Endemics of the Greater Antilles

Islands we will visit on this trip: Jamaica, Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico

Overview

On this epic multi-island adventure we travel to three of the islands boasting the greatest number of single island endemics in the entire Caribbean! The opportunity to bird Jamaica (28 single-island endemics), Dominican Republic (33 single-island endemics) and Puerto Rico (18 single-island endemics) on the same tour is for many birders a dream come true. In addition to the endemics, these islands are also home to a host of near-endemics, endemic subspecies, and range-restricted regional specialties. It is entirely possible to see well over 300 species on this trip!

Over the course of 2 utterly enthralling weeks, we explore a wide array of diverse habitats, drawing on years of experience birding the islands of the Caribbean, in order to take you to seldom-birded and little-known sites, where we get you closer than many imagine possible to some of the most highly coveted and often critically endangered endemics in the region. On their own each of these islands can offer birders a wonderful birding experience in the company of a wealth of species… but when combined, these three magical islands offer a veritable feast of birdlife that is truly staggering. The economic advantage of making one rather than three separate international return flights to see the unique species of each of these stunningly beautiful and varied islands is also not insignificant.

Join us on a multi-nation trip that is sure to satisfy your appetite for adding a variety of stunning Caribbean species to your life list in a relatively short amount of time.

Upcoming Tour Dates

2024

• April 23rd - May 6th: Private Trip - fully booked.

2025

• April 28th - May 11th: Fully booked. Contact us here if you would like to be placed on the waitlist for this tour.

2026

• April 10th - 23rd: Fully booked. Contact us here if you would like to be placed on the waitlist for this tour.

2027

• April 12th - 24th: Fully booked. Contact us here if you would like to be placed on the waitlist for this tour.

Alternatively, if you would like us to arrange a private Endemics of the Greater Antilles trip for you and a group of your birding friends, please contact us by clicking here.

Tour Price

From USD$6940 per person - for detailed pricing please scroll to the bottom of this page.

Tour Leader

Our Endemics of the Greater Antilles tour is led by Barbados-born Ryan Chenery, co-owner and founder of Birding the Islands Ltd. Ryan is the author of the Birds of the Lesser Antilles HELM field guide (available to purchase in stores worldwide and online). He has over 2 decades’ worth of experience guiding clients through the Caribbean and South America and leads birding trips throughout the world both for our company and for several other international birding companies. Click here for a little bit more about Ryan.

Past Trip Reports

• April/May 2024 (private trip): to download this trip report please click here

Sample Daily Itinerary

DAY 1: JAMAICA

Jamaica… just the name conjures the image of stunning white sand beaches, glittering turquoise waters and palm trees swaying in the breeze. The third largest island in the Caribbean, Jamaica boasts a wide variety of habitats - from coastal wetlands and moist montane forest to dry sweeping savannahs and verdant tropical forest - all of which combine to support a hugely impressive 28 endemic bird species and an incredible array of regional specialties. For its size, the levels of endemism amongst flora, reptiles, amphibians, and of course birds, are some of the highest and most distinctive in the world. Jamaica is an island positively bursting with life - truly a must for any birder! 

Upon arrival at the Norman Manley International Airport outside the country’s capital of Kingston, and adjacent to the village of Port Royal (once the largest and most significant city in the Caribbean!), you are collected by pre-arranged transport and taken to your hotel to check in.

Following our welcome dinner - the first of many delicious meals infused with Caribbean flavours that will be enjoyed on this trip - we get straight to birding, by heading out under the light of our head torches to look for nocturnal dwellers such as the subspecies of American Barn-owl (furcata), Chuck-will’s Widow, Northern Potoo, and of course, Jamaican Owl.

DAY 2

Departing early in the morning to take advantage of the cooler temperatures and heightened bird activity, we make our way towards the dry scrubland in the south of the island. This arid wilderness, which at first glance may seem a rather hostile and barren environment, has actually been legally protected since 1999…..and with good reason. This expanse of land in the heart of the Hellshire Hills is a natural refuge and last stronghold of the endemic Jamaican Iguana - a relic from times past, and a species which due to human action  is now critically endangered (and at one point was even considered extinct!).

