Giant Antpitta

The Giant Antpitta is one of the most elusive birds in the Neotropics — or at least it was, until Ángel Paz changed everything. At his reserve near Mindo, Ángel spent years patiently habituating wild antpittas to come to worm-feeding stations. Today, "María" (the resident Giant Antpitta) responds to Ángel's whistle and walks out of the forest to feed, giving birders an extraordinary close encounter with this normally impossible-to-see species.

The Giant Antpitta is the largest member of its family, standing about 24 cm tall with long legs, a rotund body, and a tiny tail. It normally skulks on the forest floor in dense undergrowth, hopping in search of earthworms and insects. Without the feeding station, seeing one requires extreme luck.

The species is classified as Vulnerable with a declining population due to deforestation. Paz de las Aves is by far the most reliable location in the world to see this extraordinary bird, and visiting the reserve directly supports the conservation of its habitat.