VictorEmanuelNatureTours

CUBAMarch 28- April 8, 2017

Gray-frontedQuail-Dove,Geotrygoncaniceps.Photo:D.Ascanio.

Leader:David Ascanio IE representative: Angel Cárdenas Cuban guide: Lyudmis Ramirez

Local guides: Camilo, Odey Martinez, Orlando Ramirez, Esdrey Garcia and Idalmys Gonzales

Compiled by: David Ascanio

VICTOR EMANUEL NATURE TOURS, INC. 2525 WALLINGWOOD DRIVE, SUITE 1003 AUSTIN

TX 78746 WWW.VENTBIRD.COM

2

Cuba,thelargestoftheAntilleswelcomeduswithGreaterAntilleanGrackles,

CubanMartinandCubanCowbirdsflyingaroundthepicturesquecityofCamaguey.AddtothesceneCubansgreetingrelativescomingfromabroadandoldAmericancarsrunninginthestreets.Thiswasastartingpointtofigureouthowmuchdifferentthiscountryisfromwhatwehadinourminds.Toaddmoretothesefirstimpressions,duringthefirstnightweexperiencedoneofthebestshowsofthewholetourwithaFlamencoshowandparticipantsjoiningthedancersafteradeliciousdessert.IsthereabetterwelcometoCuba?

ThefirstfulldayinCubafoundusleavingthehotelwithpackedbreakfastforanhourdrivetoRancholaBelén.AsweenjoyedcrackerswithpeanutbutteraCubanGreenWoodpeckerlandedonabarebranchnexttothebusandaCubanPygmy-Owlwasfoundsingingintheoppositesideoftheroad.Later,weweredelightedwithCubanParakeetflyingaroundandapairofCubanTrogonthatelegantlylandedinanopenbranch.Whatawaytostartaday!Wehadonlyfewourstheretonailourtargetspeciesthuswecarryonandwalkedalongtheroadinfrontoftheheadquartersoftheranchandsoonenoughwefoundit:theGiantKingbird,theCubanPalmCrowandthePlainPigeon.Afterasuccessfulmorning,thedaycontinuedwithadrivetoJardinesdelReyArchipelago.Duringthisdriveweaddedlaughinggulls,herons,egretsandtheelegantAmericanFlamingotoourdaylist.

3

InJardinesdelReyarchipelagowefocusedourbirdingeffortindesertscrub,coastalwetlandsandmoistforest.Twooftheemblematicbirdsofthisareawereseenafterabitofaneffort.ThefirstonewasthesecretiveZapataSparrowandthesecondwasthealways-challengingBahamaMockingbird.OthertargetspeciesweretheWestIndianWhistling-DuckandtheendangeredPipingPlover,aBorealmigrantwhosepopulationshavedeclinedandiscurrentlyestimatedinlessthan10,000individuals.

FollowingthevisittoCayoCoco(andotherkeys)wedrovesouthtotheAncónpeninsulawerevariousshorebirds,waterbirds(egretsandherons),WhiteIbisandRoseateSpoonbillwereaddedtoourlist.AvisittoTrinidadcomplementedtheday.ThisimportanttownwasthethirdonefoundedbytheSpanishcrowninCuba(backin1514)andplayedanimportantroleinthedevelopmentofthesugarindustryofCuba.ThetourcontinuedtothefamousZapatapeninsula,aniconiclocationinCuba´shistoryandwildlifealike.Here,wevisitedtheCiénagadeZapata(Zapataswamp),oneofthesixRAMSARareasofCuba.TheZapataswampisalsoaUNESCOBiosphereReserveandisthelargestandbestpreservedprotectedareaoftheCaribbean.ThisiswherewenailedthefamousandastonishingBlue-headedQuail-Doveaswellasthesmallestbirdintheplanet,theBeeHummingbird.InthefollowingdaywevisitedthetownofSantoDomingowhereboardedsmallboatspulledbysticksacrossanoldman-madewaterchannelusedtoloadcharcoalinlargerboats.GuidedbyEsdreyandthelocalrangersweretakentoanewterritoryofthelittleknownZapataWren.Thisistheonlymemberofthegenusanditsscientificname;Ferminiacerveraihonorsthe

4

persontofirstcollectit,FermínZanónCervera.AfterasuccessfulviewofthewrenandasecondsightoftheZapataSparrowweloadedthebusandheadedwest,toPinardelRíoprovince.InbetweenthesetwolocationsweenjoyedasuperblunchinElDivinoandvisitedHemingway´sfarm,FincaVigia.

