Birds Of Tobago

Osprey & Magnificent Frigatebird in flight

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) are regular migrant visitors to Tobago with young remaining here for up to three years. With an Island that is 26 miles long by 8 miles wide it is not unusual to find several species of birds sharing the same air space, here a Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens) glides a safe distance above the bird of prey. Photo added to the Osprey guide

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All photos by +Robert Brent

Smooth-billed Ani juvenile guarded by female adults

A young smooth-billed Ani is guarded by two female adults as other members of the group search for food. The Smooth-billed Ani build a communal nest where females lay eggs on top of each other in one large nest. Obviously only a few eggs at the top of the nest hatch into young birds. Nesting duties and parental duties are undertaken by all members of the group which usually number around 12 birds. Smooth-billed Anis are members of the Cuckoo family (Cuculidae), and are restricted to the tropical Americas.

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All photos by +Robert Brent

Common Pauraque (Nyctidromus albicollis) new born chicks

The Common Pauraque nests on the ground relying on its mottled colouration to avoid detection. Should danger approach the female will fly a short distance feigning a damaged wing to draw predators away from the nesting chicks.

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Red-crowned Woodpecker (Melanerpes rubricapillus) Feeding

An easy to identify as there are no other birds like the Red-crowned Woodpecker (Melanerpes rubricapillus), being a frequent suburban bird most know him well. In woodlands, their preferred habitat, they are still common and fairly easy to track down by their unique call and bright plumage. Caaptured this one as he moved through Kilgwyn Mangrove.

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Tropical Mockingbird (Mimus gilvus)

Tropical Mockingbird head shot added to the Tropical Mockingbird description page. I have noticed that unlike most species where bird plumage is near identical, the Tropical Mockingbirds here can very colouration from quite pale to strongly contrasting such as this bird shown.

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Tropical Kingbird (Tyrannus melancholicus)

A perched Tropical Kingbird, photo taken in Kilgwyn Mangrove. Fairly common throughout Tobago, can be mistaken for other bright yellow flycatchers such as the lesser Kiskadee (which is larger with pale yellow breast)

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Yellow-crowned Night Heron

Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea)

Yellow-crowned Night Heron

Order : Ciconiiformes
Ciconiiformes compromise five to six families of large, long legged wading birds with long bills. They primarily occupy fresh or shallow saline water where they feed on fish, crabs, crustaceans, insects and carrion. Most nest in trees, though some nest in swamps or on the ground. the young are altricial (born bare and blind and dependent on parents for food) Most species are colonial, but the use of sound is limited or uncommon, the birds relying more on displays and rituals. Most are strong, often elegant flyers.

Family : Herons (Ardeidae)
The family Ardeidae is made up of Herons, Egrets and Bitterns where Egrets are considered simply as white Herons with decorative plumes and not a biologically separate group. Herons fly with their necks retracted not outstretched like some other members of the Ciconiiformes order. Typically Herons feed in shallow waters or marshes taking fish, frogs, crabs, and even small birds or mammals. They are widely distributed around the world but are most common in the tropics. The nest is made of twigs, usually placed in trees near water, and usually grouped in colonies called Heronries. Herons are sub divided into three groups. Typical Herons which include the genus Egratta, feed during the day. Night Herons, which are usually shorter legged and thick billed, are more active at dusk and during the night, and Tiger Herons which are six species of the more primitive Herons.

Name : Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea)
Length : 51 - 55 cm ( 22 - 28 in )
Local Names : Night Gaulin, Crab catcher

The Yellow-crowned night Heron is mainly grey with a black head, yellow eyes and white cap which turns buff yellow during breeding season, the sexes being similar. Juveniles are brown flaked with grey or white. The nest is a platform of sticks usually in Mangrove trees, where 2 - 4 pale bluish - green eggs are laid. Both parents rearing the young. The birds often remain quite motionless while waiting for their prey of crab, fish, frogs, crustaceans and insects and can be active during the day, though typically are most active around dusk. While incubating the young, both parents can readily be found at the nest during the day, hunting more at night. The species ranges from eastern North America throughout the West Indies to northern South America, some birds migrating to warmer climates during winter months.

#Yellow-crowned Night Heron #Nyctanassa violacea #Herons #Ardeidae #Ciconiiformes #birds of the West Indies #birds of Tobago #birds

Bird identification images

Juvenile

Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea)

Yellow-brested Flycatcher

Yellow-brested Flycatcher (Tolmomyias flaviventris)

Yellow-brested Flycatcher

Order : Passeriformes
Also known as Passerines or perching birds. Any member of the largest avian order which includes more than 5,700 species, more than half of all living birds. Passerines are true perching birds with four toed feet, three toes facing forward and one larger toe facing backwards.

