Palmchat

Dulus dominicus

Photo by Luis Alberto (Wikipedia)

Common name:
palmchat (en); tordo-das-palmeiras (pt); esclave palmiste (fr); cigua palmera (es); palmschwätzer (de)


Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Dulidae


Range:
This species is endemic to the island of Hispaniola, in the Caribbean, including the adjacent islands of Saona and Gonâve.


Size:
These birds are 20 cm long and weigh around 50 g.


Habitat:
The palmchat is found in palm savannas and grasslands with scattered trees, also being found in urban parks and gardens. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 1.500 m.


Diet:
They mainly eat fruits and berries, especially from palm trees and gumbo-limbo trees, but also eat flowers and buds of epiphytic orchids.


Breeding:
Palmchats breed in March-June. They build large, messy, communal nests of twigs in the crowns of palm trees, or sometimes in other trees or even telephone poles. These may include up to 30 nests. Each female lays 2-4 grey-purple eggs with dark spots but there is no available information on incubation and fledging times.


Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a relatively small breeding range, but is described as common. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.