Ourlastbirdingcoupleofdaystookustotwocontrastinglocations,ViñalesandLasTerrazascommunity.Inbothlocationswecombinedbirdingandculturalactivities.InViñaleswewereastonishedwiththelevelofeconomictouristicdevelopmentandthebeautyofLosMogotes,auniquegeologicalformation.InthesemogotesiswhereweenjoyedthesuitsongoftheCubanSolitairethatreverberatedalongthewallsofit.Findingnindividualsingingandhearingitsuniqueascendingwhistleofferedauniquemomenttoall.Inthefollowingday,LasTerrazasofferedadifferentperspectiveofacommunitybasedinsocialcommitmentandorganization.Welearnedaboutthewonderfulworkofvariousartists,tastedadeliciousLasTerrazasCoffeeandsharedagreattimewiththekidsofthematernalschool.Thatdayendedwithsuperbviewsofthelastendemicbird,theCubanGrassquit,onethatwesawprettywellwithindividualsinmales,femalesandjuvenileplumage.Thetourendedwithaday-longvisittoOldHavana.HerewelearnedmuchofCuba´scolonialtimeshistoryandindependenceperiod.Wealsoenjoyedgreatarchitecturethatofferedwonderfulphotoopportunities.

5

NowthatyouhavelearnedmuchofCuba´sflora,faunaandpeopleIwanttoinviteyoutojoinusinotherdestinations,equallyinterestingandbeautifulbutremarkablydifferentfromthatoftheGreaterAntilles.TheAmazonCruiseWesailaboardasmallshiptoexploretheAmazonanditstributaries.UsingskiffswereachthefloodedforestandotherdistinctiveAmazonianhabitatssuchasthesedimentaryriverislandsandtheigapoforest.Weofferanoptionalwalktoterrafirmeforest.Non-birdingspousesliketojointhiscruisebecauseofthevarietyofwildlifeincludingseveralspeciesofprimatesandanoptionalvisittoacommunity.Youcanenjoythephotosandthevideoofour2016AmazonCruisein:Photoalbumhttps://www.flickr.com/photos/davidascanio/albums/72157663616158820Videolinkhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1b3xYG0cPSoThePanamaCanal:arelaxedandeasytour.Panamaistoenjoyfirstclassbirdingatarelaxedandeasypace.WespendmostofthenightsinasmallinnlocatedinthetownofGamboa(PanamaCanal).EnjoyshortwalksaroundthetownplusaboattriptotheChagresRiver.WevisitthefamousPipelineroadandvisittheCanopyTower,wherewecanseecanopyspeciesateyelevel.Seethephotosandthevideoofour2015PanamaCanaltourin:Photoalbumhttps://www.flickr.com/photos/davidascanio/albums/72157648765567967

6

Videolinkhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgnkUxwd5kwCostaRica:arelaxedandeasytour.OurrelaxedandeasyCostaRicatourisforthosewhowishtoseebirdsatvariousaltitudinallevels,fromcloudforesttolowlandrainforest,allinslowpace.Weincludearidealongtheaerialtramandwealsolearnaboutthefloraandotherfaunaofthisspectacularcountry.Thistourisdesignedforseeinggaudyspeciessuchastanagersandhoneycreepersaswellasmanyhummingbirds.Wevisitvarioushummingbirdfeederstations.Seethephotosandvideoofour2015tourin:Photoalbumhttps://www.flickr.com/photos/davidascanio/albums/72157659475059484Videolinkhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzgD6NfVNSE Ihopetoseeyouagain!

