List of birds of Colombia

This is a list of the bird species recorded in Colombia. According to the South American Classification Committee (SACC) of the American Ornithological Society (AOS), the avifauna of Colombia has 1906 confirmed species. Of them, 84 are endemic, four have been introduced by humans, and 77 are rare or vagrants. One of the endemic species is believed to be extinct. An additional 39 species are hypothetical (see below).^[1][2]

The Colombian province of San Andrés and Providencia is much closer to Nicaragua than to the South American mainland, so the SACC does not address records there. A 2015 publication adds 16 species whose only Colombian records are from that province and also five species to the mainland list. It also does not include one species that the SACC recognizes. Three of the 16 are also considered hypothetical.^[3] A 2020 publication adds two more species (one offshore vagrant and a vagrant to the mainland).^[4] (The SACC does not address records from more than 200 miles offshore.)

Unless noted otherwise, the list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families, and species) and nomenclature (common and scientific names) are those 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.^[5]

The total number of species presented here is 2023. Of them, 87 are endemic, 134 are vagrants, and 1 species is of uncertain origin. Included are 52 species listed in a 1959 publication; none of them have been confirmed by the SACC since then.^[6][5] Three species listed from GBIF are included.

The following tags have been used to highlight several categories of occurrence.

• (V) Vagrant - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Colombia
• (E) Endemic - a species endemic to Colombia
• (I) Introduced - a species introduced to Colombia as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions
• (H) Hypothetical - a species recorded but with "no tangible evidence" according to the SACC
• (SA) San Andrés - a species whose only Colombian records are from the province of San Andrés and Providencia

Population status symbols are those of the Red List published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).^[7] The symbols apply to the species' worldwide status, not their status solely in Colombia. The symbols and their meanings, in increasing order of peril, are:

Conservation status codes

LC = least concern	NT = near threatened	VU = vulnerable
EN = endangered	CR = critically endangered	EW = extinct in the wild
EX = extinct

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. Nineteen species have been recorded in Colombia.

Order: Anseriformes   Family: 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. Two species have been recorded in Colombia.

• Horned screamer, Anhima cornuta (Linnaeus, 1766)
• Northern screamer, Chauna chavaria (Linnaeus, 1766) NT

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. Thirty-four species have been recorded in Colombia.

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. Colombia has the largest number of cracids of any country; twenty-six have been recorded there.

Order: Galliformes   Family: Odontophoridae

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. Ten species have been recorded in Colombia.

• Tawny-faced quail, Rhynchortyx cinctus (Salvin, 1876)
• Crested bobwhite, Colinus cristatus (Linnaeus, 1766)
• Marbled wood-quail, Odontophorus gujanensis (Gmelin, JF, 1789) NT
• Black-fronted wood-quail, Odontophorus atrifrons Allen, JA, 1900 VU
• Rufous-fronted wood-quail, Odontophorus erythrops Gould, 1859
• Chestnut wood-quail, Odontophorus hyperythrus Gould, 1858 (E) NT
• Dark-backed wood-quail, Odontophorus melanonotus Gould, 1861 VU
• Rufous-breasted wood-quail, Odontophorus speciosus Tschudi, 1843
• Tacarcuna wood-quail, Odontophorus dialeucos Wetmore, 1963 VU
• Gorgeted wood-quail, Odontophorus strophium (Gould, 1844) (E) VU

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. Two species have been recorded in Colombia.

• Chilean flamingo, Phoenicopterus chilensis (Molina, 1782) (V)
• American flamingo, Phoenicopterus ruber Linnaeus, 1758

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. Four species have been recorded in Colombia.

• Least grebe, Tachybaptus dominicus (Linnaeus, 1766)
• Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps (Linnaeus, 1758)
• Colombian grebe, Podiceps andinus (Meyer de Schauensee, 1959) (E) EX
• Silvery grebe, Podiceps occipitalis Garnot, 1826 NT

Order: Columbiformes   Family: Columbidae

Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere. Thirty-nine species have been recorded in Colombia.

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. Twenty-one species have been recorded in Colombia.

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.

• Oilbird, Steatornis caripensis Humboldt, 1817

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. Six species have been recorded in Colombia.

• Rufous potoo, Phyllaemulor bracteatus (Gould, 1846)
• Great potoo, Nyctibius grandis (Gmelin, JF, 1789)
• Long-tailed potoo, Nyctibius aethereus (Wied-Neuwied, M, 1820)
• Common potoo, Nyctibius griseus (Gmelin, JF, 1789)
• Andean potoo, Nyctibius maculosus Ridgway, 1912
• White-winged potoo, Nyctibius leucopterus (Wied-Neuwied, M, 1821)

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. Twenty-two species have been recorded in Colombia.

