Victor Emanuel Nature Tours

THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

April 17-24, 2010

Leader: David Ascanio

Local guides: Kate Wallace and Miguel Angel Landestoy

Compiled by: David Ascanio Victor Emanuel Nature Tours, inc. 2525 Wallington Drive, Suite 1003

Austin, TX 78746 www.ventbird.com

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VictorEmanuelNatureTours

TheDominicanRepublicApril17‐24,2010

Leader:DavidAscanioLocal guides: Kate Wallace and Miguel Angel Landestoy

TherearefewtripsthatbringmesomuchexpectationbecauseofthemixtureoftheendemicbirdspeciesandtheconditionsoftheterrainatthebirdinglocationsastheoneweoperateintheDominicanRepublic.Ibelieveyouallendorsedmyfeelingswhendescribingthistourasarealadventure,anepicroadtripandatourforperseverantbirders!Nowonderwhydespiteitssize(about18,000square

miles)theDominicanRepublicshowsanincrediblemixtureofhabitatsfromcoastalmagrovetograsslandsandthreeforesttypes:moist,cloudandpineforests.Althoughwespentthemainbulkofthetourinforesttypeswealsovisitedgardens,grasslandanddesertscrubinthesouthernsectionofthecountry.OurtourstartedinLosLimoneswhereweappreciatedhowhumansandbirdscancoexisttogether.Here,wesawmorethan7Ridgway´sHawksharingtheirhabitatwiththelocalfarmerswhomseemtorespecttheforestinthehillstoletthehawksearchforprey.Althoughconflictsremainsbetweenthefarmersandthehawkhopesremainsforthesurvivalofthespecies.WecanonlycrossourfingersandwishthattheNGOrunningtheconservationprogramwillremainintheareatodealwithsuchconflicts.AfterasuccesfuldayinlosLimoneswedrovetoalodgenearBarahonawhichistheheadquartersforvisitingtheSierradeBahoruco.Heretheroadwasroughthusourchancesforseeingtheendemicspecieswerereducedtofewhoursataday.Neverthelessdespitethelimitedtimeandtheroadconditionswemanagednotonlytoseewellalltheendemicsbutnailedmostofitthroughoutthescope!Youmighthavefixinyourmindthatsomeendemicbirdswererelativelyeasytoseebutotherrequiredagoodeffortandtimestandingattheedgeoftheforest.RemembertheEasternChat‐Tanagershowingforfewsecondstosingbeforehiddingagainintheforest?Or,theLaSelleThrushthatcameafterawhilesoclosetousthatnobinocularswereneededtoappreciateit!Theenclosedbirdlisthopestobringallthesememoriesthatincludednotonlygreatbirdsbutalsoincrediblecompanionandalotoffun.And,youbetIwillalwaysrememberAlan’swarningthatbroughtlaughsafterwefinishedthechecklistthefirstnight:“David,wehadagreatdaybutrememberthattonighteverythignresetstozero!”.

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BeforeIendtheintroductiontothisbirdlistIbelieveitisworthytoemphasizethatourdrivesthroughoutthisportionoftheHispaniolaallowedsightsof27birdsendemictotheislandplusmanyCaribbeanspecialties.AmongtheendemicspeciestheTodidae,Ridgway´sHawk,Black‐crownedPalm‐Tanager,LaSelleThrush,Ashy‐facedOwlandAntilleanPiculetwerevotedasthefavorites.IwouldliketoinviteyoutogivealookofmytourscoveringSoutheasternVenezuela,Trinidad&Tobago,TheLesserAntillesortheAmazonCruise.Eachonehasitsownbirdingstylebutallsharethesamespirittofindtherareandendemicbirdspecieswhilehavingalotoffun!TheenclosedbirdlistfollowstheAOUtaxonomy.AlternativenamesgiveninClementsandothersourcesarealsoindicatedinthetextaccompanyingthespecies.Ihopetoseeyousoon!TheBirdlist.Anatidae

WestIndianWhistling­Duck.Dendrocygnaarborea(monotypic).AfterabitofasearchintheSantoDomingoBotanicalGardensweenjoyedascopeviewofanindividualforagingonthenutsattheinfrutescenceofaRoyalPalm(Roystoneaboringuena).WedocumentedthisbehaviorandpostedintheIBCwebsite.AlthoughfairlycommoninsomeoftheCaribbeanislands,thepopulationofthisspecieshassufferedfromextensivehuntingthusconsideredvulnerableundertheIUCN.Lookforthevideoathttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_th5RiSUsYEPodicipedidae

