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:
- Palmchat, a passerine family (Dulidae), containing a single species found only on Hispaniola.
- the todies, a family (Todidae) with five species, found only on the Greater Antilles.
- the Cuban warblers, a passerine family (Teretistridae), containing two species on Cuba
- the Hispaniolan tanagers, Phaenicophilidae, a passerine family, containing 4 species in 3 genera on Hispaniola
- the Puerto Rican tanager, a passerine family (Nesospingidae), containing a single species found only on Puerto Rico
- the chat-tanagers (Calyptophilidae) a passerine family, containing 2 species found only on Hispaniola
- the spindalises, a passerine family (Spindalidae), with 4 species found only on the Greater Antilles and nearby islands
Genus-level endemism
[edit]In addition to genera in the families above, the following genera are endemic to the region:
- Riccordia, with six species, the blue-headed hummingbird, Puerto Rican emerald, Cuban emerald, Hispaniolan emerald, and the extinct Brace's emerald & Gould's emerald
- Margarops, with one species, the pearly-eyed thrasher
- Priotelus, with two species, the Cuban trogon and Hispaniolan trogon
- Melopyrrha, with four species, the Puerto Rican bullfinch, Cuban bullfinch, Greater Antillean bullfinch, and the extinct St. Kitts bullfinch
Six genera found only on Hispaniola:
- Nesoctites, with one species, the Antillean piculet (also monotypic within the subfamily)
- Dulus, with only one species, the palmchat (also monotypic within the family)
- Phaenicophilus, with two species, the black-crowned tanager and grey-crowned tanager
- Xenoligea, with one species, the white-winged warbler
- Microligea, with one species, the green-tailed warbler
- Calyptophilus, with two species, the western chat-tanager and eastern chat-tanager
Five genera found only on Jamaica:
- Trochilus, with two species, red-billed and black-billed streamertails
- Loxipasser, with one species, the yellow-shouldered grassquit
- Euneornis, with one species, the orangequit
- Nesopsar, with one species, the Jamaican blackbird
Six genera found only on Cuba:
- Ferminia, a genus with only one species, the Zapata wren
- Cyanolimnas, with one species, the Zapata rail
- Margarobyas, with one species, the bare-legged owl
- Starnoenas, with one species, the blue-headed quail-dove (depending on classification, the genus may also be monotypic to the subfamily level)
- Torreornis, with one species, the Zapata sparrow
- Xiphidiopicus, with one species, the Cuban green woodpecker
One genus found only on Puerto Rico:
- Gymnasio, with one species, the Puerto Rican owl (formerly also found in the Virgin Islands, but now likely extirpated there)
One genus found only on the Bahamas:
- Nesophlox, with two species, the Bahama woodstar and Inagua woodstar
The following genera are confined to the Lesser Antilles:
- Ramphocinclus, with a single species, the white-breasted thrasher
- Cinclocerthia, with two species, the gray trembler and the brown trembler
- Allenia, with one species, the scaly-breasted thrasher
- Loxigilla, with two species, the Lesser Antillean bullfinch and the Barbados bullfinch
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]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]Species endemic to Jamaica
[edit]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]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]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]Other species endemic to the Lesser Antilles
[edit]Other species endemic to the West Indies
[edit]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]- ^ "Cuban Martin". Cornell Lab of Ornithology Neotropical Birda. Cornell University. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
- ^ "Jamaican Pauraque". Cornell Lab of Ornithology Neotropical Birds. Cornell University. Retrieved 23 March 2019.