Toucan Birding Tours - Bird Watching Tours in South and Central America



		ANNOTATED SPECIES LIST FOR THE 2007 CUBA TOUR Species in bold indicate Cuban endemic. Species underlined are Caribbean endemics. LEAST GREBE Tachybaptus dominicus One at Hacienda Cotina was our only sighting. PIED-BILLED GREBE Podilymbus podiceps One seen at Hacienda Cortina and at least 30 on a large reservoir between Soroa and La Habana. BROWN PELICAN Pelecanus occidentalis Small numbers seen around the coast (La Habana, Cayo Coco, etc) DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT Phalacrocorax auritus A large concentration (estimated to be about 600) from the causeway to Cayo Coco and a few elsewhere. NEOTROPIC CORMORANT Phalacrocorax olivaceus Seen on four dates, but not many individuals. ANHINGA Anhinga anhinga One at La Boca and another near La Turba Ecological Station. MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD Fregata magnificens Surprisingly, only a few seen: Havana, Cayos, etc.














Cuba Info 29 March – 9 April 2009 Itinerary 2007 Report Species Seen 2007 Bookmark this page Recommend this page	GREAT BLUE HERON Ardea herodias Commonest around Cayo Coco but seen on nine dates with up to five in a day. A white phase bird seen near Cayo Coco and an intermediate phase near Cayo Paredon Grande. GREAT EGRET Casmerodius albus Recorded on nine dates with many seen during our travel days. SNOWY EGRET Egretta thula Regularly seen in small numbers at wetland sites. LITTLE BLUE HERON Egretta caerulea Recorded on eight dates with up to five in a day. TRICOLORED HERON Egretta tricolor Common between Cayo Guillermo and Cayo Paredon Grande. REDDISH EGRET Egretta rufescens Only seen at Cayo Guillermo and Cayo Coco. CATTLE EGRET Bubulcus ibis Common; seen daily. GREEN HERON Butorides virescens Regularly seen in small numbers in wetland areas. BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON Nycticorax nycticorax Three near the La Turba Ecological Station in Zapata and another immature at La Boca. WHITE IBIS Eudocimus albus Up to 15 near Cayos Guillermo and Cayo Coco, and up to six in the Zapata area. ROSEATE SPOONBILL Ajaia ajaja Seen daily at Cayo Coco region, with up to 17 in a day. GREATER FLAMINGO Phoenicopterus ruber Large numbers (estimated at 1,500) at distance seen from the causeway to Cayo Coco and a few others closer in the Cayo Coca area. WEST INDIAN WHISTLING-DUCK Dendrocygna arborea Two at Cayo Coco: this seems to be a rare bird in Cuba, but its nocturnal habits make it easy to overlook. BLUE-WINGED TEAL Anas discors At least 20 birds seen between Cayo Guillermo and Cayo Coco at least 80 on a reservoir near Presa Nina Bonita (between Havana and La Guira).. NORTHERN SHOVELER Anas clypeata Seen on two dates in the Cayo Coco area, with at least 13 birds involved. RING-NECKED DUCK Aythya collaris. At least 30 on a reservoir near Presa Nina Bonita. LESSER SCAUP Aythya affinis. A single male on one of two reservoirs near Presa Nina Bonita RED-BREASTED MERGANSER Mergus serrator At least 100 birds seen from the causeway as we travelled from the “mainland” to Cayo Coco and up to 30 on other dates in the area. At least 12 on the sea at Havana on our last day. TURKEY VULTURE Cathartes aura Common and seen every day. OSPREY Pandion haliaetus Regular in wetland areas: six seen on four dates. GUNDLACH'S HAWK Accipiter gundlachi The head and tail of a bird were seen on a nest on Cayo Coco on our first afternoon there, and a bird was seen a few times in flight near the nest the following day. Another bird was on a nest at La Belen, but here all that could be seen was the tail! COMMON BLACK-HAWK Buteogallus anthracinus This distinctive subspecies (gundlachii) was reasonably common in the Cayo Coco / Guillermo / Paredon Grande area. One bird observed in the Zapata area. BROAD-WINGED HAWK Buteo platypterus One seen inside pine forest in La Guira NP. RED-TAILED HAWK Buteo jamaicensis Strangely, only encountered once, at La Belen. CRESTED CARACARA Polyborus plancus Seen in small numbers on three dates from Cayo Coco through to Zapata. AMERICAN KESTREL Falco sparverius Widespread and common, with examples of both the pale and attractive rufous forms studied. MERLIN Falco columbarius Individuals seen on three dates. HELMETED GUINEA-FOWL Numida meleagris INTRODUCED Large groups in La Belen NP CLAPPER RAIL Rallus