Birding Tour Caribbean: Puerto Rico Escape – Endemics and Island Birding

Birding Tour Caribbean: Puerto Rico Escape –
Endemics and Island Birding

March 2026/2027

Puerto Rico, the smallest and eastern-most island of the Greater Antilles, is full of beauty and amazing avian species. Surrounded by the gorgeous blues, turquoises, and greens of the warm Caribbean waters, this island features a multitude of habitats from highland forests to coastal wetlands. Puerto Rico is often overlooked when it comes to the larger islands in the Greater Antilles. However, this island has so much to offer! With 17 endemic bird species plus a host of other great Caribbean specials, Puerto Rico is a birder’s paradise. These amazing species include Puerto Rican Tody, Puerto Rican Owl, Puerto Rican Lizard Cuckoo, and Adelaide’s Warbler. Four of the endemics are currently red listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). These include Puerto Rican Nightjar (Endangered), Yellow-shouldered Blackbird (Endangered), Elfin Woods Warbler (Endangered), and Puerto Rican Amazon (Critically Endangered).

The Critically Endangered Puerto Rican Amazon is a top target for this trip.

This tour takes us on a great adventure circling the entire island of Puerto Rico. Many species are specialized in certain regions of Puerto Rico, so it is important we visit all corners and spend enough time there to target them. We will begin in San Juan in the northeast section of the island. From here we will transfer across the northern coastline and down the western edge to the more relaxed town of La Parguera, stopping at places such as Rio Abajo State Forest and Maricao Forest Reserve. We will stay here for three nights, birding this area which hosts many key species. Next, we will traverse the southern coastline into El Yunque National Forest where we will stay for the final two nights of the trip. Here we will explore the southeast and eastern reserves of the island including Humacao Nature Preserve and the small town of Fajardo. Finally, we will wrap back to San Juan for the trip’s conclusion and departure home.

We will look for the endemic Adelaide’s Warbler along with other warbler species.

We offer other great tours to the Caribbean region including Cuba, Dominican Republic, and Jamaica. All of these destinations may be combined with Puerto Rico to give a more complete exploration of the Caribbean! Please don’t hesitate to ask any questions.

Itinerary (7 days/6 nights)

Day 1. Arrival in San Juan, Puerto Rico

After arrival at San Juan International Airport (SJU), you will be transferred to the hotel where a room will be reserved in your name. Some folks may want to arrive earlier in the day and explore the town of Old San Juan, full of historic buildings and culture. Some common species are likely to be encountered more casually after arriving such as Magnificent Frigatebird, Grey Kingbird, White-winged Dove, and Bananaquit. We will gather in the lobby and head to dinner for more proper introductions and we will discuss the details of our week on the beautiful island of Puerto Rico.

Overnight: San Juan

The tiny Puerto Rican Tody is always a favorite.

Day 2. Northeast to southwest – Rio Abajo State Forest and Cambalache State Forest

We will start off early this morning leaving the San Juan area behind and begin heading across the island. Our first morning stop will be at Cambalache State Forest, a beautiful lowland forest loaded with endemic birds. A productive morning can yield up to half of the island endemics and this area is a favorite spot for Puerto Rican Bullfinch, Puerto Rican Lizard Cuckoo, Puerto Rican Spindalis, Adelaide’s Warbler, and Puerto Rican Tody. In addition to the endemics, these trails are normally full of other great species such as Bananaquit, Black-faced Grassquit, Black-whiskered Vireo, and Smooth-billed Ani, to name a few.

From here we will move onto Rio Abajo State Forest which is absolutely our best site for spotting the Critically Endangered Puerto Rican Amazon (Parrot). Access to known nesting areas is not always possible due to the strict management of these birds and recent weather conditions such as hurricanes. We should hopefully be able to see some of the fine work going on in this park, aiding the conservation of these amazing birds. After exploring these two remarkable locations, we will make it to the small town of La Parguera for the evening where we will set up for the next three nights. This area is one of the last strongholds for Yellow-shouldered Blackbird and perhaps we will come across one as we get into town.

Overnight: La Parguera

The Puerto Rican Nightjar is localized on the island.

