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Notes from Mindo & NW Andes (Ecuador)

Posted Feb 10, 2026 by Jon Feenstra
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Jon Feenstra

Leader

Learn more about the Ecuador: Mindo and the Northwest Andes tour

We just got back into civilization after a week of day trips from Mindo in the Andes of northwest Ecuador. With home base at a posh forest lodge in the cloud forest, we did a little birding uphill into the elfin temperate forest and a little birding downhill into the lowland rainforest, and a lot of birding just in between. We tallied about 330 species, demonstrating the incredible diversity at our doorstep.


Hummingbirds were a particular highlight of this tour with peak diversity here in the cloud forest. We ended up with 42 species by the end of the tour including the impossibly-proportioned Sword-billed Hummingbird.
Hummingbirds were a particular highlight of this tour with peak diversity here in the cloud forest. We ended up with 42 species by the end of the tour including the impossibly-proportioned Sword-billed Hummingbird.
Jon Feenstra
We also saw the critically endangered Black-breasted Puffleg that coincidentally had been visiting a bird feeder at one of the reserves we visited. This one was a stunning male.
We also saw the critically endangered Black-breasted Puffleg that coincidentally had been visiting a bird feeder at one of the reserves we visited. This one was a stunning male.
Jon Feenstra
Antpittas are another focus of this tour and many locals have a species or two that will come to worms that they place at the forest edge at a specific time of day. Chestnut-naped Antpitta is one of the larger species and confined to a pretty narrow elevation range.
Antpittas are another focus of this tour and many locals have a species or two that will come to worms that they place at the forest edge at a specific time of day. Chestnut-naped Antpitta is one of the larger species and confined to a pretty narrow elevation range.
Jon Feenstra
Another big, cool thing we saw at a couple of places was Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan. Since it’s on the cover of the Birds of Ecuador book, it has a special place on the bird list.
Another big, cool thing we saw at a couple of places was Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan. Since it’s on the cover of the Birds of Ecuador book, it has a special place on the bird list.
Jon Feenstra
One of the real specialties of the area, and a species of a monotypic family, is Toucan Barbet. We first heard their goose-like honking from somewhere out in the forest, but they later came down to peck at some bananas and give us some great views.
One of the real specialties of the area, and a species of a monotypic family, is Toucan Barbet. We first heard their goose-like honking from somewhere out in the forest, but they later came down to peck at some bananas and give us some great views.
Jon Feenstra
We saw several species of cotinga, including Orange-breasted Fruiteater, a pair of which was lurking around the driveway of one of the reserves.
We saw several species of cotinga, including Orange-breasted Fruiteater, a pair of which was lurking around the driveway of one of the reserves.
Jon Feenstra
Another wonderful cotinga and a spectacular bird of the forest of western Ecuador is Long-wattled Umbrellabird, two of which were being seen eating grapes at one of the reserves we visited.
Another wonderful cotinga and a spectacular bird of the forest of western Ecuador is Long-wattled Umbrellabird, two of which were being seen eating grapes at one of the reserves we visited.
Jon Feenstra
Crazy tropical forest things weren’t limited to birds, of course, and we were thrilled to have a rare encounter with a giant earthworm as it was about to cross the road. It was well over 1m long and very slimy. We gave it an assist to the other side of the road and back off into the dense forest.
Crazy tropical forest things weren’t limited to birds, of course, and we were thrilled to have a rare encounter with a giant earthworm as it was about to cross the road. It was well over 1m long and very slimy. We gave it an assist to the other side of the road and back off into the dense forest.
Jon Feenstra
We were no strangers to rain on this tour, but there were plenty of little places to hide from the weather, some that provided us both with great birding and hot coffee!
We were no strangers to rain on this tour, but there were plenty of little places to hide from the weather, some that provided us both with great birding and hot coffee!
Jon Feenstra