Zapata Swamp (Parque Nacional Cienaga de Zapata) (BT)
Your Guide to Finding Birds in the Zapata Peninsula
Cuba is the best place for birding in the Caribbean. It has more species than any other Caribbean island. In addition, the Zapata Peninsula is probably the best location to find the most endemic birds within Cuba.
The town of Playa Larga will be your base for touring the area. Plenty of houses in Playa Larga have rooms for rent. Better than staying at a hotel. To get to Playa Larga, take the ViaZul bus from Havana, Varadero or other cities.
The Zapata Swamp is located on the south shore of Cuba, near Playa Larga on the Bay of Pigs. The swamp/park is the best place to find endemic birds in Cuba. Two hundred and three species have been recorded there.
The Zapata Peninsula
Most of the peninsula consists of Gran Parque Natural de Zapata (Zapata National Park). Playa Larga is the only town. In addition, there are a couple of tiny villages. It is the most uninhabited area of Cuba. The habitat is forest (bosque) and swamp (Cienega). The infamous Bay of Pigs is nearby.
Mosquitos can be a problem. Bring insect repellent, as it is not readily available in Cuba. Bring a long-sleeved shirt (even though it will be hot), light-coloured clothing and a hat. Don’t go to Zapata in the summer, as the mosquitoes will be unbearable. They are bad enough in winter.
The World’s Smallest Bird
Here is the place to find the top bird in Cuba—the diminutive Bee Hummingbird. I knew it was tiny, but when I first saw one, I thought it was an insect. It’s truly amazing.
A big thank you to Aslam Ibrahim Castellon Maure
for the photo of the Bee Hummingbird.
I have photos of this bird, but his are much better.
Muchas Gracias Aslam.
For a bird guide who knows where to find the Bee Hummingbird, click hereÂ
Birds of Zapata
The most wanted bird in Cuba is the minuscule Bee Hummingbird, the smallest bird in the world. The Zapata Peninsula and the area to the southeast, around the Bay of Pigs, are the best places to look for this bird. (For a separate post about the Bee Hummingbird, click here).
Cuba’s other hummingbird, the Cuban Emerald, is common throughout the country. The Cuban Emerald
The Gundlach’s Hawk is endemic to Cuba. It can be found all over Cuba, but is rare. Zapata is the most likely place to spot one. The Zapata Rail lives only on the Zapata Peninsula. Spotted Rails also reside here.   Like the Zapata Rail, the Zapata Wren and the Zapata Sparrow are found only in the Zapata Peninsula and nowhere else. Several species of doves can be found in Zapata, including the Grey-fronted Quail-dove, Scaly-naped Pigeon, Plain Pigeon and the Zenaida Dove. The Cuban Parrot (aka Amazon) and the Cuban Parakeet are rare and found only in a few places in Cuba. Zapata is the most likely place to see them.
Flamingos
The American Flamingo can be found in Zapata, but is easier to see on the northern cays (small islands). The cays along the north coast are probably the second-best birding area in Cuba.
Hawks
The Gundlach’sHawk is endemic to Cuba. It can be found all over Cuba, but is rare. Zapata is the most likely place to spot one. The Cuban Black Hawk can be found in Zapata but is easier to see on the northern cays.
Rails
The Zapata Rail is found only on the Zapata Peninsula. However, it is endangered, and the chances of seeing one are slim. Like all rails, they are secretive as they walk in the marshes and seldom fly. You might be close to one without knowing it. You have a better chance of finding the Spotted Rail. Although not endemic to Cuba, it is still a good find. Besides South America, it is found only in Cuba and the Dominican Republic.
Doves
Several doves can be found in Zapata, including the Gray-fronted Quail-dove, Scaly-naped Pigeon, White-crowned Pigeon, Plain Pigeon, Zenaida Dove, Key West Quail-dove,, Blue-headed Quail-dove and other more common doves.
Parrots
The Cuban Parrot (aka Amazon) and the Cuban Parakeet are rare and found only in a few places in Cuba. Zapata is the most likely place to see them. I saw a pair of Cuban Amazon there.
Owls
I saw both the Cuban Pygmy-owl (left) and the Cuban Screech Owl (aka Bare-legged Owl) (right) at Zapata, although they can also be found throughout the island. The Stygian Owl is also at Zapata, but unfortunately, I did not see one.
Woodpeckers
The Cuban Green Woodpecker is one of the most beautiful woodpeckers I have seen. It is common at Zapata as well as throughout Cuba.
Fernandina’s Flicker is present at Zapata but rare. On the other hand, the lovely West Indian Woodpecker (photo) is common in certain places (mainly Villa Guama). See link below).
Wrens
Like the Zapata Rail, the Zapata Wren is found only in the Zapata Peninsula and nowhere else. Also, like the Zapata Rail, it is endangered and rare. However, your chances of finding one are better than for the rail. The best place to look is north of the village of Santo Tomas (the only village within the park).
Western Spindalis
I saw the lovely Western Spindalis between Playa Larga and Playa Giron. I had been looking for this bird in Mexico many times without success.
