Grand Cayman is a picturesque island in the western Caribbean Sea, known for its pristine beaches and crystal-clear waters. It also boasts a diverse and beautiful bird population.
From majestic frigatebirds soaring high in the sky to tiny hummingbirds zipping from flower to flower, birdwatchers will find something to marvel at on this island.
With over 200 species of birds recorded, ranging from residents to migratory birds, Grand Cayman presents a unique opportunity for bird enthusiasts to explore and appreciate the island’s natural beauty.
Whether you are an experienced birdwatcher or simply a nature lover, discovering the aviary wonders of Grand Cayman is an adventure not to be missed.
10 Beautiful Birds Found In Grand Cayman
Grand Cayman is a tropical island in the Caribbean Sea, famous for its stunning beaches and coral reefs. But did you know that it is also a paradise for birdwatchers? With over 200 species of birds recorded on the island, you can find various colorful and fascinating feathered friends to admire and photograph.
Whether you are a seasoned birder or a curious traveler, you will be amazed by the diversity and beauty of the birds that call Grand Cayman home. Here are 10 of the most beautiful birds on this island.
1. Greater Antillean Grackle
The Greater Antillean grackle is a large, friendly bird in the Caribbean. It inhabits heavily populated areas, and its call has been described as “kling-kling” or “chinchilin” in the Dominican Republic, “ching ching” in the Cayman Islands, and ‘Chango’ by Puerto Rico locals.
They are primarily black with green iridescence on their upperparts, wings, and tail feathers.
These birds feed mainly on insects but consume fruits from trees like guava and mangoes.
Their diet supplements can include breadcrumbs from picnic tables that they often frequent near human dwellings for food scraps left behind by humans, allowing them to survive even during dry seasons when other sources of food become scarce.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Icteridae |
| Genus | Quiscalus |
| Species | Q. niger |
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2. Cuban Bullfinch
The Cuban Bullfinch is a songbird species endemic to Cuba. It belongs to the tanager family Thraupidae and subfamily Coerebinae, including Darwin’s finches.
This beautiful bird can be found in subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, montane forests, and heavily degraded former forest areas. Its plumage is mainly deep black with yellowish-green wings and white spots on its back.
The Cuban Bullfinch has an omnivorous diet consisting of fruits, grains, insects, and occasionally small vertebrates such as frogs or lizards.
They generally live alone but can form flocks when searching for food sources during breeding season. They will join other birds, forming loose colonies near rivers or swamps where nesting takes place, often building nests on tree branches close together with their neighbors, protecting predators like hawks, cats, snakes, etcetera.
To conclude, this remarkable bird is undoubtedly worth protecting, given its uniqueness within the Caribbean Islands
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Thraupidae |
| Genus | Melopyrrha |
| Species | M. nigra |
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3. West Indian Woodpecker
The West Indian woodpecker is a species of bird belonging to the family Picidae. It can be found in Cuba, the Bahamas, and the Cayman Islands, mainly in subtropical or tropical dry forests, lowland moist forests, and mangrove habitats.
This species has been observed to exhibit polyandrous breeding behavior – one female mates with multiple males at once – making it unique among its peers.
This bird’s diet consists mainly of insects gleaned from tree trunks by probing or drilling into them using their powerful bills; they will also feed on fruits when available.
Despite being listed as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List due to its wide range and stable population, human activities such as deforestation have caused some decline in numbers for this species.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Piciformes |
| Family | Picidae |
| Genus | Melanerpes |
| Species | M. superciliaris |
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4. La Sagra’s Flycatcher
La Sagra’s flycatcher is a beautiful passerine bird that belongs to the tyrant flycatcher family. It can be found in subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, mangrove forests, and other tropical areas of Cuba, Bahamas, Grand Cayman, and southern Florida (as an occasional vagrant).
This species has greyish-brown upperparts with yellowish rump; its wings are dark brown, while its underparts have a buffy wash on the throat and breast.
La Sagra’s flycatchers feed mainly on insects and sometimes eat some fruits. They often perch atop tall trees before making sallies into midair after catching prey in their bills.
These birds nest in large colonies, building cup-shaped nests from twigs above ground level near water bodies like streams or rivers.
La Sagras’s Flycatchers are active when they search for food alone and in groups, allowing them to quickly spot predators that may threaten their young ones nesting nearby.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Tyrannidae |
| Genus | Myiarchus |
| Species | M. agree |
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5. Loggerhead Kingbird
The Loggerhead Kingbird is a beautiful species of bird found in the West Indies, Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Cuba, and Hispaniola. It prefers to inhabit subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and montane forest habitats.
