Main Ridge Forest Reserve

🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago

🐦 Blue-backed Manakin Lek Spectacle

🌍 #131 Global · 3.8 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #25 in Central America #64 in Tropical Forest

Tobago, Trinidad and Tobago 471 spp. recorded

Situated on the steep tropical rainforest slopes of Tobago, Main Ridge Forest Reserve stands as a legally safeguarded mountain sanctuary of dense greenery and damp walking trails. Towering hardwood trees, giant ferns, and tangled vines cloak the steep terrain, creating a dense canopy that shelters specialized island wildlife along muddy mountain footpaths.

11.271° N 60.657° W

Wildlife

⭐ Iconic Species

White-tailed Sabrewing

Campylopterus ensipennis

70–80% · Very likely

Trinidad Motmot

Momotus bahamensis

80–90% · Very likely

Blue-backed Manakin

Chiroxiphia pareola

80–90% · Very likely

Rufous-vented Chachalaca

Ortalis ruficauda

70–80% · Very likely

📊 Most Spotted

Bananaquit

Coereba flaveola

80–90% · Very likely

Barred Antshrike

Thamnophilus doliatus

80–90% · Very likely

Orange-winged Parrot

Amazona amazonica

80–90% · Very likely

Rufous-tailed Jacamar

Galbula ruficauda

80–90% · Very likely

Grenada Tree Anole

Anolis richardii

80–90% · Very likely

Trinidad Ameiva

Ameiva atrigularis

70–80% · Very likely

Tropical Kingbird

Tyrannus melancholicus

70–80% · Very likely

Rufous-breasted Hermit

Glaucis hirsutus

60–70% · Likely

Blue-gray Tanager

Thraupis episcopus

60–70% · Likely

Turniptail Gecko

Thecadactylus rapicauda

60–70% · Likely

Eastern Cane Toad

Rhinella marina

60–70% · Likely

Copper-rumped Hummingbird

Saucerottia tobaci

60–70% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Red-tailed Squirrel

Sciurus granatensis

40–50% · Likely

Jamaican Fruit-eating Bat

Artibeus jamaicensis

20–30% · Possible

Crested Agouti

Dasyprocta leporina

Insufficient data

Brazilian Spiny Tree Rat

Makalata didelphoides

Insufficient data

Miller's long-tongued bat

Glossophaga longirostris

Insufficient data

Flat-faced Fruit-eating Bat

Artibeus planirostris

Insufficient data

Seba's Short-tailed Bat

Carollia perspicillata

Insufficient data

Nine-banded Armadillo

Dasypus novemcinctus

Insufficient data

Geoffroy's tailless bat

Anoura geoffroyi

Insufficient data

Robinson's Mouse Opossum

Marmosa robinsoni

Insufficient data

Gervais's Fruit Eating Bat

Artibeus cinereus

Insufficient data

Attenborough's Myotis

Myotis attenboroughi

Insufficient data

⭐ Iconic Species

White-tailed Sabrewing

Campylopterus ensipennis

70–80% · Very likely

Trinidad Motmot

Momotus bahamensis

80–90% · Very likely

Blue-backed Manakin

Chiroxiphia pareola

80–90% · Very likely

Rufous-vented Chachalaca

Ortalis ruficauda

70–80% · Very likely

📊 Most Spotted

Bananaquit

Coereba flaveola

80–90% · Very likely

Barred Antshrike

Thamnophilus doliatus

80–90% · Very likely

Orange-winged Parrot

Amazona amazonica

80–90% · Very likely

Rufous-tailed Jacamar

Galbula ruficauda

80–90% · Very likely

Tropical Kingbird

Tyrannus melancholicus

70–80% · Very likely

Rufous-breasted Hermit

Glaucis hirsutus

60–70% · Likely

Blue-gray Tanager

Thraupis episcopus

60–70% · Likely

Copper-rumped Hummingbird

Saucerottia tobaci

60–70% · Likely

White-lined Tanager

Tachyphonus rufus

60–70% · Likely

Rufous-breasted Wren

Pheugopedius rutilus

50–60% · Likely

Crested Oropendola

Psarocolius decumanus

50–60% · Likely

Yellow-legged Thrush

Turdus flavipes

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Grenada Tree Anole

Anolis richardii

80–90% · Very likely

Trinidad Ameiva

Ameiva atrigularis

70–80% · Very likely

Turniptail Gecko

Thecadactylus rapicauda

60–70% · Likely

Tropical House Gecko

Hemidactylus mabouia

50–60% · Likely

Common House Gecko

Hemidactylus frenatus

40–50% · Likely

Eyespot Gecko

Gonatodes ocellatus

40–50% · Likely

Dormilona

Corallus ruschenbergerii

40–50% · Likely

Boa Constrictor

Boa constrictor

30–40% · Possible

Green Iguana

Iguana iguana

30–40% · Possible

Black-backed Snake

Erythrolamprus melanotus

30–40% · Possible

Venezuelan Cat-eyed Snake

Leptodeira ashmeadii

30–40% · Possible

Cloudy Snail-eating Snake

Sibon nebulatus

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Eastern Cane Toad

Rhinella marina

60–70% · Likely

Pristimantis charlottevillensis

40–50% · Likely

Smooth-skinned Ditch Frog

Leptodactylus validus

40–50% · Likely

Pristimantis turpinorum

40–50% · Likely

Banana Tree Dwelling Frog

Boana platanera

30–40% · Possible

Lesser Antilles Robber Frog

Pristimantis urichi

30–40% · Possible

Eastern Glass Frog

Hyalinobatrachium orientale

Insufficient data

Mount Tucuche Tree Frog

Flectonotus fitzgeraldi

30–40% · Possible

Whistling Grass Frog

Leptodactylus fuscus

20–30% · Possible

Red Snouted Tree Frog

Scinax ruber

Insufficient data

Forest Chirping Frog

Adenomera hylaedactyla

Insufficient data

Guayaquil Dwarf Frog

Engystomops pustulosus

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🐦

Blue-backed Manakin Lek Displays

JanFebMarApr

Male Blue-backed Manakins gather at communal leks along Gilpin Trace, performing coordinated jump-and-wing-snap courtship dances

