Based out of two of the most famous areas for Chocó birding in Ecuador – Tandayapa and Mindo – we will scour the slopes of the west all the way from the high temperate zone, down through the montane and foothill forests, out to the warm lowlands. It will become obvious pretty early on that each elevation is important since they hold their own special set of endemic birds, and we won’t want to skip over any of them! With visits to antpitta feeding stations, private reserves full of mixed flocks, and hummingbird feeders simply dripping with different and colorful species, we will want to maximize our time in the field and make every minute count. Star birds will be many, but think Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan, Toucan Barbet, Beautiful Jay, Metallic-green Tanager, and Scarlet-breasted Dacnis.