Tropical Birding Trip Report : The Introtour - January 2016

A Tropical Birding SET DEPARTURE tour

Ecuador: The Andes Introtour with High Andes extension January 15-24, 2016 TOUR LEADER: ANDRÉS VÁSQUEZ Trip report and most photos by Andrés Vásquez

Masked Mountain-, a rarity we saw on the extension

The Andes Introtour is a wonderful tour to start exploring ; it is moderately paced and somewhat relaxed thanks to the fact that we use a great lodge and only one during the entire main tour (the famed Tandayapa Lodge) which means unpacking only once and not going through the stress of hopping from lodge to lodge. On the other hand, it is every bit as serious in terms of finding as any other tour with some early starts and some late endings. It www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-0514 [email protected]

Tropical Birding Trip Report Ecuador: The Andes Introtour - January 2016 does not sacrifice any bird opportunity, and proof of that is the incredible list we compiled during this tour and the awesome amount of rarities we managed to find thanks to the focus and great spirit of all the participants. This tour was particularly above average birding wise and INCREDIBLE for mammals; in one day of the extension we got 7 Andean Condors, 2 cooperative Rufous-belied Seedsnipes, Andean Ibis, a Black-breasted Buzzard-Eagle (among 5 species of raptors that day) plus 2 species of deer, the local subspecies of White-tailed Deer and the rare and secretive NORTHERN PUDU, just after finding a SPECTACLED BEAR (photo below by Steve Klesius) crossing the road in front of us. We also saw a Tayra on a previous day stealing bananas from bird feeders.

Other highlights included a displaying Lyre-tailed Nightjar flying over our heads below Tandayapa, a quest with a happy ending for Torrent Ducks, an active lek of the superb Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, detailed studies of a displaying male Club- winged Manakin, a very cooperative Spotted Nightingale-, nice photographic chances of the Choco Endemic Scarlet-breasted Dacnis, a family of playful Powerful , killer views of Golden-headed Quetzals and countless numbers of which the favorites were Grass-green and Glistening-green Tanagers. Raptors were particularly good to us during this trip with excellent views of several rare ones like Black-and- white Hawk-Eagle and Black-and- chestnut Eagle amongst the 12 species of hawks and 5 of falcons; 17 raptors seen not counting vultures and condor is a ridiculous number. We recorded 9 species of (5 seen very well), and 43 of hummingbirds including the bizarre Sword-billed Hummingbird and the hulking but not really colorful Giant Hummingbird.

As you can see this tour is filled with incredible moments, rare and unique , plus surprises that always happen. It is arguably the best value tour we have which is the reason why it is also usually our bestselling one. And you do not need to be an expert – no neotropical birding experience is required. We try to see all the birds, even the common ones.

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Tropical Birding Trip Report Ecuador: The Andes Introtour - January 2016

Jan 16 – Yanacocha Reserve and the Old Nono-Mindo Road: We started the tour with a visit to the well-known reserve of Yanacocha just an hour drive from Quito. After leaving the big city behind, we crossed through some agricultural terrain before reaching the reserve. On these disturbed areas we got some nice birds like Gray-browed and Yellow-bellied Brush-Finches, Black-crested Warbler, Black , Plain-colored Seedeater, and the bright Golden . Inside the reserve the activity was a little slow at the beginning but it pick up later in the morning. Along the trail that takes us from the headquarters into the we found various small flocks and many individual birds scattered here and there. Highlights during the walk in included Black-chested and Scarlet-breasted Mountain- Tanagers, Rainbow-bearded Thornbill, Smoky Bush-Tyrant, and Crowned Chat-Tyrant.

The 1.5 mile trail ends at a hummingbird feeding station that typically holds the only active feeders in the reserve pushing all visitors to do the entire walk. We saw Tyrian Metaltail, Great Sapphirewing, Golden-breasted and Sapphire-vented Pufflegs, Sparkling Violetear, Buff-winged Starfrontlet, and the star of the site, Sword-billed Hummingbird. We walked inside a narrower trail behind the feeders and got surprised by a couple of tame Rufous Antpittas that were hopping along the dirt track in front of us. Suddenly we were in the middle of a canopy flock of which we managed to see Superciliared Hemispingus, Blue- backed Conebill, and Blue-and-black Tanager.

Whereas during the walk in the skies were blue, it was quite sunny, the way back it got overcast and birds were active until close to noon. We managed to pick up some species that we had not even heard previously which was a great relief for me; we found three key birds: Andean Guan, Barred Fruiteater and Hooded Mountain-Tanager. Back at the parking lot we had our picnic lunch and soon after we started driving downhill towards Tandayapa. Along the shortcut that connects Yanacocha with the upper portions of the old Nono-Mindo Road we made a couple of stops targeting Andean Lapwing and Red-crested Cotinga, which we saw thanks to some luck with the weather since the thick fog that was covering the mountains lifted up right exactly when we got to the stakeouts for these birds. During one of these stops we got what for some was the bird of the day, a super cooperative Black-tailed Trainbearer (photo by Andres V.) which flew in and sat literally 5 feet from us at eye level. www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-0514 [email protected]

Tropical Birding Trip Report Ecuador: The Andes Introtour - January 2016

After passing through grasslands and agricultural terrain, the road descends into pristine and runs parallel to the Alambi River. There were two birds associated with running streams that we found, first a pair of Slaty-backed Chat-Tyrants and afterwards two playful White-capped Dippers. Farther down the road we ran into a couple small flocks that produced Tawny-rumped and White-tailed Tyrannulets, Golden-naped, Golden, and Metallic-green Tanagers, and an unexpected group of Yellow-collared Chlorophonias. We found the first of 5 species of toucans we saw on this trip that afternoon; first the brilliant Crimson-rumped Toucanet and later the superb Plate-billed Mountain- Toucan.

Close to dusk we arrived in Tandayapa Bird Lodge where we spent the next 5 nights: due to its strategic location Tandayapa is a great base to explore the Chocó Region since it is close to both the upper subtropics and the foothills and not too far from the lowlands. So we checked in and then spent the rest of the afternoon in front of the splendid hummingbird feeders getting delighted by Violet-tailed Sylphs, Booted Racket-tails, Purple-bibbed Whitetips, Brown Incas and other 7 species of hummers.

Jan 17 – The Lower Tandayapa Valley: before dawn we were already up and walking the short trail that connects the lodge with a smartly built blind where we stayed from 6 to 7am. The idea is to get there before the birds start to forage and wait for them to come feed in front of us on the compost and moth trap facing the blind. We saw the pair of Scaled Antpittas that had been regular for three months come in to eat brought in daily by the staff. Other species we saw here included the hulking Strong-billed , a pair of Chestnut- capped Brush-Finches and Three-striped Warblers. We had not had breakfast yet so we returned to the lodge hungry but before sitting on the table we checked out another moth trap right outside the restaurant for the Toucan Barbets that have recently become regular visitors, together with White-winged and Tricolored Brush-Finches, Dusky-capped Flycatcher, Streak-capped Treehunter, Montane Woodcreeper, and Russet-crowned Warbler.

