Birding Tour Dominican Republic: Complete Dominican Republic

Complete Dominican Republic
March 2027

The island of Hispaniola, and in particular the Dominican Republic, which encompasses the eastern side of the island, is host to much more than the many beach-lined resorts that dot its coastline. Combined with the country’s rich culture and steep traditions, it has some of the most exiting birding in the Caribbean.

The monotypic Palmchat should be encountered on this tour.

Being the second-largest country in the Caribbean, after Cuba, the habitat found throughout the country is diverse and varies from dry scrub to high-altitudinal forest (recalling the cloudforests of the Neotropics) to humid lowland forest, with many wetlands and marshes present in between. This results in a wealth of birdlife, and 30 species are endemic and confined to the island of Hispaniola, and all but one are readily accessible in the Dominican Republic, with only a single Hispaniolan endemic species being confined to Haiti, which makes up the rest of Hispaniola and is located on the western side of the island. Besides the 30 Hispaniolan endemics, many more species occurring here are found solely in the Greater Antilles, and yet more widespread species are only readily accessible within the Dominican Republic, making this a crucial must-visit destination for any world birder.

Hispaniolan Amazon is one of the targets on this tour.

Perhaps the island’s greatest success story on the avian side concerns the Critically Endangered (IUCN) Ridgway’s Hawk. Previously an endemic on the verge of extinction, an intensive monitoring campaign, coupled with relocations and reintroductions by the Peregrine Fund, has brought this species back from the verge of extinction, and, while the fight is still not over, much progress has been made, and this species is now more accessible than ever! Besides Ridgway’s Hawk, which is arguably one of the country’s most iconic birds, other notable species found within the Dominican Republic include the likes of White-fronted Quail-Dove, the rare Bay-breasted Cuckoo, Ashy-faced Owl, the charismatic Hispaniolan Trogon, Broad-billed and Narrow-billed Todies, Antillean Piculet, Hispaniolan Amazon, Hispaniolan Parakeet, Flat-billed Vireo, the declining Golden Swallow, Rufous-throated Solitaire, the rare and highly prized La Selle Thrush, Hispaniolan Crossbill, Antillean Euphonia, both Western and Eastern Chat-Tanagers, and the taxonomically odd Green-tailed and White-winged Warblers, along with Hispaniolan Spindalis and Hispaniolan Oriole. The national bird of the country, Palmchat, resides in a family of its own and is another true icon and one of our main targets, fortunately easily seen throughout the country.

The attractive Hispaniolan Spindalis.

Together with the excellent birds and birding available in the country the general ease of birding makes this destination a very attractive one to any world birder, whether you’re looking for all the island’s endemics or are just after some good Caribbean birding with a distinctly different feel from many of the other Caribbean nations.

Our well-designed itinerary gives you access to all the island’s endemics and other specials found in the Dominican Republic in a short yet easily-doable timeframe, taking in all the major sites and allowing you time enough to enjoy the beautiful surroundings as well.

This tour can be combined with our preceding tour Birding Tour Caribbean: Puerto Rico Escape and/or with our following tour Birding Tour Jamaica: The Best of Complete Jamaica, to give you a truly comprehensive Caribbean getaway!

Itinerary (9 days/8 nights)

Day 1. Arrival in Santo Domingo

Today is your arrival day, and you can arrive at your leisure in Santo Domingo. We will be staying in a quaint hotel in the old colonial district (Zona Colonial) of the capital.

Overnight: Hodelpa Caribe Colonial, Santo Domingo

Day 2. Birding the National Botanical Garden and transfer to Los Haïtises National Park

We will begin our day by visiting the excellent National Botanical Garden located in this sprawling city, where we will spend most of the morning. This garden will give us the perfect start to the tour, allowing us to get familiar with some of the birds and indeed families of this bird-rich Caribbean nation, along with targeting a few sought-after endemics and specialties that are best found here and can be rather tricky elsewhere. The palm trees lining the parking lot will likely give us our first bit of excitement, hosting gregarious Antillean Palm Swifts, and the country’s national bird, the monotypic Palmchat. We will then begin investigating the many paths in the garden, and foremost of those will be along the well-treed stream, where we will target the scarce West Indian Whistling Duck, a bird that is very tricky elsewhere in the country. Other species possible include Limpkin, Yellow-crowned Night and Green Herons, Snowy Egret, and Common Gallinule.

