Using this Site

Peru Aves is an Online Guide to the Birds of Peru whose purpose is to provide up-to-date basic information about Peru’s rich avifauna. Peru Aves uses:

• Photographs to aid the description of birds,
• recordings of birds vocalizations,
• Regular updates of species accounts

This site’s idea emerged from seeing the wealth of information that “appears” and quickly “disappears” on the World Wide Web, particularly on the various social networks. Our goal is to collect, curate, classify and make this available information to novice and advanced bird enthusiasts.

Coverage
This site covers all species of birds known to occur in Peru as a resident, migrant or transient. This site also covers some aspects of the birds of Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, Bolivia, and Chile, as most Peruvian birds also occur in adjacent ecosystems in these countries.

Terminology used in Each Species Account

• Common and Latin Names: As indicated above, names in English and taxonomy throughout the site follow those proposed by the SACC.
• Conservation Status: Follows the International Union’s species status for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
• Photos: Photos cover plumage variation and morphology related to sex and age to the maximum extent possible. Photos are often added or replaced for better quality ones or photos of birds showing plumage variations. Photos of birds taken in Peru are preferred over those taken elsewhere.
• Photo Captions: Indicate the sex, age, and location to a specific locality when this information is available.
• Identification & Behavior:
  Measurements: The length of a bird from bill tip to tail tip is given in centimeters (cm) and inches (in).  Birds with long bills and tails show disproportionate measures relative to their body size.
  This section provides a brief description of a species’ relevant field marks and behavior. It also provides links to species of similar appearance whose range overlaps with the subject species. For migratory species, the emphasis is given to wintering plumages.
• Status: Provides an idea of a species’ approximate abundance and altitudinal range. Abundance and actual altitudinal range may vary from region to region and should be regarded as an estimation. The terms used to define the status of each species are as follows:
  – Common: Recorded by sight or sound daily in moderate to large numbers.
  – Fairly Common: Recorded daily by sight and sound but in small numbers.
  – Uncommon: Not recorded daily, even in the proper habitat. Usually recorded once a week.
  – Rare: Unlikely to be recorded by sight or sound even at the proper habitat.
• Name in Spanish: Follows the names proposed by Plenge M. A., Species and Subspecies of the Birds of Peru. M. A. Plenge (Version March 2019), Lima, Peru.
• Subspecies: Follows the subspecies that occur in Peru proposed by Plenge M. A., Species and Subspecies of the Birds of Peru. M. A. Plenge (Version March 2019), Lima, Peru.
• Meaning of Name:  Translates the meaning of Latin names proposed on A Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names,  First Edition, by James A. Jobling.
• See More of the Family: A link that leads to a list of all members of a species’ family.
• Voice:  Embeds field recordings of primary songs and calls published largely on Xeno-canto.org and the Macauley Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology.