Photo ABCs

Ecuador Birding: Maraksacha Reserve: White-bellied Woodstar

The White-bellied Woodstar is found in the Andes from Colombia to Bolivia.

Here is a male, photographed at the Maraksacha Reserve between Mindo and Quito, Ecuador in November of last year:

The more subdued-looking female:

Ecuador Birding: Restaurante Mirador Guaycapi: White-booted Racket-tail

Of the 76 hummingbird species I have seen so far, a few stand out, such as the Sword-billed Hummingbird and the Shining Sunbeam.

But my favorite of all (so far!) is the White-booted Racket-tail.

Here is one photographed during lunch at the lovely Restaurante Mirador Guaycapi, located on the highway from Mindo to Quito:

Ecuador Birding: Umbrellabird Reserve: Empress Brilliant, Velvet-purple Coronet

More hummingbirds photographed at the Umbrellabird Reserve, near Mindo, Ecuador, in November of last year:

The Empress Brilliant has a very small range in Colombia and Ecuador:

Another Velvet-purple Coronet:

Ecuador Birding: Umbrellabird Reserve: Club-winged Manakin, Purple-bibbed Whitetip

Another stop on the Ecuador birding adventure was the Umbrellabird Reserve near Mindo. A steep trail leads to an area with feeders.

The Long-wattled Umbrellabirds were striking to see fly over, but we only got very distant views of them.

The Merlin Guide describes the Club-winged Manakin as a "unique and entertaining manakin found in lush cloud forest in western Ecuador and western Colombia."

Like many manakins, it has a flamboyant display, which we were able to observe:

The Purple-bibbed Whitetip is described by Merlin as "scarce" and has a tiny range in Colombia and Ecuador. We were fortunate to see them at at least three locations near Mindo.

Here is a female, photographed at the Umbrellabird Reserve:

Ecuador Birding: Sacha-Guatusa Reserve: Bay-headed Tanager, Gray-and-gold Tanager, Purple-chested Hummingbird

Next stop in Ecuador was the Sacha-Guatusa Reserve, one couple's house whose back yard is now a haven for birds, with feeders and viewing areas.

The flamboyant Bay-headed Tanager is found through much of northern South America as well as southern Central America. Its wild paint-by-numbers color scheme reminds me of a male Painted Bunting.

The Gray-and-Gold Tanager has a small range from the southern tip of Panama to northeast of Ecuador:

A Purple-chested Hummingbird, not showing much of its purple chest. It's the only photo of the species I have, though, so it will have to do! It is found in a small range of Colombia and Ecuador.

Ecuador Birding: Mashpi-Amagusa Reserve: Violet-tailed Sylph, Red-headed Barbet

I saw many Violet-tailed Sylphs on my Ecuador trip, but none posed as elegantly as this one at the Mashpi-Amagusa Reserve. I'm not sure what happened to one of its tail feathers:

The female Red-headed Barbet does not have a red head, but is equally as beautiful as the male:

Ecuador Birding: Mashpi-Amagusa Reserve: Tooth-billed Hummingbird

Though Birds of the World lists the conservation status of the Tooth-billed Hummingbird as a species of least concern, the staff and guides at the Mashpi-Amagusa Reserve were VERY excited to see one come to their feeders. Apparently it is very uncommon to see one at that location.

It was the only one I saw during my time in Ecuador, but then, it was the only time I was birding at a lower elevation (3100 feet), which coincides with the upper elevation range of this bird.

 

Ecuador Birding: Mashpi-Amagusa Reserve: Velvet-purple Coronet

The Velvet-purple Coronet has a very small range in Colombia and Ecuador.

Here are three photos from the Mashpi-Amagusa Reserve near Mindo, Ecuador:

The photo below fascinates me in how it rendered the out-of-focus hummingbird in the background. Perhaps the bird was partially obscured by a leaf, but it certainly looks strange and impressionistic!

Ecuador Birding: Mashpi-Amagusa Reserve: Green Thorntail

The Green Thorntail is found in southern Central America, Colombia and Ecuador.

Here are two at the Mashpi-Amagusa Reserve near Mindo, Ecuador, in November of last year:

Ecuador Birding: Sendero Frutti Birding Garden: Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds photographed at the Sendero Frutti Birding Garden, near Mindo, Ecuador:

White-necked Jacobin, female:

Green Thorntail, female:

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird: