List of birds of Puerto Rico

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

This is a list of the bird species recorded in the archipelago of

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.

endemic. 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.[2] For example, a 2018 study on introduced Psittacidae 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.[3]
Around 120 species breed in Puerto Rico while the majority of the others overwinter in the archipelago. An additional accidental species has been added from another source.

This list is presented in 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 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   Family: Anatidae

The Anatidae include the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. 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.

  • White-cheeked pintail, a species which can be found on the salt flats of Vieques.
    White-cheeked pintail, a species which can be found on the salt flats of Vieques.
  • Blue-winged teal, this non-breeding species may be found in both the north and south regions of the main island.
    Blue-winged teal, this non-breeding species may be found in both the north and south regions of the main island.
  • Ruddy duck, this breeding species is typically found in Puerto Rico's northern coastal areas.
    Ruddy duck, this breeding species is typically found in Puerto Rico's northern coastal areas.

Guineafowl

Helmeted guineafowl

Order:

Numididae

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

New World quail

Order:

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.

Pheasants, grouse, and allies

Order: Galliformes   Family: Phasianidae

The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds which consists of

jungle fowls
. In general, they are plump (although they vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings.

Flamingos

Order:

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.

Grebes

Pied-billed grebe, commonly known as zaramago in Spanish.

Order:

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.

Pigeons and doves

Rock pigeon, a common occurrence in the urban areas of Puerto Rico.

Order:

Columbiformes   Family: Columbidae

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

Cuckoos

Smooth-billed ani, a species which can be found in urban areas.

Order:

Cuculidae

The family Cuculidae includes

brood parasites
.

Nightjars and allies

Order:

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 cryptically colored to resemble bark or leaves.

Potoos

Order:

Nyctibiidae

nocturnal
insectivores which lack the bristles around the mouth found in the true nightjars.

Swifts

Order:

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.

Hummingbirds

Ruby-throated hummingbird, a species which occurs accidentally in Puerto Rico.

Order:

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.

Rails, gallinules, and coots

University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras
.

Order:

Rallidae

Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the

gallinules
. 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.

Limpkin

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Aramidae

The limpkin is an odd bird that looks like a large rail, but is skeletally closer to the cranes.

Stilts and avocets

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.

Oystercatchers

American oystercatcher, this breeding species can be found almost anywhere along the coast.

Order:

Haematopodidae

The

molluscs
.

Plovers and lapwings

Killdeer, a species that breeds in Puerto Rico.

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Charadriidae

The family Charadriidae includes the

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.

Jacanas

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Jacanidae

The 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.

Sandpipers and allies

Order:

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. Different lengths of legs and bills enable multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.

  • Greater yellowlegs, a common occurrence, except in summer, at the island of Culebra.
    Greater yellowlegs, a common occurrence, except in summer, at the island of Culebra.
  • Ruddy turnstone, a non-breeding species commonly found near coastal waters.
    Ruddy turnstone, a non-breeding species commonly found near coastal waters.
  • Sanderling, a non-breeding species commonly found near bodies of water.
    Sanderling, a non-breeding species commonly found near bodies of water.

Skuas and jaegers

Order:

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.

Gulls, terns, and skimmers

Laughing gull, the most common gull (gaviota) in Puerto Rico.
Sooty tern, this species nests in the Culebra National Reserve.

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Laridae

Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds and includes

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.

Tropicbirds

Order:

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.

Southern storm-petrels

Order:

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:

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: Procellariiformes   Family: 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.

Storks

Order:

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.

Frigatebirds

Order:

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.

Boobies and gannets

Order: Suliformes   Family: Sulidae

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

Cormorants and shags

Order:

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.

Pelicans

Brown pelican, a protected species which commonly occurs in Puerto Rico's coasts.

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: 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.

Herons, egrets, and bitterns

cows
.

Order:

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.

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, rather surprisingly, given their size and weight, very capable soarers.

New World vultures

The turkey vulture (whose origin in the archipelago is unclear and may be an introduced species[10]) has taken residence in Southwestern Puerto Rico, most notably in the Guánica State Forest.

Order:

Cathartidae

The

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.

Osprey

Order:

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.

Hawks, eagles, and kites

Red-tailed hawk, commonly known as guaraguao in Puerto Rico.

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 very large powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons, and keen eyesight.

