- Caribbean Martin
Taxobox
name = Caribbean Martin
status = LC
status_system = iucn3.1
regnum =Animal ia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo =Passeriformes
familia =Hirundinidae
genus = "Progne "
species = "P. dominicensis"
binomial = "Progne dominicensis"
binomial_authority = (Gmelin, 1789)The Caribbean Martin or White-bellied Martin, "Progne dominicensis", is a large swallow.
The nominate race "P. d. dominicensis" breeds on
Caribbean islands fromJamaica east toTobago , "P. d. sinaloae" (Sinaloa Martin) is the west Mexican subspecies, and "P. d. cryptoleuca" (Cuban Martin) is found onCuba . There are sight records from mainland Central andSouth America , and most birds appear to migrate to the South American mainland. A single bird was recorded inKey West ,Florida , on May 9,1895 (AOU 2000).The three subspecies have at various times been considered as separate species, or alternatively as races of the
Purple Martin , "Progne subis".Adult Caribbean Martins are 18.5 cm in length, with a forked tail and relatively broad wings, and weigh 40g. Adult males are a glossy blue-black with contrasting white lower underparts. Females and juveniles are duller than the male, with grey-brown breast and flanks and white lower underparts.
The Caribbean Martin nests in cavities in banks and buildings, or old
woodpecker holes. 3-6 eggs are laid in the lined nest, and incubated for 15 days, with another 26-27 to fledging. Just as the purple martin, this species may compete with other passerines for nesting cavities. In particular, the main foe is thehouse sparrow [http://purplemartin.org/forumarchives/archive/HSrevenge.htm] in urban areas, where they mostly use man-made structures, whereas in more rural locations "Picidae " holes incoconut trees are favored, and there is less competition with the sparrows.Caribbean Martins are gregarious birds which hunt for
insect s in flight. Their call is a gurgly "chew-chew".References
*
American Ornithologists' Union (AOU) (2000): Forty-second supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American Birds. "Auk" 117(3): 847–858. DOI: 10.1642/0004-8038(2000)117 [0847:FSSTTA] 2.0.CO;2* Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
* ffrench , Richard; O'Neill, John Patton & Eckelberry, Don R. (1991): "A guide to the birds of Trinidad and Tobago" (2nd edition). Comstock Publishing, Ithaca, N.Y.. ISBN 0-8014-9792-2
* Hilty, Steven L. (2003): "Birds of Venezuela". Christopher Helm, London. ISBN 0-7136-6418-5
* Turner, Angela & Rose, Chris (1989): "Swallows and martins: an identification guide and handbook". Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0-395-51174-7
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