This is a list of the bird species recorded in Uruguay. The avifauna of Uruguay has 500 confirmed species, of which nine have been introduced by humans, 75 are rare or vagrants, and four are extirpated or believed extinct. An additional eight species are unconfirmed (see below). None are endemic.
Unless an entry is cited otherwise, the list of species is that of the South American Classification Committee (SACC).Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, D. F. Lane, L, N. Naka, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 25 July 2026. A classification of the bird species of South America. South American Classification Committee associated with the International Ornithologists' Union. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.htm retrieved 25 July 2026 Entries from other sources are not included in the above counts. The list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families, and species) and nomenclature (common and scientific names) are also those of the SACC.Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, D. F. Lane, L, N. Naka, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 25 July 2026. Species Lists of Birds for South American Countries and Territories. South American Classification Committee associated with the International Ornithologists' Union. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCCountryLists.htm retrieved 25 July 2026 Capitalization within English names follows Wikipedia practice, i.e. only the first word of a name is capitalized unless a place name such as São Paulo is used.
The following tags have been used to highlight certain categories of occurrence.
(V) Vagrant – a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Uruguay (U) Unconfirmed – a species recorded but with "no tangible evidence" according to the SACC (I) Introduced – a species introduced to Uruguay as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions
Rheas Order: RheiformesFamily: Rheidae
The rheas are large flightless birds native to South America. Their feet have three toes rather than four which allows them to run faster. One species has been recorded in Uruguay.
Greater rhea, Rhea americana
Tinamous Order: TinamiformesFamily: Tinamidae
The tinamous are one of the most ancient groups of bird. Although they look similar to other ground-dwelling birds like quail and grouse, they have no close relatives and are classified as a single family, Tinamidae, within their own order, the Tinamiformes. Three species have been recorded in Uruguay.
Brown tinamou, Crypturellus obsoletus Red-winged tinamou, Rhynchotus rufescens Spotted nothura, Nothura maculosa
Screamers Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anhimidae
The screamers are a small family of birds related to the ducks. They are large, bulky birds, with a small downy head, long legs, and large feet which are only partially webbed. They have large spurs on their wings which are used in fights over mates and in territorial disputes. Two species have been recorded in Uruguay.
Horned screamer, Anhima cornuta (V) Southern screamer, Chauna torquata
Ducks Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae
Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, flattened bills, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating. Twenty-three species have been recorded in Uruguay.
Fulvous whistling-duck, Dendrocygna bicolor White-faced whistling-duck, Dendrocygna viduata Black-bellied whistling-duck, Dendrocygna autumnalis Graylag goose, Anser anser (I) Black-necked swan, Cygnus melancoryphus Coscoroba swan, Coscoroba coscoroba Upland goose, Chloephaga picta (U) Muscovy duck, Cairina moschata Comb duck, Sarkidiornis sylvicola (V) Ringed teal, Callonetta leucophrys Brazilian teal, Amazonetta brasiliensis Silver teal, Spatula versicolor Red shoveler, Spatula platalea Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors (V) Cinnamon teal, Spatula cyanoptera Chiloe wigeon, Mareca sibilatrix White-cheeked pintail, Anas bahamensis Yellow-billed pintail, Anas georgica Yellow-billed teal, Anas flavirostris Rosy-billed pochard, Netta peposaca Black-headed duck, Heteronetta atricapilla Masked duck, Nomonyx dominica Lake duck, Oxyura vittata
Guans Order: GalliformesFamily: Cracidae
The Cracidae are large birds, similar in general appearance to turkeys. The guans and curassows live in trees, but the smaller chachalacas are found in more open scrubby habitats. They are generally dull-plumaged, but the curassows and some guans have colorful facial ornaments. Two species have been recorded in Uruguay.
Dusky-legged guan, Penelope obscura Chaco chachalaca, Ortalis canicollis (U)
New World quails Order: GalliformesFamily: Odontophoridae
The New World quails are small, plump terrestrial birds only distantly related to the quails of the Old World, but named for their similar appearance and habits. One species has been recorded in Uruguay.
Spot-winged wood-quail, Odontophorus capueira (extirpated)
Flamingos Order: PhoenicopteriformesFamily: Phoenicopteridae
Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually tall, found in both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. Flamingos filter-feed on shellfish and algae. Their oddly shaped beaks are specially adapted to separate mud and silt from the food they consume and are used upside-down. Two species have been recorded in Uruguay.
Chilean flamingo, Phoenicopterus chilensis Andean flamingo, Phoenicoparrus andinus (V)
Grebes Order: PodicipediformesFamily: Podicipedidae
Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land. Five species have been recorded in Uruguay.
