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Birds of Ecuador

OVER 1,400 UNIQUE IMAGES OF 350 OF ECUADOR'S KEY BIRD SPECIES, ACCOMPANIED BY ORIGINAL NATURAL HISTORY ACCOUNTS, DESCRIPTIONS, BIRD-VOCALIZATIONS AND UP TO DATE DISTRIBUTION MAPS.

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About Birds of Ecuador

WorldWildZoom - Wildlife Photo Guides presents this innovative series of field-guides for the Birds of the Tropical Andes (BTA) is the first for this region in iPad format, and an exciting new way to appreciate and learn about Neotropical birds. 

Possibly one of the most spectacular new ways to appreciate Ecuador's superb avifauna, the idea of this guide is to give you a fully visual experience in a book-like format – paging through the unique collection of images and accessing the information or vocalizations of each species as desired. Navigating is easy; you can choose to page continually through the images –from Tinamous to Orioles without stopping– or access the menu to find a specific bird.

The menu is organized by family, with the individual species ordered taxonomically within each. For quick paging, you can also scroll through the entire guide using thumb-nail images. This is a world-class collection of Neotropical bird images, all of which have been photographed in their wild, natural environment, with unique behavioral images included for many species. The spectacular photography is just one of the ways that this field-guide differs from a normal guide-book; to compliment this visual celebration of avian beauty, we have highlighted captivating facts on the natural history of the species, along with the customary description and range maps. Additionally, we have included vocalizations for the majority of the species, completing this unique experience. 

This is not a typical field-guide with the male and female represented for each species. Rather, it is a visual representation of the birds for the readers' total appreciation, giving priority to an image for its visual impression rather than the species' gender.

Furthermore, it is not a complete guide (with over 1,600 bird species occurring in Ecuador alone, it would be an almost impossible task to photograph them all!); but we have included a carefully chosen representation of 350 of the country's most sought-after birds with most of the Neotropical families portrayed. This guide could never replace a complete guide book, but is a perfect compliment for anyone interested in fully appreciating Ecuador's birds –even sharper than in real life, with their truly wild and brilliantly live colors, and in phenomenal iPad resolution! All the images are taken in wild and natural situations with almost no use of flash, except for six species where some older images of netted birds, photographed in tents as part of a biodiversity study, have been used. 

Enjoy your journey through the incredible forms and colors of the avian wonders of Ecuador, an experience in diversity unique to the spectacular Tropical Andean region.

Information

Species are organized taxonomically. The main taxonomic source is the recent and ongoing revision of bird taxonomy and distribution for the entire South-American continent currently being undertaken by the South American Checklist Committee (SACC) of the American Ornithologists Union. In a few cases, we follow the magnificent 'Birds of Ecuador' field guide by Robert Ridgely and Paul Greenfield.

Symbols Used       

(M)  Male                                 (J)Juvenile                  
(F)  Female                               (MJ) Male Juvenile
(S/A)  Sexes alike                     (EAST) Eastern Andes
                                               (WEST)  Western Andes                           
Texts 

All descriptions and natural history texts were written by the authors, after long revisions of published information (too many sources to cite here) and based on their own field observations. Our apologies to all colleagues generating field information for not citing them here!  
Maps

Maps are adapted from the most recent version of the Birds of Ecuador, by Robert Ridgely and Paul Greenfield (2006). Updated information was generated by Alejandro Solano and Juan Freile, who have permanently compiled new data on the distribution of Ecuadorian birds over the last decade. Maps show species ranges as an orange shadow, elevational bands in greys and blues, Ecuador's capital city (Quito), as well as an inset to indicate Ecuador's place in South America.               


Vocalizations

Songs and calls are used with permission from the outstanding DVD audio guide published by Niels Krabbe and Jonas Nilsson in 2005 (Birds of Ecuador, sounds and photographs), thanks to Niels Krabbe. We are including one or two sounds for each species - indicating the context of each of the recordings, mainly primary songs and commonly heard calls. As this field-guide is not an audio guide, we urge readers interested in learning Ecuadorian bird voices to consult specialized audio-guides. Naturally, we urge you to head into the forest to hear the birds in the field too!

