Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Panama, Chiriqui, May 2010

Bird name: Common Bush Tanager
Latin: Chlorospingus ophthalmicus
Other: Tangarita oftálmica, Tangara de monte orejuda, Clorospingo comun (Es) • C. flavopectus
Family: Emberizidae • Bush Tanagers
Range: SW Mexico to N Argentina,
Similar:

I saw the Common Bush Tanager in several locations in Panama, above in El Valle, below at the Finca Dracula in Cerro Punta. In Panama, recognisable by the large white patch behind the eye.

But in Ecuador, Common Bush Tanagers do not have this white post-ocular mark.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • San Isidro, Ecuador, March 2011

Bird name: Black Capped Tanager
Latin: Tangara heinei
Other: Tangara gorrinegra (Es)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru
Similar:

The adult male Black-capped Tanager, pictured above, has the typical black cap, bright blue body and green collar. The one I saw below was more grey and black than blue. The female (record shot further below) is green and yellow.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Ecuador, March 2011

Bird name: Chestnut Bellied Seedeater
Latin: Sporophila castaneiventris
Other: Espiguero de vientre castaño, buchicastaño (Es) • Caboclinho-de-peito-castanho (Br)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers, Seedeaters
Range: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Guyanas, Brazil
Similar:

A record shot of Chestnut-bellied Seedeater near Tena, Ecuador. This one seemed to only have partial rufous underparts - mostly on throat and crissum - but others on the internet have much more extensive colouring - maybe different subspecies? Female brown. In Ecuador, only found in the Eastern lowlands.

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Tena, Ecuador, March 2011

Bird name: Chestnut Bellied Seed Finch
Latin: Oryzoborus angolensis
Other: Split from Lesser Seed-Finch • Semillero sabanero, arrocero buchicastaño, cacagüero, tawa tawa, curió (Es) • Curió (Br)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers, Seed-finches
Range: East of Andes - Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil etc
Similar: Female Thick-billed Seed-finch

The male Chestnut-Bellied Seed-Finch has a large bill, chestnut belly, and is otherwise black with a white mark on wing. All the individuals I saw in eastern Ecuador were similar to the bird pictured above, with a mottled aspect to the chestnut underparts.

The female is brown. The photo below is probably one, based on bill shape.

The Chestnut-Bellied Seed-Finch used to be grouped with the Thick-billed Seed-finch as the Lesser Seed-Finch.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • San Isidro Lodge, Ecuador, March 2011.

Bird name: Black Eared Hemispingus
Latin: Hemispingus melanotis
Other: Hemispingo orejinegro (Es)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers, Hemispingus
Range: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia
Similar: Bush-tanagers, Fawn-breasted Tanager

The Black-eared Hemispingus is another fast-moving, small tanager that is easily missed. Although pointed out to me quite a few times by the guide, I struggled to get any photos at all, until finally I saw a pair, foraging on relatively open ground, around some bamboo - a typical habitat. Wags tail left to right.

The Black-eared Hemispingus lives between 2200 and 3000m. Seen here at San Isidro Lodge, which is about 2300m.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Serra dos Tucanos, September 2011

Bird name: Red Eyed Vireo
Latin: Vireo olivaceus
Other: Vireo ojirrojo (Es) • Juruviara (Br)
Family: Vireonidae • Vireos
Range: Canada through Amazonia, South America
Similar:

The Red Eyed Vireo has a red iris, thin black stripe above white supercilium, light underparts, yellowy green upperparts.

There are resident North American and South American populations, both migrating. A South-American resident group is called Chivi Vireo - birds have brown eyes and yellow vent.

The Chivi Vireo pictured above was seen at Serra dos Tucanos Lodge near Rio in September. Red-eyed Vireos are seen in many forests of South America, many for example in Oriente, Ecuador, in March. We saw a migrant Red-eyed Vireo at the Finca Hartmann in western Panama, in May (further below).More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Para, Brazil, September 2011

Bird name: Silver Beaked Tanager
Latin: Ramphocelus carbo
Other: Sangre de toro apagado, toche negro (Es) • Tie-sangue (Br)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyanas, Peru, Paraguay
Similar: Female Guira Tanager

The Silver-beaked Tanager is quite common over its range. It seemed to be the default tanager approaching Tena and into the Upper Napo region of Ecuador. Also the most common tanager in the Pantanal in August, where it was often seen beside rivers and in fruiting trees. Also seen in Parà.

The male Silver-beaked Tanager (above) is easy to identify - dark red with bright lower bill. It can look black in weak light.

