ProColombia’s 2026 Global Big Day result reinforces Colombia’s positioning as a destination where citizen science, conservation and nature travel intersect.
ProColombia (PROCOLOMBIA), Colombia’s tourism and investment promotion agency, said the country topped the 2026 Global Big Day after more than 1,560 bird species were recorded there in a single day. The event, organised by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, brought together birdwatchers, scientists, local communities and nature enthusiasts documenting species in real time. The result matters beyond the annual count because it gives Colombia a highly visible platform for presenting biodiversity as part of its international tourism offer.
Held each May, Global Big Day operates as a worldwide citizen-science initiative focused on biodiversity conservation. Participants from countries including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, India, Kenya and Australia contribute observations, creating a shared snapshot of birdlife across different habitats. Colombia’s performance placed it ahead of Peru, Brazil and Ecuador, according to ProColombia, while extending a run of strong results in an event the country has topped in most editions since 2017.
The agency said Colombia is home to more than 1,954 bird species, the highest number recorded worldwide, including approximately 82 endemic species and more than 150 migratory species. Its birdlife is distributed across more than 300 ecosystems, spanning the Andes, Amazon rainforest, Caribbean and Pacific coasts, savannas, deserts and snow-capped peaks. The departments of Meta, Cundinamarca, Valle del Cauca, Antioquia and Caldas recorded the highest number of observations in the 2026 count, while Gorgona National Natural Park produced sightings of White-winged Parakeets, Fork-tailed Flycatchers and Brown Pelicans.
ProColombia linked the result to a broader tourism strategy that places birdwatching alongside wildlife observation, whale watching and community tourism. The agency reported that Colombia generated more than US$11.2 billion in tourism revenue in 2025 and received more than 22 million non-resident visitors between August 2022 and December 2025, with the United States identified as its leading source market. Those figures were presented alongside the bird-count result as evidence of the economic setting in which nature-based experiences are being promoted.
Carmen Caballero, ProColombia’s president, described the achievement as confirming Colombia’s status as a benchmark for biodiversity and nature tourism. She also said birdwatching can help showcase the country’s ecosystems, support sustainable regional development and attract travellers seeking responsible experiences. The announcement therefore places a scientific tally at the centre of a tourism narrative, with Colombia’s continued presence at the top of Global Big Day giving that narrative a recurring international moment.
