Rocklands Bird Sanctuary tour: Hand-feed hummingbirds

Sit still and let hummingbirds land on your finger to drink from a bottle you're holding

A private tour from Montego Bay to Rocklands Bird Sanctuary where you hand-feed hummingbirds and other tropical birds in a garden setting. Jamaica's national bird, the Red-billed Streamertail, will perch on your outstretched finger while you offer sugar water from a bottle. You'll also walk the gardens with your guide to see the trees and herbs that sustain the sanctuary's thousands of resident and migrant birds.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Rocklands Bird Sanctuary

• Feed hummingbirds from bottle
• Walk garden with guide
• Watch various birds at feeders

The experience

The sanctuary sits home to thousands of birds, many so accustomed to visitors that they'll fly straight to a handheld bottle of sugar water. The Red-billed Streamertail and Jamaica Mango hummingbirds are the main draw: they're tame enough to land on your finger and feed directly from the bottle you hold. Three of Jamaica's four resident hummingbird species live here, making it one of the few places on the island where you can see them all in one morning or afternoon.

Beyond the hummingbirds, you'll put seed on your hand to attract Black-faced Grassquits, Yellow-faced Grassquits, and Orangequits. The Bananaquit and Greater Antillean Bullfinch hop around the feeders while you sit on the outdoor patio. Jamaican Orioles, Common Ground-Doves, and Caribbean Doves move through the gardens, each one drawn to the seed stations scattered across the grounds. Your guide walks you through the different trees and herbs that make the sanctuary work, explaining what brings each species back year after year.

The tour runs three to five hours and includes private transportation from your hotel, entry to the sanctuary, and an air-conditioned vehicle for the ride. You choose your pickup point at booking (Montego Bay, Grand Palladium, Negril, or Falmouth), and the driver collects you and returns you at the end. A live English-speaking guide leads the experience, so you'll learn the names and habits of the birds as you feed them.

What’s included

• Private transportation and air-conditioned vehicle.
• entry to Rocklands Bird Sanctuary.
• hotel pickup and dropoff.
• live English-speaking guide.

Options for this experience

4 options

From Montego BayGuide in English · 11 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 13:00Pickup is included, but guests staying at Royalton, Excellence, Grand Palladium, or Braco resorts are not included

From Grand PalladiumGuide in English · 6 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 10:30Includes pickup

From FalmouthGuide in English · 5 departure times: the first at 08:30, the last at 10:30Includes pickup

From NegrilGuide in English · 08:30, 09:00 and 09:30Includes pickup

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day11 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 13:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (9 and older) · Child (2 to 8 years) · Infant (under 2): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Jamaica Terrific Travel Tours

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you want a private vehicle and guide rather than sharing with other travelers, so you can move at your own pace and spend as much time as you want feeding the birds without waiting for a group to finish.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 8 years); Infant (under 2): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Can I really get a hummingbird to land on my finger?

Yes. The Red-billed Streamertail and Jamaica Mango hummingbirds at Rocklands are so accustomed to visitors that they'll perch on your outstretched finger while you hold a bottle of their favorite sugar water and let them feed directly from it.

What other birds will I see besides hummingbirds?

Rocklands is home to thousands of birds, including Black-faced Grassquits, Yellow-faced Grassquits, Orangequits, Bananaquits, Greater Antillean Bullfinches, Jamaican Orioles, Common Ground-Doves, and Caribbean Doves. You'll hand-feed some of them by putting seed on your palm.

How long does the tour take?

The tour runs between three and five hours, depending on your hotel location and how long you spend at the sanctuary watching and feeding the birds.

What's included in the price?

Private transportation from your hotel, entry to Rocklands Bird Sanctuary, an air-conditioned vehicle, and a live English-speaking guide. Hotel pickup and dropoff are included.

Which hotel locations can I book from?

You can arrange pickup from Montego Bay, Grand Palladium, Negril, or Falmouth. Let the operator know your hotel at booking so they can confirm the pickup time and location.