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Birds in Suriname, South America Dutch text English text Vogels in Suriname/Birds in Suriname




The species of birds that were included in the checklists on this site have been accounted for in a book "Annotated checklist of the Birds in Suriname", a publication of WWF Guianas, written by Otte H. Ottema, Jan Hein Ribot and Arie L. Spaans. It recognises 727 species, with 11 of these species with more than one subspecies (and in 2009 25 species without physical evidence from Suriname). Since the publication in November 2009, new species have been identified for Suriname and added to the list on this site. They are mentioned in the first list below. The second list gives an updated survey of the species without physical evidence (16 at this moment).
The annotated checklist, among other things, also gives comments on observations that were not validated, extreme dates for migrants and notes on selected species.

Records of (sub)species new for Suriname since November 2009.
It makes the total number of species for Suriname now standing on 760 (November 2023), after retraction of a species, see below. For all these birds, distribution maps are available on the individual pages but only for observations till 2018.
For 16 species that we recognise, we have, besides the observations, no physical evidence. So they are hypothetical. A special case is also mentioned there. See the second list on this page. This leaves 744 species with hard evidence.
A second book by the same authors

"Field Guide to the Birds of Suriname"

also gives a justification for the birds on the Suriname list.

Rusty Tinamou Crypturellus brevirostris Fred Pansa recorded the bird at Witikamba, upper Suriname near Fredberg (see xeno-canto). Also heard and reported by a RAP expedition, headed by Brian O'Shea, in the far south of Suriname, near the Kutari camp in September 2010. And heard again by Brian in March 2012 near Kasikasima
Ring-necked Duck Aythia collaris A group of nine was photographed by Thomas Kerkhove on the ninth of November in 2017. They were near the dike in Coronie. Two photographs can be found on this site.
Yellow-nosed Albatross Thalasarche Chlororhynchos For the first time seen in Surinamese waters and photographed by M. Riechelt on June 10 2012 about 280 km off the coast. The bird was only once seen in 4 months of outbound activities. The photograph can be found on this site. Identification checked by Kees Camphuysen.
Fea's Petrel Pterodroma feae Ramirez et al. (2013) have published data on the distribution of this petrel, measured with geolocators. Some data points found were within the territorial waters (200 sea miles) of Suriname and French Guiana.
Year-round distribution and habitat preferences of the Bugio petrel by Ivan Ramirez, Vitor H. Paiva, Dilia Menezes, Isamberto Silva, Richard A. Phillips, Jaime A. Ramos, Stefan Garthe.
Bulwer's Petrel Bulweria bulwerii A rather dark Petrel, that was first seen in Surinamese waters in 2012. It was reported on May 17 (30 km out on sea) and on August 7 2012, about 290 km out of the coast during a 4 month research traject. In June 2105 it was photographed and the it can be found on this site.
Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus This bird was for the first time seen in Surinamese waters and photographed on May 12th 2015 by Jim Saulino on board of a reserch vessel on sea. The photograph can be found on this site. Identification checked by Kees Camphuysen.
Band-rumped Storm-Petrel Oceanodroma castro

