Tobago as an avian habitat is very marine enclosed (close to bodies of water). It is just 30 miles north of Trinidad, and hosts a good variety of land birds, including 12 species not found on the larger sister island.
In addition, nearby Little Tobago Island is a major seabird nesting site, where Red-billed Tropicbirds, Magnificent Frigatebirds, Red-footed Boobies, and Brown Boobies can be seen.

The Best way to Bird watch Tobago

Tobago is a dry island with huge marine influence, it is also smaller and further offshore than its sister isle, Trinidad. A number of locales offer great birding - the type of environment determining the type of birds. A good variety of birds can be seen around Speyside, on the north end of the island, including Caribbean Martins, White-fringed Antwrens, Blue-crowned Motmots, and Scrub Greenlets

The Main Ridge rainforest and Gilpin Trace are great places for finding rainforest birds. This area is located in the mountainous interior of Tobago and resembles in many respects the mountains of Trinidad. This rainforest is where the rare endemic White-tailed Sabrewing was rediscovered in 1988 after its disappearance following the 1963 hurricane. Buccoo Marsh is another great place for finding waterbirds, including Caribbean Coots, White-cheeked Pintails, Black-bellied Whistling Ducks, and a number of species more familiar to North American birders.

jacamar The Main Ridge Reserve is a remnant rainforest and Tobago birding destination which features excellent hiking trails. Birding tours always visit Main Ridge Reserve and most groups bird the Gilpin Trace. The Main Ridge Reserve and nearby Gilpin Trace are located in the northern interior of Tobago. It is accessed by the Rainforest Reserve Road that goes from just south of Roxborough past the entrance to Gilpin Trace and on to Bloody Bay.

About our Main Ridge Reserve and Gilpin Trace

The hurricane of 1963 destroyed much of the rainforest that once covered Tobago. The best remaining rainforest is in the Main Ridge Reserve, a tract of land which occupies almost 60 percent of the island. This area is the oldest protected rainforest in the world, with the reserve established in 1776 by the scientist Stephen Hales who convinced the plantation owner to set the forest aside in a protected reserve.
The area is a mature virgin rainforest - a wonderland of tree-ferns, palms, towering trees, bromeliads, epiphytes, and orchids. The Main Ridge Reserve and Gilpin Trace offers brilliant rainforest birding opportunities on Tobago. The endemic White-tailed Sabrewing was re-discovered in this area. In 1988 after it was presumed to be extinct on Tobago.

Birds to note in the rainforest

  • Rufous-vented Chachalaca   Ortalis ruficauda
  • White-tailed Sabrewing   Campylopterus ensipennis
  • Blue-backed Manakin   Chiroxiphia pareola
  • Venezuelan Flycatcher   Myiarchus venezuelensis
  • Yellow-legged Thrush   Platycichla flavipes

Information courtesy Angelles Tobago Villa

This useful infomation about Tobago birding is courtesy Angelles Tobago Villa. Angelles is a very spacious, extremely well appointed luxury holiday home. It definitely offers the best value for anyone, whether it's couples, family groups, even small specific interest groups.
Tours to the rainforest, birding tours nationwide, and any other services someone would need if they are on a vacation to Tobago, can be accessed from the concierge at Angelles.