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Co-operative Republic of Guyana

Hoatzin Opisthocomus hoazin ©David Shackelford Website

Guyana is a country on the northern coast of South America, part of the historic mainland British West Indies. Guyana is an indigenous word which means ‘Land of Many Waters’. The capital, and largest city is Georgetown. The country is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north, Brazil to the south and southwest, Venezuela to the west, and Suriname to the east. With a land area of 215,000 km2 (83,000 square miles), Guyana is the third-smallest sovereign state by area in mainland South America after Uruguay and Suriname, and is the second-least populous sovereign state in South America after Suriname with less than a million people; it is also one of the least densely populated countries on Earth. It has a wide variety of natural habitats and very high biodiversity. The country also hosts a part of the Amazon rainforest.

The country can be divided into five natural regions: a narrow and fertile marshy plain along the Atlantic coast (low coastal plain) where most of the population lives; a white sand belt further inland (hilly sand and clay region), containing most of Guyana’s mineral deposits; the dense rain forests (Forested Highland Region) in the southern part of the country; the drier savannah areas in the south-west; and the smallest interior lowlands (interior savannah) consisting mostly of mountains that gradually rise to the Brazilian border.

Some of Guyana’s highest mountains are Mount Ayanganna (6,699 ft), Monte Caburaí (4,806 ft) and Mount Roraima (2 9,094 ft) – the highest mountain in Guyana) on the Brazil-Guyana-Venezuela tri-point border, part of the Pakaraima range. Mount Roraima and Guyana’s table-top mountains (tepuis) are said to have been the inspiration for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s 1912 novel The Lost World. There are also many volcanic escarpments and waterfalls, including Kaieteur Falls which is believed to be the largest single-drop waterfall in the world by volume. North of the Rupununi River lies the Rupununi savannah, south of which lie the Kanuku Mountains.

Mount Roraima – © Marcelo Alex, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

The four longest rivers are the Essequibo at over 1,000 km, the Courentyne River, the Berbice and the Demerara. The Courentyne river forms the border with Suriname. At the mouth of the Essequibo are several large islands, including the 145 km (90 mile) wide Shell Beach along the northwest coast, which is also a major breeding area for sea turtles (mainly leatherbacks) and other wildlife.

The climate is tropical and generally hot and humid, though moderated by northeast trade winds along the coast. There are two rainy seasons, the first from May to mid-August, the second from mid-November to mid-January. Guyana has one of the largest unspoiled rainforests in South America, some parts of which are almost inaccessible by humans.

Guyana has one of the highest levels of biodiversity in the world. It is home to more than 225 species of mammals, 800 species of birds, 880 species of reptiles, and more than 6,500 different species of plants. About 14 areas of biological interest have been identified as possible hotspots for a National Protected Area System.

More than 80% of Guyana is still covered by forests, which also contain the world’s rarest orchids, ranging from dry evergreen and seasonal forests to montane and lowland evergreen rain forests. These forests are home to more than a thousand species of trees. Guyana’s tropical climate, unique geology, and relatively undisturbed ecosystems support extensive areas of species-rich rain forests and natural habitats with high levels of endemism. There are about 8000 species of plants in Guyana, half of which are found nowhere else.

Birding Guyana

Guyana where the Caribbean meets South America Guyana, a country of exceptional natural beauty, is a splendid combination of the Caribbean and South America, with fascinating touches of a sometimes turbulent past. Perched on the north-east corner of the South American continent, Guyana stretches 450 miles from its long Atlantic coastline into dense equatorial forest and the broad savannah of the Rupununi. The picturesque capital and primary port is Georgetown, a city of comfortable, modern hotels, fine colonial buildings, and broad, tree-lined boulevards. The striking wooden architecture is reminiscent of Guyana’s centuries as a Dutch, and then a British colony. Georgetown offers an evocative introduction to the land of Guyana. Don’t miss the imposing St. George’s Cathedral, reputed to be the tallest wooden building in the world.

