Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2024 is “Protect Insects, Protect Birds”—highlighting the importance of protecting insects for birds and our environment. Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy learning about and celebrating nature!
Endemic Bird of the Day: Antillean Palm Swift
A fast flying, deftly maneuvering miniature fighter-jet of the Caribbean sky, your attention will likely be drawn to the Antillean Palm Swift when it dives past your face or emits a flurry of twitters- “tooeee-tooee” – above you in pursuit of its insect prey. This aptly named bird lives exclusively in the Greater Antilles islands (save Puerto Rico). And while Antillean Palm Swifts can definitely fit in the palm of your hand, this bird takes its name from the palms it frequently uses for nesting and roosting.
Up close, these tiny swifts are adorable, with enormous, dark chocolate eyes relative to their little sooty brown and dull white bodies; their tiny beak belies a sizable gape for hoovering in plenty of flies! Males and females seem to be indistinguishable to the human eye, but even if they were, you’d probably have a hard time telling them apart anyway because they seem to never sit still, other than when they disappear into a cluster of palm fronds.
The Antillean Palm Swift’s nest is a remarkable construction — a soft bed of feathers, plant fibers, and silky and fluffy seed heads fashioned into a slight pouch, in which 2-5 white eggs are laid. It’s attached within the nooks and crannies of palm fronds. They prefer to nest in the dead and hanging leaves of Sabal, Washingtonia, Roystonea, and Copernicia palm species. And because of their preference for dead and dying palm fronds, you can also be nearly sure to encounter them nesting and roosting in palm thatch roofs! Both male and female Antillean Palm Swifts take care of the chicks.
And did we forget to mention that Antillean Palm Swifts nest in colonies? That’s right! One can often encounter dozens of these swifts darting in and out of a palm or thatch roof, sometimes at eye-level! And apparently they secure their nest using their own saliva!
A brief aside: So if these birds are such strong flyers, are able to nest in a variety of both natural and manmade structures, and have a food source that is rather ubiquitous, why haven’t they successfully colonized the other Caribbean Islands? You can pretty much throw a stone from one Caribbean Island to the next, but for some reason there is a hard line drawn between Hispaniola and Puerto Rico that these little guys just don’t seem to want to cross. There are tiki huts, palm trees, and insects in Puerto Rico… so what’s the problem? Vagrant records for Antillean Palm Swift on Puerto Rico do pop up from time to time yet the species seems unable to get a foothold (or maybe a winghold?). Clearly more ecological research on this endemic fighter-jet is needed.
All kidding aside, we encourage folks to seek out this one-of-a-kind species and enjoy some time watching these little swifts and their aerial acrobatic shows. Did you know? You can ensure encore performances for years to come when you stop killing native insects. Don’t spray them. Don’t bait them into traps. Don’t poison your landscape and watershed where they live (and tell your neighbors to stop killing insects too)! Instead, devote your efforts to building back a diverse native habitat on your property, which in turn produces beneficial predatory insects that bring balance to the entire system.
Thanks to Arnaldo Toledo for the illustration and Josh LaPergola & Justin Proctor for the text!
Colour in the Antillean Palm Swift
Download our West Indies Endemic Bird colouring page. Use the photos below as your guide, or you can look up pictures of the bird online or in a bird field guide if you have one. Share your coloured-in page with us by posting it online and tagging us @BirdsCaribbean #CEBFfromthenest
Listen to the calls of the Antillean Palm Swift
The calls of Antillean Palm Swift are a high-pitched metallic sounding twitter.
Puzzle of the Day
Click on the image below to do the puzzle. You can make the puzzle as easy or as hard as you like – for example, 6, 8, or 12 pieces for young children, all the way up to 1,024 pieces for those that are up for a challenge!
Antillean Palm Swifts can be found feeding over open habitats. Swooping low to the ground with their fast erratic flight. (Photo by Jeremiah Trimble, Macaulay Library-ML257901871)Antillean Palm Swift. This bird takes its name from the palms it frequently uses for nesting and roosting. (Photo by Guy Stevens, Macaulay Library-ML614528277)You can often encounter dozens of Antillean Palm Swifts darting in and out of a palm or thatch roof, sometimes at eye-level! (Photo by Paul Arneson, Macaulay Library-ML149238231)
Enjoy these beautiful photos of the Antillean Palm Swift!
Antillean Palm Swifts live exclusively on the islands of the Greater Antilles with the exception of Puerto Rico. (Photo by Francisco Alba)Antillean Palm Swift shouldn’t be confused with other swift species in the Greater Antilles, their black-and-white plumage, long slim wings, and long forked tail are unique within its range. (Photo by Guy Stevens, Macaulay Library-ML614528284)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS : We hope that you have been enjoying learning all about our Caribbean endemic birds! Don’t forget that this year our theme is “Protect Insects, Protect Birds”. Some of the birds we have featured so far are endangered and many others are under pressure, often from human activities. This means our special endemic birds and many of the other beautiful birds that live in or visit us in the Caribbean need your help.
Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2024 is “Protect Insects, Protect Birds”—highlighting the importance of protecting insects for birds and our environment. Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy learning about and celebrating nature!
Endemic Bird of the Day: Black-billed Parrot
Upon approaching Jamaica’s verdant Cockpit Country in the early morning, you will, depending on the time of year, see pairs or flocks of emerald green parrots flying purposefully across valleys, their flight ‘bugles’ echoing through the forested hills. Landing noisily in the treetops, they call to each other with a variety of squawks and warbles. These raucous birds are Black-billed or Yellow-billed Parrots—both of which are endemic to Jamaica! Their populations are restricted to the wet limestone forests of the Cockpit Country, the John Crow Mountains, and moist mountain forests of central Jamaica.
The Black-billed Parrots, simply called ‘Black Bill’ in Jamaica, are smaller and darker than the more colourful Yellow-billed Parrots. They are most closely related to another Caribbean endemic parrot, the Puerto Rican Parrot. Overall, Black-billed Parrots are a dark, forest green with flecks of scarlet above the grayish-black beak. Most Black-billed Parrots also sport a row of small, scarlet feathers in their wings, which show as a red flash in flight. The leading edges of the flight feathers progress from deep blue to turquoise, with the trailing edges grading from black to green. Splashes of red and yellow show in the tail feathers when the tail is spread.
Courtship for Black-billed Parrots begins as early as January when pairs can be seen flying apart from flocks. They are cavity nesters—they excavate a deep chamber in the trunk of a large tree which they use to nest, lay 3-4 eggs, and raise their young. Most nesting activity happens in March. Females incubate the eggs during which time their mates will bring food for them throughout the day. Eggs hatch after about 24 days and both parents feed and raise the hatchlings. Baby parrots are born completely featherless and with their eyes and ear openings fused shut. They’re also born with large feet which prevent them from toppling over when food is being regurgitated into their beaks. They grow baby feathers first which initially give them a decidedly spiky appearance! These eventually lay smooth as they continue to grow. Baby Black-billed Parrots play with small leaves and sticks—this activity strengthens the muscles which they will need to make long flights in search of food. After about 60 days, the young parrots are ready to leave the nest.
Black-billed Parrots forage over a wide area of forest, eating a variety of fruits, seeds, berries, blossoms, and even the leaves of trees. Like other parrots, they transport fruits and seeds using their beaks and feet, which they disperse over long distances—making them important but often overlooked seed dispersers of the forest.
The Black-billed Parrot is listed as Endangered. Threats to their survival include loss of forest habitat and the increasingly hot and dry climate. Hot, dry, and windy conditions are perfect for bushfires that destroy fruiting trees and kill baby parrots that are unable to fly. Predation by the endemic Jamaican Boa contributes to a high rate of nest failure (over 50%) in Black-billed Parrots. Poaching for the illegal pet trade has also increased, with parrots being sold along the roadside and through social media outlets—deleterious activities that rarely face enforcement action. Bauxite mining is an imminent threat to the blackbills’ stronghold in northeastern Cockpit Country. The survival of the Black-billed Parrot will depend on the protection of this important area, as well as enforcement of Jamaica’s Wildlife Protection Act.
Thanks to Arnaldo Toledo for the illustration and Wendy Lee for the text!
Colour in the Black-billed Parrot
Download our West Indies Endemic Bird colouring page. Use the photos below as your guide, or you can look up pictures of the bird online or in a bird field guide if you have one. Share your coloured-in page with us by posting it online and tagging us @BirdsCaribbean #CEBFfromthenest
Listen to the calls of the Black-billed Parrot
The calls of the Black-billed Parrot include a harsh “mwah” as well as scratchy sounding “uh-luh” calls often given in flight.
Puzzle of the Day
Click on the image below to do the puzzle. You can make the puzzle as easy or as hard as you like – for example, 6, 8, or 12 pieces for young children, all the way up to 1,024 pieces for those that are up for a challenge!
Black-billed Parrots are listed as Endangered by the IUCN and their population is declining. Some of main threats to these birds include habitat loss, removal in birds from the wild for the pet trade, and nest predation by invasive predators. (Photo by John Oates)Black-billed Parrots eat a variety of fruits, seeds, berries, blossoms, and even the leaves of trees. They are important seed dispersers in the forest. (Photo by Bobby Wilcox, Macaulay Library-ML415820601)Black-billed and Yellow-billed Parrots on Jamaica are most closely related to the Puerto Rican Parrot. (Photo by Wendy Lee)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS : Discover the birds of the Caribbean with Origami, the Japanese art of paper folding, and learn how to fold a Parrot out of paper with this video!
All you need is a square sheet of paper – 24 x 24 cm is ideal. The video will show you step by step how to fold and create your Parrot! Enjoy also our photos of the many parrots that are endemic to the Caribbean islands at the end of the video!
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS : Enjoy this video of a Black-billed Parrot in the wild!
Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2024 is “Protect Insects, Protect Birds”—highlighting the importance of protecting insects for birds and our environment. Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy learning about and celebrating nature!
Endemic Bird of the Day: Oriente Warbler
It is impossible not to stop and marvel at the spectacular hubbub of a foraging flock of Oriente Warblers (Teretistris fornsi). Not only is this warbler is endemic to Cuba where it is known as the ‘Pechero’, these little birds belong to a family known as ‘Teretistridae’—where all the members are only found in Cuba and its surrounding cays!
Its simple but unique plumage instantly grabs your attention. The upper parts of its body are bluish gray which contrast strikingly with the yellow of its lower parts. That delightful lemony yellow extends from around the eyes and throat to the upper belly. The lower belly and undertail are pale gray, and the flanks have a dull brownish wash. Males and females look alike. Don’t confuse this bird with its cousin, the Yellow-headed Warbler, which has a yellow crown and is gray on the belly.
If the Oriente Warbler’s flashes of yellow and gray don’t immediately stop you in your tracks, its melodious song will. It has been described as “buzzy notes interspersed with sweeter notes.” Their call, however, is a shrill “tsi-tsi-tsi.” The Oriente Warbler also emits a series of loud, metallic calls that, during non-reproductive periods, attract several migratory and resident passerines to form mixed foraging flocks.
Orient Warblers can be found in dry coastal scrub and forest habitats along the central-eastern coast of Cuba. They specialize in feeding on all types of insects, but they have also been observed feeding on lizards of the Anolis genus, seeds, and flowers. Their foraging behavior is spectacular—like the Yellow-headed Warbler, they perform vertical and horizontal sweeps through all levels of the vegetation. It is common to find 10 or more individuals foraging together from ground level, up to the branches, trunks, or foliage of the trees!
Oriente Warblers reproduce during the months of March to July with the arrival of spring. Interestingly, researchers from the Eastern Center for Ecosystems and Biodiversity (BIOECO) have observed male Oriente Warblers paired with more than one female! They build cup-shaped nests using rootlets, vines, fine grasses, and ball moss. These nests are found in the branches of thorny plants. Females lay 2 to 3 light blue eggs with brown specks on the wide end. These are attended to by only one parent, most likely the female. The chicks make their wobbly exit from the nest after about a month, but remain with their parents for a few weeks. During this time, parents keep a watchful eye on them, showing them where to find food and stay safe from predators.
The size of the Oriente Warbler population is currently uncertain but it is believed that the population is stable, which is why the IUCN classifies the Pechero as “Least Concern.” If you enjoy nature, do not hesitate to visit Cuba to observe this absolute jewel of its birdlife!
Thanks to Arnaldo Toledo for the illustration and Claudia Mantilla & Carmen Plasencia León for the text!
Colour in the Oriente Warbler
Download our West Indies Endemic Bird colouring page. Use the photos below as your guide, or you can look up pictures of the bird online or in a bird field guide if you have one. Share your coloured-in page with us by posting it online and tagging us @BirdsCaribbean #CEBFfromthenest
Listen to the song of the Oriente Warbler
The song of the Oriente Warbler is a jumbled combination of buzzy “zhip” and chipping “tip” notes.
Puzzle of the Day
Click on the image below to do the puzzle. You can make the puzzle as easy or as hard as you like – for example, 6, 8, or 12 pieces for young children, all the way up to 1,024 pieces for those that are up for a challenge!
Outside of the breeding season, which is when they defend a territory, Oriente Warblers are fairly sociable. They can be found feeding in mixed species flocks or will flock together as a single species in groups of up to 10 individuals. (Photo by Michael World)Oriente Warblers feed at all levels of the vegetation- you can find individuals foraging on the ground, on the branches, trunks, or foliage of the trees. They mainly eat insects, but they have also been seen feeding on lizards, seeds, and flowers. (Photo by Ian Burgess, Macaulay Library- ML558957951)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS : On Cuba you might spot several different types of warblers. There are two little birds amongst them who look very much alike, but they’re not the same type of bird! Once is today’s endemic bird, the Oriente Warbler, and the other is the Yellow-headed Warbler. Both are mainly gray and yellow! In our activity of the day you need to look carefully at two photos and try to identify the Oriente Warbler. Check the text above for some handy tips.
If you get stuck and feel like you need a bit of extra help then take a look on the second page of this activity. You will find some helpful hints to set you on the right track.
Think that you found the Oriente Warbler? You can check if you are right on our answer sheet here. This activity is perfect to play with school groups or outdoor education clubs etc.
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS : Enjoy this video of an Oriente Warbler in the wild!
Wondering about some of the ways we monitor birds like the Oriente Warbler? Read all about the first-ever BirdsCaribbean bird banding workshop in Cuba!
Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2024 is “Protect Insects, Protect Birds”—highlighting the importance of protecting insects for birds and our environment. Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy learning about and celebrating nature!
Endemic Bird of the Day: Puerto Rican Mango
The Caribbean is alluring to many people with its tropical climate, picturesque landscapes that look like they’ve been pulled straight from paradise, and of course—mangos! But we’re not talking about the delicious tropical fruit—we’re talking about the dazzling hummingbirds that belong to the Anthracothorax genus. We think you’ll agree that they do nourish the soul and spirit, just like our region’s beloved fruit. There are four endemic mangos in the Caribbean, one of which is the Puerto Rican Mango (Anthracothorax aurulentus). This medium-sized hummingbird has a long, decurved bill and that adds a bit of green glimmer to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
In poor light, male Puerto Rican Mangos can appear all-dark, but when well illuminated, those seemingly unassuming colours transform—allowing us to witness a spectacular special-effects polychromatic show! Getting a glimpse of this magic makes it apparent why the local names for the species are “colibrí dorado” (golden hummingbird) and “zumbador dorado” (golden buzzer). The upperparts and throat gleam bright greenish-yellow, and chest deep indigo with green sides. The lower breast and belly are paler than the chest, and the lower belly is usually white. The tail feathers are a moody maroon-purple with black edging. Females have the same iridescent green upperparts, but drab white underparts with gray flanks. When their tails are folded, the outer feathers usually appear coppery or greenish; when fanned, these feathers show large rusty patches near the base with broad white tips.
Not too long ago, the Puerto Rican Mango and Hispaniolan Mango were considered the same species—then called the Antillean Mango. In 2022, the split was made based on plumage and morphometric (size and shape) differences observed in museum specimens.The male Hispaniolan Mango (Anthracothorax dominicus) has a shimmering green throat and entirely velvet-black underparts, and the female has a purplish tail base.
The species is widespread throughout Puerto Rico where you can spot them in dry forests, forest clearings, scrub, shade coffee plantations, and suburban gardens. Historically it was abundant on Vieques island but is now considered rare there as the last reported sighting was in 1994. The decline of the mango on the islands coincided with both the arrival of the Green-throated Carib, another Caribbean endemic, and the conversion of forest to more human-disturbed habitats—which the carib thrives in but the mango does not. A similar decline occurred on the Virgin Islands where its range is now limited to Virgin Gorda, Anegada, the Beef Islands, Guana Island, and St. Thomas.
If you are from, or visiting, any of these islands, listen for its call—a high-pitched, sharp chip described as “tsick“; or for its song, a high, thin rapid trill or buzz preceded and followed by one or several high pitched “tsit” notes.
Like other hummingbirds, the Puerto Rican Mango is a sugar addict with an insatiable appetite for nectar! It doesn’t only consume nectar though. It is also skilled at capturing and eating insects, including small wasps, beetles, and flies—all while in the air! Males will however still aggressively defend nectar-rich territories from other nectar feeding birds.
Its breeding season extends throughout the year but peaks from March to July. Mama hummingbirds build a deep cup-shaped nest lining the inside with soft plant fibres whereas the outside is covered with flakes of bark and lichen bound together by spider webs. They incubate the two eggs for approximately 15 days. The nestlings are fed a nutritious mix of nectar and insects that is regurgitated straight into their hungry beaks. After about 25 days they are strong enough to leave the nest to start their own lives.
Fortunately the Puerto Rican Mango is not a threatened species! However, we need to ensure we can enjoy their dazzling displays for years to come by planting native flowers that hummingbirds feed on in our gardens, reducing our use of insecticides (most of which kill both the good and bad insects), and supporting local environmental organizations with their reforestation initiatives.
Thanks to Arnaldo Toledo for the illustration and Aliya Hosein and Adrianne Tossas for the text!
Colour in the Puerto Rican Mango
Download our West Indies Endemic Bird colouring page. Use the photos below as your guide, or you can look up pictures of the bird online or in a bird field guide if you have one. Share your coloured-in page with us by posting it online and tagging us @BirdsCaribbean #CEBFfromthenest
Listen to the song of the Puerto Rican Mango
The song of the Puerto Rican Mango is made up of high-pitched, thin rapid trills and buzzing notes, often with high pitched “tsit” calls at the start and end.
