An endemic species is one which is found only is a specific area, and nowhere else in the world.

Currently, Cayman is not regarded as having any endemic species of birds. Our two endemic species are now extinct. The giant bullfinch Melopyrrha latirostris died out during prehistoric times. The Grand Cayman Thrush Turdus ravidus died out in recent times. The last one was seen in 1938.

The Cayman Islands still support seventeen unique races or “subspecies” of birds. These endemic subspecies are found in the Cayman Islands, and nowhere else in the world.

The most famous of these endemic subspecies is the Cayman Parrot. Both the Grand Cayman Parrot Amozona leucocephala caymanensis, and the Cayman Brac Parrot Amozona leucocephala hesterna are subspecies unique to the Cayman Islands.

The endemic birds of the Cayman Islands are:

Caribbean Dove (White Belly)
Leptotila jamaicensis collaris (found only in Grand Cayman)

Cayman Parrot (Parrot, Cuban Parrot, Rose-throated Parrot)
Amazona leucocephala caymanensis (found only in Grand Cayman)
Amazona leucocephala hesterna (found only in Cayman Brac)

West Indian Woodpecker (Red Head)
Melanerpes superciliaris caymanensis (found only in Grand Cayman)

Northern Flicker (Black Heart)
Colaptes auratus gundlachi (found only in Grand Cayman)

Caribbean Elaenia (Judas, Top-Knot Judas)
Eleania martinica caymanensis (found only in the three Cayman Islands)

Loggerhead Kingbird (Tom Fighter)
Tyrannus caudifasciatus caymanensis (found only in Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac)

Red-legged Thrush (Old Truss, Thrush)
Turdus plumbeus coryi (found only in Cayman Brac)

Thick-billed Vireo (Shear Bark)
Vireo crassirostris alleni (found only in Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac)

Yucatan Vireo (Sweet Bridget)
Vireo magister caymanensis (found only in Grand Cayman)

Vitelline Warbler (Chip Chip)
Dendronica vitellina vitellina (found only in Grand Cayman)
Dendronica vitellina crawfordi (found only in Little Cayman and Cayman Brac)

Bananaquit (Banana Bird)
Coereba flaveola sharpie (found only in the three Cayman Islands)

Stripe-headed Tanager (Bastard Cock, Sparrow, Stripe-headed Tanager)
Spindalis zena salvini (found only in Grand Cayman)

Cuban Bullfinch (Black Sparrow)
Melopyrrha nigra taylori (found only in Grand Cayman)

Greater Antillean Grackle (Ching-ching, Blacksmith)
Quiscalus niger caymanensis (found only in Grand Cayman)
Quiscalus niger bangsi (found only in Little Cayman)

REFERENCE:
For more information on the birds of the Cayman Islands, see
Bradley, P. E. 1995. Birds of the Cayman Islands
Bradley, P. E. 2000. The Birds of the Cayman Islands
Raffaele et al. 2003. A Guide to the Birds of the West Indies.