Skip to content
Home ≫ World Birding ≫ Central America & Caribbean ≫ Antigua & Barbuda

Antigua and Barbuda

Barbuda Warbler Setophaga subita ©Josh Noseworthy (WikiCommons) Website

Antigua and Barbuda is a sovereign archipelagic country composed of Antigua, Barbuda, and numerous other small islands. Antigua and Barbuda has a total area of 440 km2 (170 square miles), making it one of the smallest countries in the Caribbean. The national population is currently a little over 94,000 people about a quarter of whom live in its largest city; St. John’s, Antigua. The next largest islands are Guiana Island and Long Island off the coast of Antigua and Redonda, which is a small, uninhabited rocky island located about 40 kilometres to the south-west of Antigua. The nation is part of the Lesser Antilles archipelago. To the south of the country lie the islands of Guadeloupe, Dominica, Martinique, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados, Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago. Montserrat lies to the southwest; Saint Kitts and Nevis and Saint Eustatius are to the west, and Saint Barthélemy, Saint Martin and Anguilla are to the northwest.

The country is mostly flat, with the highest points on Antigua being in the Shekerley Mountains and on Barbuda the Highlands. Limestone formations, rather than volcanic activity, have had the most impact on the topography of both Antigua and Barbuda, which are both relatively low-lying islands. Boggy Peak, southwest Antigua, is the highest point on both Antigua and Barbuda. It is the remnant of a volcanic crater and rises just 1,319 feet. Both of these islands have very irregularly shaped coastlines that are dotted with beaches, lagoons, and natural harbours. There are reefs and shoals that surround the islands on all sides.

Barbuda Highlands – ©CROIX CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

The country has a tropical savanna climate, with pockets of tropical monsoon in Antigua’s southwest. Rainfall averages less than 40 inches per year, with the amount varying widely from season to season. In general, the wettest period is between September and November. The islands generally experience low humidity and recurrent droughts. Temperatures average 27 °C, with a range from 23 °C to 29 °C in the winter to from 25 °C to 30 °C in the summer and autumn. The coolest period is between December and February.

Because of the low amount of rainfall, there are not many streams. On neither of these islands can sufficient quantities of fresh groundwater be found. Hurricanes strike on an average of once a year. Like other island nations, Antigua and Barbuda faces unique environmental issues created by its proximity to the ocean, and small size. These include pressures on drinking water resources, natural ecosystems, and deforestation more generally. Forest cover is about 18% of the total land area. It is one of the only countries in the Caribbean to maintain an air force, and has a significant aviation industry in conjunction with its tourism-based economy.

Birding Antigua & Barbuda

Antigua in particular is very developed as most towns are on that island, part of Barbuda has escaped development because of the marshy area, which is conserved and has a colony of Great Frigatebirds. The country’s smaller offshore islands have remained relatively unscathed. These have become refuges for native species, many of which have been driven to extinction on the Antigua mainland. For example, offshore islands support the entire world population of the critically endangered snake Antiguan Racer Alsophis antiguae and healthy populations of the Antiguan Ground Lizard Pholidoscelis griswoldi. Work to conserve the former has included removing rodents from some islets with much benefit to all the fauna and flora – Indigenous plants have spread, while nesting seabird populations have increased by as much as thirtyfold.

Redonda – ©Invertzoo CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Removing rats and goats from Redonda has had the same dramatic effect.

Around 200 species of birds have been recorded in Antigua and Barbuda, of which the majority are migratory or accidental. The key bird species include: Lesser Antillean Flycatcher & Lesser Antillean Bullfinch and the endemic Barbuda Warbler, with a supporting cast of Purple-throated and Green-throated Caribs, doves, terns, gulls, Caribbean Coot, Masked, Red-footed & Brown Boobies and the endangered West Indian Whistling Duck, as well as Magnificent Frigatebird. The warbler’s habitat on Barbuda was massively damaged by Hurricane Irma (Sept 2017). Despite this, the species survived, although the exact state of the population remains to be seen.

