List of birds of Cuba

This is a list of birds species recorded in the archipelago of Cuba which consists of the main island of Cuba and over 1000 smaller cays and islands. The avifauna of Cuba included a total of 398 species as of August 2017 according to the Annotated Checklist of the Birds of Cuba.[1] One addtional species has been added from another source. Of the 399 species, 25 are endemic, 13 have been introduced by humans and another possibly was, and 101 are noted as casual or accidental. Two species are known to be extinct and two others possibly are. Fifteen species are globally threatened.

The Cuban trogon is the national bird of Cuba.

This list is presented in the taxonomic sequence of the Check-list of North and Middle American Birds, 7th edition through the 61st Supplement, published by the American Ornithological Society (AOS).[2] Common and scientific names are also those of the Check-list, except that the common names of families are from the Clements taxonomy 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 is a casual visitor or vagrant out of its common range." per Navarro and Reyes[1]
  • (E) Endemic - a species endemic to the archipelago of Cuba.
  • (Es) Endemic subspecies - a subspecies endemic to the archipelago of Cuba.[3][4]
  • (I) Introduced - a species introduced to the archipelago of Cuba as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions

Ducks, geese, and waterfowl

Order: Anseriformes   Family: Anatidae

Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, flattened bills, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating.

Common name Binomial Status
White-faced whistling-duckDendrocygna viduata(A)
Black-bellied whistling-duckDendrocygna autumnalis
West Indian whistling-duckDendrocygna arboreavulnerable
Fulvous whistling-duckDendrocygna bicolor
Snow gooseAnser caerulescens(A)
Greater white-fronted gooseAnser albifrons(A)
Canada gooseBranta canadensis(A)
Tundra swanCygnus columbianus(A)
Muscovy duckCairina moschata(I)
Wood duckAix sponsa
Blue-winged tealSpatula discors
Cinnamon tealSpatula cyanoptera(A)
Northern shovelerSpatula clypeata
GadwallMareca strepera(A)
Eurasian wigeonMareca penelope(A)
American wigeonMareca americana
MallardAnas platyrhynchos(A)
American black duckAnas rubripes(A)
White-cheeked pintailAnas bahamensis
Northern pintailAnas acuta
Green-winged tealAnas crecca
CanvasbackAythya valisineria
RedheadAythya americana(A)
Ring-necked duckAythya collaris
Greater scaupAythya marila(A)
Lesser scaupAythya affinis
Surf scoterMelanitta perspicillata(A)
White-winged scoterMelanitta deglandi(A)
BuffleheadBucephala albeola(A)
Hooded merganserLophodytes cucullatus
Common merganserMergus merganser(A)
Red-breasted merganserMergus serrator
Masked duckNomonyx dominicus
Ruddy duckOxyura jamaicensis

Guineafowl

Order: Galliformes   Family: Numididae

Guineafowls are a group of African, seed-eating, ground-nesting birds that resemble partridges, but with featherless heads and spangled gray plumage.

Common name Binomial Status
Helmeted guineafowlNumida meleagris(I)

New World quail

Order: Galliformes   Family: Odontophoridae

The New World quails are small, plump terrestrial birds only distantly related to the quails of the Old World, but named for their similar appearance and habits.

Common name Binomial Status
Northern bobwhiteColinus virginianus cubanensis(Es) near-threatened

Pheasants, grouse, and allies

Order: Galliformes   Family: Phasianidae

The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds which consists of quails, partridges, snowcocks, francolins, spurfowls, tragopans, monals, pheasants, peafowls, and jungle fowls. In general, they are plump (although they vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings.

Common name Binomial Status
Ring-necked pheasantPhasianus colchicus(I)

Flamingos

American flamingos

Order: Phoenicopteriformes   Family: Phoenicopteridae

Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually 3 to 5 feet (0.9 to 1.5 m) 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.

Common name Binomial Status
American flamingoPhoenicopterus ruber

Grebes

Order: Podicipediformes   Family: Podicipedidae

Grebes 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.

Common name Binomial Status
Least grebeTachybaptus dominicus
Pied-billed grebePodilymbus podiceps

Pigeons and doves

Key West quail-dove
Blue-headed quail-dove

Order: Columbiformes   Family: Columbidae

Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.

