Cajas National Park

🇪🇨 Ecuador

🐦 Violet-throated Metaltail in Polylepis Woods
🌍 #226 Global · 3.3 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #34 in South America #101 in Tropical Forest
Southern Andes, Ecuador 820 spp. recorded

Cajas National Park is in the Southern Andes of Ecuador, a high‑altitude páramo and cloud forest where glacial lakes, rolling grasslands, and patches of tropical rainforest intermix. It stands out for its network of crystal‑clear lagoons and the sharp contrast between open moorland and dense moss‑laden forest.

-2.840° S   79.224° W

Wildlife

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare5–20%
With luck20–40%
Possible40–70%
Likely>70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

Violet-throated Metaltail ★
VU Endemic

Violet-throated Metaltail

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Metallura baroni

50–60% · Likely
Tit-like Dacnis ★
LC Endemic

Tit-like Dacnis

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Xenodacnis parina

60–70% · Likely
Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan ★
LC

Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Andigena hypoglauca

30–40% · Possible
Culpeo ★
LC

Culpeo

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Lycalopex culpaeus

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Andean Teal
LC

Andean Teal

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anas andium

80–90% · Very likely
Great Thrush
LC

Great Thrush

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus fuscater

80–90% · Very likely
Andean Gull

Andean Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chroicocephalus serranus

80–90% · Very likely
Tawny Antpitta
LC

Tawny Antpitta

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Grallaria quitensis

60–70% · Likely
Chestnut-winged Cinclodes
LC

Chestnut-winged Cinclodes

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cinclodes albidiventris

60–70% · Likely
Spectacled Redstart
LC

Spectacled Redstart

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Myioborus melanocephalus

60–70% · Likely
Andean Ruddy Duck
LC

Andean Ruddy Duck

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Oxyura ferruginea

60–70% · Likely
Black Flowerpiercer
LC

Black Flowerpiercer

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Diglossa humeralis

50–60% · Likely
Blue-mantled Thornbill
LC

Blue-mantled Thornbill

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chalcostigma stanleyi

50–60% · Likely
Slate-colored Coot
LC

Slate-colored Coot

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Fulica ardesiaca

50–60% · Likely
Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant
LC

Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ochthoeca fumicolor

50–60% · Likely
Plumbeous Sierra Finch

Plumbeous Sierra Finch

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Geospizopsis unicolor

50–60% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Culpeo ★
LC

Culpeo

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Lycalopex culpaeus

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Andean Tapeti

Andean Tapeti

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Sylvilagus andinus

30–40% · Possible
White-tailed Deer
LC Endemic

White-tailed Deer

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Odocoileus virginianus

30–40% · Possible
🐒 No photo available
LC

Ecuadorean Small-eared Shrew

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Cryptotis montivaga

Insufficient data
🐒 No photo available
LC

montane myotis

🌙 Nocturnal Mammal

Myotis oxyotus

Insufficient data
Andean Tapir

Andean Tapir

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Tapirus pinchaque

Insufficient data
🐒 No photo available
LC

Dusky Caenolestid

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Caenolestes fuliginosus

Insufficient data

⭐ Iconic Species

Violet-throated Metaltail ★
VU Endemic

Violet-throated Metaltail

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Metallura baroni

50–60% · Likely
Tit-like Dacnis ★
LC Endemic

Tit-like Dacnis

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Xenodacnis parina

60–70% · Likely
Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan ★
LC

Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Andigena hypoglauca

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Andean Teal
LC

Andean Teal

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anas andium

80–90% · Very likely
Great Thrush
LC

Great Thrush

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus fuscater

80–90% · Very likely
Andean Gull

Andean Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chroicocephalus serranus

80–90% · Very likely
Tawny Antpitta
LC

Tawny Antpitta

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Grallaria quitensis

60–70% · Likely
Chestnut-winged Cinclodes
LC

Chestnut-winged Cinclodes

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cinclodes albidiventris

60–70% · Likely
Spectacled Redstart
LC

Spectacled Redstart

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Myioborus melanocephalus

60–70% · Likely
Andean Ruddy Duck
LC

Andean Ruddy Duck

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Oxyura ferruginea

60–70% · Likely
Black Flowerpiercer
LC

Black Flowerpiercer

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Diglossa humeralis

50–60% · Likely
Blue-mantled Thornbill
LC

Blue-mantled Thornbill

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chalcostigma stanleyi

50–60% · Likely
Slate-colored Coot
LC

Slate-colored Coot

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Fulica ardesiaca

50–60% · Likely
Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant
LC

Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ochthoeca fumicolor

50–60% · Likely
Plumbeous Sierra Finch

Plumbeous Sierra Finch

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Geospizopsis unicolor

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Günther's Forest Racer
LC

Günther's Forest Racer

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Dendrophidion brunneum

Insufficient data
🦎 No photo available
Endemic

Incaspis amaru

Reptile

Incaspis amaru

Insufficient data
Mountain Pholiodobolus
NT

Mountain Pholiodobolus

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Pholidobolus montium

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Boulenger's Rocket Frog
VU Endemic

Boulenger's Rocket Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Hyloxalus vertebralis

Insufficient data
San Vicente Robber Frog
VU

San Vicente Robber Frog

Amphibian

Pristimantis cryophilius

Insufficient data
🐸 No photo available
CR Endemic

Sad harlequin frog

Amphibian

Atelopus nanay

Insufficient data
🐸 No photo available
NT Endemic

San Lucas Marsupial Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Gastrotheca pseustes

