Helen Collinson (ed), Green Guerrillas (Latin America Bureau/Monthly Review Press). A collection of essays on Latin America's environmental situation, including discussions on Ecuador's indigenous groups and rainforest ecotourism.

 

John Eisenberg and Kent Redford , Mammals of the Neotropics: Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil (University of Chicago Press). Useful guide to over 650 species, including distribution maps, colour and monochrome photographs and background information on ecological and behavioural characteristics.

Steven Hilty and William Brown , A Guide to the Birds of Colombia (Princeton University Press). Exhaustive, highly regarded ornithology guide detailing all 1695 of Colombia's recorded bird species, of which a large portion are also found in Ecuador. Essential reading for serious birders, with some beautiful colour plates, though a bit too heavy to be carried as a field guide.

John Kricher , A Neotropical Companion (Princeton University Press). Excellent, and extremely thorough, introduction to the flora, fauna and ecosystems of the tropical regions of Central and South America, aimed at the general reader. Highly recommended.

Robert S. R. Williams , Guide to Bird-watching in Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands (Biosphere Publications). Not necessarily the best choice for identification purposes, but with details of 120 birding sites and maps, a full checklist of Ecuadorian species and information on habitats and conservation, this is still a useful field guide.