Whoah, an unprecedented 66 Top Birds!  I knew this was going to blow out when I reached the Top 20 (chronologically) and was still in Ecuador with Colombia, the Caribbean and Australia’s Northern Territory still to come.  I haven’t even included 1/3 the birds who should be on this list otherwise I would be here all day.  This has been an epic year for travel and the birds have been spectacular!  Hummingbirds, Antpittas, Cock-of-the-rock, Finches, Bowerbirds, and of course Parrots everywhere!   This list will be heavily slanted towards Parrots as I chose the birding location based on target species, most of which were parrots.   I’ve tried to focus this list on birds that are highly endangered, unusual, beautiful and/or lifers for me – preferably that I got a decent photo of.  I had extremely bad luck with my Hail Mary photo shot attempts in Colombia so I have to take some license there.  Maybe my camera doesn’t like altitude or cloud forests? Anyway, without further ado, feast your eyes on these beauties!

1. GREY-CHEEKED PARAKEET – seen at Cerro Blanco, Ecuador

2.  PACIFIC PARROTLET – seen at Cerro Blanco, Ecuador

3.  WHITE-BREASTED PARAKEET – seen at Podocarpus, Ecuador

4. BLUE-NECKED TANAGER – seen at Podocarpus, Ecuador

5.  EL ORO PARAKEET – seen at Buenaventura, Ecuador

6.  UMBRELLABIRD – Seen at Buenaventura, Ecuador

7.  RED-FOOTED BOOBIES – Galapagos, Ecuador

8.  ANDEAN COCK-OF-THE-ROCK – Seen at Mindo, Ecuador

9.  BOOTED RACKET-TAIL – Seen at Mindo & WildSumaco, Ecuador

10.  OILBIRD – Seen at Mindo, Ecuador

11.  BRONZE-WINGED PARROT – Seen at Mindo, Ecuador

12.  CHOCO TOUCAN  – seen at Mindo, Ecuador

13.  ROSE-FACED PARROT – Seen at Mindo, Ecuador

14.  BLACK-HEADED PARROT – Seen at Napo, Ecuador

15.  HOATZIN – Seen at Napo, Ecuador

16.  DUSKY-HEADEAD PARAKEET – Seen at Napo, Ecuador

17 PLUM-THROATED COTINGA – Seen at Napo, Ecuador

18. WIRE-TAILED MANAKIN – Seen at Napo, Ecuador

19.  MILITARY MACAW – Seen at WildSumaco, Ecuador  (sorry this was the best I could do)

20.  WIRE-CRESTED THORNTAIL – Seen at WildSumaco, Ecuador

21.  MAROON-TAILED PARAKEET – Seen at Wildsumaco, Ecuador

22.  SAN ISIDRO OWL – Seen at Cabanas San Isidro, Ecuador

23.  TOURMALINE SUNANGEL – Seen at Guango Lodge, Ecuador & Jardin, Colombia

24.  SANTA MARTA PARAKEET – Seen at El Dorado, Colombia  (photo from ProAves, I was too far away to get one)

25.  BLUE-NAPED CHLOROPHONIA – Seen at El Dorado, Colombia

26.  SCARLET-FRONTED PARAKEET – Seen at El Dorado, Colombia

27.  MASKED TROGON – Seen at El Dorado, Colombia

28.  YELLOW-EARED PARROT – Seen at reserve near Jardin, Colombia

29.  SWORD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD – Seen at finca above Jardin

30.  ANDEAN MOTMOT – Seen near Jardin, Rio Blanco Reserve and Termales San Vincente, Colombia

31. GOLDEN PLUMED PARAKEET – Seen at Rio Blanco, Colombia

32.  CHESTNUT-CROWNED ANTIPITTA (in addition to all the Antpittas) – Seen at Rio Blanco, Colombia

33. RUSTY-FACED PARROT   – Seen flying over Paramo near Manizales, Colombia, too  fast to get a photo

34.  RAINBOW-BEARDED THORNBILL – Seen at Termales del Ruiz, Colombia

35.  FUERTES PARROT – Seen very poorly at a distance near Termales San Vincente, didn’t get a photo.

36.  BROWN-BREASTED PARAKEET – Seen near BioAndina, Bogota, Colombia

37.  RUBY TOPAZ HUMMINGBIRD – Seen at Yerette, Trinidad

38.  SCARLET IBIS – Seen at Caroni Bird Sanctuary, Trinidad

39.  GREEN-RUMPED PARROTLET – Seen at Aripo Livestock Station, Trinidad

40.  TUFTED COQUETTE – Seen at Asa Wright’s, Trinidad

41.  BEARDED BELLBIRD – Seen at Asa Wright’s, Trinidad

42.  ST LUCIA AMAZON PARROT – Seen at Des Cartiers Trail, St Lucia

43.  PURPLE THROATED CARIB HUMMINGBIRD – Seen in St Lucia & St Vincent

44.  ST VINCENT AMAZON PARROT – Seen on Vermont Trail, St Vincent

45.  IMPERIAL AMAZON PARROT (SISSEROU) – Seen at Syndicate Trail, he’s in here somewhere!)

46.  ANTILLEAN CRESTED HUMMINGBIRD – Seen at Syndicate Trail, Dominica

47.  RED-NECKED PARROT (JACO) – Seen at Syndicate Trail, Dominica

48.  PUERTO RICAN PARROT – Seen at Rio Abajo, Puerto Rico

49.  PUERTO RICAN TODY – Seen at El Yunque, Puerto Rico

50.  RAINBOW PITTA – Howard Springs, Darwin, Australia

51.  RED-TAILED BLACK COCKATOO (BANKSII) – Everywhere Northern Territory, Australia

52.  ROSE-CROWNED FRUIT DOVE – Seen at Howard Springs, Darwin, Australia

53.  RED-COLLARED LORIKEETS – Seen everywhere, Northern Territory, Australia

54.    HOODED PARROT– Seen at Pine Creek, Australia

55.  DOUBLE-BARRED FINCH – Seen at Edith Falls, Australia

56.  PURPLE-CROWNED FAIRY WREN – Seen (at a distance) near Victoria River Crossing, Australia

57.  BLUE-WINGED KOOKABURRA – Seen at Nitmiluk National Park, Australia

58.  GREAT BOWERBIRD – Seen at Katherine (Museum grounds), Australia

59.  NORTHERN ROSELLA – Seen in Katherine, Australia

60.  VARIED LORIKEET – Seen at Donkey Camp Weir, Katherine, Australia

61 GOULDIAN FINCHES (MOSTLY JUVENILES) – Seen at Edith Falls Road, NT, Australia

62.  AZURE KINGFISHER – Seen at Kakadu NP, Australia

63.  WHITE-BELLIED SEA EAGLE – Seen at Kakadu NP, Australia

64.  LITTLE KINGFISHER – Seen at Kakadu NP, Australia

65.  COMB-CRESTED JACANA – Seen at Kakadu NP, Australia

66.  EMERALD DOVE – Seen in Darwin, Australia