24 Common Birds Of  St. Vincent Island

St. Vincent Island is an idyllic tropical island located in the Caribbean Sea. The island is home to a diverse ecosystem with an array of flora and fauna species.

Perhaps the most captivating creatures that inhabit St. Vincent Island are the birds. These winged creatures come in varying shapes, sizes, and colors, and they play significant roles in maintaining the island's environment.

Tourists and nature enthusiasts alike flock to the island for the opportunity to witness St. Vincent's avian diversity.

In this article, we will explore the different birds found on St. Vincent Island, their characteristics, and their importance to the island's ecosystem.

1. Belted kingfisher

The belted kingfisher is a large, eye-catching bird native to North America. It belongs to the family Alcedinidae and has been divided into three subfamilies by recent research.

The species was first described in 1758 by Carl Linnaeus in his Systema Naturae.

This water Kingfisher stands out for its size as well as its striking plumage; males are bright blue on top with white below and females have rusty brown backs and wings with a thick black breast band across their chest.

They also possess an impressive call which can be heard from quite far away.

Belted kingfishers feed mainly on small fish but will sometimes also eat crustaceans, insects or even amphibians if they come across them while hunting around rivers or streams.

All in all, this is truly one remarkable bird that deserves our admiration.

Scientific classification:

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Coraciiformes
Family	Alcedinidae
Subfamily	Cerylinae
Genus	Megaceryle
Species	M. alcyon

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2. Osprey

The Osprey is a majestic bird of prey with an incredibly wide habitat range. It has distinctive brown upperparts and greyish head and underparts, making it easily identifiable in the skies above many regions across the world.

With a wingspan of up to 180cm (71in) and body length reaching 60cm (24in), this large raptor specializes in hunting for fish, soaring high over rivers as well as coasts searching for its next meal.

Despite living near water sources, they can also be found inhabiting mountainsides or even woodlands, proving their incredible adaptability. An impressive species that truly deserves admiration.

Scientific classification:

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Accipitriformes
Family	Pandionidae
Genus	Pandion
Species	P. haliaetus

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3. Red-billed tropicbird

The Red-billed Tropicbird is a beautiful seabird found in tropical oceans. It has mainly white plumage, with black markings on its wings and back, along with a black mask and red bill.

These birds have distinctive long tail streamers that are twice their body length which they use to help them soar above the ocean surface while searching for food.

They primarily feed off squid, fish and crustaceans that inhabit coral reefs or deep sea areas where they can dive up to 30 meters below the water's surface.

The Red-billed Tropicbird was once thought of as an omen of bad luck but now it serves as a reminder of how delicate our marine ecosystems are when faced with human activity such as overfishing.

Scientific classification:

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Phaethontiformes
Family	Phaethontidae
Genus	Phaethon
Species	P. aethereus

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4. Sanderling

The Sanderling is a small wading bird that can be found in the Arctic region. Its name comes from Old English, meaning "sand-ploughman". It has grey feathers and light legs which give it its distinct white coloration.

During summer breeding months, they are known to travel great distances - some wintering as far south as South America or Southern Africa. They typically feed on crustaceans such as shrimp and mollusks along coastal shores.

The Sanderling is an important species to watch out for because of their long migratory patterns and sensitivity to environmental change; if there's trouble with this species then other birds may also be affected.

Scientific classification:

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Charadriiformes
Family	Scolopacidae
Genus	Calidris
Species	C. alba

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5. Pied-billed grebe

The Pied-billed Grebe is a water bird found in ponds throughout the Americas. It has earned many nicknames, including American dabchick, rail, and Carolina grebe.

This species of grebe can be recognized by its distinctive bill which is pied or mottled with black and white markings.

Its brownish body is also covered in dark spots as well as having long legs for swimming underwater to catch food such as aquatic insects and crustaceans.

The Pied-billed Grebes are monogamous birds that pair up during breeding season from spring to summer where they build their nests together on vegetation near the shoreline of lakes or slow moving rivers.

These birds are solitary outside of mating season but will form small flocks when migrating south for winter months.

Scientific classification:

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Podicipediformes
Family	Podicipedidae
Genus	Podilymbus
Species	P. podiceps

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6. Magnificent frigatebird

The Magnificent Frigatebird is the largest species of frigatebird, measuring between 89 and 114 cm in length and having a wingspan of 7-8 ft.

It can be found over tropical waters off America from northern Mexico to Peru on the Pacific coast, as well as Florida down south.

