Table Of ContentBirds of the Dominican Republic and Haiti
The authors, artists, and publishers express their sincere
gratitude to the following organizations for providing
sponsorship and support in the production of this book:
Vermont Institute of Natural Science
PRBO Conservation Science
U.S.G.S. Biological Resources Division
Sociedad Ornitológica de la Hispaniola
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
With additional support from:
Wendling Foundation
Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History
Birds of the
Dominican Republic & Haiti
Steven Latta
Christopher Rimmer
Allan Keith
James Wiley
Herbert Raffaele
Kent McFarland
and Eladio Fernandez
Principal Illustrators: Barry Kent MacKay,
Tracy Pedersen, and Kristin Williams
Supporting Illustrators: Cynthie Fisher, Bart Rulon
PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRESS
PRINCETON AND OXFORD
Copyright © 2006 by Princeton University Press
Published by Princeton University Press, 41 William Street, Princeton, New Jersey 08540
All Rights Reserved
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Birds of the Dominican Republic and Haiti / Steven Latta . . . [et al.] ; principal illustrators,
Barry Kent MacKay, Tracy Pedersen, and Kristin Williams ; supporting illustrators,
Cynthie Fisher . . . [et al.].
p. cm. — (Princeton field guides)
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN-13: 978-0-691-11890-1 (alk. paper)—ISBN-13: 978-0-691-11891-8 (pbk. :
alk. paper)
ISBN-10: 0-691-11890-6 (alk. paper)—ISBN-10: 0-691-11891-4 (pbk. : alk. paper)
1. Birds—Dominican Republic—Identification. 2. Birds—Haiti—Identification.
I. Latta, Steven C. II. Series.
QL688.D6B57 2006
598’.097293—dc22 2005048817
British Library Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available
This book has been composed in Optima
Printed on acid-free paper. (cid:100)
pup.nathist.edu
Printed in Italy by Eurografica
Composition by Bytheway Publishing Services, Norwich NY
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
CONTENTS
Acknowledgments vii
Introduction 1
Map of Hispaniola 2
Elevational Map of Hispaniola 4
Plan of the Guide 5
Topography and Habitats of Hispaniola 8
Topographic Features 8
Major Habitats 9
Endemic Species and Subspecies 12
Avian Conservation on Hispaniola 14
Conservation Issues 14
National Protected Areas in the Dominican Republic 15
National Protected Areas in Haiti 16
Threatened and Endangered Species 17
Ornithological History of Hispaniola 18
Descriptive Parts of a Bird 19
PLATE SECTION 20
SPECIES ACCOUNTS 21
Geese and Ducks: Anatidae 21
Partridges and Guineafowl: Phasianidae 32
Bobwhites: Odontophoridae 33
Grebes: Podicipedidae 34
Shearwaters and Petrels: Procellariidae 35
Storm-Petrels: Hydrobatidae 38
Tropicbirds: Phaethontidae 39
Boobies: Sulidae 40
Pelicans: Pelecanidae 42
Cormorants: Phalacrocoracidae 43
Darters: Anhingidae 44
Frigatebirds: Fregatidae 45
Bitterns and Herons: Ardeidae 46
Ibises and Spoonbills: Threskiornithidae 54
Storks: Ciconiidae 56
American Vultures: Cathartidae 57
Flamingos: Phoenicopteridae 57
Osprey: Pandionidae 58
Kites, Hawks, and Allies: Accipitridae 59
Falcons: Falconidae 64
Rails, Gallinules, and Coots: Rallidae 66
Limpkin: Aramidae 71
Thick-knees: Burhinidae 72
Plovers: Charadriidae 73
Oystercatchers: Haematopodidae 78
Stilts: Recurvirostridae 78
Jacanas: Jacanidae 79
Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies: Scolopacidae 80
CONTENTS
Jaegers, Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers: Laridae 95
Pigeons and Doves: Columbidae 110
Parakeets and Parrots: Psittacidae 118
Cuckoos and Anis: Cuculidae 120
Barn Owls: Tytonidae 124
Typical Owls: Strigidae 125
