Birding Tour Guyana: The Lost World – Guiana Shield Specials and Sun Parakeet

Guyana conjures up visions of one of the last few truly wild places on Earth that still holds incredible landscapes covered by thousands of miles of untouched rainforest, pristine forest rivers, water lily-covered lakes, rolling grassland and savannas, and magnificent, breathtaking waterfalls. Guyana truly gives visitors the sense of being in the Lost World.

Guianan Cock-of-the-rock is one of the key species that we will search for on this trip.

This relatively small country, found in northeast South America, has become a mandatory destination for adventurous birders as it hosts many species that are hard to find in adjacent South American countries. Some of these species include Capuchinbird, Black Nunbird, Crimson Fruitcrow, Blood-colored and Waved Woodpeckers, Black and Crestless Curassows, Bearded Tachuri, Red-fan Parrot, and Rufous and White-winged Potoos. It also offers great chances for Harpy Eagle, if there are active nests in the area. With the help of our Birding Ecotours leaders and local guides we will do our best to find this most-wanted and massive raptor. In addition, Guyana offers a unique set of species called Guiana Shield specials, including Guianan Toucanet, Guianan Trogon, Guianan Red Cotinga, Guianan Streaked Antwren, and Guianan Puffbird. There are also good chances for some forest species including White-plumed Antbird, Rufous-throated Antbird, and with luck Rufous-winged Ground Cuckoo.

The distinctive Black Curassow will be searched for at Atta Rainforest Lodge.

Our 14-day Guyana birding tour is designed to explore the best that this country has to offer to birders in two parts. The first part takes in the coast at Georgetown, looking for the localized Rufous Crab Hawk and Scarlet Ibis. We will then explore the awesome Kaieteur Falls and visit a lek of the gorgeous Guianan Cock-of-the-rock near Surama Eco-Lodge, where we will be based. Next up are the rainforests of Atta Rainforest Lodge with its magnificent canopy walkways which should give us eye-level views of several canopy-dwelling species. The second part of the trip includes long 4×4 drives exploring remote Amerindian communities in search of two localized, Endangered, and most-wanted species, Sun Parakeet and Red Siskin. We will make all possible efforts to provide you with these unique species as well as the localized Rio Branco Antbird and Hoary-throated Spinetail.

Finally, Guyana also offers visitors good chances of encountering interesting wildlife, with sightings of Giant Otter, Giant Anteater, and even Puma and Jaguar are not uncommon in this fantastic country.

We may get lucky with a Puma sighting (photo John Christian).