Jamaica bird checklist - Avibase - Bird Checklists of the World

Avibase - Bird Checklists of the World

Jamaica

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 Clements, version 2019. 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 Bird Studies Canada, which is a co-partner of Birdlife International.

Go back to Bird Checklists of the World
Go back to Bird Links to the World

Change display options:

Select another taxonomy:

Select another second language:

Select another region:

See more checklists for Jamaica

You must be logged in to view your sighting details. To register to myAvibase click here.

Listen to random bird songs from Xeno-Canto for this region: exclude rare species limit to recordings made in this region

Recordings not starting automatically? Try enabling autoplay in your browser, or click the play button below.

Country or region: Jamaica [map]

Number of species: 326
Number of endemics: 28
Number of introduced species: 14
Date last reviewed: 2005-05-01
Last modified: 2019-12-23

Text only

Photos & sounds

PDF (wide)

PDF (compact)

Recent additions

Hypotheticals

ANSERIFORMES: Anatidae
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck	Dendrocygna autumnalis	Rare/Accidental
West Indian Whistling-Duck	Dendrocygna arborea
Fulvous Whistling-Duck	Dendrocygna bicolor	Rare/Accidental
Snow Goose	Anser caerulescens	Rare/Accidental
Canada Goose	Branta canadensis	Rare/Accidental
Wood Duck	Aix sponsa	Rare/Accidental
Blue-winged Teal	Spatula discors
Cinnamon Teal	Spatula cyanoptera	Rare/Accidental
Northern Shoveler	Spatula clypeata	Rare/Accidental
Gadwall	Mareca strepera	Rare/Accidental
American Wigeon	Mareca americana	Rare/Accidental
Mallard	Anas platyrhynchos	Rare/Accidental
White-cheeked Pintail	Anas bahamensis	Rare/Accidental
Northern Pintail	Anas acuta	Rare/Accidental
Green-winged Teal	Anas crecca
Canvasback	Aythya valisineria	Rare/Accidental
Redhead	Aythya americana	Rare/Accidental
Ring-necked Duck	Aythya collaris	Rare/Accidental
Greater Scaup	Aythya marila	Rare/Accidental
Lesser Scaup	Aythya affinis	Rare/Accidental
Bufflehead	Bucephala albeola	Rare/Accidental
Masked Duck	Nomonyx dominicus
Ruddy Duck	Oxyura jamaicensis
GALLIFORMES: Numididae
Helmeted Guineafowl	Numida meleagris	Introduced species
GALLIFORMES: Odontophoridae
Northern Bobwhite	Colinus virginianus	Extirpated
PHOENICOPTERIFORMES: Phoenicopteridae
American Flamingo	Phoenicopterus ruber	Rare/Accidental
PODICIPEDIFORMES: Podicipedidae
Least Grebe	Tachybaptus dominicus
Pied-billed Grebe	Podilymbus podiceps
COLUMBIFORMES: Columbidae
Rock Pigeon	Columba livia	Introduced species
Scaly-naped Pigeon	Patagioenas squamosa	Rare/Accidental
White-crowned Pigeon	Patagioenas leucocephala
Plain Pigeon	Patagioenas inornata
Ring-tailed Pigeon	Patagioenas caribaea	Endemic
Eurasian Collared-Dove	Streptopelia decaocto	Introduced species
Common Ground Dove	Columbina passerina
Blue-headed Quail-Dove	Starnoenas cyanocephala	Introduced species