LeastGrebe.Tachybaptusdominicusdominicus.ThisspecieswasfirstseenintheSantoDomingobotanicalgardensandlaterapairwasseenwithjuvenilesalongtheRabodeGatotrail,nearPuertoEscondido.Sulidae BrownBooby.Sulaleucogasterleucogaster.AsingleindividualwasobservedwithalooseflockofMagnificentFrigatebirdandRoyalTernsatthebeachofLosPatosinthesouthwestsideoftheisland.Pelecanidae

BrownPelican.Pelecanusoccidentalisoccidentalis.AboutsixindividualswereseennearBarahona.Fregatidae

MagnificentFrigatebird.Fregatamagnificens(monotypic).ThisspecieswasseenregularlyonthedrivesalongthecoastoftheDominicanRepublic.Ardeidae

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GreatEgret.Ardeaalbaegretta.Interestingenough,thisspecieswasoncepushedintothebriskofextinctionduetothebreedingplumetradebackinthelate19thcentury.Weobservedabout6individualsnearRabodeGato.

SnowyEgret.Egrettathulathula.Unlikethepreviousyearthistimeweobservedaverylownumberofindividuals:only2!

TricoloredHeron.Egrettatricolorruficollis.OneindividualwasobservedatthechannelsofRabodeGatobeinganewspeciesforthebirdinventoryofthelocation.

CattleEgret.Bubulcusibisibis.Wereporteddailyviewsinpasturesandopenareas.ThefirstrecordofthespeciesintheAmericasdatesbackto1877whenHaverschmidtreportedforSuriname.

GreenHeron.Butoridesvirescensvirescens.Singleindividualswereobservedinsmallwetlands.ThisspeciesissometimesconsideredconspecificwithStriatedHeron(Butoridesstriatus).

Yellow­crownedNight­Heron.Nyctanassaviolaceabancrofti.AsingleindividualwasobservedneartheswimmingpoolinElQuemaitonearBarahona.Cathartidae

TurkeyVulture.Cathartesauraaura.ItwascommonaroundLosLimonesatthebufferzoneofLosHaitisesnationalpark.Itisabsentelsewhereintheisland.Thisisoneofthesouthernmostbreedingpopulationsofthered‐napeformofNorthAmerica.AccipitridaeSeeingAccipitridaeinislandisbothinterestingandfascinatingduetotheisolationforceworkingonthepopulations.Sincemostbirdsofpreyneedlandbridgestomigrateitismostlikelythattheybecometrappedinitsownsmallterritorywhenreachingtheseislandsbyaccident.Hereiswhereevolutionatworkshapethenewspeciesandorthedistinctivenessintheraces.

Ridgway'sHawk.Buteoridgwayi.EndemictoHispaniola.Wemayhavebeatedtheworldrecordofseeingmoreindividualsofthespeciesinasinglemorning.InourvisittolosLimoneswewerehonoredtoactuallyseetwoactivenestsandlaterasingleindividualsoaringovertherangerhouse.Wenailedatotalof7individualsinasinglemorning!WhenreadingthisaccountbearinmindthatthisisprobablythemostendangeredButeointheworld.Also,noticethatplumageandvoiceresemblesthatofRoadsideHawk(Buteomagnirostris)ofSouthAmerica.Maybethereisageneticlinktoit!Forseeingthevideooftheindividualnearthenestgoto:http://ibc.lynxeds.com/video/ridgways‐hawk‐buteo‐ridgwayi/single‐individual‐perched‐branch‐cecropia‐near‐nest‐site‐chick‐ju

Red­tailedHawk.Buteojamaicensisjamaicensis.OneindividualwasseensoaringintheslopesoftheSierradeBahoruconationalparkandanotherinAceitillar,Alcoaroad.Falconidae

AmericanKestrel.Falcosparveriusdominicensis.WeenjoyedthissmallbirdofpreyalmosteverydayandnoticedtheverypaleunderpartsoftheraceinhabitingHispaniola.

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Merlin.Falcocolumbariuscolumbarius.ANorthAmericanmigrant.OneindividualwasobservedflyingoverSantoDomingo(HotelElEmbajador).Rallidae

PurpleGallinule.Porphyriomartinica(monotypic).ThisspecieswasfirstseeninLosLimonesandlaterenjoyedbyeveryoneattheRabodeGatotrail.

CaribbeanCoot.Fulicacaribaea(monotypic).GiventheearthquakeinHaitiweavoidedJimanithisyear.ThisiswhywereportedonlythreeindividualsinLagoEnriquillo.SometimesregardedasconspecificwithAmericanCootF.americana.

