Birds of Southern Ecuador

Southern Ecuador has a complex mosaic of different eco-regions resulting in a high biodiversity. In the southwest of Ecuador (and northernmost Peru) you find the Tumbesian lowlands with over 50 restricted-range birds. The habitat of the Tumbes mainly consists of dry deciduous forest. In the province of El Oro you find high diversity with very humid montane forests where Chocó and Tumbesian species meet. The Marañon drainage starts in the southeastern tip of Ecuador, passed Tapichalaca. The Marañon counts over 20 range-restricted species but most of them are found in adjacent Northern Peru. Another Endemic Bird Area in the southeast is the Cordillera del Condor. This mountain range is found in the province of Zamora-Chinchipe and has a number of stunted-forest ridge-top specialties. Other habitats in this gallery include the southern Highlands, dry inter-Andean valleys and temperate, subtropical and foothill montane forests. Most of the photos are taken in the provinces of Loja, El Oro, Azuay and Zamora-Chinchipe.