From Quito I visited the Mindo Cloud Forest. The Mindo Cloud Forest is a forest area located on the pacific side of the western range of the Andes. It is at an altitude of 1,000 m (3,300 ft) to 1,500 m (4,920 ft). It is usually in the clouds that form along the Andes mountains from the moisture coming from the Pacific. I visited a feeding station for hummingbirds in the forest. I took some nice close-up pictures of the feeding hummingbirds. There were hundreds of them from many different species.
Another excursion from Quito was to Cotopaxi, a large volcano. The trip to Cotopaxi showed a completely different fauna than the cloud forest. I didn't see many animals during the visit to Cotopaxi.
The main part of my first trip to Ecuador was to the Galápagos Islands. I visited several of the islands and saw some interesting bird life.
Isla Bartolomé is a fairly young volcano. It has only the very earliest pioneer plants that colonize freshly formed volcanoes. Around Bartolomé you can see the Galápagos Penguins (Spheniscus mendiculus, german: Galápagos-Pinguin, french: Manchot des Galápagos). They are the smallest of the warm weather penguins. They are only about 40 - 45 cm (16 - 18") tall and weigh only 2 kg (4 lb). They are found on several of the Galápagos Islands, but most of them are on Fernandina and Isabela Island. On Isabela Island are the only penguins in the northern hemisphere. These penguins are endangered, there are only about 800 breeding pairs left. Near Isla Bartolomé is Cousins Rock, a small white island. It is white from sea bird guano.
Isla Santa María (mostly called Floreana) is one of the inhabited islands. You can see plenty of birds.
Isla Plazas has nesting sea birds.
Isla Seymore Norte was the most interesting, with a colony of Galápagos Blue-footed Boobies (Sula nebouxii excisa, german: Blaufußtölpel, french: Fou à pieds bleus), Nazca Boobies (Sula granti, german: Nazcatölpel, french: Fou de Nazca), and Great Frigatebirds (Fregata minor, german: Bindenfregattvogel, french: Frégate du Pacifique), and Magnificent Frigatebirds (Fregata magnificens, german: Prachtfregattvogel, french: Frégate superbe). The males of the two species of frigatebirds are nearly indistinguishable. The male great frigatebirds have a green iridescent sheen on their black back feathers, while the magnificent frigatebird shines purple. The Blue-footed Boobies and the frigatebirds had mating season, so we could watch the courtship dance of the boobies and the courtship display of the frigatebirds. It was impressive to say the least.
In the Amazon jungle of Ecuador the bird life is absolutely fascinating. The highlight of that were the clay licks. The parrots and parakeets need to eat a special type of clay to be able to digest their diet. This clay is available at the surface only in a few places. This is where the parrots congregate in astounding numbers (see below). These species are represented at the clay licks: Mealy Amazon (Amazona farinosa, german: Mülleramazone, french: Amazone poudrée), Yellow-crowned Amazon (Amazona ochrocephala, german: Gelbscheitelamazone, french: Amazone à front jaune), Blue-headed Parrot (Pionus menstruus, german: Schwarzohrpapagei, french: Pione à tête bleue), Dusky-headed Parakeet (Aratinga weddellii, german: Braunkopfsittich, french: Conure de Weddell), Cobalt-winged Parakeet (Brotogeris cyanoptera, german: Blauflügelsittich, french: Toui de Deville), Scarlet-shouldered Parrotlet (Touit huetii, german: Schwarzstirnpapagei, french: Toui de Huet), Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao, german: Hellroter Ara, french: Ara rouge), Orange-cheeked Parrot (Pyrilia barrabandi, french: Caïque de Barraband).
The birds of prey of course know that as well, and they come hunting there. While we were watching, an Ornate Hawk Eagle came hunting. The parrots ran as fast as they could. We were in a stand with open sides. The parrots came though that stand like bullets, one of them grazed one of the spectators. The eagle didn't catch anything and moved away. After more than one hour, the parrots started to come back. It was almost two hours before the first ones started to come down to the clay lick. That's when the eagle came back. He came out of nowhere like a bullet and grabbed one of the parrots out of mid-air and flew away with it. It was a wild experience.
