List of birds of Trinidad and Tobago
A total of 482 species of birds have been recorded on the islands of Trinidad and Tobago. There are few places in the world where so many bird species can be seen in such a small area, many of them unique, very rare, or of particular interest. They range from the many species of hummingbird to the cave-dwelling oilbird (which uses echo-location to fly in the dark) and the spectacular scarlet ibis.
The islands are within a few miles of Venezuela, and the species are therefore typical of tropical South America. However, the number of species is relatively low compared to the mainland, as would be expected on small islands.
The resident breeding birds are augmented in the northern winter by migrants from North America, although the range of migrant passerines is very limited compared to Central America.
Species in the list are common on both main islands except as indicated otherwise. Many are also present on other, small, islands which are usually not named in the list. Tobago has only about half the number of bird species of Trinidad, but 27 species and one subspecies have occurred only on the smaller island. Some of the smaller islands off Tobago, such as Little Tobago, have important seabird breeding colonies.
This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families, and species) and nomenclature (common and scientific names) follow the conventions of The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 2016 edition.[1] The taxonomy used by the South American Classification Committee (SACC) of the American Ornithologists' Union differs from "Clements", and significant differences in names are noted.[2] Differences from "Clements" in the sequence of orders, families, and species within families are not noted. Except as an entry is cited otherwise, the list of species and the status of each are as determined by the Trinidad & Tobago Bird Status & Distribution Committee as of August 2016.[3]
Tinamous
Order: Tinamiformes Family: Tinamidae
The tinamous are one of the most ancient groups of bird. Although they look similar to other ground-dwelling birds like quail and grouse, they have no close relatives and are classified as a single family, Tinamidae, within their own order, the Tinamiformes. They are distantly related to the ratites (order Struthioniformes), that includes the rheas, emus, and kiwis.
Name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Little tinamou | Crypturellus soui | Trinidad only |
Screamers
Order: Anseriformes Family: Anhimidae
The screamers are a small family of birds related to the ducks. They are large, bulky birds, with a small downy head, long legs and large feet which are only partially webbed. They have large spurs on their wings which are used in fights over mates and in territorial disputes.
Name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Horned screamer | Anhima cornuta | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
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.
Name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
White-faced whistling-duck | Dendrocygna viduata | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Black-bellied whistling-duck | Dendrocygna autumnalis | |
Fulvous whistling-duck | Dendrocygna bicolor | Trinidad only |
Snow goose | Chen caerulescens | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Comb duck | Sarkidiornis melanotos | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Muscovy duck | Cairina moschata | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Eurasian wigeon | Anas penelope | Tobago only - rare/accidental |
American wigeon | Anas americana | Tobago only - rare/accidental |
Blue-winged teal | Anas discors | |
Northern shoveller | Anas clypeata | Rare/accidental |
White-cheeked pintail | Anas bahamensis | |
Northern pintail | Anas acuta | Rare/accidental |
Green-winged teal | Anas crecca | Rare/accidental |
Southern pochard | Netta erythrophthalma | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Ring-necked duck | Aythya collaris | Rare/accidental |
Lesser scaup | Aythya affinis | Rare/accidental |
Masked duck | Oxyura dominica | |
Guans, chachalacas, and curassows
Order: Galliformes Family: Cracidae
The Cracidae are large birds, similar in general appearance to turkeys. The guans and curassows live in trees, but the smaller chachalacas are found in more open scrubby habitats. They are generally dull-plumaged, but the curassows and some guans have colourful facial ornaments.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Rufous-vented chachalaca | Ortalis ruficauda | Tobago only |
Trinidad piping-guan | Aburria pipile | Endemic to Trinidad |
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.
Name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Least grebe | Tachybaptus dominicus | |
Pied-billed grebe | Podilymbus podiceps | |
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.
Name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
American flamingo | Phoenicopterus ruber | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
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 |
---|---|---|
Bulwer's petrel | Bulweria bulwerii | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Cory's shearwater | Calonectris diomedea | Rare/accidental |
Great shearwater | Ardenna gravis | Rare/accidental |
Sooty shearwater | Ardenna grisea | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Manx shearwater | Puffinus puffinus | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Audubon's shearwater | Puffinus lherminieri | Little Tobago only - rare/accidental |
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.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Wilson's storm petrel | Oceanites oceanicus | Rare/accidental |
Leach's storm petrel | Oceanodroma leucorhoa | |
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 tropicbird | Phaethon lepturus | Tobago only - rare/accidental |
Red-billed tropicbird | Phaethon aethereus | |
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.
Name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Maguari stork | Ciconia maguari | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Jabiru | Jabiru mycteria | Rare/accidental |
Wood stork | Mycteria americana | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
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.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Magnificent frigatebird | Fregata 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 booby | Sula dactylatra | Rare/accidental |
Brown booby | Sula leucogaster | |
Red-footed booby | Sula sula | |
Northern gannet | Morus bassanus | Rare/accidental |
Cormorants and shags
Order: Suliformes Family: Phalacrocoracidae
Phalacrocoracidae is a family of medium to large coastal, fish-eating seabirds that includes cormorants and shags. Plumage colouration varies; the majority of species have mainly dark plumage, but some are pied black and white, and a few are more colourful.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Neotropic cormorant | Phalacrocorax brasilianus | |
Anhingas
Order: Suliformes Family: Anhingidae
Anhingas are often called "snake-birds" because they have long thin necks, 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 |
---|---|---|
Anhinga | Anhinga anhinga | |
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.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Brown pelican | Pelecanus 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.
Name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Pinnated bittern | Botaurus pinnatus | Trinidad only |
Least bittern | Ixobrychus exilis | Trinidad only |
Stripe-backed bittern | Ixobrychus involucris | Trinidad only |
Rufescent tiger-heron | Tigrisoma lineatum | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Fasciated tiger-heron | Tigrisoma fasciatum | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Great blue heron | Ardea herodias | |
Gray heron | Ardea cinerea | Rare/accidental |
Cocoi heron | Ardea cocoi | Common Trinidad, rare/accidental Tobago |
Purple heron | Ardea purpurea | Rare/accidental |
Great egret | Ardea alba | |
Little egret | Egretta garzetta | Rare/accidental |
Western reef-heron | Egretta gularis | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Snowy egret | Egretta thula | |
Little blue heron | Egretta caerulea | |
Tricolored heron | Egretta tricolor | |
Reddish egret | Egretta rufescens | Rare/accidental |
Cattle egret | Bubulcus ibis | |
Green heron | Butorides virescens virescens | Common Tobago, rare/accidental Trinidad |
Striated heron | Butorides striata | Trinidad only |
Agami heron | Agamia agami | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Whistling heron | Syrigma sibilatrix | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Black-crowned night-heron | Nycticorax nycticorax | |
Yellow-crowned night-heron | Nyctanassa violacea | |
Boat-billed heron | Cochlearius cochlearius | Trinidad only |
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.
Name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
White ibis | Eudocimus albus | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Scarlet ibis | Eudocimus ruber | Common Trinidad, rare/accidental Tobago |
Glossy ibis | Plegadis falcinellus | Rare/accidental |
Eurasian spoonbill | Platalea leucorodia | Rare/accidental |
Roseate spoonbill | Platalea ajaja | Rare/accidental |
New World vultures
Order: Accipitriformes Family: Cathartidae
(The SACC places New World vultures in their own Order, Cathartiformes)[4]
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.
Name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Black vulture | Coragyps atratus | Common Trinidad, rare/accidental Tobago |
Turkey vulture | Cathartes aura | Trinidad only |
King vulture | Sarcoramphus papa | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
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.
Name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Osprey | Pandion haliaetus | |
Hawks, eagles, and kites
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.
Name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Pearl kite | Gampsonyx swainsonii | Trinidad only |
White-tailed kite | Elanus leucurus | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Hook-billed kite | Chondrohierax uncinatus | Rare/accidental |
Gray-headed kite | Leptodon cayanensis | Trinidad only |
Swallow-tailed kite | Elanoides forficatus | Common Trinidad, rare/accidental Tobago |
Black hawk-eagle | Spizaetus tyrannus | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Ornate hawk-eagle | Spizaetus ornatus | Rare/accidental Trinidad, extirpated Tobago |
Black-collared hawk | Busarellus nigricollis | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Snail kite | Rostrhamus sociabilis | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Slender-billed kite | Helicolestes hamatus | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Double-toothed kite | Harpagus bidentatus | Trinidad only |
Plumbeous kite | Ictinia plumbea | Trinidad only |
Long-winged harrier | Circus buffoni | Trinidad only |
Black Kite | Milvus migrans | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Crane hawk | Geranospiza caerulescens | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Common black hawk | Buteogallus anthracinus | Common Trinidad, rare/accidental Tobago |
Rufous crab hawk | Buteogallus aequinoctialis | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Savanna hawk | Buteogallus meridionalis | Trinidad only |
Great black hawk | Buteogallus urubitinga | Common Tobago, rare/accidental Trinidad |
White-tailed hawk | Geranoaetus albicaudatus | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
White hawk | Pseudastur albicollis | Trinidad only |
Gray-lined hawk | Buteo nitidus | Trinidad only |
Broad-winged hawk | Buteo platypterus | |
Short-tailed hawk | Buteo brachyurus | Trinidad only |
Swainson's hawk | Buteo swainsoni | Rare/accidental |
Zone-tailed hawk | Buteo albonotatus | Trinidad only |
Red-tailed Hawk | Buteo jamaicensis | Tobago only - rare/accidental |
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.
Name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Yellow-breasted crake | Porzana flaviventer | Common Trinidad, rare/accidental Tobago |
Gray-breasted crake | Laterallus exilis | Trinidad only |
Mangrove rail | Rallus longirostris | Trinidad only |
Rufous-necked wood-rail | Aramides axillaris | Trinidad only |
Gray-cowled wood-rail (called gray-necked wood-rail by the SACC)[5] | Aramides cajaneus | Trinidad only |
Sora | Porzana carolina | |
Ash-throated crake | Mustelirallus albicollis | Trinidad only |
Paint-billed crake | Mustelirallus erythrops | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Spotted rail | Pardirallus maculatus | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Purple gallinule | Porphyrio martinicus (called P. martinica by the SACC)[6] | |
Azure gallinule | Porphyrio flavirostris | Common Trinidad, rare/accidental Tobago |
Common gallinule | Gallinula galeata | |
American coot | Fulica americana | rare/accidental |
Finfoots
Order: Gruiformes Family: Heliornithidae
Heliornithidae is a small family of tropical birds with webbed lobes on their feet similar to those of grebes and coots.
