In our list of breeding bird species in Brazil, for all orders except Passeriformes we follow the data from Pacheco, F. et al. (Ornithology Research, 2021), totaling (53:281/)697 species. For Passeriformes, we follow Passeriformes of South America (2024/SEE), which accounts for (28:369/)1,015 species. Altogether, we report (81:650/)1,712 breeding species in Brazil. According to the data collected here, Colombia has (81:682/)1,765 breeding birds and Mexico (85/432)904.
National links: Brazil | Colombia | Mexico.
High relevant updates: Tinamidae (SEE | current Tinamus as Pezus, new Tinamus out Crypturellus, Taoniscus under Nothura, new genus for Nothoprocta cinerascens).
1 RHEIFORMES
Rheidae ‣ two species in C & S South America, one in Brazil. Absent in Colombia and Mexico.
2 TINAMIFORMES
Tinamidae ‣ nine genera breeds in South America, five in Brazil and four absents: Nothocercus (Costa Rica to Bolivia), Nothoprocta (Ecuador to Argentina and Paraguay), Eudromia (Paraguay to Chile), and Tinamotis (Peru to Argentina and Chile). Colombia has (4/)19 spp., Brazil has (5/)24 and Mexico has (2/)4 spp.
3 ANSERIFORMES
Anhimidae ‣ two genera. Brazil and Colombia has (2/)2 spp. each. Absent in Mexico.
Anatidae ‣ (14/)20 breeding species in Brazil. Seven genera that breed in South America do not breed in Brazil: Chloephaga (breeding only in PR, BL, CH, AR, vagant in Brazil), Tachyeres (breeding only in AR, CH), Lophonetta (PR, BL, CH, AR), Speculanas (breeding only in AR, CH), Merganetta (breeding in VZ, CL, EC, PR, BL, CH, AR), Mareca (breeding only in AR, CH, UR, vagant in Brazil), and Oxyura (breeding in AR, CH, vagant in Brazil). Colombia has (10/)13 breeding species, and Mexico has (8/)13.
4 GALLIFORMES
Cracidae ‣ six genera breeds in Brazil plus two not breeds: Pauxi (Venezuela to Bolivia) and Chamaepetes (Costa Rica to Bolivia). Colombia has (9/)26 spp., Brazil (6/)26 and Mexico (5/)8.
Odontophoridae ‣ two genera breeds in Brazil and one, Rhynchothrix (America Central to Colombia and Ecuador), breeds in South America however no breeds in Brazil. Mexico has (8/)15 breeding spp., Colombia (3/)10 and Brazil has only (2/)4.
5 PHOENICOPTERIFORMES
Phoenicopteridae ‣ none species breeds in Brazil, but two genera breeds in South America: Phoenicopterus (only in Argentina for P. chilensis/SEE; Venezuela and Ecuador for P. ruber, SEE, vagant in Brazil) and Phoenicoparrus (Peru to Argentina and Chile, vagant in Brazil). Mexico has one breeding species, in Yucatan region.
6 PODICIPEDIFORMES
Podicipedidae ‣ 4 breeding genera in South America, all in Brazil. Mexico has (4/)5 breeding spp., Colombia (3/)4 and Brazil has (4/)4.
7 COLUMBIFORMES
Columbidae ‣ 10 genera breeds in South America, eight breeds in in Brazil, and two no: Metriopelia (Colombia to Argentina) and Zentrygon (Mexico to Argentina). Excludes Old World Streptopelia, Columba, Chalcophaps, Geopelia and Spilopelia. Leptotrygon now inside in Geotrygon. (10/)35 spp. in Colombia, (8/)22 in Brazil and (9/)23 in Mexico.
8 CUCULIFORMES
Cuculidae ‣ all nine native breeding South American genera breeds in Brazil. Colombia has (7/)20 spp., Brazil (8/)17 and Mexico (7/)11.
9. CAPRIMULGIFORMES
Caprimulgidae ‣ 9 genera breeds in Brazil and one South America breeding genus does not occur in Brazil: Uropsalis (Venezuela to Argentina). Brazil has (12/)25 breeding spp., Colombia has (11/)22 and Mexico has (7/)14.
Steatornithidae ‣ a monotypic family breeding in northern South America including Brazil and Colombia. Absent in Mexico.
Nyctibiidae ‣ two genera breeding in South America, both in Brazil. Colombia has (2/)6 breeding spp., Brazil has (2/)5 and Mexico has (1/)2. Colombia has Nyctibius maculosus absent of Brazil.
Apodidae ‣ six genera breeds in South America, all in Brazil. Excludes Old World Apus. Brazil has (6/)15 breeding spp., Colombia has (6/)17 and Mexico has (5/)10.
Trochilidae ‣ 109 genera worldwide. Colombia has (65/)164 spp. (18 endemics), Brazil (35/)89 (18 endemics), Mexico (28/)59 (18 endemics). All genera are listed below. Brazilian genera in black bold. Trochilidae has nine lineages, all in Brazil except Patagoninae, monotypic with Patagona gigas Vieillot, 1824, from SW Colombia to NW Argentina and Chile (Wikipedia).
LIST OF GENERA
Abeillia
Adelomyia
AglaiocercusAglaeactisAndrodonAmaziliaAnthocephalaAnopetiaAnthracothoraxAphantochroaAtthisArchilochusAvocettulaAugastesBoissonneauaBasilinnaCalothoraxCalliphloxCampylopterusCalypteChalcostigmaChaetocercusChionomesaChalybura
ChlorostilbonChlorestesChrysuroniaChrysolampisColibriCoeligenaCynanthusCyanophaiaDiscosuraDamophilaDoryferaDorichaElliotomyia
EnsiferaElviraEugenesEriocnemisEulidiaEulampisEupherusaEupetomenaFlorisugaEutoxeresGoethalsiaGlaucisHaplophaediaGoldmaniaHeliangelusHeliactinHeliomasterHeliodoxaHylocharisHeliothryxKlaisHylonymphaLampornisLafresnayaLepidopygaLamprolaimaLeucippusLesbiaLoddigesiaLeucochlorisMellisugaLophornisMicrocheraMetalluraMyrmiaMicrostilbonOcreatusMyrtisOreonymphaOpisthoproraOrthorhyncusOreotrochilusPanterpeOxypogon
Patagona Phaeochroa
PhlogophilusPhaethornisPolytmusPolyonymusRamphodonPterophanesRhodopisRamphomicronSchistesSapphoSephanoidesSelasphorusSaucerottia
SternoclytaStephanoxisTaphrospilusTaphrolesbiaThalaphorus
ThaumasturaThaluraniaThrenetes
TilmaturaTrochilusTopaza
Urochroa
Urosticte
10 OPISTHOCOMIFORMES
An order with only one species, restricted to the Amazon Basin, occurring in Colombia and Brazil, and entirely absent from Mexico.
11 GRUIFORMES
(4:19/)41 spp. brees in Brazil.
Rallidae ‣ all genera that occur in South America breed in Brazil. The genus Crex (breeds only in Old World) is excluded. Breeding species totals: Brazil (16/31), Colombia (15/27), and Mexico (11/18).
Heliornithidae ‣ represented by a single species occurring from E Mexico to S Brazil; absent from the Caribbean.
Aramidae ‣ a single species ranges from Florida and eastern Mexico to NE Argentina, including the Caribbean.
Psophiidae ‣ (1/)8 spp. breeds in Brazil. Absent from Mexico. Colombia has (1/)1 spp.
12 CHARADRIIFORMES
Thirteen families are listed below. Thinocoridae, Chionidae, Pluvianellidae, Stercorariidae, and Glareolidae do not have breeding records in Mexico, Brazil, or Colombia. In Burhinidae, Recurvirostridae, Haematopodidae, Jacanidae, and Scolopacidae, each of the three countries hosts only one breeding genus. Within Rostratulidae, breeding occurs exclusively in Brazil among the three countries. In Charadriidae, Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico all share the same three breeding genera. Only in Laridae are there breeding genera present in Colombia and Mexico that do not breed in Brazil. (8:19/)28 spp. in Brazil.
