cuba...5 our people-to-people tour to cuba concluded with a full day in the streets of old havana...

VictorEmanuelNatureTours

CUBAMarch 14-25, 2017

CubanGrassquit,Tiariscanorus.Photo:D.Ascanio.

Leader:David Ascanio

IE representative: Angel Cárdenas Cuban guide: Lyudmis Ramirez

Local guides: Camilo, Odey Martinez, Orlando Ramirez, Esdrey Garcia and Idalmys Gonzales

Compiled by: David Ascanio

VICTOR EMANUEL NATURE TOURS, INC. 2525 WALLINGWOOD DRIVE, SUITE 1003 AUSTIN

TX 78746 WWW.VENTBIRD.COM

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OncetheplanetouchedthetarmacoftheCamagueyairportweexperiencedan

eloquenthandclappingthatfollowedthescratchingoftheplanetires(partoftheCubanculture)andsoonafteritstoppedinfrontoftheterminalweweredescendingthestairwaytofeeltheiconicCaribbeanbreezewithwarmairblowinginourfaces.WelcometoCuba!

Fromthefirstdaywesubmergedourselvesintoacountrysodifferenttoanyotherthateachdayturnedouttobebetterorradicallydifferentthanthepreviousone.Addtoitgreatcamaraderie,lotsoffun,greatmusicwithdancingopportunitiescombinedwithfieldtripsthathelpedeveryonetoabsorbmuchoftheCuba’scultureand–atthesametime–enjoysuperbviewsofallthepossibleCubanendemicbirdsandseveralregionalspecialties(exceptfortheGoundlach´sHawkthatwasseenonlybrieflyinflight).

ThefirstmorningwetookadrivefromthepicturesquecityofCamagueytoNajasaandfurthereasttoRanchoLaBelen.BothlocationsgaveustheopportunitytoseeourfirstCubanParrot(nearthreatened)andCubanParakeet(vulnerable).WealsosawCubanPalmCrow(nearthreatened)andtheunmistakableGiantKingbird(endangered).AsweenjoyedthesebirdswelearnedabouttheresearchconductedbyCamilo,thelocalexpertwho’spreparingamanuscripthighlightingunknown

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ecologicalaspectsofthebreedingbehavioroftheGiantKingbird.AnothertargetspecieswasthePlainPigeon(near-threatened),onethatwesawatclosedistance.ThetourcontinuedwithanafternoondrivetoJardinesdelReyarchipelago.Thegreenish-aquamarinebeachesofCayoCocohostedanewassortmentofendemicbirds.Inthedeciduousandsemi-deciduousforestwefoundasecretivepairofZapataSparrowandinscrubbiervegetationwenailedtheactiveCubanGnatcatcher.Also,ourfirstsightoftheCubanEmeraldwasalongtheroadtoCayoParedónGrande.IntheafternoonwespenttimeidentifyingwadersandphotographingtheelegantlydressedAmericanFlamingo.OurfollowingmorninginCayoCocofoundusatcrackofdawninCuevadelosJabalieswherewehappenedtoseeanunbelievable24individualsofKeyWestQuail-Dove(Iknowthatwehadtobetheretobelieveit!).Anotherawkwardexperiencewastosee(asinthepreviousyear)apairofClapperRailswimmingacrossamangrove-edgedchannel.Yet,oneofthemostmemorablemomentsthatmorningwashavingthecomicalanduniqueCubanTodyvirtuallysinginginfrontofourface.

FromCayoCocowetooktheroadsouth,totheCaribbeansideoftheisland.TheAnconpeninsulawasalocationwithmangrovesandbrackishwaterwetlands.Here,anicemixofwaderswasobservedallowingdetailedstudiesoftheirfieldmarks.AmongthespeciesseenbyeveryonewereSpottedandSolitarysandpipers,GreaterandLesseryellowlegs,WilletandtheuniqueWilson´sPloverguardingapotentialnestingsite.Largerwaterbirdsgavealsoaniceshowandthatincluded8speciesofArdeidae(egretsandherons)aswellasWhiteandGlossyibisesalongwithRoseateSpoonbill.AuniqueexperiencewastoseemorethanadozenBlack-neckedStilttogetherwithnearadozenAmericanAvocet,thelatterbeinganuncommonspeciesinCuba.

