List of birds of Haiti

The Hispaniolan trogon is the national bird of Haiti.

The following is a list of the bird species recorded in Haiti. The avifauna of Haiti included a total of 275 species according to Bird Checklists of the World (Avibase) as of October 2024. Of them, 11 have been introduced by humans and 62 are rare or accidental. One is endemic to Haiti and an additional 29 species are endemic to the island of Hispaniola, which Haiti shares with the Dominican Republic.

This list is presented in the taxonomic sequence of the Check-list of North and Middle American Birds, 7th edition through the 63rd Supplement, published by the American Ornithological Society (AOS). Common and scientific names are also those of the Check-list, except that the common names of families are from the Clements taxonomy because the AOS list does not include them.

The following tags have been used to highlight several categories of occurrence.

• (A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Haiti
• (E-Haiti) - Endemic-Haiti - a species endemic to Haiti
• (E-Hisp) - Endemic-Hispaniola - a species endemic to the island of Hispaniola
• (I) Introduced - a species introduced to Haiti as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions

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.

• White-faced whistling-duck, Dendrocygna viduata (A)
• West Indian whistling-duck, Dendrocygna arborea
• Fulvous whistling-duck, Dendrocygna bicolor
• Snow goose, Anser caerulescens
• Muscovy duck, Cairina moschata (A)
• Wood duck, Aix sponsa (A)
• Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors
• Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata
• Gadwall, Mareca strepera (A)
• Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope (A)
• American wigeon, Mareca americana
• Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos
• White-cheeked pintail, Anas bahamensis
• Northern pintail, Anas acuta (A)
• Green-winged teal, Anas crecca (A)
• Redhead, Aythya americana (A)
• Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris (A)
• Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis
• Hooded merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus (A)
• Masked duck, Nomonyx dominica
• Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis

Guineafowl

Order: Galliformes   Family: Numididae

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

• Helmeted guineafowl, Numida meleagris (I)

New World quail

Order: Galliformes   Family: Odontophoridae

The New World quails are small, plump terrestrial birds only distantly related to the quails of the Old World, but named for their similar appearance and habits.

• Northern bobwhite, Colinus virginianus (I)

Pheasants, grouse, and allies

Order: Galliformes   Family: Phasianidae

The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds which consists of quails, partridges, snowcocks, francolins, spurfowls, tragopans, monals, pheasants, peafowls, and jungle fowls. In general, they are plump (although they vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings.

• Red junglefowl, Gallus gallus (I) (A) (feral)

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.

• American flamingo, Phoenicopterus ruber

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.

• Least grebe, Tachybaptus dominicus
• Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps

Pigeons and doves

Order: Columbiformes   Family: Columbidae

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

• Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I)
• Scaly-naped pigeon, Patagioenas squamosa
• White-crowned pigeon, Patagioenas leucocephala
• Plain pigeon, Patagioenas inornata
• Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto (I)
• Common ground dove, Columbina passerina
• Ruddy quail-dove, Geotrygon montana
• White-fronted quail-dove, Geotrygon leucometopia (E-Hisp)
• Key West quail-dove, Geotrygon chrysia
• White-winged dove, Zenaida asiatica
• Zenaida dove, Zenaida aurita
• Mourning dove, Zenaida macroura

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.

• Smooth-billed ani, Crotophaga ani
• Yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus
• Mangrove cuckoo, Coccyzus minor
• Black-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus erythropthalmus (A)
• Bay-breasted cuckoo, Coccyzus rufigularis (E-Hisp)
• Hispaniolan lizard-cuckoo, Coccyzus longirostris (E-Hisp)

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 nighthawk, Chordeiles minor
• Antillean nighthawk, Chordeiles gundlachii
• Least pauraque, Siphonorhis brewsteri (E-Hisp)
• Chuck-will's-widow, Antrostomus carolinensis
• Greater Antillean nightjar, Antrostomus cubanensis (E-Hisp)

Potoos

Order: Nyctibiiformes   Family: Nyctibiidae

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.

• Northern potoo, Nyctibius jamaicensis

Swifts

Order: Apodiformes   Family: Apodidae

Swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang.

• Black swift, Cypseloides niger
• White-collared swift, Streptoprocne zonaris
• Chimney swift, Chaetura pelagica (A)
• Antillean palm-swift, Tachornis phoenicobia

Hummingbirds

Order: Apodiformes   Family: Trochilidae

Hummingbirds are small birds capable of hovering in mid-air due to the rapid flapping of their wings. They are the only birds that can fly backwards.