White-tufted grebe, Rollandia rolland Least grebe, Tachybaptus dominicus Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps Great grebe, Podiceps major Silvery grebe, Podiceps occipitalis (V)
Pigeons Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere. Ten species have been recorded in Uruguay.
Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I) Picazuro pigeon, Patagioenas picazuro Spot-winged pigeon, Patagioenas maculosa Pale-vented pigeon, Patagioenas cayennensis Ruddy quail-dove, Geotrygon montana (V) White-tipped dove, Leptotila verreauxi Gray-fronted dove, Leptotila rufaxilla Eared dove, Zenaida auriculata Ruddy ground dove, Columbina talpacoti Picui ground dove, Columbina picui
Cuckoos Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae
The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners, and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails, and strong legs. Eight species have been recorded in Uruguay.
Guira cuckoo, Guira guira Greater ani, Crotophaga major Smooth-billed ani, Crotophaga ani Striped cuckoo, Tapera naevia Ash-colored cuckoo, Coccycua cinerea Squirrel cuckoo, Piaya cayana Dark-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus melacoryphus Yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus
Potoos Order: NyctibiiformesFamily: Nyctibiidae
The potoos (sometimes called poor-me-ones) are large near passerine birds related to the nightjars and frogmouths. They are nocturnal insectivores which lack the bristles around the mouth found in the true nightjars. One species has been recorded in Uruguay.
Common potoo, Nyctibius griseus
Nightjars Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Caprimulgidae
Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs, and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is camouflaged to resemble bark or leaves. Six species have been recorded in Uruguay.
Nacunda nighthawk, Chordeiles nacunda Common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor Common pauraque, Nyctidromus albicollis Little nightjar, Setopagis parvula Scissor-tailed nightjar, Hydropsalis torquata Band-winged nightjar, Systellura longirostris
Swifts Order: ApodiformesFamily: Apodidae
Swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang. Two species have been recorded in Uruguay.
White-collared swift, Streptoprocne zonaris (V) Sick's swift, Chaetura meridionalis (V)
Hummingbirds Order: ApodiformesFamily: Trochilidae
Hummingbirds are small birds capable of hovering in mid-air due to the rapid flapping of their wings. They are the only birds that can fly backwards. Eight species have been recorded in Uruguay.
Black jacobin, Florisuga fusca Black-throated mango, Anthracothorax nigricollis (V) Blue-tufted starthroat, Heliomaster furcifer Glittering-bellied emerald, Chlorostilbon lucidus Violet-capped woodnymph, Thalurania glaucopis (U) Swallow-tailed hummingbird, Eupetomena macroura (V) White-throated hummingbird, Leucochloris albicollis Gilded hummingbird, Hylocharis chrysura
Limpkin Order: GruiformesFamily: Aramidae
The limpkin resembles a large rail. It has drab-brown plumage and a grayer head and neck.
Limpkin, Aramus guarauna
Rails Order: GruiformesFamily: Rallidae
Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots, and gallinules. Typically they inhabit dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps, or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak fliers. Seventeen species have been recorded in Uruguay.
Purple gallinule, Porphyrio martinica Azure gallinule, Porphyrio flavirostris (V) Rufous-sided crake, Laterallus melanophaius Red-and-white crake, Laterallus leucopyrrhus Speckled rail, Coturnicops notatus Ash-throated crake, Mustelirallus albicollis Spotted rail, Pardirallus maculatus Plumbeous rail, Pardirallus sanguinolentus Giant wood-rail, Aramides ypecaha Gray-cowled wood-rail, Aramides cajaneus Spot-flanked gallinule, Porphyriops melanops Yellow-breasted crake, Hapalocrex flaviventer (V) Dot-winged crake, Porzana spiloptera Common gallinule, Gallinula galeata Red-fronted coot, Fulica rufifrons Red-gartered coot, Fulica armillata White-winged coot, Fulica leucoptera
Plovers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Charadriidae
The family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels, and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short thick necks, and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water. Eight species have been recorded in Uruguay.
Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola American golden-plover, Pluvialis dominica Tawny-throated dotterel, Oreopholus ruficollis Rufous-chested dotterel, Charadrius modestus Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus Southern lapwing, Vanellus chilensis Collared plover, Anarynchus collaris Two-banded plover, Anarynchus falklandicus
Oystercatchers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Haematopodidae
The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs. Two species have been recorded in Uruguay.
American oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus Blackish oystercatcher, Haematopus ater (V)
Avocets and stilts Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Recurvirostridae
Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills. One species has been recorded in Uruguay.
Black-necked stilt, Himantopus mexicanus
Sheathbills Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Chionididae