The Social Relation to Birds

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Birds hold an important place in the knowledge systems and lifeways of Indigenous peoples of the Ecuadorian Amazon. Beyond their ecological value, they are understood as part of a network of relationships linking people, animals, plants, and territories. In many Amazonian Indigenous traditions, animals and plants are believed to have once shared a human condition, with present-day differences resulting from transformations that occurred in ancestral times. From this perspective, birds are not viewed solely as biological species, but also as carriers of stories, knowledge, environmental indicators, and cultural memory that continue to shape community life today.

Akangaw

Pitsitsangu

Iluku

Bitirusa

Birds Finder

Anga

Accipitridae

Great Black Hawk

Buteogallus urubitinga

Akangaw

Falconidae

Red throated caracara

Ibycter americanus

Algodon pishcu

Thraupidae

Magpie tanager

Cissopis leveriana

Apapa

Strigidae

Spectacled owl

Pulsatrix perspicillata

Arau, Ushpa lora

Psittacidae

Mealy amazon

Amazona farinosa

Asumbichi

Thraupidae

Vermillion Tanager

Calochaetes coccineus

Asumbichi

Cotingidae

Black-necked red cotinga

Phoenicircus nigricollis

Atun mangu, Ushpa mangu, Cucupacchu

Icteridae

Russet backed oropendola

Psarocolius angustifrons

Atun yutu

Tinamidae

White-throated Tinamou

Tinamus guttatus

Atun kwilin, Kaka kwilin

Ramphastidae

Ivory-billed aracari

Pteroglossus azara

Atun titi

Capitonidae

Gilded barbet

Capito auratus

Auka pishku

Thamnophilidae

Pygmy antwren

Myrmotherula brachyura

Awitia

Psittacidae

Chestnut-fronted macaw

Ara severus

Bian bian

Charadriidae

Southern lapwing

Vanellus chilensis

Bitirusa

Trogonidae

Green-backed trogon

Trogon viridis

Cali cali

Psittacidae

White eyed parakeet

Psittacara leucophthalmus

Carpintiru / Tsuan/Tandashama

Picidae

Crimson-crested woodpecker

Campephilus melanoleucos

Castilla patu

Heliornithidae

Sungrebe

Heliornis fulica

Chagra piun

Tityridae

White-winged becard

Pachyramphus polychopterus

Chakcha kindi

Thraupidae

Purple honeycreeper

Cyanerpes caeruleus

Charak / Chakchaw

Troglodytidae

Thrush-like wren

Campylorhynchus turdinus

Charapa colordina

Hirundinidae

White-winged swallow

Tachycineta albiventer

Chawa mangu

Icteridae

Yellow-rumped cacique

Cacicus cela

Chikwan

Cuculidae

Squirrel cuckoo

Piaya cayana

Chilicres

Psittacidae

Black headed parrot

Pionites melanocephalus

Chiyun

Corvidae

Violaceous jay

Cyanocorax violaceus

Chiuli

Turdidae

Hauxwell's Thrush

Turdus hauxwelli

Chonda garza

Ardeidae

Great egret

Ardea alba

Chullu mangu

Icteridae

Olive oropendola

Psarocolius bifasciatus

Curneta kindi

Trochilidae

Reddish hermit

Phaethornis ruber

Cutu tsuan

Furnariidae

Buff-throated woodcreeper

Xiphorhynchus guttatus

Dagua pishku

Cotingidae

Purple-throated Fruitcrow

Querula purpurata

Dian dian

Fringillidae

Orange-bellied euphonia

Euphonia xanthogaster

Dzirguiritu

Passerellidae

Yellow-browed sparrow

Ammodramus aurifrons

Gallo pawa

Crasidae

Great curassow

Crax rubra

Gau sikuanga / Gaupi

Ramphastidae

Golden-collared toucanet

Selenidera reinwardtii

Gayaya, Tiktipi

Tyrannidae

Great kiskadee

Pitangus sulphuratus

Gownari