Name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Sungrebe | Heliornis fulica | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Limpkin
Order: Gruiformes Family: Aramidae
The limpkin resembles a large rail. It has drab-brown plumage and a greyer head and neck.
Name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Limpkin | Aramus guarauna | Trinidad only |
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.
Name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Double-striped thick-knee | Burhinus bistriatus | Rare/accidental |
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.
Name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Black-necked stilt | Himantopus mexicanus | Common Trinidad, rare/accidental Tobago |
American avocet | Recurvirostra americana | Tobago only - rare/accidental |
Oystercatchers
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Haematopodidae
The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.
Name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
American oystercatcher | Haematopus palliatus | Rare/accidental |
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.
Name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Black-bellied plover | Pluvialis squatarola | |
American golden-plover | Pluvialis dominica | |
Pied lapwing | Vanellus cayanus | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Southern lapwing | Vanellus chilensis | |
Collared plover | Charadrius collaris | Common Trinidad, rare/accidental Tobago |
Snowy plover | Charadrius nivosus | Tobago only - rare/accidental |
Wilson's plover | Charadrius wilsonia | Trinidad only |
Common ringed plover | Charadrius hiaticula | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Semipalmated plover | Charadrius semipalmatus | |
Killdeer | Charadrius vociferus | Rare/accidental |
Jacanas
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Jacanidae
The jacanas are a group of tropical waders in the family Jacanidae. They 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.
Name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Wattled jacana | Jacana jacana | |
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.
Name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Upland sandpiper | Bartramia longicauda | Rare/accidental |
Eskimo curlew | Numenius borealis | Rare/accidental, critically endangered (possibly extinct) |
Whimbrel | Numenius phaeopus | |
Long-billed curlew | Numenius americanus | Tobago only - rare/accidental, near-threatened |
Black-tailed godwit | Limosa limosaa | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Hudsonian godwit | Limosa haemastica | Trinidad only |
Marbled godwit | Limosa fedoa | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Ruddy turnstone | Arenaria interpres morinella | |
Red knot | Calidris canutus | Trinidad only |
Ruff | Calidris pugnax | Rare/accidental |
Stilt sandpiper | Calidris himantopus | |
Curlew sandpiper | Calidris ferruginea | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Sanderling | Calidris alba | |
Baird's sandpiper | Calidris bairdii | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Least sandpiper | Calidris minutilla | |
White-rumped sandpiper | Calidris fuscicollis | |
Buff-breasted sandpiper | Calidris subruficollis | Rare/accidental, near-threatened |
Pectoral sandpiper | Calidris melanotos | |
Semipalmated sandpiper | Calidris pusilla | |
Western sandpiper | Calidris mauri | |
Short-billed dowitcher | Limnodromus griseus | |
Wilson's snipe | Gallinago delicata | |
South American snipe | Gallinago paraguaiae | Trinidad only |
Wilson's phalarope | Phalaropus tricolor | Rare/accidental |
Terek sandpiper | Xenus cinereus | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Spotted sandpiper | Actitis macularia | |
Solitary sandpiper | Tringa solitaria | |
Spotted redshank | Tringa erythropus | Tobago only - rare/accidental |
Greater yellowlegs | Tringa melanoleuca | |
Common greenshank | Tringa nebularia | Rare/accidental |
Willet | Tringa semipalmata | |
Lesser yellowlegs | Tringa flavipes | |
Wood sandpiper | Tringa glareola | Tobago only - Rare/accidental |
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.
Name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
South polar skua | Stercorarius maccormicki | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Pomarine jaeger | Stercorarius pomarinus | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Parasitic jaeger | Stercorarius parasiticus | Trinidad only |
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. 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.
Name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Black-legged kittiwake | Rissa tridactyla | Rare/accidental |
Sabine's gull | Xema sabini | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Black-headed gull | Chroicocephalus ridibundus | Rare/accidental |
Laughing gull | Leucophaeus atricilla | |
Franklin's gull | Leucophaeus pipixcan | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Ring-billed gull | Larus delawarensis | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Great black-backed gull | Larus marinus | Trinidad only - Rare/accidental |
Kelp gull | Larus dominicanus | Trinidad only - Rare/accidental |
Herring gull | Larus argentatus | Rare/accidental |
Lesser black-backed gull | Larus fuscus | Common Trinidad, rare/accidental Tobago |
Brown noddy | Anous stolidus | |
White tern | Gygis alba | Tobago only - rare/accidental |
Sooty tern | Onychoprion fuscata | |
Bridled tern | Onychoprion anaethetus | |
Least tern | Sternula antillarum | |
Yellow-billed tern | Sternula superciliaris | Trinidad only |
Large-billed tern | Phaetusa simplex | Trinidad only |
Gull-billed tern | Gelochelidon nilotica | Common Trinidad, rare/accidental Tobago |
Caspian tern | Hydroprogne caspia | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Black tern | Chlidonias niger | Trinidad only |
Roseate tern | Sterna dougallii | |
Common tern | Sterna hirundo | |
Royal tern | Thalasseus maxima | |
Sandwich tern | Thalasseus sandvicensis | |
Black skimmer | Rynchops niger | |
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.
