A total of 469 species of birds have been recorded on the islands of Trinidad and Tobago. There are few places in the world where so many bird species can be seen in such a small area, many of them unique, very rare, or of particular interest. They range from the many species of hummingbird to the cave-dwelling Oilbird (which uses echo-location to fly in the dark) and the spectacular Scarlet Ibis.
The islands are within a few miles of Venezuela, and the species are therefore typical of tropical South America. However, the number of species is relatively impoverished compared to the mainland, as would be expected with small islands.
The resident breeding birds are augmented in the northern winter by migrants from North America, although the range of migrant passerines is very limited compared to Central America.
Species in the list occur on both islands except where indicated. Tobago has only about half the number of bird species of Trinidad, but 22 birds have occurred only on the smaller island, including 12 breeding species. Some of the smaller islands off Tobago, such as Little Tobago, have important seabird breeding colonies.
Order: Tinamiformes. Family: Tinamidae
The tinamous are one of the most ancient groups of bird. Although they look similar to other ground-dwelling birds like quail and grouse, they have no close relatives and are classified as a single family Tinamidae within their own order, the Tinamiformes. They are distantly related to the ratites (order Struthioniformes), that includes the rheas, emu, and kiwi. There are 47 species worldwide, one of which occurs in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Little Tinamou | Crypturellus soui | Trinidad only |
Order: Podicipediformes. Family: Podicipedidae
Grebes are small to medium-sized diving birds. They breed on fresh water, but often visit the sea whilst migrating and in winter. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers; however, their feet are placed far back on their bodies, making them quite ungainly on land. There are 19 species worldwide.[1][2] Of these, two species have been recorded in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Least Grebe | Tachybaptus dominicus | |
| Pied-billed Grebe | Podilymbus podiceps |
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, five of which occur in Trinidad and Tobago
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Bulwer's Petrel | Bulweria bulwerii | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
| Cory's Shearwater | Calonectris diomedea | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
| Great Shearwater | Puffinus gravis | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
| Manx Shearwater | Puffinus puffinus | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
| Audubon's Shearwater | Puffinus lherminieri |
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, two of which occur in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Wilson's Storm-Petrel | Oceanites oceanicus | Tobago only; Rare/Accidental |
| Leach's Storm-Petrel | Oceanodroma leucorhoa |
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 three species worldwide, two of which occur in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Red-billed Tropicbird | Phaethon aethereus | |
| White-tailed Tropicbird | Phaethon lepturus | Tobago only; Rare/Accidental |
Order: Pelecaniformes. Family: Pelecanidae
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 eight species worldwide, one of which occurs in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Brown Pelican | Pelecanus occidentalis |
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 nine species worldwide, four of which occur in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Gannet | Morus bassanus | Trinidad only |
| Masked Booby | Sula dactylatra | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
| Red-footed Booby | Sula sula | |
| Brown Booby | Sula leucogaster |
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; the majority of species have mainly dark plumage, but some are pied black and white, and a few are more colourful. There are 38 members of this family worldwide, one of which occurs in Trinidad and Tobago
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Neotropic Cormorant | Phalacrocorax brasilianus | Trinidad only |
Order: Pelecaniformes. Family: Anhingidae
Darters are frequently referred to as "snake-birds" because they have long thin necks, 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 four species worldwide, one of which occurs in Trinidad and Tobago
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Anhinga | Anhinga anhinga |
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 five species worldwide, one of which occurs in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Magnificent Frigatebird | Fregata magnificens |
Order: Ciconiiformes. Family: Ardeidae
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 suck as storks, ibises and spoonbills, members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted. There are 61 species worldwide, 21 of which occur in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Grey Heron | Ardea cinerea | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
| Great Blue Heron | Ardea herodias | |
| Cocoi Heron | Ardea cocoi | Trinidad only |
| Great Egret | Ardea alba | |
| Reddish Egret | Egretta rufescens | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
| Tricolored Heron | Egretta tricolor | |
| Little Blue Heron | Egretta caerulea | |
| Western Reef Heron | Egretta gularis | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
| Snowy Egret | Egretta thula | |
| Little Egret | Egretta garzetta | Rare/Accidental |
| Cattle Egret | Bubulcus ibis | |
| Striated Heron | Butorides striata | Trinidad only |
| Green Heron | Butorides virescens | |
| Agami Heron | Agamia agami | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
| Black-crowned Night-Heron | Nycticorax nycticorax | |
| Yellow-crowned Night-Heron | Nyctanassa violacea | |
| Boat-billed Heron | Cochlearius cochlearius | Trinidad only |
| Rufescent Tiger-Heron | Tigrisoma lineatum | Trinidad only |
| Stripe-backed Bittern | Ixobrychus involucris | Trinidad only |
| Least Bittern | Ixobrychus exilis | Trinidad only |
