Birds of Latin America – Colouring Page

Birdwatching in Latin America is an activity that even the most half-hearted nature lover is guaranteed to enjoy. Birds in this part of the world are renowned for their bright colours and elaborate plumage, and a sighting of some of the region’s beautiful birds is likely to be a highlight of any trip.

Toucans

Male and female toucans have an elaborate courtship ritual, where they throw berries to each other and catch them in their bills.

Quetzals

A quetzal’s diet is made up of fruits, insects and even small frogs.  It is a sacred symbol in both the Aztec and Maya cultures, and while the quetzal is most commonly seen in Costa Rica it is also the national bird of Guatemala, where its name has been adopted for the main unit of currency.

Macaws

For many centuries macaws have been hunted for their bright feathers, which are considered very important in indigenous tribal cultures.

Hummingbirds

One of the most easily-spotted of Latin American birds, these delightful little creatures are often seen around flowers, feeding continuously on nectar, along with any spiders or insects that might come their way. They appear to be in almost constant motion and with a heart rate of over 1000 beats per minute and the fastest wings of any birds in the world, it’s not surprising that around 30% of their body weight is made up of muscles in and close to their wings.

Hummingbirds can move their wings independently in a full circle, a trait which allows them to fly backwards, sideways, up and down, or even to hover in the same spot.

Hoatzin