Ecuador ‐ Chocó Lowlands Tour
Participants: Keith, Roy and Winnie
Guide: Dušan M. Brinkhuizen
This is a full trip report on a tour to the Chocó Lowlands from 15 till 21 November 2009 by Mindo Bird Tours. Places that were visited during the tour include the Rio Canandé reserve, Botrosa road, cabañas Arasha and the Rio Palénque reserve.
15 November ‐ from Quito to Rio Canandé
From the capital of Quito it is a long drive to the remote Rio Canandé reserve. Unfortunately, there is not much pristine Chocó lowland forest left in the world so we have to go remote! Most of the drive is through degraded habitat and (oil palm) plantations but we always try to do some birding stops to make the 5 hour drive a bit more interesting. Some good birds we saw during the drive include Shorttailed Hawk, Ecuadorian Ground‐dove, White‐throated Crake, Snowy‐throated Kingbird and Whitethighed Swallow. We also saw a territorial male Red‐breasted Blackbird, a species which we recently found to occur in western Ecuador. We tried for the rare Slate‐colored Seedeater at the ferry crossing but without success. During the short stop we did see a nice male Swallow Tanager and the shy Ochre‐bellied Flycatcher.
We arrived at the lodge at lunchtime and went birding on the Tawny‐faced‐Quail‐trail after lunch. It had not rain for weeks and the forest was extremely dry compared to normal. The bird activity in the afternoon was very low but we did manage to get some nice birds. We heard “lekking” Red‐capped Manakins and a Rufous Piha showed itself after playing its call. A canopy flock contained a male Scarlet‐thighed Dacnis and a Slate‐throated Gnatcatcher but unfortunately the flock moved by fairly quickly. At dusk we listened for night birds and soon it was a goal: a Chocó Poorwill was singing along the main road. We heard the bird nicely and some of us glimpsed the bird in flight. We also heard the song of Tawny‐faced‐Quail at the same spot. Back at the lodge we heard a Chocó Screech‐owl.
16 November ‐ Rio Canandé, up to the mirador
One of the best birding at Rio Canandé is done during the hike up to the mirador. Various raptors and species like Black‐tipped Cotinga are seen more easily from the mirador. Recent observations of the extremely rare Banded Ground‐cuckoo are all coming from the ridge. Sightings of this enigmatic species are getting more regular at Rio Canandé and the local guides have estimated at least three territories along the main trail to the mirador. The best chance for the rare and local Golden‐chested Tanager is on top of the ridge were it has a territory.
We started with the hike at dawn and apart from singing Chestnut‐backed Antbirds the morning activity of birds seemed very low. Was this because of the recent drought? The first bird we got into view was a nicely perched Band‐tailed Barbthroat. A little further at the heliconias we saw the small Stripe‐throated Hermit. Not many birds were seen during our hike up but we did glimpse both Indigo‐crowned Quail‐dove and Ruddy Quail‐dove on the trail in front of us. A shy White‐whiskered Puffbird and a cooperative male Blue‐crowned Manakin showed themselves half way up. Almost at 2 the top we found an adult Green Manakin (western subspecies litae, by some considered as separate species named Chocó Manakin) foraging on the heliconia leafs. We got great views of the manakin and we enjoyed watching such a difficult and poorly known species. Soon after we “settled” at the viewpoint we heard a hawk‐eagle. The call was a‐typical for Black Hawk‐eagle and fortunately we got the soaring bird in sight quickly. In the telescope we could clearly see the rufous sides of the neck and dark crest: we were watching an adult Ornate Hawk‐eagle! The western race vicarius is a major rarity in the Chocó and almost extirpated from Ecuador due to habitat loss. What a great start! A little later the bird flew by for the second time and we got some looks of it again. Soaring Swallow-tailed Kites showed themselves fantastically at eye‐height while a Great Black‐Hawk flew by that we glimpsed. Keith spotted a large pale hawk which turned out to be the endangered Gray‐backed Hawk! The two adults popped up out of nowhere just in front of us ‐ what a show! Finally we spotted a male Black‐tipped Cotinga on top of the canopy ‐ not easy to miss!.
After the successes at the mirador we went further up to the ridge trail to prove our luck. We run into a few little flocks which produced a goody in the form of Scarlet‐and‐white Tanager. A few minutes later some of us got lucky and saw an adult Golden‐chested Tanager in the sub‐canopy. Stripe‐throated Wren, Ochre‐breasted Tanager and Tawny‐faced Gnatwren were all seen on our way back. Halfway down Winnie spotted two big birds perched on a branch a few meters in front of us. It was a pair of Great Jacamars! The pair (photo) was very cooperative and we had some outstanding views. Further down we heard a Chocó Tapaculo singing and we run into a very interesting canopy flock. The flock consisted mainly of large birds and we watched it for about 30 min. Three pairs of different trogon species namely Chocó Trogon, Western White‐tailed Trogon and Collared Trogon accompanied the flock. Other large birds that we saw well include Scarlet‐rumped Cacique, Black‐striped Woodcreeper and a male Lita oodpecker!
