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


Dates and Costs

 

29 March – 04 April 2025

Spaces Available: This trip is full, please consider booking the 2026 tour.

Price: $3,890  / £3,201 / €3,861 per person sharing – based on 4 – 8 participants

Single Supplement: $860 / £708 / €854

 

* Please note that these currency conversions are calculated in real-time, therefore are subject to slight change. Please refer back to the base prices when making final payments.

 

05 – 12 March 2026

Price: $3,960  / £3,259 / €3,931 per person sharing – based on 4 – 8 participants

Single Supplement: $880 / £725 / €874

 


Recommended Field Guide

(Please also read our blogs about recommended field guides for the seven continents here)


Tour Details

Duration: 7 days
Group Size: 4 – 8
Tour Start: San Juan, Puerto Rico
Tour End: San Juan, Puerto Rico


Price includes:

Meals
Accommodation
Guiding fees
Entrance fees
All transport while on tour
Fuel/tolls

Price excludes:

Flights
Laundry
Items of a personal nature, e.g. gifts
Gratuities (please see our tipping guidelines blog)

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

March 2025/2026

 

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).

Puerto Rico endemic birdingThe 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.

Puerto Rico endemic birdingWe 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

Puerto Rico endemic birdingThe 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

Puerto Rico endemic birdingThe 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

Puerto Rico endemic birdingThe 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 Rico endemic birdingPuerto 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

Puerto Rico endemic birdingThe 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.

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Caribbean – Puerto Rico: Set Departure Trip Report, February 2024

23 – 29 FEBRUARY 2024

By Jacob Roalef

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We enjoyed this Puerto Rican Amazon as it ate breakfast.


Overview

This seven-day birding adventure of the “La Isla del Encanto” circled the entire island of Puerto Rico and explored many of the amazing birding and natural areas on offer. We began in San Juan and headed west across the northern shore, with dips into the interior to visit Bosque Estatal de Rio Abajo and Bosque Estatal de Cambalache, then south along the western shore and ended up in La Parguera. From here we explored the southwest portion of Puerto Rico as we visited Bosque Estatal de MaricaoCabo Rojo salt flatsLaguna Cartagena National Wildlife Refuge, and Bosque Estatal de Susua. From here we headed east across the southern coast of Puerto Rico and ended up on the southern edge of El Yunque National Forest for two nights. We explored this amazing tropical rainforest as well as some coastal habitats along Roosevelt Roads before heading back to San Jaun to conclude the trip and complete our circle of the island.

The birding was a huge success as we scored on all the endemic species as well as the other Caribbean specials. These included Puerto Rican AmazonPuerto Rican TodyPuerto Rican Lizard CuckooYellow-shouldered BlackbirdPuerto Rican TanagerWest Indian Whistling DuckPlain PigeonPuerto Rican Owl, and Elfin Woods Warbler. In addition to these special species, we enjoyed many resident, wintering, migrant, and even some established exotics that have a more widespread range, such as Smooth-billed AniPurple GallinuleWilson’s PloverMagnificent FrigatebirdGrey Kingbird, and Venezuelan Troupial.

A total of 123 bird species were seen with one more heard only, bringing our total recorded to 124 species for the trip. As is often the case with islands, very few mammals are possible, and Puerto Rico is no exception. Only one mammal species was encountered on the trip, the Small Indian Mongoose. Full bird and mammal checklists can be found at the end of the report.

Puerto Rican Woodpecker was nearly a daily occurrence for our group.


Detailed Report

 

Day 1, 23rd February 2024. Arrival and San Juan Central Park

All participants arrived on the same mid-afternoon flight and were met by Jacob at the airport, before being transferred to the hotel for check-in. After a brief rest to recover from the flight, with two hours until dinner, we headed off to San Juan Central Park for our first taste of Puerto Rican birding. This extra birding provided an excellent opportunity for some study of the more common species on the island, like Zenaida DoveRed-legged ThrushPearly-eyed Thrasher, and Bananaquit. We quickly got onto a group of Monk Parakeets in the treetops, where a single White-winged Parakeet was picked out as well. We continued our pleasant walk in the park and stacked up more species, including our first endemic, Puerto Rican Woodpecker, as well as White-crowned PigeonWhite-winged DoveMagnificent Frigatebird, and Black-faced Grassquit. We decided to stake out a nice flowering tree for  hummingbirds, this proved fruitful as a Green-throated Carib made a few brief appearances. Our lovely birding introduction was now complete, and we headed back to the hotel for dinner and proper group introductions and to discuss the trip ahead.