After breakfast we took our van and drove a couple kilometers uphill on the dirt road and birded our way back downhill. This stretch tends to be birdy and it was happily the case for us. We saw for instance Scaled Fruiteater (photo by Andres V.), Barred Becard, Ashy-headed Tyrannulet, Flame-faced and Beryl- spangled Tanagers, White-winged Tanager (now a !) and various others. The two stars of the morning however were a family of Beautiful Jays that were foraging www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-0514 [email protected]

Tropical Birding Trip Report Ecuador: The Andes Introtour - January 2016 right at the entrance of the lodge’s driveway, and later an adult Black-and-chestnut Eagle soaring above a nearby forested hill. Noteworthy was also a group of noisy Spot-fronted Swifts that flew nice and close overhead.

The afternoon was a little tricky; the very minute we jumped in the car to go out rain started coming down and never stopped. I had to come up with plan B so we visited a local restaurant and guest house that is located at lower elevation where hummingbird feeders and fruit stations attract a couple different species compared to Tandayapa at this time of year. On those we saw White-winged Tanager, Black-winged and Buff-throated Saltators, two species of euphonias and various Lemon-rumped Tanagers. The new hummingbirds were Tawny-bellied Hermit, Crowned Woodnymph and White-necked Jacobin.

Jan 18 – Rio Silanche and Milpe Bird Sanctuaries: We required a very early breakfast today to depart before dawn and arrive to the lowlands as early as possible. The first destination of the day was the lowland rain forest reserve next to the Silanche River. From the main highway to the reserve there are about 7km along which we tend to stop and bird quite a lot. In fact, this particular day we saw so much on this dirt road that we only reached the reserve at 10am after started birding just before 7am. Our first stop was only 100m from the highway and it was so birdy that we stayed almost 40mins in the same spot. Highlights here were Yellow-tufted Dacnis, Olivaceous Piculet, Blue-headed and

Bronze-winged Parrots, Maroon-tailed Parakeets, Streak-headed Woodcreepr and Orange-crowned Euphonia. Several other stops farther in produced a pair of Barred Puffbirds (photo on right by Andres V.), Dusky-faced Tanagers, Pacific Antwren, Striped Cuckoos, the Chocó endemic Pallid Dove, Black-headed Tody-Flycatcher, Pacific (Pale-legged) Hornero, Purple-crowned Fairy, Masked Water-Tyrants, and 5 species of woodpeckers: Lineated, Guayaquil, Cinnamon, Scarlet-backed, and Black-cheeked Woodpeckers; all gave us great views. www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-0514 [email protected]

Tropical Birding Trip Report Ecuador: The Andes Introtour - January 2016

Once at the reserve we moved towards the base of the canopy tower where we found and got incredible views of White-bearded and Red-capped Manakins (photo on left on previous page by Andres V.), both displaying on their overlapping leks. Some activity on the canopy got us climbing the tower quickly and we encountered at the top a large flock that contained Scarlet-thighed and Scarlet-breasted Dacnis (photo by Andres V.), Slate-throated Gnatcatcher, Choco and Yellow-throated Toucans, Collared Aracari, Slate-colored Grosbeak, Gray-and-gold, Bay-headed, Scarlet-browed, Blue- necked and Golden-hooded Tanagers, Fulvous-vented Euphonia, Purple-throated Fruitcrow, among other more common things.

By the time we descended to the forest floor it was almost noon and it had warmed up considerably so things were a little quiet but we managed to find Black-striped Woodcreeper and single Purple-chested Hummingbird. We decided to wrap it up and leave since we had reservations on another restaurant, this time in the town of Los Bancos where we had an excellent lunch while enjoying active fruit feeders that produced only one new bird, the attractive Orange-billed Sparrow.

The afternoon was wet, very wet with constant rains that did not allow us to explore Milpe area very deeply. We spent some time in front of the feeders at the reserve and dry under a roof we saw White-whiskered Hermit, a Chocó endemic we had missed during the morning. When the rains stopped we moved in a trail towards the lek of one of the most charismatic birds of the trip, the singular Club-winged Manakin which is the main goal in the area. Happily we www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-0514 [email protected]

Tropical Birding Trip Report Ecuador: The Andes Introtour - January 2016 were going to explore areas in similar altitude later on the trip because the rains started again pushing us to return to the car and without any better option, we decided to head back to Tandayapa.

I initially thought the bad weather extended along the entire region but when we approached the valley of Tandayapa the rains stopped. Since it was already close to dusk I decided to wait a little longer in the field to try for a couple nocturnal birds. While waiting I tried for the always desired Golden-headed Quetzal, and after a couple calls it responded and afterwards displayed its awesome colors to us very nicely. Right after we moved to a lek area of the remarkable Lyre-tailed Nightjar and after just a little wait we enjoyed a couple flight views of this fascinating bird.

Grass-green Tanager hiding behind some bromeliads in the upper Tandayapa Valley (photo by Andres V.)

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Tropical Birding Trip Report Ecuador: The Andes Introtour - January 2016

Jan 19 – Upper Tandayapa Valley: with another day to explore this rich valley we concentrated this time on the upper portions of it. We spent the entire morning at an elevation of about 7200ft (2200 m) where many specialties reside. Soon after we started birding we found several of them like the Chocó endemics Gorgeted Sunangel and Dusky Chlorospingus, the elegant Collared Inca, a pair of Plain-tailed Wrens, the unique and awesome Grass-green Tanager, the striking male Green-and-black Fruiteater, a richly colored Crimson-mantled , the miniscule but adorable Rufous-headed Pygmy-Tyrant and a couple furnariids typical of that elevation like Striped Treehunter and Streaked . It is worth mentioning that we found several groups of Plate-billed Mountain-Toucans which we had seen before. We had several mixed flocks that kept us entertained until lunch time and that produced a few species of tanager; of note were Flame-faced, Beryl-spangled, Blue-and-black, Black-capped, Golden-naped and Blue-capped Tanagers.

The afternoon was a bit more relaxed, at that point I was mostly trying to target some species to fill in gaps and we did quite well in that respect. For that we used the van a bit and moved along a couple roads reaching various elevations in the valley. We started in the lower areas were we finally managed to see the reclusive Whiskered Wren, followed by very responsive Olive-crowned Yellowthroat (photo by Andres V.). At higher elevations we found a group of Speckled- faced Parrots flying by and the loud vocalizations of Mountain Wrens made us stop; in the same spot we also found a www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-0514 [email protected]

Tropical Birding Trip Report Ecuador: The Andes Introtour - January 2016 family of Black-eared (Western) Hemispinguses. Quite late in the afternoon I decided to try for a local specialty that we had missed in the morning and happily this time we found it; the rare and elusive Tanager Finch made its glorious appearance without any need of playback.