The adjacent riverine vegetation should also provide us with our first endemics, and species we will look for include the loud and boisterous Hispaniolan Lizard Cuckoo, the cute Broad-billed Tody, Hispaniolan Woodpecker, Red-legged Thrush, and Black-crowned Tanager. In some of the more open sections of the garden we will seek out Zenaida Dove, Antillean Mango, the tiny Vervain Hummingbird (the second-smallest bird in the world), the tricky Hispaniolan Parakeet, Grey Kingbird, and the ubiquitous Bananaquit. We should also encounter some overwintering wood warblers and will keep our eyes open for Ovenbird, American Redstart, and Black-and-white, Cape May, Prairie, and Palm Warblers, among others. Following a good morning’s birding and introduction to the country we will transfer to the Los Haïtises National Park on the eastern side of the country. We will arrive in the afternoon and explore the area around the vicinity of our comfortable accommodation, should time allow. This is arguably the most productive spot for the rare Ashy-faced Owl, and we will search in the evening for it.

Overnight: Paraíso Caño Hondo, Sabana de la Mar

The cute Broad-billed Tody can be seen at the National Botanical Garden.

Day 3. Birding Los Haïtises National Park and transfer to Santo Domingo

This scenic, low-lying park is home to the country’s rarest endemic, and arguably one of the world’s rarest raptors, Ridgway’s Hawk. This species was on the brink of extinction, and although the fight is not won yet, hard work by the Peregrine Fund has seen this species’ numbers start to increase in the region – which is the last stronghold for this endemic species. We will meet up with a local guide who keeps tabs on the birds and attempt to see this incredibly prized target. Our time spent birding the area is likely to produce many other species, including Limpkin, White-crowned and Plain Pigeons, Ruddy Quail-Dove, Mangrove Cuckoo, Antillean Mango, Vervain Hummingbird, Broad-billed Tody, Hispaniolan Woodpecker, Antillean Piculet, Stolid Flycatcher, Black-whiskered Vireo, White-necked Crow, Palmchat, Hispaniolan Oriole, Antillean Euphonia, Black-crowned Tanager, Greater Antillean Grackle, and a variety of wintering warblers including Northern Waterthrush, Northern Parula, and American Redstart among others. The ocean at Sabada de la Mar will be searched for Terns such as Royal, Cabot’s, and Common, along with waders such as Spotted Sandpiper among others. We will be spending most of the day in the area before transferring back to the capital, Santo Domingo, in the afternoon.

Overnight: Hodelpa Caribe Colonial, Santo Domingo

Antillean Mango is one of the many species we should encounter in Los Haïtises National Park.

Day 4. Transfer to Puerto Escondido via Salinas de Baní

We will begin the day with an early start as we undertake the long transfer to get to our rustic lodge in the foothills of the northern Sierra de Bahoruco at Puerto Escondido. Our first dedicated birding stop for the morning will be at the Salinas de Baní, which we will reach after roughly two hours. This small coastal village hosts an array of salt pans along with tidal mudflats and mangrove stands. We will spend a few hours birding this area, focusing on species such as American Flamingo (if we’re lucky!), Reddish Egret, Tricolored and Little Blue Herons, Clapper Rail, Grey, Snowy, Wilson’s, and Semipalmated Plovers, Black-necked Stilt, Least, Semipalmated, and Western Sandpipers, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Willet, Short-billed Dowitcher, Least, Royal, and Cabot’s Terns, and Mangrove Warbler. A dedicated sea watch may produce the rare Black-capped Petrel, Brown Booby, Magnificent Frigatebird, and Brown Pelican.

Following our time here we will undertake the rest of the drive to Puerto Escondido (which will likely take around four hours without stops), where we’ll arrive in the late afternoon and check into Villa Barrancolí Eco-lodge. Located in the remote western Dominican Republic, this rustic lodge is run by birder Kate Wallace and caters for birders who seek out the many endemics largely restricted to the mountains in this part of the country. Should we have time available in the late afternoon for birding we will explore the nearby Rabo de Gato trail. This trail, largely following the contour of a stream, is flanked by large riverine trees and the forested foothills of the Sierra de Bahoruco range. Many species occur along this trail, but chief among our targets will be the uncommon White-fronted Quail-Dove, which normally requires stealth and patience to see. We will also keep an eye out for Limpkin along the stream and Scaly-naped and Plain Pigeons perching on exposed snags above the canopy and search the leaf litter for the similar Key West and Ruddy Quail-Doves. Noisy flocks of Hispaniolan Amazons fly overhead, occasionally with Hispaniolan and Olive-throated Parakeets among them, and the palm-studded areas will be searched for White-necked Crow and Palmchat.

