Today is Mother's Day in many parts of the world, including here in Ecuador. I would love nothing more than to have my mom with me today. We would go hummingbird watching at one of the local reserves. But since she can't be in this beautiful country with me, I thought sharing one photo of every type of hummingbird I've photographed since arriving in this beautiful country would just have to do the trick!
Happy Mothers Day, Mom!
Sparkling Violet-eared Hummbird attacks a Many-spotted Hummingbird near the the Wildsumaco hummingbird
PS - for those of you who like a challenge, there are a few unidentified birds at the very end of the photos. You'll need your South American bird identification books handy!
Amazalia Hummingbird seen at the Naval Lodge, Salinas, Ecuador
Andean Emerald seen at Alambi Guest House.
Black-tailed Trainbearer seen near the home of a friend who lives on Pasachoa.
A Black-tailed Trainbearer (female) collecting fluff for a nest; San Jorge Eco-Lodge
Black-throated Brilliant seen at the Wildsumaco Lodge
Black-throated Mango seen at Casa del Suizo not far from Tena.
Booted Rackettail from the East Slope of the Andes; not his golden colored puffed legs; seen at Wildsumaco Lodge.
Booted Rackettail (female) from the West Slope; photographed at Bellavista Lodge near Tandayapa.
Booted Rackettail from the West Slope; note his puffy white cotton ball legs; Bellavista Lodge near Tandayapa.
This tiny bird is a Booted-Rackettail (female) from the West Slope of the Andes. East Slope cousins look very different as females but are considered the same species. Photo taken at the Bellavista Lodge.
Brown Violetear Hummingbird seen at the Alambi Guesthouse.
The Buff-tailed Coronet taken at the Bellavista Lodge.
The Buff-winged Starfrontlet is a guaranteed show at the Yanacocha Reserve feeders.
The Buff-winged Starfrontlet (female) is a very sociable bird and usually hangs with several other females. Photo taken at the Yanacocha Reserve.
A Chesnut-breasted Coronet from the Panacucho Guesthouse near Baños.
A Collared Inca from the Bellavista Lodge.
The Ecuadorian Hillstar is on my list of must-photograph-better birds. They can only be found at high elevations and don't come to feeders.
The Fawn-breasted Brilliant displays the beak common to all brilliants, broad at the base and slightly curved. Photo taken at the Bellavista Lodge.
Forktailed Woodnymph seen at Wildsumaco Lodge.
Forktailed Woodnymph (female) seen at Wildsumaco Lodge.
Glittering Throated Brilliant seen at the Wildsumaco Lodge in Ecuador.
The Golden-breasted Puffleg from the Yanacocha Reserve.
The Golden-tailed Sapphire from the Wildsumaco Lodge. Not many hummingbirds have this many different iridescent colors.
A Golden-tailed Sapphire (female) from Wildsumaco Lodge.
A tiny Gorgeted Woodstar seen at the Bellavista Lodge.
Goulds Jewelfront Brilliant seen at the Wildsumaco Lodge feeders - but the one's not at the main lodge.
Goulds Jewelfront Brilliant (female) at the Wildsumaco Lodge. This one was a surprise ID after we got home.
The Great Sapphirewing, whose wings are very huge in flight. He is another guaranteed view at the Yanacocha Reserve.
A Great Sapphirewing (female) taken at the Yanacocha Reserve.
The Green-crowned Woodnymph from the Alambi Guesthouse.
A Green-crowned Woodnymph (female) from the Alambi Guesthouse.
Green-crowned Brilliant from the Alambi Guesthouse.
A Green-crowned Brilliant (female) taken at the Alambi Guesthouse.
A Green-tailed Trainbearer takes flight, his tail split behind him. Photo taken at Jerusalem Regional Park near Guayabamba.
A Green-tailed Trainbearer (female) perched in a tree at the Jerusalem Regional Park. This is another no feeder zone.
The Green Hermit from the Wildsumaco Lodge. We only just caught this visitor on the last day of our stay.
A Green Violetear at the Bellavista Lodge.
The Many-spotted Hummingbird from the Wildsumaco Lodge.
I have only seen the Mountain Velvetbreast one time at the feeders at the Yanacocha Lodge. And this is my only picture.
