Family: Anhingidae - Anhingas or Darters
Anhingas have very long, slender necks, small heads and long pointed bills. The tail is long and shaped like a narrow fan in flight.
Scientific Name
|
Local Name
|
Trinidad
|
Tobago
|
Anhinga anhinga
|
Anhinga, American darter, snake bird
|
X
|
X
|
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Family: Fregatidae - Frigatebirds
Large seabirds with narrow, pointed wings. Frigatebirds are usually seen gliding high above the sea, their wings forming a conspicuous shallow W pattern in silhouette. The long tail is occasionally divided into a deep fork. The bill is long and powerfully hooked.
Scientific Name
|
Local Name
|
Trinidad
|
Tobago
|
Fregata magnificens
|
Magnificent Frigatebird, Man-o-War
|
X
|
X
|
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Scientific Name
|
Local Name
|
Trinidad
|
Tobago
|
Pelecanus occidentalis
|
Brown Pelican
|
X
|
X
|
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Family: Phaethontidae - Tropicbirds
Seabirds resembling enormous terns with heavy bills and very long central tail feathers. They usually fly high above the sea with strong, rapid wing beats and dive, tern-like for fish.
Scientific Name
|
Local Name
|
Trinidad
|
Tobago
|
Phaethon aethereus
|
Boatswain Bird, Booby
|
X
|
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Scientific Name
|
Local Name
|
Trinidad
|
Tobago
|
Phalacrocorax brasiliensis
|
Neotropic Cormorant, Olivaceous Cormorant, Brazilian Cormorant, Muscovy
|
X
|
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Family: Sulidae - Boobies
Large seabirds with cigar shaped bodies, long, pointed wings and stout, sharp bills.
Scientific Name
|
Local Name
|
Trinidad
|
Tobago
|
Sula leucogaster | Brown Booby |
X
|
|
Sula sula
|
Red footed Booby
|
X
|
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Family: Galbulidae - Jacamars
These are slender, medium-sized birds with brilliant, iridescent plumage and long, thin bills. They resemble enormous hummingbirds. They are usually found in forest clearings or amidst second growth.
Scientific Name
|
Local Name
|
Trinidad
|
Tobago
|
Galbula ruficauda
|
Rufous-tailed Jacamar
|
X
|
X
|
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Family: Picidae - Woodpeckers
Woodpeckers live, feed and breed typically in trees, where they climb on the trunks or larger branches, usually in a vertical attitude, supported by their stiff tail-feathers. Nests are made in tree-holes, and both sexes care for the eggs and young, the male alone incubating at night.
Scientific Name
|
Local Name
|
Trinidad
|
Tobago
|
Celeus elegans
|
Chestnut Woodpecker
|
X
|
|
Dryocopus lineatus
|
Lineated Woodpecker
|
X
|
|
Melanerpes rubricapillus
|
Red-crowned Woodpecker
|
X
|
|
Phloeoceastes melanoleucos
|
Crimson-crested Woodpecker
|
X
|
|
Piculus rubiginosus
|
Golden-olive Woodpecker
|
X
|
|
Veniliornis kirkii
|
Red-rumped Woodpecker
|
X
|
X
|
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Family: Ramphastidae - Toucans
This family is unmistakable with their enormous, disproportionate bills. Usually feeds in the canopy on fruits and nests in tree-holes. It has a loud, high-pitched call. The toucan in flight swoops and glides swiftly from tree to tree.
Scientific Name
|
Local Name
|
Trinidad
|
Tobago
|
Ramphastos vitellinus
|
Channel-billed Toucan
|
X
|
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Family: Podicipedidae - Grebes
Small water-birds, inhabiting mainly freshwater areas. Superficially resembling ducks, they have lobed toes and more sharply pointed bills. Two species occur in Trinidad and Tobago..
Scientific Name
|
Local Name
|
Trinidad
|
Tobago
|
Podilymbus podiceps | Pied-billed Grebe, Diver |
X
|
X
|
Tachybaptus dominicus
|
Least Grebe, Short-billed Grebe, Diver
|
X
|
X
|
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Source: Ffrench, Richard (1991), A Guide to the Birds of Trinidad and Tobago
Cornell University Press
http://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/
Cornell University Press
http://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/