This is a list of the bird species recorded in the archipelago of
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico (; abbreviated PR; tnq, Boriken, ''Borinquen''), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ( es, link=yes, Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, lit=Free Associated State of Puerto Rico), is a Caribbean island and Unincorporated ...
, which consists of the main island of Puerto Rico, two island municipalities off the east coast (
Vieques
Vieques (; ), officially Isla de Vieques, is an island and municipality of Puerto Rico, in the northeastern Caribbean, part of an island grouping sometimes known as the Spanish Virgin Islands. Vieques is part of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, ...
and
Culebra), three uninhabited islands off the west coast (
Mona,
Monito and
Desecheo) and more than 125 smaller
cays and islands.
The avifauna of Puerto Rico included a total of 385 species as of July 2022, according to ''Bird Checklists of the World''.
Of them, 201 are
accidental, two have been
extirpated
Local extinction, also known as extirpation, refers to a species (or other taxon) of plant or animal that ceases to exist in a chosen geographic area of study, though it still exists elsewhere. Local extinctions are contrasted with global extinct ...
, and one is believed to be
extinct
Extinction is the termination of a kind of organism or of a group of kinds (taxon), usually a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and ...
. Seventeen species are
endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...
. Non-native species are common; 43 listed here were
introduced by humans. Individuals of many other species (mostly parrots, finches, and waxbills) are flying free, presumably after escaping or being released from captivity.
For example, a 2018 study on introduced
Psittacidae
The family Psittacidae or holotropical parrots is one of three families of true parrots. It comprises the roughly 10 species of subfamily Psittacinae (the Old World or Afrotropical parrots) and 157 of subfamily Arinae (the New World or Neotropic ...
on the island found at least 46 species present, of which 24% are only found in the pet trade (captivity), 48% have been observed in the wild (but are not known to be breeding), and 28% are established (naturalized) and know to have bred or are currently breeding. Around 120 species breed in Puerto Rico while the majority of the others overwinter in the archipelago.
This list is presented in the
taxonomic sequence
Taxonomic sequence (also known as systematic, phyletic or taxonomic order) is a sequence followed in listing of taxa which aids ease of use and roughly reflects the evolutionary relationships among the taxa. Taxonomic sequences can exist for taxa ...
of the ''Check-list of North and Middle American Birds'', 7th edition through the 63rd Supplement, published by the
American Ornithological Society
The American Ornithological Society (AOS) is an ornithological organization based in the United States. The society was formed in October 2016 by the merger of the American Ornithologists' Union (AOU) and the Cooper Ornithological Society. Its m ...
(AOS).
Common and scientific names are also those of the ''Check-list'', except that the common names of families are from the
Clements taxonomy
''The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World'' is a book by Jim Clements which presents a list of the bird species of the world.
The most recent printed version is the sixth edition (2007), but has been updated yearly, the last version in 2022 ...
because the AOS list does not include them.
The following tags have been used to highlight several categories of occurrence:
* (A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Puerto Rico
* (E) Endemic - a species endemic to Puerto Rico
* (Ex) Extirpated - a species that no longer occurs in Puerto Rico although populations exist elsewhere
* (I) Introduced - a species introduced to Puerto Rico as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions
Ducks, geese, and waterfowl
Order:
Anseriformes
Anseriformes is an order of birds also known as waterfowl that comprises about 180 living species of birds in three families: Anhimidae (three species of screamers), Anseranatidae (the magpie goose), and Anatidae, the largest family, which in ...
Family:
Anatidae
The Anatidae are the biological family of water birds that includes ducks, geese, and swans. The family has a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring on all the world's continents except Antarctica. These birds are adapted for swimming, floating ...
The Anatidae include the
duck
Duck is the common name for numerous species of waterfowl in the family Anatidae. Ducks are generally smaller and shorter-necked than swans and geese, which are members of the same family. Divided among several subfamilies, they are a form t ...
s and most duck-like waterfowl, such as
geese
A goose (plural, : geese) is a bird of any of several waterfowl species in the family (biology), family Anatidae. This group comprises the genera ''Anser (bird), Anser'' (the grey geese and white geese) and ''Branta'' (the black geese). Some o ...
and
swan
Swans are birds of the family (biology), family Anatidae within the genus ''Cygnus''. The swans' closest relatives include the goose, geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form t ...
s. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, bills which are flattened to a greater or lesser extent, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to special oils.
*
Black-bellied whistling-duck
The black-bellied whistling duck (''Dendrocygna autumnalis''), formerly called the black-bellied tree duck, is a whistling duck that breeds from the southernmost United States, Mexico, and tropical Central to south-central South America. In the ...
, ''Dendrocygna autumnalis'' (A)
*
West Indian whistling-duck
The West Indian whistling duck (''Dendrocygna arborea'') is a whistling duck that breeds in the Caribbean. Alternative names are black-billed whistling duck and Cuban whistling duck.
Distribution
The West Indian whistling duck is widely scatter ...
, ''Dendrocygna arborea''
*
Fulvous whistling-duck
The fulvous whistling duck or fulvous tree duck (''Dendrocygna bicolor'') is a species of whistling duck that breeds across the world's tropical regions in much of Mexico and South America, the West Indies, the southern United States, sub-Sahar ...
, ''Dendrocygna bicolor'' (A)
*
White-faced whistling-duck, ''Dendrocygna bicolor'' (Ex)
*
Snow goose
The snow goose (''Anser caerulescens'') is a species of goose native to North America. Both white and dark morphs exist, the latter often known as blue goose. Its name derives from the typically white plumage. The species was previously placed ...
, ''Anser caerulescens'' (A)
*
Brant, ''Branta bernicla'' (A)
*
Canada goose
The Canada goose (''Branta canadensis''), or Canadian goose, is a large wild goose with a black head and neck, white cheeks, white under its chin, and a brown body. It is native to the arctic and temperate regions of North America, and it is o ...
, ''Branta canadensis'' (A)
*
Tundra swan
The tundra swan (''Cygnus columbianus'') is a small swan of the Holarctic. The two taxa within it are usually regarded as conspecific, but are also sometimes split into two species: Bewick's swan (''Cygnus bewickii'') of the Palaearctic and the w ...
, ''Cygnus columbianus'' (A)
*
Wood duck
The wood duck or Carolina duck (''Aix sponsa'') is a species of perching duck found in North America. The drake wood duck is one of the most colorful North American waterfowl.
Description
The wood duck is a medium-sized perching duck. A typi ...
, ''Aix sponsa'' (A)
*
Garganey
The garganey (''Spatula querquedula'') is a small dabbling duck. It breeds in much of Europe and across the Palearctic, but is strictly migratory, with the entire population moving to southern Africa, India (in particular Santragachi), Banglades ...
''Spatula querquedula'' (A)
*
Blue-winged teal
The blue-winged teal (''Spatula discors'') is a species of bird in the duck, goose, and swan family Anatidae. One of the smaller members of the dabbling duck group, it occurs in North America, where it breeds from southern Alaska to Nova Scotia ...
, ''Spatula discors''
*
Cinnamon teal
The cinnamon teal (''Spatula cyanoptera'') is a species of duck found in western North and South America. It is a small dabbling duck, with bright reddish plumage on the male and duller brown plumage on the female. It lives in marshes and ponds, ...
, ''Spatula cyanoptera'' (A)
*
Northern shoveler
The northern shoveler (; ''Spatula clypeata''), known simply in Britain as the shoveler, is a common and widespread duck. It breeds in northern areas of Europe and across the Palearctic and across most of North America, wintering in southern Euro ...
, ''Spatula clypeata'' (A)
*
Gadwall
The gadwall (''Mareca strepera'') is a common and widespread dabbling duck in the family Anatidae.
Taxonomy
The gadwall was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his landmark 1758 10th edition of ''Systema Naturae''. DNA studies have shown that ...
, ''Mareca strepera'' (A)
*
Eurasian wigeon
The Eurasian wigeon or European wigeon (''Mareca penelope''), also known as the widgeon or the wigeon, is one of three species of wigeon in the dabbling duck genus ''Mareca''. It is common and widespread within its Palearctic range.
Taxonomy
Th ...
, ''Mareca penelope'' (A)
*
American wigeon
The American wigeon (''Mareca americana''), also known as the baldpate, is a species of dabbling duck found in North America. Formerly assigned to ''Anas'', this species is classified with the other wigeons in the dabbling duck genus ''Mareca''. ...
, ''Mareca americana'' (A)
*
Mallard
The mallard () or wild duck (''Anas platyrhynchos'') is a dabbling duck that breeds throughout the temperate and subtropical Americas, Eurasia, and North Africa, and has been introduced to New Zealand, Australia, Peru, Brazil, Uruguay, Arge ...
, ''Anas platyrhynchos'' (A)
*
American black duck
The American black duck (''Anas rubripes'') is a large dabbling duck in the family Anatidae. It was described by William Brewster in 1902. It is the heaviest species in the genus ''Anas'', weighing on average and measuring in length with an ...
, ''Anas rubripes'' (A)
*
White-cheeked pintail
The white-cheeked pintail (''Anas bahamensis''), also known as the Bahama pintail or summer duck, is a species of dabbling duck. It was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his landmark 1758 10th edition of ''Systema Naturae'' under its current ...
, ''Anas bahamensis''
*
Northern pintail
The pintail or northern pintail (''Anas acuta'') is a duck species with wide geographic distribution that breeds in the northern areas of Europe and across the Palearctic and North America. It is migratory and winters south of its breeding ra ...
, ''Anas acuta'' (A)
*
Green-winged teal
The green-winged teal (''Anas carolinensis'') is a common and widespread duck that breeds in the northern areas of North America except on the Aleutian Islands. It was considered Conspecificity, conspecific with the Eurasian teal (''A. crecca'') ...
, ''Anas crecca'' (A)
*
Canvasback
The canvasback (''Aythya valisineria'') is a species of diving duck, the largest found in North America.
