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The palmchat ( Dulus dominicus) is a small, long-tailed passerine bird, the Monotypic taxon in the genus Dulus and the family Dulidae endemic to the Caribbean island of Hispaniola (split between the Dominican Republic and Haiti). It is related to the , family Bombycillidae. Its name reflects its strong association with Arecaceae for feeding, roosting, and nesting.
The palmchat is the national bird of the Dominican Republic.
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The palmchat is the only species placed in the genus Dulus that was introduced by the French ornithologist Louis Pierre Vieillot in 1816. The species is monotypic.
Description
Palmchats are about in length. They are olive-brown above, and heavily streaked with brown below. Their rumps, as well as the edges of their primary , are dark yellow-green. They have strong yellow beak and russet eyes. They lack the soft silky plumage of the waxwings or . Adults show no sexual dimorphism; immature birds have dark throats.
Distribution and habitat
The species is endemic to the island of Hispaniola (in both Haiti and the Dominican Republic), and the adjacent Saona Island and Gonâve Islands, where it is common and widespread. It inhabits areas from sea level to 1500 m asl where palm can be found, or other open areas with scattered trees. Where its food trees are present, it has adapted well to city parks and gardens.
Behaviour
Palmchats are very sociable birds, often seen in small flocks containing several pairs, which will roost closely together with their bodies in contact.
Breeding
The breeding season is mainly from March to June. The birds build large, messy, communal Bird nest of twigs in the crowns of Arecaceae (mainly Puerto Rico royal palms, Roystonea borinquena). Occasionally, in the absence of palms, other trees or even may be used. The whole nesting structure may be up to 2 m across, containing up to 30 adjoining nests with their own separate chambers and entrances. The females lay clutches of 2-4 thickly spotted, grey-purple Bird egg.
Food
Palmchats feed on and berries, including those of palms and of the Bursera simaruba, as well as on , especially those of epiphyte .
Voice
They are voluble and noisy birds, with a large repertoire of gurgling and cheeping sounds constantly used in their social behaviour.
With their loud whistles, they are able to imitate the calls of hawks and kestrels which may be a surprise coming from their tiny bodies. They are typically classified as songbirds, but hardly ever make a coherent song.
Conservation
The palmchat is a common species within its range of about , and highly adaptable. As it is not approaching the thresholds for the population decline criterion of the IUCN Red List (i.e., declining more than 30% in ten years or three generations), it has been evaluated as being of Least Concern.
External links
Categories: Birds Described In 1766, Taxa Named By Carl Linnaeus, Endemic Birds Of Hispaniola, Endemic Birds Of The Caribbean, Endemic Fauna Of Hispaniola, Birds Of The Dominican Republic, Birds Of Haiti, Birds Of The Greater Antilles, Birds Of The Lesser Antilles, National Symbols Of The Dominican Republic, Bombycilloidea, Extant Miocene First Appearances
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