Crested Quail-Dove	Geotrygon versicolor	Endemic
Ruddy Quail-Dove	Geotrygon montana
Caribbean Dove	Leptotila jamaicensis
White-winged Dove	Zenaida asiatica
Zenaida Dove	Zenaida aurita
Mourning Dove	Zenaida macroura
CUCULIFORMES: Cuculidae
Smooth-billed Ani	Crotophaga ani
Yellow-billed Cuckoo	Coccyzus americanus	Rare/Accidental
Mangrove Cuckoo	Coccyzus minor
Black-billed Cuckoo	Coccyzus erythropthalmus	Rare/Accidental
Chestnut-bellied Cuckoo	Coccyzus pluvialis	Endemic
Jamaican Lizard-Cuckoo	Coccyzus vetula	Endemic
CAPRIMULGIFORMES: Caprimulgidae
Common Nighthawk	Chordeiles minor	Rare/Accidental
Antillean Nighthawk	Chordeiles gundlachii
Jamaican Pauraque	Siphonorhis americana	Endemic
Chuck-will's-widow	Antrostomus carolinensis	Rare/Accidental
Eastern Whip-poor-will	Antrostomus vociferus	Rare/Accidental
CAPRIMULGIFORMES: Nyctibiidae
Northern Potoo	Nyctibius jamaicensis
CAPRIMULGIFORMES: Apodidae
Black Swift	Cypseloides niger
White-collared Swift	Streptoprocne zonaris
Chimney Swift	Chaetura pelagica	Rare/Accidental
Antillean Palm-Swift	Tachornis phoenicobia
CAPRIMULGIFORMES: Trochilidae
Jamaican Mango	Anthracothorax mango	Endemic
Ruby-throated Hummingbird	Archilochus colubris	Rare/Accidental
Vervain Hummingbird	Mellisuga minima
Streamertail	Trochilus polytmus	Endemic
GRUIFORMES: Rallidae
King Rail	Rallus elegans
Clapper Rail	Rallus crepitans
Spotted Rail	Pardirallus maculatus	Rare/Accidental
Uniform Crake	Amaurolimnas concolor	Extirpated
Sora	Porzana carolina	Rare/Accidental
Common Gallinule	Gallinula galeata
American Coot	Fulica americana
Purple Gallinule	Porphyrio martinica
Yellow-breasted Crake	Hapalocrex flaviventer
Black Rail	Laterallus jamaicensis	Rare/Accidental
GRUIFORMES: Aramidae
Limpkin	Aramus guarauna
CHARADRIIFORMES: Recurvirostridae
Black-necked Stilt	Himantopus mexicanus
American Avocet	Recurvirostra americana	Rare/Accidental
CHARADRIIFORMES: Haematopodidae
American Oystercatcher	Haematopus palliatus	Rare/Accidental
CHARADRIIFORMES: Charadriidae
Black-bellied Plover	Pluvialis squatarola
American Golden-Plover	Pluvialis dominica	Rare/Accidental
Snowy Plover	Charadrius nivosus	Rare/Accidental
Wilson's Plover	Charadrius wilsonia
Semipalmated Plover	Charadrius semipalmatus
Piping Plover	Charadrius melodus	Rare/Accidental
Killdeer	Charadrius vociferus
CHARADRIIFORMES: Jacanidae
Northern Jacana	Jacana spinosa
CHARADRIIFORMES: Scolopacidae
Upland Sandpiper	Bartramia longicauda	Rare/Accidental
Whimbrel	Numenius phaeopus
Long-billed Curlew	Numenius americanus	Rare/Accidental
Marbled Godwit	Limosa fedoa	Rare/Accidental
Ruddy Turnstone	Arenaria interpres
Red Knot	Calidris canutus	Rare/Accidental
Ruff	Calidris pugnax	Rare/Accidental
Stilt Sandpiper	Calidris himantopus	Rare/Accidental
Sanderling	Calidris alba
Dunlin	Calidris alpina	Rare/Accidental
Least Sandpiper	Calidris minutilla
White-rumped Sandpiper	Calidris fuscicollis	Rare/Accidental
Buff-breasted Sandpiper	Calidris subruficollis	Rare/Accidental
