Birds of Cuba

Birds of Cuba. The largest Caribbean island offers a wide variety of diversions and places of interest for the traveler. The island nation offers the peace and tranquility of azure waters and sugar sand beaches. In the cities, the passionate pulse of Cuban society resonates off the buildings. After taking in the beaches, cities, and historical landmarks of the island, some visitors do not know what to do. A good activity to pass the time is to get interested in the diverse selection of birds that either call Cuba home or just pass through on their way southward

Birds of Cuba: A Birdwatchers Paradise

There are records of the birds recorded throughout the Cuban archipelago, which is the main island of Cuba plus the more than 1,000 smaller islands surrounding it. There are a total of 368 recorded species on the island. Of these, 25 are endemic to Cuba. This specialized term refers to a species that is only found in a particular geographic area. Out of the total population, 17 are threatened on a global scale. Additionally, 8 species were introduced by humans and are not native to the island.

Habitats of Cuban Birds

Typically, birdwatchers get the chance to see more than 100 species of birds, including most of the endemic species. The Indiana Audubon Society recently took a trip down to Cuba to experience the birding opportunities up close. The habitats that they will be visiting include the Western Mountains, Northern Archipelago, Zapata Peninsula, and Eastern Endemic Ranges of Cuba. Visiting these places will ensure spotting many bird species

Specific Birds of Interest

Cuban Bee Hummingbird

Birds of Cuba:
The Cuban Amazon - Cuban Parrot

Birds of Cuba: The Cuban Red Macaw

This bird became extinct in the mid to late 1800s due to the massive influx of humans as part of the increased sugar and slave trade. Previously bountiful on the island, this bird was medium sized with a red forehead, an orange neck, and blue wings. It was a truly magnificent animal. The male and the female birds were identical in appearance. This macaw became extinct due to increased destruction of its forest habitat. The habitat was converted for use in farming sugarcane, tobacco, and coffee. This helped the Cuban economy grow but greatly hurt its natural environment. The last known macaw was shot in 1864 close to the Zapata Swamp. This same area was supposedly the site of future spotting of the bird, lasting up until the 1880s, when even these ceased to exist. The Zapata wetland area is well known for its highly preserved natural areas and is still the home to a wide variety of other bird species. Currently, the wetlands area boasts over 900 plant species, 175 bird species, 31 reptile species, and over 1,000 invertebrate species. Had this area been treated with the care that it does now; visitors still might be able to catch a glimpse of this Cuban macaw.

Further Information:

In order to get a more complete idea of the ornithology of Cuba, a few websites, books, and organizations provide quality information. The Indiana Audubon Society will have updated information in the near future on its excursions to Cuba. Keep looking for updates at the organization's website, which can be found here: Ornitology of Cuba
BirdLife International provides excellent and current information about parrots and countless other species of birds. Rafael Sanchez compiled a great source for birds in Cuba in his Checklist of Cuban Birds. Additionally, Denis Lepage put together the Cuba Checklist as part of the Bird Checklists of the World book.

Related Article: More about wildlife in Cuba and Cuban animals

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