Aruba
Aruba is a small, semi-arid Dutch Caribbean island off the coast of Venezuela, with a landscape quite different from the wetter islands farther north. Much of the interior consists of dry scrub, thorny vegetation and cactus-covered hills, while the coastline ranges from sandy beaches to rugged limestone and rocky shores. Arikok National Park protects almost a fifth of the island and contains its most extensive natural landscapes, including hills, dry woodland, caves and coastal habitats. Freshwater is scarce and there are no permanent rivers, giving Aruba a distinctly dry character. Its location outside the main hurricane belt contributes to a relatively stable climate, while the island's strong tourism infrastructure makes it one of the easiest Caribbean destinations to explore independently.
Overview
Aruba is most interesting for dry Caribbean birds, migrants and a handful of distinctive island forms. The signature species is the Aruban Burrowing Owl (“Shoco”), an endemic subspecies and national symbol that can be found particularly around Arikok National Park and suitable open areas. The colourful Brown-throated Parakeet is another characteristic species. Bubali Bird Sanctuary, close to Palm Beach, is the island's most convenient birding site, with more than 80 species recorded there, including herons, egrets, ducks, coots and other wetland birds. Migrants add interest during passage and winter. Aruba is particularly convenient for casual or independent birding: Bubali is within walking distance of the main resort area, while a rental car gives access to Arikok and other dry-country habitats.
Top 10 target species
| Species | Annual frequency | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bare-eyed Pigeon Patagioenas corensis | 60.7% | 57.8% | 59.8% | 58.9% | 58.1% | 62.1% | 68.8% | 66.9% | 63.0% | 62.8% | 59.0% | 53.5% | 57.1% |
| Tropical Mockingbird Mimus gilvus | 56.8% | 55.1% | 52.7% | 54.7% | 57.0% | 53.6% | 57.7% | 56.9% | 59.2% | 61.4% | 59.8% | 60.2% | 53.6% |
| Bananaquit Coereba flaveola | 54.7% | 55.5% | 54.5% | 55.0% | 55.2% | 51.7% | 53.8% | 56.3% | 54.1% | 56.7% | 56.2% | 55.0% | 52.9% |
| Carib Grackle Quiscalus lugubris | 51.6% | 51.5% | 51.4% | 51.1% | 44.5% | 50.5% | 57.7% | 59.3% | 59.4% | 57.7% | 47.0% | 41.4% | 48.3% |
| Eared Dove Zenaida auriculata | 51.6% | 46.5% | 46.4% | 47.0% | 40.9% | 51.8% | 58.8% | 60.1% | 60.2% | 58.5% | 55.2% | 46.8% | 46.8% |
| Black-faced Grassquit Melanospiza bicolor | 44.0% | 36.2% | 34.1% | 34.0% | 46.4% | 42.3% | 43.6% | 46.5% | 48.4% | 51.1% | 57.8% | 50.7% | 36.5% |
| Common Ground Dove Columbina passerina | 43.9% | 42.1% | 38.4% | 39.0% | 39.6% | 42.7% | 47.7% | 47.3% | 52.0% | 51.6% | 47.5% | 42.7% | 35.8% |
| Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis | 42.6% | 44.8% | 43.2% | 44.2% | 36.7% | 46.0% | 46.4% | 42.1% | 45.3% | 42.7% | 37.8% | 38.2% | 44.0% |
| House Sparrow Passer domesticus | 40.8% | 41.4% | 42.6% | 40.9% | 38.8% | 43.2% | 48.6% | 45.8% | 38.1% | 41.8% | 37.7% | 31.5% | 39.2% |
| Venezuelan Troupial Icterus icterus | 40.6% | 37.5% | 38.6% | 37.4% | 40.7% | 37.4% | 41.7% | 42.8% | 46.7% | 46.7% | 45.3% | 36.3% | 36.5% |