Common name Binomial Status
Rock pigeonColumba livia(I)
Scaly-naped pigeonPatagioenas squamosa
White-crowned pigeonPatagioenas leucocephalanear-threatened
Plain pigeonPatagioenas inornatanear-threatened
Eurasian collared-doveStreptopelia decaocto(I)
Passenger pigeonEctopistes migratoriusextinct, once (A)[5]
Common ground doveColumbina passerina
Blue-headed quail-doveStarnoenas cyanocephala(E) endangered
Ruddy quail-doveGeotrygon montana
Gray-fronted quail-doveGeotrygon caniceps(E) vulnerable
Key West quail-doveGeotrygon chrysia
White-winged doveZenaida asiatica
Zenaida doveZenaida aurita
Mourning doveZenaida macroura

Cuckoos

Great lizard-cuckoo

Order: Cuculiformes   Family: Cuculidae

The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners, and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails, and strong legs. The Old World cuckoos are brood parasites.

Common name Binomial Status
Smooth-billed aniCrotophaga ani
Yellow-billed cuckooCoccyzus americanus
Mangrove cuckooCoccyzus minor
Black-billed cuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmus(A)
Great lizard-cuckooCoccyzus merlini santamariae(Es) Santa Maria, Coco, Paredon Grande, and Romano Cays
Great lizard-cuckooCoccyzus merlini merlini(Es) main island, Cayo Conuco, Caibarien
Great lizard-cuckooCoccyzus merlini decolor(Es) Isla de Pinos

Nightjars and allies

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: Caprimulgidae

Nightjars 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 camouflaged to resemble bark or leaves.

Common name Binomial Status
Common nighthawkChordeiles minor
Antillean nighthawkChordeiles gundlachii
Chuck-will's-widowAntrostomus carolinensis
Cuban nightjarAntrostomus cubanensisformerly considered the Greater Antillean nightjar as in source
Eastern whip-poor-willAntrostomus vociferus(A)

Swifts

Order: Apodiformes   Family: Apodidae

Swifts 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.

Common name Binomial Status
Black swiftCypseloides niger(A)
White-collared swiftStreptoprocne zonaris
Chimney swiftChaetura pelagica(A) near-threatened
Antillean palm-swiftTachornis phoenicobia iradii(Es)

Hummingbirds

Cuban emerald
Bee hummingbird

Order: Apodiformes   Family: Trochilidae

Hummingbirds 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.

Common name Binomial Status
Ruby-throated hummingbirdArchilochus colubris(A)
Bee hummingbirdMellisuga helenae(E) near-threatened
Bahama woodstarNesophlox evelynae(A)
Cuban emeraldChlorostilbon ricordii ricordii(Es)

Rails, gallinules, and coots

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Rallidae

Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots, and gallinules. Typically they inhabit 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.

Common name Binomial Status
Zapata railCyanolimnas cerverai(E) Critically endangered
Spotted railPardirallus maculatus
Clapper railRallus crepitans
King railRallus elegans ramsdeni(Es) Near-threatened
Virginia railRallus limicola(A)
SoraPorzana carolina
Common gallinuleGallinula galeata
American cootFulica americana
Purple gallinulePorphyrio martinica
Yellow-breasted crakeHaplocrex flaviventer
Black railLaterallus jamaicensisNear-threatened

Limpkin

Limpkin

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Aramidae

The limpkin resembles a large rail. It has drab-brown plumage and a grayer head and neck.

Common name Binomial Status
LimpkinAramus guarauna

Cranes

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Gruidae

Cranes are large, long-legged, and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched rather than retracted.

Common name Binomial Status
Sandhill craneAntigone canadensis nesiotes(Es)

Stilts and avocets

Black-necked stilts

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Recurvirostridae

Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills.

Common name Binomial Status
Black-necked stiltHimantopus mexicanus
American avocetRecurvirostra americana

Oystercatchers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Haematopodidae

The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.

Common name Binomial Status
American oystercatcherHaematopus palliatus

Plovers and lapwings

Killdeer

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Charadriidae

The family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels, and lapwings. 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.

Common name Binomial Status
Black-bellied ploverPluvialis squatarola
American golden-ploverPluvialis dominica
KilldeerCharadrius vociferus
Semipalmated ploverCharadrius semipalmatus
Piping ploverCharadrius melodusnear-threatened
Wilson's ploverCharadrius wilsonia
Snowy ploverCharadrius nivosusnear-threatened

Jacanas

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Jacanidae

The jacanas are a group of waders which are found throughout the tropics. 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.

Common name Binomial Status
Northern jacanaJacana spinosa

Sandpipers and allies

Greater yellowlegs
Lesser yellowlegs
Least sandpiper

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Scolopacidae

Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers, and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Variation in length of legs and bills enables multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.

