List of birds of Vieques facts for kids

Vieques Island from the air

This is a list of birds recorded in the island of Vieques. Vieques is an island municipality of Puerto Rico located off the east coast of the main island of Puerto Rico, south of Culebra island and west of the Virgin Islands. It has a total area of 348.15 km², of which only 135 km² is land area. On May 1, 2001, the western end of Vieques National Wildlife Refuge was established and on May 1, 2003, the same day as the exit of the U.S. Navy from the island, the eastern end of the refuge was established.

There are a total of 142 species recorded from the island of Vieques. Some species, such as the Puerto Rican parrot, have been extirpated from the island but are, nonetheless, included in this list. Extinct species are not included in this list.

This list presents the following information for each species: common and scientific name of each species, preferred habitat, breeding status in Vieques and frequency of occurrence for each season (winter spans from December to February, spring from March to May, summer from June to August, fall from September to November). Tags (described below) are used to describe this information for each species.

Taxonomy

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

The following tags have been used to describe the frequency of occurrence of each species in Vieques.

(a) Abundant – a species that is commonly encountered in Vieques
(c) Common – a species that commonly occurs in Vieques
(u) Uncommon – a species that occurs uncommonly – it is present but rarely seen in Vieques
(o) Occasional – a species that may not occur every year
(r) Rare – a species that has been reported once or twice

The following tags have been used to describe the habitats in which a species occurs. Species may inhabit more than one type of habitat.

(TS) Thorn scrub
(IA) Inhabited areas
(ML) Mangrove lagoons
(DF) Dry forest
(Sh) Shoreline
(MF) Moist forest

The following tags have been used to describe the breeding status of each species in Vieques.

(B) Breeder
(PB) Probable breeder
(NB) Non-breeder
(WV) Winter visitor

(M) Migrant
(St) Stray

Grebes

Order: Podicipediformes Family: Podicipedidae

Pied-billed grebe, commonly known as zaramago in Spanish.

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.

Common name	Species	Habitat	Breeding status	Winter	Spring	Summer	Fall
Pied-billed grebe	Podilymbus podiceps	ML	B	u	u	u	u

Tropicbirds

Order: Phaethontiformes Family: Phaethontidae

Tropicbirds are slender white birds of tropical oceans, with exceptionally long central tail feathers. Their long wings have black markings, as does the head.

Common name	Species	Habitat	Breeding status	Winter	Spring	Summer	Fall
Red-billed tropicbird	Phaethon aethereus	Sh	NB	-	r	-	-
White-tailed tropicbird	Phaethon lepturus	Sh	B	r	u	u	-

Boobies

Order: Suliformes Family: Sulidae

The sulids comprise the gannets and boobies with only boobies occurring in Vieques. Both groups are medium-large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish.

Common name	Species	Habitat	Breeding status	Winter	Spring	Summer	Fall
Brown booby	Sula leucogaster	Sh	NB	u	u	u	c

Frigatebirds

Order: Suliformes Family: Fregatidae

Frigatebirds are large seabirds usually found over tropical oceans. They are large, black or black-and-white, with long wings and deeply forked tails. The males have colored 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	Species	Habitat	Breeding status	Winter	Spring	Summer	Fall
Magnificent frigatebird	Fregata magnificens	Sh	NB	c	c	c	c

Pelicans

Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Pelecanidae

Brown pelican, a protected species which commonly occurs in Vieques's coasts.

Pelicans are very large water birds with a distinctive pouch under their beak Like other birds in the order Pelecaniformes, they have four webbed toes.

Common name	Species	Habitat	Breeding status	Winter	Spring	Summer	Fall
American white pelican	Pelecanus erythrorhynchos	Sh	St	r	-	-	-
Brown pelican	Pelecanus occidentalis	Sh	B	c	c	c	-

Bitterns, herons and egrets

Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Ardeidae

Cattle egret (garza in Spanish), a common bird in Vieques, usually found on top of cows.

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 secretive. Members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted, unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises and spoonbills.

Common name	Species	Habitat	Breeding status	Winter	Spring	Summer	Fall
Great blue heron	Ardea herodias	ML	PB	u	u	u	u
Great egret	Egretta alba	ML	PB	c	c	c	c
Reddish egret	Egretta rufescens	ML	St	r	-	-	-
Tricolored heron	Hydranassa tricolor	ML	B	c	c	c	c
Little blue heron	Florida caerulea	ML	B	c	c	c	c
Snowy egret	Egretta thula	ML	B	c	c	c	c
Cattle egret	Bubulcus ibis	IA	B	a	a	a	a
Green heron	Butorides virescens	ML	B	u	u	u	-
Black-crowned night heron	Nycticorax nycticorax	ML	PB	r	r	r	-
Yellow-crowned night heron	Nyctanassa violacea	ML	B	r	r	-	-
Least bittern	Ixobrychus exilis	ML	B	-	-	r	-

Flamingos

Order: Phoenicopteriformes Family: Phoenicopteridae

Flamingos (genus Phoenicopterus monotypic in family Phoenicopteridae) 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.

