List of endemic birds of the West Indies

This article is one of a series providing information about endemism among birds in the world's various zoogeographic zones. For an overview of this subject see Endemism in birds.

Patterns of endemism edit

This region is notable not just for the high number of endemic species, but for endemism in higher-level taxonomic groupings too. This article is one of a series providing information about endemism among birds in the world's various zoogeographic zones. For an overview of this subject see Endemism in birds.

Family-level endemism edit

The following families are endemic to the region:

Genus-level endemism edit

In addition to genera in the families above, the following genera are endemic to the region:

Six genera found only on Hispaniola:

Five genera found only on Jamaica:

Six genera found only on Cuba:

One genus found only on Puerto Rico:

One genus found only on the Bahamas:

The following genera are confined to the Lesser Antilles:

In addition in the following genera, a high proportions of the member species are endemic to the west Indies:

Endemic Bird Areas edit

Birdlife International has defined a number of Endemic Bird Areas in the West Indies.

025 Cuba
026 Bahamas
027 Jamaica
028 Hispaniola
029 Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands
030 Lesser Antilles

They have also defined the following secondary areas:

List of species edit

Species endemic to Cuba edit

 
Cuban bullfinch, Melopyrrha nigra
 
Bee hummingbird, Mellisuga helenae
 
Cuban trogon, Priotelus temnurus
 
Oriente warbler, Teretistris fornsi
Common name Binomial Family Status Notes
Cuban kite Chondrohierax wilsonii Accipitridae
 
Sometimes considered a subspecies of hook-billed kite.
Gundlach's hawk Accipiter gundlachi Accipitridae
 
Cuban black hawk Buteogallus gundlachii Accipitridae
 
Zapata rail Cyanolimnas cerverai Rallidae
 
Grey-fronted quail-dove Geotrygon caniceps Columbidae
 
Blue-headed quail-dove Starnoenas cyanocephala Columbidae
 
Cuban parakeet Psittacara euops Psittacidae
 
Extirpated from Isla de la Juventud
Bare-legged owl Margarobyas lawrencii Strigidae
 
Cuban pygmy owl Glaucidium siju Strigidae
 
Cuban nightjar Antrostomus cubanensis Caprimulgidae
 
Bee hummingbird Mellisuga helenae Trochilidae
 
World's smallest bird.
Cuban trogon Priotelus temnurus Trogonidae
 
Cuban tody Todus multicolor Todidae
 
Cuban green woodpecker Xiphidiopicus percussus Picidae
 
Fernandina's flicker Colaptes fernandinae Picidae
 
Giant kingbird Tyrannus cubensis Tyrannidae
 
Cuban martin Progne cryptoleuca Hirundinidae
 
Probably winters somewhere in South America, though this is not confirmed.[1]
Cuban crow Corvus nasicus Corvidae
 
Zapata wren Ferminia cerverai Troglodytidae
 
Cuban gnatcatcher Polioptila lembeyei Polioptilidae
 
Cuban solitaire Myadestes elisabeth Turdidae
 
Cuban vireo Vireo gundlachii Vireonidae
 
Yellow-headed warbler Teretistris fernandinae Parulidae
 
Oriente warbler Teretistris fornsi Parulidae
 
Cuban grassquit Tiaris canorus Thraupidae
 
Zapata sparrow Torreornis inexpectata Passerellidae
 
Red-shouldered blackbird Agelaius assimilis Icteridae
 
Cuban blackbird Dives atroviolaceus Icteridae
 
Cuban oriole Icterus melanopsis Icteridae
 

Species endemic to Hispaniola edit

 
Hispaniolan lizard cuckoo, Coccyzus longirostris
 
Black-crowned palm-tanager, Phaenicophilus palmarum
 
Palmchat, Dulus dominicus
 
Golden swallow, Tachycineta euchrysea
Common name Binomial Family Status Notes
Hispaniolan mango Anthracothorax dominicus Trochilidae
 
