Birding Factoids

1,383 species
in 64 families

39 endemics
31 speciality species
23 endangered species
3 week trip expectation -
500-600 species

    Venezuela
    Hotspots
Checklist of Venezuelan BirdsConservation, Biodiversity and the EnvironmentTours and GuidesEco-LodgesSpeciality BirdsMap and General Country Information
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Check out Hideo Tani's Birds of Venezuela page
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Venezuela Specialities
Troupial - Venezuela's National Bird
Photographer Unknown

White-tailed Trogon - Photo copyright Russ Jones

Photo copyright Russ Jones
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Tropical Kingbird - Photo copyright Ronald Orenstein
Photo copyright Ronald Orenstein
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Saffron Finch - Photo copyright Ronald Orenstein
Photo copyright Ronald Orenstein
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Black-chested Buzzard-eagle - Photo copyright Ronald Orenstein
Photo copyright Ronald Orenstein
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Buff-necked Ibis - Photo copyright Cagan Sekercioglu
Photo copyright Cagan Sekercioglu
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Sunbittern - Photo copyright Trevor Feltham
Photo copyright Trev Feltham
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Russet-throated Puff-bird - Photo copyright Allen Chartier
Photo copyright Allen Chartier
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Blue-tailed Emerald - Photo copyright Peter Jones
Photo copyright Peter Jones
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Bar-winged Cinclodes - Photo copyright Ronald Orenstein
Photo copyright Ronald Orenstein
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South American Snipe - Photo copyright Harald Kocksch
Photo copyright Harald Kocksch
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White-chested Emerald - Photo copyright Allen Chartier
Photo copyright Allen Chartier
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Speckled Tanager - Photo copyright James Ownby
Photo copyright James Ownby
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Reddish Hermit - Photo copyright Anke Poggel
Photo copyright Anke Poggel
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Red Siskin - ENDANGERED - Photo copyright Pepe Clavijo
Photo copyright Pepe Clavijo
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Powerful Woodpecker - Photo copyright Peter Jones
Photo copyright Peter Jones
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Violet-fronted Brilliant - Photo copyright Didier Godreau
Photo copyright Didier Godreau
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    Explanation of icons....Hato Pinero and  Hato Cedral - Llanos, Venezuela -
      these ranches, now open to the public, provide some of the best birdwatching in South America.
    ....
    Explanation of icons....Birding Around the World - Venezuela Hato Pinero -
      Safari on the Savanna - published in Birder’s Journal, Apr./93
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    Explanation of icons....Escalera (Tepuis) -
      no useable information available on the WWW
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    Explanation of icons....Birding Venezuela Part 2 - by Rob Thacker.
      This trip report discusses birding in the Explanation of iconsHenri Pittier National Park, home to nearly 600 species of birds, and Explanation of iconsRancho Grande, a deserted half-built hotel with a rooftop balcony from which visitors can sit and observe birds in the forest canopy overhead and at feeders (bring your own fruit).
    ....
    ....Venezuela (Rancho Grande, Llanos, Andes),
      28 Feb. to 11 March 1994 - another excellent birding trip report by John van der Woude. The general outline of the trip was the following: first a few days at the Explanation of iconsRancho Grande biological station inExplanation of iconsHenri Pittier National Park (in the northern coastal cordillera), then a few days at Hato El Frio in the Llanos (the river plains between the coastal cordillera and the Andes), then up through the Santo Domingo valley into the Andes, up to Tachira.
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    ....Venezuela (Junglaven Amazonas, Explanation of icons Henri Pittier, SE Falcon)
      7-24 Jan. 1997 - Birding trip report by John van der Woude
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    ....Birds and Birding in Venezuela - by Chris Sharpe. (Internet Explorer
      users only). This is a non-commercial site being developed as a resource for ornithologists, birders and curious ecologically-minded visitors alike. The idea is to promote interest in Venezuela's birds, give publicity to positive bird-related initiatives and conservation projects and raise awareness of Venezuela as a destination for bird tourism. At present the site contains just a few pages of basic information, with an introduction to Venezuela's birds, a background to conservation, details of some ongoing conservation projects and brief notes on birding in Venezuela, but soon there will be much more.
    ....
    ....Exploring Venezuela - By Steve Hilty. Venezuela is increasingly 
      the birding destination of choice. Just how good is Venezuela, and why are so many people choosing it for not only a first, but a second or third visit? It doesn't take long to see how good Venezuela really is. The variety of habitats, from Amazonian rainforest to snow-capped Andean peaks, almost 1,400 species of birds, and among the best roads and facilities on the continent, combine for an unbeatable combination. But for most birders and naturalists, the best surprise of all may be that so many birds are so easy to see.