The kingbird has striking plumage with greyish-blue upperparts and bright yellow underparts. Its long tail feathers are darkly tipped, which helps it stand out from other birds in its range.
This species feeds on insects such as beetles, grasshoppers, and dragonflies that can be caught midair during their aerial forays.
Nesting season begins between February and May, where they typically build their nests near riverside trees or shrubs and lay two eggs at once before incubating them for about 13 days till hatching occurs.
Although not yet threatened by extinction, this shy creature should still be appreciated by all nature lovers who are lucky enough to observe one.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Tyrannidae |
| Genus | Tyrannus |
| Species | T. caudifasciatus |
6. Bananaquit
The Bananaquit, scientifically known as Coereba flaveola, is a small passerine bird belonging to the tanager family Thraupidae.
It was previously classified in its monotypic family or with other species, such as buntings and New World sparrows (Emberizidae) or warblers (Parulidae).
This beautiful little bird has a yellow-green upper body, pale grey head, and chestnut brown wings.
Its tail feathers are blackish, while its belly is white with some faint streaks of olive green coloration.
The Bananaquit can be found across Central America and the Caribbean islands, where it feeds on fruits like bananas, from which it gets its name.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Thraupidae |
| Genus | Coereba Vieillot, 1809 |
| Species | C. flaveola |
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7. Caribbean Elaenia
The Caribbean elaenia is a small bird species found in the West Indies and parts of Central America.
It is part of the Tyrannidae family and inhabits tropical dry broadleaf forests, subtropical or moist lowland forests, and heavily degraded former forest areas.
In 1760, French zoologist Mathurin Jacques Brisson provided an extensive description of this species, which has helped us gain further knowledge about it today.
The Caribbean elaenia typically measures 6-9 inches long with predominantly olive green feathers and yellowish edges to some wings and tails.
They have white throats but lack distinctive markings on their chest, unlike many other birds from its family.
This bird feeds primarily on insects such as grasshoppers collected from trees or bushes while consuming fruit when available during certain times of the year.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Tyrannidae |
| Genus | Elaenia |
| Species | E. martinica |
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8. Vitelline Warbler
The Vitelline warbler is part of the prominent New World warbler genus Setophaga. It has three distinct subspecies that differ in underpart coloration and head patterning.
This species can be found in the Cayman Islands and Swan Islands, Honduras. Its song consists of a series of high-pitched notes, making it one of the most melodious birds.
The male’s plumage features yellowish-green upperparts while its throat and breast are gray with white streaks. With its vibrant colors, this bird stands out among other avian species in the region.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Parulidae |
| Genus | Setophaga |
| Species | S. telling |
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9. Yucatan Vireo
The Yucatan vireo is a species of bird belonging to the family Vireonidae. It has an overall dull plumage and measures 14.5–15.5 cm (5.7–6.1 in).
Its bill is stout, hooked, and grayish with a paler base, while its crown is dull gray with white eyebrows above its brown eyes adorned by broad dark stripes running through them.
The upper parts are olive-gray, whereas the throat and breast show a yellowish wash that gradually fades towards the belly, appearing pale grey or whitish, and undertail coverts are tinged grey on the edges.
This species tends to inhabit moist forested areas and scrubland, making short flights between perches, though they also occasionally join flocks during migration season.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Vireonidae |
| Genus | Vireo |
| Species | V. magister |
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10. Grand Cayman Thrush
The Grand Cayman thrush was an extinct species of bird that once inhabited the Caribbean island of Grand Cayman.
Its body had a predominantly ashy grey coloration, with white underparts and feathers on its undertail coverts and tips of tail feathers.
It also featured red skin around its bill, feet, and eyes. This flightless bird measured 13.5 cm in length from wingtip to wingtip, making it one of the smallest members of the thrush family (Turdidae).
Deforestation drove The population to extinction, which destroyed much of their habitat. This is why they are no longer found today on any other island or region in the world apart from Grand Cayman itself.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Turdidae |
| Genus | Turdus |
| Species | †T. ramidus |
Conclusion
The avian diversity of Grand Cayman offers a captivating glimpse into the natural wonders of this Caribbean paradise.
Each species contributes to the island’s rich ecosystem and visual splendor, from the vibrant plumage of the Caribbean parrot to the graceful flight of the white-tailed tropicbird.
Exploring the island’s lush landscapes and coastal habitats provides ample opportunities for birdwatching enthusiasts and nature lovers to admire these magnificent creatures in their native environment.
As stewards of this delicate ecosystem, we must cherish and protect these beautiful birds, ensuring their continued presence for generations to come.