Antisana National Park

National Park · Ecuador

No ratings yet

Photo © Stefan Weigel

Photo © Stefan Weigel — CC BY 4.0 — Source: Wikimedia Commons

Where the eastern Andean slopes descend into the Amazon basin, Antisana National Park sprawls across roughly 2,500 square kilometers of some of South America's most dramatic terrain. Volcanic peaks, including the 5,758-meter Volcán Antisana itself, rise through cloud forests and páramo grasslands that transition downslope into montane and lowland rainforest. This vertical stacking of habitats creates a landscape of extraordinary ecological complexity, where temperature, rainfall, and soil conditions shift dramatically over just a few kilometers of elevation gain. The park's rivers—tributaries feeding the Quijos watershed—carve through steep valleys, their waters running cold and silted from glacial melt and volcanic geology. Across this mosaic, wildlife thrives in predictable ecological communities: high-altitude birds of prey hunt over the open páramo; mixed-species flocks of woodland songbirds move through the cloud forest canopy; small forest mammals navigate the dense understory; and in the lower reaches, the greater diversity and biomass of lowland rainforest vertebrates dominates the fauna. The park protects critical water sources for downstream communities and represents one of Ecuador's most important biodiversity corridors, linking cloud forest endemics with Amazonian species pools.

For wildlife travelers, Antisana rewards patient observation across a range of elevations and seasons. The park's altitudinal gradient means that a single expedition can encounter the specialized fauna of páramo, cloud forest, and humid forest within a day's travel—a rare opportunity to document how tropical wildlife communities reorganize with elevation and microclimate. The wet season brings maximum insect activity and bird breeding behavior, driving increased feeding and territorial vocalization; the drier months of June through August often bring clearer skies and more predictable mountain light for photography. Access via the Quijos valley provides a natural entry point for visitors based in the Ecuadorian highlands, and the park's water systems support both hiking routes and opportunities for downstream naturalist exploration. Early mornings in the cloud forest and dusk periods along forest edges offer peak activity windows, while the open páramo allows long-distance observation and scanning that simply cannot be replicated in closed-canopy habitat.

