Tumbesian Specialties
This area is for those searching for some truly unique birding – literally! In recognition of sheer number of bird species found here and the high proportion of endemics, this area has been designated by Birdlife as the ´Tumbesian Endemic Bird Area´.
The Area, which stretches into north-western Peru, is one of the most diverse areas on earth. The habitat consists of tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, well known for high levels of both regional and local endemism in plants and animals.
The lodges and reserves we visit in this area are owned and run by the Jocotoco Conservation Foundation. The Foundation was established in 1998 to protect the habitat of globally threatened species of birds in the Andes of Ecuador, together with all associated biodiversity. It also carries out habitat restoration for this purpose, by replanting deforested areas with native trees and shrubs.
| Region | Habitats | Sites | Target Birds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Andes | Paramo | Podocarpus National Park. Cajanuma Area, El Cajas National Park | Buff-breasted mountain tanager, Red-hooded tanager, Chestnut-breasted chlorophonia, Plushcap finch, Gray-breasted mountain-toucan, Chestnut-napped antpitta, Bearded guan, Grey-breasted mountain-toucan, Blue-mantled thornbill, Rainbow-bearded thornbill, Buff-breasted mountain- tanager, Many-striped canastero, Scarlet-bellied mountain-tanager, Ecuadorian Hillstar, Andean gull, Violet-throated metaltail*, Tit-like dacnis, Giant conebill, Andean condor, Sword-billed hummingbird, Andean snipe, Great-horned owl, |
| Southern Andes | Shrub vegetation, Dry scrub vegetation and Paramo | Loja - Cuenca Road. Chinchipe Valley - Vilcabamba | Amazilia hummingbird, Stripped cuckoo, White-tailed jay, Plumbeous backed thrush, Plumbeous rail, Pale-headed brush-finch*, Andean condor, Crescent-faced antpitta |
| Southern Andes | Cloud Forest - Lower Mountain Forest | Loja – Zamora Road, Bombuscaro Area Tapichalaca Reserve | Ecuadorian tyrannulet, Marble-faced bristle-tyrant, Paramo seedeater, Mouse-colored thistletail, Rusty-winged barbtail, White-streaked antvireo, Yellow-breasted and Rufous-rumped antwrens,White-breasted parakeet, Fasciated tiger-heron, Double-toothed kite, Sickle-winged guan, Rufous-breasted wood-quail, Sunbittern, Maroon-chested ground-dove, Grey potoo, Blackish nightjar, Wire-crested thorntail, Violet-fronted brilliant, Black-mandibled toucan, Amazonian umbrellabird, Black-billed treehunter, Blue-rumped manakin, Coppery-chested jacamar, Highland motmot, Foothill antwren, Jocotoco antpitta*, Ocellated tapaculo, White-capped tanager, Orange-banded flycatcher, Masked saltator, Chestnut-crested cotinga, Bearded guan, Chestnut-naped antpitta, Amethyst-throated sunangel, Flame-throated sunangel, Rufous-capped thornbill, Lacrimouse mountain tanager, Pearled treerunner, Streaked tufted check, Chusquea tapaculo. |
Buenaventura Reserve
The Buenaventura Reserve is where the threatened El Oro Parakeet was discovered in 1980, and is well known as probably the richest ornithological site in south west Ecuador. This is a rare remnant tropical cloud forest at about 1000m altitude on the west slope of the Andes with a rich flora. A simple lodge was completed within the reserve in early 2004...
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Jorupe and Utuana Reserve
Jorupe (previously named Jatunpamba), located in the Tumbesian region of south west Ecuador, consist of quality deciduous forest dominated by statuesque Ceiba trees. It supports many rare species of plants and animals, including more than 50 endemic birds, such as Henna-hooded Foliage-gleaner, and eight globally threatened...
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Tapichalaca Reserve
The Tapichalaca Reserve, where the Jocotoco Antpitta was discovered in 1997, protects an unusually wet area of temperate forest on the east slope of the Andes. As well as almost the entire known population of the Antpitta, ten other Red data Book bird species are present, and of particular interest are flocks of brightly coloured montane Tanagers...
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