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FromtheAnconpeninsulawedrovefurtherwest,tothefamousZapatapeninsulawheretheZapatanationalparkandbiospherereservearelocated.ThisareaalsoishomeforthelargestwetlandintheCaribbean,theZapataswamp.HerewemetOrlando,arangerthatexplainedtherestorationprocessofthefloraandfaunainBermeja.Hehadcomewithanideatoattractoneofthemostdifficult-to-seebirdsinCuba:theBlue-headedQuail-Dove.Toputthingsinperspectiveletmeexplainthatbackintimewhentherewasn´tablindandOrlandowasn´tfeedingthequail-dovesitwasonlyamatteroflucktoseeanyofit.And,ifyouhappenedtogetaflashviewofanyspeciesofquail-doveyouwouldsingvictory!NowthatyouknowhowdifficultitcanbetoseethesemembersoftheColumbidaeletmeremindyouwhatwesaw.Areyouready?InacoupleofhoursinBermejawenailed4speciesofquail-dovesandthesewereBlue-headed,Ruddy,Gray-frontedandKeyWest.Wow!And,asabonusweendedthemorningseeingthesmallestbirdintheplanet,theBeeHummingbird(near-threatened).Doesitgetanybetterthatthis?Youbetwecontinuedtokeepbattingwell.FromtheZapatapeninsulawedroveallthewaytothewestsideoftheisland,toSoroa.Here,thelandscapesurroundingthehotelwasconsideredamongthefavoriteofthetour.AmorninginViñalesanditsfamousMogotesgaveusanotherendemicbird,TheCubanSolitaire.WiththisbeautifullandscapeweenjoyedthebestlunchofallintheFincaEcológicaandlaterwevisitedatobaccofarm.

OurlastdayinthefieldandpriortoourreturntoLaHabana(SpanishwayofHavana)wasspentinthesustainablecommunityofLasTerrazaswhereawonderfulcoffee,greatartistsandsuperbviewsoftheCubanGrassquit.Havingtoseethegrassquitroundedupasuccessfulbirdingpartofthetour.

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Ourpeople-to-peopletourtoCubaconcludedwithafulldayinthestreetsofOldHavanawhereweabsorbedadifferentangleofCubaamonggreatarchitecture,amazingpeople,wonderfuloldAmericancarsandaveryrichhistory.

NowthatyouhavelearnedmuchofCuba´sflora,faunaandpeopleIwanttoinviteyoutojoinusinotherdestinations,equallyinterestingandbeautifulbutremarkablydifferentfromthatoftheGreaterAntilles.TheAmazonCruiseWesailaboardasmallshiptoexploretheAmazonanditstributaries.UsingskiffswereachthefloodedforestandotherdistinctiveAmazonianhabitatssuchasthesedimentaryriverislandsandtheigapoforest.Weofferanoptionalwalktoterrafirmeforest.Non-birdingspousesliketojointhiscruisebecauseofthevarietyofwildlifeincludingseveralspeciesofprimatesandanoptionalvisittoacommunity.Youcanenjoythephotosandthevideoofour2016AmazonCruisein:Photoalbumhttps://www.flickr.com/photos/davidascanio/albums/72157663616158820