Taxonomy
Scottish-American naturalist Alexander Wilson described the canvasback in 1814. The genus name is derived from Greek ''aithuia'', ...
, ''Aythya valisineria'' (A)
*
Ring-necked duck
The ring-necked duck (''Aythya collaris'') is a diving duck from North America commonly found in freshwater ponds and lakes. The scientific name is derived from Greek , an unidentified seabird mentioned by authors including Hesychius and Aristo ...
, ''Aythya collaris'' (A)
*
Tufted duck
The tufted duck or tufted pochard (''Aythya fuligula'') is a small diving duck with a population of close to one million birds, found in northern Eurasia. The scientific name is derived from Ancient Greek '' aithuia'', an unidentified seabird ment ...
, ''Aythya fuligula'' (A)
*
Lesser scaup
The lesser scaup (''Aythya affinis'') is a small North American diving duck that migrates south as far as Central America in winter. It is colloquially known as the little bluebill or broadbill because of its distinctive blue bill. The origin of ...
, ''Aythya affinis'' (A)
*
Bufflehead
The bufflehead (''Bucephala albeola'') is a small sea duck of the genus ''Bucephala'', the goldeneyes. This species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his landmark 1758 10th edition of ''Systema Naturae'' as ''Anas albeola''.
The genus na ...
, ''Bucephala albeola'' (A)
*
Hooded merganser
The hooded merganser (''Lophodytes cucullatus'') is a species of merganser. It is the only extant species in the genus ''Lophodytes''. The genus name derives from the Greek language: ''lophos'' meaning 'crest', and ''dutes'' meaning 'diver'. The ...
, ''Lophodytes cucullatus'' (A)
*
Red-breasted merganser
The red-breasted merganser (''Mergus serrator'') is a diving duck, one of the sawbills. The genus name is a Latin word used by Pliny and other Roman authors to refer to an unspecified waterbird, and ''serrator'' is a sawyer from Latin ''serra'', ...
, ''Mergus serrator'' (A)
*
Masked duck
The masked duck (''Nomonyx dominicus'') is a tiny stiff-tailed duck ranging through the tropical Americas. They are found from Mexico to South America and also in the Caribbean. Primarily not migratory, masked ducks are reported as very uncommo ...
, ''Nomonyx dominicus''
*
Ruddy duck
The ruddy duck (''Oxyura jamaicensis'') is a duck from North America and one of the stiff-tailed ducks. The genus name is derived from Ancient Greek ''oxus'', "sharp", and ''oura'', "tail", and ''jamaicensis'' is "from Jamaica".
Taxonomy
The ru ...
, ''Oxyura jamaicensis''
File:White.cheeked.pintail.750pix.jpg, White-cheeked pintail, a species which can be found on the salt flats of Vieques.
File:Anas discors0.jpg, Blue-winged teal, this non-breeding species may be found in both the north and south regions of the main island.
File:Oxyura jamaicensis FWS.jpg, Ruddy duck, this breeding species is typically found in Puerto Rico's northern coastal areas.
Guineafowl
![Guinea fowl](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/26/Guinea_fowl.jpg)
Order:
Galliformes
Galliformes is an order of heavy-bodied ground-feeding birds that includes turkeys, chickens, quail, and other landfowl. Gallinaceous birds, as they are called, are important in their ecosystems as seed dispersers and predators, and are often ...
Family:
Numididae
Guineafowl (; sometimes called "pet speckled hens" or "original fowl") are birds of the family Numididae in the order Galliformes. They are endemic to Africa and rank among the oldest of the gallinaceous birds. Phylogenetics, Phylogenetically, ...
Guineafowl
Guineafowl (; sometimes called "pet speckled hens" or "original fowl") are birds of the family Numididae in the order Galliformes. They are endemic to Africa and rank among the oldest of the gallinaceous birds. Phylogenetically, they branched o ...
s are a group of African seed-eating, ground-nesting birds resembling partridges, but with featherless heads and spangled gray plumage.
*
Helmeted guineafowl, ''Numida meleagris'' (I)
New World quail
Order:
Galliformes
Galliformes is an order of heavy-bodied ground-feeding birds that includes turkeys, chickens, quail, and other landfowl. Gallinaceous birds, as they are called, are important in their ecosystems as seed dispersers and predators, and are often ...
Family:
Odontophoridae
The New World quail are small birds only distantly related to the Old World quail, but named for their similar appearance and habits. The American species are in their own family, the Odontophoridae, whereas Old World quail are in the pheasant f ...
The
New World quail
The New World quail are small birds only distantly related to the Old World quail, but named for their similar appearance and habits. The American species are in their own family, the Odontophoridae, whereas Old World quail are in the pheasant f ...
s are small, plump terrestrial birds only distantly related to the quails of the Old World, but named for their similar appearance and habits.
*
Northern bobwhite
The northern bobwhite (''Colinus virginianus''), also known as the Virginia quail or (in its home range) bobwhite quail, is a ground-dwelling bird native to Canada, the United States, Mexico, and Cuba, with introduced populations elsewhere in th ...
, ''Colinus virginianus'' (I)
Pheasants, grouse, and allies
Order:
Galliformes
Galliformes is an order of heavy-bodied ground-feeding birds that includes turkeys, chickens, quail, and other landfowl. Gallinaceous birds, as they are called, are important in their ecosystems as seed dispersers and predators, and are often ...
Family:
Phasianidae
The Phasianidae are a family (biology), family of heavy, ground-living birds, which includes pheasants, partridges, junglefowl, chickens, Turkey bird, turkeys, Old World quail, and peafowl. The family includes many of the most popular Game (hunti ...
The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds which consists of
quail
Quail is a collective name for several genera of mid-sized birds generally placed in the order Galliformes. The collective noun for a group of quail is a flock, covey, or bevy.
Old World quail are placed in the family Phasianidae, and New Wor ...
s,
partridge
A partridge is a medium-sized Galliformes, galliform bird in any of several genera, with a wide Indigenous (ecology), native distribution throughout parts of Europe, Asia and Africa. Several species have been introduced to the Americas. They a ...
s,
snowcock
The snowcocks or snowfowl are a group of bird species in the genus ''Tetraogallus'' of the pheasant family, Phasianidae. They are ground-nesting birds that breed in the mountain ranges of southern Eurasia from the Caucasus to the Himalayas and we ...
s,
francolin
Francolins are birds in the tribe Gallini that traditionally have been placed in the genus ''Francolinus'', but now commonly are divided into multiple genera.
As previously defined, they were paraphyletic as the genus ''Pternistis'', which was ...
s,
spurfowl Spurfowl are two genera of birds:
* ''Galloperdix'', from India and Sri Lanka
* ''Pternistis
''Pternistis'' is a genus of galliform birds formerly classified in the spurfowl group of the Perdicinae, partridge subfamily of the Phasianidae, phea ...
s,
tragopan
''Tragopan'' is a bird genus in the pheasant family Phasianidae. Member of the genus are commonly called "horned pheasants" because males have two brightly colored, fleshy horns on their head that can be erected during courtship displays. The ha ...
s,
monal
A monal is a bird of genus ''Lophophorus'' of the pheasant family, Phasianidae. Description
The males all have colorful, iridescent plumage. Their physique is rather plump. Their diet consists of plants such as roots and bulbs and insects. D ...
s,
pheasant
Pheasants ( ) are birds of several genera within the family (biology), family Phasianidae in the order (biology), order Galliformes. Although they can be found all over the world in introduced (and captive) populations, the pheasant genera na ...
s,
peafowl
Peafowl is a common name for three bird species in the genera '' Pavo'' and ''Afropavo'' within the tribe Pavonini of the family Phasianidae, the pheasants and their allies. Male peafowl are referred to as peacocks, and female peafowl are refe ...
s, and
jungle fowl
Junglefowl are the only four living species of bird from the genus ''Gallus'' in the bird order Galliformes, and occur in parts of South and Southeast Asia. They diverged from their common ancestor about 4–6 million years ago.
Although origin ...
s. In general, they are plump (although they vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings.
*
Red junglefowl
The red junglefowl (''Gallus gallus'') is a tropical bird in the family Phasianidae. It ranges across much of Southeast Asia and parts of South Asia. It was formerly known as the Bankiva or Bankiva Fowl. It is the species that gave rise to the ...
, ''Gallus gallus'' (I)
Flamingos
Order:
Phoenicopteriformes
Phoenicopteriformes is a group of water birds which comprises flamingos and their extinct relatives. Flamingos (Phoenicopteriformes) and the closely related grebes ( Podicipedidae) are contained in the parent clade Mirandornithes.
Fossil rec ...
Family:
Phoenicopteridae
Flamingos or flamingoes are a type of wading bird in the family Phoenicopteridae, which is the only extant family in the order Phoenicopteriformes. There are four flamingo species distributed throughout the Americas (including the Caribbean) ...
Flamingo
Flamingos or flamingoes are a type of Wader, wading bird in the Family (biology), family Phoenicopteridae, which is the only extant family in the order Phoenicopteriformes. There are four flamingo species distributed throughout the Americas ...
s are gregarious wading birds, usually tall, found in both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. Flamingos filter-feed on shellfish and algae. Their oddly shaped beaks are specially adapted to separate mud and silt from the food they consume and, uniquely, are used upside-down.
*
American flamingo
The American flamingo (''Phoenicopterus ruber'') is a large species of flamingo closely related to the greater flamingo and Chilean flamingo native to the Neotropics. It was formerly considered conspecific with the greater flamingo, but that trea ...
, ''Phoenicopterus ruber'' (A)
Grebes
![Podilymbus-podiceps-001](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8c/Podilymbus-podiceps-001.jpg)
Order:
PodicipediformesFamily:
Podicipedidae
Grebe
Grebes () are aquatic diving birds in the order Podicipediformes . Grebes are widely distributed freshwater birds, with some species also found in marine habitats during migration and winter. Some flightless species exist as well, most notably ...
s are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land.