Females (below) are browner - but still reddish - with less contrast on the bill. They look similar to female Brazilian Tanagers, but fortunately the two ranges do not overlap.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Ecuador, May 2010

Bird name: Summer Tanager
Latin: Piranga rubra
Other: Tángara roja migratoria (Es) • Sanhaçu-vermelho, sanhaçu-verão (Pt)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers - now Cardinalidae
Range: USA, Mexico, Central America, N South America, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil
Similar: Hepatic Tanager

Summer Tanagers look very similar to Hepatic Tanagers, so the identity of two birds pictured here should be treated with caution.

The bird above is identified as a migrant male Summer Tanager on location - it was seen at San Isidro Lodge (2300m) in March. San Isidro doesn’t list Hepatic as occuring there. Otherwise it might have been taken for a Hepatic Tanager, since it has a dark bill, slightly greyish lores and a carmine, not orange, tint to the bright red hue.

The bird below was, I believe, a migrant male Summer Tanager at the Milpe Reserve, 1600m?, in northwest Ecuador. It has the characteristic pale bill of the Summer Tanager, pale lores and slightly orange-red hue.

Female Summer Tanagers are olive-yellow.

Below, presumed male Summer Tanager, Milpe, Ecuador, March 2011.
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Itatiaia, RJ • November 2009

Bird name: Magpie Tanager
Latin: Cissopis leverianus
Other: Moriche blanco, frutero overo, tangará urraca (Es) • Tietinga (Br)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Widespread South America
Similar:

There’s no mistaking the Magpie Tanager, with its strong black and white markings, which are reminiscent of the European Magpie, its large size, long tail and bright yellow irises. Its distribution is split into two parts, one comprising southeastern Brazil.

Also seen in Ecuador near Tena and the eastern lowlands.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Ecuador • 2011

Bird name: Blue Necked Tanager
Latin: Tangara cyanicollis
Other: Tangara capuchiazul (Es) • Saíra-de-cabeça-azul (Br)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Brazil, Ecuador, …
Similar:

Blue-necked Tanagers have bright blue heads, with black mask, dark bodies, and orange on shoulder. Underfeathers are actually blue and green but in normal lighting the body looks blackish.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Ecuador • 2011

Bird name: Beryl Spangled Tanager
Latin: Tangara nigroviridis
Other: Tangara mariposa (Es)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia
Similar:

Probably the most frequently seen of all tanagers on my recent trip to Ecuador - often in mixed flocks, but very difficult to photograph - it’s small and fast moving and keeps its distance.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Ecuador, March.

Bird name: Saffron Crowned Tanager
Latin: Tangara xanthocephala
Other: Tángara coronada (Es)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia
Similar: Golden-eared Tanager, Flame-faced Tanager

Another very beautiful design on the Saffron-crowned Tanager, which lives in montane forests from 1200 to 2400m. I saw these birds at the San Isidro Lodge on the east slope of the Andes, in Ecuador.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Ecuador, March.

Bird name: Grass Green Tanager
Latin: Chlorornis riefferii
Other: Clorornis patirrojo, tángara hierba verde, tángara verdirroja, tángara carirroja (Es)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia
Similar:

Incredibly intense green on the Grass Green Tanager. Contrasted with red face, bill, legs and crissum - a stunning colour scheme. I saw these in cloud forest near Bellavista and San Isidro in Ecuador. These large tanagers live at high altitudes in the Andes - 1500 to 3300m. I saw birds in the middle of that range.

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Ecuador, March

Bird name: Blue Winged Mountain Tanager
Latin: Anisognathus somptuosus
Other: Tángara primavera, cachaquito primavera, tangara montana aliazul (Es)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia
Similar: Black-chinned Mountain-tanager

Blue-winged Mountain Tanagers could be seen at various places near Mindo, as well at San Isidro Lodge.

Blue-winged Mountain Tanagers have more blue on wings than Black-chinned Mountain-tanagers and have black backs, vs olive shoulders for the latter. They have a large yellow stripe on their head.

Below, Blue-winged Mountain-tanager, Mindo.
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Ecuador, 2011

Bird name: Broad Winged Hawk
Latin: Buteo platypterus
Other: Gavião-de-asa-largo (Br) • Aguila aliancha, gavilán aliancho (Es)
Family: Accipitridae • Hawks, Birds of Prey
Range: USA through Latin America, E Brazil
Similar:

A Broad-winged Hawk, beside the road, in the mountains in eastern Ecuador.

