<< TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO BIRDING TOURS
An all-inclusive birdwatching tour to the islands of Trinidad and Tobago, combining endemics, Caribbean specialties, and South American bird species.
Inter-island flights are included in the price for these tours |
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Quick Info Literature & Audio Photo Gallery Bird Checklist COVID-19
Trinidad (“Cairi ” = Land of the Hummingbirds) and Tobago is an archipelago state (= The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago), being the most southern island country in the Caribbean, between the Lesser Antilles and South America. Trinidad and Tobago is located on the continental shelf of South America, and are thus geologically considered to be entirely South American. The island of Trinidad is notable for the presence of Pitch Lake, the largest natural asphalt deposit in the entire world.
These islands are similar ecologically to the equatorial region of South America, rather than that of the Lesser Antilles islands. There are more than 480 bird species, including the interesting Oilbird (Steatornis caripensis), endemic species (see Bird Checklist) such as the Trinidad Piping-Guan (Pipile pipile, a turkey-like bird), and the Trinidad Motmot (Momotus bahamensis). The national bird is the spectacular and paradisaic Scarlet Ibis.
Our birding programs in Trinidad and Tobago (see map) visit localities that cover most habitats, focusing on those with the great biodiversity and richness of avifauna. We will be birding in forests from high elevations in mountain ranges, to foothills, and we will also explore lowlands, lakes, mangroves, and coastlines. Some early morning starts are necessary and there is a night (or more) birding session as well.
These islands are similar ecologically to the equatorial region of South America, rather than that of the Lesser Antilles islands. There are more than 480 bird species, including the interesting Oilbird (Steatornis caripensis), endemic species (see Bird Checklist) such as the Trinidad Piping-Guan (Pipile pipile, a turkey-like bird), and the Trinidad Motmot (Momotus bahamensis). The national bird is the spectacular and paradisaic Scarlet Ibis.
Our birding programs in Trinidad and Tobago (see map) visit localities that cover most habitats, focusing on those with the great biodiversity and richness of avifauna. We will be birding in forests from high elevations in mountain ranges, to foothills, and we will also explore lowlands, lakes, mangroves, and coastlines. Some early morning starts are necessary and there is a night (or more) birding session as well.
Trinidad & Tobago
Main Localities: 1) Caroni Swamp, 2) Waterloo, 3) Piarco, 4) Blanchisseuse Road,
5) Asa Wright Nature Center, 6) Waller Field, 7) Navira Swamp, 8) Tobago.
5) Asa Wright Nature Center, 6) Waller Field, 7) Navira Swamp, 8) Tobago.
PLANNED ITINERARY |
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DAY 1: Arrival and Welcome to Trinidad & TobagoArrival to the island of Trinidad and transfer from Piarco (POS) International Airport to the hotel, where members of the group will check into their reserved rooms. At 6:00 p.m. participants will meet the leader in the lobby for discussion of trip plans before dinner. Night in Piarco.
DAY 2: The Western Region: Caroni National Park and WaterlooAfter breakfast at the hotel, we will start to explore the western region of the island of Trinidad. In the morning we will drive west to the Caroni Swamp, a national park on the west coast of Trinidad. Our explorations in this mangrove swamp will provide our first target bird of the island of Trinidad, the spectacular Scarlet Ibis. Other possible species of birds in the area will include American Flamingo, Straight-billed Woodcreeper, Silvered Antbird, Black-crested Antshrike, American Pygmy and Green Kingfishers, and others.