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Videolinkhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1b3xYG0cPSoThePanamaCanal:arelaxedandeasytour.Panamaistoenjoyfirstclassbirdingatarelaxedandeasypace.WespendmostofthenightsinasmallinnlocatedinthetownofGamboa(PanamaCanal).EnjoyshortwalksaroundthetownplusaboattriptotheChagresRiver.WevisitthefamousPipelineroadandvisittheCanopyTower,wherewecanseecanopyspeciesateyelevel.Seethephotosandthevideoofour2015PanamaCanaltourin:Photoalbumhttps://www.flickr.com/photos/davidascanio/albums/72157648765567967Videolinkhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgnkUxwd5kwCostaRica:arelaxedandeasytour.OurrelaxedandeasyCostaRicatourisforthosewhowishtoseebirdsatvariousaltitudinallevels,fromcloudforesttolowlandrainforest,allinslowpace.Weincludearidealongtheaerialtramandwealsolearnaboutthefloraandotherfaunaofthisspectacularcountry.Thistourisdesignedforseeinggaudyspeciessuchastanagersandhoneycreepersaswellasmanyhummingbirds.Wevisitvarioushummingbirdfeederstations.Seethephotosandvideoofour2015tourin:Photoalbumhttps://www.flickr.com/photos/davidascanio/albums/72157659475059484Videolinkhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzgD6NfVNSE Ihopetoseeyouagain!

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VENTCUBA3,2017FebruaryMarch14-25,2017Leader:DavidAscanio.ITINERARY14March.Miami.15March.FlighttoCamaguey.16March.RanchoLaBelen.DrivetoCayoCoco.17March.JardinesdelRey:CayoCoco,CayoParedonGrande&CayoGuillermo.18March.CayoCoco,Trinidad(Anconpeninsula).19March.ParqueElCubano.DrivetotheZapataPeninsula.20March.ZapataPeninsula:Bermeja,PalpiteandSoplillar.21March.SantoTomas,Havana&Soroa.22March.Viñales.23March.LasTerrazas&Havana.24March.OldHavana.25March.Departure.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/albums/ Photo album for this tour: https://www.flickr.com/photos/davidascanio/albums/72157683761073776

Waterfowl /Anatidae WestIndianWhistling-Duck.Dendrocygnaarborea.CayoCoco.NorthernShoveler.Anasclypeata.CayoCoco.Ring-neckedDuck.Aythya collaris. Shrimp farm, Soroa.Red-breastedMerganser.Mergusserrator.SeenatsideofthecausewaytoCayoCoco.

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

Flamingos/PhoenicopteridaeAmericanFlamingo.Phoenicopterusruber.ObservedincayoGuillermoandalongthecausewayoutofCayoCoco.

PigeonsandDoves/Columbidae

FeralPigeon,RockPigeon(I).Columbalivia.Commoninurbanareas.Scaly-napedPigeon.Patagioenassquamosa.SeenonlyinflightalongtheroadtoLasTerrazas.

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White-crownedPigeon.Patagioenasleucocephala.ZapatapeninsulaandSoroa.PlainPigeon.Patagioenasinornata.RanchoLaBelen.EurasianCollared-Dove(I).Streptopeliadecaocto.Widespreadinurbanareas.CommonGround-Dove.Columbinapasserina.Pairswereobservedaridscrubbyvegetationinalllocations.Seeneveryday.Blue-headedQuail-Dove(E).Starnoenascyanocephala.Oneofthefavoritespecies!TwoindividualswereseenatastakeoutsiteinBermejas.ABIGthankstoOrlandoforthis.RuddyQuail-Dove.Geotrygonmontana.OneindividualwasseenbackintheBermejatrailintheZapatapeninsula.Gray-frontedQuail-.Dove(E).Geotrygoncaniceps.WeenjoyedwonderfulviewsoffourindividualsinBermeja.KeyWestQuail-Dove.Geotrygonchrysa.24individualswereseeninCayoCoco.AnewtourrecordonlyclosetotheCuba2tour!AddingtheindividualsseeninBermejawenailed27individuals.White-wingedDove.Zenaidaasiatica.Acommonspeciesobservedinlowlandlocations.ZenaidaDove.Zenaidaaurita.Thiswasahard-to-seespeciesinotherAntilles.ItwasfairlycommonintheZapatapeninsula.MourningDove.Zenaidamacroura.Commonandwidespreadinopenareas.

