The tropical foothills of the eastern Andes together with the lowlands of the Amazon basin boast some of the most impressive biodiversity worldwide. Bird wise, the area is arguably the most species-rich in the world. The Wildsumaco Wildlife Sanctuary bird list alone surpasses 500 species while the number of bird species recorded at Sani Lodge is approaching 600! The tour will focus on finding as many species and local specialties as possible by visiting multiple habitats within the Amazonian basin. Although the list of possible targets is immense here, a couple iconic species that we will target include; Hoatzin, Zigzag, Capped and Agami Herons, Grey-winged Trumpeter, Sungrebe, Scarlet, Blue-and-yellow, Chestnut-fronted and Red-bellied Macaws, Gould’s Jewelfront, Wire-crested Thorntail, Great and Long-tailed Potoo, White-throated, Black-mandibled and Channel-billed Toucans, Many-banded and Ivory-billed Aracaris, American Pygmy and Green-and-rufous Kingfishers, Gilded and Scarlet-crowned Barbets, Crimson-crested Woodpecker, Coppery-chested Jacamar, Rusty-belted Tapaculo, Long-billed Woodcreeper, Cinnamon Attila, Screaming Piha, Golden-headed and Orange-crowned Manakins, Bare-necked Fruitcrow and dozens of antbird species!
Cinereous, Undulated, Variegated Tinamou, Blue-throated Piping Guan, Speckled Chachalaca, Marbled Wood Quail, Anhinga, Rufescent Tiger Heron, Agami, Boat-billed, Capped and Zigzag Heron, Greater Yellow-headed Vulture, King Vulture, Slender-billed Kite, Slate-colored and White Hawk, Harpy and Crested Eagle (both very rare), Black and Ornate Hawk-Eagle, Red-throated, Black and Yellow-headed Caracara, Grey-winged Trumpeter, Grey-necked Wood Rail, Chestnut-headed, Black-banded and Grey-breasted Crake, Sungrebe, Yellow-billed Tern, Blue-and-yellow, Scarlet, Chestnut-fronted and Red-bellied Macaw, Dusky-headed and Cobalt-winged Parakeet, Scarlet-shouldered Parrotlet, Black-headed, Orange-cheeked and Blue-headed Parrot, Yellow-crowned, Orange-winged and Southern Mealy Amazon, Hoatzin, Black-bellied Cuckoo, Greater Ani, Tawny-bellied Screech Owl, Black-banded Owl, Ferruginous Pygmy Owl, Great and Long-tailed Potoo, Fiery Topaz (rare), Ecuadorian Piedtail, Peruvian Racket-tail, White-tailed Hillstar, Black-throated Brilliant, Gould's Jewelfront, Gorgeted Woodstar, Olive-spotted Hummingbird, Black-tailed, Green-backed and Amazonian Trogon, Green-and-rufous and American Pygmy Kingfisher, Amazonian Motmot, White-eared, Yellow-billed, White-chinned, Coppery-chested and Great Jacamar, White-necked, Chestnut-capped and Collared Puffbird, Lanceolated Monklet, Brown Nunlet, Black-fronted, White-fronted and Yellow-billed Nunbird, Scarlet-crowned, Gilded and Lemon-throated Barbet, Black-mandibled, White-throated and Channel-billed Toucan, Golden-collared Toucanet, Lettered, Chestnut-eared, Many-banded and Ivory-billed Aracari, Lafresnaye's Piculet, White-throated, Golden-green, Spot-breasted, Scale-breasted, Chestnut, Cream-colored, Rufous-headed, Ringed and Crimson-crested Woodpecker, Barred, Lined, Mouse-colored, Castelnau's, Russet, Dusky-throated and Cinereous Antshrike, Yasuni, Ornate, Rufous-tailed, Pygmy, Moustached, Plain-throated, Dugand's and Yellow-breasted Antwren, White-backed Fire-eye, White-browed, Black-faced, Black-and-white, Silvered, Plumbeous, Sooty, White-plumed, Lunulated, Spot-backed, Dot-backed and Scale-backed Antbird, Black-spotted and Reddish-winged Bare-eye, Ash-throated and Chestnut-crowned Gnateater, Plain-backed, Ochre-striped and Thrush-like Antpitta, Rusty-belted and White-crowned Tapaculo, Rufous-capped, Short-tailed and Striated Antthrush, Black-tailed Leaftosser, Lesser Hornero, White-bellied and Parker's Spinetail, Orange-fronted Plushcrown, Point-tailed Palmcreeper, Chestnut-winged Hookbill, Cinnamon-rumped Foliage-gleaner, Long-billed, Cinnamon-throated, Amazonian Barred and Black-banded Woodcreeper, Ringed Antpipit, Lesser Wagtail-Tyrant, Slender-footed and Ecuadorian Tyrannulet, Double-banded Pygmy Tyrant, White-eyed Tody-Tyrant, Golden-winged Tody-Flycatcher, Brownish Twistwing, Orange-eyed Flycatcher, Drab Water Tyrant, Citron-bellied Attila, Amazonian Umbrellabird, Plum-throated and Spangled Cotinga, Screaming Piha, Bare-necked Fruitcrow, Dwarf Tyrant-Manakin, Blue-rumped, White-bearded, Blue-backed, Wire-tailed and Golden-headed Manakin, Wing-barred Piprites, Violaceous Jay, Coraya Wren, Black-capped Donacobius, Red-capped Cardinal, Flame-crested, Yellow-bellied, Paradise, Opal-rumped and Opal-crowned Tanager, Golden-collared Honeycreeper, Olive Oropendola.
