Tropical Birding Trip Report : The Andes Introtour Nov 2018

A Tropical Birding set departure tour

ECUADOR: The Andes Introtour

18th – 27th November 2018

Orange-breasted Fruiteater is a stunning regional endemic, regularly seen on this tour at Amagusa

Tour Leader: Jose Illanes

The photographed in this report are highlighted in red.

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Tropical Birding Trip Report ECUADOR: The Andes Introtour Nov 2018

TOUR SUMMARY:

This classic Ecuador tour worked on many levels; it worked as an extensive introduction to the variety of tropical and families that can be found in this super diverse part of the world. However, as the birding for the main tour at least, is almost entirely centered within an important Endemic Bird Area, it comes with plenty of endemics and specialty species on offer too. This tour illustrated this well, while enjoying a dizzy variety of birds from classic tropical families like hummingbirds, toucans, motmots, trogons, parrots, , , tapaculos, , manakins and were seen, among them were a horde of local specialties, many of them outstanding looking species in their own right, like Booted Racket-tail, Sword-billed Hummingbird (below), Glistening-green , Toucan Barbet, Choco Toucan, Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan, Rose-faced Parrot, and Golden-headed Quetzal. Among the other highlights included an extraordinary tally of 8 species of , displaying Andean Cock-of-the-rocks, the rare Crimson-bellied Woodpecker, and an unusual daytime sighting of Black-and-white Owl and White-throated Screech-Owl. The trip total exceeded 380 birds recorded in 8 days of birding, of which just under 350 species were seen by one of the group or more.

The most popular birds of the tour were: Andean Cock-of-the-rock, Powerful and Crimson-bellied Woodpeckers, Plate- billed Mountain-Toucan, White-throated Screech-Owl, Lyre-tailed Nightjar, Moustached and Giant Antpittas, Scarlet- breasted Dacnis, Masked , and Grass-green Tanager.

This Sword-billed Hummingbird was a good opener at Yanacocha right at the tour start

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Tropical Birding Trip Report ECUADOR: The Andes Introtour Nov 2018

DETAILED MAIN TOUR SUMMARY:

Yanacocha to Tandayapa Bird Lodge 19th November

We left Ecuador’s capital before dawn, making our higher still to the reserve of Yanacocha. Before we had even arrived the reserve itself, we had notched up Streak- throated Bush-Tyrant and Red-crested . Some excellent feeders near the entrance held Andean Guan, (left) Black-chested and Scarlet-bellied Mountain- Tanagers, Yellow-breasted and Gray-browed Brushfinches, and even an out of place, high elevation individual of White-lined Tanager. Our morning in this area was excellent, with two owls seen, the tiny Andean Pygmy-Owl, while a daytime roosting White-throated Screech-Owl was a real bonus find. Other finds within this area of temperate , included the evergreen Sword- billed Hummingbird, Great Sapphirewing, Shining Sunbeam, Sapphire-vented and Golden-breasted Pufflegs all at the feeders deep within the forest, while the walk to them brought us Rufous Wren, Superciliaried Hemispingus, Spectacled Whitestart, and Crowned Chat-Tyrant, as well as two species of antpittas, Rufous and Tawny.

As this was to be the only temperate site of the main tour, most of what we saw that morning never featured on the tour again. In the afternoon we drive through the scenic Alambi Valley, draped in gorgeous moist cloudforest, making our way into the Tandayapa Valley, and the Tandayapa Bird Lodge, a long time haunt of birders visiting the region. While we started out high in the temperate zone, by the day’s end we had driven down lower (1750m/5740ft) into the subtropical forest, where a different suite of birds awaited us. The journey down brought us through good birding almost the entire way, and led us to see Andean Lapwing in the farm fields as we descended, a Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle on the ground too. As we moved into a new zone for birds, new birds came, like Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager, Plain-tailed Wren, and a magnificent Powerful Woodpecker that turned out to be one of the most popular birds of the tour. Andean Solitaire and two river specialists were also found, White- capped Dipper foraging alongside the Rio Alambi, and a handsome Slaty-backed Chat-Tyrant in the forest alongside. After seeing all of these tropical residents, we picked up a boreal migrant just before arriving at Tandayapa Bird Lodge, in the form of a Broad-winged Hawk.

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Tropical Birding Trip Report ECUADOR: The Andes Introtour Nov 2018

Tandayapa Bird Lodge and the Tandayapa Valley 20th November

A full day was spent in subtropical forest of the Andes, both immediately around Tandayapa Bird Lodge, and also at the top end (2300m/7710ft) of the namesake valley, which brought us some species not possible at the lower elevations of the lodge. We started out visiting the lodge’s forest blind at dawn, where Streak-capped Treehunter, Russet-crowned and Three- striped Warblers, Chestnut-capped Brushfinch, Zeledon’s , all showed up, in addition to the Scaled Antpitta, which was being fed by lodge staff. On the way back to the lodge for breakfast we were also able to add Slaty Anwtwren and Uniform Antshrike. Over breakfast the activity around the lodge was distracting, with Crimson-rumped Toucanet, Rufous Motmot, and Toucan Barbet came in to feed right alongside the building. Masked Trogon was also notched up during this heady early morning session.

After breakfast, we set off for higher elevation species in the Upper Tandayapa Valley, a short drive above the lodge; this led to species like Dusky Chlorospingus, Turquoise Jay, Pearled Treerunner, Strong-billed Woodcreeper, Grass-green and Blue-capped Tanagers. The walking up there was easy as we birded along a quiet dirt road, and we also managed to find Gorgeted Sunangel, Speckled Hummingbird, and right at the end of the morning, we finally locked on to two of the best birds from the upper valley, Green-and-black Fruiteater and Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan (below).

