List of birds of the US Virgin Islands

This is a list of the bird species recorded in the US Virgin Islands. The avifauna of the US Virgin Islands includes a total of 232 species, of which 6 have been introduced by humans, and 19 are rare or accidental. 6 species are globally threatened.

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

The following tags have been used to highlight certain relevant categories. It must be noted that not all species fall into one of these categories. Those that do not are commonly occurring, native species.

* (A) Accidental A species that rarely or accidentally occurs in the US Virgin Islands.
* (I) Introduced A species introduced to the US Virgin Islands as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions.

__NOTOC__

Grebes

Order: PodicipediformesFamily: Podicipedidae

Grebes are small to medium-large sized 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. There are 20 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in the US Virgin Islands.

*Least Grebe "Tachybaptus dominicus"
*Pied-billed Grebe "Podilymbus podiceps"

hearwaters and Petrels

Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Procellariidae

The procellariids are the main group of medium-sized 'true petrels', characterised by united nostrils with a medium septum, and a long outer functional primary. There are 75 species worldwide and 3 species which occur in the US Virgin Islands.

*Black-capped Petrel "Pterodroma hasitata"
*Sooty Shearwater "Puffinus griseus"
*Audubon's Shearwater "Puffinus lherminieri"

torm-Petrels

Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Hydrobatidae

The storm-petrels are relatives of the petrels, and are the smallest of sea-birds. They feed on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like. There are 21 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in the US Virgin Islands.

*Wilson's Storm-Petrel "Oceanites oceanicus"
*Leach's Storm-Petrel "Oceanodroma leucorhoa"

Tropicbirds

Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Phaethontidae

Tropicbirds are slender white birds of tropical oceans, with exceptionally long central tail feathers. Their heads and long wings have black markings. There are 3 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in the US Virgin Islands.

*Red-billed Tropicbird "Phaethon aethereus"
*White-tailed Tropicbird "Phaethon lepturus"

Pelicans

Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Pelecanidae

Pelicans are large water birds with a distinctive pouch under the beak. As with other members of the order Pelecaniformes, they have webbed feet with four toes. There are 8 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in the US Virgin Islands.

*Brown Pelican "Pelecanus occidentalis"

Boobies and Gannets

Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Sulidae

The sulids comprise the gannets and boobies. Both groups comprise medium-to-large coastal sea-birds that plunge-dive for fish. There are 9 species worldwide and 3 species which occur in the US Virgin Islands.

*Masked Booby "Sula dactylatra"
*Red-footed Booby "Sula sula"
*Brown Booby "Sula leucogaster"

Cormorants

Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Phalacrocoracidae

The Phalacrocoracidae is a family of medium-to-large coastal, fish-eating sea-birds that includes cormorants and shags. Plumage colouration varies with the majority having mainly dark plumage, some species being black and white, and a few being colourful. There are 38 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in the US Virgin Islands.

*Double-crested Cormorant "Phalacrocorax auritus"
*Neotropic Cormorant "Phalacrocorax brasilianus"

Frigatebirds

Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Fregatidae

Frigatebirds are large sea-birds usually found over tropical oceans. They are large, black and white or completely black, with long wings and deeply-forked tails. The males have inflatable coloured 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. There are 5 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in the US Virgin Islands.

*Magnificent Frigatebird "Fregata magnificens"

Bitterns, Herons and Egrets

Order: CiconiiformesFamily: Ardeidae

The family Ardeidae contains the bitterns, herons and egrets. Herons and egrets are medium to large sized wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and more wary. Unlike other long-necked birds suck as storks, ibises and spoonbills, members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted. There are 61 species worldwide and 12 species which occur in the US Virgin Islands.

*Great Blue Heron "Ardea herodias"
*Great Egret "Ardea alba"
*Reddish Egret "Egretta rufescens" (A)
*Tricolored Heron "Egretta tricolor"
*Little Blue Heron "Egretta caerulea"
*Snowy Egret "Egretta thula"
*Cattle Egret "Bubulcus ibis"
*Green Heron "Butorides virescens"
*Black-crowned Night-Heron "Nycticorax nycticorax"
*Yellow-crowned Night-Heron "Nyctanassa violacea"
*Least Bittern "Ixobrychus exilis"
*American Bittern "Botaurus lentiginosus"

Ibises and Spoonbills

Order: CiconiiformesFamily: Threskiornithidae

The 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. There are 36 species worldwide and 3 species which occur in the US Virgin Islands.

*White Ibis "Eudocimus albus"
*Glossy Ibis "Plegadis falcinellus" (A)
*Roseate Spoonbill "Platalea ajaja"

Flamingos

Order: PhoenicopteriformesFamily: Phoenicopteridae

Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually 3 to 5 feet high, found in both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. They are more numerous in the latter. 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 are uniquely used upside-down. There are 6 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in the US Virgin Islands.

*Caribbean Flamingo "Phoenicopterus ruber"

Ducks, Geese and Swans

Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae

The family Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These are birds that are modified for an aquatic existence with webbed feet, flattened bills and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating. There are 131 species worldwide and 21 species which occur in the US Virgin Islands.

*Fulvous Whistling-Duck "Dendrocygna bicolor"
*West Indian Whistling-Duck "Dendrocygna arborea"
*Black-bellied Whistling-Duck "Dendrocygna autumnalis"
*Tundra Swan "Cygnus columbianus"
*Snow Goose "Chen caerulescens"
*American Wigeon "Anas americana"
*Green-winged Teal "Anas carolinensis"
*Mallard "Anas platyrhynchos"
*Northern Pintail "Anas acuta" (A)
*White-cheeked Pintail "Anas bahamensis"
*Blue-winged Teal "Anas discors"
*Cinnamon Teal "Anas cyanoptera"
*Northern Shoveler "Anas clypeata"
*Ring-necked Duck "Aythya collaris"
*Greater Scaup "Aythya marila"
*Lesser Scaup "Aythya affinis"
*Bufflehead "Bucephala albeola" (A)
*Hooded Merganser "Lophodytes cucullatus" (A)
*Red-breasted Merganser "Mergus serrator"
*Masked Duck "Nomonyx dominica"
*Ruddy Duck "Oxyura jamaicensis"

New World vultures

Order: FalconiformesFamily: 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. There are 7 species worldwide, all of which are found only in the Americas, and 1 species which occurs in the US Virgin Islands.

*Turkey Vulture "Cathartes aura"

Osprey

Order: FalconiformesFamily: Pandionidae

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

*Osprey "Pandion haliaetus"

Hawks, Kites and Eagles

Order: FalconiformesFamily: Accipitridae

Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey and include 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. There are 233 species worldwide and 3 species which occur in the US Virgin Islands.

*Bald Eagle "Haliaeetus leucocephalus"
*Northern Harrier "Circus cyaneus"
*Red-tailed Hawk "Buteo jamaicensis"

Caracaras and Falcons

Order: FalconiformesFamily: 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 feet. There are 62 species worldwide and 3 species which occur in the US Virgin Islands.

*American Kestrel "Falco sparverius"
*Merlin "Falco columbarius"
*Peregrine Falcon "Falco peregrinus"

New World quails

Order: GalliformesFamily: 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. There are 32 species worldwide, all found only in the Americas, and 3 species which occur in the US Virgin Islands.

*California Quail "Callipepla californica" (I)
*Northern Bobwhite "Colinus virginianus" (I)
*Crested Bobwhite "Colinus cristatus"

Rails, Crakes, Gallinules, and Coots

Order: GruiformesFamily: 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, difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs, and have long toes which are well adapted to soft, uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and be weak fliers. There are 143 species worldwide and 6 species which occur in the US Virgin Islands.

*Clapper Rail "Rallus longirostris"
*Sora "Porzana carolina"
*Purple Gallinule "Porphyrio martinica"
*Common Moorhen "Gallinula chloropus"
*American Coot "Fulica americana"
*Caribbean Coot "Fulica caribaea"

Oystercatchers

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Haematopodidae

The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs. There are 11 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in the US Virgin Islands.

*American Oystercatcher "Haematopus palliatus"

Avocets and Stilts

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Recurvirostridae

Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds, which includes the avocets and the stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills. There are 9 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in the US Virgin Islands.

