Birds of Central French Guiana

PRELIMINARY CHECKLIST OF THE BIRDS OF CENTRAL FRENCH GUIANA

John D. Mitchell
Institute of Systematic Botany
The New York Botanical Garden
Bronx, New York 10458-5126

This list is a compilation of both published observations and species observed on expeditions led by Scott Mori. The names used in this list follow the taxonomy of Hoyo et al. (1999) and Ridgely and Tudor (1989, 1994).

The area covered by this inventory corresponds to the area of the Guide to the Vascular Plants of Central French Guiana (Mori et al., 1997).

Linked superscripts refer to references where documentation of the species’ presence in central French Guiana may be found. See the end of the entries in the Literature Cited section for the reference linked to the superscript or click on the link.

Illustrations of all species may be found in A Guide to the Birds of Venezuela except as noted at the end of checklist.

At the time of the compilation of this list (November, 1999), there are 286 species that we know to occur in central French Guiana. We anticipate the addition of many additional species, especially of owls, woodcreepers, and furnariids, with more thorough and professional ornithological exploration of Central French Guiana.

GO TO CHECKLIST


PRELIMINARY CHECKLIST OF THE BIRDS OF CENTRAL FRENCH GUIANA
TINAMOUS (TINAMIDAE) Great Tinamou¹ (Tinamus major) Variegated Tinamou¹ (Crypturellus variegatus)
HERONS (ARDEIDAE) Rufescent Tiger Heron¹Tigrisoma lineatum
AMERICAN VULTURES (CATHARTIDAE) King Vulture² (Sarcoramphus papa) Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) Grater Yellow-headed Vulture (Cathartes melambrotus)
HAWKS, EAGLES, (ACCIPITRIDAE) American Swallow-tailed Kite^{1, 2} (Elanoides forficatus) Gray-headed Kite¹ (Leptodon cayanensis) Rufous-thighed Kite² (Harpagus diodon) Double-toothed Kite² (H. bidentatus) Plumbeous Kite^{1, 2} (Ictinia plumbea Bicolored Hawk² (Accipiter bicolor) Tiny Hawk² (A. superciliosus) Broad-winged Hawk² (Buteo platypterus) Gray Hawk² (B. nitidus) White Hawk^{1, 2} (Leucopternus alicollis) Black-faced Hawk (L. melanops) Great Black Hawk² (Buteogallus urubutinga) Crested Eagle² (Morphnus guianensis) Harpy Eagle¹ (Harpia harpyja) Black-and-white Eagle² (Spizastur melanoleucus) Ornate Hawk Eagle² (Spizaetus ornatus) Black Hawk Eagle² (S. tyrannus) Crane Hawk² (Geranospiza caerulescens)
FALCONS (FALCONIDAE) Slaty-backed Forest-falcon² (Micrastur mirandollei) Barred Forest-falcon² (M. ruficollis) Lined Forest-falcon² (M. gilvicollis) Collared Forest-falcon² (M. semitorquatus) Red-throated Caracara^{1, 2} (Daptrius americanus) Bat Falcon (Falco rufigularis)
GUANS, CURASSOWS (CRACIDAE) Little Chachalaca¹(Ortalis motmot) Marail Guan¹ (Penelope marail) Black Curassow (Crax alector)
QUAILS, PHEASANTS (PHASIANIDAE) Marbled Wood-quail (Odontophorus gujanensis)
RAILS (RALLIDAE) Grey-necked Wood Rail (Aramides cajanea) Russet-crowned Crake (Annrolimnas viridis). J. Ingels, pers. comm., 2001
