TROPICAL BIRD DIVERSITY
Most birders are aware that bird diversity varies according to latitude. The arctic region has few resident birds, the temperate zone has more, and the tropical belt has the most. Half-way between the United States and the equator is tiny Costa Rica, which has over 850 species -- more species than in the entire United States. Ecuador, sitting right on the equator, is the culmination of this trend:
With over 1500 species of birds, Ecuador offers more bird diversity in less space than any other country in the world.
Geographic good fortune has blessed Ecuador with a wide variety of faunal zones, including some of the richest on this planet, each with its characteristic birds. Ecuador's Amazonian faunal zone alone has more than 600 species of birds, and several other Ecuadorian zones are nearly as rich.
Ecuador's small size and well-developed transportation system means that this diversity can be easily accessed and experienced even by those with limited time and money.
The key to seeing lots of species in Ecuador is to visit as many different faunal zones as possible. However, if your goal is to observe a selection of birds closely, you will have a more satisfying experience by picking one or two zones and remaining there as long as possible.
B I R D I N G L I S T
Tinamous
Great Tinamou
White - throated tinamou
Cinereous Tinamou
Little Tinamou
Undulated Tinamou
Variegated Tinamou
Bartlett's Tinamou
Herons, Bitterns and Egrets
Rufescent Tiger - Heron
Cocoi Heron
Snowy Egret
Striated Heron
Capped Heron
Boat - billed Heron
Ibises and Spoonbills
Green Ibis
Glossy Ibis
Kites, Eagles, Hawks
Osprey
Gray – headed Kite
Swallow – tailed Kite
Slender - billed Kite
Double – toothed Kite
Plumbeous Kite
Tiny Hawk
Gray - bellied Hawk
Crane Hawk
Slate – colored Hawk
Black – faced Hawk
White Hawk
Great Black – Hawk
Roadside Hawk
Short - tailed Hawk
Crested Eagle
Harpy Eagle
Black-and-white Hawk - Eagle
Black Hawk - Eagle
Ornate Hawk – Eagle
Tinamidae
Tinamus major
Tinamusguttatus
Crypturellus cinereus
Crypturellus soui
Crypturellus undulatus
Crypturellus variegatus
Crypturellus barletti
Ardeidae
Tigrisoma lineatum
Ardea Cocoi
Egretta thula
Buturides striatus
Pilherodius pileatus
Cochlearius cochlearius
Threskiornithidae
Mesembrinibis
Cayennensis
Plegadis falcinellus
Accipitridae
Pandion haliaetus
Leptodon cayanensis
Elanoides forficatus
Rostrhamus hamatus
Harpagus bidentatus
Ictinia plumbea
Accipiter superciliosus
Accipiter poliogaster
Geranospiza caerulescens
Leucopternis schistacea
Leucopternis melanops
Leucopternis albicollis
Buteogallus urubitinga
Buteo magnirostris
Buteo brachyurus
Morphnus guianensis
Harpia harpyja
Spizastur melanoleucus
Spizaetus tyrannus
Spizaetus ornatus
Falcons and Caracas
Black Caracara
Red – throated Caracara
Yellow - headed Caracara
Barred Forest - Falcon
Lined Forest – Falcon
Slaty – backed Forest – Falcon
Collared Forest - Falcon
Buckley's Forest - Falcon
Laughing Falcon
Bat Falcon
Curassows,Guans and
Chachalacas
Speckled Chachalaca
Spix's Guan
Common Piping – Guan
Nocturnal Curassow
Salvin's Curassow
New World Quails
Marbled Wood – Quail
Rails, gallinules and Crakes
Gray - breasted Crake
Chestnuts - headed Crake
Blackish Rail
Gray - necked Wood – Rail
Sunbittern
Sunbittern