After lunch we will drive south to Waterloo area, a coastal locality with spots that will provide other aquatic but also land bird species, including Fork-tailed Palm Swift, Black-necked Stilt, Black Skimmer, American Flamingo, Scarlet Ibis, Striated Heron, Common Black Hawk, Yellow-headed Caracara, Green-rumped Parrotlet, Great Kiskadee, Tropical Kingbird, Tropical Mockingbird, Yellow Oriole, Carib Grackle, Blue-gray Tanager, Palm Tanager, White-tailed Goldenthroat, Ochre-lored Flatbill, and more. Night in Piarco. DAY 3-5: The North-Central Region of Trinidad: Asa Wright Nature Centre and Blanchisseuse RoadThis morning we will drive to the north, going to the famous Asa Wright locality, a place in which we will be staying for the next two days. At Asa Wright we will observe 25 or more bird species at the local feeders, including some tanagers and hummingbirds such as Copper-rumped Hummingbird (ssp. erythronotos), White-chested Emerald, Blue-chinned Sapphire, White-necked Jacobin, the Ruby-topaz Hummingbird and Tufted Coquette, among others. Walking in the nearby forest, more species, such as the Bearded Bellbird, three species of trogons, and raptors, including the Ornate Hawk-Eagle, are also possible. At Asa Wright is located the famous Dunton Cave, where we will find inside another of our target birds in Trinidad: the monotypic Oilbird.
During the next day we will be moving in the morning to the northern mountain forested region of Trinidad, along the Blanchisseuse Road. Here we will spend our day finding some specialties such as the White Hawk, Black-faced Antthrush, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Cocoa Thrush, Speckled Tanager, Golden-crowned Warbler and the endemic Trinidad Piping-Guan, among others. In the afternoon, after our birding explorations in the northern region of the island, we will return to our headquarter in Asa Wright, where we will be searching during the next day for additional bird species present in the nearby habitats. Nights in Arima. DAY 6: Waller Field and the Eastern region: Nariva SwampIn the morning, after our breakfast, we will drive south to explore the dry savanna and scrub habitats around Waller Field, and the Aripo Savanna, looking for open-land species present there and other birds such as Scaled Pigeon and Sulphury Flycatcher.
After our lunch we will continue moving south, near the east coast, to look for birds in the freshwater marsh at Nariva Swamp. There, our target birds will be some raptors, the Pinnated Bittern, Silvered Antbird, Black-crested Antshrike, Ringed and Green kingfishers. On our return we will again search Waller Field for nocturnal bird species including Common Potoo, White-tailed Nightjar, Common Pauraque, and Tropical Screech-Owl. Night in Piarco. DAY 7-8: Tobago IslandIn the morning we will be taking a short flight to the nearby island of Tobago. Tobago is distinctive and quite different than Trinidad, especially in the bird fauna. At the edge of the historic Main Ridge Forest Reserve, White-fringed Antwren and endemic subspecies of Scrub Greenlet (ssp. insularis) and Barred Antshrike (ssp. tobagensis) can be found. Other birds there are the Ruby-topaz Hummingbird, Copper-rumped Hummingbird (ssp. tobaci), Trinidad Motmot, and Common Potoo. A nocturnal search for the White-tailed Nightjar will be conducted.
The next morning we will explore the pristine forest at the Gilpin Trace, where about a hundred species can be found. Birds present here include the Blue-backed Manakin, Plain Antvireo, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, Stripe-breasted Spinetail, Yellow-legged Thrush, White-tailed Sabrewing, and more. Other species not found in Trinidad include the Rufous-vented Chachalaca, Striped Owl, White-fringed Antwren, and Red-crowned Woodpecker. In the afternoon we will be birding at the coastline near Speyside and take a short boat ride to Little Tobago Island. From the boat it will be possible to observe some seabirds, such as Red-billed Tropicbirds, Brown and Red-footed Boobies, Magnificent Frigatebirds and Audubon’s Shearwater, together with some terns (Bridled, Sooty, Roseate and Royal) and Brown Noddies. Once we arrive at Little Tobago, we will search the dry tropical forest. Nights in Moriah. DAY 9: Departure and Good-bye to Trinidad & TobagoFlight to Trinidad (POS) for departures of the members of the group.
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Alterations in Tour Itineraries: Owing to a variety of circumstances, a planned itinerary as appears on this website, can be changed or modified locally by the leader to accommodate particular weather conditions, bird activity, human disturbances, unexpected situations, or any other reasons considered by the leader. WILLIAM SUAREZ BIRDING TOURS reserves the right to change any itinerary.