Common name Binomial Status
Upland sandpiperBartramia longicauda
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopus
Long-billed curlewNumenius americanus(A)
Hudsonian godwitLimosa haemastica(A)
Marbled godwitLimosa fedoa(A)
Ruddy turnstoneArenaria interpres
Red knotCalidris canutusnear-threatened
RuffCalidris pugnax(A)[6]
Stilt sandpiperCalidris himantopus
SanderlingCalidris alba
DunlinCalidris alpina
Least sandpiperCalidris minutilla
White-rumped sandpiperCalidris fuscicollis
Buff-breasted sandpiperCalidris subruficollis(A) near-threatened
Pectoral sandpiperCalidris melanotos
Semipalmated sandpiperCalidris pusillanear-threatened
Western sandpiperCalidris mauri
Short-billed dowitcherLimnodromus griseus
Long-billed dowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceus
Wilson's snipeGallinago delicata
Spotted sandpiperActitis macularius
Solitary sandpiperTringa solitaria
Lesser yellowlegsTringa flavipes
WilletTringa semipalmata
Greater yellowlegsTringa melanoleuca
Wilson's phalaropePhalaropus tricolor(A)
Red-necked phalaropePhalaropus lobatus(A)
Red phalaropePhalaropus fulicarius

Skuas and jaegers

Order: Charadriiformes   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.

Common name Binomial Status
South polar skuaStercorarius maccormicki(A)
Pomarine jaegerStercorarius pomarinus(A)
Parasitic jaegerStercorarius parasiticus(A)
Long-tailed jaegerStercorarius longicaudus(A)

Auks, murres, and puffins

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Alcidae

Auks are superficially similar to penguins due to their black-and-white colors, their upright posture, and some of their habits.

Common name Binomial Status
DovekieAlle alle(A)

Gulls, terns, and skimmers

Royal tern

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Laridae

Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds and includes gulls, kittiwakes, terns and 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 by flying low over the water surface and skimming the water for small fish.

Common name Binomial Status
Black-legged kittiwakeRissa tridactyla(A)
Sabine's gullXema sabini(A)
Bonaparte's gullChroicocephalus philadelphia
Black-headed gullChroicocephalus ridibundus(A)
Laughing gullLeucophaeus atricilla
Franklin's gullLeucophaeus pipixcan(A)
Ring-billed gullLarus delawarensis
Herring gullLarus argentatus
Lesser black-backed gullLarus fuscus
Great black-backed gullLarus marinus
Brown noddyAnous stolidus
Sooty ternOnychoprion fuscata
Bridled ternOnychoprion anaethetus
Least ternSternula antillarum
Large-billed ternPhaetusa simplex(A)
Gull-billed ternGelochelidon nilotica
Caspian ternHydroprogne caspia
Black ternChlidonias niger
Roseate ternSterna dougallii
Common ternSterna hirundo
Arctic ternSterna paradisaea(A)
Forster's ternSterna forsteri
Royal ternThalasseus maxima
Sandwich ternThalasseus sandvicensis
Black skimmerRynchops niger

Tropicbirds

Order: Phaethontiformes   Family: Phaethontidae

Tropicbirds are slender white birds of tropical oceans with exceptionally long central tail feathers. Their heads and long wings have black markings.

Common name Binomial Status
White-tailed tropicbirdPhaethon lepturus
Red-billed tropicbirdPhaethon aethereus(A)

Loons

Order: Gaviiformes   Family: Gaviidae

Loons, known as divers in Europe, are a group of aquatic birds found in many parts of North America and northern Europe. It is the size of a large duck or small goose, which it somewhat resemble when swimming, but is completely unrelated to these waterfowl.

Common name Binomial Status
Common loonGavia immer(A)

Southern storm-petrels

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: 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.

Common name Binomial Status
Wilson's storm-petrelOceanites oceanicus(A)

Northern storm-petrels

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: 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.

Common name Binomial Status
Leach's storm-petrelOceanodroma leucorhoa(A)
Band-rumped storm-petrelOceanodroma castro(A)

Shearwaters and petrels

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Procellariidae

The procellariids are the main group of medium-sized "true petrels", characterised by united nostrils with medium septum and a long outer functional primary.

