Initially, I used to be going to spotlight one of many species endemic to the islands of the Lesser Antilles within the Caribbean; however as soon as I typed in “Lesser Antillean”, six species popped up. Simply as nearly all my choices are made, I requested myself “why not” – and right here we’re. This isn’t about each endemic discovered within the area however solely these carrying the regional designation.
I first thought-about talking in regards to the Lesser Antillean Tanager – fairly a fantastic thing about a tanager that’s discovered solely on Grenada and St. Vincent. The presence of this tanager within the Caribbean is a uncommon facet of South American aptitude, as its closest relative is the equally plumaged Scrub Tanager of northern South America. Curiously, this species has been cut up into two distinct subspecies, one for every of the islands on which it’s discovered. The variations between the 2 subspecies are notably apparent, and it isn’t a stretch of the creativeness that they could be two distinct species within the not-too-distant future.
Lesser Antillean Tanager – Grenada
Lesser Antillean Tanager – St. Vincent
One other species exhibiting appreciable seen variation is the Lesser Antillean Pewee. Fact be advised, this isn’t a real Lesser Antillean endemic as it’s also discovered on Puerto Rico – nevertheless that subspecies is typically thought-about individually from every other Lesser Antillean Pewee. It is a very typical pewee, with a conical head and really photographically pleasant habits. For starters, they don’t fly away from the second they’re seen by a human observer and extra importantly, they sit very nonetheless for photos.
The Lesser Antillean Pewee on St. Lucia is typically known as the St. Lucia Pewee – arguably probably the most putting subspecies with wealthy cinnamon underparts.
The carefully associated Lesser Antillean Flycatcher bears visible, geographical, and behavioural similarities. A big distinction being that the flycatcher on Puerto Rico has already been granted species standing, and is now the Puerto Rican Flycatcher. Discovered from St. Lucia within the south to Barbuda within the north, the Lesser Antillean Flycatcher is a typical Myiarchus in all senses.
Lesser Antillean Flycatcher
Discovered throughout the Lesser Antilles is the comparatively poorly identified Lesser Antillean Swift. As most swifts are, they’re troublesome to check. On my final journey to the area, we noticed them on a number of islands, typically associating with Brief-tailed Swifts and Caribbean Martins in nice flocks pursuing bugs.
Only a few moderately good images of Lesser Antillean Swift exist; my journey accomplice and writer of the Birds of the Lesser Antilles did hurl some abuse my method when he noticed the again of my digital camera after working a small flock of those tiny speedsters in Martinique. A photograph for the second version, maybe?
Lesser Antillean Swift
All through my birding journey in Trinidad and Tobago I’ve been eyeing the illustration of Streaked Saltator within the subject information. Discovered solely on the dry islands off Trinidad’s northwest nook, I solely scraped collectively a single depressing try to search out it – and had not a single view. So getting a superb have a look at the carefully associated Lesser Antillean Saltator on each Dominica and St. Lucia was refreshing to say the least. Till not so way back, the Lesser Antillean Saltator was thought-about conspecific with the Streaked Saltator.
Lesser Antillean Saltator
All through the Lesser Antilles, the music of the endearing Lesser Antillean Bullfinch is a continuing companion. Although it’s pretty ubiquitous on nearly each island, they’re stunning, pleasing little birds. The subspecies discovered on Barbados was just lately cut up from this species, the ensuing Barbados Bullfinch elevating eyebrows for firstly being monomorphic in accordance with the feminine plumage and secondly changing into the island’s solely endemic chook!
Feminine Lesser Antillean Bullfinches are nonetheless just a little extra vivid than their duller Bajan counterparts.
The male Lesser Antillean Bullfinch is especially good-looking.
As birds go, species standing continues to be fluid with the acquisition of information and a few of these could also be additional cut up or lumped sooner or later. For now, nevertheless, they’re true Caribbean creatures flourishing in a tropical paradise.