TRUMPETERS (PSOPHIIDAE) Gray-winged Trumpeter¹ (Psophia crepitans)
SANDPIPERS (SCOLOPACIDAE) Solitary Sandpiper¹ (Tringa solitaria)
PIGEONS, DOVES (COLUMBIDAE) Pale-vented Pigeon (Columba cayenensis) Ruddy Pigeon (C. subvinacea) Plumbeous Pigeon (C. plumbea) Ruddy Ground Dove¹ (Columbina talpacoti) Gray-fronted Dove¹ (Leptotila rufaxilla) White-tipped Dove (Leptotila verreauxi). J. Ingels, pers. comm., 2001 Ruddy Quail Dove (Geotrygon montana). J. Ingels, pers. comm., 2001
PARROTS (PSITTACIDAE) Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao) Red-and-green Macaw¹ (A. chloroptera) Red-shouldered Macaw (A. nobilis). J. Ingels, pers. comm., 2001 White-eyed Parakeet¹ (Aratinga leucophthalmus) Painted Parakeet¹ (Pyrrhura picta) Sapphire-rumped Parrotlet (Touit purpurata) Caica Parrot (Pionopsitta caica) Blue-headed Parrot¹ (Pionus menstruus) Dusky Parrot¹ (P. fuscus) Mealy Parrot (Amazona farinosa) Orange-winged Parrot (A. amazonica). J. Ingels, pers. comm., 2001 Red-fan Parrot¹ (Deroptyus acciptrinus)
CUCKOOS, ANIS (CUCULIDAE) Squirrel Cuckoo¹(Piaya cayana) Little Cuckoo (Piaya minuta). J. Ingels, pers. comm., 2001 Smooth-billed Ani¹ (Crotophaga ani)
OWLS (STRIGIDAE) Spectacled Owl¹ (Pulsatrix perspicillata)
POTOOS (NYCTIBIIDAE) Rufous Potoo (Nyctibus bracteatus). N. Cleere & J. Ingels, pers. comm., 2001
NIGHTJARS (CAPRIMULGIDAE) Semi-collared (Short-tailed) Nighthawk (Lurocallis semitorquatus). N. Cleere & J. Ingels, pers. comm., 2001 Panraque (Nyctidromus albicollis). J. Ingels, pers. comm., 2001. Lesser Nighthawk¹ (Chordeiles acutipennis) Blackish Nightjar¹ (Caprimulgus nigrescens) White-tailed Nightjar⁶ (C. cayennensis) Cayenne Nightjar^{6, 7} (C. maculosus)
SWIFTS (APODIDAE) Band-rumped Swift¹ (Chaetura spinicauda) Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift (Panyptila cayennensis)
HUMMINGBIRDS (TROCHILIDAE) Rufous-breasted (Hairy) Hermit (Glaucis hirsuta) Eastern Long-tailed Hermit¹ (Phaethornis superciliosus) Great-billed Hermit¹ (P. malaris) Reddish Hermit (P. ruber) Little Hermit (P. longuemareus) Gray-breasted Sabrewing¹ (Campylopterus largipennis) White-necked Jacobin (Florisuga mellivora) Black-throated Mango (Anthracothorax nigricollis) Tufted Coquette (Lophornis ornatus) Racket-tailed Coquette (Discosura longicauda) Blue-chinned Sapphire¹ (Chlorostilbon notatus) Fork-tailed Woodnymph¹ (Thalurania furcata) White-chinned Sapphire (Hylocharis cyanus) Crimson Topaz (Topaza pella) Black-eared Fairy¹ (Heliothrix aurita)
KINGFISHERS (ALCEDINIDAE) Green-and-rufous Kingfisher (Chloroceryle inda)
TROGONS (TROGONIDAE) Black-tailed Trogon¹ (Trogon melanurus) White-tailed Trogon¹ (T. viridis) Collared Trogon (T. collaris) Black-throated Trogon¹ (T. rufus) Violaceous Trogon¹ (T. violaceus)
MOTMOTS (MOMOTIDAE) Blue-crowned Motmot¹ (Momotus momota)
JACAMARS (GALBULIDAE) Yellow-billed Jacamar¹ (Galbula albirostris) Paradise Jacamar¹ (G. dea) Great Jacamar¹ (Jacamerops aurea)
