This is a list of the bird species recorded in El Salvador. The avifauna of El Salvador included a total of 596 species as of April 2024, according to Bird Checklists of the World. Of them, 138 are rare or accidental and six have been introduced by humans.
This list is presented in the taxonomic sequence of the Check-list of North and Middle American Birds, 7th edition through the 63rd Supplement, published by the American Ornithological Society (AOS). Common and scientific names are also those of the Check-list, except that the common names of families are from the Clements taxonomy because the AOS list does not include them.
Unless otherwise noted, the species on this list are considered to occur regularly in El Salvador as permanent residents, summer or winter visitors, or migrants. The following tags have been used to highlight several categories. The tags and notes of population status are from Bird Checklists of the World.
(A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in El Salvador (I) Introduced - a species introduced to El Salvador as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions
Tinamous Order: TinamiformesFamily: Tinamidae
The tinamous are one of the most ancient groups of birds. 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. They are distantly related to the ratites (order Struthioniformes), that includes the rheas, emu, and kiwi.
Thicket tinamou, Crypturellus cinnamomeus
Ducks, geese, and waterfowl Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae
The family 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.
Black-bellied whistling-duck, Dendrocygna autumnalis Fulvous whistling-duck, Dendrocygna bicolor Snow goose, Anser caerulescens (A) Muscovy duck, Cairina moschata Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors Cinnamon teal, Spatula cyanoptera Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata American wigeon, Mareca americana Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos (I) Northern pintail, Anas acuta Green-winged teal, Anas crecca (A) Redhead, Aythya americana (A) Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis Surf scoter, Melanitta perspicillata (A) Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator (A) Masked duck, Nomonyx dominicus (A) Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis
Guans, chachalacas, and curassows Order: GalliformesFamily: 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.
Plain chachalaca, Ortalis vetula White-bellied chachalaca, Ortalis leucogastra Crested guan, Penelope purpurascens Highland guan, Penelopina nigra (vulnerable) Great curassow, Crax rubra (vulnerable)
New World quail Order: GalliformesFamily: 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.
Buffy-crowned wood-partridge, Dendrortyx leucophrys Crested bobwhite, Colinus cristatus Ocellated quail, Cyrtonyx ocellatus (A) (vulnerable) Singing quail, Dactylortyx thoracicus
Grebes Order: PodicipediformesFamily: 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.
Least grebe, Tachybaptus dominicus Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis (A)
Pigeons and doves Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.
Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I) Red-billed pigeon, Patagioenas flavirostris Band-tailed pigeon, Patagioenas fasciata African collared-dove, Streptopelia roseogrisea (I) (A) Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto (I) (A) Inca dove, Columbina inca Common ground dove, Columbina passerina Plain-breasted ground dove, Columbina minuta Ruddy ground dove, Columbina talpacoti Blue ground dove, Claravis pretiosa Maroon-chested ground dove, Paraclaravis mondetoura (A) Ruddy quail-dove, Geotrygon montana White-tipped dove, Leptotila verreauxi White-faced quail-dove, Zentrygon albifacies White-winged dove, Zenaida asiatica Mourning dove, Zenaida macroura
Cuckoos Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae
The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners, and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails, and strong legs.
Groove-billed ani, Crotophaga sulcirostris Striped cuckoo, Tapera naevia Pheasant cuckoo, Dromococcyx phasianellus Lesser ground-cuckoo, Morococcyx erythropygus Lesser roadrunner, Geococcyx velox Squirrel cuckoo, Piaya cayana Yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus Mangrove cuckoo, Coccyzus minor Black-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus erythropthalmus
Nightjars and allies Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Caprimulgidae
Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds which 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.
Lesser nighthawk, Chordeiles acutipennis Common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor (A) Common pauraque, Nyctidromus albicollis Chuck-will's-widow, Antrostomus carolinensis (near-threatened) Buff-collared nightjar, Antrostomus ridgwayi (A) Eastern whip-poor-will, Antrostomus vociferus (near-threatened) Mexican whip-poor-will, Antrostomus arizonae
Potoos Order: NyctibiiformesFamily: 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.
