This is a list of the bird species recorded in Venezuela. The avifauna of Venezuela has 1414 confirmed species, of which 44 are endemic, six have been introduced by humans, 48 are rare or vagrants, and one has been extirpated. An additional 20 species are unconfirmed (see below).
Except as an entry is cited otherwise, the list of species is that of the South American Classification Committee (SACC).Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, D. F. Lane, L, N. Naka, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 25 July 2026. Species Lists of Birds for South American Countries and Territories. South American Classification Committee associated with the International Ornithologists' Union. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCCountryLists.htm retrieved 25 July 2026 The list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families, and species) and nomenclature (common and scientific names) are also those of the SACC unless noted otherwise.Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, D. F. Lane, L, N. Naka, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 25 July 2026. A classification of the bird species of South America. South American Classification Committee associated with the International Ornithologists' Union. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.htm retrieved 25 July 2026 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.
The following tags have been used to highlight certain categories of occurrence.
(V) Vagrant - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Venezuela (E) Endemic - a species endemic to Venezuela (I) Introduced - a species introduced to Venezuela as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions (U) Unconfirmed - a species recorded but with "no tangible evidence" according to the SACC
Tinamous Order: TinamiformesFamily: 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. Fourteen species have been recorded in Venezuela.
Tawny-breasted tinamou, Nothocercus julius Highland tinamou, Nothocercus bonapartei Gray tinamou, Tinamus tao Great tinamou, Tinamus major White-throated tinamou, Tinamus guttatus Cinereous tinamou, Crypturellus cinereus Little tinamou, Crypturellus soui Tepui tinamou, Crypturellus ptaritepui Brown tinamou, Crypturellus obsoletus Undulated tinamou, Crypturellus undulatus Gray-legged tinamou, Crypturellus duidae Red-legged tinamou, Crypturellus erythropus Variegated tinamou, Crypturellus variegatus Barred tinamou, Crypturellus casiquiare
Screamers Order: AnseriformesFamily: 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 Venezuela.
Horned screamer, Anhima cornuta Northern screamer, Chauna chavaria
Ducks Order: AnseriformesFamily: 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. Twenty-one species have been recorded in Venezuela.
Fulvous whistling-duck, Dendrocygna bicolor White-faced whistling-duck, Dendrocygna viduata Black-bellied whistling-duck, Dendrocygna autumnalis Orinoco goose, Oressochen jubata Muscovy duck, Cairina moschata Comb duck, Sarkidiornis sylvicola Brazilian teal, Amazonetta brasiliensis Torrent duck, Merganetta armata Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors Cinnamon teal, Spatula cyanoptera Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope (U) American wigeon, Mareca americana White-cheeked pintail, Anas bahamensis Northern pintail, Anas acuta Green-winged teal, Anas crecca (V) Andean teal, Anas andium Southern pochard, Netta erythrophthalma Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis Masked duck, Nomonyx dominicus
Guans 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. Fifteen species have been recorded in Venezuela.
Band-tailed guan, Penelope argyrotis Andean guan, Penelope montagnii Marail guan, Penelope marail Spix's guan, Penelope jacquacu Crested guan, Penelope purpurascens Blue-throated piping-guan, Pipile cumanensis Wattled guan, Aburria aburri Rufous-vented chachalaca, Ortalis ruficauda Speckled chachalaca, Ortalis guttata (U) Variable chachalaca, Ortalis motmot Nocturnal curassow, Nothocrax urumutum Yellow-knobbed curassow, Crax daubentoni Black curassow, Crax alector Crestless curassow, Mitu tomentosum Helmeted curassow, Pauxi pauxi
New World quails 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. Four species have been recorded in Venezuela.
Crested bobwhite, Colinus cristatus Marbled wood-quail, Odontophorus gujanensis Black-fronted wood-quail, Odontophorus atrifrons Venezuelan wood-quail, Odontophorus columbianus (E)
Flamingos Order: PhoenicopteriformesFamily: Phoenicopteridae
Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually 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. One species has been recorded in Venezuela.
American flamingo, Phoenicopterus ruber
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. Two species have been recorded in Venezuela.
Least grebe, Tachybaptus dominicus Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps
Pigeons Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere. Twenty-two species have been recorded in Venezuela.
Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I) White-crowned pigeon, Patagioenas leucocephala (V) Scaled pigeon, Patagioenas speciosa Scaly-naped pigeon, Patagioenas squamosa Bare-eyed pigeon, Patagioenas corensis Band-tailed pigeon, Patagioenas fasciata Pale-vented pigeon, Patagioenas cayennensis Plumbeous pigeon, Patagioenas plumbea Ruddy pigeon, Patagioenas subvinacea Ruddy quail-dove, Geotrygon montana Violaceous quail-dove, Geotrygon violacea White-tipped dove, Leptotila verreauxi Gray-fronted dove, Leptotila rufaxilla Lined quail-dove, Zentrygon linearis White-winged dove, Zenaida asiatica (V) Eared dove, Zenaida auriculata Blue ground dove, Claravis pretiosa Maroon-chested ground dove, Paraclaravis mondetoura Common ground dove, Columbina passerina Plain-breasted ground dove, Columbina minuta Ruddy ground dove, Columbina talpacoti Scaled dove, Columbina squammata
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. Seventeen species have been recorded in Venezuela.
Greater ani, Crotophaga major Smooth-billed ani, Crotophaga ani Groove-billed ani, Crotophaga sulcirostris Striped cuckoo, Tapera naevia Pheasant cuckoo, Dromococcyx phasianellus Pavonine cuckoo, Dromococcyx pavoninus Rufous-winged ground-cuckoo, Neomorphus rufipennis Little cuckoo, Coccycua minuta Dwarf cuckoo, Coccycua pumila Squirrel cuckoo, Piaya cayana Black-bellied cuckoo, Piaya melanogaster Dark-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus melacoryphus Yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus Pearly-breasted cuckoo, Coccyzus euleri Mangrove cuckoo, Coccyzus minor Black-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus erythropthalmus Gray-capped cuckoo, Coccyzus lansbergi
Oilbird Order: SteatornithiformesFamily: 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
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. Six species have been recorded in Venezuela.
Rufous potoo, Phyllaemulor bracteatus Great potoo, Nyctibius grandis Long-tailed potoo, Nyctibius aethereus Common potoo, Nyctibius griseus Andean potoo, Nyctibius maculosus White-winged potoo, Nyctibius leucopterus
Nightjars Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: 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 species have been recorded in Venezuela.
Nacunda nighthawk, Chordeiles nacunda Least nighthawk, Chordeiles pusillus Sand-colored nighthawk, Chordeiles rupestris Lesser nighthawk, Chordeiles acutipennis Common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor Antillean nighthawk, Chordeiles gundlachii (V) Band-tailed nighthawk, Nyctiprogne leucopyga (see note)The SACC has split Nyctiprogne atifascia from Nyctiprogne leucopyga (Proposal 673) but has not assigned English names, so the proposal has not been implemented and the counts do not reflect the change. Short-tailed nighthawk, Lurocalis semitorquatus Rufous-bellied nighthawk, Lurocalis rufiventris Blackish nightjar, Nyctipolus nigrescens Common pauraque, Nyctidromus albicollis Roraiman nightjar, Tepuiornis whitelyi Lyre-tailed nightjar, Uropsalis lyra Todd's nightjar, Setopagis heterura Spot-tailed nightjar, Hydropsalis maculicaudus White-tailed nightjar, Hydropsalis cayennensis Ladder-tailed nightjar, Hydropsalis climacocerca Band-winged nightjar, Systellura longirostris Chuck-will's-widow, Antrostomus carolinensis Rufous nightjar, Antrostomus rufus
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. Eighteen species have been recorded in Venezuela.
Spot-fronted swift, Cypseloides cherriei White-chinned swift, Cypseloides cryptus Black swift, Cypseloides niger (V) Chestnut-collared swift, Streptoprocne rutila Tepui swift, Streptoprocne phelpsi White-collared swift, Streptoprocne zonaris Gray-rumped swift, Chaetura cinereiventris Band-rumped swift, Chaetura spinicaudus Chimney swift, Chaetura pelagica (V) Vaux's swift, Chaetura vauxi Chapman's swift, Chaetura chapmani Ashy-tailed swift, Chaetura andrei (E) Sick's swift, Chaetura meridionalis (U) Short-tailed swift, Chaetura brachyura White-tipped swift, Aeronautes montivagus Pygmy palm swift, Tachornis furcata Fork-tailed palm swift, Tachornis squamata Lesser swallow-tailed swift, Panyptila cayennensis
Hummingbirds Order: ApodiformesFamily: Trochilidae