Antpittas
View allAll Photos Tagged jocotoco
Masked Flowerpiercer, Diglossa cyanea cyanea , 14.5 cm. / 5.75 in. COMMON and widespread on both slopes in temperate forests and woodlands, borders and adjacent clearings and gardens.
Yanacocha Ecological Reserve, Jocotoco Foundation, Pichincha Province, Ecuador.
©bryanjsmith.
Jocotoco Antpitta, Gralleria ridgelyi 23 cm / 9 in. UNCOMMON and ENDANGERED. Extremely local antpitta discovered and scientifically described in 1998. We were lucky to be birding with Robert Ridgely to view this bird, who was part of the work done to discover and describe this species. Robert was also responsible for establishing the Foundation de Conservacion Jocotoco to preserve habitats critical for birds.
Jocotoco Trail, Tapichalaca Biological Reserve, Zamora-Chinchipe Province, Ecuador.
©bryanjsmith.
Large antpitta with a tiny range in southeast Ecuador (first discovered in 2010). Unmistakable. Typical antpitta shape: plump and short-tailed with long legs, like a grapefruit on stilts. Juvenile brown above and pale silvery-gray below with a black and rufous cap and thick white mustache patch. Rare and local on or near the ground in the upper subtropical zone from around 2,300 to 2,600 m; especially fond of bamboo patches. Essentially never seen away from the Tapichalaca Reserve in Ecuador, where several birds have been trained to eat worms. (eBird)
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A wonderful closeup of this rare and pretty bird. This species was only discovered in 1997 and scientifically described in 1999, so we were very fortunate to see this adult as well a juvenile as the worm feeding location. When we were there, it was estimated that there many have been just 50 birds of the species.
Reserva Tapichalaca, Ecuador. February 2010.
Mindo Birding Tours.
The White-tailed Jay, Cyanocorax mystacalis, is found in southwestern Ecuador and northwestern Ecuador. This one was seen near a Jocotoco Foundation Lodge in the Jorupe Reserve.
For species information: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White-tailed_jay
See also: www.inaturalist.org/taxa/8472-Cyanocorax-mystacalis
February 27, 2025. Jorupe Reserve, Macara, Ecuador.
Jocotoco Antpitta, Grallaria ridgelyi, 23 cm. / 9 in. ENDANGERED and DECLINING. UNCOMMON, shy and wary on or near the ground inside temperature forest with extensive bamboo. Discovered in 1997. We were very fortunate to be birding here with Robert Ridgely (who had a part in the discovery of this bird and for whom the bird is named). He is also a director of the Jocotoco Foundation.
Jocotoco Foundation's Tapichalaca Biological Reserve, Loja Province, Ecuador.
©bryanjsmith.
From the archives! The signature bird of the Jocotoco refugre and lodge network in southern Ecuador.
Female Sword-billed Hummingbird, Ensifera ensifera, 11.5 cm. / 4.5 in. Carries a 90 - 100 mm. / 3.5 - 4 in. sword. SCARCE and local (erratic) in canopy and borders of temperate forest, secondary woodland, and shrubby areas on both slopes.
Yanacocha Ecological Reserve, Jocotoco Foundation, North of Quito, Pichincha Province, Ecuador.
©bryanjsmith.
Large antpitta with a tiny range in southeast Ecuador (first discovered in 2010). Unmistakable. Typical antpitta shape: plump and short-tailed with long legs, like a grapefruit on stilts. Adult brown above and pale silvery-gray below with a black cap and thick white mustache patch. Rare and local on or near the ground in the upper subtropical zone from around 2,300 to 2,600 m; especially fond of bamboo patches. Essentially never seen away from the Tapichalaca Reserve in Ecuador, where several birds have been trained to eat worms. (eBird)
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This species was only discovered in 1997 and scientifically described in 1999, so we were very fortunate to see this adult as well a juvenile as the worm feeding location. When we were there, it was estimated that there many have been just 50 birds of the species.
Reserva Tapichalaca, Ecuador. February 2010.
Mindo Birding Tours.
Grallaria ridgelyi.
