Jamaican Becard

Overview

The Jamaican becard (Pachyramphus niger) is a species of bird in the family Tityridae that is endemic to the island of Jamaica. It is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, considered widespread and fairly common locally despite having a small range.

Identification

• Adult males are entirely black, with white at the base of the wing visible only in flight, while adult females have a deep brown crown, reddish brown upperparts, and cinnamon cheeks and upper breast.
• The species measures about 18 cm in length and weighs between 39 and 41.5 g.
• Its main vocalization consists of two hoarse quecks followed by a musical "Co-ome and tell me what you hee-ear" that gradually rises and then falls.

Habitat

Found throughout the island of Jamaica, the Jamaican becard inhabits a variety of landscapes in the tropical and lower subtropical zones, ranging from sea level to 1,800 m in elevation. It thrives in somewhat open environments such as mature open forest, woodlands, pastures with trees, and gardens, as well as the interior and edges of closed forest.

Diet

The Jamaican becard feeds on insects and fruit, often gleaned through short sallies that sometimes include a brief hover. It also captures insects in mid-air.

Did you know?

The Jamaican becard builds a large, bulky globe-shaped nest suspended below a branch, which is typically placed high in trees in closed forests but lower in more open landscapes. It was initially described in 1788 by Johann Friedrich Gmelin, who classified it as a shrike and named it Lanius niger.