The systematic classification below is the version published by the South American Classification Committee (SACC) of the AOS (American Ornithological Society). Its objective is to create a standard classification for the bird species of South America. The list is under constant revision. Changes are forwarded and proposals are evaluated to be passed or rejected by the members of the Committee. The Committee is composed of ornithologists from different countries of America. For more information see SACC South American Classification Committee.
The SACC list contains the scientific name in latin and the common name only in English. Spanish speaking countries lack a standardized system to name birds, which hinders the compilation of a sole classification with Spanish names for all the countries. So, for Spanish names we follow the "Birds Filed Guide" by Tito Narosky and Dario Yzurieta.
Ð - Indicates that the species presents a noticeable or marked difference in colour between the male and female (sexual dimorphism). Species like raptors with size dimorphism have been omitted. The male is always in the photo. If there is no male photo, it is clarified between brackets whether it is a female or a juvenile.
P - Indicates that the species presents two different forms of adult, independently of sex (polymorphism). Individuals are called morphs.
Southern Screamer
Chauna torquata
Fulvous Whistling-Duck
Dendrocygna bicolor
White-faced Whistling-Duck
Dendrocygna viduata
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
Dendrocygna autumnalis
Black-necked Swan
Cygnus melancoryphus
Coscoroba Swan
Coscoroba coscoroba
Ð Ringed Teal
Callonetta leucophrys
Ð Brazilian Teal
Amazonetta brasiliensis
Silver Teal
Spatula versicolor
Ð Red Shoveler
Spatula platalea
Ð Cinnamon Teal
Spatula cyanoptera
Chiloe Wigeon
Mareca sibilatrix
White-cheeked Pintail
Anas bahamensis
Yellow-billed Pintail
Anas georgica
Yellow-billed Teal
Anas flavirostris
Ð Rosy-billed Pochard
Netta peposaca
Ð Black-headed Duck
Heteronetta atricapilla
Ð Masked Duck
Nomonyx dominicus
Ð Lake Duck
Oxyura vittata
Dusky-legged Guan
Penelope obscura
Chilean Flamingo
Phoenicopterus chilensis
White-tufted Grebe
Rollandia rolland
Least Grebe
Tachybaptus dominicus
Pied-billed Grebe
Podilymbus podiceps
Great Grebe
Podiceps major
Silvery Grebe
Podiceps occipitalis
Rock Pigeon
Columba livia
Picazuro Pigeon
Patagioenas picazuro
Spot-winged Pigeon
Patagioenas maculosa
White-tipped Dove
Leptotila verreauxi
Eared Dove
Zenaida auriculata
Ruddy Ground Dove
Columbina talpacoti
Picui Ground Dove
Columbina picui
Guira Cuckoo
Guira guira
Greater Ani
Crotophaga major
Smooth-billed Ani
Crotophaga ani
Striped Cuckoo
Tapera naevia
Ash-colored Cuckoo
Coccycua cinerea
Dark-billed Cuckoo
Coccyzus melacoryphus
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Coccyzus americanus
Ð Nacunda Nighthawk
Chordeiles nacunda
Ð Band-winged Nightjar
Systellura longirostris
Ð Scissor-tailed Nightjar
Hydropsalis torquata
Ð Glittering-bellied Emerald
Chlorostilbon lucidus
White-throated Hummingbird
Leucochloris albicollis
Gilded Hummingbird
Hylocharis chrysura
Limpkin
Aramus guarauna
Purple Gallinule
Porphyrio martinica
Rufous-sided Crake
Laterallus melanophaius
Red-and-white Crake
Laterallus leucopyrrhus
Spotted Rail
Pardirallus maculatus
Plumbeous Rail
Pardirallus sanguinolentus
Giant Wood-Rail
Aramides ypecaha
Gray-necked Wood-Rail
Aramides cajaneus
Spot-flanked Gallinule
Porphyriops melanops
