Colombia is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world and is home to a huge number of bird species. With over 1,900 species recorded, Colombia has the highest bird diversity of any country after Brazil and Indonesia. But does it have the absolute highest number of bird species in the world?
How many bird species are there in Colombia?
According to the latest data from BirdLife International, Colombia has a recorded 1,954 species of birds within its borders. This makes it the country with the third highest number of bird species in the world, after Brazil (with 3,198 species) and Indonesia (with 2,035 species).
Colombia’s avian diversity is related to its variety of habitats and ecosystems. The country spans the transition between Central and South America and has coastlines on both the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea. Colombia contains portions of the Amazon rainforest, tropical grasslands called llanos, cloud forests in the Andes Mountains, and tropical dry forests along the Caribbean coast.
All of these ecosystems provide habitats for a wide array of bird species. Even though Colombia covers less than 1% of the Earth’s land area, it contains nearly 20% of the world’s bird species.
What are some of Colombia’s most notable bird species?
While Colombia is home to far too many unique bird species to list them all, some of the most notable include:
- Andean condor – One of the largest flying birds in the world, with a huge 3 meter wingspan.
- Amazon kingfisher – These colorful kingfishers live along Amazon rainforest streams.
- Andean cock-of-the-rock – The males of this tropical mountain species have bright orange plumage and an exotic crest.
- Toucan barbet – A colorful toucan relative found in cloud forests.
- Scarlet macaw – Well known parrots with bright red, blue, and yellow feathers.
- Turquoise dacnis – A tiny blue tanager found in tropical forests.
- Magdalena tapaculo – An endemic songbird found only in a small region of Colombia.
How does Colombia’s bird diversity compare regionally?
Colombia has vastly more bird species recorded than any of its neighboring countries in South America. Here’s how it compares:
| Country | Number of bird species |
|---|---|
| Colombia | 1,954 |
| Venezuela | 1,462 |
| Ecuador | 1,637 |
| Peru | 1,816 |
| Brazil | 3,198 |
| Bolivia | 1,422 |
As the table shows, Colombia’s 1,954 bird species is several hundred more than any of its immediate neighbors, besides Brazil. It has nearly 500 more species than Venezuela and over 100 more than Ecuador and Peru.
Does Colombia have more endemic bird species than other countries?
In addition to its overall bird diversity, Colombia stands out for its high level of bird endemism. An endemic bird species is one that is found only in a certain area and nowhere else on Earth.
Colombia has more than 80 endemic bird species, which is a very high number. Here’s how its endemic species count compares to some other highly biodiverse countries:
| Country | Number of endemic bird species |
|---|---|
| Colombia | 82 |
| Ecuador | 43 |
| Brazil | 55 |
| Peru | 71 |
| Indonesia | 142 |
Colombia’s 82 endemic species is substantially higher than the count in Ecuador (43), Brazil (55), and Peru (71). Only Indonesia, with its multitude of islands, has significantly more endemic birds at 142 species.
Bird families unique to Colombia
Colombia is also the only home to four bird families that exist nowhere else on Earth:
- Colorful puffleg hummingbirds (family: Pufflegidae)
- Choco toucans (family: Amphiliidae)
- Dusky starfrontlets (family: Coelaxiferidae)
- Elusive antpittas (family: Grallaridae)
These families further demonstrate Colombia’s high degree of avian endemism and biodiversity. Many of the unique bird families contain just a few extremely range-restricted species that occur only in small regions of Colombia.
Threats to Colombia’s bird diversity
Unfortunately, many of Colombia’s birds are under threat. Habitat loss from deforestation, agriculture, and urbanization has taken a major toll. Hunting and the pet trade have also impacted certain colorful or exotic bird species.
A 2019 study found that 49 species in Colombia are critically endangered, 118 are endangered, and 181 near threatened. Major conservation efforts are needed to protect the country’s unmatched avian richness.
Conclusion
With nearly 1,950 species recorded and over 80 endemics, Colombia has one of the highest levels of bird biodiversity and endemism of any country on Earth. Only Indonesia has higher endemic bird diversity, while only Brazil and Indonesia have more total bird species.
Considering its relatively small land area, Colombia punches far above its weight in terms of avian richness. An astounding variety of ecosystems, from the Andes to the Amazon, contribute to this diversity. Colombia’s birds remain poorly studied and threatened, so continued research and conservation work is vital for preserving this natural heritage.