Finfoots
Sungrebe
Trumpeters
Gray-winged trumpeter
Falconidae
Daptrius ater
Ibycter americanus
Milvago chimachima
Micrastur ruficollis
Micrastur gilvicolis
Micrastur mirandollei
Micrastur semitorquatus
Micrastur buckleyi
Herpetotheres cachinnans
Falco rufigularis
Cracidae
Ortalis guttata
Penelope jacquacu
Pipile pipile
Nothocrax urumutum
Mitu salvini
Odontophoridae
Odontophorus
gujanensis
Rallidae
Laterallus exilis
Anurolimnas castaneiceps
Pardirallus nigricans
Aramides cajanea
Eurypygidae
Eurypyg
Heliornithidae
Heliornis fulica
Psophiidea
Psophia crepitans
Sandpippers
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Spotted Sandpipper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Gulls, Terns
Yellow-billed Tern
Pigeons and Doves
Pale - vented Pigeon
Ruddy Pigeon
Plumbeous Pigeon
Ruddy Ground - Dove
Blue Ground – Dove
Gray – fronted Dove
Sapphire Quail – Dove
Ruddy Quail – Dove
Parrots and Macaws
Blue and yellow Macaw
Scarlet Macaw
Chestrut – fronted Macaw
Red – bellied Macaw
White - eyed Parakeet
Dusky – headed Parakeet
Maroon – tailed Parakeet
Blue - winged Parrotlet
Cobalt – winged Parakeet
Scarlet - shouldered Parrotlet
Black – headed Parrot
Orange – cheeked Parrot
Blue – headed Parrot
Yellow – crowned Amazon
Orange - winged Amazon
Mealy Amazon
Cuckoos and Anis
Yellow - billed Cuckoo
Dark - billed Cuckoo
Squirrel Cuckoo
Black – bellied Cuckoo
Little Cuckoo
Scolopacidae
Tringa melanoleuca
Tringa flavipes
Actitis macularia
Calidris melanotos
Laridae
Sterna superciliaris
Columbidae
Columba cayennensis
Columba subvinacea
Columba plumbea
Columbina talpacoti
Claravis pretiosa
Leptotila rufaxilla
Geotrygon saphirina
Geotrygon montana
Psittacidae
Ara ararauna
Ara macao
Ara severa
Orthopsittaca manilata
Aratinga leucophthalmus
Aratinga weddellii
Pyrrhura melanura
Forpus xanthopterygius
Brotogeris cyanoptera
Touit huetii
Pionites melanocephala
Pionopsitta barrabandi
Pionus menstruus
Amazona ochrocephala
Amazona amazonica
Amazona farinosa
Cuculidae
Coccyzus americanus
Coccyzus melacoryphus
Piaya cayana
Piaya melanogaster
Piaya minuta
Greater Ani
Smooth – billed Ani
Pavonine Cuckoo
Rufous - vented ground Cuckoo
Hoatzin
Owls
Tropical Screech - Owl
Tawny – bellied Screech – Owl
Ferruginous Pygmy – Owl
Crested Owl
Spectacled Owl
Black – banded Owl
Potoos
Great Potoo
Common Potoo
Rufous Potoo
Nightjars and Nighthawks
Short - tailed Nighthawk
Lesser Nighthawk
Sand - colored Nighthawk
Pauraque
Ocellated Poorwill
Ladder - tailed Nightjar
Swifts
White – collared Swift
Chapman's Swift
Short – tailed Swift
Gray – rumped Swift
Pale - rumped Swift
Lesser Swallow - tailed Swift
Neotropical Palm – Swift
Hummingbirds
Rufous – breasted Hermit
Pale - tailed Barbthroat
Great – billed Hermit
White - beared Hermit
Straight - billed Hermit
Crotophaga major
Crotophaga ani
Dromococcyx pavoninus
Neomorphus geoffroyi
Optisthocomus hoazin
Strigidae
Otus choliba
Otus watsonii
Glaucidium brasilianum
Lophostrix cristata
Pulsatrix perspicillata
Strix huhula
Nyctibiidae
Nyctibius grandis
Nyctibius griseus
Nyctibius bracteatus
Caprimulgidae
Lurocalis semitorquatus
Chordeiles acutipennis
Chordeiles rupestris
Nyctidromus albicollis
Nyctiphrynus ocellatus
Hydropsalis climacocerca
Apodidae
Streptoprocne zonaris
Chaetura chapmani
Chaetura brachyura
