The Birds Of Saona Island In The Dominican Republic

Whether you are a casual bird watcher or a serious bird watcher, you are sure to enjoy the great diversity of birds on Saona Island in the Dominican Republic. If you are planning a vacation in Punta Cana, keep in mind that you can easily take a tour in Punta Cana around Saona Island to see these incredible birds.

Saona Island is just a couple of miles off the southeastern tip of the Dominican Republic. However, there are no roads that reach the island so to get there you will have to go by boat. If you are taking a tour, it is likely that it will depart from the Bayahibe marina. Mangroves border Saona Island, so on your way you will pass through these mangroves. In the mangroves you will see many birds, including large colonies of Magnificent Frigatebirds (Fregata magnificens) and Brown Pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis). Frigatebirds are related to pelicans and have long bills and a large, bright red pouch that males will inflate to attract a female. It is quite something to see. You may also see a red-footed booby (Sula sula), another relative of the pelican. It is a striking bird with a blue bill, bright reddish-orange webbed feet, and a blue and pink throat pouch used for courtship. It is the smallest of the booby species.

Closely associated with the palm trees that line the beaches of Saona Island in the Dominican Republic, you’ll find Palm Chat (Dulus dominicus). These birds have a very limited range and are only found in the Dominican Republic and neighboring Haiti. However, this species is doing very well in its limited region, so those of you who keep a bird list will surely be able to tick this one off: The Palm Chat is the national bird. Forms noisy communal nests. It is a long-tailed passerine whose body looks a bit like a pine goldfinch to me, but is thought to be more closely related to waxwings. However, it is quite rare taxonomically speaking that it is placed only in its own family. So when you watch Palm Chat, keep in mind that you’re looking at a real weirdo from a scientific perspective.

Saona Island is also home to the largest breeding site for the endangered white-crowned pigeon (Columba leucocephala), making it one of the best places to see it. In fact, in the US, the only place these birds can be seen is the Florida Keys. White-crowned pigeon populations are declining at an alarming rate due to the degradation of their nesting and feeding habitat. It nests in coastal mangroves and flies back to the mainland to feed on the