Sangay National Park

National Park · Ecuador

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Photo © amalavida.tv from Ecuador

Photo © amalavida.tv from Ecuador — CC BY-SA 4.0 — Source: Wikimedia Commons

High in Ecuador's Andean spine, where the Western Cordillera rises to touch perpetual snow, a landscape of volcanic drama and ecological intensity unfolds across Sangay National Park. The terrain here is one of extremes—jagged ridgelines cut by deep ravines, páramo grasslands that stretch across high plateaus at altitudes where the air itself grows thin, and lower cloud forests clinging to the eastern slopes as they descend toward the Amazon basin. This vertical compression of habitats creates a remarkable concentration of ecosystems within a few vertical kilometers: alpine tundra gives way to elfin forests where stunted trees gnarled by wind and cold yield to dense, moss-draped cloud forest. The wildlife reflects this stacked richness. High-altitude specialists find refuge in the windswept páramo—small mammals adapted to intense cold and thin air, ground-dwelling birds of the open grasslands, and birds of prey that hunt across the exposed plateaus. Lower down, the cloud forests teem with small mammals navigating the humid understory, songbirds exploiting the dense vegetation, and amphibians dependent on constant moisture. The park's reputation for geological drama—its active volcanism and seismic activity—matters less to naturalists than its status as a genuine crossroads: species that evolved on the Amazon slope mix here with Andean endemics, creating encounter opportunities that exist nowhere else in the neotropics.

For the traveling naturalist, Sangay demands serious commitment but rewards it lavishly. The access point at Cebadas places visitors at the threshold of a vast protected landscape where crowds are virtually nonexistent and the sense of genuine wilderness remains uncompromised. Early mornings in the cloud forest deliver the best light for photography, with mist rising through the canopy and visibility shifting moment by moment—dramatic rather than crystalline, but prized by photographers who understand that such conditions isolate wildlife and create visual depth. Birdwatchers should plan for the transition seasons when altitudinal migrants move between zones; the variety of bird families present across the park's elevation range justifies extended visits and multiple excursions at different altitudes. Access is neither simple nor quick, but that very difficulty preserves the park's character and ensures that those who make the journey encounter a landscape that few humans have ever properly known.

Website areasprotegidas.ambiente.gob.ec/es/areas-protegidas/parque-nacional-sangay

