victor emanuel nature tours cuba · victor emanuel nature tours cuba march 13-24, 2018 bee...

VictorEmanuelNatureTours

CUBA March 13-24, 2018

BeeHummingbird(Mellisugahelenae).Photo:D.Ascanio.

Leaders:David Ascanio & Kelsey Simmons. Local guides: Odey Martinez, Camilo, Orlando Ramirez,

Frank Medina, Nils Navarro andIdalmysGonzalez.

Compiled by: David Ascanio. VICTOR EMANUEL NATURE TOURS, INC.

2525 WALLINGWOOD DRIVE, SUITE 1003 AUSTIN TX 78746

WWW.VENTBIRD.COM

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SantaClaraairportwaspackedwithCubansgreetingtheirrelativeswhomhavebroughtanendlessamountofstuff,fromplasmatv´stodufflebagsloadedwithcloths,electronicsandmuchmore.Theluggagebeltattheairportarrivalsseemedmorelikeastoragehousethananinternationalairport!OnceoutofthischaoticsituationwewerealreadysearchingforCubanbirds.Yet,ourgoalwastocallsomethingrelevant,buttheubiquitousTurkeyVulturefounditswaytoshowuprightawayandwasonlyfollowedbyanothercommonandwidespreadspecies,theHouseSparrow.Thus,theseweretheveryfirstCubanbirds.But,goodspeciesstartedtoappearwithinminutesandourgreatCubanbirdingexperience

took-offwiththewidespreadandendemicCubanBlackbird,thewonderfulRed-leggedThrushandthenever-stoppingAntilleanPalm-Swiftsnestinginthethatchedroofofthehotel’sreceptiondesk.Atnight,weenjoyedencounterswithaDuskyDwarfBoa,plusseveralspidersandCubanTreeFrogseverywhere.ThefollowingdaystartedwithablastoftargetspeciesandCaribbeanspecialties.AlongwithmanyCubanBlackbirdsandRed-leggedThrush,wewererewardedwithscopeviewsoftheCubanPygmyOwlaccompaniedbyamobthatincludedCubanEmerald,theseemingly“plastic-legged”Red-leggedHoneycreeper,apairofCubanPewee(theylookedmoreworriedthanangry!),anactiveCapeMayWarbleraswellasYellow-rumpedWarblerandNorthernParula.Afterabird-activemorningwelefttowardsthenorthroad,toCayoCocoinJardinesdelReyarchipelago.

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CayoCoco,CayoParedónGrandeandCayoGuillermowerethelocationstofocusontargetspeciesrestrictedtoNECubaandsomeotherwidespreadspecies.Hereweobtainedthefirstviewofthebrightly-assembledCubanTody,plusapairofCubanGnatcatcher(scarcethisyearandprobablyduetopairsmovedawayfromtheoriginalterritorybyhurricaneIrma),thecommonandwidespreadOrienteWarbler,thewonderfulZapataSparrowandthejewelinthe

crown,thealways-secretiveBahamaMockingbird.Wealsoaddedtoourlistagoodnumberofwaterfowlincludingseveralheronsandegretsaswellasborealmigrantducksandteals.Anothergroupwellrepresentedhereweretheploversandsandpipers,gettingviewsof16speciesofit.

FromCayoCocoweheadedtoCamaguey,acitywithwonderfularchitecture.HerewedrovewesttowardsLaBelenandaddedthreatenedspeciessuchastheGiantKingbird,theCubanPalmCrowandthesecretivePlainPigeon.Oncenailedthetarget

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speciesofwesternCubawedrovesouthtoTrinidad,totheAncónandtheZapatapeninsulas.ThelatterisaRamsarsiteandthelargestprotectedareaintheCaribbean.HerewegallopedfromonelocationtoanotherandobtainedsuperbviewsofBlue-headedandGray-frontedQuail-Doves,thediminutiveandenchantingBeeHummingbird,andtheubiquitousYellow-headedWarbleraswellasthethreatenedRed-shoulderedBlackbirdandFernandina´sFlicker.