Ridgway's hawk Buteo ridgwayi Accipitridae
 
Hispaniolan lizard cuckoo Coccyzus longirostris Cuculidae
 
Bay-breasted cuckoo Coccyzus rufigularis Cuculidae
 
Dominican Republic endemic.
Ashy-faced owl Tyto glaucops Strigidae
 
Least poorwill Siphonorhis brewsteri Caprimulgidae
 
Hispaniolan nightjar Antrostomus ekmani Caprimulgidae
 
Hispaniolan emerald Riccordia swainsonii Trochilidae
 
Hispaniolan trogon Priotelus roseigaster Trogonidae
 
Broad-billed tody Todus subbulatus Todidae
 
Narrow-billed tody Todus angustirostris Todidae
 
Antillean piculet Nesoctites micromegas Picidae
 
Hispaniolan woodpecker Melanerpes striatus Picidae
 
Hispaniolan pewee Contopus hispaniolensis Tyrannidae
 
White-necked crow Corvus leucognaphalus Corvidae
 
Extirpated from Puerto Rico.
Golden swallow Tachycineta euchrysea Hirundinidae
 
Extirpated from Jamaica.
La Selle thrush Turdus swalesi Turdidae
 
Palmchat Dulus dominicus Dulidae
 
Flat-billed vireo Vireo nanus Vireonidae
 
Green-tailed warbler Microligea palustris Phaenicophilidae
 
White-winged warbler Xenoligea montana Phaenicophilidae
 
Black-crowned palm-tanager Phaenicophilus palmarum Phaenicophilidae
 
Gray-crowned palm-tanager Phaenicophilus poliocephalus Phaenicophilidae
 
Hispaniolan spindalis Spindalis dominicensis Spindalidae
 
Western chat-tanager Calyptophilus tertius Incertae sedis
 
Formerly conspecific with eastern chat-tanager.
Eastern chat-tanager Calyptophilus frugivorus Incertae sedis
 
Formerly conspecific with western chat-tanager.
Hispaniolan oriole Icterus dominicensis Icteridae
 
Antillean siskin Spinus dominicensis Fringillidae
 
Hispaniolan crossbill Loxia megaplaga Fringillidae
 
White-fronted quail-dove Geotrygon leucometopia Columbidae
 
Dominican Republic endemic.
Hispaniolan parrot Amazona ventralis Psittacidae
 
Introduced to Puerto Rico.
Hispaniolan parakeet Psittacara chloropterus Psittacidae
 
Various feral populations exist in Puerto Rico, Guadeloupe, and Florida.

Species endemic to Jamaica edit

 
Black-billed amazon, Amazona agilis
 
Black-billed streamertail, Amazona agilis
 
Orangequit, Euneornis campestris
Common name Binomial Family Status Notes
Ring-tailed pigeon Patagioenas caribaea Columbidae
 
Crested quail-dove Geotrygon versicolor Columbidae
 
Yellow-billed amazon Amazona collaria Psittacidae
 
Black-billed amazon Amazona agilis Psittacidae
 
Jamaican lizard cuckoo Coccyzus vetula Cuculidae
 
Chestnut-bellied cuckoo Coccyzus pluvialis Cuculidae
 
Jamaican owl Asio grammicus Strigidae
 
Jamaican poorwill Siphonorhis americana Caprimulgidae
 

Possibly extinct

Possibly extinct, hasn't been definitively seen since 1860.[2]
Jamaican mango Anthracothorax mango Trochilidae
 
