I am not much of a bird fanatic, but I do like to identify what is commonly found in the area. I grew up in California, and many of the local Chilean birds are similar to those in California. Chile is a country with little specification - that is, for its size, there are very few species of flora and fauna. Thus the number of different birds is remarkably small, especially if you are from Europe or North America.
Books
The classic book in English on Chilean birds is "The Birds of Chile and adjacent regions of Argentina, Bolivia, and Peru" by A.W. Johnson (Platt: Buenos Aires). This book is a masterpiece but unfortunately, long out of print. It comes with 3 supplements. It was also published in Spanish. Johnson was an expat here in Chile who traveled all across the country as part of his mining business. He kept notes on what he saw, and even made up silly names for the birds until he could find out their real name. He discovered a new species of flamingo, which is named after him. The two main volumes have lovely color plates of some of the birds.
There is an marvellous field guide to the birds now available in Chile, and is in Spanish. It is called "Guia de Campo de las Aves de Chile" (1986, Editorial Universitaria: Santiago) by B. Araya M., G. Millie H., and M. Bernal M. This book is a real masterpiece also, and the line drawings by Bernal are truly excellent. You can buy it in most major bookstores in Chile. If you are going to try to identify birds here locally, you should buy this book. The thumbnail on the previous page was taken from the book.
In what follows, I will give a list of the most common birds you will see in the area.
Recinto:
Zorzal (Turdus falcklandii)- This looks just like an American Robin but without a rust colored breast. You will see this all over the Recinto, running around the grass, looking for bugs and worms. In spring, at dawn and sunset for about 20 minutes, the Zorzal can be found in the trees singing with a beautiful melodic voice.
Chercán (Troglodytes aedon)- This is the same as the North American House Wren. You can here it buzzing and chirping in the bushes. This is a very common bird, and much more common than in the US.
Chinchol (Zonotrichia capensis) - The much beloved Chilean Sparrow, which is similar to the White Crowned Sparrow in the US, except this sparrow is smaller and has a very noticeable peaked crest. There are many folk songs and poems that mention this common bird, which seems to not be bothered by human presence.
Tiuque (Milvago Chimango) - This is the large hawk-like bird that can be seen flying overhead, making a rather annoying screeching call. It is a "Carrion Hawk" and is not too particular in what it eats. You may also see it hopping around on the grass, up to some Tiuque trick or something. It has falcon-like wings rather than broad wings like a Buteo (Red-Winged Hawk in the US). I have seen it bother cats.
Picaflor (Sephanoides galeritus) - The common hummingbird in the Recinto. "Picaflor" means hummingbird in Spanish. This is the only small hummingbird in the area. It loves the fuschias that grow around the Recinto. The red tree fuschias is actually a native to Chile and the hummingbird is the natural pollenator. We have a small fuschia that grows wild on the coast that is also a favorite of the hummingbirds. This is a year-round resident, but is more common from March-Sept. The male has a bright red cap that can only be seen at a certain angle with the sun, and only when it is uncovered.
Jote de Cabeza negra (Coragyps atratus) - The Black Vulture in the US. These sleep at night in the euacalips, and in the morning can be seen opening their wings to warm up for a fun day of eating carrion. We also have the Jote de Cabeza Colorada (Cathartes Aura) or Turkey Vulture, but most of the Jotes I see are the black types.
Tórtola (Zenaida auriculata) - The common Chilean dove, much like a Mourning Dove in the US. Almost always seen as mating pairs. Very common at the edges of the grass.
Less common birds:
Perdiz Chilena (Nothoprocta perdicaria) - This looks like the Lesser Prairie Chicken in the US. This is a common grouse that lives in the Quebrada (dry wash) but you almost have to step on it before it flushes with a heart-stopping wailing cackle.
Codorniz (Callipepla californica) - Yep. The common California Quail with the stupid head feather sticking straight up. This was imported to Chile for hunting purposes. We have more than 100 in the quebrada.
Queltehue (Vanellus chilensis) - This is like a Plover in the US but humongous size (36cm). I have never seen one land here in the Recinto, but they often fly over at a 100ft or so making a huge racket. If you see some really loud birds way up in the air, sort of diving at each other, you have seen the queltehue. These are common birds in the agricultural fields where they make good "watch birds" because they begin to cackle at the slightest sound during the night. Only parrots are louder.
Gaviota dominicana (Larus dominicanus) - The Chilean seagull, which is a dead ringer for a Western Gull in the US. If you see a seagull wheeling overhead due to a change in the weather, it is the Dominican Gull.
Torcaza (Columba aracana) - This is a beautiful large pigeon, with a wine red breast. I have seen these in October in the trees. These are very rare because they have been overhunted. A memorably beautiful bird.
Lechuza (Tyto alba) - The common Barn Owl of the US. I think I have seen this one a few times on the Recinto, but it is hard to tell at dusk. Chile also has the Tucuquere (Bubo virginianus) or the Great Horned Owl but I have not seen one yet. Farmers tend to leave poisoned bait against rodents which I think kills the Buhos (owls, in Chilean).
Picaflor gigante (Patagona gigas) - A real oxymoron is the Giant Hummingbird. It is so large it cannot really hover steadily. It is up to 24cm long, and migrates through the Recinto in Sept-Nov. Sometimes you can see it at other times of the year. It is HUGE. It has a very unusual whistle which is a single piercing note which lasts a second or two. It loves to hang around the eucalips when they are in flower, or around the fuschia bushes.
Rayadito (Aphrastura spinacauda) - A small (14cm) bird with a noticeable black and white striped head and a forked tail, which hangs out in the native trees, flitting around, sometimes hanging upside-down. We are at its northern limit. A very small bird. Not to be confused with the next one, the Tijeral .
