Tropical Birding - Trip Report Eastern Ecuador: February-March 2020
A Tropical Birding SET DEPARTURE tour
Eastern Ecuador: High Andes to Vast Amazon 22nd February- 7th March 2020
Hoatzin at Napo Wildlife Center
TOUR LEADER: José Illanes Trip report and photos by José Illanes INTRODUCTION: Ecuador is one of the most diverse countries in the World for birds and this trip provided plentiful evidence of this; just over 600 species were recorded on this trip. The reason for such totals was that we birded from high up, above the treeline in the Andes, all the way down the lowland tropical forests of the Amazon, with cloudforests and Andean foothills birded in between these extremes. Early highlights, from the higher elevations of the trip included, Andean Condor, Black-faced Ibis, and Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe. www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected] p.1 Tropical Birding - Trip Report Eastern Ecuador: February-March 2020
Downhill from there the forests of the subtropics and foothills yielded Military Macaw, Ocellated Tapaculo, Coppery-chested Jacamar, White-bellied and Plain-backed Antpittas, White-capped Tanager, and a wonderful set of hummingbirds, including Sword-billed Hummingbird, Napo Sabrewing, and Gould’s Jewelfront. Then there was the Amazon itself, with birds like Great Jacamar, lots of antbirds, including Lunulated Antbird, and Zigzag Heron, Crested Owl, and Plum-throated Cotinga, not to mention plentiful trogons, toucans, and parrots, as well as mammals like Golden-mantled Tamarin, Giant River Otter, and Spix’s Night Monkey.
From the bird list, the participants highlighted the following ones among their favorites: Ocellated Tapaculo, Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe, Zigzag Heron, Chestnut-crowned Gnateater, Crested Quetzal, Wire-tailed Manakin, Ochre-breasted Antpitta, Andean Cock-of-the Rock, Sparkling Violetear, Wire-crested Thorntail, Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan, Scarlet Macaw, Ecuadorian Hillstar and the bizarre Hoatzin. We had healthy amounts of rain, but a very healthy bird list too, and we can consider this a successful trip for sure, in my own backyard!
Black-headed Parrot from Sani Lodge (The Amazon)
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TOUR SUMMARY:
February 23: Antisana National Park and Papallacta Pass. After a post-breakfast meeting with the group, we were soon on our way east to Antisana. This national park is a wonderful place to start, relatively easy birding in staggering landscapes, it is often a favorite site amongst birders. While this tour work it wall all the way down to the Amazon, we started in the high Andes, gradually working our way down from there. Within an hour we had arrived at the first birding stop, just outside the park, where we quickly picked up some birds of the treeline, like Tufted Tit-Tyrant, Black-crested Warbler, White-crested Elaenia, Cinereous Conebill, Black Flowerpiercer, Plain-colored Seedeater, Red-crested Cotinga and a sitting Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle. Moving into the park, we were shocked to find a landslide that had very recently occurred (this year had been unusually wet). However, with a bit of planning, we managed to pass the vehicle that was clearing the slide and used another vehicle to cover our morning in the park, thanks to the help of a local restaurant owner!
Not long after, we were at a viewing platform where 6 different Andean Condors (Ecuador’s national bird), were seen on the wing, one of the sites biggest target birds. We continued birding from the excellent paved road that passes through the park, soon after emerging above the treeline and into open undulating paramo grasslands, where birds typical of this habitat were found, including Chestnut-winged and Stout-billed Cinclodes, Black-winged Ground-Dove, Paramo Pipit Carunculated Caracara (above), many Andean Gulls and Andean Lapwings and the rare and local Black-faced or Andean Ibis. Here are there patches of scrub pock the grassy hills, and it is here that we found other birds such as Tawny Antpitta, Andean Tit-Spinetail, Blue-mantled Thornbill, and the ordinarily skulking Streaked-backed Canastero. Overhead a Variable Hawk soared. After passing by all of these grassland birds, we centered next on a large high Andean lake, where Slate-colored (Andean) Coot, Andean Teal, Andean Duck and cute Silvery Grebes all featured.
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From there, we backtracked to a local restaurant near the park entrance, Tambo Condor, which came with a nice local lunch, plus birds around the property’s hummingbird feeders: Black- tailed Trainbearer, Tyrian Metaltail, Black Flowerpiercer, Shining Sunbeam, Sparkling Violetear and the largest in the world Giant Hummingbird.
Red-rumped Bush-Tyrant at Cayambe-Coca National Park
Our next stop was a drive away, where we swapped one High Andean site for another, Papallacta Pass, an area of wetter more rugged paramo grasslands between Antisana and our lodging. We did not have a large amount of time here, but still managed to find Many-striped Canastero, the rare Red-rumped Bush-Tyrant (above), and the even more rarely seen Jameson’s (Andean) Snipe within this section of Cayambe-Coca National Park. From there, we drove the short distance to Guango Lodge, a wonderful small lodge set beside a rushing Andean river. There was no time for birding, but we enjoyed one of their famous tasty dinners before retiring for the night.
February 24: Guango Lodge and Papallacta to San Isidro. We started our morning (after a hot breakfast) by birding for a few hours within the cool, temperate immediately around Guango Lodge. Right beside the lodge, we located Chestnut-capped Brushfinch, Turquoise Jay, Russet- crowned Warbler, Gray-breasted Wood-Wren, and a group of noisy Mountain Caciques.
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Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe from near Papallacta Pass
We widened our search here, birding nearby trails too, where mixed flocks led us to more birds, including Slaty and Pale-naped Brushfinches, Spectacled Redstart (Whitestart), Black-crested Warbler, Rufous Wren, Plushcap, Cinnamon Flycatcher, Capped Conebill, Black-eared Hemispingus and a friendly Gray-headed Bush-Tanager. After such a good start, we decided to make a swift return to the Papallacta area that we’d been to briefly the afternoon before. Our time in Cayambe-Coca National Park was headlined by Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe at the highest point, followed by Many-striped Canastero, Plumbeous Sierra-Finch, Viridian Metaltail, White- chinned Thistletail and the striking Ecuadorian Hillstar near the mountain pass itself. We returned to the lodge for lunch, stopping at the Papallacta lagoon on the journey, where Andean and Blue-winged Teals, Yellow-billed Pintail, Southern Lapwing, and both yellowlegs were found.
We took a final meal at Guango, and then spent several hours birding around the lodge, before driving downslope to Cabanas San Isidro for the night. Guango’s feeders are legendary, and they did not disappoint, bringing in a stream of spectacular hummingbirds, like Tourmaline Sunangel, White-bellied Woodstar, Buff-tailed and Chestnut-breasted Coronets, Collared Inca, Speckled Hummingbird, Fawn-breasted Brilliant, Long-tailed Sylph, Mountain Velvetbreast and the www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected] p.5 Tropical Birding - Trip Report Eastern Ecuador: February-March 2020 uniquely bizarre Sword-billed Hummingbird (below). Then, we returned to the lodge trails, where the local ranger showed us a sleeping Andean Potoo, a rare and difficult to find species we had not been expecting! On checking the river beside the lodge itself, both White-capped Dipper and Torrent Duck were located, while birding an upper trail led us to feeding flocks, and plenty of new birds, like Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan, a male Barred Fruiteater, Andean Guan, Slaty-backed Chat-Tyrant, Black-capped and Black-eared Hemispinguses, Buff-breasted and Hooded Mountain Tanagers, Grass-green Tanager, Blue-backed Conebill, Pearled Treerunner, Streaked Tuftedcheek, and the rare Dusky Piha. After this very productive period, we loaded up and left for our next destination, San Isidro, an hour’s drive away, leaving our birding in that area for the following day, with a two night stay in the area…
Sword-billed Hummingbird at Guango Lodge
February 25: Cabañas San Isidro area. After a hot breakfast we were swiftly in the field, close by, where lights attract insects during the night and an attendant horde of birds in the early morning. This flurry of dawn activity was gripping, with birds popping up all around us, including Green (Inca ) Jay, Subtropical Cacique, Black-billed Peppershrike, Montane and Olive-backed Woodcreepers, Golden-crowned and Pale-edged Flycatchers, Pale-eyed Thrush, Andean Solitaire, and a series of North American winter migrant like, Summer Tanager, Canada and Blackburnian Warblers. An extraordinarily tame Masked Trogon was also appreciated there. www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected] p.6 Tropical Birding - Trip Report Eastern Ecuador: February-March 2020
The nearby hummingbird feeders attracted Chestnut- breasted Coronet, Fawn- breasted Brilliant, Bronzy Inca and a tiny female Gorgeted Woodstar. We had an appointment with the local rangers after this to a nearby forest feeding stations, behind the lodge cabins, which were attended by the hoped-for Chestnut-crowned and White-bellied Antpittas (left), ordinarily very difficult species to see away from feeding areas. The remainder of the morning was spent roadside birding along the quiet road that leads through forest behind the lodge. Dense stands of chusquea bamboo along the road held Rufous-crowned Tody-Flycatcher, Streak-headed Antbird, Rufous Spinetail, and Plain-tailed Wren. Long periods of quiet were broken up by peaks of activity. Far along the road we managed to track down Powerful Woodpecker, both Golden-headed and Crested Quetzals, and taped in a noisy mob of White- capped Tanagers too. Saffron-crowned Tanager and Golden-rumped Euphonia were also noted there too.