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17 November ‐ the Botrosa Road
A daytrip to the Botrosa Road can be very productive birding. It is approximately a 45 min. drive from the lodge and it start just after passing the tiny village of Oja Blanca. Because birding is mainly done from the road perched birds and canopy flocks can be easier to see then from inside the forest. Sadly, the forest along the road is cut down in a rapid tempo (trucks come and go twenty‐for‐seven) and in a few years it will probably be remembered as a legendary birding place.
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In the early morning we started off great by hearing a Black Hawk‐eagle (photo). The bird was perched in a forest patch close to us and was very vocal. We played its call and suddenly the bird flapped out of the patch and flew right over our heads! One word ‐ spectacular! It perched in a nearby tree for a while and we got excellent looks of it through the scope. It seemed that luck was on our side again! A few minutes later a nice adult Zone‐tailed Hawk tried to mimic a soaring Turkey Vulture but did not fool us. It seemed a good day for raptors as we spotted a small hawk in top of a tree. It was a juvenile Tiny Hawk! We got outstanding views of this rare species through our scopes. It was not paying any attention to us and we watched it for over half an hour at close range. A Palemandibled Aracari was perched nicely in the sun as it stayed there for a while. Our next stop was at a pair of Long‐tailed Tyrants nesting in a tree. What is that singing over here? A Lanceolated Monklet! The bird (photo) was perched low and showed itself very well. Another individual was calling from inside the forest, most probably the female. A minute later an adult King Vulture flew over ‐ another good bird! Keith found a nice Barred Puffbird perched close but well camouflaged. At lunch some of us spotted a male Scarlet‐breasted Dacnis. Now three adult King Vultures flew over and showed themselves well. On our way back a fast flock produced Pacific Flatbill, Greenish Elaenia, Blackstriped Woodcreeper and Blue‐whiskered Tanager. It took us some time to get the male Whitebearded Manakin into view while a Slaty Spinetail turned out to be easy. At the end of the day we run into a very vocal pair of Laughing Falcons. With our scopes we got great views of them ‐ they don’t look like true falcons!?
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18 November ‐ from Rio Canandé to Arasha
The administration of Rio Canandé had overbooked the lodge and as a consequence we had to leave the next day. In turn they booked a night for us at Arasha, one of the most luxurious resorts in Ecuador. We had no idea of how the birding at this place would be, but it did not turn out too bad. There was no primary forest at the resort, but it was a nice opportunity to get some of the more common secondary woodland species. The drive to Arasha produced again some birds including close‐up views of White‐throated Crake and a croaking Chocó Toucan.
At Arasha the habitat around the mini golf complex produced us some nice mixed‐species flocks. Flock members included Red‐faced Spinetails, Streak‐headed Woodcreepers various tanagers and Cinnamon Becard. Black‐cheeked Woodpeckers were abundant and we also got to see Golden‐olive Woodpecker, Lineated Woodpecker and Pale‐mandibled Aracari. A Pallid Dove showed itself while walking on one of the mini golf courses. The best birding at Arasha was in the forest behind the resort. The main trail goes down through some mature secondary forest and species like Chestnut backed Antbird and Black‐headed Antthrush were singing all over. A Black‐headed Antthrush came close to the trail and we got some nice views of this shy bird. In the evening we had a delicious dinner and some of us jumped in the pool before going to bed.
19 November ‐ from Arasha to Rio Palénque
In the morning we spent an hour before breakfast in the forest at Arasha. An interesting call was
coming from the understory. It turned out to be a White‐throated Spadebill that showed itself
extremely well. The bird seemed excited as it raised its bright yellow crown stripe. We really enjoyed
watching this tiny flycatcher knowing that spadebills are normally very hard to see. Our second
highlight was in the form of two Rufous‐fronted Wood‐quails. We placed a speaker on the trail and
soon after that the two wood‐quails crossed the path in response to playback.
After breakfast we drove to Rio Palénque. The drive was on the highway so we did not do any birding
along the way. The reserve itself is an island of pristine forest in the middle of agricultural land.
Species like Great‐green Macaw occurred here in the past, but in recent years most of these rare
species got extirpated due to habitat loss. Nevertheless, the forest still holds some very good bird
species. Some of the Chocó species reach their southern range, while some Tumbesian species reach
their northern range. So, bird wise Rio Palénque is a very interesting mix.
An hour before lunch we went for a short check down at the river (Rio Palénque). A surprise was an adult Cocoi Heron. We also saw some Snowy Egrets and a Little Blue Heron. A dark morph Shorttailed Hawk flew by nicely and some Pacific Parrotlets dropped down for a drink. Roy spotted a Green Kingfisher and we saw several Pied‐billed Grebes in the river. In the afternoon we hiked a few forest trails. A female Rufous‐tailed Jacamar showed well. The bird has a call somewhat similar to Pacific Royal Flycatcher so we were alert. We got a Buff‐throated Foliage‐gleaner into view and a perched Scaled Pigeon was a nice find by Roy. A pair of Ecuadorian Trogons showed well just before we got out of the forest. Our target for that afternoon was Ochraceous Atilla. This rare species has been seen regularly in one of the tree plantations. At the spot there was a perched Gray Hawk calling from a tree nearby. A few Crimson‐breasted Finches were seen well. A female Black‐throated Mango was perched on one of the lower trees. We played for the atilla and got a weak response. We glimpsed the bird and as it was getting dark we had to go back for it the next morning.
