ANNOTATED CUBA BIRD LIST January 2017 Callyn Yorke
Key to Locations and Dates (in chronological order)
LH = La Habana (January 13-20)
JBN = Jardin Botanico Nacional (January 13)
HH = Hemingway home (January 14)
HWY 1 = La Habana-Vinales (January 22 & 23)
VIN = Vinales pine woodland (January 22 & 23)
CP = Cueva de los Portales, Pinar del Rio Province (January 23)
Z = Zapata area (January 23-25): Playa Larga Resort (PL); Bay of Pigs (BP); Santa Thomas (Zapata Wren site ST); Sopllanara (SOP); Caleta Buena (CB);Cenote coastal forest (CE); Mera coconut grove, woodland and pasture (ME); La Salina (LS).
LB = La Boca refueling station with ponds (January 25)
PA = Roadside Palpite fields, Zapata – Camaguey.(January 26)
SN = Sierra Najasa, Camaguey- Cayo Coco (January 27)
CC = Cayo Coco and vicinity (January 27-29): Sewage ponds (SP); Chinese light house, Cayo Romano (CLH); Coastal forest (CF); Roadside mangrove and salt ponds, Playa Pilar(PP); Pullman Resort (PR).
SC = Los Caneyes Resort, Santa Clara (January 29-30)
BIRDS NOTED (Status: E = Endemic to the main island; RE = Regional Endemic Subspecies in the Cuban Archipelago; I = Introduced)
Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps 1 diving in pond, LB.
Double-crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus 5 shoreline of highway bridge to Cayo Coco, CC.
Neotropical Cormorant Phalacrocorax brasilianus 50 LS (photo); 30 PP.
Anhinga Anhinga anhinga 1 circling high above the ponds, LB.
Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata magnificens 5 (m,f; ad, imm), flying low over the shore and Malecon, LH, CC.
American White Pelican Pelecanus erythrorhynchos 120 resting in large flocks in salt ponds, LS.
Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis 200 on coast and inland salt water ponds, ubiquitous.
Great Blue Heron Ardea herodius 20 Z, CC.
Great Egret Egretta alba 200, in fields, wetlands, mangrove and coastal salt ponds, ubiq. (photo).
Reddish Egret Egretta rufescens 10 LS; 20 PP.
Tricolored Heron Egretta tricolor 60 with other herons in small flocks, foraging in shallow mangrove ponds; frequent wing-raising behavior, LS, PP.
Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea 20 LS, PP.
Snowy Egret Egretta thula 25 LS, PP.
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis 400, in fields, pastures, wetlands, suburbs, ubiq.
Green Heron Butorides virescens 10 LS, PP.
Yellow-crowned Night Heron Nyctanassa violacea 1 PL.
White Ibis Eudocimus albus 15 LS, PP.
Roseate Spoonbill Platalea ajaja 50 synchronized foraging of individuals using shallow side-to-side (swishing) movements in mangrove pools, CR, LS, PP.
Wood Stork Mycteria americana 2 in flight to mangrove roost, LS.
Caribbean Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber 400 widespread; often in large flocks in mangrove salt ponds, CC, LS, PP.
West Indian Whistling Duck Dendrocygna arborea 9 swimming at edge of mangrove pond, CC.
Muscovy Duck Cairina moschata (I – domestic) in and around farms and suburbs, ubiq.
Blue-winged Teal Anas discors 12 (m,f) swimming in shallow mangrove pond, PP.
Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata 10 (m,f) shallow mangrove ponds, LS, PP, CC.
Ring-necked Duck Athya collaris 6 (m,f) inland brackish lake, HWY 1.
Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis 1 (f) with RNDU, HWY 1.
Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator 6 shallow mangrove ponds, LS, PP.
Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis 60 (m,f) inland brackish lake, HWY 1.
Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura abundant, ubiq.
Osprey Pandion haliaetus 2 flying over mangrove LS.
Snail Kite Rostrhamus sociabilis 1 roadside catchment basin, HWY 1.
