List of birds of Cuba

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a list of the bird species recorded in the archipelago of Cuba which consists of the main island of Cuba and over 1000 smaller cays and islands. The avifauna of Cuba includes a total of 368 species, of which 25 are endemic, 17 are globally threatened and 8 have been introduced by humans. Extinct species include the Passenger Pigeon and Cuban Red Macaw.

This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families, and species) and nomenclature (common and scientific names) follow the conventions of Clements's 5th edition. The family accounts at the beginning of each heading reflects this taxonomy, as do the species counts found in each family account. Introduced and accidental species are included in the total species counts for Cuba.

The following tags have been used to highlight certain relevant categories. It must be noted that 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 archipelago of Cuba.
  • (E) Endemic A species endemic to the archipelago of Cuba.
  • (I) Introduced A species introduced to the archipelago of Cuba as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions.


Table of contents

Non-passerines: Loons • Grebes • Shearwaters and Petrels • Storm-Petrels • Tropicbirds • Pelicans • Gannets and Boobies • Cormorants • Darters • Frigatebirds • Bitterns, Herons, and Egrets • Storks • Ibises and Spoonbills • Flamingos • Ducks, Geese, and Swans • New World vultures • Osprey • Hawks and Kites • Caracaras and Falcons • New World quails • Pheasants • Guineafowls • Cranes • Limpkins • Rails, Crakes, Gallinules, and Coots • Jacanas • Oystercatchers • Stilts and Avocets • Plovers • Sandpipers, Curlews, Stints, Godwits, Snipes, Dowitchers and Phalaropes • Skuas and Jaegers • Gulls • Terns • Skimmers • Auks • Pigeons and Doves • Parakeets and Parrots • Cuckoos, Roadrunners, and Anis • Barn owls • Typical owls • Nightjars • Swifts • Hummingbirds • Trogons • Water Kingfishers • Todies • Woodpeckers, Flickers and Sapsuckers

Passerines: Tyrant flycatchers • Swallows and Martins • Kinglets • Waxwings • Wrens • Mockingbirds and Thrashers • Thrushes, Solitaires and Bluebirds • Gnatcatchers • Old World flycatchers • Crows • Starlings • Estrildid finches • Vireos • New World warblers • Bananaquit • Tanagers • American sparrows, Yellow-finches, Honeycreepers and Towhees • Cardinals, Grosbeaks and North American Buntings • Blackbirds, Meadowlarks, Cowbirds, Grackles, and Orioles • Cardueline finches • Sparrows

See also       References


[edit] Loons

The Common Loon is an occasional visitor to Cuba
The Common Loon is an occasional visitor to Cuba

Order: Gaviiformes Family: Gaviidae

Loons, known as Divers in Europe, are group of aquatic birds found in many parts of North America and northern Europe. It is the size of a large duck or small goose, which it somewhat resembles in shape when swimming, but is completely unrelated to these waterfowl.There are 5 species worldwide and 1 species that occurs in Cuba.

[edit] Grebes

Order: Podicipediformes Family: Podicipedidae

Grebes are small to medium-large sized 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. There are 20 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Cuba.

[edit] Shearwaters and Petrels

Order: Procellariiformes Family: Procellariidae

The procellariids are the main group of medium-sized 'true petrels', characterised by united nostrils with a medium septum, and a long outer functional primary. There are 75 species worldwide and 5 species which occur in Cuba.

[edit] Storm-Petrels

Order: Procellariiformes Family: Hydrobatidae

The storm-petrels are relatives of the petrels, and are the smallest of sea-birds. They feed on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like. There are 21 species worldwide and 3 species which occur in Cuba.

[edit] Tropicbirds

Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Phaethontidae

Tropicbirds are slender white birds of tropical oceans, with exceptionally long central tail feathers. Their heads and long wings have black markings. There are 3 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Cuba.

[edit] Pelicans

Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Pelecanidae

The Brown Pelican is common in Cuban coastal waters
The Brown Pelican is common in Cuban coastal waters

Pelicans are large water birds with a distinctive pouch under the beak. As with other members of the order Pelecaniformes, they have webbed feet with four toes. There are 8 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Cuba.

