JAmaica Endemics
BIRDING TOUR
BIRDS BY BIJS
They're Not Gonna Watch Themselves!
Jamaica: Endemic Birds and Caribbean Paradise
Jamaica is a paradise for bird watchers, offering a rich tapestry of avian diversity amid its lush landscapes. With a remarkable 29 endemic species, this Caribbean island beckons birders and nature lovers to explore its unique and varied birdlife. The vibrant plumage of the Jamaican Tody and the iridescent beauty of the Red-billed Streamertail, also known as the Doctor Bird, contribute to the island’s avian allure. The Blue Mountains provide a haven for these endemics, with their cool, mist-shrouded slopes harboring species like the elusive Jamaican Blackbird and stunning Crested Quail-Dove.
From the lowland forests to the mountainous terrains, Jamaica’s diverse ecosystems provide a captivating showcase of endemic birds, making it an enticing destination for bird watchers seeking a blend of tropical beauty and unique avian wonders. We’ll also have a chance to observe White-tailed Tropicbirds!
Let us show you the stunning birds and landscapes Jamaica serves up!
All images © BIRDS BY BIJS
Jamaica Endemics Tour Map
Jamaica Endemics Tour Map
TOUR INFO
Dates: Apr 1 – 7, 2027 (7 days)
Price: *$3,125 per person/double occupancy
Single supplement: $375
*Based on double occupancy at lodgings with a minimum group size of 4 and a max of 10.
Note if you have requested a roommate we will try to find you one, but this is not a guarantee, if none is available you will be charged the single supplement fee
TRIP OVERVIEW
Type: Bird Watching
Length: 7 days
Starting city: Kingston, Jamaica
Ending city: Kingston, Jamaica
Pace: easy to moderate
Physical difficulty: easy to moderate
Focus: Birding, Wildlife and Ecology
Max group size: 10 + 1 leader + local guide(s)
Join us for an incredible 7 day tour searching for all 29 of Jamaica’s endemic birds! From the dry forest of the Hellshire Hills, to the stunning cloud forest of the Blue Mountains to the lowland Caribbean forests and azure waters of Port Antonio, we’ll show you the best of Jamaica’s birding!
ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrival and Transfer to Kingston Hotel
Today we’ll transfer from Norman Manley Airport to our wonderful accommodations in Kingston. Main focus today is getting settled in and our tour opening dinner at 6: 30 PM.
D & ON Kingston Hotel
Day 2: Hellshire Hills, Hope Botanical Garden
Following breakfast at our hotel, we’ll explore the unique ecology of the Hellshire Hills. Amongst the limestone dry forest scrublands, we’ll look for Jamaican Mango, Bahama Mockingbird, Stolid Flycatcher, Loggerhead Kingbird, and Black-faced Grassquit. Keep your eyes peeled for leucistic Turkey Vultures, which look like King Vultures! The mangrove ponds here can also hold the stunning West-Indian Whistling Duck, not a guarantee, but we’ll keep our eyes peeled!
Our next stops will visit some local wetlands and forest where we’ll look for a variety of birds, including White-crowned Pigeon, Antillean Palm Swift, Northern Potoo, and Cave Swallow. We’ll also visit another wetland spot that can be quite productive for Masked Duck, an elusive and nocturnal diving duck, very similar to the Ruddy Duck but much rarer!
Heading back through Kingston, we’ll visit the Hope Botanical Garden to look for more endemics, including the Yellow-billed Parrot, Jamaican Woodpecker, and the recently split Red-billed Streamertail!
From here, we’ll drive for about an hour into the verdant forests of the Blue Mountains, to our home base for the next few nights!
We’ll get settled in, have dinner, and go over our checklist from the day
B Blue Mountains L On the road, D & ON Blue Mountains
Days 2 & 3: Blue Mountains
Over the next two days, we’ll explore the exquisite Blue Mountains, home to a majority of the Jamaican endemic bird species. This stunning cloud forest habitat is world-famous for its coffee and incredible birding! Our targets here include Jamaican Tody, Jamaican Euphonia, Greater Antillean Elaenia, Orangequit, Jamaican Becard, Jamaican Elaenia, Yellow-shouldered Grassquit, Arrowhead Warbler, Blue Mountain Vireo, Jamaican Vireo, White-eyed Thrush, Crested Quail-Dove, Greater Antillean Bullfinch, Jamaican Oriole, Jamaican Spindalis, Rufous-throated Solitaire, Rufous-tailed Flycatcher, Jamaican Pewee, Ring-tailed Pigeon, White-chinned Thrush, Jamaican Lizard Cuckoo and Chestnut-bellied Lizard Cuckoo.
