St Vincent and the Grenadines is blessed with an abundance of bird species. There is nothing quite like seeing parrots in full flight, and when they are as unique as the Amazona guildingii, you simply cannot beat it.
Also known as the St Vincent parrot, this endemic species is the national bird of SVG and can be seen at the Botanical Gardens on the outskirts of Kingstown. However, for those who like to observe birds in the wild, it is best to venture into the island’s lush forests. There are an estimated 500 parrots living in the interior of St. Vincent, and one of the very best places to see them is at the Vermont Nature Trail, with dusk and dawn the prime times to spot them. As you near the parrot lookout on the far side of the trail, listen for their calls before catching sight of them flying across the forest canopy in front of you.
Another endemic bird you may hear in the forest setting is the whistling warbler (Catharopeza bishopi), a small black bird that flitters around the undergrowth. Regionally endemic birds that you may encounter at the trails also include the Antillean crested hummingbird, purple-throated carib, lesser Antillean tanager, brown trembler, and the rufous-throated solitaire.
Along the nation’s coasts, ponds, mangroves, and hovering high above the inshore waters of the Grenadines, look out for the magnificent frigatebird, white-tailed tropicbird, terns, egrets, herons, and the occasional glossy ibis. Over 170 species of resident and migratory birds have been recorded in SVG, making the islands an interesting and beautiful destination for professional ornithologists and amateur birders.
