They live and traverse the nation's islands and cays, and provide interested watchers an eyeful of nature at its colorful, feathered best. Visitors will not find the Turks and Caicos Islands listed in most bird watching guides, yet there is a cornucopia of birding delights to be found around every corner. Over 190 species can be found at varying intervals, and 52 of these species are known to breed locally. Birds are seen year-round in the Islands. Many travel during spring and fall via their migration route between North and South America, others spend winters locally or come to breed during summer.
Several species are resident throughout the year.
The natural, relatively unsullied nature of the Turks and Caicos, variety of vegetation and the historical events which shaped the natural vegetation, such as the 17th century salt industry, impact the dependent bird life. The salinas of Grand Turk, are a favored feeding and roosting area for a variety of waterfowl. White-cheeked Pintails, sometimes dozens at a time, and herons are commonly seen standing motionless like statues or stalking in the shallow pans. The Reddish Egret, with its red head and neck, dances wildly to and fro before catching its fishy feast. Any expanse of open water is worth a binocular scan.