Common name Binomial Status
Black-capped petrelPterodroma hasitata
Cory's shearwaterCalonectris diomedea(A)
Sooty shearwaterArdenna griseus(A) near-threatened
Great shearwaterArdenna gravis(A)
Audubon's shearwaterPuffinus lherminieri

Storks

Order: Ciconiiformes   Family: Ciconiidae

Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked, wading birds with long, stout bills. Storks are mute, but bill-clattering is an important mode of communication at the nest. Their nests can be large and may be reused for many years. Many species are migratory.

Common name Binomial Status
Wood storkMycteria americana

Frigatebirds

Order: Suliformes   Family: Fregatidae

Frigatebirds are large seabirds usually found over tropical oceans. They are large, black-and-white, or completely black, 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.

Common name Binomial Status
Magnificent frigatebirdFregata magnificens

Boobies and gannets

Order: Suliformes   Family: Sulidae

The sulids comprise the gannets and boobies. Both groups are medium to large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish.

Common name Binomial Status
Masked boobySula dactylatra(A)
Brown boobySula leucogaster
Red-footed boobySula sula(A)
Northern gannetMorus bassanus(A)

Anhingas

Order: Suliformes   Family: Anhingidae

Anhingas are often called "snake-birds" because of their long thin neck, which gives a snake-like appearance when they swim with their bodies submerged. The males have black and dark-brown plumage, an erectile crest on the nape, and a larger bill than the female. The females have much paler plumage especially on the neck and underparts. The darters have completely webbed feet and their legs are short and set far back on the body. Their plumage is somewhat permeable, like that of cormorants, and they spread their wings to dry after diving.

Common name Binomial Status
AnhingaAnhinga anhinga

Cormorants and shags

Neotropic cormorant

Order: Suliformes   Family: Phalacrocoracidae

Phalacrocoracidae is a family of medium to large coastal, fish-eating seabirds that includes cormorants and shags. Plumage coloration varies, with the majority having mainly dark plumage, some species being black-and-white, and a few being colorful.

Common name Binomial Status
Double-crested cormorantPhalacrocorax auritus
Neotropic cormorantPhalacrocorax brasilianus

Pelicans

American white pelican
Brown pelican

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Pelecanidae

Pelicans are large water birds with a distinctive pouch under their beak. As with other members of the order Pelecaniformes, they have webbed feet with four toes.

Common name Binomial Status
American white pelicanPelecanus erythrorhynchos
Brown pelicanPelecanus occidentalis

Herons, egrets, and bitterns

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: 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 wary. Members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted, unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises, and spoonbills.

Common name Binomial Status
American bitternBotaurus lentiginosus(A)
Least bitternIxobrychus exilis
Great blue heronArdea herodias
Great egretArdea alba
Snowy egretEgretta thula
Little blue heronEgretta caerulea
Tricolored heronEgretta tricolor
Reddish egretEgretta rufescensNear-threatened
Cattle egretBubulcus ibis
Green heronButorides virescens
Black-crowned night-heronNycticorax nycticorax
Yellow-crowned night-heronNyctanassa violacea

Ibises and spoonbills

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: 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 despite their size and weight, very capable soarers.

Common name Binomial Status
White ibisEudocimus albus
Scarlet ibisEudocimus ruber(A)
Glossy ibisPlegadis falcinellus
Roseate spoonbillPlatalea ajaja

New World vultures

Turkey vulture

Order: Cathartiformes   Family: 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 carrion.

Common name Binomial Status
Black vultureCoragyps atratus
Turkey vultureCathartes aura

Osprey

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Pandionidae

The family Pandionidae contains only one species, the osprey. The osprey is a medium-large raptor which is a specialist fish-eater with a worldwide distribution.

Common name Binomial Status
OspreyPandion haliaetus

Hawks, eagles, and kites

Cuban black hawk

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Accipitridae

Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey which includes hawks, eagles, kites, harriers, and Old World vultures. These birds have powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons, and keen eyesight.

Common name Binomial Status
Hook-billed kiteChondrohierax uncinatus wilsonii(Es)
Swallow-tailed kiteElanoides forficatus
Northern harrierCircus hudsonius
Sharp-shinned hawkAccipiter striatus fringilloides(Es)
Cooper's hawkAccipiter cooperii
Gundlach's hawkAccipiter gundlachi(E) endangered
Bald eagleHaliaeetus leucocephalus
Mississippi kiteIctinia mississippiensis
Snail kiteRostrhamus sociabilis
Cuban black hawkButeogallus gundlachii(E) Near-threatened
Broad-winged hawkButeo platypterus cubanensis(Es)
Short-tailed hawkButeo brachyurus
Swainson's hawkButeo swainsoni
Red-tailed hawkButeo jamaicensis

Barn-owls

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Tytonidae

Barn-owls are medium to large owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons.

