Caribbean Birds

Lesser Antilles

The Lesser Antilles consist of an arc of high islands of volcanic origin. Outside the volcanic arc are several low-lying islands composed of uplifted marine sediments. The islands are roughly 20 million years old, several times older than the contemporary avifauna. Before the Lesser Antilles emerged, an older chain of islands ocurred to the west, now represented by the submarine Aves Ridge. Most of the islands are separated by deep water channels and probably have never had land connections. Although the climate of the Lesser Antilles is mild and the vegetation tropical, the region is regularly traversed by hurricanes, and at least four of the islands have experienced volcanic activity this century, including the currently active volcano on Montserrat.