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. Nineteen species have been recorded in Colombia.

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. Colombia has the greatest diversity of hummingbirds of any country on earth. One hundred sixty-seven species have been recorded there.

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.

• Hoatzin, Opisthocomus hoazin (Müller, PLS, 1776)

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Aramidae

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

• Limpkin, Aramus guarauna (Linnaeus, 1766)

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 males. One species has been recorded in Colombia.

• Gray-winged trumpeter, Psophia crepitans Linnaeus, 1758 NT

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. Thirty-two species have been recorded in Colombia.

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Gruidae

Cranes are large, long-legged and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances". One species has been recorded in Colombia.

• Common crane, Grus grus (Linnaeus, 1758) (V)^[11]

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. One species has been recorded in Colombia.

• Sungrebe, Heliornis fulica (Boddaert, 1783)

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. Thirteen species have been recorded in Colombia.

• Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola (Linnaeus, 1758)
• American golden-plover, Pluvialis dominica (Müller, PLS, 1776)
• Pied lapwing, Hoploxypteruss cayanus
• Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus Linnaeus, 1758
• Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus Bonaparte, 1825
• Piping plover, Charadrius melodus Ord, 1824 (V)
• Lesser sand-plover, Charadrius mongolus (Pallas, 1776) EN (V)^[6]
• Northern lapwing, Vanellus vanellus Linnaeus, 1758 (V)^[6]
• Southern lapwing, Vanellus chilensis (Molina, 1782)
• Andean lapwing, Vanellus resplendens (Tschudi, 1843)
• Wilson's plover, Anarynchus wilsonia Ord, 1814
• Collared plover, Anarynchus collaris Vieillot, 1818
• Snowy plover, Anarynchus nivosus (Cassin, 1858)

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Haematopodidae

The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs. One species has been recorded in Colombia.

• American oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus Temminck, 1820

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. Two species have been recorded in Colombia.

• Black-necked stilt, Himantopus mexicanus (Müller, PLS, 1776)
• American avocet, Recurvirostra americana Gmelin, JF, 1789 (V)

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. One species has been recorded in Colombia.

• Double-striped thick-knee, Hesperoburhinus bistriatus

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. Forty-four species have been recorded in Colombia.

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. One species has been recorded in Colombia.

• Rufous-bellied seedsnipe, Attagis gayi Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, É & Lesson, RP, 1831

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. One species has been recorded in Colombia.

• Wattled jacana, Jacana jacana (Linnaeus, 1766)

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. Five species have been recorded in Colombia.

• Great skua, Stercorarius skua (Brünnich, 1764) (H)
• South polar skua, Stercorarius maccormicki Saunders, H, 1893 (H)
• Pomarine jaeger, Stercorarius pomarinus (Temminck, 1815)
• Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus (Linnaeus, 1758)
• Long-tailed jaeger, Stercorarius longicaudus Vieillot, 1819

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. One species has been recorded in Colombia.

• Black skimmer, Rynchops niger Linnaeus, 1758

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Laridae

Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds and includesgulls, terns, and skimmers. Gulls are typically gray or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have 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. Thirty-eight species of Laridae have been recorded in Colombia.

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.

• Sunbittern, Eurypyga helias (Pallas, 1781)

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. Three species have been recorded in Colombia.

• Red-billed tropicbird, Phaethon aethereus Linnaeus, 1758
• Red-tailed tropicbird, Phaethon rubricauda Boddaert, 1783 (H)
• White-tailed tropicbird, Phaethon lepturus Daudin, 1802 (H)

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. Three species have been recorded in Colombia.

• Humboldt penguin, Spheniscus humboldti Meyen, 1834 (V)
• Galapagos penguin, Spheniscus mendiculus Sundevall, 1871 (H)
• Magellanic penguin, Spheniscus magellanicus (Forster, JR, 1781) (V)

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. Four species have been recorded in Colombia.

• Waved albatross, Phoebastria irrorata (Salvin, 1883) (V) CR
• Shy albatross, Thalassarche cauta (Gould, 1841) (V)^[6] NT
• Yellow-nosed albatross, Thalassarche chlororhynchos (Gmelin, JF, 1789)
• Black-browed albatross, Thalassarche melanophris (Temminck, 1828) (V)

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. Three species have been recorded in Colombia.