Lunch was taken back at Tandayapa Bird Lodge, then concentrated on viewing the famous lodge feeders, where sixteen different species were in attendance: 16 hummingbird species buzzing around the main lodge building and feeders, which included some standout species of the tour, not least the absurdly cute Booted Racket-tail, tiny Western Emerald, Purple- throated Woodstar, and some regional specialties like Violet-tailed Sylph, Brown Inca and Purple-bibbed Whitetip. 4 www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]

Tropical Birding Trip Report ECUADOR: The Andes Introtour Nov 2018

We did some trail walking locally after our hummingbird observations, with fewer species, but we did manage to track down Golden-headed Quetzal (below), Tropical Parula and Slate-throated Redstart during this short period. Birding along the road in the lower part of the Tandayapa Valley that afternoon brought us yet more tanagers: Beryl-spangled, Metallic-green, and Golden Tanagers, and then we waited around for some nightbirding, when we found a couple of female and a male Lyre-tailed Nightjar to end the day.

Rio Silanche 21st November

The benefit of staying at a central location like Tandayapa Bird Lodge was to be able to move up and down in altitude, and visit different biogeographical zones of the Andes, within short drives from there. On this day we ventured way downhill, where the Andes begins to give way into flatter terrain towards the coast. Our day’s location was the reserve of Rio Silanche and surrounds, which protects a small patch of forest in the lower foothills/lowlands, and therefore brought us many new species not found higher in the Andes, where we’d birded thus far. This is always an exciting day, which in spite of the 90-minute drive to get there, more than justifies this, with a large swathe of new birds.

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Tropical Birding Trip Report ECUADOR: The Andes Introtour Nov 2018

The entrance road is always lively with birds, and this day was no different; we found Green and Ringed Kingfishers, Pacific Antwren, Little Cuckoo, the wolf-whistling Barred Puffbird Black-headed Tody-Flycatcher, Black-cheeked, Lineated and Golden-olive Woodpeckers, Olivaceous Piculet, Yellow-tufted Dacnis, Bay-headed, Blue-necked, Golden-hooded Tanagers, a soaring Hook-billed Kite, and a nesting Bay Wren.

While having lunch on the small canopy tower, we began seeing birds within a small feeding flock nearby, like Orange-fronted Barbet, Scarlet-breasted Dacnis, Green Honeycreeper, White-shouldered, Rufous-winged, Scarlet-browed, Gray-and- gold, and Guira Tanagers. Dot-winged and Checker-throated Antwrens were both noted in the subcanopy too. After eating lunch we managed to call in both Choco and White-tailed Trogons beside the tower. Red-masked Parakeet flying over was a surprise find, and a perched Black Hawk-Eagle was also seen from there. After our time on the tower, we took a walk along the reserve trails, which yielded Streak-headed, Plain-brown and Wedge-billed Woodcreepers, Black- crowned Antshrike, Tawny-crested Tanager, and Tawny-faced Gnatwren. However, the star performer was the rare Crimson-bellied Woodpecker. Near the parking lot, we also added Purple-chested Hummingbird and a pair of White- bearded Manakin. In the afternoon, we drove back upslope and returned to Tandayapa Bird Lodge once again, feeling like we’d spent the day in a very different world.

Milpe 22nd November

As with the day before, we spent our time lower downhill from the lodge, although not as far as the day before, this time focusing in the foothills at Milpe, at an elevation of around 1100m/3610ft. While closer to the lodge, Milpe shares more birds in common with the site Silanche than the Tandayapa Valley, and so yielded another rich set of birds. A nice set of feeders helped us in seeing Silver-throated, Bay-headed and Golden Tanagers very well there, in addition to Choco Toucan (left) and Collared (Pale-mandibled) Aracari that also visited too. The hummingbird feeders did not compare with the variety or numbers of birds at Tandayapa, but still attracted White-necked Jacobin, Crowned Woodnymph, Green Thorntail, Green- crowned Brilliant, and White-whiskered Hermit.

Birding the nearby trails after we had our fill of the feeder birds, we found Orange-billed Sparrow, Red- faced Spintail, Yellow-throated Chlorospingus, Fawn-breasted Tanager, Cinnamon Becard and Smoky-brown Woodpecker. Aside from these largely flock-feeding birds, we also located a Broad-billed Motmot, and managed to call in the beautiful songster that is Spotted Nightingale-Thrush. Just before leaving the reserve, we heard what sounded like a distant Black-and-white Owl vocalizing during the day, which we soon located a pair of them.

For lunch, we visited Mirador Rio Blanco, a fantastic local restaurant. While we took our lunch, we witnessed the procession of avian visitors coming to their window-side feeders: Thick-billed and Orange-bellied Euphonias, Palm and Blue-gray Tanagers, and Black-winged and Buff-throated Saltators, along with more aracaris. We headed back to Tandayapa Bird Lodge to close out the day watching the hummingbirds there some more. 6 www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]

