This is a list of the bird species recorded in Suriname. The avifauna of Suriname has 742 confirmed species, of which one is endemic, one has been introduced by humans, and 33 are rare or vagrants. An additional 16 species are hypothetical (see below).
Except as an entry is cited otherwise, the list of species is that of the South American Classification Committee (SACC) of the American Ornithological Society. 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.
The following tags have been used to highlight certain categories of occurrence.
(V) Vagrant - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Suriname
(E) Endemic - a species endemic to Suriname
(I) Introduced - a species introduced to Suriname as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions (H) Hypothetical - 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. They are distantly related to the ratites (order Struthioniformes), that includes the rheas, emus and kiwis. Six species have been recorded in Suriname.
Great tinamou, Tinamus major
Cinereous tinamou, Crypturellus cinereus
Little tinamou, Crypturellus soui
Red-legged tinamou, Crypturellus erythropus
Variegated tinamou, Crypturellus variegatus
Rusty tinamou, Crypturellus brevirostris
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 Suriname.
Horned screamer, Anhima cornuta (extirpated)
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. Fourteen species have been recorded in Suriname.
Fulvous whistling-duck, Dendrocygna bicolor
White-faced whistling-duck, Dendrocygna viduata
Black-bellied whistling-duck, Dendrocygna autumnalis
Muscovy duck, Cairina moschata
Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors
Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope (V) American wigeon, Mareca americana (V) White-cheeked pintail, Anas bahamensis Northern pintail, Anas acuta (V) Green-winged teal, Anas crecca (V) Southern pochard, Netta erythrophthalma (V) Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris (V) Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis (V) Masked duck, Nomonyx dominica
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. Five species have been recorded in Suriname.
Marail guan, Penelope marail
Spix's guan, Penelope jacquacu
Blue-throated piping-guan, Pipile cumanensis
Variable chachalaca, Ortalis motmot
Black curassow, Crax alector
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. Two species have been recorded in Suriname.
Crested bobwhite, Colinus cristatus
Marbled wood-quail, Odontophorus gujanensis
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. One species has been recorded in Suriname.