Name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Rock pigeon | Columba livia | Introduced species |
Pale-vented pigeon | Patagioenas cayennensis | |
Scaled pigeon | Patagioenas speciosa | Trinidad only |
Scaly-naped pigeon | Patagioenas squamosa | Tobago and Little Tobago only - rare/accidental |
Band-tailed pigeon | Patagioenas fasciata | Trinidad only - rare accidental |
Eurasian collared-dove | Streptopelia decaocto | Trinidad only - rare/accidental - introduced species |
Common ground-dove | Columbina passerina | Trinidad only |
Plain-breasted ground-dove | Columbina minuta | Trinidad only |
Ruddy ground-dove | Columbina talpacoti | |
Scaled dove | Columbina squammata | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Blue ground-dove | Claravis pretiosa | Trinidad only - rare accidental |
Ruddy quail-dove | Geotrygon montana | Trinidad only |
White-tipped dove | Leptotila verreauxi | |
Gray-fronted dove | Leptotila rufaxilla | Trinidad only |
Lined quail-dove | Zentrygon linearis | Trinidad only - rare accidental |
Eared dove | Zenaida auriculata | |
Cuckoos
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.
Name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Greater ani | Crotophaga major | Trinidad only |
Smooth-billed ani | Crotophaga ani | |
Striped cuckoo | Tapera naevia | Trinidad only |
Little cuckoo | Coccycua minuta | Trinidad only |
Squirrel cuckoo | Piaya cayana | Trinidad only |
Dark-billed cuckoo | Coccyzus melacoryphus | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Yellow-billed cuckoo | Coccyzus americanus | |
Mangrove cuckoo | Coccyzus minor | |
Black-billed cuckoo | Coccyzus erythropthalmus | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
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 owl | Tyto alba | |
Owls
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 |
---|---|---|
Tropical screech-owl | Megascops choliba | Trinidad only |
Spectacled owl | Pulsatrix perspicillata | Trinidad only |
Ferruginous pygmy-owl | Gaucidium brasilianum | Trinidad only |
Burrowing owl | Athene cunicularia | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Mottled owl | Ciccaba virgata | Trinidad only |
Short-eared owl | Asio flammeus | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Striped owl | Pseudoscops clamator (The SACC places striped owl in genus Asio)[7] | Tobago only |
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 |
---|---|---|
Nacunda nighthawk | Chordeiles nacunda | Trinidad only |
Lesser nighthawk | Chordeiles acutipennis | Common Trinidad, rare/accidental Tobago |
Short-tailed nighthawk | Lurocalis semitorquatus | Trinidad only |
Common pauraque | Nyctidromus albicollis | Trinidad only |
White-tailed nightjar | Hydropsalis cayennensis | |
Rufous nightjar | Antrostomus rufus | Trinidad only |
Potoos
Order: Caprimulgiformes Family: Nyctibiidae
(The SACC places potoos in their own Order, Nyctibiiformes)[8]
The potoos (sometimes called poor-me-ones) are large near passerine birds related to the nightjars and frogmouths. They are nocturnal insectivores which lack the bristles around the mouth found in the true nightjars.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Common potoo | Nyctibius griseus | |
Oilbird
Order: Caprimulgiformes Family: Steatornithidae
(The SACC places the oilbird in its own Order, Steatornithiformes)[9]
The oilbird is a slim, long-winged bird related to the nightjars. It is nocturnal and a specialist feeder on the fruit of the oil palm.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Oilbird | Steatornis caripensis | Trinidad only |
Swifts
Order: Caprimulgiformes Family: Apodidae
(The SACC places swifts in their own order, Apodiformes)[10]
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 |
---|---|---|
Chestnut-collared swift | Cypseloides rutilus | Trinidad only |
White-collared swift | Streptoprocne zonaris | Common Trinidad, rare/accidental Tobago |
Chapman's swift | Chaetura chapmani | Trinidad only |
Short-tailed swift | Chaetura brachyura | |
Band-rumped swift | Chaetura spinicaudus | Trinidad only |
Gray-rumped swift | Chaetura cinereiventris | |
Lesser swallow-tailed swift | Panyptila cayennensis | Trinidad only |
Fork-tailed palm-swift | Tachornis squamata | |
Hummingbirds
Order: Caprimulgiformes Family: Trochilidae
(The SACC places hummingbirds in their own order, Trochiliformes)[11]
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 |
---|---|---|
White-necked jacobin | Florisuga mellivora mellivora | |
