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List of birds of Cuba

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The Cuban trogon is the national bird of Cuba.

This is a list of birds species recorded in the archipelago of Cuba, which consists of the main island of Cuba and over 1000 smaller cays and islands. The confirmed avifauna of Cuba included a total of 407 species as of May 2023 according to the Annotated Checklist of the Birds of Cuba.[1] Of them, 25 are endemic, 15 have been introduced by humans, and 151 are noted as rare. Thirty-two endemic subspecies of more widespread species are noted. Two species are known to be extinct and two others possibly are. An additional 13 species are classed as hypothetical. Fifteen species are globally threatened.

This list is presented in the taxonomic sequence of the Check-list of North and Middle American Birds, 7th edition through the 63rd Supplement, published by the American Ornithological Society (AOS).[2] Common and scientific names are also those of the Check-list, except that the common names of families are from the Clements taxonomy because the AOS list does not include them. Additional accidental species have been added from different sources.

The following tags have been used to highlight several categories of occurrence.

  • (R) Rare - A species that has occurred fewer than twice per year according to Navarro; includes Navarro's "Rare", "Very Rare", and "Exceptionally Rare" categories.[1]
  • (E) Endemic - a species endemic to the archipelago of Cuba.
  • (I) Introduced - a species introduced to the archipelago of Cuba as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions

Ducks, geese, and waterfowl

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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.

Common name Binomial Status
White-faced whistling-duck Dendrocygna viduata (R)
Black-bellied whistling-duck Dendrocygna autumnalis (R)
West Indian whistling-duck Dendrocygna arborea vulnerable
Fulvous whistling-duck Dendrocygna bicolor
Snow goose Anser caerulescens (R)
Greater white-fronted goose Anser albifrons (R)
Brant Branta bernicla (R)
Canada goose Branta canadensis (R)
Tundra swan Cygnus columbianus (R)
Muscovy duck Cairina moschata (I)
Wood duck Aix sponsa
Blue-winged teal Spatula discors
Cinnamon teal Spatula cyanoptera (R)
Northern shoveler Spatula clypeata
Gadwall Mareca strepera (R)
Eurasian wigeon Mareca penelope (R)
American wigeon Mareca americana
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos (R)
American black duck Anas rubripes (H)
White-cheeked pintail Anas bahamensis
Northern pintail Anas acuta
Green-winged teal Anas crecca
Canvasback Aythya valisineria (R)
Redhead Aythya americana (R)
Ring-necked duck Aythya collaris
Greater scaup Aythya marila (H)
Lesser scaup Aythya affinis
Surf scoter Melanitta perspicillata (R)
White-winged scoter Melanitta deglandi (R)
Bufflehead Bucephala albeola (R)
Common goldeneye Bucephala clangula (H)
Hooded merganser Lophodytes cucullatus (R)
Common merganser Mergus merganser (R)
Red-breasted merganser Mergus serrator
Masked duck Nomonyx dominicus
Ruddy duck Oxyura jamaicensis

Guineafowl

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Order: Galliformes   Family: Numididae

Guineafowls are a group of African, seed-eating, ground-nesting birds that resemble partridges, but with featherless heads and spangled gray plumage.

Common name Binomial Status
Helmeted guineafowl Numida meleagris (I)

New World quail

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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 Binomial Status
Northern bobwhite Colinus virginianus cubanensis (Es) near-threatened

Pheasants, grouse, and allies

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Order: Galliformes   Family: Phasianidae

The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds which consists of quails, partridges, snowcocks, francolins, spurfowls, tragopans, monals, pheasants, peafowls, and jungle fowls. In general, they are plump (although they vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings.

Common name Binomial Status
Ring-necked pheasant Phasianus colchicus (I)

Flamingos

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American 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.

Common name Binomial Status
American flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber

Grebes

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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.