Gundlach’s Hawk Accipiter gundlachii 1? seen briefly in flight; appeared to be an accipiter; flushed from heavily wooded lot at edge of field JBN; 1 circling high above La Maravila National Park, Vinales (photo).
Cuban Black Hawk Buteogallus gundlachii 1-2 roadside mangrove perch; one high in canopy; the other near the water’s edge, LS; 1 edge of woodland, Pulman Resort; this species seems to be confiding and unafraid of humans.
Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis 1 flying, Sierra Najasa fields; 2 circling above pastures along highways.
Northern Caracara Caracara cheriway 5 flying over fields and wetlands; uncommon but widespread.
American Kestrel Falco sparverius (light and reddish brown morphs) 30 widespread and common on utility wires adjacent to roadways and open fields.
Northern Bobwhite Colinus virginianus cubanensis) (RE) 5 a small, shy covey running through dense grass at base of a large tree in a field, JBN.
Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris 20 (I – domestic) roadside farm and fields, incl. Zapata, Santa Clara and Sierra Najasa.
Limpkin Aramus gaurauna 2 a pair foraging warily in a roadside pasture, Santa Clara region.
Purple Gallinule Porphyrio martinicus 20 pairs and individuals in wet pasture and marsh, Zapata- Camaguey.
Common Gallinule Gallinula galeata 4 HWY 1; 1 LB.
American Coot Fulica americana 6 brackish lake, HWY 1; PP.
Black-necked Stilt Himantopus mexicanus 80 foraging in loose flocks; mangrove and shallow salt ponds, LS, CC, PP.
Black-bellied Plover Pluvialis squatarola 5 LH; 2 LS; 3 CC, 2 PP.
Semipalmated Plover Charadrius semipalmatus 5 foraging on beach near BBPL, CC.
Killdeer 18 LH; 2 LS; 3 CC.
Piping Plover Charadrius melodus 1 foraging on beach, CC.
Wilson’s Snipe Gallinago delicata 1 flushed from edge of flooded field, SP (CC).
Short-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus 5 flooded area, SP (CC); 10 foraging in shallows PP.
Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca 10 LS, PP.
Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes CC, PP.
Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria 1 flooded area with other shorebirds , SP (CC).
Willet Tringa semipalmata 1 CC on shore with deep piles of wrack; 1 in mangrove, PP.
Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularia 1 on outer jetty, MIramar shore, LH; 1 flooded field, SP (CC).
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres 1 on breakwater, Miramar shore, LH; 2 on rocky shore, PL.
Sanderling Calidris alba 5 on beach with SPPL, CC.
Stilt Sandpiper Calidris himantopus 3 in flooded area with SBDO, SP (CC).
Laughing Gull Leucophaeus atricilla, coastal areas, ubiq..
Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica 10 LS.
Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia 5 LS.
Royal Tern Thalasseus maxima 15 LS, 2 SP (CC).
Rock Dove Columba livia , common in and around towns, ubiq..
White-crowned Pigeon Columba leucocephala 1 ZS
Plain Pigeon Columba inornata 1 ZS; 1 CC.
Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto in and around towns, ubiq..
Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura 1-3, ubiq.
Zenaida Dove Zenaida aurita 2 Camaguey; 2 CC.
Common Ground Dove Columbina passerina, 2-3, in and around towns, ubiq..
Grey-fronted quail-dove Geotrygon caniceps caniceps, RE; SOP (Z).
Key West quail-dove Geotrygon chrysia 2 on ground at watering station, edge of forest, CF (CC).
Blue-headed quail- dove Starnoenas cyanocephala 10 CE (Z) (photo).
Cuban Parakeet Psittacara euops 10 noisy, itinerant flocks JBN; PL (Z)
Cuban amazon Amazona leucocephala leucocephala RE; 2 pastureland fruiting trees, CE (Z) (photo).
Mangrove Cuckoo Coccyzus minor 1 fairly secretive in roadside coastal scrub, CLH (CR) (photo).
