Scaled Fruiteater (Ampelioides tschudii)
A typical fruiteater with a scattered distribution from Venezuela south as far as Bolivia. Can be tricky to find as they often perch inconspicuously in the middle or upper levels of Andean cloud forest.
One of the birds I most wanted to see on this trip and despite hearing them a couple of times earlier it wasn't until we were at Refugio Paz de las Aves near Mindo (Pichincha/Ecuador) that our guide picked it up - what we assume was a family group (male/female/single juv) quietly working through a fruiting tree. Although quite close the dense foliage made it difficult to get a whole bird in focus without too many leaves in the way! This is the adult female.
Scaled Fruiteater (Ampelioides tschudii)
A typical fruiteater with a scattered distribution from Venezuela south as far as Bolivia. Can be tricky to find as they often perch inconspicuously in the middle or upper levels of Andean cloud forest.
One of the birds I most wanted to see on this trip and despite hearing them a couple of times earlier it wasn't until we were at Refugio Paz de las Aves near Mindo (Pichincha/Ecuador) that our guide picked it up - what we assume was a family group (male/female/single juv) quietly working through a fruiting tree. Although quite close the dense foliage made it difficult to get a whole bird in focus without too many leaves in the way! This is the adult female.