This is a list of the bird species recorded in Nicaragua. The avifauna of Nicaragua included a total of 788 species as of May 2023, according to Bird Checklists of the World. Of them, 142 are rare or accidental and five have been introduced by humans. None are endemic. An additional accidental species has been added from another source.
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.
Unless otherwise noted, the species on this list are considered to occur regularly in Nicaragua as permanent residents, summer or winter visitors, or migrants. The following tags have been used to highlight several categories. The tags and notes of population status are from Bird Checklists of the World.
(A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Nicaragua (I) Introduced - a species introduced to Nicaragua as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions
Tinamous
Order: TinamiformesFamily: Tinamidae
The tinamous are one of the most ancient groups of bird. Although they look similar to other ground-dwelling birds like quail and grouse, they have no close relatives and are classified as a single family, Tinamidae, within their own order, the Tinamiformes. They are distantly related to the ratites (order Struthioniformes), that includes the rheas, emus, and kiwis.
Great tinamou, Tinamus major (near-threatened) Little tinamou, Crypturellus soui Thicket tinamou, Crypturellus cinnamomeus Slaty-breasted tinamou, Crypturellus boucardi
Ducks, geese, and waterfowl
Order: AnseriformesFamily: 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.
Black-bellied whistling-duck, Dendrocygna autumnalis Fulvous whistling-duck, Dendrocygna bicolor Muscovy duck, Cairina moschata Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors Cinnamon teal, Spatula cyanoptera Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata American wigeon, Mareca americana Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos (A) Northern pintail, Anas acuta Green-winged teal, Anas crecca Canvasback, Aythya valisineria (A) Redhead, Aythya americana (A) Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris Greater scaup, Aythya marila (A) Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator (A) Masked duck, Nomonyx dominicus Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis (A)
Guans, chachalacas, and curassows Order: GalliformesFamily: Cracidae
The Cracidae are large birds, similar in general appearance to turkeys. The guans and curassows live in trees, but the smaller chachalacas are found in more open scrubby habitats. They are generally dull-plumaged, but the curassows and some guans have colorful facial ornaments.
Plain chachalaca, Ortalis vetula Gray-headed chachalaca, Ortalis cinereiceps White-bellied chachalaca, Ortalis leucogastra Crested guan, Penelope purpurascens Highland guan, Penelopina nigra (vulnerable) Great curassow, Crax rubra (vulnerable)
New World quail Order: GalliformesFamily: 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.
Tawny-faced quail, Rhynchortyx cinctus Buffy-crowned wood-partridge, Dendrortyx leucophrys Black-throated bobwhite, Colinus nigrogularis Crested bobwhite, Colinus cristatus Ocellated quail, Cyrtonyx ocellatus (A) (vulnerable) Black-eared wood-quail, Odontophorus melanotis Spotted wood-quail, Odontophorus guttatus
Grebes
Order: PodicipediformesFamily: 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 Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis (A)
Pigeons and doves
Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.
Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I) Pale-vented pigeon, Patagioenas cayennensis Scaled pigeon, Patagioenas speciosa White-crowned pigeon, Patagioenas leucocephala (near-threatened) Red-billed pigeon, Patagioenas flavirostris Band-tailed pigeon, Patagioenas fasciata Short-billed pigeon, Patagioenas nigrirostris Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto (I) Inca dove, Columbina inca Common ground dove, Columbina passerina Plain-breasted ground dove, Columbina minuta Ruddy ground dove, Columbina talpacoti Blue ground dove, Claravis pretiosa Maroon-chested ground dove, Paraclaravis mondetoura (A) Ruddy quail-dove, Geotrygon montana Violaceous quail-dove, Geotrygon violacea Olive-backed quail-dove, Leptotrygon veraguensis (A) White-tipped dove, Leptotila verreauxi Gray-chested dove, Leptotila cassinii Gray-headed dove, Leptotila plumbeiceps White-faced quail-dove, Zentrygon albifacies White-winged dove, Zenaida asiatica Mourning dove, Zenaida macroura
Cuckoos
Order: CuculiformesFamily: 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 Groove-billed ani, Crotophaga sulcirostris Striped cuckoo, Tapera naevia Pheasant cuckoo, Dromococcyx phasianellus Lesser ground-cuckoo, Morococcyx erythropygus Lesser roadrunner, Geococcyx velox Rufous-vented ground-cuckoo, Neomorphus geoffroyi (A) Squirrel cuckoo, Piaya cayana Dark-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus melacoryphus (A) Yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus Mangrove cuckoo, Coccyzus minor Black-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus erythropthalmus
Nightjars and allies
Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: 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.