[edit] Gannets and Boobies

Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Sulidae

The sulids comprise the gannets and boobies. Both groups comprise medium-to-large coastal sea-birds that plunge-dive for fish. There are 9 species worldwide and 4 species which occur in Cuba.

[edit] Cormorants

Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Phalacrocoracidae

The Phalacrocoracidae is a family of medium-to-large coastal, fish-eating sea-birds that includes cormorants and shags. Plumage colouration varies with the majority having mainly dark plumage, some species being black and white, and a few being colourful. There are 38 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Cuba.

[edit] Darters

Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Anhingidae

Anhingas spread their wings to dry them after diving.
Anhingas spread their wings to dry them after diving.

Darters are frequently referred to as "snake-birds" because of their long thin neck, which gives a snake-like appearance when they swim with their bodies submerged. The males have black and dark brown plumage, an erectile crest on the nape and a larger bill than the female. The females have a much paler plumage especially on the neck and underparts. The darters have completely webbed feet, and their legs are short and set far back on the body. Their plumage is somewhat permeable, like that of cormorants, and they spread their wings to dry after diving. There are 4 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Cuba.

[edit] Frigatebirds

Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Fregatidae

Frigatebirds are large sea-birds usually found over tropical oceans. They are large, black and white or completely black, with long wings and deeply-forked tails. The males have inflatable coloured throat pouches. They do not swim or walk, and cannot take off from a flat surface. Having the largest wingspan to body weight ratio of any bird, they are essentially aerial, able to stay aloft for more than a week. There are 5 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Cuba.

[edit] Bitterns, Herons, and Egrets

Order: Ciconiiformes Family: Ardeidae

The Tricolored Heron , like other members of Ardeidae, flies with the neck retracted.
The Tricolored Heron , like other members of Ardeidae, flies with the neck retracted.

The family Ardeidae contains the bitterns, herons and egrets. Herons and egrets are medium to large sized wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and more wary. Unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises and spoonbills, members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted. There are 61 species world wide and 12 species which occur in Cuba.

[edit] Storks

Order: Ciconiiformes Family: Ciconiidae

Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked, wading birds with long, stout bills. Storks are mute; bill-clattering is an important mode of stork communication at the nest. Their nests can be large and may be reused for many years. Many species are migratory. There are 19 species worldwide and 1 which occurs in Cuba.

[edit] Ibises and Spoonbills

Order: Ciconiiformes Family: Threskiornithidae

The White Ibis, known in Cuba as the Coco
The White Ibis, known in Cuba as the Coco

The Threskiornithidae is a family of large terrestrial and wading birds which includes the ibises and spoonbills. They have long, broad wings with 11 primary and about 20 secondary feathers. They are strong fliers and despite their size and weight, very capable soarers. There are 36 species worldwide and 4 species which occur in Cuba.

[edit] Flamingos

Order: Phoenicopteriformes Family: Phoenicopteridae

Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually 3 to 5 feet high, found in both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. They are more numerous in the latter. 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 are uniquely used upside-down. There are 6 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Cuba.

[edit] Ducks, Geese, and Swans

Order: Anseriformes Family: Anatidae

The Cinnamon Teal is not resident in Cuba, but may be seen occasionally.
The Cinnamon Teal is not resident in Cuba, but may be seen occasionally.

The family Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These are birds that are modified for an aquatic existence with webbed feet, flattened bills and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating. There are 131 species worldwide and 29 species which occur in Cuba.

[edit] New World vultures

Order: Ciconiiformes Family: Cathartidae

The Turkey Vulture is common throughout Cuba.
The Turkey Vulture is common throughout Cuba.

The New World vultures are not closely related to Old World vultures, but superficially resemble them because of convergent evolution. Like the Old World vultures, they are scavengers. However, unlike Old World vultures, which find carcasses by sight, New World vultures have a good sense of smell with which they locate carrion. There are 7 species worldwide, all found only in the Americas, and 2 species which occur in Cuba.

[edit] Osprey

Order: Falconiformes Family: Pandionidae

The Pandionidae family contains only one species, the Osprey. The Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) is a medium large raptor which is a specialist fish-eater with a worldwide distribution.

[edit] Hawks and Kites

Order: Falconiformes Family: Accipitridae

Sharp-shinned Hawk, recognizable by its dark red eyes.
Sharp-shinned Hawk, recognizable by its dark red eyes.

Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey and include hawks, eagles, kites, harriers and Old World vultures. These birds have powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons, and keen eyesight. There are 233 species worldwide and 9 species which occur in Cuba.

[edit] Caracaras and Falcons

Order: Falconiformes Family: Falconidae

Falconidae is a family of diurnal birds of prey. They differ from hawks, eagles, and kites in that they kill with their beaks instead of their feet. There are 62 species worldwide and 4 species which occur in Cuba.

[edit] New World quails

Order: Galliformes Family: 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. There are 32 species worldwide, all found only in the Americas, and 1 species which occurs in Cuba.

[edit] Pheasants

Order: Galliformes Family: 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 may vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings. There are 156 species worldwide and 1 species which has been introduced to Cuba.

[edit] Guineafowls

Order: Galliformes Family: Numididae

Guineafowls are a group of African, seed-eating, ground-nesting birds that resemble partridges, but with featherless heads and spangled grey plumage. There are 6 species worldwide and 1 species which has been introduced to Cuba.

[edit] Cranes

Order: Gruiformes Family: Gruidae

Cranes are large, long-legged and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched rather than retracted.

[edit] Limpkin

Order: Gruiformes Family: Aramidae

The unusual looking Limpkin is found throughout the Caribbean, South America and the southern United States.
The unusual looking Limpkin is found throughout the Caribbean, South America and the southern United States.

The Limpkin resembles a large rail. It has drab brown plumage and a greyer head and neck.

[edit] Rails, Crakes, Gallinules, and Coots

Order: Gruiformes Family: 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, difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs, and have long toes which are well adapted to soft, uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and be weak fliers. There are 143 species worldwide and 12 species which occur in Cuba.

[edit] Jacanas

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Jacanidae

The jacanas are a group of tropical waders in the family Jacanidae. They are found worldwide in the Tropics. 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. There 8 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Cuba.

[edit] Oystercatchers

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Haematopodidae

The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs. There are 11 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Cuba.

[edit] Stilts and Avocets

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Recurvirostridae

The American Avocet is occasionally sighted in Cuba, and is easily identified by its upward curving beak.
The American Avocet is occasionally sighted in Cuba, and is easily identified by its upward curving beak.

Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds, which includes the avocets and the stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills. There are 9 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Cuba.

[edit] Plovers

Order: Charadriiformes Family: 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, although there are some exceptions. There are 66 species worldwide and 7 species which occur in Cuba.

[edit] Sandpipers, Curlews, Stints, Godwits, Snipes, Dowitchers, and Phalaropes

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Scolopacidae

Long-billed Dowitcher
Long-billed Dowitcher
Ruddy Turnstone
Ruddy Turnstone

The Scolopacidae are 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 species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Variation in length of legs and bills enable different species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food. There are 86 species worldwide and 27 species which occur in Cuba.

[edit] Skuas and Jaegers

Order: Charadriiformes Family: 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. There are 7 species worldwide and 4 species which occur in Cuba.

[edit] Gulls

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Laridae

Laridae is a family of medium to large birds seabirds and includes gulls and kittiwakes. They are typically grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet. There are 55 species worldwide and 8 species which occur in Cuba.

[edit] Terns

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Sternidae

The Brown Noddy is the largest of the noddies and the only one found in Cuba.
The Brown Noddy is the largest of the noddies and the only one found in Cuba.

Terns are a group of generally general medium to large sea-birds 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 now known to live in excess of 25 to 30 years. There are 44 species worldwide and 14 species which occur in Cuba.

[edit] Skimmers

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Rynchopidae

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. There are 3 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Cuba.

[edit] Auks

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Alcidae

The Dovekie or Little Auk resembles a penguin but is not flightless.
The Dovekie or Little Auk resembles a penguin but is not flightless.

Auks are superficially similar to penguins due to their black-and-white colours, their upright posture and some of their habits. There are 22 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Cuba.

[edit] Pigeons and Doves

Order: Columbiformes Family: Columbidae

The extinct Passenger Pigeon was once found in Cuba.
The extinct Passenger Pigeon was once found in Cuba.

Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere. There are 308 species worldwide and 14 species which occur in Cuba. The extinct Passenger Pigeon, Ectopistes migratorius, was formerly found in Cuba.

[edit] Parakeets and Parrots

Order: Psittaciformes Family: Psittacidae

The Cuban Amazon is also found in the Bahamas and Cayman Islands.
The Cuban Amazon is also found in the Bahamas and Cayman Islands.

Parrots are small to large birds with a characteristic curved beak shape. Their upper mandibles have slight mobility in the joint with the skull and the have a generally erect stance. All parrots are zygodactyl, having the four toes on each foot placed two at the front and two back. There are 335 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Cuba.

[edit] Cuckoos and Anis

Order: Cuculiformes Family: Cuculidae

The Black-billed Cuckoo (left) and Yellow-billed Cuckoo can be distinguished by their beaks and the red colouring on the Yellow-billed Cuckoo's wing.
The Black-billed Cuckoo (left) and Yellow-billed Cuckoo can be distinguished by their beaks and the red colouring on the Yellow-billed Cuckoo's wing.

The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails and strong legs. Unlike the cuckoo species of the Old World, North American cuckoos are not brood parasites. There are 138 species worldwide and 5 species which occur in Cuba.

[edit] Barn owls

Order: Strigiformes Family: Tytonidae

Barn owls are medium to large sized owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons. There are 16 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Cuba.

[edit] Typical owls

Order: Strigiformes Family: Strigidae

The Burrowing Owl nests underground.
The Burrowing Owl nests underground.

Typical owls are small to large solitary nocturnal birds of prey. They have large forward-facing eyes and ears, a hawk-like beak, and a conspicuous circle of feathers around each eye called a facial disk. There are 195 species worldwide and 6 species which occur in Cuba.

[edit] Nightjars

Order: Caprimulgiformes Family: Caprimulgidae

Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds with long wings, short legs and very short bills that usually nest on the ground. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is camouflaged to resemble bark or leaves. There are 86 species worldwide and 4 species which occur in Cuba.

[edit] Swifts

Order: Apodiformes Family: Apodidae

Like all swifts, the Chimney Swift rarely lands on the ground.
Like all swifts, the Chimney Swift rarely lands on the ground.

Swifts are small aerial birds, spending 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 that resemble a crescent or a boomerang. There are 98 species world wide and 4 species which occur in Cuba.

[edit] Hummingbirds

Order: Trochiliformes Family: Trochilidae

Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Ruby-throated Hummingbird

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. There are 337 species worldwide and 3 species which occur in Cuba.

[edit] Trogons

Order: Trogoniformes Family: Trogonidae

The family Trogonidae includes trogons and quetzals. Found in tropical woodlands worldwide, they feed on insects and fruit, and their broad bills and weak legs reflect their diet and arboreal habits. Although their flight is fast, they are reluctant to fly any distance. Trogons have soft, often colourful, feathers with distinctive male and female plumage. There are 33 species worldwide and 1 endemic species occurs in Cuba.

[edit] Water Kingfishers

Order: Coraciiformes Family: Cerylidae

Water kingfishers are medium sized birds with large heads, long pointed bills, short legs, and stubby tails. There are 94 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Cuba.

[edit] Todies

Order: Coraciiformes Family: Todidae

Todies are a group of small near passerine forest species of endemic to the Caribbean. These birds have colourful plumage and resemble small kingfishers, but with flattened bills with serrated edges. They eat small prey such as insects and lizards. There are 5 species worldwide and 1 endemic species occurs in Cuba.

[edit] Woodpeckers, Flickers and Sapsuckers

Order: Piciformes Family: Picidae

The Ivory-billed Woodpecker may be extinct. It was last reported in 2005 and has not been seen in Cuba since 1987.
The Ivory-billed Woodpecker may be extinct. It was last reported in 2005 and has not been seen in Cuba since 1987.

Woodpeckers are small to medium sized birds with chisel like beaks, short legs, stiff tails and long tongues used for capturing insects. Some species have feet with two toes pointing forward, and two backward, while several species have only three toes. Many woodpeckers have the habit of tapping noisily on tree trunks with their beaks. There are 218 species worldwide and 6 species which occur in Cuba, one of which, the Ivory-billed Woodpecker, may be extinct.