Birds featured in the App
TINAMOUS
   GREAT TINAMOU

GREBES
   SILVERY GREBE

ALBATROSSES
   WAVED ALBATROSS

TROPICBIRDS
   RED-BILLED TROPICBIRD

PELICANS
   BROWN PELICAN

BOOBIES
   BLUE-FOOTED BOOBY
   NAZCA BOOBY
   RED-FOOTED BOOBY

CORMORANTS
   NEOTROPICAL CORMORANT

ANHINGA
   ANHINGA

FRIGATEBIRDS
   MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD

HERONS, EGRETS, BITTERNS
   CAPPED HERON
   COCOI HERON
   STRIATED HERON
   BOAT-BILLED HERON
   RUFESCENT TIGER-HERON
   ZIGZAG HERON

STORKS
   WOOD STORK

IBIS, SPOONBILLS
   BLACK-FACED IBIS
   WHITE IBIS
   ROSEATE SPOONBILL

FLAMINGO
   CHILEAN FLAMINGO

SCREAMER
   HORNED SCREAMER

DUCKS, GEESE
   BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK
   ORINOCO GOOSE
   TORRENT DUCK
   YELLOW-BILLED PINTAIL
   MASKED DUCK

NEW WORLD VULTURES
   GREATER YELLOW-HEADED VULTURE
   ANDEAN CONDOR
   KING VULTURE

OSPREY
   OSPREY

HAWKS, EAGLES, KITES
   HOOK-BILLED KITE
   SWALLOW-TAILED KITE
   SNAIL KITE
   BARRED HAWK
   SEMIPLUMBEOUS HAWK
   WHITE HAWK
   SAVANNA HAWK
   BLACK-CHESTED BUZZARD-EAGLE
   VARIABLE HAWK
   HARPY EAGLE
   ORNATE HAWK-EAGLE
   BLACK-AND-CHESTNUT EAGLE

FALCONS, CARACARAS
   RED-THROATED CARACARA
   CARUNCULATED CARACARA
   LAUGHING FALCON
   BUCKLEYS FOREST-FALCON
   AMERICAN KESTREL
   APLOMADO FALCON
   BAT FALCON
   ORANGE-BREASTED FALCON

GUANS, CHACHALACAS
   RUFOUS-HEADED CHACALACA
   BEARDED GUAN
   SPIXS GUAN
   COMMON PIPING-GUAN
   SALVINS CURASSOW


NEW WORLD QUAIL
   DARK-BACKED WOOD-QUAIL

LIMPKIN
   LIMPKIN

TRUMPETER
   GREY-WINGED TRUMPETER

RAILS, GALLINULES, COOTS
   WHITE-THROATED CRAKE
   GREY-NECKED WOOD-RAIL
   RED-WINGED WOOD-RAIL
   COMMON GALLINULE

SUNBITTERN
   SUNBITTERN

JACANA
   WATTLED JACANA


OYSTERCATCHER
   AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER

AVOCETS, STILTS
   BLACK-NECKED STILT


PLOVERS, LAPWINGS
   SOUTHERN LAPWING
   ANDEAN LAPWING
   PIED PLOVER
SANDPIPERS, ALLIES
   SOUTH AMERICAN SNIPE
   WHIMBREL
   WILLET
   LESSER YELLOWLEGS
   RUDDY TURNSTONE

SEEDSNIPES
   RUFOUS-BELLIED SEEDSNIPE

GULLS
   SWALLOW-TAILED GULL
   ANDEAN GULL
   GREY-HOODED GULL

TERNS
   LARGE-BILLED TERN
   SANDWICH TERN

SKIMMER
   BLACK SKIMMER

PIGEONS-DOVES
   SCALED PIGEON
   BAND-TAILED PIGEON
   PLUMBEOUS PIGEON
   CROAKING GROUND-DOVE
   WEST PERUVIAN DOVE
   SAPPHIRE QUAIL-DOVE

