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We managed to track down this calling Black-faced Hawk in the forest at Atta Lodge. This is a quite uncommon species through much of its range. Photo by participant Querida Smith.
Birding in Guyana is thrilling. The country is relatively small with a low population and the amount of remaining rainforest is impressive. On several days of our trip we birded the main north-south highway through the country and only occasionally had vehicles pass. This is all ideal birding for me.
We started our birding out of Georgetown located on the Caribbean coast. At our first stop we started picking up specialties of the Guianan Shield as we saw Rufous Crab-Hawk and Blood-colored Woodpeckers, as well as White-bellied Piculet, and several water birds. We continued to the Mahaica River for a couple hours of boating along this vegetation-lined waterway. Several Hoatzins, American Pygmy Kingfisher, a pair of Little Cuckoos, Silvered Antbird, and Black-capped Donacobius were some of the highlights. After lunch at our boatman's home, we headed back for a siesta before birding the botanic gardens that afternoon. A group of five young manatees in a pond there was definitely memorable. Toco Toucans and Orange-winged Parrots showed well, as did a great Spotted Tody-Flycatcher and the first of many Bat Falcons we would see. The next morning found us flying to Kaieteur Falls, a very impressive cascade that is reportedly the world's highest single-drop falls on a major river. Rufous-crowned Elaenia was one of the first birds we saw near the airstrip. A Black Manakin held our attention for awhile before we had to depart. The view of the rock formations and forest from the air was stunning. We arrived at Iwokrama River Lodge and headed straight to lunch. We had parts of three days to check out the area, which included two excursions on the Essequibo River, the lodge trails, and the trail to Turtle Mountain. Highlights here were many, but two of the biggies were a few Capuchinbirds in a large tree and a perched Long-tailed Potoo just off the trail. Guianan Toucanet, Scarlet, Red-and-green, and Blue-and-yellow macaws, Spotted Puffbird, Ferruginous-backed Antbird, and a few Pygmy Antwrens were not too bad either. Unfortunately, we were rained out of our nightbirding. Those that climbed Turtle Mountain saw an Orange-breasted Falcon while the others encountered a singing Spotted Antpitta.
Packing up early and birding our way to Surama Village was the next adventure. A scoped Guianan Red-Cotinga, Red-fan Parrot, the very local Blue-cheeked Parrot, and another trip bonanza, a perched Rufous Potoo that we had great views of after a walk through the damp forest, were highlights of the morning. What a cool bird! We arrived at Surama in time to do some afternoon birding that included a perched Great Potoo and King Vulture. We spent the next morning along the Buro Buro Trail, which combined finding Guianan Shield specialties and mixed-species flock birding. One flock had five species of antwrens, while another included Blue-backed Tanager, Pink-throated Becard, Yellow-throated Woodpecker and a host of other species. A pair of Gray-winged Trumpeters that walked out to the road was fantastic. Here, we also watched an Amazon Scarlet Snake, a constrictor, devouring a quite large lizard and found a huge White Witch Moth on the truck of a tree. We got close to a rarely seen Ocellated Crake in the nearby savanna, but only managed to hear it, and we also saw Bicolored Wren, White-naped Xenopsaris, and Wedge-tailed Grass-Finch.
We headed back up the main road a short ways to Atta Lodge, located in a clearing surrounded by nice tall forest. A pair of Crimson Topaz greeted us on the entrance road. After watching three Black Curassows in the clearing the next morning, we walked to the Canopy Platform, which proved to be quite good, with a perched White Hawk, Pompadour Cotinga, and a scoped Tiny Tyrant-Manakin among the highlights. A perched Black-faced Hawk on the way to breakfast was awesome. We drove out for the rest of the morning and went on a trail and found two brilliantly colored Guianan Cock-of-the-Rocks at a display area. After lunch, we birded the road some more where three Cream-colored Woodpeckers, Waved Woodpecker, and Bronzy Jacamar showed well. After another morning at the lodge clearing we packed up and made our way south after a stop for a male Black Manakin. At our lunch stop, a dead tree in the distance that we scoped had, at various times, Spangled Cotinga, Pompadour Cotinga, Dusky Purpletuft, and Purple-breasted Cotinga. Going on south, we soon left the forest and entered the vast savanna that makes up roughly the bottom third of Guyana. We got into a lot of new species here, including Crested Bobwhite, Double-striped Thick-knee, Jabiru, Maguari Stork, Pearl Kite, and Finsch's Euphonia. Along the drive on the entrance road to Caiman House Lodge we found two huge Giant Anteaters strolling along.
The next morning we were up early to chase down a couple of very local and often difficult to see species. One of these, Bearded Tachuri, was spotted by Ron as it flushed from the edge of the road and we ended up with great looks at a male. It took us awhile to track down the other, Crested Doradito, but we came away with multiple views of three individuals at the edge of a pond. Sandwiched between these two species were nice looks at both Red-shouldered and Red-bellied macaws, a quite close Pearl Kite, Pinnated Bittern, White-tailed Goldenthroat, and a close encounter with another Giant Anteater. Out late morning birding was thwarted and lunch put on hold as we spent more time than we wanted getting two of our 4WD vehicles out of the mud. That afternoon, we enjoyed a relaxing boat trip on the Rupununi River where kingfishers, Boat-billed Herons, three Golden-collared Woodpeckers and Band-tailed Nighthawks entertained us. We were out early the next morning for our final birding day. A stop along the entrance road turned up displaying Yellowish Pipits before we headed west and got close to the border with Brazil. Here, we were quite successful in finding two rarities with very restricted ranges. A Hoary-throated Spinetail, one of the best looking of all the spinetails, showed pretty quickly. Our Rio Branco Antbird took a bit more work but we ended up with nice views of this specialty. We finished our birding by checking out the grounds of our lunch spot at Manari Ranch. Orange-backed Troupial, Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, and Zone-tailed Hawk were three of our last new birds before we boarded our flight for the hour+ flight back to Georgetown, where we returned to many people and traffic after eight days in the wilderness.
Thanks to Ron for finding birds and getting us from place to place as well as the local guides at each lodge. Alex, Gary, John, Davelin, and Kenneth were all great with us, and amazing spotters. Our drivers, Trevor and Rensford, did a great job (except for getting stuck in the mud) and were good-humored throughout. Thanks to all of you for making it a wonderful birding experience. John
KEYS FOR THIS LIST
One of the following keys may be shown in brackets for individual species as appropriate: * = heard only, I = introduced, E = endemic, N = nesting, a = austral migrant, b = boreal migrant
At 741 feet, Kaieteur Falls is the world’s highest single drop waterfall on a major river. Jan, and all of us, were duly awestruck by the magnitude of it. Photo by guide John Coons.
Tinamidae (Tinamous)
GREAT TINAMOU (Tinamus major) – We heard this bird a few times, and twice it was glimpsed in the forest as it melted away.
LITTLE TINAMOU (Crypturellus soui) [*]
UNDULATED TINAMOU (Crypturellus undulatus) – We heard a few at dusk during our boat trip on the Rupununi River near Caiman House.
Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl)
WHITE-FACED WHISTLING-DUCK (Dendrocygna viduata) – On our drive south into the savanna, we encountered a couple or three flocks of these.
MUSCOVY DUCK (Cairina moschata) – After seeing a few "friendly" individuals we came upon a few others that were quite wild.
Cracidae (Guans, Chachalacas, and Curassows)
VARIABLE CHACHALACA (Ortalis motmot) – Mostly heard but a few folks saw them in the savanna.
