**Due to the high resolution quality of the images in this blog series it is highly recommended to
view posts in Landscape Mode on a desktop PC from the actual blogsite at Ecuador Birding**
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.
A Reflections of the Natural World Blog Post Series by Jim Gain
DAY 6 – Lunchtime
- My Ecuador Species Count including WildSumaco jumps up to: 208 (145 lifers)
- Primary eBird Public Hotspots: WildSumaco Lodge
WILDSUMACO PART 3 — The Golden-tailed Sapphire: A Jewel That Stole the Show
Among all the dazzling species at WildSumaco, one stood out in a way I hadn’t anticipated: the Golden-tailed Sapphire. It wasn’t on my original list of top targets, but the moment sunlight struck its plumage, everything changed. The bird perched briefly on a mossy branch, and suddenly its tail ignited into a cascade of gold—rich, luminous, and almost molten in appearance. Its body shimmered with deep emerald and sapphire tones, each feather catching the light like a polished gem.
What made the encounter unforgettable wasn’t just the color, but the way the bird seemed to glow from within. When it turned, the tail flashed again—this time brighter, as if the forest itself had flicked on a hidden spotlight. In that instant, the Golden-tailed Sapphire became one of the defining species of the entire trip. It was a reminder that in the Andes, even the birds you don’t expect can steal your breath away.
NEXT UP: EB#39 “Wildlife and Mountain Mists on the Road to San Isidro“
Additional Photographs and Video
Previous Ecuador Birding Blog Posts:
- EB38 – Sunlit Surprise: The Golden‑Tailed Sapphire’s Rainbow Glow
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. - EB37 – The Numbers Keep Climbing: WildSumaco’s Hummingbird Explosion Continues
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. - EB36 – From Farmland to Sanctuary: WildSumaco’s Rebirth and Its Earliest Arrivals
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. - EB35 – Leaving the Amazon Behind, Rising into the Eastern Andes
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. - EB34 – One Last Cruise Around the Calluacocha Lagoon
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. - EB33 – A Quiet Afternoon Spent Shooting on the Sani Lodge Grounds
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.
>>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.
**Unless otherwise indicated in the image caption, all photographs (>99%) are mine.
Reflections of the Natural World 
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