One bird species is worth mentioning specifically, the Hoatzins (Opisthocomus hoazin, german: Hoatzin, french: Hoazin huppé). The Hoatzin is a very odd, monotypic species of uncertain affinities which lives in backwater swamps of the Amazon and Orinoco basins of South America. It is often considered one of the most primitive of birds. They are also called stinking turkeys. They are the size of a turkey. Their diet is strictly vegetarian. They are very strange among birds, because they ferment their food in their foregut like cows. Somehow their diet makes them smell and taste very bad. This is a very effective defense. Because of that they can look showy and they are not at all shy. One pair had a nest with two eggs right next to the dining hall at the La Selva Lodge. The Hoatzin chick features a rare anatomical feature: two claws on each budding wing which help it grip branches and clamber about awkwardly. This feature has been compared to Archaeopteryx, the fossil proto-bird, and lend an antediluvian background to what is already a really weird bird.
Nature pictures of Ecuador and other bird pages are linked:
?? Unknown Hummingbird. (714k) Purple-bibbed Whitetip (Urosticte benjamini, german: Purpurbrustkolibri, french: Colibri de Benjamin). (454k) Purple-bibbed Whitetip (Urosticte benjamini, german: Purpurbrustkolibri, french: Colibri de Benjamin). (699k) Purple-bibbed Whitetip (Urosticte benjamini, german: Purpurbrustkolibri, french: Colibri de Benjamin). (523k) Purple-bibbed Whitetip (Urosticte benjamini, german: Purpurbrustkolibri, french: Colibri de Benjamin). (484k) Male Violet-tailed Sylph (Aglaiocercus coelestis, german: Langschwanzsylphe, french: Sylphe à queue violette). (694k) Male Long-tailed Sylph (Aglaiocercus kingii, german: Himmelssylphe, french: Sylphe à queue d'azur). (614k) Male Long-tailed Sylph (Aglaiocercus kingii, german: Himmelssylphe, french: Sylphe à queue d'azur). (702k) Andean Emerald (Uranomitra franciae, german: Andenamazilie, french: Ariane de Francia). (662k) Andean Emerald (Uranomitra franciae, german: Andenamazilie, french: Ariane de Francia). (531k) Andean Emerald (Uranomitra franciae, german: Andenamazilie, french: Ariane de Francia). (674k) Fawn-breasted Brilliant (Heliodoxa rubinoides, german: Braunbauch-Brillantkolibri, french: Brillant rubinoïde). (561k) Rufous-tailed Hummingbird (Amazilia tzacatl, german: Braunschwanzamazilie, french: Ariane à ventre gris). (558k) Male Booted Racket-tails (Ocreatus underwoodii, german: Flaggensylphe, french: Haut-de-chausses à palettes) at a feeding station. (754k) Male Booted Racket-tail (Ocreatus underwoodii, german: Flaggensylphe, french: Haut-de-chausses à palettes). (570k) Male Booted Racket-tail (Ocreatus underwoodii, german: Flaggensylphe, french: Haut-de-chausses à palettes). (470k) Male Booted Racket-tail (Ocreatus underwoodii, german: Flaggensylphe, french: Haut-de-chausses à palettes). (449k) Male Purple-throated Woodstar (Philodice mitchellii, german: Purpurkehl-Sternkolibri, french: Colibri de Mitchell). (661k) Male White-sided Flowerpiercer (Diglossa albilatera, german: Schieferhakenschnabel, french: Percefleur à flancs blancs). (567k)
Cotopaxi
Andean Coot (Fulica ardesiaca, french: Foulque ardoisée) on a small lake on the high plain north of Cotopaxi. (583k) Andean Lapwing (Vanellus resplendens, german: Andenkiebitz, french: Vanneau des Andes) on a small lake on the high plain north of Cotopaxi. (614k)
Birds in the Galápagos Islands