After a break around lunch back at the lodge, the afternoon involved walking a trail on the lodge property, where we found some mixed flocks with Cinnamon and Rufous-breasted Flycatchers, Marble-faced Bristled-Tyrant, Rusty-winged and Spotted Barbtails, and Beryl-spangled Tanager found within them. Southern Emerald Toucanet also featured. The latter part of the afternoon was dominated by rain, with little being seen aside from a Sickle-winged Guan. However, at dinner time we managed to find the regular San Isidro Mystery Owl hanging around the lodge to catch insects. A still unassigned species, most closely related to the Black-banded Owl of the Amazon.
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Green (Inca) Jay at Cabañas San Isidro
February 26: Cabañas San Isidro, Guacamayos Ridge to Wildsumaco. We started out the day by birding locally near the cabins, finding Oleaginous and Black-eared Hemispinguses, Three- striped Warbler, and upgraded our views of Rufous-breasted Flycatcher too. After that, we checked out, then visited cloudforest on the nearby Guacamayos Ridge, a little higher than the lodge, and on the way to our next birding lodge. We walked just a short section of this old Inca trail, returning the same way, with species coming all through the walk, like Andean Guan, Striped Treehunter, Scaly-naped Parrot, Green-and-black Fruiteater, Handsome Flycatcher, Rufous-headed Pygmy-Tyrant, Bluish Flowerpiercer, and Grass-green Tanager. However, arguably the best highlights were getting good views of shy species, like Slate-crowned Antpitta, and Spillman’s, Long-tailed, and Ocellated Tapaculos (next page).
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Our destination was now all downhill from there, as we traveled out of the, higher, subtropical zone, and into the Andean foothills. Rain was persistent through the afternoon, hampering our birding somewhat, although a stop in some forest patches along the Loreto Road produced, Red-headed Barbet, Golden-winged Manakin, Turquoise and Golden Tanagers, Tropical Parula, Swallow-tailed Kite, Bronze-green Euphonia, a series of Cliff Flycatchers, although our best find was a Western Striolated Puffbird. With rain picking up again, we moved on, taking a side road that appeared to have some decent habitat on it. In the area of the Guamaní Community, we found Speckled Chachalaca, Scaled Pigeon, Little Woodpecker, Lined Antshrike, Dark-breasted and Dusky Spinetails, Ecuadorian Tyrannulet, Long-billed Starthroat, Chestnut-eared Araçari, Yellow-checked (Green-backed) Becard, Lemon-browed Flycatcher, Blue-necked and Magpie Tanagers, Crested, Russet-backed and Olive Oropendolas, and the beautiful Coopery-chested Jacamar sitting on a power line. After getting this admirable haul of foothill species, we carried on to WildSumaco Lodge, where we spent the next three nights.
February 27-28: Wildsumaco Lodge and surrounds. We enjoyed two full days in this rich area of foothill forests, birding both the lodge grounds, trails and feeders, and some nearby areas too. This is a popular lodge among visiting groups, not only for the birds, but the well-designed rooms, great service and food. Using a blind set up by the lodge overlooking birds attracted to insects at a light, revealed Black-billed Treehunter, White-backed Fiery-Eye, Plain Antvireo, Slaty Antwren, Black-faced, Peruvian Warbling and Blackish Antbirds, Tawny-breasted Flycatcher, Collared Trogon and Black-streaked Puffbird (next page).
We took breaks when the rain intensified, and took shelter by the feeders in between these bouts, finding Fork-tailed Woodnymph, Green Thorntail, Many-spotted Hummingbird, Ecuadorian Piedtail, Booted Racket-Tail, Black-throated and Violet-fronted Brilliants, Brown and Sparkling Violetears, Speckled Hummingbird, Green Hermit, Golden-tailed Sapphire, Gould’s Jewelfront and Napo Sabrewing to be in attendance at these excellent set ups. Nearby, the verbena flowers attracted other species, such as Violet-headed Hummingbird and the miniature Gorgeted Woodstar (next page). www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected] p.9 Tropical Birding - Trip Report Eastern Ecuador: February-March 2020
Black-streaked Puffbird (above); and Gorgeted Woodstar at WildSumaco
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The grounds away from the feeders were no less impressive, yielding Yellow-throated Toucan, Blue-necked Tanager, Olivaceous Greenlet, White-throated Quail- Dove, Canada Warbler, Ornate Flycatcher, and the beautiful Golden-collared Honeycreeper, during periods of lessened rain.
Some trail work was necessary for interior forest species like, Short- tailed Antthrush, Chestnut- crowned Gnateater, Sooty Antbird, Plain-winged Antshrike, Musician Wren, Rufous-breasted Piculet, White-streaked Antvireo, White-necked Thrush and White-crowned and Blue-rumped Manakins. In this forest we were always on the lookout for mixed species flocks moving through, and we picked up birds like Rufous-naped Greenlet, Olive- backed and Wedge-billed Woodcreepers, Fulvous Shrike-Tanager, Deep-blue Flowerpiercer, Gray-tailed Piha, Ornate Stipplethroat, Orange-eared Tanager and even a couple of rare Fiery- throated Fruiteaters among these parties. During these days, it was critical we visited a forest feeding station, which the lodge has set up to see rare and shy species. This paid off handsomely, with Ochre-breasted and Plain-backed Antpittas (above) seen at these, along with a rare North American migrant in these parts, Gray-cheeked Thrush.
Road birding in the area yields birds too, and we took full advantage of this too, the best of which were Crimson-crested Woodpecker, Military Macaw, Golden-collared Toucanet, the shy-skulking Blackish Rail. In spite of the rain, the days produced some stellar birds, and many target species we’ d been hoping for out of this super diverse area.
February 29: Wildsumaco to Coca and Napo Wildlife Center (The Amazon). Today we journeyed from the Andean foothills, and WildSumaco, into the Amazon. We packed up early and made some final time for some road birding on the way out, picking up some birds within feeding flocks, like Spotted, Golden, Bay-headed, Orange-eared and Paradise Tanagers, White-winged Becard, Foothill Elaenia, Lafresnaye’s Piculet, Blue Dacnis, Gilded Barbet, Scale- crested Pygmy-Tyrant, Red-billed Tyrannulet, and Yellow-breasted and Rufous-winged Antwrens. By mid-morning, we were on our way out of there and driving downhill towards the city of Coca, where boats into the Amazon were awaiting our arrival. www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected] p.11 Tropical Birding - Trip Report Eastern Ecuador: February-March 2020
Collared Trogon (above); and Golden Tanager from the Andean Foothills
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On the journey, we noted Ruddy Ground-Dove, Snail Kite, Southern Lapwing and Cattle Tyrant; the latter a recent colonizer to Ecuador.
After a break in Coca, we took a motorized canoe to the lodge, initially taking the wide Napo River, which was largely uneventful, save for White-winged and White-banded Swallows, Green Kingfisher, a roosting Ladder-tailed Nightjar, and a Pied Plover using one of the river islands. Mid-way through the journey, we took a narrower side river into the lodge (Añangu Creek), which was much better for birding. We met up with our guide, Jorge, before getting in dugout canoes, which were taken to the lodge; (the rowing was done by native people from the lodge, making this a very relaxing birding experience!). The creek provided some excellent birding along the way, as we racked up Blue-crowned Trogon, Buff- breasted Wren, Anhinga, and even a daytime roosting Great Potoo, a nocturnal species. Our lodge, Napo Wildlife Center, is located on the edge of its own private lagoon, and as we approached this area we started to see birds more typical of flooded forest and wetlands. This included, Orange-crested Manakin (above), Boat-billed Heron, Amazonian Streaked Antwren, Greater Ani, Lesser Kiskadee, and a bunch of an Amazonian favorite, Hoatzin.