Day 3. Maricao Forest Reserve and Laguna Cartagena

After breakfast we head off to Maricao Forest Reserve, a wet mountain-forest area. Our top target here is the Endangered and range-restricted Elfin Woods Warbler. This elusive species was only discovered in 1968 and is restricted to high humidity, high altitude forests with elfin (dwarfed) trees. The trails here are an excellent place to find this fascinating bird as well as Puerto Rican Oriole, Scaly-naped Pigeon, and Puerto Rican Flycatcher. While the warbler may be the top target of the day, we will carefully search for the unique Puerto Rican Tanager, as this is a great area for it. This species is highly desirable to many listers as this unique bird is the only member of its genus and recently has been placed into its own family, Nesospingidae.

After lunch we will move on to explore Laguna Cartagena National Wildlife Refuge, located in the southwest corner of the island. This area and the nearby rice fields are fantastic for waders (shorebirds) and waterbirds. Here we will target specials such as Masked Duck and West Indian Whistling Duck. This site can also be great for other wetland species including Smooth-billed Ani, Black-necked Stilt, Sora, Common Gallinule and Glossy Ibis, plus a host of wintering warblers and some exotic species which have become established in Puerto Rico like Orange-cheeked Waxbill and Northern Red Bishop. We will return to La Parguera for dinner, always keeping our eyes peeled for Yellow-shouldered Blackbird. After dinner we will venture out in the evening in search of Puerto Rican Nightjar, located only in this region of the island.

Overnight: La Parguera

The curious Pearly-eyed Thrasher is only found in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Day 4. Cabo Rojo and other southwest Puerto Rico birding

After breakfast we will head out to Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge, a great location for seabirds and shorebirds. The mudflats here should be teeming with wintering species such as Wilson’s and Semipalmated Plovers, Black-necked Stilt, Least Sandpiper, and Royal Tern. We will head out to the lighthouse and scan the sea in hopes of spotting a White-tailed Tropicbird or Brown Booby flying close to shore. The trees in the area should be full of other great species like Caribbean Elaenia, Puerto Rican Flycatcher, Grey Kingbird, and the established exotic Venezuelan Troupial.

The afternoon will be a free one with our birding dependent on how we have faired with endemics and other Caribbean species thus far. Some folks may want to enjoy an afternoon around the town of La Parguera, certainly a fine and relaxing option. Others may want to venture out to other nearby birding locations for species such as Puerto Rican Woodpecker, Puerto Rican Vireo, Pearly-eyed Thrasher, Green Mango, Puerto Rican Emerald, and Puerto Rican Spindalis or any other species we may still be lacking. After dinner gives us another chance for Puerto Rican Nightjar and Puerto Rican Owl in case of a miss or bad weather the previous night.

Overnight: La Parguera

Day 5. Southern edge of Puerto Rico to El Yunque National Forest

This morning we will enjoy our final breakfast in the southwest portion of Puerto Rico before loading up and heading east across the island with a few birding stops planned. First up will be  Aguirre State Forest, a coastal mangrove forest. Here is our first chance at spotting Antillean Crested Hummingbird plus other nice species including Mangrove Cuckoo, Prairie and Adelaide’s Warblers, and Pearly-eyed Thrasher. From here we will cut north through the center of Puerto Rico and into the mountains in search of the Near Threatened and range-restricted Plain Pigeon. We will also keep our eyes peeled for any endemics we might be missing at this point, if any, such as Green Mango and Puerto Rican Spindalis. In the afternoon, we will enjoy a relaxing walk around our lodging in El Yunque National Forest, full of scenic trails and waterfalls.

Overnight: Casa Cubuy

Puerto Rican Owl can be found near the lodge at the end of our trip.

Day 6. Humacao Nature Preserve to Fajardo

After breakfast we will head off to Humacao Nature Preserve, a great area of wetlands and flowering trees, typically loaded with birds. Here we will search for both Green-throated Carib and Antillean Crested Hummingbird which are mostly restricted to the eastern areas of the island. Unfortunately, they have become scarcer due to recent hurricanes that have swept through Puerto Rico. In addition to the hummers, we will be on the lookout for other great species including White-cheeked Pintail, Puerto Rican Flycatcher, and Mangrove Cuckoo. From here we will head to the town of Fajardo for lunch next to the ocean. Here we will continue searching for those two hummingbirds and will scan the sea for Magnificent Frigatebird and Brown Booby.

In the afternoon we will head back to El Yunque to continue birding the trails around our lodge hopefully digging up nice species including Loggerhead Kingbird (Puerto Rican subspecies), Red-legged Thrush, and Puerto Rican Tanager. The evening will provide an optional outing for Puerto Rican Owl on our final night of the tour.

Overnight: Casa Cubuy

The monotypic Puerto Rican Tanager is crucial for family listers.

