This is a blog created for Basic Composition's Class dictated at USFQ.

domingo, 12 de septiembre de 2010

Birding in Quito.

Quito is a place where almost anyone can do birdwatching, here you will find different species, from ducks to falcons, pigeons to hummingbirds, here I will give you some advices for birding, both how to identificate different species and where to find them . 


Quito parks are the best place to start your bird-journey, Guanguiltagua metropolitan park  has the most diversity of birds in the city, followed by the "reservorio" located in Cumbayá valley. In order to facilitate the use of this little guide, I will divide the city in four regions, south, center, north, and valleys. 

South: 

In this part of the city you can find a lot of small parks, and three medium parks. Here you will find the tipically bird species of urban Quito, among which are: 

Common birds. 

Eared Dove- Zenaida auriculata
Rufous-collared Sparrow-Zonotrichia capensis
Great Trush-Turdus fuscater
Sparkling Violet-ear-Colibrí coruscans
Common dove-Columba livia

Fairly common birds. 

Black-tailed Trainbearer-Lesbia victoriae
Vermilion Flycatcher-Pyrocephalus rubinus
Brown-bellied Swallow-Notiochelidon murina. 
Blue-and-white Swallow-Pygochelidon cyanoleuca
Black Flowerpiercer-Dyglossa humeralis
Blue-and-yellow Tanager-Traupis bonariensis
Yellow-breasted Brush-finch-Atlapetes latinuchus. 

Non common birds. 

American Kestrel-Falco sparverius. 

Center:

In the center of Quito, the principal place to birdwatch is Itchimbia park, here you will easily find a lot of types of birds. 

Itchimbia park:


Black Vulture - Coragyps atratus  
American Kestrel -   Falco sparverius 
Band-tailed Pigeon - Patagioenas fasciata 
Eared Dove  - Zenaida auriculata 
Sparkling Violet-ear -    Colibri coruscans 
Black-tailed Trainbearer -   Lesbia victoriae 
White-crested Elaenia  - Elaenia albiceps 
Azara's Spinetail  - Synallaxis azarae 
Brown-bellied Swallow  - Notiochelidon murina 
Great Thrush  - Turdus fuscater 
Rufous-collared Sparrow - Zonotrichia capensis 
Grassland Yellow-finch  - Sicalis luteola 
Black-and-white Seedeater  - Sporophila luctuosa 
Band-tailed Seedeater  - Catamenia analis 
White-winged Brush-finch - Atlapetes leucopterus 
Blue-and-yellow Tanager  - Thraupis bonariensis 
Cinereous Conebill  - Conirostrum cinereum 
Black Flowerpiercer  - Diglossa humeralis 
Golden-bellied Grosbeak  - Pheucticus chrysogaster 
Crimson-mantled Woodpecker  - Colaptes rivolii 
Tufted Tit-tyrant  - Anairetes parulus 
Vermilion Flycatcher -    Pyrocephalus rubinus 
Tropical Kingbird  - Tyrannus melancholicus 
Eastern Kingbird  - Tyrannus tyrannus

North: 



In the north of Quito, there are two big parks where to find birds, in one of them, Carolina Park, there is a Botanical Garden, inside of it you can find migratory species, some colorful tanagers, egrets, herons, finches, and more.

Not far away from the botanical garden, about 10 minutes west, there is the Metropolitan Park of Guanguiltagua, there you can find hummingbirds, actually there is a road called "Sendero de los Colibries". Metropolitan Park is an intermedial stage between Quito and the valleys of Cumbaya and Nayón. There you going to find three viewpoints, each one has a different view of the slopes, In this slopes you can observe communities of birds.



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