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Lagoa do Peixe • November 2009

Bird name: Pearl Kite
Latin: Gampsonyx swainsonii
Other: Gaviãozinho, cauré, cricri (Br) • (Es)
Family: Accipitridae • Kites, Birds of Prey
Range: Panama, Colombia, Venezuela to Bolivia, Argentina
Similar:

Quick view of a Pearl Kite in eastern Ecuador. The smallest of raptors in the Americas. Note peachy cheeks and black line down neck.

Copyright: monacoeye • San Isidro Lodge, Ecuador, February • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Long Tailed Sylph
Latin: Aglaiocercus kingii
Other: Silfo de King, Silfo colilargo, Colibrí coludo azul, Cometa verdiazul (Es)
Family: Trochilidae • Hummingbirds
Range: Andes; Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia
Similar: Violet Tailed Sylph


Long-tailed Sylphs at in Ecuador. Only males have the very long tails. Females have chestnut bellies and short tails. Seen at Guango and San Isidro Lodges - the latter is a good place to see them. 1600m - 2600m.

Not much overlap with Violet-tailed Sylph (only on west slope) fortunately.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Pantanal, Brazil, August 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Amazon Kingfisher
Latin: Chloroceryle amazona
Other: Martim-pescador-verde (Br) • Martín pescador amazónico (Es)
Family: Alcedinidae • Kingfishers
Range: Mexico to Argentina, including all Brazil
Similar: Green Kingfisher

The Amazon Kingfisher is a large river kingfisher. The male Amazon Kingfisher (pictured directly below) has a rufous chest. The female Amazon Kingfisher (above) has white and green markings. They are much larger than Green Kingfishers and have less white wing spotting than the latter.

Several near Curicaca Lodge in the Pantanal in August, above ditches beside small roads and above rivers.

Also seen in Amazonia above river banks and in Rio Grande do Sul on telephone wires above wetlands.

Below: a male Amazon Kingfisher in the Pantanal.


Below: a female Amazon Kingfisher in the Pantanal, August.
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Pantanal, Brazil, August 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Ringed Kingfisher
Latin: Megaceryle torquata
Other: Martim-pescador-grande (Br) • Martín pescador grande, Martín pescador de collar (Es)
Family: Alcedinidae • Kingfishers
Range: Texas to Tierra del Fuego, including all of Brazil
Similar:

The Ringed Kingfisher is a large kingfisher, which seemed abundant on the banks of the Rio Claro, in the Pantanal, in August; one was perched every few hundred metres in some places. A large, dominant and vocal bird. Also seen beside roads near drying pools, and in by the river in Napo, Ecuador.

The female Ringed Kingfisher (directly below) has a grey chest, while the male (above) is rufous right up to the white neck line. Bill has a light yellow patch on lower base. Rufous belly, grey wings, white collar, large white patch in front of eye; grey plumage is diagnostic.

Below: female Ringed Kingfisher in the Pantanal, Brazil, 2011.
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Pantanal, Brazil, August 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Green Kingfisher
Latin: Chloroceryle americana
Other: Martín pescador verde (Es) • Martim-pescador-pequeno (Br)
Family: Alcedinidae • Kingfishers
Range: SW USA to N Argentina
Similar: Amazon Kingfisher

The male Green Kingfisher (above) has a white neck, rufous chest, green head and back, white-spotted black wings and white underneath. The female (below) lacks the rufous colouring.

A smaller bird than the Amazon Kingfisher. Seen regularly in the Pantanal on the banks of the Rio Claro, at Curicaca Lodge, for example. Also Ecuador in the Oriente and Panama in the Canal Zone.

A presumed female Green Kingfisher at Pousada Curicaca.
More photos...

Copyright: TC/monacoeye • Napo, Ecuador, 2010 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Yellow Billed Jacamar
Latin: Galbula albirostris
Other: Jacamar piquiamarillo (Es) • Ariramba de bico amarelo (Br)
Family: Galbulidae • Jacamars
Range: Amazonia, north of Amazon: Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela
Similar: Blue-necked Jacamar

Thanks to Tom for this shot of a Yellow-billed Jacamar in the Oriente, Napo, Ecuador. Note darker cap than Blue-necked Jacamar.

Copyright: monacoeye • Napo, Ecuador, May 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: White Eared Jacamar
Latin: Galbalcyrhynchus leucotis
Other: Jacamar orejiblanco (Es) • Ariramba vermelha (Br)
Family: Galbulidae • Jacamars
Range: Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil
Similar:

The taxi driver spotted this White-eared Jacamar on a telephone wire beside the road, not far from Tena, Napo, Ecuador.

