Los Haitises National Park

🇩🇴 Dominican Republic

🦅 Ridgway's Hawks Above the Mangrove Cays
🌍 #254 Global · 3.1 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #44 in Central America #111 in Tropical Forest
Samaná Bay, Dominican Republic 389 spp. recorded

Los Haitises is a protected tropical rainforest situated along the southern edge of Samaná Bay in the Dominican Republic, featuring dense jungle vegetation and water channels lined with mangroves. Its signature species are the Palmchat and the Hispaniolan Woodpecker, both of which forage openly in the high canopy during daytime hours.

19.001° N   69.610° W

Wildlife

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare5–20%
With luck20–40%
Possible40–70%
Likely>70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

Ridgway's Hawk ★
CR Endemic

Ridgway's Hawk

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Buteo ridgwayi

60–70% · Likely
Hispaniolan Woodpecker ★
LC Endemic

Hispaniolan Woodpecker

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melanerpes striatus

80–90% · Very likely
Palmchat ★
LC Endemic

Palmchat

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dulus dominicus

80–90% · Very likely
Magnificent Frigatebird ★
LC Endemic

Magnificent Frigatebird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Fregata magnificens

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Turkey Vulture
LC

Turkey Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cathartes aura

90–100% · Very likely
Bark Anole
LC Endemic

Bark Anole

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Anolis distichus

80–90% · Very likely
White-necked Crow
VU Endemic

White-necked Crow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus leucognaphalus

80–90% · Very likely
Cattle Egret
LC

Cattle Egret

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Bubulcus ibis

80–90% · Very likely
Gray Kingbird
LC Endemic

Gray Kingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tyrannus dominicensis

80–90% · Very likely
Antillean Mango
LC Endemic

Antillean Mango

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anthracothorax dominicus

70–80% · Very likely
Northern Mockingbird
LC

Northern Mockingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mimus polyglottos

70–80% · Very likely
Black-whiskered Vireo
LC Endemic

Black-whiskered Vireo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Vireo altiloquus

60–70% · Likely
Bananaquit
LC Endemic

Bananaquit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Coereba flaveola

60–70% · Likely
Antillean Piculet
LC Endemic

Antillean Piculet

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Nesoctites micromegas

60–70% · Likely
Common Stout Anole
Endemic

Common Stout Anole

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Anolis hispaniolae

60–70% · Likely
Broad-billed Tody
LC Endemic

Broad-billed Tody

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Todus subulatus

60–70% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Mongoose

Mongoose

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Herpestes javanicus

Insufficient data
Bottlenose Dolphin
LC

Bottlenose Dolphin

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tursiops truncatus

Insufficient data

⭐ Iconic Species

Ridgway's Hawk ★
CR Endemic

Ridgway's Hawk

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Buteo ridgwayi

60–70% · Likely
Hispaniolan Woodpecker ★
LC Endemic

Hispaniolan Woodpecker

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melanerpes striatus

80–90% · Very likely
Palmchat ★
LC Endemic

Palmchat

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dulus dominicus

80–90% · Very likely
Magnificent Frigatebird ★
LC Endemic

Magnificent Frigatebird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Fregata magnificens

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Turkey Vulture
LC

Turkey Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cathartes aura

90–100% · Very likely
White-necked Crow
VU Endemic

White-necked Crow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus leucognaphalus

80–90% · Very likely
Cattle Egret
LC

Cattle Egret

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Bubulcus ibis

80–90% · Very likely
Gray Kingbird
LC Endemic

Gray Kingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tyrannus dominicensis

80–90% · Very likely
Antillean Mango
LC Endemic

Antillean Mango

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anthracothorax dominicus

70–80% · Very likely
Northern Mockingbird
LC

Northern Mockingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mimus polyglottos

70–80% · Very likely
Black-whiskered Vireo
LC Endemic

Black-whiskered Vireo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Vireo altiloquus

