Victor Emanuel Nature Tours

THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

April 9-16 2011

Leaders: David Ascanio & Kate Wallace

Compiled by: David Ascanio Victor Emanuel Nature Tours, inc. 2525 Wallington Drive, Suite 1003

Austin, TX 78746 www.ventbird.com

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VictorEmanuelNatureTours

TheDominicanRepublicApril9‐16,2011

Leaders:DavidAscanio&KateWallace

TheislandsoftheCaribbeanhavealwaysbeenafascinationtoscientists.Intheseisolatedregionstheendemicspeciesrepresentsanamazingpercentageoftheavifaunaandmanybirdsarerelativelyeasytosee.Thiseasinessisprobablyduetothelackofpredationandlongperiodsofisolation.Forthat,islandsrankamongthebestdestinationstounderstandthebasicsofbiogeography,populationdynamicsandendemism.

Our2011DominicanRepublicwasaperfectdestinationtodiscusssomeoftheaboveconceptsandtolearnthetheoriesabouttheoriginoftheavifaunaoftheHispaniola.Also,itwasadestinationtochallengeourdrivingskills,totastethelocalcuisine,tolearnaboutthecontemporaryhistoryofthecountryandtofeeltheambientofSantoDomingowhenSpainfoundeditbackin1496.AnothertopicwelearnedinourtourwasabouttheimportanceofconservationandthethreatsmuchoftheHispaniolawildlifesufferstoday.Pests,povertyandhabitatlossareforcesdrivingmanyspeciesalmosttoextinction.RealizingthisandtakingstepstowardtheconservationofthehabitatsisakeytopreservetheavifaunaandtheDominicanRepublicenvironmentalagencyhavetriedhard(despiteitsverylowbudget!)topreservesomeofthemainhabitatsoftheisland.Forthat,isnotsurprisingthatmostbirdingintheDominicanRepublictookplaceinprotectland.WestartedatLosLimones(bufferzoneofLosHaitisesnationalpark)whereenjoyedtwopairsofRidgway’sHawk,themostthreatenedButeointheworld.Then,continuedtoSierradeBahoruconationalparkwheresawthelargestnumberofendemicspecieswhilevisitingthreelocations:Zapotén,CachoteandAceitillar.Outtourfinishedwithvisitstotwowetlands:LagunadeOviedoandLagoEnriquillo,thelatterbeingaRamsarsite.Inthefollowingpagesyou’llfindareviewofthebirdsandotherwildlifewefoundbirdingacrosstheDominicanRepublic.AdditionaltothisdocumentistheHyperlinksfilewhereyouwillbetakentothephotosandvideostakenduringourtrip.Ihopethesefileswillbringyoufondmemoriesofthelongdrives,thegamesofwordsandthegreatbirdswesaw.Thankyouverymuchforcomingwithus.Ihopetoseeyouagaininanotherbirdingadventure!

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TheBirdlist.ThefollowingbirdlistfollowstheAOUtaxonomy.AlternativenamesgiveninClementsandothersourcesarealsoindicatedinthetextaccompanyingthespecies.Anatidae

WestIndianWhistling­Duck.Dendrocygnaarborea(monotypic).About8individualswereobservedattheBotanicalGardens.

White­cheekedPintail.Anasbahamensis.WeenjoyedgreatviewsofasingleindividualonLakeEnriquillo.

Blue­wingedTeal.Anasdiscors.Morethan50individualswereenjoyedinLagunaOviedoandinCaboRojo.Podicipedidae

LeastGrebe.Tachybaptusdominicusdominicus.ThisspecieswasseenwithjuvenilesalongtheRabodeGatotrail,nearPuertoEscondido.Phoenicopteridae

AmericanFlamingo.Phoenicopterusruber.ThisyearwehadthefortunetobeabletodriveacrosstheedgeofLagunaOviedo,havingdistantbutclearviewsofapairofflamingoes!Phaethontidae White­tailedTropicbird.Phaethonlepturus.WeenjoyedpairsflyingacrosstheCaribbeanseaalongthenorthensideoftheisland.Fregatidae

MagnificentFrigatebird.Fregatamagnificens(monotypic).Thisspecieswasseenregularlyonthedrivesalongthecoastalareas.Pelecanidae

BrownPelican.Pelecanusoccidentalisoccidentalis.Aboutsixindividualswereseenthroughoutthetour.Ardeidae

GreatBlueHeron.Ardeaherodias.AsingleindividualwasobservedinCaboRojo.