• White-bellied storm-petrel, Fregetta grallaria (Vieillot, 1818) (H)
• Elliot's storm-petrel, Oceanites gracilis (Elliot, DG, 1859) DD
• White-faced storm-petrel, Pelagodroma marina (Latham, 1790) (H)

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. Seven species have been recorded in Colombia.

• Least storm-petrel, Hydrobates microsoma (Coues, 1864) (V)
• Wedge-rumped storm-petrel, Hydrobates tethys (Bonaparte, 1852)
• Band-rumped storm-petrel, Hydrobates castro (Harcourt, 1851) (V)
• Leach's storm-petrel, Hydrobates leucorhous (Vieillot, 1818) (V)
• Markham's storm-petrel, Hydrobates markhami (Salvin, 1883) (H) NT
• Hornby's storm-petrel, Hydrobates hornbyi (Gray, GR, 1854) (V)
• Black storm-petrel, Hydrobates melania (Bonaparte, 1854)

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. Nineteen species have been recorded in Colombia.

• Pintado petrel, Daption capense (Linnaeus, 1758) (V)
• Gould's petrel, Pterodroma leucoptera (Gould, 1844) (H)
• Black-capped petrel, Pterodroma hasitata (Kuhl, 1820) (V)
• Galapagos petrel, Pterodroma phaeopygia (Salvin, 1876) (V) CR
• Juan Fernandez petrel, Pterodroma externa (Salvin, 1875) (H)
• Trindade petrel, Pterodroma arminjoniana (Giglioli & Salvadori, 1869) (V)^[6] VU
• White-chinned petrel, Procellaria aequinoctialis Linnaeus, 1758 (H)
• Parkinson's petrel, Procellaria parkinsoni Gray, GR, 1862 (V) VU
• Westland petrel, Procellaria westlandica Falla, 1946 (V)
• Cory's shearwater, Calonectris diomedea (Scopoli, 1769) (V)
• Wedge-tailed shearwater, Ardenna pacifica (Gmelin, JF, 1789) (V)
• Sooty shearwater, Ardenna grisea (Gmelin, JF, 1789)
• Great shearwater, Ardenna gravis O'Reilly, 1818 (V)
• Pink-footed shearwater, Ardenna creatopus (Coues, 1864) (V) VU
• Manx shearwater, Puffinus puffinus (Brünnich, 1764) (H)
• Christmas shearwater, Puffinus nativitatis Streets, 1877 (V)^{[note 3][4]}
• Little shearwater, Puffinus assimilis Gould, 1838 (V)^[6]
• Galapagos shearwater, Puffinus subalaris Ridgway, 1897 (V)
• Audubon's shearwater, Puffinus lherminieri Lesson, RP, 1839

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. Three species have been recorded in Colombia.

• Maguari stork, Ciconia maguari (Gmelin, JF, 1789)
• Jabiru, Jabiru mycteria (Lichtenstein, MHC, 1819)
• Wood stork, Mycteria americana Linnaeus, 1758

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. Two species have been recorded in Colombia.

• Magnificent frigatebird, Fregata magnificens Mathews, 1914
• Great frigatebird, Fregata minor (Gmelin, JF, 1789)

Order: Suliformes   Family: Sulidae

The sulids comprise the gannets and boobies. Both groups are medium to large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish. Six species have been recorded in Colombia.

• Blue-footed booby, Sula nebouxii Milne-Edwards, 1882
• Peruvian booby, Sula variegata (Tschudi, 1843) (V)
• Masked booby, Sula dactylatra Lesson, RP, 1831
• Nazca booby, Sula granti Rothschild, 1902
• Red-footed booby, Sula sula (Linnaeus, 1766)
• Brown booby, Sula leucogaster (Boddaert, 1783)
• Cocos booby, Sula brewsteri (Goss, 1888)^{[citation needed]}

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 anhingas 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. One species has been recorded in Colombia.

• Anhinga, Anhinga anhinga (Linnaeus, 1766)

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. Three species have been recorded in Colombia.

• Neotropic cormorant, Phalacrocorax brasilianus
• Guanay cormorant, Phalacrocorax bougainvillii (V)
• Double-crested cormorant, Phalacrocorax auritus (SA)^[3]

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. Two species have been recorded in Colombia.

• American white pelican, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos Gmelin, JF, 1789 (SA)^[3]
• Brown pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis Linnaeus, 1766

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. Twenty-five species have been recorded in Colombia.

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. Nine species have been recorded in Colombia.