The White-eared Jacamar has a heavy bill and characteristic white ear patch. Otherwise reddish.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Rio Azul Lodge, Sept 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: White Throated Toucan
Latin: Ramphastos tucanus
Other: Tucán goliblanco (Es) • Tucano-de-peito-branco (Br)
Family: Ramphastidae • Toucans
Range: East Ecuador, Amazonia, incl Brazil
Similar: Channel Billed Toucan

These birds were identified by the Rio Azul Lodge guide as White-throated Toucans. Note blue patch at base of lower mandible, yellow above. Very similar to Channel-billed Toucan, though calls are different, so treat ID with caution.

Below, a White Throated Toucan in flight carrying food, in Para, Brazil, September
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Upper Napo, Ecuador, Mar 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Lettered Aracari
Latin: Pteroglossus inscriptus
Other: Arasari Letreado (Es), Araçari-letrado (Br)
Family: Ramphastidae • Toucans, Aracaris
Range: W, S Amazonia including east Ecuador, Brazil
Similar:

Lettered Aracari were seen perching high up, on several occasions, in the Upper Napo region of Ecuadorian Amazonia. They are so named because of the inky markings on their upper bill. Like many other aracaris they often sit perched with a small fruit in their bills. Attractive birds and not uncommon.

Bill markings vary widely from individual to individual, some with few thick black lines, others with many thinner lines. The Ecuadorian subspecies pictured above is Pteroglossus inscriptus humboldti, which has a completely black lower bill.

The nominate subspecies, pictured below, lives in Brazil east of the Rio Madeira tributary of the Amazon, has much yellow on the lower bill, a black mark at base of lower mandible and black at tip.

Below, the Brazilian subspecies in flight. Bill mostly yellow. Para, Brazil, September.
More photos...

Copyright: DK/monacoeye • Chile • April 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Andean Coot
Latin: Fulica ardesiaca
Other: Focha andina
Family: Rallidae • Rails, Coots
Range: Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina
Similar:

Many thanks to Dirk for sending in this nice photo of an Andean Coot at the Salar de Atacama, Chile.

Bill and frontal shield can vary in colour from yellow and red to white. See below for paler variants.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Ecuador • April 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: White Bellied Woodstar
Latin: Chaetocercus mulsant
Other: Colibrí de Mulsant
Family: Trochilidae • Hummingbirds
Range: Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile
Similar:

These White-Bellied Woodstars were seen at Guango Lodge, 2800m altitude on the eastern Andean slope in Ecuador.

The male, above, is green and white with purple throat, and female, below, more buffy.

Further below, a shot from Dirk shows the purple throat of the male clearly.

Directly below, a female White-Bellied Woodstar at Guango Lodge, Ecuador, April.
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Santa Lucia, Ecuador, Feb 2011 • Do not copy

Bird name: Andean Cock of the Rock
Latin: Rupicola peruvianus
Other: Gallo de la Peña Andino (Es)
Family: Cotingidae • Cotingas, Cock-of-the-Rocks
Range: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia
Similar:

The Andean Cock of the Rock is a superb bird, emblematic of the Mindo - Choco region. Tours can be taken to visit Cock of the Rock leks at several places, where anything from two or three individuals to two or three dozen males will gather daily in a lek at dawn to be selected by a female. Good weather helps and the “summer” (around June) is said to be the breeding season.

Photography is difficult for all but the latest generation of cameras, because you are shooting in the dark - flash is not allowed. If you can shoot above 3000 ISO and have a fast, stabilised lens, you should be OK.

Santa Lucia has a very good lek, well over a dozen males turned up on the day we attended, despite it being off-season, with no female and rain in the night. But it’s a fair old trek in the morning - a couple of hours before dawn, some through deep mud on steep paths. Before that, just to reach Santa Lucia involves an excruciating two-hour walk up the mountainside in thin air, unless you happen to be a mountain goat, in which case it will take you an hour.

I saw a female flying though the forest at San Isidro - it perched above us.

More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Guango Lodge, Ecuador, Feb 2011 • Do not copy

Bird name: Green and Black Fruiteater
Latin: Pipreola riefferii
Other: Frutero verdinegro (Es)
Family: Cotingidae • Cotingas, Fruiteaters
Range: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru
Similar: Black-chested Fruiteater

We saw and heard male and female Green-and-black Fruiteaters several times, but although responsive to calls, they proved difficult to photograph, often perching directly above our heads!

The male has a dark hood and bib, bright orange bill and legs, yellow-green underside with marks, and dark leaf-green upperside, with some black.

The female (further below) is plainer and more uniform green, with no black hood, but still orange bill.