Puzzle of the Day
Click on the image below to do the puzzle. You can make the puzzle as easy or as hard as you like – for example, 6, 8, or 12 pieces for young children, all the way up to 1,024 pieces for those that are up for a challenge!
Male Puerto Rican Mango. The striking yellow-golden plumage on its upper parts has earned this bird the local names “colibrí dorado” (golden hummingbird) and “zumbador dorado” (golden buzzer). (Photo by Rafy Rodrguez)
Female Puerto Rican Mango at the nest. Females have the same iridescent green upperparts as males, but drab white underparts with gray flanks. (Photo by Alcides Morales Perez, Macaulay Library- ML588237551)
Puerto Rican Mango feeding, with his tail fanned showing off his deep purple tail feathers. (Photo by Rafy Rodriguez)
Enjoy these beautiful photos of the Puerto Rican Mango!
Male Puerto Rican Mango in flight. This species is widespread throughout Puerto Rico and can be found in dry forests, forest clearings, scrub, shade coffee plantations and suburban gardens. (Photo by Peter Hawrylyshyn, Macaulay Library-ML540850091)Male Puerto Rican Mango perched. In addition to eating nectar they are also skilled at hunting insects, including small wasps, beetles, and flies, which they catch on the wing. (Photo by Benny Diaz, Macaulay Library-ML161402841)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS : The Puerto Rican Mango is a striking bird with vivid shining colours of glittering green, inky black and vibrant violet!But who says you have to travel to Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands to see these beautiful colours?In this activity you’ll make a suncatcher—a decoration that catches rays of sunlight and casts them as rainbow hued patterns across the room! You might want to make this beautiful suncatcher as a gift for Mother’s Day!
Here is a list of materials you will need:
empty clear plastic milk jug, washed and dried
permanent markers
scissors
utility Knife
hole punch
twine, string or yarn
You can download full instructions here including a bird template for you to use. This activity involves using a knife and scissors.
Make sure you have an adult to help you with the cutting.
Let’s celebrate moms AND endemic birds!
Mother’s Day is this weekend on May 12th and we’ve got you covered. We have an endemic bird-themed Mother’s Day Cards to download and colour. This is a fun activity for people of all ages to celebrate the mother figure in their life!
Please download and print our card template (letter size will work best but A4 will be ok too). It’s best to use card stock, but regular printer paper will do just fine. Once printed, fold in half horizontally (so the short sides touch) and write your own special message on the inside! Don’t forget to colour in the pictures on the front and on the back. Or if you are feeling really creative be inspired by one our featured birds and draw your own greeting card!
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS : Enjoy this video of a Puerto Rican Mango at its nest in the wild!
Read all about how the Antillean Mango got split into two new species back in 2022! One of these was the Puerto Rican Mango, but do you know which other island also got a ‘new’ species of hummingbird from this split?
Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2024 is “Protect Insects, Protect Birds”—highlighting the importance of protecting insects for birds and our environment. Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy learning about and celebrating nature!
Endemic Bird of the Day: Least Pauraque
You’re enjoying a nice relaxing night in the southwestern dry forests of the Dominican Republic when you hear an eerie “twooorii” from the forest. Is it a ghost?? Or even worse—the fabled Chupacabra!?
Although the avian family name Caprimulgidae does actually hail from myths purporting that these birds suckled (chupa) on goats’ (cabra) udders, the Least Pauraque couldn’t be more of an adorable toasted marshmallow of a bird with no interest whatsoever in drinking goat milk. They are actually far more interested in eating nocturnal flying insects—which is great news for all of us who don’t fancy nights filled with mosquitos!
These birds are locally known as ‘Torico’. Their local names come from their guttural repeated “torico, torico” call.
And while you might wander into the woods seeking to find the source of these spooky calls—you’ll be looking for a long time as these birds are masters of disguise! They are cryptically colored with streaked blackish-brown upper parts and a creamy white belly with feathers laced in blacks and browns. They wear a pearly white collar and search for insects with their huge, dark eyes—all the better for nocturnal foraging! You can tell them apart from Hispaniola’s other nightjar (the endemic Hispaniolan Nightjar) by the band across the end of their tail feathers which is white in males and buffy-cream in females. They also lack the white wing crescents of Antillean Nighthawk and much prefer perching and sallying to actively soaring like the nighthawks tend to do. While it might look like they can’t catch much in their tiny beaks, their mouths actually open very wide to catch unsuspecting insects.
Whilst they do share Hispaniola with several other nightjars, the Least Pauraque is unique in their genus! They used to share their genus with the Jamaican Pauraque, which although discovered first in 1758, has not been seen or detected since 1860. The Least Pauraque on the other hand is newer to science, having been described in 1917 and was later assigned to the same unique genus in 1928 by the notable James Bond.
You can find them in arid or semi-arid lowlands of Hispaniola. They are big fans of scrubby limestone woodlands filled with prickly cactus and thorn scrub, though they have also been recorded in deciduous, coniferous, and other mixed forests spanning from sea level up to 800m in elevation. The best spot to find the Least Pauraque is the Sierra de Bahoruco mountain range in the southwest of the Dominican Republic.
While not globally threatened, these adorable bug-eaters are considered near-threatened. Since they are hard to find and thus hard to count, we can only roughly estimate their population which is believed to be between 6,000-15,000 individuals. This population is suspected to be in a slow decline. Their current status in Haiti is not well known, wide-scale deforestation for agriculture and charcoal production mean they have lost much of their preferred habitat. In fact, there were no records of Least Pauraque in Haiti between 1928 and 1969! They are known at 16 widespread locales in the Dominican Republic—however, their cryptic plumage keeps them well hidden and it is believed that they likely occupy more areas than these. Continued threats include predation from introduced rats and mongoose, and continued forest loss for agriculture.
While decisions about protecting habitats from unsustainable development that can threaten the Least Pauraque are often in the hands of policy makers, you can still help your backyard birds thrive! Just like the Least Pauraque there are other birds, like the Gray Kingbird and Greater Antillean Bullfinch, that like to feed on crunchy and gooey insects. Avoid using insecticides so that these birds will have enough insects to munch on and keep coming back to your garden.
Thanks to Arnaldo Toledo for the illustration and Holly Garrodfor the text!
Colour in the Least Pauraque
Download our West Indies Endemic Bird colouring page. Use the photos below as your guide, or you can look up pictures of the bird online or in a bird field guide if you have one. Share your coloured-in page with us by posting it online and tagging us @BirdsCaribbean #CEBFfromthenest
Listen to the calls of the Least Pauraque
The calls of the Least Pauraque include a rising whistle “tooooooeeeeeee,” and a three syllable trilled “oo-weee-oo.”
Puzzle of the Day
Click on the image below to do the puzzle. You can make the puzzle as easy or as hard as you like – for example, 6, 8, or 12 pieces for young children, all the way up to 1,024 pieces for those that are up for a challenge!
Least Pauraque perched. These birds specialize in catching and feeding on flying insects. While it might look like they can’t catch much in their tiny beak, their mouths actually open very wide! (Photo by Kristof Zyskowski, Macaulay Library-ML174412081)Least Pauraque camouflaged in leaf litter. These birds are masters of disguise. The best habitats to look for them in are the arid or semi-arid lowlands of Hispaniola. They are big fans of scrubby limestone woodlands filled with cactus and thorn scrub. (Photo by Dax Roman)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS : What facts can you remember about today’s endemic bird – the Least Pauraque? Test your knowledge by filling in the missing words in our Least Pauraque facts! We have given you all the correct words to use but can you put them into the right fact?
You can re-read the information all about this bird above, or search on the BirdsCaribbean webpages or online for more information about the Least Pauraque! Then, when you have completed all the sentences, you can check your answers here.
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS : Enjoy this video of a Least Pauraque in the wild!
Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2024 is “Protect Insects, Protect Birds”—highlighting the importance of protecting insects for birds and our environment. Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy learning about and celebrating nature!
Endemic Bird of the Day: Tawny-shouldered Blackbird
Blackbirds love to hang out with other blackbirds and this beloved endemic is no exception. The Tawny-shouldered Blackbird is considered nearly endemic to Cuba where locals call it ‘Mayito.’ There is a small relict population in Haiti. Like other blackbirds, it belongs to the Icteridae family, which includes other cool endemics like the Greater Antillean Grackle, Cuban Blackbird, and Red-shouldered Blackbird. It forms mixed flocks with these species. It even flocks with Shiny Cowbirds—which are known to parasitize their nests! Being in a mixed flock affords Tawny-shouldered Blackbirds better protection from predators and possibly improves foraging efficiency. At night, their raucous roosts can be immediately identified in parks and tree groves.
Male and female Tawny-shouldered Blackbirds look alike. Both have black plumage, and distinctive tawny (orange-ochre) patches on the shoulders with a yellowish-cream border. This shoulder patch is particularly striking in males during the breeding season. Females are duskier and lack the bluish gloss of the males. These relatively small birds measure approximately 7.5 inch to 8.7 inch.
Not all species of songbirds can sing duets with their mates but Tawny-shouldered Blackbirds rather delightfully can! Both males and females have melodious voices with males usually leading the serenade. Solo songs are a shrill “shuh-riii-iii” and calls are a short and strong metallic “chic-chic.”
Tawny-shouldered Blackbirds are monogamous, nesting in trees or bushes near water, and prefer colonial nesting, with many nests close to each other. They nest from April to August with chicks fledging the nests mostly between May and July. Females take the lead in constructing the nests using dried grass, moss, twigs, hair, and feathers. Clutches comprise 3–4 bluish to greenish eggs with brown spots.
In Cuba look for these black beauties in woodlands and woodland edges, farmlands, and rice fields. In Haiti, they occur along channels of dry open woodlands. They can also be found in Cuba’s cities and neighbourhoods, and are not restricted to wetlands like their counterpart, the Red-shouldered Blackbird. Their omnivorous diet of insects, seeds, fruits, and nectar allows them to adapt to a variety of habitats.
While primarily sedentary, vagrant Tawny-shouldered Blackbirds have been recorded in the southeastern United States and the Cayman Islands, possibly blown off route during storms and hurricanes.
Fortunately, the Tawny-shouldered blackbird is not globally threatened. Although common in larger islands in the Cuban archipelago, it is rare in Haiti, mainly in the western part, and the current status of its populations there is unknown.
Thanks to Arnaldo Toledo for the illustration and Ailén Anido Escalona for the text!
Colour in the Tawny-shouldered Blackbird
Download our West Indies Endemic Bird colouring page. Use the photos below as your guide, or you can look up pictures of the bird online or in a bird field guide if you have one. Share your coloured-in page with us by posting it online and tagging us @BirdsCaribbean #CEBFfromthenest
Listen to the song of the Tawny-shouldered Blackbird
The song of the Tawny-shouldered Blackbird is made up of long buzzing notes, sometimes interspersed with short higher-pitched ‘buzzes’. Both males and females will sing, sometimes together.
Puzzle of the Day
Click on the image below to do the puzzle. You can make the puzzle as easy or as hard as you like – for example, 6, 8, or 12 pieces for young children, all the way up to 1,024 pieces for those that are up for a challenge!
Both male and female Tawny-shouldered Blackbirds have melodious voices. Unlike many species of songbirds, where only the male sings to attract a mate, they will sing duets together! (Photo by John Drummond, Macaulay Library-ML27841521)In Cuba, look for Tawny-shouldered Blackbirds in woodland and woodland edges, farmland, and rice fields. They can also be found in Cuba’s cities and suburbs and are not restricted to wetlands like the similar looking Red-shouldered Blackbird. (Photo by Neil Hilton)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS : The Tawny-shouldered Blackbird enjoys catching and eating bugs. It searches trees and in bushes, sometimes even on the ground to find tasty creepy crawlies to munch on. Perhaps catching a moth, a tasty worm, or a spider!
Imagine you are a Tawny-shouldered Blackbird in search of a meal. In today’s activity you will go exploring and find out what bugs there are in your backyard in our fun bug hunt!
Follow our instructions and see how many different types of bugs you can find! Perhaps you will spot a butterfly or a bee flitting past? Remember to just look at the bugs and not to touch or collect them.
You can check the ones you see off on our list, and perhaps take some photos of them?
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS : Enjoy this video of Tawny-shouldered Blackbirds in the wild!
Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2024 is “Protect Insects, Protect Birds”—highlighting the importance of protecting insects for birds and our environment. Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy learning about and celebrating nature!
Endemic Bird of the Day: Jamaican Tody
When you hear the name Robin Redbreast, you might think of different birds from around the world. But in Jamaica, it refers to the Jamaican Tody (Todus todus). European settlers, nostalgic for the robins of their homelands, tended to name any small bird with a splash of red on its chest a “robin.” However, the Jamaican Tody doesn’t actually have a red breast—it has a red throat! Its compact body sometimes makes this detail less obvious at a glance.
This tiny bird has other fascinating local names—‘Jesus Bird’ and ‘Rasta Bird.’ According to legend, during Christ’s crucifixion, a drop of blood fell onto the bird as it looked up at the cross, leaving a permanent mark. Its ‘Rasta Bird’ nickname comes from its striking red, green, and yellow colors, which match the Rastafarian flag, making it a true symbol of Jamaica.
Todies are a unique genus found only in the Greater Antilles and are entirely endemic to the Caribbean. There are five species, each found on a single island—except Hispaniola, which has two. The Jamaican Tody was the first tody species to be described by scientists.
This vibrant little bird is only about 9cm (3.5 inches) tall, with a large head, stout body, and short tail. It looks like a puffball of feathers, with a vibrantly red throat, a pointed red-and-brown bill, and a dazzling green back and wings. It has a white mustache that ends in a touch of blue. The iris can be blue-gray, brownish-white, or even a rare half-and-half combination! The breast is white, with some green washing on the sides. There are varying amounts of pink on the flanks and bright yellow or green on the lower belly.
Found in all types of forests, from mangroves to mountains, the Tody is most common at mid-levels. Don’t let its small size fool you—it has a huge personality! You’ll likely see it flitting about in the undergrowth, constantly searching for its next meal. It perches on low branches with its long, broad bill tilted upwards as it patiently scans the vegetation for crawling larvae and flying insects. Once spotted, the Tody swoops down or up to catch its prey in a flash! Captured prey are shaken or beaten against a branch before being eaten.
This tody is also quite vocal! It gives a loud “beep” call during the breeding season and a rapid, guttural “frrrup” sound for territorial displays. If danger is near, it lets out a sharp “cheep.” But not all of its sounds come from its beak—its wings create a signature “buzzing” noise in flight!
When it comes to raising their offspring, a typical nest of leaves and twigs just won’t do for Jamaican Todies. Instead, they dig burrows into soil banks, where they lay 1 to 4 white eggs. Both parents take part in excavation and chick-rearing.
Although not currently threatened, Jamaican Tody populations are impacted by habitat destruction and predation by the invasive Indian Mongoose. Reforestation efforts and controlling invasive species can help ensure this little bird continues to thrive. Learn more about this species, including its range, photos, and calls here.
Thanks to Arnaldo Toledo for the illustration and Damany Calderfor the text!
Colour in the Jamaican Tody
Download our West Indies Endemic Bird colouring page. Use the photos below as your guide, or you can look up pictures of the bird online or in a bird field guide if you have one. Share your coloured-in page with us by posting it online and tagging us @BirdsCaribbean #CEBFfromthenest
Listen to the song of the Jamaican Tody
The song of the Jamaican Tody is a series of scratchy sounding “zheh” sounds often followed by a brief rattling call.
Puzzle of the Day
Click on the image below to do the puzzle. You can make the puzzle as easy or as hard as you like – for example, 6, 8, or 12 pieces for young children, all the way up to 1,024 pieces for those that are up for a challenge!
The Jamaican Tody’s brilliant red, green, and yellow/gold colors also embody the Rastafarian colours, making it a true icon of Jamaica. (Photo by Matt Grube)The Jamaican Tody can be found in all types of forests, from mangroves to mountains. Look for this little bird perched or flitting through the undergrowth in search of insect prey. (Photo by Anthony VanSchoor)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS : Jamaican Todies feed on insects like beetles, flies, moths, crickets, and grasshoppers. When catching flying insects for a delicious meal Todies will “sally” (swoop) out form their perch on a nearby branch and grab this insect right out of the air! If they are successful they then head back to their perch and tuck into their catch.
Can you help this hungry Jamaican Tody find its way through our maze to to grab some tasty insect food? You can find the correct route here.
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS : Enjoy this video of a Jamaican Tody in the wild!
Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2024 is “Protect Insects, Protect Birds”—highlighting the importance of protecting insects for birds and our environment. Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy learning about and celebrating nature!
Endemic Bird of the Day: Lesser Antillean Euphonia
This tiny flitting endemic icon can be found on not one, not two, not three, but nine islands in the Lesser Antilles (Barbuda to Grenada). The Lesser Antillean Euphonia is a brilliantly colored bird. The male has a sky-blue helmet, olive-yellow underparts, a bright yellow patch on the throat and forehead, a dark mask, and an olive-green back. Although males and females are similar in appearance, the female is more uniformly olive-green and has a smaller yellow forehead patch.
Lesser Antillean Euphonias are predominantly a species of dense forests, from dry lowlands to wet mountain tops. They can be found in most available habitats and adjacent disturbed areas, especially where mistletoe is present. Why mistletoe? Mistletoe berries are their favorite food! Like many other plants, mistletoe are dependent on birds to disperse their seeds but the way this happens is remarkable. Euphonias break open the outer shell of the fruit and swallow the inner portion. They digest the pulp which is rich in fat and protein and then defecate the seeds onto tree limbs where they germinate, thereby helping to “plant” them in another location. The seeds have a sticky film on them which acts as a glue to stick the seeds to the tree limb. Euphonias can be seen quickly “wiping” the seeds onto a branch after pooping them out to prevent them from sticking to their vent feathers! They also occasionally eat other fruits, seeds, and flower buds.
Though one of the most brilliantly coloured and active Caribbean endemics, birders lament that they are rarely lucky to catch even a glimpse of Lesser Antillean Euphonias. But their distinctive song—a jumbled trilling, tinkling “tuc-tuc-tuc…”, punctuated with sharp whistles, can be heard from above, usually pouring out from the labyrinth of mistletoe vines.