| Pinnated Bittern | Botaurus pinnatus | Trinidad only |
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, two of which occur in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Wood Stork | Mycteria americana | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
| Jabiru | Jabiru mycteria | Tobago only; Rare/Accidental |
Order: Ciconiiformes. Family: Threskiornithidae
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, four of which occur in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| American White Ibis | Eudocimus albus | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
| Scarlet Ibis | Eudocimus ruber | |
| Glossy Ibis | Plegadis falcinellus | |
| Roseate Spoonbill | Platalea ajaja |
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 six species worldwide, one of which occurs in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Caribbean Flamingo | Phoenicopterus ruber | Trinidad only |
Order: Anseriformes. Family: Anhimidae
The screamers are a small family of birds related to the ducks. They are large, bulky birds, with a small downy head, long legs and large feet which are only partially webbed. They have large spurs on their wings which are used in fights over mates and territorial disputes. There are three species worldwide, one of which occurs in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Horned Screamer | Anhima cornuta | Rare/Accidental |
Order: Anseriformes. Family: Anatidae
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, 17 of which occur in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Fulvous Whistling-Duck | Dendrocygna bicolor | |
| White-faced Whistling-Duck | Dendrocygna viduata | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
| Black-bellied Whistling-Duck | Dendrocygna autumnalis | |
| Snow Goose | Chen caerulescens | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
| Muscovy Duck | Cairina moschata | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
| Comb Duck | Sarkidiornis melanotos | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
| American Wigeon | Anas americana | |
| Green-winged Teal | Anas carolinensis | Rare/Accidental |
| Mallard | Anas platyrhynchos | Trinidad only |
| Northern Pintail | Anas acuta | |
| White-cheeked Pintail | Anas bahamensis | |
| Blue-winged Teal | Anas discors | |
| Northern Shoveller | Anas clypeata | |
| Southern Pochard | Netta erythrophthalma | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
| Ring-necked Duck | Aythya collaris | Rare/Accidental |
| Lesser Scaup | Aythya affinis | |
| Masked Duck | Oxyura dominica |
Order: Falconiformes. Family: Cathartidae
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 seven species worldwide, all of which are found only in the Americas, four of which occur in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| American Black Vulture | Coragyps atratus | Trinidad only |
| Turkey Vulture | Cathartes aura | Trinidad only |
| Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture | Cathartes burrovianus | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
| King Vulture | Sarcoramphus papa | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
Order: Falconiformes. Family: Pandionidae
The Pandionidae family contains only one species, the Osprey. The Osprey is a medium large raptor which is a specialist fish-eater with a worldwide distribution.
| Name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Osprey | Pandion haliaetus |
Order: Falconiformes. Family: Accipitridae
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, 23 of which occur in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Gray-headed Kite | Leptodon cayanensis | Trinidad only |
| Hook-billed Kite | Chondrohierax uncinatus | Trinidad only |
| Swallow-tailed Kite | Elanoides forficatus | |
| Pearl Kite | Gampsonyx swainsonii | Trinidad only |
| White-tailed Kite | Elanus leucurus | Trinidad only |
| Snail Kite | Rostrhamus sociabilis | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
| Double-toothed Kite | Harpagus bidentatus | Trinidad only |
| Plumbeous Kite | Ictinia plumbea | Trinidad only |
| Long-winged Harrier | Circus buffoni | Trinidad only |
| White Hawk | Leucopternis albicollis | Trinidad only |
| Rufous Crab-Hawk | Buteogallus aequinoctialis | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
| Common Black Hawk | Buteogallus anthracinus | |
| Great Black Hawk | Buteogallus urubitinga | |
| Savanna Hawk | Buteogallus meridionalis | Trinidad only |
| Black-collared Hawk | Busarellus nigricollis | Trinidad only |
| Gray Hawk | Buteo nitidus | |
| Broad-winged Hawk | Buteo platypterus | |
| Short-tailed Hawk | Buteo brachyurus | |
| Swainson's Hawk | Buteo swainsoni | Tobago only; Rare/Accidental |
| White-tailed Hawk | Buteo albicaudatus | Trinidad only |
| Zone-tailed Hawk | Buteo albonotatus | Trinidad only |
| Black Hawk Eagle | Spizaetus tyrannus | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
| Ornate Hawk Eagle | Spizaetus ornatus |
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, eight of which occur in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Caracara | Caracara cheriway | Trinidad only |
| Yellow-headed Caracara | Milvago chimachima | |
| American Kestrel | Falco sparverius | Trinidad only |
| Aplomado Falcon | Falco femoralis | Trinidad only |
| Merlin | Falco columbarius | |
| Bat Falcon | Falco rufigularis | Trinidad only |
| Orange-breasted Falcon | Falco deiroleucus | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
| Peregrine Falcon | Falco peregrinus |
Order: Galliformes. Family: Cracidae
The Cracidae are large birds, similar in general appearance to turkeys. The guans and curassows live in trees, but the smaller chachalacas are found in more open scrubby habitats. They are generally dull-plumaged, but the curassows and some guans have colourful facial ornaments. There are 50 species worldwide, two of which occur in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Rufous-vented Chachalaca | Ortalis ruficauda | Tobago only |
| Trinidad Piping-guan | Aburria pipile | Endemic to Trinidad |
Order: Gruiformes. Family: Aramidae
The Limpkin resembles a large rail. It has drab brown plumage and a greyer head and neck.
