Speckled Tanager photographed in Buenaventura!
Leovigildo and Diego Cabrera, our parkguards spotted the Speckled Tanager (Tangara Guttata) in the a recently acquired property that is part of our Buenaventura Reserve. Our reserve is the only place in Ecuador where it has been recorded!
The Speckled Tanager is found in the lowlands and foothills of north-eastern South America as well as Colombia, Costa Rica, and Panama. Our population is very isolated, which is why we are currently investigating with collaborators from the San Francisco University if this is a new species.
This discovery illustrates not only how much of Ecuador's biodiversity is still not well known. It also shows the importance of the establishment of ecological reserves. Expanding our Buenaventura reserve provides the last refuge for many species that we do not even know. We will keep you posted on species or subspecies status in the following months!
