Copyright: monacoeye • Pas de las Aves, Ecuador, Feb 2011 • Do not copy

Bird name: Toucan Barbet
Latin: Semnornis ramphastinus
Other: Barbudo Tucán (Es)
Family: Semnornithidae • New World Barbets
Range: Western Colombia to western Ecuador
Similar:
Red List: Near threatened

The colourful Toucan Barbet is an emblematic bird for the region around Santa Lucia, where duetting birds can be heard resounding across the mountainside. The original indiginous residents of the area share the same name as this Choco endemic in the local tongue. [I don’t recall the name - if anyone knows please leave in comments below.] Many thanks to Heike for jogging my memory - the name is Yumbo.

Toucan Barbets have now been placed in their own family, Semnornithidae, by the IOC and SACC, alongside the Prong-billed Barbet of Costa Rica. Though for convenience they are tagged here with New World Barbets.

Although I saw Toucan Barbets on many occasions in Santa Lucia - they’re good birds for guides to call in - the best views were at Paz de las Aves, where they visit the feeders.

The Toucan Barbet is classed as near-threatened on the IUCN Red List due to habitat loss.

More photos...

© monacoeye • Pichincha, Ecuador, 2011 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Crimson Mantled Woodpecker
Latin: Colaptes rivolii
Other: Es: carpintero candela, carpintero dorsicarmesí
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers
Range: Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Venezuela
Similar: Scarlet-backed Woodpecker

Crimson-mantled Woodpeckers are stunning and not very shy - I managed to observe them on several occasions in different locations in Pichincha, Ecuador, above 1800m. In Ecuador they are found in the inter-Andean montane region.

The female Crimson-mantled Woodpecker above allowed me to follow very closely - she has a black moustachial stripe. She was by the side of the road, rooting through fallen trees in a landslide that had been cleared from the road. The male, below, which has a red moustachial stripe, was near Angel Paz’s house on his bird reserve.

Below, male Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, Pichincha, Ecuador
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© monacoeye • Santa Lucia, Ecuador, Feb 2011 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Guayaquil Woodpecker
Latin: Campephilus gayaquilensis
Other: Es: Carpintero guayaquileño
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers
Range: SW Colombia, Ecuador, NW Peru
Similar: Crimson-crested, Lineated, Powerful Woodpecker

The three Guayaquil Woodpeckers above were also seen on my first day, on the journey from the airport to Nanegal.

The male Guayaquil Woodpeckers (on left of trunk) has a badge on the cheek; the female, a broad white line running from the bill down the neck. The female has no black on crest, unlike Powerful and Lineated. The male has no white near bill, unlike Powerful.

The Guayaquil Woodpecker is classed as Near Threatened on IUCN 3.1 from habitat loss.

Directly below, a female Guayaquil Woodpecker near Nanegal, NW Ecuador.


Directly below, a male Guayaquil Woodpecker in the Rio Silanche Reserve, Ecuador.
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© monacoeye • Santa Lucia Reserve, Ecuador, 2011 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Powerful Woodpecker
Latin: Campephilus pollens
Other: Es: Carpintero poderoso
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers
Range: Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela
Similar: Lineated Woodpecker, Guayaquil Woodpecker

These photos hardly count as record shots, but Powerful Woodpeckers were quite often seen near a piece of cultivated land at the Santa Lucia Reserve in Ecuador, where they had nested in a tree hole. Unfortunately always on very foggy mornings and at a great distance. Females have no red on head.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Santa Lucia Reserve, Ecuador, February 2011

Bird name: Andean Solitaire
Latin: Myadestes ralloides
Other: Solitario andino (Es)
Family: Turdidae • Thrushes
Range: Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela
Similar:

Very pleased to get a shot of the Andean Solitaire while I was in Ecuador. A beautiful, eery song although shorter (in the examples I heard) and less varied than the Black-faced Solitaire of western Panama, which remains my favourite. Andean Solitaire were often heard in forests of Pichincha. I saw them in Santa Lucia and Milpe Reserves. The Andean Solitaire has a grey face and brown back. More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Santa Lucia Reserve, Ecuador, March 2011

Bird name: Choco Brush Finch
Latin: Atlapetes crassus
Other: Tricolored Brush Finch (SACC) • Matorralero tricolor (Es)
Family: Emberizidae • Brush Finches
Range: Colombia, Ecuador
Similar: Tricolored Finch, Rufous-naped Brush Finch, Pale-naped Finch

Well, I was going to upload this photo as a record shot of a Tricolored Finch in the cloudforest, but I see that the IOC currently has Choco Brush Finch in Ecuador, and Tricolored Brush Finch in Peru, so I guess that the former is this bird.