The wooded areas host the majority of birds here, and many species are possible, including Hispaniolan Lizard Cuckoo, Vervain Hummingbird, Broad-billed and Narrow-billed Todies, Hispaniolan Trogon, Hispaniolan Woodpecker, Stolid Flycatcher, the colorful Antillean Euphonia, and many wood warblers. After dark we will search for Least Poorwill. Following a long day we will settle in for a wonderful dinner before getting ready for an early start tomorrow.

Overnight: Villa Barrancolí Eco-lodge

White-fronted Quail-Dove often requires some patience to find.

Day 5. Birding Zapotén and the Sierra de Bahoruco

Today will require an early start, and we will need to be up and going at predawn, as we ascend the Sierra de Bahoruco on a very rough and slow-going track to allow us to be in the Zapotén sector, towards the top of the mountain, at dawn. This is a prime birding area and easily allows some of the finest birding in the country, with the montane forest playing host to many of the island’s sought-after endemics. Our travel up to Zapotén at predawn will give us a good chance for the difficult Hispaniolan Nightjar.

After arriving in the Zapotén sector at first light our first key species is La Selle Thrush, and we will need to keep a beady eye on the road as it forages along it in the very early morning – presenting us with our only chance for this species. We will spend the morning birding in the Zapotén sector, having a picnic breakfast, before gradually working our way back down the rough track. The forest rings with the calls of Rufous-throated Solitaire, and this skulker usually takes a bit of effort to find, while Narrow-billed Tody is normally easy to see. We will keep an eye out for Hispaniolan Emerald as it rapidly moves through the forest, while Greater Antillean Elaenia and Hispaniolan Pewee are normally more sedate. The difficult and skulking Western Chat-Tanager is another key species here, as are the rather puzzling Green-tailed and White-winged Warblers. While the former requires lots of effort to see, the latter two are normally more confiding. Other species present include Hispaniolan Trogon, Antillean Piculet, Hispaniolan Woodpecker, Stolid Flycatcher, Antillean Siskin, Bicknell’s Thrush (with some luck), Black-crowned Tanager, Hispaniolan Spindalis, Antillean Euphonia, and Greater Antillean Bullfinch.

Narrow-billed Tody — another tody we hope to find on this tour.

The pine forests are home to the scarce Hispaniolan Crossbill and Pine Warbler. As we begin descending from the Zapotén sector we will keep an eye out for the rare Golden Swallow, now sadly almost certainly extinct in Jamaica, along with Loggerhead Kingbird. There is a Northern Potoo stakeout along the road, and we are occasionally treated to day views of this bird. Lower down the road, in the foothills, the habitat changes to drier, broad-leaved forest, and here we will search for arguably the country’s most difficult endemic, Bay-breasted Cuckoo. This rare and sadly declining species is notoriously difficult to find, and we would count ourselves lucky to see it. Flat-billed Vireo also occurs in this area and is normally a bit easier to find. The agricultural lands on the outskirts of Puerto Escondido are good to search for Hispaniolan Oriole, Greater Antillean Grackle, and occasional flocks of Antillean Siskins, while they also play host to other widespread species such as Common Ground Dove, Smooth-billed Ani, Burrowing Owl, American Kestrel, Olive-throated Parakeet, Northern Mockingbird, and Yellow-faced Grassquit. Our afternoon will be spent birding locally, such as on the Rabo de Gato trail or on the outskirts of Puerto Escondido, or at leisure for those who want a break.

Overnight: Villa Barrancolí Eco-lodge

Day 6. Puerto Escondido to Pedernales via Laguna Rincón 

We have the morning available in the area to search for any outstanding targets, and similar to yesterday afternoon we may find ourselves birding along the Rabo de Gato trail or in the dry woodlands outside Puerto Escondido should we still need Bay-breasted Cuckoo. Following breakfast we will depart for our next main destination along the south Caribbean coast, with a dedicated birding stop at Laguna Rincón. This freshwater body is incredibly birdy, and we will spend some time here and undertake a boat trip, investigating primarily the marshy areas on the edge of this large waterbody. Possible waterbirds here include Pied-billed Grebe, White-cheeked Pintail, Lesser Scaup, Ruddy Duck, American Wigeon, Blue-winged Teal, and American Coot, while the marshy areas play host to many exciting species. It is here where we will try for the rare and poorly known Spotted Rail. Yellow-breasted Crake, an equally rare and poorly known bird, has also been found here, and we will be on the lookout for this bird as well. Sora, Purple Gallinule, and various egrets and herons, including Least Bittern, also occur here. In the late afternoon we will transfer to our comfortable hotel near the Haitian border and enjoy the sunset over the coastline.

