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Birding Trip Report to Cuba March 3
rd - 18
th 2014
Participants
Erwin Collaerts
Peter Collaerts
Stijn Raymaekers
Tom Theuwis
Introduction
The Caribbean was an ornithological region that we did not visit before. With its 23 realistic
to see endemics (Cuban Kite, Cuban Nightjar and Cuban Palm Crow not on the Clements
checklist and Zapata Rail not longer a realistic target) and it’s +/- 22 near-endemics, Cuba
was a great destination to start birdwatching in this region of the world.
Thanks to...
Wim Heylen for providing us with many sound recordings. Michel Veldt for sending us a lot
of information that he used to prepare his trip in 2012.
Flight
Direct flight from Brussels to Varadero with Jetairfly. On our return flight, we had a detour
via Cancun (Mexico).
Logistics We only arranged a hotel for the first 2 nights and a guide in Zapata in advance. All the other
hotels and casa particular were arranged during our stay.
We hired a car with Cubacar. In total, we drove 2750 km with our Geely CK.
Accomodation
We used small hotels, casa particulars and once a big 4 stars-hotel.
• San Diego de los Baños: hotel Mirador, booked in advance.
• Soroa: casa particular.
• Camaguey: casa particular.
• Najasa: Fincha La Belen
• Cayo Coco: one night in expensive Playa Coco Hotel (170US$/double room), 2 nights in
Sitio La Guira (35 CUC/4persons).
• Playa Larga: casa particular El Legendario and another casa particular on the opposite
side of the road. In the small village of Playa Larga, there are many casa particulars (+/-
150 beds). Keep in mind that March is the busiest month of the year. We had to search for
a while to find accommodation. Because the one we stayed in the first 2 days was
reserved for the next days, we moved to El Legendario for the other 3 days.
• Varadero: casa particular. Also here it was not easy to find a free hotel or casa particular.
Visa
Belgian citizens need a tourist card to enter Cuba. If the ticket is bought from Jetairfly, the
cost for this card is included in the price. The tax that you have to pay when leaving Cuba, is
included in the price of the flight ticket, when you booked it with Jetairfly (25 CUC).
Exchange rate
€1 = 1.325 CUC at the airport and €1 = 1.318 CUC at the Playa Coco Hotel.
Time
The first Sunday of March, the clock is set to summer time. You have to turn it 1 hour
forward. Time difference with Belgium is 6 hours when both countries are in the same season
time, 5 hours in when Cuba is in summer time and Belgium in wintertime.
GPS
Special note on bringing a GPS to Cuba: According to the website of Cuban Customs, prior
authorization and a permit are required from the Oficina Nacional de Hidrografia y
Geodesia (ONHG or National Office of Hydrography and Geodesy) to bring into the country
a GPS of any type.
Contact:
Oficina Nacional de Hidrografia y Geodesia (ONHG)
Avenida 47 # 2829e/ 28 y 34,
Reparto Kholy, Playa
Ciudad de La Habana CP 11300 Cuba
Telephone (537) 209 0926
FAX (537) 203 0967
E-mail: [email protected]
We met a guide of Sunbird during the trip; his GPS was confiscated at the airport. To find our
way and to find the GPS-coordinates that were mentioned in other trip reports, we used a
tablet with GPS-function. MapFactor for Android offers a fine map of Cuba free. In
combination with a roadmap and maps from several trip reports, it was not so difficult to find
our way out. Road signs are often hard to find in Cuba. For example, driving from Pinar del
Rio to Havana, the exit for Soroa is not signed. And to take the right exit on the ring of
Havana, a GPS is very helpful due to the lack of road signs.
Here are a few GPS-coordinates that we registered during our trip.
Local guides
• La Guira NP: we did not arrange a guide for this place. Otherwise, we met Cesar, the
local guide. He gave us details about a good place for Cuban Grassquit.
• Fincha La Belen: Jorge was our guide. He knows all targets but finding them on your
own along the main track is not that difficult. Only problem is, it is not allowed to
walk around without a guide.
• Playa Larga/Zapata: we contacted Chino and Angel, the known brothers, in advanced
([email protected]). They agreed to guide us for 2 days. Nevertheless, on
our day of arrival, Chino told us that both of them were busy with other groups.
However, they arranged another guide for us. I forgot to write down his name. This
guide was very good. He knows the places for all the targets. Guiding birdwatchers in
Zapata is a good business these days. We met several guides with groups
(birdwatchers and no-birdwatchers).
Books
• “A birdwatchers guide to Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico & The Caymans” by
Guy Kirwan, Arturo Kirkconnell & Mike Flieg.
• “Collins Field guide to the birds of the West Indies” by Norman Arlott
• “Field Guide to the Birds of Cuba” by O.H. Garrido & A. Kirkconnell
• “Birds of the West Indies” by Herbert A. Raffaele, Orlando H. Garrido, Allan Keith,
Janis I Raffaele, Tracy Perdersen & Kristin Williams.
To our opinion, the birdwatchers guide was not essential to find enough information about the
places we visited. You may find enough information and maps in the trip reports. The field
guide with the most accurate drawings was the Collins Field Guide.
Trip reports
All found by using www.cloudbirders.com.
Used trip report:
• Cuba, The complete tour by Petri Hottola – December 2014.
• Cuba by Wim Heylen and Cindy Van den Broeck – April 2006 with GPS-coordinates.
• Cuba 4 – 17 March 2001 by John van der Woude, with GPS-coordinates and maps.
• Trip Report to Cuba, November – December 2012 by Michel Veldt.
• Cuba, April – May 2006 by Mark Sutton, with maps.
• Cuba 14 – 21 July 2001 by Roger Ahlman, with maps.
• Cuba: 2nd
to 16th
March 2013 by Ian Merrill.
• Birding Cuba, 28 April- 4 May 2013 by Jaap Westra.
Visited sites
Actually, this is only a list of the places we visited. There is a lot of information about these
places in other trip reports. I do not want to spend too much time by repeating this
information. See also the GPS-coordinates for information about the best places.
West of Havana
La Guira
Track at the higher parts with Olive-capped Warblers
Cueva de los Portales
Soroa
The Cayos in the north
Cayo Coco
Sitio La Guira:
This is “the” place for birdwatchers -. It is much cheaper than the all-in hotels and with
rather good food and most important, lots of birds around. We found 3 Key West Quail-doves
here. And more unexpected were Cuban Nightjar and Bare-legged Owl. The Bare-legged Owl
has his roosting place behind the barn of horses. Also around were Cuban and Yellow-
throated Vireo and Oriente Warbler.
• Hotel Melia Cayo Coco:
Between the cottages that were built above the lagoon, 10 West Indian Whistling-
ducks were swimming in the afternoon.
• petrol station at the main roundabout:
Near the gas station, water drifting from the building attracted many species. Most
noticeable was a group of Cedar Waxwings. Other good species were Key West Quail-doves,
Tennessee Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Indigo Buntings.
Cayo Guillermo
Between the newly constructed hotel and the end of the road on this cayo, we heard 3
Mangrove Cuckoos and we saw 1. All birds were reacting on playback.
Cayo Paredon Grande
The place to be here is the track near the lighthouse (see also other trip reports). An
Orchard Oriole was a surprise but even more unexpected was a Bahama Mockingbird. We did
find a recording of this species on this place in other trip reports.
Najasa – La Belen
The road between the entrance and the lodges holds all the goodies in Fincha La
Belen. Around the cemetery, Cuban Parrot and Parakeet, Palm Crow and Plain Pigeon
are rather easy to see.
Track near the cemetery
Zapata area
La Turba
Soplillar
Palpite
Cuevos de Los Peces
Las Salinas
Hotel Playa Larga
Varadero Peninsular
At the end of the peninsular, there is a small section with mudflats. These were
actually too far away to have a good view on all the waders and gulls present. In the
small harbor nearby, Black Skimmers and terns were roosting. Construction works are
going on everywhere in this area, so maybe the mudflats will disappear soon.
