I’ve made a ‘top ten list’ of endemic birds that I have photographed in Cuba while surveying birds for the Caribbean Conservation Trust – well, make it the top 12! Several are highly endangered, others just look great. Here they are, in no particular order:
This female Fernandina's Flicker (Colaptes fernandinae) is one of the most rare woodpeckers in the world, second only to the Ivory-billed Woodpecker. Near Bermejas, Zapata Peninsula, Cuba. (Richard Wagner/©2013 Rich Wagner | WildNaturePhotos)
Zapata Sparrow (Torreornis inexpectata inexpectata), Cuba (© 2012 Rich Wagner | WildNaturePhotos)
A rare, endemic, and highly endangered Zapata Sparrow (Torreornis inexpectata inexpectata). La Turba, Cuba (WildNaturePhotos/© 2012 Rich Wagner | WildNaturePhotos)
A Cuban Screech Owl (Margarobyas lawrencii) looks out from a roost tree, near Bermejas, Zapata Peninsula, Cuba. (Richard Wagner/©2013 Rich Wagner | WildNaturePhotos)
A Cuban Screech Owl (Margarobyas lawrencii) looks out from a roost tree, near Bermejas, Zapata Peninsula, Cuba. (Richard Wagner/©2013 Rich Wagner | WildNaturePhotos)
An endemic Cuban Green Woodpecker (TXiphidiopicus percussus) on a palm tree trunk in Hacienda Cortina, Pinar del Rio Province, Cuba (Richard Wagner/©2013 Rich Wagner | WildNaturePhotos)
The endemic Cuban Trogon (Priotelus temnurus) is the national bird of Cuba. La Guira National Park, Cuba. (WildNaturePhotos/© 2012 Rich Wagner | WildNaturePhotos)
A highly endangered, endemic Zapata Wren (Ferminia cerverai) singing, in the heart of the Zapata Swamp, near Santo Tomás. Cuba. (Richard Wagner/©2013 Rich Wagner | WildNaturePhotos)
Bee Hummingbird (Mellisuga helenae), male in non-breeding plumage, perched. Cuba (© 2012 Rich Wagner | WildNaturePhotos)
Bee Hummingbird (Mellisuga helenae), male in non-breeding plumage, in flight near the red flowers of Firebush (Hamelia patens). Cuba (WildNaturePhotos/© 2012 Rich Wagner | WildNaturePhotos)
A Cuban Tody (Todus multicolor) in the heart of the Zapata Swamp, near Santo Tomás. Cuba. (Richard Wagner/©2013 Rich Wagner | WildNaturePhotos)
The endemic, highly endangered Blue-headed Quail-Dove (Starnoenas cyanocephala) can frequently be seen near Bermejas very early in the morning. Zapata Peninsula, Cuba. (Richard Wagner/©2013 Rich Wagner | WildNaturePhotos)
The Cuban Solitaire (Myadestes elisabeth), often called the Cuban Nightingale, has a flute-like voice and is considered the best singer of the birds of Cuba (endemic of Cuba). (WildNaturePhotos/© 2012 Rich Wagner | WildNaturePhotos)
Cuban Parrots (Amazona leucocephala leucocephala) feeding in the early morning. Playa Larga, Cuba. (WildNaturePhotos/© 2012 Rich Wagner | WildNaturePhotos)
An endemic Cuban Pigmy Owl (Glaucidium siju) perched in a tree. Bermejas, Zapata Peninsula, Cuba. (Richard Wagner/©2013 Rich Wagner | WildNaturePhotos)
Looking for more? You can see a portfolio of large images of Cuban birds here. This link also works well for iPads, as iOS doesn’t support the Flash-based links used above, and the portfolio is color managed (even on wide-gamut displays!). You can also check out my other posts on endangered / endemic birds in Cuba.
Tags: Cuba, Endangered Species, endemic