Overnight: Vista de las Águilas, Pedernales

Sora is one of the waterbirds we hope to find at Laguna Rincón.

Day 7. Birding the Alcoa Road and Cabo Rojo

The Alcoa Road along with Cabo Rojo are our two primary birding stops today, and we will spend the day exploring these two areas. The Alcoa Road will see us birding a variety of habitats ranging from dry shrublands to pine forests to some montane forest higher up. This is a great site for Hispaniolan Palm Crow, which, together with Golden Swallow and Hispaniolan Crossbill, form our primary targets for the area. A variety of other species occur here, and we will be on the lookout for Plain, Scaly-naped, and White-crowned Pigeons, Hispaniolan Parakeet, Hispaniolan Amazon, Burrowing Owl, Hispaniolan Trogon, Broad-billed Tody, Hispaniolan Pewee, and Green-tailed Warbler, among others.

We will then transfer to the coast at Cabo Rojo, where we will enjoy our lunch on the beach before setting out birding the surrounding area. Open bodies of water will be searched for various ducks, such as Northern Shoveler, Blue-winged Teal, and American Wigeon, along with American Flamingo, American White Ibis, Roseate Spoonbill, various herons and egrets including Great, Reddish, and Snowy Egrets, Tricolored Heron, Western Osprey, American Coot, and Belted Kingfisher. In the shallower reaches we will search for a variety of waders, including Black-necked Stilt, Grey Plover, Short-billed Dowitcher, Stilt Sandpiper, and Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs, along with the secretive Sora. Numbers of Brown Pelicans and Magnificent Frigatebirds frequent the ocean, and we will also search here for the prized White-tailed Tropicbird, Brown Booby, and Royal Tern, while an eye skyward should hopefully reveal Caribbean Martin and Cave Swallow. Sea-watching in the afternoon might produce Audubon’s Shearwater and, if we’re lucky, Black-capped Petrel. We can try for the rare Ashy-faced Owl after dark near our lodge.

Overnight: Hotel El Quemaito, Juan Esteban

Hispaniolan Parakeet is another parrot species we hope to find.

Day 8. Birding Cachote and transfer to Santo Domingo

We will have an exciting morning in store for us, as we transfer into the far eastern hills of the Sierra de Bahoruco, birding in the montane forests and thickets near Cachote, a stunning protected cloud forest area not too far from where we’re staying. This will be our only attempt at Eastern Chat-Tanager on the tour, which forms our primary target. Like its cousin, Western Chat-Tanager, this is an equally shy and difficult-to-see species, despite being reasonably common in the area. We will also have our last attempt for other highland species such as Hispaniolan Emerald, Hispaniolan Trogon, Narrow-billed Tody, Rufous-throated Solitaire, Green-tailed and White-winged Warblers, the rare Bicknell’s Thrush, and Hispaniolan Spindalis. Following our morning in the hills we will transfer back to the coastline and to the capital, Santo Domingo, where we’ll arrive in the afternoon. We might be able to include some birding stops on the way, depending on time and if any target species still remain unseen. We will settle in for our final dinner together in the historic colonial district.

Overnight: Hodelpa Caribe Colonial, Santo Domingo

The taxonomically odd Green-tailed Warbler.

Day 9. Departure from Santo Domingo

Following a spectacular tour, encompassing all the key birding sites of the country and targeting all the possible specials, which with a bit of luck we will have seen, this tour will conclude in the morning, when you’ll fly back home or continue with us on our Jamaica tour.

Please note that the itinerary cannot be guaranteed as it is only a rough guide and can be changed (usually slightly) due to factors such as availability of accommodation, updated information on the state of accommodation, roads, or birding sites, the discretion of the guides and other factors. In addition, we sometimes have to use a different international guide from the one advertised due to tour scheduling.

Dominican Republic Trip Report

13 – 21 MARCH 2025

By Luis Gles

Palmchat, the national bird of the Dominican Republic.

