List of birds of South America

This is a list of bird species recorded in South America. South America is the "Bird Continent": It boasts records of 3481 species, more than any other. (Much larger Eurasia is second with 3407.) Colombia's list alone numbers 1904 confirmed species, and both Brazil's and Peru's confirmed lists also exceed 1850. Of the continent's species, 2526 are endemic, significantly more than Eurasia's approximately 2300. Nine entire families, containing 21 species, are endemic to the continent.^[1][2][3]

Of the 2526 endemic species, 238 are found only in Brazil and 337 are only in one of 12 other countries and territories. Seventeen of the 3481 total species have been introduced to South America. In addition, 106 of the species are vagrants to the continent, with only a few records, and some have made only a single appearance. Twenty-nine species have been recorded in all 18 countries and territories addressed here.^[2]

The list includes birds confirmed in mainland South America, islands within 1200 km of its Atlantic and Pacific coasts, and the Caribbean countries and territories of Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, and Trinidad and Tobago. Major offshore entities include the Falkland Islands (Islas las Malvinas), the Galápagos Islands, and the Juan Fernandez Islands. Waters within 200 nautical miles of these lands are also included.^[1]

Unless otherwise noted, the list of species is that of the South American Classification Committee (SACC) of the American Ornithological Society (AOS). The list's taxonomy (names and sequence of orders, families, and species) is also that of the SACC unless noted otherwise. The list does not include domestic birds or escaped and introduced species which do not have established populations. It also does not include the results of species splits and other changes which have been accepted by the SACC but not finalized.^[1]

The following tags annotate many species:

Rheas

Order: Rheiiformes   Family: Rheidae

The rheas are large flightless birds native to South America. Their feet have three toes rather than four which allows them to run faster.

• Greater rhea, Rhea americana (E-SA)
• Lesser rhea
  , Rhea pennata (E-SA)

Tinamous

Order:

The tinamous are one of the most ancient groups of bird. Although they look similar to other ground-dwelling birds like quail and grouse, they have no close relatives and are classified as a single family, Tinamidae, within their own order, the Tinamiformes.

• 
  Solitary tinamou
• 
  Cinereous tinamou
• 
  Tataupa tinamou
• 
  Andean tinamou
• 
  Patagonian tinamou

Screamers

Order:

The screamers are a small family of birds related to the ducks. They are large, bulky birds, with a small downy head, long legs, and large feet which are only partially webbed. They have large spurs on their wings which are used in fights over mates and in territorial disputes.

• Horned screamer, Anhima cornuta (E-SA)
• Southern screamer, Chauna torquata (E-SA)
• Northern screamer, Chauna chavaria (E-SA)

Ducks

Order: Anseriformes   Family: Anatidae

Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, flattened bills, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating.

• 
  Black-necked swan
• 
  Andean goose
• 
  Torrent duck
• 
  Red shoveler
• 
  Brazilian merganser

Guans

Order: Galliformes   Family: Cracidae

The Cracidae are large birds, similar in general appearance to turkeys. The guans and curassows live in trees, but the smaller chachalacas are found in more open scrubby habitats. They are generally dull-plumaged, but the curassows and some guans have colorful facial ornaments.

• 
  Marail guan
• 
  Spix's guan
• 
  Black-fronted piping-guan
• 
  Speckled chachalaca
• 
  Helmeted curassow

New World quails

Order:

The New World quails are small, plump terrestrial birds only distantly related to the quails of the Old World, but named for their similar appearance and habits.

• Tawny-faced quail, Rhynchortyx cinctus
• Crested bobwhite, Colinus cristatus
• California quail, Callipepla californica (I)
• Marbled wood-quail
  , Odontophorus gujanensis
• Spot-winged wood-quail
  , Odontophorus capueira (E-SA)
• Black-fronted wood-quail
  , Odontophorus atrifrons (E-SA)
• Rufous-fronted wood-quail
  , Odontophorus erythrops (E-SA)
• Chestnut wood-quail
  , Odontophorus hyperythrus (E-CO)
• Dark-backed wood-quail
  , Odontophorus melanonotus (E-SA)
• Rufous-breasted wood-quail
  , Odontophorus speciosus (E-SA)
• Tacarcuna wood-quail
  , Odontophorus dialeucos
• Gorgeted wood-quail
  , Odontophorus strophium (E-CO)
• Venezuelan wood-quail
  , Odontophorus columbianus (E-VE)
• Stripe-faced wood-quail
  , Odontophorus balliviani (E-SA)
• Starred wood-quail
  , Odontophorus stellatus (E-SA)

Pheasants

Order: Galliformes   Family: Phasianidae

Phasianidae consists of the pheasants and their allies. These are terrestrial species, variable in size but generally plump with broad relatively short wings. Many species are gamebirds or have been domesticated as a food source for humans.

• Ring-necked pheasant
  , Phasianus colchicus (I)
• Silver pheasant, Lophura nycthemera (I)

Flamingos

Order:

Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually 3 to 5 feet (0.9 to 1.5 m) tall, found in both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. Flamingos filter-feed on shellfish and algae. Their oddly shaped beaks are specially adapted to separate mud and silt from the food they consume and, uniquely, are used upside-down.

• Chilean flamingo, Phoenicopterus chilensis (E-SA)
• American flamingo, Phoenicopterus ruber
• Andean flamingo, Phoenicoparrus andinus (E-SA)
• James's flamingo, Phoenicoparrus jamesi (E-SA)

Grebes

Order:

Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land.

