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Extraordinary Bird Diversity

Few places on Earth can match the geographical diversity of Peru. With 84% of the world’s climatic zones represented, the country has the world’s largest oceanic current, the highest and most extensive tropical mountains, the driest desert, and the Amazon rainforest, which is home to the longest river on the planet.

This remarkable natural wealth makes Peru a haven for over 1,800 bird species, with new ones still being discovered today. The majority of these species are found in the Amazon region and the eastern slopes of the Andes.

We offer birding opportunities in our garden, including in a custom-built hide, as well as guided birdwatching tours and bird photography workshops. We will also connect you with local experts to help you navigate the captivating and complex world of Peru’s avian paradise.

See full list of birding tours we offer across Peru with Birding Tours Peru >>

Introduction
List of birds

Bird Species You Can Watch With Us

Here is a list of the 120 bird species you can watch with us either in our gardens, in the Sacred Valley or in the nearby junge. Species endemic to Peru are marked in green underline. Ask us about the best times of the year and best spots to spot these birds in their natural habitat.

See full list of birding tours we offer across Peru  >>

ACCIPITRIFORMES

  • Accipitridae:
    • Accipiter: Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)
    • Geranoaetus: Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle (Geranoaetus melanoleucus)

    ANSERIFORMES

    • Anatidae:
      • Anas: Yellow-billed Teal (Anas flavirostris), Yellow-billed Pintail (Anas georgica)
      • Chloephaga: Andean Goose (Chloephaga melanoptera)
      • Lophonetta: Crested Duck (Lophonetta specularioides)
      • Merganetta: Peruvian Torrent Duck (Merganetta armata leucogenys)
      • Oxyura: Andean Duck (Oxyura ferrugĂ­nea), Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)
      • Spatula: Cinnamon Duck (Spatula cyanoptera), Puna Teal (Spatula puna)

    APODIFORMES

    • Trochilidae: 
          • Colibris: Lesser Violetear (Colibri cyanotus), Sparkling Violetear (Colibri coruscans)
        • Lesbiinae:
          • Heliantheini:
            • Aglaeactis: Shining Sunbeam (Aglaeactis cupripennis), White-tufted Sunbeam (Aglaeactis castelnaudii)
            • Coeligena: Bronzy Inca (Coeligena coeligena), Gould's Inca (Coeligena inca), Violet-throated Starfrontlet (Coeligena violifer)
            • Ensifera: Sword-billed Hummingbird (Ensifera ensifera)
            • Lafresnaya: Mountain Velvetbreast (Lafresnaya lafresnayi)
            • Pterophanes: Great Sapphirewing (Pterophanes cyanopterus)
          • Lesbiini:
            • Adelomyia: Speckled Hummingbird (Adelomyia melanogenys)
            • Chalcostigma:  Blue-mantled Thornbill (Chalcostigma stanleyi)
            • Lesbia: Black-tailed Trainbearer (Lesbia victoriae), Green-tailed Trainbearer (Lesbia nuna)
            • Metallura: Tyrian Metaltail (Metallura tyrianthina) 
            • Oreonympha: Bearded Mountaineer (Oreonympha nobilis)
            • Oreotrochilus: Andean Hillstar (Oreotrochilus estella)
        • Trochilinae:
        • Patagoninae:
          • Patagona: Giant Hummingbird (Patagona gigas) 

      CORACIIFORMES

      • Momotidae:
        • Momotus: Andean Motmot (Momotus aequatorialis)

      CHARADRIIFORMES

      • Charadriidae:
        • Pluvialis: American Golden Plover (Pluvialis dominica)
      • Laridae:
        • Chroicocephalus: Andean Gull (Chroicocephalus serranus)
      • Recurvirostridae:
        • Himantopus: Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus)
      • Scolopacidae:
        • Calidris: White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis)
        • Tringa: Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria)

      COLUMBIFORMES

      • Columbidae:
        • Metropelia: Bare-faced Ground Dove (Metriopelia ceciliae)
        • Patagioenas: Band-tailed Pigeon (Patagioenas fasciata), Spot-winged Pigeon (Patagioenas maculosa)
        • Zenaida: Eared Dove (Zenaida auriculata)