Yellow-breasted Crake
Porzana flaviventer
Common Gallinule
Gallinula galeata
Red-fronted Coot
Fulica rufifrons
Red-gartered Coot
Fulica armillata
White-winged Coot
Fulica leucoptera
American Golden-Plover
Pluvialis dominica
Southern Lapwing
Vanellus chilensis
Rufous-chested Dotterel
Charadrius modestus
Semipalmated Plover
Charadrius semipalmatus
Collared Plover
Charadrius collaris
Black-necked Stilt
Himantopus mexicanus
Hudsonian Godwit
Limosa haemastica
Red Knot
Calidris canutus
Stilt Sandpiper
Calidris himantopus
Baird's Sandpiper
Calidris bairdii
White-rumped Sandpiper
Calidris fuscicollis
Pectoral Sandpiper
Calidris melanotos
South American Snipe
Gallinago paraguaiae
Wilson's Phalarope
Phalaropus tricolor
Spotted Sandpiper
Actitis macularius
Solitary Sandpiper
Tringa solitaria
Greater Yellowlegs
Tringa melanoleuca
Lesser Yellowlegs
Tringa flavipes
Ð Least Seedsnipe (f)
Thinocorus rumicivorus
Wattled Jacana
Jacana jacana
South American Painted-snipe
Nycticryphes semicollaris
Chilean Skua
Stercorarius chilensis
Brown Skua
Stercorarius antarcticus
Black Skimmer
Rynchops niger
Brown-hooded Gull
Chroicocephaus maculipennis
Gray-hooded Gull
Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus
Olrog's Gull
Larus atlanticus
Kelp Gull
Larus dominicanus
Yellow-billed Tern
Sternula superciliaris
Large-billed Tern
Phaetusa simplex
South American Tern
Sterna hirundinacea
Snowy-crowned Tern
Sterna trudeaui
Royal Tern
Thalasseus maximus
Magellanic Penguin (j)
Spheniscus magellanicus
Maguari Stork
Ciconia maguari
Wood Stork
Mycteria americana
Ð Magnificent Frigatebird (j)
Fregata magnificens
Ð Anhinga
Anhinga anhinga
Neotropic Cormorant
Phalacrocorax brasilianus
Rufescent Tiger-Heron
Tigrisoma lineatum
Stripe-backed Bittern
Ixobrychus involucris
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Nycticorax nycticorax
Striated Heron
Butorides striata
Cattle Egret
Bubulcus ibis
Cocoi Heron
Ardea cocoi
Great Egret
Ardea alba
Whistling Heron
Syrigma sibilatrix
Snowy Egret
Egretta thula
White-faced Ibis
Plegadis chihi
Bare-faced Ibis
Phimosus infuscatus
Plumbeous Ibis
Theristicus caerulescens
Roseate Spoonbill
Platalea ajaja
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture
Cathartes burrovianus
Osprey
Pandion haliaetus
White-tailed Kite
Elanus leucurus
Swallow-tailed Kite
Elanoides forficatus
Black-collared Hawk
Busarellus nigricollis
Ð Snail Kite
Rostrhamus sociabilis
Plumbeous Kite
Ictinia plumbea
Cinereous Harrier
Circus cinereus
P - Ð Long-winged Harrier
Circus buffoni
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Accipiter striatus
Crane Hawk
Geranospiza caerulescens
Savanna Hawk
Buteogallus meridionalis
Roadside Hawk
Rupornis magnirostris
Harris's Hawk
Parabuteo unicinctus
White-tailed Hawk
Geranoaetus albicaudatus
Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle (j)
Geranoaetus melanoleucus
Swainson's Hawk
Buteo swainsoni
Barn Owl
Tyto alba
Tropical Screech-Owl
Megascops choliba
Great Horned Owl
Bubo virginianus
P Feruginous Pygmy-Owl
Glaucidium brasilianum
Striped Owl
Asio clamator
Short-eared Owl
Asio flammeus
Ð Ringed Kingfisher
Megaceryle torquata
Ð Amazon Kingfisher
Chloroceryle amazona
Ð Green Kingfisher
Chloroceryle americana
Ð White-barred Piculet
Picumnus cirratus
White Woodpecker
Melanerpes candidus
Ð Checkered Woodpecker
Dryobates mixtus
Ð Green-barred Woodpecker
Colaptes melanochloros
Ð Campo Flicker
Colaptes campestris
Southern Caracara
Caracara plancus
Chimango Caracara
Milvago chimango
