Birding and bird watching in the Dominican Republic

More than 300 bird species have been recorded in The Dominican Republic, including more endemic species than any other Caribbean island, an amazing 27. The southwestern part of the island has the best birding, especially the Sierra de Bahoruco which includes a variety of habitats such as dry thorn scrub and mountain pine forests. Bahoruco contains one of the highest bird densities in the Caribbean and you can see, with a bit of luck, 26 out of the 27 endemics.

The capital, Santo Domingo, provides a gentle start, with a visit to the botanical gardens providing a chance to see many of the low land endemics such as the Hispaniolan Woodpecker, Palm Chats, Broad Billed Todies, Stolid Flycatchers, Black Whiskered Vireo, Palm Swifts and some aquatic specialties including Limpkin, West Indian Whistling Duck, and Least Grebe.

West of the capital is the wetlands of Las Salinas de Bani, a great place for waders and shorebirds. Salinas region has salt mines, mangroves, sand dunes, and thorn scrub, a good place for winter migrants.

Parque del Este, is the place to go to see Antillean Piculets, Parrots, Flat Billed Vireos, Black Whiskered Vireos, Pelicans, Gulls, Terns and more.

Click here to read about whale watching in the Dominican Republic.