*Black-necked Stilt "Himantopus mexicanus"
*American Avocet "Recurvirostra americana"

Plovers and Lapwings

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: 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, although there are some exceptions. There are 66 species worldwide and 7 species which occur in the US Virgin Islands.

*American Golden-Plover "Pluvialis dominica"
*Black-bellied Plover "Pluvialis squatarola"
*Semipalmated Plover "Charadrius semipalmatus"
*Wilson's Plover "Charadrius wilsonia"
*Killdeer "Charadrius vociferus"
*Piping Plover "Charadrius melodus"
*Snowy Plover "Charadrius alexandrinus"

andpipers and allies

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Scolopacidae

The Scolopacidae are 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 species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Variation in length of legs and bills enable different species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food. There are 89 species worldwide and 28 species which occur in the US Virgin Islands.

*Wilson's Snipe "Gallinago delicata"
*Short-billed Dowitcher "Limnodromus griseus"
*Long-billed Dowitcher "Limnodromus scolopaceus"
*Hudsonian Godwit "Limosa haemastica"
*Marbled Godwit "Limosa fedoa"
*Whimbrel "Numenius phaeopus"
*Long-billed Curlew "Numenius americanus" (A)
*Upland Sandpiper "Bartramia longicauda"
*Greater Yellowlegs "Tringa melanoleuca"
*Lesser Yellowlegs "Tringa flavipes"
*Solitary Sandpiper "Tringa solitaria"
*Spotted Sandpiper "Actitis macularia"
*Willet "Catoptrophorus semipalmatus"
*Ruddy Turnstone "Arenaria interpres"
*Red Knot "Calidris canutus"
*Sanderling "Calidris alba"
*Semipalmated Sandpiper "Calidris pusilla"
*Western Sandpiper "Calidris mauri"
*Least Sandpiper "Calidris minutilla"
*White-rumped Sandpiper "Calidris fuscicollis"
*Baird's Sandpiper "Calidris bairdii"
*Pectoral Sandpiper "Calidris melanotos"
*Dunlin "Calidris alpina"
*Stilt Sandpiper "Calidris himantopus"
*Buff-breasted Sandpiper "Tryngites subruficollis"
*Ruff "Philomachus pugnax"
*Wilson's Phalarope "Phalaropus tricolor"
*Red Phalarope "Phalaropus fulicarius" (A)

kuas and Jaegers

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Stercorariidae

The family Stercorariidae are, in general, medium to large birds, typically with grey or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They nest on the ground in temperate and arctic regions and are long-distance migrants. There are 7 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in the US Virgin Islands.

*Pomarine Jaeger "Stercorarius pomarinus"

Gulls

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Laridae

Laridae is a family of medium to large birds seabirds and includes gulls and kittiwakes. They are typically grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet. There are 55 species worldwide and 6 species which occur in the US Virgin Islands.

*Ring-billed Gull "Larus delawarensis"
*Great Black-backed Gull "Larus marinus"
*Lesser Black-backed Gull "Larus fuscus"
*American Herring Gull "Larus smithsonianus"
*Black-headed Gull "Larus ridibundus"
*Laughing Gull "Larus atricilla"

Terns

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Sternidae

Terns are a group of generally general medium to large sea-birds typically with grey or white plumage, often with black markings on the head. Most terns hunt fish by diving but some pick insects off the surface of fresh water. Terns are generally long-lived birds, with several species now known to live in excess of 25 to 30 years. There are 44 species worldwide and 14 species which occur in the US Virgin Islands.

*Gull-billed Tern "Sterna nilotica"
*Caspian Tern "Sterna caspia"
*Sandwich Tern "Sterna sandvicensis"
*Royal Tern "Sterna maxima"
*Roseate Tern "Sterna dougallii"
*Common Tern "Sterna hirundo"
*Arctic Tern "Sterna paradisaea"
*Forster's Tern "Sterna forsteri"
*Least Tern "Sterna antillarum"
*Bridled Tern "Sterna anaethetus"
*Sooty Tern "Sterna fuscata"
*White-winged Tern "Chlidonias leucopterus"
*Black Tern "Chlidonias niger"
*Brown Noddy "Anous stolidus"

kimmers

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Rynchopidae

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. There are 3 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in the US Virgin Islands.

