Ecuador is a birdwatcher’s paradise, home to over 1,600 species of birds. With its diverse range of habitats including the Amazon rainforest, the Andes mountains, the Pacific coast and the Galapagos Islands, there are excellent birdwatching opportunities year-round in Ecuador. However, some times of the year stand out as particularly good for observing certain bird families or taking advantage of ideal weather conditions. So when is the optimal time to visit Ecuador for birding? The answer depends on what you hope to see and experience.
Weather and Climate in Ecuador
Ecuador’s climate is diverse, ranging from tropical in the Amazon basin to cold and windy in the Andes highlands. There are two main seasons:
– Wet season: October to May, characterized by hot, humid weather with frequent rainshowers. The heaviest rainfall is typically December to April.
– Dry season: June to September, featuring cooler, drier weather. The highlands can be quite chilly at night.
Best Times for Birding in the Amazon Rainforest
Ecuador’s section of the Amazon basin holds an incredible diversity of bird species including toucans, parrots, hummingbirds, tanagers, antbirds, woodcreepers and more. The best time to look for Amazonian birds is during the drier months from June to September when decreased rainfall minimizes flooding, keeping trails accessible. The dry season also concentrates food sources, drawing more birds out into the open. While fewer species may be breeding during this time, you can spot migrants from North America along with resident Amazonian species.
Arriving in September or October allows you to catch the start of breeding activity while enjoying dry weather conditions. From October to December, migratory birds from North America have arrived in the Amazon to spend the winter. Resident birds are nesting more actively and the forests echo with the sounds of displaying manakins and other species. Just be prepared for frequent heavy downpours.
Top Birds to See in the Amazon
| Species | Description |
|---|---|
| Scarlet Macaw | Large, brightly colored red, blue and yellow parrots that often travel in noisy pairs or family groups. |
| Toucans | Iconic, oversized colorful beaks make toucans a birdwatcher favorite. Common species include Toco, White-throated and Channel-billed. |
| Hoatzin | Bizarre looking bird with funky crested head, colorful plumage and stenchSimilar to manure. Often perched along rivers. |
| Woodcreepers | These agile birds with curved bills climb up and around tree trunks searching for insects. |
| Tanagers | Small, bright tropical birds with striking color combinations of red, yellow, blue, black and green. |
| Antbirds | Skulking birds that forage in the understory, following swarms of army ants to snatch insects flushed by their movement. |
Birding the Andes Mountains
The Ecuadorian Andes are an essential stop, holding about one-third of the country’s bird species. Birders should target the humid cloud forests on the eastern slopes, which support an incredibly diverse bird community. The best months to visit these rich forests are October and November, during the transition between dry and wet seasons. Migrant birds have arrived to overwinter, resident altitudinal migrants have moved to higher elevations and breeding activity peaks. Key species to spot include colorful tanagers, busy flocks of Slaty brush finches, breathtaking Sword-billed hummingbirds with exaggerated beaks, and the bizarre but engaging Andean Cock-of-the-rock.
Venturing above tree line, you can search for special high-altitude birds adapted to the paramo ecosystem. Try spotting majestic Andean Condors, Ecuador’s national symbol, along with Carunculated Caracaras and the aptly named Giant Conebill. Conditions are often driest and warmest from June to August, though you may need to bring extra layers to contend with chill winds.
Top Birds of the Andes Mountains
| Species | Description |
|---|---|
| Sword-billed Hummingbird | This hummingbird’s bill is longer than its body at up to 4 inches. It feeds on equally long tubed flowers. |
| Golden-headed Quetzal | Brilliant green and red bird with an exceptionally long tail. The crowning golden head of the male inspires legends. |
| Andean Cock-of-the-rock | Unmistakable bright orange male with a fanciful fan-shaped crest and boisterous communal displays. |
| Toucan Barbet | Plump green fruit-eater with an oversized yellow, blue and red beak providing great camouflage. |
| Carunculated Caracara | Imposing raptor with featherless yellow and red skin on head and neck. |
| Andean Condor | One of the world’s largest flying birds, the Andean Condor has a huge wingspan up to 10 feet. |
Birding Ecuador’s Pacific Coast
Ecuador’s Pacific coastline features dry tropical forest, mangrove estuaries and beaches that attract seabirds, shorebirds and other migratory species mainly arriving September through November from as far as Alaska and Antarctica. Reserves like Churute Mangroves Ecological Reserve shelter huge rookeries of frigatebirds, boobies, pelicans and cormorants. Beaches and coastal wetlands harbor masses of terns, sandpipers, plovers, skimmers and more shorebirds. Upwellings of cold nutrient-rich water offshore draw concentrations of feeding seabirds like Waved Albatross and Peruvian Boobies.
