birding...

Black River Morass - wetland

Satellite View
This is a large wetland containing a variety of habitats. The northern part is probably the best place to find the endangered West Indian Whistling Duck. The southern area is open riverine country with herons, bitterns, rails and some friendly crocodiles.

Blue Mountains

Satellite View
Drive north out of Kingston up,up,up, through Newcastle and Hardwar Gap, and stop on the roadside almost anywhere. Look for all three hummingbirds, Blue Mountain and Jamaican Vireos, various Flycatchers, Todies, Orioles, Stripe-headed Tanagers and many more. This is prime Blue Mountain coffee territory, and much of the limited accommodation is connected with coffee interests. A comfortable and attractive base is Forres Park Guest House at Mavis Bank, one hour's drive from Kingston's airport.

Castleton Botanical Gardens

Satellite View
One hour's drive out of Kingston on the Junction Road. About 20 acres of open rolling country with a variety of exotic trees that attract an interesting range of birds.

Cockpit Country - Barbecue Bottom/ Burnt Hill road

Satellite View
This fabled area contains some of the richest birding in the island, but it is mostly trackless and inaccessible. The Barbecue Bottom road is the best area close to the Cockpit Country that can be reached by car. Look for both Parrots, Jamaican Blackbirds, Crested and Ruddy Quail Doves and both Chestnut-bellied and Jamaican Lizard Cuckoos. The choice of lodging is limited- beach hotels and villas on the north coast or rustic but clean and friendly, B&B's in Albert Town, which is a useful base for any foray into the Cockpit area.

Hope Botanical Gardens - Kingston

Satellite View
A possible site to visit en route from Kingston to the Blue Mountains. A flock of about 40 Yellow-Billed Parrots live in the Gardens and are easily seen; plus warblers and water birds in the ponds.

John Crow Mountains (Ecclesdown)

Satellite View
The Eastern face of the John Crow Mountains are best accessed from the narrow but good road through Ecclesdown. Look for Black-billed Streamertails, both Amazon parrots [Yellow-billed and Black-billed] Jamaican Blackbird, Jamaican Crow, Crested Quail-Dove, Arrow-marked Warbler etc. etc.

Marshall's Pen - near Mandeville

Satellite View
One of the best-documented and oldest birding sites in Jamaica, home of Robert and Ann Sutton - two of the country's premier birders - and the oldest active banding centre in Jamaica. Robert birded this area all his life and knew every nest and roost on it. He recorded over 100 species there. Since his tragic murder some years ago his widow, Ann Haynes-Sutton has continued there work. Accommodation is available on site and there are alternatives in Mandeville.

Mockingbird Hill Hotel Gardens

Satellite View
Undoubtedly one of the best birding sites in Jamaica... a stay at the hotel just for its sumptuous breakfasts and wonderful dinners is highly recommended but the gardens have hosted all but a few endemic species and sub-species. In a few days even the Fatbirder managed more than a dozen endemics - most from the restaurant!

Royal Palm Reserve - near Negril

A managed but little-visited wetland on the Negril/ Savannah-la-Mar road, with a good selection of birds in an attractive setting. Boardwalk and viewing tower to add to one's convenience. The Great Morass in Negril, Jamaica is a large nature preserve for birds and animals. It is located off of the land side of Norman Manley Boulevard, stretching along for 7 miles parallel to Long Bay and Bloody Bay. The morass lies on the coastal flood plain of the Black River and attracts over 300 animal species including birds, butterflies and reptiles.

San San

Satellite View
This small preserve behind the police station turns up may of the same species as Ecclesdown. It is much smaller and has a few open areas where houses give breaks in the forest. Great for Ring-tailed Dove, Sad Flycatcher, Jamaican Peewee etc.

Yallahs Salt Ponds

Satellite View
25 miles east of Kingston on the coast road - strictly shorebirds and some migrant warblers. No lodging nearby, but can be a worthwhile stop on the drive between Kingston and the Port Antonio area.

2000 [September] - Gruff Dodd

Report

Jamaica is not a destination for anyone expecting to amass a large trip total - a trip list of 100+ would be a good score for a one-week trip. However, what it may lack in quantity, it more than makes up for in quality. The island boasts an extremely impressive total of 30 endemic species, all highly possible on such a short visit...

2001 [July] - Roger Ahlman

Report

We found Jamaica to be more expensive than we thought. The only thing that was cheaper than Sweden was petrol which was about half the price, beer was about the same but food and other things were more expensive...

2001 [March] - Alex Kirschel

Report

We arrived at Montego Bay airport early in the afternoon and quickly had a look around the bushes in the car park, as we waited for our car to arrive. We quickly spotted Bananaquit, Greater Antillean Grackle, Jamaican Mango and Loggerhead Kingbird there, and also added Antillean Palm Swift on our drive to the Orange River Lodge. Other birds seen on the drive were Magnificent Frigatebird and Feral Pigeon. The road up to the Lodge was pretty bad and a sign of things to come, also the Jamaican drivers must overtake you at all costs, so be prepared! At the Lodge itself, we added another two new species for us, Jamaican Crow and Green-rumped Parrotlet, while other birds there included Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk, Kestrel and Northern Mockingbird...