Tropical Birding Trip Report ECUADOR: The Andes Introtour Nov 2018

Mashpi 23rd November

On this day we returned to the foothills/subtropics again, but to a site of a very different nature to others visited earlier. The location of Mashpi, and the private reserve of Amagusa, is characterized with very wet forest that hosts a discrete set of very local endemic birds many of which are very difficult to find anywhere else closeby, mainly only occurring further north closer to the border with . This is a site that local guides rave about, as there are many fantastic looking birds, which also happen to be among these local endemics, making them special on several counts, for both rarity and looks. The feeders are simply fantastic at this site, they started slowly with the common Lemon-rumped Tanager and Black-winged Saltator, and got distinctly more interesting when the next stream of birds came in, which contained Flame-faced, Moss-backed and Glistening-green Tanagers (below and next page, respectively) Black-chinned Mountain-Tanager, as well as Black- striped Sparrow and Golden-collared Honeycreeper. The hummingbird feeders were as good as anything we had that day, holding two real lookers – Velvet-purple Coronet (one of the most attractive hummingbirds in the west), and Empress Brilliants, as well as Purple-bibbed Whitetips and Violet-tailed Sylphs. After three hours with the easy birds at the feeders, we moved out onto the road, where we scoured feeding flocks that led us to species like Pacific Tuftedcheek, a flyover flock of Rose-faced Parrots, Choco Warbler, Rufous-rumped Antwren, Bronze-olive Pygmy-Tyrant, Indigo Flowerpiercer, and the very rare Choco Vireo. Further walks along the road produced both Scaled and Orange-breasted Fruiteaters and Club-winged Manakin. A roosting female Lyre-tailed Nightjar was also seen at the end of our walk. Working our way back towards Tandayapa Bird Lodge, after spending lunch alongside the busy Amagusa feeders, we made some stops to add Swallow Tanager, Yellow-faced Grassquit, and Pacific Hornero to the list. We returned to the lodge via the Upper Tandayapa Valley, not seeing anything new, but getting some nice repeat species all the same.

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Tropical Birding Trip Report ECUADOR: The Andes Introtour Nov 2018

Refugio Paz de las Aves and Calacali to Quito 24th November

We returned to the subtropics again on this day, but ventured to a private reserve near the famous birding town of Mindo, and to the equally famous (among birders anyway) Paz de Aves Reserve. This small private reserve is run by the Paz family, and particularly the Paz brothers, Angel and Rodrigo, who have managed to habituate some rare species, and provide fantastic viewing areas and feeders for others, making this a regular favorite on our tours. This day, like all days at this reserve, started out with a short walk into the cloudforest to a simple, specially-built that overlooks a section of wet forest. Just after dawn we were on site, and witnessed the displays of one of the most extraordinary birds of the Andes, the vivid scarlet Andean Cock- of-the-rock, here at one of the best viewing areas for the species on Earth. Seeing up to eight red males should have been a highlight of any morning. However, this was one very special morning indeed. In the vicinity of the cock-of-the-rocks, we were able to see Golden-headed Quetzal and White-winged Tanagers, and Angel indicated a roosting Rufous-bellied Nighthawk as we left this particular area of the reserve. We took a breakfast break while waiting for the next showing of the trip, which was a group of Dark-backed Wood-Quail, which were soon joined by a couple of Giant Antpittas (next page) too! We drive on to another spot uphill in search of other antpittas; five or ten minutes later we were watching our second antpitta of the morning, Chestnut-crowned Antpitta. A further ten minutes more and the same spot also produced another antpitta, the rare Yellow-breasted Antpitta too, making it now a three-antpitta morning.

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Tropical Birding Trip Report ECUADOR: The Andes Introtour Nov 2018

Another short journey away and we tried for the only other two antpitta species possible in the area: Moustached (below) and Ochre-breasted Antpittas, bit of which were seen, bringing us the full set of five antpittas for the morning (and now 8 antpittas for the tour!), an extraordinary and rare result.

At his feeders, we enjoyed yet more looks of, included Tawny-bellied Hermit, Violet-tailed Sylph and others, and nearby we got another look at the amazing Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan.

In the afternoon, we bid farewell to this region, making our way back eastwards towards the capital Quito, by way of a spot called Calacali, an area of stark contrast to where we’d been, dry open, semi-arid country near to the city. This brought us another rarity, the extremely local White-tailed Shrike-Tyrant, along with Golden-rumped Euphonia, the spectacular Black-tailed Trainbearer, Band-tailed Seedeater, Ash-breasted Sierra- Finch, Golden-bellied Grosbeak, and a Blue-and-yellow Tanager. At the end of the afternoon we rolled into Quito for the last night of the main tour. While it was the end for some, others were eyeing some birds on the eastern side of the Andes on the coming extension, which departed the next morning…

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Tropical Birding Trip Report ECUADOR: The Andes Introtour Nov 2018

HIGH ANDES EXTENSION:

Antisana to Guango Lodge via Papallacta 25th November

The well-named High Andes Extension involved just that, venturing higher up into the Andes. Until this point, we had largely been in dense forested . However, on these following two days, we did visit some temperate forest too, but also spent time above the treeline, where trees give way to moorland like grassland known as paramo. We began by visiting Antisana, a national park named after a 5000+m high volcano, which was clearly visible from many angles in the park. As we climbed higher than the capital Quito, we stopped to bird in the scrub just outside the park entrance gate, locating our first Giant Hummingbird, Brown-breasted Chat-Tyrant, Tufted Tit-Tyrant, and . Moving gradually higher, and inside the park, we stopped off at a purpose-built viewpoint, where a male Andean Condor could be seen resting on the cliff opposite. Later that morning, we also had condors as they should be, at their most graceful and effortless, when they are on the wing above the surrounding mountains, a wonderful sight. Gradually moving upwards in the reserve we encountered the first Black-winged Ground-Doves of the trip, and also caught sight of several Ecuadorian Hillstars too. Eventually, we emerged on a grassy plateau, where the namesake volcano stood large as a backdrop, and this was where we located a small group of Black-faced Ibis, numerous Carunculated Caracaras, Andean Lapwing, Andean Gull, and a handful of Paramo (Plain-capped) Ground-Tyrants too. As well as the condors, other raptors were on the wing too, with an expected Variable Hawk, and a very unexpected Cinereous Harrier, one of the area’s scarcest raptor species. 10 www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]

Tropical Birding Trip Report ECUADOR: The Andes Introtour Nov 2018

Another inconspicuous species, Paramo Pipit was also found there. It is not always possible to drive all the way to the large lagoon within the park, as park authorities encourage people to walk the several kilometers there. However, on this they were kind to us, allowing to drive closer and then observe a number of waterbirds from our position, most notably Silvery Grebe, Slate-colored (Andean) Coot, Yellow-billed Pintail, and Andean Teal.

