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| cotopaxi volcano |
On my last two days in Ecuador I visited several areas on the eastern slope of the Andes and one of these was Cotopaxi national park. My friend and guide Steve Hermann recommended this place because of its unique avifauna and endemic species only ocurring high in the Andean paramo. We arrived on a beautiful morning which provided great vistas of the surrounding volcanos.
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| andean gull |
The Andean Gull was very visible over the marshes and many had nests and chicks under their care.
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| andean lapwing |
The Andean Lapwing is another endemic species found only in the high paramo. Their behaviour reminded me of our native Kildeer, another member of the plover family. The lapwing seems a little less panicky than the Kildeer however.
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| bar-winged cinclodes |
This handsome ground bird is also an endemic known as
the Bar-winged Cinclodes
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| stout-billed cinclodes |
Another endemic, this one called the Stout-billed Cinclodes decided against showing his full profile
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| ecuadorian hillstar |
This bright headed hummingbird is a male Ecuadorian Hillstar, the only hummingbird found at this high elevation.
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| andean pintail |
The Andean Pintail, is also unique and endemic to the Andean highlands.
Another duck, the Andean Teal is also found at this elevation
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