List of birds of South America

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This is a list of bird species recorded in South America. South America is the "Bird Continent": It boasts records of 3485 species, more than any other. (Much larger Eurasia is second with 3407.) Colombia's list alone numbers 1906 confirmed species, and both Brazil's and Peru's confirmed lists also exceed 1850. Of the continent's species, 2530 are endemic, significantly more than Eurasia's approximately 2300. Nine entire families, containing 21 species, are endemic to the continent. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Of the 2530 endemic species, 238 are found only in Brazil and 336 are only in one of 12 other countries and territories. Seventeen of the 3485 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] Four additional species are added from other sources and are not included in the above counts.

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. Capitalization within English names follows Wikipedia practice, i.e. only the first word of a name is capitalized unless a place name such as São Paulo is used. 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

Greater rhea Nandu Rhea americana Tierpark Hellabrunn-1.jpg
Greater rhea

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

Tinamous

Order: Tinamiformes    Family: Tinamidae

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.

Screamers

Order: Anseriformes    Family: Anhimidae

Horned screamers Anhima cornuta -near Manu Wildlife Center, Manu National Park, Peru -three-8.jpg
Horned screamers

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.

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.

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.

New World quails

Order: Galliformes    Family: Odontophoridae

Spot-winged wood-quail Odontophorus capueira.jpg
Spot-winged wood-quail
Dark-backed wood-quail Dark-backed wood quail (Odontophorus melanonotus).jpg
Dark-backed wood-quail

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.

Pheasants

Ring-necked pheasant Phasianus colchicus 2 tom (Lukasz Lukasik).jpg
Ring-necked pheasant

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.

Flamingos

James's flamingo James Flamingo.jpg
James's flamingo

Order: Phoenicopteriformes    Family: Phoenicopteridae

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.

Grebes

Great grebe Podicephorus major -Santa Vitoria do Palmar, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil -swimming-8.jpg
Great grebe

Order: Podicipediformes    Family: Podicipedidae

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.

Pigeons

Order: Columbiformes    Family: Columbidae

Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.

Cuckoos

Pavonine cuckoo Dromococcyx pavoninus.jpg
Pavonine cuckoo
Black-bellied cuckoo Piaya melanogaster - Black-bellied Cuckoo.JPG
Black-bellied cuckoo

Order: Cuculiformes    Family: Cuculidae

The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners, and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails and strong legs.

Oilbird

Oilbirds Oilbirds.jpg
Oilbirds

Order: Steatornithiformes    Family: Steatornithidae

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

Potoos

Rufous potoo Rufous Potoo.jpg
Rufous potoo

Order: Nyctibiiformes    Family: Nyctibiidae

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.

Nightjars

Order: Caprimulgiformes    Family: Caprimulgidae

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.

Swifts

Great dusky swifts CypseloidesSenexAtIguassuFalls.jpg
Great dusky swifts
Sick's swift Chaetura meridionalis-Sick's Swift.jpg
Sick's swift

Order: Apodiformes    Family: Apodidae

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: Apodiformes    Family: Trochilidae

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.

Hoatzin

Hoatzin Hoatzin - Manu NP - Peru 9203 (15525812066).jpg
Hoatzin

Order: Opisthocomiformes    Family: Opisthocomidae

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.

Limpkin

Limpkin Limpkin, Florida 05.jpg
Limpkin

Order: Gruiformes    Family: Aramidae

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

Trumpeters

Pale-winged trumpeter Psophia leucoptera -Puerto Maldonado-8.jpg
Pale-winged trumpeter

Order: Gruiformes    Family: Psophiidae

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

Rails

Order: Gruiformes    Family: Rallidae

Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots, and gallinules. 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.

Finfoots

Sungrebe Sungrebe.jpg
Sungrebe

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.