The lake was our signal to turn around and head out of the park, stopping to see a singing Many-striped Canastero as we did so. Lunch was taken at a small café (Tambo Condor) just outside the park in full view of the condor cliffs, and with a small number of hummingbird feeders on site. We ate good traditional food, and also watched Black-tailed Trainbearers, Great Sapphirewing, Giant Hummingbird (below) and Black Flowerpiercer in their tiny garden.

After lunch, it was time to leave one high altitude site behind and travel through another, Papallacta, on the way to our lodging lower down at Guango Lodge. Papallacta is a high wet, paramo site, which is often shrouded in difficult weather. Therefore, our choice on whether to stop or not on our journey would be dictated precisely by the weather when we got there. We were delighted to see decent weather, and so quickly drove up to the highest point of the tour, and tried to find the highest dwelling bird of the tour, the Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe (next page). The latter species can only be found at these breathless elevations, but had been very difficult to find in recent months. It felt the same again, until right at the last minute a pair was found beside the road. Our trip up was already justified, but when we found the rare Red-rumped Bush-Tyrant on the way down, we felt we had been very luck indeed. We rolled into Guango Lodge in the evening.

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Tropical Birding Trip Report ECUADOR: The Andes Introtour Nov 2018

Guango Lodge to Quito via Papallacta 26th November

Our time around Guango Lodge and Papallacta on our final day included some great last minute additions, and repeats, like White-capped Dipper working the rapids near the lodge, a Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan also there, along with Blue- and-black Tanager, Black-capped Hemispingus, and Rufous-breasted Flycatcher also on the lodge property. We also admired the regular influx of hummingbirds to the feeders at the lodge, which included Collared Inca, Tourmaline Sunangel, and White-bellied Woodstar among them.

We also birded some areas in the vicinity of Papallacta that day too; an area of forest backed by a cliff provided a roosting site for a family of Great Horned Owl, in some bamboo dominated sections of temperate forest we located the scarce Agile Tit-Tyrant, as well as Pale-naped Brushfinch, Viridian Metaltail, while White-chinned Thistletail was found within the stunted elfin forest higher up.

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Tropical Birding Trip Report ECUADOR: The Andes Introtour Nov 2018

CHECKLISTS:

BIRDS The of the bird list follows: Clements, James F., White, Anthony W., and Fitzpatrick, John W. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. Cornell, 2007.

This list is up to date with the major changes published by Cornell up until August 2018.

H indicates a species that was HEARD, but not seen. GO indicates a species that was seen by the GUIDE ONLY.

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Tropical Birding Trip Report ECUADOR: The Andes Introtour Nov 2018

TINAMOUS TINAMIDAE Little Tinamou Crypturellus soui H DUCKS, GEESE, & WATERFOWL ANATIDAE Yellow-billed Pintail Anas georgica Andean Teal Anas andium andium Andean Ruddy Duck Oxyura ferruginea CRACIDS CRACIDAE Andean Guan Penelope montagnii Wattled Guan Aburria aburri H NEW WORLD QUAIL ODONTOPHORIDAE Dark-backed Wood-Quail Odontophorus melanonotus GREBES PODICIPEDIDAE Silvery Grebe Podiceps occipitalis PIGEONS AND DOVES COLUMBIDAE Rock Pigeon Columba livia Pale-vented Pigeon Patagioenas cayennensis Band-tailed Pigeon Patagioenas fasciata Plumbeous Pigeon Patagioenas plumbea Ruddy Pigeon Patagioenas subvinacea Dusky Pigeon Patagioenas goodsoni H Common Ground-Dove Columbina passerina Black-winged Ground-Dove Metriopelia melanoptera White-tipped Dove Leptotila verreauxi Pallid Dove Leptotila pallida G White-throated Quail-Dove Zentrygon frenata H Eared Dove Zenaida auriculata CUCKOOS CUCULIDAE Smooth-billed Ani Crotophaga ani Striped Cuckoo Tapera naevia H Little Cuckoo Coccycua minuta Squirrel Cuckoo Piaya cayana NIGHTJARS AND ALLIES CAPRIMULGIDAE Rufous-bellied Nighthawk Lurocalis rufiventris Lyre-tailed Nightjar Uropsalis lyra POTOOS NYCTIBIIDAE Common Potoo Nyctibius griseus SWIFTS APODIDAE White-collared Swift Streptoprocne zonaris Gray-rumped Swift Chaetura cinereiventris HUMMINGBIRDS TROCHILIDAE White-necked Jacobin Florisuga mellivora White-whiskered Hermit Phaethornis yaruqui Tawny-bellied Hermit Phaethornis syrmatophorus Green-fronted Lancebill Doryfera ludovicae Brown Violetear Colibri delphinae Lesser (Green) Violetear Colibri cyanotus Sparkling Violetear Colibri coruscans Gorgeted Sunangel Heliangelus strophianus Tourmaline Sunangel Heliangelus exortis Green Thorntail Discosura conversii 14 www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]