It was great to get familiar with Zenaida Dove at San Juan Central Park.

 

Day 2, 24th February 2024. Rio Abajo and Cambalache State Forests.

Today was an early morning to beat the traffic and get in position for our first target near sunrise, so we loaded up the vehicle and left San Juan. After a quick stop for coffee and breakfast, we pulled into the parking area of Rio Abajo just after sunrise. We unloaded from the vehicle, started up the trail, and were greeted by BananaquitScaly-naped Pigeon, and Black-whiskered Vireo. A little further up the trail we had our first encounter with the adorable Puerto Rican Tody, a species one can never get tired of seeing. All of these were great birds, however, our focus this morning was parrots, so we continued hiking up the trail. Suddenly, we all heard the loud and unmistakable calls of a group of parrots, and we quickly hurried up the trail to a section with a more open view. Several Puerto Rican Amazons flew overhead and moved back and forth along the canopy. We eventually spotted one foraging in the trees and had some excellent viewing opportunities. Huge success with this Critically Endangered species. While we watched these incredible birds, we picked up several other great species, such as Lesser Antillean PeweePuerto Rican Vireo, and Puerto Rican Emerald. It was time to say goodbye and good luck to the parrots, so we turned and birded our way back to the vehicle. On the way back we scored three more endemic species, Puerto Rican BullfinchAdelaide’s Warbler, and Puerto Rican Lizard Cuckoo,as well as the endemic subspecies of Broad-winged Hawk! A fantastic start to our trip.

Adelaide’s Warbler was seen on several days of the trip.

 

It was now late morning, so we headed back to the café to pick up some lunch for a picnic at our next destination, Cambalache State Forest. We enjoyed a quick bite to eat here and birded around the grounds, but it was a bit quiet at this time of day. Despite the lack of birds, we did score an Indigo Bunting and Mangrove Cuckoo as new species for our trip. We loaded back into the vehicle and did some birding around some local towns and little ponds in the area. This proved to be very fruitful, and we ticked loads of new species, like White-cheeked PintailLoggerhead KingbirdBronze ManakinYellow-faced GrassquitLittle Blue HeronWilson’s SnipeGlossy Ibis, and the top highlight of the area, West Indian Whistling Duck. After a great day of birding, we had a long drive ahead of us to the southwest corner of the island and our next hotel, in La Parguera.

We made one quick stop at the Guajataca Cliffs, which didn’t offer much besides a pretty view of the ocean. After arrival at our hotel, we checked in, dropped off our bags, and headed back out to Playita Rosada. Here we managed to hear several Puerto Rican Nightjars, but any visuals eluded us this evening. After one too many mosquito bites, we decided to call it a night and get some much-needed rest.

 

Day 3, 25th February 2024. Maricao State Forest and Laguna Cartagena

Today was another pre-dawn departure and we headed into town to grab some breakfast and coffee at what would become our go-to morning spot. After we filled up, we headed up the mountains to Maricao State Forest. The forest was alive with birds! We were greeted by some noisy Puerto Rican Lizard CuckoosPuerto Rican Orioles, and Pearly-eyed Thrashers. It wasn’t long before we were on the unique Puerto Rican Tanager, a monotypic family. We watched a small family of three birds chase each other around all morning. All this bird action was just around the parking area! We hiked up the hill a little until the trees opened, revealing an incredible view of Puerto Rico below. From here we spotted a Lesser Antillean Pewee, which gave some excellent views, and a pair of Puerto Rican Euphonias. Despite all this incredible bird activity, we were still missing our top target, so we headed down a trail in hopes of discovery. Another Puerto Rican Tody made a brief appearance, and several Puerto Rican Bullfinches were calling, and then suddenly along the trail was an Elfin-Woods Warbler! The bird was close but always mostly hidden in the dense vegetation. With some patience, we all managed views of this secretive endemic warbler. We hiked back to our vehicle and the rain started coming down as we closed the door. Perfect timing after a perfect morning for birds.

