• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Map
• Reference and further resources

Site description (2006 baseline)
The site, south of the Salina and east of the Botanic Park (KY007), in the centre of the eastern districts, comprises dry forest bordered by Conocarpus wetlands and agricultural plantations. Part of the site, area yet unknown, has recently been purchased by the Crown; the remainder is privately owned and all is unprotected.

Key biodiversity
The major species are the Near-threatened Cuban Parrot caymanensis and the Vitelline Warbler vitellina, each more than 1% of the global population. The largest flocks (150+) of Cuban Parrots on Grand Cayman congregate on the edge of a fruit plantation. There are three restricted-range species: the Thick-billed Vireo alleni, Yucatan Vireocaymanensis and Cuban Bullfinch taylori. The Grand Cayman Thrush was last seen here in 1938. There are five biome species: the Caribbean Dove collaris, West Indian Woodpecker caymanensis, Loggerhead Kingbird caymanensis, Western Spindalis salvini and the Greater Antillean Grackle caymanensis.There are 19 breeding taxa: endemic races of Northern Flickers gundlachii, Caribbean Elaenia caymanensis and Bananaquit sharpei; indigenous species are the Whitecrowned Pigeon, Zenaida Dove, White-winged Dove, Barn Owl and La Sagra's Flycatcher; Mangrove Cuckoos and Northern Mockingbirds breed on the forest edge. Wintering migrants include Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Grey Catbird, White-eyed Vireo, Yellow-throated Vireo and several species of warbler, most commonly Northern Parula, Cape May Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Palm Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, American Redstart and Ovenbird.

Non-bird biodiversity: Plants endemic to Grand Cayman: Chionanthus caymanensis var. longipetala, Crossopetalum caymanense, Allophylus cominia var. caymanensis; Myrmecophilia thompsoniana thompsonia, Dendrophylax fawcettii and Tolumnia caymanense. Reptiles endemic to Grand Cayman: Anolis conspersus lewisi, Sphaerodactylus argivus lewisi, Tropidophis caymanensis caymanensis and Alsophis cantherigerus caymanensis; the endangered Cyclura (nubile) lewisi occurs in adjacent shrubland.

---

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Franklin's Forest (Cayman Islands (to UK)). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/franklins-forest-iba-cayman-islands-(to-uk) on 23/12/2024.