Natural vegetation is confined mostly to the summits of hills, where elfin woodlands occur.
At lower levels, fern groves are plentiful and lower still, cacti, sage bush and acacias. There are 34 species of birds resident on the island and many more migrants. Unique to Montserrat is the Montserrat oriole, Icterus oberi, a black and gold oriole named the national bird. There are also the rare forest thrush, the bridled quail dove, mangrove cuckoo, trembler and purple throated carib. Many of these can be seen along the Centre Hills trail in the middle of the island between the ash-covered Soufriere Hills and the Silver Hills.