| Name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Limpkin | Aramus guarauna | Trinidad only |
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, 13 of which occur in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Gray-breasted Crake | Laterallus exilis | Trinidad only |
| Clapper Rail | Rallus longirostris | Trinidad only |
| Rufous-necked Wood-Rail | Aramides axillaris | Trinidad only |
| Gray-necked Wood-Rail | Aramides cajanea | Trinidad only |
| Sora | Porzana carolina | |
| Ash-throated Crake | Porzana albicollis | Trinidad only |
| Yellow-breasted Crake | Porzana flaviventer | Trinidad only |
| Paint-billed Crake | Neocrex erythrops | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
| Spotted Rail | Pardirallus maculatus | |
| American Purple Gallinule | Porphyrio martinica | |
| Azure Gallinule | Porphyrio flavirostris | Trinidad only |
| Common Moorhen | Gallinula chloropus | |
| American Coot | Fulica americana | Tobago only; Rare/Accidental |
| Caribbean Coot | Fulica caribaea | Rare/Accidental, Near-threatened |
Order: Gruiformes. Family: Heliornithidae
The Heliornithidae are small family of tropical birds with webbed lobes on their feet similar to those of grebes and coots. There are three species worldwide, one of which occurs in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Sungrebe | Heliornis fulica | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
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 eight species worldwide, one of which occurs in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Wattled Jacana | Jacana jacana |
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, one of which occurs in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| American Oystercatcher | Haematopus palliatus | Rare/Accidental |
Order: Charadriiformes. Family: Recurvirostridae
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 nine species worldwide, two of which occurs in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Black-necked Stilt | Himantopus mexicanus | Trinidad only |
| American Avocet | Recurvirostra americana | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
Order: Charadriiformes. Family: Burhinidae
The thick-knees are a group of largely tropical waders in the family Burhinidae. They are 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. There are nine species worldwide, one of which occurs in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Double-striped Thick-knee | Burhinus bistriatus | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
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, nine of which occur in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Southern Lapwing | Vanellus chilensis | |
| American Golden Plover | Pluvialis dominica | |
| Black-bellied Plover | Pluvialis squatarola | |
| Ringed Plover | Charadrius hiaticula | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
| Semipalmated Plover | Charadrius semipalmatus | |
| Wilson's Plover | Charadrius wilsonia | Trinidad only |
| Killdeer | Charadrius vociferus | |
| Snowy Plover | Charadrius alexandrinus | Tobago only; Rare/Accidental |
| Collared Plover | Charadrius collaris |
Order: Charadriiformes. Family: Scolopacidae
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 89 species worldwide, 28 of which occur in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Wilson's Snipe | Gallinago delicata | |
| South American Snipe | Gallinago paraguaiae | Trinidad only |
| Short-billed Dowitcher | Limnodromus griseus | |
| Hudsonian Godwit | Limosa haemastica | Trinidad only |
| Marbled Godwit | Limosa fedoa | Rare/Accidental |
| Eskimo Curlew | Numenius borealis | Rare/Accidental, Critically endangered (possibly extinct) |
| Whimbrel | Numenius phaeopus | |
| Long-billed Curlew | Numenius americanus | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental, Near-threatened |
| Upland Sandpiper | Bartramia longicauda | |
| Spotted Redshank | Tringa erythropus | Tobago only; Rare/Accidental |
| Common Greenshank | Tringa nebularia | Rare/Accidental |
| Greater Yellowlegs | Tringa melanoleuca | |
| Lesser Yellowlegs | Tringa flavipes | |
| Solitary Sandpiper | Tringa solitaria | |
| Spotted Sandpiper | Actitis macularia | |
| Willet | Catoptrophorus semipalmatus | |
| Ruddy Turnstone | Arenaria interpres | |
| Red Knot | Calidris canutus | Trinidad only |
| Sanderling | Calidris alba | Trinidad only |
| Semipalmated Sandpiper | Calidris pusilla | |
| Western Sandpiper | Calidris mauri | |
| Least Sandpiper | Calidris minutilla | |
| White-rumped Sandpiper | Calidris fuscicollis | |
| Baird's Sandpiper | Calidris bairdii | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
| Pectoral Sandpiper | Calidris melanotos | |
| Stilt Sandpiper | Calidris himantopus | |
| Buff-breasted Sandpiper | Tryngites subruficollis | Near-threatened |
| Ruff | Philomachus pugnax | Rare/Accidental |
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 seven species worldwide, three of which occur in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| South Polar Skua | Stercorarius maccormicki | Trinidad only |
| Pomarine Skua | Stercorarius pomarinus | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
| Arctic Skua | Stercorarius parasiticus | Rare/Accidental |
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, six of which occur in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Ring-billed Gull | Larus delawarensis | |
| Lesser Black-backed Gull | Larus fuscus | Rare/Accidental |