Isabela Mockingbird (Mimus parvulus parvulus, german: Galápagosspottdrossel, french: Moqueur des Galápagos). It is endemic to the Galápagos Islands. (639k) Galápagos Flycatcher (Myiarchus magnirostris, french: Tyran des Galápagos). It is endemic to the Galápagos Islands. (411k) Female or immature Small Ground Finch (Geospiza fuliginosa, french: Géospize fuligineux). It is endemic to the Galápagos Islands. (698k) Female or immature Small Ground Finch (Geospiza fuliginosa, french: Géospize fuligineux). It is endemic to the Galápagos Islands. (375k) Female or immature Medium Ground Finch (Geospiza fortis, german: Mittel-Grundfink, french: Géospize à bec moyen). It is endemic to the Galápagos Islands. (460k) Medium Ground Finch (Geospiza fortis, german: Mittel-Grundfink, french: Géospize à bec moyen). It is endemic to the Galápagos Islands. (783k) Galápagos Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia aureola, german: Goldwaldsänger, french: Paruline jaune). It is endemic to the Galápagos Islands. (667k) Galápagos Penguins (Spheniscus mendiculus, german: Galápagos-Pinguin, french: Manchot des Galápagos). They are endemic to the Galápagos Islands. They are the only penguins in the northern hemisphere. (643k) Galápagos Penguins. (955k) Galápagos Penguins (Spheniscus mendiculus, german: Galápagos-Pinguin, french: Manchot des Galápagos). (696k) Galápagos Penguins (Spheniscus mendiculus, german: Galápagos-Pinguin, french: Manchot des Galápagos). (582k) Fishing sea birds. (632k) Galápagos Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis urinator, german: Braunpelikan, french: Pélican brun). (644k) Galápagos Brown Pelican. (624k) Galápagos Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis urinator, german: Braunpelikan, french: Pélican brun). (473k) Galápagos Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis urinator, german: Braunpelikan, french: Pélican brun) in slow flight. (338k) Galápagos Hawk (Buteo galapagoensis, german: Galapagosbussard, french: Buse des Galápagos). It is endemic to the Galápagos Islands. (391k) Nesting Swallow-tailed Gull (Creagrus furcatus, german: Gabelschwanzmöwe, french: Mouette à queue fourchue). They keep their beaks open to dissipate heat by panting, just like dogs. (466k) Swallow-tailed Gull (Creagrus furcatus, german: Gabelschwanzmöwe, french: Mouette à queue fourchue) with chick. (785k) Ruddy Ternstone (Arenaria interpres, german: Steinwälzer, french: Tournepierre à collier). (579k) Galápagos Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus galapagensis, german: Braunmantel-Austernfischer, french: Huîtrier d'Amérique). (724k) Lava Heron (Butorides sundevalli, german: Lavareiher, french: Héron des Galápagos). It is endemic to the Galápagos Islands. (847k) Lava Heron closeup (Butorides sundevalli, german: Lavareiher, french: Héron des Galápagos). (837k) Galápagos Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias cognata, german: Kanadareiher, french: Grand Héron). (498k) Juvenile Galápagos Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias cognata, german: Kanadareiher, french: Grand Héron). (898k) Galápagos Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias cognata, german: Kanadareiher, french: Grand Héron). (512k) Galápagos Great Blue Heron closeup. (498k) Nazca Booby (Sula granti, german: Nazcatölpel, french: Fou de Nazca). (374k) Galápagos Blue-footed Boobies (Sula nebouxii excisa, german: Blaufußtölpel, french: Fou à pieds bleus). (752k) Galápagos Blue-footed Booby (Sula nebouxii excisa, german: Blaufußtölpel, french: Fou à pieds bleus). (465k) Closeup of a Galápagos Blue-footed Booby. (407k) Closeup of a Galápagos Blue-footed Booby. (369k) Closeup of a Galápagos Blue-footed Booby. (422k) Closeup of a Galápagos Blue-footed Booby. (582k) They are really bright blue. (485k) Pair of Galápagos Blue-footed Boobies in courtship. (832k) Courtship display. (675k) Courtship display. (742k) Courtship dance. (1082k) Courtship dance. (971k) Courtship dance of Galápagos Blue-footed Booby (Sula nebouxii excisa, german: Blaufußtölpel, french: Fou à pieds bleus). (662k) Group of Galápagos Blue-footed Boobies displaying. (610k) Group of Galápagos Blue-footed Boobies displaying. (670k) For this one his courtship dance worked. (683k) Frigatebird