Caribbean national birds and conservationCEFR A2
22 Apr 2026
Adapted from Janine Mendes-Franco, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Karl Callwood, Unsplash
On Earth Day people in the Caribbean talked about the importance of birds. Birds connect islands, culture and the environment. Many species face threats from habitat loss, climate change and hunting. Protecting birds helps local communities and migratory species.
Some islands have national birds and special places for them. Antigua and Barbuda have the Magnificent frigatebird. The Bahamas has the Caribbean flamingo. Inagua National Park was established in 1965 and contains the largest flamingo breeding site, about 70,000 birds. The Brown pelican is a national symbol on several islands. Several parrots and the Grenada dove are seriously endangered.
Difficult words
- connect — join two or more places or things
- species — a group of similar animals or plants
- threat — something that can cause harm or dangerthreats
- habitat loss — when animals lose their natural home
- migratory — moving regularly from one place to another
- endangered — in danger of disappearing in the wild
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Do you have birds where you live? Which birds do you see?
- What can people do to help protect local birds?
- Why do you think birds are important for islands and culture?
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