We were already close to dusk and decided to stay along the upper areas until it got dark to try for a couple owls. Sadly only I managed to see a Columbian Screech-Owl that flew in front of the car and went silent afterwards but later a responsive Common Potoo did gave the whole group perched and flying views.

Jan 20 – Mashpi area and Amagusa Reserve: We departed very early due to the distance needed to be covered. Upon arrival the weather was not looking good and soon after we started birding it began raining and did not stop until 11am. Since the rain at times was quite light we put on our rain coats and still managed some surprisingly productive birding. We found a superb male Orange-breasted Fruiteater with which we cleaned up all potential fruiteater species on this trip. We also found the first of various -backed Tanagers and a single which in some books is split as Pacific Tuftedcheek. When the rain got more intense we moved towards the Amagusa Reserve where sets of hummingbird and fruit feeders kept us entertained during the wet times. We found various new species for us including Glistening-green Tanager, Rufous-throated Tanager, and Black-chinned Mountain-Tanager.

The fruit feeders were very busy with various other species we had seen before but we all got very surprised when a drastic movement of the vegetation below them announced the appearance of a TAYRA! (photo by Andres V.) It came in repeatedly to steal the bananas. This weasel-like mammal is one of the largest of the family so when it came so suddenly it spooked a couple of the participants. The surroundings of the feeder settings also produced a couple interesting birds; Chocó endemic Rose-faced Parrots flew in and sat on a nearby tree, Barred and Cinnamon Becards came in close as well.

We decided to go try our luck with the weather at lower elevations so we jumped in the van and drove towards Pachijal, and in a matter of minutes the rain stopped and soon after it cleared up; like magic we had blue skies around us and it warmed up fast. By then it was already noon and due to the sudden heat most birds were quiet, but it got great for swifts. From the same bend of the road we found 4 species of these sometimes underappreciated birds (I love them); we saw and heard very well all of them: White-collared, Chestnut-collared, Lesser Swallow-tailed and Gray-rumped Swifts.

Soon after activity started to pick up and we found several new birds starting with a personal favorite, the unique Spotted Nightingale-Thrush, followed by Buff-fronted Foliage-gleaner, Slaty Spinetail, Bay Wren, Scale-crested Pygmy- www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-0514 [email protected]

Tropical Birding Trip Report Ecuador: The Andes Introtour - January 2016

Tyrant, Golden-bellied Warbler, Barred Hawk, Common Tody-Flycatcher and a few other repeated species of which noteworthy is the awesome Barred Puffbird.

On the way back towards the upper areas of Mashpi we decided to stop again to check the feeders of the Amagusa reserve mostly to use proper bathrooms and take some photos, this time with much better light so the hummers particularly were glowing. The hummingbird feeders produced a couple new species that during the morning with an overcast sky were not as spectacular as in the afternoon. The stunning Velvet-purple Coronet and the large and elegant Empress Brillant are the stars of the area. We were already in the van starting the engine to start the ride back to the lodge when I hear the phrase us guides like to hear from a keen participant: “what is that?” Well, it was an eye-level soaring Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle!!! (photo on next page by Andres V.) We rushed out of the van and got great views and a couple photos. Afterwards, the longish ride back to Tandayapa was broken up with a couple stops when something showed up, like some Swallow Tanagers, a Yellow-faced Grassquit, and a few Scrub Blackbirds.

Green Thorntail glowing near the feeders at Amagusa Reserve, Mashpi (photo by Andres V.)

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Tropical Birding Trip Report Ecuador: The Andes Introtour - January 2016

Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle soaring above the feeders at Amagusa Reserve, Mashpi (photo by Andres V.)

Jan 21 – Refugio Paz and Calacali: our last full day was very enjoyable. It started by a visit to an active Andean Cock- of-the-Rock lek where we enjoyed more than gratifying views of various males of this iconic South American bird, which can be considered one of the best birds of the continent. The visit to this reserve is always a great experience, different from any other type of birding; the famous owner of this place, Angel Paz, changed the way we look for antpittas. These ultra-secretive birds, before his appearance on the birding scene, were incredibly hard to see, and usually only heard. Angel decided to break the paradigm of needing to be very cautious, and quiet to try to call an in for a view, he decided to be loud so the birds knew he was around and feed them earthworms to coax them out of their dark understory homes for exposed views. Almost every tour in the region now visits this reserve, so we had another group sharing with us during the visit. In total we were 19 persons this morning who managed to enjoy clear open views of 3 www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-0514 [email protected]

Tropical Birding Trip Report Ecuador: The Andes Introtour - January 2016 species of antpittas: Giant, Yellow-breasted and Chestnut-crowned Antpittas, whereas years ago before Angel, with a group of 5 people only a few lucky ones might have had a glimpse of one or usually at most two species during the entire trip. With the same techniques Angel brings in another two normally difficult birds, the Chocó endemic Dark- backed Wood-Quail and the stylish Rufous-breasted Antthrush, which we saw very well.

All these species we found in less than 2 hours; by 8h45am we had seen all the available targets. We had some extra time for doing some “traditional” birding, and this area has some really good forest on the upper portions of the land adjoined to another reserve owned by the Mindo Cloud Forest Foundation (the foundation that also owns the reserves at Milpe and Silanche). From the gate of this reserve, hadly having to walk, we found 6 species of raptors: a Collared Forest-Falcon, a dark morph Sharp-shinned Hawk actively hunting Band-tailed Pigeons, a Swallow- tailed Kite soaring, Broad-winged and Roadside Hawks perched on exposed snags, and a challenging ID hawk that after some detailed studying we finally realized it was a juvenile Semi-collared Hawk (photo by Andres V.) which is rare and poorly known so I was initially puzzled. In the same area we had a family of Powerful Woodpeckers and a group of flying Barred Parakeets.

We had a blast that day and if it was not enough, the visit, as always, included a delicious snack; Angel’s wife cooks for every visitor an empanada and a bolón which go great with the coffee and tea they serve; it is really good food so it is all I could think of when we are patiently waiting for the antpittas to show up earlier in the morning.

After this very successful visit we started our drive back to Quito. On the way, just at the outskirts of the big city we stopped a couple times to bird on a different we had not been before: dry inter-Andean scrub. This location, near the town of Calacalí, holds some species not found anywhere else in this trip, but it is not very diverse. It was a little quiet since we got there right around noon but we managed to find several new birds. We found Tufted Tit-Tyrant, Golden-rumped Euphonia, Hooded Siskin, Vermilion Flycatcher, Band-tailed Seedeater, Ash-breasted Sierra-Finch, Blue-and-Yellow Tanager, and a nice Peregrine Falcon. With this we finished the main tour, we returned to Quito to say www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-0514 [email protected]

Tropical Birding Trip Report Ecuador: The Andes Introtour - January 2016 goodbye to one of the participants who was not going to take the extension, and afterwards we continued down towards Puembo where the rest of the group spent the night.