Directly below, a male Green-and-black Fruiteater, which was calling to a nearby female.
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Ecuador • March 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Three Striped Warbler
Latin: Basileuterus tristriatus
Other: Reinita cabecilistada (Es)
Family: Parulidae • New World Warblers
Range: Costa Rica, Panama, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia
Similar:

I saw Three-striped Warblers on the slope up to Santa Lucia and at San Isidro, Ecuador, but they are fast-moving and very tricky to photograph…

More photos...

Copyright: TC/monacoeye • San Isidro, Ecuador • Sep 2010 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Black Banded Owl
Latin: Strix huhula
Other: Cárabo negro (Es) • Coruja-preta (Br)
Family: Strigidae • Owls
Range: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay
Similar: Black-and-white Owl

Thanks to Tom for this great shot of the resident Black-banded Owl at San Isidro Lodge, in Ecuador. If you visit, be sure to ask a guide to point him out for you. When I visited he was on top of the tall palm tree near the entrance to the lodge one night - too far for a decent photo.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Yanacocha, Ecuador • Feb 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Masked Flowerpiercer
Latin: Diglossa cyanea
Other: Pinchaflor enmascarado (Es)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers, Flowerpiercers
Range: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia
Similar: Bluish Flowerpiercer, Indigo Flowerpiercer

Beautiful rich colours on these fast-moving Masked Flowerpiercers. Large black mask and red eye with blue body. Females duller. Seen in several locations, will visit nectar feeders. The best location, where there were large numbers feeding, was at the end of the Yanacocha trail - 3800 m.

If you don’t get a good view, can be confused with Bluish Flowerpiercer.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Yanacocha, Ecuador • Feb 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Black Flowerpiercer
Latin: Diglossa humeralis
Other: Pinchaflor negro (Es)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers, Flowerpiercers
Range: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru
Similar: White-sided Flowerpiercer, Glossy Flowerpiercer

This seems likely to have been a Black Flowerpiercer, seen at San Isidro Lodge. Black Flowerpiercers are all black, with hooked bill tip, to pierce the base of flowers and reach the nectar. So you need a good view of the side to eliminate White-sided and Glossy Flowerpiercers.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Yanacocha, Ecuador • Feb 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Bluish Flowerpiercer
Latin: Diglossa caerulescens
Other: Pinchaflor azulado (Es)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers, Flowerpiercers
Range: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia
Similar: Masked Flowerpiercer, Indigo Flowerpiercer

Record shots of (probable) Bluish Flowerpiercer at San Isidro Lodge, Ecuador. Bill is smaller than Masked, mask is smaller and does not extend behind eye. Iris also red. More blue-grey than bright blue.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Anaconda Island, March • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Black Fronted Nunbird
Latin: Monasa nigrifrons
Other: Monja frentinegra (Es) • Chora-chuva-preto (Br)
Family: Bucconidae • Puffbirds, Nunbirds
Range: Amazonian Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru. And E Brazil.
Similar:

Small groups of calm Black-fronted Nunbirds were quite easy to observe on disembarkation on Anaconda Island, in the Upper Napo region, and then again near the raised habitations. They have bright orange bills and black plumage. In Ecuador they live in the Amazonian Oriente region.More photos...

Copyright: TC/monacoeye • Ecuador, October 2010 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Pied Puffbird
Latin: Notharchus tectus
Other: Buco Pinto (Es) • Macuru-pintado (Br)
Family: Bucconidae • Puffbirds
Range: Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador through Amazonia to Brazil
Similar:

Many thanks to Tom for the great photo above of a Pied Puffbird, in Ecuador. With white spotting to crown, and larger black band.

In Panama, the Pied Puffbird has a narrow black collar and white-tipped tail, differentiating it from other Notarchus Puffirds. More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Santa Lucia, Ecuador, March.

Bird name: Slate Throated Whitestart
Latin: Myioborus miniatus
Other: Slate-throated Redstart • Candelita goliplomiza (Es) • Mariquita-cinza (Br)
Family: Parulidae • New World Warblers, Whitestarts
Range: Mexico, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Belize, Costa Rica, Panama, Venezuela, Guianas, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina.
Similar: Parulas, Euphonias

One of the most widespread and frequently-seen passerines in Ecuador in March at mid-altitude - fast-moving but will perch nearby. Seen on the slope up to Santa Lucia, Mirador Rio Blanco, Paz de las Aves and Milpe, but the best views were at San Isidro (above). Often found in mixed flocks.

In Panama, I only saw them in the eastern Chiriqui province, where they are known by the old name of Slate-throated Redstart. They did not live close to huts like the Collared Whitestart, so were seen less frequently.

