Calacali - In Search of the Giant Hummingbird - June 20-21

Altitude:  9,186 feet a.s.l.
Ecoregion:   Dry Andean Scrub
New Hummingbird Species Seen:  None

I am intrigued by a hummingbird the size of a starling and have to spend some time looking for the Giant Hummingbird.  We have been driving through lush green mountains and within 10 minutes have reached a totally different landscape of cactus and dry flowering shrubs. 

The Race Track at Calacali

Cactus and many other plants were in bloom

We are in the rainshadow of the Andes on the Equator at a place called Calacali – known for the Giant Hummingbird.  A rain shadow is a dry area on the downwind side of a mountainous area.  The mountains (in this case the Andes) block the rain-producing clouds, casting a “shadow” of arid conditions behind them.   

Cloyce and Chris at the Equator Monument in Calacali

This bird favors the flowers of the Agave plant which grows well in this desert like valley.  The Agave is not native to Ecuador and was brought here from Mexico several centuries ago.  We found some agave in flower around an old horse racing track in this valley but no Giant Hummingbirds.  What a contrast this area is to the lush forests we just left.  Although we visited this valley on July 20 and 21,^st we had no luck with the Giant Hummer.

The blue succulent Agave had a huge stalk with flowers but no Giant Hummingbirds

A little goat herd with his goats