The Birds Of Saona Island In the Dominican Republic
Whether you are a casual bird watcher or a serious birder, you will surely enjoy the great diversity of bird life on Saona Island in the Dominican Republic.
If you are planning a vacation to Punta Cana, keep in mind that you can easily take a Punta Cana tour of Saona Island to view these amazing birds.
Saona Island is just a couple of miles off the southeastern tip of the Dominican Republic.
However, there are no roads going to the island so to get there you will have to go by boat.
If you are taking a tour, you will likely leave from the Bayahibe marina.
Mangroves fringe Saona Island and so on your way there you will pass through these mangroves.
In the mangroves you will see many birds, including large roosting colonies of Magnificent Frigatebirds (Fregata magnificens) and Brown Pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis).
Frigatebirds are related to pelicans and have long beaks and a big bright red pouch that the males will inflate out 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 beak, 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 lining the beaches of Saona Island in the Dominican Republic, you will find the 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 get to tick this one off: The Palm Chat is the national bird.
It forms noisy communal nests.
It is a long-tailed passerine whose body looks to me a little like a Pine Siskin but it is thought to be most closely related to the waxwings.
However, it is weird enough taxonomically speaking that it is placed all alone in its own family.
So, keep in mind when you see the Palm Chat that you are looking at a real oddball from a scientific perspective.
Saona Island also hosts the largest breeding site for the endangered White-crowned Pigeon (Columba leucocephala) so it is one of the best places to see it.
In fact, in the US, the only place you can see these birds is the Florida Keys.
The White-crowned Pigeon populations are declining at an alarming rate due to the degradation of both its nesting and feeding habitat.
It nests in the coastal mangroves and flies back to the mainland to feed on the
If you are planning a vacation to Punta Cana, keep in mind that you can easily take a Punta Cana tour of Saona Island to view these amazing birds.
Saona Island is just a couple of miles off the southeastern tip of the Dominican Republic.
However, there are no roads going to the island so to get there you will have to go by boat.
If you are taking a tour, you will likely leave from the Bayahibe marina.
Mangroves fringe Saona Island and so on your way there you will pass through these mangroves.
In the mangroves you will see many birds, including large roosting colonies of Magnificent Frigatebirds (Fregata magnificens) and Brown Pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis).
Frigatebirds are related to pelicans and have long beaks and a big bright red pouch that the males will inflate out 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 beak, 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 lining the beaches of Saona Island in the Dominican Republic, you will find the 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 get to tick this one off: The Palm Chat is the national bird.
It forms noisy communal nests.
It is a long-tailed passerine whose body looks to me a little like a Pine Siskin but it is thought to be most closely related to the waxwings.
However, it is weird enough taxonomically speaking that it is placed all alone in its own family.
So, keep in mind when you see the Palm Chat that you are looking at a real oddball from a scientific perspective.
Saona Island also hosts the largest breeding site for the endangered White-crowned Pigeon (Columba leucocephala) so it is one of the best places to see it.
In fact, in the US, the only place you can see these birds is the Florida Keys.
The White-crowned Pigeon populations are declining at an alarming rate due to the degradation of both its nesting and feeding habitat.
It nests in the coastal mangroves and flies back to the mainland to feed on the
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