French Guiana Amazonian Park

National Park · France

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Photo © Melanie Dinane

Photo © Melanie Dinane — CC BY-SA 4.0 — Source: Wikimedia Commons

Where the Maroni River cuts through French Guiana's interior, dense tropical rainforest blankets the landscape in an overwhelming tapestry of green, punctuated by emergent canopy giants and winding waterways that define the ecological heartbeat of this Amazonian national park. The Am climate classification—monsoonal, with high annual rainfall distributed year-round and minimal dry season—sustains one of Earth's most biodiverse terrestrial ecosystems. Soils remain consistently moist, vegetation thrives in multiple strata from forest floor to emergent layer, and water availability drives a complex web of interdependencies among forest inhabitants. Arboreal mammals navigate the canopy highways; ground-dwelling species exploit the leaf litter and understory; birds of prey hunt along forest edges and river corridors; wading birds and fish-eating species exploit the abundant aquatic habitats; and amphibians thrive in the humid understory and seasonal pools. The park's remoteness and protection preserve intact habitat that few places on Earth can match, making it a living laboratory of Amazonian ecology where ecological processes unfold largely free from human interference.

For the wildlife traveler willing to venture into one of South America's most isolated protected areas, Maripasoula and the surrounding park offer unparalleled opportunity to witness rainforest fauna in its undisturbed element. Access requires genuine expedition planning—river transport, local guides, and multi-day commitments are non-negotiable—but the reward is immersion in a landscape where wildlife encounters are frequent and authentic. The monsoonal rainfall patterns mean that water levels fluctuate seasonally, creating shifting opportunities: wet season months bring heightened activity among aquatic species and increased accessibility to flooded forest habitats, while drier periods concentrate wildlife around permanent water sources and along riverbanks. Early mornings and dusk reward patient observers with the most active periods for both canopy and ground-dwelling fauna. Those equipped with binoculars and camera gear will find that the river itself functions as a natural corridor for wildlife viewing, offering sightlines into habitat that would remain inaccessible on foot. This is uncompromising wilderness travel, demanded by a landscape that yields its secrets only to those prepared to meet it on its own terms.

Penelope marail

Black-eared Fairy

Heliothryx auritus

Fiery-tailed Awlbill

Avocettula recurvirostris

Grey-breasted Sabrewing

Campylopterus largipennis

Pearly-breasted Cuckoo

Coccyzus euleri

Grey-winged Trumpeter

Psophia crepitans

Western Cattle Egret

Swallow-tailed Kite

Elanoides forficatus

Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle

Spizaetus melanoleucus

Ornate Hawk-Eagle

Spizaetus ornatus

Double-toothed Kite

Harpagus bidentatus

Pseudastur albicollis

Amazonian Pygmy Owl

Glaucidium hardyi

Foothill Screech Owl

Megascops roraimae

Collared Trogon

Trogon collaris

Brachygalba lugubris

Yellow-billed Jacamar

Galbula albirostris

Guianan Puffbird

Notharchus macrorhynchos

Spotted Puffbird

Black-necked Aracari

Pteroglossus aracari

Golden-collared Woodpecker

Veniliornis cassini

Golden-olive Woodpecker

Colaptes rubiginosus

Cream-colored Woodpecker

Red-necked Woodpecker

Campephilus rubricollis

Orange-winged Amazon

Amazona amazonica

Blue-and-yellow Macaw

Black-banded Woodcreeper

Dendrocolaptes picumnus

Chestnut-rumped Woodcreeper

Xiphorhynchus pardalotus

Rufous-tailed Xenops

Microxenops milleri

Myrmotherula menetriesii

Band-tailed Antshrike

Thamnophilus melanothorax

Amazonian Antshrike

Thamnophilus amazonicus

Fasciated Antshrike

Cymbilaimus lineatus

Guianan Warbling Antbird

Hypocnemis cantator

Ferruginous-backed Antbird

Myrmoderus ferrugineus

Silvered Antbird

Sclateria naevia

Spot-winged Antbird

Myrmelastes leucostigma

White-browed Antbird

Myrmoborus leucophrys

Black-headed Antbird

Percnostola rufifrons

Wing-barred Piprites

Piprites chloris

Myiopagis gaimardii

Ringed Antpipit

Corythopis torquatus

Eastern Olivaceous Flatbill

Rhynchocyclus olivaceus

Cliff Flycatcher

Hirundinea ferruginea

Guianan Cock-of-the-rock

Rupicola rupicola

Purple-throated Fruitcrow

Querula purpurata

Lipaugus vociferans

White-throated Manakin

Corapipo gutturalis

White-fronted Manakin

Lepidothrix serena

White-bearded Manakin

Manacus manacus

Golden-headed Manakin

Ceratopipra erythrocephala

Black-tailed Tityra

Cinereous Mourner

Laniocera hypopyrra

Rufous-browed Peppershrike

Cyclarhis gujanensis

White-winged Swallow

Tachycineta albiventer

Cyphorhinus arada

Turdus fumigatus

Rufous-collared Sparrow

Zonotrichia capensis

Red-billed Pied Tanager

Lamprospiza melanoleuca

Rose-breasted Chat

Granatellus pelzelni

Green Honeycreeper

Chlorophanes spiza

Swallow Tanager

Tersina viridis

Purple Honeycreeper

Cyanerpes caeruleus

Red-legged Honeycreeper

Cyanerpes cyaneus

Coereba flaveola

Fulvous-crested Tanager

Tachyphonus surinamus

Wing-barred Seedeater

Sporophila americana

Chestnut-bellied Seed Finch

Sporophila angolensis

Blue-gray Tanager

Thraupis episcopus

Bay-headed Tanager

Cairina moschata

White-winged Potoo

Nyctibius leucopterus

Rufous-breasted Hermit

Glaucis hirsutus

Phaethornis longuemareus

Straight-billed Hermit

Phaethornis bourcieri

Long-tailed Hermit

Phaethornis superciliosus

Tufted Coquette

Lophornis ornatus

Black-bellied Cuckoo

Piaya melanogaster

Patagioenas speciosa

Russet-crowned Crake

Rufirallus viridis

Grey-breasted Crake

Laterallus exilis

Spotted Sandpiper

Actitis macularius

Pandion haliaetus

Microspizias superciliosus

Black-faced Hawk

Leucopternis melanops

Tawny-bellied Screech Owl

Megascops watsonii

Pulsatrix perspicillata

Black-banded Owl

Black-tailed Trogon

Trogon melanurus

Trogon violaceus

Amazonian Black-throated Trogon

Green-and-rufous Kingfisher

Chloroceryle inda

Amazonian Motmot

Galbula leucogastra

Paradise Jacamar

Jacamerops aureus

Notharchus tectus

Black-spotted Barbet

Channel-billed Toucan

Ramphastos vitellinus

Pteroglossus viridis

Guianan Toucanet

Selenidera piperivora

Golden-spangled Piculet

Picumnus exilis

Yellow-tufted Woodpecker

Melanerpes cruentatus

Yellow-throated Woodpecker

Piculus flavigula

Golden-green Woodpecker

Piculus chrysochloros

Variable Woodpecker

Chestnut Woodpecker

Ringed Woodpecker

Celeus torquatus

Lineated Woodpecker

Dryocopus lineatus

Crimson-crested Woodpecker

Campephilus melanoleucos

Barred Forest Falcon

Micrastur ruficollis

Lined Forest Falcon

Micrastur gilvicollis