Puerto Rican Tanager is the sole member of its family and endemic.

 

From our mountain view we could see where it was raining, so we drove back down the mountain dodging the storms. After a quick stop to pick up food for lunch we headed out, desperate to get in as many birds as possible while not raining. We enjoyed our picnic-style lunch at a local pond that was loaded with water birds, like White-cheeked PintailLesser ScaupRuddy DuckStilt SandpiperBlack-necked Stilts, and Lesser Yellowlegs. A curious group of Smooth-billed Anis foraged in the fields behind us while we ate. Just down the road we got onto a group of the endangered and endemic, Yellow-shouldered Blackbird, another great species. We packed up and headed to our final birding stop of the evening, Laguna Cartagena. It began drizzling as we parked our vehicle, but we guessed the water birds wouldn’t mind, so we headed out. This freshwater marsh held many amazing species like Masked DuckPurple GallinuleGreen HeronSora, and some of us even saw a Yellow-breasted Crake for a split second. On our way out, we spotted a very wet Merlin, waiting for the rain to stop.

After our dinner back in town, we changed and headed out for our optional bonus excursion, a boat ride and swim in one of the bioluminescent bays. This was an incredible experience, despite the brightness of the full moon. A great way to cap off our fantastic bird sightings.

 

Day 4, 26th February 2024. Cabo Rojo salt flats

After a few long days and early starts, today we enjoyed a little extra sleep before heading off. Our first stop after breakfast was the salt flats of Cabo Rojo, where we were greeted by a pair of American Kestrels next to the observation tower, as well as a very vocal Adelaide’s Warbler in the nearby bushes. Luckily the gate to the tower was open today, so we decided to climb up and  scan from the top. Unfortunately, the tides were not very cooperative, so birds were slim at the top, nevertheless, we did manage to get our first Caribbean Elaenia for the trip. We descended the tower, grabbed some water to help with the heat, and then headed off for a short walk around the salt ponds. This proved to be much more fruitful, with a nice mixed flock,  including American Yellow and Prairie WarblersVenezuelan TroupialBananaquit, and the endemic Puerto Rican Flycatcher, a first for the trip! As we continued our walk, we approached the nearby water and picked up some water species such as Royal TernGreat Blue HeronSnowy EgretBelted Kingfisher, and both Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs. By now we were well into mid-morning, and it was getting hot down in the coastal lowlands, so we headed back to the vehicle.

From here we continued towards the coast, in hopes of some shorebirds, sadly the road was blocked due to flooding. We hopped out and scanned along the road. This produced several excellent species like Hudsonian WhimbrelClapper RailRuddy TurnstoneBlack-belliedSemipalmated, and Wilson’s Plovers, and Stilt Sandpiper. This was highly productive for our short stop in the heat. It was time to cool off, so we headed off for an hour’s drive north and picked up some lunch and tasty coffee. We enjoyed our drinks and food at the Punta Boca marina, where we watched a large group of Sandwich Terns, a distant Brown Booby and a Spotted Sandpiper as it worked along the rocky shore. We then headed back to the hotel to have a few hours’ break in the afternoon and heat of the day, before meeting again for dinner in town. After dinner, a few of us headed out to Playita Rosada again, to give the Puerto Rican Nightjar another chance. This time we managed to have great success and scored excellent views of one, while we heard several others. A great end to the day!

It was great to finally catch up with a Puerto Rican Flycatcher.