60–70% · Likely
Bananaquit
LC Endemic

Bananaquit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Coereba flaveola

60–70% · Likely
Antillean Piculet
LC Endemic

Antillean Piculet

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Nesoctites micromegas

60–70% · Likely
Broad-billed Tody
LC Endemic

Broad-billed Tody

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Todus subulatus

60–70% · Likely
Hispaniolan Lizard-Cuckoo
LC

Hispaniolan Lizard-Cuckoo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Saurothera longirostris

50–60% · Likely
Yellow-faced Grassquit
LC Endemic

Yellow-faced Grassquit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tiaris olivaceus

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Bark Anole
LC Endemic

Bark Anole

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Anolis distichus

80–90% · Very likely
Common Stout Anole
Endemic

Common Stout Anole

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Anolis hispaniolae

60–70% · Likely
East Dominican Green Anole
LC Endemic

East Dominican Green Anole

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Anolis callainus

30–40% · Possible
Hispaniolan Giant Gecko
NT Endemic

Hispaniolan Giant Gecko

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Aristelliger lar

Insufficient data
Half-lined Hispaniolan Grass Anole
LC Endemic

Half-lined Hispaniolan Grass Anole

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Anolis semilineatus

Insufficient data
Tropical House Gecko
LC

Tropical House Gecko

🌙 Nocturnal Reptile

Hemidactylus mabouia

Insufficient data
Hispaniolan Gracile Boa
NT Endemic

Hispaniolan Gracile Boa

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Chilabothrus gracilis

Insufficient data
Cochran's Least Gecko
CR Endemic

Cochran's Least Gecko

Reptile

Sphaerodactylus cochranae

Insufficient data
Samana Least Gecko
NT Endemic

Samana Least Gecko

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Sphaerodactylus samanensis

Insufficient data
Cordillera Oriental Stout Anole
Endemic

Cordillera Oriental Stout Anole

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Anolis higuey

Insufficient data
Mann's Worm Lizard
LC Endemic

Mann's Worm Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Amphisbaena manni

Insufficient data
Pointed Snake
LC Endemic

Pointed Snake

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Uromacer oxyrhynchus

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Hispaniolan Common Treefrog
LC Endemic

Hispaniolan Common Treefrog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Osteopilus dominicensis

50–60% · Likely
Eastern Cane Toad
LC

Eastern Cane Toad

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Rhinella marina

50–60% · Likely
Yellow Split-Toed Frog
NT Endemic

Yellow Split-Toed Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Eleutherodactylus flavescens

20–30% · Possible
Hispaniolan Giant Frog
NT Endemic

Hispaniolan Giant Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Eleutherodactylus inoptatus

Insufficient data
Abbott's Robber Frog
LC Endemic

Abbott's Robber Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Eleutherodactylus abbotti

10–20% · With luck
Hispaniolan Red-Rumped Frog
LC Endemic

Hispaniolan Red-Rumped Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Eleutherodactylus weinlandi

Insufficient data
Caribbean White-lipped Frog
LC

Caribbean White-lipped Frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Leptodactylus albilabris

Insufficient data
American Bullfrog

American Bullfrog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Lithobates catesbeianus

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🦅

Ridgway's Hawk Nesting Season

FebMarApr

Nest-building and egg-laying of the critically endangered Ridgway's Hawk in its Los Haitises stronghold

Ridgway's Hawk
CR Endemic

Ridgway's Hawk

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Buteo ridgwayi

60–70% · Likely
🐦

Seabird Gathering at Cayo de los Pájaros

JulSepDec

Near-continuous congregation of frigatebirds and brown pelicans circling and roosting over Bird Key in San Lorenzo Bay, peaking in these months

Magnificent Frigatebird
LC Endemic

Magnificent Frigatebird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Fregata magnificens