Common name	Species	Habitat	Breeding status	Winter	Spring	Summer	Fall
Caribbean flamingo	Phoenicopterus ruber	ML	St	r	-	-	r

Ducks, geese and swans

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, bills which are flattened to a greater or lesser extent, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to special oils.

Common name	Species	Habitat	Breeding status	Winter	Spring	Summer	Fall
West Indian whistling duck	Dendrocygna arborea	ML	St	-	-	r	-
Northern shoveler	Anas clypeata	ML	WV	r	-	-	-
White-cheeked pintail	Anas bahamensis	ML	B	u	u	u	u
Blue-winged teal	Anas discors	WV	B	o	r	-	u
Lesser scaup	Aythya affinis		B	-	-	-	-
Red-breasted merganser	Mergus serrator	Sh	St	r	-	-	-
Ruddy duck	Oxyura jamaicensis	ML	B	r	-	r	-

Osprey

Order: Accipitriformes Family: Pandionidae

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

Common name	Species	Habitat	Breeding status	Winter	Spring	Summer	Fall
Osprey	Pandion haliaetus	ML	WV	u	u	-	o

Hawks, kites and eagles

Order: Accipitriformes Family: Accipitridae

Red-tailed hawk, commonly known as guaraguao in Puerto Rico and Vieques.

Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey, which includes hawks, eagles, kites, harriers and Old World vultures. These birds have very large powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons and keen eyesight.

Common name	Species	Habitat	Breeding status	Winter	Spring	Summer	Fall
Red-tailed hawk	Buteo jamaicensis	IA	B	u	u	u	u

Falcons

Order: Falconiformes Family: Falconidae

Falconidae is a family of diurnal birds of prey. They differ from hawks, eagles and kites in that they kill with their beaks instead of their talons.

Common name	Species	Habitat	Breeding status	Winter	Spring	Summer	Fall
American kestrel	Falco sparverius	IA	B	u	u	u	u
Merlin	Falco columbarius	ML	M	r	-	r	-
Peregrine falcon	Falco peregrinus	ML	WV	o	o	-	o

New World quails

Order: Galliformes Family: Odontophoridae

The New World quails are small, plump terrestrial birds only distantly related to the quails of the Old World, but named for their similar appearance and habits.

Common name	Species	Habitat	Breeding status	Winter	Spring	Summer	Fall
Northern bobwhite	Colinus virginianus			-	-	-	-

Rails, 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. The most typical family members occupy dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak fliers.

Common name	Species	Habitat	Breeding status	Winter	Spring	Summer	Fall
Clapper rail	Rallus crepitans	ML	B	u	u	u	u
Sora	Porzana carolina	ML	WV	r	-	-	-
Common gallinule	Gallinula galeata	ML	B	u	u	u	u
American coot	Fulica americana	ML	PB	r	-	r	-

Oystercatchers

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Haematopodidae

American oystercatcher, this species is a probable breeder and can be found in Vieques's shorelines.

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

Common name	Species	Habitat	Breeding status	Winter	Spring	Summer	Fall
American oystercatcher	Haematopus ostralegus	Sh	PB	r	r	-	r

Stilts and avocets

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.

Common name	Species	Habitat	Breeding status	Winter	Spring	Summer	Fall
Black-necked stilt	Himantopus himantopus	ML	B	c	c	-	c

Lapwings and plovers

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Charadriidae

The family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short, thick necks and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water.