Ridgely has “Tricolored Brush Finch” as occurring between 600 and 1800m on the northwest slope - I saw the bird above at about 1800m at the Santa Lucia Reserve, north of Quito.

I saw similar birds at Yanacocha but rejected them as Choco/Tricolored because at 3700m that should be out of range.

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Santa Lucia Reserve, Ecuador, 2011

Bird name: Dusky Bush Tanager
Latin: Chlorospingus semifuscus
Other: Clorospingo oscuro (Es)
Family: Emberizidae • Bush Tanagers
Range: Colombia, Ecuador
Similar:

Although the Dusky Bush-tanager was common at the Santa Lucia Reserve, like most Bush-tanagers it was not easy to photograph. A guide told me that in the morning it is easy to see as it chatters continually, but does not stop moving. Later in the day it is quiet and doesn’t move so much, but is difficult to see because it’s so camouflaged in the trees.

Dusky Bush-tanagers have greyish hoods, olive upperparts, grey underparts, pale irises, dark bill.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Ecuador, February 2011

Bird name: Golden Naped Tanager
Latin: Tangara ruficervix
Other: Tángara nuquidorada (Es)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia
Similar: Metallic-green Tanager

The Golden-naped Tanager was seen at the Santa Lucia Reserve and in the highlands of Mindo, Ecuador.

The Golden-naped Tanager is a generally blue bird, with black mask, cream belly and crissum, and small light patch on back of head.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Ecuador • 2011

Bird name: Flame Faced Tanager
Latin: Tangara parzudakii
Other: Tangara cariflama (Es)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru
Similar:

I saw Flame-faced Tanagers on several occasions at the Santa Lucia Reserve, Ecuador, but there often in deep mist. Clearer views at the Milpe Reserve, where they also visited the feeders.

On the eastern slope, also seen at San Isidro, where the nominal subspecies Tangara parzudakii parzudakii is found, which is more brightly coloured - record shot further below.

Above and directly below, the western subspecies Tangara parzudakii lunigera which has less colour in the cheeks.

Below, a Flame-faced Tanager feeding at the Santa Lucia Reserve in northern Ecuador.
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Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Ecuador • 2011

Bird name: Beryl Spangled Tanager
Latin: Tangara nigroviridis
Other: Tangara mariposa (Es)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia
Similar:

Probably the most frequently seen of all tanagers on my recent trip to Ecuador - often in mixed flocks, but very difficult to photograph - it’s small and fast moving and keeps its distance.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Ecuador • 2011

Bird name: Metallic Green Tanager
Latin: Tangara labradorides
Other: Tangara verdimetallica (Es)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Colombia, Ecuador, …
Similar:

Metallic-green Tanager was another frequently glimpsed tanager, hard to photograph. Found mid-altitude in the northwest of Ecuador.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Ecuador, March.

Bird name: Golden Tanager
Latin: Tangara arthus
Other: Tángara dorada (Es)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia
Similar: Blackburnian Warbler (if glimpsed)

The Golden Tanager is not uncommon in Ecuador in mid-altitude montane habitats. Seen in most locations, usually at least one in a mixed flock. Very easy to see - a bright light in cloud forest canopy. But Golden Tanagers are small and fast moving, and often stick to tree tops, so getting a good photo was not easy. Unmistakeable markings - usually the only other possibility for an orange flash is Blackburnian Warbler (which has a black head)

Below, Golden Tanager in Mindo, Ecuador.
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Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Ecuador, March

Bird name: Blue Winged Mountain Tanager
Latin: Anisognathus somptuosus
Other: Tángara primavera, cachaquito primavera, tangara montana aliazul (Es)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia
Similar: Black-chinned Mountain-tanager

Blue-winged Mountain Tanagers could be seen at various places near Mindo, as well at San Isidro Lodge.

Blue-winged Mountain Tanagers have more blue on wings than Black-chinned Mountain-tanagers and have black backs, vs olive shoulders for the latter. They have a large yellow stripe on their head.

Below, Blue-winged Mountain-tanager, Mindo.
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Copyright: monacoeye • Santa Lucia, Ecuador, Feb 2011 • Do not copy

Bird name: Andean Cock of the Rock
Latin: Rupicola peruvianus
Other: Gallo de la Peña Andino (Es)
Family: Cotingidae • Cotingas, Cock-of-the-Rocks
Range: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia
Similar:

The Andean Cock of the Rock is a superb bird, emblematic of the Mindo - Choco region. Tours can be taken to visit Cock of the Rock leks at several places, where anything from two or three individuals to two or three dozen males will gather daily in a lek at dawn to be selected by a female. Good weather helps and the “summer” (around June) is said to be the breeding season.