PARROTS, MACAWS
   BLUE-AND-YELLOW MACAW
   SCARLET MACAW
   CHESTNUT-FRONTED MACAW
   RED-BELLIED MACAW
   RED-MASKED PARAKEET
   GOLDEN-PLUMED PARAKEET
   MAROON-TAILED PARAKEET
   WHITE-NECKED PARAKEET
   COBALT-WINGED PARROTLET
   PACIFIC PARROTLET
   SCARLET-SHOULDERED PARROTLET
   BLACK-HEADED PARROT
   ROSE-FACED PARROT
   ORANGE-CHEEKED PARROT
   BRONZE-WINGED PARROT
   YELLOW-CROWNED PARROT

HOATZIN
   HOATZIN

CUCKOOS
   SQUIRREL CUCKOO
   GREATER ANI
   BANDED GROUND-CUCKOO

OWLS
   WEST PERUVIAN SCREECH-OWL
   COLOMBIAN SCREECH-OWL
   GREAT HORNED OWL
   BLACK-AND-WHITE OWL
   BLACK-BANDED OWL
   CRESTED OWL
   BAND-BELLIED OWL
   CLOUD-FOREST PYGMY-OWL
   FERRUGINOUS PYGMY-OWL
   PERUVIAN PYGMY-OWL
   BURROWING OWL

OILBIRD
   OILBIRD

POTOOS
   GREAT POTOO
   LONG-TAILED POTOO
   RUFOUS POTOO

NIGHTJARS
   SAND-COLOURED NIGHTHAWK
   OCELLATED POORWILL
   LYRE-TAILED NIGHTJAR
   LADDER-TAILED NIGHTJAR

SWIFTS
   WHITE-COLLARED SWIFT

HUMMINGBIRDS
   FIERY TOPAZ
   SPANGLED COQUETTE
   VELVET-PURPLE CORONET
   SWORD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD
   AMETHYST-THROATED SUNANGEL

TROGONS, QUETZALS
   WESTERN WHITE-TAILED TROGON
   GREEN TROGON
   MASKED TROGON
   BLUE-CROWNED TROGON
   ECUADORIAN TROGON
   GOLDEN-HEADED QUETZAL


KINGFISHERS
   RINGED KINGFISHER
   AMAZON KINGFISHER
   AMERICAN PYGMY KINGFISHER

MOTMOTS
   BLUE-CROWNED MOTMOT
   RUFOUS MOTMOT
   BROAD-BILLED MOTMOT 



JACAMARS
   WHITE-EARED JACAMAR
   RUFOUS-TAILED JACAMAR
   COPPERY-CHESTED JACAMAR
   GREAT JACAMAR


PUFFBIRDS
   WHITE-NECKED PUFFBIRD
   CHESTNUT-CAPPED PUFFBIRD
   BARRED PUFFBIRD
   WHITE-CHESTED PUFFBIRD
   WHITE-WHISKERED PUFFBIRD
   LANCEOLATED MONKLET
   WHITE-FACED NUNBIRD
   SWALLOW-WINGED PUFFBIRD
 BARBETS
   ORANGE-FRONTED BARBET
   GILDED BARBET
   RED-HEADED BARBET
   TOUCAN BARBET

TOUCANS
   CRIMSON-RUMPED TOUCANET
   GOLDEN-COLLARED TOUCANET
   PLATE-BILLED MOUNTAIN-TOUCAN
   BLACK-BILLED MOUNTAIN-TOUCAN
   IVORY-BILLED ARACARI
   MANY-BANDED ARACARI
   PALE-MANDIBLED ARACARI
   CHOCO TOUCAN
   WHITE-THROATED TOUCAN

WOODPECKERS
   ECUADORIAN PICULET
   SCARLET-BACKED WOODPECKER
   CRIMSON-MANTLED WOODPECKER
   CREAM-COLOURED WOODPECKER
   POWERFUL WOODPECKER
   CRIMSON-BELLIED WOODPECKER
   CRIMSON-CRESTED WOODPECKER