GreatEgret.Ardeaalbaegretta.WeobservedaboutfourindividualsinCaboRojo.

SnowyEgret.Egrettathulathula.Thenumberofindividualsperyearkeepsfluctuation.In2009weobservedmorethanadozenindividuals.Then,in2010onlyapairwasseen.Inthisyearwesawmorethan25individualsinCaboRojo.

TricoloredHeron.Egrettatricolorruficollis.OneindividualwasobservedatthechannelsofRabodeGatoandabout30wereseeninCaboRojo.

ReddishEgret.Egrettarufescens.AsingleindividualwasenjoyedforagingatLagunaOviedo.

LeastBittern.Ixobrychusexilis.OneindividualwasflushedoutofasmallwetlandnearLosLimones.ArarespeciesintheDominicanRepublic!

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CattleEgret.Bubulcusibisibis.Wereporteddailyviewsinpasturesandopenareas.ThefirstrecordofthespeciesintheAmericasdatesbackto1877whenHaverschmidtreportedforSuriname.

GreenHeron.Butoridesvirescensvirescens.SingleindividualswereobservedinsmallwetlandsacrossthecountryThisspeciesissometimesconsideredconspecificwithStriatedHeron(Butoridesstriatus).

Black­crownedNight­Heron.Nycticoraxnycticorax.ThreeindividualswereobservedinfloodedLakeEnriquillo.

Yellow­crownedNight­Heron.Nyctanassaviolaceabancrofti.TheregularsingleindividualwasobservedagainneartheswimmingpoolofElQuemaitolodge.Threskiornithidae RoseateSpoonbill.Plataleaajaja.AsingleindividualwasseenthroughoutthescopeinlagunaOviedo.Cathartidae

TurkeyVulture.Cathartesauraaura.ThisspecieswascommonaroundLosLimonesatthebufferzoneofLosHaitisesnationalpark.Itisabsentelsewhereintheisland.Thisisoneofthesouthernmostbreedingpopulationsofthered‐napeformofNorthAmerica.AccipitridaeSeeingAccipitridaeinislandisbothinterestingandfascinatingduetotheisolationforceworkingonthepopulations.Sincemostbirdsofpreyneedlandbridgestomigrateitismostlikelythattheybecometrappedinitsownsmallterritorywhenreachingtheseislandsbyaccident.Hereiswheretakesplacetheevolution‐at‐workshapingthenewspeciesandorthedistinctivenessintheraces.

Ridgway'sHawk.Buteoridgwayi.EndemictoHispaniola.InourvisittolosLimoneswesawabreedingpair(secondattempt)callingandinteractingbythemselves.NoticethatplumageandvoiceresemblesthatofRoadsideHawk(Buteomagnirostris)ofSouthAmerica.Maybethereisageneticlinktoit!

Red­tailedHawk.Buteojamaicensisjamaicensis.OneindividualwasseensoaringintheslopesoftheSierradeBahoruconationalpark.Falconidae

AmericanKestrel.Falcosparveriusdominicensis.WeenjoyedthissmallbirdofpreyalmosteverydayandnoticedtheverypaleunderpartsoftheraceinhabitingHispaniola.Rallidae

ClapperRai.Ralluslongirostris.WeenjoyedviewsoftwogroupsinCaboRojo.Thefirstcontained1adultand3chicksandthesecondconsistedin1adultand1chick(allblack!).

PurpleGallinule.Porphyriomartinica(monotypic).ThisspecieswasseeninLosLimones.

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CaribbeanCoot.Fulicacaribaea(monotypic).OnlyoneindividualswasseeninLagoEnriquillo.SometimesregardedasconspecificwithAmericanCootF.americana.