Chestnut-winged Cinclodes

Cinclodes albidiventris

Carunculated Caracara

Daptrius carunculatus

Plumbeous Sierra Finch

Geospizopsis unicolor

Rainbow-bearded Thornbill

Chalcostigma herrani

Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant

Ochthoeca fumicolor

Vanellus resplendens

Many-striped Canastero

Asthenes flammulata

Red-rumped Bush Tyrant

Cnemarchus erythropygius

Saffron-crowned Tanager

Tangara xanthocephala

Trogon personatus

Spectacled Whitestart

Myioborus melanocephalus

Grallaria quitensis

Turdus fuscater

Penelope montagnii

Cyanocorax yncas

Black Flowerpiercer

Diglossa humeralis

Rufous-collared Sparrow

Zonotrichia capensis

Pale-naped Brushfinch

Atlapetes pallidinucha

Lacrimose Mountain Tanager

Anisognathus lacrymosus

Glossy Flowerpiercer

Diglossa lafresnayii

Paramo Tapaculo

Scytalopus opacus

Black-crested Warbler

Myiothlypis nigrocristata

Band-tailed Pigeon

Patagioenas fasciata

Equatorial Antpitta

Grallaria saturata

Superciliaried Hemispingus

Thlypopsis superciliaris

White-banded Tyrannulet

Mecocerculus stictopterus

Tyrian Metaltail

Metallura tyrianthina

Viridian Metaltail

Metallura williami

Blue-and-white Swallow

Pygochelidon cyanoleuca

Chroicocephalus serranus

Plain-colored Seedeater

Catamenia inornata

Fulica ardesiaca

Yellow-billed Pintail

Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant

Agriornis montanus

Andean Cock-of-the-rock

Rupicola peruvianus

Band-winged Nightjar

Systellura longirostris

White-collared Swift

Streptoprocne zonaris

Ecuadorian Hillstar

Oreotrochilus chimborazo

Shining Sunbeam

Aglaeactis cupripennis

Buff-winged Starfrontlet

Coeligena lutetiae

Great Sapphirewing

Pterophanes cyanopterus

Fawn-breasted Brilliant

Heliodoxa rubinoides

Common Squirrel Cuckoo

Podiceps occipitalis

Cinereous Harrier

Circus cinereus

White-throated Hawk

Momotus aequatorialis

Aplomado Falcon

Falco femoralis

Stout-billed Cinclodes

Cinclodes excelsior

Andean Tit-Spinetail

Leptasthenura andicola

Streak-necked Flycatcher

Mionectes striaticollis

Cinnamon Flycatcher

Pyrrhomyias cinnamomeus

Sayornis nigricans

Vermilion Flycatcher

Pyrocephalus rubinus

Paramo Ground Tyrant

Muscisaxicola alpinus

Slaty-backed Chat-Tyrant

Ochthoeca cinnamomeiventris

Cyanolyca turcosa

Cinnycerthia unirufa

Common Chlorospingus

Chlorospingus flavopectus

Slaty Brushfinch

Atlapetes schistaceus

Three-striped Warbler

Basileuterus tristriatus

White-lined Tanager

Tachyphonus rufus

Black-backed Bush Tanager

Urothraupis stolzmanni

Golden-eyed Flowerpiercer

Diglossa glauca

Hooded Mountain Tanager

Buthraupis montana

Cissopis leverianus

Spotted Tanager

Ixothraupis punctata

Golden-eared Tanager

Tangara chrysotis

Paradise Tanager

Tangara chilensis

Crypturellus soui

Oxyura ferruginea

Phaethornis guy

Sparkling Violetear

Colibri coruscans

Amethyst-throated Sunangel

Heliangelus amethysticollis

Purple-throated Sunangel

Heliangelus viola

Black-tailed Trainbearer

Lesbia victoriae

Green-tailed Trainbearer

Blue-mantled Thornbill

Chalcostigma stanleyi

Glowing Puffleg

Eriocnemis vestita

Coeligena torquata

Peruvian Racket-tail

Ocreatus peruanus

Southern Giant Hummingbird

Smooth-billed Ani

Patagioenas subvinacea

Black-winged Ground Dove

Metriopelia melanoptera

Zenaida auriculata

Pied-billed Grebe

Podilymbus podiceps

Gallinago nobilis

Spotted Sandpiper

Actitis macularius

Greater Yellowlegs

Tringa melanoleuca

Baird's Sandpiper

Calidris bairdii

Least Sandpiper

Calidris minutilla

Neotropic Cormorant

Nannopterum brasilianum

Coragyps atratus

Swallow-tailed Kite

Elanoides forficatus

Ictinia plumbea

Buteogallus meridionalis

Rupornis magnirostris

Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle

Geranoaetus melanoleucus

Broad-winged Hawk

Buteo platypterus

Short-tailed Hawk

Buteo brachyurus

Pulsatrix perspicillata

Blue-crowned Trogon

Collared Trogon

Trogon collaris

Amazon Kingfisher

Chloroceryle amazona

Red-headed Barbet

Eubucco bourcierii

Channel-billed Toucan

Ramphastos vitellinus

Grey-breasted Mountain Toucan

Andigena hypoglauca

Lafresnaye's Piculet

Picumnus lafresnayi

Yellow-tufted Woodpecker

Melanerpes cruentatus

Crimson-mantled Woodpecker

Colaptes rivolii

Lineated Woodpecker

Dryocopus lineatus

Laughing Falcon