Chionidae ‣ no species breeds in Brazil, Colombia, or Mexico, but one genus breed in South America: Chionis, breeding in southern coastal regions of Argentina and Chile.
Pluvianellidae ‣ a monotypic family, represented by the genus Pluvianellus, which breeds exclusively in Argentina and Chile.
Burhinidae ‣ a single Neotropical species occurs from S Mexico to Costa Rica, E Colombia, Caribbean, and Amapá state in N Brazil.
Recurvirostridae ‣ two genera breed in South America. Himanthopus breed in Brazil, while Recurvirostra breeds only in the central Andes. Brazil and Colombia each host (1/)1 spp. Mexico has (1/)2 spp.
Haematopodidae ‣ represented by a single genus in South America. Brazil and Colombia each have (1/)1 spp. Mexico has (1/)1 confirmed breeder, with a second species possibly breeding.
Charadriidae ‣ (2/)5 spp. breeds in Brazil (in Charadrius and Vanellus). Two additional genera breeds in southern South America: Oreopholus (breeds in Argentina and Chile; vagrant in Brazil) and Phegornis (ranges from Peru to Argentina and Chile). The genus Pluvialis is excluded, as it does not breed in South America but is a regular migrant in Brazil. Breeding species totals: Mexico (2/6), Brazil (3 of 5), Colombia (2/4), all in Charadrius and Vanellus.
Thinocoridae ‣ no species breeds in Brazil, Colombia, or Mexico. Thinocorus breeds in Argentina and Chile, while Attagis breeds from Ecuador to Argentina and Chile.
Rostratulidae ‣ one breeding species in South America including Brazil (Nycticryphes); no breeding records in Mexico or Colombia.
Jacanidae ‣ one breeding species breeds in each country: Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico.
Scolopacidae ‣ only Gallinago breeds in South America. Other genera such as Bartramia, Limosa, Arenaria, Xenus, Calidris, Limnodromus, Phalaropus, Actitis, and Tringa are vagrants or migrants in Brazil, with no breeding records. Breeding species totals: Brazil (1/2), Colombia (1/4 – two Andean, two widespread); no species breeds in Mexico.
Glareolidae ‣ no breeding species in South America. Glareola has only accidental records in Brazil and breeds exclusively in the Old World, primarily Africa.
Stercorariidae ‣ no species breeds in Brazil, Colombia, or Mexico. Stercorarius breeds mainly in the northern Hemisphere, with two species breeding in Argentina and Chile.
Laridae ‣ (11/)16 breeding species recorded in Brazil. Additional breeding genus in South America: Creagrus (breeds only in the Galápagos and Malpelo Island, Colombia), Leucophaeus (breeds in Argentina, Chile, Galápagos, and North America), and Larosterna (breeds in Peru and Chile). Excluded genera: Chlidonias (non-breeding in South America), Ichthyaetus (Old World only), Rissa (does not breed in South America or Mexico), Xema (breeds only in the Arctic), Hydrocoloeus and Hydroprogne (restricted to North America and Eurasia). Breeding species totals: Mexico (9/16, Leucophaeus does not breed in Brazil), Brazil (11/16) and Colombia (9/11, Creagrus does not breed in Brazil).
13 EURYPYGIFORMES
Eurypygidae ‣ a family with only one species occurring from Guatemala to C Brazil.
14 PHAETHONTIFORMES
Only one genus breeds in South America. Brazil hosts (1/)3 breeding species, Mexico (1/)1 and Colombia (1/)2.
15 SPHENISCIFORMES
A order with a single family worldwide. Only three genera breed in continental South America: Aptenodytes (with breeding ranges that include Argentina and Chile), Spheniscus (including coastal areas from Ecuador to Argentina), and Eudyptes (with breeding ranges that include Argentina and Chile). No penguin species breeds in Brazil, Colombia, or Mexico.