Photography is difficult for all but the latest generation of cameras, because you are shooting in the dark - flash is not allowed. If you can shoot above 3000 ISO and have a fast, stabilised lens, you should be OK.

Santa Lucia has a very good lek, well over a dozen males turned up on the day we attended, despite it being off-season, with no female and rain in the night. But it’s a fair old trek in the morning - a couple of hours before dawn, some through deep mud on steep paths. Before that, just to reach Santa Lucia involves an excruciating two-hour walk up the mountainside in thin air, unless you happen to be a mountain goat, in which case it will take you an hour.

I saw a female flying though the forest at San Isidro - it perched above us.

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Copyright: monacoeye • Guango Lodge, Ecuador, Feb 2011 • Do not copy

Bird name: Green and Black Fruiteater
Latin: Pipreola riefferii
Other: Frutero verdinegro (Es)
Family: Cotingidae • Cotingas, Fruiteaters
Range: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru
Similar: Black-chested Fruiteater

We saw and heard male and female Green-and-black Fruiteaters several times, but although responsive to calls, they proved difficult to photograph, often perching directly above our heads!

The male has a dark hood and bib, bright orange bill and legs, yellow-green underside with marks, and dark leaf-green upperside, with some black.

The female (further below) is plainer and more uniform green, with no black hood, but still orange bill.

Directly below, a male Green-and-black Fruiteater, which was calling to a nearby female.
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Copyright: monacoeye • Ecuador • March 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Three Striped Warbler
Latin: Basileuterus tristriatus
Other: Reinita cabecilistada (Es)
Family: Parulidae • New World Warblers
Range: Costa Rica, Panama, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia
Similar:

I saw Three-striped Warblers on the slope up to Santa Lucia and at San Isidro, Ecuador, but they are fast-moving and very tricky to photograph…

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Copyright: monacoeye • Yanacocha, Ecuador • Feb 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Masked Flowerpiercer
Latin: Diglossa cyanea
Other: Pinchaflor enmascarado (Es)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers, Flowerpiercers
Range: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia
Similar: Bluish Flowerpiercer, Indigo Flowerpiercer

Beautiful rich colours on these fast-moving Masked Flowerpiercers. Large black mask and red eye with blue body. Females duller. Seen in several locations, will visit nectar feeders. The best location, where there were large numbers feeding, was at the end of the Yanacocha trail - 3800 m.

If you don’t get a good view, can be confused with Bluish Flowerpiercer.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Santa Lucia, Ecuador • Feb 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: White Sided Flowerpiercer
Latin: Diglossa albilatera
Other: Pinchaflor flanciblanco (Es)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers, Flowerpiercers
Range: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru
Similar: Black Flowerpiercer

Above a female White-sided Flowerpiercer, which is light brown with a fleck of white on its side just visible behind the bend of the wing. The male, below, is black, with the same white fleck.

White-sided Flowerpiercers were easy to see at the Santa Lucia Reserve (1800m), fog and rain notwithstanding, as they visited a flowering bush outside the lodge every day I was there. I also saw males at San Isidro.

Below, male White-sided Flowerpiercer - uses hooked bill to pierce the base of flowers.
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Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Santa Lucia, Ecuador, March.

Bird name: Slate Throated Whitestart
Latin: Myioborus miniatus
Other: Slate-throated Redstart • Candelita goliplomiza (Es) • Mariquita-cinza (Br)
Family: Parulidae • New World Warblers, Whitestarts
Range: Mexico, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Belize, Costa Rica, Panama, Venezuela, Guianas, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina.
Similar: Parulas, Euphonias

One of the most widespread and frequently-seen passerines in Ecuador in March at mid-altitude - fast-moving but will perch nearby. Seen on the slope up to Santa Lucia, Mirador Rio Blanco, Paz de las Aves and Milpe, but the best views were at San Isidro (above). Often found in mixed flocks.

In Panama, I only saw them in the eastern Chiriqui province, where they are known by the old name of Slate-throated Redstart. They did not live close to huts like the Collared Whitestart, so were seen less frequently.

