Can appear in areas when certain trees are fruiting, then seem to vanish when the fruit is gone

More “mouse-sized wolf” than “trash opossum”

Often forages with a stealth rhythm: creep, pause to sniff, pause to listen—then grab

Often uses its nose like a detector, “painting” the air with quick sniffs to track food it can’t see

Its fur is dense and water-resistant, which helps it stay warm and buoyant during night swims

Those big ears aren’t just for looks—they help it pick up faint sounds

50 teeth? That’s a serious set of chompers for crunching insects, fruit, or even bones!

That less-armored tail may seem like a weak spot, but it can be useful in tight tunnels

Its blue wing feathers are most vivid when the bird is flying rather than perched

One of the few macaw species whose extinction status remains uncertain

Their coloring and stillness can make them look like part of the bark rather than a living bird

Known for their deep, booming voices, which can travel long distances through dense forest

Standing on one leg isn’t just a pose—it helps them save body heat while they rest in cool, windy wetland weather

You might hear normal rainforest noise… and then suddenly BONG!

Bamboo is basically its life plan

Can be black, can be grey but it’s the same bird

Once a sky-filling spectacle—today, most of what we have are museum skins and stories

One of the very few “smelly” birds (in a good way)

One of the “shiniest” nightjars

Its speed and size make it harder for predators (and hunters) to track

One of the smallest stiff-tailed ducks in the Americas

Smell? Not so much—mostly rely on eyesight and the behavior of other vultures to find food

When the crest is up, it looks like it’s wearing a dramatic feather crown or mohawk

One of the largest raptors in the Neotropics

As it moves around, it may pollinate trees like a tiny, furry “night bee”

The bold black forehead against white feathers makes it one of the easiest guans to recognize at a glance

Symbols of open summer fields and joyful wild song

With feathers patterned like dry leaves, it can sit right in front of you and you’d still swear it wasn’t there

Its teeth are constantly replaced throughout its life, ensuring a strong bite even in old age

The prairie dogs of South America

Often described as looking like a walking coconut!

One of South America’s most secretive and specialized burrowers

The highest-living armadillo on Earth

Mixed hairy-footed one

Found all over the Americas, it is the most widespread species of all armadillos

Nimble and surprisingly fast for its size

Has a strong sense of smell for finding food underground, because a lot of its best snacks are hidden out of sight

“Screaming” is real: when frightened or handled, it can let out a surprisingly loud, high-pitched squeal for such a small animal

Often called the “ghost of the rivers”—so elusive that even seasoned researchers can go years without spotting one

Its flight is nearly soundless, thanks to specially fringed wing feathers that disrupt air turbulence

Defies the usual “creature of the night” stereotype by thriving in open landscapes and often hunting boldly in daylight

A bird that carries the rhythms of the seasons on its wings

In winter, they’re plain grey and white, but in the Arctic summer, they turn into a glowing rusty red

The spotted rabbit of the jungle—though they are rodents, not rabbits!

Their long, fleshy noses give them a comical, almost cartoonish look, especially when sniffing around for fruit

One of the most effective—and quirky—pest controllers in South America’s wild landscapes

One of the tiniest doves in the Americas

Sometimes called the “Whispering Ibis”—not because it whispers, but because it’s so quiet and elusive compared to other ibises

A bird with a voice you won’t forget

Doesn’t put its nest near the water’s edge like many of its relatives

The “giant of the swamp”

Have eyesight that is exceptionally keen—so much so that they can easily spot tiny fish swimming just beneath rippling water

One of the few parrots that thrive in open, seasonally dry habitats

Can move startlingly fast, often vanishing in a blur of motion when startled

Most famous — and misunderstood — of all vampire bats

Surprisingly aggressive for a bird with a sunny name

One of the few reptiles known to show partial warm-bloodedness (seasonal endothermy)

Known to be quite tolerant of human presence compared to other wild deer

A bird that quietly keeps the environment clean

Despite its name, it is not limited to the Amazon Basin

One of the largest hawks in the Americas

Known to freeze in place when startled, relying on camouflage rather than flight until the last moment

Known to investigate campsites, rummage through backpacks, and even figure out how to open containers

Instead of fleeing immediately when threatened, they often freeze completely still

Elegant, elusive, and finely tuned to life in waterlogged wilderness

Often called the “tiger of the sky” because of its fierce hunting skills and bold personality

They flip the script — literally!

The ghost of the rainforest — more often heard than seen

Easily recognized by its bold facial markings that resemble a pair of white spectacles

Looks more like a living vine or a character from a fantasy novel than a typical reptile

One of the most widespread and adaptable herons in the world

When most people say anaconda, they mean the green anaconda, the largest of all snakes!

Look a bit like a cross between a beaver and a rat

Both feared and respected, often appearing in traditional stories and as a symbol of danger and power

The pale patch on its throat often varies between individuals, like a natural “bib design”

The largest herbivores of the dry areas of South America

These birds ride ocean breezes for miles without flapping much at all

One of the few primates known to “tail-twine”

The smallest of falcons in the entirety of America, but you would be mistaken to take this bird lightly

Most famous for hunting around dusk, when bats start flying out to feed

They have a unique habit of storing excess food by hiding it in tree crevices, which they may return to later

One of the most dazzling waterbirds of the Americas, often described as a “swamp jewel”

While it’s one of the largest snakes in the world, it’s smaller than its green cousin

Got its name from its distinctive, boat-shaped bill, which is wider than it is tall

Loud birds with a distinct three-note whistling sound

Known for their bright plumage and lively behavior, making them some of the most recognizable birds in the tropics

This amazing creature is the largest parrot in the world and one of the most beautiful birds on Earth

With its strong, sharp beak, it’s a master at pecking holes into trees to find tasty bugs hiding inside

Unlike rabbits, they don’t live in burrows, instead, they make shallow nests in the grass called forms

Can go for a long time without drinking water because they get enough from the plants they eat

Most common and widely distributed swallow globally

Got the looks of a hawk with the scavenging habits of a vulture

Fearless defenders of their nests and chicks, often taking on much larger animals or humans if they perceive a threat

This bird is a real chatterbox, constantly announcing its presence with its loud, three-part call – “kis-ka-dee!”

They don’t build their own nests – they cleverly take over burrows abandoned by prairie dogs, ground squirrels, or even tortoises!

Its chest color is called “vinaceous” because it resembles the color of red wine