Day 7. Departure from San Juan

After breakfast, and potentially some morning birding, we will load up and head back to the San Juan Airport to catch flights home. We strongly recommend flights departing after noon to allow enough time to transfer to the airport (approx. 1hr 15min drive).  This will be the final trek on what was surely an amazing week spent in the paradise of Puerto Rico!

Be sure to check out our other tours in the Caribbean region, easily combinable with this one: Dominican Republic – Complete DR Experience and Jamaica – Island Endemics in the Heart of the Caribbean.

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 occasionally need to use a different international guide from the one advertised due to tour scheduling.

Puerto Rico Escape: Endemics and Island Birding Tour Report

29 MARCH – 4 APRIL 2025

By Luis Gles

Puerto Rican Tody (photo Luis Gles).

Overview

Our set departure Puerto Rico Escape – Endemics and Island Birding tour had seven participants: Davie and Barbara from Australia, Pat, Kraig, and Lisa from Pennsylvania, and Laura and Ralph from West Virginia. The adventure began in San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico, on March 29, 2025, and ended there again on April 4, 2025. This tour focused on all the island’s endemic birds, visiting the best birding destinations in Puerto Rico, including El Yunque National Forest, Rio Abajo State Forest, Humacao Nature Preserve, and Maricao Forest Reserve.

La Isla Del Encanto, as the locals call Puerto Rico, was unforgettable. We saw and enjoyed all of the island’s endemics like Elfin Woods Warbler, Puerto Rican Amazon, Yellow-shouldered Blackbird, Puerto Rican Bullfinch, Puerto Rican Lizard Cuckoo, Puerto Rican Spindalis, Adelaide’s Warbler, and Puerto Rican Tody.We also enjoyed many Caribbean specialties like Scaly-naped and Plain Pigeons, Red-legged Thrush, the always-shyMasked Duck, Pearly-eyed Thrasher,the elegant White-tailed Tropicbird, Caribbean Elaenia,Mangrove Cuckoo, Green-throated Carib, and Antillean Crested Hummingbird. All these birds, and many more, were part of the 108 birds we encountered, of which only one was heard and not seen. The species list is at the end of this report.

Puerto Rican Amazon (photo Luis Gles).

Detailed Report

Day 1, 29^th March 2025. Arrival in San Juan

We started our tour in San Juan, where I (Luis) met five of the participants in the afternoon. Then, we fetched Ralph and Laura at the old San Juan (Zona Colonial), where they were as part of their pre-tour. We headed west to our hotel in the city of Manatí. After checking in and taking a short rest, we met at the lobby and walked to the restaurant located next to the hotel. We enjoyed a delicious meal and talked over the details of the upcoming tour.

Day 2, 30^th March 2025. Northeast to southwest – Rio Abajo State Forest and Cambalache State Forest

Leaving our hotel early, we stopped for breakfast along the road in a classic Puerto Rican bakery. With our stomachs full, we headed to Rio Abajo State Forest in search of our main target for the day, and the most endangered endemic bird of the island, the Puerto Rican Amazon. This species has been a victim of the illegal pet trade and has suffered extensive habitat loss due to hurricanes, with Rio Abajo State Forest being its last stronghold. We arrived a few minutes before sunrise to see the birds leaving their roosting areas. We began walking down the trail and soon started hearing the loud noise of parrots. However, we didn’t see any until one flew over and landed in a semi-open area, where I was able to set up the scope for everyone to enjoy views of this Critically Endangered (BirdLife International) bird.

Along with the Puerto Rican Amazon,we were able to see other endemics, such as Puerto Rican Bullfinch, Puerto Rican Woodpecker, Puerto Rican Tody, Puerto Rican Lizard Cuckoo, Puerto Rican Oriole, Puerto Rican Spindalis, Green Mango, and Puerto Rican Vireo, another bird that can be challenging to connect with. Following a fantastic first birding session, we headed out to Cambalache State Forestin search of Adelaide’s Warbler, which we found. We also added Bananaquit, Black-whiskered Vireo, Northern Parula, Cave Swallow, Grey Kingbird, Mangrove Cuckoo, and Zenaida Dove.

We then continued west along the main highway, stopping along the road for delicious Puerto Rican sandwiches for lunch. Shortly after lunch, we stopped again at one of the tallest cliffs on the island, the breeding ground for one of the most elegant seabirds in the Caribbean, White-tailed Tropicbird. We were amazed by their flights and calls. We had stunning views of this unique bird, along with its cousin, Magnificent Frigatebird, which flew by at eye level to delight all of us. The trip ahead was long, so we continued driving south, in the direction of our base for the next couple of days, a lodge in the town of Parguera in the southwest of the island.

