In the Caribbean we are blessed with more than 30 species of ducks, with resident species joined by migratory visitors in fall and winter — with the occasional (exciting) ‘rare’ bird showing up too! Male ducks in breeding plumage typically sport colorful features that make identification easier, even when species look similar. 

But, what about females, immatures, and males out of breeding plumage (known as ‘eclipse males’)? Fear not — we’re here to help you identify the tricky ‘brown ones’. Read on for some great tips! 

In this guide we’ll focus on females of five common migratory ducks that pass through or winter in the Caribbean, with ‘bonus’ tips on four additional, less common species. We will also touch on some of the rarer species that visit the Caribbean which can be easily mixed up with the common ones.

Before you dive in — take a look and see how many of our five species you can already identify! 

Blue-winged Teal

These are one of the most common duck visitors to the Caribbean! Even females are often unmistakable in flight thanks to the powder-blue on the wing. This is shared by Northern Shoveler (see next), but the blue for the shoveler is less extensive and they also have bold white on the wing — which the teals lack. 

When swimming look for the dark eye-line and black bill. Males in eclipse plumage may also show a faint ‘ghost’ of the white ‘crescent’ mark behind the bill, seen when they are in breeding plumage.

While similar, Green-winged Teal females (see below) are a warmer brown, and have a cream stripe at the rear. You may also spot some of the green on the wing, even when they are swimming. 

Northern Shoveler 

This duck might be known as the ‘Hollywood Mallard’ for the male’s flashy looks — but females are more demure. Like many female ducks, they show heavily marked brown-buff plumage — but their large spoon-shaped bill is a dead giveaway.

You can also look for a wash of powder blue on the leading edge of the wing in flight, combined with a white stripe.  

American Wigeon

Breeding male American Wigeons bring glamour to the wetland! With a green eye patch and white crown, males are hard to mis-identify. Females and non-breeding males are more subtle, but you can recognize these short-billed ducks from the rusty, warm brown tones of their body plumage. 

Females look plainer and less mottled than other female brown ducks, with a gray-brown head with that dark smudge around the  eyes. Look also for the pale bill with a black tip. 

The similar Eurasian Wigeon is a rare visitor to the Caribbean and can cause confusion. Breeding male American and Eurasian Wigeons look quite different. The American Wigeon shows a striking green stripe behind the eye, has a gray brown head and white cap. In contrast Eurasian males have a chestnut head and buff cap. However, females can be hard to separate. Look for the grayer, ‘colder’ colored head in the American Wigeon — and in flight, American Wigeons show white under the wing, whilst Eurasians are silvery gray.

A Quick Feeding Tip!

The way ducks feed can also help narrow down your ID. The ducks above are all ‘dabbling ducks’ — you’re likely to see them in shallow water, tipping head down, tail up in the air. 

The next two species are ‘diving ducks’ — they dive head-first underwater when feeding, completely disappearing beneath the surface. 

Ring-necked Duck

Despite the name, the male’s chestnut collar across its black neck is hard to see in the field—so don’t rely on it!  Females have a brown-gray body, and pale white feathers around the base of the bill. Their heads feature a brown cap that contrasts with its gray face and white eye-ring. 

Their bills are also helpful: look for the distinctive white a white band across it near the tip. Males in eclipse plumage display a brown plumage with brown-black head, breast, and back. They can be distinguished from females by their bright yellow eyes and lack of an eye-ring.

Lesser Scaup

Female Less Scaups are a warm chocolate brown. Unlike the Ring-necked Duck, their head and face is almost entirely brown, with a white patch that varies in size just behind the bill, and yellow eyes. 

Males have black heads with purple/green iridescence, a black neck and breast, white sides, and greyish marbled looking backs. Both sexes have a white wing-stripe, which runs half-way along the trailing edge of the upper wing, and is visible in flight.   

This species is very similar to the far rarer Greater Scaup. The best way to tell them apart is by head shape — the Lesser Scaup’s head is narrower and egg-shaped with a peak near the back of the head, while the head of the Greater Scaup is more rounded. In addition, the sides and back of the Greater Scaup are lighter.

And the rest… 

We’ve covered the five most common species of migratory ducks found in the Caribbean — let’s now consider a few less common but noteworthy species.

The Mallard is what most people think of when they picture a duck. Males have a distinctive glossy green head, yellow bill, and bright orange legs and feet. Females and young males are mottled brown, with a dark bill. They may resemble female shovelers but lack the massive bill! In flight, look for the blue wing-patch bordered with white.

Gadwalls are subtly patterned and can look dull at first glance. Females can resemble female mallards, but have a thinner, darker bill and no blue-wing patch. In flight, look for small, white wing patches that are a distinctive feature of this species .

Male Green-winged Teals have a green stripe behind the eye, similar to American Wigeons, but lack the white ‘forehead’ and are MUCH smaller. Females can look like female blue-winged Teals, but again are smaller (see above). Remember, you can look for the cream stripe at the rear of Green-winged Teals — and in flight, as the name suggests, they have green wing patches.

Finally, let’s consider the Northern Pintail. This duck has a distinctive elegant silhouette that sets both the males and females apart. They are long necked and long tailed. Even though the female is brown, her silhouette distinguishes her from other ‘brown ducks’. Whilst she does not have the VERY long tail of the male, she still appears longer in the tail than other ducks. She also has a chestnut-coloured face that is less patterned and plainer looking than other female ducks. 

We hope this guide has set you on the path of duck ID enlightenment! There are of course several other species of duck that are found in the region, either as year-round residents or rarer visitors. We highly recommend using your field guide, taking photos when possible, and exploring resources like Birds of the World, which is free to access in the Caribbean thanks to our partnership with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. For trickier, rarer migrants, be sure to check out the All About Birds pages from Cornell, where you can compare similar species side-by-side.

Good luck and happy duck spotting! 

You can view all the graphics, plus a ‘bonus’ quiz in this pdf booklet:

We’ve made an ID card that you can download, print as a two-sided 8.5×11 page, and laminate for easy reference in the field. 

Just click the image to download the pdf file. 

For more waterbird ID tips and tricks, check out:

You’ve Spotted a White Egret or Heron! But Which of the 7 is it?

Caribbean Waterbird Census

Every year, migratory birds traverse the globe, with many making the Caribbean their stopover or winter home. Under the 2025 theme, “Shared Spaces: Creating Bird-Friendly Cities and Communities,” Caribbean islands dedicated the August-November period to celebrating these travelers. Read on for the creative ways our islands embraced World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) and took concrete steps to make our shared spaces safer and more welcoming for birds!

From bustling cities to tranquil coastal villages, the Caribbean sprang into action to explore challenges and solutions for protecting migratory birds in urban environments. Events spanned numerous activities: from birdwatching trips and habitat clean-ups, to bird fairs and tree planting. The enthusiasm shown by communities, bird lovers, and local organizations underscores a shared commitment to ensuring that our islands remain healthy havens for the thousands of migratory birds that depend on them annually.

The theme, “Shared Spaces: Creating Bird-Friendly Cities and Communities,” was particularly resonant for the Caribbean islands. Unlike larger continents, many of our cities and villages are directly adjacent to, or even within, critical natural habitats like coastal wetlands, mangroves, and forests — the very stopover and wintering sites these birds rely on!

Rapid urban and tourism development on small islands leads to habitat loss and fragmentation, directly impacting the ability of migratory birds to find adequate food, shelter, and rest during their epic journeys. By embracing this theme, Caribbean communities recognized that every backyard, park, and green patch is indeed a piece of the regional flyway network — making local action against threats like habitat loss and pollution absolutely essential for the survival of migratory birds across the Americas.

Caribbean communities in action

WMBD events were held in The Bahamas, Jamaica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Anguilla, St. Eustatius, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Martin, Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago. Here are some highlights from across the region:

THE BAHAMAS

BirdsCaribbean’s very own Administrative Assistant Delores Kellman visited several schools in Grand Bahama — the Bishop Michael Eldon School, Holmes Rock Junior High School, and Walter Park Primary School — to talk to students about migratory bird species and how they can make their backyards bird-friendly!  

JAMAICA

The Mason River Protected Area in Clarendon transformed into a classroom without walls for World Migratory Bird Day! As part of their ‘Afternoon with a Scientist’ programme, the Natural History Museum of Jamaica, National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), and Jamaica Environment Trust, hosted an eye-opening birdwatching tour through the protected area.

Under the expert guidance of Ricardo Miller, NEPA’s Environmental Coordinator and one of Jamaica’s premier birders, the air was filled with gasps and excited whispers from children as stunning feathers came into sharp focus — for many it was their first time using binoculars. Here one can see endemics like the Vervain Hummingbird and Red-billed Streamertail, as well as winter migrants like Northern Parula and American Redstart. Beyond the birds, the trek through the wetland offered a ‘thrill-a-minute’ experience, revealing rare endemic insects and fascinating, insect-eating Sundew plants.

 

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CUBA

The community of Pastorita held a month-long celebration of migratory birds, led by Adrián de Maya, Wildlife Biologist at Empresa Flora y Fauna Matanzas, in a unified stand for these ‘mighty travelers.’ Throughout the month, students from local schools traded their desks for the outdoors, diving into interactive workshops and environmental games designed to bridge the gap between play and protection.

The undisputed highlight of the month was the series of guided field trips, where students practiced identifying birds in their natural habitats. To ensure these birds have a place to rest for years to come, students also participated in a restoration initiative, planting native trees throughout Laguna de Maya. 

Each sighting served as a powerful reminder that these birds are a shared heritage, not a commodity. By connecting students with the beauty of birds, the program transformed every trip into an opportunity for the Pastorita community to learn, protect, and advocate for species conservation. This initiative is particularly vital in the effort to keep birds in the wild and combat the illegal songbird trade in Cuba.