| American Herring Gull | Larus smithsonianus | Trinidad only |
| Black-headed Gull | Larus ridibundus | |
| Laughing Gull | Larus atricilla | |
| Sabine's Gull | Xema sabini | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
Order: Charadriiformes. Family: Sternidae
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, 15 of which occur in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Gull-billed Tern | Gelochelidon nilotica | Trinidad only |
| Caspian Tern | Hydroprogne caspia | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
| Elegant Tern | Sterna elegans | Trinidad only; Near-threatened |
| Sandwich Tern | Sterna sandvicensis | |
| Royal Tern | Sterna maxima | |
| Roseate Tern | Sterna dougallii | |
| Common Tern | Sterna hirundo | |
| Least Tern | Sternula antillarum | |
| Yellow-billed Tern | Sternula superciliaris | Trinidad only |
| Bridled Tern | Onychoprion anaethetus | |
| Sooty Tern | Onychoprion fuscata | |
| Black Tern | Chlidonias niger | Trinidad only |
| Large-billed Tern | Phaetusa simplex | Trinidad only |
| Brown Noddy | Anous stolidus | |
| White Tern | Gygis alba | Tobago only; Rare/Accidental |
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 three species worldwide, one of which occurs in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Black Skimmer | Rynchops niger | Trinidad only |
Order: Columbiformes. Family: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere. There are 308 species worldwide, 14 of which occur in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Rock Pigeon | Columba livia | Trinidad only; Introduced species |
| Scaled Pigeon | Columba speciosa | Trinidad only |
| Band-tailed Pigeon | Patagioenas fasciata | Trinidad only |
| Pale-vented Pigeon | Patagioenas cayennensis | |
| Eared Dove | Zenaida auriculata | |
| Common Ground Dove | Columbina passerina | Trinidad only |
| Plain-breasted Ground Dove | Columbina minuta | |
| Ruddy Ground Dove | Columbina talpacoti | |
| Scaled Dove | Columbina squammata | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
| Blue Ground Dove | Claravis pretiosa | Trinidad only |
| White-tipped Dove | Leptotila verreauxi | |
| Grey-fronted Dove | Leptotila rufaxilla | Trinidad only |
| Lined Quail-Dove | Geotrygon linearis | |
| Ruddy Quail-Dove | Geotrygon montana | Trinidad only |
Order: Psittaciformes. Family: Psittacidae
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, 11 of which occur in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Blue-and-yellow Macaw | Ara ararauna | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
| Scarlet Macaw | Ara macao | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
| Red-bellied Macaw | Orthopsittaca manilata | Trinidad only |
| Red-shouldered Macaw | Diopsittaca nobilis | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
| White-eyed Parakeet | Aratinga leucophthalmus | Trinidad only |
| Green-rumped Parrotlet | Forpus passerinus | |
| Lilac-tailed Parrotlet | Touit batavica | Trinidad only |
| Scarlet-shouldered Parrotlet | Touit huetii | Extirpated |
| Blue-headed Parrot | Pionus menstruus | Trinidad only |
| Yellow-crowned Parrot | Amazona ochrocephala | Trinidad only; Introduced species |
| Orange-winged Parrot | Amazona amazonica |
Order: Cuculiformes. Family: Cuculidae
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, 10 of which occur in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Black-billed Cuckoo | Coccyzus erythropthalmus | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
| Yellow-billed Cuckoo | Coccyzus americanus | |
| Mangrove Cuckoo | Coccyzus minor | |
| Dark-billed Cuckoo | Coccyzus melacoryphus | Trinidad only |
| Squirrel Cuckoo | Piaya cayana | Trinidad only |
| Little Cuckoo | Piaya minuta | Trinidad only |
| Greater Ani | Crotophaga major | Trinidad only |
| Smooth-billed Ani | Crotophaga ani | |
| Groove-billed Ani | Crotophaga sulcirostris | Trinidad only |
| Striped Cuckoo | Tapera naevia | Trinidad only |
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, one of which occurs in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Barn Owl | Tyto alba |
Order: Strigiformes. Family: Strigidae
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, seven of which occur in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical Screech-Owl | Megascops choliba | Trinidad only |
| Great Horned Owl | Bubo virginianus | Trinidad only |
| Mottled Owl | Ciccaba virgata | Trinidad only |
| Spectacled Owl | Pulsatrix perspicillata | Trinidad only |
| Ferruginous Pygmy Owl | Gaucidium brasilianum | Trinidad only |
| Striped Owl | Pseudoscops clamator | Tobago only |
| Short-eared Owl | Asio flammeus | Trinidad only |
Order: Caprimulgiformes. Family: Steatornithidae
The Oilbird is a slim, long-winged bird related to the nightjars. It is nocturnal and a specialist feeder on the fruit of the Oil palm.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Oilbird | Steatornis caripensis | Trinidad only |
Order: Caprimulgiformes. Family: Nyctibiidae
The potoos (sometimes called Poor-Me-Ones) are large near passerine birds related to the nightjars and frogmouths. They are nocturnal insectivores which lack the bristles around the mouth found in the true nightjars. There are five species, all of which are from the South American tropical region. One species occurs in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Common Potoo | Nyctibius griseus |
