Volcan Sumaco/Cordillera Galeras

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Photo by Leif G
Wildsumaco Lodge, Ecuador, October 2009

South America, Ecuador

Overview

The northernmost of the three mountainous areas characterized in Ridgely & Greenfield (2001) as "Isolated East-Andean Ridges" (corresponding to BirdLife's "Andean ridgetop forests"), including a protected area known as Sumaco-Galeras National Park. The volcano reaches over 3800 meters, but much of the birding in this region focuses on species more associated with eastern Andean foothill elevations. Older bird-finding guides (including Wheatley [1995], Best, Heijnen & Williams [1996], and Green [1996] cover this region in chapters or subchapters devoted to "Loreto Road".

Birds

Notable Species

Ridgely & Greenfield (2001) cite no species endemic to the region, but note the presence of the rare Buff-throated Tody-Tyrant. In addition, the checklist published online by Wildsumaco Lodge [1] includes such exciting possibilities as Sickle-winged Guan, Rufous-breasted Wood-Quail, Spot-winged Parrotlet, Military Macaw, Vermiculated Screech-Owl (Foothill Screech-Owl), Band-bellied Owl, Napo Sabrewing, Lazuline Sabrewing, Rufous-vented Whitetip, Ecuadorian Piedtail, Black-throated Brilliant, Gould's Jewelfront, Blue-fronted Lancebill, Gorgeted Woodstar, Wire-crested Thorntail, Many-spotted Hummingbird, White-tipped Sicklebill, Coppery-chested Jacamar, Striolated Puffbird, Black-streaked Puffbird, Chestnut-tipped Toucanet, Dusky Spinetail, Black-billed Treehunter, White-streaked Antvireo, Foothill Antwren, Plain-winged Antwren, Black Antbird, Spot-backed Antbird, Scale-backed Antbird, Rufous-breasted Antthrush, Short-tailed Antthrush, Plain-backed Antpitta, Ochre-breasted Antpitta, Chestnut-crowned Gnateater, White-crowned Tapaculo, Ecuadorian Tyrannulet, Black-and-white Tody-Tyrant, Yellow-throated Spadebill, Foothill Elaenia, Lemon-browed Flycatcher, Yellow-cheeked Becard, Golden-winged Manakin, Scarlet-breasted Fruiteater, Fiery-throated Fruiteater, Andean Laniisoma, Gray-tailed Piha, Blue-rumped Manakin, Wing-banded Wren, Musician Wren, Gray-mantled Wren, Coraya Wren, Slaty-capped Shrike-Vireo, Rufous-naped Greenlet, Spotted Nightingale-Thrush, Orange-eared Tanager, Golden Tanager, Golden-eared Tanager, Blue-browed Tanager, Swallow Tanager, Golden-collared Honeycreeper, Golden-eyed Flowerpiercer, Subtropical Cacique

Rarities

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Check-list

Birds you can see here include:

The originally compiled (Sept 26, 2014) list below is derived from the Wildsumaco Lodge checklist and an interpretive reading of Ridgely & Greenfield (2001) and excludes species characterized as accidental, hypothetical or "very rare". Nomenclature and sequence follow SACC (2014):

