Suggested Reading List
Ecuador Natural History Tour

San Jorge Eco-Tours has arranged with the Audubon Shop in Madison, Connecticut, USA to provide our clients with books, CD's and miscellaneous birding gear on this recommendation list at a special discount. The shop is a full service birding store specializing in international field guides, optics and wildlife art. They may be reached at 888-505-9056.

The Birds of Ecuador
	Robert Ridgely and Paul Greenfield Cornell University Press, 2001 This long-awaited, monumental work depicts nearly all of the 1,600 species known to have occurred in Ecuador. Ninety-six beautiful color plates, detailed species accounts covering voice, behavior, habitat, nesting, and distribution. Range maps aid in locating specific birds. Because this definitive guide is quite hefty at 760 pages we strongly recommend "splitting" the book. 760 pages, 6 1/2 x 9 1/2; Paper 96 color illustrated plates and range maps
$55.00	Your Price: $49.50*
*SPLIT YOUR BOOK AND LIGHTEN THE LOAD! (Add $10.00)
For a more portable and convenient alternative to carrying the full field guide, we can "split" your guide. We can remove the color plates that occupy the middle section of the book, bind them in a plastic spiral binding, and do the same with the remaining text. One may choose to carry only the plates with the short descriptions while in the field, leaving the text at the lodge to refer to later - eliminating more than 70% of the weight of the book!
Birds, Mammals, and Reptiles of the Galapagos Islands An Identification Guide, 2nd Edition
	Andy Swash and Rob Still with illustrations by Ian Lewington Yale University Press, 2007 The essential field guide for Galapagos visitors. This simple-to-use, pocket-size volume presents all the birds, mammals, and reptiles a visitor to these extraordinary islands might encounter. We preferred the Swash and Still to the Fritters' and Hosking offering as a true field guide, though the latter included an excellent island-by-island overview which lists target species for each island. Our advice? Take both! 168 pages 4 3/4 x 7 7/8; Paper 53 color illustrations
$25.00	Your Price: $22.50
Galapagos: A Natural History
	John Kricher Princeton University Press, 2006 The Galápagos Islands are a paradise for birders, botanists, geologists, and snorkelers, with many islands still devoid of human habitation. Since they lie more than 600 miles west of South America and were never connected to the mainland, almost all plant and animal life arrived here by chance. As Charles Darwin discovered, the evolution of plants and animals is more visible here than anywhere else on earth. John Kricher, a renowned ecologist and Galápagos scholar, presents a detailed natural history of this spectacular archipelago. He looks at the amazing diversity of life found here, from iguanas to penguins, and explains the fascinating geology of these remote islands. Throughout his narrative, Kricher weaves the intriguing history of evolutionary biology that is intimately connected with the islands, and describes Darwin's adventures and observations while he was visiting in 1835. Of special interest is the book's richly detailed island-by-island guide. For both the ecotraveler and the nature enthusiast, Galápagos is essential reading. 256 pages, 6 x 9; Paper 50 color plates and 33 halftones
$19.95	Your Price: $17.95
The New World Tropics; An Introduction for Naturalists (DVD)
	Richard K. Walton Brownbag Productions, 2005 This new DVD is a a must-have for first-time tropical visitors as well as more seasoned travellers. Filmed at three of the most famous eco-lodges in the world -The Asa Wright Center in Trinidad, La Selva in Costa Rica, and Chan Chich in Belize- the DVD presents a superb introduction to the world's most biologically diverse region. Dazzling footage of birds, butterflies, trees and orchids. Highly recommended for birders, naturalists, and outdoors enthusiasts. Digital Video Disc
$24.95	Your Price: $22.45
Map of Ecuador
	International Travel Maps The best map of any country you can get. All major roads, national parks and topography. It's good to know where you're going and where you've been! Paper
$14.95	Your Price: $13.45
Map of The Galapagos
	International Travel Maps The best map of any country you can get. All major roads, national parks and topography. It's good to know where you're going and where you've been! Paper
$14.95	Your Price: $13.45
Wildlife of the Galapagos
	Julian Fitter, Daniel Fitter, and David Hosking Princeton University Press, 2000 A fair identification guide to the wildlife of the Galapagos. Over 200 commonly seen species of birds, mammals, reptiles, invertebrates, plants, and coastal marine life. Where this handy compact guide excels is in its island-by-island overview which lists the target species for each island. Info on the history, climate, geology, and conservation of the islands is also excellent. 254 pages, 7 1/2 x 4 1/2; Paper 400 color photos, maps, and drawings