Cuckoos/Cuculidae

GreatLizard-Cuckoo.Coccyzusmerlini.Lizard-cuckoosareamazingbirds.Notonlybecauseoftheirextravagantsizeandbehaviorbutfortheirvoice.WeenjoyedviewsintheZapatapeninsulaandSoroa.Smooth-billedAni.Crotophagaani.Afairlycommonspeciesfoundinlowlandopenhabitats.

Nightjarsandallies/CaprimulgidaeGreaterAntilleanNightjar(CubanNightjar).Antrostomuscubanensis.WeenjoyedgreatviewsofamaleinCayoCocoandlater,anothermaleintheZapatapeninsula.Wegotsuperbphotosofit.

Swifts/ApodidaeWhite-collaredSwift.Streptoprocnezonaris.SeenflyingabovetheroadnearCienfuegos.AntilleanPalm-Swift.Tachornisphoenicobia.Seenfrequentlyinlowlandopenhabitats.AcommonspeciesinCienfuegosbotanicalgardens.

Hummingbirds/TrochilidaeBeeHummingbird(E).Mellisugahelenae.Wesawfiveindividualsintwolocations,BermejaandPalpite.ThisisTHEsmallestbirdintheworldandonlyslightlylargerthantheVervainHummingbird,foundinHispaniola.CubanEmerald.Chlorostilbonricordii.AverycommonendemichummingbirdinCuba.Itwasseenalmosteveryday.

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Rails,GallinulesandCoots/Rallidae

ClapperRail.Ralluscrepitans.CayoCoco.Asingleindividualswimming!Later,wesawapairintheAnconpeninsula.CommonGallinule.Gallinulagaleata.RoadnearMoronandLasTerrazas.

Limpkin/AramidaeLimpkin.Aramusguarauna.OneindividualwasseenattheentranceoftheCienfuegosbotanicalgardens.

StiltsandAvocets/RecurvirostridaeBlack-neckedStilt.Himantopusmexicanus.CayoCoco.About40individuals.AmericanAvocet.Recurvirostraamericana.WesawhalfadozenindividualsintheAnconpeninsula.

PloversandLapwings/CharadriidaeBlack-belliedPlover.Pluvialissquatarola.CayoCoco.Wilson’sPlover.Charadriuswilsonia.ThreepairswerebehavingveryterritorialinthebeachesofawetlandneartheAnconpeninsula.Theywereprobablygettingclosetonest.SemipalmatedPlover.Charadriussemipalmatus.ApairinCayoCoco.Killdeer.Charadriusvociferous.Seeninseverallocations.

SandpipersandAllies/ScolopacidaeRuddyTurnstone.Arenariainterpres.TwoindividualswereobservedinCayoCoco.RedKnot.Calidriscanutus.Aboutthreeindividualswereseenthroughoutthescopeforagingwithseveralshort-billeddowitchers.CayoGuillermo.Short-billedDowitcher.Limnodromusgriseus.Morethantwohundredindividualswereobserved(andphotograph)inCayoGuillermo.SpottedSandpiper.Actitismacularia.AnconpeninsulaandricefieldsonroutetotheZapatapeninsula.SolitarySandpiper.Tringasolitaria.Ricefields.RoadtotheZapatapeninsula.GreaterYellowlegs.Tringamelanoleuca.25+indinAnconpeninsula.Willet.Tringasemipalmata.VariousindividualswereobservedinCayoCocoandtheAnconpeninsula.LesserYellowlegs.Tringaflavipes.Anconpeninsula.

Gulls,TernsandSkimmers/LaridaeLaughingGull.Leucophaeusatricilla.AcommonspeciesinCayoCocoandvicinity.Ring-billedGull.Larusdelawarensis.CayoCoco.CaspianTern.Hydroprognecaspia.ShrimpfarmnearSoroa.RoyalTern.Thalasseusmaximus.JardinesdelRey.

Frigatebirds/Fregatidae

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MagnificentFrigatebird.Fregatamagnificens.JardinesdelReyarchipelagoandAnconpeninsula.

Cormorants/PhalacrocoracidaeDouble-crestedCormorant.Phalacrocoraxauritus.CommoninJardinesdelReyarchipelago.