7

8

VENTCUBA4,2017FebruaryMarch28–April8,2017Leader:DavidAscanioITINERARY28March.Miami.29March.FlighttoCamaguey.30March.RanchoLaBelen.DrivetoCayoCoco.31March.JardinesdelRey:CayoCoco,CayoParedonGrande&CayoGuillermo.01April.CayoCoco,Trinidad(Anconpeninsula).02April.ParqueElCubano.DrivetotheZapataPeninsula.03April.ZapataPeninsula:Bermeja,PalpiteandSoplillar.04April.SantoTomas,Havana&Soroa.05April.Viñales.06April.LasTerrazas&Havana.07April.OldHavana.08April.Departure.THEBIRDLISTThe order, and common and scientific names are those given by the American Ornithologists’ Union (AOU) Checklist of North American Birds, 7th edition with all current updates.

9

Photo album for all tours: https://www.flickr.com/photos/davidascanio/albums/ Photo album for this tour: https://www.flickr.com/photos/davidascanio/sets/72157684061200705

Waterfowl /Anatidae WestIndianWhistling-Duck.Dendrocygnaarborea.CayoCoco.Blue-wingedTeal.Anasdiscors.30+individualsnearCayoCoco.NorthernShoveler.Aythya collarisAnas clypeata.12+nearCayoCoco.Red-breastedMerganser.Mergusserrator.PairsandadozenindividualwereseeninvariouswetlandsinJardinesdelReyarchipelago.

Guineafowl/NumididaeHelmetedGuineafowl.Numida meleagris.Widespreadinfarmland.Semi-captive.

Flamingos/Phoenicopteridae

AmericanFlamingo.Phoenicopterusruber.Dozenanduptothousands(4,500+ind)wereobservedinCayoGuillermoandalongthecausewayoutofCayoCoco.

Grebes/PodicipedidaeLeastGrebe.Tachybaptusdominicus.2.CayoGuillermo.

PigeonsandDoves/Columbidae

FeralPigeon,RockPigeon(I).Columbalivia.Commoninurbanareas.White-crownedPigeon.Patagioenasleucocephala.ZapatapeninsulaandSoroa.PlainPigeon.Patagioenasinornata.12+individuals.RanchoLaBelenandroadCamaguey-Najasa.EurasianCollared-Dove(I).Streptopeliadecaocto.Widespreadinurbanareas.CommonGround-Dove.Columbinapasserina.Pairswereobservedaridscrubbyvegetationinalllocations.Seenalmosteveryday.Blue-headedQuail-Dove(E).Starnoenascyanocephala.Oneofthefavoritespecies.TwopairswereseenatastakeoutinBermeja.AbigthankstoOrlandoforthis!RuddyQuail-Dove.Geotrygonmontana.Heardonly.Bermeja,Gray-frontedQuail-.Dove(E).Geotrygoncaniceps.WeenjoyedwonderfulviewsofthreeindividualsinBermeja.KeyWestQuail-Dove.Geotrygonchrysa.14individualswereobservedinCayoCoco.AsingleindividualwasobservedlaterinBermeja.White-wingedDove.Zenaidaasiatica.Acommonspeciesobservedinlowlandlocations.ZenaidaDove.Zenaidaaurita.Thiswasahard-to-seespeciesinotherAntilles.ItwasfairlycommonintheZapatapeninsula.MourningDove.Zenaidamacroura.Commonandwidespreadinopenareas.

Cuckoos/Cuculidae

10

MangroveCuckoo.Coccyzusminor.WeenjoyedgreatviewsofanindividualinCayoCoco.GreatLizard-Cuckoo.Coccyzusmerlini.Lizard-cuckoosareamazingbirds.Notonlybecauseoftheirextravagantsizeandbehaviorbutalsofortheirvoice.WeenjoyedviewsofsingleindividualsandloosepairsintheZapatapeninsula,Trinidad,CienfuegosandSoroa.Smooth-billedAni.Crotophagaani.Afairlycommonspeciesfoundinlowlandopenhabitats.