MARAIL GUAN (Penelope marail) – One was perched up on a limb at Atta on our final morning there.
SPIX'S GUAN (GRANT'S) (Penelope jacquacu granti) – We encountered this secretive species a few times in the forest, with our first at Iwokrama River Lodge.
BLACK CURASSOW (Crax alector) – We enjoyed great views of three individuals that worked the clearing at Atta Lodge each morning.
Odontophoridae (New World Quail)
CRESTED BOBWHITE (Colinus cristatus) – Although most of us did not see them well on the ground, we flushed about three groups that showed pretty well in flight.
Podicipedidae (Grebes)
PIED-BILLED GREBE (Podilymbus podiceps)
Ciconiidae (Storks)
MAGUARI STORK (Ciconia maguari) – We had nice views of this large stork as we got into the savanna.
JABIRU (Jabiru mycteria) – We had better views of this larger stork in the savanna. This is a massive bird whose bill must scare the daylights out of every aquatic animal in the savanna.
WOOD STORK (Mycteria americana) – We saw a fair number at ponds along the drive.
Anhingidae (Anhingas)
ANHINGA (Anhinga anhinga) – We saw a couple along the rivers during our travels.
Pelecanidae (Pelicans)
BROWN PELICAN (Pelecanus occidentalis) – A group of three was seen the first day near Georgetown.
One of the rarer birds we saw during our trip and one that required getting our feet damp, this Rufous Potoo afforded great looks. Photo by guide John Coons.
Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)
PINNATED BITTERN (Botaurus pinnatus) – We flushed a couple of individuals from wetlands in the savanna.
COCOI HERON (Ardea cocoi) – These were rather common in several areas we visited.
GREAT EGRET (Ardea alba)
SNOWY EGRET (Egretta thula)
LITTLE BLUE HERON (Egretta caerulea)
TRICOLORED HERON (Egretta tricolor)
CATTLE EGRET (Bubulcus ibis)
STRIATED HERON (SOUTH AMERICAN) (Butorides striata striata)
CAPPED HERON (Pilherodius pileatus) – One individual flushed from a roadside pond on our way to Surama Village.
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (Nycticorax nycticorax)
BOAT-BILLED HERON (Cochlearius cochlearius) – Just after dusk we found about four different individuals along the Rupununi River.
Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills)
SCARLET IBIS (Eudocimus ruber) – We saw a colorful flock of about 200 individuals at Hope Canal on our very first morning. About half of the individuals were adults in brilliant red plumage.
GREEN IBIS (Mesembrinibis cayennensis) [*]
BUFF-NECKED IBIS (Theristicus caudatus) – We found a handful of groups of these handsome ibis in the savanna.
ROSEATE SPOONBILL (Platalea ajaja)
Cathartidae (New World Vultures)
BLACK VULTURE (Coragyps atratus)
TURKEY VULTURE (Cathartes aura)
LESSER YELLOW-HEADED VULTURE (Cathartes burrovianus) – These were rather common in the open savannas.
GREATER YELLOW-HEADED VULTURE (Cathartes melambrotus) – We saw a good number of these along the road through the forest. We even got a nice view of a perched individual.
KING VULTURE (Sarcoramphus papa) – We saw a few in flight but our best view was of an adult we scoped on a perch at Surama.
Pandionidae (Osprey)
OSPREY (Pandion haliaetus)
Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
PEARL KITE (Gampsonyx swainsonii) – Once we reached the savanna we saw a few, including a wonderful individual that perched quite close to us.
WHITE-TAILED KITE (Elanus leucurus)
SWALLOW-TAILED KITE (Elanoides forficatus) – Those that went up Turtle Mountain had a great view of three birds circling. We also had another couple during our travels.
HARPY EAGLE (Harpia harpyja) – Ron and those in the front vehicle had a fleeting glimpse of one that crossed the road in front of them. It appeared to land in the dense forest but our search came up empty. We also walked into a site where the birds were just beginning to rebuild their nest we hung around for an hour with no sign of these great raptors.
BLACK HAWK-EAGLE (Spizaetus tyrannus) – One sailed over while we were in the clearing along the Turtle Mountain Trail.
BLACK-COLLARED HAWK (Busarellus nigricollis) – Our first was spotted at the Ogle Airport then we had three at a roadside pond in the savanna.
SNAIL KITE (Rostrhamus sociabilis) – These were quite numerous on the way in to the Mahaica River trip.
DOUBLE-TOOTHED KITE (Harpagus bidentatus) – We saw a few, with a couple of them nicely perched.
LONG-WINGED HARRIER (Circus buffoni) – Sam spotted one flying over the wetland along the Mahaica River.
TINY HAWK (Accipiter superciliosus superciliosus) – Sam found one perched at the edge of the clearing at Atta Lodge during our afternoon break.
RUFOUS CRAB HAWK (Buteogallus aequinoctialis) – We had nice looks at a couple of different individuals on our first morning near the coast outside of Georgetown. This is a range restricted species and best found here in Guyana.
We saw three Cream-colored Woodpeckers tearing into an ant nest along the highway. Through the scope we could see the birds picking ants off their own legs as they swarmed out of the nest. These are strangely colored for woodpeckers. Photo by participant Querida Smith.
SAVANNA HAWK (Buteogallus meridionalis) – These were quite common in several areas.
GREAT BLACK HAWK (Buteogallus urubitinga)
ROADSIDE HAWK (Rupornis magnirostris)
WHITE-TAILED HAWK (Geranoaetus albicaudatus) – We saw a couple or three individuals in the open country of the south.
WHITE HAWK (Pseudastur albicollis) – We had pretty good scope views of a perched bird that was spotted from the Canopy Platform at Atta Lodge.
BLACK-FACED HAWK (Leucopternis melanops) – After getting a brief view earlier, we later had great looks at a perched individual right along the trail at Atta Lodge as we headed back for breakfast.
GRAY-LINED HAWK (Buteo nitidus)
BROAD-WINGED HAWK (Buteo platypterus) – We spotted one soaring over the gorge just below Kaieteur Falls.
SHORT-TAILED HAWK (Buteo brachyurus)
ZONE-TAILED HAWK (Buteo albonotatus) – Ron spotted one teetering over the open country after lunch at Manari Ranch on our last day. This was one of the last new birds we had for the trip.
Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots)
OCELLATED CRAKE (Micropygia schomburgkii) – We gave this very secretive bird a lot of chances to show itself and it was quite close but we could not coax it out. [*]
GRAY-BREASTED CRAKE (Laterallus exilis) – This was likely the small rail that flushed from the pond on our morning in the savanna.
GRAY-COWLED WOOD-RAIL (Aramides cajaneus) – Mike spotted one at the edge of the vegetation near the river mouth at Hope Canal on our first morning.
PURPLE GALLINULE (Porphyrio martinica) – One was seen in a savanna roadside pond.
Aramidae (Limpkin)
LIMPKIN (Aramus guarauna)
Psophiidae (Trumpeters)
GRAY-WINGED TRUMPETER (Psophia crepitans) – We heard a few, and a few folks had brief looks as they crossed the road early in the trip, but we all ended up with great looks at two individuals that walked out onto the wide Buro Buro Trail. These two birds had a look around and kept going. What a bizarre looking species!
Burhinidae (Thick-knees)
DOUBLE-STRIPED THICK-KNEE (Burhinus bistriatus) – We had nice views of a few groups in the savanna.
Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings)
PIED LAPWING (Vanellus cayanus) – These were rather common on the lawn at Iwokrama River Lodge and on sandbars along some of the rivers.