*Black Skimmer "Rynchops niger"

Pigeons and Doves

Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae

Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere. There are 308 species worldwide and 9 species which occur in the US Virgin Islands.

*Rock Pigeon "Columba livia" (I)
*White-crowned Pigeon "Patagioenas leucocephala"
*Scaly-naped Pigeon "Patagioenas squamosa"
*Spotted Dove "Streptopelia chinensis"
*Zenaida Dove "Zenaida aurita"
*White-winged Dove "Zenaida asiatica"
*Common Ground-Dove "Columbina passerina"
*Bridled Quail-Dove "Geotrygon mystacea"
*Ruddy Quail-Dove "Geotrygon montana"

Parrots, Macaws and allies

Order: PsittaciformesFamily: Psittacidae

Parrots are small to large birds with a characteristic curved beak shape. Their upper mandibles have slight mobility in the joint with the skull and the have a generally erect stance. All parrots are zygodactyl, having the four toes on each foot placed two at the front and two back. There are 335 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in the US Virgin Islands.

*Brown-throated Parakeet "Aratinga pertinax" (I)
*Hispaniolan Amazon "Amazona ventralis" (I)

Cuckoos and Anis

Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae

The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails and strong legs. Unlike the cuckoo species of the Old World, North American cuckoos are not brood parasites. There are 138 species worldwide and 4 species which occur in the US Virgin Islands.

*Yellow-billed Cuckoo "Coccyzus americanus"
*Mangrove Cuckoo "Coccyzus minor"
*Puerto Rican Lizard-Cuckoo "Saurothera vieilloti" (A)
*Smooth-billed Ani "Crotophaga ani"

Typical owls

Order: StrigiformesFamily: Strigidae

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. There are 195 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in the US Virgin Islands.

*Puerto Rican Screech-Owl "Megascops nudipes"
*Short-eared Owl "Asio flammeus"

Nightjars

Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Caprimulgidae

Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds with long wings, short legs and very short bills that usually nest on the ground. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is camouflaged to resemble bark or leaves. There are 86 species worldwide and 3 species which occur in the US Virgin Islands.

*Common Nighthawk "Chordeiles minor"
*Antillean Nighthawk "Chordeiles gundlachii"
*Chuck-will's-widow "Caprimulgus carolinensis"

wifts

Order: ApodiformesFamily: Apodidae

Swifts are small aerial birds, spending 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 that resemble a crescent or a boomerang. There are 98 species worldwide and 3 species which occur in the US Virgin Islands.

*Black Swift "Cypseloides niger"
*Chimney Swift "Chaetura pelagica"
*Short-tailed Swift "Chaetura brachyura"

Hummingbirds

Order: TrochiliformesFamily: 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. There are 337 species worldwide and 4 species which occur in the US Virgin Islands.

*Antillean Mango "Anthracothorax dominicus"
*Purple-throated Carib "Eulampis jugularis"
*Green-throated Carib "Eulampis holosericeus"
*Antillean Crested Hummingbird "Orthorhyncus cristatus"

Kingfishers

Order: CoraciiformesFamily: Alcedinidae

Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long pointed bills, short legs, and stubby tails. There are 93 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in the US Virgin Islands.

*Belted Kingfisher "Ceryle alcyon"

Woodpeckers and allies

Order: PiciformesFamily: 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. There are 218 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in the US Virgin Islands.

*Yellow-bellied Sapsucker "Sphyrapicus varius"

Tyrant flycatchers

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Tyrannidae

Tyrant flycatchers are passerine birds which occur throughout North and South America. They superficially resemble the Old World flycatchers, but are more robust with stronger bills. They do not have the sophisticated vocal capabilities of the songbirds. Most, but not all, have plain colouring. As the name implies, most are insectivorous. There are 429 species worldwide, all found only in the Americas and 5 species which occur in the US Virgin Islands.

