Bajan Birds

After being in Barbados for a week I've noticed that, while there are lots of birds around, there aren't the usual variety of tropical species to be found here. Apparently, this is a result of Barbados being a relatively flat island that for centuries was devoted to one crop - sugar cane. Without their required habitat most of the indigenous species went extinct.

Here are some of the common birds that are plentiful on the island today:

The Carib grackle lives in large flocks and has a variety of calls and rather clownish behaviour.

The Barbados bullfinch are as common as house sparrows up north and probably fill the same niche. They are the only endemic species on the island now.

















The beautiful zenaida dove is also common in towns and in the countryside. Its call is reminiscent of the mourning dove.

The bananaquit is a nectar feeder with a thin wispy call. Locals call him the yellow bird.

The scaly-naped pigeon is quite large and timid. I've been told he's not welcome as his poop will take the paint off your car!

The gray kingbird is the common flycatcher on the island. He seems very similar to the kingbirds we see in Ontario.

High over the ocean I spotted a frigate bird, the pirate who steals food from other birds by harassing them.







There are a few other birds still to be photographed here: hummingbirds, egrets and herons. I'll add them to this post as I find them.