Herpetotheres cachinnans

American Kestrel

Falco sparverius

Red-faced Parrot

Hapalopsittaca pyrrhops

Blue-headed Parrot

Pionus menstruus

Red-masked Parakeet

Psittacara erythrogenys

Montane Woodcreeper

Lepidocolaptes lacrymiger

Amazonian Plain Xenops

Xenops genibarbis

Streaked Xenops

Xenops rutilans

Pearled Treerunner

Margarornis squamiger

White-browed Spinetail

Hellmayrea gularis

Mouse-colored Thistletail

Asthenes griseomurina

Dark-breasted Spinetail

Synallaxis albigularis

Azara's Spinetail

Synallaxis azarae

Rufous Spinetail

Synallaxis unirufa

White-shouldered Antshrike

Thamnophilus aethiops

Black-faced Antbird

Myrmoborus myotherinus

Chestnut-crowned Antpitta

Grallaria ruficapilla

Chestnut-naped Antpitta

Grallaria nuchalis

Slaty-crowned Antpitta

Grallaricula nana

White-crowned Tapaculo

Scytalopus atratus

Blackish Tapaculo

Scytalopus latrans

White-throated Tyrannulet

Mecocerculus leucophrys

White-tailed Tyrannulet

Mecocerculus poecilocercus

Tufted Tit-Tyrant

Anairetes parulus

Agile Tit-Tyrant

Uromyias agilis

Torrent Tyrannulet

Serpophaga cinerea

Golden-faced Tyrannulet

Zimmerius chrysops

Marble-faced Bristle Tyrant

Pogonotriccus ophthalmicus

Rufous-breasted Flycatcher

Leptopogon rufipectus

Ornate Flycatcher

Myiotriccus ornatus

Scale-crested Pygmy Tyrant

Lophotriccus pileatus

Rufous-crowned Tody-Flycatcher

Poecilotriccus ruficeps

Smoke-colored Pewee

Contopus fumigatus

Western Wood Pewee

Contopus sordidulus

Eastern Wood Pewee

Contopus virens

Crowned Chat-Tyrant

Silvicultrix frontalis

Social Flycatcher

Myiozetetes similis

Golden-bellied Flycatcher

Myiodynastes hemichrysus

Streaked Flycatcher

Myiodynastes maculatus

Tropical Kingbird

Tyrannus melancholicus

Pale-edged Flycatcher

Myiarchus cephalotes

Green-and-black Fruiteater

Pipreola riefferii

Red-crested Cotinga

Ampelion rubrocristatus

Tityra semifasciata

Pachyramphus versicolor

Cinnamon Becard

Pachyramphus cinnamomeus

Rufous-browed Peppershrike

Cyclarhis gujanensis

Brown-capped Vireo

Vireo leucophrys

Cyanocorax violaceus

Southern Rough-winged Swallow

Stelgidopteryx ruficollis

Brown-bellied Swallow

Orochelidon murina

Thrush-like Wren

Campylorhynchus turdinus

Cistothorus platensis

Southern House Wren

Troglodytes musculus

Troglodytes solstitialis

White-breasted Wood Wren

Henicorhina leucosticta

Grey-breasted Wood Wren

Henicorhina leucophrys

Southern Nightingale-Wren

Microcerculus marginatus

Chiguanco Thrush

Turdus chiguanco

Glossy-black Thrush

Turdus serranus

Black-billed Thrush

Turdus ignobilis

White-capped Dipper

Cinclus leucocephalus

Anthus bogotensis

Spinus magellanicus

Yellow-throated Chlorospingus

Chlorospingus flavigularis

Ashy-throated Chlorospingus

Chlorospingus canigularis

Yellow-browed Sparrow

Ammodramus aurifrons

Grey-browed Brushfinch

Arremon assimilis

Orange-billed Sparrow

Arremon aurantiirostris

Yellow-breasted Brushfinch

Atlapetes latinuchus

Russet-backed Oropendola

Psarocolius angustifrons

Crested Oropendola

Psarocolius decumanus

Yellow-rumped Cacique

Mountain Cacique

Cacicus chrysonotus

Blackburnian Warbler

Setophaga fusca

Russet-crowned Warbler

Myiothlypis coronata

Slate-throated Whitestart

Myioborus miniatus

Golden Grosbeak

Pheucticus chrysogaster

Band-tailed Sierra Finch

Rhopospina alaudina

Yellow-backed Tanager

Hemithraupis flavicollis

Buff-throated Saltator

Saltator maximus

Coereba flaveola

Fulvous Shrike-Tanager

Silver-beaked Tanager

Ramphocelus carbo

Rufous-chested Tanager

Thlypopsis ornata

Blue-backed Conebill

Conirostrum sitticolor

Band-tailed Seedeater

Catamenia analis

Paramo Seedeater

Catamenia homochroa

Warbling Masked Flowerpiercer

Diglossa cyanea

Golden-crowned Tanager

Iridosornis rufivertex

Buff-breasted Mountain Tanager

Dubusia taeniata

Blue-capped Tanager

Sporathraupis cyanocephala

Masked Mountain Tanager

Tephrophilus wetmorei

Black-chested Mountain Tanager

Cnemathraupis eximia

Blue-winged Mountain Tanager

Anisognathus somptuosus

Scarlet-bellied Mountain Tanager

Anisognathus igniventris

Yellow-bellied Tanager

Ixothraupis xanthogastra

Blue-grey Tanager

Thraupis episcopus

Thraupis palmarum

Black-capped Tanager

Stilpnia heinei

Blue-necked Tanager

Stilpnia cyanicollis

Beryl-spangled Tanager