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, seven of which occur in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Short-tailed Nighthawk | Lurocalis semitorquatus | Trinidad only |
| Lesser Nighthawk | Chordeiles acutipennis | |
| Common Nighthawk | Chordeiles minor | Rare/Accidental |
| Nacunda Nighthawk | Podager nacunda | |
| Pauraque | Nyctidromus albicollis | Trinidad only |
| Rufous Nightjar | Caprimulgus rufus | Trinidad only |
| White-tailed Nightjar | Caprimulgus cayennensis |
Order: Apodiformes. Family: Apodidae
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 worldwide, 10 of which occur in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Black Swift | Cypseloides niger | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
| Chestnut-collared Swift | Cypseloides rutilus | Trinidad only |
| White-collared Swift | Streptoprocne zonaris | |
| Band-rumped Swift | Chaetura spinicaudus | Trinidad only |
| Lesser Antillean Swift | Chaetura martinica | Trinidad only |
| Gray-rumped Swift | Chaetura cinereiventris | |
| Chimney Swift | Chaetura pelagica | Trinidad only |
| Chapman's Swift | Chaetura chapmani | Trinidad only |
| Short-tailed Swift | Chaetura brachyura | |
| Fork-tailed Palm Swift | Tachornis squamata | Trinidad only |
| Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift | Panyptila cayennensis | Trinidad only |
Order: Trochiliformes. Family: 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. There are 337 species worldwide, 21 of which occur in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Rufous-breasted Hermit | Glaucis hirsuta | |
| Green Hermit | Phaethornis guy | Trinidad only |
| Little Hermit | Phaethornis longuemareus | Trinidad only |
| White-tailed Sabrewing | Campylopterus ensipennis | Tobago only; Near-threatened |
| White-necked Jacobin | Florisuga mellivora | |
| Brown Violet-ear | Colibri delphinae | Trinidad only |
| Green-throated Mango | Anthracothorax viridigula | Trinidad only |
| Black-throated Mango | Anthracothorax nigricollis | |
| Green-throated Carib | Eulampis holosericeus | Trinidad only |
| Ruby-topaz Hummingbird | Chrysolampis mosquitus | |
| Tufted Coquette | Lophornis ornatus | Trinidad only |
| Blue-chinned Sapphire | Chlorostilbon notatus | |
| Blue-tailed Emerald | Chlorostilbon mellisugus | Trinidad only |
| Fork-tailed Woodnymph | Thalurania furcata | Trinidad only |
| Golden-tailed Sapphire | Chrysuronia oenone | Trinidad only |
| White-tailed Goldenthroat | Polytmus guainumbi | Trinidad only |
| White-chested Emerald | Agyrtria brevirostris | Trinidad only |
| Glittering-throated Emerald | Polyerata fimbriata | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
| Copper-rumped Hummingbird | Amazilia tobaci | |
| Long-billed Starthroat | Heliomaster longirostris | Trinidad only |
| Rufous-shafted Woodstar | Chaetocercus jourdanii | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
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, three of which occur in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| White-tailed Trogon | Trogon viridis | Trinidad only |
| Violaceous Trogon | Trogon violaceus | Trinidad only |
| Collared Trogon | Trogon collaris |
Order: Coraciiformes. Family: Alcedinidae
Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long pointed bills, short legs, and stubby tails. There are 93 species worldwide, five of which occur in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Belted Kingfisher | Ceryle alcyon | |
| Ringed Kingfisher | Ceryle torquata | Trinidad only |
| Amazon Kingfisher | Chloroceryle amazona | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
| Green Kingfisher | Chloroceryle americana | |
| American Pygmy Kingfisher | Chloroceryle aenea | Trinidad only |
Order: Coraciiformes. Family: Momotidae
The motmots have colorful plumage and long, graduated tails, which they display by waggling back and forth. In most of the species, the barbs near the ends of the two longest (central) tail feathers are weak and fall off, leaving a length of bare shaft, and creating a racket-shaped tail. There are 10 species worldwide, one of which occurs in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Blue-crowned Motmot | Momotus momota |
Order: Piciformes. Family: Galbulidae
The jacamars are near passerine birds from tropical South America, with a range that extends up to Mexico. They are glossy elegant birds with long bills and tails, which feed on insects caught on the wing. In appearance and behaviour they show resemblances to the Old World bee-eaters, although they are more closely related to woodpeckers. There are 18 species, one of which occurs in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Rufous-tailed Jacamar | Galbula ruficauda |
Order: Piciformes. Family: Ramphastidae
Toucans are near passerine birds from the neotropics. They are brightly marked and have enormous, colourful bills which in some species may amount to half their body length. There are 40 species worldwide, one of which occurs in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Channel-billed Toucan | Ramphastos vitellinus | Trinidad only |
Order: Piciformes. Family: Picidae
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, six of which occur in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Red-crowned Woodpecker | Melanerpes rubricapillus | Tobago only |
| Red-rumped Woodpecker | Veniliornis kirkii | |
| Golden-olive Woodpecker | Piculus rubiginosus | |
| Chestnut Woodpecker | Celeus elegans | Trinidad only |