longirostris Three birds showed well on Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo PURPLE GALLINULE Porphyrula martinica Fairly common in the Zapata Swamp; also seen in the Najasa area COMMON MOORHEN Gallinula chloropus Small numbers in most wetlands visited AMERICAN COOT Fulica americana Large flocks, totalling at least 400 birds on two reservoirs near Presa Nina Bonita (between Havana and La Guira) NORTHERN JACANA Jacana spinosa Small numbers in La Belen NP and at La Boca on the Zapata Peninsula BLACK-BELLIED (GREY) PLOVER Pluvalis squatarola Cayo Guillermo and Cayo Coco; up to 20 in a day WILSON’S PLOVER Charadrius wilsonia Two seen very well on a beach at Cayo Coco, and another probable at some distance SEMI-PALMATED PLOVER Charadrius semipalmatus Good numbers in the Cayo Coco area. PIPING PLOVER Charadrius melodus At least three birds seen on a beach on Cayo Coco KILLDEER Charadrius vociferus Encountered on four dates; usually in pairs. BLACK-NECKED STILT Himantopus mexicanus At least 80 between Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER Haematopus palliatus One on a beach on Cayo Coco on 7 March. Birds of Cuba (Garrido & Kirkonnell) state that this is a very rare winter visitor, citing records from September-October on Cayo Coco and one late January record from Zapata GREATER YELLOWLEGS Tringa melanoleuca Seen on four dates: most common in Cayo Coco area. LESSER YELLOWLEGS Tringa flavipes At least 15 on one date at Cayo Coco. WESTERN WILLET Catoptrophorus (semipalmatus) inornatus Small numbers of Willet wading in the shallows off Cayo Coco were identified as this taxon based on the criteria in Sibley’s The North American Bird Guide. SPOTTED SANDPIPER Actitis macularia A single in a pool on Cayo Coco was the only sighting. RUDDY TURNSTONE Arenaria fedoa Small numbers in the Cayo Coco area (up to 30 per day). SANDERLING Calidris alba Cayo Coco only, with up to 25 seen. SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER Calidris At least 15 on Cayo Coco. WESTERN SANDPIPER Calidris mauri At least two on Cayo Coco. LEAST SANDPIPER Calidris minutilla One in marshland between La Guira and Havana and at leat five on Cayo Coco. DUNLIN Calidris alpina At least ten on Cayo Coco SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER Limnodromus griseus At least 50 on Cayo Coco LAUGHING GULL Larus atricilla Fairly common around the coast HERRING GULL Larus argentatus A few birds off the beach in Havana LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL Larus fuscus Two seen briefly off the beach in Havana by Andy and one seen well between Cayo Coco and Cayo Paredon Grande by the entire group CASPIAN TERN Sterna A few at Cayo Coco and one off the beach in Havana ROYAL TERN Sterna maxima Seen on five dates, with at least 10 on one date on Cayo Coco FORSTER’S TERN Sterna forsteri One on a reservoir near Presa Nina Bonita and at least ten in the harbour in Havana on our last day SANDWICH TERN Sterna sandvicensis One in the harbour in Havana on our last day. ROCK DOVE “Columba livia” Feral Pigeon observed in a few places WHITE-CROWNED PIGEON Columba leucocephala Seen on six dates in forested areas, with a maximum of about ten in a day on Cayo Coco SCALY-NAPED PIGEON Columba squamosa Several birds seen over a two day period in the La Guira NP and Soroa areas PLAIN PIGEON Columba inornata Small numbers recorded on two dates in La Belen NP COLLARED DOVE Streptopelia decaocto INTRODUCED. Observed on four dates WHITE-WINGED DOVE Zenaida asiatica Small numbers at several sites. MOURNING DOVE Zenaida macroura Regularly encountered in small numbers on the tour COMMON GROUND-DOVE Columbina passerina Very Common. KEY-WEST QUAIL-DOVE Geotrygon chrysia Two observed extremely well on Cayo Coco, and seen on two days at Bermeja with up to seven or more seen. Great views near one of the drinking pools there. One also seen at Soplillar GREY-HEADED QUAIL-DOVE Geotrygon caniceps At least ten, and possibly 13 visiting a drinking pool at Bermeja on our first visit, and at least five on our second visit. One observed calling at Bermeja, from a perch in mid canopy RUDDY QUAIL-DOVE Geotrygon montana One at Soroa CUBAN PARAKEET Aratinga euops Three seen at Bermeja in the Zapata Peninsula and common in La Belen NP CUBAN PARROT Amazona leucocephala Small parties seen in the La Belen NP GREAT LIZARD CUCKOO Saurothera