Jamaican Becard
Pachyramphus niger
A small but stout woodland species often found hovering beneath the canopy while snapping up insects or fruit. Note the male’s all blackish plumage. The only similar bird in its range is the Jamaican Blackbird, but the Jamaican Blackbird has a slimmer bill and it is typically found probing in vegetation rather than flycatching like the becard. Females and immatures are dark brown above and pale below, often with buff on throat. Females and immatures could be mistaken for Stolid, Sad, or Rufous-tailed Flycatchers, however, these flycatchers have grayish (not buff) throats and yellowish on the belly that female and immature becards lack. Song is a staccato squeaky twitter typically followed by a drawn out “tweeeee.” Call is a sharp but squeaky “peep.”
Taxonomy
The Jamaican becard was formally described in 1788 by the German naturalist Johann Friedrich Gmelin in his revised and expanded edition of Carl Linnaeus's Systema Naturae. He placed it with the shrikes in the genus Lanius and coined the binomial name Lanius niger. Gmelin based his description on the "black shrike" that had been described in 1781 by the English ornithologist John Latham in his book A General Synopsis of Birds. Latham had received two specimens from Jamaica. The Jamaican becard is now one of 17 becards placed in the genus Pachyramphus that was introduced in 1839 by George Gray. The species is monotypic: no subspecies are recognised.
- Scientific name
- Pachyramphus niger
- Authority
- (Gmelin, JF, 1788)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Tityridae
- Genus
- Pachyramphus
Range and habitat
It is endemic to Jamaica. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Pale-footed Swallow
Orochelidon flavipes
Uncommon swallow in montane forest in the Andes from Venezuela to Bolivia. Similar to the more common Blue-and-white Swallow, but look for the buffy throat and browner flanks on Pale-footed Swallow. Found in flocks, usually not far from forest. Not frequently found around human settlements unlike Blue-and-white Swallow. Occurs from around 2,400–3,200 m.
White-faced Ground-Sparrow
Melozone biarcuata
Rather local large sparrow of foothills and highlands in Chiapas and northern Central America. Found in brushy woodland and edge and overgrown clearings; usually on or near the ground and often in pairs. Like other ground-sparrows, spends most of its time skulking in shady and often dense cover. Head pattern is distinctive: rusty cap, white face with a beady dark eye, and dark sideburn patch.
Green Imperial-Pigeon
Ducula aenea
Stately large pigeon, predominantly pearl gray with deep green wings and back. Birds of Sulawesi and the north Philippines have a gingery-orange nape patch. Inhabits forested areas from the lowlands up into the foothills, including edge areas and second growth near human habitation. Very vocal, with a wide repertoire: most common call is a throaty “rrruh-RUOOHH,” but various extended or pitch-altered versions of it are given as well.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.