SOUTHERN LAPWING (Vanellus chilensis)
Jacanidae (Jacanas)
WATTLED JACANA (Jacana jacana)
The tiny Bearded Tachuri allowed us to get a good look. Photo by participant Querida Smith.
Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies)
SPOTTED SANDPIPER (Actitis macularius)
SOLITARY SANDPIPER (Tringa solitaria) – A couple were seen at Hope Canal and again in the savanna.
LESSER YELLOWLEGS (Tringa flavipes)
Laridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)
YELLOW-BILLED TERN (Sternula superciliaris) – Jan spotted one on the Essequibo River just off from the lodge at Iwokrama.
LARGE-BILLED TERN (Phaetusa simplex) – We saw a few along the Iwokrama River on our boat trip in the late afternoon.
BLACK SKIMMER (Rynchops niger) – It seemed unusual to see only two individuals on a sandbar on the Essequibo River.
Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)
ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia) [I]
PALE-VENTED PIGEON (Patagioenas cayennensis)
SCALED PIGEON (Patagioenas speciosa) – We scoped one in a tree top one morning.
PLUMBEOUS PIGEON (Patagioenas plumbea) – Mostly heard but I think a few got a look at a perched bird.
RUDDY PIGEON (Patagioenas subvinacea) – We saw a few in the road where they were coming to drink from puddles in the morning.
COMMON GROUND-DOVE (Columbina passerina)
RUDDY GROUND-DOVE (Columbina talpacoti)
WHITE-TIPPED DOVE (Leptotila verreauxi)
GRAY-FRONTED DOVE (Leptotila rufaxilla) [*]
EARED DOVE (Zenaida auriculata) – These became more common the deeper into the savanna we got.
Opisthocomidae (Hoatzin)
HOATZIN (Opisthocomus hoazin) – The national bird of Guyana, we had wonderful views of this bizarre species on our boat trip on the Mahaica River.
Usually a quite secretive species of the forest, the Black Curassows we saw at Atta Lodge were bold enough to strut around in the clearing. Photo by participant Querida Smith.
Cuculidae (Cuckoos)
SMOOTH-BILLED ANI (Crotophaga ani)
STRIPED CUCKOO (Tapera naevia) [*]
LITTLE CUCKOO (Coccycua minuta) – On the Mahaica River boat trip we ended up with great looks at two birds that perched right next to each other rather close to us.
SQUIRREL CUCKOO (Piaya cayana)
Strigidae (Owls)
TROPICAL SCREECH-OWL (Megascops choliba) – Some heard this calling pre-dawn outside the rooms at Caiman House. [*]
GREAT HORNED OWL (Bubo virginianus) – We ended up with nice looks at this widespread species in the Georgetown Botanical Gardens after it was pointed out to us by a young boy that was passing by.
AMAZONIAN PYGMY-OWL (Glaucidium hardyi) – A few heard this call near their rooms at Iwokrama River Lodge on our final morning there. [*]
FERRUGINOUS PYGMY-OWL (Glaucidium brasilianum) – We manage to "toot" in a cooperative individual at our lunch spot at Manari Ranch.
BURROWING OWL (Athene cunicularia) – One of the vehicles flushed one off the roadside in the morning of our final day.
Caprimulgidae (Nightjars and Allies)
LEAST NIGHTHAWK (Chordeiles pusillus) – A few were seen at dusk in the savanna.
LESSER NIGHTHAWK (Chordeiles acutipennis) – We had a couple of fly-bys, then a perched individual on a tree limb near Surama Lodge.
SHORT-TAILED NIGHTHAWK (Lurocalis semitorquatus)
BAND-TAILED NIGHTHAWK (Nyctiprogne leucopyga) – About three birds were seen feeding over the Rupununi River near the end of our boat trip.
COMMON PAURAQUE (Nyctidromus albicollis)
WHITE-TAILED NIGHTJAR (Hydropsalis cayennensis) – We had pretty good views of one flying near us at Surama Village and there were a handful flushed off the roads in the morning at Caiman House.
LADDER-TAILED NIGHTJAR (Hydropsalis climacocerca) – Our evening boat trip on the Essequibo River found a couple of these on the rocky islands near the rapids. One of the boats then saw a day-roosting bird the next morning.
Nyctibiidae (Potoos)
GREAT POTOO (Nyctibius grandis) – We had nice looks at this species on a known roost site at Surama. It was still pretty well camouflaged.
LONG-TAILED POTOO (Nyctibius aethereus) – Amazingly, Alex spotted this extremely cryptic and rarely encountered species perched atop a broken tree as we walked the Turtle Mountain trail. It stayed put for the group coming down the mountain to enjoy it as well.
WHITE-WINGED POTOO (Nyctibius leucopterus) – We had an individual calling well off the road near Atta Lodge but could not coax it out of the forest. Darn! [*]
RUFOUS POTOO (Nyctibius bracteatus) – One of the trip highlights was walking the soggy trail into the forest and seeing this rarely seen species perched on a small branch. This is the smallest of all the potoos and one of the least know. Yip! Yip! Yip!
Apodidae (Swifts)
WHITE-CHINNED SWIFT (Cypseloides cryptus) – One was seen at Kaieteur Falls.
WHITE-COLLARED SWIFT (Streptoprocne zonaris) – A small group was seen over the main road one morning. This is one of the larger swifts.
SHORT-TAILED SWIFT (Chaetura brachyura)
BAND-RUMPED SWIFT (Chaetura spinicaudus) – This was the most commonly seen swift we encountered.
GRAY-RUMPED SWIFT (Chaetura cinereiventris) – A few were mixed in with the Band-rumps.
WHITE-TIPPED SWIFT (Aeronautes montivagus) – A fair number were heard and seen at Kaieteur Falls.
LESSER SWALLOW-TAILED SWIFT (Panyptila cayennensis)
FORK-TAILED PALM-SWIFT (Tachornis squamata) – These were seen in the open country at Surama and again in the savanna further south.
We saw a few Pearl Kites, which are one of the smallest New World Raptors, in the savanna. I don’t see many that are not on poles or power lines. Photo by guide John Coons.
Trochilidae (Hummingbirds)
CRIMSON TOPAZ (Topaza pella) – We had scope views of a male right above us, while a female was nearby as we walked the entrance road at Atta Lodge.
REDDISH HERMIT (Phaethornis ruber) – We saw a few darting about in the forest.
BLACK-EARED FAIRY (Heliothryx auritus) – There were a few sightings in the Surama area.
WHITE-TAILED GOLDENTHROAT (Polytmus guainumbi) – A couple of individuals were encountered in the savanna near Caiman House.
BLUE-CHINNED SAPPHIRE (Chlorestes notata)
GRAY-BREASTED SABREWING (Campylopterus largipennis) – This species was visiting the feeder at Atta Lodge.
FORK-TAILED WOODNYMPH (Thalurania furcata) – Our first was at Kaieteur Falls then we saw a few at the Atta Lodge feeders.
WHITE-CHESTED EMERALD (Amazilia brevirostris) – Both this species and the following were seen in the ornamental flowers outside Cara Lodge in Georgetown.
PLAIN-BELLIED EMERALD (Amazilia leucogaster)
GLITTERING-THROATED EMERALD (Amazilia fimbriata) – Ron and I saw one come to some flowers just outside the waiting lounge at the airport in Lethem.
RUFOUS-THROATED SAPPHIRE (Hylocharis sapphirina) – Our best view was from the Canopy Platform at Atta Lodge.