Overview

This scheduled group tour turned into a private journey for our beloved Australian guests, Davie and Barbara. The adventure began in Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, on 13 March 2025 and concluded there on 21 March 2025. The itinerary was designed to highlight the island’s premier birding destinations, including the National Botanical Garden, Los Haitises National Park, Barahona, Cachote, Sierra de Bahoruco, Cabo Rojo, and Bahía de las Águilas – where Davie was thrilled to encounter the endemic Lemaire’s Turk’s Cap Cactus to enrich his cactus list.

Throughout our time in the Dominican Republic, we had unforgettable encounters with all the island’s endemics and many endangered bird species, such as Palmchat, the national bird, the Critically Endangered (BirdLife International) Ridgway’s Hawk, the declining Golden Swallow, Rufous-throated Solitaire, Ashy-faced Owl, White-fronted Quail-Dove, Bay-breasted Cuckoo, Hispaniolan Trogon, Broad-billed and Narrow-billed Tody, Antillean Piculet, Hispaniolan Amazon, Hispaniolan Parakeet, Flat-billed Vireo, the always shy La Selle Thrush, Hispaniolan Crossbill, Antillean Euphonia, Western and Eastern Chat-Tanager, Green-tailed and White-winged Warbler, along with Hispaniolan Spindalis and Hispaniolan Oriole, for a total species list of 135, of which three were heard only and not seen. A full bird species list is at the end of this report.

Lemaire’s Turk’s Cap Cactus.

Detailed Report

Day 1, 13^th March 2025. Santo Domingo

After arriving in the folkloric Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, we met in the lobby of our hotel in the old colonial district (Zona Colonial). We decided to enjoy a short walk in the colonial district to a restaurant for dinner at Plaza Colon. Over our meal, we reviewed the trip itinerary, birding targets, and logistics for the days ahead. Spirits were high and the excitement for the adventure was noticeable.

Day 2, 14^th March 2025. Birding the National Botanical Garden and transfer to Sabana de La Mar

Departing early from our hotel after a delicious typical Dominican breakfast, we headed to the National Botanical Gardens for our first birding of the tour. Before getting inside the place, we spotted our first groups of Palmchat and Antillean Palm Swift, followed by a noisy group of Hispaniolan Parakeets. Hispaniolan Woodpeckers were also present in good numbers. Hispaniolan Mango and the gorgeous Vervain Hummingbird, the second-smallest bird in the world, were some of the birds we had in the first 30 minutes of birding. As we continued walking through the park, we added more birds like Common Ground Dove, Mourning Dove, and Hispaniolan Lizard Cuckoo,which gave us great views. In the far section of the gardens, we found one of the main targets for the morning, West Indian Whistling Duck.

Hispaniolan Woodpecker was seen at several locations on this tour.

After a good morning of birding as our introduction to the country, we started our journey to Sabana de la Mar in the northeast of the island, to spend the night in comfortable accommodation in town. Along the road, we stopped for lunch in a popular restaurant, with an Antillean Palm Swift colony in the roof. The drive took almost all afternoon, and by the time we arrived at Sabana de la Mar it was almost sunset, so we checked in, had dinner, checked the bird list, and rested for the night.

Day 3, 15^th March 2025. Birding Los Haitises National Park and transfer to Santo Domingo

Following a great, early, breakfast we met up with Juan, who has been working with the Peregrine Foundation for the past 35 years and remains involved in everything related to Ridgway’s Hawk. We drove for over 30 minutes to the entrance of the Los Haitises National Park, where we started hiking with Juan, who took us to an opening inside the national park, where we waited for more than 45 minutes. Juan started walking uphill inside the forest, and told us to be aware. In the meantime, Plain Pigeon, Stolid Flycatcher, and the vocal White-necked Crow were our entertainment, until a beautiful Ridgway’s Hawk decided to rise up to the sky and started soaring in a mixed flock of Turkey Vultures, followed by a Peregrine Falcon that crossed the sky. In the distance, we heard Juan whistling and screaming in Spanish “EL GAVILAN! EL GAVILAN!” (meaning “Hawk! Hawk!”) What an exciting moment! We enjoyed this endangered species for a couple of minutes, before it flew over the hill and we lost sight of it. Los Haitises National Park is the stronghold of this endangered raptor, where it is safe thanks to the hard work of the Peregrine Foundation in the Dominican Republic.

We continued birding around the park and connected with more birds, like the adorable Broad-billed Tody, Hispaniolan Mango, Greater Antillean Bullfinch, Vervain Hummingbird, Hispaniolan Woodpecker, Antillean Piculet, Black-whiskered Vireo, Palmchat, Black-crowned Palm-tanager, Greater Antillean Grackle, and Mangrove Cuckoo. A few North American warblers were present, including Northern and Louisiana Waterthrushes, and Northern Parula. Western Cattle Egret, Great Egret, and Limpkin were also in the pastures of the park. We finished birding Los Haitises National Park and, on the way to town for lunch at the hotel, we enjoyed some shorebirds and terns at the pier of Sabana de la Mar. After a delicious lunch, we drove back to the colonial zone of Santo Domingo for dinner and another night in the heart of the city.

Day 4, 16^th March 2025. Birding las Salinas on our way to Pedernales

After an early breakfast, we left Santo Domingo and started the longest drive of the tour, to the south of the island. En route, we stopped in Salinas Bani, a popular birding spot, where we had views of the Caribbean subspecies of Clapper Rail and American Yellow Warbler singing. The diversity of shorebirds was great, we had Grey Plover, Killdeer, Semipalmated Plover, Spotted Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs, Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling, Least and Semipalmated Sandpiper, stunning Snowy Plover and Stilt Sandpiper (Davie’s favorite bird for that morning), along with a group of White-cheeked Pintails, and five American Flamingos spotted by our driver, David, while we were leaving the park.

We travelled south and stopped for food, birding along the way, adding birds like Smooth-billed Ani, Red-tailed Hawk, Grey Kingbird, Northern Mockingbird, Magnificent Frigatebird, Osprey, Laughing Gull, and the introduced Village Weaver. We arrived at Pedernales, a city on the southern border with Haiti, right in time for dinner. We checked the bird list for the day and then rested for the night.

Day 5, 17^th March 2025. Birding the Alcoa Road and Cabo Rojo

Another early start and, with a packed breakfast, we departed our hotel at 5 am in the direction of the southern slope of Sierra de Bahoruco. In this area, we encountered two Hispaniolan Nightjars before sunrise, along with the distant calls of Stygian Owl. We continued ascending the mountains to La Charca, a great birding spot, where we watched a show between a group of Hispaniolan Palm Crows and a young Merlin interacting with each other. While observing these birds, a Golden Swallow flew in and circled above the trail, giving really good views.Walking down the trail we found more birds, including the flashy Red-legged Thrush, Rufous-throated Solitaire, Greater Antillean Elaenia, Hispaniolan Pewee, Hispaniolan Amazon, Hispaniolan Parakeet, Hispaniolan Emerald, Hispaniolan Mango, Scaly-naped Pigeon, Red-tailed Hawk, and Antillean Palm Swift. North American migrants were also present, including Yellow-rumped Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Palm Warbler, American Redstart, and Northern Parula. It was a great morning, but we were still missing the Endangered (BirdLife International) Hispaniolan Crossbill.

Hispaniolan Crossbill was seen at Sierra de Bahoruco.

Miraculously, we noticed a small passerine drop into a dry pine tree and, to my surprise, the small passerine was an Antillean Siskin that had landed right next to a preening Hispaniolan Crossbill! This allowed us to get closer for immaculate scope views of this elusive finch, and one of our main targets for the tour. Elated with the victory of seeing the crossbill, as well as other Hispaniolan endemics and some regional specialties, we began descending the mountain.

As we descended, we spotted a beautiful Catesby’s Pointed Snake, a species of snake endemic to the island. While trying to get better views of the snake, a Greater Antillean Bullfinch started calling nearby. We abandoned the snake and tracked the call until we saw a male with a female sitting nearby. The stop also produced great views of Antillean Piculet, a perfect visual appetizer to prepare us for lunch!

We ate lunch at the Bahia de las Aguilas and, after a delicious meal, we enjoyed some birding along the coast. With the help of our driver, we found the Lemaire’s Turk’s Cap Cactus, a cactus species high on Davie’s list. After this great encounter, we inspected the cliffs from closer and were lucky to see White-tailed Tropicbirds flying over the ocean and interacting with Magnificent Frigatebirds.

We continued towards our next lodge, and at Cabo Rojo, we checked the wetlands along the road and added some waders to our trip list, including two Lesser Yellowlegs, one Short-billed Dowitcher, over a dozen Least Sandpipers, and a large flock of Stilt Sandpipers. There were American White Ibis, Tricolored Heron, and Reddish Egret foraging. A Northern Shoveler, with two White-cheeked Pintails, was hiding in some grass.

Just over an hour later, we arrived at El Quemaito, our lodge for the night, where we had dinner.

Day 6, 18^th March 2025. Birding Cachote and transfer to Duvergel

We left the hotel very early, way before sunrise, with a packed breakfast. Ascending to Cachote, another well-known area in the Sierra De Bahoruco, this area is known for its moister forest and a great diversity of plants. Our first target of the day was Ashy-faced Owl, which we tried for multiple times without success until, just before sunrise, a pair of owls responded to the playback but did not show up for a visual. We continued our drive to the top of Cachote, where the park ranger Ramon was waiting for us. Ramon has worked in this region for a long time, helping with the conservation of the area and the birds that live here. During his time here, Ramon has been able to attract White-fronted Quail-Dove – an incredibly elusive bird that is known to be one of the hardest birds to find in the Dominican Republic and the whole of the Caribbean – to a feeder. At the feeder, we were lucky to see a Ruddy Quail-Dove, giving great views of this difficult bird. While we enjoyed the quail-dove, an Eastern Chat-Tanager began calling a little behind us. The birds crossed the trail and continued foraging close to us, allowing a great study of another shy and endemic bird. Apart from the feeder area, we enjoyed good views of the resident Sharp-shinned and Red-tailed Hawks. We also encountered the second tody species that calls Hispaniola home, the Narrow-billed Tody, which was at first difficult to see well, but we then had great views.

Hispaniolan Pewee, Rufous-throated Solitaire, and Hispaniolan Spindalis were seen along the trail, as well as North American migrants, including Yellow-rumped Warbler and Black-throated Green Warbler. Without a doubt, the bird of the morning was the Hispaniolan Euphonia, which showed up after Ramon pointed out the tree that it likes. In the same tree, we saw Black-whiskered Vireo, Plain Pigeon, and Hispaniolan Emerald, which we also saw well where we had parked the car.

We enjoyed excellent views of the attractive Hispaniolan Spindalis.

We departed for Barahona for lunch, eating popular sandwiches in this busy city, which used to be the capital city of the Dominican Republic. At lunch, we were joined by our local guide, Efrain, who was to be our driver. After lunch, we said goodbye to David and continued our tour with Efrain, who stayed with us for the rest of the trip. We set off to the small town of Duverge, close to the border with Haiti, but this time on the northern side of the Sierra de Bahoruco, where we were to spend two nights. We checked in at the lodge and headed for a little birding before dinner.

Birding the Puerto Escondido area, including the well-known Rabo de Gato trail, we had some trouble finding Flat-billed Vireo. We eventually had great views, sitting for about ten seconds in the open – a lot for this bird, which usually hides deep in dense bushes. We had a large flock of Antillean Siskins bouncing in the agricultural fields. Hispaniolan Amazons and White-necked Crows were present in good numbers, and the noise of Hispaniolan Woodpeckers was all over. The afternoon birding had been great, and night was approaching, but we didn’t want to stop birding until we got the oriole. Hurrying against the darkness, and while tracking a Green-tailed Warbler, we stumbled onto a really cooperative pair of Hispaniolan Orioles, giving extreme happiness. We enjoyed the bird for some time before heading back to town for dinner and to prepare for our big day going to Zapotén!

Day 7, 19^th March 2025. Birding Zapotén and Rabo De Gato

We started at 3:45 am, and drove to Puerto Escondido, where we met Rafael, the most experienced local guide in this montane range and our driver for the day. We started driving to the top, to arrive at the Zapotén area in the Sierra de Bahoruco before sunrise. The drive up the mountain was incredibly rough – this road is in a dry river bed that flows only during the rainy season. While driving up, we stopped to investigate an area where an Ashy-faced Owl was reported a few days ago. As soon as we stopped, we heard screech calls and looked for the owl, which turned out to be an American Barn Owl. We continued up for another 45 minutes, parked the car, ate breakfast, and then started our best birding day of the tour. We began by looking for our main and hardest target, the La Selle Thrush.We heard it multiple times before Rafael finally spotted an individual perching, exposing itself while singing. We enjoyed great views, followed by the beautiful song of Rufous-throated Solitaire,which also provided good views.Then we saw our first White-winged Warbler of the tour! The morning got even better when a mixed flock with Pine Warblers, Green-tailed Warblers, and a Hispaniolan Spindalis passed by. While happily enjoying this good set of birds, a male Hispaniolan Trogon interrupted, followed by its mate, truly jaw-dropping! The list of birds we had before noon was amazing, with Hispaniolan Pewee, Greater Antillean Elaenia, Narrow-billed Tody, the elusive Western Chat-Tanager, Golden Swallow, Red-legged Thrush, Antillean Siskin, Black-crowned Palm-tanager, Bananaquit, Greater Antillean Bullfinch, and Narrow-billed Tody, which was quite common in the high elevation. It was a good morning, but we still had to find one of the most elusive birds in the whole of the Caribbean, the Endangered (BirdLife International) Bay-breasted Cuckoo. We started descending, in search of the cuckoo.

