BIRDING PLAN ROUTES + CONFERENCES

OCTOBER 27 and 28 / Mindo / Ecuador
Two hours from Quito and in the heart of the Cloud Forest and the Chocó bioregion is the Feathered Valley of Mindo, one of the ideal destinations for lovers of birds and nature, declared the first IBA in South America in 1997 and listed as one of the 10 best bird watching destinations by National Geographic Latin America, it offers visitors 30 routes to discover its 600 species of birds.

BIRDING PLAN ROUTES + CONFERENCES

Located 0.5 km from Mindo and 1,400 msl in the subtropical forest, it has a main trail and five lateral trails where more than 400 species of birds have been recorded. A recommended site for bird watchers and photographers.

Birds target. Crested Guan, Barred Hawk, Rufous Motmot, Broad-billed Motmot, Collared Aracari, Yellow-throated Toucan, Zeledon´s Antbird, Yellow-collared Chlorophonia, Ochre-breasted Tanager

Located 0.5 km from Mindo and 1,200 msl in the subtropical forest, it is a sustainable private project that works for the conservation of the habitat of birds and amphibians, created for ornithological purposes and photography of birds in their natural habitat. It has a hide, feeders and drinkers. Recommended for bird watchers and photographers.

Birds target. Sunbitern, White-throated Crake, Scaly-breasted Wren, Little Cuckoo, Common Potoo, White-whiskered Hermit, White-booted Racket-tail, Great Antshrike, Scale-crested Pygmy-Tyrant, Olivaceous Piculet.

Located 6 km from Mindo and 1,750 masl in the low cloud forest. Site recommended for bird watchers and photographers.

Birds target. Long-wattled Umbrellabird, Cloud-forest Pygmy-Owl, Golden-winged Manakin, Masked Trogon, Squirrel Cuckoo, Violet-tailed Sylph, Western Emerald, Rufous Motmot, Tawny-faced Gnatwren.

One of the main routes in Mindo, located 10 minutes from the town center, it crosses part of the San Lorenzo mountain range in the middle of the cloud forest and at an altitude of 1,400 meters above sea level

Birds target. Rufous-throated Tanager, Blue-necked Tanager, Beryl-spangled Tanager, Bay-headed tanager, Flame-faced tanager, Swallow Tanager, Guira Tanager, Dull-colored Grassquit, Choco Toucan, Crimson-rumped Toucanet.

Located 10 km from Mindo and 1,600 msl in the subtropical forest. A private family reserve in the middle of exuberant vegetation where you can enjoy several species of birds. It has feeders and drinkers. Recommended for bird watchers and photographers.

Birds target. Plate-billed Mountain-toucan, Toucan Barbet, Crested Quetzal, Golden-headed Quetzal, Huoary Puffleg, Powerfull Woodpecker, Sickled-Winged Guan, Pallid Dove, Tawny-bellied Hermit, Green-fronted Lancebill, White-throated Daggerbill .

Located 15 km from Mindo and at 1,780 msl in the low cloud forest, it is a private farm dedicated to the conservation of the flora and fauna of northwestern Pichincha. It has feeders and drinkers. Recommended for bird watchers and photographers.

Birds target. Especies representativas: Club-winged Manakin,  Golden-headed Quetzal, Gorgeted Sunangel, Violet-tailed Sylph, Nariño Tapaculo, South-american Leaftosser Streaked Tuftedcheek.

Located 11 km from Mindo and 1,600 msl in the low cloud forest. A private reserve that sustainably preserves the lowlands of Chocó through ecotourism and bird watching. It has feeders and drinkers. Recommended for bird watchers and photographers

Birds target. Crested Quetzal, Golden-headed Quetzal,  Huoary Puffleg, Powerfull Woodpecker, Sickled-Winged Guan, Pallid Dove, Tawny-bellied Hermit, Green-fronted Lancebill, White-throated Daggerbill.

Located at 1,400 msl and 19 km from Mindo. It is a small private reserve of 30 hectares of primary and secondary forest, owned by the brothers Rodrigo and Ángel Paz who have patiently trained several Antpittas, very shy birds and not very easy to see, to leave the tangled forest when hearing their names and then reward them with worms, providing a great show for bird lovers. They also have a lek to observe the Cock-of-the-rock that was discovered on this property by Ángel Paz in 2005

Birds target. Giant antpitta, yellow-breasted antpitta, ochred breasted antpitta moustached antpitta, chestnut-crowned antpitta, andean cock of the rock.

