To learn more about birds of Paraguay, you can visit our list. You can find information about the Charadriidae, Motacillidae, and Recurvirostridae. There are also dozens of other species of birds in the country.
Listed below are some of the most common ones. The Collared Crescentchest, Rufous-rumped Seedeater, and Dinelli’s Tachuri are all worth seeing.
The Atlantic Forest in Paraguay is one of the world’s most biodiverse and threatened ecosystems. While this area is sparse in terms of bird diversity, it still hosts a diverse array of species.
The Paraguay Biodiversity Corridor contains 557 species of birds, far more than other conservation areas in neighboring countries. Listed below are the bird species most commonly found in the country’s five most important protected areas.
The list of birds in Paraguay is divided into categories based on taxonomy and geographical distribution. Waterfowl and wading birds are represented here, as is a large suite of song birds.
Raptors, game birds, and swifts are also included, with details of endemic and rare species. Birdwatchers are advised to check the list of birds before traveling to Paraguay.
Hummingbirds are tiny birds with long, graduated tails that wave back and forth. These tiny birds are the only birds with backward flight ability. Paraguay is home to twenty different species of hummingbird.
Another common species is the limpkin, which is similar to a rail but has a grayer head and drab brown plumage. These small birds rely on a water source to find food for their young.
Charadriidae
The plovers, lapwings, and dotterels of the Charadriidae family are small to medium-sized birds that live in open country. They are also members of the Recurvirostridae family, which includes avocets and stilts.
These birds are found in the western hemisphere. The birds of Paraguay are all members of the same subfamily, the Charadriidae.
There are more than a hundred species of tyrant flycatchers in the country. Although similar in size, they lack the iridescent colors of jacamars. They also lack the songbird vocal abilities and rely instead on insect prey.
There are currently 101 species of tyrant flycatchers in Paraguay. Vireos, the most common and colorful screamers, are small to medium-sized and have a flat bill and heavy, oily feathers.
Birdwatching in Paraguay consists of birdwatching in five national parks. The Paraguay Biodiversity Corridor has over five hundred species of birds, which is higher than many other ecoregions of the world’s most threatened hotspots.
The Mezzouco ecoregion, for example, is home to 294 to 600 bird species. In comparison, the Choco/Darien moist forest is home to more than six hundred bird species and covers 10,294 km2.
Motacillidae
The Motacillidae of Paracuay are a diverse family of birds. Despite their common name, they are not very approachable. Historically, in South Africa, young Zulu men used them to make love charms.
Xhosa people were also aware of their close relationship with wagtails. The Kelabit people use these birds to identify the rice-planting cycle and give the months their names.
The family includes a variety of wagtails, including the white and gray wagtail. These wagtails are found in much of the Old World, with some species reaching as far north as the Arctic tundra.
The South Georgia wagtail, meanwhile, breeds on the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia. Like many other species of wagtails and pipits, wagtails are migratory. Many species migrate south to Africa and Asia during the winter.
The ochre-breasted pipit is an endemic species of the Motacillidae, with populations centered in southern Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. The population of this species is threatened by habitat conversion to tea, wattle, and eucalyptus.
The ochre-breasted pipit is found in dry grasslands in southern Paraguay and southeast Brazil. The yellowish pipit is endemic to Paraguay, while the correndera and chaco pipit are widespread and poorly known.
Recurvirostridae
Recurvirostridae of Paraquay include the stilt, avocet, and avocet. These species are monogamous during breeding season.
These birds are colonial nesters, and their males engage in the “dip-shake-preen” courtship display, followed by copulation. Some species engage in post-copulation behavior, and both parents incubate the downy young.
Gnateaters are small to medium-sized birds that closely resemble antbirds. They have stiff tails and short legs. Their long tongues are useful for catching insects.
Some species have two toes pointed forward, while others have three. Their distinctive rounded bill and oily feathers help them blend in with the environment. There are twenty-one species of gnateaters in Paraguay.
Tanagers comprise a large group of small, sub-oscine passerine birds. Some species build elaborate clay nests, while others make nests from sticks.
The brownish woodcreepers, meanwhile, feed on insects found on tree trunks. In Paraguay, there are fifty-eight species of ovenbird. A few of these species breed in the Amazon region.
Saffron Toucanet
The Saffron Toucanet is a colorful bird found in the rainforests of the Atlantic Forest. It is a fairly common species, although it is considered vulnerable by some researchers.
