List of birds of Trinidad and Tobago

A total of 470 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 low compared to the mainland, as would be expected on 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.

Tinamous

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, emus and kiwis.

Name	Binomial	Status
Little tinamou	Crypturellus soui	Trinidad only

Grebes

Order: Podicipediformes   Family: 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.

Name	Binomial	Status
Least grebe	Tachybaptus dominicus
Pied-billed grebe	Podilymbus podiceps

Shearwaters and petrels

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Procellariidae

The procellariids are the main group of medium-sized "true petrels", characterised by united nostrils with medium septum and a long outer functional primary.

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

Storm-petrels

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Hydrobatidae

The storm-petrels are relatives of the petrels and are the smallest seabirds. They feed on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Wilson's storm-petrel	Oceanites oceanicus	Tobago only - rare/accidental
Leach's storm-petrel	Oceanodroma leucorhoa

Tropicbirds

Phaethon aethereus mesonauta, Little Tobago

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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Red-billed tropicbird	Phaethon aethereus
White-tailed tropicbird	Phaethon lepturus	Tobago only - rare/accidental

Pelicans

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Pelecanidae

juvenile Pelecanus occidentalis, Tobago

Pelicans are large water birds with a distinctive pouch under their beak. As with other members of the order Pelecaniformes, they have webbed feet with four toes.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Brown pelican	Pelecanus occidentalis

Boobies and gannets

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Sulidae

The sulids comprise the gannets and boobies. Both groups are medium to large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Northern gannet	Morus bassanus	Tobago only
Masked booby	Sula dactylatra	Trinidad only - rare/accidental
Red-footed booby	Sula sula
Brown booby	Sula leucogaster

Cormorants

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Phalacrocoracidae

Phalacrocoracidae is a family of medium to large coastal, fish-eating seabirds 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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Neotropic cormorant	Phalacrocorax brasilianus	Trinidad only

Darters

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Anhingidae

Darters are often called "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 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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Anhinga	Anhinga anhinga

Frigatebirds

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Fregatidae

Frigatebirds are large seabirds usually found over tropical oceans. They are large, black-and-white or completely black, with long wings and deeply forked tails. The males have coloured inflatable 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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Magnificent frigatebird	Fregata magnificens

Bitterns, herons and egrets

Order: Ciconiiformes   Family: Ardeidae

The family Ardeidae contains the bitterns, herons and egrets. Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and more wary. Members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted, unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises and spoonbills.

Ardea alba, Tobago

File:Green heron (Butorides virescens virescens) young adult.jpg

Butorides virescens virescens, Tobago

Nycticorax nycticorax hoactli, 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
Tricoloured 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 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

Storks

Order: Ciconiiformes   Family: Ciconiidae

Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked, wading birds with long, stout bills. Storks are mute, but bill-clattering is an important mode of communication at the nest. Their nests can be large and may be reused for many years. Many species are migratory.

Name	Binomial	Status
Wood stork	Mycteria americana	Trinidad only - rare/accidental
Jabiru	Jabiru mycteria	Tobago only - rare/accidental

Ibises and spoonbills

Order: Ciconiiformes   Family: Threskiornithidae

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.

Name	Binomial	Status
American white ibis	Eudocimus albus	Trinidad only - rare/accidental
Scarlet ibis	Eudocimus ruber
Glossy ibis	Plegadis falcinellus
Roseate spoonbill	Platalea ajaja

Flamingos

Order: Phoenicopteriformes   Family: Phoenicopteridae

Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually 3 to 5 feet (0.9 to 1.5 m) 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.

Name	Binomial	Status
Caribbean flamingo	Phoenicopterus ruber	Trinidad only

Screamers

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 in territorial disputes.

Name	Binomial	Status
Horned screamer	Anhima cornuta	Rare/accidental

Ducks and geese

File:Black-bellied whistling ducks (Dendrocygna autumnalis).jpg

Dendrocygna autumnalis, Tobago

Nomonyx dominicus, Tobago

Order: Anseriformes   Family: Anatidae

Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, flattened bills, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating.

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 crecca	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

New World vultures

File:Turkey Vulture Perched.jpg

Cathartes aura, Trinidad

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.

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

Ospreys

Order: Falconiformes   Family: Pandionidae

File:Pandion haliaetus.jpg

Pandion haliaetus, Trinidad

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

Hawks, kites and eagles

Order: Falconiformes   Family: Accipitridae

Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey, which includes 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.

Name	Binomial	Status
Grey-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
Grey-lined 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

Caracaras and falcons

Order: Falconiformes   Family: Falconidae

File:Peregrine falcon flight.jpg

Falco peregrinus, Trinidad

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 talons.