It is here we will encounter many of our first Jamaican endemics, namely Jamaican Vireo, Jamaican Mango and Yellow-shouldered Grassquit. Other target species in the area include the near-endemic Stolid Flycatcher as well as the Greater Antillean Bullfinch (it is also one of only two places on the island where the Bahama Mockingbird can be found). Although there have been unconfirmed reports of sightings of Jamaican Pauraque here, there has not been an official sighting since the 1860s. But you never know...

Following lunch at a local eatery, we make our way towards the internationally renowned Blue Mountains - our base for the next two nights - stopping along the way at a site which promises up-close views of one of the island’s two endemic Amazona species: Yellow-billed Parrot. Slightly larger than its Black-billed counterpart, this chunky parrot is a study in colour, and the individual variations in the vividness of its complex markings make each sighting unique.

After dinner, we have another try for the endemic Jamaican Owl and Northern Potoo (in case our first night’s outing was unsuccessful).

DAY 3

Recently designated as a World Heritage Site, the Important Bird Area of the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park is a haven for birdlife, and the birding in this area is nothing short of astounding. While the highest mountain is 2256m, our birding will be concentrated along the famous bird highway of Hardwar Gap, about halfway up towering Blue Mountain Peak. Here, we will target the tricky Crested Quail-Dove and threatened Jamaican Blackbird. The haunting song of the former (earning it the local nickname “mountain witch”) emanates from the dense forest lining the roads along which it can sometimes be seen wandering. The latter, in its own genus Nesopar, favours the tangled vines and bromeliads below the canopy, and this is one of the best sites on the island for this particular (and rather peculiar) Icterid.

Other species we will be on the lookout for today include Chestnut-bellied Cuckoo (locally known as the “old man bird”) and Jamaican Lizard-Cuckoo, Blue Mountain Vireo, Jamaican Elaenia, Rufous-tailed Flycatcher, Jamaican Woodpecker, and the charming Jamaican Tody (which often offers very close encounters). It is also here that we will have our best sightings of the majestic Red-billed Streamertail - endemic to Jamaica, and the island’s national bird. 

This afternoon, we are afforded the opportunity to experience the unique culture of the rural community of Blue Mountain Coffee farmers, and of course sample what is widely regarded as some of the richest and most flavourful coffees on the planet. The views over the coffee fields are also quite simply jaw-dropping. After spending the entire day in the Blue Mountains, it is quite possible that we will have spotted half of the island’s endemics by the time we head back to our lodge for a flavourful home-style dinner!

DAY 4

Waking to the same rich aromas of the freshly-brewed Blue Mountain coffee we saw being produced yesterday, we enjoy a leisurely breakfast before continuing our exploration of the surrounding cloud forest. Endemic ‘cousins’ White-chinned and White-eyed Thrush should provide good looks, and the ethereal song of the Rufous-throated Solitaire should help us to locate Jamaica’s rather shy endemic subspecies (solitarius). The simply spectacular and truly unique colouring of the endemic Jamaican Spindalis make it easily recognisable in its abundance, and the endemic Arrowhead Warbler is also reliably found here.

Departing the Blue Mountains in the late morning, we travel northeast through the scenic Buff Bay River Valley and along the north coast to the parish of Portland. Following a local lunch, we settle into our villas to enjoy a relaxed afternoon.

DAY 5

From December to April, White-tailed Tropicbirds nest in Jamaica, and we depart early this morning in order to enjoy the aerial acrobatics of this elegant seabird before making our way to the single most endemic-rich site in the entire Caribbean - the incomparable Ecclesdown Road.

