Above: In the US, in New England, there is only a single species of hummingbird. In Ecuador there are 132, and the Booted Racket-tail is arguably one of the most iconic in this small, ecologically diverse country.
It is highly unique, both because of its fluffy leg-feathers (its ‘boots’) and its remarkable tail-feathers, which are primarily used for combat and display. We were excited to see the variety of these small, colorful, flying miracles, yet photographing them was certainly challenging. In this picture, despite a 1/3200 shutter speed, there is some blur to the shot, which I ultimately felt communicated appropriate senses of: motion, beauty and awe.
Below: There is perhaps no bird more emblematic of Mesoamerica than the Quetzal. It is a highly sought-after species in the birding world, which is unsurprising given its: stunning colors, skulking nature (despite its size) and cultural lore. On Day 6 of our phenomenal visit to the Chocó-Andes region of Ecuador, a trip where nearly 250 bird species were observed in only 8 days, this beautiful Crested Quetzal was observed just 30 yards off the trail we were following toward the Río Bermejo. A small group of us froze, mesmerized by its blood-red belly and eye, and we were fortunate indeed to snap a few shots of this spectacular trogon before it dove headlong into the understory and disappeared.
White-booted Racket-tail photo by Pauline Bonasia
Crested Quetzal photo and story by Philip J. Bonasia
Ecuador | Birding at the Chocó-Andes Region with Venice Area Audubon Society
