List of birds of Barbados

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.

Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps (B)

Albatrosses

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Diomedeidae

The albatrosses are among the largest of flying birds, and the great albatrosses from the genus Diomedea have the largest wingspans of any extant birds.

Black-browed albatross, Thalassarche melanophris

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.

Cory's shearwater, Calonectris diomedea (A)

Great shearwater, Ardenna gravis (A)

Sooty shearwater, Ardenna griseus (A)

Audubon's shearwater, Puffinus lherminieri (B)

Storm petrels

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Hydrobatidae

The storm petrels are relatives of the petrels and are the smallest seabirds. They feed on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like.

Wilson's storm petrel, Oceanites oceanicus (A)

Leach's storm petrel, Oceanodroma leucorhoa (A)

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.

Red-billed tropicbird, Phaethon aethereus (B)

White-tailed tropicbird, Phaethon lepturus (A)

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.

Masked booby, Sula dactylatra (A)

Red-footed booby, Sula sula (A)

Brown booby, Sula leucogaster (A)

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 coloured 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

Pelicans

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.

Brown pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis (A)

Bitterns, herons and egrets

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.

Grey heron, Ardea cinerea (A)

Great blue heron, Ardea herodias

Purple heron, Ardea purpurea (A)

Great egret, Ardea alba

Tricoloured heron, Egretta tricolor (A)

Little blue heron, Egretta caerulea

Western reef heron, Egretta gularis (A)

Snowy egret, Egretta thula (B)

Little egret, Egretta garzetta (B)

Cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis (B)

Green heron, Butorides virescens (B)

Striated heron, Butorides striata (A)

Black-crowned night heron, Nycticorax nycticorax (B)

Yellow-crowned night heron, Nyctanassa violacea (A)

Least bittern, Ixobrychus exilis (A)

American bittern, Botaurus lentiginosus (A)

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.

White ibis, Eudocimus albus

Glossy ibis, Plegadis falcinellus (A)

Ducks, geese and swans

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.

Fulvous whistling duck, Dendrocygna bicolor (M)

White-faced whistling duck, Dendrocygna viduata (M)

West Indian whistling duck, Dendrocygna arborea (M)

Black-bellied whistling duck, Dendrocygna autumnalis (B)

Snow goose, Chen caerulescens (M)

Orinoco goose, Neochen jubata (M)

Eurasian wigeon, Anas penelope (M)

American wigeon, Anas americana (M)

Eurasian teal, Anas crecca (M)

Northern pintail, Anas acuta (M)

White-cheeked pintail, Anas bahamensis (M)

Garganey, Anas querquedula (A)

Blue-winged teal, Anas discors (M)

Northern shoveler, Anas clypeata (M)

Redhead, Aythya americana (A) ?

Common pochard, Aythya ferina (A) (February 2011)

Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris (M)

Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis (M)

Hooded merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus (A)

Masked duck, Nomonyx dominica (B)

Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis (A)

Common shelduck, Tadorna tadorna (A) (November 2013)

New World vultures

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.

Black vulture, Coragyps atratus

Osprey

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Pandionidae

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

Osprey, Pandion haliaetus (M)

Hawks, kites and eagles

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.

Northern harrier, Circus hudsonius

Broad-winged hawk, Buteo platypterus (A)

Red-tailed hawk, Buteo jamaicensis (Ex)

Caracaras and falcons

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.

American kestrel, Falco sparverius (A)

Merlin, Falco columbarius (A)

Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus

Rails, crakes, 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.

Clapper rail, Rallus crepitans (A)

Sora, Porzana carolina (M)

Purple gallinule, Porphyrio martinicus (A)

Common gallinule, Gallinula galeata(B)

American coot, Fulica americana (B)

Oystercatchers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Haematopodidae

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

American oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus (A)

Avocets and 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.

Black-necked stilt, Himantopus mexicanus (B) first recorded breeding July 2011

American avocet, Recurvirostra americana (A)

Thick-knees

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Burhinidae

The thick-knees are a group of largely tropical waders in the family Burhinidae. They are found worldwide within the tropical zone, with some species also breeding in temperate Europe and Australia. They are medium to large waders with strong black or yellow-black bills, large yellow eyes and cryptic plumage. Despite being classed as waders, most species have a preference for arid or semi-arid habitats.

Double-striped thick-knee, Burhinus bistriatus

Plovers and lapwings

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.