Great Lizard Cuckoo Saurothera merlini merlini RE 3 active in shady understory of woodland edge, ME (Z) (photo)
Smooth-billed Ani Crotophaga ani 30 in pastureland and second growth around suburbs, ubiq..
Bare-legged Owl Margarobyas lawrencii 1 concealed in a known royal palm tree cavity about 15 ft. agl near edge of woodland and pasture; emerged partially from cavity when the tree was tapped with a stick on two consecutive days, afternoon and morning, ME (Z) (photos).
Cuban Pygmy Owl Glaucidium siju 1 1 on a branch in subcanopy, ME (Z); 1 perched on an exposed branch, roadside scrub bordering pastureland, SN (photo)
Sygian Owl Asio stygius suguapa RE 1 found at night in a tall deciduous tree bordering the resort, PL.
Cuban Nighthjar Antrostomus cubanensis 1 found at night in a large deciduous tree at the edge of the resort, PL (photo).
Antillean Palm Swift Tachornis phoenicobia tradii RE 5 circling palms and tall buildings at edge of Malecon, LH.
Cuban Emerald Chlorostilbon ricordii ricordii RE gardens, farms, second-growth, ubiq.. (photo – see Introduction)
Bee Hummingbird Archilochus colubris 2 m,f visiting and defending garden feeders at a private residence, Z (photo)
Cuban Trogon Priotelus temnurus 1 m moving around slowly in the shady subcanopy of coastal scrub forest near a large cenote, CE (Z) (photo).
Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon 5 in small numbers (1-2), wetlands, ubiq…
Cuban Tody Todus multicolor 3 vocal; active in subcanopy and lower levels of coastal scrub forest, ME; CC (photo).
West Indian Woodpecker Melanerpes superciliaris superciliaris RE widespread and fairly common (2 -3) in wooded areas and gardens (photo).
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius 1 (m) JBN.
Cuban Green Woodpecker Xiphidiopicus percussus 1 JBN (photo); 1 ME (Z).
Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus chrysocaulosus RE 1, wooded areas, ubiq..
Fernadina’s Flicker Colaptes fernandinae 2 a pair visiting upper stems of topless royal palms, RA (Z) (photo).
Cuban Pewee Contopus sp. RE gardens, fields, suburbs; ubiq. (photo).
La Sagra’s Flycatcher Myiarchus sagrae 1 pine woodland, VIN; 1 in canopy and subcanopy on exposed linbs of coastal forest CC (photo).
Giant Kingbird Tyrannus cubensis 1 attracted to playback recording of its vocalizations; PA (Z) (photo).
Cuban Martin Progne cryptoleuca 1 circling high above the resort; presumably a returning migrant from an unknown wintering area outside of Cuba, PR (CC).
Zapata Wren Ferminia cerverai 1 color leg-banded; responded to recorded playback of its vocalizations, yet remained concealed in shrubs, ST (Z) (photo).
Gray Catbird Dumatella carolinesis in brushy and wooded areas; uncommon, ubiq..
Bahama Mockingbird Mimus gundlachii 1 silent; attracted to recorded playback of its BAMO vocalizations, coastal scrub, CC (photo). ID: relatively dark grayish coloration; spotting on breast; reduced white wing patches.
Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos vocal; common in gardens, scrub and suburbs ubiq. (photo).
Cuban Solitaire Myadestes elisabeth 1 singing from a dense tangle of limbs on cliff face next to cave opening, CP (photo).
Red-legged Thrush Turdus plumbeus rubripes RE in gardens and shady suburbs, ubiq. (photo – see Introduction).
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea 1 vocal; foraging in subcanopy of mesquite-like trees, JBN.
Cuban Gnatcatcher Polioptila lembeyi 1 staying fairly well concealed in dense coastal shrubs, CLH (CR) (photo).
Cuban Palm Crow Corvus minutus 6 pairs, largely silent, allopreening; active in and around a stand of roadside Royal Palms, SN (photo).
Cuban Crow Corvus nasicus 10 vocal, gregarious; a strange, garbled series of variable pitched calls given between multiple individuals in a flock early AM; individuals, pairs and small flocks in trees at the resort and in local farmyards, PL (Z) (photo).
