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Difference between revisions of "Carib Grackle" - BirdForum Opus

(Subspecies. Video linked. Reference)
(Photo date)
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[[Image:Carib_Grackle.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Male<br />Photo by {{user|Bjorn+Svensson|Bjorn Svensson}}<br /> [[Venezuela]]]]
+
[[Image:Carib_Grackle.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Male<br />Photo by {{user|Bjorn+Svensson|Bjorn Svensson}}<br /> [[Venezuela]], January 2005]]
 
;[[:Category:Quiscalus|Quiscalus]] lugubris
 
;[[:Category:Quiscalus|Quiscalus]] lugubris
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
Line 8: Line 8:
 
Male is larger than female.  
 
Male is larger than female.  
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
Present in the [[Lesser Antilles]] from [[Anguilla]] and south - probably introduced on some of the northern islands including [[Antigua]] and [[Barbuda]]. Outside the [[Caribbean]], also present on [[Trinidad]], and Eastern [[Colombia]] through Northern [[Venezuela]] (including islands such as [[Isla Margarita]] etc), the [[Guianas]], and North-Eastern [[Brazil]].
+
Present in the [[Lesser Antilles]] from [[Anguilla]] and south - probably introduced on some of the northern islands including [[Antigua]] and [[Barbuda]]. Outside the [[Caribbean]], also present on [[Trinidad]], and Eastern [[Colombia]] through Northern [[Venezuela]] (including islands such as Isla Margarita etc), the [[Guianas]], and North-Eastern [[Brazil]].
 
==Taxonomy==  
 
==Taxonomy==  
Clements Checklist mentions 8 subspecies. According to Raffaele<sup>[[#References|1]]</sup>, the 5 Caribbean subspecies have different song dialects, and there is some  differences in female plumage as well. Prime suspect for a future split?
 
 
====Subspecies<sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup>====
 
====Subspecies<sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup>====
 +
Clements Checklist mentions 8 subspecies.
 
*''Q. l. guadeloupensis'':
 
*''Q. l. guadeloupensis'':
 
:*[[Montserrat]], [[Guadeloupe]], Marie Galante, [[Dominica]] and [[Martinique]]
 
:*[[Montserrat]], [[Guadeloupe]], Marie Galante, [[Dominica]] and [[Martinique]]
Line 28: Line 28:
 
*''Q. l. lugubris'':
 
*''Q. l. lugubris'':
 
:*North-eastern [[Colombia]] to northern [[Venezuela]], the [[Guianas]] and north-eastern [[Brazil]]; [[Trinidad]]
 
:*North-eastern [[Colombia]] to northern [[Venezuela]], the [[Guianas]] and north-eastern [[Brazil]]; [[Trinidad]]
 +
 +
According to Raffaele<sup>[[#References|1]]</sup>, the 5 Caribbean subspecies have different song dialects, and there is some  differences in female plumage as well. Prime suspect for a future split?
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
 
Limited to open areas, including residential.  
 
Limited to open areas, including residential.  
 
==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
 
====Breeding====
 
====Breeding====
It breeds in colonies.  A deep cup nest is built in a tree; 2-4 white eggs are laid and incubated for 12 days.  The young fledge 14 days later.
+
It breeds in colonies.  A deep cup nest is built in a tree. The 2-4 white eggs are incubated for 12 days.  The young fledge 14 days later.
 
====Diet====
 
====Diet====
 
The diet includes insects and invertebrates.
 
The diet includes insects and invertebrates.

Revision as of 20:45, 12 October 2010

Male
Photo by Bjorn Svensson
Venezuela, January 2005
Quiscalus lugubris

Identification

24-28 cm
Male is black with a metallic sheen that is either green, violet, or steel-blue. It has a tail that is V-shaped and whitish eyes.
The female has grayish underside, darker brownish-gray upperside and a light supercilium at least on some islands, while she is darker and even can have some glossy black areas on other islands.

Male is larger than female.

Distribution

Present in the Lesser Antilles from Anguilla and south - probably introduced on some of the northern islands including Antigua and Barbuda. Outside the Caribbean, also present on Trinidad, and Eastern Colombia through Northern Venezuela (including islands such as Isla Margarita etc), the Guianas, and North-Eastern Brazil.

Taxonomy

Subspecies[2]

Clements Checklist mentions 8 subspecies.

  • Q. l. guadeloupensis:
  • Q. l. inflexirostris:
  • Q. l. contrusus:
  • Q. l. luminosus:
  • Q. l. fortirostris:
  • Q. l. orquillensis:
  • Q. l. insularis:
  • Isla Margarita and Islas Los Frailes (off Venezuela)
  • Q. l. lugubris:

According to Raffaele1, the 5 Caribbean subspecies have different song dialects, and there is some differences in female plumage as well. Prime suspect for a future split?

Habitat

Limited to open areas, including residential.

Behaviour

Breeding

It breeds in colonies. A deep cup nest is built in a tree. The 2-4 white eggs are incubated for 12 days. The young fledge 14 days later.

Diet

The diet includes insects and invertebrates.

References

  1. Raffaele et al. 1998. Birds of the West Indies. Christopher Helm, London. ISBN 0713649054
  2. Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
  3. Wikipedia

Recommended Citation

External Links


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