The breeding season lasts from January to July, possibly peaking from April to June. Dome-shaped nests, with a side entrance, are constructed using moss and rootlets, with an inner cup of dried grass, strips of bark, and shredded plant material. In St Vincent a nest was placed about 10m up and attached to vines growing against the trunk of a forest palm. The vines most likely provide camouflage and stability for the nest. Eggs (4) are white with mauve or reddish brown spots, especially at the larger end, with the markings sometimes forming a ring.
While not threatened, Lesser Antillean Euphonias are uncommon throughout their range. Populations have been recorded within protected areas in Guadeloupe, Dominica, and St Lucia. But strong winds and tree falls, caused by severe storms and hurricanes can decrease the amount of food available to them. It is important for us to support our local NGO initiatives, like removing invasive species and replacing them with native trees, to increase the resilience of our forests so that Lesser Antillean Euphonias and other forest-dependent birds can continue to thrive.
Thanks to Arnaldo Toledo for the illustration and Aliya Hosein for the text!
Colour in the Lesser Antillean Euphonia
Download our West Indies Endemic Bird colouring page. Use the photos below as your guide, or you can look up pictures of the bird online or in a bird field guide if you have one. Share your coloured-in page with us by posting it online and tagging us @BirdsCaribbean #CEBFfromthenest
Listen to the song and the calls of the Lesser Antillean Euphonia
The song of the Lesser Antillean Euphonia is a jumble of is a rapid jumble squeaky, and whistled notes.
The calls of the Lesser Antillean Euphonia include a high-pitched “wheee”, a more grating “djip”, as well as a “beep” call, sometime in a series, and a rapid “whip-ip.”
Puzzle of the Day
Click on the image below to do the puzzle. You can make the puzzle as easy or as hard as you like – for example, 6, 8, or 12 pieces for young children, all the way up to 1,024 pieces for those that are up for a challenge!
Female Lesser Antillean Euphonia, Guadeloupe. This little bird is found on nine islands in the Lesser Antilles! (Barbuda to Grenada). (Photo by Anthony Levesque, Macaulay Library- ML140599201)Juvenile Lesser Antillean Euphonia, Guadeloupe. Young birds are even more uniformly olive-green and are less colourful than both the adult males or females. (Photo by Anthony Levesque, Macaulay Library-ML465196671)Male Lesser Antillea on Dominica. These colourful endemic ‘jewels’ are hard to spot, listen out for their distinctive jumbled, trilling song and keep your eyes peeled! (Photo by David Hollie, Macaulay Library-ML595435561)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS : Honey bees feed on both nectar and pollen. The nectar is for energy and the pollen provides protein and other nutrients. They find their food through sight and smell.
In todays activity you will do an experiment to test how great bees are at remembering where they can find food!
With the help of an adult, you will need to gather the following items before you get started:
Pan or microwave-safe dish
Water
50g sugar
5 clear dishes
4 pieces of white paper
1 piece of red paper
Then download and follow you simple instructions and get started finding out more about bees!
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS : Read all about the latest bird species changes in the Caribbean! This included ‘splitting’ the the former Antillean Euphonia (Chlorophonia musica) has now been differentiated as the Puerto Rican Euphonia (Chlorophonia sclateri), the Hispaniolan Euphonia (Chlorophonia musica), and the Lesser Antillean Euphonia (Chlorophonia flavifrons).
Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2024 is “Protect Insects, Protect Birds”—highlighting the importance of protecting insects for birds and our environment. Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy learning about and celebrating nature!
Endemic Bird of the Day: Vitelline Warbler
Introducing the Vitelline Warbler! If you’re from the Cayman Islands you may know it as “Chip chip.” This little gem might be small, but it’s got some fascinating facts up its wing. Found only in the Cayman Islands and Swan Islands, there are not one, not two, but three wonderful sub-species of Vitelline Warbler! Each one has its own unique flair, adding even more color to these islands’ ecosystems. Spot the S. v. nelson subspecies on the Swan Islands, S. v. vitellina on Grand Cayman, and S. v. crawfordi on Little Cayman & Cayman Brac.
Spotting a Vitelline Warbler can be a treat—here’s what to look for! A small songbird measuring around 4 to 5 inches (10 to 13 centimeters) in length, males sport an olive-green crown and upperparts, and median wing coverts edged yellow with greater wing coverts edged olive-yellow, forming two wing bars. The wings and tail are dusty olive, the head is bright yellow with an olive-green eye-line, and a moustachial stripe that curves below the eye (similar to that of a Prairie Warbler). Underparts are yellow, the sides and flanks are a washed olive color and faintly streaked (not visible during winter). Females are similarly colored but tend to be more dull with less distinctive face markings. The Vitelline Warbler has a pointed bill, perfect for hunting insects.
These birds are not really city birds, and instead prefer the peace and quiet of their leafy homes. If you’re looking for a Vitelline Warbler, head to the thick, dry shrublands, woodlands, and forest edges. Keep your eyes peeled though, these birds are like the ninjas of the forest! Their olive-green color helps them blend in perfectly with the foliage, making them tricky to spot.
What’s on the menu for these little guys? Bugs, bugs, and more bugs! They’re insectivores, gobbling up all sorts of creepy crawlies they find in the foliage. They occasionally consume nectar.
Despite their diminutive size, Vitelline Warblers have giant voices! The sweet melody of their songs echoes through the forest. Listen for a buzz with three brief introductory notes followed by a longer ascending note, and then a long descending note: dzz-dzz-dzz-zzzzii-zzzzuu.They use 3 varieties of these chirps and trills, perfect for serenading potential mates or just chatting with their pals.
When it’s time to settle down and start a family, these warblers get busy! The female builds a cozy little nest resembling a small deep woven cup made from grass, cotton, bromeliads, spider webs, and feathers. These nests are very well hidden by leaves and vines. Mama warbler lays her eggs, usually a small clutch of two eggs, and both parents take turns keeping them warm until they hatch.
The Vitelline Warbler is listed as a restricted range species and faces several threats that have contributed to its classification as “Near Threatened” by the IUCN. As human populations expand and develop, the natural habitats of the Vitelline Warbler on the Cayman Islands are shrinking, leaving them with less space to live, breed, and find food. You can help protect their habitats by supporting local environmental NGOs that are working to prevent urban sprawl and restore natural areas.
Thanks to Arnaldo Toledo for the illustration and Kelsey-Rae Smith for the text!
Colour in the Vitelline Warbler
Download our West Indies Endemic Bird colouring page. Use the photos below as your guide, or you can look up pictures of the bird online or in a bird field guide if you have one. Share your coloured-in page with us by posting it online and tagging us @BirdsCaribbean #CEBFfromthenest
Listen to the song of the Vitelline Warbler
The song of the Vitelline Warbler is made up of 4-5 harsh, slurred acsending and descending notes “szwee-szwee-szwee-zee” .
Puzzle of the Day
Click on the image below to do the puzzle. You can make the puzzle as easy or as hard as you like – for example, 6, 8, or 12 pieces for young children, all the way up to 1,024 pieces for those that are up for a challenge!
Male Vitelline Warbler. Look out for this colourful endemic in thick, dry shrublands, woodlands, and forest edges on the Cayman Islands! (Photo by Nicole Martin, Macaulay Library-ML493131001)The female Vitelline Warbler is slightly duller than male, with more uniformly yellow ear-coverts. This bird has a very small range and some of its habitat is under threat of development in the Cayman Islands—it is currently listed as “Near Threatened” by the IUCN. (Photo by Simon Best, Macaulay Library-ML611247300)
Juvenile Vitelline Warblers are pale grayish or grayish-brown on their heads and upperparts. (Photo by Larry Therrien)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS : There are two warblers who can both be found in the Cayman Islands and look very much alike, but they’re not the same type of bird! Once is today’s endemic bird, the Vitelline Warbler, and the other is a Prairie Warbler. Both are mainly olive-coloured and yellow! In our activity of the day you need to look carefully at two photos and try to identify the Vitelline Warbler. Check the text above for some handy tips.
If you get stuck and feel like you need a bit of extra help then take a look on the second page of this activity. You will find some helpful hints to set you on the right track.
Think that you found the Vitelline Warbler? You can check if you are right on our answer sheet here. This activity is perfect to play with school groups or outdoor education clubs etc.
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS : Enjoy this video of a Vitelline Warbler in the wild!
Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2024 is “Protect Insects, Protect Birds”—highlighting the importance of protecting insects for birds and our environment. Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy learning about and celebrating nature!
Endemic Bird of the Day: Bare-legged Owl
Cuba is the home of two tiny endemic owls. The Bare-legged Owl, locally called Sijú Cotunto, is perhaps the lesser known of the pair. That does not mean it is uncommon—in fact, it is easily observed all around the country in wooded areas, mixed palm forest, semi-deciduous forest, and thickets. It is most active at night, which is when you can sometimes hear its series of soft hoots hoo hoo hoo huhuhuhuhuhuhuu, with a bouncing ball rhythm that accelerates at the end. The best chance to see this cute little puffball of an owl during daylight is while it is roosting inside caves or in the crevices of palm trees.
The name of this owl tells us about its most distinguishing characteristic: the lack of feathers on its legs, which are yellow-green in color. If you come across the similar Burrowing Owl, which is very rare in Cuba, you can use this feature to tell them apart! The other tiny Cuban endemic owl, the Cuban Pygmy-owl, also has feathered legs and is more active during the day, unlike its nocturnal bare-legged cousin. Their big, dark brown eyes also distinguish them, as the other species have yellow eyes. Their plumage is mostly rufous to brown on the upperparts, with white spots on the wing feathers. The throat and belly are mostly white, with some brown streaks on the breast and flanks.
Bare-legged Owls feed mainly on large insects and occasionally on frogs and small reptiles. The breeding season occurs from December to June, with a peak around March-April. They use abandoned woodpecker holes or natural openings in trees where they lay two white eggs. They can also be found nesting on cliffs or caves. It is very common to find them in pairs—that observation, coupled with the record of a pair living for seven years in the same territory—has led to scientists suspecting that they are monogamous birds. However, Bare-legged Owls are very secretive, meaning we still have lots to learn about their behavior, especially during the breeding season! This ‘secretiveness’ and the fact they are nocturnal make any sighting a joyful event!
Luckily, Bare-legged Owls do not seem to be in decline. They have a large geographic distribution and have shown adaptive traits in the face of habitat conversion for housing and commercial development. However, as a secondary cavity nester, it is important to protect the holes and dead trees that are an important resource during the breeding season. Dead trees still provide cover and nesting spaces for birds and mammals too, so don’t get rid of the dead trees in your yard just yet!
Thanks to Arnaldo Toledo for the illustration and Daniela Ventura for the text!
Colour in the Bare-legged Owl
Download our West Indies Endemic Bird colouring page. Use the photos below as your guide, or you can look up pictures of the bird online or in a bird field guide if you have one. Share your coloured-in page with us by posting it online and tagging us @BirdsCaribbean #CEBFfromthenest
Listen to the song of the Bare-legged Owl
The song of the Bare-legged Owl is a soft series of “hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo…” notes that accelerate. This bird also sometimes make a screeching sound.
Puzzle of the Day
Click on the image below to do the puzzle. You can make the puzzle as easy or as hard as you like – for example, 6, 8, or 12 pieces for young children, all the way up to 1,024 pieces for those that are up for a challenge!
Bare-legged Owls are ‘secondary cavity’ nesters, meaning they use holes made by other birds especially woodpeckers and natural openings in trees, particularly palms. (Photo by Aslam Ibrahim Castellon Maure)Although Bare-legged Owls, like most owls, are most active at night, your best chance to spot one is during the day whilst this tiny owl is roosting. (Photo by Max Schwenne)The Bare-legged Owl is fairly common across Cuba and appears to be able to adapt to live in human modified landscapes. (Photo by John Mangold)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS : How much do you know about the life-cycle of our featured bird the Bare-legged Owl? Why not test your knowledge and complete our “Life Cycle of an Owl” activity?
First spend some time learning about owls on the internet or at your school library. Then carefully cut the ‘missing’ images and paste in the correct order to complete this owl’s life cycle! Don’t forget to label each stage.
You can check your completed life cycle against the correct one, which can be found here.
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS : Enjoy this video of a Bare-legged Owl in the wild!
Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2024 is “Protect Insects, Protect Birds”—highlighting the importance of protecting insects for birds and our environment. Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy learning about and celebrating nature!
Endemic Bird of the Day: Puerto Rican Oriole
If the early bird gets the worm, the Puerto Rican Oriole (Icterus portoricensis) really has an edge on the competition! These charismatic birds (called Calandrias in Spanish) mainly sing in the darkness of the early morning, before first light. Both male and females sing lilting, whistling songs until sunrise, after which they mainly produce sharp tchu and buzzy wink calls. Mated pairs often stay close together all day long, and use those calls to keep track of each other, like a game of Marco Polo.
The Puerto Rican Oriole is a member of the Icterus genus, and used to be called the Greater Antillean Oriole. In 2010, the Greater Antillean Oriole was split into four distinct species: the Cuban Oriole (Icterus melanopsis), the Hispaniola Oriole (Icterus dominicensis), the Bahama Oriole (Icterus northropi), and the Puerto Rican Oriole.
Puerto Rican Orioles are endemic to the island of Puerto Rico where they can be found across the island in gardens, mangroves and other wooded areas. They forage in pairs or family groups for insects, spiders, fruits, nectar, small lizards, and frogs. Their pointed beaks are sharp and strong, perfect for prying into small cracks in trees or pulling off pieces of breadfruit.
They have beautiful, unmistakable plumage—adults of both sexes are mostly black, with patches of intensely yellow feathers on their shoulders, rump, lower belly, and thighs. Juveniles are olive-green or yellow, with patches of black feathers appearing as they age. It is impossible to tell males and females apart just by looking at them. But only females build the nest, so if you see a Puerto Rican Oriole building a nest you can be certain it’s a female!
Females weave the fibers of palms into a cup-shape nest, which hangs underneath palm fronds or banana leaves. Typically, they prefer to nest and forage on the edges of forests, especially in areas with palms. If you live in Puerto Rico and have palm trees, check under the fronds, from March to June, where you may find their basket-like nests! But remember to be a good host and give her space and privacy. Their oval-shaped eggs are pale white with brown speckles on them, and both parents raise the chicks after they hatch. Nestlings are fed more insects than fruits.
Though classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, preliminary research indicates that the population may be declining. Unfortunately, Puerto Rican Oriole nests are favorite targets for parasitism by Shiny Cowbirds (Molothrus bonariensis), who lay their eggs in the nests of other birds for them to raise. As a result, Puerto Rican Orioles often raise cowbird chicks instead of their own, and their reproductive success is low. They may be more successful in more densely forested areas where there are fewer cowbirds.
Overall, the Puerto Rican Oriole is a beautiful, fascinating bird that any visitor to the island should be sure to seek out. If we protect their natural habitats and monitor their population, this endemic songbird can continue its early morning serenade for generations to come.
Thanks to Arnaldo Toledo for the illustration and Michelle Moyer for the text!
Colour in the Puerto Rican Oriole
Download our West Indies Endemic Bird colouring page. Use the photos below as your guide, or you can look up pictures of the bird online or in a bird field guide if you have one. Share your coloured-in page with us by posting it online and tagging us @BirdsCaribbean #CEBFfromthenest
Listen to the song of the Puerto Rican Oriole
The song of the Puerto Rican Oriole is a series of high-pitched whistles , mixed with buzzes and warbles.
Puzzle of the Day
Click on the image below to do the puzzle. You can make the puzzle as easy or as hard as you like – for example, 6, 8, or 12 pieces for young children, all the way up to 1,024 pieces for those that are up for a challenge!
Female Puerto Rican Orioles weave the fibers of palms into a cup shape, which hangs underneath palm fronds or banana leaves. Typically, they prefer to nest and forage on the edges of forests. (Photo by Michael Ocasio, Macaulay Library-ML599415791)
Immature Puerto Rican Orioles look very different from the adults being mainly olive or yellow in colour. Patches of black feathers will start appearing as they age. (Photo by Ricardo Sanchez)Puerto Rican Orioles like to get started early in the day. Both male and females sing lilting, whistling songs in the hours of darkness in the early morning, before sunrise. (Photo by Ken Pinnow)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS : Can you find the words in our Puerto Rican Oriole word search? Remind yourself of some of the interesting facts about this endemic bird as you look for all 15 hidden words!
Remember the words may appear forwards and backwards, as well as horizontal, vertical and diagonal!
Need some help? Or want to check your answers? You can see where all the words were here.
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS : Enjoy this video of a Puerto Rican Oriole in the wild!
Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2024 is “Protect Insects, Protect Birds”—highlighting the importance of protecting insects for birds and our environment. Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy learning about and celebrating nature!
Endemic Bird of the Day: La Sagra’s Flycatcher
Weep. A pause. Weep. A pause. Weep. You hear the sound of wings fluttering briefly and the clickety-clack of a beak snapping shut. The weeping continues.
You peek outside and see a medium-sized, nondescript flycatcher perched, leaning forward, on a low branch. It has a brown-gray head, back, and wings (with two inconspicuous wingbars), a grayish-white underside (sometimes tinged with yellow), and reddish-brown tail and primaries. Perhaps its short crest, reminiscent of a Troll doll, is puffed up, but otherwise the bird is unremarkable…until it launches itself from its perch, snags an insect you didn’t even notice from a branch, U-turns with a backflip, and neatly returns to its perch, displaying acrobatics that would rival the Cirque du Soleil.
The La Sagra’s Flycatcher (Myiarchus sagrae) is a member of the tyrant flycatcher family, which is the largest family of birds in the world, comprising more than 400 species. The La Sagra’s range includes The Bahamas and Grand Cayman (local name Tom Fool) and Cuba (local name Bobito Grande). Across these islands, it inhabits nearly all ecosystems including pine forests, mangrove wetlands, and coppice (evergreen broadleaf forests). There are also records of it in southern Florida, where it is considered a rare vagrant. Typically identified first by its one-note weep call rather than by sight, listen out also for its weep–piri song.