Birding TourEasy

Nature Experience

Northern Ecuador Photography & Birding Tour

15 Days 6 EN · ES · FR

Sword-billed Hummingbird

Ensifera ensifera

Plumbeous Sierra Finch

Geospizopsis unicolor

Stout-billed Cinclodes

Cinclodes excelsior

Oxyura ferruginea

Vanellus resplendens

Geranoaetus polyosoma

Ecuadorian Hillstar

Oreotrochilus chimborazo

Many-striped Canastero

Asthenes flammulata

Paramo Ground Tyrant

Muscisaxicola alpinus

Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant

Ochthoeca fumicolor

Shining Sunbeam

Aglaeactis cupripennis

Cyanolyca turcosa

Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle

Geranoaetus melanoleucus

Sparkling Violetear

Colibri coruscans

Tyrian Metaltail

Metallura tyrianthina

Rufous-collared Sparrow

Zonotrichia capensis

Spectacled Whitestart

Myioborus melanocephalus

Scarlet-bellied Mountain Tanager

Anisognathus igniventris

Andean Tit-Spinetail

Leptasthenura andicola

Long-tailed Sylph

Aglaiocercus kingii

Cinnamon Flycatcher

Pyrrhomyias cinnamomeus

Smoky Bush Tyrant

Myiotheretes fumigatus

Brown-bellied Swallow

Orochelidon murina

Black-crested Warbler

Myiothlypis nigrocristata

Speckled Hummingbird

Adelomyia melanogenys

Trogon personatus

Coeligena torquata

Chestnut-crowned Antpitta

Grallaria ruficapilla

Great Sapphirewing

Pterophanes cyanopterus

Golden-headed Quetzal

Pharomachrus auriceps

Blackish Tapaculo

Scytalopus latrans

Grey-breasted Wood Wren

Henicorhina leucophrys

Cinereous Harrier

Circus cinereus

Cinnycerthia unirufa

Plain-tailed Wren

Pheugopedius euophrys

Cinereous Conebill

Conirostrum cinereum

Chestnut-breasted Coronet

Boissonneaua matthewsii

Streak-headed Antbird

Drymophila striaticeps

Red-rumped Bush Tyrant

Cnemarchus erythropygius

Red-crested Cotinga

Ampelion rubrocristatus

Russet-crowned Warbler

Myiothlypis coronata

Warbling Masked Flowerpiercer

Diglossa cyanea

Nyctibius maculosus

Momotus aequatorialis

White-bellied Antpitta

Grallaria hypoleuca

Pale-edged Flycatcher

Myiarchus cephalotes

Merganetta armata

Steatornis caripensis

Peruvian Racket-tail

Ocreatus peruanus

Green-backed Hillstar

Urochroa leucura

Olive-backed Woodcreeper

Xiphorhynchus triangularis

Grallaria quitensis

Turdus fuscater

Black-winged Ground Dove

Metriopelia melanoptera

Lacrimose Mountain Tanager

Anisognathus lacrymosus

Cistothorus platensis

Hooded Mountain Tanager

Buthraupis montana

Green-and-black Fruiteater

Pipreola riefferii

Southern Giant Hummingbird

Black-tailed Trainbearer

Lesbia victoriae

Pearled Treerunner

Margarornis squamiger

Zenaida auriculata

Black Flowerpiercer

Diglossa humeralis

Neotropic Cormorant

Nannopterum brasilianum

Black-billed Mountain Toucan

Andigena nigrirostris

Penelope montagnii

Baird's Sandpiper

Calidris bairdii

Band-tailed Pigeon

Patagioenas fasciata

Blue-and-black Tanager

Tangara vassorii

Beryl-spangled Tanager

Tangara nigroviridis

Cyanocorax yncas

White-faced Nunbird

Hapaloptila castanea

Powerful Woodpecker

Campephilus pollens

Spinus magellanicus

Crested Quetzal

Pharomachrus antisianus

Crimson-mantled Woodpecker

Colaptes rivolii

Streaked Tuftedcheek

Pseudocolaptes boissonneautii

Southern Emerald Toucanet

Aulacorhynchus albivitta

Blue-mantled Thornbill

Chalcostigma stanleyi

Andean Solitaire

Myadestes ralloides

Glossy-black Thrush

Turdus serranus

Viridian Metaltail

Metallura williami

Red-billed Parrot

Pionus sordidus

Russet-backed Oropendola

Psarocolius angustifrons

Troglodytes solstitialis

Montane Woodcreeper

Lepidocolaptes lacrymiger

Saffron-crowned Tanager