Common name Binomial Status
Barn owlTyto alba

Owls

Cuban pygmy-owl

Order: Strigiformes   Family: 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.

Common name Binomial Status
Bare-legged owlMargarobyas lawrencii(E)
Cuban pygmy-owlGlaucidium siju(E)
Burrowing owlAthene cunicularia
Long-eared owlAsio otus(A)
Stygian owlAsio stygius suguapa(Es)
Short-eared owlAsio flammeus

Trogons

Cuban trogon

Order: Trogoniformes   Family: Trogonidae

The family Trogonidae includes trogons and quetzals. Found in tropical woodlands worldwide, they feed on insects and fruit, and their broad bills and weak legs reflect their diet and arboreal habits. Although their flight is fast, they are reluctant to fly any distance. Trogons have soft, often colorful, feathers with distinctive male and female plumage.

Common name Binomial Status
Cuban trogonPriotelus temnurus(E)

Todies

Cuban tody

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Todidae

Todies are a group of small near passerine forest species endemic to the Caribbean. These birds have colorful plumage and resemble small kingfishers, but have flattened bills with serrated edges. They eat small prey such as insects and lizards.

Common name Binomial Status
Cuban todyTodus multicolor(E)

Kingfishers

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Alcedinidae

Water kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs, and stubby tails.

Common name Binomial Status
Common kingfisherAlcedo atthis(A) (not on the AOS Check-list)
Belted kingfisherMegaceryle alcyon

Woodpeckers

Cuban green woodpecker
Northern flicker

Order: Piciformes   Family: 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.

Common name Binomial Status
West Indian woodpeckerMelanerpes superciliaris superciliaris(Es) main island and Cayo Cantiles
West Indian woodpeckerMelanerpes superciliaris murceus(Es) Isla de Pinos, Cayo Largo, and Cayo Real
Yellow-bellied sapsuckerSphyrapicus varius
Cuban green woodpeckerXiphidiopicus percussus(E)
Northern flickerColaptes auratus chrysocaulosus(Es)
Fernandina's flickerColaptes fernandinae(E) vulnerable
Ivory-billed woodpeckerCampephilus principalis bairdii(Es) critically endangered (possibly extinct)

Falcons and caracaras

American kestrel, male red morph
American kestrel, female white morph

Order: Falconiformes   Family: 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.

Common name Binomial Status
Crested caracaraCaracara cheriway
American kestrelFalco sparverius sparveroides(Es)
MerlinFalco columbarius
Peregrine falconFalco peregrinus

New World and African parrots

Cuban parakeet

Order: Psittaciformes   Family: Psittacidae

Parrots are small to large birds with a characteristic curved beak. Their upper mandibles have slight mobility in the joint with the skull and they have a generally erect stance. All parrots are zygodactyl, having the four toes on each foot placed two at the front and two to the back.

Common name Binomial Status
Blue-and-yellow macawAra ararauna(I)
Cuban macawAra tricolorextinct
Scarlet macawAra macao(I)
Red-and-green macaw Ara chloropterus(I)
Cuban parakeetPsittacara euops(E) vulnerable
Cuban parrotAmazona leucocephala leucocephala(Es) near-threatened

Tyrant flycatchers

Cuban pewee
Loggerhead kingbird
Giant kingbird

Order: Passeriformes   Family: 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, have plain coloring. As the name implies, most are insectivorous.

Common name Binomial Status
Great crested flycatcherMyiarchus crinitus
La Sagra's flycatcherMyiarchus sagrae
Tropical kingbirdTyrannus melancholicus(A)
Cassin's kingbirdTyrannus vociferans(A)
Western kingbirdTyrannus verticalis(A)
Eastern kingbirdTyrannus tyrannus
Gray kingbirdTyrannus dominicensis
Loggerhead kingbirdTyrannus caudifasciatus caudifasciatus(Es) main island
Loggerhead kingbirdTyrannus caudifasciatus flavescens(Es) Isla de Pinos
Giant kingbirdTyrannus cubensis(E) endangered
Scissor-tailed flycatcherTyrannus forficatus(A)
Fork-tailed flycatcherTyrannus savana(A)
Western wood-peweeContopus sordidulus
Eastern wood-peweeContopus virens
Cuban peweeContopus caribaeus caribaeus(Es) main island, Isla de Pinos, several cays
Cuban peweeContopus caribaeus morenoi(Es) Zapata, Los Canarreos
Cuban peweeContopus caribaeus nerlyi(Es) Islands off southern Camagüey
Yellow-bellied flycatcherEmpidonax flaviventris
Acadian flycatcherEmpidonax virescens
Willow flycatcherEmpidonax traillii
Least flycatcherEmpidonax minimus(A)
Eastern phoebeSayornis phoebe(A)
Vermilion flycatcherPyrocephalus rubinus(A)

Vireos, shrike-babblers, and erpornis

Order: Passeriformes   Family: 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.

