Top 5 Amazing Birds to Watch for in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

We’re going to do something a bit out of the ordinary on the blog today; we’re going to go bird watching.  We’ve talked about the wildlife in Punta Cana more than once on this blog, and that’s because the natural beauty of Dominican Republic is very near and dear to us, and we want to do all we can to share it with you.  Today we are going to look at some of the more interesting (and beautiful!) birds you can see right here at Puntacana Resort and Spa.

1. WHITE HERON
First up we have the White Heron, which is sometimes also known as the Great Egret.  The White Heron is one of the more striking birds on this list and also one of the more recognizable.  The first thing that you notice when you come face to face with one of these is that they’re big.  If you’re lucky enough to see one open its wings and fly, you’ll notice that they’re really big.  You can find these all over Punta Cana as they enjoy coastal areas including lagoons, wetlands, ocean, and beaches. 

2. RIDGWAY’S HAWK
As long time devotees of this blog are well aware, Punta Cana in the Dominican is one of the only places in the world you can find the Ridgway Hawk.  We did a full write-up last year about the magnificent Ridgway’s Hawks - check it out!

3. WHITE PLAYERITO
This little bird is called the White Playerito and also sometimes the Sanderling.  Unlike the rest of the birds on this list, the Sanderling migrates very long distances to come to Punta Cana.  While the birds can be found on the beach at our resort in the summer, this is the end point of a very long journey that starts in the Arctic Ocean.  There is a good chance that the bird sitting next to you on the beach took an even longer flight than you did to be with us!

4. NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD

This is the Northern Mockingbird, and you can find it year round at Punta Cana. While the bird itself is an almost nondescript grey - at least to those of us who aren’t ornithologists - it isn’t too hard to find in person. The Northern Mockingbird can mimic the sounds of not only other birds but also dogs, cats, and frogs. If you find yourself near a grey bird that does a convincing corgi impression, it’s safe to say you’ve found the Northern Mockingbird. 

5. AMERICAN KESTREL

The last bird on our mini bird watching tour is the American Kestrel. The American Kestrel is one of the more striking and unique birds on this list, and it’s easy to see why from its picture. The American Kestrel is the smallest falcon in North and South America, and it comes in at right around eight inches in length. Don’t let this fool you, though - the American Kestrel is a raptor and can often be found perched high up looking for a meal to pass by. You can recognize them by the reddish coloration on their backs and the black spots.

This is nowhere close to all of the amazing birds you can find at Punta Cana.  Ranging from the truly rare Ridgway’s Hawks to the incredibly common ducks and geese, there is no shortage of fascinating wildlife.