Pectoral Sandpiper	Calidris melanotos	Rare/Accidental
Semipalmated Sandpiper	Calidris pusilla
Western Sandpiper	Calidris mauri
Short-billed Dowitcher	Limnodromus griseus
Long-billed Dowitcher	Limnodromus scolopaceus	Rare/Accidental
Wilson's Snipe	Gallinago delicata	Rare/Accidental
Wilson's Phalarope	Phalaropus tricolor	Rare/Accidental
Red-necked Phalarope	Phalaropus lobatus	Rare/Accidental
Spotted Sandpiper	Actitis macularius
Solitary Sandpiper	Tringa solitaria	Rare/Accidental
Greater Yellowlegs	Tringa melanoleuca
Willet	Tringa semipalmata
Lesser Yellowlegs	Tringa flavipes
CHARADRIIFORMES: Stercorariidae
Pomarine Jaeger	Stercorarius pomarinus	Rare/Accidental
Parasitic Jaeger	Stercorarius parasiticus	Rare/Accidental
Long-tailed Jaeger	Stercorarius longicaudus	Rare/Accidental
CHARADRIIFORMES: Laridae
Black-legged Kittiwake	Rissa tridactyla	Rare/Accidental
Bonaparte's Gull	Chroicocephalus philadelphia
Black-headed Gull	Chroicocephalus ridibundus	Rare/Accidental
Laughing Gull	Leucophaeus atricilla
Ring-billed Gull	Larus delawarensis	Rare/Accidental
Herring Gull	Larus argentatus
Lesser Black-backed Gull	Larus fuscus	Rare/Accidental
Brown Noddy	Anous stolidus
Sooty Tern	Onychoprion fuscatus
Bridled Tern	Onychoprion anaethetus
Least Tern	Sternula antillarum
Gull-billed Tern	Gelochelidon nilotica	Rare/Accidental
Caspian Tern	Hydroprogne caspia	Rare/Accidental
Black Tern	Chlidonias niger
Common Tern	Sterna hirundo	Rare/Accidental
Forster's Tern	Sterna forsteri	Rare/Accidental
Royal Tern	Thalasseus maximus
Sandwich Tern	Thalasseus sandvicensis
Black Skimmer	Rynchops niger	Rare/Accidental
PHAETHONTIFORMES: Phaethontidae
White-tailed Tropicbird	Phaethon lepturus
Red-billed Tropicbird	Phaethon aethereus	Rare/Accidental
PROCELLARIIFORMES: Oceanitidae
Wilson's Storm-Petrel	Oceanites oceanicus
PROCELLARIIFORMES: Hydrobatidae
Leach's Storm-Petrel	Oceanodroma leucorhoa	Rare/Accidental
PROCELLARIIFORMES: Procellariidae
Black-capped Petrel	Pterodroma hasitata	Rare/Accidental
Cory's Shearwater	Calonectris diomedea
Sooty Shearwater	Ardenna grisea	Rare/Accidental
Barolo Shearwater	Puffinus baroli	Rare/Accidental
Audubon's Shearwater	Puffinus lherminieri	Rare/Accidental
CICONIIFORMES: Ciconiidae
Wood Stork	Mycteria americana	Rare/Accidental
SULIFORMES: Fregatidae
Magnificent Frigatebird	Fregata magnificens
SULIFORMES: Sulidae
Masked Booby	Sula dactylatra	Rare/Accidental
Brown Booby	Sula leucogaster
Red-footed Booby	Sula sula	Rare/Accidental
SULIFORMES: Anhingidae
Anhinga	Anhinga anhinga	Rare/Accidental
SULIFORMES: Phalacrocoracidae
Neotropic Cormorant	Phalacrocorax brasilianus	Rare/Accidental
Double-crested Cormorant	Phalacrocorax auritus	Rare/Accidental
PELECANIFORMES: Pelecanidae
American White Pelican	Pelecanus erythrorhynchos	Rare/Accidental
Brown Pelican	Pelecanus occidentalis
PELECANIFORMES: Ardeidae
American Bittern	Botaurus lentiginosus	Rare/Accidental
Least Bittern	Ixobrychus exilis
