This is a list of the bird species recorded in Saint Kitts and Nevis. Saint Kitts and Nevis is a small West Indian country, a federation of two neighboring islands in the Leeward Islands chain of the Lesser Antilles. The avifauna of Saint Kitts and Nevis included 236 species according to Bird Checklists of the World as of July 2022. Of them, 171 are rare or accidental and seven have been introduced. One is endemic and three 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. The tags and notes on population status are also from Bird Checklists of the World; the latter refer to status worldwide, not solely on Saint Kitts and Nevis.
(A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Saint Kitts and Nevis (I) Introduced - a species introduced directly to Saint Kitts and Nevis or elsewhere in the New World (Ex) Extirpated - a species that no longer occurs in Saint Kitts and Nevis 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) (Near-threatened) Fulvous whistling-duck, Dendrocygna bicolor (A) Wood duck, Aix sponsa (A) Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors (A) Cinnamon teal, Spatula cyanoptera (A) Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata (A) Gadwall, Mareca strepera (A) American wigeon, Mareca americana (A) Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos (A) White-cheeked pintail, Anas bahamensis (A) Northern pintail, Anas acuta (A) Green-winged teal, Anas crecca (A) Canvasback, Aythya valisineria (A) Redhead, Aythya americana (A) Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris (A) Greater scaup, Aythya marila (A) Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis (A) Hooded merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus (A) Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator (A) Masked duck, Nomonyx dominicus (A) Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis (A)
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 (A) (I)
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) (Ex) (Near-threatened)
Pheasants, grouse, and allies Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae
Phasianidae consists of the pheasants and their allies. These are terrestrial species, variable in size but generally plump with broad relatively short wings. Many species are gamebirds or have been domesticated as a food source for humans.
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.
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 (A) (Near-threatened) Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto (I) Common ground dove, Columbina passerina Ruddy quail-dove, Geotrygon montana (A) Bridled quail-dove, Geotrygon mystacea White-winged dove, Zenaida asiatica (A) Zenaida dove, Zenaida aurita
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 (A) Yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus Mangrove cuckoo, Coccyzus minor Black-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus erythropthalmus (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 Antillean nighthawk, Chordeiles gundlachii (A) Chuck-will's-widow, Antrostomus carolinensis (A) (Near-threatened)
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 (A) (Vulnerable) White-collared swift, Streptoprocne zonaris (A) Lesser Antillean swift, Chaetura martinica (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.
Purple-throated carib, Eulampis jugularis 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 (A) 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 (A)
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 (A) American golden-plover, Pluvialis dominica (A) Pacific golden-plover, Pluvialis fulva (A) Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus (A) Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus Piping plover, Charadrius melodus (A) (Near-threatened) Wilson's plover, Charadrius wilsonia Collared plover, Charadrius collaris (A) Snowy plover, Charadrius nivosus (Near-threatened)
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.
Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus (A) Black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa (A) (Near-threatened) Hudsonian godwit, Limosa haemastica (A) Marbled godwit, Limosa fedoa (A) Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres Red knot, Calidris canutus (A) (Near-threatened) Ruff, Calidris pugnax (A) Stilt sandpiper, Calidris himantopus (A) Curlew sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea (A) (Near-threatened) Sanderling, Calidris alba Dunlin, Calidris alpina (A) Baird's sandpiper, Calidris bairdii (A) Least sandpiper, Calidris minutilla White-rumped sandpiper, Calidris fuscicollis (A) Buff-breasted sandpiper, Calidris subruficollis (A) (Near-threatened) Pectoral sandpiper, Calidris melanotos (A) Semipalmated sandpiper, Calidris pusilla (Near-threatened) Western sandpiper, Calidris mauri (A) Short-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus griseus (A) Long-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus scolopaceus (A) Wilson's snipe, Gallinago delicata (A) Wilson's phalarope, Phalaropus tricolor (A) Spotted sandpiper, Actitis macularia Solitary sandpiper, Tringa solitaria (A) Lesser yellowlegs, Tringa flavipes (A) Willet, Tringa semipalmata (A) Greater yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca (A)
Skuas and jaegers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Stercorariidae
Skuas are in general medium to large birds, typically with gray or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They have longish bills with hooked tips and webbed feet with sharp claws. They look like large dark gulls, but have a fleshy cere above the upper mandible. They are strong, acrobatic fliers.
Pomarine jaeger, Stercorarius pomarinus (A) Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus (A) Long-tailed jaeger, Stercorarius longicaudus (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 gray 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 gray 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.
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 (A) Sooty tern, Onychoprion fuscata (A) Bridled tern, Onychoprion anaethetus (A) Least tern, Sternula antillarum Gull-billed tern, Gelochelidon nilotica (A) Caspian tern, Hydroprogne caspia (A) Black tern, Chlidonias niger (A) Roseate tern, Sterna dougallii (A) Common tern, Sterna hirundo (A) Arctic tern, Sterna paradisaea (A) Forster's tern, Sterna forsteri (A) Royal tern, Thalasseus maxima Sandwich tern, Thalasseus sandvicensis (A) Black skimmer, Rynchops niger (A)
Tropicbirds Order: PhaethontiformesFamily: Phaethontidae