Cuculidae

Greater ani

Crotophaga major

Ichilla tsalaj wali

Alcedinidae

American pygmy kingfisher

Chloroceryle aenea

Ichilla urpi anga

Falconidae

Bat falcon

Falco rufigularis

Ichillia urpi anga

Falconidae

Lined forest falcon

Micrastur gilvicollis

Illawanga

Cathartidae

Turkey vulture

Cathartes aura

Illapa pishku

Troglodytidae

Coraya wren

Pheugopedius coraya

Illapa pishku

Troglodytidae

White-breasted wood wren

Henicorhina leucosticta

Irio sikuanga / Yau sikuanga

Ramphastidae

Channel billed toucan

Ramphastos vitellinus

Isla tiwankuyu / Pamba tuwinkuyu

Bucconidae

Black fronted nunbird

Monasa nigrifrons

Jilluin

Galbulidae

Great jacamar

Jacamerops aureus

Iluku / Jiluku

Nyctibiidae

Common potoo

Nyctibius griseus

Karunzi

Crasidae

Spix’s guan

Penelope jacquacu

Kayana urpi

Columbidae

Ruddy quail-dove

Geotrygon montana

Kayana urpi

Columbidae

Scaled pigeon

Patagioenas speciosa

Kigllu

Psittacidae

Maroon-tailed parakeet

Pyrrhura melanura

Kilpundu

Momotidae

Rufous motmot

Baryphthengus martii

Kindi

Trochilidae

Sparkling violetear

Colibri coruscans

Kiwi pishku

Troglodytidae

House wren

Troglodytes aedon

Kucha kitiupi

Tyrannidae

Social flycatcher

Myiozetetes similis

Kucha pishku

Thamnophilidae

White-browed antbird

Myrmoborus leucophrys

Hirundinidae

Grey-breasted martin

Progne chalybea

Kullushuti

Picidae

Yellow-tufted woodpecker

Melanerpes cruentatus

Kushilluk tsuan

Furnariidae

Olivaceous woodcreeper

Sittasomus griseicapillus

Kwilin

Ramphastidae

Banded aracari

Pteroglossus pluricinctus

Licuy

Psittacidae

Yellow Crowned Amazon

Amazona ochrocephala

Lulun jillu pishku

Tityridae

Masked tityra

Tityra semifasciata

Lulun pishku

Bucconidae

White necked puffbird

Notharchus macrorhynchos

Machin Anga

Accipitridae

Harpy eagle

Harpia harpyja

Machin pishku

Thamnophilidae

Lined antshrike

Thamnophilus tenuepunctatus

Mianka

Falconidae

Black caracara

Daptrius ater

Mikmi Anga

Accipitridae

Roadside hawk

Rupornis magnirostris

Munditi

Crasidae

Nocturnal curassow

Nothocrax urumutum

Murete mianka

Falconidae

Yellow-headed caracara

Daptrius chimachima

Nina kindi

Trochilidae

Rufous-tailed hummingbird

Amazilia tzacatl

Nina mangu

Icteridae

Casqued cacique

Cacicus oseryi

Nina mangu

Icteridae

Red rumped cacique

Cacicus haemorrhous

Nina pichis

Thraupidae

Masked crimson tanager

Ramphocelus nigrogularis

Nina sigcha

Thraupidae

Scarlet-bellied mountain tanager

Anisognathus igniventris

Oroj pishcu / Kilpundu

Momotidae

Amazonian motmot

Momotus momota

Pakuy

Turdidae

Black-billed thrush

Turdus ignobilis

Pamba urpi

Columbidae

Grey-fronted dove

Leptotila rufaxilla

Panga tsuan

Tyrannidae

Citron-bellied attila

Attila citriniventris

Panga tsuan / Coto tsuan

Furnariidae

Plain-brown woodcreeper

Dendrocincla fuliginosa

Panzao

Icteridae

Solitary cacique

Cacicus solitarius

Paspanzhu

Cotingidae

Screaming piha

Lipaugus vociferans

Paushi

Crasidae

Wattled curassow

Crax globulosa

Paushi Anga

Accipitridae

Black and chestnut eagle

Spizaetus isidori

Pawa

Crasidae

Blue throated piping guan

Pipile cumanensis

Pawa pishku

Pipridae

White-bearded manakin

Manacus manacus

Pichis / Raway pichi

Thraupidae

Silver beaked tanager

Ramphocelus carbo

Pinduk shagali

