Colombia Wins Global Big Day With 1,566 Bird Species for 5th Straight Year
Updated
Updated · Colombia One · May 17
Colombia Wins Global Big Day With 1,566 Bird Species for 5th Straight Year
2 articles · Updated · Colombia One · May 17
Colombia logged 1,566 bird species on May 9 to top the 2026 Global Big Day, beating Peru’s 1,438 and extending its winning streak to five years.
More than 4,200 observers submitted nearly 15,000 checklists through Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s eBird platform, driving the country’s leading count in the global citizen-science event.
Meta led Colombia with 714 species for a third straight year, while Caldas set a departmental record at 594; Antioquia, Valle del Cauca, Putumayo and Cundinamarca also ranked among the busiest regions.
About 1,954 bird species live in Colombia—the world’s highest total—including 82 endemic and 158 migratory species, reinforcing its appeal for birdwatching tourism and conservation-focused rural economies.
How did Colombia transform its former conflict zones into the world's top birdwatching destinations?
As tourism booms in its newly opened wildlands, can Colombia protect its rare birds from being loved to death?
Colombia’s Fifth Global Big Day Victory: Biodiversity, Conservation Strategy, and the Rise of Avitourism
Overview
Colombia celebrated its fifth consecutive victory in the Global Big Day on May 9, 2026, highlighting its unparalleled natural heritage and strong commitment to biodiversity conservation. This achievement confirms Colombia’s status as a global benchmark for biodiversity and nature tourism, while also cementing its international image as a premier destination for birdwatching enthusiasts. Birdwatching not only showcases Colombia’s extraordinary ecosystems but also fosters sustainable regional development. Together, these factors demonstrate how Colombia’s rich avian diversity and conservation efforts drive both ecological leadership and economic growth through nature tourism.