Andean Cock-of-the-rock— Photo: H. Hendriks

Fabulous transect from the upper tropical foothills up through the cloud forests to the Andean páramo, with new birds in each zone, including many of the most spectacular in the Andes.

From the lush Amazonian rainforests to the high Andean páramos, Ecuador is indeed a special place, boasting good access to birding habitat, unsurpassed scenic splendor, friendly people, and a stable government. Incredibly, over 1,600 species of birds have been recorded in the country, in an area smaller than the state of Colorado! Among them are many of the most spectacular and distinctive Neotropical species. This tour provides an excellent opportunity to sample this magnificent avifauna at three distinct locations, representing very different regions. Altogether they offer a full range of birding possibilities from lush foothill and subtropical forest to temperate cloud forests, stunted alpine scrub, and treeless páramo. Without a doubt, the Andes offer the world's most spectacular mountain birding.

The scenic Andes Mountains are just as complex as the Ecuadorian lowlands, and the cloud forests of these slopes harbor the richest montane avifauna found anywhere. There are few places where birders have access to a good cross section of these slopes, Northern Ecuador now foremost among them. Zonation is complex in the Andes, and many birds are restricted to narrow elevational bands not occurring above or below, so we'll bird these spectacular mountains from the foothills to the páramo. Several roads traverse various elevations offering a fantastic assortment of little-known birds, while trails at Wildsumaco and San Isidro give us access to the lush forest interior. Outstanding in the Andes are the tanagers and hummingbirds, two of the most colorful and entertaining families of birds in the Neotropics. Among the long list of other possibilities are such fabulous birds as Torrent Duck, Andean Condor, Black-and-chestnut Eagle, Black-billed Mountain-Toucan, Crested and Golden-headed quetzals, Amazonian Umbrellabird, Andean Cock-of-the-rock, and mountain-tanagers.

Combine this tour with VENT's Galapagos Islands Cruise, July 5-17, 2012, for an outstanding natural history experience and the opportunity to see a wide array of birds.

Accommodations more than adequate, but relatively simple; most days we will be up early and some days we will be afield all day (especially in the cooler mountains); this trip is recommended for those in good health who wish to spend a good portion of their time in the field.