[edit] Tyrant flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes Family: Tyrannidae

Willow Flycatcher
Willow Flycatcher

Tyrant flycatchers are passerine birds which occur throughout North and South America. They superficially resemble the Old World flycatchers, but are more robust with stronger bills. They do not have the sophisticated vocal capabilities of the songbirds. Most, but not all, have plain colouring. As the name implies, most are insectivorous. There are 429 species worldwide, all found only in the Americas and 18 species which occur in Cuba.

[edit] Swallows and Martins

Order: Passeriformes Family: Hirundinidae

The Sand Martin, also known as the Bank Swallow, makes its nest in burrows
The Sand Martin, also known as the Bank Swallow, makes its nest in burrows

The Hirundinidae family is a group of passerines characterized by their adaptation to aerial feeding. Their adaptations include a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings and short bills with wide gape. The feet are designed for perching rather than walking, and the front toes are partially joined at the base. There are 75 species worldwide and 9 species which occur in Cuba.

[edit] Kinglets

Order: Passeriformes Family: Regulidae

The kinglets or crests are a small group of birds often included in the Old World warblers, but frequently given family status because they also resemble the titmice. There are 7 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Cuba.

[edit] Waxwings

Order: Passeriformes Family: Bombycillidae

The waxwings are a group of passerine birds characterized by soft silky plumage and unique red tips to some of the wing feathers. In the Bohemian and Cedar Waxwings, these tips look like sealing wax, and give the group its name. These are arboreal birds of northern forests. They live on insects in summer and berries in winter. There are 3 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Cuba.

[edit] Wrens

Order: Passeriformes Family: Troglodytidae

The wrens are mainly small and inconspicuous except for their loud songs. These birds have short wings and a thin down-turned bill. Several species often hold their tails upright. All are insectivorous. There are 80 species worldwide (of which all but 1 are New World species) and 3 species which occur in Cuba.

[edit] Mockingbirds and Thrashers

Order: Passeriformes Family: Mimidae

Gray Catbird
Gray Catbird

The mimids are a family of passerine birds that includes thrashers, mockingbirds, tremblers, and the New World catbirds. These birds are notable for their vocalizations, especially their ability to mimic a wide variety of birds and other sounds heard outdoors. Their colouring tends towards dull greys and browns . There are 35 species worldwide and 4 species which occur in Cuba.

[edit] Thrushes, Solitaires and Bluebirds

Order: Passeriformes Family: Turdidae

Bicknell's Thrush overwinters in Cuba.
Bicknell's Thrush overwinters in Cuba.

The thrushes are a group of passerine birds that occur mainly in the Old World. They are plump, soft plumaged, small to medium-sized insectivores or sometimes omnivores, often feeding on the ground. Many have attractive songs. There are 335 species worldwide and 10 species which occur in Cuba.

[edit] Gnatcatchers

Cuban Gnatcatcher
Cuban Gnatcatcher

Order: Passeriformes Family: Polioptilidae

These dainty birds resemble Old World warblers in their build and habits, moving restlessly through the foliage seeking insects. The gnatcatchers and gnatwrens are mainly soft bluish grey in colour, and have the typical insectivore's long sharp bill. They are birds of fairly open woodland or scrub, and nest in bushes or trees. There are 15 species worldwide and 3 species which occur in Cuba.

[edit] Old World flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes Family: Muscicapidae

The Northern Wheatear was formerly classified as a thrush, and is a rare visitor.
The Northern Wheatear was formerly classified as a thrush, and is a rare visitor.

Old World flycatchers are a large group of small passerine birds native to the Old World. They are mainly small arboreal insectivores. The appearance of these birds is very varied, but they mostly have weak songs and harsh calls. There 274 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Cuba.

[edit] Crows

Order: Passeriformes Family: Corvidae

The Corvidae family includes crows, ravens, jays, choughs, magpies, treepies, nutcrackers, and ground jays. Corvids are above average in size for the bird order Passeriformes. Some of the larger species show high levels of learning behavior. There are 120 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Cuba.

[edit] Starlings

Order: Passeriformes Family: Sturnidae

The Common Myna is one of two introduced starling species.
The Common Myna is one of two introduced starling species.

Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds. Their flight is strong and direct, and they are very gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country. They eat insects and fruit. Plumage is typically dark with a metallic sheen. There are 125 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Cuba.

[edit] Estrildid finches

Order: Passeriformes Family: Estrildidae

The estrildid finches are small passerine birds of the Old World tropics and Australasia. They are gregarious and often colonial seed-eaters with short thick but pointed bills. They are all similar in build and habits, but have a wide variation in plumage colours and pattern. There are 139 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Cuba.

[edit] Vireos

Order: Passeriformes Family: Vireonidae

The vireos are a group of small to medium sized passerine birds restricted to the New World. They are typically greenish in colour and resemble wood warblers apart from their heavier bills. There are 52 species worldwide and 9 species which occur in Cuba.

[edit] New World warblers

Order: Passeriformes Family: Parulidae

Bachman's Warbler may be extinct, but a possible sighting was made in Cuba in 2002.
Bachman's Warbler may be extinct, but a possible sighting was made in Cuba in 2002.

The New World warblers are a group of small, often colourful, passerine birds restricted to the New World. Most are arboreal, but some are terrestrial. Most members of this family are insectivores. There are 119 species worldwide and 43 species which occur in Cuba.

[edit] Bananaquit

Order: Passeriformes Family: Coerebidae or Genus Coereba Incertae sedis

The taxonomy of the Bananaquit is uncertain and it is placed in its own genus.
The taxonomy of the Bananaquit is uncertain and it is placed in its own genus.

The Bananaquit is a small passerine bird. It has a slender, curved bill, adapted to taking nectar from flowers and is the only member of the genus Coereba (Vieillot, 1809) and is normally placed within the family Coerebidae, although there is uncertainty whether that placement is correct.

[edit] Tanagers

Order: Passeriformes Family: Thraupidae

The tanagers are a large group of small to medium-sized passerine birds restricted to the New World, mainly in the tropics. Many species are brightly coloured. They are seed eaters, but their preference tends towards fruit and nectar. Most have short, rounded wings. There are 256 species worldwide and 5 species which occur in Cuba.

[edit] American sparrows, Yellow-finches, Honeycreepers and Towhees

Order: Passeriformes Family: Emberizidae

The Green-tailed Towhee is the smallest of the towhees.
The Green-tailed Towhee is the smallest of the towhees.

The emberizids are a large family of passerine birds. They are seed-eating birds with a distinctively shaped bill. In Europe, most species are named as buntings. In North America, most of the species in this family are known as Sparrows, but these birds are not closely related to the Old World sparrows which are in the family Passeridae. Many emberizid species have distinctive head patterns. There are species 275 worldwide and 14 species which occur in Cuba.

[edit] Cardinals, Grosbeaks and North American Buntings

Order: Passeriformes Family: Cardinalidae

The cardinals are a family of passerine birds that are robust, seed-eating birds, with strong bills. They are typically associated with open woodland. The sexes usually have distinct plumages. There are 43 species worldwide and 6 species which occur in Cuba.

[edit] Blackbirds, Meadowlarks, Cowbirds, Grackles, and Orioles

Order: Passeriformes Family: Icteridae

The Greater Antillean Grackle is widespread.
The Greater Antillean Grackle is widespread.

The icterids are a group of small to medium, often colourful, passerine birds restricted to the New World and include the grackles, New World blackbirds, and New World orioles. Most species have black as the predominant plumage colour, often enlivened by yellow, orange or red. There are 98 species worldwide and 15 species which occur in Cuba.

[edit] Cardueline finches

Order: Passeriformes Family: Fringillidae

A male Lesser Goldfinch
A male Lesser Goldfinch

Finches are seed-eating passerine birds, that are small to moderately large and have a strong beak, usually conical and in some species very large. All have 12 tail feathers and 9 primaries. These birds have a bouncing flight with alternating bouts of flapping and gliding on closed wings, and most sing well. There are 137 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Cuba.

[edit] Sparrows

Order: Passeriformes Family: Passeridae

Sparrows are small passerine birds. In general, sparrows tend to be small, plump, brown or grey birds with short tails and short powerful beaks. Sparrows are seed-eaters, and they also consume small insects. There are 35 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Cuba, which was introduced.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

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