Tiaris canorus


Unquestionably the most attractive of its genus (this is a male), the Cuban Grassquit has declined drastically in the west and centre of the main island due to trapping for the cagebird trade. Ten years ago the species could still be found locally in the Zapata region, but this grassquit is now extirpated in that region. Further east on Cuba it is still a common bird, even in the desertic environment of the extreme south-east. Elsewhere a population was accidentally introduced onto one of the Bahamas, which population has increased. We were fortunate to catch up with this species at a couple of places in the west, around Soroa and Viņales.