Short-tailed nighthawk, Lurocalis semitorquatus Lesser nighthawk, Chordeiles acutipennis Common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor Common pauraque, Nyctidromus albicollis Ocellated poorwill, Nyctiphrynus ocellatus (A) Chuck-will's-widow, Antrostomus carolinensis (near-threatened) Rufous nightjar, Antrostomus rufus (A) Buff-collared nightjar, Antrostomus ridgwayi (A) Eastern whip-poor-will, Antrostomus vociferus (near-threatened) Mexican whip-poor-will, Antrostomus arizonae (A) Spot-tailed nightjar, Hydropsalis maculicaudus (A)
Potoos Order: NyctibiiformesFamily: 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.
Great potoo, Nyctibius grandis Common potoo, Nyctibius griseus Northern potoo, Nyctibius jamaicensis
Swifts Order: ApodiformesFamily: 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 (vulnerable) White-chinned swift, Cypseloides cryptus (A) Chestnut-collared swift, Streptoprocne rutila White-collared swift, Streptoprocne zonaris Gray-rumped swift, Chaetura cinereiventris Chimney swift, Chaetura pelagica (vulnerable) Vaux's swift, Chaetura vauxi Lesser swallow-tailed swift, Panyptila cayennensis Great swallow-tailed swift, Panyptila sanctihieronymi (A)
Hummingbirds
Order: ApodiformesFamily: 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.
White-necked jacobin, Florisuga mellivora Bronzy hermit, Glaucis aeneus Band-tailed barbthroat, Threnetes ruckeri Long-billed hermit, Phaethornis longirostris Stripe-throated hermit, Phaethornis striigularis Brown violetear, Colibri delphinae Mexican violetear, Colibri thalassinus Purple-crowned fairy, Heliothryx barroti Green-breasted mango, Anthracothorax prevostii Black-throated mango, Anthracothorax nigricollis (A) Black-crested coquette, Lophornis helenae Rivoli's hummingbird, Eugenes fulgens Long-billed starthroat, Heliomaster longirostris Plain-capped starthroat, Heliomaster constantii Green-breasted mountain-gem, Lampornis sybillae Purple-throated mountain-gem, Lampornis calolaemus Sparkling-tailed hummingbird, Tilmatura dupontii Ruby-throated hummingbird, Archilochus colubris Canivet's emerald, Cynanthus canivetii White-eared hummingbird, Basilinna leucotis Emerald-chinned hummingbird, Abeillia abeillei Violet-headed hummingbird, Klais guimeti Violet sabrewing, Campylopterus hemileucurus Bronze-tailed plumeleteer, Chalybura urochrysia Crowned woodnymph, Thalurania colombica Snowcap, Microchera albocoronata Coppery-headed emerald, Microchera cupreiceps (A) Stripe-tailed hummingbird, Eupherusa eximia Scaly-breasted hummingbird, Phaeochroa cuvierii Azure-crowned hummingbird, Saucerottia cyanocephala Blue-vented hummingbird, Saucerottia hoffmanni Blue-tailed hummingbird, Saucerottia cyanura Cinnamon hummingbird, Amazilia rutila Rufous-tailed hummingbird, Amazilia tzacatl Blue-chested hummingbird, Polyerata amabilis White-bellied emerald, Chlorestes candida Blue-throated goldentail, Chlorestes eliciae
Rails, gallinules, and coots
Order: GruiformesFamily: 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 (A) Uniform crake, Amaurolimnas concolor (A) Rufous-necked wood-rail, Aramides axillaris Russet-naped wood-rail, Aramides albiventris Mangrove rail, Rallus longirostris Sora, Porzana carolina Common gallinule, Gallinula galeata American coot, Fulica americana Purple gallinule, Porphyrio martinicus Yellow-breasted crake, Hapalocrex flaviventer (A) Ruddy crake, Laterallus ruber White-throated crake, Laterallus albigularis Gray-breasted crake, Laterallus exilis Black rail, Laterallus jamaicensis (A)
Finfoots Order: GruiformesFamily: Heliornithidae
Heliornithidae is a small family of tropical birds with webbed lobes on their feet similar to those of grebes and coots.
Sungrebe, Heliornis fulica
Limpkin Order: GruiformesFamily: Aramidae
The limpkin resembles a large rail. It has drab-brown plumage and a grayer head and neck.
Limpkin, Aramus guarauna
Thick-knees Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Burhinidae
The thick-knees are a group of largely tropical waders in the family Burhinidae. They are 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, Burhinus bistriatus
Stilts and avocets
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Recurvirostridae