Jamaican Oriole
Icterus leucopteryx
A fruit-loving inhabitant of woodlands and gardens. Adult is yellow (often tinged green or orange), sports a black beard, and has very large white wing patches covering half of the otherwise black wing. Immatures look similar, but they have two broad white wingbars instead of a white patch. Immature male Orchard Oriole looks somewhat similar, but it is smaller and lacks the bold white wing markings seen on Jamaican Orioles. Songs include a rapid series of rich, whistled, and mostly down-slurred phrases and “cheat-you, cheat-you, cheat-you, cheat-you, cheat.”
Taxonomy
The species is more closely related to the orioles of the North American mainland, such as the Baltimore oriole (Icterus galbula), and the orange oriole (Icterus auratus) than to the other Caribbean members of the genus.
- Scientific name
- Icterus leucopteryx
- Authority
- (Wagler, 1827)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Icteridae
- Genus
- Icterus
Range and habitat
It is found in Jamaica and on the Colombian island of San Andrés. The subspecies I. l. bairdi formerly occurred on Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands but is now extinct, making the species extirpated there. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, and heavily degraded former forest.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Asian Brown Flycatcher
Muscicapa dauurica
Plain brown flycatcher with a large-eyed appearance. Note bright white eyering and unmarked throat and underparts. Appears shorter- and plainer-winged than other similar brownish flycatchers. Favors broadleaf forests; also found in more open habitats on migration and wintering grounds. Sallies from exposed perches; cocks tail and flicks wings when perched. Song comprises high buzzy trilling and whistles. Calls include dry rattling and chittering.
Beautiful Nuthatch
Sitta formosa
An unmistakable and fairly uncommon large nuthatch: combination of orange belly, white face, and dazzling blue banding on the wings is unique in its family. Forages in primary forests, probing beneath bark, leaves, and treetop vegetation. Joins mixed-species flocks.
Cinnamon Screech-Owl
Megascops petersoni
Small screech-owl with a scattered distribution in the Andes. It inhabits cloud forest in southeastern Ecuador and northern Peru, as well as a few locations in Colombia and Venezuela. Most birds have bright cinnamon-buff plumage, but some are brown and tan. Distinguished from the similar Rufescent Screech-Owl by the lack of any white marks on the shoulders, and by voice. Song is a fast, rising and falling series of soft “pu” notes. The speed at which the notes are given is quite variable.
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