Its diet consists mainly of fish they take from other seabirds or snatch directly from the ocean surface while flying low above it.

They also feed on crustaceans and squid when available too.

This impressive bird has an unmistakable silhouette with its long pointed wings, forked tail feathers and male's red gular pouch which inflates during courtship displays.

Scientific classification:

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Suliformes
Family	Fregatidae
Genus	Fregata
Species	F. magnificens

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7. Green heron

The Green Heron (Butorides virescens) is a small heron found throughout North and Central America.

It's scientific name comes from Middle English ‘butor’ meaning bittern, combined with the Latin term for its distinctive greenish color - 'virescens'.

For many years it was considered to be part of the same species as the Striated Heron (Butorides striata), commonly referred to as "green-backed herons".

The nominate subspecies inhabits wetlands across much of this range, where they can be spotted stalking about in shallow water looking for fish or frogs on which to feed.

They are fascinating wading birds that have even been known to use tools such as sticks or baited lines when fishing.

Scientific classification:

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Pelecaniformes
Family	Ardeidae
Genus	Butorides
Species	B. virescens

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8. Grey heron

The grey heron is a majestic bird found in temperate regions of Europe, Asia and parts of Africa. It has long legs to wade through the shallow waters where it feeds on aquatic creatures such as frogs, fish and insects.

In wintertime some migrate southwards but others stay put in their natural habitats; lakes, rivers and marshes. They can also be spotted near coasts or along estuaries.

Grey Herons have beautiful blue-grey feathers and an impressive wingspan that makes them stand out from other birds when they soar gracefully across the sky.

These graceful creatures are not only easy on the eye but wise hunters too.

Scientific classification:

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Pelecaniformes
Family	Ardeidae
Genus	Ardea
Species	A. cinerea

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9. Great egret

The Great Egret is a large, white bird found in many regions of the world. It has four subspecies that reside across Asia, Africa, Americas and southern Europe.

This species usually lives near bodies of water such as lakes and marshes. They are also now starting to spread into more northern areas of Europe due to climate change.

These birds have long yellow legs with an impressive wingspan for their size which allows them to soar majestically through the sky hunting for fish or amphibians in shallow waters below.

Their feathers have been used historically by Native Americans as part of traditional garments or ceremonies but this practice should be avoided today so these amazing creatures can thrive without harm from humans.

Scientific classification:

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Pelecaniformes
Family	Ardeidae
Genus	Ardea
Species	A. alba

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10. Great blue heron

The Great Blue Heron is a majestic wading bird found in many parts of North America, Central America, the Caribbean and even as far away as the Galapagos Islands.

It has an impressive wingspan which can reach up to six feet wide. Its feathers are mainly bluish-gray with brownish streaks on both its neck and chest while its head displays white plumes.

The adult herons can also be identified by their yellow bill and legs.

They live near bodies of water such as lakes, marshes or rivers where they feed on fish using a spear like motion with their sharp bills.

An all-white population exists only in south Florida and the Florida Keys making it quite unique.

Scientific classification:

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Pelecaniformes
Family	Ardeidae
Genus	Ardea
Species	A. herodias

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11. Common tern

The Common Tern is a seabird in the Laridae family, found all over Europe, Asia and North America. It has a migratory nature, spending its winters in coastal tropical and subtropical regions.

Breeding adults have light grey upperparts with white to very light grey underparts featuring an orange-red beak and black cap.

They are known for their graceful flight as they hunt small fish or insects by diving into water from great heights.

During breeding season they build nests together on islands or sandbars using grasses and other materials to create them.

The female will lay two eggs which she incubates while her mate stands guard nearby; both parents take turns feeding the chicks until it's time for them fly away.

Scientific classification:

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Charadriiformes
Family	Laridae
Genus	Sterna
Species	S. hirundo

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12. Ruddy turnstone

The Ruddy Turnstone is a small wading bird, belonging to the sandpiper family Scolopacidae. It has an attractive reddish-brown coloration and black patches on its back and wings.

This species breeds in northern parts of Eurasia and North America during summertime before migrating southwards in winter season to coastlines all over the world.

The Ruddy Turnstone feeds mainly on insects, mollusks, crustaceans, worms and some plant material such as seeds or berries which it finds by probing into mudflats with its bill.

It also uses stones for turning them when searching for food under rocks or pebbles along shorelines where they can often be seen darting around looking very busy.

