Birds of Western Ecuador

INTRODUCTION 7

Region Covered 9

Range Maps 9

Format of the Species Accounts 11

Taxonomy 11

Conservation 12

Habitats 13

Elevational Zones 19

Bird Topography 20

SPECIES ACCOUNTS 23

Tinamous 24

Guans, Chachalacas, Curassows, and Screamer 26

New-World Quails, Whistling-Ducks 30

Ducks 30

Grebes 36

Storks 36

Albatrosses 38

Petrels and Shearwaters 38

Storm-petrels 38

Tropicbirds 40

Flamingos 40

Ibises and Spoonbills 40

Herons, Bitterns, and Egrets 42

Frigatebirds 48

Pelicans 48

Boobies 50

Anhinga 54

Cormorants 54

Vultures 56

Osprey 58

Kites, Hawks, and Eagles 58

Falcons and Caracaras 82

Rails, Gallinules, and Coots 90

Limpkin 96

Stilts 96

Oystercatchers 96

Sunbittern 96

Thick-knees 96

Jacanas 98

Lapwings and Plovers 98

Seedsnipes 102

Snipes, Sandpipers, and Related Shorebirds 102

Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers 114

Pigeons and Doves 124

Parakeets, Parrots, and Macaws 132

Cuckoos and Anis 140

Owls 144

Nighthawks and Nightjars 152

Potoos 156

Oilbird 156

Swifts 158

Hummingbirds 162

Quetzals and Trogons 196

Kingfishers 202

Motmots 204

Jacamars 204

Puffbirds 204

New World Barbets 208

Toucan Barbet 208

Aracaris and Toucans 210

Woodpeckers 214

Ovenbirds (Furnariids) and Woodcreepers 222

Antbirds 242

Antthrushes 254

Antpittas 256

Tapaculos 260

Crescentchest 260

Tyrant Flycatchers 264

Tityras and Becards 302

Sapayoa 306

Cotingas and Fruiteaters 308

Pihas 314

Mourners 314

Manakins 316

Schiffornis 318

Peppershrikes and Vireos 320

Greenlets, Gnatcatchers, and Gnatwrens 322

Mockingbirds 324

Jays 324

Dippers 324

Martins and Swallows 326

Wrens 332

Solitaires and Thrushes 338

Euphonias and Chlorophonias 344

Siskins 348

Goldfinches and Pipits 350

New World Warblers 350

Oropendolas, Orioles, and Blackbirds 360

Bush-tanagers (Chlorospinguses) 366

Piranga Tanagers 368

Tanagers 370

Bananaquit 386

Dacnises 390

Honeycreepers 392

Hemispinguses 394

Tit-like Dacnis 394

Conebills 396

Flowerpiercers 396

Sparrows 400

Chestnut Munia 400

Brush-finches 402

Tanager Finch 406

Plushcap 406

Sierra-finches 408

Slaty Finch 408

Sicalis Finches 410

Crimson-breasted Finch 410

Grassquits 412

Warbling-finches 412

Seed-finches and Seedeaters 414

Grosbeaks 420

Saltators 422

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 424

APPENDIX I: SPECIES NOT INCLUDED 425

APPENDIX II: PHOTOGRAPHER CREDITS 428

GLOSSARY 431

SPECIES INDEX (ENGLISH AND SCIENTIFIC NAMES) 434