Nightjarsandallies/CaprimulgidaeGreaterAntilleanNightjar(CubanNightjar).Antrostomuscubanensis.ApairwasobservedinCayoCocoandlaterwenailedabout9individualsalongtheroadintheZapatapeninsula.

Swifts/ApodidaeWhite-collaredSwift.Streptoprocnezonaris.SeenflyingabovetheroadnearCienfuegos.ChimneySwift.Chaeturapelagica.ReportedbyCraigandJannearHavana.AntilleanPalm-Swift.Tachornisphoenicobia.Seeninlowlandopenhabitats.ItwasacommonspeciesinCienfuegosbotanicalgardens.

Hummingbirds/TrochilidaeBeeHummingbird(E).Mellisugahelenae.Wesawsevenindividualsintwolocations,BermejaandPalpite.ThisisTHEsmallestbirdintheworldandonlyslightlylargerthantheVervainHummingbird,foundinHispaniola.CubanEmerald.Chlorostilbonricordii.AverycommonendemichummingbirdfoundinCuba.Itwasseeneveryday.

Rails,GallinulesandCoots/RallidaeClapperRail.Ralluscrepitans.CayoCoco.ApairwasobservedinRedMangrovealongthecausewayfrommorontoCayoCoco.CommonGallinule.Gallinulagaleata.ItwasseenalongtheroadnearMoronandLasTerrazas.

Limpkin/AramidaeLimpkin.Aramusguarauna.FourindividualswereseeninSantoTomas.

StiltsandAvocets/RecurvirostridaeBlack-neckedStilt.Himantopusmexicanus.CayoCoco.40+individuals.

Oystercatchers/HaematopodidaeAmericanOystercatcher.Haematopuspalliatus.2individuals.CayoParedonGrande.

PloversandLapwings/CharadriidaeBlack-belliedPlover.Pluvialissquatarola.CayoCocoandAnconpeninsula.

11

SemipalmatedPlover.Charadriussemipalmatus.50+CayoGuillermoinmudflats.PipingPlover.Charadriusmelodus.AsingleindividualwasobservedinPlayaLasColoradas,CayoCoco.Killdeer.Charadriusvociferous.Seeninseverallowlandlocations.

SandpipersandAllies/ScolopacidaeRuddyTurnstone.Arenariainterpres.CayoCoco.StiltSandpiper.Calidrishimantopus.120+individuals.CayoGuillermo.Sanderling.Calidrisalba.50+PlayaLasColoradas.LeastSandpiper.Calidrisminutilla.24+Anconpeninsula.Short-billedDowitcher.Limnodromusgriseus.FewindividualswereobservedinCayoGuillermo.Long-billedDowitcher.Limnodromusscolopaceus.AsingleindividualwasobservedinafreshwaterpondinCayoCoco.SolitarySandpiper.Tringasolitaria.CayoCocoandSatoTomas.GreaterYellowlegs.Tringamelanoleuca.CayoCoco.Willet.Tringasemipalmata.VariousindividualswereobservedinCayoCoco.LesserYellowlegs.Tringaflavipes.CayoCoco.

Gulls,TernsandSkimmers/LaridaeLaughingGull.Leucophaeusatricilla.AcommonspeciesinCayoCocoandotherkeys.Ring-billedGull.Larusdelawarensis.CayoCoco.CaspianTern.Hydroprognecaspia.CayoCoco.OnlyoneindividualseeninCayoGuillermobysomeparticipants.RoyalTern.Thalasseusmaximus.JardinesdelReyarchipelago.SandwichTern.Thalasseussandvicensis.2individualswereobservedinametallicstructurenearMoron.

Frigatebirds/FregatidaeMagnificentFrigatebird.Fregatamagnificens.JardinesdelReyarchipelagoandAnconpeninsula.

Cormorants/PhalacrocoracidaeDouble-crestedCormorant.Phalacrocoraxauritus.CommoninJardinesdelReyarchipelago.AsingleindividualwasobservedintheAnconpeninsula.

Pelicans/PelecanidaeAmericanWhitePelican.Pelecanuserythrorhynchos. 24+ individuals were observed along the causeway Cayo Coco-Moron.BrownPelican.Pelecanusoccidentalis.Seenalmostdaily.