CommonMoorhen.Gallinulachloropuscerceris.Variousindividualswereseenthoughouttheweek.Aramidae

Limpkin.Aramusguaraunaelucus.WeweresurprisedtolistenthisspeciesgivingitsmelancholicvoicenearElAguacateintheSierradeBahorucosincetherewasnorunningwaterinthevicinity!Charadriidae

Killdeer.Charadriusvociferusternominatus.ApairwasseenalongtheroadtoRabodeGato(Repeatedsightsatthesamelocationforalmostadecade).ThisspecieswasalsoseeninLagoEnriquillo.TheNorthAmericanracevociferushavebeenalsodocumentedtoreachthreDominicanRepublicduringthewinteringmigration.Scolopacidae

SolitarySandpiper.Tringasolitariasolitaria?.About4individualswereseeninthechannelatthebotanicalgardens.Iamnotsurewhetertheracewassolitariaorcinnamomea.

GreaterYellowlegs.Tringamelanoleuca.AsingleindividualwasobservedinLagoEnriquillo. Laridae

RoyalTern.Thalasseusmaximamaximus.MorethanadozenindividualswereenjoyedmovingalongwithafeedingflockfromthebeachofLosPatos.ColumbidaeUsuallyoverlooked,membersofthisfamilycanshowanincrediblesetofplumagecoloration.UptothelastmorningweweretryingtogainaviewoftheWhite‐frontedQuail‐DoveinordertoclaimtohaveseenalltheColumbidaeoftheislandbutunfortunatelywefailedtoseeitthistime.

Scaly­napedPigeon.Patagioenassquamosa(monotypic).ThisspecieswasseenintheSierradeBahoruconationalparkatelevationsabove1000meters.Wereportedmorethan12individuals.

White­crownedPigeon.Patagioenasleucocephala(monotypic).OnlyseenflyingacrosstheroadonthedrivefromPuertoEscondidotoBarahona.

PlainPigeon.Patagioenasinornatainornata.ThisonewasfirstseeninascrubnearLosLimones.ApairwaslaterseeninFundoParadí.

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White­wingedDove.Zenaidaasiaticaasiatica.Thisspecieswasfairlycommonalongtheroadandlocationswithdesertscrub.

ZenaidaDove.Zenaidaauritazenaida.Thisoneremainslesscommonthanothermembersofthegenus.WemanagedtoseetwopairsintheslopesofSierradeBahorucoinanquarrywheretheyusuallyswallowsmallpebblestohelpthemgrinduptheseedsintheirmusculargizzards.

MourningDove.Zenaidamacrouramacroura.ThisspecieswascommoninSantoDomingoandBarahona.

CommonGround­Dove.Columbinapasserinainsularis.ThisspecieswasalsocommoninSantoDomingoandinthearidareasoftheSWregionofthecountry.ThisisthesmallestColumbidaeintheDominicanRepublic.

KeyWestQuail­Dove.Geotrygonchrysia(monotypic).WeallenjoyedscopeviewsofanindividualspottedbyMiguelAngelinariverbedinSierradeBahoruco.

RuddyQuail­Dove.Geotrygonmontanamontana.DespitemuchsearchthisspecieswasonlyheardinLaPlaca.Psittacidae

HispaniolanParakeet.Aratingachloropterachloroptera.EndemictoHispaniola.WeenjoyedscopeviewsofseveralindividualsinaroostinHotelElEmbajador.Weestimatedabout104individualsinthislocation.Additionally,fewpairswereseeninRabodeGatotrailandinthecolonialzoneofSantoDomingo.IthasbeensuggestedtobeconspecificwithWhite‐eyedParakeetAratingaleucophthalmus.

HispaniolanParrot.Amazonaventralis(monotypic).EndemictoHispaniola.WemighthavehadoneofthebestviewseverofthespeciesinaVENTtour.WefirstscopedasingleindividualinZapoténandlaterenjoyedanotheronenearElAguacate.Inourchecklistwepiledupto17individualsintwodays.ThespeciesiscurrentlyconsideredasVulnerableundertheIUCN.ForseeingavideooftheindividualscopedneartheinternationalborderwithHaitipleasegotohttp://ibc.lynxeds.com/video/hispaniolan‐amazon‐amazona‐ventralis/single‐individual‐perched‐atop‐small‐tree‐area‐heavily‐deCuculidae

MangroveCuckoo.Coccyzusminor(monotypic).Thisspecieswasseenmoreregularlythaninpreviousyears.ThistimeweobservedindividualsintheBotanicalGardensandinRabodeGatotrail.Also,thisyearitseemedmorevocalthaninpreviousyears.

Bay­breastedCuckoo.Coccyzus(Hyetornis)rufigularis(monotypic).EndemictoHispaniola.Thistimewenailedapairbuthadpoorviewsofit.Althoughwefoundthisspeciestobemoreresponsivethaninpreviousyearsitremainedshyanddifficulttosee.Mostparticipantshappenedtoseeeithertheunderpartsandthesizeofit.

