Post on 21-Apr-2020
Victor Emanuel Nature Tours
THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
April 9-16 2011
Leaders: David Ascanio & Kate Wallace
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
TheDominicanRepublicApril9‐16,2011
Leaders:DavidAscanio&KateWallace
TheislandsoftheCaribbeanhavealwaysbeenafascinationtoscientists.Intheseisolatedregionstheendemicspeciesrepresentsanamazingpercentageoftheavifaunaandmanybirdsarerelativelyeasytosee.Thiseasinessisprobablyduetothelackofpredationandlongperiodsofisolation.Forthat,islandsrankamongthebestdestinationstounderstandthebasicsofbiogeography,populationdynamicsandendemism.
Our2011DominicanRepublicwasaperfectdestinationtodiscusssomeoftheaboveconceptsandtolearnthetheoriesabouttheoriginoftheavifaunaoftheHispaniola.Also,itwasadestinationtochallengeourdrivingskills,totastethelocalcuisine,tolearnaboutthecontemporaryhistoryofthecountryandtofeeltheambientofSantoDomingowhenSpainfoundeditbackin1496.AnothertopicwelearnedinourtourwasabouttheimportanceofconservationandthethreatsmuchoftheHispaniolawildlifesufferstoday.Pests,povertyandhabitatlossareforcesdrivingmanyspeciesalmosttoextinction.RealizingthisandtakingstepstowardtheconservationofthehabitatsisakeytopreservetheavifaunaandtheDominicanRepublicenvironmentalagencyhavetriedhard(despiteitsverylowbudget!)topreservesomeofthemainhabitatsoftheisland.Forthat,isnotsurprisingthatmostbirdingintheDominicanRepublictookplaceinprotectland.WestartedatLosLimones(bufferzoneofLosHaitisesnationalpark)whereenjoyedtwopairsofRidgway’sHawk,themostthreatenedButeointheworld.Then,continuedtoSierradeBahoruconationalparkwheresawthelargestnumberofendemicspecieswhilevisitingthreelocations:Zapotén,CachoteandAceitillar.Outtourfinishedwithvisitstotwowetlands:LagunadeOviedoandLagoEnriquillo,thelatterbeingaRamsarsite.Inthefollowingpagesyou’llfindareviewofthebirdsandotherwildlifewefoundbirdingacrosstheDominicanRepublic.AdditionaltothisdocumentistheHyperlinksfilewhereyouwillbetakentothephotosandvideostakenduringourtrip.Ihopethesefileswillbringyoufondmemoriesofthelongdrives,thegamesofwordsandthegreatbirdswesaw.Thankyouverymuchforcomingwithus.Ihopetoseeyouagaininanotherbirdingadventure!
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TheBirdlist.ThefollowingbirdlistfollowstheAOUtaxonomy.AlternativenamesgiveninClementsandothersourcesarealsoindicatedinthetextaccompanyingthespecies.Anatidae
WestIndianWhistlingDuck.Dendrocygnaarborea(monotypic).About8individualswereobservedattheBotanicalGardens.
WhitecheekedPintail.Anasbahamensis.WeenjoyedgreatviewsofasingleindividualonLakeEnriquillo.
BluewingedTeal.Anasdiscors.Morethan50individualswereenjoyedinLagunaOviedoandinCaboRojo.Podicipedidae
LeastGrebe.Tachybaptusdominicusdominicus.ThisspecieswasseenwithjuvenilesalongtheRabodeGatotrail,nearPuertoEscondido.Phoenicopteridae
AmericanFlamingo.Phoenicopterusruber.ThisyearwehadthefortunetobeabletodriveacrosstheedgeofLagunaOviedo,havingdistantbutclearviewsofapairofflamingoes!Phaethontidae WhitetailedTropicbird.Phaethonlepturus.WeenjoyedpairsflyingacrosstheCaribbeanseaalongthenorthensideoftheisland.Fregatidae
MagnificentFrigatebird.Fregatamagnificens(monotypic).Thisspecieswasseenregularlyonthedrivesalongthecoastalareas.Pelecanidae
BrownPelican.Pelecanusoccidentalisoccidentalis.Aboutsixindividualswereseenthroughoutthetour.Ardeidae
GreatBlueHeron.Ardeaherodias.AsingleindividualwasobservedinCaboRojo.
