"Below you will find a Check List of the Birds of Cuba in taxonomic order, with the Rare/Accidental species sorted to the bottom, except the one (White Pelican) that we found during our Birdwatching Cuba tour. Given that we saw 17 of them, I wonder if they are still a rare bird in Cuba. I added a column indicating whether we saw/heard it or not, and another column with notes on what day we encountered them. Included are 3 birds we found on our wanderings: Royal Terns and a couple of Barn Swallows from the Malecon, and a Cuban Gnatcatcher in a tree a few blocks from the hotel."
Bob Kortright, former tour participant
| Family | English | Seen |
Day |
Latin | Spanish |
| Numididae | Helmeted Guineafowl | y |
4 |
Numida meleagris | Pintada Común |
| Odontophoridae | Northern Bobwhite | Colinus virginianus | Colín de Virginia | ||
| Phasianidae | Common Pheasant | Phasianus colchicus | Faisán Vulgar | ||
| Anatidae | West Indian Whistling Duck | Dendrocygna arborea | Suirirí Yaguaza | ||
| Anatidae | Fulvous Whistling Duck | Dendrocygna bicolor | Suirirí Bicolor | ||
| Anatidae | Muscovy Duck | Cairina moschata | Pato Criollo | ||
| Anatidae | Wood Duck | Aix sponsa | Pato Joyuyo | ||
| Anatidae | American Wigeon | Anas americana | Silbón Americano | ||
| Anatidae | Blue-winged Teal | y |
5 |
Anas discors | Cerceta Aliazul |
| Anatidae | Northern Shoveler | y |
5 |
Anas clypeata | Cuchara Común |
| Anatidae | White-cheeked Pintail | Anas bahamensis | Anade Gargantillo | ||
| Anatidae | Northern Pintail | Anas acuta | Ánade Rabudo | ||
| Anatidae | Common Teal | Anas crecca | Cerceta Común | ||
| Anatidae | Ring-necked Duck | Aythya collaris | Porrón Acollarado | ||
| Anatidae | Lesser Scaup | Aythya affinis | Porrón Bola | ||
| Anatidae | Red-breasted Merganser | y |
5 |
Mergus serrator | Serreta Mediana |
| Anatidae | Masked Duck | Nomonyx dominicus | Malvasía Enmascarada | ||
| Anatidae | Ruddy Duck | Oxyura jamaicensis | Pato Malvasia de Cara Blanca | ||
| Procellariidae | Black-capped Petrel | Pterodroma hasitata | Petrel Antillano | ||
| Procellariidae | Audubon's Shearwater | Puffinus lherminieri | Pardela de Audubon | ||
| Podicipedidae | Least Grebe | Tachybaptus dominicus | Zampullín Macacito | ||
| Podicipedidae | Pied-billed Grebe | Podilymbus podiceps | Zampullín Picogrueso | ||
| Phoenicopteridae | Greater Flamingo | y |
5 |
Phoenicopterus ruber | Flamenco Común |
| Ciconiidae | Wood Stork | y |
5 |
Mycteria americana | Tántalo Americano |
| Threskiornithidae | White Ibis | y |
5 |
Eudocimus albus | Corocoro Blanco |
| Threskiornithidae | Glossy Ibis | Plegadis falcinellus | Morito Común | ||
| Threskiornithidae | Roseate Spoonbill | y |
5 |
Ajaia ajaja | Espátula Rosada |
| Ardeidae | Least Bittern | Ixobrychus exilis | Avetorillo Panamericano | ||
| Ardeidae | Black-crowned Night Heron | Nycticorax nycticorax | Martinete Común | ||
| Ardeidae | Yellow-crowned Night Heron | y |
5 |
Nyctanassa violacea | Martinete Coronado |