Rufous-breasted hermit | Glaucis hirsutus insularum | |
Green hermit | Phaethornis guy | Trinidad only |
Little hermit | Phaethornis longuemareus | Trinidad only |
Brown violetear | Colibri delphinae | Common Trinidad, rare/accidental Tobago |
White-tailed goldenthroat | Polytmus guainumbi | Trinidad only |
Ruby-topaz hummingbird | Chrysolampis mosquitus | |
Green-throated mango | Anthracothorax viridigula | Trinidad only |
Black-throated mango | Anthracothorax nigricollis | |
Tufted coquette | Lophornis ornatus | Trinidad only |
Long-billed starthroat | Heliomaster longirostris | Trinidad only |
Rufous-shafted woodstar | Chaetocercus jourdanii | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Amethyst woodstar | Calliphlox amethystina | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Blue-tailed emerald | Chlorostilbon mellisugus | Trinidad only |
Blue-chinned sapphire | Chlorestes notata | Common Trinidad, rare/accidental Tobago |
White-tailed sabrewing | Campylopterus ensipennis | Tobago only - near-threatened |
White-chested emerald | Agyrtria brevirostris | Trinidad only |
Copper-rumped hummingbird | Amazilia tobaci erythronota | Trinidad only for sub-species |
Copper-rumped hummingbird | Amazilia tobaci tobaci | Tobago only for sub-species |
Trogons
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 colourful, feathers with distinctive male and female plumage.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Green-backed trogon | Trogon viridis | Trinidad only |
Guianan trogon | Trogon violaceus | Trinidad only |
Collared trogon | Trogon collaris | |
Motmots
Order: Coraciiformes Family: Momotidae
The motmots have colorful plumage and long, graduated tails which they display by waggling back and forth. In most of the species, the barbs near the ends of the two longest (central) tail feathers are weak and fall off, leaving a length of bare shaft and creating a racket-shaped tail.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Trinidad motmot | Momotus bahamensis | |
Kingfishers
Order: Coraciiformes Family: Alcedinidae
Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs and stubby tails.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Ringed kingfisher | Megaceryle torquata | Common Trinidad, rare/accidental Tobago |
Belted kingfisher | Megaceryle alcyon | |
Amazon kingfisher | Chloroceryle amazona | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Green kingfisher | Chloroceryle americana | |
American pygmy kingfisher | Chloroceryle aenea | Trinidad only |
Jacamars
Order: Galbuliformes Family: Galbulidae
The jacamars are near passerine birds from tropical South America, with a range that extends up to Mexico. They feed on insects caught on the wing, and are glossy, elegant birds with long bills and tails. In appearance and behaviour they resemble the Old World bee-eaters, although they are more closely related to woodpeckers.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Rufous-tailed jacamar | Galbula ruficauda | |
Toucans
Order: Piciformes Family: Ramphastidae
Toucans are near passerine birds from the Neotropics. They are brightly marked and have enormous, colourful bills which in some species amount to half their body length.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Channel-billed toucan | Ramphastos vitellinus | Trinidad only |
Woodpeckers
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 |
---|---|---|
Red-crowned woodpecker | Melanerpes rubricapillus rubricapillus | Tobago only |
Red-rumped woodpecker | Veniliornis kirkii | |
Golden-olive woodpecker | Piculus rubiginosus | |
Chestnut woodpecker | Celeus elegans | Trinidad only |
Lineated woodpecker | Dryocopus lineatus | Trinidad only |
Crimson-crested woodpecker | Campephilus melanoleucos | Trinidad only |
Falcons and caracaras
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 caracara | Caracara cheriway | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Yellow-headed caracara | Milvago chimachima | |
Eurasian kestrel | Falco tinnunculus | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
American kestrel | Falco sparverius | Rare/accidental |
Aplomado falcon | Falco femoralis | Rare/accidental |
Merlin | Falco columbarius | |
Bat falcon | Falco rufigularis | Common Trinidad, rare/accidental Tobago |
Orange-breasted falcon | Falco deiroleucus | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Peregrine falcon | Falco peregrinus | |
New World and African parrots
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.