The Slate-throated Whitestart is yellow below, slate above, extending over head and throat (unlike the Parulas in Panama). Longish tail with white outer feathers distinguishes it from Euphonias. Small rufous crest is sometimes difficult to see. One fanned its tail frequently (photo below).



Directly above and below, Slate-throated Whitestarts, Chiriqui, Panama, May. © monacoeye
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Copyright: monacoeye • Ecuador • March 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Blackburnian Warbler
Latin: Dendroica fusca
Other: Reinita de garganta naranja (Es)
Family: Parulidae • New World Warblers
Range: Canada, East USA - migrating to Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia
Similar:

A bright flash of orange at the Santa Lucia Reserve in Ecuador, in March, is sure to be a Blackburnian Warbler. These cheerful small birds were also particularly easy to see around San Isidro Lodge.

The adult male Blackburnian Warbler (above) has strong orange, black and white markings. Females and juveniles and non-breeding plumages (below) are greyer and have less orange.

Directly below probably female or juvenile Blackburnian Warbler. Ecuador, March. ©
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Copyright: monacoeye • Santa Lucia, Ecuador • Feb 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Booted Racket Tail
Latin: Ocreatus underwoodii
Other: Colaespátula zamarrito (Es)
Family: Trochilidae • Hummingbirds
Range: N Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia
Similar: Purple-bibbed White-tip female

The Booted Racket-Tail was one of the first hummingbirds I saw in Ecuador, at 1800 m altitude at the Santa Lucia Reserve feeders. Then at other feeders, for example, the excellent hummingbird set-up at Mindo Lindo, and at nearby Septimo Paraiso, but not lower down in the town of Mindo.

The male Booted Racket-Tail (above) is instantly recognisable by its long tail feathers, terminating in purple “rackets” (more difficult to identify when regrowing these feathers) and fluffy white thigh “boots”. Otherwise mostly green, with white post-ocular mark and brown wings.

The female (directly below) is more difficult to identify. She has a normal-sized tail, white chest and underparts, greenish upperside (coppery with flash) which stretches down round the sides leaving a few spots on the belly. She has smaller thigh puffs, pale feet, dark bill, white post-ocular spot, white tail-tip, and faint short white malar stripe.

There are two subspecies in Ecuador: peruanus female has buff thighs and crissum and more spotting on chest, melanantherus - the one seen NW of Quito - has white puffs and crissum and white chest.

Directly below, a female Booted Racket-Tail in northwest Ecuador. Copyright monacoeye.
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Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Ecuador, 2011.

Bird name: Masked Trogon
Latin: Trogon personatus
Other:
Family: Trogonidae • Trogons
Range: Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, SC Venezuela
Similar:

Masked Trogons were seen in many locations in Ecuador - Mindo, Milpe, Mindo Lindo, Bellavista, Guango, San Isidro.

Males are green, black and red with white marks. Females are brown and red. Many more examples in “more photos”.


More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Paz de las Aves, Ecuador, Feb 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Crimson Rumped Toucanet
Latin: Aulacorhynchus haematopygus
Other: Tucánete Lomirrojo (Es)
Family: Ramphastidae • Toucans, Toucanets
Range: W Venezuela, Colombia, E Ecuador
Similar: Chestnut-tipped Toucanet

Crimson Rumped Toucanets seemed to be one of the most easily seen of the toucan family in Pichincha, northwest Ecuador. First seen at Santa Lucia, then visiting feeders at Paz de las Aves.

Crimson Rumped Toucanets are mostly green, with red bill, rump and tail tip. Base of bill is white.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Santa Lucia, Ecuador, Feb 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Plate Billed Mountain Toucan
Latin: Andigena laminirostris
Other: Tucán Andino Piquilaminado (Es)
Family: Ramphastidae • Toucans
Range: Southwest Colombia to south Ecuador
Similar:

The Plate-billed Mountain Toucan is an easy bird to identify with a characteristic buff rectangular plate on its bill. A beautiful bird with many colours, seen on several occasions, though usually at some distance, at the Santa Lucia reserve, and then again near Bellavista on the Ecoruta in northwest Ecuador.

The bird pictured may well be a juvenile.

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Copyright: monacoeye • Santa Lucia, Ecuador • Feb 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Violet Tailed Sylph
Latin: Aglaiocercus coelestis
Other: Silfo colivioleta (Es)
Family: Trochilidae • Hummingbirds
Range: Colombia, Ecuador
Similar: Long-tailed Sylph

The male (above) Violet-tailed Sylph has this fabulous long violet tail. Guides love to point them out. Look a Violet-tailed Sylph! Thanks, even I managed to recognise that one… Fortunately where I saw them - Santa Lucia, Milpe, Mindo - there appeared to be no Long-tailed Sylphs to confuse the issue (they have green-blue tails). Male Violet-tailed Sylphs (only in NW ?) have purple bibs.