Broad-billed Tody was one of two tody species seen on this tour.

Migratory birds were also present in Zapotén, with American Redstart, Cape May Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Northern Parula, Black-and-white Warbler, and Ovenbird and Palm Warbler. On the way down, we enjoyed views of Loggerhead Kingbird and many Stolid Flycatchers and Grey Kingbirds, but no cuckoo.We were thinking that our luck had run out, when Efrain, who was ahead of the group, spotted a Bay-breasted Cuckoo sitting quietly. It didn’t give us good views, but we were nevertheless satisfied, given the effort we had put into it.

We returned to our lodge to rest in the afternoon, in preparation for some evening adventures. After a good rest, we headed up to Puerto Escondido in search of Least Poorwill. We arrived at the known location where Efrain always has luck with this bird. While waiting, flocks of Hispaniolan Parakeets started flying over us in the direction of the top of the hills. Scaly-naped Pigeons and Plain Pigeons were also looking for roosts. Key West Quail-Dove started singing, so I decided to track the call when, to our surprise, a Bay-breasted Cuckoo showed up. We all enjoyed much better views than what we had experienced earlier! Very happy, we all sat down patiently until darkness arrived, and with it the song of Least Poorwill, but unfortunately, we couldn’t see it. We departed for dinner, with a heard-only experience of this crepuscular creature, and went to bed.

Day 8, 20^th March 2025. Duverge to Santo Domingo

We had an easy morning, visiting a restaurant in town for a great Dominican breakfast, before heading out to Lake Enriquillo, the largest lake in the Dominican Republic (and the entire Caribbean). It is in the southwestern region of the country and is on the border with Haiti. Lake Enriquillo is known for its high salt levels and provides good habitat for migratory birds, and is also the best place to see the endemic Hispaniolan Ground Iguana. We checked the west shoreline, which added some birds to our list, such as Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs, Killdeer, Grey Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Least Sandpiper, Caspian Tern, and Burrowing Owl. It holds a good population of Caribbean Martins and Hispaniolan Palm Crows, and other birds seen here included Common Ground Dove, Zenaida Dove, White-winged Dove, Smooth-billed Ani, Grey Kingbird, Stolid Flycatcher, Black-whiskered Vireo, and Black-crowned Palm-tanager. After enjoying the birding along the lake, and the views of the iguana, we departed for Barahona, where we stopped for lunch at the best sandwich spot on the island – we had to have seconds of these!

We rushed our lunch because we had four hours of driving ahead of us, but before leaving Barahona, we decided to check the harbor for a two-month-old record of a Sabine’s Gull, the first ever seen on the island. To our surprise, the bird was still present along with a Ring-billed Gull, both of them lifers for our local guide Efrain. We enjoyed the bird for some time before starting our long journey back to Santo Domingo. We had dinner in the colonial zone after checking into our hotel for our last night in the Dominican Republic.

Day 9, 21^st March 2025. Departure from Santo Domingo

Our final morning was relaxing, and we prepared for the flight to Florida, USA, with a delicious breakfast in our hotel and the sounds of Hispaniolan Parakeets. This was the end of a great tour, with Barbara and Davie finding not only all the endemic birds of the Dominican Republic, but also enjoying the natural history of this enchanting island, from the beauty of its Melocactus to the unique lizards and landscapes. We truly enjoyed this successful Birding Ecotours tour in the Dominican Republic.

Bird List – Following IOC

Birds ‘heard only’ are marked with (H) after the common name, all other species were seen.

The following notation after species names is used to show conservation status following BirdLife International: CE = Critically Endangered, EN = Endangered, VU = Vulnerable, NT = Near Threatened.

This is a sample trip report. Please email us ([email protected]) for more trip reports from this destination.