Herons,EgretsandBitterns/ArdeidaeGreatBlueHeron.Ardeaherodias.CommoninCayoCocoandotherkeys.AlsoinwetlandsinSoroa.1individualinwhitemorphwasobservedinCayoCoco.GreatEgret.Ardeaalba.Seeninvariouswetlands.

12

SnowyEgret.Egrettathula.Seeninvariouswetlands.LittleBlueHeron.Egrettacaerulea.SeeninCayoCocoandLasTerrazas.TricoloredHeron.Egrettatricolor.JardinesdelReyarchipelago.ReddishEgret.Egrettarufescens.About15individualsinwhitemorphplumagewereseeninJardinesdelRey.Individualsinregularplumagewerealsoobservedinvariouslocations.CattleEgret.Bubulcusibis.Seendaily.GreenHeron.Butoridesvirescens.CayoCoco,ricefieldsandLasTerrazas.Yellow-crownedNight-Heron.Nyctanassaviolacea.1immature.CayoGuillermo.

IbisesandSpoonbills/ThreskiornithidaeWhiteIbis.Eudocimusalbus.CayoCocoisnamedafterthisspecies(locallycalledcoco).Morethan30individualswereseeninCayoCocoandintheAnconpeninsula.RoseateSpoonbill.Plataleaajaja.3+individuals.Anconpeninsula.

NewWorldVultures/CathartidaeTurkeyVulture.Cathartesaura.Seendaily.AnumerousspeciesinCuba.

Osprey/PandionidaeOsprey.Pandionhaliaetus.SeeninCayoCoco.Ssp.carolinensis.

Hawks,EaglesandKites/AccipitridaeSnailKite.Rosthramussociabilis.About12individualswereseennearSoroa.Somejuvenileswereobserved.Gundlach´sHawk(E).Accipitergundlachi.Wehadtoworkreallyhardtoseethisspecies.ItwasfirstseenbrieflybyJannearRanchoLaBelen.Later,bymostofusneartheCienfuegosbotanicalgardensandfinallyseenbyeveryoneflyingnearSoroa.CubanBlackHawk(E)(CommonBlackHawk).Buteogallusanthracinus.SeeninJardinesdelRey.CommoninCayoGuillermo.NowadaystreatedasaCubanendemic,CubanBlackHawkButeogallusgundlachiibymosttaxonomists.Broad-wingedHawk.Buteoplatypterus.ThisisresidentandwidespreadintheAntilles.TwoindividualswereseennearVinales.Red-tailedHawk.Buteojamaicensis.Soroa.SeenalongtheroadtotheAnconpeninsula.

Barn-Owls/TytonidaeBarnOwl.Tytoalba.2individualswereobservedflyinginSoroa.

Owls/Strigidae

Bare-leggedOwl(E).Margarobyaslawrencii.TwoindividualswereobservedinnestslocatedinBermeja.CubanPygmy-Owl(E).Glaucidiumsiju.ThisendemicowlofCubawasseeninRanchoLaBelen.AnotherindividualwasobservednestinginSoplillar.StygianOwl.Asiostygius.Weenjoyedsuperbviewsofasub-adultandafemalenearSoroa.

13

Trogons/Trogonidae

CubanTrogon(E).Priotelustemnurus.ThisisCuba’snationalbird.Pairswereseenalmostdaily.ThetermPriotelus(genus)meansanaccomplishedorcompletesawandreferstotheruggedappearanceofthetailfeathers.

Todies/TodidaeCubanTody(E).Todusmulticolor.Todiesareuniquebirds.Tome,theyresembleacartooncharacters.TheoneinCubaisthemostcolorfulofall.ItwasseeninCuevadelosJabalies.FossilevidencesuggeststhattodiesevolvedfromCentralAmericabutbecameextinctforunknownreasons.FivespeciesremainintheGreatAntilles.Thetodiesarerelativesofthemotmotsandmoredistantlytothekingfishers.Wesawitalmosteveryday.