CommonMoorhen.Gallinulachloropuscerceris.Variousindividualswereseenthoughouttheweek.Aramidae

Limpkin.Aramusguaraunaelucus.Weweresurprisedagain(forsecondconsecutiveyear)tolistenthisspeciesgivingitsmelancholicvoicenearElAguacateintheSierradeBahorucosincetherewasnorunningwaterinthevicinity.ItwasalsoseennearLosLimones.Charadriidae

Black­belliedPlover.Pluvialissquatarola.AsingleindividualwasobservedinCaboRojo.

Killdeer.Charadriusvociferusternominatus.Morethan30individualswerefoundinLagunaOviedo.TheNorthAmericanracevociferushavebeenalsodocumentedtoreachtheDominicanRepublicduringthewinteringmigration. Wilson´sPlover.Charadriuswilsonia.AsingleindividualwasscopedinlagunaOviedo. SemipalmatedPlover.Chradriussemipalmatus.ThisonewasalsoobservedinLagunaOviedo.Onlyoneindividual.

SnowyPlover.Charadriusalexandrinus.2individualswereobservedatveryclosedistanceinLagunadeOviedo.Recurvirostridae Black­neckedStilt.Himantopusmexicanus.FourpairsweredocumentedinCaboRojoandadditional4wereseeninLagoEnriquillo.Scolopacidae

LesserYellowlegs.Tringaflavipes.AsingleindividualwasobservedinLagoEnriquillo.

SolitarySandpiper.Tringasolitariasolitaria?.About4individualswereseeninLagunaOviedo.

Willet.Tringasemipalmata.10individualswereobservedinLagunaOviedo.

WesternSandpiper.Calidrismauri.1individualwasobservedinCaboRojo.

LeastSandpiper.Calidrisminutilla.Thecolorofthelegsrevealedthisspecies.WeobservedoneindividualinCaboRojo.

SemipalmatedSandpiper.Calidrispusilla.BeingabletohaveseveralsandpipersforagingtogetherallowedustocomparethisspecieswiththeWesternSandpiper.ThiswasthecommonestsandpiperinthewetlandinCaboRojo.

Sanderling.Calidrisalba.ApairwascontrastingamongtheotherScolopacidaeduetotheverypaleplumageofit.

Short­billedDowitcher.Limnodromusgriseus.About30individualswereobservedintwogroupsinCaboRojo.

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LaridaeLaughingGull.Leucophaeusatricilla.Variousindividualswereseen

throughoutthetripbeingthelargestnumberinLagunaOviedowherewereported8individuals.

RoyalTern.Thalasseusmaximamaximus.MorethanadozenindividualswereenjoyedalongtheCaribbeancoastofSantoDomingo.

CommonTern.Sternahirundo.About30to40individualswereseeninLagunadeOviedo.ColumbidaeUsuallyoverlooked,somemembersofthisfamilycanshowanincrediblesetofplumagecoloration.

Scaly­napedPigeon.Patagioenassquamosa(monotypic).ThisspecieswasseenintheSierradeBahoruconationalparkatelevationsabove1000meters.Wereportedmorethan20individuals.

PlainPigeon.Patagioenasinornatainornata.ThisonewasfirstseeninascrubnearJaraguanationalparkandlaterseeninLagoEnriquillo.

White­wingedDove.Zenaidaasiaticaasiatica.Thisspecieswasfairlycommonalongtheroadandlocationswithdesertscrub.

ZenaidaDove.Zenaidaauritazenaida.Thisoneislesscommonthanothermembersofthegenus.WemanagedtoseeapairsintheslopesofSierradeBahorucoinaquarrywheretheyusuallyswallowsmallpebblestohelpthemgrinduptheseedsintheirmusculargizzards.

MourningDove.Zenaidamacrouramacroura.ThisspecieswascommoninSantoDomingoandBarahona.

CommonGround­Dove.Columbinapasserinainsularis.ThisspecieswasalsocommoninSantoDomingoandinthearidareasoftheSWregionofthecountry.ThisisthesmallestColumbidaeintheDominicanRepublic.PsittacidaeParrotsandparakeetsareanimportantpartofthewildlifeoftheAntilles.