GreatEgret.Ardeaalbaegretta.WeobservedaboutfourindividualsinCaboRojo.
SnowyEgret.Egrettathulathula.Thenumberofindividualsperyearkeepsfluctuation.In2009weobservedmorethanadozenindividuals.Then,in2010onlyapairwasseen.Inthisyearwesawmorethan25individualsinCaboRojo.
TricoloredHeron.Egrettatricolorruficollis.OneindividualwasobservedatthechannelsofRabodeGatoandabout30wereseeninCaboRojo.
ReddishEgret.Egrettarufescens.AsingleindividualwasenjoyedforagingatLagunaOviedo.
LeastBittern.Ixobrychusexilis.OneindividualwasflushedoutofasmallwetlandnearLosLimones.ArarespeciesintheDominicanRepublic!
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CattleEgret.Bubulcusibisibis.Wereporteddailyviewsinpasturesandopenareas.ThefirstrecordofthespeciesintheAmericasdatesbackto1877whenHaverschmidtreportedforSuriname.
GreenHeron.Butoridesvirescensvirescens.SingleindividualswereobservedinsmallwetlandsacrossthecountryThisspeciesissometimesconsideredconspecificwithStriatedHeron(Butoridesstriatus).
BlackcrownedNightHeron.Nycticoraxnycticorax.ThreeindividualswereobservedinfloodedLakeEnriquillo.
YellowcrownedNightHeron.Nyctanassaviolaceabancrofti.TheregularsingleindividualwasobservedagainneartheswimmingpoolofElQuemaitolodge.Threskiornithidae RoseateSpoonbill.Plataleaajaja.AsingleindividualwasseenthroughoutthescopeinlagunaOviedo.Cathartidae
TurkeyVulture.Cathartesauraaura.ThisspecieswascommonaroundLosLimonesatthebufferzoneofLosHaitisesnationalpark.Itisabsentelsewhereintheisland.Thisisoneofthesouthernmostbreedingpopulationsofthered‐napeformofNorthAmerica.AccipitridaeSeeingAccipitridaeinislandisbothinterestingandfascinatingduetotheisolationforceworkingonthepopulations.Sincemostbirdsofpreyneedlandbridgestomigrateitismostlikelythattheybecometrappedinitsownsmallterritorywhenreachingtheseislandsbyaccident.Hereiswheretakesplacetheevolution‐at‐workshapingthenewspeciesandorthedistinctivenessintheraces.
Ridgway'sHawk.Buteoridgwayi.EndemictoHispaniola.InourvisittolosLimoneswesawabreedingpair(secondattempt)callingandinteractingbythemselves.NoticethatplumageandvoiceresemblesthatofRoadsideHawk(Buteomagnirostris)ofSouthAmerica.Maybethereisageneticlinktoit!
RedtailedHawk.Buteojamaicensisjamaicensis.OneindividualwasseensoaringintheslopesoftheSierradeBahoruconationalpark.Falconidae
AmericanKestrel.Falcosparveriusdominicensis.WeenjoyedthissmallbirdofpreyalmosteverydayandnoticedtheverypaleunderpartsoftheraceinhabitingHispaniola.Rallidae
ClapperRai.Ralluslongirostris.WeenjoyedviewsoftwogroupsinCaboRojo.Thefirstcontained1adultand3chicksandthesecondconsistedin1adultand1chick(allblack!).
PurpleGallinule.Porphyriomartinica(monotypic).ThisspecieswasseeninLosLimones.
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CaribbeanCoot.Fulicacaribaea(monotypic).OnlyoneindividualswasseeninLagoEnriquillo.SometimesregardedasconspecificwithAmericanCootF.americana.