WeclosedourvisittotheZapataPeninsulawithavisittoLaTurbawhereasingleandresponsiveZapataWrenprovidedgloriousviewsofit.AtaroundmidmorningwedrovetotheoutskirtsofHavanawhereenjoyedagreatlunchandvisitedHemingway’sfarm.Continuingourdriveafterlunch,wetookthehighwaywesttoSoroa,wherewespentacoupleofnightsthere.InwestCuba,wefocusedourbirdingandpeople-to-peopleexperiencesintwolocations:ViñalesandLasTerrazascommunity.Inbothlocations,wecombinedbirdingandculturalactivities.InViñaleswewereastonishedwiththelevelofeconomictouristicdevelopmentandthebeautyofLosMogotes,auniquegeologicalformation.InthesemogotesiswhereweenjoyedthesuitsongoftheCubanSolitairethatreverberatedalongthewallsofit.Hearingitsuniqueascendingwhistleoffereda

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uniquemomenttoall.Inthefollowingday,LasTerrazasofferedadifferentperspectiveofacommunitybasedinsocialcommitmentandorganization.Welearnedaboutthewonderfulworkofvariousartists,tastedadeliciousLasTerrazasCoffeeandsharedagreattimewiththekidsofthematernalschool.Thatdayendedwithsuperbobservationsofthelastendemicbirdofthetour,theCubanGrassquit,onethatwesawprettywellwithindividualsinmale,femaleandjuvenileplumage.

Thetourconcludedwithaday-longvisittoOldHavana.HerewelearnedmuchofCuba´scolonialtimeshistoryandindependenceperiod.WealsoenjoyedgreatarchitecturethatofferedwonderfulphotoopportunitiesandprovidedtoalladifferentsideofCuba,acountrywewillseeintheyearstocomewithdifferenteyes. Iwanttothankyouforjoiningusandforshowingagenuinecamaraderiewithinthegroup.Ibelievethatagreatpartofoursuccessisbecauseyouallcamewiththesamegoalsinmind:tolearn,toenjoyandtochangepeople’slife.NowthatyouhavelearnedmuchofCuba´sflora,faunaandcultureIwanttoinviteyoutojoinusinotherdestinations,equallyinterestingandbeautifulbutremarkablydifferentfromthatoftheGreaterAntilles.TheAmazonCruiseWesailaboardawonderfulshiptoexploretheAmazonanditstributaries.Usingskiffs,wedistinctiveAmazonianhabitatssuchasthesedimentaryriverislands,VarzeaandIgapoforesttypes.Weofferanoptionalwalktoterrafirmeforest.Non-birdingspousesliketojointhiscruisebecauseofthevarietyofwildlifeincludingseveralspeciesofprimatesandanoptionalvisittoacommunity.Photosandvideoofour2017cruisein:Photoalbumhttps://www.flickr.com/photos/davidascanio/albums/72157667300036438Videolinkhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1b3xYG0cPSoThePanamaCanal:arelaxedandeasytour.

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Panamaistoenjoyfirst-classbirdingatarelaxedandeasypace.WespendmostofthenightsinasmallinnlocatedinthetownofGamboa.EnjoyshortwalksplusaboattriptotheChagresRiver.WevisitthefamousPipelineroadandtheCanopyTower,wherewecanseecanopyspeciesateyelevel.Photosandvideoofour2017tourin:Photoalbumhttps://www.flickr.com/photos/davidascanio/albums/72157661430603057Videolinkhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgnkUxwd5kwCostaRica:arelaxedandeasytour.OurrelaxedandeasyCostaRicatourisforthosewhowishtoseebirdsfromcloudforesttolowlandrainforest,allinslowpace.Weincludearidealongtheaerialtram.Thistourisdesignedforseeinggaudyspeciessuchastanagersandhoneycreepersaswellasmanyhummingbirds.Wevisithummingbirdfeederstations.Photosandvideoofour2017tourin:Photoalbumhttps://www.flickr.com/photos/davidascanio/albums/72157690123123015Videolinkhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzgD6NfVNSE Ilookforwardtohavingtheprivilegetoguideyouinanothertour!

