This is a list of the bird species recorded in the Virgin Islands. Species on this list are combined from the US Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands (which also maintain separate lists). It does not include what some call the Spanish Virgin Islands-Vieques, Culebra and minor surrounding islands which can be found on other lists. The avifauna of the Virgin Islands include a total of 276 species, of which 11 have been introduced by humans, and one has been extirpated. 7 species are globally threatened.
This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (common and scientific names) follow the conventions of The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 2019 edition. The family accounts at the beginning of each heading reflect this taxonomy, as do the species counts found in each family account. Introduced and accidental species are included in the total counts for the Virgin Islands.
The following tags have been used to highlight several categories, but not all species fall into one of these categories. Those that do not are commonly occurring native species.
(A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in the Virgin Islands (I) Introduced - a species introduced to the Virgin Islands as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions (Ex) Extirpated - a species that no longer occurs in the Virgin Islands 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.
White-faced whistling-duck, Dendrocygna viduata (A) Black-bellied whistling-duck, Dendrocygna autumnalis (A) West Indian whistling-duck, Dendrocygna arborea (A) Fulvous whistling-duck, Dendrocygna bicolor (A) Snow goose, Chen caerulescens (A) Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors Cinnamon teal, Spatula cyanoptera (A) Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata (A) Gadwall, Mareca strepera (A) American wigeon, Mareca americana (A) Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos (A) Northern pintail, Anas acuta (A) White-cheeked pintail, Anas bahamensis Northern pintail, Anas bahamensis (A) Green-winged teal, Anas crecca (A) Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris (A) Greater scaup, Aythya marila (A) Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis (A) Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola (A) Hooded merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus (A) Masked duck, Nomonyx dominica (A) Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis
Guineafowl Order: GalliformesFamily: Numididae
Guineafowl are a group of African, seed-eating, ground-nesting birds that resemble partridges, but with featherless heads and spangled grey plumage.
Helmeted guineafowl, Numida meleagris (I)
New World quails 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) (extirpated) Crested bobwhite, Colinus cristatus (I) (extirpated) California quail, Callipepla californica (I) (extirpated)
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.
Red junglefowl, Gallus gallus (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 (A)
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 (A) Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps (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) Scaly-naped pigeon, Patagioenas squamosa White-crowned pigeon, Patagioenas leucocephala Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto (I) Common ground dove, Columbina passerina Ruddy quail-dove, Geotrygon montana (A) Bridled quail-dove, Geotrygon mystacea (A) White-winged dove, Zenaida asiatica (A) Zenaida dove, Zenaida aurita Mourning dove, Zenaida macroura (A)
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.
Greater ani, Crotophaga major (A) Smooth-billed ani, Crotophaga ani Yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus (A) Mangrove cuckoo, Coccyzus minor Puerto Rican lizard cuckoo, Saurothera vieilloti (A)
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 (A)
Swifts Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: 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 (A) Chimney swift, Chaetura pelagica (A) Short-tailed swift, Chaetura brachyura (A)
Hummingbirds Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: 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.
Puerto Rican mango, Anthracothorax aurulentus (A) Green mango, Anthracothorax viridis (A) Purple-throated carib, Eulampis jugularis (A) Green-throated carib, Eulampis holosericeus Antillean crested hummingbird, Orthorhyncus cristatus
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 Sora, Porzana carolina (A) Common gallinule, Gallinula galeata American coot, Fulica americana Purple gallinule, Porphyrio martinicus (A)
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 (A)
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.
Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola American golden-plover, Pluvialis dominica (A) Snowy plover, Charadrius nivosus (A) Wilson's plover, Charadrius wilsonia Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus Piping plover, Charadrius melodus (A) Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus
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 (A) Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus Long-billed curlew, Numenius americanus (A) Bar-tailed godwit, Limosa lapponica (A) Hudsonian godwit, Limosa haemastica (A) Marbled godwit, Limosa fedoa (A) Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres Red knot, Calidris canutus (A) Ruff, Calidris pugnax (A) Stilt sandpiper, Calidris himantopus Curlew sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea (A) Sanderling, Calidris alba (A) Dunlin, Calidris alpina (A) Baird's sandpiper, Calidris bairdii (A) 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 (A) Short-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus griseus Long-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus scolopaceus (A) Wilson's snipe, Gallinago delicata Wilson's phalarope, Phalaropus tricolor (A) Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus (A) Red phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius (A) Spotted sandpiper, Actitis macularia Solitary sandpiper, Tringa solitaria Greater yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca Willet, Tringa semipalmata Lesser yellowlegs, Tringa flavipes
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.
Great skua, Stercorarius skua (A) Pomarine jaeger, Stercorarius pomarinus (A) Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus (A)
Gulls, terns and skimmers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Laridae
Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds and includes gulls, kittiwakes, terns and skimmers. They are typically grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet. Terns are a group of generally medium to large seabirds typically with grey or white plumage, often with black markings on the head. Most terns hunt fish by diving but some pick insects off the surface of fresh water. Terns are generally long-lived birds, with several species known to live in excess of 30 years. Skimmers are a small family of tropical tern-like birds. They have an elongated lower mandible which they use to feed by flying low over the water surface and skimming the water for small fish.
Black-legged kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla (A) Bonaparte's gull, Chroicocephalus philadelphia (A) Black-headed gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus (A) Laughing gull, Leucophaeus atricilla Ring-billed gull, Larus delawarensis (A) Herring gull, Larus argentatus (A) Lesser black-backed gull, Larus fuscus (A) Great black-backed gull, Larus marinus (A) Brown noddy, Anous stolidus Sooty tern, Onychoprion fuscatus Bridled tern, Onychoprion anaethetus Least tern, Sternula antillarum Gull-billed tern, Gelochelidon nilotica (A)