Ecuador is the Mecca for hummingbird watchers and photographers. With more than 130 of the world's 340 species, it's no surprise Ecuador is known as the "Land of Hummingbirds" and the hummingbird capital of the world. 

Hummingbirds (colibríes in Spanish) have long fascinated us with their speed, agility, compact size and perfectly adapted beaks and tongues. Many cultures have placed spiritual significance on these pint-sized marvels. The Aztec god of war, Huitzilopochtli, is depicted as a hummingbird because of his belief that hummingbirds contained the spirit of fallen warriors. 

Christians associate hummingbirds with the resurrection because they appear lifeless when sleeping, but will rapidly fly away and 'resurrect' when then sun rises. 

What hummingbirds mean to us

The symbolism that resonates strongest with me is from the Native Americans who view hummingbirds as healers or a spirit-being helping those in need. 

You see, we went through a very difficult time with the loss of a loved one and over the next week two events happened:

1. A sentimental tree was constantly visited by a new hummingbird, and
2. A female built her nest in a tree located in a prime viewing spot from our living room. Later on her baby joined us too. 

These may seem like trivial events. But, at the time they were beautiful moments of reprieve from the persistent despair we were all feeling. For this I was incredibly grateful.

From then on hummingbirds have taken on a very special meaning within our house, elevated to the position of our family symbol. 

I've heard similar stories from various friends and read numerous other stories online about similar experiences. This leads me to think there are many people out there that share the same appreciation for hummingbirds on numerous levels, including physical beauty and spiritual. 

Hummingbird Infographic

Feel free to share the above hummingbird infographic. You can also download the high-res version here. 

Where in Ecuador can I find hummingbirds?

Everywhere! Well, except the Galapagos - Darwin certainly would have mentioned these remarkably adapted creatures if so...

This doesn't mean you're going to come across Hummingbird nests on every street in Quito or Guayaquil. But, get a few minutes outside of the city and you can potentially have an encounter. 

The cloud forests have the highest concentration of hummingbirds, so that's a great place to start your journey.

The most popular areas for tourists to visit are divided into the eastern & western slopes of the Andes mountain range that runs through Ecuador.

Some of the most popular spots for the eastern and western slopes have been included in the map below (blue = east slope, red = west slope). These are mostly accessible from Quito, but don't think for a second that these are the only places to find hummingbirds in Ecuador - they just happen to be the most popular. 

Western Slope of the Ecuadorian Andes

If you're like many visitors to Ecuador, this is likely where you're going to start your hummingbird exploration.

Mindo Valley

Mindo has quickly become one of the premier bird-watching locations in the world. The lush cloud forest provides rich biodiversity, allowing visitors to see many of Ecuador's birds, plants, insects, vegetation, and pack in some other sightseeing activities like chocolate and coffee tours, rafting, ziplining, and hiking. All within a 2-hour drive of Quito.

Reserva Ecologica Yanacocha

With over 15 hummingbird species (several endemic), the Reserva Ecologica Yanacocha is well-known for watchers looking for a quick weekend trip from Quito. 

It takes around 1 hour to get to Reserva Ecologica Yanacocha from Quito, making it the closest of the western slope locations to do some serious hummer watching. 

Tandayapa Valley

At least 17 species of hummingbird have been spotted around the Tandayapa Valley, including the Purple-throated Woodstar (Calliphlox mitchellii) .

Two of the popular spots to bird watch and stay are:

• Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve & Lodge
• Refugio Paz de Las Aves

Reserva Mashpi Shungo

A little further out, about 3 hours from Quito, is the privately held Reserva Mashpi Shungo. In addition to howler monkeys, you can find 13 types of hummingbird, including the Violet-tailed Sylph (Aglaiocercus coelestis).

Whilst here, you can also treat yourself at the luxurious Mashpi Lodge. 

Silanche Bird Sanctuary

Still around 3 hours from Quito is the Silanche Bird Sanctuary. In addition to several toucans, you can also spy around 7 hummingbird species, including the Booted Racket-tail (Ocreatus underwoodii).

Eastern Slope of the Andes Hummingbirds

The eastern slopes of the Ecuadorian Andes starts about an hours drive east of Quito, heading past Papallacta. Hint - be sure to give yourself some time to soak up the hot springs in Papallacta.

Puembo Birding Garden

I've included this spot on the list because it is a convenient starting/stopping off point given its close proximity to Quito's international airport. If your sole aim of visiting Ecuador is bird watching, then staying here will mean you don't need to go into Quito and you can start enjoying some 35+ different species of birds, including several hummingbirds. 

Guango Lodge

Situated about 10 minutes past Papallacta is Guango Lodge. Here you can see around 17 types of hummingbirds in well-maintained gardens. These include the Mountain Velvetbreast (Lafresnaya lafresnayi).

Hosteria Hda. Cumandá

Continuing along the E20, about 2 hours from Quito is Baeza. This lesser known little town has several options to stay and view the many animal and bird species in the area. Approx 6 types of hummingbirds have been known to live here, including the Speckled Hummingbird (Adelomyia melanogenys). 