HispaniolanLizard­Cuckoo.Coccyzus(Saurothera)longirostrislongirostris.EndemictoHispaniola.Wesawthisimpressivelong‐billedcuckooseveraltimes,fromthebeginningofthetourtotheendofit.InJaraguaweenjoyedoneindividualperchedatopadeadbranchinfullsunlight.Tytonidae

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Ashy­facedOwl.Tytoglaucops(monotypic).EndemictoHispaniola.Whataview!Weenjoyedoneindividualperchedattheentranceofthenest.BearinmindthatuntilrecentlythisspecieswasconsideredconspecificwiththeBarnOwk(Tytoalba)buttodayisacceptedasaseparatespecies.Also,sometaxonomisthavesuggestedthattheracesnigrescensandinsularisofBarnOwl(foundinDominica,StVincentandGrenada)shouldbetreatedaspartofAshy‐facedOwlbutthishavenotbeenformallyacceptedasyet.Forseeingavideooftheindividualwesawthroughoutthescopepleasevisitthelinkhttp://ibc.lynxeds.com/video/ashy‐faced‐owl‐tyto‐glaucops/individual‐perched‐mouth‐nest‐southern‐part‐islandStrigidae

BurrowingOwl.Athenecuniculariatroglodytes.VariouspairswereseennearPuertoEscondidoandalongtheroadtotheSierradeBahoruco.

Nyctibiidae

NorthernPotoo.Nyctibiusjamaicensisabbotti.AsingleindividualwasheardnearLaPlacaintheslopesofSierradeBahoruco.Unfortunatelyitwasnotseen.CaprimulgidaeCommonlyreferredastheGoatsuckers,thenighthawksandnightjarscanbedifficulttoidentifyinthefield.Aspectssuchasvoice,habitsandhabitatarerelevantforfieldidentification.

AntilleanNighthawkChordeilesgundlachiigundlachii.WefirstsawitflyingatdawnnearlagoEnriquillo.Later,itwasobservedflyingatdaytimeovertheRabodeGatotrail.

LeastPoorwill(LeastPauraque).Siphonorhisbrewsteri(monotypic).EndemictoHispaniola.OnlyheardinlaPlaca.Unfortunatelywedidnothaveenoughtimetospendintheareatolookforit.ThisspecieswasformerlyconsideredconspecificwiththeJamaicanPorwill(S.americana).

GreaterAntilleanNightjar(HispaniolanNightjar).Caprimulguscubanensis(Caprimulgusekmani),(monotypic).SometimesconsideredanendemictoHispaniola.TwoindividualswereheardinlaPlaca,SierradeBahoruco.Despiteoureffortstolocateoneperchedattheedgeoftheforestwefailedtoseeitthusthiscountsasonlyheard.CaprimulguscubanensisisfoundinCubaandHispaniolabutdifferencesinvocalizationmaywarrantafuturerecognitionastwoseparatespecies.Apodidae

AntilleanPalm­Swift.Tachornisphoenicobiaphoenicobia.Fairlycommoninthelowlandswerefeedsmostofthedaywithcircularflightsandmixedglides,orwithfastwingbeats.Thisspeciesisparticularlylargecomparedwithotherpalm‐swiftspeciesinSouthAmerica.Althoughthesizedifferenceisnotveryrelevantasinotherspeciesthiscasecanbetakenasanexampleofgigantismasaconsequencesofislandisolation.Trochilidae

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AntilleanMango.Anthracothoraxdominicus.Thisspecieswasseenalmosteverydayfromthelowlandsuptothehighlandsandfromtheforestedgetowellinsidetheforest.

HispaniolanEmerald.Chlorostilbonswainsonii(monotypic).EndemictoHispaniola.Weenjoyedverycloseviewsofthislarge‐headedhummingbird.TheconicalforeheadresemblesmoreaTrochilidaeofthegenusHeliodoxaratherthanamemberoftheChlorostilbon.ItsrobustnessanddeepforkedtailisanotheroddaspectofthisspeciessinceinSouthAmericamostoftheemeraldsofthegenusChlorostilbonaresmallanddelicate.

VervainHummingbird.Mellisugaminimavieillota.AbouthalfadozenindividualswereseenattheBotanicalGardens.ItwasalsoseeninLagoEnriquillo,RabodeGatotrailandnearZapotén.ThisspeciesisfondtoperchatoptheverticalspikeofthefreshleavesintheRoyalPalmswhilecallingfrequently.Trogonidae

HispaniolanTrogon.Priotelusroseigaster(monotypic).EndemictoHispaniola.ApairwasenjoyedsingingnearZapoténwhilescope.AsecondpairwasheardinCachote.TodidaeFossilevidencesuggeststhattodiesevolvedfromCentralAmericabutbecameextinctforunknownreasons.FivespeciesremainintheGreatAntillesandtwoarerepresentedinHispaniola.Todiesarerelativesofthemotmotsandmoredistantlytothekingfishers.