• Hispaniolan mango, Anthracothorax dominicus
• Ruby-throated hummingbird, Archilochus colubris (A)
• Vervain hummingbird, Mellisuga minima
• Hispaniolan emerald, Riccordia swainsonii (E-Hisp)

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.

• Spotted rail, Pardirallus maculatus
• Clapper rail, Rallus crepitans
• Sora, Porzana carolina
• Common gallinule, Gallinula galeata
• American coot, Fulica americana
• Purple gallinule, Porphyrio martinica
• Yellow-breasted crake, Hapalocrex flaviventer
• Black rail, Laterallus jamaicensis

Limpkin

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Aramidae

The limpkin resembles a large rail. It has drab-brown plumage and a grayer head and neck.

• Limpkin, Aramus guarauna

Thick-knees

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Burhinidae

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

• Double-striped thick-knee, Hesperoburhinus bistriatus

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.

• Black-necked stilt, Himantopus mexicanus

Oystercatchers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Haematopodidae

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

• American oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus

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.

• Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola
• American golden-plover, Pluvialis dominica (A)
• Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus
• Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus
• Piping plover, Charadrius melodus (A)
• Wilson's plover, Charadrius wilsonia
• Snowy plover, Charadrius nivosus

Jacanas

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Jacanidae

The jacanas are a group of waders 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.

• Northern jacana, Jacana spinosa

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.

• Upland sandpiper, Bartramia longicauda
• Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus
• Hudsonian godwit, Limosa haemastica (A)
• Marbled godwit, Limosa fedoa (A)
• Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres
• Red knot, Calidris canutus (A)
• Stilt sandpiper, Calidris himantopus
• Sanderling, Calidris alba
• Dunlin, Calidris alpina
• Baird's sandpiper, Calidris bairdii (A)
• Least sandpiper, Calidris minutilla
• White-rumped sandpiper, Calidris fuscicollis
• Buff-breasted sandpiper, Calidris subruficollis (A)
• Pectoral sandpiper, Calidris melanotos
• Semipalmated sandpiper, Calidris pusilla
• Western sandpiper, Calidris mauri
• Short-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus griseus
• Wilson's snipe, Gallinago delicata
• Spotted sandpiper, Actitis macularius
• Solitary sandpiper, Tringa solitaria
• Lesser yellowlegs, Tringa flavipes
• Willet, Tringa semipalmata
• Greater yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca
• Wilson's phalarope, Phalaropus tricolor

Skuas and jaegers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Stercorariidae

The family Stercorariidae are, in general, medium to large birds, typically with gray or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They nest on the ground in temperate and arctic regions and are long-distance migrants.

• Pomarine jaeger, Stercorarius pomarinus
• Long-tailed jaeger, Stercorarius longicaudus (A)

Gulls, terns, and skimmers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Laridae

Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds and includes gulls, kittiwakes, terns, and skimmers. They are typically gray 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 gray or white plumage, often with black markings on the head. Most terns hunt fish by diving but some pick insects off the surface of fresh water. Terns are generally long-lived birds, with several species known to live in excess of 30 years. Skimmers are a small family of tropical tern-like birds. They have an elongated lower mandible which they use to feed by flying low over the water surface and skimming the water for small fish.

• Bonaparte's gull, Chroicocephalus philadelphia (A)
• Laughing gull, Leucophaeus atricilla
• Ring-billed gull, Larus delawarensis
• Herring gull, Larus argentatus
• Lesser black-backed gull, Larus fuscus (A)
• Great black-backed gull, Larus marinus
• Brown noddy, Anous stolidus
• Sooty tern, Onychoprion fuscata
• Bridled tern, Onychoprion anaethetus
• Least tern, Sternula antillarum
• Gull-billed tern, Gelochelidon nilotica
• Caspian tern, Hydroprogne caspia
• Black tern, Chlidonias niger
• Roseate tern, Sterna dougallii
• Common tern, Sterna hirundo
• Forster's tern, Sterna forsteri (A)
• Royal tern, Thalasseus maxima
• Sandwich tern, Thalasseus sandvicensis
• Black skimmer, Rynchops niger (A)

Tropicbirds

Order: Phaethontiformes   Family: Phaethontidae

Tropicbirds are slender white birds of tropical oceans with exceptionally long central tail feathers. Their heads and long wings have black markings.

