Celebrating 60 years of Independence : Our National Birds

The National Birds of Trinidad and Tobago are the Scarlet Ibis (Trinidad - Top Left), and the Cocrico (Tobago - Top Right). The Scarlet Ibis (Eudocimus Ruber) is a species of ibis that occurs in tropical South America and Trinidad and Tobago. The largest habitat of the Scarlet Ibis is the Caroni Swamp in central Trinidad. This beautiful bird is brown when young and, its colour changes to red when it is mature. The Cocrico (Red tailed Guan or Rufus -tailed Chachalaca) is a native of Tobago and Venezuela, but is not found in Trinidad. It is the only game bird on the island of Tobago, and is referred to as the Tobago Pheasant. It is about the size of a common fowl, brownish in colour with a long tail. They go about in flocks of about six (6) and their quaint calls can be heard especially on early mornings and late evenings.Both birds are featured on the Coat of Arms of Trinidad and Tobago, and are protected by law.