Synopsis: A luminous final morning at Tandayapa Lodge brought a rich mix of subtle and vibrant species, each adding its own flourish to our closing hours in the Ecuadorian cloudforest.
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
**Due to the high resolution and quality of the images in this blog series it is highly recommended
that readers view posts in Landscape Mode on a desktop PC from the actual blogsite at Ecuador Birding**
DAY 13 – Morning of our Last Day
Our final morning in Ecuador dawned softly over Tandayapa Lodge, the mist lifting in slow, silvery ribbons as the forest eased awake. The memory of yesterday’s late‑afternoon toucan encounter still lingered, but today carried a different weight—one last chance to savor the cloudforest before the journey home. The feeders were already alive with movement, wings flickering through the cool air as the first birds stepped into the morning light. It was a farewell performance of sorts, a blend of subtle tones and brilliant flashes that felt like the forest offering its closing chapter.
Andean Cock‑of‑the‑Rock (Female)
From the shadowed understory, a warm russet shape eased into view, her presence subtle yet unmistakably regal…
The female Cock‑of‑the‑Rock appeared first, slipping quietly onto a moss‑covered branch with none of the male’s blazing spectacle. Her warm cinnamon‑brown plumage blended seamlessly with the forest, giving her a sculptural, almost prehistoric elegance. She moved with calm deliberation, tilting her head to inspect berries with bright, steady eyes. In the soft morning light, her understated beauty felt deeply rooted in the ancient rhythm of the Andes.
Pallid Dove
Moments later, a soft gray form drifted in with unhurried grace, settling into the scene like a breath of calm…
The Pallid Dove followed with a smooth, gliding descent, settling onto the forest floor with serene confidence. Its soft gray‑beige plumage carried a faint blush of pink across the breast, glowing gently in the early light. It foraged quietly, pausing often to listen, its movements unhurried and contemplative. The bird added a sense of calm to the morning, a reminder that subtlety has its own kind of grace.
Lineated Foliage‑gleaner
Then a rust‑toned investigator appeared, rummaging through moss and vine with restless, purposeful energy…
A sudden burst of motion broke the stillness—the Lineated Foliage‑gleaner bounding through the understory with restless energy. Its warm rufous tones and bold facial stripes flashed between leaves as it pried into curled foliage with its strong, wedge‑shaped bill. Every movement felt purposeful, almost industrious, as if the bird were on a mission only it understood. Watching it work was like witnessing a tiny, feathered engine powering through the forest’s hidden layers.
Palm Tanager
Above us, a cool wash of gray‑green fluttered into the light, the Palm Tanager arriving with its easy, familiar confidence…
The Palm Tanager brought a wash of cool color, its olive‑gray body tinged with subtle blues and greens that shifted with every turn. It moved lightly between branches, often traveling in pairs, adding a gentle social rhythm to the morning. When the sun hit just right, its plumage revealed an unexpected iridescence—soft, understated, but undeniably beautiful. It was a bird that rewarded attention, offering more color than first impressions suggested.
Ornate Flycatcher
From a nearby perch, a tiny burst of yellow and chestnut materialized, bright‑eyed and impossibly charming…
The Ornate Flycatcher lived up to its name, perching boldly with its bright yellow belly, crisp white eyebrow, and rich chestnut wings. It flicked its tail with quick, expressive movements, scanning for insects with alert, curious eyes. When it sallied out to snatch prey mid‑air, it returned with a confident snap of its wings, as if pleased with its own precision. Its presence added a cheerful spark to the forest’s morning palette.
Thick‑billed Euphonia
From the fruiting branches above, a compact burst of yellow and midnight blue appeared, its stout bill gleaming as it surveyed the scene with quiet confidence…
The Thick‑billed Euphonia arrived like a drop of gold, its brilliant yellow underparts glowing against the deep blue‑black of its head and back. It fed with quick, efficient movements, cracking open small fruits with its stout bill. The contrast of its colors made it look almost luminous in the soft light, a tiny beacon among the leaves. Its clear, ringing calls added a bright musical thread to the morning chorus.
Summer Tanager
And finally, a bold sweep of red cut across the clearing, the Summer Tanager glowing like a spark against the muted forest tones…
The Summer Tanager brought a final blaze of color—an adult male glowing with rich, saturated red from crown to tail. It perched confidently in the open, scanning for insects with a calm, steady posture. When it launched into the air to snatch a passing bee, the red flashed like a spark against the green canopy. Even in a forest full of brilliant species, its bold simplicity stood out.
As our last morning in Ecuador unfolded in a swirl of subtle tones and brilliant flashes, one final hope remained on our list—a bird of emerald and crimson that had eluded us so far. The next post turns to our search for the Crimson‑rumped Toucanet, a fitting finale to our Andean adventure at Tandayapa.
NEXT UP: EB#90 “Patience Rewarded: The Crimson-rumped Toucanet Finally Joins the Tandayapa Feeder Frenzy“
Additional Photographs and Video
Previous Ecuador Birding Blog Posts:
- The Velvet‑purple Coronet and the Science of Color: A Field Photographer’s Reflection
A quiet Gray Fox along the Stanislaus River offered a moment of Zen‑like stillness, blending natural history, resilience, and the calm grace of wildness moving at its own pace. - EB100 – Epilogue – Full of Wonder and Gratitude
This epilogue looks beyond the individual bird highlights to the deeper meaning of the journey, capturing the wonder, gratitude, and renewed perspective that Ecuador left within me. This blog series chronicles Jim Gain’s experiences with birds and nature. - EB99 – Ecuador – Favorite Images from the West Andes
This epilogue looks beyond the individual bird highlights to the deeper meaning of the journey, capturing the wonder, gratitude, and renewed perspective that Ecuador left within me. This blog series chronicles Jim Gain’s experiences with birds and nature.
Through my lens and prose I hope to instill a greater sense of awe, compassion and inspiration as I discover new creatures, explore interesting habitats, and gain wisdom about the natural world that’s all around us. It is my hope that readers are motivated to learn more about our environment and its inhabitants, and become passionate advocates for conservation.
>>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 (>99.9%) are mine.
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