Ciénaga de Zapata
🇨🇺 Cuba
🦎 Tocororo and Curly-tailed Lizard WetlandZapata is the largest wetland in the Caribbean, a flat mosaic of swamp forest, sawgrass and flooded cave systems. Northern curly-tailed lizards run across every warm rock and Cuban sliders bask on the logs of the drainage channels.
22.030° N 81.329° W
Wildlife
⭐ Iconic Species
★ 
Cuban Trogon
Priotelus temnurus
★ 
Northern Curly-tailed Lizard
Leiocephalus carinatus
★ 
Cuban Slider
Trachemys decussata
★ 
Cuban Treefrog
Osteopilus septentrionalis
📊 Most Spotted
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
Cuban Emerald
Riccordia ricordii
American Redstart
Setophaga ruticilla
Red-legged Thrush
Turdus plumbeus
Palm Warbler
Setophaga palmarum
Greater Antillean Grackle
Quiscalus niger
West Indian Woodpecker
Melanerpes superciliaris
Cuban Pewee
Contopus caribaeus
Cuban Blackbird
Dives atroviolaceus
Tawny-shouldered Blackbird
Agelaius humeralis
Northern Parula
Setophaga americana
Gray Catbird
Dumetella carolinensis
📊 Most Spotted
Desmarest's Hutia
Capromys pilorides
Jamaican Fruit-eating Bat
Artibeus jamaicensis
Eastern Cottontail
Sylvilagus floridanus
⭐ Iconic Species
📊 Most Spotted
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
Cuban Emerald
Riccordia ricordii
American Redstart
Setophaga ruticilla
Red-legged Thrush
Turdus plumbeus
Palm Warbler
Setophaga palmarum
Greater Antillean Grackle
Quiscalus niger
West Indian Woodpecker
Melanerpes superciliaris
Cuban Pewee
Contopus caribaeus
Cuban Blackbird
Dives atroviolaceus
Tawny-shouldered Blackbird
Agelaius humeralis
Northern Parula
Setophaga americana
Gray Catbird
Dumetella carolinensis
⭐ Iconic Species
📊 Most Spotted
Cuban Curlytail Lizard
Leiocephalus cubensis
Allison's Anole
Anolis allisoni
Cuban Green Anole
Anolis porcatus
Brown Anole
Anolis sagrei
Knight Anole
Anolis equestris
Cuban Crocodile
Crocodylus rhombifer
Cuban Racer
Cubophis cantherigerus
Cayman Islands Ground Iguana
Cyclura nubila
Habana Anole
Anolis homolechis
Auber's Ameiva
Pholidoscelis auberi
Tropical House Gecko
Hemidactylus mabouia
Cuban Tree Boa
Chilabothrus angulifer
Recent sightings in Ciénaga de Zapata
LIVEiNaturalistAnimal Events
1Tree Frogs and Toads in the Rains
Cuban tree frogs and Cuban giant toads breed in every flooded hollow and call through the night.
2Lizards and Sliders in the Dry Months
Northern curly-tailed lizards hold the open rock and Cuban sliders line the channel banks.
3Tocororo and Migrant Warblers
The tocororo calls from the forest edges while American redstarts and other migrants fill the woodland.
Sighting Calendar
Average chance of spotting the park's most-spotted species, month by month
- 1Tree Frogs and Toads in the Rains
- 2Lizards and Sliders in the Dry Months
- 3Tocororo and Migrant Warblers
Sighting Zones
Warmer areas are where all species together are recorded most often.
Essentials
Climate
What visitors saw
We had meandered only a short distance along the channel when Tania heard a Zapata Sparrow (Torreornis inexpectata) and in mere minutes it popped into view.
Sure enough, we first spotted one, then two, then up to six Blue-headed Quail-Doves.
We especially hoped to see Cuba’s special hummingbirds, including the glittering Cuban Emerald and the world’s smallest bird, the Bee Hummingbird, locally known as Zunzuncito.
Quick answers
What animals can you see in Ciénaga de Zapata?
The most likely sightings are Turkey Vulture (seen by about 70% of wildlife watchers), Cuban Emerald (seen by about 70% of wildlife watchers), American Redstart (seen by about 70% of wildlife watchers), Red-legged Thrush (seen by about 60% of wildlife watchers), Palm Warbler (seen by about 60% of wildlife watchers) — among 479 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.
When is the best time to visit Ciénaga de Zapata 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 Cuban Trogon in Ciénaga de Zapata?
Yes — about 40% of wildlife watchers report a Cuban Trogon sighting in Ciénaga de Zapata, based on 898 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Northern Curly-tailed Lizard in Ciénaga de Zapata?
Yes — about 50% of wildlife watchers report a Northern Curly-tailed Lizard sighting in Ciénaga de Zapata, based on 39 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Cuban Slider in Ciénaga de Zapata?
Yes — about 40% of wildlife watchers report a Cuban Slider sighting in Ciénaga de Zapata, based on 19 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Cuban Treefrog in Ciénaga de Zapata?
Yes — about 40% of wildlife watchers report a Cuban Treefrog sighting in Ciénaga de Zapata, based on 25 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Where Wildlife Score
How good is this park for seeing wildlife?Biodiversity
GoodHow rich is the wildlife?
Sighting
GoodHow likely to see animals?
Experience
ExcellentHow easy and pleasant is the visit?
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