• White-tailed tropicbird, Phaethon lepturus
• Red-billed tropicbird, Phaethon aethereus (A)

Northern storm-petrels

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Hydrobatidae

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

• Leach's storm-petrel, Hydrobates leucorhous (A)

Shearwaters and petrels

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Procellariidae

The procellariids are the main group of medium-sized "true petrels", characterised by united nostrils with medium septum and a long outer functional primary.

• Black-capped petrel, Pterodroma hasitata
• Cory's shearwater, Calonectris diomedea (A)
• Audubon's shearwater, Puffinus lherminieri (A)

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.

• Wood stork, Mycteria americana (A)

Frigatebirds

Order: Suliformes   Family: Fregatidae

Frigatebirds are large seabirds usually found over tropical oceans. They are large, black-and-white, or completely black, with long wings and deeply forked tails. The males have colored inflatable throat pouches. They do not swim or walk and cannot take off from a flat surface. Having the largest wingspan-to-body-weight ratio of any bird, they are essentially aerial, able to stay aloft for more than a week.

• 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.

• Masked booby, Sula dactylatra
• Brown booby, Sula leucogaster
• Red-footed booby, Sula sula
• Northern gannet, Morus bassanus (A)

Anhingas

Order: Suliformes   Family: Anhingidae

Anhingas are often called "snake-birds" because of their long thin neck, 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.

• Anhinga, Anhinga anhinga (A)

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 coloration varies, with the majority having mainly dark plumage, some species being black-and-white, and a few being colorful.

• Double-crested cormorant, Nannopterum auritum (A)
• Neotropic cormorant, Nannopterum brasilianum (A)

Pelicans

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Pelecanidae

Pelicans are large water birds with a distinctive pouch under their beak. As with other members of the order Pelecaniformes, they have webbed feet with four toes.

• Brown pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis

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.

• American bittern, Botaurus lentiginosus (A)
• Least bittern, Ixobrychus exilis (A)
• Great blue heron, Ardea herodias
• Great egret, Ardea alba
• Snowy egret, Egretta thula
• Little blue heron, Egretta caerulea
• Tricolored heron, Egretta tricolor
• Reddish egret, Egretta rufescens
• Cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis
• Green heron, Butorides virescens
• Black-crowned night-heron, Nycticorax nycticorax (A)
• Yellow-crowned night-heron, Nyctanassa violacea

Ibises and spoonbills

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Threskiornithidae

Threskiornithidae is a family of large terrestrial and wading birds which includes the ibises and spoonbills. They have long, broad wings with 11 primary and about 20 secondary feathers. They are strong fliers and despite their size and weight, very capable soarers.

• White ibis, Eudocimus albus
• Glossy ibis, Plegadis falcinellus
• Roseate spoonbill, Platalea ajaja

New World vultures

Order: Cathartiformes   Family: Cathartidae

The New World vultures are not closely related to Old World vultures, but superficially resemble them because of convergent evolution. Like the Old World vultures, they are scavengers. However, unlike Old World vultures, which find carcasses by sight, New World vultures have a good sense of smell with which they locate carrion.

• Turkey vulture, Cathartes aura

Osprey

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Pandionidae

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

• 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.

• Northern harrier, Circus hudsonius (A)
• Sharp-shinned hawk, Accipiter striatus
• Red-tailed hawk, Buteo jamaicensis
• Ridgway's hawk, Buteo ridgwayi (E-Hisp)

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.

• American barn owl, Tyto furcata
• Ashy-faced owl, Tyto glaucops (E-Hisp)

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.

• Burrowing owl, Athene cunicularia
• Stygian owl, Asio stygius (A)
• Short-eared owl, Asio flammeus

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 colorful, feathers with distinctive male and female plumage.

• Hispaniolan trogon, Priotelus roseigaster (E-Hisp)

Todies

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Todidae

Todies are a group of small near passerine forest species endemic to the Caribbean. These birds have colorful plumage and resemble small kingfishers, but have flattened bills with serrated edges. They eat small prey such as insects and lizards.

• Broad-billed tody, Todus subulatus (E-Hisp)
• Narrow-billed tody, Todus angustirostris (E-Hisp)

Kingfishers

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Alcedinidae

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

• Belted kingfisher, Megaceryle alcyon

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.

• Antillean piculet, Nesoctites micromegas (E-Hisp)
• Hispaniolan woodpecker, Melanerpes striatus (E-Hisp)
• Yellow-bellied sapsucker, Sphyrapicus varius (A)

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.