Plovers

Pied lapwing BK3U7978.jpg
Pied lapwing
Diademed sandpiper-plover Diademed Sandpiper-plover.jpg
Diademed sandpiper-plover

Order: Charadriiformes    Family: Charadriidae

The family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels, and lapwings. 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

Blackish oystercatcher Blackish oystercatcher Bahia Inglesa Chile.jpg
Blackish oystercatcher

Order: Charadriiformes    Family: Haematopodidae

The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.

Avocets and stilts

Andean avocet Recurvirostra andina.jpg
Andean avocet

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.

Thick-knees

Peruvian thick-knee Peruvian Thick-knee (Burhinus superciliaris), crop.jpg
Peruvian thick-knee

Order: Charadriiformes    Family: Burhinidae

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.

Sheathbills

Snowy sheathbill Chionis blanc - Pale-faced Sheathbill.jpg
Snowy sheathbill

Order: Charadriiformes    Family: Chionidae

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.

Magellanic plover

Magellanic plover Magellanic Plover.jpg
Magellanic plover

Order: Charadriiformes    Family: Pluvianellidae

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.

Sandpipers

Order: Charadriiformes    Family: Scolopacidae

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.

Seedsnipes

Gray-breasted seedsnipe Grey-breasted Seedsnipe.jpg
Gray-breasted seedsnipe

Order: Charadriiformes    Family: Thinocoridae

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

Jacanas

Wattled jacana Wattled jacana (Jacana jacana).JPG
Wattled jacana

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.

Painted-snipes

South American painted-snipe Nycticryphes.jpg
South American painted-snipe

Order: Charadriiformes    Family: Rostratulidae

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

Pratincoles and coursers

Collared pratincole Collared pratincole (Glareola pratincola).jpg
Collared pratincole

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.

Skuas

Chilean skua Catharacta chilensis (Chilean Skua).jpg
Chilean skua

Order: Charadriiformes    Family: Stercorariidae

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.

Skimmers

Black skimmer Black skimmer Rynchops niger.jpg
Black skimmer

Order: Charadriiformes    Family: Rynchopidae

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.

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.

Sunbittern

Sunbittern Stavenn Eurypiga helias 00.jpg
Sunbittern

Order: Eurypygiformes    Family: Eurypygidae

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.

Tropicbirds

Red-billed tropicbird Red-billed tropicbird.jpg
Red-billed tropicbird

Order: Phaethontiformes    Family: Phaethontidae

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

Penguins

Magellanic penguin Magellanic penguin at SF Zoo.jpg
Magellanic penguin

Order: Sphenisciformes    Family: Spheniscidae

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.

Albatrosses

Black-browed albatross Thalassarche melanophrys - SE Tasmania.jpg
Black-browed albatross

Order: Procellariiformes    Family: Diomedeidae

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

Gray-backed storm-petrel Garrodia nereis 2 - SE Tasmania.jpg
Gray-backed storm-petrel

Order: Procellariiformes    Family: Oceanitidae

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.

Northern storm-petrels

Leach's storm-petrel Lesp1.jpg
Leach's storm-petrel

Order: Procellariiformes    Family: Hydrobatidae

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.

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.

Storks

Maguari stork Maguari Stork (Ciconia maguari).jpg
Maguari stork

Order: Ciconiiformes    Family: Ciconiidae

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.

Frigatebirds

Great frigatebird Male greater frigate bird displaying.jpg
Great frigatebird

Order: Suliformes    Family: Fregatidae

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.

Boobies

Peruvian booby Fou.varie1.jpg
Peruvian booby

Order: Suliformes    Family: Sulidae

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

Anhingas

Anhinga Anhinga anhinga -Costa Rica-8.jpg
Anhinga

Order: Suliformes    Family: Anhingidae

Anhingas 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.

Cormorants

Red-legged cormorant Cormoran gris en Puesto del japones.jpg
Red-legged cormorant

Order: Suliformes    Family: Phalacrocoracidae

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.

Pelicans

Peruvian pelican Pelicano en Pucusana.JPG
Peruvian pelican

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.