*
Least grebe
The least grebe (''Tachybaptus dominicus''), an aquatic bird, is the smallest member of the grebe family. It occurs in the New World from the southwestern United States and Mexico to Argentina, and also on Trinidad and Tobago, the Bahamas and th ...
, ''Tachybaptus dominicus''
*
Pied-billed grebe
The pied-billed grebe (''Podilymbus podiceps'') is a species of the grebe family of water birds. Because the Atitlán grebe (''Podilymbus gigas'') has become extinct, the Pied-Billed Grebe is now the sole extant member of the genus ''Podilymbus'' ...
, ''Podilymbus podiceps''
Pigeons and doves
![Columba livia](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/24/Columba_livia.jpg)
Order:
Columbiformes
Columbidae () is a bird family consisting of doves and pigeons. It is the only family in the order Columbiformes. These are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills that in some species feature fleshy ceres. They primarily ...
Family:
Columbidae
Columbidae () is a bird family consisting of doves and pigeons. It is the only family in the order Columbiformes. These are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills that in some species feature fleshy ceres. They primarily ...
Pigeon
Columbidae () is a bird family consisting of doves and pigeons. It is the only family in the order Columbiformes. These are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills that in some species feature fleshy ceres. They primarily ...
s and
dove
Columbidae () is a bird family consisting of doves and pigeons. It is the only family in the order Columbiformes. These are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills that in some species feature fleshy ceres. They primarily ...
s are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.
*
Rock pigeon
The rock dove, rock pigeon, or common pigeon ( also ; ''Columba livia'') is a member of the bird family Columbidae (doves and pigeons). In common usage, it is often simply referred to as the "pigeon".
The domestic pigeon (''Columba livia domes ...
, ''Columba livia'' (I)
*
Scaly-naped pigeon
The scaly-naped pigeon (''Patagioenas squamosa''), also known as the red-necked pigeon, is a bird belonging to the family Columbidae. The species occurs throughout the Caribbean.
Description
The scaly-naped pigeon is a large slate grey pige ...
, ''Patagioenas squamosa''
*
White-crowned pigeon
The white-crowned pigeon (''Patagioenas leucocephala'') is a fruit and seed-eating species of bird in the dove and pigeon family Columbidae. It is found primarily in the Caribbean.
John James Audubon painted these pigeons, including the waterco ...
, ''Patagioenas leucocephala''
*
Plain pigeon
The plain pigeon (''Patagioenas inornata'') is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is found in the four Greater Antilles: Cuba, Hispaniola (in the Dominican Republic and Haiti), Jamaica, and Puerto Rico. Its natural habitats are fores ...
, ''Patagioenas inornata''
*
African collared-dove, ''Streptopelia roseogrisea'' (I)
*
Eurasian collared-dove
The Eurasian collared dove (''Streptopelia decaocto'') is a dove species native to Europe and Asia; it was introduced to Japan, North America and islands in the Caribbean. Because of its vast global range and increasing population trend, it ha ...
, ''Streptopelia decaocto'' (I)
*
Diamond dove
The diamond dove (''Geopelia cuneata'') is a resident bird in Australia. The dove predominantly exists in areas near water but which are lightly arid or semi-arid in nature, being Central, West and Northern Australia. They are one of Australia's ...
, ''Geopelia cuneata'' (I)
*
Common ground dove
The common ground dove (''Columbina passerina'') is a small bird that inhabits the southern United States, parts of Central America, the Caribbean and northern South America. It is considered to be the smallest dove that inhabits the United State ...
, ''Columbina passerina''
*
Ruddy quail-dove
The ruddy quail-dove (''Geotrygon montana'') is a species of bird in the dove and pigeon family Columbidae. It breeds throughout the West Indies, Central America, and tropical South America. It has appeared as a vagrant in Florida and southern Te ...
, ''Geotrygon montana''
*
Key West quail-dove
The Key West quail-dove (''Geotrygon chrysia'') is a species of bird from the doves and pigeon family Columbidae. It is probably most closely related to the bridled quail-dove.Baptista, L.F., Trail, P.W., Horblit, H.M., Kirwan, G.M. & Boesman, P. ...
, ''Geotrygon chrysia''
*
Bridled quail-dove
The bridled quail-dove (''Geotrygon mystacea'') is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is found from Saint Lucia in the Lesser Antilles north and west to Puerto Rico.Boal, C. W. (2020). Bridled Quail-Dove (''Geotrygon mystacea''), ve ...
, ''Geotrygon mystacea'' (A)
*
White-winged dove
The white-winged dove (''Zenaida asiatica'') is a dove whose native range extends from the Southwestern United States through Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. They are large for doves, and can be distinguished from similar doves by th ...
, ''Zenaida asiatica''
*
Zenaida dove
The zenaida dove (''Zenaida aurita'') is a member of the bird family Columbidae, which includes doves and pigeons. It is the national bird of Anguilla, where it is locally referred to as "turtle dove".
Description
The Zenaida dove is approxima ...
, ''Zenaida aurita''
*
Mourning dove
The mourning dove (''Zenaida macroura'') is a member of the dove family, Columbidae. The bird is also known as the American mourning dove, the rain dove, and colloquially as the turtle dove, and was once known as the Carolina pigeon and Caroli ...
, ''Zenaida macroura''
Cuckoos
![Anu preto 130506](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fd/Anu_preto_130506.jpg)
Order:
Cuculiformes
Cuckoos are birds in the Cuculidae family, the sole taxon in the order Cuculiformes . The cuckoo family includes the common or European cuckoo, roadrunners, koels, malkohas, couas, coucals and anis. The coucals and anis are sometimes separa ...
Family:
Cuculidae
Cuckoos are birds in the Cuculidae family, the sole taxon in the order Cuculiformes . The cuckoo family includes the common or European cuckoo, roadrunners, koels, malkohas, couas, coucals and anis. The coucals and anis are sometimes separ ...
The family Cuculidae includes
cuckoo
Cuckoos are birds in the Cuculidae family, the sole taxon in the order Cuculiformes . The cuckoo family includes the common or European cuckoo, roadrunners, koels, malkohas, couas, coucals and anis. The coucals and anis are sometimes separ ...
s,
roadrunner
The roadrunners (genus ''Geococcyx''), also known as chaparral birds or chaparral cocks, are two species of fast-running ground cuckoos with long tails and crests. They are found in the southwestern and south-central United States and Mexico, us ...
s, and
anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails, and strong legs. The Old World cuckoos are
brood parasite
Brood parasites are animals that rely on others to raise their young. The strategy appears among birds, insects and fish. The brood parasite manipulates a host, either of the same or of another species, to raise its young as if it were its own ...
s.
*
Smooth-billed ani
The smooth-billed ani (''Crotophaga ani'') is a bird in the cuckoo family. It is a resident breeding species from southern Florida, the Caribbean, parts of Central America, south to western Ecuador, Brazil, northern Argentina and southern Chile. ...
, ''Crotophaga ani''
*
Yellow-billed cuckoo
The yellow-billed cuckoo (''Coccyzus americanus'') is a cuckoo. Common folk-names for this bird in the southern United States are rain crow and storm crow. These likely refer to the bird's habit of calling on hot days, often presaging rain or th ...
, ''Coccyzus americanus''
*
Mangrove cuckoo
The mangrove cuckoo (''Coccyzus minor'') is a species of cuckoo that is native to the Neotropics.
Taxonomy
The mangrove cuckoo was formally described in 1788 by the German naturalist Johann Friedrich Gmelin in his revised and expanded edition o ...
, ''Coccyzus minor''
*
Black-billed cuckoo
The black-billed cuckoo (''Coccyzus erythropthalmus'') is a New World species in the Cuculidae (cuckoo) family. The scientific name is from Ancient Greek. The genus name, ''kokkuzo'', means to call like a common cuckoo, and ''erythropthalmus'' i ...
, ''Coccyzus erythropthalmus'' (A)
*
Puerto Rican lizard-cuckoo
The Puerto Rican lizard cuckoo (''Coccyzus vieilloti'') is a species of bird in the tribe Phaenicophaeini, subfamily Cuculinae of the cuckoo family Cuculidae. It is endemic to Puerto Rico.HBW and BirdLife International (2021) Handbook of the B ...
, ''Coccyzus vieilloti'' (E)
Nightjars and allies
Order:
Caprimulgiformes
Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal or crepuscular birds in the family Caprimulgidae and order Caprimulgiformes, characterised by long wings, short legs, and very short bills. They are sometimes called goatsuckers, due to the ancient folk tal ...
Family:
Caprimulgidae
Nightjar
Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal or crepuscular birds in the family Caprimulgidae and order Caprimulgiformes, characterised by long wings, short legs, and very short bills. They are sometimes called goatsuckers, due to the ancient folk ta ...
s are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs, and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is cryptically colored to resemble bark or leaves.
*
Common nighthawk
The common nighthawk (''Chordeiles minor'') is a medium-sized crepuscular or nocturnal bird of the Americas within the nightjar family, whose presence and identity are best revealed by its vocalization. Typically dark (gray, black and brown), ...
, ''Chordeiles minor'' (A)
*
Antillean nighthawk
The Antillean nighthawk (''Chordeiles gundlachii'') is a nightjar native to the Caribbean and Florida Keys.
Its specific epithet, ''gundlachii'', is in honor of Cuban naturalist Juan Gundlach.
Description
The adults are dark with brown, grey an ...
, ''Chordeiles gundlachii''
*
Chuck-will's-widow
The chuck-will's-widow (''Antrostomus carolinensis'') is a nocturnal bird of the nightjar family Caprimulgidae. It is mostly found in the southeastern United States (with disjunct populations in Long Island, New York, Ontario, Canada and Cape Cod ...
, ''Antrostomus carolinensis'' (A)
*
Puerto Rican nightjar
The Puerto Rican nightjar or Puerto Rican Whip-poor-will (''Antrostomus noctitherus'') is a bird in the nightjar family found in the coastal dry scrub forests in localized areas of southwestern Puerto Rico. It was described in 1916 from bones fo ...