Daily log
• March 3rd
We had our direct flight from Brussels to Varadero at 11 o'clock. After a smooth flight, we
arrived in Cuba at 14h15. After changing money and getting our car at the office of Cubacar,
we drove to San Diego de los Baños. We struggled a little bit around Havana to find the
autopista A1 in the direction of Pinar del Rio. It was already 20h30 when we arrived at the
hotel Mirador.
• March 4th
At 7 o'clock, we left for La Guira NP. We drove immediately to the higher parts. Here in this
habitat with pine trees, we found our first targets very quickly. Olive-capped Warblers and
Scaly-naped Pigeons were found almost immediately. We heard a few Cuban Solitaires and
after a while, one came closer and gave great views. At the end of this trail, at some ruins, we
found a Giant Kingbird and a Yellow-throated Vireo. Also worth mentioning were a few
Yellow-headed Warblers. It was still before noon, when we drove down again. While we were
bird watching along the road, a man came to us. It was Julio Cesar, the local guide who is
mentioned in a few trip reports. He gave us information about where to find Cuban
Grassquits.
On a stream near the road, we found a Louisiana Waterthrush, together with a few Northern
Waterthrushes. At Hacienda Cortina, we spend a few hours. We found 2 Giant Kingbirds and
a Fernandina’s Flicker.
At noon, we were in the hotel again to take a break. The jetlag demanded an afternoon nap.
Late afternoon, we drove to the fields just outside San Diego de los Banos, in the direction of
La Guira. This was the place Julio told us to search for Cuban Grasquit. And here, we found 5
of them. More surprising were 2 foraging Blue Grossbeaks, in the same field as the grasquits
were.
At dawn, when returned to the hotel, we had already many new species on the list.
• March 5th
In the morning, we drove to Cueva de los Portales. We took the road through the La Guira to
go there. We met Cesar again; he was guiding a group of birdwatchers.
In the cave, Cave Swallows were breeding. Higher up in the sky, a few Cuban Martins were
flying around. A Cuban Solitaire gave even better views than we had yesterday. Another good
species was a Gundlach’s Hawk. The bird was circling over the place.
At noon, we left the cave. We drove to the highway A1 by the village of Entronque de
Herradura. When we passed a reservoir, we saw a few Black-necked Stilts and a small flock
of Western Sandpipers.
Because all our targets for La Guira were already seen, we left San Diego de Los Baños in the
afternoon to drive to Soroa. At Hotel Horizontes Soroa, no rooms were available but we found
accommodation in 2 casa particulars.
We had some time left late afternoon to walk up the Mirador Trail. In the evening, we tried
for owls near Hotel Horizontes Soroa but without any luck.
• March 6th
Early morning, we were at the Mirador Trail again to search for quail-doves. The only quail-
dove species that we found was a Ruddy Quail-dove. A second Yellow-throated Vireo and a
couple of Indigo Buntings were the best birds that we added to our list on this morning.
At 9h20, we already left Soroa for a long journey to Camaguey. Along the way, we only took
a few short breaks. Close near Camaguey, we saw 2 Eastern Meadowlarks. No other birds of
great interest were noticed during the day. It was already 18h00 when we arrived in this city.
Night in a casa particular in the center of Camaguey.
• March 7th
At 6 o'clock, we had breakfast at the casa.
When we left at 6h30, the alarm sign of the oil level of the engine of the car was on. When we
checked it, the oil carter was empty. It took a while before we found a place to refill the oil. In
a country with so many old cars, it was a surprise that finding a garage or shop with oil was so
difficult.
We left for Najasa later than we planned. But this was not a problem at all. When we arrived
there, we drove first to the cemetery. Already before we arrived there, we saw our first Cuban
Palm Crows. We even saw them before we saw our first Cuban Crows. Near the cemetery, all
our targets were observed within an hour. These were Cuban Parakeet, Cuban Parrot and
Plain Pigeon.
At noon, we drove to Finca La Belen.
Here, we booked a room for 1 night. In the afternoon, we walked around with a local guide
Jorge. Walking around on your own is not allowed. We found Cuban Pygmy-Owl, Plain
Pigeon, several Cuban Parakeets, a few Giant Kingbirds and Cuban Parrots. We had our only
heavy rainfall of the trip here. Not every one of us was prepared for it, so a very wet T-shirt
and trousers were part of the game.
• March 8th
In the morning, we had a Barn Owl just near the lodge. After an early breakfast, we left the
ranch. We drove to the lake close to Ricardo's house. We found it after a while. The entrance
to the lake is not so easy to find by using the map in "Where to watch....". A male Indigo
Bunting was the best bird we saw here.
Big tree opposite the entrance gate to the lake near Ricardo’s house
At 9h30, we left for Moron. It is about 200 km from Najasa. In Moron, we searched for the
place for Sandhill Crane, mentioned in the trip report of Roger Ahlman, but it seems that this
is transformed into sugarcane fields. We had a stop here at a large lake, but bird activity was
low.
We headed on for Cayo Coco after our fruitless search. First thing we did when we arrived on
the island was looking for a hotel. Unluckily, we only found very expensive ones. We booked
the Playa Coco hotel. In the evening, we had just more than half an hour to visit Cayo
Guillermo. In the mangroves between Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo, we found a lot of
waders and egrets. For Bahama Mockingbird, we were probably too late today. The only
mockingbirds we found were Northern.
• March 9th
We left very early for Cayo Paredon Grande. We arrived here at 7 o'clock, just at sunset.
Sunset was an hour later than yesterday after changing the clock last night. On our way to the
cayo, we flushed a nightjar on the road. Probably this was a Cuban Nightjar, but the bird was
flying away before we could identify it.
Near the lighthouse, we soon found Oriente Warblers and Cuban Gnatcatchers. More
surprisingly were an Orchard Oriole and a Bahama Mockingbird. To get decent views of a
Thick-billed Vireo, it took more time but we succeeded. On our way back to Cayo Coco, we
found a group of Zapata Sparrows.
Luckily, we found much cheaper accommodation at Sitio La Guira. So we moved to this
small, rustic place with small huts.
After lunch, we took a break in our hut. At 4 o'clock, we started birdwatching again at the
lagoon near the Melia Cayo Coco Hotel. Here we soon found a group of 10 West Indian
Whistling-Ducks. We were surprised to find this species so easy during daytime. After
walking around here for a while, we drove to Cuevas de Jabali. This place looked not so good
for birdwatching and we did not spent much time here. We ended our day at the mudflats and
mangroves along the main road to Cayo Guillermo, just behind the Playa Coco Hotel. We
found 3 Yellow-crowned Night-herons. Night in Sitio La Guira.
• March 10th
We started the day by birding at the Sitio La Guira property. One of the first birds we found
was a Key West Quail-Dove. In total, we saw 3 of them. Other species we found were Cuban
and Yellow-throated Vireos.
Around noon, we drove in the direction of the main roundabout on Cayo Coco. Our plan was
to search for Mangrove Cuckoo at a few places that we found on the internet. Nevertheless, at
the petrol station at the roundabout, we met a local guide. Yesterday, he told us, there was a
Cedar Waxwing just near the petrol station. Together, we checked the tree where he saw it
and now we found at least 40 birds.
There was a small muddy spot with water just near the wall of the petrol station, where many
birds were around. Tennessee and Yellow-rumped Warblers were new write-ins, 2 more Key
West Quail-doves, 4 Indigo Buntings, Magnolia and Cape May Warblers, just to name a few,
were also observed. This place gave also good opportunities to take photographs. So we
decided to stay here for a few hours.
Late afternoon, we drove to Cayo Guillermo again. The best places for waders on the cayos
were at the end of Cayo Coco, in the direction of Cayo Guillermo. An American Avocet was
observed, as well as several Stilt Sandpipers. We drove further till the end of the road on Cayo
Guillermo. From there, we returned and we stopped from time to time to play the tape for
Mangrove Cuckoo. We had response several times and a bird came close enough to get it into
the bins.
At dawn, we returned to Sitio La Guira. After dinner, we heard a Cuban Nightjar calling. And
soon, a second bird was heard. One flew in our direction and sat down on top of a tree. We
got great views of it. And from the moment the bird flew away, a Bare-legged Owl started to
call from the bushes behind us. We found this bird very soon, perching on a branch. These
made two nightbirds on our list, not found in any trip report for Cayo Coco.