Blue-backed Manakin

Chiroxiphia pareola

80–90% · Very likely

🐸

Endemic Glass Frog Chorus

AugSepOctNov

Once the rains set in, male Tobago glass frogs call from Heliconia leaves over Main Ridge's forest streams

Eastern Glass Frog

Hyalinobatrachium orientale

Insufficient data

Pristimantis charlottevillensis

40–50% · Likely

🦅

Sea Turtle Nesting

MarAprMayJunJul

Leatherbacks (Tobago hosts one of the world's largest nesting populations) nest on northeast-Tobago beaches around Charlotteville, with hawksbills nesting onward.

Leatherback Sea Turtle

Dermochelys coriacea

Insufficient data

Hawksbill

Eretmochelys imbricata

Insufficient data

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Species Total

70–80

70–80

60–70

70–80

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

70–80

70–80

70–80

White-tailed Sabrewing

70–80

60–70

60–70

80–90

70–80

60–70

60–70

80–90

60–70

80–90

60–70

80–90

Trinidad Motmot

80–90

80–90

80–90

90–100

80–90

90–100

90–100

80–90

90–100

90–100

80–90

90–100

Blue-backed Manakin

70–80

70–80

80–90

90–100

90–100

80–90

80–90

80–90

80–90

90–100

70–80

80–90

Rufous-vented Chachalaca

70–80

70–80

80–90

50–60

60–70

60–70

50–60

60–70

60–70

70–80

70–80

60–70

90–100

80–90

80–90

90–100

70–80

60–70

60–70

80–90

70–80

80–90

90–100

90–100

Barred Antshrike

90–100

90–100

70–80

80–90

60–70

80–90

70–80

90–100

80–90

70–80

70–80

80–90

Orange-winged Parrot

80–90

90–100

80–90

90–100

70–80

70–80

80–90

60–70

70–80

60–70

80–90

70–80

Rufous-tailed Jacamar

80–90

90–100

80–90

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

60–70

60–70

70–80

70–80

80–90

Grenada Tree Anole

60–70

80–90

80–90

60–70

50–60

80–90

70–80

80–90

80–90

50–60

80–90

80–90

Trinidad Ameiva

50–60

50–60

30–40

30–40

80–90

70–80

80–90

50–60

70–80

80–90

60–70

70–80

Tropical Kingbird

80–90

80–90

70–80

60–70

50–60

40–50

70–80

50–60

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

Rufous-breasted Hermit

70–80

70–80

70–80

80–90

50–60

70–80

40–50

60–70

60–70

60–70

70–80

50–60

Blue-gray Tanager

70–80

70–80

70–80

40–50

40–50

30–40

50–60

70–80

60–70

50–60

60–70

70–80

Turniptail Gecko

70–80

50–60

20–30

70–80

40–50

40–50

60–70

50–60

30–40

40–50

70–80

80–90

Eastern Cane Toad

20–30

50–60

20–30

60–70

40–50

70–80

60–70

60–70

30–40

70–80

70–80

70–80

Copper-rumped Hummingbird

70–80

60–70

50–60

60–70

40–50

30–40

40–50

50–60

50–60

70–80

60–70

60–70

Animal Events

🐦 Blue-backed Manakin Lek Displays

🐸 Endemic Glass Frog Chorus

🦅 Sea Turtle Nesting

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 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Excellent

🐦 Blue-backed Manakin Lek Spectacle

🦜

Biodiversity

Good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg

3.1 ★★★★★ ★★★★★

Species by taxon

🦅 Birds

275

🐒 Mammals

104

🦎 Reptiles

73

🐸 Amphibians

19

471 Total Species

841 Global average across 280 parks

22 Threatened 37 Endemic

🔭

Sighting

Excellent

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg

4.1 ★★★★★ ★★★★★

🎯

Top-12 Avg Probability

62% Global avg

79%

📊

Coverage (162 species at ≥5% of 471 in the inventory)

24% Global avg

34%

🔀

Taxon variety in top 12 (10 bird, 2 reptile)

47% Global avg

37%

🔭

Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)

132 Global avg

80

🌟

Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)

14 Global avg

7

⭐

High-prob species (>40%)

26 Global avg

47

Explore Other Parks

Caroni Swamp

📍 116 km 🐦 Scarlet Ibis Flood the Evening Roost

Caroni Swamp

🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago 🌍 #170 Global · 3.6 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #30 in Central America #81 in Tropical Forest

Canaima National Park

📍 660 km 🐸 Spot Elusive Poison Dart Frogs

Canaima National Park

🇻🇪 Venezuela 🌍 #169 Global · 3.6 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #31 in South America #80 in Tropical Forest

Henri Pittier National Park

📍 755 km 🦥 Sloth and Toucanet Cloud Forest

Henri Pittier National Park

🇻🇪 Venezuela 🌍 #252 Global · 3.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #39 in South America #112 in Tropical Forest

Brownsberg Nature Park

📍 925 km 🐒 Red Howler Monkeys at Dawn

Brownsberg Nature Park

🇸🇷 Suriname 🌍 #30 Global · 4.7 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #4 in South America #8 in Tropical Forest