HispaniolanParakeet.Aratingachloropterachloroptera.EndemictoHispaniola.WeenjoyedscopeviewsofseveralindividualsinHotelElEmbajadorwhereweestimatedabout300individuals.Additionally,fewpairswereseeninthecolonialzoneofSantoDomingo.ThisspecieshasbeensuggestedtobeconspecificwithWhite‐eyedParakeetAratingaleucophthalmus.

HispaniolanParrot.Amazonaventralis(monotypic).EndemictoHispaniola.WescopedasingleindividualinZapoténandlaterenjoyedanotheronenearElAguacate.ThespeciesiscurrentlyconsideredasVulnerableundertheIUCNstandards.Cuculidae

MangroveCuckoo.Coccyzusminor(monotypic).ThisspecieswasseeninLosLimonesandinRabodeGatotrail.

HispaniolanLizard­Cuckoo.Coccyzus(Saurothera)longirostrislongirostris.EndemictoHispaniola.Wesawthisimpressivelong‐billedcuckooseveraltimes.ScatteredindividualswereseeninthebotanicalgardensandSierradeBahoruco.

Smooth­billedAni.Crotophagaani.Dailyviews.

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Tytonidae

Ashy­facedOwl.Tytoglaucops(monotypic).EndemictoHispaniola.UnfortunatelyitwasseenonlyinflightonthedrivetotheSierradeBahoruco.Strigidae

BurrowingOwl.Athenecuniculariatroglodytes.FewpairswereseennearPuertoEscondidoandalongtheroadtotheSierradeBahoruco.

CaprimulgidaeCommonlyreferredasthegoatsuckersthenighthawksandnightjarscanbedifficulttoidentifyinthefield.Aspectssuchasvoice,habitsandhabitatarerelevantforfieldidentification.

LeastPoorwill(LeastPauraque).Siphonorhisbrewsteri(monotypic).EndemictoHispaniola.OnlyheardinRabodeGato.Unfortunatelywedidnothaveenoughtimetospendintheareatolookforit.ThisspecieswasformerlyconsideredconspecificwiththeJamaicanPorwill(S.americana).Apodidae

AntilleanPalm­Swift.Tachornisphoenicobiaphoenicobia.Fairlycommoninthelowlandswerefeedsmostofthedaywithcircularflightsandmixedglides,orwithfastwingbeats.Thisspeciesisparticularlylargecomparedwithotherpalm‐swiftspeciesinSouthAmerica.Althoughthesizedifferenceisnotveryrelevantasinotherspeciesthiscasecanbetakenasanexampleofgigantismasaconsequencesofislandisolation.Trochilidae

AntilleanMango.Anthracothoraxdominicus.Thisspecieswasseenalmosteverydayfromthelowlandsuptothehighlandsandfromtheforestedgetowellinsideforestedhabitats.

HispaniolanEmerald.Chlorostilbonswainsonii(monotypic).EndemictoHispaniola.Weenjoyedverycloseviewsofthislarge‐headedhummingbirdinSierrdeBahoruco.TheconicalforeheadresemblesmoreaTrochilidaeofthegenusHeliodoxaratherthanamemberoftheChlorostilbon.ItsrobustnessanddeepforkedtailisanotheroddaspectofthisspeciessinceinSouthAmericamostoftheemeraldsofthegenusChlorostilbonaresmallanddelicate.

VervainHummingbird.Mellisugaminimavieillota.AbouthalfadozenindividualswereseenattheBotanicalGardens.ItwasalsoseeninLagoEnriquillo,RabodeGatotrailandnearZapotén.ThisspeciesisfondtoperchatoptheverticalspikeofthefreshleavesintheRoyalPalmswhilecallingfrequently.Itisthesecondsmallesthummingbirdintheworld.Trogonidae

HispaniolanTrogon.Priotelusroseigaster(monotypic).EndemictoHispaniola.SixindividualswereenjoyedsingingnearZapotén.