, ''Antrostomus noctitherus'' (E)
*
White-tailed nightjar
The white-tailed nightjar (''Hydropsalis cayennensis'') is a species of nightjar in the family Caprimulgidae. It is found in the tropic regions of Central and South America.
Taxonomy
The white-tailed nightjar was formally described in 1789 b ...
, ''Hydropsalis cayennensis'' (A)
Potoos
Order:
NyctibiiformesFamily:
Nyctibiidae
Potoo
Potoos (family Nyctibiidae) are a group of birds related to the nightjars and frogmouths. They are sometimes called poor-me-ones, after their haunting calls. The family Nyctibiidae was formerly included with the nightjars in the order Caprimulg ...
s are a group of large
near passerine
Near passerines and higher land-bird assemblage are terms of traditional, pre-cladistic taxonomy that have often been given to tree-dwelling birds or those most often believed to be related to the true passerines (order Passeriformes) owing to mor ...
birds related to the nightjars and frogmouths. These are
nocturnal
Nocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal", versus diurnal meaning the opposite.
Nocturnal creatures generally have highly developed sens ...
insectivores which lack the bristles around the mouth found in the true nightjars.
*
Northern potoo, ''Nyctibius jamaicensis'' (A)
Swifts
Order:
Apodiformes
Traditionally, the bird order Apodiformes contained three living families: the swifts (Apodidae), the treeswifts (Hemiprocnidae), and the hummingbirds (Trochilidae). In the Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy, this order is raised to a superorder Apodi ...
Family:
Apodidae
The swifts are a family, Apodidae, of highly aerial birds. They are superficially similar to swallows, but are not closely related to any passerine species. Swifts are placed in the order Apodiformes with hummingbirds. The treeswifts are closely r ...
Swift
Swift or SWIFT most commonly refers to:
* SWIFT, an international organization facilitating transactions between banks
** SWIFT code
* Swift (programming language)
* Swift (bird), a family of birds
It may also refer to:
Organizations
* SWIFT, ...
s are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang.
*
Black swift, ''Cypseloides niger''
*
White-collared swift, ''Streptoprocne zonaris'' (A)
*
Chimney swift
The chimney swift (''Chaetura pelagica'') is a bird belonging to the swift family Apodidae. A member of the genus ''Chaetura'', it is closely related to both the Vaux's swift and the Chapman's swift; in the past, the three were sometimes conside ...
, ''Chaetura pelagica'' (A)
*
Common swift
The common swift (''Apus apus'') is a medium-sized bird, superficially similar to the barn swallow or house martin but somewhat larger, though not stemming from those passerine species, being in the order Apodiformes. The resemblances between th ...
, ''Apus apus'' (A)
*
Alpine swift
The alpine swift (''Tachymarptis melba'') formerly ''Apus melba'', is a species of swift found in Africa, southern Europe and Asia. They breed in mountains from southern Europe to the Himalaya. Like common swifts, they are migratory; the souther ...
, ''Apus melba'' (A)
*
Antillean palm-swift, ''Tachornis phoenicobia'' (A)
Hummingbirds
![Rubythroathummer65](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/87/Rubythroathummer65.jpg)
Order:
Apodiformes
Traditionally, the bird order Apodiformes contained three living families: the swifts (Apodidae), the treeswifts (Hemiprocnidae), and the hummingbirds (Trochilidae). In the Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy, this order is raised to a superorder Apodi ...
Family:
Trochilidae
Hummingbirds are birds native to the Americas and comprise the biological family Trochilidae. With about 361 species and 113 genera, they occur from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, but the vast majority of the species are found in the tropics arou ...
Hummingbird
Hummingbirds are birds native to the Americas and comprise the biological family Trochilidae. With about 361 species and 113 genera, they occur from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, but the vast majority of the species are found in the tropics aro ...
s are small birds capable of hovering in mid-air due to the rapid flapping of their wings. They are the only birds that can fly backwards.
*
Puerto Rican mango
The Puerto Rican mango (''Anthracothorax aurulentus'') is a species of hummingbird in the subfamily Polytminae. It is found on the Caribbean islands of Puerto Rico, the British Virgin Islands, and the American Virgin Islands.HBW and BirdLife Int ...
, ''Anthracothorax aurulentus''
*
Green mango
The green mango (''Anthracothorax viridis'') is a large species of hummingbird in the subfamily Polytminae. It is endemic to the main island of Puerto Rico.HBW and BirdLife International (2020) ''Handbook of the Birds of the World and BirdLi ...
, ''Anthracothorax viridis'' (E)
*
Purple-throated carib
The purple-throated carib (''Eulampis jugularis'') is a species of hummingbird in the subfamily Polytminae. It is resident on most of the islands of the Lesser Antilles and has occurred as a vagrant both further north and south.HBW and BirdLife ...
, ''Eulampis jugularis'' (A)
*
Green-throated carib
The green-throated carib (''Eulampis holosericeus'') is a species of hummingbird in the subfamily Polytminae. It is found in Puerto Rico and most of the Lesser Antilles.HBW and BirdLife International (2020) ''Handbook of the Birds of the World ...
, ''Eulampis holosericeus''
*
Ruby-throated hummingbird
The ruby-throated hummingbird (''Archilochus colubris'') is a species of hummingbird that generally spends the winter in Central America, Mexico, and Florida, and migrates to Canada and other parts of Eastern North America for the summer to bree ...
, ''Archilochus colubris'' (A)
*
Vervain hummingbird
The vervain hummingbird (''Mellisuga minima'') is a species of hummingbird in tribe Mellisugini of subfamily Trochilinae, the "bee hummingbirds". It is found on Hispaniola (split between the Dominican Republic and Haiti) and Jamaica.HBW and Bird ...
, ''Mellisuga minima'' (A)
*
Puerto Rican emerald
The Puerto Rican emerald (''Riccordia maugaeus''), or zumbadorcito de Puerto Rico in Spanish, is species of hummingbird in the "emeralds", tribe Trochilini of subfamily Trochilinae. It is endemic to Puerto Rico.Bündgen, R. and P. F. D. Boesman ...
, ''Riccordia maugaeus'' (E)
*
Antillean crested hummingbird
The Antillean crested hummingbird (''Orthorhyncus cristatus'') is a species of hummingbird in the family Trochilidae. Found across Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Montserrat, north-east Puerto Ri ...
, ''Orthorhyncus cristatus''
Rails, gallinules, and coots
![Moorhen](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e8/Moorhen.slimb.750pix.jpg)
Order:
Gruiformes
The Gruiformes are an order (biology), order containing a considerable number of living and extinct bird family (biology), families, with a widespread geographical diversity. Gruiform means "crane-like".
Traditionally, a number of wading and t ...
Family:
Rallidae
The rails, or Rallidae, are a large cosmopolitan family of small- to medium-sized, ground-living birds. The family exhibits considerable diversity and includes the crakes, coots, and gallinules. Many species are associated with wetlands, althoug ...
Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the
rails
Rail or rails may refer to:
Rail transport
*Rail transport and related matters
*Rail (rail transport) or railway lines, the running surface of a railway
Arts and media Film
* ''Rails'' (film), a 1929 Italian film by Mario Camerini
* ''Rail'' ( ...
,
crake
The rails, or Rallidae, are a large cosmopolitan family of small- to medium-sized, ground-living birds. The family exhibits considerable diversity and includes the crakes, coots, and gallinules. Many species are associated with wetlands, althoug ...
s,
coot
Coots are medium-sized water birds that are members of the rail family, Rallidae. They constitute the genus ''Fulica'', the name being the Latin term for "coot". Coots have predominantly black plumage, and—unlike many rails—they are usually ...
s, and
gallinule
Moorhens—sometimes called marsh hens—are medium-sized water birds that are members of the rail family (Rallidae). Most species are placed in the genus ''Gallinula'', Latin for "little hen".
They are close relatives of coots. They are of ...
s. The most typical family members occupy dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps, or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak fliers.
*
Clapper rail
The clapper rail (''Rallus crepitans'') is a member of the rail family, Rallidae. The taxonomy for this species is confusing and still being determined. It is a large brown rail that is resident in wetlands along the Atlantic coasts of the easte ...
, ''Rallus crepitans''
*
Virginia rail
The Virginia rail (''Rallus limicola'') is a small waterbird, of the family Rallidae.
These birds remain fairly common despite continuing loss of habitat, but are secretive by nature and more often heard than seen. They are also considered a ga ...
, ''Rallus limicola'' (A)
*
Sora, ''Porzana carolina'' (A)
*
Common gallinule
The common gallinule (''Gallinula galeata'') is a bird in the family Rallidae. It was split from the common moorhen by the American Ornithologists' Union in July 2011. It lives around well-vegetated marshes, ponds, canals, and other wetlands in t ...
, ''Gallinula galeata''
*
American coot
The American coot (''Fulica americana''), also known as a mud hen or pouldeau, is a bird of the family Rallidae. Though commonly mistaken for ducks, American coots are only distantly related to ducks, belonging to a separate order. Unlike the we ...
, ''Fulica americana''
*
Purple gallinule, ''Porphyrio martinicus''
*
Yellow-breasted crake
The yellow-breasted crake (''Laterallus flaviventer'') is a species of bird in subfamily Rallinae of family Rallidae, the rails, gallinules, and coots. It is found on several Caribbean islands and in most of Central America and South America.HB ...
, ''Hapalocrex flaviventer''
*
Black rail, ''Laterallus jamaicensis'' (A)
Limpkin
Order:
Gruiformes
The Gruiformes are an order (biology), order containing a considerable number of living and extinct bird family (biology), families, with a widespread geographical diversity. Gruiform means "crane-like".
Traditionally, a number of wading and t ...
