Birdwatching in Cuba

Birding contacts and birdwatching information



Local Birdingpal Contacts

Local Birdwatchers Using the Birdingpal resources you must agree to the following: If you contact a local Birdingpal and make arrangement to go birding, you should note it is common courtesy to make sure you show up for the appointment. If for any reason you are unable to do this, the least you must do is contacting the local Pal right away. Please note that most Birdingpals are serious birdwatchers. It is a privilege to contact them, and your message should reflect it. A local Pal does not get paid, but should he/she offer to take you out birding, using their own vehicle, it would be courteous to pay for the fuel. A lunch and/or a small gift would also be appropriate, something as simple as a souvenir of your country, or a pin from your local birding club.
		Initial	Last Name	Area	Available	Language
		R	Sánchez	Habana	Anytime	Español/Ingles
		I am working on a Cuban birds checklist in German, Italian and French. Birding mainly in Zapata Swamp, and Sierra de los Organos in Pinar del Río. Another birding place in Topes de Collantes-Trinidad. Always looking for endemics birds endangered Bee Hummingbird,Zapata Wren,Zapata Rail, Zapata Sparrow, common Cuban Trogon and Cuban Tody. Specialist in cuban owls, Stygian Owl and Cuban Pygmy Owl, always in Zapata Swamp, Bermejas, Santo Tomás, La Salina and Hatiguanico River. Don´t forget interesting Gundlach Hawk, endemic Prey, rare to find in Tesoro Lake, Guamá. Pinar del Río is good for Cuban Solitaire, Cuban Green Woodpecker and Bee Hummingbird. I recomended Route Fermín Z. Cervera begin La Habana, Botanical Garden, travel East Hatiguanico River, Guamá, La Salina, Santo Tomás and Bermejas. Three days, and after Pinar del Río, Viñales,Soroa, Güira, two days, and finally Guanahacabibes Far West, Cuban Tody, Cuban Trogon, Bee Hummingbird and a lot of endemic lizard anolis and boas, genus Tropidophis.
		O	Torres	La Havana, Havana	Anytime
		J	Williams	Guantanamo Bay	Anytime
Professional Guides If you contact a professional Birdingpal guide you must be prepared to pay a fee for guiding services.
		Initial	Last Name	Area	Available	Language
		O	Martinez	Playa Larga, Matanzas	Anytime	Español/Ingles
		I only went out with Orestes (El Chino). He is an extremely hard-working and good-humored guy who knows his birds very well. We were together for a week, the longest I have been with any local guide. I stayed at a fantastic casa particular El Chino arranged for me. Next to his house, right on the beach, lobster for dinner every night! I got every bird I wanted. In fact, in terms of expectations and species seen, this was my most successful trip ever. I got 4 more lifers in Cuba than I thought I could get at best (they were early returning migrants). Knud Rasmussen. Toronto, Canada

Local Information

	Name	Description
	Rafael Sánchez's	Birding Cuba
	Birding Hotspots around the world	Sites
	Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia	Cuba
	Local weather	Yahoo
	Electronic maps	MapQuest
	Find lowest prices for field guides, books, maps etc.
	Printable bird check list
	Trip Reports from Cuba

Last update 29/09/2009