This bird really lives up to the name ‘flycatcher’! First, its diet consists primarily of insects. Beetles, caterpillars, moths, katydids, and even dragonflies are favourites, but they are also known to eat fruits and seeds when necessary. Second, the La Sagra’s Flycatcher hunts via “hawking” or “sallying,” where a bird watches for insect prey from a perch, flies off to grab it on the wing, and returns to devour its catch.
During the breeding season, April to July, they build cup-shaped nests using hair, plant fibers and other soft materials in the cavities of tree trunks, broken branches, and even bamboo stalks! Clutch size varies from 2 and 4 eggs.
The La Sagra’s Flycatcher is not threatened but as noted by the IUCN, its population is decreasing. This is likely due to habitat destruction caused by catastrophic hurricanes and unsustainable development. A decrease in the supply of its favourite food—insects, caused by excessive use of insecticides for pest control, is also responsible for its decline.
You can take action to conserve both birds and insects. Whether you have a backyard, garden, or just a balcony planter, provide a haven for the right insects by planting with native plants. And if you do spot any pests in your garden, use nontoxic methods to get rid of them (e.g., neem oil). If we all do our part, birds like the insect-loving La Sagra’s Flycatcher will continue to thrive and provide enjoyment to all.
Thanks to Arnaldo Toledo for the illustration and Giselle Dean for the text!
Colour in the La Sagra’s Flycatcher
Download our West Indies Endemic Bird colouring page. Use the photos below as your guide, or you can look up pictures of the bird online or in a bird field guide if you have one. Share your coloured-in page with us by posting it online and tagging us @BirdsCaribbean #CEBFfromthenest
Listen to the call of the La Sagra’s Flycatcher
The calls of the La Sagra’s Flycatcher include a quick “sweet” and whistled “whit-it, did-id-oo.”
Puzzle of the Day
Click on the image below to do the puzzle. You can make the puzzle as easy or as hard as you like – for example, 6, 8, or 12 pieces for young children, all the way up to 1,024 pieces for those that are up for a challenge!
La Sagra’s Flycatcher in The Bahamas. The La Sagra’s range includes The Bahamas (home to the subspecies lucaysiensis), and Cuba and Grand Cayman (subspecies sagrae in both islands). (Photo by Beth Hamel)La Sagra’s Flycatcher mainly perches in and hunts insect from the understory. They use their acrobatic flight skills to snatch insects out of the air. (Photo by Greg Lavaty)La Sagra’s Flycatcher belongs to the ‘tyrant flycatcher’ family. This is the largest bird family in the world, with over 400 species! (Photo by Michael World)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS : Have you ever wondered what birds live in your backyard? Have you thought about how many birds might be there? Well, today’s “Backyard Bird Blitz” activity is going to help you answer those questions!
Telling the difference between different species of birds can be tricky but we have some tips to help you sort them in them into ‘types’ of bird, which is a really great starting point. We’ve also got some great advice on the best way to count the birds in your backyard. Just download our simple instructions, find a comfy spot with a great view of the birds in your yard or garden and get started!
If you need more help trying to identify birds down to which species they are you could try looking in a local bird field or ID guide or take a look on eBird Caribbean to see if you can find the birds you have been seeing. If you live in the Caribbean you may also spot one of your wonderful endemic birds enjoying your backyard!
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS : Enjoy this video of a La Sagra’s Flycatcher in the wild!
Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2024 is “Protect Insects, Protect Birds”—highlighting the importance of protecting insects for birds and our environment. Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy learning about and celebrating nature!
Endemic Bird of the Day: Blue Mountain Vireo
The Blue Mountain Vireo is not blue in colour, doesn’t sing the blues, and is not restricted to the Blue Mountains in Jamaica as its name suggests. However, it is known for its distinctive song, a long trilling whistle, and its alarm call, a harsh “brrrr” which drops in pitch at the end. They are very secretive and are often heard before being seen.
The Blue Mountain Vireo is described as a plain, chunky vireo with a blue-gray head, heavy dark bill, and yellow underparts. It has no facial markings or wing bars, unlike the Jamaican Vireo, which is smaller with conspicuous white wing bars.
This lovely vireo, endemic to Jamaica, is an uncommon resident in humid forest, especially in montane regions. Its habitat ranges from the low elevations of Windsor in Cockpit Country to the high elevations of the Blue Mountains (500-2000m). They are also found in degraded woodlands, farms, gardens, shade coffee plantations, and along roads in higher and wetter areas in Jamaica. They often forage in dense foliage, searching leaves, lichens, and under tree bark for juicy and crunchy insects (beetles, grubs, and spiders), or close to the ground where they glean insects off flowers. They also eat fruit. They usually forage alone or in small mixed flocks with other insectivorous birds.
Their nesting period runs from March to July, during which time Blue Mountain Vireos build a cup-shaped nest using mostly moss. Their nests can be seen dangling from trees or even medium height saplings. Eggs are spotted, but information about clutch size, incubation, and fledging are currently unknown.
The Blue Mountain Vireo is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. Habitat loss is the main threat to this species. Trees within its habitat are cut down for charcoal burning, small-scale farming, and development. Bush fires also limit the area of suitable habitat available for Blue Mountain Vireos and other wildlife. It is important that we protect their habitats by not clearing large areas in the forest, and that we work towards restoring degraded parts of their habitats by planting native trees.
Thanks to Arnaldo Toledo for the illustration and Damion Whyte for the text!
Colour in the Blue Mountain Vireo
Download our West Indies Endemic Bird colouring page. Use the photos below as your guide, or you can look up pictures of the bird online or in a bird field guide if you have one. Share your coloured-in page with us by posting it online and tagging us @BirdsCaribbean #CEBFfromthenest
Listen to the song of the Blue Mountain Vireo
The song of the Blue Mountain Vireo is a loud, musical trill.
Puzzle of the Day
Click on the image below to do the puzzle. You can make the puzzle as easy or as hard as you like – for example, 6, 8, or 12 pieces for young children, all the way up to 1,024 pieces for those that are up for a challenge!
The Blue Mountain Vireo is a plain-looking bird. You can tell it apart from the Jamaican Vireo by its lack of facial markings and wing bars, and larger size. (Photo by Bobby Wilcox, Macaulay Library-ML515352281)Blue Mountain Vireos love forest with dense vegetation and prefer higher elevation and wetter forests. (Photo by Eric Hynes)Blue Mountain Vireos are listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. Habitat loss due to farming and development are the main threats to the species. (Photo by Michael Woodruff, Macaulay Library-ML138683421)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS : Do you know what the different parts of a bird are called? Knowing them can help you to learn how to describe and identify birds, as well as colour them in. Learn the names for the parts of a bird by checking out the diagram in this page.
Test your knowledge on today’s endemic bird by matching the correct names to the correct ‘parts of a Blue Mountain Vireo’ and completing this sheet.
Want to check your answers? You can see where all the words matched up to here.
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS : Enjoy this video of a Blue Mountain Vireo in the wild!
Find out more about Jamaica’s endemic with this fantastic poster made by BirdLife Jamaica featuring ALL the endemic birds on the island!
Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2024 is “Protect Insects, Protect Birds”—highlighting the importance of protecting insects for birds and our environment. Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy learning about and celebrating nature!
Endemic Bird of the Day: Hispaniolan Emerald
See them sparkle. See them shine. These birds are looking mighty fine. Both in name and in plumage, the Hispaniolan Emerald is a literal gem of a bird!
True to their name, both males and females boast glittering green feathers. Females have a bronzy glint to their green and can be distinguished from males by their pale white chest and throat. Males have a dark chest and a green gorget (throat patch) which shimmers brilliantly when awash with light. Look for the little white spot behind their eyes which gives them an extra cute face!
How does the emerald stand out from Hispaniola’s other hummers? Fortunately there are only three other resident hummers to tell it apart from. The first key is habitat. The Hispaniolan Emerald prefers higher elevation montane tropical forests. Usually they won’t be found below 200m, but can be found as high as 1,500m! The higher into Hispaniola’s mountains you venture, the more emeralds you’re likely to see. Listen for their sharp metallic chipping notes next time you go for a mountain hike in Hispaniola.
The second clue is to look at their bill and tail shape. The Hispaniolan Emerald has a straight bill, unlike the decurved bill of the Hispaniolan Mango. If you catch it in a bit of sun, you might even see that the lower bill is actually red. Next check the tail shape—emeralds have a dark forked tail, whereas the Hispaniolan Mango has a rounded tail with orange-purple feathers.
The Hispaniolan Emerald is also perfectly sized in between the teeny tiny Vervain Hummingbird and the larger Hispaniolan Mango. This has given it one of its local names—Zumbador Mediana. It is also referred to as Zumbador Esmerelda or Zumbador Verde in the Dominican Republic. In Haiti, they’re known as Wanga-nègès mòn.
Although emeralds themselves are not a Caribbean specialty, our Caribbean emeralds are unique! Most other emerald hummingbirds in the neotropics are in the genus Chlorostilbon. While Caribbean emeralds had formerly been classified as such, recent molecular studies have shown that they are distinct! As such, Caribbean emeralds were placed in the recently resurrected genus, Riccordia, named to honor French surgeon-naturalist Alexandre Riccord. This genus now contains all Caribbean endemic emeralds including the Puerto Rican Emerald, the Cuban Emerald, the Blue-headed Hummingbird, and of course our featured Hispaniolan Emerald. It also includes the extinct Brace’s Emerald, formerly of Grand Bahama.
These hummingbirds are trap-liners, which means that they usually have a preferred flower route. They love common Caribbean flowers like Inga, Heliconia, and Hibiscus. They are also quite adept at snatching insects in the air when they need a little of that extra protein boost!
Like other hummingbirds, the female does all of the work when it comes to nest-building, weaving together a cozy cup of moss and ferns, lining it with lichens, and tying it all together with a bit of spiderweb. She lays two white tic-tac size eggs which usually hatch after a little over two weeks of incubation and fledge about 20 days later.
While Hispaniolan Emeralds are still a common sight around much of the Hispaniolan highlands, they are losing much of their habitat to deforestation, especially in the Haitian mountains, though they persist in La Visite National Park and Pic Macaya Biosphere Reserve.
You can get the opportunity to see these sparkling gems for yourself this summer at our annual conference in Santo Domingo! Be sure to sign up for a trip to Ebano Verde Scientific Reserve or get yourself into the mountains for a good chance to see the Hispaniolan Emerald!
Thanks to Arnaldo Toledo for the illustration and Holly Garrod for the text!
Colour in the Hispaniolan Emerald
Download our West Indies Endemic Bird colouring page. Use the photos below as your guide, or you can look up pictures of the bird online or in a bird field guide if you have one. Share your coloured-in page with us by posting it online and tagging us @BirdsCaribbean #CEBFfromthenest
Listen to the calls of Hispaniolan Emerald
The call of the Hispaniolan Emerald is a sharp “tic” often repeated in a series.
Puzzle of the Day
Click on the image below to do the puzzle. You can make the puzzle as easy or as hard as you like – for example, 6, 8, or 12 pieces for young children, all the way up to 1,024 pieces for those that are up for a challenge!
A female Hispaniolan Emerald feeds her chicks at the nest she built. Like other hummingbirds, she doesn’t get any help from the male! Chicks will fledge about 20 days after the eggs hatch. (Photo by Alberto Rojas)A beautiful male Hispaniolan Emerald. Look for these hummers at higher elevations—the higher you venture, the more emeralds you’re likely to see! (Photo by Bradley Hacker)Male Hispaniolan Emerald in Flight at a flower. As well as feeding on nectar, they will also eat insects—snatching them out of the air! (Photo by Cameron Rutt)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS: Our 2024 Caribbean Endemic Bird Festive theme is “Protect Insects, Protect Birds”. What better way to help protect insects than by giving them somewhere to live? In today’s activity you’ll be making a bug hotel. Bug hotels are a great addition to your garden, back yard, or community space. They attract and protect bugs that keep your plants healthy. And don’t forget what is good for bugs is good for birds!
For this activity you will need:
Toilet paper rolls
Milk Carton
Acrylic paint
Large straws or rolled up pieces of paper
Natural materials for bugs to hide in e.g. moss, dried grass, pinecones, twigs, leaves
Stones
Rolled paper
Craft knife (optional)
Black dot stickers or black paint
Just download our handy instructions and get started. Note that this for this activity you will need a parent or trusted adult to help you!
Enjoy this video of a Hispaniolan Emerald in the wild!
Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2024 is “Protect Insects, Protect Birds”—highlighting the importance of protecting insects for birds and our environment. Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy learning about and celebrating nature!
Endemic Bird of the Day: Cuban Gnatcatcher
Did you know that in Cuba we have a miniature endemic mockingbird? That’s right! It’s the Cuban Gnatcatcher, known locally as ‘Sinsontillo’—which means mockingbird! Just in case you wondered—no, it doesn’t belong to the same family as the well-known mockingbird—but its name fits perfectly! Its appearance, tail, habitat, and even its song are almost identical to those of the mockingbird.
The Cuban Gnatcatcher is one of the smallest birds in Cuba. Both sexes have a similar blue-gray and white plumage, but the male stands out for its beautiful song. They spend the day in small family groups or pairs, mainly looking for small insects and occasionally smaller reptiles. Along with the Cuban Vireo, it is one of the most confiding species we have in Cuba. It is not afraid of humans, providing us with the opportunity to appreciate its beauty up close and enjoy its presence in our natural environment.
This small bird is considered relatively common in particular isolated patches of coastal scrub habitat with medium-height trees. It can be found in the north of Holguín, Camagüey, the northern Keys of Ciego de Ávila and Santa Clara, and in the southern region in Guantánamo, Santiago de Cuba, Granma, Trinidad, and Cienfuegos.
Whilst the Cuban Gnatcatcher is often confused with the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, a migratory species that visits Cuba in winter and is found throughout the country, they can actually be easily distinguished! Cuban Gnatcatchers usually stay in low and thorny terrain in small families—while the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher is found anywhere, from gardens to parks, often in small groups in August when it begins its migration south.
Additionally, the Cuban Gnatcatcher has a loud melodious song and a black crescent behind the eye to the ear, features that are not present in the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. So if you are away from the coast and see a small bird with these characteristics in the winter months, you have most likely spotted the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, rather than the Cuban Gnatcatcher.
The naturalist Juan (Johannes) Gundlach first named the Cuban Gnatcatcher in 1858. Its scientific name, lembeyei, was a gesture of humility and gratitude from Gundlach to his friend and colleague, Spanish naturalist Juan Lembeye, with whom he shared many field expeditions and valuable information about Cuban birds. This led Lembeye to include them in his book of 1850, long before Gundlach published his first work in 1876.
The nests of the Cuban Gnatcatcher are built at the end of March and resemble those of the Cuban Emerald hummingbird, but are slightly larger. It is one of the few endemic Cuban species whose natural history has recently been well studied by Cuban researchers. However, we still need to find out more about the limits of its distribution. This little bird is restricted to specific areas along the coast, habitat that is under increasing pressure for tourism development. It is therefore important for us to learn more about its habitats, and actively protect these to preserve its populations.
Thanks to Arnaldo Toledo for the illustration and Yaroddys Rodriguez for the text!
Colour in the Cuban Gnatcatcher
Download our West Indies Endemic Bird colouring page. Use the photos below as your guide, or you can look up pictures of the bird online or in a bird field guide if you have one. Share your coloured-in page with us by posting it online and tagging us @BirdsCaribbean #CEBFfromthenest
Listen to the song of Cuban Gnatcatcher
The song of the Cuban Gnatcatcher is a loud and melodious series of whistles and trills.
Puzzle of the Day
Click on the image below to do the puzzle. You can make the puzzle as easy or as hard as you like – for example, 6, 8, or 12 pieces for young children, all the way up to 1,024 pieces for those that are up for a challenge!
At a size of between 10-11cm, Cuban Gnatcatcher is one of the smallest birds in Cuba! (Photo by Roberto Jovel)The Cuban Gnatcatcher’s black crescent behind the eye to the ear distinguishes it from the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. (Photo by Aslam Ibrahim Castellon Maure)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS: During our 2024 celebration of Caribbean endemic birds we will be sharing a beautiful colouring page for every single bird we feature! These lovely pages were created for us by Arnaldo Toledo, who also created a coloured in version of each bird as inspiration. Get your colour pencils ready, and read these super helpful colouring in tips below. Then go ahead, download and print each bird, and get colouring! Enjoy!
These tips are also available in Spanish:
Enjoy this video of a Cuban Gnatcatcher in the wild!
Ruddy Turnstone, Port Royal, Jamaican. (Photo by Damany Calder)
Our 2024 Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC) marked 15 years of data collection about birds at Caribbean Wetlands—a fantastic milestone! As always, many of our partners, friends, and colleagues took the chance to contribute to this amazing long-term dataset by heading out to their local wetlands to count waterbirds!
Read on for some 2024 CWC highlights featuring just a few of the wonderful birds seen, and exciting events held in celebration of our wetlands. Every single survey makes an important contribution—we are so grateful to everyone who took part in our 2024 CWC!
Kicking off the Count in Antigua and Barbuda
Over on Antigua and Barbuda, our wonderful partners, the Environmental Awareness Group (EAG) adapted our colorful 2024 CWC graphic and took to social media to start off this year’s CWC! They encouraged birders to be citizen scientists and head out to their local wetlands—a great way to spread the word about this year’s count!
People Power in Puerto Rico
As always, we had great participation for the CWC regional count in Puerto Rico. The information that has been gathered there on shorebirds and other waterbirds as part of ongoing CWC efforts is an excellent resource!
This year, Daylene T. Quiñones Pérez, Favián D. Acevedo Caro, and Gabriela Hernández Torres teamed up to take part. They headed out on an impressive three CWC surveys looking especially for our coastal waterbirds! The group carried out two surveys to monitor the Brown Pelican population in Puerto Rico—one in Rompeola, Aguadilla, and the other at Parque Colon in Aguada. Their third count was on the cliffs of Parque Los Merenderos in Quebradillas, where they were monitoring the White-tailed Tropicbird population.
Surveying Puerto Rico’s coastline. (Photo by Daylene T. Quiñones Pérez)
A Magnificent Frigatebird. (Photo by Daylene T. Quiñones Pérez) T. Quiñones Pérez
Meanwhile, Dayamiris Candelario, of local nonprofit Organización Pro Ambiente Sustentable (OPAS), shared with us about the event that her organization coordinated. Teachers, students, and parents from Escuela Brígida Alvarez, led by staff of OPAS, completed their waterbird census in Puerto Nuevo Beach on February 2, World Wetlands Day. This beach is next to Cibuco Wetland Nature Reserve, a wetland in which the Cibuco river meets the sea.