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🐦

Polylepis Forest Songbirds

JanFebMar

Feeding congregations of Polylepis-specialist songbirds in the park's high-altitude paper-tree (quinoa) forest patches — documented as the best place anywhere to see Tit-like Dacnis and Giant Conebill

Giant Conebill
NT

Giant Conebill

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Conirostrum binghami

30–40% · Possible
Tit-like Dacnis
LC Endemic

Tit-like Dacnis

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Xenodacnis parina

60–70% · Likely
🐦

Páramo Hummingbird Season

SepOctDec

High-elevation hummingbirds feeding on flowering páramo shrubs (Chuquiraga) in the open grassland — peak visibility for the Ecuadorian Hillstar and Blue-mantled Thornbill

Blue-mantled Thornbill
LC

Blue-mantled Thornbill

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chalcostigma stanleyi

50–60% · Likely
Ecuadorian Hillstar
LC

Ecuadorian Hillstar

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Oreotrochilus chimborazo

40–50% · Likely
🦆

Andean Waterfowl on the Glacial Lakes

FebJulAug

Breeding and congregation of high-Andean waterbirds across the park's 230+ glacial lakes, a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance

Andean Teal
LC

Andean Teal

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anas andium

80–90% · Very likely
Andean Ruddy Duck
LC

Andean Ruddy Duck

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Oxyura ferruginea

60–70% · Likely
Andean Gull

Andean Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chroicocephalus serranus

80–90% · Very likely

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Species Total
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
60–70
Violet-throated Metaltail
50–60
40–50
50–60
60–70
40–50
40–50
30–40
60–70
40–50
80–90
40–50
50–60
Tit-like Dacnis
60–70
70–80
70–80
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
70–80
50–60
70–80
Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan
40–50
30–40
10–20
30–40
20–30
20–30
20–30
30–40
20–30
10–20
40–50
20–30
Culpeo
30–40
40–50
10–20
10–20
30–40
40–50
30–40
5–10
50–60
50–60
10–20
50–60
Andean Teal
80–90
90–100
80–90
80–90
80–90
70–80
80–90
70–80
70–80
90–100
80–90
80–90
Great Thrush
80–90
70–80
80–90
80–90
70–80
70–80
80–90
70–80
70–80
80–90
80–90
80–90
Andean Gull
80–90
80–90
60–70
80–90
60–70
70–80
80–90
90–100
70–80
90–100
80–90
60–70
Tawny Antpitta
60–70
70–80
70–80
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
80–90
50–60
60–70
Chestnut-winged Cinclodes
60–70
70–80
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
40–50
60–70
70–80
50–60
70–80
Spectacled Redstart
50–60
60–70
50–60
60–70
40–50
60–70
70–80
70–80
30–40
70–80
70–80
50–60
Andean Ruddy Duck
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
80–90
60–70
30–40
60–70
60–70
40–50
Black Flowerpiercer
70–80
60–70
40–50
40–50
50–60
60–70
60–70
40–50
30–40
60–70
80–90
50–60
Blue-mantled Thornbill
40–50
70–80
70–80
50–60
50–60
40–50
40–50
50–60
60–70
70–80
40–50
60–70
Slate-colored Coot
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
30–40
40–50
60–70
50–60
40–50
50–60
60–70
40–50
Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant
60–70
40–50
40–50
50–60
30–40
40–50
40–50
60–70
40–50
70–80
40–50
60–70
Plumbeous Sierra Finch
50–60
30–40
70–80
50–60
50–60
40–50
50–60
40–50
60–70
50–60
40–50
70–80
Animal Events
🐦 Polylepis Forest Songbirds
🦆 Andean Waterfowl on the Glacial Lakes
🐦 Páramo Hummingbird Season

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Good
🐦 Violet-throated Metaltail in Polylepis Woods

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Very good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
4.3 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
500
🐒 Mammals
199
🦎 Reptiles
94
🐸 Amphibians
27
820 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 parks
47 Threatened 59 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
2.9 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
66%
📊
Coverage (106 species at ≥5% of 820 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
13%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (12 bird)
46% Global avg
0%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 Global avg
76
🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
15 Global avg
5
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
21

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Cajas National Park?

The most likely sightings are Andean Teal (seen by 80–90% of wildlife watchers), Great Thrush (seen by 80–90% of wildlife watchers), Andean Gull (seen by 80–90% of wildlife watchers), Tawny Antpitta (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Chestnut-winged Cinclodes (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers) — among 820 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

When is the best time to visit Cajas National Park for wildlife?

October has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.

Can you see Violet-throated Metaltail in Cajas National Park?

Yes — about 54% of wildlife watchers report a Violet-throated Metaltail sighting in Cajas National Park, based on 313 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Tit-like Dacnis in Cajas National Park?

Yes — about 64% of wildlife watchers report a Tit-like Dacnis sighting in Cajas National Park, based on 369 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan in Cajas National Park?

Yes — about 30% of wildlife watchers report a Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan sighting in Cajas National Park, based on 175 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Culpeo in Cajas National Park?

Yes — about 35% of wildlife watchers report a Culpeo sighting in Cajas National Park, based on 12 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

⚖️

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