16 PROCELLARIIFORMES
In Brazil, only (2/)2 recorded species breed. In Mexico, breeding genera include Puffinus (3) and Ardenna (1). No species of this family breeds in Colombia.
Diomedeidae ‣ no species breeds in Brazil. Phoebastria breeds only in Hawaii, Guadalupe Island (Mexico), Japan, and the Galápagos. In South America, Thalassarche breeds only in the Falklands and on offshore islands of Chile. Diomedea and Phoebetria are excluded, as they do not breed in South America. No species breeds in Brazil or Colombia, and only one species breeds in Mexico.
Oceanitidae ‣ no species breeds in Brazil. In South America, Oceanites breeds in Chile and parts of Tierra del Fuego. O. gracilis is known from a single nest on a remote Chilean island. Fregetta breeds only on offshore islands of Chile. Garrodia breeds exclusively in the Falklands. Peleagodroma and Nesofregetta are excluded, as they do not breed in South America (the latter breeds in the southern Pacific and islands off Chile). No species of Oceanitidae breeds in Brazil, Colombia, or Mexico.
Hydrobatidae ‣ no species breeds in Brazil. Seven species of Hydrobates are cited for South America: H. leucorhous (no breeding records in South America), H. tethys (breeds in Ecuador and N Peru), H. hornbyi (breeds in Chile ans possibly also in Peru), H. markhami (breeds in N Chile and Peru), H. castro (considered invalid by some sources), H. melania (no breeding in South America), H. microsoma (breeds only in Mexico). None of these species breed in Brazil or Colombia. Mexico hosts 7 breeding species of Hydrobates.
Procellariidae ‣ two genera breed in Brazil. Other genera breeding elsewhere in South America include: Macronectes (breeds in Chile and Argentina), Pachyptila (breeds in the Falklands), Procellaria (breeds in the Falklands), Ardenna (breeds in Argentina and Chile), Pelecanoides (breeds in Peru, Chile, and Argentina). Excluded genera (not breeding in South America): Fulmarus (breeds north of 40°N), Thalassoica, Daption, Aphrodroma, Holobaena, Calonectris (no breeding in the New World), and Pseudobulweria.
17 CICONIIFORMES
Ciconiidae ‣ (3/)3 spp. breeds in South America, all in Brazil and Colombia. Mexico has (2/)2 breeding species.
18 SULIFORMES
Fregatidae ‣ only one genus in tropical America. Brazil has (1/)3 spp., Mexico (1/)2 and Colombia (1/)1.
Sulidae ‣ one genus breeding in South America. Excludes Morus (no breeds in New World). Mexico has (1/)5 breeding species, Brazil (1/)3 and Colombia (1/)4.
Anhingidae ‣ a single species in Neotropics, from Florida to S Brazil and NE Argentina.
Phalacrocoracidae ‣ one breeding genus in Brazil plus Poikilocarbo (breeding only in Peru to Argentina, SEE) and Leucocarbo (breeds from Peru to Argentina, SEE). Mexico has (2/)3 breeding species, Brazil and Colombia one each.
19 PELECANIFORMES
Pelecanidae ‣ only the genus Pelecanus is present. P. occidentalis breeds in Colombia and Venezuela (SEE), while P. thagus breeds from Ecuador to Chile (SEE). In Mexico, only P. occidentalis breeds. No species of Pelecanus breeds in Brazil.
Ardeidae ‣ there are 14 breeding genera in South America, all of which are breeds in Brazil. Ardeola is excluded, as it breeds only in the Old World. Species richness: Colombia (14/23), Brazil (14/19), and Mexico (10/16).
Threskiornithidae ‣ all 7 South American genera breed in Brazil, which holds (7/)8 breeding species. Colombia has (7/)9, and Mexico has (3/)4 breeding species. One species found in Colombia, Eudocimus albus, does not occur in Brazil.
20 CATHARTIFORMES
All five genera and 7 species of the family occur in Brazil, except for the two monotypic condor genera: Vultur gryphus and Gymnogyps californianus. Mexico has (4/)5 breeding species, and Colombia has (4/)6 spp.