Kingfishers/AlcedinidaeBeltedKingfisher.Megacerylealcyon.SeenalongthecausewaytoJardinesdelRey.

Woodpeckers/PicidaeWestIndianWoodpecker.Melanerpessuperciliaris.Seendailyinthelowlands.ThisspeciesisarelativeofRed-belliedWoodpecker(ofNorthAmerica)andtheRed-crownedWoodpecker(ofSouthAmerica).ItisanotherWestIndiesspecialtyfoundinalltheGreaterAntilles.CubanGreenWoodpecker(E).Xiphidiopicuspercussus.Thiswasoneofthetourparticipantfavorites.Wesawitfivetimes!NorthernFlicker.Colaptesauratus.CayoCocoandotherkeys.Fernandina'sFlicker(E).Colaptesfernandinae.WeobservedanestingpairintheZapatapeninsula,nearBermeja.

FalconsandCaracaras/FalconidaeCrestedCaracara.Caracaracheriway.SeeninCayoCocoandtheZapataPeninsula.AmericanKestrel.Falcosparverius.Thiscommonandwidespreadspecieswasseeneveryday.ThepalesubspeciesfoundinCubaissparveroides.Andweobservedtwomorphs,thepaleandtherufousone.PeregrineFalcon.Falcoperegrinus.GreatviewsofasingleindividualattheRevolutionSquareinHavana.

Parrots/PsittacidaeCubanParakeet(E).Aratingaeuops.Groupswereobservedinvariouslocations.NicestudiesinBermeja.WenoticeditssimilaritieswithScarlet-fronted,White-eyedandHispaniola´sparakeets.Thesespeciesmaybecloselyrelatedoneanother.CubanParrot.Amazonaleucocephala.TwoindividualswereseenintheZapatapeninsula.

TyrantFlycatchers/Tyrannidae

14

CubanPewee(E).Contopuscaribaeus.Wesawitalmosteveryday.Fondtoforestandmangroveedge.LaSagra'sFlycatcher.Myiarchussagrae.ThegenusMyiarchuscomprisessimilarandhard-to-tell-apartspeciesand,isdistributedfromsouthernUSAtoArgentina.InCubathere´sonlyoneoption,soitsidentificationisprettystraightforward.Wecameacrossvariouspairsofthisflycatcher.Itisusuallyassociatedwithforesthabitats.Bytheway,itscommon(andspecific)nameisafterRamóndeLaSagra(1801-1871),aCubanwriterandnaturalist.HeauthoredHistoriafísica,políticaynaturaldelaisladeCuba,in1837.GrayKingbird.Tyrannusdominicensis.Variouspairswereobserved.OnlyseeninthepreviousCubatourjustaweekbehind.Thesearelocalmigrantsandwerejuststartingtheirbreedingseason.LoggerheadKingbird.Tyrannuscaudifasciatus.Observedeveryday.Similartothepreviousonebutplumagecontrastsinheadarebolder.GiantKingbird(E).Tyrannuscubensis.NicestudiesofapairinRancholaBelen.Thisspeciesisthreatenedandapparentlyduetolostofhabitat.Furtherstudiesneeded(Camilo,ourlocalguideiscurrentlystudyingthebreedingbiologyofit).

Vireos/VireonidaeThick-billedVireo.Vireocrassirostris.AsingleindividualwasobservedinCayoParedónGrande.ItwasalsoseeninCayoGuillermo.CubanVireo(E).Vireogundlachii.Seenwellatvariouslocations.Quitevocal!Black-whiskeredVireo.Vireoaltiloquus.Heardinvariouslocations.Itwasseenatvariouslocations.AnestingpairwasobservednearVinales.

Crows,JaysandMagpies/CorvidaePalmCrow.Corvuspalmarum.NicestudiesofvariousindividualsinRanchoLaBelén.Itisfoundinlargetracksofroyalpalmcontiguoustoforestedareas.Asingleindividualwasseencarryingnestingmaterial.CubanCrow.Corvusnasicus.FoudinRanchoLaBelén.Wenoticeditsloudvoice.

