The bee hummingbird
The smallest bird of all.
Jean-Marc Astesana from Voisins le Bretonneux, France — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Jean-Marc Astesana from Voisins le Bretonneux, France — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Kate Perez — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Kate Perez — CC BY-SA 4.0 · basketcase @ Mapillary — CC BY-SA 4.0
The Zapata Swamp is a wide wetland on the Zapata Peninsula in southern Matanzas Province, less than 150 km south-east of Havana. It is among the richest places in Cuba for wildlife and a draw for birdwatchers, as it is home to the world's smallest bird, the bee hummingbird. A national park of the same name covers it. The swamp holds over 900 native plant species, 175 kinds of bird, 31 of reptiles and over 1,000 of invertebrates. Some of its birds live nowhere else, such as the Zapata wren, Zapata rail and Zapata sparrow. It is also the home of the Cuban crocodile, a species found almost nowhere else. Some 65 kinds of bird pass through on migration. The best-known spot is Laguna del Tesoro, a lake of calm brown water with thatched huts standing over it among palm trees. In the forest around it owls hide among the branches and bright butterflies settle on the leaves. The roads here run long and straight between the trees, with hardly a car on them. Its heart is about 91 km from Varadero in a straight line and about 112 km from Cienfuegos. Birdwatching needs a guide and an early start, so arrange it ahead. Bring protection against mosquitoes, which are many, above all in the rainy months. The UK Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel to Cuba because of fuel, power and water shortages, so read the current advice before you plan.
The smallest bird of all.
Thatched huts over water.
A rare species here.
Zapata Peninsula, southern Matanzas Province, Cuba
The dry months and early mornings are best, with a guide who knows where to look.
It is possible but not certain, as it is very small, and a guide helps you find it.