Northern lapwing, Vanellus vanellus (A)

Southern lapwing, Vanellus chilensis (B)

Pacific golden plover, Pluvialis fulva (A) (doubtful)

American golden plover, Pluvialis dominica (M)

Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola (M)

Common ringed plover, Charadrius hiaticula (A)

Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus (M)

Wilson's plover, Charadrius wilsonia (A)

Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus (M)

Piping plover, Charadrius melodus (A)

Snowy plover, Charadrius nivosus

Collared plover, Charadrius collaris (A)

Sandpipers and allies

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.

Jack snipe, Lymnocryptes minimus (A)

Wilson's snipe, Gallinago delicata (M)

Short-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus griseus (M)

Long-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus scolopaceus (M)

Hudsonian godwit, Limosa haemastica (M)

Marbled godwit, Limosa fedoa (A)

Eskimo curlew, Numenius borealis (A)

Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus (M)

Upland sandpiper, Bartramia longicauda (M)

Spotted redshank, Tringa erythropus (A)

Common greenshank, Tringa nebularia (A)

Greater yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca (M)

Lesser yellowlegs, Tringa flavipes (M)

Solitary sandpiper, Tringa solitaria (M)

Wood sandpiper, Tringa glareola (A)

Willet, Tringa semipalmata (M)

Spotted sandpiper, Actitis macularia (M)

Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres (M)

Red knot, Calidris canutus (A)

Sanderling, Calidris alba (M)

Semipalmated sandpiper, Calidris pusilla (M)

Western sandpiper, Calidris mauri (A)

Least sandpiper, Calidris minutilla (M)

White-rumped sandpiper, Calidris fuscicollis (M)

Baird's sandpiper, Calidris bairdii (A)

Pectoral sandpiper, Calidris melanotos (M)

Curlew sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea (A)

Dunlin, Calidris alpina (A)

Stilt sandpiper, Calidris himantopus (M)

Buff-breasted sandpiper, Calidris subruficollis (M)

Ruff, Calidris pugnax (A)

Wilson's phalarope, Phalaropus tricolor (A)

Red phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius (A)

Skuas and jaegers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Stercorariidae

The family Stercorariidae are, in general, medium to large birds, typically with grey 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.

South polar skua, Stercorarius maccormicki

Great skua, Stercorarius skua

Pomarine jaeger, Stercorarius pomarinus (A)

Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus (A)

Long-tailed jaeger, Stercorarius longicaudus (A)

Gulls, terns and skimmers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Laridae

Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds and includes gulls, kittiwakes, terns and skimmers. They are typically grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet. Terns are a group of generally medium to large seabirds typically with grey 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.

Ring-billed gull, Larus delawarensis (A)

Great black-backed gull, Larus marinus (A)

Lesser black-backed gull, Larus fuscus (A)

Herring gull, Larus argentatus (A)

Black-headed gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus (A)

Bonaparte's gull, Chroicocephalus philadelphia (A)

Laughing gull, Leucophaeus atricilla

Gull-billed tern, Gelochelidon nilotica (A)

Caspian tern, Hydroprogne caspia (A)

Sandwich tern, Thalasseus sandvicensis (A)

Royal tern, Thalasseus maxima

Roseate tern, Sterna dougallii (A)

Common tern, Sterna hirundo (A)

Least tern, Sternula antillarum (A)

Bridled tern, Onychoprion anaethetus

Sooty tern, Onychoprion fuscata

Whiskered tern, Chlidonias hybridus (A)

White-winged tern, Chlidonias leucopterus (A)

Black tern, Chlidonias niger (A)

Black noddy, Anous minutus (A)

Brown noddy, Anous stolidus (A)

Pigeons and doves

Order: Columbiformes   Family: Columbidae

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

Rock dove, Columba livia (I)

White-crowned pigeon, Patagioenas leucocephala

Scaly-naped pigeon, Patagioenas squamosa(B)

Eared dove, Zenaida auriculata (B)

Zenaida dove, Zenaida aurita(B)

Common ground dove, Columbina passerina(B)

African collared dove, Streptopelia roseogrisea (B) Eurasian collared dove may be present

African and New World parrots

Order: Psittaciformes   Family: Psittacidae

Brown-throated parakeet, Eupsittula pertinax (I) Very doubtful KSW

Green-rumped parrotlet, Forpus passerinus (I) Probably extirpated KSW

Orange-winged amazon, Amazona amazonica (B)

Yellow-crowned amazon, Amazona orocephala (B)

Old World parrots

Order: Psittaciformes   Family: Psittaculidae

Rose-ringed parakeet, Psittacula krameri (B)

Cuckoos and anis

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 cuckoo, Cuculus canorus

Black-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus erythropthalmus (A)

Yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus (A)

Nightjars

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.

