A Collared Inca perched near Bellavista.
Southern Ecuador Tour Report by Tropical Birding
Cloud forest scenes like this are common in the Tandayapa Valley
A Collared Inca perched near Bellavista.
The primary part of the tour began after a short flight to the city
of Loja, the only major city in the southern reaches of Ecuador. The dry
scrub of the surrounding area was a stark change to the humid forests of
the Tandayapa Valley! This was our first glimpse of the arid Tumbesian
region, which encompasses a large part of western Ecuador and part of northwestern
Peru. The dry climate is caused by the cold Humboldt current coming up
the coast of South America, and the area is rich in endemic birds. Birding
right around the airport can be very productive, and we enjoyed sorting
through a large mixed flock of finches, finding |
