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Puerto Rico is 111 miles long by 35 miles wide. And within that land mass are about 350 species of birds of which 120 regularly
nest in Puerto Rico. In the past, 16 were considered endemic but the Lesser Antillean Pewee was just added bring the current
total to 17 with the Greater Antillean Oriole being considered.
The Oriole, owls, and various hummingbirds can be seen regularly off the Casa Cubuy Ecolodge balcony overlooking the
Casy Cubuy River (highway 191 South). Also seen along that road, among others, is the Puerto Rican Lizard-Cuckoo, the Puerto
Rican woodpecker, and the Red-tailed Hawk.
Listen for the Puerto Rican Screech-owl after dark as you slowly drive 191 south. There will be many of them. Typically
two in one spot; listen for them answering each other. Look for the woodpecker in daylight on the telephone poles that go
up the mountain. Make sure you have your camera ready, they don't pose. The Lizard-Cuckoo is a consistent visitor. Though
it is large, you will hear it before you see it because its call is loud and distinctive. Look for hawks soaring along the
mountain edges leading down to the river. Doves and turkey vultures will be everywhere. Look for Todys and owls along the
forest trails behind the Casa Cubuy Ecolodge.
Puerto Rico's birds are in trouble; from mankind and natural disasters. Forest cutting, wetland destruction, agriculture practices,
pesticides and fertilizers, collision hazards, introduced predators and diseases, as well as hurricanes over the last few
hundred years has caused a mass extinction of birds.
The Puerto Rican Parrot has been teetering on the brink of extinction for many years. At one time their numbers would
blot out the sky. Today there are less than 30 individuals in the wild.
The endemic birds are:
Puerto Rican Parrot
Puerto Rican Lizard-Cuckoo
Puerto Rican Screech Owl
Puerto Rican Nightjar
Green Mango
Puerto Rican Emerald
Puerto Rican Tody
Puerto Rican Woodpecker
Puerto Rican Flycatcher
Puerto Rican Vireo
Adelaide's Warbler
Puerto Rican Tanager
Puerto Rican Spindalis
Puerto Rican Bullfinch
Yellow-shouldered Blackbird
Lesser Antillean Pewee
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