The city of Santiago de Cuba celebrated its second annual World Migratory Bird Day Festival, aptly titled ‘Alas Sin Fronteras’ (Wings Without Borders). This collaborative initiative, led by the Juan Cristóbal Gundlach Bird Banding Station (part of the Eastern Center for Ecosystems and Biodiversity) and the Tomás Romay Natural History Museum, kicked off with a mission to celebrate and support the epic journeys of Cuba’s migratory birds.

Guided by passionate educators like Yessica Blanco from the Tomás Romay Museum, the festival offered a diverse itinerary designed to engage the entire community. From the urban center of Santiago to the pristine reaches of the Baconao Biosphere Reserve, participants stepped into the roles of citizen scientists by recording and sharing the birds they saw at the Reserve via eBird. The program provided expert-led discussions, birdwatching trips, and habitat clean-ups. By focusing on bird identification, the mechanics of migration, the specific threats migratory birds face, and actions to make the community more bird-friendly, the festival empowered locals with the tools and knowledge needed to make Santiago de Cuba a safer sanctuary for migratory birds.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Grupo Jaragua encouraged residents across the Dominican Republic to discover the wonders of birdwatching right from their own windows. By sharing social media posts featuring migratory species commonly found in urban areas, they demonstrated that you don’t need to leave the city to connect with nature. These snapshots of urban birdlife served as a reminder that our cities are vital corridors for birds on the move.

Grupo Acción Ecológica’s mission to highlight the vital connection between birds and their environments remains a top priority. As part of their World Migratory Bird Day celebrations, they brought this message to the rural heart of Loma de la Joya with a special presentation at the Juliana Paulino Primary School. They shared with us that they are incredibly grateful to the students, faculty, and community members whose support made this event such a rewarding success.

PUERTO RICO

EcoExploratorio hosted an educational event for families focused on the remarkable journeys of migratory birds and the vital role humans play in their protection. The day featured an insightful talk by biologist Emilio Font (Sociedad Ornitológica Puertorriqueña Inc.), supported by educational resources from Environment for the Americas and a special display of taxidermied migratory birds by the UPRRP Museum of Zoology.

In a hands-on introduction to ornithology, Alondra Norat of Pajareo Virtual led a dedicated group of undergraduates on an immersive birdwatching expedition across the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus. The experience began with a foundational presentation by Alondra on bird identification techniques, equipping students with the skills needed before heading out to spot the birds they share their campus with.

For many participants, this was their first time using binoculars and navigating tools like the eBird app and traditional field guides. Alondra noted that seeing the birds with such clarity sparked a genuine thrill among the students, likely marking the beginning of a lifelong appreciation for birds.

Over in Guajataca, Maria Irizarry Gonzalez led a group of teenage nature enthusiasts on a scenic birdwatching expedition through the Guajataca Forest. This immersive journey allowed the young birders to observe various species in their natural woodland habitats before concluding their trek on a pristine beach. By connecting these two distinct ecosystems, the outing highlighted the diverse environments migratory birds rely on and inspired the next generation of environmental stewards to appreciate Puerto Rico’s unique coastal and forest landscapes.

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA

The Environmental Awareness Group (EAG) took to social media to celebrate WMBD, inspiring the public to grab their binoculars and head outdoors. To make the adventure even easier, they highlighted prime birding hotspots across the island. Citizen scientists were reminded to make their sightings count by uploading their observations to eBird and sharing their checklists with local bird group ‘Wadadli Warblers.’

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Giselle Ragoonanan, Biodiversity Manager at HADCO Experiences at Asa Wright Nature Centre, offered a day of art and discovery through birds for adults and kids. The event focused on the Caribbean’s vital role as a “refueling station” for millions of birds traveling from the Northern Hemisphere.

Participants were led through a creative blend of science and art, featuring guided bird identification, specimen displays, and hands-on workshops in painting and clay sculpting. In a nod to sustainability, Attendees also constructed bird-friendly communities using sustainability as their  blueprint and relying natural and recycled materials. By linking local stewardship to global biodiversity, the initiative underscored our shared responsibility to protect the essential stopover habitats that ensure a safe landing for these incredible travelers across borders.

WMBD 2025’s Outstanding Educators

We applaud the tremendous efforts of all educators who plan and execute educational and fun activities to ensure an unforgettable WMBD and inspire a love for birds and birdwatching. For WMBD 2025, Environment for the Americas recognized the dedication of the following Caribbean educators:  Deana Williamson (Social Studies teacher at Eight Mile Rock High School,The Bahamas), Coral Aviles (Puerto Rico), Yessica Blanco (Cuba), Rafael Osires Jimenez (Dominican Republic).  

We are also deeply grateful for the ambassadors, who selflessly deliver WMBD educational materials called ‘Happy Kits’ to Caribbean coordinators. 

Environment for the Americas and BirdsCaribbean extend our greatest thanks to all of you and we look forward to seeing what you have planned for WMBD 2026!

Interested in supporting bird festivals across the Caribbean? Your contribution will help expand these invaluable efforts and inspire future generations of bird enthusiasts. Show your support here! (please select ‘Where the need is greatest’ under ‘Designate this donation for a specific purpose’)

Birds continue to connect our world

BirdsCaribbean celebrated WMBD by showcasing new migratory birds in our virtual campaign — Birds Connect Our World. Each bird profile was accompanied by a beautifully drawn image by Arnaldo Toledo, along with stunning high-quality photos, engaging videos, and bird calls. Fun, free and engaging activities were also provided for both kids and adults, including downloadable coloring pages, experiments, up-cycle crafts, and more. 

WMBD 2026 theme reveal

Centering on the theme “Every Bird Counts – Your Observations Matter,” the 2026 campaign highlights community science as the backbone of migratory bird conservation. Whether through backyard sightings or coordinated global surveys, millions of individual observations provide the data necessary to track migration routes, population trends, and changing habitats across the world’s flyways. These collective contributions form the scientific foundation that directly informs conservation policies and protection efforts at every level.

Participating in community science does more than gather data; it deepens our personal connection to nature and the birds that connect our world. This year’s celebration holds extra significance as it marks the 60th anniversary of the International Waterbird Census, honoring decades of worldwide collaboration. Everyone is invited to join bird counts and monitoring programs throughout the year, working together to document the flyways and safeguard the future of these remarkable travelers.

If you are interested in celebrating WMBD in your country, or if you can deliver materials to a Caribbean country, we encourage you to visit the WMBD website for more information; or contact the Caribbean Regional Coordinator, Laura Baboolal, at lbaboolal@environmentamericas.org. 

[OPRIMA AQUÍ PARA ESPAÑOL]

BirdsCaribbean’s Caribbean Motus Collaboration program is excited to invite applications for a 5-day Motus Tagging Training Workshop. In partnership with the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, this hands-on training will be held at the Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Salinas, Puerto Rico, from 2-6 March 2026.

What is Motus?

The Motus Wildlife Tracking System is a global collaborative research network that uses automated radio telemetry to track the movements of small animals. The network is centrally managed by Birds Canada (motus.org), and consists of thousands of receiving stations worldwide that detect tagged animals as they move through the landscape. 

When the Caribbean Motus Collaboration (CMC) was launched in 2021, there were no permanent Motus receiving stations in the insular Caribbean. Thanks to the efforts of many regional and international partners, the Caribbean Motus network is growing rapidly—there are now 24 active stations in the region, with plans for many more! 

Why do we need to tag birds in the Caribbean?

As this critical geographical gap in the Motus network is filled, migratory birds tagged outside the Caribbean are increasingly being detected at Caribbean stations and providing valuable new insights into migration routes, timing, and stopover use across the region. For example, this Red Knot—a species of conservation concern experiencing significant population declines—was one of many tagged in Argentina and later detected at a Caribbean station during its long journey to breeding grounds in the Arctic.

Tagging birds within the Caribbean allows us to better understand populations that depend on the islands for all or part of their life cycles. For migratory species, this includes information on movement patterns, stopover duration, departure decisions, and carry-over effects—how conditions in one part of the bird’s life cycle (such as the quality of non-breeding habitat) influence its health, survival, and breeding success later on. Motus tracking is being used to study overwintering populations of species of conservation concern such as Bicknell’s Thrush in the Dominican Republic. Motus can also fill important knowledge gaps for resident species, including movements within and between islands, dispersal distances, and habitat use. 

New Motus stations and tagging projects are continually being developed across the region, and we are only beginning to tap into the full potential of this powerful research network. Now is the time to build regional capacity to use Motus data and contribute meaningfully to collaborative tracking efforts.

About the workshop

The Motus Tagging Training Workshop workshop is designed for Caribbean wildlife professionals who are interested in actively participating in Motus research on birds in the insular Caribbean, and have the capacity to apply this training through ongoing or planned projects. 

This bilingual (English/Spanish) workshop will focus on tagging landbirds, with an emphasis on passerines. We hope to provide training opportunities for other bird groups in the future. 

The workshop will provide hands-on training in: 

• Safely attaching Motus tags using approved harness methods
• Activating tags in the field
• Deploying tags within projects on the Motus network
• Data management and best practices for collaborative tracking studies.

Because tag attachment requires careful handling and manipulation of birds in the hand, prior experience with bird handling and banding (particularly passerines) is required.

Who should apply?

This workshop is best suited for wildlife professionals, researchers, and conservation practitioners who are:

• Based in the insular Caribbean (especially in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands)
• Actively involved in existing or planned Motus projects, or have a clear pathway to becoming involved
• Experienced with bird banding and handling, especially with passerines (priority will be given to applicants who have handled 300+ birds)
• Committed to applying this training as well as networking with the Caribbean conservation community to support long-term research and conservation in the region

Funding and logistics

We anticipate selecting approximately 15 participants. BirdsCaribbean has funding available for a limited number of need and merit-based scholarships to help cover travel and participation costs. Applicants who are able to cover part or all of their costs help us to include additional participants, but financial ability will not determine selection. 

Participants should plan to arrive in Puerto Rico by 1 March and depart on 7 March, 2026. 

