This is a list of the bird species recorded in the Bahamas. The avifauna of the Bahamas include a total of 388 species, according to Bird Checklists of the World (Avibase) as of July 2023. Of them, seven are endemic, 22 have been introduced by humans, and 212 are rare or accidental. 3 species listed are extinct (including one of the endemics) and two have been extirpated.
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 the Bahamas (E) Endemic - a species endemic to the Bahamas (I) Introduced - a species introduced to the Bahamas as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions (Ex) Extinct - a species which has ceased to exist (Er) Extirpated - a species that no longer occurs in the Bahamas although populations exist elsewhere
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 West Indian whistling duck, Dendrocygna arborea Fulvous whistling duck, Dendrocygna bicolor (A) Snow goose, Anser caerulescens Ross's goose, Anser rossii (A) Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons (A) Brent goose, Branta bernicla (A) Canada goose, Branta canadensis Egyptian goose, Alopochen aegyptiaca (I) Muscovy duck, Cairina moschata Wood duck, Aix sponsa Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors Cinnamon teal, Spatula cyanoptera (A) Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata Gadwall, Mareca strepera (A) Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope (A) American wigeon, Mareca americana Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos American black duck, Anas rubripes (A) Mottled duck, Anas fulvigula White-cheeked pintail, Anas bahamensis Northern pintail, Anas acuta Green-winged teal, Anas carolinensis Canvasback, Aythya valisineria (A) Redhead, Aythya americana Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris Greater scaup, Aythya marila (A) Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis White-winged scoter, Melanitta deglandi (A) Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola (A) Hooded merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus (A) Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator Masked duck, Nomonyx dominicus (A) Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis
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.
Northern bobwhite, Colinus virginianus (I)
Pheasants, grouse, and allies Order: GalliformesFamily: 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.
Common pheasant, Phasianus colchicus (I) Indian peafowl, Pavo cristatus (I) Red junglefowl, Gallus gallus (I) Chukar partridge, Alectoris chukar (I)
Flamingos
Order: PhoenicopteriformesFamily: Phoenicopteridae
Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually 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: 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 Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena (A) Black-necked 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 dove, Columba livia (I) Scaly-naped pigeon, Patagioenas squamosa White-crowned pigeon, Patagioenas leucocephala African collared dove, Streptopelia roseogrisea (I) Eurasian collared dove, Streptopelia decaocto (I) Common ground dove, Columbina passerina Key West quail-dove, Geotrygon chrysia Bridled quail-dove, Geotrygon mystacea Caribbean dove, Leptotila jamaicensis (I) White-winged dove, Zenaida asiatica Zenaida dove, Zenaida aurita Mourning dove, Zenaida macroura Pied imperial pigeon, Ducula bicolor (I)
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. The Old World cuckoos are brood parasites.
Smooth-billed ani, Crotophaga ani Yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus Mangrove cuckoo, Coccyzus minor Black-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus erythropthalmus (A) Great lizard cuckoo, Coccyzus merlini
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.
Common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor (A) Antillean nighthawk, Chordeiles gundlachii Chuck-will's-widow, Antrostomus carolinensis
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.
Chimney swift, Chaetura pelagica Antillean palm swift, Tachornis phoenicobia (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.
Green-breasted mango, Anthracothorax prevostii Ruby-throated hummingbird, Archilochus colubris Bahama woodstar, Nesophlox evelynae (E) Inagua woodstar, Nesophlox lyrura (E) Rufous hummingbird, Selasphorus rufus (A) Cuban emerald, Riccordia ricordii Brace's emerald, Riccordia bracei (E) (Ex)
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.
Clapper rail, Rallus crepitans Virginia rail, Rallus limicola (A) Sora, Porzana carolina Common gallinule, Gallinula galeata American coot, Fulica americana American purple gallinule, Porphyrio martinica Yellow rail, Coturnicops noveboracensis (A) Black rail, Laterallus jamaicensis
Limpkin Order: GruiformesFamily: Aramidae
The limpkin resembles a large rail. It has drab-brown plumage and a greyer head and neck.
Limpkin, Aramus guarauna
Cranes Order: GruiformesFamily: Gruidae
Cranes are large, long-legged, and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances".
Sandhill crane, Antigone canadensis (A)
Thick-knees
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: 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, Burhinus bistriatus
Stilts and avocets Order: CharadriiformesFamily: 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 American avocet, Recurvirostra americana
Oystercatchers
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: 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: CharadriiformesFamily: 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.
Northern lapwing, Vanellus vanellus (A) Grey plover, Pluvialis squatarola American golden plover, Pluvialis dominica Pacific golden plover, Pluvialis fulva (A) Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus Piping plover, Charadrius melodus Wilson's plover, Charadrius wilsonia Snowy plover, Charadrius nivosus
Sandpipers and allies Order: CharadriiformesFamily: 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 Hudsonian whimbrel, Numenius hudsonicus Eurasian curlew, Numenius arquata (A) Hudsonian godwit, Limosa haemastica Marbled godwit, Limosa fedoa (A) Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres Red knot, Calidris canutus Ruff, Calidris pugnax (A) Stilt sandpiper, Calidris himantopus Sanderling, Calidris alba Dunlin, Calidris alpina 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 Long-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus scolopaceus Wilson's snipe, Gallinago delicata Spotted sandpiper, Actitis macularia Solitary sandpiper, Tringa solitaria Lesser yellowlegs, Tringa flavipes Willet, Tringa semipalmata Greater yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca Wilson's phalarope, Phalaropus tricolor (A) Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus (A) Red phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius (A)
Skuas and jaegers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Stercorariidae The family Stercorariidae are, in general, medium to large birds, typically with grey 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.
South polar skua, Stercorarius maccormicki (A) Pomarine skua, Stercorarius pomarinus Arctic skua, Stercorarius parasiticus Long-tailed skua, Stercorarius longicaudus (A)
Auks, murres, and puffins Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Alcidae