We canoed across the scenic lake and arrived at the with plentiful light remaining. So, after an induction about the lodge, we took the elevator up a tower and enjoyed the last birds of the day and an Amazonian sunset too. Some of the final birds of the day included, Bat Falcon, a colony of Yellow-rumped Caciques, Capped Heron, and both Red-bellied and Blue-and-yellow Macaws, many seen with refreshments (such as beer) in hand to close out the day!
March 1: Napo Wildlife Center (The Amazon). Today was our first day walking around in the Amazon jungle, as we took the renowned Tiputini Trail for the morning, racking up a swathe of birds in this terra firma forest (a type of forest that never gets flooded, unlike some other forests in the Amazon).
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Early morning activity yielded a crop of birds from a classic group of Amazonian birds, the antbird family, with Plain-throated and White-flanked Antwren, and Cinereous and Dusky-throated Antshrikes. Further along the trail we hit some quality species like White-cheeked and Lunulated Antbirds, Blue- crowned and Golden-headed Manakins, as well as a very friendly Ash-colored Gnateater (below). Black-throated Trogon was also seen, before one of the locals, Rogelio, brought us a hot lunch for the field! After lunch, our plan to take our time backtracking along the same trail to our boat waiting at the lake edge for us. A brief Little Tinamou scampered across the trail and was seen by only a few, but we fared better with Great Jacamar, Coraya Wren and Sooty Antbird (above). Other wildlife seen along the trail that day included, Venezuelan Red Howler, Poepping’s Woolly, and White- fronted Spider Monkeys.
The heavy rain came in, and so we needed to take a faster pace along the trail back to the lakeshore, where Rogelio and our boat was waiting. As we crossed the lake in order to head back to the lodge, the rain eased, and so we birded around the wetland itself, seeing Cinnamon Attila, Sulphury Flycatcher, Straight-billed Woodcreeper, Little Cuckoo, several Capped Herons, a flying Muscovy Duck and some entertaining, displaying Black- capped Donacobius in the rank grass that surrounds the lake. We returned to the tower by the lodge in the late afternoon and had nice scope views of Giant Otter on the lake alongside. www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected] p.14 Tropical Birding - Trip Report Eastern Ecuador: February-March 2020
March 2: Napo Wildlife Center (The Amazon). There are many different types of birding experience in the Amazon. The day before we had got some stellar experience with understorey and forest floor birds, while trail walking. However, on this morning we decided to focus on canopy species, by visiting the lodge’s 150ft-high canopy tower, which is built around a giant kapok tree. To reach the tower, we needed to take a short canoe ride across the lake, followed by a walk into the Amazon rainforest. While up on the tower we scoured the treetops for motion, and skies for birds passing by. The birds came thick and fast, with Blue-throated Piping-Guan, Gilded Barbet, Cream-colored and Crimson-crested Woodpeckers, White-throated and Channel-billed Toucans, Many-banded and Lettered Araçaris, White-necked Puffbird, White-fronted Nunbird, Yellow-browed Tody-Flycatcher (above), Plum-throated and Spangled Cotingas, White-browed Purpletuft, Opal-crowned Tanager, Purple Honeycreeper, Russet-backed, Crested, and Green Oropendolas, and the rare Casqued Cacique all perched around us at various times. Two raptors featured up there too, with Slender-billed Kite and a noisy Slate-colored Hawk. Our lofty position also allowed us to see canopy species flying by too, which included some flashy birds like Blue-and-yellow Macaw, Orange-winged Parrot, as well as Greater Yellow-headed Vulture and Black Caracara.
After several hours on the tower, the activity quieted down, and we decided to bird our way along the trail back to the lagoon. In this time we caught up with the gorgeous Wire-tailed Manakin (next page), before wind and rain moved in, and so we retreated back to the lodge. www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected] p.15 Tropical Birding - Trip Report Eastern Ecuador: February-March 2020
In the afternoon, once the rain had moved on, we were ready to bird by canoe along the local creeks, which offered us plenty of new birds still. Before we left the lodge though, we added a couple of mammals, with the beautiful Golden-mantled Tamarin (page before) by the cabins, and Tayra just before we got in the canoes. As we drifted along the creek, we found birds like Lesser Kiskadee, Red-bellied Macaw, Black-capped Donacobious, Hoatzin, Greater Ani and Cinnamon Attila, and mammals like Common Squirrel, Venezuelan Red Howler and White- fronted Capuchin Monkeys.
Wire-tailed Manakin from the Amazon
Later in the afternoon, and further up the creek, we also added Moustached Antwren, Plumbeous, Silvered and Dot-backed Antbirds, and the tricky-to-get Chestnut-capped Puffbird. We deliberately lingered into the evening to try for one of the Amazon’s least conspicuous birds, the Zigzag Heron, which gave us an excellent look. On the way back to the lodge by canoe, we also added Blackish Nightjar to our burgeoning trip list, to end an excellent day.
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Zigzag Heron from Napo Wildlife Center
March 3: Napo Wildlife Center to Sani Lodge (The Amazon). On this day we swapped one great Amazon lodge for another. But first, we traveled by canoe back up the creek towards the main Napo River, and birded our way out, finding Short-tailed Nighthawk, Collared Puffbird, Buff- throated Woodcreeper, Violaceous Jay, Black-crowned Tityra, Black-fronted Nunbird and Bare-necked Fruitcrow. After meeting with our next set of Amazonian lodge staff, with guide Guillermo and boat driver Simon, we visited the first of two parrot clay licks. A little bit of birding before that produced Little Woodpecker, Oriole Blackbird, Cocoi Heron, Drab Water-Tyrant and Roseate Spoonbill. The first lick was visited by boat, and we drifted alongside we watched excited groups of Dusky-headed Parakeets, Blue-headed, Yellow-crowned and Mealy Parrots attending the clay wall beside the main river.
Then, we visited the most famous lick in the Ecuadorian Amazon, which we walked to, and ended with us watching the parrots from a purpose built blind in the forest. Alongside the trail to the parrot blind, we found Gray Antwren, Dusky-throated Antshrike, Elegant Woodcreeper, Great-billed Hermit and unusually good looks at the secretive Rusty-belted Tapaculo.
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We needed to wait a little in the blind for the nervy parrots to arrive, but the first one to descend down to the terrestrial lick was Scarlet Macaw (left), followed by Cobalt-winged Parakeets and Orange- cheeked Parrots. After enjoying the amazing spectacle of parrots gathering to intake minerals for the day, we took a boat ride across the main river to the Sani Community Center. While there, we took a packed lunch, and also had a chance to sample local foods and crafts produced by the community of the lodge we were headed to next, a particularly important source of income for the women of the village. Our visit to the community was not entirely cultural though, as after lunch we were led to two different species of roosting owls close by, with Tropical Screech-Owl and Crested Owl (next page) both being showed to us by local guide Guillermo. Between the community and reaching the lodge by boat, we also saw Cinnamon-throated Woodcreeper, Black-fronted Nunbird, Fork-tailed Flycatcher, and White-eared and Brown Jacamars. After our exciting arrival at another beautifully located Amazon lodge (beside its own private lake too), we took a short walk on a nearby trail, which culminated in looks at the superb Rufous- headed Woodpecker, and brief canoe ride resulted in sightings of Purple-throated Fruitcrow and a nesting Rufous-breasted Hermit. After a brief run through of the lodge by its manager, we closed the day by watching a burnt orange sunset from the lodge’s well-placed bar!
March 4: Sani Lodge (The Amazon). A few days before we had visited a canopy tower, and today we visited another, with plenty more birds for us to find up there. In order to try and be there as the Amazon awakes, we left early, taking a packed breakfast with us, which we took on the tower as dawn broke, a magical experience in of itself. One of the first birds to “appear” was the regular Great Potoo, which was roosting within the tree canopy we were standing in. A near tree with fruiting mistletoe attracted a series of visitors, Slender-footed Tyrannulet, and Thick- billed, Orange-bellied, Golden-bellied and Rufous-bellied Euphonias among them.
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Careful and steady scanning of the treetops revealed one bird after another, such as Pied Puffbird, Many-banded and Ivory-billed Araçaris, Plumbeous Kite, Crane Hawk, Black-tailed Tityra, and Channel-billed and White-throated Toucans. Just before descending the tower, we encountered some feeding activity in the tree we were in and just below us, which included attendees like, Lemon-throated Barbet, Green-and-gold, Masked, Scarlet, Opal-rumped and Masked Crimson Tanagers, Blue, Black- faced and Yellow-bellied Dacnises, Green Honeycreeper, Pink-throated Becard, White-browed Purpletuft, and a very vocal Citron-bellied Attila. Birding the entrance trail to the tower also brought us a gaudy male Golden-headed Manakin and a typically inconspicuous Dwarf- Tyrant-Manakin, which showed in the end. Once back on the canoe, we did a little wetland birding before returning to the lodge for lunch, seeing a Sungrebe in flight, Scale-breasted and Chestnut Woodpeckers, White-shouldered Antbird, Rufous-tailed Flatbill, White-chinned Jacamar, Green-and-rufous Kingfisher, the rare and localized Yellow-crowned Elaenia, and another roosting potoo, this time a Common Potoo, thanks to Guillermo.
