This is a list of the bird species recorded in the archipelago of Puerto Rico, which consists of the main island of Puerto Rico, two island municipalities off the east coast (Vieques and Culebra), three uninhabited islands off the west coast (Mona, Monito and Desecheo) and more than 125 smaller cays and islands.
The avifauna of Puerto Rico included a total of 385 species as of July 2022, according to Bird Checklists of the World. Of them, 201 are accidental, two have been extirpated, and one is believed to be extinct. Seventeen species are endemic. Non-native species are common; 43 listed here were introduced by humans. Individuals of many other species (mostly parrots, finches, and waxbills) are flying free, presumably after escaping or being released from captivity. For example, a 2018 study on introduced Psittacidae on the island found at least 46 species present, of which 24% are only found in the pet trade (captivity), 48% have been observed in the wild (but are not known to be breeding), and 28% are established (naturalized) and know to have bred or are currently breeding. Around 120 species breed in Puerto Rico while the majority of the others overwinter in the archipelago. 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.
The following tags have been used to highlight several categories of occurrence:
(A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Puerto Rico (E) Endemic - a species endemic to Puerto Rico (Ex) Extirpated - a species that no longer occurs in Puerto Rico although populations exist elsewhere (I) Introduced - a species introduced to Puerto Rico as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions (X) Extinct - a species which no longer exists
Ducks, geese, and waterfowl Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae
The Anatidae include the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, bills which are flattened to a greater or lesser extent, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to special oils.
Black-bellied whistling-duck, Dendrocygna autumnalis (A) West Indian whistling-duck, Dendrocygna arborea Fulvous whistling-duck, Dendrocygna bicolor (A) White-faced whistling-duck, Dendrocygna bicolor (Ex) Snow goose, Anser caerulescens (A) Brant, Branta bernicla (A) Canada goose, Branta canadensis (A) Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus (A) Wood duck, Aix sponsa (A) Garganey Spatula querquedula (A) Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors Cinnamon teal, Spatula cyanoptera (A) Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata (A) Gadwall, Mareca strepera (A) Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope (A) American wigeon, Mareca americana (A) Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos (A) American black duck, Anas rubripes (A) White-cheeked pintail, Anas bahamensis Northern pintail, Anas acuta (A) Green-winged teal, Anas crecca (A) Canvasback, Aythya valisineria (A) Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris (A) Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula (A) Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis (A) Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola (A) Hooded merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus (A) Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator (A) Masked duck, Nomonyx dominicus Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis
Guineafowl
Order: GalliformesFamily: Numididae
Guineafowls are a group of African seed-eating, ground-nesting birds resembling partridges, but with featherless heads and spangled gray plumage.
Helmeted guineafowl, Numida meleagris (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)
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 Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps
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 Plain pigeon, Patagioenas inornata African collared-dove, Streptopelia roseogrisea (I) Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto (I) Diamond dove, Geopelia cuneata (I) Common ground dove, Columbina passerina Ruddy ground dove, Columbina talpacoti (A) Ruddy quail-dove, Geotrygon montana Key West quail-dove, Geotrygon chrysia Bridled quail-dove, Geotrygon mystacea (A) White-winged dove, Zenaida asiatica Zenaida dove, Zenaida aurita 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. 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) Puerto Rican lizard-cuckoo, Coccyzus vieilloti (E)
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 cryptically colored to resemble bark or leaves.
Common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor (A) Antillean nighthawk, Chordeiles gundlachii Chuck-will's-widow, Antrostomus carolinensis (A) Puerto Rican nightjar, Antrostomus noctitherus (E) White-tailed nightjar, Hydropsalis cayennensis (A)
Potoos Order: NyctibiiformesFamily: Nyctibiidae
Potoos are a group of large near passerine birds related to the nightjars and frogmouths. These are nocturnal insectivores which lack the bristles around the mouth found in the true nightjars.
Northern potoo, Nyctibius jamaicensis (A)
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 White-collared swift, Streptoprocne zonaris (A) Chimney swift, Chaetura pelagica (A) Common swift, Apus apus (A) Alpine swift, Apus melba (A) 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.
Puerto Rican mango, Anthracothorax aurulentus Green mango, Anthracothorax viridis (E) Purple-throated carib, Eulampis jugularis (A) Green-throated carib, Eulampis holosericeus Ruby-throated hummingbird, Archilochus colubris (A) Vervain hummingbird, Mellisuga minima (A) Puerto Rican emerald, Riccordia maugaeus (E) 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. The most typical family members occupy 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 (A) Common gallinule, Gallinula galeata American coot, Fulica americana Purple gallinule, Porphyrio martinicus Yellow-breasted crake, Hapalocrex flaviventer Black rail, Laterallus jamaicensis (A) Antillean cave rail, Nesotrochis debooyi (E) (X)
Limpkin Order: GruiformesFamily: Aramidae
The limpkin is an odd bird that looks like a large rail, but is skeletally closer to the cranes.
Limpkin, Aramus guaraunaBryan, D. C. (2020). Limpkin (Aramus guarauna), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (A. F. Poole and F. B. Gill, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.limpki.01 retrieved August 14, 2021.
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, obvious 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) Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola American golden-plover, Pluvialis dominica (A) Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus Piping plover, Charadrius melodus (A) Wilson's plover, Charadrius wilsonia Snowy plover, Charadrius nivosus
Jacanas Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Jacanidae
The jacanas are a group of waders found worldwide within the tropical zone. They are identifiable by their huge feet and claws which enable them to walk on floating vegetation in the shallow lakes that are their preferred habitat.
Northern jacana, Jacana spinosa (A)
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. Different lengths of legs and bills enable 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 (A) Eskimo curlew, Numenius borealis (A) (possibly extinct) Long-billed curlew, Numenius americanus (A) Eurasian curlew, Numenius arquata (A)