Ecuadorian Wildlife

Ecuadorian wildlife attracts visitors from around the globe. In fact, Ecuador is one of the world’s most species-rich countries.

A birder’s paradise, countless Ecuador avifauna admirers flock to the relatively small country each year to observe feathered friends in scenic surroundings. Anxious visitors may catch coveted glimpses of Andean condors unfolding wings that span almost 10 feet, mini hummingbirds fluttering about dense vegetation, orange-faced carunculated caracaras soaring high above the páramo, or any of the other 1,600 bird species that make their home here.

Animals in Ecuador can be seen within a wide range of climates and natural settings. Cloud forest ecosystems huddled at the foot of vast mountain expanses display wonderful collections of mosses and lichens, a place where butterflies flurry and long wattle umbrellabirds dwell within delicate flora swaddled in a fine mist. The bold and decidedly beautiful Espeletia plant grows in the chilly mountain páramo. Mangrove swamps cover portions of tropical coastal panoramas.

Adorable spectacled bears, easy-going sloths, bashful and curious-looking tapirs, and tree frogs all reside in this wildlife-rich country that is a treasure trove for eco-tourists. Lying about 600 miles off the mainland, the Galapagos Islands are also a part of Ecuador. The isolated location of this home to playful sea lions and giant tortoises has helped create a famously diverse mix of endemic species. Exotic animal varieties, vibrantly plumed birds, some 25,000 plant species, and dynamic geographical settings invite awestruck observers to breathe misty, aromatic rainforest airs, behold scenic Andean mountain vistas, and explore Ecuadorian wildlife.