Herons

Zigzag heron Zigzag Heron.jpg
Zigzag heron
Whistling heron Whistling heron (Syrigma sibilatrix).JPG
Whistling heron

Order: Pelecaniformes    Family: Ardeidae

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

Sharp-tailed ibis Tapicuru de cara palida.jpg
Sharp-tailed ibis

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

Andean condor Andean Condor in flight.jpg
Andean condor

Order: Cathartiformes    Family: Cathartidae

The New World vultures are not closely related to Old World vultures, but superficially resemble them because of convergent evolution. Like the Old World vultures, they are scavengers. However, unlike Old World vultures, which find carcasses by sight, New World vultures have a good sense of smell with which they locate carrion.

Osprey

Osprey Osprey mg 9605.jpg
Osprey

Order: Accipitriformes    Family: Pandionidae

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.

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.

Barn owls

Barn owl Flickr - Dario Sanches - CORUJA-DA-IGREJA (Tyto furcata).jpg
Barn owl

Order: Strigiformes    Family: Tytonidae

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

Owls

Order: Strigiformes    Family: Strigidae

The typical owls 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.

Trogons

Crested quetzal Crested Quetzal.jpg
Crested quetzal
Blue-crowned trogon Blue-crowned Trogon.JPG
Blue-crowned trogon

Order: Trogoniformes    Family: Trogonidae

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.

Motmots

Andean motmot Highland Motmot - Colombia (22048211293).jpg
Andean motmot

Order: Coraciiformes    Family: Momotidae

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.

Kingfishers

Amazon kingfisher Amazon Kingfisher.jpg
Amazon kingfisher

Order: Coraciiformes    Family: Alcedinidae

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

Jacamars

White-eared jacamar White-eared Jacamar.jpg
White-eared jacamar
Bluish-fronted jacamar Bluish-fronted Jacamar - Manu NP 8499.jpg
Bluish-fronted jacamar

Order: Galbuliformes    Family: Galbulidae

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 bee-eaters, although they are more closely related to puffbirds.

Puffbirds

Chestnut-capped puffbird Chestnut-capped Puffbird.jpg
Chestnut-capped puffbird
Russet-throated puffbird Hypnelus ruficollis - Russet-throated Puffbird.jpg
Russet-throated puffbird

Order: Galbuliformes    Family: Bucconidae

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

Black-spotted barbet Capito niger - Black-spotted barbet (male); Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil.jpg
Black-spotted barbet
Versicolored barbet Eubucco versicolor, Versicolored Barbet, crop.jpg
Versicolored barbet

Order: Piciformes    Family: Capitonidae

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.

Toucan barbet

Toucan barbet Toucan Barbet (23405007136).jpg
Toucan barbet

Order: Piciformes    Family: Semnornithidae

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

Toucans

Order: Piciformes    Family: Ramphastidae

Toucans are near passerine birds from the Neotropics. They are brightly marked and have enormous, colorful bills which in some species amount to half their body length.

Woodpeckers

Order: Piciformes    Family: Picidae

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.

Seriemas

Red-legged seriema Cariama cristata -near Goiania, Goias, Brazil-8.jpg
Red-legged seriema

Order: Cariamiformes    Family: Cariamidae

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.

Falcons

Lined forest-falcon Lined Forest Falcon.jpg
Lined forest-falcon
Chimango caracara Milvago chimango -Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil-8.jpg
Chimango caracara

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

Rose-ringed parakeet Rose-ringed parakeet (Psittacula krameri borealis) male Jaipur.jpg
Rose-ringed parakeet

Order: Psittaciformes    Family: Psittaculidae

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.

New World and African parrots

Order: Psittaciformes    Family: Psittacidae

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.

Sapayoa

Sapayoa Sapayoa aenigma, Nusagandi, Panama.jpg
Sapayoa

Order: Passeriformes    Family: Sapayoidae

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.

Antbirds

Order: Passeriformes    Family: Thamnophilidae

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.