How to apply

If you are interested in participating, please complete the application form by 20 January 2026. 

English Version: https://bit.ly/CMC-2026-Application-ENG

Versión en español: https://bit.ly/CMC-2026-Solicitud-ESP

If you have any questions, please send an email to:

Maya Wilson, Landbird Program Manager

Maya.Wilson@BirdsCaribbean.org

Holly Garrod, Caribbean Bird Banding Coordinator

Holly.Garrod@BirdsCaribbean.org

Oportunidad de capacitación: Taller de etiquetado Motus

El programa Caribbean Motus Collaboration de BirdsCaribbean se complace en invitar a presentar solicitudes para un taller de formación sobre el marcado con Motus de 5 días de duración. En colaboración con el Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales de Puerto Rico, esta formación práctica se llevará a cabo en la Reserva Nacional de Investigación Estuarina de la Bahía de Jobos, en Salinas, Puerto Rico, del 2 al 6 de marzo de 2026.

¿Qué es Motus?

El sistema de seguimiento de fauna silvestre Motus es una red de investigación colaborativa global que utiliza telemetría automática por radio para rastrear los movimientos de pequeños animales. La red está gestionada de forma centralizada por Birds Canada (motus.org) y consta de miles de estaciones receptoras en todo el mundo que detectan a los animales marcados a medida que se desplazan por el terreno.

Cuando se puso en marcha la Colaboración Motus del Caribe (CMC) en 2021, no había estaciones receptoras Motus permanentes en el Caribe insular. Gracias a los esfuerzos de muchos socios regionales e internacionales, la red Motus del Caribe está creciendo rápidamente: ahora hay 24 estaciones activas en la región, ¡y hay planes para muchas más!

¿Por qué necesitamos marcar aves en el Caribe?

A medida que se va llenando este vacío geográfico crítico en la red Motus, las aves migratorias marcadas fuera del Caribe se detectan cada vez más en las estaciones caribeñas y proporcionan nuevos y valiosos conocimientos sobre las rutas migratorias, los tiempos y el uso de las escalas en toda la región. Por ejemplo, este Calidrus canutus, una especie de interés para la conservación que está experimentando un importante descenso de su población, fue uno de los muchos marcados en Argentina y posteriormente detectados en una estación caribeña durante su largo viaje hacia las zonas de reproducción en el Ártico.

El marcado de aves en el Caribe nos permite comprender mejor las poblaciones que dependen de las islas durante todo o parte de su ciclo de vida. En el caso de las especies migratorias, esto incluye información sobre los patrones de movimiento, la duración de las escalas, las decisiones de partida y los efectos de arrastre, es decir, cómo las condiciones en una parte del ciclo de vida de las aves (como la calidad del hábitat no reproductivo) influyen en su salud, supervivencia y éxito reproductivo posterior. El seguimiento con Motus se está utilizando para estudiar las poblaciones invernantes de especies de interés para la conservación, como Catharus bicknelli en la República Dominicana. Motus también puede llenar importantes lagunas de conocimiento sobre las especies residentes, incluidos los movimientos dentro y entre las islas, las distancias de dispersión y el uso del hábitat.

Se están desarrollando continuamente nuevas estaciones Motus y proyectos de marcado en toda la región, y apenas estamos empezando a aprovechar todo el potencial de esta potente red de investigación. Ahora es el momento de desarrollar la capacidad regional para utilizar los datos de Motus y contribuir de manera significativa a los esfuerzos de seguimiento colaborativo.

Acerca del taller

El taller de formación sobre el marcado con Motus está diseñado para profesionales de la fauna silvestre del Caribe que estén interesados en participar activamente en la investigación de Motus sobre las aves en el Caribe insular y que tengan la capacidad de aplicar esta formación a través de proyectos en curso o previstos.

Este taller bilingüe (inglés/español) se centrará en el marcado de aves terrestres, con especial énfasis en los paseriformes. Esperamos poder ofrecer oportunidades de formación para otros grupos de aves en el futuro.

El taller proporcionará formación práctica sobre:

• La colocación segura de etiquetas Motus utilizando métodos de arnés aprobados.
• La activación de etiquetas sobre el terreno.
• El despliegue de etiquetas en proyectos de la red Motus.
• La gestión de datos y las mejores prácticas para estudios de seguimiento colaborativos.

Dado que la colocación de las etiquetas requiere un manejo cuidadoso de las aves en la mano, se requiere experiencia previa en el manejo y anillamiento de aves (en particular paseriformes).

¿Quiénes pueden inscribirse?

Este taller es ideal para profesionales de la vida silvestre, investigadores y conservacionistas que:

• Residan en el Caribe insular (especialmente en Puerto Rico y las Islas Vírgenes de los Estados Unidos).
• Participen activamente en proyectos Motus existentes o previstos, o tengan una vía clara para participar.
• Tengan experiencia en el anillamiento y manejo de aves, especialmente de paseriformes (se dará prioridad a los solicitantes que hayan manejado más de 300 aves).
• Estén comprometidos con la aplicación de esta formación, así como con la creación de redes con la comunidad conservacionista del Caribe para apoyar la investigación y la conservación a largo plazo en la región.

Financiación y logística

Prevemos seleccionar aproximadamente 15 participantes. BirdsCaribbean dispone de fondos para un número limitado de becas basadas en las necesidades y los méritos, con el fin de ayudar a cubrir los gastos de viaje y participación. Los solicitantes que puedan cubrir parte o la totalidad de sus gastos nos ayudan a incluir a más participantes, pero la capacidad financiera no determinará la selección.

Los participantes deben planificar su llegada a Puerto Rico antes del 1 de marzo y su salida el 7 de marzo de 2026.

Solicitudes

Si estás interesado en participar en este taller, llena este formulario antes del 20 de enero de 2026.

Versión en inglés: https://bit.ly/CMC-2026-Application-ENG

Versión en español:  https://bit.ly/CMC-2026-Solicitud-ESP

Si tienes alguna pregunta, envía un correo electrónico a:

Maya Wilson, Gerente del Programa de Aves Terrestres

Maya.Wilson@BirdsCaribbean.org 

Holly Garrod, Coordinadora de la Red de Anillamiento de Aves del Caribe

Holly.Garrod@BirdsCaribbean.org 

Just after sunrise, the dry forest of Mt. Hartman stirs to life with rustling leaves and, if you’re lucky, the soft, descending  “hoooo” of the Grenada Dove. But that call is heard less and less each year. With its habitat shrinking and predators encroaching, Grenada’s national bird is hanging by a thread. Determined to change the dove’s fate, conservationists, government agencies, and community groups gathered this October for a workshop focused on creating a unified plan to protect the species and its last remaining habitat. Read on to find out what’s being done—and what still must happen— to secure a future for this iconic bird.

The Grenada Dove (Leptotila wellsi)—a shy, cinnamon-brown Critically Endangered national bird of Grenada—is perilously close to extinction. Fewer than 200 individuals remain, confined to just two pockets of dry forest on the island’s southwest and west coasts. Habitat loss, development pressure, invasive predators, and gaps in policy and enforcement continue to erode the species’ last refuges. Without decisive action, this iconic species could disappear forever.

A species on the brink

The most recent island-wide survey (2013) estimated the population at around 160 birds (range: 107–229), a level that has remained dangerously low since surveys began in the mid-1980s. The dove now survives in just two small areas: dry forest on the southwest coast (Mt. Hartman Estate, Petit Bouc, Woodlands, Lower Woburn) and on the west coast (Perseverance, Woodford, Beausejour, Grenville Vale Estates, and Black Bay). Once connected, these populations are now separated by nearly 9 km of urban development, including the capital, St. George’s. Mt. Hartman National Park has long supported nearly half of all remaining birds.

In 1996, the government legally established Mt. Hartman National Park and the Perseverance Dove Sanctuary. Management by the Forestry and National Parks Department has included patrols, boundary maintenance, rubbish removal, signage, and predator control. These efforts have reduced some local threats, but the protected areas cover less than 10% of the dove’s remaining range—leaving the species highly vulnerable to ongoing habitat loss and degradation.

Despite two previous recovery and action plans and a management plan for the Perseverance–Beausejour area, progress has been slow. Habitat at Mt. Hartman continues to be lost to development—sometimes even within areas assumed to be protected. Predator-control programs have been suspended due to staffing and funding shortages, allowing mongoose populations to surge. The dove’s limited genetic diversity, driven by its small population size, raises further concerns about long-term resilience and disease vulnerability.

Bringing stakeholders together

In response to this escalating crisis, more than 70 local and international experts, community members, conservation practitioners, government officials, and academics gathered in-person and online on October 8–9, 2025, for the Grenada Dove Conservation Action Planning (CAP) Workshop at St. George’s University. Organized by the Gaea Conservation Network and supported by American Bird Conservancy, BirdsCaribbean, and Re:wild, the workshop united diverse voices to assess threats, identify solutions, and chart a coordinated path forward for the dove’s recovery.

Participants included representatives from the Ministry of Climate Resilience, Forestry and National Parks Department, Grenada Fund for Conservation, Grenada Sustainable Development Trust Fund, Planning and Development Authority, Grenada Solid Waste Management Authority, St. George’s University, The Nature Conservancy, American Bird Conservancy, Re:wild, Fauna & Flora International, community and youth organizations.

The breadth of participation reflected the growing national concern for the species’ fate.

A moral responsibility to protect the Grenada Dove

To frame the discussion, facilitator Justin Spring invited participants to answer one question: Why should we save the Grenada Dove? Their answers—rooted in ethics, ecology, heritage, and national pride—set a powerful tone for the workshop. Many emphasized the moral obligation to protect a species imperiled by human activity. “We have the responsibility to act on behalf of all species that do not have a voice,” and “Humans caused the problem – humans should fix it.”

Each participant shared why conserving the Grenada Dove is important.