Birding in spite of the weather, the group counts waterbirds at Puerto Nuevo Beach. (Photo by Dayamiris Candelario/OPAS)
Dayamiris says they headed out on a cloudy, damp, and slightly windy morning ready with their binoculars, bird guides, and ponchos. Undeterred by the weather, they counted 137 birds representing 14 different species! Students learned about CWC protocols, the importance of the CWC to further the conservation of wetlands, different techniques to use when carrying out surveys, and how to spot birds with binoculars. This exercise taught them first-hand about the vast biodiversity that can be found in coastal environments. These areas are highly regarded by locals and visitors to Puerto Rico for their recreational value.
A volunteer uses a Shorebird ID card at a Caribbean Waterbird Census count. (Photo by Dayamiris Candelario OPAS)
Celebrating World Wetlands Day! (Photo by Dayamiris Candelario OPAS)
Puerto Nuevo is a public beach awarded with a Blue Flag, an international program that recognizes beaches for, among other things, their environmental management and education efforts. You can find more out more about the work of OPAS on their Instagram or on LinkedIn pages. Learn more about Blue Flag certification here.
Volunteers of Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge continued their participation in the CWC with counts at Las Salinas and Laguna Cartagena. Check out their exciting Facebook posts about these visits!
Glorious Glossy Ibis
Jackie Cestero, the founder of Nature Explorers Anguilla, visited salt ponds and beaches all across Anguilla. This small island has an amazing 16 important bird areas (IBAs), most of which are wetlands or highly coastal areas. Jackie recorded an impressive 63 different species of birds during her CWC efforts! This included a Little Blue Heron, some smart looking Lesser Scaups, and a few very cute grebe chicks!
A juvenile Little Blue Heron at East End Pond Anguilla. (Photo by Jacqueline A Cestero)
A group of Lesser Scaups at East End Pond. (Photo by Jacqueline A Cestero)
A group of Pied-billed Grebe chicks. (Photo by Jacqueline A Cestero)
Another highlight was sightings of the Glossy Ibis at two different locations! You can read more about Jackie’s CWC counts in her blog post. Enjoy her video of Glossy Ibises below!
Shorebirds in St. Eustatius
Jethro van’t Hul, from St. Eustatius National Parks Foundation (STENAPA), told us about his team’s ‘big census day’. The group headed out and about in St. Eustatius and covered a whopping 14 sites with their CWC efforts! Jethro says they had quite a few interesting sightings including the Belted Kingfisher, Green Heron, Juvenile Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Osprey, Great Egret, 11 Pelicans in one flock, and four different shorebirds in one group! Jethro says they actually encountered quite a few shorebirds, including some they weren’t expecting. Their shorebird sightings included Semipalmated Plovers, Ruddy Turnstones, a Spotted Sandpiper, as well as Killdeer. He also let us know that, “This was a first survey for us, and the group generally felt very positive about it.” Let’s hope that this is the first of many CWC outings for the team!
Carrying out CWC surveys on St. Eustatius. (Photo by Jethro van’t Hul)
Juvenile Yellow-crowned Night Heron. (Photo by Jethro van’t Hul)
Semipalmated Plovers and Ruddy Turnstones on the beach. (Photo by Jethro van’t Hul)
Tourism meets science in Cuba
Participants in BirdsCaribbean’s January Bird Tour to Cuba combined ecotourism with citizen science! The group conducted CWC counts in many of the wetlands and coastal areas in the western half of Cuba! Yet again, shorebirds were stars of the show! The group had their best counts at Las Salinas De Brito where shorebird counts included 800 Black-bellied Plovers, 200 Short-billed Dowitchers, 52 Willets, and 15 Red Knots!
American Flamingos at Las Salinas De Brito, Cuba (Photo Andrew Dobson)
Reddish Egret at Las Salinas De Brito, Cuba (Photo Andrew Dobson)
A rare Great ‘White’ Heron, the Great Blue Heron white morph at Las Salinas De Brito, Cuba (Photo Andrew Dobson)
Connecting with an ‘old friend’ in Jamaica
BirdLife Jamaica members visited the historic fishing village of Port Royal, where waterbirds enjoy a friendly relationship with fishermen, often begging scraps. Amongst the birds seen was a Sanderling wearing some bands! This bird, ‘X19,’ is well-known in Jamaica now—it has been spotted in 2021, 2022, and now in 2024! This Sanderling was banded in Saskatchewan, Canada, which is over 4000 km from Jamaica! When birds get their bands, researchers estimate their age based on their plumage characteristics, species, and age at first breeding. When this Sanderling got banded in 2019, it was estimated that it hatched in 2017 or earlier, so we know that X19 is at least seven years old! Here’s hoping it makes many more winter trips to Jamaica in the future.
Sanderling – X19 stopped on another winter visit to Jamaica. (Photo by Damany Calder)
At a World Wetlands Day event organized by the Caribbean Coastal Area Management Foundation (C-CAM), local residents and students were taken on tours, by boat and on foot, of the pristine mangrove forest surrounding the Discovery Centre in Salt River. Although the wetlands were enduring a drought period, larger waterbirds, including flocks of White Ibises and Tricolored Herons, were observed. At another World Wetlands Day event at the Mason River Nature Reserve, a host of youngsters from local schools (kindergarten age upwards) learned about wetland birds and Jamaica’s endemic birds, engaged in bird bingo, and received posters.
Enjoy some photo highlights from CWC in Jamaica!
Students with posters of seabirds and endemic birds at Mason River. (Photo by NHMJ)
Brandon Hay, Science Officer at Caribbean Coastal Area Management Foundation, explains wetland birds to a group of students at Mason River Nature Reserve, Clarendon. (Photo by NHMJ)
Snowy Egret looks for scraps at Port Royal. (Photo by Damany Calder)
Lesser Scaup at Bushy Park (Photo by Wayne Sutherland)
Magnificent Frigatebirds at Whitehouse, Westmoreland Jamaica. (Photo by Wolde Kristos)
Blue-winged Teal and Common Gallinules spotted at Bushy Park, Jamaica. (Photo by Wayne Sutherland)
A Blue-winged Teal show us its ‘Blue-wings’, Bushy Park Jamaica. (Photo by Wayne Sutherland)
Spot the Northern Shoveler! (Photo by Wayne Sutherland)
Kids learning about wetlands and waterbirds at Mason River. (Photo by NHMJ)
Rare Sandpiper Spotted in Guadeloupe
Saving the best till last? Anthony Levesque tells us that on Saturday 3rd February, the last day of the CWC regional count, he was with a group of people at Gaschet reservoir in Guadeloupe. Here they had quite the surprise from a very unexpected visitor—a Baird’s Sandpiper!
Anthony says that the bird was “completely unexpected at this date—it is supposed to be far away in South America.” This shorebird is also very rare in the Caribbean, and Anthony notes that it was only the 2nd record of this species for Guadeloupe!
An unexpected Baird’s Sandpiper in Guadeloupe. (Photo by Anthony Levesque)
This lovely long-winged, long-distance migrant normally takes a more westerly route on its trip south for the winter. It also has one of the longest and fastest migrations of all bird species! The Baird’s Sandpiper breeds in the high-arctic and winters in South America. On their epic journeys south, they normally travel via Mexico and Central America, bypassing the Caribbean completely, making them a rare sight in our region! You can find out more about their migration in Birds of the World.
The Caribbean Waterbird Census is an ongoing, long-term survey effort that provides important data that helps us keep track of the birds using Caribbean wetlands, understand the threats they face, and raise awareness. We appreciate every single CWC count that gets done during the annual 3-week regional census in January and February. Thank you to all those who sent us highlights and all those who led or joined a CWC survey this year. If you missed this year’s regional census don’t worry—you can do a CWC count at any time of year! CWC counts at Caribbean wetlands are valuable year-round and add to our knowledge of the resident and migratory birds that use them. Just be sure to use a CWC protocol in eBird Caribbean when entering your data every time you do a count at a Caribbean wetland, and do your best to do a complete count, i.e., record all the birds you see and hear.Find out more about the CWC and how to participate here: https://www.birdscaribbean.org/our-work/caribbean-waterbird-census-program/count-waterbirds-in-the-caribbean/ and get practising for next year’s annual census!
Get ready for the 15th annual Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC) Region-Wide count! From January 14th to February 3rd 2024, you can directly contribute to Caribbean Waterbird conservation—keep reading to find out everything you need to know about our CWC 2024 count.
We are now a fantastic 15 years into the CWC Annual Regional Count. This year, you can help us add to this important long-term dataset! The 2024 count begins on Sunday January 14 and runs until Wednesday, February 3.
The Caribbean is home to over 185 species of waterbirds, including a number of endemic and globally threatened species and many migrants. The data you help us collect in this ongoing, standardized survey is essential for helping us understand how to best conserve this exceptional group of birds and manage their habitats. Over the 15 years of the CWC regional count the data collected has helped us in so many ways! For example, the Cargill Salt Ponds in Bonaire were designated a Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN) site of Regional Importance as a direct result of survey efforts. In addition, surveys in Turks and Caicos have revealed important sites for many shorebird species, including birds of conservation concern such as the Piping Plover and rufa Red Knot! CWC surveys are also critical in keeping up to date with any changes and threats to waterbirds and their wetland homes.
Anyone can participate in the CWC—just head out to your nearest wetland or beach, and record the birds you see. You can find detailed information about how to conduct surveys here. Why not wade into the wonderful world of waterbirds?
The striking Black-necked Stilt has long legs for wading into deep water to find food. (Photo by Dan Pancamo)
West Indian Whistling-Ducks swimming through duckweed at Negril Royal Palm Reserve in Jamaica. (photo by Ann Sutton)
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron seen by Nature Explorers Anguilla during their CWC survey (Photo by Nature Explorers Anguilla)
What makes a wetland?
During the CWC count you’ll be looking for waterbirds so you need to head out to *drumroll please*—a wetland! That may seem obvious, but what ‘counts’ as a wetland? For the CWC we include any areas where water is the primary factor controlling what lives there. This wide definition includes coastal wetlands like mangroves, mud flats, lagoons and beaches, as well as inland wetlands like lakes, ponds, swamps, areas around rivers and streams and even some types of agriculture (e.g. rice fields). Of course because this is the Caribbean Waterbird Census you need to be in the Caribbean to take part! Finally, whilst you’ll be on the lookout for waterbirds (ducks, herons, egrets, shorebirds etc.) you should be sure to count all the birds that you see and hear during your survey visits.
Fernando Simal braves harsh conditions at the Cargill salt ponds in Bonaire.
Flooded ricefields, like these ones in Trinidad, can be great places to look for waterbirds
The Zapata Swamp in Cuba is a birding hotspot for some of the island’s endemics but it also provides food and refuge for migratory birds.
Birding on the beach in Montserrat
From planning your surveys to waterbird ID to—we’re here to help!
Never done a CWC survey before or need a refresher? Don’t worry! We’ve pulled together some amazing resources that will help you with your counts. If you are not sure about how to get started planning your CWC surveys, check out our helpful youtube webinar that takes you through the steps of how to participate in the CWC!
We also have a handy “CWC Survey Tips” graphic to guide you on your way when planning your surveys. This is available in English, Spanish and French! As well as following the useful tips, you can download this graphic and share with others on social media (just open the graphic you want to use, right click and choose ‘save image as’).
What’s that? You need a hand with your waterbird ID? You’ve come to the right place—why not brush up on your ID skills using our helpful videos on youtube! Part I covers herons, egrets, ducks, marsh birds, and seabirds. Part II tackles those tricky shorebirds! We also have even more ID, survey planning tips, and outreach resources that are available for you to use and download on this page. This includes information on what to do if you see a banded bird during your surveys as well as our handy ID Guide to Common Caribbean Shorebirds, which can print and take with you on your surveys.
Make your counts count—get them on eBird!
Coral Aviles listing the birds in the CWC list on eBird, Blassina Canal Puerto Rico. (Photo by Eliezer Nieves)
Data from the CWC is all stored on eBird Caribbean. If you take part in the CWC, it is very important that you enter your data using a CWC protocol in eBird. When you submit your sightings on Step 2, under “Observation Type” be sure to pick one of the CWC options. Simply making an eBird list during the regional count dates is not enough—selecting the appropriate protocol is required for it to be ‘counted’ as CWC data.
If you are using the mobile eBird app to collect and submit your data, don’t forget that you need to use the eBird Caribbean portal to see the CWC protocol options (check in your settings).
If you’re new to eBird, check out our helpful video here on how to use eBird and Merlin. And if you need help with eBird submissions (it’s really not complicated!) or with setting up an eBird account, please contact Alex Sansom: waterbird.manager@birdscaribbean.org
Have fun out there!
We hope you have a great time exploring your country’s wetlands and counting birds during the regional CWC count! Please remember to stay safe and carry out your counts responsibly. This means taking care not to disturb the birds or damage their habitats. Enjoy counting birds and see how many of your local wetlands you can visit during this three-week period! Finally, if you enjoy your CWC experience remember that CWC counts are not limited to the regional count. You can do a CWC survey at any time of year as long as you are in a Caribbean wetland and count all the birds you see!
Good luck! We look forward to hearing about your findings. If you need help with bird ID, or have photos and exciting observations to share, please post to our Waterbird Group Listserv (everyone is welcome to join) and/or on our BirdsCaribbean Facebook page. For sharing on social media, use hashtags: #CaribbeanWaterbirdCensus and #WaterbirdsCount AND please tag us: @BirdsCaribbean
Promotional Social Media Graphics – Please feel free to download these graphics and use these to promote your Caribbean Waterbird Census surveys (just open the graphic you want to use right click and choose ‘save image as’) .
If you would prefer to customize our graphic, to add your logo or organization name or want to promote a CWC survey you are organizing you can use our Canva templates to create your own custom CWC 2024 graphics! (these are available in English, Spanish and French in both sizes).
Celebrate World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) with us in 2023! This year’s theme is “Water: Sustaining Bird Life”. Have fun learning about a new migratory bird every day. We have coloring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy nature with your family at home.
Migratory Bird of the Day: Palm Warbler
Wood-warblers are challenging birds for most amateur birders to ID—they are small, fast-moving, and have plumage patterns that overlap across species, age and sex. However, if you are birding in open areas, and find a sparrow-sized bird, feeding on the ground, with distinctive and bright yellow undertail-coverts, wagging its tail feathers like it’s a matter of life or death—you have found a Palm Warbler!
There are two subspecies of Palm Warbler which are easily distinguished. Whilst both have grayish to olive brown upperparts, if you meet a Yellow Palm Warbler, you’ll notice that—besides their undertail coverts—their throat, breast and belly are also stunningly yellow. On the other hand, only the undertail-coverts, and sometimes the throat of the Western Palm Warbler, is vividly yellow—which contrasts with their pale breast and belly. You can also look out for faint brown streaking on the breast and flanks, and a chestnut cap in breeding plumage. Both sexes are similar, making them one of the few warbler species that are not sexually dimorphic.
Palm Warblers feed almost exclusively on the ground, searching for insects like grasshoppers, beetles, butterflies and mosquitoes during breeding season. Seeds, berries and nectar are added to their diet during the non-breeding season.
As a migratory bird, the name Palm Warbler reflects the fact that the species was first described from a specimen wintering in the Caribbean. The Palm Warbler’s non-breeding range also includes the southeast and Gulf Coast of the United States. Interestingly, this bird has a fondness for the bog and coniferous forests of Canada and the northern United States. This makes it one of the northernmost breeding species of all the New World warblers, surpassed only by its close relative, the Blackpoll Warbler.
Given its remote breeding habitat, and how difficult it is to find the nests of this bird, much remains unknown about this part of its life cycle. Peak nest building occurs around mid-May. Nests are usually constructed at the base of coniferous trees, between 5 to 30 cm above the ground. Females lay two to four eggs and take the lead in incubating the eggs and feeding nestlings, with some support provided by their mates.
Palm Warblers prefer relatively open habitats with scattered trees and dense shrubs of 1–2 m tall on both their breeding and wintering grounds. This charismatic warbler can also be found in a variety of woodland, second-growth, and thicket habitats; on the ground in savannas, open fields and lawns; and in mangroves.
Palm Warblers are not endangered, but like other nocturnal migrants, they face multiple threats from light pollution and building strikes. There is a lot we can do on a daily basis to protect this cute tail-wagging warbler: turn off the lights at night during fall and spring months, advocate for bird-friendly windows, keep your pets indoors, and provide and protect clean water sources along their migration paths. Learn more about this species, including its range, photos, and calls here.
Thanks to Daniela Ventura for the text and Christine Elder for the lovely illustration!
Color in the Palm Warbler
Download the Migratory Birds of the Day Coloring Page! Use the picture above and the photos on this page as your guide, or look up pictures of the bird online or in a bird field guide if you have one. Share your colored-in page with us by posting it online and tagging us @BirdsCaribbean #WMBD2023Carib
Listen to the calls of the Palm Warbler
Palm Warblers have a thin “seep” call, which can be heard during the non-breeding season.
Puzzles of the Day
Click on the images below to do the puzzle. You can make the puzzle as easy or as hard as you like—for example, 6, 8, or 12 pieces for young children, all the way up to 1,024 pieces for those that are up for a challenge!
During the non-breeding season, Palm Warblers will join mixed species flocks to forage—look out for them with sparrows, or other migratory warblers, such as the Yellow-rumped Warbler. (Photo by Ryan Sanderson Macaulay Library-ML445341491)
The Palm Warbler was named based on a specimen collected on Hispaniola, but this warbler is far from being a year-round ‘tropical’ bird. They are one of the northernmost breeding of all warblers—only the Blackpoll Warbler breeds farther north. (Photo by Ryan Schain Macaulay Library- ML223997711)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS: We hope that you have been enjoying learning all about migratory birds in the Caribbean! Don’t forget that this year our theme is “Water: Sustaining Bird Life”. Many of the birds we have featured this year are under pressure, often from human activities. This means that our special migratory birds, and many of the other beautiful birds that live in the Caribbean, need your help.