Tangara xanthocephala

Slate-throated Whitestart

Myioborus miniatus

Scarlet-rumped Cacique

Cacicus uropygialis

Fawn-breasted Brilliant

Heliodoxa rubinoides

Coeligena coeligena

Blue-grey Tanager

Thraupis episcopus

Azara's Spinetail

Synallaxis azarae

Cardellina canadensis

Carunculated Caracara

Daptrius carunculatus

Fulica ardesiaca

Blackburnian Warbler

Setophaga fusca

Smoke-colored Pewee

Contopus fumigatus

Chroicocephalus serranus

Chestnut-winged Cinclodes

Cinclodes albidiventris

Theristicus branickii

Podiceps occipitalis

Yellow-billed Pintail

Grass-green Tanager

Chlorornis riefferii

Lipaugus fuscocinereus

Mountain Cacique

Cacicus chrysonotus

Buff-tailed Coronet

Boissonneaua flavescens

Violet-fronted Brilliant

Heliodoxa leadbeateri

Anthus bogotensis

Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe

Plain-colored Seedeater

Catamenia inornata

Southern Lapwing

Vanellus chilensis

Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant

Agriornis montanus

Ash-breasted Sierra Finch

Geospizopsis plebejus

American Kestrel

Falco sparverius

Slaty-backed Chat-Tyrant

Ochthoeca cinnamomeiventris

Common Chlorospingus

Chlorospingus flavopectus

Aplomado Falcon

Falco femoralis

Flammulated Treehunter

Thripadectes flammulatus

Slaty-crowned Antpitta

Grallaricula nana

White-collared Swift

Streptoprocne zonaris

Chestnut-bellied Thrush

Turdus fulviventris

Black-capped Hemispingus

Kleinothraupis atropileus

Rufous-crowned Tody-Flycatcher

Poecilotriccus ruficeps

Rufous-headed Pygmy Tyrant

Pseudotriccus ruficeps

Pachyramphus versicolor

Short-eared Owl

Handsome Flycatcher

Nephelomyias pulcher

Sepia-brown Wren

Cinnycerthia olivascens

Black-eared Hemispingus

Sphenopsis melanotis

Greenish Puffleg

Haplophaedia aureliae

White-rumped Hawk

Parabuteo leucorrhous

Tropical Kingbird

Tyrannus melancholicus

Horned Screamer

Band-winged Nightjar

Systellura longirostris

Tourmaline Sunangel

Heliangelus exortis

Purple-backed Thornbill

Ramphomicron microrhynchum

Buff-winged Starfrontlet

Coeligena lutetiae

Purple Gallinule

Porphyrio martinica

Upland Sandpiper

Bartramia longicauda

Greater Yellowlegs

Tringa melanoleuca

Rufous-banded Owl

Strix albitarsis

Black-streaked Puffbird

Malacoptila fulvogularis

Grey-breasted Mountain Toucan

Andigena hypoglauca

Brown-billed Scythebill

Campylorhamphus pusillus

Montane Foliage-gleaner

Anabacerthia striaticollis

Spotted Barbtail

Premnoplex brunnescens

White-chinned Thistletail

Asthenes fuliginosa

Ocellated Tapaculo

Acropternis orthonyx

Sulphur-bellied Tyrannulet

Mecocerculus minor

Torrent Tyrannulet

Serpophaga cinerea

Bronze-olive Pygmy Tyrant

Pseudotriccus pelzelni

Rufous-breasted Flycatcher

Leptopogon rufipectus

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Contopus cooperi

Streak-throated Bush Tyrant

Myiotheretes striaticollis

Rufous-breasted Chat-Tyrant

Ochthoeca rufipectoralis

Scaled Fruiteater

Ampelioides tschudii

Barred Fruiteater

Pipreola arcuata

Olivaceous Piha

Snowornis cryptolophus

White-capped Dipper

Cinclus leucocephalus

Pale-naped Brushfinch

Atlapetes pallidinucha

Yellow-breasted Brushfinch

Atlapetes latinuchus

Yellow-billed Cacique

Amblycercus holosericeus

Golden Grosbeak

Pheucticus chrysogaster

Rufous-crested Tanager

Creurgops verticalis

Golden-eyed Flowerpiercer

Diglossa glauca

Black-chested Mountain Tanager

Cnemathraupis eximia

Blue-winged Mountain Tanager

Anisognathus somptuosus

Orange-eared Tanager

Chlorochrysa calliparaea

Tinamus osgoodi

Cairina moschata

Blue-winged Teal

Spatula discors