Anhinga/AnhingidaeAnhinga.Anhingaanhinga.Onlytwoindividuals,oneoneachlocation:CayoCocoandAnconpeninsula.

Pelicans/PelecanidaeBrownPelican.Pelecanusoccidentalis.Seenalmostdaily.

Herons,EgretsandBitterns/ArdeidaeLeastBittern.Ixobrychusexilis.SeenbyGlenda,BenandKathyon21stMarch.GreatBlueHeron.Ardeaherodias.CommoninCayoCocoandotherkeys.AlsoinwetlandsinSoroa.Weobserved2individualsinwhitemorphinCayoCoco.GreatEgret.Ardeaalba.Seeninvariouswetlands.SnowyEgret.Egrettathula.Seeninvariouswetlands.LittleBlueHeron.Egrettacaerulea.FoundinCayoCoco,LasTerrazasandtheshrimpfarm.TricoloredHeron.Egrettatricolor.CayoCoco.ReddishEgret.Egrettarufescens.WhitemorphindividualwereinCayoParedónGrande,CayoGuillermoandtheAnconpeninsula.Individualsinregularplumagewerealsoobserved.CattleEgret.Bubulcusibis.Seendaily.GreenHeron.Butoridesvirescens.CayoCoco,ricefieldsandLasTerrazas.Yellow-crownedNight-Heron.Nyctanassaviolacea.AboutadozenwerefoundinParqueElCubanoincludingsomenesting.

IbisesandSpoonbills/ThreskiornithidaeWhiteIbis.Eudocimusalbus.CayoCocoisnamedafterthisspecies(locallycalledcoco).VariouspairswereseeninCayoCocoandintheAonconpeninsula.GlossyIbis.Plegadisfalcinellus.RicefieldsandshrimpfarmnearSoroa.RoseateSpoonbill.Plataleaajaja.12+individuals.Anconpeninsula.

NewWorldVultures/CathartidaeTurkeyVulture.Cathartesaura.Seendaily.BenhighlightedthepotentialofCubaintheCathartidaeconservationinternationalcontextgiventhethreatthatseveralspeciesfaceinAfrica.ItisanumerousspeciesinCuba.

Osprey/PandionidaeOsprey.Pandionhaliaetus.FirstseeninCayoCocoandlaterintheshrimpfarmnearSoroa.

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Hawks,EaglesandKites/AccipitridaeSnailKite.Rosthramussociabilis.About5individualswereobservednearSoroa.Somejuvenileswereobserved.Gundlach´sHawk(E).Accipitergundlachi.AsingleindividualwasobservedbyfewparticipantsflyingveryfastabovethemangrovesintheAnconpeninsula.AlsoheardnearLasTerrazas.CubanBlackHawk(E)(CommonBlackHawk).Buteogallusanthracinus.SeeninJardinesdelRey.CommoninCayoGuillermo.NowadaystreatedasaCubanendemic,CubanBlackHawkButeogallusgundlachiibymosttaxonomists.Broad-wingedHawk.Buteoplatypterus.ThisisresidentandwidespreadintheAntilles.OneindividualwasseenalongtheroadtoLasTerrazas.Red-tailedHawk.Buteojamaicensis.Soroa.Stevesawadarkmorphindividual.

Barn-Owls/TytonidaeBarnOwl.Tytoalba.HeardinSoroa.

Owls/Strigidae

Bare-leggedOwl(E).Margarobyaslawrencii.TwoindividualswereobservedinnestslocatedinBermejasandfurthereastoftheZapatapeninsula.CubanPygmy-Owl(E).Glaucidiumsiju.ThisendemicowlofCubawasseeninParqueElCubano.StygianOwl.Asiostygius.WeenjoyedsuperbviewsofanadultandajuvenileinCienfuegos.WeoweaBIGthankyoutoAngelforfindingthisnest.

Trogons/TrogonidaeCubanTrogon(E).Priotelustemnurus.ThisisCuba´snationalbird.Pairswereseenalmostdaily.ThetermPriotelus(genus)meansanaccomplishedorcompletesawandreferstotheruggedappearanceofthetailfeathers.

