- Icterus dominicensis
Identification
Adult
20–22 cm (8-8¾ in)
- Black
- Yellow on rump, vent and shoulders
Immature
Nondescript buffy-brownish and can be confusing compared to both adults and other oriole species.
Distribution
Found on Hispaniola (Haiti and Dominican Republic)
Seems sensitive to nest predation by Shiny Cowbird.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species.
It was formerly a part of Greater Antillean Oriole.
This species used to include a couple of Central American subspecies and at that time was called Black-cowled Oriole.
Habitat
Broadleaf forests. Often found near palms from sea level up to mid elevation.
Behaviour
Palms are used both for nesting and for foraging.
Diet
Food includes fruit, nectar, insects, and flowers.
Vocalisation
Song: a series of high pitched whistles.
Song activity just after dawn but is not common.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2019. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2019. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Thread in the Taxonomy forum discussing the possible splitting of this species
- This page at Birdlife International relates a proposal to split all four Greater Antillean Orioles into separate species, and raise concern for the Bahamas form
- 51st supplement to the AOU checklist of North American birds
- Fraga, R. (2020). Hispaniolan Oriole (Icterus dominicensis). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/62270 on 8 March 2020)
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Hispaniolan Oriole. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 15 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Hispaniolan_Oriole
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