    ....
    ....Video Birding in the Merida Andes, Veneuzuela - by Ronald
      Orenstein. The Andes of the state of Merida, Venezuela, are more than just a popular tourist attraction.  Separated from the rest of that vast mountain chain by a lowland depression, the Táchira Gap, they form a landlocked island - home, like many islands in the sea, to birds found nowhere else in the world. Details on birding in Caracas, the Cloud Forest and Paramo are provided.
    ....
    ....Birdwatching in and around Mérida - by Jurgen Beckers. This site 
      describes various birdwatching interesting areas in and around Mérida. This includes details about what you can expect to see there, but more important: the logistics, with information on where-to-find-what, transport, accomodation and food, where to sleep and to eat. 
    ....
    ....La Mucuy Bird Observatory - Located in the Mérida Mountains, 
      Sierra Nevada National Park, Venezuela. Although Venezuela is not widely recognized as an important place for Neotropical migrant birds, its importance appears to be underestimated. The Mérida Mountains have been recognized by the World Conservation Monitoring Center (1992) as an Endemic Bird Area (EBA) with a high value of restricted range species, such as the Mérida Sunangel, White fronted Whitestart, Rose-Headed Parakeet, Great Antpita, and others.
    ....
    ....Ornithology in Venezuela - South America is
      the bird continent. Its great range of natural habitats support nearly a third of the world's birds and nearly a fifth of the world's species are only found here. Within South America, Venezuela offers one of the best introductions to neotropical birdwatching, with a rich avifauna (1,360 recorded species) and an excellent field guide. This commercial itinerary is fairly specific regarding locations and species.
    ....
    ....Canaima National Park - The fauna is diverse,
      though not very abundant, with 550 birds being recorded. The avifauna is varied and contains over thirty species endemic to Pantepui.
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    ....The Llanos - Covering over 300,000 sq. km.,
      the vast llanos (or plains) of central Venezuela are a study in contrasts with wildlife stealing the show.
    ....
    ....Venezuela - Directory of Wetlands of International Importance
      includes information on Venezuela's Ramsar designated site:
      • Cuare
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    ....Birdwatching in Venezuela Nov.-Dec. 1995, by Erik Mølgaard, 
      Jesper Meedom & Stig K. Rasmussen. (NOTE: this is a downloadable report from the Danish Ornithological Society´s website). In November-December 1995, the excursions committee of the Copenhagen department of the Danish Ornithological Society (DOF) carried out its first tour to Venezuela. The tour was designed to give the participants a good coverage of the most typical habitats and of the biodiversity of the country. We concentrated on four main areas: The northern coastal mountains, the Venezuelan Andes of the Merida mountains, the Llanos and finally the rainforest in the eastern part of the country, including the highlands of the Gucycaca shield. The number of bird species recorded was satisfactory. The base tour ended at 487 species. With an additional 142 on the extension trip, the grand total was 629 species. 
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    ....1997 Western Venezuela Extension Trip Report - by David Beadle.
      This (commercial) trip report identifies some key birding locations and the birds to be found there.
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    ....John van der Woude's Venezuela Trip Reports - this site includes four
      excellent trip reports, with photos and bird sounds.
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    ....Trip Report - Venezuela - October 21-27, 1995 - by Bill Murray. 
      Venezuela is a huge country. Even though we traveled extensively by maxi-taxi and jet during our visit, our itinerary never took us beyond the northwestern third of the country. There's plenty left to explore on subsequent visits.
    ....
    ....Trip Report: Lesser Antilles and Orinoco Jungle River Cruise
      January 5-13, 1996 - by Bill Murphy.  In 1995 the American Birding Association contacted me to offer me an opportunity to serve as their representative on a Clipper Cruise Line voyage through the southern Caribbean in January 1996. The tour itinerary included the Netherlands Antilles islands of Curacao and Bonaire, coastal Venezuela, Tobago, the Orinoco River, and Trinidad -- 1200 sea miles in all. 
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    ....Trip Report - Venezuela  – February 18-26, 2000 by Francis Toldi 
      and Peter Metropulos. This is a trip report about a birding trip to the Merida Andes and Llanos in Venezuela. The report is divided into three parts: Part I is an overall trip narrative (this part only posted to Birdchat); Part II addresses trip logistics and planning, including informational updates for people contemplating a trip to this area; Part III is an annotated list of species. 
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    ....Trip Report: Venezuela, Henri Pittier NP - April 29 - May 7, 2000. By
      Allen & Nancy Chartier. This trip had been originally scheduled for the first week in April to coincide with the bird banding operations at Henri Pittier N.P., since our group was a local group of banders and banding assistants. We found out when we arrived that the banding is conducted in March and October so we would be treated to a special demonstration. 
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    ....Trip Report: Venezuela - 18 June -2 July 2000. By Roger Ahlman.
      Going to such a big and bird-rich country as Venezuela for just two weeks is of course not enough and therefore we decided to concentrate on the Bolívar province in the southeast, with just "skimming the cream" of some of the other sites more or less en route. The main targets were the Escalera Road and the surrounding forests and the Harpy Eagle near Rio Grande. To add some more to the total trip list and our lifer-lists we spent one and a half day at Henri Pittier and about the same time in the vast Llanos area and also two days near the Oilbird cave and in the Sucre province.
    ...
    ....Trip Report: Northern Venezuela, January 2004 - by Jurgen Beckers of 
      Trogon Travels. The north of Venezuela has its dry season between the months December and March. This changes a bit from year to year but anyway the best period for birding. This year was unfortunately extremely dry. Some areas, such as the Paramo and Henri Pittier NP were very poor in birds. The end total was 440 species seen, something that was beyond the expectation.
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    ....Trip Report: Venezuela Mar. 12-17, 2004, by Joseph C. Thompson. 
      Junglaven is a Fishing Camp located close to the Ventuari River in the Venezuelan state of Amazonas. It affords a unique opportunity to birdwatch in lowland rainforest, and due to the lack of disturbance and absence of hunting, a number of species are possible here which are difficult in other areas of Amazonia. This is probably the most predictable place in the world for Rufous-winged Ground-Cuckoo.
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    ....Trip Report: Venezuela Mar. 12-17, 2003, by Joseph C. Thompson.
      Venezuela, long popular with birders, has seen a marked decrease in tourism following the 2 month general strike in late 2002.  This report briefly details a trip I undertook to Henri Pittier National Park in March, and I am pleased to report that I encountered no problems of any kind.   The people remain extremely friendly and welcoming, there were no problems whatsoever at police checkpoints, and gasoline was plentiful in all locations that I visited.
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    ....Trip Report: Venezuelan N/NW Specialities, Aug/Sept 2003 - by Joe
      Thompson. This trip focused on Venezuelan endemics and what we came to call ‘Functional Endemics’ that only occur in Venezuela and in inaccessible (due to guerilla activity) parts of NE Colombia. Since the 2 segments of the trip were rather different, logistics will be mentioned separately. VE is a true pleasure to travel in, with a well-developed infrastructure and extremely friendly people. This was the rainy season, but we had clear days in xerophytic areas, with occasional mainly afternoon/night rain in the mountains. Birds were generally vocal and tape-responsive, and we did not miss any target birds due to weather conditions.
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    ....Wild Macaws of Venezuela - by Harold Armitage. According to 
      Forshaw's "Parrots of the World" there are forty eight parrots in Venezuela, including six macaws. It seemed about time to visit the place. As usual it's hard to discover much about the whereabouts of any of them, although I did discover from the internet that there were Blue and Gold Macaws in the Orinoco delta. We had intended this to be a tour for us poor people this year, however we were lured into a couple of rather expensive side trips which made a hole in the budget. 
    ....
    ....Trip Report: Sucre Province, Venezuela - 30 October - 3 November 
      1999. By Niels Poul Dreyer. 
    ....
    ....Trip Report: Henri Pittier National Park, 1999. By Niels Poul Dreyer. 
      Henri Pitter National Park is situated in the middle of Cordillera de la Costa. This isolated mountain range supports montane evergreen forests that have long been isolated by drier surrounding lowlands from one another and from larger blocks of moist forest to the south. The forest which range from 600 to 2500 meters elevation include deciduous to evergreen and elfin forest. About 575 species of birds have been recorded in the park, but more importantly the park is located in an important birding area and protects about 17 restricted range species of which 2 are classified as threatened and 4 near threatened
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    ....Trip Report: Tiputini Biodiversity Station, Venezuela, 1999: A heaven
      for critters and predators. By Niels Poul Drejer.  This is the wilds of Tiputini in August 1999. It is located next to Yasuni Indian reservation and adjacent to a National Park under the same name which covers 2 million hectares of virgin forest. I realised when I approached the station that it is a special place. It is so remote that it takes 7 hours of travel to get here. First you fly to Coca, then go by boat 2 hours downstream on Rio Napo, change over in a truck which takes you 2 hour down to Tiputini river on gravel road which is about 50 km long. Finally it is 2 hours boat ride down river on Rio Tiputini. The station has been developed by the Universidad San Francisco de Quito in collaboration with Boston University. As the station is located away from any human settlements, it is a heaven for birds and mammals normally not encountered in other Amazonian forest areas along Rio Napo, species which disappears first when hunters move into a new area. 
    ....
    ....Birds in Ecuador: Feb. 12-28, '99 - by Eva Casey.

