Cuba Birding Tours
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Along with Jamaica and the Dominican Republic, Cuba is one of the most important birdwatching destinations in the Caribbean. It is one of the countries richest in diversity and endemism in the Greater Antilles. Of a total country list of 393 species 28 are endemic to the island and 32 are threatened species. With one monotypic endemic family, the recently split Oriente Warbler, and the smallest bird in the world, the Bee Hummingbird, Cuba is an obligatory destination for world birders.
Cuba is a land of contrast and history, where the paradise beach resorts are juxtaposed with the downtown of Havana city and where numerous old, bright, colorful American cars and colonial buildings from 16th century such the Morro Castle provide a unique atmosphere. Although Cuba is well known for the infamous Cuban Revolution of Fidel Castro and Ernesto “Che” Guevara, it is also a collection of pictures of local women producing handmade cigars, vast sugar cane farms, the rhythms of local music like by the legendary Buena Vista Club Social Orchestra, the delicious mojito cocktail, and the hospitality of friendly Cuban people. However, few people know that the history of Cuban ornithology started 170 years ago and a series of scientific papers and books have been published since then. The birds and animals, as most island dwellers in the world, are most sensitive to extinction due to deforestation and other threats, and Cuba used to host the now-extinct Cuban Macaw and the probably extinct Bachman’s Warbler. Another noteworthy species that is likely to have disappeared from Cuba is the local subspecies of Ivory-billed Woodpecker. This large woodpecker was last seen in old-growth forest of eastern Cuba in 1987 and is now presumed extinct! Cuba is also the home of rare creatures such the Critically Endangered (IUCN) Cuban Crocodile and Cuban Hutia along with extremely rare and also Critically Endangered (IUCN) birds such as Zapata Rail and Cuban Kite.
