This is a list of bird species recorded in South America. South America is the "Bird Continent": It boasts records of 3513 species, more than any other. (Much larger Eurasia is second with 3473.Clements, J. F., P. C. Rasmussen, T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, A. Spencer, S. M. Billerman, B. L. Sullivan, M. Smith, and C. L. Wood. 2025. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2025. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/ retrieved November 3, 2025) Colombia's list alone numbers 1915 confirmed species, and both Brazil's and Peru's confirmed lists exceed 1860. Of the continent's species, 2554 are endemic, significantly more than Eurasia's approximately 2300. Nine entire families, containing 21 species, are endemic to the continent.Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, D. F. Lane, L, N. Naka, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 25 July 2026. A classification of the bird species of South America. South American Classification Committee associated with the International Ornithologists' Union. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.htm retrieved 25 July 2026Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, D. F. Lane, L, N. Naka, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 25 July 2026. Species Lists of Birds for South American Countries and Territories. South American Classification Committee associated with the International Ornithologists' Union. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCCountryLists.htm retrieved 25 July 2026
Of the 2554 endemic species, 242 are found only in Brazil and 338 are only in one of 12 other countries and territories. Seventeen of the 3514 total species have been introduced to South America. In addition, 107 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.
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.
Unless otherwise noted, the list of species is that of the South American Classification Committee (SACC). 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. It does include four species from other sources that are not included in the above counts; these reports have not been confirmed by the SACC.
The following tags annotate many species:
(E-SA) - Endemic to South America and present in more than one country (1974 species) (E-AR) - Endemic to Argentina (18 species) (E-BO) - Endemic to Bolivia (16 species) (E-BR) - Endemic to Brazil (242 species) (E-CH) - Endemic to Chile (12 species) (E-CO) - Endemic to Colombia (86 species) (E-EC) - Endemic to mainland Ecuador (8 species) (E-GA) - Endemic to the Galápagos Islands of Ecuador (29 species) (E-FA) - Endemic to the Falkland Islands (2 species) (E-FG) - Endemic to French Guiana (1 species) (E-PE) - Endemic to Peru (119 species) (E-SU) - Endemic to Suriname (1 species) (E-TT) - Endemic to Trinidad and Tobago (2 species) (E-VE) - Endemic to Venezuela (44 species) (V) - Vagrant to South America or the islands included in this list (I) - Introduced to South America and established there (UC) - Unconfirmed by the SACC (All) - Recorded in all 18 countries and territories
Rheas Order: RheiiformesFamily: Rheidae
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, Pterocnemia pennata (E-SA)
Tinamous Order: TinamiformesFamily: 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.
Tawny-breasted tinamou, Nothocercus julius (E-SA) Highland tinamou, Nothocercus bonapartei Hooded tinamou, Nothocercus nigrocapillus (E-SA) Gray tinamou, Tinamus tao (E-SA) Solitary tinamou, Tinamus solitarius (E-SA) Black tinamou, Tinamus osgoodi (E-SA) Great tinamou, Tinamus major White-throated tinamou, Tinamus guttatus (E-SA) Berlepsch's tinamou, Crypturellus berlepschi (E-SA) Cinereous tinamou, Crypturellus cinereus (E-SA) Little tinamou, Crypturellus soui Slaty-masked tinamou, Crypturellus resonans (E-BR) Tepui tinamou, Crypturellus ptaritepui (E-SA) Brown tinamou, Crypturellus obsoletus (E-SA) Undulated tinamou, Crypturellus undulatus (E-SA) Pale-browed tinamou, Crypturellus transfasciatus (E-SA) Brazilian tinamou, Crypturellus strigulosus (E-SA) Gray-legged tinamou, Crypturellus duidae (E-SA) Red-legged tinamou, Crypturellus erythropus (E-SA) Yellow-legged tinamou, Crypturellus noctivagus (E-BR) Black-capped tinamou, Crypturellus atrocapillus (E-SA) Choco tinamou, Crypturellus kerriae Variegated tinamou, Crypturellus variegatus (E-SA) Rusty tinamou, Crypturellus brevirostris (E-SA) Bartlett's tinamou, Crypturellus bartletti (E-SA) Small-billed tinamou, Crypturellus parvirostris Barred tinamou, Crypturellus casiquiare (E-SA) Tataupa tinamou, Crypturellus tataupa (E-SA) Red-winged tinamou, Rhynchotus rufescens (E-SA) Huayco tinamou, Rhynchotus maculicollis (E-SA) Taczanowski's tinamou, Nothoprocta taczanowskii (E-SA) Ornate tinamou, Nothoprocta ornata (E-SA) Chilean tinamou, Nothoprocta perdicaria (E-CH) Brushland tinamou, Nothoprocta cinerascens (E-SA) Andean tinamou, Nothoprocta pentlandii (E-SA) Curve-billed tinamou, Nothoprocta curvirostris (E-SA) White-bellied nothura, Nothura boraquira (E-SA) Lesser nothura, Nothura minor (E-SA) Darwin's nothura, Nothura darwinii (E-SA) Spotted nothura, Nothura maculosa (E-SA) Dwarf tinamou, Taoniscus nanus (E-SA) Elegant crested-tinamou, Eudromia elegans (E-SA) Quebracho crested-tinamou, Eudromia formosa (E-SA) Puna tinamou, Tinamotis pentlandii (E-SA) Patagonian tinamou, Tinamotis ingoufi (E-SA)
Screamers Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anhimidae
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: AnseriformesFamily: 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.