 

Day 5, 27th February 2024. Susua State Forest and coastal birding

After another tasty breakfast at our usual spot, we headed off to Susua State Forest, arriving right around opening time. Immediately upon exiting the vehicle we heard the elusive Key West Quail Dove, a top target for this area and a species that has become incredibly difficult since some recent hurricanes. Despite searching intensely for an hour and a half, we only managed to hear about five of these birds, never laying eyes on one, but it was still nice to hear so many. There were still other species to see, like Puerto Rican VireoBlack-and-white WarblerPearly-eyed Thrasher, and Scaly-naped Pigeon. From here we had a long journey across the southern edge of the island to our next lodge but, of course, we had several stops planned along the way. The rain finally caught up with us at our next location, but it didn’t stop the little Antillean Crested Hummingbird from making several appearances, which we viewed from the dry vehicle. Eventually the rain began to die down and we pressed onwards.

The remainder of the afternoon was spent making several stops along the southern coast in search of more shorebirds and other waders. We managed to find a few new trip birds, including Tricolored Heron and American Oystercatcher, as well as other nice to see species like Black-bellied PloverRuddy TurnstoneBrown BoobyRoyal Tern, and some excellent views of a Puerto Rican Woodpecker. We left the coastal areas and headed into the mountains to our lodge where we would spend the next few nights. After getting settled in, we headed back to town for a tasty dinner and to wait for darkness. Back at the lodge, we walked along the road a bit and,  before long, we heard the calls of a Puerto Rican Owl. We hung around in the area and eventually managed some stellar views of this bird, the final endemic needed for the trip! It was time to rest and fall asleep to the sounds of the Coqui Frogs.

We managed some stellar views of Puerto Rican Owl near our lodge.

 

Day 6, 28th February 2024. Roosevelt Roads and Caguas urban birding

Since we had nailed the final endemic bird last night, this morning we ate  a leisurely breakfast at our lodge,  enjoying the amazing view and birds here. While we ate and sipped coffee, we noted Loggerhead KingbirdPuerto Rican SpindalisPuerto Rican Lizard CuckooPuerto Rican Oriole, and of course, Bananaquit. After breakfast, we loaded up, headed down the mountain and back towards the coast. En route we ticked our first Scaly-breasted Munia of the trip near a river crossing, and eventually arrived at Roosevelt Roads. Our two-mile hike began with us walking through some forested and mangrove habitats, where we were treated to excellent views of Caribbean ElaeniaAdelaide’s Warbler, and Black-faced Grassquit. We had to work extremely hard before everyone managed views of the sneaky Northern Waterthrush. The brushy habitat opened to show off the expansive wetlands behind it. Here we scanned through loads of shorebirds and other wetland species for quite a while. A great variety was present, including White-cheeked PintailLittle Blue HeronYellow-crowned Night-HeronSemipalmatedLeast, and Stilt SandpipersWilletShort-billed Dowitcher, and Wilson’s Plover. Finally, after much scanning and waiting, three American Flamingos appeared along the very distant mangroves. It was getting quite hot, so we trekked back to the car.

We made a quick stop at the nearby store to get lunch, and then drove back up the mountain to enjoy our food and a short break at the lodge. As the afternoon turned into early evening, we loaded up and headed off to the town of Caguas to search for our final target of the trip. As evening approached and temperatures cooled, the bird activity picked up. We scoured the town and along the nearby river. While not finding our target, we did manage to see other nice birds, like Snowy EgretGreen Heron, and Scaly-naped Pigeon. We began losing faith in our quest, so hiked up a nearby hill to have a better view over the town below. Just as we were ready to call it quits, we turned around and boom, there it was, a Plain Pigeon perched nicely in the open! High fives were had all round, as well as some good laughs about celebrating a pigeon. We hiked back down and managed closer views, only to discover four different Plain Pigeons. It was now time for our final dinner together to celebrate a great trip and enjoy a scenic view from the mountain.

Our patience was rewarded with this awesome Plain Pigeon!

