10,000 Birds

MARCH 27, 2024

The millions of stars and galaxies twinkling over the Rupununi Savanna in Guyana seem to reluctantly fade into a gradually lightening sky as the eastern horizon reddens. But we are on the lookout for one of Guyana’s famed giants, the Giant Anteater – which uncharacteristically never showed.

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Guyana Giraffes Brazil Trinidad 201

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 22, 2023

Guyana’s capital city of Georgetown, a quaint, sprawling network of roads and waterways is a regulated introduction to the country’s 800+ species of birds. Wing-barred Seedeater was formerly a common sight on Tobago but intensive trapping for the pet trade has extirpated the species from that island.

Guyana 180

Guyana Parrots Birds South America 180

10,000 Birds

MARCH 31, 2021

Some species opt for the traditional oven-shaped nest (hence the family name), others use tunnels in embankments, some species build advanced and complicated structures to deter brood parasites. Life is simple with ten furnariids – neighboring Guyana has 44! Perhaps even more diverse is their nesting habits.

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Trinidad Litter Guyana Family 257

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 17, 2024

Ardent readers of this blog would realise by now that I have been chronicling a few days spent in Guyana last year – I felt that a single post or two would invariably exclude far too many sightings of note. Familiar, but beautiful regardless: Blue-headed Parrot Another small parrot species landed on a tree in the distance.

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Guyana Parrots Trinidad Woodpeckers 199

10,000 Birds

MARCH 21, 2015

These and several other species might end up being armchair ticks if and when we take a closer look at their evolutionary history. Taxa that could end up being split into one species occurring north of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, and one south of the isthmus. (2). Two subspecies of the same species that differ within Costa Rica. (4).

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Costa Rica Species South America America 205

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 6, 2023

After leaving our hotel in the dark, we arrived at the small dock about half hour after sunrise – making one of many salient points about birding in Guyana: the country is vast! The main target as we drifted downriver was the enigmatic and prehistoric Hoatzin – national bird of Guyana and an absolute treat for the eyes.

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Guyana Trinidad Bats Falcons 140

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 20, 2023

Being relatively close to the city is a bit misleading, as this may lead one to think that the area is devoid of life – but let this be a gentle reminder that Guyana is 85% forested! On the slow crawl into the farm, the first sighting was a small group of Green Ibis – a new species for me. In a palm tree, obviously.

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Farming Guyana Birds South America 210