Current view: Text account
Site description (2006 baseline):
Site location and context
The site comprises 255 ha of pristine dry forest in the centre of the island, as characterised in the general introduction to this chapter. At present, there is no public road into the interior of the islands near the forest, although the owners have built survey tracks on the west and south edge. The dominant trees are
Calyptranthes pallens, Sideroxylon salicifolium, Chionanthus caymanensis, Erythroxylum areolatum and
Canella winterana.
The main species of importance is the Near-threatened restricted-range Vitelline Warbler
crawfordi. It is estimated that the forest covers about 3% of its range. Six taxa breed, including the Caribbean Elaenia
caymanensis, Bananaquit
sharpei, Zenaida Dove and the migrant White-crowned Pigeon and Black-whiskered Vireo. Atotal of 86 migrant landbirds are recorded, including Yellowbellied sapsucker, Grey Catbird, White-eyed Vireo, and the warblers: Northern Parula, Cape May Warbler, YellowthroatedWarbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, American Redstart and Ovenbird.
Non-bird biodiversity: Plants endemic to Little Cayman and Cayman Brac: Chionanthus caymanensis var. caymanensis, Encyclia kingsii, Myremecophila thompsoniana var. minor and Phyllanthus caymanensis. Endemic to Little Cayman: Dendropemon caymanensis. Phyllostomid bat Macrotus waterhousii minor found in caves. Endemic reptiles as KY001 plus Celestrus crusculus maculatus. Lepidoptera endemic to the Cayman Islands: Cyclargus amnon erembis and Memphis echemus danielana.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The owners are anxious to sell the land as a block for US$7 million, which in the present economic climate will hopefully prove a restraint on private development. However, they may accept an offer from the National Trust to purchase 33 ha, with possible additional purchases in the future.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Sparrowhawk Hill (Cayman Islands (to UK)). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/sparrowhawk-hill-iba-cayman-islands-(to-uk) on 23/11/2024.