Barbuda is also the place for frigatebirds as there is a Frigate Bird Sanctuary at Codrington Lagoon, Barbuda. It is the Caribbean’s largest (the world’s second largest) such colony and has c.5,000 frigates. October sees most activity.

Valley Road, Antigua – ©Андрей Бобровский CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Despite the development, and hurricane Irma there are still some good birding localities on Antigua. McKinnon’s Salt Pond, a short drive north of St. John’s, immediately inland from Runaway Bay, is still the premier waterbird site. White-cheeked Pintails are common here, and West Indian Whistling-ducks are often seen grazing along the shoulders of the roads. Caribbean Coots are there with waterfowl that winter or migrate through. Black-necked Stilts and Wilson’s Plovers nest on the sand and gravel shores, where there are also Least Terns. Waders migrate through McKinnon’s in immense numbers during Spring and Autumn.

One area of mature tropical forests is around Wallings Reservoir, where there are trails through the mahogany, ironwood, mahoe, gunstock, and white cedar trees. Birds here that are scarce elsewhere include Ruddy Quail-Dove, Bridled Quail-Dove, Red-necked Pigeon, and Antillean Euphonia. Broad-winged Hawks are resident in these forests, and many of the Caribbean endemics seen elsewhere on the island are common here as well. Early morning and late evening visits are best for the Quail-doves.

Christian Valley Antigua also has forested areas. The Environmental Awareness Group (a conservation non-profit in Antigua) has developed the Christian Valley Birding Trail here, in concert with the Christian Valley Agricultural Station. The forest there is mixed with tropical fruits (mango, avocado, guava, soursop) and native woodland trees. Birds here can include Ruddy Quail-Dove, Bridled Quail-Dove, Red-necked Pigeon, as well as Scaly-breasted and Pearly-eyed Thrashers, and Antillean Euphonia. Antillean Crested Hummingbirds and Green-throated Caribs are common at lower elevations, but Purple-throated Carib is mostly confined to the higher elevations where it feeds on the flowers of heliconias.

Contributors
Number of Species

  • Number of bird species: 209

    (As at February 2025)

    National Bird: Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata magnificens

Endemics

  • Number of endemics: 1

    Barbuda Warbler Setophaga subita
Checklist

  • Avibase

    PDF Checklist
    This checklist includes all bird species found in Antigua and Barbuda , based on the best information available at this time. It is based on a wide variety of sources that I collated over many years. I am pleased to offer these checklists as a service to birdwatchers. If you find any error, please do not hesitate to report them.

  • E-Bird

    PDF Checklist
    This checklist is generated with data from eBird (ebird.org), a global database of bird sightings from birders like you. If you enjoy this checklist, please consider contributing your sightings to eBird. It is 100% free to take part, and your observations will help support birders, researchers, and conservationists worldwide.

  • Wikipedia

    Annotated Checklist
    This is a list of the bird species recorded in Antigua and Barbuda. The avifauna of Antigua and Barbuda included a total of 204 species, according to Bird Checklists of the World as of July 2022.[1] Of them, five have been introduced by humans and 132 are rare or accidental. One species on this list is endemic and three have been extirpated.
Useful Reading

  • Birds of the West Indies

    | By Allan R Keith, Herbert A Raffaele, James W Wiley, Janis Raffaele & Orlando H Garrido | Helm | Edition 2 | 2020 | Flexibound | 88 pages, 129 plates with colour illustrations; b/w illustrations, colour distribution maps | ISBN: 9781472979506 Buy this book from NHBS.com

  • The Birds of the West Indies

    | By Guy M Kirwan, Anthony Levesque, Mark W Oberle & Christopher J Sharpe | Lynx Edicions | 2019 | 400 pages, 1600+ colour illustrations, 650+ colour distribution maps | ISBN: 9788416728176 Buy this book from NHBS.com