Cosanga

Turning right onto the E45 will have you at Cosanga, around 2.5 hours from Quito. This town includes bird watching options like Cabañas San Isidro. Here, around 10 species of hummingbird have been spotted, including the Sparkling Violet-ear (Colibri coruscans).

WildSumaco Lodge

Continuing down the Ecuador's Eastern Slope, turning left at Narupo onto the E20 for around 40 minutes and then left at Wawa Sumaco towards the Sumaco Volcano, you'll find the most remote lodge on the list - WildSumaco Lodge. This birding lodge has been know to contain 21 species of hummingbird.

Southern Ecuador 

Moving further south down the eastern slope you'll pass through other areas such as Baños, Cuenca (where we live) and Loja. Whilst you won't find many bird tour companies offering tours here, that doesn't mean there aren't quality hummingbird spotting opportunities. 

Giant Hummingbird (Patagona gigas)

One of the 5 different species that regularly visit our home in Cuenca is the Giant Hummingbird. We love having him visit us because his large size seems to calm down some of the smaller, but more aggressive, hummingbirds. They seem to know that this larger hummer deserves respect and they agree to give him some space.

This brings a more harmonious vibe to the 3-4 hours in the morning when the hummingbirds are at their busiest and creating the most noise (and we might still be sleeping!). Check out the Giant Hummingbird in this video:

Where does the Giant Hummingbird live?

The giant hummingbird's habitat extends from Ecuador down to Argentina and Chile and can be found on both slopes of the Andes mountains. This covers a sizeable range of 1,200,000 km2.

How long is the Giant Hummingbird?

They are around 23 cm (9.1 in) long, with a wingspan of approx 21.5 cm (8.5 in) and weigh 18–24 g (0.63–0.85 oz). This is about double the weight of the next heaviest hummingbird. 

How many Giant Hummingbirds are left in the world?

There is an estimated 10,000+ adult Giant Hummingbirds in the wild. 

All Ecuadorian hummingbird species

For all you hardcore hummer fans, here's the list of all the different species you can find in Ecuador along with their scientific names:

Common name	Scientific name	Common name	Scientific name
Amazilia hummingbird	Amazilis amazilia	Amethyst woodstar	Calliphlox amethystina
Amethyst-throated sunangel	Heliangelus amethysticollis	Andean emerald	Uranomitra franciae
Band-tailed barbthroat	Threnetes ruckeri	Black-bellied thorntail	Discosura langsdorffi
Black-breasted puffleg	Eriocnemis nigrivestis (EM)	Black-eared fairy	Heliothryx auritus
Black-tailed trainbearer	Lesbia victoriae	Black-thighed puffleg	Eriocnemis derbyi
Black-throated brilliant	Heliodoxa schreibersii	Black-throated hermit	Phaethornis atrimentalis
Black-throated mango	Anthracothorax nigricollis	Blue-chested hummingbird	Polyerata amabilis
Blue-chinned sapphire	Chlorestes notata	Blue-fronted lancebill	Doryfera johannae
Blue-headed sapphire	Chrysuronia grayi	Blue-mantled thornbill	Chalcostigma stanleyi
Blue-tailed emerald	Chlorostilbon mellisugus	Blue-throated hillstar	Oreotrochilus cyanolaemus (E-M)
Blue-tufted starthroat	Heliomaster furcifer (H)	Booted racket-tail	Ocreatus underwoodii
Bronze-tailed plumeleteer	Chalybura urochrysia	Bronzy hermit	Glaucis aeneus
Bronzy Inca	Coeligena coeligena	Brown Inca	Coeligena wilsoni
Brown violetear	Colibri delphinae	Buff-tailed coronet	Boissonneaua flavescens
Buff-tailed sicklebill	Eutoxeres condamini	Buff-winged starfrontlet	Coeligena lutetiae
Chestnut-breasted coronet	Boissonneaua matthewsii	Choco daggerbill	Schistes albogularis
Collared Inca	Coeligena torquata	Crowned woodnymph	Thalurania colombica
Ecuadorian hillstar	Oreotrochilus chimborazo	Ecuadorian piedtail	Phlogophilus hemileucurus
Emerald-bellied puffleg	Eriocnemis aline	Empress brilliant	Heliodoxa imperatrix
Esmeraldas woodstar	Chaetocercus berlepschi (EM)	Fawn-breasted brilliant	Heliodoxa rubinoides
Festive coquett	Lophornis chalybeus	Fiery topaz	Topaza pyra
Fiery-tailed awlbill	Avocettula recurvirostris	Fork-tailed woodnymph	Thalurania furcata
Geoffroy's daggerbill	Schistes geoffroyi	Giant hummingbird	Patagona gigas
Glittering-throated emerald	Chionomesa fimbriata	Glowing puffleg	Eriocnemis vestita
Golden-breasted puffleg	Eriocnemis mosquera	Golden-tailed sapphire	Chrysuronia oenone
Gorgeted sunangel	Heliangelus strophianus	Gorgeted woodstar	Chaetocercus heliodor
Gould's jewelfront	Heliodoxa aurescens	Gray-breasted sabrewing	Campylopterus largipennis
Gray-chinned hermit	Phaethornis griseogularis	Great sapphirewing	Pterophanes cyanopterus
Great-billed hermit	Phaethornis malaris	Green hermit	Phaethornis guy
Green thorntail	Discosura conversii	Green-backed hillstar	Urochroa leucura
Green-crowned brilliant	Heliodoxa jacula	Green-fronted lancebill	Doryfera ludovicae
Green-headed hillstar	Oreotrochilus stolzmanni	Greenish puffleg	Haplophaedia aureliae
Green-tailed goldenthroat	Polytmus theresiae (H)	Green-tailed trainbearer	Lesbia nuna
Hoary puffleg	Haplophaedia lugens	Humboldt's sapphire	Chrysuronia humboldtii
Lazuline sabrewing	Campylopterus falcatus	Lesser violetear	Colibri cyanotus
Little sunangel	Heliangelus micraster	Little woodstar	Chaetocercus bombus
Long-billed hermit	Phaethornis longirostris	Long-billed starthroat	Heliomaster longirostris
Long-tailed sylph	Aglaiocercus kingii	Many-spotted hummingbird	Taphrospilus hypostictus
Mountain avocetbill	Opisthoprora euryptera	Mountain velvetbreast	Lafresnaya lafresnayi
Napo sabrewing	Campylopterus villaviscensio	Neblina metaltail	Metallura odomae
Olive-spotted hummingbird	Talaphorus chlorocercus	Pale-tailed barbthroat	Threnetes leucurus
Peruvian sheartail	Thaumastura cora (H)	Pink-throated brilliant	Heliodoxa gularis
Purple-backed thornbill	Ramphomicron microrhynchum	Purple-bibbed whitetip	Urosticte benjamini
Purple-chested hummingbird	Polyerata rosenbergi	Purple-collared woodstar	Myrtis fanny
Purple-crowned fairy	Heliothryx barroti	Purple-throated sunangel	Heliangelus viola
Purple-throated woodstar	Calliphlox mitchellii	Rainbow starfrontlet	Coeligena iris
Rainbow-bearded thornbill	Chalcostigma herrani	Reddish hermit	Phaethornis ruber
Royal sunangel	Heliangelus regalis	Rufous-breasted hermit	Glaucis hirsutus
Rufous-capped thornbill	Chalcostigma ruficeps	Rufous-crested coquette	Lophornis delattrei (H)
Rufous-gaped hillstar	Urochroa bougueri	Rufous-tailed hummingbird	Amazilia tzacatl
Rufous-throated sapphire	Hylocharis sapphirina	Rufous-vented whitetip	Urosticte ruficrissa
Sapphire-spangled emerald	Chionomesa lactea (H)	Sapphire-vented puffleg	Eriocnemis luciani
Shining sunbeam	Aglaeactis cupripennis	Short-tailed woodstar	Myrmia micrura
Spangled coquette	Lophornis stictolophus	Sparkling violetear	Colibri coruscans
Speckled hummingbird	Adelomyia melanogenys	Spot-throated hummingbird	Thaumasius taczanowskii (H)
Straight-billed hermit	Phaethornis bourcieri	Stripe-throated hermit	Phaethornis striigularis
Sword-billed hummingbird	Ensifera ensifera	Tawny-bellied hermit	Phaethornis syrmatophorus
Tooth-billed hummingbird	Androdon aequatorialis	Tourmaline sunangel	Heliangelus exortis
Tumbes hummingbird	Thaumasius baeri	Turquoise-throated puffleg	Eriocnemis godini
Tyrian metaltail	Metallura tyrianthina	Velvet-purple coronet	Boissonneaua jardini
Violet-bellied hummingbird	Chlorestes julie	Violet-fronted brilliant	Heliodoxa leadbeateri
Violet-headed hummingbird	Klais guimeti	Violet-tailed sylph	Aglaiocercus coelestis
Violet-throated metaltail	Metallura baroni (EM)	Viridian metaltail	Metallura williami
Western emerald	Chlorostilbon melanorhynchus	White-bearded hermit	Phaethornis hispidus
White-bellied woodstar	Chaetocercus mulsant	White-chinned sapphire	Chlorestes cyanus
White-necked jacobin	Florisuga mellivora	White-tipped sicklebill	Eutoxeres aquila
White-vented plumeleteer	Chalybura buffonii	White-whiskered hermit	Phaethornis yaruqui
Wire-crested thorntail	Discosura popelairii	Cell	Cell

Are you planning a visit to Ecuador to check out hummingbirds? Please feel free to let us know in the comments where you're going and whether you're doing it by yourself or through a tour group. 

Image credits: I have not taken the incredibly superb photos of hummingbirds used in this article. I wish I was that talented with a camera. They are from a UK photographer, Andy Morffew. If you like the photos, let him know on his website & peruse his other fantastic wildlife images. 

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