Before arriving at our destination for the night, we stopped to look at a colony of American White and Glossy Ibises. We also saw Orange-cheeked Waxbill, Western Cattle Egret, and Common Ground Dove. We checked in at our lodge, had dinner in the center of town, and then enjoyed a good night’s rest.

Loggerhead Kingbird (photo Luis Gles).

Day 3, 31^st March 2025. Maricao Forest Reserve

We set off towards Maricao Forest Reserve, stopping off at another popular bakery in Las Lajas for a nice breakfast. A thirty-five-minute drive inland from the bakery in Las Lajas, we arrived at Maricao State Forest, which is located in the western Cordillera Central mountains in the southwest of Puerto Rico. This state forest is renowned for its elfin woods, which are rich in endemic flora and fauna, and is home to most of the island’s endemic birds. It is the best place to find the long-overlooked Elfin Woods Warbler, the main target for the morning.

We walked the first trail along the road and started noticing the expected endemics, such as Puerto Rican Lizard Cuckoo, Puerto Rican Woodpecker, and Puerto Rican Bullfinch. We also heard the song of the Black-whiskered Vireo, accompanied by the buzzing sound of Bananaquit, which was a constant accompaniment. Halfway down the trail, we heard the call of a Puerto Rican Tanager; we were really excited since this bird is in its own family, Nesospingidae. We tracked the call down and saw the bird really well. While enjoying this endemic bird, I found an occupied nest of Puerto Rican Emerald that was just behind us at that moment. As if this were not enough, nature elevated the moment with a pair of Elfin Woods Warblers. We changed our direction and headed to the main entrance. In the parking lot, we had the opportunity to study a pair of Puerto Rican Orioles that were nesting in a manga tree. Here, we also encountered other Caribbean specialties, such as the stunning and shy Pearly-eyed Thrasher, a flock of Caribbean Martins mixed with Cave Swallows, and Turkey Vultures were flying around. We also saw Puerto Rican Spindalis and Puerto Rican Tody, then headed down to the town of San Germán for lunch.

Puerto Rican Emerald (photo Luis Gles).

After lunch, we headed back to Maricao Forest Reserve to look for one more species that we had missed during the morning. We checked two new areas to cover more ground and hopefully connect with the euphonia, which still eluded us. During our search, we added new birds, including Red-tailed Hawk, White-crowned Pigeon, Green Mango, Puerto Rican Flycatcher, Red-legged Thrush, Shiny Cowbird, and Black-faced Grassquit. After a long search, we were losing hope and decided to return to the first trail we had tried early in the morning, before heading back to our lodge. Five minutes after arriving at the trail, I heard the distinctive whistle of a euphonia nearby. We ran up 150 feet and saw a female Puerto Rican Euphonia sitting conspicuously on top of an oak tree. What a relief after all the hard work! After enjoying this beautiful songbird, we returned to our lodge to rest before dinner and our owling scheduled for the evening.

On our way to the plaza where the restaurants are located, we enjoyed spotting some new birds, including Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, Clapper Rail, Osprey, and Brown Pelican. While enjoying drinks on the rooftop of the plaza, we saw flocks of the endangered and endemic Yellow-shouldered Blackbird flying to roost over the mangrove islands around La Parguera. After the avian sunset show, we had dinner and headed out for a short nighttime activity, where we added the endemic Puerto Rican Nightjar to conclude our third day in Puerto Rico.

Day 4, 1st April 2025. Birding Laguna Cartagena, Cabo Rojo, and other southwest Puerto Rico birding

We left our lodge early for another good breakfast at the bakery in Las Lajas, on our way to Laguna Cartagena. Here, we added some introduced old-world species, like Bronze Mannikin, African Collared Dove, and House Sparrow, and Venezuelan Troupial, introduced from South America. We also added migratory birds like Blue-winged Teal, Northern Parula, Prairie Warbler, and Belted Kingfisher. The highlights of the morning were Mangrove Cuckoo, Smooth-billed Ani, and Yellow-breasted Crake.

When we finished birding at the lagoon, we headed out to the southwest corner of the island to Cabo Rojo for lunch. On the way, we stopped for White-cheeked Pintail, Least Grebe, and Black-necked Stilt. We ate lunch with a view of the ocean, watching Brown Booby and Royal and Sandwich Terns flying offshore. We noticed a smaller booby and were surprised to find it was a dark morph Red-footed Booby!