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2018VENTCuba.Apeople-to-peopletour.March13-24,2018Leader:DavidAscanioITINERARY13March.FlighttoSantaClara.14March.FromSantaClaratoCayoCoco.15March.JardinesdelRey:CayoCoco&CayoGuillermo.16March.CayoCocotoTrinidad(Ancónpeninsula).17March.RanchoLaBelen.DrivetoCayoCoco.18March.DrivetotheZapataPeninsula.19March.ZapataPeninsula:Bermeja,PalpiteandSoplillar.20March.LaTurba,Havana&Soroa.21March.Viñales.22March.LasTerrazas&Havana.23March.OldHavana.24March.Departure.

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THEBIRDLISTThe order, and common and scientific names are those given by the American Ornithologists’ Union (AOU) Checklist of North American Birds, 7th edition with all current updates. Photo album for all tours: https://www.flickr.com/photos/davidascanio/ Photo album for this tour: https://www.flickr.com/photos/davidascanio/albums/72157695651078674 (Flickr is frequently changing the link codes. If you experience problems accessing the photo album, please go to the first link and click in the photo album of the tour entitled ¨2018 VENT Cuba (March tour)¨. Enjoy it!

Waterfowl /Anatidae WestIndianWhistling-Duck.Dendrocygnaarborea.CayoCoco.Blue-wingedTeal.Anasdiscors.105+individualsnearCayoCoco.NorthernShoveler.Aythya collarisAnas clypeata.5+nearCayoCoco.AmericanWigeon.Marecaamericana.800+CayoCoco.NorthernPintail.Anasacuta.6CayoCoco.LesserScaup.Aythyaaffinis.30+individualsinwetlandnearHavana.Red-breastedMerganser.Mergusserrator.PairsandadozenindividualwereseenfromthecausewaytoCayoCoco.RuddyDuck.Oxyurajamaicensis.60+inwetlandnearHavana.

Guineafowl/NumididaeHelmetedGuineafowl.Numida meleagris.LaBelen.Semi-captive.

Flamingos/Phoenicopteridae

AmericanFlamingo.Phoenicopterusruber.NoneinCayoGuillermo.22+ind.wereseenintheZapatapeninsula.

Grebes/PodicipedidaeLeastGrebe.Tachybaptusdominicus.WetlandnearHavana.Pied-billedGrebe.Podilymbuspodiceps.wetlandnearHavana.

PigeonsandDoves/Columbidae

FeralPigeon(RockPigeon)(I).Columbalivia.Commoninurbanareas.Scaly-napedPigeon.Patagioenassquamosa.1nearLasTerrazas.White-crownedPigeon.Patagioenasleucocephala.Soroa.PlainPigeon.Patagioenasinornata.2individualswereobservednearNajasa.EurasianCollared-Dove(I).Streptopeliadecaocto.Widespreadinurbanareas.CommonGround-Dove.Columbinapasserina.Pairswereobservedinscrubbyvegetationinalllocations.Seenalmosteveryday.

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Blue-headedQuail-Dove(E).Starnoenascyanocephala.Oneofthefavoritespecies.TwoindividualswereseenatastakeoutinBermeja.AbigthankstoOrlandoforthis!Gray-frontedQuail-.Dove(E).Geotrygoncaniceps.WeenjoyedwonderfulviewsofoneindividualinBermeja.KeyWestQuail-Dove.Geotrygonchrysa.1individualinCayoCoco.White-wingedDove.Zenaidaasiatica.Variouslocations.ZenaidaDove.Zenaidaaurita.Variouslocations.MourningDove.Zenaidamacroura.Commonandwidespreadinopenareas.

Cuckoos/Cuculidae

GreatLizard-Cuckoo.Coccyzusmerlini.Lizard-cuckoosareamazingbirds.Notonlybecauseoftheirextravagantsizeandbehaviorbutalsofortheirvoice.WeenjoyedviewsofitintheZapatapeninsula,TrinidadandCienfuegos.Smooth-billedAni.Crotophagaani.Afairlycommonspeciesfoundinlowlandopenhabitats.