merlini Seen in all forested areas, with up to eight in a day SMOOTH-BILLED ANI Crotophaga ani Common in many open areas BARN OWL Tyto alba A high-flying owl seen at night near Playa Larga was almost certainly this species BARE-LEGGED OWL Gymnoglaux lawrencii Two seen at Bermeja in palm-stump roost holes CUBAN PYGMY-OWL Glaucidium siju Five seen well in La Belen NP and a couple in the Zapata area STYGIAN OWL Asio stygius Cuba just has to be the best place to see this beautiful species. One seen well at Soroa and another in the hotel grounds at Playa Larga GREATER ANTILLEAN ( CUBAN ) NIGHTJAR Caprimulgus cubanensis One seen (came into tape, eventually) well near the hotel at Playa Larga; others heard but not seen at La Turba on the Zapata peninsula ANTILLEAN PALM-SWIFT Tachornis phoenicobia Widespread but only seen on four dates CUBAN EMERALD Chlorostilbon ricordii Frequently encountered in small numbers throughout the trip BEE HUMMINGBIRD Mellisuga helenae The smallest bird in the world was seen in the Zapata peninsula at Palmite, with an adult male on two days and an additional immature male and female on a second day. Another full-plumaged adult male seen briefly at Bermeja, just outside of the reserve CUBAN TROGON Priotelus temnurus Cuba 's national bird and surprisingly common in mixed and pine forests. Seen on four dates. CUBAN TODY Todus multicolor This delightful bird was common and widespread and seen on six days. BELTED KINGFISHER Ceryle alcyon Widespread and seen on six dates WEST INDIAN WOODPECKER Melanerpes superciliaris Common by voice and numerous sightings throughout the tour YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER Sphyrapicus varius Farily common – we saw this species on six dates, with up to three in a day CUBAN GREEN WOODPECKER Xiphidiopicus percussus Common and ubiquitous with up to six birds in a day NORTHERN FLICKER Colaptes auratus Unexpectedly, only seen once, on Cayo Coco FERNANDINA'S FLICKER Colaptes fernandinae Only seen in the Zapata peninsula, where three birds at Bermeja gave good views. CUBAN PEWEE Contopus caribaeus Farily common, and very confiding, with sightings on eight dates LA SAGRA'S FLYCATCHER Myiarchus sagrae Recorded at La Guira NP, Zapata peninsula and Cayo Coco GREY KINGBIRD Tyrannus dominicensis This summer visitor was only encountered at La Boca – presumably few had arrived during our visit. LOGGERHEAD KINGBIRD Tyrannus caudifasciatus Common and widespread GIANT KINGBIRD Tyrannus cubensis Two or three on territory near La Belen NP. Formerly occurred on other islands and suffering from deforestation. CUBAN MARTIN Progne cryptoleuca Another summer visitor – we only saw this species at La Boca, where it was seen on two consecutive days. At least 11 were seen there. NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW Stelgidopteryx serripennis Cloudy conditions (and hence bad lighting) during the trip meant that it was difficult to identify all the hirundines we saw at distance – we only definitely saw this species on one occasion, en route to Cayo Coco, but probably saw it also on our way to Zapata. BARN SWALLOW Hirundo rustica Only seen in the Zapata area, with small numbers seen daily CAVE SWALLOW Hirundo fulva This summer resident was found in large numbers (at least 100) around the railway station in Camaguey, and on migration over Playa Larga (at least 40) on11 March CUBAN CROW Corvus nasicus Very common near Najasa and La Belen where its garrulous parrot-like call could be heard frequently, and a few seen in the Zapata peninsular CUBAN PALM CROW Corvus minutus Seen only near Najasa, where we found at least ten birds in a dispersed group. The call is much more ‘corvid-like' than that of Cuban Crow. ZAPATA WREN Ferminia cerverai Although very responsive to tape at La Turba this endemic is very difficult to see. However, we were fortunate to have one calling from the top of several close bushes at the edge of a marsh, allowing even our driver fantastic scope views CUBAN GNATCATCHER Polioptila lembeyei Located on Cayo Guillermo and Cayo Coco CUBAN SOLITAIRE Myadestes elisabeth Only seen at Soroa and in La Guira NP, specifically Cuevas de los Portales. Incredible song! RED-LEGGED THRUSH Turdus plumbeus Common and widespread. GREY CATBIRD Dumetella carolinensis Seen on many occasions in forested areas. NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD Mimus polyglottos Common and ubiquitous. BAHAMA MOCKINGBIRD Mimus gundlachii One seen on Cayo Guillermo in the arid scrub, singing atop the vegetation despite the very strong winds. WHITE-EYED VIREO Vireo griseus One seen very well on Cayo Coco THICK-BILLED VIREO Vireo crassirostris A speciality of the mangrove scrub at Cayo Paredon Grande, where we found several birds easily. CUBAN VIREO Vireo gundlachii Observed only at La Guira, Cayo Coco and Bermeja, where fairly common. BLACK-WHISKERED VIREO Vireo altiloquus Only seen at Soroa NORTHERN PARULA Parula americana Evidently fairly common as a winger visitor: seen on eight dates with up to six in a day YELLOW WARBLER Dendroica petechia One on Cayo Romano and another on Cayo Coco MAGNOLIA WARBLER Dendroica magnolia Seen only once, at Bermeja CAPE MAY WARBLER Dendroica tigrina Seen on four dates, with eight on Cayo Coco on one day BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER Dendroica caerulescens One of the most frequently seen migrants - Eight dates YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER Dendroica coronata One on route to Zapata, at least eight on the beach at Playa Larga and several at La Boca Crocodile Farm BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER Dendroica virens Only encountered in La Belen (4) and Bermeja (1) YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER Dendroica dominica This superb bird was seen on six dates, with up to ten in one day OLIVE-CAPPED WARBLER Dendroica pityophila Easily seen in La Guira NP and common by voice PRAIRIE WARBLER Dendroica discolor Small numbers seen on six dates. PALM WARBLER Dendroica palmarum Very common, especially in open areas BLACK & WHITE WARBLER Mniotilta varia Seen on five dates, with up to four in a day AMERICAN REDSTART Setophaga ruticilla Common and widespread. WORM-EATING WARBLER Helmitheros vermivorus One obliging bird seen drinking, bathing and feeding around a forest pool at Bermeja OVENBIRD Seiurus aurocapillus Seen on five dates LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH Seiurus motacilla Five seen in total, in La Guira and Cayo Coco. NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH Seiurus noveboracencis Individuals seen on four dates COMMON YELLOWTHROAT Geothlypis trichas Seen in low scrub on seven dates YELLOW-HEADED WARBLER Teretristris fernandinae Small numbers seen at Bermeja in the Zapata Peninsula and in the hill-forests of Soroa and La Guira ORIENTE WARBLER Terestris fornsi Easily seen in the semi-deciduous woods near Cuevas de Jabali, Cayo Coco and Paredon Grande RED-LEGGED HONEYCREEPER Cyanerpes cyaneus Only seen in La Guira NP WESTERN STRIPE-HEADED TANAGER Spindalis zena Small numbers seen in La Guira, the Cayos and Zapata Peninsular CUBAN BULLFINCH Melopyrrha nigra Seen at just about all sites. Clearly a very adaptable species. Almost a Cuban endemic, occurring also on Gran Cayman CUBAN GRASSQUIT Tiaris canora This endemic was seen by the leader at La Guira and the entire group near La Belen NP, where a pair gave fantastic views YELLOW-FACED GRASSQUIT Tiaris olivacea Widespread and numerous in suitable habitat ZAPATA SPARROW Torreornis inexpecta Only found in the dry forests around Cuevas de Jabali and along the road on Cayo Coco CUBAN RED-SHOULDERED BLACKBIRD Agelaius assimilis Two small groups encountered in the Zapata Peninsula, at La Boca TAWNY-SHOULDERED BLACKBIRD Agelaius humeralis Common in the Zapata peninsula and one flock seen in La Guira NP. A near-endemic as this species is only found on Cuba and in Haiti EASTERN MEADOWLARK Sturnella magna Only seen near Najasa. Cuba hosts the endemic subspecies hippocrepis CUBAN BLACKBIRD Dives atroviolaceus Common and widespread GREATER ANTILLEAN GRACKLE Quiscalus niger Widespread and often very common SHINY COWBIRD Molothrus bonariensis Only seen at La Belen BLACK-COWLED ORIOLE Icterus dominicensis Small numbers seen on seven dates. The race melanopsis may be a good species; it is confined to Cuba, the Isle of Pines and several offshore cays NORTHERN ORIOLE Icterus galbula A male at La Belen was the only record HOUSE SPARROW Passer domesticus Seen throughout the trip in suitable habitat. Top \| About \| Tours \| Mexico \| Cuba \| Venezuela \| Ecuador \| Peru \| Brazil \| Terms \| Contact © Toucan Birding Tours 2008 - All rights reserved Design by EBS Computers