Ecuador’s Northwest Choco Endemics Birding Tour

Day 1: Arrive Quito | Welcome to Ecuador

Today you arrive in Quito. Your driver will meet you at the airport and you’ll transfer about 30 minutes to your hotel. You’ll have time to relax and acclimate to the elevation and get your first look at the enchanting Ecuadorian forest. Your first night in Ecuador is at a 100+ year old Hacienda; a cozy, comfortable location, removed from the hustle and bustle of Quito.

Day 2: Jimeneta Reserve | Private Reserve

Today you’ll explore the reserve with your private birding guide looking for the different hummingbirds that live here. La Jimenita is located in a valley that creates the perfect weather for hosting over 90 different species of birds and 10 different species of hummingbirds including the Giant Hummingbird.

Some of the rare species include the White-winged Brush Finch, Western Emerald, Shiny Cowbird and many others. The reserve has 23 private acres of trails and an Archeological Pre-Inca Tunnel dated from the 1400 ́s. From the trails you can also observe up to 10 Volcanoes including Cotopaxi – the highest active volcano in the world.

Target Species: Golden Rumped Euphonia, Blue and White Swallow, Southern Yellow Grosbeak, Blue and Yellow Tanagers, Rufous Collared Sparrow, Sparkling Violetear, American Kestrel, Black Flowerpiercer, Black Tailed Trainbearer, Giant Hummingbird, Rufous Naped Brush Finch, Scarlet bellied tanager, White bellied woodstar, Streak throated bush tyrant, Vermilion flycatcher, Western Emerald, Ecuadorian Hillstar (Endemic), Black Breasted Puffleg (Endemic), Green tailed trainbearer, Mountain Velvetbreast, Purple backed thornbill, Sword billed Hummingbird, Tyrian Metaltail, Great Sapphirewing

Day 3: Antisana Volcano | Condors View Point & Lake Mica

Antisana ecological reserve is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. It lies in between the mountains and the beginning of the Amazon region and boasts a magnificent snow capped volcano (5,755m) of the same name. After taking in the unique atmosphere of the reserve we will reach the top of Milacoma (4,150m) peak. Although there are only approximately 50 to 75 Andean Condors left in Ecuador, this is one of the best spots in the country to see them. You will know without any doubt when you see one given their enormous wing span of 3 meters.

The Condor is not the only reason to explore Antisana. There are many different habitats along the way and an excellent birding stop at Lake Mica.

Top species for the day: Andean Condor, Ecuadorian Hillstar, Caranculated Cara-Cara, Black-faced Ibis, Andean Lapwing, Andean Teal, Ruddy Duck, Yellow-billed Pintail, Black flowerpiercer, Variable Hawk, Black-chested Buzzard Eagle, Tawny Antpitta, Plumbeous Sierra Finch, Paramo Ground Tyrant, and others

Day 4: Machay Waterfalls & River Pita| Beautiful landscape & great birding

This morning you’ll head to one of the most impressive waterfalls and top birding spots in the Andes. It’s a beautiful day in the forest, searching for the top species of the area. Returning to the hotel you’ll drive South-East to one of the best reserves in the Andes in the River Pita Region. It’s an easy-moderate 4-hour hike along River Pita in the Avenue of volcanoes to bird watch and admire the natural landscape. We’ll be searching for 26 top bird species.

Target Birds: Pearled Treerunner, Scarlet-bellied Mountain Tanager, Spectacled Redstart, White-capped Dipper, Rufous Wren, Blue and Black Tanager, Harris Hawk, Sparkling Violetear, White-capped Tyrannulet, Rufous Spinetail, Blackish Tapaculo and others.

Day 5: Yanacocha Reserve & Alambi Hummingbird Reserve | Pichincha Foothills

Be prepared for an exciting day today. You’ll drive to the Yanacocha reserve located in the Pichincha Foothills. We will explore the main trails and impressive mountain scenery of the high montane forest and cloud forest. Top species to look for include: Tawny Antpitta (mostly heard in the valley below), Blackish Tapaculo, White-banded Tyrannulet, Crowned Chat-Tyrant, Streak-throated Bush-Tyrant, Rufous Wren, Hooded Mountain-Tanager, Black-chested Mountain-Tanager, Buff-breasted Mountain-Tanager, Glossy Flowerpiercer, and Rufous-naped Brush-Finch.

Some of the best birding is toward the end of the road where there are a couple sets of hummingbird feeders and some small tracts of forest. Yanacocha is a wonderful place to see high-elevation hummingbirds. Species commonly seen include Buff-winged Starfrontlet, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Great Sapphirewing, Sapphire-vented Puffleg, and Tyrian Metaltail. Less commonly seen hummingbirds include Shining Sunbeam, Mountain Velvetbreast, Golden-breasted Puffleg, and Purple-backed Thornbill. The road ends in a clearing and from there a short uphill walk leads to a small forest patch where it’s possible to see birds such as Barred Fruiteater, Spectacled Whitestart, and Superciliaried Hemispingus.

