Ecuador: Avian Jewels of the Northwest Andes - October 2026
Dates: October 15 - 26, 2026
Leaders: Paul J Greenfield & Remigio Grefa
E-bird
Total Species: 276 birds
Click Here to view list.
Overall Summary
Our special VENT ‘by invitation only’ Ecuador: Avian Jewels of the Northwest Andes tour, organized by Jeri Langham, involved a 10-field-day adventure covering elfin high temperate, lush subtropical, foothill, and lowland cloud and rainforest within the renowned Chocó-Andean endemic ecoregion, located along the Andean slope west of Quito, Ecuador’s IUCN World Heritage Site capital city. We centered our explorations around three lodges: Séptimo Paraíso, located above the town of Mindo; Kapari Nature Lodge, situated in Valle Hermoso; and Guaycapi, set along the lower sector of the Paseo del Quinde Ecoroute. From each of these excellent ‘hubs,’ we birded the lodge grounds and visited a variety of relatively nearby hotspots at distinct elevations.
Our adventure began with a drive west from our hotel, climbing the north slope of Pichincha Volcano to Yanacocha Reserve, located at 3,500 meters above sea level. We were surprised by two White-throated Hawks, and at the reserve, we enjoyed a rather easy morning among high Andean mountain-tanagers and our first spectacular hummingbirds. We then headed downslope to Alambi Reserve, where we came upon an entirely new set of lower-elevation Chocó endemics. We arrived at Séptimo Paraíso having ‘chalked up’ 21 species each of hummingbirds and tanagers. Not bad for starters!
We took advantage of the following days with visits to Milpe Bird Sanctuary, San Tadeo Birding, Refugio Paz de las Aves, Milpe Gardens, the Milpe-Pachijal EcoRoute, the town of Mindo, the Paseo del Quinde EcoRoute to Bellavista Cloud Forest Lodge, Punto Ornitológico, and finally, a morning at Río Silanche Bird Sanctuary. Along the way, we added Gorgeted Sunangels, Violet-tailed Sylphs, Velvet-purple Coronets, Empress Brilliants, and White-booted Racket-tails; Sunbittern; a Stygian Owl; Lanceolated Monklet; Orange-fronted Barbets; Pale-mandibled Araçari and Chocó Toucans; Guayaquil Woodpecker; Giant and Yellow-breasted antpittas; Strong-billed Woodcreepers; Golden-winged and Club-winged manakins; Scaled Fruiteater; Andean Cocks-of-the-Rock; and Black-chinned Mountain-Tanagers.
We then transferred to Kapari Lodge, from which we enjoyed an early morning visit above the village of 23 de Junio and another to Frutti Tour, where we encountered Little Tinamous; Rufous-fronted Wood-Quail; Pallid Dove and White-throated Quail-Dove; Bronzy Hermit and Purple-chested hummingbirds; Fasciated Tiger-Herons; and those bizarre Long-wattled Umbrellabirds!
We moved on to our final lodge, Guaycapi, from which we birded its excellent deck, explored along the lower EcoRoute back to Bellavista, and made a brief visit to Pacha Quindi Reserve. Significant additions included Common Potoos; White-throated Daggerbills; Golden-headed Quetzals; Toucan Barbets; Plate-billed Mountain-Toucans; Crimson-mantled Woodpecker; and Turquoise Jays—an impressive collection, indeed!
Our final morning took us to the Mashpi-Amagusa Reserve and Sacha Guatusa, where we recorded Crimson-rumped Toucanets; Rose-faced Parrots; Esmeraldas and Zeledon's antbirds; Orange-breasted Fruiteaters; Moss-backed, Glistening-green, Gray-and-gold, and Emerald tanagers; Golden-collared Honeycreeper; and Indigo Flowerpiercer. OMG!! We then began our return to Quito, with a brief stop at Marak Sacha, where we ended our journey with White-bellied Woodstars and Rufous-chested tanagers. Our final hummingbird species count: 39.
Our last checklist session and farewell dinner gave us a moment to reflect upon northwestern Ecuador and the marvels of this wonderful country—its people, their fantastic birding setups, and, not to forget, the incredible diversity of birdlife we encountered!
Day-by-Day Summary
October 15 — Pre-tour morning to Papallacta Pass and antenna area (very cold and very windy); Checklist & Welcome Dinner (Overnight: Hotel Quito)
October 16 — Morning at Yanacocha Reserve; Paseo del Quinde Ecoroute to Alambi Reserve; Drive to Séptimo Paraíso (Overnight: Séptimo Paraíso)
October 17 — Pre-breakfast birding at Séptimo Paraíso; Remainder of the morning at Milpe Bird Sanctuary; Lunch and midday at Séptimo; Afternoon at San Ttadeo Birding (Overnight: Séptimo Paraíso)
October 18 — Very early to Refugio Paz de las Aves: Lunch and afternoon at Séptimo Paraíso (Overnight: Séptimo Paraíso)
October 19 — Pre-breakfast at the ‘Y’ de Mindo; Remainder of the morning along the Milpe EcoRoute and Milpe Gardens; Lunch at Séptimo and afternoon around Mindo town (Overnight: Séptimo Paraíso)
October 20 — Morning along the Paseo del Quinde EcoRoute to Bellavista Lodge; Lunch, and then afternoon at Punto Ornitológico, Mindo (Overnight: Sétimo Paraíso)
October 21 — Morning birding Río Silanche entrance road and Bird Sanctuary; Landslide delayed our return to Séptimo for lunch and departure to Kapari Lodge (Overnight: Kapari Lodge)
October 22 — Pre-breakfast at Kapari Lodge’s feeding station; Remainder of the morning at Frutti Tour; Afternoon along the road down to the Río Blanco (Overnight: Kapari Lodge)
October 23 — Very early to 23 de Mayo (father & son Luis Ajila); Lunch and Kapari Lodge’s feeding station; Afternoon transfer and deck birding at Guaycapi Lodge (Overnight: Guaycapi Lodge)
October 24 — Pre-breakfast deck birding; Remainder of the morning: Paseo del Quinde EcoRoute to Pacha Quindi Reserve, with a stop at Bellavista Lodge; Afternoon along lower Ecoroute (rain) and Guaycapi’s deck (Overnight: Guaycapi Lodge)
October 25 — Early morning to Mashpi-Amagusa Reserve; then to Sacha Guatusa; Lunch back at Guaycapi—Departure to Quito, with a birding stop at Marak Sacha. Final checklist session and Farewell Dinner (Overnight: Hotel Quito)
October 26 — All return flights
Wildlife Seen:
Mantled Howler Monkey (2)
Tropical Cottontail (2)
Red-tailed Squirrel (9)
Central American Agouti (6)
Puma (1)
Gem Anole (1)
Cane Toad (1)
Seven-lined Whiptail (1)
Anchor Coral Snake (1)
Giant Earthworm (3)