Name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Lilac-tailed parrotlet | Touit batavica | Trinidad only |
Scarlet-shouldered parrotlet | Touit huetii | Extirpated |
Blue-headed parrot | Pionus menstruus | Trinidad only |
Yellow-crowned parrot | Amazona ochrocephala | Trinidad only - introduced species |
Orange-winged parrot | Amazona amazonica | |
Green-rumped parrotlet | Forpus passerinus | |
Brown-throated parakeet | Eupsittula pertinax | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Red-bellied macaw | Orthopsittaca manilatus | Trinidad only |
Blue-and-yellow macaw | Ara ararauna | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Scarlet macaw | Ara macao | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
White-eyed parakeet | Psittacara leucophthalmus | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Typical antbirds
Order: Passeriformes Family: Thamnophilidae
The antbirds are a large family of small passerine birds of subtropical and tropical Central and South America. They are forest birds which tend to feed on insects at or near the ground. A sizable minority of them specialize in following columns of army ants to eat small invertebrates that leave their hiding places to flee from the ants. Many species lack bright colour; brown, black and white being the dominant tones.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Great antshrike | Taraba major | Trinidad only |
Black-crested antshrike | Sakesphorus canadensis | Trinidad only |
Barred antshrike | Thamnophilus doliatus tobagensis | |
Plain antvireo | Dysithamnus mentalis | |
White-flanked antwren | Myrmotherula axillaris | Trinidad only |
White-fringed antwren | Formicivora grisea | Tobago only |
Silvered antbird | Sclateria naevia | Trinidad only |
White-bellied antbird | Myrmeciza longipes | Trinidad only |
Antpittas
Order: Passeriformes Family: Grallariidae
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Scaled antpitta | Grallaria guatimalensis | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Antthrushes
Order: Passeriformes Family: Formicariidae
Antthrushes resemble small rails with strong, longish legs, very short tails and stout bills.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Black-faced antthrush | Formicarius analis | Trinidad only |
Ovenbirds and woodcreepers
Order: Passeriformes Family: Furnariidae
Ovenbirds comprise a large family of small sub-oscine passerine bird species found in Central and South America. They are a diverse group of insectivores which gets its name from the elaborate "oven-like" clay nests built by some species, although others build stick nests or nest in tunnels or clefts in rock. The woodcreepers are brownish birds which maintain an upright vertical posture, supported by their stiff tail vanes. They feed mainly on insects taken from tree trunks.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Gray-throated leaftosser | Sclerurus albigularis | |
Olivaceous woodcreeper | Sittasomus griseicapillus | Tobago only |
Plain-brown woodcreeper | Dendrocincla fuliginosa | |
Cocoa woodcreeper | Xiphorhynchus susurrans | |
Straight-billed woodcreeper | Dendroplex picus | Trinidad only |
Streak-headed woodcreeper | Lepidocolaptes souleyetii | Trinidad only |
Streaked xenops | Xenops rutilans | Trinidad only |
Yellow-chinned spinetail | Certhiaxis cinnamomeus | Trinidad only |
Pale-breasted spinetail | Synallaxis albescens | Trinidad only |
Stripe-breasted spinetail | Synallaxis cinnamomea | |
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.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Southern beardless-tyrannulet | Camptostoma obsoletum | Trinidad only |
Mouse-colored tyrannulet | Phaeomyias murina | Trinidad only |
Crested doradito | Pseudocolopteryx sclateri | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Forest elaenia | Myiopagis gaimardii | Trinidad only |
Yellow-bellied elaenia | Elaenia flavogaster | |
Small-billed elaenia | Elaenia parvirostris | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Slaty elaenia | Elaenia strepera | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Lesser elaenia | Elaenia chiriquensis | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Olive-striped flycatcher | Mionectes olivaceus | Trinidad only |
Ochre-bellied flycatcher | Mionectes oleagineus | |
Slaty-capped flycatcher | Leptopogon superciliaris | Trinidad only |
Northern scrub-flycatcher | Sublegatus arenarum | Trinidad only |
Short-tailed pygmy-tyrant | Myiornis ecaudatus | Trinidad only |
Spotted tody-flycatcher | Todirostrum maculatum | Trinidad only |
Yellow-olive flycatcher | Tolmomyias sulphurescens | Trinidad only |
Yellow-breasted flycatcher | Tolmomyias flaviventris | |
White-throated spadebill | Platyrinchus mystaceus | |
Bran-colored flycatcher | Myiophobus fasciatus | Trinidad only |
Euler's flycatcher | Lathrotriccus euleri | Trinidad only |
Olive-sided flycatcher | Contopus cooperi | Trinidad only |
Tropical pewee | Contopus cinereus | Trinidad only |
Fuscous flycatcher | Cnemotriccus fuscatus | |
Pied water-tyrant | Fluvicola pica | Trinidad only |
White-headed marsh tyrant | Arundinicola leucocephala | Trinidad only |
Bright-rumped attila | Attila spadiceus | Trinidad only |
Dusky-capped flycatcher | Myiarchus tuberculifer | Trinidad only |
Swainson's flycatcher | Myiarchus swainsoni | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Venezuelan flycatcher | Myiarchus venezuelensis | Tobago only |
Brown-crested flycatcher | Myiarchus tyrannulus | |
Great kiskadee | Pitangus sulphuratus | Trinidad only |
Boat-billed flycatcher | Megarynchus pitangua | Trinidad only |
Streaked flycatcher | Myiodynastes maculatus | |
Piratic flycatcher | Legatus leucophaius | |
Variegated flycatcher | Empidonomus varius | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Sulphury flycatcher | Tyrannopsis sulphurea | Trinidad only |
Tropical kingbird | Tyrannus melancholicus | |
