Jon Feenstra on his just-completed tour, Ecuador: Mindo and the Northwest Andes

“Maria! Venga!” and somehow, impossibly, a Giant Antpitta comes bouncing out of the dark undergrowth of the forest, gobbles up some worms, and poses for a cluster of birders. That was, of course, a special moment, but only one of many on our week of birding all sorts of woodland habitats from high elevation to low, some with antpittas, though most without, but all touched by Ecuador’s signature diversity and short distances between epic birding experiences. Though the antpittas were hard to beat, we had our fair share of classic cloud-forest birds including Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan, Hooded, Scarlet-bellied, Blue-winged, Black-chested and Black-chinned Mountain-Tanagers, and thirty-nine species of hummingbirds from the ridiculous Sword-billed Hummingbird to the feisty little Booted Rackettails. Our week was certainly filled with color.

Giant Antpitta (and the back of Angel Paz's head)

Overlooking Ecuadorian Cloud Forest

Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan

Orange-breasted Fruiteater

Our group under the Cock-of-the Rock statue outside of Mindo...

...and practicing 'civilized' birding at Mirador del Rio Blanco