Co-operative Republic of Guyana

Hoatzin Opisthocomus hoazin ©David Shackelford Website
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. More than 700 indigenous species of birds adorn Guyana’s forests.

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 – the inspiration for Conan Doyle’s Lost World.For the adventurer, Guyana is a place of wonder; for the eco-tourist, it is a country where nature has placed its greatest riches. Feel the beauty of the nature whisper across your heart. Discover an experience never to be forgotten. Discover the extraordinary wilderness of Guyana.

Contributors
Number of Species
  • Number of bird species: 784

    (As at April 2020)

    National Bird - Hoatzin Opisthocomus hoatzin

Checklist
  • Checklist

    iGoTerra Checklist
    Fatbirder Associate iGoTerra offers the most comprehensive and up to date birds lists on the web
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
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
  • 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…
Reserves

Abbreviations Key

  • 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.
  • 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 Trails - Rainforest & Rivers - Birdwatching

    Tour Operator
    Join us on a birdwatching tour through the Guyana's lush and fascinating rainforest and along its impressive network of rivers. The difference in landscape from rainforest to Savannah create a wide variety of bird species, keeping an eye out for birds such as the Pearl Kite, the White-tailed and Savannah Hawk, the Rufous-crowned Elaenia, the Black Manakin and the Red-shouldered Tanager. And of course the colourful, bright orange Guianan Cock-of-the Rock
  • 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…
  • 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
  • 2014 [11 November] - Chris Sharpe

    PDF Report
    ...Highlights of our trip included prolonged views of hunting Orange-breasted Falcons, multiple encounters with Guianan Cock-of-the-rock, saturation views of Dusky Purpletufts, lekking Capuchinbirds, Pompadour Cotingas, an Ocellated Crake, Giant Anteaters, Giant River Otters, and six species of primate... Our extension gave us great views of Sun Parakeet, Rio Branco Antbird, Hoary-throated Spinetail and a couple of Red Siskins, all of which are threatened species with restricted ranges....
  • 2014 [11 November] - Diego Calderon

    PDF Report
    ...In the afternoon, some people looked for birds from the hotelbalcony and saw Pale-breasted Thrush, Burnished-buff Tanager, Red-capped Cardinal, and even some Jacanas, Kingfishers, Cardinals and Pied Water Tyrant due to thesystem of water channels that flow all over the city....
  • 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
  • 2015 [08 August] - Dick Meijer & Peter van Scheepen

    PDF Report
    ...We recorded 414 species of bird of which 37 were heard only and we saw 18 species of mammal. Our best birds included: Marail Guan, Crestless Curassow (just 1 ex.), Pinnated Bittern, Stripe–backed Bittern, Harpy Eagle (4 exx.), Rufous Crab Hawk, Azure Gallinule, Gray–winged Trumpeter, Pearly–breasted Cuckoo (2 exx.), Rufous–winged Ground–Cuckoo (3 exx.), White–winged Potoo, Racket–tailed Coquette, Blood–colored Woodpecker, Orange–breasted Falcon (4 exx.), Sun Parakeet (9 exx.), Rio Branco Antbird, Ferruginous–backed Antbird, Red–billed Woodcreeper, Hoary–throated Spinetail, Bearded Tachuri, Crested Doradito, Guianan Red–Cotinga, Crimson Fruitcrow, Capuchinbird, Purple–breasted Cotinga, Dusky Purpletuft and White–naped Xenopsaris.
  • 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 [08 August] -

    PDF Report
    From open areas we can check tree tops for the amazing Red-fan Parrot, Dusky Parrot, Red-and-green Macaws and possibly Blue-cheeked Amazon, Painted and Golden-winged Parakeets, while forest edges may reveal Lineated, Waved, Yellow- tufted, Golden-collared and Cream-coloured Woodpeckers, Green-tailed and Paradise Jacamar, Rufous-rumped Foliage-Gleaner, Olivaceous Shiffornis, Grey-winged Trumpeters, Black Curassow and with luck the stunning Guianan Red Cotinga or the even more stunning Crimson Topaz which comes out and fly catches in the early mornings and evenings.
  • 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 [03 March] - Leon Moore

    PDF Report
    Annotated list
  • 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
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
Other Links
  • Birds of Guyana

    Website
    The Iwokrama Canopy Walkway is a series of suspension bridges and decks of up to 30 metres in height and 154 metres in length, located in the Iwokrama Forest. It gives visitors a new view of the mid and upper canopy of the forest and allows wildlife to be relatively free from human intrusion which is a great lookout for birds
Photographers & Artists
  • Photographer - Glenn Bartley

    Gallery
    More world class photos

Fatbirder - linking birders worldwide... Wildlife Travellers see our sister site: WAND

Skip to content