  • iseaux des Antilles et des Caraïbes [Birds of the West Indies]

    | By G Michael Flieg & Allan Sander | Delachaux et Niestle | 2028 | Paperback | 144 pages, colour photos | In French | ISBN: 9782603026182 Buy this book from NHBS.com
Birding Aps

  • All Birds West Indies

    Android
    This bilingual, mobile field guide for the West Indies includes all 415 bird species of Puerto Rico and the northeastern Lesser Antilles: Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Saint Martin (Sint Maarten), Antigua and Barbuda, Montserrat, Sint Eustatius, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Barthélemy (St. Barts), and Saba.

  • Birds of the West Indies

    Apple iOS |
    Explore the vibrant Caribbean islands with Birds of the West Indies – your pocket guide to Caribbean birdwatching!

Useful Information
Organisations

  • Antigua, Barbuda and Redonda Wild Birds Appreciation

    Facebook Page

  • EAG - The Environmental Awareness Group of Antigua & Barbuda

    Facebook Page
    Many of our land birds are depicted on a card produced by the Society for the Conservation and Study of Caribbean Birds (SCSCB) in cooperation with the EAG. The card is shown below. If you would like a card,
Reserves

Abbreviations Key

  • *Protected areas of Antigua and Barbuda

    InformationSatellite View
    Ramsar site etc

  • BS Frigate Bird Sanctuary

    InformationSatellite View
    The sanctuary is situated in Codrington Lagoon and can only be visited by boat. Tickets can be purchased at the wharf, but you must arrange a tour with a local boatperson in advance.
Sightings, News & Forums
Guides & Tour Operators

  • BirdFinders

    Tour Operator
    ...arriving into Barbuda one can immediately see the stark contrast between the heavily-developed and well-established tourist destination of Antigua and this little-visited island, where vast stretches of undisturbed beaches, sheltered coves and dry coastal forests support a very different cast of characters to those previously encountered on our trip. Our main target here is the diminutive Barbuda Warbler...

  • BirdQuest

    Tour Operator
    We will commence our Lesser Antilles & Trinidad birding tour in Antigua and work our way south, visiting eleven islands in total.

  • FieldGuides

    Tour Operator
    We'll use the tenth island, Antigua, as a base to visit the remaining two islands with endemics--Montserrat and Barbuda.

  • Naturalist Journeys

    Tour Operator
    Search for over thirty endemic bird species found only in the Lesser Antilles, including Barbuda Warbler, Grey Trembler, Purple-throated Carib, and Montserrat Oriole

  • Pelican Safari Tours

    Local Tour
    Antigua is home to many vibrant, colorful birds. On this local tour, we will enjoy a day of bird watching around the island.

  • Rockjumper

    Tour Operator
    Lesser Antilles - Pearls of the Caribbean

  • Sunrise Birding

    Tour Operator
    Antigua, Barbados, Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Montserrat, St. Lucia and St. Vincent

  • The Bird's Nest

    Local Tour
    Off the North Coast of Antigua lies the island’s biggest marine park which holds several islets and the picturesque Great Bird Island.

  • WINGS

    Tour Operator
    These 10 stunningly beautiful Caribbean islands form the eastern border between the placid Caribbean Sea and the mighty Atlantic Ocean.

  • William ASuarez Birding Tours

    Tour Operator
    The Leeward Islands are in the northern section of the arc, including Dominica, Marie Galante, Guadeloupe, La Desirade, Montserrat, Antigua, Nevis, St. Kitts, Barbuda, St. Eustatius, Saba, St. Barthélemy, St. Martin, and Anguilla.
Trip Reports

  • 2016 [04 April] - Jesse FaganLesser Antilles

    Report
    10 islands, 14 days, 14 flights, 8 hotels, 1 visit to the emergency room, drive on the right, drive on the left,...you get the picture. It requires a lot of action and movement to see these birds! And see them we did. It was another successful island-hopping adventure this year, and the logistics worked out fine on this logistically complicated tour. Even island time seemed faster. Mark recovered in fine fashion. And we also got all the potential endemics!

