Birds of Cuba

[Andygod]

I just got back from Cuba last week and I know I should have done more than sit around the pool bar, but I did find time to get a few bird pictures.  Nothing very exotic, but a few new ones for me.  I am mostly guessing on a few of these, my North America bird books seam to have left off Cuba.

Red Legged Thrush



Western Spindalis

Kingbird







Cuban Emerald



Grassquit



Dragonfly

Crow ?



.

[thouc]

Nice pictures!

I think the birds are the following:

1-2 Red-legged Thrush
3 Western Spindalis
4-5 Gray Kingbird
6-7 Northern Mockingbird
8-9 Cuban Emerald
10-11 Yellow-faced Grassquit
13-14 Cuban Blackbird

/Thomas

[Kevin H.]

great shots Where were you at I'm in Varadero October 27th for a week??

[Rotarran]

Great pics of the Red Legged Thrush!  That one eluded me all week back in July when I vacationed in Cuba.  I mean I did see it, but my pictures of it are crap.  It is such an attractive bird.

[Andygod]

Thanks for the confirmation Thomas, I wasn't sure if it was a Grey or Eastern Kingbird.  The mockingbirds are everywhere, but I thought it was cool the way they sat with their wings spread to cool down.  I wasn't sure about the Grassquit, the colours just didn't look right and I wasn't sure if there was an odd Cuban one I didn't know about.  There are lots of Blackbirds around and everybody has a different name for them, it looked very much like a Jamaican Crow, but I am not even sure that is the correct name for the birds I saw in Jamaica.

Rotarran I saw the Thrush mostly in the morning and early evening, but hard to get a good picture, I really had to turn up the exposure on that second one.  They do a great job of hiding behind branches.

Harleydog8 I was at Playa Turquesa in Holguin.  Not a lot of birds at the resort because they have a lot of feral cats around.  I really didn't get off the resort much, but there are guided birdwatching excursions.  Now I know what to expect when I go to Cuba I might do a bit more exploring next time.  I will be back there for sure.

[Kevin H.]

Thanks Andy wonder if I've run in to you before I'm in Ajax

[Grenfell]

Andygod ... Really nice shots.
 #3 is more commonly known as a Stripe-headed Tanager (Spindalis Zena)
#4&#5 I am more inclined think that these are Loggerhead Kingbirds (Tyrannus Caudifasciaus). The Loggerhead is very common throughout Cuba. Loggerheads have more white in the sides of the throat as compared to the Eastern, as well as being less black and more brownish on the wings & back
Grenfell

[thouc]

I keep my belief 4-5 are Gray Kingbirds because of the black mask with gray on top of the head (as opposed to all black for Loggerhead Kingbird). Per eBird both are common on Cuba, but the Gray Kingbird will migrate out of Cuba in the beginning of October.

/Thomas

[Rotarran]

If I may chime in with my own take on it.  My own personal opinion is that the birds in question are Grey Kingirds.  

In my observations Loggerhead Kingbirds have a somewhat more raised crown/head that's almost pointy at the back of the head.  Almost like an asymmetrical cone for the lack of a better geometrical concept lol.  Grey Kingbirds, on the other hand, have a flat crown and head.

I've attached some of my own pictures for comparison.  

Loggerhead Kingbird



Grey Kingbird



And another observation I had (though that may vary from individual to individual) was that Loggerheads have somewhat smoother waxier bills while the Greys have a duller finish to their bills.

[Grenfell]

Always interesting to discuss the features of closely resembling species. After very careful review of this question using primarily my Field Guide to the Birds of Cuba, I'm now going to agree with the consensus that this is in fact a Grey. The field guide describes each species thus  Grey Kingbird: Dark grey above with a black ear patch. Underparts mainly white with a faint yellow wash on belly & undertail coverts. Tail notched.   The Loggerhead: Dark grey tail and back contrast with black head. Underparts mainly white with a faint yellow wash on belly & undertail coverts. Tail squared. The images (from Birds of Cuba) are Grey on the Left & Loggerhead on the right. Anyways, thanks everybody.
[attachment=0:3rahzn7w]Grey-Loggerhead.jpg[/attachment:3rahzn7w]

[gary yankech]

the dragonfly is a skimmer...which one, not sure, but nice shot! Almost even looks to be maybe a meadowhawk.

[Andygod]

I guess now I will have to go back and get some better pictures to eliminate any confusion.  I don't imagine I will have any problems convincing my wife after the little bit of snow this morning.

[Andygod]

Just confirmed my return to Cuba at the end of January, now I have to figure out the best places to go looking around Holguin.  I am open for any good tips.