20 November ‐ Rio Palénque
In the early morning we went to the river first because someone had reported a possible Sungrebe. At the river we only spotted some Pied‐billed Grebes and no sign of the Sungrebe. On the rocky island in front of us we were surprised by four Pied Plovers! These beautiful birds are nowadays very rare in the west of Ecuador. Our next stop was the Ochraceous Attila as we really wanted to see this vulnerable species. We were lucky as the bird was singing as we arrived. It was perched in top of a high tree and we could watch it perfectly with the telescope. Rio Palénque is one of the few places where you still have a good chance of seeing this rare bird. At the same spot we watched some Blue Ground‐doves foraging on the ground. Soon our attention was drawn by the typical song of an Elegant Crescentchest. The bird was calling from one of the plantations and we went in to look for it. It turned out to be an impossible task! As we came closer the skulking bird started moving and we never got to see anything. Not even movement in the vegetation. Just after lunch Keith found a Pacific Pygmy‐owl being mobbed by a Purple‐crowned Fairy. The singing owl (photo) was showing itself well and we were able to take some photos. In the afternoon we went back into the forest. A Whiskered Wren showed itself in the understory and a Rufous‐browed Peppershrike was eating an insect in the canopy. We encountered a few small flocks and our best birds included Olivaceous Piculet, a pair of Great Antshrike, Long‐billed Gnatwren, Dusky Antbird and two Red‐billed Scythebills. In the evening we tried for Short‐tailed Nighthawk (the night before we had seen a possible one) but only got a Pauraque. A Black‐crowned Night‐heron flew over before we went for dinner. After dinner we heard a Spectacled Owl from the lodge.
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21 November ‐ from Rio Palénque to Quito
We had a full morning of birding at Rio Palénque before we headed back to Quito. Again we saw the Pied Plovers at the river and a Baron’s Hermit was feeding along the waterside. Inside the forest we run into a Red‐billed Scythebill. The Gray‐and‐gold Warbler was the specialty we were missing but soon we got a singing bird into view. We found a singing Gray‐breasted Flycatcher (photo) in the sub‐canopy and we were glad to have good views of this difficult and vulnerable species. Outside the forest we heard and saw a small group of Spot‐fronted Swifts flying over, a new species for the reserve according to the list. In the bamboo plantation we heard a call that made us a bit nervous. It sounded like that of the rare and vulnerable Pacific Royal Flycatcher! We went into the bamboo and some of us saw the bird well. Indeed, it was a Royal Flycatcher ‐ what a species to end the trip with! Strangely, the bird had disappeared before everyone was standing at the right spot. Where did the bird go? Sadly, we never found the bird back but we did find two roosting Spectacled Owls in the same bamboo patch. Did the owls get the flycatcher as it probably had been mobbing them?
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Species list of birds recorded during the tour:
| Little Tinamou | Crypturellus | soui |
|---|---|---|
| Rufous‐fronted Wood‐Quail | Odontophorus | erythrops |
| Tawny‐faced Quail | Rhynchortyx | cinctus |
| Pied‐billed Grebe | Podilymbus | podiceps |
| Neotropic Cormorant | Phalacrocorax | brasilianus |
| Black‐crowned Night‐Heron | Nycticorax | nycticorax |
| Striated Heron | Butorides | striata |
| Cattle Egret | Bubulcus | ibis |
| Cocoi Heron | Ardea | cocoi |
| Great Egret | Ardea | alba |
| Snowy Egret | Egretta | thula |
| Little Blue Heron | Egretta | caerulea |
| Turkey Vulture | Cathartes | aura |
| Black Vulture | Coragyps | atratus |
| King Vulture | Sarcoramphus | papa |
| Swallow‐tailed Kite | Elanoides | forficatus |
| Tiny Hawk | Accipiter | superciliosus |
| Gray‐backed Hawk | Leucopternis | occidentalis |
| Great Black‐Hawk | Buteogallus | urubitinga |
| Roadside Hawk | Buteo | magnirostris |
| Gray Hawk | Buteo | nitidus |