Rufous Motmot on feeders at Tandayapa and Chestnut-crowned Antpitta and Refugio Paz (photos by Andres V.)

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Tropical Birding Trip Report Ecuador: The Andes Introtour - January 2016

Rufous-crowned Tody-Flycatcher at Guango (photos by Andres V.) HIGH ANDES EXTENSION Jan 22 – Antisana and Papallacta: Another new ecosystem awaited us, the páramo with its lush grassland and cushion-plants, where some really special birds reside. The main attraction of the area is Ecuador’s national bird, the majestic Andean Condor (a juvenile in the photo by Andres V.). We got quite lucky with this species and found 5 or 6 different individuals this morning, all of them in flight but also all of them at fairly close range so we were very happy. Many of the targets in this region are not and normally easy to find by scanning the vast extensions of grasslands as we cross them in the car. Stopping here and there we found Andean (Black-faced) Ibis, Andean Gull, Andean Lapwing, Carunculated Caracara, and Variable Hawk. Some stakeouts produced Ecuadorian Hillstar, Shining Sunbeam, Blue- mantled Thorhbill and Giant Hummingbird.

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Tropical Birding Trip Report Ecuador: The Andes Introtour - January 2016

The road into this national protected area ends at a beautiful lake called La Mica where we found (Andean) Ruddy Duck, Andean Teal, Yellow-billed Pintail, Silvery Grebe, and Andean Coot. In terms of passerines we saw Many-striped Canastero, Andean Tit-Spinetail, Stout-billed and Chestnut-winged Cinclodes, Paramo Pipit, Plain-caped Ground- Tyrant, Plumbeous Sierra-Finch, and Sedge (Paramo) Wren.

After a nice typical lunch in a local restaurant named Tambo Condor, we started the drive towards Papallacta. The areas around the pass were enjoying unusually nice, sunny weather, so I decided to go up a side road that takes us to the antennas located at about 14000ft (4300 m) where we found a pair of the sought-after Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe (photo below by Andres V.). These birds were very cooperative and despite being cautious and keeping a distance from us to begin with, they eventually let us approach closely.

On the road to these antennas we were happily surprised by a young Spectacled Bear that crossed the road right in front of us, so we stopped the car and rushed out to see it better and enjoyed if for almost 2 minutes as it quickly walked away disappearing around a hill; we were very happy with this sighting.

Next stop was Guango Lodge, a delightful little place located in the upper Amazon Basin on the east slope of the Andes at about 8000ft. We checked in as soon after we walked towards the river near the lodge looking for Torrent Ducks that are regularly seen there but despite our efforts we could not find one that afternoon. We saw really few birds since it was getting late but when we were walking back to the lodge along the trail right behind the main house we saw a mammal running away from us, chunky rusty bodied and short legged. It was the rare Northern Pudu, a really small and rare species of deer, smaller than Bambi.

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Tropical Birding Trip Report Ecuador: The Andes Introtour - January 2016

Jan 23 –Papallacta and Guango: On the last day of the tour, early in the morning, we headed up the mountains again, this time to a forested road home to several special birds we do not have chances of elsewhere. It took about 40 minutes to get there and when we arrived it was a little rainy, but it stopped happily almost as soon as we started birding. The first bird of the day was one of the targets of the area, the nondescript Viridian Metaltail and right after everybody got good looks at it, I heard the soft high pitched calls of the main target of the area, the uncommon and local Masked Mountain-Tanager. I was pleased to find this special bird early, and we actually saw another two later on; the second time it was not alone, it was moving with a group of Black-chested Mountain-Tanagers which we had seen well before, but also with Black-backed Bush-Tanagers and the always beloved Golden-crowned Tanager.

Lower down the same road we ran into a small flock that held Pale-naped Brush-Finches, Agile Tit-Tyrants, White- banded Tyrannulets, Blue-backed Conebills, and a Buff-breasted Mountain-Tanager. We heard the song of one of the most beautiful birds in Ecuador, Crescent-faced Antpitta, but it was way too far to even attempt to call it in. Happy with what we found we drove back to Guango where we had unfinished business, not only with the duck that we hadn’t seen yet in that location, but also with some of its specialties in terms of passerines.

We birded the surroundings of the lodge until close to noon and repeatedly scanned the river for the duck with no luck. On the other hand, from the open areas along the pipeline trail we found the last of the mountain-tanagers possible on this trip, the oddly-named Lacrimose Mountain-Tanager, along with a few other new birds for us like Gray-hooded Bush-Tanager, Slaty Brush-Finch, and Mountain Cacique. A short detour onto another narrower trail produced the cute Rufous-crowned Tody-Flycatcher and the highly desired Mountain Avocetbill.

By lunch time the Torrent Duck (photo by Brian Caine) had become an obsession to me and I was sure that it was not going to suddenly show up in the same areas we had scanned over and over, so I decided to go in the van and drive down the mountains to the town of Baeza to scan some river stretches where I have seen this bird other times. It took us about 40 minutes to get to that area, and I was running out of rivers to scan when Brian, on the participants who really wanted www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-0514 [email protected]

Tropical Birding Trip Report Ecuador: The Andes Introtour - January 2016 this bird spotted a male resting on a rock in the middle of the river, bathed in strong sunlight without caring much about it. It was distant, but scope views were satisfactory so that a well-deserved “high five” was given.

Since we were that far already and we had a little extra time we birded the Baeza bypass area. It was very hot and sunny so birds were quiet but we found a couple nice species like the “Inca” subspecies of Green Jay, the “Subtropical” subspecies of Scarlet-rumped Cacique and the minuscule but desired Torrent Tyrannulet. This quest for the duck meant an extra hour and a half of driving but it was worth it. After hitting the main road again we called it a day and started the ride back towards our hotel in the outskirts of Quito, where we did our last daily list and said goodbye, but not without sharing some memorable moments of the trip with each other to try to make this wonderful trip linger on our heads a little longer.

Andres enjoying an empanada at Refugio Paz (photo on let by Gina Barton) and Cindy staring at seedsnipes at 14000ft (photo on right by Andres V.)

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Tropical Birding Trip Report Ecuador: The Andes Introtour - January 2016

Final List: Summary The full trip list reached 390 species recorded of which 338 where recorded during the first six birding days of the main tour and 53 were added during the High Andes extension on the last two days; 35 were heard only, marked (H) and 7 were sen only by the tour leader, marked (L). See the next page for the full list.

