This is a list of the bird species recorded in Peru. The avifauna of Peru has 1897 confirmed species, of which 120 are endemic, three have been introduced by humans, and 86 are rare or vagrants. An additional 23 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 Peru (E) Endemic - a species endemic to Peru (I) Introduced - a species introduced to Peru as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions (U) Unconfirmed - a species recorded but with "no tangible evidence" according to the SACC
Rheas
Order: RheiformesFamily: Rheidae
The rheas are large flightless birds native to South America. Their feet have three toes rather than four which allows them to run faster. One species has been recorded in Peru.
Lesser rhea, Pterocnemia pennata
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. Peru contains the largest number of tinamous of any country. Twenty-seven species have been recorded there.
Tawny-breasted tinamou, Nothocercus julius Highland tinamou, Nothocercus bonapartei Hooded tinamou, Nothocercus nigrocapillus Gray tinamou, Tinamus tao Black tinamou, Tinamus osgoodi Great tinamou, Tinamus major White-throated tinamou, Tinamus guttatus Cinereous tinamou, Crypturellus cinereus Little tinamou, Crypturellus soui Brown tinamou, Crypturellus obsoletus Undulated tinamou, Crypturellus undulatus Pale-browed tinamou, Crypturellus transfasciatus Brazilian tinamou, Crypturellus strigulosus Gray-legged tinamou, Crypturellus duidae Black-capped tinamou, Crypturellus atrocapillus Variegated tinamou, Crypturellus variegatus Bartlett's tinamou, Crypturellus bartletti Small-billed tinamou, Crypturellus parvirostris Barred tinamou, Crypturellus casiquiare Tataupa tinamou, Crypturellus tataupa Red-winged tinamou, Rhynchotus rufescens Taczanowski's tinamou, Nothoprocta taczanowskii Ornate tinamou, Nothoprocta ornata Andean tinamou, Nothoprocta pentlandii Curve-billed tinamou, Nothoprocta curvirostris Darwin's nothura, Nothura darwinii Puna tinamou, Tinamotis pentlandii
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 Peru.
Horned screamer, Anhima cornuta Southern screamer, Chauna torquata (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. Twenty-four species have been recorded in Peru.
Fulvous whistling-duck, Dendrocygna bicolor White-faced whistling-duck, Dendrocygna viduata (V) Black-bellied whistling-duck, Dendrocygna autumnalis Orinoco goose, Oressochen jubatus Andean goose, Oressochen melanopterus Muscovy duck, Cairina moschata Comb duck, Sarkidiornis sylvicola Brazilian teal, Amazonetta brasiliensis Torrent duck, Merganetta armata Crested duck, Lophonetta specularioides Puna teal, Spatula puna Red shoveler, Spatula platalea Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata (V) Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors Cinnamon teal, Spatula cyanoptera Chiloe wigeon, Mareca sibilatrix White-cheeked pintail, Anas bahamensis Yellow-billed pintail, Anas georgica Andean teal, Anas andium Yellow-billed teal, Anas flavirostris Southern pochard, Netta erythrophthalma Rosy-billed pochard, Netta peposaca (V) 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. Sixteen species have been recorded in Peru.
Sickle-winged guan, Chamaepetes goudotii Bearded guan, Penelope barbata Andean guan, Penelope montagnii Spix's guan, Penelope jacquacu Crested guan, Penelope purpurascens White-winged guan, Penelope albipennis (E) Blue-throated piping-guan, Pipile cumanensis Wattled guan, Aburria aburri Rufous-headed chachalaca, Ortalis erythroptera Speckled chachalaca, Ortalis guttata Nocturnal curassow, Nothocrax urumutum Wattled curassow, Crax globulosa Salvin's curassow, Mitu salvini Razor-billed curassow, Mitu tuberosum Sira curassow, Pauxi koepckeae (E)
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 Peru.
Marbled wood-quail, Odontophorus gujanensis Rufous-breasted wood-quail, Odontophorus speciosus Stripe-faced wood-quail, Odontophorus balliviani 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. Three species have been recorded in Peru.
Chilean flamingo, Phoenicopterus chilensis Andean flamingo, Phoenicoparrus andinus James's flamingo, Phoenicoparrus jamesi
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. Seven species have been recorded in Peru.
White-tufted grebe, Rollandia rolland Titicaca grebe, Rollandia microptera Least grebe, Tachybaptus dominicus Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps Great grebe, Podiceps major Silvery grebe, Podiceps occipitalis Junin grebe, Podiceps taczanowskii (E)
Pigeons Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere. Thirty species have been recorded in Peru.
Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I) Scaled pigeon, Patagioenas speciosa Picazuro pigeon, Patagioenas picazuro (V) Spot-winged pigeon, Patagioenas maculosa Band-tailed pigeon, Patagioenas fasciata Pale-vented pigeon, Patagioenas cayennensis Peruvian pigeon, Patagioenas oenops (E) Plumbeous pigeon, Patagioenas plumbea Ruddy pigeon, Patagioenas subvinacea Sapphire quail-dove, Geotrygon saphirina Ruddy quail-dove, Geotrygon montana Violaceous quail-dove, Geotrygon violacea 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 Eared dove, Zenaida auriculata Blue ground dove, Claravis pretiosa Maroon-chested ground dove, Paraclaravis mondetoura Bare-faced ground dove, Metriopelia ceciliae Black-winged ground dove, Metriopelia melanoptera Golden-spotted ground dove, Metriopelia aymara Common ground dove, Columbina passerina (V) Plain-breasted ground dove, Columbina minuta Ruddy ground dove, Columbina talpacoti Ecuadorian ground dove, Columbina buckleyi Picui ground dove, Columbina picui Croaking ground dove, Columbina cruziana
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. Eighteen species have been recorded in Peru.
Guira cuckoo, Guira guira (V) 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 Red-billed ground-cuckoo, Neomorphus pucheranii Little cuckoo, Coccycua minuta Ash-colored cuckoo, Coccycua cinerea (V) Squirrel cuckoo, Piaya cayana Black-bellied cuckoo, Piaya melanogaster Dark-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus melacoryphus Yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus Pearly-breasted cuckoo, Coccyzus euleri (V) 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 Peru.
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-one species have been recorded in Peru.
Nacunda nighthawk, Chordeiles nacunda 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 Tschudi's nightjar, Quechuavis decussata Little nightjar, Setopagis parvula Spot-tailed nightjar, Hydropsalis maculicaudus Ladder-tailed nightjar, Hydropsalis climacocerca Scissor-tailed nightjar, Hydropsalis torquata Band-winged nightjar, Systellura longirostris