The Slate-throated Whitestart is yellow below, slate above, extending over head and throat (unlike the Parulas in Panama). Longish tail with white outer feathers distinguishes it from Euphonias. Small rufous crest is sometimes difficult to see. One fanned its tail frequently (photo below).



Directly above and below, Slate-throated Whitestarts, Chiriqui, Panama, May. © monacoeye
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Ecuador • March 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Blackburnian Warbler
Latin: Dendroica fusca
Other: Reinita de garganta naranja (Es)
Family: Parulidae • New World Warblers
Range: Canada, East USA - migrating to Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia
Similar:

A bright flash of orange at the Santa Lucia Reserve in Ecuador, in March, is sure to be a Blackburnian Warbler. These cheerful small birds were also particularly easy to see around San Isidro Lodge.

The adult male Blackburnian Warbler (above) has strong orange, black and white markings. Females and juveniles and non-breeding plumages (below) are greyer and have less orange.

Directly below probably female or juvenile Blackburnian Warbler. Ecuador, March. ©
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Ecuador • March 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Russet Crowned Warbler
Latin: Basileuterus coronatus
Other: Reinita coronirrojiza (Es)
Family: Parulidae • New World Warblers
Range: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia
Similar:

The Russet-Crowned Warbler was seen at Guango Lodge and San Isidro Lodge in Ecuador in March.

These are Basileuterus coronatus orientalis, which have light-grey (not yellow) underparts, found on the eastern slope of the Ecuadorian Andes. Main distinguishing mark is the russet stripe on crown.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Ecuador • March 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Black and White Warbler
Latin: Mniotilta varia
Other: Reinita blancinegra (Es)
Family: Parulidae • New World Warblers
Range: Canada, E USA - Mexico to Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, West Indies
Similar:

We just saw one Black-and-White Warbler (rare according to the guide), at San Isidro Lodge in Ecuador in March. An attractive migrant warbler with only black and white markings. The male has a black throat, non-breeding plumage has white throat and lighter underparts.
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Ecuador • March 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Canada Warbler
Latin: Wilsonia canadensis
Other: Reinita Collareja (Es)
Family: Parulidae • New World Warblers
Range: Canada, East USA - migrating to Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia etc
Similar:

Canada Warbler were seen on several occasions at San Isidro Lodge, Ecuador, in March.

Adult male Canada Warblers (above) have strong black “necklace”markings on a yellow underside. Females and juveniles (below) have fainter markings.

Directly below female or juvenile Canada Warbler. Ecuador, March. ©
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Napo, Ecuador, Mar 2011

Bird name: Black-capped Donacobius
Latin: Donacobius atricapilla
Other: Donacobio (Es) • Japacanim (Br)
Family: Donacobiidae • Black-capped Donacobius
Range: Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyanas, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, N Argentina
Similar:

We saw our first Black-capped Donacobius clinging to reedtops in flooded pasture beside the road down to Tena from Quito. Then further east, in the upper Napo region, in a river-island marsh.

They are vocal, often duetting, ‘kwik, kwik, kwik’, and conspicuous, hopping up to see what you are doing then retreating. When duetting they display their orange throats.

The Donacobius is placed in a family of its own here, following the IOC classification, but opinions differ - originally it was thought to be a wren, and now perhaps a type of old-world warbler.

The Black-capped Donacobius is found throughout northeast South America, including the Amazon basin and Pantanal.

The Donacobius is cream below, brown-black above, black head and bill, bright orange-yellow iris, with relatively long black and white tail feathers. So easy to identify in Ecuador.


Below, a pair of duetting Black-capped Donacobius, nr Tena, Ecuador, March
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • San Isidro, Ecuador, Feb 2011

Bird name: Inca Jay
Latin: Cyanocorax yncas
Other: Urraca Inca (Es)
Family: Corvidae • Crows, Jays
Range: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia
Similar: Green Jay

A stunning Inca Jay at the San Isidro Lodge in Ecuador, where they were much in evidence, especially in the morning, feeding on the insects attracted by the lights at night.

Inca Jays have recently been split from the Green Jay - their northern counterpart.

In addition to their beautiful plumage, Inca Jays have a wonderful repertoire of different noises and calls. They tend to move around in groups.

In Ecuador they’re found in the highlands of the east slope of the Andes and are unmistakable.

Below, an Inca Jay at San Isidro Lodge in Ecuador.
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Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • nr Tena, Ecuador, Feb 2011

Bird name: Violaceous Jay
Latin: Cyanocorax violaceus
Other: Urraca Violácea (Es) • Gralha-violácea (Br)
Family: Corvidae • Crows, Jays
Range: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Guyana
Similar:

A couple of record shots of a Violaceous Jay we saw when driving back to Quito from the Oriente near Tena. I didn’t recognise it as a jay at the time - it’s larger than the Inca Jay.