Others spoke about the dove’s ecological role, its cultural and economic value, and the responsibility to future generations not to allow an endemic species and national symbol to disappear. “Everything on the planet is part of a complex system and has both purpose and inherent value,” and “It is important to prevent extinction because it is more than just a bird, but more so a representation of us as a people and being that it is only found in Grenada, it is necessary to preserve it for heritage and tourism values,” and “As a father of young kids, I would not like for the extinction of an endemic animal and national symbol to occur under our watch.”

After a grounding session by Dr. Jody Daniel, President of Gaea Conservation Network, on dove ecology which covered identification, habitat needs, and current population status, participants engaged in a dynamic Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping (FCM) exercise. This visual, interactive tool helped stakeholders explore how threats overlap, amplify one another, and ultimately drive the species toward extinction. 

Dr. Jody Daniel explains how environmental threats interact. (Photos by Gaea Conservation)

Major threats identified

Habitat Loss and Degradation emerged as the most urgent threat. Land sales within Mt. Hartman, unclear boundaries, unregulated development, quarrying, illegal dumping, farming, and cattle grazing continue to shrink and fragment dove habitat. The Perseverance Sanctuary is impacted by its proximity to the national landfill, including boundary encroachment and toxic fumes from persistent landfill fires.

Invasive Predators—particularly the small Indian mongoose—pose a major threat to eggs, chicks, and adults. Cats and rats add further pressure. Without consistent predator control, predation remains dangerously high.

Lack of Enforcement and Policy Gaps were identified as a critical barrier. Although protections exist, they are not being enforced, and boundaries of Mt. Hartman National Park have become unclear—especially after the sale of part of the park in 2022 for resort development, a decision that shocked conservationists and the public. There is concern that even more of the land will be sold. Participants stressed the need for transparency, accountability, and public engagement to prevent further losses.

Limited Public Awareness about the Grenada Dove and it’s Critically Endangered status was flagged as a serious threat. Participants agreed that it was vital to educate youth and communities to foster pride and stewardship—to help secure the future of the Grenada Dove.

Climate change and extreme weather was identified as a growing threat to the species’ survival. More frequent and severe hurricanes, fires, and periods of drought are expected to further degrade dry-forest habitat, reduce food and cover, and increase water scarcity for the dove. These escalating pressures will intensify the challenges already facing the species and make recovery even more difficult without swift, coordinated action.

Limited Monitoring and Insufficient Data—including outdated surveys and incomplete reproductive data—hinder effective conservation.

Finally, low genetic diversity due to the dove’s small population size increases vulnerability to disease and environmental change.

A roadmap for solutions

Participants then shifted to a Solutions Analysis, developing a “Solutions Tree” to match actions to each identified problem. These solutions formed the foundation of the 10-year goal, objectives, strategies, and actions of the forthcoming Grenada Dove Conservation Action Plan.

One of the highest priorities identified was improved legislation and enforcement to ensure the long-term conservation of the Grenada Dove and the protection of its habitat. Clarifying the boundaries and enforcing the protected status of Mt. Hartman National Park and the Perseverance Dove Sanctuary is essential for safeguarding remaining habitat. It’s also critical that no further dove habitat is lost to development. Participants also emphasized the need to expand protected dry-forest habitat, guided by recommendations in the Grenada Systems Plan, to increase the amount of habitat available to the dove.

Participants proposed that by 2035, 50% of the Grenada Dove’s critical dry forest habitat is protected, restored, and effectively managed by strengthened enforcement. Restoring degraded dry forest and reconnecting fragmented patches were also key recommendations. Addressing uncontrolled grazing, illegal dumping, and unauthorized land clearing will help improve habitat quality and ecosystem resilience.

Reinstating invasive predator-control programs—particularly mongoose removal—was highlighted as essential to improving survival and reproductive success.

Education, empowerment, and local stewardship are essential. Participants recommended that targeted education and outreach programs should be developed to foster a culture of conservation and environmental stewardship, and to actively engage local communities, schools, and stakeholders in efforts to protect the dove and its habitat. Many community members expressed a desire to be more involved—especially youth groups eager to help protect their national bird.

The group noted that the Forestry Dept and key public, private and civil society organizations will  need to collaborate to secure the financial resources and human capacity required to conserve the Grenada Dove and its habitat. 

Finally, participants agreed that research and long-term monitoring will be vital to the dove’s recovery. Regular population surveys, nest monitoring, and habitat-quality assessments will help conservationists track progress, assess the effectiveness of management actions, and identify emerging challenges. These data-driven approaches will support adaptive management and informed decision-making. 

A shared sense of urgency and hope

As the workshop closed, participants carried with them not only a sharper understanding of the dove’s precarious situation but also a renewed drive to act. The room was filled with a mix of urgency, excitement, and a growing sense of shared purpose—tempered by the recognition that saving the Grenada Dove will require sustained effort, collaboration, and significant resources.

As Lisa Sorenson, Executive Director of BirdsCaribbean, reminded participants: “The Grenada Dove is more than a rare bird—it’s a national treasure. Protecting it means defending the island’s dry forests, one of the most threatened ecosystems in the Caribbean.”

Jody Daniel, President of the Gaea Conservation Network, reinforced the power of partnerships: “Saving the Grenada Dove will take everyone—scientists, government, communities, and the tourism sector. We still have a chance, but only if we act decisively now.”

What comes next

A stakeholder committee—led by Gaea Conservation Network, the Ministry of Climate Resilience, Forestry and National Parks Department, BirdsCaribbean, and Re:wild—is now refining the workshop’s outcomes into a 10-year Conservation Action Plan (CAP). Once finalized and nationally endorsed, it will serve as Grenada’s roadmap for saving its national bird.

In the meantime, mongoose trapping will restart in January 2026, supported by the Mohammed Bin Zayed Foundation and UNDP. The committee is also working to raise funds for other high-priority actions, including education programs and monitoring to better understand current population status and reproductive ecology.

The Grenada Dove may be one of the world’s rarest birds, but its story is not yet finished. With united action, strong leadership, and community support, this gentle forest bird can still be pulled back from the brink.

To support this conservation work, please donate here (select “Grenada Dove Conservation” in the dropdown menu). Thank you!

To learn more about the Grenada Dove, view and download the Species Fact Sheet here.

Acknowledgements: The Grenada Dove Conservation Action Plan (CAP) Workshop was made possible through the generous support of our sponsors, including American Bird Conservancy, BirdsCaribbean, and Birding the Islands. The workshop organizing was led by Gaea Conservation Network, Re:Wild, Grenada Fund for Conservation Inc., St. George’s University,  Fellows in Caribbean Academic Leadership,  and BirdsCaribbean. We sincerely thank everyone who participated in the CAP Workshop—both in-person and online. Your time, enthusiasm, dedication, and numerous comments and insights were essential to completing the action planning process.

For updates on this and other BirdsCaribbean programs, join our mailing list. We promise to send only inspiring Caribbean bird news—no spam. Click here to sign up! 

Break out your life lists — the 66th supplement to the American Ornithological Society’s (AOS) Checklist of  North and Middle American Birds, published in August 2025, brought several taxonomic changes that Caribbean birders will want to be aware of. We’re taking a closer look at the updates that matter most for our region. 

Taxonomy — the science of naming and classifying organisms — is always evolving. The AOS maintains the official checklist for birds from the Arctic down to the Panama–Colombia border, including Bermuda, the West Indies, and the Hawaiian Islands. Each year, ornithologists review the list and evaluate proposals for taxonomic revisions.

Usually,  the most attention-grabbing changes involve species level shifts: “splits,” where one wide-ranging species is divided into two or more localized ones; or “lumps,” where similar species are combined. But in this supplement, many changes affecting the Caribbean occur at higher taxonomic levels, offering new insights into evolutionary relationships rather than altering species counts. 

Taxonomy 101

To understand what these AOS updates mean, let’s take a quick refresher on how taxonomy works!

When we’re birding, we usually rely on common names—think “Killdeer” or “Carib Grackle.” Depending on where you are in the Caribbean, you may even hear different local names for the same species. Bananaquits, for example, are called “sugarbirds” in Trinidad, “beeny birds” in Jamaica, and “see-see birds” in Grenada! But every species also has a universally recognized scientific name made up of two parts: the genus and the species epithet. These names are always italicized, a convention going back to Swedish biologist Carl Linnaeus, who wanted scientific names to stand out clearly in manuscripts.

When categorizing organisms, the genus groups very closely related birds together; the species epithet distinguishes one  species from another within that genus. When we zoom out, genera (the plural of genus) are grouped into families. Closely-related families are grouped into orders. And one level above that is the class, where all birds fall under Aves.  

So the main taxonomic categories look like this: 

• Species – a single, distinct type of bird
• Genus – a small group (sometimes just one!) of closely related species
• Family – a group of related genera
• Order – a group of related families
• Class – the broad category that includes all birds (Aves)

A cool tip: In animal taxonomy, all family names end in “-idae”, and all bird orders end in “-iformes.” Once you spot those endings, you’ll know exactly where you are in the taxonomic hierarchy.

To illustrate further..

Let’s look at a familiar Caribbean species: the Least Tern or Sterna antillarum. The genus Sterna contains several  tern species, but the species epithet  ‘antillarum’ tells us we’re talking specifically about the Least Tern.

If we think about birds similar to terns, gulls, noddies, and skimmers might come to mind — all of which belong to the avian family Laridae. And if we think further about birds similar to gulls and terns, other beach-going birds might come to mind, like shorebirds or plovers, and maybe other seabirds like skuas. All these birds (plus a few others) are grouped together within the avian order Charadriiformes. If you’re ever unsure where a bird fits taxonomically — just flip through your favorite field guide—most are arranged first by order, then by family. 

Primer complete — and you passed with flying colors!

With that foundation, let’s turn back to the AOS checklist update. The changes in this supplement include moving species from one genus to another more closely related genus, shifting species between families, and revising the order-level placement of certain bird groups. These updates are almost always based on new genetic research — and they help refine our understanding of how birds are truly related.

