Trinidad – Trinidad and Tobago

About

Trinidad, situated just a few miles from the coast of South America, offers a beautiful introduction to the Neotropics, making it a prime destination for birders and bird photographers.

The island holds an astonishing concentration of birdlife. In a single morning, you might watch hummingbirds flicker at a feeder, hear the knock of a bellbird from deep in the forest, and catch the slow, deliberate glide of a raptor above the trees. The habitats on the island change quickly. Rainforest folds into wetlands, cocoa estates give way to mangroves, and the coast feels never far away.

For many birders, there is one presence that quietly shapes the journey. The Trinidad Piping-Guan, known locally as the Pawi, is not a bird you typically stumble upon. Endemic to the island and critically endangered, it lives in the deeper, older forests of the Northern Range, where patience matters more than luck. The Trinidad Piping-Guan moves with a calm confidence, dark-bodied with white wing markings that show only when it moves. Owen was lucky to encounter one on his trip to Trinidad in 2025. Seeing a Trinidad Piping-Guan is also a reminder of what is at stake. Once thought to be extinct, the species survives today due to conservation efforts and local commitment. 

Much of Trinidad’s birding lives in the forests, especially along the Northern Range. Places like Asa Wright Nature Centre have become top destinations for bird photography. Motmots perch in soft light. Hummingbirds arrive in impossible colors. Somewhere deeper in the trees, an oilbird calls from a cave, its echo ancient and otherworldly. It’s easy to spend hours here and forget time entirely, guided only by movement and sound.

Away from the forest, the island opens into wetlands. At Caroni Swamp, evenings belong to the Scarlet Ibis. As the sun sets, the birds arrive suddenly. Brilliant red against the mangroves, settling in for the night. It’s a scene that borders on surreal, one that even stuns non-birders.In places like Nariva Swamp, the experience is quieter. The birds here are more hidden and more patient. Trinidad teaches you quickly that birding is not about chasing specific species, but more about the hunt for great photos. 

There is no bad time for birding in Trinidad, but the dry months, especially early in the year, offer comfort and clarity. Migrants mingle with residents, breeding displays fill the forests with motion, and the island feels especially alive.

Local guides are invaluable here, not just for their ability to identify calls or locate species, but for the way they help you understand the land. Owen’s guide, Faraaz Abdool, is also the author of the book “Casual Birding in Trinidad and Tobago.”

Birding in Trinidad is layered with history, culture, and care for the environment. You’re not just observing nature, you’re being welcomed into it.

Owen visited Trinidad in October 2025.