Tropical Birding Trip Report ECUADOR: The Andes Introtour Nov 2018

Speckled Hummingbird Adelomyia melanogenys Long-tailed Sylph Aglaiocercus kingii Violet-tailed Sylph Aglaiocercus coelestis Ecuadorian Hillstar Oreotrochilus chimborazo Black-tailed Trainbearer Lesbia victoriae Rainbow-bearded Thornbill Chalcostigma herrani G Tyrian Metaltail Metallura tyrianthina Viridian Metaltail Metallura williami Sapphire-vented Puffleg Eriocnemis luciani Golden-breasted Puffleg Eriocnemis mosquera Shining Sunbeam Aglaeactis cupripennis Brown Inca Coeligena wilsoni Collared Inca Coeligena torquata Buff-winged Starfrontlet Coeligena lutetiae Mountain Velvetbreast Lafresnaya lafresnayi Sword-billed Hummingbird Ensifera ensifera Great Sapphirewing Pterophanes cyanopterus Buff-tailed Coronet Boissonneaua flavescens Chestnut-breasted Coronet Boissonneaua matthewsii Velvet-purple Coronet Boissonneaua jardini Booted Racket-tail Ocreatus underwoodii Purple-bibbed Whitetip Urosticte benjamini Fawn-breasted Brilliant Heliodoxa rubinoides Green-crowned Brilliant Heliodoxa jacula Empress Brilliant Heliodoxa imperatrix Giant Hummingbird Patagona gigas White-bellied Woodstar Chaetocercus mulsant Purple-throated Woodstar Calliphlox mitchellii Western Emerald Chlorostilbon melanorhynchus Crowned (Green-crowned) Woodnymph Thalurania colombica Andean Emerald Amazilia franciae Purple-chested Hummingbird Amazilia rosenbergi Rufous-tailed Hummingbird Amazilia tzacatl Violet-bellied Hummingbird Damophila julie G RAILS, GALLINULES, AND COOTS RALLIDAE White-throated Crake Laterallus albigularis H Slate-colored (Andean) Coot Fulica ardesiaca PLOVERS AND LAPWINGS CHARADRIIDAE Andean Lapwing Vanellus resplendens SEEDSNIPES THINOCORIDAE Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe Attagis gayi latreillii SANDPIPERS AND ALLIES SCOLOPACIDAE Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca GULLS, TERNS AND SKIMMERS LARIDAE Andean Gull Chroicocephalus serranus CORMORANTS AND SHAGS PHALACROCORACIDAE Neotropic Cormorant Phalacrocorax brasilianus HERONS, EGRETS, AND BITTERNS ARDEIDAE Great Egret Ardea alba Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis 15 www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]

Tropical Birding Trip Report ECUADOR: The Andes Introtour Nov 2018

IBIS AND SPOONBILLS THRESKIORNITHIDAE Black-faced (Andean) Ibis Theristicus melanopis branickii NEW WORLD VULTURES CATHARTIDAE Black Vulture Coragyps atratus Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura jota Andean Condor Vultur gryphus HAWKS, EAGLES, AND KITES ACCIPITRIDAE Hook-billed Kite Chondrohierax uncinatus Swallow-tailed Kite Elanoides forficatus Black Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus tyrannus Cinereous Harrier Circus cinereus Sharp-shinned (Plain-breasted) Hawk Accipiter striatus ventralis Roadside Hawk Rupornis magnirostris White-rumped Hawk Parabuteo leucorrhous Variable Hawk Geranoaetus polyosoma Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle Geranoaetus melanoleucus Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus OWLS STRIGIDAE White-throated Screech-Owl Megascops albogularis Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus Cloud-forest Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium nubicola H Andean Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium jardinii Burrowing Owl Athene cunicularia Black-and-white Owl Ciccaba nigrolineata TROGONS TROGONIDAE Golden-headed Quetzal Pharomachrus auriceps Crested Quetzal Pharomachrus antisianus H Blue-tailed (Chocó) Trogon Trogon comptus (Western) White-tailed Trogon Trogon chionurus Masked Trogon Trogon personatus MOTMOTS MOMOTIDAE Rufous Motmot Baryphthengus martii Broad-billed Motmot Electron platyrhynchum KINGFISHERS ALCEDINIDAE Ringed Kingfisher Megaceryle torquata Green Kingfisher Chloroceryle americana PUFFBIRDS BUCCONIDAE Barred Puffbird Nystalus radiatus JACAMARS GALBULIDAE Rufous-tailed Jacamar Galbula ruficauda H NEW WORLD BARBETS CAPITONIDAE Orange-fronted Barbet Capito squamatus Red-headed Barbet Eubucco bourcierii TOUCAN-BARBETS SEMNORNITHIDAE Toucan Barbet Semnornis ramphastinus TOUCANS RAMPHASTIDAE Crimson-rumped Toucanet Aulacorhynchus haematopygus Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan Andigena hypoglauca Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan Andigena laminirostris Collared (Pale-mandibled) Aracari Pteroglossus torquatus erythropygius 16 www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]

