The lush montane forests at El Pahuma are home to a large number of rare and endemic species, and in 2004 the reserve was designated an Important Bird Area by Birdlife International. The list below of 150 species has been compiled since 2000 by Ceiba staff and volunteers, with the help of many visitors to the El Pahuma Orchid Reserve. A version is available for download in excel format, that also includes species likely to occur in the reserve, but not yet observed. Bird surveys are continuing in the reserve -- let us know if you'd like to volunteer in this effort. If you visit El Pahuma and have a definitive sighting of any species not yet on our list, please let us know!
Here are a few representatives of El Pahuma's fabulous bird fauna:
Access more images and video of the endemic White-tailed Hillstar from the links in the list below.
Taxonomy and naming conventions taken from: Ridgely, R.S., and P.J. Greenfield. 2001. The Birds of Ecuador. Cornell University Press.
English Name
Nombre Español
Scientific Name
Torrent Duck Pato Torrentero Merganetta armata Turkey Vulture Gallinazo Cabecirroja Cathartes aura Plain-breasted Hawk Azor Pechillano Accipiter ventralis Roadside Hawk Gavilan Caminero Buteo magnirostris Black-and-chestnut Eagle Aguila Negra y Castana Oroaetus isidori Barred Forest-falcon Halcon-Montes Barreteado Micrastur ruficollis American Kestrel Cernicalo Americano Falco sparverius Andean Guan Pava Andina Penelope montagnii Sickle-winged Guan Pava Ala de Hoz Chamaepetes goudotii Dark-backed Wood-quail Corcovado Dorsioscuro Odontophorus melanonotus Band-tailed Pigeon Paloma Collareja Columba fasciata Plumbeous Pigeon Paloma Plomiza Columba plumbea Red-billed Parrot Loro Piquirojo Pionus sordidus White-capped Parrot Loro Gorriblanco Pionus tumultuosus seniloides Scaly-naped Parrot Amazona Nuquiescamosa Amazona mercenaria Squirrel Cuckoo Cuco Ardilla Piaya cayana Colombian Screech-Owl Autillo Colombiano Otus colombianus Cloud-forest Pygmy-owl Mochuelo Nuboselvatico Glaucidium nubicola Rufous-banded Owl Buho Rufibandeado Strix albitarsus Rufous-bellied Nighthawk Anapero Ventrirufo Lurocalis rufiventris Lyre-tailed Nightjar Chotacabras Colilira Uropsalis lyra White-collared Swift Vencejo Cuelliblanco Streptoprocne zonaris Chestnut-collared Swift Vencejo Cuellicastano Cypseloides rutilus Tawny-bellied Hermit Ermitano Ventrileonado Phaethornis syrmatophorus White-whiskered Hermit Phaethornis yaruqui Phaethornis yaruqui Sparkling Violet-ear Orejivioleta Brillante Colibri coruscans Green Violet-ear Orejivioleta Ventriazul Colibri thalassinus Western Emerald Esmeralda Occidental Chlorostilbon melanorhynchus Andean Emerald Amazilia Andina Amazilia franciae Rufous-tailed Hummingbird Amazilia Colirufa Amazilia tzacatl Speckled Hummingbird Colibri Jaspeado Adelomyia melanogenys Fawn-breasted Brillant Brillante Pechianteado Heliodoxa rubinoides White-tailed Hillstar (video) Estrella coliblanca Urochroa bougeri Brown Inca Inca Pardo Coeligena wilsoni Collared Inca Inca Collarejo Coeligena torquata Buff-tailed Coronet Coronita Colianteada Boissonneaua flavescens Gorgeted Sunangel 