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Conservation, Biodiversity

and Environment

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Dicksissel - Photo copyright Peter Weber
Photo copyright Peter Weber

Black-striped Sparrow - Photo copyright Richard Garrigues

Photo copyright Richard Garrigues
    ....Save the Dickcissel, Venezuela - Outside the breeding season, 
      Dickcissels gather in huge flocks (sometimes over 1 million birds) to feed in the rice and sorghum fields of northern Venezuela. Crop losses by local farmers have been estimated to be in the region of $1.4 million per season, and many have resorted to deliberately poisoning the birds, which are especially vulnerable at their roosting sites. The Dickcissel population is already showing a serious decline, and conservation organizations, including Venezuela Audubon, American Bird Conservancy, and Florida Audubon, have established a cooperative agreement with farmer's associations to develop a management plan for the species. Funds raised for this project will be matched by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. To find out more visit the website. 

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Tours and Guides

See DISCLAIMER
>>>
birdingpal.com...>> A Birding Pal is not a paid guide, but someone who likes to help out of town visitors. You can become a Birding Pal today! Help someone to enjoy your local birding spots and find a pal to help you when you travel. Click here for Venezuela Birding Pals, or join to be a Birding Pal!
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Sun Parakeet - Photo copyright Tim Carney
Photo copyright Tim Carney