All birds need water to survive so you can help by carrying out the actions in our “Pledge to Conserve Water.” You can download and print our water pledge here. Sign your name and get started helping our birds by following some of the simple water-saving actions listed in the pledge. You can hang or pin it up somewhere at home to remind you to keep saving water and helping birds and wildlife. And don’t forget to share this pledge with your family and friends!
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS: Enjoy this video of a Palm Warbler in the wild on its wintering grounds in Cuba!
Get some helpful for hints on how to identify warblers in the Caribbean: Warblers are among the most beautiful and entertaining Caribbean birds, but they can also be some of the most challenging birds to identify. Luckily naturalist, educator, and artist, Christine Elder, has some really helpful tips on what to look for as well as some amazing resources for you to use. Check out this blog post to find out more. Christine also created the beautiful artwork for our 2023 “Migratory Birds of the Day”!
Celebrate World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) with us in 2023! This year’s theme is “Water: Sustaining Bird Life”. Have fun learning about a new migratory bird every day. We have coloring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy nature with your family at home.
Migratory Bird of the Day: Short-billed Dowitcher
Sometimes bird names can be confusing—and in the case of the Short-billed Dowitcher, frankly, misleading! This medium size migratory shorebird most definitely has a LONG bill. So how did it get its odd name?
Dealing with the “Short-billed” part first, this bird has a closely related and very similar looking relative—the Long-billed Dowitcher. They have a very slightly longer bill than the Short-billed Dowitcher—a difference so subtle that it is hard to spot. Yet, these names were meant to distinguish between the two birds! In fact, the calls of these two cousins are actually the best way to tell them apart, especially when in non-breeding plumage. The Short-billed Dowitcher gives a soft “tu-tu-tu” call in contrast to the strident “keek” of the Long-billed. But it seems that the “Tu tu Dowitcher” wasn’t considered a suitable name.
Moving on to the “Dowitcher” part of the name, this is also a bit of a mystery—what does Dowitcher even mean? In the late 19th century, this bird was being hunted in North America. It seems as if Dutch and German immigrant hunters perhaps referred to them as “Deutscher” or “Duitsch” snipe (i.e. “German” or “Dutch” snipe). This may have then become “dowitcher” or “dowitch”.
Short-billed Dowitchers do have a snipe-like appearance with long straight bills, short-ish legs and a somewhat plump appearance. In breeding plumage they have mottled brown snipe-like plumage above, with pale cinnamon-brown below. In non-breeding plumage they are brownish-gray above, with a paler belly and greenish yellow legs.
Short-billed Dowitchers breed in boggy areas at the margins of boreal forests in northern Canada. They travel thousands of kilometers in Fall, stopping along the way to molt and mainly sticking to the coastline as they head south. In the Caribbean, they can be spotted in a wide range of habitats from beaches, to tidal mudflats, to flooded agricultural areas. Look out for their distinctive “sewing-machine” feeding motion, as small groups of dowitchers with their heads down plunge their bills up and down into the water and mud looking for worms and mollusks.
Short-billed Dowitcher populations are declining and the species is on the USFWS list of “Birds of Conservation Concern”. Protecting our Caribbean wetland habitats and reducing the use of insecticides (which will reduce their food sources) can help us provide places for this oddly-named bird to thrive during its migration. Learn more about this species, including its range, photos, and calls here.
Thanks to Alex Sansom for the text and Christine Elder for the lovely illustration!
Color in the Short-billed Dowitcher
Download the Migratory Birds of the Day Coloring Page! Use the picture above and the photos on this page as your guide, or look up pictures of the bird online or in a bird field guide if you have one. Share your colored-in page with us by posting it online and tagging us @BirdsCaribbean #WMBD2023Carib
Listen to the calls of the Short-billed Dowitcher
Short-billed Dowitchers make a soft “tu-tu-tu” call, often as a contact call when flying together.
Puzzles of the Day
Click on the images below to do the puzzle. You can make the puzzle as easy or as hard as you like—for example, 6, 8, or 12 pieces for young children, all the way up to 1,024 pieces for those that are up for a challenge!
Even though dowitchers are a very common bird in North America , it was not until the 1930s that scientists began realize that there were two different species there! (Photo by Dorian Anderson Macaulay Library-ML187630851)
Unlike the Long-billed Dowitcher, Short-billed Dowitchers migrate in stages, first moving to intermediate areas to complete their molt, then moving on to their ultimate wintering areas. (Photo by Dorian Anderson Macaulay Library-ML116188411)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS: What facts can you remember about today’s migratory bird—the Short-billed Dowitcher? Test your knowledge by filling in the missing words in our Short-billed Dowitcher facts! We have given you all the correct words to use but can you put them into the right places in these fact-filled sentences?
You can re-read the information about this bird above, or search on the BirdsCaribbean webpages or online for more information about the Short-billed Dowitcher! You can also look at the photos, illustration and videos on this page to help you. When you have completed all the sentences, you can check your answers here.
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS: Enjoy these videos of Short-billed Dowitchers in the wild! The first video shows bird feeding with their typical “sewing machine” foraging action, plunging their bills into the mud for worms. In the second video, you can see a flock of Short-billed Dowitchers in flight.
Learn all about how to tell a Short-billed Dowitcher from a Willet: Shorebirds can be tricky to identify, especially as they migrate through the Caribbean in their non-breeding plumage (which is often less distinctive than their breeding plumage). Short-billed Dowitchers and Willets are both commonly seen in the Caribbean in Fall, and both are long-billed and gray-ish brown—so how can we tell them apart? Find out in this blog post from bird guide Allison Caton from Grenada, who got the low-down whilst attending a week-long BirdsCaribbean, Caribbean Birding Trail (CBT) Interpretive Guide Training Workshop on Union Island in St. Vincent & the Grenadines.
Celebrate World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) with us in 2023! This year’s theme is “Water: Sustaining Bird Life”. Have fun learning about a new migratory bird every day. We have coloring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy nature with your family at home.
Migratory Bird of the Day: Northern Shoveler
Spoony. Bootlips. Souplips. Hollywood Mallard. We could only be talking here about the magnificent Northern Shoveler! This dabbing duck has earned these nicknames due to its huge shovel-shaped bill, which, if you have a vivid imagination, looks like the bird is grinning.
Breeding male Northern Shovelers have an iridescent green head and neck, bright white chest and breast, and rusty colored belly and sides. Their wings have a gray-blue shoulder patch, which is separated from a brilliant green speculum by a tapered white stripe. The bill is black, and the legs and feet are orange. Females have a light brownish head with a blackish crown and a mottled brown body. Their powdery-blue shoulder patch is sometimes visible at rest. The bill is orange and speckled with black dots.
In North America, they fly south to winter at lower altitudes. They fly from the iconic Rocky Mountains down to California and Mexico in late August or early September. Some will also fly east to winter along the Atlantic Coast, down to the Gulf Coast and the Caribbean. Look out for these dandy ducks on your island at wetlands, flooded fields, agricultural ponds, and wastewater treatment ponds.
Northern Shovelers feed by dabbling and sifting in shallow water. Their large bills have more than 100 lamellae (fine comb-like serrations) along the edges which allows them to filter out aquatic invertebrates, seeds and plants from pond water. They swim occasionally with their head under water, or tip-up, and sometimes even dive to feed underwater. Feeding groups and also lone birds will swim in tight rotating circles to stir up the water and bring food items to the surface.
Males give a wheezy “took-took” call during courtship, in flight, and when alarmed. Females on the other hand give a nasal-sounding quack during courtship and throughout the breeding season.
Females build their nest, which is a shallow depression on the ground, within 150 feet of water, and line it with downy feathers. Their clutch size is 8-12 greenish-gray eggs. If threatened by predators or disturbed by humans, females will poop on their eggs. Stinky? Yes, but also quite effective at making sure predators think twice about getting close to those eggs!
Habitat loss and degradation caused by development, climate change, and pollution are major threats to the Northern Shoveler, both on their breeding and wintering grounds. The good news is that whether you’re in the city or rural areas, you can adopt several behaviors that can have a positive impact on wetlands. This includes volunteering for wetland restoration projects, planting native plants, ditching the chemical pesticides, recycling your waste, checking your pipes and fittings regularly for any leakages, and harvesting rainwater. Learn more about this species, including its range, photos, and calls here.
Thanks to Aliya Hosein for the text and Christine Elder for the lovely illustration!
Color in the Northern Shoveler
Download the Migratory Birds of the Day Coloring Page! Use the picture above and the photos on this page as your guide, or look up pictures of the bird online or in a bird field guide if you have one. Share your colored-in page with us by posting it online and tagging us @BirdsCaribbean #WMBD2023Carib
Listen to the calls of the Northern Shoveler
Male Northern Shovelers make a “took-took” call during courtship, in-flight, and as an alarm call.
Puzzles of the Day
Click on the images below to do the puzzle. You can make the puzzle as easy or as hard as you like—for example, 6, 8, or 12 pieces for young children, all the way up to 1,024 pieces for those that are up for a challenge!
Female Northern Shoveler. Did you know that Northern Shovelers are monogamous? They form bonds on the wintering grounds and stay together during breeding until just before fall migration. (Photo by Neil Rucker, Macaulay Library-ML281986781)
Male Northern Shoveler. The odd shaped bill that gives this duck its name has fine projections (called lamellae) along the edges that filter out tiny crustaceans, seeds, and aquatic invertebrates from the water when feeding. (Photo by Brad-Imhoff, Macaulay Library-ML217711091)Male Northern Shoveler in flight. These ducks don’t just occur in the Americas—they also breed across Europe, and spend the winter throughout Europe, Africa, and India. (Photo by Frank Lake, Macaulay Library-ML448025311)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS: Every year Environment For The Americas (EFTA) selects several bird species to feature for World Migratory Bird Day. These species all migrate through or within the Americas. Several of these birds will pass through or spend the winter in the Caribbean. This year, the featured “Caribbean migratory birds” included the Osprey, Barn Swallow, Northern Waterthrush, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Wilson’s Phalarope, American White Pelican and of course today’s featured bird, the Northern Shoveler (click to find out more about each bird!).
EFTA also made a fantastic and fun activity book for you to enjoy full of interesting facts about birds and water, coloring pages and many other water and migration related games and puzzles. You can find them all to download here. This activity book is in both English and Spanish, and features beautiful bird art by Augusto Silva—Enjoy!
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS: Enjoy this video of Northern Shovelers feeding in the wild!
Celebrate World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) with us in 2023! This year’s theme is “Water: Sustaining Bird Life”. Have fun learning about a new migratory bird every day. We have coloring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy nature with your family at home.
Migratory Bird of the Day: Swainson’s Thrush
If you’re not looking carefully in the forest understory, you might miss the Swainson’s Thrush! These brown, spotted thrushes blend in well amongst forest foliage, but there is no mistaking their beautiful, flutelike, upward spiraling song.
Swainson’s Thrushes fall within a genus of birds known as Catharus thrushes. These thrushes are known for foraging low to the ground. They all have a spotted breast and a solid brown back of rust or olive, that varies in shade between species. Other thrushes within this genus include the Hermit Thrush, Veery, Gray-cheeked Thrush, and of course, our Caribbean overwintering Bicknell’s Thrush. Swainson’s Thrush can be distinguished from the others by their buffy colored eye rings and buffy coloration in the lores (between the eye and bill) which give these birds the appearance of wearing buffy spectacles!
Unlike their counterparts, Swainson’s Thrushes use more aerial fly catching techniques to obtain their insect prey—though they are quite fond of fruits during their migration. They also forage higher off the ground in comparison to other Catharus thrushes.
Did you know that there are actually eight different forms of Swainson’s Thrush all differing slightly in coloration? This has led to the recognition of different subspecies. Typically they all fall within the russet-backed and olive-backed forms. Interestingly enough, it’s hypothesized that these different subspecies might actually take different migratory routes and even overwinter in different locations! Russet-backed birds typically overwinter in Middle America while olive-backed birds continue to South America.
These birds can spend the winter anywhere from Southern Mexico to Northern Argentina! There is an international collaborative project currently underway which uses Motus technology to tag Swainson’s Thrush at different spots along their migration to better understand which routes different subspecies are taking. Banding data has shown us that Eastern and Western populations both take different routes and overwinter in different locales. The same populations might even take different routes in the spring and the fall! We’re excited to see what insights Motus technology can give us about these long distance migrants. Be sure to check out the Caribbean Motus Collaboration to learn more about how this technology is being used to understand migratory movements in the Caribbean.
Within the Caribbean, we typically see Swainson’s Thrushes during their fall migration. The Eastern populations will sometimes pass through Western Cuba on their way south. They’re considered a rare transient to other areas in the Western Greater Antilles, Cayman Islands, and the Northern Bahamas.
After finishing their spring migration, Swainson’s Thrushes breed in northern spruce forests, and in California in riparian woodlands. Although still considered one of the most abundant birds of northern spruce forests, their populations have been steadily declining. The reasons for this are unclear, but could be attributed to high predation rates leading to low nest success. But it is likely that habitat changes, especially on their wintering grounds, could be a major factor.
Thanks to Holly Garrod for the text and Christine Elder for the lovely illustration!
Color in the Swainson’s Thrush
Download the Migratory Birds of the Day Coloring Page! Use the picture above and the photos on this page as your guide, or look up pictures of the bird online or in a bird field guide if you have one. Share your colored-in page with us by posting it online and tagging us @BirdsCaribbean #WMBD2023Carib
Listen to the calls of the Swainson’s Thrush
Swainson’s Thrush has a frog-like “peep” call. You might also hear its distinctive ascending, flute-like song.
Puzzles of the Day
Click on the images below to do the puzzle. You can make the puzzle as easy or as hard as you like—for example, 6, 8, or 12 pieces for young children, all the way up to 1,024 pieces for those that are up for a challenge!
Male Swainson’s Thrushes have “sing-offs” during the breeding season, which can lead to chases and even occasionally to physical attacks. (Photo by Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren)Swainson’s Thrushes have been called “mosquito thrushes” because of their habit of chasing after flying insect prey while feeding on their breeding grounds. (Photo by Eric Ellingson)
On their wintering grounds in particular, Swainson’s Thrushes will add fruits to their insect diet. They can also often be found attending army-ant swarms. (Photo by Mick Thompson)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS: The Swainson’s Thrush is quite a rare migrant bird in the Caribbean, which means that it is a bird that is hard to see here. But don’t worry, there are lots of beautiful migrant birds to look out for at this time of the year. From long-billed shorebirds flocking on the beaches, to the colorful gems of warblers flitting amongst the trees, there is so much to see!
When it comes to knowing who is who when out looking for birds, field guides and webpages with colorful illustrations, helpful maps and detailed descriptions of each bird are really useful. But these are not the only tools available to you! Have you heard of the Merlin Bird ID app? When you see a bird, you just answer some simple questions about it, and the app helps you work out what bird you have spotted! Merlin Bird ID can also help you ID a bird from a photo you have taken or a recording of the birds song! Why not head out and look for some migratory birds and then use the Merlin Bird ID app to lend a helping hand? We have handy instructions what to look for and how to use the app here. So grab you phone, binocular and camera and see what you can find!
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS: Enjoy this video of Swainson’s Thrush taking a drink in the wild!
Celebrate World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) with us in 2023! This year’s theme is “Water: Sustaining Bird Life”. Have fun learning about a new migratory bird every day. We have coloring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy nature with your family at home.
Migratory Bird of the Day: American White Pelican
If you look to the sky and spot a flock of large, conspicuously white birds, with black flight feathers, yellow bills and legs, soaring gracefully on broad, stable wings—no doubt, you have found a flock of American White Pelicans! These beautiful birds are easy to identify with their huge size, large pinkish-yellow bill, and white coloration. If the bill is gray instead of yellow, then you have spotted an immature bird in its first year! You will never, however, confuse this bird with its cousin, the Brown Pelican. Whilst they share part of their geographic distribution, and may be found together in wetlands, the Brown Pelican is smaller, with a darker coloration and a completely different feeding behavior.
When feeding, American White Pelicans obtain their food by dipping their bills into the water and scooping up fish, their main prey. This is usually done in very shallow freshwaters, although they will also feed in saline waters. The Brown Pelican feeds on fish as well, however, they plunge-dive from high up in the air, using the force of impact to stun small fish before scooping them up.
If you visit the shallow lagoons that pelicans prefer, you can observe each species feeding in their own way. Brown Pelicans look for food alone, each bird swooping down rapidly to catch their prey. White Pelicans forage cooperatively, using clever group strategies to capture fish. Coordinated flocks of swimming birds work together to encircle fish and herd them into the shallows where they become concentrated and can be more easily caught with synchronized bill dipping. Their enormous bills with elastic, expandable, pouches below then come into play—the pelicans scoop prey again and again into their pouch, an amazing spectacle when hundreds of these birds are feeding together!
This species breeds in western and central North America, laying two white eggs in a nest constructed in the soil. They are attentive caregivers to their young—from the moment the chicks hatch, both parents spend the day looking for fresh food to help them grow. By three weeks of age they are more mobile and parents begin to leave their nests unattended, coming back only to bring food. At this age, the young birds begin to form creches, for protection and warmth.
During autumn the species migrates south, spending the winter in southern California, the Gulf States, Mexico, and Central America. Most literature states that American White Pelicans are vagrant in the West Indies, with very few reports. Some researchers even say that they do not cross oceanic waters, but news flash: this information is no longer accurate! They do cross the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf and they are now common birds in Cuba! In February 2021, citizen scientists in Cuba recorded 1,700 individuals in one aquaculture farm in the Pinar del Río Province in western Cuba. A resident population of about 300 lives year-round in the wetlands of Los Palacios in the same province, and during winter migration they are common in most Cuban coastal wetlands in the western part of the country, for example, Zapata Swamp. Visit eBird Caribbean to observe all these recent sightings.
Thanks to Lourdes Mugica for the text and Christine Elder for the lovely illustration!
Color in the American White Pelican
Download the Migratory Birds of the Day Coloring Page! Use the picture above and the photos on this page as your guide, or look up pictures of the bird online or in a bird field guide if you have one. Share your colored-in page with us by posting it online and tagging us @BirdsCaribbean #WMBD2023Carib
Listen to the calls of the American White Pelican
Adult American White Pelicans are usually silent, especially when not breeding. At breeding colonies you might hear them give frequent low, brief grunts.