| Short‐tailed Hawk | Buteo | brachyurus |
| Zone‐tailed Hawk | Buteo | albonotatus |
| Black Hawk‐Eagle | Spizaetus | tyrannus |
| Ornate Hawk‐Eagle | Spizaetus | ornatus |
| Laughing Falcon | Herpetotheres | cachinnans |
| Bat Falcon | Falco | rufigularis |
| White‐throated Crake | Laterallus | albigularis |
| Pied Lapwing | Vanellus | cayanus |
| Spotted Sandpiper | Actitis | macularius |
| Ecuadorian Ground‐Dove | Columbina | buckleyi |
| Blue Ground‐Dove | Claravis | pretiosa |
| Scaled Pigeon | Patagioenas | speciosa |
| Pale‐vented Pigeon | Patagioenas | cayennensis |
| Ruddy Pigeon | Patagioenas | subvinacea |
| Dusky Pigeon | Patagioenas | goodsoni |
| Pallid Dove | Leptotila | pallida |
| Indigo‐crowned Quail‐Dove | Geotrygon | prurpurata |
| Ruddy Quail‐Dove | Geotrygon | montana |
| Maroon‐tailed Parakeet | Pyrrhura | melanura |
| Pacific Parrotlet | Forpus | coelestis |
| Rose‐faced Parrot | Pyrilia | pulchra |
| Blue‐headed Parrot | Pionus | menstruus |
| Bronze‐winged Parrot | Pionus | chalcopterus |
| Mealy Amazon | Amazona | farinosa |
| Little Cuckoo | Coccycua | minuta |
| Squirrel Cuckoo | Piaya | cayana |
| Smooth‐billed Ani | Crotophaga | ani |
| Striped Cuckoo | Tapera | naevia |
| Chocó Screech‐Owl | Otus | centralis |
| Spectacled Owl | Pulsatrix | perspicillata |
| Mottled Owl | Ciccaba | virgata |
| Peruvian Pygmy‐Owl | Glaucidium | peruanum |
| Common Pauraque | Nyctidromus | albicollis |
| Chocó Poorwill | Nyctiphrynus | rosenbergi |
| Spot‐fronted Swift | Cypseloides | cherriei |
| White‐collared Swift | Streptoprocne | zonaris |
| Band‐rumped Swift | Chaetura | spinicaudus |
| White‐necked Jacobin | Florisuga | mellivora |
| Band‐tailed Barbthroat | Threnetes | ruckeri |
| Stripe‐throated Hermit | Phaethornis | striigularis |
| Baron's Hermit | Phaethornis | hispidus |
| White‐whiskered Hermit | Phaethornis | yaruqui |
| Purple‐crowned Fairy | Heliothryx | barroti |
| Black‐throated Mango | Anthracothorax | nigricollis |
| Green Thorntail | Discosura | conversii |
| Zone‐tailed Hawk | Buteo | albonotatus |
| Black Hawk‐Eagle | Spizaetus | tyrannus |
| Ornate Hawk‐Eagle | Spizaetus | ornatus |
| Laughing Falcon | Herpetotheres | cachinnans |
| Bat Falcon | Falco | rufigularis |
| White‐throated Crake | Laterallus | albigularis |
| Pied Lapwing | Vanellus | cayanus |
| Spotted Sandpiper | Actitis | macularius |
| Ecuadorian Ground‐Dove | Columbina | buckleyi |
| Blue Ground‐Dove | Claravis | pretiosa |
| Scaled Pigeon | Patagioenas | speciosa |
| Pale‐vented Pigeon | Patagioenas | cayennensis |
| Ruddy Pigeon | Patagioenas | subvinacea |
| Dusky Pigeon | Patagioenas | goodsoni |
| Pallid Dove | Leptotila | pallida |
| Indigo‐crowned Quail‐Dove | Geotrygon | prurpurata |
| Ruddy Quail‐Dove | Geotrygon | montana |
| Maroon‐tailed Parakeet | Pyrrhura | melanura |
| Pacific Parrotlet | Forpus | coelestis |
| Rose‐faced Parrot | Pyrilia | pulchra |
| Blue‐headed Parrot | Pionus | menstruus |
| Bronze‐winged Parrot | Pionus | chalcopterus |
| Mealy Amazon | Amazona | farinosa |
| Little Cuckoo | Coccycua | minuta |
| Squirrel Cuckoo | Piaya | cayana |
| Smooth‐billed Ani | Crotophaga | ani |
| Striped Cuckoo | Tapera | naevia |
| Chocó Screech‐Owl | Otus | centralis |
| Spectacled Owl | Pulsatrix | perspicillata |
| Mottled Owl | Ciccaba | virgata |
| Peruvian Pygmy‐Owl | Glaucidium | peruanum |
| Common Pauraque | Nyctidromus | albicollis |
| Chocó Poorwill | Nyctiphrynus | rosenbergi |
| Spot‐fronted Swift | Cypseloides | cherriei |
| White‐collared Swift | Streptoprocne | zonaris |
| Band‐rumped Swift | Chaetura | spinicaudus |
| White‐necked Jacobin | Florisuga | mellivora |
| Band‐tailed Barbthroat | Threnetes | ruckeri |
| Stripe‐throated Hermit | Phaethornis | striigularis |
| Baron's Hermit | Phaethornis | hispidus |
| White‐whiskered Hermit | Phaethornis | yaruqui |
| Purple‐crowned Fairy | Heliothryx | barroti |
| Black‐throated Mango | Anthracothorax | nigricollis |
| Green Thorntail | Discosura | conversii |
| Long‐billed Starthroat | Heliomaster | longirostris |
| Green‐crowned Woodnymph | Thalurania | fannyi |