TINAMOUS TINAMIDAE 1 Little Tinamou Crypturellus soui H 2 Curve-billed Tinamou Nothoprocta curvirostris L Ex DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS ANATIDAE 3 Torrent Duck Merganetta armata Ex 4 Yellow-billed Pintail Anas georgica Ex 5 Andean Teal Anas andium andium Ex 6 (Andean) Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis andina Ex CRACIDS CRACIDAE 7 Andean Guan Penelope montagnii NEW WORLD QUAIL ODONTOPHORIDAE 8 Dark-backed Wood-Quail Odontophorus melanonotus GREBES PODICIPEDIDAE 9 Silvery Grebe Podiceps occipitalis Ex CORMORANTS AND SHAGS PHALACROCORACIDAE 10 Neotropic Cormorant Phalacrocorax brasilianus Ex HERONS, EGRETS, BITTERNS ARDEIDAE 11 Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis IBIS AND SPOONBILLS THRESKIORNITHIDAE 12 Black-faced (Andean) Ibis Theristicus melanopis branickii Ex NEW WORLD VULTURES CATHARTIDAE 13 Black Vulture Coragyps atratus 14 Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura 15 Andean Condor Vultur gryphus Ex HAWKS, EAGLES, AND KITES ACCIPITRIDAE 16 Hook-billed Kite Chondrohierax uncinatus 17 Swallow-tailed Kite Elanoides forficatus 18 Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus melanoleucus 19 Black-and-chestnut Eagle Spizaetus isidori 20 Double-toothed Kite Harpagus bidentatus 21 Semicollared Hawk Accipiter collaris 22 Sharp-shinned (Plain-breasted) Hawk Accipiter striatus ventralis 23 Barred Hawk Morphnarchus princeps 24 Roadside Hawk Rupornis magnirostris 25 Variable Hawk Geranoaetus polyosoma Ex 26 Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle Geranoaetus melanoleucus Ex 27 Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus 28 Short-tailed Hawk Buteo brachyurus RAILS, GALLINULES, COOTS RALLIDAE 29 White-throated Crake Laterallus albigularis H www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-0514 [email protected]

Tropical Birding Trip Report Ecuador: The Andes Introtour - January 2016

30 Slate-colored (Andean) Coot Fulica ardesiaca Ex PLOVERS AND LAPWINGS CHARADRIIDAE 31 Andean Lapwing Vanellus resplendens SEEDSNIPES THINOCORIDAE 32 Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe Attagis gayi Ex GULLS LARIDAE: LARINAE 33 Andean Gull Chroicocephalus serranus Ex PIGEONS AND DOVES COLUMBIDAE 34 Rock Pigeon Columba livia 35 Pale-vented Pigeon Patagioenas cayennensis 36 Band-tailed Pigeon Patagioenas fasciata 37 Plumbeous Pigeon Patagioenas plumbea 38 Ruddy Pigeon Patagioenas subvinacea 39 Common Ground-Dove Columbina 40 Eared Dove Zenaida auriculata 41 Black-winged Ground-Dove Metriopelia melanoptera Ex 42 White-tipped Dove Leptotila verreauxi 43 Pallid Dove Leptotila pallida 44 White-throated Quail-Dove Zentrygon frenata H CUCKOOS CUCULIDAE 45 Squirrel Cuckoo Piaya cayana 46 Striped Cuckoo Tapera naevia 47 Smooth-billed Ani Crotophaga ani Ex OWLS STRIGIDAE Megascops (ingens) 48 Colombian (Rufescent) Screech-Owl colombianus L 49 Andean Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium jardinii H NIGHTJARS CAPRIMULGIDAE 50 Lyre-tailed Nightjar Uropsalis lyra POTOOS NYCTIBIIDAE 51 Common Potoo Nyctibius griseus SWIFTS APODIDAE 52 Spot-fronted Swift Cypseloides cherriei 53 Chestnut-collared Swift Streptoprocne rutila 54 White-collared Swift Streptoprocne zonaris 55 Gray-rumped Swift Chaetura cinereiventris 56 Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift Panyptila cayennensis HUMMINGBIRDS TROCHILIDAE 57 White-necked Jacobin Florisuga mellivora 58 White-whiskered Hermit Phaethornis yaruqui 59 Tawny-bellied Hermit Phaethornis syrmatophorus 60 Brown Violetear Colibri delphinae 61 Sparkling Violetear Colibri coruscans 62 Purple-crowned Fairy Heliothryx barroti 63 Gorgeted Sunangel Heliangelus strophianus 64 Tourmaline Sunangel Heliangelus exortis Ex 65 Green Thorntail Discosura conversii 66 Speckled Hummingbird Adelomyia melanogenys 67 Violet-tailed Sylph Aglaiocercus coelestis 68 Ecuadorian Hillstar Oreotrochilus chimborazo 69 Mountain Avocetbill Opisthoprora euryptera Ex www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-0514 [email protected]

Tropical Birding Trip Report Ecuador: The Andes Introtour - January 2016

70 Black-tailed Trainbearer Lesbia victoriae 71 Blue-mantled Thornbill Chalcostigma stanleyi Ex 72 Rainbow-bearded Thornbill Chalcostigma herrani 73 Tyrian Metaltail Metallura tyrianthina 74 Viridian Metaltail Metallura williami Ex 75 Sapphire-vented Puffleg Eriocnemis luciani 76 Golden-breasted Puffleg Eriocnemis mosquera 77 Shining Sunbeam Aglaeactis cupripennis Ex 78 Brown Inca Coeligena wilsoni 79 Collared Inca Coeligena torquata 80 Buff-winged Starfrontlet Coeligena lutetiae 81 Mountain Velvetbreast Lafresnaya lafresnayi L Ex 82 Sword-billed Hummingbird Ensifera ensifera 83 Great Sapphirewing Pterophanes cyanopterus 84 Buff-tailed Coronet Boissonneaua flavescens 85 Chestnut-breasted Coronet Boissonneaua matthewsii Ex 86 Velvet-purple Coronet Boissonneaua jardini 87 Booted Racket-tail Ocreatus underwoodii 88 Purple-bibbed Whitetip Urosticte benjamini 89 Fawn-breasted Brilliant Heliodoxa rubinoides 90 Green-crowned Brilliant Heliodoxa jacula 91 Empress Brilliant Heliodoxa imperatrix 92 Giant Hummingbird Patagona gigas 93 White-bellied Woodstar Chaetocercus mulsant Ex 94 Purple-throated Woodstar Calliphlox mitchellii 95 Western Emerald Chlorostilbon melanorhynchus 96 Crowned (Green-crowned) Woodnymph Thalurania colombica 97 Andean Emerald Amazilia franciae 98 Purple-chested Hummingbird Amazilia rosenbergi 99 Rufous-tailed Hummingbird Amazilia tzacatl TROGONS TROGONIDAE 100 Golden-headed Quetzal Pharomachrus auriceps 101 Crested Quetzal Pharomachrus antisianus H 102 Masked Trogon Trogon personatus MOTMOTS MOMOTIDAE 103 Rufous Motmot Baryphthengus martii PUFFBIRDS BUCCONIDAE 104 Barred Puffbird Nystalus radiatus NEW WORLD BARBETS CAPITONIDAE 105 Red-headed Barbet Eubucco bourcierii TOUCAN-BARBETS SEMNORNITHIDAE 106 Toucan Barbet Semnornis ramphastinus TOUCANS RAMPHASTIDAE 107 Crimson-rumped Toucanet Aulacorhynchus haematopygus 108 Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan Andigena laminirostris 109 Collared (Pale-mandibled) Aracari Pteroglossus torquatus erythropygius Black-mandibled (Chestnut-mandibled) 110 Toucan Ramphastos ambiguus swainsonii 111 Choco Toucan Ramphastos brevis WOODPECKERS PICIDAE 112 Olivaceous Piculet Picumnus olivaceus www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-0514 [email protected]

