Cabañas San Isidro Area

eBird Hotspot Link: Cabañas San Isidro

Species - 550

Checklists - 9826

Projected Time at Site: Long (>3 hrs.)

About the Area: 

Cabañas San Isidro and its surrounding reserve lie within the lush cloud forests of Ecuador’s eastern Andean slope, a region celebrated for its exceptional avian diversity and endemism. The reserve spans elevations from 2,000 to 2,400 meters, creating a rich mosaic of montane habitats that support over 500 bird species. Among its most iconic residents is the enigmatic “San Isidro Owl,” a taxonomically puzzling Strix species that remains undescribed but is regularly seen near the lodge. Hummingbirds abound, including the Chestnut-breasted Coronet, Long-tailed Sylph, and Fawn-breasted Brilliant, while mixed flocks reveal tanagers, woodcreepers, and flycatchers darting through the canopy. The area is also a stronghold for antpittas, with the White-bellied Antpitta and Chestnut-crowned Antpitta often coaxed into view by skilled local guides.

The reserve’s steep terrain and dense vegetation create ideal conditions for rare and specialized species. The Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan, a Chocó endemic, is frequently spotted feeding on fruiting trees along forest edges, while the Masked Trogon and Andean Solitaire lend their haunting calls to the misty mornings. The understory hosts secretive birds like the Blackish Tapaculo and Rusty-winged Barbtail, and the lodge’s trails offer excellent chances to observe mixed-species foraging flocks—a hallmark of Andean birding. Conservation efforts at San Isidro focus on habitat preservation and sustainable ecotourism, making it not only a birding hotspot but a living laboratory for cloud forest ecology. Whether you're scanning treetops from the dining room balcony or hiking deep into the reserve, the avifauna of San Isidro offers a window into the evolutionary richness of Ecuador’s montane forests.

Top Target Species:

Wattled Guan, Tawny-bellied Hermit, Sparkling Violetear, Lesser Violetear, Speckled Hummingbird, Long-tailed Sylph, Bronzy Inca, Collared Inca, Chestnut-breasted Coronet, Fawn-breasted Brilliant, Black-banded Owl, Masked Trogon, Red-billed Parrot, Speckle-faced Parrot, Streak-headed Antbird, White-bellied Antpitta, Blackish Tapaculo, Olive-backed Woodcreeper, Montane Woodcreeper, Pearled Treerunner, Azara's Spinetail, Rufous-crowned Tody-Flycatcher, Cinnamon Flycatcher, White-tailed Tyrannulet, Smoke-colored Pewee, Pale-edged Flycatcher, Golden-bellied Flycatcher, Black-billed Peppershrike, Brown-capped Vireo, Green Jay, Mountain Wren, Gray-breasted Wood-Wren, Glossy-black Thrush, Common Chlorospingus, Rufous-collared Sparrow, Russet-backed Oropendola, Scarlet-rumped Cacique, Blackburnian Warbler, Black-crested Warbler, Canada Warbler, Slate-throated Redstart, Summer Tanager, Blue-winged Mountain Tanager, Beryl-spangled Tanager, Saffron-crowned Tanager and Bluish Flowerpiercer.

Recap and Reflections (How it played out)

(Stay tuned...)