Caribbean Birding Trail

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You are here: Home / Dominican Republic / Southwest / Aguacate and Zapotén

Aguacate and Zapotén

  • About
  • The Birds
  • How to Get There

The Sierra de Bahoruco is Hispaniola’s premier birding area. Accessing these north-slope sites will bring you into a variety of habitats, including dry forest, semi deciduous forest, humid broadleaf forest, cloud forest, mid-montane grasslands, and pine forest. Of the 31 Hispaniolan endemics, only Ridgway’s Hawk and Eastern Chat-Tanager are not found in the area. Even the Gray-headed Palm-Tanager, essentially a Haitian endemic, has been rarely reported to cross into the Sierra de Bahoruco near Aquacate. The outstanding feature of the Bahoruco’s north slope is the montane broadleaf evergreen forest or cloud forest, which is marked by large tree ferns at about 1,200 m elevation.

Zapoten
Zapoten (Photo by Steve Latta)

Beginning above Zapotén, this is the best site for high-elevation endemics such as the Scaly-naped Pigeon, White-fronted Quail-Dove, Hispaniolan Emerald, Hispaniolan Trogon, Narrow-billed Tody, Rufous-throated Solitaire, La Selle Thrush, Green-tailed Ground-Tanager, Hispaniolan Highland-Tanager, Western Chat-Tanager, Hispaniolan Spindalis, Antillean Euphonia, and Antillean Siskin. Be advised, however, that in order to maximize the chance of seeing the most difficult species, such as the threatened La Selle Thrush, you should arrive before dawn. This means, however, leaving Barahona at 3:00 A.M. in order to reach this area at the break of dawn.

There are six birding stops between the Aguacate checkpoint and Villa Aida as one climbs the north slope of the Sierra de Bahoruco.

Aguacate and Zapotén (Map by Dana Gardner)
Aguacate and Zapotén (Map by Dana Gardner)

Aguacate – Aquacate and Zapoten are moist broadleaf zones and the beginning of the cloud-forest zone. The Loggerhead Kingbird is frequently seen here. Aguacate is also a good place to look for endemic Hispaniolan Parakeets as well as the locally common Olive-throated Parakeet. Finally, keep an eye out for the Gray-crowned Palm-Tanager which has been recorded at this point. Be sure not to confuse this species with the very similar juveniles of the common Black-crowned Palm-Tanager.

Zapotén and La Selle Corner – Approximately 5 km (3.1 miles) beyond Aguacate, the road enters a brief stretch of pine forest, and then arrives at Zapotén where there is a new guard house. It is best, however, to continue 2 km (1.2 miles) beyond Zapotén and park at the bend in the road known as La Selle Corner. Here you are on the lower edge of the cloud-forest zone. The White-fronted Quail-Dove will often forage in the road, and the Western Chat-Tanager may be heard calling nearby.

Swallow Point – Located another 1 km (0.6 mile) above La Selle Corner, Swallow Point is a good, clear lookout across the lower elevations of the Bahorucos. This is a particularly good place to see the threatened Golden Swallow which here, in season, may be seen entering a nesting cavity in a small cliff. From here the road continues through cloud forest for another 3-4 km (1.9 – 2.5 miles) before entering the main pine forest.

Pine forest – Beyond Swallow Point the forest soon turns to primarily pine, sometimes with a broadleaf component to the understory. Listen closely for the irregular metallic clacking of the Hispaniolan Crossbill, which is often heard before it is seen. Antillean Siskin and Greater Antillean Elaenia are also partial to pine forests, as is the increasingly rare Plain Pigeon.

Villa Aida – Villa Aida, a typical pine savannah, lies approximately 6 km (3.7 miles) from La Selle Corner. In the December-February period you may hear after dusk the mournful calls of the critically endangered Black-capped Petrel. This species is known to nest on the cliffs of the nearby Loma de Toro.

