What is your favorite bird species?
Many, hard-to-answer, but the Andean Condor is one of them.
Rainbow-bearded Thornbill
What is your name, and where do you live?
Diego Cruz, Quito Ecuador
What are the main regions or locations you cover as a bird guide?
Andes, Cloud Forest, Upper and Lower Amazon Basin, and Southern Ecuador
How long have you been a bird guide?
15 years
Green-and-gold Tanager
How did you get into bird guiding?
I love the landscapes of Ecuador, and from my early years as a child, I was always in contact with nature and wildlife. In 2013, the opportunity came to start my career in birding, first through guiding for another company and taking simple photos of birds. Each day is different in birding, which makes it perfect. A combination of wildlife, landscapes, meeting people, great meals, and hospitality led me to this birding passion.
Spangled Coquette
What are the aspects of being a bird guide that you like best? Which aspects do you dislike most?
Meeting birders and experiences from all over the world, taking and finding the best photo of each species, travelling within Ecuador, and enjoying delicious Ecuadorian meals all over.
Broad-billed Motmot
What are the top 5-10 birds in your region that are the most interesting for visiting birders?
- Andean Condor
- Harpy Eagle
- Paradise Tanager
- Orange-breasted Fruiteater
- Fiery Topaz
Velvet-purple Coronet
Can you outline at least one typical birdwatching trip in your area? Please briefly describe the locations, the key birds, and the approximate duration of such a trip
The picture below shows the recommended destinations of a 15-day Ecuador bird tour excluding the Galapagos.
What other suggestions can you give to birders interested in your area?
- Depends if they are birders or photographers, but good binoculars are a must.
- Photography at least 200-600mm, f.56 is okay, but ideal will be f2.8 and f4.
- Tripod necessary for feeders or a monopod
Spangled Cotinga
If any readers of 10,000 Birds are interested in birding with you, how can they best contact you?
+593 99 373 2879 , sales@ecuadorbirdstours.com
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