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Jamaica

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This checklist includes all bird species found in Jamaica , based on the best information available at this time. It is based on a wide variety of sources that I collated over many years. I am pleased to offer these checklists as a service to birdwatchers. If you find any error, please do not hesitate to .

The taxonomic order and nomenclature follows Howard and Moore 4th edition (incl. corrigenda vol.1-2). If you prefer to view the list based on a different authority, click on one of the list available below. Globally threatened species (status in red) were identified by Birdlife International in Birdlife Data Zone (species).

Bird Checklists of the World is part of Avibase and Bird links to the World, which are designed and maintained by Denis Lepage, and hosted by Birds Canada, which is a co-partner of Birdlife International.

© Denis Lepage 2025

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Country or region: Jamaica [map]

Number of species: 330
Number of endemics: 29
Number of introduced species: 14
Date last reviewed: 2005-05-01
Last modified: 2024-11-27
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ANSERIFORMES: Anatidae

Black-bellied Whistling DuckDendrocygna autumnalisRare/Accidental
West Indian Whistling DuckDendrocygna arboreaNear-threatened
Fulvous Whistling DuckDendrocygna bicolorRare/Accidental
Masked DuckNomonyx dominicus
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensis
Canada GooseBranta canadensisRare/Accidental
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensRare/Accidental
BuffleheadBucephala albeolaRare/Accidental
CanvasbackAythya valisineriaRare/Accidental
RedheadAythya americanaRare/Accidental
Ring-necked DuckAythya collarisRare/Accidental
Greater ScaupAythya marilaRare/Accidental
Lesser ScaupAythya affinisRare/Accidental
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataRare/Accidental
Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanopteraRare/Accidental
Blue-winged TealSpatula discors
GadwallMareca streperaRare/Accidental
American WigeonMareca americanaRare/Accidental
MallardAnas platyrhynchosRare/Accidental
White-cheeked PintailAnas bahamensisRare/Accidental
Northern PintailAnas acutaRare/Accidental
Common TealAnas crecca
Wood DuckAix sponsaRare/Accidental

 
GALLIFORMES: Numididae

Helmeted GuineafowlNumida meleagrisIntroduced species

 
GALLIFORMES: Odontophoridae

Northern BobwhiteColinus virginianusExtirpated Near-threatened

 
PHOENICOPTERIFORMES: Phoenicopteridae

American FlamingoPhoenicopterus ruberRare/Accidental

 
PHOENICOPTERIFORMES: Podicipedidae

Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podiceps
Least GrebeTachybaptus dominicus

 
COLUMBIFORMES: Columbidae

Rock DoveColumba liviaIntroduced species
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoIntroduced species
White-crowned PigeonPatagioenas leucocephalaNear-threatened
Scaly-naped PigeonPatagioenas squamosaRare/Accidental
Ring-tailed PigeonPatagioenas caribaeaEndemic Vulnerable
Plain PigeonPatagioenas inornataNear-threatened
Caribbean DoveLeptotila jamaicensis
Crested Quail DoveGeotrygon versicolorEndemic Near-threatened
Ruddy Quail DoveGeotrygon montana
White-winged DoveZenaida asiatica
Zenaida DoveZenaida aurita
Mourning DoveZenaida macroura
Common Ground DoveColumbina passerina
Blue-headed Quail DoveStarnoenas cyanocephalaIntroduced species Endangered

 
PHAETHONTIFORMES: Phaethontidae

Red-billed TropicbirdPhaethon aethereusRare/Accidental
White-tailed TropicbirdPhaethon lepturus

 
CAPRIMULGIFORMES: Nyctibiidae

Northern PotooNyctibius jamaicensis

 
CAPRIMULGIFORMES: Caprimulgidae

Common NighthawkChordeiles minorRare/Accidental
Antillean NighthawkChordeiles gundlachii
Jamaican PauraqueSiphonorhis americanaEndemic Critically endangered
Eastern Whip-poor-willAntrostomus vociferusRare/Accidental Near-threatened
Chuck-will's-widowAntrostomus carolinensisRare/Accidental Near-threatened