PUFFBIRDS (BUCCONIDAE) White-necked Puffbird¹ (Notharchus macrorhynchus) Pied Ruffbird (N. tectus) Spotted Puffbird¹ (Bucco tamatia) White-chested Puffbird¹ (Malacoptila fusca) Black Nunbird¹ (Monasa atra) Swallowwing (Chelidoptera tenebrosa)
BARBETS (CAPTIONIDAE) Black-spotted Barbet¹ (Capito niger)
TOUCANS (RAMPHASTIDAE) Black-necked Aracari¹ (Pteroglossus aracari) Green Aracari¹ (P. viridis) Guianan Toucanet¹ (Selenidera culik) Channel-billed Toucan (Ramphastos vitellinus) Red-billed Toucan¹ (R. tucanus)
WOODPECKERS (PICIDAE) Golden-spangled Piculet (Picumnus exilis) Yellow-throated Woodpecker¹ (Piculus flavigula) Golden-green Woodpecker (Piculus chrysochloros), J. Ingels, pers. comm., 2001 Chestnut Woodpecker¹ (Celeus elegans) Ringed Woodpecker (C. torquatus) Lineated Woodpecker¹ (Dryocopus lineatus) Yellow-tufted Woodpecker¹ (Melanerpes cruentatus) Little Woodpecker (Veniliornis passerinus) Golden-collared Woodpecker (V. cassini) Crimson-crested Woodpecker (Campephilus melanoleucus) Red-necked Woodpecker¹ (C. rubricollis)
WOODCREEPERS (DENDROCOLAPTIDAE) Plain-brown Woodcreeper¹ (Dendrocincla fuliginosa) White-chinned Woodcreeper¹ (D. merula) Olivaceous Woodcreeper (Sittasomus griseicapillus), J. Ingels, pers. comm., 2001 Wedge-billed Woodcreeper¹ (Glyphorynchus spirurus) Black-banded Woodcreeper (Dendrocolaptes picumnus) Long-billed Woodcreeper⁶ (Nasica longirostris) Barred Woodcreeper¹ (D. certhia) Chestnut-rumped Woodcreeper¹ (Xiphorhynchus pardalotus) Buff-throated Woodcreeper¹ (X. guttatus) Curve-billed Scythebill¹ (Campylorhamphus procurvoides)
OVENBIRDS ETC. (FURNARIIDAE) Cabanis’ Spinetail^{1, 3} (Synallaxis cabanisi) Plain-crowned Spinetail¹ (S. gujanensis) Rufous-tailed Foliage-gleaner¹ (Philydor ruficaudatus) Rufous-rumped Foilage-gleaner¹ (P. erythrocercus) Olive-backed Foliage-gleaner¹ (Automolus infuscatus) Ruddy Foliage-gleaner¹ (A. rubiginosus) Buff-throated Foliage-gleanerA. ochrolaemus) Chestnut-crowned Foliage-gleaner¹ (A. rufipileatus) Plain Xenops¹ (Xenops minutus) Short-billed Leafscraper¹ [Leaftosser] (Sclerurus rufigularis) Black-tailed Leafscraper (Sclerurus caudacutus), J. Ingels, pers. comm., 2001
ANTBIRDS (FORMICARIIDAE) Fasciated Antshrike¹ (Cimbilaimus lineatus) Barred Antshrike (Thamnophilus doliatus) Blackish-gray Antshrike⁶ (T. nigrocinereus) Mouse-colored Antshrike¹ (T. murinus) Amazonian Antshrike (T. amazonicus) Dusky-throated Antshrike¹ (Thamnomanes ardesiacus) Cinereous Antshrike¹ (T. caesius) Pygmy Antwren (Myrmotherula brachyura) Streaked Antwren (M. surinamensis) Brown-bellied Antwren¹ (M. gutturalis) White-flanked Antwren¹ (M. axillaris) Long-winged Antwren¹ (M. longipennis) Gray Antwren¹ (M. menetriesii) Dot-winged Antwren¹ (Microrhopias quixensis) Dusky Antbird¹ (Cercomacra tyrannina) Blackish Antbird⁶ (C. nigrescens) Warbling Antbird¹ (Hypocnemis cantator) Black-headed Antbird¹ (Percnostola