Over 500 bird species have been recorded within a short radius of Mindo, including 30-plus species of hummingbird, 24 species of tanager, multiple toucans and toucanets, and a list of endemics and near-endemics that draws serious birders from around the world. The density is a function of altitude and geography: the cloud forest at 1,200–2,000 metres on the western Andean slope is one of the most species-rich habitats on earth.
The best approach is to hire a local guide for the first morning — the trails are numerous, some are on private land, and a good guide will know which spots are productive at which times of day. The road to Mindo from Quito (the old road via Nono) is itself excellent for birding, with good viewpoints and forest. Most lodges in and around Mindo have trails through secondary and primary forest on their grounds. The dry months (June–September) tend to produce more reliable sightings; the cloud and mist of the rainy season can make observation difficult, though the forest is at its most dramatically atmospheric.