Tag: Puerto Rico

March 14, 2025

JCO Roundup: Volume 37 Features New Insights into Caribbean Bird Conservation

The Journal of Caribbean Ornithology (JCO) continues to publish peer-reviewed research that advances our understanding of Caribbean birds and ecosystems, providing critical insights for conservation. In this annual roundup, the JCO staff is proud to highlight the outstanding work of researchers across the Caribbean.

Volume 37 features a wide range of studies, including population dynamics, habitat use, bird behavior, and monitoring methods. Of the 13 articles, four focus on nocturnal or elusive species, providing valuable information for conservation planning. This issue also reflects JCO’s deep ties to the Caribbean bird science and conservation community, as reflected in two In Memoriam tributes to Virginia Sanz D-Angelo and Orlando Garrido, two esteemed ornithologists who passed away this year. Additionally, Steven Latta contributes another installment of “Recent Ornithological Literature” and three insightful book reviews.

We are deeply grateful to our dedicated team of editors, reviewers, copyeditors, translators, proofreaders, and production specialists, whose hard work ensures the continued excellence of our publications. We also extend our appreciation to the 77 authors who entrusted JCO to share their open-access research. With the support of our non-profit partner, BirdsCaribbean, JCO remains committed to fostering early-career researchers, publishing content in three languages, and maintaining an open-access archive dating back to our very first volume in 1988. Join us in sustaining this vital resource—become a JCO supporter today!

RESEARCH ARTICLES AND NOTES

Overwinter status of Bicknell’s Thrush (Catharus bicknelli) in eastern Cuba

Christopher C. Rimmer, Nicasio Viña Davila, John D. Lloyd, Yves Aubry, Carmen Placencia León, Yasit Segovia Vega, Freddy Rodríguez Santana, Jose Ramon Fuentes, and Alejandro Llanes Sosa

The elusive Bicknell’s Thrush breeds in a narrow corridor along the eastern U.S. and Canada and overwinters exclusively in the Greater Antilles, primarily in Hispaniola. However, other islands, including Cuba, also play a key role in its wintering habitat mosaic. In this paper, Chris Rimmer and colleagues present findings from their long-term research on Bicknell’s Thrush in Cuba, which began in the late 1990s. Their study maps the species’ distribution and assesses its status in Cuba, providing valuable insights into how to protect this vulnerable migratory bird throughout its annual cycle..

Apparent range expansion or recolonization of Puerto Rican Nightjars (Guabairo; Antrostomus noctitherus) on the Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge

Leanne A. Grieves, Quinlan M. Mann, Michael J. Morel, and James S. Quinn

National parks and wildlife refuges play a vital role in conserving native birds, especially endemic and endangered species. The Puerto Rican Nightjar, once believed to be extinct from the late 1800s to the mid-1900s, now thrives in a network of state forests in southern and southeastern Puerto Rico. In this research note, Grieves and colleagues document the first confirmed sightings of the Puerto Rican Nightjar within the Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge. Their findings underscore the importance of protected areas for species recovery and highlight the need for further surveys to assess the nightjar’s population status and habitat use.

Observations of ground nesting, diet, and distribution of Stygian Owl (Asio stygius siguapa) on Isla de la Juventud, Cuba

Seriocha Amaro-Valdés

Some widespread species remain poorly studied, like the elusive Stygian Owl. This owl has a fragmented distribution across Central and South America and the western Caribbean. The Cuban subspecies, A. s. siguapa, inhabits Isla de la Juventud, a special municipality south of mainland Cuba, but is rarely observed. In this research note, Amaro-Valdés shares new insights into the species, including descriptions of its nest and eggs, diet, and distribution on the island. These observations contribute valuable knowledge to the life history and ecology of this mysterious Neotropical owl.