• White ibis, Eudocimus albus (Linnaeus, 1758)
• Scarlet ibis, Eudocimus ruber (Linnaeus, 1758)
• Glossy ibis, Plegadis falcinellus (Linnaeus, 1766) (V)
• Sharp-tailed ibis, Cercibis oxycerca (Spix, 1825)
• Green ibis, Mesembrinibis cayennensis (Gmelin, JF, 1789)
• Bare-faced ibis, Phimosus infuscatus (Lichtenstein, MHC, 1823)
• Buff-necked ibis, Theristicus caudatus (Boddaert, 1783)
• Eurasian spoonbill, Platalea leucorodia Linnaeus, 1758 (V)^[6]
• Roseate spoonbill, Platalea ajaja Linnaeus, 1758

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. Six species have been recorded in Colombia.

• King vulture, Sarcoramphus papa (Linnaeus, 1758)
• Andean condor, Vultur gryphus Linnaeus, 1758 NT
• Black vulture, Coragyps atratus (Bechstein, 1793)
• Turkey vulture, Cathartes aura (Linnaeus, 1758)
• Lesser yellow-headed vulture, Cathartes burrovianus Cassin, 1845
• Greater yellow-headed vulture, Cathartes melambrotus Wetmore, 1964

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.

• Osprey, Pandion haliaetus (Linnaeus, 1758)

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. Fifty-two species have been recorded in Colombia.

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. One species has been recorded in Colombia.

• American barn-owl, Tyto furcata (Temminck, 1827)

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. Twenty-seven species have been recorded in Colombia.

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. Seventeen species have been recorded in Colombia, the largest number in any country.

• Pavonine quetzal, Pharomachrus pavoninus (Spix, 1824)
• Golden-headed quetzal, Pharomachrus auriceps (Gould, 1842)
• White-tipped quetzal, Pharomachrus fulgidus (Gould, 1838)
• Crested quetzal, Pharomachrus antisianus (d'Orbigny, 1837)
• Slaty-tailed trogon, Trogon massena Gould, 1838
• Blue-tailed trogon, Trogon comptus Zimmer, JT, 1948
• Black-tailed trogon, Trogon melanurus Swainson, 1838
• White-tailed trogon, Trogon chionurus Sclater, PL & Salvin, 1871
• Green-backed trogon, Trogon viridis Linnaeus, 1766
• Gartered violaceous-trogon, Trogon caligatus Gould, 1838
• Amazonian violaceous-trogon, Trogon ramonianus Deville & des Murs, 1849
• Blue-crowned trogon, Trogon curucui Linnaeus, 1766
• Graceful black-throated trogon, Trogon tenellus Cabanis, 1862
• Kerr's black-throated trogon, Trogon cupreicauda (Chapman, 1914)
• Amazonian black-throated trogon, Trogon rufus Gmelin, JF, 1788
• Collared trogon, Trogon collaris Vieillot, 1817
• Masked trogon, Trogon personatus Gould, 1842

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. Six species have been recorded in Colombia.

• Tody motmot, Hylomanes momotula Lichtenstein, MHC, 1839
• Broad-billed motmot, Electron platyrhynchum (Leadbeater, 1829)
• Rufous motmot, Baryphthengus martii (Spix, 1824)
• Whooping motmot, Momotus subrufescens Sclater, PL, 1853
• Amazonian motmot, Momotus momota (Linnaeus, 1766)
• Andean motmot, Momotus aequatorialis Gould, 1858

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Alcedinidae

Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs, and stubby tails. Six species have been recorded in Colombia.

• Ringed kingfisher, Megaceryle torquata (Linnaeus, 1766)
• Belted kingfisher, Megaceryle alcyon (Linnaeus, 1758)
• Amazon kingfisher, Chloroceryle amazona (Latham, 1790)
• American pygmy kingfisher, Chloroceryle aenea (Pallas, 1764)
• Green kingfisher, Chloroceryle americana (Gmelin, JF, 1788)
• Green-and-rufous kingfisher, Chloroceryle inda (Linnaeus, 1766)

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. In appearance and behavior they resemble the Old World bee-eaters, although they are more closely related to puffbirds. Thirteen species have been recorded in Colombia.