rufifrons) Spot-winged Antbird (Schistocichla leucostigma) Ferruginous-backed Antbird¹ (Myrmeciza ferruginea) Black-throated Antbird¹ (M. atrothorax) White-plumed Antbird¹ (Pithys albifrons) Rufous-throated Antbird¹ (Gymnopithys rufigula) Spot-backed Antbird (Hylophylax naevia) Scale-backed Antbird¹ (H. poecilonota) Rufous-capped Antthrush¹ (Formicarius colma) Black-faced Antthrush¹ (F. analis) Spotted antpitta¹ (Hylopezus macularius) Thrush-like Antipitta⁴ (Myrmothera campanisoma)
GNATEATERS (CONOPHAGIDAE) Chestnut-belted Gnateater¹ (Conopophaga aurita)
COTINGAS (COTINGIDAE) Spangled Cotinga¹ (Cotinga cayana) Purple-breasted Cotinga (C. cotinga) Pompadour Cotinga (Xipholena punicea) Cinereous Mourner¹ (Laniocera hypopyrrha) Screaming Piha^{1, 5} (Lipaugus vociferans) White Bellbird⁶ (Procnias alba) Crimson Fruitcrow⁵ (Haematoderus militaris) Purple-throated Fruitcrow¹ (Querula purpurata) Capuchinbird (Calfbird)¹ (Perissocephalus tricolor) Guianan Red-cotinga⁵ (Phoenicircus carnifex) Guianan Cock-of-the-Rock⁶ (Rupicola rupicola
MANAKINS (PIPRIDAE) Golden-headed Manakin¹ (Pipra erythrocephala) White-crowned Manakin¹ (P. pipra) White-fronted Manakin¹ (P. serena) White-bearded Manakin¹ (Manacus manacus) Tiny Tyrant Manakin¹ (Tyranneutes virescens) Wing-barred Manakin¹ [Piprites] (Piprites chloris) Thrush-like Manakin¹ (Schiffornis turdinus)
TYRANT FLYCATCHERS (TYRANNIDAE) Long-tailed Tyrant¹ (Colonia colonus) Fork-tailed Flycatcher¹ (Tyrannus [Muscivora] tyrannus) Tropical Kingbird¹ (T. melancholicus) Black-capped Becard (Pachyramphus marginatus) Pink-throated Becard (Platypsaris minor) Black-tailed Tityra¹ (Tityra cayana) Masked Tityra (T. semifasciata) Variegated Flycatcher¹ (Empidonomus varius) Piratic Flycatcher¹ (Legatus leucophaius) Yellow-throated Flycatcher¹ (Conopias parva) White-ringed Flycatcher (Conopias albovittata), J. Ingels, pers. comm., 2001 Boat-billed flycatcher¹ (Megarhynchus pitangua) Rusty-margined flycatcher¹ (Myiozetes cayanensis) Great Kiskadee¹ (Pitangus sulphuratus) Lesser Kiskadee (Philohydor lictor) Bright-rumped Attila¹ (Attila spadiceus) Grayish Mourner¹ (Rhytipterna simplex) Sirystes (Sirystes sibilator) Short-crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus ferox) Dusky-capped Flycatcher (Myriarchus tuberculifer), J. Ingels, pers. comm., 2001 White-throated Peewee⁶ (Contopus albogularis) Ruddy-tailed Flycatcher¹ (Terenotriccus erythrurus) Sulphur-rumped Flycatcher (Myiobius barbatus) Royal Flycatcher¹ (Onychorhynchus coronatus) White-crested Spadebill¹ (Platyrinchus platyrhynchos) Golden-crowned Spadebill (P. coronatus) Yellow-margined Flycatcher¹ (Tolmomyias assimilis) Gray-crowned Flycatcher¹ (T. poliocephalus) Olivaceous Flatbill (Rhynchocyclus olivaceus) Rufous-tailed Flatbill¹ (Ramphotrigon ruficauda) Common Tody-flycatcher¹ (Todirostrum cinereum) White-eyed Tody-tyrant¹ (Hemitriccus (Idioptilon) zosterops) Olive-green Tyrannulet¹ (Phylloscartes virescens) Yellow-bellied Elaenia¹ (Elaenia flavogaster) Forest Elaenia¹ (Myiopagis gaimardii) McConnell’s Flycatcher¹ (Mionectes macconnellii) Ringed Antpipit¹ (Corythopis torquata)
