List of birds of Ecuador

Order: TinamiformesFamily: Tinamidae The tinamous are one of the most ancient groups of bird. Although they look similar to other ground-dwelling birds like quail and grouse, they have no close relatives and are classified as a single family, Tinamidae, within their own order, the Tinamiformes. Seventeen species have been recorded in Ecuador. • Tawny-breasted tinamou, Nothocercus julius • Highland tinamou, Nothocercus bonapartei • Gray tinamou, Tinamus tao • Black tinamou, Tinamus osgoodi • Great tinamou, Tinamus major • White-throated tinamou, Tinamus guttatus • Berlepsch's tinamou, Crypturellus berlepschi • Cinereous tinamou, Crypturellus cinereus • Little tinamou, Crypturellus soui • Brown tinamou, Crypturellus obsoletus • Undulated tinamou, Crypturellus undulatus • Pale-browed tinamou, Crypturellus transfasciatus • Variegated tinamou, Crypturellus variegatus • Bartlett's tinamou, Crypturellus bartletti • Tataupa tinamou, Crypturellus tataupa • Andean tinamou, Nothoprocta pentlandii • Curve-billed tinamou, Nothoprocta curvirostris ==Screamers==

Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anhimidae The screamers are a small family of birds related to the ducks. They are large, bulky birds, with a small downy head, long legs, and large feet which are only partially webbed. They have large spurs on their wings which are used in fights over mates and in territorial disputes. One species has been recorded in Ecuador. • Horned screamer, Anhima cornuta ==Ducks==

Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, flattened bills, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating. Twenty-one species have been recorded in Ecuador. • Fulvous whistling-duck, Dendrocygna bicolor • Black-bellied whistling-duck, Dendrocygna autumnalis • Orinoco goose, Neochen jubatus • Muscovy duck, Cairina moschata • Comb duck, Sarkidiornis sylvicola • Brazilian teal, Amazonetta brasiliensis • Torrent duck, Merganetta armata • Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata • Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors • Cinnamon teal, Spatula cyanoptera • American wigeon, Mareca americana (V) • White-cheeked pintail, Anas bahamensis • Northern pintail, Anas acuta (V) • Yellow-billed pintail, Anas georgica • Green-winged teal, Anas crecca (V) • Andean teal, Anas andium • Southern pochard, Netta erythrophthalma • Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris (V) • Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis • Masked duck, Nomonyx dominicus • Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis ==Guans==

Order: GalliformesFamily: Cracidae The Cracidae are large birds, similar in general appearance to turkeys. The guans and curassows live in trees, but the smaller chachalacas are found in more open scrubby habitats. They are generally dull-plumaged, but the curassows and some guans have colorful facial ornaments. Fourteen species have been recorded in Ecuador. • Sickle-winged guan, Chamaepetes goudotii • Bearded guan, Penelope barbata • Baudo guan, Penelope ortoni • Andean guan, Penelope montagnii • Spix's guan, Penelope jacquacu • Crested guan, Penelope purpurascens • Blue-throated piping-guan, Pipile cumanensis • Wattled guan, Aburria aburri • Rufous-headed chachalaca, Ortalis erythroptera • Speckled chachalaca, Ortalis guttata • Nocturnal curassow, Nothocrax urumutum • Great curassow, Crax rubra • Wattled curassow, Crax globulosa • Salvin's curassow, Mitu salvini ==New World quails==

Order: GalliformesFamily: Odontophoridae The New World quails are small, plump terrestrial birds only distantly related to the quails of the Old World, but named for their similar appearance and habits. Six species have been recorded in Ecuador. • Tawny-faced quail, Rhynchortyx cinctus • Marbled wood-quail, Odontophorus gujanensis • Rufous-fronted wood-quail, Odontophorus erythrops • Dark-backed wood-quail, Odontophorus melanonotus • Rufous-breasted wood-quail, Odontophorus speciosus • Starred wood-quail, Odontophorus stellatus ==Flamingos==

Order: PhoenicopteriformesFamily: Phoenicopteridae Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually tall, found in both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. Flamingos filter-feed on shellfish and algae. Their oddly shaped beaks are specially adapted to separate mud and silt from the food they consume and, uniquely, are used upside down. Two species have been recorded in Ecuador. • Chilean flamingo, Phoenicopterus chilensis • American flamingo, Phoenicopterus ruber ==Grebes==