Scientific classification:

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Charadriiformes
Family	Scolopacidae
Genus	Arenaria
Species	A. interpres

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13. Oystercatchers

Oystercatchers are a family of waders forming the Haematopodidae, with one genus; Haematopus.

They live in coastal regions around the world excluding both polar and some tropical areas of Africa & South East Asia.

Eurasian, South Island & Magellanic oystercatcher species also breed far inland - breeding grounds being found much deeper than other members of the family.

They have long beaks used to feed on molluscs such as mussels, clams and oysters which they crack open using their strong bills.

Oystercatchers are usually quite vocal birds making various loud calls when disturbed or alarmed.

The males tend to display more brightly coloured plumage compared to females who share similar brown/black hues for camouflage purposes during nesting season.

Scientific classification:

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Charadriiformes
Suborder	Charadrii
Family	Haematopodidae Bonaparte, 1838
Genus	Haematopus Linnaeus, 1758

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14. Black-crowned night heron

The Black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) is a medium-sized bird found in various parts of the world, including Europe, Asia and North and South America.

It has black crowns on its head with white feathers underneath. Its wings are greyish brown while its underparts are mostly white.

This species can be seen foraging near shallow water or along coastlines during dusk or dawn as it hunts small fish, amphibians and crustaceans.

They also feed on insects such as grasshoppers and beetles which they find in meadows close to freshwater bodies like lakes or ponds where they breed during springtime making nests using twigs lined with reeds and leaves near these waterside habitats.

In Australasia, this species hybridizes with the nankeen night heron that inhabits those areas instead; however both populations remain distinct from each other despite their overlap range regions.

Scientific classification:

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Pelecaniformes
Family	Ardeidae
Genus	Nycticorax
Species	N. nycticorax

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15. Brown noddy

The Brown Noddy is a species of seabird in the Laridae family. It's the largest of its kind, and can be distinguished from others by its dark brown plumage, which stands out compared to other noddies with black feathers.

Found around tropical oceans worldwide, it inhabits areas such as Hawaii and Australia all the way to Tuamotu Archipelago in Polynesia.

During breeding season they form large colonies on remote islands where their nests are constructed using twigs and leaves situated atop trees or shrubs – typically located near water sources like lagoons or estuaries so they have access to food items like small fish and squid that make up their diet.

As highly social birds they often engage in synchronised flying displays over nesting sites before returning back home at nightfall.

Scientific classification:

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Charadriiformes
Family	Laridae
Genus	Anous
Species	A. stolidus

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16. Spotted sandpiper

The Spotted sandpiper (Actitis macularius) is a small shorebird that can be found across North America and parts of South America.

It has an appealing spotted plumage, predominately brown in colour with white spots on the wings, tail feathers, head and neck.

The Common Sandpiper (A. hypoleucos) is its sister species which takes over geographically when the other moves away; they have been known to hybridize as well when strays settle down among breeders.

This bird was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1766 in his twelfth edition of Systema Naturae as a migratory summer visitor to Europe but it now also occupies many habitats too like beaches, riversides and even grasslands during migration periods or for breeding season itself.

Its diet consists mainly of insects such as air-borne flies plus molluscs from shallow water areas - this makes them quite unique amongst waders.

Scientific classification:

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Charadriiformes
Family	Scolopacidae
Genus	Actitis
Species	A. macularius

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17. Sooty tern

The Sooty Tern is a bird that lives in the tropics of all three major oceans. It is found mostly on remote islands where it returns to nest and breed during its seasonal journeys.

This member of the Laridae family has been described by Carl Linnaeus as Sterna fuscata, though more recently it was given its current name Onychoprion fuscatus.

The sooty tern has dark grey wings and back, with white underneath for camouflage against predators when flying over open ocean waters; they are also adept at diving underwater in search of food such as fish or crustaceans which make up their diet.

They live in colonies and usually lay two eggs each year which incubate for about four weeks before hatching into fluffy little chicks.

Scientific classification:

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Charadriiformes
Family	Laridae
Genus	Onychoprion
Species	O. fuscatus

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18. Scaly-naped pigeon

The scaly-naped pigeon is a large bird belonging to the family Columbidae. It has slate grey plumage with maroon coloured feathers around its neck, giving it the common name of red-necked pigeon.

The species originates from throughout the Caribbean and can reach 14–16 inches in length.

Its scientific name is derived from its unique feature: small scales on its nape which form an attractive pattern when viewed up close.

This makes them easily distinguishable from other birds within their range as they are one of few that have this characteristic.

They feed mainly on fruit but also consume seeds, insects and even carrion depending on availability at any given time of year or location.