colony. (1120k) Frigatebird colony with displaying males. (1072k) Frigatebirds colony with males in mating display on Isla Enderby near Floreana. (1122k) Frigatebird nest with male and chick. (766k) Male Frigatebird displaying his throat pouch. (659k) Male Great Frigatebird (Fregata minor, german: Bindenfregattvogel, french: Frégate du Pacifique). (885k) Male Great Frigatebird (Fregata minor, german: Bindenfregattvogel, french: Frégate du Pacifique) displaying his throat pouch. (677k) Male Great Frigatebird (Fregata minor, german: Bindenfregattvogel, french: Frégate du Pacifique) displaying his throat pouch. (583k) Closeup of male Frigatebird displaying his throat pouch. (462k) Juvenile Great Frigatebird (Fregata minor, german: Bindenfregattvogel, french: Frégate du Pacifique) in flight. (227k) Male Frigatebird in flight with mating display. (238k)
A fishing Galápagos Blue-footed Booby
Composite of the following shots of a diving blue-footed Boobie. (266k) Diving blue-footed Boobie. (436k) Diving blue-footed Boobie. (609k) Diving blue-footed Boobie. (615k) Diving blue-footed Boobie. (500k) Diving blue-footed Boobie. (457k) Diving blue-footed Boobie. (435k)
Birds in the Amazon Jungle in Ecuador
Weaver bird nests. (946k) Nests of Yellow-rumped Caciques (Cacicus cela, german: Gelbbürzelkassike, french: Cassique cul-jaune). (791k) Nest of a humming bird. (543k) There were lots of birds. (460k) Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus, german: Schwalbenweih, french: Naucler à queue fourchue). (379k) Female Ringed Kingfisher (Megaceryle torquata, german: Rotbrustfischer, french: Martin-pêcheur à ventre roux). (633k) Red-capped Cardinal (Paroaria gularis, french: Paroare rougecap). (540k) Male Yellow-rumped Cacique (Cacicus cela, german: Gelbbürzelkassike, french: Cassique cul-jaune). (610k) Oriole Blackbirds (Gymnomystax mexicanus, french: Carouge loriot). (553k) Lesser Kiskadee (Philohydor lictor, french: Tyran licteur). (501k) Crested Oropendola (Psarocolius decumanus, german: Krähenstirnvogel, french: Cassique huppé). (584k) White-winged Swallow (Tachycineta albiventer, french: Hirondelle à ailes blanches). (648k) Pied Plovers (Vanellus cayanus, french: Hoploxypterus cayanus). (655k) American Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinicus, german: Zwergsultanshuhn, french: Talève violacée). (1062k) Wattled Jacana (Jacana jacana, french: Jacana noir). (699k) Female Least Bittern (Ixobrychus exilis, german: Amerikanische Zwergdommel, french: Petit Blongios). (561k) A colony of Greater Anis (Crotophaga major, german: Riesenani, french: Ani des palétuviers). (857k) Greater Ani (Crotophaga major, german: Riesenani, french: Ani des palétuviers). (682k) Smooth-billed Ani (Crotophaga ani, german: Glattschnabelani, french: Ani à bec lisse). (502k) Female Yellow-tufted Woodpeckers (Melanerpes cruentatus, german: Gelbbrauenspecht, french: Pic à chevron d'or). (773k) Male Yellow-tufted Woodpecker (Melanerpes cruentatus, german: Gelbbrauenspecht, french: Pic à chevron d'or). (713k) Female Crimson-crested Woodpecker (Campephilus melanoleucos, german: Schwarzkehlspecht, french: Pic de Malherbe). (632k) Cocoi Heron (Ardea cocoi, german: Cocoireiher, french: Héron cocoi). (649k) Rufescent Tiger Heron (Tigrisoma lineatum, german: Marmorreiher, french: Onoré rayé). (702k) Striated Heron (Butorides striata, german: Mangrovereiher, french: Héron strié). He has just caught a fish. I was watching him stalking and finally catching the fish. He was so concentrated on fishing that I got real close. Immediately after he caught the fish, he noticed me and flew away. (849k) Female Anhinga or Snake Bird (Anhinga anhinga, german: Amerikanischer Schlangenhalsvogel, french: Anhinga d'Amérique). (1055k) Double-toothed Kite (Harpagus bidentatus, german: Doppelzahnweih, french: Harpage bidenté). This bird was building a nest right above