List of birds of Isla de Providencia

This is a list of the bird species recorded in Providencia, a mountainous island in Colombia. The avifauna of Providencia included a total of 157 species, according to Bird Checklists of the World as of July 2022.

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). 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.

The following tag has been used to highlight accidental species.

• (A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Providencia

Ducks, geese, and waterfowl

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.

• Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors
• Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris (A)
• Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator (A)
• Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis (A)

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.

• American flamingo, Phoenicopterus ruber

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.

• White-crowned pigeon, Patagioenas leucocephala (A)
• Common ground dove, Columbina passerina
• Caribbean dove, Leptotila jamaicensis
• White-winged dove, Zenaida asiatica

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.

• Smooth-billed ani, Crotophaga ani (A)
• Yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus (A)
• Mangrove cuckoo, Coccyzus minor (A)
• Black-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus erythropthalmus (A)

Nightjars and allies

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 nighthawk, Chordeiles minor (A)
• Chuck-will's-widow, Antrostomus carolinensis (A)

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.

• Chimney swift, Chaetura pelagica (A)

Hummingbirds

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.

• Green-breasted mango, Anthracothorax prevostii

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. 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
• Common gallinule, Gallinula galeata
• American coot, Fulica americana
• Purple gallinule, Porphyrio martinica

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.

• Black-necked stilt, Himantopus mexicanus
• American avocet, Recurvirostra americana (A)

Oystercatchers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Haematopodidae

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

• American oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus

Plovers and lapwings

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.

• Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola
• Wilson's plover, Charadrius wilsonia
• Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus
• Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus

Sandpipers and allies

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.

• Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus
• Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres
• Red knot, Calidris canutus
• Sanderling, Calidris alba
• Baird's sandpiper, Calidris bairdii
• Least sandpiper, Calidris minutilla
• White-rumped sandpiper, Calidris fuscicollis
• Pectoral sandpiper, Calidris melanotos
• Semipalmated sandpiper, Calidris pusilla
• Western sandpiper, Calidris mauri
• Short-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus griseus
• Wilson's snipe, Gallinago delicata
• Spotted sandpiper, Actitis macularia (A)
• Solitary sandpiper, Tringa solitaria
• Greater yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca
• Willet, Tringa semipalmata
• Lesser yellowlegs, Tringa flavipes

Skuas and jaegers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: 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.

• Pomarine jaeger, Stercorarius pomarinus
• Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus (A)

Gulls, terns, and skimmers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Laridae

Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds and includes gulls, kittiwakes, terns, and skimmers. They are typically grey 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 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 known to live in excess of 30 years.

• Laughing gull, Leucophaeus atricilla
• Franklin's gull, Leucophaeus pipixcan
• Brown noddy, Anous stolidus
• Least tern, Sternula antillarum
• Gull-billed tern, Gelochelidon nilotica
• Caspian tern, Hydroprogne caspia
• Black tern, Chlidonias niger
• Common tern, Sterna hirundo
• Forster's tern, Sterna forsteri (A)
• Royal tern, Thalasseus maximus
• Sandwich tern, Thalasseus sandvicensis
• Elegant tern, Thalasseus elegans

Tropicbirds

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.

• Red-billed tropicbird, Phaethon aethereus

Shearwaters and petrels

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.

• Audubon's shearwater, Puffinus lherminieri

Frigatebirds

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 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

Boobies and gannets

Order: Suliformes   Family: 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
• Brown booby, Sula leucogaster
• Red-footed booby, Sula sula (A)

Cormorants and shags

Order: Suliformes   Family: 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, Nannopterum auritum (A)

Pelicans

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.

• American white pelican, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos (A)
• Brown pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis (A)

Herons, egrets, and bitterns

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.

• Great blue heron, Ardea herodias
• Great egret, Ardea alba (A)
• Snowy egret, Egretta thula
• Little blue heron, Egretta caerulea
• Tricolored heron, Egretta tricolor
• Cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis
• Green heron, Butorides virescens
• Striated heron, Butorides striata (A)
• Yellow-crowned night-heron, Nyctanassa violacea

Ibises and spoonbills

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.

• White ibis, Eudocimus albus
• Glossy ibis, Plegadis falcinellus (A)

New World vultures

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.

• Turkey vulture, Cathartes aura

Osprey

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.

• Osprey, Pandion haliaetus

Hawks, eagles, and kites

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.

• Mississippi kite, Ictinia mississippiensis
• Swainson's hawk, Buteo swainsoni

Kingfishers

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Alcedinidae

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

• Belted kingfisher, Megaceryle alcyon (A)

Woodpeckers

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.

• Yellow-bellied sapsucker, Sphyrapicus varius (A)

Falcons and caracaras

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.

• Merlin, Falco columbarius (A)
• Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus

New World and African 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.

