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 3 weeks ago ADDED LAST MONTH 47 sec 4.4 -
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 3 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 6 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 6 years ago 28 sec 4.1 -
A bird on the ground, eating something with difficulty Locality Dorado, Puerto Rico (ssp brachypterus)
Juan Sanabria 31 July 2007 3 years ago 31 sec 4 -
A group of birds moving around a piece of bread and one of them displaying briefly Locality Dorado, Puerto Rico (ssp brachypterus)
Juan Sanabria 31 July 2007 3 years ago 45 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 1 year ago 4.2 -
Perched on a ledge.
Locality Montego Bay, Cornwall County, Jamaica (ssp crassirostris)
Ken Simonite 4 January 2012 2 weeks ago ADDED LAST MONTH 3.8 -
Lateral view of female bird on sand
Locality Port Antonio, Surrey County, Jamaica (ssp crassirostris)
Mikko Pyhälä 29 January 2011 1 year ago 3.8 -
Portrait of a male bird
Locality Port Antonio, Surrey County, Jamaica (ssp crassirostris)
Mikko Pyhälä 29 January 2011 1 year ago 3.8 -
On the top of a car
Locality San Juan, Puerto Rico
Guy Poisson 30 December 2009 1 year ago 3.8 -
Foraging in the grass
Locality San Juan, Puerto Rico
Bob Thompson 8 January 2010 2 years ago 3.8
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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 2 years ago 3
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