| Ardeidae | Green Heron | y |
6 |
Butorides virescens | Garcita verdosau |
| Ardeidae | Cattle Egret | y |
1 |
Bubulcus ibis | Garcilla Bueyera |
| Ardeidae | Great Blue Heron | y |
5 |
Ardea herodias | Garza Azulada |
| Ardeidae | Great Egret | y |
3 |
Ardea alba | Garceta Grande |
| Ardeidae | Reddish Egret | y |
5 |
Egretta rufescens | Garceta Rojiza |
| Ardeidae | Tricolored or Louisiana Heron | y |
5 |
Egretta tricolor | Garceta Tricolor |
| Ardeidae | Little Blue Heron | y |
1 |
Egretta caerulea | Garceta Azul |
| Ardeidae | Snowy Egret | y |
5 |
Egretta thula | Garceta Nívea |
| Phaethontidae | White-tailed Tropicbird | Phaethon lepturus | Rabijunco Menor | ||
| Fregatidae | Magnificent Frigatebird | y |
5 |
Fregata magnificens | Rabihorcado Magnífico |
| Pelecanidae | American White Pelican | y |
5 |
Pelecanus erythrorhynchos | Pelícano Norteamericano |
| Pelecanidae | Brown Pelican | y |
1 |
Pelecanus occidentalis | Pelícano Alcatraz |
| Sulidae | Brown Booby | Sula leucogaster | Piquero Pardo | ||
| Phalacrocoracidae | Neotropical Cormorant | y |
4 |
Phalacrocorax brasilianus | Cormorán Biguá |
| Phalacrocoracidae | Double-crested Cormorant | Phalacrocorax auritus | Cormorán Orejudo | ||
| Anhingidae | Anhinga | Anhinga anhinga | Anhinga Americana | ||
| Cathartidae | Turkey-Vulture | y |
1 |
Cathartes aura | Aura Gallipavo |
| Falconidae | Crested Caracara | Caracara cheriway | Carancho Norteño | ||
| Falconidae | American Kestrel | y |
2 |
Falco sparverius | Cernícalo Americano |
| Falconidae | Merlin | y |
5 |
Falco columbarius | Esmerejón |
| Falconidae | Peregrine Falcon | Falco peregrinus | Halcón Peregrino | ||
| Accipitridae | Osprey | y |
3 |
Pandion haliaetus | Águila Pescadora |
| Accipitridae | Hook-billed Kite | Chondrohierax uncinatus | Milano Picogarfio | ||
| Accipitridae | Snail Kite | y |
1 |
Rostrhamus sociabilis | Caracolero Común |
| Accipitridae | Northern Harrier/Hen Harrier | Circus cyaneus | Aguilucho Pálido | ||
| Accipitridae | Sharp-shinned Hawk | y |
6 |
Accipiter striatus | Azor Rojizo |
| Accipitridae | Gundlach's Hawk | Accipiter gundlachi | Gavilán Cubano | ||
| Accipitridae | Common Black Hawk | y |
4 |
Buteogallus anthracinus | Busardo-negro Norteño |
| Accipitridae | Broad-winged Hawk | y |
2 |
Buteo platypterus | Busardo Aliancho |
| Accipitridae | Red-tailed Hawk | y |
2 |
Buteo jamaicensis | Busardo Colirrojo |
| Rallidae | Black Rail | Laterallus jamaicensis | Polluela Negruzca | ||
| Rallidae | Clapper Rail | Rallus longirostris | Rascón Piquilargo | ||
| Rallidae | King Rail | Rallus elegans | Rascón Elegante | ||
| Rallidae | Sora Rail | Porzana carolina | Polluela Sora | ||
| Rallidae | Yellow-breasted Crake | Porzana flaviventer | Polluela Pálida | ||
| Rallidae | Zapata Rail | Cyanolimnas cerverai | Gallineta de Zapata | ||
| Rallidae | Spotted Rail | Pardirallus maculatus | Rascón Overo | ||
| Rallidae | Purple Gallinule | y |
4 |
Porphyrio martinica | Calamoncillo Americano |
