Home >

Birdwatching in Tobago - guide to Tobago birding

Barred Antshrike Birdwatching in Tobago is one of the most popular activities among visitors to the island. With more than 230 species of tropical bird in such a small area, it's not surprising that Tobago has become an increasingly popular destination for birdwatchers. This is not meant to be a definitive guide to Tobago birding but it should give you an idea of the kind of birds you can see during your stay.

Tobago is a small island but it contains a wide variety of habitats, including tropical rainforest, semi-deciduous woodland, mangrove swamp, freshwater marshland and coastal areas. Some are not very extensive but each is large enough to support a distinct population of birds.

Serious birders will probably seek out specific species in those habitats but you can enjoy a variety of exotic birdlife in the comfort of your hotel or villa. The Bananaquit, or 'Sugarbird', lives up to its nickname and may join you at your dining room table. The Tropical Mockingbird is also extremely common, and will probably be the first bird you hear singing in the morning, while the Blue-crowned Motmot, known locally as 'King of the Woods', has strikingly beautiful plumage and can often be seen perched on wires or in branches by the side of the road.

If you want a guaranteed birdfest, make sure you visit the Caledonia Wildlife Bird Sanctuary in the former Grafton copra plantation at Black Rock just behind Stonehaven Villas. You can either stroll through the forest spotting birds as you go, or you can time your visit to coincide with the 8am and 4pm feeding times and have them come to you. Bring your camera because there'll be plenty of chances to get close-up shots of birds like the Red-crowned Woodpecker, Blue-gray Tanager and the Barred Antshrike, while some of the Motmots are so tame that you can feed them out of your hand.

Rufous-tailed Jacamar Unless you are an experienced birder and know exactly what you are looking for, the best way to see some of Tobago's more elusive treasures is to sign up for a day with one of the island's many extremely knowledgeable guides. They will be able to take you deep into the rainforest, name all the fauna and flora, identify hidden birds by their song and even imitate their call to bring them into view.

A typical day might take in a walk to the spectacular Argyle Waterfalls, followed by lunch near Bloody Bay in a restaurant overlooking an immortelle tree with nesting Crested Oropendolas before heading into the main island forest reserve. If you're lucky, your sharp-eyed guide might be able to point out such treats as the Collared Trogon, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Blue-backed Manakin, Snowy Egret, Rufous-breasted Wren, White-tailed Sabrewing, Tropical Kingbird and the Rufous-breasted Hermit.

Red-billed Tropicbird Tobago birding wouldn't be complete without a special trip to Little Tobago, formerly known as Bird of Paradise Island after the 26 pairs that were taken there from Papua New Guinea in 1909. The island is a 15-minute ride in a glass-bottomed boat from Blue Waters Inn across Batteaux Bay and is now a seabird sanctuary. The birds of paradise failed to survive Hurricane Flora in 1963 but guides will be able to show you large populations of Magnificent Frigatebirds, Brown Boobies and Terns. If you're very lucky, you may be able to walk right up to nesting Red-billed Tropicbirds.

Anhinga Birds are also sometimes found in the most unlikely places, so it's always worth remembering to take your bins with you when you go out. One visitor spent a fruitless morning trying to get official access to the Hillsborough Reservoir, several miles up a rough track, where Anhingas had been reported. On the way home, he was passing the entrance to a holiday resort when he spotted some Cormorant-like birds perching on trees round a lake, with wings outstretched as if to dry them. It turned out to be a group of 20 Anhingas, locally known as the 'Snake-bird', living quite happily within a few yards of the main road. This is one of the pictures he took.

A handy reference book is Birds of Trinidad and Tobago by Richard ffrench (photographs by Roger Neckles). You can buy it online at Amazon before you go or on the island when you arrive.