Common name Binomial Status
Least grebe Tachybaptus dominicus
Pied-billed grebe Podilymbus podiceps

Pigeons and doves

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Key West quail-dove
Blue-headed quail-dove

Order: Columbiformes   Family: Columbidae

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

Common name Binomial Status
Rock pigeon Columba livia (I)
Scaly-naped pigeon Patagioenas squamosa
White-crowned pigeon Patagioenas leucocephala near-threatened
Plain pigeon Patagioenas inornata near-threatened
Eurasian collared-dove Streptopelia decaocto (I)
Passenger pigeon Ectopistes migratorius extinct
Common ground dove Columbina passerina
Blue-headed quail-dove Starnoenas cyanocephala (E) endangered
Ruddy quail-dove Geotrygon montana
Gray-fronted quail-dove Geotrygon caniceps (E) vulnerable
Key West quail-dove Geotrygon chrysia
White-winged dove Zenaida asiatica
Zenaida dove Zenaida aurita
Mourning dove Zenaida macroura

Cuckoos

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Great lizard-cuckoo

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 Binomial Status
Smooth-billed ani Crotophaga ani
Yellow-billed cuckoo Coccyzus americanus
Mangrove cuckoo Coccyzus minor
Black-billed cuckoo Coccyzus erythropthalmus (R)
Great lizard-cuckoo Coccyzus merlini

Nightjars and allies

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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
Common nighthawk Chordeiles minor
Antillean nighthawk Chordeiles gundlachii
Chuck-will's-widow Antrostomus carolinensis
Greater Antillean nightjar Antrostomus cubanensis The two subspecies in Cuba are considered a separate species, Cuban nightjar, by Navarro
Eastern whip-poor-will Antrostomus vociferus (R)

Potoos

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Order: Nyctibiiformes   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
Northern potoo Nyctibius jamaicensis (R)

Swifts

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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
White-collared swift Streptoprocne zonaris
Chimney swift Chaetura pelagica (R) near-threatened
Antillean palm-swift Tachornis phoenicobia iradii (Es)

Hummingbirds

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Cuban emerald
Bee hummingbird

Order: Apodiformes   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
Ruby-throated hummingbird Archilochus colubris (R)
Bee hummingbird Mellisuga helenae (E) near-threatened
Bahama woodstar Nesophlox evelynae (R)
Cuban emerald Riccordia ricordii ricordii (Es)

Rails, gallinules, and coots

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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.

Common name Binomial Status
Zapata rail Cyanolimnas cerverai (E) Critically endangered
Spotted rail Pardirallus maculatus
King rail Rallus elegans ramsdeni (Es) Near-threatened
Clapper rail Rallus crepitans
Virginia rail Rallus limicola (R)
Sora Porzana carolina
Common gallinule Gallinula galeata
American coot Fulica americana
Purple gallinule Porphyrio martinica
Yellow-breasted crake Haplocrex flaviventer
Black rail Laterallus jamaicensis (R) Near-threatened

Limpkin

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Limpkin

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Aramidae

The limpkin resembles a large rail. It has drab-brown plumage and a grayer head and neck.

Common name Binomial Status
Limpkin Aramus guarauna

Cranes

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Order: Gruiformes   Family: Gruidae

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

Common name Binomial Status
Sandhill crane Antigone canadensis nesiotes (Es)

Stilts and avocets

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Black-necked 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.

Common name Binomial Status
Black-necked stilt Himantopus mexicanus
American avocet Recurvirostra americana

Oystercatchers

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Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Haematopodidae

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

Common name Binomial Status
American oystercatcher Haematopus palliatus

Plovers and lapwings

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Killdeer

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 Binomial Status
Black-bellied plover Pluvialis squatarola
American golden-plover Pluvialis dominica (R)
Killdeer Charadrius vociferus
Semipalmated plover Charadrius semipalmatus
Piping plover Charadrius melodus near-threatened
Wilson's plover Charadrius wilsonia
Snowy plover Charadrius nivosus near-threatened

Jacanas

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Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Jacanidae

The jacanas are a group of waders which 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.