Nightjarsandallies/CaprimulgidaeGreaterAntilleanNightjar(CubanNightjar).Antrostomuscubanensis.Aftervariousattempts,wenailedamaleinSoroa.

Swifts/ApodidaeAntilleanPalm-Swift.Tachornisphoenicobia.AfairlycommonspeciesinCienfuegosbotanicalgardensandinLosCaneyes.

Hummingbirds/TrochilidaeBeeHummingbird(E).Mellisugahelenae.Wesawsevenindividualsintwolocations,BermejaandPalpite.ThisisTHEsmallestbirdintheworldandonlyslightlylargerthantheVervainHummingbird,foundinHispaniola.CubanEmerald.Chlorostilbonricordii.Averycommonendemichummingbirdfoundinvariouslocations.Weenjoyeddailyviewsofit.

Rails,GallinulesandCoots/RallidaeSpottedRail.Pardirallusmaculatus.WeweresurprisedtoseeoneindividualwalkingoutofthemangroveintheZapatapeninsulainacloudymorning.PurpleGallinule.Porpyriomartinicus.BayofPigs.CommonGallinule.Gallinulagaleata.BayofPigsandSoroa.AmericanCoot.Fulicaamericana.MorethanadozenindividualswereobservedinawetlandnearHavana.

Limpkin/AramidaeLimpkin.Aramusguarauna.BayofPigs.

StiltsandAvocets/Recurvirostridae

Black-neckedStilt.Himantopusmexicanus.CayoCoco,AnconPenínsulaandSoroa.

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PloversandLapwings/CharadriidaeBlack-belliedPlover.Pluvialissquatarola.12+individualsCayoCoco.Wilson´sPlover.Charadriuswilsonia.6+individuals.CayoCoco.SemipalmatedPlover.Charadriussemipalmatus.30+individualsinCayoCoco.PipingPlover.Charadriusmelodus.4individualsinCayoCoco.Killdeer.Charadriusvociferous.Seeninvariouslowlandlocations.Usuallynearawetland.

SandpipersandAllies/Scolopacidae

RuddyTurnstone.Arenariainterpes.CayoGuillermo.RedKnot.CAlidriscanutus.4individualsinCayoGuillermo.StiltSandpiper.Calidrishimantopus.12+CayoGuillermo.Sanderling.Calidrisalba.6+CayoGuillermo.LeastSandpiper.Calidrisminutilla.12+CayoGuillermo.AlsoseennearSoroa.SemipalmatedSandpiper.Calidrispusilla.CayoGuillermoandSoroa.WesternSandpiper.Calidrismauri.ApairwereseenalongwiththeSemipalmatedSandpipers.Wenoticeditslongbill.CayoGuillermo.Short-billedDowitcher.Limnodromusgriseus.300+individuals.CayoGuillermo.SpottedSandpiper.Actitismacularia.CayoGuillermo.SpottedSandpiper.Tringasolitaria.ParqueElCubanoriveredge.LesserYellowlegs.Tringaflavipes.CayoCoco,CayoGuillermoandSoroa.GreaterYellowlegs.Tringamelanoleuca.CayoCoco,CayoGuillermoandSoroa.

Gulls,TernsandSkimmers/LaridaeLaughingGull.Leucophaeusatricilla.Acommonspeciesthroughoutthetour.HerringGull.Larusargentatus.CayoCocoandCayoParedónGrande.LesserBlack-backedGull.Larusfuscus.5individualsCayoCoco.Gull-billedTern.Gelochelidonnilotica.3individuals.BayofPigs.CaspianTern.Hydroprognecaspia.CayoCocoandSoroa.RoyalTern.Thalasseusmaximus.Acommonspeciesthroughoutthetour.

Storks/CiconiidaeWoodStork.Mycteriaamericana.Soroa.

Frigatebirds/Fregatidae

MagnificentFrigatebird.Fregatamagnificens.JardinesdelReyarchipelagoandZapatapeninsula.