 
CAPRIMULGIFORMES: Apodidae

Black SwiftCypseloides nigerVulnerable
White-collared SwiftStreptoprocne zonaris
Chimney SwiftChaetura pelagicaRare/Accidental Vulnerable
Antillean Palm SwiftTachornis phoenicobia

 
CAPRIMULGIFORMES: Trochilidae

Jamaican MangoAnthracothorax mangoEndemic
Red-billed StreamertailTrochilus polytmusEndemic
Black-billed StreamertailTrochilus scitulusEndemic
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisRare/Accidental
Vervain HummingbirdMellisuga minima

 
CUCULIFORMES: Cuculidae

Smooth-billed AniCrotophaga ani
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusRare/Accidental
Yellow-billed CuckooCoccyzus americanusRare/Accidental
Mangrove CuckooCoccyzus minor
Chestnut-bellied CuckooCoccyzus pluvialisEndemic
Jamaican Lizard CuckooCoccyzus vetulaEndemic

 
GRUIFORMES: Rallidae

Black RailLaterallus jamaicensisRare/Accidental
Clapper RailRallus longirostris
King RailRallus elegans
Uniform CrakeAmaurolimnas concolorExtirpated
Spotted RailPardirallus maculatusRare/Accidental
Yellow-breasted CrakeHapalocrex flaviventer
SoraPorzana carolinaRare/Accidental
Purple GallinulePorphyrio martinicus
Common GallinuleGallinula galeata
American CootFulica americana
Caribbean CootFulica caribaea

 
GRUIFORMES: Aramidae

LimpkinAramus guarauna

 
PROCELLARIIFORMES: Oceanitidae

Wilson's Storm-petrelOceanites oceanicus

 
PROCELLARIIFORMES: Hydrobatidae

Leach's Storm-petrelHydrobates leucorhousRare/Accidental

 
PROCELLARIIFORMES: Procellariidae

Black-capped PetrelPterodroma hasitataRare/Accidental
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaRare/Accidental Near-threatened
Cory's ShearwaterCalonectris borealis
Audubon's ShearwaterPuffinus lherminieriRare/Accidental

 
PELECANIFORMES: Ciconiidae

Wood StorkMycteria americanaRare/Accidental

 
PELECANIFORMES: Pelecanidae

American White PelicanPelecanus erythrorhynchosRare/Accidental
Brown PelicanPelecanus occidentalis

 
PELECANIFORMES: Ardeidae

American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusRare/Accidental
Least BitternIxobrychus exilis
Black-crowned Night HeronNycticorax nycticorax
Yellow-crowned Night HeronNyctanassa violacea
Green HeronButorides virescens
Cattle EgretBubulcus ibis
Great Blue HeronArdea herodias
Great EgretArdea alba
Reddish EgretEgretta rufescensRare/Accidental Near-threatened
Tricolored HeronEgretta tricolor
Little Blue HeronEgretta caerulea
Snowy EgretEgretta thula

 
PELECANIFORMES: Threskiornithidae

Roseate SpoonbillPlatalea ajajaRare/Accidental
White IbisEudocimus albus
Scarlet IbisEudocimus ruberRare/Accidental
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusRare/Accidental

 
PELECANIFORMES: Fregatidae

Magnificent FrigatebirdFregata magnificens

 
PELECANIFORMES: Sulidae

Red-footed BoobySula sulaRare/Accidental
Brown BoobySula leucogaster
Masked BoobySula dactylatraRare/Accidental

 
PELECANIFORMES: Phalacrocoracidae

Double-crested CormorantPhalacrocorax auritusRare/Accidental
Neotropic CormorantPhalacrocorax brasilianusRare/Accidental

 
PELECANIFORMES: Anhingidae

AnhingaAnhinga anhingaRare/Accidental

 
CHARADRIIFORMES: Haematopodidae

American OystercatcherHaematopus palliatusRare/Accidental

 
CHARADRIIFORMES: Recurvirostridae

American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaRare/Accidental
Black-winged StiltHimantopus himantopus

