Hummingbirds-text common to species photographed in Ecuador
According to Miles McMullan's book 'The Guide to the Hummingbirds', there are between 330 and 360 species of hummingbirds in the world and as many as 129 species of them in Ecuador. Hummingbirds are found from Alaska in North America to the south of South America. So there are more than 30 per cent of hummingbird species there on two mighty continents, and in the small area of Ecuador in comparison. They are indeed almost everywhere in Ecuador, and at least during our entire stay, we gave them daily sightings. Roadside restaurants almost always have hummingbird drinkers. While waiting for a meal, we were never bored because there was always something going on at the feeders and photos were being taken. The contact with nature is so close that in one such place we took a break for lunch and while eating soup not far from the hummingbird feeders, one of the hummingbirds sat on my forearm and watched what I was doing. An amazing encounter, an amazing contact with nature.  In yet another, I was standing in front of a hummingbird drinker, almost motionless trying to get a dynamic picture of a hummingbird, while another wanted to check the cleanliness of my ear. I can assure you that it is an unpleasant feeling to hear the swish of its feathers an inch or two from your ear, and to be aware that it will slip its long beak into your ear. You have to refrain from the reflex that accompanies a mosquito or fly in such a situation, and so wave your hand vigorously. This could be fatal to the hummingbird. Just move your head vigorously and the bird will fly away. By holding a flower in hand in such places, you can count on the hummingbird to sit on it and check for the sometimes tasty nectar. We shot such short films and sent them to Poland "with greetings" from Ecuador . Could there be a more beautiful 'postcard' with holiday greetings? Despite the close contact with hummingbirds, photography is not easy. I am not thinking of photos of hummingbirds drinking from or sitting on plastic containers. I'm thinking of dynamic photos in flight of these amazing sky acrobats. The photography itself is worthwhile if it is preceded by a brief observation of the species there. It often happens that one of them is a dominant species, very territorial and behaves in a characteristic, predictable way. These species are always easier to photograph. They sometimes fly up to a few centimetres from the drinker, hover in the air for a second, two or three, make sure it is safe, then start their sweet meal. This moment is a situation in which dynamic photographs can be created. Likewise with the flowers situated near the existing drinkers. The birds hover near them and sip the sweet water artificially left there. These are the predictable species. There are, however, some that suddenly fly out of the bushes straight to the drinkers, feed and as quickly as they appeared, they disappear. With these, humans hardly stand a chance. Just like the aerial quarrels, the hummingbirds skirmish. They are so fast, the movement of two individuals so synchronous, that one can only stop to observe. Photographing such a quarrel is pure coincidence. In the end, 41 species of hummingbirds were photographed during the entire trip to Ecuador. All of them have the present text posted, and only the Giant hummingbird and the Ecuadorian Hillstar, have the text expanded with individual information. I have marked this as a double T-"TT".

While there are no dynamic photos of this hummingbird, it is a species of hummingbird that I photographed at the highest altitude in Ecuador, over 3,600 metres above sea level. The photos were taken while waiting for the Andean condor. The birds were not numerous. Once we counted four individuals, and as a rule one appeared. Fortunately, he was predictable and appeared in a few of his favourite spots. He had no fear of us and occasionally flew up to less than 5 metres, which for wild birds in the mountains, not used to restaurant watering holes, was a really short distance. I have always associated hummingbirds with tropical birds, warmth, flowers, and here is a bird living in a place where a few hours ago there were sub-zero temperatures, and we, a few hours after sunrise, are photographing it at 5 degrees Celsius.