Family:
Aramidae
Aramidae is a bird family in the order Gruiformes. The limpkin
The limpkin (''Aramus guarauna''), also called carrao, courlan, and crying bird, is a large wading bird related to rails and cranes, and the only extant species in the family Ara ...
The limpkin is an odd bird that looks like a large rail, but is skeletally closer to the
cranes.
*
Limpkin
The limpkin (''Aramus guarauna''), also called carrao, courlan, and crying bird, is a large wading bird related to rails and cranes, and the only extant species in the family Aramidae. It is found mostly in wetlands in warm parts of the America ...
, ''Aramus guarauna'' (Ex)
Stilts and avocets
Order:
Charadriiformes
Charadriiformes (, from ''Charadrius'', the type genus of family Charadriidae) is a diverse order of small to medium-large birds. It includes about 390 species and has members in all parts of the world. Most charadriiform birds live near water an ...
Family:
Recurvirostridae
The Recurvirostridae are a family of birds in the wader suborder Charadrii. It contains two distinct groups of birds, the avocets (one genus) and the stilts (two genera).
Description
Avocets and stilts range in length from and in weight from ; ...
Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds which includes the
avocet
The four species of avocets are a genus, ''Recurvirostra'', of waders in the same avian family as the stilts. The genus name comes from Latin , 'curved backwards' and , 'bill'. The common name is thought to derive from the Italian ( Ferrarese) w ...
s and
stilt
Stilt is a common name for several species of birds in the family Recurvirostridae, which also includes those known as avocets. They are found in brackish or saline wetlands in warm or hot climates.
They have extremely long legs, hence the grou ...
s. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills.
*
Black-necked stilt
The black-necked stilt (''Himantopus mexicanus'') is a locally abundant shorebird of American wetlands and coastlines. It is found from the coastal areas of California through much of the interior western United States and along the Gulf of Mexic ...
, ''Himantopus mexicanus''
*
American avocet
The American avocet (''Recurvirostra americana'') is a large wader in the avocet and stilt family, Recurvirostridae, that is found in North America. It spends much of its time foraging in shallow water or on mud flats, often sweeping its bill fro ...
, ''Recurvirostra americana'' (A)
Oystercatchers
![Haematopus palliatusPCSLB](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/17/Haematopus_palliatusPCSLB.jpg)
Order:
Charadriiformes
Charadriiformes (, from ''Charadrius'', the type genus of family Charadriidae) is a diverse order of small to medium-large birds. It includes about 390 species and has members in all parts of the world. Most charadriiform birds live near water an ...
Family:
Haematopodidae
The
oystercatcher
The oystercatchers are a group of waders forming the family Haematopodidae, which has a single genus, ''Haematopus''. They are found on coasts worldwide apart from the polar regions and some tropical regions of Africa and South East Asia. The e ...
s are large, obvious and noisy
plover
Plovers ( , ) are a widely distributed group of wading birds belonging to the subfamily Charadriinae.
Description
There are about 66 species in the subfamily, most of them called "plover" or "dotterel". The closely related lapwing subfa ...
-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open
mollusc
Mollusca is the second-largest phylum of invertebrate animals after the Arthropoda, the members of which are known as molluscs or mollusks (). Around 85,000 extant species of molluscs are recognized. The number of fossil species is esti ...
s.
*
American oystercatcher
The American oystercatcher (''Haematopus palliatus''), occasionally called the American pied oystercatcher, is a member of family Haematopodidae. Originally called the "sea pie", it was renamed in 1731 when naturalist Mark Catesby observed the b ...
, ''Haematopus palliatus''
Plovers and lapwings
![Charadrius vociferus 01362t](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/Charadrius_vociferus_01362t.JPG)
Order:
Charadriiformes
Charadriiformes (, from ''Charadrius'', the type genus of family Charadriidae) is a diverse order of small to medium-large birds. It includes about 390 species and has members in all parts of the world. Most charadriiform birds live near water an ...
Family:
Charadriidae
The bird family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels, and lapwings, about 64 to 68 species in all.
Taxonomy
The family Charadriidae was introduced (as Charadriadæ) by the English zoologist William Elford Leach in a guide to the con ...
The family Charadriidae includes the
plover
Plovers ( , ) are a widely distributed group of wading birds belonging to the subfamily Charadriinae.
Description
There are about 66 species in the subfamily, most of them called "plover" or "dotterel". The closely related lapwing subfa ...
s,
dotterel
The Eurasian dotterel (''Charadrius morinellus''), also known in Europe as just dotterel, is a small wader in the plover family of birds.
The dotterel is a brown and black streaked bird with a broad white eye-stripe and an orange-red chest ban ...
s, and
lapwing
Lapwings (subfamily Vanellinae) are any of various ground-nesting birds (family Charadriidae) akin to plovers and dotterels. They range from in length, and are noted for their slow, irregular wingbeats in flight and a shrill, wailing cry. A gro ...
s. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short thick necks, and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water.
*
Northern lapwing
The northern lapwing (''Vanellus vanellus''), also known as the peewit or pewit, tuit or tew-it, green plover, or (in Ireland and Britain) pyewipe or just lapwing, is a bird in the lapwing subfamily. It is common through temperate Eurosiberia. ...
, ''Vanellus vanellus'' (A)
*
Black-bellied plover
The grey plover or black-bellied plover (''Pluvialis squatarola'') is a large plover breeding in Arctic regions. It is a long-distance migrant, with a nearly worldwide coastal distribution when not breeding.
Taxonomy
The grey plover was forma ...
, ''Pluvialis squatarola''
*
American golden-plover, ''Pluvialis dominica'' (A)
*
Killdeer
The killdeer (''Charadrius vociferus'') is a large plover found in the Americas. It was described and given its current scientific name in 1758 by Carl Linnaeus in the 10th edition of his ''Systema Naturae''. Three subspecies are described. T ...
, ''Charadrius vociferus''
* Semipalmated plover, ''Charadrius semipalmatus''
* Piping plover, ''Charadrius melodus'' (A)
* Wilson's plover, ''Charadrius wilsonia''
* Snowy plover, ''Charadrius nivosus''
Jacanas
Order:
Charadriiformes
Charadriiformes (, from ''Charadrius'', the type genus of family Charadriidae) is a diverse order of small to medium-large birds. It includes about 390 species and has members in all parts of the world. Most charadriiform birds live near water an ...
Family: Jacanidae
The Jacana (genus), jacanas are a group of waders found worldwide within the tropical zone. They are identifiable by their huge feet and claws which enable them to walk on floating vegetation in the shallow lakes that are their preferred habitat.
* Northern jacana, ''Jacana spinosa'' (A)
Sandpipers and allies
Order:
Charadriiformes
Charadriiformes (, from ''Charadrius'', the type genus of family Charadriidae) is a diverse order of small to medium-large birds. It includes about 390 species and has members in all parts of the world. Most charadriiform birds live near water an ...
Family: Scolopacidae
Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, Tringa, shanks, Tattler (bird), tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers, and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Different lengths of legs and bills enable multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.
* Upland sandpiper, ''Bartramia longicauda'' (A)
* Hudsonian whimbrel, Whimbrel, ''Numenius phaeopus'' (A)
* Eskimo curlew, ''Numenius borealis'' (A) (possibly extinct)
* Long-billed curlew, ''Numenius americanus'' (A)
* Eurasian curlew, ''Numenius arquata'' (A)
* Hudsonian godwit, ''Limosa haemastica'' (A)
* Marbled godwit, ''Limosa fedoa'' (A)
* Ruddy turnstone, ''Arenaria interpres''
* Red knot, ''Calidris canutus'' (A)
* Ruff (bird), Ruff, ''Calidris pugnax'' (A)
* Stilt sandpiper, ''Calidris himantopus''
* Curlew sandpiper, ''Calidris ferruginea'' (A)
* Sanderling, ''Calidris alba''
* Dunlin, ''Calidris alpina'' (A)
* Baird's sandpiper, ''Calidris bairdii'' (A)
* Least sandpiper, ''Calidris minutilla''
* White-rumped sandpiper, ''Calidris fuscicollis'' (A)
* Buff-breasted sandpiper, ''Calidris subruficollis'' (A)
* Pectoral sandpiper, ''Calidris melanotos''
* Semipalmated sandpiper, ''Calidris pusilla''
* Western sandpiper, ''Calidris mauri''
* Short-billed dowitcher, ''Limnodromus griseus''
* Long-billed dowitcher, ''Limnodromus scolopaceus'' (A)
* Wilson's snipe, ''Gallinago delicata'' (A)
* Spotted sandpiper, ''Actitis macularius''
* Solitary sandpiper, ''Tringa solitaria ''
* Lesser yellowlegs, ''Tringa flavipes''
* Willet, ''Tringa semipalmata''
* Spotted redshank, ''Tringa erythropus'' (A)
* Common greenshank, ''Tringa nebularia'' (A)
* Greater yellowlegs, ''Tringa melanoleuca''
* Wilson's phalarope, ''Phalaropus tricolor'' (A)
* Red-necked phalarope, ''Phalaropus lobatus'' (A)
* Red phalarope, ''Phalaropus fulicarius'' (A)
File:GreaterYellowlegs23.jpg, Greater yellowlegs, a common occurrence, except in summer, at the island of Culebra.
File:Ruddy turnstone.jpg, Ruddy turnstone, a non-breeding species commonly found near coastal waters.
File:Calidris-alba-001.jpg, Sanderling, a non-breeding species commonly found near bodies of water.
Skuas and jaegers
Order:
Charadriiformes
Charadriiformes (, from ''Charadrius'', the type genus of family Charadriidae) is a diverse order of small to medium-large birds. It includes about 390 species and has members in all parts of the world. Most charadriiform birds live near water an ...
Family: Stercorariidae
The family Stercorariidae are, in general, medium to large birds, typically with gray or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They nest on the ground in temperate and arctic regions and are long-distance migrants.