• White-tufted grebe, Rollandia rolland (E-SA)
• Titicaca grebe, Rollandia microptera (E-SA)
• Least grebe, Tachybaptus dominicus
• Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps (All)
• Great grebe, Podiceps major (E-SA)
• Colombian grebe, Podiceps andinus (E-CO) (extinct)
• Silvery grebe, Podiceps occipitalis (E-SA)
• Junin grebe, Podiceps taczanowskii (E-PE)
• Hooded grebe, Podiceps gallardoi (E-AR)

Pigeons

Order:

cere

.

• 
  Picazuro pigeon
• 
  Peruvian pigeon
• 
  Ochre-bellied dove
• 
  Long-tailed ground dove
• 
  Croaking ground dove

Cuckoos

Order:

The family Cuculidae includes

. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails and strong legs.

Oilbird

Order:

The oilbird is a slim, long-winged bird related to the nightjars. It is nocturnal and a specialist feeder on the fruit of the

.

• Oilbird, Steatornis caripensis

Potoos

Order:

The potoos (sometimes called poor-me-ones) are large near passerine birds related to the nightjars and frogmouths. They are nocturnal insectivores which lack the bristles around the mouth found in the true nightjars.

• Rufous potoo, Phyllaemulor bracteatus (E-SA)
• Great potoo, Nyctibius grandis
• Long-tailed potoo, Nyctibius aethereus (E-SA)
• Common potoo, Nyctibius griseus
• Andean potoo, Nyctibius maculosus (E-SA)
• White-winged potoo, Nyctibius leucopterus (E-SA)

Nightjars

Order:

Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs, and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is camouflaged to resemble bark or leaves.

• 
  Nacunda nighthawk
• 
  Blackish nightjar
• 
  White-winged nightjar
• 
  Long-trained nightjar
• 
  Silky-tailed nightjar

Swifts

Order:

Swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang.

Hummingbirds

Order:

Hummingbirds are small birds capable of hovering in mid-air due to the rapid flapping of their wings. They are the only birds that can fly backwards.

• 
  Crimson topaz
• 
  Buff-bellied hermit
• 
  Geoffroy's daggerbill
• 
  Sparkling violetear
• 
  Amethyst-throated sunangel
• 
  Ecuadorian hillstar
• 
  Golden-breasted puffleg
• 
  Glittering-bellied emerald
• 
  Swallow-tailed hummingbird
• 
  Giant hummingbird
• 
  Tufted coquette
• 
  Violet-tailed sylph
• 
  Sword-billed hummingbird
• 
  Purple-throated woodstar
• 
  Versicolored emerald

Hoatzin

Order:

The hoatzin is pheasant-sized, but much slimmer. It has a long tail and neck, but a small head with an unfeathered blue face and red eyes which are topped by a spiky crest. It is a weak flier which is found in the swamps of the Amazon and Orinoco rivers.

• Hoatzin, Opisthocomus hoazin (E-SA)

Limpkin

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Aramidae

The limpkin resembles a large rail. It has drab-brown plumage and a grayer head and neck.

• Limpkin, Aramus guarauna

Trumpeters

Order:

The trumpeters are dumpy birds with long necks and legs and chicken-like bills. They are named for the trumpeting call of the male

• Gray-winged trumpeter
  , Psophia crepitans (E-SA)
• Pale-winged trumpeter, Psophia leucoptera (E-SA)
• Dark-winged trumpeter, Psophia viridis (E-BR)

Rails

Order:

Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the

. Typically they inhabit dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps, or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak fliers.

• 
  Bogota rail
• 
  Azure gallinule
• 
  Rufous-sided crake
• 
  Giant wood-rail
• 
  Red-gartered coot

Finfoots

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Heliornithidae

Heliornithidae is a small family of tropical birds with webbed lobes on their feet similar to those of grebes and coots.

• Sungrebe, Heliornis fulica

Plovers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Charadriidae

The family Charadriidae includes the

. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short thick necks, and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water.

Oystercatchers

Order:

The

.

• American oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus
• Blackish oystercatcher, Haematopus ater (E-SA)
• Magellanic oystercatcher, Haematopus leucopodus (E-SA)

Avocets and stilts

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Recurvirostridae

Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills.

• Black-necked stilt, Himantopus mexicanus (All)
• American avocet, Recurvirostra americana (V)
• Andean avocet, Recurvirostra andina (E-SA)

Thick-knees

Order:

The thick-knees are a group of waders found worldwide within the tropical zone, with some species also breeding in temperate Europe and Australia. They are medium to large waders with strong black or yellow-black bills, large yellow eyes, and cryptic plumage. Despite being classed as waders, most species have a preference for arid or semi-arid habitats.

• Double-striped thick-knee, Hesperoburhinus bistriatus
• Peruvian thick-knee, Hesperoburhinus superciliaris (E-SA)

Sheathbills

Order:

The sheathbills are scavengers of the Antarctic regions. They have white plumage and look plump and dove-like but are believed to be similar to the ancestors of the modern gulls and terns.

• Snowy sheathbill, Chionis albus

Magellanic plover

Order:

The Magellanic plover is a rare wader found only in southernmost South America. In its build and habits it is similar to a turnstone. Its upperparts and breast are pale gray and the rest of the underparts are white. It has short red legs, a black bill and a red eye. In young birds, the eyes and legs are yellowish.

• Magellanic plover, Pluvianellus socialis (E-SA)

Sandpipers

Order:

Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers, and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Variation in length of legs and bills enables multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.

• 
  Upland sandpiper
• 
  Red knot
• 
  Giant snipe
• 
  Red phalarope
• 
  Willet

Seedsnipes

Order:

The seedsnipes are a small family of birds that superficially resemble sparrows. They have short legs and long wings and are herbivorous waders.

