Birdwatching is the main draw in Uruguay. People visit to see a wide variety of birds across the country’s many wetlands, shores, and grasslands. Key points:

• Uruguay is renowned for its birdlife, with hundreds of species recorded in places like Rocha’s Laguna de Castillos and other protected wetlands. This makes it a top destination for birdwatchers seeking diverse avifauna in a compact travel footprint.

• The country hosts a mix of waterfowl, shorebirds, and passerines, including species that are notable for birding tours and guided experiences around Montevideo, Punta del Este, Colonia, and western riverine reserves.

• For visitors focused on birds, Uruguay offers reliable hotspots such as the Laguna de Castillos Wildlife Refuge and the Santa Lucía Wetlands, among others, where a broad spectrum of species can be observed in a relatively short trip.

Answer to your options:

• birds: Yes. Birds are the primary animal focus for visitors coming to Uruguay to watch wildlife. The country is well known for its diverse avifauna and birding opportunities.

• gazelles: No. Gazelles are not native to Uruguay and are not a focal point of wildlife watching here.

• elephants: No. Elephants are not part of Uruguay’s natural wildlife and are not a typical birding target in the region.

• wildebeests: No. Wildebeests do not occur in Uruguay; birding discussions in Uruguay focus on local bird species rather than savanna ungulates.

If you’d like, I can tailor a short birdwatching plan for a specific city or region in Uruguay, with top species to look for and the best times of year to visit.