After lunch and a break in the middle of the day back at base, we took a walk onto the trails immediately behind the cabins. Our trail walking paid off with Rufous-capped Antthrush, Plain- winged and Spot-winged Antshrikes, Amazonian Barred Woodcreeper, Amazonian Motmot one of the most iconic songsters in the jungle, the Screaming Piha. The remainder of the afternoon involved being back in the canoe, in order to try and find one of the lodge’s rarest birds, the Cocha Antshrike. Sani Lodge is one of the best places to find this rare species, and so we were keen to get it, although it involved trying several sites before we finally tracked one down to end the day in style!
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Cocha Antshrike (above) and Black-faced Antbird from Sani Lodge
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Parrot clay lick in the Amazon
March 5: Sani Lodge (The Amazon). Sadly, our final full day in the Amazon had arrived, and so we tried to cram in as much as possible, before we left. We started out by birding an area of terra firma forest, on the opposite side of the main river from Sani Lodge. Before we reached the jungle itself, we passed through a property with secondary habitat that brought us missing species like Lineated Woodpecker, Chestnut-fronted Macaw and a Laughing Falcon. Once in the forest proper, we started finding interior forest species, including a series of antbirds (one of the marquee groups of the Amazon), with Black-faced, Peruvian Warbling, White- shouldered, Spot-backed, White-cheeked and Yellow-browed Antbirds. Later in the morning we added another antbird too, this time Black Antbird, as well as Spix’s Guan, Purplish Jacamar, and Blue-backed Manakin.
A heavy rain storm threatened before lunch, so we made our way to Simon’s (our boat driver) house to shelter and take our packed lunch out of the rain. A pair of Orange-backed Troupial were also found there, post lunch. As usual in the tropics, the rain was heavy, but left us after a time, and that is when we moved on for our main activity of the day, visiting several river islands. The islands along the Napo River are home to a discrete set of specialty birds, many of which are most abundant on these islands, and are only rarely found away from them.
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From this list of birds we managed to find Oriole Blackbird, Olive-spotted Hummingbird, Spotted Tody-Flycatcher and a noisy Castelnau’s Antshrike. On the return canoe ride back to the lodge we noted some familiar species, like Purple-throated Fruitcrow, Greater Ani, Capped Heron, and the ever entertaining Hoatzin.
March 6: Sani Lodge to Coca and Quito. This final day in the field was largely a travel day, as we made our way by canoe from the lodge to the main river, then by motorized canoe to the city of Coca, from where we took the short flight into the Andes and Quito for a final night. However, we had a plan to sneak in some final birds while doing the journey. After we were in the canoes, we stopped by a creek just before dawn, and had success with a responsive Tawny-bellied Screech-Owl. We then visited a river island, where along with other repeats, we added Solitary Cacique, Yellow-headed Caracara, and the mush hoped for Amazonian Umbrellabird too.
These were our last major finds of the trip, as the river beckoned us back, and we made the journey back to Quito, where a final farewell dinner was spent reminding ourselves of the amazing birds we had seen from high up in the Andes all the way down into the Amazon, and everything in between!
Great Potoo at Sani Lodge www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected] p.22 Tropical Birding - Trip Report Eastern Ecuador: February-March 2020
White-fronted Capuchin from Napo Wildlife Center BIRD LIST
The taxonomy of the bird list follows eBird/Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2019. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2019. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/)
(H) indicates a species that was HEARD only. (G) indicates a species recorded by the GUIDE ONLY.
TINAMOUS TINAMIDAE Great Tinamou Tinamus major H Cinereous Tinamou Crypturellus cinereus H Little Tinamou Crypturellus soui Undulated Tinamou Crypturellus undulatus H DUCKS, GEESE, AND WATERFOWL ANATIDAE Muscovy Duck Cairina moschata Torrent Duck Merganetta armata Blue-winged Teal Anas discors Yellow-billed Pintail Anas georgica Andean Teal Anas andium andium Andean Duck Oxyura jamaicensis andina
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GUANS, CHACHALACAS AND CURASSOWS CRACIDAE Speckled Chachalaca Ortalis guttata Andean Guan Penelope montagnii Spix's Guan Penelope jacquacu Blue-throated (Common) Piping-Guan Pipile cumanensis Wattled Guan Aburria aburri Sickle-winged Guan Chamaepetes goudotii NEW WORLD QUAIL ODONTOPHORIDAE Rufous-breasted Wood-Quail Odontophorus speciosus H GREBES PODICIPEDIDAE Silvery Grebe Podiceps occipitalis PIGEONS AND DOVES COLUMBIDAE Rock Pigeon Columba livia Pale-vented Pigeon Patagioenas cayennensis Scaled Pigeon Patagioenas speciosa Band-tailed Pigeon Patagioenas fasciata Plumbeous Pigeon Patagioenas plumbea Ruddy Pigeon Patagioenas subvinacea Ruddy Ground-Dove Columbina talpacoti Black-winged Ground-Dove Metriopelia melanoptera Sapphire Quail-Dove Geotrygon saphirina H Ruddy Quail-Dove Geotrygon montana H Gray-fronted Dove Leptotila rufaxilla White-throated Quail-Dove Zentrygon frenata Eared Dove Zenaida auriculata CUCKOOS CUCULIDAE Greater Ani Crotophaga major Smooth-billed Ani Crotophaga ani Little Cuckoo Coccycua minuta Squirrel Cuckoo Piaya cayana Black-bellied Cuckoo Piaya melanogaster NIGHTJARS CAPRIMULGIDAE Short-tailed Nighthawk Lurocalis semitorquatus Blackish Nightjar Nyctipolus nigrescens Common Pauraque Nyctidromus albicollis Ladder-tailed Nightjar Hydropsalis climacocerca POTOOS NYCTIBIIDAE Great Potoo Nyctibius grandis Common Potoo Nyctibius griseus Andean Potoo Nyctibius maculosus SWIFTS APODIDAE Chestnut-collared Swift Streptoprocne rutila White-collared Swift Streptoprocne zonaris Short-tailed Swift Chaetura brachyura Gray-rumped Swift Chaetura cinereiventris Fork-tailed Palm-Swift Tachornis squamata www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected] p.24 Tropical Birding - Trip Report Eastern Ecuador: February-March 2020
HUMMINGBIRDS TROCHILIDAE White-necked Jacobin Florisuga mellivora Rufous-breasted Hermit Glaucis hirsutus Green Hermit Phaethornis guy Tawny-bellied Hermit Phaethornis syrmatophorus G Straight-billed Hermit Phaethornis bourcieri Great-billed Hermit Phaethornis malaris Black-throated Hermit Phaethornis atrimentalis Gray-chinned Hermit Phaethornis griseogularis G Blue-fronted Lancebill Doryfera johannae Brown Violetear Colibri delphinae Sparkling Violetear Colibri coruscans Black-throated Mango Anthracothorax nigricollis Tourmaline Sunangel Heliangelus exortis Wire-crested Thorntail Discosura popelairii Ecuadorian Piedtail Phlogophilus hemileucurus Speckled Hummingbird Adelomyia melanogenys Long-tailed Sylph Aglaiocercus kingii Ecuadorian Hillstar Oreotrochilus chimborazo Black-tailed Trainbearer Lesbia victoriae Blue-mantled Thornbill Chalcostigma stanleyi Tyrian Metaltail Metallura tyrianthina Viridian Metaltail Metallura williami Shining Sunbeam Aglaeactis cupripennis Bronzy Inca Coeligena coeligena 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 Booted Racket-tail Ocreatus underwoodii Black-throated Brilliant Heliodoxa schreibersii Gould's Jewelfront Heliodoxa aurescens Fawn-breasted Brilliant Heliodoxa rubinoides Violet-fronted Brilliant Heliodoxa leadbeateri Giant Hummingbird Patagona gigas Long-billed Starthroat Heliomaster longirostris White-bellied Woodstar Chaetocercus mulsant Gorgeted Woodstar Chaetocercus heliodor Violet-headed Hummingbird Klais guimeti Napo Sabrewing Campylopterus villaviscensio Fork-tailed Woodnymph Thalurania furcata Many-spotted Hummingbird Taphrospilus hypostictus Olive-spotted Hummingbird Leucippus chlorocercus www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected] p.25 Tropical Birding - Trip Report Eastern Ecuador: February-March 2020