Without doubt, this was one of the star birds of the trip. Only discovered as recently as 1997, it is a large and striking Antpitta that is limited to small pockets of habitat in Southern Ecuador and Northern Peru. The fact that it remained undiscovered until so recently, is probably a testament to how hard it is to find !
The ability of a few dedicated individuals to encourage one or two birds to trade their secretive existence for a few worms, gives birders the chance of a privileged encounter...
Shining Sunbeam, Aglaeactis cupripennis, 11 - 11.5 cm. / 4.25 - 4.5 in. Numerous and conspicuous in scrubby areas, woodland borders, and tree-line shrubbery in temperate zones and paramo. I was not lucky enough to catch one on a sunny day - man, they really shine in the sun!
Yanacocha Ecological Reserve, Jocotoco Foundation, Pichincha Province, Ecuador.
©bryanjsmith.
Yellow-breasted Brushfinch, Rufous-naped Brushfinch, Atlapetes latinuchus, 17 cm. / 6.75 in. COMMON and widespread in woodland and forest borders on both slopes and above central and inter-andean valleys.
Yanococha Ecological Reserve, Jocotoco Foundation, Pichincha Province, Ecuador.
©bryanjsmith.
Tapichalaca Reserve, Ecuador. I am past the halfway point of my Southern Ecuador bird photography trip. Lots of rain and some tough hikes to photograph birds, but a successful trip so far.
This species was not described to science until 1997. It is known only from a small area of southern Ecuador, barely crossing into Northern Peru. Tapichalaca Reserve, Zamora-Chinchipe province, Ecuador
Jocotoco Antpitta, Gralaria Jocotoco, Grallaria ridgelyi, 23 cm. / 9 in. UNCOMMON and extremely local. On, or near ground inside lower temperate forest with extensive bamboo. Very shy and wary and difficult to see. We were priveleged to be with Robert Ridgelyi when we saw this bird. Robert had recently "discovered" this large Antpitta. Robert also authored the definitive "The Birds of Ecuador".
Jocotoco Trail, Tapichalaca Reserve, Ecuador.
©bryanjsmith.
Grallaria ridgelyi.
Without doubt, this was one of the star birds of the trip. Only discovered as recently as 1997, it is a large and striking Antpitta that is limited to small pockets of habitat in Southern Ecuador and Northern Peru. The fact that it remained undiscovered until so recently, is probably a testament to how hard it is to find !
The ability of a few dedicated individuals to encourage one or two birds to trade their secretive existence for a few worms, gives birders the chance of a privileged encounter...
Rare and extremely local on or near ground in temperate forest with extensive bamboo on e. slope in s. Zamora-Chinchipe. 2300-2650 m. Formerly very difficult to observe, in part because of the steep and heavily vegetated terrain it favors, in part because it appears genuinely shy and wary – but more recently easily seen at Tapichalaca’s famous feeding station where we saw it in rainy and foggy conditions.
Grallaria ridgelyi.
Without doubt, this was one of the star birds of the trip. Only discovered as recently as 1997, it is a large and striking Antpitta that is limited to small pockets of habitat in Southern Ecuador and Northern Peru. The fact that it remained undiscovered until so recently, is probably a testament to how hard it is to find !
The ability of a few dedicated individuals to encourage one or two birds to trade their secretive existence for a few worms, gives birders the chance of a privileged encounter...
Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager, Anisognathus igniventris erythrotus, 18.5 cm. / 7.25 in. NUMEROUS and widespread in temperate woodland, forest borders, even in hedgerows agricultural regions on both slopes.
Yanacocha Ecological Reserve, Jocotoco Foundation, Pichincha Province, Ecuador. ©bryanjsmith
Golden-breasted Puffleg, Eriocnemis mosquera, 11.5 cm. / 4.5 in. Local in temperate forest, borders, and adjacent shrubby areas in the north.
Yanacocha Ecological Reserve, Jocotoco Foundation, Pichincha Province, Ecuador.
©bryanjsmith.
This male Wire-crested Thorntail hummingbird, Discosura popelairii, sometimes feedling in flight and at other times feeding by perching on stems or leaves of the verbena in the lodge gardens. I had seen the species before at Wild Sumaco Lodge in eastern Ecuador, but wasn't able to get a good image, so I was glad to find the species again.