Desecheo Island: a new home for Audubon’s Shearwaters (Puffinus lherminieri)

Luis A. Ramos-Vázquez, Nahíra Arocho-Hernández, Cielo Figuerola-Hernández, José L. Herrera-Giraldo, Eduardo A. Ventosa-Febles, Ana M. Román, and Silmarie Padrón

Just off the west coast of Puerto Rico lies Desecheo Island, a small, uninhabited island managed as a National Wildlife Refuge. Home to several seabird species, the island also harbored invasive mammals that preyed on breeding birds. After an extensive eradication effort, Desecheo was declared free of invasive mammals in 2017, allowing seabird populations to recover. In this article, Ramos-Vázquez and his team report the first evidence of Audubon’s Shearwaters nesting on the island, marking a hopeful sign for the species’ future in the region.

CONSERVATION REPORTS

An assessment of priority issues and capacity for conservation action of Caribbean endemic and threatened bird species

Howard P. Nelson, David N. Ewert, Mark Hulme, Daniel J. Lebbin, Jennifer Mortensen, Holly Robertson, Bonnie Rusk, Lisa Sorenson, Ann M. Haynes-Sutton, Adrianne Tossas, Amy Upgren, George E. Wallace, Maya Wilson, and Eleanor S. Devenish-Nelson

Determining which conservation issues to prioritize is a critical first step in protecting species, especially in the Caribbean, where endemic and threatened birds face multiple, interconnected threats—including habitat loss, invasive species, and climate change. In 2022, the Endemic and Threatened Species Working Group (ETSWG) conducted a survey to assess conservation priorities for Caribbean birds and evaluate the region’s capacity to address these challenges. In this conservation report, ETSWG members share key findings from the study and outline recommendations to strengthen avian conservation efforts in the Caribbean.

PERSPECTIVES AND OPINIONS

The Puerto Rican Tody (Todus mexicanus): what’s in a name?

Thomas W. Sherry, José González Díaz, Felisa Collazo Torres, Raúl A. Pérez-Rivera, Justin Proctor, Herbert Raffaele and Adrianne Tossas

Endemic species often serve as symbols of national pride, inspiring appreciation and conservation efforts even among those with little connection to nature. The Puerto Rican Tody—a tiny, vibrant, and charismatic bird—belongs to the Todidae family, which is found only in the Caribbean. However, its scientific name is misleading and geographically inaccurate. How did this Puerto Rican endemic end up with a name referencing Mexico? And could this misnomer impact national pride and conservation efforts? In this Perspectives and Opinions piece, Sherry and colleagues unravel the history behind this taxonomic mix-up and discuss its potential implications, as well as possible solutions to set the record straight.

A new hypothesis on the identity of Gosse’s Blue Partridge (Zenaida? plumbea) from Jamaica

Catherine Levy and Susan Koenig

Historical misidentifications and taxonomic mysteries can persist for centuries, shaping our understanding of species past and present. One such enigma is Gosse’s Blue Partridge, a bird reportedly observed in Jamaica in the 1700s and later described by naturalist P.H. Gosse in the 1800s. With no confirmed sightings since, the species remains an open question—was it a now-extinct bird, or a misidentification of an existing species? In this Perspectives and Opinions piece, Levy and Koenig revisit this ornithological puzzle, examining 18th-century illustrations and historical records to shed new light on the identity of Jamaica’s mysterious “Blue Partridge.”

Special Issue 37: Conference Proceedings of BirdsCaribbean’s 24th International Conference

The JCO is proud to present a comprehensive volume of conference proceedings from BirdsCaribbean’s 2024 International Conference. Held in Santo Domingo and co-hosted by BirdsCaribbean and Grupo Jaragua, the conference united researchers, conservationists, and bird enthusiasts under the theme “From Mangroves to Mountains: Safeguarding Our Avian Treasures.”

From Mangroves to Mountains – Explore JCO Special Issue Vol. 37!

Over five days of engaging presentations—plus pre- and post-conference workshops and field trips—more than 300 delegates from 31 countries shared their research, exchanged ideas, and strengthened networks for Caribbean bird conservation. The conference proceedings, available as a Special Issue in Volume 37, serve as a lasting reference, featuring over 170 pages of contributions from keynotes, workshops, roundtables, symposia, and oral and poster presentations. Fully bilingual (English and Spanish), this issue highlights the latest advancements in ornithology and conservation across the region.

