Flores Crow

A rare, compact pheasant of damp tropical lowland rainforest, especially peat swamp forest. Dark overall with bright red facial skin and a cocked, vertically-flattened tail. Males have pale vermiculations, fine white streaks on the breast, deep orange (fire)back and a pale orange tail. Females are dark blue all over. Overall body and tail color similar to Bornean Crested Fireback but much smaller with red rather than blue facial skin. Exceedingly shy, typically moving in pairs or small groups. Gives a relatively high-pitch “chick!” followed by a low “takrow”.

This long-tailed beauty is Jamaica’s national bird along with Black-billed Streamertail, which is now considered a separate species. Male has a glittering green body, black crown, and red bill; younger males and molting birds may not have the signature tail streamers, giving them a somewhat different look. Female lacks the long tail and is similar to Black-billed Streamertail, but usually shows a pink tinge to the base of the lower part of her bill. Her relatively large size and longer bill help separate her from Vervain Hummingbird. Found in forest in most of the island except for the far east, where it is replaced by Black-billed Streamertail, and readily comes to feeders. Local names for this species include “doctor bird” and “swallow tail humming bird”.

Parakeets are fairly small parrots, usually with a relatively long and somewhat pointed tail. This species is fairly common in tropical lowlands, mainly in semiopen areas with scattered trees, woodlands, and locally in towns and suburban areas. Often in small flocks or in pairs. Note the bright orange forehead and yellowish eyering. In most parts of its range, no other parakeets occur.