Common name Binomial Status
Northern jacana Jacana spinosa

Sandpipers and allies

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Greater yellowlegs
Lesser yellowlegs
Least sandpiper

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. 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.

Common name Binomial Status
Upland sandpiper Bartramia longicauda (R)
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus
Long-billed curlew Numenius americanus (R)
Hudsonian godwit Limosa haemastica (R)
Marbled godwit Limosa fedoa (R)
Ruddy turnstone Arenaria interpres
Red knot Calidris canutus near-threatened
Ruff Calidris pugnax (R)
Stilt sandpiper Calidris himantopus
Curlew sandpiper Calidris ferruginea (H)
Sanderling Calidris alba
Dunlin Calidris alpina (R)
Least sandpiper Calidris minutilla
White-rumped sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis
Buff-breasted sandpiper Calidris subruficollis (R) near-threatened
Pectoral sandpiper Calidris melanotos
Semipalmated sandpiper Calidris pusilla near-threatened
Western sandpiper Calidris mauri
Short-billed dowitcher Limnodromus griseus
Long-billed dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus
Wilson's snipe Gallinago delicata
Spotted sandpiper Actitis macularius
Solitary sandpiper Tringa solitaria
Lesser yellowlegs Tringa flavipes
Willet Tringa semipalmata
Greater yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca
Wilson's phalarope Phalaropus tricolor (R)
Red-necked phalarope Phalaropus lobatus (R)
Red phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius (R)

Skuas and jaegers

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Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Stercorariidae

The family Stercorariidae are, in general, medium to large birds, typically with gray 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.

Common name Binomial Status
South polar skua Stercorarius maccormicki (R)
Pomarine jaeger Stercorarius pomarinus (R)
Parasitic jaeger Stercorarius parasiticus (R)
Long-tailed jaeger Stercorarius longicaudus (R)

Auks, murres, and puffins

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Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Alcidae

Auks are superficially similar to penguins due to their black-and-white colors, their upright posture, and some of their habits.

Common name Binomial Status
Dovekie Alle alle (R)

Gulls, terns, and skimmers

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Royal tern

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Laridae

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 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.

Common name Binomial Status
Black-legged kittiwake Rissa tridactyla (R)
Sabine's gull Xema sabini (R)
Bonaparte's gull Chroicocephalus philadelphia (R)
Black-headed gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus (R)
Laughing gull Leucophaeus atricilla
Franklin's gull Leucophaeus pipixcan (R)
Ring-billed gull Larus delawarensis
Herring gull Larus argentatus
Lesser black-backed gull Larus fuscus (R)
Great black-backed gull Larus marinus (R)
Brown noddy Anous stolidus
Sooty tern Onychoprion fuscata
Bridled tern Onychoprion anaethetus
Least tern Sternula antillarum
Large-billed tern Phaetusa simplex (R)
Gull-billed tern Gelochelidon nilotica
Caspian tern Hydroprogne caspia
Black tern Chlidonias niger (R)
Roseate tern Sterna dougallii (R)
Common tern Sterna hirundo
Arctic tern Sterna paradisaea (R)
Forster's tern Sterna forsteri
Royal tern Thalasseus maxima
Sandwich tern Thalasseus sandvicensis
Black skimmer Rynchops niger

Tropicbirds

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Order: Phaethontiformes   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
White-tailed tropicbird Phaethon lepturus (R)
Red-billed tropicbird Phaethon aethereus (R)

Loons

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Order: Gaviiformes   Family: Gaviidae

Loons, known as divers in Europe, are a group of aquatic birds found in many parts of North America and northern Europe. It is the size of a large duck or small goose, which it somewhat resemble when swimming, but is completely unrelated to these waterfowl.