Tropical Birding Trip Report ECUADOR: The Andes Introtour Nov 2018

Yellow-throated (Chestnut-mandibled) Ramphastos ambiguus Toucan swainsonii H Choco Toucan Ramphastos brevis WOODPECKERS PICIDAE Olivaceous Piculet Picumnus olivaceus Black-cheeked Woodpecker Melanerpes pucherani Smoky-brown Woodpecker Picoides fumigatus Scarlet-backed Woodpecker Dryobates callonotus Golden-olive Woodpecker Colaptes rubiginosus Crimson-mantled Woodpecker Colaptes rivolii Lineated Woodpecker Dryocopus lineatus Powerful Woodpecker Campephilus pollens Crimson-bellied Woodpecker Campephilus haematogaster FALCONS AND CARACARAS FALCONIDAE Collared Forest-Falcon Micrastur semitorquatus H Carunculated Caracara Phalcoboenus carunculatus Laughing Falcon Herpetotheres cachinnans American Kestrel Falco sparverius Aplomado Falcon Falco femoralis Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus NEW WORLD AND AFRICAN PARROTS PSITTACIDAE Barred Parakeet Bolborhynchus lineola Rose-faced Parrot Pyrilia pulchra Red-billed Parrot Pionus sordidus Speckle-faced (White-capped) Parrot Pionus tumultuosus seniloides H Blue-headed Parrot Pionus menstruus Bronze-winged Parrot Pionus chalcopterus Scaly-naped Parrot (Amazon) Amazona mercenarius Maroon-tailed Parakeet Pyrrhura melanura pacifica Red-masked Parakeet Psittacara erythrogenys TYPICAL ANTBIRDS THAMNOPHILIDAE Rufous-rumped Antwren Euchrepomis callinota Great Antshrike Taraba major H Black-crowned (Western Slaty-) Antshrike Thamnophilus atrinucha Uniform Antshrike Thamnophilus unicolor Checker-throated Antwren Epinecrophylla fulviventris Pacific Antwren pacifica White-flanked Antwren Myrmotherula axillaris Slaty Antwren Myrmotherula schisticolor Dot-winged Antwren Microrhopias quixensis Chestnut-backed Antbird Poliocrania exsul H Esmeraldas Antbird Sipia nigricauda H Zeledon's (Immaculate) Antbird Hafferia zeledoni ANTPITTAS GRALLARIIDAE squamigera H Grallaria gigantea Moustached Antpitta Grallaria alleni Scaled Antpitta Grallaria guatimalensis Chestnut-crowned Antpitta Grallaria ruficapilla Chestnut-naped Antpitta Grallaria nuchalis H 17 www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]

Tropical Birding Trip Report ECUADOR: The Andes Introtour Nov 2018

Yellow-breasted Antpitta Grallaria flavotincta Rufous Antpitta Grallaria rufula Tawny Antpitta Grallaria quitensis Ochre-breasted Antpitta Grallaricula flavirostris TAPACULOS RHINOCRYPTIDAE Ocellated Tapaculo Acropternis orthonyx H Blackish (Unicolored) Tapaculo Scytalopus latrans Nariño Tapaculo Scytalopus vicinior H Spillmann's Tapaculo Scytalopus spillmanni Paramo Tapaculo Scytalopus opacus G ANTTHRUSHES FORMICARIIDAE Black-headed Antthrush Formicarius nigricapillus H Rufous-breasted Antthrush Formicarius rufipectus H OVENBIRDS AND WOODCREEPERS FURNARIIDAE Tyrannine Woodcreeper Dendrocincla tyrannina H Plain-brown Woodcreeper Dendrocincla fuliginosa Wedge-billed Woodcreeper Glyphorynchus spirurus Strong-billed Woodcreeper Xiphocolaptes promeropirhynchus Black-striped Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus lachrymosus H Spotted Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus erythropygius Brown-billed Scythebill Campylorhamphus pusillus Streak-headed Woodcreeper Lepidocolaptes souleyetii Montane Woodcreeper Lepidocolaptes lacrymiger Plain Xenops Xenops minutus Buffy (Pacific) Tuftedcheek Pseudocolaptes lawrencii johnsoni Rusty-winged Barbtail Premnornis guttuliger H Pale-legged (Pacific) Hornero Furnarius leucopus cinnamomeus Chestnut-winged (Bar-winged) Cinclodes Cinclodes albidiventris Stout-billed Cinclodes Cinclodes excelsior Buff-fronted Foliage-gleaner Philydor rufum Scaly-throated Foliage-gleaner Anabacerthia variegaticeps Striped Treehunter Thripadectes holostictus Streak-capped Treehunter Thripadectes virgaticeps Pearled Treerunner Margarornis squamiger Andean Tit-Spinetail Leptasthenura andicola White-browed Spinetail Hellmayrea gularis Many-striped Canastero Asthenes flammulata White-chinned Thistletail Asthenes fuliginosa Streak-backed Canastero Asthenes wyatti G Red-faced Spinetail Cranioleuca erythrops Azara's Spinetail Synallaxis azarae H Rufous Spinetail Synallaxis unirufa Slaty Spinetail Synallaxis brachyura H TYRANT FLYCATCHERS TYRANNIDAE Brown-capped Tyrannulet Ornithion brunneicapillus Southern Beardless-Tyrannulet Camptostoma obsoletum White-tailed Tyrannulet Mecocerculus poecilocercus White-banded Tyrannulet Mecocerculus stictopterus White-throated Tyrannulet Mecocerculus leucophrys Tufted Tit-Tyrant Anairetes parulus 18 www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]

Tropical Birding Trip Report ECUADOR: The Andes Introtour Nov 2018

Agile Tit-Tyrant Uromyias agilis Yellow Tyrannulet Capsiempis flaveola Greenish Elaenia Myiopagis viridicata White-crested Elaenia Elaenia albiceps Streak-necked Flycatcher Mionectes striaticollis Olive-striped Flycatcher Mionectes olivaceus Slaty-capped Flycatcher Leptopogon superciliaris Rufous-breasted Flycatcher Leptopogon rufipectus Sooty-headed Tyrannulet Phyllomyias griseiceps Choco (Golden-faced) Tyrannulet Zimmerius (chrysops) albigularis Ornate Flycatcher Myiotriccus ornatus Bronze-olive Pygmy-Tyrant Pseudotriccus pelzelni Rufous-headed Pygmy-Tyrant Pseudotriccus ruficeps H Scale-crested Pygmy-Tyrant Lophotriccus pileatus H Rufous-crowned Tody-Flycatcher Poecilotriccus ruficeps Common Tody-Flycatcher Todirostrum cinereum Black-headed Tody-Flycatcher Todirostrum nigriceps Cinnamon Flycatcher Pyrrhomyias cinnamomeus Sulphur-rumped Flycatcher Myiobius sulphureipygius G Flavescent Flycatcher Myiophobus flavicans Bran-colored Flycatcher Myiophobus fasciatus Smoke-colored Pewee Contopus fumigatus Western Wood-Pewee Contopus sordidulus Acadian Flycatcher Empidonax virescens Black Phoebe Sayornis nigricans Spot-billed Ground-Tyrant Muscisaxicola maculirostris Plain-capped (Páramo) Ground-Tyrant Muscisaxicola alpinus White-tailed Shrike-Tyrant Agriornis albicauda Streak-throated Bush-Tyrant Myiotheretes striaticollis Red-rumped Bush-Tyrant Cnemarchus erythropygius Masked Water-Tyrant Fluvicola nengeta Crowned Chat-Tyrant Ochthoeca frontalis Yellow-bellied Chat-Tyrant Ochthoeca diadema H Slaty-backed Chat-Tyrant Ochthoeca cinnamomeiventris Rufous-breasted Chat-Tyrant Ochthoeca rufipectoralis Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant Ochthoeca fumicolor Bright-rumped Attila Attila spadiceus Dusky-capped Flycatcher Myiarchus tuberculifer Boat-billed Flycatcher Megarynchus pitangua Rusty-margined Flycatcher Myiozetetes cayanensis Golden-crowned Flycatcher Myiodynastes chrysocephalus Streaked Flycatcher Myiodynastes maculatus Piratic Flycatcher Legatus leucophaius Snowy-throated Kingbird Tyrannus niveigularis Tropical Kingbird Tyrannus melancholicus COTINGAS COTINGIDAE Green-and-black Fruiteater riefferii Orange-breasted Fruiteater Pipreola jucunda Scaled Fruiteater Ampelioides tschudii Red-crested Cotinga Ampelion rubrocristatus 19 www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]

Tropical Birding Trip Report ECUADOR: The Andes Introtour Nov 2018

Andean Cock-of-the-rock Rupicola peruvianus MANAKINS PIPRIDAE White-bearded Manakin Manacus manacus Club-winged Manakin Machaeropterus deliciosus TITYRAS AND ALLIES TITYRIDAE Masked Tityra Tityra semifasciata Cinnamon Becard Pachyramphus cinnamomeus White-winged Becard Pachyramphus polychopterus dorsalis Black-and-white Becard Pachyramphus albogriseus One-colored Becard Pachyramphus homochrous VIREOS AND ALLIES VIREONIDAE Black-billed Peppershrike Cyclarhis nigrirostris Slaty-capped Shrike-Vireo Vireolanius leucotis H Lesser Greenlet Pachysylvia decurtata Choco Vireo Vireo masteri Brown-capped Vireo Vireo leucophrys Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus CROWS JAYS AND MAGPIES CORVIDAE Beautiful Jay Cyanolyca pulchra H Turquoise Jay Cyanolyca turcosa SWALLOWS HIRUNDINIDAE Blue-and-white Swallow Pygochelidon cyanoleuca Brown-bellied Swallow Orochelidon murina Southern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx ruficollis Gray-breasted Martin Progne chalybea WRENS TROGLODYTIDAE House Wren Troglodytes aedon Mountain Wren Troglodytes solstitialis Sedge (Grass) Wren Cistothorus platensis aequatorialis Plain-tailed Wren Pheugopedius euophrys Bay Wren Cantorchilus nigricapillus Rufous Wren Cinnycerthia unirufa Sharpe's (Sepia-brown) Wren Cinnycerthia olivascens Gray-breasted Wood-Wren Henicorhina leucophrys GNATCATCHERS POLIOPTILIDAE Tawny-faced Gnatwren Microbates cinereiventris DIPPERS CINCLIDAE White-capped Dipper Cinclus leucocephalus THRUSHES AND ALLIES TURDIDAE Andean Solitaire Myadestes ralloides Slaty-backed Nightingale-Thrush Catharus fuscater G Spotted Nightingale-Thrush Catharus dryas Swainson's Thrush Catharus ustulatus Ecuadorian Thrush Turdus maculirostris Great Thrush Turdus fuscater Glossy-black Thrush Turdus serranus H MOCKINGBIRDS AND THRASHERS MIMIDAE Tropical Mockingbird Mimus gilvus WAGTAILS AND PIPITS MOTACILLIDAE Paramo Pipit Anthus bogotensis 20 www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]

