Endemic bird of the day : Green-tailed Warbler

Abstract

Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF) day 103 poster, dedicated to the Green-tailed Warbler. This bird has an understated beauty, without bright colors or a melodious song. This small, somewhat secretive, bird is an endemic species of the island of Hispaniola and can only be found on this island. Green-tailed warblers typically inhabit mature broadleaf forests, thickets and scrub in both wet and semi-dry areas. While mostly in the central mountain ranges in both the Dominican Republic and Haiti, they can also be found at any elevation from sea level to the highest peaks (although not much in pine forests) over most of the central part of the island. Sightings of this bird have been reported from a wide range of habitats, such as desert-scrub close to the coast of Puerto Alejandro near Barahona; the Guaraguao trail in Cotubanamá National Park; and in the rain forest on the coast in the Los Haitises National Park. It is also a regular sight in places like Ebano Verde Nature Preserve in the Central Mountains, and its stronghold anywhere in the Sierra de Bahoruco. The gray plumage of the body and head has a soft, silky appearance, and contrasts with the back and wings which are a fairly bright olive-green. The irises are red with a black pupil, and it has a notable split white eye-ring which takes the form of crescents above and below the eyes. The tail is fairly long for its 12 to 14 centimeter total length. The bill is gray and is slightly chunky. Its diet consists mainly of insects. The Green-tailed Warbler’s scientific name, Microligea palustris alludes, first, to its voice: Micro means small, and Ligea means shrill or high pitched. This describes the sharp, squeaky notes this bird makes. The word palustris means swamp or wetland, which is not the best suited since this bird is not restricted to wet habitats. Breeding occurs from May to June, in the mountains, and possibly earlier than May, in the lowlands. Nests are cup-shaped and clutch size is 2-4 pale green, spotted eggs. This species was classified with the New World Wood Warblers for many years, but recent studies have confirmed that it is not closely related to that large group of birds.Rather, it is part of a small family on Hispaniola – including the two palm-tanager species and the White-winged Warbler, which it resembles somewhat and can be found within mixed-species feeding flocks. While the White-winged Warbler is considered Vulnerable due to its more restricted range, the Green-tailed Warbler population is not considered to be threatened. The destruction of broad-leafed and midrange forests, mainly from uncontrolled logging and the clearing of forests for agriculture, however, still pose a threat to the continued well-being of this species in the wild. As a complement to the poster, a coloring sheet is included.