WHITE-CHINNED SAPPHIRE (Hylocharis cyanus) – This was also seen from the Canopy Platform at Atta Lodge.
Trogonidae (Trogons)
BLACK-TAILED TROGON (Trogon melanurus) [*]
GREEN-BACKED TROGON (Trogon viridis) – we had a few good views of this species. This was historically part of the White-tailed Trogon species.
GUIANAN TROGON (Trogon violaceus) – We had a few views of this bird with the barred undertail that was formerly known as Violaceous Trogon.
Alcedinidae (Kingfishers)
RINGED KINGFISHER (Megaceryle torquata) – We saw a handful, with several encountered on the Rupununi River.
AMAZON KINGFISHER (Chloroceryle amazona)
GREEN KINGFISHER (Chloroceryle americana) – Our only one was along seen over the pond along the Turtle Mountain Trail.
AMERICAN PYGMY KINGFISHER (Chloroceryle aenea) – Jan spotted one our river trip on the Mahaica River after we had heard one earlier at the Hope Canal. This tiny kingfisher is always a favorite.
Bucconidae (Puffbirds)
GUIANAN PUFFBIRD (Notharchus macrorhynchos) – Part of the "White-necked" complex; we saw a couple along the road near Atta Lodge.
Definitely a Wow! bird. We saw two brilliantly colored Guianan Cock-of-the-Rocks in the forest near Atta Lodge. Photo by participant Querida Smith.
SPOTTED PUFFBIRD (Bucco tamatia) – We had great looks at this wonderful species that Jan spotted in the forest as we were trying to see a Black-chinned Antbird.
BLACK NUNBIRD (Monasa atra) – These were noisy and conspicuous in a few places.
SWALLOW-WINGED PUFFBIRD (Chelidoptera tenebrosa) – We saw several of these perched atop dead trees throughout the forest and savannas.
Galbulidae (Jacamars)
YELLOW-BILLED JACAMAR (Galbula albirostris) [*]
RUFOUS-TAILED JACAMAR (Galbula ruficauda) – We had a nice look at a singing bird in the low forest along the river where we saw the Rio Branco Antbird.
GREEN-TAILED JACAMAR (Galbula galbula) – After hearing this species the day before, we returned the next morning and had nice looks at one just off the main road.
BRONZY JACAMAR (Galbula leucogastra) – We enjoyed scope views of this bird at the edge of the white sand forest.
PARADISE JACAMAR (Galbula dea) – This fancy looking jacamar showed well near the clearing at Atta Lodge.
GREAT JACAMAR (Jacamerops aureus) – After hearing a calling bird for some time, we finally got a scope view of it from the Canopy Platform at Atta Lodge.
Capitonidae (New World Barbets)
BLACK-SPOTTED BARBET (Capito niger) – A nice looking pair showed well for us on our drive to Surama Village.
Ramphastidae (Toucans)
GREEN ARACARI (Pteroglossus viridis) – A fair number of these small toucans were seen in the forested areas we visited.
BLACK-NECKED ARACARI (Pteroglossus aracari)
GUIANAN TOUCANET (Selenidera piperivora) – This quite colorfully marked small toucan showed well around Iwokrama River Lodge.
TOCO TOUCAN (Ramphastos toco) – We enjoyed good views at the Georgetown Botanical Gardens. This species is claimed to have the largest bill in proportion to body size of any bird.
WHITE-THROATED TOUCAN (Ramphastos tucanus) – We had several nice looks, mostly in the forested areas we visited.
CHANNEL-BILLED TOUCAN (Ramphastos vitellinus) – These became more common in the open country.
Picidae (Woodpeckers)
GOLDEN-SPANGLED PICULET (Picumnus exilis) [*]
WHITE-BELLIED PICULET (Picumnus spilogaster) – This tiny woodpecker showed well at our first birding stop at Hope Canal.
YELLOW-TUFTED WOODPECKER (Melanerpes cruentatus) – Those we saw were of the race that actually has the yellow tuft.
GOLDEN-COLLARED WOODPECKER (Veniliornis cassini) – We heard this species in the forest a time or two, but we got great looks at four individuals on a tree right next to the river during our trip on the Rupununi River.
The savannas were the place to find large birds like this impressive Jabiru. Photo by participant Querida Smith.
BLOOD-COLORED WOODPECKER (Veniliornis sanguineus) – A real specialty of the area; we had nice looks at one at Hope Canal, then again at the botanic gardens on our first day.
YELLOW-THROATED WOODPECKER (Piculus flavigula) – One along the Buro Buro Trail at Surama showed well.
WAVED WOODPECKER (Celeus undatus) – A vocalizing individual showed well in the forest clearing at Atta Lodge.
CREAM-COLORED WOODPECKER (Celeus flavus) – Our first was tearing into a termite nest along the Harpy Trail, then the next day we had fantastic views of this great looking woodpecker, as three individuals were feeding in a tree next to the main road. One that we watched closely seemed to be feeding on an ant nest, not termites, and would pick the unhappy ants off its feathers as they emerged.
LINEATED WOODPECKER (Dryocopus lineatus)
RED-NECKED WOODPECKER (Campephilus rubricollis) – Our last one probably gave us the best view, showing its nearly orange belly.
CRIMSON-CRESTED WOODPECKER (Campephilus melanoleucos)
Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)
SLATY-BACKED FOREST-FALCON (Micrastur mirandollei) [*]
BLACK CARACARA (Daptrius ater) – A few folks saw this species near Iwokrama.
RED-THROATED CARACARA (Ibycter americanus) – On our drive to Surama, we stopped along the highway and had nice looks at a group of these noisy marauders.
CRESTED CARACARA (Caracara cheriway) – Common in open areas.
YELLOW-HEADED CARACARA (Milvago chimachima) – Also quite common in open country.
LAUGHING FALCON (Herpetotheres cachinnans) [*]
AMERICAN KESTREL (Falco sparverius) – Once we reached the savanna to the south, we saw at least a couple each day.
APLOMADO FALCON (Falco femoralis) – We saw a couple or three with one right next to the main road.
BAT FALCON (Falco rufigularis) – The highway south through the forest of Guyana must have more Bat Falcons than any place I have been. I think we saw six in one day and most roadside stops yielded a sighting if there were dead tree perches on the horizon.
ORANGE-BREASTED FALCON (Falco deiroleucus) – The folks that went up Turtle Mountain were rewarded with nice looks of this quite local species.
PEREGRINE FALCON (Falco peregrinus) – The only one we saw was at the botanic gardens in Georgetown.
Psittacidae (New World and African Parrots)
GOLDEN-WINGED PARAKEET (Brotogeris chrysoptera) – These were commonly heard as they flew over the forest, but our first good view was in the clearing at Iwokrama Lodge.
CAICA PARROT (Pyrilia caica) – Our only sighting was a group of six that flew over the clearing at Atta Lodge.
Toco Toucan reportedly has the largest bill in relation to body size of any bird in the world. Photo by participant Querida Smith.
DUSKY PARROT (Pionus fuscus)
BLUE-HEADED PARROT (Pionus menstruus) – We had a few nice looks at this widespread species.
BLUE-CHEEKED PARROT (Amazona dufresniana) – A quite good looking Amazon; we had a nice view of two in the scope that we spotted along the main road.
YELLOW-CROWNED PARROT (Amazona ochrocephala)
MEALY PARROT (Amazona farinosa)
ORANGE-WINGED PARROT (Amazona amazonica) – This was the most commonly seen parrot for us.
