Birds of Puerto Rico: Endemics, Migrants, and Coastal Species

Avian Diversity in the Archipelago

Puerto Rico hosts ~350 bird species—17 endemic, many Caribbean specialties, plus migrants.

Flagship Endemic

• Puerto Rican Parrot (Amazona vittata) – Critically endangered; only native parrot. El Yunque, Río Abajo.

Forest & Woodland Birds

• Stripe-headed Tanager (Spindalis zena)
• Antillean Euphonia (Euphonia musica)
• Rufous-throated Solitaire (Myadestes genibarbis)
• Puerto Rican Emerald (Chlorostilbon maugaeus) – hummingbird
• Bananaquit (Coereba flaveola) – ubiquitous nectar-feeder
• Black-whiskered Vireo (Vireo altiloquus)
• Puerto Rican Flycatcher (Myiarchus antillarum)

Open Country & Coastal

• Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus forficatus) – rare vagrant
• Mangrove Warbler (Setophaga petechia) – coastal mangroves
• Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)
• Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens)
• Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) – fields, roadsides
• Herons/Great Egret – wetlands, lagoons

Note

Coquí is a frog, not a bird—iconic night singer, but irrelevant to bird lists.

Top birding: El Yunque, Maricao, Cabo Rojo, Humacao, Vieques, Culebra.