveys in Vanellus chilensis San Antonio de la Montaña () several CHARADRIIDAE Southern Lapwing (Molina, 1782) of Pacuyacu River. Amethyst-throated Sunangels’ were - A group of six was first seen in December 2006 at the frequently seen visiting a common litophytic bromeliad Lluscahuyco Trout farm, near the Guacamayos ridge (Napo onwhich several was occasions blooming wereat the observed time. They having were antagonistic in the area province, 2,100 m a.s.l., 00°36’ S, 77°52’ W). The species for about two months (September-NovemberCoeligena 2005), torquata and was later found along the Las Caucheras Road, close to Heliangelus Cabañas San Isidro (M. Lysinger, personal communication), encounters with Collared Inca where this it is now known to breed (H. Greeney personal H.(Boissoneau, exortis 1840). The only other Sunangel ( communication). Groups of up to 11 individuals can sp.) species known from this area is Tormaline SunangelH. regularly be found in wet pastures with short grasses. exortis (d’Orbigny & Lafresnaye, 1838). The individuals There appear, however, to be seasonal fluctuations in observed, however, were easily distinguished from numbers (personal observation). The known distribution , as only Amethyst-throated exhibits a complete of Southern Lapwing in Ecuador has been dynamic since white collar with pinkish-purple gorget. Previously it was first discovered in the country in the 1970´s (see thought to be restricted to south-eastern Ecuador (Ridgely Ridgely and Greenfield 2001 for summary of records). Until and Greenfield 2001; 2006), its presence was only recently recently, however, the species’ expanding distribution had confirmed farther north in Napo province (Vogt 2007). reached only to 400 m a.s.l., with wandering individuals Our record fills the gap between these two records. higher. The records presented here account for the highest gutturata in the country, but also apparently for other parts of its FURNARIIDAE range. Speckled Spinetail (d’Orbigny Otus choliba & Lafresnaye, 1838) - A single Speckled Spinetail was STRIGIDAE rapidlyrecorded among on 4 dense March tangles 2008 in the the riparian gardens forest of Cabañas of Río Tropical Screech-Owl (Vieillot, 1817) - Yankuam (Zamora-Chinchipe province). The bird moved On 15 December 2008 this species was heard when two interacting individuals were identified for the first time Nangaritza. In Ecuador this species has been recorded in the gardens of Casa Upano (Morona-Santiago province, mostly below 400 m a.s.l., with records as high as 600 m 980 m a.s.l., 2°19’098” S, 98°07’075” W). On 20 December near Lumbaqui (Ridgely and Greenfield 2001; 2006), and this species was seen, recorded, and photographed in the our record extends its upper altitudinal limit to 900 m a.s.l. Check List | Volume 6 | Issue 2 | 2010 327 Solano-Ugalde and Real-Jibaja | New distributional bird records from the eastern Andean slopes of Ecuador

Chamaeza mollissima The records presented herein fill the geographic gap Barred Antthrush Sclater, theand increasingare the first construction for Tungurahua of roads province, traversing confirming the Andes its 1855 - On 13 March 2006 a single individual was found presence in east-central Ecuador as well. It is possible that while performing bird surveys in the buffer zone of edgeSangay of Nationala forest trail Park, with near limited “El Retiro” light and (San very Antonio densely de along a west-east axis may increase the number of exposed la Montaña), Tungurahua. The bird walked along the cliffs (nesting and foraging habitat) and encourage the colonization of areas with previous limited accessibility packed epiphytic growth on most overhanging branches. and suitable habitat. Knipolegus poecilurus Subsequently the species was found to be quite vocal on June 2006 and 2007. On the latter date, one individual was Rufous-Tailedat rock faces along Tyrant the Río Topo Road (Tunguarahua(Sclater, observed with a juvenile. Considered as very rare to rare in 1862) - Along the Baños-Puyo Road, in 2005-2006, Ecuador, the status of this species was discussed by Ridgely likelyand Greenfield that this species (2001), is wherein distributed the authors continuously mentioned along province, 1,200 m a.s.l., 01°25’ S, 78° W), two individuals old specimens from Baños but no recent records. It seems were found fly-catching in typical fashion from the short by Krabbe et al. vegetation growing from the cliff faces. As this species has the eastern slope of the Ecuadorian Andes, as suggested knownsubsequently only frombeen theseen northern here by andothers southern (L. Jost, provinces personal (1998) and the previous authors. communication), to occur regularly in this area. Previously Phaeomyias murina TYRANNIDAE (Ridgely and Greenfield 2001; 2006), this record fills a Mouse-Colored Tyrannulet (Spix, gap in its distribution, and represents the first provincial 1825) - This species was first seen on 25 April 2009 at record for Tungurahua. Casa Upano (Morona-Santiago province) as it captured cayana insects by sallying from a citrus tree. Subsequently,Phyllomyias this COTINGIDAE griseicepsspecies has been recorded occasionally, and it hasCoereba been Spangled Cotinga (Linnaeus, 1776) flaveolaobserved to join Sooty-headed Tyrannulet - On the afternoon of 5 March 2008 a single bird was (Sclater & Salvin, 1871) and Bananaquit spotted from the look-out of Cabañas Yankuam (Zamora- was heard(Linnaeus, making 1758) a blurry in garden trill from trees. a Additionally, patch of dense on Chinchipe). It was perched high in a tree in the riparian second15 September growth 2009 in the a single hummingbird Mouse-colored gardens Tyrannulet (lower forest along Río Nangaritza. The bird was studied well for 5 minutes and a contrasting speckled pattern on head and mantle wereC. maynana noted together with distinctly dark wings, section) of Wild Sumaco Lodge (Napo province, 1,200 m isseparating considered it from uncommon its close to locally congener fairly Plum-throated common in a.s.l., 00°28’0” S, 77°35’60” W ) and was subsequently seen theCotinga canopy of terra firme(Linnaeus, 1766). Spangled Cotinga well and confirmed for the first time on the slopes of the nearby Sumaco Volcano. Our records extend its altitudinal forest in Amazonian lowlands, distribution (1,200 m a.s.l. in Sumaco) and are the first for usually below 400 m a.s.l. but locally up to 600 m a.s.l. the province of Morona-Santiago (Ridgely and Greenfield (Ridgely and Greenfield 2001; 2006). Our record extends 2001; 2006). Zimmerius cinereicapillus its upper altitudinal limit to 900 m a.s.l. Conirostrum speciosum Red-Billed Tyrannulet THRAUPIDAE (Cabanis, 1873) - This species was first recorded at Chesnut-Vented Conebill Casa Upano on 7 January 2009, when we observed an (Temminck, 1824) - On 10 March 2008 a single female individual moving through trees in the garden. Since plumaged bird was found in the vicinity of Valladolid then, it has been seen twice a month, only infrequently (Zamora-ChinchipeOchroma province, 1,500 m a.s.l., 04°33’ S, vocalizing with the species’ distinctive call-notes. 79°08’ W). The bird actively foraged in the distal portionsC. Considered rare to uncommon along the eastern foothills offlaveola a flowering sp. tree (Bombacaceae), loosely (Ridgely and Greenfield 2001; 2006), our records are the associating with a family group of three Bananaquit first for Morona-Santiago province and fill a gap in the . On 14 DecemberInga 2008 a female was observed in distribution, suggesting a more continuous presence than laterthe gardens was seen of Casa travelling Upano with (Morona-Santiago), a male in a Ficus associated was previously documented. Hirundinea ferruginea with a flowering sp. tree (Fabaceae), and a few days and is only known from a few sites along the sp. eastern tree Clifffound Flycatcher perched on power lines in front the (Gmelin, entrance 1788) to (Moraceae). This species is regarded as rare and local, - On the 10 April 2005 an individual of this species was recordslope of of the this Andes species (Ridgely from and the easternGreenfield lowlands 2001; 2006). in the the Represa Hidroeléctrica San Francisco (1, 400 m a.s.l., Additionally, Freile (2004) provided the first modern 01°23’50.1” S, 78°21’24.7” W), along the Baños-Puyo main road (Tungurahua province). Since this date the species Sucumbíos province. Our records are the first for the has been found with regularity in the surroundings and, province of Morona-Santiago, suggesting a continuous in 2008, at least three individuals were seen in late March, distribution alonget theal. foothills of the eastern Andes. atsuggesting a number local of localities breeding. in The the Cliff northern Flycatcher and southernwas first found in Ecuador in the Napo province, but later found Stattersfield (1998) defined the eastern slopes of the Andes, from southernmost to Northernmost provincesCheck List (see | Volume details 6 | Issue 2 in | 2010 Ridgely and Greenfield 2001). Peru (over the entire length of Ecuador), as an Endemic328 Solano-Ugalde and Real-Jibaja | New distributional bird records from the eastern Andean slopes of Ecuador

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Ara militaris Bird Area (EBA). Also of interest, theet lowlands al. and Arcos-Torres,Ornitología A. Colombiana and A. Solano-Ugalde. 2008. First record of a nesting foothills below 1,300 m a.s.l., on both sides of the Andes, colony of the Military Macaw (Psittacidae: ) in Ecuador. harbor 30 % of Ecuador’s avifauna (Sierra 1999), and 6(1): 69-73. Best,and B.J., conservationC.T. Clarke, M. of Checker, some poorly A.L. Broom, known R.M. birds Thewlis, from W. southwestern Duckworth thethere distribution are at least of five the Important avifauna in Bird this Areas region (IBAs) of Ecuador in the and A. McNab. 