White-tailed nightjar, Hydropsalis cayennensis (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.

Black swift, Cypseloides niger (B)

Chimney swift, Chaetura pelagica

Short-tailed swift, Chaetura brachyura (A)

Alpine swift, Tachymarptis melba (A)

Hummingbirds

Order: Trochiliformes   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.

Purple-throated carib, Eulampis jugularis (A)

Green-throated carib, Eulampis holosericeus (B)

Antillean crested hummingbird, Orthorhyncus cristatus (B)

Kingfishers

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Alcedinidae

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

Belted kingfisher, Megaceryle alcyon

Tyrant flycatchers

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 colouring. As the name implies, most are insectivorous.

Caribbean elaenia, Elaenia martinica

Eastern wood pewee, Contopus virens (A)

Acadian flycatcher, Empidonax virescens

Gray kingbird, Tyrannus dominicensis

Fork-tailed flycatcher, Tyrannus savana (A)

Swallows and martins

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.

Caribbean martin, Progne dominicensis

Bank swallow, Riparia riparia (A)

Cliff swallow, Petrochelidon pyrrhonota (A)

Barn swallow, Hirundo rustica

Mockingbirds and thrashers

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 colouring tends towards dull-greys and browns.

Scaly-breasted thrasher, Allenia fusca (EX)

Pearly-eyed thrasher, Margarops fuscatus (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.

Northern wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe (A)

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.

European starling, Sturnus vulgaris (I)

Vireos

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Vireonidae

The vireos are a group of small to medium-sized passerine birds restricted to the New World. They are typically greenish in colour and resemble wood warblers apart from their heavier bills.

Yellow-throated vireo, Vireo flavifrons (A)

Red-eyed vireo, Vireo olivaceus (A)

Yellow-green vireo, Vireo flavoviridis

Black-whiskered vireo, Vireo altiloquus

New World warblers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Parulidae

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

Tennessee warbler, Oreothlypis peregrina (A)

Northern parula, Setophaga americana (A)

Yellow warbler, Setophaga petechia

Chestnut-sided warbler, Setophaga pensylvanica (A)

Magnolia warbler, Setophaga magnolia (A)

Cape May warbler, Setophaga tigrina (A)

Black-throated blue warbler, Setophaga caerulescens (A)

Yellow-rumped warbler, Setophaga coronata (A)

Black-throated green warbler, Setophaga virens (A)

Blackburnian warbler, Setophaga fusca (A)

Yellow-throated warbler, Setophaga dominica (A)

Prairie warbler, Setophaga discolor (A)

Palm warbler, Setophaga palmarum (A)

Bay-breasted warbler, Setophaga castanea (A)

Blackpoll warbler, Setophaga striata (A)

Cerulean warbler, Setophaga cerulea (A)

American redstart, Setophaga ruticilla (A)

Hooded warbler, Setophaga citrina (A)

Black-and-white warbler, Mniotilta varia (A)

Prothonotary warbler, Protonotaria citrea (A)

Ovenbird, Seiurus aurocapilla (A)

Northern waterthrush, Parkesia noveboracensis (A)

Tanagers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Thraupidae

Bananaquit, Coereba flaveola

Buntings, sparrows, seedeaters and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Emberizidae

The emberizids are a large family of passerine birds. They are seed-eating birds with distinctively shaped bills. In Europe, most species are called buntings. In North America, most of the species in this family are known as sparrows, but these birds are not closely related to the Old World sparrows which are in the family Passeridae. Many emberizid species have distinctive head patterns.

Black-faced grassquit, Tiaris bicolor(B)

Barbados bullfinch, Loxigilla barbadensis (E)

Grassland yellow finch, Sicalis luteola (B)

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.

Scarlet tanager, Piranga olivacea (A)

Summer tanager, Piranga rubra (A)

Rose-breasted grosbeak, Pheucticus ludovicianus (A)

Dickcissel, Spiza americana (A)

Troupials and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Icteridae

The icterids are a group of small to medium-sized, often colourful, 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 colour, often enlivened by yellow, orange or red.

Bobolink, Dolichonyx oryzivorus (A)

Yellow-headed blackbird, Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus

Carib grackle, Quiscalus lugubris(B)

Shiny cowbird, Molothrus bonariensis (B)

Baltimore oriole, Icterus galbula (A)

Old World sparrows

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Passeridae

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

House sparrow, Passer domesticus (I)