CommonMoorhen.Gallinulachloropuscerceris.Variousindividualswereseenthoughouttheweek.Aramidae
Limpkin.Aramusguaraunaelucus.Weweresurprisedagain(forsecondconsecutiveyear)tolistenthisspeciesgivingitsmelancholicvoicenearElAguacateintheSierradeBahorucosincetherewasnorunningwaterinthevicinity.ItwasalsoseennearLosLimones.Charadriidae
BlackbelliedPlover.Pluvialissquatarola.AsingleindividualwasobservedinCaboRojo.
Killdeer.Charadriusvociferusternominatus.Morethan30individualswerefoundinLagunaOviedo.TheNorthAmericanracevociferushavebeenalsodocumentedtoreachtheDominicanRepublicduringthewinteringmigration. Wilson´sPlover.Charadriuswilsonia.AsingleindividualwasscopedinlagunaOviedo. SemipalmatedPlover.Chradriussemipalmatus.ThisonewasalsoobservedinLagunaOviedo.Onlyoneindividual.
SnowyPlover.Charadriusalexandrinus.2individualswereobservedatveryclosedistanceinLagunadeOviedo.Recurvirostridae BlackneckedStilt.Himantopusmexicanus.FourpairsweredocumentedinCaboRojoandadditional4wereseeninLagoEnriquillo.Scolopacidae
LesserYellowlegs.Tringaflavipes.AsingleindividualwasobservedinLagoEnriquillo.
SolitarySandpiper.Tringasolitariasolitaria?.About4individualswereseeninLagunaOviedo.
Willet.Tringasemipalmata.10individualswereobservedinLagunaOviedo.
WesternSandpiper.Calidrismauri.1individualwasobservedinCaboRojo.
LeastSandpiper.Calidrisminutilla.Thecolorofthelegsrevealedthisspecies.WeobservedoneindividualinCaboRojo.
SemipalmatedSandpiper.Calidrispusilla.BeingabletohaveseveralsandpipersforagingtogetherallowedustocomparethisspecieswiththeWesternSandpiper.ThiswasthecommonestsandpiperinthewetlandinCaboRojo.
Sanderling.Calidrisalba.ApairwascontrastingamongtheotherScolopacidaeduetotheverypaleplumageofit.
ShortbilledDowitcher.Limnodromusgriseus.About30individualswereobservedintwogroupsinCaboRojo.
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LaridaeLaughingGull.Leucophaeusatricilla.Variousindividualswereseen
throughoutthetripbeingthelargestnumberinLagunaOviedowherewereported8individuals.
RoyalTern.Thalasseusmaximamaximus.MorethanadozenindividualswereenjoyedalongtheCaribbeancoastofSantoDomingo.
CommonTern.Sternahirundo.About30to40individualswereseeninLagunadeOviedo.ColumbidaeUsuallyoverlooked,somemembersofthisfamilycanshowanincrediblesetofplumagecoloration.
ScalynapedPigeon.Patagioenassquamosa(monotypic).ThisspecieswasseenintheSierradeBahoruconationalparkatelevationsabove1000meters.Wereportedmorethan20individuals.
PlainPigeon.Patagioenasinornatainornata.ThisonewasfirstseeninascrubnearJaraguanationalparkandlaterseeninLagoEnriquillo.
WhitewingedDove.Zenaidaasiaticaasiatica.Thisspecieswasfairlycommonalongtheroadandlocationswithdesertscrub.
ZenaidaDove.Zenaidaauritazenaida.Thisoneislesscommonthanothermembersofthegenus.WemanagedtoseeapairsintheslopesofSierradeBahorucoinaquarrywheretheyusuallyswallowsmallpebblestohelpthemgrinduptheseedsintheirmusculargizzards.
MourningDove.Zenaidamacrouramacroura.ThisspecieswascommoninSantoDomingoandBarahona.
CommonGroundDove.Columbinapasserinainsularis.ThisspecieswasalsocommoninSantoDomingoandinthearidareasoftheSWregionofthecountry.ThisisthesmallestColumbidaeintheDominicanRepublic.PsittacidaeParrotsandparakeetsareanimportantpartofthewildlifeoftheAntilles.