Family : Tyrant Flycatchers (Tyrannidae)
Any of about 429 species of Passerines which occur throughout North and South America but are mainly tropical in distribution. Most are insectivorous, often taking their prey in flight, but certain species feed mainly on berries or fruit. Most are fairly plain and none have the complex vocal capabilities of the song birds.

Name : Yellow-brested Flycatcher (Tolmomyias flaviventris)
Length : 12 - 13 cm ( 4½ - 5 in )

This is a rare flycatcher that breeds in Tobago. It’s a bird of Mangrove woodland where it builds an intricately woven hanging nest attached to a thin branch or vine. The nest is globular with a narrow slightly downward facing entrance made entirely of dried grass or similar materials, usually around 2.4 m to 7.2 m ( 8 - 24 ft) above the ground. An insectivorous bird, the Yellow-brested flycatcher has, as it’s name suggests, yellow - orange underparts, green - brown upperparts with streaks of black and white on the wings. The tail is brown below, and black above. It has a surprisingly loud ‘chee’ or ‘tee-dee’ call for it’s size.

#Yellow-brested Flycatcher #Tolmomyias flaviventris #Tyrant Flycatchers #Tyrannidae #flycatcher #Passeriformes #tropical birds #birds of Tobago #birds

Bird identification images

Yellow-brested Flycatcher (Tolmomyias flaviventris) tropical birds

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus)

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Order : Cuculiformes
Cuculiformes are group of birds made up of two distinct families, the Turacos (Musophagidae) made of 20 species found only in Africa, and Cuckoos (Cuculidae) containing around 127 species from around the world. The Cuckoos are an ancient group with no living near relatives, even the turacos are quite distinct with no intermediate connecting species. Cuckoos display a large variation on breeding habits as some are brood parasites, others make regular nests while others make communal nests.

Family : Cuckoos (Cuculidae)
Cuckoos, as a group, tend to be forest birds often preferring dense thickets and are more likely to be heard than seen. While Cuckoos are found on every continent except Antarctica, subfamilies are restricted to one hemisphere or the other, for example the crotphafinae is wholly new world and the musophagidae containing 20 species are found only in Africa. Many species are brood parasites. Four genera inhabit the West Indies, all tend to be sluggish and difficult to locate, but quite tame. Most cuckoos are solitary, often furtive birds being inconspicuous even when relatively common, and apart from the communal nesting Ani they do not form flocks or even small groups.

Name : Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus)
Length : 28 - 30 cm ( 11 - 12 in )
Local Names : Rain Bird, Rain Crow, Coffin Bird

Similar to the Mangrove Cuckoo the Yellow-billed Cuckoo can be distinguished by it’s lack of any ochraceous buff on the underparts, the lack of any black around the eye, and a more obvious yellow lower mandible. It’s voice is higher pitched and less guttural, and the call ends in a rather deliberate cow-cow-cow-cow. It occupies similar habitat to that of the Mangrove Cuckoo, preferring lowland dry scrub woodland. It’s diet also consists of insects, spiders and small lizards.

#Yellow-billed Cuckoo #Coccyzus americanus #Cuckoos #Cuculidae #birds of the West Indies #birds of Trinidad & Tobago #birds of Tobago #birds

Bird identification images

White-tipped Dove

White-tipped Dove (Leptotila verreauxi)

White-tipped Dove

Order : Columbiformes
Made up of three families in two suborders; Columbae (pigeons, Doves, Dodoes, Solitaires) and Pterocletes (Sand grouse) where the extinct Dodoes and Solitares make up the family Raphidae, and Pigeons and Doves the family Columbidae. The names Pigeon and Dove are interchangeable having no biological distinction.

Family : Doves (Columbidae)
Made up of about 285 similar species of bird, the Pigeon family is widely dispersed, being absent only from the Arctic, Antarctic and some Oceanic Islands. Pigeons are unique in that they produce a secretion similar to mammalian milk for their young, and in their ability to suck water in a continuous draft by muscular contractions whereas other birds take a sip of water, then tip back the head to swallow.

Name : White-tipped Dove (Leptotila verreauxi)
Length : 27 cm ( 11 in )
Local Names : Mountain Dove

The White-tipped Dove is grey-brown above, white below and has a white band at the tip of the tail. It’s most distinguishing feature being a blue eye band. It inhabits woodland, open scrubland and suburban areas where it will normally walk around looking for seeds on the ground usually alone or with it’s mate. The White-tipped Dove will usually take to flight at the approach of danger, the wings beating quite audibly against each other for the first few flaps, which often raises the alarm for other birds in the vicinity.

#White-tipped Dove Leptotila verreauxi Mountain Dove Doves Columbidae Columbae Columbiformes birds of Tobago birds

Bird identification images