Martinique oriole facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Martinique oriole |
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Oriolus bonana Linnaeus, 1766 |
The Martinique oriole (Icterus bonana) is a type of bird that belongs to the Icteridae family. It lives only on the island of Martinique, which is part of the French West Indies. Martinique is located in the Eastern Caribbean, among the Lesser Antilles islands.
These orioles can be found in different kinds of habitats. They live in dry or moist tropical forests, mangrove forests, and even on plantations.
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What Does the Martinique Oriole Look Like?
The Martinique oriole has a very special look compared to other orioles in the Caribbean. Its feathers are mostly black, but it has a bright reddish-orange belly. This bird grows to be about 18 to 21 centimeters long. Male orioles are usually a bit brighter in color than the females.
Sounds and Diet
These orioles make loud, scolding calls and also whistle. Scientists are still studying whether the female orioles sing. The Martinique oriole eats fruit from the tops of trees, berries, and different kinds of insects. They often search for food alone, in pairs, or with their family group.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Martinique orioles usually breed between February and July, but sometimes they have been seen breeding in December. They are closely related to other oriole species found in the Caribbean islands.
Where Do Martinique Orioles Live and How Do They Behave?
Martinique orioles are found only on the island of Martinique. They used to live in many different places below 700 meters (about 2,300 feet) in height. Now, you will mostly find them in mangroves and dry forests. These birds generally like to stay away from busy towns and cities.
Nesting Habits
The Martinique oriole builds its nest on the underside of large leaves. These can be leaves from banana plants, palm trees, or Heliconia plants. Once a nest is built, the female usually lays two, or sometimes three, eggs. Even though they prefer moist, high-up habitats, they can also be found in dry lowland forests.
Communication and Territory
These birds do not fly in large groups. Instead, they communicate with each other by whistling, making harsh scolding calls, and singing a soft, warbling song. They are territorial birds, meaning they protect their own space. However, their territory is quite small; they usually don't feed more than 100 meters (about 330 feet) away from their nest. Scientists are still learning a lot about this species.
Protecting the Martinique Oriole
The Martinique oriole is considered a vulnerable species. This means its population is decreasing, and it could be at risk of becoming endangered if we don't protect it.
Threats to the Orioles
One big problem for the Martinique oriole is the shiny cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis). These cowbirds lay their eggs in the oriole's nests. This is called nest parasitism. About 75% of oriole nests are affected by shiny cowbirds each year. Another threat comes from an increase in Carib Grackles (Quiscalus lugubris). These grackles are predators of the oriole and sometimes eat their eggs or young birds.
Conservation Efforts
The Martinique oriole is protected by laws in Martinique. More research is needed to understand all the threats and to find out exactly how many of these birds are left. This information will help scientists and conservationists protect the Martinique oriole for the future.