Cormorants/PhalacrocoracidaeNeotropicCormorant.Phalacrocoraxbrasilianus.Scatteredrecordsduringthetour.Double-crestedCormorant.Phalacrocoraxauritus.CommoninJardinesdelReyarchipelago.Seeninmostwetlands.

Anhinga/AnhingidaeAnhinga.Anhingaanhinga.Soroa.

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Pelicans/Pelecanidae

AmericanWhitePelican.Pelecanuserythrorhynchos. More than a dozen individuals were observed in, at least, three locations.BrownPelican.Pelecanusoccidentalis.Seenalmostdaily.

Herons,EgretsandBitterns/ArdeidaeGreatBlueHeron.Ardeaherodias.CommoninCayoCocoandotherkeys.AnindividualinwhitemorphwasobservedinCayoGuillermo.GreatEgret.Ardeaalba.Seeninvariouswetlands.SnowyEgret.Egrettathula.AnconandZapatapeninsula,andSoroa.LittleBlueHeron.Egrettacaerulea.SeeninCayoCocoandLasTerrazas.TricoloredHeron.Egrettatricolor.JardinesdelReyarchipelagoandSoroa.ReddishEgret.Egrettarufescens.FewindividualsinwhitemorphplumagewereseeninJardinesdelReyandtheAnconPeninsula.Individualsinregularplumagewerealsoobservedinotherlocations.CattleEgret.Bubulcusibis.Seendaily.GreenHeron.Butoridesvirescens.LasTerrazasandSoroa.Black-crownedNight-Heron.Nycticoraxnycticorax.Soroa.

IbisesandSpoonbills/ThreskiornithidaeWhiteIbis.Eudocimusalbus.CayoCocoisnamedafterthisspecies(locallycalledcoco).SeeninCayoCoco.GlossyIbis.Plegadisfalcinellus.RicefieldsalongtheroadtoBermeja.RoseateSpoonbill.Plataleaajaja.SingleindividualsinJardinesdelReyandLaSalina.

NewWorldVultures/CathartidaeTurkeyVulture.Cathartesaura.Seendaily.AnumerousspeciesinCuba.Seeninalldays.

Osprey/PandionidaeOsprey.Pandionhaliaetus.SeeninCayoCocoandnearSoroa.Ssp.ridgwayi.

Hawks,EaglesandKites/AccipitridaeSnailKite.Rosthramussociabilis.SeennearSoroa.Somejuvenileswerenoted.Gundlach´sHawk(E).Accipitergundlachi.Whataprivilegetohaveseenamaleandafemale!Agreatexperience!CubanBlackHawk(E)(CommonBlackHawk).Buteogallusanthracinus.SeeninJardinesdelReyandinLaSalinainBayofPigs.CommoninCayoGuillermo.NowadaystreatedasaCubanendemic,CubanBlackHawkButeogallusgundlachiibymosttaxonomists.Red-tailedHawk.Buteojamaicensis.Soroa.SeenalongtheroadtoLasTerrazas.

Barn-Owls/TytonidaeBarnOwl.Tytoalba.2individualswereobservedflyingintheBayofPigs.

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Owls/Strigidae

Bare-leggedOwl(E).Margarobyaslawrencii.ApairnestinginBermeja.CubanPygmy-Owl(E).Glaucidiumsiju.ThisendemicowlofCubawasseenfourtimes.AcommonandwidespreadCubanendemic.StygianOwl.Asiostygius.WeenjoyedsuperbviewsofamalenearCienfuegos.

Trogons/TrogonidaeCubanTrogon(E).Priotelustemnurus.ThisisCuba’snationalbird.Pairswereseeninalllocations.ThetermPriotelus(genus)meansanaccomplishedorcompletesawandreferstotheruggedappearanceofthetailfeathers.

Todies/TodidaeCubanTody(E).Todusmulticolor.Todiesareuniquebirds.Tome,theyseemlikecomingfromakid’scartooncharacter.TheoneinCubaisthemostcolorfulofall.ItwasfirstseeninCuevadelosJabaliesinCayoCocoandlaterinotherlocations.FossilevidencesuggeststhattodiesevolvedfromCentralAmericabutbecameextinctforunknownreasons.FivespeciesremainintheGreatAntilles.Thetodiesarerelativesofthemotmotsandmoredistantlytothekingfishers.