Ð American Kestrel
Falco sparverius
Aplomado Falcon
Falco femoralis
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinus
Monk Parakeet
Myiopsitta monachus
Yellow-chevroned Parakeet
Brotogeris chiriri
Scaly-headed Parrot
Pionus maximiliani
Turquoise-fronted Parrot
Amazona aestiva
Maroon-bellied Parakeet
Pyrrhura frontalis
Burrowing Parakeet
Cyanoliseus patagonus
Nanday Parakeet
Aratinga nenday
Blue-and-yellow Macaw
Ara ararauna
Blue-crowned Parakeet
Thectocercus acuticaudatus
White-eyed Parakeet
Psittacara leucophtalmus
Ð Rufous-capped Antshrike
Thamnophilus ruficapillus
Narrow-billed Woodcreeper
Lepidocolaptes angustirostris
Rufous Hornero
Furnarius rufus
Wren-like Rushbird
Phleocryptes melanops
Buff-winged Cinclodes
Cinclodes fuscus
Tufted Tit-Spinetail
Leptasthenura platensis
Little Thornbird
Phacellodomus sibilatrix
Freckle-breasted Thornbird
Phacellodomus striaticollis
Sharp-billed Canastero
Asthenes pyrrholeuca
Sulphur-bearded Reed-Haunter
Limnoctites sulphuriferus
Bay-capped Wren-Spinetail
Spartonoica maluroides
Yellow-chinned Spinetail
Certhiaxis cinnamomeus
Chotoy Spinetail
Schoeniophylax phryganophilus
Spix's Spinetail
Synallaxis spixi
Sooty-fronted Spinetail
Synallaxis frontalis
Ð White-tipped Plantcutter
Phytotoma rutila
White-naped Xenopsaris
Xenopsaris albinucha
Ð Green-backed Becard
Pachyramphus viridis
Ð White-winged Becard
Pachyramphus polychopterus
Mottle-cheeked Tyrannulet
Phylloscartes ventralis
Tawny-crowned Pygmy-Tyrant
Euscarthmus meloryphus
Southern Beardless-Tyrannulet
Camptostoma obsoletum
Large Elaenia
Elaenia spectabilis
White-crested Elaenia
Elaenia albiceps
Small-billed Elaenia
Elaenia parvirostris
Suiriri Flycatcher
Suiriri suiriri
Yellow-billed Tit-Tyrant
Anairetes flavirostris
Tufted Tit-Tyrant
Anairetes parulus
Bearded Tachuri
Polystictus pectoralis
Subtropical Doradito
Pseudocolopteryx acutipennis
Warbling Doradito
Pseudocolopteryx flaviventris
Sooty Tyrannulet
Serpophaga nigricans
White-crested Tyrannulet
Serpophaga subcristata
Straneck's Tyrannulet
Serpophaga griseicapilla
Great Kiskadee
Pitangus sulphuratus
Cattle Tyrant
Machetornis rixosa
Boat-billed Flycatcher
Megarynchus pitangua
Streaked Flycatcher
Myiodynastes maculatus
Variegated Flycatcher
Empidonomus varius
Crowned Slaty Flycatcher
Empidonomus aurantioatrocristatus
Tropical Kingbird
Tyrannus melancholicus
Fork-tailed Flycatcher
Tyrannus savana
Swainson's Flycatcher
Myiarchus swainsoni
Bran-colored Flycatcher
Myiophobus fasciatus
Ð Vermilion Flycatcher
Pyrocephalus rubinus
Black-backed Water-Tyrant
Fluvicola albiventer
Ð Austral Negrito
Lessonia rufa
Ð Spectacled Tyrant
Hymenops perspicillatus
Ð Blue-billed Black-Tyrant
Knipolegus cyanirostris
Yellow-browed Tyrant
Satrapa icterophrys
Dark-faced Ground-Tyrant
Muscisaxicola maclovianus
White Monjita
Xolmis irupero
Gray Monjita
Nengetus cinereus
Black-crowned Monjita
Neoxolmis coronatus
Gray-bellied Shrike-Tyrant
Agriornis micropterus
Euler's Flycatcher
Lathrotriccus euleri
Tropical Pewee
Contopus cinereus
Tachurí 7 colores
Tachuris rubigastra
Rufous-browed Peppershrike
Cyclarhis gujanensis
Red-eyed Vireo
Vireo chivi
Plush-crested Jay
Cyanocorax chrysops
Blue-and-white Swallow
Pygochelidon cyanoleuca
Southern Rough-winged Swallow
Stelgidopterix ruficollis
Brown-chested Martin
Progne tapera
Gray-breasted Martin
Progne chalybea
Southern Martin
Progne elegans
White-rumped Swallow
Tachycineta leucorrhoa
Golondrina patagonica
Tachycineta leucopyga
Bank Swallow
Riparia riparia