• March 11th
Before and after breakfast, we spend some time in the garden of Sitio La Guira. A Key West
Quail-Dove was walking around in front of the restaurant.
At 11 o'clock, we left for the long drive to Playa Larga. A stop on the dam to the mainland
produced an (American) Herring Gull for the list. We only made a few stops en route, nothing
special was seen.
We arrived in Playa Larga at 18h30. We checked in at one of the many casa particulars.
• March 12th
In the morning, we drove to Soplillar. First target was Grey-fronted Quail-dove. It did not
take that long before we found 2 of them, walking on the forest floor. We had good views and
we could make some pictures as well.
At noon, we drove to the Cuevos de los Pecos, the cave and restaurant between Playa Larga
and Playa Giron. Very recently, they started feeding Blue-headed Quail-doves here. Not long
after we arrived on the place, 3 of them were walking near the restaurant. They are very tame
and gave superb views.
In the afternoon, we drove to a site 2 km north of the Crocodile Farm to search for Red-
shouldered Blackbirds. But we could not found any. We also spent some time near the farm
itself, but also here, nothing special was seen. In the evening, we returned to the casa
particular.
• March 13th
We started the day at 7h30. Our guide was waiting for us at the nature reserve office. We
drove straight to La Turba. The weather was cooler than the days before and it started raining
soon. Our guide told us that this would reduce our chance for the wren and sparrow. When we
arrived in the swamp, two other groups were already searching for both species. The Sunbird
group saw the Zapata Wren already, the others did not.
We heard a Zapata Wren singing but it did not come in the open. The heavy rain at that
moment was not very helpful at all. We decided to try the Zapata Sparrow first. We soon
found one at the end of the track at La Turba. It was feeding very close in the bushes. When
we returned to the place for the wren, one of the groups was still there. Their guide had
another sound recording of the wren and the bird reacted very well on it. It flew to our site of
the canal and was jumping around in the vegetation just in front of us. In the meantime, we
also found 4 Red-shouldered Blackbirds. They were singing and foraging a little further inside
the swamp.
After leaving La Turba, we drove to Palpite. On a flowering tree in one of the backyards of
the village, at least 4 Bee Hummingbirds, both males and females, were feeding. After
spending some time here, we went to Soplillar again. We saw Grey-fronted Quail-dove,
Fernandina's Flicker, Bare-legged and Cuban Pygmy-owl again. Our search for a day roosting
Stygian Owl was without success. Early afternoon, it was still cloudy and raining from time to
time, was spent at the casa particular.
In the evening, we went to the Playa Larga Hotel to search for Stygian Owl as well. There
was a guide around; he told us that early morning is a better time to find the owl.
• March 14th
Before 6 o'clock, we were at the Playa Larga Hotel again. A group of birders saw the owl
already before we arrived. After searching for it for more than half an hour, we just saw it
flying over. The views we had were not good at all. So a next try was planned.
At 8 o'clock, we drove to Las Salinas. This area of mudflats and mangrove area is part of the
Zapata Marsh. Additions to our list were Wood Stork, American White Pelicans and a Gull-
billed Tern. There were not so many waders around, we clearly anticipated much more of
them.
In the afternoon, it was hot and sunny again, we stayed at the casa. A group of Austrian
birdwatchers came around for some information. Only late afternoon, we tried for rails at the
border of the village, in the direction of Las Salinas. A group of Cuban Crows was around,
and 2 Spotted Sandpipers were running on the beach.
• March 15th
Early morning, we went to hotel Playa Larga again to try for Stygian Owl. However, nothing
was seen this time. Thereafter, we went to Soplillar for our third time. Our guide of the former
days was leaving the area when we arrived there. He told us that he just saw a Stygian Owl
very well. We hurried up to the place he described but we could not find it. Two or three
Worm-eating Warblers were the last lifers of the trip. And we had good views again of a
Grey-fronted Quail-dove.
Because it was our last day near Zapata, we kept on searching for the owls. And it was
already at noon when we finally found a pair. They were sitting in the open of a low branch.
So we could observe them very well.
Early afternoon, we drove back to Cuevos the Los Pecos to have lunch and to see Blue-
headed Quail-Dove again. We even had better views of one than we had three days ago. The
rest of the day, we spent at the casa particular.
• March 16th
After breakfast, we left Playa Larga for Varadero. Along the way, we checked several
artificial lakes. There were not so many birds around, except on one of the larger lakes. Here
we added Forster's Tern and Ring-billed Gull on our list.
At noon, we arrive at Varadero. We drove to the end of the peninsular. On the mudflats and
in the small harbor near the last hotel, we found many birds. More than 100 Black Skimmers
were roosting. Also a large group of Knots was present. A Sharp-shinned Sparrowhawk was
flying over the road.
We stayed at a casa particular in Varadero.
• March 17th
Our last day in Cuba. We stayed in the village for a last relaxing morning at the casa
particular. At noon, we drove to the airport, where we had our flight home in the afternoon.
• March 18th
We arrived at Brussels airport at 11 o'clock. We had a stopover at Cancun, Mexico.
Birdlist
Our list of observed birds is strictly following Clements 6th
edition (updates until August
2013). For some species recent information about taxonomic decisions not yet included in
Clements Checklist is given.
Total number of birds observed: 175 (and 3 feral species)
West Indian Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna arborea Vulnerable (VU) Restricted range 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco – 10
American Wigeon Anas americana 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - 1 14/03/2014 - Zapata (Las Salinas) – 4
Blue-winged Teal Anas discors 08/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 50+ 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - +/- 30 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 100+ 14/03/2014 - Zapata (Las Salinas) - 50+
Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata 08/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 20+ 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - 20+ 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 50+ 14/03/2014 - Zapata (Las Salinas) - 20+
Green-winged Teal Anas crecca 14/03/2014 - Zapata (Las Salinas) - 1 female
The subspecies carolinensis is often treated as a separate species, Green-winged Teal, with the nominate form crecca as Eurasian or Common Teal.
Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris 06/03/2014 - Lake west of Havana and en route - 100+ 16/03/2014 - Playa Larga to Varadero – 7
Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis 06/03/2014 - Lake west of Havana and en route – 4
Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator 08/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 20+ 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - +/- 10 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 15+ 11/03/2014 - Cayo Coco (dam to mainland) - +/- 50 14/03/2014 - Zapata (Las Salinas) – 2
Northern Bobwhite Colinus virginianus Feral species 08/03/2014 - La Belen / lake near Ricardo's house – 6
Least Grebe Tachybaptus dominicus 08/03/2014 - La Belen / lake near Ricardo's house – 1
Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps 05/03/2014 - Reservoir near Entronque de Herradura - 5 06/03/2014 - Lake west of Havana and en route - a few 07/03/2014 - Najasa / La Belen - 5 08/03/2014 - La Belen / lake near Ricardo's house - 2 13/03/2014 - Zapata (La Turba) - 2 16/03/2014 - Playa Larga to Varadero – 1
American Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber 08/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 200+ 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - +/- 50 11/03/2014 - Cayo Coco (dam to mainland) - +/- 100 14/03/2014 - Zapata (Las Salinas) - +/- 50
Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata magnificens 03/03/2014 - Varadero to San Diego de Los Baños - 2 08/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 4 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - 50+ 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 1 11/03/2014 - Cayo Coco (dam to mainland) - +/- 50 14/03/2014 - Zapata (Las Salinas) – 2
Neotropic Cormorant Phalacrocorax brasilianus 08/03/2014 - La Belen / lake near Ricardo's house - 30+ 08/03/2014 - east of Moron - 10+ 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 4 16/03/2014 - Playa Larga to Varadero - 50+
Double-crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus 08/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 70+ 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 1 11/03/2014 - Cayo Coco (dam to mainland) - +/- 10 13/03/2014 - Zapata (La Turba) - a few 14/03/2014 - Zapata (Las Salinas) - 30+ 16/03/2014 - Playa Larga to Varadero - 100+ 16/03/2014 - Varadero Peninsular - 50+
Anhinga Anhinga anhinga 08/03/2014 - La Belen / lake near Ricardo's house - 1 08/03/2014 - east of Moron - 2 13/03/2014 - Zapata (La Turba) – 1
American White Pelican Pelecanus erythrorhynchos 13/03/2014 - Zapata (Playa Larga) - 1 14/03/2014 - Zapata (Las Salinas) - +/- 15
Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis 03/03/2014 - Varadero to San Diego de Los Baños - 3 05/03/2014 - Reservoir near Entronque de Herradura - 1 06/03/2014 - Lake west of Havana and en route - 30+ 08/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 50+ 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - 10+ 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - +/- 5 11/03/2014 - Cayo Coco (dam to mainland) - 50+ 14/03/2014 - Zapata (Las Salinas) - 2 15/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos) - 1 16/03/2014 - Playa Larga to Varadero - 50+ 16/03/2014 - Varadero Peninsular - 50+
Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias 05/03/2014 - Reservoir near Entronque de Herradura - 1 06/03/2014 - Lake west of Havana and en route - 2 08/03/2014 - La Belen / lake near Ricardo's house - a few 08/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - a few 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - a few 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - a few 11/03/2014 - Zapata (Playa Larga) - 1 13/03/2014 - Zapata (La Turba) - a few 14/03/2014 - Zapata (Las Salinas) - a few
Great Egret Ardea alba 05/03/2014 - Reservoir near Entronque de Herradura - 2 06/03/2014 - Lake west of Havana and en route - a few 08/03/2014 - La Belen / lake near Ricardo's house - a few
08/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - a few 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - a few 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - a few 11/03/2014 - Moron to Playa Larga - 2 12/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos, Playa Larga) - 1 14/03/2014 - Zapata (Las Salinas) - a few 16/03/2014 - Playa Larga to Varadero – 1
Snowy Egret Egretta thula 05/03/2014 - Reservoir near Entronque de Herradura - 1 06/03/2014 - Lake west of Havana and en route - 2 07/03/2014 - Najasa / La Belen - 1 08/03/2014 - La Belen / lake near Ricardo's house - a few 08/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - a few 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - a few 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - a few 12/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos, Playa Larga) - 1 13/03/2014 - Zapata (La Turba) - a few 14/03/2014 - Zapata (Las Salinas) - fairly common 16/03/2014 - Playa Larga to Varadero - fairly common
Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. - 1 05/03/2014 - Reservoir near Entronque de Herradura - 3 06/03/2014 - Lake west of Havana and en route - a few 07/03/2014 - Najasa / La Belen - 5+ 08/03/2014 - La Belen / lake near Ricardo's house - a few 08/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - fairly common 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - fairly common 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - a few 11/03/2014 - Moron to Playa Larga - a few 12/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos, Playa Larga) - 1 16/03/2014 - Playa Larga to Varadero - a few
Tricolored Heron Egretta tricolor 07/03/2014 - Najasa / La Belen - 1 08/03/2014 - La Belen / lake near Ricardo's house - 1 08/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - fairly common 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - fairly common 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - fairly common 13/03/2014 - Zapata (La Turba) - a few 14/03/2014 - Zapata (Las Salinas) - +/- 10 15/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos) – 1
Reddish Egret Egretta rufescens Near-threatened (NT) 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - 2 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - +/- 5 14/03/2014 - Zapata (Las Salinas) - +/- 10 15/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos) – 1
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis 03/03/2014 - Varadero to San Diego de Los Baños - a few 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. - +/- 30 05/03/2014 - Reservoir near Entronque de Herradura - a few 06/03/2014 - Lake west of Havana and en route - fairly common 07/03/2014 - Najasa / La Belen - a few 08/03/2014 - La Belen / lake near Ricardo's house - fairly common 08/03/2014 - Camaguey to Moron - fairly common 11/03/2014 - Moron to Playa Larga - fairly common 12/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos, Playa Larga) - a few 13/03/2014 - Zapata (La Turba) - a few 14/03/2014 - Zapata (Las Salinas) - a few 15/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos) - 1 16/03/2014 - Playa Larga to Varadero - fairly common
Green Heron Butorides virescens 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. - 5
05/03/2014 - Reservoir near Entronque de Herradura - 1 06/03/2014 - Lake west of Havana and en route - 1 07/03/2014 - Najasa / La Belen - 2 08/03/2014 - La Belen / lake near Ricardo's house - 2 08/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 1 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - 1 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 1 11/03/2014 - Moron to Playa Larga - 1 14/03/2014 - Zapata (Las Salinas) - 2 16/03/2014 - Playa Larga to Varadero - a few
Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax 06/03/2014 - Lake west of Havana and en route - 1 13/03/2014 - Zapata (La Turba) - 3 16/03/2014 - Playa Larga to Varadero – 1
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron Nyctanassa violacea 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - 2 adults, 1 juvenile plumage
White Ibis Eudocimus albus 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - 30+ 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 10+ 13/03/2014 - Zapata (La Turba) - a few 14/03/2014 - Zapata (Las Salinas) - 100+
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus 06/03/2014 - Lake west of Havana and en route - 4 12/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos, Playa Larga) - 15
15/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos) – 1
Roseate Spoonbill Platalea ajaja 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - 10+ 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - +/- 5
14/03/2014 - Zapata (Las Salinas) – 6
Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura 03/03/2014 - Varadero to San Diego de Los Baños - common 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. - common 05/03/2014 - La Guira/Cueva de los Portales - common 05/03/2014 - Reservoir near Entronque de Herradura - common 06/03/2014 - Soroa – common 06/03/2014 - Lake west of Havana and en route – common 07/03/2014 - Najasa / La Belen - common 08/03/2014 - La Belen / lake near Ricardo's house - common 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - common 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - a few 12/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos, Playa Larga) - fairly common 13/03/2014 - Zapata (La Turba) - fairly common 13/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar) - fairly common 14/03/2014 - Zapata (Las Salinas) - fairly common 15/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos) - fairly common 16/03/2014 - Playa Larga to Varadero – common
Osprey Pandion haliaetus 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. - 1 06/03/2014 - Lake west of Havana and en route - 1 08/03/2014 - east of Moron - 2 11/03/2014 - Cayo Coco (dam to mainland) - 1 12/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos, Playa Larga) - 1 13/03/2014 - Zapata (La Turba) - 1 14/03/2014 - Zapata (Las Salinas) - 4 16/03/2014 - Playa Larga to Varadero - 3 16/03/2014 - Varadero Peninsular – 1
Snail Kite Rostrhamus sociabilis 08/03/2014 - east of Moron – 3
Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus 11/03/2014 - Moron to Playa Larga - 1 14/03/2014 - Zapata (Las Salinas) – 1 The subspecies hudsonius is sometimes treated as a separate species, Northern Harrier, with the nominate form cyaneus as Hen Harrier.
Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus 16/03/2014 - Varadero Peninsular – 1
Gundlach's Hawk Accipiter gundlachi Endangered (EN) Country endemic 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. - 1 05/03/2014 - La Guira/Cueva de los Portales - 1 flying over
Cuban Black-Hawk Buteogallus gundlachii Near-threatened (NT) Country endemic 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - 3 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 1 13/03/2014 - Zapata (Playa Larga) - 1 14/03/2014 - Zapata (Las Salinas) – 2
Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus 11/03/2014 - Moron to Playa Larga – 1
Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. - 1 05/03/2014 - Reservoir near Entronque de Herradura - 1 06/03/2014 - Lake west of Havana and en route - 1 08/03/2014 - Camaguey to Moron - 1 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 1 11/03/2014 - Moron to Playa Larga - 3 12/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos, Playa Larga) - 1 16/03/2014 - Playa Larga to Varadero – 2
Clapper Rail Rallus longirostris 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - 2 14/03/2014 - Zapata (Las Salinas) – 1
Purple Gallinule Porphyrio martinicus 08/03/2014 - La Belen / lake near Ricardo's house - 3 11/03/2014 - Moron to Playa Larga - 5 12/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos, Playa Larga) - 2 13/03/2014 - Zapata (La Turba) – 1
Common Gallinule Gallinula galeata 06/03/2014 - Lake west of Havana and en route - 3 07/03/2014 - Najasa / La Belen - 2 08/03/2014 - La Belen / lake near Ricardo's house - 2+ 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - +/- 5 11/03/2014 - Moron to Playa Larga - 2 12/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos, Playa Larga) - 2 13/03/2014 - Zapata (La Turba) - 1 16/03/2014 - Playa Larga to Varadero – 2
American Coot Fulica americana 06/03/2014 - Lake west of Havana and en route - 150+ 08/03/2014 - La Belen / lake near Ricardo's house - a few 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - a few 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - +/- 40 14/03/2014 - Zapata (Las Salinas) - +/- 15 16/03/2014 - Playa Larga to Varadero - a few
Limpkin Aramus guarauna 07/03/2014 - Najasa / La Belen - 1 seen and 2 heard 11/03/2014 - Cayo Coco (Sitio La Guira) – 1
Black-necked Stilt Himantopus mexicanus 05/03/2014 - Reservoir near Entronque de Herradura - 10+ 08/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 100+ 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - 5+ 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - +/- 100 14/03/2014 - Zapata (Las Salinas) - +/- 100
American Avocet Recurvirostra americana 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo – 1
Black-bellied Plover Pluvialis squatarola 08/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 4 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - a few 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - +/- 10 14/03/2014 - Zapata (Las Salinas) - +/- 20 16/03/2014 - Varadero Peninsular – 3
Semipalmated Plover Charadrius semipalmatus 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - 6 14/03/2014 - Zapata (Las Salinas) - +/- 10
Killdeer Charadrius vociferus 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. - 1 07/03/2014 - Najasa / La Belen - 4 08/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 1 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - 6 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 3 13/03/2014 - Zapata (Playa Larga) - 2 14/03/2014 - Zapata (Playa Larga Hotel) - 4 15/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos) - 1 16/03/2014 - Playa Larga to Varadero - a few
Northern Jacana Jacana spinosa 07/03/2014 - Najasa / La Belen - 1 08/03/2014 - La Belen / lake near Ricardo's house - +/- 10
Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius 05/03/2014 - San Diego de Los Baños - 1 just near the hotel 14/03/2014 - Zapata (Las Salinas) - 2 16/03/2014 - Playa Larga to Varadero – 3
Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. – 1
Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca 08/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 2 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - +/- 10 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - +/- 10 14/03/2014 - Zapata (Las Salinas) - a few
Willet Tringa semipalmata 08/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 3 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - +/- 5 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - +/- 20 14/03/2014 - Zapata (Las Salinas) - a few 16/03/2014 - Varadero Peninsular - +/- 5
Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes 08/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 1 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - +/- 6 14/03/2014 - Zapata (Las Salinas) - a few
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo – 1
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 4 16/03/2014 - Varadero Peninsular - a few
Red Knot Calidris canutus 16/03/2014 - Varadero Peninsular - 50+
Stilt Sandpiper Calidris himantopus 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 20+ 14/03/2014 - Zapata (Las Salinas) - +/- 20
Sanderling Calidris alba 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - 1 16/03/2014 - Varadero Peninsular – 1
Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - +/- 10 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 10+
Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla 14/03/2014 - Zapata (Las Salinas) - +/- 5
Western Sandpiper Calidris mauri 05/03/2014 - Reservoir near Entronque de Herradura - +/- 10
Short-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus griseus 08/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 3 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - 20+ 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - +/- 100 14/03/2014 - Zapata (Las Salinas) – 3
Laughing Gull Leucophaeus atricilla 08/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 10+ 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - a few 11/03/2014 - Cayo Coco (dam to mainland) - 20+ 13/03/2014 - Zapata (Playa Larga) - 17 16/03/2014 - Varadero Peninsular - fairly common
Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis 16/03/2014 - Playa Larga to Varadero – 3
Herring Gull Larus argentatus 11/03/2014 - Cayo Coco (dam to mainland) - 2 16/03/2014 - Varadero Peninsular – 1 The subspecies smithsonianus is sometimes treated as a separate species, American Herring Gull.
Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica 14/03/2014 - Zapata (Las Salinas) – 4
Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia 05/03/2014 - Reservoir near Entronque de Herradura - 2 11/03/2014 - Cayo Coco (dam to mainland) - 2 13/03/2014 - Zapata (Playa Larga) - 2 14/03/2014 - Zapata (Las Salinas) - +/- 15
Forster's Tern Sterna forsteri 16/03/2014 - Playa Larga to Varadero – 1
Royal Tern Thalasseus maximus 06/03/2014 - Lake west of Havana and en route - 1 08/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 3
09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - 2 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 1 11/03/2014 - Cayo Coco (dam to mainland) - +/- 20 14/03/2014 - Zapata (Las Salinas) - 3 15/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos) – 3
Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis 13/03/2014 - Zapata (Playa Larga) – 1 – subspecies acuflavidus 15/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos) – 3. One of these was of the subspecies eurygnatha, other 2 acuflavidus. 16/03/2014 - Varadero Peninsular - a few– subspecies acuflavidus The subspecies eurygnatha is treated sometimes as a separate species, Cayenne Tern. The subspecies acuflavidus is treated sometimes as a separate species, Cabot’s Tern.
Black Skimmer Rynchops niger 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 4 16/03/2014 - Varadero Peninsular - +/- 100 roosting on a pier.
Scaly-naped Pigeon Patagioenas squamosa 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. - 2 05/03/2014 - La Guira/Cueva de los Portales – 2
White-crowned Pigeon Patagioenas leucocephala Near-threatened (NT) 05/03/2014 - La Guira/Cueva de los Portales - +/- 20
05/03/2014 - Soroa - a few 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - 1 12/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos, Playa Larga) - a few 13/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar) - a few
Plain Pigeon Patagioenas inornata 07/03/2014 - Najasa / La Belen - +/- 5 (1 cemetery, others La Belen)
Eurasian Collared-Dove Streptopelia decaocto Feral species 08/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - a few 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - a few 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - a few
White-winged Dove Zenaida asiatica 03/03/2014 - Varadero airport - 1 07/03/2014 - Najasa / La Belen - 1 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - 1 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - +/- 5
Zenaida Dove Zenaida aurita 05/03/2014 - La Guira/Cueva de los Portales - 4 on the road through La Guira 06/03/2014 - Soroa - a few 08/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 1 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - 4 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 2 12/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos, Playa Larga) - 1 14/03/2014 - Zapata (Las Salinas) - 1 15/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos) – 1
Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. - fairly common 05/03/2014 - La Guira/Cueva de los Portales - a few on the road through La Guira 06/03/2014 - Soroa - a few 06/03/2014 - Lake west of Havana and en route - fairly common 07/03/2014 - Najasa / La Belen - fairly common 08/03/2014 - La Belen / lake near Ricardo's house - fairly common 08/03/2014 - Camaguey to Moron - fairly common 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - fairly common 11/03/2014 - Moron to Playa Larga - common 12/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos, Playa Larga) - a few
16/03/2014 - Playa Larga to Varadero - fairly common
Common Ground-Dove Columbina passerina 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. - fairly common 05/03/2014 - La Guira/Cueva de los Portales - a few on the road to La Guira 06/03/2014 - Lake west of Havana and en route - fairly common 07/03/2014 - Najasa / La Belen - fairly common 08/03/2014 - La Belen / lake near Ricardo's house - fairly common 08/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - common 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - fairly common 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - +/- 10 11/03/2014 - Moron to Playa Larga - a few 15/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos) - a few 16/03/2014 - Playa Larga to Varadero - fairly common
Key West Quail-Dove Geotrygon chrysia 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 3 at Sitio La Guira and 2 at the petrol station 11/03/2014 - Cayo Coco (Sitio La Guira) – 3
Gray-fronted Quail-Dove Geotrygon caniceps Vulnerable (VU) Country endemic 12/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos, Playa Larga) - 2 13/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar) - 2 15/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos) – 3
Ruddy Quail-Dove Geotrygon montana 06/03/2014 - Soroa – 3
Blue-headed Quail-Dove Starnoenas cyanocephala Country endemic 12/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos, Playa Larga) - 3 15/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos) – 1
Mangrove Cuckoo Coccyzus minor 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 1 seen and 3 heard at Cayo Guillermo in the evening.
