Birding Trinidad
Trinidad is a paradise for bird lovers. Thanks to the combination of tropical rainforest, wetlands and coastal areas, Trinidad has an exceptional biodiversity and wide variety of bird species. One of the absolute highlights is the Scarlet Ibis, the national bird of Trinidad and Tobago. This bright red ibis perches in large flocks at sunset in the Caroni Swamp Bird Sanctuary, a spectacular phenomenon. On the banknotes of Trinidad and Tobago features the rufous-tailed motmot, a hugely colorful bird. The famous Oil Bird lives in caves and dark limestone formations: particularly in the Aripo cave entire colonies breed, leaving the cave at night to eat fruit in the surrounding forest. The rainforests and nature reserves are home to numerous species of hummingbirds, toucans, parrots and rare endemic birds. The world-renowned Asa Wright Nature Center is a must-visit for birding. Located in the middle of the rainforest, this lodge and its nature reserve offer excellent opportunities to observe birds up close, often just from the terrace.
BIRDING TOBAGO
Tobago, too, thanks to a combination of tropical rainforest, coastal areas and small offshore islands, offers excellent opportunities to see colorful tropical birds as well as rare seabirds. The protected Main Ridge Forest Reserve, the oldest protected rainforest in the Western Hemisphere, is home to numerous bird species, including the Blue-backed Manakin, motmots, trogons and several species of hummingbirds. A visit to Little Tobago is also a highlight for bird lovers, known for its colonies of seabirds, including the spectacular red-billed tropicbird and frigatebirds.