HispaniolanParakeet.Aratingachloropterachloroptera.EndemictoHispaniola.WeenjoyedscopeviewsofseveralindividualsinHotelElEmbajadorwhereweestimatedabout300individuals.Additionally,fewpairswereseeninthecolonialzoneofSantoDomingo.ThisspecieshasbeensuggestedtobeconspecificwithWhite‐eyedParakeetAratingaleucophthalmus.
HispaniolanParrot.Amazonaventralis(monotypic).EndemictoHispaniola.WescopedasingleindividualinZapoténandlaterenjoyedanotheronenearElAguacate.ThespeciesiscurrentlyconsideredasVulnerableundertheIUCNstandards.Cuculidae
MangroveCuckoo.Coccyzusminor(monotypic).ThisspecieswasseeninLosLimonesandinRabodeGatotrail.
HispaniolanLizardCuckoo.Coccyzus(Saurothera)longirostrislongirostris.EndemictoHispaniola.Wesawthisimpressivelong‐billedcuckooseveraltimes.ScatteredindividualswereseeninthebotanicalgardensandSierradeBahoruco.
SmoothbilledAni.Crotophagaani.Dailyviews.
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Tytonidae
AshyfacedOwl.Tytoglaucops(monotypic).EndemictoHispaniola.UnfortunatelyitwasseenonlyinflightonthedrivetotheSierradeBahoruco.Strigidae
BurrowingOwl.Athenecuniculariatroglodytes.FewpairswereseennearPuertoEscondidoandalongtheroadtotheSierradeBahoruco.
CaprimulgidaeCommonlyreferredasthegoatsuckersthenighthawksandnightjarscanbedifficulttoidentifyinthefield.Aspectssuchasvoice,habitsandhabitatarerelevantforfieldidentification.
LeastPoorwill(LeastPauraque).Siphonorhisbrewsteri(monotypic).EndemictoHispaniola.OnlyheardinRabodeGato.Unfortunatelywedidnothaveenoughtimetospendintheareatolookforit.ThisspecieswasformerlyconsideredconspecificwiththeJamaicanPorwill(S.americana).Apodidae
AntilleanPalmSwift.Tachornisphoenicobiaphoenicobia.Fairlycommoninthelowlandswerefeedsmostofthedaywithcircularflightsandmixedglides,orwithfastwingbeats.Thisspeciesisparticularlylargecomparedwithotherpalm‐swiftspeciesinSouthAmerica.Althoughthesizedifferenceisnotveryrelevantasinotherspeciesthiscasecanbetakenasanexampleofgigantismasaconsequencesofislandisolation.Trochilidae
AntilleanMango.Anthracothoraxdominicus.Thisspecieswasseenalmosteverydayfromthelowlandsuptothehighlandsandfromtheforestedgetowellinsideforestedhabitats.
HispaniolanEmerald.Chlorostilbonswainsonii(monotypic).EndemictoHispaniola.Weenjoyedverycloseviewsofthislarge‐headedhummingbirdinSierrdeBahoruco.TheconicalforeheadresemblesmoreaTrochilidaeofthegenusHeliodoxaratherthanamemberoftheChlorostilbon.ItsrobustnessanddeepforkedtailisanotheroddaspectofthisspeciessinceinSouthAmericamostoftheemeraldsofthegenusChlorostilbonaresmallanddelicate.
VervainHummingbird.Mellisugaminimavieillota.AbouthalfadozenindividualswereseenattheBotanicalGardens.ItwasalsoseeninLagoEnriquillo,RabodeGatotrailandnearZapotén.ThisspeciesisfondtoperchatoptheverticalspikeofthefreshleavesintheRoyalPalmswhilecallingfrequently.Itisthesecondsmallesthummingbirdintheworld.Trogonidae
HispaniolanTrogon.Priotelusroseigaster(monotypic).EndemictoHispaniola.SixindividualswereenjoyedsingingnearZapotén.
