Colombia leads the world in having the largest number of birds in the world | News
The Global Big Day 2026 once again highlighted Colombia’s exceptional bird diversity, with the country topping the event organized by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Held every May, the Global Big Day brings together thousands of birdwatchers, scientists, local communities and nature lovers from countries such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, India, Kenya and Australia. Participants document bird species in real time as part of a global citizen science initiative aimed at conserving biodiversity.
With more than 1,560 bird species recorded in one day, Colombia outperformed Peru, Brazil and Ecuador, cementing its reputation as the country with the most bird diversity in the world.
“This achievement confirms that The Country of Beauty is a global benchmark for biodiversity and nature tourism,” said Carmen Caballero, president of ProColombia, the country’s promotion agency. “Birdwatching has become a powerful platform to showcase Colombia’s extraordinary ecosystems, promote sustainable regional development and attract travelers seeking authentic and responsible experiences.”
The country is home to more than 1,954 bird species, the highest number recorded worldwide, as well as approximately 82 endemic species and more than 150 migratory species. Nearly 10% of the world’s biodiversity is contained within its territory, distributed among more than 300 ecosystems spanning the Andes mountains, the Amazon rainforest, the Caribbean and Pacific coasts, as well as savannas, deserts and snow-capped peaks in six tourist regions.
Among the best performing areas in this year’s count were the departments of Meta, Cundinamarca, Valle del Cauca, Antioquia and Caldas, which recorded the highest number of bird observations in the entire country. Highlights included thousands of white-winged parakeets, fork-tailed flycatchers and brown pelicans in the Gorgona National Natural Park.
The Global Big Day leadership has remained steady over the past decade, with the country topping most editions since 2017, including back-to-back wins from 2023 through 2026.
In addition to its biodiversity rankings, tourism continues to emerge as a major economic driver. In 2025, Colombia generated more than US$11.2 billion in tourism revenue and received more than 22 million non-resident visitors between August 2022 and December 2025, with the United States as its main source market. Nature-based experiences, from birdwatching and wildlife observation to whale watching and community-based tourism, are increasingly driving visitor demand.
“As travelers around the world seek meaningful and sustainable experiences, Colombia stands out as a destination where biodiversity, conservation and community-based tourism come together to define the future of travel,” Caballero concluded.
