Giant Antpitta

*Top 50 Target Species (Because "The Residence")

In Ecuador, the Giant Antpitta is a rare and elusive inhabitant of humid montane forests on both Andean slopes, favoring damp gullies and dense understory between 1,500 and 2,400 meters. Once virtually unknown, its presence was confirmed in the 1990s near Mindo, where individuals of the western subspecies hylodroma were observed and even habituated to forage on worms at forest edges. Despite its charismatic appeal and growing ecotourism interest, the species remains classified as Vulnerable due to habitat loss and fragmentation across its limited range. Its cryptic behavior and infrequent vocalizations make it one of the most sought-after yet challenging birds to observe in Ecuador’s cloud forests.