Barn Swallow
Hirundo rustica
Cliff Swallow
Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
House Wren
Troglodytes aedon
Ð Masked Gnatcatcher
Polioptila dumicola
Rufous-bellied Thrush
Turdus rufiventris
Creamy-bellied Thrush
Turdus amaurochalinus
Chiguanco Thrush
Turdus chiguanco
Chalk-browed Mockingbird
Mimus saturninus
White-banded Mockingbird
Mimus triurus
Crested Myna
Acridotheres cristatellus
European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
Ð House Sparrow
Passer domesticus
Short-billed Pipit
Anthus furcatus
European Goldfinch
Carduelis carduelis
Ð Hooded Siskin
Spinus magellanicus
Yellow-fronted Canary
Serinus mozambicus
Grassland Sparrow
Ammodramus humeralis
Rufous-collared Sparrow
Zonotrichia capensis
White-browed Blackbird
Leistes superciliaris
Long-tailed Meadowlark
Leistes loyca
Solitary Black Cacique
Cacicus solitarius
Golden-winged Cacique
Cacicus chrysopterus
Orange-backed Troupial
Icterus croconotus
Campo Troupial
Icterus jamacaii
Variable Oriole
Icterus pyrrhopterus
Screaming Cowbird
Molothrus rufoaxillaris
Ð Shiny Cowbird
Molothrus bonariensis
Scrub Blackbird
Dives warszewiczi
Scarlet-headed Blackbird
Amblyramphus holosericeus
Chopi Blackbird
Gnorimopsar chopi
Greyish Baywing
Agelaioides badius
Ð Unicoloured Blackbird
Agelasticus cyanopus
Ð Yellow-winged Blackbird
Agelasticus thilius
Ð Chestnut-capped Blackbird
Chrysomus ruficapillus
Brown-and-yellow Marshbird
Pseudoleistes virescens
Ð Masked Yellowthroat
Geothlypis aequinoctialis
Tropical Parula
Setophaga pitiayumi
Golden-crowned Warbler
Basileuterus culicivorus
Ð Hepatic Tanager
Piranga flava
Ð Black-backed Grosbeak
Pheucticus aureoventris
Ð Glaucous-blue Grosbeak
Cyanoloxia glaucocaerulea
Ð Ultramarine Grosbeak
Cyanoloxia brissonii
Ð Hooded Tanager (f)
Nemosia pileata
Ð Guira Tanager
Hemithraupis guira
Ð Chestnut-vented Conebill (f)
Conirostrum speciosum
Ð Saffron Finch
Sicalis flaveola
Grassland Yellow-Finch
Sicalis luteola
Ð Mourning Sierra-Finch
Rhopospina fruticeti
Ð Blue-black Grassquit
Volatinia jacarina
Ð White-lined Tanager
Tachyphonus rufus
Ð Red-crested Finch
Coryphospingus cucullatus
Ð Lined Seedeater
Sporophila lineola (j)
Ð Tawny-bellied Seedeater
Sporophila hypoxantha
Ð Dark-throated Seedeater (j)
Sporophila ruficollis
Ð Double-collared Seedeater
Sporophila caerulescens
Ð Rusty-collared Seedeater
Sporophila collaris
Many-colored Chaco Finch
Saltatricula multicolor
Grayish Saltator
Saltator coerulescens
Green-winged Saltator
Saltator similis
Golden-billed Saltator
Saltator aurantiirostris
Great Pampa-Finch
Embernagra platensis
Cinnamon Warbling-Finch
Poospiza ornata
Black-and-rufous Warbling-Finch
Poospiza nigrorufa
Orange-headed Tanager
Thlypopsis sordida
Gray-throated Warbling-Finch
Microspingus cabanisi
Ð Ringed Warbling-Finch
Microspingus torquatus
Ð Black-capped Warbling-Finch
Microspingus melanoleucus
Long-tailed Reed Finch
Donacospiza albifrons
Dull-coloured Grassquit
Asemospiza obscura
Ð Yellow Cardinal
Gubernatrix cristata
Red-crested Cardinal
Paroaria coronata
Yellow-billed Cardinal
Paroaria capitata
Diademed Tanager
Stephanophorus diadematus
Ð Fawn-breasted Tanager
Pipraeidea melanonota
Ð Blue-and-yellow Tanager
Rauenia bonariensis
Sayaca Tanager
Thraupis sayaca
Birds domesticated by man
Creole Duck
Cairina moschata (agrotipo)
Pekin Duck
Anas platyrhynchos (agrotipo)
Mallard Duck
Anas platyrhynchos
Home Pigeon
Columba livia
Budgerigar
Melopsittacus undulatus
Canary
Serinus canaria
Graylag Goose
Anser anser