Observer les oiseaux sur l’île de Cuba (première partie)

Cuba has a remarkable avifauna, ranging from Bee Hummingbird, the world’s smallest bird, to several very rare species, and including some 22 endemic species: Cuban Green Woodpecker Xiphidiopicus percussus, Fernandina`s Flicker Colaptes fernandinae, Cuban Trogon Priotelus temnurus, Cuban Tody Todus multicolor,  Cuban Parakeet Aratinga euops, Bee Hummingbird Mellisuga helenae, Bare-legged Owl Otus lawrencii, Cuban Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium siju, Blue-headed Quail-Dove Starnoenas cyanocephala, Zapata Rail Cyanolimnas cerverai, Gundlach`s Hawk Accipiter gundlachi, Giant Kingbird Tyrannus cubensis, Cuban Vireo Vireo gundlachii,  Cuban Solitaire Myadestes elisabeth, Zapata Wren Ferminia cerverai, Cuban Gnatcatcher Polioptila lembeyei,  Zapata Sparrow Torreornis inexpectata, Yellow-headed Warbler Teretistris fernandinae, Oriente Warbler Teretistris fornsi, Cuban Grassquit Tiaris canora, Red-shouldered Blackbird Agelaius assimilis and Cuban Blackbird Dives atroviolacea.
And Cuba is also the home of the most important colony of Red Flamingoes (Phoenicopterus ruber ruber) in the Americas, and a very important stop-over of neaotropical migrants (Warblers, Ducks and Waders). In addition to tall its endemic species, Cuba is the only island in the Caribbean where Sandhill Cranes are found, and then only in a handful of coastal areas.
Cuba is currently unique in having hardly any public transport and very few hotels, restaurants and shops. However, a trip can be reasonably pleasant and cheap if a car is hired.
This first article about Cuba presents the birding spots of the area between The Havana and the Guanahacabibes peninsula,  the Cienaga de Zapata and the Isla de la Juventud. Read also our second article Observer les oiseaux sur l’île de Cuba (deuxième partie).