Here we will concentrate our birding on species not yet sighted, including the second of the island’s endemic Amazona species Black-billed Parrot, the jet black Jamaican Crow, and the glorious endemic Black-billed Streamertail - now restricted to the far east of the island, where it emphatically defends its territory from the incursions of its Red-billed counterpart!

In addition, the endemic Orangequit should provide excellent views, and other endemics possible include Jamaican Becard, Jamaican Pewee, Sad Flycatcher, Ring-tailed Pigeon, and Jamaican Euphonia, Large and Small Jamaican Elaenias; along with near-endemic Vervain Hummingbird.

As the sun sets on our incredible birding journey through this remarkably species-rich island, we make our way back to Norman Manley International Airport to catch a 90-minute flight to the second largest island in the Greater Antilles. Touching down at Las Américas International Airport, we are collected by pre-arranged transport and taken to our hotel in the oldest European city in the New World, and the capital city of the Dominican Republic: Santo Domingo. 

DAY 6: THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

The Dominican Republic offers truly spectacular birding. Its landscapes are not only the most extreme in the region - with the tallest mountains, the largest lakes, and the longest rivers - but its habitats are also the most diverse - ranging from moist montane forest, to sun-baked desert. It is also the only Caribbean island with a deep and extensive interior, and it is the combination of all of these aspects that have resulted in it being home to the largest number of single-island endemics in the entire Caribbean. Although Hispaniola (of which the Dominican Republic covers approximately two thirds) is the second largest island in the Caribbean, the majority of the birding is actually concentrated within a relatively compact area, meaning that no fewer than thirty-one species found nowhere else on the planet (including some such as the Palmchat which remain enigmas to ornithologists), can potentially be sighted without the need for long drives on a daily basis, or internal flights. 

A morning visit to a site close to our hotel will give us a fabulous introduction to the island’s avifauna. In this quiet oasis, we are likely to have encounters with endemic Hispaniolan Woodpecker, Black-crowned Palm-Tanager, Broad-billed Tody, Hispaniolan Mango, and Hispaniolan Lizard-Cuckoo. Other species of note here include: near-endemic Vervain Hummingbird (considered by most to be the world’s second-smallest bird), insular form of American (Hispaniolan) Kestrel, Antillean Palm-Swift, threatened West Indian Whistling-Duck, and the rather dashing Red-legged Thrush can also be found here, along with the bizarre, and utterly unique endemic Palmchat - which constructs gargantuan communal nests in palm trees.

From here, we begin our journey west to the impressive Sierra de Bahoruco, on the slopes of which can be found all but two of the island’s endemic species! We make a stop along the way to this sensational birding site at one of the most productive wetlands on the island. The landscape here is stunning, as vast salt pans, sand dunes, interdunal swales and mangroves intertwine to provide near-perfect habitat for shorebirds, seabirds and over-wintering warblers including Blackpoll and Prairie Warblers, Northern Waterthrush, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Magnificent Frigatebird, Brown Boobies, and a variety of other species of wader, waterfowl and heron.

Following a local lunch in a nearby small municipality (one of the oldest European settlements in the Americas - founded in 1504), we visit the shores of the largest lake in the insular Caribbean, and the remnant of a channel that once divided Hispaniola into two islands. At this hyper-saline wetland, lying an incredible 40m below sea level, our primary goal is the endemic Hispaniolan Palm Crow, but also very possible are American Flamingo (which can sometimes be seen in their hundreds here), Roseate Spoonbill, White-necked Crow (Hispaniola’s other endemic crow), Hispaniolan Parrot, the globally-scarce Plain Pigeon, Greater Antillean Bullfinch and Greater Antillean Grackle.

A small, comfortable hotel in Barahona is our accommodation for tonight. 