Collared Forest Falcon

Micrastur semitorquatus

Lilac-tailed Parrotlet

Touit batavicus

Sapphire-rumped Parrotlet

Touit purpuratus

Golden-winged Parakeet

Brotogeris chrysoptera

Blue-headed Parrot

Pionus menstruus

Blue-cheeked Amazon

Amazona dufresniana

Amazona farinosa

Black-headed Parrot

Pionites melanocephalus

Deroptyus accipitrinus

Painted Parakeet

Chestnut-fronted Macaw

Red-and-green Macaw

Ara chloropterus

White-eyed Parakeet

Psittacara leucophthalmus

Short-billed Leaftosser

Sclerurus rufigularis

Black-tailed Leaftosser

Sclerurus caudacutus

Plain-brown Woodcreeper

Dendrocincla fuliginosa

Cinnamon-throated Woodcreeper

Dendrexetastes rufigula

Amazonian Barred Woodcreeper

Dendrocolaptes certhia

Striped Woodcreeper

Xiphorhynchus obsoletus

Buff-throated Woodcreeper

Xiphorhynchus guttatus

Guianan Woodcreeper

Lepidocolaptes albolineatus

Amazonian Plain Xenops

Xenops genibarbis

Atlantic Plain Xenops

Ruddy Foliage-gleaner

Clibanornis rubiginosus

Ochre-throated Foliage-gleaner

Automolus ochrolaemus

Olive-backed Foliage-gleaner

Automolus infuscatus

Plain-crowned Spinetail

Synallaxis gujanensis

McConnell's Spinetail

Synallaxis macconnelli

Pale-breasted Spinetail

Synallaxis albescens

Wing-banded Antbird

Myrmornis torquata

Dot-winged Antwren

Microrhopias quixensis

Brown-bellied Stipplethroat

Epinecrophylla gutturalis

Black-throated Antbird

Myrmophylax atrothorax

Myrmotherula brachyura

Guianan Streaked Antwren

Myrmotherula surinamensis

White-flanked Antwren

Myrmotherula axillaris

Long-winged Antwren

Myrmotherula longipennis

Rufous-bellied Antwren

Isleria guttata

Dusky-throated Antshrike

Thamnomanes ardesiacus

Cinereous Antshrike

Thamnomanes caesius

Barred Antshrike

Thamnophilus doliatus

Mouse-colored Antshrike

Thamnophilus murinus

Northern Slaty Antshrike

Thamnophilus punctatus

Great Antshrike

Common Scale-backed Antbird

Willisornis poecilinotus

Blackish Antbird

Cercomacroides nigrescens

Cercomacroides tyrannina

Cercomacra cinerascens

Black-chinned Antbird

Hypocnemoides melanopogon

Spot-backed Antbird

Hylophylax naevius

Rufous-capped Antthrush

Formicarius colma

Black-faced Antthrush

Formicarius analis

Variegated Antpitta

Grallaria varia

Yellow-crowned Tyrannulet

Tyrannulus elatus

Yellow-bellied Elaenia

Elaenia flavogaster

White-lored Tyrannulet

Ornithion inerme

Southern Beardless Tyrannulet

Camptostoma obsoletum

Slender-footed Tyrannulet

Zimmerius gracilipes

Guianan Tyrannulet

Ochre-bellied Flycatcher

Mionectes oleagineus

McConnell's Flycatcher

Mionectes macconnelli

Sepia-capped Flycatcher

Leptopogon amaurocephalus

Boat-billed Tody-Tyrant

Hemitriccus josephinae

White-eyed Tody-Tyrant

Hemitriccus zosterops

Short-tailed Pygmy Tyrant

Myiornis ecaudatus

Double-banded Pygmy Tyrant

Lophotriccus vitiosus

Helmeted Pygmy Tyrant

Lophotriccus galeatus

Smoky-fronted Tody-Flycatcher

Poecilotriccus fumifrons

Common Tody-Flycatcher

Todirostrum cinereum

Painted Tody-Flycatcher

Todirostrum pictum

Yellow-olive Flatbill

Tolmomyias sulphurescens

Yellow-margined Flatbill

Tolmomyias assimilis

Grey-crowned Flatbill

Tolmomyias poliocephalus

Golden-crowned Spadebill

Platyrinchus coronatus

White-crested Spadebill

Platyrinchus platyrhynchos

Euler's Flycatcher

Lathrotriccus euleri

Long-tailed Tyrant

Colonia colonus

Piratic Flycatcher

Legatus leucophaius

Social Flycatcher

Myiozetetes similis

Dusky-chested Flycatcher

Myiozetetes luteiventris

Streaked Flycatcher

Myiodynastes maculatus

Boat-billed Flycatcher

Megarynchus pitangua

Sulphury Flycatcher

Tyrannopsis sulphurea

Variegated Flycatcher

Empidonomus varius

Greyish Mourner

Rhytipterna simplex

Sibilant Sirystes

Sirystes sibilator

Dusky-capped Flycatcher

Myiarchus tuberculifer

Short-crested Flycatcher

Myiarchus ferox

Rufous-tailed Flatbill

Ramphotrigon ruficauda

Cinnamon Attila

Attila cinnamomeus

Bright-rumped Attila

Attila spadiceus

Guianan Red Cotinga

Phoenicircus carnifex

Crimson Fruitcrow

Haematoderus militaris

Perissocephalus tricolor

Spangled Cotinga

Purple-breasted Cotinga

Cotinga cotinga

Pompadour Cotinga

Xipholena punicea

Tiny Tyrant-Manakin

