The Manglares Churute Reserve encompasses an extensive mangrove forest, a large freshwater marsh, and deciduous and semi-humid forests covering the Churute Hills. Some of the woodlands are controlled by the Fundacion Andrade based in Guayaquil but substantial human disturbance including cattle grazing and human habitation occurs within reserve boundaries. Much of the reserve is only accessible by boat. A boat trip provides opportunities to see various aquatic birds such as Cocoi Heron, the very rare and locally distributed Comb Duck, Chilean Flamingo, Kelp Gull, and Gray-hooded Gull.
Birding along the road offers opportunities to see several species found in scrub habitat and wetlands. Certainly one of the most notable target birds is Horned Screamer. The only known population of this species in Ecuador is found in marshy areas of the reserve. Other birds found along the roadside include Masked Water-Tyrant, Large-billed Seed-Finch, Chestnut-throated Seedeater, Chestnut-bellied Seed-Finch, Large-billed Seed-Finch, Thick-billed Seed-Finch, and Saffron Finch. Snowy-throated Kingbird is relatively common during breeding season from December-May but then disappears for the remainder of the year.