Broad­billedTody.Todussubulatus(monotypic).EndemictoHispaniola.ThisisthecommonestofbothtodiesinHispaniolaandisfoundinalmosteverylowlandhabitat.Wesawitvirtuallyeverydaybutnevergottiredofitsbrightcolorsandcartoon‐likeshapeandbehavior!Thespecificnamesubulatusreferstotheshapeofitsbill(broad).Forseeingashortvideotakenduringourtourpleasegotohttp://ibc.lynxeds.com/video/broad‐billed‐tody‐todus‐subulatus/another‐dorsal‐view‐individual‐searching‐insects

Narrow­billedTody.Todusangustirostris(monotypic).EndemictoHispaniola.Thisspeciesislesswidespreadthanthepreviousoneandusuallyisfoundathigherelevations.Weenjoyed4pairsinashorttransectofSierradeBahorucoandsawanotherpairinCachote.Thespecificnameangustirostrisreferstothenarrowbillofit.Picidae

AntilleanPiculet.Nesoctitesmicromegas(monotypic).EndemictoHispaniola.AfteracoupleofdayslookingforthisspeciesinSierradeBarahonaandinZapoténwefoundapairinJaraguanationalpark.WenoticeditslargesizecomparedwiththosepiculetspeciesfoundinSouthAmerica(Picumnus).ThegenusNesoctitesreferstothefactthatisanislandspecies,withnesosmeaningislandandktitesmeaninganinhabitant.

HispaniolanWoodpecker.Melanerpesstriatus(monotypic).EndemictoHispaniola.Thisonewasseeneverydayandinfactmanypairswereseennesting.Thisspeciesisquitetoleranttohumanpresenceandseemstoadaptwelltofarmland,urbanareasandotheropenareas.

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Tyrannidae

GreaterAntilleanElaenia.Elaeniafallaxcherriei.ApairinZapoténhappenedtobetheonlyindividualsforthewholetour.Thepairwesawwasforraginginthecanopystrata.

HispaniolanPewee.Contopushispaniolensis(monotypic).EndemictoHispaniola.ThiswasanotherspeciesfoundinSierradeBahoruconationalpark.Althoughuncommon,wewereabletolocatetwopairsinthemountains.ThisspecieswasformerlypartofGreaterAntilleanPeweewhichturnedouttobesplitintofourspecies.

StolidFlycatcher.Myiarchusstolidusdominicensis.Acommonandvocalspeciesfoundmainlyinscrubbyvegetationinthelowlands.ThegenusMyiarchusiswidespreadinSouthAmericawithmanylook‐alikespeciesandarebesttoldbyvoice.ItwasseenregularlyinSierradeBahoruco,LagoEnriquilloandthesurroundingsofit.

GrayKingbird.Tyrannusdominicensisdominicensis.Manypairsandindividualswereseen/heardduringthetrip.

LoggerheadKingbird.Tyrannuscaudifasciatusflavescens.WehadgreatviewsofthespeciesinElAguacateplantationalongtheroadtoSierradeBahoruco.Thespecificnamecaudifasciatusmakesreferencetotherufousedgesinthetail.Toenjoyavideoofthepairseenduringourtrippleasegotohttp://ibc.lynxeds.com/video/loggerhead‐kingbird‐tyrannus‐caudifasciatus/pair‐well‐exposed‐lowlands‐contiguous‐avocado‐planVireonidae

Flat­billedVireo.Vireonanus.EndemictoHispaniola.WeenjoyedgreatviewsofapairintheSierradeBahoruco.AsecondresponsivepairwasobservedaroundLaPlaca.

Black­whiskeredVireo.Vireoaltiloquusaltiloquus.Althoughsaidtobedifficutltoobservewemanagedtoseethisspeciesalmosteveryday.Corvidae

PalmCrow(HispaniolanPalmCrow).Corvuspalmarum(monotypic).EndemictoHispaniolaWehadsuperbviewsofthreeindividualsinLagoEnriquillo.ThisspecieswasonceconsideredconspecificwiththeCubanPalmCrow,C.minutus.

White­neckedCrow.Corvusleucognaphalus(monotypic)..EndemictoHispaniolaWhataview!Weenjoyedscopeviewsofasingleindividualperchedandlatersawapairflyingwhilegivingitsdistinctivevoice.Hirundinidae

CaribbeanMartin.Prognedominicensis.WesawthisspeciesmainlyaroundBaniandalsonearSantoDomingo.Wedidnotseelargenumbersineitherlocationaswedidinpreviousyearsbutsawaflockofabout20individualsattheairportinSantoDomingo.

