Premier bird watching

Guyana is one of the world’s most pristine and undisturbed wildlife destinations, and birders in particular can expect sought-after sightings to come thick and fast. Tucked away on the far corner of South America with few visitors, a population well below a million and little in the way of urban development, this small tropical country is a haven for more than 800 bird species.

The heavyweight of the bird world here is the harpy eagle, with its striking white and grey plumage and distinctive crown of feathers. But many of the smaller species are just as intriguing to watch – the cock of the rock, purple-throated fruitcrow, puffbird, nunbird, pompadour cotinga and capuchinbird all add colour (or quirkiness, in the case of the latter with its bare head and chainsaw-like song) to their surroundings. Herons, terns, jabirus and king vultures will also impress with sheer numbers.