Common Myna Acridotheres tristis ? vocal flock of 3-5 individuals in late afternoon; seen in silhouette only at distance on roof top antennae, n La Habana.
White-eyed Vireo Vireo griseus 1 active in subcanopy of coastal woodland, CC.
Cuban Vireo Vireo gundlachii 1 in dense tangle of vines; mixed species flock composed mostly of N. American warblers (AMRE, YTWA), ME (Z); 1 staying low in coastal shrubs and trees, CR (photo).
Northern Parula Setophaga americana uncommon; in msf with other warblers in wooded areas; ubiq.
Magnolia Warbler Setophaga magnolia 3 in trees and shrubs, uncommon; ubiq.
Cape May Warbler Setophaga tigrina 1 subcanopy of coastal forest, CC.
Black-throated Blue Warbler Setophaga caerulescens 5 m,f fairly common in shaded gardens with fruiting trees, Z (photo).
Yellow-throated Warbler Setophaga dominica 4 widespread; often in msf with other warblers, VIN; CC
Olive-capped Warbler Setophaga pityophila 2 in pines, VIN (photo).
Prairie Warbler Setophaga discolor 2 woodland; canopy and subcanopy; uncommon, Z.
Palm Warbler Setophaga palmarum the commonest and most abundant of migrant warblers in Cuba; open fields, gardens, suburbs, shorelines, edge of woodlands (photo), ubiq..
American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla common; wooded areas; forages for insects from ground to canopy; often in msf with other warblers; ubiq..
Black & White Warbler Mniotilta varia common, wooded areas; forages on 4 in. and larger diameter of limbs; ubiq..
Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapilla widespread in shady, wooded areas; uncommon; Z, CC.
Northern Waterthrush Parkesia noveboracensis 2 uncommon; on ground, streamside and shady gardens, Z (photo).
Louisiana Waterthrush Parkesia motacilla 1 streamside (ST –Z) (photo).
Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas woodland understory and gardens; usually in moist vegetation; ubiq..
Yellow-headed Warbler Teretistris fernandinae 1 vocal; in canopy of coastal trees overhanging slough, ST–Z (photo).
Oriente Warbler Teretistris fornsi 1 coastal woodland scrub CC
Western Spindalis Spindalis zena pretrei m,f RE widespread; often paired; fairly common in scrub and woodland edge (photo).
Red-legged Honeycreeper Cyanerpes cyaneus (I) 2 in subcanopy of ornamental fruiting trees, JBN; HH.
Cuban Bullfinch Melopyrrha nigra nigra RE m,f fairly common in coastal scrub and woodland edge throughout, CP, CC (photo).
Cuban Grassquit Tiaris canorus 12 m,f vocal, gregarious at feeding station on farm along HWY 1 (photo).
Yellow-faced Grassquit Tiaris olivacea m,f gregarious, vocal; fairly common in a variety of vegetation and edge of woodland; sometimes sympatric with CUGR, ubiq. (photo).
Zapata Sparrow Torreornis inexpectata 1 in trees and in coastal swamp woodland, Z (photo); 1 on ground, CC.
Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea widespread, uncommon; pastureland, woodland edge, Z, CC.
Tawny-shouldered Blackbird Agelaius humeralis ssp. RE 4 m,f gregarious; backyard feeder and garden, Z (photo).
Eastern Meadowlark Sturnella magna hippocrepis ES 6 in a grassy field at the edge of the reserve, JBN; common along roadways through pastureland SN.
Cuban Blackbird Dives atroviolacea abundant, gregarious; in most if not all terrestrial habitats, including suburbs; ubiq. (photo see Introduction).
Greater Antillean Grackle Quiscalus niger gundlachii 5 fairly common in west coastal woodland and edge, Z.
Cuban Oriole Icterus melanopsis 1 (m) backyard feeding station, Z (photo).
House Sparrow Passer domesticus urban areas, farms, ubiq..
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