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Icterus bonanaMartinique oriole

By Whitney Phipps

Geographic Range

The only extant endemic bird species on the island of Martinique is the Martinique oriole (Icterus bonana The Martinique oriole is one of eight orioles endemic to the Caribbean islands. These species all show a rapid radiation diverging from each other roughly two million years ago. There is no positive correlation between geographic distance and genetic divergence. There is some indication that the Martinique oriole is more closely related to the Puerto Rican oriole (separated by a distance of 517 km) than it is to the St. Lucia oriole (separated by a distance of 27 km). (Lovette, et al., 1999; Sturge, et al., 2009)

Habitat

Like other island species, the Martinique oriole is a habitat generalist, inhabiting semi-arid hills, mangroves, dry forests on limestone soil, humid forests, forest edge, dense scrub, and agricultural areas such as plantations. Though its habitat is generalized, the Martinique oriole seems to prefer certain areas. It is not found in the cloud forests. It has been suggested that the dry forests and mangroves are the most important to the species. The bird is most frequently found in the semi-arid hills located in the southern parts of the island and to a lesser extent in the northern central part of the island. It is found from sea level up to approximately 700m. ("Martinique", 2016; Bond, 1993; Fraga, 2016; Garrido, et al., 2005; Jamarillo and Burke, 1999; Orians, 1985; Raffaelle, et al., 1998; Raffaelle, et al., 2003; del Hoyo, et al., 2011)

  • Average elevation
    700 m
    2296.59 ft

Physical Description

The Martinique oriole is described as being a small and slim bird that boasts a distinctive plumage along with a beak that is long, conical, very sharp, and slightly curved. The beak’s coloration ranges from dark gray to black with a small light blue triangular shape at the mandible base. The bird’s size has a range of 18-21 cm. The head, neck, and upperbreast are of a dark chestnut/ mahogany color which is quite unique among orioles. This coloration does not continue to the rest of the bird, instead giving way to the black color on its back, tail, and most of the wings. The lower belly, shoulder, and rump are of a caramel/ reddish-orange color. As with most tropical orioles, the coloration of the female is very much like the male’s but slightly duller. The males and females of the species have an average winglength of 84.95 and 77.7 mm, respectively. The tail for the males and females has a length on average 87.4 and 82.8mm, respectively. The immature Martinique oriole has a chestnut color throughout the underparts, with a deeper hue of chestnut on the breast. Its upper section of the rump is tawny, the lower, deep chestnut and the head is of a dark brown, almost mahogany color. The immature plumage changes into that of the adult through a complete moult that occurs in October after the breeding season. However, there is no evidence for pre-breeding moult. ("Carouge: Oriole de la Martinique", 2011; Bond, 1993; Fraga, 2016; Garrido, et al., 2005; Hofmann, et al., 2008; Jamarillo and Burke, 1999; Orians, 1985; Raffaelle, et al., 1998; Raffaelle, et al., 2003; del Hoyo, et al., 2011)

  • Sexual Dimorphism
  • sexes alike

Reproduction

Martinique orioles are thought to be socially monogamous. Nesting occurs at the forest edge in all forest types excluding cloud forests and rainforests. ("Carouge: Oriole de la Martinique", 2011; "Martinique", 2016; Bond, 1993; Fraga, 2016; Garrido, et al., 2005; Jamarillo and Burke, 1999; Orians, 1985; Raffaelle, et al., 1998; Raffaelle, et al., 2003; del Hoyo, et al., 2011)

The nests of the Caribbean orioles tend to be very similar in structure and building materials, and the nest of the Martinique oriole is no different, especially when compared to the St. Lucia oriole. Its nest is pendulum-like in structure and usually strongly woven with fibers from coconut palm. However, the nest is shallow when compared to the nests of many mainland orioles with an entrance to the side. The nest is often attached at two points and suspended from the underside of large leaves, including palm fronds and similar large leaves, 2 to 4 m above ground, with the occasional height of 10 m being also recorded. The Martinique oriole is known to be particular in choosing a tree for nesting. The trees of choice are usually the banana, palms, and other large-leafed species. In agricultural and moist forest areas, the baliser, breadfruit and banana trees are preferred nesting trees; the trumpet wood is preferred in moist and rainforest areas; and the raisinier is generally the nesting tree of choice in the dry forest area. Like other Lesser Antillean orioles, the Martinique oriole generally lays 2 to 3 eggs. The eggs are described as being cream or white in color with a pale blue wash and brownish spotting that is restricted to the wide end and being lighted spotted overall. Incubation generally lasts for fourteen to eighteen days and the nestling period lasts roughly fifteen days. ("Carouge: Oriole de la Martinique", 2011; "Martinique", 2016; Bond, 1993; Fraga, 2016; Garrido, et al., 2005; Jamarillo and Burke, 1999; Odom, et al., 2015; Orians, 1985; Raffaelle, et al., 1998; Raffaelle, et al., 2003; del Hoyo, et al., 2011)

