Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Herbert Raffaele is Chief of the Office of International Conservation of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. He is the author of A Guide to the Birds of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands (Princeton).

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BIRDS OF THE WEST INDIES

Princeton University Press

Contents

Introduction........................................................................................................................7Species Accounts and Color Plates...................................................................................................16SEABIRDS............................................................................................................................16HERONS AND OTHER LONG-LEGGED WADERS.................................................................................................34MARSHBIRDS AND WATERFOWL............................................................................................................58HAWKS, OWLS, AND NIGHTJARS..........................................................................................................76, 100GAMEBIRDS AND PIGEONS; PARROTS AND CUCKOOS; SWIFTS, HUMMINGBIRDS, TROGONS, TODIES, KINGFISHERS, AND WOODPECKERS.....................84, 106FLYCATCHERS.........................................................................................................................118CROWS, SWALLOWS, GNATCATCHERS, THRUSHES, THRASHERS, AND MOCKINGBIRDS................................................................126VIREOS AND WARBLERS.................................................................................................................144EUPHONIAS, HONEYCREEPERS, TANAGERS, ORIOLES, AND BLACKBIRDS.........................................................................174FINCH-LIKE BIRDS....................................................................................................................188Selected References.................................................................................................................204Index of English and Scientific Names...............................................................................................206

Chapter One

* CORY'S SHEARWATER Calonectris diomedea 46-53cm (18-21in). Large shearwater, appears featureless at distance. Pale yellowish bill, white uppertail-coverts variable in extent; coloration of cheek and neck blend with underparts. FLIGHT: Leisurely on broad, loosely held wings, noticeably angled at wrist. STATUS AND RANGE: Uncommon migrant among Bahamas primarily May and June, but until September. Rare in rest of West Indies; likely transits off all islands. HABITAT: At sea.

* BLACK-CAPPED PETREL Pterodroma hasitata 35-40cm (14-16in). Upperparts blackish except for white rump, hindneck and forehead. Extent of white variable. FLIGHT: Black front-edge of underwing. Wrist more bent than shearwater's and flight more erratic. STATUS AND RANGE: Rare and very local breeding resident in West Indies. Critically endangered. HABITAT: At sea.

* JAMAICAN PETREL Pterodroma caribbaea 35-46cm (14-18in). Dark gray overall, except white rump and uppertail-coverts; legs and feet pinkish-white. STATUS AND RANGE: Endemic to Jamaica, but believed extinct. May persist in John Crow Mountains. HABITAT: At sea.

* SOOTY SHEARWATER Puffinus griseus 40-46cm (16-18in). Medium-sized, blackish overall with whitish underwings. Wings long and narrow. FLIGHT: Swift and direct, with rapid flapping ascents and long glides usually close to the water. STATUS AND RANGE: Apparently rare migrant in West Indies primarily late May through July, but some through November. Might be expected any month. HABITAT: At sea.

* MANX SHEARWATER Puffinus puffinus 30-38cm (12-15in). Medium-sized; short tail. Blackish above and white below, including wing linings and undertail-coverts. FLIGHT: Four or five distinctive snappy wingbeats and a rocking glide in light winds or flat seas. STATUS AND RANGE: Rare migrant in West Indies primarily November through March. HABITAT: At sea.

* AUDUBON'S SHEARWATER Puffinus lherminieri 30cm (12in). Relatively small, long-tailed shearwater, blackish-brown above and white below, but with dark undertail-coverts. STATUS AND RANGE: The only shearwater regularly encountered in West Indies. In the Bahamas, a common breeding resident primarily March through July; uncommon in other months. Elsewhere in West Indies a generally uncommon and local breeding resident, rare outside breeding season. HABITAT: At sea.

* BAND-RUMPED STORM-PETREL Oceanodroma castro 19-21cm (7.5-8in). Mediumsized; black head and upperparts. Conspicuous narrow white rump band contrasts with blackish tail and underparts; square tail. FLIGHT: Buoyant and direct, though sometimes erratic and shearwater-like with deep wingbeats. Feet do not extend beyond tail. STATUS AND RANGE: Very rare off Bahamas, Cuba, and Antigua. Expected primarily May through August. Status in West Indies poorly known. HABITAT: At sea.

* LEACH'S STORM-PETREL Oceanodroma leucorhoa 20cm (8in). A small, brownish-black seabird with white rump. Has slightly forked tail, pale brown wing band, and white rump patch appearing divided at close range. FLIGHT: Feet do not extend beyond tail. STATUS AND RANGE: Rare non-breeding resident throughout West Indies primarily November through June, but sometimes in other months. HABITAT: At sea.

* WILSON'S STORM-PETREL Oceanites oceanicus 18-19cm (7-7.5in). Small, dark brownish-black seabird with white rump. Blacker, wings shorter, broader and more rounded with less angled wrists than Leach's Storm-Petrel, also tail more square. FLIGHT: Feet, with yellow toe-webbing, extend beyond tail. Regularly follows boats, swooping over wake and touching sea with feet. STATUS AND RANGE: Rare non-breeding resident in much of West Indies primarily May and June. Most frequent among Bahamas where uncommon. HABITAT: At sea.

* WHITE-TAILED TROPICBIRD Phaethon lepturus 81cm (31in) (with plumes), 37-40cm (15-16in) (without plumes). ADULT: White overall; long tail feathers; heavy black stripes on upperwing and outer primaries. Bill yellow or orange. IMMATURE: Barred back; short central tail feathers. Bill yellowish, ringed with black. VOICE: Raspy crick-et. STATUS AND RANGE: Widespread; very locally common breeding resident in West Indies primarily March through June (through October in Bahamas). The typical tropicbird of Bahamas, Greater Antilles, and Cayman Islands; scarcer in Lesser Antilles. HABITAT: At sea.

* RED-BILLED TROPICBIRD Phaethon aethereus 91-107cm (36-42in) (with plumes), 46-51cm (18-20in) (without plumes). ADULT: White overall; black barred back; long tail plumes; red bill. IMMATURE: Similar to White-tailed, but back less boldly barred, darker black band across hindneck. VOICE: Long, harsh, raspy kearrr. STATUS AND RANGE: Common in Virgin Islands;...