Although this species is relatively common, it is believed to be threatened by habitat loss, hunting, and the cage bird trade. Fortunately, the toucanet’s population has been relatively stable in Argentina. The species is still hunted in Paraguay and Argentina.
The Saffron Toucanet is monogamous and breeds from December to February. The male sings and feeds the female while the female excavates the nest cavity.
The chicks fledge after six weeks, but the parents continue feeding them. Although they are known to use abandoned nests, Saffron Toucanets rarely recycle the same cavities. These birds prefer living trees with a canopy that can be up to 24.0 meters tall.
The Atlantic Forest is a threatened ecosystem in many parts of the world. Large blocks of this forest are found in eastern Paraguay, and many species of birds and plants in the region live here.
These include the national bird of Paraguay, the Bare-necked Bellbird, and the Saffron and Spot-billed Toucanets. In addition to these birds, the Atlantic Forest is also home to the Helmeted Woodpecker, a comparatively unknown bird that was once considered South America’s equivalent to the legendary Ivory-billed Woodpecker.
Flamingos
The flamingos of Paraguay are colorful, gregarious wading birds. They have a unique beak designed for filtering algae and shellfish from the water. Their beaks are angled downwards, so that they can filter food while upside-down.
They are related to grebes, which are small to medium-sized freshwater diving birds with feet that are placed far back on the body. Several species live in Paraguay.
The flamingo’s plumage is a bright pink color that is made possible by the pink pigment in the feathers. It also features long legs and a long neck.
The female incubates the eggs. After the chick hatches, it remains in the nest for a few days before moving out to large creches. The chick can begin feeding after 70 days.
The flamingo population in Paraguay is estimated at about 300,000 birds in 2011. While egg-harvesting is the main threat, habitat loss and pollution of water are also important threats to the species.
During the winter, Chilean flamingos migrate to different parts of Africa and Europe. The greater flamingo population in Carmarque has been closely monitored since 1977.
This species spends the winter in Spain, Tunisia, and Turkey, depending on the direction of prevailing winds in the first autumn.
The population of lesser flamingos is estimated to be between 1.5 million and 2.5 million birds. However, its range and migration patterns make it difficult to assess the population of flamingos.
Grebes
The grebes of Paraguay are among the world’s largest wading birds. They are found throughout the country and have been documented in the area for nearly 20 years.
Rob Clay photographed the grebes in 2010 and has continued to monitor their population. This page contains a variety of bird species and information about each. A brief history of the grebes of Paraguay can be found at the FAUNA Paraguay website.
These small, brown grebes are also known as pied-billed grebes. The birds’ brown bodies and darker bills serve as camouflage in marshes.
The birds’ short, curved bills and black throats make them look like a chicken. They usually have a single mate, but they can breed in pairs. Their nests are anchored to marsh vegetation. They may produce two clutches per year.
The flamingos are gregarious wading birds that are 3 to 5 feet high. They feed on algae and shellfish with their beaks, which are adapted to separate food and mud.
Most species have weak tail barbs, which give them a “racket”-shaped tail. Paraguay has two species of flamingos. The grebes are small to medium-sized freshwater diving birds. They have long, pointed bills and short legs. A total of five species have been recorded.
Jacamars
The Neotropical jacamar is a species of near passerine bird found only in Paraguay. Its long tail and glossy body are used to catch insects on the wing.
This glossy bird resembles the Old World bee-eaters, but is actually more closely related to puffbirds. Despite its name, Jacamars can grow to over 25 centimeters (10 inches) in length.
These small to medium-sized birds are related to jacamars. While they do not have the same iridescent colors, puffbirds have similar features: a long tongue, short tails, and loose, abundant plumage.
This is the reason why this bird also goes by the common name “puffy.” There are five species of jacamars in Paraguay, and they have been found in all regions of the country.
The jacamars are primarily arboreal, inhabiting the edges of forests and on banks. Their plumage is shiny and sleek, and their heads are small. They have long, straight bills similar to Old World bee-eaters.
They also have a naked oil gland. Jacamars are migratory birds and spend most of their time feeding. During winter, they migrate to wetlands to breed, and their migration pattern can vary widely.
John is passionate about discovering the beautiful birds of the globe. He is researching & sharing the best birds of all countries that he can find to share his passion & hobby with the world.
