Where to Travel to See the Most Birds in the World

Avid birders, make your plans now. There’s one place to travel that’s the best in the world for birding, and that’s the country boasting the world’s largest bird count: Colombia.

As of this year’s Global Big Day event, which encourages birders and researchers to report their birding observations in mid-May, the country confirmed it can lay claim to more than 1,500 different bird species. (In contrast, the countries with the second- and third-most bird species recorded in the same event were Peru and Brazil, with just more than 1,400 and 1,240 bird species, respectively).

“This achievement affirms our extraordinary natural wealth and our commitment to sustainability,” said Carmen Caballero, president, ProColombia. “Birdwatching is more than a niche activity; it’s a growing driver of sustainable development across our regions and a vital way we share Colombia’s beauty with the world.”

While more than 1,500 bird species were recorded during Global Big Day, overall, Colombia purports to have more than 1,900 bird species, including 79 endemic species. It also is a key location on international migratory routes. It makes sense, then, the destination is leading in nature tourism and, now, Colombia is the top South American destination for U.S. travelers.