Great Lizard-Cuckoo Coccyzus merlini 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. - 1 06/03/2014 - Lake west of Havana and en route - 1 07/03/2014 - Najasa / La Belen - 3 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - 4 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 4 11/03/2014 - Cayo Coco (Sitio La Guira) - 2 12/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos, Playa Larga) - 3 15/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos) – 1
Smooth-billed Ani Crotophaga ani 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. - 30+ 05/03/2014 - Reservoir near Entronque de Herradura - fairly common, everywhere en route. 06/03/2014 - Lake west of Havana and en route - fairly common 07/03/2014 - Najasa / La Belen - fairly common 08/03/2014 - La Belen / lake near Ricardo's house - a few 08/03/2014 - Camaguey to Moron - a few 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - a few 11/03/2014 - Moron to Playa Larga - a few 14/03/2014 - Zapata (Las Salinas) - a few 16/03/2014 - Playa Larga to Varadero - fairly common
Barn Owl Tyto alba 08/03/2014 - La Belen / lake near Ricardo's house - 1 near the lodge 14/03/2014 - Zapata (Las Salinas) – 1
Bare-legged Owl Margarobyas lawrencii Country endemic 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 1 13/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar) – 1
Cuban Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium siju Country endemic 07/03/2014 - Najasa / La Belen - 1 seen and 1 heard 12/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos, Playa Larga) - 2 seen and a few heard 13/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar) – 2
Stygian Owl Asio stygius 14/03/2014 - Zapata (Playa Larga Hotel) - 1 flying away, very bad views. 15/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos) - 2, fantastic views.
Greater Antillean Nightjar Antrostomus cubanensis 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - 1 on the road to Cayo Paredon Grande 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 1 seen and 2 heard at Sitio La Guira The subspecies cubanensis and insulaepinorum are sometimes treated as a separate species, Cuban Nightjar.
Antillean Palm-Swift Tachornis phoenicobia 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. - 20+ 05/03/2014 - San Diego de Los Baños - +/- 20 13/03/2014 - Zapata (La Turba) - 1 16/03/2014 - Playa Larga to Varadero - a few 16/03/2014 - Varadero Peninsular - a few
Bee Hummingbird Mellisuga helenae Country endemic 13/03/2014 - Zapata (Palpite) – 4
Cuban Emerald Chlorostilbon ricordii 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. - +/- 10
05/03/2014 - La Guira/Cueva de los Portales - a few 05/03/2014 - Soroa - a few 06/03/2014 - Soroa - a few 07/03/2014 - Najasa / La Belen - +/- 5
08/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 4 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - 5+ 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - +/- 5 11/03/2014 - Cayo Coco (Sitio La Guira) - a few 12/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos, Playa Larga) - 10+ 13/03/2014 - Zapata (La Turba) - a few 13/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar) - a few 14/03/2014 - Zapata (Las Salinas) - 1 15/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos) – 1
Cuban Trogon Priotelus temnurus Country endemic 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. - 2 05/03/2014 - Soroa - 5 seen and more heard 06/03/2014 - Soroa - a few 07/03/2014 - Najasa / La Belen - 2 seen and a few heard 12/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos, Playa Larga) - 5 seen and more heard 13/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar) - a few 15/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos) - a few and common heard
Cuban Tody Todus multicolor Country endemic 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. - 2 05/03/2014 - Soroa - 2 seen and more heard 06/03/2014 - Soroa - 5+ 07/03/2014 - Najasa / La Belen - 2 seen and a few heard 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 2 15/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos) – 2
Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. - 1 08/03/2014 - La Belen / lake near Ricardo's house - 1 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - 2 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 1 11/03/2014 - Moron to Playa Larga - 1 13/03/2014 - Zapata (La Turba) - 1 14/03/2014 - Zapata (Las Salinas) - 1 16/03/2014 - Playa Larga to Varadero – 3
West Indian Woodpecker Melanerpes superciliaris Restricted range 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. - 6+ 05/03/2014 - La Guira/Cueva de los Portales - a few 05/03/2014 - Soroa - a few
06/03/2014 - Soroa - 2 07/03/2014 - Najasa / La Belen - fairly common 08/03/2014 - La Belen / lake near Ricardo's house - 2 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - a few
10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 2 11/03/2014 - Cayo Coco (Sitio La Guira) - 2 12/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos, Playa Larga) - a few 13/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar) - a few 15/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos) - a few
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. - 3 05/03/2014 - La Guira/Cueva de los Portales - 1 07/03/2014 - Najasa / La Belen - 2 11/03/2014 - Cayo Coco (Sitio La Guira) - 1 15/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos) – 1
Cuban Green Woodpecker Xiphidiopicus percussus Country endemic 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. - +/- 5
05/03/2014 - La Guira/Cueva de los Portales - 2 05/03/2014 - Soroa - 5+ 06/03/2014 - Soroa - 2 07/03/2014 - Najasa / La Belen - 3 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - +/- 6 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 1 11/03/2014 - Cayo Coco (Sitio La Guira) - 1 12/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos, Playa Larga) - 1 15/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos) – 1
Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus 06/03/2014 - Soroa - 1 07/03/2014 - Najasa / La Belen – 1 The subspecies chrysocaulosus is occasionally treated as a separate species, “Cuban” Northern Flicker.
Fernandina's Flicker Colaptes fernandinae Country endemic 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. - 2 13/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar) – 2
Crested Caracara Caracara cheriway 08/03/2014 - La Belen / lake near Ricardo's house - 2 08/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 4 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - 2 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 1 16/03/2014 - Playa Larga to Varadero – 2
American Kestrel Falco sparverius 03/03/2014 - Varadero to San Diego de Los Baños - 2 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. - 6 05/03/2014 - La Guira/Cueva de los Portales - 2 05/03/2014 - Reservoir near Entronque de Herradura - a few 06/03/2014 - Lake west of Havana and en route - 2 07/03/2014 - Najasa / La Belen - a few 08/03/2014 - Camaguey to Moron - a few 11/03/2014 - Moron to Playa Larga - a few 12/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos, Playa Larga) - 5+ 14/03/2014 - Zapata (Las Salinas) - 1 15/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos) - 2 16/03/2014 - Playa Larga to Varadero - a few
Merlin Falco columbarius 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - 1 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 2 11/03/2014 - Zapata (Playa Larga) – 1
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 1
14/03/2014 - Zapata (Las Salinas) - 1 16/03/2014 - Playa Larga to Varadero – 1
Cuban Parakeet Aratinga euops Country endemic 07/03/2014 - Najasa / La Belen - 15+ 08/03/2014 - La Belen / lake near Ricardo's house – 2
Cuban Parrot Amazona leucocephala Near-threatened (NT) Restricted range 07/03/2014 - Najasa / La Belen - 8 12/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos, Playa Larga) - 3 13/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar) - a few 14/03/2014 - Zapata (Las Salinas) – 7
Cuban Pewee Contopus caribaeus 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. - +/- 5
05/03/2014 - La Guira/Cueva de los Portales - a few 05/03/2014 - Soroa - a few 06/03/2014 - Soroa - 1 07/03/2014 - Najasa / La Belen - 3 08/03/2014 - La Belen / lake near Ricardo's house - 1 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - 1 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 2
11/03/2014 - Cayo Coco (Sitio La Guira) - 1 12/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos, Playa Larga) - 2 15/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos) – 3
La Sagra's Flycatcher Myiarchus sagrae 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. - 10+ 05/03/2014 - La Guira/Cueva de los Portales - a few 05/03/2014 - Soroa - a few 06/03/2014 - Soroa - a few 07/03/2014 - Najasa / La Belen - 2 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 1 12/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos, Playa Larga) - a few 13/03/2014 - Zapata (La Turba) - 1 14/03/2014 - Zapata (Las Salinas) - 1 15/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos) - 2 16/03/2014 - Playa Larga to Varadero – 1
Loggerhead Kingbird Tyrannus caudifasciatus 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. - +/- 8
05/03/2014 - La Guira/Cueva de los Portales - a few 05/03/2014 - Soroa - a few 06/03/2014 - Soroa - a few 07/03/2014 - Najasa / La Belen - a few 08/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - a few 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - a few 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 2 11/03/2014 - Cayo Coco (Sitio La Guira) - a few 11/03/2014 - Moron to Playa Larga - 1 12/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos, Playa Larga) - a few 15/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos) - 1 16/03/2014 - Playa Larga to Varadero – 1
Giant Kingbird Tyrannus cubensis Endangered (EN) Country endemic 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. - 1 at the higher part, 2 at Hacienda Cortina. 07/03/2014 - Najasa / La Belen - +/- 5 (1 at the cemetery, others at La Belen)
White-eyed Vireo Vireo griseus 06/03/2014 - Soroa – 1
Thick-billed Vireo Vireo crassirostris Restricted range 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco – 2
Cuban Vireo Vireo gundlachii Country endemic 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. - +/- 4 05/03/2014 - Soroa - 4 06/03/2014 - Soroa - a few
10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 2 12/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos, Playa Larga) - 2 16/03/2014 - Playa Larga to Varadero – 1
Yellow-throated Vireo Vireo flavifrons 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. - 1 06/03/2014 - Soroa - 1 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo – 2
Black-whiskered Vireo Vireo altiloquus 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. - 4 05/03/2014 - La Guira/Cueva de los Portales - a few 05/03/2014 - Soroa - a few 06/03/2014 - Soroa - a few
Palm Crow Corvus palmarum Near-threatened (NT) 07/03/2014 - Najasa / La Belen - groups of 7, 6, 2 08/03/2014 - La Belen / lake near Ricardo's house – 1
The subspecies minutus is often treated as a separate species, Cuban Palm Crow.
