Birding Aruba

Rare to uncommon vagrant to Aruba, perhaps becoming regular?

Distant whistling-ducks with a couple of White-cheeked Pintails and 3 Greater Yellowlegs (far left).

Common island-wide in landlocked bodies of water.

With Caribbean Coots.

With a preening Killdeer.

Adult and chick

Frigatebirds have the longest wingspan proportional to their body weight of all bird species in the world. Magnificent Frigatebirds are common around Aruba.

Usually seen along the coast over the ocean, this frigatebird came in to the Salina to hunt (or drink?).

The only species of cormorant found in Aruba, they are quite common in aquatic habitats island-wide.

Neotropic Cormorants are smaller than the other North American cormorants and have relatively longer tails.

Common

Common yet stunning birds. Note large size, yellow bill, and dark legs.

Flamingoes are vagrants to Aruba.

The grayish individual is a youngster.

With Common Gallinules

Very commmon on Aruba, stilts (and Killdeers) are among the first birds to "sound the alarm" when birders show up!

Very commmon on Aruba, stilts (and Killdeers) are among the first birds to "sound the alarm" when birders show up!

Not sure why eBird flags this species as rare in June. I've seen multiple individuals in multiple places all three times I've birded in Aruba.

Fairly common along the beaches in Aruba.

Part of a large flock (41 individuals).

Part of a flock of 37 individuals.

Very common all over Aruba. Bare-eyed Pigeons are easily recognized in flight by large size (for a Columbid) and the large white wing patch.

Contemplating ignoring the sign...

Sharing an afternoon snack with an Eared Dove.

Seemingly omnipresent island-wide in Aruba, these cute doves with black ear markings are larger than Common Ground Doves and smaller than Bare-eyed Pigeons.

Enjoying breakfast!

These dainty doves are common island-wide.

While not too shy, they do scurry away when approached too closely.

Very long tails and thick bills distinguish these from grackles. Groove-billed Anis are uncommon breeders on Aruba.

Uncommon resident breeder on Aruba, Burrowing Owls spend much of the heat of the day in the shade of vegetation near their burrows. This subspecies is endemic to Aruba.

Blurry photo of an individual that suddenly flew over my head.

Fairly common on Aruba

Uncommon but island-wide on Aruba, Caracaras are in the falcon family and feed mostly on carrion, insects, and small animals.

They may be found singly or in small groups.

Caracaras soar on flat wings with "fingertips" flipped up.

Two caracaras perched in a tree near Bubali.

While this species is widespread in the Caribbean and northern South America, this subspecies of Brown-throated Parakeet is endemic to the island of Aruba.

Uncommon breeding resident in the more heavily vegetated habitats on Aruba.

Common island-wide, Tropical Mockingbirds are reminiscent of Northern Mockingbirds but are a bit dingier and have less white in the wings and tail.

Some species of birds walk while others only hop. Mockingbirds walk (and run)!

Note the flank streaks.

Note the distribution of white in the wings and tails of these feisty individuals.

Sharing a fence with a Troupial.

Bananaquits are colorful, high-energy birds found all over Aruba. It seems one is rarely out of earshot of their buzzy vocalizations.

Nectaring in the flowers of what the locals called a Karawara tree.

Bananaquit nests are covered nest with side-entrances. This angle was shot from below the nest, which was constructed less than 2 meters off the ground.

Arrow points to the Bananaquit nest.

The resort staff call them "yellowbelly sugarbirds"!

These tiny songbirds with very stout bills are common islandwide.

Common on Aruba, adult Carib Grackles have bright yellow eyes.

Females are a bit smaller and browner than males.

Adult males are glossy purple-black with long keeled tails.

How do you take your coffee? Cream? Sugar? Grackle?

Shiny Cowbirds, common on Aruba, can be distinguished from Carib Grackles in that the cowbirds have dark eyes, are smaller overall with shorter, non-keeled tails, and have relatively shorter/stouter bills. In this photo, the 2 birds on the right are Shiny Cowbirds and the two on the left are Carib Grackles.

Colorful and common island-wide, Troupials are always a delight to see and hear.

Acrobatic!

Troupials are equally at home in the lush vegetation around the resorts as on the cacti in the native arid habitats on the island.

A common sight across the island!

Much more shy than its local cousin the Troupial, Yellow Orioles are smaller, more yellow, and found in more pristine native habitats on Aruba.

Pendular nests are built at the ends of branches and often occur in 3's.

Common in developed habitats island-wide, House Sparrows are native to Europe.