Chaetura cinereiventris
Chaetura egregia
Panyptila cayennensis
Tachornis squamata
Trochilidae
Glaucis hirsuta
Therenetes niger
Phaethornis malaris
Pheathornis hispidus
Pheathornis bourcieri
Reddish Hermit
Buff - tailed Sicklebill
Gray - breasted Sabrewing
Napo Sabrewing
White - necked Jacobin
Festive Coquette
Black - bellied Thorntail
Blue - tailed Emerald
Fork – tailed Woodnymph
Rufous – throated Sapphire
Golden - tailed Sapphire
Glittering - throated Emerald
Black – throated Brilliant
Gould's Jewelfront
Fiery Topaz
Black – eared Fairy
Long – billed Starthroat
Trogons and Quetzals
Pavonine Quetzal
Black – tailed Trogon
Amazonian White – tailed Trogon
Collared Trogon
Black – throated Trogon
Blue – crowned Trogon
Amazonian Violaceous Trogon
Kingfishers
Ringed Kingfisher
Amazon Kingfisher
Green Kingfisher
Green – and - rufous Kingfisher
American Pygmy Kingfisher
Motmots
Broad – billed Motmot
Rufous Motmot
Blue – crowned Motmot
Jacamars
White – eared Jacamar
Yellow – billed Jacamar
Purplish Jacamar
Great Jacamar
Pheathornis ruber
Eutoxeres condamini
Campylopterus largipennis
Campylopterus villaviscensio
Florisuga mellivora
Lophornis chalybeus
Popelairia langsdorffi
Chlorostilbon mellisugus
Thalurania furcata
Hylocharis sapphirina
Chrysuronia oenone
Amazilia fimbriata
Heliodoxa shreibersii
Heliodoxa aurescens
Topaza pyra
Heliothryx aurita
Heliomaster longirostris
Trogonidae
Pharomachrus pavoninus
Trogon melanurus
Trogon viridis
Trogon collaris
Trogon rufus
Trogon curucui
Trogon violaceus
Alcedinidae
Megaceryle torquata
Chloroceryle amazona
Chloroceryle americana
Chloroceryle inda
Choroceryle aenea
Momotidae
Electron platyrhynchum
Baryphthengus martii
Momotus momota
Galbulidae
Galbalcyrhynchus leucotis
Galbula albirostris
Galbula chalcothorax
Jacamerops aureus
Puffbirds and Nunbirds
White – necked Puffbird
Pied Puffbird
Chestnut - capped Puffbird
Collared Puffbird
White – chested Puffbird
Lanceolated Monklet
Brown Nunlet
Black – fronted Nunbird
White – fronted Nunbird
Yellow – billed Nunbird
Swallow – winged Puffbird
New World Barbets
Scarlet - crowned Barbet
Gilded Barbet
Lemon – throated Barbet
Toucans
Golden – collared Toucanet
Chestnut - eared Araçari
Many – banded Aracari
Ivory – billed Aracari
Lettered Aracari
Channel - billed Toucan
White – throated Toucan
Woodpeckers and Piculets
Rufous - breasted Piculet
Lafresnaye's Piculet
Spot - breasted Woodpecker
Yellow – throated Woodpecker
White - throated Woodpecker
Chestnut Woodpecker
Scale – breasted Woodpecker
Cream – colored Woodpecker
Ringed Woodpecker
Lineated Woodpecker
Yellow – tufted Woodpecker
Little Woodpecker
Red – stained Woodpecker
Crimson – crested Woodpecker
Red – necked Woodpecker
Bucconidae
Notharchus macrorhynchos
Notharchus tectus
Bucco macrodactylus
Bucco capensis
Malacoptila fusca
Micromonacha lanceolata
Nonnula brunnea
Monasa nigrifrons
Monasa morphoeus
Monasa flavirostris
Chelidoptera tenebrosa
Capitonidae
Capito aurovirens
Capito auratus
Eubucco richardsoni
Ramphastidae
Selenidera reinwardtii
Pteroglossus castanotis
Pteroglossus pluricinctus
Pteroglossus azara
Pteroglossus inscriptus
Ramphastos vitellinus
Ramphastos tucanus
Picidae
Picumnus rufiventris
Picumnus lafresnayi
Chrysoptilus punctigula
Piculus flavigula
Piculus leucolaemus