Kingfishers/AlcedinidaeBeltedKingfisher.Megacerylealcyon.SeenintheAnconpeninsula,BayofPigsandnearSantaClara.

Woodpeckers/PicidaeWestIndianWoodpecker.Melanerpessuperciliaris.Seendailyinthelowlands.ThisspeciesisarelativeofRed-belliedWoodpecker(ofNorthAmerica)andtheRed-crownedWoodpecker(ofSouthAmerica).ItisanotherWestIndiesspecialtyfoundinalltheGreaterAntilles.Yellow-belliedSapsucker.Sphyrapicusvarius.AsingleindividualwasobservedinCayoCoco.CubanGreenWoodpecker(E).Xiphidiopicuspercussus.FirstseeninCayoCoco.LaterinRanchoLaBelenandlaterenjoyedbyallinSoroa.Fernandina'sFlicker(E).Colaptesfernandinae.WeobservedthreenestingpairsintheZapatapeninsula,nearBermeja.

FalconsandCaracaras/FalconidaeCrestedCaracara.Caracaracheriway.SeeninCayoCocoandBayofPigs.AmericanKestrel.Falcosparverius.Thiscommonandwidespreadspecieswasseeneveryday.ThepalesubspeciesfoundinCubaissparveroides.Andweobservedtwomorphs,thepaleandtherufousone.Merlin.Falcocolumbarius.AsingleindividualinBayofPigs.

Parrots/Psittacidae

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CubanParakeet(E).Aratingaeuops.AgroupwasobservedinBermeja.IcommenteditssimilaritieswithScarlet-fronted,White-eyedandHispaniola´sparakeets.Thesespeciesmaybeatheirclosestlivingsisterspecies.CubanParrot.Amazonaleucocephala.Superbviews.BayofPigs.

TyrantFlycatchers/TyrannidaeCubanPewee(E).Contopuscaribaeus.Wesawitalmosteveryday.Fondtoforestedge,openareasandmangrove.LaSagra'sFlycatcher.Myiarchussagrae.ThegenusMyiarchuscomprisessimilarandhard-to-tell-apartspeciesand,isdistributedfromsouthernUSAtoArgentina.InCuba,there´sonlyoneoptionsoitsidentificationisprettystraightforward.Wecameacrossvariouspairsofthisflycatcher.Itisusuallyassociatedwithforesthabitats.Bytheway,itscommon(andspecific)nameisafterRamóndeLaSagra(1801-1871),aCubanwriterandnaturalist.HeauthoredHistoriafísica,políticaynaturaldelaisladeCuba,in1837.GrayKingbird.Tyrannusdominicensis.Fewpairswereobserved.ThesearelocalmigrantsthatcometoCubatobreed.LoggerheadKingbird.Tyrannuscaudifasciatus.Observedalmosteveryday.Similartothepreviousonebutplumagecontrastsinheadarebolder.Voiceisdistinctive.GiantKingbird(E).Tyrannuscubensis.NicestudiesofapairinRancholaBelen.Thisspeciesisthreatenedandapparentlyduetolossofhabitat.Furtherstudiesneeded(Camilo,ourlocalguideiscurrentlystudyingthebreedingbiologyofit).

Vireos/VireonidaeCubanVireo(E).Vireogundlachii.Seenin2locations.Quitevocal!Yellow-throatedVireo.Vireoflavifrons.AsingleindividualwasobservedinBermeja.Black-whiskeredVireo.Vireoaltiloquus.Itwasseeninvariouslocations.Commoninthesecondhalfofthetour.

Crows,JaysandMagpies/CorvidaePalmCrow.Corvuspalmarum.Nicestudiesof8individualsinRanchoLaBelén.Itisfoundinlargetracksofroyalpalmcontiguoustoforestedareas.CubanCrow.Corvusnasicus.MorethanadozenindividualswereseeninRanchoLaBelénandotherlocations.Wenoticeditsloudvoice.