Ekwador wykaz angielski

Body

Ecuador 09/2023-introductory text- Andean Cock-of-the-rock
News galery:
BIRDS:
1.Andean Cock-of-the-rock(T,V). 2.Toucan Barbet. 3.Long-wattled Umbrellabird. 4.Masked Trogon. 5.Rufous-breasted Antthrush. 6.Torrent Duck. 7.Orange-cheeked Parrot. 8.Hoatzin(V).  9.Sunbittern(T). 10.Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan(V). 11.Glistening-green Tanager. 12.White-capped Dipper. 13.Red-bellied Macaw. 14.Cobalt-winged Parakeet(V). 15.Black Skimmer. 16.Golden-rumped Euphonia. 17. Crimson-rumped Toucanet. 18.Golden Tanager. 19.Golden-bellied Grosbeak. 20.Sparkling Violetear(T).21.Collared Inca(T). 22.Tyrian Metaltail(T). 23.Pink-throated Brilliant(T). 24.Sapphire-vented Puffleg(T). 25.Purple-throated Woodstar(T). 26.Mountain Velvetbreast(T). 27.Buff-winged Starfrontlet(T). 28.Andean Emerald(T). 29.Booted Racket-tail(T). 30.Brown Violetear(T). 31.White-whiskered Hermit(T). 32.Violet-tailed Sylph(T). 33.Purple-bibbed Whitetip 34.Fawn-breasted Brilliant(T). 35.Buff-tailed Coronet(T). 36.Brown Inca(T). 37.Velvet-purple Coronet(T). 38.Gorgeted Sunangel(T). 39.Tawny-bellied Hermit(T). 40.White-tailed Hillstar(T). 41.Speckled Hummingbird(T). 42.Empress Brilliant(T). 43.Ecuadorian Hillstar(TT). 44.Green-crowned Woodnymph(T). 45.Shining Sunbeam(T). 46.Black-tailed Trainbearer(T). 47.Rainbow-bearded Thornbill(T). 48.Violet-fronted Brilliant(T). 49.Sword-billed Hummingbird(T). 50.Bronzy Inca(T). 51.Blue-mantled Thornbill(T). 52.Gorgeted Woodstar(T). 53.Wire-crested Thorntail(T). 54.Chestnut-breasted Coronet(T). 55.Tourmaline Sunangel(T). 56.Giant Hummingbird(TT). 57.White-bellied Woodstar(T). 58.Golden-tailed Sapphire. 59.Black-crowned Tityra. 60.Yellow-breasted Antpitta(T). 61.Giant Antpitta. 62.Moustached Antpitta. 63.Ochre-breasted Antpitta. 64.Chestnut-crowned Antpitta. 65.Rufous antpitta. 66.White-lored Antpitta(V). 67.Plain-backed Antpitta. 68.Chestnut-fronted Macaw. 69.Yellow-rumped Cacique. 70. White-throated Screech-Owl. 71.Great Horned Owl. 72.Band-bellied Owl. 73.Vermiculated Screech-Owl. 74.Tawny-bellied screech owl. 75.Black-crested Warbler. 76.Little Woodpecker. 77.Ladder-tailed Nightjar. 78.Lettered Aracari. 79.Montane Woodcreeper. 80.Sungrebe. 81.Black-capped Donacobius. 82.Rufescent Tiger-Heron. 83.Black-mandibled Toucan. 84.Golden-collared Toucanet. 85.Red-crested Cotinga. 86.Andean Lapwing. 87.Carunculated Caracara. 88.Laughing Falcon. 89.Rufous-throated Tanager. 90.Black-billed Treehunter. 91.Ecuadorian Thrush. 92.Beryl-spangled Tanager. 93.Streak-capped Treehunter. 94.Equatorial Motmot (Andean Motmot). 95.Thick-billed Euphonia. 96.Flame-faced Tanager. 97.Golden-headed Quetzal(V). 98.Barred Fruiteater. 99.Eared Dove. 100.Great Thrush.101.Baudo Guan. 102.Rufous-naped Brush-Finch. 103.Masked Flowerpiercer. 104.White-sided Flowerpiercer. 105.Blue-capped Tanager. 106.Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager. 107.Blue-winged Mountain-tanager. 108.Flame-rumped Tanager. 109.Golden-naped Tanager. 110.Bronze-green Euphonia. 111.Black-capped Tanager. 112.Dusky bush tanager. 113. Orange-bellied Euphonia. 114.Black-chinned Mountain-Tanager. 