This is a list of the bird species recorded in the Netherlands Antilles. The avifauna of the Netherlands Antilles include a total of 286 species, of which five have been introduced by humans and 22 are rare or accidental. Four 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 The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 6th edition. The family accounts at the beginning of each heading reflect this taxonomy, as do the species counts found in each family account. Introduced and accidental species are included in the total counts for the Netherlands Antilles.
The following tags have been used to highlight several categories. The commonly occurring native species do not fall into any of these categories.
(A) Accidental – a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in the Netherlands Antilles (I) Introduced – a species introduced to the Netherlands Antilles as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions
Grebes Order: PodicipediformesFamily: 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.
Least grebe, Tachybaptus dominicus Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps
Shearwaters and petrels Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: 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.
Black-capped petrel, Pterodroma hasitata Bulwer's petrel, Bulweria bulwerii Great shearwater, Ardenna gravis Sargasso shearwater, Puffinus lherminieri
Storm petrels Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Hydrobatidae
The storm petrels are relatives of the petrels and are the smallest seabirds. They feed on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like.
Wilson's storm petrel, Oceanites oceanicus Leach's storm petrel, Oceanodroma leucorhoa
Tropicbirds Order: PhaethontiformesFamily: Phaethontidae
Tropicbirds are slender white birds of tropical oceans, with exceptionally long central tail feathers. Their heads and long wings have black markings.
Red-billed tropicbird, Phaethon aethereus White-tailed tropicbird, Phaethon lepturus
Boobies and gannets Order: SuliformesFamily: Sulidae
The sulids comprise the gannets and boobies. Both groups are medium to large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish.
Masked booby, Sula dactylatra Red-footed booby, Sula sula Brown booby, Sula leucogaster
Cormorants Order: SuliformesFamily: Phalacrocoracidae
Phalacrocoracidae is a family of medium to large coastal, fish-eating seabirds 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.
Double-crested cormorant, Phalacrocorax auritus Neotropic cormorant, Phalacrocorax brasilianus Great cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo
Frigatebirds Order: SuliformesFamily: 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 coloured 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.
Magnificent frigatebird, Fregata magnificens
Pelicans Order: PelecaniformesFamily: 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.
Brown pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis
Bitterns, herons and egrets Order: PelecaniformesFamily: 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.
Whistling heron, Syrigma sibilatrix (A) Great blue heron, Ardea herodias Great egret, Ardea alba Reddish egret, Egretta rufescens Tricoloured heron, Egretta tricolor Little blue heron, Egretta caerulea Snowy egret, Egretta thula Little egret, Egretta garzetta (A) Cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis Striated heron, Butorides striata Green heron, Butorides virescens Black-crowned night-heron, Nycticorax nycticorax Yellow-crowned night-heron, Nyctanassa violacea Boat-billed heron, Cochlearius cochlearius Pinnated bittern, Botaurus pinnatus
Ibises and spoonbills Order: PelecaniformesFamily: 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.
American white ibis, Eudocimus albus Scarlet ibis, Eudocimus ruber Glossy ibis, Plegadis falcinellus White-faced ibis, Plegadis chihi Roseate spoonbill, Platalea ajaja
Storks Order: CiconiiformesFamily: 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.
Wood stork, Mycteria americana
Flamingos Order: PhoenicopteriformesFamily: Phoenicopteridae
Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually 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.
Caribbean flamingo, Phoenicopterus ruber
Ducks, geese and swans Order: AnseriformesFamily: 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.
Fulvous whistling duck, Dendrocygna bicolor White-faced whistling duck, Dendrocygna viduata West Indian whistling duck, Dendrocygna arborea Black-bellied whistling duck, Dendrocygna autumnalis Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons Comb duck, Sarkidiornis melanotos Wood duck, Aix sponsa (A) American wigeon, Anas americana Green-winged teal, Anas crecca Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos (A) Northern pintail, Anas acuta (A) White-cheeked pintail, Anas bahamensis Blue-winged teal, Anas discors Northern shoveler, Anas clypeata Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis Masked duck, Nomonyx dominica
New World vultures Order: CathartiformesFamily: 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.
Turkey vulture, Cathartes aura
Osprey Order: AccipitriformesFamily: 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.
Osprey, Pandion haliaetus
Hawks, kites and eagles Order: AccipitriformesFamily: 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.
Swallow-tailed kite, Elanoides forficatus (A) White-tailed kite, Elanus leucurus Northern harrier, Circus cyaneus White-tailed hawk, Buteo albicaudatus 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 talons.
Crested caracara, Caracara cheriway Yellow-headed caracara, Milvago chimachima 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.
Crested bobwhite, Colinus cristatus
Limpkins Order: GruiformesFamily: Aramidae
The limpkin resembles a large rail. It has drab-brown plumage and a greyer head and neck.
Limpkin, Aramus guarauna
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, 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.
Sora, Porzana carolina Purple gallinule, Porphyrio martinicus Common gallinule, Gallinula galeata American coot, Fulica americana
Jacanas Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Jacanidae
The jacanas are a group of tropical waders in the family Jacanidae. They 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.
Wattled jacana, Jacana jacana
Oystercatchers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Haematopodidae
The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.
American oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus
Avocets and stilts Order: CharadriiformesFamily: 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.
Black-necked stilt, Himantopus mexicanus American avocet, Recurvirostra americana
Thick-knees Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Burhinidae
The thick-knees are a group of largely tropical waders in the family Burhinidae. They are found worldwide within the tropical zone, with some species also breeding in temperate Europe and Australia. They are medium to large waders with strong black or yellow-black bills, large yellow eyes and cryptic plumage. Despite being classed as waders, most species have a preference for arid or semi-arid habitats.
Double-striped thick-knee, Burhinus bistriatus
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.
Southern lapwing, Vanellus chilensis 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 nivosus Collared plover, Charadrius collaris
Sandpipers and allies Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Scolopacidae