Great Tinamou, Little Tinamou, Undulated Tinamou, Sickle-winged Guan, Wattled Guan, Speckled Chachalaca, Rufous-breasted Wood-Quail, Wood Stork, Rufescent Tiger-Heron, Striated Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Turkey Vulture, Greater Yellow-headed Vulture, Black Vulture, King Vulture, Swallow-tailed Kite, Black Hawk-Eagle, Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle, Double-toothed Kite, Plumbeous Kite, Tiny Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk (Plain-breasted Hawk), Roadside Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, Short-tailed Hawk, Chestnut-headed Crake, Russet-crowned Crake, Gray-breasted Crake, Blackish Rail, Purple Gallinule, Rock Pigeon, Scaled Pigeon, Band-tailed Pigeon, Plumbeous Pigeon, Ruddy Pigeon, White-throated Quail-Dove, Little Cuckoo, Squirrel Cuckoo, Greater Ani, Smooth-billed Ani, Tropical Screech-Owl, Rufescent Screech-Owl, Vermiculated Screech-Owl (Foothill Screech-Owl), Band-bellied Owl, Mottled Owl, Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, Great Potoo, Short-tailed Nighthawk, Common Pauraque, Lyre-tailed Nightjar, Ladder-tailed Nightjar, White-chinned Swift, Chestnut-collared Swift, White-collared Swift, Gray-rumped Swift, Chimney Swift, Short-tailed Swift, Fork-tailed Palm-Swift, Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift, White-necked Jacobin, White-tipped Sicklebill, Rufous-breasted Hermit, Pale-tailed Barbthroat, Gray-chinned Hermit, Green Hermit, Tawny-bellied Hermit, Green-fronted Lancebill, Blue-fronted Lancebill, Wedge-billed Hummingbird, Brown Violetear, Sparkling Violetear, Black-eared Fairy, Black-throated Mango, Wire-crested Thorntail, Spangled Coquette, Ecuadorian Piedtail, Speckled Hummingbird, Long-tailed Sylph, Bronzy Inca, Booted Racket-tail, White-tailed Hillstar, Rufous-vented Whitetip, Black-throated Brilliant, Gould's Jewelfront, Violet-fronted Brilliant, Long-billed Starthroat, White-bellied Woodstar, Gorgeted Woodstar, Violet-headed Hummingbird, Napo Sabrewing, Fork-tailed Woodnymph, Many-spotted Hummingbird, Glittering-throated Emerald, Golden-tailed Sapphire, Crested Quetzal, Green-backed Trogon(Amazonian White-tailed Trogon), Blue-crowned Trogon, Collared Trogon, Ringed Kingfisher, Green Kingfisher, Green-and-rufous Kingfisher, Andean Motmot (Highland Motmot), Coppery-chested Jacamar, Striolated Puffbird, White-chested Puffbird, Black-streaked Puffbird, Lanceolated Monklet, White-fronted Nunbird, Gilded Barbet, Red-headed Barbet, Black-mandibled Toucan, White-throated Toucan, Channel-billed Toucan, Emerald Toucanet, Chestnut-tipped Toucanet, Black-billed Mountain-Toucan, Golden-collared Toucanet, Chestnut-eared Aracari, Many-banded Aracari, Lafresnaye's Piculet, Rufous-breasted Piculet, Yellow-tufted Woodpecker, Smoky-brown Woodpecker, Little Woodpecker, White-throated Woodpecker, Golden-olive Woodpecker, Spot-breasted Woodpecker, Lineated Woodpecker, Crimson-bellied Woodpecker, Crimson-crested Woodpecker, Barred Forest-Falcon, Lined Forest-Falcon, Collared Forest-Falcon, Buckley's Forest-Falcon, Black Caracara, Bat Falcon, Military Macaw, Chestnut-fronted Macaw, White-eyed Parakeet, Maroon-tailed Parakeet, Blue-winged Parrotlet, Dusky-billed Parrotlet, Barred Parakeet, Scarlet-shouldered Parrotlet, Spot-winged Parrotlet, Red-billed Parrot, Speckle-faced Parrot, Blue-headed Parrot, Scaly-naped Parrot, Rufous-rumped Antwren, Fasciated Antshrike, Great Antshrike, Lined Antshrike, Plain-winged Antshrike, White-shouldered Antshrike, Russet Antshrike, Plain Antvireo, White-streaked Antvireo, Foothill Antwren, Ornate Antwren, Stripe-chested Antwren, Slaty Antwren, Plain-winged Antwren, Yellow-breasted Antwren, Rufous-winged Antwren, Gray Antbird, Blackish Antbird, Black