| Rufous‐tailed Hummingbird | Amazilia | tzacatl |
| Andean Emerald | Amazilia | franciae |
| Purple‐chested Hummingbird | Amazilia | rosenbergi |
| Ecuadorian Trogon | Trogon | mesurus |
| Chocó Trogon | Trogon | comptus |
| Western White‐tailed Trogon | Trogon | viridis |
| Collared Trogon | Trogon | collaris |
| Green Kingfisher | Chloroceryle | americana |
| Broad‐billed Motmot | Electron | platyrhynchum |
| Rufous Motmot | Baryphthengus | martii |
| Rufous‐tailed Jacamar | Galbula | ruficauda |
| Great Jacamar | Jacamerops | aureus |
| Barred Puffbird | Nystalus | radiatus |
| White‐whiskered Puffbird | Malacoptila | panamensis |
| Lanceolated Monklet | Micromonacha | lanceolata |
| Chocó Toucan | Ramphastos | brevis |
| Pale‐mandibled Aracari | Pteroglossus | torquatus |
| Olivaceous Piculet | Picumnus | olivaceus |
| Black‐cheeked Woodpecker | Melanerpes | pucherani |
| Smoky‐brown Woodpecker | Picoides | fumigatus |
| Red‐rumped Woodpecker | Veniliornis | kirkii |
| Lita Woodpecker | Piculus | litae |
| Golden‐olive Woodpecker | Colaptes | rubiginosus |
| Lineated Woodpecker | Dryocopus | lineatus |
| Pacific Hornero | Furnarius | leucopus |
| Slaty Spinetail | Synallaxis | brachyura |
| Red‐faced Spinetail | Cranioleuca | erythrops |
| Western Woodhaunter | Hyloctistes | subulatus |
| Buff‐fronted Foliage‐gleaner | Philydor | rufum |
| Buff‐throated Foliage‐gleaner | Automolus | ochrolaemus |
| Plain‐brown Woodcreeper | Dendrocincla | fuliginosa |
| Wedge‐billed Woodcreeper | Glyphorynchus | spirurus |
| Black‐striped Woodcreeper | Xiphorhynchus | lachrymosus |
| Spotted Woodcreeper | Xiphorhynchus | erythropygius |
| Streak‐headed Woodcreeper | Lepidocolaptes | souleyetii |
| Red‐billed Scythebill | Campylorhamphus | trochilirostris |
| Great Antshrike | Taraba | major |
| Western Slaty‐Antshrike | Thamnophilus | atrinucha |
| Russet Antshrike | Thamnistes | anabatinus |
| Spot‐crowned Antvireo | Dysithamnus | puncticeps |
| Checker‐throated Antwren | Epinecrophylla | fulviventris |
| Pacific Antwren | Myrmotherula | pacifica |
| White‐flanked Antwren | Myrmotherula | axillaris |
| Dot‐winged Antwren | Microrhopias | quixensis |
| Dusky Antbird | Cercomacra | tyrannina |
| Chestnut‐backed Antbird | Myrmeciza | exsul |
| Black‐headed Antthrush | Formicarius | nigricapillus |
| Chocó Tapaculo | Scytalopus | Chocóensis |
| Elegant Crescentchest | Melanopareia | elegans |
| Yellow‐crowned Tyrannulet | Tyrannulus | elatus |
| Pacific Elaenia | Myiopagis | subplacens |
| Greenish Elaenia | Myiopagis | viridicata |
| Yellow‐bellied Elaenia | Elaenia | flavogaster |
| Southern Beardless‐Tyrannulet | Camptostoma | obsoletum |
| Chocó (Golden‐faced) Tyrannulet | Zimmerius | albigularis |
| Ochre‐bellied Flycatcher | Mionectes | oleagineus |
| Slaty‐capped Flycatcher | Leptopogon | superciliaris |
| Ornate Flycatcher | Myiotriccus | ornatus |
| Scale‐crested Pygmy‐Tyrant | Lophotriccus | pileatus |
| Common Tody‐Flycatcher | Todirostrum | cinereum |
| Pacific Flatbill | Rhynchocyclus | pacificus |
| White‐throated Spadebill | Platyrinchus | mystaceus |
| Pacific Royal Flycatcher | Onychorhynchus | coronatus |
| Sulphur‐rumped Flycatcher | Myiobius | barbatus |
| Gray‐breasted Flycatcher | Lathrotriccus | griseipectus |
| Olive‐sided Flycatcher | Contopus | cooperi |
| Black Phoebe | Sayornis | nigricans |
| Masked Water‐Tyrant | Fluvicola | nengeta |
| Long‐tailed Tyrant | Colonia | colonus |
| Piratic Flycatcher | Legatus | leucophaius |
| Rusty‐margined Flycatcher | Myiozetetes | cayanensis |
| Social Flycatcher | Myiozetetes | similis |
| Gray‐capped Flycatcher | Myiozetetes | granadensis |
| Streaked Flycatcher | Myiodynastes | maculatus |
| Boat‐billed Flycatcher | Megarynchus | pitangua |
| Snowy‐throated Kingbird | Tyrannus | niveigularis |
| Tropical Kingbird | Tyrannus | melancholicus |
| Dusky‐capped Flycatcher | Myiarchus | tuberculifer |
| Sooty‐crowned Flycatcher | Myiarchus | phaeocephalus |
| Ochraceous Attila | Attila | torridus |
| Bright‐rumped Attila | Attila | spadiceus |
| Rufous Piha | Lipaugus | unirufus |
| Black‐tipped Cotinga | Carpodectes | hopkei |