OVENBIRDS, WOODCREEPERS
   CHESTNUT-WINGED CINCLODES
   PACIFIC HORNERO
   ANDEAN TIT-SPINETAIL
   RED-FACED SPINETAIL
   SPOTTED BARBTAIL
   SCALY-THROATED FOLIAGE-GLEANER
   HENNA-HOODED FOLIAGE-GLEANER
   LONG-BILLED WOODCREEPER
   STRONG-BILLED WOODCREEPER
   BUFF-THROATED WOODCREEPER
   BLACK-STRIPED WOODCREEPER
   MONTANE WOODCREEPER
   RED-BILLED SCYTHEBILL
   BROWN-BILLED SCYTHEBILL

TYPICAL ANTBIRDS
   FULVOUS ANTSHRIKE
   GREAT ANTSHRIKE
   COLLARED ANTSHRIKE
   LINED ANTSHRIKE
   PACIFIC ANTWREN
   RUFOUS-WINGED ANTWREN
   LONG-TAILED ANTBIRD
   BLACK-FACED ANTBIRD
   YELLOW-BROWED ANTIBIRD
   IMMACULATE ANTBIRD
   SPOT-BACKED ANTBIRD
   SCALE-BACKED ANTBIRD
   WHITE-PLUMED ANTBIRD
   BICOULORED ANTBIRD
   LUNULATED ANTBIRD
   OCELLATED ANTBIRD

ANTPITTAS
   GIANT ANTPITTA
   TAWNY ANTPITTA
   CHESTNUT-CROWNED ANTPITTA
   CHESTNUT-NAPED ANTPITTA
   JOCOTOCO ANTPITTA
   YELLOW-BREASTED ANTPITTA

TAPACULOS
   OCELLATED TAPACULO
   CHUSQUEA TAPACULO

CRESCENTCHESTS
   ELEGANT CRESCENTCHEST

TYRANT FLYCATCHERS
   BLACK-CRESTED TIT-TYRANT
   RUFOUS-CROWNED TODY-FLYCATCHER
   ORNATE FLYCATCHER
   SCALE-CRESTED PYGMY-TYRANT
   BLACK-THROATED TODY-TYRANT
   COMMON TODY-FLYCATCHER
   YELLOW-BROWED TODY-FLYCATCHER
   PACIFIC ROYAL FLYCATCHER
   CINNAMON FLYCATCHER
   CLIFF FLYCATCHER
   BLACK PHOEBE
   VERMILLION FLYCATCHER
   SLATY-BACKED CHAT-TYRANT
   RUFOUS-BREASTED CHAT-TYRANT
   STREAK-THROATED BUSH-TYRANT
   RED-RUMPED BUSH-TYRANT
   LONG-TAILED TYRANT
   GREAT KISKADEE
   GREYISH MOURNER

COTINGAS
   GREEN-AND-BLACK FRUITEATER
   ORANGE-BREASTED FRUITEATER
   SCALED FRUITEATER
   DUSKY PIHA

   PLUM-THROATED COTINGA
   SPANGLED COTINGA
   BARE-NECKED FRUITCROW
   PURPLE-THROATED FRUITCROW
   LONG-WATTLED UMBRELLABIRD
   ANDEAN COCK-OF-THE-ROCK


MANAKINS
   WIRE-TAILED MANAKIN
   GOLDEN-HEADED MANAKIN
   RED-CAPPED MANAKIN
   BLUE-BACKED MANAKIN
   GOLDEN-WINGED MANAKIN
   WHITE-BEARDED MANAKIN
   STRIPED MANAKIN
   CLUB-WINGED MANAKIN

