Bahamas
The Bahamas is an archipelago of more than 700 islands and cays spread across the western Atlantic, built largely from low-lying limestone and surrounded by exceptionally shallow seas. Most islands are flat, with pine woodland, scrub, wetlands, mangroves and extensive beaches rather than mountains. Andros is the largest island and contains broad wetlands, forests and the country's famous blue holes, while the Abacos combine pine forests, cays and sheltered coastal waters. Farther south, Great Inagua is characterised by salt ponds, mangroves and dry scrub, with much of the island protected as national park. The tropical maritime climate is moderated by the surrounding ocean, with a wetter summer season and a generally drier winter. The scattered geography is perhaps the country's defining feature, creating strong differences between individual islands and making conservation particularly important.
Overview
The Bahamas is particularly interesting for Caribbean endemics, island subspecies and wintering North American migrants. Great Inagua is the standout destination: Inagua National Park supports the world's largest breeding colony of West Indian Flamingos, with more than 80,000 birds reported, alongside Bahama Parrot, Bahama Pintail and Inagua Woodstar. The Abacos are important for the distinctive Bahama Parrot, which nests unusually in limestone cavities and pine forest, while Andros offers extensive wetlands and forest habitat. Inagua is relatively remote but has an airport, accommodation and specialist local guides; Little Inagua is accessible only by boat. For birders, the Bahamas is less about huge species numbers than finding island specialties, flamingo concentrations and Caribbean birds in an accessible island setting.
Top 10 target species
| Species | Annual frequency | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos | 48.7% | 39.4% | 45.3% | 44.4% | 52.2% | 53.5% | 56.4% | 48.4% | 48.2% | 55.4% | 53.0% | 45.3% | 42.6% |
| White-crowned Pigeon Patagioenas leucocephala | 35.6% | 21.2% | 24.7% | 24.3% | 31.7% | 42.8% | 53.5% | 51.2% | 49.9% | 45.0% | 30.8% | 27.3% | 24.8% |
| Common Ground Dove Columbina passerina | 35.4% | 26.9% | 31.0% | 31.6% | 36.2% | 38.8% | 41.0% | 38.6% | 43.6% | 41.5% | 33.7% | 32.1% | 29.7% |
| Eurasian Collared-Dove Streptopelia decaocto | 32.3% | 25.7% | 29.8% | 26.9% | 33.7% | 34.1% | 35.1% | 32.2% | 40.8% | 41.2% | 31.0% | 27.5% | 29.3% |
| Laughing Gull Leucophaeus atricilla | 31.0% | 11.8% | 11.6% | 16.8% | 38.5% | 49.2% | 54.7% | 54.3% | 59.1% | 35.2% | 13.4% | 12.7% | 14.8% |
| Gray Kingbird Tyrannus dominicensis | 25.6% | 0.6% | 1.1% | 1.4% | 14.4% | 48.3% | 55.3% | 54.5% | 58.5% | 48.5% | 19.2% | 3.9% | 1.2% |
| Smooth-billed Ani Crotophaga ani | 23.8% | 21.3% | 22.0% | 21.4% | 22.2% | 22.3% | 24.7% | 19.0% | 27.8% | 28.1% | 26.6% | 24.2% | 25.7% |
| Palm Warbler Setophaga palmarum | 23.3% | 42.3% | 40.6% | 34.8% | 13.4% | 2.9% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 2.7% | 41.9% | 53.0% | 48.3% |
| American Kestrel Falco sparverius | 21.5% | 22.5% | 21.9% | 19.7% | 18.3% | 20.7% | 21.7% | 18.5% | 20.6% | 21.7% | 24.8% | 24.0% | 24.1% |
| Bananaquit Coereba flaveola | 21.5% | 20.7% | 23.3% | 23.8% | 20.5% | 17.8% | 20.4% | 20.3% | 21.5% | 21.0% | 23.2% | 23.3% | 21.7% |