Cuba's endemic bird species

CUBA ENDEMIC BIRD SPECIES

Cuba is situated in the Caribbean Sea. The main island is 1,250 km long and 191 km across, and makes 104,556 km².
It is the largest of the Caribbean where more than 4,000 islands are found in the surrounding sea and bays.

The terrain is mostly flat with rolling plains, rugged hills and mountains. The highest point is the Pico Real del Turquino, at 1,974 metres of elevation in the SE of the island in the Sierra Maestra. However, there are other mountains in C and NW of the island, and some inland waters. The coastal area includes sandy beaches, mangroves and marshes.

The avifauna of Cuba includes about 368 species with 25 endemic. The National bird is the Cuban Trogon, also known as the Tocororo or Tocoloro, because of its calls.

Like in numerous islands and continents, the native vegetation is now converted to agriculture and pasture for cattle, and only a small part (15-20%) of the natural land is remaining. Agriculture expansion and forest exploitation are serious threats to the rain forest.
Numerous birds are threatened by habitat loss and disturbance.

List of the 25 endemic species:

Bare-legged Owl - Margarobyas lawrencii – Petit-duc de Cuba

Bee Hummingbird - Mellisuga helenae - Colibri d’Elena ou d’Helen

Blue-headed Quail-Dove - Starnoenas cyanocephala - Colombe à tête bleue

Cuban Blackbird - Ptiloxena (Dives) atroviolaceus - Quiscale violet

Cuban Black Hawk - Buteogallus gundlachii - Buse de Gundlach

Cuban Gnatcatcher - Polioptila lembeyei - Gobemoucheron de Cuba

Cuban Grassquit - Tiaris canorus - Sporophile petit-chanteur

Cuban Green Woodpecker - Xiphidiopicus percussus - Pic poignardé

Cuban Oriole - Icterus melanopsis - Oriole de Cuba

Cuban Parakeet - Psittacara euops - Conure de Cuba

Cuban Pygmy-Owl - Glaucidium siju - Chevêchette de Cuba