Swallows/HirundinidaeCubanMartin.Prognecryptoleuca.ObservedinCamagueyandViñales.AlsoseeninOldHavana.TreeSwallow.Tachycinetabicolor.Soroa.NorthernRough-wingedSwallow.Stelgidopterixserripennis.AsingleindividualwasobservedinagroupofswallowscontainingseveralCaveSwallows.CaveSwallow.Petrochelidonfulva.WeobservednestingpairsunderthebridgeofPozoAzul.Largegroupswereobservedalongtheroad.BarnSwallow.Hirundorustica.CayoParedonGrande.

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Wrens/TroglodytidaeZapataWren(E).Ferminiacerverai.WeenjoyedcloseviewsofasingleindividualinLaTurba,Zapataswamp.Thisistheonlymemberofitsgenusandboth,thegenusandspecificnamearetakenfromthepersonathatapparentlyfirstcollectedit,FermínCervera.ENDANGERED.

Gnatcatchers/Polioptilidae

Blue-grayGnatcatcher.Polioptilacaerulea.AsingleindividualwasseennearSoroa.CubanGnatcatcher(E).Polioptilalembeyei.AsingleindividualwasobservedinCayoCoco.

ThrushesandAllies/TurdidaeCubanSolitaire(E).Myadesteselisabeth.Ithinkeveryoneagreedthatseeingthisbirdwasnotasspectacularasitwashearingit.ThespecificnameelisabethwasgivenafterQueenIsabelIofCastileandSpain(1451-1504).Itwillremainasamysterywhythepersonthatdescribedthisspecies(Lembeye)usedtheEnglishequivalent(Elisabeth)ratherthantheSpanishname(Isabel).WeenjoyedviewsoftwoindividualssingingfromatreecontiguoustoaMogoteinViñales.Red-leggedThrush.Turdusplumbeus.AnothergorgeousspeciesoftheGreaterAntilles.Wesawitineverylocationvisitedduringthistour.BothsubspeciesfoundinCubahaveanicedarkorangebelly(schistaceus&rubripes).

MockingbirdsandThrashers/MimidaeGrayCatbird.Dumetellacarolinensis.Seeninbushyhabitatatvariouslocations.BahamaMockingbird.Mimusgundlachii.IFitwasn´tforOdey´sperseveranceandcapacitytofinditwewouldhavemissthisspecies.Aftermucheffort,wesawitinCayoGuillermo.NorthernMockingbird.Mimuspolyglottos.Common.Seendaily.

OldWorldSparrows/PasseridaeHouseSparrow.Passerdomesticus.Commoninurbanareas.

NewWorldSparrows/Passerellidae

ZapataSparrow.Torreornisinexpectata.Astonishingviewsofpairsontwoofthethreesubspecies,inexpectataandvaronai.

Spindalises/SpindalidaeWesternSpindalis.Spindaliszena.ThespindalisesareendemictotheGreaterAntilles.Sometaxonomistsconsiderthemtobepartofthecardinalsratherthantothetanagers.ThislovelyspecieswasobservedintheAnconpeninsulaandLasTerrazas.

CubanWarblers/TerestistridaeYellow-headedWarbler(E).Teretistrisfernandinae.PairswereobservedinViñales.OrienteWarbler(E).Teretistrisfornsi.SeeninCayoParedónGrandeandCayoCoco.

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TroupialsandAllies/IcteridaeEasternMeadowlark.Sturnellamagna.Bermejaricefields.CubanOriole.Icterusmelanopsis.Wecameacrossthisspeciesin,atleast,sixlocations.ThepopulationfoundinCubawasbelievedtobeconspecificwiththepopulationsinCentralAmericaandtheCaribbean.Nowadays,itisacceptedasanendemicspeciesofCuba.Red-shoulderedBlackbird(E).Agelaiusassimilis.WeenjoyedsuperbviewsofthreeindividualssinginginBermejaandlaterinlaTurba.BothlocationsarepartoftheZapataswamp.Tawny-shoulderedBlackbird.Agelaiushumeralis.Acommonlowlandspeciesinopenhabitats.Itwasseeninvariouslocationsduringthesecondhalfofthetour.ShinyCowbird.Molothrusbonariensis.AsingleindiovidualwasobservednearSoroa.CubanBlackbird(E).Divesatroviolaceus.Observedinvariouslocations.SometimestreatedasPtiloxenaatroviolacea.Itwasoriginallydescribedasagrackle,in1892. GreaterAntilleanGrackle.Quiscalusniger.Thisspeciesiswidespreadandtolerateshumanpresence,likeothergrackles.Itwasseeneveryday.