| Rallidae | Common Moorhen | y |
4 |
Gallinula chloropus | Gallereta Común |
| Rallidae | American Coot | y |
1 |
Fulica americana | Focha Americana |
| Gruidae | Sandhill Crane | Grus canadensis | Grulla Canadiense | ||
| Aramidae | Limpkin | y |
4 |
Aramus guarauna | Carrao |
| Recurvirostridae | Black-winged Stilt | y |
5 |
Himantopus himantopus | Cigüeñuela Común |
| Charadriidae | Grey Plover/Black-bellied Plover | y |
5 |
Pluvialis squatarola | Chorlito Gris |
| Charadriidae | Semipalmated Plover | Charadrius semipalmatus | Chorlitejo Semipalmeado | ||
| Charadriidae | Wilson's Plover | Charadrius wilsonia | Chorlitejo Piquigrueso | ||
| Charadriidae | Killdeer | y |
5 |
Charadrius vociferus | Chorlitejo Culirrojo |
| Charadriidae | Kentish Plover | Charadrius alexandrinus | Chorlitejo Patinegro | ||
| Jacanidae | Northern Jacana | Jacana spinosa | Jacana Centroamericana | ||
| Scolopacidae | Common Snipe | Gallinago gallinago | Agachadiza Común | ||
| Scolopacidae | Short-billed Dowitcher | y |
5 |
Limnodromus griseus | Agujeta Gris |
| Scolopacidae | Whimbrel | Numenius phaeopus | Zarapito Trinador | ||
| Scolopacidae | Greater Yellowlegs | y |
5 |
Tringa melanoleuca | Archibebe Patigualdo Grande |
| Scolopacidae | Lesser Yellowlegs | Tringa flavipes | Archibebe Patigualdo Chico | ||
| Scolopacidae | Solitary Sandpiper | Tringa solitaria | Andarríos Solitario | ||
| Scolopacidae | Spotted Sandpiper | y |
5 |
Actitis macularius | Andarríos Maculado |
| Scolopacidae | Willet | y |
5 |
Catoptrophorus semipalmatus | Playero Aliblanco |
| Scolopacidae | Ruddy Turnstone | y |
5 |
Arenaria interpres | Vuelvepiedras Común |
| Scolopacidae | Sanderling | Calidris alba | Correlimos Tridáctilo | ||
| Scolopacidae | Semipalmated Sandpiper | y |
5 |
Calidris pusilla | Correlimos Semipalmeado |
| Scolopacidae | Least Sandpiper | Calidris minutilla | Correlimos Menudillo | ||
| Scolopacidae | Stilt-Sandpiper | Calidris himantopus | Correlimos Zancolín | ||
| Laridae | Herring Gull | y |
1 |
Larus argentatus | Gaviota Argéntea |
| Laridae | Laughing Gull | y |
1 |
Larus atricilla | Gaviota Guanaguanare |
| Laridae | Gull-billed Tern | Sterna nilotica | Pagaza Piconegra | ||
| Laridae | Caspian Tern | y |
5 |
Sterna caspia | Pagaza Piquirroja |
| Laridae | Sandwich Tern | Sterna sandvicensis | Charrán Patinegro | ||
| Laridae | Royal Tern | y |
7 |
Sterna maxima | Charrán Real |
| Laridae | Least Tern | Sterna antillarum | Charrancito Americano | ||
| Laridae | Bridled Tern | Sterna anaethetus | Charrán Embridado | ||
| Laridae | Sooty Tern | Sterna fuscata | Charrán Sombrío | ||
| Laridae | Brown Noddy | Anous stolidus | Tiñosa Boba | ||
| Columbidae | Rock Dove | y |
1 |
Columba livia | Paloma Bravía |
| Columbidae | White-crowned Pigeon | Columba leucocephala | Paloma Coronita | ||
| Columbidae | Scaly-naped Pigeon | y |
2 |
Columba squamosa | Paloma Isleña |
| Columbidae | Plain Pigeon | Columba inornata | Paloma Boba | ||
| Columbidae | Eurasian Collared Dove | y |