SWALLOWS (HIRUNIDINDAE) Gray-breasted Martin (Progne chalybea) White-banded Swallow¹ (Atticora fasciata) White-thighed Swallow¹ (Neochelidon tibialis) Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
WRENS (TROGLODYTIDAE) Coraya Wren (Thryothorus coraya) Wing-banded Wren (Microcerculus bambla) Musician Wren¹ (Cyphorhinus arada)
THRUSHES (TURDIDAE) Cocoa Thrush¹ (Turdus fumigatus) White-necked Thrush¹ (T. albicollis)
OLDWORLD WARBLERS (SULVIIDAE) Collared Gnatwren¹ (Microbates collaris) Tropical Gnatcatcher (Polioptila plumbea) Guianan Gnatcatcher (P. guianensis)
VIREOS (VIREONIDAE) Rufous-browed Peppershrike¹ (Cyclarhis gujanensis) Slaty-capped Shrike-vireo¹ (Vireolanius leucotis) Red-eyed Vireo¹ (Vireo olivaceus) Black-whiskered Vireo¹ (V. altiloguus) Ashy-headed Greenlet (Hylophilus pectoralis) Tawny-crowned Greenlet¹ (H. ochraceiceps)
EMBERIZIDAE (ICTERINAE) AMERICAN ORIOLES, BLACKBIRDS Giant Cowbird¹ (Scaphidura oryzivora) Crested Oropendola (Psarocolius decumanus) Green Oropendola¹ (P. viridis) Yellow-rumped Cacique¹ (Cacicus cela) Red-rumped Cacique¹ (C. haemorrhous) Yellow Oriole¹ (Icterus nigrogularis) Epaulet Oriole (Icterus cayanensis), J. Ingels, pers. comm., 2001
AMERICAN WARBLERS (PARULINAE) River Warbler¹ (Basileuterus rivularis)
HONEYCREEPERS (COEREBINAE) Bananaquit¹ (Coereba flaveola) Bicolored Conebill¹ (Conirostrum bicolor) Purple Honeycreeper (Cyanerpes caeruleus) Red-legged Honeycreeper¹ (C. cyaneus) Green Honeycreeper¹ (Cholorophanes spiza) Blue Dacnis¹ (Dacnis cayana) Black-faced Dacnis¹ (D. lineata)
TANAGERS (THRAUPINAE) Golden-bellied Euphonia¹ [White-lored] (E. chrysopasta) Swallow Tanager¹ (Tersina viridis) Opal-rumped Tanager (Tangara velia) Paradise Tanager¹ (T. chilensis) Spotted Tanager¹ (T. punctata) Turquoise Tanager¹ (T. mexicana) Bay-headed Tanager¹ (T. gyrola) Blue-gray Tanager¹ (Thraupis episcopus) Palm Tanager (T. palmarum) Silver-beaked Tanager¹ (Ramphocelus carbo) Fulvous Shrike-tanager¹ (Lanio fulvus) Blue-backed tanager (Cyanicterus cyanicterus) White-lined Tanager (Tachyphonus rufus) Flame-crested Tanager¹ (T. cristatus) Fulvous-crested Tanager (T. surinamus) White-shouldered Tanager (T. luctuosus) Guira Tanager¹ (Hemithraupis guira) Red-billed Pied Tanager (Lamprospiza melanoleuca)
FINCHES (EMBERIZINAE) Blue-black Grosbeak (Cyanocompsa cyanoides) Buff-throated Saltator¹ (Saltator maximus) Grayish Saltator (S. caerulescens) Green (Yellow-green) Grosbeak (Caryothraustes canadensis) Slate-colored Grosbeak (Pitylus grossus) Indigo Bunting¹ (Passerina cyanea) Blue-black Grassquit¹ (Volatinia jacarina) Lined Seedeater (Sporophila lineola) Chestnut-bellied Seedeater¹ (S. castaneiventris) Lesser Seed-finch (Oryzoborus angolensis) Pectoral Sparrow¹ (Arremon taciturnus)