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TodidaeFossilevidencesuggeststhattodiesevolvedfromCentralAmericabutbecameextinctforunknownreasons.FivespeciesremainintheGreatAntillesandtwoarerepresentedinHispaniola.Todiesarerelativesofthemotmotsandmoredistantlytothekingfishers.
BroadbilledTody.Todussubulatus(monotypic).EndemictoHispaniola.ThisisthecommonestofbothtodiesinHispaniolaandisfoundinalmosteverylowlandhabitat.Wesawitalmosteverydaybutnevergottiredofitsbrightcolorsandcartoon‐likeshapeandbehavior!Thespecificnamesubulatusreferstotheshapeofitsbill(broad).
NarrowbilledTody.Todusangustirostris(monotypic).EndemictoHispaniola.Thisspeciesislesswidespreadthanthepreviousoneandusuallyisfoundathigherelevations.Weenjoyed4pairsinashorttransectofSierradeBahorucoandsawanotherpairinCachote.Thespecificnameangustirostrisreferstothenarrowbillofit.Picidae
AntilleanPiculet.Nesoctitesmicromegas(monotypic).EndemictoHispaniola.WefoundapairofthisoddmemberofPicidaenearElAguacate.WhencomparedwiththespeciesfoundinSouthAmerica(Picumnus)itsenormoussizeisrelevant.ThegenusNesoctitesreferstothefactthatisanislandspecieswithnesosmeaningislandandktitesmeaninganinhabitant.
HispaniolanWoodpecker.Melanerpesstriatus(monotypic).EndemictoHispaniola.Thisonewasseeneverydayandinfactmanypairswereseennesting.Thisspeciesisquitetoleranttohumanpresenceandseemstoadaptwelltofarmland,urbanareasandotheropenareas.Tyrannidae
GreaterAntilleanElaenia.Elaeniafallaxcherriei.ApairinZapoténweretheonlyindividualsforthewholetour.
HispaniolanPewee.Contopushispaniolensis(monotypic).EndemictoHispaniola.ThiswasanotherspeciesfoundinZapoténinSierradeBahoruconationalparkandinRabodeGatolodge.ThisspecieswasformerlypartofGreaterAntilleanPeweewhichturnedouttobesplitintofourspecies.
StolidFlycatcher.Myiarchusstolidusdominicensis.Acommonandvocalspeciesfoundmainlyinscrubbyvegetationinthelowlands.ThegenusMyiarchusiswidespreadinSouthAmericawithmanylook‐alikespeciesandarebesttoldbyvoice.ItwasseenregularlyinSierradeBahoruco,LagoEnriquilloandthesurroundingsofit.
GrayKingbird.Tyrannusdominicensisdominicensis.Manypairsandindividualswereseenorheardduringthetrip.
LoggerheadKingbird.Tyrannuscaudifasciatusflavescens.ApairwasseenintheavocadoplantationalongtheroadtoSierradeBahoruco.Thespecificnamecaudifasciatusmakesreferencetotherufousedgesinthetail.Vireonidae
FlatbilledVireo.Vireonanus.EndemictoHispaniola.WeenjoyedgreatviewsofanindividualintheAlcoaroad.
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BlackwhiskeredVireo.Vireoaltiloquusaltiloquus.Althoughsaidtobedifficutltoobservewemanagedtoseethisspeciesalmosteveryday.Corvidae
PalmCrow(HispaniolanPalmCrow).Corvuspalmarum(monotypic).EndemictoHispaniolaWehadsuperbviewsofthreeindividualsinLagoEnriquillo.ThisspecieswasonceconsideredconspecificwiththeCubanPalmCrow,C.minutus.
WhiteneckedCrow.Corvusleucognaphalus(monotypic)..EndemictoHispaniola.WeenjoyedscopeviewsofasingleindividualinLosLimonesandlatersawmoreindividualsinRabodeGatotrail.Hirundinidae
CaribbeanMartin.Prognedominicensis.WesawthisspeciesmainlynearSantoDomingo.