Greyish Saltator - Photo copyright Jean Coronel

Photo copyright Jean Coronel
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Spotted Barbtail - Photo copyright Neotropical Journeys
Photo copyright Neotropical Journeys
...,,,,
Cocoi Heron - Photo copyright Arthur Grosset
Photo copyright Arthur Grosset
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Stripe-backed Bittern - Photo copyright Harald Kocksch
Photo copyright Harald Kocksch
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White-collared Swift - Photo copyright Allen Chartier
Photo copyright Allen Chartier
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Maguari Stork - Photo copyright Arthur Grosset
Photo copyright Arthur Grosset
    **..South American Tours with Tropical Birding. Our trips are generally 
      for keen birders, both experienced and inexperienced. It is not necessary to be an expert or a super-lister to enjoy yourself. Our tours are designed for enthusiastic travellers who enjoy spending most, if not all, of their holiday time birding. Our goal is to get birders to the world's most amazing places, seeing the world's most amazing birds, in as much comfort as possible. Our trips range from shorter day-trips out of Cape Town to intensive three-week birding safaris throughout the continent and we offer both set departure and custom-made tours.
    ...
    ....Venezuela Tours - with Chris Sharpe. The author of the Birding
      Venezuela website will develop personalized or group tours to fit your requirements and level of expertise. 
    ...
    **..Venezuela with Trogon Travels - Visit the Venezuelan Andes, Henri
      Pittier National Park and/or the Llanos provide a huge variety of eco-systems with their resident endemic and other breeding birds.   Most tours are limited to max 6 people to give you an even better and more personalised service. 
    ...
    ....Ecotourism with the Audubon Society of Venezuela. They will provide
      you with advice, support, and recommendations in planning your trip. Offered are tours specializing in birdwatching. They will adjust to whatever special needs and requests you have: all with complete reliability. Tours for 2001 are available to:
      • Coastal Range and Andes Boundary, including the Palmichal Forest Reserve, Cuare Wildlife Refuge, Yacambú National Park 
      • Andes and Llanos, including the Montane Forest, Paramo, Hato El Cedral
      • Palmichal 
    ....
    **..Venezuela: Hato Piñero New Year with Victor Emanuel Nature Tours
      (VENT) - The Venezuelan llanos is a vast region of seasonally flooded savanna, where grassland meets woodland and where a drama of alternating wet and dry seasons is played out each year with a cast of wildlife that is both diverse and immense.  Hato Pizñero is a 200,000 acre working cattle ranch, situated in the northern or high llanos. Hunting has been forbidden on the ranch for more than 40 years. As a result, wildlife is remarkably abundant and tame. There is no better destination for viewing the wildlife of the "high llanos." Piñero provides a wonderful blend of water bird spectacle with abundant woodland birds and excellent opportunities for night birding and mammal viewing. 
      • Hato Piñero New Year - December 26 - January 3, 2004 (9.0 days - Limit 14) with leaders Jeri Langham & Gary Langham
      VENT offers nearly 140 tours to over 100 land-based destinations each year and is the largest tour company in the world specializing in birding and natural history.
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    **..Grand Venezuela: Rancho Grande, the Northwestern Deserts, the
      Andes & the Llanos with Victor Emanuel Nature Tours (VENT) - This is our premier Venezuelan tour–a trip for those who want to see the greatest number of birds and the widest cross section of habitats in a single trip to Venezuela. We should encounter nearly 500 species of birds on an itinerary that includes such favorite locations as Henri Pittier National Park and the famous Cedral Ranch, as well as many other exciting localities that are rich in birds, scenery, and wildlife.
      • Grand Venezuela - January 29-February 15, 2004 (19.0 days - Limit 14) with leaders Steve Hilty & David Ascanio
    ....
    **..Eastern Venezuela: Rio Caura Rainforests, Tepui & the Grande
      Savannahwith Victor Emanuel Nature Tours (VENT) - This tour has become known as the "Harpy Eagle tour," and we have had excellent success observing this magnificent eagle here. There is far more to offer in eastern Venezuela, however. This itinerary is packed with exciting birds and spectacular scenery from start to finish. Eastern Venezuela is notable for the large number of endemic birds found on the slopes of the tepuis. With sheer, vertical sides and flat tops, tepuis give this ancient landscape its distinctive appearance and contribute to the romance of this legendary land of "El Dorado." 
      • Eastern Venezuela - February 28-March 10, 2004 (11.0 days - Limit 14) with leaders Steve Hilty & David Ascanio. 
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    ....Arassari Trek - If you are an adrenaline junkie, cliffhanger or a simple
      couch potato - in Merida, Venezuela you will find all and everything to cover your needs and satisfy your thirst for new sensations and experiences. Our specialist "birdies" can show you up to 100 different exotic species (including the exotic Andean Cock of the rock) in one single day. Many of them endemic to the Merida region. For more you should try the Catatumbo, 2 or 3 day tour or the Llanos bird life sanctuary in 4 to 7 days. 