BIRDS NOT ILLUSTRATED IN A GUIDE TO THE BIRDS OF VENEZULA
AND WHERE ILLUSTRATIONS MAY BE FOUND

Rufous-thighed Kite²
Little Chachalaca^2,3
Marail Guan²
Plumbeous Pigeon²
Great-billed Hermit^{3, 9}
Black Nunbird^2,3
Cabinis’ Spinetail^{3, 10}
Rufous-rumped Foliage-gleaner²
Ruddy Foilage Gleaner^3,10
Short-billed Leaftosser (Leafscraper)^{2, 10}
Dot-winged Antwren^2,3,10
Ferruginous-backed Antbird^3,10
Chestnut-belted Gnateater^2,4,10 Crimson Fruitcrow^2,5,10
Short-crested Flycatcher^2,3,10
White-throated Peewee⁷
Yellow-margined Flycatcher²
White-eyed Tody-tyrant²
Olive-green Tyrannulet²
McConnell’s Flycatcher¹¹
Black-whiskered Vireo⁶
Ashy-headed Greenlet^2,8
Red-rumped Cacique²
Red-billed Pied Tanager^2,8
Indigo Bunting⁶

¹Schauenesee & Phelps, Jr. 1978; ²Haverschmidt, 1968;³Dunning, 1987; ⁴Dick et al., 1984; ⁵Snow, 1982; ⁶North American bird field guides; ⁷no known published illustration; ⁸Ridgely and Tudor, 1989; ⁹Hoyo et al., 1999; ¹⁰Ridgely & Tudor, 1994; ¹¹Tostain et al., 1992.

LITERATURE CITED

Superscripts following a reference refer to the superscripts following the common names of the birds in the list. This indicates the source which documents the occurrence of a species in central French Guiana.

Cleere, N. 1998. Nightjars. A guide to nightjars and related night birds. Yale University Press, New Haven and London.

Dick, J. A., W. B. McGillivray, and D. J. Brooks. 1984. Birds from Saül, French Guiana. The Wilson Bulletin 96(3): 347-365¹.

Dunning, J.S. 1987. South American birds, a photographic guide to their identification. Harrowood Books, Newtown Square, Pa.

Haverschmidt, F. 1968. Birds of Surinam. Livingston Publishing Co., Wynnewood, Pa.

Hoyo, J. del, A. Elliott and J. Sargatal (editors). 1999. Handbook of the birds of the world. Volume 5. Barn owls to hummingbirds. Lynx Editions.

Mori, S. A., G. Cremers, C. Gracie, J.-J. de Granville, M. Hoff, & J. D. Mitchell. 1997. Guide to the vascular plants of central French Guiana. Part 1. Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms, and Monocotyledons. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 76(1): 1-422.

Ridgely, R.S. and G. Tudor. 1989. The birds of South America. Volume 1. The oscine passerines. University of Texas Press, Austin.

Ridgely, R. S. & G. Tudor. 1994. The birds of South America. Volume II. The suboscine passerines. University of Texas Press, Austin.

Rodner, C., M. Lentino & R. Restall. 2000. Checklist of the Birds of Northern South America. Yale University Press, New Haven and London.

Schauenesee, R.M. de and W. H. Phelps, Jr. 1978. A Guide to the birds of Venezuela. Princeton University Press, Princeton, N.J.

Snow, D. 1982. The Cotingas. British Museum (Natural History). Comstock Publishing Associates, a division of Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY⁵.

Tostain, O. and J.-L. Dujardin. 1988. Nesting of the wing-banded antbird and the thrush-like Antpitta in French Guiana. The Condor 90: 236-239⁴.

Tostain, O, J.-L. Jardin, Ch. Érard & J.-M. Thiollay. 1992. Oiseaux de Guyane. Societé d'Études Ornithologiques. Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Laboratoire d'Écologie Générale, Brunoy, France⁶.

Thiollay, J. M. 1989. Area requirements for the conservation of rain forest raptors and gamebirds in French Guiana. Conservation Biology 3(2): 128-137².

Vaurie, C. 1980. Taxonomy and Geographical Distribution of the Furnariidae (Aves, Passeriformes). Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 166(1): 1-357³.

Wege, D. C. & A. J. Long. 1995. Key areas for threatened birds in the Neotropics. Bird Life International, Cambridge, U.K.⁷

Back to Fungal and Plant Diversity of Central French Guiana Home Page