Common name Binomial Status
Common loon Gavia immer (R)

Southern storm-petrels

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Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Oceanitidae

The storm-petrels are the smallest seabirds, relatives of the petrels, feeding on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like. Until 2018, this family's species were included with the other storm-petrels in family Hydrobatidae.

Common name Binomial Status
Wilson's storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus (R)

Northern storm-petrels

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Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Hydrobatidae

Though the members of this family are similar in many respects to the southern storm-petrels, including their general appearance and habits, there are enough genetic differences to warrant their placement in a separate family.

Common name Binomial Status
Leach's storm-petrel Hydrobates leucorhous (R)
Band-rumped storm-petrel Hydrobates castro (R)

Shearwaters and petrels

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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
Black-capped petrel Pterodroma hasitata (R)
Cory's shearwater Calonectris diomedea (R)
Sooty shearwater Ardenna griseus (R) near-threatened
Great shearwater Ardenna gravis (R)
Audubon's shearwater Puffinus lherminieri (R)

Storks

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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.

Common name Binomial Status
Wood stork Mycteria americana (R)

Frigatebirds

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Order: Suliformes   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 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 Binomial Status
Magnificent frigatebird Fregata magnificens

Boobies and gannets

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Order: Suliformes   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
Masked booby Sula dactylatra (R)
Brown booby Sula leucogaster
Red-footed booby Sula sula (R)
Northern gannet Morus bassanus (R)

Anhingas

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Order: Suliformes   Family: Anhingidae

Anhingas are often called "snake-birds" because of their long thin neck, which gives a snake-like appearance when they swim with their bodies submerged. The males have black and dark-brown plumage, an erectile crest on the nape, and a larger bill than the female. The females have 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

Cormorants and shags

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Neotropic cormorant

Order: Suliformes   Family: Phalacrocoracidae

Phalacrocoracidae is a family of medium to large coastal, fish-eating seabirds that includes cormorants and shags. Plumage coloration varies, with the majority having mainly dark plumage, some species being black-and-white, and a few being colorful.

Common name Binomial Status
Double-crested cormorant Nannopterum auritum
Neotropic cormorant Nannopterum brasilianum

Pelicans

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American white pelican
Brown pelican

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Pelecanidae

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
American white pelican Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
Brown pelican Pelecanus occidentalis

Herons, egrets, and bitterns

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Order: Pelecaniformes   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.

Common name Binomial Status
American bittern Botaurus lentiginosus
Least bittern Ixobrychus exilis
Great blue heron Ardea herodias
Great egret Ardea alba
Snowy egret Egretta thula
Little blue heron Egretta caerulea
Tricolored heron Egretta tricolor
Reddish egret Egretta rufescens Near-threatened
Cattle egret Bubulcus ibis
Green heron Butorides virescens
Black-crowned night-heron Nycticorax nycticorax
Yellow-crowned night-heron Nyctanassa violacea

Ibises and spoonbills

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Order: Pelecaniformes   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.

Common name Binomial Status
White ibis Eudocimus albus
Scarlet ibis Eudocimus ruber (R)
Glossy ibis Plegadis falcinellus
White-faced ibis Plegadis chihi (R)
Roseate spoonbill Platalea ajaja

New World vultures

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Turkey vulture

Order: Cathartiformes   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.

Common name Binomial Status
Black vulture Coragyps atratus (R)
Turkey vulture Cathartes aura

Osprey

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Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Pandionidae

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

Common name Binomial Status
Osprey Pandion haliaetus

Hawks, eagles, and kites

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Cuban black hawk

Order: Accipitriformes   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.