GoldenSwallow.Tachycinetaeuchryseasclateri.AlmostendemictoHispaniolaasthepopulationsofJamaicahavebeenextirpated.Wehadgreatviewsofabout10individualsinZapotén.ItwasalsolaterseeninAceitillar.ThisspeciesisapparentlyextinctedinJamaica.IfyouhavebeeninSouthAmericayoumighthavenoticeitsresemblancewiththeBlue‐and‐whiteSwallow.
CaveSwallow.Petrochelidonfulvafulva.ThisonewasseenalongtheroadNofSantoDomingo.
CliffSwallow.Petrochelidonpyrrhonota.WeonlysawthisspeciesatarelativedistancewhiledrivingalongtheroadtoLosLimones.
NorthernRoughwingedSwallow.Stelgidopterixserripennis.ApairwasobservednearLosLimones(bufferzomeofLosHaitisesnationalpark).
BarnSwallow.Hirundorustica.TwohundredindividualswereobservedinLagunaOviedo.Turdidae
RufousthroatedSolitaire.Myadestesgenibarbismontanus.Whatabeautifulbird!Itvoicesoundslikeamusiciangivingshortandpauseblowsthroughoutaflute.ItshighfrequencywhistlewasenjoyedwhilewesearchedforLaSelleThrushandotherendemicspeciesinZapotén.Weenjoyed5individualsinZapotén.Thisspeciesisagoodcandidateforatechnicalsplitsokeepyoureyesonit!
LaSelleThrush.Turdusswalesiswalesi.EndemictoHispaniolaThisisprobablythemostdifficultandtheleastcommonoftheHispaniolaendemicspecies.Onlyfewyearsagoitwasadreamtoseethisspeciesandtodaywehavelearnedsomuchthatwehaveseenitforsevenconsecutiveyears.ThisyearweenjoyedapairsingingandforagingclosetothegroundnearZapotén.Atonepointtheycamesoclosetousthatwecouldnotuseourbinocularstofocusonit!
RedleggedThrush.Turdusplumbeusardosiaceus.Thislong‐leggedthrushisthecommonestandmostwidespreadTurdidaeinHispaniola.Wesawitalmosteveryday.
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MimidaeNorthernMockingbird.Mimuspolyglottosorpheus.Widespread.Many
individualswereobservedinopenareasandaridscrub.Thespecificnamepolyglottosmakesreferencetothemimiccapabilitiesofit!DulidaeMonotipicandendemicfamilyofHispaniolarepresentedbyonlyonespecies,thePalmchat.
Palmchat.Dulusdominicus(monotypic)..EndemictoHispaniolaThisisthenationalbirdoftheDominicanRepublicandtherearegoodreasonsforit.First,itiswidespreadandveryvocal.Second,itbuildsbulkyandconspicuousnestsinpalmtrees.Third,theRidgway’sHawkusethePalmchatnesttobuldsitsroughplatformthatservesasanestingsite.ThegenusDulusreferstothenamegivenbythelocalpeople(theslave)thatapparentlymakereferencetothesubservientbehaviorofthespeciestootherbirdsincontrasttothatoftheGrayKingbirdthatisusuallyaggressive.Parulidae
NorthernParula.Parulaamericana.Wesawanindividualinthebotanicalgardens.
YellowWarbler.Dendroicapetechia.AsingleindividualwasobservedinLagunaOviedo.
CapeMayWarbler.Dendroicatigrina.AsingleindividualwasseeninHotelElEmbajador.Also,anadditionalindividualswasobservedinZapotén.
BlackthroatedBlueWarbler.Dendroicacaerulescens(caerulescens?).AmaleandafemalewereobservedinSierradeBahoruco.AnotherpairwasseeninAceitillar.
PineWarbler.Dendroicapinuschrysoleuca(residentrace).EightindividualswereseenontheAlcoaroadand3aboveZapotén.