Tropical Birding Trip Report Ecuador: The Andes Introtour - January 2016

113 Black-cheeked Woodpecker Melanerpes pucherani 114 Smoky-brown Woodpecker Picoides fumigatus 115 Scarlet-backed Woodpecker Veniliornis callonotus 116 Golden-olive Woodpecker Colaptes rubiginosus 117 Crimson-mantled Woodpecker Colaptes rivolii 118 Cinnamon Woodpecker Celeus loricatus 119 Lineated Woodpecker Dryocopus lineatus 120 Powerful Woodpecker pollens 121 Guayaquil Woodpecker Campephilus gayaquilensis

FALCONS AND CARACARAS FALCONIDAE 122 Collared Forest-Falcon Micrastur semitorquatus 123 Carunculated Caracara Phalcoboenus carunculatus 124 Laughing Falcon Herpetotheres cachinnans 125 American Kestrel Falco sparverius 126 Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus PARROTS PSITTACIDAE 127 Barred Parakeet Bolborhynchus lineola 128 Rose-faced Parrot Pyrilia pulchra 129 Red-billed Parrot Pionus sordidus 130 Speckle-faced (White-capped) Parrot Pionus tumultuosus seniloides 131 Blue-headed Parrot Pionus menstruus 132 Bronze-winged Parrot Pionus chalcopterus 133 Pacific Parrotlet Forpus coelestis 134 Maroon-tailed Parakeet Pyrrhura melanura pacifica 135 Red-masked Parakeet Psittacara erythrogenys TYPICAL ANTBIRDS THAMNOPHILIDAE 136 Black-crowned (Western Slaty) Antshrike Thamnophilus atrinucha H 137 Uniform Antshrike Thamnophilus unicolor 138 Pacific Antwren Myrmotherula pacifica 139 Slaty Antwren Myrmotherula schisticolor 140 Streak-headed (Long-tailed) Antbird Drymophila striaticeps 141 Chestnut-backed Antbird Myrmeciza exsul 142 Esmeraldas Antbird Myrmeciza nigricauda 143 Zeledon's (Immaculate) Antbird Myrmeciza zeledoni H ANTPITTAS GRALLARIIDAE 144 squamigera H 145 Giant Antpitta Grallaria gigantea 146 Moustached Antpitta Grallaria alleni H 147 Scaled Antpitta Grallaria guatimalensis 148 Chestnut-crowned Antpitta Grallaria ruficapilla 149 Yellow-breasted Antpitta Grallaria flavotincta 150 Rufous Antpitta Grallaria rufula 151 Tawny Antpitta Grallaria quitensis Ex 152 Crescent-faced Antpitta Grallaricula lineifrons H Ex TAPACULOS RHINOCRYPTIDAE 153 Blackish (Unicolored) Tapaculo Scytalopus latrans H 154 Nariño Tapaculo Scytalopus vicinior H 155 Spillmann's Tapaculo Scytalopus spillmanni H 156 Paramo Tapaculo Scytalopus opacus H www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-0514 [email protected]

Tropical Birding Trip Report Ecuador: The Andes Introtour - January 2016

157 Ocellated Tapaculo Acropternis orthonyx H ANTTHRUSHES FORMICARIIDAE 158 Black-headed Antthrush Formicarius nigricapillus H 159 Rufous-breasted Antthrush Formicarius rufipectus OVENBIRDS & FURNARIIDAE 160 Plain-brown Woodcreeper Dendrocincla fuliginosa 161 Wedge-billed Woodcreeper Glyphorynchus spirurus L Xiphocolaptes 162 Strong-billed Woodcreeper promeropirhynchus 163 Black-striped Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus lachrymosus 164 Spotted Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus erythropygius 165 Streak-headed Woodcreeper Lepidocolaptes souleyetii 166 Montane Woodcreeper Lepidocolaptes lacrymiger 167 Plain Xenops Xenops minutus 168 Buffy (Pacific) Tuftedcheek Pseudocolaptes lawrencii johnsoni 169 Pseudocolaptes boissonneautii Furnarius leucopus 170 Pale-legged (Pacific) Hornero cinnamomeus 171 Chestnut-winged (Bar-winged) Cinclodes Cinclodes albidiventris Ex 172 Stout-billed Cinclodes Cinclodes excelsior Ex 173 Buff-fronted Foliage-gleaner Philydor rufum 174 Lineated Foliage-gleaner Syndactyla subalaris 175 Striped Treehunter holostictus 176 Streak-capped Treehunter Thripadectes virgaticeps 177 Striped (Western) Woodhaunter Automolus subulatus assimilis H 178 Spotted Barbtail Premnoplex brunnescens H 179 Pearled Treerunner Margarornis squamiger 180 Andean Tit-Spinetail Leptasthenura andicola Ex 181 White-browed Spinetail Hellmayrea gularis H 182 Many-striped Canastero Asthenes flammulata 183 Streak-backed Canastero Asthenes wyatti L Ex 184 Red-faced Spinetail Cranioleuca erythrops 185 Azara's Spinetail Synallaxis azarae 186 Slaty Spinetail Synallaxis brachyura TYRANT FLYCATCHERS TYRANNIDAE 187 Brown-capped Tyrannulet Ornithion brunneicapillus H 188 Southern Beardless-Tyrannulet Camptostoma obsoletum 189 White-tailed Tyrannulet Mecocerculus poecilocercus 190 White-banded Tyrannulet Mecocerculus stictopterus Ex 191 White-throated Tyrannulet Mecocerculus leucophrys 192 Tufted Tit-Tyrant Anairetes parulus 193 Agile Tit-Tyrant Uromyias agilis Ex 194 Yellow-bellied Elaenia Elaenia flavogaster 195 White-crested Elaenia Elaenia albiceps 196 Sierran Elaenia Elaenia pallatangae 197 Torrent Tyrannulet Serpophaga cinerea Ex 198 Streak-necked Flycatcher Mionectes striaticollis 199 Olive-striped Flycatcher Mionectes olivaceus L 200 Slaty-capped Flycatcher Leptopogon superciliaris 201 Rufous-breasted Flycatcher Leptopogon rufipectus H 202 Sooty-headed Tyrannulet Phyllomyias griseiceps 203 Black-capped Tyrannulet Phyllomyias nigrocapillus www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-0514 [email protected]

