Bird-watching
With roughly as many species as North America and Europe put together, crammed into a country that's smaller than Nevada, Ecuador arguably has the best birding in the world. There are hundreds of endemic species, and even some recent discoveries, such as the Antpitta found near Vilcabamba. The greatest diversity is to be found in transition zone habitats and montane forests, most famously on the western flank of the Andes, where there are hundreds of species of hummingbirds, tanagers and flycatchers, to name but a few. The village of Mindo , west of Quito, is internationally recognized as an Important Bird Area, and there are several fine private reserves in the area renowned for their birdlife. On the eastern slopes of the Andes the Cosanga and Baeza areas are recommended, and in the south, Podocarpus national park and the areas around Loja , Zamora and Vilcabamba . The most convenient way to bird-watch in the Oriente is at one of the lodges, such as La Selva , Sacha or Kapawi , where ornithologist guides and bird lists, some recording well over 500 species, are provided. The best highland and paramo habitats are usually found in the national parks, for example El Angel and Cajas , and the highland sections of Cotacachi-Cayapas and Cayambe-Coca reserves. It's always worth getting a local guide to go bird-watching with you. They tend to know where to look and have a knack at picking out birds amidst the undergrowth and greenery. Most of the better lodges and private reserves will have in-house guides, often trained ornithologists, or be able to get hold of one for you. Binoculars are an invaluable piece of equipment for spotting birds up in the forest canopy, and you may find a field guide handy , though many private reserves supply their own bird lists.
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