superlatives: the tallest mountains -- higher than any in the eastern United States, mountains so tall they serve as beacons for migratory birds.

student in biology at Jamaica's University of West Indies, knows well the twists, turns, and steep climbs of a 12-mile trail that cuts through the forests of "Cockpit Country," the largest wild area on the island. According to the Gosse Bird Club, the area shelters plant and animal species found no where else on the island.

birds, with approximately 25 of these native to the island. Many of the birds in Jamaica are closely linked to the various species in Central America. The best time for bird watching in Jamaica is early morning or late afternoon though there are quite a few known birding spots in Jamaica. See another site on Birdwatching in Jamaica.

birders (the rest can probably live without it). Doves, finches, and other feathered creatures eat right off your hands. See also this site.

information about the Mangrove Swamps of the Black River, St Elizabeth, and the Fonthill Wildlife Sanctuary.

By George Dremeaux. We chose the Caribbean for our family summer vacation this year essentially for these reasons: a healthy assortment of new birds, some good snorkeling, a change in culture and enough points of interest to keep the four of us happy. See also the Annotated Bird List.

Mountain Witch and Wild Pine Sergeant" - Jamaica is blessed with more endemics than any other Caribbean nation, from 26 to 29 depending on whose taxonomy you follow, and in our quest to see all the West Indian birds it was our natural next stop after Puerto Rico in 1994. Armed with books, maps, bird tapes, trip reports and a copy of Craig's Travelin' Jimmy Buffett tape, along with a few changes of clothes and our bins, we were ready! See also Part 2.

Kit Hansen. Being an island, Jamaica has fewer species than an equal area on the mainland, but there is much of interest, and it has more endemic species than Hispaniola or Cuba, which are 7 and 10 times the size. 

from Blake Maybank's "Birding the Americas - Trip Report and Trip Planning Repository". 

Girdley's BirdTours website by following the Caribbean/Jamaica link from the main page.

nature's unspoiled Southcoast wonderland by taking the trip of a lifetime on a tranquil jungle river! You will be fascinated by the sight of several of the 100 species of exotic birds which have been identified in these unspoiled wetlands.

birding  trips to the West Indies resides in the endemic species( 28 in Jamaica !), but we sure will not overlook, the other Caribbean endemics and near endemics species. Jamaica supports around 265 species. This mountainous island is surrounded by beautiful beaches and cliffs. The interior of the country, with its rugged landscape once most entirely forested is now covered with plantations and remnant wet limestone and montane rainforest. With a passion for birds and the experience acquired through exploring these regions for the past 15 years, Amazilia Tours offers you a trilingual guiding experience during your birding trip to the Neotropics. Good field knowledge is essential to maximize the number of observed bird species during the bird tour that you have chosen.

offered by Neotropical Journeys are designed to visit destinations with rich avifaunas, outstanding wildlife, wilderness and cultural significance at their seasonal best. Neotropical Journeys is actively involved in regional and local conservation projects and organizes tours aimed to raise funds for bird and nature conservation. 

**..Birding Cuba and Jamaica - with Birdfinders Holidays. February 26 -

March 14, 2003. Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean and while it cannot claim to possess the most endemics (Jamaica is the richest in this respect), it certainly attracts the most controversy and interest. For birders it is the haunt of such little-known species as Zapata Rail and the perhaps-extinct Ivory-billed Woodpecker. While this tour will certainly not encompass a visit to the area where the latter was last seen (which requires a mini-expedition to reach), chances of seeing the former are very real (though, like any rail, never guaranteed). All of the other currently recognised 20+ endemics should be readily seen within the course of our itinerary. Prior to this we take a short journey through Jamaica where a new suite of endemics, most of them easily located, are on offer.

an enchanting new experience with 29 endemic bird species - more than any other island of comparable size in the world. On previous trips we have almost always seen all 29, plus most of the more than 17 Jamaican subspecies, and many other Caribbean endemics! In addition to fantastic birds, butterflies, lizards, plants and other wildlife, there is spectacular scenery: dark green, rain-forest-clad mountains swooping down to sparkling, aqua-blue ocean waters lined with dense mangroves and wetlands. 
• Jamaica - March 24 - March 30, 2003 (7.0 days - Limit 14) with leader Robert Sutton
VENT offers nearly 140 tours to over 100 land-based destinations each year and is the largest tour company in the world specializing in birding and natural history.

experience awaits visitors to this secluded 18 acre Tropical Nature Reserve Resort/Sanctuary surrounded by thousands of acres of undeveloped coastal paradise to explore! Far from the hustle and crowds of tourists, Sonrise is one of Jamaica's first true Eco-Tourism developments on one of the last unspoiled untouched stretches of Jamaica's north coast.