| Purple‐throated Fruitcrow | Querula | purpurata |
| Blue‐crowned Manakin | Lepidothrix | coronata |
| White‐bearded Manakin | Manacus | manacus |
| Green Manakin | Xenopipo | holochlora |
| Red‐capped Manakin | Pipra | mentalis |
| Masked Tityra | Tityra | semifasciata |
| Cinnamon Becard | Pachyramphus | cinnamomeus |
| Black‐and‐white Becard | Pachyramphus | albogriseus |
| One‐colored Becard | Pachyramphus | homochrous |
| Rufous‐browed Peppershrike | Cyclarhis | gujanensis |
| Red‐eyed Vireo | Vireo | olivaceus |
| Lesser Greenlet | Hylophilus | decurtatus |
| Blue‐and‐white Swallow | Pygochelidon | cyanoleuca |
| White‐thighed Swallow | Atticora | tibialis |
| Southern Rough‐winged Swallow | Stelgidopteryx | ruficollis |
| Gray‐breasted Martin | Progne | chalybea |
| Barn Swallow | Hirundo | rustica |
| Southern Nightingale Wren | Microcerculus | marginatus |
| House Wren | Troglodytes | aedon |
| Band‐backed Wren | Campylorhynchus | zonatus |
| Whiskered Wren | Thryothorus | mystacalis |
| Bay Wren | Thryothorus | nigricapillus |
| Stripe‐throated Wren | Thryothorus | leucopogon |
| Tawny‐faced Gnatwren | Microbates | cinereiventris |
| Long‐billed Gnatwren | Ramphocaenus | melanurus |
| Tropical Gnatcatcher | Polioptila | plumbea |
| Slate‐throated Gnatcatcher | Polioptila | schistaceigula |
| Swainson's Thrush | Catharus | ustulatus |
| White‐shouldered Tanager | Tachyphonus | luctuosus |
| Tawny‐crested Tanager | Tachyphonus | delatrii |
| White‐lined Tanager | Tachyphonus | rufus |
| Lemon‐rumped Tanager | Ramphocelus | flammigerus |
| Blue‐gray Tanager | Thraupis | episcopus |
| Palm Tanager | Thraupis | palmarum |
| Golden‐chested Tanager | Bangsia | rothschildi |
| Golden‐hooded Tanager | Tangara | larvata |
| Blue‐necked Tanager | Tangara | cyanicollis |
| Rufous‐winged Tanager | Tangara | lavinia |
| Bay‐headed Tanager | Tangara | gyrola |
| Swallow Tanager | Tersina | viridis |
| Yellow‐tufted Dacnis | Dacnis | egregia |
| Scarlet‐breasted Dacnis | Dacnis | berlepschi |
| Scarlet‐thighed Dacnis | Dacnis | venusta |
| Purple Honeycreeper | Cyanerpes | caeruleus |
| Green Honeycreeper | Chlorophanes | spiza |
| Scarlet‐browed Tanager | Heterospingus | xanthopygius |
| Guira Tanager | Hemithraupis | guira |
| Scarlet‐and‐white Tanager | Chrysothlypis | salmoni |
| Dusky‐faced Tanager | Mitrospingus | cassinii |
| Bananaquit | Coereba | flaveola |
| Dull‐colored Grassquit | Tiaris | obscurus |
| Slate‐colored Grosbeak | Saltator | grossus |
| Buff‐throated Saltator | Saltator | maximus |
| Black‐winged Saltator | Saltator | atripennis |
| Rufous‐collared Sparrow | Zonotrichia | capensis |
| Blue‐black Grassquit | Volatinia | jacarina |
| Variable Seedeater | Sporophila | corvina |
| Yellow‐bellied Seedeater | Sporophila | nigricollis |
| Lesser Seed‐Finch | Oryzoborus | angolensis |
| Orange‐billed Sparrow | Arremon | aurantiirostris |
| Crimson‐breasted Finch | Rhodospingus | cruentus |
| Summer Tanager | Piranga | rubra |
| Ochre‐breasted Tanager | Chlorothraupis | stolzmanni |
| Tropical Parula | Parula | pitiayumi |
| Blackburnian Warbler | Dendroica | fusca |
| Olive‐crowned Yellowthroat | Geothlypis | semiflava |
| Gray‐and‐gold Warbler | Basileuterus | fraseri |
| Chocó Warbler | Basileuterus | chloropys |
| Buff‐rumped Warbler | Phaeothlypis | fulvicauda |
| Scarlet‐rumped Cacique | Cacicus | uropygialis |
| Yellow‐tailed Oriole | Icterus | mesomelas |
| Scrub Blackbird | Dives | warszewiczi |
| Red‐breasted Blackbird | Sturnella | militaris |
| Yellow‐bellied Siskin | Carduelis | xanthogastra |
| Thick‐billed Euphonia | Euphonia | laniirostris |
| Orange‐bellied Euphonia | Euphonia | xanthogaster |
| House Sparrow | Passer | domesticus |
Repot and photos by Dušan M. Brinkhuizen © 2009
From 30 July till 3 August 2009 we visited the Jocotoco Reserve at Rio Canandé in the Chocó lowlands of remote Northwest Ecuador. The Chocó is one of the most threatened habitats in the world and Rio Canandé is one of the last places left where you still can expect to see some quality species. Our principal goal was to get as much Chocó specialties as possible.