*Caribbean Elaenia "Elaenia martinica"
*Eastern Wood-Pewee "Contopus virens" (A)
*Stolid Flycatcher "Myiarchus stolidus"
*Puerto Rican Flycatcher "Myiarchus antillarum"
*Gray Kingbird "Tyrannus dominicensis"

wallows and Martins

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Hirundinidae

The Hirundinidae family is a group of passerines characterized by their adaptation to aerial feeding. Their adaptations include a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings and short bills with wide gape. The feet are designed for perching rather than walking, and the front toes are partially joined at the base. There are 75 species worldwide and 8 species which occur in the US Virgin Islands.

*Purple Martin "Progne subis"
*Caribbean Martin "Progne dominicensis"
*Tree Swallow "Tachycineta bicolor"
*Northern Rough-winged Swallow "Stelgidopteryx serripennis"
*Bank Swallow "Riparia riparia"
*Cliff Swallow "Petrochelidon pyrrhonota"
*Cave Swallow "Petrochelidon fulva"
*Barn Swallow "Hirundo rustica"

Waxwings

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Bombycillidae

The waxwings are a group of passerine birds characterized by 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. There are 3 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in the US Virgin Islands.

*Cedar Waxwing "Bombycilla cedrorum"

Mockingbirds and Thrashers

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Mimidae

The mimids are a family of passerine birds that includes thrashers, mockingbirds, tremblers, and the New World catbirds. These birds are notable for their vocalizations, especially their ability to mimic a wide variety of birds and other sounds heard outdoors. Their colouring tends towards dull greys and browns . There are 35 species worldwide and 4 species which occur in the US Virgin Islands.

*Gray Catbird "Dumetella carolinensis"
*Northern Mockingbird "Mimus polyglottos"
*Brown Trembler "Cinclocerthia ruficauda" (A)
*Pearly-eyed Thrasher "Margarops fuscatus"

Thrushes and allies

Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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. There are 335 species worldwide and 3 species which occur in the US Virgin Islands.

*Veery "Catharus fuscescens"
*Gray-cheeked Thrush "Catharus minimus"
*Bicknell's Thrush "Catharus bicknelli"

tarlings

Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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. There are 125 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in the US Virgin Islands.

*European Starling "Sturnus vulgaris" (A)

Weavers and allies

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Ploceidae

The weavers are small passerine birds related to the finches. They are seed-eating birds with rounded conical bills. The males of many species are brightly coloured, usually in red or yellow and black, some species show variation in colour only in the breeding season. There are 116 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in the US Virgin Islands.

*Orange Bishop "Euplectes franciscanus" (A)

Waxbills and allies

Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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 a wide variation in plumage colours and pattern. There are 141 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in the US Virgin Islands.

*Bronze Mannikin "Spermestes cucullatus" (A)
*Nutmeg Mannikin "Lonchura punctulata" (A)

Vireos

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Vireonidae

The vireos are a group of small to medium sized passerine birds restricted to the New World. They are typically greenish in colour and resemble wood warblers apart from their heavier bills. There are 52 species worldwide and 4 species which occur in the US Virgin Islands.

*White-eyed Vireo "Vireo griseus"
*Yellow-throated Vireo "Vireo flavifrons"
*Red-eyed Vireo "Vireo olivaceus"
*Black-whiskered Vireo "Vireo altiloquus"

New World warblers

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Parulidae

The New World warblers are a group of small, often colourful, passerine birds restricted to the New World. Most are arboreal, but some are terrestrial. Most members of this family are insectivores. There are 119 species worldwide and 31 species which occur in the US Virgin Islands.