• Rufous-bellied seedsnipe, Attagis gayi (E-SA)
• White-bellied seedsnipe, Attagis malouinus (E-SA)
• Gray-breasted seedsnipe
  , Thinocorus orbignyianus (E-SA)
• Least seedsnipe, Thinocorus rumicivorus (E-SA)

Jacanas

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Jacanidae

The jacanas are a family of waders found throughout the tropics. They are identifiable by their huge feet and claws which enable them to walk on floating vegetation in the shallow lakes that are their preferred habitat.

• Wattled jacana, Jacana jacana

Painted-snipes

Order:

Painted-snipes are short-legged, long-billed birds similar in shape to the true snipes, but more brightly colored.

• South American painted-snipe, Nycticryphes semicollaris (E-SA)

Pratincoles and coursers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Glareolidae

Glareolidae is a family of wading birds comprising the pratincoles, which have short legs, long pointed wings and long forked tails, and the coursers, which have long legs, short wings and long, pointed bills which curve downwards.

• Collared pratincole, Glareola pratincola (V)

Skuas

Order:

The family Stercorariidae are, in general, medium to large birds, typically with gray or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They nest on the ground in temperate and arctic regions and are long-distance migrants.

• Great skua, Stercorarius skua (V)
• Chilean skua, Stercorarius chilensis (E-SA)
• South polar skua, Stercorarius maccormicki
• Brown skua, Stercorarius antarcticus
• Pomarine jaeger, Stercorarius pomarinus
• Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus
• Long-tailed jaeger, Stercorarius longicaudus

Skimmers

Order:

Skimmers are a small family of tropical tern-like birds. They have an elongated lower mandible which they use to feed by flying low over the water surface and skimming the water for small fish.

• Black skimmer, Rynchops niger

Gulls

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Laridae

Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds and includes gulls and terns. Gulls are typically gray or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have longish bills and webbed feet. Terns are a group of generally medium to large seabirds typically with gray or white plumage, often with black markings on the head. Most terns hunt fish by diving but some pick insects off the surface of fresh water. Terns are generally long-lived birds, with several species known to live in excess of 30 years.

• 
  Swallow-tailed gull
• 
  Andean gull
• 
  Olrog's gull
• 
  Inca tern
• 
  South American tern

Sunbittern

Order:

The sunbittern is a bittern-like bird of tropical regions of the Americas and the sole member of the family Eurypygidae (sometimes spelled Eurypigidae) and genus Eurypyga.

• Sunbittern, Eurypyga helias

Tropicbirds

Order:

Tropicbirds are slender white birds of tropical oceans, with exceptionally long central tail feathers. Their heads and long wings have black markings.

• Red-billed tropicbird, Phaethon aethereus
• Red-tailed tropicbird, Phaethon rubricauda (V)
• White-tailed tropicbird, Phaethon lepturus

Penguins

Order:

The penguins are a group of aquatic, flightless birds living almost exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere. Most penguins feed on krill, fish, squid, and other forms of sealife caught while swimming underwater.

• King penguin, Aptenodytes patagonicus
• Emperor penguin, Aptenodytes forsteri (V)
• Gentoo penguin, Pygoscelis papua
• Chinstrap penguin, Pygoscelis antarcticus
• Little penguin, Eudyptula minor (V)
• Humboldt penguin, Spheniscus humboldti (E-SA)
• Galapagos penguin, Spheniscus mendiculus (E-GA)
• Magellanic penguin, Spheniscus magellanicus (E-SA)
• Erect-crested penguin, Eudyptes sclateri (V)
• Macaroni penguin, Eudyptes chrysolophus
• Tristan penguin
  , Eudyptes moseleyi (V)
• Rockhopper penguin, Eudyptes chrysocome
• Snares penguin, Eudyptes robustus (V)

Albatrosses

Order:

The albatrosses are among the largest of flying birds, and the great albatrosses from the genus Diomedea have the largest wingspans of any extant birds.

Southern storm-petrels

Order:

The storm-petrels are the smallest seabirds, relatives of the petrels, feeding on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like. Until 2018, this family's species were included with the other storm-petrels in family Hydrobatidae.

• White-bellied storm-petrel
  , Fregetta grallaria
• Black-bellied storm-petrel
  , Fregetta tropica
• Wilson's storm-petrel
  , Oceanites oceanicus
• Pincoya storm-petrel
  , Oceanites pincoyae (E-SA)
• Elliot's storm-petrel
  , Oceanites gracilis
• Gray-backed storm-petrel
  , Garrodia nereis
• White-faced storm-petrel
  , Pelagodroma marina

Northern storm-petrels

Order:

Though the members of this family are similar in many respects to the southern storm-petrels, including their general appearance and habits, there are enough genetic differences to warrant their placement in a separate family.

• Least storm-petrel
  , Hydrobates microsoma
• Wedge-rumped storm-petrel
  , Hydrobates tethys
• Band-rumped storm-petrel
  , Hydrobates castro
• Leach's storm-petrel
  , Hydrobates leucorhous
• Markham's storm-petrel
  , Hydrobates markhami
• Hornby's storm-petrel
  , Hydrobates hornbyi
• Black storm-petrel
  , Hydrobates melania

Shearwaters

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Procellariidae

The procellariids are the main group of medium-sized "true petrels", characterized by united nostrils with medium septum and a long outer functional primary.

• 
  Southern giant-petrel
• 
  Soft-plumaged petrel
• 
  Galapagos petrel
• 
  Pink-footed shearwater
• 
  Peruvian diving-petrel

Storks

Order:

Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked wading birds with long, stout bills. Storks are mute, but bill-clattering is an important mode of communication at the nest. Their nests can be large and may be reused for many years. Many species are migratory.

