Disclaimer |

Vieques, Puerto Rico Bird Checklist
Compiled by Daphne Gemmill
|
|
September 2001
Vieques, a small island lying just off the east coast of Puerto Rico, has numerous bird species due to large tracts of natural habitat. To date one-hundred thirty-seven bird species have been reported from the island.
This list is in accordance with the sixth edition of the American Ornithological Union Checklist of North American Birds. The birds are listed by their English name followed by their Puerto Rican name.
Most of the information about Vieques birdlife was gathered during the last 20 years between December and May by Daphne Gemmill for the Vieques Conservation and Historic Trust. Bruce Sorrie provided additional information based on his observations during September 1978 and between February and June 1981. Much is still to be learned.
We are interested in maintaining and refining this checklist. We solicit your help and ask that you report any new and unusual sightings and/or comments on the seasonal status of the island's birdlife to the Vieques Conservation and Historic Trust, Calle Flamboyán #138, Vieques PR 00765, telephone (787) 741-8850, Fax: (787) 741-8850; or Email: vcht@coqui.net. You can also email your sitings to Daphne Gemmill at gemmill@bigpockets.com.
| Legend: Habitat in which the bird is most likely to be found: |
Thorn Scrub(TS)
|
Inhabited Areas(IA)
|
Mangrove Lagoons(ML)
|
Dry Forest(DF)
|
Shoreline(Sh)
|
Moist Forest(MF)
|
|
| Status: |
Abundant--a commonly encountered species (a)
|
Common--Seen in suitable habitat (c)
|
Uncommon--present but rarely seen (u)
|
Occasional--May not be present every year (o)
|
Rare--Has been reported only once or twice (r)
|
Not present (np)
|
No information (*)
|
|
| Breeding Status: |
Season: |
| Breeder (B) |
Winter (W) :: Dec. - Feb. |
| Probable Breeder (PB) |
Spring (s) :: March - May |
| Non-Breeder (NB) |
Summer (S) :: June - Aug. |
| Winter Vistor (WV) |
Fall (F) :: Sept. - Nov. |
| Migrant (M) |
|
| Stray (ST) |
|
|
| Family |
Species
(Common Name) |
Species
(Puerto Rico) |
Breeding |
Habitat |
W |
S |
S |
F |
Grebes
|
Pied-billed Grebe
|
Zaramago
|
B
|
ML
|
u
|
u
|
u
|
u
|
Tropicbirds
|
White-tailed
Tropicbird
|
Chirre decola Blanca
|
B
|
Sh
|
r
|
u
|
u
|
*
|
Tropicbirds
|
Red-billed
Tropicbird
|
Chirre de Pico Colorado
|
NB
|
Sh
|
*
|
r
|
*
|
*
|
Boobies
|
Brown Booby
|
Boba Prieta
|
NB
|
Sh
|
u
|
u
|
u
|
c
|
Pelicans
|
Brown Pelican
|
Alcatraz
|
B
|
Sh
|
c
|
c
|
c
|
*
|
Pelicans
|
White Pelican
|
Pelícano Blanco
|
St
|
Sh
|
r
|
*
|
*
|
*
|
Cormants
|
Double-crested
Cormorant
|
Cormorán Crestado
|
St
|
ML
|
r
|
*
|
*
|
*
|
Frigatebirds
|
Magnificant
Frigatebird
|
Tijerilla
|
NB
|
Sh
|
c
|
c
|
c
|
c
|
Bitterns/Herons
|
Least Bittern
|
Martinetito
|
B
|
ML
|
*
|
*
|
r
|
*
|
Bitterns/Herons
|
Great Blue Heron
|
Garzon Cenizo
|
PB
|
ML
|
u
|
u
|
u
|
u
|
Bitterns/Herons
|
Great Egret
|
Garza Real
|
PB
|
ML
|
c
|
c
|
c
|
c
|
Bitterns/Herons
|
Snowy Egret
|
Garza Blanca
|
B
|
ML
|
c
|
c
|
c
|
c
|
Bitterns/Herons
|
Little Blue Heron
|
Garza Azul
|
B
|
ML
|
c
|
c
|
c
|
c
|
Bitterns/Herons
|
