Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe is a French Caribbean archipelago in the Lesser Antilles, centred on the contrasting islands of Basse-Terre and Grande-Terre. Volcanic Basse-Terre is mountainous and exceptionally wet, with dense rainforest climbing towards La Soufrière, while limestone Grande-Terre is lower, drier and dominated by farmland, dry woodland and coastal wetlands. Mangroves, coral reefs and sheltered bays around the Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin add a strong marine component. Smaller islands such as Marie-Galante, La Désirade and Les Saintes have their own dry, windswept landscapes. This compact combination of volcanic rainforest, dry limestone country and extensive coastal habitats gives Guadeloupe considerable ecological variety. As an overseas region of France, it also has relatively well-developed roads, services and protected areas compared with many smaller Caribbean islands.
Overview
Guadeloupe is particularly valuable for Lesser Antillean endemics and Caribbean forest birds. The standout species is the Guadeloupe Woodpecker, the only bird species strictly endemic to Guadeloupe and the only resident woodpecker in the Lesser Antilles. Humid forests on Basse-Terre also hold Bridled Quail-Dove, Brown Trembler, Plumbeous Warbler and Purple-throated Carib, while the Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin combines mangrove and wetland birding with coastal species and nesting terns. Guadeloupe is also an important stopover and wintering area for North American migrants, particularly shorebirds and warblers. The Route de la Traversée through Basse-Terre National Park is a particularly practical way to access rainforest habitat, while the coast and mangroves provide complementary birding. The island's French infrastructure and good road network make independent birding relatively straightforward, although some offshore colonies are protected and seasonal access restrictions apply.
Top 10 target species
| Species | Annual frequency | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bananaquit Coereba flaveola | 56.2% | 55.2% | 60.3% | 60.6% | 62.8% | 51.9% | 54.4% | 56.2% | 47.2% | 53.3% | 61.0% | 59.8% | 51.4% |
| Gray Kingbird Tyrannus dominicensis | 52.1% | 52.1% | 50.6% | 53.4% | 49.0% | 47.7% | 45.5% | 56.6% | 55.9% | 56.9% | 59.1% | 52.6% | 46.0% |
| Carib Grackle Quiscalus lugubris | 42.9% | 45.6% | 45.1% | 48.2% | 33.5% | 32.6% | 31.4% | 45.0% | 45.1% | 47.0% | 50.7% | 49.9% | 40.9% |
| Lesser Antillean Bullfinch Loxigilla noctis | 38.6% | 37.9% | 44.3% | 43.9% | 42.6% | 37.7% | 35.1% | 40.7% | 30.4% | 33.0% | 40.4% | 41.3% | 35.9% |
| Mangrove Yellow Warbler Setophaga petechia | 37.3% | 31.0% | 32.8% | 36.3% | 44.0% | 38.7% | 39.5% | 35.9% | 40.3% | 41.4% | 45.4% | 33.5% | 29.0% |
| Black-faced Grassquit Melanospiza bicolor | 37.0% | 30.8% | 32.9% | 35.4% | 32.4% | 28.7% | 26.4% | 41.5% | 46.9% | 50.4% | 52.0% | 36.7% | 29.8% |
| Zenaida Dove Zenaida aurita | 36.7% | 32.5% | 36.2% | 41.9% | 47.6% | 44.1% | 42.6% | 43.4% | 36.2% | 32.7% | 33.9% | 25.8% | 23.5% |
| Caribbean Elaenia Elaenia martinica | 35.6% | 34.3% | 34.0% | 34.2% | 44.2% | 39.0% | 40.9% | 35.4% | 39.3% | 33.2% | 31.8% | 31.1% | 29.8% |
| Eurasian Collared-Dove Streptopelia decaocto | 26.6% | 28.7% | 30.4% | 32.5% | 21.9% | 18.1% | 18.4% | 29.7% | 28.2% | 33.4% | 31.8% | 25.4% | 20.9% |
| Antillean Crested Hummingbird Orthorhyncus cristatus | 25.0% | 26.8% | 30.3% | 29.3% | 24.9% | 21.1% | 20.6% | 20.7% | 19.6% | 20.8% | 27.7% | 30.4% | 27.9% |