White-cheeked Pintail

Anas bahamensis

Sickle-winged Guan

Chamaepetes goudotii

Rufous-breasted Wood Quail

Odontophorus speciosus

Rufous-bellied Nighthawk

Lurocalis rufiventris

Chestnut-collared Swift

Streptoprocne rutila

Short-tailed Swift

Chaetura brachyura

White-tipped Sicklebill

Eutoxeres aquila

Phaethornis guy

Tawny-bellied Hermit

Phaethornis syrmatophorus

Green-fronted Lancebill

Doryfera ludovicae

Blue-fronted Lancebill

Doryfera johannae

Geoffroy's Daggerbill

Schistes geoffroyi

Wire-crested Thorntail

Discosura popelairii

Mountain Avocetbill

Opisthoprora euryptera

Green-tailed Trainbearer

Rainbow-bearded Thornbill

Chalcostigma herrani

Glowing Puffleg

Eriocnemis vestita

Sapphire-vented Puffleg

Eriocnemis luciani

Golden-breasted Puffleg

Eriocnemis mosquera

Mountain Velvetbreast

Lafresnaya lafresnayi

Rufous-vented Whitetip

Urosticte ruficrissa

White-bellied Woodstar

Chaetocercus mulsant

Fork-tailed Woodnymph

Thalurania furcata

Smooth-billed Ani

Common Squirrel Cuckoo

Plumbeous Pigeon

Patagioenas plumbea

Patagioenas subvinacea

Common Ground Dove

Columbina passerina

Grey-fronted Dove

Leptotila rufaxilla

White-throated Quail-Dove

Zentrygon frenata

Ecuadorian Rail

Rallus aequatorialis

Porzana carolina

Pied-billed Grebe

Podilymbus podiceps

American Golden Plover

Pluvialis dominica

Semipalmated Plover

Charadrius semipalmatus

Jameson's Snipe

Gallinago jamesoni

Wilson's Phalarope

Phalaropus tricolor

Spotted Sandpiper

Actitis macularius

Solitary Sandpiper

Tringa solitaria

Lesser Yellowlegs

Tringa flavipes

Buff-breasted Sandpiper

Calidris subruficollis

Least Sandpiper

Calidris minutilla

White-rumped Sandpiper

Calidris fuscicollis

Pectoral Sandpiper

Calidris melanotos

Leucophaeus atricilla

Coragyps atratus

Pandion haliaetus

Hook-billed Kite

Chondrohierax uncinatus

Swallow-tailed Kite

Elanoides forficatus

Black-and-chestnut Eagle

Spizaetus isidori

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Accipiter striatus

Semicollared Hawk

Microspizias collaris

Double-toothed Kite

Harpagus bidentatus

Buteogallus solitarius

Rupornis magnirostris

Parabuteo unicinctus

Broad-winged Hawk

Buteo platypterus

White-throated Hawk

Great Horned Owl

Bubo virginianus

Rufescent Screech Owl

Megascops ingens

Green-backed Trogon

Green Kingfisher

Chloroceryle americana

Baryphthengus martii

Coppery-chested Jacamar

Galbula pastazae

Red-headed Barbet

Eubucco bourcierii

Yellow-throated Toucan

Ramphastos ambiguus

White-throated Toucan

Ramphastos tucanus

Channel-billed Toucan

Ramphastos vitellinus

Chestnut-eared Aracari

Pteroglossus castanotis

Crested Caracara

Caracara plancus

Barred Forest Falcon

Micrastur ruficollis

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

Barred Parakeet

Bolborhynchus lineola

Plum-crowned Parrot

Pionus tumultuosus

Blue-headed Parrot

Pionus menstruus

Maroon-tailed Parakeet

Pyrrhura melanura

Chestnut-fronted Macaw

Olivaceous Woodcreeper

Sittasomus griseicapillus

Tyrannine Woodcreeper

Dendrocincla tyrannina

Plain-brown Woodcreeper

Dendrocincla fuliginosa

Wedge-billed Woodcreeper

Glyphorynchus spirurus

Strong-billed Woodcreeper

Xiphocolaptes promeropirhynchus

Greater Scythebill

Drymotoxeres pucheranii

Amazonian Plain Xenops

Xenops genibarbis

Lineated Foliage-gleaner

Syndactyla subalaris

Buff-fronted Foliage-gleaner

Black-billed Treehunter

Thripadectes melanorhynchus

Striped Treehunter

Thripadectes holostictus

Streak-capped Treehunter

Thripadectes virgaticeps

White-browed Spinetail

Hellmayrea gularis

