Birds of the Coastlands
The mouth of the Essequibo River, some twenty-three miles wide, divides Guyana's coastlands into two distinct regions. To the west are the mangrove and coastal forest habitats, which largely exist in their wild state and support a mixture of forest and seashore species, such as the Scarlet Ibis. The eastern coastlands consist mostly of populated areas and farmlands used for the cultivation of rice and sugar. The highlight of any bird watching expedition to this area is observing the rare Hoatzin in its natural habitat. The national bird of Guyana, the Hoatzin has characteristics that hint at the reptilian ancestry of birds. The pastoral habitats of the cultivated areas are also teeming with birdlife. In addition to the Ibises, Egrets, Herons, Gulls and other species of the seashore, these cultivated areas play host to Hawks, Tanagers, Flycatchers, Finches, Blackbirds and Orioles.
The capital city of Georgetown is home to more than two hundred species such as Blood Coloured Woodpeckers, Peregrine Falcons, and Snail Kites, as well as several species of Tanagers, Parrots and Hummingbirds.