Tricolored Heron
|
Garza Pechiblanca
|
B
|
ML
|
c
|
c
|
c
|
c
|
Bitterns/Herons
|
Reddish Egret
|
Garza Rojiza
|
St
|
ML
|
r
|
*
|
*
|
*
|
Bitterns/Herons
|
Cattle Egret
|
Garza del Ganado
|
B
|
IA
|
a
|
a
|
a
|
a
|
Bitterns/Herons
|
Green Heron
|
Martinete
|
B
|
ML
|
u
|
u
|
u
|
*
|
Bitterns/Herons
|
Black-crowned
Night-Heron
|
Yaboa Real
|
PB
|
ML
|
r
|
r
|
r
|
*
|
Bitterns/Herons
|
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
|
Yaboa Común
|
B
|
ML
|
r
|
r
|
*
|
*
|
Flamingos
|
Greater Flamingo
|
Flamenco
|
St
|
ML
|
r
|
*
|
*
|
r
|
Ducks
|
West Indian
Whistling Duck
|
Chiriría del Caribe
|
St
|
ML
|
*
|
*
|
r
|
*
|
Ducks
|
White-cheeked
Pintail
|
Pato Quijada Colorada
|
B
|
ML
|
u
|
u
|
u
|
u
|
Ducks
|
Blue-winged Teal
|
Pato Zarcel |
WV
|
ML
|
o
|
r
|
*
|
u
|
Ducks
|
Northern Shoveler
|
Pato Cuchareta |
WV
|
ML
|
r
|
*
|
*
|
*
|
Ducks
|
Red-breasted
Merganser
|
Mergansa Pechirroja
|
St
|
Sh
|
r
|
*
|
*
|
*
|
Ducks
|
Ruddy Duck
|
Pato Chorizo
|
B
|
ML
|
r
|
*
|
r
|
*
|
Ospreys
|
Osprey
|
Aguila de Mar |
WV
|
ML
|
u
|
u
|
*
|
o
|
Hawks
|
Red-tailed Hawk
|
Guaraguao Colirrajo
|
B
|
IA
|
u
|
u
|
u
|
u
|
Falcons
|
American Kestrel
|
Falcón Comun
|
B
|
IA
|
u
|
u
|
u
|
u
|
Falcons
|
Merlin
|
Falcón Migratorio
|
M
|
ML
|
r
|
*
|
r
|
*
|
Falcons
|
Peregrine Falcon
|
Falcón de Patos |
WV
|
ML
|
o
|
o
|
*
|
o
|
Rails/
Gallinules/Coots
|
Clapper Rail
|
Polo de Mangle
|
B
|
ML
|
u
|
u
|
u
|
u
|
Rails/
Gallinules/Coots
|
Sora
|
Gallito |
WV
|
ML
|
r
|
*
|
*
|
*
|
Rails/
Gallinules/Coots
|
Common Moorhen
|
Gallareta Común
|
B
|
ML
|
u
|
u
|
u
|
u
|
Rails/
Gallinules/Coots
|
Caribbean Coot
|
Gallinazo Antillano
|
PB
|
ML
|
r
|
*
|
r
|
*
|
Plovers
|
Black-bellied Plover
|
Playero Carezón |
WV
|
ML
|
u
|
u
|
u
|
*
|
Plovers
|
American Golden
Plover
|
Playero Dorado
|
M
|
IA
|
*
|
*
|
*
|
r
|
Plovers
|
Wilson's Plover
|
Playero Marítimo
|
B
|
ML
|
u
|
u
|
u
|
*
|
Plovers
|
Semipalmated Plover
|
Playero Acollarado
|
WV
|
ML
|
r
|
r
|
*
|
*
|
Plovers
|
Killdeer
|
Playero Sabanero
|
B
|
IA
|
u
|
u
|
u
|
*
|
Oystercatchers
|
American Oystercatcher
|
Ostrero
|
PB
|
Sh
|
r
|
r
|
*
|
r
|
Stilts
|
Black-necked Stilt
|
Viuda
|
B
|
ML
|
c
|
c
|
*
|
c
|
Sandpipers
|
Greater Yellowlegs
|
Playero Guineilla Mayor
|
WV
|
ML
|
c
|
c
|
*
|
u
|
Sandpipers
|
Lesser Yellowlegs
|
Playero Guineilla Memor WV
|
ML
|
c
|
u
|
*
|
u
|
|
Sandpipers
|
Solitary Sandpiper
|
Playero Solitario
|
M
|
ML
|
*
|
r
|
*
|
*
|
Sandpipers
|
Willet
|
Playero Aliblanco |
WV
|
ML
|
u
|
u
|
*
|
*
|
Sandpipers
|
Spotted Sandpiper
|
Playero Coleador |
WV
|
ML
|
c
|
c
|
*
|
c
|
Sandpipers
|
Whimbrel
|
Playero Picocorvo |
WV
|
ML
|
r
|
r
|
*
|
*
|
Sandpipers
|
Hudsonian Godwit
|
Barga Aliblanca
|
St
|
ML
|
*
|
*
|
*
|
r
|
Sandpipers
|
Ruddy Turnstone
|
Playero Turco WV
|
ML
|
u
|
u
|
o
|
u
|
|
Sandpipers
|
Semipalmated Sandpiper
|
Playerito Gracioso |
WV
|
ML
|
o
|
o
|
o
|
*
|
Sandpipers
|
Western Sandpiper
|
Playero Occidental
|
M
|
ML
|
*
|
o
|
*
|
r
|
Sandpipers
|
Least Sandpiper
|
Playerito Menudo |
WV
|
ML
|
o
|
o
|
*
|
*
|
Sandpipers
|
White-rumped Sandpiper
|
Playero Rabadilla Blanca
|
St
|
Ml
|
| | | |