$19.95	Your Price: $17.95
Ecuador and The Galapagos Islands (Travelers Wildlife Guide series)
	David L. Pearson and Les Beletsky Interlink Books, 2004 This unique guide features over 500 of the most common amphibians, reptiles, mammals and birds - the species you are actually likely to see. This beautifully illustrated and easy-to-carry guide provides up-to-date info on the ecology, behavior, and conservation of all of the families of the species described. Common plants and habitats are also covered. While it won't replace any one field guide, Beletsky's book provides a wonderful overview of Ecuador's's rich wildlife. Special bonus is a section on the Galapagos Islands with color plates on all of the endemics. Highly recommended. 440 pages, 5 1/2 x 8 1/2; Paper 102 full-color illustrated plates
$27.95	Your Price: $25.15
A Neotropical Companion Second Edition
	John Kricher Princeton University Press, 1997 This is an extensively expanded and revised edition of the classic originally published in 1989. It is an extraordinarily readable introduction to the birds, animals, plants, and ecosystems of the New World tropics. Kricher presents the complexities of tropical ecology as accessible and nonintimidating with just the right amount of informality and humor. The most comprehensive one volume guide to the neotropics. Highly recommended. 451 pages, 6 x 9; Paper Color photographs and line drawings
$29.95	Your Price: $26.95
Birds of Tropical America
	Steven Hilty University of Texas Press, 2005 Back in print, Birds of Tropical America offers a comprehensive look into the lives of some of the most fascinating birds in the world. Topics such as why antbirds don't eat ants, why tropical birds are so colorful (or not), and how hummingbirds survive and even prosper in the high Andes are covered. Hilty writes with knowledge, grace, and humor. You'll come back to this wonderful book every time you're lucky enough to return to the neotropics. 312 pages, 6 x 9; Paper Black and white illustrations
$19.95	Your Price: $17.95
Tropical Nature
	Adrian Forsythe and Ken Miyata Scribners, 1984 Fascinating introduction to the extraordinary richness of plant and animal life in the lowland rainforests of the neotropics. In 17 chapters, each a brief essay on tropical nature observed, the authors evoke the magic and wonder of a world completely contained within itself. 248 pages, 5 1/2 x 8 1/4; Paper Black and white illustrations
$14.00	Your Price: $12.60
Where to Watch Birds in South America
	Nigel Wheatley Princeton University Press, 1995 Excellent guide to a bird-rich continent. Detailed bird lists of specialties, endemics, and near-endemics in all the country's habitats make this a great tool for preparing for your adventure. 431 pages, 5 x 8 1/4; Paper
$22.95	Your Price: $20.65
Recordings/DVDs
The Birds of Northwest Ecuador Volume I (CD)
	John V. Moore, Paul Coopmans, Robert S. Ridgely, and Mitch Lysinger John V. Moore Productions, 1999. This three-CD publication presents vocalizations from 190 bird species and features over 425 separately announced recordings. The mid-elevation montane and premontane forests of northwest Ecuador support a wealth of birdlife, including a large number of species and subspecies endemic to the exceptionally rich "Chocó Faunal Region." This important biogeographic area extends northward into western Colombia, and this is the first audio publication to feature a large number of these endemics. For some of the wider-ranging species included in this publication, the discerning listener will note certain differences between the vocalizations presented and those of the same species (but usually a different subspecies) found elsewhere. 3 Compact Discs
$23.95	Your Price: $21.60
The Birds of Northwest Ecuador Volume II (CD)
	Jahn, Moore, Valenzuela, Krabbe, Coopmans, Lysinger and Ridgely John V. Moore Productions, 2003. This two-CD publication includes vocalizations of many of the bird species found in the humid and wet lowlands and lower foothills of northwestern Ecuador. It contains 465 separate recordings of 253 species, many of them presented for the first time in an audio publication. The goal of this summary version is to present the more often heard, most typical and spectacular bird sounds to the broader public. The area covered belongs to the "Chocó Endemic Area", which extends northward into western Colombia. It supports an exceptionally rich birdlife and the highest number of endemic bird species of any biographic region in South America. 2 Compact Discs
$21.95	Your Price: $19.75
Birds of the Ecuadorian Highlands (CD)