115.Palm Tanager. 116.Blue-necked Tanager.117.Yellow-billed Cacique. 118.Russet-backed Oropendola(G). 119.White-throated Quail-Dove. 120.White-lined Tanager. 121.Yellow-olive Flycatcher. 122.Golden-crowned Flycatcher. 123.Three-striped Warbler. 124.Ornate Flycatcher. 125.Scaly-throated Foliage-gleaner. 126.Tawny-breasted Flycatcher. 127.Wedge-billed Woodcreeper. 128.Orange-breasted Fruiteater. 129.Olive-crowned Yellowthroat. 130.Golden-collared Honeycreeper. 131.Moss-backed Tanager. 132.Black-striped Sparrow. 133.Yellow-billed Pintail. 134.Andean Teal. 135.Many-striped Canastero. 136.Chestnut-winged Cinclodes. 137.Azara's Spinetail. 138.Glossy-black Thrush. 139.Plumbeous Sierra-Finch. 140.Tricolored Brush-Finch. 141.Western Fire-eye . 142.Plumbeous Pigeon. 143.Black-banded Crake. 144.Turquoise Jay. 145.Blue-rumped Manakin. 146.Blue-headed Parrot (V). 147.Crested Oropendola. 148.Bar-bellied Woodpecker. 149.Gilded barbet. 150.Deep-blue flowerpiercer. 151.Yellow-tufted Woodpecker. 152.Black-faced Antbird. 153.Speckled Chachalaca. 154.Black-and-white Seedeater. 155.Greater Ani(V). 156.Cynoberek. 157.Ringed Kingfisher. 158.Red-capped Cardinal. 159.Lesser Kiskadee. 160.Grey-breasted Crake(V). 161.Scarlet-crowned Barbet. 162.Vermilion Flycatcher. 163.Cinereous Conebill. 164.Blue-and-yellow Tanager. 165.White-winged Brush-Finch. 166.Cocoi Heron. 167.White-banded Swallow. 168.Giant Cowbird. 169.Drab Water-Tyrant. 170.Buff-breasted Sandpiper. 171.Large-billed Tern. 172.Black Caracara. 173.White-eared Jacamar. 174.Pale-vented Pigeon. 175.Southern Mealy Parrot. 176.Dusky-headed Parakeet. 177.Cliff flycatcher(V). 178.Yellow-browed Sparrow. 179.Black-headed Parrot. 180.Baird's sandpiper.181.Swallow-wing.182.Western Emerald. 
MAMMALS:
1.Central American agouti. 2.White-tailed deer. 3.Proboscis bat. 4.White-tailed titi monkey(V).
Changes in the galery BIRDS:
1.Andean Condor(T). 2.Scarlet Macaw. 3.Black Vulture. 4.White-necked Jacobin (T). 5.Rufous-tailed Hummingbird (T). 6.Broad-billed Motmot. 7.Inca Jay. 8.Golden-bellied Flycatcher. 9.Spotted Sandpiper. 10.Slate-throated Redstart. 11.Chestnut capped Brush Finch. 12.Grey-breasted Wood-Wren. 13.Strong-billed Woodcreeper. 14.Green Thorntail. 15.Black-cheeked Woodpecker. 16.Northern Potoo. 17.Tropical Parula. 18.Squirrel Cuckoo. 19.Collared Aracari. 20.Saffron Finch. 21.Black-faced Ibis. 22.Bananaquit. 23.Black Phoebe. 24.Swallow-tailed Kite. 25.Green Hermit. 26.Smooth-billed Ani. 27.Common tody-flycatcher. 28.Roadside Hawk. 29.Striated Heron. 30.Wattled Jacana. 31.Limpkin. 32.Blue-and-white Swallow. 33.Snail Kite. 34.Green Ibis. 35.Lineated Woodpecker. 36.Purple Gallinule. 37.Southern lapwing. 38.Cattle Egret. 39.Tropical Mockingbird. 40.Great Egret. 41.Tropical Kingbird. 42.Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl. 43.Rufous-collared Sparrow.

ECUADOR-FAUNA          ECUADOR -FLORA          ECUADOR -FLOWERS              ECUADOR LANDSCAPE

ECUADOR -QUITO          ECUADOR -QUITO CATHEDRAL                              ECUADOR -OTHER

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ECUADOR BIRDS             ECUADOR -HUMMINGBIRDS