Despite the fact that Curaçao is a semi-arid island with a very limited amount of rainwater each year and hardly any natural fresh water ponds, there are several duck species which can be found on the island and even 2 duck species that actually breed here. … More Where to bird in Curaçao (9) – White-cheeked pintails
On June 24th Curaçao had another first in bird spotting as visiting birder and bird expert Peter-Paul Schets discovered a Pied Lapwing at one of the birding hotspots on Curaçao. Quickly afterwards local birder Rob Wellens went to… … More NEW RECORD: Pied Lapwing
Curaçao has four (4) native resident species of birds of prey, the White-tailed hawk, the American kestrel, the Barn owl and the Crested Caracara, and one (1) relatively new natural introduction, the Black vulture. … More Where to bird in Curaçao (3) – Crested Caracara
The Greater ani is the latest rare bird to be spotted on the island so far, thanks to a very wet rainiy season. … More Rare bird alert: Greater Ani
Download the article in Dutch here: Most bird species on Curaçao are very pragmatic with regard to their breeding period. If it rains and there is enough food, birds will breed. Or in some cases such as the Crested Caracara, when it gets drier and there is more bait and carrion they will breed. However, … More Warning: Breeding season for coastal and seabirds is upon us again
Rare bird species and even the first sighting of certain species on the island Curacao are an almost yearly occurrence. However, some observations are downward strange. Last week (week of March 7) visitors to the uninhabited island of Klein Curacao, which lies off the east point of the main island Curacao, found a duck that … More MYSTERIOUS SIGHTING: Pacific Black Duck
A juvenile scarlet ibis For four months now, between the mangroves opposite the new hospital in Otrobanda, in what should one day become an accessible mangrove park, a very young Scarlet ibis, has been roaming for food and sleeping. It is unclear how the animal ended up here on the island on its own, and … More RARE BIRD ALERT: Juvenile Scarlet Ibis
February is the month to watch once again for rare and unexpected birds visiting the island of Curacao. After the Cocoi Heron on the 16th of February, the elusive Whistling Heron was seen once again on the island on February 17th followed by the new record of a Double-striped Thick-knee. February 23rd was the day … More RARE BIRD ALERT: Double-striped Thick-knee
February 16 – Klein Curacao The island of Klein Curacao, a small island of the east coast of the main island, has been a recurring source of joy for birdwatchers in the last couple of years, after starting to really monitor the variety and diversity of birds present here. It is now protected as a … More NEW RECORD: Cocoi Heron
Yellow Orioles are native breeding birds for the island of Curaçao but are much rarer than the conspicuous orange-collared troupial. These bright yellow birds have a black bib and mask as well as black wings with white markings. In Papiamentu they are called Trupial kachó which translates to ‘barking troupial’, a name which points to … More AD article: Breeding behavior of Yellow orioles
Identifying herons and egrets can be tricky, especially when you are looking at a full white specimen. It can be an individual of a species that is white, of a species that is white when in the juvenile stadium, or a species that normally has a different color, but also produces so-called ‘white morphs’. Confusing … More How to identify a Great Egret?
If you visit the coastline of the island regularly chances are great that you have encountered this bird along the rocky coast. And if not you might have encountered the effects of its strong bill on the surrounding snail shells. American oystercatchers can be found throughout the year and will also breed on the island. … More American oystercatcher
Short stocky legs, a very long think bill with a very sensitive tip, large eyes, and a rounded stocky body as well. Wilson’s Snipes are one of those birds you will instantly recognize when you encounter them. And that part is what is difficult, encountering them. Cause even with all their beautiful patterns and rufous … More Hiding in plain sight – Wilson’s snipe
One of our bird monitoring points is located in the middle of the Brievengat district in a fairly busy area. Every time we do our research work at this location, we have interesting meetings and conversations with people from the neighborhood, who walk by or cycle and want to know what we do. The knowledge … More Bird behavior: fight for an Iguana tail
Rare bird alert: Blue Grosbeak – Blauwe Bisschop (Dutch) The Blue Grosbeak is a very rare sighting for Curacao. Until 2019, this bird was never seen here on the island. Just once on Bonaire. In November 2019, a female Blue Grosbeak was first spotted near Blue Bay. This year (2021), for the first time in … More Rare bird alert: Blue grosbeak
