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

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

The following families are endemic to the region:

Genus-level endemism

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

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

Species endemic to Cuba
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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

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
  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.
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