Montserrattrupial

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Montserrattrupial
Montserrattrupial (male)

Montserrattrupial (male)

Systematics
Order : Passerines (Passeriformes)
Subordination : Songbirds (passeri)
Family : Starlings (Icteridae)
Subfamily : Icterinae
Genre : Trupiale ( icterus )
Type : Montserrattrupial
Scientific name
Icterus oberi
Lawrence , 1880
Females in the Frankfurt Zoo

The Montserrattrupial ( Icterus oberi ) is a species of bird from the genus Trupiale . It is endemic to the Caribbean island of Montserrat . It is named after the American naturalist Frederick Albion Ober , who discovered the species in 1880. The Montserrattrupial is the national bird of Montserrat.

description

The Montserrattrupial reaches a size of 20 to 22 centimeters. The adult male is predominantly black. The lower back, rump, shoulder, underbust, belly and tail are yellowish. The adult female is dull yellowish green on top and yellowish on the underside. The young birds are more dull in color than the adults.

habitat

The Montserrattrupial inhabits all types of forest at altitudes between 150 and 900 m. However, it reaches its highest population density in the moist forests of the higher altitudes, which are dominated by heliconias of the species Heliconia caribaea . It is absent in very dry forests. Sometimes it can also be found on the edges of cultivated areas and banana plantations.

Way of life

The breeding season of the Montserrattrupial extends from March to August. The exact point in time probably depends on the rainy season. Unsuccessful pairs can have up to five breeding attempts per year. Successful couples have two youngsters a year. Males and females build a basket-shaped nest made of creepers, which is usually pinned under the leaves of the Heliconia species Heliconia caribaea . Sometimes the nests are also found under banana leaves or the leaves of deciduous trees. Two to three spotted eggs are incubated by the female. Both parents take care of raising the young. The diet consists mainly of insects. Occasionally fruits and nectar enrich the food supply.

status

Until the early 1990s, the Montserratrupial existed in the forested regions of the three main volcanic massifs Silver Hills , Center Hills and Soufrière Hills . Between 1995 and 1997, Soufrière Hills activity destroyed two thirds of the habitat. At first it was assumed that only the population at Center Hills had survived, although this region was also devastated by the pyroclastic current . Later, however, a residual population was discovered on the southern slope of the Soufrière Hills in a forest area of ​​1 to 2 km² in size about one kilometer from the summit of the volcano. In 1997 BirdLife International estimated the population at 4000 individuals. Observations between 1997 and 2001 revealed a further stock deficit of 40 to 50% despite reduced volcanic activity. The reasons are assumed to be a reduced food supply, the poor health of the birds due to the ash rain, and nest looting by rats and the pearl-eye mockingbird ( Margarops fuscatus ). In 2001 and 2003, further eruptions caused heavy ash showers over large areas of the Center Hills, with many nests being destroyed and breeding success reduced. Today the population is estimated to be between 100 and 400 pairs.

In 1999 the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust started a rescue operation for the Montserrattrupial. Eight specimens were captured and taken to Durrell Wildlife Park where they breed successfully.

literature

  • Irby J. Lovette, Eldredge Bermingham, Robert E. Ricklefs: Mitochondrial DNA Phylogeography and the Conservation of Endangered Lesser Antillean Icterus Orioles. In: Conservation Biology. Vol. 13, No. 5, October 1999, pp. 1088-1096.
  • B. Dalsgaard, GM Hilton, GAL Gray, L. Aymer, J. Boatswain, J. Daley, C. Fenton, J. Martin, L. Martin, P. Murrain, WJ Arendt, DW Gibbons, JM Olesen: Impacts of a volcanic eruption on the forest bird community of Montserrat, Lesser Antilles. In: Ibis. Vol. 149, No. 2, April 2007, pp. 298-312. doi: 10.1111 / j.1474-919x.2006.00631.x .
  • GM Hilton, PW Atkinson, GAL Gray, WJ Arendt, DW Gibbons: Rapid decline of the volcanically threatened Montserrat Oriole. In: Biological Conservation. 111, 2003, pp. 79-89.
  • WJ Arendt, DW Gibbons, GAL Gray: Status of the volcanically threatened Montserrat Oriole Icterus oberi and other forest birds in Montserrat, West Indies. In: Bird Conservation International. 9, 1999, pp. 351-372.
  • GM Hilton, GAL Gray, E. Fergus, SM Sanders, DW Gibbons, Q. Bloxam, C. Clubbe, M. Ivie (Eds.): Species Action Plan for the Montserrat Oriole Icterus oberi. Department of Agriculture, Montserrat 2005, ISBN 1-901930-71-8 .

Web links

Commons : Icterus oberi  - album with pictures, videos and audio files