A Purple-throated Woodstar from the Alambi Guesthouse near Tandayapa.
A Rufous-tailed Hummingbird at the Alambi Guesthouse near Tandayapa, Ecuador.
The Sapphire-vented Puffleg is probably the most photographed hummingbird in my collection. He always makes an appearance at the Yanacocha Reserve.
The Shining Sunbeam hummingbird has a small patch of iridescent rainbow feathers at the base of his spine just where his tail begins. Photo taken at San Jorge Lodge near Quito.
A Short-tailed Woodstar (female) found near the Chirije Ecolodge... no feeders in sight.
The Sparkling Violetear is very common in Quito but tends to hideout high among the eucalyptus. I managed this photo at the Wildsumaco Lodge feeders. It is a preview of the photo in the intro to this piece.
A Speckled Hummingbird, one of the more plain but nonetheless cute birds found at the Bellavista Lodge.
With a 10cm long beak, the Sword-billed Hummingbird is by far one of the most impressive hummingbirds in Ecuador. Photo taken at the Yanacocha Reserve near Quito.
Tyrian Metaltail photographed at the Yanacocha Reserve near Quito.
Tyrian Metaltail (female) collecting fluff for a nest; photographed at San Jorge Lodge near Quito.
Violet-fronted Brilliant seen at the Wildsumaco Lodge in Ecuador.
A Violet-headed Hummingbird at Wildsumaco Lodge. These birds refuse to visit the feeders but fortunately they love the flowering bushes that are planted around the lodge.
Violet-tailed Sylph (female) seen at Bellavista Lodge.
Violet-tailed Sylph seen at Bellavista Lodge (and before I learned to use super high speed film for rainy dark days)
A White-bellied Woodstar seen at Jerusalem Regional Park.
A White-necked Jacobin seen at the Alambi Guesthouse near Tandayapa.
Wire-crested Thorntails (female to the left) seen at Wildsumaco Lodge.
An unidentified hummingbird from Alambi Guesthouse near Tandayapa.
An unidentified hummingbird from Wildsumaco Lodge which borders Sumaco National Park.
An unidentified hummingbird from the Yanacocha Reserve, just outside Quito
An unidentified hummingbird from the Alambi Guesthouse near Tandayapa.
If you would like to see some of these birds on your next trip to Ecuador, here is handy dandy reference list of the places listed on the photos:
Alambi Guesthouse - although this is only a backyard setting, the opportunities to see new species are just incredible. Protected viewing even on a rainy day.
Bellavista Lodge - feeders are at the main lodge. Even on a rainy day, the birds visit while you can watch from the protected benches nearby.
Casa del Suizo - as you walk up to the lodge from the river, there will be narrow but long grassy area to the right. It overlooks native vegetation and we had the best look birdwatching from there, especially early mornings and late afternoons. A cat roams the main grounds so we gave up trying in the vicinity of the lodge.
Chirije Lodge - check out the open field just above the lodge and before the trail heading up the mountain.
Cotopaxi National Park - (Ecuadorian Hillstar can be seen in the bushes with orange flowers that you will drive past on your way to the parking lot of the Refugio)
Jerusalem Regional Park - Several hummingbirds can be seen at the small pond with the island in the center; Green-tailed Trainbearers can be seen on the birding trail in the dryer scrub areas, especially if you take the lesser used trails to the left.
Papallacta Hot Springs - although none of the pictures come from this spot, it is also a great place for hummingbirds. We have seen the Shining Sunbeam every visit and the Sword-billed and a long tailed trainbearer (unsure which) on other visits.
San Jorge Eco-Lodge - The feeders at the Lodge are wonderful. There is also a chance to see the Giant Hummingbird and the Ecuadorian Hillstar if you hit the trails. Ask at the lodge for specifics.
Wildsumaco Lodge - they have feeders at the main lodge but don't skip the feeders on the upper trail. Ask at the lodge for directions.
Yanacocha Reserve - they have just placed feeders the new visitors center but we don't know which birds are visiting. We recommend the 40 minute hike to the lower and upper hummingbird gardens.
This post appears with a different photo format at my blog, NotYourAverageAmerican.com.
Thanks for stopping by!