• Maguari stork, Ciconia maguari (E-SA)
• Jabiru, Jabiru mycteria
• Wood stork, Mycteria americana

Frigatebirds

Order:

Frigatebirds are large seabirds usually found over tropical oceans. They are large, black-and-white or completely black, with long wings and deeply forked tails. The males have colored inflatable throat pouches. They do not swim or walk and cannot take off from a flat surface. Having the largest wingspan-to-body-weight ratio of any bird, they are essentially aerial, able to stay aloft for more than a week.

• Lesser frigatebird, Fregata ariel
• Ascension frigatebird, Fregata aquila (V)
• Magnificent frigatebird, Fregata magnificens
• Great frigatebird, Fregata minor

Boobies

Order: Suliformes   Family: Sulidae

The sulids comprise the gannets and boobies. Both groups are medium to large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish.

• Cape gannet, Morus capensis (V)
• Australasian gannet, Morus serrator (V)
• Blue-footed booby, Sula nebouxii
• Peruvian booby, Sula variegata (E-SA)
• Masked booby, Sula dactylatra
• Nazca booby, Sula granti
• Red-footed booby, Sula sula
• Brown booby, Sula leucogaster

Anhingas

Order:

are often called "snake-birds" because of their long thin neck, which gives a snake-like appearance when they swim with their bodies submerged. The males have black and dark-brown plumage, an erectile crest on the nape, and a larger bill than the female. The females have much paler plumage especially on the neck and underparts. The darters have completely webbed feet and their legs are short and set far back on the body. Their plumage is somewhat permeable, like that of cormorants, and they spread their wings to dry after diving.

• Anhinga, Anhinga anhinga

Cormorants

Order:

Phalacrocoracidae is a family of medium to large coastal, fish-eating seabirds that includes cormorants and shags. Plumage coloration varies, with the majority having mainly dark plumage, some species being black-and-white, and a few being colorful.

• Red-legged cormorant, Phalacrocorax gaimardi (E-SA)
• Flightless cormorant, Phalacrocorax harrisi (E-GA)
• Neotropic cormorant, Phalacrocorax brasilianus (All)
• Magellanic cormorant
  , Phalacrocorax magellanicus (E-SA)
• Guanay cormorant, Phalacrocorax bougainvillii (E-SA)
• Imperial cormorant
  , Phalacrocorax atriceps (E-SA)

Pelicans

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Pelecanidae

Pelicans are large water birds with a distinctive pouch under their beak. As with other members of the order Pelecaniformes, they have webbed feet with four toes.

• Brown pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis
• Peruvian pelican, Pelecanus thagus (E-SA)

Herons

Order:

The family Ardeidae contains the bitterns, herons, and egrets. Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and more wary. Members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted, unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises, and spoonbills.

Ibises

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Threskiornithidae

Threskiornithidae is a family of large terrestrial and wading birds which includes the ibises and spoonbills. They have long, broad wings with 11 primary and about 20 secondary feathers. They are strong fliers and despite their size and weight, very capable soarers.

New World vultures

Order:

The

.

• King vulture, Sarcoramphus papa
• Andean condor, Vultur gryphus (E-SA)
• Black vulture, Coragyps atratus
• Turkey vulture, Cathartes aura
• Lesser yellow-headed vulture, Cathartes burrovianus
• Greater yellow-headed vulture, Cathartes melambrotus (E-SA)

Osprey

Order:

The family Pandionidae contains only one species, the osprey. The osprey is a medium-large raptor which is a specialist fish-eater with a worldwide distribution.

• Osprey, Pandion haliaetus

Hawks

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Accipitridae

Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey, which includes hawks, eagles, kites, harriers, and Old World vultures. These birds have powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons, and keen eyesight.

• 
  Black-and-chestnut eagle
• 
  Cinereous harrier
• 
  Rufous crab hawk
• 
  Chaco eagle
• 
  Black-faced hawk

Barn owls

Order:

Barn owls are medium to large owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons.

• Barn owl, Tyto alba

Owls

Order:

The

are small to large solitary nocturnal birds of prey. They have large forward-facing eyes and ears, a hawk-like beak, and a conspicuous circle of feathers around each eye called a facial disk.

• 
  Rufescent screech-owl
• 
  Tawny-browed owl
• 
  Black-banded owl
• 
  Amazonian pygmy-owl
• 
  Buff-fronted owl

Trogons

Order:

The family Trogonidae includes trogons and quetzals. Found in tropical woodlands worldwide, they feed on insects and fruit, and their broad bills and weak legs reflect their diet and arboreal habits. Although their flight is fast, they are reluctant to fly any distance. Trogons have soft, often colorful, feathers with distinctive male and female plumage.

• Pavonine quetzal, Pharomachrus pavoninus (E-SA)
• Golden-headed quetzal, Pharomachrus auriceps
• White-tipped quetzal, Pharomachrus fulgidus (E-SA)
• Crested quetzal, Pharomachrus antisianus (E-SA)
• Slaty-tailed trogon, Trogon massena
• Blue-tailed trogon, Trogon comptus (E-SA)
• Ecuadorian trogon, Trogon mesurus (E-SA)
• Black-tailed trogon, Trogon melanurus
• White-tailed trogon, Trogon chionurus
• Green-backed trogon, Trogon viridis
• Gartered violaceous-trogon, Trogon caligatus
• Amazonian violaceous-trogon, Trogon ramonianus (E-SA)
• Guianan violaceous-trogon, Trogon violaceus (E-SA)
• Blue-crowned trogon, Trogon curucui (E-SA)
• Surucua trogon, Trogon surrucura (E-SA)
• Graceful black-throated trogon, Trogon tenellus
• Kerr's black-throated trogon, Trogon cupreicauda (E-SA)
• Amazonian black-throated trogon, Trogon rufus (E-SA)
• Atlantic black-throated trogon, Trogon chrysochloros (E-SA)
• Collared trogon, Trogon collaris
• Masked trogon, Trogon personatus (E-SA)

Motmots

Order:

The motmots have colorful plumage and long, graduated tails which they display by waggling back and forth. In most of the species, the barbs near the ends of the two longest (central) tail feathers are weak and fall off, leaving a length of bare shaft and creating a racket-shaped tail.

