Caribbean Netherlands
The Caribbean Netherlands comprises Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba, three very different islands in the Caribbean that are special municipalities of the Netherlands. Bonaire is the largest and most arid, characterised by cactus scrub, salt pans, mangroves and low hills. Sint Eustatius is volcanic, with the dormant Mount Scenery dominating its landscape, while tiny Saba is steep and mountainous, rising dramatically from the sea. The islands differ strongly in climate and vegetation, reflecting their positions within the Caribbean and their contrasting geology. Bonaire has extensive dry landscapes and coastal wetlands, whereas Saba and Sint Eustatius are greener and more rugged. Their Dutch administration provides relatively good infrastructure and conservation management, although the smaller islands have limited accommodation and transport.
Overview
The three islands offer quite different birding. Bonaire is the strongest for wetlands and dry-country birds, with Caribbean Flamingos breeding around Pekelmeer and Gotomeer and the endangered Yellow-shouldered Amazon (Lora) in Washington Slagbaai National Park. Saba is particularly good for seabirds, with Red-billed and White-tailed Tropicbirds, Brown Booby and Bridled Tern among its highlights; its steep terrain makes hiking an integral part of birding. Sint Eustatius adds forest, scrub and coastal habitats. Bonaire is the easiest of the three for independent birding, with roads reaching major sites, while Saba's tiny size and steep terrain mean that walking and hiking are unavoidable. The islands work well as a specialist Caribbean add-on rather than as a destination for maximum species diversity.
Top 10 target species
| Species | Annual frequency | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bananaquit Coereba flaveola | 54.6% | 43.1% | 42.6% | 57.3% | 60.7% | 61.5% | 61.5% | 47.3% | 56.8% | 59.7% | 48.6% | 64.4% | 52.0% |
| Tropical Mockingbird Mimus gilvus | 53.4% | 45.5% | 46.4% | 50.1% | 40.7% | 64.7% | 61.2% | 52.2% | 67.7% | 72.7% | 41.8% | 43.3% | 54.3% |
| Brown-throated Parakeet Eupsittula pertinax | 37.6% | 32.5% | 29.8% | 36.4% | 32.3% | 45.2% | 40.3% | 38.6% | 46.2% | 46.6% | 32.1% | 32.2% | 38.8% |
| Bare-eyed Pigeon Patagioenas corensis | 34.3% | 26.9% | 29.1% | 29.3% | 25.7% | 44.4% | 43.5% | 34.5% | 43.7% | 49.2% | 21.9% | 27.2% | 35.7% |
| American Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber | 34.0% | 39.1% | 36.0% | 29.7% | 29.2% | 35.4% | 28.4% | 38.3% | 39.0% | 43.0% | 30.6% | 27.2% | 31.8% |
| Venezuelan Troupial Icterus icterus | 33.2% | 28.1% | 27.4% | 33.0% | 25.0% | 40.4% | 37.6% | 34.4% | 40.9% | 42.3% | 28.7% | 27.7% | 33.3% |
| Common Ground Dove Columbina passerina | 31.5% | 23.6% | 22.4% | 27.1% | 24.7% | 42.3% | 36.4% | 29.8% | 43.1% | 50.2% | 29.1% | 25.5% | 24.5% |
| Black-faced Grassquit Melanospiza bicolor | 28.8% | 18.5% | 16.5% | 27.9% | 26.7% | 33.3% | 28.8% | 24.9% | 33.4% | 42.9% | 34.4% | 33.6% | 24.7% |
| Pearly-eyed Thrasher Margarops fuscatus | 28.6% | 19.1% | 17.3% | 30.1% | 35.9% | 32.2% | 36.2% | 28.6% | 29.0% | 25.0% | 24.6% | 41.7% | 23.2% |
| Laughing Gull Leucophaeus atricilla | 26.2% | 1.5% | 4.5% | 20.7% | 28.5% | 50.6% | 51.2% | 51.6% | 55.6% | 42.2% | 5.2% | 1.6% | 1.4% |