Glittering-throated Emerald Amazilia fimbriata Golden-tailed Sapphire Chrysuronia oenone HOATZIN OPISTHOCOMIDAE Hoatzin Opisthocomus hoazin RAILS, GALLINULES, COOTS RALLIDAE Blackish Rail Pardirallus nigricans Gray-cowled (Gray-necked) Wood-Rail Aramides cajaneus Slate-colored (Andean) Coot Fulica ardesiaca Gray-breasted Crake Laterallus exilis H FINFOOTS HELIORNITHIDAE Sungrebe Heliornis fulica LIMPKIN ARAMIDAE Limpkin Aramus guarauna PLOVERS AND LAPWINGS CHARADRIIDAE Pied Lapwing (Pied Plover) Vanellus cayanus Southern Lapwing Vanellus chilensis Andean Lapwing Vanellus resplendens SEEDSNIPES THINOCORIDAE Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe Attagis gayi JACANAS JACANIDAE Wattled Jacana Jacana jacana SANDPIPERS SCOLOPACIDAE Jameson's (Andean) Snipe Gallinago jamesoni Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes GULLS, TERNS, AND SKIMMERS LARIDAE Andean Gull Chroicocephalus serranus SUNBITTERN EURYPYGIDAE Sunbittern Eurypyga helias G ANHINGAS ANHINGIDAE Anhinga Anhinga anhinga CORMORANTS AND SHAGS PHALACROCORACIDAE Neotropic Cormorant Phalacrocorax brasilianus HERONS, EGRETS, BITTERNS ARDEIDAE Zigzag Heron Zebrilus undulatus Rufescent Tiger-Heron Tigrisoma lineatum Cocoi Heron Ardea cocoi Great Egret Ardea alba Snowy Egret Egretta thula Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis Striated Heron Butorides striata Capped Heron Pilherodius pileatus Boat-billed Heron Cochlearius cochlearius IBIS AND SPOONBILLS THRESKIORNITHIDAE Green Ibis Mesembrinibis cayennensis www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected] p.26 Tropical Birding - Trip Report Eastern Ecuador: February-March 2020
Andean (Black-faced) Ibis Theristicus melanopis branickii Roseate Spoonbill Platalea ajaja NEW WORLD VULTURES CATHARTIDAE Andean Condor Vultur gryphus King Vulture Sarcoramphus papa Black Vulture Coragyps atratus Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura Greater Yellow-headed Vulture Cathartes melambrotus OSPREY PANDIONIDAE Osprey Pandion haliaetus HAWKS, EAGLES, KITES ACCIPITRIDAE Gray-headed Kite Leptodon cayanensis H Swallow-tailed Kite Elanoides forficatus Black Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus tyrannus Snail Kite Rostrhamus sociabilis Slender-billed Kite Helicolestes hamatus Plumbeous Kite Ictinia plumbea Crane Hawk Geranospiza caerulescens Slate-colored Hawk Buteogallus schistaceus Roadside Hawk Rupornis magnirostris Variable Hawk Geranoaetus polyosoma Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle Geranoaetus melanoleucus Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus BARN-OWLS TYTONIDAE Barn Owl Tyto alba OWLS STRIGIDAE Tropical Screech-Owl Megascops choliba Tawny-bellied Screech-Owl Megascops watsonii Crested Owl Lophostrix cristata Spectacled Owl Pulsatrix perspicillata H Band-bellied Owl Pulsatrix melanota H Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium brasilianum "San Isidro" Owl (Black-banded?) Ciccaba sp. (huhula?) Rufous-banded Owl Ciccaba albitarsis H TROGONS TROGONIDAE Golden-headed Quetzal Pharomachrus auriceps Crested Quetzal Pharomachrus antisianus Black-tailed Trogon Trogon melanurus eumorphus Green-backed (Amaz. White-tailed) Trogon Trogon viridis Blue-crowned Trogon Trogon curucui Black-throated Trogon Trogon rufus Collared Trogon Trogon collaris Masked Trogon Trogon personatus MOTMOTS MOMOTIDAE Amazonian (Blue-crowned) Motmot Momotus momota microstephanus Rufous Motmot Baryphthengus martii www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected] p.27 Tropical Birding - Trip Report Eastern Ecuador: February-March 2020
KINGFISHERS ALCEDINIDAE Ringed Kingfisher Megaceryle torquata Amazon Kingfisher Chloroceryle amazona Green Kingfisher Chloroceryle americana Green-and-rufous Kingfisher Chloroceryle inda PUFFBIRDS BUCCONIDAE White-necked Puffbird Notharchus hyperrhynchus Pied Puffbird Notharchus tectus Chestnut-capped Puffbird Bucco macrodactylus Collared Puffbird Bucco capensis Western Striolated Puffbird Nystalus obamai White-chested Puffbird Malacoptila fusca G Black-streaked Puffbird Malacoptila fulvogularis Black-fronted Nunbird Monasa nigrifrons White-fronted Nunbird Monasa morphoeus H Yellow-billed Nunbird Monasa flavirostris Swallow-winged Puffbird Chelidoptera tenebrosa JACAMARS GALBULIDAE White-eared Jacamar Galbalcyrhynchus leucotis Brown Jacamar Brachygalba lugubris White-chinned Jacamar Galbula tombacea Coppery-chested Jacamar Galbula pastazae Purplish Jacamar Galbula chalcothorax Great Jacamar Jacamerops aureus NEW WORLD BARBETS CAPITONIDAE Scarlet-crowned Barbet Capito aurovirens Gilded Barbet Capito auratus Lemon-throated Barbet Eubucco richardsoni Red-headed Barbet Eubucco bourcierii TOUCANS RAMPHASTIDAE Southern Emerald-Toucanet (Andean) Aulacorhynchus albivitta albivitta Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan Andigena hypoglauca Black-billed Mountain-Toucan Andigena nigrirostris G Lettered Araçari Pteroglossus inscriptus Chestnut-eared Araçari Pteroglossus castanotis Many-banded Araçari Pteroglossus pluricinctus Ivory-billed Araçari Pteroglossus azara Golden-collared Toucanet (Red-billed) Selenidera reinwardtii reinwardtii Yellow-throated Toucan (Black-mandibled) Toucan Ramphastos ambiguus ambiguus White-throated Toucan Ramphastos tucanus Channel-billed Toucan Ramphastos vitellinus WOODPECKERS PICIDAE Lafresnaye's Piculet Picumnus lafresnayi Rufous-breasted Piculet Picumnus rufiventris Yellow-tufted Woodpecker Melanerpes cruentatus Little Woodpecker Veniliornis passerinus www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected] p.28 Tropical Birding - Trip Report Eastern Ecuador: February-March 2020