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TodidaeFossilevidencesuggeststhattodiesevolvedfromCentralAmericabutbecameextinctforunknownreasons.FivespeciesremainintheGreatAntillesandtwoarerepresentedinHispaniola.Todiesarerelativesofthemotmotsandmoredistantlytothekingfishers.

Broad­billedTody.Todussubulatus(monotypic).EndemictoHispaniola.ThisisthecommonestofbothtodiesinHispaniolaandisfoundinalmosteverylowlandhabitat.Wesawitalmosteverydaybutnevergottiredofitsbrightcolorsandcartoon‐likeshapeandbehavior!Thespecificnamesubulatusreferstotheshapeofitsbill(broad).

Narrow­billedTody.Todusangustirostris(monotypic).EndemictoHispaniola.Thisspeciesislesswidespreadthanthepreviousoneandusuallyisfoundathigherelevations.Weenjoyed4pairsinashorttransectofSierradeBahorucoandsawanotherpairinCachote.Thespecificnameangustirostrisreferstothenarrowbillofit.Picidae

AntilleanPiculet.Nesoctitesmicromegas(monotypic).EndemictoHispaniola.WefoundapairofthisoddmemberofPicidaenearElAguacate.WhencomparedwiththespeciesfoundinSouthAmerica(Picumnus)itsenormoussizeisrelevant.ThegenusNesoctitesreferstothefactthatisanislandspecieswithnesosmeaningislandandktitesmeaninganinhabitant.

HispaniolanWoodpecker.Melanerpesstriatus(monotypic).EndemictoHispaniola.Thisonewasseeneverydayandinfactmanypairswereseennesting.Thisspeciesisquitetoleranttohumanpresenceandseemstoadaptwelltofarmland,urbanareasandotheropenareas.Tyrannidae

GreaterAntilleanElaenia.Elaeniafallaxcherriei.ApairinZapoténweretheonlyindividualsforthewholetour.

HispaniolanPewee.Contopushispaniolensis(monotypic).EndemictoHispaniola.ThiswasanotherspeciesfoundinZapoténinSierradeBahoruconationalparkandinRabodeGatolodge.ThisspecieswasformerlypartofGreaterAntilleanPeweewhichturnedouttobesplitintofourspecies.

StolidFlycatcher.Myiarchusstolidusdominicensis.Acommonandvocalspeciesfoundmainlyinscrubbyvegetationinthelowlands.ThegenusMyiarchusiswidespreadinSouthAmericawithmanylook‐alikespeciesandarebesttoldbyvoice.ItwasseenregularlyinSierradeBahoruco,LagoEnriquilloandthesurroundingsofit.

GrayKingbird.Tyrannusdominicensisdominicensis.Manypairsandindividualswereseenorheardduringthetrip.

LoggerheadKingbird.Tyrannuscaudifasciatusflavescens.ApairwasseenintheavocadoplantationalongtheroadtoSierradeBahoruco.Thespecificnamecaudifasciatusmakesreferencetotherufousedgesinthetail.Vireonidae

Flat­billedVireo.Vireonanus.EndemictoHispaniola.WeenjoyedgreatviewsofanindividualintheAlcoaroad.

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Black­whiskeredVireo.Vireoaltiloquusaltiloquus.Althoughsaidtobedifficutltoobservewemanagedtoseethisspeciesalmosteveryday.Corvidae

PalmCrow(HispaniolanPalmCrow).Corvuspalmarum(monotypic).EndemictoHispaniolaWehadsuperbviewsofthreeindividualsinLagoEnriquillo.ThisspecieswasonceconsideredconspecificwiththeCubanPalmCrow,C.minutus.

White­neckedCrow.Corvusleucognaphalus(monotypic)..EndemictoHispaniola.WeenjoyedscopeviewsofasingleindividualinLosLimonesandlatersawmoreindividualsinRabodeGatotrail.Hirundinidae

CaribbeanMartin.Prognedominicensis.WesawthisspeciesmainlynearSantoDomingo.