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	Rare/Accidental
Cattle Egret	Bubulcus ibis
Green Heron	Butorides virescens
Black-crowned Night-Heron	Nycticorax nycticorax
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron	Nyctanassa violacea
PELECANIFORMES: Threskiornithidae
White Ibis	Eudocimus albus
Scarlet Ibis	Eudocimus ruber	Rare/Accidental
Glossy Ibis	Plegadis falcinellus	Rare/Accidental
Roseate Spoonbill	Platalea ajaja	Rare/Accidental
CATHARTIFORMES: Cathartidae
Black Vulture	Coragyps atratus	Rare/Accidental
Turkey Vulture	Cathartes aura
ACCIPITRIFORMES: Pandionidae
Osprey	Pandion haliaetus
ACCIPITRIFORMES: Accipitridae
Swallow-tailed Kite	Elanoides forficatus	Rare/Accidental
Snail Kite	Rostrhamus sociabilis	Rare/Accidental
Mississippi Kite	Ictinia mississippiensis	Rare/Accidental
Northern Harrier	Circus hudsonius	Rare/Accidental
Sharp-shinned Hawk	Accipiter striatus	Rare/Accidental
Broad-winged Hawk	Buteo platypterus	Rare/Accidental
Red-tailed Hawk	Buteo jamaicensis
STRIGIFORMES: Tytonidae
Barn Owl	Tyto alba
STRIGIFORMES: Strigidae
Jamaican Owl	Pseudoscops grammicus	Endemic
CORACIIFORMES: Todidae
Jamaican Tody	Todus todus	Endemic
CORACIIFORMES: Alcedinidae
Belted Kingfisher	Megaceryle alcyon
PICIFORMES: Picidae
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker	Sphyrapicus varius	Rare/Accidental
Jamaican Woodpecker	Melanerpes radiolatus	Endemic
Fernandina's Flicker	Colaptes fernandinae	Rare/Accidental
FALCONIFORMES: Falconidae
Crested Caracara	Caracara cheriway	Rare/Accidental
American Kestrel	Falco sparverius
Merlin	Falco columbarius	Rare/Accidental
Peregrine Falcon	Falco peregrinus
PSITTACIFORMES: Psittacidae
Yellow-naped Parrot	Amazona auropalliata	Introduced species
Yellow-headed Parrot	Amazona oratrix	Introduced species
Black-billed Parrot	Amazona agilis	Endemic
Yellow-billed Parrot	Amazona collaria	Endemic
Green-rumped Parrotlet	Forpus passerinus	Introduced species
Olive-throated Parakeet	Eupsittula nana
Cuban Macaw	Ara tricolor
PASSERIFORMES: Tityridae
Jamaican Becard	Pachyramphus niger	Endemic
PASSERIFORMES: Tyrannidae
Jamaican Elaenia	Myiopagis cotta	Endemic
Greater Antillean Elaenia	Elaenia fallax
Western Wood-Pewee	Contopus sordidulus	Rare/Accidental
Eastern Wood-Pewee	Contopus virens	Rare/Accidental
Jamaican Pewee	Contopus pallidus	Endemic
Willow Flycatcher	Empidonax traillii	Rare/Accidental
Sad Flycatcher	Myiarchus barbirostris	Endemic
Rufous-tailed Flycatcher	Myiarchus validus	Endemic
Stolid Flycatcher	Myiarchus stolidus
Eastern Kingbird	Tyrannus tyrannus	Rare/Accidental
Gray Kingbird	Tyrannus dominicensis
Loggerhead Kingbird	Tyrannus caudifasciatus
Fork-tailed Flycatcher	Tyrannus savana	Rare/Accidental
PASSERIFORMES: Vireonidae
Blue Mountain Vireo	Vireo osburni	Endemic
White-eyed Vireo	Vireo griseus	Rare/Accidental
Jamaican Vireo	Vireo modestus	Endemic
Yellow-throated Vireo	Vireo flavifrons	Rare/Accidental
Blue-headed Vireo	Vireo solitarius	Rare/Accidental