* Great skua, ''Stercorarius skua'' (A)
* South polar skua, ''Stercorarius maccormicki'' (A)
* Pomarine jaeger, ''Stercorarius pomarinus'' (A)
* Parasitic jaeger, ''Stercorarius parasiticus'' (A)
* Long-tailed jaeger, ''Stercorarius longicaudus'' (A)
Gulls, terns, and skimmers
![SootyTernLordHoweIsland](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8f/SootyTernLordHoweIsland.jpg)
Order:
Charadriiformes
Charadriiformes (, from ''Charadrius'', the type genus of family Charadriidae) is a diverse order of small to medium-large birds. It includes about 390 species and has members in all parts of the world. Most charadriiform birds live near water an ...
Family: Laridae
Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds and includes gulls, kittiwakes, terns, and Skimmer (bird), skimmers. They are typically gray or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have longish bills and webbed feet. Terns are a group of generally medium to large seabirds typically with gray or white plumage, often with black markings on the head. Most terns hunt fish by diving but some pick insects off the surface of fresh water. Terns are generally long-lived birds, with several species known to live in excess of 30 years. Skimmers are a small family of tropical tern-like birds. They have an elongated lower mandible which they use to feed flying low over the water surface and skimming the water for small fish.
* Black-legged kittiwake, ''Rissa tridactyla'' (A)
* Sabine's gull, ''Xema sabini'' (A)
* Bonaparte's gull, ''Chroicocephalus philadelphia'' (A)
* Black-headed gull, ''Chroicocephalus ridibundus'' (A)
* Little gull, ''Hydrocoloeus minutus'' (A)
* Laughing gull, ''Leucophaeus atricilla''
* Franklin's gull, ''Leucophaeus pipixcan'' (A)
* Ring-billed gull, ''Larus delawarensis''
* American herring gull, Herring gull, ''Larus argentatus'' (A)
* Yellow-legged gull, ''Larus michahellis'' (A)
* Lesser black-backed gull, ''Larus fuscus'' (A)
* Great black-backed gull, ''Larus marinus'' (A)
* Brown noddy, ''Anous stolidus''
* Black noddy, ''Anous minutus'' (A)
* Sooty tern, ''Onychoprion fuscata''
* Bridled tern, ''Onychoprion anaethetus''
* Least tern, ''Sternula antillarum''
* Gull-billed tern, ''Gelochelidon nilotica''
* Caspian tern, ''Hydroprogne caspia'' (A)
* Black tern, ''Chlidonias niger''
* White-winged tern, ''Chlidonias leucopterus'' (A)
* Roseate tern, ''Sterna dougallii''
* Common tern, ''Sterna hirundo''
* Arctic tern, ''Sterna paradisaea'' (A)
* Forster's tern, ''Sterna forsteri'' (A)
* Royal tern, ''Thalasseus maxima''
* Sandwich tern, ''Thalasseus sandvicensis''
* Black skimmer, ''Rynchops niger'' (A)
Tropicbirds
Order: PhaethontiformesFamily: Phaethontidae
Tropicbirds are slender white birds of tropical oceans with exceptionally long central tail feathers. Their long wings have black markings, as does the head.
* White-tailed tropicbird, ''Phaethon lepturus''
* Red-billed tropicbird, ''Phaethon aethereus''
Southern storm-petrels
Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Oceanitidae
The storm-petrels are the smallest seabirds, relatives of the petrels, feeding on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like. Until 2018, this family's species were included with the other storm-petrels in family Hydrobatidae.
* Wilson's storm-petrel, ''Oceanites oceanicus'' (A)
Northern storm-petrels
Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Hydrobatidae
Though the members of this family are similar in many respects to the southern storm-petrels, including their general appearance and habits, there are enough genetic differences to warrant their placement in a separate family.
* Leach's storm-petrel, ''Hydrobates leucorhous'' (A)
Shearwaters and petrels
Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Procellariidae
The Procellariids are the main group of medium-sized "true petrels", characterized by united nostrils with medium septum and a long outer functional primary.
* Trindade petrel, ''Pterodroma arminjoniana'' (A)
* Black-capped petrel, ''Pterodroma hasitata'' (A)
* Cory's shearwater, ''Calonectris diomedea'' (A)
* Great shearwater, ''Ardenna gravis'' (A)
* Sooty shearwater, ''Ardenna griseus'' (A)
* Manx shearwater, ''Puffinus puffinus'' (A)
* Audubon's shearwater, ''Puffinus lherminieri''
* Barolo shearwater, ''Puffinus baroli'' (A)
Storks
Order: CiconiiformesFamily: Ciconiidae
Storks are large, heavy, long-legged, long-necked wading birds with long stout bills and wide wingspans. They lack the powder down that other wading birds such as herons, spoonbills, and ibises use to clean off fish slime. Storks lack a pharynx and are mute.
* Wood stork, ''Mycteria americana'' (A)
Frigatebirds
Order: SuliformesFamily: Fregatidae
Frigatebirds are large seabirds usually found over tropical oceans. They are large, black, or black-and-white, with long wings and deeply forked tails. The males have colored inflatable throat pouches. They do not swim or walk and cannot take off from a flat surface. Having the largest wingspan-to-body-weight ratio of any bird, they are essentially aerial, able to stay aloft for more than a week.
* Magnificent frigatebird, ''Fregata magnificens''
Boobies and gannets
Order: SuliformesFamily: Sulidae
The sulids comprise the gannets and Booby, boobies. Both groups are medium-large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish.
* Masked booby, ''Sula dactylatra''
* Brown booby, ''Sula leucogaster''
* Red-footed booby, ''Sula sula''
* Northern gannet, ''Morus bassanus'' (A)
Cormorants and shags
Order: SuliformesFamily: Phalacrocoracidae
Phalacrocoracidae is a family of medium to large coastal, fish-eating seabirds that includes cormorants and shags. Plumage coloration is varied with the majority having mainly dark plumage, some species being black-and-white, and a few being quite colorful.
* Double-crested cormorant, ''Nannopterum auritum'' (A)
* Neotropic cormorant, ''Nannopterum brasilianum'' (A)
Pelicans
![Brown-Pelican-Ponce-Inlet-FL](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ad/Brown-Pelican-Ponce-Inlet-FL.jpg)
Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Pelecanidae
Pelicans are very large water birds with a distinctive pouch under their beak Like other birds in the order Pelecaniformes, they have four webbed toes.
* American white pelican, ''Pelecanus erythrorhynchos'' (A)
* Brown pelican, ''Pelecanus occidentalis''
Herons, egrets, and bitterns
![Cattle Egret](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/40/Intermediate_Egret%2C_India_2.jpg)
Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Ardeidae
The family Ardeidae contains the bitterns, herons, and egrets. Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and more secretive. Members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted, unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises, and spoonbills.
* American bittern, ''Botaurus lentiginosus'' (A)
* Least bittern, ''Ixobrychus exilis''
* Great blue heron, ''Ardea herodias''
* Great egret, ''Ardea alba''
* Little egret, ''Egretta garzetta'' (A)
* Western reef-heron, ''Egretta gularis'' (A)
* Snowy egret, ''Egretta thula''
* Little blue heron, ''Egretta caerulea''
* Tricolored heron, ''Egretta tricolor''
* Reddish egret, ''Egretta rufescens'' (A)
* Cattle egret, ''Bubulcus ibis''
* Green heron, ''Butorides virescens''
* Striated heron, ''Butorides striata'' (A)
* Black-crowned night-heron, ''Nycticorax nycticorax''
* Yellow-crowned night-heron, ''Nyctanassa violacea''
Ibises and spoonbills
Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Threskiornithidae
Threskiornithidae is a family of large terrestrial and wading birds which includes the ibises and spoonbills. They have long, broad wings with 11 primary and about 20 secondary feathers. They are strong fliers and, rather surprisingly, given their size and weight, very capable soarers.
* American white ibis, White ibis, ''Eudocimus albus'' (A)
* Scarlet ibis, ''Eudocimus ruber'' (A)
* Glossy ibis, ''Plegadis falcinellus'' (A)
* Roseate spoonbill, ''Platalea ajaja'' (A)
New World vultures
![Flying Turkey Vulture with Wings Held Upward](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f7/Flying_Turkey_Vulture_with_Wings_Held_Upward.jpg)
Order: CathartiformesFamily: Cathartidae
The New World vultures are not closely related to Old World vultures, but superficially resemble them because of convergent evolution. Like the Old World vultures, they are scavengers. However, unlike Old World vultures, which find carcasses by sight, New World vultures have a good sense of smell with which they locate carcasses.
* Black vulture, ''Coragyps atratus'' (A)
* Turkey vulture, ''Cathartes aura'' (I)
Osprey
Order: AccipitriformesFamily: Pandionidae
The family Pandionidae contains only one species, the osprey. The osprey is a medium-large bird of prey, raptor which is a specialist fish-eater with a worldwide distribution.
* Osprey, ''Pandion haliaetus''
Hawks, eagles, and kites
![RedtailedHawk23](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9b/RedtailedHawk23.jpg)
Order: AccipitriformesFamily: Accipitridae
Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey, which includes hawks, eagles, Kite (bird), kites, Harrier (bird), harriers, and Old World vultures. These birds have very large powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons, and keen eyesight.
* Swallow-tailed kite, ''Elanoides forficatus'' (A)
* Northern harrier, ''Circus hudsonius'' (A)
* Western marsh harrier, ''Circus aeruginosus'' (A)
* Sharp-shinned hawk, ''Accipiter striatus ''
* Bald eagle, ''Haliaeetus leucocephalus'' (A)
* Mississippi kite, ''Ictinia mississippiensis'' (A)
* Common black hawk, ''Buteogallus anthracinus''
* Ridgway's hawk, ''Buteo ridgwayi'' (A)
* Broad-winged hawk, ''Buteo platypterus''
* Red-tailed hawk, ''Buteo jamaicensis''
Barn-owls
Order: StrigiformesFamily: Tytonidae
Barn owl, Barn-owls are medium to large owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons.