After lunch, we walked along the warm trails of the Cabo Rojo. Here we enjoyed a large number of shorebirds, including Wilson’s and Snowy Plover, Hudsonian Whimbrel, Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs, and Stilt, Least, and Semipalmated Sandpipers. To conclude our excellent birding day, we had good views of Caribbean Elaenia, and we found the endemic Turk’s Head Cactus for David. We returned to our lodge, had an early dinner in town, and then went to bed.

Day 5, 2^nd April 2025, Bosque Estatal de Susúa, and the southern edge of Puerto Rico in the direction of El Yunque National Forest

Following our tradition of early departure, we once again visited the bakery at Las Lajas before immersing ourselves in the beautiful forest of Bosque Estatal de Susúa. This state forest provided good views of White-winged Parakeet, Zenaida Dove, American Kestrel, Loggerhead Kingbird, and Puerto Rican Vireo. Pearly-eyed Thrasher was abundant. We saw boreal migrants, including Black-and-white Warbler, American Redstart, and the best view of the trip of the endemic Adelaide’s Warbler. We constantly heard the deep calls of Key West and Ruddy Quail-Dove, but didn’t see them well. With limited time remaining, we headed west and north to El Yunque National Forest and our last lodge of the trip, for the next two nights.

On our way to El Yunque, we had lunch at a classic Puerto Rican place in the south-central part of the island. Not far from there, we saw one of the most beautiful birds of the Caribbean, the Antillean Crested Hummingbird! After seeing this exquisite bird, we continued along the coast and then up into the hills in the northwest of the island until we arrived at our unique lodge, located almost at the top of the national forest.

After checking in, we relaxed and enjoyed some birding around the property and in the forest before dinner. After the meal, we checked the parking lot for the Puerto Rican Owl that was calling. The owl was our last Puerto Rican endemic; unfortunately, not all of us were able to see it well.

Day 6, 3^rd April 2025. Birding Humacao Nature Preserve to Fajardo

Some of the participants who missed the owl the night before woke up earlier today. Hearing the calls of multiple Puerto Rican Owls, we stepped outside and looked for them until, finally, we spotted two of them for all of us to enjoy. We had achieved the primary purpose of this tour! We enjoyed a delicious breakfast at the lodge and prepared for departure. We visited a popular birding spot along the coast, theHumacao Nature Preserve. This preserve is renowned for its well-preserved mangrove forest, stunning beaches, and easy-to-follow trails. Since we had all the endemic species of the island, we focused on regional specialties, such as the Green-throated Carib, a hummingbird species associated with the Lesser Antilles, which is found only in the western part of Puerto Rico. Unfortunately, the weather was against us, and the wind was extreme, so it took more time than expected to find the hummingbird. After three hours, and with time running out before lunch, we miraculously found the bird in the front corner of the preserve. The Green-throated Carib was hiding from the strong winds and making short flights. We set the scope up and waited until all of us had seen the bird.

Plain Pigeon (photo Luis Gles).

We left the park to have lunch in the town of Humacao, on our way to the lodge. After lunch, we relaxed at the property. Some of us watched the feeding flocks of Puerto Rican Spindalis and Puerto Rican Tanager passing by, and Loggerhead Kingbirds nesting in the palm in front of the dining room.

Following a well-deserved rest, we headed southwest along the hillside in search of another Caribbean specialty. We drove for over 40 minutes to the small town of Caguas. After a further 20 minutes of walking and moving around the San Lorenzo River, we found our last target for the trip, the gorgeous and elegant Plain Pigeon, sitting in perfect light. The bird was extremely cooperative, and we all had excellent views through the scope. To conclude this fantastic day, and the whole trip, we headed to a Spanish restaurant and had a feast to celebrate. We returned to the lodge after dinner to prepare for the departure day.

Day 7, 4^th April 2025. El Yunque and departure from San Juan

Our final morning was a little rushed due to some flight complications, and we had to depart earlier than expected. Nevertheless, we had another great breakfast at the property, and then set off on the 90-minute drive to San Juan International Airport. After dropping off the first part of the group at the airport, the rest of the group went on a short visit to the north side of El Yunque National Forest, where we walked along some trails and browsed for souvenirs at the visitor center. Here in the middle of nature, we had our last lunch together, before heading out to the airport and finishing another successful Birding Ecotours tour in Puerto Rico, La Isla Del Encanto.

Bird List – Following AviList (v2025)

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.