On the photo below though you can see the characteristic white nape. Violaceous Jays are found in Ecuador only in Amazonia, so the road near Tena is at the edge of its range. This was the only individual I saw.

Copyright: TC/monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Napo, Ecuador, 2010.

Bird name: Dusky Headed Parakeet
Latin: Aratinga weddellii
Other: Weddell's Conure, Dusky-headed Conure (Pets) • Lorita pico negro (Es)
Family: Psittacidae • Parrots, Parakeets
Range: Colombia, Ecuador, Peru to Bolivia, W Amazonia
Similar:

Thanks to Tom for this great shot of a hundred-odd Dusky-headed Parakeets at a clay lick on the Rio Napo in eastern Ecuador. The parrots ingest the mineral-rich clay as a dietary supplement.
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Copyright: TC/monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Napo, Ecuador, 2010.

Bird name: Yellow Crowned Amazon
Latin: Amazona ochrocephala
Other: Yellow-crowned Parrot • Loro real amazónico (Es) • Papagaio-campeiro (Br)
Family: Psittacidae • Parrots, Amazons
Range: Mexico to N Brazil & E Peru
Similar: Yellow-naped Amazon

Thanks also to Tom for this photo of a group of Yellow-crowned Amazons, beside the Rio Napo in eastern Ecuador.

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Blue Headed Parrot
Latin: Pionus menstruus
Other: Blue-headed Pionus (Pet) • Loro cabeciazul (Es) • Maitaca-de-cabeça-azul (Br)
Family: Psittacidae • Parrots
Range: Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Venezuela, to Brazil
Similar:

The Blue-headed Parrot below was seen at Finca Hartmann in the Chiriqui province of western Panama in May.

The Blue-headed Parrot has a distinctive blue head, with small patch of red at base of bill and on chest, difficult to see in the field. Otherwise green with reddish under tail.

More seen in the Upper Napo region of the Amazon Basin in Ecuador below in “more photos”.

Below, a Blue-headed Parrot at Finca Hartmann, Panama, March 2010.
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • San Isidro, March 2011

Bird name: White Capped Parrot
Latin: Pionus seniloides
Other:
Family: Psittacidae • Parrots
Range: W Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, NW Peru
Similar: Speckle-faced Parrot

Just couldn’t get a good view of this White-capped Parrot at San Isidro, Ecuador… Sometimes split taxonomically.

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Napo, Ecuador, 2011.

Bird name: White Eyed Parakeet
Latin: Aratinga leucophthalma
Other: Periquitão-maracanã (Br)
Family: Psittacidae • Parrots, Parakeets
Range: Amazonia to Argentina
Similar:

Record shots of probable White-eyed Parakeets seen in the Upper Napo, Ecuador. Note red and yellow under wing, otherwise mostly green.
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Copyright: monacoeye • Napo, Ecuador, Mar 2011 • Do not copy

Bird name: Hoatzin
Latin: Opisthocomus hoazin
Other: Stinkbird; Hoacín, chenchena, serere, shansho (Es); Jacu-cigano, cigana (Br)
Family: Opisthocomidae • Hoatzin
Range: Amazonia: Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, Brazil, Guyanas
Similar:

The Hoatzin is a very unusual bird, whose taxonomic relationship to other birds remains unknown, although its DNA has been sequenced and is currently being studied. Its closest relatives have been thought to be variously seriemas, turacos or cuckoos, although conclusive proof is still lacking.

Amongst the hoatzin’s unusual characteristics are a bad smell which deters predators, the ability for chicks to swim underwater and climb up into their nests with clawed wings, a diet of leaves and fruit, and a variety of odd noises including grunts and hisses.

The hoatzin pictured above was relatively easy to see and find on Anaconda Island, in the upper Napo, living in a group that never strayed far from the edge of the swamp.

Many thanks to Tom for the photo below of the Hoatzin in flight, taken near Sacha Lodge.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • San Isidro, Mar 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Andean Motmot
Latin: Momotus aequatorialis
Other: Highland Motmot, Blue-Crowned Motmot • Momotus momota aequatorialis and chlorolaemus • Momoto montañero (Es)
Family: Momotidae • Motmots
Range: Andes - north Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, to north Bolivia
Similar: Amazonian Motmot

Andean Motmot is the new name for the Highland Motmot seen here at San Isidro Lodge in the Ecuadorian Andes.

The Andean Motmot, or Highland Motmot, has an electric blue crown, black eye mask and greenish body.