 
CHARADRIIFORMES: Charadriidae

Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaVulnerable
Pacific Golden PloverPluvialis fulvaRare/Accidental
American Golden PloverPluvialis dominicaRare/Accidental
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatus
Wilson's PloverCharadrius wilsonia
KilldeerCharadrius vociferusNear-threatened
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusRare/Accidental Near-threatened
Snowy PloverCharadrius nivosusRare/Accidental Near-threatened
Southern LapwingVanellus chilensisRare/Accidental

 
CHARADRIIFORMES: Jacanidae

Northern JacanaJacana spinosa

 
CHARADRIIFORMES: Scolopacidae

Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaRare/Accidental
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopus
Long-billed CurlewNumenius americanusRare/Accidental
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaRare/Accidental Vulnerable
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresNear-threatened
Red KnotCalidris canutusRare/Accidental Near-threatened
RuffCalidris pugnaxRare/Accidental
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusRare/Accidental Near-threatened
SanderlingCalidris alba
DunlinCalidris alpinaRare/Accidental Near-threatened
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaNear-threatened
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisRare/Accidental Vulnerable
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisRare/Accidental Vulnerable
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosRare/Accidental
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaNear-threatened
Western SandpiperCalidris mauri
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusVulnerable
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusRare/Accidental Near-threatened
Wilson's SnipeGallinago delicataRare/Accidental
Spotted SandpiperActitis macularius
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaRare/Accidental
WilletTringa semipalmata
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesVulnerable
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaNear-threatened
Wilson's PhalaropeSteganopus tricolorRare/Accidental
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusRare/Accidental

 
CHARADRIIFORMES: Stercorariidae

Long-tailed SkuaStercorarius longicaudusRare/Accidental
Arctic SkuaStercorarius parasiticusRare/Accidental
Pomarine SkuaStercorarius pomarinusRare/Accidental

 
CHARADRIIFORMES: Laridae

Brown NoddyAnous stolidus
Black SkimmerRynchops nigerRare/Accidental
Black-legged KittiwakeRissa tridactylaRare/Accidental Vulnerable
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphia
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusRare/Accidental
Laughing GullLeucophaeus atricilla
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisRare/Accidental
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusRare/Accidental
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusRare/Accidental
Sooty TernOnychoprion fuscatus
Bridled TernOnychoprion anaethetus
Least TernSternula antillarum
Gull-billed TernGelochelidon niloticaRare/Accidental
Caspian TernHydroprogne caspiaRare/Accidental
Black TernChlidonias niger
Common TernSterna hirundoRare/Accidental
Forster's TernSterna forsteriRare/Accidental
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensis
Royal TernThalasseus maximus

 
ACCIPITRIFORMES: Cathartidae

Turkey VultureCathartes aura
Black VultureCoragyps atratusRare/Accidental

 
ACCIPITRIFORMES: Pandionidae

OspreyPandion haliaetus

 
ACCIPITRIFORMES: Accipitridae

Swallow-tailed KiteElanoides forficatusRare/Accidental
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusRare/Accidental
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusRare/Accidental
Mississippi KiteIctinia mississippiensisRare/Accidental
Snail KiteRostrhamus sociabilisRare/Accidental
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusRare/Accidental
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensis

 
STRIGIFORMES: Tytonidae

Common Barn OwlTyto alba

 
STRIGIFORMES: Strigidae

Jamaican OwlPseudoscops grammicusEndemic

 
PICIFORMES: Picidae

Fernandina's FlickerColaptes fernandinaeRare/Accidental Endangered
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusRare/Accidental
Jamaican WoodpeckerMelanerpes radiolatusEndemic

 
CORACIIFORMES: Todidae

Jamaican TodyTodus todusEndemic

 
CORACIIFORMES: Alcedinidae

Belted KingfisherMegaceryle alcyon

 
FALCONIFORMES: Falconidae

Crested CaracaraCaracara cheriwayRare/Accidental
Yellow-headed CaracaraMilvago chimachimaRare/Accidental
American KestrelFalco sparverius
MerlinFalco columbariusRare/Accidental
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinus

 
PSITTACIFORMES: Psittacidae

Black-billed ParrotAmazona agilisEndemic Endangered
Yellow-billed ParrotAmazona collariaEndemic Vulnerable
Yellow-headed ParrotAmazona oratrixIntroduced species Endangered
Yellow-naped ParrotAmazona auropalliataIntroduced species Critically endangered
Green-rumped ParrotletForpus passerinusIntroduced species
Olive-throated ParakeetEupsittula nana
Cuban MacawAra tricolorExtinct

 
PASSERIFORMES: Tityridae

Jamaican BecardPachyramphus nigerEndemic

 
PASSERIFORMES: Tyrannidae

Greater Antillean ElaeniaElaenia fallax
Jamaican ElaeniaMyiopagis cottaEndemic
Eastern KingbirdTyrannus tyrannusRare/Accidental
Gray KingbirdTyrannus dominicensis
Loggerhead KingbirdTyrannus caudifasciatus
Fork-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus savanaRare/Accidental
Sad FlycatcherMyiarchus barbirostrisEndemic
Rufous-tailed FlycatcherMyiarchus validusEndemic
Stolid FlycatcherMyiarchus stolidus
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusRare/Accidental
Acadian FlycatcherEmpidonax virescensUncertain origin
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiRare/Accidental
Western Wood PeweeContopus sordidulusRare/Accidental
Eastern Wood PeweeContopus virensRare/Accidental
Jamaican PeweeContopus pallidusEndemic

 
PASSERIFORMES: Vireonidae

White-eyed VireoVireo griseusRare/Accidental
Jamaican VireoVireo modestusEndemic
Blue Mountain VireoVireo osburniEndemic Near-threatened
Yellow-throated VireoVireo flavifronsRare/Accidental
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusRare/Accidental
Warbling VireoVireo gilvusRare/Accidental
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusRare/Accidental
Red-eyed VireoVireo olivaceusRare/Accidental
Black-whiskered VireoVireo altiloquus

 
PASSERIFORMES: Corvidae

Black-billed MagpiePica hudsoniaExtirpated
Jamaican CrowCorvus jamaicensisEndemic Near-threatened

 
PASSERIFORMES: Ploceidae

Yellow-crowned BishopEuplectes aferIntroduced species
Northern Red BishopEuplectes franciscanusRare/Accidental

 
PASSERIFORMES: Estrildidae

Scaly-breasted MuniaLonchura punctulataIntroduced species
Black-headed MuniaLonchura malaccaIntroduced species

 
PASSERIFORMES: Passeridae

House SparrowPasser domesticusRare/Accidental

 
PASSERIFORMES: Motacillidae

American PipitAnthus rubescensRare/Accidental

 
PASSERIFORMES: Fringillidae

Jamaican EuphoniaEuphonia jamaicaEndemic
Hispaniola CrossbillLoxia megaplagaRare/Accidental Endangered

 
PASSERIFORMES: Passerellidae

Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusRare/Accidental
Grasshopper SparrowAmmodramus savannarum
Dark-eyed JuncoJunco hyemalisRare/Accidental
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysRare/Accidental
Savannah SparrowPasserculus sandwichensisRare/Accidental
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiRare/Accidental