Life in Guyana is dominated by mighty rivers, including the Demerara, the Berbice and the Essequibo, which provide essential highways into the rain forests and jungles of the interior. Mankind has made little impact here, and today Guyana remains one of the world’s most exciting destinations for adventuresome travel and exploration. Setting out for the interior by boat, light aircraft or 4×4, you encounter the extraordinary natural heritage of Guyana spreading out like a tropical carpet. Jaguar still roam the rain forest, and the unearthly cries of troupes of howler monkeys echo through the trees. The Giant River Otter, the Black Caiman, and the Arapaima (the largest freshwater fish in the world) swim in the rivers of the Rupununi. Flashes of scarlet, yellow and blue burst through the forest’s intense green as Macaws fly like arrows across a clearing in the canopy. Toucans, and the awesome Harpy Eagle, swoop through the trees, while the beautiful but elusive Guyana Cock-of-the-Rock lingers around the waters of Kaieteur Falls. Around 800 indigenous species of birds adorn Guyana’s forests.

Kaieteur Falls – ©Bill Cameron, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

The tumbling rivers and dense rainforests of Guyana are filled with extraordinary natural sights. Kaieteur Falls, where the 400-foot wide Potaro River plunges 741 feet downward from the Pakaraima Plateau, is one of the world’s great waterfalls. The magnificence of Kaieteur stands beyond any comparison in its majesty and sheer size. You can also visit the striking beauty of the Orinduik Falls, the Marshall Falls, the Kaieteur Gorge and remote Mount Roraima.

Contributors
Number of Species

  • Number of bird species: 818

    (As at June 2024)

    National Bird - Hoatzin Opisthocomus hoatzin

Checklist

  • A Field Checklist of the Birds of Guyana

    Checklist
    Produced under the auspices of the Centre for the Study of Biological Diversity University of Guyana Georgetown, Guyana

  • Avibase

    PDF Checklist
    This checklist includes all bird species found in Guyana , based on the best information available at this time. It is based on a wide variety of sources that I collated over many years. I am pleased to offer these checklists as a service to birdwatchers. If you find any error, please do not hesitate to report them.

  • Exotic Birding

    Checklist
    GUYANA BIRD CHECKLIST

  • Rock View Lodge

    PDF Checklist
    A Field Checklist of the Birds of Guyana by M J Braun et al

  • Wikipedia

    Annotated List
    This is a list of the bird species recorded in Guyana. The avifauna of Guyana include a total of 785 confirmed species, of which one has been introduced by humans and two are extinct or extirpated. None are endemic. An additional 33 species are hypothetical and one is uncertain.

  • eBird

    PDF Checklist
    625 species (+19 other taxa) - Year-round, Current year
Useful Reading

  • Birds of Northern South America

    | Volume 1: Species Accounts An Identification Guide | by Robin Restall, Clemencia Rodner & Miguel Lentino | 2006 | Paperback | ISBN: 9780713672428 Buy this book from NHBS.com
Birding Aps

  • Bird Data - Guyana

    Apple iOS | Android
    Bird Data combines the Bird Data field guides for Colombia, Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, Bolivia, Brazil and Guyana (including Suriname and French Guiana) into one app, as was required by Apple guidelines. The user interface and memory usage for the individual apps has not changed.

    Bird Data - Guyana is a field guide for the birds of Guyana. It has taxonomic, range, subspecies, and other information for almost 800 species of birds found in Guyana. Included are Guyana-centered range maps for all species. Directly downloadable into the application are 700 photos of the most common species, and over 1000 bird songs and bird calls. Also included is a map feature that ties into the eBird Hot Spot and sighting database. See where your target species have been seen recently, or explore sightings at nearby locations.
Useful Information

  • Tourist Association of Guyana

    Information
    Guyana, a country of exceptional natural beauty, is a splendid combination of the Caribbean and South America, with fascinating touches of a sometimes turbulent past. Perched on the north-east corner of the South American continent, Guyana stretches 450 miles from its long Atlantic coastline into dense equatorial forest and the broad savannah of the Rupununi.
Organisations