Black-billed streamertail Trochilus scitulus Trochilidae
 
Red-billed streamertail Trochilus polytmus Trochilidae
 
Jamaican tody Todus todus Todidae
 
Jamaican woodpecker Melanerpes radiolatus Picidae
 
Jamaican elaenia Myiopagis cotta Tyrannidae
 
Jamaican pewee Contopus pallidus Tyrannidae
 
Sad flycatcher Myiarchus barbirostris Tyrannidae
 
Rufous-tailed flycatcher Myiarchus validus Tyrannidae
 
Jamaican becard Pachyramphus niger Tyrannidae
 
Jamaican crow Corvus jamaicensis Corvidae
 
White-eyed thrush Turdus jamaicensis Turdidae
 
White-chinned thrush Turdus aurantius Turdidae
 
Jamaican vireo Vireo modestus Vireonidae
 
Blue Mountain vireo Vireo osburni Vireonidae
 
Arrow-headed warbler Setophaga pharetra Parulidae
 
Jamaican euphonia Euphonia jamaica Fringillidae
 
Yellow-shouldered grassquit Loxipasser anoxanthus Fringillidae
 
Jamaican spindalis Spindalis nigricephala Spindalidae
 
Orangequit Euneornis campestris Thraupidae
 
Jamaican blackbird Nesopsar nigerrimus Icteridae
 
Jamaican oriole Icterus leucopteryx Icteridae
 
Formerly found on Grand Cayman, currently extant on San Andrés.
Jamaican petrel Pterodroma caribbaea Procellariidae
 

Possibly extinct

Possibly extinct; formerly would have bred on Dominica and Guadeloupe. Last specimen collected in 1879. Surveys have been conducted, though nocturnal petrels are renowned for how hard they are to study.

Species endemic to Puerto Rico edit

 
Puerto Rican amazon, Amazona vittata
 
Puerto Rican nightjar, Antrostomus noctitherus
Common name Binomial Family Status Notes
Puerto Rican amazon Amazona vittata Psittacidae
 
Currently being reintroduced to parts of the island.
Puerto Rican lizard cuckoo Coccyzus vieilloti Cuculidae
 
Puerto Rican owl Gymnasio nudipes Strigidae
 
Puerto Rican nightjar Antrostomus noctitherus Caprimulgidae
 
Green mango Anthracothorax viridis Trochilidae
 
Puerto Rican emerald Riccordia maugaeus Trochilidae
 
Puerto Rican tody Todus mexicanus Todidae
 
Puerto Rican woodpecker Melanerpes portoricensis Picidae
 
Puerto Rican flycatcher Myiarchus antillarum Tyrannidae
 
Puerto Rican vireo Vireo latimeri Vireonidae
 
Adelaide's warbler Setophaga adelaidae Parulidae
 
Elfin woods warbler Setophaga angelae Parulidae
 
Puerto Rican spindalis Spindalis portoricensis Spindalidae
 
Puerto Rican tanager Nesospingus speculiferus Nesospingidae
 
Puerto Rican bullfinch Melopyrrha portoricensis Thraupidae
 
Yellow-shouldered blackbird Agelaius xanthomus Icteridae
 
Puerto Rican oriole Icterus portoricensis Icteridae
 

Other insular endemics of the West Indies edit

 
Bahama oriole, Icterus northropi
 
Bahama yellowthroat, Geothlypis rostrata
 
Semper's warbler, Leucopaza semperi
 
St. Vincent amazon, Amazona guildingii
 
Montserrat oriole, Icterus oberi
 
Barbuda warbler, Setophaga subita
Common name Binomial Family Status Notes
Species endemic to the Bahamas
Bahama woodstar Nesophlox evelynae Trochilidae
 
Inagua woodstar Nesophlox lyrura Trochilidae
 
Bahama swallow Tachycineta cyaneoviridis Hirundinidae
 
Bahama nuthatch Sitta insularis Sittidae
 
Possibly extinct following Hurricane Dorian
Bahama oriole Icterus northropi Icteridae
 
Bahama yellowthroat Geothlypis rostrata Parulidae
 
Bahama warbler Setophaga flavescens Parulidae
 
Species endemic to Grenada
Grenada dove Leptotila wellsi Columbidae
 
National bird of Grenada.
Species endemic to Dominica
Imperial parrot Amazona imperialis Psittacidae
 