Tropical Birding Trip Report Ecuador: The Andes Introtour - January 2016

204 Ashy-headed Tyrannulet Phyllomyias cinereiceps 205 Tawny-rumped Tyrannulet Phyllomyias uropygialis 206 Choco (Golden-faced) Tyrannulet Zimmerius albigularis 207 Ornate Flycatcher Myiotriccus ornatus 208 Rufous-headed Pygmy-Tyrant Pseudotriccus ruficeps 209 Scale-crested Pygmy-Tyrant Lophotriccus pileatus 210 Rufous-crowned Tody-Flycatcher Poecilotriccus ruficeps Ex 211 Common Tody-Flycatcher Todirostrum cinereum 212 Black-headed Tody-Flycatcher Todirostrum nigriceps 213 Pacific Flatbill Rhynchocyclus pacificus 214 Cinnamon Flycatcher Pyrrhomyias cinnamomeus 215 Smoke-colored Pewee Contopus fumigatus 216 Black Phoebe Sayornis nigricans 217 Vermilion Flycatcher Pyrocephalus rubinus 218 Plain-capped (Páramo) Ground-Tyrant Muscisaxicola alpinus Ex 219 Smoky Bush-Tyrant Myiotheretes fumigatus 220 Masked Water-Tyrant Fluvicola nengeta 221 Crowned Chat-Tyrant Ochthoeca frontalis 222 Yellow-bellied Chat-Tyrant Ochthoeca diadema H 223 Slaty-backed Chat-Tyrant Ochthoeca cinnamomeiventris 224 Rufous-breasted Chat-Tyrant Ochthoeca rufipectoralis H Ex 225 Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant Ochthoeca fumicolor H 226 Dusky-capped Flycatcher Myiarchus tuberculifer 227 Boat-billed Flycatcher Megarynchus pitangua 228 Rusty-margined Flycatcher Myiozetetes cayanensis 229 Social Flycatcher Myiozetetes similis 230 Golden-crowned Flycatcher Myiodynastes chrysocephalus 231 Piratic Flycatcher Legatus leucophaius H 232 Snowy-throated Kingbird Tyrannus niveigularis 233 Tropical Kingbird Tyrannus melancholicus COTINGAS COTINGIDAE 234 Green-and-black Fruiteater Pipreola riefferii 235 Barred Fruiteater Pipreola arcuata 236 Orange-breasted Fruiteater Pipreola jucunda 237 Scaled Fruiteater Ampelioides tschudii 238 Red-crested Cotinga Ampelion rubrocristatus 239 Andean Cock-of-the-rock Rupicola peruvianus 240 Purple-throated Fruitcrow Querula purpurata MANAKINS PIPRIDAE 241 White-bearded Manakin Manacus manacus 242 Club-winged Manakin Machaeropterus deliciosus 243 Red-capped Manakin Ceratopipra mentalis TITYRAS AND ALLIES TITYRIDAE 244 Masked Tityra Tityra semifasciata 245 Barred Becard Pachyramphus versicolor 246 Cinnamon Becard Pachyramphus cinnamomeus 247 White-winged Becard Pachyramphus polychopterus dorsalis 248 One-colored Becard Pachyramphus homochrous H VIREOS VIREONIDAE 249 Brown-capped Vireo Vireo leucophrys 250 Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-0514 [email protected]

Tropical Birding Trip Report Ecuador: The Andes Introtour - January 2016

251 Lesser Greenlet Hylophilus decurtatus 252 Slaty-capped Shrike-Vireo Vireolanius leucotis H CROWS JAYS AND MAGPIES CORVIDAE 253 Beautiful Jay Cyanolyca pulchra 254 Turquoise Jay Cyanolyca turcosa 255 Green (Inca) Jay Cyanocorax yncas yncas Ex SWALLOWS HIRUNDINIDAE 256 Blue-and-white Swallow Pygochelidon cyanoleuca 257 Brown-bellied Swallow Orochelidon murina Ex 258 White-thighed Swallow Atticora tibialis 259 Southern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx ruficollis WRENS TROGLODYTIDAE 260 Scaly-breasted (Southern Nightingale) Wren Microcerculus marginatus H 261 House Wren Troglodytes aedon 262 Mountain Wren Troglodytes solstitialis 263 Sedge (Grass/Paramo) Wren Cistothorus platensis aequatorialis Ex 264 Plain-tailed Wren Pheugopedius euophrys 265 Whiskered Wren Pheugopedius mystacalis 266 Bay Wren Cantorchilus nigricapillus 267 Rufous Wren Cinnycerthia unirufa H Ex 268 Sharpe's (Sepia-brown) Wren Cinnycerthia olivascens H 269 Gray-breasted Wood-Wren Henicorhina leucophrys DIPPERS CINCLIDAE 270 White-capped Dipper Cinclus leucocephalus GNATCATCHERS POLIOPTILIDAE 271 Slate-throated Gnatcatcher Polioptila schistaceigula THRUSHES AND ALLIES TURDIDAE 272 Andean Solitaire Myadestes ralloides H 273 Slaty-backed Nightingale-Thrush Catharus fuscater H 274 Spotted Nightingale-Thrush Catharus dryas 275 Swainson's Thrush Catharus ustulatus 276 Ecuadorian Thrush Turdus maculirostris 277 Great Thrush Turdus fuscater 278 Glossy-black Thrush Turdus serranus WAGTAILS AND PIPITS MOTACILLIDAE 279 Paramo Pipit Anthus bogotensis Ex NEW WORLD WARBLERS PARULIDAE 280 Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia 281 Olive-crowned Yellowthroat Geothlypis semiflava 282 Tropical Parula Setophaga pitiayumi 283 Cerulean Warbler Setophaga cerulea 284 Blackburnian Warbler Setophaga fusca 285 Three-striped Warbler Basileuterus tristriatus 286 Black-crested Warbler Myiothlypis nigrocristata 287 Buff-rumped Warbler Myiothlypis fulvicauda H 288 Golden-bellied (Chocó) Warbler Myiothlypis chrysogaster chlorophrys 289 Russet-crowned Warbler Myiothlypis coronata 290 Canada Warbler Cardellina canadensis 291 Slate-throated Redstart (Whitestart) Myioborus miniatus 292 Spectacled Redstart (Whitestart) Myioborus melanocephalus

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Tropical Birding Trip Report Ecuador: The Andes Introtour - January 2016