Red-stained Woodpecker Veniliornis affinis Powerful Woodpecker Campephilus pollens Crimson-crested Woodpecker Campephilus melanoleucos Lineated Woodpecker Dryocopus lineatus Ringed Woodpecker Celeus torquatus H Scale-breasted Woodpecker Celeus grammicus Cream-colored Woodpecker Celeus flavus Rufous-headed Woodpecker Celeus spectabilis Chestnut Woodpecker Celeus elegans Crimson-mantled Woodpecker Colaptes rivolii H Spot-breasted Woodpecker Colaptes punctigula FALCONS AND CARACARAS FALCONIDAE Buckley's Forest-Falcon Micrastur buckleyi G Black Caracara Daptrius ater Red-throated Caracara Ibycter americanus H Carunculated Caracara Phalcoboenus carunculatus Yellow-headed Caracara Milvago chimachima Laughing Falcon Herpetotheres cachinnans American Kestrel Falco sparverius Bat Falcon Falco rufigularis PARROTS PSITTACIDAE Barred Parakeet Bolborhynchus lineola H Cobalt-winged Parakeet Brotogeris cyanoptera Orange-cheeked Parrot Pyrilia barrabandi Red-billed Parrot Pionus sordidus Speckle-faced (White-capped) Parrot Pionus tumultuosus seniloides Blue-headed Parrot Pionus menstruus Yellow-crowned Parrot (Amazon) Amazona ochrocephala Mealy Parrot (Southern) Amazona farinosa farinosa Orange-winged Parrot (Amazon) Amazona amazonica Scaly-naped Parrot (Amazon) Amazona mercenarius Blue-winged Parrotlet Forpus xanthopterygius Black-headed Parrot Pionites melanocephalus Maroon-tailed Parakeet (Maroon-tailed) Pyrrhura melanura melanura G Dusky-headed Parakeet Aratinga weddellii Red-bellied Macaw Orthopsittaca manilatus Blue-and-yellow Macaw Ara ararauna Military Macaw Ara militaris Scarlet Macaw Ara macao Red-and-green Macaw Ara chloropterus H Chestnut-fronted Macaw Ara severus White-eyed Parakeet Psittacara leucophthalmus H TYPICAL ANTBIRDS THAMNOPHILIDAE Fulvous (Undulated) Antshrike Frederickena fulva Great Antshrike Taraba major H Lined Antshrike Thamnophilus tenuepunctatus www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected] p.29 Tropical Birding - Trip Report Eastern Ecuador: February-March 2020
Plain-winged Antshrike Thamnophilus schistaceus Mouse-colored Antshrike Thamnophilus murinus Cocha Antshrike Thamnophilus praecox Castelnau's Antshrike Thamnophilus cryptoleucus Plain Antvireo Dysithamnus mentalis White-streaked Antvireo (White-streaked) Dysithamnus leucostictus leucostictus Dusky-throated Antshrike Thamnomanes ardesiacus Cinereous Antshrike Thamnomanes caesius Plain-throated Antwren Isleria hauxwelli Spot-winged Antshrike Pygiptila stellaris Foothill Stipplethroat Epinecrophylla spodionota spodionota Ornate Stipplethroat (Western) Epinecrophylla ornata saturata Pygmy Antwren Myrmotherula brachyura Moustached (Short-billed) Antwren Myrmotherula ignota obscura Amazonian Streaked-Antwren Myrmotherula multostriata White-flanked Antwren Myrmotherula axillaris Slaty Antwren Myrmotherula schisticolor Gray Antwren Myrmotherula menetriesii Yellow-breasted Antwren Herpsilochmus axillaris Rufous-winged Antwren (Northern) Herpsilochmus rufimarginatus frater Streak-headed (Long-tailed) Antbird Drymophila striaticeps occidentalis Peruvian Warbling-Antbird Hypocnemis peruviana Yellow-browed Antbird Hypocnemis hypoxantha Black Antbird Cercomacroides serva Cercomacroides nigrescens Blackish Antbird aequatorialis Gray Antbird Cercomacra cinerascens White-backed Fire-eye Pyriglena leuconota White-browed Antbird Myrmoborus leucophrys H Black-faced Antbird Myrmoborus myotherinus Silvered Antbird Sclateria naevia Plumbeous Antbird Myrmelastes hyperythrus Spot-winged Antbird Myrmelastes leucostigma White-shouldered Antbird Akletos melanoceps Sooty Antbird Hafferia fortis White-cheeked (Bicolored) Antbird Gymnopithys leucaspis castaneus Lunulated Antbird Gymnopithys lunulatus Hairy-crested Antbird Rhegmatorhina melanosticta H Spot-backed Antbird Hylophylax naevius Dot-backed Antbird Hylophylax punctulatus Common Scale-backed Antbird (Buff-breasted) Willisornis poecilinotus lepidonota GNATEATERS CONOPOPHAGIDAE Ash-throated Gnateater Conopophaga peruviana Chestnut-crowned Gnateater Conopophaga castaneiceps ANTPITTAS GRALLARIIDAE Moustached Antpitta Grallaria alleni H www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected] p.30 Tropical Birding - Trip Report Eastern Ecuador: February-March 2020
Plain-backed Antpitta Grallaria haplonota Chestnut-crowned Antpitta Grallaria ruficapilla Chestnut-naped Antpitta Grallaria nuchalis nuchalis H White-bellied Antpitta Grallaria hypoleuca Rufous Antpitta (Rufous) Grallaria rufula rufula H Tawny Antpitta (Western) Grallaria quitensis quitensis White-lored Antpitta Hylopezus fulviventris H Thrush-like Antpitta Myrmothera campanisona H Ochre-breasted Antpitta Grallaricula flavirostris Slate-crowned Antpitta Grallaricula nana TAPACULOS RHINOCRYPTIDAE Rusty-belted Tapaculo Liosceles thoracicus Ocellated Tapaculo Acropternis orthonyx Blackish (Unicolored) Tapaculo Scytalopus latrans Long-tailed (Eq. Rufous-vented) Tapaculo Scytalopus micropterus (Northern) White-crowned Tapaculo Scytalopus atratus H Spillmann's Tapaculo Scytalopus spillmanni Paramo Tapaculo Scytalopus opacus H ANTTHRUSHES FORMICARIIDAE Rufous-capped Antthrush Formicarius colma Black-faced Antthrush Formicarius analis Rufous-breasted Antthrush Formicarius rufipectus Short-tailed Antthrush Chamaeza campanisona Striated Antthrush Chamaeza nobilis Barred Antthrush Chamaeza mollissima OVENBIRDS & WOODCREEPERS FURNARIIDAE Olivaceous Woodcreeper (Amazonian) Sittasomus griseicapillus amazonus Plain-brown Woodcreeper Dendrocincla fuliginosa phaeochroa Wedge-billed Woodcreeper Glyphorynchus spirurus Cinnamon-throated Woodcreeper Dendrexetastes rufigula Long-billed Woodcreeper Nasica longirostris Amazonian Barred-Woodcreeper (Amazonian) Dendrocolaptes certhia certhia Black-banded Woodcreeper (Black-banded) Dendrocolaptes picumnus validus Strong-billed Woodcreeper (Amazonian) Xiphocolaptes promeropirhynchus Striped Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus obsoletus Elegant (Spix's) Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus elegans ornatus Buff-throated Woodcreeper (Lafresnaye's) Xiphorhynchus guttatus guttatoides Olive-backed Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus triangularis Straight-billed Woodcreeper Dendroplex picus Montane Woodcreeper Lepidocolaptes lacrymiger Streaked Xenops Xenops rutilans Streaked Tuftedcheek Pseudocolaptes boissonneautii Rusty-winged Barbtail Premnornis guttuliger Chestnut-winged (Bar-winged) Cinclodes Cinclodes albidiventris Stout-billed Cinclodes Cinclodes excelsior Buff-fronted Foliage-gleaner Philydor rufum www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected] p.31 Tropical Birding - Trip Report Eastern Ecuador: February-March 2020
Montane Foliage-gleaner Anabacerthia striaticollis Black-billed Treehunter Thripadectes melanorhynchus Olive-backed Foliage-gleaner (Olive-backed) Automolus infuscatus infuscatus Spotted Barbtail Premnoplex brunnescens Pearled Treerunner Margarornis squamiger Andean Tit-Spinetail Leptasthenura andicola Many-striped Canastero Asthenes flammulata Streak-backed Canastero Asthenes wyatti White-chinned Thistletail Asthenes fuliginosa Dusky Spinetail Synallaxis moesta Dark-breasted Spinetail Synallaxis albigularis Azara's Spinetail Synallaxis azarae Rufous Spinetail (unirufa) Synallaxis unirufa unirufa MANAKINS PIPRIDAE Dwarf Tyrant-Manakin Tyranneutes stolzmanni Blue-backed Manakin (napensis) Chiroxiphia pareola napensis Golden-winged Manakin Masius chrysopterus Blue-crowned Manakin (Blue-crowned) Lepidothrix coronata coronata Blue-rumped Manakin Lepidothrix isidorei Orange-crowned (Orange-crested) Manakin Heterocercus aurantiivertex White-bearded Manakin Manacus manacus H Wire-tailed Manakin Pipra filicauda Striolated Manakin (Striolated) Machaeropterus striolatus striolatus H White-crowned Manakin (White-crowned) Dixiphia pipra coracina Golden-headed Manakin Ceratopipra erythrocephala COTINGAS COTINGIDAE Green-and-black Fruiteater (Green-and-black) Pipreola riefferii riefferii Barred Fruiteater Pipreola arcuata Fiery-throated Fruiteater Pipreola chlorolepidota Scaled Fruiteater Ampelioides tschudii H Red-crested Cotinga Ampelion rubrocristatus Andean Cock-of-the-rock Rupicola peruvianus aequatorialis Gray-tailed Piha Snowornis subalaris Purple-throated Fruitcrow Querula purpurata Amazonian Umbrellabird Cephalopterus ornatus Plum-throated Cotinga Cotinga maynana Spangled Cotinga Cotinga cayana Dusky Piha Lipaugus fuscocinereus Screaming Piha Lipaugus vociferans Bare-necked Fruitcrow Gymnoderus foetidus TITYRAS AND ALLIES TITYRIDAE Black-tailed Tityra (Western) Tityra cayana cayana Black-crowned Tityra Tityra inquisitor Masked Tityra Tityra semifasciata White-browed Purpletuft Iodopleura isabellae Green-backed Becard (Yellow-cheeked) Pachyramphus viridis xanthogenys www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected] p.32 Tropical Birding - Trip Report Eastern Ecuador: February-March 2020
