This is a list of the bird species recorded in the Cayman Islands. The avifauna of the Cayman Islands included a total of 270 species, according to Bird Checklists of the World as of May 2023. Of them, 163 are rare or accidental and eight are introduced. One species (Grand Cayman thrush) was endemic to the islands but is now extinct, and one species (Jamaican oriole) has been extirpated. BirdLife International has reclassified Grand Cayman's endemic Cuban bullfinch subspecies as a full species, the Grand Cayman bullfinch, but the AOS has not yet accepted this. In addition, the islands hold most of the world population of vitelline warbler which otherwise occurs only on the Swan Islands of Honduras. There are 17 endemic subspecies belonging to 14 different species.
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 tags have been used to highlight several categories of occurrence.
(A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in the Cayman Islands (E) Endemic - a species endemic to the Cayman Islands (I) Introduced - a species introduced by humans either directly to the Cayman Islands or elsewhere in the New World
Ducks, geese, and waterfowl
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.
Black-bellied whistling-duck, Dendrocygna autumnalis (A) West Indian whistling-duck, Dendrocygna arborea Fulvous whistling-duck, Dendrocygna bicolor (A) Snow goose, Anser caerulescens (A) Canada goose, Branta canadensis (A) Wood duck, Aix sponsa (A) Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors Cinnamon teal, Spatula cyanoptera (A) Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata (A) Gadwall, Mareca strepera (A) American wigeon, Mareca americana (A) Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos (A) White-cheeked pintail, Anas bahamensis (A) Northern pintail, Anas acuta (A) Green-winged teal, Anas crecca (A) Redhead, Aythya americana (A) Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris (A) Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis Hooded merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus (A) Common merganser, Mergus merganser (A) Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator (A) Masked duck, Nomonyx dominicus (A) Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis (A)
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.
American flamingo, Phoenicopterus ruber (A)
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 (A) Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps
Pigeons and doves
Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.
Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I) White-crowned pigeon, Patagioenas leucocephala Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto (I) Common ground dove, Columbina passerina Caribbean dove, Leptotila jamaicensis White-winged dove, Zenaida asiatica Zenaida dove, Zenaida aurita Mourning dove, Zenaida macroura
Cuckoos
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.
Smooth-billed ani, Crotophaga ani
Yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus (A) Mangrove cuckoo, Coccyzus minor Black-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus erythropthalmus (A)
Nightjars and allies
Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: 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.