In the Caribbean, many species remain understudied, so each AOS supplement often brings valuable new insights. Sometimes a species that appears widespread across multiple islands turns out to comprise several distinct island endemics — especially if birds rarely move between islands and can no longer interbreed. Over time, isolated populations can evolve unique traits, such as the melanism seen in Bananaquits from the Lesser Antilles.

Just last year, two major taxonomic splits added six new endemic species to the Caribbean, underscoring the region’s extraordinary biodiversity. And, as always, continued study will undoubtedly reveal even more.

So — with your refreshed understanding of taxonomy, are you ready to explore the latest in Caribbean bird updates?

Breaking news — our Caribbean tanagers are more related than we thought!  

Until now, Caribbean tanagers were split across three different families: the Spindalidae (Spindalis), Phaenicophilidae (Hispaniolan tanagers such as the Gray-crowned and Black-crowned Palm-Tanagers, White-winged Warbler, and Green-tailed Warbler), and Nesospingidae (Puerto Rican Tanager). But new genetic research shows they are much more closely related than previously believed. All of these species are now united under one family: Phaenicophilidae, also known as the Greater Antillean Tanagers.

Don’t worry — they haven’t lost all their individuality. Spindalis species and the Puerto Rican Tanager now form the subfamily Spindalinae, while the Hispaniolan tanagers fall within Phaenicophilinae. Subfamilies group genera that share more characteristics than the broader family, so this nuance helps keep their evolutionary story intact.

Importantly, our Caribbean tanagers remain a family entirely endemic to the Caribbean, and still very much distinct from the New World tanagers in the large and diverse family Thraupidae.

In short: while we originally thought all the Greater Antillean Tanagers were distinct enough to reside in their own families, this new genetic data shows that they are actually one happy Caribbean family! 

What are you hawking about?

Next up: hawks. We also have a division within the familiar hawk genus, Accipiter. Accipiters are known for their long tails and shorter wings, making them agile forest predators who often seek out small songbirds for lunch. While Accipiter hawks were all thought to be closely related, new research has revealed that there’s more to the story — and a new genus of hawks, Astur, has emerged. 

For those familiar with birding in North America, you may have struggled telling apart Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s Hawks due to their similarities. But these similarities have actually arisen not due to them being closely related — but through convergence. This is an evolutionary process where unrelated species evolve to be very similar, usually attributed to them filling a similar ecological niche. Cooper’s Hawks have now been reassigned to the genus Aster while Sharp-shinned Hawks remain in the Accipiter genus.

What does this mean for the Caribbean? Our own Gundlach’s Hawk, long considered an Accipiter, has also now been moved in the Astur genus. No split (yet!) for our Caribbean Sharp-shinned Hawks—but there’s always next year’s supplement. . . 

Gulls just want to have fun! 

And now gull enthusiasts get a treat: the old, widespread Herring Gull has been split into four species — American Herring Gull, European Herring Gull, Vega Gull, and Mongolian Gull.  We’ll be seeing the American Herring Gull around our Caribbean seas, but be sure to look out for the others!

Around the Caribbean, you’ll most often see the American Herring Gull, but keep your eyes open — winds and weather occasionally deliver surprising visitors from across the ocean.

Within the gull family Laridae, there’s more movement. Brown Noddies have been shifted out of the tern subfamily Sterninae and into their own distinct grouping, Anoinae, alongside White Terns . Physical traits, vocalizations, and even archaeological evidence show these birds stand apart from the classic tern lineage.

In summary, this year’s updates bring some fascinating shifts: 

• Greater Antillean tanagers are now united into a single Caribbean-endemic family, Phaenicophilidae.
• Gundlach’s Hawk is finds its new home in the genus Astur, refining our understanding of its evolutionary relationships.
• Herring Gull is now four species, with one regular Caribbean visitor, American Herring Gull, with eyes on the lookout for transatlantic surprises.  

While this supplement didn’t add new endemic species to the Caribbean, it did deepen our understanding of how unique — and evolutionarily distinctive — our birds truly are and how they fit within the larger ornithological world. And there’s still more to be discovered! Our Caribbean avifauna, including taxonomy, remains understudied. Only through more research and observations, can we gain a deeper knowledge of how remarkable our island birds really are, and how best to protect and conserve them. 

 Please consider making a contribution to our research and grants programs here. Your support makes critical Caribbean bird research and conservation possible.  

Meet the Caribbean’s Six New Avian Endemics!

Get ready for the 17th annual Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC) Region-Wide count! This year is extra special as we mark the 60^th year of the International Waterbird Census (IWC) — a global effort to collect waterbird data, of which the CWC is a part.  From January 14th to February 3rd 2026, you can directly contribute to Caribbean Waterbird conservation.

Did you know that when you take part in our CWC regional count you are part of something much bigger? Since 1967, thousands of people around the world have headed to their local wetlands to take part in the International Waterbird Census (IWC). That’s 60 years of global citizen science efforts, all dedicated to tracking the health of waterbird populations and the wetlands they depend on! And our very own CWC has been part of this for the past 16 years! You can find out more about this special 60^th anniversary of the IWC here.

Supporting over 185 species of waterbirds, Caribbean wetlands are great places to explore to discover amazing birds and habitats. You might see one of our Caribbean endemics like the West Indian Whistling Duck, or ones of the many globally threatened species that live there, including many migrants such as shorebirds like Lesser Yellowlegs and Short-billed Dowitchers. Our wetlands are threatened by coastal development, pollution and the impacts of climate change, so it’s critical that we protect these special places. The data you collect in this ongoing, annual, standardized survey is essential for helping us understand how to best protect these amazing habitats and protect these birds. CWC surveys are also critical in keeping up to date with the changes and threats to waterbirds and their wetland homes.

How to be part of the bigger picture

As we mark our 17th year, you can play an important role in this global effort to protect waterbirds and wetlands! Anyone can participate in the CWC –— just head out to your nearest wetland, and record the birds you see  — don’t wait, just wade right into the wonderful world of waterbirds!

For CWC, a wetland is any area where water is the primary factor controlling what lives there. These include any place where water is covering the land or is just below the surface. This wide definition includes coastal wetlands like mangroves, mud flats, lagoons and beaches, as well as inland wetlands like lakes, ponds, swamps, areas around rivers and streams and even some types of agriculture (e.g. rice fields). Of course, because this is the Caribbean Waterbird Census, you need to be in the Caribbean to take part! You can find more information about how to conduct surveys here.

Get with the project

All our CWC data is still stored on eBird, but earlier in 2025 CWC became a project in eBird. This means that you need to be part of the project on eBird to ensure that your counts contribute to our amazing database!

Here’s the good news—if you’ve ever submitted a checklist using a CWC protocol in the past—you’ve likely been automatically added to the project! Check out the CWC project pages here to confirm you’ve joined.

If you’re new to CWC or if for some reason you’ve not been joined, just visit the CWC Project Page and click “Learn how to join.” Review the info about the project, scroll to the end and then click “Join Project.” If you are not logged into eBird you will be prompted to “Login to Join Project.”

Once you’ve joined the CWC project, it’s easy to add your CWC lists to our database on the eBird app or on the website.

Here’s how:

CWC in the eBird Mobile App:

1. Tap “Choose projects” above the “Start checklist”’ button.
2. Select the CWC project, and, if you like, ask the app to remember this choice for future submissions. If you do this CWC will appear automatically above the “Start checklist” button next time you use App.
3. Tap “Continue” and do your count (it’s that simple!)

Next time you do a count at a Caribbean wetland, select “Caribbean Waterbird Census” above the “Start checklist” button.

CWC on the eBird Website:

1. Go to the Submit page.
2. Use the “Choose a Project” dropdown to check the box next to “Caribbean Waterbird Census.”
3. Then follow the steps below to add your list details as normal.

Now that CWC is a project there are no longer specific ‘CWC protocols’ in eBird, you just need to select the “Traveling” or “Stationary” protocol before submitting.

Remember that although these are waterbird counts, you should be sure to count all the birds that you see and hear during your survey visits, not just the waterbirds. If you need help with eBird submissions, have questions about which protocol to choose, or with setting up an eBird account, please contact Alex Sansom: waterbird.manager@birdscaribbean.org

You can learn more about the CWC project on eBird here. And if you’re completely new to eBird, start by looking at this page that will guide you through opening an account and adding data.

Forget to choose the CWC project in eBird?

You went out in the field, you started your list in eBird and did your CWC survey and submitted the list…. THEN you realize that you forgot the “choose a project” step at the start! It happens! This means your list will not be ‘counted’ as part of the CWC- yet. But don’t worry it can be fixed, you just need add it to the project after you have submitted.

On the eBird app, go to “checklists”, then toggle to show your submitted lists. Next find the list that should have been in the CWC project and open it. Open the ‘edit checklist’ menu (click on the edit icon  on the top right), then once in ‘edit’ mode, choose the ‘edit’ menu icon again (again in the top right). Here you will see a menu with the option to ‘choose projects’. Click on this and select the Caribbean Water Census from your projects (of course you need to have joined the project already to do this!). Then save your changes.

On the eBird website it’s slightly different. You can go to ‘My Checklists’, and choose the one you want to add to the CWC project. Once this list is open, you need to select the ‘Edit Location’ option.  When you click on this you will see the ‘choose project’ option, at the top of the page under the ‘Where did you bird?’ heading. Just select the Caribbean Waterbird Census project and save the changes.

We’re here to help!

Never done a CWC survey before or need a refresher? Don’t worry! We’ve pulled together some amazing resources that will help you with your counts. To help you get started on your CWC survey journey or give you a reminder about how to take part check out our helpful YouTube webinar that takes you through the steps of how to participate in the CWC*!

