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Difference between revisions of "Lesser Antillean Bullfinch" - BirdForum Opus

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'''Includes Barbados Bullfinch'''
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'''Alternative names: West Indian Robin; Red-throated See-see (''grenadensis'')'''
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[[Image:Lesser_Antillean_Bullfinch.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo of a male by {{user|Richard+Fray|Richard Fray}}<br />Photographed in [[St. Lucia]]]]
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[[Image:Lesser_Antillean_Bullfinch.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Male, subspecies ''sclateri''<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|Richard+Fray|Richard Fray}}<br />[[St. Lucia]], February 2004]]
 +
 
 
;[[: Category:Loxigilla|Loxigilla]] noctis
 
;[[: Category:Loxigilla|Loxigilla]] noctis
−
 
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
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Overall black to slate-gray color, interrupted by rufous on the throat, just in front of eye, and in most races on undertail coverts. The female is a sandy gray-brown with rufous coloring to the wings and tail and greyish underparts. The head of the female is the same color as the mantle. Legs in both sexes are greyish to black, not pink.  
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14–15·5 cm (5½-6 in)<br />
 +
[[Image:Female_Lesser_Antillean_Bullfinch_by_NJLarsen.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Female, subspecies ''dominicana''<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|NJLarsen|NJLarsen}}<br />Savane Paille, [[Dominica]], September 2008]]
 +
Overall black to slate-gray color, interrupted by rufous on the throat, just in front of eye, and in most races on undertail coverts (undertail black in [[Martinique]] and [[St. Lucia]]). The female is a sandy gray-brown with rufous coloring to the wings and tail and greyish underparts. The head of the female is the same color as the mantle. Legs in both sexes are greyish to black, not pink. <br />Male has black bill in most areas, while female has lower mandible yellowish to pale horn.
 
====Similar species====
 
====Similar species====
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In [[St. Lucia]], the [[St. Lucia Black Finch]] is a species that could be mistaken for Lesser Antillean Bullfinch, however, the black finch has pink legs (more prominent in the male), a heavier beak, has a habit of bobbing its tail up and down, and are more often found low in dense vegetation. The male is entirely without rufous, while the female has gray on its head in contrast to brown back.  
+
In [[St. Lucia]], the [[St. Lucia Black Finch]] is a species that could be mistaken for Lesser Antillean Bullfinch, however, the black finch has pink legs (more prominent in the male), a heavier beak, has a habit of bobbing its tail up and down, and are more often found low in dense vegetation. The male is entirely without rufous, while the female has gray on its head in contrast to brown back.
 +
 
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
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[[Image:Barbados_Bullfinch_by_Dave_B_Smith.jpg|thumb|400px|right|Photo of a Barbados Bullfinch by {{user|Dave+B+Smith|Dave B Smith}}<br />Photographed in [[Barbados]].<br />Females of other populations look similar to this. ]]
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[[Image:7427Bullfinch-juv-m-DSCN1526.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Juvenile Male, subspecies ''dominicana''<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|njlarsen|njlarsen}}<br />[[Dominica]], June 2004]]
 
Used to be endemic to the [[Lesser Antilles]] but has now spread to the [[US Virgin Islands]] (part of the [[Puerto Rico]] bank) and is a vagrant to Puerto Rico. It is absent from the [[Grenadines]] but present on [[Grenada]].
 
Used to be endemic to the [[Lesser Antilles]] but has now spread to the [[US Virgin Islands]] (part of the [[Puerto Rico]] bank) and is a vagrant to Puerto Rico. It is absent from the [[Grenadines]] but present on [[Grenada]].
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
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A reassignment of this and similar species to the tanagers have been proposed, but it is currently placed in the Emberizidae.
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[[File:Lesser-Antillean_Bullfinch-ssp-grenadensis_NIELS.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Male, subspecies ''grenadensis''<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|njlarsen|njlarsen}}<br /> Mount Hartman, [[Grenada]], 24 April 2024]]
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 +
[[Barbados Bullfinch]] has been split from this species.
 +
====Subspecies====
 +
There are 8 subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>:
 +
*''L. n. coryi'':
 +
:*[[Lesser Antilles]] ([[St. Kitts]] and [[Montserrat]])
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*''L. n. ridgwayi'':
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:*[[Lesser Antilles]] ([[Anguilla]], [[Lesser Antilles|St. Martin]], [[Barbuda]] and [[Antigua]])
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*''L. n. desiradensis'':
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:*Désirade Island ([[Lesser Antilles]])
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*''L. n. dominicana'':
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:*[[Guadeloupe]], Marie Galante, [[Dominica]] and Iles des Saintes
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[[Image:MG 9816.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Subspecies ''ridgwayi''<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|Ronsphotos|Ronsphotos}}<br />Near Ffreyes Beach, [[Antigua]], March 2016]]
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*''L. n. noctis'':
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:*[[Martinique]] ([[Lesser Antilles]])
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*''L. n. sclateri'':
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:*[[St. Lucia]] ([[Lesser Antilles]])
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*''L. n. crissalis'':
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:*[[St. Vincent]] ([[Lesser Antilles]])
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*''L. n. grenadensis'':
 +
:*[[Grenada]] ([[Lesser Antilles]])
  
