Two New Species for the Island and the Region

The digital camera has fundamentally transformed modern ornithology and birding. This crucial role was underscored by the recent addition of two new bird species to the island and region's avian checklist, directly facilitated by photographic documentation. These two additions took the island's count to 286 species. (Clements)

A photograph by Michael St. John of the island and region's first Sharp-tailed Sandpiper

Our first bird, a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminate), was also a first for the West Indies. It was discovered by Michael St. John on June 11, 2025, at a private site in St. Lucy. Initially misidentified as a Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos) —a species commonly seen on the island—the bird’s true identity was later confirmed by renowned birder and co-author of the Lynx Field Guide to the Birds of the West Indies, Anthony Levesque of Guadeloupe, after he spotted a photo on eBird. This medium-sized shorebird is native to the Old World, breeds in eastern Siberia, and winters mainly in Australasia, following migration routes that span the Pacific. How it ended up in the Caribbean, gracing our beautiful island, remains an unsolved mystery.

The juvenile female Pallid Harrier, seen and photographed by Dr. John Webster
 in 2014, correctly identified in 2025

The second new bird proved to be even more remarkable. First sighted and photographed by Dr. John Webster on December 26, 2014, it was initially identified on eBird as a Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus). Years later, the identification came into question when Paul Buckley (author of Birds of Barbados- an annotated checklist) noted its unusual appearance and sought further expertise. He sent John's images to the renowned Finnish ornithologist and field guide author Dick Forsman (author of The Raptors of Europe and the Middle East: A Handbook of Field Identification). Upon examining the photographs, Dick Forsman definitively identified it as a juvenile female Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus). This species of raptor is native to eastern Europe and Central Asia, with its wintering grounds primarily in Africa and South Asia. Its confirmed presence in Barbados made not just a first for the island and the region but all of the Americas. 

These two remarkable sightings underscore how digital photography, paired with expert insight, is reshaping our understanding of bird vagrancy—not only in Barbados, but across the globe. They also highlight the value of contributing rich data to our eBird.org checklists, including detailed descriptions, photos, and audio. Once again, Barbados shines as a hotspot for exceptionally rare bird species, which can change a casual birding outing into an unforgettable adventure.

Stay safe and enjoy your birding!