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You are here: Home / Dominican Republic

Dominican Republic

Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic supports a remarkably diverse avifauna of more than 300 species. In addition to 32 endemic bird species, the country hosts an impressive assemblage of permanent resident species, overwintering migrants, and other transient species that stop to rest and refuel enroute to more southerly wintering or northern breeding areas. The island of Hispaniola’s high level of endemism and its contribution to global biodiversity have earned it the highest ranking of biological importance in a worldwide assessment of bird protection priorities.

This diversity of bird species is, in part, a result of Hispaniola’s complex geologic history; the island is the most geographically diverse in the Caribbean. Ranging from Pico Duarte, the highest mountain in the Caribbean, to Lago Enriquillo which is more than 40 meters below sea level, key habitats include isolated cloud forests, extensive pine stands, classic dry forest, limestone karst regions, thorn woodlands of acacia and cactus, sand dunes, mudflats, and mangrove swamps.

Many of Hispaniola’s most distinctive birds are found only in the densely vegetated cloud forests where the rarest endemics include the White-fronted Quail-Dove (Geotrygon leucometopius), Hispaniolan Trogon (Priotelus roseigaster), La Selle Thrush (Turdus swalesi), Hispaniolan Highland-Tanager (Xenoligea montana) and both the Western Chat-Tanager (Calyptophilus tertius) and Eastern Chat-Tanager (Calyptophilus frugivorus). Here too is the rare and globally vulnerable Bicknell’s Thrush (Catharus bicknelli), an equally difficult species to find on either breeding or wintering grounds, but restricted almost entirely to Dominican forests in the winter months.

Other Dominican specialties can be found a bit lower in elevation in the beautiful pine forests. Endemics include the conspicuous Hispaniolan Pewee (Contopus hispaniolensis), as well as the Antillean Siskin (Carduelis dominicensis), Hispaniolan Palm Crow (Corvus palmarum), and the Hispaniolan Crossbill (Loxia megaplaga).

But many other, generally more common, island and regional endemics occur at lower elevations and in more anthropogenic habitats. These include the large number and variety of North American migrants, especially wood warblers, shorebirds and waterfowl.

And, of course, the birdwatcher in the Dominican Republic should look forward to getting to know a beautiful country with many outstanding natural features, a culture full of unique food, music and other artistic expressions, and a welcoming people eager to show off its historical and cultural heritage. Come birding in the Dominican Republic!

Special thanks to Steve Latta and Kate Wallace for the Dominican Republic text from their book Ruta Barrancoli: A Bird-Finding Guide to the Dominican Republic!

Birds of the Dominican Republic

Antillean Euphonia
Antillean Siskin
Antillean Siskin
Bicknell's Thrush
Black-crowned Palm Tanager
Broad-billed Tody
Eastern Chat-Tanager
Golden Swallow
Hispaniolan Lizard Cuckoo
Hispaniolan Lizard Cuckoo
Hispaniolan Parakeet in flight at nest by Dax Roman
Hispaniolan Parakeet
Hispaniolan Parakeets
Hispaniolan Parrot
Hispaniolan Trogon
Hispaniolan Woodpecker Female-Lopez Luciano
Hispaniolan Woodpecker
Hispaniolan Woodpecker
La Selle's Thrush
Narrow-billed Tody
Palmchat
Red-legged Thrush
Ridgway's Hawk
Ridgeway's Hawk

Dominican Republic Sites

Central Mountain Range
Constanza and Valle Nuevo
Ebano Verde Reserve
Hatillo
Jarabacoa with Armando Bermúdez and José del Carmen Ramírez National Parks
La Joya de San Francisco
Loma Quita Espuela
Pico Diego de Ocampo, Santiago
Southwest
Aguacate and Zapotén
Cabo Rojo and Pedernales
Cabral Lagoon
Cachote, Eastern Bahoruco
Jimaní
Lake Enriquillo
Loma Charco Azul
Los Arroyos, Sierra de Bahoruco National Park
Oviedo Lagoon, Jaragua National Park
Puerto Alejandro and Tortuguero
Rabo de Gato and Puerto Escondido
Sierra de Bahoruco National Park
North Coast
Cayos Siete Hermanos
El Limón, Samaná
Estero Hondo
Loma Guaconejo
Loma Isabel de Torres, Puerto Plata
Nalga de Maco National Park, Río Limpio
Samaná
Around Santo Domingo
Las Salinas de Baní
Mirador del Norte Park
National Botanical Garden
Ozama Wetlands
Southeast
Bávaro
Cumayasa
Del Este National Park
Del Este National Park: Boca de Yuma
Del Este National Park: Guaraguao
Del Este National Park: Padre Nuestro Trail
Del Este National Park: Saona Island
Limón Lagoon
Los Haitises National Park
Los Haitises National Park: Caño Hondo
Los Haitises National Park: Los Limones
Monte Plata
Ecological Foundation Trail, Punta Cana

Partners in the Dominican Republic

  • Grupo Accion Ecologica
  • National Aviary
  • SOH Conservation

With special thanks to our partners at the Ruta Barrancoli

Ruta Barrancoli logo

Dominican Republic Tour Operators

  • Gabriel Lugo

Bird Checklists

Click here to download a pamphlet-sized year-round checklist for Dominican Republic.

Recommended Field Guides

Birds of the Dominican Republic and Haiti by Steven Latta, Christopher Rimmer, Allan Keith, James Wiley, Herbert A. Raffaele, Kent McFarland, and Eladio Fernandez

Ruta Barrancolí: A Bird-finding Guide to the Dominican Republic by Steven C. Latta and Kate J. Wallace

Birds of the West Indies by Herbert Raffaele, James Wiley, Orlando Garrido, Allan Keith, and Janis Raffaelle

 

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Damion Whyte
Damion Whyte
@Roosters_World

My world stopped when one of the guys who just started birding today, spotted one of the rarest birds in Jamaica!! The Jamaica black bird aka *Wild Pine Sergeant*. It took me a couple years to find this bird when I just started birdwatching. #BlueMountains #Wow #beginnersluck pic.twitter.com/zwWR…

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5:38 pm · December 13, 2019 ·
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Damion Whyte
Damion Whyte
@Roosters_World

The Jamaican Black Bird is found mainly in the Blue & John Crow Mountains & the Cockpit Country. They feed on insects mainly found on tree barks or in the bromeliads/wild pine. It is endangered and closest relative is the Jamaican Oriole. #jamaicawildlife images.app.goo.gl/Fd…

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