BLACK-HEADED PARROT (Pionites melanocephalus) – We enjoyed good perched views of this parrot with a black crown and yellow cheek.
RED-FAN PARROT (Deroptyus accipitrinus) – This species is one of the fancier parrots. We had nice looks at a few including one or two in the scope that showed the fan.
PAINTED PARAKEET (Pyrrhura picta) – A few small flocks of these were seen during the week. All the members of this genus have red in their tails.
BROWN-THROATED PARAKEET (Eupsittula pertinax) – Our first ones were at a nest hole in a termite nest near Narish's house on the Mahaica River.
RED-BELLIED MACAW (Orthopsittaca manilatus) – We had a couple of nice fly-bys in the Rupununi savanna as we drove over the plains.
BLUE-AND-YELLOW MACAW (Ara ararauna) – A huge bird; we had wonderful looks in the Iwokrama area of perched and flying pairs.
SCARLET MACAW (Ara macao) – Our first two were perched in a tree, showing the yellow in their wings, at Iwokrama River Lodge. This seemed an unusual place for this species which is usually found in more open areas. We later saw a group of five in the forest at Atta Lodge.
RED-AND-GREEN MACAW (Ara chloropterus) – This was the most commonly seen of the macaws we encountered on our tour. Another large species; we saw them and heard them well in the forested areas we visited.
RED-SHOULDERED MACAW (Diopsittaca nobilis) – Quite a small macaw; our first one was perched atop a tree just outside the Cara Lodge in Georgetown. We then saw a few pairs in the savanna of the south.
Thamnophilidae (Typical Antbirds)
ASH-WINGED ANTWREN (Euchrepomis spodioptila) – We saw this small antbird near the top of a tree right along the main road in the Iwokrama forest. We spotted it as it vibrated its tail while singing.
FASCIATED ANTSHRIKE (Cymbilaimus lineatus) [*]
BLACK-CRESTED ANTSHRIKE (Sakesphorus canadensis) – On our drive to the savanna we made a roadside stop and picked up a handful of new birds, and most saw a rufous-capped female of this species working through the vegetation.
MOUSE-COLORED ANTSHRIKE (Thamnophilus murinus) – After we arrived at Iwokrama River Lodge, we diid a walk out the entrance road and found a singing individual that we eventually got in the telescope for a nice look.
DUSKY-THROATED ANTSHRIKE (Thamnomanes ardesiacus) – This species, a leader of the mixed-species flocks in the forest, showed pretty well along the trail that led to Turtle Mountain.
Birding along the main highway through Guyana is fantastic as there is almost no traffic and the wonderful forest comes right to the edge of the road. Photo by participant Querida Smith.
CINEREOUS ANTSHRIKE (Thamnomanes caesius) – This is another species we saw with the mix-species flock along the Turtle Mountain trail. We later saw it along the trail to the Canopy Walkway at Atta.
RUFOUS-BELLIED ANTWREN (Isleria guttata) – We had good views of this Guiana Shield specialty along the Buro Buro Trail at Surama.
BROWN-BELLIED ANTWREN (Epinecrophylla gutturalis) – We saw this species in the same flock with the preceding species.
PYGMY ANTWREN (Myrmotherula brachyura) – One of the smallest of all the antbirds; we heard about five singing around the edge of the clearing on the Turtle Mountain Trail. We eventually got nice looks at one in a tangle at the edge of the clearing.
GUIANAN STREAKED-ANTWREN (Myrmotherula surinamensis) – A pair along the roadside north of Atta Lodge showed well. We had nice looks at the orange-headed female.
WHITE-FLANKED ANTWREN (Myrmotherula axillaris)
LONG-WINGED ANTWREN (Myrmotherula longipennis) – This was another species that was in the antwren flock along the Buro Buro Trail.
GRAY ANTWREN (Myrmotherula menetriesii)
SPOT-TAILED ANTWREN (Herpsilochmus sticturus) – This canopy dweller ended up showing pretty well, even briefly in the scope along the Buro Buro trail at Surama.
GUIANAN WARBLING-ANTBIRD (Hypocnemis cantator) – Gary spotted this mid-level species working through the forest at Surama and we ended up with nice views of a rather colorful antbird.
DUSKY ANTBIRD (Cercomacroides tyrannina) – A quite widespread species in the tropics; we heard a good number of these but only had a couple of views, with our best being a female along the main road north of Atta Lodge.
GRAY ANTBIRD (Cercomacra cinerascens) – This species is found in viney thickets at tree fall gaps in the forest. We had pretty fair views of one along the trail to Turtle Mountain.
RIO BRANCO ANTBIRD (Cercomacra carbonaria) – One of the species with the smallest overall range that we encountered. We made a long morning drive close to the border with Brazil where we found one singing rather quickly. It took a bit of time for all of us to get a good view of this quite uncommon species.
BLACK-CHINNED ANTBIRD (Hypocnemoides melanopogon) – One showed well along the Turtle Mountain trail as it happened to be near a mixed flock that moved through.
SILVERED ANTBIRD (Sclateria naevia) – This one took awhile to see as we birded along the Mahaica River on our first morning. It vocalized quite a bit but didn't like to show itself for more that a few seconds in the dense riverside vegetation.
RORAIMAN ANTBIRD (Myrmelastes saturatus) – Formerly considered part of Spot-winged Antbird. Only a couple of folks got a view of this species along the trail at Kaieteur Falls. It was spotted between a couple of the large boulders but would not show itself well.
WHITE-BELLIED ANTBIRD (Myrmeciza longipes) [*]
FERRUGINOUS-BACKED ANTBIRD (Myrmoderus ferrugineus) – One of the specialty species of the Iwokrama forest, both groups saw this handsome species well as it worked near the ground.
WHITE-PLUMED ANTBIRD (Pithys albifrons) – The group going up Turtle Mountain saw this snazzy antbird. The rest of us were close to an individual but could not lure it out.
RUFOUS-THROATED ANTBIRD (Gymnopithys rufigula) [*]
We encountered many Guianan Shield specialties during the trip, including this Blood-colored Woodpecker, which was one of the early birds we saw on our first morning in the field. Photo by participant Querida Smith.
Grallariidae (Antpittas)
SPOTTED ANTPITTA (Hylopezus macularius) – The group that did not go up Turtle Mountain flushed this difficult to see species from the edge of the trail. After quite of bit of looking we all ended up getting pretty good looks, especially when it hopped up on the log.
THRUSH-LIKE ANTPITTA (Myrmothera campanisona) [*]
Formicariidae (Antthrushes)
RUFOUS-CAPPED ANTTHRUSH (Formicarius colma) [*]
BLACK-FACED ANTTHRUSH (Formicarius analis) [*]
Furnariidae (Ovenbirds and Woodcreepers)
PLAIN-BROWN WOODCREEPER (Dendrocincla fuliginosa) – We saw two individuals where the ants were streaming across the road along the way out of Surama Village. This species is often associated with army ants but the ants were not swarming.
WEDGE-BILLED WOODCREEPER (Glyphorynchus spirurus)
CINNAMON-THROATED WOODCREEPER (Dendrexetastes rufigula) [*]
BLACK-BANDED WOODCREEPER (Dendrocolaptes picumnus) – This was another species that was near the army ants near Surama. There were certainly other species in the forest that we did not see that were waiting for the ants to go on a rampage.