  • Guyana Amazon Tropical Birds Society

    Facebnook Page
    Mission Statement'To preserve Guyana’s avifauna (birds) and our natural heritage though stimulating an interest in the environmental field'email us at gatbs@yahoo.com for more information

  • Iwokrama - International Centre For Rain Forest Conservation And Development

    Information
    Iwokrama is an autonomous not-for-profit research and development institution established by Guyana and the Commonwealth to demonstrate how tropical forest biodiversity may be conserved and sustainably utilised for ecological, social and economic benefits…

  • Neotropical Birding and Conservation

    Information
    Neotropical Birding and Conservation
Reserves

Abbreviations Key

  • COCA Kanashen

    InformationSatellite View
    Kanashen houses the headwaters of the Essequibo River, Guyana's principal water source, and encompasses the southern portion of its watershed, which drains the Kassikaityu, Kamoa, Sipu and Chodikar rivers. The main mountains are the Wassarai, Yahore, Komoa and Kaiawakua, with elevations up to about 1200 metres above sea level. It is Guyana's first community-owned area that is legally protected; it is primarily inhabited by the Wai-Wai indigenous group.

  • NP Kaieteur National Park

    InformationSatellite View
    Kaieteur National Park is a National Park located in the Potaro-Siparuni Region of Guyana. The Park's boundaries and purpose are defined in the Kaieteur National Park Act, and was created to preserve the natural scenery (including Kaieteur Falls), and its fauna and flora.

  • NPA Kanuku Mountains

    InformationSatellite View
    The Kanuku Mountains are a group of mountains in Guyana, located in the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo region. The name means 'forest' in the Wapishana language, a reference to the rich diversity of wildlife found there.

  • NR Iwokrama Forest

    InformationSatellite View
    The Iwokrama Forest is a 3,716 square kilometres (1,435 sq mi) nature reserve of central Guyana located in the heart of the Guiana Shield

  • NR Rupununi Savannahs

    InformationSatellite View
    The savannahs are divided north from south, by the Kanuku Mountains, Guyana's most biologically diverse region. According to Conservation International, the area supports a large percentage of Guyana's bio-diversity, including 250 species of bird life, 18 of which are native only to the lowland forests of the Guianas…
Guides & Tour Operators

  • Andean Birding

    Tour Operator
    Guyana is where the Amazon Basin meets the Guiana Shield, the largest remaining intact rainforest in the world. With an area equal to England and a population of only 770,000 people concentrated along the coastal belt, 80% of the country remains draped in primary rainforest. In the southwest, savannahs stretch to the horizon, adding to the bird diversity and scenery. We include a visit to spectacular Kaieteur falls, one of the highest volume and vertical drops in the world.

  • Andean Trails

    Tour Operator
    Birdwatching Tour in Guyana

  • Birding Ecotours

    Tour Operator
    Guyana, South America’s “Biggest Little Secret”, is an unspoiled, untouched, pristine nature destination. With its natural beauty, biological diversity, and land of some of the world’s largest, rarest, and most spectacular creatures, a trip to Guyana will be an unforgettable experience for everyone. Guyana’s natural beauty is unsurpassable, with 75% of the country covered with rainforest…

  • Eagle-Eye Tours

    Tour Operator
    Exciting experiences, from canopy walkways, a boat ride, a Makushi village and ecolodge, lots of endemics and endangered species, possible Harpy Eagle, Giant Otters and Giant Anteaters.

  • Guyana Truly Wild

    Tour Operator
    South America is known as the continent of birds and Guyana is no exception. To date there are well over 800 different species of birds that have been recorded in Guyana.

  • Leon Moore Nature Experience

    Tour Operator
    Leon Moore Nature Experience offers small groups bird watching, photography and wildlife tours. Our tours are personalized and offer the best value for money.

  • Neblina Forest

    Tour Operator
    Guyana is South America's little-known curiosity. It shares borders with Venezuela, Brazil, and Suriname, yet remains well-off South America's beaten tourist track. The English speaking locals and colonial past make for a culture that is decidedly more Caribbean than Latin.