Common name	Species	Habitat	Breeding status	Winter	Spring	Summer	Fall
American golden-plover	Pluvialis dominica	IA	M	-	-	-	r
Black-bellied plover	Squatarola squatarola	ML	WV	u	u	u	-
Semipalmated plover	Charadrius semipulmatus	ML	WV	r	r	-	-
Wilson's plover	Charadrius wilsonia	ML	B	u	u	u	-
Killdeer	Charadrius vociferus	IA	B	u	u	u	-

Sandpipers, curlews, stints, godwits, snipes and phalaropes

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Scolopacidae

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

Common name	Species	Habitat	Breeding status	Winter	Spring	Summer	Fall
Common snipe	Gallinago gallinago	ML	WV	r	-	-	-
Short-billed dowitcher	Limnodromus griseus	ML	WV	u	u	-	u
Hudsonian godwit	Limosa haemastica	ML	St	-	-	-	r
Whimbrel	Numenius phaeopus	ML	WV	r	r	-	-
Greater yellowlegs	Tringa melanoleuca	ML	WV	c	c	-	u
Lesser yellowlegs	Tringa flavipes	ML	WV	c	u	-	u
Solitary sandpiper	Tringa solitaria	ML	M	-	r	-	-
Willet	Tringa semipalmata	ML	WV	u	u	-	-
Spotted sandpiper	Actitis macularia	ML	B	c	c	-	c
Ruddy turnstone	Arenaria interpres	ML	WV	u	u	o	u
Semipalmated sandpiper	Ereunetes pusillus	ML	WV	o	o	o	-
Western sandpiper	Calidris mauri	ML	WV	-	o	-	r
Least sandpiper	Calidris minutilla	ML	WV	o	o	-	-
White-rumped sandpiper	Calidris fuscicollis	ML	St	-	-	-	r
Pectoral sandpiper	Calidris melanotos	ML	M	-	r	-	r
Stilt sandpiper	Calidris himantopus	ML	WV	o	o	-	-

Gulls, terns and skimmers

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Laridae

Laughing gull, the most common gull (gaviota) in the archipelago of Puerto Rico but an uncommon species in summer in Vieques.

Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds and includes gulls, kittiwakes, terns and skimmers. They are typically gray or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have longish bills and webbed feet. Terns are a group of generally medium to large seabirds typically with gray or white plumage, often with black markings on the head. Most terns hunt fish by diving but some pick insects off the surface of fresh water. Terns are generally long-lived birds, with several species known to live in excess of 25–30 years.

Common name	Species	Habitat	Breeding status	Winter	Spring	Summer	Fall
Laughing gull	Leucophaeus atricilla	Sh	NB	-	-	u	-
Caspian tern	Hydroprogne caspia	Sh	St	-	-	r	-
Sandwich tern	Thalasseus sandvicensis	Sh	NB	-	r	u	-
Royal tern	Thalasseus maximus	Sh	NB	c	c	-	c
Roseate tern	Sterna sandvicensis	Sh	B	-	-	u	-
Least tern	Sternula albifrons	Sh	B	-	-	u	-
Bridled tern	Onychoprion albifrons	Sh	NB	-	-	-	-
Sooty tern	Onychoprion albifrons	Sh	NB	-	-	-	-

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.

Common name	Species	Habitat	Breeding status	Winter	Spring	Summer	Fall
White-crowned pigeon	Columba leucocephala	ML	B	u	u	u	-
Scaly-naped pigeon	Columba squamosa	MF	B	u	u	-	-
Zenaida dove	Zenaida aurita	TS/ML	B	u	u	u	u
White-winged dove	Zenaida asiatica	TS	B	u	u	-	-
Mourning dove	Zenaida macroura	TS	B	r	-	-	-
Common ground dove	Columbina passerina	TS	B	a	a	a	a
Key West quail-dove	Geotrygon chrysia	DF	PB	-	-	r	-
Bridled quail-dove	Geotrygon mystacea	DF	PB	-	-	r	-
Ruddy quail-dove	Geotrygon montana	DF	B	-	-	r	-

Budgerigars, parakeets and parrots

Order: Psittaciformes Family: Psittacidae

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.

Common name	Species	Habitat	Breeding status	Winter	Spring	Summer	Fall
Puerto Rican parrot	Amazona vittata		NB	-	-	-	-

Cuckoos

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. The Old World cuckoos are brood parasites.

Common name	Species	Habitat	Breeding status	Winter	Spring	Summer	Fall
Yellow-billed cuckoo	Coccyzus americanus	DF	B	-	u	-	-
Mangrove cuckoo	Coccyzus minor	ML	B	u	u	u	u
Puerto Rican lizard cuckoo	Saurothera vieilloti		St	-	-	-	-
Smooth-billed ani	Crotophaga ani	TS	B	u	u	u	u

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	Species	Habitat	Breeding status	Winter	Spring	Summer	Fall
Puerto Rican owl	Gymnasio nudipes		PB	-	-	-	-
Short-eared owl	Asio flammeus	IA	B	-	u	-	-

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 cryptically colored to resemble bark or leaves.