CHESTNUT-RUMPED WOODCREEPER (Xiphorhynchus pardalotus)
BUFF-THROATED WOODCREEPER (Xiphorhynchus guttatus)
STREAK-HEADED WOODCREEPER (Lepidocolaptes souleyetii) – Two birds were seen in the thick low trees just after we saw the Rio Branco Antbird. Jan spotted the first one and it was quite responsive.
GUIANAN WOODCREEPER (Lepidocolaptes albolineatus) – We enjoyed pretty good views of one along the Buro Buro Trail at Surama.
PLAIN XENOPS (Xenops minutus)
PALE-LEGGED HORNERO (Furnarius leucopus) – In the same spot as the Streak-headed Woodcreeper. Folks got a nice look at this unusual species.
YELLOW-CHINNED SPINETAIL (Certhiaxis cinnamomeus) – We heard several before getting views along the edge of the marshes on our first day near the Mahaica River. Then we saw a few more during our search for the Crested Doradito in the savanna.
PALE-BREASTED SPINETAIL (Synallaxis albescens)
HOARY-THROATED SPINETAIL (Synallaxis kollari) – Another species with a tiny overall range; we had great looks in the riverine vegetation near the Brazilian border. This is one of the more sharply marked of the spinetails.
Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers)
WHITE-LORED TYRANNULET (Ornithion inerme) – Good views were had of this tiny flycatcher as it perched high overhead along the main road.
MOUSE-COLORED TYRANNULET (Phaeomyias murina)
BEARDED TACHURI (Polystictus pectoralis) – A very cool little flycatcher of the savannas. We were fortunate that Ron spotted one as it flushed from the grass right next to the two-track road as we drove through the savanna. It ended up performing very well and even posed for scope views.
These are just a few of the Scarlet Ibises that we saw at Hope Canal on our first morning. Photo by participant Querida Smith.
CRESTED DORADITO (Pseudocolopteryx sclateri) – This bird took a lot of work as we walked a good ways through the open country before flushing an individual. There ended up being three different birds here at the edge of the pond and we saw it quite well, but it never sat right up in the open long enough for a photo.
YELLOW-CROWNED TYRANNULET (Tyrannulus elatus) – After hearing many we finally saw one near Surama. This is a quite widespread species in the tropics.
FOREST ELAENIA (Myiopagis gaimardii)
YELLOW-BELLIED ELAENIA (Elaenia flavogaster)
LESSER ELAENIA (Elaenia chiriquensis) – We saw a few in the savanna at Surama as we were looking for Ocellated Crake.
RUFOUS-CROWNED ELAENIA (Elaenia ruficeps) – Another specialty of the area; we had nice views of a calling bird in the open country at Kaieteur Falls.
PALE-TIPPED TYRANNULET (Inezia caudata) – Another savanna species we saw not far from Brazil.
HELMETED PYGMY-TYRANT (Lophotriccus galeatus) – We only had some glimpses of this tiny forest flycatcher.
SPOTTED TODY-FLYCATCHER (Todirostrum maculatum) – This quite well-marked flycatcher showed well at the Georgetown Botanic Garden on our first afternoon.
COMMON TODY-FLYCATCHER (Todirostrum cinereum)
PAINTED TODY-FLYCATCHER (Todirostrum pictum) – We had scope views of this treetop dweller at Surama.
YELLOW-MARGINED FLYCATCHER (Tolmomyias assimilis)
GRAY-CROWNED FLYCATCHER (Tolmomyias poliocephalus) – On our last morning at Atta we drove north along the main road and got good views of a calling individual.
YELLOW-BREASTED FLYCATCHER (Tolmomyias flaviventris) – We chased this species around at our lunch spot at Surama Junction before getting a good look.
WHITE-CRESTED SPADEBILL (Platyrinchus platyrhynchos)
RUDDY-TAILED FLYCATCHER (Terenotriccus erythrurus)
CLIFF FLYCATCHER (Hirundinea ferruginea) – A single individual was seen near the top of Kaieteur Falls.
WHISKERED FLYCATCHER (Myiobius barbatus) – Quite similar to the more-widepsread Sulphur-rumped Flycatcher. We had a nice look at one along the trail to the cock-of-the-rocks.
TROPICAL PEWEE (Contopus cinereus) – One was seen at Hope Canal on our first morning. I believe we failed to include this on our checklist session that evening.
VERMILION FLYCATCHER (Pyrocephalus rubinus) – A few were seen in the open savannas of the south.
A Rufous-tailed Jacamar showed nicely for us along the river. Photo by participant Querida Smith.
PIED WATER-TYRANT (Fluvicola pica)
WHITE-HEADED MARSH TYRANT (Arundinicola leucocephala) – After a female or two along the road, we had nice looks at males in the savanna near Caiman House.
LONG-TAILED TYRANT (Colonia colonus) – A quite distinct species that is pretty widespread in the tropics, but always a favorite.
RUFOUS-TAILED FLATBILL (Ramphotrigon ruficauda) [*]
BRIGHT-RUMPED ATTILA (Attila spadiceus) – We tracked one down in the clearing at Atta Lodge on our last morning there after hearing a few earlier in the trip.
BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus tyrannulus) – We saw one at the edge of the savanna at Surama. Yep, this is the same species that is found in the southwest US.
LESSER KISKADEE (Pitangus lictor) – Always found near water.
GREAT KISKADEE (Pitangus sulphuratus) – Quite common.
BOAT-BILLED FLYCATCHER (Megarynchus pitangua)
RUSTY-MARGINED FLYCATCHER (Myiozetetes cayanensis)
YELLOW-THROATED FLYCATCHER (Conopias parvus) – Our only sighting was along the Buro Buro Trail at Surama.
SULPHURY FLYCATCHER (Tyrannopsis sulphurea)
WHITE-THROATED KINGBIRD (Tyrannus albogularis) – Some in Ron's vehicle saw this species near Atta Lodge.
TROPICAL KINGBIRD (Tyrannus melancholicus)
FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER (Tyrannus savana) – There were a lot of these once we got in the savanna.
Cotingidae (Cotingas)
GUIANAN RED-COTINGA (Phoenicircus carnifex) – Another specialty of the area. We had both a male and a female in the scope.
GUIANAN COCK-OF-THE-ROCK (Rupicola rupicola) – It took two tries but we ended up with great looks at two brilliant orange males near a lek in the Iwokrama forest. This is one of the most bizarre birds of South America. You've got to wonder who thought up this bird!
On our first morning, we saw a handful of Hoatzins along the Mahaica River. I wonder who voted this to be the national bird of Guyana? Photo by participant Querida Smith.
PURPLE-THROATED FRUITCROW (Querula purpurata)
CAPUCHINBIRD (Perissocephalus tricolor) – Another quite unusual species, we heard one call ahead along the trail and approached quietly and ended up seeing four individuals in a fairly tall tree in the forest.
PURPLE-BREASTED COTINGA (Cotinga cotinga) – After seeing a brownish female, we found a rather colorful male atop a dead tree at our lunch spot at Surama Junction.
SPANGLED COTINGA (Cotinga cayana) – A male ended up on the same tree top as the previous species at the lunch spot.
SCREAMING PIHA (Lipaugus vociferans) – We heard far more than we saw, but we saw a handful in the forest by the end of our time. This is one of the distinctive calls of the lowland rainforest.
POMPADOUR COTINGA (Xipholena punicea) – Another great looking cotinga that we saw a few times in the Iwokrama forest. We had a couple of nicely plumaged males and a quite gray female individual.
BARE-NECKED FRUITCROW (Gymnoderus foetidus) – One flew over our boat while we motored along the Rupununi River.