*This is a great introduction to the CWC and how to plan your counts and carry out surveys, but the information on adding data to eBird has been updated since it was recorded. Please use the information provided above and here. Join the project, then remember to choose the project when making your eBird list to make sure your data gets included as CWC in eBird.

If you need a hand with your waterbird ID you’ve come to the right place—why not brush up on your ID skills using our helpful videos on YouTube! Part I covers herons, egrets, ducks, marsh birds, and seabirds. Part II tackles those tricky shorebirds! We also have even more ID, survey planning tips, and outreach resources that are available for you to use and download on this page. This includes information on what to do if you see a banded bird during your surveys as well as our handy ID Guide to Common Caribbean Shorebirds, which can print and take with you on your surveys.

If you need more help with those troublesome shorebirds you can also check out our series of short videos. Each of these deals with ID-ing some of the shorebirds that are more difficult separate, even those tricky small sandpipers!

Have fun out there!

We hope you have a great time exploring your country’s wetlands and counting birds during the regional CWC count! Please remember to stay safe and carry out your counts responsibly. This means taking care not to disturb the birds or damage their habitats. Enjoy counting birds and see how many of your local wetlands you can visit during this three-week period! Finally, if you enjoy your CWC experience remember that CWC counts are not limited to the regional count. You can do a CWC survey at any time of year as long as you are in a Caribbean wetland and count all the birds you see!

Good luck! We look forward to hearing about your findings. If you need help with bird ID,  or have photos and exciting observations to share, please post to our Waterbird Group Listserv (everyone is welcome to join) and/or on our BirdsCaribbean Facebook page. For sharing on social media, use hashtags: #CaribbeanWaterbirdCensus #CWC2026 #WaterbirdsCount and for this special IWC anniversary year #IWC60 AND please tag us: @BirdsCaribbean

The Caribbean Waterbird Census is an ongoing, long-term survey effort that provides important data that helps us keep track of the birds using Caribbean wetlands, understand the threats they face, and raise awareness. With 27,000+ CWC lists in our long-term database, we’re building an invaluable resource for bird conservation across the region. You can support the CWC here. 

Promotional Social Media Graphics – Please feel free to download these graphics and use these to promote your Caribbean Waterbird Census surveys (just open the graphic you want to use right click and choose ‘save image as’) .

[OPRIMA AQUÍ PARA ESPAÑOL]

The arrival of brightly colored, migratory warblers is a glorious time on the Caribbean birding calendar—but have you ever wondered about the lives of our vibrant guests?? Like: do they come back to the same spots in the Caribbean every year? How long do they live? And how are they faring when they visit our islands? Some of these warblers, like the delightful Prairie Warbler, have been shown to live for 8-10 years, returning faithfully to the same spots in the Caribbean! These valuable insights—the kinds that tell us about the health of our birds and how we can help them—are gained from bird banding. If you love Caribbean birds, and want to increase your ability to protect them—maybe you want to learn to put a ring (or band) on them! 

BirdsCaribbean is excited to invite applications to participate in a 5-day Caribbean Bird Banding Training Workshop! Participants will learn the basics of bird banding, from setting up a mist-net to examining molt patterns, through a blend of classroom and field based activities. We’ll also discuss and demonstrate the benefits of joining the Caribbean Bird Banding Network. We’re very excited to work with our local partner, the Trinidad and Tobago Bird Observatory, to provide this training opportunity at the internationally renowned HADCO Experiences at Asa Wright Nature Centre from 20-24 March, 2026.

Why do we band birds?

Bird surveys, like those covered in our Caribbean Landbird Monitoring Training Workshops, provide valuable information about abundance and species presence. But bird banding is a different methodology that takes a deeper dive into how bird populations are doing by assessing the condition of individual birds. 

By individually marking birds with a band and assessing them in the hand, we can collect data that tell us about their demography and health, including: 

• Their fat scores and weights, to assess the body condition of birds in different habitats and at different times of the year, shedding light on the quality of the habitats the birds are using. 
• Aging birds using plumage to investigate demographic patterns. 
• Using recapture records to learn about survivorship and longevity.
• Assessing the presence or absence of breeding characteristics to better understand the timing of breeding and life history for many of our understudied Caribbean endemics.
• Finding out which migratory routes our shared birds are taking, and gaining a better understanding of the factors influencing survival and longevity of various species. 

Over the long-term, bird banding data can also help us understand patterns and trends in bird populations, to aid in their management and conservation.   

About the workshop

This workshop is the fifth annual Caribbean Bird Banding (CBB) Training Workshop. It will cover many of the same topics explored in our previous CBB Training workshops held in The Bahamas (March 2022) and the Dominican Republic (March 2023, February 2025) and Grenada (March 2024). This workshop will focus on banding landbirds, with an emphasis on Passerines. We hope to provide banding training opportunities for other bird groups in the future. 

The purpose of the workshop is to: 

• Provide participants with a basic understanding of bird banding techniques and best practices.
• Discuss what it takes to set-up and run a bird banding station. 
• Prepare participants for additional bird banding training and potential North American Banding Council (NABC) certifications (assistant, bander, trainer) in the future. 
• Share information about the other training opportunities, resources, and community available through the CBB Network.

Several NABC-certified trainers will share their knowledge in the classroom, at the mist-net, and at the banding table, covering topics including: 

• Proper set-up and placement of a mist-net
• Proper techniques for extracting birds from mist-nets
• Starting a banding station
• Bird first-aid and safety
• Bird banding ethics and basics 
• Using bird banding for education and public demonstrations
• Aging birds using both WRP and Howell-Pyle terminology 
• Molt patterns

In an effort to decrease the amount of time spent in the classroom, some content will be shared virtually prior to the in-person workshop. These virtual sessions will also be made available to a wider audience. Announcements will be made via our discussion group on the groups.io platform, which you can join here. Stay tuned for more information!

Is this Workshop for you?

This bilingual (English and Spanish) workshop is designed for Caribbean wildlife professionals and volunteers who are interested in gaining more experience with bird banding. Prior banding experience is not required. However, priority will be given to applicants who are likely to continue training to gain the knowledge, skills, and experience needed to contribute to or initiate avian research and/or banding programs on their home islands.

Bird banding is a complex skill to learn. This workshop is intended to be a starting point, and participants should not expect to leave the workshop with the necessary qualifications to band birds independently. To become fully immersed and practice what was learned at the workshop, participants will have the opportunity to be considered for bird banding internships following the workshop. 

Funding and logistics

We aim to include approximately 15 participants in this workshop. BirdsCaribbean has funding for a limited number of need and merit-based scholarships to cover the costs of travel and participation. Participants who are able to contribute all or part of their costs can allow us to include additional participants. We encourage applications from all candidates who are well-suited to make use of this training, regardless of their financial ability. Participants should plan to arrive in Trinidad by 19 March and depart on 25 March. 

Applications

If you are interested in participating in this workshop, please fill out this form by 7 January 2026. 

English version: bit.ly/CBB-2026-Application-ENG

Versión Español: bit.ly/CBB2026-Solicitud-ESP

If you have any questions, please send an email to:

Maya Wilson, Landbird Program Manager

Maya.Wilson@BirdsCaribbean.org

Holly Garrod, Caribbean Bird Banding Coordinator

Holly.Garrod@BirdsCaribbean.org

Oportunidad de formación: Taller de anillamiento de aves caribeñas

La llegada de las coloridas reinitas migratorias es un momento glorioso en el calendario de observación de aves del Caribe, pero ¿alguna vez te has preguntado cómo es la vida de nuestros vibrantes invitados? Por ejemplo: ¿regresan cada año a los mismos lugares del Caribe? ¿Cuánto tiempo viven? ¿Y cómo les va cuando visitan nuestras islas? Se ha demostrado que algunas de estas reinitas, como la encantadora reinita galana, viven entre 8 y 10 años y regresan fielmente a los mismos lugares del Caribe. Estos valiosos datos, que nos informan sobre la salud de nuestras aves y cómo podemos ayudarlas, se obtienen gracias al anillamiento de aves. Si te encantan las aves del Caribe y quieres aumentar tu capacidad para protegerlas, ¡quizás te interese aprender a ponerles un anillo! 

¡BirdsCaribbean se complace en invitarte a presentar una solicitud para participar en un taller de formación sobre el anillamiento de aves en el Caribe, de 5 días de duración! Los participantes aprenderán los fundamentos del anillamiento de aves, desde la instalación de una red de niebla hasta el examen de los patrones de muda, mediante una combinación de actividades en el aula y sobre el terreno. También discutiremos y demostraremos los beneficios de unirse a la Red de Anillamiento de Aves del Caribe (CBBN, por sus siglas en inglés). Estamos muy emocionados de trabajar con nuestro socio local, el Observatorio de Aves de Trinidad y Tobago, para ofrecer esta oportunidad de formación en el internacionalmente reconocido HADCO Experiences en el Centro de Naturaleza Asa Wright, del 20 al 24 de marzo de 2026.

¿Por qué anillamos aves?

Los censos de aves, como los que se tratan en nuestros talleres de formación sobre seguimiento de aves terrestres en el Caribe, proporcionan información valiosa sobre la abundancia y la presencia de especies. Sin embargo, el anillamiento de aves es una metodología diferente que permite profundizar en el estado de las poblaciones de aves mediante la evaluación del estado de cada ejemplar.

Al marcar individualmente a las aves con un anillo y evaluarlas en la mano, podemos recopilar datos que nos informan sobre su demografía y salud, entre los que se incluyen:

• Sus índices de grasa y peso, para evaluar el estado físico de las aves en diferentes hábitats y en diferentes épocas del año, lo que arroja luz sobre la calidad de los hábitats que utilizan las aves. 
• Determinación de la edad de las aves utilizando el plumaje para investigar patrones demográficos. 
• Utilización de registros de recaptura para obtener información sobre la supervivencia y la longevidad.
• Evaluación de la presencia o ausencia de características reproductivas para comprender mejor el momento de la reproducción y el ciclo vital de muchas de nuestras especies endémicas del Caribe, sobre las que se dispone de poca información.
• Descubrir cuáles rutas migratorias siguen nuestras aves comunes y comprender mejor los factores que influyen en la supervivencia y la longevidad de diversas especies. 

