This is a list of the bird species recorded in French Guiana. The avifauna of French Guiana has 737 confirmed species, of which one is endemic. Two have been introduced by humans and 84 are rare or vagrants. An additional 15 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. 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.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
The following tags have been used to highlight certain categories of occurrence.
(V) Vagrant - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in French Guiana (E) Endemic - a species endemic to French Guiana (I) Introduced - a species introduced to French Guiana 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. Eight species have been recorded in French Guiana.
Great tinamou, Tinamus major Cinereous tinamou, Crypturellus cinereus Little tinamou, Crypturellus soui Red-legged tinamou, Crypturellus erythropus Variegated tinamou, Crypturellus variegatus Rusty tinamou, Crypturellus brevirostris
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. One species has been recorded in French Guiana.
Horned screamer, Anhima cornuta (V)
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. Fifteen species have been recorded in French Guiana.
Fulvous whistling-duck, Dendrocygna bicolor (V) White-faced whistling-duck, Dendrocygna viduata (V) Black-bellied whistling-duck, Dendrocygna autumnalis Orinoco goose, Oressochen jubatus (V) Muscovy duck, Cairina moschata Comb duck, Sarkidiornis sylvicola (V) Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata (V) Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors American wigeon, Mareca americana (V) White-cheeked pintail, Anas bahamensis Northern pintail, Anas acuta (V) Green-winged teal, Anas crecca (V) Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris (V) 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. Four species have been recorded in French Guiana.
Marail guan, Penelope marail Blue-throated piping-guan, Pipile cumanensis Variable chachalaca, Ortalis motmot Black curassow, Crax alector
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. Two species have been recorded in French Guiana.
Crested bobwhite, Colinus cristatus (U) Marbled wood-quail, Odontophorus gujanensis
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 French Guiana.
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 French Guiana.
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. Thirteen species have been recorded in French Guiana.
Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I) Scaled pigeon, Patagioenas speciosa Pale-vented pigeon, Patagioenas cayennensis Plumbeous pigeon, Patagioenas plumbea Ruddy pigeon, Patagioenas subvinacea Ruddy quail-dove, Geotrygon montana White-tipped dove, Leptotila verreauxi Gray-fronted dove, Leptotila rufaxilla Eared dove, Zenaida auriculata Blue ground dove, Claravis pretiosa Common ground dove, Columbina passerina Plain-breasted ground dove, Columbina minuta Ruddy ground dove, Columbina talpacoti
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. Eleven species have been recorded in French Guiana.
Greater ani, Crotophaga major Smooth-billed ani, Crotophaga ani Striped cuckoo, Tapera naevia Pavonine cuckoo, Dromococcyx pavoninus Little cuckoo, Coccycua minuta 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
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. Five species have been recorded in French Guiana.
Rufous potoo, Phyllaemulor bracteatus Great potoo, Nyctibius grandis Long-tailed potoo, Nyctibius aethereus Common potoo, Nyctibius griseus 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. Eleven species have been recorded in French Guiana.
Nacunda nighthawk, Chordeiles nacunda Lesser nighthawk, Chordeiles acutipennis Band-tailed nighthawk, Nyctiprogne leucopyga Short-tailed nighthawk, Lurocalis semitorquatus Blackish nightjar, Nyctipolus nigrescens Common pauraque, Nyctidromus albicollis Cayenne nightjar, Setopagis maculosa (E) White-tailed nightjar, Hydropsalis cayennensis Spot-tailed nightjar, Hydropsalis maculicaudus Ladder-tailed nightjar, Hydropsalis climacocerca 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. Twelve species have been recorded in French Guiana.
White-chinned swift, Cypseloides cryptus Black swift, Cypseloides niger (V) White-collared swift, Streptoprocne zonaris Band-rumped swift, Chaetura spinicaudus Chapman's swift, Chaetura chapmani Sick's swift, Chaetura meridionalis (V) Short-tailed swift, Chaetura brachyura White-tipped swift, Aeronautes montivagus Fork-tailed palm-swift, Tachornis squamata Lesser swallow-tailed swift, Panyptila cayennensis Common swift, Apus apus (V) Alpine swift, Tachymarptis melba (V)(U, not on the SACC list)
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. Thirty-two species have been recorded in French Guiana.
Crimson topaz, Topaza pella White-necked jacobin, Florisuga mellivora Rufous-breasted hermit, Glaucis hirsutus Sooty barbthroat, Threnetes niger Little hermit, Phaethornis longuemareus Reddish hermit, Phaethornis ruber Sooty-capped hermit, Phaethornis augusti Straight-billed hermit, Phaethornis bourcieri Long-tailed hermit, Phaethornis superciliosus Great-billed hermit, Phaethornis malaris Brown violetear, Colibri delphinae Black-eared fairy, Heliothryx auritus White-tailed goldenthroat, Polytmus guainumbi Green-tailed goldenthroat, Polytmus theresiae Fiery-tailed awlbill, Avocettula recurvirostris Ruby-topaz hummingbird, Chrysolampis mosquitus Green-throated mango, Anthracothorax viridigula Black-throated mango, Anthracothorax nigricollis Racket-tipped thorntail, Discosura longicaudus Tufted coquette, Lophornis ornatus Long-billed starthroat, Heliomaster longirostris (U) Amethyst woodstar, Calliphlox amethystina Blue-tailed emerald, Chlorostilbon mellisugus Blue-chinned sapphire, Chlorestes notata Gray-breasted sabrewing, Campylopterus largipennis Fork-tailed woodnymph, Thalurania furcata Plain-bellied emerald, Chrysuronia leucogaster White-chested emerald, Chrysuronia brevirostris Glittering-throated emerald, Chionomesa fimbriata Green-bellied hummingbird, Saucerottia viridigaster Rufous-throated sapphire, Hylocharis sapphirina White-chinned sapphire, Chlorestes cyanus
Hoatzin Order: OpisthocomiformesFamily: 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
Limpkin Order: GruiformesFamily: Aramidae
The limpkin resembles a large rail. It has drab-brown plumage and a grayer head and neck.
Limpkin, Aramus guarauna
Trumpeters Order: GruiformesFamily: 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 French Guiana.
Gray-winged trumpeter, Psophia crepitans
Rails Order: GruiformesFamily: Rallidae