Celeus elegans
Celeus grammicus
Celeus flavus
Celeus torquatus
Dryocopus lineatus
Melanerpes cruentatus
Veniliornis passerinus
Veniliornis affinis
Campephilus melanoleucos
Campephilus rubricollis
Ovenbirds
Dusky Spintail
Dark - breasted Spinetail
Ruddy Spinetail
Speckled Spinetail
Orange - fronted Plushcrown
Eastern Woodhaunter
Chestnut – winged Hookbill
Chestnut - winged Foliage - gleaner
Cinnamon - rumped Foliage - gleaner
Rufous - rumped Foliage - gleaner
Rufous - tailed Foliage - gleaner
Olive – backed Foliage – gleaner
Buff - throated Foliage - gleaner
Brown - rumped Foliage - gleaner
Ruddy Foliage - gleaner
Slender - billed Xenops
Plain Xenops
Rufous - tailed Xenops
Tawny - throated Leaftosser
Short – billed Leaftosser
Black – tailed Leaftosser
Woodcreeper
Plain – brown Woodcreeper
Wedge – billed Woodcreeper
Olivaceous Woodcreeper
Long - billed Woodcreeper
Cinamon – throated Woodcreeper
Strong – billed Woodcreeper
Amazonian Barred - Woodcreeper
Black - banded Woodcreeper
Straigth – billed Woodcreeper
Ocellated Woodcreeper
Spix's Woodcreeper
Buff – throated Woodcreeper
Lineated Woodcreeper
Red – billed Scythebill
Typical Antbirds
Fasciated Antshrike
Undulated Antshrike
Great Antshrike
White - shouldered Antshrike
Plain – winged Antshrike
Mouse – colored Antshrike
Spot - winged Antshrike
Furnariidae
Synallaxis moesta
Synallaxis albigularis
Synallaxis rutilans
Cranioleuca gutturata
Metopothris aurantiacus
Hyloctistes subulatus
Ancistrops strigilatus
Philydor erythropterus
Philydor pyrrhodes
Philydor erythrocercus
Philydor ruficaudatus
Automolus infuscatus
Automolus ochrolaemus
Automolus melanopezus
Automolus rubiginosus
Xenops tenuirostris
Xenops minutus
Xenops milleri
Sclerurus mexicanus
Sclerurus rufigularis
Sclerurus caudacutus
Dendrocolaptidae
Dendrocincla fuliginosa
Glyphorynchus spirurus
Sittasomus griseicapillus
Nasica longirostris
Dendrexetastes rufigula
Xiphocolaptes promeropirhynchus
Dendrocolaptes certhia
Dendrocolaptes picumnus
Xiphorhynchus picus
Xiphorhynchus ocellatus
Xiphorhynchus spixii
Xiphorrhynchus guttatus
Lepidocolaptes albolineatus
Campylorhamphus trochilirostris
Thamnophilidae
Cymbilaimus lineatus
Frederickena unduligera
Taraba major
Thamnophilus aethiops
Thamnophilus schistaceus
Thamnophilus murinus
Pygiptila stellaris
Dusky – throated Antshrike
Cinerous Antshrike
Pygmy Antwren
Short – billed Antwrenn
Amazonian Streaked - Antwren
Plain – throated Antwren
Stipple - throated Antwren
Ornate Antwren
Rufous – tailed Antwren
White – flanked Antwren
Long - winged Antwren
Rio Suno Antwren
Gray Antwren
Dot - winged Antwren
Dugand's Antwren
Gray Antbird
Blackish Antbird
Black Antbird
White - browed Antbird
Black – faced Antbird
Warbling Antbird
Yellow – browed Antbird
Spot – backed Antbird
Scale – backed Antbird
Banded Antbird
Spot - winged Antbird
Silvered Antbird
Black Bushbird
Black - throated Antbird
Plumbeous Antbird
Sooty Antbird
White - plumed Antbird
Bicolored Antbird
Hairy - crested Antbird
Black - spotted Bare - eye
Reddish - winged Bare – eye
Antthrushes and Antpitta
Rufous – capped Antthrush
Black – faced Antthrush
Striated Antthrush
Scaled Antpitta
Ochre - striped Antpitta
White - lored Antpitta
Thrush – like Antpitta
Tapaculos, gnateaters
Rusty – belted Tapaculo
Thamnomanes ardesiacus