NewWorldWarblers/ParulidaeOvenbird.Seiurusaurocapilla.SeeninSoroa.NorthernWaterthrush.Parkesianoveboracensis.ObservedinSoroa.Black-and-whiteWarbler.Mniotiltavaria.Soroa.CommonYellowthroat.Geothlypisformosa.Seenfourtimesnearwetlands.AmericanRedstart.Setophagaruticilla.AcommonNeotropicalmigrantinCuba.CapeMayWarbler.Setophagatigrina.Seenatvariouslocationsofthetour.Weobservedabout24individuals.NorthernParula.Setophagaamericana.Seeninopencountryandgardensinurbanareas.Foundinthreelocations.Black-throatedBlueWarbler.Setophagacaerulescens.Inprevioustourswecameacrossthisspeciesalmostineveryday.Thisyearweobserveditinaboutfourdays.PalmWarbler.Setophagapalmarum.ThisspeciesisamongthecommonestBorealmigrantsinCubaandprobablythelatesttoleaveduringthebreedingseason.Itwasfoundinedgeofforest,scrubbyvegetationandgardens.Olive-cappedWarbler.Setophagapityophila.AnotherspecialtyoftheGreaterAntilles.ThisspeciesisonlyfoundinNBahamas,WandEofCuba.WeenjoyedviewsoftwopairsnearViñales.Yellow-rumpedWarbler.Setophagacoronata.AwidepsreadspeciesinCubainearlyMarch.Weobservedabout8iondividuals.Yellow-throatedWarbler.Setophagadominica.AfairlycommonBorealmigrant.Seeninfourlocations.PrairieWarbler.Setophagadiscolor.SingleindividualswereobservedinSantaClaraandBayofPigs.Black-throatedGreen-Warbler.Setophagavirens.BayofPigs.

TanagersandAllies/Thraupidae

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Red-leggedHoneycreeper.Cyanerpescyaneus.NiceviewsofvariousindividualsinLosCaneyes(SantaClara),theBotanicalGardenofSoroaandLasTerrazas.CubanGrassquit(E).Tiariscanorus.WeoweabigthankyoutoourguideofLasTerrazasfortakingustothebestsiteforthisspecieswherewegottoseemorethan27individuals!Yellow-facedGrassquit.Tiarisolivaceus.Seeninmostlocations.CubanBullfinch.Melopyrrhanigra.Seenmainlyinforestedgeinvariouslocations.ExtensivelytrappedforuseinthebirdsoundcontestintheWestindiesandtheGuianas.OTHERSPECIESLISTMAMMALSWaterhouse’sLeaf-nosedBat.Macrotuswaterhousii.CuevadelosJabalíes. BigBrownBat.Eptesicusfuscus.CuevadelosJabalíes.AntilleanFruit-eatingBat.Brachyphyllacavernarum.Underthebridge,PozoAzul.REPTILESDuskyDwarfBoa.Tropidophismelanurus.LosCaneyes.CubanBoaorSantaMariaBoa.Chilabothrusangulifer.Allison´s(Blue-headed)Anole.Anolisallisoni.TropicalHouseGecko.Hemidactylusmabouia.IntroducedfromAfrica.Curly-tailedLizard.Leiocephalussp.CaimanAnole.Anolisvermiculatus.OTHERSPECIESCubanToad.Peltophryneplatycephala.CubanTreeFrog.Ostepilusseptentrionalis.Landcrab.Geocarcinussp.Arborealtermites.(Nasutitermes).RedCrab.Geocarcinussp.