      FALCONIFORMES

      • Falconidae: 

      GRUIFORMES

      • Rallidae:
        • Fulica: Andean Coot (Fulica ardesiaca)

      PASSERIFORMES

      • Cardinalidae:
        • Pheucticus: Black-backed Grosbeak (Pheucticus aureoventris)
        • Piranga: Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra)
      • Corvidae: 
      • Cotingidae:
        • Ampelion: Red-crested Cotinga (Ampelion rubrocristasus)
        • Rupicola: Andean Cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola peruvianus)
      • Fringillidae:
        • Carduelinae:
          • Spinus: Hooded Siskin (Spinus magellanicus)
        • Euphoniinae:
          • Euphonia: Thick-billed Euphonia (Euphonia laniirostris), Orange-bellied Euphonia (Euphonia xanthogaster)
      • Furnariidae: 
        • Asthenes: Puna Thistletail (Asthenes helleri), Rusty-fronted Canastero (Asthenes ottonis), Vilcabamba Thistletail (Asthenes vilcabambae)
        • Cinclodes: Royal Cinclodes (Cinclodes aricomae)
        • Cranioleuca: Creamy-crested Spinetail (Cranioleuca albicapilla)
        • Hellmayrea: White-browed Spinetail (Hellmayrea gularis)
      • Grallariidae: 
        • Grallaria: Red-and-white Antpitta (Grallaria erythroleuca), Stripe-headed Antpitta (Grallaria andicolus), Undulated Antpitta (Grallaria squamigera), Urubamba Antpitta (Grallaria occabambae)
      • Parulidae:
        • Myioborus: Spectacled Redstart (Myioborus melanocephalus), Slate-throated Whitestart (Myioborus miniatus)
      • Passerellidae:
        • Arremon: Chestnut-capped Brushfinch (Arremon brunneinucha)
        • Atlapetes: Cuzco Bushfinch (Atlapetes canigenis)
        • Zonotrichia: Rufous-collared Sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis)
      • Rhinocryptidae: 
      • Tachurididae:
        • Tachuris: Many-coloured Rush-tyrant (Tachuris rubrigastra)
      • Thraupidae:
        • Anisognathus: Scarlet-bellied Mountain Tanager (Anisognathus igniventris)
        • Catamenia: Band-tailed Seedeater (Catamenia analis)
        • Chalcotharupis: Golden-naped Tanager (Chalcotharupis ruficervix)
        • Conirostrum: Cinereous Conebill (Conirostrum cinerum)
        • Coryphospingus: Red-crested Finch (Coryphospingus cucullatus)
        • Dacnis: Blue Dacnis (Dacnis cayana)
        • Diglossa: Black-throated Flowerpiercer (Diglossa brunneiventris), Rusty Flowerpiercer (Diglossa sittoides)
        • Poospizopsis: Chestnut-breasted Mountain Finch (Poospizopsis caesar)
        • Rauenia: Blue-and-Yellow Tanager (Rauenia bonariensis)
        • Saltator: Golden-billed Saltator (Saltator aurantiirostris)
        • Stilpnia: Blue-necked Tanager (Stilpnia cyanicollis)
        • Tachyphonus: White-lined Tanager (Tachyphonus rufus)
        • Tangara: Saffron-crowned Tanager (Tangara xanthocephala)
        • Thlypopsis: Rust-and-Yellow Tanager (Thlypopsis ruficeps)
        • Thraupis: Blue-gray Tanager (Thraupis episcopus)
        • Xenodacnis: Tit-like Dacnis (Xenodacnis parina)
      • Troglodytidae:
      • Turdidae:
        • Turdus: Chiguanco Thrush (Turdus chiguanco), Great Thrush (Turdus fuscater)
        • Catharus: Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus)
      • Tyrannidae:
        • Anairetes: Ash-breasted Tit-Tyrant (Anairetes alpinus)
        • Elaenia: Sierran Elaenia (Elaenia pallatangae), White-crested Elaenia (Elaenia albiceps)
        • Ochthoeca: Rufous-breasted Chat-Tyrant (Ochthoeca rufipectoralis)
        • Pyrrhomyias: Cinnamon Flycatcher (Pyrrhomyias cinnamomeus)
        • Tyranniscus: Tawny-rumped Tyrannulet (Tyranniscus uropygialis)