Common name	Species	Habitat	Breeding status	Winter	Spring	Summer	Fall
Antillean nighthawk	Chordeiles gundlachi	TS	PB	-	-	-	-
Chuck-will's-widow	Antrostomus carolinensis	TS	WV	u	-	-	-

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	Species	Habitat	Breeding status	Winter	Spring	Summer	Fall
White-collared swift	Streptoprocne zonaris	DF	St	-	-	r	-

Hummingbirds

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	Species	Habitat	Breeding status	Winter	Spring	Summer	Fall
Antillean mango	Anthracothorax dominicus		FB	-	-	-	-
Green-throated carib	Eulampis holosericeus	TS/DF	B	c	c	c	c
Antillean crested hummingbird	Orthorhyncus cristatus	TS/DF	B	c	c	c	c

Kingfishers

Order: Coraciiformes Family: Alcedinidae

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

Common name	Species	Habitat	Breeding status	Winter	Spring	Summer	Fall
Belted kingfisher	Megaceryle alcyon	ML	WV	u	u	u	u

Woodpeckers and sapsuckers

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.

Common name	Species	Habitat	Breeding status	Winter	Spring	Summer	Fall
Puerto Rican woodpecker	Melanerpes portoricensis	DF	B	u	u	u	u
Yellow-bellied sapsucker	Sphyrapicus varius		St	-	-	r	-

Tyrant flycatchers

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 and have stronger bills. They do not have the sophisticated vocal capabilities of the songbirds. Most, but not all, are rather plain. As the name implies, most are insectivorous.

Common name	Species	Habitat	Breeding status	Winter	Spring	Summer	Fall
Caribbean elaenia	Elaenia martinica	TS	B	c	c	c	c
Puerto Rican flycatcher	Miarchus antillarum	MF	PB	u	u	u	u
Gray kingbird	Tyrannus dominicensis	TS/IA	B	a	a	a	a
Loggerhead kingbird	Tyrannus caudifasciatus	DF	B	u	u	u	u

Swallows and martins

Order: Passeriformes Family: Hirundinidae

Barn swallow, species from this family are known as golondrinas in Puerto Rico and Vieques.

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	Species	Habitat	Breeding status	Winter	Spring	Summer	Fall
Caribbean martin	Progne dominicensis	Sh	B	o	o	o	o
Bank swallow	Riparia riparia	Sh	M	-	r	-	-
Cliff swallow	Petrochelidon pyrrhonota	Sh	M	-	r	-	-
Cave swallow	Petrochelidon fulva	IA	NB	-	-	-	-
Barn swallow	Hirundo rustica	IA	WV	r	-	-	-

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 vocalization, especially their remarkable ability to mimic a wide variety of birds and other sounds heard outdoors. The species tend towards dull grays and browns in their appearance.

Common name	Species	Habitat	Breeding status	Winter	Spring	Summer	Fall
Northern mockingbird	Mimus polyglottos	TS/IA	B	c	c	c	c
Pearly-eyed thrasher	Margarops fuscatus	TS/IA	B	c	c	c	c

Starlings

Order: Passeriformes Family: Sturnidae

Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds. They are medium-sized passerines with strong feet. Their flight is strong and direct and they are very gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country, and they eat insects and fruit. Plumage is typically dark with a metallic sheen.

Common name	Species	Habitat	Breeding status	Winter	Spring	Summer	Fall
European starling	Sturnus vulgaris		St	-	r	-	-

Estrildid finches

Order: Passeriformes Family: Estrildidae

The estrildid finches are small passerine birds of the Old World tropics and Australasia. They are gregarious and often colonial seed eaters with short thick but pointed bills. They are all similar in structure and habits, but have wide variation in plumage colors and patterns.

Common name	Species	Habitat	Breeding status	Winter	Spring	Summer	Fall
Bronze mannikin	Lonchura cucullata	IA	B	u	u	-	-
Nutmeg mannikin	Lonchura punctulata	DF	B	-	r	-	r

Whydahs

Order: Passeriformes Family: Viduidae

The Viduidae is a family of small passerine birds native to Africa that includes indigobirds and whydahs. All species are brood parasites, which lay their eggs in the nests of estrildid finches. Species usually have black or indigo predominating in their plumage.

Common name	Species	Habitat	Breeding status	Winter	Spring	Summer	Fall
Pin-tailed whydah	Vidua macroura	DF	St	-	-	-	-

Vireos

Order: Passeriformes Family: Vireonidae

The vireos are a group of small to medium-sized passerine birds. They are typically greenish in color and resemble wood warblers apart from their heavier bills.