  • Reef & Rainforest

    Tour Operator
    Little-visited but with a great diverse number of landscapes and wildlife together with a friendly, English-speaking population, unspoilt Guyana is emerging as one of the natural world

  • Rockjumper Birding Tours

    Tour Operator
    Guyana is undoubtedly one of South America

  • Sunrise Birding

    Tour Operator
    Guyana really does offer something special. A small South American country nestled on the Atlantic Coast east of Venezuela and west of Suriname, it is one of the last unexplored wild places on earth yet offers incredible access into a great variety of pristine habitats
Trip Reports

  • 2015 [02 February] - Bob Buckler

    PDF Report
    ...After our walked we had time before breakfast to explore the garden area around the front of the buildings. We addedHouse Wren and Barred Antshrike to our list, the Antshrike is a stunning bird we saw both male and female in shortbursts. We also got better views of Band-r...

  • 2015 [03 March] - Dave Stejskal & Ron Allicock

    Report
    ...Each venue in this region (Iwokrama River Lodge, Atta Lodge, and the Surama Eco-Lodge area) held their own prizes, and we came away delighted with our looks at Marail Guan, Black Curassow, Black-faced Hawk, Gray-winged Trumpeter, White-winged Potoo, Crimson Topaz, Bronzy and Great jacamars, Black-spotted Barbet, Guianan Toucanet, Ringed and Red-necked woodpeckers, Barred Forest-Falcon, Orange-breasted Falcon, Red-fan Parrot, Scarlet and Red-and-green macaws, a couple of dozen antbirds, Spotted Antpitta, yet more Guianan Cocks-of-the-rock, Crimson Fruitcrow, Capuchinbird, White-throated and Black manakins, Cayenne Jay, Rose-breasted Chat, and so many others. - See more at: http://fieldguides.com/triplists/guy15b.html#sthash.6xG261QL.dpuf

  • 2016 [02 February] - Megan Crewe

    Report
    ...Bands of Hoatzins growled from dense bushes, raising their tails and spreading their wings in threat displays as we floated past. An American Pygmy-Kingfisher whirled from perch to perch over a trailside puddle. A Rufous Crab Hawk patiently scanned the ground from a telephone wire. A Mangrove Rail picked its way through tangled mangrove roots. A pair of Spotted Tody-Flycatchers chased insects through nearby trees, followed shortly by a pair of branch-gleaning White-bellied Piculets...

  • 2016 [04 April] - Bret Whitney

    Report
    ...Birding our way east through miles of tall forest along the main road through the vast Iwokrama Rainforest Reserve, we arrived at Kurupukari just in time for an evening boat trip on the Essequibo River, for Ladder-tailed Nightjars. We dropped bags in our rooms, hustled to the boat-launch, and a few minutes later we had a male nightjar perched at close range, with a female in attendance as well. Also great out there was watching a bee-swarm-tight flock of perhaps 150 Black-collared Swallows suddenly dive out of the heavens to roost on rocky islands in the river. Before landing on the rocks, they and a few Barn Swallows with them whizzed around low overhead in a really impressive flight performance – thrilling stuff!...

  • 2016 [11 November] - Chris Sharpe

    PDF Report
    ...Highlights of our trip included prolonged views ofAgami Herons, a nestling Harpy Eagle, close looks atSungrebes and Grey-winged Trumpeters, spotlit studiesof Tropical and Tawny-bellied Screech Owls, threespecies of potoo, multiple encounters with LeastNighthawks and White-tailed Nightjars, White-tippedSwifts scything through the curtain of water at KaieteurFalls, a feisty Crimson Topaz on territory, incrediblenumbers of kingfishers on the Rupununi River,excellent looks at five species of jacamar, GuiananPuffbird at eye-level, eleven woodpeckers, OrangebreastedFalcon, fabulous looks at a pair of GuiananRed Cotingas...