Thamnomanes caesius
Myrmotherula brachyura
Myrmotherula obscura
Myrmotherula multostriata
Myrmotherula hauxwelli
Myrmotherula haematonota
Myrmotherula ornate
Myrmotherula erythrura
Myrmotherula axillaris
Myrmotherula longipennis
Myrmotherula sunensis
Myrmotherula menetriesii
Microrhopias quixensis
Herpsilochmus dugandi
Cercomacra cinerascens
Cercomacra nigrescens
Cercomacra serva
Myrmoborus leucophrys
Myrmoborus myotherinus
Hypocnemis cantator
Hypocnemis hypoxantha
Hylophylax naevia
Hylophylax poicilinota
Dichrozona cincta
Schistocichla leucostigma
Sclateria naevia
Neoctantes niger
Myrmeciza atrothorax
Myrmeciza hyperythra
Myrmeciza fortis
Pithys albifrons
Gymnopithys leucaspis
Rhegmatorhina melanosticta
Phlegopsis nigromaculata
Phlegopsis erythropte
Formicariidae
Formicarius colma
Formicarius analis
Chamaeza nobilis
Grallaria guantimalensis
Grallaria dignissima
Hylopezus fulviventris
Myrmothera campanisosa
Rhinocryptidae
Liosceles thoracicus
Ash-throated Gnateater
Flycatchers
Golden – faced Tyrannulet
Slender – footed Tyrannulet
White - lored Tyrannulet
Southern beardless - Tyrannulet
Yellow – crowned Tyrannulet
Gray Elaenia
Forest Elaenia
Mottle - backed Elaenia
River Tyrannulet
Lesser Wagtail - Tyrant
Ochre – bellied Flycatcher
Ringed Antpitpit
Short – tailed Pygmy – Tyrant
Double – banded Pygmy – Tyrant
White – eyed Tody – Tyrant
Rusty - fronted Tody - Flycatcher
Yellow - browed Tody - Flycatcher
Brownish Twistwing
Rufous - tailed Flatbill
Dusky - tailed Flatbill
Gray – crowned Flatbill
Golden - crowned Spadebill
White - crested Spadebill
Amazonian Royal - Flycatcher
Ruddy – tailed Flycatcher
Black – tailed Flycatcher
Sulphur - rumped Flycatcher
Cinnamon Flycatcher
Eastern Wood Pewee
Western Wood Pewee
Tropical Pewee
Olive - sided Flycatcher
Drab Water - Tyrant
Bright – rumped Attila
Cinnamon Attila
Grayish Mourner
Eastern Sirystes
Dusky – capped Flycatcher
Swainson's Flycatcher
Short – crested Flycatcher
Great Kiskadee
Lesser Kiskadee
Boat – billed Flycatcher
Social Flycatcher
Gray - capped Flycatcher
Dusky – chested Flycatcher
Streaked Flycatcher
Conopophaga peruviana
Tyrannidae
Zimmerius chrysops
Zimmerius gracilipes
Ornithion inerme
Camptostoma obsoletum
Tyrannulus elatus
Myiopagis caniceps
Myiopagis gaimardii
Elaenia gigas
Serpophaga hypoleuca
Stigmatura napensis
Mionectes oleagineus
Corythopis torquata
Myiornis ecaudatus
Lophotriccus vitiosus
Hemitriccus zosterops
Poecilotriccus latirostris
Todirostrum chrysocrotaphum
Cnipodectes subbrunneus
Ramphotrigon ruficauda
Ramphotrigon fuscicauda
Tolmomyias poliocephalus
Platyrinchus coronatus
Platyrinchus platyrhynchos
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Terenotriccus erythrurus
Myiobius atricaudus
Myiobius sulphureipygius
Pyrrhomyias cinnamomea
Contopus virens
Contopus sordidulus
Contopus cinereus
Contopus cooperi
Ochthornis littoralis
Attila spadiceus
Attila cinnamomeus
Rhytipterna simplex
Sirystes sibilator
Myiarchus tuberculifer
Myiarchus swainsoni
Myiarchus ferox
Pitangus sulphuratus
Philohydor lictor
Megarynchus pitangua
Myiozetetes similis
Myiozetetes granadensis
Myiozetetes luteiventris
Myiodynastes maculatus
Sulphur - bellied Flycatcher
Piratic Flycatcher
Variegated Flycatcher
Crowned Slaty Flycatcher
Sulphury Flycatcher
Tropical Kingbird