A largo plazo, los datos obtenidos mediante el anillamiento de aves también pueden ayudarnos a comprender los patrones y tendencias de las poblaciones de aves, lo que contribuye a su manejo y conservación. 

Acerca del taller

Este taller es el quinto taller anual de capacitación en anillamiento de aves en el Caribe (CBB). Abarcará muchos de los mismos temas tratados en nuestros anteriores talleres de capacitación de la CBBN celebrados en las Bahamas (marzo de 2022), la República Dominicana (marzo de 2023, febrero de 2025) y Granada (marzo de 2024). Este taller se centrará en el anillamiento de aves terrestres, con especial atención a los paseriformes. Esperamos poder ofrecer en el futuro oportunidades de capacitación en anillamiento para otros grupos de aves.

Los objetivos del taller son:

• Proporcionar a los participantes conocimientos básicos sobre las técnicas y mejores prácticas en anillamiento de aves.
• Debatir qué se necesita para montar y manejar una estación de anillamiento de aves.
• Preparar a los participantes para recibir formación adicional sobre anillamiento de aves y obtener posibles certificaciones del Consejo Norteamericano de Anillamiento (NABC, por sus siglas en inglés) (asistente, anillador, entrenador) en el futuro.
• Compartir información sobre otras oportunidades de capacitación, recursos y comunidades disponibles a través de la red CBBN.

Varios entrenadores certificados por el NABC compartirán sus conocimientos en el aula, en las redes de niebla y en la mesa de anillamiento, cubriendo temas como: 

• Instalación y manejo adecuado de una red de niebla.
• Técnicas apropiadas para extraer aves de las redes de niebla.
• Puesta en marcha de una estación de anillamiento.
• Primeros auxilios y seguridad para las aves.
• Ética y conceptos básicos del anillamiento de aves. 
• Uso del anillamiento de aves con fines educativos y para demostraciones públicas.
• Determinación de la edad de las aves utilizando la terminología W-R-P y Howell-Pyle. 
• Patrones de muda.

Con el fin de reducir el tiempo que se pasa en el aula, parte del contenido se compartirá virtualmente antes del taller presencial. Estas sesiones virtuales también estarán disponibles para un público más amplio. Los anuncios se realizarán a través de nuestro grupo de debate en la plataforma groups.io, al que puedes unirte aquí. ¡Estad atentos para más información!

¿Este taller es para ti?

Este taller bilingüe (inglés y español) está diseñado para profesionales y voluntarios dedicados a la fauna silvestre del Caribe que estén interesados en adquirir más experiencia en el anillamiento de aves. No se requiere experiencia previa en anillamiento. Sin embargo, se dará prioridad a los solicitantes que probablemente continúen su formación para adquirir los conocimientos, las habilidades y la experiencia necesarios para contribuir o iniciar programas de investigación y/o anillamiento de aves en sus islas de origen.

El anillamiento de aves es una habilidad compleja de aprender. Este taller pretende ser un punto de partida, y los participantes no deben esperar salir del taller con las cualificaciones necesarias para anillar aves de forma independiente. Para sumergirse por completo y practicar lo aprendido en el taller, los participantes tendrán la oportunidad de ser considerados para realizar prácticas de anillamiento de aves después del taller.

Financiación y logística

Nuestro objetivo es incluir aproximadamente a 15 participantes en este taller. BirdsCaribbean dispone de fondos para un número limitado de becas basadas en las necesidades y los méritos, que cubrirán los gastos de viaje y participación. Los participantes que puedan contribuir con la totalidad o parte de los gastos nos permitirán incluir a más participantes. Animamos a todos aquellos candidatos que reúnan los requisitos a aprovechar esta formación y a que presenten su solicitud, independientemente de su capacidad económica. Los participantes deben planificar su llegada a Trinidad para el 19 de marzo y su salida para el 25 de marzo.

Solicitudes

Si estás interesado en participar en este taller, llena este formulario antes del 7 de enero de 206.

Versión en inglés: bit.ly/CBB-2026-Application-ENG

Versión Español: bit.ly/CBB2026-Solicitud-ESP

Si tienes alguna pregunta, envía un correo electrónico a:

Maya Wilson, Gerente del Programa de Aves Terrestres

Maya.Wilson@BirdsCaribbean.org

Holly Garrod, Coordinadora de la Red de Anillamiento de Aves del Caribe

Holly.Garrod@BirdsCaribbean.org

Global seabird populations are in serious decline, facing threats that span from habitat loss to climate change. These magnificent birds are essential indicators of ocean health and help maintain resilient coastal ecosystems like mangroves and corals. Their crisis is a crisis for our marine environment that strengthens Caribbean island economies through tourism and fisheries, and protects coastal communities from storms. 

This urgency is what drove the Seabird Working Group (SWG) in May 2022 to launch the first-ever coordinated Caribbean Seabird Census (CSC).

The goal was simple: to improve knowledge of where seabirds nest in the region, and how many are in their breeding populations, providing them with the hard data needed for effective advocacy, protection, and management actions.

Now, a major milestone has been reached: researchers from across the region recently convened in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, from 23rd to 24th September, to analyze the rich dataset collected from 2023 to 2024.

What did they find? This report by the Seabird Working Group details how the CSC has progressed across the region and what the dataset reveals about the state of our Caribbean seabirds.

Setting the stage

The 2023–2024 Caribbean Seabird Census (CSC) marks a major step forward in conserving our seabird populations. Led by BirdsCaribbean and EPIC, this regional effort brought together more than 150 experts and volunteers from across more than 30 organizations representing 25 territories to gather the first comprehensive seabird data for the Caribbean in over a decade. These counts, done through boats, drones, and on-the-ground surveys, help understand how seabird populations are coping with challenges like invasive species, coastal development, and climate change. By mapping where seabirds still thrive and where they are disappearing, the CSC provides the science needed to guide urgent conservation action. Its findings will help shape recovery programs, and ensure that future generations will witness the vibrant seabird life of the Caribbean.

Following the success of the CSC, we shifted our focus in 2025 to sharing results and building regional collaboration. This continued effort led to a CSC workshop in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where 25 participants from 14 countries in and bordering the Caribbean worked together to strengthen seabird conservation across the region, along with four instructors from the UK, US, and Ecuador.

Our objective was to take a deep dive into the data collected during the 2023–2024 CSC. Specifically, we aimed to:

1. Collate and review seabird census data at national and regional levels.
2. Discuss and agree on methods to standardize, process, and analyze data for conservation use.
3. Provide training in tools for data processing and analysis.
4. Explore ways to identify conservation priorities and apply census data to management.
5. Identify next steps for coordinated regional seabird efforts following the baseline census.

Day 1: Diving into the data

We were warmly welcomed by Dr. Yolanda León, Executive Director of Grupo Jaragua, our local host and holder of workshop funds granted by the Bio-Bridge Initiative, a project of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Participants introduced themselves; we represented a wide range of experience—from those new to seabird monitoring to others with extensive expertise in data collection and analysis.

Yvan Satgé, researcher with Clemson University–South Carolina Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit (US) and long-time Co-Chair of the SWG, opened the sessions with an overview of Caribbean seabirds and the 2023–2024 CSC. Yvan highlighted how the CSC builds on previous regional efforts, described in Bradley & Norton (2009) and Lowrie, Lowrie & Collier (2012), and suggested the value of making regional censuses a recurring initiative. He emphasized the importance of data standardization for meaningful comparisons across sites, countries, and years—an approach modeled by the Caribbean Waterbird Census, coordinated by BirdsCaribbean.

Next, Dr Rhiannon Austin, research associate at the University of Liverpool, UK, another SWG Co-Chair, led sessions on Census Data Considerations. She reminded us that while the goal of a survey is to estimate population size accurately, challenges abound—no survey detects every bird, and factors such as method, behavior, habitat, and weather all play roles.

Then came our first hands-on exercises. Participants grouped into English- and Spanish-language tables, working on either their own data or example datasets from the Turks and Caicos Islands (where Rhiannon just wrapped up a two-year seabird monitoring project). We focused first on data cleaning in Excel—learning how small inconsistencies in date formats, coordinate precision, or file types can complicate regional compilations.

From there, we moved to GIS exercises using QGIS, exploring how to map, visualize, and compare data across years. While some found this a refresher and others a first experience, the peer-to-peer support made it fun and productive.

After dinner, we reconvened to enjoy videos from participants showcasing seabird conservation work across the region—proof that seabird monitoring in the Caribbean involves breathtaking landscapes, fascinating species, and some very dedicated (and tough!) fieldworkers.

Day 2: Assessing threats and setting priorities

The second day focused on interpreting data at the regional and global scale.
Louise Soanes of the RSPB Centre for Conservation Science (UK) presented results from the 2023–2024 CSC, which covered 17 species, 18+ countries, 300+ sites, 30+ organizations, and 150+ observers. Louise compared these data with those from Bradley & Norton (2009), identifying monitoring gaps, challenges, and opportunities for future coordination.

Participants then tackled a practical exercise in threat assessment—evaluating major threats to key seabird colonies, rating their likelihood and severity, and noting current actions. This helped illustrate how site-level analysis can guide regional conservation priorities.

Next up was Gabriela (Gaby) Toscano from BirdLife International, who discussed Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) and how they relate to the earlier framework of Important Bird Areas (IBAs). She explained how BirdLife and partners have transitioned from bird-specific IBAs to all-taxa KBAs, harmonizing criteria to ensure globally consistent biodiversity site designations.

Today, the Caribbean region includes 429 KBAs in the World Database of KBAs—most designated before 2016 through the IBA “crosswalk” process. While 191 are globally confirmed, many remain “priority for update,” underscoring the need for renewed data collection like that generated by the CSC.

