359 bird species where the Andes meet the Amazon

Narupayacu · Cotundo, Archidona, Napo · 1,100 m. Foothill forest birding, feeders and natural perches for photography, interpretive trails and a waterfall within walking distance.

359
Species on eBird

41
Hummingbirds

30+
Tanagers

1,100
Metres above sea level

The name says hummingbirds. The list says a lot more.

Narupayacu Hummingbirds Garden is the name we are known by, and the feeders deserve it — 41 hummingbird species have been recorded here. But the site sits at 1,100 m on the Andean foothills, right where highland birds come down and Amazonian birds come up.

That transition is what makes the full list reach 359 species: jacamars, macaws, toucans, cotingas and more than thirty tanagers, alongside the hummingbirds.

Target species

Ten birds worth travelling for, chosen from our eBird hotspot and ranked by how often they actually appear in checklists here. Regular means present through most of the year; seasonal and occasional mean exactly that — we would rather you arrive with accurate expectations.

Coppery-chested Jacamar — Galbula pastazae · near-threatened, restricted range · very regular
Andean Cock-of-the-rock — Rupicola peruvianus · the emblem of the east slope · regular
Chestnut-fronted Macaw — Ara severus · macaws overhead most of the year · regular
Paradise Tanager — Tangara chilensis · among thirty-plus tanagers · regular
Channel-billed Toucan — Ramphastos vitellinus · alongside Chestnut-eared Aracari · regular
Bay-headed Tanager — Tangara gyrola · regular
White-capped Dipper — Cinclus leucocephalus · on the stream by the waterfall · regular
Wire-crested Thorntail — Discosura popelairii · tiny and spectacular · seasonal
Spangled Coquette — Lophornis stictolophus · a photographer's prize · seasonal
Amazonian Umbrellabird — Cephalopterus ornatus · large, strange, unforgettable · occasional

And yes, the hummingbirds

Forty-one species recorded, with feeders and natural perches arranged for close photography. These are the ones you are most likely to see:

Our records are public

Every species we name, and how often it is seen, comes from observations anyone can verify.

eBird hotspot L11022734
359 species, updated by every visiting birder

iNaturalist observations
Orchids, insects, amphibians and everything else recorded here

What is on site

Narupayacu is a field site, not a hotel. There are no rooms here yet. What there is: a place to pitch a tent inside the reserve, trails to walk, a photography position that actually works, a light trap after dark, and a kitchen a few minutes from the gate. If you want a bed and a hot shower, Yanayacu is [X] hours up the road and the two combine well.

Camping inside the reserve

Cleared, level tent sites in the forest itself, so you are already there when the first light comes. Bring your own gear, or tell us in advance and we arrange it. Facilities: water, toilet, cooking area — confirm

Trails

3 km of walking trails through regenerating and mature forest, gentle enough to bird slowly and to stop whenever something calls.

The photography position

A worked-out spot over the feeders and flowering perches, placed so the light falls from behind you in the morning and afternoon. Most of our hummingbird images are taken from here.

Light trap after dark

At night we run a lit sheet at the edge of the forest. Moths, beetles and the rest of the night fauna arrive on their own — it is the part of the visit nobody expects and everybody ends up photographing.

Food from the restaurant next door

Amazonian cooking a few minutes from the gate: maito, chontacuro, cacao. Order it ahead with your booking and it is ready when you come off the trail.

Planning your visit

Is Narupayacu right for you?

Yes if you want foothill and Amazonian species, close hummingbird photography, or a rewarding stop while travelling through Napo.

Probably not if you are after high-altitude or páramo birds — for those, Yanayacu at 2,100 m is the right site. Many visitors do both in one trip, and the two lists barely overlap.