• Brown-throated parakeet, Eupsittula pertinax

Typical antbirds

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Thamnophilidae

The antbirds are a large family of small passerine birds of subtropical and tropical Central and South America. They are forest birds which tend to feed on insects at or near the ground. A sizable minority of them specialize in following columns of army ants to eat small invertebrates that leave their hiding places to flee from the ants. Many species lack bright color with brown, black, and white being the dominant tones.

• Black-crowned antshrike, Thamnophilus atrinucha

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

• Caribbean elaenia, Elaenia martinica (A)
• Olive-sided flycatcher, Contopus cooperi
• Western wood-pewee, Contopus sordidulus
• Eastern wood-pewee, Contopus virens
• Acadian flycatcher, Empidonax virescens
• Sulphur-bellied flycatcher, Myiodynastes luteiventris
• Piratic flycatcher, Legatus leucophaius
• Tropical kingbird, Tyrannus melancholicus
• Eastern kingbird, Tyrannus tyrannus
• Gray kingbird, Tyrannus dominicensis

Vireos, shrike-babblers, and erpornis

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Vireonidae

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

• Mangrove vireo, Vireo pallens
• San Andres vireo, Vireo caribaeus
• Yellow-throated vireo, Vireo flavifrons
• Philadelphia vireo, Vireo philadelphicus (A)
• Red-eyed vireo, Vireo olivaceus
• Yellow-green vireo, Vireo flavoviridis
• Black-whiskered vireo, Vireo altiloquus (A)

Swallows

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.

• Northern rough-winged swallow, Stelgidopteryx serripennis (A)
• Purple martin, Progne subis
• Brown-chested martin, Progne tapera (A)
• Bank swallow, Riparia riparia
• Barn swallow, Hirundo rustica
• Cliff swallow, Petrochelidon pyrrhonota

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 vocalizations, especially their ability to mimic a wide variety of birds and other sounds heard outdoors. Their colouring tends towards dull-greys and browns.

• Gray catbird, Dumetella carolinensis
• Tropical mockingbird, Mimus gilvus

Thrushes and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: TurdidaeThe 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.

• Veery, Catharus fuscescens (A)
• Gray-cheeked thrush, Catharus minimus (A)
• Swainson's thrush, Catharus ustulatus

Wagtails and pipits

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.

• American pipit, Anthus rubescens (A)

Troupials and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Icteridae

The icterids are a group of small to medium-sized, 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.

• Orchard oriole, Icterus spurius
• Jamaican oriole, Icterus leucopteryx
• Great-tailed grackle, Quiscalus mexicanus

New World warblers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: 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.

• Ovenbird, Seiurus aurocapilla (A)
• Worm-eating warbler, Helmitheros vermivorum (A)
• Louisiana waterthrush, Parkesia motacilla
• Northern waterthrush, Parkesia noveboracensis
• Black-and-white warbler, Mniotilta varia
• Prothonotary warbler, Protonotaria citrea (A)
• Swainson's warbler, Limnothlypis swainsonii (A)
• Tennessee warbler, Leiothlypis peregrina (A)
• Connecticut warbler, Oporornis agilis (A)
• Kentucky warbler, Geothlypis formosa (A)
• Common yellowthroat, Geothlypis trichas (A)
• Hooded warbler, Setophaga citrina (A)
• American redstart, Setophaga ruticilla (A)
• Cape May warbler, Setophaga tigrina (A)
• Northern parula, Setophaga americana
• Magnolia warbler, Setophaga magnolia (A)
• Bay-breasted warbler, Setophaga castanea
• Blackburnian warbler, Setophaga fusca
• Yellow warbler, Setophaga petechia (A)
• Chestnut-sided warbler, Setophaga pensylvanica
• Blackpoll warbler, Setophaga striata (A)
• Black-throated blue warbler, Setophaga caerulescens (A)
• Palm warbler, Setophaga palmarum (A)
• Yellow-rumped warbler, Setophaga coronata (A)
• Yellow-throated warbler, Setophaga dominica (A)
• Prairie warbler, Setophaga discolor (A)
• Black-throated green warbler, Setophaga virens
• Canada warbler, Cardellina canadensis

Cardinals and allies

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.

• Summer tanager, Piranga rubra
• Scarlet tanager, Piranga olivacea
• Rose-breasted grosbeak, Pheucticus ludovicianus
• Blue grosbeak, Passerina caerulea (A)
• Indigo bunting, Passerina cyanea (A)
• Dickcissel, Spiza americana (A)

Tanagers and allies

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 coloured. As a family they are omnivorous, but individual species specialize in eating fruits, seeds, insects, or other types of food.

• Bananaquit, Coereba flaveola
• Black-faced grassquit, Melanospiza bicolor

See also

• List of birds
• Lists of birds by region