* Barn owl, ''Tyto alba'' (A)
Owls
![Megascops nudipes-Mucarito-Screech Owl of Puerto Rico](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/88/Megascops_nudipes-Mucarito-Screech_Owl_of_Puerto_Rico.jpeg)
Order: StrigiformesFamily: Strigidae
The typical owls are small to large solitary nocturnal birds of prey. They have large forward-facing eyes and ears, a hawk-like beak, and a conspicuous circle of feathers around each eye called a facial disk.
* Puerto Rican owl, ''Gymnasio nudipes''
* Short-eared owl, ''Asio flammeus''
Todies
![IMG 2932crop-puerto-rican-tody](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/50/IMG_2932crop-puerto-rican-tody.JPG)
Order: CoraciiformesFamily: Todidae
Tody, Todies are a group of small near passerine forest species endemic to the Caribbean. These birds have colorful plumage and resemble kingfishers, but have flattened bills with serrated edges. They eat small prey such as insects and lizards.
* Puerto Rican tody, ''Todus mexicanus'' (E)
Kingfishers
Order: CoraciiformesFamily: Alcedinidae
Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long pointed bills, short legs, and stubby tails.
* Ringed kingfisher, ''Megaceryle torquatus'' (A)
* Belted kingfisher, ''Megaceryle alcyon''
Woodpeckers
Order: PiciformesFamily: Picidae
Woodpeckers are small to medium-sized birds with chisel-like beaks, short legs, stiff tails, and long tongues used for capturing insects. Some species have feet with two toes pointing forward and two backward, while several species have only three toes. Many woodpeckers have the habit of tapping noisily on tree trunks with their beaks.
* Puerto Rican woodpecker, ''Melanerpes portoricensis'' (E)
* Yellow-bellied sapsucker, ''Sphyrapicus varius'' (A)
* Hairy woodpecker, ''Dryobates villosus'' (A)
Falcons and caracaras
![Americankestrel65](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/48/Americankestrel65.jpg)
Order: FalconiformesFamily: Falconidae
Falconidae is a family of diurnal birds of prey. They differ from hawks, eagles, and kites in that they kill with their beaks instead of their talons.
* American kestrel, ''Falco sparverius''
* Merlin (bird), Merlin, ''Falco columbarius'' (A)
* Aplomado falcon, ''Falco femoralis'' (A)
* Peregrine falcon, ''Falco peregrinus''
Cockatoos
Order: PsittaciformesFamily: Cacatuidae
The cockatoos share many features with other parrots including the characteristic curved beak shape and a Dactyly#In birds, zygodactyl foot, with two forward toes and two backwards toes. They differ, however in a number of characteristics, including the often spectacular movable Crest (feathers), headcrest.
*Sulphur-crested cockatoo, ''Cacatua galerita'' (I)
*White cockatoo, ''Cacatua alba'' (I)
New World and African parrots
![Amazona vittata](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/08/Amazona_vittata.jpg)
Order: Parrot, PsittaciformesFamily: True parrots, Psittacidae
Characteristic features of parrots include a strong curved bill, an upright stance, strong legs, and clawed zygodactyl feet. Many parrots are vividly colored, and some are multi-colored. In size they range from to in length. Most of the more than 150 species in this family are found in the New World.
* Monk parakeet, ''Myiopsitta monachus'' (I)
* Orange-fronted parakeet, ''Eupsittula canicularis'' (I)
* Brown-throated parakeet, ''Eupsittula pertinax'' (I)
* Nanday parakeet, ''Aratinga nenday'' (I)
* Blue-and-yellow macaw, ''Ara ararauna'' (I)
* Puerto Rican parakeet, ''Psittacara maugei '' (E) (extinct)
[Greeney, H. F., N. Collar, P. F. D. Boesman, and C. J. Sharpe (2020). Puerto Rican Parakeet (''Psittacara maugei''), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (S. M. Billerman, B. K. Keeney, P. G. Rodewald, and T. S. Schulenberg, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.purpar2.01 retrieved August 14, 2021]
* Red-masked parakeet, '' Psittacara erythrogenys'' (I)
* Hispaniolan parakeet, '' Psittacara choloropterus'' (I)
* White-winged parakeet ''Brotogeris versicolorus'' (I)
* Green-cheeked parakeet, ''Pyrrhura molinae'' (I)
* Orange-winged parrot, ''Amazona amazonica'' (I)
* White-fronted parrot, ''Amazona albifrons'' (I)
* Hispaniolan parrot, ''Amazona ventralis'' (I)
* Puerto Rican parrot, ''Amazona vittata'' (E)
* Red-crowned parrot, ''Amazona viridigenalis'' (I)
* Yellow-headed parrot, ''Amazona oratrix'' (I)
* Yellow-naped parrot, ''Amazona auropalliata'' (I)
Tyrant flycatchers
![Tyrannus dominicensis](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/db/Tyrannus_dominicensis.jpg)
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Tyrannidae
Tyrant flycatchers are Passerine birds which occur throughout North and South America. They superficially resemble the Old World flycatchers, but are more robust and have stronger bills. They do not have the sophisticated vocal capabilities of the songbirds. Most, but not all, are rather plain. As the name implies, most are insectivorous.
* Caribbean elaenia, ''Elaenia martinica''
* Great crested flycatcher, ''Myiarchus crinitus'' (A)
* Puerto Rican flycatcher, ''Myiarchus antillarum'' (E)
* Western kingbird, ''Tyrannus verticalis'' (A)
* Eastern kingbird, ''Tyrannus tyrannus'' (A)
* Gray kingbird, ''Tyrannus dominicensis''
* Loggerhead kingbird, ''Tyrannus caudifasciatus''
* Scissor-tailed flycatcher, ''Tyrannus forficatus'' (A)
* Fork-tailed flycatcher, ''Tyrannus savana'' (A)
* Eastern wood-pewee, ''Contopus virens'' (A)
* Hispaniolan pewee, ''Contopus hispaniolensis'' (A)
* Lesser Antillean pewee, ''Contopus latirostris''
* Acadian flycatcher, ''Empidonax virescens'' (A)
* Willow flycatcher, ''Empidonax traillii'' (A)
Vireos, shrike-babblers, and erpornis
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Vireonidae
The vireos are a group of small to medium-sized passerine birds. They are typically greenish in color and resemble New World warblers apart from their heavier bills.
* White-eyed vireo, ''Vireo griseus'' (A)
* Puerto Rican vireo, ''Vireo latimeri'' (E)
* Yellow-throated vireo, ''Vireo flavifrons'' (A)
* Philadelphia vireo, ''Vireo philadelphicus'' (A)
* Warbling vireo, ''Vireo gilvus'' (A)
* Red-eyed vireo, ''Vireo olivaceus''
* Black-whiskered vireo, ''Vireo altiloquus''
Crows, jays, and magpies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Corvidae
The family Corvidae includes crows, ravens, jays, choughs, magpies, treepies, nutcracker (bird), nutcrackers, and ground jays. Corvids are above average in size among the Passeriformes, and some of the larger species show high levels of intelligence.
* White-necked crow, ''Corvus leucognaphalus'' (Ex)
Swallows
![Hirundo-rustica-001](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/76/Hirundo-rustica-001.jpg)
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Hirundinidae
The family Hirundinidae is adapted to aerial feeding. They have a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings, and a short bill with a wide gape. The feet are adapted to perching rather than walking, and the front toes are partially joined at the base.
* Bank swallow, ''Riparia riparia''
* Tree swallow, ''Tachycineta bicolor'' (A)
* Violet-green swallow, ''Tachycineta thalassina'' (A)
* Northern rough-winged swallow, ''Stelgidopteryx serripennis'' (A)
* Brown-chested martin, ''Progne tapera'' (A)
* Purple martin, ''Progne subis'' (A)
* Cuban martin, ''Progne cryptoleuca'' (A)
* Caribbean martin, ''Progne dominicensis''
* Barn swallow, ''Hirundo rustica''
* American cliff swallow, Cliff swallow, ''Petrochelidon pyrrhonota'' (A)
* Cave swallow, ''Petrochelidon fulva''
Waxwings
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Bombycillidae
The waxwings are a group of birds with soft silky plumage and unique red tips to some of the wing feathers. In the Bohemian and cedar waxwings, these tips look like sealing wax and give the group its name. These are arboreal birds of northern forests. They live on insects in summer and berries in winter.
* Cedar waxwing, ''Bombycilla cedrorum'' (A)
Mockingbirds and thrashers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Mimidae
The mimids are a family of passerine birds that includes thrashers, mockingbirds, tremblers, and the New World catbirds. These birds are notable for their vocalization, especially their remarkable ability to mimic a wide variety of birds and other sounds heard outdoors. The species tend towards dull grays and browns in their appearance.
* Gray catbird, ''Dumetella carolinensis'' (A)
* Pearly-eyed thrasher, ''Margarops fuscatus''
* Bahama mockingbird, ''Mimus gundlachii'' (A)
* Northern mockingbird, ''Mimus polyglottos''
Starlings
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Sturnidae
Starlings and mynas are small to medium-sized Old World passerine birds with strong feet. Their flight is strong and direct and they are very gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country, and they eat insects and fruit. Plumage is typically dark with a metallic sheen.
* Common hill myna, ''Gracula religiosa'' (I)
* European starling, ''Sturnus vulgaris'' (I) (A)
* Common myna, ''Acridotheres tristis'' (I)
Thrushes and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Turdidae
The Thrush (bird), Thrushes are a group of passerine birds that occur mainly but not exclusively in the Old World. They are plump, soft plumaged, small to medium-sized insectivores or sometimes omnivores, often feeding on the ground. Many have attractive songs.