GoldenSwallow.Tachycinetaeuchryseasclateri.AlmostendemictoHispaniolaasthepopulationsofJamaicahavebeenextirpated.Wehadgreatviewsofabout10individualsinZapotén.ItwasalsolaterseeninAceitillar.ThisspeciesisapparentlyextinctedinJamaica.IfyouhavebeeninSouthAmericayoumighthavenoticeitsresemblancewiththeBlue‐and‐whiteSwallow.

CaveSwallow.Petrochelidonfulvafulva.ThisonewasseenalongtheroadNofSantoDomingo.

CliffSwallow.Petrochelidonpyrrhonota.WeonlysawthisspeciesatarelativedistancewhiledrivingalongtheroadtoLosLimones.

NorthernRough­wingedSwallow.Stelgidopterixserripennis.ApairwasobservednearLosLimones(bufferzomeofLosHaitisesnationalpark).

BarnSwallow.Hirundorustica.TwohundredindividualswereobservedinLagunaOviedo.Turdidae

Rufous­throatedSolitaire.Myadestesgenibarbismontanus.Whatabeautifulbird!Itvoicesoundslikeamusiciangivingshortandpauseblowsthroughoutaflute.ItshighfrequencywhistlewasenjoyedwhilewesearchedforLaSelleThrushandotherendemicspeciesinZapotén.Weenjoyed5individualsinZapotén.Thisspeciesisagoodcandidateforatechnicalsplitsokeepyoureyesonit!

LaSelleThrush.Turdusswalesiswalesi.EndemictoHispaniolaThisisprobablythemostdifficultandtheleastcommonoftheHispaniolaendemicspecies.Onlyfewyearsagoitwasadreamtoseethisspeciesandtodaywehavelearnedsomuchthatwehaveseenitforsevenconsecutiveyears.ThisyearweenjoyedapairsingingandforagingclosetothegroundnearZapotén.Atonepointtheycamesoclosetousthatwecouldnotuseourbinocularstofocusonit!

Red­leggedThrush.Turdusplumbeusardosiaceus.Thislong‐leggedthrushisthecommonestandmostwidespreadTurdidaeinHispaniola.Wesawitalmosteveryday.

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MimidaeNorthernMockingbird.Mimuspolyglottosorpheus.Widespread.Many

individualswereobservedinopenareasandaridscrub.Thespecificnamepolyglottosmakesreferencetothemimiccapabilitiesofit!DulidaeMonotipicandendemicfamilyofHispaniolarepresentedbyonlyonespecies,thePalmchat.

Palmchat.Dulusdominicus(monotypic)..EndemictoHispaniolaThisisthenationalbirdoftheDominicanRepublicandtherearegoodreasonsforit.First,itiswidespreadandveryvocal.Second,itbuildsbulkyandconspicuousnestsinpalmtrees.Third,theRidgway’sHawkusethePalmchatnesttobuldsitsroughplatformthatservesasanestingsite.ThegenusDulusreferstothenamegivenbythelocalpeople(theslave)thatapparentlymakereferencetothesubservientbehaviorofthespeciestootherbirdsincontrasttothatoftheGrayKingbirdthatisusuallyaggressive.Parulidae

NorthernParula.Parulaamericana.Wesawanindividualinthebotanicalgardens.

YellowWarbler.Dendroicapetechia.AsingleindividualwasobservedinLagunaOviedo.

CapeMayWarbler.Dendroicatigrina.AsingleindividualwasseeninHotelElEmbajador.Also,anadditionalindividualswasobservedinZapotén.

Black­throatedBlueWarbler.Dendroicacaerulescens(caerulescens?).AmaleandafemalewereobservedinSierradeBahoruco.AnotherpairwasseeninAceitillar.

PineWarbler.Dendroicapinuschrysoleuca(residentrace).EightindividualswereseenontheAlcoaroadand3aboveZapotén.

PalmWarbler.Dendroicapalmarum.ApairwasseenbelowAceitillar.Black­and­whiteWarbler.Mniotiltavaria.Oneindividualwasseenon

thegardensofHotelElEmbajador.ItwasalsoseeninZapoténandRabodeGatotrail.

AmericanRedstart.Setophagaruticilla.Common.Thisspecieswasseenineverylocation.