Goatsuckers (Nightjars): Caprimulgidae 128
Potoos: Nyctibiidae 131
Swifts: Apodidae 132
Hummingbirds: Trochilidae 135
Trogons: Trogonidae 137
Todies: Todidae 138
Kingfishers: Alcedinidae 140
Woodpeckers and Allies: Picidae 141
Tyrant Flycatchers: Tyrannidae 143
Vireos: Vireonidae 148
Crows: Corvidae 153
Swallows: Hirundinidae 155
Kinglets: Regulidae 160
Gnatcatchers: Sylviidae 160
Thrushes: Turdidae 161
Mockingbirds, Thrashers, and Allies (Mimic Thrushes): Mimidae 165
Pipits: Motacillidae 167
Waxwings: Bombycillidae 168
Palmchat: Dulidae 168
Wood-Warblers: Parulidae 169
Bananaquit: Coerebidae 192
Tanagers: Thraupidae 193
Emberizine Sparrows and Allies: Emberizidae 200
Cardinaline Finches and Allies: Cardinalidae 205
Blackbirds and Allies: Icteridae 207
Fringilline and Cardueline Finches and Allies: Fringillidae 211
Old World Sparrows: Passeridae 214
Weavers: Ploceidae 215
Estrildid Finches: Estrildidae 216
Recent Additions to the Checklist 218
Appendix A:Birdwatching on Hispaniola 219
Appendix B:Checklist of Birds of Hispaniola 229
Selected References 239
Index of Local Names 243
Index of English and Scientific Names 250
vi
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This guide is the result of many years of work by the coauthors, with the help and support of
a large number of others. We thank in particular the many members of the Sociedad Orni-
tológica de la Hispaniola who contributed recent reports and observations of birds, including
Stephen Brauning, Sandra Brauning, Nicolás Corona, Elvis Cuevas, Esteban Garrido, Miguel
A. Landestoy, Danilo Mejía, Vinicio Mejía, Marisabel Paulino, Francisco Rivas, Pedro Genaro
Rodríguez, and Kate Wallace. Other important contributors of records included Jesús
Almonte, J. R. Crouse, André Dhondt, Peter Nash, Rina Nichols, Russell Thorstrom, Filip
t’Jollyn, Andrea Townsend, Jason Townsend, and Lance Woolaver. Kate Wallace, Dennis G.
Crouse, Jr., Florence E. Sergile, Stephen Brauning, and Sandra Brauning also contributed sig-
nificant portions of Appendix A; Birdwatching on Hispaniola.
This guide would not haven been possible without the early support of the Wendling
Foundation, whose enthusiasm for this project we gratefully acknowledge. We are also thank-
ful for the many individuals who put their faith in us and in the talents of Barry Kent MacKay
and purchased plates before they were even painted; without their support we could not have
proceeded. We recognize the generosity of Herb Raffaele, his coauthors, and the artists of A
Guide to the Birds of the West Indies, as well as Princeton University Press, for allowing us
the use of many of the fine plates from that guide in this work. In addition, we recognize Al-
lan Keith, his coauthors of The Birds of Hispaniola:Haiti and the Dominican Republic, as well
as the British Ornithologists’ Union, for permission to publish data and descriptions that orig-
inally appeared in their annotated checklist. The elevation map was developed by Kent
McFarland using DTED® Level 0, a product of the National Imagery and Mapping Agency.
We thank the museums and curators who loaned bird specimens from their collection, in-
cluding Paul Sweet at the American Museum of Natural History; David Willard at the Field
Museum of Natural History in Chicago; Nathan Rice at the Academy of Natural Sciences in
Philadelphia; Steven W. Cardiff and J. Van Remsen at Louisiana State University Museum of
Natural Science; James Dean and Gary Graves at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Mu-
seum of Natural History; and especially Mark Peck and Glenn Murphy at the Royal Ontario
Museum in Toronto who helped coordinate the loans.