Common name Binomial Status
Cuban kite Chondrohierax wilsonii (E)
Swallow-tailed kite Elanoides forficatus
Northern harrier Circus hudsonius
Sharp-shinned hawk Accipiter striatus fringilloides (Es)
Cooper's hawk Accipiter cooperii (R)
Gundlach's hawk Accipiter gundlachi (E) endangered
Bald eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus (R)
Mississippi kite Ictinia mississippiensis
Snail kite Rostrhamus sociabilis
Cuban black hawk Buteogallus gundlachii (E) Near-threatened
Broad-winged hawk Buteo platypterus cubanensis (Es)
Short-tailed hawk Buteo brachyurus (R)
Swainson's hawk Buteo swainsoni (R)
Red-tailed hawk Buteo jamaicensis

Barn-owls

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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

Owls

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Cuban pygmy-owl

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
Bare-legged owl Margarobyas lawrencii (E)
Cuban pygmy-owl Glaucidium siju (E)
Burrowing owl Athene cunicularia
Long-eared owl Asio otus (R)
Stygian owl Asio stygius suguapa (Es)
Short-eared owl Asio flammeus

Trogons

[edit]
Cuban trogon

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 colorful, feathers with distinctive male and female plumage.

Common name Binomial Status
Cuban trogon Priotelus temnurus (E)

Todies

[edit]
Cuban tody

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Todidae

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

Common name Binomial Status
Cuban tody Todus multicolor (E)

Kingfishers

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Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Alcedinidae

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

Common name Binomial Status
Belted kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon

Woodpeckers

[edit]
Cuban green woodpecker
Northern flicker

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 Binomial Status
West Indian woodpecker Melanerpes superciliaris
Yellow-bellied sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius
Cuban green woodpecker Xiphidiopicus percussus (E)
Northern flicker Colaptes auratus chrysocaulosus (Es)
Fernandina's flicker Colaptes fernandinae (E) vulnerable
Ivory-billed woodpecker Campephilus principalis bairdii (Es) (R) critically endangered (possibly extinct)
Pileated woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus (LC) (A)

Falcons and caracaras

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American kestrel, male red morph
American kestrel, female white morph

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 Binomial Status
Crested caracara Caracara plancus
American kestrel Falco sparverius sparveroides (Es)
Merlin Falco columbarius
Peregrine falcon Falco peregrinus

New World and African parrots

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Cuban parakeet

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 Binomial Status
Cuban macaw Ara tricolor extinct
Red-and-green macaw Ara chloropterus (I)
Blue-and-yellow macaw Ara ararauna (I)
Cuban parakeet Psittacara euops (E) vulnerable
Cuban parrot Amazona leucocephala near-threatened

Tyrant flycatchers

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Cuban pewee
Loggerhead kingbird
Giant kingbird

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, have plain coloring. As the name implies, most are insectivorous.

Common name Binomial Status
Great crested flycatcher Myiarchus crinitus (R)
La Sagra's flycatcher Myiarchus sagrae
Tropical kingbird Tyrannus melancholicus (R)
Cassin's kingbird Tyrannus vociferans (R)
Western kingbird Tyrannus verticalis (R)
Eastern kingbird Tyrannus tyrannus
Gray kingbird Tyrannus dominicensis
Loggerhead kingbird Tyrannus caudifasciatus caudifasciatus (Es)
Giant kingbird Tyrannus cubensis (E) endangered
Scissor-tailed flycatcher Tyrannus forficatus (R)
Fork-tailed flycatcher Tyrannus savana (R)
Western wood-pewee Contopus sordidulus (R)
Eastern wood-pewee Contopus virens
Cuban pewee Contopus caribaeus
Yellow-bellied flycatcher Empidonax flaviventris (R)
Acadian flycatcher Empidonax virescens
Alder flycatcher Empidonax alnorum (R)
Willow flycatcher Empidonax traillii
Least flycatcher Empidonax minimus (R)
Eastern phoebe Sayornis phoebe (R)
Vermilion flycatcher Pyrocephalus rubinus (R)

Vireos, shrike-babblers, and erpornis

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Order: Passeriformes   Family: Vireonidae

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

Common name Binomial Status
White-eyed vireo Vireo griseus
Thick-billed vireo Vireo crassirostris vulnerable
Cuban vireo Vireo gundlachii (E)
Yellow-throated vireo Vireo flavifrons
Blue-headed vireo Vireo solitarius (R)
Philadelphia vireo Vireo philadelphicus (R)
Warbling vireo Vireo gilvus (R)
Red-eyed vireo Vireo olivaceus
Black-whiskered vireo Vireo altiloquus

Crows, jays, and magpies

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Order: Passeriformes   Family: Corvidae

The family Corvidae includes crows, ravens, jays, choughs, magpies, treepies, nutcrackers, and ground jays. Corvids are above average in size among the Passeriformes, and some of the larger species show high levels of intelligence.

Common name Binomial Status
House crow Corvus splendens (R)
Cuban palm crow Corvus minutus
Cuban crow Corvus nasicus

Swallows

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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
Bank swallow Riparia riparia
Tree swallow Tachycineta bicolor
Bahama swallow Tachycineta cyaneoviridis (R)
Northern rough-winged swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis
Purple martin Progne subis
Cuban martin Progne cryptoleuca
Caribbean martin Progne dominicensis (R)
Barn swallow Hirundo rustica
Cliff swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Cave swallow Petrochelidon fulva cavicola (Es)

Kinglets

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Order: Passeriformes   Family: Regulidae

The kinglets, also called crests, are a small group of birds often included in the Old World warblers, but frequently given family status because they also resemble the titmice.

Common name Binomial Status
Ruby-crowned kinglet Corthylio calendula (R)

Waxwings

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Order: Passeriformes   Family: Bombycillidae

The waxwings are a group of passerine birds with soft silky plumage and unique red tips to some of the wing feathers. In the Bohemian and cedar waxwings, these tips look like sealing wax and give the group its name. These are arboreal birds of northern forests. They live on insects in summer and berries in winter.

Common name Binomial Status
Cedar waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum

Gnatcatchers

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Cuban gnatcatcher

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Polioptilidae

These dainty birds resemble Old World warblers in their build and habits, moving restlessly through the foliage seeking insects. The gnatcatchers and gnatwrens are mainly soft bluish gray in color 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
Cuban gnatcatcher Polioptila lembeyei (E)
Blue-gray gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea

Wrens

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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
Zapata wren Ferminia cerverai (E) endangered
House wren Troglodytes aedon (R)
Marsh wren Cistothorus palustris (H)

Mockingbirds and thrashers

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Gray catbird
Northern mockingbird

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 coloring tends towards dull-grays and browns.

Common name Binomial Status
Gray catbird Dumetella carolinensis
Brown thrasher Toxostoma rufum (R)
Bahama mockingbird Mimus gundlachii (R)
Northern mockingbird Mimus polyglottos

Starlings

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Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sturnidae

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

Common name Binomial Status
European starling Sturnus vulgaris (I) (R)
Common myna Acridotheres tristis (I) (R)

Thrushes and allies

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Red-legged thrush

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
Eastern bluebird Sialia sialis (R)
Cuban solitaire Myadestes elisabeth (E) near-threatened
Veery Catharus fuscescens (R)
Gray-cheeked thrush Catharus minimus
Bicknell's thrush Catharus bicknelli vulnerable
Swainson's thrush Catharus ustulatus
Hermit thrush Catharus guttatus (R)
Wood thrush Hylocichla mustelina (R)
American robin Turdus migratorius (R)
Red-legged thrush Turdus plumbeus

Old World flycatchers

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Order: Passeriformes   Family: Muscicapidae

Old World flycatchers are a large group of small passerine birds native to the Old World. They are mainly small arboreal insectivores. The appearance of these birds is highly varied, but they mostly have weak songs and harsh calls.

Common name Binomial Status
Northern wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe (R)

Waxbills and allies

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Order: Passeriformes   Family: Estrildidae

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

Common name Binomial Status
Scaly-breasted munia Lonchura punctulata (I)
Tricolored munia Lonchura malacca (I)
Chestnut munia Lonchura atricapilla (I) (R)

Old World sparrows

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Order: Passeriformes   Family: Passeridae

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

Common name Binomial Status
House sparrow Passer domesticus (I)

Wagtails and pipits

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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 (R)
American pipit Anthus rubescens (R)

Finches, euphonias, and allies

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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
House finch Haemorhous mexicanus (I) (VR)
American goldfinch Spinus tristis (R)

Longspurs and snow buntings

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Order: Passeriformes   Family: Calcariidae

The Calcariidae are a group of passerine birds that had been traditionally grouped with the New World sparrows, but differ in a number of respects and are usually found in open grassy areas.

Common name Binomial Status
Lapland longspur Calcarius lapponicus (R)

New World sparrows

[edit]
Zapata sparrow

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Passerellidae

Until 2017, these species were considered part of the family Emberizidae. Most of the species are known as sparrows, but these birds are not closely related to the Old World sparrows which are in the family Passeridae. Many of these have distinctive head patterns.

Common name Binomial Status
Grasshopper sparrow Ammodramus savannarum
Lark sparrow Chondestes grammacus (R)
Chipping sparrow Spizella passerina (R)
Clay-colored sparrow Spizella pallida (R)
Dark-eyed junco Junco hyemalis (R)
White-crowned sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys
Harris's sparrow Zonotrichia querula (R)
White-throated sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis (R)
Savannah sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis
Song sparrow Melospiza melodia (R)
Lincoln's sparrow Melospiza lincolnii (R)
Zapata sparrow Torreornis inexpectata (E) endangered
Green-tailed towhee Pipilo chlorurus (R)

Spindalises

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Western spindalis

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Spindalidae

The members of this small family are native to the Greater Antilles. They were formerly classified as tanagers (family Thraupidae) but were placed in their own family in 2017.

Common name Binomial Status
Western spindalis Spindalis zena pretrei (Es)

Cuban warblers

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Oriente warbler

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Teretistridae

These two species were formerly placed in the New World warblers (Parulidae) but were moved to their own family in 2017.

Common name Binomial Status
Yellow-headed warbler Teretistris fernandinae (E)
Oriente warbler Teretistris fornsi (E)

Yellow-breasted chat

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Order: Passeriformes   Family: Icteriidae

This species was historically placed in the New World warblers, but nonetheless most authorities were unsure if it belonged there. It was moved to its own family in 2017.

Common name Binomial Status
Yellow-breasted chat Icteria virens (R)

Troupials and allies

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Tawny-shouldered blackbird
Cuban blackbird
Greater Antillean grackle
Shiny cowbird

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 the predominant plumage color, often enlivened by yellow, orange, or red.

Common name Binomial Status
Yellow-headed blackbird Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus (R)
Bobolink Dolichonyx oryzivorus
Eastern meadowlark Sturnella magna hippocrepis (Es)
Cuban oriole Icterus melanopsis (E)
Orchard oriole Icterus spurius
Hooded oriole Icterus cucullatus (R)
Yellow-tailed oriole Icterus mesomelas (H)
Altamira oriole Icterus gularis (R)
Baltimore oriole Icterus galbula
Red winged blackbird Agealaius phoeniceus
Red-shouldered blackbird Agelaius assimilis (E)
Tawny-shouldered blackbird Agelaius humeralis
Shiny cowbird Molothrus bonariensis
Brown-headed cowbird Molothrus ater (R)
Cuban blackbird Ptiloxena atroviolacea (E)
Rusty blackbird Euphagus carolinus (H)
Boat-tailed grackle Quiscalus major (R)
Great-tailed grackle Quiscalus mexicanus (R)
Greater Antillean grackle Quiscalus niger

New World warblers

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Order: Passeriformes   Family: Parulidae