Todies/TodidaeCubanTody(E).Todusmulticolor.Todiesareuniquebirds.Tome,theyresembleacartooncharacters.TheoneinCubaisthemostcolorfulofall.ItwasseeninCuevadelosJabalies.FossilevidencesuggeststhattodiesevolvedfromCentralAmericabutbecameextinctforunknownreasons.FivespeciesremainintheGreatAntilles.Thetodiesarerelativesofthemotmotsandmoredistantlytothekingfishers.

Kingfishers/AlcedinidaeBeltedKingfisher.Megacerylealcyon.CausewaytoJardinesdelRey.Alsoseenintheshrimpfarm.

Woodpeckers/PicidaeWestIndianWoodpecker.Melanerpessuperciliaris.Seendailyinthelowlands.ThisspeciesisarelativeofRed-belliedWoodpecker(ofNorthAmerica)andtheRed-crownedWoodpecker(ofSouthAmerica).ItisanotherWestIndiesspecialtyfoundinalltheGreaterAntilles.

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Yellow-belliedSapsucker.Sphyrapicus varius. Cayo Coco.CubanGreenWoodpecker(E).Xiphidiopicuspercussus.Thiswasoneofthetourparticipantfavorites.Wesawitfourtimes!NorthernFlicker.Colaptesauratus.CayoCocoandotherkeys.Fernandina'sFlicker(E).Colaptesfernandinae.WeobservedanestingpairintheZapatapeninsula,nearBermeja.

FalconsandCaracaras/FalconidaeCrestedCaracara.Caracaracheriway.SeeninCayoCoco,theZapataPeninsulaandSoroa.AmericanKestrel.Falcosparverius.Thiscommonandwidespreadspecieswasseeneveryday.ThepalesubspeciesfoundinCubaissparveroides.Andweobservedtwomorphs,thepaleandtherufousone.Merlin.Falcocolumbarius.AsingleindividualwasseeninTrinidad.PeregrineFalcon.Falcoperegrinus.OnewasseenbyPamelainOldHavana.

Parrots/PsittacidaeCubanParakeet(E).Aratingaeuops.Groupswereobservedinvariouslocations.NicestudiesinBermeja.WenoticeditssimilaritieswithScarlet-fronted,White-eyedandHispaniola´sparakeets.Thesespeciesmaybecloselyrelatedonetoanother.CubanParrot.Amazonaleucocephala.TwoindividualswereseeninLaBelenand20+otherintheZapatapeninsula.PreviouslyconsideredconspecificwithanotherparrotspeciesintheCaribbean.

TyrantFlycatchers/TyrannidaeCubanPewee(E).Contopuscaribaeus.Wesawitalmosteveryday.LaSagra'sFlycatcher.Myiarchussagrae.ThegenusMyiarchuscomprisessimilarandhard-to-tell-apartspeciesand,isdistributedfromsouthernUSAtoArgentina.InCubathere´sonlyoneoption,soitsidentificationisprettystraightforward.WecameacrossvariouspairsofLaSagra´sFlycatcher.Bytheway,itscommon(andspecific)nameisafterRamóndeLaSagra(1801-1871),aCubanwriterandnaturalist.HeauthoredHistoriafísica,políticaynaturaldelaisladeCuba,in1837.GrayKingbird.Tyrannusdominicensis.Variouspairswereobserved.NOTseeninthepreviousCubatourjustaweekbehind.Thesearelocalmigrantsandwerejustarrivingforthebreedingseason.LoggerheadKingbird.Tyrannuscaudifasciatus.Observedeveryday.Similartothepreviousonebutplumagecontrastsinheadarebolder.GiantKingbird(E).Tyrannuscubensis.NicestudiesofapairinRancholaBelen.Thisspeciesisthreatenedandapparentlyduetolostofhabitat.Furtherstudiesneeded(Camilo,ourlocalguideiscurrentlystudyingthebreedingbiologyofthisspecies).