      PELECANIFORMES

      • Ardeidae:
        • Ardea: Great Egret (Ardea alba Egretta), Western Cattle Egret (Ardea ibis)
        • Nycticorax: Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
      • Threskiornithidae:
        • Plegadis: Puna Ibis (Plegadis ridgwayi)
        • Theristicus: Black-faced Ibis (Theristicus melanopis)

      PHOENICOPTERIFORMES

      • Phoenicopteridae: 
        • Phoenicopterus: Chilean flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis)

      PICIFORMES

      • Capitonidae: 
        • Eubucco: Versicolored Barbet (Eubucco versicolor)
      • Picidae:
        • Colaptes: Golden-olive Woodpecker (Colaptes rubiginosus), Andean Flicker (Colaptes rupicola)

      PODICIPEDIFORMES

      • Podicipedidae:
        • Podiceps: Silvery Grebe (Podiceps occipitalis)
        • Rollandia: White-tufted Grebe (Rollandia rolland)

      PSITTACIFORMES

      • Psittacidae:
        • Bolborhynchus: Andean Parakeet (Bolborhynchus orbygnesius)
        • Psittacara: Mitred Parakeet (Psittacara mitratus)

      STRIGIFORMES

      • Strigidae: 
        • Asio: Short-eared Owl (Asio flameus)
        • Athene: Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia)
        • Bubo: Lesser Horned Owl (Bubo magellanicus)
        • Glaucidium: Peruvian Pygmy-Owl (Glaucidium peruanum)

      TINAMIFORMES

      Bird Diversity in Peru

      Bird watching in Peru is more than a leisure activity—it's a journey through some of the most breathtaking landscapes on the planet, from the high-altitude plateaus of the Andes to the lush Amazon Basin. The country is home to dozens of endemic hummingbirds Peru is known for, many of which can be found only in isolated cloud forests or unique ecological zones around Cusco and Ollantaytambo. These stunning creatures, with their iridescent feathers and high-speed agility, are a dream subject for bird photography.

      Our birdwatching tours Peru-wide are designed for all levels of experience—from casual birdwatchers to professional wildlife bird photographers. Whether you're seeking the perfect shot of an endemic hummingbird, cock-of-the-rock, or hoping to add rare species like the Marvelous Spatuletail or the Andean Hillstar to your life list, we tailor our birding tours to meet your goals. We also organize birding tours for photographers Peru-bound, offering exclusive access to photo hides, expert guides, and local knowledge that can make all the difference in spotting elusive species like endemic hummingbirds.

      Peru birdwatching isn't confined to one region. While the Amazon rainforest is teeming with diversity, the Sacred Valley around Ollantaytambo and the forests near Cusco offer equally rich opportunities. Birding Peru in these regions can yield sightings of mixed-species flocks, endemic hummingbirds, colorful tanagers, and raptors soaring along ridgelines. The unique ecosystems in these areas support an incredible variety of avifauna, making every bird watching excursion a chance for discovery.

      Bird photography Peru is a deeply rewarding pursuit, offering the chance to document behaviors, patterns, and interactions within one of the world’s most dynamic bird populations. Whether you're capturing the delicate feeding rituals of an endemic hummingbirds or the dramatic flight of macaws over the rainforest canopy, Peru delivers unmatched visual experiences.

      If you're passionate about birdwatching Peru is a must-visit destination—full of life, color, and awe-inspiring biodiversity. With our support and local expertise, your journey into the world of Peru birdwatching will be unforgettable. From the peaceful gardens near Ollantaytambo to remote jungle lodges deep in the Amazon, we invite you to experience the magic of birding Peru for yourself.

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