Ecuador Birding – Where Every Feather Tells a Story

From October 26, 2025 through November 8, 2025 I joined 5 other adventurers and an outstanding photographer and birding guide (Liron Gertsman) with Eagle-Eye Tours to Ecuador. This blog series highlights the animals (mostly birds), people and locations we encountered over the 14 full days in this beautiful land.
*Unless otherwise indicated in the image caption, all photographs (>99%) are mine.
**Best when viewed on full computer screen**

Ecuador Birding: Blog Post #6
“When Antpittas Come Calling“

A Reflections of the Natural World Blog Post Series by Jim Gain

DAY 1 – Morning

• My Ecuador Species Count including Zuro Loma jumps up to: 38 (30 lifers)
• Primary eBird Hotspot: Reserva Zuro Loma

At a designated time, one of the workers announced he would be placing worms at the antpitta feeding spot. We followed him to a small clearing at the side of the shelter where he scattered live worms and played the call of our first target antpitta: the EQUATORIAL ANTPITTA. It took no more than twenty seconds for a bird to answer, and within moments we were staring at one just a few feet away—round, alert, and impossibly charismatic. Its cinnamon‑brown plumage blended perfectly with the leaf litter, but its large, expressive eyes and upright posture gave it a presence that was almost theatrical.

As we admired it, a sudden movement to our left caught my eye: our first glimpse of the legendary SWORD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD. True to its reputation, it appeared only briefly, hovering for a heartbeat with its impossibly long bill—longer than its entire body—pointing straight ahead like a rapier. Then, just as quickly, it vanished back into the forest, leaving us stunned.

The groundskeeper who had placed the worms earlier, told us he would try calling in another species—the CHESTNUT-NAPED ANTPITTA. While he prepared, we were treated to spectacular views of a BUFF-WINGED STARFRONTLET, its glittering green body and golden wing patches catching the light as it hovered near the feeders.

A female GREEN-TAILED TRAINBEARER followed, its slender, iridescent tail streaming behind it like a ribbon as it perched delicately on a mossy branch.

The groundskeeper whispered that the CHESTNUT-NAPED ANTPITTA was getting closer, and soon enough it hopped into view. Its rich chestnut nape and olive‑brown body gave it a warm, earthy look, and it paused just long enough for us to admire its portrait‑perfect pose before slipping back into the undergrowth.

It was a morning of magic—of rare birds, fleeting glimpses, and the quiet thrill of being exactly where you were meant to be.

NEXT UP: EB#7 “And Still More Hummingbirds“

Additional Photographs and Video

Previous Ecuador Birding Blog Posts:

• 
  EB10 – Down the Alambi Valley for Lunch at the Mirador y Restaurante Guaycapi
  In October 2025, Jim Gain joined a birding tour in Ecuador, exploring its rich biodiversity and stunning landscapes over 14 days. The blog series chronicles his experiences with birds and nature. This post focuses on the White-capped Dipper along the Alambi River Valley on the Western side of the Andes for lunch at the Mirador y Restaurante Guaycapi.
• 
  EB9 – A Missed Antpitta, More Sword-billeds and a Scarlet-bellied Success
  In October 2025, Jim Gain joined a birding tour in Ecuador, exploring its rich biodiversity and stunning landscapes over 14 days. The blog series chronicles his experiences with birds and nature. This post focuses on the Sword-billed Hummingbird, Scarlet-bellied Mountain Tanager and other species at the Zuro Loma Birding Reserve on the Western side of the Andes.
• 
  EB8 – THE CRITICALLY ENDANGERED BLACK-BREASTED PUFFLEG
  In October 2025, Jim Gain joined a birding tour in Ecuador, exploring its rich biodiversity and stunning landscapes over 14 days. The blog series chronicles his experiences with birds and nature. This post focuses on the Critically Endangered Black-breasted Puffleg hummingbird species at the Zuro Loma Birding Reserve on the Western side of the Andes.
• 
  EB7 – AND STILL MORE HUMMINGBIRDS!
  In October 2025, Jim Gain joined a birding tour in Ecuador, exploring its rich biodiversity and stunning landscapes over 14 days. The blog series chronicles his experiences with birds and nature. This post focuses on more hummingbird and tanager species seen at the Zuro Loma Birding Reserve on the Western side of the Andes.
• 
  EB6 – WHEN ANTPITTAS COME CALLING
  In October 2025, Jim Gain joined a birding tour in Ecuador, exploring its rich biodiversity and stunning landscapes over 14 days. The blog series chronicles his experiences with birds and nature. This post focuses on two species of antpittas photographed and the first sighting of Sword-billed Hummingbird, the top target bird at the Zuro Loma Birding Reserve on the Western side of the Andes.
• 
  EB5 – THE ECUADOR SPECIES LIST GROWS
  In October 2025, Jim Gain joined a birding tour in Ecuador, exploring its rich biodiversity and stunning landscapes over 14 days. The blog series chronicles his experiences with birds and nature. This post focuses on the changing landscapes and the first batch of birds at the Zuro Loma Birding Reserve on the Western side of the Andes.

>>Ecuador Birding Blog Home Page Link https://reflectionsofthenaturalworld.com/ecuador-birding/

*This Ecuador Birding blog post was shaped and polished with the assistance of Microsoft Copilot, helping bring clarity and a consistent flow to my field notes and dictated memories.