Pipridae (Manakins)
TINY TYRANT-MANAKIN (Tyranneutes virescens) – We heard a couple early in the trip, then ended up getting a great view of one from the Canopy Platform at Atta Lodge. This individual was even showing the yellow crown patch that is usually hard to see.
BLUE-BACKED MANAKIN (Chiroxiphia pareola) [*]
WHITE-THROATED MANAKIN (Corapipo gutturalis) – We heard one or two, then had a look at an immature male in a fruiting tree in the clearing at Atta Lodge.
BLACK MANAKIN (Xenopipo atronitens) – After our first, a green and black immature male at Kaieteur Falls, we found a male in the white sand forest north of Atta Lodge on our last day in the forest.
WHITE-CROWNED MANAKIN (Dixiphia pipra) – A snazzy looking manakin; we saw a couple or three individuals.
GOLDEN-HEADED MANAKIN (Ceratopipra erythrocephala erythrocephala)
Tityridae (Tityras and Allies)
BLACK-TAILED TITYRA (Tityra cayana) – One flew over during our first evening boat trip.
CINEREOUS MOURNER (Laniocera hypopyrra) – We had a pretty fair look at this rather drab looking species while on the Canopy Platform at Atta Lodge.
DUSKY PURPLETUFT (Iodopleura fusca) – Jan saw one at Atta Lodge while the rest of us ventured further afield, then we all had a scope look at the lunch spot at Surama Junction when one suddenly appeared in the same dead tree top as the cotingas.
WHITE-NAPED XENOPSARIS (Xenopsaris albinucha) – A rather unusual species that doesn't really seem like a becard; we had nice scope views in the savanna near the lodge at Surama.
CINEREOUS BECARD (Pachyramphus rufus) – A couple of females were encountered with the first in the botanic garden at Georgetown.
BLACK-CAPPED BECARD (Pachyramphus marginatus) [*]
PINK-THROATED BECARD (Pachyramphus minor) – We saw a nice male associating with the flock that had a good number of species along the Buro Buro trail at Surama.
Vireonidae (Vireos, Shrike-Babblers, and Erpornis)
RUFOUS-BROWED PEPPERSHRIKE (Cyclarhis gujanensis) – After hearing a few, we got a view of a singing bird as we got into the savanna on the way to Caiman House.
ASHY-HEADED GREENLET (Hylophilus pectoralis) – One or two were seen at Hope Canal on our first morning.
LEMON-CHESTED GREENLET (Hylophilus thoracicus)
TAWNY-CROWNED GREENLET (Tunchiornis ochraceiceps) [*]
BUFF-CHEEKED GREENLET (Pachysylvia muscicapina)
Yellow-headed Caracara was a common species in the open areas. Photo by participant Querida Smith.
RED-EYED VIREO (RESIDENT CHIVI) (Vireo olivaceus vividior) – Some saw this species in the savanna forest on our last day. This is almost certainly the "Chivi" form that is a resident in drier forests of Guyana and eastern Venezuela.
Corvidae (Crows, Jays, and Magpies)
CAYENNE JAY (Cyanocorax cayanus) [*]
Hirundinidae (Swallows)
BLACK-COLLARED SWALLOW (Pygochelidon melanoleuca) – There were a good number of these over the Essequibo River and perched about the rock islands that we saw during our boat trip.
WHITE-BANDED SWALLOW (Atticora fasciata) – One of the fancier looking swallows; we saw a few during the boat trip on the Rupununi River.
SOUTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW (Stelgidopteryx ruficollis)
GRAY-BREASTED MARTIN (Progne chalybea) – This was the most common swallow we saw during our trip.
BROWN-CHESTED MARTIN (Progne tapera) – Some saw this species with Ron at Surama.
WHITE-WINGED SWALLOW (Tachycineta albiventer) – A good number were seen when we were along the rivers.
BARN SWALLOW (Hirundo rustica) – A few were seen each day we were in the savanna.
Troglodytidae (Wrens)
HOUSE WREN (SOUTHERN) (Troglodytes aedon clarus)
BICOLORED WREN (Campylorhynchus griseus) – This large wren was seen quite well on a few occasions.
CORAYA WREN (Pheugopedius coraya) – A pair were calling and we ended up seeing one quite well at the edge of the road near Atta Lodge. This group of wrens is notorius for being hard to see in thick vegetation.
BUFF-BREASTED WREN (Cantorchilus leucotis) – We saw a pair at the lunch spot at Surama Junction.
Polioptilidae (Gnatcatchers)
LONG-BILLED GNATWREN (Ramphocaenus melanurus) – This bird sounds like someone running their finger along the teeth of a comb.
TROPICAL GNATCATCHER (Polioptila plumbea) – This widespread species didn't put in an appearance until we reached the savanna.
Donacobiidae (Donacobius)
BLACK-CAPPED DONACOBIUS (Donacobius atricapilla) – Our first was near Narish's house along the Mahaica River, then we saw them a couple more times in the savannas of the south. Formerly placed with the wrens, this is now the sole member of its family.
Turdidae (Thrushes and Allies)
PALE-BREASTED THRUSH (Turdus leucomelas) – We encountered more of these just outside the Cara Lodge Hotel in Georgetown than anywhere else.
Mimidae (Mockingbirds and Thrashers)
TROPICAL MOCKINGBIRD (Mimus gilvus)
Motacillidae (Wagtails and Pipits)
YELLOWISH PIPIT (Anthus lutescens) – We spent some time on our last morning chasing down some individuals that were doing display flights in the grasslands near Caiman House. We saw a couple in the air before spotting one on the ground.
Alex amazed us by spotting this Long-tailed Potoo along the Turtle Mountain trail. It’s a very well camouflaged species, and one wonders how many you walk by in the forest. Photo by participant Querida Smith.
Parulidae (New World Warblers)
NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH (Parkesia noveboracensis) – One was seen on our first day near the coast.
YELLOW WARBLER (Setophaga petechia)
BLACKPOLL WARBLER (Setophaga striata) [*]
Thraupidae (Tanagers and Allies)
RED-CAPPED CARDINAL (Paroaria gularis) – We encountered a few near the waterways we birded.
FULVOUS-CRESTED TANAGER (Tachyphonus surinamus) – We had one in the scope for a spell, then we had a few more with flocks in the forest.
WHITE-SHOULDERED TANAGER (Tachyphonus luctuosus)
SILVER-BEAKED TANAGER (Ramphocelus carbo) – A quite common species throughout the trip,
BLUE-BACKED TANAGER (Cyanicterus cyanicterus) – A specialty of the Guianan Shield; we had one in a sizable flock along the Buro Buro Trail at Surama.
BLUE-GRAY TANAGER (Thraupis episcopus)
PALM TANAGER (Thraupis palmarum)
SPOTTED TANAGER (Ixothraupis punctata) – We had a couple in the scope in the Atta Lodge area.
BURNISHED-BUFF TANAGER (Tangara cayana)
TURQUOISE TANAGER (Tangara mexicana) – We saw a few, with our first being along the entrance road to Iwokrama River Lodge during our afternoon walk.
BAY-HEADED TANAGER (Tangara gyrola)
BLUE DACNIS (Dacnis cayana)
PURPLE HONEYCREEPER (Cyanerpes caeruleus)
RED-LEGGED HONEYCREEPER (Cyanerpes cyaneus)
GREEN HONEYCREEPER (Chlorophanes spiza) – A few were encountered with mixed-flocks in the Iwokrama forest.
