New World Blackbirds (Icteridae)
Greater Antillean Grackle (Quiscalus niger) - HBW 16, p. 779
French: Quiscale noir
German: Antillengrackel
Spanish: Zanate Antillano
Other common names: Antillean Grackle
Taxonomy: Oriolus niger Boddaert, 1783, Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
Formerly placed with Q. lugubris in a separate genus, Holoquiscalus; thought to be closest to that species, but recent analysis of mitochondrial DNA indicates that Q. lugubris is closer to Q. nicaraguensis. The same DNA study revealed moderate sequence divergences among four populations of present species (Grand Cayman, Jamaica, Hispaniola and Puerto Rico). Existence of two races in Cuba possibly due to fact that gundlachii evolved later and is slowly replacing caribaeus on main island; the two intergrade in W Cuba (Pinar del Río). Seven subspecies re.. View all taxonomy...
Formerly placed with Q. lugubris in a separate genus, Holoquiscalus; thought to be closest to that species, but recent analysis of mitochondrial DNA indicates that Q. lugubris is closer to Q. nicaraguensis. The same DNA study revealed moderate sequence divergences among four populations of present species (Grand Cayman, Jamaica, Hispaniola and Puerto Rico). Existence of two races in Cuba possibly due to fact that gundlachii evolved later and is slowly replacing caribaeus on main island; the two intergrade in W Cuba (Pinar del Río). Seven subspecies recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution:
- caribaeus (Todd, 1916) - extreme W Cuba (Pinar del Río), and I of Pines and adjacent cayos.
- gundlachii Cassin, 1867 - Cuba (E from Pinar del Río), including N cayos and Jardines de la Reina Archipelago.
- caymanensis Cory, 1886 - Grand Cayman I.
- caribaeus (Todd, 1916) - extreme W Cuba (Pinar del Río), and I of Pines and adjacent cayos.
- gundlachii Cassin, 1867 - Cuba (E from Pinar del Río), including N cayos and Jardines de la Reina Archipelago.
- caymanensis Cory, 1886 - Grand Cayman I.
- bangsi (J. L. Peters, 1921) - Little Cayman I.
- crassirostris Swainson, 1838 - Jamaica.
- niger (Boddaert, 1783) - Hispaniola.
- brachypterus Cassin, 1867 - Puerto Rico and I de Vieques.
- Least Concern Enlarge map
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Walking down a roof and vocalizing. Locality Montego Bay, Cornwall County, Jamaica (ssp crassirostris)
Ken Simonite 9 January 2012 1 year ago 47 sec 4.4 -
A bird on the ground, eating something with difficulty Locality Dorado, Puerto Rico (ssp brachypterus)
Juan Sanabria 31 July 2007 5 years ago 31 sec 4.3 -
Several birds looking to feed on a piece of bread and two of them calling and displaying Locality Dorado, Puerto Rico (ssp brachypterus)
Juan Sanabria 31 July 2007 5 years ago 32 sec 4.2 -
A juvenile trying to feed on its own and being fed by adults Locality Cayo Guillermo, Cuba (ssp gundlachii)
Josep del Hoyo 7 August 2004 7 years ago 37 sec 4.2 -
A juvenile on the ground, trying to feed on its own Locality Cayo Guillermo, Cuba (ssp gundlachii)
Josep del Hoyo 7 August 2004 7 years ago 28 sec 4.1 -
Bird in tree in park Locality Ciudad de La Habana Province, Cuba (ssp gundlachii)
Desmond Allen 19 March 2013 6 weeks ago 19 sec 4
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Lateral view of male bird perched on a trunk
Locality Port Antonio, Surrey County, Jamaica (ssp crassirostris)
Mikko Pyhälä 29 January 2011 2 years ago 4.1 -
In a flowering tree for nectar.
Locality Ciudad de La Habana Province, Cuba
Eduardo Tejeda Lima 8 February 2013 11 weeks ago 4 -
Adult foraging in the grass
Locality Guajataca, Puerto Rico (ssp brachypterus)
Paul A Guris 13 March 2012 1 year ago 4 -
Portrait of a male bird
Locality Port Antonio, Surrey County, Jamaica (ssp crassirostris)
Mikko Pyhälä 29 January 2011 2 years ago 3.8 -
Perched on a ledge.
Locality Montego Bay, Cornwall County, Jamaica (ssp crassirostris)
Ken Simonite 4 January 2012 1 year ago 3.7 -
Lateral view of female bird on sand
Locality Port Antonio, Surrey County, Jamaica (ssp crassirostris)
Mikko Pyhälä 29 January 2011 2 years ago 3.7
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An adult singing on a tree branch. Un adulto vocaliza desde la rama de un árbol. Locality Utuado, Puerto Rico
J. Gonzalez y F. Collazo 9 May 2006 3 years ago 3
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