Solangel de Gorguera Heliangelus strophianus Booted Racket-tail Colaespatula Zamarrito Ocreatus underwoodii Violet-tailed Sylph Silfo Colivioleta Aglaiocercus coelestis Crested Quetzal Quetzal Crestado Pharomachrus antisianus Golden-headed Quetzal Quetzal Cabecidorado Pharomachrus auriceps Masked Trogon Trogon Enmascarado Trogon personatus Red-headed Barbet Barbudo Cabecirojo Eubucco bourcierii Toucan Barbet Barbudo Tucan Semnornis ramphastinus Crimson-rumped Toucanet Tucanete Lomirrojo Aulocorhynchus haematopygus Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan Tucan-Andino Piquilaminado Andigena laminirostris Crimson-mantled Woodpecker Carpintero Dorsicarmesi Piculus rivolii Smoky-brown Woodpecker Carpinterito Pardo Veniliornis fumigatus Powerful Woodpecker Carpintero Poderoso Campephilus pollens Azara's Spinetail Colaespina de Azara Synallaxis azarae Rufous Spinetail Colaespina Rufa Synallaxis unirufa Pearled Treerunner Subepalo Perlado Margarornis squamiger Spotted Barbtail Subepalo moteado Premnoplex brunnescens Rusty-winged Barbtail Subepalo Alirojizo Premnornis guttuligera Streaked Tuftedcheek Barbablanca Rayada Pseudocolaptes boissonneautii White-browed Spinetail
Claespina Cejiblanca Hellmayrea gularis Lineated Foliage-gleaner Limpiafronda Lineada Syndactyla subalaris Streak-capped Treehunter Trepatroncos Gorrirrayado Thripadectes virgaticeps Tyrannine Woodcreeper Trepatroncos Tiranino Dendrocincla tyrannina Plain-brown Woodcreeper Trepatroncos Pardo Dendrocincla fuliginosa Strong-billed Woodcreeper Trepatroncos Piquifuerte Xiphocolaptes promeropirhychus Spotted Woodcreeper Trepatroncos Manchado Xiphocolaptes erythropygius Montane Woodcreeper Trepatroncos Montano Lepidocolaptes affinis Uniform Antshrike Batara unicolor Thamnophilus unicolor Long-tailed Antbird Hormiguero Colilargo Drymophila caudata Rufous-breasted Antthrush Formicario Pechirufo Formicarius rufipectus Giant Antpitta Gralaria Gigante Grallaria gigantea Yellow-breasted Antpitta Gralaria Pechiamarillenta Grallaria flavotincta Chestnut-crowned Antpitta Gralaria Coroniscastana Grallaria ruficapilla Tawny Antpitta Gralaria Rufa Grallaria quitensis Unicolor Tapaculo Tapaculo Unicolor Scytalopus unicolor Narino Tapaculo Tapaculo de Narino Scytalopus vicinior Spillman's Tapaculo Tapaculo de Spillman Scytalopus micropterus Ashy-headed Tyrannulet Tiranolete Cabecicenizo Phyllomyias cinereiceps Tawny-rumped Tyrannulet Tiranolete Lomileonado Phyllomyias uropygialis White-crested Elaenia Elenia Crestiblanca Elaenia albiceps White-tailed Tyrannulet Tiranillo Coliblanco Mecocerculus poecilocercus Torrent Tyrannulet Tiranolete Guardarrios Serpophaga cinerea Streak-necked Flycatcher Mosquerito Cuellilistado Mionectes striaticollis Rufous-headed Pygmy-tyrant Tirano-Enano Cabecirufo Pseudotriccus ruficeps Cinnamon Flycatcher Mosquerito Canelo Pyrrhomyias cinnamomea Flavescent Flycatcher Mosquerito Flavecente Myiophobus flavicans Bran-colored Flycatcher Mosquerito Pechirrayado Myiophobus fasciatus Smoke-colored Pewee Pibi Ahumado Contopus fumigatus Black Phoebe Febe Guardarrios Sayornis nigricans Slaty-backed Chat-tyrant Pitajo Dorsipizarro Ochthoeca cinnamomeiventris Yellow-bellied Chat-tyrant Pitajo Ventriamarillo Silvicultrix diadema Dusky-capped Flycatcher Copeton Crestioscuro Myiarchus tuberculifer Golden-crowned Flycatcher Mosquero Coronidorado Myiodynastes chrysocephalus Barred Becard Cabezon Barreteado Pachyramphus versicolor Masked Tityra Titira Esmascarada Tityra semifasciata Green-and-black Fruiteater Frutero Verdinegro Pipreola riefferii Andean Cock-of-the-rock Gallo de la Pena Andino Rupicola peruviana Turquoise Jay Urraca Turquesa Cyanolyca turcosa Beautiful Jay Urraca Hermosa Cyanolyca pulchra Brown-capped Vireo Vireo Gorripardo Vireo leucophrys Andean Solitaire Solitario Andino Myadestes ralloides Slaty-backed Nightingale-thrush Zorzal Sombrio