List of birds of Vieques

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.

Vieques Island from the air

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.

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[1] 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[2] 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

See also

Notes

  1. Wetmore reported the introduction of 40 individuals to the island in 1910 but apparently the population disappeared before 1916.
  2. Known from a single report by Bowdish in 1900.

References

  • Sorrié, Bruce A. (June 1975). "Observations on the Birds of Vieques Island, Puerto Rico" (PDF). Caribbean Journal of Science. 15 (1–2): 89–103. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-03-20. Retrieved 2006-05-20.
  • "Vieques Birdlist". U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Archived from the original on September 4, 2006. Retrieved May 21, 2006.
  • Splitting headaches? Recent taxonomic changes affecting the British and Western Palaearctic lists – Martin Collinson, British Birds vol 99 (June 2006), 306–323
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.