PalmWarbler.Dendroicapalmarum.ApairwasseenbelowAceitillar.BlackandwhiteWarbler.Mniotiltavaria.Oneindividualwasseenon
thegardensofHotelElEmbajador.ItwasalsoseeninZapoténandRabodeGatotrail.
AmericanRedstart.Setophagaruticilla.Common.Thisspecieswasseenineverylocation.
Ovenbird.Seiurusaurocapillaaurocapilla.ThefirstpairwasseeninZapoténandanindividualinRabodeGatotrail.
NorthernWaterthrush.Parkesia(Seiurus)noveboracensis.OneindividualwasseeninSierradeBahoruco.
CommonYellowthroat.Geothlypistrichastrichas.OneindividualwasseeninasmallwetlandnearLosLimonesandanotherinCachote.
Noteaboutthefollowingtwospecies.GeneticstudieshaverevealedthatMicroligeaandXenoligeaarecloserelativestoPhaenicophilus(PalmTanagers)suggestingthatareindeedtanagers,notwarblers.Thiscontroversykeepsbackandforthsotheyareretainedherewiththetraditionaltaxonomy.
GreentailedWarbler.Microligeapalustrispalustris/vasta.EndemictoHispaniolaAlsonamedGreen‐tailedGround‐Warbler.ThreepairswereseeninSierradeBahoruco(Zapotén).ThegenusMicroligeagivereferencetoasmallwarblerwhilethespecificnamepalustrisindicatesthainhabitmarshyorboggy
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areas.Apparentlyitwasfirstcollectedinareasofdensevegetationwithdampgroundhencethespecificname.
WhitewingedWarbler.Xenoligeamontana(monotypic).EndemictoHispaniola.Weenjoyedamazingviewsofthisalways‐activespeciesthatjoinsfeedingflocks.Wesaw8individualsinZapotén!Genusincertasedis
Bananaquit.Coerebaflaveolabananivora.Thisspecieswasseeneverydayfromdisturbedhabitattoedgeofforest.ItsbillshapeandvoiceresemblesthatoftheCentralAmericapopulations.ThraupidaeThisfamilyisrepresentedinHispaniolaforfewspeciesmostofwhichareendemictotheisland.Ofspecialinterestarethetwospeciesofchat‐tanager(Calyptophilussp.).ThesewereonceconsideredtworacesofthesamespeciesbutrecentlyhavebeenacceptedastwoseparatespeciesbothendemicofHispaniola.
BlackcrownedPalmTanager.Phaenicophiluspalmarum(monotypic).EndemictoHispaniolaThisspeciesislocallynamed“CuatroOjos”(Four‐eyes)referringtotheplumageoftheheadhavingfourwhitespots.Itwasseenalmosteverydaybutneverinlargenumbers.
WesternChatTanager.Calyptophilustertius(monotypic).EndemictoHispaniola.WehadtoworkabithardtogetthisoneinSierradeBarahonabutoncefounditwasenjoyedbyeveryone.
EasternChatTanager.Calyptophilusfrugivorus(monotypic).EndemictoHispaniola.ThisspecieswasfirstseeninaVENTtourbackin2006sinceprevioustothatyearitwasbelievedthatitwasfoundonlyinthecentralmountainrange.Morerecently,studiesofthepopulationinCachotedemonstratethatitwasindeedthisspecies!Afterabitofaworkwemanagedtoseeitandattheendofthemorningwehadnailed5pairs!
HispaniolanSpindalis.Spindalisdominicensis.EndemictoHispaniola.EveryonelovedthesmallfamilygroupsforagingonberriesalongtheroadtoZapotén(SierradeBarahona).ThisiscertainlyoneofthemostbeautifulendemicspeciesofHispaniola.ThegenusSpindalisisalsoendemictotheGreaterAntilles.Emberizidae YellowfacedGrassquit.Tiarisolivaceusolivaceus.ThisspeciesiswidespreadthroughouttheDominicanRepublic.ItwasseeninLosLimonesandnearZapotén. BlackfacedGrassquit.Tiarisbicolor.AsingleindividualwasobservedintheslopeofSierradeBahoruco,belowElAguacate.