DAY 7

This morning, we enter the protected cloud forests that punctuate this imposing mountain range. Dominated by primary forest, (including one of Hispaniola’s only magnolia (hammerii) forests, and the largest forest of the endemic Manacle Palm), this region is home to the only known population of the Eastern Chat-Tanager south of the Enriquillo Basin. Other species possible in this spectacular region include: endemics Hispaniolan Trogon, White-fronted Quail-Dove, Hispaniolan Spindalis, Antillean Siskin, Hispaniolan Pewee, Golden Swallow, recently promoted full endemic Hispaniolan Euphonia, Scaly-naped Pigeon, and Rufous-throated Solitaire. Here, too, the Bicknell’s Thrush can be found over-wintering.

Lunch will be taken in the port city of Barahona, following which we continue west to a narrow strip of riparian habitat where targets include both endemic species of tody (Broad-billed and Narrow-billed), as well as Bay-breasted Cuckoo, Antillean Piculet, Flat-billed Vireo, and Hispaniolan Oriole. After a productive day birding, we head to a small, independently-owned ecolodge located close to our birding sites for the next two days. A stay here is truly an experience in which you are ‘at one with nature’, and one that will not soon be forgotten.

DAY 8

A pre-dawn start sees us head north to a site deep in the heart of elfin forest, which will give us our best opportunity for encounters with endemics La Selle Thrush, White-winged Warbler, and Western Chat-Tanager. On our ascent into this montane habitat, we’ll listen out for nocturnal endemics Hispaniolan Nightjar, and Least Pauraque returning to roost. Other highlights may include Hispaniolan Emerald and Green-tailed Warbler, and the insular form of Loggerhead (Hispaniolan) Kingbird.

After birding the high elevation broadleaved forest, we will head further uphill into the pines to look for the gregarious endemic Hispaniolan Crossbill and the insular subspecies of Pine Warbler. 

Lunch is taken at the base of the mountain, followed by an afternoon to enjoy relaxed birding in the surroundings of our eco- lodge.

As the sun sets, we head out to explore by the light of our head torches for species such as Least Pauraque, Ashy-faced Owl, the insular subspecies of Burrowing Owl (Hispaniolan), Northern Potoo, and Chuck-will’s-widow, before returning to our lodge for dinner. 

DAY 9

Our final morning in the Sierra de Bahoruco will give us the opportunity to mop up any high-elevation specialists not yet seen, potentially the relatively difficult Bay-breasted Cuckoo and Hispaniolan Crossbill. 

Lunch will be taken in the field as we bird our way back to Santo Domingo, where we will enjoy dinner in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Ciudad Colonial.

DAY 10

This morning, we start early and take a scenic drive northeast to one of the last strongholds of the endemic and critically endangered Ridgway’s Hawk. Deforestation and hunting have reduced this wonderfully majestic species to (at most) 200 individuals - all confined to a relatively small protected area in the northeast of the island. Yet even here, the actions of humans threaten this hawk's existence, as agricultural practices continue to encroach on what is already an incredibly restricted range. Its greatest threat, however, comes from misidentification by local people, who shoot it in an effort to protect their poultry. Local environmental education campaigns have been launched to inform the local population about the differences between this scarce species and the more common Red-tailed Hawk, which does, occasionally, prey on domestic chickens. Despite the best efforts of conservationists it may not be long before this precious species is lost forever.

Following a lunch of freshly caught fish in the village of Sabana de la Mar, we make our way back back towards Santo Domingo, where we visit a Hispaniolan Parakeet roost in the heart of the Colonial Zone, before settling into our hotel for the evening.

DAY 11 : PUERTO RICO

Leaving behind the large island of Hispaniola, we take a short hour-long flight to her relatively diminutuve neighbour Puerto Rico - the easternmost island in the Greater Antilles, and an island home to at least 17 species of bird found nowhere else on the planet.

Upon arrival at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, we are collected by pre-arranged transport and whisked away from the sprawling metropolis of San Juan to an intact patch of native woodland (one of the largest lowland tracts of forest in the north of the island). This site supports many of the island’s widespread endemic species, and is an especially reliable site for the Puerto Rican Lizard-Cuckoo. which is common, but can be rather elusive. 