For more information on the species: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wire-crested_thorntail
Information on the ecolodge: www.jocotoco.org.ec/wb#/EN/CopalingaLodge
February 22, 2024. Copalinga Lodge, Southern Ecuador.
Masked Flowerpiercer, Diglossopis cyanea, 14.5 cm. / 5.75 in. COMMON and widespread on both slopes in temperate forest and woodland, borders, and adjacent clearings and gardens.
Yanacocha Ecological Reserve, Jocotoco Foundation, Pichincha Province, Ecuador.
©bryanjsmith.
White-tails range from North America through Central America and into South America as far as Peru. We saw several on an early morning hike through the paramo, the high grasslands, at the Jocotoco Foundation's Antisanilla Reserve that was recently set up to help conservation of the 100 or so Andean Condors in Ecuador. Our morning started with a distant view of a Spectacled Bear and a Black-chested Buzzard Eagle. We later got to watch an adult male Condor preening on its cliff side perch for an hour before it took flight and sailed by just above us. Visits in the reserve require advance registration and hiring one of the reserve guards to accompany you. This is a high-altitude reserve ranging from 10,800 to 15,750 feet. I think we were at about 14,000 feet.
{Explore #33 11/24/2018]
Antisanilla Reserve, about 30 miles southeast of Quito, Ecuador. November 3, 2018.
El Oro Parakeet, Pyrrhura orcesi, 23-24 cm / 9-9.5 in. ENDANGERED parakeet with less than 1,000 individuals remaining. Very local in lower and foothills of sub-tropical forest on west slope in the south. The only protected area is this site established in 1999 by the American Bird Conservancy & Jocotoco Foundation partnership. Only discovered in 1980 and described to science in 1988. Diagnostic image with one parrot hiding lower right among the foliage.
Buenaventura Reserve, El Oro Province, Ecuador.
©bryanjsmith.
Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager, Anisognathus igniventris, 18.5 cm. / 7.25 in. Relatively numerous and widespread in temperate woodland, forest borders, agricultural area hedgerows on both slopes.
Yanacocha Ecological Reserve, Jocotoco Foundation, Pichincha Province, Ecuador.
©bryanjsmith.
This enigmatic species of antpitta was only discovered in 1997. It is rare, endangered and local, found only in a thin strip of bamboo-dominated forest between 2200m and 2700m in the montane forest in the south of Ecuador. It spends most of its time close to the ground although I am told it can fly, which is a wonder since it is shaped like a football with legs.
Ramphastos ambiguus swainsonii
I had a great time exploring Jocotoco Foundations Buenaventura reserve. Some really amazing wildlife on their grounds. Check out their site to learn more. www.fjocotoco.org
copyright James H. Muchmore Jr.
Jocotoco Antpitta, Galaria Jocotoco, Grallaria ridgelyi, 23 cm. / 9 in. ENDANGERED. UNCOMMON and extremely local on or near the ground inside temperate forest with extensive bamboo. We were lucky to be birding with Robert Ridgely who both had a hand in describing and is mainly responsible for protecting habitat for this species in Ecuador, along with the Jocotoco Foundation.
Jocotoco Trail, Tapachalaca Reserve, Ecuador.
©bryanjsmith.
Female Great Sapphirewing, Pterophanes cyanopterus, 15.5 cm. / 6 in. Found in shrubby temperate forest borders and tree-line vegetation on both slopes in the humid regions.
Yanacocha Ecological Reserve, Jocotoco Foundation, Pichincha Province, Ecuador.
©bryanjsmith.
A collaborative single-exposure taken by myself, Jules Wyman, Julien Ueda, Quinn Agnew, and Andrew Connoy of the first Chocoan tree boa (Corallus blombergi) we encountered in Canandé Reserve this past summer, found by Julien alongside a stream on our second night in the reserve. This was one of the focal species of our surveys, and after briefly capturing it for closer study, five of us worked together on this collaborative photograph before its release. In this 84-second exposure, we each had a role: balancing the camera and timing the exposure, carefully managing the snake, illuminating the immediate scene with two off-camera flashes, illuminating the stream below with a flashlight held underwater, and lighting the surrounding forest with our flashlights.
