Ecuador Birding: Northern

The Bosque del Chocó in northwestern Ecuador is incredibly rich in flora and fauna. It is considered a biodiversity hotspot, boasting some of the greatest biodiversity in the world. This very relaxed birding tour will visit different ecosystems throughout the Chocó ranging from 3,500 meters above sea level down to 300 meters.  The bird list in the Northwest alone includes approximately 747 species. There are around 1,200 plant species per square kilometer and more than 100 species of amphibians and reptiles in just a small area.

The Chocó Forest is restricted to northwestern Ecuador and southwestern Colombia. The species we will observe and photograph are unique, such as the Plate-billed Mountain Toucan, Barbet Toucan, Moss-backed Tanager, Glistening-green Tanager, Rufous-throated Tanager, Chocó Toucan, Violet-tailed Sylph, and Empress Bristlenose, to name just a few.

On our short trip through the northwest, we’ll see an average of 300 species of birds and some mammals such as Tayras, South American coatis, Red-tailed Squirrels, and, with a bit of luck, the Spectacled Bear. We’ll also visit many reserves, including the famous Paz de las Aves reserve, where Ángel Paz, the owner, was the first person to feed the famous Antpittas, and the renowned town of Mindo, which has won first place in Christmas bird counts for several years.