Jamaica is home to a variety of bird species, but one of the most commonly seen black birds on the island is the Jamaican Blackbird. The Jamaican Blackbird (Nesopsar nigerrimus) is a species of New World blackbird endemic to Jamaica.
The Jamaican Blackbird is an all-black medium sized songbird with a long tail. It measures around 25 cm (9.8 in) in length and weighs between 43-65 g (1.5-2.3 oz). The male and female Jamaican Blackbirds look identical, with their entire plumage being a glossy black color. Their dark bills and legs also blend in with their black feathers.
This species can be found widely distributed across the main island of Jamaica up to elevations of about 1,400 m. Their preferred habitats include various wooded areas, such as forest edges, second growth, plantations, parks and gardens. The Jamaican Blackbird has adapted well to human inhabited areas.
The Jamaican Blackbird feeds on a variety of insects, spiders and small fruits. Much of their diet consists of insects like beetles, moths, ants, roaches, crickets and grasshoppers. They use their slightly curved bill to probe into crevices and turn over debris looking for prey items on the ground or in low vegetation.
Jamaican Blackbirds are resident songbirds and pairs will mate for life. The breeding season lasts from March to June. Females build an open cup nest about 2 m high in a tree or shrub, using materials like twigs, grass and moss. 2-4 eggs are laid and incubated by the female for 13-14 days. The chicks fledge from the nest about 14-16 days after hatching.
The Jamaican Blackbird has a lovely, melodious song made up of rich warbling notes. Their songs have a flute-like quality as males sing throughout the day from prominent exposed perches high in trees. Both sexes also have a variety of common call notes they use to communicate.
Jamaican Blackbirds are fairly common and widespread in suitable habitat across Jamaica. However, their population numbers have declined somewhat in recent decades due to habitat loss. They face no major threats though at present and their future remains secure. The Jamaican Blackbird remains a familiar sight and sound in both rural and urban areas across Jamaica.
Description
Here are some more details about the physical appearance and traits of the Jamaican Blackbird:
- Size: Approximately 9.8 inches (25 cm) long with a wingspan of around 12 inches (30 cm)
- Weight: Weighs 43-65 g (1.5-2.3 oz) on average
- Plumage: Entire plumage is a glossy black color. The black feathers have a bluish iridescent sheen when viewed up close.
- Bill: All black bill that is fairly long, straight and slightly curved downwards.
- Legs: Black legs and feet.
- Sexes similar: Males and females look identical. No sexual dimorphism in plumage.
- Juveniles: Immature birds are a more brownish black before molting to adult black plumage.
- Eye color: Dark brown eyes.
The Jamaican Blackbird is unlikely to be confused with any other bird species on Jamaica. No other common Jamaican land bird is entirely black with a long tail besides the Jamaican Blackbird. Their solid black plumage distinguishes them from other similar sized songbirds on the island.
Distribution and Habitat
The Jamaican Blackbird is endemic to the island of Jamaica in the Greater Antilles of the Caribbean. Its range is restricted to the mainland of Jamaica and it is not found on any of the smaller nearby islands or cays.
This species occupies a variety of wooded habitats across Jamaica including:
- Forest edges
- Second growth
- Coffee and citrus plantations
- Parks and gardens, especially those with fruiting trees
- Urban areas
Jamaican Blackbirds occur from sea level up to elevations of about 1,400 m. They are most abundant in the middle elevations of 300-900 m.
The Jamaican Blackbird has adapted well to human modified environments and urban areas. They are a common sight in cities like Kingston and small towns where they utilize gardens, parks and street trees.
Behavior and Ecology
The Jamaican Blackbird exhibits the following behaviors and ecological traits:
- Diet: Feeds on a variety of insects like beetles, ants, moths, crickets, and grasshoppers. They also eat spiders, small lizards and fruits.
- Foraging: Forages primarily on the ground turning over leaves and debris looking for prey. Will also hawk flying insects.
- Social: Outside of breeding season, typically seen alone or in pairs. May form larger flocks at prime food sources.
- Migration: Resident species. Does not migrate.
- Calls: Sharp “chink” alarm note. Variety of melodious warbling notes.
- Song: Flute-like and richly complex songs performed by males from high perches.
- Nesting: Open cup nests built 2-15 m high in trees. 2-4 eggs laid.
- Conservation: Least Concern. Population declining but still relatively widespread.
The Jamaican Blackbird is adaptable in its behavior. It forages for insects and fruit opportunistically and will readily visit bird feeders in yards. Pairs defend a breeding territory but may join larger mixed flocks otherwise. The species co-exists well with human activity provided suitable trees remain for nesting and perching.
Taxonomy and Classification
The Jamaican Blackbird is classified scientifically as follows:
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves
- Order: Passeriformes
- Family: Icteridae
- Genus: Nesopsar
- Species: Nesopsar nigerrimus
This species was first described by German naturalist Johann Friedrich Gmelin in 1789. There are no recognized subspecies. It is the only member of the genus Nesopsar.
The Jamaican Blackbird is closely related to other Caribbean blackbirds in the family Icteridae. Its closest relative is the Cuban Blackbird (Dives atroviolaceus).
Population and Conservation Status
The Jamaican Blackbird has a relatively small global population confined to the island of Jamaica. The total population is estimated at 10,000 to 100,000 individual birds.
Populations have declined somewhat over the past few decades due to habitat loss, but the species remains fairly common. The Jamaican Blackbird is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Major threats include:
- Habitat degradation
- Development and logging reducing forest cover
- Nest predation by invasive species
However, the Jamaican Blackbird remains widespread across a variety of habitats. Ongoing conservation efforts focused on preserving native forest cover and shade trees will help ensure the species persists at healthy population levels.
Where to see the Jamaican Blackbird
The Jamaican Blackbird can be readily seen in many protected areas and natural sites across Jamaica including:
- Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park
- Hope Botanical Gardens, Kingston
- Hope Gardens, Kingston
- Mason River Protected Area
- Cockpit Country
- Barbecue Bottom Road
In cities like Kingston, keep an eye out for Jamaican Blackbirds in any treed parks, gardens or streets. They may visit backyard feeders if provided suet or berries.
The most reliable way to find this species is to listen for their lovely flute-like songs which carry far across their wooded habitat.
Fun Facts about the Jamaican Blackbird
- Jamaican Blackbirds mate for life and pairs remain on their breeding territories year-round.
- They use a variety of vocalizations beyond their complex song, including sharp alarm calls and soft chattering notes between mates.
- Their diet is omnivorous but focuses mainly on insects, spiders and small fruits.
- Both parents help build the nest, incubate eggs and feed nestlings.
- Sometimes Jamaican Blackbird nests are parasitized by shiny cowbirds who lay eggs for the blackbirds to raise.
- They are intelligent birds known for using various tools to extract larvae and insects from crevices.
- The oldest known wild Jamaican Blackbird was 8 years old.
Conclusion
In summary, the Jamaican Blackbird is a fascinating endemic songbird species found widely across Jamaica. It is an intelligent and adaptable bird that has thrived in both natural and human-modified habitats. The all-black plumage and melodious song of the Jamaican Blackbird make it easy to identify and observe. This species provides an opportunity to see a tropical Caribbean bird thriving on an island to which it is uniquely evolutionarily adapted. With appropriate conservation measures, the familiar sights and sounds of the Jamaican Blackbird will continue gracing Jamaica’s landscapes for generations to come.