1993. DistributionalBulletin records, of the natural British Ornithologists’ history notes, iseastern relatively foothills well (Freile known and when Santander compared 2005). to neighboring Although Club et al. Ecuador and northwestern Peru.The birds of the high Andes. A manual to the birds 113(2): of the108-119. temperate zone of the Andes and Patagonia, South presented herein and those recently provided by Guevara Fjeldså,America J. and N. Krabbe. 1990. countrieset al. (see Salaman 2002), the new records . Copenhagen: ApolloBulletin Books. of 876 the Britishp. Ornithologists’ Club Freile, J.F. 2004. Range extensions and other note-worthy bird records deforested (2008), areas reveal (i.e. the Vanellus need for chilensis further studies.Otus choliba Some from mainland Ecuador. Phaeomyiasof our observations murina likely reflect dispersal into recently 124(3): 188-202. In i.e. , , Freile, J.F. and T. Santander.Áreas 2005. importantes Áreas importantes para la para conservación la conservación de las areas that remain little visited ( Avesde las en aveslos Andes en Ecuador; Tropicales: p. sitios 283-470 prioritarios BirdLife para Internationalla conservación y mollissima ), while othersi.e. involve records from deConservación la biodiversidad (eds.). 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Royal Sunangel Avian diversity in this occurring for open-habitat bird species, and a strong Yankuamthe Ecuadorian Lodge, Andes Ecuador. – an atlas of 31(1):distribution 69. of Andean forest birds Krabbeand N., conservation F. Skov, J. Fjeldså priorities and I.K. Petersen. 1998. need to actually verify and complement such hypothesis, slopesespecially face on seriousa long term pressures basis. due to human activities . DIVA, Technical Report no 4; National Currently, natural habitats on north-east Andean Environmental Research Institute,Conservation Kalø, Denmark. Biology 143 p. Renjifo, L.M. 1999. Composition changes in a subandean Avifauna after long-term forest fragmentation. 13(5): 1124- ofsuch degraded as logging, habitat cattle over farming, the last andseveral agriculture, decades (Freile which 1139. have transformed forest landscapes into extensive areas Robbins, M.B., R.S. Ridgely, Proceedings T.S. Schulenberg of Academy and F.B.of Natural Gill. 1987. Science The of Philadelphiaavifauna of Cordillera de Cutucú, Ecuador, with comparisons to to make these available to a wider audience by publishing other Andean localities. The birds of Ecuador and Santander 2005). We urge those holding new records 139(1): 242-259. Ridgely, R.S. and P.J. Greenfield. 2001. Aves del Ecuador, .guía Ithaca: de Cornellcampo. University Press. 848 p. them. Such records are essential for elucidating the poorly Ridgely, R.S. and P.J. Greenfield. 2006. known and dynamic avifauna of this region. Following the Quito: Academy of Natural Science of Philadelphia & Fundación de creation of the directory of Important Bird Areas (IBAs) Conservación Jocotoco. 812 p. Salaman, P.G., G.F. Stiles, C.I. Bohórquez, M. Álvarez,Caldasia A.M. Umaña, T.M. for Ecuador (Freile and Santander 2005), we hope for the Donegan and A.M. Cuervo. 2002. New and noteworthy bird records development of local support groups within each IBA, and from the east slope of the Andes of Colombia. 24(1): 157- for more attention paid to the conservation, natural history, 189.Birds of Peru. Schulenberg, T.S., D.F. Stotz, D.F. Lane, J.P.O´NeillÁreas and prioritarias T.A. Parker. para 2007. la theand development distribution of and birds implementation in this region. of Such proper information landscape is conservación dePrincenton: la biodiversidad Princenton en el EcuadorUniversity continental. Press. 656 Un p. estudio managementcrucial for those plans working needed with to sustainlocal land-owners the biodiversity and for of Sierra,basado R., F. enCampos la diversidad and J. Chamberlin. de ecosistemas 1999. y su ornitofauna. Quito: Ministerio del Ambiente, Proyecto INEFAN/GEF-BIRF & EcoCiencia. Acknowledgmentsthis and other Neotropical: forests. 171 p. Solano-Ugalde,Cotinga A., J. Freile, P. Moscoso and F. Prieto-Albuja. 2009. New We would like to thank the continuing support of and confirmative bird records from northern EsmeraldasEndemic province, Bird the Yanayacu Natural History Research Group, the Fundación Imaymana AreasEcuador. of the world: 31(1): priorities 115-118. for biodiversity conservation staff, and all of those involved in logistics and hosting us at the sites Stattersfield, A.J., M.J. Crosby, A.J. Long and D.C. Wege. 1998. visited. AS-U is in debt to AAT for companionship and support. Thank . Cambridge: you to H. Greeney, J. Fjeldså and the editorial board of Check List for BirdLife International.Bulletin of the 860 British p. Ornithologists’ Club providing helpful comments which greatly improved the final version of Vogt, C.A. 2007. Range extensions and noteworthy records for mainland this manuscript. Ecuador. 127(3): 228-233.

Received: January 2010 Revised: May 2010 Accepted: May 2010 Published online: June 2010 Editorial responsibility: Leandro Bugoni

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