Saint Martin
The French part of Saint Martin occupies the northern half of the island, centred on a mix of low volcanic hills, dry scrub, coastal lagoons and mangroves. Pic Paradis is the island's highest point, while the coastline alternates between sandy beaches, rocky headlands and sheltered bays. Development is extensive around the main settlements, but the Réserve Naturelle Nationale de Saint-Martin protects about 30 km² of marine and coastal environments, including reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds and several offshore islets. The climate is relatively dry for the Lesser Antilles, with strong trade winds and a pronounced dry season. Its French administration gives the territory good infrastructure and relatively easy access for visitors, while its position between the Caribbean and the Atlantic makes its coastal habitats particularly important.
Overview
Birding on the French side is mainly about coastal habitats, seabirds and migrants rather than endemic forest species. The nature reserve protects important nesting and feeding areas around offshore islets, reefs and mangroves. Brown Pelican, Magnificent Frigatebird, Bridled Tern, Brown Noddy and Royal Tern are among the characteristic coastal birds, while herons, egrets and shorebirds occur around lagoons and salt ponds. The island's position in the northeastern Caribbean also makes North American migrants and occasional vagrants worthwhile targets during migration. The best opportunities are concentrated around protected coastal areas and wetlands, while remaining forest habitat is limited by development. Saint Martin is easy to combine with a normal Caribbean trip, with good roads and accommodation, although the most interesting offshore bird habitats require boats. For birders, the French side is best viewed as a convenient coastal and migrant birding stop, rather than an endemic-focused destination.
Top 10 target species
| Species | Annual frequency | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bananaquit Coereba flaveola | 36.5% | 41.5% | 44.5% | 44.0% | 49.8% | 39.0% | 27.9% | 31.5% | 18.0% | 22.5% | 42.1% | 43.3% | 34.3% |
| Great Egret Ardea alba | 36.1% | 45.1% | 43.0% | 42.9% | 32.3% | 31.5% | 23.6% | 22.5% | 27.0% | 28.9% | 48.5% | 47.5% | 40.1% |
| Snowy Egret Egretta thula | 35.7% | 39.4% | 37.5% | 43.2% | 33.9% | 35.9% | 27.6% | 25.6% | 24.6% | 30.6% | 52.4% | 38.2% | 39.8% |
| Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata magnificens | 35.3% | 34.3% | 30.2% | 30.8% | 33.5% | 42.5% | 37.8% | 33.6% | 40.6% | 35.6% | 35.2% | 36.7% | 32.7% |
| Eurasian Collared-Dove Streptopelia decaocto | 31.9% | 38.8% | 34.9% | 37.9% | 33.6% | 30.2% | 18.5% | 27.9% | 24.8% | 30.3% | 36.2% | 34.9% | 35.3% |
| Zenaida Dove Zenaida aurita | 30.6% | 32.6% | 35.1% | 37.1% | 37.5% | 35.4% | 28.0% | 32.6% | 20.2% | 26.1% | 22.5% | 33.2% | 26.6% |
| Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis | 29.8% | 29.8% | 36.3% | 38.0% | 27.1% | 38.6% | 28.1% | 23.8% | 23.2% | 17.7% | 31.8% | 28.8% | 34.5% |
| Gray Kingbird Tyrannus dominicensis | 28.9% | 35.3% | 36.2% | 32.2% | 36.0% | 30.4% | 22.1% | 25.5% | 15.2% | 17.3% | 28.7% | 35.6% | 32.2% |
| Black-necked Stilt Himantopus mexicanus | 28.7% | 17.3% | 23.6% | 26.4% | 28.5% | 36.3% | 27.3% | 36.1% | 30.6% | 36.6% | 35.1% | 28.8% | 18.5% |
| Royal Tern Thalasseus maximus | 28.6% | 24.5% | 22.3% | 22.0% | 24.6% | 36.9% | 32.4% | 34.3% | 37.2% | 42.7% | 21.5% | 20.6% | 24.2% |