Eastern Kingbird
Fork – tailed Flycatcher
Chestnut - crowned Becard
White - winged Becard
Black – capped Becard
Pink – throated Becard
Black – tailed Tityra
Black - crowned Tityra
Cotingas
White - browed Purpletuft
Cinereous Mourner
Screaming Piha
Purple – throated Cotinga
Plum – throated Cotinga
Spangled Cotinga
Bare – necked Fruitcrow
Purple – throated Fruitcrow
Black - necked Red-Cotinga
Manakins
Golden – headed Manakin
Wire - tailed Manakin
White - crowned Manakin
Blue – crowned Manakin
Blue – backed Manakin
White - bearded Manakin
Striped Manakin
Dwarf Tyrant – Manakin
Wing – barred Piprites
Crows, Jays & Magpies
Violaceous Jay
Vireos
Black - billed Peppershrike
Red – eyed Vireo
Yellow – green Vireo
Myiodynastes luteiventris
Legatus leucophaius
Empidonomus varius
Griseotyrannus aurantioatrocristatus
Tyrannopsis sulphurea
Tyrannus melancholicus
Tyrannus tyrannus
Tyrannus savana
Pachyramphus castaneus
Pachyramphus polychopterus
Pachyramphus marginatus
Platypsaris minor
Tityra cayana
Tityra inquisitor
Cotingidae
Iodopleura isabellae
Laniocera hypopyrra
Lipaugus vociferans
Porphyrolaema porphyrolaema
Cotinga maynana
Cotinga cayana
Gymnoderus foetidus
Querula purpurata
Phoenicircus nigricollis
Pipridae
Pipra erythrocephala
Pipra filicauda
Dixiphia pipra
Lepidothrix coronata
Chiroxiphia pareola
Manacus manacus
Machaeropterus regulus
Tyranneutes stolzmanni
Piprites chloris
Corvidae
Cyanocorax violaceous
Vireonidae
Cyclarhis nigrirostris
Vireo olivaceus
Vireo flavoviridis
Dusky – capped Greenlet
Tawny – crowned Greenlet
Thrushes
Swainson's Thrush
Black – billed Thrush
Lawrence's Thrush
Hauxwell's Thrush
White - necked Thrush
Swallows
Brown - chested Martin
Gray - breasted Martin
White - banded Swallow
Southem Rough – winged Swallow
Wrens
Black – capped Donacobius
Thrush – like Wren
Coraya Wren
House Wren
White – breasted Wood – Wren
Musician Wren
Southern Nightingale - Wren
Wing – banded Wren
Gnatcatchers and Gnatwrens
Tawny –faced Gnatwren
Tropical Gnatcatcher
New World Warblers
Yellow Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Canada Warbler
Buff – rumped Warbler
Tanagers, Honeycreepers
Short – billed Honeycreeper
Purple Honeycreeper
Hylophilus hypoxanthus
Hylophilus ochraceiceps
Turdidae
Catharus ustulatus
Turdus ignobilis
Turdus lawrencii
Turdus hauxwelli
Turdus albicollis
Hirundinidae
Progne tapera
Progne chalybea
Atticora fasciata
Stelgidopteryx ruficollis
Troglodytidae
Donacobius atricapillus
Campylorhynchus turdinus
Thryothorus coraya
Troglodytes aedon
Henicorhina leucosticta
Cyphorinus arada
Microcerculus marginatus
Microcerculus bambla
Polioptilidae
Microbates cinereiventris
Polioptila plumbea
Parulidae
Dendroica aestiva
Dendroica striata
Dendroica fusca
Wilsonia canadensis
Basileuterus fulvicauda
Thraupidae
Cyanerpes nitidus
Cyanerpes caeruleus
Red - legged Honeycreeper
Green Honeycreeper
Blue Dacnis
Black – faced Dacnis
Yellow – bellied Dacnis
White - bellied Dacnis
Guira Tanager
Yellow - backed Tanager
Orange - headed Tanager
Thick – billed Euphonia
Orange – bellied Euphonia
White - vented Euphonia
Rufous – bellied Euphonia
White – lored Euphonia
Masked Tanager
Turquoise Tanager
Opal – rumped Tanager
Opal – crowned Tanager
Paradise Tanager
Green – and – gold Tanager
Yellow – bellied Tanager