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

Chachalacas, guans and curassows

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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Rufous-vented chachalaca	Ortalis ruficauda	Tobago only
Trinidad piping-guan	Aburria pipile	Endemic to Trinidad

Limpkins

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

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, 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.

Name	Binomial	Status
Grey-breasted crake	Laterallus exilis	Trinidad only
Mangrove rail	Rallus longirostris	Trinidad only
Rufous-necked wood-rail	Aramides axillaris	Trinidad only
Grey-necked wood-rail	Aramides cajanea	Trinidad only
Sora	Porzana carolina
Yellow-breasted crake	Porzana flaviventer	Trinidad only
Ash-throated crake	Mustelirallus albicollis	Trinidad only
Paint-billed crake	Mustelirallus erythrops	Trinidad only - rare/accidental
Spotted rail	Pardirallus maculatus
American purple gallinule	Porphyrio martinica
Azure gallinule	Porphyrio flavirostris	Trinidad only
Common gallinule	Gallinula galeata
American coot	Fulica americana	Tobago only - rare/accidental
Caribbean coot	Fulica caribaea	Rare/accidental, near-threatened

Sungrebes

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Heliornithidae

Heliornithidae is a small family of tropical birds with webbed lobes on their feet similar to those of grebes and coots.

Name	Binomial	Status
Sungrebe	Heliornis fulica	Trinidad only - rare/accidental

Jacanas

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Jacanidae

The jacanas are a group of tropical waders in the family Jacanidae. They are found throughout 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.

Name	Binomial	Status
Wattled jacana	Jacana jacana

Oystercatchers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Haematopodidae

The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.

Name	Binomial	Status
American oystercatcher	Haematopus palliatus	Rare/accidental

Avocets and stilts

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: 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.

Name	Binomial	Status
Black-necked stilt	Himantopus mexicanus	Trinidad only
American avocet	Recurvirostra americana	Trinidad only - rare/accidental

Thick-knees

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.

Name	Binomial	Status
Double-striped thick-knee	Burhinus bistriatus	Trinidad only - rare/accidental

Plovers and lapwings

File:Southern lapwing (Vanellus chilensis cayennensis).jpg

Vanellus chilensis cayennensis, Tobago

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.

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 nivosus	Tobago only - rare/accidental
Collared plover	Charadrius collaris

Sandpipers and allies

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Scolopacidae

Arenaria interpres morinella, Tobago

File:White-rumped sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis).jpg

Calidris fuscicollis, Tobago

Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Variation in length of legs and bills enables multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.

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
Willet	Tringa semipalmata
Spotted sandpiper	Actitis macularia
Ruddy turnstone	Arenaria interpres morinella
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	Calidris subruficollis	Near-threatened
Ruff	Calidris pugnax	Rare/accidental

Skuas

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.

Name	Binomial	Status
South polar skua	Stercorarius maccormicki	Trinidad only
Pomarine skua	Stercorarius pomarinus	Trinidad only - rare/accidental
Arctic skua	Stercorarius parasiticus	Rare/accidental

Gulls, terns and skimmers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Laridae

Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds and includes gulls, kittiwakes, terns and skimmers. They are typically grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet. Terns are a group of generally medium to large seabirds typically with grey or white plumage, often with black markings on the head. Most terns hunt fish by diving but some pick insects off the surface of fresh water. Terns are generally long-lived birds, with several species known to live in excess of 30 years. Skimmers are a small family of tropical tern-like birds. They have an elongated lower mandible which they use to feed by flying low over the water surface and skimming the water for small fish.

Name	Binomial	Status
Ring-billed gull	Larus delawarensis
Lesser black-backed gull	Larus fuscus	Rare/accidental
Herring gull	Larus argentatus	Trinidad only
Black-headed gull	Chroicocephalus ridibundus
Laughing gull	Leucophaeus atricilla
Sabine's gull	Xema sabini	Trinidad only - rare/accidental
Gull-billed tern	Gelochelidon nilotica	Trinidad only
Caspian tern	Hydroprogne caspia	Trinidad only - rare/accidental
Elegant tern	Thalasseus elegans	Trinidad only - near-threatened
Sandwich tern	Thalasseus sandvicensis
Royal tern	Thalasseus 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
Black skimmer	Rynchops niger	Trinidad only

Pigeons and doves

Order: Columbiformes   Family: Columbidae

Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.