Retracted in 2020 after comments by experts
Red-footed Booby Sula sula The first observations of this Booby were made on a research vessel for the coast of Suriname. They were seen in June and August 2012 about 250 km off the coast and photographed by Jim Saulino. The photograph can be found on this site. Identification checked by Kees Camphuysen.
White Ibis Eudocimus albus Twice reported by two observers (1-7 March 2006). Then a photograph surfaced from a bird at the Tafelberg taken by Marianne VK.(jan 2013)
Buff-necked Ibis Theristicus caudatus Rabin Nekrui made a video of the Buff-necked Ibis in the marshes at Weg naar Zee in March 2021. On this site a still from the video.
Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platyperus The bird was many times reported from the Brownsberg in the northern winter. Now it has been photographed several times first by Serano Ramcharan in the IAMGOLD mine in December 2017. Photos on this site
Peregrine Falcon, Duck Hawk Falco peregrinus anatum A new subspecies for Suriname. This bird was photographed by Erik Toorman in March 2013. Photo on this site.
Ruff Philomachus pugnax This bird was photographed by Andy Williams in August 2015 out on sea. Photo on this site.
Marbled Godwit Limosa fedoa This bird was photographed by Arno Lesterhuis in 2023, the page has still to be written
South Polar Skua Stercorarius maccormicki On their way back to their breeding grounds near the South Pole these Skuas pass into the waters of Suriname. They pass in the first half of May. This was determined with geolocators, by M. Koch et al (see the page on this site). In May 2014 a bird was photographed by Tomas Willems, see its page.
Long-tailed Jaeger Stercorarius longicaudus The bird was photographed by Tomas Willems in April 2014 for the coast of Suriname,see its page on this site.
Audouin's Gull Ichthyaetus audouinii The bird was photographed by Bert Witkamp and Bert Kasius on the river near Nieuw Amsterdam on 22 March 2018. It seems to be the second observation for South America for this mediterranean bird. Photo on this site.
Black Noddy Anous minutus This bird was photographed by Tomas Willems in May 2014 (see its page), and identification checked by Ruud van Halewijn.
Bridled Tern Onychoprion anaethetus This bird was also photographed by Tomas Willems in April 2014.
Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis acuflavidus A new subspecies for Suriname. This ringed bird was also photographed by Tomas Willems in April 2014.
Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii A new species for Suriname, with photo on this site. It was photographed by Tomas Willems June 2014.
Tepui Parrotlet Nannopsittaca panychlora Trapped by an expedition of the Yale University Peabody Museum with Kristof Zyskowski in April 2010 in the Wilhelmina mountains in the Central Suriname Nature Reserve, CSNR. It was seen every day during his stay there.
Pavonine cuckoo Dromococcyx pavoninus The characteristic sound was heard well by Brian O'Shea at dawn on the 5th of May 2010 at Werepai in the far south of Suriname. It was heard there again in September. No recording was made. This secretive bird is known from Guyana and French Guiana.
Rufous Potoo Nyctibius bracteatus Seen and photographed on the 6 of October 2021 by Keiran Samuels (local guide) and Simon van der Meulen in the Kabalebo Resort nature reserve. In three weeks a nest with two adults, a young bird, an egg and later a hatchling were seen and photographed.
Common Swift Apus apus Seen and photographed on the 12th of July 2012 by Jim Saulino and Andy Williams about 280 km out on sea in front of the east coast of Suriname. A first for South America.
Belted kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon This migrant was seen by two experienced observers in November 2009 to pass by at Weg naar Zee. These two (Carl Beel and Dominiek Plouvier) had no doubt about the identity of the female bird and the second observer knows the bird well from other countries. Known from Guyana and recently from French Guiana.Photographed by Nathan Amtroesiat in October and November 2016 in the West of Suriname (photo on this site) and said to have been spotted there more often.
Strong-billed woodcreeper Xiphocolaptes promeropirhynchus The sound was taped by a RAP expedition near Kwamalasumutu in the far south of Suriname, headed by Brian O'Shea in September 2010. The bird is known from Guyana and French Guyana.
Short-tailed Antthrush Chamaeza campanisona Trapped by an expedition of the Yale University Peabody Museum with Kristof Zyskowski in April 2010 in the Wilhelmina mountains in the Central Suriname Nature Reserve, CSNR. Also identified on a sound tape from the Tafelberg in December 2005.
Amazonian Black-Tyrant Knipolegus poecilocercus first 2 reported observations and then photos (also on this site) made by Armida Madgnisa and Dick Lock
Rufous-tailed Tyrant Knipolegus poecilurus Trapped by an expedition of the Yale University Peabody Museum with Kristof Zyskowski in April 2010 in the Wilhelmina mountains in the Central Suriname Nature Reserve, CSNR. A picture of this bird from Suriname
Large-headed Flatbill Ramphotrigon megacephalum Reported by a RAP expedition in the far south of Suriname, headed by Brian O'Shea, in the bamboo near the Kutari camp and near Werepai in September 2010.
Cuban Martin Progne cryptoleuca The Cuban Martin was not actually seen in Suriname, BUT a tagged bird was recorded flying via Guyana en Suriname to its wintering area in Brazil.
Scarlet Tanager Piranga olivacea Photographed by Jim Saulino aboard a research vessel in Surinamese waters, the 27th of May 2015, about 310 km out on sea, NNE of Braamspunt. The bird flew in a NW direction, probably on its way back to North America. Photos can be found on this site. Identification confirmed by Johan Ingels.
Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheuticus ludovicianus This bird was photographed by Ashraf Tilburg in November 2023 and can be found on this site.
Dickcissel Spiza americana Oct 14 2022 Armida Madgnisa photographed this bird on Kablebo. Photo on this site
Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia Photographed by Jim Saulino aboard a research vessel in Surinamese waters, the 16th of July 2015 and about 240km in sea, NE of Braamspunt. Photos can be found on this site.

Hypothetical species

Second List: 16 species of birds on this site without physical evidence from Suriname to validate the observations, as per November 2022.
-And a special case: the Red-crested Finch. It has been caught at least three times before 1980 , and there are also historical specimens from the neighboring countries, but it is unclear whether these were from wild birds.
-The (old) specimens of the Saffron Finch from Suriname, were lost in time.
-Broad-winged Hawk has now a photo from Suriname after 9 observations without photo The rusty Tinamou has a sound recording(see above). And the dickcissel and Amazonian Black-Tyrant recently have a photo on this site.

Common Black Hawk Buteogallus anthracinus 1 reported observation.
Baird's Sandpiper Calidris bairdii A bird was caught and then lost during a shipment to the Leiden museum. One other observation.
Wilson's Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor one reported observation.
Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla one reported observation.
Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus one reported observation (by several observers).
Scarlet-shouldered Parrotlet Touit huetii one reported observation, sound recognised.
Plain-winged Antwren Myrmotherula behni 6 reported observations.
Spot-throated Woodcreeper Certiasomus stictolaema 3 reported observations
Gray Elaenia Myopagis caniceps 3 reported observations
Eastern Kingbird Tyrannus tyrannus 3 reported observations
Cliff Swallow Petrochelydon pyrrhonota 6 reported observations
Magpie Tanager Cissopis leveriana 6 reported observations and a rather unmistakable bird in the forest.
Dotted Tanager Tangara varia 8 reported observations
Saffron Finch Sicalis flaveola 2 reported observations and old catches
Blackburnian Warbler Setophaga fusca 3 reported observations

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