Brown Woolley Monkey, Common Squirrel Monkey White-fronted Capuchin, Golden-mantled and Napo Tamarin, Pygmy Marmoset, Dusky Titi, Red Howler, Monk Saki, White-bellied Spider Monkey, Black Agouti
subtropical cloud-forest, tropical foothill forest, Rio Napo river-edge forest, Rio Napo river islands, Amazon terrafirme forest, Amazon varzea forest, Amazon riparian habitat and blackwater lagoons
pleasant in the subtropics and foothills, warmer and more humid in the Amazon lowlands
8 with 1 Rockjumper leader & local birding leader
easy to moderate pace
top notch lodges
in general easy birding with tricky species in primary forest
400+
great, especially at the Wildsumaco feeders, NWC canopy tower and during the canoe rides at Sani Lodge
What a tour! We ended up with nearly 700 species seen and heard, and I ended up with almost twice as many lifers than I had anticipated. Dusan was excellent: Attentive to those having difficulties, enthusiastic, energetic, indefatigable, and a complete whiz at the birds. He was as excited about each new sighting as was the rest of the group, right through to the last day. We saw many very special birds, birds that I have missed over three previous trips to Ecuador as well as quite rare birds that, although specialties for this tour, require great effort and skill to unveil (think Buff-fronted Owl). Climate change affected the tour to a certain extent, but Dusan always had a clever plan or an alternative site to try for the bird again. The tour was a bit more strenuous than the itinerary led me to believe, but all at the participants willingly went the extra mile with Dusan every time. We were fortunate to have a pretty good group, a great driver, and good luck with the weather.
We were so fortunate to be able to experience the top notch birding skills of Dušan. He is very professional but also so personable. It is a tricky thing to manage many different personalities and keep everyone happy but Dusan made our trip so enjoyable.
Our guides, Dušan Brinkhuizen and Andrés Trujillo, are excellent in their jobs. They are very helpful and kind. All our tour members were very happy with them.
Before our trip Daniel Danckwerts, with Rockjumper, was so attentive with our question and concerns. This was a wonderful experience. My favorite was the week at Sani Lodge - fascinating and fun. The Galapagos was such a learning experience and Darwin (the Galapagos guide) was so knowledgeable and willing to answer any questions. Tuomas (our Rockjumper guide) was Very knowledgeable of birds and bird vocalizations. Very impressive and so helpful.
Dušan is an excellent field ornithologist with an encyclopaedic knowledge of bird song, taxonomy, and field identification marks. Ornithology is Dušan’s passion. He is also excellent with the clients – friendly, courteous, patient, and anxious that everyone sees all the birds and enjoys the tour. It was a great tour!
12 Nov 2024 - 20 Nov 2024 (9 days)
USD4,295 - 1 Space Available
Tour Leader: Robert Wilcox
13 Apr 2025 - 21 Apr 2025 (9 days)
USD4,395 - Spaces Available
Tour Leader: Dušan Brinkhuizen
11 Nov 2025 - 19 Nov 2025 (9 days)
USD4,395 - Spaces Available
Tour Leader: Adam Walleyn
Tour price (Per person): USD4,395 * GBP3,553 * EUR4,122 * AUD6,850
Single Supplement: USD670 * GBP542 * EUR628 * AUD1,044
Flight costs: USD200 * GBP162 * EUR188 * AUD312
Can be linked with: Ecuador - Northern: Eastern Andes: Paramo & Cloud Forest II 2025
Ecuador - Northern: Eastern Andes: Paramo & Cloud Forest I 2024 - February 2024
Ecuador - Northern: Choco Cloud Forest I 2024 - February 2024
Ecuador - Northern: Eastern Andes: Paramo & Cloud Forest II 2023 - November 2023
Ecuador - Northern: Choco Cloud Forest II 2023 - October 2023
Ecuador - Northern: Eastern Andes: Paramo & Cloud Forest I 2023 - February 2023
Ecuador - Northern: Choco Cloud Forest I 2023 - February 2023
Ecuador - Southern Endemics 2023 - January 2023
Ecuador - Pacific Coast Extension 2023 - January 2023
Ecuador - Northern: Ultimate Amazon: Sumaco Foothills & Rio Napo II 2022 - November 2022
Ecuador - Northern: Eastern Andes: Paramo & Cloud Forest II 2022 - November 2022
Ecuador - Northern: Choco Cloud Forest II 2022 - November 2022
Ecuador - Rare Bird Club 2022 - October 2022
Ecuador - Northern: Ultimate Amazon: Sumaco Foothills & Rio Napo I 2022 - April 2022
Ecuador - Northern: Eastern Andes: Paramo & Cloud Forest I 2022 - April 2022
Ecuador - Northern: Choco Cloud Forest I 2022 - March 2022
Ecuador - Northern: Ultimate Amazon: Sumaco Foothills & Rio Napo III 2022 - February 2022
Ecuador - Northern: Eastern Andes: Paramo & Cloud Forest III 2022 - February 2022
Ecuador - Northern: Choco Cloud Forest III 2022 - February 2022
Ecuador - Southern Endemics 2022 - January 2022
Ecuador - Northern: Ultimate Amazon: Sumaco Foothills & Rio Napo II 2021 - November 2021
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