Females (below) look quite different: no long tail, white chest, peach-coloured belly, speckled throat, but same short bill. Some males have shorter tails - there’s an example in more photos.

Violet-tailed Sylphs were quite abundant at feeders in mountainous, forested areas of northwest Ecuador, and also often seen in the forest.

Directly below, a female Violet-tailed Sylph in northwest Ecuador.


Below, a male Violet-tailed Sylph showing purple bib.

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Copyright: monacoeye • Paz de las Aves, Ecuador • Mar 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: White Throated Quail Dove
Latin: Geotrygon frenata
Other: Paloma Perdiz Goliblanca (Es)
Family: Columbidae • Pigeons, Doves
Range: W Colombia, Ecuador to NW Argentina
Similar:

White-throated Quail Doves are not that uncommon, but difficult to see. The first I saw was perched near the ground in dark forest in Santa Lucia, beside a trail. The second was one of a pair walking along the ground in the forest at Paz de las Aves near Mindo.

The White Throated Quail Dove has bright yellow irises, with a dark line on face separating top and bottom halves. Its neck feathers seem to produce a kind of spiral effect.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Panama, May 2010 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Grey Breasted Wood Wren
Latin: Henicorhina leucophrys
Other: Gray Breasted Wood Wren (US) • Sotterey Montes Pechigris (Es)
Family: Troglodytidae • Wrens
Range: Mexico to northern Bolivia
Similar: White-breasted Wood-wren

There were several Grey-breasted Wood Wrens in this location in Chiriqui, Panama, and with some patience, we eventually coaxed them out of the gloom of the canopy, for long enough to be visible enough for a photo. As with other wrens, they have an attractive clear song.

The Grey-breasted Wood Wren is similar to the White-breasted Wood Wren, with dark cap and prominent white stripe above eye. The main difference is a grey chest instead of a white chest.

Also seen and heard in NW Ecuador.

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Copyright: monacoeye • Yanacocha, Ecuador • Mar 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Ornate Flycatcher
Latin: Myiotriccus ornatus
Other: Mosquerito Adomado (Es)
Family: Tyrannidae • Tyrant Flycatchers
Range: Colombia, Ecuador, Peru
Similar: Tody Flycatchers

The Ornate Flycatcher was the first flycatcher I photographed in Ecuador, as I walked up the steep slope to the Santa Lucia Reserve. Then seen again in the Milpe Reserve and near Mindo Lindo.

The Ornate Flycatcher is a small bird, quite easily seen on trails, as it will stay still for some time, and is identifiable by its white lores and yellow rump.
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Copyright: monacoeye • Santa Lucia, Ecuador, Feb 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Cloud Forest Pygmy Owl
Latin: Glaucidium nubicola
Other: Cloud-forest Pygmy-Owl • Mochuelo ecuatoriano (Es)
Family: Strigidae • Owls
Range: Colombia and Ecuador
Similar: Andean Pygmy Owl

The guide I was with in Santa Lucia was convinced that the bird above was a rare Cloud-forest Pygmy-Owl. On my first morning’s birding in Ecuador, no less. We had just left the Santa Lucia Lodge and were observing some of the regular warblers and tanagers when the guide homed in on a great commotion of birds in a couple of trees.

He became very excited, believing this to indicate the presence of an owl, and scanned the branches for some time trying to find the bird. Eventually he did locate the small Pygmy Owl, which was sitting calmly on a bough with warblers, tanagers and flycatchers all around, mobbing it.

On examination he believed it to be a Cloud-forest Pygmy Owl, which he had only previously heard once, and never seen. It’s a rare bird, classed Vulnerable on the IUCN 3.1 list, with an estimated population of only a few thousand individuals. It has been recorded in Pichincha.

But although I’m happy to defer to more learned opinion, the photo itself is unlikely to be conclusive proof, as the Andean Pygmy-Owl, Glaucidium jardinii, although scarce, is much more common with larger range, and looks very similar, with longer tail and more extensive pale spotting or barring on back, sides of chest and flanks. So unless an expert weighs in, the bird pictured could probably be either Cloud-Forest or Andean.

The Andean Pygmy-Owl is generally found above 2000m and the Cloud-forest Pygmy-Owl below 2000m - the photo was taken at about 1900m altitude.More photos...