Order: PodicipediformesFamily: Podicipedidae Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land. Four species have been recorded in Ecuador. • Least grebe, Tachybaptus dominicus • Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps • Great grebe, Podiceps major • Silvery grebe, Podiceps occipitalis ==Pigeons==

Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere. Twenty-nine species have been recorded in Ecuador. • Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I) • Scaled pigeon, Patagioenas speciosa • Band-tailed pigeon, Patagioenas fasciata • Pale-vented pigeon, Patagioenas cayennensis • Peruvian pigeon, Patagioenas oenops (U) • Plumbeous pigeon, Patagioenas plumbea • Ruddy pigeon, Patagioenas subvinacea • Dusky pigeon, Patagioenas goodsoni • Purple quail-dove, Geotrygon purpurata • Sapphire quail-dove, Geotrygon saphirina • Ruddy quail-dove, Geotrygon montana • Olive-backed quail-dove, Leptotrygon veraguensis • White-tipped dove, Leptotila verreauxi • Ochre-bellied dove, Leptotila ochraceiventris • Gray-fronted dove, Leptotila rufaxilla • Pallid dove, Leptotila pallida • White-throated quail-dove, Zentrygon frenata • West Peruvian dove, Zenaida meloda • Galapagos dove, Zenaida galapagoensis (EG) • Eared dove, Zenaida auriculata • Blue ground dove, Claravis pretiosa • Maroon-chested ground dove, Paraclaravis mondetoura • Black-winged ground dove, Metriopelia melanoptera • Common ground dove, Columbina passerina • Plain-breasted ground dove, Columbina minuta • Ruddy ground dove, Columbina talpacoti • Ecuadorian ground dove, Columbina buckleyi • Scaled dove, Columbina squammata (U) • Croaking ground dove, Columbina cruziana ==Cuckoos==

Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners, and anis. These are birds of variable size with slender bodies, long tails, and strong legs. Eighteen species have been recorded in Ecuador. • Greater ani, Crotophaga major • Smooth-billed ani, Crotophaga ani • Groove-billed ani, Crotophaga sulcirostris • Striped cuckoo, Tapera naevia • Pheasant cuckoo, Dromococcyx phasianellus • Pavonine cuckoo, Dromococcyx pavoninus • Rufous-vented ground-cuckoo, Neomorphus geoffroyi • Banded ground-cuckoo, Neomorphus radiolosus • Red-billed ground-cuckoo, Neomorphus pucheranii (U) • Little cuckoo, Coccycua minuta • Dwarf cuckoo, Coccycua pumila • Squirrel cuckoo, Piaya cayana • Black-bellied cuckoo, Piaya melanogaster • Dark-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus melacoryphus • Yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus • Pearly-breasted cuckoo, Coccyzus euleri • Black-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus erythropthalmus • Gray-capped cuckoo, Coccyzus lansbergi ==Oilbird==

Order: SteatornithiformesFamily: Steatornithidae The oilbird is a slim, long-winged bird related to the nightjars. It is nocturnal and a specialist feeder on the fruit of the oil palm. • Oilbird, Steatornis caripensis ==Potoos==

Order: NyctibiiformesFamily: Nyctibiidae The potoos (sometimes called poor-me-ones) are large near passerine birds related to the nightjars and frogmouths. They are nocturnal insectivores which lack the bristles around the mouth found in the true nightjars. Five species have been recorded in Ecuador. • Rufous potoo, Phyllaemulor bracteatus • Great potoo, Nyctibius grandis • Long-tailed potoo, Nyctibius aethereus • Common potoo, Nyctibius griseus • Andean potoo, Nyctibius maculosus ==Nightjars==

Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Caprimulgidae Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds which usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs, and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is camouflaged to resemble bark or leaves. Nineteen species have been recorded in Ecuador. • Nacunda nighthawk, Chordeiles nacunda (V) • Sand-colored nighthawk, Chordeiles rupestris • Lesser nighthawk, Chordeiles acutipennis • Common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor • Band-tailed nighthawk, Nyctiprogne leucopyga • Short-tailed nighthawk, Lurocalis semitorquatus • Rufous-bellied nighthawk, Lurocalis rufiventris • Blackish nightjar, Nyctipolus nigrescens • Common pauraque, Nyctidromus albicollis • Scrub nightjar, Nyctidromus anthonyi • Swallow-tailed nightjar, Uropsalis segmentata • Lyre-tailed nightjar, Uropsalis lyra • Spot-tailed nightjar, Hydropsalis maculicaudus • White-tailed nightjar, Hydropsalis cayennensis • Ladder-tailed nightjar, Hydropsalis climacocerca • Band-winged nightjar, Systellura longirostris • Choco poorwill, Nyctiphrynus rosenbergi • Ocellated poorwill, Nyctiphrynus ocellatus • Rufous nightjar, Antrostomus rufus ==Swifts==

Order: ApodiformesFamily: Apodidae Swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang. Fourteen species have been recorded in Ecuador. • Spot-fronted swift, Cypseloides cherriei • White-chinned swift, Cypseloides cryptus • White-chested swift, Cypseloides lemosi • Chestnut-collared swift, Streptoprocne rutila • White-collared swift, Streptoprocne zonaris • Gray-rumped swift, Chaetura cinereiventris • Band-rumped swift, Chaetura spinicaudus • Pale-rumped swift, Chaetura egregia • Chimney swift, Chaetura pelagica • Chapman's swift, Chaetura chapmani (U) • Short-tailed swift, Chaetura brachyura • White-tipped swift, Aeronautes montivagus • Fork-tailed palm-swift, Tachornis squamata • Lesser swallow-tailed swift, Panyptila cayennensis ==Hummingbirds==

