Welcome to Ecuador Birding

The 20 location write-ups are divided up into the four major biogeographical zones that we will be visiting. Starting from the West and moving eastward the zones are: 

Western Andes Montane Area

• The Birdwatcher's House

• Tandayapa Bird Lodge

• Bellavista Cloud Forest Lodge

• Refugio Paz de las Aves

• San Tadeo Feeders

• Reserva Zuro Loma

• Reserve Yanacocha

High Andes Montane & Páramo Area

• Puembo Birding Garden

• Tambo Cóndor Bird Lodge

• Papallacta--radio antennas

• Laguna Papallacta

• Guango Lodge

Eastern Andes Montane Area

• Rio Quijos Spots

• Wayra Reserve

• Cabañas San Isidro

• Loreto Road Area

• Amarun Pakcha Cultural Research Center

Amazonia Lowlands

• Coca and Napo River Transit

• PN Yasuní - Clay Licks

• Sani Birdng Lodge and Canopy Tower

WESTERN ANDES MONTANE ZONE

The Western Andes Montane Zone in Ecuador is a lush ecological tapestry woven from misty cloud forests, steep ridges, and sun-drenched valleys ranging from 3,000' to 8,500' in elevation. This region, part of the Northwestern Andean Montane Forests, is shaped by humid air rising from the Pacific, creating a microclimate rich in moisture and biodiversity. Towering trees draped in mosses and festooned with epiphytes like orchids, bromeliads, and ferns form a dense canopy, while the understory teems with life. The fauna is equally diverse: endemic tanagers and hummingbirds flit through the foliage, while elusive mammals such as spectacled bears and ocelots roam the forest floor. Amphibians, especially glass frogs and harlequin toads, thrive in the damp leaf litter and streamside habitats. This zone’s natural history is marked by dramatic altitudinal gradients and evolutionary isolation, making it one of South America's most vital biodiversity hotspots.

HIGH ANDES MONTANE ZONE and PáRAMO

The High Andes Montane Zone and Páramo of Ecuador form a striking mosaic of alpine ecosystems perched above 8,500', where the air thins and the landscape transforms into a realm of wind-swept grasslands, glacial lakes, and rugged volcanic peaks. The páramo, a tropical alpine biome unique to the northern Andes, is dominated by resilient vegetation such as tussock grasses, cushion plants, and the iconic frailejones (Espeletia spp.), which store water in their thick, velvety leaves to survive the intense solar radiation and nightly frosts. These high-altitude habitats are vital water sources, acting as natural sponges that regulate hydrology for the valleys below. Wildlife here is equally specialized: the Andean condor soars overhead, while species like the Andean fox, mountain tapir, and hummingbirds such as the Ecuadorian hillstar navigate the harsh terrain with remarkable adaptations. Despite their resilience, these ecosystems are fragile, facing threats from grazing, burning, and climate change—making their conservation a high priority in Ecuador’s ecological strategy.

EASTERN ANDES MONTANE ZONE

The Eastern Andes Montane Zone in Ecuador, part of the Eastern Cordillera Real, is a cradle of biodiversity where steep slopes and deep valleys rise from the Amazon basin into a mosaic of cloud forests, elfin woodlands, and high-altitude grasslands. This region’s complex topography and humid climate—shaped by the Intertropical Convergence Zone and Andean uplift—create a patchwork of microhabitats that support extraordinary endemism. Vegetation ranges from broadleaf evergreen forests rich in orchids, bromeliads, and melastomes to mist-drenched cloud forests carpeted with mosses, ferns, and lichens. Animal life is equally rich: the elusive mountain tapir and spectacled bear roam the forested slopes, while vibrant tanagers, toucanets, and hummingbirds flit through the canopy. Amphibians, especially glass frogs and poison dart frogs, thrive in the moist understory. As part of the Tropical Andes biodiversity hotspot, this zone is both ecologically vital and increasingly vulnerable to deforestation and climate change.

AMAZONIA LOWLANDS

The Amazonia Lowlands of Ecuador, stretching east of the Andes, are a verdant expanse of tropical rainforest that cradle some of the planet’s richest biodiversity. This region is dominated by towering emergent trees like kapok and ceibo, beneath which a dense understory of bromeliads, orchids, heliconias, and liana vines thrives in the humid, dimly lit forest floor. With over 2,500 tree species and countless epiphytes, the vegetation forms a multilayered canopy that supports intricate ecological relationships. Animal life here is astonishingly diverse: jaguars prowl the shadows, giant river otters glide through oxbow lakes, and squirrel monkeys chatter through the treetops. More than 1,500 bird species—including macaws, toucans, and antbirds—fill the air with color and sound, while amphibians like poison dart frogs and glass frogs flourish in the moist leaf litter. Insects, from leaf-cutter ants to dazzling butterflies, play vital roles in pollination and decomposition. This lowland rainforest is not only a biological treasure trove but also a vital carbon sink and cultural landscape, increasingly threatened by deforestation, mining, and climate change.