| Lineated Woodpecker | Dryocopus lineatus | Trinidad only |
| Crimson-crested Woodpecker | Campephilus melanoleucos | Trinidad only |
Order: Passeriformes. Family: Furnariidae
Ovenbirds comprise a large family of small sub-oscine passerine bird species found in Central and South America. They are a diverse group of insectivores which gets its name from the elaborate "oven-like" clay nests built by some species, although others build stick nests or nest in tunnels or clefts in rock. There are 243 species worldwide, five of which occur in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Pale-breasted Spinetail | Synallaxis albescens | Trinidad only |
| Stripe-breasted Spinetail | Synallaxis cinnamomea | |
| Yellow-chinned Spinetail | Certhiaxis cinnamomea | Trinidad only |
| Streaked Xenops | Xenops rutilans | Trinidad only |
| Gray-throated Leaftosser | Sclerurus albigularis |
Order: Passeriformes. Family: Dendrocolaptidae
The Dendrocolaptidae are brownish birds and maintain an upright vertical posture, supported by their stiff tail vanes. They feed mainly on insects taken from tree trunks. There are 57 species worldwide, six of which occur in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Plain-brown Woodcreeper | Dendrocincla fuliginosa | |
| Olivaceous Woodcreeper | Sittasomus griseicapillus | Tobago only |
| Buff-throated Woodcreeper | Xiphorhynchus guttatus | Trinidad only |
| Cocoa Woodcreeper | Xiphorhynchus susurrans | |
| Straight-billed Woodcreeper | Dendroplex picus | Trinidad only |
| Streak-headed Woodcreeper | Lepidocolaptes souleyetii | Trinidad only |
Order: Passeriformes. Family: Thamnophilidae
The antbirds are a large family of small passerine birds of subtropical and tropical Central and South America. They are forest birds, and tend to feed on insects at or near the ground. A sizable minority of them specialize in following columns of army ants to eat the small invertebrates that leave hiding to flee the ants.Many species lack bright colour; brown, black and white being the dominant tones. There are about 212 species worldwide, eight of which occur in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Great Antshrike | Taraba major | Trinidad only |
| Black-crested Antshrike | Sakesphorus canadensis | Trinidad only |
| Barred Antshrike | Thamnophilus doliatus | |
| Plain Antvireo | Dysithamnus mentalis | |
| White-flanked Antwren | Myrmotherula axillaris | Trinidad only |
| White-fringed Antwren | Formicivora grisea | Tobago only |
| Silvered Antbird | Sclateria naevia | Trinidad only |
| White-bellied Antbird | Myrmeciza longipes | Trinidad only |
Order: Passeriformes. Family: Formicariidae
The ground antbirds are a family comprising the antthrushes and antpittas. Antthrushes resemble small rails while antpittas resemble the true pittas with longish strong legs, very short tails and stout bills. There are about 63 species worldwide, two of which occur in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Black-faced Antthrush | Formicarius analis | Trinidad only |
| Scaled Antpitta | Grallaria guatimalensis | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
Order: Passeriformes. Family: Cotingidae
The cotingas are birds of forests or forest edges of tropical South America. Comparatively little is known about this diverse group, although all have broad bills with hooked tips, rounded wings, and strong legs. The males of many of the species are brightly coloured, or decorated with plumes or wattles. There are 71 species worldwide, two of which occur in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| White Bellbird | Procnias alba | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
| Bearded Bellbird | Procnias averano | Trinidad only |
Order: Passeriformes. Family: Pipridae
The manakins are a family bird species of subtropical and tropical mainland Central and South America, and Trinidad and Tobago. They are compact forest birds, the males typically being brightly coloured, although the females of most species are duller and usually green-plumaged. Manakins feed on small fruits, berries and insects. There are 57 species worldwide, three of occur present in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| White-bearded Manakin | Manacus manacus | Trinidad only |
| Blue-backed Manakin | Chiroxiphia pareola | Tobago only |
| Golden-headed Manakin | Pipra erythrocephala | Trinidad only |
Order: Passeriformes. Family: Tyrannidae
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, 42 of which occur in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Southern Beardless Tyrannulet | Camptostoma obsoletum | Trinidad only |
| Mouse-colored Tyrannulet | Phaeomyias murina | Trinidad only |
| Forest Elaenia | Myiopagis gaimardii | Trinidad only |
| Yellow-bellied Elaenia | Elaenia flavogaster | |
| Small-billed Elaenia | Elaenia parvirostris | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
| Lesser Elaenia | Elaenia chiriquensis | Trinidad only |
| Ochre-bellied Flycatcher | Mionectes oleagineus | |
| Olive-striped Flycatcher | Mionectes olivaceus | Trinidad only |
| Slaty-capped Flycatcher | Leptopogon superciliaris | Trinidad only |
| Northern Scrub-Flycatcher | Sublegatus arenarum | Trinidad only |
| Crested Doradito | Pseudocolopteryx sclateri | Trinidad only |
| Short-tailed Pygmy-Tyrant | Myiornis ecaudatus | Trinidad only |
| Spotted Tody-Flycatcher | Todirostrum maculatum | Trinidad only |
| Yellow-olive Flycatcher | Tolmomyias sulphurescens | Trinidad only |