Crescentchests

Collared crescentchest Melanopareia torquata - Collared Crescentchest.JPG
Collared crescentchest

Order: Passeriformes    Family: Melanopareiidae

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

Gnateaters

Chestnut-belted gnateater Conopophaga aurita - Chestnut-belted gnateater.jpg
Chestnut-belted gnateater

Order: Passeriformes    Family: Conopophagidae

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

Antpittas

Order: Passeriformes    Family: Grallariidae

Antpittas resemble the true pittas with strong, longish legs, very short tails and stout bills.

Tapaculos

Order: Passeriformes    Family: Rhinocryptidae

The tapaculos are small suboscine 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.

Antthrushes

Striated antthrush Chamaeza nobilis.jpg
Striated antthrush

Order: Passeriformes    Family: Formicariidae

Antthrushes resemble small rails.

Ovenbirds

Order: Passeriformes    Family: Furnariidae

Ovenbirds comprise a large family of small sub-oscine 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.

Manakins

Order: Passeriformes    Family: Pipridae

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.

Cotingas

Order: Passeriformes    Family: Cotingidae

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.

Tityras

Order: Passeriformes    Family: Tityridae

Tityridae are suboscine passerine birds found in forest and woodland in the Neotropics. The species in this family were formerly spread over the families Tyrannidae, Pipridae, and 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.

Sharpbill

Sharpbill Sharpbill.jpg
Sharpbill

Order: Passeriformes    Family: Oxyruncidae

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

Royal flycatchers

Ruddy-tailed flycatcher Terenotriccus erythrurus - Ruddy-tailed flycatcher; Rio Branco, Acre, Brazil.jpg
Ruddy-tailed flycatcher

Order: Passeriformes    Family: Onychorhynchidae

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

Tyrant flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes    Family: Tyrannidae

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.

Vireos

Order: Passeriformes    Family: Vireonidae

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.

Jays

Turquoise jay Turquoise jay Ecuador 1241a.jpg
Turquoise jay
Plush-crested jay Cyanocorax chrysops 001 1280.jpg
Plush-crested jay

Order: Passeriformes    Family: Corvidae

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.

Larks

Horned lark Shore Lark.jpg
Horned lark

Order: Passeriformes    Family: Alaudidae

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.

Swallows

Order: Passeriformes    Family: Hirundinidae

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.

Wrens

Order: Passeriformes    Family: Troglodytidae

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.

Gnatcatchers

Masked gnatcatcher Polioptila dumicola -Rocha, Uruguay -male-8.jpg
Masked gnatcatcher

Order: Passeriformes    Family: Polioptilidae

These dainty birds resemble Old World warblers 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

Black-capped donacobius Donacobius atricapilla -Fazenda Campo de Ouro, Piraju, Sao Paulo, Brasil-8.jpg
Black-capped donacobius

Order: Passeriformes    Family: Donacobiidae

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

Dippers

White-capped dipper White-capped Dipper - Colombia S4E0638 (16432276063).jpg
White-capped dipper

Order: Passeriformes    Family: Cinclidae

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.

Waxwings

Cedar waxwing Cedar Waxwing - Bombycilla cedrorum, George Washington's Birthplace National Monument, Colonial Beach, Virginia (39997434862).jpg
Cedar waxwing

Order: Passeriformes    Family: Bombycillidae

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.

Thrushes

Order: Passeriformes    Family: Turdidae

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.

Old World flycatchers

Northern wheatear Steinschmaetzer Northern wheatear male.jpg
Northern wheatear

Order: Passeriformes    Family: Muscicapidae

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.

Mockingbirds

Chalk-browed mockingbird Chalk-browed Mockingbird (Mimus saturninus), Pantanal, Brazil.jpg
Chalk-browed mockingbird

Order: Passeriformes    Family: Mimidae

The mimids are a family of passerine birds that includes thrashers, mockingbirds, tremblers, and the New World catbirds. 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

Crested myna Crested myna, Osaka, Japan.jpg
Crested myna

Order: Passeriformes    Family: Sturnidae

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.

