Hi Michael,
I have personal records of three birds seen in Jamaica [Jan 06, 1971 (1), & Jan 13, 1971 (2)]. I do know there was quite an invasion around that time. I believe there were a total of 100 birds accounted for. They didn't appear to match any WW I'd ever seen. They were very green, only a faint hint of red about the head, and quite a small bill. For a moment I thought the first one was a tiny parrot. I wasn't expecting to see crossbills in Jamaica. They were apparently brought in by a hurricane by way of the Southern Antilles (eye passed over Martinique), it was skimming the S.A. coast heading for Nicaragua, but turned north half way between Aruba & Old Providence. Nobody could see how they ended up in the storm unless it picked up a flock of northern migrants, but that seemed highly unlikely. They weren't from Hispaniola, that's for certain. It was pure conjecture that there was a possibly Antillean race, based on the storm track. The only printed reference I've ever seen was by James Bond in the Peterson Guide, "Birds of The West Indies".
It has been brought up and discussed at a few birder's get togethers with no concensus reached. The general feeling has been that deforestation was going to doom any any suitable crossbill habitat on the smaller Caribean Islands. As of 2004 they appear to have been right!
In those days the Jamaicans, or someone, would have taken specimens. I think I remember seeing a Jamaican specimen at the Museum of Nature here in Ottawa, or at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto. Can't remember the dates though. I'll ask around & see if anybody knows any more about it. I believe that all the Antilles were completely re-surveyed over the past 30 years, so I doubt they would have been missed. Never Know, stranger things have happened in the birding world.
Thanks for the new Taxa of RC in Central America. Just what I need, another one! Wwho knows? Maybe there are WWs hiding out in the highlands of Venezuela or Columbia.
I'll keep in touch with any results.
Hal