Tyranneutes virescens

White-crowned Manakin

Pseudopipra pipra

Guianan Schiffornis

Schiffornis olivacea

Brown-winged Schiffornis

Schiffornis turdina

Green-backed Becard

Pachyramphus viridis

Cinereous Becard

Pachyramphus rufus

Black-capped Becard

Pachyramphus marginatus

Pink-throated Becard

Pachyramphus minor

Oxyruncus cristatus

Tropical Royal Flycatcher

Onychorhynchus coronatus

Whiskered Myiobius

Myiobius barbatus

Ruddy-tailed Flycatcher

Terenotriccus erythrurus

Slaty-capped Shrike-Vireo

Vireolanius leucotis

Lemon-chested Greenlet

Hylophilus thoracicus

Ochre-crowned Greenlet

Tunchiornis ochraceiceps

Buff-cheeked Greenlet

Pachysylvia muscicapina

Vireo olivaceus

Cyanocorax cayanus

Brown-chested Martin

Grey-breasted Martin

Progne chalybea

White-banded Swallow

Atticora fasciata

Black-collared Swallow

Pygochelidon melanoleuca

Pheugopedius coraya

Buff-breasted Wren

Cantorchilus leucotis

Southern House Wren

Troglodytes musculus

White-breasted Wood Wren

Henicorhina leucosticta

Wing-banded Wren

Microcerculus bambla

Trilling Gnatwren

Ramphocaenus melanurus

Tropical Gnatcatcher

Polioptila plumbea

Rusty-flanked Thrush

Turdus albicollis

White-lored Euphonia

Euphonia chrysopasta

White-vented Euphonia

Euphonia minuta

Pectoral Sparrow

Arremon taciturnus

Crested Oropendola

Psarocolius decumanus

Green Oropendola

Psarocolius viridis

Yellow-rumped Cacique

Red-rumped Cacique

Cacicus haemorrhous

Icterus cayanensis

Molothrus oryzivorus

Tropical Parula

Setophaga pitiayumi

Riverbank Warbler

Myiothlypis rivularis

Yellow-green Grosbeak

Caryothraustes canadensis

Amazonian Grosbeak

Cyanoloxia rothschildii

Blue-backed Tanager

Cyanicterus cyanicterus

Yellow-backed Tanager

Hemithraupis flavicollis

Hemithraupis guira

Black-faced Dacnis

Buff-throated Saltator

Saltator maximus

Blue-black Grassquit

Volatinia jacarina

White-shouldered Tanager

Loriotus luctuosus

Red-shouldered Tanager

Tachyphonus phoenicius

Fulvous Shrike-Tanager

Silver-beaked Tanager

Ramphocelus carbo

Lined Seedeater

Sporophila lineola

Chestnut-bellied Seedeater

Sporophila castaneiventris

Spotted Tanager

Ixothraupis punctata

Thraupis palmarum

Turquoise Tanager

Tangara mexicana

Paradise Tanager

Tangara chilensis

Southern Tamandua

Tamandua tetradactyla

Guianan Red Howler

Alouatta macconnelli

White-faced Saki

Pithecia pithecia

Greater Capybara

Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris

Guianan Squirrel

Sciurus aestuans

White-throated Round-eared Bat

Lophostoma silvicola

Little Big-eyed Bat

Chiroderma trinitatum

Northwestern Red Brocket

Mazama americana

Chironectes minimus

Guianan White-eared Opossum

Didelphis imperfecta

Gray Four-eyed Opossum

Philander opossum

Northeastern Woolly Mouse Opossum

Marmosa demerarae

Giant Armadillo

Priodontes maximus

Pale-throated Three-toed Sloth

Bradypus tridactylus

Linnaeus's Two-toed Sloth

Choloepus didactylus

Red-faced Black Spider Monkey

Ateles paniscus

Weeper Capuchin

Cebus olivaceus

Guianan Squirrel Monkey

Saimiri sciureus

Rio Negro Bearded Saki

Chiropotes chiropotes

Common Red-rumped Agouti

Dasyprocta leporina

Myoprocta acouchy

Yellow Quill-tipped Porcupine

Coendou prehensilis

Neotropical Pygmy Squirrel

Sciurillus pusillus

Chestnut Sac-winged Bat

Cormura brevirostris

Greater Dog-like Bat

Peropteryx kappleri

Lesser Dog-like Bat

Peropteryx macrotis

Greater Sac-winged Bat

Saccopteryx bilineata

Lesser Sac-winged Bat

Saccopteryx leptura

Seba's Short-tailed Bat

Carollia perspicillata

Niceforo's Big-eared Bat

Trinycteris nicefori

Common Fringe-lipped Bat

Trachops cirrhosus

Lesser Spear-nosed Bat

Phyllostomus elongatus

Dwarf Little Fruit Bat

Rhinophylla pumilio

Great Fruit-eating Bat

Artibeus lituratus

Dark Fruit-eating Bat

Artibeus obscurus

Flat-faced Fruit-eating Bat

Artibeus planirostris

Hairy Big-eyed Bat

Chiroderma villosum

Common Tent-making Bat

Uroderma bilobatum

Caracciolo's Stripe-faced Bat

Vampyrodes caraccioli

Common Black Mastiff Bat

Pteronura brasiliensis

South American Coati

White-lipped Peccary

Tilda's Yellow-shouldered Bat

Sturnira tildae

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