1 |
Streptopelia decaocto | Tórtola Turca |
| Columbidae | Mourning Dove | y |
2 |
Zenaida macroura | Zenaida Huilota |
| Columbidae | Zenaida Dove | Zenaida aurita | Zenaida Caribeña | ||
| Columbidae | White-winged Dove | y |
4 |
Zenaida asiatica | Zenaida Aliblanca |
| Columbidae | Common Ground Dove | y |
2 |
Columbina passerina | Columbina Común |
| Columbidae | Gray-headed Quail-Dove | y |
4 |
Geotrygon caniceps | Paloma-perdiz Camao |
| Columbidae | Key West Quail-Dove | Geotrygon chrysia | Paloma-perdiz Barbiqueja | ||
| Columbidae | Ruddy Quail-Dove | Geotrygon montana | Paloma-perdiz Común | ||
| Columbidae | Blue-headed Quail-Dove | Starnoenas cyanocephala | Paloma-perdiz Cubana | ||
| Psittacidae | Cuban Parakeet | Aratinga euops | Aratinga Cubana | ||
| Psittacidae | Cuban Parrot | y |
4 |
Amazona leucocephala | Amazona Cubana |
| Cuculidae | Yellow-billed Cuckoo | Coccyzus americanus | Cuclillo Piquigualdo | ||
| Cuculidae | Mangrove Cuckoo | Coccyzus minor | Cuclillo de Manglar | ||
| Cuculidae | Great Lizard Cuckoo | y |
4 |
Saurothera merlini | Cuco-lagartero Cubano |
| Cuculidae | Smooth-billed Ani | y |
2 |
Crotophaga ani | Garrapatero Aní |
| Tytonidae | Barn Owl | ? |
1 |
Tyto alba | Lechuza Común |
| Strigidae | Cuban Screech Owl or Bare-legged Owl | y |
4 |
Gymnoglaux lawrencii | Autillo Cubano |
| Strigidae | Cuban Pygmy Owl | y |
4 |
Glaucidium siju | Mochuelo Sijú |
| Strigidae | Burrowing Owl | Athene cunicularia | Mochuelo de Madriguera | ||
| Strigidae | Stygian Owl | y |
4 |
Asio stygius | Búho Negruzco |
| Strigidae | Short-eared Owl | Asio flammeus | Búho Campestre | ||
| Caprimulgidae | Antillean Nighthawk | Chordeiles gundlachii | Añapero Querequeté | ||
| Caprimulgidae | Greater Antillean Nightjar | nest |
4 |
Caprimulgus cubanensis | Chotacabra Cubana |
| Apodidae | White-collared Swift | Streptoprocne zonaris | Vencejo Acollarado | ||
| Apodidae | Antillean Palm Swift | y |
1 |
Tachornis phoenicobia | Vencejillo Antillano |
| Trochilidae | Cuban Emerald | y |
1 |
Chlorostilbon ricordii | Esmeralda Zunzún |
| Trochilidae | Bee Hummingbird | y |
4 |
Mellisuga helenae | Colibrí Zunzuncito |
| Trogonidae | Cuban Trogon | y |
2 |
Priotelus temnurus | Trogón Tocororo |
| Alcedinidae | Belted Kingfisher | y |
1 |
Megaceryle alcyon | Martín Gigante Norteamericano |
| Todidae | Cuban Tody | y |
2 |
Todus multicolor | Barrancolí Cubano |
| Picidae | West Indian Woodpecker | y |
1 |
Melanerpes superciliaris | Carpintero Antillano |
| Picidae | Yellow-bellied Sapsucker | Sphyrapicus varius | Chupasavia Norteño | ||
| Picidae | Cuban Green Woodpecker | y |
2 |
Xiphidiopicus percussus | Carpintero Tajá |
| Picidae | Northern Flicker | y |
2 |
Colaptes auratus | Carpintero Escapulario |
| Picidae | Fernandina's Flicker | y |
4 |
Colaptes fernandinae | Carpintero Churroso |
| Tyrannidae | Eastern Wood Pewee | Contopus virens | Pibí Oriental | ||
| Tyrannidae | Cuban Pewee | y |
2 |
Contopus caribaeus | Pibí Cubano |