Alcedinidae

Green Kingfisher

Chloroceryle americana

Pingullu pishku / Piguañiru pishku

Troglodytidae

Musician wren

Cyphorhinus arada

Pishku pum-pum anga

Strigidae

Ferruginous pygmy owl

Glaucidium brasilianum

Pitsitsangu

Thraupidae

Paradise tanager

Tangara chilensis

Piwichu pishku

Tyrannidae

Grey-crowned flatbill

Tolmomyias poliocephalus

Puksiri

Rallidae

Grey-cowled wood rail

Aramides cajaneus

Puksiri pishku

Formicariidae

Black-faced antthrush

Formicarius analis

Pukuna tsuan

Tyrannidae

Scarlet flycatcher

Pyrocephalus rubinus

Pukungu anga

Strigidae

Black-banded owl

Strix huhula

Pum-pum anga

Strigidae

Tawny-bellied screech owl

Megascops watsonii

Puma urpi

Columbidae

Ruddy ground dove

Columbina talpacoti

Purutu pukunzhu / Bullukuku

Strigidae

Tropical screech owl

Megascops choliba

Puskuyu

Columbidae

White-tipped dove

Leptotila verreauxi

Puskuyu

Columbidae

Plumbeous pigeon

Patagioenas plumbea

Puskuyu

Columbidae

Ruddy pigeon

Patagioenas subvinacea

Putu wichu / Ichillu

Psittacidae

Cobalt-Winged Parakeet

Brotogeris cyanoptera

Ramus anga

Nyctibiidae

Great Potoo

Nyctibius grandis

Sandi yutu

Tinamidae

Little tinamou

Crypturellus soui

Sandy yutu

Tinamidae

Cinereous tinamou

Crypturellus cinereus

Sani garza

Anhingidae

Anhinga

Anhinga anhinga

Sara pishku

Thamnophilidae

Silvered antbird

Sclateria naevia

Sau sau pishku

Grallariidae

Thrush-like antpitta

Myrmothera campanisona

Shanshu

Opisthocomidae

Hoatzin

Opisthocomus hoazin

Shipilili

Tyrannidae

Common tody-flycatcher

Todirostrum cinereum

Sikuanka / Dumbiki

Ramphastidae

White throated toucan

Ramphastos tucanus

Supay pishku

Thraupidae

Yellow-bellied dacnis

Dacnis flaviventer

Suran suran

Tinamidae

Variegated Tinamou

Crypturellus variegatus

Supayla sicha

Thraupidae

Swallow tanager

Tersina viridis

Suyu / Shili Shili

Hirundinidae

Southern rough winged swallow

Stelgidopteryx ruficollis

Tamia pishku

Furnariidae

Plain xenops

Xenops minutus

Tara kwilin / Kaka Kwilin

Ramphastidae

Chestnut-eared aracari

Pteroglossus castanotis

Tatashama / Tutsiringa

Picidae

Lineated woodpecker

Dryocopus lineatus

Tijeras anga/ Kukulí

Accipitridae

Swallow-tailed kite

Elanoides forficatus

Tiktalaigu / Kucha kitiupi / Shilili

Tyrannidae

Boat-billed flycatcher

Megarynchus pitangua

Tiurusku

Trogonidae

Black-tailed trogon

Trogon melanurus

Tiurusku

Trogonidae

Collared trogon

Trogon collaris

Tiurusku

Trogonidae

Pavonine quetzal

Pharomachrus pavoninus

Tiutiwali

Accipitridae

Hook-billed kite

Chondrohierax uncinatus

Tiyu illawanga

Bucconidae

Swallow winged puff bird

Chelidoptera tenebrosa

Toshimba

Furnariidae

Amazonian barred woodcreeper

Dendrocolaptes certhia

Tsalaj Wali / Shagandu

Alcedinidae

Amazon Kingfisher

Chloroceryle amazona

Tsalaj tsalaj / Yaji mangu

Icteridae

Crested oropendola

Psarocolius decumanus

Tsalawali

Alcedinidae

Ringed kingfisher

Megaceryle torquata

Tubish / Tiuwish

Psittacidae

Blue headed parrot

Pionus menstruus

Tundishku

Icteridae

Giant cowbird

Molothrus oryzivorus

Tuwairo

Caprimulgidae

Pauraque

Nyctidromus albicollis

Tzergueritu

Thraupidae

Blue necked tanager

Stilpnia cyanicollis

Uchu guacamayu

Psittacidae

Scarlet macaw

Ara macao

Uchui

Thraupidae