Blackbirds
The Red-shouldered Blackbird can be seen at Villa Guama and other places in Zapata, as well as in a few other small spots in Cuba.
Other Birds
Some other nice birds that I saw in and around the Zapata Peninsula include the Limpkin (I saw one at Villa Guama, but they can also be seen in Florida), Great Lizard Cuckoo (common, below left), Smooth-billed Ani (common), Cuban Trogon (common, above right), Cuban Tody (beautiful and common but tiny and hard to see in the forest, above left), American Kestrel White Morph (common, below right), Cuban Pewee (saw one at Villa Guama), Loggerhead Kingbird (common), Cuban Vireo (saw one), Red-legged Thrush (common), Cuban Bullfinch (saw a few of them), and other common birds.
Best Places to Look
The Zapata Peninsula is relatively large, so there are many locations to look for specific birds. Below are some locations where certain species can be found.
The forest around Playa Larga
To explore the Zapata Peninsula, you should base yourself in Playa Larga. Many species, including the Bee Hummingbird and several owl species, can be found in the nearby forest. I saw the Cuban Pygmy-owl and the Cuban Screech Owl (aka Bare-legged Owl) at Zapata, although they can also be found throughout the island. I did not see one, but the Stygian Owl is also at Zapata. You will need a guide with a vehicle. White-eyed Vireo, Cuban Flicker, Fernandina’s Flicker, and White-crowned Pigeon are also present. The Cuban Green Woodpecker is the most beautiful woodpecker I have ever seen. It is common at Zapata as well as throughout Cuba. The Red-legged Thrush is also present.
A few others include Western Spindalis, Great Lizard Cuckoo, Smooth-billed Ani, Cuban Trogon, Cuban Tody, Cuban Pewee, Loggerhead Kingbird, Cuban Vireo, Cuban Bullfinch and too many others to list.
Bermejas Forest Reserva
Ask at the park visitor’s centre outside Playa Larga about access and tours to here and La Turba. You must get further into the swamp, away from Playa Larga and the highway, to find the less common species. At Bermejas Forest Reserve, you might see the Blue-headed Quail-dove, Key West Quail-dove, Cuban Parakeet, Cuban Tody, Cuban Pygmy-Owl, Bee Hummingbird and Fernandina’s Flicker.
La Turba
Look here for the Red-shouldered Blackbird and the rare Zapata Wren and Zapata Sparrow.
Guides
Guides can be found in the town of Playa Larga. Just ask around. One of them is listed on my guides page on this website. Use these guides to search the area between Playa Larga and Playa Giron. If you want to enter the National Park, you can find their guides at the park office in Playa Larga on the main highway through town. The guides are inexpensive (about $15 for a half-day) but do not include vehicle use. You will need to provide a car or pay extra for the guide to rent one. The car will cost more than the guide, but you can split this expense if a few people are going.
For Guides outside of the park, see the guides page.
Guide Books
The book I used for my Birding Zapata trip is “Birds of Cuba” by Garrido and Kirkconnell. An excellent book for all of Cuba. Click here.
Other Places in Cuba
While in Cuba, you should spend a couple of days in Havana. The city is like a living museum with its old buildings and cars. There is plenty of information on this website about planning your trip to Cuba. Click on “Cuba” in the categories box on the right. Also, here are some birding links.
Cuba Accommodations other than resorts
Other Info
There are a lot of birds, but even more mosquitoes. Bring repellent and be prepared to get eaten.
Seeing the Bee Hummingbird is worth the trip. Travelling to Cuba is like travelling back in time to the 1950s. Be sure to spend at least a few days in Havana, soaking up the culture and the traffic jams of old cars.
Accommodation is available in the town of Playa Larga. Ask around for someone who has a room to rent.
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Cayo Coco
After the Zapata Peninsula, Cayo Coco is Cuba’s next best birding area. And it is not a mosquito-infested swamp. It is a lovely tropical island just off the north coast of central Cuba. Although it is an island, it is connected to the mainland with a bridge, so there is no need for boats or ferries.
At Cayo Paredon Grande on Cayo Coco, you might find a Bahama Mockingbird, Thick-billed Vireo, Cuban Gnatcatcher, Oriente Warbler, or Cuban Pewee.
At Cayo Guillermo, which is at the western tip of the island, there are Flamingos and sometimes Black-bellied Plovers. However, the plovers will not be in breeding plumage.
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Sierra de Najasa Protected Area
Third on the list of best Birding Hotspots in Cuba is the Sierra de Najasa Protected Area. It is located near the town of Camaguey, inland from Cayo Coco. There are two distinct habits in this protected area: one around the park’s edge and the other in the forest.
Edge of Park
Around the edge of the park forest, look for Palm Crow, Giant Kingbird, Cuban Parakeet, Cuban Parrot, Plain Pigeon and Cuban Grassquit.
In the Forest
In the protected area itself, look for Gundlach’s Hawk. This bird is classified as endangered and is endemic to Cuba. Other birds to look for include Cuban Tody, Tawny-shouldered Blackbird, Giant Kingbird and Cuban Blackbird as well as many species of North American warblers that spend the winter here.
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