• White-eared jacamar, Galbalcyrhynchus leucotis des Murs, 1845
• Brown jacamar, Brachygalba lugubris (Swainson, 1838)
• Pale-headed jacamar, Brachygalba goeringi Sclater, PL & Salvin, 1869
• Dusky-backed jacamar, Brachygalba salmoni Sclater, PL & Salvin, 1879
• Yellow-billed jacamar, Galbula albirostris Latham, 1790
• Rufous-tailed jacamar, Galbula ruficauda Cuvier, 1816
• Green-tailed jacamar, Galbula galbula (Linnaeus, 1766)
• White-chinned jacamar, Galbula tombacea Spix, 1824
• Coppery-chested jacamar, Galbula pastazae Taczanowski & Berlepsch, 1885 NT
• Purplish jacamar, Galbula chalcothorax Sclater, PL, 1855
• Bronzy jacamar, Galbula leucogastra Vieillot, 1817
• Paradise jacamar, Galbula dea (Linnaeus, 1758)
• Great jacamar, Jacamerops aureus (Müller, PLS, 1776)

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. Twenty-five species have been recorded in Colombia.

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. Eight species have been recorded in Colombia.

• Scarlet-crowned barbet, Capito aurovirens (Cuvier, 1829)
• Spot-crowned barbet, Capito maculicoronatus Lawrence, 1861
• Orange-fronted barbet, Capito squamatus Salvin, 1876 NT
• White-mantled barbet, Capito hypoleucus Salvin, 1897 (E) VU
• Five-colored barbet, Capito quinticolor Elliot, DG, 1865 VU
• Gilded barbet, Capito auratus (Dumont, 1805)
• Lemon-throated barbet, Eubucco richardsoni (Gray, GR, 1846)
• Red-headed barbet, Eubucco bourcierii (Lafresnaye, 1845)

Order: Piciformes   Family: Semnornithidae

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

• Toucan barbet, Semnornis ramphastinus (Jardine, 1855) NT

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. Twenty species have been recorded in Colombia, the largest number of toucans of any country.

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. Forty-five species have been recorded in Colombia.

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. Nineteen species have been recorded in Colombia.

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. Fifty-seven species have been recorded in Colombia.

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.

• Sapayoa, Sapayoa aenigma Hartert, EJO, 1903 (Donegan calls this species broad-billed sapayoa)

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. One hundred fifteen species have been recorded in Colombia.

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Conopophagidae

The gnateaters are round, short-tailed, and long-legged birds, which are closely related to the antbirds. Four species have been recorded in Colombia.

• Black-crowned antpitta, Pittasoma michleri Cassin, 1860
• Rufous-crowned antpitta, Pittasoma rufopileatum Hartert, EJO, 1901
• Chestnut-belted gnateater, Conopophaga aurita (Gmelin, JF, 1789)
• Chestnut-crowned gnateater, Conopophaga castaneiceps Sclater, PL, 1857

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Grallariidae

Antpittas resemble the true pittas with strong, longish legs, very short tails, and stout bills. Thirty-two species have been recorded in Colombia.

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. Nineteen species have been recorded in Colombia.

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Formicariidae

The ground antbirds are a group comprising the antthrushes and antpittas. Antthrushes resemble small rails while antpittas resemble the true pittas with strong, longish legs, very short tails, and stout bills. Eight species have been recorded in Colombia.

• Rufous-capped antthrush, Formicarius colma Boddaert, 1783
• Black-faced antthrush, Formicarius analis (d'Orbigny & Lafresnaye, 1837)
• Black-headed antthrush, Formicarius nigricapillus Ridgway, 1893
• Rufous-breasted antthrush, Formicarius rufipectus Salvin, 1866
• Short-tailed antthrush, Chamaeza campanisona (Lichtenstein, MHC, 1823)
• Striated antthrush, Chamaeza nobilis Gould, 1855
• Schwartz's antthrush, Chamaeza turdina Cabanis & Heine, 1860
• Barred antthrush, Chamaeza mollissima Sclater, PL, 1855

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. One hundred thirteen species have been recorded in Colombia.

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. Twenty-three species have been recorded in Colombia.

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. Thirty-four species have been recorded in Colombia.

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. Twenty-three species have been recorded in Colombia.

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.

• Sharpbill, Oxyruncus cristatus Swainson, 1821

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Onychorhynchidae

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

• Royal flycatcher, Onychorhynchus coronatus (Müller, PLS, 1776)
• Ruddy-tailed flycatcher, Terenotriccus erythrurus (Cabanis, 1847)
• Tawny-breasted flycatcher, Myiobius villosus Sclater, PL, 1860
• Sulphur-rumped flycatcher, Myiobius barbatus (Gmelin, JF, 1789)
• Black-tailed flycatcher, Myiobius atricaudus Lawrence, 1863

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. Two hundred-nine species have been recorded in Colombia.