BOOK REVIEWS

Aves del Jardín Botánico Nacional de Cuba, Segunda Edición [Birds of the National Botanical Gardens of Cuba, Second Edition]

Book Authors: Martín Acosta, Lourdes Mugica, and Karen Aguilar

Book Review by: Steven C. Latta

Front and back covers of the book of the National Botanic Garden of Cuba. The Green Woodpecker, on the front cover, is the only representative of the Cuban endemic genera living in the garden.

Field Guide to the Birds of Cuba, Second Edition

Book Authors: Arturo Kirkconnell and Orlando H. Garrido

Book Review by: Steven C. Latta

The Field Guide to the Birds of Cuba (Second Edition) is available for purchase directly from Amazon.

Guide to the Alien and Invasive Animals of the Caribbean

Book Authors: Arne Witt, Mike Picker, and Kirsty Swinnerton

Book Review by: Steven C. Latta

RECENT ORNITHOLOGICAL LITERATURE (ROL) FROM THE CARIBBEAN

This annual compilation, curated and annotated by Steve Latta, highlights the most important ornithological articles published in other journals. The Recent Ornithological Literature (ROL) section serves as a valuable resource for researchers, conservationists, and bird enthusiasts by summarizing key studies on Caribbean birdlife. This collection ensures that the latest scientific findings remain accessible to those working to protect and understand the region’s avian diversity.

Article by

Zoya Buckmire – Lead Copy Editor for the Journal of Caribbean Ornithology;

Stefan Gleissberg – Managing and Production Editor for the Journal of Caribbean Ornithology

The Journal of Caribbean Ornithology relies on donations to keep our publications free and open-access. Your support helps give a voice to Caribbean ornithologists and their critical research while ensuring that conservation knowledge is accessible to all. Join us in sustaining this vital resource—become a JCO supporter today!

Recently Published in the JCO: Overwinter status of Bicknell’s Thrush in eastern Cuba

An Exciting New Field Guide to Help Cubans Know and Enjoy their Local Birds: An Interview with the Authors

JCO Roundup: Volume 36 Features Exciting New Research from Across the Caribbean

JCO Roundup: Volume 35 Features New Research from 11 Caribbean Locations

May 8, 2024

From the Nest – Day 143

Celebrate the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) with us! Our theme in 2024 is “Protect Insects, Protect Birds”—highlighting the importance of protecting insects for birds and our environment. Have fun learning about a new endemic bird every day. We have colouring pages, puzzles, activities, and more. Download for free and enjoy learning about and celebrating nature!

Endemic Bird of the Day: Puerto Rican Mango

The Caribbean is alluring to many people with its tropical climate, picturesque landscapes that look like they’ve been pulled straight from paradise, and of course—mangos! But we’re not talking about the delicious tropical fruit—we’re talking about the dazzling hummingbirds that belong to the Anthracothorax genus. We think you’ll agree that they do nourish the soul and spirit, just like our region’s beloved fruit. There are four endemic mangos in the Caribbean, one of which is the Puerto Rican Mango (Anthracothorax aurulentus). This medium-sized hummingbird has a long, decurved bill and that adds a bit of green glimmer to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

In poor light, male Puerto Rican Mangos can appear all-dark, but when well illuminated, those seemingly unassuming colours transform—allowing us to witness a spectacular special-effects polychromatic show! Getting a glimpse of this magic makes it apparent why the local names for the species are “colibrí dorado” (golden hummingbird) and “zumbador dorado” (golden buzzer). The upperparts and throat gleam bright greenish-yellow, and chest deep indigo with green sides. The lower breast and belly are paler than the chest, and the lower belly is usually white. The tail feathers are a moody maroon-purple with black edging. Females have the same iridescent green upperparts, but drab white underparts with gray flanks. When their tails are folded, the outer feathers usually appear coppery or greenish; when fanned, these feathers show large rusty patches near the base with broad white tips.

Not too long ago, the Puerto Rican Mango and Hispaniolan Mango were considered the same species—then called the Antillean Mango. In 2022, the split was made based on plumage and morphometric (size and shape) differences observed in museum specimens. The male Hispaniolan Mango (Anthracothorax dominicus) has a shimmering green throat and entirely velvet-black underparts, and the female has a purplish tail base.