  • Breeding interval
    Martinique orioles breed once annually
  • Breeding season
    Martinique orioles breed from February to July
  • Range eggs per season
    2 to 3
  • Range time to hatching
    14 to 18 days
  • Average fledging age
    15 days

Both sexes defend the nest and feed the nestlings. The nestlings were fed butterflies, caterpillars, small grasshoppers, and other insects almost exclusively. (Fraga, 2016; Garrido, et al., 2005; Jamarillo and Burke, 1999; del Hoyo, et al., 2011)

  • Parental Investment
  • male parental care
  • female parental care
  • pre-hatching/birth
    • protecting
      • female
  • pre-weaning/fledging
    • provisioning
      • male
      • female
    • protecting
      • male
      • female
  • pre-independence
    • protecting
      • male
      • female

Lifespan/Longevity

There is no information on the longevity of this species.

Behavior

There is little collected information on the Martinique oriole, but there is agreement that the species is not of the more sociable orioles and is usually found by itself or in pairs. Although the territory is defended, there is minimal defense from the adults as there is only concern about the nest’s immediate location. The nest is defended against the Carib grackle (Quiscalus lugubris) and the shiny cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis). The song of the Martinique oriole itself is infrequent. During the breeding season, the Martinique oriole does sing but not as frequently or vigorously. The song of the Martinique oriole is described as being inharmonious and shrill. Its shrill song may sound similar to that of the Carib grackle or the Mexican Black-cowled oriole (Icterus prosthemelas). The call is a harsh or scolding cheeo which may be doubled as cheeo-cheeo. The song consists of soft warbles or a series of clear whistles which are of quiet and unobtrusive. ("Carouge: Oriole de la Martinique", 2011; Arlott, 2010; Bond, 1993; Fraga, 2016; Jamarillo and Burke, 1999; Raffaelle, et al., 1998; Raffaelle, et al., 2003; del Hoyo, et al., 2011)

Home Range

There is no information collected on the size of the home range. It is not known whether the species is territorial year-round.

Communication and Perception

It is unknown if there is duetting as well as the number of songs or calls that the species may have. Whereas most tropical orioles have female song, it is unknown whether or not female Martinique orioles sing. There is no evidence that they duet, but detailed observations are needed to specifically address whether or not females sing and or overlap or coordinate songs with males to produce duets. (Jamarillo and Burke, 1999; Odom, et al., 2015)

Food Habits

Fruits and nectar are typical components of the diet of most orioles. The Martinique oriole is described as foraging primarily in forest canopy. The diet is made up primarily of insects, supplemented with wild and cultivated fruits such as malabar almond and berries. Arthropods are gleaned from green foliage, dry leaves, spider webs, and vine tangles. Prey is also found by removing loose pieces of bark and by probing into hollow twigs. ("Martinique", 2016; Arlott, 2010; Fraga, 2016; Jamarillo and Burke, 1999; Orians, 1985; Raffaelle, et al., 1998; Raffaelle, et al., 2003; del Hoyo, et al., 2011)

  • Animal Foods
  • insects
  • terrestrial non-insect arthropods
  • Plant Foods
  • fruit
  • nectar

Predation

There is no information about the predators of Martinique orioles. Carib grackles (Quiscalus lugubris) are potential nest predators. ("Martinique", 2016; Jamarillo and Burke, 1999)

Ecosystem Roles

Martinique orioles are an elusive species and this impedes the definite ecosystem role from being defined. Although the species has a wide habitat range, it is apparently not common in cultivated areas. This may lower the possibility of that Martinique orioles control agricultural pests. ("Carouge: Oriole de la Martinique", 2011)

Commensal/Parasitic Species
  • Shiny cowbirds parasitize the nests of the Martinique oriole, laying eggs in the nest and thus likely lowering the fitness of the oriole offspring.

Economic Importance for Humans: Positive

The Martinique oriole is an island endemic that is described as shy. This elusive behavior only adds to its appeal to avid bird-watchers, thus boosting the island’s ecotourism. ("Carouge: Oriole de la Martinique", 2011)

  • Positive Impacts
  • ecotourism
  • research and education

Economic Importance for Humans: Negative

There are no adverse impacts of Martinique orioles on humans.

Conservation Status

The Martinique oriole is listed as "vulnerable" by IUCN; thus it is considered "threatened" but not enough to be considered "endangered." The population is estimated to include at least several thousand individuals but it seems to have significantly declined in recent years. Detailed census information is needed. This decline is believed to be due to brood parasitism by the shiny cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis). The Carib grackle (Quiscalus lugubris) may also negatively affect population numbers. The species’ population does not seem to be dramatically affected by habitat loss and illegal hunting. ("Carouge: Oriole de la Martinique", 2011; "Martinique", 2016; Jamarillo and Burke, 1999; Raffaelle, et al., 1998; Raffaelle, et al., 2003)

Contributors

Whitney Phipps (author), University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Kevin Omland (editor), University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Tanya Dewey (editor), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.

Glossary

Neotropical

living in the southern part of the New World. In other words, Central and South America.

