Progne dominicensis

Geographic Range

Caribbean martins are found in Mexico, the West Indies, and Cuba. There is also some speculation that they spend their winters in South America.

• Biogeographic Regions
• neotropical neotropical
  • native native

Habitat

These birds live near bodies of water or along shorelines, in urban areas, open land and near cliffs. The presence of water is crucial as it ensures the existence of insects, their primary food source.

• Habitat Regions
• tropical tropical
• terrestrial terrestrial

• Terrestrial Biomes
• savanna or grassland savanna or grassland

• Aquatic Biomes
• coastal coastal

• Other Habitat Features
• urban urban
• suburban suburban
• riparian riparian

Physical Description

Both male and female Caribbean martins have a distinct dark blue (almost purple) color on the upper/back parts of their body and a white belly. The trait that distinguishes males from females is the abrupt change in color. Males have a distinct line that separates the blue from the white, while females have brown feathers that gradually blend into the white. These brown feathers are also apparent in juvenile martins (Raffaele et al., 1998). Caribbean martins have small black beaks and long pointed wings (Downer, 1990). Progne dominicensis grow to be about 17 to 20 cm long.

• Other Physical Features
• endothermic endothermic
• bilateral symmetry bilateral symmetry

• Sexual Dimorphism
• sexes colored or patterned differently

Development

No information has been reported about the development/life cycles of the Caribbean Martins.

Reproduction

We do not have information on mating systems for this species, however, most species in the Hirundinidae family are monogamous.

Caribbean martins build nests out of plant material such as tree twigs and leaves. Nests are found in cliff crevices, old woodpecker holes, palms and even telephone poles. Breeding usually occurs between February and August in the West Indies. Male and female Progne dominicensis , like most birds, copulate by bringing the male and female cloacal surfaces into contact. The male passes the sperm into the female while standing on top of her (Hickman et al., 2000). Females produce 2 to 6 white eggs (Raffaele et al., 1998). Incubation lasts 14 days, on average.

• Key Reproductive Features
• iteroparous iteroparous
• seasonal breeding seasonal breeding
• gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate)
• sexual sexual
• fertilization fertilization
• oviparous oviparous

The young are altricial; they hatch without feathers and are extremely helpless and dependent at birth. They remain in the nest for at least a week. The offspring must be fed constantly.

• Parental Investment
• no parental involvement
• altricial altricial
• pre-fertilization
• pre-hatching/birth
  • protecting
• pre-weaning/fledging
  • provisioning

Lifespan/Longevity

No information has been reported about the lifespan of Progne dominicensis .

Behavior

Progne dominicensis are said to migrate longitudinally. After spending the winter months in South America they migrate to the West Indies in the spring. This pattern seems to be directly related to the breeding season (Downer, 1990). They are very social birds, and are often seen flying in groups or perched on telephone wires (Raffaele et al., 1998).

• Key Behaviors
• flies
• motile motile
• migratory migratory
• social social

Home Range

We do not have information on home range for this species at this time.

Communication and Perception

Calling is the primary way members of this species communicate with one another. Caribbean martin calls are described as a "gurgling," a "liquid ‘chileet, chur-chur, chi-chi-chiwee’," or a "high twick-twick" sound.

• Communication Channels
• acoustic acoustic

• Perception Channels
• visual visual
• tactile tactile
• acoustic acoustic
• chemical chemical

Food Habits

These birds forage for flying insects while in flight. Caribbean martins will also follow cattle to catch the insects that the cows flush. Caribbean martins eat: flies (order Diptera ), dragonflies (order Odonata ), butterflies (order Lepidoptera ), flying ants (order Hymenoptera ), June bugs and many additional species.

• Primary Diet
• carnivore carnivore
  • insectivore insectivore

• Animal Foods
• insects

Predation

The introduction of mammalian predators is a serious threat to the avifauna of the West Indies. Caribbean martins, who nest near the ground, are very susceptible to nest predation. The mongoose (Family Herpestidae ) has been the most detrimental predator to the birds of Jamaica. Rats ( Rattus norvegicus ) and pigs (Family Suidae ) are among other known predators.

Ecosystem Roles

It is said that if birds and other insectivores were non-existent, the world would be covered with insects! Caribbean martins help to regulate insect populations on the islands.

Economic Importance for Humans: Positive

Caribbean martins and all of the birds that make up the Jamaican avifauna are extremely important to the island’s habitat and are also important to Jamaica’s tourism industry. Beautiful gardens and bird watching parks are great tourist attractions. Caribbean martins also help keep the insect population in control.

• Positive Impacts
• ecotourism ecotourism
• controls pest population

Economic Importance for Humans: Negative

There are no known adverse affects of Caribbean martins on humans.

Conservation Status

Habitat destruction is the single most important threat to all birds in the West Indies. In Jamaica, the number of coffee plantations has dramatically increased. Illegal drug harvesting also plays a role in the high deforestation rates. Although laws have been made to protect these lands, the enforcement of these laws is practically non-existent. The illegal bird trade also has a negative affect on the bird population. Although all Jamaican birds and their eggs are protected under the Wild Life Protection Act (1974) and all types of hunting, gaming, and domestication are strictly prohibited in the West Indies, many lawbreakers go unnoticed (Downer, 1990). Caribbean martins are also protected by the US MBTA.

Another recent threat, is an introduced nest parasite, shiny cowbirds ( Molothrus bonariensis ), which affect many land birds in Jamaica. (Rafaelle et al., 1998)

Additional Links

Encyclopedia of Life

Contributors

Alaine Camfield (editor), Animal Diversity Web.

Sheema Rabbaig (author), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Kerry Yurewicz (editor), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.

References

Downer, A. 1990. Birds of Jamaica : a photographic field guide . Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Flieg, M., A. Sander. 2000. Birds of the West Indes . UK: New Holland Publishers.

Hickman, C., L. Roberts, A. Larson. 2000. Animal Diversity . USA: McGraw-Hill.

Jamaica Sustainable Development Networking Programme, 2001. "Jamaican Birds" (On-line). Accessed 02/06/04 at http://www.jsdnp.org.jm/jabirds2.htm .

Marler, P., C. Evans. 1996. Bird Calls: Just Emotional displays or something more?. Ibis , 138 (1): 26-33.

Nature Serve, 2003. "Nature Serve" (On-line). Accessed February 11, 2004 at http://www.natureserve.org/infonatura/ .

Raffaele, H., J. Wiley, O. Garrido, A. Keith, J. Raffaele. 1998. Birds of the West Indes . London, England: Christopher Helm Ltd.

Sibley, D. 2001. The Sibley Guide to Bird Life & Behavior . New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.