These Countries Have the Most Birds in the World

Colombia

If you want to visit the country with the most birds, look no further than Colombia. Colombia has an estimated 1,958 species of birds, with 126 listed as threatened as of 2018. 83 species of birds are endemic to Colombia. This means that no matter where you go, you won’t be able to find them anywhere else!

Some of the birds endemic to Colombia include:

• Blue-billed curassow (Crax alberti)
• Blue-bearded helmetcrest (Oxypogon cyanolaemus)
• Sooty-capped puffbird (Bucco noanamae)
• Apical flycatcher (Myiarchus apicalis)
• San Andres vireo (Vireo caribaeus)
• Black-cheeked mountain-tanager (Anisognathus melanogenys).

The national bird of Colombia is the Andean condor, the largest flying bird in the world.

Peru

With 1,858 species of birds, Peru has only a few dozen fewer species than Colombia, landing it at number two for countries with the most birds. The Andean cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola peruvianus), known as the tunki, is the national bird. While Peru has fewer total species than Colombia, it has more endemic species, with approximately 110 birds found only in this country. 

Some of the endemic avian species of Peru include:

• White-winged guan (Penelope albipennis)
• Peruvian piedtail (Phlogophilus harterti)
• Fire-throated metaltail (Metallura eupogon)
• Long-whiskered owlet (Xenoglaux loweryi)
• Koepcke’s screech-owl (Megascops koepckeae)
• Eye-ringed thistletail (Asthenes palpebralis)
• Masked fruiteater (Pipreola pulchra)
• Inca flycatcher (Leptopogon taczanowskii).

Brazil

Brazil ranks number three for countries with the most birds in the world. This coastal country is home to 1,813 species. So far on this list, it is the country with the most threatened species, with 175 threatened birds. The national bird of this country is the rufous-bellied thrush, also known as the red-bellied thrush. Brazil has 262 endemic bird species. This makes it the country with the most endemic birds in the Neotropics.

Some of the species endemic to Brazil are the:

• East Brazilian Chachalaca (Ortalis araucuan)
• Alagoas curassow (Mitu mitu)
• Pygmy nightjar (Nyctipolus hirundinaceus)
• Hyacinth visorbearer (Augastes scutatus).

Indonesia

Indonesia is the first country on this list outside South America. It is home to 1,711 species of birds, 160 of which are threatened. The national bird of Indonesia is the Javan hawk-eagle (Nisaetus bartelsi). This Java-native is found only in humid tropical forests, although it exists elsewhere in captivity. There are approximately 382 endemic species, although exact numbers vary.

Birds that you will only find in Indonesia include:

• Waigeo brushturkey (Aepypodius bruijnii)
• Red-billed brushturkey (Talegalla cuvieri)
• Maleo (Macrocephalon maleo)
• Moluccan scrubfowl (Eulipoa wallacei)
• Red-billed partridge (Arborophila rubrirostris)
• Red-breasted partridge (Arborophila hyperythra)
• Bronze-tailed peacock-pheasant (Polyplectron chalcurum)
• Green junglefowl (Gallus varius).

Ecuador

Following Indonesia, Ecuador has 1,622 bird species. Only 106 of these have a threatened status as of 2018. This country shares its national bird, the Andean condor, with several other countries. This includes many of which are on this list as countries with the most birds worldwide. There are approximately 44 endemic species, including:

• Galapagos dove (Zenaida galapagoensis)
• Black-breasted puffleg (Eriocnemis nigrivestis)
• Esmeraldas woodstar (Chaetocercus berlepschi)
• Flightless cormorant (Phalacrocorax harrisi).

Ecuador is home to the famous Galapagos Islands. This archipelago is noted for its abundance of biodiversity, featuring several unique and interesting species. There are several species endemic to these islands, from penguins to passerines.

Bolivia

The difference between the number of species in Bolivia and Ecuador is greater than others experienced thus far. However, Bolivia is still home to over one thousand species of birds: approximately 1,438 to be exact. Only 55 of these species were listed under a threatened status as of 2018. Like Ecuador and Colombia, the national bird is the Andean condor.

Some of the endemic birds of Bolivia include:

• Blue-throated macaw (Ara glaucogularis)
• Cliff parakeet (Myiopsitta luchsi)
• Bolivian warbling finch (Poospiza boliviana)
• Bolivian blackbird (Agelaioides oreopsar).

Venezuela

Last but certainly not least, Venezuela claims 7th for countries with the most birds in the world. This South American country has 1,394 species. The national bird is the Venezuelan troupial (Icterus icterus). This brightly colored bird lives throughout the Caribbean Sea region. There are at least 45 species endemic to this country. Many of the birds found here, however, are also often found in Colombia.

Some of the endemic species of birds in Venezuela are:

• Venezuelan flowerpiercer (Diglossa venezuelensis)
• Handsome fruiteater (Pipreola formosa) 
• Táchira antpitta (Grallaria chthonia).