Name	Binomial	Status
Rock dove	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

Parrots, macaws and allies

Order: Psittaciformes   Family: Psittacidae

File:Orange-winged parrots (Amazona amazonica tobagensis).jpg

Amazona amazonica tobagensis, Tobago

File:Green-rumped parrotlet.jpg

Forpus passerinus, Trinidad

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

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

Cuckoos and anis

Order: Cuculiformes   Family: Cuculidae

File:Smooth-billed ani (Crotophaga ani) To.jpg

Crotophaga ani, Tobago

The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails and strong legs.

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

Barn owls

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Tytonidae

Barn owls are medium to large owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Barn owl	Tyto alba

Typical owls

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Strigidae

The 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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Tropical screech-owl	Megascops choliba
Burrowing owl	Athene cunicularia	Trinidad only - rare/accidental
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 - rare/accidental

Oilbirds

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: Steatornithidae

Steatornis caripensis, Trinidad

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

Potoos

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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Common potoo	Nyctibius griseus

Nightjars

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: Caprimulgidae

Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is camouflaged to resemble bark or leaves.

Common 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	Antrostomus rufus	Trinidad only
White-tailed nightjar	Caprimulgus cayennensis

Swifts

Order: Apodiformes   Family: 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.

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
Grey-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

Hummingbirds

File:Rufous-breasted hermit ( Glaucis hirsutus insularum).jpg

Glaucis hirsutus insularum, Tobago

File:White-necked jacobin (Florisuga mellivora mellivora) male Tr.jpg

Florisuga mellivora mellivora, Trinidad

File:Black-throated mango (Anthracothorax nigricollis) female.jpg

Anthracothorax nigricollis, Tobago

File:Ruby-topaz hummingbird (Chrysolampis mosquitus) male in flight.jpg

Chrysolampis mosquitus, Tobago

File:Amazilia tobaci - perched.JPG

Amazilia tobaci erythronota, Trinidad

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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Rufous-breasted hermit	Glaucis hirsutus insularum
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 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 erythronota	Trinidad only for sub-species
Copper-rumped hummingbird	Amazilia tobaci tobaci	Tobago only for sub-species
Long-billed starthroat	Heliomaster longirostris	Trinidad only
Rufous-shafted woodstar	Chaetocercus jourdanii	Trinidad only - rare/accidental

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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
White-tailed trogon	Trogon viridis	Trinidad only
Guianan trogon	Trogon violaceus	Trinidad only
Collared trogon	Trogon collaris

Kingfishers

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Alcedinidae

Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs and stubby tails.

File:Ringed Kingfisher Profile.jpg

Megaceryle torquata, Trinidad

Common name	Binomial	Status
Belted kingfisher	Megaceryle alcyon
Ringed kingfisher	Megaceryle torquata	Trinidad only
Amazon kingfisher	Chloroceryle amazona	Trinidad only - rare/accidental
Green kingfisher	Chloroceryle americana
American pygmy kingfisher	Chloroceryle aenea	Trinidad only

Motmots

File:Blue-crowned Motmot front 2.jpg

Momotus momota, Tobago

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Momotidae

The motmots have colourful 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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Blue-crowned motmot	Momotus momota

Jacamars

Order: Piciformes   Family: Galbulidae

File:Rufous-tailed jacamar (Galbula ruficauda ruficauda) male.jpg

Galbula ruficauda ruficauda, Tobago

The jacamars are near passerine birds from tropical South America, with a range that extends up to Mexico. They feed on insects caught on the wing, and are glossy, elegant birds with long bills and tails. In appearance and behaviour they resemble the Old World bee-eaters, although they are more closely related to woodpeckers.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Rufous-tailed jacamar	Galbula ruficauda

Toucans

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 amount to half their body length.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Channel-billed toucan	Ramphastos vitellinus	Trinidad only

Woodpeckers and allies

Order: Piciformes   Family: Picidae

File:Red-crowned woodpecker (Melanerpes rubricapillus rubricapillus) female.jpg

Melanerpes rubricapillus rubricapillus, Tobago

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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Red-crowned woodpecker	Melanerpes rubricapillus 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

Ovenbirds

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.

File:Yellow-chinned spinetail.jpg

Certhiaxis cinnamomea, Trinidad

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
Grey-throated leaftosser	Sclerurus albigularis

Woodcreepers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Dendrocolaptidae

File:Streak-headed woodcreeper.jpg

Lepidocolaptes souleyetii, Trinidad

The Dendrocolaptidae are brownish birds which maintain an upright vertical posture, supported by their stiff tail vanes. They feed mainly on insects taken from tree trunks.