Antbird, White-backed Fire-eye, White-browed Antbird, Black-faced Antbird, White-plumed Antbird, Hairy-crested Antbird, Spot-backed Antbird, Scale-backed Antbird, Chestnut-crowned Gnateater, Giant Antpitta, Moustached Antpitta, Plain-backed Antpitta, Chestnut-crowned Antpitta, Ochre-breasted Antpitta, Long-tailed Tapaculo (Equatorial Rufous-vented Tapaculo), White-crowned Tapaculo, Rufous-breasted Antthrush, Short-tailed Antthrush, Tawny-throated Leaftosser, Gray-throated Leaftosser, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, Tyrannine Woodcreeper, Plain-brown Woodcreeper, Wedge-billed Woodcreeper, Cinnamon-throated Woodcreeper, Strong-billed Woodcreeper, Ocellated Woodcreeper, Buff-throated Woodcreeper, Olive-backed Woodcreeper, Red-billed Scythebill, Montane Woodcreeper, Lineated Woodcreeper, Streaked Xenops, Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper, Buff-fronted Foliage-gleaner, Montane Foliage-gleaner, Rufous-tailed Foliage-gleaner, Lineated Foliage-gleaner, Ruddy Foliage-gleaner, Black-billed Treehunter, Striped Treehunter, Streak-capped Treehunter, Buff-throated Foliage-gleaner, Striped Woodhaunter (Eastern), Spotted Barbtail, Ash-browed Spinetail, Dusky Spinetail, Dark-breasted Spinetail, Rough-legged Tyrannulet (White-fronted Tyrannulet), Sooty-headed Tyrannulet, Ashy-headed Tyrannulet, Tawny-rumped Tyrannulet, Plumbeous-crowned Tyrannulet, Yellow-crowned Tyrannulet, Foothill Elaenia, Small-billed Elaenia, Mottle-backed Elaenia, White-tailed Tyrannulet, Torrent Tyrannulet, Yellow Tyrannulet, Bronze-olive Pygmy-Tyrant, Red-billed Tyrannulet, Golden-faced Tyrannulet, Marble-faced Bristle-Tyrant, Spectacled Bristle-Tyrant, Ecuadorian Tyrannulet, Olive-striped Flycatcher, Ochre-bellied Flycatcher, Slaty-capped Flycatcher, Ornate Flycatcher, Scale-crested Pygmy-Tyrant, Buff-throated Tody-Tyrant, Rufous-crowned Tody-Flycatcher, Black-and-white Tody-Flycatcher, Golden-winged Tody-Flycatcher, Common Tody-Flycatcher, Fulvous-breasted Flatbill, Yellow-olive Flycatcher (Yellow-olive Flatbill), Yellow-breasted Flycatcher (Olive-faced Flycatcher), White-throated Spadebill, Yellow-throated Spadebill, Flavescent Flycatcher, Orange-crested Flycatcher, Olive-chested Flycatcher, Tawny-breasted Flycatcher, Sulphur-rumped Flycatcher (Whiskered Flycatcher), Ruddy-tailed Flycatcher, Cinnamon Flycatcher, Cliff Flycatcher, Euler's Flycatcher, Acadian Flycatcher, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Western Wood-Pewee, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Black Phoebe, Long-tailed Tyrant, Piratic Flycatcher, Social Flycatcher, Gray-capped Flycatcher, Great Kiskadee, Lemon-browed Flycatcher, Golden-crowned Flycatcher, Streaked Flycatcher, Boat-billed Flycatcher, Tropical Kingbird, Dusky-capped Flycatcher, Short-crested Flycatcher, Large-headed Flatbill, Cinnamon Attila, Ochraceous Attila, Black-chested Fruiteater, Scarlet-breasted Fruiteater, Fiery-throated Fruiteater, Scaled Fruiteater, Andean Cock-of-the-rock, Gray-tailed Piha, Olivaceous Piha, Amazonian Umbrellabird, Plum-throated Cotinga, Dusky Piha, Golden-winged Manakin, Green Manakin, Striped Manakin, White-crowned Manakin, Golden-headed Manakin, Blue-rumped Manakin, Black-crowned Tityra, Masked Tityra, Foothill Schiffornis, Brown-winged Schiffornis (Amazonian Schiffornis), Green-backed Becard (Yellow-cheeked Becard), Chestnut-crowned Becard, White-winged Becard, Black-and-white Becard, Wing-barred Piprites, Black-billed Peppershrike, Slaty-capped Shrike-Vireo, Brown-capped Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Yellow-green Vireo, Rufous-naped Greenlet, Olivaceous Greenlet, Violaceous Jay, Green Jay (Inca Jay), Blue-and-white Swallow, White-banded Swallow, White-thighed Swallow, Southern