GoldenSwallow.Tachycinetaeuchryseasclateri.AlmostendemictoHispaniolaasthepopulationsofJamaicahavebeenextirpated.Wehadgreatviewsof4individualsinZapotén.ItwasalsolaterseeninAceitillar.This

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speciesisapparentlyextinctedinJamaica.IfyouhavebeeninSouthAmericayoumighthavenoticeitsresemblancewiththeBlue‐and‐whiteSwallow.

CaveSwallow.Petrochelidonfulvafulva.Thisonewasonlyseenthedayofdeparturealongthehighwaybetweenthehotelandtheairport.

NorthernRough­wingedSwallow.Stelgidopterixserripennis.AsingleindividualwasobservednearLosLimones(bufferzomeofLosHaitisesnationalpark).Turdidae

Rufous­throatedSolitaire.Myadestesgenibarbismontanus.Whatabeautifulsong!Itsoundslikeamusiciangivingshortandpauseblowsthroughoutaflute.ItshighfrequencywhistlewasenjoyedwhilewesearchedforLaSelleThrushandotherendemicspeciesinZapotén.Weenjoyed7individualswithsomesingingwhileobservedatthescope.Thisspeciesisagoodcandidateforatechnicalsplitsokeepyoureyesonit.

LaSelleThrush.Turdusswalesiswalesi.EndemictoHispaniolaThisisprobablythemostdifficultandtheleastcommonoftheHispaniolaendemicspecies.Onlyfewyearsagoitwasadreamtoseethisspeciesandtodaywehavelearnedsomuchthatwehaveseenitforsixconsecutiveyears.ThisyearweenjoyedapairsingingandforagingclosetothegroundnearZapotén.Atonepointtheycamesoclosetousthatwecouldnotuseourbinoculars!

Red­leggedThrush.Turdusplumbeusardosiaceus.Thislong‐leggedthrushisthecommonestandmostwidespreadTurdidaeinHispaniola.Wesawitalmosteveryday.

Bicknell´sThrush.Catharusbicknelli(monotypic).ApairwasseenbyfewparticpantsnearZapotén.TheHispaniolaisbydefaultthewinteringgroundofthisspeciesthatisshowingsomedramaticdrop‐offofpopulationdensity.ItwasonceconsideredaraceofGray‐cheekedThrush.Mimidae

NorthernMockingbird.Mimuspolyglottosorpheus.Widespread.Manyindividualswereobservedinopenareasandaridscrub.Thespecificnamepolyglottosmakesreferencetothemimiccapabilitiesofit!DulidaeMonotipicandendemicfamilyofHispaniolawhichisrepresentedbyonlyonewidespreadspecies,thePalmchat.

Palmchat.Dulusdominicus(monotypic)..EndemictoHispaniolaThisisthenationalbirdoftheDominicanRepublicandtherearegoodreasonsforit.First,itiswidespreadandveryvocal.Second,itbuildsbulkyandconspicuousnestsinpalmtrees.Third,theRidgway’sHawkusethePalmchatnesttobuldsitsroughplatformthatservesasanestingsite.ThegenusDulusreferstothenamegivenbythelocalpeople(Theslave)thatapparentlymakereferencetothesubservientbehaviorofthespeciestootherbirdsincontrasttothatoftheGrayKingbirdwhichisusuallyaggressive.Parulidae

NorthernParula.Parulaamericana.WesawapairinthegardensoftheHotelElEmbajador.ItwasalsoheardattheBotanicalGardens.

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CapeMayWarbler.Dendroicatigrina.ApairwasseeninHotelElEmbajador.Also,additionalindividualswereobservedinlosLimonesandnearBarahona.

Black­throatedBlueWarbler.Dendroicacaerulescens(caerulescens?).AmaleandafemalewereobservedinSierradeBahoruco.AnothermalewasseeninAceitillar.

Black­throatedGreenWarbler.Dendroicavirens.AfemalewasseeninthegardensofHotelElEmbajador.

PineWarbler.Dendroicapinuschrysoleuca(residentrace).ThreeindividualswereseenontheAlcoaroad.Notthatresponsivetoplaybackastheywereinpreviousyears.

PrairieWarbler.Dendroicadiscolor(discolor?).AsingleindividualwasobservedinthegroundsofHotelElEmbajador.

ProthonotaryWarbler.Protonotariacitrea.AsingleindividualwasenjoyedthefirstafternoonatthegardensofHotelElEmbajador.

HoodedWarbler.Wilsoniacitrina.AbigthankyougoestoMikeforspottingafemaleforus,andforfindingitagainforeveryoneinthegardensofHotelElEmbajador.AnotherfemalewasseenlaternearZapotén.

Black­and­whiteWarbler.Mniotiltavaria.Threeindividualswereseenonthetrip.ItwasfirstseeninZapotén.