 
PASSERIFORMES: Phaenicophilidae

Jamaican SpindalisSpindalis nigricephalaEndemic

 
PASSERIFORMES: Parulidae

OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapilla
Worm-eating WarblerHelmitheros vermivorumRare/Accidental
Louisiana WaterthrushParkesia motacilla
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensis
Golden-winged WarblerVermivora chrysopteraRare/Accidental Near-threatened
Blue-winged WarblerVermivora cyanopteraRare/Accidental
Black-and-white WarblerMniotilta varia
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaRare/Accidental
Swainson's WarblerLimnothlypis swainsoniiRare/Accidental
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaRare/Accidental
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataRare/Accidental
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaRare/Accidental
Connecticut WarblerOporornis agilisRare/Accidental
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaRare/Accidental
Kentucky WarblerGeothlypis formosaRare/Accidental
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichas
Arrowhead WarblerSetophaga pharetraEndemic
Hooded WarblerSetophaga citrinaRare/Accidental
American RedstartSetophaga ruticilla
Kirtland's WarblerSetophaga kirtlandiiRare/Accidental Near-threatened
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrina
Cerulean WarblerSetophaga ceruleaRare/Accidental Near-threatened
Northern ParulaSetophaga americana
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaRare/Accidental
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaRare/Accidental
Blackburnian WarblerSetophaga fuscaRare/Accidental
Yellow WarblerSetophaga petechia
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaRare/Accidental
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataRare/Accidental Near-threatened
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescens
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarum
Pine WarblerSetophaga pinusRare/Accidental
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronata
Yellow-throated WarblerSetophaga dominica
Prairie WarblerSetophaga discolor
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensRare/Accidental
Canada WarblerCardellina canadensisRare/Accidental
Wilson's WarblerCardellina pusillaRare/Accidental

 
PASSERIFORMES: Icteridae

Yellow-breasted ChatIcteria virensRare/Accidental
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorus
Jamaican OrioleIcterus leucopteryx
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaRare/Accidental
Venezuelan TroupialIcterus icterusExtirpated
Orchard OrioleIcterus spuriusRare/Accidental
Jamaican BlackbirdNesopsar nigerrimusEndemic Endangered
Shiny CowbirdMolothrus bonariensisIntroduced species
Greater Antillean GrackleQuiscalus niger
Great-tailed GrackleQuiscalus mexicanusRare/Accidental

 
PASSERIFORMES: Cardinalidae

Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusRare/Accidental
DickcisselSpiza americanaRare/Accidental
Indigo BuntingPasserina cyaneaRare/Accidental
Blue GrosbeakPasserina caeruleaRare/Accidental
Painted BuntingPasserina cirisRare/Accidental
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaRare/Accidental
Summer TanagerPiranga rubraRare/Accidental

 
PASSERIFORMES: Thraupidae

Saffron FinchSicalis flaveolaIntroduced species
Red-legged HoneycreeperCyanerpes cyaneusRare/Accidental
BananaquitCoereba flaveola
Yellow-faced GrassquitTiaris olivaceus
OrangequitEuneornis campestrisEndemic
Greater Antillean BullfinchMelopyrrha violacea
Yellow-shouldered GrassquitLoxipasser anoxanthusEndemic
Black-faced GrassquitMelanospiza bicolor

 
PASSERIFORMES: Alaudidae

Eurasian Sky LarkAlauda arvensisExtirpated

 
PASSERIFORMES: Hirundinidae

Cliff SwallowPetrochelidon pyrrhonotaRare/Accidental
Cave SwallowPetrochelidon fulva
Barn SwallowHirundo rustica
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaRare/Accidental
Tree SwallowTachycineta bicolorRare/Accidental
Golden SwallowTachycineta euchryseaRare/Accidental Vulnerable
Purple MartinProgne subisRare/Accidental
Caribbean MartinProgne dominicensis
Northern Rough-winged SwallowStelgidopteryx serripennisRare/Accidental

 
PASSERIFORMES: Regulidae

Ruby-crowned KingletRegulus calendulaRare/Accidental

 
PASSERIFORMES: Bombycillidae

Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumRare/Accidental

 
PASSERIFORMES: Mimidae

Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisRare/Accidental
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottos
Bahama MockingbirdMimus gundlachii

 
PASSERIFORMES: Sturnidae

Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisIntroduced species
Common MynaAcridotheres tristisIntroduced species

 
PASSERIFORMES: Turdidae

Rufous-throated SolitaireMyadestes genibarbis
Wood ThrushHylocichla mustelinaRare/Accidental
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusRare/Accidental
VeeryCatharus fuscescensRare/Accidental
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimus
Bicknell's ThrushCatharus bicknelliRare/Accidental Vulnerable
White-eyed ThrushTurdus jamaicensisEndemic
American RobinTurdus migratoriusRare/Accidental
White-chinned ThrushTurdus aurantiusEndemic
Red-legged ThrushTurdus plumbeus

 

References (partial list)

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