Birds Of Peru: The Complete List

Peru’s variety of ecosystems—from Amazon lowlands and cloudforest to Andean highlands and the coastal strip—creates one of the richest avian landscapes on Earth. Whether you’re interested in hummingbirds, raptors, or secretive understory species, the country offers a mix of habitats within relatively short travel distances.

There are 47 Birds of Peru, ranging from Andean Cock-of-the-rock to White‑winged Swallow. For each species you’ll find below the Scientific name (Family), Primary region, Conservation status (IUCN), organized so you can scan taxonomy, where to look, and threat level—you’ll find below.

How can I use the table to find where to see specific species?

Use the Primary region column to target habitats (Amazon, Andes, coast, etc.) and cross-check the Scientific name (Family) for similar species; combine that with local guides or eBird hotspots to narrow sites and seasons when a species is most likely to appear.

What do the conservation statuses tell me about priority species?

Check the Conservation status (IUCN) column for Vulnerable, Endangered, or Critically Endangered labels—those indicate higher concern and often localized ranges; if you plan visits, consider supporting local reserves and following ethical birding practices to minimize disturbance.

Birds of Peru

Images and Descriptions

Andean Condor

Massive black vulture with white neck ruff and broad 3‑meter wingspan; breeds on high cliffs, scavenges large carcasses across Andean puna and high valleys, culturally iconic and slow‑to reproduce making populations vulnerable.

Andean Cock-of-the-rock

Striking orange male with fan crest and black wings, found in cloudforest leks along Andean slopes, frugivorous and noisy; a favorite of birdwatchers for its bold courtship displays and distinctive silhouette.

Hoatzin

Prehistoric‑looking leaf‑eating bird with spiky crest and foul fermentation odor, inhabits riverine forest, feeds on leaves and fruits, nests colonially in river islands and is notable for clawed winglets in chicks.

Scarlet Macaw

Large red parrot with blue and yellow wing panels, common in lowland Amazon and river edges; highly conspicuous, cavity nester, threatened locally by trapping and habitat loss but still visible in many Peruvian forests.

Blue-and-yellow Macaw

Vivid blue upperparts and yellow underparts with greenish forehead; found along rivers and forest borders in Amazon lowlands, forms noisy flocks, excavates or uses large tree cavities for nesting.

Harpy Eagle

Powerful forest raptor with massive talons, crested head and bold facial pattern; sits near canopy or hunts in tall Amazonian forest for monkeys and sloths, low density and vulnerable to habitat loss.

Peruvian Pelican

Large brownish pelican endemic to Humboldt Current waters, nests on coastal islands and cliffs, dives and surface‑feeds on anchovy schools, populations sensitive to fishery declines and human disturbance.

Inca Tern

Distinctive coastal tern with charcoal plumage and long white moustache; forages close to the shore and breeds on rocky coastal islands, iconic emblem of the Humboldt Current birdlife with declining trends.

Peruvian Booby

Stocky brownish booby of cold Pacific upwelling, nests in dense colonies on offshore islands, dives for anchovies and sardines, a keystone species of the coastal guano ecosystem.

Guanay Cormorant

Dark, gular‑throated cormorant historically central to guano islands; forms huge breeding colonies on Peruvian coast and feeds on anchovy shoals; drastic declines from overharvest and fishing impacts have made it vulnerable.

Andean Gull

Medium gull with dark legs and subtle plumage, breeds at high Andean lakes and wetlands, opportunistic feeder on aquatic invertebrates, fish and roadkill; common at high elevations across the Andes.

Giant Hummingbird

The world’s largest hummingbird, bronzy with long bill, inhabits Andean puna and scrub up to high elevations; feeds on large tubular flowers and defends feeding territories with deep, powerful wingbeats.

Sword‑billed Hummingbird

Amazing long bill longer than its head used to probe long tubular flowers in cloudforest edges; metallic green body and white throat, found along Andean slopes where its bill matches specialized flora.

Andean Hillstar

Chunky high‑elevation hummingbird with iridescent throat and dark tail, lives on puna slopes and rocky outcrops, often seen sipping shrubs and cushions of high Andean plants and defending small floral territories.

Torrent Duck

Specialist of fast mountain streams with cryptic plumage and strong legs, males and females have distinct facial patterns; nests on rocky banks and feeds on aquatic invertebrates scraped from stones.

Andean Goose

White‑headed, grey‑bodied large goose of high Andean lakes and puna wetlands, grazes sedges and grasses in flocks, often seen at high elevations near livestock pastures.

White‑winged Guan

Critically endangered, shy chestnut guan with white wing patches endemic to north‑central Peru’s dry forest; ground‑foraging fruit eater surviving in fragmented patches and subject to intense conservation efforts.

Peruvian Plantcutter

Endemic, rare finch‑like bird with thick bill and streaked plumage, specialized on seeds and buds of arid coastal scrub; restricted to Piura coastal valleys and threatened by habitat conversion and grazing.

Oilbird

Nocturnal, frugivorous cave‑dwelling bird with echolocation‑like clicks; bulky brown plumage, nests in dark cave colonies in forested foothills and feeds on lipid‑rich oil palm fruits at night.

Chestnut‑fronted Macaw

Mid‑sized green macaw with chestnut forehead and blue flight feathers, inhabits riverine and floodplain forest, noisy and social, uses tree cavities for nesting and is tolerant of secondary forest patches.