Common name Binomial Status
White-eyed vireoVireo griseus
Thick-billed vireoVireo crassirostrisvulnerable
Cuban vireoVireo gundlachii(E)
Yellow-throated vireoVireo flavifrons
Blue-headed vireoVireo solitarius
Philadelphia vireoVireo philadelphicus
Warbling vireoVireo gilvus
Red-eyed vireoVireo olivaceus
Black-whiskered vireoVireo altiloquus

Crows, jays, and magpies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Corvidae

The family Corvidae includes crows, ravens, jays, choughs, magpies, treepies, nutcrackers, and ground jays. Corvids are above average in size among the Passeriformes, and some of the larger species show high levels of intelligence.

Common name Binomial Status
House crowCorvus splendens(A) (possibly ship-assisted)[7]
Palm crowCorvus palmarum minutus(Es) near-threatened
Cuban crowCorvus nasicus

Swallows

Order: Passeriformes   Family: 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.

Common name Binomial Status
Bank swallowRiparia riparia(A)
Tree swallowTachycineta bicolor
Bahama swallowTachycineta cyaneoviridis(A)
Northern rough-winged swallowStelgidopteryx serripennis
Purple martinProgne subis
Cuban martinProgne cryptoleuca
Barn swallowHirundo rustica
Cliff swallowPetrochelidon pyrrhonota
Cave swallowPetrochelidon fulva cavicola(Es)

Wrens

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Troglodytidae

The wrens are mainly small and inconspicuous except for their loud songs. These birds have short wings and thin down-turned bills. Several species often hold their tails upright. All are insectivorous.

Common name Binomial Status
Zapata wrenFerminia cerverai(E) endangered
House wrenTroglodytes aedon(A)
Marsh wrenCistothorus palustris(A)

Gnatcatchers

Cuban gnatcatcher

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Polioptilidae

These dainty birds resemble Old World warblers in their build and habits, moving restlessly through the foliage seeking insects. The gnatcatchers and gnatwrens are mainly soft bluish gray in color and have the typical insectivore's long sharp bill. They are birds of fairly open woodland or scrub, which nest in bushes or trees.

Common name Binomial Status
Blue-gray gnatcatcherPolioptila caerulea
Cuban gnatcatcherPolioptila lembeyei(E)

Kinglets

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Regulidae

The kinglets, also called crests, are a small group of birds often included in the Old World warblers, but frequently given family status because they also resemble the titmice.

Common name Binomial Status
Ruby-crowned kingletRegulus calendula(A)

Sylviid warblers, parrotbills, and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sylviidae

The family Sylviidae is a group of small insectivorous birds. They mainly occur as breeding species, as another common name (Old World warblers) implies, in Europe, Asia and, to a lesser extent, Africa. Most are of generally undistinguished appearance, but many have distinctive songs.

Common name Binomial Status
Eurasian blackcapSylvia atricapilla(A)

Old World flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: 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.

Common name Binomial Status
Northern wheatearOenanthe oenanthe(A)

Thrushes and allies

Red-legged thrush

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Turdidae

The thrushes are a group of passerine birds that occur mainly 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.

Common name Binomial Status
Eastern bluebirdSialia sialis(A)
Cuban solitaireMyadestes elisabeth(E) near-threatened
VeeryCatharus fuscescens
Gray-cheeked thrushCatharus minimus
Bicknell's thrushCatharus bicknellivulnerable
Swainson's thrushCatharus ustulatus
Hermit thrushCatharus guttatus(A)
Wood thrushHylocichla mustelina
American robinTurdus migratorius
Red-legged thrushTurdus plumbeus schistaceus(Es) eastern Cuba
Red-legged thrushTurdus plumbeus rubripes(Es) central and western Cuba and Isla de Pinos

Mockingbirds and thrashers

Gray catbird
Northern mockingbird

Order: Passeriformes   Family: 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 vocalizations, especially their ability to mimic a wide variety of birds and other sounds heard outdoors. Their coloring tends towards dull-grays and browns.