Cuban Crow Corvus nasicus 07/03/2014 - Najasa / La Belen - 30+ 08/03/2014 - La Belen / lake near Ricardo's house - a few 12/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos, Playa Larga) - 1 seen and a few heard 13/03/2014 - Zapata (Playa Larga) - 1 14/03/2014 - Zapata (Playa Larga) - +/- 20 15/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos) - a few
Northern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis 13/03/2014 - Zapata (La Turba) - 3 16/03/2014 - Playa Larga to Varadero - 20+
Cuban Martin Progne cryptoleuca Country endemic 05/03/2014 - La Guira/Cueva de los Portales - +/- 5 14/03/2014 - Zapata (Las Salinas) – 2
Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor 06/03/2014 - Lake west of Havana and en route - 4 16/03/2014 - Varadero Peninsular - +/- 10
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 4 11/03/2014 - Moron to Playa Larga - 1 16/03/2014 - Playa Larga to Varadero - a few 16/03/2014 - Varadero Peninsular - a few
Cave Swallow Petrochelidon fulva 05/03/2014 - La Guira/Cueva de los Portales - +/- 30, also a few on the nest in the cave.
Zapata Wren Ferminia cerverai Endangered (EN) Country endemic 13/03/2014 - Zapata (La Turba) - 1 seen very well and another heard
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. – 1
Cuban Gnatcatcher Polioptila lembeyei Country endemic 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - +/- 10
Cuban Solitaire Myadestes elisabeth Country endemic 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. - 1 seen and 2 heard 05/03/2014 - La Guira/Cueva de los Portales - 1 seen very well and a few heard 05/03/2014 - Soroa – 2
Red-legged Thrush Turdus plumbeus 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. - +/- 10 05/03/2014 - La Guira/Cueva de los Portales - a few 05/03/2014 - Soroa - a few 06/03/2014 - Soroa - a few 07/03/2014 - Najasa / La Belen - +/- 5 08/03/2014 - La Belen / lake near Ricardo's house - a few 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - a few
10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - fairly common 11/03/2014 - Cayo Coco (Sitio La Guira) - a few 12/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos, Playa Larga) - fairly common 13/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar) - a few 15/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos) - a few 16/03/2014 - Playa Larga to Varadero - a few
Gray Catbird Dumetella carolinensis 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. - fairly common 05/03/2014 - Soroa - a few 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - 2
10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 1 12/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos, Playa Larga) - fairly common 13/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar) - a few
Bahama Mockingbird Mimus gundlachii Restricted range 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - 1, Paradon Grande
Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. - common 05/03/2014 - La Guira/Cueva de los Portales - a few 05/03/2014 - Soroa - a few 06/03/2014 - Lake west of Havana and en route - a few 07/03/2014 - Najasa / La Belen - fairly common 08/03/2014 - La Belen / lake near Ricardo's house - fairly common 08/03/2014 - Camaguey to Moron - fairly common 08/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 4 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - fairly common 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - fairly common 11/03/2014 - Moron to Playa Larga - common
12/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos, Playa Larga) - fairly common 13/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar) - a few today along the way 16/03/2014 - Playa Larga to Varadero - common 16/03/2014 - Varadero Peninsular - a few
Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - +/- 40
Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapilla 05/03/2014 - Soroa - 1 06/03/2014 - Soroa - 1 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - 1 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 1 11/03/2014 - Cayo Coco (Sitio La Guira) - 1 12/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos, Playa Larga) - 6 15/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos) – 2
Worm-eating Warbler Helmitheros vermivorum 15/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos) – 3
Louisiana Waterthrush Parkesia motacilla 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. - 1
11/03/2014 - Cayo Coco (Sitio La Guira) – 1
Northern Waterthrush Parkesia noveboracensis 07/03/2014 - Najasa / La Belen - 2 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - 5 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 2 11/03/2014 - Cayo Coco (Sitio La Guira) - 1 12/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos, Playa Larga) - 1 13/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar) - a few
Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. - 1 05/03/2014 - Soroa - 1 06/03/2014 - Soroa - 1 07/03/2014 - Najasa / La Belen - 3 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 2 11/03/2014 - Moron to Playa Larga - 1 12/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos, Playa Larga) - 1 13/03/2014 - Zapata (La Turba) - 1
13/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar) - 1 15/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos) – 2
Swainson's Warbler Limnothlypis swainsonii 05/03/2014 - La Guira/Cueva de los Portales – 1
Tennessee Warbler Oreothlypis peregrina 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo – 1
Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. - +/- 5 05/03/2014 - Soroa - 2 07/03/2014 - Najasa / La Belen - 1 08/03/2014 - La Belen / lake near Ricardo's house - 5 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 1 13/03/2014 - Zapata (La Turba) - 1 14/03/2014 - Zapata (Las Salinas) - a few 15/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos) – 1
Hooded Warbler Setophaga citrina 05/03/2014 - La Guira/Cueva de los Portales – 1
American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. - 4 05/03/2014 - La Guira/Cueva de los Portales - a few
05/03/2014 - Soroa - a few 06/03/2014 - Soroa - a few 07/03/2014 - Najasa / La Belen - 10+ 08/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 4
09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - 2 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - a few 11/03/2014 - Cayo Coco (Sitio La Guira) - 1 12/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos, Playa Larga) - a few 13/03/2014 - Zapata (La Turba) - a few 13/03/2014 - Zapata (Palpite) - a few 14/03/2014 - Zapata (Las Salinas) - 1 15/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos) - a few
Cape May Warbler Setophaga tigrina 07/03/2014 - Najasa / La Belen - 1 male 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - 1 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 5+
Northern Parula Setophaga americana 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. - 3 05/03/2014 - La Guira/Cueva de los Portales - 2 05/03/2014 - Soroa - +/- 5 06/03/2014 - Soroa - 2 08/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - a few 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - a few 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 5+ 11/03/2014 - Cayo Coco (Sitio La Guira) - 2 14/03/2014 - Zapata (Las Salinas) - 1 15/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos) – 2
Magnolia Warbler Setophaga magnolia 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - 1 female 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 1 11/03/2014 - Cayo Coco (Sitio La Guira) - 1 12/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos, Playa Larga) - 2 15/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos) – 1
Yellow Warbler Setophaga petechia 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - 3 14/03/2014 - Zapata (Las Salinas) – 2 The “Yellow Warbler” complex is sometimes treated as 3 groups. These are:
- “aestiva group”: American Yellow Warbler
Including rubiginosa, banksi, parkesi, amnicola, aestiva, morcomi, brewsteri, sonorana, dugesi. Migratory northern races occupying variety of damp habitats.