After completing the trails we will enjoy our lunch with a panoramic view of the Andean Slope and the Cloud Forest. We’ll continue birding in Old Nono Mindo Road and arrive in the afternoon to Alambi Hummingbird Paradise. A spectacular location for hummingbirds. From Alambi we’ll continue to the lodge for check in.

Target Species: Glossy flowerpiercer, Spectacled Redstart, Undulated Antpitta, Palm Tanager, White-lined tanager, Masked Flowerpiercer, Burrowing Owl, White-throated Screech Owl, Rainbow-bearded Thornbill, Golden-breasted Pu eg, Great Sapphirewing, Azara’s Spinetail, Thick-billed Euphonia, Sword Billed Hummingbird, Crimson Rumped Toucanet, White-necked Jacobin, Black-chested Mountain Tanager and others.

Day 6: Angel de Paz & Cock of the Rock | Antpittas & C.O.R Blind

Today you will visit the famous Refugio Paz de Las Aves, a private cloud forest reserve and perhaps the most amazing bird show on earth. Walking along the forest trails, you will be searching for some of the most difficult forest undergrowth skulkers on earth, the Antpittas.

A number of years ago, the entrepreneurial Ecuadorians brothers, Angel & Rodrigo Paz managed to coax a number of mega species into view through the use of daily feeding rituals. One of the stars of the show is undoubtedly the goliath Giant Antpitta, which often approaches to within only a few feet.

Other specialities include Dark-backed Wood Quail, Ochre-breasted and Yellow-breasted Antpittas, Rufous-breasted Antthrush and Nariño Tapaculo as well as the more widespread species such as Sickle Winged Guan and Golden-winged Manakin.

You will also visit a lek with a regularly attending population of Andean Cock-of-the-rock, one of the gaudiest of all South American birds.

Along the way, you may find a fruiting tree attended by Crimson-rumped Toucanet, Scaled Fruiteater, the elusive Olivaceous Piha and the stunning Toucan Barbet.

Lyre-tailed Nightjars are regularly found on their day roost here and rarities have included White-faced Nunbird, Cloud-forest Pygmy Owl, Ecuadorian Seedeater and Black-and-chestnut Eagle.

You’ll break for lunch and then continue on to a visit to the San Tadeo Tanager Feeders. San Tadeo is a fantastic location to observe a wide array of Tanager species and other Choco-endemics.

You’ll be on the lookout for: White-lined Tanager, Golden-naped Tanager, Palm Tanager, Flame Rumped Tanager, Golden Tanager, Flame-Faced Tanager, Blue-Grey Tanager, along with Barbets, Hummingbirds, Saltators, and more.

Day 7: Rio Silanche & Suamox | Choco Endemics and Observation Tower

Come experience this exceptional 100 hectare Chocó-lowland Bird Sanctuary and its ample trail system and 15 meter tall canopy observation tower. This important site, one of the last remaining accessible forest remnants found in this key life-zone, is situated in hilly lowland forest at an altitude between 300-350m. The main feature at Río Silanche is its incredible birding. With mixed species in foraging flocks, packed with many important Chocó regional endemic species, the visitors are bombarded all day long with a huge array of bird species.

Top Species: Purple-chested Hummingbird, Chocó Trogon, Double-banded Graytail, Moustached/Griscom’s Antwren, Stub-tailed Antbird, Black-tipped Cotinga, Slate-throated Gnatcatcher, Scarlet-breasted Dacnis, Scarlet-and-white Tanager, Blue-whiskered Tanager

You’ll break for lunch and then continue on to the Suamox Feeders.

Rancho Suamox is a private farm in the lowlands where the owner has set up both fruit feeders and hummingbird feeders that attract tanagers, woodpeckers, and a couple of different hummingbird species only found in the lowlands. Golden-olive and Black-cheeked Woodpeckers, Rufous Motmot, Dusky-faced, Flame-rumped, and Silver-throated Tanagers, Ecuadorian Thrush, Buff-throated Saltator, Thick-billed and Orange-bellied Euphonias, can all often be seen and photographed at the feeders.

Day 8: Umbrella Bird Lek & 23 Junio | Long Wattled Bellbird & Rufous Motmot Lek

After an early breakfast, we will visit the 23 of June Commnity, one of the only places to observe the rare Long-wattled Umbrella Bird. This community has protected the area for the last 30 years and switched towards conservation of the cloud forest. Explore the main trails that this birding reserve o ers. Lunch along the way and continue birding for possible Rufous Motmots in the Lek.

