A BIRDER'S PARADISE

No other country in the world has as many bird species in such a small land area. With a list of over 1630 species, Ecuador ranks fourth in the world in bird diversity. You don't need to be an expert to experience the exhilaration of encountering such a variety of birds.

In all of the,, there is one group of birds, that always impressed to all of ours visitors, the HUMMINGBIRDS, because something like fourteen species are found only within the boundaries of Quito, specially in Mindo valley. Such is the case of the Black-breasted Puffleg, the official bird of the city, which is only found on Pichincha Volcano. Another 120 species aprox. are found in the rest of Ecuador.

Hummingbirds have an overpowering attraction to observers due to their iridescence and acrobatics. In the Andes, these birds are called "quindes" (from Quichua language). Some other ones like the stunning Sword-billed Hummingbird, or the Purple velvet Coronet. An outstanding example of diversity is seen at hummingbird feeders on the west slope (all valley of Mindo) where up to 28 species have been seen in one day, a world record!