Catharus fuscater Swainson's Thrush Zorzal de Swainson Catharus ustulatus Great Thrush Mirlo Grande Turdus fuscater Glossy-black Thrush Mirlo Negribrilloso Turdus serranus White-capped Dipper Cinlco Gorriblanco Cinclus leucocephalus Blue-and-white Swallow Golondrina Azul y Blanca Notiochelidon cyanoleuca Southern Rough-winged Swallow Golondrina Alirrasposa Surena Stelgidopteryx ruficollis Plain-tailed Wren Soterrey Colillano Thryothorus euophrys Whiskered Wren Soterrey Bigotillo Thryothorus mystacalis Mountain Wren Soterrey Montanes Troglodytes solstitialis Grey-breasted Wood-wren Soterrey-Montes Pechigris Henicorhina leucophrys Rufous Wren
Soterrey Rufo Cinnycerthia unirufa Tropical Parula Parula Tropical Parula pitiayumi Blackburnian Warbler Reinita Pechinaranja Dendroica fusca Black & White Warbler Reinita Blanquinegra Minotilta varia Canada Warbler Reinita Collareja Wilsonia canadensis Slate-throated Whitestart Candelita Goliplomiza Myioborus miniatus Spectacled Whitestart Candelita de Anteojos Myioborus melanocephalus Three-striped Warbler Reinita Cabecilistada Basileaterus tristriatus Black-crested Warbler Reinita Crestinegra Basileuterus nigrocristatus Russet-crowned Warbler Reinita Coronirojiza Basileuterus coronatus Orange-bellied Euphonia Eufonia Ventrinaranja Euphonia xanthogaster Capped Conebill Picocono Coronado Conirostrum albifrons Masked Flower-piercer Pinchaflor Enmascarado Diglossopis cyanea White-sided Flower-piercer Pinchaflor Flanquiblanco Diglossa albilatera Golden Tanager Tangara Dorada Tangara arthus Silvery-throated Tanager Tangara Goliplata Tangara icterocephala Flame-faced Tanager Tangara Cariflama Tangara parzudakii Metallic-green Tanager Tangara Verdimetalica Tangara labradorides Golden-naped Tanager Tangara Nuquidorada Tangara ruficervix Beryl-spangled Tanager Tangara Lentejuelada Tangara nigroviridis Blue-and-black Tanager Tangara Azulinegro Tangara vassorii Black-capped Tanager Tangara Gorrinegra Tangara heinei Scarlet-bellied Mountain-tanager Tangara-Montana Ventriescarlata Anisognathus igniventris Blue-winged Mountain-tanager Tangara-Montana Aliazul Anisognathus somptuosus Hooded Mountain-tanager Tangara-Montana Encapuchada Buthraupis montana Blue-gray Tanager Tangara Azuleja Thraupis episcopus Blue-capped Tanager Tangara Gorriazul Thraupis cyanocephala Yellow-rumped Tanager Tangara Lomiamarilla Ramphocelus icteronotus White-winged Tanager Piranga Aliblanca Piranga leucoptera Ochre-breasted Tanager Tangara Pechiocracea Chlorothraupis stolzmanni Grass-green Tanager Tangara Cariroja Chlorornis riefferii Dusky Bush-tanager Chlorospingo Oscuro Chlorospingus semifuscus Western Hemispingus
Hemispingo Occidental Hemispingus ochraceus Black-capped Hemispingus Hemispingo Coroninegro Hemispingus atropileus Plushcap Gorradiadema Catamblyrhynchus diadema Black-winged Saltator Saltador Alinegro Saltator atripennis Yellow-bellied Seedeater Espiguero Ventriamarillo Sporophila nigricollis Tricolored Brush-finch Matorralero Tricolor Atlapetes tricolor White-winged Brush-finch Matorralero Aliblanco Atlapetes leucopterus Chestnut-capped Brush-finch Matorralero Gorricastano Buarremon brunneinucha Stripe-headed Brush-finch
Matorralero Cabecilistado Buarremon torquatus Rufous-collared Sparrow Chingolo Zonotrichia capensis Russet-backed Oropendola Oropendola Dorsirrojiza Psarocolius angustifrons
Updated 10 April 2008
Home El Pahuma Lalo Loor Courses Volunteer Research Articles Donate Contact
© 2010 Ceiba Foundation for Tropical Conservation