Tropical Birding Trip Report ECUADOR: The Andes Introtour Nov 2018

FINCHES, EUPHONIAS AND ALLIES FRINGILLIDAE Thick-billed Euphonia Euphonia laniirostris Golden-rumped Euphonia Euphonia cyanocephala Orange-bellied Euphonia Euphonia xanthogaster Yellow-bellied Siskin Spinus xanthogastrus Hooded Siskin Spinus magellanicus NEW WORLD SPARROWS PASSERELLIDAE Yellow-throated Chlorospingus (Bush- Tanager) Chlorospingus flavigularis Dusky Chlorospingus (Bush-Tanager) Chlorospingus semifuscus Black-striped Sparrow Arremonops conirostris Gray-browed (Stripe-headed) Brushfinch Arremon assimilis Orange-billed Sparrow Arremon aurantiirostris Chestnut-capped Brushfinch Arremon brunneinucha Rufous-collared Sparrow Zonotrichia capensis Slaty Brushfinch Atlapetes schistaceus Pale-naped Brushfinch Atlapetes pallidinucha Yellow-breasted (Rufous-naped) Brushfinch Atlapetes latinuchus TROUPIALS AND ALLIES ICTERIDAE Scrub Blackbird Dives warczewiczi Shiny Cowbird Molothrus bonariensis Yellow-tailed Oriole Icterus mesomelas Yellow-billed Cacique Amblycercus holosericeus H Scarlet-rumped Cacique Cacicus uropygialis pacificus H (Northern) Mountain Cacique Cacicus chrysonotus leucoramphus NEW WORLD WARBLERS PARULIDAE Olive-crowned Yellowthroat Geothlypis semiflava H Tropical Parula Setophaga pitiayumi Blackburnian Warbler Setophaga fusca Three-striped Warbler Basileuterus tristriatus Black-crested Warbler Myiothlypis nigrocristata Buff-rumped Warbler Myiothlypis fulvicauda H Golden-bellied (Chocó) Warbler Myiothlypis chrysogaster chlorophrys Russet-crowned Warbler Myiothlypis coronata Slate-throated Redstart (Whitestart) Myioborus miniatus Spectacled Redstart (Whitestart) Myioborus melanocephalus MITROSPINGID TANAGERS MITROSPINGIDAE Dusky-faced Tanager Mitrospingus cassinii CARDINALS AND ALLIES CARDINALIDAE Summer Tanager Piranga rubra White-winged Tanager Piranga leucoptera Ochre-breasted Tanager Chlorothraupis stolzmanni H Golden Grosbeak Pheucticus chrysogaster TANAGERS AND ALLIES THRAUPIDAE Black-capped Hemispingus Hemispingus atropileus Superciliaried Hemispingus Hemispingus superciliaris Hemispingus melanotis Black-eared (Western) Hemispingus ochraceus H Gray-hooded Bush Tanager Cnemoscopus rubrirostris G White-shouldered Tanager Tachyphonus luctuosus 21 www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]

Tropical Birding Trip Report ECUADOR: The Andes Introtour Nov 2018

Tawny-crested Tanager Tachyphonus delatrii White-lined Tanager Tachyphonus rufus Ramphocelus flammigerus Flame-rumped (Lemon-rumped) Tanager icteronotus Moss-backed Tanager Bangsia edwardsi Hooded Mountain-Tanager Buthraupis montana Masked Mountain-Tanager Buthraupis wetmorei Black-chested Mountain-Tanager Cnemathraupis eximia Grass-green Tanager Chlorornis riefferii Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager Anisognathus igniventris Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager Anisognathus somptuosus Black-chinned Mountain-Tanager Anisognathus notabilis Buff-breasted Mountain-Tanager Dubusia taeniata Fawn-breasted Tanager Pipraeidea melanonota Blue-and-yellow Tanager Pipraeidea bonariensis Glistening-green Tanager Chlorochrysa phoenicotis Blue-gray Tanager Thraupis episcopus Palm Tanager Thraupis palmarum Blue-capped Tanager Thraupis cyanocephala Golden-naped Tanager Tangara ruficervix Black-capped Tanager Tangara heinei Gray-and-gold Tanager Tangara palmeri Golden-hooded Tanager Tangara larvata Blue-necked Tanager Tangara cyanicollis Rufous-throated Tanager Tangara rufigula Blue-and-black Tanager Tangara vassorii Beryl-spangled Tanager Tangara nigroviridis Metallic-green Tanager Tangara labradorides Rufous-winged Tanager Tangara lavinia Bay-headed Tanager Tangara gyrola Flame-faced Tanager Tangara parzudakii Golden Tanager Tangara arthus Silver-throated Tanager Tangara icterocephala Swallow Tanager Tersina viridis Black-faced (Yellow-tufted) Dacnis Dacnis lineata aequatorialis Scarlet-breasted Dacnis Dacnis berlepschi Purple Honeycreeper Cyanerpes caeruleus Green Honeycreeper Chlorophanes spiza Golden-collared Honeycreeper Iridophanes pulcherrimus Scarlet-browed Tanager Heterospingus xanthopygius Guira Tanager Hemithraupis guira Conirostrum cinereum Blue-backed Conebill Conirostrum sitticolor Capped Conebill Conirostrum albifrons Diglossa lafresnayii Black Flowerpiercer Diglossa humeralis White-sided Flowerpiercer Diglossa albilatera Indigo Flowerpiercer Diglossa indigotica Rusty Flowerpiercer Diglossa sittoides G Masked Flowerpiercer Diglossa cyanea 22 www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]

Tropical Birding Trip Report ECUADOR: The Andes Introtour Nov 2018

Black-backed Bush Tanager Urothraupis stolzmanni G Plumbeous Sierra-Finch Phrygilus unicolor Ash-breasted Sierra-Finch Phrygilus plebejus Blue-black Grassquit Volatinia jacarina Thick-billed (Lesser) Seed-Finch Sporophila funerea Variable Seedeater Sporophila corvina Yellow-bellied Seedeater Sporophila nigricollis G Band-tailed Seedeater Catamenia analis Plain-colored Seedeater Catamenia inornata Bananaquit Coereba flaveola Yellow-faced Grassquit Tiaris olivaceus Buff-throated Saltator Saltator maximus Black-winged Saltator Saltator atripennis Slate-colored Grosbeak Saltator grossus H

MAMMALS

Red-tailed Squirrel Sciurus granatensis Central American Agouti Dasyprocta punctata Tapeti (Brazilian Rabbit) Sylvilagus brasiliensis Mountain Tapir Tapirus pinchaque White-tailed Deer Odocoileus virginianus

23 www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]