• Tody motmot, Hylomanes momotula
• Broad-billed motmot, Electron platyrhynchum
• Rufous motmot, Baryphthengus martii
• Rufous-capped motmot, Baryphthengus ruficapillus
• Whooping motmot, Momotus subrufescens
• Trinidad motmot, Momotus bahamensis (E-TT)
• Amazonian motmot, Momotus momota (E-SA)
• Andean motmot, Momotus aequatorialis (E-SA)

Kingfishers

Order:

Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long pointed bills, short legs, and stubby tails.

• Ringed kingfisher, Megaceryle torquata
• Belted kingfisher, Megaceryle alcyon
• Amazon kingfisher, Chloroceryle amazona
• American pygmy kingfisher, Chloroceryle aenea
• Green kingfisher, Chloroceryle americana
• Green-and-rufous kingfisher, Chloroceryle inda

Jacamars

Order:

The jacamars are near passerine birds from tropical South America with a range that extends up to Mexico. They feed on insects caught on the wing and are glossy, elegant birds with long bills and tails. They resemble the Old World

, although they are more closely related to puffbirds.

• White-eared jacamar, Galbalcyrhynchus leucotis (E-SA)
• Purus jacamar, Galbalcyrhynchus purusianus (E-SA)
• White-throated jacamar, Brachygalba albogularis (E-SA)
• Brown jacamar, Brachygalba lugubris (E-SA)
• Pale-headed jacamar, Brachygalba goeringi (E-SA)
• Dusky-backed jacamar, Brachygalba salmoni
• Three-toed jacamar, Jacamaralcyon tridactyla (E-BR)
• Yellow-billed jacamar, Galbula albirostris (E-SA)
• Blue-cheeked jacamar
  , Galbula cyanicollis (E-SA)
• Rufous-tailed jacamar, Galbula ruficauda
• Green-tailed jacamar, Galbula galbula (E-SA)
• White-chinned jacamar, Galbula tombacea (E-SA)
• Bluish-fronted jacamar, Galbula cyanescens (E-SA)
• Coppery-chested jacamar, Galbula pastazae (E-SA)
• Purplish jacamar, Galbula chalcothorax (E-SA)
• Bronzy jacamar, Galbula leucogastra (E-SA)
• Paradise jacamar, Galbula dea (E-SA)
• Great jacamar, Jacamerops aureus

Puffbirds

Order:

The puffbirds are related to the jacamars and have the same range, but lack the iridescent colors of that family. They are mainly brown, rufous, or gray, with large heads and flattened bills with hooked tips. The loose abundant plumage and short tails makes them look stout and puffy, giving rise to the English common name of the family.

New World barbets

Order:

The barbets are plump birds, with short necks and large heads. They get their name from the bristles which fringe their heavy bills. Most species are brightly colored.

• Scarlet-crowned barbet, Capito aurovirens (E-SA)
• Black-girdled barbet, Capito dayi (E-SA)
• Spot-crowned barbet, Capito maculicoronatus
• Orange-fronted barbet, Capito squamatus (E-SA)
• White-mantled barbet, Capito hypoleucus (E-CO)
• Scarlet-banded barbet, Capito wallacei (E-PE)
• Five-colored barbet, Capito quinticolor (E-SA)
• Brown-chested barbet, Capito brunneipectus (E-BR)
• Black-spotted barbet, Capito niger (E-SA)
• Gilded barbet, Capito auratus (E-SA)
• Lemon-throated barbet, Eubucco richardsoni (E-SA)
• Scarlet-hooded barbet, Eubucco tucinkae (E-SA)
• Red-headed barbet, Eubucco bourcierii
• Versicolored barbet, Eubucco versicolor (E-SA)

Toucan barbet

Order:

The toucan barbets are birds of montane forests in the Neotropics. They are highly social and non-migratory.

• Toucan barbet, Semnornis ramphastinus (E-SA)

Toucans

Order:

Toucans are near passerine birds from the

. They are brightly marked and have enormous, colorful bills which in some species amount to half their body length.

• 
  Red-breasted toucan
• 
  Crimson-rumped toucanet
• 
  Many-banded aracari

Woodpeckers

Order:

Woodpeckers are small to medium-sized birds with chisel-like beaks, short legs, stiff tails, and long tongues used for capturing insects. Some species have feet with two toes pointing forward and two backward, while several species have only three toes. Many woodpeckers have the habit of tapping noisily on tree trunks with their beaks.

• 
  Ecuadorian piculet
• 
  Golden-collared woodpecker
• 
  Magellanic woodpecker
• 
  Rufous-headed woodpecker
• 
  Andean flicker

Seriemas

Order:

The seriemas are terrestrial birds which run rather than fly (though they are able to fly for short distances). They have long legs, necks and tails, but only short wings, reflecting their way of life. They are brownish birds with short bills and erectile crests, found on fairly-dry open grasslands.