The species is widespread throughout Puerto Rico where you can spot them in dry forests, forest clearings, scrub, shade coffee plantations, and suburban gardens. Historically it was abundant on Vieques island but is now considered rare there as the last reported sighting was in 1994. The decline of the mango on the islands coincided with both the arrival of the Green-throated Carib, another Caribbean endemic, and the conversion of forest to more human-disturbed habitats—which the carib thrives in but the mango does not. A similar decline occurred on the Virgin Islands where its range is now limited to Virgin Gorda, Anegada, the Beef Islands, Guana Island, and St. Thomas.

If you are from, or visiting, any of these islands, listen for its call—a high-pitched, sharp chip described as “tsick“; or for its song, a high, thin rapid trill or buzz preceded and followed by one or several high pitched “tsit” notes.

Like other hummingbirds, the Puerto Rican Mango is a sugar addict with an insatiable appetite for nectar! It doesn’t only consume nectar though. It is also skilled at capturing and eating insects, including small wasps, beetles, and flies—all while in the air! Males will however still aggressively defend nectar-rich territories from other nectar feeding birds.

Its breeding season extends throughout the year but peaks from March to July. Mama hummingbirds build a deep cup-shaped nest lining the inside with soft plant fibres whereas the outside is covered with flakes of bark and lichen bound together by spider webs. They incubate the two eggs for approximately 15 days. The nestlings are fed a nutritious mix of nectar and insects that is regurgitated straight into their hungry beaks. After about 25 days they are strong enough to leave the nest to start their own lives.

Fortunately the Puerto Rican Mango is not a threatened species! However, we need to ensure we can enjoy their dazzling displays for years to come by planting native flowers that hummingbirds feed on in our gardens, reducing our use of insecticides (most of which kill both the good and bad insects), and supporting local environmental organizations with their reforestation initiatives.

Learn more about this species, including its range, photos, and calls here. Great news! If you’re in the Caribbean, thanks to BirdsCaribbean, you have free access to Birds of the World and you can find out even more in the full species account of this bird!

Thanks to Arnaldo Toledo for the illustration and Aliya Hosein and Adrianne Tossas for the text!

Colour in the Puerto Rican Mango

Download our West Indies Endemic Bird colouring page. Use the photos below as your guide, or you can look up pictures of the bird online or in a bird field guide if you have one. Share your coloured-in page with us by posting it online and tagging us @BirdsCaribbean #CEBFfromthenest

Listen to the song of the Puerto Rican Mango

The song of the Puerto Rican Mango is made up of high-pitched, thin rapid trills and buzzing notes, often with high pitched “tsit” calls at the start and end.

Puzzle of the Day

Click on the image below to do the puzzle. You can make the puzzle as easy or as hard as you like – for example, 6, 8, or 12 pieces for young children, all the way up to 1,024 pieces for those that are up for a challenge!

Male Puerto Rican Mango. The striking yellow-golden plumage on its upper parts has earned this bird the local names “colibrí dorado” (golden hummingbird) and “zumbador dorado” (golden buzzer). (Photo by Rafy Rodrguez)

Female Puerto Rican Mango at the nest. Females have the same iridescent green upperparts as males, but drab white underparts with gray flanks. (Photo by Alcides Morales Perez, Macaulay Library- ML588237551)

Puerto Rican Mango feeding at pink flowers — Puerto Rican Mango feeding, with his tail fanned showing off his deep purple tail feathers. (Photo by Rafy Rodriguez)

Enjoy these beautiful photos of the Puerto Rican Mango!