Northern potoo, Nyctibius jamaicensis
Swifts Order: ApodiformesFamily: 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.
Black swift, Cypseloides niger (vulnerable) Chestnut-collared swift, Streptoprocne rutila White-collared swift, Streptoprocne zonaris Chimney swift, Chaetura pelagica (A) (vulnerable) Vaux's swift, Chaetura vauxi (A) White-throated swift, Aeronautes saxatalis Lesser swallow-tailed swift, Panyptila cayennensis (A) Great swallow-tailed swift, Panyptila sanctihieronymi
Hummingbirds Order: ApodiformesFamily: 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.
White-necked jacobin, Florisuga mellivora (A) Brown Violetear, Colibri delphinae (A) Mexican violetear, Colibri thalassinus Green-breasted mango, Anthracothorax prevostii Rivoli's hummingbird, Eugenes fulgens Long-billed starthroat, Heliomaster longirostris Plain-capped starthroat, Heliomaster constantii Green-throated mountain-gem, Lampornis viridipallens Amethyst-throated mountain-gem, Lampornis amethystinus Garnet-throated hummingbird, Lamprolaima rhami Slender sheartail, Doricha enicura (A) Sparkling-tailed hummingbird, Tilmatura dupontii Ruby-throated hummingbird, Archilochus colubris Broad-tailed hummingbird, Selasphorus platycercus (A) Wine-throated hummingbird, Selasphorus ellioti Canivet's emerald, Cynanthus canivetii (A) White-eared hummingbird, Basilinna leucotis Rufous sabrewing, Pampa rufa Emerald-chinned hummingbird, Abeillia abeillei Violet sabrewing, Campylopterus hemileucurus Azure-crowned hummingbird, Saucerottia cyanocephala Berylline hummingbird, Saucerottia beryllina Blue-tailed hummingbird, Saucerottia cyanura (A) Cinnamon hummingbird, Amazilia rutila White-bellied emerald, Chlorestes candida Blue-throated goldentail, Chlorestes eliciae
Rails, gallinules, and coots Order: GruiformesFamily: 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.
Spotted rail, Pardirallus maculatus (A) Rufous-necked wood-rail, Aramides axillaris Russet-naped wood-rail, Aramides albiventris Mangrove rail, Rallus longirostris Sora, Porzana carolina Common gallinule, Gallinula galeata American coot, Fulica americana Purple gallinule, Porphyrio martinicus Yellow-breasted crake, Hapalocrex flaviventer (A) Ruddy crake, Laterallus ruber
Finfoots Order: GruiformesFamily: Heliornithidae
Heliornithidae is a small family of tropical birds with webbed lobes on their feet similar to those of grebes and coots.
Sungrebe, Heliornis fulica (A)
Limpkin Order: GruiformesFamily: Aramidae
The limpkin resembles a large rail. It has drab-brown plumage and a grayer head and neck.
Limpkin, Aramus guarauna
Thick-knees Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Burhinidae
The thick-knees are a group of largely tropical waders in the family Burhinidae. They are 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.
Double-striped thick-knee, Burhinus bistriatus
Stilts and avocets Order: CharadriiformesFamily: 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.
Black-necked stilt, Himantopus mexicanus American avocet, Recurvirostra americana (A)
Oystercatchers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Haematopodidae
The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.
American oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus
Lapwings and plovers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: 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.
Southern lapwing, Vanellus chilensis (A) Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola American golden-plover, Pluvialis dominica Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus Wilson's plover, Charadrius wilsonia Collared plover, Charadrius collaris Snowy plover, Charadrius nivosus (near-threatened)
Jacanas Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Jacanidae
The jacanas are a group 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.
Northern jacana, Jacana spinosa
Sandpipers and allies Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Scolopacidae