GreaterAntilleanBullfinch.Loxigillaviolaceaaffinis.WeenjoyedviewsofpairsorsmallgroupsforagingonfruitsandberriesinSierradeBahoruco.ThegenusLoxigillamakesreferencetotheheavybillofthebullfinches.Icteridae
GreaterAntilleanGrackle.Quiscalusnigerniger.Thisspeciesisfairlycommonandwidespreadbutusuallyshyanddifficulttosee(Inversely
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proportionalinPuertoRico).AsmallgroupwasalsoseennearBarahonaattheentranceofRabodeGato.
ShinyCowbird.Molothrusbonariensis.30individualswecountednearLosLimones.
GreaterAntilleanOriole.Icterusdominicensis(monotypic).WesawthreeindividualsinLosLimonesandlateroneindividualwasobservedinPuertoEscondido.ThisspeciesissometimestreatedasHispaniolanOriole,endemicspeciesoftheisland.Originally,theGreaterAntilleanOriolewasconsideredpartoftheBlack‐cowledOriole(Icterusprosthemelas).Fringillidae
AntilleanEuphonia.Euphoniamusica(monotypic).AmalewasseeninZapotén,SierradeBahoruco.TheplumagesuggestsanaffinitywithGolden‐rumpedEuphonia(E.cyanocephala)ofSouthAmerica.ThisspecieswasformerlyconsideredpartoftheBlue‐hoodedEuphoniabutbecamesplitintothreespecies:oneforCentralAmerica,onefortheAntillesandanotherforSouthAmerica.
HispaniolanCrossbill.Loxiamegaplaga(monotypic).EndemictoHispaniola.WeenjoyedincrediblycloseviewsofafemaleperchednearthewatertankofAceitillar.
AntilleanSiskin.Carduelisdominicensis(monotypic).EndemictoHispaniola.Weobservedtwosmallflocksandmanagedtoseeamalethoughoutthescope.Thisspeciesisapparentlydecliningduetohabitatloss.
IntroducedSpecies.Numididae
HelmetedGuineafowl.Numidameleagris.AloosegroupwasfoundalongtheRabodeGatotrail.
Columbidae
RockPigeon.Columbalivia.ItiscommonandwidespreadinSantoDomingoandinBarahona.Psittacidae
OlivethroatedParakeet.Aratinganana.Presumablyintroduced.TherearenoearlyrecordsfortheDominicanRepublic.InourtourwesawapairinthelowlandsofSierradeBahoruconationalpark.Thisspecieswasfirstdocumentedin1995butisexpandingitsrangerapidly.OrnithologistshaveexpressedconcernaboutthepossiblecompetitionwiththeendemicHispaniolaParakeetAratingachloroptera.Passeridae
HouseSparrow.Passerdomesticus.4individualswereseeninBarahona.PloceidaeAbirdfamilyofSub‐SaharanAfrica,consistingonheavybillspeciesspecializedforeatingseeds.TheonlymemberofthefamilyinourcontinentwasbroughtbypettradersandiscurrentlyfoundinwildpopulationsinsomeCaribbeanislandsandinothercountriesofSouthAmerica.
VENT 2010 The Dominican Republic. D. Ascanio
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VillageWeaver.Ploceuscucullatus.Asmallgroupof3individualswasseenattheentranceofRabodeGato.EarliestrecordsinHispanioladateforthelate18thcentury.Amphibians,ReptilesandFishes.Bufonidae
MarineToad.Bufomarinus.Barahona.Ranidae AmericanBullfrog.Ranacatesbeiana.RabodeGato.Teiidae WhiptailedLizard.Cnemidophorussp.CommonaroundHotelElEmbajador.Polychrotidae BarkAnole.Anolisdistichus.LosLimones. HispaniolanGreenAnolis.Anolischlorocyanus.LosLimones. LargeheadedAnole.Anoliscybotes.LosLimones.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.