Puzzles of the Day
Click on the images below to do the puzzle. You can make the puzzle as easy or as hard as you like—for example, 6, 8, or 12 pieces for young children, all the way up to 1,024 pieces for those that are up for a challenge!
American White Pelicans cooperate when feeding. Sometimes, large groups gather in wetlands. They coordinate their swimming to drive schooling fish toward the shallows. (Photo by Michael Stubblefield Macaulay Library- ML554648261)
When While Pelicans are on their wintering grounds they only search for food during the day, but in the breeding season, they commonly head out fishing at night. (Photo by Mick Thompson)
American White Pelican in flight. (Photo by Cristina Avila Macaulay Library- ML538260461)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS: Can you find the words in our American White Pelican word search? Remind yourself of some of the interesting facts about this water-loving migratory bird as you look for all 15 hidden words!
Remember the words may appear forwards and backwards, as well as horizontal, vertical and diagonal! Need some help? Or want to check your answers? You can see where all the words were here.
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS: Enjoy these videos of American White Pelicans in the wild! In the first video, you can see what this bird looks like when it is flying.
In the second video, you can see a couple of birds in their winter plumage swimming.
Celebrate World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) with us in 2023! This year’s theme is “Water: Sustaining Bird Life”. Have fun learning about a new migratory bird every day. We have coloring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy nature with your family at home.
Migratory Bird of the Day: Wilson’s Warbler
This spritely migratory bird with the bad toupée is the Wilson’s Warbler. It is one of the smallest warblers at around 10-12cm long and weighing 5-10g.
Its plumage is mainly yellowish-olive, with a golden yellow throat and belly. It has beady black eyes and a small, thin beak. Adult males have a glossy black cap on their heads; the cap on females and juvenile males is highly variable but usually duller and more olive colored. These little birds are insectivorous, feeding on various arthropods on tree leaves and branches. They often hover in front of leaves as they try to capture a tasty insect morsel!
Wilson’s Warblers breed in the western United States, across Canada, and also in Alaska. It is a ground-nesting species that loves scrubby habitats and thickets near streams. Their clutch size ranges from 2-7 eggs and they are capable of breeding twice in a season. Only females incubate the eggs and brood nestlings (chicks), but males help feed nestlings and fledglings (chicks that have grown feathers and are learning to fly).
By August they leave their breeding grounds and begin their fall migration to Central America and islands in the northern Caribbean—The Bahamas, Jamaica, Cuba, Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic. During migration they use many types of habitats, from lowland thickets near streams to high-elevation cloud forests. On their wintering grounds they supplement their diet of squirmy, slimy, crunchy insects with “honeydew”—a sugary liquid secreted by some insects as they feed on plant sap.
The Wilson’s Warbler is not threatened but is listed as a “Common bird in steep decline” by the Partners in Flight organization. This is because of habitat loss on both their breeding and wintering grounds, predation from invasive species like domesticated cats, and nest parasitism. Helping Wilson’s Warblers, and other birds, can be as simple as keeping pet cats indoors and using a leash and harness when outdoors; and supporting the efforts of bird advocacy groups and NGOs that are working to restore and protect habitats across the Wilson’s Warbler’s range.Learn more about this species, including its range, photos, and calls here.
The Wilson’s Warbler
‘I’m a tiny warbler,
With beady black eyes,
A black cap on my head,
And energetic for my size,
I breed in mountain meadows,
And thickets near streams,
I winter in Central America,
A vagrant in the West Indies,
Because of habitat loss,
My species is in decline,
Please protect my forest home,
Before I run out of time”
Thanks to Scott Johnson for the text and poem, and Christine Elder for the lovely illustration!
Color in the Wilson’s Warbler
Download the Migratory Birds of the Day Coloring Page! Use the picture above and the photos on this page as your guide, or look up pictures of the bird online or in a bird field guide if you have one. Share your colored-in page with us by posting it online and tagging us @BirdsCaribbean #WMBD2023Carib
Listen to the calls of the Wilson’s Warbler
The call of the Wilson’s Warbler is a husky chip. You may also hear the male as they start to sing on their wintering grounds. The song is a rapid string of similar notes, dropping in pitch toward the end.
Puzzles of the Day
Click on the images below to do the puzzle. You can make the puzzle as easy or as hard as you like—for example, 6, 8, or 12 pieces for young children, all the way up to 1,024 pieces for those that are up for a challenge!
Female Wilson’s Warbler. Look for this bird in tangles of vegetation along streams or ponds or even forested edges. (Photo by Arlene Ripley Macaulay Library-ML176994031)Male Wilson’s Warbler. Wilson’s Warblers tend to be brighter yellow in the West and paler yellow in the East. Pacific Coast populations have the brightest yellow, almost orange, foreheads and faces. (Photo by Rick Evets)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS: This year the theme for World Migratory Bird Day is “Water: Sustaining Bird Life.” We want to highlight the importance of water conservation to both humans and birds.
We often see birds flying, preening, bathing and feeding. You might not have ever seen a bird taking a drink of water but they do!
Birds need water just as much as we do. Drinking water helps them regulate bodily processes like digestion. Water also keeps birds clean and cool on hot days when they take a splish-splash in a puddle, gutter, or backyard bird bath. Many birds also rely on wetland habitats, such as our ponds, salinas, marshes, mangroves, rivers, and coastal waters.
In our activity you can create your own poster to show how important water is to birds. Draw in the various ways birds use water!
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS: Enjoy these videos of Wilson’s Warblers in the wild! In the first, you can see a lovely, brightly colored male. In the second, a Wilson’s Warbler takes a bath—one of the many things birds need water for as they migrate!
Read all about a bird banding adventure in Oregon! Caribbean biologist Zoya travelled all the way from Grenada to the US to learn more about studying birds using bird banding. Wilson’s Warbler was one of many bird species that Zoya was able to get up close to on her way to passing her NABC (North American Banding Council) exam and becoming a certified Bander. Find out all about her experiences in the blog below.
We are delighted to inform you that we have partnered with The Cornell Lab of Ornithology to provide free access to Birds of the World to anyone within the Caribbean islands!* Just login to your existing eBird/Cornell account, or create a new eBird/Cornell accountto access Birds of the World for free!
BirdsCaribbean members outside the Caribbean can receive a 25% discount on a personal subscription plan, using the coupon code BC25 (current paid-up BC members have free access through the end of 2023). The Cornell Lab of Ornithology also provides complimentary access to certain user groups under their Birds of the World Digital Access Scholarship. If you fit into any of the categories, be sure to reach out to them.
Every Bird has a Story
Birds of the World (BOW) is the largest online ornithology resource with comprehensive life history information on 10,906 species and 249 families of the world’s birds. BOW brings together scholarly content from four celebrated works of ornithology, including Birds of North America, Neotropical Birds,The Handbook of Birds of the World, Neotropical Birds, and the Internet Bird Collection (IBC), among others, to provide an in-depth scholarly account for every species. With the integration of millions of bird observations from eBird and stunning images from the Macaulay Library, BOW is the most powerful ornithological resource ever created. It’s a single platform where biologists, birders, and anyone with an interest in birds can explore comprehensive life history information on birds.
Content includes topics such as identification, plumages and molt, taxonomy, distribution, habitat, diet, behavior, breeding, movement, conservation and management, and more. All species accounts have range maps and a growing number have “intelligent maps”—science-based abundance maps and animated migration maps (created from eBird data). Magnificent colour plates from many of the world’s top illustrators are backed up by the massive Macaulay Library resource – a media asset of photographs, video and audio recording. Every species displays its IUCN conservation status and additional ornithological notes as appropriate. The common species names are even available in more than 50 languages!
And here’s a neat feature – because it is linked to eBird, when you are logged into Birds of the World each species account shows a blue badge indicating whether or not you’ve seen, photographed, or taken audio recordings of the bird. If you’re not yet an eBird user, now is a perfect time to sign up and start using this wonderful app to find birds, keep track of the birds, and contribute to science! And if you’re in the Caribbean be sure to use our special eBird Caribbean portal.
Since all of the information has been vetted and can be accessed from a single platform, you will save time spent on endlessly searching and comparing facts across different websites and other sources, reduce costs associated with research (citations are listed and linked to publications where available!), correctly identify birds and improve your birding skills, master bird taxonomy, or keep up with the latest bird news, webinars and research through the exciting science news blog.
One overriding feature of the resource is that it will be constantly revised by ornithologists to include the latest taxonomic revisions and latest information about each species.
Access in the Caribbean is enabled by the efforts of a large number of expert birdwatchers and ornithologists across the region who work with BirdsCaribbean to write, update, and curate Caribbean species accounts. The list of active accounts will continue to be updated as more articles are written, so make sure to check this space regularly for our Caribbean Birds!
In exchange for free access to all Caribbean birders, we have agreed to adopt and update a set of the Caribbean species each year. So would you like to contribute to Birds of the World? BOW is keen to use species experts to help author the species accounts. If you are interested in helping or would like to learn more, contact: Caroline Pott, BirdsCaribbean’s Birds of the World Coordinator, and Stefan Gleissberg, Managing Editor of the Journal of Caribbean Ornithology. Thanks to all for your contributions!
*Included locations are: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Caribbean Netherlands, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Montserrat, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin (French part), Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sint Maarten, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, British Virgin Islands, and U.S. Virgin Islands.
Anyone in this area currently subscribed to Birds of the World, who now wants free access, should actively cancel their subscription in order to avoid future charges. Go here to do this.
Join or renew your membership with BirdsCaribbean!
If you’re not a current member, we encourage you to join BirdsCaribbean or renew your membership today! Membership benefits include discounts on our meetings, programs, and materials; the opportunity to meet and network with scientists, birders, educators, and conservationists across the region; and the satisfaction of knowing that you are helping in our urgent fight to save habitats from destruction and birds from extinction. Your membership also supports the Journal of Caribbean Ornithology, an open access, peer-reviewed journal covering all aspects of ornithology within the Caribbean region. Any questions about your membership, contact Delores Kellman, Administrative Assistant, BirdsCaribbean.
Current paid-up BC members outside the Caribbean have free access through the end of 2023. New and renewing BirdsCaribbean members outside the Caribbean can receive a 25% discount on a personal subscription plan, using the coupon code BC25 (those within the Caribbean have free access).
Your membership helps our efforts to raise awareness, train and mentor conservation professionals, support research and monitoring, and engage people in citizen science and conservation actions. We look forward to welcoming new members as well as welcoming back lapsed members!
Celebrate World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) with us in 2023! This year’s theme is “Water: Sustaining Bird Life”. Have fun learning about a new migratory bird every day. We have coloring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy nature with your family at home.
Migratory Bird of the Day: Common Nighthawk
Picture yourself on a hot and muggy summer evening, sitting out in the backyard hoping to catch a little breeze that might just keep you from drowning in your own sweat. While you’re sucking down the last drops of grandma’s ice-cold, hand-squeezed lemonade (grandma never disappoints), make an effort to look to the sky. These are the nights when you might get a look at a Common Nighthawk—or hundreds—soaring around above you as they pick off any insects that have drifted up too high.
Nighthawks, like swifts or swallows, are acrobatic flyers that can just as easily catch insects in flight as a baleen whale collects plankton in the ocean. But compared to many other aerial insectivores, nighthawks are large, which works in your favor when you’re looking to spot a few. And the other good news is that you can find them cruising the airways above cities, small towns, suburbia, and well into rural landscapes, so never skip an opportunity to look up and try your luck, wherever you are.
It’s easy to see why nighthawks have been long-standing members of the very exclusive Cool Birds Club. Let’s start with the male’s courtship “booming” behavior. When males are lookin’ for love, they fly up into the sky making a repeated “peent” noise. Then, all of a sudden, they go into a deep dive, accelerating rapidly towards the ground until they reach a point where they abruptly pull their wings forward, creating a “boom” or “whooshing” sound. Ever had your cap go flying off on a windless day? Now you know why.
Another awesome attribute is this species’ camouflage. If they are perched or lying motionless in their nest, human eyes cannot see them. They sport a mottling of very earth-toned colors, including brown, tan, black, and gray, with specklings of white. In fact, these birds blend in so well that there’s probably one looking at you right now and you don’t even know it. However, when these birds are in flight, it’s a different story! They have large scythe-shaped wings, and their dark bodies contrast well with a lighter sky behind them. Look for a very obvious white patch on the underwing to confirm that you are indeed seeing a nighthawk.
It would certainly be nice if the Common Nighthawk was a little more…common. These birds are struggling a bit, and as always, there are some easy things we can collectively do to help these birds become more numerous on our landscapes again. The call to action is as follows:
Eliminate insecticides from your life, enough said.
Plant as many and as much diversity of native plants on your landscape as you can (native plants foster higher insect and thus prey abundance).
Reduce your driving speed—something we should all be doing already in order to protect other wildlife. The roadways out there are a slaughter. Of particular importance is reducing your speed in the evenings and at night, especially on gravel or dirt roads. Nighthawks have been known to roost (i.e. rest/sleep) on these roads at night.
Thanks to Justin Proctor for the text and Christine Elder for the lovely illustration!
Color in the Common Nighthawk
Download the Migratory Birds of the Day Coloring Page! Use the picture above and the photos on this page as your guide, or look up pictures of the bird online or in a bird field guide if you have one. Share your colored-in page with us by posting it online and tagging us @BirdsCaribbean #WMBD2023Carib
Listen to the calls of the Common Nighthawk
The call of the Common Nighthawk is a distinctive nasal “neet.” Note however that this bird does not call often when it is migrating.
Puzzles of the Day
Click on the images below to do the puzzle. You can make the puzzle as easy or as hard as you like—for example, 6, 8, or 12 pieces for young children, all the way up to 1,024 pieces for those that are up for a challenge!
Common Nighthawks have one of the longest migration routes of all the birds that breed in North America. (Photo by Alex Lamoreaux Macaulay Library- ML107295391)The name “nighthawk” is a bit misleading as this bird is not strictly nocturnal— it’s active at dawn and dusk—and it is also not closely related to hawks! (Photo by Kenneth Cole Schneider)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS: Common Nighthawks feed on insects like beetles, flies, moths, crickets, and grasshoppers. Almost all the insects they eat are flying insects and Common Nighthawks will swoop through the air to catch them on the wing!
Can you help this hungry Common Nighthawk find its way through our maze to to grab some tasty insect food? You can find the correct route here.
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS: Enjoy these videos of a Common Nighthawk in the Wild! Don’t forget to look up for these birds! Sometimes they will be resting in trees.
The second video shows what the Common Nighthawk looks like in flight.
Celebrate World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) with us in 2023! This year’s theme is “Water: Sustaining Bird Life”. Have fun learning about a new migratory bird every day. We have coloring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy nature with your family at home.
Migratory Bird of the Day: Wilson’s Phalarope
Each summer, west of the Mississippi, the Wilson’s Phalarope gathers in enormous flocks on the salt lakes of the western United States. Birders and conservationists are captivated by the species’ distinctive field marks, habitat preferences, feeding habits, and interesting natural history—including a departure from normal breeding habits!
The Wilson’s Phalarope is a small (22–24 cm in length), aquatic shorebird, with a needle-like bill and a white rump and underparts. Wilson’s Phalaropes exhibit sexual dimorphism (where males and females look very different from each other). Interestingly, females are larger and much more colorful than their male counterparts. In breeding plumage, females display a beautiful reddish-brown neck and back, contrasting with a white belly. Males, on the other hand, are more subdued in appearance, featuring a drabber overall coloration. Regardless of sex, both genders boast a distinctive white stripe running down the center of their long necks and black eye masks. During the non-breeding season, both males and females sport a more subdued plumage, of pale gray above and white below.
The Wilson’s Phalarope has a diverse and widespread distribution; its breeding range spans from western Canada down to the western United States. They breed in a range of wetland habitats, including lakes, ponds, and marshes. After laying eggs, the female typically departs, leaving the male to incubate the eggs and care for the young. This unique reversal of traditional gender roles, called “polyandry,” is an intriguing aspect of their breeding biology.
During the non-breeding season, these remarkable birds undertake impressive migrations that lead them to coastal areas of South America, particularly along the western coast. As part of their migratory route, they may also travel through the Caribbean. Our islands thus provide essential stopover points where these birds can rest and feed before continuing their long migrations.
One of the most remarkable aspects of the Wilson’s Phalarope is its feeding behavior. They are adept at foraging in shallow waters, using their long, slender bills to peck at the surface. One can observe them swimming in small, rapid, circular motions. This unique swimming behavior creates a small vortex, or a whirlpool, that brings up aquatic invertebrates from the depths, providing a rich food source. Terrestrial invertebrates are also consumed.
Currently, Wilson’s Phalaropes are classified as a species of Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating that they are not currently facing significant conservation threats. However, like many bird species, they are not immune to potential threats. Habitat loss due to urban development and agricultural expansion remains a concern. Additionally, disturbances to breeding and foraging areas, pollution of wetlands, and climate change induced shifts in their preferred habitats could potentially impact their populations.
You can help conserve Wilson’s Phalaropes and other wetland-dependent bird species by:
Supporting wetland protection and sustainable land use in your region.
Participating in citizen science by joining eBird! The more information that is available to researchers, the better they can help protect these precious birds.
Helping raise awareness and let people know about the importance of wetlands for birds and people!
Thanks to Susan Davis for the text and Christine Elder for the lovely illustration!
Color in the Wilson’s Phalarope
Download the Migratory Birds of the Day Coloring Page! Use the picture above and the photos on this page as your guide, or look up pictures of the bird online or in a bird field guide if you have one. Share your colored-in page with us by posting it online and tagging us @BirdsCaribbean #WMBD2023Carib
Listen to the calls of the Wilson’s Phalarope
Wilson’s Phalaropes make abrupt nasal-sounding calls to each other. These are made both as courtship and contact calls.
Puzzles of the Day
Click on the images below to do the puzzle. You can make the puzzle as easy or as hard as you like—for example, 6, 8, or 12 pieces for young children, and all the way up to 1,024 pieces for those that are up for a challenge!