- “erithachorides group”: Mangrove Warbler
Including castaneiceps, hizophorae, phillipsi, xanthotera, aithocorys, iguana, aequatorialis, jubaris, peruviana, aureola, oraria, bryanti, erithachorides, chrysendeta, paraguanae, cienagae. Sedentary, mainly S, mangrove dwelling taxa.
- “petechial group”: Golden Warbler Including rufivertex, rmouri, flavida, gundlachi, flaviceps, eoa, albicollis, chlora, solaris, bartholemica, melanoptera, ruficapilla, babad, petechia, alsiosa, rufopileata, obscura, aurifrons. Sedentary, largely mangrove dwelling taxa.
The two last groups are most of the time regarded as one species, “Mangrove Warbler”, distinct from the
northern group, “American Yellow Warbler”. In many trip reports, Yellow Warbler on Cuba is mentioned as Mangrove Warbler. The subspecies they belong to is gundlachi. When you are following a very progressive taxonomy, they even are in a separated species, Golden Warbler.
Black-throated Blue Warbler Setophaga caerulescens 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. - 2 05/03/2014 - Soroa - 1 06/03/2014 - Soroa - 1 07/03/2014 - Najasa / La Belen - 5+ 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - 2 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 3 12/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos, Playa Larga) - 1 13/03/2014 - Zapata (Palpite) - 1 15/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos) – 3
Palm Warbler Setophaga palmarum 03/03/2014 - Varadero airport - 1 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. - common 05/03/2014 - La Guira/Cueva de los Portales - a few 05/03/2014 - Soroa - a few 06/03/2014 - Soroa - a few 07/03/2014 - Najasa / La Belen - a few 08/03/2014 - La Belen / lake near Ricardo's house - a few 08/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - a few 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - fairly common 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - fairly common 11/03/2014 - Cayo Coco (Sitio La Guira) - a few 12/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos, Playa Larga) - a few 13/03/2014 - Zapata (La Turba) - a few
13/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar) - a few 14/03/2014 - Zapata (Las Salinas) - a few 15/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos) - 1 16/03/2014 - Playa Larga to Varadero - a few
Olive-capped Warbler Setophaga pityophila Restricted range 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. – 9
Yellow-rumped Warbler Setophaga coronata 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo – 3
Yellow-throated Warbler Setophaga dominica 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. - 2 06/03/2014 - Lake west of Havana and en route - 1 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - a few 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo – 2
Prairie Warbler Setophaga discolor 07/03/2014 - Najasa / La Belen - 1 male 08/03/2014 - east of Moron - 1 male 08/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 1 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - 4 11/03/2014 - Moron to Playa Larga - 1 male 15/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos) – 1
Black-throated Green Warbler Setophaga virens 05/03/2014 - Soroa - +/- 5 06/03/2014 - Soroa - 1 07/03/2014 - Najasa / La Belen - +/- 5
Yellow-headed Warbler Teretistris fernandinae Country endemic 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. - +/- 5 05/03/2014 - La Guira/Cueva de los Portales - a few 05/03/2014 - Soroa - fairly common 06/03/2014 - Soroa - a few 12/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos, Playa Larga) - 1 14/03/2014 - Zapata (Las Salinas) - 1 15/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos) – 2
Oriente Warbler Teretistris fornsi Country endemic 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - 10+ 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 4 11/03/2014 - Cayo Coco (Sitio La Guira) - a few
Red-legged Honeycreeper Cyanerpes cyaneus 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. - +/- 10 05/03/2014 - Soroa - 10+ 06/03/2014 - Soroa - a few
Cuban Grassquit Tiaris canorus Country endemic 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. – 5
Yellow-faced Grassquit Tiaris olivaceus 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. - fairly common 05/03/2014 - La Guira/Cueva de los Portales - a few 05/03/2014 - Soroa - a few 06/03/2014 - Soroa - 2 07/03/2014 - Najasa / La Belen - 1 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - a few 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - a few
13/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar) - a few 16/03/2014 - Playa Larga to Varadero – 2
Cuban Bullfinch Melopyrrha nigra 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. - 4 05/03/2014 - La Guira/Cueva de los Portales - 2 05/03/2014 - Soroa - 2 06/03/2014 - Soroa - 3 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - a few 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - a few 11/03/2014 - Cayo Coco (Sitio La Guira) - a few
Western Spindalis Spindalis zena 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. - +/- 5 05/03/2014 - La Guira/Cueva de los Portales - +/- 5 05/03/2014 - Soroa - +/- 5 06/03/2014 - Soroa - a few 07/03/2014 - Najasa / La Belen - 1 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - 2
10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - a few 11/03/2014 - Cayo Coco (Sitio La Guira) - a few
Zapata Sparrow Torreornis inexpectata Endangered (EN) Country endemic 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - 7 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 2 13/03/2014 - Zapata (La Turba) – 1
At the Cayo’s At Zapata
Summer Tanager Piranga rubra 05/03/2014 - Soroa - 2 06/03/2014 - Soroa - 1 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 1 female
Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. - +/- 10
Blue Grosbeak Passerina caerulea 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. – 2
Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea 06/03/2014 - Soroa - 1 pair 08/03/2014 - La Belen / lake near Ricardo's house - 1 male at the lake 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo – 4
Red-shouldered Blackbird Agelaius assimilis Country endemic 13/03/2014 - Zapata (La Turba) – 4
Tawny-shouldered Blackbird Agelaius humeralis 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. - 2
07/03/2014 - Najasa / La Belen - 20+ 12/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos, Playa Larga) - 20+
Eastern Meadowlark Sturnella magna 06/03/2014 - west of Camaguey - 2 08/03/2014 - La Belen / lake near Ricardo's house – 1 The subspecies hippocrepis is often treated as a separate species, Cuban Meadowlark.
Cuban Blackbird Dives atroviolaceus Country endemic 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. - 10+ 05/03/2014 - La Guira/Cueva de los Portales - a few 06/03/2014 - Lake west of Havana and en route - a few 07/03/2014 - Najasa / La Belen - a few
Greater Antillean Grackle Quiscalus niger 03/03/2014 - Varadero airport - fairly common 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. - fairly common 05/03/2014 - La Guira/Cueva de los Portales - fairly common 05/03/2014 - Soroa - fairly common 06/03/2014 - Soroa - a few 06/03/2014 - Lake west of Havana and en route - common 07/03/2014 - Najasa / La Belen - a few 08/03/2014 - La Belen / lake near Ricardo's house - fairly common 08/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - common 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - fairly common 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - fairly common 11/03/2014 - Cayo Coco (Sitio La Guira) - a few 11/03/2014 - Moron to Playa Larga - common 12/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos, Playa Larga) - 50+ 13/03/2014 - Zapata (Playa Larga) - a few 14/03/2014 - Zapata (Playa Larga) - fairly common 15/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos) - fairly common 16/03/2014 - Playa Larga to Varadero - fairly common
Shiny Cowbird Molothrus bonariensis 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. - 2 07/03/2014 - Najasa / La Belen - 50+
Cuban Oriole Icterus melanopsis Country endemic 04/03/2014 - La Guira NP and fields near San Diego de Los Baños. - 1 05/03/2014 - La Guira/Cueva de los Portales - 2 06/03/2014 - Soroa - 2 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco - 2 12/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos, Playa Larga) – 1
Orchard Oriole Icterus spurius 09/03/2014 - Cayo Paredon Grande and Cayo Coco – 1
House Sparrow Passer domesticus Feral species 03/03/2014 - Varadero airport - a few 06/03/2014 - Lake west of Havana and en route - a few 08/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - a few 10/03/2014 - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - 2 15/03/2014 - Zapata (Soplillar, Cuevos de los Pecos) - 1 16/03/2014 - Playa Larga to Varadero - a few