* Veery, ''Catharus fuscescens'' (A)
* Gray-cheeked thrush, ''Catharus minimus'' (A)
* Bicknell's thrush, ''Catharus bicknelli'' (A)
* Swainson's thrush, ''Catharus ustulatus'' (A)
* Wood thrush, ''Hylocichla mustelina'' (A)
* American robin, ''Turdus migratorius'' (A)
* Red-legged thrush, ''Turdus plumbeus''
Old World flycatchers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Muscicapidae
Old World flycatchers are a large group of small passerine birds native to the Old World. They are mainly small arboreal insectivores. The appearance of these birds is highly varied, but they mostly have weak songs and harsh calls.
* Northern wheatear, ''Oenanthe oenanthe'' (A)
Weavers and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Ploceidae
Ploceidae, Weavers are a group of small passerine birds related to the finches. These are seed-eating birds with rounded conical bills, most of which breed in sub-Saharan Africa, with fewer species in tropical Asia. Weavers get their name from the large woven nests many species make. They are gregarious birds which often breed colonially.
* Northern red bishop, ''Euplectes franciscanus'' (I)
* Yellow-crowned bishop, ''Euplectes afer'' (I)
Indigobirds
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Viduidae
The Viduidae is a family of small passerine birds native to Africa that includes indigobirds and whydahs. All species are
brood parasite
Brood parasites are animals that rely on others to raise their young. The strategy appears among birds, insects and fish. The brood parasite manipulates a host, either of the same or of another species, to raise its young as if it were its own ...
s which lay their eggs in the nests of estrildid finches. Species usually have black or indigo predominating in their plumage.
* Pin-tailed whydah, ''Vidua macroura'' (I)
Waxbills and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Estrildidae
The estrildid finches are small passerine birds of the Old World tropics and Australasia. They are gregarious and often colonial seed eaters with short thick but pointed bills. They are all similar in structure and habits, but have wide variation in plumage colors and patterns.
* Bronze mannikin, ''Spermestes cucullata'' (I)
* Indian silverbill, ''Euodice malabarica'' (I)
* Java sparrow, ''Padda oryzivora'' (I)
* Scaly-breasted munia, ''Lonchura punctulata'' (I)
* Tricolored munia, ''Lonchura malacca'' (I)
* Chestnut munia, ''Lonchura atricapilla'' (I)
* Red avadavat, ''Amandava amandava'' (I)
* Orange-cheeked waxbill, ''Estrilda melpoda'' (I)
* Black-rumped waxbill, ''Estrilda troglodytes'' (I)
Old World sparrows
![Passer domesticus2](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ac/Passer_domesticus2.jpg)
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Passeridae
Old World sparrow, Sparrows are small passerine birds. In general, sparrows tend to be small plump brownish or grayish birds with short tails and short powerful beaks. Sparrows are seed eaters, but they also consume small insects.
* House sparrow, ''Passer domesticus'' (I)
Finches, euphonias, and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Fringillidae
Finches are seed-eating passerine birds, that are small to moderately large and have a strong beak, usually conical and in some species very large. All have twelve tail feathers and nine primaries. These birds have a bouncing flight with alternating bouts of flapping and gliding on closed wings, and most sing well.
* Antillean euphonia, ''Chlorophonia musica''
* Yellow-fronted canary, ''Crithagra mozambica'' (I) (A)
* Red siskin, ''Spinus cucullata'' (I)
* Island canary, ''Serinus canaria'' (I)
New World sparrows
![GrasshopperSparrow23](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/86/GrasshopperSparrow23.jpg)
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Passerellidae
Until 2017, these species were considered part of the family Emberizidae. Most of the species are known as sparrows, but these birds are not closely related to the Old World sparrows which are in the family Passeridae. Many of these have distinctive head patterns.
* Grasshopper sparrow, ''Ammodramus savannarum''
* Dark-eyed junco, ''Junco hyemalis'' (A)
* White-throated sparrow, ''Zonotrichia albicollis'' (A)
* Lincoln's sparrow, ''Melospiza lincolnii'' (A)
Puerto Rican tanager
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Nesospingidae
This species was formerly classified as a tanager (family Thraupidae) but was placed in its own family in 2017.
* Puerto Rican tanager, ''Nesospingus speculiferus'' (E)
Spindalises
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Spindalidae
The members of this small family are native to the Greater Antilles. They were formerly classified as tanagers but were placed in their own family in 2017.
* Puerto Rican spindalis, ''Spindalis portoricensis'' (E)
Troupials and allies
![Yellow-shouldered Blackbird](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9d/Yellow-shouldered_Blackbird.jpg)
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Icteridae
The icterids are a group of small to medium-sized, often colorful passerine birds restricted to the New World and include the grackles, New World blackbirds, and New World orioles. Most species have black as a predominant plumage color, often enlivened by yellow, orange, or red.
* Yellow-headed blackbird, ''Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus'' (A)
* Bobolink, ''Dolichonyx oryzivorus'' (A)
* Puerto Rican oriole, ''Icterus portoricensis'' (E)
* Orchard oriole, ''Icterus spurius'' (A)
* Venezuelan troupial, ''Icterus icterus'' (I)
* Bullock's oriole, ''Icterus bullockii'' (A)
* Baltimore oriole, ''Icterus galbula'' (A)
* Red-winged blackbird, ''Agelaius phoeniceus'' (A)
* Yellow-shouldered blackbird, ''Agelaius xanthomus'' (E)
* Shiny cowbird, ''Molothrus bonariensis''
* Brown-headed cowbird, ''Molothrus ater'' (A)
* Great-tailed grackle, ''Quiscalus mexicanus'' (A)
* Greater Antillean grackle, ''Quiscalus niger''
* Yellow-hooded blackbird, ''Chrysomus icterocephalus'' (A)
New World warblers
![Elfin-woods warbler perched on a tree branch](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2c/Elfin-woods_warbler_perched_on_a_tree_branch.jpg)
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Parulidae
The New World warbler, wood-warblers are a group of small often colorful passerine birds restricted to the New World. Most are arboreal, but some are more terrestrial. Most members of this family are insectivores.
* Ovenbird, ''Seiurus aurocapilla''
* Worm-eating warbler, ''Helmitheros vermivorum'' (A)
* Louisiana waterthrush, ''Parkesia motacilla''
* Northern waterthrush, ''Parkesia noveboracensis''
* Golden-winged warbler, ''Vermivora chrysoptera'' (A)
* Blue-winged warbler, ''Vermivora cyanoptera'' (A)
* Black-and-white warbler, ''Mniotilta varia''
* Prothonotary warbler, ''Protonotaria citrea'' (A)
* Swainson's warbler, ''Limnothlypis swainsonii'' (A)
* Tennessee warbler, ''Leieothlypis peregrina'' (A)
* Nashville warbler, ''Leieothlypis ruficapilla'' (A)
* Connecticut warbler, ''Oporornis agilis'' (A)
* Mourning warbler, ''Geothlypis philadelphia'' (A)
* Kentucky warbler, ''Geothlypis formosa'' (A)
* Common yellowthroat, ''Geothlypis trichas''
* Elfin-woods warbler, ''Setophaga angelae'' (E)
* Hooded warbler, ''Setophaga citrina'' (A)
* American redstart, ''Setophaga ruticilla''
* Cape May warbler, ''Setophaga tigrina''
* Cerulean warbler, ''Setophaga cerulea'' (A)
* Northern parula, ''Setophaga americana''
* Magnolia warbler, ''Setophaga magnolia'' (A)
* Bay-breasted warbler, ''Setophaga castanea'' (A)
* Blackburnian warbler, ''Setophaga fusca'' (A)
* Yellow warbler, ''Setophaga petechia''
* Chestnut-sided warbler, ''Setophaga pensylvanica'' (A)
* Blackpoll warbler, ''Setophaga striata''
* Black-throated blue warbler, ''Setophaga caerulescens''
* Palm warbler, ''Setophaga palmarum'' (A)
* Pine warbler, ''Setophaga pinus'' (A)
* Yellow-rumped warbler, ''Setophaga coronata'' (A)
* Yellow-throated warbler, ''Setophaga dominica'' (A)
* Prairie warbler, ''Setophaga discolor''
* Adelaide's warbler, ''Setophaga adelaidae'' (E)
* Townsend's warbler, ''Setophaga townsendi'' (A)
* Black-throated green warbler, ''Setophaga virens'' (A)
* Canada warbler, ''Cardellina canadensis'' (A)
* Wilson's warbler, ''Cardellina pusilla'' (A)
Cardinals and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Cardinalidae
The cardinals are a family of robust, seed-eating birds with strong bills. They are typically associated with open woodland. The sexes usually have distinct plumages.
* Summer tanager, ''Piranga rubra'' (A)
* Scarlet tanager, ''Piranga olivacea'' (A)
* Rose-breasted grosbeak, ''Pheucticus ludovicianus'' (A)
* Blue grosbeak, ''Passerina caerulea'' (A)
* Indigo bunting, ''Passerina cyanea'' (A)
* Dickcissel, ''Spiza americana'' (A)
Tanagers and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Thraupidae
The tanagers are a large group of small to medium-sized passerine birds restricted to the New World, mainly in the tropics. Many species are brightly colored. As a family they are omnivorous, but individual species specialize in eating fruits, seeds, insects, or other types of food.
* Red-crested cardinal, ''Paroaria coronata'' (I)
* Saffron finch, ''Sicalis flaveola'' (I)
* Bananaquit, ''Coereba flaveola''
* Yellow-faced grassquit, ''Tiaris olivaceus''
* Puerto Rican bullfinch, ''Melopyrrha portoricensis'' (E)
* Lesser Antillean bullfinch, ''Loxigilla noctis'' (A)
* Black-faced grassquit, ''Melanospiza bicolor''
See also
* Fauna of Puerto Rico
* List of birds
* List of birds of North America
* List of endemic fauna of Puerto Rico
* List of Vieques birds
* El Toro Wilderness
References
Further reading
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{{North American birds
Birds of Puerto Rico, '
Lists of biota of Puerto Rico, birds
Lists of birds of North America, Puerto Rico
Lists of birds of insular areas of the United States, Puerto Rico