0 July ‐Rio CanandéWe arrived at the lodge before lunchtime and started birding from the porch. The habitat around the cabañas is secondary but often full of bird activity. There are a few hummingbird feeders which attract species like White‐whiskered Hermit, Rufous‐tailed Hummingbird, Green‐crowned Brilliant, Green‐crowned Woodnymph, White‐necked Jacobin and Purplechested Hummingbird. A small canopy flock came through with a full adult male Scarlet‐tighed Dacnis being the best bird. A few Band‐rumped Swifts were flying above the forest. From the dining room we watched a small understory flock which included Pacific Antwren, Red‐eyed Vireos and a nice Griscom’s Antwren. In the afternoon we hiked the Tawny‐faced‐quail trail but unfortunately activity inside the forest turned out to be low. At the little stream we found Buffrumped warbler. One of the highlights was a male Red‐capped Manakin (photo) that we all got to see after some patience. Some of us were lucky to see two Olive‐backed Quail‐doves in the understory. We all went to bed early (Rio Canandé was the last part of our trip!) as we needed to charge some energy for the next day!
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31 July ‐Rio Canandé, to the mirador
We started the hike at dawn and glimpsed a tinamou on the trail in front of us. We played the song of Little Tinamou and we got a response. We did not see many birds on our way up but we did pas some beautiful forest and big trees. A Black‐striped Woodcreeper almost flew into us as it probably just had escaped a predator. It was perched quietly in front of us and a few feathers were still sticking on its bill (photo). We arrived early at the mirador and the first bird we heard singing was a Great Jacamar! It took us about an hour but we did find the bird. What a huge bird
‐spectacular! At the mirador itself we scoped a couple of Chestnut‐mandibled Toucans singing from a tree top. A pair of Rufous‐winged Tanager seemed to have a nest in front of the viewpoint and a small flock of Scarlet‐and‐white Tanagers past by. Small groups of Rose‐faced Parrots flew by at a regular basis, sometimes at close range. It was getting warm and we hoped to see some raptors. A Great Black‐hawk was the first one and showed itself well. Soon Luke found a Black Hawk‐eagle that stayed circling at a distance. A little later Luke again found an interesting hawk‐eagle. However, this one had white underparts! It was an adult Black‐andwhite Hawk‐eagle! We all got decent looks of it as it was flying towards us. Suddenly, the bird dropped down as a bomb into the forest. The dive was so fast that few of us had missed the event. It took the bird less than 2 sec. to drop down 800m! Furthermore, from the mirador we spotted at least two males of Black‐tipped Cotinga in the forest canopy. On our hike down we found a foraging and later also perched Tooth‐billed Hummingbird. Another goody was a Rufous Piha that showed well (photo).
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Halfway down we run into a tanager flock which included a male Red‐capped Manakin, Rufouswinged Tanager, Emerald Tanager, a female Scarlet‐thighed Dacnis and a pair of Scarletbreasted Dacnis! Just before it got dark we arrived at the lodge with a Red‐billed Scythebill being our last bird of the hike. After dinner we did some owling and the first species we heard was a Black‐and‐white Owl. We played its song and it responded very well. Soon we used the spotlight and watched the full adult bird singing from a branch in the tree next to us. A little further down the road we heard a Chocó Screech‐Owl. The bird was calling from inside the dense vegetation just a few meters away from us. It took us more than half an hour to find it but we did get nice views. A Crested Owl was calling but we did not manage to see it.