World Map

acoustic

uses sound to communicate

agricultural

living in landscapes dominated by human agriculture.

arboreal

Referring to an animal that lives in trees; tree-climbing.

bilateral symmetry

having body symmetry such that the animal can be divided in one plane into two mirror-image halves. Animals with bilateral symmetry have dorsal and ventral sides, as well as anterior and posterior ends. Synapomorphy of the Bilateria.

chemical

uses smells or other chemicals to communicate

ecotourism

humans benefit economically by promoting tourism that focuses on the appreciation of natural areas or animals. Ecotourism implies that there are existing programs that profit from the appreciation of natural areas or animals.

endothermic

animals that use metabolically generated heat to regulate body temperature independently of ambient temperature. Endothermy is a synapomorphy of the Mammalia, although it may have arisen in a (now extinct) synapsid ancestor; the fossil record does not distinguish these possibilities. Convergent in birds.

female parental care

parental care is carried out by females

forest

forest biomes are dominated by trees, otherwise forest biomes can vary widely in amount of precipitation and seasonality.

frugivore

an animal that mainly eats fruit

herbivore

An animal that eats mainly plants or parts of plants.

island endemic

animals that live only on an island or set of islands.

iteroparous

offspring are produced in more than one group (litters, clutches, etc.) and across multiple seasons (or other periods hospitable to reproduction). Iteroparous animals must, by definition, survive over multiple seasons (or periodic condition changes).

male parental care

parental care is carried out by males

monogamous

Having one mate at a time.

motile

having the capacity to move from one place to another.

mountains

This terrestrial biome includes summits of high mountains, either without vegetation or covered by low, tundra-like vegetation.

native range

the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.

nectarivore

an animal that mainly eats nectar from flowers

oviparous

reproduction in which eggs are released by the female; development of offspring occurs outside the mother's body.

seasonal breeding

breeding is confined to a particular season

sedentary

remains in the same area

sexual

reproduction that includes combining the genetic contribution of two individuals, a male and a female

tactile

uses touch to communicate

terrestrial

Living on the ground.

territorial

defends an area within the home range, occupied by a single animals or group of animals of the same species and held through overt defense, display, or advertisement

tropical

the region of the earth that surrounds the equator, from 23.5 degrees north to 23.5 degrees south.

visual

uses sight to communicate

References

2011. "Carouge: Oriole de la Martinique" (On-line). Birds & Co.. Accessed March 21, 2016 at http://www.sosdom.lautre.net/Oiseaux/Passeriformes/Ict_Bon/IctBon_00Txt.htm.

2016. "Martinique" (On-line). Birdlife International. Accessed March 21, 2016 at http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/userfiles/file/IBAs/CaribCntryPDFs/martinique_(to_france).pdf.

Arlott, N. 2010. Birds of the West Indies. 41 William Street, Princeton, NJ 08540: Princeton University Press.

Bond, J. 1993. Birds of the West Indies. New York, NY 10003: Houghton Mifflin Company.

Fraga, R. 2016. "Martinique Oriole (Icterus bonana)" (On-line). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Accessed March 21, 2016 at http://www.hbw.com/species/martinique-oriole-icterus-bonana.

Garrido, O., J. Wiley, A. Kirkconnell. 2005. The Genus Icterus in the West Indies. Ornitologia Neotropical, 16: 449-470.

Hofmann, C., T. Cronin, K. Omland. 2008. Evolution of Sexual Dichromatism: Convergent Losses of Elaborate Female Coloration in New World Orioles (Icterus spp.). The Auk, 125(4): 778-789.

Jamarillo, A., P. Burke. 1999. New World Blackbirds:The Icterids. 41 William Street, Princeton, NJ 08540: Princeton University Press.

Lovette, I., E. Bermingham, R. Ricklefs. 1999. Mitochondrial DNA Phylogeography and the Conservation of Endangered Lesser Antillean Icterus Orioles. Conservation Biology, 13: 1088-1096.

Odom, K., K. Omland, J. Price. 2015. Differentiating the evolution of female song and male-female duets in the New World blackbirds: Can tropical natural history traits explain duet evolution?. Evolution, 69: 839-847.

Orians, G. 1985. Blackbirds of the Americas. Tokyo,Japan: Toppan Printing Company.

Raffaelle, H., J. Wiley, O. Garrido, J. Raffaele. 2003. Princeton Field Guides: Birds of the West Indies. 41 William Street, Princeton, NJ 08540: Princeton University Press.

Raffaelle, H., J. Wiley, J. Raffaele, O. Garrido, A. Keith. 1998. A Guide to the Birds of the West Indies. 41 William Street, Princeton, NJ 08540: Princeton University Press.

Sturge, R., F. Jacobson, B. Rosensteel, R. Neale, K. Omland. 2009. Colonization of South America from Caribbean Islands Confirmed by Molecular Phylogeny with Increased Taxon Sampling. The Condor, 111(3): 575-579.

del Hoyo, J., A. Elliot, D. Christie. 2011. Handbook of the Birds of the World Vol. 16. Tanagers to New World Blackbirds. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions.

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