Scientific classification:

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Columbiformes
Family	Columbidae
Genus	Patagioenas
Species	P. squamosa

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19. Common ground dove

The Common Ground Dove is a small bird that can be found in the southern United States, Central America, the Caribbean and northern South America.

It's considered to be one of the smallest dove species in North American with an average length of around 6–7 inches.

This ground-dwelling species spends most of its time on foot but has been known to fly when necessary or threatened.

The plumage is pale grayish brown above while their bellies are white and speckled with black spots along their wings.

Its diet consists mainly of seeds from grasses and other low vegetation which it forages for by walking slowly across open fields or lawns looking for food items like berries, grains, insects, spiders and snails.

Scientific classification:

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Columbiformes
Family	Columbidae
Genus	Columbina
Species	C. passerina

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20. Saint Vincent amazon

The Saint Vincent amazon is a stunningly beautiful bird, with its vibrant yellowish white, blue and green head contrasting against its bronze-green upperparts plumage and violet blue-green wings.

It stands at around 40 cm (16 in) tall - a size that can be intimidating but also endearing to admirers of this species.

Its diet largely consists of fruits such as mangoes, papaya and guava along with seeds from other plants which it forages for in the forests on St.Vincent island where it calls home.

The parrot's call is loud yet melodious; creating an enchanting ambience when heard echoing through the trees.

A unique feature of these birds are their bright red eyes which symbolize the beauty behind them beyond just what we see on the surface level – something not found amongst many other species of parrots.

Scientific classification:

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Psittaciformes
Family	Psittacidae
Genus	Amazona
Species	A. guildingii

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21. Yellow-crowned night heron

The Yellow-crowned night heron is a beautiful and unique species of bird native to the Americas. It has distinctive yellow crowns on its head, making it easy to identify among other herons.

These birds are also larger than most other types of herons, reaching up to 70 cm in length and 850 g in weight.

They usually feed on small fish or crustaceans while wading through shallow waters with their long legs.

The yellow-crowned night heron can be found near marshes or lakes during breeding season when they will build nests made from twigs high above the ground for protection against predators like raccoons and foxes.

This majestic bird is an important part of wetland ecosystems as it helps keep populations of smaller aquatic animals balanced by preying upon them.

Scientific classification:

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Pelecaniformes
Family	Ardeidae
Genus	Nyctanassa
Species	N. violacea

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22. Laughing gull

The Laughing Gull is a medium-sized bird with gray wings, black head and white underparts. It has bright red legs and bill which make it easily distinguishable from other gulls.

The name comes from its unique laughing call which can be heard in coastal areas throughout the Americas where they breed. They are opportunistic omnivores that feed on fish, carrion, insects or even garbage when available.

During breeding season these birds form large colonies along the Atlantic coast of North America as well as parts of northern South America and Caribbean islands.

There are two subspecies; L megalopturus found in Canada to Central America while L atricilla inhabits rest of their range..

These species have become more common inland due to human settlement near coasts creating ideal habitat for them but also making them scavengers around urban areas.

Scientific classification:

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Charadriiformes
Family	Laridae
Genus	Leucophaeus
Species	L. atricilla

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23. Brown pelican

The majestic brown pelican is a dive-feeding bird that belongs to the pelican family. It is one of the three pelican species found in the Americas and is known to dive into water to catch its prey.

From the Atlantic Coast of New Jersey to the mouth of the Amazon River, and along the Pacific Coast from British Columbia to northern Chile, including the Galapagos Islands, this bird can be found.

Its scientific name is Pelecanus occidentalis, and it has a colored brown plumage, which is its distinct characteristic.

The brown pelican belongs to the largest bird species that exist today, with a wingspan that can stretch up to seven feet long.

This bird helps maintain a balance in the ecosystem by eating smaller fish, crustaceans, and other aquatic prey.

Scientific classification:

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Pelecaniformes
Family	Pelecanidae
Genus	Pelecanus
Species	P. occidentalis

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24. Whistling Warbler

The Whistling Warbler is a unique bird belonging to the New World warbler family and is the only member of the Catharopeza genus.

This bird has a dark back that becomes lighter towards its chest, with a dark head and a strip on its breast.

It also has a light orbital, and both males and females look alike. The Whistling Warbler is native and endemic to the island of Saint Vincent.

Scientific classification:

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Passeriformes
Family	Parulidae
Genus	Catharopeza P.L. Sclater, 1880
Species	C. bishopi