2004 [April] - Jay Carlisle

Report

Main purpose of this trip was visiting a friend working on a Smithsonian Institution study of wintering American Redstarts in southwestern Jamaica (Westmoreland Parrish). However, included in this trip was a 3-day journey around the island – largely in search of endemic or Caribbean specialties but also to see the sights & changing scenery around the island...

2007 [January] - Keith Grant - Travelling Naturalist

Report

...We gathered at 6am to walk up the hill before breakfast. With the sun just up, the hill slope was alive with small birds, most notably we had excellent views of two Jamaican Pewees and four Jamaican Euphonias. Six Olive-throated Parakeets flew over but alighted out of sight, and various pigeons and doves included Band-tailed Pigeons, again flying over without stopping. We returned down the hill for breakfast at 8:30am and awaited Wayne’s arrival in the bus. Two further Jamaican Euphonias were in the bushes out front, as was the female Cape May Warbler from yesterday...

2008 [April] - Gary & Marlene Babic

Report

This week-long trip was arranged through Ann Sutton and guided by Brandon Hay. For several days we were fortunate that Ann joined us as well. Others had reported that three or four days are all that is necessary to see all of the endemics, and Ann had suggested that our seven days would give us plenty of time to see all of the Jamaican endemics and specialties, with time for sightseeing...

2008 [April] - Mark Finn

Report

This tour to Jamaica was the first by Birdwatching Breaks and was an immediate success for the company recording all the endemic species (28) including the scarce Jamaican Blackbird and the beautiful Crested Quail-dove. The tour covered all the important bird areas of this unique island situated on the western extremity of the West Indies. In addition to these areas visits were made to a selection of wetlands and lagoons for migrant waders and ducks...

2009 [April] - Mark Finn

Report

This tour to Jamaica was the first by Birdwatching Breaks and was an immediate success for the company recording all the endemic species (28) including the scarce Jamaican Blackbird and the beautiful Crested Quail-dove...

2009 [October] - David Shackelford

Report

Our tour through the mountainous island of Jamaica offered a vast diversity of habitats from the evergreen forests of the Blue Mountains to the beaches and ultramarine waters of the coast. We successfully located all 28 of Jamaica’s endemic bird species while allowing time to soak in the unique atmosphere of the personalized lodges and resorts where we stayed, enjoy some fine river-rafting, partake in the tastes of the local cuisine, and immerse ourselves in some wonderful scuba diving...

Amazilia

Tour Operator

More than 28 endemics can be seen on this tropical island with a land surface of 11425 km2. Jamaica supports around 265 species. This mountainous island is surrounded by beautiful beaches and cliffs. The interior of the country, with its rugged landscape (highest point 2256 m) once most entirely forested is now covered with plantations and remnant wet limestone and montane rainforest...

Birdfinders

Tour Operator

With 28 endemics, it shares the same number of unique species as the much larger island of Dominica, and has more than the 24 of the largest Caribbean island, Cuba. Despite bad press over the years, Jamaica is a very safe and friendly country to visit and most of the endemic birds are very easy to see...

Birding Pal

Information

Local birders willing to show visiting birders around their area...

Black River Safaris

Tour Operator

Discover the beauty of the South Coast with a 1/12 hour boat tour by motor launch up Jamaica`s largest navigable river and through what is Jamaica`s largest wetland area, the Black River lower morass...

Earthfoot

Tour Operator

...Hosts Barbara Walker and Shireen Aga point out that some of Jamaica's best birding is available around the award-winning hotel described above. There are 40 different bird species on the hotel’s property alone, of which 2 are on the endangered list: the Ring-tailed Pigeon and the Black-billed Streamertail. A further two are listed on the international rare list, the Chestnut-bellied Cuckoo and the Rufous-tailed Flycatcher...

Focus on Nature

Tour Operator

...In Jamaica the Doctorbird, Mountain Witch, Old Woman Bird, Hopping Dick, Mountain Judy, Little Tom Fool, Big Tom Fool, just plain Tom Fool, Sarah Bird, Banana Katie, Shine-eye, & Ants Picker...

Forres Park

Tour Operator

Jamaica is an island where you may find 265 different species of birds with 30 or so endemic to the island at the last count!

Jamaica Palace Hotel - Port Antonio

Tour Operator

Jamaica Palace is one of the most luxurious and elegant hotels in all of Jamaica. The 80 uniquely designed air-conditioned suites and rooms are located within walking distance to the most romantic private coves & beaches in Port Antonio...

Mark Smith Nature Tours

Tour Operator

Jamaica is biologically one of the richest islands in all the Indies and presents a relaxed introduction to the diverse natural and cultural history of the Indies. In addition to rainforest walks...

Rockjumper Birding Tours

Tour Operator

Best known as a tropical paradise, Jamaica is also blessed with 30 mouth-watering endemics. Our tour explores habitats from evergreen mountain forests to beaches and ultramarine coastal waters in our quest to notch up all of Jamaica’s endemics, while simultaneously soaking up the unique atmosphere of the island.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours

Tour Operator

Next trip March 2003...

Wings

Tour Operator

...With at least 27 endemic bird species - more than any other Caribbean island - as well as a host of Antillean and Neotropical specialties, Jamaica offers some of the most exciting birdwatching in the West Indies...