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Eco-Lodges

See DISCLAIMER

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Endemics and Specialities

in Venezuela

Information on endemics and specialities is derived from Sibley & Monroe checklists and bird distribution lists in Thayer's Birder's Diary - Version 2.5, supplemented by material found in Where to Watch Birds in South America - by Nigel Wheatley. South American speciality birds, while not endemic, are those that can only be found in three or less countries of South America. Information on endangered birds is derived from the IUCN Red List, Birdlife International, and supporting data bases developed by Ian Patton, of Merlin Species Watcher.  The endemic, endangered and speciality birds may be uncommon, extremely rare vagrants, may be extirpated in the country now or may only be present in migration. However, documented sightings of each species noted below have been made in Venezuela. 

 
Endemics in Venezuela
___ Black-throated Spinetail
___ Caracas Tapaculo
___ Duida Grass-Finch
___ Great Antpitta
___ Great Elaenia
___ Green-tailed Emerald
___ Grey-capped Hemispingus
___ Grey-headed Warbler
___ Grey-naped Antpitta
___ Guttulated Foliage-gleaner
___ Handsome Fruiteater
___ Maracaibo Tody-Flycatcher
___ Merida Flower-piercer
___ Merida Sunangel
___ Merida Wren
___ Ochre-browed Thistletail
___ Orinoco Softtail
___ Plain-flanked Rail
___ Red-eared Parakeet
___ Rose-headed Parakeet
___ Rufous-cheeked Tanager
___ Saffron-breasted Redstart
___ Scissor-tailed Hummingbird
___ Scalloped-breasted Antpitta
___ Slaty-backed Hemispingus
___ Tachira Antpitta
___ Tachira Emerald
___ Tepui Tinamou
___ Urich's Tyrannulet
___ Venezuelan Bristle-Tyrant
___ Venezuelan Flower-piercer
___ Venezuelan Sylph
___ Venezuelan Wood-Quail
___ Violet-chested Hummingbird
___ White-bearded Flycatcher
___ White-faced Redstart
___ White-fronted Redstart
___ White-throated Barbtail
___ Yellow-faced Redstart
...
Endangered Birds in Venezuela
(endemics are printed in bold italic)

Breeding Birds

Non-Breeding Birds

___ Grey-headed Warbler
___ Helmeted Curassow
___ Hooded Antpitta
___ Military Macaw
___ Orinoco Softtail
___ Plain-flanked Rail
___ Recurve-billed Bushbird
___ Red Siskin
___ Rusty-faced Parrot
___ Rusty-flanked Crake
___ Saffron-breasted Redstart
___ Scissor-tailed Hummingbird
___ Slaty-backed Hemispingus
___ Speckled Rail
___ Tachira Antpitta
___ Tachira Emerald
___ Tepui Tinamou
___ Venezuelan Flower-piercer
___ White-tailed Sabrewing
___ White-throated Barbtail
___ Yellow-faced Redstart
___ Yellow-faced Siskin
___ Yellow-shouldered Parrot
None

Other Speciality and Spectacular Birds in Venezuela
(adapted from Where to Watch Birds in South America - by Nigel Wheatley.)

___ Andean Cock-of-the-Rock
___ Bearded Helmetcrest
___ Black-fronted Tyrannulet
___ Blue-backed Tanager
___ Capuchinbird
___ Dusky Purple-tuft
___ Greater Flower-piercer
___ Grey-winged Trumpeter
___ Guinian Cock-of-the-Rock
___ Guinian Red-Cotinga
___ Harpy Eagle
___ Hoatzin
___ Northern Screamer
___ Oilbird
___ Peacock Coquette
___ Purple-breasted Cotinga
___ Pygmy Swift
___ Red-banded Fruiteater
___ Roraiman Nightjar
___ Rose-collared Piha
___ Rosy Thrush-Tanager
___ Scarlet Ibis
___ Scarlet-horned Manakin
___ Spangled Cotinga
___ Sunbittern
___ Sungrebe
___ Streak-backed Antshrike
___ Tepui Goldenthroat
___ Vermillion Cardinal
___ White-tipped Quezal
___ Yellow-knobbed Curassow

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