21 ACCIPITRIFORMES
Pandionidae ‣ family composed of a single species, which does not breed in South America, but only in in Canada, NW Mexico, U.S.A. and Eurasia.
Accipitridae ‣ 25 genera breed in South America: 23 of them breed in Brazil, while two do not: Cryptoleucopteryx (Panama to Peru) and Morphnarchus (Costa Rica to Ecuador). Excludes Milvus (no breeding in New World). Colombia has (26/)46 spp., Brazil has (24/)43 breeding spp. and Mexico has (27/)34 spp. (excludes 4 migrants, 3 in Buteo, one in Ictinia).
22 STRIGIFORMES
Tytonidae ‣ a single species in New World, widely widespread.
Strigidae ‣ nine genera breeds in Brazil. Xenoglaux is the only South American genus which no breeds in Brazil (endemic to Peru). Mexico has (11/)29 spp., Colombia (9/)27 and Brazil has (9/)25 breeding spp.
22 TROGONIFORMES
Trogonidae ‣ two genera breeds in South America, both in Brazil. Colombia has (2/)17 spp., Brazil has (2/)11 and Mexico has (3/)9.
24 CORACIIFORMES
Momotidae ‣ three of the four genera that breed in South America do so in Brazil. The exception is Hylomanes (SE Mexico to NW Colombia). Colombia has (4/)6 spp., Mexico has (4/)6 and Brazil has (3/)4 spp.
Alcedinidae ‣ two genera in New World, both widely distributeds. Colombia has (2/)5 spp., Brazil (2/)5 and Mexico (2/)4. Exceludes Megaceryle alcyion, which no breeds species in America Latina.
25 GALBULIFORMES
Bucconidae ‣ 10 genera breed in Brazil, and two others breed only in neighboring countries, totaling ten genera on the continent. The exceptions are Hapaloptila (Colombia to Peru) and Hypnelus (2, Colombia and Venezuela). Colombia has (10/)26 spp, Brazil has (10/)29, Mexico has only (2/)2.
Galbulidae ‣ five breeding genera in South America, all in Brazil. Brazil has (5/)15 spp., Colombia has (4/)13 and Mexico has (1/)1.
26 PICIFORMES
Capitonidae ‣ two genera in this family, both breed in Brazil. Colombia has (2/)8 spp. and Brazil has (2/)7. Absent in Mexico.
Semnornithidae ‣ unknown in Brazil, includes only Semnornis from Costa Rica do Ecuador.
Ramphastidae ‣ five genera in this family, four breeds Brazil plus one, Andigena (Venezuela to Bolivia), does not breeds. Colombia has (5/)21 spp., Brazil (4/)22 and Mexico has only (3/)3 spp.
Picidae ‣ 8 genera breeds in South America, all in Brazil. Excludes Sphyrapicus (no breeds in South America, vagant in San Andeas, Colombia). Brazil has (8/)57 spp., Colombia has (8/)43 and Mexico has (7/)27.
27 CARIAMIFORMES
Two monotypic genera in a single family: one breeds in Brazil, while Chunga breeds in S Bolivia, N Argentina and W Paraguay.
28 FALCONIFORMES
Falconidae ‣ 7 genera breed in Brazil. Additionally, Spiziapteryx also breeds in South America (Argentina, SE Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay). Brazil has (7/)16 breeding species, Colombia (6/)16, and Mexico has (5/)12 spp.
29 PSITTACIFORMES
Psittacidae ‣ 26 genera breeds in Brazil, and other 7 also breeds in South America: Psilopsiagon (Peru to Argentina), Bolborgynchus (Mexico to Venezuela and Bolivia), Hapalopsittaca (Venezuela to Peru), Enicognathus (Argentina and Chile), Cyanoliseus (Argentina and Chile), Leptosittaca (Colombia to Peru), Ognorhynchus (endemic to Colombia). Brazil has (26/)87 spp., Colombia (20/)56 and Mexico has (13/)31.