  • 2017 [01 January] - Megan Edwards Crewe

    Report
    ...Or the fierce Amazonian Pygmy-Owl with its cadre of whipped-up little locals trying desperately to drive it away. The gorgeous trio of Blue-backed Tanagers calling from roadside treetops surely qualify, as did the White-plumed and Rufous-throated Antbirds that swarmed around us on Turtle Mountain, the Guianan Toucanet that sat quietly digesting berries in a tree...

  • 2017 [06 June] - David Milton - Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago

    Report
    ...we met Leon Moore, also a bird guide who showed us the Orange-breasted Falcon. He found some interesting gluten free snacks for us for breakfast, good for me as a coeliac. Not far on from 58 miles Snacket where we had lunch we saw 14 Grey-winged Trumpeters walking along the road....

  • 2017 [11 November] - Forrest Rowland

    PDF Report
    There are few flights more impressive than the one from Kaieteur Falls (tallest single-drop falls on Earth) to Iwokrama. Guyana is one of the wildest, least developed and best-conserved countries in the world.

  • 2017 [12 December] - Bret Whitney

    Report
    At dusk, we did a short boat trip to see Black-collared Swallows and Ladder-tailed Nightjars, which worked to perfection. Sure enough, our luggage vehicle had arrived on the other side of the Essequibo River, and it came across to us on the last ferry of the day (18:00). A post-dinner owling walk produced excellent views of Mottled Owl and Tawny-bellied Screech-Owl; no responses to Long-tailed, White-winged, or Rufous potoos, although I’ve seen them all along that piece of road.

  • 2018 [01 January] - Dave Stejskal

    Report
    At Atta Lodge we had fantastic moments in the backyard, where we saw Dusky Purpletuft, Crimson Fruitcrow, two White Hawks perched, and several other species feeding on some Cecropia sp. fruit.

  • 2018 [01 January] - Megan Edwards Crewe

    Report
    ... we delighted in our sighting of a male Guianan Cock-of-the-Rock glowing against a wall of green foliage, a spritely Rufous-crowned Elaenia, a flamboyant male Tufted Coquette, and a Cliff Flycatcher hurling itself repeatedly skywards. Then it was off to the Iwokrama forest, our "home" (at three different lodges) for the bulk of the tour.

  • 2018 [03 March] - Keith Hansen

    PDF Report
    Before my accounting of the Naturalist Journeys 2018 tour to Guyana, I want to personally thank the many, many people who helped to create this incredible experience.

  • 2018 [12 December] - John Coons

    Report
    At our first stop we started picking up specialties of the Guianan Shield as we saw Rufous Crab-Hawk and Blood-colored Woodpeckers, as well as White-bellied Piculet, and several water birds. We continued to the Mahaica River for a couple hours of boating along this vegetation-lined waterway. Several Hoatzins, American Pygmy Kingfisher, a pair of Little Cuckoos, Silvered Antbird, and Black-capped Donacobius were some of the highlights.

  • 2019 [03 March] - Bob Behrstock

    PDF Report
    This year was a particularly hot and dry one, taking a toll on our tally of fruiteating birds such as tanagers and euphonias. Also, antbirds and ovenbirds, normally prominent, were, by and large, quiet. On the other hand, we had respectable numbers within other groups, i.e., 15 herons and ibis, 12 woodpeckers, 27 raptors, 17 parrots, 25 flycatchers, and 13 icterids; and saw a number of the area’s special birds.

  • 2020 [01 January] - Eduardo Ormaeche

    PDF Report
    Our trip was focused on finding most of the Guiana Shield specialties, such as Guianan Trogon, Guianan Puffbird, Guianan Cock-of-therock, Guianan Toucanet, Guianan Tyrannulet, Guianan Streaked Antwren, and Todd’s Antwren. In addition to this selection of birds Guyana is great for many species that are difficult to see in other countries, such as Blood-colored Woodpecker, White-bellied Piculet, Rufous Crab Hawk, Crimson Fruitcrow, Black Nunbird, Capuchinbird, Grey-winged Trumpeter, White-winged Potoo, Bearded Tachuri, Black Curassow, Crestless Curassow, Crimson Topaz, and Red-and-black Grosbeak, and we saw all these species remarkably well during our 10-day trip.

  • 2020 [02 February] - Dave Mehlman

    PDF Report
    We got off to a great start, familiarizing ourselves with many species, including Snail Kite, Red-shouldered Macaw, Yellow-chinned Spinetail, Violaceous Euphonia, Black-necked Aracari, and, much to our collective surprise, a hooting Great Horned Owl.

  • 2020 [02 February] - Ron Allicock

    PDF Report
    A small bus took us to the Mahaica River with a stop at the Mahaica Bridge for a pair of Rufous Crab Hawk. Then, we continued to Narish’s house on the Mahaica River for a boat trip upriver (starting with a pit stop). The boat trip was fabulous, and we saw our primary target, the Hoatzin (Guyana’s national bird). Other fun things included Black-capped Donacobius, Green-rumped Parrotlet, Green-tailed Jacamar, Blood-colored Woodpecker, Long-winged Harrier, and several Guianan Red Howler monkeys (with a small one). Returning from the boat trip quite famished, we enjoyed a home-cooked breakfast at the house, with roti, curry, and other delicious treats.

  • 2022 [02 February] - Carlos Sanchez

    PDF Report
    After a late arrival after midnight from Miami for everyone, we convened in the late afternoon hours to visit the Georgetown Botanical Gardens under gray skies and occasional sprinkles. We had the botanic gardens all to ourselves, which seems to have been great for the local birds. It did not take long for us to see our first Great Kiskadee, Rusty-margined Flycatcher, Wattled Jacana, and Yellow-rumped Cacique...

  • 2022 [10 October] - Andrew Haffenden

    PDF Report
    ...We found seven species of parrots ranging from the tiny Green-rumped Parrotlet to the very large Red-and-Green Macaw. The other five included Orange-winged Parrot, Mealy Parrot, Yellow-crowned Parrot, Brown-throated Parakeet and the small, Red-shouldered Macaw, not bad for a central downtown park!

  • 2023 [02 February] - Eduardo Ormaeche

    PDF Report
    Standout species from this Guyana birding trip included: Guianan Cock-of-the-rock, Guianan Red Cotinga, Guianan Trogon, Guianan Puffbird, Guianan Warbling Antbird, Guianan Streaked Antwren, Guianan Toucanet, Red-winged Ground Cuckoo, Red-fan Parrot, Little Chachalaca, Crestless and Black Curassows, Greywinged Trumpeter, Black Nunbird, Green-tailed Jacamar, Pompadour and Spangled Cotingas, Dusky Purpletuft, Black-headed, Dusky and Caica Parrots, Red-and-green, Blueand-yellow, Red-bellied, and Red-shouldered Macaws, Spotted Antpitta, Spot-tailed Antwren, White-plumed, and Rufous-throated Antbirds and Crimson Fruitcrow.

  • 2023 [03 March] - Andrea Molina

    PDF Report
    Annotated list

  • 2024 [02 February] - Eduardo Ormaeche - The Lost World

    PDF Report
    Our two-week birding adventure began by visiting the coast at Georgetown to look for some special birds such as Scarlet Ibis, Rufous Crab Hawk, Blood-colored Woodpecker, White-bellied Piculet, and Festive Amazon.
Places to Stay

  • Timberhead Eco-resort

    Accommodation
    Located within an Amerindian reservation and reached only by boat, the Timberhead offers an unforgettable vacation experience. You live in the jungle lodges, built by native craftsmen using handcrafted local timber and thatched roofs. Each lodge offers double or twin rooms with all conveniences. An Amerindian family will be your hosts as you relax in the spacious open area with hammocks and window seats affording spectacular views of jungle and savannah
Photographers & Artists

  • Photographer - Glenn Bartley

    Gallery
    More world class photos

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