Barred Becard Pachyramphus versicolor White-winged Becard nigriventris Pink-throated Becard Pachyramphus minor SHARPBILL, ROYAL FLYCATCHER AND ALLIES OXYRUNCIDAE Tawny-breasted Flycatcher Myiobius villosus TYRANT FLYCATCHERS TYRANNIDAE Wing-barred Piprites Piprites chloris H Streak-necked Flycatcher Mionectes striaticollis G Ochre-bellied Flycatcher Mionectes oleagineus Slaty-capped Flycatcher (superciliaris) Leptopogon superciliaris superciliaris Rufous-breasted Flycatcher Leptopogon rufipectus Marble-faced Bristle-Tyrant Phylloscartes ophthalmicus Ecuadorian Tyrannulet Phylloscartes gualaquizae Rufous-headed Pygmy-Tyrant Pseudotriccus ruficeps Short-tailed Pygmy-Tyrant Myiornis ecaudatus H Scale-crested Pygmy-Tyrant Lophotriccus pileatus Buff-throated Tody-Tyrant Hemitriccus rufigularis H Rufous-crowned Tody-Flycatcher Poecilotriccus ruficeps Black-and-white Tody-Flycatcher Poecilotriccus capitalis H Spotted Tody-Flycatcher Todirostrum maculatum Common Tody-Flycatcher Todirostrum cinereum peruanum H Yellow-browed Tody-Flycatcher Todirostrum chrysocrotaphum Yellow-margined Flycatcher (Zimmer's Flatbill) Tolmomyias assimilis obscuriceps Gray-crowned Flycatcher (Flatbill) Tolmomyias poliocephalus Yellow-breasted Flycatcher (Olive-faced Flatbill) Tolmomyias flaviventris viridiceps Cinnamon Flycatcher (Andean) Pyrrhomyias cinnamomeus Cliff Flycatcher Hirundinea ferruginea Ornate Flycatcher (Eastern) Myiotriccus ornatus phoenicurus Handsome Flycatcher Nephelomyias pulcher White-tailed Tyrannulet Mecocerculus poecilocercus White-banded Tyrannulet Mecocerculus stictopterus White-throated Tyrannulet Mecocerculus leucophrys Sulphur-bellied Tyrannulet Mecocerculus minor Tufted Tit-Tyrant Anairetes parulus Yellow-crowned Tyrannulet Tyrannulus elatus Foothill Elaenia (Foothill) Myiopagis olallai olallai Yellow-crowned Elaenia Myiopagis flavivertex White-crested Elaenia (White-crested) Elaenia albiceps griseigularis Sooty-headed Tyrannulet (caucae) Phyllomyias griseiceps caucae Red-billed Tyrannulet Zimmerius cinereicapilla Golden-faced Tyrannulet (Golden-faced) Zimmerius chrysops chrysops Slender-footed Tyrannulet Zimmerius gracilipes Flavescent Flycatcher Myiophobus flavicans Olive-chested Flycatcher Myiophobus cryptoxanthus Olive-sided Flycatcher Contopus cooperi www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected] p.33 Tropical Birding - Trip Report Eastern Ecuador: February-March 2020
Smoke-colored Pewee Contopus fumigatus Western Wood-Pewee Contopus sordidulus Eastern Wood-Pewee Contopus virens Black Phoebe (White-winged) Sayornis nigricans angustirostris Drab Water Tyrant Ochthornis littoralis Smoky Bush-Tyrant Myiotheretes fumigatus Red-rumped Bush-Tyrant Cnemarchus erythropygius Slaty-backed Chat-Tyrant (Slaty-backed) Ochthoeca cinnamomeiventris Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant (Brown-backed) Ochthoeca fumicolor fumicolor Rufous-tailed Flatbill Ramphotrigon ruficauda Cinnamon Attila Attila cinnamomeus Citron-bellied Attila Attila citriniventris Bright-rumped Attila (Southern) Attila spadiceus spadiceus Grayish Mourner Rhytipterna simplex Dusky-capped Flycatcher Myiarchus tuberculifer Short-crested Flycatcher Myiarchus ferox Pale-edged Flycatcher Myiarchus cephalotes Cattle Tyrant Machetornis rixosa Lesser Kiskadee Pitangus lictor Great Kiskadee Pitangus sulphuratus Boat-billed Flycatcher (South American) Megarynchus pitangua pitangua Social Flycatcher (Social) Myiozetetes similis similis Gray-capped Flycatcher Myiozetetes granadensis Dusky-chested Flycatcher Myiozetetes luteiventris Lemon-browed Flycatcher Conopias cinchoneti Golden-crowned Flycatcher Myiodynastes chrysocephalus Streaked Flycatcher (Northern) Myiodynastes maculatus insolens Piratic Flycatcher Legatus leucophaius Crowned Slaty Flycatcher Empidonomus aurantioatrocristatus Sulphury Flycatcher Tyrannopsis sulphurea Tropical Kingbird Tyrannus melancholicus Eastern Kingbird Tyrannus tyrannus Fork-tailed Flycatcher (savana) Tyrannus savana savana VIREOS, SHRIKE-BABBLERS AND ERPORNIS VIREONIDAE Black-billed Peppershrike Cyclarhis nigrirostris Olivaceous Greenlet Hylophilus olivaceus Dusky-capped Greenlet Pachysylvia hypoxantha H Rufous-naped Greenlet Pachysylvia semibrunnea Brown-capped Vireo Vireo leucophrys Yellow-green Vireo Vireo flavoviridis CROWS JAYS AND MAGPIES CORVIDAE Turquoise Jay Cyanolyca turcosa Green (Inca) Jay Cyanocorax yncas yncas Violaceous Jay Cyanocorax violaceus DONACOBIUS DONACOBIIDAE Black-capped Donacobius Donacobius atricapilla www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected] p.34 Tropical Birding - Trip Report Eastern Ecuador: February-March 2020
SWALLOWS HIRUNDINIDAE Blue-and-white Swallow Pygochelidon cyanoleuca Brown-bellied Swallow Orochelidon murina White-banded Swallow Atticora fasciata Southern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx ruficollis Gray-breasted Martin Progne chalybea White-winged Swallow Tachycineta albiventer Bank Swallow (Sand Martin) Riparia riparia GNATCATCHERS POLIOPTILIDAE Long-billed Gnatwren (Long-billed) Ramphocaenus melanurus duidae WRENS TROGLODYTIDAE Scaly-breasted (Southern Nightingale) Wren Microcerculus marginatus marginatus H Wing-banded Wren Microcerculus bambla H House Wren Troglodytes aedon Mountain Wren Troglodytes solstitialis Sedge (Grass/Paramo) Wren Cistothorus platensis aequatorialis Thrush-like Wren Campylorhynchus turdinus Plain-tailed Wren (Plain-tailed) Pheugopedius euophrys longipes Coraya Wren Pheugopedius coraya Buff-breasted Wren Cantorchilus leucotis Rufous Wren Cinnycerthia unirufa Sharpe's (Sepia-brown) Wren Cinnycerthia olivascens olivascens H White-breasted Wood-Wren (Black-capped) Henicorhina leucosticta hauxwelli Gray-breasted Wood-Wren (Andean) Henicorhina leucophrys leucophrys Musician Wren (Gray-eared) Cyphorhinus arada salvini DIPPERS CINCLIDAE White-capped Dipper Cinclus leucocephalus MOCKINGBIRDS AND THRASHERS MIMIDAE Tropical Mockingbird Mimus gilvus THRUSHES AND ALLIES TURDIDAE Andean Solitaire Myadestes ralloides Spotted Nightingale-Thrush (Sclater's) Catharus dryas maculatus G Gray-cheeked Thrush Catharus minimus Swainson's Thrush (Olive-backed) Catharus ustulatus incanus White-necked Thrush (Gray-flanked) Turdus albicollis spodiolaemus Pale-eyed Thrush Turdus leucops Lawrence's Thrush Turdus lawrencii Black-billed Thrush (Amazonian) Turdus ignobilis debilis Great Thrush Turdus fuscater Glossy-black Thrush Turdus serranus WAGTAILS AND PIPITS MOTACILLIDAE Paramo Pipit Anthus bogotensis FINCHES, EUPHONIAS, AND ALLIES FRINGILLIDAE Blue-naped Chlorophonia Chlorophonia cyanea G Thick-billed Euphonia Euphonia laniirostris Golden-rumped Euphonia Euphonia cyanocephala www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected] p.35 Tropical Birding - Trip Report Eastern Ecuador: February-March 2020