• Red-legged seriema, Cariama cristata (E-SA)
• Black-legged seriema, Chunga burmeisteri (E-SA)

Falcons

Order: Falconiformes   Family: Falconidae

Falconidae is a family of diurnal birds of prey. They differ from hawks, eagles and kites in that they kill with their beaks instead of their talons.

Old World parrots

Order:

Characteristic features of parrots include a strong curved bill, an upright stance, strong legs, and clawed

zygodactyl

feet. Many parrots are vividly colored, and some are multi-colored. In size they range from 8 cm (3.1 in) to 1 m (3.3 ft) in length. Old World parrots are found from Africa east across south and southeast Asia and Oceania to Australia and New Zealand.

• Rose-ringed parakeet, Psittacula krameri (I)

New World and African parrots

Order:

Parrots are small to large birds with a characteristic curved beak. Their upper mandibles have slight mobility in the joint with the skull and they have a generally erect stance. All parrots are zygodactyl, having the four toes on each foot placed two at the front and two to the back.

• 
  Scarlet-shouldered parrotlet
• 
  Tui parakeet
• 
  Pileated parrot
• 
  Orange-cheeked parrot
• 
  Yellow-faced parrot
• 
  Turquoise-fronted parrot
• 
  Painted parakeet
• 
  White-breasted parakeets
• 
  Blue-headed macaw
• 
  Mitred parakeet

Sapayoa

Order:

The sapayoa is the only member of its family, and is found in the lowland rainforests of Panama and north-western South America. It is usually seen in pairs or mixed-species flocks.

• Sapayoa, Sapayoa aenigma

Antbirds

Order:

The antbirds are a large family of small passerine birds of subtropical and tropical Central and South America. They are forest birds which tend to feed on insects at or near the ground. A sizable minority of them specialize in following columns of army ants to eat small invertebrates that leave their hiding places to flee from the ants. Many species lack bright color, with brown, black, and white being the dominant tones.

• 
  Ash-winged antwren
• 
  White-bearded antshrike
• 
  Collared antshrike
• 
  Bolivian slaty-antshrike
• 
  Amazonian antshrike
• 
  Black bushbird
• 
  White-streaked antvireo
• 
  Rufous-bellied antwren
• 
  Brown-belllied stipplethroat
• 
  Stripe-backed antbird
• 
  Spot-backed antwren
• 
  White-shouldered fire-eye
• 
  Ferruginous-backed antbird
• 
  Hairy-crested antbird
• 
  Dot-backed antbird

Crescentchests

Order:

These are smallish birds which inhabit regions of arid scrub. They have a band across the chest which gives them their name.

• Collared crescentchest, Melanopareia torquata (E-SA)
• Olive-crowned crescentchest, Melanopareia maximiliani (E-SA)
• Marañon crescentchest
  , Melanopareia maranonica (E-SA)
• Elegant crescentchest, Melanopareia elegans (E-SA)

Gnateaters

Order:

The gnateaters are round, short-tailed and long-legged birds, which are closely related to the antbirds.

• Black-crowned antpitta, Pittasoma michleri
• Rufous-crowned antpitta, Pittasoma rufopileatum (E-SA)
• Black-bellied gnateater, Conopophaga melanogaster (E-BR)
• Black-cheeked gnateater, Conopophaga melanops (E-BR)
• Chestnut-belted gnateater, Conopophaga aurita (E-SA)
• Ash-throated gnateater, Conopophaga peruviana (E-SA)
• Ceara gnateater
  , Conopophaga cearae (E-BR)
• Hooded gnateater, Conopophaga roberti (E-BR)
• Rufous gnateater, Conopophaga lineata (E-SA)
• Chestnut-crowned gnateater, Conopophaga castaneiceps (E-SA)
• Slaty gnateater, Conopophaga ardesiaca (E-SA)

Antpittas

Order:

Antpittas resemble the true

with strong, longish legs, very short tails and stout bills.

• 
  Moustached andpitta
• 
  Jocotoco antpitta
• 
  Rufous antpitta
• 
  Spotted antpitta
• 
  Rusty-breasted antpitta

Tapaculos

Order:

The tapaculos are small

passeriform birds with numerous species in South and Central America. They are terrestrial species that fly only poorly on their short wings. They have strong legs, well-suited to their habitat of grassland or forest undergrowth. The tail is cocked and pointed towards the head.

• 
  Ocellated tapaculo
• 
  Trilling tapaculo
• 
  Long-tailed tapaculo
• 
  Magellanic tapaculo
• 
  Diademed tapaculo

Antthrushes

Order:

Antthrushes resemble small rails.

Ovenbirds

Order:

Ovenbirds comprise a large family of small

passerine bird species found in Central and South America. They are a diverse group of insectivores which gets its name from the elaborate "oven-like" clay nests built by some species, although others build stick nests or nest in tunnels or clefts in rock. The woodcreepers are brownish birds which maintain an upright vertical posture, supported by their stiff tail vanes. They feed mainly on insects taken from tree trunks.

• 
  Rufous-breasted leaftosser
• 
  Rufous-banded miner
• 
  Planalto woodcreeper
• 
  Great rufous woodcreeper
• 
  Curve-billed scythebill
• 
  Inambari woodcreeper
• 
  Streaked tuftedcheek
• 
  Pale-legged hornero
• 
  Curve-billed reedhaunter
• 
  Cream-winged cinclodes
• 
  Canebrake groundcreeper
• 
  Pearled treerunner
• 
  Orange-breasted thornbird
• 
  Tepui spinetail
• 
  Hoary-throated spinetail

Manakins

Order:

The manakins are a family of subtropical and tropical mainland Central and South America, and Trinidad and Tobago. They are compact forest birds, the males typically being brightly colored, although the females of most species are duller and usually green-plumaged. Manakins feed on small fruits, berries and insects.