National bird of Dominica.
Red-necked amazon Amazona arausiaca Psittacidae
 
Species endemic to St. Lucia
St. Lucia amazon Amazona versicolor Psittacidae
 
St. Lucia oriole Icterus laudabilis Icteridae
 
Semper's warbler Leucopaza semperi Parulidae
 
After not being reliably reported since 1961, some have speculated that Semper's warbler is already extinct.
St. Lucia warbler Setophaga delicata Parulidae
 
St. Lucia black finch Melanospiza richardsoni Fringillidae
 
Species endemic to St. Vincent
St. Vincent amazon Amazona guildingii Psittacidae
 
Whistling warbler Catharopeza bishopi Parulidae
 
Species endemic to Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe woodpecker Melanerpes herminieri Picidae
 
Species endemic to Barbuda
Barbuda warbler Setophaga subita Parulidae
 
Species endemic to Barbados
Barbados bullfinch Loxigilla barbadensis Thraupidae
 
Species endemic to Montserrat
Montserrat oriole Icterus oberi Icteridae
 
Species endemic to Martinique
Martinique oriole Icterus bonana Icteridae
 
Species endemic to San Andrés
San Andres vireo Vireo caribaeus Vireonidae
 
Species endemic to Trinidad
Trinidad motmot Momotus bahamensis Momotidae
 
Trinidad piping guan Pipile pipile Cracidae
 

Other species endemic to the Greater Antilles edit

 
Vervain hummingbird, Mellisuga minima
 
Tawny-shouldered blackbird, Agelaius humeralis
 
Bahama mockingbird, Mimus gundlachii
Common name Binomial Family Distribution Status Notes
Antillean palm-swift Tachornis phoenicobia Apodidae Jamaica, Cuba, and Hispaniola
 
Vervain hummingbird Mellisuga minima Trochilidae Hispaniola and Jamaica, occasional vagrant to Puerto Rico.
 
Plain pigeon Patagioenas inornata Columbidae Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and Hispaniola.
 
Tawny-shouldered blackbird Agelaius humeralis Icteridae Cuba and Haiti, occasionally a vagrant to the United States.
 
Greater Antillean elaenia Elaenia fallax Tyrannidae Hispaniola and Jamaica.
 
Stolid flycatcher Myiarchus stolidus Tyrannidae Hispaniola and Jamaica.
 
Palm crow Corvus palmarum Corvidae Hispaniola and Cuba.
 
Rufous-throated solitaire Myadestes genibarbis Turdidae Dominica, Hispaniola, Jamaica, St. Vincent, St. Lucia, and Martinique, though the St. Vincent subspecies is sometimes classified as its own species.
 
Bahama mockingbird Mimus gundlachii Mimidae Bahamas, Jamaica, Cuba, and Turks and Caicos.
 
Occasional vagrant to the United States.
Greater Antillean bullfinch Melopyrrha violacea Thraupidae The Bahamas, Hispaniola, Jamaica, and Turks and Caicos.
 
Cuban bullfinch Melopyrrha nigra Thraupidae Cuba and Grand Cayman
 
Grand Cayman subspecies sometimes considered a distinct species

Other species endemic to the Lesser Antilles edit

 
Purple-throated carib, Eulampis jugularis
 
Blue-headed hummingbird, Riccordia bicolor
 
Scaly-breasted thrasher, Allenia fusca
 
Brown trembler, Saltator albicollis
 
Lesser Antillean saltator, Cinclocerthia ruficauda
 
Lesser Antillean bullfinch, Loxigilla noctis
Common name Binomial Family Distribution Status Notes
Lesser Antillean swift Chaetura martinica Apodidae Dominica, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent.
 
Possible records from Nevis.
Purple-throated carib Eulampis jugularis Trochilidae Antigua, Dominica, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Montserrat, Saba, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and Sint Eustatius.
 