To catch the peak of shorebird action, plan to visit mudflats and wetlands like Puerto Hondo from October to March. Resident and endemic species like the Esmeraldas Woodstar hummingbird and Orange-crowned Euphonia can be spotted year-round.
Top Coastal Birds
| Species | Description |
|---|---|
| Blue-footed Booby | Goofy looking seabird with bright blue feet used in mating displays. Often seen plunge diving for fish. |
| Magnificent Frigatebird | A gangly but graceful black bird with a huge wingspan and red gular sac inflated to attract females. |
| Gray-backed Hawk | This handsome raptor is a skillful flycatcher often spotted perched on power lines. |
| Pacific Hornero | Shorebird notable for its yellow eyes and long, thin, downturned bill. |
| Waved Albatross | With a 7-foot wingspan, this elegant albatross only breeds on Espanola in the Galapagos Islands. |
| Galapagos Penguin | The only penguin species that lives north of the equator, found on Fernandina and Isabela. |
Birding the Galapagos Islands
The Galapagos Islands support the highest concentration of endemic bird species anywhere in the world. Roughly 30 species of birds breed exclusively on the Galapagos. Each island has its own unique collection of species best observed at different times. On islands like Espanola, breeding season from March to December is ideal for seeing mating rituals and young hatchlings. While on islands like Fernandina where breeding is limited to only a few months, bird populations peak in the non-breeding season.
Year-round you may spot the Galapagos’s star endemic species like Darwin’s finches, Galapagos Hawks, Galapagos Doves, Waved Albatross and Blue-footed Boobies. Colonies of seabirds, including both Red-footed and Nazca boobies, are always active. Follow the advice of locals and naturalist guides to pinpoint the best times on each island.
Endemic Galapagos Birds
| Species | Description |
|---|---|
| Galapagos Penguin | Tropical penguin that survives the heat of the equator thanks to cold waters offshore. |
| Flightless Cormorant | The only cormorant worldwide that lost its ability to fly in the isolation of the Galapagos. |
| Galapagos Hawk | Fearless top predator and the islands’ only native raptor species. |
| Large Ground Finch | A large, drab-colored Darwin’s finch with a massive crushing bill. |
| Woodpecker Finch | Tool-using finch that uses cactus spines or twigs to pry out insects. |
| Vegetarian Finch | Finch with a tweezer-like bill adept at plucking seeds and berries. |
Weather Considerations Across Ecuador
While weather varies significantly across Ecuador, these guidelines apply for optimum birding:
Amazon Rainforest
– Dry season of June to September offers the best access and sightings along trails.
– October through November is excellent for spotting migrant arrivals from North America.
Andes Mountains
– October and November are ideal with migrant birds present, breeding activity at its peak and clear weather in the cloud forests.
– Drier months of June to August are best for very high elevation paramo birding.
Coast and Galapagos
– Coast: September to November to catch migrant shorebirds and seabirds.
– Galapagos: Follow seasonal breeding patterns on each island for endemic species.
Conclusion
While Ecuador offers world-class birding year-round, the peak seasons are October through November in the Amazon and cloud forests and September through November on the coast and islands. Time your travels to take advantage of ideal climate conditions and critical events in avian breeding and migration cycles for the best chance to spot a wide diversity of bird species. Whether you’re a first-time birder or a seasoned pro, Ecuador’s incredible avifauna will leave you awestruck! Consult field guides, naturalist guides or tour companies to map out your dream itinerary.