Target Species: Long wattled Umbrella Bird, Choco Toucan, Yellow Throated Toucan, Ornate Flycatcher , Masked Trogon, swallow-tailed Kite, Gray-headed Kite, Roadside-Hawk, Laughing Falcon, Ruddy Pigeon, Bronze-winged Parrot, Squirrel Cuckoo, Golden-headed Quetzal, Chestnut-mandibled Toucan, Plate-billed Mountain Toucan, Pale-mandibled Aracari, Long-tailed Sylph, Pacific Hornero, Buff-fronted Foliage gleaner, Red-faced Spinetail, Spotted Woodcreeper, Black-headed Tody-Flycatcher, Golden-faced Tyrannulet, Yellow-bellied Elaenia, Piratic Flycatcher, One-colored Becard, Masked-water-tirant, Long-wattled Umbrellabird, Fasciated Wren, House-Wren, Bay Wren, Southern Rough-winged Swallow, Tropical Parula, Slate-throated Whitestart, Blue-necked-Tanager, Swallow Tanager, Fawn-breasted Tanager, Flame-faced Tanager, Lemon-rumped Tanager, White-lined Tanager, Yellow-throated Bush-Tanager, Dusky Bush-Tanager, Black-winged Saltator, Shiny Cowbird, Variable Seedeater, Yellow-bellied Siskin.

Day 9: Milpe & Sachatamia Reserve | Mindo Cloud Forest & Manakin Leks

After an early breakfast, you’ll explore the Sachatamia Reserve, a private, ecological reserve exceeding 120 hectares of cloud-rain forest. In the morning you will visit the different birding trails and feeders around this reserve located in the Protected Forest of Mindo-Nambillo. After lunch at the lodge, we will continue birding in Milpe Birding Sanctuary and Manakin Leks.

Target Species: Golden Collared Honeycreeper, Black-chinned Mountain Tanager, Orange-breasted Fruiteater, Choco Vireo, Green Thorntail, Rose-faced Parrot, Spinetails, Chlorophonia, Rufous- Throated Tanager, Broad-billed Motmot, Indigo Flowerpiercer, Lyre-tailed nightjar, Pale-mandibled Aracari, Streak-capped Treehunter and others choco endemic bird species.

Milpe is another key reserve of the Mindo Cloud Forest Foundation and is one of the best sites in the world to see the Chocó endemic Club-winged Manakin.

Along the trails, we have good chances of running into large mixed-species flocks that contain Chocó Warbler, Tropical Parula, Slate Throated Whitestart, Chocó Tyrannulet, Tawny Rumped Myiobius, Slaty Antwren, Rufous Rumped Antwren, Spotted and Wedge-billed Woodcreepers, Brown-billed Scythebill, Buff Fronted, Ruddy and Scaly-throated Foliage Gleaner, Western Woodhaunter, Cinnamon and One-colored Becards, Silver-throated, Bayheaded, Rufous-throated, White-winged, Whiteshouldered and Ochre-breasted Tanagers, Yellow-tufted Dacnis, Yellow-collared Chlorophonia and many more! The banana feeders can be a true spectacle (although activity is seasonal), with stunners like Red-headed Barbet, Pale-mandibled Aracari, Chocó Toucan, Black Cheeked Woodpecker, Rufous Motmot, Orange-billed Sparrow, Orange-bellied and Thick-billed Euphonias, Silver-throated, Rufous-throated, Blue-grey, White-lined and Blue-necked Tanagers all feeding at close range!

The hummingbird feeders attract gems like White-necked Jacobin, Crowned Woodnymph, Green-crowned Brilliant, Andean Emerald and the tiny Green Thorntail.

The adjacent Milpe Gardens has a great trail through mature foothill forest where we will continue to look for specialities.

Rare birds that we have encountered here include Indigo-crowned Quail-Dove, Lanceolated Monklet, Orange-crested Flycatcher, Chocó Trogon, Scaly-throated Leaftosser, Crimson-bellied Woodpecker and Spotted Nightingale-Thrush.

Day 10: Mashpi & Amagusa | Choco endemics & Hummingbirds

This reserve is a privately owned, 130 hectares of recovering forest in the new protected important bird area (IBA) Mashpi-Pachijal. The specific location of this forest within this IBA makes it special because this area is the last foothill-forest that directly connects to the lower subtropical western forests of Ecuador. Its unique location makes it particularly attractive for birders looking for the highest biodiversity regions with choco endemic birds.

The altitude range is 1700 to 750 meters, it begins at the higher altitude pass and continues to the Mashpi Lodge entrance gate. The reserve extends downward to the east of the road toward a river where the forest is best conserved. There are some trails that can be visited but the Mashpi Lodge entrance road is the best source for easy birding.

The reserve includes a small but nice hummingbird garden with a few well visited feeders that attract some of the sought after choco endemic hummingbirds like the Empress Brilliant, Velvet-purple
Coronet, Violet-tailed Sylph, Brown Inca, Purple-bibbed Whitetip, and White-wiskered Hermit.

Some of the local tanagers are also being attracted to feeders, so you will be able to see and photograph more of the choco endemics like Glistening-green Tanager and the Black-chinned Mountain Tanager. They also have other colorful tanagers that visit the feeders like the Golden-naped Tanager, Golden Tanager, Flame-faced Tanager, and others.

Last but not least there are other Choco endemics that can be seen in the reserve or along the road: Rose-faced Parrot, Orange-fronted Barbet,Toucan Barbet, Orange-breasted Fruiteater, Mossbacked Tanager, Choco Vireo, Long-wattled Umbrellabird.

Day 11: Return to the Quito Airport for your flight home or continue on to Galapagos