  • 2017 [06 June] - Mark Van Biers - Lesser Antilles

    PDF Report
    Antigua, Barbuda, Montserrat, Dominica, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Santa Lucia, Saint Vincent, Barbados and Grenada were the ten islands we visited on our recent Lesser Antilles tour. S

  • 2019 [02 February] - Lars Olausson

    PDF Report
    My non-birding wife and I visited the small country of Antigua and Barbuda on a 5-night stay in combination with Dominica (separate trip report). Either going on a full day birding trip, or on a family vacation as we did, don’t expect a long species list.

  • 2019 [04 April] - Field Guides

    Report
    It's no small feat to finish a Lesser Antilles tour. Ten islands, 16 days, 29 Lesser Antillean endemics (which includes many one-island endemics), and a host of interesting Caribbean birds. This tour takes stamina and some good logistics.

  • 2020 [03 March] - Larry Quabbin

    Report
    I immediately headed out to walk along Coco Point Road and River Road to Codrington (the only town on the island). After a very short time I started coming across a few Barbuda Warblers in the low scrub vegetation that dominates the island.

  • 2023 [06 June] - David Hollie

    PDF Report
    ...I turned left (west) onto River Rd and immediately started hearing Yellow (Golden) Warblers which were difficult to ignore given the surprising similarity to an incomplete Barbuda Warbler song. About 200 m down River Rd, I heard my first Barbuda Warbler and saw one soon thereafter....

  • 2024 [03 March] - Peg Abbott

    PDF Report
    Annotated List

  • 2024 [04 April] - Jesse Fagan

    PDF Report
    ...Our last three nights were spent in Antigua, from which we made day trips to Barbuda and Montserrat...
Places to Stay

  • Antigua Yepton Beach Resort

    Accommodation
    Yepton Beach Resort is located on a 37 acre estate, bordered to the North by the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea and a quarter mile white sandy beach. Rolling hills and a lagoon that offers sanctuary to pelicans, egrets, blue and white herons, and many other exotic birds and fish, make up the South border.
Other Links

  • Antillean Crested Hummingbird Orthorhyncus cristatus

    Website
    Full species account

  • Barbuda & Antigua On-line Tourist Guide

    Website
    There are several salt ponds where it is possible to see a great variety of bird life, and in the lagoon the most spectacular of all the birds, the rare Magnificent Frigate bird has a colony of approximately two thousand birds, one of the largest in the world.

  • Barbuda Warbler Setophaga subita

    Information
    The Barbuda warbler (Setophaga subita) is a species of bird in the family Parulidae. It is endemic to the island of Barbuda in Antigua and Barbuda. Its natural habitat is tropical dry shrubland near wetland areas.

  • Barbudaful

    Information
    Where to watch birds on Barbuda - Most of our birds can be seen at close quarters, and over a period of a few days you will see many different species.

  • Birds of Barbuda

    Website
    Your Guide to Birds and Bird Watching Information - Complete Information for Bird Watching Enthusiasts and Bird Watching Beginners, When the love of backyard birds and wild birds first flutters into your heart, a whole new world opens, this is why Birds Of Barbuda is here. Suddenly, you realize that the birds have always been there but perhaps you never paused to observe or enjoy them. The fact that bird watching is one of the most popular hobbies enjoyed by Caribbean People and people all over the world tells us that it truly enriches peoples’ lives.

  • Blue Waves Caribbean

    Information
    Bird Watching in Barbuda: A Paradise for Avid Birdwatchers

  • Caribbean Birding Trail

    Webpage
    ...At one level we have every expectation that people will visit Antigua to watch birds. Certainly this strategy will address their needs. But at another level birds provide a perspective of Antiguan patrimony as a whole....

Fatbirder - linking birders worldwide...