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The Lesser Antillean Bullfinch is divided into eight subspecies. Clements and the AOU have split the [[Barbados]] form as ''Loxigilla barbadensis'', Barbados Bullfinch. The basis for the split is that the Barbados birds have no male plumage type; just a drab brown plumage as females on the other islands.
 
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
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Dense and semiopen vegetation, often around houses.
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Dense and semi-open vegetation, often around houses.<br />
 
==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
 
Often incredibly tame, well known for stealing nuts and sugar in outdoor restaurants.
 
Often incredibly tame, well known for stealing nuts and sugar in outdoor restaurants.
 +
====Diet====
 +
Feeds on nectar, fruits, seeds as well as insects. Forages mainly in trees, sometimes closer to the ground.
 +
====Breeding====
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Breeding season February to August, January to February in Virgin Islands. The nest is domed with a side entrance, usually placed below 3m above the ground. Lays 2 to 4 eggs.
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====Movements====
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A sedentary species, possibly with some dispersive movements.
 +
==References==
 +
#{{Ref-Clements6thAug18}}#{{Ref-HBWVol16}}#[http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?p=1968633 Birdforum thread] discussing Barbados Bullfinch
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{{ref}}
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==External Links==
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{{GSearch|"Loxigilla noctis" {{!}} "Lesser Antillean Bullfinch" -barbadensis}}
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{{GS-checked}}1
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<br />
 +
<br />
  
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==External Links==
 
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{{GSearch|Loxigilla+noctis}}
 
 
[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Loxigilla]]
 
[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Loxigilla]]

Latest revision as of 14:35, 7 May 2024

Alternative names: West Indian Robin; Red-throated See-see (grenadensis)

Male, subspecies sclateri
Photo © by Richard Fray
St. Lucia, February 2004
Loxigilla noctis

Identification

14–15·5 cm (5½-6 in)

Female, subspecies dominicana
Photo © by NJLarsen
Savane Paille, Dominica, September 2008

Overall black to slate-gray color, interrupted by rufous on the throat, just in front of eye, and in most races on undertail coverts (undertail black in Martinique and St. Lucia). The female is a sandy gray-brown with rufous coloring to the wings and tail and greyish underparts. The head of the female is the same color as the mantle. Legs in both sexes are greyish to black, not pink.
Male has black bill in most areas, while female has lower mandible yellowish to pale horn.

Similar species

In St. Lucia, the St. Lucia Black Finch is a species that could be mistaken for Lesser Antillean Bullfinch, however, the black finch has pink legs (more prominent in the male), a heavier beak, has a habit of bobbing its tail up and down, and are more often found low in dense vegetation. The male is entirely without rufous, while the female has gray on its head in contrast to brown back.

Distribution

Juvenile Male, subspecies dominicana
Photo © by njlarsen
Dominica, June 2004

Used to be endemic to the Lesser Antilles but has now spread to the US Virgin Islands (part of the Puerto Rico bank) and is a vagrant to Puerto Rico. It is absent from the Grenadines but present on Grenada.

Taxonomy

Male, subspecies grenadensis
Photo © by njlarsen
Mount Hartman, Grenada, 24 April 2024

Barbados Bullfinch has been split from this species.

Subspecies

There are 8 subspecies[1]:

  • L. n. coryi:
  • L. n. ridgwayi:
  • L. n. desiradensis:
  • L. n. dominicana:
Subspecies ridgwayi
Photo © by Ronsphotos
Near Ffreyes Beach, Antigua, March 2016
  • L. n. noctis:
  • L. n. sclateri:
  • L. n. crissalis:
  • L. n. grenadensis:

Habitat

Dense and semi-open vegetation, often around houses.

Behaviour

Often incredibly tame, well known for stealing nuts and sugar in outdoor restaurants.

Diet

Feeds on nectar, fruits, seeds as well as insects. Forages mainly in trees, sometimes closer to the ground.

Breeding

Breeding season February to August, January to February in Virgin Islands. The nest is domed with a side entrance, usually placed below 3m above the ground. Lays 2 to 4 eggs.

Movements

A sedentary species, possibly with some dispersive movements.

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2018. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2018. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2011. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 16: Tanagers to New World Blackbirds. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553781
  3. Birdforum thread discussing Barbados Bullfinch

Recommended Citation

External Links

GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1

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