AmericanRedstart.Setophagaruticilla.Common.Thisspecieswasseenalmosteveryday.

Ovenbird.Seiurusaurocapillaaurocapilla.ThefirstpairwasseeninElAguacateandasecondpairwasobservedinRabodeGatotrail.

LouisianaWaterthrush.Seiurusmotacilla.OneindividualwasheardinSierradeBahoruco.

CommonYellowthroat.Geothlypistrichastrichas.OneindividualwasseeninaremnantofawetlandthedaywedrovetoBarahona.

Noteaboutthefollowingtwospecies.GeneticstudieshaverevealedthatMicroligeaandXenoligeaarecloserelativestoPhaenicophilus(Palm­Tanagers)suggestingthatareindeedtanagers,notwarblers.Thiscontroversykeepsbackandforthsotheyareretainedherewiththetraditionaltaxonomy.

Green­tailedWarbler.Microligeapalustrispalustris/vasta.EndemictoHispaniolaAlsonamedGreen‐tailedGround‐Warbler.TwopairswereseeninSierradeBahorucoactingverysilently(noveryvocal).AnotherindividualwasseenlaterinElAguacate.ThegenusMicroligeagivesreferencetoasmallwarbler,whilethespecificepithetpalustrisindicatesthainhabitmarshy/boggyareas.Apparentlyitwasfirstcollectedinareasofdensevegetationwithdampgroundhencethespecificname.

White­wingedWarbler.Xenoligeamontana(monotypic).EndemictoHispaniola.Weenjoyedamazingviewsofthisalways‐activespeciesthatjoinsfeedingflocks.Wesaw5individualsinZapotén!Genusincertasedis

Bananaquit.Coerebaflaveolabananivora.Thisspecieswasseeneveryday,fromdisturbedhabitattoedgeofforest.ItsbillshapeandvoiceresemblesthatofCentralAmerica.Thraupidae

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ThisfamilyisrepresentedinHispaniolaforfewspeciesmostofwhichareendemictotheisland.Ofspecialinterestarethetwospeciesofchat‐tanager(Calyptophilussp.).Thesewereonceconsideredtworacesofthesamespeciesbutrecentlyhavebeenacceptedastwoseparatespecies,bothendemicofHispaniola.

Black­crownedPalm­Tanager.Phaenicophiluspalmarum(monotypic).EndemictoHispaniolaThisspeciesislocallynamed“CuatroOjos”(Four‐eyes)referringtotheplumageoftheheadhavingfourwhitespots.Itwasseenalmostdailyasitisawidespreadspecies.Youmayhavenoticeditstoleranttohumanpresence.

WesternChat­Tanager.Calyptophilustertius(monotypic).EndemictoHispaniola.WehadtoworkabithardtogetthisoneinSierradeBarahonabutoncewefounditweenjoyedthroughoutthescope.WedidanicevideoandisnowpostedintheInternetBirdcollectionathttp://ibc.lynxeds.com/video/western‐chat‐tanager‐calyptophilus‐tertius/individual‐singing‐perched‐some‐17‐meters‐ground‐ar

EasternChat­Tanager.Calyptophilusfrugivorus(monotypic).EndemictoHispaniola.ThisspecieswasfirstseeninaVENTtourbackin2006sinceprevioustothatyearitwasbelievedthatitwasfoundonlyinthecentralmountainrange.Morerecently,studiesofthepopulationinCachotedemonstratethatitwasindeedthisspecies!Afterabitofaworkwemanagedtoseeit,andittookvariousattemptstosecurethateveryonegotsuperbviewsofit.

HispaniolanSpindalis.Spindalisdominicensis.EndemictoHispaniola.EveryonelovedthesmallfamilygroupsforagingonberriesalongtheroadtoZapotén(SierradeBarahona).ThisiscertainlyoneofthemostbeautifulendemicspeciesofHispaniola.ThegenusSpindalisisalsoendemictotheGreaterAntilles.Emberizidae Yellow­facedGrassquit.Tiarisolivaceusolivaceus.ThisspeciesiswidespreadthroughouttheDominicanRepublic.Itwasseeneveryday.

GreaterAntilleanBullfinch.Loxigillaviolaceaaffinis.WeenjoyedviewsofpairsorsmallgroupsforagingonfruitsandberriesinSierradeBahoruco.ThegenusLoxigillamakesreferencetotheheavybillofthebullfinches.Icteridae

GreaterAntilleanGrackle.Quiscalusnigerniger.Thisspeciesisfairlycommonandwidespreadbutusuallyshyanddifficulttosee(InverselyproportionalinPuertoRico).AsmallgroupwasalsoseennearBarahonaattheentranceofRabodeGato.