Puerto Rican Mango male in flight — Male Puerto Rican Mango in flight. This species is widespread throughout Puerto Rico and can be found in dry forests, forest clearings, scrub, shade coffee plantations and suburban gardens. (Photo by Peter Hawrylyshyn, Macaulay Library-ML540850091)

Male Puerto Rican Mango perched. In addition to eating nectar they are also skilled at hunting insects, including small wasps, beetles, and flies, which they catch on the wing. (Photo by Benny Diaz, Macaulay Library-ML161402841)

Activity of the Day

FOR KIDS : The Puerto Rican Mango is a striking bird with vivid shining colours of glittering green, inky black and vibrant violet! But who says you have to travel to Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands to see these beautiful colours? In this activity you’ll make a suncatcher—a decoration that catches rays of sunlight and casts them as rainbow hued patterns across the room! You might want to make this beautiful suncatcher as a gift for Mother’s Day!

Here is a list of materials you will need:

empty clear plastic milk jug, washed and dried
permanent markers
scissors
utility Knife
hole punch
twine, string or yarn

You can download full instructions here including a bird template for you to use. This activity involves using a knife and scissors.

Make sure you have an adult to help you with the cutting.

Let’s celebrate moms AND endemic birds!

Mother’s Day is this weekend on May 12th and we’ve got you covered. We have an endemic bird-themed Mother’s Day Cards to download and colour. This is a fun activity for people of all ages to celebrate the mother figure in their life!

Please download and print our card template (letter size will work best but A4 will be ok too). It’s best to use card stock, but regular printer paper will do just fine. Once printed, fold in half horizontally (so the short sides touch) and write your own special message on the inside! Don’t forget to colour in the pictures on the front and on the back. Or if you are feeling really creative be inspired by one our featured birds and draw your own greeting card!

FOR KIDS AND ADULTS : Enjoy this video of a Puerto Rican Mango at its nest in the wild!

Read all about how the Antillean Mango got split into two new species back in 2022! One of these was the Puerto Rican Mango, but do you know which other island also got a ‘new’ species of hummingbird from this split?

New Endemic Species Just Recognized for the Caribbean

April 24, 2024

From the Nest – Day 136

Endemic Bird of the Day: Puerto Rican Oriole

If the early bird gets the worm, the Puerto Rican Oriole (Icterus portoricensis) really has an edge on the competition! These charismatic birds (called Calandrias in Spanish) mainly sing in the darkness of the early morning, before first light. Both male and females sing lilting, whistling songs until sunrise, after which they mainly produce sharp tchu and buzzy wink calls. Mated pairs often stay close together all day long, and use those calls to keep track of each other, like a game of Marco Polo.

The Puerto Rican Oriole is a member of the Icterus genus, and used to be called the Greater Antillean Oriole. In 2010, the Greater Antillean Oriole was split into four distinct species: the Cuban Oriole (Icterus melanopsis), the Hispaniola Oriole (Icterus dominicensis), the Bahama Oriole (Icterus northropi), and the Puerto Rican Oriole.

Puerto Rican Orioles are endemic to the island of Puerto Rico where they can be found across the island in gardens, mangroves and other wooded areas. They forage in pairs or family groups for insects, spiders, fruits, nectar, small lizards, and frogs. Their pointed beaks are sharp and strong, perfect for prying into small cracks in trees or pulling off pieces of breadfruit.

They have beautiful, unmistakable plumage—adults of both sexes are mostly black, with patches of intensely yellow feathers on their shoulders, rump, lower belly, and thighs. Juveniles are olive-green or yellow, with patches of black feathers appearing as they age. It is impossible to tell males and females apart just by looking at them. But only females build the nest, so if you see a Puerto Rican Oriole building a nest you can be certain it’s a female!

Females weave the fibers of palms into a cup-shape nest, which hangs underneath palm fronds or banana leaves. Typically, they prefer to nest and forage on the edges of forests, especially in areas with palms. If you live in Puerto Rico and have palm trees, check under the fronds, from March to June, where you may find their basket-like nests! But remember to be a good host and give her space and privacy. Their oval-shaped eggs are pale white with brown speckles on them, and both parents raise the chicks after they hatch. Nestlings are fed more insects than fruits.

Though classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, preliminary research indicates that the population may be declining. Unfortunately, Puerto Rican Oriole nests are favorite targets for parasitism by Shiny Cowbirds (Molothrus bonariensis), who lay their eggs in the nests of other birds for them to raise. As a result, Puerto Rican Orioles often raise cowbird chicks instead of their own, and their reproductive success is low. They may be more successful in more densely forested areas where there are fewer cowbirds.