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

Typical antbirds

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Thamnophilidae

File:Barred antshrike (Thamnophilus doliatus tobagensis) male To.jpg

Thamnophilus doliatus tobagensis, Tobago

The antbirds are a large family of small passerine birds of subtropical and tropical Central and South America. They are forest birds which tend to feed on insects at or near the ground. A sizable minority of them specialize in following columns of army ants to eat small invertebrates that leave their hiding places to flee from the ants. Many species lack bright colour; brown, black and white being the dominant tones.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Great antshrike	Taraba major	Trinidad only
Black-crested antshrike	Sakesphorus canadensis	Trinidad only
Barred antshrike	Thamnophilus doliatus tobagensis
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

Antthrushes

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Formicariidae

Antthrushes resemble small rails with strong, longish legs, very short tails and stout bills.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Black-faced antthrush	Formicarius analis	Trinidad only

Antpittas

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Grallariidae

Common name	Binomial	Status
Scaled antpitta	Grallaria guatimalensis	Trinidad only - rare/accidental

Cotingas

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cotingidae

The cotingas are birds of forests or forest edges in 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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
White bellbird	Procnias alba	Trinidad only - rare/accidental
Bearded bellbird	Procnias averano	Trinidad only

Manakins

File:Manacus manacus.jpg

Manacus manacus, Trinidad

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pipridae

The manakins are a family 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.

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

Tyrant flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Tyrannidae

File:Grey kingbird (Tyrannus dominicensis vorax).jpg

Tyrannus dominicensis vorax, Tobago

File:Boat-billed flycatcher.jpg

Megarynchus pitangua, Trinidad

Tyrant flycatchers are passerine birds which occur throughout North and South America. They superficially resemble the Old World flycatchers, but are more robust and have 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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Southern beardless tyrannulet	Camptostoma obsoletum	Trinidad only
Mouse-coloured 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-coloured 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
Grey kingbird	Tyrannus dominicensis vorax
Fork-tailed flycatcher	Tyrannus savana

Tityras, becards and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Tityridae

Common name	Binomial	Status
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

Swallows and martins

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Hirundinidae

The family Hirundinidae is adapted to aerial feeding. They have a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings and a short bill with a wide gape. The feet are adapted to perching rather than walking, and the front toes are partially joined at the base.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Caribbean martin	Progne dominicensis	Tobago only
Grey-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

Wagtails and pipits

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Motacillidae

Motacillidae is 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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
White wagtail	Motacilla alba	Trinidad only - rare/accidental

Wrens

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Troglodytidae

The wrens are mainly small and inconspicuous except for their loud songs. These birds have short wings and thin down-turned bills. Several species often hold their tails upright. All are insectivorous.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Rufous-breasted wren	Thryothorus rutilus
House wren	Troglodytes aedon

Mockingbirds and thrashers

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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Northern mockingbird	Mimus polyglottos	Trinidad only
Tropical mockingbird	Mimus gilvus

Thrushes and allies

File:Turdus nudigenis - perched.jpg

Turdus nudigenis, Tobago

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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Orange-billed nightingale-thrush	Catharus aurantiirostris	Trinidad only
Veery	Catharus fuscescens	Trinidad only - rare/accidental
Grey-cheeked thrush	Catharus minimus	Trinidad only - rare/accidental
Yellow-legged thrush	Platycichla flavipes
Cocoa thrush	Turdus fumigatus	Trinidad only
Spectacled thrush	Turdus nudigenis
White-necked thrush	Turdus albicollis

Gnatcatchers

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, which nest in bushes or trees.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Long-billed gnatwren	Ramphocaenus melanurus	Trinidad only

Vireos

File:Rufous-browed peppershrike.jpg

Cyclarhis gujanensis, Trinidad

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.

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	Pachysylvia aurantiifrons	Trinidad only
Rufous-browed peppershrike	Cyclarhis gujanensis	Trinidad only

New World warblers

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.