Philadelphia Vireo	Vireo philadelphicus	Rare/Accidental
Warbling Vireo	Vireo gilvus	Rare/Accidental
Red-eyed Vireo	Vireo olivaceus
Black-whiskered Vireo	Vireo altiloquus
PASSERIFORMES: Corvidae
Black-billed Magpie	Pica hudsonia	Extirpated
Jamaican Crow	Corvus jamaicensis	Endemic
PASSERIFORMES: Alaudidae
Eurasian Skylark	Alauda arvensis	Extirpated
PASSERIFORMES: Hirundinidae
Northern Rough-winged Swallow	Stelgidopteryx serripennis	Rare/Accidental
Purple Martin	Progne subis	Rare/Accidental
Caribbean Martin	Progne dominicensis
Tree Swallow	Tachycineta bicolor	Rare/Accidental
Golden Swallow	Tachycineta euchrysea	Rare/Accidental
Bank Swallow	Riparia riparia	Rare/Accidental
Barn Swallow	Hirundo rustica
Cliff Swallow	Petrochelidon pyrrhonota	Rare/Accidental
Cave Swallow	Petrochelidon fulva
PASSERIFORMES: Regulidae
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	Regulus calendula	Rare/Accidental
PASSERIFORMES: Sturnidae
European Starling	Sturnus vulgaris	Introduced species
Common Myna	Acridotheres tristis	Introduced species
PASSERIFORMES: Mimidae
Gray Catbird	Dumetella carolinensis	Rare/Accidental
Bahama Mockingbird	Mimus gundlachii
Northern Mockingbird	Mimus polyglottos
PASSERIFORMES: Turdidae
Rufous-throated Solitaire	Myadestes genibarbis
Veery	Catharus fuscescens	Rare/Accidental
Gray-cheeked Thrush	Catharus minimus
Bicknell's Thrush	Catharus bicknelli	Rare/Accidental
Swainson's Thrush	Catharus ustulatus	Rare/Accidental
Wood Thrush	Hylocichla mustelina	Rare/Accidental
White-eyed Thrush	Turdus jamaicensis	Endemic
American Robin	Turdus migratorius	Rare/Accidental
White-chinned Thrush	Turdus aurantius	Endemic
Red-legged Thrush	Turdus plumbeus
PASSERIFORMES: Bombycillidae
Cedar Waxwing	Bombycilla cedrorum	Rare/Accidental
PASSERIFORMES: Ploceidae
Northern Red Bishop	Euplectes franciscanus	Rare/Accidental
Yellow-crowned Bishop	Euplectes afer	Introduced species
PASSERIFORMES: Estrildidae
Scaly-breasted Munia	Lonchura punctulata	Introduced species
Tricolored Munia	Lonchura malacca
Chestnut Munia	Lonchura atricapilla	Introduced species
PASSERIFORMES: Passeridae
House Sparrow	Passer domesticus	Rare/Accidental
PASSERIFORMES: Motacillidae
American Pipit	Anthus rubescens	Rare/Accidental
PASSERIFORMES: Fringillidae
Jamaican Euphonia	Euphonia jamaica	Endemic
Hispaniolan Crossbill	Loxia megaplaga	Rare/Accidental
PASSERIFORMES: Passerellidae
Grasshopper Sparrow	Ammodramus savannarum
Lark Sparrow	Chondestes grammacus	Rare/Accidental
Dark-eyed Junco	Junco hyemalis	Rare/Accidental
White-crowned Sparrow	Zonotrichia leucophrys	Rare/Accidental
Savannah Sparrow	Passerculus sandwichensis	Rare/Accidental
Lincoln's Sparrow	Melospiza lincolnii	Rare/Accidental
PASSERIFORMES: Spindalidae
Jamaican Spindalis	Spindalis nigricephala	Endemic
PASSERIFORMES: Icteriidae
Yellow-breasted Chat	Icteria virens	Rare/Accidental
PASSERIFORMES: Icteridae
Bobolink	Dolichonyx oryzivorus
Orchard Oriole	Icterus spurius	Rare/Accidental
Venezuelan Troupial	Icterus icterus	Extirpated