	Niels Krabbe, J. V. Moore, Paul Coopmans, Mitch Lysinger and R. S. Ridgely John V. Moore Productions, 2001. This four-CD publication presents vocalizations of nearly all bird species found in the high Andes of Ecuador. It contains over 850 separately announced recordings of 246 species and represents the first attempt to publish an audio series devoted entirely to the birds of the high Andes. It is outstanding in its completeness, including not only song, but also a variety of calls of each species and distinct subspecies, several of which are endemic to the region. The high Andes of Ecuador supports a diversity of habitats ranging from cushion plants near the snowline through high-elevation grassland, wetlands and Polylepis-Gynoxys woodland, to humid forest on the rainy slopes and dry scrub in the intermontane valleys. These habitats are occupied by different species of birds, each with a voice adapted to its specific environment and life style. This CD-set is part of a series that will eventually cover all the birds of Ecuador, one of the richest avifaunas in the World. 4 Compact Discs
$25.95	Your Price: $23.35
The Birds of Southwest Ecuador (CD)
	Coopmans, J.V. Moore, Krabbe, Jahn, Berg, Lysinger, Navarrete and Ridgely John V. Moore Productions, 2004. Features almost 1000 separate vocalizations from 235 species found in Southwestern Ecuador. The habitats covered are diverse and range from desert, desert scrub and dry forest to humid forest, and also include lakes, marshes, salt ponds, sandy beaches, and mangroves. A large number of species and subspecies confined to the important "Tumbesian Endemic Area" are featured. Includes: Pinnated Bittern; Pearl Kite; Rufous-necked Wood-Rail; Croaking Ground-Dove; Gray-capped Cuckoo; Anthony's Nightjar; Ecuadorian Piculet; Blackish-headed, Necklaced, and Line-cheeked Spinetail; Rufous-necked and Henna-hooded Foliage-gleaner; Collared and Chapman's Antshrike; Jet and Gray-headed Antbird; Watkins's and Rusty-breasted Antpitta; Elegant Creascentchest; Pale-headed Brush-Finch, Tumbes and Black-capped Sparrow; Tumbesian and Gray-and-White Tyrannulet; Tumbes Pewee; Short-billed Field-Tyrant; Sooty-crowned and Baird's Flycatcher; Black-and-white Tanager; Black-cowled Saltator; Crimson-breasted Finch; Parrot-billed Seedeater; Collared Warbling-Finch; White-edged Oriole; Saffron Siskin and many others. 5 Compact Discs
$25.95	Your Price: $23.35
The Birds of Eastern Ecuador Volume I (CD)
	Lysinger, Moore, Krabbe, Coopmans, Lane, Navarrete, Nilsson, Ridgely John V. Moore Productions, 2005. This 5 CD publication presents 814 separately announced recordings of 217 species. It includes the voices of nearly all the birds typical of the foothills and lower subtropics of eastern Ecuador and the Río Marañón drainage in southernmost Ecuador, except for many of those that are commonly found in other parts of Ecuador and were treated in earlier publications by John V. Moore Nature Recordings. The foothills and lower subtropics are wonderfully rich in birds, both tropical, montane and endemic. Many are poorly known, especially those confined to wet, low-lying ridges east of the Andes. In addition, the Río Marañón drainage combines birds from both humid eastern and arid south-western Ecuador with its many endemic forms. 5 Compact Discs
$25.95	Your Price: $23.35
Voices of the Antbirds (CD)
	Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 2001 Antbirds make up one of the largest, most diverse groups of birds in the New World. Their whistles, croaks, caws, hoots, rasps, and rattles, can create a staggering chorus in the forest. Their amazing vocal diversity, combined with the birds' secretive nature, make this 3 CD set of nearly all of the 270 recognized antbirds an invaluable tool for the tropical birder. 3 Compact Discs
$39.95	Your Price: $35.95
Sounds of Neotropical Rainforest Mammals (CD)
	Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 1998 The two-CD guide presents 109 species of mammals including 54 primates and 55 others, most never before published. 2 Compact discs
$29.95	Your Price: $26.95
And don't forget the essentials!
Pajaro Grande Waist Pack
	The best waist pack we've come across. Made of tough, water-resistant Cordura, that will handle any international field guide. It boasts 7 pockets including the all-important secret passport pocket (which will fit a wallet as well) AND a water bottle pouch for tropical thirst quenching. This pack will also fit a Sibley Guide or any full size binoculars. Wide non-slip belt. Black.
$42.95	Your Price: $38.65
Slide/Flex Binocular Harness
	The best binocular harness available. Eliminates all weight from neck and, because of stretchy neoprene strap, the shoulders as well. No more swinging "pendulum" effect when bushwhacking. Absolutely essential for full days of wildlife viewing.
$24.95	Your Price: $22.50
	Paul Greenfield (illustrator of THE BIRDS OF ECUADOR), Juan Carlos Calvachi (Ecuadorian Birding Guide), and Jerry Connolly (owner of The Audubon Shop), model The Audubon Shop slide/flex binocular harness high in the Andes.

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