Geothlypis aequinoctialis, Trinidad

Common name	Binomial	Status
Golden-winged warbler	Vermivora chrysoptera	Trinidad only - rare/accidental
Northern parula	Setophaga americana	Tobago only - rare/accidental
Tropical parula	Setophaga pitiayumi
Yellow warbler	Setophaga petechia
Chestnut-sided warbler	Setophaga pensylvanica	Trinidad only - rare/accidental
Magnolia warbler	Setophaga magnolia	Rare/accidental
Cape May warbler	Setophaga tigrina	Rare/accidental
Black-throated blue warbler	Setophaga caerulescens	Trinidad only - rare/accidental
Yellow-rumped warbler	Setophaga coronata	Tobago only - rare/accidental
Black-throated green warbler	Setophaga virens	Trinidad only - rare/accidental
Blackburnian warbler	Setophaga fusca	Trinidad only - rare/accidental
Prairie warbler	Setophaga discolor	Trinidad only - rare/accidental
Bay-breasted warbler	Setophaga castanea	Rare/accidental
Blackpoll warbler	Setophaga striata
Hooded warbler	Setophaga citrina	Trinidad only - rare/accidental
American redstart	Setophaga ruticilla
Black-and-white warbler	Mniotilta varia
Prothonotary warbler	Protonotaria citrea
Worm-eating warbler	Helmitheros vermivorus	Trinidad only
Ovenbird	Seiurus aurocapilla	Rare/accidental
Northern waterthrush	Parkesia noveboracensis
Common yellowthroat	Geothlypis trichas	Rare/accidental
Masked yellowthroat	Geothlypis aequinoctialis	Trinidad only
Golden-crowned warbler	Basileuterus culicivorus	Trinidad only - rare/accidental

Bananaquits

File:Bananaquit (Coereba flaveola luteola).jpg

Coereba flaveola luteola, Trinidad

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Coerebidae

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

Common name	Binomial	Status
Bananaquit	Coereba flaveola luteola

Tanagers

File:Blue-grey tanager (Thraupis episcopus berlepschi).jpg

Thraupis episcopus berlepschi, Tobago

File:Green honey creeper (Chlorophanes spiza spiza) male.jpg

Chlorophanes spiza spiza, Trinidad

File:Purple honey creeper (Cyanerpes caeruleus longirostris) male.jpg

Cyanerpes caeruleus longirostris, Trinidad

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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Bicoloured conebill	Conirostrum bicolor	Trinidad only
White-shouldered tanager	Tachyphonus luctuosus	Trinidad only
White-lined tanager	Tachyphonus rufus
Silver-beaked tanager	Ramphocelus carbo	Trinidad only
Blue-grey tanager	Thraupis episcopus berlepschi
Blue-capped tanager	Thraupis cyanocephala	Trinidad only
Palm tanager	Thraupis palmarum
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 spiza	Trinidad only
Purple honeycreeper	Cyanerpes caeruleus longirostris
Red-legged honeycreeper	Cyanerpes cyaneus
Swallow-tanager	Tersina viridis	Trinidad only
Masked cardinal	Paroaria nigrogenis	Trinidad only

Buntings, sparrows, seedeaters and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Emberizidae

The emberizids are a large family of passerine birds. They are seed-eating birds with distinctively shaped bills. In Europe, most species are called 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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Blue-black grassquit	Volatinia jacarina
Slate-coloured seedeater	Sporophila schistacea	Trinidad only - rare/accidental
Grey 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

Saltators, cardinals and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cardinalidae

The cardinals are a family of robust, seed-eating birds with strong bills. They are typically associated with open woodland. The sexes usually have distinct plumages.

Common name	Binomial	Status
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
Lesser Antillean saltator	Saltator albicollis	Trinidad only
Greyish 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

Troupials and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Icteridae

File:Crested oropendola (Psarocolius decumanus insularis).jpg

Psarocolius decumanus insularis, Trinidad

The icterids are a group of small to medium-sized, 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.

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
Venezuelan troupial	Icterus icterus	Trinidad only - rare/accidental
Baltimore oriole	Icterus galbula	Rare/accidental
Yellow-rumped cacique	Cacicus cela	Trinidad only
Crested oropendola	Psarocolius decumanus insularis

Siskins, crossbills and allies

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 twelve tail feathers and nine primaries. These birds have a bouncing flight with alternating bouts of flapping and gliding on closed wings, and most sing well.

Common name	Binomial	Status
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
Red siskin	Carduelis cucullata	Trinidad only - endangered

Old World sparrows

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Passeridae

Common name	Binomial	Status
House sparrow	Passer domesticus	Trinidad only

References

• Linblad, Jan. (1966). Journey to red birds. Trans. by Gwynne Vevers. Reprint: Collins, London. 1969.
• Zahl, Paul A. (1954). Coro-Coro: The World of the Scarlet Ibis. Bobbs-Merrill, Indianapolis / New York.
• Worth, C. Brooke. (1967). A Naturalist in Trinidad. J. B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia and New York.
• Collinson, Martin Splitting headaches? Recent taxonomic changes affecting the British and Western Palaearctic lists, British Birds vol 99 (June 2006), 306-323

External links

• Southeastern Caribbean Bird Alert
• Trinidad and Tobago Rare Bird Committee
• Asa Wright Nature Centre