Toco Toucan

Largest toucan with striking black body and enormous orange bill; occurs in lowland forest edges and gallery forest, frugivorous and conspicuous, uses bill for fruit handling and thermoregulation.

Andean Flamingo

Rarity of high Andean salt lakes with pale pink plumage, yellow legs and specialized filter‑feeding bill; breeds on remote Andean saline lagoons and is vulnerable to water extraction and mining impacts.

James’s Flamingo

Smaller pink flamingo restricted to Andean altiplano lakes, fine filtered diet of algae and small crustaceans, forms dense flocks on salt lakes and is sensitive to habitat disturbance.

Humboldt Penguin

Cold‑water penguin of the Humboldt Current, breeds on offshore islands and rocky shores, black head with white border and spotted belly; threatened by fisheries, climate events and human disturbance.

Blue‑footed Booby

White and brown booby with unmistakable blue feet used in courtship; nests on coastal islands and rocky shores, dives spectacularly into coastal waters for schooling fish.

Black‑and‑white Hawk‑Eagle

Striking medium eagle with black and white plumage and long crest; hunts mammals and birds along forest edges and clearings, often seen perched conspicuously in lowland Amazon.

Fork‑tailed Flycatcher

Long‑tailed, migratory flycatcher with dramatic forked tail and contrasting black‑and‑white or grey plumage; perches conspicuously in open habitats and captures flying insects on the wing.

Rufous‑tailed Jacamar

Slim, iridescent green jacamar with long bill and rufous tail, perches on exposed branches near forest edges and streams, snatching large insects like butterflies and dragonflies.

Andean Lapwing

High‑elevation plover with dark face and white wing patch, found around puna wetlands and saline lakes, forages for invertebrates and nests on bare ground at high altitudes.

Great Tinamou

Large secretive ground bird of mature Amazonian forest, brown cryptic plumage and deep booming song; feeds on fallen fruit and seeds and is often heard rather than seen in dense understory.

Short‑eared Owl

Open‑country owl with pale facial disk and dark ear tufts evident in flight; hunts during dusk and dawn across grassland, marshes and coastal dunes, often seen quartering over open areas.

Spectacled Owl

Bold nocturnal forest owl with dark brown upperparts and pale facial spectacles, sits in shaded interior of lowland forest and preys on mammals and birds, rarely seen but often heard.

Blue‑headed Macaw

Smaller green macaw with distinctive blue head, restricted to western Amazonian foothills and river valleys in Peru; shy and vulnerable due to trapping and habitat fragmentation.

Andean Pygmy‑Owl

Tiny owl with barred chest and white throat, inhabits montane forest and edges, active at dawn and dusk hunting insects and small vertebrates; often bold near forest clearings.

Magnificent Frigatebird

Large aerial seabird with forked tail and long wings, males display inflatable red gular sac; soars above coastal waters stealing prey or catching fish near the surface, nests on offshore islets.

Rufous‑tailed Hawk

Medium hawk with rufous tail and barred underparts found along Andean slopes and high valleys; hunts small mammals and birds from perches, affected by habitat change and persecution in some areas.

White‑winged Swallow

Glossy bluish swallow with white underparts and wing patches, common near rivers and open water in Amazon lowlands, nests in cavities and feeds on flying insects over water.

Highland Tinamou

Ground‑dwelling tinamou of dry puna and scrub at high elevations, cryptic streaked plumage and soft call, feeds on seeds and small invertebrates and lays eggs in shallow scrapes.

Sunbittern

Elegant riverine bird with cryptic brown plumage and spectacular wing display showing colourful eye‑spots; hunts along forest streams for fish and aquatic insects and is often solitary.

Great Egret

Tall white heron with long neck and yellow bill, found in wetlands, rivers and coastal shallows throughout Peru; fishes in shallow water, breeds in colonies with other herons and egrets.

Rufous‑breasted Chat‑Tyrant

Small, active flycatcher with rufous breast and plain face inhabiting upper montane forest edges and shrub zones; flicks tail and sallies for insects, often seen in pairs.

Scarlet-fronted Parakeet

Vibrant green parakeet with red forehead and noisy chattering flocks, occupies forest edges, open woodlands and agricultural areas; nests in cavities and adapts well to disturbed landscapes.

Andean Ibis

Long‑legged ibis with curved bill and buff body, inhabits high Andean wetlands and puna lakes, probes soft mud for invertebrates and is sensitive to wetland degradation and grazing pressure.

Royal Cinclodes

Rare, endemic ovenbird of Polylepis and cloudforest remnants in southern Peru; brown, streaked, and terrestrial, highly range‑restricted and critically endangered from habitat loss and fragmentation.

Black Skimmer

Unusual tern‑like bird with lower bill longer than upper used to skim surface for fish, frequents riverbanks and coastal estuaries, nests on sandy beaches and islands and is highly specialized.

Andean Flicker

Large woodpecker with barred body, spotted underparts and yellow shafted tail, inhabits high Andean grassland and Polylepis woodlands, feeds on ants and grubs by probing soil and rotten wood.

Masked Tityra

White and grey medium bird with black mask and stout bill, occurs in forest edges and secondary growth; eats fruit and large insects, often perches conspicuously near canopy gaps.

Other Birds by Country