Blue-gray saltator

Saltator coerulescens

Uish

Pipridae

Blue-capped manakin

Lepidothrix coronata

Uritu guacamayu / Killu guacamayu

Psittacidae

Blue-and-yellow macaw

Ara ararauna

Urku tiwankuyu / Tuwinkuyu

Bucconidae

White fronted nunbird

Monasa morphoeus

Ushpa suwicha

Thraupidae

Blue and grey tanager

Thraupis episcopus

Ushpa uritu

Wagra pishku

Cuculidae

Smooth-billed ani

Crotophaga ani

Waktaway

Falconidae

Laughing falcon

Herpetotheres cachinnans

Wanwaka / Kankuana

Tinamidae

Undulated tinamou

Crypturellus undulatus

Wawa tsuan

Crasidae

Speckled chachalaca

Ortalis guttata

Wataraku

Furnariidae

Cinnamon-throated woodcreeper

Dendrexetastes rufigula

Wawa tukuk tsuan

Thamnophilidae

White-shouldered antshrike

Thamnophilus aethiops

Wayra pishku

Tyrannidae

Greyish mourner

Rhytipterna simplex

Wi wiri

Tyrannidae

Bright-rumped attila

Attila spadiceus

Wita pishku

Tyrannidae

Yellow-crowned tyrannulet

Tyrannulus elatus

Wita pishku

Tyrannidae

Wing-barred piprites

Piprites chloris

Yaku anga

Falconidae

Collared forest falcon

Micrastur semitorquatus

Yaku mangu

Rhinocryptidae

Rusty-belted tapaculo

Liosceles thoracicus

Yami

Psophiidae

Grey-winged trumpeter

Psophia crepitans

Yautiri

Ramphastidae

Black-mandibled toucan

Ramphastos ambiguus

Yutu

Tinamidae

Great tinamou

Tinamus major

Zaw zaw

Cuculidae

Rufous-vented ground cuckoo

Neomorphus geoffroyi

Kilpundu

Momotidae

Broad-billed motmot

Electron platyrhynchum

Thraupidae

Palm tanager

Thraupis palmarum

Thamnophilidae

White-flanked antwren

Myrmotherula axillaris

Furnariidae

Dark-breasted spinetail

Synallaxis albigularis

Thamnophilidae

Fasciated antshrike

Cymbilaimus lineatus

Furnariidae

Wedge-billed woodcreeper

Glyphorynchus spirurus

Tyrannidae

Short-crested flycatcher

Myiarchus ferox

Furnariidae

Lineated foliage-gleaner

Syndactyla subalaris

Tyrannidae

Brownish twistwing

Cnipodectes subbrunneus

Thamnophilidae

Black-faced antbird

Myrmoborus myotherinus

Caprimulgidae

Short-tailed nighthawk

Lurocalis semitorquatus

Thamnophilidae

Spot-winged antbird

Myrmelastes leucostigma

Thraupidae

Buff-throated saltator

Saltator maximus

Thraupidae

Blue dacnis

Dacnis cayana

Parulidae

Buff-rumped warbler

Myiothlypis fulvicauda

Tyrannidae

Brown-crested flycatcher

Myiarchus tyrannulus

Thamnophilidae

Mouse-colored antshrike

Thamnophilus murinus

Passerellidae

Orange-billed sparrow

Arremon aurantiirostris

Thraupidae

Bananaquit

Coereba flaveola

Chikin pishku

Tyrannidae

Piratic flycatcher

Legatus leucophaius

Troglodytidae

Southern nightingale-wren

Microcerculus marginatus

Thraupidae

Blue-black grassquit

Volatinia jacarina

Thraupidae

Slate-coloured grosbeak

Saltator grossus

Tyrannidae

Dusky-capped flycatcher

Myiarchus tuberculifer

Thamnophilidae

Grey antbird

Cercomacra cinerascens

Polioptilidae

Trilling gnatwren

Ramphocaenus melanurus

Kucha pishku

Tyrannidae

Tropical kingbird

Tyrannus melancholicus

Cardinalidae

Scarlet tanager

Piranga olivacea

Achuar Kuru

Anga

Kamunguy

Anhimidae

Horned Screamer

Anhima cornuta

Chuchukian

Tsuntsu anga

Urpi

Columbidae

Uwish

Vireonidae

Chivi vireo

Vireo chivi

Wishaj

Crasidae

Sickle winged guan

Chamaepetes goudotii

Yanwalli Anga

Accipitridae

Ipanlo