40–50% · Likely
Brown Pelican
LC

Brown Pelican

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pelecanus occidentalis

30–40% · Possible
🐦

Wintering Warbler Season

OctNovDecJanFebMar

North American migrant warblers winter in the park's mangroves and karst forest

American Redstart
LC

American Redstart

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga ruticilla

30–40% · Possible
Cape May Warbler
LC

Cape May Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga tigrina

30–40% · Possible
Northern Parula
LC

Northern Parula

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga americana

20–30% · Possible

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Species Total
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
60–70
Ridgway's Hawk
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
40–50
60–70
60–70
Hispaniolan Woodpecker
70–80
80–90
90–100
70–80
80–90
80–90
90–100
70–80
80–90
80–90
90–100
70–80
Palmchat
80–90
80–90
80–90
70–80
80–90
80–90
90–100
70–80
90–100
70–80
70–80
60–70
Magnificent Frigatebird
40–50
40–50
30–40
40–50
40–50
50–60
70–80
40–50
50–60
30–40
40–50
60–70
Turkey Vulture
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
80–90
90–100
70–80
Bark Anole
90–100
80–90
90–100
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
60–70
80–90
80–90
60–70
90–100
White-necked Crow
80–90
80–90
90–100
80–90
90–100
90–100
80–90
70–80
80–90
70–80
90–100
90–100
Cattle Egret
70–80
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
90–100
90–100
80–90
60–70
80–90
70–80
Gray Kingbird
70–80
80–90
90–100
60–70
70–80
80–90
90–100
80–90
70–80
70–80
80–90
60–70
Antillean Mango
80–90
80–90
80–90
50–60
70–80
80–90
90–100
60–70
80–90
60–70
60–70
60–70
Northern Mockingbird
70–80
80–90
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
60–70
50–60
80–90
70–80
Black-whiskered Vireo
60–70
80–90
80–90
70–80
70–80
60–70
60–70
50–60
40–50
40–50
50–60
40–50
Bananaquit
80–90
80–90
70–80
40–50
70–80
60–70
30–40
70–80
80–90
70–80
60–70
30–40
Antillean Piculet
50–60
60–70
70–80
70–80
50–60
60–70
40–50
60–70
50–60
50–60
80–90
40–50
Common Stout Anole
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
70–80
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
70–80
Broad-billed Tody
50–60
50–60
80–90
70–80
60–70
70–80
50–60
60–70
70–80
40–50
40–50
40–50
Animal Events
🦅 Ridgway's Hawk Nesting Season
🐦 Seabird Gathering at Cayo de los Pájaros
🐦 Wintering Warbler Season

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Good
🦅 Ridgway's Hawks Above the Mangrove Cays

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
2.9 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
273
🐒 Mammals
53
🦎 Reptiles
50
🐸 Amphibians
13
389 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 parks
37 Threatened 115 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
3.1 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
79%
📊
Coverage (111 species at ≥5% of 389 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
29%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (11 bird, 1 reptile)
46% Global avg
20%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 Global avg
79
🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
15 Global avg
2
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
27

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Los Haitises National Park?

The most likely sightings are Turkey Vulture (seen by 90–100% of wildlife watchers), Bark Anole (seen by 80–90% of wildlife watchers), White-necked Crow (seen by 80–90% of wildlife watchers), Hispaniolan Woodpecker (seen by 80–90% of wildlife watchers), Cattle Egret (seen by 80–90% of wildlife watchers) — among 389 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

When is the best time to visit Los Haitises National Park for wildlife?

March has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.

Can you see Ridgway's Hawk in Los Haitises National Park?

Yes — about 62% of wildlife watchers report a Ridgway's Hawk sighting in Los Haitises National Park, based on 314 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Hispaniolan Woodpecker in Los Haitises National Park?

Yes — about 85% of wildlife watchers report a Hispaniolan Woodpecker sighting in Los Haitises National Park, based on 432 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Palmchat in Los Haitises National Park?

Yes — about 83% of wildlife watchers report a Palmchat sighting in Los Haitises National Park, based on 420 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Magnificent Frigatebird in Los Haitises National Park?

Yes — about 47% of wildlife watchers report a Magnificent Frigatebird sighting in Los Haitises National Park, based on 239 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

⚖️

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