Pearly-eyed Thrasher
Margarops fuscatus
A sometimes secretive and sometimes bold resident of many habitats. Overall rather dull colored, but highly vocal. It is similar in shape and size to Scaly-breasted Thrasher and Bahama Mockingbird; told from both by its large pale bill. Told from Scaly-breasted Thrasher by its streaked, not barred underparts. Distinguished from the Bahama Mockingbird by its brown plumage and heavier streaking below. Song is a series of slowly given whistled notes with one to three phrases. Calls are varied, including high thin whistles, brief chirps, and harsh or guttural scolds.
Identification
The pearly-eyed thrasher is the largest species in the Mimidae, growing to 28 to 30 cm (11 to 11.8 inches) in length.
Taxonomy
Its genus, Margarops, is currently considered monotypic; formerly the scaly-breasted thrasher was placed in the same genus. However, M. fusctaus is now known to be closer to the Cinclocerthia tremblers.<p>While this is not a migratory bird, considerable gene flow between populations appears to have taken place at least until fairly recently in its evolutionary history. There are four subspecies, two of which can be distinguished genetically: M. f. fuscatus (the nominate subspecies, which is found between the Greater Antilles and Antigua and Barbuda), and M. f. densirostris (occurring from Montserrat and Guadeloupe southwards). When exactly the pearly-eyed thrasher lineage diverged from its relatives cannot be said with reasonable certainty, as no fossils are known and the standard molecular clock model cannot be applied to the Mimidae, as mutation rates seem to have varied over time.
- Scientific name
- Margarops fuscatus
- Authority
- (Vieillot, 1808)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Mimidae
- Genus
- Margarops
Range and habitat
The pearly-eyed thrasher has a somewhat disjunct distribution throughout the West Indies: it is found in the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Turks and Caicos islands, the Dominican Republic's Isla Beata, many of the Lesser Antilles (except Barbados and Grenada, where it is extirpated), and Bonaire. Its main habitat is bushes and trees in mountain forests and coffee plantations.<p>In Puerto Rico, as well as occupying the main island, it is also found on Mona Island. In the Bahamas, it is a breeding species on San Salvador, Exuma, and Long Island, and probably also on Acklins, Mayaguana, and Great Inagua; in addition it is found as a wintering species on Eleuthra and Cat Island. In the Lesser Antilles, it is a breeding species in the SSS islands (the northern part of the Netherlands Antilles), Barbuda, Antigua, Montserrat, Guadeloupe, Dominica, Martinique, St. Lucia, St. Thomas, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The subspecies M. f. bonairensis was formerly found on La Horquilla, one of the Hermanos Islands off the north coast of Venezuela, but it is now believed to be extirpated from there, having last been reported in 1908.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The pearly-eyed thrasher is described as an aggressive, opportunistic omnivore that feeds primarily on large insects, but also feeds on fruits and berries, and will occasionally eat lizards, frogs, small crabs and other bird's eggs and nestlings.<p>This species nests in cavities. In Puerto Rico, it is known to compete with the critically endangered Puerto Rican amazon (Amazona vittata) for nesting sites, and may even destroy the parrot's eggs.
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Gray-headed Broadbill
Smithornis sharpei
A dumpy bird with a blue-gray head, a chunky bill, a brown back, and a pale belly with dark streaks. The breast band is broken into two patches and is orange in the male and buff in the female. Pairs are resident at middle levels and in the understory of lowland and montane forest. Call is a thin high-pitched whistle “heeeuuw”; the species also displays with a bizarre mechanical rattle “prrdddrrtt” made by the wings. African Broadbill is smaller and duller than Gray-headed, and Rufous-sided Broadbill has a dark head and white wingbars.
Mariana Fruit-Dove
Ptilinopus roseicapilla
A spectacularly colorful dove with a bright green body, an orange belly, a dark chest band, a bright silver neck and chest, a slim white eyebrow, and a striking magenta forehead. Wings have dark splodges on them. Unique within its range. Call is a typical dove-like cooing, slow at the start and end, rapidly bubbling in the middle.
Red-winged Gray Warbler
Drymocichla incana
A plain pale gray warbler, slightly darker above, with distinctive brick-red wing panels and, if seen well, pale gray-green eyes and pinkish legs. Juvenile is washed brownish on the underparts. Pairs and small groups occur in woodland, especially favoring riverine forest and margins of swamps. Gives a loud cheerful duet “chi-weer, chi-weer, chi-weer” and other strident notes that often draw attention to it. Other co-occurring warblers are warmer brown or streaked.
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