• American kestrel, Falco sparverius
• Merlin, Falco columbarius
• 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.

• Hispaniolan parakeet, Psittacara chloropterus (E-Hisp)
• Hispaniolan parrot, Amazona ventralis (E-Hisp)

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 coloring. As the name implies, most are insectivorous.

• Greater Antillean elaenia, Elaenia fallax
• Stolid flycatcher, Myiarchus stolidus
• Gray kingbird, Tyrannus dominicensis
• Loggerhead kingbird, Tyrannus caudifasciatus
• Hispaniolan pewee, Contopus hispaniolensis (E-Hisp)

Vireos, shrike-babblers, and epornis

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Vireonidae

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

• White-eyed vireo, Vireo griseus (A)
• Thick-billed vireo, Vireo crassirostris
• Flat-billed vireo, Vireo nanus (E-Hisp)
• Yellow-throated vireo, Vireo flavifrons
• Red-eyed vireo, Vireo olivaceus
• Black-whiskered vireo, Vireo altiloquus

Crows, jays, and magpies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Corvidae

The family Corvidae includes crows, ravens, jays, choughs, magpies, treepies, nutcrackers, and ground jays. Corvids are above average in size among the Passeriformes, and some of the larger species show high levels of intelligence.

• Hispaniolan palm crow, Corvus palmarum (E-Hisp)
• White-necked crow, Corvus leucognaphalus (E-Hisp)

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.

• Bank swallow, Riparia riparia (A)
• Tree swallow, Tachycineta bicolor
• Golden swallow, Tachycineta euchrysea (A)
• Northern rough-winged swallow, Stelgidopteryx serripennis (A)
• Purple martin, Progne subis (A)
• Caribbean martin, Progne dominicensis
• Barn swallow, Hirundo rustica
• Cave swallow, Petrochelidon fulva

Kinglets

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Regulidae

The kinglets, also called crests, are a small group of birds often included in the Old World warblers, but frequently given family status because they also resemble the titmice.

• Ruby-crowned kinglet, Corthylio calendula (A)

Palmchat

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Dulidae

The palmchat is the only member of its family. Its name indicates its strong association with palms for feeding, roosting, and nesting.

• Palmchat, Dulus dominicus (E-Hisp)

Waxwings

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Bombycillidae

The waxwings are a group of birds with soft silky plumage and unique red tips to some of the wing feathers. In the Bohemian and cedar waxwings, these tips look like sealing wax and give the group its name. These are arboreal birds of northern forests. They live on insects in summer and berries in winter.

• Cedar waxwing, Bombycilla cedrorum (A)

Gnatcatchers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Polioptilidae

These dainty birds resemble Old World warblers in their structure and habits, moving restlessly through the foliage seeking insects. The gnatcatchers are mainly soft bluish gray in color and have the typical insectivore's long sharp bill. Many species have distinctive black head patterns (especially males) and long, regularly cocked, black-and-white tails.

• Blue-gray gnatcatcher, Polioptila caerulea (A)

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-grays and browns.

• Gray catbird, Dumetella carolinensis (A)
• Pearly-eyed thrasher, Margarops fuscatus
• Northern mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos

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.

• Rufous-throated solitaire, Myadestes genibarbis
• Veery, Catharus fuscescens (A)
• Bicknell's thrush, Catharus bicknelli
• Swainson's thrush, Catharus ustulatus
• La Selle thrush, Turdus swalesi (E-Hisp)
• Red-legged thrush, Turdus plumbeus

Weavers and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Ploceidae

The weavers are small passerine birds related to the finches. They are seed-eating birds with rounded conical bills. The males of many species are brightly colored, usually in red or yellow and black, and some species show variation in color only in the breeding season.

• Village weaver, Ploceus cucullatus (I)

Waxbills and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Estrildidae

The estrildid finches are small passerine birds of the Old World tropics and Australasia. They are gregarious and often colonial seed eaters with short thick but pointed bills. They are all similar in structure and habits, but have wide variation in plumage colors and patterns.

• Scaly-breasted munia, Lonchura punctulata (I)
• Tricolored munia, Lonchura malacca (I)
• Chestnut munia, Lonchura atricapilla (I)

Old World sparrows

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Passeridae

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

• House sparrow, Passer domesticus (I)

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.