Vireos/VireonidaeThick-billedVireo.Vireocrassirostris.TwopairswereobservedinCayoParedónGrande.ThesubspeciescubensisisrestrictedtothispartofCuba.CubanVireo(E).Vireogundlachii.Seenwellinvariouslocations.Quitevocal!

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Black-whiskeredVireo.Vireoaltiloquus.Heardinvariouslocations.Itwasseeninthesecondhalfofthetour.

Crows,JaysandMagpies/CorvidaePalmCrow.Corvuspalmarum.Nicestudiesofabout6individualsinRanchoLaBelén.Itisfoundinlargetracksofroyalpalmcontiguoustoforestedareas.CubanCrow.Corvusnasicus.FoudinRanchoLaBelén.ItwasalsoseenintheZapatapeninsulaandinSoroa.Wenoticeditsloudvoice.

Swallows/HirundinidaeCubanMartin.Prognecryptoleuca.ObservedinCayoCoco,TrinidadandViñales.TreeSwallow.Tachycinetabicolor.CommoninTrinidad.BankSwallow.Ripariariparia.AdozenindividualswereobservedinPlayaGirón.CliffSwallow.Petrochelidonpyrrhonota.CommoninTrinidadandtheAnconpeninsula.BarnSwallow.Hirundorustica.Trinidad&Anconpeninsula.

Wrens/TroglodytidaeZapataWren(E).Ferminiacerverai.Weobservedthisspeciessingingsome10feetfromus!Thisistheonlymemberofitsgenusandboth,thegenusandspecificnamearetakenfromthepersonathatapparentlyfirstcollectedit,FermínCervera.ENDANGERED.

Gnatcatchers/Polioptilidae

CubanGnatcatcher(E).Polioptilalembeyei.ApairwasobservedinCayoParedónGrande.

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

MockingbirdsandThrashers/MimidaeGrayCatbird.Dumetellacarolinensis.Seeninbushyhabitatatvariouslocations.BahamaMockingbird.Mimusgundlachii.IFitwasn´tforOdey´sperseveranceandcapacitytofinditwewouldhavemissthisspecies.AftermucheffortwesawitinCayoGuillermo(andabigthankyoutoAngelforfindingthisindividual!).NorthernMockingbird.Mimuspolyglottos.Common.Seendaily.

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Waxbillsandallies/EstrildidaeNutmegMannikinorScaly-breastedMunia.Lonchurapunctulata.50+wereseenfeedinginaseedingexoticbambooinCienfuegos.

OldWorldSparrows/Passeridae

HouseSparrow.Passerdomesticus.Commoninurbanareas.

NewWorldWarblers/ParulidaeOvenbird.Seiurusaurocapilla.SeeninBermejaandRestaurantElDivino.Worm-eatingWarbler.Helmitherosvermivorum.Bermeja,Zapatapeninsula.LouisianaWaterthrush.Parkesiamotacilla.LasTerrazas.ABorealmigrant.NorthernWaterthrush.Parkesianoveboracensis.Palpite,Zapatapeninsula.Black-and-whiteWarbler.Mniotiltavaria.JardinesdelReyarchipelagoandSoroa.Swainson´sWarbler.Limnothlypis swainsonii.NiceviewsinSoplillar.CommonYellowthroat.Geothlypisformosa.Seenfrequentlynearwetlands.AmericanRedstart.Setophagaruticilla.AcommonNeotropicalmigrantinCuba.CapeMayWarbler.Setophagatigrina.Seeninthefirsthalfofthetour.NorthernParula.Setophagaamericana.Seeninopencountryandgardensinurbanareas.YellowWarbler.Setophagapetechia.CayoCoco.Black-throatedBlueWarbler.Setophagacaerulescens.AcommonBorealmigrantseenalmosteveryday.PalmWarbler.Setophagapalmarum.ThisspeciesisamongthecommonestNeotropicalmigrantsinCuba.Itwasfoundinedgeofforest,scrubbyvegetationandgardens.Olive-cappedWarbler.Setophagapityophila.AnotherspecialtyoftheGreaterAntilles.ThisspeciesisonlyfoundinNBahamas,WandEofCuba.WeenjoyedviewsoftwopairsnearViñales.PineWarbler.Setophagapinus.CalledbyPamela,KatyandGlendainCuevadelosJabalíes.Yellow-rumpedWarbler.Setophagacoronata.CayoParedónGrande.Yellow-throatedWarbler.Setophagadominica.LABelenandRíoAzul.PrairieWarbler.Setophagadiscolor.LaBelen.Black-throatedGreenWarbler.Setophagavirens.SeenbyKathie,FrankandSteveinthelastdayofthetour.Yellow-headedWarbler(E).Teretistrisfernandinae.ApairwasobservedinViñalesandanotherpairnearLasTerrazas.OrienteWarbler(E).Teretistrisfornsi.FairlycommoninCayoCocoandCayoParedónGrande.

