Jamaica is one of the hotbeds of avian endemism in the West Indies, with at least 27 species found nowhere else. Add to those a host of regional specialties and numerous wintering wood-warblers and you've got an irresistible birding destination close to the United States. It doesn't hurt that we'll be based entirely from a single hotel on a lush tropical island with fabulous food, vibrant culture, and world-renowned music! In just five days of birding, we stand a good chance of encountering all of Jamaica's endemics, from the fabulous streamertails to the taxonomically curious Orangequit.
Green Castle Estate is a picturesque home overlooking 1650 acres on the northeast coast of Jamaica. This safe and isolated property is managed for a cross section of habitats hosting more than half of Jamaica's endemics. A Jamaican Mango might be buzzing outside your window when you wake up. Jamaican Spindalis, Jamaican Vireo, Jamaican Woodpecker, and Jamaican Tody can all be seen while holding your cup of local coffee or organic juice freshly squeezed from the estate's orchards. The trails on site should yield other endemics such as Jamaican Lizard-Cuckoo, Jamaican Becard, Sad Flycatcher, and White-chinned Thrush.
In order to round out our list of endemics, we will take field trips to the John Crow Mountains, the Blue Mountains, and Cockpit Country. Our higher-elevation targets will include Ring-tailed Pigeon, Crested Quail-Dove, Yellow-billed and Black-billed parrots, Chestnut-bellied Cuckoo, and the odd Jamaican Blackbird. We will make stops along the coast to sample Jamaica's cuisine and to look for tropicbirds, frigatebirds, shorebirds, and herons.
Select the KEY INFO tab or click here for our itinerary plus space requests, status, fees, limits, and guides for any departure.
Client comment "A fabulous tour! It was a great group to bird with. I really enjoyed the congeniality of the people and food was great, too. We managed to find all the endemics while having fun. I always feel that Field Guides are the most professionally run tours. They are very considerate of the participants' comfort and are the most skilled at finding the birds." N.B., JAMAICA 2019
ITINERARIES • TOUR STATUS • DETAILS • SPACE REQUESTS
ITINERARIES • We issue a separate itinerary for each year, typically at least 9 months before that year's first departure. Most itineraries don't vary much year to year, but there may be small or rarely more substantive changes. A sample previous-year itinerary is usually available even if the one for your chosen departure is not. We do not require any deposit for provisional bookings until the itinerary for the departure is ready.
DEPARTURES • We have 7 departures currently scheduled through 2023, with details including limits, guides, fees, and space available listed below.
2021
Nov 21-27, 2021 Guided by: Cory Gregory & local guide Tour Manager: Sharon Mackie Tour Limit: 8 Status: Waitlisted - This tour has enough confirmed participants registered to insure its operation, and it is provisionally full. Tour Fee: $3550 Deposit: $400 REQUEST WAITLIST OR MORE INFO
2022
Feb 20-26, 2022 Guided by: Cory Gregory & local guide Tour Manager: Sharon Mackie Tour Limit: 8 Status: Open - Space is still available on this tour, and we are accepting provisional bookings. No deposit is required until you receive the itinerary. Click below to book space. Tour Fee: Fee TBD / 2021=$3550 REQUEST SPACE OR MORE INFO
Feb 27 - Mar 5, 2022 Guided by: Cory Gregory & local guide Tour Manager: Sharon Mackie Tour Limit: 8 Status: Open - Space is still available on this tour, and we are accepting provisional bookings. No deposit is required until you receive the itinerary. Click below to book space. Tour Fee: Fee TBD / 2021=$3550 REQUEST SPACE OR MORE INFO
Nov 20-26, 2022 Guided by: Jay VanderGaast & local guide Tour Manager: Sharon Mackie Tour Limit: 8 Status: Open - Space is still available on this tour, and we are accepting provisional bookings. No deposit is required until you receive the itinerary. Click below to book space. Tour Fee: Fee TBD / 2021=$3550 REQUEST SPACE OR MORE INFO
2023
Feb 19-25, 2023 Guide: TBA Tour Manager: TBA Tour Limit: 8 Status: Open - Space is still available on this tour, and we are accepting provisional bookings. No deposit is required until you receive the itinerary. Click below to book space. Tour Fee: Fee TBD / 2021=$3550 REQUEST SPACE OR MORE INFO
Feb 26 - Mar 4, 2023 Guide: TBA Tour Manager: TBA Tour Limit: 8 Status: Open - Space is still available on this tour, and we are accepting provisional bookings. No deposit is required until you receive the itinerary. Click below to book space. Tour Fee: Fee TBD / 2021=$3550 REQUEST SPACE OR MORE INFO
Nov 19-25, 2023 Guide: TBA Tour Manager: TBA Tour Limit: 8 Status: Open - Space is still available on this tour, and we are accepting provisional bookings. No deposit is required until you receive the itinerary. Click below to book space. Tour Fee: Fee TBD / 2021=$3550 REQUEST SPACE OR MORE INFO
ABOUT OUR TRIPLISTS • After every tour we issue an annotated triplist of the birds recorded on the trip, illustrated with wonderful images (and sometimes video clips) from the tour's participants and guides.
Enjoy looking through the 8 most recent Field Guides triplists for this tour linked below!