Overall, the Puerto Rican Oriole is a beautiful, fascinating bird that any visitor to the island should be sure to seek out. If we protect their natural habitats and monitor their population, this endemic songbird can continue its early morning serenade for generations to come.

Thanks to Arnaldo Toledo for the illustration and Michelle Moyer for the text!

Colour in the Puerto Rican Oriole

Listen to the song of the Puerto Rican Oriole

The song of the Puerto Rican Oriole is a series of high-pitched whistles , mixed with buzzes and warbles.

Puzzle of the Day

Immature Puerto Rican Orioles look very different from the adults being mainly olive or yellow in colour. Patches of black feathers will start appearing as they age. (Photo by Ricardo Sanchez)

Activity of the Day

FOR KIDS : Can you find the words in our Puerto Rican Oriole word search? Remind yourself of some of the interesting facts about this endemic bird as you look for all 15 hidden words!

Remember the words may appear forwards and backwards, as well as horizontal, vertical and diagonal!

Need some help? Or want to check your answers? You can see where all the words were here.

FOR KIDS AND ADULTS : Enjoy this video of a Puerto Rican Oriole in the wild!

January 11, 2021

Trinidad Conference Postponed, but Unique Opportunity with AOS Arises for 2022

Trinidad Conference Postponed

Scarlet Ibis in Trinidad will be worth the wait! (Photo by Lisa Sorenson)

After A LOT of lengthy discussions over the previous month with our Board, staff, and partners, BirdsCaribbean has made the difficult decision to officially postpone our conference in Trinidad slated for late July, 2021.

2020 has been a devastating year for our Caribbean community, emotionally, physically, and financially. Many of our partners and community members have suffered extensive setbacks in their research, work, and personal lives. Recuperating from these losses will take considerable time. We feel it would be unwise to plan an in-person conference for 2021, during what promises to be a period of slow and difficult recovery. We owe it to our community to acknowledge their most pressing needs, and to dedicate our time and resources to helping them during this period of recovery.

Additionally, although vaccines are on the horizon, we do not know at this time how quickly they will be distributed. It seems unlikely that everyone will be able to receive a vaccine in time to safely attend the conference. The uncertainty makes planning nearly impossible.

We extend our immense gratitude to all of the Local Organizing Committee in Trinidad, a group that has already invested a significant amount of time, energy, and enthusiasm into early preparations for the conference. Thank you! But your efforts have not been in vain. We look forward to picking up where we left off in the coming years when an in-person conference in Trinidad is feasible.

Conference in Puerto Rico 2022

Get excited about seeing Puerto Rican Bullfinches in Puerto Rico in the summer, 2022! (Photo by Hemant Keshan)

While discussing the possibility of moving the Trinidad conference back one full calendar year (to the summer of 2022), we became aware that the American Ornithological Society (AOS) had already scheduled their next annual meeting for June 27 to July 1 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. AOS kindly invited us to co-host this meeting, along with the local host in Puerto Rico and our non-profit partner Para La Naturaleza (PLN). Since it does not make sense to hold two major ornithological conferences back-to-back in the Caribbean, we have decided to join AOS and PLN and hold a joint conference in 2022. We are very grateful to their organizing committee for welcoming us and being as excited about these plans as we are!

Joining forces with AOS for their Puerto Rican conference will be a unique experience for our BirdsCaribbean community. Although it will be a larger conference and not focused exclusively on Caribbean birds, it will give all of us an opportunity to engage with a much larger network of scientists and conservationists. This will encourage knowledge sharing, collaborations, and much more! We are confident that it will be a fun, productive, and rewarding experience for all of us. And we will be sure to create many opportunities for our BirdsCaribbean community to connect with each other throughout the event.

Possible Virtual Mini-Conference this Summer

We are also entertaining the idea of conducting a small virtual “mini-conference” this coming summer that would consist of a series of talks and possibly some workshops and/or Working Group meetings, all online. We’ll be exploring this possibility over the coming months and will inform our community in the Spring.