Getting close to the Cuban Wildlife

The Caribbean is a very popular destination for wildlife enthusiasts and observers who visit these islands to get close to the rich fauna that it offers to the visitors. Cuba is no exception with its rich fauna having numerous forms of animal and bird species. It is important for the visitors to get an idea of the kind of fauna that they are looking for while travelling across this country. Cuba has two of the rarest species in the world such as the small penny sized frog and the world’s smallest humming bird.

Bird watching is a big attraction that draws tourists from all over the world to this country. The avian life in this country is extremely colorful. Some of the important avian species to look out for while visiting Cuba include Bee Hummingbird, Cuban Trogan, Cuban Finch, Cuban Kite, and Cuban Parkeet. There are numerous other birds in Cuba that makes the whole bird watching experience special to the visitors to this beautiful country.

The Cuban Finch is a very small bird measuring just 3 and half inches in length. This bird is extremely active and full of energy with a beautiful yellow colored head. This bird creates its nests in shrubs and the male birds fluff up their yellow colored heads to attract females of this species. The Bee hummingbird, which is endemic to this country, is the world’s smallest bird. It is very small and has a maximum body length of 2.25 inches. This bird is a rare species and is found in places like gardens, forests, and valleys.

The Cuban Trogan is also the national bird of Cuba. The bird mostly feeds on fruits and insects. The bird has similar color combination as the national flag of Cuba with green head and wing portion including a bright red colored belly below a white colored chest. The Cuban Parkeet is now an endangered species due to its poaching and habitat destruction by the local people. The bird is usually found in places such as grasslands filled with palms or undisturbed forests. It is bright green colored with red spots and a white band of flesh surrounding the eyes. The Cuban Kite also belongs to the endangered species list due to loss of its habitat. Get to watch this bird in Cuba is a rarity now days. Found in the eastern part of the country, this rare bird eats snails.

Cuba is not only famous for its avian species but offers exclusive access to numerous animal species as well. Some of the famous animal species include the Cuban Boa, the Cuban Tree frog, the Cuban Solenodon, and the Cuban Hutia. The Cuban Boa, also known as the Cuban tree boa is mainly found on trees in rocky surroundings or woodlands. The Cuban Hutia is around 60 centimeters in length and one of the largest endemic animals of Cuba. Mostly found in rocky areas and forests, this animal feeds on a combination of small reptiles, fruits, leaves, and small mammals.

The Cuban Solenodon was once thought of as an extinct animal but due to its sightings has now been put under the list of endangered animals of Cuba. This insectivore animal is nocturnal in nature. It is difficult to spot it during daytime as it hides under the tress and rocks found in lush vegetation areas. The Cuban tree frog has its home in the trees. It is active during the night and is of carnivorous nature. This frog species feeds on any kind of small insects it catches. The tree frog is found in all parts of the country and is popular for scientific studies as well.

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