Common name Binomial Status
Gray catbirdDumetella carolinensis
Brown thrasherToxostoma rufum
Bahama mockingbirdMimus gundlachii
Northern mockingbirdMimus polyglottos

Starlings

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sturnidae

Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds. Their flight is strong and direct and they are very gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country. They eat insects and fruit. Plumage is typically dark with a metallic sheen.

Common name Binomial Status
European starlingSturnus vulgaris(I) (A)

Waxwings

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Bombycillidae

The waxwings are a group of passerine 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.

Common name Binomial Status
Cedar waxwingBombycilla cedrorum

Waxbills and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: 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 build and habits, but have wide variation in plumage colors and patterns.

Common name Binomial Status
Scaly-breasted muniaLonchura punctulata(I)
Tricolored muniaLonchura malacca(I)
Chestnut muniaLonchura atricapilla(I)

Old World sparrows

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Passeridae

Sparrows are small passerine birds. In general, sparrows tend to be small, plump, brown or gray birds with short tails and short powerful beaks. Sparrows are seed eaters, but they also consume small insects.

Common name Binomial Status
House sparrowPasser domesticus(I)

Wagtails and pipits

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Motacillidae

Motacillidae is a family of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They include the wagtails, longclaws, and pipits. They are slender ground-feeding insectivores of open country.

Common name Binomial Status
American pipitAnthus rubescens(A)

Finches, euphonias, and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: 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.

Common name Binomial Status
American goldfinchSpinus tristis(A)

Longspurs and snow buntings

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Calcariidae

The Calcariidae are a group of passerine birds that had been traditionally grouped with the New World sparrows, but differ in a number of respects and are usually found in open grassy areas.

Common name Binomial Status
Lapland longspurCalcarius lapponicus(A)

New World sparrows

Zapata sparrow

Order: Passeriformes   Family: 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.

Common name Binomial Status
Grasshopper sparrowAmmodramus savannarum
Lark sparrowChondestes grammacus(A)
Chipping sparrowSpizella passerina(A)
Clay-colored sparrowSpizella pallida
Dark-eyed juncoJunco hyemalis(A)
White-crowned sparrowZonotrichia leucophrys
Savannah sparrowPasserculus sandwichensis
Lincoln's sparrowMelospiza lincolnii
Zapata sparrowTorreornis inexpectata(E) endangered
Green-tailed towheePipilo chlorurus(A)

Spindalises

Western spindalis

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Spindalidae

The members of this small family are native to the Greater Antilles. They were formerly classified as tanagers (family Thraupidae) but were placed in their own family in 2017.

Common name Binomial Status
Western spindalisSpindalis zena pretrei(Es)

Cuban warblers

Oriente warbler

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Teretistridae

These two species were formerly placed in the New World warblers (Parulidae) but were moved to their own family in 2017.

Common name Binomial Status
Yellow-headed warblerTeretistris fernandinae(E)
Oriente warblerTeretistris fornsi(E)

Yellow-breasted chat

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Icteriidae

This species was historically placed in the New World warblers, but nonetheless most authorities were unsure if it belonged there. It was moved to its own family in 2017.

Common name Binomial Status
Yellow-breasted chat Icteria virens

Troupials and allies

Tawny-shouldered blackbird
Cuban blackbird
Greater Antillean grackle
Shiny cowbird

Order: Passeriformes   Family: 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 the predominant plumage color, often enlivened by yellow, orange, or red.

Common name Binomial Status
Yellow-headed blackbirdXanthocephalus xanthocephalus(A)
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorus
Eastern meadowlarkSturnella magna hippocrepis(Es)
Cuban orioleIcterus melanopsis(E)
Orchard orioleIcterus spurius
Hooded orioleIcterus cucullatus(A)
Yellow-tailed orioleIcterus mesomelas(A)
Altamira orioleIcterus gularis(A)
Baltimore orioleIcterus galbula
Red-shouldered blackbirdAgelaius assimilis(E)
Tawny-shouldered blackbirdAgelaius humeralis scopulus(Es) Cayo Cantiles
Tawny-shouldered blackbirdAgelaius humeralis humeralis
Shiny cowbirdMolothrus bonariensis
Brown-headed cowbirdMolothrus ater(A)
Cuban blackbirdDives atroviolacea(E)
Rusty blackbirdEuphagus carolinus(A)
Greater Antillean grackleQuiscalus niger caribaeus(Es) western Cuba, Isla de Pinos, and cays east to Cayos de las Doce Leguas
Greater Antillean grackleQuiscalus niger gundlachii(Es) central and eastern Cuba and inner cays of Jardines de la Reina

New World warblers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Parulidae

Yellow warbler
Black-throated blue warbler
Prairie warbler

The New World warblers are a group of small, often colorful, passerine birds restricted to the New World. Most are arboreal, but some are terrestrial. Most members of this family are insectivores.

