Amazonian Ecuador

About the region

This tour is based in central north and north-east Ecuador, and visits areas of pristine lowland forest along the Shiripuno and Napo rivers.

Within the Huaorani Anthropological Reserve, the habitat is mainly primary ‘terra firme’ forest, but there are also some swamps, small oxbow lakes, riverside scrub, and some low hills and associated ravines.

The tour ‘in a nutshell’

An 11-day bird watching tour to the Napo River basin, looking for specialities of the Ecuadorian Amazon.

What birds might I see?

In tracts of thick tropical forest along the Shiripuno River we’ll look for birds such as Casqued Oropendola and Scarlet Macaw. Sought after upper Amazonian birds such as Pavonine Quetzal, Yellow-browed and Hairy-crested Antbirds, the mysterious Nocturnal Curassow, Fiery Topaz and Spotted Puffbird are possible too.

In the lowland Amazonian forest around Shiripuno mixed species feeding flocks typically consist of a wonderful array of woodcreepers, antwrens, antbirds, foliage gleaners and much more. We’ll search for birds such as Greater Yellow-headed Vulture, Black and Yellow-headed Caracaras, Ringed and Amazon Kingfishers and birds of prey such as Plumbeous Kite as well as Hoatzin, Greater and Smooth-billed Anis, Red-capped Cardinal, Violaceous Jay, and much more.

At Sani Lodge (Napo River area) we can expect to hear a dazzling repertoire of bird song in the gardens every morning. Birds of the canopy include Buff-throated Woodcreeper, White-lored Euphonia, Lesser Kiskadee and Blue-grey and Palm Tanagers. Back at the lodge, we may be lucky enough to enjoy a ‘staked-out’ Great Potoo roosting on a branch, among other species.

Our two days and three nights spent exploring the trails around Sani Lodge could enable us to add birds such as Great Tinamou, Wattled Jacana, Screaming Piha and Tropical Screech Owl to our list.

Anything else?

Spectacled Caimans, and even some nocturnal mammals such as Night Monkeys, or perhaps an opossum or armadillo.

Visit to two parrot clay-licks in search of species such as Mealy, Blue-headed, Yellow-crowned, and Orange-cheeked Amazon-parrots.