The well demarcated trails through the rainforest at our next stop for the day should provide us with good looks at such species as the striking endemic Puerto Rican Bullfinch, brilliant-green endemic Puerto Rican Tody, Lesser Antillean Pewee (Puerto Rico), Adelaide’s Warbler, noisy Puerto Rican Vireo, unassuming Puerto Rican Flycatcher and near-endemic Puerto Rican Mango, along with other Antillean and wider Caribbean specialities. 

Following lunch in the field, we continue south to the best site on the island to see the endemic and critically endangered Puerto Rican Parrot, as well as the endangered endemic subspecies of Broad-winged Hawk and critically endangered “Puerto Rican” Sharp-shinned Hawk - an endemic subspecies (venator) which may soon be recognised as a full species, but is in imminent danger of becoming extinct before this happens. While we wait for the parrot to come into  roost, we have a good chance of picking up a significant number of the remaining endemics, before we make our way to the dry coastal forests of the south for the Puerto Rican Nightjar. 

We will then have a late dinner at our hotel followed by a well-deserved night’s rest (unless, of course, you are feeling adventurous enough to take a dip in the bioluminescent bay before bed!).

DAY 12

The southwest of the island provides the most reliable sites for Yellow-shouldered Blackbird - an endangered species that spends a great deal of its time feeding off discards from the breakfast table. Indeed, we may be fortunate enough to see it without leaving our hotel grounds! 

From here, we head to a well-known site for Puerto Rican Woodpecker, before making our way into the lush montane forests, where the undoubted star of the show is the rare Elfin Woods Warbler. A relatively new species, having only been discovered in 1971, this species tends to remain partially hidden amongst the dense vegetation, but it will generally reveal itself to the fortunate and persevering birder! 

This biodiverse and verdant habitat is also home to many of the island’s other endemics and endemic subspecies such as Puerto Rican Tanager, Puerto Rican Oriole, Puerto Rican Spindalis, Antillean Euphonia (Puerto Rico), and Loggerhead Kingbird (Puerto Rico) together with the distinctively iridescent Puerto Rican Emerald and impressive Green Mango. This evening, we will target the Puerto Rican Screech-Owl before returning to our beachfront accommodation.

DAY 13

Returning to the rainforest this morning should provide us with an opportunity to mop up any remaining endemics not yet seen, as well as a number of regional specialties.

We return to San Juan this afternoon, where we enjoy a farewell dinner, and take time to reminisce over what promises to have been a simply sublime birding adventure!

DAY 14

Following a relaxed breakfast at our hotel, we board pre-arranged airport transfers to Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport for our homeward flights.

Pricing

2025

Tour Price: USD$6940 (based on Double Occupancy Rates and maximum number of clients per tour). Single Supplement, i.e. if you would prefer to have a single room for the duration of your tour, there is an additional charge of: USD$670

2026

Tour Price: TBC

Included in Price: All scheduled and stated flights between islands; local taxes; airport departure taxes; all accommodations; pre-arranged food; water with meals and on birding outings; transport to and from birding destinations on all islands; park admission fees; local guide fees; gratuities; and hotel and restaurant service charges.

Not Included in Price: Your international flights; any regional flights after the tour has finished - should you wish to return home from a different island to that on which the tour finishes; extra charges incurred for overweight or additional pieces of luggage on international or regional flights; travel insurance; laundering services; drinks; and items of a purely personal nature.

Tour Info

Number of species that will possibly be seen on tour: 300+

Number of endemics likely to be seen on tour: 76 (28 + 31 + 17)

Group Size: Maximum of 7 clients and your Birding the Islands Leader (plus additional guide if the group is at the maximum number of participants)

Terrain and Pace: We cover a diverse range of terrain on this trip. Trails are primarily well maintained and relatively level. Any light to moderate ascents are conducted at a slow, steady pace with plenty of opportunities to rest along the way. There are a few steeper sections of path, and walking poles are recommended if you would usually use these for walking off-road.

Please note that the above itinerary and pricing is subject to change.