Several people carefully read portions or all of the text and provided valuable comments.
These included Jason Townsend, Kate Wallace, and Joseph Wunderle, Jr. We also appreciate
the help of our editors at Princeton University Press, Robert Kirk and Ellen Foos, and espe-
cially of our copyeditor, Elizabeth Pierson.
Steven Latta’s work in the Dominican Republic has been supported by the USDA Forest
Service–International Institute of Tropical Forestry, University of Missouri Research Board, Na-
tional Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Wildlife Conservation Society, National Geographic Soci-
ety, Association of Avian Veterinarians, The Nature Conservancy, and USDA Forest Service
North-Central Forest Experiment Station. Latta was also supported by a STAR Graduate Fellow-
ship from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The work of Chris Rimmer and Kent Mc-
Farland on Hispaniola has been supported by the American Bird Conservancy, Blake Fund of
the Nuttall Ornithological Club, Carolyn Foundation, Conservation and Research Foundation,
National Geographic Society, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Stewart Foundation, The
Nature Conservancy, Thomas Marshall Foundation, Wildlife Conservation Society, U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, USDA Forest Service International Program, Wendling Foundation, and
friends of the Vermont Institute of Natural Science. Jim Wiley’s work has been supported by the
USDA Forest Service–International Institute of Tropical Forestry, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources, USGS Biological Resources Division, National
Science Foundation, World Parrot Trust, and Wildlife Preservation Trust International. Permis-
sion for Latta, Rimmer, McFarland, and Wiley to work in the Dominican Republic was pro-
vided by the Directorate of National Parks and the Department of Wildlife; permission to work
in Haiti was provided by the Haitian Ministry of the Environment.
vii
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INTRODUCTION
Our goal in writing Birds of the Dominican Republic and Haitiis to fill a large void in the bird-
watching, conservation, and environmental education needs of Hispaniola. There has never
been a comprehensive field guide devoted to the birds of Hispaniola, and the only existing
guide, by Annabelle Dod, is almost 30 years old, covers only 226 species, and is illustrated
with black-and-white line drawings. Here we describe and illustrate all 306 species known to
have occurred on the island. But our intention is to provide more than just a means of iden-
tifying bird species; our guide also provides information on the biology and ecology of the
birds, with the hope that we can help inspire a new generation of birdwatchers, ornitholo-
gists, and conservationists. With this guide in hand, we hope that more Dominicans and
Haitians will become as fascinated as we are by the diversity of the island’s avifauna.
Our guide is based on A Guide to the Birds of the West Indiesby Herb Raffaele and oth-
ers, and it incorporates detailed information on the status and range of species from the an-
notated checklist The Birds of Hispaniola:Haiti and the Dominican Republicby Allan Keith
and coauthors. Our guide features expanded species accounts, and it provides new informa-
tion from our personal research on the biology and ecology of Hispaniolan avifauna. Thanks
to the generosity of the publisher and artists of the West Indies guide, we have been able to
use many of the fine plates from that guide in this work. We also include more than 105 new
images of Hispaniolan species painted by Canadian artist Barry Kent MacKay, as well as new,
detailed range maps of unsurpassed accuracy and precision prepared by Kent McFarland.
We are confident that by dramatically expanding possibilities for the appreciation of birds
in the Dominican Republic and Haiti, this guide will promote conservation of migratory
and resident birds, and build support for environmental measures to conserve and protect
their habitats. The guide is certain to be used in the many educational, outreach, and train-
ing activities by environmental organizations such as the Sociedad Ornitológica de la
Hispaniola and the Société Audubon Haiti. We sincerely hope that it will increase public
awareness throughout Hispaniola and internationally for the unique birds of the island, and
underscore the need to protect these special species and their habitats for the enjoyment of
future generations.
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