In 2002–2003, I spent c.290 hours, over 213 days, birdwatching in Andean and western Ecuador. I collected records for 27 bird species that refine their geographical or altitudinal distribution limits as given in Ridgely & Greenfield 10 . Unusual natural history observations are also presented (e.g. phenology, abundance, leucism). Details concerning the localities mentioned in the text, as well as altitude and observation effort, are provided in the Appendix. Taxonomy and nomenclature follow Ridgely & Greenfield 10 . Neotropic Cormorant Phalacrocorax brasilianus Three (6 April 2002), two (15 July 2003) and 45 (roosting in pines, 29 February 2004) at Laguna de Yaguarcocha (Imbabura province) are the second, fourth and sixth records for the Ecuadorian highlands. The first involved a specimen from the same locality 10 . Subsequently, one was observed at Laguna de Papallacta (Napo province, 00 o 22’S 78 o 09W, on 28 September 2002; N. Athanas in litt.), the highest Ecuadorian record (3,650 m), and one was photographed at Jipiro Park, Loja city (04 o 00’S 79 o 12’W, in April–October 2003; J. F. Freile et al., J. M. Carrión in litt.). The species’ rarity in the Ecuadorian Andes contrasts strikingly with its abundance in western Ecuador 10 and occurrence at high altitude in Colombia (2,600 m) 9 . Note that on 29 February 2004 three were observed within the colony of Cattle Egrets in the reeds. Breeding could thus occur at this locality in the future. Great Egret Ardea alba Observed during most visits to Laguna de Colta (Chimborazo province): 4 February 2000 (R. Letscher, photographed), 21 February and 2 March 2001 (several), 23 and 26 February 2003 (1–2), 13 March 2004 (one); and during two visits to Laguna de Yambo (Tungurahua province): 11 March 2004 (16) and 3 May 2004 (13). Ridgely & Greenfield 10 reported the occurrence of wanderers at highland lakes up to 2,800 m, with only a single, old record from the Laguna de Colta (3,180 m). These records suggest regular occurrence at this high-elevation lake, which is the only highland Ecuadorian locality outside of Imbabura and Pichincha provinces where it occurs, in addition to Laguna de Yambo. The highest elevation on record in Ecuador involves one at Laguna de Papallacta (3,650 m; Napo province, on 2 December 2000, N. Athanas in litt.). Snowy Egret Egretta thula Observed during all visits to Laguna de Colta: 2 March 2001, 23 February 2003 (at least ten), 26 February 2003 (at least six), 13 March 2004 (one), 11 and 12 June 2004 (two) and 15 June 2004 (one); and at Laguna de Yambo (Tungurahua province): 11 March 2004 (three). Ridgely & Greenfield 10 and Hilty & Brown 9 reported occasional presence at highlands lakes up to 2,600 m. As with Great Egret, this suggests the apparently regular occurrence of Snowy Egret at a higher elevation (3,180 m) than previously known, and south of Imbabura and Pichincha provinces, in northern Ecuador. Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis First, Ridgely & Greenfield 10 indicated that only scattered singles remained in the central highland valley in March–October. On 29 March 1999, J. F. Freile (in litt.) counted 141 and 52 respectively at Laguna de Yaguarcocha and Lago San Pablo (Imbabura province). On 6 April 2002 (16h30–18h00), I counted 1,269 coming to roost at the reedbed of Laguna de Yaguarcocha. On 15 July 2003 (07h30), at least 414 were seen roosting in pine trees, 1 km west of this reedbed. On 13 July 2003, c.90 were foraging at Zuleta’s Hacienda. On 15 July 2003, I observed three at Eugenio Espejo, north-west of Lago de San Pablo, and 21 c.5 km south-east of González Suárez (road 35, Imbabura, 00 o 10’N 78 o 13’W). Contra Ridgely & Greenfield 10 , these records suggest that hundreds remain year-round in the far-northern Ecuadorian highlands, at least around Laguna de Yaguarcocha and Lago San Pablo. Second, Ridgely & Greenfield 10 indicated that no breeding colony was known from the Ecuadorian highlands. Observations made on 6 April 2002 at Laguna de Yaguarcocha suggested breeding Cotinga 23 27 New distributional records of birds from Andean and western Ecuador Pierre-Yves Henry Cotinga 23 (2005): 27–32 Esta nota reporta nuevos registros para 27 especies de la sierra y la costa pacífica ecuatoriana. Precisa su distribución geográfica y/o altitudinal, y indica casos de expansión de población (Bubulcus ibis, Columbina cruziana, Mimus gilvus y Sicalis flaveola) o con interés para su conser- vación (poblaciones aisladas de Aramides sp., Haematopus palliatus, Larus cirrocephalus, Sterna nilotica, Aratinga erythrogenys y Anisognathus notabilis). También se reportan observaciones de especies registradas con poca frecuencia (Limnodromus sp., Progne subis) y aves leucisticos (Rallus aequatorialis, Fulica ardesiaca y Turdus chiguanco). Insides 21/3/05 11:34 am Page 27