Ovenbird.Seiurusaurocapillaaurocapilla.ThefirstpairwasseeninZapoténandanindividualinRabodeGatotrail.

NorthernWaterthrush.Parkesia(Seiurus)noveboracensis.OneindividualwasseeninSierradeBahoruco.

CommonYellowthroat.Geothlypistrichastrichas.OneindividualwasseeninasmallwetlandnearLosLimonesandanotherinCachote.

Noteaboutthefollowingtwospecies.GeneticstudieshaverevealedthatMicroligeaandXenoligeaarecloserelativestoPhaenicophilus(Palm­Tanagers)suggestingthatareindeedtanagers,notwarblers.Thiscontroversykeepsbackandforthsotheyareretainedherewiththetraditionaltaxonomy.

Green­tailedWarbler.Microligeapalustrispalustris/vasta.EndemictoHispaniolaAlsonamedGreen‐tailedGround‐Warbler.ThreepairswereseeninSierradeBahoruco(Zapotén).ThegenusMicroligeagivereferencetoasmallwarblerwhilethespecificnamepalustrisindicatesthainhabitmarshyorboggy

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areas.Apparentlyitwasfirstcollectedinareasofdensevegetationwithdampgroundhencethespecificname.

White­wingedWarbler.Xenoligeamontana(monotypic).EndemictoHispaniola.Weenjoyedamazingviewsofthisalways‐activespeciesthatjoinsfeedingflocks.Wesaw8individualsinZapotén!Genusincertasedis

Bananaquit.Coerebaflaveolabananivora.Thisspecieswasseeneverydayfromdisturbedhabitattoedgeofforest.ItsbillshapeandvoiceresemblesthatoftheCentralAmericapopulations.ThraupidaeThisfamilyisrepresentedinHispaniolaforfewspeciesmostofwhichareendemictotheisland.Ofspecialinterestarethetwospeciesofchat‐tanager(Calyptophilussp.).ThesewereonceconsideredtworacesofthesamespeciesbutrecentlyhavebeenacceptedastwoseparatespeciesbothendemicofHispaniola.

Black­crownedPalm­Tanager.Phaenicophiluspalmarum(monotypic).EndemictoHispaniolaThisspeciesislocallynamed“CuatroOjos”(Four‐eyes)referringtotheplumageoftheheadhavingfourwhitespots.Itwasseenalmosteverydaybutneverinlargenumbers.

WesternChat­Tanager.Calyptophilustertius(monotypic).EndemictoHispaniola.WehadtoworkabithardtogetthisoneinSierradeBarahonabutoncefounditwasenjoyedbyeveryone.

EasternChat­Tanager.Calyptophilusfrugivorus(monotypic).EndemictoHispaniola.ThisspecieswasfirstseeninaVENTtourbackin2006sinceprevioustothatyearitwasbelievedthatitwasfoundonlyinthecentralmountainrange.Morerecently,studiesofthepopulationinCachotedemonstratethatitwasindeedthisspecies!Afterabitofaworkwemanagedtoseeitandattheendofthemorningwehadnailed5pairs!

HispaniolanSpindalis.Spindalisdominicensis.EndemictoHispaniola.EveryonelovedthesmallfamilygroupsforagingonberriesalongtheroadtoZapotén(SierradeBarahona).ThisiscertainlyoneofthemostbeautifulendemicspeciesofHispaniola.ThegenusSpindalisisalsoendemictotheGreaterAntilles.Emberizidae Yellow­facedGrassquit.Tiarisolivaceusolivaceus.ThisspeciesiswidespreadthroughouttheDominicanRepublic.ItwasseeninLosLimonesandnearZapotén. Black­facedGrassquit.Tiarisbicolor.AsingleindividualwasobservedintheslopeofSierradeBahoruco,belowElAguacate.

GreaterAntilleanBullfinch.Loxigillaviolaceaaffinis.WeenjoyedviewsofpairsorsmallgroupsforagingonfruitsandberriesinSierradeBahoruco.ThegenusLoxigillamakesreferencetotheheavybillofthebullfinches.Icteridae

GreaterAntilleanGrackle.Quiscalusnigerniger.Thisspeciesisfairlycommonandwidespreadbutusuallyshyanddifficulttosee(Inversely

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proportionalinPuertoRico).AsmallgroupwasalsoseennearBarahonaattheentranceofRabodeGato.

