Photos of hummingbird heaven in Ecuador

If you're thinking "But I can see hummingbirds back home", think again! Ecuador is home to an incredible 132 species of hummingbird - more than any other country in the world - and these spectacular birds are reason enough to visit the country. Hummingbirds beat their wings faster than any other bird, and they're the only birds in the world that can actually fly backwards. They're also incredibly beautiful and display an incredible diversity of shapes, sizes, colors and adaptations.

All of the photos in this gallery were taken at specialist bird lodges in the Ecuadorian cloud forests, which also happen to be lovely places to stay. If this seems like the perfect add-on to your Galapagos adventure, our destination experts will gladly make it happen.

Thanks to Andy Morffew and Lip Kee for the use of their images.