Army Birding

Just back from a holiday in Cuba, visiting Havana, Baracoa, Santiago de Cuba, Guadalavaca and back to Havana. Great holiday and a second visit is a must. Tried to see endemic species. The surprise had to be the Caribbean Coot Fulica caribaea. Not being familiar with the species, I just noted a coot type, but on digging through the guide, found that it is designated as threatened and very rare. Spent a day out with a local birder, arranged through my tour guide, who just asked me to cover expenses; spent some time in the scrub bush and the rest of the day up a mountain in quite thick forest. Unfortunately, missed out on some of the more exciting species; parrot-like and waders. A full list sightings is below for interest (I have photographs of most):

ANSERIFORMES: Anatidae
Muscovy Duck Cairina moschata Introduced species
SULIFORMES: Phalacrocoracidae
Double-crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus
PELECANIFORMES: Pelecanidae
Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis
PELECANIFORMES: Ardeidae
Great Egret Ardea alba
Snowy Egret Egretta thula
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
ACCIPITRIFORMES: Cathartidae
Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura
ACCIPITRIFORMES: Accipitridae
Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus
Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis
FALCONIFORMES: Falconidae
Crested Caracara Caracara cheriway
American Kestrel Falco sparverius
GRUIFORMES: Rallidae
Caribbean Coot Fulica caribaea Rare/Accidental Near-threatened
CHARADRIIFORMES: Scolopacidae
Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius
CHARADRIIFORMES: Laridae
Laughing Gull Leucophaeus atricilla
Herring Gull Larus argentatus
Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia
Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis
COLUMBIFORMES: Columbidae
Rock Pigeon Columba livia Introduced species
Eurasian Collared-Dove Streptopelia decaocto Introduced species
Common Ground-Dove Columbina passerina
CUCULIFORMES: Cuculidae
Great Lizard-Cuckoo Coccyzus merlini Endemic (country/region)
STRIGIFORMES: Strigidae
Cuban Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium siju Endemic
APODIFORMES: Apodidae
Antillean Palm-Swift Tachornis phoenicobia Endemic (country/region)
APODIFORMES: Trochilidae
Cuban Emerald Chlorostilbon ricordii Endemic (country/region)
TROGONIFORMES: Trogonidae
Cuban Trogon Priotelus temnurus Endemic
CORACIIFORMES: Todidae
Cuban Tody Todus multicolor Endemic
CORACIIFORMES: Alcedinidae
Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon
PICIFORMES: Picidae
Cuban Green Woodpecker Xiphidiopicus percussus Endemic
PASSERIFORMES: Tyrannidae
Eastern Kingbird Tyrannus tyrannus Rare/Accidental
Gray Kingbird Tyrannus dominicensis
Loggerhead Kingbird Tyrannus caudifasciatus
PASSERIFORMES: Vireonidae
Cuban Vireo Vireo gundlachii Endemic
PASSERIFORMES: Corvidae
Cuban Crow Corvus nasicus Endemic (country/region)
PASSERIFORMES: Hirundinidae
Cuban Martin Progne cryptoleuca
PASSERIFORMES: Polioptilidae
Cuban Gnatcatcher Polioptila lembeyei Endemic
PASSERIFORMES: Turdidae
Red-legged Thrush Turdus plumbeus
PASSERIFORMES: Mimidae
Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos
PASSERIFORMES: Parulidae
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapilla
Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia
Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas
American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla
Yellow Warbler Setophaga petechia
Black-throated Blue Warbler Setophaga caerulescens
Palm Warbler Setophaga palmarum
Yellow-throated Warbler Setophaga dominica
Oriente Warbler Teretistris fornsi Endemic
PASSERIFORMES: Thraupidae
Western Spindalis Spindalis zena Near-endemic
Red-legged Honeycreeper Cyanerpes cyaneus
PASSERIFORMES: Emberizidae
Cuban Grassquit Tiaris canorus Endemic
Yellow-faced Grassquit Tiaris olivaceus
PASSERIFORMES: Icteridae
Cuban Blackbird Dives atroviolaceus Endemic
Greater Antillean Grackle Quiscalus niger Endemic (country/region)
Shiny Cowbird Molothrus bonariensis
Cuban Oriole Icterus dominicensis melanopsis Endemic
PASSERIFORMES: Passeridae
House Sparrow Passer domesticus Introduced species

Country or region: Cuba
Number of species: 364
Number of endemics: 25
Number of globally threatened species: 16
Number of extinct species: 1
Number of introduced species: 7
Date last reviewed: 2011-10-28
References:
Helm Field Guides – Birds of the West Indies ISBN: 978-0-7136-5419-6

Sounds like a very good trip. If you have a full trip report we can get it on the Expeditions report page which is looking bare and needs this kind of input. Always helpful to know the good sites, guides and accn.

Thanks.

Geoffrey,

Cuban Green? One already on your list of Woodpeckers?

The Cuban Green was a bit of a surprise; I hadn't heard any woodpeckers but caught sight of this small dark coloured bird in a wooded area of the hotel (Paradisus Rio de Oro Resort, Guadalavaca (Holguin)). I thought at first it was another Cuban Blackbird, but took a photograph anyway..... In the photograph it is unmistakable, but in the dark undergrowth??? Got a great shot of the Great Lizard-Cuckoo, a pair of which were common in the same area. I only saw the woodpecker the once.

Time permitting, I'll knock up a more detailed report. The guide (Carlos) was a qualified vet, operating as a tour rep - he could earn more money with tips than being employed by the government as a vet! He was so enthusiastic, it was infectious.