ShinyCowbird.Molothrusbonariensis.30individualswecountednearLosLimones.

GreaterAntilleanOriole.Icterusdominicensis(monotypic).WesawthreeindividualsinLosLimonesandlateroneindividualwasobservedinPuertoEscondido.ThisspeciesissometimestreatedasHispaniolanOriole,endemicspeciesoftheisland.Originally,theGreaterAntilleanOriolewasconsideredpartoftheBlack‐cowledOriole(Icterusprosthemelas).Fringillidae

AntilleanEuphonia.Euphoniamusica(monotypic).AmalewasseeninZapotén,SierradeBahoruco.TheplumagesuggestsanaffinitywithGolden‐rumpedEuphonia(E.cyanocephala)ofSouthAmerica.ThisspecieswasformerlyconsideredpartoftheBlue‐hoodedEuphoniabutbecamesplitintothreespecies:oneforCentralAmerica,onefortheAntillesandanotherforSouthAmerica.

HispaniolanCrossbill.Loxiamegaplaga(monotypic).EndemictoHispaniola.WeenjoyedincrediblycloseviewsofafemaleperchednearthewatertankofAceitillar.

AntilleanSiskin.Carduelisdominicensis(monotypic).EndemictoHispaniola.Weobservedtwosmallflocksandmanagedtoseeamalethoughoutthescope.Thisspeciesisapparentlydecliningduetohabitatloss.

IntroducedSpecies.Numididae

HelmetedGuineafowl.Numidameleagris.AloosegroupwasfoundalongtheRabodeGatotrail.

Columbidae

RockPigeon.Columbalivia.ItiscommonandwidespreadinSantoDomingoandinBarahona.Psittacidae

Olive­throatedParakeet.Aratinganana.Presumablyintroduced.TherearenoearlyrecordsfortheDominicanRepublic.InourtourwesawapairinthelowlandsofSierradeBahoruconationalpark.Thisspecieswasfirstdocumentedin1995butisexpandingitsrangerapidly.OrnithologistshaveexpressedconcernaboutthepossiblecompetitionwiththeendemicHispaniolaParakeetAratingachloroptera.Passeridae

HouseSparrow.Passerdomesticus.4individualswereseeninBarahona.PloceidaeAbirdfamilyofSub‐SaharanAfrica,consistingonheavybillspeciesspecializedforeatingseeds.TheonlymemberofthefamilyinourcontinentwasbroughtbypettradersandiscurrentlyfoundinwildpopulationsinsomeCaribbeanislandsandinothercountriesofSouthAmerica.

VENT 2010 The Dominican Republic. D. Ascanio

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VillageWeaver.Ploceuscucullatus.Asmallgroupof3individualswasseenattheentranceofRabodeGato.EarliestrecordsinHispanioladateforthelate18thcentury.Amphibians,ReptilesandFishes.Bufonidae

MarineToad.Bufomarinus.Barahona.Ranidae AmericanBullfrog.Ranacatesbeiana.RabodeGato.Teiidae Whip­tailedLizard.Cnemidophorussp.CommonaroundHotelElEmbajador.Polychrotidae BarkAnole.Anolisdistichus.LosLimones. HispaniolanGreenAnolis.Anolischlorocyanus.LosLimones. Large­headedAnole.Anoliscybotes.LosLimones.References.

Jobling,James.1991.ADictionaryofScientificBirdNames.OxfordUniversityPress.

Latta,S.,C.Rimmer,AKeith,J.Wiley,H.Raffaelle,K.McFarland&E.Fernandez.2006.BirdsoftheDominicanRepublicandHaiti.PirincetonFieldGuides.

Raffaelle,H.,J.Wiley,O.Garrido,A.Keith&J.Rafaelle.AGuidetotheBirdsoftheWestIndies.PrincetonUniversityPress.