Copyright: monacoeye • Napo, Ecuador, Mar 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Red Headed Barbet
Latin: Eubucco bourcierii
Other: Barbudo Cabecirrojo (Es)
Family: Capitonidae • New World Barbets
Range: Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, W Venezuela, Ecuador, N Peru
Similar:

Record shots of the Red-headed Barbet, seen here on a river island in the Upper Napo region.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Napo, Ecuador, Mar 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Gilded Barbet
Latin: Capito auratus
Other: Barbudo Filigrana (Es)
Family: Capitonidae • New World Barbets
Range: N,W Amazonia: E Colombia, Venezuela, E Ecuador, Peru, NW Brazil
Similar:

Record shots of a female Gilded Barbet, seen here on a river island in the Upper Napo region. The male lacks the black stripes on its underparts.

More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Napo, Ecuador, Mar 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Scarlet Crowned Barbet
Latin: Capito aurovirens
Other: Barbudo Coronirrojo (Es)
Family: Capitonidae • New World Barbets
Range: W Amazonia: NW Brazil, S Colombia, E Ecuador, N Peru
Similar: Gilded Barbet

Record shots of a pair of Scarlet-crowned Barbets, seen here on a river island in the Upper Napo region.

The male Scarlet-crowned Barbet, pictured above, has a red crown. The female, below, has a white crown. Both have an orange chest.

More photos...

Copyright: TC/monacoeye • Sacha Lodge, Ecuador, Oct 2010 • Do not copy

Bird name: Many Banded Aracari
Latin: Pteroglossus pluricinctus
Other: Arasari bifajeado (Es) • Araçari-de-cinta-dupla (Br)
Family: Ramphastidae • Toucans, Aracaris
Range: NW Amazonia including E Ecuador
Similar:

Many thanks to Tom for adding his photos of the Many-Banded Aracari to this collection. On my recent visit to Ecuador, I didn’t venture very deep into Amazonia, so missed this beautiful aracari. I believe he saw it at Sacha Lodge in the Lower Napo. The only Ecuadorian aracari with two bands.

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Copyright: monacoeye • San Isidro, Ecuador, Mar 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: White Throated Toucanet
Latin: Aulacorhynchus albivitta
Other: Tucán (Es) • split from Aulacorhynchus prasinus, Emerald Toucanet
Family: Ramphastidae • Toucans, Toucanets
Range: E, C Colombia, W Venezuela, E Ecuador
Similar: Chestnut-tipped Toucanet, Black-throated Toucanet

The guide at San Isidro Lodge called this an Emerald Toucanet, but the complex has now been split and this bird with a white, not blue, throat is now called the White-throated Toucanet by the IOC. I believe the other prasinus split is called the Black-throated Toucanet, which, as its name suggests, has a dark throat.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • San Isidro, Ecuador, Mar 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Black Billed Mountain Toucan
Latin: Andigena nigrirostris
Other: Tucán Andino Piquinegro (Es)
Family: Ramphastidae • Toucans
Range: W Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, N Peru
Similar:

I was very pleased to see this beautiful Black-billed Mountain Toucan on the road from San Isidro to Tena. I had come very close to one at the Guacamayos Reserve a few days earlier, after following its call for an hour, but had been unable to see it properly because of the thick fog. Later with Phototoshop I revealed some colour, but at the time all I could see was white.

Prior to that, I had missed Grey-breasted Mountain Toucan at Guango, which others had seen just behind the lodge, so I was pleased to break a losing streak.

The Black-billed Mountain Toucan has a white throat and pale blue underparts.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Upper Napo, Ecuador, Mar 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Black Mandibled Toucan
Latin: Ramphastos ambiguus
Other: Tucán mandíbula negra (Es)
Family: Ramphastidae • Toucans
Range: W Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador to C Peru
Similar:

Although a terrible photo, this must be a Black-Mandibled Toucan, as it’s the only toucan in Ecuador east of the Andes with a yellow bib.

In Ecuador, a good sighting - the Upper Napo is one of only two areas where this bird can be found.

Copyright: monacoeye • San Isidro, Ecuador, Mar 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: White Bellied Antpitta
Latin: Grallaria hypoleuca
Other: Gralaria ventriblanca (Es)
Family: Grallariidae • Antpittas
Range: Colombia, Ecuador, northern Peru
Similar:

San Isidro Lodge on the eastern slope of the Ecuadorian Andes is a good place to see the White-bellied Antpitta, which is fed by worms on some mornings.

In the woods below the lodge, we heard many Antpittas calling, but never saw one. Once one approached to a few feet away, and then changed its call, but I was still unable to see it…

More photos...