Located 20 km from Mindo and 1,100 msl in the subtropical forest, this bird sanctuary is part of the IBA (Important Bird Area). Los Bancos – Milpe EC041, defined by Birdlife, where you can observe some endemic species and other spectacular species of Chocó. It has a hide, feeders and drinkers. Recommended for bird watchers and photographers.

Birds target. Club-winged Manakin,  Blue-tailed Trogon, Collared Trogon, Watted Guan, Guayaquil Woodpecker, Bat Falcon, Ruddy Foliage-gleaner, Rufous-rumped Antwren, Russet Antshrike, Chestnut-backed Antbird, Esmeraldas antbird .

Located 20 km from Mindo and at 2,200 msl, it is one of the core areas of the Chocó Andino Biosphere and part of the Andean Ecological Bear Corridor. Bellavista has become a recognized international destination for bird watching, especially for its hummingbirds, tanagers, toucans andAntpittas.

Birds target. Plate-billed Mountain-toucan, Tanager Finch, Ocellated Tapaculo, White-faced Nunbird, Turquoise Jay, Flavescent Flycatcher, Masked Trogon, Strong-billed Woodcreeper.

Located 20 km from Mindo and 1,900 msl in the cloud forest. It is the right place for nature lovers, and has been considered as one of the best hummingbird lodges with around 30 species registered on the property. It has a hide, feeders, and drinkers. Recommended for bird watchers and photographers.

Birds target. Streak-capped Treehunter, White-winged Becard,  Scalled Antpitta, Zeledon’s Antbird, White-throated Quail-Dove, Uniform Antshrike, Scaled Fruiteater, Wedge-billed Hummingbird, White-Booted Racquet-tail, Empress Brillant.

Located 22 km from Mindo and 1,100 msl in the subtropical forest. In this private protected wildlife reserve, surrounded by rivers and waterfalls, more than 200 species of birds have been recorded, offering a unique experience for bird lovers. It has a hide, feeders and drinkers. Recommended for bird watchers and photographers.

Birds target. Bicolored Antbird, Plain-brown Woodcreeper, Brown-billed Scythebill, Striped Woodhunter, Golden-winged Manakin Masked Tityra, Black-and-white Becard, Coopman´s Elaenia, Choco tyrannulet, Speckled Nightingale-thrush, Choco Warbler.

Located 25 km from Mindo and 1,800 msl in the low cloud forest. It has feeders and drinkers. Recommended for bird watchers and photographers.

Birds target. White-faced Nunbird, Red-headed Barbet, Red-billed Parrot, Crimson-rumped Toucan, Rufous-gaped Hillstar, Squirrel Cuckoo, Golden-naped Tanager, Blue-winged Tanager, Purple-throted Woodstar.

Located 27 km from Mindo and 1,900 msl in the cloud forest. A private family reserve created for the conservation of the forest and birds. It has feeders and drinkers. Recommended for bird watchers and photographers.

Birds target. Plate-billed mountain toucan, crested quetzal, crimson mantled woodpecker, pearled treerunner, pale-eyed thrush, crested guan, toucan barbet, smoky-brown woodpecker, red billed parrot.

 

Located 32 km from Mindo between 600 and 1,000 msl in the subtropical forest. An oasis of biodiversity in the middle of the Andean Chocó, this protected nature reserve is home to fabulous species of flora and fauna. It has a hide, drinkers and feeders. Recommended for bird watchers and photographers.

Birds target. Brown Wood-rail, Uniform Crake, Long-wattled Umbrellabird, Rufous headed Chachalaca, Berlepsch´s Tinamou, Long-billed Starthroat, Rufous-fronted Woodquail, Fasciated Tiger-heron, Purple Quail-Dove, Purple-crowned Fairy, Crested Owl, Great Anshrike.

ROUTES FOR BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY

Located 6 km from Mindo and 1,750 masl in the low cloud forest. A private ecological reserve located next to the Mindo – Nambillo Protected Forest, within the reserve there is a Lek of the Longipendulum Umbrella Bird. It has a hide, feeders and drinkers. Site recommended for those who do bird photography.