the top of the canopy tower at the La Selva Lodge. (533k) Common Potoo (Nyctibius griseus, german: Urutau-Tagschläfer, french: Ibijau gris), well camouflaged, spending the daylight hours in a tree. (756k) Tropical Screech Owl (Megascops choliba, german: Choliba-Kreischeule, french: Petit-duc choliba). This owl sat in the dining hall of the La Selva Lodge one morning. (526k) Greater Yellow-headed Vulture (Cathartes melambrotus, german: Großer Gelbkopfgeier, french: Grand Urubu) in flight. (485k) Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus, german: Rabengeier, french: Urubu noir), posing on the roof of the dining hall at the La Selva Lodge. (579k) White-throated Toucan (Ramphastos tucanus, german: Weißbrusttukan, french: Toucan à bec rouge). (205k) White-throated Toucan (Ramphastos tucanus, german: Weißbrusttukan, french: Toucan à bec rouge). (431k) A flock of Sand-colored Nighthawks (Chordeiles rupestris, german: Flussnachtschwalbe, french: Engoulevent sable), roosting during the day, well camouflaged. (1418k) Sand-colored Nighthawks (Chordeiles rupestris, german: Flussnachtschwalbe, french: Engoulevent sable). (713k) Sand-colored Nighthawk (Chordeiles rupestris, german: Flussnachtschwalbe, french: Engoulevent sable) close-up. (716k) At 18:00 the Nighthawks take wing, gather over the lake, and then fly off to the river to catch prey. Around 6:00 they return to roost at the same tree. (503k) Hoatzins (Opisthocomus hoazin, german: Hoatzin, french: Hoazin huppé), drinking from the lake. (736k) Hoatzins (Opisthocomus hoazin, german: Hoatzin, french: Hoazin huppé). (662k) Hoatzin nest with two eggs. When the birds are in the nest and you get closer, they make a loud hissing noise. (904k) Parrot clay lick in Yasumi National Park. There were hundreds of parrots at the clay licks. (1227k) Parrot clay lick in Yasumi National Park with Cobalt-winged Parakeets (Brotogeris cyanoptera, german: Blauflügelsittich, french: Toui de Deville), Scarlet-shouldered Parrotlets (Touit huetii, german: Schwarzstirnpapagei, french: Toui de Huet), and Orange-cheeked Parrots (Pyrilia barrabandi, french: Caïque de Barraband). This was the one where the ornate hawk eagle was hunting. (1134k) Parrot clay lick with Blue-headed Parrots (Pionus menstruus, german: Schwarzohrpapagei, french: Pione à tête bleue) and Mealy Amazons (Amazona farinosa, german: Mülleramazone, french: Amazone poudrée). (668k) Parrot clay lick with Yellow-crowned Amazons (Amazona ochrocephala, german: Gelbscheitelamazone, french: Amazone à front jaune) and Mealy Amazons (Amazona farinosa, german: Mülleramazone, french: Amazone poudrée). (849k) Parrot clay lick with Blue-headed Parrots (Pionus menstruus, german: Schwarzohrpapagei, french: Pione à tête bleue) and Mealy Amazons (Amazona farinosa, german: Mülleramazone, french: Amazone poudrée). (889k) Dusky-headed Parakeets ( (Aratinga weddellii, german: Braunkopfsittich, french: Conure de Weddell), the larger birds) and Dusky-billed Parrotlets (Forpus modestus, french: Toui de Sclater) on the river bank. (874k) Mealy Amazons (Amazona farinosa, german: Mülleramazone, french: Amazone poudrée). (560k) Orange-cheeked Parrot (Pyrilia barrabandi, french: Caïque de Barraband). (633k) Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao, german: Hellroter Ara, french: Ara rouge). These birds are big. They were very shy and didn't come down to the clay lick while we were there, they stayed high up in the tree. (690k) Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao, german: Hellroter Ara, french: Ara rouge). (636k) Ornate Hawk Eagle (Spizaetus ornatus, german: Prachthaubenadler, french: Aigle orné). This beautiful bird was hunting for parrots. He ended up catching one of them. (753k)
This page contains 134 pictures of 66 bird species
Dr. Günther Eichhorn Travel Website
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