From Opus

ssp sclateri
Photo by caribemotion
Sierra de Bahoruco, Dominican Republic.

Tachycineta euchrysea

[edit] Identification

12cm.

• Strongly iridescent bronzy green to coppery bronze above, often appearing golden
• Dusky bronze-green wings and tail
• Slightly forked tail
• White underparts
• Dusky underwing-coverts with bronze-green margins
• Sclateri less golden, with longer wings, smaller bill and deeper tail fork

Female similar but duller iwth some grey-brown mottling on breast. Juveniles are duller and browner.

[edit] Distribution

Found on Jamaica and Hispaniola (Haiti and Dominican Republic).
Has a small and fragmented range and is very rare and local. Only few recent records from Jamaica.

[edit] Taxonomy

Two subspecies:

• T. e. euchrysea on Jamaica
• T. e. sclateri on Hispaniola

Sometimes placed in a separate genus Lamprochelidon or Kalochelidon.

[edit] Habitat

Humid montane forest and pine forest, also secondary forest. Forages also over open country and cultivation.
Occurs up to 2000m.

[edit] Behaviour

Breeding season June to July in Jamaica, also April in Haiti.
Nests often colonial. The nest is placed in a cavity like an old woodpecker hole, a dead pine tree, in a cave, among boulders in old mines or in buildings. Lays 2-4 eggs.
A resident species, may move to lower altitudes after breeding.

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2011. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to August 2011. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
2. Del Hoyo, J, A Elliot, and D Christie, eds. 2004. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 9: Cotingas to Pipits and Wagtails. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334696

• List of references

[edit] External Links