Birds target. Barrred Forest-Falcon, Long-wattled Umbrellabird, Esmeraldas Antbird, Zeledon´s Antbird, Tyrannine Woodcreeper, Linneated Foliage-Gleaner, Spotted Barbtail, Cinnamon Becard, Choco Tyrannulet.

Located 7 km from Mindo and 1,750 masl in the low cloud forest. A beautiful garden designed for birds, developed by a member of the local community. It has a hide, drinkers and feeders. Site recommended for those who do bird photography.

Birds target. Black-chinned Mountain-Tanager, Black-capped Tanager, Flame-faced Tanager, White-whiskered Hermit, Violet-tailed Sylph, Brown Inca, Purple-bibbed Whitetip, Empress Brillant, Ecuadorian Thrush.

Located 11 km from Mindo between 1755-1900 masl in the cloud forest. Refugio del Gallo de la Peña, you can enjoy this colorful species in the lek that is located inside the property, where the males gather at 6:00 AM to dance, squawk, simulate fights and maintain their territory and impress the female birds. It has a hide too. Site recommended for those who do bird photography.

Birds target. Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, Masked Trogon, Bronze-winged Parrot, Cloud-forest Pygmy-Owl, Maroon-tailed Parakeet(choco), Tyrannine Woodcreeper, Rusty-winged Barbtail.

Located 13 km from Mindo and at 2,000 masl, it is the perfect place for bird photographers, it has a beautiful colorful garden for hummingbirds in which it is possible to observe 15 species interacting between natural flowers and water sources.

 

They have implemented a hide in the middle of the cloud forest from which you can observe tanagers, toucans, guans and other species of birds that come to this space. It has a water source where the birds come to cool off and quench their thirst thereby offering the opportunity to photograph them with their reflections in water.

Birds target. Plate-billed mountain toucan, slaty-backed nightingale-thrush uniforme antshrike, streak-capped treehunter, spillman´s tapaculo, collared inca, gorgeted sunangel, velvet purple coronet empress brillan.

Located 22 km from Mindo and 1,150 masl in the middle of the subtropical forest, this new private reserve is a true natural paradise for photographers. The space has very well positioned feeders and drinkers to take advantage of a morning photo session focused on birds.

Birds target. Brown Inca,  Rufous-crowned Tody-Flycatcher, Red-headed Barbet, Wedge-billed Woodcreeper, White-necked Jacobin, Andean Emerald, Rufous-Tailed Hummingbird, Green Thorntail, Fawn-breasted Brillant, Crowned Woodnymph, Rufous-throated Tanager.

Located 25 km from Mindo and at 1,900 masl in the cloud forest, it is a family reserve that has been suitable for bird watching, with feeders and drinkers. Recommended site for bird photography.

Birds target. Plate-billed Mountain-toucan, Toucan Barbet, Metalic-green Tanager, Sickle-winged Guan, Tawny-bellied Hermit, Gorgeted Sunangel, Rufous-gaped Hillstar, Golden-headed Quetzal, Yellow-breasted Antpitta, Streak-capped Treehunter, Scaled Fruiteater.

Located 30 km from Mindo and 2,000 masl in the cloud forest, it has a hide, feeders and drinkers. Site recommended for those who do bird photography.

Birds target. Ocellated Tapaculo, Metallic-green Tanager, Beryl-spangled Tanager, Blue-capped Tanager, Rufous-headed Pygmy-tyrant, Rufous-crowned Tody-flycatcher, Rufous Spinetail, Sharpe´s wren.

Located 34 km from Mindo and 1,700 masl in the low cloud forest. A family project for the conservation of the cloud forest, its garden is a refuge for birds, especially for hummingbirds, where more than 30 species of these wonderful birds can be observed. It has feeders and drinkers. Site recommended for those who do bird photography.

Birds target. Velvet-purple Coronet, Golden headed Quetzal, Booted racket tail, Collared Inca, Brown Inca, Flame faced Tanager, Powerful Woodpecker, Montane Woodcreeper.

NIGHT ROUTES

Birds target. Black and White Owl, Crested, Mottled Owl, Lyre-tailed Nightjar, cloud forest Pygmy owl, Common Potoo, Rufous-bellied Nighthawk

Birds target. Common Potoo, Black-and-White Owl, Mottled Owl, Rufous-bellied Nighthawk, Rufescent Screech-Owl, Lyre-tailed Nightjar, Cloud-forest Pygmy-Owl