TANAGERS AND ALLIES THRAUPIDAE 293 Superciliaried Hemispingus Hemispingus superciliaris 294 Black-eared (Western) Hemispingus Hemispingus melanotis ochraceus 295 Gray-hooded Bush Tanager Cnemoscopus rubrirostris Ex 296 White-shouldered Tanager Tachyphonus luctuosus 297 Tawny-crested Tanager Tachyphonus delatrii 298 White-lined Tanager Tachyphonus rufus 299 Flame-rumped (Lemon-rumped) Tanager Ramphocelus flammigerus icteronotus 300 Moss-backed Tanager Bangsia edwardsi 301 Hooded Mountain-Tanager Buthraupis montana 302 Masked Mountain-Tanager Buthraupis wetmorei Ex 303 Black-chested Mountain-Tanager Cnemathraupis eximia 304 Grass-green Tanager Chlorornis riefferii 305 Lacrimose Mountain-Tanager Anisognathus lacrymosus Ex 306 Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager Anisognathus igniventris 307 Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager Anisognathus somptuosus 308 Black-chinned Mountain-Tanager Anisognathus notabilis 309 Buff-breasted Mountain-Tanager Dubusia taeniata Ex 310 Golden-crowned Tanager Iridosornis rufivertex Ex 311 Blue-and-yellow Tanager Pipraeidea bonariensis 312 Glistening-green Tanager Chlorochrysa phoenicotis 313 Blue-gray Tanager Thraupis episcopus 314 Palm Tanager Thraupis palmarum 315 Blue-capped Tanager Thraupis cyanocephala 316 Golden-naped Tanager Tangara ruficervix 317 Black-capped Tanager Tangara heinei 318 Gray-and-gold Tanager Tangara palmeri 319 Golden-hooded Tanager Tangara larvata 320 Blue-necked Tanager Tangara cyanicollis 321 Rufous-throated Tanager Tangara rufigula 322 Blue-and-black Tanager Tangara vassorii 323 Beryl-spangled Tanager Tangara nigroviridis 324 Metallic-green Tanager Tangara labradorides 325 Bay-headed Tanager Tangara gyrola 326 Flame-faced Tanager Tangara parzudakii 327 Golden Tanager Tangara arthus 328 Silver-throated Tanager Tangara icterocephala 329 Swallow Tanager Tersina viridis 330 Black-faced (Yellow-tufted) Dacnis Dacnis lineata aequatorialis 331 Scarlet-thighed Dacnis Dacnis venusta 332 Scarlet-breasted Dacnis Dacnis berlepschi 333 Green Honeycreeper Chlorophanes spiza 334 Scarlet-browed Tanager Heterospingus xanthopygius 335 Guira Tanager Hemithraupis guira 336 Conirostrum cinereum 337 Blue-backed Conebill Conirostrum sitticolor 338 Capped Conebill Conirostrum albifrons 339 Diglossa lafresnayii 340 Diglossa humeralis 341 White-sided Flowerpiercer Diglossa albilatera 342 Indigo Flowerpiercer Diglossa indigotica H www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-0514 [email protected]

Tropical Birding Trip Report Ecuador: The Andes Introtour - January 2016

343 Rusty Flowerpiercer Diglossa sittoides L 344 Masked Flowerpiercer Diglossa cyanea 345 Black-backed Bush Tanager Urothraupis stolzmanni Ex 346 Plumbeous Sierra-Finch Phrygilus unicolor Ex 347 Ash-breasted Sierra-Finch Phrygilus plebejus 348 Blue-black Grassquit Volatinia jacarina 349 Thick-billed (Lesser) Seed-Finch Sporophila funerea 350 Variable Seedeater Sporophila corvina 351 Yellow-bellied Seedeater Sporophila nigricollis 352 Band-tailed Seedeater Catamenia analis 353 Plain-colored Seedeater Catamenia inornata 354 Bananaquit Coereba flaveola 355 Yellow-faced Grassquit Tiaris olivaceus 356 Dull-colored Grassquit Tiaris obscurus H 357 Dusky-faced Tanager Mitrospingus cassinii 358 Buff-throated Saltator Saltator maximus 359 Black-winged Saltator Saltator atripennis 360 Slate-colored Grosbeak Saltator grossus SPARROWS AND ALLIES EMBERIZIDAE 361 Tanager Finch Oreothraupis arremonops 362 Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch Arremon brunneinucha 363 Orange-billed Sparrow Arremon aurantiirostris 364 Gray-browed (Stripe-headed) Brush-Finch Arremon assimilis 365 Black-striped Sparrow Arremonops conirostris 366 Pale-naped Brush-Finch Atlapetes pallidinucha Ex 367 Tricolored Brush-Finch Atlapetes tricolor 368 Yellow-breasted (Rufous-naped) Brush-Finch Atlapetes latinuchus 369 Slaty Brush-Finch Atlapetes schistaceus Ex 370 White-winged Brush-Finch Atlapetes leucopterus leucopterus 371 Rufous-collared Sparrow Zonotrichia capensis 372 Dusky Chlorospingus (Bush-Tanager) Chlorospingus semifuscus AND ALLIES CARDINALIDAE 373 Summer Tanager Piranga rubra 374 White-winged Tanager Piranga leucoptera 375 Ochre-breasted Tanager Chlorothraupis stolzmanni 376 Golden (Southern Yellow) Grosbeak chrysogaster 377 Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus TROUPIALS AND ALLIES ICTERIDAE 378 Scrub Blackbird Dives warszewiczi 379 Shiny Cowbird Molothrus bonariensis 380 Scarlet-rumped (Pacific) Cacique Cacicus uropygialis pacificus L Scarlet-rumped (Subtropical) Cacique Cacicus uropygialis uropygialis Ex 381 Russet-backed Oropendola Psarocolius angustifrons Ex 382 (Northern) Mountain Cacique Cacicus chrysonotus leucoramphus Ex SISKINS AND ALLIES FRINGILLIDAE 383 Orange-crowned Euphonia Euphonia saturata 384 Thick-billed Euphonia Euphonia laniirostris 385 Golden-rumped Euphonia Euphonia cyanocephala 386 Fulvous-vented Euphonia Euphonia fulvicrissa 387 Orange-bellied Euphonia Euphonia xanthogaster 388 Yellow-collared Chlorophonia Chlorophonia flavirostris www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-0514 [email protected]

Tropical Birding Trip Report Ecuador: The Andes Introtour - January 2016

389 Hooded Siskin Spinus magellanicus OLD WORLD SPARROWS PASSERIDAE 390 House Sparrow Passer domesticus

MAMMALS (partial list) SQUIRRELS SCIURIDAE 1 Red-tailed Squirrel Sciurus granatensis RABBITS LEPORIDAE 2 Tapeti (Brazilian Rabbit) Sylvilagus brasiliensis

WEASELS & OTTERS MUSTELIDAE 3 Tayra Eira barbara BEARS URSIDAE 4 Spectacled Bear Tremarctos ornatus DEER CERVIDAE 5 White-tailed Deer Odocoileus virginianus 6 Northern Pudu Pudu mephistophiles

Rufous-throated Tanager at feeders at Amagusa Reserve, Mashpi (photo by Andres V.) www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-0514 [email protected]