Common name Binomial Status
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapilla
Worm-eating warblerHelmitheros vermivorum
Louisiana waterthrush Parkesia motacilla
Northern waterthrush Parkesia noveboracensis
Bachman's warblerVermivora bachmaniicritically endangered (possibly extinct)
Golden-winged warblerVermivora chrysopteraNear-threatened
Blue-winged warblerVermivora cyanoptera
Black-and-white warblerMniotilta varia
Prothonotary warblerProtonotaria citrea
Swainson's warblerLimnothlypis swainsonii
Tennessee warblerLeiothlypis peregrina
Orange-crowned warblerLeiothlypis celata(A)
Nashville warblerLeiothlypis ruficapilla(A)
Virginia's warblerLeiothlypis virginiae(A)
Connecticut warblerOporornis agilis(A)
Mourning warblerGeothlypis philadelphia(A)
Kentucky warblerGeothlypis formosa
Common yellowthroatGeothlypis trichas
Hooded warblerSetophaga citrina
American redstart Setophaga ruticilla
Kirtland's warblerSetophaga kirtlandii(A) near-threatened
Cape May warblerSetophaga tigrina
Cerulean warblerSetophaga ceruleaVulnerable
Northern parula Setophaga americana
Magnolia warblerSetophaga magnolia
Bay-breasted warblerSetophaga castanea
Blackburnian warblerSetophaga fusca
Yellow warblerSetophaga petechia
Chestnut-sided warblerSetophaga pensylvanica
Blackpoll warblerSetophaga striata
Black-throated blue warblerSetophaga caerulescens
Palm warblerSetophaga palmarum
Olive-capped warblerSetophaga pityophila
Pine warblerSetophaga pinus
Yellow-rumped warblerSetophaga coronata
Yellow-throated warblerSetophaga dominica
Prairie warblerSetophaga discolor
Black-throated gray warblerSetophaga nigrescens(A)
Townsend's warblerSetophaga townsendi(A)
Black-throated green warblerSetophaga virens
Canada warblerCardellina canadensis
Wilson's warblerCardellina pusilla

Cardinals and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: 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.

Common name Binomial Status
Summer tanagerPiranga rubra
Scarlet tanagerPiranga olivacea
Western tanagerPiranga ludoviciana(A)
Rose-breasted grosbeakPheucticus ludovicianus
Blue grosbeakPasserina caerulea
Lazuli buntingPasserina amoena(A)
Indigo buntingPasserina cyanea
Painted buntingPasserina cirisnear-threatened
DickcisselSpiza americana

Tanagers and allies

Cuban bullfinch
Cuban grassquit

Order: Passeriformes   Family: 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. Most have short, rounded wings.

Common name Binomial Status
Saffron finchSicalis flaveola(A)
Blue-black grassquitVolatinia jacarina(A)
Red-legged honeycreeperCyanerpes cyaneus
BananaquitCoereba flaveola(A)
Yellow-faced grassquitTiaris olivaceus
Cuban bullfinchMelopyrrha nigra nigra(Es)
Cuban grassquitPhonipara canora(E)
Black-faced grassquitMelanospiza bicolor

References

  1. Navarro, Nils; Reyes, Ernesto (2017). Annotated Checklist of the Birds of Cuba (1 ed.). Ediciones Nuevos Mundos.
  2. "Check-list of North and Middle American Birds". American Ornithological Society. June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  3. Orlando H. Garrido and Arturo H. Kirkconnell, Birds of Cuba, Christopher Helm, Cornell 2000 ISBN 0-7136-5784-7
  4. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2019. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2019. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/ Retrieved August 15, 2019
  5. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22690733/152593137
  6. Kirkconnell Jr., Arturo (2017). "Ruff Calidris pugnax, first record for Cuba". Cotinga. 39: 78.
  7. "House Crow eBird range map". Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Retrieved 21 August 2018.

See also

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