Eastern kingbird | Tyrannus tyrannus | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Gray kingbird | Tyrannus dominicensis vorax | |
Fork-tailed flycatcher | Tyrannus savana |
Cotingas
Order: Passeriformes Family: Cotingidae
The cotingas are birds of forests or forest edges in tropical South America. Comparatively little is known about this diverse group, although all have broad bills with hooked tips, rounded wings and strong legs. The males of many of the species are brightly coloured or decorated with plumes or wattles.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
White bellbird | Procnias alba | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Bearded bellbird | Procnias averano | Trinidad only |
Manakins
Order: Passeriformes Family: Pipridae
The manakins are a family of subtropical and tropical mainland Central and South America, and Trinidad and Tobago. They are compact forest birds, the males typically being brightly colored, although the females of most species are duller and usually green-plumaged. Manakins feed on small fruits, berries and insects.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Blue-backed manakin | Chiroxiphia pareola | Tobago only |
White-bearded manakin | Manacus manacus | Trinidad only |
Golden-headed manakin | Pipra erythrocephala | Trinidad only |
Tityras and allies
Order: Passeriformes Family: Tityridae
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Black-tailed tityra | Tityra cayana | Trinidad only |
White-winged becard | Pachyramphus polychopterus | |
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 color and resemble wood warblers apart from their heavier bills.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Rufous-browed peppershrike | Cyclarhis gujanensis | Trinidad only |
Scrub greenlet | Hylophilus flavipes | Tobago only |
Golden-fronted greenlet | Pachysylvia aurantiifrons | Trinidad only |
White-eyed vireo | Vireo griseus | Tobago only - Rare/accidental |
Yellow-throated vireo | Vireo flavifrons | Rare/accidental |
Red-eyed vireo | Vireo olivaceus | |
Black-whiskered vireo | Vireo altiloquus | Rare/accidental |
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 |
---|---|---|
Blue-and-white swallow | Pygochelidon cyanoleuca | Trinidad only |
Southern rough-winged swallow | Stelgidopteryx ruficollis | Common Trinidad, rare/accidental Tobago |
Caribbean martin | Progne dominicensis | Rare/accidental Trinidad, common Tobago |
Gray-breasted martin | Progne chalybea | Trinidad only |
White-winged swallow | Tachycineta albiventer | |
Bank swallow | Riparia riparia | |
Barn swallow | Hirundo rustica | |
Cliff swallow | Petrochelidon pyrrhonota | Rare/accidental |
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 |
---|---|---|
House wren | Troglodytes aedon | |
Rufous-breasted wren | Pheugopedius rutilus | |
Gnatcatchers
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 grey in colour 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 |
---|---|---|
Long-billed gnatwren | Ramphocaenus melanurus | Trinidad only |
Thrushes and allies
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 |
---|---|---|
Orange-billed nightingale-thrush | Catharus aurantiirostris | Trinidad only |
Veery | Catharus fuscescens | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Gray-cheeked thrush | Catharus minimus | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Yellow-legged thrush | Turdus flavipes | |
Cocoa thrush | Turdus fumigatus | Trinidad only |
Spectacled thrush | Turdus nudigenis | |
White-necked thrush | Turdus albicollis | |
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 coloring tends towards dull-greys and browns.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Tropical mockingbird | Mimus gilvus | |
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 |
---|---|---|
White wagtail | Motacilla alba | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
New World warblers
Order: Passeriformes Family: Parulidae
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 |
---|---|---|
Ovenbird | Seiurus aurocapilla | Rare/accidental |
Northern waterthrush | Parkesia noveboracensis | |
Golden-winged warbler | Vermivora chrysoptera | Rare/accidental |
Black-and-white warbler | Mniotilta varia | Rare/accidental |
Prothonotary warbler | Protonotaria citrea | |
Tennessee warbler | Leiothlypis peregrina | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Masked yellowthroat | Geothlypis aequinoctialis | Trinidad only |
Kentucky warbler | Geothlypis formosa | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Common yellowthroat | Geothlypis trichas | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Hooded warbler | Setophaga citrina | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
American redstart | Setophaga ruticilla | |
Cape May warbler | Setophaga tigrina | Rare/accidental |
Cerulean warbler | Setophaga cerulea | Rare/accidental |
Northern parula | Setophaga americana | Rare/accidental |
Tropical parula | Setophaga pitiayumi | Trinidad only |
Magnolia warbler | Setophaga magnolia | Rare/accidental |
Bay-breasted warbler | Setophaga castanea | Rare/accidental |
Blackburnian warbler | Setophaga fusca | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Yellow warbler | Setophaga petechia | |
Chestnut-sided warbler | Setophaga pensylvanica | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Blackpoll warbler | Setophaga striata | |
Black-throated blue warbler | Setophaga caerulescens | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Yellow-rumped warbler | Setophaga coronata | Tobago only - rare/accidental |
Prairie warbler | Setophaga discolor | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Black-throated green warbler | Setophaga virens | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Golden-crowned warbler | Basileuterus culicivorus | Trinidad only |
Canada warbler | Cardellina canadensis | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Tanagers and allies
