Birding Club of Delaware County: Cuba: Endemics and More

Michael De Rosa

Cuba: Endemics and More

Cuba is the largest country in the Caribbean and has the largest number of bird species. It has a varied mix of Caribbean, Central and South American birds, and migrants. At present, 24-species are recognized as being endemic to the island. I was fortunate enough to see half of them. I spent two days at Playa Larga. From there I went birding at the Cienaga de Zapata, the largest wetlands in the Caribbean. I also did a day trip to Las Terrazas, an eco-village about an hour from Havana.

Cuban Trogon: This common endemic is the national bird of Cuba. Known locally as the tocororo, after its song. Not shy and frequently seen in the open.

Cuban Tody: Likes shady spots and is often heard before being spotted. Endemic

Cuban Green Woodpecker: Endemic

Cuban Oriole: Endemic recently split from the black-cowled oriole. It is in

a bottle-brush tree originally endemic to Australia, but now found all over in the tropics.

Zapata Wren: A “soft” image of the most restricted of Cuban endemics. Found reliably only in a small area of Zapata. A couple, our guides, and I spent over an hour playing its call to attract one of the wrens. It played hide and seek with us. At one point I found myself running, tripping, re-gaining my balance as my water bottle went flying for what turned out to be a false alarm. Then, there it was at our feet, so close that I could not focus my telephoto lens. I could feel and hear it as it flew by my face.

Zapata Sparrow: Only a little bit less restricted range than the wren. Shortly after I took its photo, a catbird landed in the same bush.

Fernandina’s Flicker: My guide knew exactly where there was a nest of this endemic. He tapped on the trunk of a palm tree, and the male checked us out. Later we saw it, and the female as they went looking for food.

Yellow-headed Warbler: This is one of two warblers endemic to Cuba. All told 32-species of warblers have been seen in Cuba.

Cuban Grassquit: This endemic is common if you know where to find them. We were given very precise directions-make a right turn and check out the yard of the first wooden house on the right. When we described the bird to the owner he said the tomeguins are usually around here. And sure enough a small flock landed on a bush.