The diverse regions of the Dominican Republic provide habitat to a large population of birds with over 300 recorded species and 30 endemics. The many National Parks in the country offer some of the best locations to encounter these colorful winged friends, with the Sierra de Bahoruco being the number one site in the country. Over 50 species reside in this region including 26 of the endemics. Not only is this area number one for birding in the DR, it is also one of the best in the entire Caribbean for its density of birds. Some of the endemics encountered there are the Bay-breasted Cuckoo (Hyetornis rufigularis), Hispaniolan Lizard-cuckoo (Pajaro Bobo), Hispaniolan Parrot (Amazona ventralis), Hispaniolan Parakeet (Aratinga chloroptera), Hispaniolan Crossbill (Loxia megaplaga), La Salle Thrush (Turdus swalesi), Eastern Chat-tanager (Calyptophilus frugivorus), Western Chat-tanager (Calyptophilus tertius), Grey-headed Quail-dove (Geotrygon caniceps), White-winged Warbler (Xenoligea Montana), White-necked Crow (Corvus leucognaphalus), and the Golden Swallow (Tachycineta euchrysea). The rare Black-capped Petrel (Pterodroma hasitata) also makes it home here, flying in from the sea in the evenings to nest in the cliffs in the higher altitudes of the mountains. Because of its vastness and remote, rugged location an early start is needed (before dawn) to make the best use of your time in this wilderness. The town of Barahona (approximately 3 hours west from the capital city of Santo Domingo) is probably the best place to stay with a variety of accommodations to choose from, however it is still over an hour drive from there to the nearest birding sites. The roads in the Bahoruco can be a bit tricky to say the least, so be sure you’re traveling in a 4-wheel drive vehicle with good clearance.

Another popular site for birding is the Reserva de Ebano Verde, a scientific reserve of 23 square kilometers that was established in 1989, to preserve the Green Ebony tree and huge Dominican Magnolias, along with the wildlife that inhabits the region. This area has a good variety of birdlife such as Red Tailed Hawk (Buteo j. jamaicensis), Striped Headed Tanager (Spindalis zena), Hispaniolan Emerald (Chlorostilbon swainsonii), Hispaniolan Trogon (Priotelus roseigaster), Hispaniolan Pewee (Contopus hispaniolensis), along with the Palm Tanager, Golden Swallow, and Eastern Chat Tanager that are also seen in the Sierra de Bahoruco. A further distance from Ebano Verde there are other sites at Valle Nuevo and La Cienaga where you will encounter basically the same species. From the capital of Santo Domingo, it is approximately one and a half hours drive north, or a one hour drive south of the city of Santiago to reach the Reserva de Ebano Verde. The highways are in good condition but be prepared for a good hike once you reach the park’s trails.

Within the Parque Nacional Jaragua is the 28 square kilometer Laguna Oviedo that provides habitat to the largest population of flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber) in the Dominican Republic, along with over 60 species of mostly aquatic birds. Included in these you will see the Great Egret (Adrea albus), Magnificent frigate (Fregata magnificens), Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea), Green Heron (Butorides virescens maculate), Green-tailed Warbler (Microligea palustris¬), Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola cynosurae), Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres morinella), Willet (Catoptrophorus s. semipalmatus), plus many others. Two other great choices to view waders and shorebirds are Parque Nacional Los Haitises and Salinas de Bani. Los Haitises is located in the northeast of the country and is easy to reach by boat from either Sanchez or Santa Barbara de Samana. In addition to a large variety of aquatics it is also home to the Ridgeway’s Hawk (Buteo ridgwayi) and many other endemics. Salinas de Bani is approximately one hour west of Santo Domingo and once you reach the town of Bani you make a left turn and head south. In addition to being a popular spot for birders it is quite an interesting region to visit to see the salt flats and sand dunes that cover an area of about twenty square kilometers and are the largest dunes in the Caribbean.

Parque Nacional del Este in the southeast corner of the country is another exceptional site with over one hundred species of birds including the Flat-billed Vireo (Vireo nanus), Black-whiskered Vireo (Vireo a. altiloquus), Antillean Piculet (Nesoctites micromegas), Hispaniolan Parrot (Amazona ventralis) and a large variety of shorebirds among the coastal swamps and lagoons, especially on Isla Saona. This Park is situated in close proximity to a number of all-inclusive resorts so for those who may want to “kill-two-birds-with-one-stone” (figuratively speaking of course!) for both a beach and birdwatching holiday, it is an excellent location.

There are sixteen National Parks in the Dominican Republic (click here to read more on Dominican Repulic National Parks), along with many Scientific Reserves, Wildlife Sanctuaries, and National Marine Parks. Any and all of them provide habitat to a great variety of birdlife though the ones referred to in the above paragraphs are some of the top sites. The Botanical Gardens in Santo Domingo has a good showing of endemics and shorebirds, and is definitely worth a visit for nature lovers, or just as a nice start to your birding vacation. At 445 acres it is the largest botanical garden in the Caribbean. It is advisable to take the little train that takes visitors around the gardens so you can take it all in without wearing out your feet, and especially in the temperatures that one can experience during certain months of the year.

Birdwatching has become an increasingly popular activitiy in the Dominican Republic over the years and there is a number of good, reputable companies located in the country that offer birding tours, as well as an active Ornithological Society (the Hispaniola Ornithological Society) in Santo Domingo.

Following is a listing of the endemic birds of the Dominican Republic by their names in English, then Spanish, and their scientific name: