This tour can be done in conjunction with our Lesser Antilles birding tour 
which precedes it, 
our Dominican Republic birding tour which follows it, 

We've been doing birding tours in Puerto Rico for 13 years. 
This will be our 27th birding tour on the island.

During this tour, our objective is to see as many as we can of the 
16 species of endemic birds and other bird specialties, 
as we enjoy the beautiful Puerto Rican countryside.

Good Birds & a Good Time!

(The 16 "endemic birds" to Puerto Rico are including a few that occur (or formerly occurred) in the nearby Virgin Islands.)    

Puerto Rico Bird-List

Caribbean Rare Birds

Caribbean Bird Photo Gallery

Previous Puerto Rico Tour Highlights

Itinerary & price follows.

During our Puerto Rican tours we've seen all 16 of the endemic birds. 
The rarest and most difficult of them to find now (in the wild) is the 
Puerto Rico Parrot. It is very rare and only in a restricted area. 
Formerly, we've seen, during a tour (in March 2000), as many as a dozen. 
During all of our recent Puerto Rico tours, we've had excellent looks at the rather elusive Elfin Woods Warbler, a species discovered as recently as 1971. And we've heard or seen another rarity, the localized Puerto Rican Nightjar (that species was re-discovered in 1961). We saw it in 2003.  
At dusk, or after dark, we usually see well the endemic Puerto Rican Screech-Owl.
Other notable endemics include the very rare Yellow-shouldered Blackbird, the Puerto Rican Tanager, and the Puerto Rican Lizard-Cuckoo. To date, a cumulative 185 species of birds have been seen during our Puerto Rican tours.

Sun: Apr 2  Mid-day arrival in Puerto Rico. Travel from the San Juan area to the southwestern corner of the island, an area rich with good birds, including a number of the endemics. West of Ponce, before dinner, we'll have some nice birding in the dry Guanica Forest by the coast. Adelaide's Warbler, Mangrove Cuckoo, Puerto Rican Tody and Puerto Rican Bullfinch occur. Also the Puerto Rican Flycatcher and Caribbean Elaenia. It should be a nice start to our birding tour.
After dinner, we'll try (hopefully with the same success we've had on previous tours) to hear and see the rare Puerto Rican Nightjar. (This species was thought to be extinct until 1961).
Overnight in the attractive coastal town of La Parguera.

Puerto Rican Tody
(Photo courtesy of Kevin Karlson)

Mon: Apr 3 Early morning birding in the area of La Parguera. Our prime target will be the very rare Yellow-shouldered Blackbird (which we've had extremely good luck finding, often with ease, over the years). There will also be a visit to a place nearby that's been good for shorebirds including Wilson's Plover, the Antillean race of the Clapper Rail, and the colorful Troupial During the afternoon, we'll enter a region of wooded hills and coffee plantations near the town of Maricao. Our overnight, in that nice area, will be at a parador (or "country inn", this one very much "in the country" and quite attractive). And it's located in a particularly good area for Puerto Rican Screech-Owls.

Tue: Apr 4 Early morning birding in the Maricao Forest, an area of wooded hills. Our most pertinent quest will be the Elfin Woods Warbler, a species not known before 1971. We'll go early to a place where we've had fine looks at the warbler during previous tours. With good fortune, we may see Bridled Quail-Dove and Antillean Euphonia. Endemics in the region include Green Mango and Puerto Rican Vireo. The mango, a hummingbird, is all-green. Vireo, of course, means "I am green". With alot more than just green coloration, the Puerto Rican Stripe-headed Tanager (a recent split). Also in the area is the dapper Puerto Rican Pewee (another recent split). Not just breakfast at the parador, but some nice birds there also, including the Loggerhead Kingbird and endemic Puerto Rican Lizard-Cuckoo.
Overnight again at the attractive parador in the beautiful hills near Maricao.

Wed: Apr 5  After some morning birding in southwestern Puerto Rico, afternoon travel, east, across the island to the area of Humacao. Late day birding, there, at a wildlife refuge that's been superb for waterbirds. The most superb of them the rare West Indian Whistling-Duck (which we've seen during most of our visits). Also: White-cheeked Pintail, Caribbean Coot, and more. Overnight in the northeast corner of Puerto Rico in the area of Fajardo.

Thu: Apr 6  A full-day of birding in northeastern Puerto Rico, including visits to the Luquillo National Forest, particularly the area of El Yunque, the rainforest, and the last haunt of the gravely endangered Puerto Rican Parrot. This bird, though now hard to find because of its low population, has been seen during a number of our previous tours, including our tours in March 2000 & 2004.
Another endemic in this area is the Puerto Rican Tanager.
Overnight, again, in northeastern Puerto Rico (or not far from the airport near San Juan).

Fri: Apr 7  Some final early morning birding in the San Juan area (as time permits for those without early morning flights). Flights home from Puerto Rico. Or continuation on our tour in the Dominican Republic.

Tour to be led by Armas Hill, or another experienced FONT leader.