 

Day 7, 29th February 2024. El Yunque National Forest and Departure

On our final day, everyone had late afternoon flights home, so we still had a few hours to enjoy the island of enchantment. We started with another leisurely breakfast and enjoyed many of the same species from the previous morning, like Puerto Rican Oriole and Puerto Rican Spindalis. After some extra time to get properly packed for the airport and travel, we said goodbye to our lodge and headed back towards San Juan. Of course, we still had a few hours, so we had to make a stop at the El Yunque National Forest visitor’s center. It was a treat to learn more about the tropical rainforest here, about how recent hurricanes have impacted life here, and how quickly the forest can bounce back. We also had some close-up views of a few Puerto Rican Amazons that were part of the reintroduction and breeding program. After a proper exploration of the center, we hiked one of the nearby trails which showcased some of the local art and culture of Puerto Rico. On the hike we were treated to one final view of the adorable Puerto Rican Tody, a lovely farewell to what was a fantastic trip on this Caribbean island. It was then finally time to head off to the airport and say our goodbyes.

We all enjoyed seeing Puerto Rican Tody again on our final day.

 

Bird List – Following IOC (14.1)

 

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.

Common Name Scientific Name
Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl (Anatidae)
West Indian Whistling Duck Dendrocygna arborea
Muscovy Duck (Introduced) Cairina moschata
Blue-winged Teal Spatula discors
White-cheeked Pintail Anas bahamensis
Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis
Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris
Masked Duck Nomonyx dominicus
Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis
Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies (Phasianidae)
Red Junglefowl (Introduced) Gallus gallus
Hummingbirds (Trochilidae)
Puerto Rican Mango Anthracothorax aurulentus
Green Mango (Endemic) Anthracothorax viridis
Green-throated Carib Eulampis holosericeus
Puerto Rican Emerald (Endemic) Riccordia maugaeus
Antillean Crested Hummingbird Orthorhyncus cristatus
Cuckoos (Cuculidae)
Smooth-billed Ani Crotophaga ani
Mangrove Cuckoo Coccyzus minor
Puerto Rican Lizard Cuckoo (Endemic) Coccyzus vieilloti
Pigeons and Doves (Columbidae)
Rock Dove (Introduced) Columba livia
White-crowned Pigeon Patagioenas leucocephala
Scaly-naped Pigeon Patagioenas squamosa
Plain Pigeon Patagioenas inornata
Eurasian Collared Dove (Introduced) Streptopelia decaocto
African Collared Dove (Introduced) Streptopelia roseogrisea
Common Ground Dove Columbina passerina
Key West Quail-Dove (H) Geotrygon chrysia
Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura
Zenaida Dove Zenaida aurita
White-winged Dove Zenaida asiatica
Rails, Crakes & Coots (Rallidae)
Clapper Rail Rallus crepitans
Sora Porzana carolina
Common Gallinule Gallinula galeata
American Coot Fulica americana
Purple Gallinule Porphyrio martinica
Yellow-breasted Crake Laterallus flaviventer
Limpkin (Aramidae)
Limpkin Aramus guarauna
Grebes (Podicipedidae)
Least Grebe Tachybaptus dominicus
Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps
Flamingos (Phoenicopteridae)
American Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber
Oystercatchers (Haematopodidae)
American Oystercatcher Haematopus palliatus
Stilts, Avocets (Recurvirostridae)
Black-necked Stilt Himantopus mexicanus
Plovers (Charadriidae)
Grey (Black-bellied) Plover Pluvialis squatarola
Killdeer Charadrius vociferus
Semipalmated Plover Charadrius semipalmatus
Wilson’s Plover Anarhynchus wilsonia
Sandpipers, Snipes (Scolopacidae)
Hudsonian Whimbrel Numenius hudsonicus
Short-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus griseus
Wilson’s Snipe Gallinago delicata
Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius
Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria
Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes
Willet Tringa semipalmata
Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
Stilt Sandpiper Calidris himantopus
Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla
Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla
Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers (Laridae)
Cabot’s Tern Thalasseus acuflavidus
Royal Tern Thalasseus maximus
Frigatebirds (Fregatidae)
Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata magnificens
Gannets, Boobies (Sulidae)
Brown Booby Sula leucogaster
Ibises, Spoonbills (Threskiornithidae)
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
Herons, Bitterns (Ardeidae)
Yellow-crowned Night Heron Nyctanassa violacea
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea
Tricolored Heron Egretta tricolor
Snowy Egret Egretta thula
Green Heron Butorides virescens
Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
Great Egret Ardea alba
Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias
Pelicans (Pelecanidae)
Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis
New World Vultures (Cathartidae)
Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura
Ospreys (Pandionidae)
Osprey Pandion haliaetus
Hawks, Eagles, and Kites (Accipitridae)
Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus
Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis
Owls (Strigidae)
Puerto Rican Owl (Endemic) Gymnasio nudipes
Kingfishers (Alcedinidae)
Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon
Todies (Todidae)
Puerto Rican Tody (Endemic) Todus mexicanus
Woodpeckers (Picidae)
Puerto Rican Woodpecker (Endemic) Melanerpes portoricensis
Falcons and Caracaras (Falconidae)
American Kestrel Falco sparverius
Merlin Falco columbarius
African & New World Parrots (Psittacidae)
Monk Parakeet (Introduced) Myiopsitta monachus
White-winged Parakeet (Introduced) Brotogeris versicolurus
Puerto Rican Amazon (Endemic) – CR Amazona vittata
Tyrant Flycatchers, Calyptura (Tyrannidae)
Caribbean Elaenia Elaenia martinica
Lesser Antillean Pewee Contopus latirostris
Grey Kingbird Tyrannus dominicensis
Loggerhead Kingbird Tyrannus caudifasciatus
Puerto Rican Flycatcher Myiarchus antillarum
Vireos, Greenlets, Shrike-babblers (Vireonidae)
Black-whiskered Vireo Vireo altiloquus
Puerto Rican Vireo (Endemic) Vireo latimeri
Swallows, Martins (Hirundinidae)
Caribbean Martin Progne dominicensis
Cave Swallow Petrochelidon fulva
Mockingbirds, Thrashers (Mimidae)
Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos
Pearly-eyed Thrasher Margarops fuscatus
Thrushes and Allies (Turdidae)
Red-legged Thrush Turdus plumbeus
Old World Sparrows (Passeridae)
House Sparrow Passer domesticus
Waxbills, Munias & Allies (Estrildidae)
Bronze Mannikin (Introduced) Spermestes cucullata
Indian Silverbill (Introduced) Euodice malabarica
Scaly-breasted Munia (Introduced) Lonchura punctulata
Orange-cheeked Waxbill (Introduced) Estrilda melpoda
Finches, Euphonias, and Allies (Fringillidae)
Puerto Rican Euphonia (Endemic) Chlorophonia sclateri
Puerto Rican Tanager (Nesospingidae)
Puerto Rican Tanager (Endemic) – VU Nesospingus speculiferus
Spindalises (Spindalidae)
Puerto Rican Spindalis (Endemic) Spindalis portoricensis
Oropendolas, New World Orioles, Blackbirds (Icteridae)
Venezuelan Troupial (Introduced) Icterus icterus
Puerto Rican Oriole (Endemic) Icterus portoricensis
Yellow-shouldered Blackbird (Endemic) – EN Agelaius xanthomus
Shiny Cowbird Molothrus bonariensis
Greater Antillean Grackle Quiscalus niger
New World Warblers (Parulidae)
Northern Waterthrush Parkesia noveboracensis
Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia
Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas
Elfin Woods Warbler (Endemic) – EN Setophaga angelae
American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla
Northern Parula Setophaga americana
American Yellow Warbler Setophaga aestiva
Black-throated Blue Warbler Setophaga caerulescens
Prairie Warbler Setophaga discolor
Adelaide’s Warbler (Endemic) Setophaga adelaidae
Cardinals and Allies (Cardinalidae)
Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea
Tanagers & Allies (Thraupidae)
Bananaquit Coereba flaveola
Yellow-faced Grassquit Tiaris olivaceus
Puerto Rican Bullfinch (Endemic) – VU Melopyrrha portoricensis
Black-faced Grassquit Melanospiza bicolor
Total Seen 123
Total Heard 1
Total Recorded 124

 

Mammal List

 

Common Name Scientific Name
Herpestidae (Mongoose)
Small Indian Mongoose Herpestes javanicus
Total Seen 1

 

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