Jamaican Oriole	Icterus leucopteryx
Baltimore Oriole	Icterus galbula	Rare/Accidental
Jamaican Blackbird	Nesopsar nigerrimus	Endemic
Shiny Cowbird	Molothrus bonariensis	Introduced species
Great-tailed Grackle	Quiscalus mexicanus	Rare/Accidental
Greater Antillean Grackle	Quiscalus niger
PASSERIFORMES: Parulidae
Ovenbird	Seiurus aurocapilla
Worm-eating Warbler	Helmitheros vermivorum	Rare/Accidental
Louisiana Waterthrush	Parkesia motacilla
Northern Waterthrush	Parkesia noveboracensis
Golden-winged Warbler	Vermivora chrysoptera	Rare/Accidental
Blue-winged Warbler	Vermivora cyanoptera	Rare/Accidental
Black-and-white Warbler	Mniotilta varia
Prothonotary Warbler	Protonotaria citrea	Rare/Accidental
Swainson's Warbler	Limnothlypis swainsonii	Rare/Accidental
Tennessee Warbler	Leiothlypis peregrina	Rare/Accidental
Orange-crowned Warbler	Leiothlypis celata	Rare/Accidental
Nashville Warbler	Leiothlypis ruficapilla	Rare/Accidental
Connecticut Warbler	Oporornis agilis	Rare/Accidental
Mourning Warbler	Geothlypis philadelphia	Rare/Accidental
Kentucky Warbler	Geothlypis formosa	Rare/Accidental
Common Yellowthroat	Geothlypis trichas
Arrowhead Warbler	Setophaga pharetra	Endemic
Hooded Warbler	Setophaga citrina	Rare/Accidental
American Redstart	Setophaga ruticilla
Kirtland's Warbler	Setophaga kirtlandii	Rare/Accidental
Cape May Warbler	Setophaga tigrina
Cerulean Warbler	Setophaga cerulea	Rare/Accidental
Northern Parula	Setophaga americana
Magnolia Warbler	Setophaga magnolia	Rare/Accidental
Bay-breasted Warbler	Setophaga castanea	Rare/Accidental
Blackburnian Warbler	Setophaga fusca	Rare/Accidental
Yellow Warbler	Setophaga petechia
Chestnut-sided Warbler	Setophaga pensylvanica	Rare/Accidental
Blackpoll Warbler	Setophaga striata	Rare/Accidental
Black-throated Blue Warbler	Setophaga caerulescens
Palm Warbler	Setophaga palmarum
Pine Warbler	Setophaga pinus	Rare/Accidental
Yellow-rumped Warbler	Setophaga coronata
Yellow-throated Warbler	Setophaga dominica
Prairie Warbler	Setophaga discolor
Black-throated Green Warbler	Setophaga virens	Rare/Accidental
Canada Warbler	Cardellina canadensis	Rare/Accidental
Wilson's Warbler	Cardellina pusilla	Rare/Accidental
PASSERIFORMES: Cardinalidae
Summer Tanager	Piranga rubra	Rare/Accidental
Scarlet Tanager	Piranga olivacea	Rare/Accidental
Rose-breasted Grosbeak	Pheucticus ludovicianus	Rare/Accidental
Blue Grosbeak	Passerina caerulea	Rare/Accidental
Indigo Bunting	Passerina cyanea	Rare/Accidental
Painted Bunting	Passerina ciris	Rare/Accidental
Dickcissel	Spiza americana	Rare/Accidental
PASSERIFORMES: Thraupidae
Red-legged Honeycreeper	Cyanerpes cyaneus	Rare/Accidental
Saffron Finch	Sicalis flaveola	Introduced species
Bananaquit	Coereba flaveola
Yellow-faced Grassquit	Tiaris olivaceus
Orangequit	Euneornis campestris	Endemic
Greater Antillean Bullfinch	Melopyrrha violacea
Yellow-shouldered Grassquit	Loxipasser anoxanthus	Endemic
Black-faced Grassquit	Melanospiza bicolor

References (partial list)