It has occurred as a vagrant in Barbados, Barbuda, Grenada and the Virgin Islands.
Blue-headed hummingbird Riccordia bicolor Trochilidae Dominica and Martinique.
 
Grenada flycatcher Myiarchus nugator Tyrannidae Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
 
Lesser Antillean flycatcher Myiarchus oberi Tyrannidae Barbuda, Dominica, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia.
 
Forest thrush Turdus lherminieri Turdidae Grenada, Dominica, Montserrat, and Saint Lucia.
 
The Saint Lucia population may be extinct.
White-breasted thrasher Ramphocinclus brachyurus Mimidae St. Lucia and Martinique.
 
Scaly-breasted thrasher Allenia fusca Mimidae Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Montserrat, Netherlands Antilles, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
 
May be extirpated from Barbados, Barbuda, and Sint Eustatius.
Brown trembler Cinclocerthia ruficauda Mimidae St. Kitts, Nevis, Montserrat, Guadeloupe, Dominica and St. Vincent.
 
Extirpated from Sint Eustatius.
Gray trembler Cinclocerthia gutturalis Mimidae St. Lucia and Martinique.
 
Plumbeous warbler Setophaga plumbea Parulidae Dominica and Guadeloupe.
 
Lesser Antillean tanager Tangara cucullata Thraupidae St. Vincent and Grenada.
 
Lesser Antillean saltator Saltator albicollis Thraupidae Saint Kitts and Nevis, Dominica, Saint Lucia, and Martinique
 
Lesser Antillean bullfinch Loxigilla noctis Thraupidae Saint Barth, Saint Martin, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Montserrat, Netherlands Antilles, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the British Virgin Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
 
Trinidad motmot Momotus bahamensis Momotidae Trinidad and Tobago
 

Other species endemic to the West Indies edit

 
West Indian whistling duck, Dendrocygna arborea
 
Loggerhead kingbird, Tyrannus caudifasciatus
 
Greater Antillean grackle, Quiscalus niger
 
Scaly-naped pigeon, Patagioenas squamosa
 
Great lizard cuckoo, Coccyzus merlini
 
Green-throated carib, Eulampis holosericeus
 
Antillean crested hummingbird, Orthorhyncus cristatus
Common name Binomial Family Distribution Status Notes
Puerto Rican mango Anthracothorax aurulentus Trochilidae the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
 
West Indian whistling duck Dendrocygna arborea Anatidae Primarily in the Bahamas, though significant numbers exist in northern Hispaniola, Cuba, Cayman Islands, Antigua and Barbuda, and Puerto Rico.
 
Loggerhead kingbird Tyrannus caudifasciatus Tyrannidae Hispaniola, Jamaica, Cuba, Bahamas, Cayman Islands, and Puerto Rico
 
Greater Antillean grackle Quiscalus niger Icteridae Hispaniola, Cuba, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico.
 
Scaly-naped pigeon Patagioenas squamosa Columbidae Most of the West Indies except for Jamaica.
 
Key West quail-dove Geotrygon chrysia Columbidae Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, Hispaniola, and Cuba.
 
Formerly bred on Key West, occasional vagrant to Florida.
Caribbean martin Progne dominicensis Hirundinidae Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, and almost all of the Lesser Antilles.
 
Occasional vagrant to Turks and Caicos and Cuba.
Antillean euphonia Euphonia musica Fringillidae Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, and most of the Lesser Antilles.
 
Lesser Antillean pewee Contopus latirostris Tyrannidae Puerto Rico, Dominica, Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Saint Lucia.
 
Occasional records from Saint Kitts.
Red-legged thrush Turdus plumbeus Turdidae Hispaniola, Bahamas, Dominica, Cuba, and Puerto Rico.
 
Extirpated from Swan Islands.
Cuban amazon Amazona leucocephala Psittacidae Cuba, Bahamas, and Cayman Islands.
 
