The Carib grackle (Quiscalus lugubris) is a New World tropical blackbird, a resident breeder in the Lesser Antilles and northern South America east of the Andes, from Colombia east to Venezuela and northeastern Brazil. There are eight subspecies, of which the most widespread is the nominate subspecies (Q. l. lugubris) of Trinidad and the South American mainland. This subspecies was introduced to Tobago in 1905 and is now common there.
The adult male Carib grackle is 27 cm (11 in) long with a long wedge-shaped tail, although the latter is not so long as other grackles. Its plumage is entirely black with a violet iridescence, its eyes are yellow, and it has a strong dark bill. The adult female is 23 cm (9.1 in) long, with a shorter tail and brown plumage, darker on the upperparts. Young males are shorter tailed than adult males and have some brown in the plumage. Young females are very similar to the adult females.
The seven island subspecies differ from the nominate one in size, plumage shade (especially in the browns of the females), and vocalisations.
Male
Breeding
The breeding habitat is open areas, including cultivation and human habitation. This is a colonial breeder, with several deep, lined cup nests often being built in one tree. Two to four whitish eggs are laid. Incubation takes 12 days, with a further 14 days to fledging. This species is sometimes parasitised by the shiny cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis), but is quite successful at rejecting the eggs of that species.
Behaviour
The Carib grackle is a highly gregarious species, foraging on the ground for insects, other invertebrates, small fish, small frogs, lizards,[2] or scraps. It is also known to catch small bats in the air.[2] It can become very tame and bold, entering restaurants to seek food, normally feeding on leftovers. It will form groups to attack potential predators, such as dogs, mongooses or humans, and at night it roosts colonially.
Call
The Carib grackle's song is a mixture of harsh and more musical ringing notes, with a bell-like tickita-tickita-tickita-ting and a rapid chi-chi-chi-chi being typical. The calls vary in dialect between islands and the bird usually fluffs up its feathers when calling.
References
^BirdLife International (2018). "Quiscalus lugubris". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T22724326A132175320. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22724326A132175320.en. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
Hilty, Steven L. (2017). Birds of Venezuela. London: Christopher Helm. ISBN978-0-7136-6418-8.
ffrench, Richard (1991). A Guide to the Birds of Trinidad and Tobago (2nd ed.). Comstock Publishing. ISBN0-8014-9792-2.
Jaramillo, A.; Burke, P. (1999). New World Blackbirds : the Icterids. London: Christopher Helm. ISBN0-7136-4333-1.
Further reading
Humphries, M.B.; Gonzalez, M.A.; Ricklefs, R.E. (2019). "Phylogeography and historical demography of Carib Grackle (Quiscalus lugubris)". Journal of Caribbean Ornithology. 32: 11–16.
External links
Xeno-canto: audio recordings of the Carib grackle
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Quiscalus lugubris.
Wikispecies has information related to Quiscalus lugubris.
March 05, 2023
carib, grackle, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, march, 2022, learn, when, remove, this, template, message, qui. This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations March 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Carib grackle Quiscalus lugubris is a New World tropical blackbird a resident breeder in the Lesser Antilles and northern South America east of the Andes from Colombia east to Venezuela and northeastern Brazil There are eight subspecies of which the most widespread is the nominate subspecies Q l lugubris of Trinidad and the South American mainland This subspecies was introduced to Tobago in 1905 and is now common there Carib grackleImmature Carib grackleConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass AvesOrder PasseriformesFamily IcteridaeGenus QuiscalusSpecies Q lugubrisBinomial nameQuiscalus lugubrisSwainson 1838 Contents 1 Description 2 Breeding 3 Behaviour 4 Call 5 References 6 Bibliography 7 Further reading 8 External linksDescription EditThe adult male Carib grackle is 27 cm 11 in long with a long wedge shaped tail although the latter is not so long as other grackles Its plumage is entirely black with a violet iridescence its eyes are yellow and it has a strong dark bill The adult female is 23 cm 9 1 in long with a shorter tail and brown plumage darker on the upperparts Young males are shorter tailed than adult males and have some brown in the plumage Young females are very similar to the adult females The seven island subspecies differ from the nominate one in size plumage shade especially in the browns of the females and vocalisations MaleBreeding EditThe breeding habitat is open areas including cultivation and human habitation This is a colonial breeder with several deep lined cup nests often being built in one tree Two to four whitish eggs are laid Incubation takes 12 days with a further 14 days to fledging This species is sometimes parasitised by the shiny cowbird Molothrus bonariensis but is quite successful at rejecting the eggs of that species Behaviour EditThe Carib grackle is a highly gregarious species foraging on the ground for insects other invertebrates small fish small frogs lizards 2 or scraps It is also known to catch small bats in the air 2 It can become very tame and bold entering restaurants to seek food normally feeding on leftovers It will form groups to attack potential predators such as dogs mongooses or humans and at night it roosts colonially Call EditThe Carib grackle s song is a mixture of harsh and more musical ringing notes with a bell like tickita tickita tickita ting and a rapid chi chi chi chi being typical The calls vary in dialect between islands and the bird usually fluffs up its feathers when calling References Edit BirdLife International 2018 Quiscalus lugubris IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018 e T22724326A132175320 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2018 2 RLTS T22724326A132175320 en Retrieved 13 November 2021 a b Quiscalus lugubris Carib Grackle PDF Sta uwi edu Retrieved 31 March 2022 Bibliography EditHilty Steven L 2017 Birds of Venezuela London Christopher Helm ISBN 978 0 7136 6418 8 ffrench Richard 1991 A Guide to the Birds of Trinidad and Tobago 2nd ed Comstock Publishing ISBN 0 8014 9792 2 Jaramillo A Burke P 1999 New World Blackbirds the Icterids London Christopher Helm ISBN 0 7136 4333 1 Further reading EditHumphries M B Gonzalez M A Ricklefs R E 2019 Phylogeography and historical demography of Carib Grackle Quiscalus lugubris Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 32 11 16 External links EditXeno canto audio recordings of the Carib grackle Wikimedia Commons has media related to Quiscalus lugubris Wikispecies has information related to Quiscalus lugubris Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Carib grackle amp oldid 1123007036, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
