This is a list of the bird species recorded in Ecuador including those of the Galápagos Islands. The avifauna of Ecuador has 1682 confirmed species, of which eight are endemic to the mainland and 29 are endemic to the Galápagos. Another four breed only on the Galápagos but range more widely, and almost the entire population of a fifth breeds only there. Five have been introduced by humans, 85 are rare or vagrants, and one has been extirpated. An additional 37 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 Those noted as Galápagos endemics are identified on the Charles Darwin Foundation list. 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 Ecuador (EG) Endemic - Galápagos - a species endemic to the Galápagos Islands (EM) Endemic - mainland - a species endemic to mainland Ecuador (I) Introduced - a species introduced to Ecuador 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. Seventeen species have been recorded in Ecuador.
Tawny-breasted tinamou, Nothocercus julius Highland tinamou, Nothocercus bonapartei Gray tinamou, Tinamus tao Black tinamou, Tinamus osgoodi Great tinamou, Tinamus major White-throated tinamou, Tinamus guttatus Berlepsch's tinamou, Crypturellus berlepschi Cinereous tinamou, Crypturellus cinereus Little tinamou, Crypturellus soui Brown tinamou, Crypturellus obsoletus Undulated tinamou, Crypturellus undulatus Pale-browed tinamou, Crypturellus transfasciatus Variegated tinamou, Crypturellus variegatus Bartlett's tinamou, Crypturellus bartletti Tataupa tinamou, Crypturellus tataupa Andean tinamou, Nothoprocta pentlandii Curve-billed tinamou, Nothoprocta curvirostris
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 Ecuador.
Horned screamer, Anhima cornuta
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 Ecuador.
Fulvous whistling-duck, Dendrocygna bicolor Black-bellied whistling-duck, Dendrocygna autumnalis Orinoco goose, Neochen jubatus 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 American wigeon, Mareca americana (V) White-cheeked pintail, Anas bahamensis Northern pintail, Anas acuta (V) Yellow-billed pintail, Anas georgica Green-winged teal, Anas crecca (V) Andean teal, Anas andium Southern pochard, Netta erythrophthalma Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris (V) Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis Masked duck, Nomonyx dominicus Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis
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. Fourteen species have been recorded in Ecuador.
Sickle-winged guan, Chamaepetes goudotii Bearded guan, Penelope barbata Baudo guan, Penelope ortoni Andean guan, Penelope montagnii Spix's guan, Penelope jacquacu Crested guan, Penelope purpurascens Blue-throated piping-guan, Pipile cumanensis Wattled guan, Aburria aburri Rufous-headed chachalaca, Ortalis erythroptera Speckled chachalaca, Ortalis guttata Nocturnal curassow, Nothocrax urumutum Great curassow, Crax rubra Wattled curassow, Crax globulosa Salvin's curassow, Mitu salvini
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. Six species have been recorded in Ecuador.
Tawny-faced quail, Rhynchortyx cinctus Marbled wood-quail, Odontophorus gujanensis Rufous-fronted wood-quail, Odontophorus erythrops Dark-backed wood-quail, Odontophorus melanonotus Rufous-breasted wood-quail, Odontophorus speciosus Starred wood-quail, Odontophorus stellatus
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. Two species have been recorded in Ecuador.
Chilean flamingo, Phoenicopterus chilensis 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. Four species have been recorded in Ecuador.
Least grebe, Tachybaptus dominicus Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps Great grebe, Podiceps major Silvery grebe, Podiceps occipitalis
Pigeons Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere. Twenty-nine species have been recorded in Ecuador.
Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I) Scaled pigeon, Patagioenas speciosa Band-tailed pigeon, Patagioenas fasciata Pale-vented pigeon, Patagioenas cayennensis Peruvian pigeon, Patagioenas oenops (U) Plumbeous pigeon, Patagioenas plumbea Ruddy pigeon, Patagioenas subvinacea Dusky pigeon, Patagioenas goodsoni Purple quail-dove, Geotrygon purpurata Sapphire quail-dove, Geotrygon saphirina Ruddy quail-dove, Geotrygon montana Olive-backed quail-dove, Leptotrygon veraguensis White-tipped dove, Leptotila verreauxi Ochre-bellied dove, Leptotila ochraceiventris Gray-fronted dove, Leptotila rufaxilla Pallid dove, Leptotila pallida White-throated quail-dove, Zentrygon frenata West Peruvian dove, Zenaida meloda Galapagos dove, Zenaida galapagoensis (EG) Eared dove, Zenaida auriculata Blue ground dove, Claravis pretiosa Maroon-chested ground dove, Paraclaravis mondetoura Black-winged ground dove, Metriopelia melanoptera Common ground dove, Columbina passerina Plain-breasted ground dove, Columbina minuta Ruddy ground dove, Columbina talpacoti Ecuadorian ground dove, Columbina buckleyi Scaled dove, Columbina squammata Croaking ground dove, Columbina cruziana
Cuckoos Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae
Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners, and anis. These are birds of variable size with slender bodies, long tails, and strong legs. Eighteen species have been recorded in Ecuador.
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-vented ground-cuckoo, Neomorphus geoffroyi Banded ground-cuckoo, Neomorphus radiolosus Red-billed ground-cuckoo, Neomorphus pucheranii (U) 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 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. Five species have been recorded in Ecuador.
Rufous potoo, Phyllaemulor bracteatus Great potoo, Nyctibius grandis Long-tailed potoo, Nyctibius aethereus Common potoo, Nyctibius griseus Andean potoo, Nyctibius maculosus
Nightjars 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. Nineteen species have been recorded in Ecuador.
Nacunda nighthawk, Chordeiles nacunda (V) Sand-colored nighthawk, Chordeiles rupestris Lesser nighthawk, Chordeiles acutipennis Common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor Band-tailed nighthawk, Nyctiprogne leucopyga Short-tailed nighthawk, Lurocalis semitorquatus Rufous-bellied nighthawk, Lurocalis rufiventris Blackish nightjar, Nyctipolus nigrescens Common pauraque, Nyctidromus albicollis Scrub nightjar, Nyctidromus anthonyi Swallow-tailed nightjar, Uropsalis segmentata Lyre-tailed nightjar, Uropsalis lyra Spot-tailed nightjar, Hydropsalis maculicaudus White-tailed nightjar, Hydropsalis cayennensis Ladder-tailed nightjar, Hydropsalis climacocerca Band-winged nightjar, Systellura longirostris Choco poorwill, Nyctiphrynus rosenbergi Ocellated poorwill, Nyctiphrynus ocellatus 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. Fifteen species have been recorded in Ecuador.
Spot-fronted swift, Cypseloides cherriei White-chinned swift, Cypseloides cryptus Black swift, Cypseloides niger (U) White-chested swift, Cypseloides lemosi Chestnut-collared swift, Streptoprocne rutila White-collared swift, Streptoprocne zonaris