Order: ApodiformesFamily: Trochilidae Hummingbirds are small birds capable of hovering in mid-air due to the rapid flapping of their wings. They are the only birds that can fly backwards. One hundred thirty-six species have been recorded in Ecuador. • Fiery topaz, Topaza pyra • White-necked jacobin, Florisuga mellivora • White-tipped sicklebill, Eutoxeres aquila • Buff-tailed sicklebill, Eutoxeres condamini • Bronzy hermit, Glaucis aeneus • Rufous-breasted hermit, Glaucis hirsutus • Band-tailed barbthroat, Threnetes ruckeri • Pale-tailed barbthroat, Threnetes leucurus • Black-throated hermit, Phaethornis atrimentalis • Stripe-throated hermit, Phaethornis striigularis • Gray-chinned hermit, Phaethornis griseogularis • Reddish hermit, Phaethornis ruber • White-bearded hermit, Phaethornis hispidus • White-whiskered hermit, Phaethornis yaruqui • Green hermit, Phaethornis guy • Tawny-bellied hermit, Phaethornis syrmatophorus • Straight-billed hermit, Phaethornis bourcieri • Long-billed hermit, Phaethornis longirostris • Great-billed hermit, Phaethornis malaris • Green-fronted lancebill, Doryfera ludovicae • Blue-fronted lancebill, Doryfera johannae • White-throated daggerbill, Schistes albogularis • Geoffroy's daggerbill, Schistes geoffroyi • Brown violetear, Colibri delphinae • Lesser violetear, Colibri cyanotus • Sparkling violetear, Colibri coruscans • Tooth-billed hummingbird, Androdon aequatorialis • Purple-crowned fairy, Heliothryx barroti • Black-eared fairy, Heliothryx auritus • Green-tailed goldenthroat, Polytmus theresiae (U) • Fiery-tailed awlbill, Avocettula recurvirostris • Black-throated mango, Anthracothorax nigricollis • Amethyst-throated sunangel, Heliangelus amethysticollis • Gorgeted sunangel, Heliangelus strophianus • Tourmaline sunangel, Heliangelus exortis • Little sunangel, Heliangelus micraster • Purple-throated sunangel, Heliangelus viola • Royal sunangel, Heliangelus regalis • Green thorntail, Discosura conversii • Wire-crested thorntail, Discosura popelairii • Black-bellied thorntail, Discosura langsdorffi • Rufous-crested coquette, Lophornis delattrei (U) • Spangled coquette, Lophornis stictolophus • Butterfly coquette, Lophornis verreauxii • Ecuadorian piedtail, Phlogophilus hemileucurus • Speckled hummingbird, Adelomyia melanogenys • Long-tailed sylph, Aglaiocercus kingii • Violet-tailed sylph, Aglaiocercus coelestis • Ecuadorian hillstar, Oreotrochilus chimborazo • Blue-throated hillstar, Oreotrochilus cyanolaemus (EM) • Green-headed hillstar, Oreotrochilus stolzmanni • Mountain avocetbill, Opisthoprora euryptera • Black-tailed trainbearer, Lesbia victoriae • Green-tailed trainbearer, Lesbia nuna • Purple-backed thornbill, Ramphomicron microrhynchum • Rufous-capped thornbill, Chalcostigma ruficeps • Blue-mantled thornbill, Chalcostigma stanleyi • Rainbow-bearded thornbill, Chalcostigma herrani • Tyrian metaltail, Metallura tyrianthina • Viridian metaltail, Metallura williami • Violet-throated metaltail, Metallura baroni (EM) • Neblina metaltail, Metallura odomae • Greenish puffleg, Haplophaedia aureliae • Hoary puffleg, Haplophaedia lugens • Black-breasted puffleg, Eriocnemis nigrivestis (EM) • Glowing puffleg, Eriocnemis vestita • Black-thighed puffleg, Eriocnemis derbyi • Turquoise-throated puffleg, Eriocnemis godini • Sapphire-vented puffleg, Eriocnemis luciani • Golden-breasted puffleg, Eriocnemis mosquera • Emerald-bellied puffleg, Eriocnemis aline • Shining sunbeam, Aglaeactis cupripennis • Bronzy Inca, Coeligena coeligena • Brown Inca, Coeligena wilsoni • Collared Inca, Coeligena torquata • Rainbow starfrontlet, Coeligena iris • Buff-winged starfrontlet, Coeligena lutetiae • Mountain velvetbreast, Lafresnaya lafresnayi • Sword-billed hummingbird, Ensifera ensifera • Great sapphirewing, Pterophanes cyanopterus • Buff-tailed coronet, Boissonneaua flavescens • Chestnut-breasted coronet, Boissonneaua matthewsii • Velvet-purple coronet, Boissonneaua jardini • Booted racket-tail, Ocreatus underwoodii • Rufous-gaped hillstar, Urochroa bougueri • Green-backed hillstar, Urochroa leucura • Purple-bibbed whitetip, Urosticte benjamini • Rufous-vented whitetip, Urosticte ruficrissa • Pink-throated brilliant, Heliodoxa gularis • Black-throated brilliant, Heliodoxa schreibersii • Gould's jewelfront, Heliodoxa aurescens • Fawn-breasted brilliant, Heliodoxa rubinoides • Green-crowned brilliant, Heliodoxa jacula • Empress brilliant, Heliodoxa imperatrix • Violet-fronted brilliant, Heliodoxa leadbeateri • Northern giant-hummingbird, Patagona peruviana (E-SA) • Long-billed starthroat, Heliomaster longirostris • Blue-tufted starthroat, Heliomaster furcifer (U) • Purple-collared woodstar, Myrtis fanny • Peruvian sheartail, Thaumastura cora • White-bellied woodstar, Chaetocercus mulsant • Little woodstar, Chaetocercus bombus • Gorgeted woodstar, Chaetocercus heliodor • Esmeraldas woodstar, Chaetocercus berlepschi (EM) • Short-tailed woodstar, Myrmia micrura • Amethyst woodstar, Calliphlox amethystina • Purple-throated woodstar, Philodice mitchellii • Western emerald, Chlorostilbon melanorhynchus • Blue-tailed emerald, Chlorostilbon mellisugus • Violet-headed hummingbird, Klais guimeti • Gray-breasted sabrewing, Campylopterus largipennis • Lazuline sabrewing, Campylopterus falcatus • Napo sabrewing, Campylopterus villaviscensio • White-vented plumeleteer, Chalybura buffonii • Bronze-tailed plumeleteer, Chalybura urochrysia • Crowned woodnymph, Thalurania colombica • Fork-tailed woodnymph, Thalurania furcata • Tumbes hummingbird, Thaumasius baeri • Spot-throated hummingbird, Thaumasius taczanowskii (U) • Many-spotted hummingbird, Taphrospilus hypostictus • Olive-spotted hummingbird, Talaphorus chlorocercus • Rufous-tailed hummingbird, Amazilia tzacatl • Amazilia hummingbird, Amazilis amazilia • Andean emerald, Uranomitra franciae • Golden-tailed sapphire, Chrysuronia oenone • Humboldt's sapphire, Chrysuronia humboldtii • Blue-headed sapphire, Chrysuronia grayi • Glittering-throated emerald, Chionomesa fimbriata • Sapphire-spangled emerald, Chionomesa lactea (U) • Rufous-throated sapphire, Hylocharis sapphirina • Blue-chested hummingbird, Polyerata amabilis • Purple-chested hummingbird, Polyerata rosenbergi • White-chinned sapphire, Chlorestes cyanus • Violet-bellied hummingbird, Chlorestes julie • Blue-chinned sapphire, Chlorestes notata ==Hoatzin==

