The Reserve has an elevation range from 1000 to 1580 m, which contributes to a growing list of birds that is over 300 species. This includes the Cerulean Warbler, a long-distance migrant that breeds in eastern North America and spends the boreal winter in northwestern South America. Resident species include Black Tinamou, Military Macaw, Coppery-chested Jacamar, and Foothill Elaenia.

The variety of tanagers, tyrant flycatchers, and hummingbirds found on the reserve is especially impressive. A notable rarity is the Orange-breasted Falcon, a pair of which has bred for some years on a cliff immediately adjacent to the reserve; this represents the only currently known nesting nest for this rare falcon, itself globally threatened, in Ecuador.