| Yellow-breasted Flycatcher | Tolmomyias flaviventris | |
| White-throated Spadebill | Platyrinchus mystaceus | |
| Bran-colored Flycatcher | Myiophobus fasciatus | Trinidad only |
| Fuscous Flycatcher | Cnemotriccus fuscatus | |
| Euler's Flycatcher | Lathrotriccus euleri | Trinidad only |
| Olive-sided Flycatcher | Contopus cooperi | Trinidad only |
| Tropical Pewee | Contopus cinereus | Trinidad only |
| Pied Water-Tyrant | Fluvicola pica | Trinidad only |
| White-headed Marsh-Tyrant | Arundinicola leucocephala | Trinidad only |
| Bright-rumped Attila | Attila spadiceus | Trinidad only |
| Dusky-capped Flycatcher | Myiarchus tuberculifer | Trinidad only |
| Swainson's Flycatcher | Myiarchus swainsoni | Trinidad only |
| Venezuelan Flycatcher | Myiarchus venezuelensis | Tobago only |
| Brown-crested Flycatcher | Myiarchus tyrannulus | |
| Great Kiskadee | Pitangus sulphuratus | Trinidad only |
| Boat-billed Flycatcher | Megarynchus pitangua | Trinidad only |
| Streaked Flycatcher | Myiodynastes maculatus | |
| Piratic Flycatcher | Legatus leucophaius | |
| Variegated Flycatcher | Empidonomus varius | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
| Sulphury Flycatcher | Tyrannopsis sulphurea | Trinidad only |
| Tropical Kingbird | Tyrannus melancholicus | |
| Gray Kingbird | Tyrannus dominicensis | |
| Fork-tailed Flycatcher | Tyrannus savana | |
| White-winged Becard | Pachyramphus polychopterus | |
| Black-tailed Tityra | Tityra cayana | Trinidad only |
| Masked Tityra | Tityra semifasciata | Trinidad only |
| Black-crowned Tityra | Tityra inquisitor | Trinidad only |
| House Sparrow | Passer domesticus | Trinidad only |
Order: Passeriformes. Family: Hirundinidae
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, nine of which occur in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Caribbean Martin | Progne dominicensis | Tobago only |
| Gray-breasted Martin | Progne chalybea | |
| Tree Swallow | Tachycineta bicolor | Trinidad only |
| White-winged Swallow | Tachycineta albiventer | Trinidad only |
| Blue-and-white Swallow | Pygochelidon cyanoleuca | Trinidad only |
| Southern Rough-winged Swallow | Stelgidopteryx ruficollis | |
| Bank Swallow | Riparia riparia | |
| Cliff Swallow | Petrochelidon pyrrhonota | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
| Barn Swallow | Hirundo rustica |
Order: Passeriformes. Family: Motacillidae
The Motacillidae are a family of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They include the wagtails, longclaws and pipits. They are slender, ground feeding insectivores of open country. There are 54 species worldwide, one of which occurs in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| White Wagtail | Motacilla alba | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
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 one are New World species), two of which occur in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Rufous-breasted Wren | Thryothorus rutilus | |
| House Wren | Troglodytes aedon |
Order: Passeriformes. Family: Mimidae
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, two of which occur in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Mockingbird | Mimus polyglottos | Trinidad only |
| Tropical Mockingbird | Mimus gilvus |
Order: Passeriformes. Family: Turdidae
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, seven of which occur in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush | Catharus aurantiirostris | Trinidad only |
| Veery | Catharus fuscescens | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
| Gray-cheeked Thrush | Catharus minimus | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
| Yellow-legged Thrush | Platycichla flavipes | |
| Cocoa Thrush | Turdus fumigatus | Trinidad only |
| Bare-eyed Thrush | Turdus nudigenis | |
| White-necked Thrush | Turdus albicollis |
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, one of which occurs in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Long-billed Gnatwren | Ramphocaenus melanurus | Trinidad only |
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, six of which occur in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow-throated Vireo | Vireo flavifrons | Rare/Accidental |
| Red-eyed Vireo | Vireo olivaceus | |
| Black-whiskered Vireo | Vireo altiloquus | Trinidad only |
| Scrub Greenlet | Hylophilus flavipes | Tobago only |
| Golden-fronted Greenlet | Hylophilus aurantiifrons | Trinidad only |
| Rufous-browed Peppershrike | Cyclarhis gujanensis | Trinidad only |
Order: Passeriformes. Family: Parulidae
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, 24 of which occur in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Golden-winged Warbler | Vermivora chrysoptera | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
| Northern Parula | Parula americana | Tobago only; Rare/Accidental |
| Tropical Parula | Parula pitiayumi | |
| Yellow Warbler | Dendroica petechia | |
| Chestnut-sided Warbler | Dendroica pensylvanica | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
| Magnolia Warbler | Dendroica magnolia | Rare/Accidental |
| Cape May Warbler | Dendroica tigrina | Rare/Accidental |
| Black-throated Blue Warbler | Dendroica caerulescens | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
| Yellow-rumped Warbler | Dendroica coronata | Tobago only; Rare/Accidental |
| Black-throated Green Warbler | Dendroica virens | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