Our hardest endemic target here is the Jamaican Blackbird, but with any luck, we will spot this furtive and quiet forest resident foraging in the bromeliads. We’ll also have chances to see the Red-billed Streamertail and Ruddy Quail-Dove! In the evening, we’ll head out to look for the Jamaican Owl!
B, L, D, ON Blue Mountains Hotel
Day 4: Port Antonio
Today we’ll have breakfast at our hotel and bird our way down to the coastal lowlands of Port Antonio. We’ll check some forest pulloffs for any birds we’re still missing, or to get better looks at others!
We’ll have a delicious lunch overlooking a stunning mountain valley, and continue down to Port Antonio. Once we reach the coast we’ll head east to Port Antonio, but not before making a few stops to check for more birds like Belted Kingfisher, Black-crowned Night Heron, Tricolored Heron, and Zenaida Dove.
We’ll arrive at our wonderful accommodations with time to refresh, have dinner, and go over our checklist for the day!
B Blue Mountains L En route D & ON Port Antonio Hotel
Day 5: Port Antonio Birding
Today we’ll head over to a nearby road that winds through a stunning forested area to look for more Jamaican Endemics and a few new birds, too! Our primary targets here include Black-billed Parrot, Jamaican Crow, and Black-billed Streamertail. Other species of interest include the nominate subspecies of the Red-tailed Hawk, Olive-throated Parakeet (Jamaican subspecies), and chances for better looks at just about any of the endemics.
Following lunch, we’ll head back out to bird the coastal forest track, looking for Green-rumped Parrotlet and Caribbean Dove.
Depending on how the activity is and what else we’re missing, we’ll check out a few other local spots.
We’ll wrap the day with dinner at our hotel and head out to look for Barn Owl and Jamaican Owl, a common occurrence near our hotel!
B, L, D & ON Port Antonio Hotel
Day 6: North Eastern Jamaica and Blue Hole
Today we’ll have an early departure with a drive east to search for an incredibly beautiful and graceful seabird, the White-tailed Tropicbird. During the early morning, these stunning pelagics often circle the rising wind currents along the coastal town of Hector’s River, and with any luck, we’ll get some looks at these elegant birds!
Afterwards, we’ll head back into the Port Antonio area to visit a local beach or maybe even check out Blue Lagoon. This captivating tropical oasis is renowned for its mesmerizing azure waters and lush surroundings. Fed by freshwater springs and the Caribbean Sea, this natural wonder offers a serene retreat, attracting visitors with its inviting beauty and incredible water.
We’ll then make our way back to our hotel for dinner and trip closing.
B: Port Antonio L: en route, D & ON: Port Antonio Hotel
Day 7: Castleton Botanical Gardens & Departures
Today is our final day of the tour, and we’ve got one more stop on our way back to Kingston.
We’ll make a brief stop at Castelton Botanical Gardens. Nestled in the scenic hills of St. Mary, Jamaica, Castleton Botanical Gardens is a horticultural haven that showcases a diverse collection of tropical plants, including rare orchids, palms, and indigenous Jamaican flora.
Here we’ll have great chances of observing the Jamaican Crow, in case we haven’t been lucky earlier on the tour.
Our last stop will be at the airport so folks can catch their flights!
B: Port Antonio Hotel L: En Route Transfer: to Airport
Tour Includes:
- All transportation throughout the tour
- World-class bird guide with spotting scope, portable speaker to play-back bird calls if necessary, and a laser pointer to help locate birds in the field
- 3 delicious meals a day and safe drinking water/juice at meals, plus safe drinking water throughout the tour
- Bird species trip report: a digital daily trip report and complete trip report to keep track of bird sightings
- Entrance and tour fees for all sites included in the itinerary
Tour Does Not Include:
- Optional tips to the tour leader or guide(s)
- Tips for luggage porters if you require their services
- International flights or airport departure tax if applicable
- Alcoholic beverages
- Travel insurance
- Additional excursions not included in the tour itinerary
- Extras in hotels such as laundry service, minibar, room service, telephone calls, and personal items
- Medical fees or other items or services not specifically mentioned as being included