| Tyrannidae | Gray Kingbird | y |
2 |
Tyrannus dominicensis | Tirano Dominicano |
| Tyrannidae | Giant Kingbird | Tyrannus cubensis | Tirano Cubano | ||
| Tyrannidae | Loggerhead Kingbird | y |
1 |
Tyrannus caudifasciatus | Tirano Guatíbere |
| Tyrannidae | La Sagra's Flycatcher | y |
3 |
Myiarchus sagrae | Copetón de De La Sagra |
| Vireonidae | White-eyed Vireo | Vireo griseus | Vireo de Ojos Blancos | ||
| Vireonidae | Thick-billed Vireo | Vireo crassirostris | Vireo de Pico Grueso | ||
| Vireonidae | Cuban Vireo | y |
3 |
Vireo gundlachii | Vireo Cubano |
| Vireonidae | Yellow-throated Vireo | Vireo flavifrons | Vireo de Cuello Amarilla | ||
| Vireonidae | Red-eyed Vireo | Vireo olivaceus | Vireo de Ojos Rojos | ||
| Vireonidae | Black-whiskered Vireo | y |
2 |
Vireo altiloquus | Vireo de Bigotes Negros |
| Corvidae | Palm Crow | Corvus palmarum | Cuervo Palmero | ||
| Corvidae | Cuban Crow | Corvus nasicus | Cuervo Cubano | ||
| Bombycillidae | Cedar Waxwing | Bombycilla cedrorum | Ampelis Americano | ||
| Hirundinidae | Tree Swallow | y |
2 |
Tachycineta bicolor | Golondrina Bicolor |
| Hirundinidae | Purple Martin | y |
1 |
Progne subis | Golondrina Purpúrea |
| Hirundinidae | Cuban Martin | y |
2 |
Progne cryptoleuca | Golondrina Cubana |
| Hirundinidae | Northern Rough-winged Swallow | Stelgidopteryx serripennis | Golondrina Aserrada | ||
| Hirundinidae | Barn Swallow | y |
7 |
Hirundo rustica | Golondrina Común |
| Hirundinidae | Cave Swallow | Petrochelidon fulva | Golondrina Pueblera | ||
| Troglodytidae | Zapata Wren | Ferminia cerverai | Ratona de Zapata | ||
| Polioptilidae | Blue-gray Gnatcatcher | Polioptila caerulea | Perlita Común | ||
| Polioptilidae | Cuban Gnatcatcher | y |
7 |
Polioptila lembeyei | Perlita Cubana |
| Mimidae | Gray Catbird | y |
6 |
Dumetella carolinensis | Sinsonte Maullador |
| Mimidae | Northern Mockingbird | y |
1 |
Mimus polyglottos | Sinsonte Común |
| Mimidae | Bahama Mockingbird | Mimus gundlachii | Sinsonte de las Bahamas | ||
| Turdidae | Cuban Solitaire | heard |
2 |
Myadestes elisabeth | Clarín Cubano |
| Turdidae | Red-legged Thrush | y |
1 |
Turdus plumbeus | Zorzal Cubano |
| Passeridae | House Sparrow | y |
1 |
Passer domesticus | Gorrión Doméstico |
| Estrildidae | Scaly-breasted Munia | Lonchura punctulata | Capuchino Nutmeg | ||
| Estrildidae | Black-headed Munia | Lonchura malacca | Capuchino de Cabeza Negra | ||
| Parulidae | Tennessee Warbler | Vermivora peregrina | Chipe Peregrino | ||
| Parulidae | Northern Parula | y |
4 |
Parula americana | Párula de Pecho Dorado |
| Parulidae | Yellow Warbler | y |
6 |
Dendroica petechia | Chipe Amarillo |
| Parulidae | Blackpoll Warbler | Dendroica striata | Chipe Estriado | ||
| Parulidae | Magnolia Warbler | y |
4 |
Dendroica magnolia | Chipe de Cola Fajeada |
| Parulidae | Cape May Warbler | y |
2 |
Dendroica tigrina | Chipe Tigre |
| Parulidae | Black-throated Blue Warbler | y |
6 |
Dendroica caerulescens | Chipe Azul y Negro |