Fulvous whistling-duck, Dendrocygna bicolor White-faced whistling-duck, Dendrocygna viduata Black-bellied whistling-duck, Dendrocygna autumnalis Graylag goose, Anser anser (I) Black-necked swan, Cygnus melancoryphus (E-SA) Coscoroba swan, Coscoroba coscoroba (E-SA) Orinoco goose, Oressochen jubatus (E-SA) Andean goose, Oressochen melanopterus (E-SA) Upland goose, Chloephaga picta (E-SA) Kelp goose, Chloephaga hybrida (E-SA) Ashy-headed goose, Chloephaga poliocephala (E-SA) Ruddy-headed goose, Chloephaga rubidiceps (E-SA) Muscovy duck, Cairina moschata Comb duck, Sarkidiornis sylvicola Ringed teal, Callonetta leucophrys (E-SA) Brazilian teal, Amazonetta brasiliensis (E-SA) Torrent duck, Merganetta armata (E-SA) Flying steamer-duck, Tachyeres patachonicus (E-SA) Flightless steamer-duck, Tachyeres pteneres (E-SA) Falkland steamer-duck, Tachyeres brachypterus (E-FA) White-headed steamer-duck, Tachyeres leucocephalus (E-AR) Crested duck, Lophonetta specularioides (E-SA) Spectacled duck, Speculanas specularis (E-SA) Puna teal, Spatula puna (E-SA) Silver teal, Spatula versicolor (E-SA) Red shoveler, Spatula platalea (E-SA) Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors Cinnamon teal, Spatula cyanoptera Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope (V) American wigeon, Mareca americana Chiloe wigeon, Mareca sibilatrix (E-SA) White-cheeked pintail, Anas bahamensis (All) Northern pintail, Anas acuta Yellow-billed pintail, Anas georgica Green-winged teal, Anas crecca (V) Andean teal, Anas andium (E-SA) Yellow-billed teal, Anas flavirostris (E-SA) Southern pochard, Netta erythrophthalma Rosy-billed pochard, Netta peposaca (E-SA) Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris (V) Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis Brazilian merganser, Mergus octosetaceus (E-SA) Black-headed duck, Heteronetta atricapilla (E-SA) Masked duck, Nomonyx dominicus Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis Lake duck, Oxyura vittata (E-SA)
Guans Order: GalliformesFamily: Cracidae
The Cracidae are large birds, similar in general appearance to turkeys. 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.
Sickle-winged guan, Chamaepetes goudotii (E-SA) Band-tailed guan, Penelope argyrotis (E-SA) Bearded guan, Penelope barbata (E-SA) Baudo guan, Penelope ortoni (E-SA) Andean guan, Penelope montagnii (E-SA) Marail guan, Penelope marail (E-SA) Rusty-margined guan, Penelope superciliaris (E-SA) Red-faced guan, Penelope dabbenei (E-SA) Spix's guan, Penelope jacquacu (E-SA) Crested guan, Penelope purpurascens Cauca guan, Penelope perspicax (E-CO) White-winged guan, Penelope albipennis (E-PE) Yungas guan, Penelope bridgesi (E-SA) Dusky-legged guan, Penelope obscura (E-SA) White-crested guan, Penelope pileata (E-BR) Chestnut-bellied guan, Penelope ochrogaster (E-BR) White-browed guan, Penelope jacucaca (E-BR) Trinidad piping-guan, Pipile pipile (E-TT) Blue-throated piping-guan, Pipile cumanensis (E-SA) Red-throated piping-guan, Pipile cujubi (E-SA) Black-fronted piping-guan, Pipile jacutinga (E-SA) Wattled guan, Aburria aburri (E-SA) Gray-headed chachalaca, Ortalis cinereiceps Chestnut-winged chachalaca, Ortalis garrula (E-CO) Rufous-vented chachalaca, Ortalis ruficauda (E-SA) Rufous-headed chachalaca, Ortalis erythroptera (E-SA) Chaco chachalaca, Ortalis canicollis (E-SA) Colombian chachalaca, Ortalis columbiana (E-CO) Speckled chachalaca, Ortalis guttata (E-SA) East Brazilian chachalaca, Ortalis araucuan (E-BR) Scaled chachalaca, Ortalis squamata (E-BR) Variable chachalaca, Ortalis motmot (E-SA) Chestnut-headed chachalaca, Ortalis ruficeps (E-BR) Buff-browed chachalaca, Ortalis superciliaris (E-BR) Nocturnal curassow, Nothocrax urumutum (E-SA) Great curassow, Crax rubra Blue-billed curassow, Crax alberti (E-CO) Yellow-knobbed curassow, Crax daubentoni (E-SA) Black curassow, Crax alector (E-SA) Wattled curassow, Crax globulosa (E-SA) Bare-faced curassow, Crax fasciolata (E-SA) Red-billed curassow, Crax blumenbachii (E-BR) Crestless curassow, Mitu tomentosum (E-SA) Salvin's curassow, Mitu salvini (E-SA) Razor-billed curassow, Mitu tuberosum (E-SA) Alagoas curassow, Mitu mitu (E-BR) (extinct in the wild) Helmeted curassow, Pauxi pauxi (E-SA) Sira curassow, Pauxi koepckeae (E-PE) Horned curassow, Pauxi unicornis (E-BO)
New World quails Order: GalliformesFamily: Odontophoridae