Barn-owls

Order:

Tytonidae

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

Owls

Short-eared owl, a species found in the southwestern municipality of Cabo Rojo.
Puerto Rican owl, a species found in the western municipality of Aguada.

Order:

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.

Todies

Puerto Rican tody, an endemic bird known as San Pedrito (little Saint Peter).

Order:

Todidae

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.

Kingfishers

Order:

Alcedinidae

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

Woodpeckers

Order:

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.

Falcons and caracaras

American kestrel, known as halcón común (common falcon) in Puerto Rico.

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.

Cockatoos

Order:

Cacatuidae

The cockatoos share many features with other parrots including the characteristic curved beak shape and a zygodactyl foot, with two forward toes and two backwards toes. They differ, however in a number of characteristics, including the often spectacular movable headcrest.

New World and African parrots

Puerto Rican parrot, an endemic species and one of the 10 most endangered birds in the world.

Order:

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 8 cm (3.1 in) to 1 m (3.3 ft) in length. Most of the more than 150 species in this family are found in the New World.

Tyrant flycatchers

onomatopoeic
name which describes the species' call.

Order:

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.

Vireos, shrike-babblers, and erpornis

Order:

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.

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.

Swallows

Barn swallow, species from this family are known as golondrinas in Puerto Rico.

Order:

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.

Waxwings

Order:

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.

Mockingbirds and thrashers

Northern mockingbird, commonly known as ruiseñor in Puerto Rico.

Order:

Mimidae

The mimids are a family of passerine birds that includes

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.

Starlings

Order:

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.

Thrushes and allies

Order:

Turdidae

The 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.

Old World flycatchers

Order:

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.

Weavers and allies

Order:

Passeriformes   Family: 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.

Indigobirds

Order:

Passeriformes   Family: Viduidae

The Viduidae is a family of small passerine birds native to

estrildid finches
. Species usually have black or indigo predominating in their plumage.

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 structure and habits, but have wide variation in plumage colors and patterns.

Old World sparrows

House sparrow, a common species in Puerto Rico's urban areas.

Order:

Passeridae

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.

Finches, euphonias, and allies

Order:

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.

New World sparrows

Grasshopper sparrow, a species that commonly occurs in rice fields and pastures.

Order:

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.

Puerto Rican tanager

Order:

Nesospingidae

This species was formerly classified as a tanager (family Thraupidae) but was placed in its own family in 2017.

Spindalises

Order:

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.

Troupials and allies

United States Fish and Wildlife Service list of endangered species
in 1976.

Order:

Icteridae

The icterids are a group of small to medium-sized, often colorful passerine birds restricted to the New World and include the

New World blackbirds, and New World orioles
. Most species have black as a predominant plumage color, often enlivened by yellow, orange, or red.

New World warblers

Elfin-woods warbler, the most recently described New World warbler.

Order:

Parulidae

The 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.

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.

Tanagers and allies

Order:

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.

See also

References

  1. ^ Lepage, Denis (March 13, 2021). "Checklist of Birds of Puerto Rico". Avibase bird checklists of the world. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
  2. ^ "Puerto Rico eBird Bar Chart". Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  3. PMID 30397538
    .
  4. ^ Chesser, R. T., S. M. Billerman, K. J. Burns, C. Cicero, J. L. Dunn, B. E. Hernández-Baños, R. A. Jiménez, A. W. Kratter, N. A. Mason, P. C. Rasmussen, J. V. Remsen, Jr., D. F. Stotz, and K. Winker. 2022. Check-list of North American Birds (online). American Ornithological Society. (July 29, 2022). "Check-list of North and Middle American Birds". American Ornithological Society. Retrieved July 7, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22679763A92829021.en
    . Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  6. ^ "Ruddy Ground Dove". Observation.org. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  7. ^ Retter, Michael (August 3, 2022). "Checklist Supplement Redux, v. 2022". American Birding Association. Retrieved August 26, 2022.
  8. ^ Bryan, D. C. (2020). Limpkin (Aramus guarauna), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (A. F. Poole and F. B. Gill, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.limpki.01 retrieved August 14, 2021.
  9. ^ Whitbeck, Matthew W. (2019). "First record of Scarlet Ibis Eudocimus ruber in Puerto Rico". Cotinga. 41: 110–111.
  10. ^ https://sora.unm.edu/sites/default/files/journals/jfo/v057n03/p0235-p0238.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  11. ^ 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.

Further reading

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