Streak-backed Canastero

Asthenes wyatti

Spectacled Prickletail

Siptornis striaticollis

Ash-browed Spinetail

Cranioleuca curtata

Dark-breasted Spinetail

Synallaxis albigularis

Rufous Spinetail

Synallaxis unirufa

Myrmotherula schisticolor

Yellow-breasted Antwren

Herpsilochmus axillaris

Bicolored Antvireo

Dysithamnus occidentalis

Lined Antshrike

Thamnophilus tenuepunctatus

Plain-winged Antshrike

Thamnophilus schistaceus

Blackish Antbird

Cercomacroides nigrescens

Western Fire-eye

Pyriglena maura

Undulated Antpitta

Grallaria squamigera

Plain-backed Antpitta

Grallaria haplonota

Chestnut-naped Antpitta

Grallaria nuchalis

Peruvian Antpitta

Grallaricula peruviana

Paramo Tapaculo

Scytalopus opacus

White-crested Elaenia

Elaenia albiceps

Sierran Elaenia

Elaenia pallatangae

White-throated Tyrannulet

Mecocerculus leucophrys

White-tailed Tyrannulet

Mecocerculus poecilocercus

White-banded Tyrannulet

Mecocerculus stictopterus

Tufted Tit-Tyrant

Anairetes parulus

Agile Tit-Tyrant

Uromyias agilis

Golden-faced Tyrannulet

Zimmerius chrysops

Variegated Bristle Tyrant

Pogonotriccus poecilotis

Marble-faced Bristle Tyrant

Pogonotriccus ophthalmicus

Ecuadorian Tyrannulet

Phylloscartes gualaquizae

Streak-necked Flycatcher

Mionectes striaticollis

Olive-striped Flycatcher

Mionectes galbinus

Slaty-capped Flycatcher

Leptopogon superciliaris

Flavescent Flycatcher

Myiophobus flavicans

Ornate Flycatcher

Myiotriccus ornatus

Scale-crested Pygmy Tyrant

Lophotriccus pileatus

Common Tody-Flycatcher

Todirostrum cinereum

Fulvous-breasted Flatbill

Rhynchocyclus fulvipectus

Yellow-olive Flatbill

Tolmomyias sulphurescens

Euler's Flycatcher

Lathrotriccus euleri

Sayornis nigricans

Western Wood Pewee

Contopus sordidulus

Vermilion Flycatcher

Pyrocephalus rubinus

Spot-billed Ground Tyrant

Muscisaxicola maculirostris

White-browed Ground Tyrant

Muscisaxicola albilora

White-tailed Shrike-Tyrant

Agriornis albicauda

Crowned Chat-Tyrant

Silvicultrix frontalis

Social Flycatcher

Myiozetetes similis

Lemon-browed Flycatcher

Conopias cinchoneti

Golden-bellied Flycatcher

Myiodynastes hemichrysus

Eastern Kingbird

Tyrannus tyrannus

Scarlet-breasted Fruiteater

Pipreola frontalis

Black-chested Fruiteater

Pipreola lubomirskii

Andean Cock-of-the-rock

Rupicola peruvianus

Amazonian Umbrellabird

Cephalopterus ornatus

Golden-winged Manakin

Masius chrysopterus

Tityra semifasciata

Black-billed Peppershrike

Cyclarhis nigrirostris

Olivaceous Greenlet

Hylophilus olivaceus

Brown-capped Vireo

Vireo leucophrys

Cyanocorax violaceus

Riparia riparia

Brown-chested Martin

Southern Rough-winged Swallow

Stelgidopteryx ruficollis

Blue-and-white Swallow

Pygochelidon cyanoleuca

Hirundo rustica

Black-capped Donacobius

Donacobius atricapilla

Southern House Wren

Troglodytes musculus

White-breasted Wood Wren

Henicorhina leucosticta

Northern Chestnut-breasted Wren

Cyphorhinus dichrous

Slaty-backed Nightingale-Thrush

Catharus fuscater

Swainson's Thrush

Catharus ustulatus

Pale-eyed Thrush

Black-billed Thrush

Turdus ignobilis

Olivaceous Siskin

Spinus olivaceus

Golden-rumped Euphonia

Chlorophonia cyanocephala

Blue-naped Chlorophonia

Chlorophonia cyanea

Orange-bellied Euphonia

Euphonia xanthogaster

Bronze-green Euphonia

Euphonia mesochrysa

Yellow-throated Chlorospingus

Chlorospingus flavigularis

Yellow-whiskered Chlorospingus

Chlorospingus parvirostris

Ashy-throated Chlorospingus

Chlorospingus canigularis

Yellow-browed Sparrow

Ammodramus aurifrons

Grey-browed Brushfinch

Arremon assimilis