Common name	Species	Habitat	Breeding status	Winter	Spring	Summer	Fall
White-eyed vireo	Vireo griseus	DF	WV	r	-	-	-
Yellow-throated vireo	Vireo flavifrons	DF	St	-	-	r	-
Black-whiskered vireo	Vireo altiloquus	MF/ML	B	-	-	r	-

New World warblers

Order: Passeriformes Family: Parulidae

The New World warblers are a group of small often colorful passerine birds restricted to the New World. Most are arboreal, but some are more terrestrial. Most members of this family are insectivores.

Common name	Species	Habitat	Breeding status	Winter	Spring	Summer	Fall
Northern parula	Setophaga americana	TS/ML	WV	u	u	-	u
Yellow warbler	Setophaga petechia	ML	B	c	c	c	c
Magnolia warbler	Setophaga magnolia	ML	WV	r	r	-	-
Cape May warbler	Setophaga tigrina	DF	WV	o	o	-	-
Black-throated blue warbler	Setophaga caerulescens	ML	WV	r	r	-	-
Yellow-rumped warbler	Setophaga coronata	TS	WV	o	-	-	-
Yellow-throated warbler	Setophaga dominica	ML	WV	-	-	-	r
Adelaide's warbler	Setophaga adelaidae	DF	B	u	u	u	u
Pine warbler	Setophaga pinus	DF	M	r	-	-	r
Prairie warbler	Setophaga discolor	TS	WV	u	u	-	o
Palm warbler	Setophaga palmarum	ML	WV	u	-	-	-
Blackpoll warbler	Setophaga striata	ML	M	-	-	-	r
Hooded warbler	Setophaga citrina	ML	WV	r	-	-	r
American redstart	Setophaga ruticilla	TS/ML	WV	o	o	-	o
Black-and-white warbler	Mniotilta varia	DF	WV	o	-	-	o
Prothonotary warbler	Protonotaria citrea	DF	WV	r	-	-	-
Worm-eating warbler	Helmitheros vermivorus	DF	WV	r	-	-	-
Ovenbird	Seiurus aurocapillus	ML	WV	u	u	-	o
Northern waterthrush	Parkesia novaboracensis	ML	WV	c	c	-	o
Louisiana waterthrush \|Parkesia motacilla			-	-	-	-
Mourning warbler	Geothlypis philadelphia	ML	St	r	-	-	-
Common yellowthroat	Geothlypis trichas	ML	M	-	-	-	r

Tanagers

Order: Passeriformes Family: Thraupidae

Bananaquit, commonly known as reinita, one of the most abundant species in Vieques.

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 (Vieillot, 1809) and is normally placed within the family Thraupidae.

Common name	Species	Habitat	Breeding status	Winter	Spring	Summer	Fall
Bananaquit	Coereba flaveola	TS/IA	B	a	a	a	a

Fringilline finches, cardueline finches 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	Species	Habitat	Breeding status	Winter	Spring	Summer	Fall
Antillean euphonia	Euphonia musica			-	-	-	-

American sparrows, towhees and juncos

Order: Passeriformes Family: Emberizidae

Emberizidae is 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	Species	Habitat	Breeding status	Winter	Spring	Summer	Fall
Yellow-faced grassquit	Tiaris olivacea	DF	B	u	u	u	u
Black-faced grassquit	Tiaris bicolor	DF	B	c	c	c	c
Grasshopper sparrow	Ammodramus savannarum	TS	B	r	-	r	-

Blackbirds, meadowlarks, cowbirds, grackles and orioles

Order: Passeriformes Family: Icteridae

The icterids are a group of small to medium-sized, often colorful passerine birds restricted to the New World and include the grackles, New World blackbirds and New World orioles. Most species have black as a predominant plumage color, often enlivened by yellow, orange or red.

Common name	Species	Habitat	Breeding status	Winter	Spring	Summer	Fall
Bobolink	Dolichonyx oryzivorus			-	-	-	-
Greater Antillean grackle	Quiscalus niger	IA	B	a	a	a	a
Shiny cowbird	Molothrus bonariensis	ML	B	u	u	u	-
Greater Antillean oriole	Icterus dominicensis	ML	S	r	r	-	-

Sparrows

Order: Passeriformes Family: Passeridae

House sparrow, a common occurring species in Vieques's inhabited areas.

Sparrows are small passerine birds. In general, sparrows tend to be small plump brownish or grayish birds with short tails and short powerful beaks. Sparrows are seed eaters, but they also consume small insects.

Common name	Species	Habitat	Breeding status	Winter	Spring	Summer	Fall
House sparrow	Passer domesticus	IA	B	u	u	u	u

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List of birds of Vieques Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.