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. They are seed eaters, but their preference tends towards fruit and nectar. Most have short, rounded wings.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Masked cardinal | Paroaria nigrogenis | Trinidad only |
White-shouldered tanager | Tachyphonus luctuosus | Trinidad only |
White-lined tanager | Tachyphonus rufus | |
Silver-beaked tanager | Ramphocelus carbo | Trinidad only |
Blue-gray tanager | Thraupis episcopus berlepschi | |
Palm tanager | Thraupis palmarum | |
Blue-capped tanager | Thraupis cyanocephala | Trinidad only |
Speckled tanager | Tangara guttata | Trinidad only |
Turquoise tanager | Tangara mexicana | Trinidad only |
Bay-headed tanager | Tangara gyrola | Trinidad only |
Swallow tanager | Tersina viridis | Common Trinidad, rare/accidental Tobago |
Blue dacnis | Dacnis cayana | Trinidad only |
Purple honeycreeper | Cyanerpes caeruleus longirostris | Trinidad only |
Red-legged honeycreeper | Cyanerpes cyaneus | |
Green honeycreeper | Chlorophanes spiza spiza | Trinidad only |
Bicolored conebill | Conirostrum bicolor | Trinidad only |
Orange-fronted yellow-finch | Sicalis columbiana | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Saffron finch | Sicalis flaveola | Trinidad only |
Grassland yellow-finch | Sicalis luteola | Trinidad only |
Blue-black grassquit | Volatinia jacarina | |
Lesson's seedeater | Sporophila bouvronides | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Lined seedeater | Sporophila lineola | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Ruddy-breasted seedeater | Sporophila minuta | Trinidad only |
Chestnut-bellied seed-finch | Oryzoborus angolensis | Trinidad only - rare/accidental (a common cage bird) |
Large-billed seed-finch | Oryzoborus crassirostris | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Gray seedeater | Sporophila intermedia | Trinidad only - rare/accidental (considered extirpated) |
Wing-barred seedeater | Sporophila americana | Tobago only - rare/accidental (considered extirpated) |
Yellow-bellied seedeater | Sporophila nigricollis | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Slate-colored seedeater | Sporophila schistacea | Trinidad only - rare/accidental (considered extirpated) |
Bananaquit | Coereba flaveola luteola | |
Sooty grassquit | Tiaris fuliginosa | Trinidad only |
Black-faced grassquit | Tiaris bicolor | Tobago only |
Grayish saltator | Saltator coerulescens | Trinidad only |
Streaked saltator | Saltator striatipectus | Trinidad only |
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 |
---|---|---|
Hepatic tanager | Piranga flava | Trinidad only |
Summer tanager | Piranga rubra | Rare/accidental |
Scarlet tanager | Piranga olivacea | Rare/accidental |
Red-crowned ant-tanager | Habia rubica | Trinidad only |
Rose-breasted grosbeak | Pheucticus ludovicianus | Rare/accidental |
Indigo bunting | Passerina cyanea | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Dickcissel | Spiza americana | Common Trinidad, rare/accidental Tobago |
Troupials and allies
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 colour, often enlivened by yellow, orange or red.
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Bobolink | Dolichonyx oryzivorus | Rare/accidental |
Red-winged blackbird | Agelaius phoeniceus | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Red-breasted meadowlark | Sturnella militaris | Common Trinidad, rare/accidental Tobago |
Great-tailed grackle | Quiscalus mexicanus | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Carib grackle | Quiscalus lugubris | |
Yellow-hooded blackbird | Chrysomus icterocephalus | Trinidad only |
Shiny cowbird | Molothrus bonariensis | |
Giant cowbird | Molothrus oryzivorus | |
Orchard oriole | Icterus spurius | Trinidad only - Rare/accidental |
Epaulet oriole | Icterus cayanensis chrysocephalus | Trinidad only |
Yellow oriole | Icterus nigrogularis | Trinidad only |
Baltimore oriole | Icterus galbula | Rare/accidental |
Yellow-rumped cacique | Cacicus cela | Trinidad only |
Crested oropendola | Psarocolius decumanus | |
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 |
---|---|---|
Trinidad euphonia | Euphonia trinitatis | Trinidad only |
Violaceous euphonia | Euphonia violacea | |
Golden-rumped euphonia | Euphonia cyanocephala | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Lesser goldfinch | Spinus psaltria | Trinidad only - rare/accidental |
Red siskin | Carduelis cucullata | Trinidad only - endangered |
Old World sparrows
Order: Passeriformes Family: Passeridae
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
House sparrow | Passer domesticus | Trinidad only |
Waxbills and allies
Order: Passeriformes Family: Estrildidae
Common name | Binomial | Status |
---|---|---|
Common waxbill | Estrilda astrild | Trinidad, accidental Tobago - introduced species |
Tricolored munia | Lonchura malacca | Trinidad only - introduced species |
References
- ↑ Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2016. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2016. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/ retrieved 11 August 2016
- ↑ http://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.htm A Classification of the Bird Species of South America, hereafter SACC List, retrieved 7 November 2016
- ↑ http://ttbsdc.ttfnc.org/ Trinidad & Tobago Bird Status & Distribution Committee website
- ↑ SACC List
- ↑ SACC List
- ↑ SACC List
- ↑ SACC List
- ↑ SACC List
- ↑ SACC List
- ↑ SACC List
- ↑ SACC List
- ffrench, Richard (1991). A Guide to the Birds of Trinidad and Tobago (2nd ed.). Comstock Publishing. ISBN 0-8014-9792-2.
- Linblad, Jan. (1966). Journey to red birds. Trans. by Gwynne Vevers. Reprint: Collins, London. 1969.
- Zahl, Paul A. (1954). Coro-Coro: The World of the Scarlet Ibis. Bobbs-Merrill, Indianapolis / New York.
- Worth, C. Brooke. (1967). A Naturalist in Trinidad. J. B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia and New York.