Chestnut-capped Brushfinch

Arremon brunneinucha

Arremon castaneiceps

Slaty Brushfinch

Atlapetes schistaceus

Crested Oropendola

Psarocolius decumanus

Molothrus oryzivorus

Mourning Warbler

Geothlypis philadelphia

American Redstart

Setophaga ruticilla

Cerulean Warbler

Setophaga cerulea

Tropical Parula

Setophaga pitiayumi

Citrine Warbler

Myiothlypis luteoviridis

Three-striped Warbler

Basileuterus tristriatus

White-capped Tanager

Sericossypha albocristata

Band-tailed Sierra Finch

Rhopospina alaudina

Green Honeycreeper

Chlorophanes spiza

Golden-collared Honeycreeper

Iridophanes pulcherrimus

Swallow Tanager

Tersina viridis

Yellow-bellied Dacnis

Dacnis flaviventer

Buff-throated Saltator

Saltator maximus

Slate-colored Grosbeak

Saltator grossus

Coereba flaveola

White-shouldered Tanager

Loriotus luctuosus

White-lined Tanager

Tachyphonus rufus

Silver-beaked Tanager

Ramphocelus carbo

Chestnut-bellied Seed Finch

Sporophila angolensis

Chestnut-bellied Seedeater

Sporophila castaneiventris

Pink-billed Cnemoscopus

Cnemoscopus rubrirostris

Oleaginous Hemispingus

Sphenopsis frontalis

Capped Conebill

Conirostrum albifrons

Conirostrum binghami

Blue-backed Conebill

Conirostrum sitticolor

Grassland Yellow Finch

Sicalis luteola

Haplospiza rustica

Band-tailed Seedeater

Catamenia analis

Paramo Seedeater

Catamenia homochroa

Bluish Flowerpiercer

Diglossa caerulescens

Rusty Flowerpiercer

Diglossa sittoides

Glossy Flowerpiercer

Diglossa lafresnayii

White-sided Flowerpiercer

Diglossa albilatera

Vermilion Tanager

Calochaetes coccineus

Yellow-throated Tanager

Iridosornis analis

Fawn-breasted Tanager

Pipraeidea melanonota

Blue-and-yellow Tanager

Rauenia bonariensis

Blue-capped Tanager

Sporathraupis cyanocephala

Cissopis leverianus

Spotted Tanager

Ixothraupis punctata

Golden-naped Tanager

Chalcothraupis ruficervix

Thraupis palmarum

Black-capped Tanager

Stilpnia heinei

Blue-necked Tanager

Stilpnia cyanicollis

Blue-browed Tanager

Tangara cyanotis

Bay-headed Tanager

Golden-eared Tanager

Tangara chrysotis

Flame-faced Tanager

Tangara parzudakii

Turquoise Tanager

Tangara mexicana

Paradise Tanager

Tangara chilensis

Grey-rumped Swift

Chaetura cinereiventris

Emerald-bellied Puffleg

Eriocnemis aline

Gallinago nobilis

Black-faced Ibis

Theristicus melanopis

Plate-billed Mountain Toucan

Andigena laminirostris

Grallaria gigantea

Equatorial Antpitta

Grallaria saturata

Cliff Flycatcher

Hirundinea ferruginea

Fork-tailed Flycatcher

Tyrannus savana

Dusky-capped Flycatcher

Myiarchus tuberculifer

Grey-tailed Piha

Snowornis subalaris

Yellow-rumped Cacique

Black-and-white Warbler

Mniotilta varia

Masked Saltator

Saltator cinctus

Superciliaried Hemispingus

Thlypopsis superciliaris

Black-backed Bush Tanager

Urothraupis stolzmanni

Golden-crowned Tanager

Iridosornis rufivertex

Buff-breasted Mountain Tanager

Dubusia taeniata

Olive-streaked Flycatcher

Mionectes olivaceus

Tremarctos ornatus

Tapirus pinchaque

White-tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus

Sylvilagus andinus

Red-tailed Squirrel

Sciurus granatensis

Black-mantled Tamarin

Saguinus nigricollis

Dasyprocta fuliginosa

Lycalopex culpaeus

Lemurine Night Monkey

Aotus lemurinus

Striped Hog-nosed Skunk

Conepatus semistriatus

Southern Long-nosed Armadillo

Dasypus novemcinctus

Yellow Quill-tipped Porcupine

Coendou prehensilis

South American Coati

Savanna Oncilla

Leopardus tigrinus

View Complete List (443 more) →

0 Community observations

No community observations yet — be the first to log a sighting here.