Weavers

Village weaver Black-headed weaver (Ploceus cucullatus bohndorffi) male.jpg
Village weaver

Order: Passeriformes    Family: Ploceidae

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.

Estreldids

Common waxbill Estrilda astrild -Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain-8 (1).jpg
Common waxbill

Order: Passeriformes    Family: Estrildidae

The estrildid finches are small passerine birds of the Old World tropics and Australasia. 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.

Old World sparrows

House sparrow Passer domesticus male (15).jpg
House sparrow

Order: Passeriformes    Family: Passeridae

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.

Pipits and wagtails

Correndera pipit Anthus correndera -Cabo Polonio, Rocha, Uruguay-8.jpg
Correndera pipit

Order: Passeriformes    Family: Motacillidae

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: Passeriformes    Family: Fringillidae

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.

Thrush-tanager

Rosy thrush-tanager Rosy Thrush-Tanager (40717613441).jpg
Rosy thrush-tanager

Order: Passeriformes    Family: Rhodinocichlidae

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

Sparrows

Order: Passeriformes    Family: Passerellidae

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.

Blackbirds

Order: Passeriformes    Family: Icteridae

The icterids are a group of small to medium-sized, often colorful, passerine birds restricted to the New World and include the grackles, New World blackbirds, and New World orioles. Most species have black as the predominant plumage color, often enlivened by yellow, orange, or red.

Wood-warblers

Order: Passeriformes    Family: Parulidae

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.

Mitrospingids

Red-billed pied tanager Lamprospiza melanoleuca-20090124.jpg
Red-billed pied tanager

Order: Passeriformes    Family: Mitrospingidae

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

Cardinal grosbeaks

Vermilion cardinal Cardinalis phoenicius Cardenal guajiro Vermilion Cardinal (male) (8619284898).jpg
Vermilion cardinal
Glaucous-blue grosbeak Cyanoloxia glaucocaerulea - Glaucous-blue Grosbeak.jpg
Glaucous-blue grosbeak

Order: Passeriformes    Family: Cardinalidae

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: Passeriformes    Family: Thraupidae

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.

Notes

  1. ↑ The SACC has split Nyctiprogne atifascia from Nyctiprogne leucopyga (Proposal 673) but has not assigned English names, so the proposal has not been implemented and the counts do not reflect the change.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fauna of Colombia</span> Native animals of Colombia

The fauna of Colombia is characterized by a high biodiversity, with the highest rate of species by area unit worldwide.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, G. Del-Rio, A. Jaramillo, D. F. Lane, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 28 September 2024. A classification of the bird species of South America. American Ornithological Society. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.htm retrieved September 29, 2024
  2. 1 2 Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, G. Del-Rio, A. Jaramillo, D. F. Lane, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 28 September 2024. Species Lists of Birds for South American Countries and Territories. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCCountryLists.htm retrieved September 29, 2024
  3. ↑ Clements, J. F., P.C. Rasmussen, T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, A. Spencer, S. M. Billerman, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2023. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2023. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/ retrieved October 28, 2023
  4. ↑ Delfino, Henrique Cardoso; Carlos, Caio J. (3 June 2022). "On the wrong side of the Atlantic: first record of wild Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus in Brazil and in the Americas?". Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club. 142 (2): 231–238. doi: 10.25226/bboc.v142i2.2022.a7 .
  5. ↑ Ottema, Otte (2004). "First sight record of Alpine Swift Tachymarptis melba for South America, in French Guiana" (PDF). Cotinga. 21: 70–71.
  6. ↑ Pallinger, Frederick; Soares, Joacil Germano; Schunck, Fabio (7 September 2023). "First record of Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo in South America". Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club. 143 (3): 346–349. doi: 10.25226/bboc.v143i3.2023.a10 .
  7. ↑ R. Brito, Guilherme R.; Nacinovic, Jorge Bruno; Teixeira, Dante Martins (December 2013). "First record of Redwing Turdus iliacus in South America". Bulletin of the British Ornithologists Club. 133 (4): 316–317.

See also

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