Birds
Birds are fairly well represented on the island; most having adapted well to the presence of humans.
Icterids such as the Carib Grackle (Quiscalus lugubris) and the Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis), which often parasitizes the nests of the former species, are quite common.
Seedeaters include the Black-faced Grassquit (Tiaris bicolor) and the Grassland Yellow Finch (Sicalis luteola), known locally as the Grass Canary. Introduced from South America the Grassland Yellow Finch is now faced with extirpation due to poaching for the pet trade. Until recently considered a non-sexually dimorphic subspecies of the Lesser Antillean Bullfinch (Loxigilla noctis), the Barbados Bullfinch (Loxigilla barbadensis) has recently been elevated to species level.
There are two species of Tyrant flycatcher found on the island, the Gray Kingbird (Tyrannus dominicensis) which is quite common; often seen perched on power lines,and the Caribbean Elaenia (Elaenia martinica) which is more rare.
Representatives of the family Columbidae include the Zenaida Dove (Zenaida aurita), Common Ground Dove (Columbina passerina), Scaly-naped Pigeon (Patagioenas squamosa), and the ubiquitous Rock Pigeon (Columba livia). Another species, the Eared Dove (Zenaida auriculata), which was previously reported as an occasional visitor to the island, has now established a breeding population.
Nectar consuming species include the Antillean Crested Hummingbird (Orthorhyncus cristatus), Green-throated Carib (Eulampis holosericeus), and the Bananaquit (Coereba flaveola).
Heron species include, the Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) and the fairly rare Green Heron (Butorides virescens). A recent addition to the island's avifauna is the Little Egret (Egretta garzetta), which has recently colonized the island from Africa.
Early European visitors reported finding a species of parrot on the island, which subsequently became extinct. Currently parrots are represented by a few escaped or released individuals which have formed feral populations; most notably is a small population of the Orange-winged Parrot (Amazona amazonica) which has become established among several Roystonea palms in the Belleville district of the capital Bridgetown. The Brown-throated Parakeet (Aratinga pertinax), introduced to the island, is rarely seen.
The Scaly-breasted Thrasher (Allenia fusca) may have become extirpated from the Island. A resident race of the Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia petechia) is also threatened, mostly due to loss of its mangrove swamp habitat; the last major refuge for this species is the Graeme Hall Swamp in the south of the Island, However some reports suggest the species is expanding its range on the island.
Species which may be encountered in wetland areas include the Masked Duck (Nomonyx dominica), Caribbean Coot (Fulica caribaea), and the Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) The Southern Lapwing (Vanellus chilensis), a shorebird, has recently bred upon the island; having spread to Barbados from Trinidad and Tobago and Northern South America.
Substantial numbers of migratory birds either over-wintering on the island, or en route from North America to South American wintering grounds are seen annually. Shorebirds are one such group of birds which stop off in Barbados during migration; tens of thousands however, lured to artificial wetlands, are shot annually for sport.
Read more about this topic: Fauna Of Barbados
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