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1 August ‐Botrosa road
In the morning we drove towards the Botrosa road and our first stop along the main road was a few kilometers before entering the village of Oja Blanca. Here we had secondary habitat (mainly pasture with palms) on our left hand side and the forest border of the Rio Canandé reserve on our right hand side. There were many birds active at this spot and we watched many of the common secondary woodland species. After about 20 minutes Juan noticed a bright blue bird in top of a tree in front of us. After scoping the bird we instantly recognized it as an adult male Blue Grosbeak!!! We watched the grosbeak for about 3 minutes in the telescope before it flew off into the reserve. Luckily José was just on time to make a distant record shot of the bird (photo). We are only aware of one previous record of Blue Grosbeak in Ecuador: a female type that was collected in 1964 along the Rio Napo in east Napo (see the Birds of Ecuador Vol. 1, Ridgely and Greenfield 2001). Other records of this boreal migrant in South‐America are exceedingly few. What a start of the day!
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At the start of the Botrosa road we saw a group of about thirty Rose‐faced Parrots flying over. This Chocó species has declined due to deforestation but is still fairly common in the Rio Canandé area. Two males Black‐tipped Cotinga were perched in a tree next to the road and showed themselves very well. From the road we heard a singing Ocellated Antbird and we went into the forest to look for this spectacular antbird. We found a small antbird flock and got outstanding views of Ocellated, Bicolored and Spotted Antbird! It started to get warm and we spotted a large raptor above our heads. Our first reaction was Black Vulture but it was too big! It took us a minute to find out what it was and Dani was the first that shouted: King Vulture! Indeed it was a fresh juvenile King Vulture and with the scope the characteristic head shape was clearly visible. We had lunch at a viewpoint halfway the Botrosa road. First, we scoped for raptors and soon we spotted a pair of the endangered Gray‐backed Hawk! A little later an immature King Vulture (the same?) showed up together with an adult! The party wasn’t over as Luke spotted a hawk‐eagle. Again it was an adult Black‐and‐white Hawk‐eagle! After the bird had gained height it dropped down into the forest like a bomb in the same way as the day before! A Fasciated Antshrike was singing continuously from a tree but we never got to see it. On our way back we run into a Rufous‐tailed Jacamar and a Long‐tailed Tyrant (photo).
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2 August ‐Rio Canandé, to the mirador
On our last full day we decided to go back to the mirador to look for species like Banded Ground‐Cuckoo and Golden‐chested Tanager. The first bird we got to see that day was an adult Plumbeous Hawk! This rare species is a hard one to get and we got good views of it. It was perched in the forest interior at eye‐height. A little further up we had a Band‐tailed Barbthroat perched in the understory. We encountered a few Bicolored Antbirds along the trail but there was no sign of an antswarm. Two Barred Puffbirds were calling at the mirador and one of them came closer when we imitated it. The first raptor we got to see from the viewpoint was an adult King Vulture. It was a bit foggy and raptor activity was low compared to the days before. A male Black‐tipped Cotinga came up and perched right in front of us. We found an active nest of a pair of Orange‐fronted Barbet just behind the bench of the mirador. How did we miss the birds the last time? A flock came through nicely below us and some goodies included Scarlet‐browed Tanager, Ochre‐breasted Tanager, Scarlet‐and‐white Tanager, Rufous‐winged Tanager and Slate‐throated Gnatcatcher. We went up to the ridge trail and found several fresh Puma tracks (photo).
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Luke was lucky to see a family group of Tawny‐faced Quails. We were looking hard for flocks and the rare tanager but there was not too much activity. Suddenly Dani shouted: Goldenchested Tanager here! An adult was perched low in the open feeding an immature. What a great find! We had great looks of the birds and the hike up was definitely worth it! In addition we saw a single Brown‐headed Spider‐monkey, a very rare and critically endangered species! On our way back we stopped again at the viewpoint. Unbelievable but true, an adult Black‐andwhite Hawk‐eagle was soaring below us at close range! Wow! Three days in a row! On our way back down we watched a spectacular fight between a lizard and a snake (photo). It seemed that the lizard was winning as it was hanging on the jaw of the snake. A Song Wren was singing lower down. We came back just before dark and an Ochre‐bellied Flycatcher had flown against the kitchen window. The workers kept the bird inside for that night and the next morning we released the bird together. It seemed perfectly fine that morning and started foraging soon after we had released it.
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August ‐to Quito
The next morning we left early as we wanted to get back in Quito on time. We stopped a few times along the way and saw some good birds. A group of 13 Snail Kites was a surprise. We also saw a Scaled Pigeon and a group of Tricolored Munias. The latter are escaped cage birds and our sighting was a new record for northern Ecuador. They are spreading! We also found a pair of Red‐breasted Blackbirds. According to the field guide this species is only found east of the Andes!
Photo of Blue Grosbeak by José Ardaiz and other photos by Dušan M. Brinkhuizen
Report by Dušan M. Brinkhuizen © 2009
MORE TRIP REPORTS
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November 2008 - Northwest Ecuador
February, 2008 - Northern Ecuador
October, 2007 - Northern Ecuador
August a2007 - Northern Ecuador
July 2007 - Northwest Ecuador
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