Biology
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This monogamous species spends the majority of its time with its partner. They echo one another's calls and fly above the canopy to perform a song-flight when separated. During the breeding season, the female incubates the eggs whilst the male perches nearby, attacking other birds vigorously if they come too close. The territories of Jamaican blackbirds are large and do not overlap. Once the chicks have hatched they are fed by both parents equally. The adults fly back and forth between bromeliads suspended on large trees, using their long and probing bills to pick out insects, and will also feed in amongst epiphytes, moss-covered trunks and dead leaves (2) (3).
Conservation
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A network of reserves and national parks exists across Jamaica, and whilst the Jamaican blackbird is found in several of these, including the largest which spans 800 km² of the Blue and John Crow Mountains, they are poorly managed and protected and their long-term future is not secure. The conservation of Cockpit Country would be of great benefit to the species and consequently funding is being sought to create a reserve there (2).
Description
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This inconspicuous and rather dull bird is the most endangered bird in Jamaica. It is entirely black with a pointed and curved bill for probing into bromeliads and a short tail. It calls with a loud, wheezing Zwheezoo-whezoo whe (2).
Habitat
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The Jamaican blackbird can be seen in mature, wet limestone forest with a high density of epiphytes and bromeliads. It is found between 510 and 2,200 metres above sea level, but avoids hillsides with strong winds (2).
Range
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Endemic to Jamaica, this species is found in isolated populations in Cockpit Country, the central hills, and the Blue and John Crow Mountains (2).
Status
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Classified as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List 2006 (1).
Threats
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The past and current major threat to the Jamaican blackbird is habitat destruction as a result of afforestation with Caribbean pine (Pinus caribaea), and clearance for the creation of coffee plantations. Trees are also removed for making charcoal, and small-scale farming and development is a constant threat to the area of habitat that remains. This bird species is particularly threatened by the removal of large trees as these are the support for the bromeliads and epiphytes that the blackbird forages amongst. Their removal also makes space for the invasive species, wild coffee (Pittosporum undulatum), which prevents the growth of epiphytes and therefore further hinders the Jamaican blackbird (2) (4).
Jamaican blackbird
provided by wikipedia EN
The Jamaican blackbird (Nesopsar nigerrimus) is a species of bird in the New World blackbird and oriole family Icteridae. It is the only species (monotypic) in the genus Nesopsar.[2] The species has sometimes been included in the genus Agelaius, but molecular systematics have shown it not be closely related to any living New World blackbird or grackle.[3] The species is endemic to Jamaica, where it is restricted to Cockpit Country, some central areas and the Blue and John Crow Mountains.
Description
The Jamaican blackbird is a small icterid with all black plumage.[4] It has a short tail that is often flayed (see below).
Habitat
It is strictly arboreal and has a wheezing call. Pairs occupy large territories in a variety of wet montane forest types, including elfin and mist forests, that have substantial epiphytes and mosses on the trees. The Jamaican blackbird's habitats are confined to areas of above 575m and are rarely seen in lowland areas.
Ecology
In the absence of specialised tree probers such as the woodcreepers, ovenbirds and woodpeckers (Jamaica does have a species of woodpecker, the Jamaican woodpecker, but it is a generalist that typically feeds away from tree trunks), which occur in similar forests on the mainland, the Jamaican blackbird has convergently evolved to fill this ecological niche.[5] The majority of the food taken by this species is found on the trunks of trees and their inner branches, feeding on animal prey, mostly insects, which it finds in bark or in bromeliads. It has shorter legs and longer claws that typical icterids, uses its tail for support when climbing tree trunks, both of which are adaptations to its niche, and has a longer bill and stronger jaw muscles than other New World blackbirds used for probing, spreading and hammering. It utilises a different niche from the other (semi) endemic icterid, the Jamaican oriole, which forages mainly in the outer branches of the trees.
Conservation
The principal threat to the Jamaican blackbird is habitat loss.[4] There are numerous threats to Jamaican forests, including bauxite mining, charcoal production, forestry, farming and development. This species is particularly vulnerable because it is dependent on large trees which support many epiphytes. Because of these threats it is listed as Endangered by the IUCN. It is protected in the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park, and efforts are underway to stop bauxite mining in Cockpit Country.
References
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Jamaican blackbird: Brief Summary
provided by wikipedia EN
The Jamaican blackbird (Nesopsar nigerrimus) is a species of bird in the New World blackbird and oriole family Icteridae. It is the only species (monotypic) in the genus Nesopsar. The species has sometimes been included in the genus Agelaius, but molecular systematics have shown it not be closely related to any living New World blackbird or grackle. The species is endemic to Jamaica, where it is restricted to Cockpit Country, some central areas and the Blue and John Crow Mountains.
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