Golden-bellied (White-lored) Euphonia Euphonia chrysopasta Bronze-green Euphonia Euphonia mesochrysa Orange-bellied Euphonia Euphonia xanthogaster Rufous-bellied Euphonia Euphonia rufiventris Hooded Siskin Spinus magellanicus Olivaceous Siskin Spinus olivaceus G NEW WORLD SPARROW PASSERELLIDAE Yellow-throated Chlorospingus (Yellow-throated) Chlorospingus flavigularis flavigularis Ashy-throated Chlorospingus (Ashy-throated) Chlorospingus canigularis signatus Common Chlorospingus (Northern Andes) Chlorospingus flavopectus flavopectus Yellow-browed Sparrow Ammodramus aurifrons Gray-browed (Stripe-headed) Brushfinch Arremon assimilis Orange-billed Sparrow (spectabilis) Arremon aurantiirostris spectabilis Chestnut-capped Brushfinch (Chestnut-capped) Arremon brunneinucha frontalis Rufous-collared Sparrow Zonotrichia capensis Slaty Brushfinch (Slaty) Atlapetes schistaceus schistaceus Pale-naped Brushfinch Atlapetes pallidinucha Yellow-breasted Brushfinch (Yellow-breasted) Atlapetes latinuchus spodionotus TROUPIALS AND ALLIES ICTERIDAE Yellow-billed Cacique (Chapman's) Amblycercus holosericeus australis H Russet-backed Oropendola (Russet-backed) Psarocolius angustifrons angustifrons Green Oropendola Psarocolius viridis Crested Oropendola Psarocolius decumanus decumanus Olive Oropendola (Amazonian) Psarocolius bifasciatus yuracares Solitary Black Cacique Cacicus solitarius Scarlet-rumped Cacique (Subtropical) Cacicus uropygialis uropygialis Yellow-rumped Cacique (Amazonian) Cacicus cela cela Mountain Cacique (Golden-shouldered) Cacicus chrysonotus leucoramphus Casqued Cacique (Oropendola) Cacicus oseryi Orange-backed Troupial Icterus croconotus croconotus Giant Cowbird Molothrus oryzivorus Oriole Blackbird Gymnomystax mexicanus NEW WORLD WARBLERS PARULIDAE Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla Tropical Parula (South American) Setophaga pitiayumi alarum Blackburnian Warbler Setophaga fusca Blackpoll Warbler Setophaga striata Three-striped Warbler (Three-striped) Basileuterus tristriatus baezae Black-crested Warbler Myiothlypis nigrocristata Russet-crowned Warbler Myiothlypis coronata orientalis Canada Warbler Cardellina canadensis Slate-throated Redstart (Whitestart) Myioborus miniatus Spectacled Redstart (Whitestart) Myioborus melanocephalus GROSBEAKS AND ALLIES CARDINALIDAE Summer Tanager Piranga rubra rubra www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected] p.36 Tropical Birding - Trip Report Eastern Ecuador: February-March 2020
Scarlet Tanager Piranga olivacea Red-crowned Ant-Tanager (Scarlet-throated) Habia rubica rhodinolaema H TANAGERS AND ALLIES THRAUPIDAE Red-capped Cardinal (Red-capped) Paroaria gularis gularis Magpie Tanager Cissopis leverianus leverianus White-capped Tanager Sericossypha albocristata Black-capped Hemispingus (Black-capped) Kleinothraupis atropileus atropileus Oleaginous Hemispingus Hemispingus frontalis Black-eared Hemispingus (Black-eared) Hemispingus melanotis melanotis Gray-headed Tanager (Gray-headed) Eucometis penicillata penicillata Flame-crested Tanager (Flame-crested) Tachyphonus cristatus fallax White-lined Tanager Tachyphonus rufus Fulvous Shrike-Tanager Lanio fulvus peruvianus Silver-beaked Tanager Ramphocelus carbo carbo Masked Crimson Tanager Ramphocelus nigrogularis Hooded Mountain-Tanager Buthraupis montana cucullata Grass-green Tanager Chlorornis riefferii riefferii Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager (Blue-winged) Anisognathus somptuosus baezae Buff-breasted Mountain-Tanager (Buff-breasted) Dubusia taeniata taeniata Orange-eared Tanager (Orange-eared) Chlorochrysa calliparaea bourcieri Blue-gray Tanager (White-edged) Thraupis episcopus mediana Palm Tanager Thraupis palmarum melanoptera Spotted Tanager Ixothraupis punctata zamorae Black-capped Tanager Stilpnia heinei Masked Tanager Stilpnia nigrocincta Blue-necked Tanager Stilpnia cyanicollis caeruleocephala Blue-and-black Tanager (Blue-and-black) Tangara vassorii vassorii Beryl-spangled Tanager Tangara nigroviridis nigroviridis Turquoise Tanager (Turquoise) Tangara mexicana boliviana Paradise Tanager Tangara chilensis chilensis Opal-rumped Tanager (Opal-rumped) Tangara velia iridina Opal-crowned Tanager Tangara callophrys Bay-headed Tanager (Bay-and-blue) Tangara gyrola Golden-eared Tanager Tangara chrysotis G Saffron-crowned Tanager Tangara xanthocephala Green-and-gold Tanager Tangara schrankii schrankii Golden Tanager Tangara arthus aequatorialis Black-faced Dacnis (Black-faced) Dacnis lineata lineata Yellow-bellied Dacnis Dacnis flaviventer Blue Dacnis Dacnis cayana glaucogularis Purple Honeycreeper Cyanerpes caeruleus microrhynchus Green Honeycreeper Chlorophanes spiza caerulescens Golden-collared Honeycreeper Iridophanes pulcherrimus pulcherrimus Blue-backed Conebill Conirostrum sitticolor sitticolor Capped Conebill (Blue-capped) Conirostrum albifrons atrocyaneum Cinereous Conebill (Ochraceous) Conirostrum cinereum fraseri www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected] p.37 Tropical Birding - Trip Report Eastern Ecuador: February-March 2020
Glossy Flowerpiercer Diglossa lafresnayii Black Flowerpiercer Diglossa humeralis aterrima Deep-blue (Golden-eyed) Flowerpiercer Diglossa glauca tyrianthina Bluish Flowerpiercer Diglossa caerulescens Masked Flowerpiercer Diglossa cyanea cyanea Plushcap Catamblyrhynchus diadema diadema Plumbeous Sierra-Finch Geospizopsis unicolor geospizopsis Gray-hooded Bush Tanager (rubrirostris) Cnemoscopus rubrirostris rubrirostris Chestnut-bellied Seedeater Sporophila castaneiventris Chestnut-bellied (Lesser) Seed-Finch Sporophila angolensis torrida Bananaquit Coereba flaveola Grayish Saltator (Amazonian) Saltator coerulescens azarae
MAMMALS Brown-throated (Three-toed) Sloth Bradypus variegatus Graells's (Black-mantled) Tamarin Saguinus graellsi Golden-mantled Tamarin Saguinus tripartitus White-fronted Capuchin Cebus albifrons Common Squirrel Monkey Saimiri sciureus Spix's Night Monkey Aotus vociferans White-tailed (Dusky) Titi Callicebus discolor Venezuelan Red Howler Alouatta seniculus White-fronted Spider Monkey Ateles belzebuth Poepping's (Silvery ) Woolly Monkey Lagothrix poeppigii Red-tailed Squirrel Sciurus granatensis Northern Amazon Red Squirrel Sciurus igniventris Tapeti (Brazilian Rabbit) Sylvilagus brasiliensis Proboscis Bat Rhynchonycteris naso Culpeo (Culpeo Fox) Lycalopex culpaeus Tayra Eira barbara Giant Otter Pteronura brasiliensis White-lipped Peccary Tayassu pecari South American Red Brocket Mazama americana White-tailed Deer Odocoileus virginianus Yellow-spotted River-Turtle Podocnemisunifilis Yellow-footed Tortoise Chelenoidis denticulata Black Caiman Melanosuchus niger Amazon Forest-Dragon Enyalioides laticeps
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