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. Twenty-two species have been recorded in Colombia.

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. Nine species have been recorded in Colombia.

• Black-collared jay, Cyanolyca armillata (Gray, GR, 1845)
• Turquoise jay, Cyanolyca turcosa (Bonaparte, 1853)
• Beautiful jay, Cyanolyca pulchra (Lawrence, 1876)
• Violaceous jay, Cyanocorax violaceus Du Bus de Gisignies, 1847
• Black-chested jay, Cyanocorax affinis Pelzeln, 1856
• Azure-naped jay, Cyanocorax heilprini Gentry, 1885
• Green jay, Cyanocorax yncas (Boddaert, 1783)
• Rook, Corvus frugilegus Linnaeus, 1758 (V)^[6]
• Hooded crow, Corvus cornix Linnaeus, 1758 (V)^[6]

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. Two species have been recorded in Colombia.

• Eurasian skylark, Alauda arvensis Linnaeus, 1758 (V)^[6]
• Horned lark, Eremophila alpestris (Linnaeus, 1758)

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Locustellidae

Locustellidae are a family of small insectivorous songbirds found mainly in Eurasia, Africa, and the Australian region. They are smallish birds with tails that are usually long and pointed, and tend to be drab brownish or buffy all over. One species has been recorded in Colombia.

• Middendorff's grasshopper warbler, Helopsaltes ochotensis (Middendorff, 1853) (V)^[6]

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. Nineteen species have been recorded in Colombia.

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Phylloscopidae

Leaf warblers are a family of small insectivorous birds found mostly in Eurasia and ranging into Wallacea and Africa. The Arctic warbler breeds east into Alaska. The species are of various sizes, often green-plumaged above and yellow below, or more subdued with grayish-green to grayish-brown colors. One species has been recorded in Colombia.

• Willow warbler, Phylloscopus trochilus (Linnaeus, 1758) (V)^[6]

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. Colombia has the greatest diversity of wrens on earth; thirty-six species have been recorded in the country.

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. Seven species have been recorded in Colombia.

• Collared gnatwren, Microbates collaris (Pelzeln, 1868)
• Half-collared gnatwren, Microbates cinereiventris (Sclater, PL, 1855)
• Trilling gnatwren, Ramphocaenus melanurus Vieillot, 1819
• Tropical gnatcatcher, Polioptila plumbea (Gmelin, JF, 1788)
• Rio Negro gnatcatcher, Polioptila facilis Zimmer, JT, 1942
• Guianan gnatcatcher, Polioptila guianensis Todd, 1920 (H)
• Slate-throated gnatcatcher, Polioptila schistaceigula Hartert, EJO, 1898

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.

• Black-capped donacobius, Donacobius atricapilla (Linnaeus, 1766)

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. One species has been recorded in Colombia.

• White-capped dipper, Cinclus leucocephalus Tschudi, 1844

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. One species has been recorded in Colombia.

• Cedar waxwing, Bombycilla cedrorum Vieillot, 1808 (V)

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. Thirty-one species have been recorded in Colombia.

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Muscicapidae

The Old World flycatchers form a large family of small passerine birds. These are mainly small arboreal insectivores, many of which, as the name implies, take their prey on the wing. One species has been recorded in Colombia.

• Siberian rubythroat, Calliope calliope (Pallas, 1776) (V)^[6]

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. Two species have been recorded in Colombia.

• Gray catbird, Dumetella carolinensis (Linnaeus, 1766)
• Tropical mockingbird, Mimus gilvus (Vieillot, 1808)

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Estrildidae

The members of this family are small passerine birds native to the Old World tropics. They are gregarious and often colonial seed eaters with short thick but pointed bills. They are all similar in structure and habits, but have wide variation in plumage colors and patterns. Two species have been recorded in Colombia.

• Tricolored munia, Lonchura malacca (Linnaeus, 1766) (I)
• Java sparrow, Lonchura oryzivora (Linnaeus, 1758) (I)

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Prunellidae

Accentors are small, fairly drab species superficially similar, but unrelated to, sparrows. However, accentors have thin sharp bills, reflecting their diet of insects in summer, augmented with seeds and berries in winter. One species has been recorded in Colombia.

• Siberian accentor, Prunella montanella (Pallas, 1776) (V)^[6]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Passeridae

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. Two species have been recorded in Colombia.

• House sparrow, Passer domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758) (I)
• Eurasian tree sparrow, Passer montanus (Linnaeus, 1758) (uncertain origin)^[6]