Rough-winged Swallow, Bank Swallow (Sand Martin), Cliff Swallow, Wing-banded Wren, Gray-mantled Wren, House Wren, Thrush-like Wren, Coraya Wren, White-breasted Wood-Wren, Musician Wren, Black-capped Donacobius, Spotted Nightingale-Thrush, Swainson's Thrush, Pale-eyed Thrush, Black-billed Thrush, White-necked Thrush, Magpie Tanager, Oleaginous Hemispingus, White-lined Tanager, Fulvous Shrike-Tanager, Silver-beaked Tanager, Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager, Fawn-breasted Tanager, Orange-eared Tanager, Blue-gray Tanager, Palm Tanager, Blue-capped Tanager, Golden-naped Tanager, Blue-necked Tanager, Yellow-bellied Tanager, Spotted Tanager, Metallic-green Tanager, Paradise Tanager, Bay-headed Tanager, Golden-eared Tanager, Green-and-gold Tanager, Golden Tanager, Swallow Tanager, Black-faced Dacnis, Blue Dacnis, Purple Honeycreeper, Green Honeycreeper, Golden-collared Honeycreeper, Guira Tanager, Deep-blue Flowerpiercer (Golden-eyed Flowerpiercer), Blue-black Grassquit, Black-and-white Seedeater, Chestnut-bellied Seedeater, Chestnut-bellied Seed-Finch )Lesser Seed-Finch), Bananaquit, Buff-throated Saltator, Grayish Saltator, Slate-colored Grosbeak, Rufous-collared Sparrow, Yellow-browed Sparrow, Orange-billed Sparrow, Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch, Olive Finch, Short-billed Chlorospingus (Yellow-whiskered Bush-Tanager), Yellow-throated Chlorospingus (Yellow-throated Bush-Tanager), Ashy-throated Chlorospingus (Ashy-throated Bush-Tanager), Summer Tanager, Scarlet Tanager, White-winged Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Blue-black Grosbeak, Northern Waterthrush, Black-and-white Warbler, American Redstart, Cerulean Warbler, Tropical Parula, Blackburnian Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Buff-rumped Warbler, Three-striped Warbler, Canada Warbler, Slate-throated Redstart (Slate-throated Whitestart), Russet-backed Oropendola, Crested Oropendola, Yellow-rumped Cacique, Scarlet-rumped Cacique (Subtropical Cacique), Olivaceous Siskin, Thick-billed Euphonia, Golden-rumped Euphonia, Golden-bellied Euphonia (White-lored Euphonia), Bronze-green Euphonia, Orange-bellied Euphonia, Blue-naped Chlorophonia,

Other Wildlife

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Site Information

History and Use

"Loreto Road" (reportedly also known, at least in 1996, as "Ministerio Road") was constructed in 1987 to connect Tena and Coca, permitting investigation of east Andean foothill forests that were previously inaccessible. Much of that forest is now protected in a national park, and in a privately-owned wildlife refuge associated with Wildsumaco Lodge.

Areas of Interest

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Access and Facilities

Wildsumaco Lodge [2] caters specifically to birders, with an extensive trail system and numerous feeding stations. See the impressive, well-annotated bird checklist [3]

The small community of Pacto Sumaco [4] (near Wildsumaco lodge) manages a rustic cabaña that offers "an incredible view of Sumaco Mountain"; the cabana is reportedly situated favorably for viewing Chestnut-fronted Macaw and Military Macaw; birders not staying overnight may pay a fee to observe the macaws. A checklist of 196 species rated as reasonably common includes informative details and is apparently based on observations published by Wildsumaco Lodge

The whimsically named Hotel Hakuna Matata [5] is 10 Km north of Tena (near Archidona, just west of the Volcan Sumaco area) at 600 meters in elevation; the online bird list [6] documents 248 species reportedly seen on or near the grounds.

Contact Details

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External Links

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