Hands-on exercises followed, where groups reviewed Caribbean seabird IBAs under the KBA framework. Participants assessed which species could trigger KBA designation, verified thresholds and population data, and discussed whether other taxa might qualify sites as KBAs.

A key issue emerged: many Caribbean seabird species are pan-tropical (distribution spans tropical regions of both western and eastern hemispheres), and individual colonies rarely exceed the global threshold (1% of the species’ population). Yet, given the historic decline in regional populations, nearly every colony holds conservation importance. Participants discussed the possibility of developing Caribbean-specific regional criteria to ensure that even smaller colonies receive recognition and protection.

Conclusions and Next Steps

We closed the workshop with reflections on the 2023–2024 CSC and ideas for the road ahead. Participants emphasized the importance of sustained regional collaboration, continued data sharing, and integration with broader biodiversity initiatives.

Everyone agreed: building a long-term regional seabird monitoring and conservation program is both necessary and achievable.

Jethro van’t Hul, Terrestrial Parks Manager, St. Eustatius National Parks Foundation (STENAPA), Sint Eustatius emphasized, “It’s refreshed motivation and redrawn attention to the importance of our seabird colony and the work we need to do to protect them. Definitely good things to come!”

Ernesto Hernández Pérez, Lead Specialist, Flora and Fauna Company of Villa Clara, Cuba added, “For me, it was very educational to share with specialists who do the same work, and very useful to standardize methodologies and apply mapping in a practical way to achieve results.”

The next key step is the publication of a co-authored report in the Journal of Caribbean Ornithology. The report will share results of the CSC in a formal but accessible way that can be used as a reference across the region and for years to come. Looking ahead, we also plan to expand participation in the CSC, refine monitoring methods, and launch a follow-up census in 2030. 

In the meantime, the SWG will continue to support regional collaboration through online meetings and the BirdsCaribbean 2026 International Conference in Trinidad. We also look forward to continuing this momentum through related initiatives, such as the Caribbean Marine Mammals and Anthropogenic Activities (CAMAC) Project.

Acknowledgements: The Caribbean Seabird Census workshop was made possible through the support of the Convention for Biological Diversity’s Bio-Bridge Initiative. We extend our thanks to Patricia Bradley for her generous support of the Caribbean Seabird Census and the work of the Seabird Working Group. We thank our local host Grupo Jaragua, and our partners at the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and BirdLife International. The Caribbean Seabird Census is co-organized by BirdsCaribbean and Environmental Protection in the Caribbean. 

Three Caribbean bird-curated holiday menus, one winner. It’s the (un)official Caribbean Bird Thanksgiving Menu Showdown! No need to stream it, just read on to crown your favourite feathered chef. 

Thanksgiving is built around gratitude, loved ones, and the shared pleasure of a communal meal. Across America, families gather to uphold beloved traditions like watching football games, giving back, and of course, catching up over roast turkey, creamy mashed potatoes, and more dishes from recipes passed down from generation to generation. It’s these classic dishes that form the foundation of our collective holiday memory.

But what if your favorite holiday tradition was dictated entirely by your natural environment and dietary needs? What if the feast you shared was perfectly adapted to your life, using only the foods you naturally forage?

Crazy? We know! Here are Thanksgiving menus that we think three fascinating Caribbean endemics would be serving, using of course only the foods naturally available to them. Forget the basic bird and stuffing; it’s time to see what happens when the predators and foragers design the menu.

Read the three wild menus and let us know in the comments: Which feathered chef are you crowning, and why did you choose their Thanksgiving feast?

The Cuban Kite’s Spiral Feast

The Cuban Kite is one show-stopping raptor with a massive hooked yellow bill, broad wings, and barred tail. You’d think it has an appetite for birds, but its palate is more sophisticated. It feeds exclusively on tree snails. For its Thanksgiving Day menu, it opted for tantalizing all-snail dishes, proving that this Kite is aiming to give its dinner guests an escar-gourmet experience! 

Learn more about the Cuban Kite here, while you slurp up tasty snails. 

The Black-billed Amazon’s Vegan Twist on Tradition

The Black-billed Amazon is a connoisseur frugivore endemic to the iconic Blue and John Crow Mountains, and Cockpit Country of Jamaica. Its menu is a vibrant, vegan tribute to its home. Its dishes replace all the traditional heavy, almost-coma-inducing holiday items with light, organic creations centered around its favorite foods: corn, nuts, and fruit. We’re almost certain dinner guests, vegan or not, will not hesitate to add one or more of these dishes to their future Thanksgiving Day menus. 

Note: On October 28, Category 5 Hurricane Melissa made landfall on Jamaica, destroying habitat for this parrot and many other birds. Please donate to our fundraiser today to help our partners restore these critical habitats. 

The Great Lizard-Cuckoo’s Sensational Savory Delights

The Great Lizard-Cuckoo is known for its quiet, stealthy movements and its appetite for lizards, grasshoppers, and caterpillars. It comes as no surprise that its Thanksgiving offering is surprisingly sensational, swapping turkey for a delectable, protein-rich feast that pays homage to its preferred prey species. Dinner guests are advised to leave their cranberry-sauce-dripping comfort zones and think of the dishes as an out-of-this-world culinary adventure.  

Learn more about your lanky, lizard-munching host here. 

So there you have it: three incredible, inspired-by-nature Thanksgiving menus! Whether you’re rooting for the snail-centric elegance of the Cuban Kite, the vegan brilliance of the Black-billed Amazon, or the cleverness of the Great Lizard-Cuckoo, we hope these menus inspire you to look at the natural world with a renewed sense of wonder and creativity—and serve as a reminder that protecting the habitats these birds rely on is essential for their survival. 

From all of us at BirdsCaribbean, we wish you and your loved ones a very happy and healthy Thanksgiving Day!

Celebrate World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD)  with us in 2025! This year’s theme is “Shared Spaces: Creating Bird-friendly Cities and Communities”. Have fun learning about a new migratory bird every day. We have coloring pages, interesting facts, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy nature with your family at home.

Migratory Bird of the Day: Northern Yellow Warbler

A ray of sunshine visiting from the north—it’s the Northern Yellow Warbler! Formally known as the Yellow Warbler, this species—which once included a whopping 37 subspecies—was recently split into two: the Northern (migratory) and Mangrove (resident) Yellow Warblers. As of October 2025, ornithologists officially  recognize them as distinct species. We’ll share more on this split soon, but as we celebrate migratory birds, let’s learn more about the northern traveler. 

True to its name, the Northern Yellow Warbler is almost entirely yellow with beady black eyes and stout bill. Males shine in bright yellow plumage with a yellow-green back and reddish streaks on the breast. Females are also yellow overall, but paler,  and immatures range from dull yellow to brownish to grayish. At just 12–13 cm long and around 10 grams in weight—about the weight of a chopstick—these tiny birds are a burst of color and energy in any landscape.

They breed across most of North America in shrubby thickets and woodlands, particularly along streams, swamps, and lakeshores.  Their neat, cup-shaped nests are usually tucked into shrubs or low trees, carefully woven from plant fibers, grass, and down. 

Few sounds capture the joy of spring quite like their sweet, musical song—“sweet-sweet-sweet, I’m-so-sweet!”—one of the easiest warbler songs to recognize. During the non-breeding season, you’ll be far more likely to hear them making persistent, repeated chip calls as they move through mangrove, scrub, wetland edges, forest and even the trees in your garden!   

These remarkable migrants travel thousands of kilometers from their breeding grounds to wintering sites in Central and northern South America, flying nonstop across the Gulf of Mexico. They’re regular passage migrants through The Bahamas and Greater Antilles,  with a few migratory birds also possibly passing through Lesser Antilles. In Puerto Rico and Cuba, these bright birds are woven into local folklore as cheerful omens of rain and renewal. During migration they can be seen beside resident Mangrove Yellow Warblers. Males of the resident species are distinctive, with heavier streaking on the breast and varying amounts of reddish-chestnut on the crown and head, but females are notoriously tricky to tell apart! 

Feeding mainly on insects—caterpillars, mosquitos, beetles, flies, spiders, and more—Northern Yellow Warblers play a vital role in natural pest control. In coffee farms of Costa Rica, both Northern and Mangrove Yellow Warblers help coffee farmers by reducing infestations of coffee berry borers. In other areas, they help keep mosquito numbers down, much to the relief of the human population.

Like other migratory birds, they depend on healthy forests, wetlands, and mangroves for their survival. There are many ways you can help them! Why not plant and/ or protect patches of native trees and  shrubs for shelter and foraging? You should also avoid pesticides—warblers rely on insects for food!  Learn more about this species, including its range, photos, and calls here. Great news! If you’re in the Caribbean, thanks to BirdsCaribbean, you have free access to Birds of the World and you can find out even more in the full species account of this bird!

Thanks to Jethro van’t Hul for the text and Arnaldo Toledo for the lovely illustration!

Color in the Northern Yellow Warbler

Download the Migratory Birds of the Day Coloring Page!  Use the picture above and the photos on this page as your guide, or look up pictures of the bird online or in a bird field guide if you have one. Share your colored-in page with us by posting it online and tagging us @BirdsCaribbean #WMBD2025Carib

Listen to the calls of the Northern Yellow Warbler

The call of the Northern Yellow Warbler is  short, repeated ‘chip’ 

Enjoy these photos of Northern Yellow Warblers

Activity of the Day

FOR KIDS: Get ready to head out on a bird-friendly adventure with our bird-friendly bingo game!  Ask a trusted adult if you can take a walk in your backyard, or go with them on a walk around your neighbourhood. As you walk around look carefully for things that help keep birds safe in your community. You can then mark them off on the bingo card we provide in our game! Get out there and see what you can find!

FOR KIDS AND ADULTS: Enjoy this video of a Northern Yellow Warbler in the wild!