• Hispaniolan euphonia, Chlorophonia musica
• Hispaniolan crossbill, Loxia megaplaga (E-Hisp)
• Antillean siskin, Spinus dominicensis (E-Hisp)

New World sparrows

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Passerellidae

Until 2017, these species were considered part of the family Emberizidae. Most of the species are known as sparrows, but these birds are not closely related to the Old World sparrows which are in the family Passeridae. Many of these have distinctive head patterns.

• Grasshopper sparrow, Ammodramus savannarum
• Rufous-collared sparrow, Zonotrichia capensis
• Lincoln's sparrow, Melospiza lincolnii (A)

Chat-tanagers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Calyptophilidae

These two species were formerly classified as tanagers (family Thraupidae) but were placed in their own family in 2017.

• Western chat-tanager, Calyptophilus tertius (E-Hisp)
• Eastern chat-tanager, Calyptophilus frugivorus (E-Hisp)

Hispaniolan tanagers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Phaenicophilidae

The members of this small family were formerly classified as tanagers and New World warblers (family Parulidae) but were placed in their own family in 2017.

• Black-crowned palm-tanager, Phaenicophilus palmarum (E-Hisp)
• Gray-crowned palm-tanager, Phaenicophilus poliocephalus (E-Haiti)
• White-winged warbler, Xenoligea montana (E-Hisp)
• Green-tailed warbler, Microligea palustris (E-Hisp)

Spindalises

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Spindalidae

The members of this small family are native to the Greater Antilles. They were formerly classified as tanagers but were placed in their own family in 2017.

• Hispaniolan spindalis, Spindalis dominicensis (E-Hisp)

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 color, often enlivened by yellow, orange, or red.

• Bobolink, Dolichonyx oryzivorus (A)
• Hispaniolan oriole, Icterus dominicensis (E-Hisp)
• Baltimore oriole, Icterus galbula
• Tawny-shouldered blackbird, Agelaius humeralis
• Shiny cowbird, Molothrus bonariensis
• Greater Antillean grackle, Quiscalus niger

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.

• Ovenbird, Seiurus aurocapilla
• Worm-eating warbler, Helmitheros vermivorum
• Louisiana waterthrush, Parkesia motacilla
• Northern waterthrush, Parkesia noveboracensis
• Golden-winged warbler, Vermivora chrysoptera (A)
• Blue-winged warbler, Vermivora cyanoptera (A)
• Black-and-white warbler, Mniotilta varia
• Prothonotary warbler, Protonotaria citrea (A)
• Tennessee warbler, Leiothlypis peregrina (A)
• Orange-crowned warbler, Leiothlypis celata (A)
• Connecticut warbler, Leirornis agilis
• Mourning warbler, Geothlypis philadelphia (A)
• Kentucky warbler, Geothlypis formosa (A)
• Common yellowthroat, Geothlypis trichas
• Hooded warbler, Setophaga citrina
• American redstart, Setophaga ruticilla
• Cape May warbler, Setophaga tigrina
• Northern parula, Setophaga americana
• Magnolia warbler, Setophaga magnolia
• Bay-breasted warbler, Setophaga castanea (A)
• Blackburnian warbler, Setophaga fusca (A)
• Yellow warbler, Setophaga petechia
• Chestnut-sided warbler, Setophaga pensylvanica (A)
• Blackpoll warbler, Setophaga striata
• Black-throated blue warbler, Setophaga caerulescens
• Palm warbler, Setophaga palmarum
• Pine warbler, Setophaga pinus
• Yellow-rumped warbler, Setophaga coronata
• Yellow-throated warbler, Setophaga dominica (A)
• Prairie warbler, Setophaga discolor
• Black-throated green warbler, Setophaga virens

Cardinals and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cardinalidae

The cardinals are a family of robust, seed-eating birds with strong bills. They are typically associated with open woodland. The sexes usually have distinct plumages.

• Scarlet tanager, Piranga olivacea
• Rose-breasted grosbeak, Pheucticus ludovicianus
• Blue grosbeak, Passerina caerulea (A)
• Indigo bunting, Passerina cyanea

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. As a family they are omnivorous, but individual species specialize in eating fruits, seeds, insects, or other types of food. Most have short, rounded wings.

• Bananaquit, Coereba flaveola
• Yellow-faced grassquit, Tiaris olivaceus
• Greater Antillean bullfinch, Loxigilla violacea
• Black-faced grassquit, Melanospiza bicolor

See also

• List of birds
• Lists of birds by region