| Parulidae | Yellow-rumped Warbler | Dendroica coronata | Chipe Coronado | ||
| Parulidae | Black-throated Green Warbler | y |
3 |
Dendroica virens | Chipe de Garganta Negra |
| Parulidae | Yellow-throated Warbler | y |
1 |
Dendroica dominica | Chipe de Garganta Amarilla |
| Parulidae | Prairie Warbler | Dendroica discolor | Chipe Galano | ||
| Parulidae | Olive-capped Warbler | y |
2 |
Dendroica pityophila | Chipe de Capa Oliva |
| Parulidae | Palm Warbler | y |
2 |
Dendroica palmarum | Chipe Palmero |
| Parulidae | Black-and-white Warbler | y |
4 |
Mniotilta varia | Chipe Rayado |
| Parulidae | American Redstart | y |
3 |
Setophaga ruticilla | Chipe Rey Americano |
| Parulidae | Worm-eating Warbler | Helmitheros vermivorum | Chipe Gusanero | ||
| Parulidae | Ovenbird | Seiurus aurocapilla | Chipe de Tierra | ||
| Parulidae | Northern Waterthrush | Seiurus noveboracensis | Chipe de Agua Norteño | ||
| Parulidae | Louisiana Waterthrush | Seiurus motacilla | Chipe de Agua Sureño | ||
| Parulidae | Common Yellowthroat | Geothlypis trichas | Chipe de Cara Negra | ||
| Parulidae | Yellow-headed Warbler | y |
2 |
Teretistris fernandinae | Chipe de Cabeza Amarilla |
| Parulidae | Oriente Warbler | Teretistris fornsi | Chipe de Oriente | ||
| Icteridae | Greater Antillean Oriole | y |
2 |
Icterus dominicensis | Bolsero capuchinegro |
| Icteridae | Orchard Oriole | Icterus spurius | Turpial de los Huertos | ||
| Icteridae | Baltimore Oriole | Icterus galbula | Ictérido anaranjado | ||
| Icteridae | Shiny Cowbird | Molothrus bonariensis | Vaquero Mirlo | ||
| Icteridae | Cuban Blackbird | y |
1 |
Dives atroviolaceus | Turpial Cubano |
| Icteridae | Red-shouldered Blackbird | Agelaius assimilis | Turpial de Hombros Rojos | ||
| Icteridae | Tawny-shouldered Blackbird | y |
2 |
Agelaius humeralis | Turpial de Hombros Castaños |
| Icteridae | Greater Antillean Grackle | y |
1 |
Quiscalus niger | Zanate Antillano |
| Icteridae | Eastern Meadowlark | Sturnella magna | Turpial Oriental | ||
| Icteridae | Bobolink | Dolichonyx oryzivorus | Soldadito Arrocero | ||
| Emberizidae | Savannah Sparrow | Passerculus sandwichensis | Sabanero Zanjero | ||
| Emberizidae | Grasshopper Sparrow | Ammodramus savannarum | Sabanero Chapulín | ||
| Emberizidae | Zapata Sparrow | Torreornis inexpectata | Sabanero de Zapata | ||
| Emberizidae | Cuban Bullfinch | y |
2 |
Melopyrrha nigra | Semillero Cubano |
| Emberizidae | Cuban Grassquit | Tiaris canorus | Tomeguín del Pinar | ||
| Emberizidae | Yellow-faced Grassquit | y |
6 |
Tiaris olivaceus | Tomeguín de la Tierra |
| Thraupidae | Red-legged Honeycreeper | Cyanerpes cyaneus | Tucuso Monatñés | ||
| Genera Incertae Sedis | Summer Tanager | Piranga rubra | Quitrique Colorado | ||
| Genera Incertae Sedis | Western Spindalis | y |
2 |
Spindalis zena | Tángara Cabeza Rayada |
Select your authentic Cuba trip from over 70 Cuba tours in seconds. Sort by departure date, price, destination and even Cuba travel theme.
QUICK CUBA TOUR FINDER