The colorful female Wilson’s Phalarope in her breeding plumage.Male Wilson’s Phalarope in breeding plumage, he is less colorful than the female. ( Photo by John van Dort Macaulay Library-ML565008391)Wilson’s Phalarope in nonbreeding plumage. Wilson’s Phalaropes are one of only two species of shorebirds that stop to molt during migration rather than at their breeding grounds. (Photo by Gutierrez Maier Macaulay Library ML451123731)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS: Wilson’s Phalaropes make epic journeys south every year on migration! They start heading towards the Caribbean and South America in July, before the weather gets too cold and food becomes hard to find. They don’t make this trip all in one go; they make some stops along the way to rest, molt out of their breeding plumage, and take on more food. They can eat so much on some of these stops that they double their body weight!
Why not ‘Follow the Phalarope’ in our fun activity? You will learn how to map the migration routes of three Wilson’s Phalaropes all the way from North America to islands in the Caribbean! You can find the instructions and worksheet here.
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS: Enjoy these videos, by Don DesJardin, of Wilson’s Phalaropes foraging in the Wild! In the first video you can see the different plumages of the brightly colored female and duller male. In the second can see the ‘spinning’ technique these birds often use when feeding.
Celebrate World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) with us in 2023! This year’s theme is “Water: Sustaining Bird Life”. Have fun learning about a new migratory bird every day. We have coloring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy nature with your family at home.
Migratory Bird of the Day: Least Tern
The tiny Least Tern is one dashing beach bum, from its brilliant yellow bill, to its crisp black-and-white head pattern, to its slender pointed wings, and forked tail. Other field marks to look for are a black cap, pale gray back, and white underparts. It is the smallest of terns in North America, reaching a length between 21cm and 23cm long (about the same size as a Northern or Tropical Mockingbird) with a wingspan of 53cm.
The Least Tern’s diet consists mainly of fish but it will also eat shrimp and other invertebrates. During the breeding season food becomes especially important to male terns. During courtship, the male will offer the female food in hopes of enticing her to choose him as a mate. Suave looks and cheesy lines won’t work on these practical females!
Once she accepts, they will begin building their nest in shallow depressions in the sand. Least Terns prefer bare or sparsely vegetated sand or dried mudflats along coasts or rivers, but they will also nest on sandy or shell islands and gravel and sand pits. Least Terns are colony nesters, meaning they nest in a group, which allows them to share information about food sources—and to spot and mob predators like dogs and cats!
Eggs are laid between the middle of April and early May. Incubation lasts for 21 days. Least Tern chicks are able to leave the nest just three to four days after hatching; but they are dependent on their parents to feed them for 6 weeks or more.
Unfortunately their favorite nesting habitat is also prime real estate for human recreation, residential development, and alteration by water diversion; all of which encroach upon the area available to nest and successfully raise chicks. Although this tern can readily adapt in response to sites that change within and among years, it appears to be most productive at colony sites that have endured for several years. Global climate change is also an ever-present threat to the Least Tern. Rising sea levels and catastrophic storms can damage or destroy its nests, as well as its habitat.
But you can help Least Terns and other beach-nesting birds—educate your friends and family about these birds and how to keep them, their eggs, and their chicks safe. Remind them that there’s a place for everyone at the beach, to pick up their garbage when they are leaving, to leash their pets, and to avoid getting too close—especially if birds are nesting.Learn more about this species, including its range, photos, and calls here.
Thanks to Aliya Hosein for the text and Christine Elder for the lovely illustration!
Color in the Least Tern
Download the Migratory Birds of the Day Coloring Page! Use the picture above and the photos on this page as your guide, or look up pictures of the bird online or in a bird field guide if you have one. Share your colored-in page with us by posting it online and tagging us @BirdsCaribbean #WMBD2023Carib
Listen to the calls of the Least Tern
The calls of the Least Tern include a “ki-dik” heard frequently from flying birds.
Puzzles of the Day
Click on the images below to do the puzzle. You can make the puzzle as easy or as hard as you like—for example, 6, 8, or 12 pieces for young children, all the way up to 1,024 pieces for those that are up for a challenge!
The Least Tern is the world’s smallest species of tern! (Photo by Anthony Levesque)Least Tern with a fish, Least Terns feed almost entirely on small fish. (Photo by Stephen Buckingham)Least Tern in flight. (Photo by Sam Miller Macaulay Library-ML161558471)A Least Tern on its nest. Least Terns typically nest in a shallow depression on beaches but on the island of Bonaire the resourceful Least Terns sometimes take over deserted American Flamingo nests! (Photo by Stephen Buckingham)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS: Nesting Least Terns share their beach home with many other creatures, including crustaceans like crabs. Whilst least Terns prefer to eat fish, many other beach and wetland-living birds love to feed on crustaceans! These fascinating animals have boneless bodies covered by hardened skin called an “exoskeleton.” Why not find out more? In today’s activity we would like you and a parent or friend to delve into the details about crabs, and write a fact file. Find out more and get a template for your fact file here. Have fun learning all about these crusty critters!
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS: Enjoy this video of a Least Tern in the Wild! Watch this adult feeding a fish to its chick.
Read all about conserving Bahamas beach-nesting birds and their habitats in the blogs below: Margo Zdravkovic shares her adventures from Conservian’s 2016 Bahamas Shorebird Conservation Expedition and Jennifer Wheeler shares her experiences from the expedition in 2018. Margo and her team of volunteers worked to protect beach-nesting birds, nests and young, including today’s featured bird, the Least Tern. This is important shorebird and seabird conservation and research work with a mission to provide on-the-ground protection and restoration measures at key shorebird and seabird sites in The Bahamas.
Celebrate World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) with us in 2023! This year’s theme is “Water: Sustaining Bird Life”. Have fun learning about a new migratory bird every day. We have coloring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy nature with your family at home.
Migratory Bird of the Day: Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Hold onto your binoculars and get ready for the charming Yellow-billed Cuckoo! With its sleek brown body, white underparts, long black tail spotted white underneath, and striking down-curved yellow bill, this bird stands out in the crowd. This stealthy bird can be difficult to spot, however, as it often sits motionless for long periods of time. When disturbed, it holds its body low and moves quietly along branches, disappearing quickly into the foliage. In flight, its reddish-brown wing patches are diagnostic.
The Yellow-billed Cuckoo is quite the traveler! They breed in the eastern two/thirds of North America as well as in the Bahamas, Greater Antilles, and parts of Mexico and Central America. They winter almost entirely in South America, east of the Andes and can be seen in many Caribbean countries on migration, sometimes passing through in huge numbers.
They are caterpillar connoisseurs, chowing down on these wriggly treats like true bug busters. Their soft, hollow “cu-coo cu-coo cu-coo” calls might make you feel like you’re in the heart of the wilderness. It’s like a calming lullaby echoing through the trees. But they also have a distinct, louder and more guttural “ka-ka-ka-ka-ka-kow-kow-kowlp-kowlp-kowlp-kowlp” call. In North America it has earned the nickname ‘rain crow’ or ‘storm crow’ because it calls just before the rain and sometimes continues to call throughout the rainfall.
When love is in the air these cuckoos pair up and get straight down to business. The breeding cycle from egg laying to fledging takes only 17 days! Pairs construct flimsy nests in dense shrubs and the female usually lays 2-3 eggs.
Yellow-billed Cuckoos are well-known for their “parasitic” behavior—they sometimes lay additional eggs in other birds’ nests, both their own species and others, such as American Robin, Wood Thrush, Gray Catbird, and Red-winged Blackbird. This remarkable behavior, that is, “parasitizing” the parental care of other birds, is an adaptation for increasing their own reproductive success. Because it grows so quickly, a cuckoo chick is able to outcompete its nest mates for food. Cuckoo chicks beg vigorously and have even been observed standing on the backs of their nest mates to monopolize the parent’s feeding!
Now, let’s talk about serious stuff. The elusive Yellow-billed Cuckoo faces challenges just like other birds. Habitat loss from development is a major threat, especially on its wintering grounds. Climate change, invasive species, and pesticides (which kill and contaminate their insect prey) are also serious threats. So, what can you do? Support conservation efforts—donate to organizations that protect nature, get involved in citizen science projects, and spread the word about these incredible birds.
Thanks to Justin Saunders for the text and Christine Elder for the lovely illustration!
Color in the Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Download the Migratory Birds of the Day Coloring Page! Use the picture above and the photos on this page as your guide, or you can look up pictures of the bird online or in a bird field guide if you have one. Share your colored-in page with us by posting it online and tagging us @BirdsCaribbean #WMBD2023Carib
Listen to the calls of the Yellow-billed Cuckoo
The calls the male Yellow-billed Cuckoo are a distinctive series of hollow, wooden-sounding “ka-ka-ka-ka-ka-kow-kow-kowlp-kowlp-kowlp-kowlp” noises.
Puzzles of the Day
Click on the images below to do the puzzle. You can make the puzzle as easy or as hard as you like – for example, 6, 8, or 12 pieces for young children, all the way up to 1,024 pieces for those that are up for a challenge!
The tendency of Yellow-billed Cuckoos to call at the sound of thunder has led to their colloquial name, the “rain crow.” (Photo by Sue Barth Macaulay Library- ML102608081)Yellow-billed Cuckoo with a caterpillar. Did you know that Yellow-billed Cuckoos are among only a few bird species able to eat hairy caterpillars! (Photo by Ed Harper Macaulay Library- ML170865821)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS: Today’s bird, the Yellow-billed Cuckoo, loves to include insects in its meals! Why not explore outside and “meet the insects” in today’s activity! You will get up close to some of those mini-beasts that are crawling, flying and even munching on leaves in your own backyard. You can download all the instructions for this activity here, including instructions for how to make your own ‘mirror box’ for looking at the insects!
For this activity you’ll need:
an old light colored bed sheet or towel will work
a magnifying glass or mirror box (see page 3)
garden gloves (optional)
camera
sheet of paper and pencil
Note: You will need a parent or trusted adult to help you with this activity!
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS: Enjoy this video of a Yellow-billed Cuckoo in the wild!
Find our more about how we celebrate World Migratory Bird Day every year: Take a trip back in time and read our round-up of BirdsCaribbean’s celebration of World Migratory Bird Day in 2020. With a global pandemic going on this was the first year when we took our celebrations online and started our series “Birds Connect Our World” featuring a “migratory bird of the day.” Find out more here:
Celebrate World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) with us in 2023! This year’s theme is “Water: Sustaining Bird Life”. Have fun learning about a new migratory bird every day. We have coloring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy nature with your family at home.
Migratory Bird of the Day: Northern Pintail
Meet the Northern Pintail, a flier extraordinaire! They can spring straight up from the water’s surface, wheeling and darting through the air on their slender wings. They are one of the first ducks to migrate south in the fall, traveling during the night at speeds of ~48 miles per hour (77.2 km/h)! Their nickname, “greyhound of the air,” suits them well!
Northern Pintails are undoubtedly elegant with a long neck, slim body, and pointed tail. Breeding males are absolutely dapper with a gleaming white breast, a white line down their chocolate brown head and neck, gray upperparts, and prominent long and pointed tail. Females have a plain tan head and plumage is mottled in browns and whites with a scalloped effect. Nonbreeding males look similar to females but retain their upper-wing pattern and long gray shoulder feathers. Juveniles have a plain appearance with a darker, browner crown, less buffy upperparts and flanks, and more spotted below.
Northern Pintails leave their breeding grounds in Canada and the US in August and migrate along the Atlantic coast to the Caribbean and South America, arriving in late October. Look for these ducks at mangrove swamps, estuaries, salt ponds, reservoirs, and also flooded agricultural areas. You might spot them feeding tail-up in shallow water, as they pick snails and worms from the moist soil and water. In swamps and ponds, they also dabble for aquatic plant seeds, insects, and crustaceans at the water surface by filter feeding with their bill. On land they feed on grains (rice, wheat, corn, barley) and by digging out tubers (potatoes) out the ground using their bills.
When it comes to breeding, Northern Pintails, like all “dabbling ducks,” form pair bonds on the wintering grounds. To attract a female’s attention, males perform elaborate and ritualized courtship displays like “head-up-tail-up” and “grunt-whistle.” This latter display entails stretching their necks up and tipping their bills down while giving a whistle call. They also perform “turn-back-of-head” while swimming away to show off the gorgeous purplish iridescence on the back of their heads. Females show which courting male they have chosen by following him and performing the “inciting” display, which includes head-bobbing while making a grunting vocalization..
Northern Pintails are common but their population is decreasing. Loss of wetland habitat, cultivation of grasslands, and agricultural practices that destroy nests have all contributed to this decline. It is important that we work together to restore and maintain our tropical wetlands. Ditch the chemical fertilizers and pesticides that can leach into our wetlands. Keep trash out of wetlands by reusing and recycling to the best of your ability, and don’t be afraid to deep dive into the wonders of wetlands to educate yourself and others!Learn more about this species, including its range, photos, and calls here.
Color in the Northern Pintail
Download the Migratory Birds of the Day Coloring Page! Use the picture above and the photos on this page as your guide, or you can look up pictures of the bird online or in a bird field guide if you have one. Share your colored-in page with us by posting it online and tagging us @BirdsCaribbean #WMBD2023Carib
Listen to the calls of the Northern Pintail
The calls the male Northern Pintails are short bursts of wheezy sounding whistles.
Puzzles of the Day
Click on the images below to do the puzzle. You can make the puzzle as easy or as hard as you like – for example, 6, 8, or 12 pieces for young children, all the way up to 1,024 pieces for those that are up for a challenge!
Male Northern Pintail. In breeding plumage this dapper duck has a distinctive long black tail and white neck stripe. (Photo by Steve Buckingham)Female Northern Pintail. Northern Pintails nest on the ground in croplands, grasslands and wet meadows, often farther from water than other ducks.Northern Pintail flock in flight. Northern Pintails also occur in Europe, the Middle East, India, and Asia. (Photo by Martin Crocorax)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS: Learn more about the Northern Pintail—it’s fascinating biology and behavior, and then learn how to sketch it! Presented by Dr. Lisa Sorenson, BirdsCaribbean, and naturalist and artist, Christine Elder. This fun webinar is part of our Caribbean celebration of World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD). Have fun learning about other migratory birds with us in our “Birds Connect our World” pages! We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, videos, fun facts, and more. Download for free and enjoy nature with your family at home.
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS: Enjoy these videos of Northern Pintails in the wild! In the first you can see a male and female searching for food in shallow water. In the second you can see a male in breeding plumage preening
Celebrate World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) with us in 2023! This year’s theme is “Water: Sustaining Bird Life”. Have fun learning about a new migratory bird every day. We have coloring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy nature with your family at home.
Migratory Bird of the Day: Lesser Yellowlegs
With their long bright-yellow legs, you might spot these elegant shorebirds at the water’s edge searching the shallows for food. Lesser Yellowlegs are mottled grayish-brown above, with pale underparts. These slender-looking, long-billed birds can be easy to pick out from the crowd with their distinctive leg color. However, take care as this shorebird has a ‘cousin’—the Greater Yellowlegs!
Greater Yellowlegs are much larger and more heavily built. If you spot the two together, you’ll be in no doubt as to who is who. But you can also pick out Lesser Yellowlegs from its relatively shorter bill-length compared to Greater Yellowlegs. Lesser Yellowlegs also have a distinctive whistled “tu-tu” call, typically one or two notes, while the Greater Yellowlegs call is a stronger “tu-tu-tu!” of 3 to 4 notes. You can find more ID tips in our video here.
Lesser Yellowlegs breed in the Boreal forests in the far north of North America. They head south after breeding, making amazing migratory journeys of thousands of kilometers. They can start to arrive in the Caribbean from July and August. Some Lesser Yellowlegs will continue on to South America, but others will spend the winter here. Lesser Yellowlegs can be found in wetlands, both freshwater and on the coast. They show up on mud flats, ponds, lagoons, and on mangrove edges. They will also use agricultural areas, with flocks of thousands of individuals sometimes using flooded rice fields.
Lesser Yellowlegs are one of the most common shorebirds using the Atlantic Flyway. They are currently listed as “Least Concern” by the IUCN. Sadly, however, Lesser Yellowlegs populations have declined by a shocking 63-70% since the 1970s! Loss of habitat, climate change, and unsustainable hunting and trapping at several non-breeding locations have all contributed to this decline. Conserving our Caribbean wetlands will help Lesser Yellowlegs and many other species. They provide food-rich havens for birds to refuel on migration or to spend the winter.Learn more about this species, including its range, photos, and calls here.
Color in the Lesser Yellowlegs
Download the Migratory Birds of the Day Coloring Page! Use the picture above and the photos on this page as your guide, or you can look up pictures of the bird online or in a bird field guide if you have one. Share your colored-in page with us by posting it online and tagging us @BirdsCaribbean #WMBD2023Carib
Listen to the calls of the Lesser Yellowlegs
The calls of the Lesser Yellowlegs are a whistled “tu-tu” with one or two notes, often repeated rapidly.
Puzzles of the Day
Click on the images below to do the puzzle. You can make the puzzle as easy or as hard as you like – for example, 6, 8, or 12 pieces for young children, all the way up to 1,024 pieces for those that are up for a challenge!
Lesser Yellowlegs. Did you know that despite their similar appearance, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs are not each other’s closest relatives? The Lesser Yellowlegs is more closely related to the Willet! (Photo by Franz Delcroix)
Lesser Yellowlegs mainly feed on invertebrates including snails and flies, beetles, and dragonflies. (Photo by Hemant Kishan)
Activity of the Day
FOR KIDS: Birds, like the Lesser Yellowlegs, that are typically found at the shore and other coastal habitats like mudflats and lagoons are called shorebirds.
These birds come in different sizes and shapes. They are always on the move, checking the shoreline for food. They have special bills that help them poke into the mud or sand and in between rocks. Their bills and leg lengths are different depending on what they eat and where they find their food. All of this can help us to identify them!
Why not go Birding at the beach? Or at any other wetland! We have made some suggestions of who you can look out for whilst you’re there. You can also download and print out our handy guide to help you identify the different types of shorebirds we find in the Caribbean. You can find more helpful tips, activities and video on our Shorebird Resources page.
FOR KIDS AND ADULTS: Enjoy these videos of Lesser Yellowlegs
Read all about the fascinating work tracking Lesser Yellowlegs: Biologist Laura McDuffie has tracked the movements of these long distance migrants as they travelled to and from their breeding areas. Find out more about Laura’s work, the amazing journeys that Lesser Yellowlegs make each year and the threats they face along the way!
