Synopsis: The final stretch at Zuro Loma brought forth a grounded, character‑rich group of species that framed our farewell to the reserve before the Collared Inca’s luminous parting moment.
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 – Late Morning Lasy Day in Ecuador
The Last Look Back: Final Birds Before Yanacocha
The final leg of our return to Zuro Loma unfolded with a sense of calm inevitability, as though the forest knew we were nearing the end and wanted to offer a last, thoughtful sequence of encounters. The birds that emerged here were not the flashiest of the trip, but they carried a presence that felt deeply rooted in the cloudforest—species that define the character of these high Andean slopes. Their movements were unhurried, their colors rich but grounded, and their behaviors familiar in a way that made the reserve feel almost like a second home. This last group of birds brought the morning full circle, leading us gently toward the moment when Zuro Loma would offer its final farewell.
Tyrian Metaltail
A spark of metallic color darted low across the flowers, its tail flashing like hammered copper in the sun…
The Tyrian Metaltail moved through the páramo edge with a kind of restless brilliance, its metallic greens and bronzes flashing each time it pivoted toward the sun. At close range, the tail that gives the species its name shimmered like hammered copper, catching stray beams of light even in the shifting mist. It hovered low over the flowering shrubs, wings a blur, then darted upward in a steep, needling climb that vanished into the canopy. Despite its small size, it carried itself with the confidence of a bird that knows this harsh elevation belongs to it alone. Watching it work the blooms felt like witnessing a spark of living metal flicker through the morning air.
Great Thrush
A broad, steady silhouette stepped into view, carrying the quiet authority of a bird that owns the trail…
The Great Thrush patrolled the open path with the calm assurance of a bird that has nothing to prove. Larger and more imposing than its North American cousins, it carried a weighty presence—broad‑shouldered, long‑legged, and alert to every rustle in the brush. Its rich charcoal plumage absorbed the morning light, while its bright yellow bill and eye‑ring glowed like small lanterns against the gray. Between bouts of foraging, it paused to deliver a few mellow, fluted notes that drifted easily through the cool air. There was something grounding about its company, a reminder that even in a place of rare and dazzling species, the familiar forms still hold their own quiet majesty.
Yellow‑breasted Brushfinch
A bright slash of gold flickered through the understory, lively and alert among the tangled leaves…
The Yellow‑breasted Brushfinch brought a warm, golden brightness to the understory, its rich yellow chest glowing beneath a slate‑gray hood. It moved with confident, purposeful hops, often pausing to deliver sharp chip notes that echoed through the foliage. Its bold facial pattern gave it a striking, expressive look, especially when it tilted its head to inspect the forest floor. A brief perch in the open revealed the full beauty of its contrasting colors.
White‑sided Flowerpiercer (Female)
A gentle, earth‑toned form slipped through the foliage, revealing her pale flank only in a brief turn of light…
The female White‑sided Flowerpiercer slipped through the foliage with understated elegance, her soft brown tones blending seamlessly into the tangle of leaves. Only when she turned just right did the pale flank patch reveal itself—a subtle flash that confirmed her identity. She worked the flowers with practiced efficiency, using her fine, hooked bill to pierce the base of blossoms and sip the nectar with quiet determination. Unlike her boldly colored male counterpart, she moved with a gentle, almost secretive rhythm, content to remain half‑hidden. Yet her presence felt essential, a reminder that not all beauty in the cloudforest announces itself loudly.
Blue‑capped Tanager
A burst of blues and greens landed above us, as if a piece of the sky had perched in the canopy…
The Blue‑capped Tanager was a study in cool tones—soft greens, muted yellows, and a brilliant sky‑blue cap that seemed to catch every stray beam of light. It foraged with gentle, deliberate movements, plucking berries and insects with quiet efficiency. When it turned, the blue cap flashed like a gemstone against the surrounding foliage. Its calm presence added a soothing rhythm to the mixed flock.
Collared Inca (Final Bird at Zuro Loma)
A black‑and‑white apparition hovered before us, luminous and composed, as though offering a final benediction…
The Collared Inca closed your time at Zuro Loma with a moment of pure, breath‑catching elegance. Its stark black‑and‑white plumage looked almost unreal, as though carved from shadow and snow, and the gleaming white collar shone like a crescent of moonlight at its throat. It hovered with slow, powerful wingbeats, holding itself in place with a poise that felt almost ceremonial. When it perched, the long, slightly decurved bill and luminous white tail patches completed the impression of a bird dressed in formal attire for the cloudforest. As a final species for the reserve, it felt like a benediction—quiet, regal, and unforgettable.
The Inca’s Last Light and the Road Beyond
The Collared Inca felt like Zuro Loma’s final word—a quiet, luminous presence that lingered in the mind long after it slipped back into the mist. As it drifted away, the forest seemed to exhale with it, the morning settling into a softer, more contemplative hush. We gathered our gear with that image still hanging in the air: a white crescent of light suspended against the dark, like a parting blessing from the cloudforest itself. Leaving the reserve, the road curled upward through the high ridges, carrying us toward our final destination of the journey—Reserva Yanacocha, a place where the Andes would offer one last chapter of wonder. It was a fitting farewell from Zuro Loma, and a perfect prelude to the closing pages of our Ecuador Birding adventure.
NEXT UP: EB#94 “Final Stop at Reserva Yanacocha: Ending Ecuador Birding on a High Note”
Additional Photographs
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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