*Blue-winged Warbler "Vermivora pinus"
*Golden-winged Warbler "Vermivora chrysoptera" (A)
*Tennessee Warbler "Vermivora peregrina"
*Northern Parula "Parula americana"
*Yellow Warbler "Dendroica petechia"
*Chestnut-sided Warbler "Dendroica pensylvanica"
*Magnolia Warbler "Dendroica magnolia"
*Cape May Warbler "Dendroica tigrina"
*Black-throated Blue Warbler "Dendroica caerulescens"
*Yellow-rumped Warbler "Dendroica coronata"
*Golden-cheeked Warbler "Dendroica chrysoparia" (A)
*Black-throated Green Warbler "Dendroica virens"
*Yellow-throated Warbler "Dendroica dominica"
*Prairie Warbler "Dendroica discolor"
*Palm Warbler "Dendroica palmarum"
*Bay-breasted Warbler "Dendroica castanea"
*Blackpoll Warbler "Dendroica striata"
*Cerulean Warbler "Dendroica cerulea"
*Black-and-white Warbler "Mniotilta varia"
*American Redstart "Setophaga ruticilla"
*Prothonotary Warbler "Protonotaria citrea"
*Worm-eating Warbler "Helmitheros vermivorus"
*Ovenbird "Seiurus aurocapilla"
*Northern Waterthrush "Seiurus noveboracensis"
*Louisiana Waterthrush "Seiurus motacilla"
*Kentucky Warbler "Oporornis formosus"
*Connecticut Warbler "Oporornis agilis" (A)
*Mourning Warbler "Oporornis philadelphia" (A)
*Common Yellowthroat "Geothlypis trichas"
*Hooded Warbler "Wilsonia citrina"
*Canada Warbler "Wilsonia canadensis"

Bananaquit

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Coerebidae

The Bananaquit is a small passerine bird. It has a slender, curved bill, adapted to taking nectar from flowers and is the only member of the genus "Coereba" (Vieillot, 1809) and is normally placed within the family Coerebidae, although there is uncertainty whether that placement is correct.

*Bananaquit "Coereba flaveola"

Tanagers

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Thraupidae

The tanagers are a large group of small to medium-sized passerine birds restricted to the New World, mainly in the tropics. Many species are brightly coloured. They are seed eaters, but their preference tends towards fruit and nectar. Most have short, rounded wings. There are 256 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in the US Virgin Islands.

*Scarlet Tanager "Piranga olivacea"

Buntings, Sparrows, Seedeaters and allies

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Emberizidae

The emberizids are a large family of passerine birds. They are seed-eating birds with a distinctively shaped bill. In Europe, most species are named as 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. There are species 275 worldwide and 3 species which occur in the US Virgin Islands.

*Black-faced Grassquit "Tiaris bicolor"
*Lesser Antillean Bullfinch "Loxigilla noctis"
*Dark-eyed Junco "Junco hyemalis"

altators, Cardinals and allies

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Cardinalidae

The cardinals are a family of passerine birds that are robust, seed-eating birds, with strong bills. They are typically associated with open woodland. The sexes usually have distinct plumages. There are 43 species worldwide and 3 species which occur in the US Virgin Islands.

*Rose-breasted Grosbeak "Pheucticus ludovicianus" (A)
*Blue Grosbeak "Passerina caerulea"
*Indigo Bunting "Passerina cyanea"

Troupials and allies

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Icteridae

The icterids are a group of small to medium, often colourful, passerine birds restricted to the New World and include the grackles, New World blackbirds, and New World orioles. Most species have black as the predominant plumage colour, often enlivened by yellow, orange or red. There are 98 species worldwide and 4 species which occur in the US Virgin Islands.

*Bobolink "Dolichonyx oryzivorus"
*Shiny Cowbird "Molothrus bonariensis"
*Venezuelan Troupial "Icterus icterus"
*Baltimore Oriole "Icterus galbula"

parrows

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Passeridae

Sparrows are small passerine birds. In general, sparrows tend to be small, plump, brown or grey birds with short tails and short powerful beaks. Sparrows are seed-eaters, and they also consume small insects. There are 35 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in the US Virgin Islands.

*House Sparrow "Passer domesticus" (I)

ee also

*List of birds
*Lists of birds by region

References

*cite web
last = Lepage
first = Denis
authorlink =
coauthors =
year =
url = http://www.bsc-eoc.org/avibase/avibase.jsp?region=vi&pg=checklist&list=clements
title = Checklist of birds of the US Virgin Islands
format =
work = Bird Checklists of the World
publisher = Avibase
accessdate = 5 May
accessyear = 2007
*cite book
title=Birds of the World: a Checklist
first= James F.
last = Clements
publisher = Cornell University Press
date = 2000
id = ISBN 0934797161
pages = 880