• 
  Tiny tyrant-manakin
• 
  Blue-backed manakin
• 
  White-fronted manakin
• 
  Crimson-hooded manakin
• 
  Round-tailed manakin

Cotingas

Order:

The cotingas are birds of forests or forest edges in tropical South America. Comparatively little is known about this diverse group, although all have broad bills with hooked tips, rounded wings, and strong legs. The males of many of the species are brightly colored or decorated with plumes or wattles.

• 
  Green-and-black fruiteater
• 
  Red-banded fruiteater
• 
  Swallow-tailed cotinga
• 
  Red-ruffed fruitcrow
• 
  Pompadour cotinga

Tityras

Order:

Tityridae are

Cotingidae

. They are small to medium-sized birds. They do not have the sophisticated vocal capabilities of the songbirds. Most, but not all, have plain coloring.

• 
  Varzea schiffornis
• 
  White-naped xenopsaris
• 
  Pink-throated becard

Sharpbill

Order:

The sharpbill is a small bird of dense forests in Central and South America. It feeds mostly on fruit but also eats insects.

• Sharpbill, Oxyruncus cristatus

Royal flycatchers

Order:

In 2019 the SACC determined that these five species, which were formerly considered tyrant flycatchers, belonged in their own family.

• Royal flycatcher, Onychorhynchus coronatus
• Ruddy-tailed flycatcher, Terenotriccus erythrurus
• Tawny-breasted flycatcher
  , Myiobius villosus
• Sulphur-rumped flycatcher
  , Myiobius barbatus
• Black-tailed flycatcher
  , Myiobius atricaudus

Tyrant flycatchers

Order:

Tyrant flycatchers are passerine birds which occur throughout North and South America. They superficially resemble the Old World flycatchers, but are more robust and have stronger bills. They do not have the sophisticated vocal capabilities of the songbirds. Most, but not all, have plain coloring. As the name implies, most are insectivorous.

• 
  Cinnamon manakin-tyrant
• 
  Marble-faced bristle-tyrant
• 
  Bay-ringed tyrannulet
• 
  Rufous-breasted flycatcher
• 
  Long-crested pygmy-tyrant
• 
  Zimmer's tody-tyrant
• 
  Ochre-faced tody-flycatcher
• 
  Red-billed tyrannulet
• 
  Greater wagtail-tyrant
• 
  White-crested elaenia
• 
  Greenish tyrannulet
• 
  Black-crested tit-tyrant
• 
  White-throated kingbird
• 
  D'Orbigny's chat-tyrant
• 
  White monjita

Vireos

Order:

The vireos are a group of small to medium-sized passerine birds. They are typically greenish in color and resemble wood warblers apart from their heavier bills.

• 
  Gray-chested greenlet
• 
  Rufous-naped greenlet
• 
  Noronha vireo

Jays

Order:

The family Corvidae includes crows, ravens, jays, choughs, magpies, treepies, nutcrackers, and ground jays. Corvids are above average in size among the Passeriformes, and some of the larger species show high levels of intelligence.

• Black-collared jay, Cyanolyca armillata (E-SA)
• White-collared jay, Cyanolyca viridicyanus (E-SA)
• Turquoise jay, Cyanolyca turcosa (E-SA)
• Beautiful jay, Cyanolyca pulchra (E-SA)
• Violaceous jay, Cyanocorax violaceus (E-SA)
• Purplish jay, Cyanocorax cyanomelas (E-SA)
• Azure jay, Cyanocorax caeruleus (E-SA)
• Curl-crested jay, Cyanocorax cristatellus (E-SA)
• Black-chested jay, Cyanocorax affinis
• White-tailed jay, Cyanocorax mystacalis (E-SA)
• Cayenne jay, Cyanocorax cayanus (E-SA)
• Azure-naped jay, Cyanocorax heilprini (E-SA)
• Plush-crested jay, Cyanocorax chrysops (E-SA)
• White-naped jay, Cyanocorax cyanopogon (E-BR)
• Green jay, Cyanocorax yncas

Larks

Order:

Larks are small terrestrial birds with often extravagant songs and display flights. Most larks are fairly dull in appearance. Their food is insects and seeds.

• Horned lark, Eremophila alpestris

Swallows

Order:

The family Hirundinidae is adapted to aerial feeding. They have a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings, and a short bill with a wide gape. The feet are adapted to perching rather than walking, and the front toes are partially joined at the base.

• 
  Brown-bellied swallow
• 
  Southern martin
• 
  White-rumped swallow

Wrens

Order:

The wrens are mainly small and inconspicuous except for their loud songs. These birds have short wings and thin down-turned bills. Several species often hold their tails upright. All are insectivorous.

• 
  Tooth-billed wren
• 
  Fasciated wren
• 
  Moustached wren
• 
  Rufous wren
• 
  Munchique wood-wren

Gnatcatchers

Order:

These dainty birds resemble

in their build and habits, moving restlessly through the foliage seeking insects. The gnatcatchers and gnatwrens are mainly soft bluish gray in color and have the typical insectivore's long sharp bill. They are birds of fairly open woodland or scrub, which nest in bushes or trees.

Donacobius

Order:

The black-capped donacobius is found in wet habitats from Panama across northern South America and east of the Andes to Argentina and Paraguay.

• Black-capped donacobius, Donacobius atricapilla

Dippers

Order:

Dippers are a group of perching birds whose habitat includes aquatic environments in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. They are named for their bobbing or dipping movements.