| Blackburnian Warbler | Dendroica fusca | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
| Prairie Warbler | Dendroica discolor | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
| Bay-breasted Warbler | Dendroica castanea | Rare/Accidental |
| Blackpoll Warbler | Dendroica striata | |
| Black-and-white Warbler | Mniotilta varia | |
| American Redstart | Setophaga ruticilla | |
| Prothonotary Warbler | Protonotaria citrea | |
| Worm-eating Warbler | Helmitheros vermivorus | Trinidad only |
| Ovenbird | Seiurus aurocapilla | Rare/Accidental |
| Northern Waterthrush | Seiurus noveboracensis | |
| Common Yellowthroat | Geothlypis trichas | Rare/Accidental |
| Masked Yellowthroat | Geothlypis aequinoctialis | Trinidad only |
| Hooded Warbler | Wilsonia citrina | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
| Golden-crowned Warbler | Basileuterus culicivorus | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
Order: Passeriformes. Family: Coerebidae
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.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Bananaquit | Coereba flaveola |
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, 24 of which occur in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Bicolored Conebill | Conirostrum bicolor | Trinidad only |
| White-shouldered Tanager | Tachyphonus luctuosus | Trinidad only |
| White-lined Tanager | Tachyphonus rufus | |
| Red-crowned Ant-Tanager | Habia rubica | Trinidad only |
| Hepatic Tanager | Piranga flava | Trinidad only |
| Scarlet Tanager | Piranga olivacea | Rare/Accidental |
| Summer Tanager | Piranga rubra | Trinidad only |
| Silver-beaked Tanager | Ramphocelus carbo | Trinidad only |
| Blue-gray Tanager | Thraupis episcopus | |
| Blue-capped Tanager | Thraupis cyanocephala | Trinidad only |
| Palm Tanager | Thraupis palmarum | |
| Trinidad Euphonia | Euphonia trinitatis | Trinidad only |
| Violaceous Euphonia | Euphonia violacea | |
| Elegant Euphonia | Euphonia elegantissima | Trinidad only |
| Antillean Euphonia | Euphonia musica | Trinidad only |
| Golden-rumped Euphonia | Euphonia cyanocephala | Trinidad only |
| Turquoise Tanager | Tangara mexicana | Trinidad only |
| Speckled Tanager | Tangara guttata | Trinidad only |
| Bay-headed Tanager | Tangara gyrola | Trinidad only |
| Blue Dacnis | Dacnis cayana | Trinidad only |
| Green Honeycreeper | Chlorophanes spiza | Trinidad only |
| Purple Honeycreeper | Cyanerpes caeruleus | |
| Red-legged Honeycreeper | Cyanerpes cyaneus | |
| Swallow-Tanager | Tersina viridis | Trinidad only |
Order: Passeriformes. Family: Emberizidae
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, seventeen of which occur in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Blue-black Grassquit | Volatinia jacarina | |
| Slate-colored Seedeater | Sporophila schistacea | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
| Gray Seedeater | Sporophila intermedia | Trinidad only |
| Wing-barred Seedeater | Sporophila americana | Tobago only |
| Lesson's Seedeater | Sporophila bouvronides | |
| Lined Seedeater | Sporophila lineola | Trinidad only |
| Yellow-bellied Seedeater | Sporophila nigricollis | |
| Ruddy-breasted Seedeater | Sporophila minuta | Trinidad only |
| Large-billed Seed-Finch | Oryzoborus crassirostris | Trinidad only |
| Great-billed Seed-Finch | Oryzoborus maximiliani | Trinidad only |
| Chestnut-bellied Seed-Finch | Oryzoborus angolensis | Trinidad only |
| Black-faced Grassquit | Tiaris bicolor | Tobago only |
| Sooty Grassquit | Tiaris fuliginosa | Trinidad only |
| Saffron Finch | Sicalis flaveola | Trinidad only |
| Orange-fronted Yellow Finch | Sicalis columbiana | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
| Grassland Yellow Finch | Sicalis luteola | Trinidad only |
| Red-capped Cardinal | Paroaria gularis | Trinidad only |
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, six of which occur in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Lesser Antillean Saltator | Saltator albicollis | Trinidad only |
| Grayish Saltator | Saltator coerulescens | Trinidad only |
| Rose-breasted Grosbeak | Pheucticus ludovicianus | Rare/Accidental |
| Blue-black Grosbeak | Cyanocompsa cyanoides | Trinidad only |
| Indigo Bunting | Passerina cyanea | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
| Dickcissel | Spiza americana | Trinidad only |
Order: Passeriformes. Family: Icteridae
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, 13 of which occur in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Bobolink | Dolichonyx oryzivorus | Rare/Accidental |
| Red-winged Blackbird | Agelaius phoeniceus | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
| Yellow-hooded Blackbird | Agelaius icterocephalus | Trinidad only |
| Red-breasted Blackbird | Sturnella militaris | |
| Carib Grackle | Quiscalus lugubris | |
| Shiny Cowbird | Molothrus bonariensis | |
| Giant Cowbird | Molothrus oryzivorus | |
| Moriche Oriole | Icterus chrysocephalus | Trinidad only |
| Yellow Oriole | Icterus nigrogularis | Trinidad only |
| Troupial | Icterus icterus | Trinidad only; Rare/Accidental |
| Baltimore Oriole | Icterus galbula | Rare/Accidental |
| Yellow-rumped Cacique | Cacicus cela | Trinidad only |
| Crested Oropendola | Psarocolius decumanus |
Order: Passeriformes. Family: Fringillidae
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, one of which occurs in Trinidad and Tobago.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Red Siskin | Carduelis cucullata | Trinidad only; Endangered |