The ongoing H5N1 outbreak in the Americas caused by clade 2.3.4.4, is causing unprecedented impact in poultry and wild birds. In November 2022, a highly pathogenic avian influenza A outbreak was declared in poultry in Ecuador, affecting more than 1.1 million head of poultry in two farms by February 2023. Phylogenetic analysis shows that the virus clade is 2.3.4.4b, and to the best of our knowledge this is the first scientific publication reporting this clade in South America.