YELLOW-BACKED TANAGER (Hemithraupis flavicollis) – We had a scope view of one along the main road on our way to Surama.
BICOLORED CONEBILL (Conirostrum bicolor) – This species is a mangrove specialist and we saw it along the Hope Canal on our first morning.
GRASSLAND YELLOW-FINCH (Sicalis luteola) – A few flocks of these flew up from the savanna on the day we drove to Caiman House. A few perched on fence wires for a spell.
WEDGE-TAILED GRASS-FINCH (Emberizoides herbicola) – We had nice looks at this widespread species during our search for the Ocellated Crake in the savanna at Surama.
BLUE-BLACK GRASSQUIT (Volatinia jacarina) – One at the Cara Lodge was doing its display by jumping up off a wire and giving a buzzy call.
CHESTNUT-BELLIED SEEDEATER (Sporophila castaneiventris) – A few small groups were seen on the lawn outside the buildings at Iwokrama River Lodge.
RUDDY-BREASTED SEEDEATER (Sporophila minuta)
WING-BARRED SEEDEATER (Sporophila americana) – We saw a handful on our first morning near the coast.
PLUMBEOUS SEEDEATER (Sporophila plumbea)
BANANAQUIT (Coereba flaveola) – A widespread bird of the tropics; we only saw these around Georgetown and at Iwokrama.
GRAYISH SALTATOR (Saltator coerulescens) – Two individuals were in the tangle of vines where we saw the Rio Branco Antbird.
SLATE-COLORED GROSBEAK (Saltator grossus) [*]
Passerellidae (New World Buntings and Sparrows)
GRASSLAND SPARROW (Ammodramus humeralis) – Several were encountered along the roadsides in the savanna.
PECTORAL SPARROW (Arremon taciturnus) [*]
Cardinalidae (Cardinals and Allies)
ROSE-BREASTED CHAT (Granatellus pelzelni) [*]
Icteridae (Troupials and Allies)
EASTERN MEADOWLARK (Sturnella magna) – This was a relatively common bird in the Rupununi savanna.
RED-BREASTED MEADOWLARK (Sturnella militaris) – A sharp looking blackbird; our first were seen at the Ogle Airport before our flight to Kaieteur Falls.
GREEN OROPENDOLA (Psarocolius viridis) – A handful of these were seen in the Iwokrama forest.
CRESTED OROPENDOLA (Psarocolius decumanus)
YELLOW-RUMPED CACIQUE (Cacicus cela) – We didn't see a huge number but there were a couple of nest trees here and there that had several individuals.
On one of our first evenings, we enjoyed a beautiful sunset along the Essiquibo River. Photo by guide John Coons.
RED-RUMPED CACIQUE (Cacicus haemorrhous)
EPAULET ORIOLE (MORICHE) (Icterus cayanensis chrysocephalus) – A couple of individuals were quite conspicuous in the clearing at Iwokrama river Lodge.
ORANGE-BACKED TROUPIAL (Icterus croconotus) – We finally caught up with one on our last morning in the savanna. This is the national bird of Guyana's neighbor, Venezuela.
YELLOW ORIOLE (Icterus nigrogularis) – These were quite conspicuous in a few areas including around Georgetown.
SHINY COWBIRD (Molothrus bonariensis)
GIANT COWBIRD (Molothrus oryzivorus) – There was a flock of about 30 individuals on the grass at Iwokrama River Lodge for a couple of days. This is, by far, the most I have ever seen of this species in one place.
CARIB GRACKLE (Quiscalus lugubris) – We only saw a few along the coastal areas.
YELLOW-HOODED BLACKBIRD (Chrysomus icterocephalus) – There were a handful seen well in the savanna of the south.
Fringillidae (Finches, Euphonias, and Allies)
PLUMBEOUS EUPHONIA (Euphonia plumbea)
FINSCH'S EUPHONIA (Euphonia finschi) – After hearing a few and getting glimpses here and there we finally connected well on the afternoon we drove to the Rupununi savanna, where we saw about seven individuals.
VIOLACEOUS EUPHONIA (Euphonia violacea) – The botanic gardens in Georgetown gave us our best views.
GOLDEN-SIDED EUPHONIA (Euphonia cayennensis) – We had a couple of nice views of this subtly marked bird along the main road through the forest.
MAMMALS
LONG-NOSED BAT (Rhynchonycteris naso) – These were the bats that were perched amongst the large boulders at the Guianan Cock-of-the-Rock site.
GREATER BULLDOG BAT (Noctilio leporinus) – This was the fishing bat we saw flying about us on the Essequibo River at Caiman House.
RED HOWLER MONKEY (Alouatta seniculus) [*]
GUIANAN SAKI MONKEY (Pithecia pithecia) – A few folks got a quick view in the forest.
WEDGE-CAPPED CAPUCHIN (Cebus olivaceus)
BROWN CAPUCHIN (Cebus apella) – A small group was at the Georgetown Botanical Gardens.
BLACK SPIDER MONKEY (Ateles paniscus) – We had a troop of about three come to investigate us while we were at the Guianan Cock-of-the Rock lek. They started raising a ruckus overhead so we moved to a more suitable location. Another individual returned to check us out when we went in a second time.
BROWN-THROATED THREE-TOED SLOTH (Bradypus variegatus) – John spotted one of these quite camouflaged and very popular fellows in a Cecropia tree near the entrance to Atta Lodge.
Participant Querida Smith captured this image of nature in action: an Amazon Scarlet Snake eating a lizard.
GIANT ANTEATER (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) – We had nice views of three different individuals in the Rupununi savanna. We saw two at a fair distance as we drove in the first day, then a single one that went running past us as we headed out into the savanna the next morning. This is certainly a bizarre creature and quite large when you figure in the length of the huge tail.
RED-RUMPED AGOUTI (Dasyprocta agouti) – Our best views were of the one coming to the rice at Atta Lodge.
CRAB-EATING FOX (Cerdocyon thous) – Also known as Savanna Fox, we saw a pair on the day we drove to Caiman House.
GIANT OTTER (Pteronura brasiliensis) – About three individuals were seen from the boat and again from the lawn of Narish's house on the Mahaica River on our first day.
WEST INDIAN MANATEE (Trichechus manatus) – Wow! We had a great experience with five of these lovable mammals in the lake at the Georgetown Botanical Garden. These were smallish, as manatees go, so were likely all young ones. They were coming up and feeding on vegetation right at the edge of the pond.
RED BROCKET DEER (Mazama americana)
Herps
GREEN IGUANA (Iguana iguana)
BLACK-COLLARED LIZARD (Tropidurus hispidus)
GOLDEN TEGU (Tupinambis teguixin)
TROPICAL (OR SOUTH AMERICAN) RATTLESNAKE (Crotalus durissus) – A few folks saw this species before it got off the edge of the road and into thick vegetation.
GREEN VINE SNAKE (Oxybelis fulgidus)
BROWN VINE SNAKE (Oxybelis aeneus) – This was the thin snake that Gordon spotted at the edge of a pond during our doradito search.
SPECTACLED CAIMAN (Caiman crocodilus)
BLACK CAIMAN (Melanosuchus niger) – We saw both Black and Spectacled Caiman along the Rupununi River.
CANE TOAD (Rhinella marina)
GOLDEN ROCKET FROG (Anomaloglossus beebei) – We had nice looks at a male and a female of these tiny bright yellow frogs in the bromeliads near Kaieteur Falls. This frog has a very limited world-wide range.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Totals for the tour: 364 bird taxa and 14 mammal taxa