West Indian woodpecker Melanerpes superciliaris Picidae Cuba, Bahamas, and Cayman Islands.
 
La Sagra's flycatcher Myiarchus sagrae Tyrannidae Cuba, Bahamas, and Cayman Islands.
 
Occasional vagrant to the United States.
Great lizard cuckoo Coccyzus merlini Cuculidae Cuba and the Bahamas
 
Cuban emerald Riccordia ricordii Trochilidae Cuba and the Bahamas
 
Cuban pewee Contopus caribaeus Tyrannidae Cuba and the Bahamas
 
Olive-capped warbler Setophaga pityophila Parulidae Cuba and the Bahamas
 
Western spindalis Spindalis zena Spindalidae Cozumel, Cayman Islands, Cuba, the Bahamas, and Turks and Caicos
 
Casual vagrant to southern Florida.
Bridled quail-dove Geotrygon mystacea Columbidae The Lesser Antilles north from Saint Lucia, as well as Puerto Rico.
 
Green-throated carib Eulampis holosericeus Trochilidae All of the Lesser Antilles and Puerto Rico.
 
Antillean crested hummingbird Orthorhyncus cristatus Trochilidae All of the Lesser Antilles and Puerto Rico.
 
Thick-billed vireo Vireo crassirostris Vireonidae Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands, Cayman Islands, Tortuga Island in Haiti and Cuba.
 
Occasional vagrant to Florida
Vitelline warbler Setophaga vitellina Parulidae Swan Islands and Grand Cayman.
 

Extinct birds edit

Common name Binomial Family Distribution Last Sighting Notes
Antillean cave rail Nesotrochis debooyi Rallidae Occurred on Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands. Only known from subfossil fragments. An account from Alexander Wetmore from 1912 may refer to this bird.
Cuban macaw Ara tricolor Psittacidae Occurred on Cuba. 1864, though may have lasted until the 1880s.
Guadeloupe parakeet Psittacara labati Psittacidae Occurred on Guadeloupe. Presumed to have disappeared in the late 1700s. Since no physical evidence has been discovered, the existence of this species has been brought into question.
Martinique amazon Amazona martinicana Psittacidae Occurred on Martinique. 1722 Since no physical evidence has been discovered, the existence of this species has been brought into question.
Guadeloupe amazon Amazona violacea Psittacidae Occurred on Guadeloupe. 1779 Since no physical evidence has been discovered, the existence of this species has been brought into question.
Puerto Rican barn owl Tyto cavatica Tytonidae Occurred in Puerto Rico Prehistoric. May have existed until 1912.
Andros Island barn owl Tyto pollens Tytonidae Occurred in the Bahamas. May have existed into the 16th century.
Cuban pauraque Siphonorhis daiquiri Caprimulgidae Occurred in Cuba. Prehistoric. May still survive based on the fact that nightjars are notoriously hard to study.
Brace's emerald Riccordia bracei Trochilidae Occurred in the Bahamas, on the island of New Providence. Only known from a specimen collected in 1879.
Gould's emerald Riccordia elegans Trochilidae Most likely Jamaica or the Bahamas. Only known from the type specimen, taken in 1860.
St. Kitts bullfinch Melopyrrha grandis Thraupidae Occurred on Saint Kitts. Last reliably seen in 1929. May still survive; potential sightings have been made since the 1990s.
Grand Cayman thrush Turdus ravidus Turdidae Occurred on Grand Cayman Last reliably seen in 1938.

Near-endemics edit

The following is a list of species endemic to the region as breeding species:

The following is a list of species endemic to the region as non-breeding species:

The following restricted-range species are also found in the region:

The following seabirds are restricted to the region as breeders:

References edit

  1. ^ "Cuban Martin". Cornell Lab of Ornithology Neotropical Birda. Cornell University. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  2. ^ "Jamaican Pauraque". Cornell Lab of Ornithology Neotropical Birds. Cornell University. Retrieved 23 March 2019.

External links edit