Puerto Rican Mango
Anthracothorax aurulentus
Large hummingbird found only in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Adult male has a glittering green throat, black breast, and violet tail. Female is pale gray underneath, and reveals a striking orange, black, and white pattern when she spreads her tail. Immature male has a dark, vertical stripe or blotch on throat and breast. Male is most similar to Green-throated Carib, but black is on the breast, not the belly, and tail is violet. Female has a similar plumage pattern to female Puerto Rican Emerald, but is larger with a longer, thicker, and more curved bill. Widespread and found in a variety of habitats including scrub, light woodland, and gardens. Less common in dense forest. Puerto Rican Mango and Hispaniolan Mango used to be considered the same species and were called Antillean Mango.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Anthracothorax aurulentus
- Authority
- (Audebert & Vieillot, 1801)
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Genus
- Anthracothorax
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Ashy-headed Green-Pigeon
Treron phayrei
The silvery-gray crown of this green pigeon is diagnostic, but can be difficult to see when the bird perches high in the canopy. Adult male is green with an orange chest, dark cinnamon shoulders, and a bright orange patch under the tail. Female is more predominantly green without any orange. Both sexes have the silver crown, black wing tips, and intricate yellow markings on the flight feathers. Gives rather high-pitched whistling coos, generally to the rhythm of “wa-whee-wah-woo”. Strongly favors lowland forests; rare to locally uncommon in foothills.
Henslow's Sparrow
Centronyx henslowii
A large-headed and thick-billed sparrow, found exclusively in weedy grasslands with sparse shrubs. Distinctive color combination of olive-green nape, rufous wings, and crisp black streaks below. Also note large pinkish bill and flat crown. Singing males perch conspicuously in the breeding season; otherwise very secretive, especially in migration and winter. Populations declining sharply, perhaps due to pesticide use and destruction of native grasslands. Listen for its extremely short song, easy to pass off as an insect: “ts-lick.”
Golden Eagle
Aquila chrysaetos
Large and impressive raptor with a range encompassing much of the Northern Hemisphere. Mostly dark brown; the namesake golden nape can be hard to see, especially from below. Immatures have a white patch on the underwing and a white tail base. Compared to similar immature sea eagles such as White-tailed and Bald Eagle, lacks significant white mottling on the belly. Also note the relatively short-necked profile. Often holds wings in slight V-shape when soaring. Hunts mainly mammals in remote, open country from grasslands and steppes to mountainous areas.
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