Tangara nigroviridis

Blue-browed Tanager

Tangara cyanotis

Bay-headed Tanager

Merganetta armata

Sickle-winged Guan

Chamaepetes goudotii

Rufous-breasted Wood Quail

Odontophorus speciosus

White-necked Jacobin

Florisuga mellivora

Green-fronted Lancebill

Doryfera ludovicae

Tourmaline Sunangel

Heliangelus exortis

Speckled Hummingbird

Adelomyia melanogenys

Long-tailed Sylph

Aglaiocercus kingii

Coeligena coeligena

Mountain Velvetbreast

Lafresnaya lafresnayi

Sword-billed Hummingbird

Ensifera ensifera

Buff-tailed Coronet

Boissonneaua flavescens

Chestnut-breasted Coronet

Boissonneaua matthewsii

Green-crowned Brilliant

Heliodoxa jacula

White-bellied Woodstar

Chaetocercus mulsant

Glittering-throated Emerald

Chionomesa fimbriata

Plumbeous Pigeon

Patagioenas plumbea

Heliornis fulica

Ecuadorian Rail

Rallus aequatorialis

Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe

Jameson's Snipe

Gallinago jamesoni

Franklin's Gull

Leucophaeus pipixcan

Fasciated Tiger Heron

Tigrisoma fasciatum

Little Blue Heron

Egretta caerulea

Black-and-chestnut Eagle

Spizaetus isidori

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Accipiter striatus

Ringed Kingfisher

Megaceryle torquata

Coppery-chested Jacamar

Galbula pastazae

Red-billed Parrot

Pionus sordidus

Plum-crowned Parrot

Pionus tumultuosus

Orange-winged Amazon

Amazona amazonica

Plain-brown Woodcreeper

Dendrocincla fuliginosa

Streaked Tuftedcheek

Pseudocolaptes boissonneautii

Streak-backed Canastero

Asthenes wyatti

White-chinned Thistletail

Asthenes fuliginosa

Ash-browed Spinetail

Cranioleuca curtata

Streak-headed Antbird

Drymophila striaticeps

Undulated Antpitta

Grallaria squamigera

White-bellied Antpitta

Grallaria hypoleuca

Wing-barred Piprites

Piprites chloris

Sierran Elaenia

Elaenia pallatangae

White-lored Tyrannulet

Ornithion inerme

Southern Beardless Tyrannulet

Camptostoma obsoletum

Red-billed Tyrannulet

Zimmerius cinereicapilla

Ecuadorian Tyrannulet

Phylloscartes gualaquizae

Olive-striped Flycatcher

Mionectes galbinus

Ochre-bellied Flycatcher

Mionectes oleagineus

Slaty-capped Flycatcher

Leptopogon superciliaris

Olive-chested Flycatcher

Myiophobus cryptoxanthus

Handsome Flycatcher

Nephelomyias pulcher

Fulvous-breasted Flatbill

Rhynchocyclus fulvipectus

Cliff Flycatcher

Hirundinea ferruginea

Rufous-tailed Tyrant

Knipolegus poecilurus

Streak-throated Bush Tyrant

Myiotheretes striaticollis

Smoky Bush Tyrant

Myiotheretes fumigatus

Yellow-bellied Chat-Tyrant

Silvicultrix diadema

Lemon-browed Flycatcher

Conopias cinchoneti

Barred Fruiteater

Pipreola arcuata

Green-backed Becard

Pachyramphus viridis

White-banded Swallow

Atticora fasciata

Pale-footed Swallow

Orochelidon flavipes

Sepia-brown Wren

Cinnycerthia olivascens

Plain-tailed Wren

Pheugopedius euophrys

Andean Solitaire

Myadestes ralloides

Swainson's Thrush

Catharus ustulatus

Pale-eyed Thrush

Chestnut-bellied Thrush

Turdus fulviventris

Orange-bellied Euphonia

Euphonia xanthogaster

Yellow-whiskered Chlorospingus

Chlorospingus parvirostris

Scarlet-rumped Cacique

Cacicus uropygialis

Molothrus oryzivorus

Citrine Warbler

Myiothlypis luteoviridis

Cardellina canadensis

Catamblyrhynchus diadema

White-capped Tanager

Sericossypha albocristata

Blue-black Grassquit

Volatinia jacarina

Rufous-crested Tanager

Creurgops verticalis

Pink-billed Cnemoscopus

Cnemoscopus rubrirostris

Black-headed Hemispingus

Pseudospingus verticalis

Black-capped Hemispingus

Kleinothraupis atropileus

Capped Conebill

Conirostrum albifrons

Tit-like Dacnis

Xenodacnis parina

Bluish Flowerpiercer

Diglossa caerulescens

White-sided Flowerpiercer

Diglossa albilatera

Yellow-throated Tanager

Iridosornis analis

Grass-green Tanager

Chlorornis riefferii

Orange-eared Tanager

Chlorochrysa calliparaea

Blue-and-black Tanager

Tangara vassorii

Flame-faced Tanager

Tangara parzudakii

Cairina moschata

Steatornis caripensis

Thick-billed Euphonia

Euphonia laniirostris

Tremarctos ornatus

Sylvilagus andinus

Tapirus pinchaque

Dasyprocta fuliginosa

White-tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus

Common Woolly Monkey

Lagothrix lagothricha

Ecuadorian Squirrel Monkey

Saimiri macrodon

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