Swallows/HirundinidaeCubanMartin.Prognecryptoleuca.ObservedinCamagueyandVinales.TreeSwallow.Tachycinetabicolor.SeenbysomeparticipantsinCayoCoco.CliffSwallow.Petrochelidonpyrrhonota.CommoninCamaguey.BarnSwallow.Hirundorustica.LighthouseinCayoParedonGrande.

Wrens/TroglodytidaeZapataWren(E).Ferminiacerverai.Weobservedapairsingingsome10feetfromus!Thisistheonlymemberofitsgenusandboth,thegenusandspecificnamearetakenfromthepersonathatapparentlyfirstcollectedit,FermínCervera.ENDANGERED.

Gnatcatchers/Polioptilidae

15

CubanGnatcatcher(E).Polioptilalembeyei.TwopairswereobservedinCayoParedónGrande.

ThrushesandAllies/TurdidaeCubanSolitaire(E).Myadesteselisabeth.Ithinkeveryoneagreedthatseeingthisbirdwasnotasspectacularasitwashearingit.ThespecificnameelisabethwasgivenafterQueenIsabelIofCastileandSpain(1451-1504).Itwillremainasamysterywhythepersonthatdescribedthisspecies(Lembeye)usedtheEnglishequivalent(Elisabeth)ratherthantheSpanishname(Isabel).WeenjoyedviewsofoneindividualsingingfromatreecontiguoustoaMogoteinViñales.Red-leggedThrush.Turdusplumbeus.AnothergorgeousspeciesoftheGreaterAntilles.Wesawitineverylocationvisitedduringthistour.BothsubspeciesfoundinCubahaveanicedarkorangebelly(schistaceus&rubripes).

MockingbirdsandThrashers/MimidaeGrayCatbird.Dumetellacarolinensis.Seeninbushyhabitatatvariouslocations.BahamaMockingbird.Mimusgundlachii.IFitwasn´tforOdey´sperseveranceandcapacitytofinditwewouldhavemissthisspecies.AftermucheffortwesawitinCayoGuillermo.NorthernMockingbird.Mimuspolyglottos.Common.Seendaily.

Waxbillsandallies/EstrildidaeTricoloredMunia.Lonchuramalacca.5+individualsnearSoroa.NutmegMannikinorScaly-breastedMunia.Lonchurapunctulata.FewindividualswereseenfeedinginaseedingexoticbambooinCienfuegos.

OldWorldSparrows/Passeridae

HouseSparrow.Passerdomesticus.Commoninurbanareas.

NewWorldWarblers/ParulidaeOvenbird.Seiurusaurocapilla.SeeninBermejaandSoplillar.Worm-eatingWarbler.Helmitherosvermivorum.Bermeja,Zapatapeninsula.LouisianaWaterthrush.Parkesiamotacilla.CayoCocoandSantoTomas.ABorealmigrant.NorthernWaterthrush.Parkesianoveboracensis.CayoCoco.Black-and-whiteWarbler.Mniotiltavaria.Bermeja.CommonYellowthroat.Geothlypisformosa.Seenfrequentlynearwetlands.AmericanRedstart.Setophagaruticilla.AcommonNeotropicalmigrantinCuba.CapeMayWarbler.Setophagatigrina.Seeninthefirsthalfofthetour.NorthernParula.Setophagaamericana.Seeninopencountryandgardensinurbanareas.Foundmostlyinthefirsthalfofthetour.YellowWarbler.Setophagapetechia.CayoCoco.Black-throatedBlueWarbler.Setophagacaerulescens.AcommonBorealmigrant.Seenaboutthreetimes.

16

PalmWarbler.Setophagapalmarum.ThisspeciesisamongthecommonestBorealmigrantsinCuba.Itwasfoundinedgeofforest,scrubbyvegetationandgardens.Olive-cappedWarbler.Setophagapityophila.AnotherspecialtyoftheGreaterAntilles.ThisspeciesisonlyfoundinNBahamas,WandEofCuba.WeenjoyedviewsofapairnearViñales.Yellow-rumpedWarbler.Setophagacoronata.Bermeja.SeenbyKathlyn.PrairieWarbler.Setophagadiscolor.LaBelen.Yellow-headedWarbler(E).Teretistrisfernandinae.ApairwasobservedinViñalesandanotherpairnearLasTerrazas.OrienteWarbler(E).Teretistrisfornsi.FairlycommoninCayoCocoandCayoParedónGrande.Twopairswereseen.