Yellow warbler
Black-throated blue warbler
Prairie warbler

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

Common name Binomial Status
Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapilla
Worm-eating warbler Helmitheros vermivorum
Louisiana waterthrush Parkesia motacilla
Northern waterthrush Parkesia noveboracensis
Bachman's warbler Vermivora bachmanii critically endangered (possibly extinct)
Golden-winged warbler Vermivora chrysoptera (R) Near-threatened
Blue-winged warbler Vermivora cyanoptera (R)
Black-and-white warbler Mniotilta varia
Prothonotary warbler Protonotaria citrea
Swainson's warbler Limnothlypis swainsonii
Tennessee warbler Leiothlypis peregrina
Orange-crowned warbler Leiothlypis celata (R)
Nashville warbler Leiothlypis ruficapilla (R)
Virginia's warbler Leiothlypis virginiae (R)
Connecticut warbler Oporornis agilis (R)
Mourning warbler Geothlypis philadelphia (R)
Kentucky warbler Geothlypis formosa (R)
Common yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas
Hooded warbler Setophaga citrina
American redstart Setophaga ruticilla
Kirtland's warbler Setophaga kirtlandii (R) near-threatened
Cape May warbler Setophaga tigrina
Cerulean warbler Setophaga cerulea (R) Vulnerable
Northern parula Setophaga americana
Magnolia warbler Setophaga magnolia
Bay-breasted warbler Setophaga castanea (R)
Blackburnian warbler Setophaga fusca (R)
Yellow warbler Setophaga petechia
Chestnut-sided warbler Setophaga pensylvanica
Blackpoll warbler Setophaga striata
Black-throated blue warbler Setophaga caerulescens
Palm warbler Setophaga palmarum
Olive-capped warbler Setophaga pityophila
Pine warbler Setophaga pinus (R)
Yellow-rumped warbler Setophaga coronata
Yellow-throated warbler Setophaga dominica
Prairie warbler Setophaga discolor
Black-throated gray warbler Setophaga nigrescens (R)
Townsend's warbler Setophaga townsendi (R)
Black-throated green warbler Setophaga virens
Canada warbler Cardellina canadensis
Wilson's warbler Cardellina pusilla (R)

Cardinals and allies

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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
Summer tanager Piranga rubra
Scarlet tanager Piranga olivacea
Western tanager Piranga ludoviciana (R)
Black-headed grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus
Rose-breasted grosbeak Pheucticus melanocephalus (R)
Blue grosbeak Passerina caerulea
Lazuli bunting Passerina amoena (R)
Indigo bunting Passerina cyanea
Painted bunting Passerina ciris near-threatened
Dickcissel Spiza americana (R)

Tanagers and allies

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Cuban bullfinch
Cuban grassquit

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 colored. As a family they are omnivorous, but individual species specialize in eating fruits, seeds, insects, or other types of food. Most have short, rounded wings.

Common name Binomial Status
Saffron finch Sicalis flaveola (R)
Blue-black grassquit Volatinia jacarina (R)
Red-legged honeycreeper Cyanerpes cyaneus
Bananaquit Coereba flaveola (R)
Yellow-faced grassquit Tiaris olivaceus
Cuban bullfinch Melopyrrha nigra (Es)
Cuban grassquit Phonipara canora (E)
Black-faced grassquit Melanospiza bicolor (R)

References

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  1. ^ a b Navarro, Nils (2021). Annotated Checklist of the Birds of Cuba (4 ed.). Ediciones Nuevos Mundos. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  2. ^ Chesser, R. T., S. M. Billerman, K. J. Burns, C. Cicero, J. L. Dunn, B. E. Hernández-Baños, R. A. Jiménez, A. W. Kratter, N. A. Mason, P. C. Rasmussen, J. V. Remsen, Jr., D. F. Stotz, and K. Winker. 2022. Check-list of North American Birds (online). American Ornithological Society. (July 29, 2022). "Check-list of North and Middle American Birds". American Ornithological Society. Retrieved July 7, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

See also

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