Target species include Black- capped Petrel, Sharp- shinned Hawk, Scaly- naped Pigeon, Plain Pigeon, White- fronted Quail-Dove, Olive- throated Parakeet, Hispaniolan Nightjar, Hispaniolan Emerald, Hispaniolan Trogon, Narrow- billed Tody, Antillean Piculet, Yellow- bellied Sapsucker, Greater Antillean Elaenia, Loggerhead Kingbird, Tree Swallow, Golden Swallow, Rufous- throated Solitaire, Bicknell’s Thrush, La Selle Thrush, Magnolia Warbler, Black- throated Blue Warbler, Yellow- rumped Warbler, Black- throated Green Warbler, Yellow- throated Warbler, Pine Warbler, Green- tailed Ground- Tanager, Hispaniolan Highland- Tanager, Gray- crowned Palm- Tanager, Western Chat- Tanager, Hispaniolan Spindalis, Black- faced Grassquit, Antillean Siskin

Follow the directions from Barahona towards Rabo de Gato and Puerto Escondido (Site B10); be sure to pay your entrance fee at the park house in Puerto Escondido. To continue on to Aguacate and Zapotén, turn right at the Puerto Escondido T-intersection, pass by the military guard post on the right, and then continue through the valley dominated by large avocado plantations. Pass the birding sites at La Placa and Los Naranjos. About 3 km (1.9 miles) further on, the road enters a (normally) dry riverbed full of loose stone after which the road begins to ascend more steeply. This will require high ground clearance and possibly 4WD, though much depends on recent weather and road maintenance. Stop at the military guard post at Aguacate and tell them you are a birdwatcher (observador de aves), at which point they may request your entrance ticket.

  • Entrance fee: Dominicans $RD 20, Foreigners $RD 50

Aguacate and Zapotén

Dominican Republic Sites

Constanza and Valle Nuevo

Ebano Verde Reserve

Hatillo

Jarabacoa with Armando Bermúdez and José del Carmen Ramírez National Parks

La Joya de San Francisco

Loma Quita Espuela

Pico Diego de Ocampo, Santiago

Bávaro

Cumayasa

Del Este National Park: Boca de Yuma

Del Este National Park: Guaraguao

Del Este National Park: Padre Nuestro Trail

Del Este National Park: Saona Island

Ecological Foundation Trail, Punta Cana

Limón Lagoon

Los Haitises National Park: Caño Hondo

Los Haitises National Park: Los Limones

Monte Plata

Aguacate and Zapotén

Cabo Rojo and Pedernales

Cabral Lagoon

Cachote, Eastern Bahoruco

Jimaní

Lake Enriquillo

Loma Charco Azul

Oviedo Lagoon, Jaragua National Park

Puerto Alejandro and Tortuguero

Rabo de Gato and Puerto Escondido

Los Arroyos, Sierra de Bahoruco National Park

Cayos Siete Hermanos

El Limón, Samaná

Estero Hondo

Loma Guaconejo

Loma Isabel de Torres, Puerto Plata

Monte Cristi and Saladilla

Nalga de Maco National Park, Río Limpio

Samaná

Las Salinas de Baní

Mirador del Norte Park

National Botanical Garden

Ozama Wetlands

Partners in the Dominican Republic

  • Grupo Acción Ecológica
  • La Sociedad Ornitológica de la Hispaniola (SOH)
  • National Aviary

With special thanks to our partners at the Ruta Barrancoli

Ruta Barrancoli logo


Dominican Republic Tour Operators

  • Cúa Birding
  • Explora Ecotour
  • Miguel A. Landestoy T., Independent Guide
  • Tody Tours
  • Wildside Nature Tours

Bird Checklists

Click here to download a pamphlet-sized year-round checklist for Dominican Republic.

Recommended Field Guides

Birds of the Dominican Republic and Haiti by Steven Latta, Christopher Rimmer, Allan Keith, James Wiley, Herbert A. Raffaele, Kent McFarland, and Eladio Fernandez

Aves de la República Dominicana y Haití by Steven Latta, Christopher Rimmer, Allan Keith, James Wiley, Herbert A. Raffaele, Kent McFarland, and Eladio Fernandez

Ruta Barrancolí: A Bird-finding Guide to the Dominican Republic by Steven C. Latta and Kate J. Wallace

Birds of the West Indies by Herbert Raffaele, James Wiley, Orlando Garrido, Allan Keith, and Janis Raffaele

Want to know how you can be involved?

Do you know of a place that should be part of the Caribbean Birding Trail? Are you the owner of a lodge or hotel and want to attract eco-tourists? Are you a guide interested in the birdwatching market? Then, get involved with our project!

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