TanagersandAllies/ThraupidaeRed-leggedHoneycreeper.Cyanerpescyaneus.NiceviewsofavocalpairnearViñales.CubanGrassquit(E).Tiariscanorus.WeoweabigthankyoutoourguideofLasTerrazasfortakingustothebestsiteforthisspecieswherewegottoseemorethan5individuals!Yellow-facedGrassquit.Tiarisolivaceus.Thisisacommonspeciesthatwasseeninmostlocations.CubanBullfinch.Melopyrrhanigra.Seenmainlyinforestedgeinvariouslocations.Extensivelytrappedforuseinthebirdsoundcontest.

GeneraINCERTAESEDISWesternSpindalis.Spindaliszena.ThespindalisareendemictotheGreaterAntilles.Sometaxonomistsconsiderthemtobepartofthecardinalsratherthantothetanagers.ThislovelyspecieswasobservedinCayoCocoandLasTerrazas.

Buntings,SparrowsandAllies/EmberizidaeZapataSparrow(E).Torreornisinexpectata.WeenjoyednicestudiesofapairinCayoCoco.Thefirstindividualseenwasthesubspeciesvaronai(describedin1981)inCayoCocoandthesecondonewasinexpectata,seenintheZapataswamp.

CardinalsandAllies/CardinalidaeIndigoBunting.Passerinacyanea.Cienfuegosbotanicalgardens.Notseenbyeveryone.

TroupialsandAllies/IcteridaeRed-shoulderedBlackbird(E).Agelaiusassimilis.WeenjoyedsuperbviewsofapairandamalesinginginBermeja,ZapataPeninsula.Tawny-shoulderedBlackbird.Agelaiushumeralis.Acommonlowlandspeciesinopenhabitats.Itwasseeninvariouslocations.EasternMeadowlark.Sturnellamagna.AnindividualwasseeninEsmeraldas.CubanBlackbird(E).Divesatroviolaceus.Observedatvariouslocations.SometimestreatedasPtiloxenaatroviolacea.Itwasoriginallydescribedasagrackle,in1892.

17

GreaterAntilleanGrackle.Quiscalusniger.Thisspeciesiswidespreadandtolerateshumanpresence,likeothergrackles.Itwasseeneveryday.ShinyCowbird.Molothrusbonairensis.CayoCoco.CubanOriole.Icterusmelanopsis.Wecameacrossthisspeciesinthreelocations.ThepopulationfoundinCubawasbelievedtobeconspecificwiththepopulationsinCentralAmericaandtheCaribbean.NowadaysitisacceptedasanendemicspeciesofCuba.OTHERSPECIESLISTMAMMALSWhite-tailedDeer.Odocoileusvirginianus.SeenbyRebeccainlaBelen.Introduced.Waterhouse’sLeaf-nosedBat.Macrotuswaterhousii.CuevadelosJabalíes. BigBrownBat.Eptesicusfuscus.CuevadelosJabalíes.Guayabitomouse.Musmusculus.REPTILESCubanBoa.Chilabothrusangulifer.Allison´s(Blue-headed)Anole.Anolisallisoni.KnightAnole.Anolisequestris.CarolinaAnole.Anoliscarolinensis.TropicalHouseGecko.Hemidactylusmabouia.IntroducedfromAfrica.CubanIguana.Cycluranubila.AnindividualwasseenbysomeparticipantscrossingtheEsmeraldaroad.Curly-tailedLizard.Leiocephalussp.OTHERSPECIESLandcrab.Geocarcinussp.Hermitcrab.Paguroidea.Arborealtermites.(Nasutitermes).CubanSnail.Polymitasp.Dragonfly.Jellyfish.