TanagersandAllies/ThraupidaeRed-leggedHoneycreeper.Cyanerpescyaneus.NiceviewsofapairinViñales.CubanGrassquit(E).Tiariscanorus.WeoweabigthankyoutoourguideofLasTerrazasfortakingustothebestsiteforthisspecieswherewegottoseemorethan12individuals!

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Yellow-facedGrassquit.Tiarisolivaceus.Thisisacommonspeciesthatwasseeninmostlocations.CubanBullfinch.Melopyrrhanigra.NEARTHRETATENED.Seenmainlyinforestedgeinvariouslocations.Extensivelytrappedforuseinbirdsoundcontest.

GeneraINCERTAESEDISWesternSpindalis.Spindaliszena.ThespindalisareendemictotheGreaterAntilles.Sometaxonomistsconsiderthemtobepartofthecardinalsratherthantothetanagers.ThislovelyspecieswasobservedinCayoCoco,CayoGuillermo,CayoParedónGrandeaswellasLasTerrazas.

Buntings,SparrowsandAllies/EmberizidaeZapataSparrow(E).Torreornisinexpectata.ENDANGERED,WeenjoyednicestudiesofapairinCayoCoco.Thefirstsubspeciesseenwasvaronai(thissubspecieswasdescribedin1981)inCayoCocoandthesecondonewasinexpectata,seenintheZapataswamp.

CardinalsandAllies/CardinalidaeSummerTanager.Pirangarubra.ItwasseeninBermejaandinSoroa.

TroupialsandAllies/IcteridaeRed-shoulderedBlackbird(E).Agelaiusassimilis.VULNERABLE.WeenjoyedsuperbviewsofthreeindividualsnearBermeja,intheZapataPeninsula.Tawny-shoulderedBlackbird.Agelaiushumeralis.Acommonlowlandspeciesinopenhabitats.CubanBlackbird(E).Divesatroviolaceus.Observedatvariouslocations.SometimestreatedasPtiloxenaatroviolacea.Itwasoriginallydescribedasagrackle,in1892. GreaterAntilleanGrackle.Quiscalusniger.Thisspeciesiswidespreadandtolerateshumanpresence,likeothergracklesofthegenus.Itwasseeneveryday.ShinyCowbird.Molothrusbonairensis.LasTerrazas.CubanOriole.Icterusmelanopsis.Wecameacrossthisspeciesinthreelocations.ThepopulationfoundinCubawasbelievedtobeconspecificwiththepopulationsinCentralAmericaandtheCaribbean.NowadaysitisacceptedasanendemicspeciesofCuba.OTHERSPECIESLISTMAMMALSCubanGreaterFunnel-earedBat.Chilonatalusmicropus.CuevadelosJabalíes.BigBrownBat.Eptesicusfuscus.CuevadelosJabalíes.REPTILESAllison´s(Blue-headed)Anole.Anolisallisoni.TropicalHouseGecko.Hemidactylusmabouia.IntroducedfromAfrica.OTHERSPECIES

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Arborealtermites.(Nasutitermes).CubanSnail.Polymitasp.Dragonfly.Jellyfish.