Order: OpisthocomiformesFamily: Opisthocomidae The hoatzin is pheasant-sized, but much slimmer; it has a long tail, long neck, and small head. It has an unfeathered blue face with red eyes, and its head is topped by a spiky crest. It is a weak flier and is found in the swamps of the Amazon and Orinoco rivers. • Hoatzin, Opisthocomus hoazin ==Limpkin==

Order: GruiformesFamily: Aramidae The limpkin resembles a large rail. It has drab-brown plumage and a grayer head and neck. • Limpkin, Aramus guarauna ==Trumpeters==

Order: GruiformesFamily: Psophiidae The trumpeters are dumpy birds with long necks and legs and chicken-like bills. They are named for the trumpeting call of the males. One species has been recorded in Ecuador. • Gray-winged trumpeter, Psophia crepitans ==Rails==

Order: GruiformesFamily: Rallidae Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots, and gallinules. Typically they inhabit dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps, or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak fliers. Twenty-eight species have been recorded in Ecuador. • Mangrove rail, Rallus longirostris • Virginia rail, Rallus limicola • Purple gallinule, Porphyrio martinica • Azure gallinule, Porphyrio flavirostris • Chestnut-headed crake, Anurolimnas castaneiceps • Russet-crowned crake, Anurolimnas viridis • Black-banded crake, Anurolimnas fasciatus • Rufous-sided crake, Laterallus melanophaius • White-throated crake, Laterallus albigularis • Gray-breasted crake, Laterallus exilis • Galapagos rail, Laterallus spilonota (EG) • Ocellated crake, Micropygia schomburgkii • Ash-throated crake, Mustelirallus albicollis • Colombian crake, Mustelirallus colombianus • Paint-billed crake, Mustelirallus erythrops • Spotted rail, Pardirallus maculatus • Blackish rail, Pardirallus nigricans • Plumbeous rail, Pardirallus sanguinolentus • Uniform crake, Amaurolimnas concolor • Brown wood-rail, Aramides wolfi • Gray-cowled wood-rail, Aramides cajaneus • Rufous-necked wood-rail, Aramides axillaris • Red-winged wood-rail, Aramides calopterus • Yellow-breasted crake, Porzana flaviventer (U) • Sora, Porzana carolina • Common gallinule, Gallinula galeata • American coot, Fulica americana (V) • Slate-colored coot, Fulica ardesiaca ==Finfoots==

Order: GruiformesFamily: Heliornithidae Heliornithidae is a small family of tropical birds with webbed lobes on their feet similar to those of grebes and coots. One species has been recorded in Ecuador. • Sungrebe, Heliornis fulica ==Plovers==

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Charadriidae The family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels, and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short, thick necks, and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water. Thirteen species have been recorded in Ecuador. • Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola • American golden-plover, Pluvialis dominica • Pacific golden-plover, Pluvialis fulva (V) • Tawny-throated dotterel, Oreopholus ruficollis (V) • Pied lapwing, Holoxypterus cayanus • Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus • Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus • Piping plover, Charadrius melodus (V) • Southern lapwing, Vanellus chilensis • Andean lapwing, Vanellus resplendens • Wilson's plover, Anarynchus wilsonia • Collared plover, Anarynchus collaris • Snowy plover, Anarynchus nivosus ==Oystercatchers==