TITYRAS, BECARDS
   MASKED TITYRA
   BLACK-TAILED TITYRA
   WHITE-BROWED PURPLETUFT
   YELLOW-CHEEKED BECARD

   BARRED BECARD
   SLATY BECARD
   PINK-THROATED BECARD

   
SWALLOWS, MARTINS
   WHITE-WINGED SWALLOW
   BROWN-BELLIED SWALLOW
   CHESTNUT-COLLARED SWALLOW

DIPPER
   WHITE-CAPPED DIPPER

DONACOBIUS
   BLACK-CAPPED DONACOBIUS

WRENS
   THRUSH-LIKE WREN
   GREY-BREASTED WOOD-WREN
   SCALY-BREASTED WREN

MOCKINGBIRDS
   LONG-TAILED MOCKINGBIRD

THRUSHES
   GREAT THRUSH
   PLUMBEOUS-BACKED THRUSH
   ECUADORIAN THRUSH

GNATCATCHERS
   TROPICAL GNATCATCHER

JAYS
   INCA JAY
   WHITE-TAILED JAY
   TURQUOISE JAY
   BEAUTIFUL JAY

VIREOS, GREENLETS
   RED-EYED VIREO
   RUFOUS-NAPED GREENLET
   RUFOUS-BROWED PEPPERSHRIKE

NEW WORLD WARBLERS
   TROPICAL PARULA
   BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER
   CERULEAN WARBLER
   BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER
   OLIVE-CROWNED YELLOWTHROAT
   SLATE-THROATED WHITESTART
   BLACK-CRESTED WARBLER

TANAGERS AND ALLIES
   RED-CAPPED CARDINAL
   GIANT CONEBILL
   TIT-LIKE DACNIS
   BLUISH FLOWERPIERCER
   MASKED FLOWERPIERCER
   PURPLE HONEYCREEPER
   GREEN HONEYCREEPER
   SCARLET-BREASTED DACNIS
   YELLOW-TUFTED DACNIS
   YELLOW-BELLIED DACNIS
   GRASS-GREEN TANAGER
   FLAME-CRESTED TANAGER
   MASKED-CRIMSON TANAGER
   HOODED MOUNTAIN-TANAGER
   ORANGE-THROATED TANAGER
   SCARLET-BELLIED MOUNTAIN-TANAGER
   BLUE-WINGED MOUNTAIN-TANAGER
   BLACK-CHINNED MOUNTAIN-TANAGER
   PURPLISH-MANTLED TANAGER
   GLISTENING-GREEN TANAGER
   PARADISE TANAGER
   SAFFRON-CROWNED TANAGER
   FLAME-FACED TANAGER
   BAY-HEADED TANAGER
   GOLDEN-NAPED TANAGER
   BLUE-NECKED TANAGER
   BERYL-SPANGLED TANAGER
   SWALLOW-TANAGER
   BANANAQUIT
   YELLOW-FACED GRASSQUIT

SPARROWS, SEEDEATERS
   COLLARED WARBLING-FINCH
   VARIABLE SEEDEATER
   PARROT-BILLED SEEDEATER
   SAFFRON FINCH
   TANAGER FINCH
   YELLOW-BREASTED BRUSH-FINCH
   PALE-HEADED BRUSH-FINCH
   BLACK-CAPPED SPARROW
   OLIVE FINCH


SALTATORS, CARDINALS
   RED-HOODED TANAGER
   SLATE-COLOURED GROSBEAK
   BLACK-WINGED SALTATOR
   ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK

TROUPIALS, CACIQUES, OROPENDOLAS
   RED-BREASTED BLACKBIRD
   PERUVIAN MEADOWLARK
   YELLOW-TAILED ORIOLE
   ORANGE-BACKED TROUPIAL
   YELLOW-RUMPED CACIQUE
   RUSSET-BACKED OROPENDOLA
   OLIVE OROPENDOLA
   ORIOLE BLACKBIRD

EUPHONIAS, SISKINS
   THICK-BILLED EUPHONIA
   ORANGE-BELLIED EUPHONIA
   RUFOUS-BELLIED EUPHONIA
   HOODED SISKIN
   YELLOW-BELLIED SISKIN
   LESSER GOLDFINCH


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