top of page
JM Buchet Photography
Other birds of Ecuador
Tanagers and Flowerpiercers
Alongside the hummingbirds, it was impossible not to take an interest in the many other birds we encountered throughout our journey in Ecuador. Toucans, tanagers, aracaris, cock-of-the-rocks… one species followed another, with sometimes surprising shapes and colours. This diversity was yet another wonderful surprise of the journey.
Toucans
It is hard not to be impressed by toucans, both by their colours and by the sometimes astonishing size of their bills! At feeding sites, we were also able to observe a clear hierarchy among the birds, largely dictated by their size: toucans dominate the barbets, which in turn take precedence over the tanagers, while the smaller birds generally wait their turn. Yet this hierarchy does not stop a few opportunists from trying their luck, despite the difference in size!
Barbets
Cock-of-the-rock, Trogons and Motmot
Like many birds that live concealed beneath the forest canopy, Andean Cocks-of-the-rock are difficult to approach. The breeding season, however, provides a wonderful opportunity to observe them, as the males gather at leks in the mountains, where they display to one another. After a twenty-minute approach on foot, with a little patience and a great deal of discretion, we were able to observe these spectacular birds through the dense vegetation and photograph them in their natural environment.
Antpittas
Usually very shy, antpittas are difficult to observe and even more difficult to photograph, as they tend to remain hidden in dense vegetation. We were nevertheless able to get close to them thanks to the patience of our hosts, who have gradually developed a technique for approaching them by attracting them with worms. A wonderful opportunity to discover these particularly elusive birds!
Araçaris
Parrots
Long-wattled Umbrellabird
Food is often the key to approaching certain species that are difficult to observe in dense vegetation and encouraging them to emerge from cover. Insects and butterflies are particularly sought after by umbrellabirds, trogons, motmots, woodcreepers and many other insectivorous birds. A wonderful opportunity for us to observe and photograph them!
Woodcreepers
Woodpeckers
bottom of page