GreaterAntilleanOriole.Icterusdominicensis(monotypic).WesawoneindividualinPuertoEscondido.ThisspeciesissometimestreatedasHispaniolanOrioleanendemicspeciesoftheisland.Originally,theGreaterAntilleanOriolewaspartoftheBlack‐cowledOriole(Icterusprosthemelas).Fringillidae

AntilleanEuphonia.Euphoniamusica(monotypic).Agroupof5individualswasseeninZapotén,SierradeBahoruco.TheplumagesuggestsanaffinitywithGolden‐rumpedEuphonia(E.cyanocephala)ofSouthAmerica.ThisspecieswasformerlyconsideredpartoftheBlue‐hoodedEuphoniathathave

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beensplitintothreespecies:oneforCentralAmerica,onefortheAntillesandanotherforSouthAmerica.Youcanseethevideooftheindividualswesawathttp://ibc.lynxeds.com/video/antillean‐euphonia‐euphonia‐musica/male‐perched‐atop‐dead‐branch‐emergent‐tree

HispaniolanCrossbill.Loxiamegaplaga(monotypic).EndemictoHispaniola.WeenjoyedgreatviewsofamaleperchedatopadeadbranchofaconiferalongtheAlcoaroad,nearAceitillar.Thisspeciesisunpredictableandcanturnouttobeverydifficulttofind.

AntilleanSiskin.Carduelisdominicensis(monotypic).EndemictoHispaniola.Weobservedtwosmallflocksandmanagedtoseeonethoughoutthescope.Thisspeciesisapparentlydecliningduetohabitatloss.

ShinyCowbird.Molothrusbonariensis.AsingleindividualwasseennearLagoEnriquillo.

IntroducedSpecies.Numididae

HelmetedGuineafowl.Numidameleagris.AloosegroupwasfoundalongtheRabodeGatotrail.

Columbidae

RockPigeon.Columbalivia.ItiscommonandwidespreadinSantoDomingoandinBarahona.Psittacidae

Olive­throatedParakeet.Aratinganana.Presumablyintroduced.TherearenoearlyrecordsfortheDominicanRepublic.InourtourwesawapairseeninthelowlandsofSierradeBahoruconationalpark.Thisspecieswasfirstdocumentedin1995butisexpandingitsrangerapidly.OrnithologistshaveexpressedconcernaboutthepossiblecompetitionwiththeendemicHispaniolaParakeetAratingachloroptera.Passeridae

HouseSparrow.Passerdomesticus.4individualswereseeninBarahona.PloceidaeAbirdfamilyofSub‐SaharanAfrica,consistingonheavybillspeciesspecializedforeatingseeds.TheonlymemberofthefamilyinourcontinentwasbroughtbypettradersandiscurrentlyfoundinwildpopulationsinsomeCaribbeanislandsandinothercountriesofSouthAmerica.

VillageWeaver.Ploceuscucullatus.Asmallgroupof3individualswasseenattheentranceofRabodeGato.EarliestrecordsinHispanioladateforthelate18thcentury.Amphibians,ReptilesandFishes.Bufonidae

MarineToad.Bufomarinus.Barahona.Ranidae AmericanBullfrog.Ranacatesbeiana.RabodeGato.

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Boidae HispaniolanBoa.Epicratesgracilis.AfreshroadkillwasfoundalongtheroadtoSierradeBahoruco.Colubridae

HispaniolanBrownRacer.Haitiophisanomalus.AnotherfreshroadkilledwasobservedalongtheroadtoSierradeBarahona.

Blunt­headedGreenTreesnake.Uromacercatesbyi.ThissnakewasseentwicealongtheroadtoSierradeBahoruco.

Iguanidae RhinocerosIguana.Cycluracornuta.WeenjoyedgreatviewsofmalesandfemalesalongtheAlcoaroad.Teiidae Whip­tailedLizard.Cnemidophorussp.CommonaroundHotelElEmbajador.Polychrotidae BarkAnole.Anolisdistichus.LosLimones. HispaniolanGreenAnolis.Anolischlorocyanus.LosLimones. Large­headedAnole.Anoliscybotes.LosLimones. DominicanGiantAnoleorSaltacocote.Anolisbaleatus.LosPatos.Poeciliidae PlatyFish.Poeciliasp.Jaraguanationalpark.References.

Jobling,James.1991.ADictionaryofScientificBirdNames.OxfordUniversityPress.

Latta,S.,C.Rimmer,AKeith,J.Wiley,H.Raffaelle,K.McFarland&E.Fernandez.2006.BirdsoftheDominicanRepublicandHaiti.PirincetonFieldGuides.

Raffaelle,H.,J.Wiley,O.Garrido,A.Keith&J.Rafaelle.AGuidetotheBirdsoftheWestIndies.PrincetonUniversityPress.