• White-capped dipper, Cinclus leucocephalus (E-SA)
• Rufous-throated dipper, Cinclus schulzii (E-SA)

Waxwings

Order:

The waxwings are a group of birds with soft silky plumage and unique red tips to some of the wing feathers. In the Bohemian and cedar waxwings, these tips look like sealing wax and give the group its name. These are arboreal birds of northern forests. They live on insects in summer and berries in winter.

• Cedar waxwing, Bombycilla cedrorum (V)

Thrushes

Order:

The thrushes are a group of passerine birds that occur mainly in the Old World. They are plump, soft plumaged, small to medium-sized insectivores or sometimes omnivores, often feeding on the ground. Many have attractive songs.

• 
  Andean solitaire
• 
  Austral thrush
• 
  Rufous-bellied thrush
• 
  Creamy-bellied thrush
• 
  Glossy-black thrush

Old World flycatchers

Order:

Old World flycatchers are a large group of small passerine birds native to the Old World. They are mainly small arboreal insectivores. The appearance of these birds is highly varied, but they mostly have weak songs and harsh calls.

• Northern wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe (V)

Mockingbirds

Order:

The mimids are a family of passerine birds that includes

. These birds are notable for their vocalizations, especially their ability to mimic a wide variety of birds and other sounds heard outdoors. Their coloring tends towards dull-grays and browns.

Starlings

Order:

Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds. Their flight is strong and direct and they are very gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country. They eat insects and fruit. Plumage is typically dark with a metallic sheen.

• Crested myna, Acridotheres cristatellus (I)
• European starling
  , Sturnus vulgaris (I)

Weavers

Order:

The weavers are small passerine birds related to the finches. They are seed-eating birds with rounded conical bills. The males of many species are brightly colored, usually in red or yellow and black, some species show variation in color only in the breeding season.

• Village weaver, Ploceus cucullatus (I)
• African masked weaver
  , Ploceus velatus (I)

Estreldids

Order:

The

. They are gregarious and often colonial seed eaters with short thick but pointed bills. They are all similar in structure and habits, but have a wide variation in plumage colors and patterns.

• Common waxbill, Estrilda astrild (I)
• Tricolored munia
  , Lonchura malacca (I)
• Java sparrow, Lonchura oryzivora (I)

Old World sparrows

Order:

Old World sparrows are small passerine birds. In general, sparrows tend to be small, plump, brown or gray birds with short tails and short powerful beaks. Sparrows are seed eaters, but they also consume small insects.

• House sparrow, Passer domesticus (I)

Pipits and wagtails

Order:

Motacillidae is a family of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They include the wagtails, longclaws and pipits. They are slender ground-feeding insectivores of open country.

Finches

Order:

Finches are seed-eating passerine birds, that are small to moderately large and have a strong beak, usually conical and in some species very large. All have twelve tail feathers and nine primaries. These birds have a bouncing flight with alternating bouts of flapping and gliding on closed wings, and most sing well.

• 
  Andean siskin
• 
  Black-chinned siskin
• 
  Purple-throated euphonia
• 
  Chestnut-bellied euphonia

Thrush-tanager

Order:

This species was historically placed in family Thraupidae, the "true" tanagers. It was placed in its own family in 2017.

• Rosy thrush-tanager, Rhodinocichla rosea

Sparrows

Order:

Most of the species are known as sparrows, but these birds are not closely related to the Old World sparrows which are in the family Passeridae. Many of these have distinctive head patterns.

• 
  Tanager finch
• 
  Yellow-browed sparrow
• 
  Perija brushfinch
• 
  Pale-naped brushfinch
• 
  Black-faced brushfinch

Blackbirds

Order:

The icterids are a group of small to medium-sized, often colorful, passerine birds restricted to the New World and include the

. Most species have black as the predominant plumage color, often enlivened by yellow, orange, or red.

• 
  White-browed meadowlark
• 
  Green oropendola
• 
  Orange-backed troupial
• 
  Screaming cowbirds
• 
  Yellow-winged blackbird

Wood-warblers

Order:

The wood-warblers are a group of small, often colorful, passerine birds restricted to the New World. Most are arboreal, but some are terrestrial. Most members of this family are insectivores.

• 
  Masked yellowthroat
• 
  Flavescent warbler
• 
  Russet-crowned warbler
• 
  Three-striped warbler
• 
  Spectacled redstart

Mitrospingids

Order:

Until 2017 the four species in this family were included in the family Thraupidae, the "true" tanagers.

• Dusky-faced tanager, Mitrospingus cassinii
• Olive-backed tanager, Mitrospingus oleagineus (E-SA)
• Red-billed pied tanager, Lamprospiza melanoleuca (E-SA)
• Olive-green tanager, Orthogonys chloricterus (E-BR)

Cardinal grosbeaks

Order:

The cardinals are a family of robust, seed-eating birds with strong bills. They are typically associated with open woodland. The sexes usually have distinct plumages.

Tanagers

Order:

The tanagers are a large group of small to medium-sized passerine birds restricted to the New World, mainly in the tropics. Many species are brightly colored. As a family they are omnivorous, but individual species specialize in eating fruits, seeds, insects, or other types of food. Most have short, rounded wings.

• 
  White-capped tanager
• 
  Bicolored conebill
• 
  Citron-headed yellow-finch
• 
  Patagonian sierra-finch
• 
  Yellow-bridled finch
• 
  Black-throated flowerpiercer
• 
  Black-goggled tanager
• 
  Silver-beaked tanager
• 
  Pearly-bellied seedeater
• 
  Black-headed hemispingus
• 
  Scarlet-bellied mountain tanager
• 
  Beryl-spangled tanager
• 
  Seven-colored tanager
• 
  Green-and-gold tanager
• 
  Spotted tanager

Notes

References

See also