A huge thank you to Fundacion Jocotoco for having us and to Ismael Castellano for his guidance and friendship!
GLOSSY FLOWERPIERCER Diglossa lafresnayii. This photo shows the highly specialized bill of the flowerpiercer. This image was taken in the Yanacocha Reserve high up on the northwestern side of Volcán Pichincha in northwest Ecuador.
Esta foto de un Pinchaflor Satinado Diglossa lafresnayii muestra el pico muy especializado del Pinchaflor. La foto se sacó en la Reserva Yanacocha de la Fundación Jocotoco en las faldas nordoccidentales del Volcán Pichincha de gran altura de Ecuador en mayo de 2012.
For OPTIMAL VIEWING of this Glossy Flowerpiercer, VIEW AT THE VERY LARGE SIZE (810 x 900) use the direct Flickr link: www.flickr.com/photos/neotropical_birds_mayan_ruins/72483...
Rufous Wren, Cinnycerthia unirufa unibrunnea, 16.5 cm / 6.5 in. COMMON locally in the undergrowth of temperate forest. Beautiful song.
Jocotoco Trail, Tapichalaca Biological Reserve, Loja Province, Ecuador.
©bryanjsmith.
Sapphire-vented Puffleg, Eriocnemis luciani, 11.5 cm. / 4.5 in. Locally numerous in temperate forest borders and shrubby areas, up to near tree-line.
Yanacocha Province, Jocotoco Foundation, Pinchincha Province, Ecuador.
©bryanjsmith.
White-throated Quail-Dove, Zentrygon frenata, 28 - 32 cm. / 11 - 13 in. Sub-tropical and tropical moist, montane forest. Largest of the quail-doves.
Jocotoco Trail, Tapachalaca Reserve, Zamora-Chinchipe Province, Ecuador.
©bryanjsmith.
MASKED FLOWERPIERCER Diglossopis cyanea in the Yanacocha Reserve on the northwestern flanks of Volcán Pichincha in northwest Ecuador.
The Clements Checklist currently has the Masked Flowerpiercer placed in the genus Diglossa; in that case, the scientific name is Diglossa cyanea.
Esta foto de un Pinchaflor Enmascarado Diglossa cyanea o Diglossopis cyanea se sacó en la Reserva Yanacocha de la Fundación Jocotoco en las faldas nordoccidentales del Volcán Pichincha de gran altura de Ecuador en mayo de 2012.
For OPTIMAL VIEWING of this Masked Flowerpiercer, VIEW AT THE GIGANTIC SIZE (1745 x 1700) use the direct Flickr link: www.flickr.com/photos/neotropical_birds_mayan_ruins/72155...
MASKED FLOWERPIERCER Diglossopis cyanea. A Masked Flowerpiercer is perching on a branch in the high altitude Yanacocha Reserve (3,400 meters or 11,155 feet) on Volcán Pichincha just to the west of Quito in northwestern Ecuador on May 16, 2012.
The Masked Flowerpiercer is found from Venezuela and Colombia south through Ecuador and Perú to northern Bolivia.
The Clements Checklist currently places the Masked Flowerpiercer in the genus Diglossa; in that case, the scientific name is Diglossa cyanea.
No Flash - I never use flash!
Un Pinchaflor Enmascarado Diglossopis cyanea o Diglossa cyanea sobre una rama en la Reserva Yanacocha al oeste de Quito en la cuesta noroccidental del Volcán Pichincha el 16 de mayo de 2012. Aquí la altura es 3,400 metros.
For OPTIMAL VIEWING of this Masked Flowerpiercer, VIEW AT THE GIANT SIZE (1539 x 1100) using the direct Flickr link: www.flickr.com/photos/neotropical_birds_mayan_ruins/19609...
Reserva Tapichalaca - Southern Ecuador
Grallaire de Ridgely
Découvert par l'ornithologue Robert Ridgely en 1997. Il ne vit que dans quelques réserves en Équateur et au Pérou, notamment la Réserve Tapichalaca qui a été créée pour conserver son habitat en Équateur.
Cet oiseau a aussi donné son nom à la Fondation Jocotoco qui exploite plusieurs réserves dans le sud de l'Équateur.