Tijeral (Leptasthenura aegithaloides) - Another very beloved bird of Chilean folklore. This is a very small bird with a black and white striped head, but with a tail as long as the rest of its body. The tail is long, thin, and rather ratty looking with only a few feathers. It makes a very quite, sweet twittering sound in the bushes, and is often seen hunting seeds.
Fio-Fio (Elaenia albiceps) - A small grey and drab-green bird . It has a white crest, whitish breast, and vaguely yellowish stripes on the wing. I have never seen this bird here, but others have. It is very noticeable by its call, which sounds just like its name.
Cachudito (Anairetes parulus) - A rather common, but hard to see bird. It is the smallest bush bird you will see here (11cm). It has a funny crest, with very small separated black feathers sticking straight up, sort of a bird equivalent of a "bad hair" day. It has a whitish breast spreakled with black dots. I often see this bird in the bushes outside my office window.
Tenca (Mimus thenca) - The Chilean Mockingbird. This is a very common bird in the fields but not too common in the Recinto. Looks just like the Mockingbird in the US. Likes to sit on the very top of a bush or tree. It has the usual Mockingbird call. I have never gotten it to imitate my whistle yet, though.
Tordo (Curaeus cuareus) - A unique Chilean bird. It looks like a Common Blackbird, but it has a thinner beak. It is usually heard before it is seen because it has such a loud and beautiful song. It is so loud I can hear it from my office. It is not common, but there is no mistaking it when you see or hear it.
Cometocino de Gay (Phrygilus gayi) - The Grey Headed Sierra Finch. This looks just like a Grey-Headed Junko of the western US. It is not common in the Recinto, but very common in fields. The name means "Eater of bacon".
Diuca (Diuca Diuca) - Another very typical Chilean bird. It is a Diuca finch, and it looks like a grey finch, with a very white breast under its beak.
Jilguero (Carduelis barbatus) - The Chilean Goldfinch. This is a typical looking goldfinch of the green yellow variety. The male is sort of yellow on the wings and olivaceous on the wings. The female is green/grey. Migrates through in March.
Gorrión (Passer domesticus) - The dreaded House sparrow imported from Europe or the US. It looks like a Chinchol but with no crest.
Around La Serena and the Elqui Valley:
I am not going to list all the birds you can see. Buy the Guia listed above. But here are a few tips. A good place to see unusual birds is at Punto Teatinos, which is at the north end of the beach at La Serena (about 10km north of the city). There is a saltwater lagoon which is a good place to see migratory birds. The port at Coquimbo is also a good place to see some birds too. There are tourist boats which will take you out beyond the point, where you can see penguins and albatross.
Pingüino de Magallanes (Spheniscus magellanicus) - The Magellanic Penguin. This penguin lives along the cold Humbolt current. If you take the boat trips from Coquimbo (about 1 hour) which take you out to the rocks off of the port, you may see these roosting on the rocks. They can also be seen if you go up to Punto Los Choros (about 2h N of La Serena) and take the boat trip to Islas Damas to see the dolphins. I have also seen a few swimming near the Caleta (wharf) at Tongoy.
Piquero (Sula variegata) - The grey-footed Booby. This is the spectacular diving bird you can see if you walk on the beach. It is related to the famous Blue-footed Booby of the Galapogas Islands to the north. They are fun to watch.
Fardela (?) - There is some type of Shearwater that swarms in thousands and thousands of birds. It could be the Sooty Shearwater, but I have never seen one up close.
Pelicano (Pelecanus thagus) - The Chilean Pelican. This is a bird which you will see commonly at the wharf in Coquimbo. The fishermen let them sit in the boats - it is bad luck to kill or injure one.
Cisne de cuello negro (Cygnus melancoryphus) - The Black-necked Swan. This is a beautiful white swan with a black neck. I have seen this a few times at Teatinos.
Pato jergón grande (Anas georgica) - Chilean Pintail. I have seen this at Teatinos in May.
Bailarín (Elanus leucurus) - The White-Tailed Kite of the US. Pretty common in the Elqui Valley.
Tagua (Fulica armillata) - The Red Gartered Coot. The common coot seen everywhere.
Pilpilén (Haematopus palliatus) - The American Oystercatcher, with a black head and white belly. It is common near rocks on the beach. There is also a totally black version - the Pilpilén Negro, which is also common.
Rayador (Rynchops niger) - The Black Skimmer. This is a totally cool bird you can see at Teatinos. It is seagull sized and mostly black on top and white underneath. The beak is bright red. It flies in flocks just over the water. It drops its lower jaw and skims the surface of the water as it flies. It is amazing to watch!
Churrete costero (Cinclodes nigrofumosus) - This is a bird vaguely related to a Dipper in the US. It is the size of a large sparrow, and is sort of the usual brown black uninteresting bird that is common. It is has a black eye stripe. You can see it next to the still water at Teatinos, running back and forth, wading out into the water to get some tasty bug. It also runs up to the waves and then back again, eating sand fleas.
Siete-colores (Tachuris rubrigastra) - The "Seven-Colored Warbler" although it is not really a warbler. One of the most beautiful birds in Chile. A small warbler-like birds which has obvious red, yellow, white and black markings. Unmistakable. Lives in the reeds at the mouth of the Elqui River and at Teatinos.
Loica (Sturnella loyca) - The Chilean Meadowlark. Just like the Western Meadowlark in the US, except it has a bright orange breast. Common in the Elqui Valley.
Colegial (Lessonia Rufa) - The Rufous Backed Negrito. A sparrow like bird you will see in pairs on the beach picking around the seaweed. The male is black with a very noticable rufuous back. It is called "colegial" because it has a "backpack" just like Chilean schoolchildren who are going off to "colegio" or school. The female is gray with a white breast. Always seen in mating pairs.